Category: Business Mirror

The Philippines has a law called the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018. The irony writes itself.

Eight years after Republic Act 11032 promised to streamline government services, the Department of Economy, Planning and Development has delivered a damning verdict: the policy exists, but the implementation does not. And in the gap between legislative ambition and bureaucratic reality, Philippine enterprises are still drowning in paperwork, redundant visits, and processing delays that would embarrass a nation with far fewer resourcesThe numbers tell a story of institutional failure. Seventy-two percent of businesses still register fully in person. Seventy percent renew their permits the same way. Nearly a quarter wait more than 20 days for registration-20 days in an era when a teenager can launch a global e-commerce store before lunch.

What went wrong? The usual suspects: fragmented systems, weak interoperability, and the persistent refusal of government agencies to talk to each other. The Bureau of Internal Revenue has its own online system. The Bureau of Fire Protection has another. LGUs run their own eBOSS platforms, each speaking a different digital dialect. The result? Businesses submit the same documents multiple times to different offices, validating the same information repeatedly because the left hand of government refuses to acknowledge what the right hand has already certified.

This is not a technology problem. It’s a coordination problem. It’s a political will problem. And it’s a problem that costs real money.

The DepDev report identifies business exit as the most egregious bottleneck-a process so convoluted that firms simply abandon formal closure rather than navigate the labyrinth of separate settlements with LGUs and the BIR. This creates a shadow economy of zombie businesses and informal operators who would prefer legitimacy but can’t afford the price of admission-or exit. High settlement requirements and unclear procedures don’t just inconvenience entrepreneurs; they actively discourage formalization, undermining tax bases and regulatory oversight alike.

DepDev’s proposed solutions are sensible enough: permanent Business Permit and Licensing Offices, a Unique Business Identification Number to finally unify fragmented records, mandatory interoperability under the E-Governance Act, and the rationalization of barangay-level fees that often serve more as local revenue extraction than legitimate regulatory costs. These are not revolutionary ideas. They are basic governance infrastructure that functioning economies implemented years ago.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the Philippines does not lack good policy. It lacks follow-through. Every administration discovers the same problems, proposes similar solutions, and watches implementation stall against the rocks of institutional inertia.

For a country positioning itself as a regional investment destination, this is embarrassing and economically self-defeating. Foreign investors have options. They can go to Singapore, where incorporation takes hours. They can go to Vietnam, where industrial zones operate with streamlined efficiency.

The DepDev report should be required reading for every legislator and local official who claims to support business growth. The message is clear: laws alone don’t build economies. Execution does. Interoperability does. The boring, unglamorous work of making systems talk to each other, of standardizing procedures across 1,724 LGUs, of actually implementing the reforms already on the books.

Until then, ‘Ease of Doing Business’ remains not a description of reality, but a cruel joke-and a warning to entrepreneurs that in this country, the government still makes everything harder than it needs to be.

UNTIL the horrific shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban, Leyte, last June 22, when three students were killed and 20 injured from gunfire allegedly inflicted by two students aged 14 and 15, few people had heard of the name GoreBox.

Described as a ‘chaotic, physics-driven sandbox game where creativity meets unrestrained destruction,’ the online game was said to be a favorite pastime of the 14-year-old perpetrator.

As the investigation continues, the 14-year-old has been placed under a mandatory intervention program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and his 15-year-old companion has been criminally charged. As for GoreBox? It was temporarily banned by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

Does taking away GoreBox and other similar online games mean the end of gaming-related violence? Not quite, says Paul Lawrence Filomeno, MD, a board-certified Pediatrician from the Philippines’ top hospital Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph) and a Specialist in Addiction and Recovery Medicine with a focus on screen gaming and digital behavioral addictions in children and adolescents.

MULTISYSTEMIC, COMPLEX ISSUE

‘GAMING violence is a violent behavior that can be triggered by some factors,’ explains Filomeno. ‘That is partly because the game has different dynamics and dimensions that push the child toward violence. But violence can only be done or committed by an accumulation of multiple risk factors. We look at their environment at home, at school, social pressures, history of bullying, and cultural and familiar norms about violence. If they live in an environment where violence is also normalized, then it is easier for them to be influenced, to be violent as well in real life.’

