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Asian Games 2026: Team Philippines’ schedule for September 29

Team Philippines looks to add another gold to its medal haul at the 2026 Asian Games, with several finals scheduled on Tuesday, September 29.

The Philippines shoots for a historic gold in sepak takraw. Asia’s best EJ Obiena sees action in the men’s pole vault final while Victoria Bossong looks to carry her strong showing in the heats into the women’s 800-meter final.

Team Philippines schedule for September 29, Tuesday at Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026

SOURCE: Asian Games official website. Information subject to change.

Archery

7:15am – Girvin Garcia vs Khalifa Alkaabi (UAE) – recurve men’s individual

7:15am – Chass Colas vs Juan Da Cruz (Timor-Leste) – recurve men’s individual

12:15pm – Naina Tagle vs Saima Uddin (Bangladesh) – recurve women’s individual

12:15pm – Gabrielle Biduare – Nilufar Hamroeva (Uzbekistan) – recurve women’s individual

Athletics

5:20pm – men’s pole vault final – EJ Obiena

6:50pm – women’s 800m final – Victoria Bossong

7:15pm – men’s 5000m final – Yacine Guermali, Sonny Wagdos

7:48pm mixed 4x100m relay final

8:17pm – men’s 4×400 relay final

Softball

8am – PH Blu Girls vs Thailand – preliminary round

Kurash

8:30am – Nick Ligero vs Hyeonsu Yoon (South Korea) – men’s -66kg round of 32

9:30am – Jackielou Escapre vs Rahimullah Najmi (Afghanistan) – men’s -66kg round of 16

Esports

8am – Philippines vs Indonesia – Identity V – group phase

2pm – Philippines vs Jordan – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang – group phase

5: 50pm – Philippines vs Kazakhstan – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang – group phase

Padel

10am – Tao Tan/ Marian Capadocia vs Kazakhstan – women’s pairs first round

Sepak Takraw

8am – Philippines vs Vietnam – women’s double gold medal match

Shooting

9am – trap men individual/team – Eric Ang, Hagen Topacio, Antonio Javines

Squash

2pm – Philippines vs Kuwait – men’s team – pool phase

Volleyball

’Overstressed columns, piles likely caused Balibago building collapse’

ANGELES CITY-Overstressed columns and piles were the highly probable main cause of the collapse of a building under construction in barangay Balibago that killed 30 people on May 24, according to the final report of the Angeles City Fact-Finding Task Force.

City Attorney Darwin Reyes said the findings were based on technical assessments, expert opinions, project documents, site inspections and laboratory test results.

Structural models generated from documents submitted for the project showed that the size, number and material properties of the columns and piles were insufficient to carry the loads imposed on them, resulting in a progressive collapse, the report said.

‘Our findings are based on expert engineers on the subject. So nag-rely kami sa findings nila,’ Reyes said.

The task force also found that the columns had been designed to resist gravity loads only, when they should also have accounted for lateral displacement in both directions.

Construction alterations further contributed to the collapse, Reyes said. A post-collapse inspection found additional steel beams and floor framing that added weight but were not included in the original design, the report said. The task force also cited construction methods and detailing errors as contributing factors.

City Administrator Noel Luzung said the final report was delayed partly because the task force had to consolidate findings from other government agencies, including the Departments of Labor and Employment and of Public Works and Highways.

Luzung also cited the southwest monsoon and the fire in Pampang market as among the factors that affected the timing of the report.

DPWH analysis remains pending

REYES said testing conducted by the DPWH was put on hold amid a separate investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation, leaving the DPWH analysis pending.

‘Doon sa mga tests na pina-evaluate sa DPWH, na-hold iyon dahil sa simultaneous investigation made by the NBI,’ Reyes said. ‘So, hindi muna sila naglabas ng analysis report, that’s why hindi namin masabi kung may substandard materials doon sa steel na nagamit.’

Reyes said the NBI report would also be significant in evaluating the cause of the collapse. The pending DPWH analysis will supplement the task force’s technical findings, he said.

