Category: Business Mirror

TIM CONE will be working with a pool of 16 players-instead of 12-for the 2027 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers that start this November.

‘The [16-member] pool gives Coach Tim [Cone] a buffer for any.but hopefully not injuries to our players,’ Samahand Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al S. Panlilio said on Thursday.

Three players-who Panlilio and Cone called ‘logical adds’-are RJ Abarrientos, 6-foot-11 Ange Kouame and Quentin Millora-Brown with Kai Sotto being the pool’s 16th member but is still recovering from his injury.

Abarrientos, according to Panlilio who’s known by his alias ASP, is not a surprise addition because he’s been practicing with Gilas and is Cone’s point guard at Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

Millora-Brown, or QMB, Panlilio said, is also a welcome addition to the pool, while Kouame is an able backup to Justin Brownlee as a naturalized player.

‘We know that the Asian qualifiers are a tough competition,’ Panlilio said.

‘QMB’s a no-brainer, of course. And RJ and Kouame have been practicing with us since the last window. So, they are all ‘logical adds,” Cone said.

There are four groups in the Asian Qualifiers-the Philippines is with Guam, Australia and New Zealand in Pool A-and the top three will be advancing further in the event.

With Brownlee in the pool are AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, Kevin Quiambao, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, CJ Perez, Dwight Ramos and Carl Tamayo.

Millora-Brown is a 6-foot-10 former University of the Philippines big man who’s playing for the Macau Black Bears in the East Asia Super League.

Kouame was in Cone’s team that won the gold medal in the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games two years ago.

Gilas travels to Guam on November 28 and will host the same team on December 1 and plays at home against New Zealand on February 26 and Australia on March 1.

Ayala Corp. on Thursday said it will transfer its dealership of Honda cars in the Philippines to a new entity in January 2026, effectively ending its 35-year partnership with Honda Car Philippines Inc. (HCPI).

HCPI and Ayala said the development reflects the ‘evolving strategies’ of their companies in their pursuit of growth and innovation.

The transition involves dealerships currently under the operation of ACMobility. These are Honda Cars Makati, Honda Cars Pasig, Honda Cars Shaw, Honda Cars Bacoor, Honda Cars Cebu, Honda Cars Mandaue, Honda Cars Iloilo, Honda Cars Negros, and Honda Cars Cagayan de Oro.

The alliance dates back to 1990 with the opening of Honda Cars Makati. Over the years, the network grew steadily nationwide, with Ayala ultimately becoming the largest Honda dealer group in the Philippines.

The ACMobility-operated Honda dealerships, through Iconic Dealership Inc., have sold over 220,000 vehicles as of August 2025.

ACMobility will begin turning over management and operations of these dealerships to new dealer principals towards the end of this year. It declined to name the new owner of its Honda dealership.

‘We thank Ayala for their invaluable contribution over the past 35 years, which played a key role in establishing Honda as a trusted brand in the Philippines. As we work closely with our new dealer principals, we are fully committed to ensuring a seamless transition while upholding Honda’s legacy of excellence, innovation, and outstanding customer service,’ Rie Miyake, Honda Philippines president, said.

‘HCPI will continue to provide the best products and services including an expanding range of electrified vehicles and solutions. We remain firmly committed to Honda’s long-term goals of zero collision and carbon neutrality, advancing safety for everyone and a cleaner environment in the Philippines,’ Miyake said.

‘We are grateful, and indeed proud, to have been part of Honda’s journey in the Philippines for the past three and a half decades. This transition reflects our ongoing effort to optimize our portfolio and focus on new growth areas. Among these are our initiatives in advancing sustainable mobility and electrification, where we continue to build solutions that benefit communities, businesses and the environment,’ Jaime Alfonso Zobel de Ayala, CEO of ACMobility, said.

ACMobility said it will refocus its investments in new and high-growth businesses in automotive distribution and charging infrastructure, in light of its ambition to lead the transition towards sustainable and electrified mobility in the Philippines.

