Category: Business Mirror

The House of Representatives has approved a measure seeking to extend the term of office of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from four years to five years.

House Bill 10971 was approved on third and final reading on Tuesday, after receiving 211 affirmative votes, 13 negative votes, and one abstention from lawmakers.

If enacted into law, the measure will amend Republic Act No. 12232 by establishing a fixed five-year term for barangay and SK officials, allowing local leaders more time to implement programs and projects in their communities.

The bill also provides for the postponement of the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) originally scheduled for November 2026. The next elections will instead be held on the second Monday of November 2028.

Following the transition period, subsequent barangay and SK elections will be conducted every five years, creating a fixed electoral cycle for local officials.

The measure also introduces revised term-limit provisions for barangay and SK leaders. Under the proposed law, barangay officials may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms in the same position, while SK officials will remain limited to one term.

The bill further states that incumbent barangay officials who are already serving their third consecutive term will no longer be allowed to seek the same position in the 2028 elections.

As part of the transition arrangements, officials currently holding office will be considered to have completed their terms due to the extension of their tenure by two additional years.

Any remaining funds allocated for the previously scheduled 2026 BSKE will remain with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as continuing appropriations to support preparations for the 2028 elections.

Supporters of the measure said the longer fixed term would provide barangay and SK officials with more time to complete development programs while ensuring a more consistent and predictable election schedule for local government units.

PhilWeb Corp. has signed a share purchase agreement with JKS Tech Solutions Inc. for the sale of 4.85 percent of the listed company for P1.32 billion, while also buying a chunk of the company’s shares.

In its disclosure, JKS-a local B2B technology, platform, and digital infrastructure company-will buy 81.38 million of PhilWeb’s treasury common shares for P16.50 per share.

Philweb will first sell 20.34 million shares, which it already executed on Monday, for P335.69 million.

The company will then sell the remaining 61.03 million shares to JKS for P1 billion.

‘The second closing is subject to the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent, including the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission of JKS’s proposed increase in authorized capital stock and the approval of the Philippine Stock Exchange for the applicable block sale,’ Philweb said in its disclosure.

JKS is currently serving licensed mid-market operators in the digital entertainment sector. It has an established operating presence in the Philippine market.

‘Its business is complementary to the company’s existing ecosystem and forms part of the company’s strategic investment initiatives,’ Philweb said.

The proceeds from the sale of the treasury shares will be used to partially fund the Philweb’s subscription for common B Shares of JKS.

‘The proceeds will also provide the company with additional financial flexibility to support its capital requirements, strategic investments, and other general corporate purposes,’ PhilWeb said.

PhilWeb has subscribed to 3.4 million common B shares of JKS at a subscription price of P394 per share, or for P1.34 billion.

PhilWeb Capital Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of PhilWeb, will then subscribe to 7.31 million Common B shares of JKS at a subscription price of P394 per share for P2.88 billion.

The common B shares subject of the subscription agreements are to be issued out of the proposed increase in the authorized capital stock of JKS, which will have to be approved by its stockholders, the Securities and Exchange Commission and compliance with other applicable regulatory requirements.

Upon completion of the sale of PhilWeb’s treasury common shares to JKS, it will only have 146 remaining treasury common shares.

Following completion of the sale, and assuming no other changes in the company’s shareholdings, the its public ownership percentage will be approximately 26.59 percent based on the resulting outstanding common shares.

The transaction will not result in the issuance of new shares by the PhilWeb.

Hand grip strength. Balance tests. Standing up from a seated position on the floor. These physical challenges are often touted as measurements of healthy aging and even predictors of longevity.

They can provide valuable indications of your stamina and strength. They can estimate the risk of falls, which increase older adults ‘ risk of death. And they’re useful to doctors who work to address aging or people with injuries.

But they’re no crystal ball.

‘A poor or declining result is a reason for a health professional to investigate why function is changing, rather than gauging how long someone will live,’ said Auriel Willette, an expert on brain aging at Rutgers University.

Here’s a look at what mobility tests entail and how to apply the results to your health:

A sit-to-stand test goes viral, but what does it really show? ‘Sit-to-stand’ tests come in several forms. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 30-second chair-stand test is designed for patients older than 60, to see how many times they can stand up in that time period.