‘It will help supplement the final report but it will not alter the findings,’ Reyes said. ‘So mas pagtitibayin lang nila ang findings on technical aspects.’

Reyes also said the task force’s final report found no markings of the type investigators were looking for, although he said the matter could still be determined.

Labor, safety violations

THE Dole ordered contractor Golden Years Construction and Steelworks Corp. and the building’s owner, Ernest Jackson Lim, to pay P11.43 million in workers’ monetary claims and administrative fines over labor and occupational safety violations.

The investigation found labor standards and occupational safety and health violations.

The report cited violations involving 57 workers, including nonpayment or underpayment of wages, rest-day premiums and holiday pay, resulting in over P1.1 million in assessed monetary deficiencies.

Violations involving safety controls, permits and inspections, safety personnel and training, supervision and worker welfare facilities were also cited.

These resulted in P10.3 million in administrative fines, including penalties related to alleged misrepresentation or inauthentic safety and first-aid certificates, according to the report.

Five criminal complaints involving about eight or nine individuals have been filed, Reyes said.

Separate labor cases had also been filed by workers against Lim and Golden Years. A nearby property owner had also filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.

Assistance

LUZUNG said the city government would shoulder structural assessments for affected buildings to determine whether they should be condemned or what their status should be.

‘Merong tulong na ibinigay o ibibigay ang local government sa pag-conduct ng assessment sa building nila,’ Luzung said. ‘Sasagutin ng LGU ang assessment ng building kung i-condemn na ba or kung ano ang magiging status.’

He said affected property owners could use the fact-finding report in pursuing possible claims for damages.

‘Itong report na ito ay pwede nilang gamitin basehan if interesado silang mag-pursue ng cases for damages against the owner or sa contractor,’ Luzung said. ‘And we will provide them with documents, evidence or information na kailangan nila.’

The city government incurred expenses amounting to P9.6 million for the rescue, watch, retrieval and clearing operations following the building’s collapse, the report said.

Reyes said the city would also review building permit and construction regulations and introduce measures aimed at preventing a similar incident.

ýOdodo disburses over N600m bursary to 20,347 Kogi students

ýAhmed Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State, has flagged off the disbursement of N646.8 million as bursary allowances to 20,347 verified Kogi State students in tertiary institutions across the country under the second season of his students support programme.

ýSpeaking at the ceremony tagged ‘Gov Ododo Students Support Season 2′, Afolabi Joseph – Raji, executive chairman, Kogi State Scholarship Board, said that the Ododo administration revived the bursary scheme, which was last paid in 2019 and recommenced it in 2024 with a 150 per cent increment.

ý’The allowance was increased from N12,000 to N30,000 per student, while medical students who used to receive N18,000 will now get N75,000 each , adding that the governor abolished the old practice where students paid N650 for scratch cards to access the portal without guarantee of payment, and directed that application must be free, paperless, online and transparent,’ he said.

Joseph-Raji disclosed further that in the 2024/2025 session, the board disbursed N256.4 million to 8,549 undergraduates at N30,000 each and N60.3 million to Law School students at N300,000 each, in addition to other scholarships totaling N261 million.

ýHe said the board, which had no operational vehicle for campus verification, has now been given a seven -seater utility vehicle to ease mobilisation ,adding that to deepen engagement, the Board introduced the Governor Ododo Campus Quiz Challenge and the Radio Quiz Challenge airing every Saturday at 12 noon on Confluence 94.1 FM, where students win up to N5,000.

ýHe announced that 20,347 students have been screened and verified for the 2025/2026 bursary, with undergraduates to receive N30,000 each and medical students N75,000 each, totaling N646.8 million.

ýHe explained that payment will be in phases, beginning with students in institutions within Kogi State, while students in over 300 institutions outside the state including UniAbuja, ABU Zaria, UNIJOS and BUK will be paid in the second tranche.

ýJoseph-Raji said the first tranche of the bursary is N403 million which would cover 13,157 students studying in tertiary institutions within the state.

