Category: Business Mirror

ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI), automation and green technologies are reshaping jobs in the country’s ocean economy, prompting the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) to push for more technical and higher-value work for Filipino workers.

The Philippine ocean economy generated P1.08 trillion in 2025, equivalent to 3.8 percent of gross domestic product, while providing jobs to 2.46 million workers, according to government data cited by Dole.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said AI, green shipping, low-carbon fuels, and modern shipbuilding and repair are changing the skills required across the maritime sector.

That shift is opening opportunities beyond traditional manual work, including marine engineering, ship design, vessel retrofitting, and ship repair.

‘Growing the maritime industry requires investments that create well-paid jobs, technology transfer, expertise, and access to higher education opportunities,’ Tolentino said.

‘We need partners who are willing, able, and patient to help us build these capabilities here in the Philippines and not abroad,’ he added.

The push comes as the country seeks to strengthen its position in an ocean economy that covers seafarers, fisherfolk, coastal communities, shipbuilders, ship-repair workers and other workers linked to maritime activities.

The Philippines is recognized as the world’s fourth-largest shipbuilding and ship-repair nation, putting the sector in a position to generate more specialized employment as technology changes production and vessel operations.

However, for workers, the expansion also raises the need for skills development alongside the creation of new jobs.

Dole’s Maritime Labor Affairs Office has been consolidating services for maritime workers, including legal assistance, conciliation, dispute settlement, workers’ education and employment services.

The agency is also supporting implementation of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers through maritime conciliator-mediators, labor arbiters and voluntary arbitrators.

‘Rights must not remain in promises written in law,’ Tolentino said.

‘They must be understood, accessible, and enforceable, regardless of a worker’s financial capability,’ he added.

Dole is also using its Trabahong-Dagat program under Tupad to provide temporary employment to fisherfolk and coastal communities during closed fishing seasons and periods affected by seasonal or climate-related disruptions.

As the ocean economy becomes more technology-driven, the labor agenda is increasingly tied to whether Filipino workers can gain the specialized skills needed to move into higher-value maritime occupations, Tolentino also said.

The rules also limit objections during virtual hearings.

Parties may not raise objections concerning the admissibility of evidence or the credibility of witnesses during the videoconference itself, with the commission reserving its rulings on those matters for the final resolution of the case.

The rules also limit objections during virtual hearings.

Parties may not raise objections concerning the admissibility of evidence or the credibility of witnesses during the videoconference itself, with the commission reserving its rulings on those matters for the final resolution of the case.

TVS Motor Company (TVSM), part of TVS VENU, and a reputed global manufacturer of two and three-wheelers, today announced opening of booking of its flagship electric scooter TVS iQube at Wheeltek’s 50th Anniversary Exhibition held at the Mall of Asia. Marking a significant milestone in the company’s electric mobility journey in the Philippines, the TVS iQube has been introduced at a special price of PHP 99,800.

Designed for the modern rider, the TVS iQube sets new benchmark in performance, comfort, safety, and build quality. The TVS iQube seamlessly combines high performance with superior comfort. Delivering a peak power of 4.6 kW (on par with a 125cc scooter), it accelerates from 0-40 km/h in just 4.2 seconds. Its advanced lithium-ion battery ensures durability and long-lasting performance, enabling a worry-free ownership experience. To further enhance customer confidence, the battery and motor are backed by a 5-year warranty, providing complete peace of mind and dependable performance for years to come. A 950W carry-along-charger, charges the vehicle from 0-80% in less than 3 hours. The scooter features a 7-inch TFT display and a suite of intelligent Bluetooth and cloud-enabled connected features, including Turn-by-Turn Navigation, Call and SMS Alerts, Music-on-the-go, Geofencing, Ride and Charging statistics, and much more.

The two-day exhibition organized by Wheeltek, Philippines’ largest multi-brand vehicle dealership, brought together leading automotive and mobility brands under one roof. The exhibition attracted automotive enthusiasts, media representatives, influencers and mall visitors, offering them an opportunity to experience and engage with TVSM’s growing electric mobility portfolio and future-ready transportation solutions.

Speaking on the partnership with Wheeltek, James Chan, Senior Vice-President, ASEAN, TVS Motor Company, said, ‘As we celebrate Wheeltek’s 50th anniversary, the exhibition has provided us with a platform to showcase TVS Motor’s sustainable, innovative and future-ready mobility vehicles. The new price introduction of the TVS iQube, along with the showcase of the TVS Orbiter and TVS King EV Max, reflects our purpose to bring a wider range of EV mobility solutions to the Philippines. We value our partnership with Wheeltek and look forward to further expanding our presence in the country through this association.’

