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What broke the PHL-EU FTA deadlock? Plain hard work

AFTER years of stalled negotiations, the Philippines and the European Union have finally found common ground on a free trade agreement (FTA), driven by sustained negotiations, high-level political backing and growing economic and geopolitical incentives on both sides.

European Union’s Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said the breakthrough came after intensive work by negotiating teams, a video call between European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefcovic and Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ma. Cristina A. Roque, and the phone call between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Monday night Philippine time.

‘It was a good call which came after intense work conducted by the two teams on the EU and the Philippine side by the chief negotiators,’ Santoro told the BusinessMirror, noting that the discussions also followed a productive interaction between the European Commissioner for Trade and Philippine trade officials.

Santoro described the outcome as a ‘milestone,’ saying both sides had substantially concluded negotiations and established the final framework of the agreement, leaving only residual technical issues and legal review.

He declined to identify a single sticking point that held up the talks, saying trade negotiations typically involve multiple complex issues.

‘In any negotiation, there are elements which are a bit more complex to be tackled than others,’ Santoro said. ‘Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.’

The breakthrough also reflects a broader convergence of economic and geopolitical interests.

The sixth round of negotiations, held in Manila from May 18 to 22, 2026, saw significant progress in market-access discussions and consolidation of the negotiating text.

The talks were led by Dora Correia of the European Commission and Allan Gepty of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Negotiators reported substantial completion of chapters on digital trade, intellectual property and final provisions, while several other chapters had already been provisionally closed during previous rounds on MSMEs, transparency, anti-fraud clause, sustainable food systems, good regulatory practices, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, car annex and code of conduct for panelists and mediators in state-to-state disputes.

For Chris Humphrey, executive director of the EU-Asean Business Council, shifting global dynamics have made closer cooperation between Europe and Southeast Asia increasingly important.

Humphrey said the European Union and Asean share a commitment to a multilateral, rules-based trading order and adherence to international law, making them natural partners amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.

‘If you’re sitting in Europe, you’ve lost a good friend in the US,’ Humphrey said, arguing that Brussels needs dependable partners around the world and that Asean can serve as a viable alternative amid growing uncertainty in global trade.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has emerged as an attractive destination for investment because of its young workforce, expanding consumer market and strong services sector.

Humphrey said the FTA would benefit the Philippines not only through increased trade in goods but also through expanded trade in services, an area where the country has significant strengths.

He added that the agreement could boost investment, create jobs and increase opportunities for Filipino businesses seeking access to the European market.

Prof. Victor Andres ‘Dindo’ Manhit, president of Stratbase, said the deal also reflects Europe’s desire to deepen ties with strategic partners amid an increasingly fragmented global economy.

He noted that negotiations were suspended during the Duterte administration amid tensions over human rights concerns but that current conditions have created momentum for both sides to pursue stronger economic engagement.

‘We live basically in a fragmented world,’ Manhit said, adding that countries are increasingly seeking economic cooperation with partners they consider strategic allies.

The agreement is now expected to undergo ‘legal scrubbing’ before signing and ratification by the Philippine Congress and the European Parliament.

Santoro said the negotiations have already crossed a critical threshold, with both sides agreeing on the framework that will underpin one of the Philippines’s most significant trade deals in recent years.

New Bill forces banks, M-Pesa to share customer data

Banks and payment platforms such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money will be required to share customer data among themselves and licensed third parties, ushering in open banking in Kenya.

The Treasury and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) have jointly prepared a Bill that seeks to introduce open finance, where customers give third-party providers permission to access and use their payment-account data held by banks and other payment providers.

This would allow new financial services, triggering competition, innovation, and customer empowerment in the banking and financial sectors, ultimately lowering costs.

The National Payment System Bill, 2026, will also empower the CBK to force payment service providers, including different banks, mobile money networks, digital wallets, and payment platforms, to allow their platforms to communicate and exchange funds securely with one another.

This would make it easier for Kenyans to money and use financial services across banks, mobile-money wallets and fintech platforms, regardless of their payment service provider.

‘Each payment service provider or payment system operator shall use systems that are capable of securely sharing customer data with third parties for open finance purposes,’ the Bill says.

‘The central bank may require a payment service provider or payment system operator to implement a mechanism to securely share customer data with third parties after obtaining the customer’s consent.’

Payment service providers handle customer-facing transactions, such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money.

Payment system operators own the underlying infrastructure for settling funds between financial institutions and include firms like Pesalink.