Wemi Jones, Commissioner for Education, who represented Governor Ododo, commended the leadership of the National Association of Kogi State Students, NAKOSS, for their patience and peaceful conduct during the delay.

ýHe said education has the highest allocation in the state budget at 30 percent, describing it as an evidence of the governor’s passion for education , adding that Governor Ododo belongs to the youth constituency and would have attended personally but was away following the death of a former governor.

ýThe Commissioner credited former Governor Yahaya Bello for establishing CUSTECH Osara and KSU Kabba within four years, noting that with three functional state universities, plus the Polytechnic, Colleges of Education, Nursing, Health Sciences and the Nigeria -Korea Friendship Institute, Kogi is now self -sustaining in tertiary education.

ýJones described the leap from 8,000 applicants in Season 1 to over 20,000 verified beneficiaries in Season 2, over 130 percent increase, as monumental.

ýHe also listed other interventions by the state government including payment of Common Entrance, Basic Six, BECE, WAEC for SS3 students in public schools, and NABTEB for technical college students, as well as free CBT training for SS3 students.

ýHe urged students to take advantage of the Federal Government’s NELFUND loan scheme, observing that only a few students at the event indicated they were benefiting.

ýResponding on behalf of students, Sunday Adeola Simon, the outgoing President of NAKOSS, thanked Governor Ododo for the intervention, saying it goes beyond financial assistance to show that students’ welfare remains a priority.

ýSimon said though the application flagged off in September 2025 witnessed some delays with enormous pressure on the student leadership, they chose dialogue and responsible representation and rejected calls to confront the government through violence and propaganda.

ýHe affirmed the continuous support of Kogi students for the administration while appealing to the governor to also capture Kogi students schooling outside the state and those in the Nigeria Law School in the disbursement so no student is left behind.ý

Why Africa needs long-term capital for health, nutrition – MDF

Africa needs more long-term investment in health and nutrition to reduce its reliance on emergency responses to hunger, disease and humanitarian crises, the Mary Dinah Foundation (MDF) has said.

Mary Dinah, founder and CEO of MDF, made the call during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, where she participated in discussions on child survival, nutrition and health financing.

She said while short-term aid remains important during emergencies, it cannot address the underlying challenges that leave children and families vulnerable to hunger, malnutrition, conflict and displacement.

‘Africa’s challenges cannot be addressed through short-term interventions alone,’ Dinah said. ‘We need to move from responding to crisis to building systems that enable communities to withstand crisis in the first place.’

Dinah spoke at a side event titled ‘Our Children Cannot Wait: Leadership, Solidarity and Action for Child Survival and Nutrition,’ hosted by King Letsie III of Lesotho in partnership with Nutrition International and the Government of Canada.

The event brought together leaders, including Kenya’s President William Ruto, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Qu Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), to discuss child survival and nutrition.

MDF said its position is informed by its work with communities in West and Central Africa.

The foundation said it has provided more than 125 million meals to people affected by hunger and crises across the region. It also works to improve access to healthcare and protection services and supports children, women and families affected by conflict and displacement.

Dinah also participated in a Concordia roundtable titled ‘Rethinking Global Health Finance: Mobilizing Private Capital for Health Outcomes.’

The discussion examined how private investment can support health services and solutions developed with local communities.

According to MDF, Africa needs financing that extends beyond emergency relief and supports health and nutrition systems capable of helping communities withstand future crises.

This includes investment in healthcare, nutrition, women and children, as well as local systems that can respond to emergencies.

Dinah said governments, businesses, philanthropists and communities need to work together to develop and scale solutions.

‘Investing in nutrition, health, women and children’ is part of building stronger communities, she said.

MDF’s participation at UNGA81 is part of its effort to bring the experiences of communities affected by hunger, malnutrition and displacement into global discussions on health and development.

The foundation said the focus should not only be on raising more funds but also on directing financing towards long-term solutions that can reduce the impact of future crises.

