Author: user user

A dozen bank accounts have been frozen anew by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), increasing the total value of these assets to P4.4 billion as of Wednesday.

In a statement, AMLC received a fifth freeze order from the Court of Appeals on Wednesday. The order also included three insurance policies.

With the latest order, the total assets frozen by AMLC included 1,632 bank accounts; 163 motor vehicles; 54 insurance policies; 40 real properties; and 12 e-wallets.

‘Every freeze order matters. Each freeze order secured strengthens the evidentiary trail, ensuring that illicit funds cannot be concealed or dissipated,’ AMLC Executive Director Matthew M. David was quoted in the statement as saying.

The latest freeze order, AMLC said, covers bank accounts linked to persons-of-interests, notably including an entity whose license had been allegedly used in the implementation of ghost projects.

The AMLC assures the public that it will continue to work closely with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to pursue all leads and ensure that funds intended for public welfare are not diverted for unlawful gain.

Under the freeze order, banks will now look into their systems and determine the amounts stored in the bank accounts, which will then be reported to the AMLC, David said.

Moreover, the freeze order is a step toward the filing of appropriate civil and criminal cases, including the retrieval of any funds moved before the freeze, against those found to have laundered illicit proceeds, David added. The freeze order will only be lifted if the owners of the bank accounts will file a motion to lift the effects of the freeze order over their accounts or assets.

Several labor groups urged senators on Wednesday to expand the coverage of the proposed ‘wage theft’ bill, saying the measure should not only punish employers who fail to pay correct wages and benefits but also those engaging in less visible yet equally exploitative practices.

Under Senate Bill No. 208, wage theft covers any act of denying workers the wages, earnings, or benefits that the law guarantees them.

During the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development hearing, Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Vice President Louie Corral said that the bill must capture other forms of wage deprivation often overlooked in existing labor policies.

Corral cited as an example the widespread ‘cheap labor policy’ that encourages employers to hire workers from provinces but pay them far below the prevailing rates in the cities where they actually work.

He pointed to the fishing industry, where fishers are recruited from Zamboanga yet deployed to Navotas, only to be paid based on their point of hire instead of where they perform their labor.

‘The cheap labor policy.workers are already being paid pennies, and yet they’re still being robbed,’ Corral said.

Federation of Free Workers (FFW) Vice President Julius Cainglet echoed the concern, noting that wage theft can also occur in subtler forms-such as the nonpayment of 13th-month pay for current employees and the pro-rated portion for those who have resigned, the failure to correct wage distortions after pay hikes, and the unlawful deduction of costs for personal protective equipment or company-prescribed uniforms.

He said these practices, though common, are rarely penalized and should be recognized as wage theft under the proposed measure.

Cainglet added that some employers even force workers to shoulder company losses arising from production errors or equipment damage that are not their fault.

‘It’s not their fault. It’s just normal wear and tear of the machines, but because some products were damaged, they are made to pay for it,’ Cainglet said.

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) National Chairperson Domingo Mole, meanwhile, warned that the measure’s proposed suspension of noncompliant firms could end up hurting workers instead.

‘While the bill is good, but definitely we disagree with the cancellation or temporary suspension of the operation because at the end of the day, our employees will be affected because they will lose their livelihood,’ Mole said.

First filed in the 19th Congress, Senate Bill No. 208 authored by Senator Raffy Tulfo seeks to classify the nonpayment or withholding of wages and benefits as a criminal offense under Article 309 of the Revised Penal Code.

The measure also allows the suspension or cancellation of business permits for employers found guilty of wage theft-three to six months for the first offense, six months to one year for the second, and permanent revocation on the third.

Major stakeholders gathered to discuss opportunities and tackle issues on subsea power transmission lines in the region at the workshop on ‘Enabling Subsea Interconnectors in Asean’ from October 7 to 9. Organized by the National Transmission Corporation or TransCo, President and CEO Fortunato C. Leynes P.E.E. (right) remarked that the initiatives are ‘technologically complex and challenging, but will be transformative for Southeast Asia.’ With him are Dr. Kirill Artyukhov of the Australia Mission to Asean (left) and Nadhila Shani of the Asean Centre for Energy. ZOE CRUZADA/TRANSCO

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is regulating the entry of imported molasses into the country after the temporary ban it imposed on shipments from abroad is lifted.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said regulating molasses shipments ensures that it would only serve as ‘a stopgap measure’ for beefing up local supply to meet domestic requirements.

