Category: Business Mirror

SINGAPORE-For people whose vision has been severely affected by a damaged or diseased cornea, a transplant can offer a chance to see clearly again.

But there is a major obstacle: There simply are not enough donor corneas to meet the global need.

Globally, only about one in every 70 patients who needs a corneal transplant receives one, with the shortage particularly severe in Asia, according to Prof. Marcus Ang Han Nian, Head and Senior Consultant of the Cornea and External Eye Disease Department at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC).

The scarcity has prompted SNEC to explore ways of not only improving the outcomes of corneal transplantation but also making better use of every donor tissue available.

One of the most promising developments is the possibility of using one donor cornea for two patients.

‘Selective transplantation creates the possibility of dividing one donor cornea between two patients,’ Ang said in his presentation during the SingHealth Urology and Ophthalmology Media Immersion held in July, which brought together journalists from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Under the approach, the outer layer of a suitable donor cornea can be used for a patient who needs an anterior lamellar transplant, while the inner layer can be used for another patient requiring an endothelial transplant.

SNEC received approval in 2026 to begin using a single donor cornea for more than one patient under appropriate circumstances. The approach is already being used in some other Asian markets.

For Ang, the development is part of a larger transformation in corneal transplantation-from replacing the entire cornea to replacing only the portion that is diseased.

Replacing only what is damaged

The cornea is made up of several layers, each with a specific function. When the cornea becomes permanently scarred or cloudy, vision can be severely impaired and transplantation may be the only way to restore useful sight.

For decades, the standard approach was penetrating keratoplasty, or full-thickness transplantation. This involves removing the patient’s entire diseased cornea and replacing it with a donor cornea, which is secured with sutures.

While the procedure can restore vision, it also carries risks, including graft rejection, infection and other complications. The graft can eventually fail, potentially requiring another transplant.

Today, however, surgeons can take a more targeted approach.

‘The most important advancement in corneal transplantation is the shift from replacing the entire cornea to replacing only the diseased layer,’ Ang said.

If the disease affects the outer layers of the cornea, an anterior lamellar transplant can replace those layers while preserving the healthy inner portion. If the innermost layer is affected, an endothelial transplant can be performed.

This selective approach means surgeons can work through a much smaller incision, potentially reducing complications and supporting faster recovery.

It can also improve the longevity of the transplant. SNEC’s data show that more than 90 percent of selected patients retain a clear, functioning transplant beyond 10 years, while some patients continue to have clear corneas and good vision 15 to 20 years after surgery.

A thinner, sutureless transplant

One of the most refined forms of selective transplantation is Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty, or DMEK.

The procedure replaces only the thin, damaged inner membrane and endothelial cells rather than the entire cornea. These endothelial cells help keep the cornea clear by regulating its fluid content. When they are damaged, fluid can accumulate and cause the cornea to become cloudy.

SNEC moved from full-thickness transplantation toward endothelial keratoplasty about 20 years ago. It now performs DMEK, which uses an even thinner layer of donor tissue.

During the procedure, the donor tissue is carefully prepared, folded or rolled and inserted into the eye through a very small incision. An air bubble holds the transplanted layer against the back of the patient’s cornea until it attaches.

Unlike traditional full-thickness transplantation, DMEK is sutureless. In routine cases, the procedure may take about 10 to 15 minutes, with useful vision potentially returning within one or two weeks. Recovery from a traditional full-thickness transplant, by comparison, may take several months or up to a year.

SNEC is among the centers in Asia with extensive experience in DMEK, a minimally invasive technique that the center says offers faster visual recovery and lower complication and rejection risks than older forms of endothelial transplantation.

Making every donor cornea count

The ability to divide suitable donor tissue between recipients is particularly significant given the shortage of corneas worldwide.

But it is not as simple as cutting a cornea in half.

The process requires careful assessment of the donor tissue, specialized preparation, tracking and regulatory oversight. There is also a small risk of transmitting an infection from a donor to more than one recipient.

SNEC’s eye-banking capabilities allow donor corneas to be imported, assessed, prepared and stored before transplantation. The center has also developed specialized techniques for preparing, folding and injecting donor tissue, particularly for delicate procedures such as DMEK.

Ultimately, the objective is not simply to increase the number of transplants.

‘Donor corneas remain scarce globally,’ Ang said. ‘The aim is therefore not only to perform more transplants, but to ensure that each transplant lasts as long as possible.’

