Category: Business Mirror

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) formally signed the Deed of Donation and Partnership, marking the official turnover of a Mitsubishi Strada Athlete pick-up in support of the DUNONG Program (Department of Education-Laguna-University of the Philippines Los Baños Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation Towards Ending Learning Poverty in the Philippines).

The program responds to pressing concerns in education and nutrition, with many children struggling to read with comprehension and others attending school without proper meals. By combining education and feeding initiatives, the program aims to give children not only the ability to read and learn, but also the nourishment to thrive.

During the ceremony, MMPC Chairman Noriaki Hirakata highlighted the importance of partnership between industry and the academe in driving long-term progress. ‘Today’s turnover is a symbol of partnership – one that brings together the strengths of industry and academia to support the growth of knowledge, innovation, and national progress,’ he shared.

Meanwhile, MMPC President and CEO Ritsu Imaeda emphasized that supporting initiatives like the DUNONG Program is aligned with the company’s broader mission of nation-building. ‘At Mitsubishi Motors, our mission has always been about more than producing quality vehicles. We aim to be a trusted partner in nation-building, contributing to the progress of the Philippines not only through mobility, but also through programs that uplift lives,’ Imaeda said.

UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. expressed his gratitude to MMPC for supporting the program’s mission of nurturing future generations. ‘The Strada Athlete donated today will be a crucial partner in the implementation of DUNONG. With it, we can reach schools, parents, and communities more effectively, ensuring that children grow not just in learning but also in health,’ said Camacho.

UPLB also stressed the broader impact of the partnership and the contribution of MMPC through the message of its Vice Chancellor Janette Malata-Silva. ‘MMPC’s commitment to social responsibility, especially in community and education, is an inspiration. We are grateful for this partnership that helps create a brighter future for the next generation,’ Malata-Silva said.

Through this collaboration, MMPC reaffirms its long-standing commitment to education and community development, investing not only in mobility solutions, but also in programs that strengthen the future of the nation.

There is a growing sense of foreboding over the continuation of the war in Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces mounting backlash at home. Questions are being raised about the flow of Western aid and the specter of corruption in its use, even as reports of desertion at the front undermine Ukraine’s military readiness.

Zelenskyy’s push for more Western assistance is colliding with a Europe weary of the war’s economic costs. Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, and Poland-all carrying public debt near 90 percent of GDP-are seeing growing domestic discontent. Economists warn that further aid and expanded anti-Russian sanctions risk tipping these fragile economies closer to financial crisis, potentially pushing debt levels above 100 percent of GDP if the conflict drags on.

Western efforts to cripple Russia’s economy have largely failed. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, in an interview with The New York Times, admitted grimly: ‘Russia is now producing three times as much ammunition in three months as NATO does in a year.’ This imbalance underscores Ukraine’s mounting challenges-from dwindling resources to declining morale.

At home, Zelenskyy faces a worsening manpower crisis. Reports indicate widespread failure of mobilization efforts and critical shortages of personnel. Independent experts estimate that since the start of the conflict, more than 260,000 Ukrainian soldiers have abandoned their posts. Andriy Biletsky, commander of the 3rd Army Corps, has publicly opposed harsher penalties for desertion, warning that they would only drive more soldiers into hiding until the war ends.

Ukraine’s economic crisis is equally dire. The country faces what analysts describe as ‘complete bankruptcy,’ compounded by a mass population exodus, including conscription-age men. Recent reporting by The Financial Times revealed Ukraine lost nearly $770 million to corruption and failed arms procurement deals-funds that were paid to intermediaries for weapons and ammunition that never arrived. The European Union has since moved to strengthen oversight over its pound 50 billion support package set to run through 2027.

Across Europe, popular support for the war is eroding. Citizens, already burdened by inflation and illegal migration concerns, are questioning why billions are sent to Kyiv while domestic needs go unmet-especially when allegations of theft by Ukrainian officials surface regularly. The corruption angle is one piece of the puzzle that has enveloped the European Union’s citizens’ resolve to continue funding Zelenskyy’s military might.

There is also the incipient effect of the rise in prices in these European economies that is hurting the decision of the citizens to go with the flow of more aid for the war theater in Ukraine. Another sore thumb is the increased influx of immigrants that encumber EU’s resources.

Washington, too, appears to be reassessing its role. Aid volumes have declined, and US President Donald Trump recently suggested that regaining lost Ukrainian territory may now hinge primarily on European support. His remarks, echoed by observers at the UN General Assembly, signal a possible shift of the financial and political burden from Washington to NATO’s European members.

