Category: Business Mirror

MANAMA-Let the kids enjoy the game.

As the Asian Youth Games officially opens at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir on Wednesday, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino emphasized the importance of striking a balance between competitive drive and athlete well-being.

Tolentino, overseeing the Philippines’ participation in the continental youth sports conclave for the first time, called for mindful restraint in pushing young Filipino athletes, cautioning against the risks of injury, burnout and overextension.

The POC chief thanked pesilat Kram Airam Carpio for delivering gold for the country, boosting the national delegation’s morale and perhaps lifting some pressure off the 141-strong Philippine delegation.

‘Safety is still our top priority. These are young people, not hardened veterans,’ Tolentino said.

After clinching the gold in the girls’ 51-55 kg division of Pencak Silat with a 33-19 victory over Indonesia’s Qiken Dwi Tata Olifia late Monday, Carpio called on fans to rally behind the rest of the Philippine delegation in the 45-nation sports conclave.

‘Thank you so much for your support. I hope our Filipino fans will continue to cheer for the entire team,’ Carpio said. ‘We’re here to represent the Philippines, and together we can make the country proud.’

The Philippines has entries in volleyball, teqball, golf, triathlon, mixed martial arts, taekwondo, muay, athletics, boxing, cycling, weightlifting, table tennis, badminton, wrestling, swimming, jiujitsu and kurash.

The major youth sporting spectacle features over 4,300 athletes competing across 253 events in 24 sports.

Tolentino is convinced the Philippines will be able to surpass its performance in the 2013 Nanjing Games, the last Asian Youth Games before a long hiatus, where taekwondo jin Pauline Lopez and golfer Mia Legaspi delivered the gold.

‘Our morale is so high. Definitely, this will be far different from the previous one, in 2013, when we had two gold medals. With this opening salvo, we will probably surpass that,’ Tolentino said, adding that the team should be able to reach its potential through teamwork.

‘The spirit is different this time, we’re focusing on collaboration with the Philippine Sports Commission and all the delegates,’ he said.

Carpio, who had dominant wins over Iran’s Nazninfatemeh Kolasangiani in the Round of 16, India’s Sakshi in the quarterfinals and Aliyam Azizova of Kazakhstan in the semifinals, admitted some nerves entering the gold medal match.

‘I knew I had a chance, I kind of expected to win. But then again, it’s a crowded field, a lot of nations competing so there’s also a chance of not making it to the top,’ said Carpio.

‘I felt a little nervous before the final match, we were facing Indonesia, the birthplace of the of the sport,’ Carpio said.

‘But when the match started, I just focused on what I needed to do to finish the job and deliver for the Philippines.’

‘It has always been my dream to compete for the Philippines and I will work harder to be able to perform even better in future events,’ said Carpio.

INTERNATIONAL financial leaders must place decent work and social justice at the heart of their policy agendas to face current geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions that threaten economic development, the director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO) said.

ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said on Tuesday that policies on decent work, including minimum wage systems, collective bargaining agreement and social protection, are central to creating strong labor institutions that would aid in confronting current uncertainties in the global economy.

‘As uncertainty in the global economy persists with shifting geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions, the importance of building institutions that foster decent work for all could hardly be more critical,’ Houngbo said in a statement.

The ILO chief said that while inequality among countries has narrowed since the early 2000s and more than half of the global population now benefits from social protection, enduring structural issues continue to put these advances at risk.

According to ILO, global employment is expected to grow at only 1.5 percent this year, along with just 53 million new jobs created, lower than the earlier projection of 60 million.

ILO added that about 84 million workers, mostly in Asia and the Pacific, remain highly vulnerable amid ongoing trade uncertainty while informal work continues to dominate, accounting for 58 percent of the global labor force in 2024.

The ILO chief also pointed out that although global output per worker rose by 17.9 percent between 2014 and 2024, the share of labor income fell from 53 percent to 52.4 percent.

‘These trends underscore ongoing challenges in translating economic growth into formal economy and decent employment opportunities,’ said Houngbo.

Houngbo called for a renewed social contract anchored in inclusive dialogue and people-centered policies, saying that the real challenge lies not in choosing between economic growth and social progress but in aligning them through coordinated action.

‘The real challenge is not an inherent conflict between economic and social objectives, but rather the need to take coordinated action that transforms this potential dilemma into a dynamic, mutually reinforcing synergy.’

Houngbo also warned of the disruptive potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI), noting that nearly one in four workers could see their jobs significantly transformed, with women standing to be disproportionately affected.

He said that whether AI adoption results in job displacement or complementarity will depend on how technology is integrated, the decisions made by management and the strength of social dialogue between employers and workers.