Longer-lasting grafts mean fewer patients may need another donor cornea in the future. Dividing suitable donor tissue between recipients could allow even more patients to benefit from the limited supply.

‘Selective transplantation therefore supports both improved patient outcomes and more responsible use of donated tissue,’ Ang said.

The value of a gift

The innovation also underscores the importance of corneal donation.

At SNEC, which has performed corneal transplantation for decades and carries out hundreds of procedures each year, eye-banking is an integral part of the transplant program.

For patients who have lost useful vision because of corneal disease, the donated tissue can mean a return to activities that many people take for granted-from reading and working to moving independently and seeing the faces of family members clearly again.

And with advances in selective transplantation, the potential impact of that donation is growing.

A donor cornea can be carefully matched to the specific needs of a recipient, while suitable tissue may potentially be divided to help two patients rather than one.

In a region where donor tissue remains scarce, that is more than a surgical innovation.

It is a way of making the gift of sight go further.

DMCI Homes Inc., the property development arm of the Consunji Group, on Wednesday said it aims to boost tourist arrivals in Batangas with its Solmera Beach Park Resort in the coastal town of San Juan.

Alfredo R. Austria, DMCI Homes president, said the development features a convention center that can accommodate up to 1,000 people.

Austria said the company will soon open the facilities for bookings for next year’s events, in time for the opening of the condotels that the company itself will operate.

San Juan may be a sleepy town in Batangas, which is a two- to three-hour drive from Metro Manila, but it draws travelers seeking beach experiences close to the capital.

The municipality is also gaining traction as a venue for corporate gatherings, conferences and group events, Austria said.

‘There are many nice things in the Philippines. It’s just a matter of developing. There’s a uniqueness in San Juan, which could become the best beach in the Philippines.’

Targeted to open in February 2027, the 7.5-hectare beachfront property is envisioned to be a beach resort that caters to both leisure travelers and organized groups. A key component of the development is its events infrastructure, which is intended to accommodate corporate functions, conferences, training programs, celebrations and other group activities.

The resort’s convention center will feature a main function hall measuring approximately 811 square meters, complemented by a 419 square meter veranda. Additional function spaces will be located across the development’s condotels, which may all open by next year.

Landscaped lawns and open-air areas throughout the property will provide additional venue options for outdoor gatherings.

Accommodation options will include studio units, as well as one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites designed for individuals, families, and groups.

Complementing these facilities is a pool complex spanning more than 4,000 square meters.

Dining options will be located across different areas of the resort, which Austria said will also open by next year.

To be operated by DMCI Hospitality and Leisure Inc., the development is expected to generate demand for hospitality services and create opportunities for businesses that support tourism activity. These will include local suppliers, transport providers, tourism partners and service-oriented enterprises that benefit from increased visitor traffic.

The decade-long problem on textbook shortages is now a thing of the past.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday announced an unprecedented procurement breakthrough after they successfully secured all 105 target textbook titles for public elementary and secondary schools.

The procurement covers learning resources required for the successive phases of curriculum implementation, beginning with Grades 1, 4, 7, and Senior High School (SHS) in 2024; followed by Grade 3 and Grades 2, 5, and 8 in 2025; and Grades 6, 9, and 10 in 2026, with all phases completed this year.

This milestone, the DepEd said, overhauls the national learning resource pipeline, delivering nearly four times the total number of titles procured across the prior decade combined.

The achievement addresses long-standing systemic bottlenecks highlighted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), which revealed that the agency managed to procure only 27 out of 88 required titles between 2014 and 2023.

The procurement of K-12 textbooks and teachers’ manuals for the Senior High School (SHS) Core Subjects has completed the bid opening stage with complete bidders in all lots and is currently undergoing the detailed evaluation of bidding documents, subject to the completion of the procurement process and award of contracts.

Upon contract award, the focus will shift to production, nationwide delivery, and logistics monitoring, with complete delivery anticipated by December 2026.

‘For ten years, our public school system was trapped in a cycle where procuring a single textbook title took up to three years, leaving millions of learners and teachers without the fundamental tools they needed,’ said Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara. ‘When 27 titles in a decade is your baseline, delivering 105 titles in a single year isn’t just an administrative achievement; it is a fundamental restoration of service to our learners. We dismantled unnecessary bottlenecks, strictly enforced timeline discipline, and proved that transparency, speed, and quality control can go hand-in-hand to ensure our schools receive complete, high-quality learning resources without delay.’

