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The world’s largest economic bloc by GDP, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), will hold its economic leader’s meeting this coming Oct. 31 in the historic city of Gyeongju, South Korea. Gyeongju is Korea’s ancient capital and center for culture. It is home to multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Philippines is a founding member of APEC back in 1989. Today, APEC counts 21 members, including economic heavyweights such as the US, China, Canada, Australia and Russia – all of whom have borders that face the Pacific Ocean.

APEC was formed to advance economic integration and promote shared prosperity across the Asia-Pacific. The bloc works to facilitate the seamless flow of goods, services, investments and people across borders. This has been achieved by streamlining customs procedures, enhancing business environments and unifying regulations and standards.

South Korea too is among APEC’s founding members. The north Asian nation hosted the 3rd APEC Ministerial Meeting in 1991, which led to the adoption of the Seoul Declaration. For those unaware, the Seoul Declaration is a commitment to open regionalism, economic cooperation, sustainable growth, economic cooperation, trade liberalization and free investment flows.

In 2005, South Korea hosted the summit again, wherein the Busan Roadmap was drawn. The Busan Roadmap established clear steps towards trade and investment liberalization, capacity building for developing economies and structural reforms towards increased competitiveness.

This year’s summit carries special significance since it is held at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, primarily triggered by President Trump’s tariffs. The summit’s theme is: ‘Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.’ Hence, we can expect APEC members to chart a new vision and roadmap for the Asia Pacific amid US tariffs, a growing trend towards protectionism and geopolitical tensions brought about by multiple global conflicts.

The summit has multiple objectives – to strengthen connectivity among members through physical, institutional and people-to- people exchanges; to promote digital innovation by narrowing the digital divide and AI cooperation and to pursue sustainable growth through collective responses to global issues.

The meeting in Gyeongju will be particularly meaningful since Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping are expected to hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines. This will mark the first US-China bilateral talks in Trump’s second term. It also positions South Korea as the stage for historic negotiations.

The Philippines at APEC

The Philippines hosted the APEC Summit two times – in Subic in 1996 and in Manila in 2025. The two summits resulted in the 1996 Manila Action Plan and 2025 Inclusive Growth Agenda, both of which put the Philippines on the APEC map.

As of yesterday, there has been no firm announcement as to whether President Marcos will be attending this year’s summit. However, in a phone call with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung last August, PBBM said that he ‘looked forward to meeting Lee at APEC 2025.’

The Philippines has long benefited from APEC’s many initiatives. It gained access to Asia-Pacific markets with tariffs slashed significantly from 17 percent in 1989 to some five percent today. This boosted Philippine exports of electronics, semiconductors and agriculture products. APEC policies have also ushered in investments in the manufacturing, IT-BPO and infrastructure sectors, particularly from Japan, South Korea and the US. More significantly, it has eased the movements of Filipino OFWs and professionals across the Asia-Pacific.

But while the Philippines reaped many benefits, it failed to truly capitalize on APEC’s potentials in the way its neighbors have – particularly Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.

Expensive power and logistics costs, corruption and red tape have blunted Philippine economic competitiveness and the development of its manufacturing sector. As a result, Philippine investment intakes and exports pale in comparison to those of its neighbors. Reforms relating to competition policy, regulatory transparency and good governance are slow and not fully implemented. And although APEC supports SMEs in cross-border e-commerce expansion, the lack of government support in digital advancement and financing have caused Filipino SMEs to remain insular and unable to conquer foreign markets.

The Duterte and Marcos administrations, having been too preoccupied with politicking, failed to prioritize the structural reforms needed to allow the Philippine economy to fully leverage on the opportunities APEC offers. In fact, investment conditions have worsened, with corruption reaching new heights of impunity.

To truly harness the benefits of APEC membership, the Philippines must prioritize a reform agenda aimed at boosting competitiveness. These are the top six reforms:

Energy sector reform is paramount. High electricity rates continue to cripple manufacturing investments. Transparent regulation, renewable energy expansion and improved grid efficiency are urgent.