A TOTAL of 69,686 families or 244,689 persons were affected by heavy rains induced by Tropical Storm Ramil, flooding many areas in Luzon and the Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

In its 6:00 a.m. Situation Report on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said Ramil has left seven persons dead, one injured, and two missing.

The agency reported that 28,506 persons from the Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas, including Metro Manila, were pre-emptively evacuated at the height of the storm, the 18th severe weather disturbance to hit the country.

Across the five regions, 66 seaports were affected, stranding 3,433 passengers, 1093 rolling cargoes, and six vessels, the NDRRMC said.

Heavy rains and floods affected a total of 629 barangays in 63 citiesand towns in 13 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas, the NDRRMC said. The NDRRMC said a total of 48 areas were submerged by floodwater, damaging 94 houses.

Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas experienced floods, which turned roads into raging rivers at the height of the storm.

The Office of the Civil Defense said Capiz and parts of Iloilo and Aklan were severely affected.

In Capiz, some towns, including Roxas City’s main roads, were inundated. At least 30 barangays also experienced knee or waist-deep flood in the last two days. Local officials of Roxas have declared the city under a state of calamity.

A TOTAL of 36,536 voters registered on the first day of the nationwide registration for the 2026 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE), initial data provided by the Commission on elections (Comelec) on Tuesday indicate

Initial figures reported by Comelec show that Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) had the highest number of registered voters nationwide so far at 8,290, followed by the National Capital Region at 4,637.

Central Luzon, Central Visayas and Western Mindanao drew 4,100, 3,145 and 1,999 registered voters, respectively.

The overall total accounts for about 2.6 percent of the 1.4 million target of registrants expected by the poll body.

The opening of registration came on Monday with Comelec’s ‘Special Register Anywhere Program [SRAP],’ the poll body’s initiative for Filipinos in Metro Manila who are not able to return to their provinces.

New voters were able to complete their registration through the government’s SRAP sites stationed at PITX ANIX in Parañaque City, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and Luneta Park.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the poll body aims to conduct the program in other highly urbanized cities in the country, which will soon allow Filipinos to register at schools, government offices, hospitals, call centers, airports and other accessible locations.

Garcia said the poll body had already anticipated the possible increase in the number of new registered voters, adding that the House of Representatives had already granted the commission’s budget request.

‘We are very conservative with our target of 1.4 million registrants, but if the number goes beyond that, that’s fine. We can still accommodate the influx and increase in the number of our fellow citizens who will register.’

Garcia added that the proposed number of precincts would be sufficient, noting that not all of them would be filled and that new voters could be accommodated in both newly created and existing precincts.

So long as the promised budget from the House is delivered and later approved into law, Garcia said the commission would be able to handle the additional number of voters.

‘So no one needs to worry. As long as the budget promised to us by the lower house is granted, and once it is approved into law later on, we will be able to handle an even greater increase in the number of voters.’

Last August, the poll body drew 2.7 million registrants during its ten-day nationwide voter registration for the BSKE, exceeding its goal of 1.5 million registered voters.

Voter registration for the BSKE runs from October 20 to May 18, 2026.

Top-seeded teams defending champion National University and University of Santo Tomas secured their spots in the Final Four after hurdling their respective foes in the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

Celine Marsh stepped up big time for the four-peat-seeking and twice-to-beat Lady Bulldogs as they turned back gritty San Beda University, 26-24, 25-27, 25-18, 25-16, to advance into the next round.

The sophomore open spiker took over the scoring role in the absence of Sam Cantada and Denesse Daylisan, who are currently playing for the national team in the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, finishing with a game-high 23 points.

NU had a shaky start where it needed to stave off the pesky Lady Red Spikers in a tight, extended opening set before yielding the second frame.

With Marsh leading the way, the Lady Bulldogs got their rhythm going in the next two sets, building comfortable gaps to keep San Beda at bay to remain unscathed after seven starts in the league’s centerpiece tournament backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.

‘It was not our A-game. Madami pa talaga kaming need i-improve. Madami pa kaming need na connect and stuff. Ang ginawa namin sa mga remaining sets we really needed to be composed para makuha ang match na ito,’ said Marsh, who had 21 kills and two kill blocks.

Abegail Pono had 12 points, Alexa Mata and Myrtle Escanlar added 11 markers each while Chams Maaya scored 10 for the Lady Bulldogs, who also rested skipper Vange Alinsug. Veteran setter Lams Lamin dished out 19 excellent sets to help NU outgun the Lady Red Spikers, 59-40 in attacks.

Angel Habacon was the lone Lady Red Spiker in double figures with 17 points.