The open finance push will upend how banks and fintechs use customers’ data.

Presently, banks and platforms like M-Pesa keep customers’ transaction data in their vaults.

With open banking, customers can grant permission for fintech apps, other banks, or service providers to access this data.

The new Bill would require banks, mobile money providers and other payment companies to build systems that can securely share a customer’s data with other licensed companies, as long as the customer agrees to it.

This is important because it could break the grip that big players like banks and M-Pesa have on customer relationships.

Presently, startups or fintechs seeking to innovate and launch fresh products struggle to get a full financial picture of consumers.

Under the new Bill, a licensed fintech could pull customer data directly from banks or mobile wallets should the users consent.

The Bill does not specify on how access would work and says the CBK ‘shall make regulations to give effect to this section.’

Details on what data can be accessed, under what conditions, and at what cost would be left to subsequent CBK regulations.

Critics of open banking argue that it can lead to greater security risk and exploitation of consumers.

The first open banking regulations were introduced by the European Union in 2015, and many other countries have since followed suit.

Nigeria is a pioneer of open banking in Africa.

If Kenya’s Parliament passes the law, players will have one year to comply with the new requirements.

‘Upon the commencement of this Act, any person providing payment services shall, within one year of the commencement, comply with the provisions of this Act,’ the Bill says.

The draft would also compel all financial and payment service providers to use systems compatible with competitors’ systems as part of a renewed interoperability push.

‘Each payment service provider or payment system operator shall use systems that are interoperable with the systems used by other payment service providers and payment system operators, and their agents,’ the Bill says.

The proposed law requires issuers of electronic money and providers of digital wallets such as M-Pesa and Airtel Money to hold all money received from customers in a trust account at a commercial bank or a microfinance bank.

‘The monies held in a trust account shall be held in a bank licensed under the Banking Act or a microfinance bank licensed under the Microfinance Act,’ the Bill says.

The money in the trust accounts would only be invested in Kenyan government securities or held in interest-bearing trust accounts at a bank or microfinance bank.

This is intended to ensure that electronic money or wallet balance is backed by funds held separately in trust.

‘The balances in the trust account shall not at any time be less than what is owed to the customers,’ the proposed law adds.

An officer of a payment service provider or payment system operator could face a fine of up to Sh3 million for contravening the provisions, rising to Sh5 million for a repeat offence.

A payment service provider or payment system operator could face an administrative fine of up to Sh20 million.

The CBK could impose an additional penalty of up to Sh100,000 for each day or part of a day that a failure or refusal to comply continues.

Alausa urges stronger global investment in education to expand access

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has called for stronger global investment in education, urging governments, development partners, philanthropies and the private sector to complement domestic efforts with effective international support to expand access and opportunities for children and young people.

Alausa made the call while delivering Nigeria’s opening remarks at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Multiply Possibility financing campaign in New York, which Nigeria is co-hosting with Italy.

The Minister said Nigeria accepted the co-hosting role because of its conviction that education and skills development are among the most important investments countries can make, particularly in harnessing the potential of young populations and building resilient economies.

He said Nigeria’s global advocacy was being matched by concrete actions at home, with ongoing efforts focused on expanding access, reducing cost barriers, strengthening skills development and leveraging digitalisation to improve the education system.

According to him, the measures form part of the broader agenda for macro-fiscal stability and inclusive economic growth under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Alausa, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, on Tuesday, highlighted Nigeria’s domestic financing commitments for education through 2030, bringing together updated Federal Government expenditure projections and financing commitments at the state level.

He said the approach reflects the scale of Nigeria’s federal structure and the government’s determination to mobilise resources for education across all levels.

The Minister noted that Nigeria’s efforts were part of a wider movement among GPE partner countries, with 50 countries collectively committing more than $400 billion in domestic financing for education through 2030.

He stressed, however, that country leadership and domestic financing must be complemented by effective international partnerships to achieve lasting transformation in education systems.

Alausa described the GPE as an important platform for bringing governments and development partners together around nationally determined priorities, while helping to translate national ambitions into stronger education systems and improved outcomes for children.

He therefore urged governments, development partners, philanthropic organisations and the private sector to sustain the momentum generated by the Multiply Possibility campaign and support the forthcoming High-Level Financing Event.

The Minister said the ultimate focus should be on translating political commitments and financial resources into measurable improvements in classrooms and meaningful opportunities for children and young people.

