Category: Business Mirror

For people undergoing radiation therapy, precision is more than a technical consideration. It can mean targeting a tumor more accurately while limiting radiation exposure to the healthy tissues surrounding it. And for patients who may need repeated treatments, it can also mean fewer trips to the hospital and shorter, more comfortable treatment sessions.

These are among the potential benefits of a new TrueBeam radiotherapy system recently launched at St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City. The system combines advanced imaging, motion tracking and radiation-delivery technologies designed to give radiation oncologists greater control over how treatment is planned and delivered.

According to Dr. Angela Camacho, Head of Radiation Oncology at St. Luke’s Global City, the new system gives doctors greater flexibility in shaping and controlling the radiation beam, allowing them to deliver higher doses to the target while reducing doses to surrounding tissues.

‘The essence of it is it gives us doctors more flexibility and more control over the shape and the dose of the radiation beam that is being delivered to the patient,’ Camacho said.

More precision, less exposure

THE TrueBeam system is a linear accelerator used to deliver radiation therapy for a variety of cancers, including cancers of the brain, head and neck, lung, breast and pelvic areas, when radiation therapy is indicated. The new system comes with four upgrades: RapidArc Dynamic, ExacTrac Dynamic, HyperSight and HyperArc.

One of these, RapidArc Dynamic, combines hardware and software that allow doctors to adjust the shape and dose of the radiation beam with greater flexibility. This allows treatment plans to be tailored to individual patients while helping limit radiation exposure to nearby organs and tissues.

The hospital says the enhanced TrueBeam platform can reduce radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues by as much as 50 percent.

For patients, the difference can translate into fewer side effects, depending on the treatment site and individual treatment plan.

Camacho cited breast and pelvic cancer treatment as examples in which greater control over the radiation beam can help spare surrounding organs. In a breast cancer case, for instance, treatment can be planned to limit radiation reaching the heart. For pelvic treatment, the technology can help spare the bladder.

‘There are side effects, but we expect much lesser compared to the old plans that we get,’ Camacho said.

Fewer sessions for some patients

THE technology may also change how long some patients need to undergo radiation therapy.

Camacho cited breast cancer treatment as an example. Patients who previously received 30 sessions may, under appropriate treatment plans, receive 15 sessions through hypofractionation, a treatment approach that delivers a higher dose of radiation per session.

She noted that studies have shown comparable local control between 30- and 15-session breast cancer treatments, while her team’s experience has seen fewer skin reactions among patients receiving the shorter treatment schedule.

The number of sessions, however, depends on the type and site of cancer and the patient’s individual treatment plan. The technology does not mean every patient will automatically require fewer treatments.

From hours to minutes

FOR patients with certain brain tumors, the change can be even more striking.

HyperArc is designed for treating brain lesions with high-dose radiation. Previously, some patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery had to wear a rigid head frame that was pinned or screwed to the skull. The treatment process could take three to four hours.

With HyperArc, patients can instead use a frameless thermoplastic mask, with treatment taking about 10 to 15 minutes, according to Camacho.

‘It’s very comfortable for the patient. That’s the advantage of this,’ she said.

HyperArc, on the other hand, allows treatments for multiple brain lesions that previously took three to four hours to be delivered in about 10 to 15 minutes using a more comfortable mask.

When the patient moves, the treatment responds

ANOTHER challenge in radiation therapy is movement. The body does not remain completely still, and some organs move naturally as a person breathes.

ExacTrac Dynamic, described by the hospital as a first-in-the-country technology, uses thermal surface and X-ray tracking to detect even subtle movements during treatment. If the patient’s position shifts, the radiation beam can automatically pause until proper alignment is restored.

Camacho explained that this can be particularly useful when treating areas affected by movement, such as the breast, lungs and abdomen.

The system’s HyperSight imaging technology also provides clearer images before treatment, allowing the team to better align the patient and verify the treatment target. Camacho said the new images are much clearer than those previously obtained through cone-beam CT and can make it easier to see changes in a lesion.

