Category: Business Mirror

WORKERS who fall ill or get injured while performing their jobs during floods and other calamities may claim benefits under the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program, the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) said.

ECC released an advisory as heavy rains and flooding continue to expose workers who still have to report for duty to hazardous conditions.

Among those facing greater risks are construction workers, delivery drivers, electric line workers, rescuers and others whose jobs require them to work despite severe weather.

Coverage extends to compulsory members of the Social Security System (SSS), including self-employed workers, household workers and sea-based overseas Filipino workers.

Meanwhile, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) members, including uniformed personnel, are also covered by the program.

Benefits available for qualified work-related cases include sickness and disability benefits, medical reimbursement and rehabilitation services.

Families of workers who die because of work-related causes may also receive death and funeral benefits under the program.

These are separate from benefits workers may already receive from the SSS or GSIS, according to ECC.

ECC said it is also strengthening coordination with government agencies and the private sector to reach workers requiring assistance more quickly, particularly during disasters.

The commission, chaired by Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, said the EC Program forms part of the government’s protection for workers who suffer work-related sickness, injury or death.

ECC said disaster preparedness should also include knowing where workers can seek assistance when illness or accidents strike on the job.

Private-sector workers may file their EC claims with the SSS, while government workers may submit claims through the GSIS.

ECC also urged employers to keep their workers’ contributions updated to ensure access to available benefits.

Executive Director Kaima Via B. Velasquez said workers should know what assistance is available when their jobs expose them to risks during severe weather.

‘During the rainy season and other calamities, it is important for workers to know their rights and benefits under the EC Program and coordinate with the nearest ECC, SSS, or GSIS office if they become ill or are injured because of work,’ Velasquez said.

THE Embassy of Malaysia hosted an investment briefing for the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), in conjunction with DEX Connex 2026.

The event brought together senior representatives from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Malaysian technology companies, government agencies, and industry stakeholders to explore strategic investment opportunities in the Philippines’ rapidly growing digital economy.

The program highlighted the investment potential of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and BCDA’s flagship economic zones, particularly Clark and New Clark City, while showcasing opportunities for Malaysian technology companies to establish a long-term presence in the Philippines through innovation, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships. It also featured BCDA and BDB Law’s presentations on the Philippine investment landscape, available fiscal incentives and business establishment opportunities, followed by a networking session and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between Safe Truck and IoT Philippines.

Ambassador Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony and Executive Vice President Atty. Gisela Z. Kalalo of BCDA underscored both countries’ shared commitment to deepen cooperation in digital innovation and investment.

In her remarks, Attorney Kalalo welcomed the Malaysian delegation and reaffirmed BCDA’s commitment to fostering partnerships with innovative Malaysian companies seeking to establish a presence in the Philippines.

Opportunities unprecedented

IN his keynote, Abdul Malik emphasized that the digital economy has become one of the defining pillars of Asean’s future growth and competitiveness, then presented unprecedented opportunities for Malaysia and the Philippines to strengthen collaboration in emerging technologies, innovation and digital investment.

‘Malaysia does not view the Philippines simply as another export market. We see the Philippines as a strategic partner in building Asean’s digital future,’ he pointed out. ‘By combining Malaysia’s technological capabilities with the Philippines’ dynamic market, highly skilled workforce and ambitious digital transformation agenda, we can create partnerships that generate lasting economic value, strengthen regional competitiveness and contribute towards a more resilient and digitally connected Asean.’

The ambassador noted that the Philippines has emerged as one of Southeast Asia’s most promising digital economies, driven by a young, digitally connected population, a globally competitive English-speaking workforce, and strong government support for digitalization.

He also highlighted that initiatives such as the Luzon Economic Corridor represent a new generation of economic development that integrates world-class logistics, smart infrastructure, innovation districts and digital connectivity, creating attractive platforms for technology-driven investments.