Another test, popularized on social media, asks someone to move from standing, to sitting cross-legged on the ground, and then back up to standing. Making your way down to the floor is worth 5 points, as is standing up, for a total score of 10. You lose a point for each support you use (such as a hand or knee) and half a point if you’re unsteady. The score is zero if you’re unable to sit or stand without external help.

Doctors said they haven’t seen the test used with older US adults, but researchers in Brazil published studies in 2020 and 2025 that concluded middle-aged people who scored higher were less likely to die within about a decade.

Many American doctors use a test called ‘Timed Up and Go,’ or TUG. It requires the patient to get up from a chair, walk 10 feet (3 meters) and come back to their seat. That allows doctors to evaluate a person’s balance, mobility and lower extremity strength all at once.

Dr. George Hennawi, who treats older adults at MedStar Health in Baltimore, said all the tests are meant to pinpoint specific weaknesses and narrow down their underlying cause, whether that’s knee pain, slow reflexes, poor balance or feeling winded or dizzy because of cardiovascular issues.

‘The key to react to it is to understand where did we not do well,’ he said.

A full picture of a person’s health is important. Tests like the viral sit-to-stand one are what doctors call screening tools. They’re helpful in narrowing down issues, but they don’t provide enough information for a full diagnosis.

Other popular tests for a person’s ‘physiological age,’ or how your body is aging, include tests of grip strength, walking speed, gait steadiness and balance. Such tests look at how hard your hand can squeeze something, whether you favor one side while walking, how long and well can you stand on one leg and how far forward can you reach without becoming unsteady.

Many doctors also use these challenges to understand a person’s risk for ‘frailty,’ a medical condition that means the body is less able to handle strain from illness or injury.

Doctors sometimes use a 10-minute assessment called the Short Physical Performance Battery, which includes several tests including gait, balance and strength. It was developed by the National Institute on Aging and large clinical trials have shown it predicts mortality, disability and more.

At the University of California, Los Angeles’ Multidisciplinary Falls Clinic, Dr. David Lee said it’s important to look across multiple tests in combination. Grip strength, for example, is predictive of many different things, but it can be affected by arthritis, stroke or even simply not conditioning those muscles.

‘It’s one measure of many,’ Lee said.

Good health is about more than a good score. Experts note that strength and mobility are just one part of healthy aging. Tests of cognition, memory, hearing, eyesight and many other measures are key to evaluating how someone is aging.

They also cautioned against training to pass a test. Instead, keep the big picture in mind. Exercise your whole body. Eat nutritious meals. Address stress in a healthy way. Prioritize your sleep. Take care of your heart.

Finally, experts said it’s important to know the context in which a test has been studied and verified. If it’s shown to predict an outcome for one age group, the performance standards won’t necessarily apply to others.

THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has summoned the four attending physicians of former speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to a hearing to determine whether his plea to be placed in hospital detention at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) in San Juan City owing health reasons should be granted.

The order stemmed from the manifestation and urgent motion filed by Romualdez on Monday asking the Third Division to allow him to remain in hospital confinement following the issuance of an arrest warrant against him for alleged plunder amounting to P7.4 billion.

In his motion, Romualdez claimed that he is confined at the CSMC due to several heart and cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypothyroidism.

Romualdez also told the anti-graft court that he previously underwent angioplasty procedure owing to coronary artery disease and has since required continuing monitoring and treatment.

He also claimed to have been previously confined, during which irregularities found in his magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan examination.

In the order, the Third Division directed its Clerk of Court to issue subpoena ad testificandum to Dr. Rody Sy, Dr. Rogelio Libarnes, Dr. Kurt Allen V. Sibayan, and Dr. Rosalio P. Torres for a hearing scheduled on Thursday at 8:30 a.m.

‘At the outset, it must be emphasized that the custody of accused Romualdez belongs to the court,’ the order said.

‘If there are concerns regarding the accused’s medical condition, it is only this court that can determine whether such condition affects the implementation of the warrant, the confinement of the accused at a hospital or his commitment to a jail facility,’ it added.

Likewise, the anti-graft court ordered Romualdez or his doctors to furnish the court during the said hearing the results of all his medical examinations.

Romualdez was also ordered to appear before the court should his condition permit.

