Category: Business Mirror

A state college in Davao del Norte has appealed to conference participants, many of them young scientists and innovators, to look into the seas and oceans for solutions to many of the country’s challenges and build startup applications.

In a conference, the Davao del Norte State College called on technology innovators and researchers ‘to ideate and build startups that address challenges in the sea and ocean.’

‘Oftentimes, when innovators ideate about what their next project or research will be, the ocean and the Blue Economy is not always on top of their mind. And while it has been promoted ever since, the significance of the Blue Economy is gaining more attention now locally and internationally, so we do not want to miss that opportunity to contribute to its development,’ said Jesebel R. Besas, project leader of the school’s Blue Economy Underpinning Global Sustainability through Adaptive Innovations, a technology business incubator assisted by the Department of Science and Technology.

‘Our challenge with them is that with the knowledge, skills, networks, and passion that we have and we gained here, what tech innovations or startups can we build for to sustain the ocean, address its challenges, and uplift the communities around it?,’ Besas said.

DNSC President Joy M. Sorrosa said the ocean ‘is not just a resource; it is our lifeline.’

‘Yet, for too long, its challenges have outpaced our solutions. But, here, we change that narrative. We unite the academics, industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to create more than dialogue but spark actionable innovation. We create a dynamic platform for collaboration, one that challenges conventional approaches and inspires transformative solutions to the pressing issues facing our oceans and coastal communities,’ she added.

The DNSC gathered together about 150 Blue Economy stakeholders at the conference titled RIPPLE: Ocean Tech Innovation Conference at the Molave Hotel, Tagum City. The ocean technology conference wanted to connect innovators and interested stakeholders to learn about Blue Economy and its domains.

The conference featured talks about the Blue Economy, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Shipping, Maritime Trade, and Ocean-based Logistics, Climate and Disaster Resilience, Marine Protection, Conservation, and Preservation, and Renewable Ocean Energy. A trade fair for marine-based products, ocean technology and research, and a pitching of blue innovations from DNSC were also held at the sideline of the conference.

The RIPPLE: Ocean Tech Innovation Conference was supported by the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the Singapore-based accelerator BluC53.

Somewhere between a spa’s calming music and a wellness retreat’s morning qigong session, the world has found a new kind of economy-the economy of self-healing. What was once a niche for affluent wellness seekers has grown into a trillion-dollar movement fueled by pandemic burnout, digital fatigue, and chronic anxiety. The global wellness tourism industry, now worth almost $995 billion, thrives on our yearning to slow down and feel whole again.

For entrepreneurs and professionals, the surge in wellness spending reflects our era’s priorities: people are now investing in peace of mind. Travel is no longer just about sights or relaxation; it’s about restoring mental clarity and detoxing from the invisible weight of daily stress. In the Philippines, this realization has given rise to a $3.61 billion wellness tourism sector, placing the country among Asia’s top destinations.

Our natural landscape contributes greatly to this movement. From the highlands of Tagaytay to the quiet beaches of Siquijor, Philippine scenery offers a sense of serenity for those seeking healing. Add to that our heritage of hilot massage, herbal medicine, and other local healing modalities-self-care traditions that transform wellness travel into a unique cultural experience. The Department of Tourism now promotes these assets not just for indulgence, but to diversify the economy and create jobs for therapists, farmers, and artisans.

However, a major challenge remains: wellness weekends still cost more than a month’s salary for many Filipinos. The industry’s growth risks deepening divisions, as access to self-care remains limited to those with resources. This leads us to a crucial question for business leaders and policymakers: can wellness travel be truly inclusive without losing its meaning and quality?

Local innovation offers hope. Imagine provinces creating community-based wellness circuits- pairing independent therapists with eco-resorts, using local produce, and involving farmers. A weekend of tai chi and nutritious meals need not rely on imported supplements or high-profile coaches; intention, safety, and a sense of place matter most. Accessible retreats can flourish if we rethink what ‘wellness’ means, transforming open fields into meditation sites or coastal barangays into sunrise qigong spaces alongside small homestays.