Alausa reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining reforms and partnerships aimed at strengthening the education system and widening opportunities for every child and young person.

He assured stakeholders that, under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, education would remain a central priority, with the Federal Government continuing to expand access, strengthen learning and skills development, harness digital opportunities and equip learners to contribute meaningfully to a more prosperous and peaceful Nigeria.

Exec: Aboitiz unit scaling up PHL rooftop solar business

Solviva Energy, a residential solar startup backed by Aboitiz Power Corp., is expanding its reach due to rising rooftop solar demand and new, simplified government installation rules.

It said Tuesday that customer inquiries for Solviva’s residential solar packages surged by 272 percent from March to August 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

After installation, customers showed higher overall electricity use. Solviva Energy CEO Coby Cobankiat said this will improve quality of life and productivity in a country with one of Southeast Asia’s lowest per capita power consumption rates.

‘Over the last couple of years, we’ve been in a testing phase. Now the goal is to expand in the smartest way that we can. We intend to be available in more cities and offer more products for more households.’

The company will expand its market within and beyond the Greater Manila area, possibly in Cebu and Davao.

‘What changed this year was the conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted shipping routes and global energy markets, causing price volatility. That has been the tipping point for us. Instead of us trying to force demand for rooftop solar, they’re coming to us,’ Cobankiat added.

Moreover, he said the Department of Energy’s Department Circular (DC) 2026-08-0017 accelerated adoption by easing installation rules for homes, medical facilities, and small businesses. ‘In general, the current environment is geared towards setting the type of policies that can accelerate adoption even further.’

To lower the barrier to entry, Solviva offers a zero-down payment option instead of requiring upfront lump-sum costs.

Solviva is under 1882 Energy Ventures, the startup and innovation arm of AboitizPower, serving as a direct-to-consumer bridge for clean energy solutions since 2023.

Last July, AboitizPower said its net income jumped by 45 percent to P18.4 billion in the first half due to higher generation margins and capacity expansion.

While earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for generation and retail supply rose 29 percent, distribution business EBITDA declined 3 percent due to higher expansion expenses.

AboitizPower said its overall financial performance was buoyed by increased energy sales and contributions from new solar and hydro assets.

Mortgage financiers issue new Sh28bn loans as rates fall

Lower borrowing costs, larger loans and longer repayment periods drove the mortgage market to a decade-long record growth of Sh27.9 billion last year, helping revive home financing after a contraction in 2024.

The 2025 Bank Supervision Annual Report released by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) shows outstanding home loans rose 10 percent, or Sh27.9 billion, to Sh307.2 billion in the year ended December 2025 from Sh279.3 billion a year earlier.

This came as the average interest rates for home loans dropped to 13.5 percent in 2025 from 15.2 percent a year earlier.

The average mortgage size, on the other hand, rose 11.1 percent to Sh10 million from Sh9 million, while banks extended the average repayment period to 11.5 years from 11.1 years.

The combination gave prospective homeowners access to larger amounts of credit at lower average rates, while the longer repayment periods potentially helped spread the cost of the bigger loans over more years.

The home loans expansion was the largest over the last decade, taking growth into double digits for the first time since 2015, when prospective homeowners took Sh39.3 billion, or 24 percent, more than the previous year.

‘The value of mortgage loans outstanding was Sh307.2 billion in December 2025, as compared to Sh279.3 billion in December 2024. The increase was due to new mortgage loans granted in 2025,’ CBK officials wrote in the report.

The stronger lending reversed the weakness recorded a year earlier, when the portfolio fell by Sh2.2 billion, or 0.8 percent, from Sh281.5 billion in 2023 on elevated interest rates.

The financial services regulator said the number of home loans issued in 2025 rose by 746, or 2.5 percent, to 30,762 facilities from 30,016 in December 2024. This suggests that the expansion was driven more by the size of loans than by a large increase in the number of borrowers.

CBK found that mortgage rates across the market ranged from 7.5 percent to 19.6 percent in 2025, compared with 8.2 percent to 20.4 percent the previous year.

The decline in borrowing costs also coincided with a sharp shift toward fixed-rate facilities, which accounted for 24.3 percent of mortgages by last December compared with 14.1 percent a year earlier.

Variable-rate facilities remained dominant at 75.6 percent of loans, although their share fell considerably from 85.9 percent in 2024.

