Category: Business Mirror

Excellence in healthcare is built not only on medical expertise, but also on the people, innovations, and values that shape the way care is delivered.

Across its programs, milestones, and initiatives, Asian Hospital and Medical Center continues to strengthen its commitment to empowering its people, advancing healthcare knowledge, and creating better experiences and outcomes for patients and their families.

From workplace transformation and the development of future physicians to advances in specialized care and continuing professional education, these recent milestones reflect a continuing journey of growth and improvement. More than achievements to celebrate, they represent a shared commitment to making quality, compassionate care a constant part of the patient experience.

Transforming the Workplace Through People and Innovation

Asian Hospital and Medical Center received the Bronze Award for Excellence in Business Transformation at the HR Excellence Awards 2026 Philippines, held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City.

The recognition highlighted the institution’s efforts to transform the workplace by empowering its people, embracing innovation, and strengthening its organizational culture. These initiatives aim to create an environment where employees are supported in their professional growth while being equipped to deliver exceptional care and service.

The achievement was made possible through the collective efforts of the Human Resources team, leaders, and employees whose collaboration and commitment contributed to the milestone.

More than a recognition, the award affirmed the importance of investing in people as an essential part of organizational transformation. It reflected an environment where employees are encouraged to grow, contribute, and make a meaningful difference.

By bringing together people, innovation, and purpose, the organization continues to build a workplace capable of responding to the changing needs of both its employees and the patients and communities it serves.

The milestone was celebrated with pride and gratitude, reinforcing the commitment to bring ‘Alagang Deserve, Alagang Sulit’ to life through excellence in both healthcare and service.

Celebrating 24 Years of Caring for Women and Families

The Obstetrics and Gynecology Department marked its 24th anniversary with a gathering that honored more than two decades of dedicated service to women and families.

The celebration brought together members of the department, healthcare professionals, colleagues, and guests to reflect on the many patients and families who have been part of its journey. Over the years, the department has supported women through pregnancy and childbirth, women’s health concerns, and other important stages of life.

At the heart of the milestone were the doctors, nurses, staff, and other healthcare professionals whose expertise and compassion have helped shape the department’s growth.

For 24 years, the department has remained focused on providing personalized care while recognizing that every woman’s healthcare journey is different. Its work reflects a broader commitment to placing patients and their families at the center of every service.

The anniversary was therefore more than a celebration of longevity. It was an opportunity to honor the people behind the care and reaffirm the commitment to supporting more women and families in the years ahead.

A New Generation of Doctors Begins Its Journey

The Post-Graduate Medical Interns, Class of 2026, officially completed a year marked by demanding clinical rotations, long hours, teamwork, and countless opportunities to learn from patients and healthcare professionals.

The Graduation Ceremony brought together the graduating interns, hospital leaders, medical professionals, colleagues, and loved ones to celebrate the completion of their internship and the experiences that helped shape them as future physicians.

One of the memorable moments of the ceremony was the message delivered by Dr. Kert Howard Olea on behalf of the graduating class.

‘Looking back, I realize that internship was never simply about mastering clinical skills; it was about becoming the kind of doctor our patients deserve: Competent enough to heal, wise enough to listen, humble enough to keep learning, and compassionate enough to remember that every patient entrusts us with something priceless-their life.’

His words captured the deeper meaning of internship: that becoming a physician involves more than acquiring clinical knowledge and technical skills. It also requires empathy, humility, resilience, and an enduring commitment to the people entrusted to a doctor’s care.

For the Class of 2026, graduation marked both an ending and a beginning-the completion of one important chapter and the start of a new journey in medicine.

The institution congratulated the graduates and wished them success as they carried forward the lessons, values, and experiences gained during their training.

Strengthening the Fight Against Stroke

The Brain Attack Team once again received Diamond Status from the World Stroke Organization (WSO) Angels Awards, with the recognition presented at Edsa Shangri-La on August 12, 2026.

The award recognizes the team’s continued efforts to provide timely, coordinated, and quality stroke care, where every second can make a difference in a patient’s outcome.

