Category: Business Mirror

A dry spell in Australia is taking the edge off of a bumper wheat harvest, trimming supplies from one of the world’s largest exporters.

Precipitation in September, a key phase for the crop’s development, was lower than normal in the southeastern states of Victoria and South Australia, according to Bureau of Meteorology data. South Australia in particular received less than 10 millimeters (0.4 inches), half the historical average.

The southeastern states account for about a quarter of Australia’s annual harvest, and both are coming out of years of severe drought. Heavy rain in winter months had raised hopes for a strong harvest, and the Department of Agriculture’s latest report in September forecast the country’s wheat harvest at its fourth largest on record. Victoria and South Australia were expected to collect about 8.2 million tons.

However, soil moisture has now worsened, and as temperatures warm up, crops could begin to struggle, said James Maxwell, agribusiness senior insights manager at Bendigo Bank. The Bureau of Meteorology is now forecasting only a minor chance of above-average rainfall in Victoria and South Australia before the end of 2025, with the majority falling in November. However, Maxwell said if the rain comes too late, it could delay the harvest rather than helping the crop.

Australia is a major wheat shipper, and while Victoria and South Australia’s wheat harvest usually caters to domestic demand, any decline in the harvest would tighten availability across the supply chain. Farmers typically begin collecting wheat around October and will finish early next year.

‘I think there will be some cuts to production estimates, if they haven’t already been made, in the next month or so,’ Maxwell said in an interview. ‘Between South Australia and Victoria, I’d say we could see easily half a million tons, up to a million, if it was really bad.’

US chicken prices

As Americans heeded a catchphrase and indeed ate more chicken during a beef spike, poultry producers raked in profits. Now, falling chicken prices may be bringing that rally to an end.

Spot chicken prices in the United States have fallen 18 percent since their summer barbecue-season peak as key production indicators suggest supply is finally catching up with booming consumer demand.

Some of the largest global meat producers including JBS NV, Tyson Foods Inc. and Cargill Inc. have leaned on poultry profits to cushion losses at their beef businesses, which have been impacted by the worst US cattle shortage in decades. A turn in chicken’s fortunes could leave the companies more exposed to the prolonged beef slump, which isn’t expected to improve significantly before 2028.

The US has seen an increase in the number of chick placements, improved egg fertility rates and seasonally strong poultry slaughtering numbers-all pointing to rising meat supply. The US Department of Agriculture has raised its 2025 broiler production estimate for four straight months.

‘We see growing signs that the cycle could be heading down as supply bottlenecks appear to be increasingly solved,’ Banco Bradesco BBI analysts Henrique Brustolin and Pedro Fontana said in a note to clients.

Meat suppliers’ shares have been under pressure, too. JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, has lost 18 percent over the past month and fallen to the lowest since July 23. Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. – which is controlled by JBS – Tyson and Marfrig Global Foods SA have also seen declines.

Barclays Plc. on Thursday trimmed profit estimates for JBS, Pilgrim’s and Tyson Foods, citing potential pressure stemming from an earlier-than-expected seasonal decline in chicken prices.

Limiting the downside, chicken producers continue to benefit from low feed costs and resilient demand, as consumers look for cheaper alternatives than pricey beef.

Marileth D. Tungcalan was eager to return to Riyadh after her recent vacation. The 48-year-old former security guard of a local supermarket chain, who later became a domestic worker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), was excited to see how the children of her employer had fared since the last time she met them months ago.

She grew fond of them, having helped take care of them since they were little, and sometimes disciplining them with the little Arabic she had learned from the Arabic-English dictionary she bought before being deployed to Riyadh.

‘I miss the children. I want to see them grow into teenagers,’ Marileth said in Filipino.

The youngest, she said, would always ask for a pasalubong or gifts when she returned. She would sometimes bring them a ballpen with unique designs or local delicacies.

‘This time, I will be bringing them kakanin [rice cakes],’ she said.

She woke up early, traveling from Rizal to join the hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who were lining up at the ground floor of the Department of Migrant Office (DMW) in Manda­luyong City daily to get their overseas employment certificate-the exit clearance that will allow them to work abroad on 2 October 2025. She was already scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on Monday.

While she went through regular pre-deployment procedures, Marileth may soon be among the Filipino domestic workers who will be covered by the government’s initiative to update a landmark policy that has helped protect their welfare and ensure their proper working conditions in the last two decades.