Infrastructure and logistics modernization must be fast-tracked. Congested ports, inadequate airports and poor connectivity across islands have raised trade costs – addressing this requires sustained public-private partnerships and streamlined project approvals.

Anti-corruption, transparency in public biddings and governance reform should be institutionalized. Investors must be assured of a level playing field.

Digital transformation and SME empowerment deserve greater focus. With e-commerce driving regional trade, SMEs need government support in financing, digital literacy and cross-border platforms to expand beyond domestic markets.

Labor and education reform must align skills with future industries. Stronger STEM education, vocational training and lifelong learning will help Filipinos become more competitive.

Finally, regulatory and competition policy reform is vital. Excessive bureaucracy and restrictive laws deter innovation and discourage investment. Clearer rules, streamlined permits and genuine competition policies will level the playing field.

These six reforms, if pursued with political will, can transform the Philippines from a marginal APEC participant into a true engine of Asia-Pacific growth.

APEC brings enormous opportunities for the Philippines but the country’s present set of leaders are simply not taking full advantage of it. Let us hope the country’s next set of leaders in 2028 will do so.

Sarah and Curlee Discaya will no longer cooperate with the investigation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) after personal and unofficial remarks by one of the body’s members led the contractor couple to doubt their possibility of becoming state witnesses.

ICI Executive Director Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters on Wednesday, October 15, that the Discayas invoked their right to self-incrimination during the commission’s closed-door hearing earlier.

This, Hosaka said, was upon the advice of their lawyer.

“The spouses Discaya appeared before the commission, and, upon the advice of their counsel, they invoked their right to self-incrimination and manifested they will no longer cooperate with the ICI,” the ICI executive director said.

The Discayas had supposedly believed their cooperation would lead to a favorable recommendation from the commission for them to be turned into state witnesses.

Hosaka said the Discayas referred to an interview by journalist Karen Davila with ICI member and former Public Works Secretary Babes Singson, where Singson was asked about the possibility of the commission recommending witnesses for immunity.

It was Singson’s personal opinion that there are currently “no witness or person who may be recommended by the commission as state witness,” Hosaka said.

“I saw the interview and he qualified that as his own and not (by the ICI),” Singson said.

However, the Discayas saw this and “because of that, they are saying they will no longer appear before the commission,” the ICI executive director said.

The Discayas are currently classified as “protected witnesses” by the Department of Justice in the ongoing government probe into anomalous infrastructure projects.

This status provides them with government security and protection under the Witness Protection Program, but it does not automatically grant them the full immunity of a state witness.

Then-Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that prospective witnesses must first return ill-gotten wealth or assets before they can be tagged as state witnesses – a process known as restitution.

Remulla also previously explained that granting anyone full state witness status would free them from criminal liability, which means the government must be “very careful” in deciding to do so.

The Office of the Ombudsman has lifted a four-year restriction on public access to government officials’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), reopening the way for citizens, media, and civil groups to request copies under new procedural rules.

The Ombudsman on Tuesday, Oct. 14, officially repealed its 2020 memorandum under Duterte administration’s Samuel Martires that had limited access to SALNs.

Under the new rules, all requests must be made through a prescribed “SALN Request Form”-except when covered by a subpoena or an official request from a quasi-judicial or investigative body, or as otherwise determined by the Ombudsman.

Each request must be filed in duplicate, subscribed and sworn before an authorized Ombudsman officer. Requests may be lodged with any Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office, or PACPO, at the Central Office or with regional Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Bureaus, or PACPB.

If a request concerns an official not covered by existing lists or a newly created office, the Central Office will serve as the default repository. Applicants must shoulder reproduction and certification costs.

Identification and review process. Applicants are required to present at least two valid IDs, one of which must be government-issued. Additional provisions apply to requests filed by media or students.

Each request will be assessed by a processing officer and reviewed by the PACPO or PACPB. Cases involving grounds for denial will be elevated to the Office of Legal Affairs. Approved requests will be released ‘within a reasonable period,’ the guidelines state.