As a stroke-ready hospital, the institution has continued to strengthen its systems and processes to ensure that patients experiencing stroke receive prompt assessment, appropriate intervention, and coordinated care.

The Diamond Status reflects the work of the Brain Attack Team and the healthcare professionals who come together during critical moments. Their preparedness and coordination are essential in responding to stroke cases, when rapid decisions and timely treatment can significantly affect a patient’s recovery.

Beyond the recognition itself, the award underscores the importance of maintaining a high level of readiness and continuously improving stroke care practices.

It also serves as a reminder that quality emergency care is a collective effort-one that depends on skilled professionals, effective systems, and a shared commitment to patients and their families.

Building Knowledge for a Stronger Healthcare System

Through the Asian Learning Institute, the institution strengthened its role in healthcare education through the Advances in Learning and Innovation Series: Postgraduate Course, ‘Universal Health Care: A Basic Course for Private Practitioners.’

The program brought together private practitioners and healthcare professionals for a deeper discussion of the evolving Universal Health Care (UHC) landscape and the role of the private sector in building a more accessible, coordinated, and responsive healthcare system.

The course featured insights from Dr. Madeleine Valera, Dr. Lilibeth David, Dr. Lea Elora Conda, Dr. Suzana Marie Bulos, and Mr. Edwin S. Morata. Their discussions covered UHC policies and implementation, professional practice, healthcare networks, and opportunities for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The sessions emphasized that the success of UHC requires more than policies and programs. It also depends on healthcare professionals who understand the system, continuously update their knowledge, and work collaboratively across sectors.

For participants, the course provided an opportunity to better understand how their individual practices fit into the larger healthcare landscape and how stronger collaboration can contribute to better access and delivery of care.

Through the Asian Learning Institute, the institution continues to support lifelong learning and professional development, recognizing that strengthening healthcare also means strengthening the people who deliver it.

A Continuing Journey

Taken together, these milestones tell a larger story of an institution that continues to evolve while remaining grounded in the people it serves.

Whether through transforming the workplace, caring for women and families, preparing the next generation of physicians, responding to life-threatening emergencies, or expanding healthcare knowledge, each achievement contributes to a broader culture of excellence.

The journey continues-not simply through awards and milestones, but through the everyday work of people who strive to make healthcare more responsive, compassionate, and meaningful for every patient.

MALACAÑANG has not ruled out President Ferdinand Marcos supporting the push of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to tighten government policy for possession of loose firearms by making it a non-bailable offense.

‘So, the President is open to whatever legislation would be appropriate like imposing stiffer penalties for this,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, DILG Secretary Juanito ‘Jonvic’ C. Remulla, Jr. proposed the measure after the shooting incident in the Ateneo de Zamboanga University done by a minor using licensed firearm to shoot and kill two other students on 18 August 2026.

The DILG chief pushed for amending Republic Act No. 8294, which set measures for illegal possession, manufacture, sale, and acquisition of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, since he said 98 percent of gun crimes are done with loose firearms.

Remulla hopes the measure will serve as a deterrent for shooting incidents.

Castro said the suggestion is good, but she said the President will first wait for the final version of the bill before he decides if he will support or not the proposed amendment.

‘Whatever will benefit our country and serve the interests of our fellow citizens, our President will not stand in the way of it,’ she said.

In a related development, the Presidential Communication Office undersecretary said that Marcos also still has no final position on the proposal to once again defer Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which are scheduled for November.

‘As of now, no concrete comments or statements have been provided to us regarding the postponement of the barangay elections,’ Castro said.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 12232, the BSKE was reset from December 2025 to the first Monday of November 2026 and every 4 years thereafter.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that postponement of the BSKE through RA No. 11935 from 5 December 2022 to the last Monday of October 2023 violated the provisions of the Constitutions of genuine periodic elections.

Cebu continues to evolve as one of the Philippines’ leading destinations for business, tourism, and lifestyle, with new developments steadily expanding the ways people experience the city.