‘We have to make sure that the local produce is withdrawn from the sugar mills before we allow importation,’ Azcona told the BusinessMirror on the sidelines of the Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture on Wednesday.

The agency had recently issued Molasses Order (MO) 1 which imposed a temporary ban on molasses imports following the surge in shipments from abroad and the spike in local production.

The SRA chief said the unabated entry of molasses shipments created storage problems during milling season.

Prior to MO 1, any trader can bring in imported molasses as the government did not require permits or allocations prior to shipment.

Azcona said the SRA Board is working on Molasses Order (MO) 2, which would outline the rules for importing molasses.

Under the draft order, allocations granted to importers will be based on their purchases of locally produced molasses. This was patterned after Sugar Order (SO) 2 which was issued during crop year 2024-2025.

Under SO 2 or the voluntary purchase program, sugar allocations for eligible entities are based on the raw sugar volume they purchased from local farmers at a premium price.

In return, eligible participants would be prioritized in the government’s future import programs at a ratio of 2 (locally produced raw sugar purchased): 1 (imported sugar).

‘We need to find an objective and performance-based system for giving molasses import allocations. So, there has to be proof of local purchase,’ Azcona said.

‘Once they have proof of local purchase, we will come up with a calibrated formula that has an equivalent import allocation.’

He added that the MO 2 would be released prior to the lifting of the temporary ban on imported molasses, which remains in effect until December 31.

‘We want it to be fair to everyone. So, if you support the local molasses industry, you are allowed to import. We also want a fair and accountable way to do it,’ Azcona said.

Meanwhile, the SRA chief allayed concerns that regulating molasses shipments could put pressure on quotations for animal feeds and pump prices.

‘They can rest assured that won’t happen. We will do our best to prevent shortages because we don’t want that, too.’

He also said that under MO 1, the agency can extend or cut short the temporary ban imposed on molasses shipments.

‘We’re monitoring prices weekly. If we see the need to lift the moratorium, we can stop it anytime to arrest a price increase. But we don’t see that happening yet.’

The SRA recently issued MO 1 after planters, sugar mills, and other stakeholders sounded the alarm over the stock balance of local molasses and the decrease in its millsite prices by 30 percent year-on-year.

Molasses imports for crop year 2024-2025 jumped to 853,285 metric tons (MT) as of end-August, 28 percent higher than the average annual shipments in the three previous crop years.

Local production of the sugar byproduct also rose by 21 percent to 1.18 million metric tons (MMT) in the reference period from 975,934 MT last year. This resulted in a domestic millsite stock balance of 303,961 MT.

‘There is thus a need to impose a moratorium on the importation of molasses, and to revisit and review the policies and practices on the same, if only to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship between the local production and the importation of molasses.’

Meningitis, a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention, is frequently referred to as a ‘silent thief,’ a condition that strikes rapidly, devastates families, and leaves those who survive with enduring scars.

Each year, it takes the lives of hundreds of thousands globally, often in just 24 hours of its onset. Alarming statistics reveal that the Philippines ranks 32nd in the world out of 194 countries and second out of 27 countries in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of incidence of meningitis.

As World Meningitis Day 2025 is observed globally, and as the midpoint of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 approaches, Filipino health leaders, parents, and advocates are urging for more robust and united action.

The Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), together with GSK Philippines, recently led discussions on prevention, early diagnosis, and survivor support, highlighting how the nation can accelerate progress in the fight against this menace.

‘The Philippines ranks among the highest in meningitis incidence both globally and regionally. The burden remains high, and our response must change and improve,’ stressed Dr. Lulu Bravo, PFV Executive Director. ‘If we are to meet the roadmap’s targets, we need stronger surveillance, faster referral pathways, and better long-term support for children and families affected by meningitis.’