Trade partners

MALAYSIA and the Philippines continue to enjoy strong and expanding economic relations. In 2025, total bilateral trade reached approximately $8.32 billion, reaffirming the two countries’ roles as important regional trading partners. As both pursue digital transformation and innovation-led growth, technology and digital services are expected to become increasingly important drivers of bilateral economic cooperation.

The Malaysian delegation, led by MDEC, consists of leading technology companies: IDmeta Sdn. Bhd., WAHDAH Technologies Sdn. Bhd., Snappymob Sdn. Bhd., Theta Service Partner Sdn. Bhd., Eco Community Sdn. Bhd. and Safe Truck. They represent a diverse range of expertise, including digital identity, software engineering, cybersecurity, enterprise digitalization, smart mobility, sustainability technologies, and digital platforms, reflecting Malaysia’s growing capabilities as one of Asean’s leading digital economies, the Embassy of Malaysia said.

The embassy remains committed to supporting the internationalization of Malaysian companies and strengthening economic diplomacy with the Philippines. Through close collaboration with MDEC, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation or MATRADE, and Philippine partners, the embassy will continue to facilitate business engagements that contribute to deeper bilateral economic ties, increased digital investment, and enhanced linkages in emerging technology sectors.

The engagement marked another important milestone in strengthening Malaysia-Philippines economic relations, reinforcing both countries’ shared aspiration to build a more innovative, digitally connected, and resilient ASEAN. By fostering closer collaboration between governments, industry and technology innovators, the initiative is expected to create new opportunities for investment, knowledge exchange and sustainable economic growth in both countries.

THE artificial intelligence (AI) boom is translating into stronger manufacturing and export activity across Asia-Pacific, giving chip-producing economies a lift even as the broader global economy slows, Moody’s Analytics said.

In its latest Global Outlook, Moody’s said the AI investment cycle has become a key reason the world economy has avoided a sharper slowdown, as demand for chips, power and computing infrastructure continues to drive capital spending.

‘A steady stream of new AI models has pulled fresh capital into chips, power, and computing, driving stock prices skyward and sparking a global capital expenditure spree,’ Moody’s said.

The impact, however, is uneven across economies.

While gross domestic product (GDP) gains are harder to capture in countries that import much of the hardware used in data centers, Asia-Pacific economies that manufacture semiconductors and other computing equipment are seeing the boom feed more directly into production and exports, the analytics firm said.

The Philippines is positioned within this regional supply chain, with the local semiconductor and electronics industry expecting continued growth as demand for AI-related hardware expands.

Recently, Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (SEIPI) President Dan Lachica said the industry now expects 10-percent growth in 2026, after initially projecting flat growth. The sector grew 16 percent in 2025.

Also, SEIPI has proposed that Pax Silica, the planned semiconductor-focused industrial hub under the Luzon Economic Corridor, serve as a manufacturing anchor that brings together advanced manufacturing, research and development, logistics, digital infrastructure and supporting industries.

The proposal would seek to expand the country’s role beyond its traditional concentration in semiconductor assembly and testing.

On the other hand, the Philippines is also covered by a 12.5-percent US tariff rate for economies with trade agreements with Washington, while semiconductors and other products are among the exemptions under the US tariff regime.

The carve-outs are particularly relevant to technology exporters because they limit the impact of tariffs on semiconductor shipments.

Elsewhere in Asia, Taiwan, the world’s leading producer of advanced chips, grew by nearly 9 percent in 2025 and is expected to post double-digit growth this year, Moody’s said.

The strong performance reflects the scale of the AI-driven investment cycle, but Moody’s warned that the boom may not continue at its current pace.

Stretched equity valuations, supply constraints and uncertainty over the longer-term profitability of AI-related investments could lead to a pause, it said.

‘With the AI boom papering over the strain from higher inflation and tight policy, the risks facing the baseline forecast tilt firmly to the downside. Geopolitics tops the list,’ Moody’s said.