Madhu Prakash Singh, Vice President, EV International Business, TVS Motor Company, said, ‘The TVS iQube has now surpassed 1 million customers globally, and its entry into the Philippines marks a significant milestone in our electric mobility journey. With a launch price of PHP 99,800, we are committed to making sustainable mobility more accessible to Filipino consumers. The TVS iQube reflects our vision of a cleaner, greener future, combining advanced technology, everyday practicality, and a seamless riding experience. We are confident that it will redefine the electric scooter segment in the Philippines and meet the evolving needs of urban commuters seeking smart, convenient, and sustainable transportation solutions.’

TVSM continues to strengthen its international presence by offering a diverse portfolio of innovative two and three-wheelers, while strengthening its footprint across the Philippines. The company remains focused on delivering customer-centric mobility solutions that bring together technology, sustainability and superior riding experiences, while building its partnerships across global markets.

Jake Bahia and Dan Simeon of Steelmax Inc. will represent the Philippines at the World Corporate Golf Challenge World Final in Beijing, China, from October 19-23.

Bahia and Simeon punched their ticket to the finale by topping the WCGC National Final at Mount Malarayat this month.

The duo’s trip will be paid for including airfare, accommodations and access to all activities lined up for the tournament.

‘This is going to be exciting and I am hoping that we could bring home our first title,’ WCGC Philippines Executive Partner Paulo Legaspi said. Legaspi, with co-executive partners Joyce Escandor and Paul Escador, will accompany Bahia and Simeon. Legaspi also expressed gratitude to Bethel Insurance, Maxicare, Holerayt, Solaire Online, Rudy Project, Maharlika Foods, Transview and Skingenie for making the inaugural WCGC Philippines event a success.

THE Philippines is among the countries that made the fastest improvement in travel and tourism, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

In the 10th edition of the WEF’s Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026, the Philippines’s overall score grew by 5.5 percent from 2024 to 4.08 index points, or an increase by 9.6 percent since prepandemic 2019. This placed the country in seventh place among the fastest improvers in the TTDI.

Albania led the pack of fastest improvers, with a 7-percent increase to 4.14 points since 2024, followed by Vietnam +6.3 percent to 4.15, Laos +6.1 percent to 3.69, Qatar +6 percent to 4.23, Malaysia +5.8 percent to 4.5, and Thailand +5.6 percent to 4.35.

Overall scores range from 1 to 7, where 1 is the worst and 7 is the best.

The TTDI measures the factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of travel and tourism. It does not measure tourism performance directly-such as arrivals, spending, or revenue-but the underlying conditions that enable destinations to attract, support and sustain tourism in ways that benefit economies and societies.

These underlying conditions, or pillars, include: Business Environment, Safety and Security; Health and Hygiene; Human Resources and Labor Market; Information and Communication Readiness; Prioritization of Travel and Tourism (TandT); Openness to TandT; Price Competitiveness; Air Transport Infrastructure; Ground and Port Infrastructure; Tourist services and infrastructure; Natural resources; Cultural resources; Non-leisure resources; Environmental sustainability; TandT economic impact; and TandT demand sustainability.

Japan tops index

This year’s report showed that 101 of 110 economies have improved their TTDI score between 2024 and 2026, with the average rising by 2.1 percent, which is the fastest pace recorded since 2019.

Japan took the top position, with an overall score of 5.27, followed by the United States (5.23), Spain (5.22), Australia (5.18), and France (5.17), with gains driven by ‘increased cultural resources, tourism infrastructure and services, and air connectivity and business travel,’ said the report.

In a news statement, WEF Head of Experience Economy and Cities Ramya Krishnaswamy said, ‘The latest [TTDI] shows that the enabling conditions for travel and tourism are at their strongest since the pandemic, with 92 percent of economies improving since 2024.’

She added: ‘The next chapter is not simply about attracting more visitors, but it is going to be about creating greater value by investing in people, infrastructure and stronger public-private collaboration so tourism delivers lasting benefits for communities, businesses and destinations.’

Challenges remain

The Index showed travel and tourism facing growing challenges. Between 2024 and 2026, travel became less affordable in three out of four economies, while tourism investment failed to keep pace with rising demand and labor shortages threatened further growth, said WEF.

