Category: Business Mirror

San Miguel Beer import George King Jr. goes hard for a layup against Converge big man Justin Baltazar in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday night at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Beermen won, 128-122, to remain undefeated in three games while the FiberXers dropped to 3-1 won-lost.

DITO Telecommunity strengthened its global technology partnerships at MWC Shanghai 2026, reinforcing its commitment to continuously evolve alongside the rapidly changing technology landscape. Through executive meetings, technology exchanges, and industry engagements across Shanghai and Nanjing, the company explored emerging trends and opportunities in digital technologies while strengthening relationships with global technology leaders.

A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a strategic cooperation memorandum with Esurfing IoT Technology Ltd., marking another step in DITO’s efforts to deepen international collaboration and explore opportunities to accelerate digital innovation in the Philippines. The delegation also met with China Telecom Global (CTG) to discuss emerging developments across the telecommunications and digital technology landscape. The exchange provided valuable perspectives on industry transformation and opportunities for future collaboration.

‘Nation-building requires more than building networks. It requires continuously learning, forging meaningful partnerships, and evolving alongside the needs of the communities we serve. Our engagements at MWC Shanghai reflect DITO’s commitment to working with global technology leaders, strengthening our capabilities, and creating lasting value for Filipinos through meaningful connectivity and innovation,’ said Atty. Adel Tamano, Chief Commercial Officer of DITO Telecommunity.

Beyond the conference, DITO participated in executive briefings and innovation site visits that provided valuable insights into global best practices and emerging technologies. These engagements reflect the company’s commitment to continuously learning from industry leaders while strengthening its own capabilities as the telecommunications landscape continues to evolve.

Through international engagements such as MWC Shanghai, DITO continues to deepen its global partnerships, broaden its technology perspective, and support its long-term vision of delivering world-class digital solutions that create meaningful opportunities for Filipino communities.

SOME 16 million residents of former conflict-affected barangays are now benefiting from critical infrastructure and basic social services through the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

In a statement, the DILG said the LGSF-SBDP continues to address long-standing development gaps by supporting critical local infrastructure projects that promote lasting peace and inclusive development.

From 2021 to 2025, the program funded 7,922 projects worth P36.82 billion.

These include 3,882 farm-to-market roads, 696 school buildings, 1,403 water supply and sanitation systems, 626 health stations, and 949 rural electrification projects, bringing essential government services closer to communities that need them most.

Among the communities benefiting from the program is barangay Nato in Gubat, Sorsogon, where residents now enjoy a more reliable and sustainable water supply following the rehabilitation and improvement of their water system funded under the 2023 LGSF-SBDP. The upgraded facility has eased years of difficulty in accessing clean water, supporting household needs, sanitation, and livelihood activities that depend on a stable water source.

Residents of barangay Cogon in Bulusan, Sorsogon, on the other hand, are now served by a newly completed two-storey health station funded through the 2024 LGSF-SBDP. Replacing an aging health center damaged by successive typhoons, the new facility is better equipped to provide basic healthcare services to more than 480 beneficiaries.

For 2026, the LGSF-SBDP is set to expand its reach, with 1,297 additional projects already moving through the pre-procurement and procurement stages.

Through sustained monitoring and evaluation, the DILG continues to ensure that LGSF-SBDP projects implemented by local government units in insurgency-cleared barangays are completed effectively and translated into meaningful development outcomes for communities.

This is not clickbait. I mean it.

Most ‘medical findings’ these days flow from clinical studies whose outcomes are expressed in numbers, probabilities, and statistical analysis. I am not a doctor, but I understand numbers. Numbers ‘talk’ to me. The story that I hear from a recent ‘medical finding’ published by the American Heart Association is: You (reader) are too dumb to understand that we’re lying.

Prof. Ancel Keys was the original source of the worldwide belief that ‘Saturated fat in any amount is bad for your health’. In 1957, Keys published what he called The Seven Countries Study. It was nothing of the kind, and should really have been called the ‘Scattered Villages in Remote Areas and Selected US Railroad Workers Study’. He claimed that this Study proved that saturated fats caused heart disease. For some reason, most of the Medical Establishment and most governments on earth just believed him, despite the many holes in the Study. The Medical Establishment willfully or negligently deceived much of humanity for the past 70 years by endorsing Keys’s astonishingly bad science.

To prove his anti-saturated-fat beliefs, Keys conducted a much more rigorous study a few years later: the 1968-1973 Minnesota Coronary Experiment (MCE).