Along the South Road Properties, this transformation is becoming particularly visible as retail, dining, leisure, hospitality, and entertainment come together to shape a new destination for both Cebuanos and visitors. At the center of this emerging landscape is the SM Seaside Cebu Arena, which brings a new scale of live entertainment to the city. Designed to host major concerts, sporting events, live performances, and large-scale gatherings, the arena strengthens Cebu’s capacity to welcome productions that draw audiences from across Visayas and Mindanao. Iran’s ex-spymaster returns to build a bottom-up security state

NON-life insurance companies in the Philippines saw their combined net income surge by over two-fifths in the first half of the year, even with higher claims to cover property losses or damages, the Insurance Commission (IC) reported.

The non-life insurance industry’s net income jumped by 43.78 percent to P7.37 billion in the first six months of the year from P5.12 billion in the same period last year.

The growth came alongside the increase in both premiums and claims. Total net premiums written rose by 9.96 percent to P44.19 billion in the first half from P40.18 billion a year ago, IC data revealed.

Motor car insurance accounted for the largest share of net premiums written by line of business at P17.59 billion during the first half of the year.

Total premiums earned also posted a 13.29-percent year-on-year increase, up to P42.54 billion from P37.55 billion.

Meanwhile, total claims paid by non-life insurers grew by 9.48 percent to P17.51 billion from P15.99 billion a year earlier.

‘The non-life insurance industry maintained its growth in H1 2026, recording improvements across all key indicators and demonstrating prudent fund management and sustained business growth,’ the IC said in a statement last Wednesday.

Total assets of the non-life insurance industry also surpassed the P400-billion mark in the first half, up by 6.63 percent to P405.28 billion from P380.07 billion in the same period last year.

Total liabilities also grew moderately by 5.60 percent year-on-year to P253.78 billion in the first semester from P240.32 billion.

The industry’s total net worth stood at P151.49 billion in the first half, 8.41 percent higher than the P139.74 billion recorded a year ago.

‘These positive indicators affirm the industry’s capacity to support policyholders and contribute to the continued stability and development of the non-life insurance sector,’ the IC said.

I have always thought of Metro Manila’s waterways as the veins in my own body. When my veins are clear and flowing, I am healthy, energized, alive. But when they clog-when plaque builds up and the flow stutters-my entire being suffers. The same is true for the city I call home. Our esteros and rivers are Metro Manila’s circulatory system, and right now, they are on the verge of cardiac arrest.

The images from Parañaque still haunt me. On August 12, 2026, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stood before what he called a ‘critical’ situation-a ‘sea of trash’ so vast it required clearing operations hauling nearly 400 tons of garbage, the equivalent of over 70 dump trucks. Flashfloods had transformed the Redemptorist Water Channel into a grotesque exhibition of our collective negligence. I imagine the heavy debris-furniture, appliances, the discarded remnants of daily life- choking the pumping stations like blood clots in a dying artery, forcing the water to spill into streets and homes.

What struck me most about the President’s inspection was his observation that this was not merely local refuse. These were large discarded items, the kind that don’t appear by accident but by deliberate choice. Someone made the calculation that it was easier to abandon a broken sofa to the river than to dispose of it properly. Someone else decided that the waterway was a convenient grave for appliances that had outlived their usefulness. This was not poverty speaking; this was a culture of convenience, enabled by the absence of consequences.

I believe the solution requires what so many of our problems demand: strong political will. It is not a matter of ignorance-we all know that dumping trash into rivers is wrong. It is a matter of enforcement, of making the cost of convenience higher than the cost of compliance.

The path forward, I believe, must begin with reclamation. Every local government unit must find their original cadastral surveys and remember where their waterways actually are. Then they must do the difficult work: if structures have been built in these channels, they must be demolished. There is no other way for the water to flow freely, for the veins to pump cleanly again.

But demolition alone will not change behavior. We need immediate, practical solutions that empower citizens rather than merely punish them. I propose what I call a Penalty and Reward Ordinance-a mechanism that is budget-neutral and immediately implementable by any local government unit willing to try.