The tilt toward fixed rates offered some borrowers greater certainty over repayment costs at a time when lenders were also extending the repayment period for housing facilities.

‘The average loan maturity was 11.5 years with a minimum of 5.7 years and a maximum of 18 years in 2025, as compared to an average loan maturity of 11.1 years,’ CBK said.

The longer terms potentially reduced monthly instalments for borrowers, making it easier to service larger facilities despite the higher value of properties being financed.

The stronger lending was also supported by increased access to mortgage refinancing, with more institutions obtaining longer-term funding through the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), which lends banks and Saccos at 5 percent interest.

Ten mortgage lenders had outstanding mortgage refinancing facilities from KMRC in 2025, increasing from seven in 2024. Their outstanding KMRC-backed facilities jumped 64.7 percent to Sh19.6 billion in December 2025 from Sh11.9 billion a year earlier, the CBK reports.

The increase in refinancing came as the mortgage market remained heavily concentrated among a handful of lenders, with nine institutions accounting for 90.6 percent of the market, comprising 39 lenders.

Seven large-sized banks – KCB, Absa, Stanbic, NCBA, Co-operative, StanChart and Equity – accounted for 77.4 percent, while two medium-sized lenders, HFCB and Family, controlled another 13.2 percent.

The concentration was pronounced among the four largest banks, together accounting for nearly 60 percent of outstanding loans.

KCB held Sh91.5 billion, equivalent to 32.8 percent of the market, followed by Absa with Sh31.3 billion, or 11.2 percent, Stanbic with Sh22.3 billion, or eight percent, while NCBA had Sh21.6 billion, representing 7.7 percent of outstanding loans.

Despite the rebound, stronger lending did not ease repayment stress, with non-performing mortgage facilities rising by Sh4.2 billion, or 9.13 percent, to Sh50.2 billion during the year.

‘The non-performing mortgage loans to gross mortgage loans ratio was 16.3 percent in December 2025, as compared to 16.5 percent in December 2024,’ CBK wrote.

The ratio remained above the industry gross NPLs-to-gross-loans ratio of 16 percent in December 2025, although it was below the 17.1 percent recorded across the banking industry a year earlier.

Banks also continued to require substantial borrower equity, with most maintaining maximum loan-to-value ratios below 90 percent of property values, limiting the extent to which buyers could finance purchases entirely through borrowing.

CBK expects the recovery in housing finance to continue this year, with demand for mortgage loans projected to increase as interest rates stabilise and the supply of affordable homes expands through government-backed projects.

The regulator also sees faster processing of land transactions as the Ministry of Lands digitises its processes, potentially reducing delays that have historically affected property purchases and mortgage disbursements.

CBK further expects availability of discounted long-term financing from institutions such as KMRC, alongside partnerships between developers and financiers to provide affordable housing, to support demand for home loans.

Residents decry Bududa’s poor maternity care system

For several women in Bududa District, the journey into motherhood is marked by uncertainties and tragedies allegedly caused by negligence by health workers, among other reasons.

Two weeks ago, 34-year-old Sandra Khabuya, who was pregnant, died at Bududa General Hospital reportedly due to negligence by health workers. On the fateful day, she had reportedly arrived at the facility at around 10am on a Sunday with pregnancy-related complications.

The deceased was a resident of Namarare Village and a secretary in the Trade Department of Bududa District Local Government.

Her sister, Ms Sylvia Namome, said Khabuya was examined by a doctor on duty and given medication. The doctor later left.

‘We struggled to secure further attention from health workers in vain as her condition deteriorated. By about 4pm, she started to cry for help. She later began vomiting and bleeding heavily, and complained of severe pain, but there was no one to attend to her,’ Ms Namome told the Monitor on September 9 at the facility.

In a September 10 letter, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Max Martin Mukula said six hospital staff had been ordered to make a statement at the police over Khabuya’s death.

The decision was made during a District Security Committee meeting chaired by Bududa resident district commissioner (RDC) Juliet Solome Namara.

‘I have received a letter from the Criminal Investigations Directorate of Bududa Police Station requesting me to inform you to report to police on the above-referenced matter,’ the letter signed by the CAO, reads.

Elgon Regional Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika confirmed that investigations into the death of Khabuya at the hospital are ongoing.

Khabuya’s sister said she pleaded to be taken to the theatre or transferred to another facility but in vain.

‘We kept asking for help, but no one seemed to be listening. It was heartbreaking to watch my sister suffer, and the health workers did nothing just because we didn’t have money,’ Ms Namome said.

