Category: Business Mirror

THE Philippines will have to turn delayed infrastructure projects into actual construction if it wants to get economic growth back on track, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

ADB President Masato Kanda said the Philippine economy could still grow by 3.8 percent this year, but only if public investment sees a ‘significant acceleration’ in the second half.

The forecast, while slower than the 4.4 percent growth recorded in 2025, remains within the government’s recalibrated 3.5- to 4.5-percent growth target for 2026.

‘The primary challenge facing infrastructure is increasingly related to execution rather than financing. Public construction fell in the second quarter, despite the budget being in place, largely due to the time abuse and oversight,’ Kanda said during a media briefing on Monday.

While stronger oversight of infrastructure projects is necessary, Kanda said this has also slowed project implementation, making faster and more efficient delivery critical to sustaining public investment.

‘Oversight is the right direction. We’ve got to do that,’ he added.

The slowdown in project implementation came as the broader economy weakened further in the second quarter, with growth easing to 2.3 percent from 2.8 percent in the first quarter and 5.4 percent a year earlier.

The weakness was reflected in both domestic demand and investment. Household consumption growth slowed to 2.8 percent, while investment contracted by 9.2 percent.

Construction, in particular, became a major drag on growth, contracting by 14.8 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, significantly steeper than the 4.3-percent decline in the previous quarter.

Kanda said the multilateral lender is now working with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation to improve project delivery, including procurement and contract management.

The push to accelerate infrastructure spending, however, comes with external risks that could further weaken growth.

Kanda said a resurgence of the conflict in the Middle East could weigh on the Philippine economy through higher energy, food and fertilizer prices, as well as tighter financial conditions.

The conflict could also affect remittance flows and tourism, he said.

Addressing corruption

Kanda stressed that the push to accelerate project implementation must be matched by strong safeguards against corruption-a balance that ADB also applies to the projects it finances.

He noted that the ADB maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward corruption in projects it finances, with risks managed through strong procurement systems, independent oversight and clear accountability.

He said the bank investigates issues when they arise and takes corrective action to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

Beyond individual projects, Kanda said stronger public financial management is essential to preventing corruption by making government spending more transparent and easier to track.

‘A key component of this effort of the public financial management reform is strengthening transparency through the digitalization of the public sector management roadmap. By monitoring the system, we help ensure that public funds are budgeted, monitored, and spent transparently,’ he added.

Kanda said the ADB supports the Philippine government’s public financial management reforms as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen transparency and accountability in public spending.

If public spending normalizes and inflation eases, Kanda said growth could accelerate to 5.3 percent in 2027.

‘Over the medium term, the growth outlook remains somewhat positive, supported by reforms, including expanding opportunities for foreign investment, which ADB will strongly support,’ he said.

After roughly 30 years in the Philippine entertainment landscape, A-list celebrity Dingdong Dantes has truly mastered the art of balance in his many creative and business undertakings.

‘Many will reason that in this business, you have to strike while the iron is hot. I totally understand where that is coming from, because being in this industry gives you no real assurance that you will remain hot and sought-after for a long time. Lucky are the ones who survive and stay long. Luckier are they who have saved and invested, live to see these investments grow, and enjoy the benefits of their hard work,’ said Dantes.

He added, ‘But I always tell myself to take care of the basic needs first: proper rest, healthy eating, regular exercise, recreation, and quality time with family and those who matter most. These are your non-negotiable anchors because they keep you centered when life becomes demanding and overwhelming.’

Dantes continues to discover and learn how to work with his ‘personal strengths.’ His hosting skills on the GMA game show Family Feud are so polished now and he has successfully elevated communicating with his guests, plus both live and TV audiences, to a level that has become so natural, comfortable and effortless.

‘I am enjoying Family Feud so much, and I never feel drained even if we tape two to three episodes in a single day. I guess it’s because everything is spontaneous, and the answers of the guests add spice, depth and humor. That’s why the flow is so natural and so engaging,’ Dantes revealed.