‘To blame the game itself would be lacking,’ he declares. ‘It is multisystemic, and a very complex issue.’

Indeed. While it is easy to assume a child has a gaming addiction and violent tendencies because he spends most of his waking hours immersed in combat and hack-and-slash games, it is not always the case. ‘There are those who game for five hours, but can bounce back to real life,’ says the MakatiMed doctor. ‘Then there are gamers who only play for two hours, but the stimulating game has a huge effect on their behavior. They cannot stop thinking about the game, and there are sacrifices involved in terms of their academic and social relationships.’

RED FLAGS

WHAT then are the signs of a child with a gaming disorder? Filomeno, the first Filipino pediatrician to complete a formal Subspecialty in Addiction Medicine from the University of the Philippines’ Philippine General Hospital, enumerates three red flags:

Loss of control. They attempt to play for one hour. Five hours later, they are still at it. And it is not only that they can’t stop, but they also prioritize playing over real-world commitments like doing their homework, turning in a project, or keeping their room clean.

Functional impairment. This is when gaming reaches a point where it interferes with eating, sleeping, school, hygiene, hobbies, and relationships with family and friends.

Difficulty in stopping. Failing grades, cutting class, and giving up their allowance and personal belongings just so they can play is truly troubling behavior.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

GAMING disorder is treated through a multidisciplinary approach that involves the expertise of Guidance Counselors, Pediatricians, Child Psychologists, and Addiction Specialists. Still, Filomeno believes that family is the first component of the healthcare team. ‘Ninety percent of the effort is delegated to the family,’ he highlights.

In fact, it is family that can help steer a youngster with a gaming disorder back on track. ‘No intervention is effective if the parents aren’t modeling [good behavior],’ Filomeno says. ‘So, if you want your child to sleep early, they need to see an adult who sleeps early as well.’ The same rule applies to gadgets. Do you want your child to stop gaming? Put down your phone or tablet.

6S

FOR parents to observe how gaming is impacting their kids, Filomeno cites the six S: ‘The first S that they need to monitor is ‘sleep’. Sleep is a marker of a possibility that you need to protect the child if his gaming is affecting his sleep. Second, as a parent, you need to protect their ‘safety’. Do you have measures to verify that your child is not talking to strangers when he games? The third S is ‘self-regulation’. Does my child turn to gaming when he is sad? What behavior does he manifest when I ask him to reduce his screen time?’

In the fourth S or ‘school’, academic performance can be a gauge of gaming’s influence. Have their grades dropped or improved since your intervention? The fifth S is ‘social connection’. ‘A very important milestone in childhood,’ reminds Filomeno. ‘Does your child know how to interact with people?’ The sixth and most important S is ‘security’.

Are you on top of things when your child is online?

Remember, change does not happen overnight. It will occur in increments and may even fall back to old patterns. But with your patience, participation and love, you can regulate your youngster’s gaming habits to a safe and satisfying level.

‘The outcomes of gaming disorder are measured by small steps,’ avers Filomeno. ‘If he reduces his gaming from 8 hours to 7 hours, that’s already a big win. Small steps are still better than setting impossible expectations.’

FITNESS competitions are often judged by what is immediately visible-the physique, the discipline, the stage presence.

But as the Century Tuna Superbods competition moves toward its final night, the people behind the bodies are being asked to show something harder to measure: what they stand for.

That was the focus of the Century Tuna Superbods VIP Night in Makati City on August 6, where the Top 40 finalists took the spotlight ahead of the competition’s grand finale.

Rather than simply presenting the finalists as polished fitness figures, the evening gave them a platform to talk about their personal journeys and the health and wellness advocacies they have developed along the way.

The stories ranged from accessible nutrition and physical training to mental wellness, reflecting the different circumstances that shaped each finalist’s approach to health.

Century Pacific Food Inc. Vice President and Group Business Unit Head Carlo Endaya said the broader goal was to make health feel less like an exclusive ideal and more like something people can work toward in their everyday lives.