Progress accelerated through incremental policy adjustments, rising from 31 percent completion during the 2014-2023 period to 57 percent across 2024 and 2025 combined, before hitting 100 percent completion this year.

The operational shift stems directly from the implementation of DepEd Order No. 008, series of 2025, which introduced strict timeline limits, mandatory blind content evaluations, and the elimination of redundant review cycles.

Under these updated policy guidelines, initial technical checks are completed within five days, content evaluation is strictly capped within a 90-calendar-day framework, and price considerations are decoupled from material quality scoring.

Once a title passes all quality assurance stages, it proceeds directly to procurement without further text modifications, effectively ending the multi-year approval delays that previously starved classrooms of up-to-date instructional materials.

Under the new governance framework, responsibility is clearly delineated across all organizational levels, from Central Office oversight to delivery monitoring by regional offices, school division offices, and school principals.

All 105 approved printed and electronic textbook titles are now moving through procurement and nationwide distribution for classroom implementation.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is seeking a P28.04 billion budget for 2027, which it described as a ‘strategic investment’ in nature conservation and ecological integrity, local livelihoods and climate resilience.

This is slightly lower than the P28.33 approved budget of the agency this year.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna presented the key highlights of the proposed fiscal year budget and strategic priorities during the committee on appropriations budget hearing at the House of Representatives led by committee vice chairman Palawan Rep. Jose Chaves Alvarez.

Of the total proposed budget, P2.79 billion is allocated for Capital Outlay, while P13.07 billion is allocated for maintenance, and Other Operating Expenses, and P12.17 billion for Personnel Services.

The amount covers the Central Office, four staff bureaus, 17 regional offices, 77 Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Offices (Penros), 144 Community Environment and Natural Resource Offices (Cenros), and four Municipal Environment Offices (MEs) with a total budget of P20.62 billion.

The proposed budget covers P2.101 billion for the Environmental Management Bureau, P1.89 billion for the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and P1.9 billion for the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority.

The budget proposal also includes P284.35 million for the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) while the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSDS) will be given P149.3 million.

Cuna said that with its immense mandate, the DENR is entrusted with a challenging yet vital responsibility.

‘Our primary priority is translating this mandate into direct community impact amid limitations in fiscal space; we commit to channeling our resources toward three impactful pillars,’ he said.

He said the DENR aims to unlock the country’s Natural Capital to drive sustainable socio-economic development, ensuring a clean and healthy environment and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

This, Cuna said, involves transforming the National Greening Program (NGP) into a forest landscape restoration approach, focusing on priority landscapes such as the Sierra Madre Protected Landscape.

For 2027, he said the DENR aims to support community-based social enterprises, ensuring that the objective is not merely to plant trees, but to restore biodiversity and strengthen ecosystem resilience, and create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

In his presentation, the DENR chief said the goal is to generate 225,392 jobs for 52,815 individuals via the E-NGP.

Moreover, the DENR said it targets to issue 43,596 land patents for residential, agricultural and special purposes.

Meanwhile, for the mining sector, Cuna said the target is to drive towards a 2 percent mining Gross Domestic Product Contribution by the end of the year.

This involves generating 207,923 jobs and mineral exports of around $7 billion.

In 2027, the target is to establish 10 new Minahang Bayan sites and to fast-track the assessment of quadrangle geological maps to determine critical mineral potentials.

The DENR chief also stressed the allocation of P124 million for direct financial assistance to water districts to eo expand service to unserved barangays to boost water security.

In terms of advancing a clean and healthy environment, Cuna said the DENR aims to empower local governments (LGU) and the private sector in solid waste management.

He noted that the Extended Producers Responsibility has mobilized 962 enterprises, which have successfully diverted 244 million kilograms of plastic packaging footprints.

To boost proper waste segregation and promote recycling, the DER aims to provide direct assistance to 4,400 barangays to operationalize Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), and assist 53 local government units (LGUs) with on-site assessment and 68 LGUs with conceptual designs for solid waste management facilities.

Moreover, the DENR chief said the agency aims to expand the country’s network of sanitary landfills by operationalizing more landfills, targeting 397 existing sanitary landfills servicing 805 cities and towns nationwide.

