Category: Business Mirror

GOVERNMENT agencies now have greater flexibility in adopting a four-day compressed workweek after the Civil Service Commission (CSC) amended its Flexible Work Arrangement (FWA) policy to clarify rules on work schedules, leave credits, holidays, and service continuity.

CSC Chairperson Marilyn B. Yap said the revisions are meant to support the government’s push to modernize work arrangements in the public sector while ensuring uninterrupted delivery of services.

‘The amendments provide government agencies with greater flexibility in organizing work schedules that benefit civil servants while ensuring that public services remain accessible to citizens,’ Yap said.

Under the revised policy, agencies may allow employees to

complete the mandatory 40-hour workweek in four days instead of the usual five, with agency heads given the discretion to determine daily work hours and designate the additional day off.

Government offices, however, must continue delivering services from Monday to Friday despite the compressed work schedule.

Frontline and on-site personnel may also be placed under the arrangement, provided agencies can ensure that face-to-face services remain available.

CSC also clarified that employees under the compressed workweek will continue to earn the standard monthly accrual of 1.25 vacation leave credits and 1.25 sick leave credits without any reduction in benefits.

Employees who take a leave day while on the four-day schedule, however, will have 1.25 leave credits deducted for every day of absence, while the deduction will revert to one leave credit once an agency returns to the regular eight-hour workday, although Wellness Leave and Special Privilege Leave may still be used on a per-day basis.

The revised guidelines likewise provide that employees scheduled to work 10 hours on a holiday or during a work suspension will be considered to have completed their required hours without the need to make them up, except those assigned to 24/7 essential frontline skeleton forces.

If a holiday or work suspension falls on an employee’s designated day off, the remaining workdays for that week will temporarily revert to the standard eight-hour schedule.

CSC Resolution 2600414 took effect retroactively on March 6, in line with Office of the President Memorandum Circular 114, while agencies and employees that implemented the arrangement in good faith under previous interpretations of the policy will not face administrative penalties.

July 10, 2026. Football is more than just a sport-it is a universal language that inspires teamwork, passion, and unity. These same values drive OMODA and JAECOO Philippines as the brand brings together football enthusiasts, customers, media, business partners, and the automotive community for a one-of-a-kind football celebration that combines sport, innovation, and the future of mobility.

The football-themed event reflects OMODA and JAECOO’s commitment to creating meaningful lifestyle experiences beyond the road. Guests will enjoy exciting football activities, interactive games, exclusive vehicle displays, and immersive brand experiences that showcase the company’s latest automotive innovations.

Leading the showcase is the JAECOO Super Hybrid System (SHS), OMODA and JAECOO’s next-generation hybrid technology that delivers exceptional fuel efficiency, impressive performance, and extended driving range. Designed to seamlessly integrate electric and gasoline power, SHS offers a smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious driving experience without compromising performance.

Adding to the excitement is AiMOGA, OMODA and JAECOO’s intelligent AI humanoid robot, which represents the brand’s vision of the future of smart mobility. Through interactive engagement and intelligent communication, AiMOGA demonstrates how artificial intelligence can enhance customer experiences and redefine the relationship between people and technology.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore OMODA and JAECOO’s latest generation of intelligent and new energy vehicles, including the JAECOO J5 SHS-H, JAECOO J7 SHS-P, JAECOO J5 EV, and the JAECOO EJ6. Each model showcases the brand’s commitment to innovation by combining advanced electrified powertrains, intelligent technologies, premium comfort, refined craftsmanship, and world-class safety. Together, these vehicles demonstrate OMODA and JAECOO’s vision of delivering smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions for today’s drivers while meeting a wide range of lifestyle and driving needs.

‘Football brings people together through shared passion, determination, and teamwork-the same values that inspire OMODA and JAECOO,’ said a representative of OMODA and JAECOO Philippines. ‘As we continue introducing breakthrough technologies such as the Super Hybrid System and AiMOGA, we are committed to delivering innovative mobility solutions while creating meaningful experiences that connect people through technology, adventure, and community.’

The event reinforces OMODA and JAECOO’s vision of becoming more than an automotive brand. By bringing together sports, intelligent mobility, sustainable technology, and community engagement, the company continues to strengthen its connection with Filipino consumers while showcasing innovations that are shaping the future of transportation.