However, Dr Sylvia Ntegeka, the medical superintendent of Bududa hospital, said the deceased arrived after she had already lost a lot of blood.

‘The health workers attended to her, but her condition continued to deteriorate,’ she said.

The conflicting accounts underline the difficulty of establishing what happened in individual cases, but some local leaders said Khabuya’s death was not an isolated case.

Other cases of maternal deaths

In May, the death of 31-year-old Jennifer Nasaka at the hospital also triggered a police investigation after her family and local leaders alleged that treatment had been delayed and that relatives had been asked to obtain medicines and make payments.

Nasaka, from Nalwanza Sub-county, had reportedly spent three days at the hospital before she died during childbirth.

Her mother, Ms Lornah Matuka, said medics asked Nasaka’s relatives to buy drugs before they could attend to her.

‘We were asked to buy medicine, and at one point, I even left her phone as collateral [security],’ she said.

For Ms Christine Nandala, the birth of her first child was supposed to mark the beginning of motherhood two years ago, but it became a memory to carry for the rest of her life.

Ms Nandala alleged that she lost her first-born baby due to negligence of the health workers at Bududa hospital.

In 2024, Aidah Bisikwa, a pregnant woman, died at the hospital because of pregnancy complications. Her attendant, Ms Margret Kakayi, alleged that health workers were unkind and harsh in the way they handled the patient and believed the ill treatment she received may have contributed to her death.

RDC Namara said the implicated health workers and administrators will remain out of office until investigations establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths of pregnant mothers and/or newborns and whether failures in service delivery contributed to them.

‘We want to improve service delivery. We have learnt that doctors are giving greater attention to patients in the private wing because they pay for services, affecting the patients in the general wards,’ she said.

Mr James Wabuteya, the chairperson of Nabewo B Village, called for enhanced supervision at the hospital.

Bududa hospital’s long history also reflects persistent challenges. In 2021, health workers reported problems with a sewage system that had reportedly gone decades without rehabilitation, while earlier reports highlighted water-supply challenges.

The State House Health Monitoring Team that spent time in the district recently also highlighted concerns about increasing referrals and deaths among expectant mothers.

The team also identified poor infrastructure, inadequate staff accommodation, low staffing levels, and a shortage of specialists among other challenges affecting service delivery.

Sources also told this publication that blood shortage remains a persistent challenge in the hospital. During the 2025/2026 financial year, Bududa District requested 6,000 units of blood from the Mbale Regional Blood Bank, but the facility reportedly received only 427 units.

More than 150 patients were reportedly referred to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital because of inadequate blood supplies.

However, Dr Ahmed Bumba, the principal medical officer-in-charge of the Mbale Regional Blood Bank, said blood is supplied to health facilities in the region based on requests and that Bududa hospital receives blood in sufficient quantities and within the required time.

Bududa District Health Officer Dr Alex Kakala Mushiso said the relevant officials are working towards reorganising the hospital’s management to strengthen supervision and improve service delivery.

Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the senior communications officer at the Ministry of Health, said investigations into the concerns raised at Bududa General Hospital are ongoing.

‘The ministry would be in a better position to comment on the findings and any action to be taken once the investigations are concluded,’ he said.

The Ministry of Health recorded more than 1,000 facility-based maternal deaths during the 2024/2025 financial year. Obstetric haemorrhage accounted for the largest share of reviewed maternal deaths, followed by hypertensive disorders.

In the Bugisu Sub-region, 78 maternal deaths were recorded among more than 100,000 facility deliveries during the same period.

About Bududa hospital

Bududa General Hospital is one of the longstanding public hospitals serving Bugisu Sub-region. Records place its establishment in the 1960s, with some sources giving 1966 and others 1969.

The hospital is a government-owned general hospital located in Bududa District, about 38 kilometres southeast of Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. It serves residents of Bududa and functions as a referral point for patients from lower-level health facilities in the district.

Its current official capacity is 100 beds, according to the ministry’s health-sector performance data.

CRICKET-CPL-Powell proud of Kingsmen despite failing to lift title

Despite falling agonisingly short in their bid to capture their first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title, captain of the Jamaica Kingsmen Rovman Powell said he is still proud of the team’s performance.

The Kingsmen – the CPL’s newest franchise – went down by eight wickets to the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the final at Kensington Oval on Sunday, to give the Falcons their maiden title.

