Category: Business Mirror

The figures represent more than just statistics. They are the arithmetic of a Filipino family deciding whether to buy a kilo of rice or pay for the jeepney fare to work. That 35 percent of Filipinos now name affordable food as their top demand of government-up from 30 percent just months ago-should end any debate about what Malacañang’s priority must be. (Read the BusinessMirror story: ‘Affordable food tops concerns people want govt to address,’ October 17, 2026).

The Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Stratbase Group delivers a blunt verdict. Among Class E households, 55 percent put food first-an 11-point leap since July. Low-income families spend the largest share of their income on food and transport, so when inflation reverses its easing and climbs to 7.2 percent in September, the poor feel it first and feel it hardest. Food inflation nearly doubled to 6.8 percent, driven by rice, fish, seafood, fruits, and vegetables. Food and non-alcoholic beverages alone account for 35.8 percent of overall inflation. The national statistics are, in effect, a portrait of the dinner table shrinking.

Seventy-one percent want the administration to control inflation. That is a supermajority for one thing: relief. Yet the government has answered with pronouncements more than provisions. The predictable remedies-importation, price ceilings, subsidies-have been deployed as firefighting rather than strategy. The result is a public that measures policy not by speeches but by receipts.

Geography sharpens the message. Metro Manila registers the highest anxiety at 43 percent, with Luzon at 36 percent, Mindanao at 34 percent, and the Visayas at 31 percent. Urban poor households, most dependent on purchased food, are most exposed. Job creation, at 26 percent, and corruption reduction, at 24 percent, follow-but neither outruns the pot of rice.

The deeper failure is structural. The country has spent decades importing the very staple it can grow, while agrarian fragmentation, weak logistics, and costly fuel keep farm-gate prices disconnected from retail reality. Until productivity, irrigation, storage, and transport are fixed, affordability will remain a seasonal promise.

What would genuine leadership look like? A concrete package: targeted rice subsidies for the poorest deciles, expanded direct cash transfers indexed to food inflation, fuel subsidies for small farmers and fisherfolk, and a credible anti-hoarding regime to discipline price manipulation. These are unglamorous but measurable-and the public is demanding measurable results.

The warning from Stratbase Group President and CEO Victor Andres Manhit demands our attention. Trust is rebuilt not through reform slogans but through benefits citizens ‘can actually feel in their homes.’ The survey is a mandate. Government has one clear instruction from the people: make food affordable, and start with those who can least afford to wait.

The test is straightforward: when the next survey is conducted, will Class E still be struggling to rise above hardship, or will it finally receive the support it deserves?

Dennis Anthony Uy, co-founder and CEO of leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., is calling for greater transparency and accountability in governance to help the Philippines maximize opportunities in digital transformation and emerging technologies.

Speaking before the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, Uy highlighted the importance of sustaining the government’s efforts to create an enabling environment for artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, emphasizing that good governance is essential to translating these opportunities into meaningful economic progress.

‘Today, global investors and foreign partners are knocking on our door, eager to do business with the Philippines. They see our location, our workforce, and our potential. The opportunity is right in front of us. But let us be honest: our old habits are getting in the way. Corruption holds back our progress. Red tape chokes our small businesses,’ said Uy during the 52nd Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBCandE), held on Wednesday, October 14.

Uy’s message underscores the importance of ensuring that the country’s growing digital ambitions are supported by transparent processes, accountable institutions, and an environment where businesses can innovate, invest, and contribute to national development.

He also recognized policy initiatives such as Executive Order No. 119, s. 2026, establishing a Data Residency Framework, and the creation of a Center for AI Research as important steps toward strengthening the country’s digital ecosystem and positioning the Philippines to participate more actively in the global technology landscape.

Converge has been an active partner of PCCI in advancing the country’s digital agenda. In 2025, the company and the business organization placed digital and ICT solutions at the forefront of the PBCandE, bringing together more than 85 local and international technology brands to showcase innovations and connect them with Philippine businesses.

Uy was joined onstage by PCCI President Perry Ferrer, 52nd PBCandE Chairman Butch Guerrero, PCCI Chairman Jude Aguilar, and other PCCI executives.

The importance of addressing governance concerns is also reflected in public sentiment. On Thursday, October 15, Pulse Asia Research reported that corruption and inflation were the top two issues concerning Filipinos in its latest Ulat ng Bayan survey.