Then there’s the core of his being in this business: acting. Dantes plays the titular character in the top-rating TV action drama series The Master Cutter, also on GMA, which has been extended to another season because of its wonderful ratings. Then there is the new movie with his wife Marian Rivera, titled Remember, shot partly on location in Canada. ‘Acting is in my core because I am one person who loves to create, and getting into a character allows me to be part of the creation process, of giving life to a fictional individual, giving him a wide range of emotions in the process, where real life is being imitated,’ he explained.

Dantes added, ‘You know what keeps me going? It’s the hunger to create. It’s thae same hunger to tell stories on different platforms, to different people; that kind of indescribable passion to create something meaningful, something relevant, something real. I feel that as long as I continue to search for meaning in everything I do, then only can I find true fulfilment and the drive to keep going.’

Now comes the new season of The Voice Kids on GMA where Dantes is back as the show’s central host. ‘I get excited every time I work with kids. I am amazed by the amount of talent our country has when it comes to these children. I actually learn a lot from them-their sincerity, their rawness, their ability to adjust, their courage. That’s why I am back as host because I cannot let this opportunity pass, even if my work schedule remains very tight at this time,’ he said. The Voice Kids premieres on Sunday, September 13, on GMA.

His integrity in the workplace all these years has certainly resulted in both respect and abundance, not only in showbiz circles but also in many societies. Dantes is a major proponent of the league of actors known as Aktor PH, an organization that protects actors’ rights and safeguards their work conditions. He also champions environmental protection and preservation, disaster resilience, youth empowerment, and work-life balance through various organizations and foundations where he is actively involved.

‘It’s not difficult to lend your voice and your presence. It is my privilege to be a blessing to others in my own small way. I continue to be grateful because I am blessed beyond measure,’ he told us.

Dingdong Dantes’ current state of abundance in the many aspects of his personal and professional life emanates and grows from within, then manifests outwardly in the most organic ways. He continues to cultivate abundance because he is centered in gratitude, work ethics, service and generosity. And he has truly mastered the art of balance in living his beautiful life.

THE casualty count attributed to storms Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Pilandok, and the southwest monsoon continues to climb.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the latest figure, as of 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, since the nonstop rain started on August 1, has climbed to 43 dead, 20 injured, and five missing.

While Pilandok is already outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, continues to threaten Luzon with intermittent rains that threaten to trigger flash floods, landslides, and cause more flooding in low-lying areas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The state weather bureau said moderate rain of 50 to 100 mm is forecasted over Zambales, Bataan, and Occidental Mindoro, until September 9. Cavite and Batangas are also expected to experience moderate rain from September 7 to 9.

The southwest monsoon, a weather system that usually begins between late May to early June, brings warm, humid air, frequent heavy rainfall, and southwesterly winds, primarily affecting the western parts of the country like Metro Manila, Zambales, and Palawan. It usually wraps up or ends between late September and the second week of October.

Because of the nonstop rain, the flood-affected population grew to 2.9 million families or 10.2 million people in 697 barangays.

As flooding subsides in some areas, some families have started to return home. A total of 18,100 families or 62,300 people remain in 807 different evacuation centers.

According to the NDRRMC, a total of 552 areas remain flooded. At least 180 cities and towns remain under a state of calamity.

The landslides and flooding have damaged 4,467 houses.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said damage to public and private infrastructure has now reached P7.79 billion, while damage to crops has now reached P4.4 billion.

The government said the cost of assistance provided to affected families has reached P2.59 billion.

The clearance of the Mynt’s IPO includes the grant of its request for a lower minimum initial public float of 12 percent-as opposed to 15 percent-in accordance with SEC Memorandum Circular 11 (series of 2026), or the ‘Minimum Public Ownership Rules for Issuers of Shares of Stock to be Listed on an Exchange.’