Major reform

However, Marileth was still unaware of the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) Advisory No. 25, which is set to take effect this year as part of the government’s efforts to update the Household Service Workers’ (HSW) Policy Reform Package.

Created in 2006 by the agency, which preceded DMW, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), the said Reform Package was a result of the government’s efforts to ‘professionalize’ domestic workers following the mass repatriation of Filipino HSWs from Lebanon, when the Middle East country was hit by civil unrest in that year.

It contained provisions, which became the hallmark of Philippine migration policy for domestic workers including raising their monthly minimum wage to US$400 (P23,176.80), setting their minimum age to 23 years old, exempting them from paying placement fee, as well as requiring applicants to attend a pre-departure seminar and get a Domestic Work National Certificate (NC) II from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The government deemed the policy necessary because it considered domestic workers among the most vulnerable, since most of them are women, as well as the nature of their job.

It helped the Philippines cement its global reputation as a model of migration policies, which is recognized by the International Labor Organization and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Based on its latest data, DMW revealed that domestic cleaners and helpers made up the majority, or 91,774, of the 1.57 million workers deployed from January to August this year. It was followed by domestic housekeepers with 59,093 in the same period.

The numbers of both occupational groups have declined compared to the first eight months of 2024. Last year, the number of deployed domestic cleaners and helpers was 95,260, while the number of domestic housekeepers was 69870.

Challenging working conditions

However, even with the implementation of the original Reform Package of 2006, the thousands of Filipino domestic workers who left the country still faced challenges.

Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA) Executive Director Ellene Sana explained that work in a home-based setting tends to be unregulated, which leaves domestic workers performing their duties, such as doing the dishes, laundry, and house cleaning 24/7.

Some of them, she said, are also left to do care work, which she said should have a higher pay rate than domestic work.

‘As I said, a lot of the domestic workers are doing either direct care work or indirect care work, but they don’t get paid for that,’ Sana lamented.

Although her employer treated her well and considered her part of their family, Marileth said that she still performed tasks even during the evening.

‘This is especially true now that they have a little one. You no longer have privacy. They will sometimes knock on my door for help, even at midnight,’ she said.

Occupational hazards

And then there is the issue of unscrupulous recruitment agencies, who prey on OFWs, and abusive employers.

Marileth, who is no stranger to such risks, personally experienced how her recruitment agency from Malate in Manila practically abandoned her after she was deployed to Riyadh in 2018.

‘When I arrived in Saudi Arabia that time, on 2018 February 16, my agent blocked [my calls]. I had zero contact with them [recruitment agency],’ she said. ‘Thanks to the Lord, my employer has treated me well. But if I ended up with a bad employer, I don’t know where I would have ended up.’

Under the law, recruitment agencies must continue to ensure the welfare of their deployed OFWs until they complete their contracts and are repatriated.

Despite the ordeal, Marileth decided not to file a case against her recruitment agency since it led her to an employer who treated her well.

The other Filipino domestic workers in KSA, whom Marileth knew, were not as lucky.

‘Probably out of the 20 Filipinas I knew there, only three of us have good employers,’ she said.

Sana said there were still some cases wherein some Filipino HSWs died at the hands of their employer, such as in the case of Joanna Demafelis, whose remains were found in a freezer of her employer in 2018, and Jullebee Ranara, whose charred remains with a smashed skull were found in the desert in 2023. Both incidents happened in Kuwait.

Reform package achievements

Despite the flaws of the Reform Package, it also led to better welfare and working conditions for domestic workers.

Sana said it provided the legal framework, which paved the way to the creation of laws in other countries for domestic workers, especially in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries, where there are many incidents of abuse.

In a Senate hearing in 2021, POEA reported that of its 5,000 documented OFW maltreatment cases in 2020, 4,302 were from the Middle East, where the GCC is.

‘So there is progress in the legal environment, but a lot still needs to be done, especially in changing the mindset of the employers, especially in the Gulf. Because in the Gulf kingdoms, they might think you are slaves when you are not royalty, so you really need to have due diligence [in protecting domestic worker rights],’ she said.

Citing studies from civil society organizations, Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI) Executive Director Jeremaiah M. Opiniano pointed out that the legacy of the Reform Package was a ‘mixed bag.’

He said the Reform Package helped standardize the minimum monthly wage for domestic workers to US$400. Prior to the Reform Package, some Filipino HSWs were paid US$250, according to Sana.

