Category: Business Mirror

AFTER surveying first hand the devastation caused by the magnitude 6.9-earthquake in Cebu on Thursday, President Marcos announced an initial P580 million worth of financial assistance for the island province.

The Chief Executive visited Bogo City, Cebu, which was close to the epicenter of the earthquake, which killed 72 people and left many parts of the city in ruins, when it struck on Monday night.

‘The biggest damage that the earthquake caused was damage to infrastructure, buildings, and then things like the hospital. Look at this city hall. That’s exactly the effect,’ he said in Filipino in his speech outside the Bogo City Hall.

With the assessment on structural integrity of the many buildings in the city still ongoing, many residents of the city will be forced to temporarily live in tent cities.

‘We’re just hurrying [establishing the tent city]. so they can find shelter here. Because many, rightly so, are afraid to go back to the building. They’d rather be outside,’ Marcos added.

He assured that the tent city will have sufficient food, water, and electricity supply as well as sanitation facilities.

As of Thursday morning, the Department of Energy (DOE) was working to restore power in Bogo City.

Those whose houses were destroyed by the earthquake will get P10,000 cash assistance, Marcos said.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported the earthquake in Cebu has affected 170,959 people and left 501 houses partially damaged and 96, which were totally damaged.

Financial support

TO help the provincial government of Cebu, which has declared a state of calamity, to manage the pressing concerns in its quake-affected areas, the President said the national government will provide it with financial support.

He said the Office of the President (OP) will release P180 million for its quake assistance, of which, P50 million will go to the Cebu provincial government and P20 million to Bogo City.

The remaining amount will be distributed to the following municipalities: Bantayan (P10 million); Daanbantayan (P10 million); Madridejos (P10 million); Medellin (P10 million); San Remigio (P20 million);Santa Fe (P10 million); Sogod (P20 million); Tabogon (P10 million); and Tabuelan (P10 million).

The provincial government of Cebu said the President also announced each of the local government unit-run hospitals will receive P5 million each and P20 million for a Department of Health-owned hospital in the province.

Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has deployed engineers to check on the status of the hospitals to determine if they can still accommodate patients after the recent earthquake.

The President also announced that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will release P375 Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). Cebu will get the bulk of the fund with P150 million while the towns of San Remigio and Medellin as well as Bogo City, will each receive P75 million.

The national government, Marcos said, will continue to extend aid to help in the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in the quake-hit areas.

‘We will continue to monitor. We will continue to coordinate with the leaders-the local leadership to make sure that our rehabilitation and all the support we provide are going well,’ Marcos said.

Full arsenal

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has mobilized its ‘full arsenal’ of disaster relief to assist families affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu on Tuesday night.

Assistant Secretary Leo Quintilla, concurrent Officer-In-Charge of the DSWD’s National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB), said the agency is providing food, water, shelter, and psychosocial support while preparing early recovery interventions, including the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program.

As of the latest report, at least 4,000 families-approximately 20,000 individuals-remain displaced outside evacuation centers due to ongoing aftershocks.

‘We have deployed the full arsenal of the DSWD for the 6.9-magnitude earthquake. We are utilizing all available resources to both mitigate its effects and respond to the needs in the affected areas,’ he said.

The relief operations follow the President’s directive to immediately reach out to affected families and ensure the delivery of adequate assistance.

Immediately after the earthquake, Quintilla said the DSWD partnered with the Philippine Coast Guard to deliver ready-to-eat meals to Bogo City, one of the hardest-hit areas in Northern Cebu, despite uncertain road access. The department also deployed mobile command centers, water filtration trucks, water tankers, mobile kitchens, and food packs.

‘Our trucks are already on-site, including water trucks with filtration machines to ensure the availability of water, as the earthquake also affected the local water systems. Our water filtration kits are there, along with food packs and ready-to-eat meals [Rtef],’ Quintilla added.

The DSWD has initially released 6,800 family food packs (FFPs) and 2,000 ready-to-eat meals, with numbers expected to rise as operations continue. Cebu’s Visayas Disaster Resource Center is producing thousands of additional FFPs, ensuring an adequate supply for the entire province. Nationwide, the Department maintains 2.3 million prepositioned FFPs across hubs and distribution points.

Beyond immediate relief, the DSWD official also said that it is providing psychosocial support services to help survivors cope with trauma. Neighboring field offices have deployed social workers to assist families in evacuation centers.

Burial assistance will also be extended to families of earthquake fatalities. Early recovery efforts include the rollout of the ECT program, which provides flexible financial aid for essentials such as food and home repairs.

‘Aside from immediate response, we are preparing for the ECT, which allows families to use the cash for urgent needs like rebuilding shelters or buying food,’ Quintilla explained.