Whether on the football field or behind the wheel, OMODA and JAECOO believes every journey is fueled by passion, innovation, and the pursuit of extraordinary experiences. As the brand continues to expand its presence in the Philippines, it remains committed to delivering world-class products, intelligent technologies, and lifestyle experiences that inspire customers to embrace the future with confidence.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. on Thursday said it is expanding its China portfolio with the opening of the company’s first hotel in Xiamen City as the world’s second-largest economy trains its sights on enticing more foreign visitors.

The company opened last month its hotel dubbed voco Xiamen SM City, a 325-room facility with direct access to SM Xiamen.

Speaking to reporters during a Xiamen City media visit, SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said the hotel marks an important milestone in the company’s China portfolio.

‘Voco Xiamen SM City is our first hotel in China and it connects directly to SM City Xiamen, the first property we opened in the country 25 years ago,’ Lim said. ‘With this investment, we are turning the complex into a complete lifestyle destination for tourists.’

Located steps from Wushipu Station on Metro Line 1 and about 15 minutes from Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen Railway Station, the 450-million-yuan hotel (around P4 billion) offers accessibility to overseas business travelers and local tourists.

SM Prime partnered with IHG Hotels and Resorts to develop voco Xiamen SM City.

A major coastal city in Fujian Province, Xiamen is home to the world’s 15th-largest container port and is one of China’s four major international shipping centers. It also hosts several Unesco heritage sites and Michelin-recognized restaurants, positioning the city to capture rising demand for micro-vacations and culinary experiences among Gen Z and millennial tourists.

It is also where many Chinese-Filipino businessmen came from, including the late Henry Sy Sr., founder of the SM Group.

China is emerging as the world’s largest overall tourism market, with its travel sector projected to grow to $3.5 trillion by 2036, almost double from $1.8 trillion last year, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2026 Economic Impact Research report released last June 3.

The growth outlook is supported by Beijing’s policy direction.

Earlier this month, China’s State Council approved a 5-year plan to strengthen the tourism industry through 2030, with a focus on improving tourism services, expanding product supply, unlocking consumption potential, and deepening international cooperation.

The National Food Authority (NFA) will raise its minimum buying price for wet palay to P21 per kilo starting in September as part of government efforts to boost farmgate prices for farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., who chairs the NFA Council, announced that the NFA will increase its minimum buying price for unmilled rice to P21 per kilo from P17 per kilo for the wet season harvest.

‘I’ve ordered the NFA to set the minimum buying price for wet palay at P21 per kilo to help address the higher cost of fertilizer and other inputs,’ Tiu Laurel said during the inauguration of a modern grain hub in Dumangas, Iloilo.

Furthermore, he said imported rice would not be allowed to be unloaded at any Iloilo port from mid-September until end-November to prevent imported shipments from coinciding with the peak harvest.

‘That is what I can do to ensure that you would earn a decent return from your hard work,’ Tiu Laurel added.

He said the twin measures would strengthen farmers’ bargaining position by giving the NFA bigger influence over local palay prices while easing competitive pressure from imported rice during the harvest season.

Iloilo, the rice bowl of the Visayas, accounts for about half of Western Visayas’ rice output and over 5 percent of national production.

The NFA opened a P355.4-million postharvest facility in Dumangas, which can process up to 4,800 50-kilo bags of palay daily.

Its expanded storage capacity will allow the grains agency to absorb up to 12 percent of Iloilo’s projected harvest, enough to help stabilize market prices.

Tiu Laurel said two more large processing facilities in Iloilo would be operational by the October harvest, while a smaller processing center in Dumangas would be turned over to a farmers’ cooperative.

The NFA is building 36 modern rice processing facilities nationwide to reduce post-harvest losses, increase farmers’ incomes, and enhance the country’s food security.

Half are expected to be operational during the upcoming wet season harvest, with the remainder coming online before next year’s dry season.

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) is backing the initiative of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the alleged anomalies in the construction of facilities used in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

In a statement, the DOJ headed by Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, said it is part of the NBI’s mandate to investigate any irregularities involving public officials and private individuals.

‘The Department respects the mandate and authority of the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct investigations, whether upon referral or motu proprio,’ the DOJ said.

‘While the NBI is an attached agency of the Department, it is given sufficient operational independence to perform its investigative functions as it deems appropriate under the law,’ it added.