It expects global GDP growth of 2.5 percent in 2026 and 2.8 percent in 2027, below the more than 3-percent pace the global economy could sustain.

THE amount of money being poured by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) into household coffers of their families back home may be plateauing amid rising inflation at home and in their host countries.

Even as the June-only cash remittances posted the highest June cash remittance value on record, cash transfers from Filipinos working abroad are growing at the slowest pace in years due to the war-tied inflation.

Jeremaiah Opiniano, Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI) and professor at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) told the BusinessMirror on Monday: ‘The numbers seem to reveal that even if the June-only cash remittances are the highest June cash remittance on record, cash transfers from overseas Filipinos are slowing down.’

Opiniano said this after latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed cash remittances or the money sent home by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) reached $3.04 billion in June 2026, the highest monthly cash remittance level recorded in the first half of 2026 and also the highest June-only cash remittance level on record.

Data from the central bank, however, showed that the $3.04-billion cash remittances in June 2026 grew by 1.7 percent from the $2.987 billion in June 2025.

This is the slowest growth rate in cash remittances since February 2022 or in four years and four months when the growth rate of the money sent home by OFWs was at 1.3 percent.

In the January to June 2026 period, cash remittances amounted to $17.149 billion, up 2.4 percent compared to the $16.753 billion in the six-month period in 2025.

The 2.4-percent cumulative growth rate, Opiniano said, ‘seems to show that the growth of cash remittances from overseas Filipinos may be reaching a plateau.’

The 2.4-percent growth rate in the six-month period is the slowest cumulative growth rate for the January to June period since the January to June 2020 period or during the pandemic when cash remittances declined by 4.2 percent.

Surprisingly, however, Opiniano said the six-month cash remittances from the Middle East are US$30 million higher in 2026 compared to the same six-month period last year.

This goes to show, he said, that ‘Filipinos abroad are trying their best to send money amid rising inflation at home and in their host countries, and the running economic impacts of the Middle East conflict.’

On a month-on-month basis, however, the $3.04-billion remittance inflows in June were 12.05 percent higher than the $2.713 billion sent home by overseas Filipino workers in May 2026 or in the previous month.

For his part, Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., said the slowdown in remittance growth to 1.7 percent in June is ‘more a story of moderation than a cause for concern.’

‘A combination of base e?ects, softer economic conditions in some host countries, geopolitical uncertainties in parts of the Middle East, and timing-related factors likely weighed on growth during the month,’ added Ravelas.

Ruben Carlo Asuncion, chief economist at Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP), said: ‘Higher living costs in host economies may have also constrained the amount available for transfer, while base effects from relatively stronger inflows a year ago likely contributed to the softer year-on-year growth rate.’

That said, Asuncion emphasized that remittances continued to expand and remained at a ‘relatively high level’ in absolute terms, suggesting that ‘overseas Filipino workers remain employed and continue to provide an important source of support for household consumption and overall economic activity.’

Low contribution to GDP

Opiniano also pointed out: ‘The contribution of remittances to GDP as of the second quarter is 7.1 percent-the lowest since the BSP started tracking this metric.’

Thus, he underscored the need for the national government to ‘continue finding other revenue sources and not just let overseas Filipinos save the day.’

In a statement, the central bank said the United States remained the top source of inflows, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia, based on reported remittance transactions by origin.

ON August 12, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy received 40 portable power generators, each with a capacity of 6 kilowatts, donated by a Philippine private business group.

The humanitarian initiative was launched after a meeting between Ambassador Yuliia Fediv of Ukraine and Senator Erwin Tulfo. The generators, supplied by Highball Traders Inc., will be used exclusively for civilian purposes and provide backup electricity to socially important facilities, while supporting communities affected by Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

The equipment was transported from the Philippines to the Port of Gdansk in Poland, then subsequently delivered to Ukraine through the ‘rescEU Donations Scheme’ of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with the support of Poland’s Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency.