Technology with the patient in mind

WHILE the new system represents a significant technological upgrade, Camacho emphasized that its value ultimately lies in how it can improve the treatment experience and give physicians greater confidence in delivering radiation.

‘With all of these technologies that are in store in our new machine, we get better treatment plans for the patient,’ she said.

The new TrueBeam system is the second TrueBeam machine in the department. Camacho said the additional capacity will allow the department to accommodate more patients, while the new system’s specialized technologies can be used for procedures such as treatment of brain lesions.

The investment is part of St. Luke’s effort to bring advanced cancer treatment closer to Filipino patients. The hospital says its goal is to combine advanced technology with specialized oncology care so patients and their families can access sophisticated cancer treatment locally.

For patients facing cancer, however, the significance of the technology may be measured in more personal terms: a treatment that takes minutes instead of hours, fewer sessions when clinically appropriate, greater protection for healthy tissues, and a treatment plan tailored more closely to their individual needs.

As Camacho put it, the goal is greater precision, accuracy and efficiency-ultimately helping doctors deliver the right treatment to the right target while keeping the patient’s safety and comfort at the center of care.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said the 40 Filipino crew members of the Panama-flagged bulk carrier First Margaux were unhurt after their ship collided with the China-registered fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu.

The incident happened September 17, 2026 at the Singapore Strait and is now being investigated by Singaporean authorities.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said the Lu Qing Yuan Yu took on water, but it remained afloat after the collision incident.

In an interview with reporters last Thursday, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said they have identified the 40 Filipino sailors of First Margaux.

‘Rest assured we have identified all the 40 Filipino seafarers by name and that we are reaching out to all of their families as we confirm their status,’ he said.

As of press time, Cacdac said they have yet to receive any report from the manning agency of the said sailors they were hurt from the incident.

He said they will provide the necessary aid to the affected sailors.

‘Of course rest assured because of the instructions of the President, we are reaching out to the families and we will assist them. Of course our number one priority is to bring them home,’ Cacdac said.

Electricity prices in the Visayas could fall by nearly 54 percent under the regional application of the Secondary Price Cap (SPC), as the Department of Energy (DOE) moves to stabilize the grid following the return of several generating units.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has begun applying the SPC separately to the Visayas and Mindanao grids, a change that would allow price spikes in the two regions to trigger the cap without being diluted by lower prices in Luzon.

The new treatment took effect beginning with the August 2026 billing period and is expected to be reflected in consumers’ September bills.

Based on ERC simulations cited by Garin, the regional SPC could bring the average August Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) price in the Visayas down to P8.47 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) from P18.59 per kWh, a reduction of nearly 54 percent.

In Mindanao, the average WESM price could fall to P8.69 per kWh from P19.56 per kWh, or nearly 56 percent lower.

Garin said the previous SPC mechanism combined the prices of Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao in determining whether the price cap would be triggered.

Because Luzon accounts for a much larger share of the market, high prices in the Visayas and Mindanao could be offset by lower prices in Luzon.

‘This is very important and a big change in the monthly bill of our countrymen, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao,’ Garin said.

She stressed, however, that the price cap is not a substitute for addressing the supply constraints that caused the price surge.

‘The price cap alone is not enough,’ Garin said, adding that the DOE is pursuing measures to improve generation reliability and address recurring and prolonged plant outages.

Supply recovery

THE department is simultaneously working to restore generating capacity and strengthen reserves in the Visayas grid.

Garin said at least 758 megawatt of capacity across the Visayas and Mindanao grids has been recovered as generating units return to service.

Among the units cited were an 82-MW unit that has been operational since September 4, Therma Visayas Inc. (TVI) Unit 2 in Toledo with a capacity of 169 MW, TVI Unit 1 with 169 MW, Therma South Inc. Unit 1 with 150 MW, and GN Power Kauswagan Unit 2 with 138 MW.

The recovery, however, has not been without setbacks. Garin said TVI Unit 1 suffered a forced outage shortly after returning to service.

DOE field offices were deployed to inspect and audit the facility and work with the operator to restore the unit to stable and sustained operation.

