Category: Business Mirror

CEBU-BASED call center workers on Thursday lodged a formal complaint before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 7 against several business process outsourcing (BPO) companies that allegedly violated occupational safety and labor standards in the aftermath of the September 30 earthquake.

The BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN)-Cebu said it had received ‘hundreds of complaints’ in less than two days, citing incidents where companies compelled employees to report to work despite the aftershock tremors and threatened sanctions against those who opted to prioritize their families and personal safety.

Among the allegations raised were reports that one BPO firm required agents to continue taking calls while the earthquake was ongoing, while another company was accused of blocking exits on one of its floors to prevent workers from leaving.

Employees who refused to report for work were reportedly issued notices to explain, stripped of attendance incentives, and subjected to administrative sanctions.

‘This example merely shows and emphasizes the corporate greed of BPO companies, highlighting profit over the welfare and safety of their own agent,’ BIEN-Cebu spokesperson Kyle Enero said.

‘It also shows the negligence of the government itself in regulating situations like this, when it should declare a temporary suspension to ensure the safety of the employees.’

The group also criticized the government’s decision not to declare an imminent danger situation, instead leaving it to companies to decide whether operations should continue.

BIEN-Cebu said this approach exposed thousands of employees and their families to further risks.

‘If the government can suspend classes due to the need to inspect school buildings, they should also rightfully require BPO companies and their building administrators to provide a detailed inspection and safety report to ensure that resumption of work does not threaten worker safety,’ the group said.

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the government has yet to come up with a contingency plan in the event that a warrant of arrest is issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and several others in relation to the crimes against humanity charges filed against them.

‘We have yet to talk about it. I don’t think they want to leave the country. We will cross the bridge when we get there,’ Remulla said.

Remulla also stressed that they have not received any information about an impending arrest warrant from the ICC.

‘There is no arrest warrant. Until we see the arrest warrant, then there is none,’ he added.

It can be recalled that former senator Antonio Trillanes IV earlier disclosed that arrest warrants against De la Rosa, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, who are known allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, may be issued early next year.

Trillanes, who initiated the ICC complaint, made the statement after returning from The Hague where he attended along with other participants the Tenth Seminar on Cooperation from Sept 16 to 18 at the ICC.

Last March, the Philippine government handed former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC based on an arrest warrant issued by the ICC and implemented through the Interpol for the crime against humanity in connection with the deaths of 43 persons during his bloody anti-illegal drug war campaign.

This was despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC which took effect on March 17, 2019.

The ICC maintained that it retains jurisdiction over the said crimes which occurred while the Philippines was still a state party to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC.

The crimes covered by the arrest warrant took place between November 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019, according to the chamber.

The ICC chamber issued the arrest warrant against Duterte in connection with the killing of 19 alleged drug pushers or thieves by the Davao Death Squad (DDS) in various locations in Davao City during Duterte’s term as mayor of the province.

The arrest warrant also covers the killing of 24 persons believed to be drug pushers and thieves or drug users during the term of Duterte as President.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has disbursed P48.1 million in emergency employment and livelihood assistance to workers in the Bicol Region following the devastation of Severe Tropical Storm Opong.

According to DOLE Region V, the bulk of the funds-P40.3 million-was allotted under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

The allocation covers short-term cash-for-work for 6,455 beneficiaries in 11 municipalities identified as among the hardest hit.

Another P5 million was allocated for profiling under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), while P2.7 million went to the Government Internship Program (GIP).

The agency said families of the four reported casualties will also be granted livelihood packages through DILP, while affected small businesses may avail of aid under the Adjustment Measures Program (AMP)

Based on DOLE Region V’s situational report, Opong affected 183,926 families, or 693,290 individuals, across Bicol.

Masbate was the most heavily impacted, with over 8,000 families still staying in evacuation centers as of October 1.

Opong entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on September 23 as a tropical depression and quickly strengthened into a severe tropical storm the next day.

By September 25, all provinces in Bicol were under Signal No. 2, before warnings in Sorsogon and parts of Masbate were raised to Signal No. 4 at the height of the storm on September 26.

The labor department said coordination with local governments is ongoing to ensure the full delivery of assistance and the monitoring of long-term livelihood recovery in affected areas.

‘DOLE’s rapid response underscores its strong commitment to restoring livelihoods in storm-hit communities, with the Department ready to scale up support and ensure no affected worker is left behind,’ it added.

‘Opong’ deaths

Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Wednesday called on police units to help speed up the validation of casualties related to Opong.