‘Benefits for local communities also weakened during this period, highlighting that more visitors do not automatically translate into better livelihoods or higher quality jobs, particularly in destinations where tourism is highly seasonal,’ the organization added.

Despite these pressures, emerging tourism economies are gaining ground, said the WEF. Since 2019, the largest emerging economies have improved their TTDI scores more than twice as fast as the Top 20, with Asia-Pacific economies, including the Philippines, accounting for seven of the 10 fastest-improving performers.

‘Overall, these findings suggest that the next stage of convergence will depend less on attracting visitors and more on supporting them and travel and tourism businesses. Many major emerging tourism economies already possess the assets associated with tourism success. What separates them from the leaders is the depth of the infrastructure, services and enabling conditions needed to support tourism,’ said the report.

This year’s TTDI report was produced in collaboration with Zurich Insurance Group and informed by the Beyond Tourism Insights Council.

Around the time of the United Nations General Assembly in recent years, the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces seized the opportunity to clamor about so-called ‘Taiwan’s participation in the United Nations.’ And this year is no exception. Recently, Mr. Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, ‘Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines,’ published an article in some Philippine newspapers, falsely claiming that ‘supporting Taiwan’s UN participation does not contradict the Philippines’ one-China policy.’ Such remarks are untenable in both fact and law, and are both absurd and dangerous.

I. The One-China principle is a basic norm of international relations

It is well known that there is but one China in the world, the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. The Taiwan question is one left over by the Chinese civil war. Shortly after the end of World War II, a civil war broke out in China. After the defeat of the Kuomintang led by Chiang Kai-shek, it retreated to Taiwan, and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have since fallen into a special state of long-term political confrontation. On October 1, 1949, the People’s Republic of China was founded, and the Government of the People’s Republic of China became the sole legal government representing the whole of China and the sole legal representative of China in the international community. The one-China principle is both a universal consensus of the international community and a basic norm of international relations, and it is also the political foundation for China to establish and develop diplomatic relations with countries around the world.

II. UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 once and for all settled the q2uestion of Taiwan’s status

UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, adopted in 1971, fully reflects and solemnly confirms the one-China principle. It resolved, politically, legally, and procedurally, the issue of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations in a clear and comprehensive manner. It made clear that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations and that there is no such thing as ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan.’ China’s representation in the United Nations is, of course, the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan. After the adoption of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, the official documents of the United Nations have referred to Taiwan as ‘Taiwan, Province of China.’

III. Taiwan’s participation in the activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle

With regard to the participation of China’s Taiwan region in the activities of international organizations, China’s position is consistent and clear: the matter must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. The United Nations is an intergovernmental international organization composed of sovereign states. As a province of China, Taiwan has no basis, no justification and no right to participate in the United Nations and its relevant institutions. On the premise of adhering to the one-China principle, the Chinese government has made proper arrangements for the Taiwan region’s participation in the World Health Assembly, the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and other events. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have obstinately pursued ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and refused to accept the 1992 Consensus which embodies the one-China principle, causing the political foundation for the relevant arrangements to no longer exist, and the responsibility lies entirely with the DPP authorities. If they truly care about the rights and interests of our compatriots in Taiwan, they should genuinely return to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus.

IV. Successive Philippine governments have adhered to the one-China principle

In the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations signed between China and the Philippines on June 9, 1975, the Philippine side explicitly confirmed that ‘The Philippine Government recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, fully understands and respects the position of the Chinese Government that there is but one China and that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory, and decides to remove all its official representations from Taiwan within one month from the date of signature of this communique.’ Over the 51 years since the establishment of China-Philippines diplomatic relations, successive Philippine governments have adhered to the one-China policy. As recent as September 20, 2026, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) again issued a statement that ‘reaffirms the Philippines’ adherence to its one-China Policy, in accordance with the 1975 Joint Communique between the Philippines and China, in which the Philippines recognized the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government of China. This policy remains consistent, clear and unchanged.’

In conclusion, UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no distortion, and the one-China principle brooks no violation. The just cause of the Chinese government and people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism, and achieving national reunification will continue to enjoy the understanding and support of countries around the world. The Chinese people are confident and capable of achieving the complete reunification of the motherland, and no individual or force can prevent the historical trend toward national rejuvenation and reunification.

With 29 minutes and 57 seconds to spare, Filipina ultra-runner Jennifer Aimee Uy reached the statue of King Leonidas in Sparta, successfully completing one of the world’s most grueling footraces.