When requests may be denied

Access may be denied in specific circumstances, including when:

The Ombudsman is not the official repository of the requested SALN.

The SALN is not on file.

The request is made for an unauthorized commercial purpose.

The requester has a record of misuse.

The request is linked to an attempt to influence or harass a party in a pending case.

There is evidence of extortion or safety risks.

The requester’s identity is fictitious.

The purpose violates law, morals, or public policy.

Redactions and privacy safeguards

Certain personal information will be redacted to protect officials and their families, including:

Complete home address of the declarant.

Names, birthdates, and ages of unmarried children below 18 living in the household.

Signatures of the declarant and co-declarant.

Government-issued identification numbers.

Released SALNs will include a watermark, control number, and disclaimer identifying them as redacted copies issued to a specific requester.

Publication and compliance requirements

Any party that publishes or broadcasts material derived from a SALN must submit a copy or link of the output to the Ombudsman within five calendar days of dissemination.

These submissions will allow the Ombudsman to monitor use of SALN data and ensure that reporting aligns with the stated purpose of the request. The office may initiate an investigation if potential misuse or misrepresentation is found.

Non-submission of published material will be considered a violation of the requester’s undertaking and may lead to denial of future SALN requests.

For lifestyle checks: The Ombudsman also advised that individuals with evidence of assets disproportionate to a public official’s income should file a formal complaint with the Field Investigation Office instead of a SALN request. Such complaints must include details on the official’s assets, lifestyle, income sources, and supporting evidence.

A shabu dealer wanted for four criminal cases and his aide were killed, while two policemen and a Marine private were wounded in a shootout in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, on Wednesday morning, October 15.

Brig. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters that personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station were about to serve Samsudin Usman warrants for his arrest in Sitio Lalaog, Barangay Semba, when he and his henchmen drew their guns and opened fire, provoking a gunfight.

Barangay Semba is less than 10 kilometers southwest of Cotabato City, where the regional capitol of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao is located.

De Guzman said the police units out to arrest Usman, led by the chief of the Datu Odin Sinsuat police, Lt. Col. Esmael Madin, and his deputy, Capt. Sammy Paning, were forced to immediately neutralize him and his aide, Piong Mindo, when they fired at the team that was to show him the warrants for his arrest.

Usman and Mindo died instantly from bullet wounds sustained in the brief clash that left Paning and his subordinate, Cpl. Marson Quijano, and Private Alex Bajoyo of the Marine Battalion Landing Team-6, wounded.

Bajoyo was part of a team from the MBLT-6, a unit of the Navy’s 1st Marine Brigade, that provided tactical support for the operation that turned violent.

Usman’s companions managed to escape, but one of them, his relative Barry Usman, yielded peacefully to combined operatives from the Datu Odin Sinsuat police and different units of PRO-BAR tasked to arrest him based on warrants from various courts.

Usman was wanted for murder, drug trafficking, extortion, and illegal possession of firearms and explosives pending before different courts in Cotabato City.

Local officials told reporters Usman’s slain follower, Mindo, was his transporter of shabu to contacts in Datu Odin Sinsuat and nearby barangays in Cotabato City.

Madin said policemen seized Usman’s 5.56 Bushmaster combat rifle, ammunition, and two-way radio used to communicate with his accomplices in the trafficking of shabu and marijuana.

Madin also confirmed that they found ?34,000 worth of shabu, a weighing scale, an M16 assault rifle, and a .45-caliber pistol in Usman’s hideout.

De Guzman said the supposedly peaceful operation that went awry was launched after local officials and community leaders in Barangay Semba reported Usman’s presence in the area the day before.

The 141-strong Philippine delegation carries a big fighting chance when it plunges into action in the Third Asian Youth Games set Oct. 22 to 31 in Manama, Bahrain.

‘We’ll train and do our best to get a medal,’ said boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido, one of two Philippine flag bearers in the 10-day, 45-nation quadrennial meet during the national team’s photo shoot on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Lobrido, a Bago City (Negros Occidental) native who turned 16 only last Friday, is one the nation’s top bet for a medal, most probably a gold, being a decorated internationalist after having won in the Fourth Greater Area Bay Youth Boxing Challenge in Shenzhen, China, late last year.