Under the ruling, the agency may approve, upon recommendation of the Philippine Stock Exchange, the lowering of the public float of issuers with exceptionally large expected market capitalization at the time of listing. Mynt’s expected initial market capitalization upon listing is P668.96 billion, according to data submitted to the SEC as part of its registration.

This exceeds the P200-billion initial market capitalization threshold under MC 11.

The company will offer up to 1.61 billion common shares as part of the primary offer, while up to 6.42 billion shares will be offered and sold by a selling shareholder. The offer also includes an overallotment option of up to 1.2 billion shares.

The shares will be sold at an indicative price of up to P10 apiece.

Assuming the overallotment option is oversubscribed, the company looks to net up to P89.25 billion from the total offer.

Around P14.95-billion worth of net proceeds is expected from the primary offer, which will be used for digital financial services growth, product development and general corporate purposes.

The offer period will run October 6 to October 12, in time for the issuance and listing on the Main Board of the PSE under the ticker ‘GCASH’ on October 20.

Mynt has picked BPI Capital Corp. and BDO Capital and Investment Corp. as the domestic lead underwriters and joint bookrunners for the offer.

Jefferies Singapore Ltd., CLSA Ltd. and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd.-Singapore Branch will serve as international joint bookrunners. Morgan Stanley and Co. International Plc., J.P. Morgan Securities Plc. and UBS AG-Singapore Branch will serve as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has received 14 offers from 12 firms interested in joining the special Green Energy Auction (GEA) for waste-to-energy (WTE) projects.

Companies that submitted bids include Green Atom Renewable Energy Corp., LECRA Eco Sustain Philippines Inc.; Manila Integrated Environmental Corp., San Mateo Sanitary Landfill and Development Corp. (which submitted two offers), and International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (also with two offers).

MetPower Venture Partners Holdings Inc., Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc., Forza Development Corp., North Maharlika Energy Corp., the City Government of Davao, and two offers from Pan Pacific Renewable Power Phils. Corp. (PPRPC) are also interested in the WTE auction.

‘We already released the list of qualified GEA-WTE bidders last September 4. We have 14 projects and 11 qualified bidders. The pre-bid conference is on September 15, the auction proper is on October 13, and the issuance of the certificate of award will be from December 16 to 18,’ DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevarra said during an online press briefing held Monday.

The DOE adjusted the installation target capacity from 230 megawatts (MW) to 400 MW. However, this adjustment does not automatically translate into project awards. The DOE said projects must demonstrate ‘an adequate and sustainable waste supply, technical and financial capability, environmental compliance, competitive costs, and the ability to meet required development timelines.

As an emerging renewable energy (RE) technology, WTE project development is one of the country’s strategies to address solid waste management, mitigate floods, and provide additional clean energy.

Metro Manila alone generates an estimated 9,000 metric tons of municipal solid waste daily. Based on DOE estimates, the current waste stream in the metropolis could support around 200 MW of WTE capacity, subject to the availability and suitability of feedstock and other technical requirements.

The DOE said, however, that WTE is still subject to strict evaluation to ensure long-term viability and environmental safety.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on local government units (LGU) to emulate the solid waste management initiatives of Marikina, which he said is a good example of a circular economy, to rid trash from their waterways as the government ramps up its anti-flooding campaign.

The Chief Executive made the statement after he inspected ongoing construction of the Marikina River Linear Park and the and the Centralized Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Barangay Sto. Niño, Marikina City last Monday.

The 11-kilometer park will integrate 428.57 hectares of urban green spaces and will serve as bio-shield, localized flood buffer and natural cooler, as well as physical barrier for illegal waste dumping to prevent flooding in Marikina.

Marcos lauded the comprehensive flood control measures of Marikina, which includes implementing a no build zone, installation of trash catcher in the Marikina River, as well as composting or recycling waste.

‘Food waste is turned into compost, while plastics are used to make bags and bricks,’ he said in Filipino.