This also follows ACMobility’s recent exits from the Volkswagen and Maxus distribution businesses, as the company moves towards streamlining its portfolio, aligned with the broader initiative of Ayala to sharpen its business lines.

Upon turnover of the dealership operations, ACMobility’s portfolio will be composed of the BYD and Kia distribution businesses; dealership operations of Isuzu, BYD, and Kia; electric vehicle charging infrastructure business; and the Bosch Car Service business.

The state weather bureau has placed 50 cities and municipalities in 6 Luzon provinces under the threat of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TWSC) No. 2 as ‘Paolo’ intensifies while hovering over the Philippine Sea.

Placed under TCWS No. 2 are the central and southern portions of Isabela (San Mariano, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Benito Soliven, Angadanan, Naguilian, Palanan, Ilagan City, Quirino, Mallig, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Tumauini, Cordon, City of Santiago, San Isidro, Ramon, Alicia, San Mateo, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Gamu, Burgos, San Manuel, Aurora, Roxas), the northern portion of Quirino (Maddela, Aglipay, Cabarroguis, Saguday, Diffun), the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Kasibu), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig), Ifugao, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan).

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, the rest of Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, the northern portion of Zambales (Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, Santa Cruz), Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, the rest of Aurora, the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Norzagaray, San Rafael), the northern portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Arayat, Candaba, Mabalacat City), the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, San Jose, Presentacion), and Catanduanes.

In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued at 2 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Paolo maintains its strength while moving westward over the Philippine Sea.

PAGASA said aside from hazards affecting land areas due to the strong winds brought by Paolo, heavy rain is expected to affect Aurora today, October 2, and the provinces of La Union and Benguet on Friday. Heavy rains mean that rainfall will be dumping at least 200 mm of rain, causing widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides.

In the next two days, 100 to 200 mm of rain is forecasted over Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, and Zambales.

This means that numerous flooding events are likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslide is likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecasted to occur in Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon Cagayan, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Pampanga, and Bulacan

These areas are likely to experience localized flooding, mainly in areas that are urbanized, low-lying, or near rivers. Landslides is also possible in highly susceptible areas.

PAGASA said the highest Wind Signal that will likely be hoisted throughout Paolo’s passage is Wind Signal No. 3, or worse, Wind Signal No. 4, which is not being completely ruled out.

The state weather bureau said heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall.

Paolo will continue to intensify over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category tonight.

Currently, the eye of the storm was spotted 530 km. East of Infanta, Quezon, and is moving westward at 20 km/h.

It is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

The storm is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by 11 a.m. of October 4..

Fortune Life Insurance Company, one of the Hole Sponsors, joined the Philippine Insurance Cup Golf Tournament on September 4, 2025 at the Riviera Golf Club in Silang, Cavite.

Organized by the Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), in partnership with the Insurance Institute for Asia and the Pacific (IIAP) and the Philippine Insurers Club (PIC), the event brought together industry leaders for a day of camaraderie and competition.

Representing Fortune Life was Business Development Director George Mercado, building connections and championing our commitment to meaningful partnerships and industry engagement.

Fortune Life is part of the ALC Group of Companies, founded by the late Amb. Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

FOR the third time, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday failed to appear at the plenary debates on the proposed P902.03-million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026, instead setting two conditions before agreeing to face lawmakers.

Duterte named the two demands in a letter dated September 30, 2025, addressed to House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing and read on the floor by Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez, sponsor of the OVP budget.

‘The House of Representatives demands the attendance of President Marcos for the 27.3-billion pesos budget deliberation of the Office of the President,’ Duterte demanded.

Duterte also demanded that the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability produce a Department of Justice (DOJ) certification confirming the lifting of the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against seven OVP personnel, namely, Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Mr. Lemuel G. Ortonio, Atty. Rosnelne L. Sanchez, Atty. Francis Chanray A. Fajarda, Ms. Gina E. Austero, Ms. Julieta L. Villadiego, and Mr. Edward D. Fajarda.