In strengthening the ecosystem’s integrity and climate resilience, the DENR chief said the DENR will continue to safeguard critical ecosystems and promote wildlife conservation through the Protected Areas.

There are currently 121 legislated Protected Areas covering 4.51 million hectares.

The Philippines also maintains a total of 70 Wildlife Rescue Centers.

Meanwhile, the DENR also targets to strengthen the network of Marine Protected Areas and implement the 10 Research and Development Agenda and Operationalization of Marine Science Research Centers, on top of the 8 facilities already established.

The DENR is enhancing its capacity and workforce to establish site-specific ecosystem accounts as mandated by the Natural Accounting or PENCAS law.

‘By measuring the economic value of our environment, the ecosystem services and the tangible benefits of conservation, we are enabling smarter, data-driven planning, programming and budgeting,’ he said.

As the government reviews its poverty metrics, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) under the supervision of the Office of the President (OP).

Both commissions were previously placed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through Executive Order (EO) No. 67 (series of 2018) to harmonize government poverty-related policies.

Last week, Marcos decided to repeal EO 67 and bring back the said commissions to the OP through EO 123.

‘Placing the PCUP and NAPC under the administrative supervision of OP will strengthen policy coordination, ensure greater convergence of poverty reduction and urban development initiatives, and facilitate the efficient implementation of programs requiring a whole-of-government approach,’ the new two-page issuance stated.

NAPC serves as the coordinating and advisory body for the governments social reform agenda, while the PCUP provides the consultative mechanisms and provides recommendation to the President on poverty-related policies.

Under EO No. 292 or the ‘Administrative Code of 1987,’ the President can reorganize the administrative structure of OP in order to achieve simplicity, economy, and efficiency

EO 67 took effect immediately after it was issued on 18 August 2026.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that that poverty threshold dropped to 9.7 percent in 2025 from 15.5 percent in 2023.

The latest poverty threshold figures, however, drew criticisms for using outdated methodology.

CONFLICTING sworn accounts surrounding the alleged delivery of cash-filled suitcases have widened scrutiny of the ‘maleta’ allegations, as the Office of the Ombudsman weighs competing versions from witnesses linked to the supposed transactions.

The latest dispute involves former marine Orly Guteza, who previously claimed that he participated in deliveries of suitcases containing cash but later withdrew his allegations and denied having personal knowledge of the supposed transactions.

His reversal came as 25 former employees of former Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co of Ako, including drivers and security aides, submitted sworn statements disputing accounts attributed to the so-called ‘maleta boys.’

The affidavits were included in a supplemental counter-affidavit filed before the Ombudsman by former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is challenging allegations that he received cash from purported deliveries.

According to Romualdez’s counsel, Ade Fajardo, the 25 former employees denied that they participated in or witnessed deliveries of money to politicians or government officials. Some also claimed that they had been offered money to sign prepared affidavits.

Guteza had earlier emerged as a key witness during a Senate Blue-Ribbon committee hearing, where he claimed that he worked as a security consultant for Co and participated in alleged cash deliveries.

He later recanted, claiming that Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Michael Defensor instructed him to make allegations despite his lack of personal knowledge of the supposed deliveries.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Guteza’s reversal did not surprise him, saying he had observed what he described as coaching during the 2025 Senate hearing.

In the supplemental filing, Romualdez’s camp argued that Guteza’s original and subsequent accounts should be compared during the preliminary investigation.

The filing said investigators should examine the circumstances under which each statement was made and determine the reasons behind the change in Guteza’s account.

The defense maintained that the issue is different from recantations made after testimony in court or following a conviction because the Ombudsman has yet to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to bring the case to trial.

The Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. inaugurated its 29th distribution substation on Tuesday to further assure full energy support to the industrial estate in Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

The substation is located in Barangay San Pedro, Panabo, 35 kilometers northeast of here, and has a capacity of 10 megavolt-ampere (MVA) 69, or 13.8 kilovolt (kV). The San Pedro substation was energized on August 2 and successfully loaded on August 8, the Davao Light said.

It said the new substation was designed to meet the power demands of the 63-hectare agro-industrial park, Anflo Industrial Estate (AIE), which is a special economic zone accredited by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

This was the fourth substation in Panabo City and the facility will increase power capacity across the city and its surrounding communities.

The Davao Light said the inauguration marked the official completion of Phase 1 of the project. The next phase will be designed for long-term load expansion to add 33 MVA capacity and is set for completion by December next year.