‘The PNP is involved in documenting recoveries on the ground and immediately relaying validated information to local disaster response councils. We coordinate with the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to ensure that casualty reports are verified and cross-checked against missing persons records before they are made official,’ he said.

Nartatez said his order is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos and under the guidance of Department of the Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla to ensure accuracy in disaster response operations.

Such a move also emphasized coordination among government agencies to provide verified information to the public and to deliver timely support to affected families.

Nartatez also underscored that strict documentation processes are followed to prevent duplication and misinformation.

He also maintained that there are challenges in accessing remote and heavily impacted areas due to damaged infrastructure, as well as in the identification of remains in advanced stages of decomposition.

‘Our operations are still ongoing in the hardest-hit areas, particularly where there are still reports of missing individuals. These will continue until all measures are exhausted to assist all our kababayan,’ Nartatez said.

The police assistance, he said, also extends to continue securing evacuation centers in rebuilding communities damaged by the typhoon, especially in hardest hit areas.

Earlier, the Office of Civil Defense disclosed that 15 more fatalities were being validated in Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas.

As of September 30, the death toll was placed at 27 while 14 persons were reported missing in Bicol Region, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas.

THE National Food Authority (NFA) said its purchases of paddy rice soared in June on the back of a favorable harvest and its competitive buying price range.

The grains agency said it procured 807,691 50-kilo bags or 40,384 metric tons (MT) of palay in the reference month, more than double the 355,910 bags or 17,795.5 MT it bought last year.

With this, the NFA noted that it met its procurement target of 381,500 bags or 19,075 MT in June.

‘Increase in procurement compared to last month is mainly due to favorable harvest this cropping season, and the continuous implementation of the Council-approved Price Range Scheme [Pricers] for palay procurement activity,’ the NFA said.

Under the grains agency’s program, it buys clean and dry palay at P23 to P30 per kilo, while the price of fresh and wet palay ranges from P17 to P23 per kilo. Such a scheme changes weekly per province.

The NFA said it had a total expected milled rice inventory of 8.9 million bags or 445,459 MT at the end of June. It added that the grains agency’s stockpile accounts for 18.9 percent of the country’s national rice inventory.

Meanwhile, the agency said it distributed 60,252 bags or 3,012 MT of milled rice during the reference month, 13.6 percent of its target of 440,445 bags or 22,022.25 MT.

It allocated some 544 MT of rice to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), legislators, and local governments for relief operations and calamity response.

About 1,314 MT of rice were distributed to government agencies and local government units’ (LGUs) rice requirement under the Executive Order 51 program, the NFA said.

Furthermore, around 1,126 MT have been distributed to LGUs under the food security emergency program, which was declared to expedite the release of rice stocks held by the NFA.

It added that some 27 MT of rice have been allotted for the auction or private institutions.

The NFA recently invited the public to participate in the tender for more than 1 million 50-kilo bags or 57,997 MT of aging rice stocks. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/09/29/nfa-invites-bids-for-1-16-m-bags-of-aging-rice-stocks-worth-%e2%82%b11-6b/)

The agency has started issuing auction documents. The Central Office Auction Committee (COAC) will issue these documents until October 8, while documents from the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Secretariat will be available until October 7.

Interested bidders are required to tender a 10-percent bond of the total price offer, which will be deducted from the overall payment of the winning bidder.

This year, the NFA aims to procure as much as 880,000 MT of palay to meet its new buffer stock requirement of 15 days as stipulated under the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Earthquake victims in some towns in northern Cebu province call for help as they battle rain, the cold weather at night and their desperate need for food while still waiting for relief goods to reach their area.

Arg De Real, a resident of Sitio Pandan, Barangay Mahawak in Medellin town, uploaded photos on Wednesday showing some of his family members and other evacuees sleeping under a blanket of transparent plastic to shield them from the rain.

De Real shared that there are currently an estimate of 400 families there who evacuated after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu on Tuesday evening, September 30, 2025.

‘Duol ra man mi og dagat sad. Ni bakwit lang mi sa bukid (We are living near the sea. That’s why we evacuated here to the hilly area),’ he told Business Mirror in an interview on Thursday.

Most of them, he shared, only brought plastic bags so they can use it to shield them from the rain while some were fortunate enough to have some tents.

Fear prevents them from going back to their houses, especially at night, as the town continues to experience aftershocks.

They called on authorities to help them as they are running out of food to eat.

‘Untag hatagan tanan peru ug kamu mang hatag unaha tawn amoa kay murag dili kaabot sa amoa [We hope that everyone gets to receive it, but if you can help us, please prioritize us as we haven’t received any help yet],’ he added.

He emphasized that they currently need food, water to drink, and tents there.