‘So what do I mean when I say health? So that means everyone needs to have access to proper nutrition. Right level of activity. Useful information. And last but not least, motivation,’ Endaya said during the event.

‘Imagine a world where you, your loved ones, the people you work with, your family, your friends, everyone. Imagine a world where everyone is the strongest, healthiest, most vibrant version of themselves. So that’s not just a dream,’ he added.

The journey

BY the time they reached the VIP Night, the finalists had already gone through more than the usual rounds of posing and competition.

Since the callback stage, they have taken part in a series of activities, workshops and wellness challenges intended to prepare them for the responsibilities attached to the Superbod title.

The process has also pushed them to look beyond physical fitness and consider how their own experiences could translate into something meaningful for others.

During the event, the finalists presented their personal health and wellness advocacies, turning the stage into a platform for stories about the realities behind their fitness journeys.

For some, that meant making nutrition more accessible. For others, it meant encouraging physical activity, addressing mental wellness or sharing lessons from their own struggles.

The emphasis on individual purpose also reflects how the competition has evolved since its launch two decades ago.aya said the response to the original concept eventually showed that the competition could become more than a search for the next fit face of the brand.

‘And 20 years on, Superbod has become the defining asset of the brand, a symbol of fitness, health, and self-improvement,’ he said.

Real people, real stories

THAT distinction was also underscored by Century Tuna brand ambassador Anne Curtis, who has been associated with the competition for years.

Curtis said she has seen the platform develop from a fitness-focused competition into one where participants are increasingly given space to tell their own stories.

‘Having been with Century Tuna for so many years, I’ve had a front-row seat to how this brand and this platform have grown,’ Curtis said.

‘What makes Superbods so special is how it brings real human stories to the center stage. Seeing these finalists step up with heart and genuine passion for their health advocacies is truly inspiring for everyone,’ she added.

What makes a Superbod?

WITH the grand finals approaching, the competition’s judging criteria also offer a glimpse into what the organizers are looking for beyond physical appearance.aya said the finalists will be assessed according to two broad categories: presence and essence.

‘So presence, let’s call it aura. Let’s call it aura. So can the person make people turn their heads? Can that person stop you from scrolling? Can the person captivate and grab your attention? So that is presence,’ he said.

But presence alone will not determine the winners. ‘Second, essence. So what does that mean? Can they inspire people to be healthier? Can they inspire people to eat better?’ Endaya said.

He added that the finalists should also reflect the values of continuous improvement, respect for the individual, and kindness.

Final stretch

NOW, with Finals Night nearing, the competition enters its most consequential stage.

The Male and Female Grand Winners will each receive ?1 million, while the runners-up will take home ?250,000 each.

But before the final announcement, the remaining finalists still have to make the case that they represent more than a particular physical ideal.

THE Philippines won the women’s foil and men’s saber team gold medals and bagged two silver and four bronze medals in the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation (SEAFF) Cadet and Junior championship on Tuesday at the Arena TSH OCM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Victoria Ebdane, Willa Galvez and Jodie Tan beat Vietnam, 44-37, in the women’s team foil gold medal play, while Khiane Felipe, Vito Coching, Drake Chung and Matthew General defeated Thailand, 45-40, in the men’s team saber final.

Oscar del Castillo clinched silver medal in men’s individual epee and bronze medal with Joaquin De Silos, Jacob Mayo and Boo Geronimo in men’s team epee.

Estelliah Gilliana, Hailey Sophia Peters, Arianna Tiu and Nadelle Turiano also gave Team Philippines a silver medal in women’s saber team event.

Bagging bronze medals were Team B of Canlas, Del Castillo and Malvar got bronze in women’s foil; Rhiana Cruz, Eleina Junia, Faith Olemos and Papina Torre in women’s epee; and Inigo Divinagracia, Lucas Palafox, Jethro Chan and Elijah Timbol in men’s foil.

Galvez-backed by Nickel Asia Corp., NLEX Corp., Rain or Shine, MVP Sports Foundation, Strong Group Athletics, Pocari Sweat and Icons Sports Management Services-also earned a bronze medal in women’s individual foil at the expense Singapore’s Sita Naidu Maaravis, 15-14, in the quarterfinals but lost to eventual gold medalist and Malaysia national team member Suraya Rizzal, 15-8.