What is equally striking is the sense of stalemate now creeping into the war’s narrative. Western publics, once galvanized by the defense of democracy, are beginning to tune out, fatigued by grim headlines and endless requests for funding. Without a new strategic vision-one that combines accountability with a credible path to de-escalation-the war risks becoming a frozen conflict that drains resources for years to come.

The danger is not just military defeat for Ukraine, but the corrosion of public trust in democratic governments that cannot explain why the war drags on with no clear endgame. For Europe, this trust deficit could embolden far-right populists who are already capitalizing on economic grievances and migration fears to challenge centrist coalitions.

If Zelenskyy wishes to sustain international support, he must not only hold the line militarily but also prove to his partners that aid will not vanish into black holes of corruption. Transparent reporting, joint oversight with donor nations, and a realistic plan for negotiation must become part of Kyiv’s message. Otherwise, the war may continue to be fought with dwindling resources and diminishing goodwill-a path that could lead to Ukraine’s isolation just when it needs allies the most.

Jonathan Kuminga agreed to a two-year contract with the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday that could be worth up to $46.5 million if the team exercises its option for 2026-27.

The Warriors announced Kuminga’s new deal late Tuesday. A person with knowledge of the contract provided details, speaking on condition of anonymity because terms weren’t made public.

Kuminga has had a $7.9 million qualifying offer in hand since June 29 but was also weighing other options. He had until Wednesday night to accept the qualifying offer.

Kuminga missed media day Monday and Day 1 of training camp Tuesday, but many of his teammates expressed support and confidence that the high-flying forward would show up ready to work and help the team win.

Kuminga, who turns 23 on Oct. 6, missed much of last season with a right ankle injury. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes over 47 games with 10 starts. He also scored 15.3 points per game over eight playoff games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and making 40% of his 3-point attempts. That included a career-best 30-point performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The unsettled situation for Kuminga, a restricted free agent, has overshadowed the offseason and delayed general manager Mike Dunleavy’s ability to build the roster.

Center Al Horford had reached agreement on a deal and now guard Seth Curry – the younger brother of Warriors star Stephen Curry – is set to join the mix, too.

Stephen Curry said players had discussed how things would go once Kuminga is back in the fold.

‘We talk about it for sure,’ he said Monday. ‘As leaders on the team you have to acknowledge what’s going on and don’t make it more than what it is.

‘Knowing JK’s situation, knowing the new faces that we’re adding to the roster, we talk about it every year going into a training camp – what it’s going to take for that particular team to win.’

Over P100 million will be released by the national government to Masbate to help in the rehabilitation of the island province after it was devastated by Severe Tropical Storm ‘Opong’ (international name: Bualoi) last week.

President Ferdinand Marcos made the announcement during his visit in Masbate City last Wednesday to lead in the distribution of government aid to the typhoon victims in the province.

‘I already instructed the DBM [Department of Budget and Management]before I left Manila to download 100 million [pesos] to the LGSF (Local Government Support Fund) [of Masbate] so you can use it,’ he told the provincial government of Masbate in Filipino in his speech during the distribution event.

He noted the provincial government of Masbate needed the financial support since the province is still recovering from the effects of Typhoon ‘Emong’ (international name: Co-may).

The national government, Marcos said, will continue to extend aid to Masbate to help in its recovery from the effects of Opong.

‘Don’t worry, the government’s support will continue as long as you need it. Even if it takes us a little longer because you haven’t repaired your homes yet, we are already supporting you,’ he told the beneficiaries in Filipino at the distribution event.

During the event, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P10,000 each of the 600 families through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided P28-million worth of cash-for-work assistance to 6,455 beneficiaries.

The local government of Masbate placed the province under a state of calamity after Opong killed three of its constituents and affected 57,113 others. Some parts of the Masbate also became isolated as the recent weather disturbance left them without power and mobile phone signals.

Opong also destroyed over 800 classrooms in the province. Marcos said the repairs of the said classroom will take around a month to complete.

The local officials from the typhoon-hit areas are currently seeking additional funding to help in the recovery of their respective localities.

Pressing concerns

After attending a situation briefing from the provincial government of Masbate, Marcos said among the pressing concerns in the province was lack of access to cash in the affected communities due to lack of power in many of its banks as well as the significant damage to agriculture by Opong.

