Category: Business Mirror

With an estimated P24.4 billion worth of rice wasted annually, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging Filipinos to consume rice more responsibly, emphasizing its critical role in national food security.

This, as the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) pushed its Be RICEponsible campaign year-round, from being observed mainly in November, since responsible consumption should not be limited to 30 days.

PhilRice estimates that every Filipino discards roughly two tablespoons of cooked rice daily, translating to 10.85 million sacks of rice worth P24.4 billion a year. This could feed around 5.17 million Filipinos for an entire year.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said responsible rice consumption should become an everyday practice, considering the staple’s importance to Filipino households and national food security.

‘Every grain of rice carries the work of a Filipino farmer. When we waste less, choose wisely, and support locally produced rice, we strengthen not only our farmers’ livelihoods but also our country’s food security,’ Tiu Laurel said.

For his part, Agriculture Undersecretary Christopher Morales said a year-round campaign shows the need to make responsible consumption an everyday discipline rather than a seasonal reminder.

‘Increasing production and reducing postharvest losses are critical to strengthening our rice supply, but these efforts will not be enough if we continue to waste what we already have on our plates,’ Morales said.

‘Disciplined consumption is just as important. Every grain saved from waste effectively adds to the food available to our people without requiring additional land, water, inputs, or production costs,’ he added.

The DA said PhilRice and its partners will introduce the campaign to schools, communities, markets, workplaces, terminals, and other high-traffic areas through information drives, food-tasting activities, exhibits, social media, and public events.

They also aim to revive the Half-Cup Rice Ordinance in participating areas, encouraging restaurants to offer smaller servings to help diners avoid taking more than they can consume.

Meanwhile, the agency also urged consumers to purchase locally produced rice to support Filipino farmers and enhance domestic supply.

‘Riceponsibility starts with something as simple as taking only what we can finish,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘If every Filipino does a little, the country gains a lot, from less waste and healthier diets to stronger farmers and a more secure food supply.’

Senator Mark A. Villar is calling for the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1870, or the proposed ‘Travel Tax Abolition Act,’ which seeks to remove the decades-old travel tax imposed on Filipinos leaving the country.

‘Hindi dapat maging dagdag na pasanin ang pag-alis ng bansa, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe upang magtrabaho, mag-aral, magpagamot, magnegosyo, o makasama ang kanilang pamilya. Panahon nang alisin ang travel tax at ibalik sa ating mga kababayan ang perang maaari nilang magamit sa mas mahalagang pangangailangan,’ Villar said.

Introduced in 1977 under Presidential Decree No. 1183, the travel tax was imposed at a time when overseas travel was widely viewed as a privilege. Villar said this ‘archaic’ policy no longer reflects present realities, as Filipino travelers currently pay a full travel tax of ?1,620 for economy-class passage and ?2,700 for first-class passage. A family of four traveling in economy class must therefore spend an additional ?6,480 before leaving the country. ‘Malaking bagay na sa isang pamilya ang ?6,480. Maaari itong ilaan sa pagkain, pamasahe, tirahan, gamot, o iba pang gastusin sa biyahe. Sa gitna ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, nararapat lamang na alisin natin ang mga singil na hindi na angkop sa kasalukuyang panahon,’ Villar added.

Under Senate Bill No. 1870, government agencies and private entities will be prohibited from collecting travel tax once the measure takes effect. Passengers who have already paid the tax for flights scheduled on or after the law’s effectivity will also be entitled to an immediate refund.

The proposal likewise supports the objectives of the ASEAN Tourism Agreement, which seeks to facilitate travel and promote stronger connectivity among ASEAN member states.

Allaying concerns of possible disruptions to government programs, Senator Villar noted that the bill has safeguards for the continued funding through the annual General Appropriations Act for projects previously supported by travel tax collections.