A mother’s story,

a child’s struggle

IN a panel discussion, Marjorie Puro, mother of a meningitis survivor, said the disease is no longer a medical statistic but a lived experience. Her nine-month-old daughter Kim fell ill with fever, cough, and colds, only to collapse within hours. ‘We didn’t know there was an infection in her brain and blood,’ Marjorie recounted. ‘One hour later she had a seizure, and by the next day, the rashes appeared. We were told it was 50-50 whether she would survive.’

Kim lived, but not without consequences. She lost part of her foot to amputation and bears scars on her arm. ‘Sometimes kids ask her what happened. It’s sad, but we’re still thankful. It could have been worse,’ Marjorie pointed out. Her story echoes what experts emphasize: meningitis survivors often face epilepsy, learning disabilities, or hearing loss. The Meningitis Progress Tracker says one in five survivors suffer lifelong complications.

For her part, pediatric neurologist Dr. Jo Janette de la Calzada explained why meningitis is especially dangerous for infants and toddlers. ‘The first 1,000 days of life are a critical period. The brain is still developing and the immune system is still maturing. An infection at this stage can be devastating,’ she narrated. Globally, nearly 40 percent of meningitis deaths occur in children under five.

She recalled one of her patients, a baby who survived meningitis at two months and is now 16, still struggles with seizures and school performance. ‘That’s why avoiding infections of the brain is so important-we are who we are because of our brain.’

As for Dr. Maria Liza Antoinette Gonzales, past president of PFV, she clarified that many still believe meningitis is rare or only bacterial. ‘That’s a myth. Bacteria cause most acute cases, but viruses and fungi can also trigger it. The most dangerous types such as meningococcus, pneumococcus, Hib [Haemophilus influenza type B], and group B streptococcus account for more than half of deaths.’

She likewise stressed that vaccines are a powerful shield like the Hib and pneumococcal vaccines that are already in the National Immunization Program. Meningococcal vaccines exist too, she said, though currently reserved for high-risk groups, but emphasized that prevention through vaccines and early recognition of symptoms like fever, stiff neck, confusion, or seizures can save lives.

A call for system-wide action

THE challenge isn’t just medical but also systemic. ‘Meningitis cannot be solved by science alone. It requires systems that detect early, health programs that reach the most vulnerable, and partnerships that connect global goals to local realities,’ notes Dr. Gio Barangan, GSK Philippines Country Medical Director.

Data from the Department of Health underscores the urgency. In 2023, Dr. Gonzales said the Philippines recorded more than 5,500 cases of acute meningitis and encephalitis compared to 3,700 cases in 2022, a 46-percent increase, while deaths rose by 30 percent for the same period, and experts warn the numbers may even be underreported.

The WHO’s 2030 roadmap is ambitious: end large bacterial meningitis epidemics, reduce vaccine-preventable cases by 50 percent and cut deaths by 70 percent, and ensure better survivor support. Success could save US$10 billion in healthcare costs globally and generate US$100 billion in economic benefits. Yet, as Dr. Gonzalez pointed out, ‘We currently lack a national strategic plan for meningitis. Surveillance exists, but gaps remain. To meet 2030 goals, we must urgently strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and care systems.’

Lighting the road ahead

THE observance of World Meningitis Day was capped with the ‘Light the Road Ahead’ ceremony, where candles were lit for those lost to the disease and for survivors who continue to live with its impact. ‘Meningitis kills within hours, and for survivors, the impact can last a lifetime,’ said Dr. Rose Capeding, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and PFV President. ‘As we light the road ahead, we commit to ending epidemics, reducing disability, and saving lives.’

For parents like Marjorie, for doctors who see the toll firsthand, and for organizations pushing for stronger national strategies, the message is clear: meningitis must no longer be ignored. Awareness, prevention, and action can save lives-and ensure no Filipino child’s future is left in the dark.

DESPITE the government’s goal of surpassing last year’s P1.9 trillion record-breaking investment approvals, the country’s manufacturing sector said it is still not getting enough investments.