On Monday, the Third Division issued an arrest warrant against Romualdez , former Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co of Ako Bicol, Romualdez’s personal aide Joselyn Tragua Serenio and Felicito Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

The arrest warrant stemmed from the complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman accusing them of illegally amassing wealth through kickbacks from from infrastructure and flood control projects of the government amounting to P7.4 billion.

The anti-graft court also issued a hold departure order (HDO) against all the respondents.

The crime of plunder is a non-bailable offense.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (PNP-CIDG-NCR) served the arrest warrant against Romualdez on Monday at the CSMC where the latter was also processed.

ThePNP-CIDG-NRC subsequently filed its return of warrant with the Sandiganbayan confirming that the warrant of arrest has been served on Romualdez at the CSMC and stating that the latter’s physical custody and security is with the PNP-CIDG during his period of confinement.

Chief Judicial Staff Officer Albert dela Cruz and Supervision Staff Office Romulo Barrozo of the Sandiganbayan Sheriff also went to the CSMC to serve the warrant following information that Romualdez is confined at the hospital.

The court officials were informed by Romualdez’s doctors that he was experiencing chest pain, and has coronary artery disease and psychological anxiety, among other medical conditions.

‘Romualdez officially a PDL’

SINCE the arrest warrant has been formally served on Romualdez on Monday night, he now a person deprived of liberty (PDL), Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said.

Remulla said Romualdez received the warrant and was read his Miranda Rights at his hospital room.

‘Officially, Martin Romualdez is now in the custody of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.’

Remulla said Romualdez’s fingerprints were taken, and a photograph of him with the PDL T-shirt draped on his hospital gown was shot, explaining that the official was unable to stand up to wear the PDL T-shirt.

As a PDL, Remulla said there were two armed guards outside the hospital room at all time.

Romualdez will be escorted whenever he leaves his room, and his movement will be limited or restricted within the hospital.

‘There are armed guards in the hospital lobby, and there is also a mobile patrol group outside the hospital,’ he said.

‘Martin Romualdez is a flight risk. He has two jets, two helicopters, and he has three yachts. So, he is a flight risk,’ Remulla said.

‘We will be doing everything as a preventive measure to ensure his containment here,’ says Remulla.

According to Remulla, both the former Speaker’s physician and the PNP agreed that Romualdez’s condition is unstable.

‘As soon as he is fit and able to go to court, we will escort him and bring him to court,’ Remulla said.

However, the DILG chief said they will file a motion to place Romualdez under the care of the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame.

‘We will give his doctors visitation and the right to check on him.’

The motion, he said, will be filed later Tuesday or Wednesday.

The DILG chief said the PNP General Hospital is capable of taking care of Romualdez.

The hospital management, Remulla said, reported that sometime in July, Romualdez suffered a mild stroke or cerebrovascular accident.

Remulla said only immediate family members, his lawyer, and physicians will be allowed to visit Romualdez, even when he is transferred to the PNP General Hospital.

Remulla said the arrest was done without any instruction from Malacañang or the Office of the Ombudsman.

The DILG chief said the arrest effected in the case of Romualdez is not personal, noting that even the President did not intervene to stop the arrest.

‘They [Marcos and Romualdez] are not only cousins. They are brothers. President Marcos has no brother and the former speaker is like a brother to him,’ Remulla said.

He added that Romualdez, is his fraternity brother in the University of the Philippines’s Upsilon Sigma Phi, adding that even his brother, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, was very close to the former speaker.

Remulla did not say however that the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos and former Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. were also Upsilon Sigma Phi brothers.

WITH more Filipinos entering the labor force than the number of jobs added over the past year, the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) said it is putting greater focus on matching jobseekers with available work.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino directed regional offices to coordinate with local governments and Public Employment Service Offices (Peso) to intensify employment facilitation, particularly in areas where jobs have declined.

‘Employment remains significantly higher than a year ago, but the increase in unemployment reminds us that there are Filipinos who continue to seek work,’ Tolentino said.

‘We will continue to strengthen employment facilitation and connecting jobseekers with available opportunities,’ he added.

Starting September, Dole will hold monthly Trabaho Agad job fairs nationwide, with Pesos fast-tracking applicants who are already ‘near-hires’ and only need to complete remaining documentary requirements.

‘The goal is not only to bring the unemployment rate down, but to put more Filipinos in decent, more productive work,’ Tolentino said.

Based on the latest Labor Force Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the labor force reached 52.36 million in July, up 3.71 million from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, employment rose by 3.16 million to 49.21 million over the same period.