Meanwhile, the Tigresses cruised past hapless Ateneo de Manila University, 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, to book a fourth straight semis appearance in the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners.

Regina Jurado uncorked 13 points while Xyza Gula logged 11 markers for UST, which didn’t need to use its quarters incentive to draw closer to a championship return since its runner-up finish in 2023.

The Tigresses had a scare in the third frame after the Blue Eagles closed the gap, 22-21, before Poyos, Cassie Carballo and Blessing Unekwe put on the finishing touches in the one-hour, 31-minute encounter.

Faye Nisperos had nine points and Ana Hermosura finished with seven in Ateneo’s sixth defeat in a row.

Both NU and UST will advance to the semis armed with a twice-to-beat advantage by virtue of their No.1 seedings in their respective pools after the second round.

The Lady Bulldogs will face in the Final Four the survivor between Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines while the Tigresses battle the quarters winner between Adamson University and College of Saint Benilde.

Semis action is set to begin Sunday. A sudden death, if needed, will be played on October 29.

San Beda and Ateneo have been relegated to the classification round starting Friday at the Paco Arena.

Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.

THE Philippines should begin crafting industrial policies and redistributing its assets to create domestic demand for its commodities as the tariff imposed by US President Donald Trump weighs on the country’s export-driven industries, an economist said.

University of the Philippines labor and industrial relations professor Benjamin Velasco said the impact of the 19-percent US tariff would affect not only the garments sector but also other key export industries such as agriculture and electronics.

‘Those industries will be hit with the same tariff rates so they will be just as vulnerable as garment exports,’ Benjamin said. ‘Hopefully, exporters in electronics and agriculture can also share the burden of the tariffs with their customers as some garment exporters reportedly did.’

He said factory shutdowns and production slowdowns in export industries could lead to layoffs, reduced incomes and slower growth, noting that the government is already predicting that only the low end of its 5.5 to 6.5 percent growth target for 2025 may be achieved.

In July 2025, the United States announced a 19-percent tariff on goods imported from the Philippines under its new ‘reciprocal trade’ policy, a measure in line with the US’s push to ‘rebalance’ trade flows.

Under the deal, the Philippines is expected to grant zero tariffs on selected American products while its own exports face the 19-percent rate upon entry to the US market.

Critics have described the policy as ‘lopsided,’ arguing that the Philippines offered greater concessions while receiving limited relief in return.

The development has also drawn concern from local exporters, who fear higher costs could make Philippine products less competitive compared to goods from other Asian suppliers.

At last week’s budget hearing of the Department of Trade and Industry, Senator Imee Marcos also disclosed that a garment factory in Central Luzon is considering closure amid rising production costs and tariff pressures, a move that she said could displace around 3,000 workers.

Before this, the Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) said the garments industry has already shed about 50,000 jobs between 2022 and 2024, and could face further contraction following a series of wage increases and the newly-imposed US tariffs.

‘Perfect storm’

CONWEP Executive Director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo said the industry faces a ‘perfect storm’ of local and global challenges that have eroded its export competitiveness, noting that recent wage hikes alone have cut 2024 export revenues by about $260 million, or 25 percent, as major brands withdrew from the country.

Velasco explained that the shutdown of garment export factories would have ripple effects across related sectors such as textiles, logistics and retail.

‘Although, much of these will be offshore and won’t be felt in the Philippines,’ he added.

Unlike the garment sector, the impact of Trump’s tariffs on the Philippines is not yet severe enough to threaten the electronics and agriculture sectors, according to him.

‘If it was, we would have heard of possible closures and layoffs. Most garments [are] exported to the US so that is a disadvantage,’ he said. ‘Most electronics we produce are parts that go to China, Japan, or Taiwan for final assembly before being shipped to the US.’

Reskill workers, boost local demand

Velasco thinks the government should adopt proactive measures to cushion the impact on affected firms and workers through social protection and reskilling programs, while also rethinking the country’s long-term economic direction.

‘[The] government needs to be proactive by preparing assistance to firms and especially workers who have less resources to cope with economic crisis.’

‘In the immediate, there must be programs in place to transition affected workers, from social security and emergency work to job reskilling,’ he said.

He added that the country should eventually shift from an export-driven model to one that builds domestic demand through industrial policy and asset redistribution in the long term to build resilience against global trade disruptions.

‘High wages are a disadvantage for commodity exporters but a boon for domestic producers since it creates high demand,’ he explained.

Kawaii meets creepy at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel’s ‘Anime After Dark: Halloween Kiddie Party’ happening on October 25, 2025 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the hotel’s 3/F Ballroom and 2/F Amberley-Belmont Rooms.