Unfortunately for Keys, the MCE soundly disproved his anti-saturated-fat thesis. There was NO difference in mortality between the saturated-fat and ‘healthy-fat’ groups; worse, those with the lowest cholesterol had higher mortality. So Keys did what you or I or any person of negotiable integrity would do: he took his name off the study and got his collaborator to bury it. It remained buried for 40 years. In the meantime, no one in the Medical Establishment asked, ‘by the way, Ancel, where are the results of your MCE that was supposed to confirm that saturated fat is bad?’

Today, members of the Medical Establishment not only stoutly refuse to admit their 70 years of bad advice regarding saturated fat, but they also release MORE bad advice. The general idea seems to be to discredit modern scientific findings that could make us healthier, so that we keep buying unnecessary drugs.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Tirzepatide stand to make hundreds of billions for drug companies. Any lifestyle practice or diet that would help you lose weight without drugs would reduce those billions, wouldn’t it?

One such diet is the Keto Diet, a term we’ll use as shorthand for the group of diets whose practical result is to reduce carbohydrate intake and induce ketosis drastically, the conversion of body fat into ketones.

Ketones are a better body and brain fuel than glucose from carbohydrates. (See my previous articles on Metabolism.) The Keto Diet works and is well-supported by scientific studies and clinical trials.

That’s a lot of drugs, and hundreds of billions, if not trillions, of dollars currently made by Big Pharma, that broader public information on keto diets would endanger.

There is an ongoing campaign to misinform the public about the keto diet. Whoever is behind the campaign, one of their leading acolytes is the American Heart Association, which also insists we need 250 grams (1000 calories) of carbohydrate daily, thereby helping sell lots of diabetes, blood pressure, Parkinson’s, bipolar, and weight-loss drugs.

Do you sniff a Secret Conspiracy here? I’m not going to spell out my Conspiracy Theory for you, but you can figure it out for yourself. This is a continuing series on Basic Nutrition and Metabolism.

Next week: Don’t Trust the American Heart Association (Part 2)

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) remains confident the Philippines can achieve its goal of becoming an ‘agile export powerhouse’ by 2028, with the government banking on new free trade agreements (FTAs) to sustain export growth despite global economic uncertainties.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said completing pending FTAs with the European Union, Canada and Chile remains one of the administration’s top trade priorities, saying the agreements would significantly improve the competitiveness of Philippine exports.

‘Yes, we are on track. We just need to complete the free trade agreements so he’ll [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] go down in history with 23 free trade agreements, the most ever,’ Roque told reporters on the sidelines of the DTI National Exporters Fair in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday.

She said broader preferential market access would help Philippine exporters compete more effectively with their counterparts in neighboring Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

‘Sometimes we get outbid by our ASEAN neighbors just because of the preferential tariff,’ she said.

The administration adopted the goal of making the Philippines an ‘agile export powerhouse’ under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), first unveiled in 2023.

However, export targets were revised downward last year to reflect a more challenging global trading environment.

Under the updated PEDP presented in December, the Export Development Council projects exports of $116.1 billion to $120.2 billion in 2026, $123.3 billion to $127.4 billion in 2027, and $132.8 billion to $135.1 billion by 2028.

The council said the revised projections take into account disruptions in global shipping routes and uncertainty over US tariff policies.

Roque said the DTI has yet to finalize updated export forecasts.

‘We don’t have figures regarding the exports yet, but we’re really discussing that now,’ she said.

Business groups have also warned that renewed tensions around the Strait of Hormuz could disrupt global shipping and increase freight costs, although the DTI said it continues to monitor developments.

Despite these risks, government economic managers remain optimistic.

The Development Budget Coordination Committee expects merchandise exports to grow by 3 percent in 2026, accelerate to 4 percent annually from 2027 to 2029, and reach 5 percent by 2030.

Latest trade data also indicate continued momentum. Preliminary figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed merchandise exports rose 7.6 percent year on year to $7.87 billion in May.

For the first five months of 2026, export earnings reached $37.87 billion, up 10.6 percent from the same period last year, with electronics accounting for more than half of total shipments.

A WANTED person linked to the massacre of 44 Special Action Force troopers in 2015 and the ambush that killed five policemen in Maguindanao del Sur earlier this year was arrested on Tuesday by joint police and military forces, police said.

Col. Michael John Mangahis, Maguindanao del Sur police director, on Wednesday identified the suspect as Muslimin Amilil, 45, an alleged bomb maker of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Dawlah Islamiya (DI) local terror groups.