CHANELLE AVARICIO silenced a crowded title chase with an early eagle before leaning on her precision, patience and strong resolve to thwart Tiffany Lee’s blistering backside charge and capture the International Container Terminal Services Inc. South Pacific Classic by one in Davao City on Thursday.

In sweltering conditions at the South Pacific Golf Club, Avaricio delivered a closing three-under 69 for an eight-under 209 total, capping a gutsy performance in a fiercely contested 54-hole championship that demanded as much mental toughness as shot-making brilliance.

Avaricio’s early four-shot cushion evaporated with a costly miscue and Lee’s relentless charge and the two traded blows in a gripping finish that once again underscored the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s penchant for last-hole drama.

They each missed the green on the closing par-five 18th and settled for bogeys, allowing Avaricio to clinch a one-stroke victory worth P142,250.

Lee misjudged her pitch, sending the ball past the cup, then failed to get up and down from 12 feet-that effectively eased the pressure on Avaricio, who also missed her par putt from eight feet.

After winning by two strokes over Yvon Bisera at Pueblo de Oro last week, Lee settled for runner-up honors with a 70 for a 210 total worth P102,500.

‘I really played well at the front-one eagle and three birdies,’ said Avaricio, who had trouble recovering from the bunker on her first bogey and then missed the green on the final hole, leaving her pitch shot short before missing the putt.

‘But at the back, I didn’t make any birdies and instead bogeyed two of the par-5s. Overall, though, I think I played well,’ she added.

With the Apo Classic set to take center stage next week, Avaricio is already looking ahead to another opportunity to extend her winning run and claim the 11th victory of her career.

Mondilla storms ahead after firing 64

CLYDE MONDILLA is back where he has been so many times before-on top of the leaderboard and within reach of another Philippine Golf Tour title and in control of his own destiny.

Mondilla fired an eight-under 64 under preferred lies to storm from four shots down into the outright lead after the third round of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic also on Thursday, putting himself in prime position to end a title drought that has lingered since 2024.

‘I’ve been working on my iron and wedge play this week, making a few adjustments to fix the mistakes I made at Pueblo,’ said Mondilla in Filipino, one of the winningest players on the PGT whose last victory came two years ago at Caliraya Springs, when he defeated Angelo Que by three strokes.

The Bukidnon ace opened with four straight birdies, erased his deficit to catch halfway leader Lee Song at 13-under, then sustained the charge over the remaining holes to seize the solo lead at 16-under 200.

Standing in his way is Song, who has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough since topping the PGT Qualifying School in 2023.

billboards do the job socmed

The Korean, who surged into the lead with rounds of 67 and 65, remained firmly in contention despite Mondilla’s spectacular charge, carding a 69 for a 201.

Four agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) from Benguet have formalized marketing agreements with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), paving the way for wider market opportunities.

The agreements involve the DAR Provincial Office of Benguet, four ARBOs, and eight BJMP offices in Baguio City and Benguet. They aim to establish a steady market for agricultural products while helping meet the nutritional needs of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Under the Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (PHAP), participating farmer cooperatives will supply quality agricultural products to BJMP facilities at reasonable prices. The initiative seeks to address hunger and food security concerns while providing farmers with more reliable sources of income through government procurement.

DAR-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Regional Director Sheila B. Enciso thanked the BJMP-CAR for its continued partnership with the Department and reaffirmed DAR’s commitment to strengthening ARBOs through sustained support and market-linking initiatives.

‘Through partnerships like this, we are opening more market opportunities for our agrarian reform beneficiaries while helping provide nutritious food to persons deprived of liberty. DAR will continue to work with our partner agencies to strengthen our farmers’ cooperatives, improve their capacity to supply institutional buyers, and help them achieve a more stable and sustainable livelihood,’ Enciso said.

She also highlighted the Value Chain Innovation for Sustainable Transformation in Agrarian Reform Communities (VISTA) Project as one of DAR’s initiatives to help ARBOs improve their operations, strengthen their participation in agricultural value chains, and expand their market opportunities.

Through partnerships with government agencies and other institutions, DAR seeks to help farmers’ organizations become more competitive and financially sustainable.

During the open forum, participants discussed government procurement requirements, including compliance with the Sagip Saka Act, which promotes direct market access for farmers and fisherfolk by enabling qualified farmer organizations to supply government agencies.