Amidst the tragedy, De Real still keeps a positive mind saying they are all ‘good’.

Different photos spread all over social media where evacuees seek help in order for relief goods and aid to reach them.

An uploader also posted a photo of kids photographed along the highway in San Remigio town raising cardboards with the words printed, ‘Walay tarong kaon’ (Have not eaten well) and ‘Help us. More food, water’.

The Cebu Provincial Government reported they have sent 7,622 food packs to Medellin town and 300 food packs to San Remigio as of 5pm on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

This is apart from the water bottles and other relief items that were also sent there.

In a video interview by local station MyTV Cebu, Mayor Edwin Salimbangon said the quake left many residents traumatized such that they opted to stay on the roadside and open fields.

Salimbangon said the town has received initial relief good,s but it could only last up to two days.

The municipality has opened its Tourist Rest Area to serve as a 24/7 drop-off site for donations.

No permit needed to bring aid

Private individuals and groups who wish to directly send their donations to affected areas don’t need to get a permit.

The Cebu Provincial Government clarified this, even as it advised the volunteers to ‘proceed with extra caution and remain vigilant’ since there are still aftershocks there.

‘Donations coursed through the Capitol will be received and recorded at the Command Center to ensure transparency, proper documentation, and accountability, and to guarantee that assistance reaches those in need.,’ the Cebu Provincial Government said in a statement.

THE contraction of the Philippine manufacturing sector in September is only a ‘cautionary signal’ as this only stemmed from ‘short-term’ challenges,’ according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

‘We in Peza remain positive despite the recent drop of the [Purchasing Manager’s Index] PMI for September, as we believe that this is more of a cautionary signal than a cause for alarm, stemming from short-term challenges rather than structural weaknesses,’ Peza Director General Tereso O. Panga told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Thursday.

Citing survey reports, the Peza chief pointed to weaker domestic demand, fewer client orders, supply chain disruptions caused by weather, the impact of various policy shifts and the recent geopolitical movements as key contributors to the slowdown in the manufacturing sector.

He also noted that rising input costs continue to place pressure on manufacturers, prompting some firms to scale back orders or output.

Panga said while foreign demand remains stable, the lower local demand ‘weighs’ on overall performance of the manufacturing sector in the country.

‘For Peza, this underscores the importance of strengthening ecozone resilience against weather-related disruptions, ensuring stable and predictable policies that support manufacturers, and helping firms manage costs and diversify their markets,’ Panga told this newspaper.

Nevertheless, he said the investment promotion agency sees this trend as ‘temporary,’ pointing out that investments greenlighted by Peza this year reflect a ‘continued upward trajectory.’

On Wednesday, S and P Global Market Intelligence reported that the Philippines’ Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) score fell to 49.9 in September from the 50.8 in August.

‘While signaling just a fractional deterioration in the health of the manufacturing sector, this was only the third time in just over four years where the headline index has been in contraction territory,’ S and P Global said.

Data from Peza showed that it has approved P154.70 billion worth of investments in the January to September 2025 period, up 33.5 percent compared to the P115.87 billion approved in the nine-month period in 2024.

Panga also noted that the economic zones have been generating more interest as multinational corporations (MNCs) are setting their sets on ecozones for their offshore operations.

For one, the Peza chief said there are companies ‘shifting production out of China in favor of the Philippines to benefit from our lower tariff for exported goods to the US and EU as well as our most generous fiscal incentives package for investors across Asean.’

The agency also sees this development in the manufacturing sector ‘as an opportunity to step up coordination with government and industry partners so that our locators remain competitive, resilient and able to contribute to the Philippines’ positioning as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific.’

THE Department of Finance (DOF) has ordered all state-run firms to deploy resources, provide critical services and roll out calamity assistance packages to the victims of the recent earthquake in Cebu.

Department Circular 003-2025 issued by the DOF on October 1 directed government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to accelerate service delivery and ground support after natural calamities.

The order covers the 53 GOCCs and nine GFIs under DOF oversight, particularly those in utilities, infrastructure, logistics, communications, housing, financial services and other essential public functions.

They are instructed to use available resources, personnel, and equipment; prioritize restoring power, water, communications, and transport; and coordinate with national agencies, local governments and stakeholders for an integrated response.

Calamity-related assistance packages, such as cash aid, concessional loans, deferred payment schemes or service subsidies, were also ordered to be immediately rolled out.

In addition, they are also told to fast-track the processing of insurance claims for damaged properties, assist borrowers in affected areas and provide short-term loans for the repair of homes and the recovery of livelihoods.

At the same time, they must ensure the continuity of financial services by keeping branches operational, ATMs functional and other service channels available to the public.