FOR the third time, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday failed to appear at the plenary debates on the proposed P902.03-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026, instead setting two conditions before agreeing to face lawmakers.

Duterte named the two demands in a letter dated September 30, 2025, addressed to House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing and read on the floor by Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez, sponsor of the OVP budget.

‘The House of Representatives demands the attendance of President Marcos for the 27.3-billion pesos budget deliberation of the Office of the President,’ Duterte demanded.

Duterte also demanded that the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability produce a Department of Justice (DOJ) certification confirming the lifting of the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against seven OVP personnel, namely, Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Mr. Lemuel G. Ortonio, Atty. Rosnelne L. Sanchez, Atty. Francis Chanray A. Fajarda, Ms. Gina E. Austero, Ms. Julieta L. Villadiego, and Mr. Edward D. Fajarda.

‘Mr. Speaker, there is no one from the Office of the Vice President, and I am prepared to stand alone here and stand for the budget of the OVP,’ Alvarez said on the plenary floor, stressing that the committee had given Duterte’s office ‘utmost respect’ in the budget process. He added that the committee will no longer respond to Duterte’s letter, calling October 2 the ‘last day’ for deliberations.

Blatant insult

Opposition lawmakers did not hold back their criticism and vowed to push for the reduction of the OVP budget.

Rep. Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal Party List denounced Duterte’s repeated absences as a blatant insult to the constitutional budget process.

‘Disrespecting the budgetary process of this body is a clear case of disrespect of our Constitution,’ de Lima said. ‘If she can afford to show up at the Senate and applaud a privileged speech, why can she not spare a few moments to defend the budget of her office? Enough is enough. Enough of her brattiness.’

De Lima said she intends to move for a reduction of the OVP’s budget, sparing only funds for Personal Services (PS) and maintenance and operating expenses (MOOE) while scrapping allocations for operational programs.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio echoed the sentiment, stressing that the issue was not political grandstanding but accountability.

‘I condemn her disrespect toward the people for not even showing up to take responsibility,’ Tinio said, vowing to file a motion to slash the OVP’s budget and retain only the funds needed for employees’ salaries.

TIM CONE will be working with a pool of 16 players-instead of 12-for the 2027 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers that start this November.

‘The [16-member] pool gives Coach Tim [Cone] a buffer for any.but hopefully not injuries to our players,’ Samahand Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al S. Panlilio said on Thursday.

Three players-who Panlilio and Cone called ‘logical adds’-are RJ Abarrientos, 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame and Quentin Millora-Brown with Kai Sotto being the pool’s 16th member but is still recovering from his injury.

Abarrientos, according to Panlilio who’s known by his alias ASP, is not a surprise addition because he’s been practicing with Gilas and is Cone’s point guard at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Millora-Brown, or QMB, Panlilio said, is also a welcome addition to the pool, while Kouame is an able backup to Justin Brownlee as a naturalized player.

‘We know that the Asian qualifiers are a tough competition,’ Panlilio said.

‘QMB’s a no-brainer, of course. And RJ and Kouame have been practicing with us since the last window. So, they are all ‘logical adds,” Cone said.

There are four groups in the Asian Qualifiers-the Philippines is with Guam, Australia and New Zealand in Pool A-and the top three will be advancing further in the event.

With Brownlee in the pool are AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo.

Millora-Brown is a 6-foot-10 former University of the Philippines big man who’s playing for the Macau Black Bears in the East Asia Super League.

Kouame was in Cone’s team that won the gold medal in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games two years ago.

Gilas travels to Guam on November 28 and will host the same team on December 1 and plays at home against New Zealand on February 26 and Australia on March 1.

Ayala Corp. on Thursday said it will transfer its dealership of Honda cars in the Philippines to a new entity in January 2026, effectively ending its 35-year partnership with Honda Car Philippines Inc. (HCPI).

HCPI and Ayala said the development reflects the ‘evolving strategies’ of their companies in their pursuit of growth and innovation.

The transition involves dealerships currently under the operation of ACMobility. These are Honda Cars Makati, Honda Cars Pasig, Honda Cars Shaw, Honda Cars Bacoor, Honda Cars Cebu, Honda Cars Mandaue, Honda Cars Iloilo, Honda Cars Negros, and Honda Cars Cagayan de Oro.

The alliance dates back to 1990 with the opening of Honda Cars Makati. Over the years, the network grew steadily nationwide, with Ayala ultimately becoming the largest Honda dealer group in the Philippines.

The ACMobility-operated Honda dealerships, through Iconic Dealership Inc., have sold over 220,000 vehicles as of August 2025.