He said two operational branches of Land Bank of the Philippines will try to provide for the cash withdrawal needs in Masbate.

As for the typhoon-affected farmers, the President said they will be given financial assistance, seedlings, as well as help in the processing of their crop insurance so they can continue planting crops.

During his visit to Masbate, Marcos helped in the distribution of family food packs from the DSWD and the hygiene kits from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

He said the Department of Health (DOH) also deployed medical teams to ensure the health of people in the affected communities.

Generator sets and satellite internet, the President said, were also sent to help restore power in hospitals and communications lines, respectively, in Masbate.

Marcos said DOH will release P3 million to help in the repairs of the Masbate Provincial Hospital in Masbate City, which was damaged by Opong.

As of September 30, a total of 339 patients have been admitted to the hospital which has 364 hospital personnel.

To ensure that timely and effective emergency health services will be provided following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted Bogo City, Cebu, additional medicines and medical supplies were sent by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday night.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said that C-130 cargo aircraft, carrying medicine and medical supplies, left Villamor Airbase in Pasay City at 6:58 p.m., in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense.

The DOH said that a total of P 933,647.50 worth of medicines and medical supplies will be dispatched to DOH Central Visayas.

Earlier, the DOH already deployed five limang Health Emergency Response Teams in Bogo City.

The DOH-Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team is also on standby for deployment.

Meanwhile, fresh from its extensive humanitarian operations for Super Typhoon Nando, while currently responding to Typhoon Opong and the Taal Volcano unrest, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) led by Chairman and CEO Richard J. Gordon, once again swung into action to respond the the victims of the quake.

After ensuring the safety of PRC staff and volunteers in the area, the PRC swiftly deployed its assets to support emergency response efforts.

‘We already have our staff and volunteers on the ground, assessing the needs of affected communities. We remain in constant communication with our team and RC143 volunteers to ensure that reports reach our Operations Center immediately and we can deliver timely humanitarian assistance,’ said Gordon.

The PRC has mobilized two ambulances, a food truck, two Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDANA) teams, and two Emergency Response Unit (ERU) teams.

Sixty-two individuals have also been treated for injuries.

The PRC remains committed to ensuring aid comes to the affected communities.

The PRC urges the public to remain vigilant and prioritize their safety.

In case of emergencies, call the Red Cross Hotline #143.

AS the chant ‘Mga Corrupt, Ikulong na yan!’ reverberated during the Luneta and Mendiola anti-corruption rallies, street vendor Alvin Karingal was catapulted to social media fame because of his ‘ibaba ang presyo ng fishballs, kikiam, calamares at kwek-kwek’ video.

I already noticed Karingal in the Luneta rally while I was video documenting the rallyists, as he was marching with the contingents of the University of the Philippines.

The mass actions are closely tied to the flood control corruption scandal that revolves around the diversion of billions of public funds to a network of favored contractors, lawmakers, and officials tied to flood control projects over the past three years.

Despite the reported completion of 5,500 flood control projects, many are either substandard or entirely non-existent.

The anti-corruption rallies coincided with the Martial Law anniversary.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. signed Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972, marking the beginning of a 14-year period of dictatorial rule, which effectively lasted until he was exiled from the country on February 25, 1986.

Corruption under the Marcos dictatorial regime ranged from theft of foreign and military aid to the domestic system of crony capitalism.

Political, economic, and social conditions coalesced to create a volatile political environment in the early 1980s. As the crony-run corporations collapsed and Marcos’s associates fled abroad with their assets, the financial situation deteriorated. Continuous mass actions led to his eventual downfall in 1986.

Five decades later, corruption issues also plague the administration of his son, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr.

The formal program in Mendiola ended at around 3:30 p.m. and organizers requested for a peaceful dispersal.

I was only a few meters away when violent clashes erupted as some masked individuals hurled stones, plastic bottles, sticks and Molotov cocktails at the police who stood as a barricade between the crowd and Malacañang.

The riots at Ayala Bridge, Recto, and Mendiola left scores of protesters and police injured, toppled steel posts, a motel ransacked and a trailer on fire at the foot of Ayala Bridge.

At least 216 were arrested following the riots, including 95 minors. Karingal was one of them.

The chant was simple, even absurd and funny to some as his call is just for cheaper street food. He was later identified as a person with mental health condition and a former mayoral candidate.

But for him, and others of similar economic status, it is not a joke. He has been an active rallyist, and a street vendor. He knows exactly how every peso is earned through sweat and struggle.