Upon completion, the Phase 2 facility will operate as a fully digital substation with automated monitoring and real-time data transmission, allowing Davao Light engineers to identify and resolve issues efficiently. The facility will also incorporate sustainable features, including a solar power system for lighting and other facility needs, as well as a rainwater harvesting system to support cleaning and routine maintenance.

The project is part of Davao Light’s ongoing network upgrading and expansion to support growing power demand across its franchise area.

‘The San Pedro Substation powers the economic engines in the AIE, Panabo, and neighboring areas,’ said Davao Light President and Chief Operating Officer Enriczar Tia. ‘By strengthening the power grid in Davao del Norte, we are helping ensure reliable electricity for businesses and communities while providing the capacity needed to support continued growth in the area. This milestone reflects Davao Light’s continuing investment in a stronger and more resilient distribution network to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve.’

The new facility will also strengthen the Davao Light presence across the province and of Davao de Oro, whose franchise has been handed over to it from the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (Nordeco). The company is now in its 80th year since it started in Davao City.

Agriculture must move beyond a primary focus on producing sufficient quantities of food and place greater emphasis on providing the diverse and nutritious foods needed for healthy diets, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu said.

‘Success can no longer be measured simply by how much food we produce. It must also be measured by whether agriculture provides the foods that healthy societies require, and whether those foods are available, accessible and affordable for everyone,’ he told the International Horticultural Congress 2026 in Kyoto last Monday, pointing to the role of fruits, vegetables and other horticultural crops in healthy diets, biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods.

Between 2010 and 2024, fruit and vegetable production grew faster than cereals, and horticulture now makes up almost a quarter of global agricultural production value-about $1.4 trillion. Exports grew roughly 2.6 percent annually over the period, reaching 175 million tonnes worth $240 billion by 2024.

But, despite the economic success, this hasn’t translated into healthier diets, the director-general told the audience of scientists, policymakers, business representatives and producers.

The director-general identified productivity, availability and affordability as three interconnected challenges to unlocking horticulture’s full nutrition potential.

Yields have grown less than one percent annually, lagging behind cereals amid underinvestment in research, genetics and infrastructure underlining the problem of productivity.

When it comes to availability, FAO’s latest analysis shows that in 2023, only about half of countries produce enough fruits and vegetables to meet the FAO/WHO target of 400g per person daily. Average consumption is considerably lower, at an estimated 80 grams of fruit and 190 grams of vegetables per person per day globally.

In terms of affordability, producer prices rose between 2016 and 2025 in 89 percent of countries for fruits and 93 percent for vegetables, with median annual increases of approximately 4.2 percent and 4.7 percent, respectively

Current trends point to significant gaps ahead. By 2050, projections suggest that fewer than one-third of countries in sub-Saharan Africa will have sufficient fruit and vegetable supplies to meet the joint FAO/WHO recommendation.

With land and water resources increasingly constrained and climate change intensifying pressure through rising temperatures, water scarcity, extreme weather, pests and diseases, the director-general called for investment in improved seed and planting material, healthier soils, efficient irrigation, mechanization and digital technologies, extension services, post-harvest systems and stronger links between producers and markets.

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) emerged as the biggest winner at the Seventh Philippine Sports Tourism Awards after clinching two major honors-National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year and International Event of the Year-for its successful hosting of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

Under the leadership of its president John Gutierrez, the twin victories underscored how the PFF’s trailblazing event served as a powerful showcase of sports tourism that elevated destinations, inspired communities and placed the country firmly on the global sporting map.

PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, guest of honor at the awards night, praised the federation’s achievement.

‘The FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup was a celebration of how sports can bring nations together and put the Philippines on the global map,” said Gregorio, noting that the event exemplified the synergy between tourism and athletic development.

The awards were organized by the Sports Tourismo Alliance Committee and presented by the Philippine Sports Commission.

World Archery Philippines was named Emerging NSA of the Year, while the Tour of Luzon earned Domestic Event of the Year.

The City of Puerto Princesa and Sunrise Events were honored as Event Organizers of the Year, with Puerto Princesa also recognized as Emerging Destination of the Year and the City of Lapu-Lapu cited for Destination Marketing Event of the Year.

As the Chairperson of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC), Gregorio commended the honorees for their excellence and persistence in advancing athletic excellence while also highlighting the country’s top destinations on the global stage.