‘Mr. Speaker, there is no one from the Office of the Vice President, and I am prepared to stand alone here and stand for the budget of the OVP,’ Alvarez said on the plenary floor, stressing that the committee had given Duterte’s office ‘utmost respect’ in the budget process. He added that the committee will no longer respond to Duterte’s letter, calling October 2 the ‘last day’ for deliberations.

Blatant insult

Opposition lawmakers did not hold back their criticism and vowed to push for the reduction of the OVP budget.

Rep. Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal Party List denounced Duterte’s repeated absences as a blatant insult to the constitutional budget process.

‘Disrespecting the budgetary process of this body is a clear case of disrespect of our Constitution,’ de Lima said. ‘If she can afford to show up at the Senate and applaud a privileged speech, why can she not spare a few moments to defend the budget of her office? Enough is enough. Enough of her brattiness.’

De Lima said she intends to move for a reduction of the OVP’s budget, sparing only funds for Personal Services (PS) and maintenance and operating expenses (MOOE) while scrapping allocations for operational programs.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio echoed the sentiment, stressing that the issue was not political grandstanding but accountability.

‘I condemn her disrespect toward the people for not even showing up to take responsibility,’ Tinio said, vowing to file a motion to slash the OVP’s budget and retain only the funds needed for employees’ salaries.

The PLDT Group said on Thursday it has identified nearly two million URLs containing online child sexual abuse and exploitation material (CSAEM) since June 2021, as PLDT and Smart’s Cyber Security Operations Group blocked more than 650,000 attempts to access such links in January to August.

‘Guided by our child safeguarding policy, we have adopted a child safety-by-design approach across our products and services,’ said Roby Alampay, FVP and Head of Public Engagement at PLDT and Smart.

‘Recognizing the scale of the problem, we continue to welcome collaboration with child safety advocates to help create a safer digital space where children can thrive.’

He noted that central to PLDT’s efforts is its Child Protection Platform, which blocks CSAEM at the content level.

Furthermore, the group’s partnerships with the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation and the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s Project Arachnid have bolstered the company’s detection and blacklisting capabilities.

The group has likewise embedded its child-protection framework into community awareness campaigns. Through its program, PLDT and Smart have reached over 100,000 participants nationwide, including students, teachers, parents, barangay officials, MSMEs, farmers, seniors, persons with disabilities, and indigenous peoples.

Unicef noted that in 2021 alone, two million children in the Philippines were subjected to online sexual abuse and exploitation. Children reported that they experienced grooming and received offers of gifts or money in exchange for sexual acts.

‘Some were threatened or blackmailed to engage in sexual acts. Due to stigma, disclosure is disproportionately low-despite various reporting channels. Only 0-4 per cent of victims ever reported, and only 0-3 per cent know how to report to the police or to helplines.’

Unicef also noted 44 percent of children do not know where to get help if they or a friend were subjected to sexual abuse or harassment online; while 50 percent of them added people as friends on social media even if they had never met face-to-face.

ACEN Corp. is extending a loan of P900 million to its unit to partly finance its onshore wind power project in Quezon province.

‘On October 1, 2025, ACEN executed a short-term loan agreement for P900,000,000.00 with its wholly-owned subsidiary, Giga Ace 6, Inc.,’ it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange Thursday.

Giga Ace 6 is the project company for the Quezon North Wind Power Project, formerly the Isla Wind Project, to be located in the municipalities of Mauban and Real, Quezon, and the municipalities of Paete and Kalayaan, Laguna.

ACEN did not provide further details.

Giga Ace 6 earlier secured a P34.41-billion loan to partly finance the proposed wind power project which will be done in phases. The target completion of the first phase, with an estimated capacity of 344-megawatt peak (MWp), is in late 2026. The second phase, possibly 208 megawatts, could be finished by 2028.

