Category: Business Mirror

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will challenge a Pasig court order granting a preliminary injunction against the implementation of the new minimum wage increase in Metro Manila.

Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino said the department would exhaust available legal remedies to overturn the ruling of Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 152, which kept NCR Wage Order No. 27 from being enforced while the main case remains pending.

‘We will use all legal remedies to fight and have this decision nullified, and to defend the rights and welfare of our workers,’ Tolentino said in a statement on Friday.

He warned that the continued suspension of the wage increase would deprive more than one million workers in Metro Manila of additional income at a time when household expenses remain high.

‘This decision does not merely stop the wage increase-it takes food away from the tables of more than one million workers in Metro Manila and their families,’ Tolentino said in Filipino.

The preliminary injunction followed a temporary restraining order issued by the same court on July 30 after Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and R-II Builders Inc. challenged the wage order.

In granting the injunction, the court found ‘serious and urgent questions’ over the wage-setting process that should first be resolved before the order could be implemented.

Among the issues raised was whether the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-National Capital Region (RTWPB-NCR) sufficiently considered the factors required under Article 124 of the Labor Code, including employers’ capacity to pay.

Court proceedings showed that the wage board did not obtain actual payroll computations, audited financial statements, collective bargaining agreements, operating margins or cash-flow data from employers before determining the adjustment.

Labor groups, however, pushed back against the ruling and joined DOLE in calling for the injunction to be lifted.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said it would seek the dissolution of the preliminary injunction once the court acts on its motion to intervene in the case.

‘After a temporary restraining order and now a preliminary injunction, workers are once again being forced to shoulder the cost of a judicial intervention that Congress specifically sought to prevent,’ TUCP said.

The group warned that it was prepared to pursue available remedies ‘all the way to the Supreme Court’ if necessary, arguing that the ruling could encourage similar challenges against wage orders in other regions.

TUCP also renewed its call for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent a proposed P200 legislated wage increase, saying litigation against the regional wage-setting system has strengthened the case for a nationwide wage hike.

Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (Sentro), meanwhile, said the court should not stop workers from receiving an increase that had already been granted.

‘The court has no business stopping workers from receiving a wage increase,’ Sentro Secretary General Josua Mata said.

He also added that while the P60 first tranche was already inadequate to recover workers’ lost purchasing power, withholding it would still hurt families struggling with food, transportation and utility costs.

‘For corporations, a bond is an expense. For workers, withholding even P60 is another blow to their dignity,’ Mata said.

Business groups in Cebu are urging the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to defer the proposed 25-percent increase in domestic cargo-handling tariffs, warning that a significant rise in logistics costs could further burden businesses and consumers amid slowing economic growth and elevated operating expenses.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) said it supports the modernization, efficiency, safety and financial sustainability of Cebu’s ports, but maintained that the proposed adjustment should not be implemented immediately without sufficient justification, a clear assessment of its impact and meaningful consultation with affected stakeholders.

‘A 25-percent increase is significant,’ CCCI said, noting that the proposed hike could raise logistics and distribution costs, with possible consequences for the cost of doing business and, ultimately, consumer prices.

The chamber recommended that implementation be deferred while the CPA conducts a comprehensive review and consultation process.

Should an adjustment eventually be deemed necessary, CCCI said it should be ‘reasonable, proportionate, transparent’ and preferably calibrated or phased to minimize its impact on businesses and consumers.

The Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), likewise, raised concerns over the timing of the proposed increase, as businesses contend with weaker market demand, higher operating costs, rising wages and fuel prices, as well as risks associated with the expected El Niño.

MCCI said domestic cargo handling is critical to an archipelagic economy such as the Philippines, facilitating the movement of goods between islands through inter-island and roll-on/roll-off shipping.

It warned that higher cargo-handling charges could ripple through the supply chain, affecting manufacturers, traders, distributors and retailers before eventually reaching consumers through higher prices.

The chamber also pointed to the Philippine economy’s weak 2.3-percent growth in the second quarter of 2026, saying the timing of a substantial tariff adjustment warrants closer scrutiny.

MCCI said the CPA and other stakeholders should determine whether the proposed increase is timely and necessary and assess its possible implications for business competitiveness, inflation and the overall cost of doing business in Cebu.

For its part, MCCI said it would first need to review the proposal in detail, including its justification, cost structure and projected effects on businesses and consumers, while continuing discussions with relevant stakeholders.