A post said: ‘This is how corruption shows itself in the daily lives of ordinary people. What others see as small change means survival for those who work tirelessly just to put food on the table. That money comes from long hours of work, tired bodies, and sacrifices.’

‘His call was not just about street food. It was about the everyday struggles of the poor, about dignity, and about justice. And I hope people realize that behind words like his is the truth about how deeply our system fails the poor.’

Kwek-kwek, fishball and kikiam are not exclusively ‘food of the poor,’ but rather a very affordable and popular Filipino street food, making them accessible to people from all economic backgrounds.

Their association with the poor might stem from their origins and widespread availability in the streets.

Filipino street food is the product of adversity. As a colonized country, expensive and high-quality meats were incredibly expensive and impossible to get, necessitating the usage of the animal’s less glamorous and less expensive components. These pieces have been converted into some of the most delicious and economical bites of food, demonstrating the adaptability and resourcefulness of Filipinos.

Corruption is not just a concept: it is felt in daily prices, in the cost of street food, in flooded streets that adversely affect small vendors’ sales, and in public funds diverted from basic services that keep communities afloat.

Karingal was pointing to inflation or the rising cost of basic goods. For his customers, who were ordinary people like him, even a one-peso increase has a big impact. He was asking for something simple, that street food should stay affordable for everyone.

Food itself is a political battlefield. Research group IBON said that involuntary hunger doubled under the Marcos Jr. administration due to its failure to ensure higher wages and low prices.

‘The rise in hunger is a wakeup call that many Filipinos are struggling on meager incomes and the high cost of living. This shows government’s rhetoric of economic gains and a robust jobs market is empty-just like the bellies of millions of hungry Filipinos.’

Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-502580.

THE 68th National Day of Malaysia was recently commemorated through a reception graced by the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Undersecretary for Migration Affairs Leo M. Herrera-Lim as guest of honor, Apostolic Nuncio and Diplomatic Corps dean Archbishop Charles John Brown DD, Philippine government officials, the diplomatic community, business leaders, and friends of Malaysia.

In his address, Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino reflected on Malaysia’s journey since independence, as he noted that this year’s celebration themed ‘Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni’ (People Cared For) is a tribute to the sacrifices of past generations, and a call to safeguard unity, peace, and prosperity for the future.

The ambassador highlighted Malaysia’s role as Asean Chair in 2025, where under the theme ‘Inclusivity and Sustainability,’ his country has spearheaded key Initiatives such as the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Asean 2045: Our Shared Future, setting a long-term vision for a more resilient region; the Asean Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026-2030, guiding regional economic cooperation; progress on the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement-the world’s first binding regional digital economy pact-and the launch of the Asean Artificial Intelligence Safety Network; expanded cooperation on sustainability and climate action, including renewable energy, the Asean Power Grid, and stronger partnerships with Japan and the European Union; deepened public health preparedness through the Asean Centre for Public Health emergencies; and the historic advancement of Timor-Leste’s accession to Asean.

According to the ambassador, these accomplishments are based on the guiding principle that progress should be inclusive, and that no Asean citizen should be left behind. He further noted that the Philippines will assume the Asean chairship in 2026, and assured that Malaysia will extend its utmost support to the Philippine government in ensuring the continued success of the bloc’s shared vision.

Underscoring the strong bilateral ties, Malik noted that Malaysia and the Philippines share history, culture, and aspirations, with cooperation spanning trade, investment, Islamic banking, education, halal industry, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges. More than 800 Malaysian companies are currently operating in the Philippines, showcasing the ongoing growth in bilateral trade. He highlighted that the essence of their partnership lies in the warmth, trust, and mutual respect.

The program featured cultural performances, an angklung presentation by the Sisters of Mary Schools, a video montage on Malaysia’s Asean chairship, and a showcase of Malaysian cuisine. A symbolic presentation of 1,000 boxes of Farm Fresh milk to the Department of Education underscored the embassy’s commitment to community outreach programs. The festivities concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony that symbolized the Southeast Asian country’s enduring friendship with the Philippines, followed by cultural dances and a raffle draw.

The country’s basketball and volleyball champions, TNT Tropang 5G and PLDT High Speed Hitters, are teaming up for the ultimate fan celebration, ‘Champions Together,’ on Monday, Oct. 6, at the One Ayala Mall Activity Center in Makati City.

Open to everyone, the whole-day event will bring fans closer than ever to their sports idols through fun activity booths, interactive challenges, and exciting game zones that open starting at 12 noon.