At present, 50 percent of the collections goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority for tourism development, 40 percent to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programs, and 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

‘Patuloy nating susuportahan ang turismo, edukasyon, at kultura, ngunit hindi kailangang manggaling ang pondo sa dagdag na singil sa mga Pilipinong bumibiyahe. Ang mga ito ay pambansang programa na dapat pondohan sa ilalim ng pambansang badyet,’ Villar stressed.

‘Simple ang layunin natin: bawasan ang gastos, paluwagin ang biyahe, at bigyan ng mas malaking kalayaan ang bawat Pilipinong maghanap ng oportunidad saan mang panig ng mundo,’ Villar concluded.

President Ferdinand Marcos is aiming to propel MD Juan Enterprises Inc.’s foray into electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing by providing the 60-year-old traditional jeepney manufacturer with new pieces of equipment.

MD is a beneficiary of the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), which provides micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) with seed fund for technology acquisition.

The beneficiaries of the SETUP also receive technical training and consultancy services, packaging and label design, database information systems, and support for establishment of product standards.

On Tuesday, Marcos visited the office of MD in Caloocan to witness the assessment done by DOST in the company to determine what it pieces of equipment it will need so it can manufacture electric tricycles and jeepneys.

‘But right now, the reason we are here is to assess what needs to be done so that they will be capable of fabricating all-Filipino electric tricycles and electric jeepneys, should the need [for it] arise,’ he said in Filipino.

‘So, the next step is to put in some of the new equipment that is still necessary for the production of the electric vehicle.’

MD began its operations producing replacement and restoration parts for American military and civilian jeeps and now serves customers in the United States, Europe, and other international markets.

‘MD Juan is recognized as a company with long-standing experience in this field; they are at the forefront of the technologies we need to assemble, fabricate, and manufacture electric vehicles-with everything sourced right here in the Philippines,’ Marcos said.

The Marcos administration is currently pushing local EV production through Executive Order (EO) No. 121, which establishes the P60-billion Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS) Program.

The chief executive said the local production will help mainstream EVs, which will reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products and the implementation of the government’s public utility vehicle modernization efforts.

Gaming is no longer defined by a single screen, a single game, or even a single type of player. It has become a culture where people compete, create, discover new technology, follow their favorite titles, and connect with communities that share their interests.

That evolving culture came to life at Cyberzone Game Fest 2026, which brought gamers, creators, technology enthusiasts, and gaming communities together across your most loved mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM City Fairview, SM City Bacolod, and SM Davao.

Co-presented by Acer Predator and OPPO, and powered by DataBlitz, PC Express, SMART, and PLDT Home, the festival offered different ways for visitors to experience gaming-from competitive tournaments and free play to technology showcases and a glimpse into the work of Filipino game developers.

More than a series of gaming activities, Cyberzone Game Fest reflected how the experience of gaming continues to expand-and how communities remain at the center of it.

A Place Where Gamers Come TogetherAcross the four destinations, players and fans came together to compete, try new titles, explore gaming setups, and spend time with people who share their passion.

For some, the draw was competition. Others came to discover new games or experience gaming technology firsthand. Some simply wanted to be part of the atmosphere and meet fellow enthusiasts.

That mix is increasingly representative of gaming culture itself.

The community is no longer made up of only hardcore players. It includes casual gamers, esports fans, content creators, collectors, tech enthusiasts, and people who simply enjoy being part of the culture surrounding games.

Cyberzone Game Fest gave these different groups a shared space to play and connect.

Where Competition Meets Community

Players battled in TEKKEN 8 and Street Fighter 6, while free-play sessions featuring Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Fatal Fury gave both seasoned players and newcomers an opportunity to pick up a controller and join in.

The energy around the matches was familiar to anyone who has experienced competitive gaming: players focused on every move, spectators reacting to clutch moments, and friends supporting one another from the sidelines.

But the competition also highlighted something bigger.

For many gamers, the experience is not simply about winning. It is about having someone to play against, people to cheer with, and a community that understands the excitement of the game.