ACMobility will begin turning over management and operations of these dealerships to new dealer principals towards the end of this year. It declined to name the new owner of its Honda dealership.

‘We thank Ayala for their invaluable contribution over the past 35 years, which played a key role in establishing Honda as a trusted brand in the Philippines. As we work closely with our new dealer principals, we are fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition while upholding Honda’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and outstanding customer service,’ Rie Miyake, Honda Philippines president, said.

‘HCPI will continue to provide the best products and services including an expanding range of electrified vehicles and solutions. We remain firmly committed to Honda’s long-term goals of zero collision and carbon neutrality, advancing safety for everyone and a cleaner environment in the Philippines,’ Miyake said.

‘We are grateful, and indeed proud, to have been part of Honda’s journey in the Philippines for the past three and a half decades. This transition reflects our ongoing effort to optimize our portfolio and focus on new growth areas. Among these are our initiatives in advancing sustainable mobility and electrification, where we continue to build solutions that benefit communities, businesses and the environment,’ Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of ACMobility, said.

ACMobility said it will refocus its investments in new and high-growth businesses in automotive distribution and charging infrastructure, in light of its ambition to lead the transition towards sustainable and electrified mobility in the Philippines.

This also follows ACMobility’s recent exits from the Volkswagen and Maxus distribution businesses, as the company moves towards streamlining its portfolio, aligned with the broader initiative of Ayala to sharpen its business lines.

Upon turnover of the dealership operations, ACMobility’s portfolio will be composed of the BYD and Kia distribution businesses; dealership operations of Isuzu, BYD, and Kia; electric vehicle charging infrastructure business; and the Bosch Car Service business.

The state weather bureau has placed 50 cities and municipalities in 6 Luzon provinces under the threat of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TWSC) No. 2 as ‘Paolo’ intensifies while hovering over the Philippine Sea.

Placed under TCWS No. 2 are the central and southern portions of Isabela (San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Benito Soliven, Angadanan, Naguilian, Palanan, Ilagan City, Quirino, Mallig, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Cordon, City of Santiago, San Isidro, Ramon, Alicia, San Mateo, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Gamu, Burgos, San Manuel, Aurora, Roxas), the northern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Saguday, Diffun), the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Kasibu), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig), Ifugao, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan).

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz), Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael), the northern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City), the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion), and Catanduanes.

In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued at 2 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Paolo maintains its strength while moving westward over the Philippine Sea.

PAGASA said aside from hazards affecting land areas due to the strong winds brought by Paolo, heavy rain is expected to affect Aurora today, October 2, and the provinces of La Union and Benguet on Friday. Heavy rains mean that rainfall will be dumping at least 200 mm of rain, causing widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides.

In the next two days, 100 to 200 mm of rain is forecasted over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Zambales.

This means that numerous flooding events are likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslide is likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecasted to occur in Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan

These areas are likely to experience localized flooding, mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslides is also possible in highly susceptible areas.

PAGASA said the highest Wind Signal that will likely be hoisted throughout Paolo’s passage is Wind Signal No. 3, or worse, Wind Signal No. 4, which is not being completely ruled out.

The state weather bureau said heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall.

Paolo will continue to intensify over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category tonight.

Currently, the eye of the storm was spotted 530 km. East of Infanta, Quezon, and is moving westward at 20 km/h.

It is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

The storm is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by 11 a.m. of October 4..

Fortune Life Insurance Company, one of the Hole Sponsors, joined the Philippine Insurance Cup Golf Tournament on September 4, 2025 at the Riviera Golf Club in Silang, Cavite.

Organized by the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), in partnership with the Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific (IIAP) and the Philippine Insurers Club (PIC), the event brought together industry leaders for a day of camaraderie and competition.

Representing Fortune Life was Business Development Director George Mercado, building connections and championing our commitment to meaningful partnerships and industry engagement.

Fortune Life is part of the ALC Group of Companies, founded by the late Amb. Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

I have been watching Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival since it started in 2004, or 21 years ago, which was traditionally held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and various cinemas.

However, for the past three years CCP was not the main festival venue because of its rehabilitation. It was held in alternative venues-Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in 2023, Ayala Mall by the Bay in 2024. It will run this year in Shangrila Edsa from October 3 to 12, 2025.

The CCP building closed its doors at the beginning of 2023 to undergo a three-year rehabilitation, including upgrades, safety improvements, and restoration efforts aimed at preserving the building’s historic and cultural significance. This rehabilitation is a critical part of CCP’s broader vision to transform the complex into a world-class cultural hub for both the arts community and the public. The rehabilitation is slated for completion in late 2026.