Those who complete all the stamps on their ‘Champions Together’ activity passport will also unlock a chance to snag exclusive merch, score autographs, and snap photos with their idol players and coaches from the two powerhouse teams when the program starts at 6 p.m.

For those who can’t attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed for free exclusively on PusoP.Com: Your Game, Your Community.

Beyond all the fan activities, ‘Champions Together’ underscores the PLDT Group’s broader mission to support Philippine sports and connect communities through meaningful and memorable on-ground and online experiences.

‘Sports have the unique power to connect and inspire communities. Through ‘Champions Together,’ we are not just celebrating the teams’ dedication and hard work but also honoring the unwavering support of the fans who fuel their success,’ said Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart.

‘We thank our management for this amazing opportunity to give back to our Ka-Tropas, who have always been our source of strength and inspiration in every game. We can’t wait to see them and thank them personally,’ said Roger Pogoy, Team Captain of TNT Tropang 5G.

‘The fans are a huge part of our journey, and we can’t wait to share this special day with them. We hope to see everyone join the fun and cheer with us as we get ready for the new season,’ added Kath Arado, Team Captain of the PLDT High Speed Hitters.

The 11-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Champions TNT Tropang 5G has built a reputation as one of the most formidable teams in Philippine basketball, known for their relentless grit and bringing ‘saya’ to millions of Ka-Tropas nationwide.

Meanwhile, the PLDT High Speed Hitters, the reigning PVL Invitational and On Tour Champions, continue to inspire and win the hearts of volleyball fans across the country with their teamwork, passion, and energy.

Don’t miss the country’s biggest fan meet, ‘Champions Together,’ happening Oct. 6 at One Ayala Mall Activity Center! For updates, follow the official Puso Pilipinas and Smart Sports accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

XDS-Astana rider Matteo Malucelli stamped his mark when he claimed his second stage victory at the Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) on Tuesday afternoon, edging out Uno-X Mobility’s Alexander Kristoff in a sprint finish at the end of Stage 3 from Gerik, Perak to Pasir Puteh,Kelantan.

Malucelli, who led the main peloton, clocked a time of 4 hours 28 minutes 04 seconds. He previously won Stage 1 in Langkawi but lost to Tudor Cycling Team’s Arvid de Kleijn at Stage 2 in Kepala Batas yesterday.

More impressively, today’s success-his fifth stage win in PLTdL after three victories last year, sees the Italian rider solidify his lead in the overall individual classification.

He continues to wear the PETRONAS Green Jersey, 16 seconds ahead of his two closest rivals, Erland Blikra (Uno-X) and Astana teammate Aaron Gate.

The victory also confirms Malucelli’s grip on the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) Orange Jersey for the Sprint King classification, increasing his lead to 42 points as his closest rival De Kleijn dropped far behind after the three climbing zones in the 198.2km route.

Meanwhile, Picnic PostNL rider, Patrick Eddy, who was part of the breakaway group, dominated the Category 3 climb (Gerik) and the Category 1 climb (Puncak Titiwangsa) and took third place in the Category 2 climb at Sri Banding.

The Australian-born rider, who joined Picnic last year, collected 15 points – an equal score with Burgos Burpellet-BH’s Jambaljamts Sainbayar. However, Eddy was awarded the BubblesO2 Polka Dot Jersey as the King of the Mountains for being the first to cross the summit of the higher-ranked Category 1 climb at Puncak Titiwangsa.

The Rakan Muda White Jersey for the Best Asian Rider has also changed hands, going to Vadim Pronskiy after his teammate, Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli, who wore the jersey for the first two stages, finished in the second group.

Eddy, Sainbayar (who was also named the Most Combative Rider), Vadim, Daniel Whitehouse (St George Continental) and Cedric Bakke Christophersen (Unibet Tietema Rockets) were in the first breakaway group, maintaining the lead with about 3 minutes over the main group. However, they were caught on the descent by a peloton who realized De Kleijn was not among them. The main peloton, led by Uno-X, Kern Pharma and Astana, continued to increase the gap and arrived almost 16 minutes ahead of the second group.

Malucelli admitted he felt a little sad about having to disappoint Kristoff, who is considered a legendary rider aiming to add to his personal win collection before retiring at the end of the year.