The CPA, in an advisory, said the proposed adjustment would apply to domestic cargo in all ports of Cebu. However, it clarified that it will not yet implement it.

‘The authority has made no final decision on the proposed increase since CPA will have to consolidate the position papers and feedback from port stakeholders to be evaluated thoroughly before it is presented to the CPA Board,’ CPA said in a separate statement released on Friday afternoon, Aug. 14, 2026.

Interested stakeholders were invited to submit position papers through the CPA’s Port Management Department the latest on Aug. 25, 2026.

‘CPA assures all port stakeholders that the proposed tariff increase will undergo an appropriate and thorough review and deliberation before any decision on its approval or implementation is made,’ CPA added.

The proposed tariff adjustment comes as businesses continue to grapple with logistics costs, making the consultation a key venue for stakeholders to weigh the need for higher port charges against the broader impact on Cebu’s business environment and consumers.

CCCI said it remains committed to working with the CPA toward a sustainable port system that maintains efficient operations while keeping the cost of moving goods competitive.

ONE of the more annoying things to watch in this Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte is her defense counsel’s propensity to say ‘yeah’ instead of ‘yes.’

Call me old, but I just feel that it’s a very informal manner of speaking, which has no place in a court-at the Senate, no less! The defense counsel isn’t just drinking an overpriced beverage in a popular coffee chain and gossipping with her friends.

Thus, I fully endorse the prosecution lawyer giving her a spanking.

But I suppose this is what’s wrong with most people these days. And I’m not just talking about our youth as there are also older people whom I see almost daily, living a very casual, flip-flop (and I mean the tsinelas) existence.

This was worsened by the 2.5 years we had to lock ourselves at home due to the Covid pandemic. We worked and did our video, online meetings in our pambahay, pajamas, and house slippers.

Many of us seem to have forgotten that the pandemic is now over, and we have to return to our official lives, where a more formal manner of speaking, clothing, and overall demeanor is demanded.

I don’t think I’m being a snob, when I say it bothers me that whether it’s summer or the rainy season, people walk around in thonged rubber slippers everywhere. To the mall, to restaurants, to their doctor’s office, to hotels, hospitals-anywhere except the beach, it seems.

I don’t care that your flip-flops cost over P1,000, pamatay pa din ‘yan ng flying ipis, as my former STC classmate and media colleague Jessica Zafra used to say. Since the early 2000s, when high-priced brands of rubber flip-flops were introduced in the country, these tsinelas keep being used like the official outside-the-house footwear.

What’s worse, in the malls, visitors wearing these flip-flops will sit on benches watching videos on their mobile phones, lift a foot, then finangle their toes with the fingers of their free hand, as if they’re just seated on their living room sofa. Yuck.

I recognize that there are people from lower-income classes, who may only own a pair of flip-flops to wear inside or outside their homes. But I refer here to wealthier mallgoers, lugging shopping bags, putting up their unshod feet for the world to see.

The same is true at church. One sits at the bench and right beside you, a churchgoer will remove her sandals, then rest her bare feet on the kneeler. Similarly, parents will let their children run and shout willy-nilly at Mass, even when the priest has started his Homily. (I wish Church-minders strictly enforce the use of family rooms for parents and their toddlers. These rooms exist so other churchgoers are not disturbed by boisterous children.)

Some shoppers also have the temerity to bring their dogs, who subsequently relieve themselves on the mall floors, like they do in one corner of their furparents’ homes. Not the pet’s fault of course-they do what is natural to them-but far too many furparents are able to get away with not keeping their animal babies in diapers, despite polite requests by malls and other similar establishments through visible signs at their entrances.

At movie theaters, people talk way too much. We’ve all experienced this. One person will keep asking her seatmate what’s happening on the screen, especially if the movie is a sequel. (Think Avengers: Doomsday and the 21 theater releases before that! Mahaba-haba na kwentuhan ‘yan.) I must admit, on a few occasions, I’ve had to call the attention of these noisy people in the audience to STFU. Nicely, of course, unless they continue their rowdy behavior.

At another time, also at the cinema, a woman was seated beside me, and she kept looking at her phone, as if checking her messages, or perhaps waiting for a phone call. Again, as if she was just at home, watching a film on her streaming subscription.