Reflecting on the tournament, Powell said the team had shown resilience to bounce back from losing their first three matches to make the playoffs and the final.

While admitting he was disappointed not to have won the title, he said there were lots of positives to take away.

‘It’s a good feeling, to be honest. I think it’s a very hard-fought campaign for us. I’m so proud of the boys. I honestly feel it’s a proud journey for us. We have accomplished a lot of things. We set out to be in the finals, and when we came to the tournament, we wanted to see if we could progress all the way,’ Powell said.

‘It was a slow start to the competition as we lost our first few games, but we built a little bit of momentum with our home crowd back home in Jamaica, and from there the guys started to believe that we could actually play cricket.

‘We went to Trinidad, which is a difficult place to play cricket, and we played a very good game down there. That confidence kept building within the team. We knew that as soon as we squeezed into the last four of the competition how dangerous our team could be, and the guys just kept chipping in.

‘Credit has to be given to them throughout the entire competition. They listened to the leadership that myself and the head coach provided, and I am actually proud of the boys,’ he added.

Campaign takes good sporting turn

Rogers Kizza may have won his way into Uganda’s growing electric-car club, but the bigger story around his prize is taking a distinctly sporting turn. Six days after the Entebbe-based motorist was drawn as the latest winner of a brand-new electric vehicle, Linglong Tyres has turned its attention to the football pitch, bringing its dealer network together for a new nine-team tournament.

Kizza, who bought his Linglong tyres from the City Tyres Bombo Road branch, emerged from the fifth electric-vehicle promotion draw conducted at Mandela Group’s Industrial Area premises last Wednesday.

The draw, conducted by Linglong Sales Director for the Middle East and Africa Tina Wang, initially landed on another customer who could not be reached by telephone. A second draw produced Kizza’s name, adding him to a growing list of Ugandan beneficiaries of the promotion.

Among the previous winners are John Bosco Mugisha, Godfrey Kyeyune, Florence Nandede Wamono and Moses Ssenyonjo.

Road to pitch

While the electric vehicle remains the headline prize, Linglong’s latest initiative has given the campaign another sporting layer. The inaugural Mandela Group Linglong Dealers’ Football Tournament was launched alongside the latest promotion and has brought together nine teams representing external Linglong tyre dealers.

The tournament, staged at Mandela Sports Arena, is designed to take relationships between the tyre manufacturer, City Tyres and its dealers beyond the showroom and into competition.

The teams will battle for trophies, medals and other prizes, with the tournament intended to become an annual fixture. For a company whose Ugandan footprint has already intersected with motorsport and other sports, the move into dealer football adds another route to engaging its wider community.

Sporting connection

Mandela Group has previously used sport as part of its customer engagement through initiatives including the City Oil Desert Challenge and City Tyres and Pirelli Formula One promotions. It has also supported disciplines such as chess, basketball, football and badminton.

The new dealers’ tournament therefore fits into a broader strategy of using sport not merely as entertainment but as a way of creating interaction around its brands and partners.

For Kizza, though, the immediate attraction is considerably more personal. He received the keys to his electric vehicle at the Mandela Group premises, completing a journey that began with the purchase of two Linglong tyres and ended with a prize few motorists would expect from a routine tyre purchase.

Wang said Linglong would continue improving its products and services while appreciating the support of Ugandan customers. The promotion remains open to customers who purchase qualifying Linglong tyres through City Tyres, with electric vehicles among the prizes offered through the campaign.

And as another batch of dealers begins its football journey, Linglong’s message is moving beyond tyres and cars: the road to the customer can sometimes lead to the pitch.

PITCH PARTNERS

Beyond Business. The Linglong Dealers’ Football Tournament gives the tyre brand another sporting platform after its links with motorsport and other disciplines. With nine external dealers competing for honours, the inaugural event is designed to strengthen relationships away from the showroom while giving the partners a reason to compete, connect and build a tradition.

Arthaland Gallery promotes green living vision in Quezon City

Green developer Arthaland is taking its sustainable residential vision north with the opening of the Arthaland Gallery in Quezon City, featuring Liv, its newest residential development in the Katipunan area.

Designed as an immersive touchpoint for prospective homeowners, the gallery brings the project’s vision closer to the market, allowing visitors to experience firsthand how thoughtful design, sustainability and contemporary urban living come together in a community positioned within one of Quezon City’s established residential and education hubs.