‘So by setting a global average [for minimum wage], the US$400 was used by the Philippine government as a leverage to negotiate for better terms for domestic workers,’ Opiniano said.

Marileth was among the beneficiaries of the said policy because she is paid SAR 1,500 (P23,177.06), which is higher compared to the P7,000 monthly minimum wage for domestic workers in Metro Manila, which is currently the highest rate in the country.

To justify the increase, he said the government cited the mandatory certification Filipino domestic workers must obtain before working abroad to ensure they have the necessary skills.

‘The TVET [Technical Vocational Education and Training] certification was a means to ensure that the domestic workers being sent overseas are trained to know how to protect themselves.So they’re using that as a premium to [say to] these countries: Hey, that’s why it’s US$400,’ Opiniano said.

Challenging implementation

However, he said, the government faced challenges in its implementation, with some employers violating the mandatory minimum wage. Some countries have prevailing laws that set the wages for domestic workers lower than US$400 400 especially during the initial years of their implementation.

He added that such protections in terms of minimum wage and certification do not cover HSWs, who work abroad without going through the legal channels.

Migrante International has also earlier issued a statement, wherein it claimed that many Filipino domestic workers in the Middle East and Asia have suffered from underpayment and even wage theft from their employers.

A study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 2012 reported that the prescribed US$400 monthly wage was largely ignored abroad except for Hong Kong, Taiwan, Italy, and Israel.

Enhanced reform package

In recognition of the gaps in the 2006 Reform Package, DMW launched Advisory No. 25 in August this year. The advisory aims to enhance or plug the gaps in the almost 20-year-old policy.

Among its salient features was the increased monthly wage of domestic workers from US$400 to US$500 (P28,971) and the provision of annual medical check-ups and hospitalization treatment that will be shouldered by the government.

It will also lead to the implementation of the ‘Kamusta Kabayan? Digital Welfare Monitoring System’, which will allow Filipino domestic workers abroad to file complaints or seek help from the government through an email system.

The new advisory will also enforce a ‘Know Your Employer’ policy, which will require recruitment agencies to screen the principals, who will hire their domestic workers. The DMW will present a whitelist of the law-abiding and ethical recruitment agencies that applicants can consider.

It also contained provisions for the strict standards for Recruitment Agency Accommodation Facilities; emphasizes reskilling, upskilling, and career mobility program, as well as the rights-based approach through legal and other forms of assistance under the

The new advisory was issued by DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac, who also served as chair of the committee that drafted ILO Convention No. 189, known as the Domestic Worker Convention.

He said the new policy aims to enhance the protection of the Filipino HSWs abroad and encourage those who are undocumented to regularize their employment status.

Stakeholder reactions

The new advisory was backed by recruitment agencies, including those affiliated with the Coalition of Licensed Recruitment Agencies for Domestic and Service Workers (CLADs), which it said will benefit the estimated 2 million HSWs worldwide.

‘The message is that Filipino workers, especially HSWs, deserve higher salaries and more benefits from employers, especially those deployed to ME [Middle East] countries. Most Asian countries and Europe offer higher salary packages than the US$500,’ LBS E-Solutions Corp. President Lito B. Soriano said in a Viber message.

A few weeks after the announcement of the new advisory, some Middle Eastern countries expressed their reservations against it. In particular, they questioned the provision raising the minimum wage of Filipino domestic workers. This concern prompted the DMW to issue a clarification that the new US$500 will be voluntary for employers.

Instead of penalizing employers who cannot comply with the new rate, Cacdac said they will provide incentives, such as faster processing, to those who can do so. He said they are targeting the implementation of the new policy by October.

Opiniano said countries may not be receptive to the new rate due to rising inflation in the aftermath of the pandemic, it may be higher than the prevailing minimum wage for their domestic workers, and some countries are refusing to ratify ILO Convention 189.

Policy solutions

Opiniano added that the new advisory positions DMW in the right direction to address the gaps of the Reform Package of 2006.

The new Digital Welfare Monitoring System, he said, can help reduce incidents of labor abuses by allowing domestic workers to promptly report to the government domestic violence and abuses online, without going to Philippine embassies and consulates abroad.

Regarding the higher minimum wage rates for Filipino HSWs, Opiniano urged DMW to consider a ‘nuanced’ country-based wage rate similar to the Philippines’ regional minimum wage rates that will make it more acceptable to host countries.