The Embassy of Ukraine expressed its sincere gratitude to Tulfo, Highball Traders Inc., Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., KLN Logistics, the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, the Embassy of Poland in the Philippines, RARS, and everyone who helped make the delivery possible.

According to the Ukrainian Embassy, the assistance is ‘much more than 40 generators; it is a tangible expression of the solidarity of the people of the Philippines with the people of Ukraine.’

The embassy said: ‘As Russia continues its deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, this support will help strengthen the energy resilience of Ukrainian civilian communities and ensure the continuity of essential services.’

Some of the families that were affected by a recent rockfall in Naga City are among the initial 56 beneficiaries of the city government’s low-cost housing program, which is moving forward despite rising construction costs.

The city has prioritized 18 families in barangay Uling who were affected by the rockfall, while the other initial number of beneficiaries are from barangay Cantao-an, Mayana, Lanas, Naalad, Tangke, Cogon and Lutac.

Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said the housing program was conceptualized last year but has faced several challenges, including delays and higher prices of construction materials amid the fuel crisis.

‘Daghang [Major] challenges because this was conceptualized na last year pa,’ Chiong said, noting that the original allocation is no longer sufficient to cover the increasing cost of construction.

The city initially allocated P28 million in 2025 for 160 housing units, with a budget of P160,000 per unit. Due to the increase in material prices, the city is raising the allocation to P200,000 per house this year.

About P20 million has been set aside for the construction of another 100 houses under this year’s allocation.

Chiong said 77 housing units are currently under construction, while the city is also taking measures to help reduce construction expenses.

The local government has asked suppliers to deliver aggregates and other construction materials to City Hall, allowing the city to handle their delivery to project sites.

‘We asked them to deliver the aggregates here at City Hall, and we will be the ones to deliver them to the project sites,’ Chiong said.

The project, which is a city-led initiative that aims to address woes on housing backlogs, will provide 20-square-meter houses free of charge to qualified beneficiaries. It is intended for families living in damaged, overcrowded or substandard homes, including those whose roofs, walls and other portions of their houses have deteriorated.

However, Chiong said the city cannot immediately proceed with all the originally targeted units because some identified beneficiaries are living on land they do not own.

‘We need a consent or deed of donation from the owner of the land because what we are extending is only the houses,’ he said. The mayor said barangay officials are helping identify families who are most in need of housing assistance. Beneficiaries are also required to provide documentation, including photographs of their existing houses.

City Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Joveno Garcia said the program is designed to address the city’s housing backlog while improving the living conditions of vulnerable families.

‘Providing housing is essential to improving the quality of life of vulnerable families by ensuring access to secure, durable and healthy living environments,’ Garcia said.

Garcia said the project will also generate jobs for local residents during construction and stimulate demand for locally sourced materials.

He added that the initiative supports social equity and inclusive development by giving economically disadvantaged families access to affordable and dignified housing.

The housing program also forms part of Naga’s efforts to assist families living in areas vulnerable to hazards, particularly landslides and rockfalls.

Despite the challenges, Chiong said the city government remains committed to finding ways to continue the program and provide safer homes for families in need.

The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) is offering free lectures and training to schools to help equip students and teachers with the knowledge needed to respond during an active-shooter or school shooting incident, but so far, private schools have been the only ones taking up the offer.

NBI-7 agent Maria Contessa Lastimoso said the bureau has been conducting its Active Shooter Preparedness and Prevention Seminar every two weeks, but public schools have yet to participate.

‘Despite the free lectures that NBI offered, no takers among the public schools. Only the private schools,’ Lastimoso told Cebu media on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026.

She said students have also been included in the seminars, rather than limiting the discussions to school personnel.

At St. Theresa’s College (STC), for instance, both teachers and students attended the seminar. Bethany Christian School has also participated, while the University of Cebu sent its security personnel.

The Redemptorist Seminary is scheduled to attend a seminar this week, Lastimoso said.