‘Our goal is to make sure that when calamity strikes, the GFIs and GOCCs respond without delay. They must also be the first responders to restore essential public services and work hand in hand with the government to help our people recover faster,’ Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto was quoted in a separate statement as saying.

According to the DOF, the Social Security System is ready to provide P10 billion to P15 billion under its Calamity Loan Program for this year to disaster-stricken members.

To deliver financial relief to affected Filipinos in calamity-declared areas, Recto, who is also the ex officio chair of the Social Security Commission, approved a lower annual interest rate of 7 percent and a faster activation period of seven days under the program.

The Government Service Insurance System is also extending financial aid to disaster-stricken Filipinos through its calamity and emergency loans.

Those with mortgaged houses can file for insurance claims through the Pag-Ibig Fund, where members in affected areas may also be eligible for calamity loans. For minor repairs, members can access short-term improvement loans.

Meanwhile, the Land Bank of the Philippines vows to facilitate quick access to salary loans for employees of government agencies and private companies using the state-run lender’s payroll service.

The Bureau of the Treasury is prepared to submit a claim for the restoration and repair of public schools damaged by the earthquake under the National Indemnity Insurance program, the DOF added.

‘We assure the Filipino people that we have more than enough funds to support the victims, lalo na ang ating mga magsasaka, manggagawa, estudyante, at bawat pamilyang Pilipino na apektado ng trahedya,’ Recto said.

THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) secured a major conviction with the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to convict Janet Lim Napoles of money laundering in connection with the ‘pork barrel’ scam.

AMLC said RTC Branch 158 in Pasig City convicted Napoles of 13 counts of money laundering due to her orchestration of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in 2013.

The case was initiated and prosecuted by the AMLC and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The decision marked another milestone in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.

‘This sends a strong message: those who abuse public funds will be held accountable,’ said AMLC Executive Director Atty. Matthew M. David.

‘The AMLC welcomes this court decision as a demonstration of AMLC’s relentless pursuit of individuals who exploit the financial system to conceal corruption,’ he added.

AMLC said this is the second conviction secured by the AMLC against Napoles involving the ‘pork barrel’ scam, following a 2024 decision issued by RTC Branch 24, Manila-affirming AMLC’s effectiveness in prosecuting money laundering cases linked to corruption.

In this 2025 conviction, AMLC said the Trial Court found that Napoles planned a scheme involving the creation of bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) to receive pork barrel funds for ghost projects.

By making it appear that the funds originated from legitimate sources, Napoles concealed its criminal origin-an act that fully satisfied the elements of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended.

Napoles was sentenced to 7 to 14 years of imprisonment for each count and was ordered to pay a P94.15-million fine. AMLC said, however, the judgment of conviction may be subject to appeal.

MOA between ICI, AMLC

Meanwhile, the AMLC and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for inter-agency collaboration and coordination in light of the ongoing flood project investigations.

The partnership aims to enhance information sharing and coordinated action between the AMLC and the ICI to support more effective investigations.

‘This partnership is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve to uphold integrity in public service, ensure that illicit financial activities tied to infrastructure project anomalies are thoroughly investigated, and to hold accountable those responsible,’ David said.

The MOA outlines provisions for interagency coordination, information sharing, and joint efforts to trace, preserve, and recover assets linked to unlawful activities.

The agreement also reinforces the AMLC’s mandate to investigate money laundering offenses arising from corruption, malversation, plunder, bribery, and related unlawful activities.

Established under Executive Order No. 94, Series of 2025, the ICI was created in response to public calls for greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending.

Composed of individuals with unquestionable integrity and expertise, the Commission is tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation into alleged irregularities and misuse of funds in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

THE five-year action plan for the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry will focus on developing a skilled Filipino workforce to boost the local industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement, the department’s Special Task Force Office said the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (Seiac), chaired by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (Osapiea), has laid out its Technical Working Group’s five-year action plan during the second meeting of the Seiac.

DTI said the main topic of the discussions was the development of a strong school-to-industry pipeline through closer collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and industry partners.

‘The Council proposed flexible learning pathways-including ladderized programs and micro-credentials-aimed at equipping Filipinos with high-value technical skills that meet global industry standards,’ DTI said.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of Secretary Frederick D. Go was Osapiea Undersecretary Angel Ignacio who emphasized that strong human capital is the foundation of the industry’s long-term growth.

‘Investing in our people is the most critical component of building a resilient and globally competitive semiconductor industry,’ Ignacio said.