High school volleyball star Harlene Serneche, the other flag bearer, is also optimistic that they will make the country proud.

‘We have the potential and hopefully we’ll be competitive there,’ said the 18-year-old National University student during the photo shoot that featured 30 athletes to rally support for the delegation led by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino and the organization’s partners Avel Bacudio, Milo and Oishi.

Blacklist International etched its name in Honor of Kings history on Sunday after surviving a seven-game thriller against Boom Esports to clinch its first Philippines King League (PKL) title at Ayala Malls Trinoma.

The Codebreakers had been the tournament favorites during the inaugural season of the PKL, having mounted a perfect group stage run at 14-0 and only dropping maps against Boom Esports in the upper bracket and grand finals. The heartbreak continued as the team suffered an early exit at the Kings World Cup during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, placing at the bottom 15th-18th place.

This Fall Season, Blacklist International still had an impressive group stage run, finishing as the second seed with an 11-3 standing. The team suffered losses at the hands of ACT Esports Club and eventual top seed Boom Esports.

In the playoffs, the Codebreakers came prepared, sweeping ACT Esports, 3-0, in the upper bracket semifinals and plowing through Boom Esports, 3-1, to once again book themselves a slot at the PKL Grand Finals.

But its rival Boom Esports was not too far behind. The former quickly survived the lower bracket, sweeping Elevate, 3-0, to set up a rematch of last season’s grand finals.

In the best-of-seven series, Blacklist International quickly took down Boom Esports to take the opening game in under 13 minutes. But Boom Esports had been in the same situation before with their rivals, securing key team fights to stage a comeback and the series lead as they took Games 2 and 3.

A deadly team fight in the final moments of Game 4 gave the momentum back to Blacklist International, which managed to tie the series. But Boom Esports was hungry to defend its title with a quick 15-minute Game 5 to move to match point.

Game 6 seemed to be the turning point for Blacklist International – the longest game so far in the tournament – reaching over 22 minutes and seeing the Tempest Dragon spawn, the Codebreakers dismantled Boom Esports with key objective takes and team fights that sent the series to a deciding Game 7.

As with previous Honor of Kings grand finals decider, both teams were given a time to draft without knowing the heroes of their opponents. Blacklist International’s Yuhuan-Agudo combo proved lethal to Boom Esports’ lineup, giving Blacklist International a swift victory at just nine minutes to take the PKL trophy.

Though the local league has ended, Honor of Kings Esports still has a busy schedule ahead. Blacklist International along with fan voted WeTrnd Esports will compete in the Honor of Kings Nation Clash in Malaysia at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, PKL’s top four teams – Blacklist International, BOOM Esports, Elevate and A.C.T. Esports Club – will hope to win in front of their home crowd as the Philippines hosts the Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) this November.

For many Filipinos, the word ‘debt’ is often avoided because it comes with fear and anxiety. Many stories of being buried in debt or struggling to pay it off have caused a negative perception. But the truth is, if used correctly and responsibly, loans are not something to fear-they can actually be a tool for growth and progress.

Mostly, it’s because of lack of financial knowledge and the bad experiences of others. If the concept of interest rates, repayment terms and proper budgeting isn’t clear, it’s easy to think of a loan as a burden. And when used for wants and not for needs, that’s when the impact becomes negative.

In fact, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, only two out of 10 Filipino adults have formal loans, while the rest rely on informal lending. Around 77% remain unbanked or underbanked, which explains the hesitation towards borrowing. Yet BSP data also shows that 43% of borrowers use loans for productive purposes such as business, real estate or asset purchases.

This proves that loans, when managed wisely, are not burdens but bridges. Whether for a home, a vehicle or a business, they can turn dreams into reality. With the right financing and discipline, loans don’t hold you back-they push you forward.

As one of the leading financing companies in the Philippines, Global Dominion Financing Inc. offers easy and affordable loan products such as car/truck financing, car refinancing (Sangla OR/CR) and more-all designed to support Filipinos in their journey to success.