Lastimoso said the NBI has also reached out to several public schools, including Abellana National School, Lahug Elementary School, Zapatera Elementary School and Guadalupe Elementary School, through letters inviting them to participate in school information drives.

However, she said the schools have yet to communicate with the bureau.

The NBI-7’s push comes amid growing concern over school security and the need for institutions to prepare for the possibility of an armed attack.

Lastimoso said schools should not wait for an actual incident before taking preparedness seriously.

‘We offer our lectures for free. Lets not wait for something like this to happen. Awareness is key,’ she said.

In a separate interview on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, Naga City Mayor Valdemar ‘Val’ Chiong, meanwhile, said he is open to introducing active-shooter preparedness measures in public schools in the city. Chiong said police personnel regularly patrol schools, while the city government employs watchmen assigned to every school. However, he said Naga’s public schools do not currently use metal detectors.

Asked whether active-shooter drills or simulations could be introduced in schools in the same way as earthquake drills, Chiong said he was open to the idea.

‘I’m open to that,’ he said.

Naga has 28 barangays, 22 of which have high schools, making coordination and implementation a consideration for the city government, Chiong said.

The mayor also said schools have counselors to assist students dealing with bullying and traumatic experiences, while parents should take primary responsibility for monitoring their children’s activities, particularly online.

DepEd-7 working on active-shooter protocols

Last month, the proposed school-based training also came into light as the Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd-7) works with the Philippine National Police (PNP) on formal protocols for active-shooter drills in public schools.

DepEd-7 Legal Officer IV Atty. Leslie Joie Babatuan earlier said the regional office is finalizing a memorandum of agreement with the PNP that would provide clearer procedures for responding to active threats on school campuses.

The initiative follows recent incidents that have heightened concerns about school security.

Babatuan said DepEd-7 is studying how public schools can conduct preparedness activities with law enforcement agencies while avoiding an excessive police or military presence on campuses.

She noted that an active-shooter drill had already been conducted at a Cebu City school with the participation of the PNP, its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) units, the Bureau of Fire Protection and other agencies.

At the same time, Babatuan stressed that schools must remain ‘zones of peace’ and places where children can learn without feeling that their campuses have been militarized.

She said DepEd has existing policies governing police presence and firearms in schools and would rather strengthen prevention measures while ensuring schools are prepared to respond to emergencies.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said 30 sites across Metro Manila, including Camp Aguinaldo and Rizal Memorial Stadium, have been identified for proposed nature-based flood mitigation measures designed by Dutch engineering consultancy Haskoning.

Marcos made the announcement after attending a briefing at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Command Center in Pasig City on Wednesday on measures to address perennial flooding in the National Capital Region.

‘Moving forward, what we are looking at is…we found someone from the Netherlands who conducted a study on what we can do [to mitigate flooding]. This will involve digging in existing facilities. For example, these are football fields, open fields, and even those with buildings,’ Marcos told reporters partly in Filipino.

He said the 30 sites include Rizal Memorial Stadium, Camp Aguinaldo and the University of Santo Tomas, where underground cisterns or water-storage facilities could be built.

‘We are just waiting for the detailed engineering [design], which will be finished within this month,’ Marcos said.

MMDA Chairman Romando S. Artes said Haskoning has already submitted a preliminary draft of its plan for nature-based flood-control measures and water catchments.

Among the proposals is the construction of a 10-meter-deep rainwater catchment designed to reduce flooding along EDSA near the White Plains subdivisions.

The plan also calls for deepening the Sunken Garden at the University of the Philippines Diliman so it can temporarily hold more water during heavy rainfall, which can then be discharged gradually.

‘The purpose of the nature-based solutions and catchment is to prevent runoff, which overwhelms antiquated and small drainage, which also gets clogged by garbage during heavy rainfall,’ Artes said.

Marcos also instructed the MMDA to study how water collected in the catchments could be put to productive use.

‘He told us to coordinate with water concessionaires on what we can do to use the water that we can save in the rain catchment,’ Artes said.