‘He did not resist arrest when lawmen presented him with various arrest warrants for murder and frustrated murder charges,’ Mangahis said in a statement.

Amilil, a bomb-making student of the slain Malaysian terrorist Zulkipli Bin Hir, alias Marwan, and the slain DI leader Basit Usman, was arrested in his hideout in barangay Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao del Sur, the same area where 44 Special Action Force personnel were killed in the 2015 operation to arrest Marwan.

Mangahis said Amilil served as the senior adviser to the Panenekelan Criminal Gang, an armed group operating in Maguindanao del Sur and involved in the ambush of police officers in Shariff Aguak last March, which killed five policemen and wounded three others.

Mangahis said Amilil identified himself as affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) 128th Base Command. Amilil has warrants issued by local courts for numerous criminal cases, including murder, frustrated murder, robbery, attempted murder, and double murder.

‘Criminals must be brought to justice at all costs. Peace and order are nonnegotiable, and the rule of law is absolute-protecting the oppressed and holding accountable those who sow violence,’ Mangahis said.

In a separate operation, police and members of the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion arrested Amilil’s wife, Aiza Awab Amilil, in the nearby town of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, also in Maguindanao del Sur.

Seized from her house were five assault rifles, improvised bombs, and ammunition.

Amilil is now detained at the Mamasapano police detention facility, while his wife is held at the Shariff Saydona Mustapha police station lock-up. PNA

A TEACHERS’ and parents’ group on Wednesday urged the Marcos administration to address adolescent pregnancy as an urgent national concern and certify as priority legislation the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act.

The Parents and Teachers for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (PTApp) noted that 6.8 percent of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 have already begun childbearing, while pregnancies among children aged 10 to 14 continue to rise, underscoring the need for stronger preventive measures.

In a statement, the group called on President Marcos to certify as urgent the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Act, first filed in Congress in 2017.

The group said the measure would strengthen efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancy by improving coordination among schools, parents, communities, healthcare providers, and government agencies, while expanding age-appropriate education and support services for young people.

‘Every teacher knows this reality: by the time young people reach adolescence, they are already receiving messages about relationships, their bodies, and sex through social media, classmates, online content, and the people around them. In my 30 years as an educator, there has never been a school year without a student becoming pregnant,’ said Maria Zaida Padullo, PTApp spokesperson in a press statement.

‘The question is not whether young people are learning. The question is whether they are learning from trusted adults in safe spaces. More often than not, our experience tells us the answer is no,’ added Padullo, principal of a public high school in Quezon City.

The appeal comes amid continuing public discussions on the proposed Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention bill and growing concern over child and adolescent pregnancies. Once enacted, the law would help ensure that young Filipinos receive age-appropriate information, access to support services, and stronger protection before a pregnancy occurs. Educators said the measure would also equip schools and families to guide young people in making informed and responsible decisions.

According to the Fifth Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS 5), only one in eight Filipino youth has ever discussed sex at home, while 19 percent identified social media as their primary source of information about puberty.

‘This data is deeply concerning. It shows that many Filipino adolescents are at risk of being exposed to misinformation about sex, increasing their vulnerability to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, sexual harassment, and abuse. As teachers, we witness these realities every day,’ Padullo said.

‘Families today are raising children in a world where they are constantly inundated with information that is often unfiltered and inaccurate. Schools should support parents by helping young people develop the knowledge and decision-making skills they need to protect themselves.’

YAFS 5 also found that while 70 percent of girls said they learned about puberty from their mothers, only 39 percent turn to their mothers when they have questions about sex, while 22 percent seek advice from friends. The gap is even more pronounced among boys, with nearly half saying they ask friends about sex, compared with only 12 percent who turn to their fathers and 11 percent to their mothers.

‘We cannot keep responding only after a child becomes pregnant. Protection begins before a crisis occurs. Young Filipinos deserve adults who are willing to guide them before misinformation, peer pressure, or exploitation takes hold,’ the group said.

THE Philippine Embassy celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the country’s bilateral relations with Vietnam through a gala dinner on July 9.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung graced the occasion, along with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Vietnam-Philippines Friendship Organization, and Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations. All Asean Missions were represented, together with heads of missions accredited to Manila, as well as those who have served in the Philippine capital, and heads of international organizations.

Recognizing their important contributions to the growth of the Philippines-Vietnam relations, the embassy honored five former ambassadors of the Southeast Asian country to Manila who attended.