During the impeachment trial last Wednesday, several minority senators questioned the timing and the motive of the NBI in announcing its ongoing investigation into the alleged anomalies involving infrastructure projects for the 2019 SEA Games, including the New Clark City sports complex and the controversial SEA Games cauldron.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency has received ‘new information

and documents’ pertaining to multi-billion allocations for projects undertaken by the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, head of the minority bloc in the Senate, served as Phisgoc chairman, which organized the 2019 SEA Games,

Cayetano, along with Sens. Robinhood Padilla and Pia Cayetano lambasted the NBI for apparently trying to ‘intimidate and disrupt’ the minority senators from performing their duties as senator-judges in the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

‘Is this just a coincidence or is this something we should be afraid of?’ Padilla said in Filipino.

Cayetano, on the other hand, said: ‘If the intention was to have a chilling effect, we already have that chilling effect.’

In response, the DOJ assured the public that NBI’s actions on the issues ‘are grounded solely in its mandate and the rule of law.’

‘The Department has full confidence that the NBI will continue to carry out its work with the professionalism, integrity, and independence expected of it,’ the justice department stressed.

The National Transmission Corp. (TransCo) and the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines, Inc. (IEMOP) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to establish a structured system to administer the feed-in-tariff allowance (FIT-All) and Green Energy Auction Allowance (GEA-All) funds.

The MOA basically reinforces TransCo’s role as the administrator for both funds, specifically handling the collection and remittance of Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) proceeds. IEMOP is the WESM operator.

At the same time, the MOA boosts coordination and data sharing between TransCo and IEMOP to ensure transparency and accuracy in national renewable energy (RE) programs.

‘The agreement establishes a comprehensive operational framework for the administration of both the FIT-All Fund and the GEA-All Fund, particularly in the collection and remittance of WESM proceeds. It reinforces TransCo’s mandate… while clearly defining the roles and responsibilities of both organizations in ensuring the efficient implementation of these RE support mechanisms,’ the state firm said.

The MOA aligns with the Renewable Energy Market (REM) Rules, which require TransCo to provide data necessary for FIT allocation and support the issuance and verification of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

The MOA was signed by TransCo President and CEO Joseph Omar A. Castillo and IEMOP President and CEO Robinson P. Descanzo.

‘The partnership underscores the shared commitment of TransCo and IEMOP to strengthening institutional collaboration, promoting transparency and accountability in the administration of RE funds, and ensuring the effective implementation of the country’s renewable energy policies,’ they said.

The FIT-All is a uniform charge billed to all on-grid electricity consumers, reflected as a separate component in monthly electricity bills, to cover payments to RE developers who are assured of a fixed rate per kilowatt hour for electricity generated by their projects over 20 years.

Meanwhile, GEA-All is a uniform charge collected from electricity consumers to fund payments to RE developers participating in the government’s Green Energy Auction Program, supporting the country’s transition toward a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

Last month, the ERC announced that it extended the temporary suspension of the collection of the GEA-All for the July and August billing months as part of its efforts to help ease electricity costs for Filipino consumers amid prevailing economic challenges.

National Artist BenCab, Charlie Co, and Mark Justiniani, three celebrated Filipino artists known for layering their canvases with symbolic iconography and social history, break away from the usual confines of their artistic boundaries to explore an unexpected material for the first time: Bronze.

‘Forging Ahead: The Productive Unknown’ at Gajah Gallery Manila, a group exhibition of established Southeast Asian artists, presents the culmination of their artistic explorations at Yogya Art Lab (YAL), the gallery’s foundry and production house based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Gajah Gallery Manila, which opened in September last year, is the fourth and newest space of Gajah Gallery. Its other locations are Singapore, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta.

According to James Page, YAL Foundry Director: ‘We have a long history of working with Philippine artists and representing Indonesian and Southeast Asian artists. And so, we thought, it’s about time we opened a gallery in Manila.

‘The intention is not only to show the Philippine artists whom we’ve worked with but also to show other artists from the region and showcase the Southeast Asian culture ‘

Co-founded by Gajah Gallery Director Jasdeep Sandhu and Indonesian artist Yunizar, YAL was conceived as a space where artists could work with new media while being supported with access to technical expertise and quality casting techniques and materials.

‘Very often, these works start with a preliminary idea. And we help test and develop them into a material that they’re not familiar with-whether it be bronze, glass, aluminum, stainless steel fabrication, or wood so that the artists can elevate their own use of the material and explore a wide range of subjects with the guided hand of the artisans and us,’ stated Page.

The richness and permanence of bronze

Known for its versatility and high tensile strength, bronze is a premier material from the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans to the present.