Madam! Kindly hide the phone in your bag if you want to sneak a look at your SMS, so the light on your screen doesn’t bother the rest of us. Or better yet, sit out the movie and go to a cafe instead to read your messages or wait for your so-important phone call.

billboards do the job socmed

Perhaps what I’m really asking for is not old-fashioned etiquette but some amount of consideration.

We share public spaces. And the fact that we are free to dress, speak, eat, scroll, or behave as we please does not mean we shouldn’t care about how our behavior affects everyone around us.

There is nothing wrong with being comfortable. I enjoy my pambahay and tsinelas as much as anyone-when I’m at home. But there is a time and place for everything, as Mama used to say.

A courtroom calls for decorum. A church calls for reverence. A restaurant calls for a little civility. A movie theater calls for silence. And a shopping mall, definitely, isn’t an extension of our sala.

Perhaps we need to remember that how we comport ourselves in public is not about being sosyal, rich, or trying to impress other people. It is about acknowledging that we are not alone. Our comfort should not come at the expense of another person’s peace, concentration, or dignity.

Be sensitive and respectful towards others. That’s all I ask, really.

Thailand is turning the page to a new chapter of cultural exchange as the Thai Trade Center Manila, Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, makes its debut at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2026, bringing the sights, sounds, and stories of Thailand closer to Filipino readers through ‘Melody of Books.’

From September 9 to 13, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Level 2, Booth Nos. 2-48, 2-49, 2-54 and 2-55, visitors can step into a world where Thai literature meets culture, creativity, and interactive experiences. In its first-ever participation in MIBF, the Thai Trade Center Manila’s first-ever MIBF participation will showcase significant literary works from Thailand alongside activities that invite Filipino audiences to discover the country beyond its pages.

More than a collection of books, ‘Melody of Books’ celebrates the power of storytelling to connect cultures. Visitors can look forward to engaging experiences inspired by Thailand’s literary and cultural heritage, offering book lovers, families, students, and curious minds a chance to discover new stories and create meaningful connections.

‘Our debut at the Manila International Book Fair marks an exciting opportunity to bring Thailand and the Philippines closer through the universal language of stories. We hope ‘Melody of Books’ inspires Filipinos to discover Thailand from a new perspective and strengthens the cultural connections shared by our two countries.’ – Sutinee Vathana, Director of Thai Trade Center Manila.

As Thailand opens its books to Manila, ‘Melody of Books’ invites everyone to experience the stories, culture, and traditions of Thailand in a way that goes beyond the written word.

Discover the ‘Melody of Books’ at the Thai Trade Center Manila Pavilion at MIBF 2026, happening September 9 to 13 at SMX Convention Center Manila.

THE government is poised to collect P644.433 billion in excise taxes next year, as it seeks to generate more revenue while deterring the consumption of ‘sin’ products.

Combined excise tax collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) is projected to grow by 8.69 percent in 2027 from this year’s P592.896 billion target, the Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing for 2027 revealed.

BIR collections from selective excises on goods is seen to reach P380.861 billion, higher by 8.94 percent year-on-year from P349.578 billion.

Nearly half of the BIR’s target will come from excise taxes on tobacco products, pegged at P182.209 billion, up by 10.84 percent from P164.386 billion this year.

Collection of excise tax on alcohol products is estimated at P136.713 billion, a 7.21-percent increase from this year’s P127.508-billion program.

Other sources of excise tax collections next year include sweetened beverages at P39.669 billion, mining at P15.612 billion and automobiles at P6.241 billion.

The BIR is also expected to collect P41 million from excise taxes on cosmetic procedures, P13 million from tobacco inspection fees and P364 million from other miscellaneous excise taxes.

Meanwhile, the BOC’s excise tax collection is seen to rise by 8.32 percent to P263.572 billion in 2027 from this year’s P243.318-billion target.

The BOC collects excise taxes on specific imported goods at the port of entry before release from customs custody. These include petroleum products, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and vapor products, automobiles and other goods.

In the first half of 2026, the BOC has collected P113.344 billion in excise taxes, or 46.58 percent of its full-year target.

The BIR, on the other hand, amassed P127.691 billion from January to May this year, latest available data showed. This accounts for 33.52 percent of its entire goal for the year.

Aside from raising additional revenues for the government, excise taxes are imposed on certain products to discourage consumption of products considered harmful to health or the environment.

In the Philippines, a portion of ‘sin’ tax collections is earmarked for implementing the Universal Health Care program, increasing budgets for health insurance coverage and medical assistance, among other areas.