Here is how it would work: a mandatory fine of P1,000 for anyone caught dumping garbage into waterways. This is not excessive-it is the cost of a meal at a mid-range restaurant, a small price to pay for the collective damage caused by choking our city’s veins. But enforcement is the challenge, and this is where the ordinance becomes clever. Citizens who report violations via smartphone, providing photographic or video evidence, would receive a 50 percent reward-P500-for each successful conviction.

This creates a self-sustaining ecosystem of accountability. The fine pays for the reward, with the remaining P500 going toward administrative costs or waterway maintenance. The citizen becomes the eyes of the law, transforming every smartphone into a potential instrument of civic duty. The would-be dumper must now calculate not just the risk of a barangay tanod catching them, but the possibility that any passerby-the jeepney driver waiting for passengers, the vendor selling taho, the student walking home-might document their crime and be financially incentivized to report it.

Some might argue that this turns neighbor against neighbor. I would counter that it turns neighbor toward neighbor-toward the shared interest of a city that functions, that breathes, that does not flood every time the rain falls. We are already paying the price for clogged waterways: the damage to homes, the disruption of commerce, the disease that follows standing water. The P500 fine is not a punishment; it is a repayment of the debt owed to the community.

President Marcos spoke of long-term solutions-waste-to-energy programs, sustainable infrastructure, better waste management facilities. These are necessary dreams. But we cannot wait for infrastructure to solve a behavioral problem. We need immediate action that changes the calculus of convenience. We need to make the veins flow again, not someday, but today.

Our waterways are our veins. When they are clogged, we all suffer. But when they flow freely, the entire city comes alive. The choice-and the will to act-belongs to us.

Dual solutions for Metro Manila: Waste-to-energy and urban relocation

President Marcos is advocating for a waste-to-energy (WtE) program as a long-term solution to Metro Manila’s worsening garbage problem and the flooding that comes with it. He has set an initial implementation target for 2027, and the government has already taken steps to move the plan forward. In particular, the Department of Energy included roughly 400 megawatts of WtE capacity in the Green Energy Auction scheduled for October 13, 2026. If carried out effectively, this approach could help turn waste into usable power while reducing the volume of garbage that ends up in landfills.

While the WtE program may offer lasting benefits, Metro Manila’s local government units can also help address the crisis sooner. In my view, one urgent concern is the continued presence of residents who live along creeks, in violation of the legal easements of waterways. These communities are not only contributing to environmental damage by discarding waste into creeks and canals, but they are also using our waterways as toilets. This behavior can intensify public health risks and worsen existing problems in health and sanitation, especially during rainy seasons when water levels rise and contamination spreads more easily.

Some observers argue that certain politicians may ‘look the other way’ when informal settlers build shelters on creeks, partly because these residents are part of the voting public. However, it is precisely for that reason that local officials should act with seriousness and responsibility. The relocation of families living near waterways should be considered not as punishment, but as a protective measure. When flooding becomes severe, these communities face greater danger to their wellbeing. At the same time, the issue of clogged waterways remains a major driver of flooding, and the repeated cycle of desilting and clearing drains a significant amount of public funds-money that taxpayers ultimately shoulder.

Relocating residents away from waterways can therefore serve two purposes at once: it can reduce the causes of worsening flood conditions and it can ease the long-term costs of continuous cleanup. Just as importantly, it offers these communities a better chance at safer living conditions, especially when flash floods expose the vulnerability of settlements built in prohibited or high-risk areas. For these reasons, local officials should prioritize relocation efforts as a practical and humane step toward protecting both the public and the people most affected by the worsening flooding crisis. All these and other efforts can help President Marcos carry out plans to address Metro Manila’s garbage and flooding problems.

Dr. Jesus Lim Arranza is the Chairman Emeritus of the Federation of Philippine Industries and concurrent Chairman of the Anti-Smuggling and Anti-Illicit Trade Committee.