Page reflected, ‘Bronze is a rich material. In every culture, there are incredibly deep roots in bronze, and not only that, but there’s this idea of creating something that will outlive many generations. You can do a painting, but a painting survives for 500 years unless it’s really well cared for. ‘But with bronze, you can put it in the ground and a thousand years from now, you can dig it up, clean it up, and it’s going to be quite close to what it was originally.’

As for the Filipino artists working with YAL and Gajah Gallery, Page noted, ‘It is exciting for them and even for me, just watching an artist create something so permanent.’

For artist Charlie Co, working with bronze is a full-circle moment for his practice.

‘I was already doing sculptures since 1996, but with terra cotta. Imagine, it took 40 years before I could meet Jasdeep and James. Working with bronze for the first time is both challenging and exciting for me as an artist,’ he said.

Cabrera explores humanity in the context of Filipino identity in his three bronze pieces: a life-sized sculpture, ‘Mother’s Love,’ and two smaller pieces, ‘Lovers’ and ‘Three Muses.’

The three artists are likewise joined by Jigger Cruz, Leslie de Chavez, and Marina Cruz from the Philippines; Ashley Bickerton, Dzikra Afifah, Handiwirman Saputra, Uji ‘Hahan’ Handoko Eko Saputro, and Yunizar from Indonesia; Jane Lee and Suzann Victor from Singapore; and Wei Ligang from China.

Collectively, the sculptures are the results of the artists’ work with materials like bronze, aluminum, and glass.

Suzann Victor’s ‘Lens-scape of Unlearning,’ for instance, consists of Fresnel lenses and photographs of Asian ancestors. The massive work delivers a prismatic effect that inspires viewers to question perception as the one gazed at also gazes back at the viewer.

Leslie de Chavez’s ‘La Paz Supper (The Last Feast),’ a large-sized painting with a bronze frame with two hands seemingly supporting it, questions faith and sacrifice in a culture that sanctifies excess.

Yunizar’s acrylic painting, ‘Dua Ikan Emas (Two Goldfish),’ celebrates the everyday fisherman-the day’s fresh catch in each hand-portrayed with a naif style that also conveys quiet dignity. His ‘Predator,’ cast in aluminum, presents a giant yellow fish appearing to have emerged from an ethereal world.

‘Forging Ahead: The Productive Unknown’ offers the realization that when artists are given access to space, time, and support to work with uncertain materials, the process becomes a creative catalyst-empowering them to scale up and deliver exciting breakthroughs in their practice.

Artists’ talk

On Saturday, July 18, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the gallery, artists Mark Justiniani, Charlie Co, Leslie de Chavez, and YAL Foundry Director James Page will speak at an artists’ talk and panel discussion moderated by Angel Velasco Shaw.

‘Forging Ahead: The Productive Unknown’ opened on July 5 and runs till August 9 at Gajah Gallery Manila. Unit 1B-!E, Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City. All photos by Francine M. Marquez

THEY looked so good together, but it was not meant to be. Or was it just for a promo?

The young, beautiful starlet and the handsome hunk are a couple no more, and we heard it’s because his own network wants the latter to be a leading man in his own right, without a permanent partner. As for the beautiful starlet, it seems that she’s now aware of the guy’s true character. People have warned her against him even before, but love blinded her. She’s a very sincere girl, and she thought he was as well. Now she knows better.

VANISHED

MANY people are wondering why the lovely mestiza quit showbiz when her career was doing relatively well. She was even on a long-running show, which showcased her acting talent and looks. One day, she just disappeared, and people thought she went back to school or something like that. What really happened, sources say, is that she became the girlfriend of a rich old man who has a liking for beautiful young girls. The old man is very rich and currently has a partner, with whom he has kids. The beautiful starlet is no longer in the picture.

CHANGED WOMAN

THE actress used to be difficult to work with. That was when she was with her former boyfriend. Now that she’s with another guy, who seems to be the love of her life, the actress’s attitude has improved immensely. She’s nicer and more amiable. She seems to enjoy not having to keep up with a boyfriend who’s into parties. Her current love is a low-key and likable guy who has kept her grounded. The actress has also made peace with people she’s had rifts with.

LOW PROFILE

THE beautiful actress is in love, but having experienced high-profile romances has taught her the value of keeping quiet and treasuring what she loves the most. First, she’s afraid that a meddling relative will see peso signs once he has confirmed that she’s with the guy. Second, all her relationships have been well-publicized. So she’d like to keep this one close to her heart. It’s also a very risky relationship, so she really is being very careful.