Corporate tax, customs duties push non-oil revenue to N5.07trn in Q2

Non-oil revenue rose to N5.07 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, driven mainly by stronger collections from corporate income tax and customs and excise duties, reinforcing the Federal Government’s efforts to deepen domestic revenue mobilisation and reduce dependence on oil receipts.

The N5.07 trillion non-oil revenue represented a 7.50 percent increase over the preceding quarter, with the improvement attributed largely to seasonal increases in company tax payments and higher customs collections.

The performance came as the Federal Government continues to rely more heavily on taxation and other non-oil sources to finance public expenditure amid efforts to strengthen fiscal sustainability.

Corporate tax provided the strongest boost during the quarter, with collections rising from N1.233 trillion in the first quarter to N1.660 trillion in Q2, an increase of about 34.5 percent.

Customs and excise duties also increased from N959.56 billion to N1.001 trillion, representing a rise of about 4.3 percent.

Value Added Tax (VAT), however, moderated slightly, falling from N2.076 trillion in Q1 to N2.023 trillion in Q2, a decline of about 2.6 percent.

The stronger corporate tax performance is significant for the Federal Government as Nigeria implements its tax reform programme and seeks to expand the tax base, improve compliance and capture more economic activity within the formal tax system.

The development also comes against the backdrop of an emerging global push to change how multinational corporations are taxed.

A report by the Tax Justice Network and Public Services International estimates that countries could collectively raise an additional $500 billion annually from multinational corporations without increasing corporate tax rates if the international system moves from the traditional ‘pay-where-you-say’ model towards a ‘pay-where-you-play’ approach.

Under the proposed model, multinational companies would be taxed more closely in jurisdictions where they undertake real economic activities, including employing workers and producing and selling goods and services.

For Nigeria, the report estimated an additional $2.5 billion in annual corporate tax revenue, equivalent to a 641 percent increase in corporate tax collected from multinationals under the model. The estimate was reported by THISDAY, which noted that Nigeria’s 2025 tax legislation already contains measures aimed at preventing companies that profit from the Nigerian economy from escaping the tax net because of cross-border operations.

The proposed international tax framework could therefore have implications for Nigeria’s longer-term revenue mobilisation, particularly as the country seeks to improve tax compliance among multinational enterprises operating across multiple jurisdictions.

The Tax Justice Network said the additional revenue estimates are based on modelling of multinational profits and warned that the country-level dollar estimates involve assumptions about the distribution of currently uncovered multinational profits.

The organisation said negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation continued in August 2026, with the allocation of taxing rights forming a central part of the discussions.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s oil revenue also increased, reaching N3.24 trillion, up 29.17 percent, with higher crude oil production supporting receipts from petroleum profit tax, royalties and related petroleum revenue.

The combined performance of oil and non-oil receipts highlights the increasing importance of domestic tax collection to Nigeria’s fiscal position, particularly as the government seeks to create a more predictable and sustainable revenue base.

For businesses and investors, the trend points to a fiscal environment in which tax compliance, corporate profitability and customs activity will increasingly influence government revenue performance, while ongoing tax reforms could further reshape the distribution of the tax burden across sectors and multinational businesses.

BERMUDA-PENSION-Government seeks to assure public sector workers that their pensons will be protected

The Bermuda government has goven an assurance to public officers that are employed and eligible to retire on March 31 next year that the cash amount of the lump sum will remain protected if they continue in service.

‘Whether you retire a year later or many years later, you will not receive less than that protected amount,’ Premier David Burt said. Adding that his government believes this is the right way to carry this important reform forward by strengthening the Public Service Superannuation Fun for those who depend on it, while making adjustments to ensure that the public service can retain the experience it needs.

Burt recalled that last September, he brought legislation to Parliament to stabilise the Public Service Superannuation Fund, noting that its 2023 valuation showed only thirty-seven cents in assets for every dollar owed in pensions, and without reform, its invested assets were projected to be exhausted around 2045.

Burt said that after years of review and consultation with unions, his government made the tough decisions to change contributions, retirement ages, and the reference wage for retirement.