The 150-MW Panay Energy Development Corp. Unit 3 in Iloilo also remains under restoration.

Despite the setbacks, Garin said the return of generating units has allowed the power reserve in the Visayas grid to gradually increase.

The DOE is also coordinating with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to accelerate the integration of 253 MW of battery energy-storage capacity in Cebu, Panay, Leyte and Negros.

Garin said the government is pursuing several measures while waiting for longer-term generation projects to come online, including battery storage, the restoration of existing plants and interim solutions such as power barges.

New generation capacity will take time to develop, she said.

Coal-fired power plants can take about three to five years to construct, while gas-fired plants may require about five years.

Solar projects can be developed faster but are not sufficient on their own to meet the energy requirements of the Visayas and Mindanao.

‘We’re catching up,’ Garin said, adding that the DOE is pushing investors to accelerate projects that normally require several years to complete.

She stressed that stabilizing the power situation requires cooperation among generating companies, electric cooperatives, distribution utilities, TransCo, NGCP, Napocor and local governments.

Meanwhile, the DOE is also examining the sharp movement in electricity prices.

Garin said she instructed the DOE Legal Services Bureau to formally communicate with the Philippine Competition Commission and Philippine Electricity Market Corp. to determine whether there was possible market abuse during the period of tight supply.

The DOE is also coordinating with the ERC and other power-sector agencies to monitor market conduct, stabilize supply and ensure that the recalculated charges are correctly reflected in consumers’ electricity bills.

MEASURES will be put in place to address the latest Chinese ramming incident that targeted a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Bfar) vessel off Palawan on September 18, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said.

‘Definitely. This definitely needs to be addressed and we’ll be talking with the National Security Advisor and the National Maritime Council. Kasi unarmed vessel ito [Because this is an unarmed vessel], Bfar vessel, [and this (ramming) has] no rhyme, no reason,’ he said in an interview.

A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship hit the Bfar ship BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV-3015) broadsides while the latter was carrying out a fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen off Hasa-Hasa Shoal, West Philippine Sea.

‘It’s not merely a violation of maritime rules, but a criminal act by the CCG. So, we will be addressing that. I’m not going to talk about specifics now, but definitely our personnel are already developing options for addressing this,’ Teodoro said.

He said the Chinese action needs to be addressed as soon as possible since the incident took place in Philippine territory.

He added that if any of the Bfar personnel manning the ship were injured in the incident, that action by the CCG can also be considered as a criminal act.

Teodoro said Filipinos reportedly claiming that the CCG is right in ramming the BFAR ship are guilty of treason.

‘[That is] not acceptable, at katrayduran na sa Republika ng Pilipinas iyon [that is treachery against the Republic of the Philippines], plain and simple,’ he said.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) earlier condemned the incident, noting that is a serious breach of the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (Colregs), the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

PERSISTENT high rice prices despite the reduction in import tariffs may point to anti-competitive conditions in the industry, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said on Monday.

Balisacan said the rice market did not respond as expected after the government slashed the import tariff, with prices remaining elevated even as global rice prices declined in previous years.

‘Essentially, it’s a combination of factors, but one that we could not exclude is the possibility that you have an anti-competitive market in the retail sector,’ Balisacan said during the budget hearing of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) at the Senate.

The government cut the tariff on imported rice from 35 percent to 15 percent under Executive Order 62, which took effect for rice in July 2024.

The lower tariff was subsequently maintained through 2025, with President Marcos issuing EO 105 in November 2025 to keep the 15-percent rate until December 31, 2025.

The order also introduced a mechanism for adjusting the tariff based on movements in international rice prices starting January 2026.

As of September 2026, the tariff remains at 15 percent despite the new mechanism.

Balisacan said the government has asked the Philippine Competition Commission to look into possible competition issues behind the ‘rigidity’ in rice prices, particularly in trading, wholesale, and importation.

Balisacan also pointed to other factors that could be preventing rice prices from adjusting as expected, particularly bottlenecks and market inefficiencies, as well as the government’s trade-policy decisions on imports.