FOUR more higher education institutions (HEIs) can soon offer the Doctor of Medicine program, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced.

In a statement, the agency said this is in line with President Marcos’s directive to expand the country’s medical education and increase the number of physicians and healthcare professionals nationwide.

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis however stressed that quality education must still be ensured amid the granting of permits and compliance certificates.

‘Expanding opportunities to study medicine must go hand in hand with maintaining quality, so that future doctors are equipped with the training and competencies needed to respond to the country’s healthcare needs,’ she said.

In particular, the CHED granted permits to the Tarlac State University (TSU) and the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU).

This allows these institutions to operate the first and second year levels of their Doctor of Medicine programs.

Besides TSU and NEMSU, the CHED also released Certificates of Program Compliance to the Cavite State University (CvSU) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun) for their Doctor of Medicine programs.

These approvals were issued following careful evaluation visits for compliance validation, in adherence to CHED’s minimum requirements for the Doctor of Medicine program under CHED Memorandum Order 18, series of 2016. With PNA

THE fatality count of the combined effects of recent storms and the southwest monsoon has climbed to 31 confirmed dead, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

Three others remain missing.

This, as the weather bureau warned of yet another episode of moderate to heavy rain affecting several provinces, including the National Capital Region (NCR).

At the same time, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), which acts as the NDRRMC secretariat, reported that the affected population has also increased to 2.2 million families, or 7.7 million persons.

As of 6:00 a.m. on August 26, 346 evacuation centers continue to assist a total of 8,446 families or 28,910 persons.

The NDRRMC said that due to flooding and landslides, a total of 2,700 houses were damaged.

The total cost of damage to public and private infrastructure has also ballooned to P5.5 billion, while damage to crops is pegged at P1.9 billion.

The government said some P1.42 billion in assistance was provided to affected families.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said that the number of localities under a state of calamity has increased to 104 from Tuesday’s total of 102 cities and towns owing to severe flooding.

Severely affected were Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales, which all declared province-wide states of calamities.

In its weather advisory for the southwest monsoon issued at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said heavy rains are expected from Friday to Saturday in Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro.

The state weather bureau said that numerous flooding events are likely under such weather conditions, especially in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers.

Moreover, Pagasa warned that landslides are also likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas.

Zambales, which has experienced severe flooding over the past days, is still experiencing moderate rainfall, along with La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro until Thursday.

On Friday, moderate rainfall will affect Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Benguet, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite and Batangas.

The weather bureau said that under the current weather conditions, localized flooding is possible in urbanized, low-lying, or river-adjacent areas, with the possibility of landslides in highly susceptible areas.

Pagsasa further warned that forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, and that impacts in some areas may be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall.

Furthermore, the DA chief also announced that imported rice shipments will not be allowed to unload at ports in Iloilo from mid-September until the end-November to avoid overlapping with the province’s peak harvest season.

The dual measures will enhance farmers’ bargaining position by boosting the NFA’s influence on palay prices while easing competitive pressure from imported shipments.

The NFA announced last April that it purchased 8.4 million 50-kilo bags or 420,012 MT of palay last year, a 5.32 percent drop from the 8.87 million bags or 443,620 MT it bought in 2024.

The 2025 was only 77 percent of its target of purchasing 545,000 MT from local planters.

‘Procurement fell short of the total target attainment due to operational limitations, particularly full warehouse capacity and limited storage space arising from ongoing warehouse repair and rehabilitation activities,’ it said.

Farmers and suppliers belonging to Philippine Egg Board Association (PEBA) warned that egg retail prices may rise as farmgate prices are higher now due to disease outbreaks.

PEBA President Francis Uyehara said the local layer industry is currently grappling with production issues which catapulted farmgate prices to as much as P7 apiece.

This followed a supply glut in the second quarter when farmgate prices of a medium-sized egg nosedived to P3 per piece.

Uyehara attributed the price increase to disease outbreaks, such as infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).