‘So the DMW should utilize its own data, which is based on all their process work contracts per country that sends domestic workers, how much is the salary in that country, and then use the data to make the bracket,’ he said.

This scheme, he said, can augment or be an alternative to the plan of DMW to publish separate rates for Filipino HSWs based on their existing certified skills.

Cacdac earlier said they are planning to release a proposed higher rate for domestic workers, who have additional skills aside from their mandatory NC II from TESDA.

Opiniano backed the said DMW initiative, which he said will help uplift the earnings of HSWs through microcredentials by availing themselves of training in their host country or online.

‘It will be better [for them] because that is their premise when they get a TVET. It will be a more protective mechanism for them,’ he said.

Ways forward

Upon learning of the Advisory 25, Marileth welcomed its provisions, particularly the higher pay, since it would help her cope with the rising cost of living as well as the free medical check-ups and treatment.

‘That [free medical treatment] will be a big help to the maid because there are employers who, even if you have a fever, won’t even take you to the hospital and have you checked,’ she said.

She is hopeful she will be able to improve her working conditions, particularly in terms of her pay, in the coming years, especially since she has no plans of retiring anytime soon because she has to pay back her existing loans to her employer, which she made for the needs of her seven children.

‘I told my employer, sir, as long as I have energy and you need me, I will stay with you even if I become old. You know why? Because the price of goods in the Philippines is high and I have no income there,’ Marileth said.

Before her flight to KSA next week, she said, she is determined to finally open her personal savings account now that three of her children have their own work.

‘I was not able to save before because my priority was the studies of my children-their expenses in their schools. I haven’t even made any improvements in our home. My salary is barely enough for my children,’ she said.

The savings account was a small step towards Marileth’s financial independence, just like DMW’s Advisory 25 is part of its long-standing march towards improving the protection and welfare of domestic workers.

NORDIC embassies in Manila and Tetra Pak have launched an initiative aimed at encouraging and engaging Filipino youth to learn and lead in circular economy solutions.

The ‘Cartons for Communities and Nordic Waste Classification System’ program was activated in Pasig City’s elementary and high schools, as local government units (LGUs) seek to manage post-consumer waste, including food and beverage packaging.

Tetra Pak-a Swedish packaging solutions company-is stepping up its efforts through the program by partnering with schools, private communities, and LGUs to promote the segregation of used beverage cartons (UBCs) for recycling, while also supporting collection through local solid-waste management systems. These are recycled into boards that can be converted into useful everyday items such as chairs and tables.

Pinagbuhatan Elementary School, Pasig Elementary School, Eusebio High School, Pasig Science High School, and Rizal High School will take part in the pilot program. Each will receive collection bins made from recycled UBCs, where students can deposit rinsed and flattened cartons. Participating schools will also join an interschool competition to win prizes for the highest volume collected, with students earning incentives for their contributions.

Science of recycling

AT the launch event, students and teachers learned the science behind Tetra Pak’s food and beverage packaging, as well as the complete recycling processes. These cartons are made of 70 percent paperboard, 25 percent plastic, and 5 percent aluminium, and are recyclable.

Mayor Victor Ma. Regis ‘Vico’ Sotto addressed the students and discussed the reason trash must be kept off the streets: to prevent clogging sewage and drainage systems, therefore helping lessen the flooding of alleyways and inner roads.

Sotto noted that while the local government plays a major role in keeping the city clean, citizens also have an important part, starting with schools and children.

In Sweden, children learn about waste segregation and recycling at an early age at home, shared Ambassador Anna Ferry: ‘This continues in preschool and grade school, where they are taught about the deposit-return system for cans and bottles.’

Ferry explained that ‘this project with Tetra Pak is similar, and a great start to learn about the circular economy model.’

For Tetra Pak Philippines Packaging Portfolio Director and Site Manager Albert del Fonso, ‘we believe that empowering the next generation is key to building a more sustainable future. Through the Cartons for Communities program, we are proud to work alongside the Nordic Embassies and Pasig City to help students become champions of the circular economy. By learning how to recycle and upcycle used beverage cartons, these young leaders are not only protecting the environment-they’re shaping a culture of sustainability in their schools and communities.’