Experiencing the Technology Behind the Game

Here, esports tournaments shared space with interactive gaming technology, giving players an opportunity to experience the hardware, peripherals, and setups that have become an important part of modern gaming.

For today’s gamers, technology is part of the experience itself.

Performance, responsiveness, visuals, audio, and connectivity can all shape how a game feels. Being able to experience those elements firsthand adds another layer to discovering what works for different types of players.

The Gear Grounds made that technology tangible, while keeping the focus on the people using it.

A Glimpse Into the People Making GamesAt the Cyberzone Dev Den, powered by PC Express, visitors could discover locally developed titles including Vi 3v3 Arena by GridLock Games and Langit Lupa: Office Wars by NinetySix Studios.

The showcase gave Filipino indie developers an opportunity to put their games directly in front of players-and, just as importantly, gave players a chance to meet some of the people behind the games.

For visitors, it was an opportunity to discover games that may not yet have the visibility of major international releases.

For developers, having players experience their work in person offers something difficult to replicate online: immediate reactions, questions, feedback, and conversations around the games they have built.

It also gave aspiring developers in the audience a closer look at what local game development can look like in practice.

The presence of indie developers may have been one part of the larger festival, but it represented an important idea: gaming communities are not only made up of people who play-they also include people who create.

And the more opportunities players have to discover local creators, the more connections can form between Filipino developers and the communities they hope to reach.

Gaming Continues to Evolve

Across four SM Supermalls destinations, Cyberzone Game Fest 2026 showed just how broad gaming culture has become.

There were players competing in tournaments, fans discovering new titles, enthusiasts exploring gaming technology, and visitors experiencing locally developed games for the first time.

Each experience offered something different, a maxed-out experience but they shared a common thread: gaming creates connections.

It brings people together around competition and fandom. It gives creators a way to reach audiences. It gives communities a place to meet offline. And it continues to create new opportunities for people to participate in different ways.

That is also why gaming events continue to evolve.

What was once primarily about playing games is now also about the technology behind them, the communities around them, and the people imagining what comes next.

More Ways to Play, Discover and Connect

The goal is not simply to create spaces where people can shop for gaming products, but to give enthusiasts more opportunities to experience, discover, and connect around the technology and interests they enjoy.

From competitive gaming and esports to new technology and Filipino game development, Cyberzone Game Fest brought different parts of that ecosystem together in one celebration.

And while the festival has come to a close, the communities it brought together continue to grow.

For gamers, creators, and tech enthusiasts, there will always be another game to discover, another setup to explore, another competition to join, and-perhaps-another game waiting to be created.

Military amputees and war veterans in Ukraine marked Independence Day on Monday by finishing a grueling endurance race that took them more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) around the country.

At a lake outside the capital, Kyiv, athletes removed their prosthetics and pulled on wetsuits to complete on the closing day of the weeklong event, with some needing help to get into the water.

Known as Iron Week, the competition is led by three-time Olympic triathlete Danylo Sapunov, who supports veterans as the country endures more than four years of war since Russia’s full-scale invasion. ‘This is not a competition. There is no winner, and it does not matter who swims faster,’ Sapunov said as athletes gathered at the lake. ‘The important thing is to participate and unite as one.’

Ukraine is marking the anniversary of its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union as European leaders traveled to Kyiv to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for official celebrations.

The amputee athletes completed seven consecutive days of competition – swimming, cycling and distance running – while traveling around Ukraine, including through war-torn cities in the east.

Yevhenii Lakhnenko, a 46-year-old army serviceman who had his right arm and left leg amputated after being wounded last October, said swimming had been central to his recovery.

‘I am finishing my recovery and will get back in the ranks,’ he said. ‘I do not think there is another country in the world as strong as Ukraine. Only our people are capable of doing what we are doing.’

Maksym Yuzviak, 35, a strike-drone operator who lost both legs in January 2025, said Ukraine’s independence rested on the actions of ordinary people.

‘Independence is about the people,’ he said. ‘People who are ready to take responsibility and who, as they say, are capable of taking action.’