The MMDA is targeting the implementation of some components of the plan before the start of next year’s rainy season.

‘A lot of the 30 sites which were identified will not need large infrastructure…We will coordinate with the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] to make sure there will be no duplication [in flood-control measures],’ Artes said.

The MMDA plans to seek funding for the project under the proposed 2027 national budget once the detailed engineering plan is completed.

Artes said the project is expected to be financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, with counterpart funding from the Philippine government.

THE Philippines has renewed its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Chile as the two Pacific nations mark 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.

This developed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro paid a courtesy call on President José Antonio Kast Rist of Chile at the Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago.

Lazaro conveyed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s greetings to Kast, who assumed office as Chile’s chief executive in March 2026. The secretary also invited Kast to visit the Philippines.

The call covered topics of mutual interest, including the recent conclusion of negotiations for the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement-the Philippines’ first free trade agreement in Latin America. Both officials share the view that the CEPA holds immense promise in bringing the two APEC economies even closer.

They also discussed bilateral cooperation in the economic and maritime sectors, as well as people-to-people exchanges during the call. On expanding relations with Chile, the SFA commented that ‘the Pacific Ocean does not separate us; [but rather] links our destinies.’

The secretary was in Santiago for an official visit, which also included a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Pérez Mackenna.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Chile were established on July 4, 1946. Some 1,017 make up the Filipino community in Chile by the end of 2025.

With Metro Manila continuing to struggle with garbage buildup despite repeated cleanup drives and anti-littering campaigns, a lawmaker is pushing for a more preventive, Japanese-inspired solution-one that focuses not only on collecting waste but also on teaching people, especially children, not to create the problem in the first place.

Following the support of Metro Manila mayors for his anti-littering proposals, Las Piñas Lone District Rep. Mark Anthony Santos urged local government units (LGUs) and schools to consider adopting Japan’s concept of Dotoku, or moral education, under a broader Clean Schools, Clean Communities program.

The Japanese approach places strong emphasis on discipline, personal responsibility, respect for shared spaces, and the understanding that cleanliness is a responsibility of every citizen. Rather than relying mainly on street cleaners, penalties, or government personnel, the system encourages individuals to take responsibility for their waste.

Santos said this kind of mindset could provide Metro Manila with a more sustainable response to its garbage problem.

‘Laws, fines, and enforcement alone are not enough. We need to change the mindset and behavior of our young people. This is where the concept of Dotoku, or moral education, comes in-teaching discipline, responsibility, and respect for others and our environment,’ Santos said.

Santos said this illustrates an important lesson from the Japanese experience: clean communities are created by combining an effective waste-management system with a strong culture of personal responsibility.

Under the proposed approach, LGUs would continue improving waste collection, segregation facilities, and enforcement, while schools would strengthen values formation among students.

The lawmaker said public and private schools could become the starting point for building this culture. In partnership with LGUs, the Department of Education (DepEd), barangays, and community organizations, students could participate in classroom discussions on environmental responsibility, proper waste segregation, recycling projects, school cleanliness activities, and community-based environmental programs.

However, Santos stressed that the purpose should not simply be to require students to clean their surroundings.

Participating schools could also be encouraged to prepare their own Clean School Action Plans, covering proper waste segregation, recycling, reduction of single-use plastics, responsible disposal practices, and regular environmental activities.

The school-based initiative would complement Santos’ earlier proposal to establish dedicated ‘Garbage Police’ units across Metro Manila’s 17 LGUs, together with common minimum standards and coordinated policies against littering and illegal dumping.

Rather than depending on recurring cleanup operations after streets, waterways, and public spaces have already become polluted, Santos said the Japanese-inspired strategy would attempt to stop garbage at its source by changing everyday behavior.

Santos said the initiative should be developed in consultation with the Metro Manila Council (MMC), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), DepEd, Metro Manila’s 17 LGUs, barangays, and other stakeholders.