Entrepreneurs have room to experiment with hybrid models: day-pass healing hubs, subscription-based self-care getaways, and corporate partnerships for employee retreats. Hotels and developers can blend business with social inclusion, strengthening their brands for a mindful market. Travelers increasingly choose destinations for their authenticity and the values they represent-not only their comfort.

Most importantly, local governments can invest in ‘wellness zones’ in public parks-turning unused spaces into walking, meditation, and exercise areas. These micro-retreats democratize wellness beyond resort walls. As regenerative tourism trends grow, the Philippines can lead by showing that the traveler’s healing need not come at the community’s expense.

Ultimately, wellness tourism reflects our collective wish to breathe easier after years of uncertainty. But its future shouldn’t be only about spa menus or luxurious detoxes. Farmers selling turmeric tea, village healers sharing wisdom, and families enjoying restful weekends close to home all belong in this movement.

At its heart, the business of self-healing must return to its purpose: helping people feel human again. If we can do that while making wellness accessible, this country’s quietest industry may become its most transformative.

THE casualty toll in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ramil has climbed to seven dead, one injured, and two reported missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

Ramil, which has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), affected a total of 37,827 families or 133,196 persons in 355 barangays in 35 cities and towns in nine provinces.

In its Situational Report issued at 6 a.m. on October 20, the NDRRMC said that because of the inclement weather, a total of 28,472 persons from Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Bicol, Western Visayas, and Eastern Visayas were pre-emptively evacuated.

‘The weather bureau said Ramil, the 18th severe weather disturbance to affect the country this year, further intensified outside PAR, and continues to induce scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Palawan.

The trough and outer rainbands of Ramil and the easterlies will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Occidental Mindoro,’ the state weather bureau added.

As of 11 a.m., Ramil was spotted west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, moving northwestward at 25 kilomeers per hour.

Pagasa said it is packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.

Senator Bam Aquino has expressed dismay over the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) revelation that it has completed the construction of just 22 classrooms for 2025.

‘You can’t explain that. Even just saying it, sumasakit iyong puso ko na 22 lang ang nagawang classroom,’ Aquino said during the DPWH budget hearing after DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said that only 22 out of the 1,700 target have been completed.

At this rate, Aquino said the classroom backlog will reach 200,000 by 2028.

‘Ang estimated current classroom backlog natin ay 146,000. By 2028, if we continue at this rate, aabot tayo ng 200,000,’ emphasized Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Dizon said the DPWH will look into the cause of delay and find a way to fast-track the construction of classrooms.

He also expressed his full support for Aquino’s Classroom-Building Acceleration Program (CAP) Act, which was recently certified as a priority measure by President Ferdinand Marcos as a means to address the classroom backlog in public schools.

‘We are in full support of this measure, especially now na dalawampu’t dalawa pa lang ang nagagawa ng departamento ngayong taon. Kailangan po talaga natin ang tulong,’ Dizon said, adding that the agency is also looking at partnerships with local government units to hasten classroom construction.

‘At this rate, it’s virtually impossible na magawa ng DPWH itong kailangan nating mga classrooms,’ he admitted.

The proposed bill aims to decentralize classroom construction by expanding the mandate beyond DPWH to include local government units and non-government organizations with a proven track record. They can then build classrooms in compliance with the Department of Education’s standards and guidelines within their jurisdictions.

Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia inspects the Special Register Anytime Anywhere booth at Luneta Park in Manila on Monday, October 20, 2025, as Comelec resumes voter registration for the upcoming Barangay Elections.

The registration period runs until May 18, 2026, according to the Comelec.

THE death toll in the doublet earthquakes near Manay, Davao Oriental, on October 10, has risen to 10, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Monday.

In its 6:00 a.m Situation Report on Monday, the NDRRMC said the number of injured stood at 176, but the number of affected people increased to 362,509 families or 1,510,591 persons in 703 barangays spread in 60 cities and towns.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 7.4 and 6.8 magnitude doublet earthquakes continue to trigger aftershocks.