Inspired by the exciting and colorful universe of Japanese animation, this year’s celebration invites guests to enter a whimsical and spirited dimension where they can channel their inner ninjas and mecha pilot, or favorite Pokemon and Studio Ghibli characters as the hotel’s resident cosplayers roam the venue, bringing the world of anime to life.

With tickets priced at PhP 1,799nett per adult or child, the entire family is sure to enjoy an afternoon of fun and fantasy with interactive games and activities any aspiring demon slayer in training will love. From the delectably filling snack buffet, amazing magic show, and energetic live entertainment, to the scary Infinity Maze Adventure, mask painting booth, and loot bags filled with sweet treats, the event promises to be an action-packed Halloween bash. Boys and girls who come in their best anime getup will get the chance to be crowned best little cosplayers of Richmonde and will win hotel gift certificates.

For an extra thrilling holiday, families can book a spook-cation at Eastwood Richmonde’s best value rates and inclusive of special perks like room upgrade, late check-out, discounts on food and beverage orders, and 20% off on tickets to Anime After Dark. Simply contact Room Reservations at (632) 8570 7777 or (63) 917 531 6867, or email stay@eastwoodrichmonde.com.

So get your capes, wands, and katana swords ready and transform into the Super Saiyan, Sailor Guardian, or Pokemon Master of your dreams and party anime-style this Halloween at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel. For inquiries and ticket purchases, call (632) 8570 7777 or (63) 917 821 0333, or email fb@eastwoodrichmonde.com.

Joy and relief filled the City Convention Center in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, as more than 70 families finally received their Transfer Certificates of Title (TCTs) from the Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC) through its flagship Community Mortgage Program (CMP) in a ceremony held on October 14.

The CMP is a key component of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, implemented by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development under Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling.

The event, led by SHFC President and CEO Federico Laxa, together with Mayor Florida Robes and Cong. Arthur Robes, marked a new chapter for the beneficiaries who now officially own the land they have long called home.

A total of 72 member-beneficiaries from nine homeowners’ associations-Bagong Buhay Francisco HOAI Phases 1 and 2, Elfa Ville HOAI, Partida Heights HOAI, Rosario Ville HOAI, Policarpio Ville HOAI, Sama-samang Ugnayan Sagiptahanan Sikhay Kabuhayan HOAI, Ginintuang Alay na Lupa at Hanapbuhay sa Maralita, and Solid HOAI-received their titles, officially recognizing them as legitimate landowners.

In his message, President Laxa emphasized that the land titles are more than just legal documents. ‘These titles represent wealth and a legacy that can be passed on to your children.You are now assured that the land where your home stands is truly yours,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Robes expressed her appreciation for SHFC’s efforts in helping more San Joseños gain access to affordable housing and land ownership. ‘We are glad that through the CMP, more families are now title holders and have decent homes they can be proud of,’ she said.

For many families, the land titles symbolize not only ownership but also dignity, stability, and renewed hope for future generations.

One of the new title holders, 53-year-old Raymond Cortez of Bagong Buhay Francisco HOAI Phase 1, expressed his gratitude for the assistance extended by SHFC. ‘Nung kasama ako sa awarding, tuwang-tuwa ako dahil wala nang magpapaalis sa amin doon,’ he shared, describing his relief after years of renting.

Continuing its mission to go beyond shelter, SHFC pushes forward with its Enhanced Community Mortgage Program (ECMP)-a more transformative approach that features a streamlined application and approval process, expanded loan coverage, reduced interest rates, and targeted subsidies.

To date, SHFC has approved 25 ECMP projects that are expected to benefit more than 4,100 families nationwide. The agency aims to approve a total of 34 projects covering over 5,000 families by the end of October.

The Philippine Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector stands as a towering achievement and an undeniable cornerstone of our national economy. It is the engine driving nearly 10 percent of our GDP, the employer of 1.82 million Filipinos, and the generator of a staggering $38 billion in vital revenue annually. Its projected growth to 2.5 million jobs and $59 billion by 2028 paints a picture of continued prosperity. Yet, this vital pillar faces an existential threat from across the Pacific, demanding immediate, decisive, and strategic action from the Marcos administration.

The proposed US ‘Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025’ is not merely protectionist noise; it is a potential wrecking ball aimed squarely at the heart of our BPO industry. The warnings from the Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) and the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) of a ‘massacre of jobs’ are not hyperbolic fearmongering. They are a chillingly realistic assessment of the bill’s potential impact. (Read the BusinessMirror story: ‘Brace for possible BPO jobs ‘massacre,’ government advised,’ October 17, 2025.)