ACEN disclosed in October last year its investment into the Quezon North Wind Power Project Phases 1 and 2, including supporting infrastructure and transmission/connection assets.

Last March, ACEN and units signed an omnibus loan and security agreement with Bank of the Philippines Islands, BDO Unibank, Inc., and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. for P34.4 billion. The green term loan facility for Giga Ace 6 was guaranteed by its parent, ACEN, and ACEN Global Development Group. ACEN reported in August that its consolidated net income declined by 88 percent year-on-year to P763 million mainly due to a P2.7-billion impairment relating to the relating to the Lac Hoa and Hoa Dong wind farms in Vietnam.

Excluding this one-off booking and the P1.35-billion valuation gain in 2024, net income fell 24 percent over the same period, due to depressed Wholesale Electricity Spot Market prices and increased depreciation effects.

‘Despite these headwinds, attributable renewables output grew 9 percent year-on-year to 3,228 GWh [gigawatt hours], driven by new contributions from international plants.’

ASIAN Eye Institute (AEI) recently hosted world-renowned ophthalmologist Ike Ahmed for a research collaboration with Robert Ang, head of the Cornea and Refractive Surgery Services and chief of Asian Eye’s Research and Training Center.

Recognized as the ‘most influential ophthalmologist’ worldwide in 2024 by The Ophthalmologist magazine, Ahmed is globally known for pioneering Micro-Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). This is a new class of safe, minimally invasive procedures designed to lower intraocular pressure and slow the progression of glaucoma.

‘Doctor Ang and I have been studying glaucoma over the years, and we have a whole movement called interventional glaucoma,’ Ahmed explains. ‘It provides earlier treatments through safe, minimally invasive intervention to address the unmet needs in glaucoma, which are the problems of progression and eye drops.’

Global leader meets local innovation

Asian Eye has long been at the forefront of glaucoma management in the Philippines. Under Ang’s leadership, the institute has conducted pioneering clinical trials to expand access to next-generation treatments. This collaboration with Ahmed strengthens AEI’s role as a regional hub for innovation in eye care research, bringing global expertise to benefit local patients.

‘I’m a believer in interventional glaucoma because I believe that glaucoma should be addressed earlier,’ said Ang. ‘Over the past 20 years, we’ve been applying eye drops. What are we waiting for-for the patients to get worse? We don’t want to do it that way anymore. More than us, it benefits the patients.’

Together, the two experts are advancing novel, non-invasive laser applications that target the eye’s natural drainage system. ‘Dr. Ang and I have been researching a very novel laser application to non-invasively treat the drainage area of the eye by applying a laser in a very safe way,’ says Dr. Ahmed. ‘Dr. Ang has been an important collaborator. I love that he brings the latest technology to Southeast Asia.’

Earlier, safer, better for patients

FOR Ahmed, the future of glaucoma care lies in acting early with safer interventions. ‘Every step of the way, we become less and less invasive because the whole point of going early is establishing high safety,’ he says. ‘Interventional glaucoma and MIGS allow us to address glaucoma earlier. We need technology and the skills-and that’s what we have in our collaboration with Asian Eye.’

Both experts stress that Filipino patients stand to benefit significantly from adopting such approaches. With many paying out-of-pocket for care, solutions that preserve vision earlier can reduce the greater economic and personal cost of blindness.

THE Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) will sell real estate properties as well as transportation and power equipment through an electronic public bidding (e-bidding) toward the end of the month.

According to the PDIC, about 67 real properties, two vehicles, and a generator set would be bid out on October 29 and October 30 through the insurer’s e-bidding portal.

Proceeds from the sale of closed bank-owned properties go directly to a fund the PDIC manages for these closed banks to settle creditors’ claims, according to the government financial institution.

The properties include 34 vacant agricultural lots; 15 vacant residential lots; eight residential lots with improvements; three agricultural lots with improvements; and two commercial lots with improvements.