‘We are not getting enough investments. We would need to have more, actually. We would want to encourage more investments in Philippine manufacturing,’ Federation of Philippine Industries, Inc. (FPI) Chairperson Elizabeth H. Lee told reporters on the sidelines of the FPI Business Summit 2025 on Wednesday.

During the business summit, Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) Undersecretary Angel Ignacio said ‘Last year, our registered approved investments reached a record breaking P1.9 trillion which is 30 percent higher than in 2023.’

Ignacio said of this figure, around P192.6 billion of investments went to the manufacturing sector.

‘We aim to surpass these numbers with a stronger push to revitalize your industry. This comes at a time when our economy, despite global headwinds, remains strong and resilient. Today, we are one of the fastest- growing economies in Asia and the world,’ added the OSAPIEA official.

As to the efforts of the country to attract more investments, Lee explained that regionally, the Philippines has some ‘advantages’ even amid corruption issues.

‘So if we were to take a look at corruption that’s happening, it’s a double-edged sword. One is there’s corruption. On the other side, is the Philippine government doing anything about that very corruption? The answer to that is yes. So that’s the silver lining,’ Lee said.

The head of the umbrella organization of Philippine manufacturers and producers said ‘We need to use that opportunity to actually shine, to say that the government recognizes there is corruption.’

This, Lee noted, is what the government needs to focus on ‘so we can help ourselves attract investments.’

Another move that the country can do to entice more investments is to ‘help our own local businesses because we want to prioritize our businesses. So Tatak Pinoy, Buy Local, Buy Pinoy. That’s important.’

‘We also need to prioritize Filipino-made products. So those are the two main things that we can actually do to help ourselves. They are the low-hanging fruits that we can actually do to help ourselves,’ added Lee.

For her part, Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina A. Roque underscored that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) are ‘working hard to align investments with our industrial priorities that deepen domestic supply chains and create more opportunities for local manufacturers and suppliers.’

Roque said this as she acknowledged that ‘We have a bit of a local problem now here,’ adding, ‘Investments are of course, coming in, but not as much as we expect it to be. So what DTI will be doing, it will be to strengthen the industries that are here.’

The country’s Trade chief underscored that DTI will ‘definitely be going to all of you [industries].’

‘I’ve already set some meetings with some of the industry owners, or at least presidents of the company, and we can really discuss on how to really grow and strengthen the businesses here in the Philippines,’ added Roque.

Despite investors adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach because of the headwinds, Roque said the Board of Investments (BOI) will not be recalibrating its target for investment approvals of P1.7 trillion for the agency alone.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that approved investments from both foreign and Filipino nationals as of the first half of 2025 are already at P481.01 billion.

THE year was 2008 and there she was, only 17, wet between the ears and competing on the world’s biggest sports stage-the 29th edition of the Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Hidilyn Diaz-looking so young, innocent and every inch the barrio teen from Barangay Mampang in Zamboanga City-was to compete against the best of the best in weightlifting.

The result was what everyone expected, but all the potentials were there.

Fast forward to Tokyo in 2021 in the pandemic-delayed 2020 Olympics and Diaz was again there, in her prime and coming off a silver medal from Rio de Janeiro four years ago.

She did the unprecedented. She etched her name and that of the Philippines. She won the country’s first Olympic gold medal on her fourth appearance in the quadrennial games called the greatest show on earth.

Come 2024 in Paris-exactly a hundred years to the day when the French capital first hosted the Games and, in the same manner, the century mark for the Philippine participation in the Olympics.

There was no Diaz on the roster but there was Carlos Yulo, who was a giant in his 4-foot-11 muscular frame with two gold medals in men’s vault and floor exercise of gymnastics.

Three gold medals in consecutive Olympics and the BusinessMirror was there to chronicle the biggest breakthrough by any Southeast Asian country in the Olympics.

‘Unbelievable? Unforgettable!’ remarked Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino, president of the Philippine Olympic Committee under whose watch came those milestones in Philippine sports.

Then Philippine Sports Commission chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez was more that ecstatic on Diaz’s accomplishment.