Uy crossed the finish line of the historic Spartathlon in 35 hours, 31 minutes, and 3 seconds.

Covering 246 kilometers across Greece, the Spartathlon retraces the ancient 490 BC journey of Pheidippides, the Athenian messenger sent to Sparta to seek help before the Battle of Marathon.

The race began at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens and pushed athletes across rough tracks, muddy trails, searing daytime heat, and freezing nighttime rain.

Out of 381 athletes from 48 countries, 276 managed to complete the course, with Uy finishing 249th.

For Uy, the physical distance was only half the struggle, the ultimate test was surviving the strict time limits.

The route features 75 checkpoints, and a single missed cutoff results in immediate disqualification.

The trial reached its critical breaking point deep into the night at Mount Parthenion, near the 160-km mark.

Ascending the 1,215-meter peak meant pushing through cold temperatures and driving rain in total darkness. The mountain descent proved even more dangerous, and she lost a chunk of the time she had gained in the early goings.

‘It was muddy and slippery,’ she said. ‘I had to take it slow because it was muddy and my shoes were already so heavy. Yo could actually fall off the cliff,’ she said.

The Spartathlon is only the latest in a series of extraordinary endurance feats for Uy, who has competed in the Ironman World Championship in Kona in 2023 and conquered numerous ultramarathons, including in Hawaii last December.

Her longest race before Spartathlon was the 264-km Baguio-to-Luneta ultramarathon in 2019.

Yet even after everything she has already accomplished, Uy is not treating Sparta as an endpoint.

‘I believe there’s always a ‘next’ race because I’m someone who loves challenging myself and pushing my limits,’ said Uy, a Philippine Sportswriters Association awardee last year.

THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) launched the 32nd tranche of retail Treasury bonds (RTBs) last Tuesday as retail investors continue to lap up shorter-tenor debt papers.

‘I think you already know the environment,’ National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said during the launch of the 2.5-year bonds carrying a rate of 6.875 percent per annum, paid off quarterly.

Almanza considers the offer as ‘strategic.’

‘It’s strategic as well because given where the rates are and how defensive the market is, we want to also make sure that we are not adding additional costs for the government.’

The Treasury has been offering RTBs since 2022 at 5-year tenors. The last time it offered a three-year tenor RTB was in February 2021.

‘Where the demand is, it’s in the short to the belly-3 [years] to 5 [years]. But given the steepness of the curve, that’s why we want to be strategic and issue in this segment,’ Almanza said.

Hopes expressed

THE National Treasurer also expressed hopes that rates will moderate next year, in a nod to the continuous hawkishness of monetary authorities.

‘Definitely, we don’t want to lock in at a very high rate, right?’ Almanza said.

Last August, the Monetary Board raised its key interest rate by 25 basis points for the third time in a row, as a ‘preemptive move’ against the threat of El Niño, which os expected to worsen in the fourth quarter and drive up food prices.

While the central bank’s chief hopes the economy ‘won’t need another rate hike,’ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona has said monetary authorities are prepared to tighten ‘as much as we need to.’ (See https://businessmirror.com.ph/2026/08/27/rate-hike-phl-shield-vs-el-nino-inflation/)

New money

ACCORDING to Almanza, the Treasury expects to raise P150 billion in new money with the 32nd tranche of RTBs, launched on the 25th year of the program.

Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go credited RTBs for having raised more than P6 trillion for the National Government since the program’s inception in 2001.

The latest tranche of RTBs is included in the borrowing plan of the Marcos administration in the fourth quarter, targeting local investors.

The latter can buy the government IOUs for a minimum amount of P5,000 and in multiples of P5,000 thereafter, during the offer period of September 29 to October 7, 2026.

RTBs ‘have given Filipinos a simple and accessible way to save and invest, while helping finance the development of our country,’ Go said.

PUBLIC Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon has clarified that flood control projects in Taguig City remain under investigation for alleged irregularities, prompting expression of gratitude from Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, who earlier warned him about potential criminal liability in covering up anomalies.

Lacson thanked Dizon for the clarification, even as he cautioned anew against prematurely concluding that there are no ghost projects.

Lacson was referring to Dizon’s clarification that the investigation into some projects in Taguig is still ongoing, and that the irregularities initially identified remain subject to further validation.