The gap between the two growth figures coincided with an increase in the unemployment rate to 6 percent from 5.3 percent year-on-year.

Underemployment, however, improved, with the rate falling to 12.9 percent from 14.8 percent and the number of underemployed workers declining by 473,000 to 6.33 million.

‘We need to closely monitor where employment opportunities are growing and where gaps remain so that our employment programs and services can respond to the needs of workers and jobseekers,’ Tolentino said.

Agriculture and Forestry recorded the largest year-on-year employment gain at 1.03 million, followed by Accommodation and Food Service Activities with 729,000.

Manufacturing posted the biggest employment decline at 134,000, while Information and Communication shed 41,000 workers.

Youth employment is another area where Dole is directing its employment programs, after the youth unemployment rate rose to 18.6 percent in July from 18.1 percent a year earlier.

The rate was also higher than the 13.5 percent recorded in June.

Dole will continue its Government Internship Program and Special Program for Employment of Students to improve young Filipinos’ employability.

For workers affected by floods and monsoon rains, the department will continue providing temporary employment through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged-Displaced Workers (Tupad) program.

Livelihood assistance will also continue through the Dole Integrated Livelihood Program, while partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Migrant Workers will link training and livelihood support to employment and livelihood opportunities.

Dole will likewise keep its Adjustment Measures Program available to micro, small and medium enterprises facing economic pressures, particularly those seeking to sustain operations and protect jobs.

THE Department of Energy (DOE) has identified an initial 369 unserved and underserved areas in 23 provinces that could benefit more than 100,000 unenergized households through future microgrid development under the Microgrid Systems Act (MGSA).

Based on DOE’s initial list, the 101,468 unenergized households are located in Antique, Basilan, Bohol, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Sur, Marinduque, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Palawan, Quezon, Southern Leyte, Sulu, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, Samar, and Zamboanga del Sur.

The list remains subject to further validation, updating, and final determination by the DOE.

By providing the initial list ahead of competitive selection process (CSP) rounds, the DOE aims to give prospective investors early visibility to conduct technical assessments and plan investments.

Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said microgrid development is an important part of the government’s effort to bring reliable electricity to communities that remain beyond the reach of adequate power services.

‘For families in remote and last-mile communities, electricity means more than keeping the lights on. It supports education, livelihoods, health services, communications, and economic opportunity.

Through microgrid development, we want to bring reliable and affordable electricity closer to communities that remain unserved, while giving capable investors a clear pathway to help us deliver it,’ Garin said.

The initiative forms part of the DOE’s continuing implementation of the revised implementing rules (RIRR) of the Microgrid Systems Act under Department Circular 2025-04-0007, which seeks to improve the efficiency, transparency, and investor responsiveness of the competitive selection framework for microgrid development.

The DOE also said it has partnered with the United Kingdom’s Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) program to improve project readiness and reduce development risks for microgrids.

Under this initiative, a site-specific assessment framework has been developed to support pre-feasibility studies and evaluate prospective projects.

A detailed validation has already been completed for 10 unserved areas in Camarines Sur and Palawan.

A second phase of technical assistance is underway to assess and validate an additional 15 to 25 unserved and underserved areas.

The DOE stressed that the published list of areas is subject to updates, removals, or reclassifications based on new technical data, stakeholder inputs, and alignment with the National Total Electrification Roadmap.

For areas excluded from the CSP rounds, the DOE said these can still be electrified via unsolicited proposals, and authorized entities can independently assess outside opportunities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a cease-and-desist order against Nego Food Solution Corp. for its investment solicitation, which the agency finds illegal.

The order covers the company, which owns Japanese restaurant chain Takoyadon, and individuals, such as Noel B. Andres, a certain Marko/Mark Marquez and Celyn/Jocelyn Manzanero.

The agency said it received reports that the company has entered into various co-ownership agreement with several individuals to become a part owner of the company, with Nego Food having full and complete management and control over the operations of the business.

The co-owner will pay a one-time non-refundable fee of P99,000, which will be for SMNV Project Food Corp., whose money will be used by Nego Food for restaurant operations.

There’s also a management operations fee of 3 percent of the gross sales per month basis, which will form part of SMNV Project’s operational expense and a systemwide and marketing fee of 4 percent of the gross sales per month.