‘We all believe that the biggest tourism events in the world are sports events. We’re very lucky because of President [Ferdinand Jr.] Marcos really believes that sports tourism is a strategy not only to promote tourism but to develop grassroots sports,’ Gregorio said.

He cited the just-concluded 4th Southeast Asia Open Water Swimming Championships in Boracay and the recent Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, the Tour of Luzon as examples of how hosting boosts local participation and global exposure and underscored the transformative power of sports tourism.

Industry partners were likewise celebrated: Duck Sports as Media Outfit of the Year, Grand Country Tour and Travel as Tour Operator of the Year, Marriott Charity Golf as Charity Event of the Year, New Clark City as Venue of the Year, and Philippine Airlines as Airline of the Year.

Hospitality and events were represented by NUSTAR Resort Cebu (Hotel of the Year) and the Sports Tourism Forum at SMX Clark (M.I.C.E Event of the Year).

The evening also paid tribute to Charles Lim of the Sports Tourismo Alliance Committee, whose leadership has steered the awards since inception.

‘What is unique with sports tourism is that while athletes compete for points and prize money, the host country showcases its destinations to millions of viewers worldwide,” Gregorio said.

‘From tennis to surfing, cycling to futsal, sambo to karate, these events bring athletes, fans, and federations together and in the process, they elevate the Philippines on the global sports map,’ added Gregorio.

The Subic Bay Freeport Zone was named Destination of the Year, veteran sports leader Cynthia Carrion was honored as Sports Personality of the Year, and the Island Living Channel was recognized as Local TV Sports Media Outfit of the Year.

Also present during the awarding ceremony were SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose Alino and Atty. Agnes Devanadera, President and CEO of Clark Development Corporation as special guests and awardees together with Philippine Retirement Authority General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Roberto ‘Bob’ Zozobrado.

By bringing the world’s best women’s futsal teams to Manila, the PFF not only showcased the country’s organizational capacity but also generated a ripple effect across tourism and grassroots sports.

Hotels, restaurants, and transport services benefited from the influx of athletes, officials, and fans, while young Filipino players gained invaluable exposure by competing on home soil.

‘When we host events of this magnitude, we don’t just welcome athletes and fans. we showcase our destinations, inspire our youth, and strengthen our national identity through sports,’ said Gregorio.

The country will host the biggest surfing event on the planet on October 31 to November 10-the World Surf League Championship Tour where the top 40 surfers in the world will see action while the Asian U19 Sepak Takraw Championships (November 18 to 25) and the East Asia Baseball Cup (November 26 to December 5) are likewise on the pipeline.

THE Philippines is seeking Thailand’s support for four labor initiatives as it pushes for concrete regional action on emerging workplace issues.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino presented the Philippine-led outcome documents during a bilateral meeting with Thai Minister of Labor Julapun Amornvivat on Tuesday, ahead of the 29th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Labor Ministers’ Meeting (ALMM) and related meetings.

Four priority documents cover labor market and social resilience, fair, ethical and sustainable recruitment, labor inspection in the fishing sector, and occupational safety and health in the informal economy.

Philippine officials sought Bangkok’s backing for the endorsement of these deliverables as part of efforts to advance practical, worker-centered policies within Asean.

Platform workers also figured prominently in the talks, with Tolentino and Amornvivat discussing the ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 193 on decent work in the platform economy.

Ride-hailing, delivery, freelancing and other digital platforms are among the emerging forms of work covered by the convention, reflecting the changing ways workers earn their livelihoods.

Possible cooperation on aquaculture development and workers’ rehabilitation likewise formed part of the bilateral discussions.

Thailand shared its experience in establishing rehabilitation centers for workers and invited Philippine officials to visit its facilities as Manila prepares to establish its own dedicated workers’ rehabilitation center.

Skills development was another area identified for closer cooperation, with the Philippines expressing support for Thailand’s priority to establish an Asean Center of Excellence for skills certification.

Manila reaffirmed its commitment to working with Bangkok in advancing ASEAN’s labor agenda and strengthening cooperation among member-states. The bilateral engagement forms part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to draw on regional expertise to improve programs and services for Filipino workers.

With workplaces and employment arrangements evolving, the Philippines is pushing Asean cooperation toward stronger labor protections, safer workplaces and better opportunities for workers across the region.