‘Most innovative’

THE Cartons for Communities and Nordic Waste Classification project with Pasig City is supported by the Nordic Initiative on Circular Economy. The Nordic region, represented by the Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Embassies in Manila, is home to the most innovative circular economy solutions. In 2024, the embassies signed a memorandum of understanding with Pasig City to support the local government’s transition to a circular economy.

In April and May, city government representatives also participated in a study visit to Denmark and Sweden for benchmarking best practices on circular economy.

The Department of Transportation has scrapped the unsolicited Public-Private Partnership (PPP) proposal for modernization of the Kalibo International Airport following the failure of negotiations with the original proponent, according to materials presented at the Aviation Summit.

The presentation by DOTr Undersecretary for Airports and Aviation Jim Sydiongco revealed that the original proponent status has been revoked and the unsolicited proposal for the project has been returned to the bidder.

He deferred to the legal services team of the agency when asked for clarifications.

Despite the failed PPP attempt, Sydiongco said the government is moving forward with its own P8.10-billion development project for the Aklan airport, which serves as a gateway to the popular tourist destination of Boracay.

He said the project includes a runway extension to 2,650 meters in the medium term, with plans to further extend it to 3,000 meters in the long term. Currently, the airport operates with a 2,500-meter runway.

As of July 31, site acquisition efforts have secured 292 out of 918 targeted lots, covering 123.24 hectares of the 179.44 hectares needed for the expansion.

Construction of a new apron and site development at the new landside area are currently ongoing, along with consulting services for the detailed engineering design of the new passenger terminal building.

The new terminal will cover 28,510 square meters initially, with future expansion planned up to 34,180 square meters. The existing terminal has a capacity of 2 million passengers per annum.

The DOTr is targeting to complete the project by December 2030. Once completed, the airport is expected to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao) standards for international flights.

GREATER agricultural trade between Trkiye and the Philippines is expected following the trade mission attended by members of the Trkiye Exporters Assembly (TIM) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Ambassador Niyazi Evren Akyol said more poultry products are expected for export to the Philippines, while he anticipates a higher volume of fresh and dried fruits from the latter.

‘We are in contact [and] in touch with the Department of Agriculture.going through the necessary procedures,’ Akyol told journalists. ‘The possibilities are wide, but we are trying to focus on a few first, and then expand from there.’

The envoy was scheduled to meet Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. afterward, adding that Trkiye is also considering a further hike in defense equipment exports to the Philippines.

According to Akyol, his country is in contact with the Department of National Defense (DND) but declined to elaborate, except for saying that the Philippines’ acquisition is in line with the Defense Department’s modernization program, now dubbed Re-Horizon 3 after it was expanded into a 10-year program from the original five years.

‘We are, of course, in touch with the DND and the branches of the Armed Forces. And there is great interest in a variety of products,’ he shared.

In his speech, TIM’s head of delegation Ali Can Yamanyilmaz said the Philippines is an important trade partner of Trkiye, since it is ‘one of the most dynamic and high-growth economies in the region.’

Yamanyilmaz said Trkiye’s exports to the Philippines was about $140 million in 2024; imports from the latter amounted to $254 million in the same year.

He said the defense and aerospace industries drove export growth to the Philippines in the first seven months this year, after rising by 164 percent on an annual basis, and was followed by jewelry, 55 percent; electrical electronics, 26 percent; and grains, 11 percent.

‘We look forward to building our ties and enabling more of our 150,000 exporters to participate in this promising market,’ the TIM official noted.

DigiPlus Interactive Corp. on Thursday said it signed an exclusive partnership with CIS Bayad Center Inc., a bills payment services firm, as the online gaming company expands its over-the-counter or physical payment options for its players.

The agreement takes effective immediately, making DigiPlus Bayad’s only gaming partner for OTC cash transactions.

Through this collaboration, DigiPlus customers gain access to Bayad’s extensive network of payment touchpoints, present across more than 800 Bayad Center branches and Bayad partners in malls, supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. Bayad Center is accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as an electronic money issuer. DigiPlus said it partners only with BSP-accredited payment channels in accordance with the requirements of regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., ensuring that all player wallet transactions are processed through secure and compliant payment platforms.

BingoPlus, ArenaPlus, and GameZone players can now make cash-ins or deposits through Bayad Center. Additional features including cash-outs or withdrawals and access through the Bayad application will be rolled out in next phases, providing DigiPlus customers with more options to manage their funds conveniently and safely, the company said.