‘That reform was for the officers serving today, those who will join them and those who have already retired. After more than a decade without an increase, we also legislated a 10 per cent increase for public service retirees, effective from April of this year.

‘Payments are expected to begin in October, including arrears back to April 2026. We have taken responsibility for the Fund’s long-term future, but we must also listen to the people affected as the reforms take effect,’ Burt added.

He said that public officers had spoken of a sudden reduction in the lump-sum conversion factor could bring forward the retirement of people who still want to serve. Burt said that the government listened, discussed their concerns with union representatives, and consulted the Public Service Superannuation Board.

‘Today…I am pleased to announce a major change in how this part of the reform will take effect: the reduction in the lump-sum conversion factor will be phased in, and the cash amount available on 31 March 2027 to officers employed and eligible to retire on that date will be guaranteed if they remain in service. Let me explain why that change was needed and how it will work.

‘When a public officer retires, they may choose to exchange part of their annual pension for a lump sum paid upfront. The lump-sum conversion factor determines how much is paid for the portion of annual pension they give up.’

Burt said that the significance of this provision is clear from the choices public officers make at retirement. He said between 2020 and 2025, approximately 1,000 members retired from the public sector, and 90 per cent chose to receive some level of lump-sum payment. For most retiring officers, the lump-sum conversion factor has a direct bearing on the cash available to them as they begin their retirement.

‘For more than four decades, the lump-sum conversion factor was fixed in legislation at 11.5. It stayed at that level even while the Fund’s financial position deteriorated. That fixed figure imposed costs the Fund could no longer responsibly carry.’

He said leaving that provision untouched would have undermined the very reform te Parliament passed to secure public officers’ pensions, adding that the was therefore changed so that the lump-sum conversion factor could be adjusted following an actuarial review and consultation with the Public Service Superannuation Board.

Burt said that the government’s actuaries have shared that if the lump-sum conversion factor were changed to match the funded status of the PSSF, then the lump-sum conversion factor would need to move from 11.5 to 5.75 in April 2027.

He said the government had to consider what Bermuda would lose if experienced officers felt pressed to retire next March.

‘When a teacher leaves a school, pupils and colleagues feel the loss. When a long-serving officer retires, a department loses years of knowledge and guidance. A wave of departures across the service would be felt by the public as well.’

But said as a result, the lump-sum conversion factor will remain at 11.5 on 1 April 2027; it will not fall to 5.75. Required changes will instead be phased in over time, alongside the other pension changes approved by Parliament last year.

Burt said that the lump-sum conversion factor will be reviewed every two years by the Minister in consultation with the Board, with the aim of reaching a level that reflects the Fund’s financial position by 2035.

He said the second decision protects public officers who are employed and eligible to retire on 31 March 2027, adding that if they continue serving, the cash value of the lump sum they could have received on that date will be protected until they retire, regardless of what the lump-sum conversion factor may be in the future.

‘If their later calculation is higher, they will receive more. The guarantee is for that cash amount, not the 11.5 lump-sum conversion factor for future years. This government will bring the necessary amendment to the Public Service Superannuation Act 1981 to give that guarantee the force of law,’ he added.

Burt said that officers who are not yet eligible to retire on 31 March 2027 will still benefit from a gradual transition, adding ‘they will have more time to understand how the changes may affect their own retirement’.

Opposition claims grid batteries unlikely to solve rooftop solar woes

New grid batteries will help Sri Lanka absorb surplus solar power nationally, but will not open up rooftop connections where neighbourhood transformers are already full, two Parliamentary Committees heard on 22 and 23 September. Households that can still connect now face either a far less favourable tariff or a battery bill of over Rs. 1 million.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) challenged the premise behind the curbs on rooftop solar. ‘If there is no alternative below the marginal cost, prices cannot be reduced,’ it told the Committee on Public Finance (CoPF) last week.