Recently, the Department of Finance (DOF) has proposed to expand excise taxes on sweetened beverages, distilled spirits, e-cigarettes and novel tobacco, plastic products and automobiles.

Doing so would yield an average of P107.3 billion in revenues for the government, the DOF estimated.

The recommendation is part of the DOF’s proposed ‘Progress Bill,’ a comprehensive tax reform package that seeks to provide tax relief for the middle class and small businesses while expanding sin taxes.

Tickets are now on sale for NIMRODS, the wild, new coming-of-age road-trip comedy inspired by the early days of Green Day. Special screenings will take place in over 700 cinemas across 39 countries on August 11, courtesy of Trafalgar Releasing, and will coincide with the US-wide release on August 14.

Bringing fans together in cinemas across the globe, the screenings will offer the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of the iconic band’s early misadventures, DIY attitude, and enduring legacy in rock n’ roll culture. To celebrate tickets going on sale, a first-look clip has been released HERE

When Tommy (Mason Thames) receives a phone call inviting his band to open for Green Day on New Year’s Eve, he doesn’t realise it’s an elaborate prank by his older brother, Wayne (Keen Ruffalo). Desperate to believe his life is about to change, Tommy steals Wayne’s car and sets out to drive his band from Kansas City to Los Angeles, hell-bent on getting there in three days. What follows is a rowdy and uproarious road trip across America, inspired by Green Day’s early days of touring in a van, years before the release of their breakout record Dookie.

Featuring Green Day themselves, NIMRODS’ star-studded cast includes Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, Ryan Foust, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Keen Ruffalo, Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsey, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee, Sean Gunn, and Mckenna Grace.

Written and directed by Lee Kirk, additional credits include producers Tim Perell for Process, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool. Ryan Kroft and Michael Rapino for Live Nation Studios and Jonathan Daniel are executive producers.

The 30-track soundtrack album will be released on July 31 on CD, cassette, digital platforms, and several vinyl variants, featuring 22 fan-favorite, career-spanning Green Day songs alongside soundtrack exclusives including the new Green Day track ‘I’m Never Gonna R.I.P.’ and four previously unreleased live recordings from the band’s performance at the Palladium in Los Angeles, as featured in the film. The soundtrack also includes songs from The Paradox, Ultra Q, and Mckenna Grace, as well as four tracks by Analog Dogs, the fictitious band at the center of NIMRODS.

NIMRODS features a career-spanning 22-song Green Day collection, including their new exclusive track as end credits. Following the film, there will be exclusive live bonus performances recorded at the Palladium. Featured in stunning 4K with an exclusive introduction by the band, the film is named after Green Day’s hugely successful 1997 album Nimrod.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday warned teachers and its personnel against ‘Sangla-ATM’ arrangements to prevent them from anay financial exploitation.

Reiterating DepEd Memorandum No. 049, s. 2026 , the agency said that teachers and its employees should refrain from using their their ATM payroll cards to lenders as collateral for loans.

DepEd stressed that ‘Sangla-ATM’ arrangements, may also expose employees to excessive indebtedness, unauthorized withdrawals, and misuse of personal information.

‘Employees are encouraged to obtain loans only from authorized and regulated government or private lending institutions and to exercise caution when entering into loan agreements,’ the DepEd said.

As an alternative, DepEd said that teachers and personnel can secure loans through official government financial institutions like the Land Bank of the Philippines, Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), DepEd Provident Fund, Pag-IBIG Fund, Securities and Exchange Commission-registered and duly licensed lending companies, and other DepEd -accredited private lending institutions, ‘which provide transparent, accountable, and reasonable lending terms and conditions.’

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) garnered various recognitions in the recent GREEN (Guarantee the Restoration of the Environment and our Ecological Niche) Awards for its continued commitment to environmental sustainability.

Organized by the City Government of Santa Rosa, led by City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, together with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) headed by Engr. Amor Salandanan, the annual awards recognize public and private organizations that have made significant contributions toward environmental protection, sustainability, and climate action.

During the ceremony held at City of Santa Rosa Multi-Purpose Complex in Barangay Tagapo, MMPC received multiple recognitions, including the Special Award of Recognition for Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship, Sustainable Development Award, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Award, and Earth Hour Advocate. These awards highlighted the company’s continued efforts to go beyond regulatory compliance and integrate sustainable practices into its manufacturing operations.