The initiative is backed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in terms of the installation of the floating trash traps and the deployment of ‘estero’ rangers for waterway clean up in 12 barangays in Marikina.

Marcos said Marikina’s solid waste management initiatives is a good example of a circular economy, wherein the wastes are segregated and then reused, repaired, refurbished, and recycled.

‘This should serve as the template-and is indeed becoming the template-for various cities across the Philippines, especially, of course, here in the NCR [National Capital Region],’ Marcos said.

He earlier said he wants LGUs to intensify their efforts in implementing the ‘no build zone: law, as well as solid waste segregation, to reduce incidents of flooding, which was worsened because of extreme weather caused by climate change.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President ordered DENR to ensure LGUs comply with solid waste management and for the Department of the Interior and Local Government to encourage local officials to replicate the model used by Marikina City.

She said Marcos also emphasized the important role of the public cooperation with authorities in terms of waste disposal.

Two years ago, during a break in my radio-TV program, I spoke with former Public Works Secretary Rogelio ‘Babes’ Singson. I didn’t attach much importance to that conversation then, but I do now. Singson told me President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was looking at the possibility of creating a department devoted to water. He was being considered to head it, he said, but had declined.

The conversation returned to me this week for an unexpected reason. Scrolling through Facebook, I came across an old video of a 2023 meeting between President Marcos and Pampanga officials following another episode of severe flooding. Singson was there. And so was an argument that sounds remarkably contemporary three years later.

Singson had revived a proposal developed during his tenure at the Department of Public Works and Highways: take roughly 200 hectares of the 2,000-hectare Candaba Swamp and examine whether it could become an impounding area for excess water.

There was fierce resistance. Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc warned about the livelihood of farmers and at one point threatened to walk out. Marcos listened and asked the question that matters in public policy: if not this, what do you propose? Dredging was offered as one answer.

The President’s response was instructive. Dredging might have to be done, he acknowledged, but it’s expensive and temporary. After several months, sediment returns and government dredges again.

Three years later, Pampanga was flooded again. And perhaps that old exchange contains the beginning of a different way of thinking about flood control. Instead of asking first what structure should we build, perhaps the government should ask: Where does the water come from, where should it go, where can some of it safely wait, and what prevents it from getting there? That question takes us upstream.

In Baras, Rizal, the National Bureau of Investigation arrested two individuals last April following surveillance of an alleged illegal quarrying operation in Barangay San Salvador. The NBI said mining authorities certified that no permits for mineral extraction in the municipality had been issued.

Now, it would be scientifically irresponsible to say that illegal quarrying in Baras caused the flooding now occurring in Pampanga. They belong to different river systems.

But Baras raises a question that belongs inside every modern flood-control study: What is happening to the land where rainfall first meets the ground? Forests, vegetation, soil, slopes and geology influence how quickly water moves through a watershed. Disturb those conditions and the hydrological equation can change.

Now travel downstream to Pampanga. That provides a reason for the government to go upstream, possibly in Baras, Rizal to see how quickly water enters the system. And that perhaps raises the possibility of President Marcos paying a visit to what had been tagged by the NBI as an illegal quarrying operation. That explains how water from the watershed travels and how fast because of uncontrolled quarrying.

President Marcos has now directed the government to return to flood-control studies that have accumulated over decades. Malacañang says DPWH is updating master plans and feasibility studies for the country’s major river basins, with 16 already updated and the Cagayan and Pasig-Marikina-Laguna de Bay plans targeted for completion this year.

That review should not become another exercise in producing studies. It should begin by asking what happened to the studies already produced. What was recommended? What was built? What was abandoned? What changed? What assumptions about rainfall are no longer valid? And what did we learn when the water finally tested what the government had constructed?

The old Candaba proposal deserves examination under that discipline-not automatic approval. Map the basin. Model the water. Protect the watershed. Identify where excess water can safely wait. Keep rivers and drainage paths capable of carrying what must move.