‘At DigiPlus, our priority is to deliver engaging entertainment while ensuring safe and reliable services for our players,’ Eusebio H. Tanco, chairman of DigiPlus, said.

‘This partnership with Bayad provides customers with more secure and convenient ways to manage their transactions, reinforcing our commitment to player protection and dependable service at every touchpoint.’

‘Today, we take another meaningful step forward through our partnership with DigiPlus. Together, we’re expanding access to digital channels and offering new, engaging, and responsible ways for Filipinos to experience convenience and entertainment made possible by accessible and inclusive financial services,’ Ray C. Espinosa, chairman of Bayad Center, said.

The Bayad Center payment channels partnership adds to DigiPlus’ growing customer service network and player support, which already includes its in-house 24/7 customer support, 130 physical BingoPlus stores nationwide and a surety bond for player wallets. Bayad Center is the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the Philippines. With more than 20 solid years in the outsourced payment collection industry, the company is the top-of-mind, leading brand when it comes to bills payment.

The company is a subsidiary of the Manila Electric Co. and a member of the MVP group of companies.

The partnership was formally signed top executives from both companies led by Tanco; Jasper Vicencio, president of AB Leisure Exponent Inc., a subsidiary of DigiPlus; Espinosa; and Lawrence Y. Ferrer, president and CEO of Bayad Center.

RAIN or Shine’s Gabe Norwood-a many-time national player and member of the 2014 Gilas Pilipinas World Cup team-on Thursday hinted at retiring after the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup.

‘One last conference. One last ride. One last flight,’ Norwood posted through his social media accounts.

Norwood, 40, is playing in his 17th season in the PBA all at Rain or Shine, which picked him first overall in the 2008 draft.

He helped the Elasto Painters with the 2012 Governors’ Cup and 2016 Commissioner’s Cup and was equally responsible for his team’s six finals appearances since 2006.

Norwood-a tall guard at 6-foot-8-first became a member of the national team in 2007 and is best remembered for his dunk over Argentina’s National Basketball Association player Luis Scola in the 2014 World Cup in Seville.

TNT Tropang Giga, Phoenix Super LPG, Blackwater and Terrafirma, meanwhile, will be playing their first Philippine Cup games on Friday at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.

Rookie Dalph Panopio debuts in Blackwater game against Terrafirma at 4:30 p.m., which will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by the TNT-Phoenix match.

THE chief of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) cited reforms are being instituted by his agency to curb bribery and conflicts of interest after receiving a ‘most corrupt’ tag from the US State Department (US DoS).

A statement issued by the BOC last Thursday stressed that institutional reforms have been underway under the leadership of its new commissioner, Ariel F. Nepomuceno, even before the release of the ‘2025 State Department Investment Climate Statements’ report.

The report noted that the US DoS ‘still considered [the BOC] to be one of the most corrupt agencies’ in the Philippines, America’s long-time ally in Southeast Asia.

According to the report, corruption has long hampered the government’s efforts to attract foreign investments in the country. It added that various organizations, including the World Economic Forum, cited corruption among the ‘top problematic factors’ for doing business in the Philippines.

‘The reforms we introduced within my first 100 days were not reactionary. They were proactive measures rooted in our commitment to clean governance. These measures directly respond to the very issues highlighted in the US State Department report, and we will continue pushing forward with both short and long-term solutions,’ Nepomuceno said.

Among the solutions the BOC cited as proof of reforms is the strict policy prohibiting any form of bribery or unlawful monetary transactions within the bureau. According to the BOC, violators of this ‘No Take’ policy face ‘immediate disciplinary action and possible prosecution.’

Nepomuceno has also issued a memorandum banning all BOC officials and employees from holding any business or financial interest in customs brokerage operations and requiring them to disclose familial ties to brokerage firms.

To strengthen internal oversight, BOC personnel are now mandated to submit affidavits on past or present connections to customs-related businesses to prevent hidden conflicts of interest.

In addition, the BOC has also temporarily suspended unserved ‘Letters of Authority’ and ‘Mission Orders’ to allow for a review of audit and inspection protocols to respond to complaints from the private sector over intrusive enforcement activities. The review would recalibrate procedures to ensure that enforcement remains risk-based, targeted and respectful of due process while avoiding undue disruption of legitimate trade.