The said co-owners will divide net profits of the firm and also share the net loss of Nego Food.

The SEC said the company was selling securities since the public is required to pay a total of P849,000. It noted there is also common enterprise as investors’ monies were pooled.

‘Third, there was clearly an expectation of profits on the part of its investors and were it not for the profit, investors would not part their money. Lastly, the profits are derived primarily from the efforts of others.’

The SEC said the investors had no hand in the management of Nego Food and earned profits by merely investing in said entity.

‘Furthermore, the act of Nego Food Solution Corp. in carrying out its unauthorized investment-taking activities through social media, promoting its unauthorized investment schemes constitute as public offering,’ it said.

The SEC said it will initiate the appropriate administrative and criminal action against any persons or entities found to act as solicitors, information providers, salesmen, agents, brokers, dealers or the like for and in their behalf.

Basketball is the undisputed king of Philippine sports and culture, but football continues a quiet and steady grassroots resurgence.

Football has a long and rich history in the Philippines, dating back to the 1890s, when the British introduced the sport to the Spanish and European settlers living on the islands.

Decades later, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) officially included football as one of the competition games during its first season (1938-1939), along with basketball, baseball, women’s volleyball, swimming and athletics.

The University of the Philippines (UP) at that time bagged three titles (baseball, volleyball, athletics). University of Santo Tomas (UST) topped in men’s football and swimming, while Far Eastern University (FEU) triumphed in basketball.

The women’s football was included in Season 58 (1995-98) with De La Salle University (DLSU) as champion, while Boys’ football became a regular sport in Season 72 (2009-10), which was won by Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU).

Starting with UAAP Season 87, the men’s and women’s collegiate tournaments were shifted to the first semester, with the boys’ tournament remaining in the second semester.

UP Fighting Maroons were champions 21 times: 20 in men’s division and once in women’s.

The seasons wherein UP Men’s Football team emerged as champions include Seasons 4 (1941-42), 21 (1958-59), 36 to 40 (1973-78), 45 (1982-83), 46 (1983-84), 49 (1986-87), 52 (1989-90), 63 to 64 (2000-02), 71 (2008-09), 73 (2010-11), 74 (2011-12), 78 (2015-16), 80 (2017-18), 86 (2023-24) and 88 (2025-26). The Women’s team won in 78 (2015-16).

UP won its first double crown in Season 78 (2015-16), winning in the Men’s and Women’s.

UP had a winning streak in seasons 36 to 40 (1973-78) and 63 to 64 (2000-02).

UP tied with UST in Seasons 4 (1941-42), 21 (1958-59), 36 (1973-74), 38 (1975-76), and 45 (1982-83).

The UP men’s football team captured its first victory in Season 4 (1941-42) as a tie with UST, while it had its 20th title in Season 88 (2025-26) when it defeated the FEU Tamaraws 2-1 in extra time on February 23, 2026, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

I was in third year college in UP when the UP men’s team won its 11th title in February 1990 against AdMU. Coincidentally, the team was called Maroon XI since they were composed of 11 members, including goalie Louie Cruz. A Philippine Collegian article narrated that ‘the Maroon XI captured the football crown as they made swallows of the AdMU Blue Eagles, 2-0, amid a predominantly cheering UP crowd at the UST field.’

UST had the highest number of wins along with FEU at 39 each.

UST’s 39 titles include 36 in men’s, 2 in women’s and 1 in boys.

FEU’s 39 titles are 12 in men’s,14 in women’s and 13 in boys.

DLSU has 17 titles with 5 in men’s, 11 in women’s and 11 in boys.

AdMU has 10 with 8 in men’s and 2 in boys.

University of the East (UE) has 4 in men’s.

National University ( NU) has 1 in men’s.

Adamson University (AdU) has none so far.

The UAAP serves as a vital domestic pipeline for the Philippine national football teams.

While the senior men’s national team and the women’s national team (the Filipinas) heavily recruit Filipino-heritage players from overseas, homegrown talent honed in the UAAP consistently populates the youth national teams and earns call-ups to senior pools.

Football in the Philippines is traditionally a secondary sport compared to basketball, but it is experiencing a steady rise in popularity and fan engagement.