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Lailani A. Cortez assured the participating ARBOs of continued assistance in building their capacity to meet procurement requirements. She also emphasized the office’s readiness to provide training and guidance on government procurement platforms, particularly to help cooperatives overcome digital access and technical challenges when aThe four participating ARBOs are the Taba-ao Cuba Multipurpose Cooperative (TACUMPC) of Kapangan, Caliking Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (CFMPC) of Atok, Bokod Sulfur Spring Multipurpose Cooperative (BSSMC) of Bokod, and Taloy Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative (TAFARMCO) of Tuba.

The activity was also attended by BJMP-CAR Regional Director JCSUPT Delvic L. Oreiro, together with BJMP-CAR Assistant Regional Director for Administration JSSUPT Atty. Reynaldo A. Paguirigan Jr. Also present were representatives of the Philippine National Police-Benguet, led by PMAJ Edwin Sergio, and Benguet Provincial Jail Administrative Officer Joice Miller.

Through the PAHP, DAR and its partner agencies continue to promote stronger links between farmer cooperatives and institutional buyers, helping improve food security, expand market access, and create more sustainable livelihood opportunities for agrarian reform beneficiaries.

As the country braces for severe climate impacts driven by the onset of a super El Niño weather phenomenon, major labor organizations are intensifying pressure on the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to institute mandatory, legally binding heat safety standards to protect workers across all sectors.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) and the Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro) are calling on DOLE to issue a formal Department Order that explicitly outlines employer mandates, acceptable workplace thermal limits, and strict penalties for non-compliance. The unions warned that voluntary guidelines issued by management fail to shield vulnerable laborers from escalating heat risks.

‘Extreme heat is a matter of life and death. Workers demand and deserve enforceable standards, clear employer obligations, and penalties for noncompliance, not another appeal for voluntary cooperation while their health and lives are at risk,’ TUCP said in a joint appeal.

To fast-track these protections, TUCP urged DOLE to immediately convene an emergency meeting of the National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, bringing together government, labor, and employer stakeholders to draft and finalize a comprehensive Super El Niño Heat Risk Action Plan.

‘Heat protection is our shared legal and moral obligation, not a mere privilege granted at management’s discretion,’ the union federation emphasized.

Clear wage guarantees

Sentro acknowledged statements from Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino assuring that workers will not face pay deductions during heat-induced work stoppages. However, the organization stressed that without explicit administrative rules, such verbal guarantees remain difficult to enforce on the ground.

‘Workers must not have to choose between risking heat stroke and losing their income,’ said Sentro Secretary General Josua Mata.

Sentro is demanding that DOLE detail exactly how wage protections will apply under various employment arrangements, including shortened operational shifts, full-day suspensions, piece-rate (pakyaw) work, and incentive-based pay models.

The group is also pushing for regulations requiring companies to set science-based exposure limits, institute mandatory rest schedules in cooled designated spaces, and order immediate work halts when temperatures reach hazardous thresholds.

TUCP added specific workplace demands, including mandatory paid breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas, unhindered access to free drinking water, continuous heat-stress monitoring, emergency medical protocols for heat-related illnesses, improved ventilation systems, and mandatory safety training for staff.

Informal sector

While physical interventions like fans, proper ventilation, and engineering controls can mitigate heat exposure in factories and warehouses, labor leaders warned that millions of outdoor and informal economy workers remain completely unprotected.

Street vendors, waste pickers, agricultural workers, fishermen, and gig-economy delivery riders face the double burden of hazardous weather conditions and catastrophic income loss when extreme heat prevents them from working. To bridge this gap, Sentro is advocating for temporary, government-funded income support and emergency relief funds during officially declared heat emergencies.

Additionally, Mata called on state agencies and academic research institutions to systematically track heat-related occupational illnesses, lost working hours, lost income, and gaps in current social safety nets.

‘We need evidence, not assumptions,’ Mata stressed, pointing out that comprehensive data is essential to identify the most vulnerable worker demographics and calculate the true cost of safeguarding their lives and livelihoods.

A legislator has filed a bill seeking to turn recyclable household waste into a source of cash and essential goods for Filipino families while promoting responsible waste management nationwide.

Filed by Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, House Bill 11146, or the proposed Basura to Ayuda Act, would allow individuals, households, homeowners associations, and civic organizations to collect non-hazardous recyclable materials and exchange them for points redeemable for food, groceries, and cash.

‘Through this bill, we hit two birds with one stone. We are strengthening the culture of recycling and environmental protection while giving our fellow Filipinos an opportunity to earn from their waste,’ Vargas said.