At the heart of Global Dominion’s work is the commitment to show that it can be possible (#PwedePala) maabot ang tagumpay kapag may tamang ka-partner sa iyong financial needs. Loans are not enemies of financial freedom; used wisely, they’re bridges to success. With the right partner, you’ll realize that it’s possible to dream big and achieve more-because there will always be a “Ka-Partner Mo sa Pag-Angat.”

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that a temporary moratorium on all sugar importation will be imposed until mid-2026 to stabilize the domestic sugar market.

In a statement on Wednesday, October 15, the DA said the government will not import sugar before the current milling season concludes, which is expected to be in May or June 2026.

This was agreed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Paul Azcona, and SRA Board Member and Farmers’ Representative Dave Sanson, according to the department.

The meeting was convened to address the alarmingly low prices of raw sugar recorded during the first sugar bidding in Negros on October 9.

Although weekly sugar biddings are the norm during the roughly 38-week harvest season, the department noted that market hesitation among traders was evident.

‘Let us be clear-there is, and never was, any talk of an importation program for Crop Year 2025-2026 until we finish significant milling, have firm production figures, and ensure any imports would only be classified as C or reserve sugar,’ said Azcona and Laurel, according to DA’s statement.

The officials also agreed to maintain a two-month buffer stock of refined sugar at all times.

According to the DA, all sugar imports, if any, will be strictly classified as reserve sugar and will not be allowed to enter the domestic market directly, thus protecting local prices.

‘This move assures our farmers that the current administration prioritizes their welfare. It’s a welcome development, and we hope this stabilizes prices now that speculation has been addressed,’ Sanson said in a statement.

Since 2022, the total area planted with sugarcane has expanded significantly, rising from 380,000 hectares to 409,000 hectares this year.

San Beda imposed its full might on Emilio Aguinaldo College, fashioning out a savage 81-64 victory yesterday that propelled the Red Lions to the top of Group B in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Sensational rookie Agjanti Miller continued his magnificent season, leading the Lions to their third win in four starts with 14 points and nine rebounds despite playing off the bench.

With the win, San Beda jumped back at the helm of the second bracket with St. Benilde.

The victory also erased the stigma of a stunning 67-66 defeat to Jose Rizal U last Friday that sent San Beda to its first defeat.

The Generals stumbled to 1-3.

Earlier, T-mc Ongotan unleashed a triple-double effort of 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as Arellano U smashed Lyceum of the Philippines U, 92-65, to improve to 2-2. The Pirates sank to 0-4.

Deloitte Philippines has appointed Ramon Chito Ramos as its new country leader, as the firm broadens its advisory services and digital capabilities.

Ramos succeeds Eric Landicho, who led the firm for eight years.

Ramos previously led Deloitte Philippines’ Technology and Transformation practice, overseeing large-scale technology projects in digital strategy, enterprise modernization and artificial intelligence (AI) integration across the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Ramos joined Deloitte in 2000 as a consultant and grew the team to over 200 professionals.

‘I look forward to working with our talented teams to further strengthen our market position and leverage our multidisciplinary model to deliver end-to-end services that help our clients remain agile in a transforming landscape,’ Ramos said.

Landicho guided the firm by strengthening industry specialization and expanding audit, tax, consulting, legal and risk advisory services.

‘It was a fulfilling eight years as the country leader of Deloitte Philippines, and I am grateful for the privilege to work alongside my fellow partners who are among the most driven and passionate individuals in the industry. Chito brings a sharp strategic lens and deep expertise in advisory and transformation, with over 20 years of experience in our consulting business,’ Landicho said.

Landicho will now focus on client engagement and mentoring emerging leaders.

Deloitte Philippines will continue expanding its advisory portfolio using the Advice, Implement and Operate framework, ERP systems, data analytics and AI to deliver solutions across sectors.

The company has over 1,000 professionals, including nearly 30 partners, and is part of the global Deloitte network in Asia-Pacific.