Perhaps Singson’s idea of putting

water under one institutional roof deserves another look as well. The Philippines currently divides responsibility for water among agencies concerned with public works, irrigation, environment, drinking water, dams, local government and disaster response.

Yet the same raindrop can pass through the jurisdiction of several of them before reaching Manila Bay. Maybe the deeper question is not whether the country needs another department. It is whether somebody in government must finally be responsible for the entire journey of water.

Baras reminds us to look at where that journey begins. Candaba reminds us that sometimes water needs somewhere to wait. Macabebe reminds us that eventually water needs somewhere to go.

And the floods now confronting the country may be telling us something that decades of individual projects have obscured: Flood control should not begin with concrete.

It should begin by following the water.

As the Philippines gears up for one of the biggest e-commerce events of the year, Star Digital Solutions (SDS) is preparing for the upcoming 9.9 Mega Campaign, bringing together leading brands, creators, and e-commerce strategies designed to capture one of the year’s biggest online shopping moments.

Recognized as a top MCN and TikTok Shop Partner (TSP) agency in the Philippines, Star Digital Solutions is entering 9.9 with an expanding portfolio of major accounts across FMCG, beauty and personal care, fashion, health, and technology-strengthening its position as one of the country’s emerging forces in e-commerce and livestream commerce.

The agency’s growing roster reflects a broader shift in how brands approach digital growth: e-commerce is no longer simply another sales channel, but an increasingly important engine for brand awareness, customer acquisition, and revenue growth.

Preparing Brands for the 9.9 E-Commerce Mega Campaign

For the upcoming 9.9 campaign, Star Digital Solutions is working with some of the Philippines’ leading brands across multiple industries, developing strategies that combine shop management, livestream commerce, performance marketing, content creation, creatives, and production. Star Digital is geared for more than 100 livestream sessions, covering greater than 1000 livestream hours with creators and brand-led activation, almost double from the recently held 6.6 mega campaign.

The goal goes beyond simply driving traffic during a mega campaign.

By combining commerce, content, creators, and paid media, SDS helps brands build an integrated digital presence designed to turn attention into engagement-and engagement into sales.

This approach has become particularly relevant during major e-commerce moments such as 9.9, 10.10, 11.11, and 12.12, where brands compete not only for consumers’ purchasing power but also for visibility in an increasingly crowded digital marketplace.

In less than two years, Star Digital Solutions has rapidly established itself as one of the Philippines’ top e-commerce agencies, showcasing strong capabilities across Store and Shop Management, Livestream Commerce (Brand-led Live session and Creator Live Session), Creative Development, and Production, Media Planning and Buying, Affiliate Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Warehousing and Fulfillment.

Its growth reflects the agency’s ability to operate at the intersection of commerce and entertainment-two forces increasingly shaping how Filipino consumers discover, engage with, and purchase products online.

Rather than treating livestreaming as a standalone promotional activity, Star Digital Solutions integrates livestream commerce into broader e-commerce and marketing strategies, allowing brands to maximize both content and conversion. Star Digital Solutions has also worked on livestream campaigns featuring some of the Philippines’ most recognizable celebrities, creators, and personalities, including Denise Laurel, Criza Taa, Iwa Moto, Bea Borres, Lauren Young, Nadine Lustre, Rei Germar, Luis Manzano, BINI, and Jelly Eugenio.

These projects demonstrate the agency’s growing expertise in producing and managing high-impact livestream campaigns capable of combining entertainment, community engagement, and commerce.

Among its notable achievements are livestream campaigns that have contributed to record-breaking sales performances for content creators, highlighting the growing commercial potential of creator-led livestreaming in the Philippines.

For brands, the opportunity is clear: livestream commerce can transform creators and personalities from simply being sources of awareness into powerful drivers of real-time engagement and sales.