The measure draws inspiration from the Quezon City government’s Trash to Cashback program, which uses a point-based system to encourage waste segregation and recycling while allowing participants to redeem collected materials for household essentials, including rice and eggs.

Under the measure, recyclable materials such as plastic bags and bottles, wrappers, sachets, and metals can be collected and redirected for recycling and other productive uses.

‘Quezon City has proven that this is an effective solution for solid waste management while providing incentives to our fellow Filipinos for helping clean the environment. It is time to implement this nationwide to protect the environment,’ Vargas said.

To ensure that the program offers meaningful incentives, the bill sets minimum exchange rates for recyclable materials. Every kilogram of recyclable plastic would entitle participants to one kilogram of commercial-quality rice or its cash equivalent, while every kilogram of metal waste would be exchangeable for two kilograms of rice or the corresponding cash value.

The proposal comes amid the country’s continuing waste management challenges. Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources indicate that the Philippines generates about 61,000 metric tons of solid waste daily. Improperly managed waste can clog waterways, aggravate flooding, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the bill, the DENR, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Trade and Industry would be responsible for coordinating the nationwide implementation of the program, establishing standardized trade-in centers, and ensuring consistent exchange rates across communities.

The measure also provides incentives for individuals who report hazardous waste and assist authorities in its safe retrieval, helping prevent dangerous materials from posing risks to communities and the environment.

Vargas said making recycling a nationwide practice would help strengthen environmental protection while giving households an additional opportunity to benefit from responsible waste disposal.

‘We must care for and protect our environment today to ensure that we leave behind a clean, safe, and thriving country for the next generation,’ Vargas said.

THE Pickle Yard Conference League (PYCL) hopes to play a much bigger role in the rapidly growing sport of pickleball in the country, with the Season 2 kicking off on Saturday at The Pickle Yard SOMO in Bacoor City, Cavite.

With a good mix of Filipino and international players bannering the rosters of the eight participating teams, the league is aiming to provide local talents with regular competition and consistent exposure to different playing styles as the sport continues to gain a strong following in the country.

PYCL commissioner John Regison Talusan said the second season will focus on raising the level of competition while giving Filipino players opportunities to learn from their international counterparts.

‘Season 2 is about raising the level of competition,’ Talusan said. ‘We want our Filipino players to be tested by international athletes, different playing styles and different competitive backgrounds, while giving overseas players a chance to experience the energy and talent of Philippine pickleball.’

Season 2 runs until November 27, with matches scheduled on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

The league also hopes to strengthen the exchange between local and foreign players, allowing both sides to gain experience in a competitive environment like the PYCL.

Among the featured players for the new season are Filipino-British Mikar Fisher and Filipina-Australian Crystal Mildwaters, who will join international players Amore Cook, Cody Temple and Nico Almeida in the tournament.

Also worth watching is local ace Bien Zoleta-Manalac, who just a month ago helped power PH soft tennis to historic bronze medal finish in the women’s event at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

The eight franchises that will be competing for the Season 2 title are the Thrifty Drivers, Dentacare Pearly Whites, Cartivo Movers, Konjac Zero Phoenix Force, GFOXX Paragon, Black Mamba Aces, Cebuana Lhuillier Gems and DreamSkin Radiants.

Talusan expressed confidence that Season 2 will generate more interest from both the young and old enthusiasts of the sport. Given the kind of preparations all teams have undertaken, it is also expected also surpass the success of the inaugural staging.

Backing the event are NEXXGEN, BT Sports Apparel, UET International Corp., Healthy and Pure Brand, Million Glow by Kimsdiary, Immuni, Salonpas, Filmore Apartments, Fortun and Santos Law Offices, Les Alajeras Jewelry, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Magnolia, Dear Self Aesthetic and Wellness Center, GrabKa Sports Center, i-fern, Luigi Reyes, Red Planet Hotels and Robinsons Movieworld.

Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon lauded the Supreme Court’s recognition of unprogrammed appropriations as a valid budgetary tool, while urging Congress to seek clarification on portions of the decision that may encroach on its constitutional authority over budgeting.

Based on his reading of the decision, Drilon said the Court affirmed that unprogrammed appropriations are not unconstitutional in themselves. They provide standby spending authority that may be exercised only when the funding conditions prescribed by law are met.

He said seeking clarification is appropriate because the ruling, as currently written, may go beyond constitutional review by prescribing fiscal conditions that, under the 1987 Constitution, should be left to the best judgment of Congress.