The mechanics are clear and punitive: Companies shifting more than 30 percent of call center operations offshore would be blacklisted, losing access to crucial US federal funding and contracts. US customers would gain the explicit right to demand redirection to US-based agents. The intent to repatriate jobs is unambiguous, and the Philippines, as a global leader in BPO services, stands directly in the line of fire. Millions of Filipino families, reliant on BPO incomes, and the nation’s entire economic equilibrium, face profound disruption.

The government’s current posture-a hesitant ‘wait-and-see’-is dangerously inadequate. CTUHR is absolutely right: we cannot afford complacency. The potential scale of this crisis demands proactive, multi-pronged strategies now.

First, and most urgently, worker protection must be paramount. The government needs to establish concrete protocols to ensure that any potential job losses are managed with the utmost fairness and humanity. CTUHR’s demands are fundamental: sufficient notice periods, full legal compensation, and ironclad prevention of employers using the US bill or AI advancements as pretexts for unjust terminations. Labor rights cannot be sacrificed on the altar of geopolitical shifts. The Department of Labor and Employment must be ready to rigorously enforce labor standards and provide robust safety nets.

Second, economic diversification is no longer a long-term aspiration; it is an immediate imperative. The over-reliance on the BPO sector, however successful, has always been a vulnerability. This US bill brutally highlights that risk. The government must heed CTUHR’s call to urgently convene labor, business leaders, and economic experts. The dialogue must move beyond preserving BPO dominance to actively reviving and modernizing our neglected industrial and agricultural base. A serious program of national industrialization, focused on creating high-value, sustainable, and domestically anchored jobs, is essential. We must build economic resilience that is not hostage to foreign legislative whims.

Third, diplomatic and industry engagement is crucial. While respecting US sovereignty, the Philippine government, alongside industry bodies like IBPAP, must actively communicate the mutually beneficial nature of the BPO partnership and the potential negative consequences of the bill for both nations. Exploring alternative markets and service diversification within the BPO/IT sector itself (moving further up the value chain beyond voice services) is also critical.

The $38 billion lifeline and the livelihoods of nearly two million Filipinos are under direct threat. The ‘Keep Call Centers in America Act’ is a storm cloud darkening our economic horizon. It would do well for the Marcos administration to act with speed and determination: shield our workers with unwavering commitment to their rights, aggressively pursue economic diversification to build genuine resilience, and engage strategically to mitigate the fallout. The future employment and well-being of millions of workers depend on the government’s timely response.

A SENATOR on Monday flagged the alleged collusion among Chinese smuggling syndicates, local enterprises, and government officials that allowed the entry of smuggled agricultural products.

During a Senate hearing on the Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan claimed that smuggling syndicates from China, local businesses, and government officials from several agencies could be conniving.

He noted that all cases of smuggled farm goods being discussed in the hearing came from China.

With this, Pangilinan said there was ‘sufficient, circumstantial evidence’ to believe that ‘Chinese smuggling syndicates’ were conniving with local businessmen, along with employees and officials in the Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Agriculture, even in the Department of Justice, and the Bureau of Immigration.

He said such a collusion allowed them to operate freely, with government officials ‘occasionally raiding and seizing smuggled agricultural products to show a semblance of law enforcement while ensuring that no big-time smuggler is prosecuted for the non-bailable offense of economic sabotage.’

Pangilinan then named some foreign companies that reportedly shipped misdeclared items, which were initially stated as processed food but turned out to be onions and frozen mackerel.

He then stressed the danger brought by smuggled agricultural products, given the country’s lack of first-border facilities.

‘Smuggled food poses a significant risk. There is no physical inspection or chemical analysis, nor are there tests for poison, viruses, or bacteria to determine if it is expired or fit for human consumption,’ Pangilinan said.

Fund for Cefa

Earlier, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the agency wants to use part of the P20 billion earmarked for the implementation of a law that aims to modernize the livestock and poultry subsectors for the construction of Cold Examination Facilities for Agriculture (Cefas).

The DA would need as much as P1.5 billion to build five Cefas to prevent the entry of transboundary animal diseases and curb the smuggling of farm products, Tiu Laurel said. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/10/09/da-keen-on-using-part-of-livestock-poultry-fund-for-cefas/)

‘The senators suggested they might find a way to fund it in the [bicameral conference], which is preferred. But if not, we might use part of the AnCEF fund just to get at least one [Cefa] started.’

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. recently signed Republic Act (RA) 12308 or the Animal Industry Development and Competitiveness Act.

The new law creates a 10-year fund dubbed the AnCEF, which would consist of tariffs collected from imported livestock, poultry, and dairy products.