My passion in watching Cinemalaya films perhaps is an offshoot of my exposure to experimental films during my college years in the late ’80s and ’90s at the UP Diliman where I saw several highly sensitive and political films.

Some of the films I saw included Lino Brocka’s ‘Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag’ (1975) and ‘Bayan Ko: Kapit sa Patalim’ (1985), Ishmael Bernal’s ‘Himala’ (1982), Mike de Leon’s ‘Sister Stella L.’ (1984), and Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s ‘Karnal’ (1984) and whose daring works portrayed revolt, labor unionism, social ostracism, and class division.

Although it did not win the Best film award in 2005, ‘Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros’ by fellow UP alumnus Auraeus Solito became one of the icons of indie films.

The so-called ‘indie films’ embody Cinemalaya’s vision: ‘The creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.’

The full-length section has only one set of films from 2005 to 2009 called New Breed, with another section added from 2010 to 2014 called Director’s Showcase. It reverted back to one set as the Main Competition since 2016. Only short films competed in 2015, 2020 and 2021.

‘Layag sa Alon, Hangin, at Unos’ is this year’s theme reflecting the festival’s decades of weathering every storm of its era.

Competing in this year’s Full Length Films category are:

‘Bloom where you are planted’ by Noni Abao: Three land rights activists contend with their volatile notions of home amid terror and red-tagging in Cagayan Valley.

‘Child No. 82′ (Son of boy kana) by Tim Rone Villanueva: At a wake, a persevering high school student must prove that he is the 82nd child of the Philippines’ biggest action-fantasy movie star in the hopes of seeing his late father one last time.

‘Cinemartyrs’ by Sari Dalena: Recreating forgotten massacres from Philippine history, a young filmmaker begins shooting at a site where 1,000 men, women, and children were slaughtered. But the angry spirits are awakened and the lives of her team and the local villagers are put in peril.

‘Habang nilalamon ng hydra ang kasaysayan’ by Dustin Celestino: Four Filipinos confront the slow erasure of memory and truth in a country devoured by disinformation.

‘Open endings’ by Nigel Santos: Four queer women in their 30s who are exes-turned-best-friends navigate adulthood, love, friendship, chosen families, and everything in between.

‘Padamlágan’ (night light) by Jenn Romano: Five days before the proclamation of Martial Law, the Colgante Bridge collapsed in Naga, forcing a father into a desperate search for his missing son.

‘Paglilitis’ by Cheska Marfori: Years after experiencing sexual harassment at her workplace, a former executive assistant is persuaded by a passionate lawyer to file a case against her rich and highly respected boss.

‘Raging’ by Ryan Machado: A young man’s quest for truth and justice intertwines with a plane crash mystery, uncovering a sinister plot that propels his desire to be heard but also threatens his community.

‘Republika ng pipolipinas’ by Renei Dimla: When the local government threatens to evict her from her own land, a farmer renounces her Filipino citizenship and builds her own micronation.

‘Warla’ by Kevin Alambra Kitkat: a 19-year-old transgender woman finds the family she’s been longing for in a gang of sisters who kidnap foreign men to fund their gender-affirming surgeries, until their crimes force her to question the true cost of belonging.

Competing in the Short Films Category are ‘Ascension from the Office Cubicle’ by Hannah Silvestre; ‘Figat’ by Handiong Kapuno; ‘Hasang’ by Daniel de la Cruz; ‘I’m Best Left Inside My Head’ by Elian Idioma; ‘Kay Basta Angkarabo Yay Bagay Ibat Ha Langit’ by Marie Estela Pais; ‘Kung Tugnaw ang Kaidalman Sang Lawod’ by Seth Andrew Blanca; ‘Please Keep This Copy’ by Miguel Lorenzo Peralta; ‘Radikals’ by Arvin Belarmino; ‘The Next 24 Hours’ by Carl Joseph Papa and ‘Water Sports’ by Whammy Alcazaren.

The PLDT Group said on Thursday it has identified nearly two million URLs containing online child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM) since June 2021, as PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group blocked more than 650,000 attempts to access such links in January to August.

‘Guided by our child safeguarding policy, we have adopted a child safety-by-design approach across our products and services,’ said Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement at PLDT and Smart.

‘Recognizing the scale of the problem, we continue to welcome collaboration with child safety advocates to help create a safer digital space where children can thrive.’

He noted that central to PLDT’s efforts is its Child Protection Platform, which blocks CSAEM at the content level.

Furthermore, the group’s partnerships with the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s Project Arachnid have bolstered the company’s detection and blacklisting capabilities.