In his speech, Ambassador Francisco Noel R. Fernandez III recalled the strategic beginnings of diplomatic relations in 1976, founded on mutual respect and commitment to development and prosperity.

He then recalled the elevation of relations to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during the state visit of the General Secretary and President To Lam to the Philippines in June, and emphasized both sides’ ‘commitment to upholding multilateralism and international cooperation; adherence to international law; and upholding principles and obligations embodied in the United Nations Charter and the Asean Charter.’

Fernandez reiterated the importance of strengthening political, economic, cultural, and educational relations in the years ahead. He closed his speech with a toast to the further strengthening of bilateral relations.

In his remarks, Trung noted that the two countries ‘have steadily deepened trust, broadened cooperation, and are standing together as close neighbors, trusted strategic partners, and fellow members of the Asean Family.’ The foreign minister recalled that, prior to the establishment of relations, the Philippines and Vietnam were already connected by the sea, fostering relations underpinned by a shared aspiration for peace and development.

The Vietnamese government official then commented on the increase in trade and tourism cooperation between the two countries and reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for the Philippine Asean Chairmanship this year.

Trung also characterized the Philippines as ‘one of the most dynamic economies of Asean, a leading investment destination, a nation with an increasingly important position in the region and the world, and a contributor to regional peace, stability and prosperity.’

The foreign minister drew parallels between AmBisyon Natin 2040, and Vietnam’s 2040 economic goals. He likewise concluded his speech with a toast.

The embassy also played a video that documented the relations’ milestones since July 12, 1976. As dessert was served, Filipino teachers were invited to sing their renditions of original Pilipino music favorites.

UNDEFEATED University of Santo Tomas (UST) secured the No. 1 seeding in the semifinals after a quick work of Australia guest team Southern Storm Melbourne, 25-20, 25-14, 25-9, in the 2026 Shakey’s Collegiate National Invitationals on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Golden Tigresses neutralized the Australians’ height advantage by beating them to the draw with fast and angled attacks to break their defensive wall on their way to a 4-0 win-loss record.

It was the veteran duo of Angge Poyos and Regina Jurado who did most of the damage as UST inched closer to completing an elimination round sweep.

Poyos punched in 14 points on 13 kills and an ace while Jurado played her first game in the tournament after sitting out the first two and contributed eight points for the España-based squad.

‘I’m grateful we secured this win in straight sets. The opponents were tall and in the first set, I was still trying to find my rhythm,’ said Poyos, who was limited to three points in the first set.

Marga Altea also had eight points for the Tigresses, who will face Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City Volleyball Club on Thursday to close the elimination phase.

No player from the Aussies’ side reached double-digit scoring, with Cleo Anastasias finishing with nine points.

Isabella Smith and Steph Baker had six and five points, respectively, for Southern Storm, which already secured a semis seat on Tuesday night after beating the Vietnamese, 25-15, 26-24, 20-25, 24-26, 15-12.

The Australian squad shoots for the No. 2 seed against College of Saint Benilde on Thursday.

EMBATTLED Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has pleaded not guilty before the Sandiganbayan to the charge of plunder and violation of Presidential Decree 46 which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts.

Marcoleta, through his lawyer Rodolfo Sabulao, pushed for the arraignment of the senator after moving for the withdrawal of his motion to quash the information in order to expedite the proceedings of his case.

Associate Justice Karl Miranda, chairperson of the antigraft court’s Third Division, asked Marcoleta if he consented to the withdrawal of his motion which the latter confirmed and that he arrived at the decision ‘without forced or intimidation.’

The senator also said that his move was thoroughly discussed with the counsels of his co-accused.

Marcoleta was arraigned alongside his co-accused, businessman Joseph Espiritu, who pleaded not guilty for violation of PD 46, which also prohibits private individuals from offering gifts to government officials.

Espiritu and other accused namely former lawmaker Michael Defensor and Aristotle Viray had previously entered not guilty pleas for plunder.

All the accused are currently detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas.

The Sandiganbayan set the pretrial for the charge on August 10, 2026.

The plunder and violation of PD 46 charges stemmed from Marcoleta’s admission that he received campaign contributions from Defensor, Espiritu and Viray in the amount of P30 million, P25 million and P20 million, respectively, on various dates last January 2025.

However, the Ombudsman noted that Marcoleta failed to declare the amount in the statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) that he submitted to the Commission on Elections or in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) that he filed when he assumed office, which is tantamount to ‘unjust enrichment.’