As of October 20, it has recorded a total of 1,638 aftershocks, of which 810 are plotted and 19 felt.

The earthquakes and the aftershocks have so far damaged a total of 678 infrastructures worth P143,403,106, anda total of 26,159 houses, of which 1,190 are considered totally wrecked.

The doublet earthquakes have triggered Intensity V ground-shaking events in Manay town, including neighboring areas such as Davao City. The NDRRMC said 11 cities and towns were declared under a state of calamity. The estimated cost of other damaged assets has also reached 680,766.

In the 7.6 magnitude earthquake near Bogo City, Cebu, last September 30, a total of 79 persons died while 559 others were injured.

The earthquake, which triggered an Intensity VII strong tremor in the island province of Cebu, has affected a total of 215,460 families or 749,108 cities and municipalities in 279 barangays.

The earthquake damaged 948 infrastructure worth P6.77 million.

The number of damaged houses, of which 7,402 were destroyed, reached 135,462.

As of last count, it has generated a total of 13,375 aftershocks, of which 2,425 are plotted and 71 felt, with magnitudes ranging from 1 to 5.8.

Artemyo and Fedelina, a modest farming couple living in the rural countryside, cling to hope and dignity as they face daily struggles, threatened by the risk of uncertainty, in a world where personal resilience grows in the cracks.

Facing the harsh reality of farming. As external pressures mount-such as threats of displacement, land insecurity, and the creeping influence of powerful interests-their private struggles become inextricably tied to larger systemic issues, highlighting the fragile position of many farmers who depend on the land for their survival and dignity.

Such is the story of Binhi, a film directed by Ayaa R. Ahmed from Holy Cross of Davao College that bagged the Agrarian Reform Beneficiary (ARB) Category Film.

Such were the compelling stories of hope and highlights of the PelikulAgraryo 2025.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently held the PelikulAgraryo 2025 Central Film Festival Awards at Novotel Manila Araneta City to celebrate the inspiring stories and triumphs of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and their organizations (ARBOs).

A total of 68 schools and universities across the country joined the first PelikulAgraryo, producing 101 film entries. From the regional rounds, 27 short films were selected as finalists-12 under the ARBO category and 15 under the ARB category.

‘Thank you for participating and supporting DAR’s programs. You are the new heroes-our modern-day youth heroes,’ DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III said in a statement as he praised the students’ talent and compassion.

‘Today’s youth are exceptional-more informed, more capable, and full of fresh ideas. We should listen to them.’

According to DAR, PelikulAgraryo 2025 was not just a film festival-it was a movement. ‘It reminded everyone that the stories of the land and its people must be told, celebrated, and preserved. The films used the youth’s creativity to uplift the most vital yet often overlooked sector-agriculture. As the festival concludes, a new chapter begins-for DAR, for the storytellers, and for every farmer whose story continues to unfold.’

Currently, the 27 winning short films are already available for public viewing on the DAR official website, allowing audiences to experience the real and inspiring journeys of farmers and communities empowered by agrarian reform.

Moving forward, the agency aims to further amplify these stories by sharing all short films gathered from 68 schools nationwide across various digital and broadcast platforms.

‘These remarkable entries reflect the creativity and empathy of student filmmakers who brought to life the stories of our Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) and Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs),’ it said.

‘This initiative seeks not only to promote the mission and vision of the Department but also to highlight the hope, perseverance, and success that define agrarian life. Through these films, DAR envisions a broader appreciation of the transformative power of land reform and the enduring spirit of the Filipino farmer.’

There are various award categories that include Best Teaser, Best Poster, Best Production Design, Best Music, and Best Sound. It also gave awards to actors who portrayed the characters.

The winners took home cash prizes of P20,000 to P60,000.