The GREEN Awards honor organizations and partners that actively support initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, promote responsible use of natural resources, improve energy efficiency, and encourage environmental awareness within their respective communities and industries.

Representing MMPC during the awarding ceremony were Manufacturing Executive Vice President Manabu Higuchi, Manufacturing Senior Vice President Reynaldo Gabay, Safety, Health and Environment Vice President Marfel Ancheta and Government Affairs Vice President Victor Vinarao.

The recognition reflects MMPC’s long-standing commitment to responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship. Through various sustainability initiatives, the company continues to improve its environmental performance while supporting the shared goal of protecting natural resources for future generations.

The City Government of Santa Rosa underscored that environmental protection is a shared responsibility, emphasizing that lasting progress can only be achieved through the combined efforts of government, businesses, organizations, and the community. The GREEN Awards also serve as a reminder that sustainability is an ongoing commitment-one that requires continuous innovation, collaboration, and action.

MMPC remains committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future, recognizing that economic growth and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand.

Getting a car washed may soon become a lot less time-consuming as JetWash Automated Touchless Car Wash introduces a computer-controlled system designed to clean vehicles in about 15 minutes.

Businessman-entrepreneur Dante Reyes recently showcased the technology during a media preview at the JetWash facility along Don Jesus Boulevard in Cupang, Muntinlupa City, highlighting a car-washing concept built around speed, convenience, and consistent cleaning.

The automated washing cycle takes approximately 6½ minutes, with the system cleaning the vehicle from front to rear and from side to side using a touchless process. This is followed by manual drying and finishing, interior vacuuming, and tire dressing to complete the service.

JetWash captures its service promise through the taglines ‘CLEAN IN 15’ and ‘360° for 360 PHP,’ emphasizing both the quick turnaround time and its affordable service rate.

According to Reyes, the concept is designed for motorists who want to keep their vehicles clean without having to spend a significant amount of time waiting at a traditional car wash.

‘The idea is to give motorists a faster and more convenient way to have their vehicles cleaned,’ Reyes said, as he demonstrated how the automated system works during the media preview.

Unlike conventional car washes that rely heavily on manual cleaning, JetWash uses a computer-controlled system to carry out the main washing cycle, while staff handle the finishing services to ensure the vehicle is properly dried and detailed.

As convenience becomes an increasingly important consideration for vehicle owners, JetWash hopes to position automated touchless washing as a practical alternative for Filipino motorists looking for a quicker way to maintain their vehicles.

With its 15-minute service concept, JetWash aims to put a new spin on the traditional car wash-making vehicle cleaning less of a chore and more of a quick stop in a motorist’s daily routine.

Negotiations for a joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea between the Philippines and China are ‘moving forward,’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed Friday.

During a press conference with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Marcos Jr. said discussions for the Philippines and China to jointly explore gas or oil deposit in the disputed waters have been going on for many years, but the agenda has ‘gained prominence’ with the ongoing energy crisis in the Middle East crisis.

Marcos disclosed that Manila has engaged Beijing on at least two occasions this year – first in connection with the energy emergency, and more recently during his meeting with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan last month.

He said the exploratory talks have advanced to defining terms of reference – whether the joint venture can be government-to-government or commercial joint venture.

‘We have moved forward. There were several issues from the beginning that we are slowly working through. And I can see this new possibility that there will be such joint exploration,’ Marcos said.

The President stressed that the Philippines urgently needs to diversify its oil and gas sources, noting the impact of supply disruptions and price spikes on the economy and daily lives of Filipinos.

‘I think the sense that I get is that all parties involved want it to succeed. And that’s always a very good sign,’ he added.

Asked if the negotiations will conclude before the end of his term in 2028, he replied that it is possible although he qualified: ‘I could not give you a definite time table.’

Still, constitutional hurdles remain. The 1987 Constitution bars foreign entities from directly exploiting natural resources, requiring service contracts or other arrangements that preserve Philippine sovereignty. Past attempts at joint exploration with China were shelved after legal questions on ownership and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.

Diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China are strained following heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea. Marcos Jr. acknowledged that there are efforts to de-escalate tensions whenever incidents arise.

‘If we are beginning to detect or to feel an increase in tensions, then we have to once again go back and talk to our friends in China and say, look, this is not headed in the right direction. Let’s find ways to bring the tension down,’ he said.

He added that such resets are ‘ongoing,’ with both sides seeking to avoid misunderstandings between vessels and personnel at sea.