‘She’ll be a national treasure forever,’ said Ramirez, who, like everybody else in Philippine sports, dreamt of that elusive gold medal that not all countries have won.

Filipinos show strength

MANNY PACQUIAO is a no brainer as perhaps the most popular Filipino athlete ever-everywhere BusinessMirror goes around the world, the Philippines has become synonymous with Pacquiao.

Pacquiao may have enamored the world, but there was Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes who’s the hands down choice as the G.O.A.T. in billiards, even at a ripe age of 71 he continues to mesmerize the world with his magic on the table.

There’s Ernest John ‘EJ’ Obiena, the two-time Olympian who’s now a member of the exclusive 6.0 Meters Club in men’s pole vault and Yuka Saso, whose exploits on the golf course came even before she embraced Japanese citizenship.

Nonito Donaire Jr. couldn’t be denied a niche up there on the global boxing ring, and Carlo Biado, a potential heir apparent to Reyes on the pool table-not to mention Rubilen Amit, whose name is added to the dreaded long list of Filipino world-class cue artists.

SEA Games domination

IN a span of two decades, the Philippines emered overall champion of the biennial 11-nation Southeast Asian Games.

In 2005, Team Philippines was frolicked on home soil to dominate the games right before Filipino fans and to celebrate the success, all gold medalists were treated to a wonderful trip to then then newly-opened Hong Kong Disneyland.

Those games, too, marked a first in the event’s history when the opening ceremony was held not inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, but along Roxas Boulevard.

Fourteen years later in 2019 and the 30th edition of the SEA Games, Filipino athletes didn’t disappoint-they were overall champions once more in what was one of the biggest games ever in the number of events and sports.

It was one massive and extensive hosting chore that involved dozens of competition and practice venues, as well as local government involvement.

Gilas Pilipinas conquers

THE event at the Mall of Asia Arena was the Asian Qualifiers for the FIBA 2014 World Cup and the game was a crucial one against South Korea-the winner was to advance to the gold medal play and as important, clinch a ticket to the worlds in 2014 in Spain.

Just like the rest, the Filipino dribblers didn’t disappoint and went on to beat the Koreans and off to Seville they went for only the country’s second participation in the World Cup since the 1978 hosting at the Araneta Coliseum.

Move further to 2023 in Hangzhou in the 19th Asian Games.

Tim Cone and his bunch at Gilas Pilipinas defeated not Iran or China or South Korea, but Jordan to win back for the Philippines the Asian Games men’s basketball gold medal.

Future gets brighter

WITH Hidilyn Diaz sparking and Carlos Yulo sustaining the Olympic gold medal rush, there’s no other way for the Philippines but to continue what is now becoming a trend among Filipino athletes.

The men’s volleyball team, known as Alas Pilipinas, made history in the country’s hosting of the FIVB world championship only last month by beating many-time African champion and worlds regular Egypt and were a net fault away from toppling Iran for a round-of-16 appearance in the elite competition.

‘That’s historic and we will eagerly build on that momentum, not only in volleyball, but in all other sports,’ said Patrick ‘Patò’ Gregorio, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

To keep the momentum, Gregorio concocted a formula built primarily around a sports tourism campaign and inclusive participation of all sectors in sports development-from grassroots to elite.

The legacy of the three Olympic gold medals-and the historic accomplishments in other fronts-according to Gregorio, are the foundation of Filipino athletes winning side by side with the giants of sports.

‘The future of Philippine sports has become brighter than ever,’ he said.

AT LEAST 26 construction workers have been re-assigned to other government projects after losing their jobs due to the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control projects (FCP).

National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) Secretary General Santiago V. Nolla said the redeployment was facilitated to ensure that affected workers continue earning while the probe is underway.

‘We recommended that they transfer to other projects.Some have already joined the [Department of Transportation’s] railway project in Pampanga, while others are now working on the Metro Manila Subway along Mindanao Avenue,’ Nolla told the BusinessMirror in a text message.