After dispatching Philippines Team B of Yuna Canlas, Hagia del Castillo and Victoria Malvar in a nail-biting 29-28 triumph in the semifinals, Philippines Team A was in full control all throughout the finals match.

Protecting a slim 9-6 lead, the 15-year-old Galvez – a member of the multi-titled fencing team University of the East – outscored 10-1 her opponent Nguyen Thi Anh Thu on the fourth of nine bouts that gave the Philippines a comfortable 19-7 advantage.

Galvezaccounted for 21 of the team’s total touch points, Ebdane added 13 points while Tan had 10 points.

PRESIDENT Marcos on Tuesday said the government will push ahead with its waste-to-energy program as part of efforts to address garbage buildup in waterways and help mitigate flooding.

Marcos raised the issue after inspecting a high-vacuum self-priming drainage trailer pump in Barangay Zapote, Las Piñas City, amid heavy rains brought by two back-to-back tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat in parts of Luzon.

The President said garbage had accumulated in waterways in nearby Parañaque City after floodwaters opened drainage channels, with high tide causing the waste to be trapped.

‘Nakita ninyo ang mga picture, punong-puno ng basura iyong mga kanal na hindi naman galing sa Parañaque, galing sa ibang lugar iyon (You saw the pictures – the canals were full of garbage that did not come from Parañaque. It came from other places],’ Marcos said.

He urged local governments (LGU) and the public to dispose of waste properly, warning that garbage dumped indiscriminately could worsen flooding and cause significant damage.

Marcos said the government will continue its waste-to-energy program, which involves processing garbage to generate electricity.

‘Kami naman sa pamahalaan, itutuloy na namin ang waste-to-energy program. Iyon iyong kinukuha basura at ito ay pino-process at ginagawang kuryente [For the government’s part, we will continue with the waste-to-energy program. It takes garbage, processes it, and turns it into electricity],’ he said.

‘Napakalaking bagay niyan kapag nagawa natin [That would be a very significant thing once we accomplish it].’

Marcos said waste-to-energy technology is already established, indicating that the government sees the program as a viable long-term measure for addressing the country’s waste problem.

The initiative is being pursued alongside flood-control measures under the administration’s Oplan Kontra Baha, including dredging waterways and completing flood-control infrastructure.

Marcos was accompanied by Public Works Secretary Vivencio Dizon and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III, as well as local officials, during the Las Piñas inspection. PNA

Social housing is a basic need, not a political commodity. For low-income families still waiting for decent shelter, every new home built by the government means a step toward safer and more stable communities.

In the upland district of Calinan, rows of mid-rise buildings are changing the face of socialized housing in Davao City.

People’s Ville drew public attention after conflicting claims that the project should be credited to former President Rodrigo Duterte and her daughter Sara’s ‘accomplishment’ as city mayor prior to her being elected vice president, after a visit to the site in barangay Riverside on July 28 by President Marcos, and noted the pace of construction, with 26 buildings already completed and four more nearing completion within three years.

In Davao, long considered the Dutertes’ political stronghold, People’s Ville is emerging as one of the country’s largest modern social housing townships under the Marcos administration. It is also being seen as a possible model for affordable mass housing in fast-growing urban centers.

The Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), a key shelter agency under the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, started construction in 2023. The work began a year after Marcos declared the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program, or 4PH, a priority in the national shelter agenda.

After Marcos took office, SHFC President and Chief Executive Officer Federico Laxa reviewed the agency’s assets and saw the potential of its property in Calinan District. SHFC later proposed the site for one of its 4PH vertical housing townships, along with projects in San Fernando, Pampanga; Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental; Tondo, Manila; and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

On September 13, 2022, the Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the development permit for People’s Ville. A month later, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for Phases 1 to 3. The City Planning and Development Office then issued on July 26,2023 a certification, confirming that the project site was within a residential zone.

For Margo Babao, manager of SHFC’s 4PH projects in Davao City, People’s Ville marks a shift in public housing. He said the project is not only about putting roofs over families’ heads, but also about building a community where residents have safety, access and hope.