INTERNATIONAL travelers to the Philippines continued to slip in the nine months to September this year, although balikbayans (homecoming Filipinos) helped cushion the arrivals from a bigger fall.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 4.3 million foreign nationals arrived from January to September 2025, some 2.4 percent less than the same period last year. Of total arrivals, there were only 3.9 million foreign nationals, 3.5 percent less than last year’s 4.08 million, while overseas Filipinos reached 392,317, up 10.3 percent from the same period last year. Overseas Filipinos are defined as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad.

This developed as the DOT welcomed the rollout of the electronic visa (e-visa) scheme for Chinese nationals starting in November.

INTERNATIONAL travelers to the Philippines continued to slip in the nine months to September this year, although balikbayans (homecoming Filipinos) helped cushion the arrivals from a bigger fall.

Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed 4.3 million foreign nationals arrived from January to September 2025, some 2.4 percent less than the same period last year. Of total arrivals, there were only 3.9 million foreign nationals, 3.5 percent less than last year’s 4.08 million, while overseas Filipinos reached 392,317, up 10.3 percent from the same period last year. Overseas Filipinos are defined as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad.

This developed as the DOT welcomed the rollout of the electronic visa (e-visa) scheme for Chinese nationals starting in November.

Earlier, leaders of tourism stakeholders groups welcomed the development and expressed optimism that this will boost arrivals from China. But one also pointed out that this e-visa policy should be supported by timely marketing strategies.

DOT Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso also told the BusinessMirror that the agency has never stopped accrediting Chinese tour operators, to help facilitate the arrivals of tour groups from China. ‘Accreditation of tour operators is done jointly with the DFA. This is for those applying for tour visas. This is not covered by the e-visa system, so the application for tour visas continue through the Philippine foreign posts in China,’ she said.

Lifts from Japan, Australia

DOT officials have yet to say if the e-visa policy will encourage the agency to recalibrate anew its targets under the National Tourism Development Plan for 2023-2028. At a budget presentation prior to the e-visa for China announcement, Frasco told senators that the arrivals target for 2026 is 6.7 million, but failed to reveal this year’s target.

Meanwhile, of total arrivals, South Korea was still the top source market at 955,699 tourists, although this was 20.16 percent less than the same period in 2024. The United States followed at 743,998, which rose by 7.18 percent; Japan at 344,513 (+17.32 percent); Australia at 217,209 (+15.94 percent); China at 202,738 (-22.06 percent); and Canada 187,189 (+17.26 percent).

The other top source markets were: Taiwan at 149,959 (-11.53 percent); the United Kingdom at 126,301 (+7.61 percent); Singapore at 115,374 (-0.26 percent); Malaysia at 71,191 (-2.54 percent); India at 66,269 (+8.22 percent); and Germany at 59,240 (2.92 percent).

The DOT is also pinning its hopes on the Indian market, which was recently given visa-free status by Manila. Air India has started flying direct from New Delhi to India, although local carriers have yet to be roped into offering the new route. Last year, 70,286 tourists arrived from India, some 48 percent less than the 134,963 who arrived in prepandemic 2019.

MINIMUM wage earners in the private sector across in Region 12 or Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) receive a P30 to P33 daily pay increase starting November 2.

In its latest order, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) XII said the adjustment followed consultations and a review of the region’s prevailing socio-economic conditions.

‘Whereas, as a result of the review made on the prevailing socio-economic conditions of the Region, as well as the results of the consultations and public hearing and deliberations conducted, the Board has determined the need to increase the prevailing minimum wage rates for workers in private establishments without impairing the viability of business and industry,’ the order stated.

Under Wage Order RB XII-25, the daily minimum wage for non-agriculture, retail, and service workers will rise from P430 to P460, while agricultural workers will see their pay increase from P410 to P443.

The increase will be implemented in two tranches: the first on November 2 and the second on December 15.

According to RTWPB XII, the new wage rates will benefit at least 5 percent of the region’s total employed workers in the private sector.

The wage board also approved a P1,000 to P1,500 increase in the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers (kasambahays), standardizing their pay at P6,000 across all municipalities in the region regardless of classification starting November 2. The new rate applies to all household workers, whether living in or outside their employers’ homes, including househelp, nannies, cooks, gardeners, and laundry workers.