The two mixed residential/agricultural lots with improvements; one mixed commercial/residential lot with improvements; one mixed vacant residential/agricultural lot; and one agricultural lot. The largest property for sale is 8.2 hectares.

The real properties are located in Aklan, Apayao, Batangas, Bohol, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cavite, Cebu, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, La Union, Laguna, Leyte, Mindoro Occidental, and Misamis Oriental.

The other properties are also located in Negros Oriental, Pangasinan, Sultan Kudarat, Tarlac, and Zamboanga del Norte. The vehicles and generator are in Barcenaga, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Team North delivered solid performances despite the heavy rain and strong winds from Typhoon Paolo, winning the International Container Terminal Services Inc. North vs South Elite Junior Philippine Golf Tour Championship crown on Friday in Cabuyao, Laguna.

Needing just 10 wins on the last day, North added an extra for good measure.

In the final singles matches, North secured 11 wins and 2 halves out of 24 games, surpassing the 24.5-point mark to seal a 26½-21½ victory at The Country Club.

North led from the start, winning the Four-ball format 8-4 and edging South 6½-5½ in Foursomes.

South rallied late, winning 11 matches and narrowing the gap to 21-23 with several matches still in play.

Then came the turning point.

Vito Sarines, tied with South’s Ralph Batican, chipped in from 20 yards on the rain-soaked 18th hole for birdie, sealing a 2-up win in the boys’ 11-14 division and pushing North to 24 points.

The clincher came quietly at hole 15, where Jakob Taruc defeated Eric Jeon 4 and 3 in the boys’ 15-18 division, securing the title with North’s 25th point.

Rafa Anciano pulled off a comeback 3 and 2 win over Precious Zaragosa, and Zach Villaroman halved his match with Alexis Nailga to finalize the score.

‘The lead in Day 1 was very, very important,’ said Team North captain’s representative Joey Anciano. ‘It’s like a step inside the door already. Day 2 was to maintain or increase the lead and we also won, leaving us with 10 matches and a draw to win the cup.’

North took early control in nine of the first 15 pairings, while four matches remained tied in the 7-10 and 11-14 age groups.

South’s top juniors from Visayas and Mindanao fought back. In boys’ 11-14, four South players led early, but North’s Edoc and Sarines clawed back to halve their matches, slowing South’s momentum.

North held firm in the younger divisions, showing poise under pressure. Even after standout Patrick Tambalque withdrew due to injury while leading his match, North’s depth carried them through.

‘Every match the players did their best and that’s what’s important. That’s why we have this kind of tournament. Golf is an individual sport, but we are blessed to have this event which is also all about teamwork,’ Anciano said.

‘All our players are gifted-they’re talented, strong hitters, and strong in their individual games,’ Anciano said. ‘Actually, it can go both ways, but again we had a strategy through all three days and it worked. So we’re happy to win this one.’

In singles, Halo Pangilinan opened with a 6 and 5 win over James Rolida in boys’ 7-10. Mavis Espedido followed with a 5 and 3 win, countering South’s early point from Kvan Alburo. Ronee Dungca, Zach Guico, and Jacob Casuga added dominant wins in boys’ 11-14. Winter Serapio and twins Lisa and Mona Sarines swept their matches in the girls’ divisions.

South responded with wins from Lucas Revilleza, Denise Mendoza, Zuri Bagaloyos, Rafella Batican, Crista Miñoza, and Tashanah Balangauan. Marcus Dueñas, Jared Saban, and Mhark Fernando added late victories, leveling the singles at 8 wins each.

But North’s five-point cushion from team play proved decisive.

Tiffany Bernardino’s late collapse allowed Mikela Guillermo to halve their match, briefly delaying North’s celebration.

Standout players for North included Espedido, Dungca, Casuga, Serapio, and the Sarines twins, who swept all their matches. For South, Balangauan and Miñoza went unbeaten.