For the first time in his storied basketball journey, Derrick Rose made his way to the Queen City of the South.

The ArenaPlus ambassador touched down in Cebu on Sunday, Aug. 23, as the No. 1 PAGCOR-licensed online sportsbook in the Philippines brought the former NBA Most Valuable Player back to the country for a pair of events bringing him closer to Cebuano basketball fans.

Rose’s first Cebu visit will see him headline the Champion’s Circle Appreciation Dinner on Aug. 25 before meeting more fans at SM Seaside City Cebu for ‘Rose Meets the Queen: Derrick Rose in Cebu’ the following day. ‘I’m so pumped to finally be here and meet the fans in Cebu over the next few days,’ Rose told ArenaPlus just hours after landing in Mactan-Cebu International Airport. ‘I already felt the warm welcome from the moment I arrived, and I’m excited to experience more of the city.’

Rose is no stranger to the Philippines. His Cebu trip marks his fifth visit to the country and his third as an ArenaPlus ambassador in less than a year-this time taking him beyond Metro Manila to connect with another passionate basketball community.

His first major engagement will be the Champion’s Circle Appreciation Dinner, giving select ArenaPlus VIPs from Cebu, influencers, and members of the media an exclusive opportunity to spend an evening with the basketball icon.

The spotlight shifts to SM Seaside City Cebu the following day, where Rose will take center stage for ‘Rose Meets the Queen: Derrick Rose in Cebu’ and meet more of the supporters who have followed his career from thousands of kilometers away.

‘I feel the love, and it’s always special to see how basketball can bring communities together no matter where you are in the world,’ Rose said.

For Rose, the trip also offers something new: the chance to discover Cebu for himself and meet fans who have followed the highs, setbacks, and resurgence of his career from afar.

But before discovering more of what the Queen City has in store, Rose had one question for the fans waiting to see him.

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed $143.3 million (roughly P8.839 billion) for private-sector operations in the Philippines last year, with $109.4 million (about P6.746 billion at current exchange rates) in capital mobilized alongside the financing, according to a new report.

In its ‘Private Sector Operations in 2025: Report on Development Effectiveness’ released last Tuesday, the ADB said $129.8 million was in long-term financing, which mobilized $95.8 million, while $13.6 million was in short-term financing, with the same amount mobilized. Among the Philippine transactions listed in the report was ‘Project Tulip,’ ADB’s investment in the initial public offering (IPO) of Maynilad Water Services Inc.

The ADB committed $100 million from its own resources to the IPO, while another $45 million was invested through the ADB-administered ‘Leap 2’ facility, bringing the ADB’s total investment to $145 million.

Maynilad’s IPO raised P34.3 billion, or about $607 million, with 97 percent of the proceeds reserved for its capital expenditure program, including improvements to raw water conveyance, sewer coverage, and wastewater treatment facilities.

The report also listed a $29.8 million peso-denominated loan to Fuse Financing Inc., the lending arm of G-Xchange Inc., for its online lending platform. The ADB said at least 60 percent of the proceeds will be directed to micro-sized, small-scale, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or led by women, while 50 percent will go to businesses operating in provinces with high poverty incidence.

Other Philippine transactions listed by the ADB included the project of Asialink Finance Corp. to expand SME financing through secured vehicle lending. The transaction also included the ADB Ventures investment in Nibertex Pte. Ltd.

Across its developing member countries, the ADB committed 49 private-sector projects last year, down from 58 projects in 2024.

Despite the lower number of projects, committed project financing increased to $3.097 billion from $2.614 billion.

Total financing for private investment reached $9.5 billion, 38-percent higher than in 2024, while direct private capital mobilization rose 31 percent to $4.7 billion, the report said.

The ADB said its 2025 private-sector operations covered areas including renewable energy, digital infrastructure, waste management, education, health, and access to finance.

The bank also committed $1.6 billion in climate financing, equivalent to 69 percent of its committed private-sector projects during the year.