‘It’s a mixed feeling. I wouldn’t be sad if I had lost to Kristoff. But this is cycling. We just want to do our best in every race and all my teammates worked hard on the climbs and the flat route to create a significant gap ahead. I was quite far back as we approached the finish line because my teammates were exhausted and I just sprinted to the best as I could,’ said the 31-year-old rider, who only smiled after the commissaires confirmed his win via photo-finish.

Meanwhile, Eddy was delighted to wear the Polka Dot King of the Mountains jersey and felt his performance was in good shape after racing in the Vuelta a Espana a few weeks ago.

‘It’s hard to explain because this wasn’t my target. I just tried to chase the front riders and we managed to dominate the first three climbing zones. This (Polka Dot Jersey) will be a new motivation for me and the team after only being listed at the last minute with two young riders on the team this time,’ he said, referencing the overall green jersey won by Picnic PostNL rider Max Poole last year.

Vadim admitted the white jersey is not unfamiliar, as he won it in 2019 and 2023 when he was with the elite WorldTeam, Astana-Qazakhstan. ‘I’m becoming more comfortable and happy with TSG and consider Malaysia as my second home. Today was quite difficult because when I tried to break away on the first climb, a few riders were quite fast in the chase. I’m happy and hope to keep this jersey for the more difficult climbs ahead in Stage 5 from Temerloh to Bukit Fraser,’ he said.

Local fans also cheered local rider Tsen Ren Bao, son of former national rider Tsen Seong Hoong and now representing St George, who finished 28th in the stage to become the Best ASEAN Rider.

Only 118 riders completed the Stage 3 after three riders did not start (DNS) and five others failed to finish (DNF).

Pneumonia-related deaths became the fourth-biggest cause of death for Filipinos last year, overtaking diabetes mellitus, according to the latest data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The report showed that the total deaths from January to December 2024 as of July this year totaled to 697,602, around 2,781 or 0.4 percent more than the 694,821 deaths recorded in 2023.

Deaths from pneumonia rose by 3,159 to 46,718 deaths in 2024, while diabetes-related deaths slightly declined by 158 to 43,690.

Ischaemic heart diseases remained the leading cause of death in the Philippines last year with 133,373 deaths or about 19 percent of the total, which was 4,296 higher than reported in 2023 at 129,077.

This is followed by neoplasms at 76,971 deaths or 11 percent of the total, 2,987 higher than last year at 73,984, and cerebrovascular diseases at 68,345 deaths or 9.8 percent of all deaths, 1,457 less than that recorded in 2023.

In terms of deaths caused by unspecified, external causes in 2024 totaled to about 2 percent of all deaths at 14,028, up 544 from 2023. This is followed by transport accidents at 13,724 deaths which also has a 2 percent share, which increased by 687 from the total in 2023.

Among the regions, Calabarzon had the highest number of deaths at 105,091, amounting to 15.1 percent of all deaths throughout 2024.

Cavite, meanwhile, recorded the highest number of deaths in a province at 26,835 or 3.8 percent of all deaths in the Philippines.

The National Capital Region or Metro Manila logged 83,930 deaths, increasing by 1.8 percent from the 82,410 reported in 2023. Within it, Quezon City had the highest number of deaths at 18,357, almost 22 percent of all deaths within the region.

The data was obtained from on-time or late registered deaths submitted at city offices or Municipal Civil Registrars nationwide and forwarded to the Office of the Civil Registrar through the Provincial Statistical Offices for processing.

The report includes deaths of Filipinos whose usual residence is abroad, as well as deaths of foreign nationals that occurred within the country. However, deaths of Filipinos abroad are not included.

In January 2025, the Department of Health (DOH) Influenza-like Illness (ILI) Surveillance System logged a total of 179,227 cases as of December 31, 2024, which is still 17 percent lower than the 216,786 cases logged in the previous year.

This decrease may be attributed to better health-seeking behaviors and practices and better preparations by the health sector. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/09/doh-allays-fears-on-respiratory-virus-surge-in-china-says-no-cause-for-alarm/)

ILI is characterized by coughs, colds, and fever. It is commonly due to respiratory viruses with Rhinovirus (1,257/4,921 or 25.5 percent of positive samples), Enterovirus (1,140/4,921 or 23.2 percent), Influenza A (1,072/4,921 or 21.8 percent), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (560/4,921 or 11.4 percent), and Adenovirus (527/4,921 or 10.7 percent) being the top 5 causative agents of ILI in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, hMPV is being tested as part of panel 2 (expanded panel) for specimens that test negative on panel 1 (for Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and RSV) as part of the ILI and Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) surveillance of the DOH.