Marginal cost is the cost of the most expensive power the system must buy, typically from oil-fired plants, which CoPF members said still supply about 40% of generation. The PUCSL rejected the argument that surplus solar has little value, saying daytime power is cheap only because of rooftop solar.

A rooftop system feeds into the neighbourhood transformer serving its street. When too many roofs export power at midday, that transformer overloads and the utility refuses new connections.

Separately, officials told the Sectoral Oversight Committee (SOC) on Infrastructure and Strategic Development chaired by MP S.M. Marikkar last week that this is the bottleneck in congested urban areas. Yet the National System Operator (NSO) is placing its batteries at grid substations, several steps up the network. Its tender covers 16 substation batteries of 10 MW and 40 MWh each, a total of 160 MW, of which two have been commissioned.

These can absorb surplus power for the national system, but they cannot relieve an overloaded transformer on a street in Kotte. The tendered sites also appear to lie largely outside the Western Province, where congestion is worst.

Marikkar said the battery build-out would benefit ground-mounted solar farms in the regions where the batteries are being installed, while doing nothing for rooftop households in Colombo. He noted that large-scale producers already enjoy concessions, including duty-free import of megawatt-scale batteries, which household buyers do not receive.

He said adding or upgrading a rooftop system in areas such as Kotte and Kolonnawa was now effectively impossible. He urged that Western Province rooftop users be given priority for battery capacity, and that the Government take responsibility for storage.

Batteries at the neighbourhood level, which could ease the bottleneck, have not yet started. The PUCSL said it approved a Lanka Electricity Company (LECO) proposal for such batteries about three months ago, while one from Electricity Distribution Lanka (EDL) has been delayed.

Households that can still connect will pay more for the same panels. Net metering and net accounting, which let owners offset each unit of solar power against a unit bought from the grid, are closed to new connections.

New users must go on ‘Net Plus,’ selling all their output at a feed-in tariff (FiT) of about Rs. 23 per unit for small systems while buying all their power at the retail rate, which is around Rs. 100 per unit above 180 units a month. Contracts are capped at 12 years. A CoPF member warned that new users could end up paying more rather than saving. Existing agreements are unaffected until they expire.

The NSO told the CoPF last week that daytime solar output of over 2,000 MW now matches daytime peak demand of 2,500 to 2,600 MW, so any new solar must come with storage. For a household, that means a battery. Marikkar said a 5 kW household battery with an inverter costs at least Rs. 1 million.

The duty exemption for megawatt-scale batteries was granted around the close of the NSO tender, but household batteries still attract duty. CoPF Chairman MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said the Government had put ‘the cart before the horse’ by ending net metering before storage became affordable.

A PUCSL guideline allows ‘zero-export’ systems, which use solar power on site without feeding it into the grid, and consumers may also go fully off-grid. The PUCSL said solar with a battery pays off at current tariffs, but that upfront capital is the barrier.

The rules themselves are contested. A Cabinet-approved tariff policy restricts new connections to ‘Net Plus,’ while the PUCSL, which now holds the power to set FiTs under the new Electricity Act, determined its own tariffs in August.

The Energy Ministry directed that the Cabinet policy prevail and referred the PUCSL tariffs to the Cabinet, where they await approval. The NSO argued that net accounting gave supernormal returns and that pressure to keep it came from solar companies.

The PUCSL warned that consumption from January to 21 September rose to 14,062 GWh from 11,637 GWh in the same period of 2023. It said that without prompt action, the reserve margin could be breached, bringing shortages or higher prices.

Dr. de Silva said the authorities must come up with a plan.

Separately, the CoPF approved Rs. 17.2 billion for the NSO to cover a deficit from the first quarter, when the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) failed to submit its tariff proposal on time. A targeted subsidy that shielded low-usage households from an 18% tariff increase has ended.

Gas power emerges as lifeline for Nigeria’s growing cold chain

Nigerian cold storage operators are increasingly turning to captive gas-fired power generation as businesses across the food preservation and logistics sector look to curb soaring energy costs and shield operations from an unreliable national grid.