‘Thank you, Secretary Vince, for the clarification. I agree that preliminary inspection findings on several questionable flood control projects in Taguig-such as those on St. Timothy’s slope protection project-do not automatically prove a project was ‘ghosted,’ but we also cannot definitively conclude that no ‘ghost projects’ exist,’ Lacson said on X.

Earlier Monday, Dizon clarified that flood control projects in Taguig City remain under investigation for alleged irregularities-days after he categorically said before a Senate subcommittee hearing tackling the DPWH’s proposed 2027 budget that there were no ghost projects in Taguig.

Dizon said the DPWH has flagged several projects in Taguig and submitted an initial report to the Office of the Ombudsman, ‘for further validation.’ He said they are waiting for the ‘final report and final action’ of the Ombudsman.

The clarification came after Lacson cited findings in the DPWH’s own site inspection reports that appeared inconsistent with Dizon’s earlier statement.

Lacson said the reports, submitted by personnel from the DPWH Bureaus of Maintenance, Quality and Safety, Construction, and Research and Standards, showed that several flood control projects in Taguig had been declared completed but their physical presence on site could not be validated by inspection teams for various reasons.

In some areas, he said inspection teams could not verify potentially anomalous projects because they were covered up by newer projects.

He also cited the DPWH’s analysis of potentially similar billing photographs from Taguig projects from 2017 to 2025. Of 15,523 images processed using an AI-based image similarity detection system, 1,079 pairs were flagged for high visual similarity, involving 180 unique contracts.

Over the weekend, Lacson disclosed details of a ‘Slope Protection along Taguig River Project’ (Contract ID 220B0106), whose geotagged photos attached to its billing reports contained coordinates pointing to Leyte province, some 600 kilometers away from Taguig.

Records on the project showed three locations in Tacloban City reflected in the geotagged photographs. They also showed that the DPWH paid St. Timothy Construction Corp., which is owned by the Discaya family, some P96.5 million for the project.

Lacson noted that the St. Timothy Construction project was not an isolated case but the most ‘brazen and telling’ so far among some 68 projects where red flags had been identified by DPWH inspection teams.

Earlier, Lacson and his team formally submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman at least 45 case studies backed by official documents detailing what they described as ‘systemic anomalies’ in flood control infrastructure projects in Taguig. The Ombudsman subsequently launched a fact-finding investigation into the allegations.

Lacson and his team have also submitted to the Ombudsman evidence they have gathered concerning alleged illegal reclamation and infrastructure projects on the Taguig City side of Laguna Lake.

Also, Lacson warned Dizon that any attempt to cover up the anomalies in infrastructure projects in Taguig may expose those involved to possible criminal liability.

PLANTERS want the millgate price of raw sugar to settle at least at P2,600 per 50-kilo bag, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) said.

SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona said sugarcane farmers called for a minimum P2,600 millgate price ahead of the official start of the milling season for crop year 2026-2027 on October 1.

‘The farmers are asking for at least P2,600 [per bag] as a minimum. I don’t know if we can hit it or not,’ Azcona told reporters, noting that deciding the millgate price is not within its mandate.

Despite this, the SRA chief added that the figure could be favorable for the farmers: ‘If you look at the inventory numbers, it’s very favorable for the farmers.’

Azcona attributed this to lower year-on-year stockpile against the backdrop of growing demand for the sweetener.

SRA data showed that raw sugar output fell by 11 percent to 1.85 million metric tons (MMT) in crop year 2025-2026, from 2.08 MMT in the previous CY.

Two-decade low

EARLIER, the SRA said it expects raw sugar output in crop year 2026-2027 to plunge to 1.662 MMT, the lowest level in more than two decades.

Azcona noted that local raw sugar production could plummet in the upcoming crop year owing to the impact of red-striped soft scale insects (RSSI) on sugarcane fields, citing ‘early estimate’ from the SRA’s research department.

If this materializes, the latest production figures will be the lowest level recorded since the 1.619 MMT in crop year 1999-2000.

He noted, however, that the agency will come up with a mid-milling estimate.

To counter the impact of RSSI, the SRA is banking on a national task force to combat sugar pests and disasters that threaten to crimp the sweetener’s output.

The agency, along with the Department of Agriculture (DA), recently finalized a proposal urging President Marcos to create a national task force for sugar pests and disasters.

The call for a coordinating task force was borne out of scattered information about RSSI that sugarcane farmers and stakeholders were getting across social media sites.

‘This will help us unify the efforts while ensuring that the information received by farmers is correct,’ Azcona said.