St. Luke’s Medical Center- Global City and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have strengthened their commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The partnership brings together two shared priorities: strengthening healthcare access for Filipinos and ensuring that patients continue to receive quality medical care.

Through the MOA, St. Luke’s and PhilHealth will work together to help eligible PhilHealth members maximize their healthcare benefits and make access to medical services more seamless. For St. Luke’s, the partnership builds on its commitment to provide patients with world-class medical care supported by highly trained specialists, advanced technology, comprehensive clinical services, and patient-centered care.

Patients covered by PhilHealth will continue to receive assistance from St. Luke’s dedicated teams in navigating their benefits, completing requirements, and processing the necessary documentation.

‘Healthcare access is not only about making services available. It is about making sure that patients can receive the right care, at the right time, and at the standard they deserve,’ said Dr. Dennis P. Serrano, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Medical Center.

The MOA reflects the importance of collaboration between government and private healthcare institutions in advancing the country’s healthcare system. Through the partnership, St. Luke’s- Global City and PhilHealth seek to strengthen mechanisms that enable more Filipinos to access appropriate medical services while maximizing the benefits available to them.

The partnership was formally sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between St. Luke’s Medical Center – Global City, represented by President and CEO Dr. Dennis P. Serrano, and PhilHealth, led by President and CEO Dr. Beverly C. Ho. The ceremony, witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., underscores the national priority of expanding healthcare access through PhilHealth coverage and building strong public-private partnerships that place patients at the center of healthcare delivery.

For St. Luke’s, this event represents another step toward making world-class healthcare more accessible to more Filipinos.

Same world-class care. Greater access.

St. Luke’s Medical Center remains committed to working with PhilHealth and the government in advancing a more accessible, responsive, and inclusive healthcare system-while upholding the standards of excellence that patients have come to trust.

Cloudy skies and the threat of rain didn’t stop golfers from showing up for the first Poveda 2002 Golf Tournament, held last August 18, 2026, at the Player Course of The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Organized by Poveda Batch 2002 in partnership with Sta. Lucia Land Inc., the charity tournament brought together friends, family, alumni, and members of the golf community for a day of friendly competition and fundraising.

The event was held for the benefit of the Asociasión de Alumnas de Poveda, the alumni association of Saint Pedro Poveda College. The tournament was able to surpass the expected goals set by the organizers, and the generated funds will support the association’s community outreach initiatives, charity programs, and other projects.

Additionally, the tournament was able to gather a total of 72 sponsors who generously gave gifts for raffles and giveaways. Among these sponsors are Palawan Pay and CWC as major sponsors, Clubface as the event’s apparel sponsor, and San Miguel as the event’s drink sponsor.

Despite the rainy forecast, the weather cooperated just in time for the opening prayer led by Poveda alumna Marga Puyat, followed by the ceremonial tee-off led by eight-year-old Tyly Bernardino, the tournament’s youngest player.

Michelle Robles-De Castro, representing Sta. Lucia Land Inc. and also an alumna of Poveda Batch 2002, welcomed the players and guests with the tournament’s welcoming remarks. Lara Santico-Vicente then went through the tournament rules before the players headed out to the course.

Behind the event were Poveda Batch 2002 alumnae Trinna Bernardino, Michelle Robles-De Castro, Andrea Mago, Alex Ocampo, Lara Santico-Vicente, Cathy Dizon, Bea Santos, and Berry Stehmeier, who came together to organize the tournament in support of their alma mater and its community.

The tournament welcomed 170 players and guests joining the day’s activities, among which were 12 club champions.

Adding another highlight to the event, the Poveda 2002 Golf Tournament was recognized as a qualifying event for the World Amateur Golfers Championship (WAGC) happening in September 2026. WAGC Director Mark Leviste was present to award Certificates of Qualification to the players.