A Lagos-based cold storage and frozen food distribution company has commissioned a 1-megawatt gas power plant supplied, installed and commissioned by Clarke Energy, a multinational distributed energy provider, marking the firm’s entry into Nigeria’s expanding cold-chain market.

The plant now supplies electricity to the company’s refrigeration and cooling systems, including compressors and other essential facility loads, replacing reliance on diesel generation that has long been the default backup for Nigerian businesses navigating an inconsistent grid.

For cold-chain operators, power reliability is not a convenience but an operational necessity. Refrigeration units must run continuously to preserve product quality and meet food safety standards; even short outages can spoil inventory and trigger significant losses. In a market where grid supply remains patchy, that has pushed energy costs to among the highest line items for food processors, pharmaceutical storage firms and agricultural distributors alike.

Diesel has traditionally filled the gap, but at a steep price. Fuel costs, maintenance and the logistics of sourcing diesel in bulk have made backup power one of the most expensive parts of running a cold-storage business in Nigeria. Gas-fired generation offers an alternative that companies say is both cheaper to run and cleaner-burning, while still capable of providing the round-the-clock output cold storage facilities require.

Yiannis Tsantilas, managing director of Clarke Energy for Sub-Saharan Africa, said the project underscores the central role reliable power plays in food security.

‘The cold-chain industry plays a vital role in food preservation, food security, and the reduction of post-harvest losses,’ Tsantilas said. ‘Maintaining uninterrupted refrigeration requires reliable power that businesses can depend on around the clock.’

He added that gas-powered generation can give large-scale cold storage operators a cost-effective route to dependable electricity, helping them manage energy expenses while improving resilience.

Tsantilas said Clarke Energy sees room for further expansion in the sector as Nigeria’s food storage, processing and distribution infrastructure continues to build out.

‘We see significant opportunities for the adoption of gas-powered generation within the cold-chain industry,’ he said, adding that dependable power will be ‘a critical enabler of long-term success’ as operators balance productivity with preservation standards.

The Lagos installation is part of a broader shift among Nigerian commercial and industrial users toward captive power – self-generated electricity that gives companies more control over supply than they can get from the national grid.

Industry watchers say the trend has accelerated as businesses across sectors, not just cold storage, look to insulate themselves from outages and price volatility tied to imported diesel.

ANP, SM for MSMEs open BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair

The best of Negros is in Manila-and visitors still have until September 27 to experience it. BÚTLAK: The 40th Negros Trade Fair is now open at SMX Convention Center Aura, bringing together more than 178 brands from the Negros Island Region for six days of food, fashion, art, home, crafts, and travel discoveries.

Presented by the Association of Negros Producers (ANP) in partnership with SM Supermalls through SM for MSMEs, the milestone edition celebrates 40 years of Negrense creativity and enterprise while creating fresh opportunities for local businesses to reach a wider market. Opening the fair, Joaquin L. San Agustin, Executive Vice President for Marketing at SM Supermalls, welcomed entrepreneurs, artisans, partners, and guests to a celebration that goes beyond shopping. ‘We are not simply opening another trade fair. We are celebrating 40 extraordinary years of Negrense creativity, enterprise, heritage, and community,’ San Agustin said. For SM Supermalls, the partnership reflects the purpose of SM for MSMEs: helping homegrown businesses gain access to more customers, greater visibility, and bigger opportunities to grow. ‘Every purchase does more than bring home a piece of Negros,’ San Agustin added. ‘It supports a local business, celebrates Filipino creativity, and helps another entrepreneurial story move forward.’

Come hungry, leave with a story

The opening days have already drawn enthusiastic crowds, with visitors discovering familiar favorites and new reasons to return. Cocina Javellana, Chicken House, and Wawa Bing’s Kitchen were among the early crowd favorites, with their popular offerings quickly selling out. Across the fair, visitors can still explore a rich selection of local coffee, artisan chocolate, heritage chorizo, cheeses, pastries, pantry staples, and other distinctly Negrense finds.