‘These three diseases are contributing to the deficiency in production that is now causing an artificial shortage and an increase in the farmgate prices of eggs,’ he told reporters on the sidelines of a poultry trade fair in Pasay City on Wednesday.

Should the upward trajectory in farmgate prices persist, Uyehara warned that this would trickle into retail costs ahead of the typical price hike in December due to the surge in demand.

‘If farmgate prices continue to increase, the retail price will also be forced to adjust to perhaps more than P9 per piece.’

Uyehara, however, said the industry is also struggling to address the outbreaks, which was further compounded by issues in licensing of vaccines.

‘We can’t control these diseases, even with highly specialized veterinarian consultants. They don’t have a conviction that they can address these current outbreaks, since these viruses can mutate,’ he said.

‘There are also issues with the licensing of appropriate vaccines. The registration of the vaccines we need against these diseases takes too long.’

Latest government price monitoring report showed the prevailing price of extra small and small eggs stood at P7 per piece, with medium eggs at P8 per piece. Large and extra-large eggs cost P9 per piece, with jumbo eggs sold at P10 per piece.

PEBA said last May that local layer industry players are culling their flock due to a glut in the supply of small-sized eggs to minimize losses as farmgate prices fell despite soaring input costs due to geopolitical tensions.

Uyehara told the BusinessMirror that the global oil crisis has jacked up prices of animal feeds and other products required by raisers for their operations.

Heat stress and lackluster demand created a surplus of smaller-sized eggs or those that belong in the extra small, small, and medium categories, he added.

END of September: That’s the inextendible deadline for the Senate to approve Senate Bill 2387, which proposes to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years instead of the current four-year term.

Sen. Francis Escudero, at the same time, exhorted his colleagues to act forthwith on the measure, which impacts the November barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

Delivering his sponsorship speech on the measure under Committee Report 77, Escudero said the Senate must act forthwith on the proposal before the end of September to ensure predictability in the conduct of the upcoming Barangay and SK Elections (BSKE) scheduled in November.

He noted that the filing of certificates of candidacy is already set for next month, underscoring the need for Congress to decide promptly whether the elections will proceed or be reset under the new term structure.

‘Mr. President, I ask that the body act on this bill with urgency for or against it, before the end of September, given the fact that the Barangay Elections is scheduled to be conducted this November and the filing of Certificates of Candidacy are slated already in the coming month,’ Escudero said.

‘Although I favor this measure, I hope this body will give priority to this measure so that we can decide on it and so that there will be predictability with respect to the coming elections-whether indeed it will push through or will be postponed in accordance with the new term that will be approved by Congress, should I decide in its wisdom,’ he added.

The Constitution empowers the Congress to determine the term of barangay officials, a policy judgment affirmed by the Supreme Court in Macalintal v. Senate, Escudero added. He noted that the Court recognized the need to balance continuity against accountability, and administrative efficiency against democratic change.

‘That is the policy judgment which the present measure asks us to consider-whether, as a matter of policy, a five-year term provides a better governing window than the four years presently provided by law,’ he also said.

Escudero argued that a five year term provides a better governing window than the current four years, allowing barangay and SK officials sufficient time to organize, implement, and evaluate programs without the disruption of frequent elections.

‘Barangays are planners, implementers, first responders, peacekeepers, conciliators, and frontline service providers – all at a scale where government knows the family, the street, and often the problem by name,’ he said.

He added that the proposal is not unprecedented, citing past laws, namely Republic Acts 6653 and  8524 that also prescribed five year terms for barangay officials. ‘This bill is a termsetting measure, enacted in the exercise of the power expressly conferred upon Congress by Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution,’ Escudero pointed out.

Committee Report 77, jointly prepared by the Committees on Local Government and of Finance, has recommended the approval of SB 2387 with amendments, taking into consideration SB 2067 filed by Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos.

At Monday’s committee hearing presided over by Escudero, multisectoral representatives expressed strong support for the five-year-term. The Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and the National Youth Commission (NYC) all backed the measure, stressing that a longer term would institutionalize stability and break the cycle of frequent postponements.