Of the 26 displaced workers, 17 were absorbed by the Malolos-Clark Railway Project, while nine were transferred to the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Earlier, this newspaper reported that several construction workers had been placed in ‘hanging’ status for weeks as the government investigates alleged anomalies in flood control projects.

Their employment was disrupted after subcontractors they worked for were blacklisted along with firms named by President Marcos in the probe.

Nolla said NUBCW, in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is still conducting profiling to determine the total number of construction workers affected by the corruption investigation.

He added, however, that many of the flagged projects had no actual laborers on-site.

‘Many projects didn’t really have workers. The funds were simply taken and that’s the sad reality,’ Nolla said.

Skilled workers easy to find new jobs

MEANWHILE, Nolla said the recent rebound in construction employment-after a reported dip in July-underscores the strong demand for skilled workers, allowing many to quickly find new jobs despite the ongoing flood control probe.

Results from the August 2025 Labor Force Survey showed that construction employment rose from 4.60 million in July to 5.28 million in August, equivalent to 672,000 additional jobs.

‘There are plenty of jobs in the industry right now, and many companies are looking for skilled workers, so they’re readily hired. They were affected, yes, but they were able to find new work quickly because of their skills,’ he explained.

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, however, clarified that the ongoing probe into ghost flood control projects itself would not lead to job losses.

‘For me, this will not result in job losses because obviously there are no workers who have been hired as there’s really no project to speak about,’ Laguesma told the BusinessMirror.

He clarified, however, that this does not mean the construction industry is entirely immune to displacement.

‘We are not saying there will be no job losses. There will also be job losses but based on other reasons like project completion or termination for just causes,’ he added.

Laguesma stressed that legitimate projects will still proceed under closer government oversight.

‘The real and actual projects will still continue but this time under close monitoring and scrutiny,’ he said.

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to launch a new tracking application that will allow importers to monitor their shipments in real time.

The shipments will be tracked from its port to arrival to its release, a move seen to boost transparency and eliminate misinformation within the agency.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the app, which is powered by the bureau’s Value-Added Service Provider (VASP) system, aims to end the ‘black hole’ period when importers lose visibility over their shipments once they land at the port of Manila.

‘Just imagine the empowerment that we will give the importers. They will not be fooled anymore and we will no longer be a fall guy,’ Nepomuceno told reporters on the sidelines of a forum last Wednesday.

He added the app will notify importers once their cargo is being processed, assessed or released.

According to the BOC, the system will help curb disinformation that often leads to corruption and misunderstanding between importers, brokers, and customs personnel.

‘With this app, it will be harder for anyone to manipulate or mislead clients,’ the BOC chief said.

This move is a part of the initiative of the agency’s broader plan to achieve full digitalization of its processes which was described as the ‘ultimate solution’ to their long-standing inefficiencies.

‘Not partial, not 90 percent, but 100 percent full digitalization. Technologies are available for us to adopt. The question is do we have a budget for that?’

Nepomuceno said the BOC initially struggled with securing funding for the program since the 2025 budget proposal was already finalized when he was appointed as the agency’s chief.

Meanwhile, at the core of BOC’s modernization plan is the Customs Processing System (CPS) which will allow digital submission of import entries, assessments, and payments similar to an automated banking transaction. The BOC said the system will ensure that all transactions are fully recorded and traceable to minimize opportunities for fraud.

‘I promise you that we will pursue digitalization as the main thrust of changing the BOC. We will play our role, we’ll do our best to give you a better, modern BOC that you can be proud of, that can serve you well,’ the customs head said.

To complement the CPS, they are also planning to install upgraded scanning machines and smart CCTVs in ports nationwide.

‘With all these reforms, we are building a smart BOC and once the app is launched, both importers and the government will benefit from a more transparent and accountable customs system,’ Nepomuceno added.

In a powerful display of vision and purpose, Manila Electric Company (Meralco) convened its top leaders and partners for Horizons: One Meralco Long-term Sustainability Strategy Summit.

The landmark gathering unveiled the Group’s unified roadmap for a just, orderly, and affordable transition to cleaner energy-anchored on uplifting communities and improving the lives of millions of Filipinos.