For National Artist for Design Patis Tesoro, Grand Dame of Philippine Fashion, ‘Negros is very into handicrafts, into natural things, and I think this fair supports that, and also continues our traditions. The fair is doing well, it’s only the first day and it’s already crowded.’

For Maritess Sanchez of El Ideal, a heritage brand that has been part of Negrense food culture for nearly a century, the fair remains a vital way to connect with customers beyond the province. ‘We have been around for about 100 years because we never sacrificed quality,’ Sanchez said. ‘The Negros Trade Fair has helped us expand our reach here in Manila.’

The discoveries continue beyond the table. BÚTLAK offers contemporary fashion and accessories, handcrafted furniture and homeware, art, gifts, and travel experiences-each carrying a different story of Negros.

For Mariel San Agustin of Domesticity, the fair provides meaningful market access for products made by the organization’s beneficiaries, with proceeds supporting its continuing values-formation programs. ‘The Negros Trade Fair has given us an avenue to introduce Domesticity to a bigger market, especially here in Manila,’ she said. ‘SM has opened up bigger opportunities for the fair, especially here in Aura.’

At The Little Vintage Shop, purpose is stitched into every upcycled piece. Co-founder Frannie Manotoc shared how the brand gives donated clothing a renewed life while helping support women and children. ‘It is like giving abused women and children a second chance, much like the chance given to the clothes donated to us,’ Manotoc said.

For participating local governments, the fair is likewise an opportunity to share a fuller picture of Negros. Jerick Lacson of Sipalay City noted how the trade fair has helped broaden the city’s product showcase over the years. ‘When we joined four years ago, we had to decide on only a few products to sell and showcase,’ Lacson said. ‘Now, our good problem is figuring out how to fit all our products into our booth.’

Forty years rooted in heritage, still blooming

For ANP President Christina B. Gaston, the fair’s four-decade legacy is ultimately about creating room for people, ideas, and businesses to grow. ‘For ANP, MSME development is about giving people the opportunity to discover what they can create, what they can become, and where their creativity can take them,’ Gaston said. ‘Over 40 years, we have seen small businesses grow into enterprises and local products reach markets once thought beyond their reach.’

The anniversary theme, BÚTLAK, speaks to that continuing journey: traditions and skills passed down through generations, now blooming through new ideas, new entrepreneurs, and new audiences.

Whether visitors come for a beloved food favorite, a statement piece for the home, a thoughtful gift, or simply the joy of discovering something new, BÚTLAK offers a chance to meet the people and stories behind the products.

Mary Jane Veloso, family get P50,000, livelihood support – Palace

The government has provided financial and livelihood assistance to Mary Jane Veloso and her family after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. granted her an absolute pardon, according to Malacañang.

In a briefing on Monday, Palace press officer Claire Castro said personnel from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) field office in Central Luzon visited Veloso and her family in the municipality of Gen. Mamerto Natividad, Nueva Ecija, to provide P50,000 in cash relief assistance and assess the family’s livelihood needs following her release.

During the visit on Sunday, DSWD personnel provided P30,000 in cash relief assistance to Veloso and her parents, with each receiving P10,000.

The DSWD will also give P10,000 in aid to each of her two sons on Monday.

Veloso also underwent an assessment for the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, which could provide support as she starts rebuilding her livelihood.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is also providing assistance to ensure the reintegration of Veloso and her family as they enter a new chapter in their lives, according to Castro.

Its interventions include livelihood starter kits, enterprise capital and skills training, as well as psychosocial counseling.

‘These measures are aimed at restoring dignity and bringing hope to Mary Jane and her entire family as they begin a new chapter in their lives,’ Castro said.

‘Through these actions by the President, the life of a mother, a worker, and a Filipino was saved,’ she added.

On Sept. 25, Marcos signed an absolute pardon for Veloso, allowing her to finally walk free less than two years from her supposed 20- to 40-year imprisonment at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City.

Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin in a suitcase she was carrying. She was sentenced to death and was scheduled to be executed in 2015 but was granted a last-minute reprieve.