Driven by the performances of national teams, expanding media interest, and a major national focus on developing grassroots facilities, the game is fast capturing the public’s attention.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officially retired the famous ‘Azkals’ nickname in 2024 to usher in a fresh era for the national team brand, though the name remains highly iconic among fans.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) pledged an initial P5 million to support the country’s national women’s football team, the Filipinas, specifically in the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia.

The financial assistance follows a recent Supreme Court ruling directing PAGCOR and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office to remit a portion of their income for the funding of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

The SC said that PAGCOR failed to comply with the funding requirements under Section 26 of RA 6847, or the law creating the PSC, specifically the automatic remittance of 5% of PAGCOR’s gross income to the PSC for the National Sports Development Fund. The SC likewise ruled that PCSO failed to remit 30 percent representing the charity fund of the proceeds of six sweepstakes or lottery draws per year since 2006.

The 2026 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival featured the full-length feature film ‘Hand of God’ that centers on football as a bridge between an army lieutenant and children in a conflict-scarred village.

Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0908-8665786.

MANILA and Pasig are set to receive support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under a proposed $100- million project to improve solid waste management and strengthen waste infrastructure in the two cities.

The proposed Advancing Circular Urban Pathways (Acup) Project will support investments in waste segregation, collection and sorting infrastructure, as well as recycling and resource recovery systems, according to a new document published in the bank’s website.

The project also seeks to establish digital systems for waste traceability and improve the recovery of value from waste, while addressing financing and capacity gaps that have constrained the expansion of effective waste-management solutions.

‘The proposed project will prioritize high-risk riverbank communities, ring-fence local waste infrastructure investments through service and performance-based financing, de-risk private sector’s exposure to uncertain feedstock risk, and catalyze future circular economy investments,’ the multilateral lender noted.

According to ADB, Manila and Pasig were selected because of their strategic locations along the Pasig River, high waste-generation volumes, infrastructure readiness and potential to demonstrate solutions that could be replicated elsewhere.

Together, the bank said the two cities have about 2.6 million residents and generate around 2,400 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) daily, equivalent to about one-quarter of the National Capital Region’s total.

The project also comes amid persistent waste-management challenges in the country, which the ADB attributed to rapid population growth, urbanization, changing consumption patterns and capacity constraints among local government units (LGUs).

In the NCR, the ADB said around 40 percent of annual municipal solid waste remains uncollected, often ending up in waterways and drainage systems. Only 26 percent of LGUs have materials recovery facilities (MRFs), while about 40 percent of existing MRFs are functioning properly.

The ADB said poor waste management also worsens flood risks by clogging drainage systems and water pumps, with vulnerable riverbank communities particularly exposed.

Against this backdrop, the ADB said the Acup project will focus on improving waste services and infrastructure while strengthening public awareness and local capacity for better waste management.

‘ADB’s investment in city-level segregation, collection, and sorting infrastructure will close the viability gap that currently limits private sector participation, which is concentrated mainly in end-of-life recycling facilities,’ it added.

The project remains proposed, with further assessment to be undertaken during project preparation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is the executing agency, the ADB said.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) was recognized as one of the Top 3 Importers for the First Half of 2026 by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Batangas during its 69th Founding Anniversary and 2026 First Half Performance Review held in August 2026 at the Sotogrande Hotel and Convention Center in Batangas.

MMPC received a Plaque of Appreciation for contributing approximately PhP 9.052 billion in revenues, representing more than 6.3% of the BOC Port of Batangas’ total collections from January to July 2026. The recognition highlights MMPC’s continued patronage of the Port of Batangas and its contribution to trade and economic activity in the CALABARZON region.

With the theme ‘Marangal na Paglilingkod, Makabagong Sistema, Tapat na Aduana,’ the event brought together government officials, industry partners, importers, exporters, port operators, and other stakeholders to recognize their contributions to the region’s trade and economic development.

With the participation of BOC Asec. Charlie Bathan and BOC Batangas District Collector Carmelita Talusan, the event reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to its core values and its continuing mission to promote efficient, transparent, and modern customs services.

Representing MMPC in receiving the award were Logistics Vice President Jemabel Boncajes, Logistics Assistant Vice President Jesus Cacapit, and Logistics Staff Jamela Nas.

The recognition reflects MMPC’s commitment to maintaining strong partnerships with government agencies and industry stakeholders while supporting sustainable trade operations in the country and contributing to the growth and advancement of the Philippine automotive industry.