With keynote voices from Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Sharon S. Garin, alongside strategic insights from senior leaders of Meralco, Meralco PowerGen Corporation (MGEN), and One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the summit marked a watershed moment in the Group’s collective journey toward a more climate-resilient and life-giving energy future.

Power within Reach and with Purpose

In his welcome remarks, Pangilinan emphasized that One Meralco’s sustainable actions must be rooted in balance, equity, and impact-not just ambition. He framed the Group’s long-term strategy as a dual commitment to a horizon that is cleaner for the planet and more prosperous for its people.

‘If there is a carbon-free future, there must be a poverty-free future. These must be the two themes we highlight. Strategy means little if the power it delivers is not within reach of the people who need it most. What good is a solar farm if the communities around it cannot be supplied with power 24/7, or cannot afford the power it produces? What use is a battery energy storage system if the power it holds never reaches schools, health centers, and homes? Every watt we deliver must carry not just power, but purpose,’ Pangilinan said.

Building on this vision, he underscored the Group’s goal of a coal-free One Meralco by 2050-and called for synergy across sectors to build a truly inclusive energy future. He stressed that no single entity could drive the energy transition alone.

One Meralco, Pangilinan added, is excited and ready to work closely with government-especially the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission-to help extend the benefits of affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy to all it serves, especially to communities that need it most.

He affirmed that progress demands shared responsibility, aligned action, and a commitment to ‘powering the good life for all’.

The ARC of Progress

In her keynote address, DOE’s Garin delivered a clear-eyed view of the nation’s energy landscape. She acknowledged the continued dominance of coal in the country’s power mix, contributing 42.0% to the total installed capacity and comprising 62.5% of total power generation, while highlighting the urgency of accelerating renewable energy development.

Garin then presented the Energy Sector Strategic Framework known as ARC-Access to Affordable Energy, Reliability and Resiliency, and Clean and Sustainable Energy-capturing the government’s commitment to build an energy system that is inclusive, climate-resilient, and future-ready. From protecting purchasing power to creating jobs, she emphasized that energy must serve as a foundation for inclusive growth and thriving communities.

At the heart of this vision is the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2023-2050, a comprehensive roadmap that charts the country’s clean energy transition. It outlines targets to raise renewable energy’s share in the power generation mix to 35% by 2030, 50% by 2040, and beyond 50% by 2050-supported by initiatives such as microgrid expansion, hybridized supply for underserved areas, and smart, green transmission infrastructure.

‘The energy transition is not just about replacing fuels-it’s about transforming futures. It must be inclusive, resilient, and rooted in the lived realities of our people. We are building a system that powers not only homes and industries, but also hope, dignity, and opportunity,’ Garin stated.

She likewise affirmed the DOE’s commitment to energy efficiency, electrification, and multi-sectoral collaboration-with local government units, national government agencies, and private sector partners such as One Meralco, whose projects directly advance national energy goals.

Powering the Good Life, One Horizon at a Time

Meralco Chief Sustainability Officer and Movem President and CEO Raymond B. Ravelo opened by framing the global and national context. With the Philippines ranked as the country most at risk from the perils of climate change, he stressed the urgent need to respond-as a nation, as a company, and as individuals.

Ravelo reaffirmed One Meralco’s commitment to Powering the Good Life, its overarching sustainability agenda: ‘We have made a deliberate choice: to place sustainable, life-giving action at the heart of everything we do. Not as a side initiative, not merely as a corporate obligation, but as a pledge to our people, to our planet, and to prosperity,’ he stated.

Ravelo pointed out that nearly half of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions arise from the energy sector-from fuels, power plants, and the grid itself. Given that footprint, he underscored that the responsibility and the opportunity to drive significant and meaningful change falls squarely on One Meralco’s shoulders: to drive the energy transition and to power the nation with purpose.

The executive also unveiled One Meralco’s Long-term Sustainability Strategy: a comprehensive roadmap for a just, orderly, and affordable shift to cleaner energy. Spanning three horizons from 2021 to 2050, the strategy begins with foundational investments in renewable energy supply and generation, while laying the groundwork for frontier innovations such as nuclear, hydrogen, biomass, and carbon capture.