The BOC will also maintain and strengthen the Customs Industry and Advisory Council (CICAC), which serves as a formal mechanism for engagement between the BOC and key stakeholders in trade, logistics and foreign investment. According to the BOC, it aims to institutionalize through the CICAC regular consultations, improve policy transparency, and co-develop solutions that improve efficiency in customs processes.

While these initial reforms are short-term solutions critical to restore trust and accountability, Nepomuceno said the BOC will focus on full digitalization and automation as its long-term strategies to reduce discretion and close systemic gaps.

Reducing human discretion and streamlining transactions will eliminate systemic vulnerabilities and build a modern, efficient and corruption-resistant customs administration, the statement read.

‘We are fully committed to transforming the Bureau of Customs into a model of integrity and professionalism. Corruption has no place in our agency, and we will continue to pursue reforms that protect investors, promote fair trade, and uphold public trust,’ Nepomuceno said.

The Figaro Foundation marked the second year of its annual Coffee Tree Planting: From Crop to Cup 2025 by donating and planting 1,000 coffee seedlings in Purok 6, Sitio Bagbag, Brgy. San Isidro, Lipa City, Batangas. The initiative, joined by over 200 dedicated volunteers, highlights the Foundation’s mission to preserve and revitalize Batangas’ long-standing coffee culture while empowering local farming communities.

As part of its long-term commitment, the Figaro Foundation has pledged to conduct biannual maintenance and cleaning of the planting sites for the next two years to ensure that the seedlings thrive and contribute to sustainable coffee production. This effort underscores the Foundation’s dedication to not only planting trees but also creating lasting impact on the environment and the local economy.

‘This tree planting program is more than just a one-day initiative-it is about cultivating the roots of Batangas’ coffee heritage for generations to come,’ said Mary Joy Herrera, Administrator of the Figaro Foundation. ‘By engaging our volunteers, partners, and communities, we are building towards a future where local coffee farming continues to flourish.’

The milestone event was strengthened by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by key partners: Mary Joy Herrera (Figaro Foundation Administrator), John Christopher Laderas (Figaro Coffee Group Brand Manager), Mr. Ric Pesa (lot owner), and Hon. Tasiano Mea (Barangay Captain). This agreement formalizes support and partnership in sustaining the initiative’s environmental and community-driven goals.

Through projects like this, Figaro Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to both environmental stewardship and socio-economic upliftment by supporting local coffee growers. The program ensures that Batangas, historically known as a cradle of Philippine coffee, retains and enhances its reputation as a center of coffee excellence.

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) is set to launch a new tracking application that will allow importers to monitor their shipments in real time.

The shipments will be tracked from its port to arrival to its release, a move seen to boost transparency and eliminate misinformation within the agency.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno said the app, which is powered by the bureau’s Value-Added Service Provider (VASP) system, aims to end the ‘black hole’ period when importers lose visibility over their shipments once they land at the port of Manila.

‘Just imagine the empowerment that we will give the importers. They will not be fooled anymore and we will no longer be a fall guy,’ Nepomuceno told reporters on the sidelines of a forum last Wednesday.

He added the app will notify importers once their cargo is being processed, assessed or released.

According to the BOC, the system will help curb disinformation that often leads to corruption and misunderstanding between importers, brokers, and customs personnel.

‘With this app, it will be harder for anyone to manipulate or mislead clients,’ the BOC chief said.

This move is a part of the initiative of the agency’s broader plan to achieve full digitalization of its processes which was described as the ‘ultimate solution’ to their long-standing inefficiencies.

‘Not partial, not 90 percent, but 100 percent full digitalization. Technologies are available for us to adopt. The question is do we have a budget for that?’

Nepomuceno said the BOC initially struggled with securing funding for the program since the 2025 budget proposal was already finalized when he was appointed as the agency’s chief.

Meanwhile, at the core of BOC’s modernization plan is the Customs Processing System (CPS) which will allow digital submission of import entries, assessments, and payments similar to an automated banking transaction. The BOC said the system will ensure that all transactions are fully recorded and traceable to minimize opportunities for fraud.

‘I promise you that we will pursue digitalization as the main thrust of changing the BOC. We will play our role, we’ll do our best to give you a better, modern BOC that you can be proud of, that can serve you well,’ the customs head said.

To complement the CPS, they are also planning to install upgraded scanning machines and smart CCTVs in ports nationwide.

‘With all these reforms, we are building a smart BOC and once the app is launched, both importers and the government will benefit from a more transparent and accountable customs system,’ Nepomuceno added.