The group has likewise embedded its child-protection framework into community awareness campaigns. Through its program, PLDT and Smart have reached over 100,000 participants nationwide, including students, teachers, parents, barangay officials, MSMEs, farmers, seniors, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.

Unicef noted that in 2021 alone, two million children in the Philippines were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation. Children reported that they experienced grooming and received offers of gifts or money in exchange for sexual acts.

‘Some were threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual acts. Due to stigma, disclosure is disproportionately low-despite various reporting channels. Only 0-4 per cent of victims ever reported, and only 0-3 per cent know how to report to the police or to helplines.’

Unicef also noted 44 percent of children do not know where to get help if they or a friend were subjected to sexual abuse or harassment online; while 50 percent of them added people as friends on social media even if they had never met face-to-face.

ACEN Corp. is extending a loan of P900 million to its unit to partly finance its onshore wind power project in Quezon province.

‘On October 1, 2025, ACEN executed a short-term loan agreement for P900,000,000.00 with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Giga Ace 6, Inc.,’ it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday.

Giga Ace 6 is the project company for the Quezon North Wind Power Project, formerly the Isla Wind Project, to be located in the municipalities of Mauban and Real, Quezon, and the municipalities of Paete and Kalayaan, Laguna.

ACEN did not provide further details.

Giga Ace 6 earlier secured a P34.41-billion loan to partly finance the proposed wind power project which will be done in phases. The target completion of the first phase, with an estimated capacity of 344-megawatt peak (MWp), is in late 2026. The second phase, possibly 208 megawatts, could be finished by 2028.

ACEN disclosed in October last year its investment into the Quezon North Wind Power Project Phases 1 and 2, including supporting infrastructure and transmission/connection assets.

Last March, ACEN and units signed an omnibus loan and security agreement with Bank of the Philippines Islands, BDO Unibank, Inc., and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. for P34.4 billion. The green term loan facility for Giga Ace 6 was guaranteed by its parent, ACEN, and ACEN Global Development Group. ACEN reported in August that its consolidated net income declined by 88 percent year-on-year to P763 million mainly due to a P2.7-billion impairment relating to the relating to the Lac Hoa and Hoa Dong wind farms in Vietnam.

Excluding this one-off booking and the P1.35-billion valuation gain in 2024, net income fell 24 percent over the same period, due to depressed Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prices and increased depreciation effects.

‘Despite these headwinds, attributable renewables output grew 9 percent year-on-year to 3,228 GWh [gigawatt hours], driven by new contributions from international plants.’

ASIAN Eye Institute (AEI) recently hosted world-renowned ophthalmologist Ike Ahmed for a research collaboration with Robert Ang, head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center.

Recognized as the ‘most influential ophthalmologist’ worldwide in 2024 by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Ahmed is globally known for pioneering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). This is a new class of safe, minimally invasive procedures designed to lower intraocular pressure and slow the progression of glaucoma.

‘Doctor Ang and I have been studying glaucoma over the years, and we have a whole movement called interventional glaucoma,’ Ahmed explains. ‘It provides earlier treatments through safe, minimally invasive intervention to address the unmet needs in glaucoma, which are the problems of progression and eye drops.’

Global leader meets local innovation

Asian Eye has long been at the forefront of glaucoma management in the Philippines. Under Ang’s leadership, the institute has conducted pioneering clinical trials to expand access to next-generation treatments. This collaboration with Ahmed strengthens AEI’s role as a regional hub for innovation in eye care research, bringing global expertise to benefit local patients.

‘I’m a believer in interventional glaucoma because I believe that glaucoma should be addressed earlier,’ said Ang. ‘Over the past 20 years, we’ve been applying eye drops. What are we waiting for-for the patients to get worse? We don’t want to do it that way anymore. More than us, it benefits the patients.’

Together, the two experts are advancing novel, non-invasive laser applications that target the eye’s natural drainage system. ‘Dr. Ang and I have been researching a very novel laser application to non-invasively treat the drainage area of the eye by applying a laser in a very safe way,’ says Dr. Ahmed. ‘Dr. Ang has been an important collaborator. I love that he brings the latest technology to Southeast Asia.’

Earlier, safer, better for patients

FOR Ahmed, the future of glaucoma care lies in acting early with safer interventions. ‘Every step of the way, we become less and less invasive because the whole point of going early is establishing high safety,’ he says. ‘Interventional glaucoma and MIGS allow us to address glaucoma earlier. We need technology and the skills-and that’s what we have in our collaboration with Asian Eye.’

Both experts stress that Filipino patients stand to benefit significantly from adopting such approaches. With many paying out-of-pocket for care, solutions that preserve vision earlier can reduce the greater economic and personal cost of blindness.