Scott Adrian So – COO, Star Digital Solutions ‘A successful livestream is never the work of one person or department-it is the result of synergy. From hosts and creatives to operations, performance, and production, every function must work toward one objective. When teams move as one, a livestream becomes more than a broadcast-it becomes a complete commerce experience that turns attention into engagement and engagement into sales.’

Why More Brands Are Turning to E-Commerce

The rapid growth of e-commerce is changing the way brands build their digital presence.

Consumers are increasingly discovering products through short-form videos, livestreams, creator recommendations, and social commerce platforms. As a result, brands are looking for partners capable of connecting brand building, content, creators, media, and commerce into one cohesive strategy.

Star Digital Solutions currently manages key accounts from some of the most recognized names in their respective industries, including L’Oréal Group, PandG, Unilever, Nestlé, Christy Ng, Rejuran, ROUND LAB, Strokes Beauty Lab, BLK Cosmetics, Happy Skin and many more.

These brands represent major players across beauty, fashion, FMCG, personal care, and consumer products-industries where digital commerce and livestream shopping continue to create new opportunities for growth.

Building What Comes Next for Philippine E-Commerce

As the 9.9 Mega Campaign approaches, Star Digital Solutions is positioning itself not just to participate in the country’s e-commerce growth, but to help shape it.

Kevin Richard Lim- CEO, Star Digital Solutions ‘E-commerce in the Philippines is no longer just a sales channel-it is becoming a critical driver of brand growth. As consumers increasingly discover products through content, creators, and livestreams, brands need more than an online presence; they need a commerce strategy that connects discovery, engagement, and conversion. At Star Digital Solutions, we continue to invest in e-commerce, livestream commerce, performance marketing, and creator capabilities to help brands turn that opportunity into growth.’

With capabilities spanning MCN and TSP Operations, Store and Shop Management, Livestream commerce, Media Planning and Buying, Creative Production, and Creator Partnerships (Affiliate Marketing/ Influencer Marketing), Warehousing and Fulfillment. SDS continues to build an ecosystem where brands and creators can work together to drive measurable results.

Zebedy Rafael San Agustin – Senior Operations Manager, Star Digital Solutions ‘Technology, data, and strategy drive performance, but people drive success. At Star Digital Solutions, we believe in understanding our brands, creators, hosts, and consumers-and bringing their strengths together with the right direction. Our people-first approach enables us to build campaigns that deliver results while creating partnerships and capabilities that last beyond a single campaign.’

The upcoming 9.9 campaign is another opportunity for the agency to demonstrate what it does best: turning attention into engagement, engagement into commerce, and commerce into sustainable brand growth.

For brands looking to scale their presence in the fast-growing Philippine e-commerce landscape-and for creators looking for opportunities to work with brands through livestream commerce and social commerce-Star Digital Solutions is building itself as a partner for what comes next.

GMA News further reaffirms its commitment to ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ with its latest campaign, ‘Team Totoo,’ bringing together its roster of seasoned journalists and highlighting the people behind the news Filipinos trust-truth-tellers, experts in their respective fields, and some of the most experienced journalists in the country.

Anchored on the brand’s enduring promise (‘Walang kinikilingan. Walang pinoprotektahan. Noon at ngayon, Serbisyong Totoo’), the campaign puts the spotlight on the journalists who relentlessly pursue the truth, wherever the story leads and whatever the subject may be.

For Team Totoo, reporting the news goes beyond what is seen, heard, or trending.

It means asking the questions that matter as they cover the full spectrum of news-from national issues, politics, business, and public affairs, to developments in entertainment, lifestyle, and popular culture. The team is armed with deep knowledge of their beats and years of experience in the field, bringing context, expertise and perspective to every story.

Team Totoo is about the people behind every credible report. They are responsible journalists who diligently check information, verify claims, consult the right experts and sources, conduct research, seek answers, and pursue all sides of the story before it reaches the public.