‘Balance is key to our strategy-guided by science and sustainability, grounded in economic and practical realities, and most importantly, centered around the lives and welfare of people. We must ensure that every horizon crossed delivers not simply electricity, but energy that powers the good life for all,’ Ravelo said.

Addressing the Energy Trilemma Head-on

MGEN President and CEO Emmanuel V. Rubio laid out the realities and responsibilities of leading an energy transition in a country as vulnerable-and as ambitious-as the Philippines. He articulated MGEN’s mission to decisively solve the energy trilemma: delivering power that is affordable, reliable, and sustainable.

Rubio put the spotlight on MTerra Solar, the world’s largest integrated solar and battery project, as a breakthrough in renewable innovation. Once completed, it will provide clean power to over 2.4 million Filipino households and help avoid up to 4.3 million tons of carbon emissions annually-equivalent to removing more than three million gas-powered vehicles from the road.

He declared MGEN’s bold ambition to lead the nation’s renewable energy landscape by 2027-achieving its 2030 targets three years ahead of schedule and accelerating the pace of the energy transition.

‘Our long-term commitment is to phase out coal by 2050. But during this transition, coal remains necessary to bridge the gap-used responsibly and strategically-to guarantee that as we shift to cleaner sources, we do not sacrifice reliability and affordability along the way,’ Rubio said.

At the Heart of Energy for All

Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao affirmed that electricity is more than power-it is possibility. As One Meralco moves through its horizons toward a cleaner energy future, he stressed the imperative to reach communities still living in darkness.

Through the Foundation’s community initiatives, the Group is transforming lives in five critical areas: energizing off-grid public schools, rural health centers, agriculture and livelihood facilities, water access systems, and strengthening local governments for disaster resilience and recovery.

‘These are not just projects-they are lifelines. They are bridges between poverty and productivity, between exclusion and empowerment. And as One Meralco moves toward a greener grid, we are also committed to not leave the underprivileged behind. Because sustainability is not just about carbon-it’s also about compassion,’ Tarayao stated.

He added that these efforts are not only aligned with One Meralco’s sustainability pillars and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. More importantly, they are deeply embedded in the Philippine Development Plan’s vision: ‘ang magkaroon ng matatag, maginhawa, at panatag na buhay para sa lahat ng Pilipino.’

True Compassion and a Legacy Beyond a Lifetime

During the Summit’s panel discussion and open forum, Garin intimated that the pursuit of sustainability is legacy work. ‘Its rewards are not reaped in one’s lifetime but are meant for the generations to come. Somebody has to start it,’ she stressed, underscoring the responsibility of today’s leaders to act with patience, compassion, and foresight.

Pangilinan echoed this call, pointing to One Meralco’s own experiences in energizing communities such as Cagbalete Island in Quezon and Isla Verde in Batangas, where it has not onlybrought light to schools and households for the first time, but also unlocked broader possibilities: cold storage for fishermen, internet connectivity for students, and new opportunities for livelihoods. Electricity, he emphasized, is more than power-it is an enabler of opportunity.

Still, Pangilinan was clear: ‘Power alone is not enough. True compassion requires a totality of solutions, with foundations, corporates, and partners working together to extend the benefits of technology, connectivity, and resilience to the poorest and most vulnerable. Only then can sustainability leap from the pages of strategy into the lived realities of the Filipino people.’

Hope Is in the Horizon: A Brighter and Inclusive Energy Future

From Horizons emerged a clear and compelling signal: that the future of energy must be shaped through shared purpose and collective resolve. As Pangilinan reminded the Group’s leadership, ‘No one builds the future alone.’

Shining a bright light on this commitment is One Meralco’s Long-term Sustainability Strategy-a bold yet balanced blueprint designed to ensure that progress is both inclusive and enduring. It reflects a shift from ambition to accountability, from vision to action. In this spirit of camaraderie and compassion, hope is no longer distant-it is the horizon One Meralco moves toward, hand in hand with its partners and the millions of Filipinos it serves.