Unlike any major golf tournament, the Poveda 2002 Golf Tournament was organized without a golf director, yet it was still executed flawlessly, delivering a highly competitive amateur event. This also reflects the Povedan core values: commitment, excellence, and Christ-centeredness.

Overseeing the tournament, there were two rulesmen on the course, namely Mr. Francis Montallana and Mr. Marvin Dumandan. There were also four marshals roaming.

Off the course, the event continued with food, prizes, raffles, and music by DJ Santino Laurel, giving players and guests a chance to unwind and celebrate after their rounds.

Over lunch, both players and attendees delighted in feasts of several served dishes and snacks. Families got to take home lots of goodies and gifts.

The awarding program opened with remarks from Berry Stehmeier and was hosted by Andrea Mago, who led the recognition of the day’s winners. Trinna Bernardino delivered the closing remarks, thanking the players, sponsors, partners, and guests who helped make the tournament possible.

Taking home the Overall Low Gross Champion title was King Stehmeier, who finished with a gross score of 72 and a net of 69. Meanwhile, Poveda alumna Lara Vicente Santico was named Overall Low Net Champion, finishing with a gross score of 75 and a net of 69.

More than a day on the greens, the inaugural Poveda 2002 Golf Tournament brought together sport, friendship and a shared purpose-making the Batch of ’02’s first tournament one that was truly good to be true.

THE Department of Energy (DOE) will continue to unload excess liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply and boost diesel inventories.

‘So, we’re starting to unload as well, so that storage costs don’t become excessive,’ said DOE Secretary Sharon Garin.

The country’s fuel inventory as of August 21 stood at 47 days. Of which, gasoline supply will last for 44 days; diesel, 47; kerosene, 121; jet fuel, 75; fuel oil, 54; and LPG, 34.

‘We have to do the math because we don’t want to spend too much. Because while we have it, we have to pay for storage-meaning the rent of the space to store it. Therefore, the longer we keep it, the more expensive the storage becomes,’ said Garin, referring to LPG supply. ‘Most of the time, we try to sell it lower than the going rate just to dispose. But I think it’s almost finished because everyone wants it,’ said Garin.

In the past months, the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) released a strategic Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) inventory stored at the South Pacific Inc. (SPI) terminal in Batangas, priced at P68.72 per kilogram (kg).

The strategic LPG inventory is an emergency fuel buffer meant to safeguard domestic supply and protect consumers from global market volatility and supply disruptions.

The energy chief said PNOC has no immediate plans to import another batch of LPG supply soon.

‘We have really enough and they already know where to go. Where did they buy from before? In the Middle East. Now, they’re buying from America. So, luckily, our companies have learned to be resilient and to spread their risk.

So, we have many other countries as sources,’ she said.

Likewise, LPG is likely not to be included in the planned strategic petroleum reserve. ‘We still have to study that because there is a different storage for LPG. When you store diesel, gas, it’s just like you put it in a big tank and then you store it there.

‘Here, there are two components that you have to mix. And then there’s the pressure that you have to control and the temperature. So it’s a more complicated process. That’s why we have not included that yet. And also because we have enough,’ she explained.

The PNOC and the Maharlika Investment Corp., are developing a strategic petroleum reserve and oil storage facility. Maharlika proposed a consortium with PNOC and the private sector to build oil depots to store strategic reserves. Maharlika will act as a capital provider, and PNOC will contribute assets; private operators will manage the facilities.

PNOC has funded and started studies to build at least one oil storage tank by end of next year. The investment is initially pegged at P5 billion per storage tank, capable of storing 500,000 to 1 million barrels of oil.

The Senate and House of Representatives are already tackling the proposed bills related to establishing the Philippine Strategic Petroleum Reserve (PSPR) system.

‘We’re still holding on to the diesel because it is being used for transportation. For LPG, you have a substitute. You can burn wood or charcoal. But for diesel, we’re not so confident yet of the situation of the Strait of Hormuz and 60 percent of diesel is really being utilized for transportation. So, maybe it’s not enough at the moment,’ said Garin.