The DTI statement added that Osapiea highlighted that the council’s long-term goal is to nurture homegrown talent and encourage Filipinos to pursue careers in the country, strengthening both the industry and national development.

Beyond talent development, the council also discussed initiatives to enhance the country’s investment climate.

These include the development of world-class Strategic Economic Zones, supported by an ongoing infrastructure audit to identify gaps in power, water, and logistics.

In addition, the DTI said, the Seiac reviewed efforts to streamline regulations, promote ease of doing business, and showcase the Philippines semiconductor industry in the global market.

Further, the Trade department underscored that ‘The Council is looking to spearhead the country’s participation in Semicon Europa 2025, the premier European platform that brings together key players across the entire design and manufacturing value chain of the semiconductor and electronics industry.’

DTI said the Philippines’ participation in Semicon Europa is a ‘strategic’ move to diversify the country’s electronics export destinations, reducing reliance on traditional markets and aligning with Europe’s growing demand for alternative suppliers amid geopolitical shifts.

The council also noted that it will continue to ‘refine’ these action plans of their final adoption, according to DTI.

I now know why this idea that Filipinos are resilient persist. They do not come from us. We are by far wiser than that. We know the falsity of that virtue-of the human spirit enduring all the insults that human institutions and organizations are brought to bear upon them. We have seen through the illusion of that virtue, the fakery of the grit, the stilted speeches delivered for inspiration and sublimation.

Behold our mentors-our leaders and politicians who see to it that we continue to strive to persist, to suffer, to be resilient. Of course, they know they cannot be resilient; that is why they need to impose such an imaginary upon us.

As the month of September was drawing to a close and the breath of October ushering in a different climate, typhoons came.

As was the case of storms, the Oratio Imperata was taken out of the dustbin of old beliefs. Who knows this might work. Who knows the God almighty might listen to us after all.

We have become experts when it comes to storm tracking. In Bicol, for example, there is a local expert Bicolanos listen to. While the state meteorological agency continues its work, a native expert has been developed. The story was one time, the region was so ill-prepared for the onslaught of a particularly devastating weather disturbance because no proper warning was issued. From then on, a dedicated team of experts was developed with the aim in mind of focusing on the region.

For some reason, this approach has worked. True, there was time in October last year, when the region -the city of Naga included-was severely flooded. The people had to recognize one thing, the unpredictability of the amount of rain falling. Climate change has become real. And while there were structures that impeded the draining of flood water, there was at least one factor that was new-the awareness that there were factors that gave rise to these calamities. Knowledge was claimed by the people and this was good enough.

And yet, something obnoxious and anomalous has remained through all these days. The typhoon that hit certain parts of the country during the last part of September is a sign that in this country there are two realities. One dwells on the social facts of poverty; the other on power. Of all the provinces in the Bicol region, Masbate was the one heavily affected by the typhoon. Being an island-province and separated from the mainland, Masbate suffered a double whammy. Its isolation meant succor had to go through a geographical gridlock. There was no one to help the province except itself.

For days, there was no signal from the island of Ticao, for example. There were photographs of entire villages with houses decimated. We have gotten used to viewing people standing in front of their ruined homes after devastation but it takes guts to see old people weeping over a vanished homestead.

We are familiar with images of poverty-of children with tattered clothes and homes with no walls-but we are never ready to confront helplessness and hopelessness. Somehow, we allow ourselves the modicum of faith, that the human soul has the capacity to live on and fight and be alive for another day but faced with nothingness and we will never know what to do.

Witness an old woman standing where her home used to be and listen as she speaks-‘wara na gayud.’ There is nothing left.

‘Bangon Masbate,’ a tarp is flying in the wind.

Somewhere, a person has posted the Masbate Dynasty-the local leaders from the governor to the representatives all share the same family name.

Then the earthquake struck Cebu and tremor was felt all over the Panay island and the neighboring areas.

Panic and hysteria ensued. There was no more resilience. No hidden strength. This archipelago of suffering people has gone through enough suffering. In basketball courts, people were trying to stay calm until the lights went out. In hospitals, patients had to be wheeled out of the rooms. When the tremor was over, there was not enough space in clinics and hospitals for those injured.

The only chill place in this country is in Manila, in the hallowed halls of Congress and the Senate. There the congressmen and the senators are debating in aid of legislation. They are the gods of the upper air, reeking of expensive colognes and protected by parliamentary procedures only they could understand and most of the time mystify. At the end of the day, they will go home to the comfort of their homes, cocooned from the total social facts that they can articulate but will never actualize. Somewhere, we hope there is another god-one that punishes politicos and spares the massesˆa god who does not require an obligatory prayer but one who listens, and listens well.