With more than 1,000 journalists, staff, and crew working across platforms, GMA News has one of the country’s largest and most experienced news organizations. Its journalists are in the know and on the ground where stories unfold, bringing Filipinos here and abroad news and information that is timely, relevant, verified, accurate and credible.

Through Team Totoo, GMA News celebrates the collective experience and expertise of its journalists while reinforcing what has always set the organization apart: an unwavering commitment to truth and the responsibility that comes with informing the public.

As the media landscape continues to evolve, GMA News continues to evolve with it-bringing its commitment to truth across television newscasts, regional newscasts, radio, digital platforms, and social media. Wherever Filipinos get their news, Team Totoo remains committed to informing, empowering and serving the public with journalism they can trust.

More information can be found on www.gmanetwork.com/news, or the network’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

THE historic parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) constitute an important step toward achieving the elusive peace and development in the region and across the Philippines, according to a Muslim scholar and advocate of peace and development.

Dr. Acram A. Latiph, executive director of the Institute for Peace and Development in Mindanao at the Mindanao State University (MSU), said the elusive self-governance and autonomy in Muslim Mindanao is finally within reach – 50 years since the historic Tripoli Agreement, the first peace document signed between the government and leaders of the Moro secessionist movement.

In an interview over the weekend, Latiph said the 50 years leading to the BARMM elections witnessed many political upheavals, historical milestones, and constitutional challenges, but the end is now in sight.

The Tripoli Agreement was signed in 1976 under the administration of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

‘Ang nagtanim ng puno ay iyong yumaong [President] Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. At ngayon, after 50 years, iyong puno lumalaki na. Sa September 14…nag-bloom na siya for harvesting. Parang destiny. Ang nagsimula ay ang yumaong father ni PBBM, [iyong anak] ang mag-e-end ngayon. At makakamit na natin ang kapayapaan hindi lang dito sa Mindanao, sa buong Pilipinas na,’ said Latiph.

The MSU economics professor, who has a doctorate degree, recalled that the path to the monumental BARMM democratic exercise was arduous and difficult.

Said Latiph: ‘It took a long while really kasi ang iniiwasan doon ay paano hindi magkakaroon ng malawakang hidwaan…para ma-preserve iyong society at iyong agreement na nagsimula sa Tripoli Agreement para matugunan iyong mga hinaing at adhikain ng mga Moro for self-autonomy and self-governance, na ngayon ay maisasakatuparan na.’

Latiph said the implementation of the original peace accord had been difficult because of differences in its interpretation.

‘Tapos naging balakid rin iyong [pananaw] na kailangan…ng constitutional amendment para maisakatuparan ang nandoon sa agreement. Naging balakid ang pagkakaiba ng pagkaunawa sa Tripoli agreement,’ he added.

It took another 20 years for the Final Peace Agreement to be concluded in 1996-within the context of the 1987 Constitution-under the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos.

The Muslim peace and development advocate also acknowledged that the sensitive issue between the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front was a critical factor which slowed down the peace process.

Latiph traced back the foundation for the BARMM elections, emphasizing that then President Marcos Sr. planted the seeds for achieving peace in Muslim Mindanao through the consequential forging of the Tripoli Agreement on December 23, 1976, which was mediated by Libya and the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to address the aspirations of the Moro people for self-autonomy and self-governance.

Highlighting the administration’s strong commitment to lasting peace, stability in Muslim Mindanao, democracy, and development, President Marcos Jr. recently urged the Bangsamoro people and voters to take control of and full responsibility for their future and political path.

In a speech during the opening of the National Peace Consciousness Month, Marcos said, ‘Let this election show that the future of the Bangsamoro is shaped by the people themselves: through your voices, your choices, and your hopes for your respective communities.’

President Marcos said the administration is fully ready for the September 14 BARMM parliamentary elections.

‘We are prepared for the first Parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on September 14. Despite several postponements, the government never lost hope and remains fully committed to supporting this democratic exercise,’ the President said. PNA