THE Senate has approved on final reading the proposed Revised Philippine Coast Guard law to strengthen the agency’s capabilities and organizational structure amid escalating challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Sen. Raffy Tulfo, sponsor of Senate Bill 2116, seeks to repeal Republic Act 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009 to address critical organizational gaps and allow the PCG to effectively respond to modern maritime threats and changing geopolitical demands.

Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, highlighted the frontline sacrifices of Coast Guard personnel who face harassment and water cannon incidents while asserting the country’s territorial integrity.

‘The Philippine Coast Guard continues to defend our sovereignty, assert our rights, and protect our territorial waters while it exercises strategic restraint to protect lives, uphold international law, and strengthen the country’s moral and legal position,’ he said.

Under the measure, a stronger organizational structure will be institutionalized through three core functional commands: maritime safety services, marine environmental protection, and maritime security law enforcement. It also mandates a sufficient minimum manpower requirement to effectively safeguard the country’s vast 36,000 kilometer coastline.

DIRECTOR General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. of the Bureau of Corrections has ordered the relief of two senior officers from the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) to pave the way for an investigation into the P6 million missing trust fund of persons of deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Relieved were Corrections Senior Supt. Daisy Sevilla-Castillote, CIW, superintendent and her deputy. C/Ssupt. Marites Lebardo.

Catapang directed the two officers to report to the Office of the Deputy Director General for Administration (DDGA) at the National Headquarters in Muntinlupa City.

He also sought the assistance of Muntinlupa Police Station in tracking down Corrections Officer 2 Bianca Ramos, who handles the PDLs’ trust fund.

Ramos has been absent without leave (Awol) since July 29.

Corrections Technical Senior Insp. Lariza Martin, the chief of the Reception and Diagnostic Center, has been designated as the acting superintendent of CIW.

Catapang has also directed BuCor’s Chief of the Internal Audit Service Unit Edgardo Virtudazo to conduct an internal audit concerning the alleged mishandling of trust funds.

The audit will include gathering and verifying all relevant details, existing information, and reports related to the issue.

Catapang also directed the Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation chief, lawyer Ferdinand V. Balduman, to conduct a parallel investigation to determine the extent of culpability among both former and current CIW officers.

‘If it were true that there are missing funds amounting to about P6 million, this did not happen overnight. We need to get to the bottom of this and hold those accountable in their proper place,’ said Catapang.

Catapang also expressed disappointment over the alleged involvement of BuCor personnel over the alleged anomaly.

‘It pains me that while we are striving to reform the Bureau of Corrections, our own men would be involved in this kind of anomaly. That is why I want this to be thoroughly investigated so that we can determine who should be held liable,’ Catapang said.

Maya Inc. announced last Wednesday of having bagged seven recognitions at the ‘2026 Stevie Awards for Great Employers’ after extending the artificial intelligence (AI) tools it uses in its consumer products into how it recruits, onboards and engages its workforce.

The haul covered four organizational categories and three individual honors. Maya took a ‘Silver Stevie’ for experience-driven employer branding, and ‘Bronze Stevies’ for scaling hiring with embedded AI, for its employee engagement program, and for its end-to-end onboarding design.

A higher penalty of P5,000 awaits violators of proper garbage disposal, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday.

Chairman Romando Artes of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that the fine was raised from P500 to P5,000 across Metro Manila, following the approval of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) while violators in Pateros will be paying P2,500.

Artes said that they are just waiting for the ordinances from each city.

‘Ifo-follow up po natin ‘yan sa next Metro Manila Council meeting,’ Artes said. The MMC, composed of the 17 Metro Manila mayors, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.

The MMDA and Metro Manila mayors have expressed alarm after a sea of trash clogged the Redemptorist Water Channel, Brgy. Baclaran, in Parañaque City after days of massive downpour brought about by heavy monsoon rains (habagat) and Tropical Depression Crising.

As of 3 p.m. of August 12, the MMDA reported that a total of 96 truckloads trash or 418.4 metric tons of waste/debris hauled at Redemptorist Water Channel.