Located at the corner of Rajah Matanda Street and Katipunan Avenue, the gallery is about 3 kilometers, or roughly Jive to 10 minutes, from the Liv project site.

‘The Arthaland Gallery experience was designed to give visitors a feel for Liv even before it is completed. They can see and experience the units and lifestyle we are creating at Liv as

Arthaland expands its presence in Quezon City,’ says Celeste Cariño, associate vice president for business planning and development, Arthaland.

The space includes a display area, a digital kiosk, a scale model of the development, a unit finishes area, and fully furnished studio and one-bedroom model units. It will also have a café operated by the local brand Switch Coffee, with an indoor space and an al fresco area open to the public.

The gallery was launched through a symbolic Tree of Life ceremony attended by the Arthaland project team and partners.

Cariño says the Tree of Life reflects the values behind Liv, including balance, harmony, unity, and the interconnectedness between people and nature.

During the ceremony, the representatives led by Cariño watered a plant to symbolize the nurturing of shared roots. The tree then lit up from its roots upward, formally opening the gallery. The Tree of Life will eventually be part of Liv’s podium design.

She describes Liv as a glue bringing together carefully crafted residences, study and work areas, wellness facilities, and social spaces to create a vertical community centered on connection, well-being, and sustainable living. The development builds on

She says Arthaland’s experience in the mid-market residential segment for sustainability, wellness, exceptional quality, and thoughtful design is geared to benefit more people.

Liv champions connectivity with development’s location, with dual access to Katipunan Avenue and Esteban Abada Street, Liv features a dedicated bridgeway connecting directly to Ateneo de Manila University’s Gate 1. It also has dual street access and is about a five- minute walk from LRT 2 Katipunan Station. Miriam College, the University of the Philippines, and a range of schools, commercial establishments, and lifestyle destinations are also within easy reach.

The 46-story Liv North will be the first of the two towers in the development, offering 748 residential units. Studio, One-bedroom, and Two-bedroom units range from approximately 24 to 70 square meters and are designed for investors, parents seeking homes for their children, and professionals seeking a well-connected address near leading educational institutions and key business districts.

The model units at Liv were designed by Hong Kong-based RGBA Design Ltd., which worked with Arthaland on interior architecture and hospitality design. Founded and led by Rowena Guevara Berroya, Cariño says RGBA brings more than two decades of experience across the Philippines and Asia, with a portfolio that includes collaborations with major hospitality groups. For Liv, Cariño says RGBA designed the interiors to make the most of compact urban spaces without making them feel restrictive, creating homes that are functional, flexible, and distinctly personal.

Cariño describes the 25-square-meter Studio model unit as envisioned for a young achiever who is beginning to build her future while expressing her own style. Instead of a conventional bed arrangement, the model unit features a custom bunk bed with a study area underneath, creating distinct spaces for rest, work, and creativity while keeping the living area open. Large operable windows bring fresh air and natural light into the unit, while the separate toilet and shower areas allow two routines to run simultaneously.

Adaptable layouts also allow the spaces to evolve as residents’ needs change, while biophilic elements bring a touch of nature into the home.The approximately 40-square-meter One-bedroom model unit takes a different approach, designed for a resident who has grown into their own identity and values independence, comfort and intentional choices. A private balcony extends the living space, while large operable windows bring in natural light and fresh air. The separate toilet and shower areas provide added privacy and convenience, particularly when entertaining guests.

Liv North is targeted for turnover in July 2031.

Yaw Preko Calls For Renovation Of Accra Sports Stadium

Former Ghana international Yaw Preko has called for the Accra Sports Stadium to be renovated rather than demolished, describing the historic venue as Ghana’s equivalent of Wembley Stadium.

Calls for the stadium to be demolished and rebuilt have increased in recent weeks amid concerns over its deteriorating condition, with critics describing it as a ‘death trap’ following a recent inspection.

Speaking after the Black Stars Legends’ 6-3 defeat to UMB Speed Stars at the Adjiringano Astro Turf, Preko said the stadium’s history and heritage should be preserved.

‘The Accra Sports Stadium is our Wembley. We can’t demolish it, but we can break some places and add other things,’ he told reporters.

The former Anderlecht and Fenerbahçe forward believes authorities should reconstruct damaged sections and upgrade the facility rather than replace it entirely.

Despite the concerns over its condition, the stadium remains approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to host international matches as Ghana prepares for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.