Floral arrangements of students and graduates of Ikebana classes at Sunshine Place are among the artworks in a fundraising exhibit titled Coloring Lives scheduled from July 21-26, 2026 at the Podium, Mandaluyong City.

This is the 9th Coloring Lives exhibit mounted to raise funds for a chosen beneficiary institution. Proceeds of this exhibit will benefit the Nazareth Bahay ng Pag-ibig, a home for abandoned elderly women.

The Nazareth Bahay Pag-ibig was founded by Fr Madeo C. Reyes and started its operation in 1991 in San Pablo City, Laguna. Its mission is to help the abandoned and homeless elderly. Its apostolate extends to those in need of food, clothing, and medicine and to those who are affected by natural disasters like typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and fire. It also gives temporary shelter for the displaced person or family.

Aside from Ikebana, the Coloring Lives exhibit will also feature works of Sunshine Place’s students in Intermediate and Advance Art class, Kids and Beginners Art class, Water Color, Porcelain Painting, and Decoupage.

‘Coloring Lives is nine years of a community that chose to create and to give,’ said Sunshine Place President Ms. Lizanne Uychaco. ‘Our students come to learn art. What they find is a second home – a place where they are seen, where their work is taken seriously, and where showing up every week means something. This exhibit is an invitation to see what our students have made and to support the cause they believe in.’

Since the first Coloring Lives fundraising exhibit in 2018, it has raised funds for elderly care institutions including the San Lorenzo Ruiz Home for the Elderly, Kanlungan ni Maria Home for the Aged in Antipolo, the National Center for Mental Health, and the Josefheim Elderly Care Community in Rizal.

The exhibit is open to the public from 10 am-10 pm, July 22-26, 2026.

From dream gowns to dream homes, Opulence Design Concept mounted a seamless presentation on Tuesday, July 14, at its Greenbelt 5 branch.

Titled ‘Una Storia D’Amore E Passion (A Story of Love and Passion),’ the event presented a collaboration between Opulence Design Concept, interior decorator Jenice Yeung, and fashion designer Julianne Syjuco.

As owners Gerry and Jinky Sy warmly welcomed guests, the mood and tone for an afternoon of style and charm were set as the guests entered the spacious store, viewing vignettes of elegant settings by Yeung.

The spotlight was on the latest Versace Home Collection- in toned-down palettes, a surprisingly refreshing diversion from the bold and loud colors that have become part of the global brand’s signature aesthetics.

Emanating glamor and luxury, the pieces carry gold accents and the iconic Medusa logo on the home accent pieces.

Among the coveted items in the collection are throw pillows bearing the Medusa logo in mint green, soft blue, and dusty rose; a Medusa-studded round pink vase; and The Versace La Scala del Palazzo plate collection made from fine porcelain in green and pastel pink. The design is inspired by the scenic marble staircase of the Versace Milanese palazzo.

Ramping up the afternoon’s romantic mood was a mini-fashion show featuring the bridal gown creations of designer Julianne Syjuco.

Maxene Magalona, Elisse Joson, Daniela Lagman, Sam Corales, Ashley Romero, Kim Gosiaco, and Aimee Abaya modelled the designer’s fairytale-like wedding gowns.

Matching the opulence of the home store’s atmosphere were Syjuco’s feminine creations in rich fabrics like French lace and tulle, embellished by pearls and crystals.

‘Fashion design and interior design are sisters because they both create beautiful things, turning the ordinary into something magical,’ noted Jinky Sy.

Opening its first showroom in Greenhills in 2019, the store, catering to European luxury brands, has grown to three branches. The latest branch, which opened in Greenbelt last December, hints at a steady but thriving business.

‘The luxury home market has slowed down a bit compared to the time of the pandemic, when buyers just stayed home. But now that everyone’s back to traveling, I would say that the homeware market, in general, slowed down a bit,’ she told BusinessMirror.

‘But we revolve around our home every day. We go home, and we want to be in a beautiful space; that’s why, I would say, luxury homeware is here to stay.’

On designing one’s space, she also advised, ‘Your home embodies yourself, who you are, and your beliefs and preferences. So, don’t be afraid to express yourself through your home decor. Don’t let yourself be dictated by others or by trends. At the end of the day, home should be a place where you can relax and be yourself.’

Located on the third floor of the mall, the store occupies an expansive 380 square-meter space and carries high-end global brands such as Fornasetti, Versace Home, Jonathan Adler, and Polspotten.

It also has an in-house Opulence Café where shoppers can relax, sip drinks, and have scrumptious European pastries while enjoying the luxury of sweet time.