Both wage orders cover workers in the cities of General Santos, Kidapawan, Koronadal, and Tacurong, as well as in the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and North Cotabato, excluding the 63 barangays now under the Bangsamoro region.

IN the scheme of things in a global scale, there are inconvenient truths that small nations like us have to go through-a labyrinth of challenges, especially on the buzzwords today on climate change and RE or renewable energy and the need to raise the consciousness of citizens to the huge impact of carbon dioxide emissions.

And somehow, along the way, as the country tries to play the role of ‘good citizen’ on the matter of the need to curb our CO2 emissions, there is an apparent disconnect on what we are being asked to accomplish vis-a-vis other polluters of the planet, those countries that emit a sizeable chunk of CO2. It is a troubling paradox.

According to the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), the Philippines contributes less than 0.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the inconvenient truth is this: despite such a negligible share, we rank among the most vulnerable to the brutal manifestations of climate change.

By global standards, our footprint is small. But the irony is that many small footprints combined leave a heavy mark on the planet. Every nation’s effort counts-though strategies must also reckon with the disproportionately larger role of major emitters.

Here lies another inconvenient truth: smaller nations face the same global targets and timelines, even when their share of emissions is a mere fraction of the problem. For countries like ours, lowering or neutralizing this tiny contribution barely nudges the global scale. The arithmetic of justice, it seems, is skewed.

The World Inequality Database reveals that the wealthiest 10 percent of the global population is responsible for nearly half of all CO2 emissions, averaging 31 tons per person yearly. In contrast, the bottom 50 percent produces only 12 percent-about 1.6 tons per person.

Meanwhile, data from the Global Carbon Project shows that China and the United States alone account for roughly 45 percent of global emissions, with India, Russia, and Japan following close behind. This imbalance has fueled global pressure to cut emissions and accelerate the shift to renewables. The 2015 Paris Agreement set the course: phase down coal, scale up renewables, achieve net zero.

But here’s another sobering fact: even if the world reaches net-zero CO2 by 2050, the reduction in warming is estimated at only 0.07-0.28 °C. Of course, net-zero still delivers cleaner air, better health, energy security, and jobs-but its impact on global temperature depends on the scale of the reduction, not just the symbolism.

As the world races toward net-zero, one fact remains immutable: carbon footprints are not distributed equally. Individual actions are laudable, but the largest impact comes from the largest emitters. The Philippine government has long maintained that any net-zero commitment must be anchored on national priorities and backed by international support-financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building.

Ultimately, progress depends on resources, not rhetoric. For the Philippines, the journey to net zero will hinge on how fast and how affordably we can transition our energy systems.

Could it be that some of the champions of renewable energy-without malice but with market motives-are muting the fact of our near-zero contribution to global emissions? Could it be that acknowledging this truth might weaken their narrative -and, by extension, their sales pitch for solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and other RE technologies?

Another inconvenient truth: renewable energy remains costly- to build, to operate, and to maintain. Take offshore wind turbines: clean in concept, but at present, staggeringly expensive and, in several global cases, environmentally and economically problematic.

Yet despite the mounting evidence of financial distress among offshore wind projects abroad, the technology is still being proposed for our own energy mix.

Can we afford this gamble? Or would prudence dictate we wait- until the technology becomes truly viable for an economy like ours?

Let’s be honest: our energy transition must match our means. Because the ‘business’ of saving the planet does not always align with the rhetoric of fairness.

And until that contradiction is resolved, nations like the Philippines will continue to bear a burden far heavier than their share of the blame-an inconvenient truth of injustice. We are among those who contribute the least to climate change -yet we suffer among the most.

We are told to comply with immediate net-zero demands, even if our compliance would barely move the global needle. Worse, these demands come at a time when renewable alternatives remain financially out of reach for millions of Filipino families.

In plain terms, we’re being asked to act like the world’s biggest polluters-when in truth, we are among its smallest contributors.