Drilon said the ruling affects Congress’ authority to determine appropriations.

Drilon also congratulated the court, saying its release comes at a crucial stage in the preparation of the 2027 national budget.

‘We look forward to seeing how the reforms will be reflected in the 2027 budget,’ Drilon sais.

As amicus curiae during the proceedings, Drilon defended the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations while warning that their implementation could violate constitutional limits.

He also acknowledged that flaws or abuses in the mechanism may require correction. But the standards needed to address them should be expressly imposed by Congress through legislation, with the Court determining whether those standards comply with the Constitution.

For Drilon, identifying a constitutional defect does not necessarily authorize the Court to write budget guidelines that would replace Congress’ express conditions. Doing so, he warned, raises concerns about judicial legislation.

‘Congress determines appropriations and their lawful conditions. The Executive implements the budget within those conditions. Both functions remain subject to the Constitution,’ Drilon said.

Replacing the funding trigger enacted by Congress, he warned, could narrow legislative discretion and restrict the Executive’s ability to implement the budget under the approved framework.

Drilon said clarification would help establish the boundaries of judicial review while preserving constitutional safeguards against the misuse of public funds.

‘The concern therefore extends beyond one administration or one budget. It involves the scope of the budget powers available to future Congresses and Presidents,’ he said.

Vice President Sara Duterte said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must be held accountable for passing a national budget she claimed clearly contradicts the National Expenditure Program (NEP), after the Supreme Court declared the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) unconstitutional, invalidated the 2025 GAA, and struck down certain provisions of the 2026 national budget.

‘He must answer why he signed a budget that does not even align with his own administration’s proposal. The national budget belongs to the people; it is not a tool for politicking and the personal interests of those in power,’ Duterte said in a statement released on Wednesday.

In a decision issued on Tuesday, the SC declared 2024 and 2025 GAAs unconstitutional because Congress unlawfully increased spending limits beyond the President’s budget proposal, citing a P449.5 billion increase in 2024 unprogrammed funds and a P17.99 billion Special Road Fund increase in 2025, alongside specific 2026 budget provisions.

Duterte said that the SC has already defended the law.

‘Now it is time for Marcos and the members of Congress who violated the process and indulged in funds that should have gone toward improving the lives of Filipinos to be held accountable to the public,’ Duterte said, adding that the ruling upholds the Constitution and ‘ensures that the rule of law prevails, based on its decision.’

She also felt vindicated, saying that her warning in 2024 was right after all, claiming that the Bicameral Conference Committee is ‘no longer doing its job.’

‘Instead of reviewing and debating, it has become a mere stamping pad and rubber stamp for Malacañang’s wishes regarding the national budget,’ she said.

CEBU – The Chamber of Real Estate and Builders’ Associations Inc. (Creba) is calling on the government to overhaul socialized housing compliance rules, streamline licensing procedures, and introduce a housing interest subsidy to tackle the country’s massive housing backlog.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of Creba’s 53rd National Convention, National President Noel Toti Cariño stressed that national housing policy must shift focus from simply building units to ensuring target beneficiaries can actually afford and occupy them.

To address financing barriers, Creba proposed an interest subsidy program administered by the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund) and funded directly by participating developers. Under the proposed mechanism, non-recoverable contributions from developers would lower monthly loan interest payments for eligible buyers.

‘This way, we are addressing the issue of affordability, not just the issue of production of homes,’ Cariño said, pointing out that existing requirements often result in vacant units built in inconvenient or low-demand locations.

The proposal has been submitted to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Pag-IBIG Fund, and the Executive branch, where it is currently under review.

Categorizing beneficiaries

National Convention Chairman Jose Soberano III emphasized the need to differentiate between buyers who can qualify for loans with financial help and lower-income families who cannot afford to borrow at all.

Soberano noted that while Pag-IBIG subsidies can assist employed and self-employed buyers, lower-income households require direct assistance from agencies like the National Housing Authority through programs such as rent-to-own schemes.

Soberano added that a workable financial model is essential for developers to recover capital and sustain private sector participation.

Creba also raised concerns over regulatory delays, particularly a DHSUD memorandum requiring sales proceeds from temporary Licenses to Sell (LTS) be placed in escrow. Cariño argued that locking up funds constrains capital developers need to push projects forward after already investing heavily in land acquisition and planning.

The association welcomed DHSUD’s decision to restore processing authority to regional offices, noting that recent centralization threatened to delay developments across the Visayas and Mindanao.