‘Also in the way we use trade policy, I think the way we make decisions on importation, I think those quantitative restrictions are affecting the way the market functions, so the market can’t effectively function,’ he added.

Rice inflation accelerated to 19.4 percent in August from 17.1 percent in July, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Rice was among the major contributors to the month’s inflation, while its August inflation rate was the highest since July 2024.

The BRP Datu Magat Salamat could require roughly ?1.4 million in repairs following its September 18 collision with a China Coast Guard vessel, based on an initial estimate. The impact damaged the BFAR vessel’s railings, metal supports, and deck equipment while it was assisting Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 struck the BFAR vessel about 54 nautical miles off Palawan. The Philippine Coast Guard said the collision was deliberate, while China disputed Manila’s account. The Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident, saying there was no justification for the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions and that the collision endangered the civilian crew.

For civic leader Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, the incident is part of a wider pattern of pressure on Philippine vessels operating in the country’s maritime domain.

‘The repair cost is only the immediate consequence,’ Goitia said. ‘What should concern every Filipino is that our people are being put at risk simply for exercising lawful rights in our own waters.’

That same dynamic is visible around Bajo de Masinloc. In June, Philippine authorities confirmed a Chinese floating platform inside the shoal, prompting a diplomatic protest. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea later confirmed its removal.

Reports of a longer-term Chinese strategy, including a 15-year horizon and possible additional military infrastructure, have fueled concern over Beijing’s expanding presence in the South China Sea. The specific claim involving a timetable for occupying Philippine islands or establishing a fourth military installation at Bajo de Masinloc, however, has not been publicly confirmed by Philippine authorities.

‘We cannot wait for China to announce its intentions before we prepare,’ Goitia said. ‘We have to look at what is already happening. If this is part of a longer-term effort to expand control, the Philippines has to stand firm.’

He stressed that pressure must not force the Philippines to surrender its lawful rights.

‘We will not surrender our rights in our own waters simply because another country chooses to apply pressure,’ he said. ‘Our fishermen have the right to fish. Our vessels have the right to operate here. That’s what we’re defending.’

The BRP Datu Magat Salamat can be repaired. What’s harder to repair is the precedent: that Filipino vessels and fishermen should have to absorb this kind of risk simply for working in their own waters.

Dr. Jose Antonio Goitia, Juris Doctor, PhD, is Chairman Emeritus of Alyansa ng Bantay sa Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), People’s Alliance for Democracy and Reforms (PADER), Liga Independencia Pilipinas (LIPI), and the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement (FDNY). He holds advanced degrees, including an MNSA, MPA, and MBA, among others.

WHILE financial exclusion fell from 56 percent in 2017 to 19 percent in 2025, a central bank official pointed out that lack of access to banking and financial services remains rampant in agriculture, youth and informal sectors.

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Deputy Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the Regional Operations and Advocacy Sector, emphasized that behind these numbers are millions more people who can open an account, make a digital payment, save safely and connect to formal financial services.

‘But as I mentioned before, access is only a starting point,’ Romulo-Puyat said during the ‘Asean-EU Business Summit 2026,’ thus, raising these questions: ‘Can a family meet its daily needs and still prepare for an emergency? Can a farmer recover after a bad harvest? or can workers save for old age?’

As such, another central bank official divulged which segments are still ‘financially excluded’ in the country.

Mynard Bryan R. Mojica, Director for Financial Inclusion Office at the BSP, said in terms of segments, financial exclusion is ‘still very high’ among farmers, the youth and informal workers.

‘So in terms of segments where financial exclusion is still very high, we’re looking at the agriculture sector, the farmers, where you have around 3 out of 10 farmers are [financially] included. So 7 out of 10 are excluded. You also have interestingly-the youth sector also has a large exclusion, because even if they are tech savvy, they have smartphones. They use that smartphone not for financial transactions, but basically for social media.And then you have the informal sector workers,’ Mojica said during the summit.

At the individual level, Mojica said the central bank still sees ‘lack of money’ as the main reason why many Filipinos are financially excluded.

‘So if you have a limited disposable income, where is the ownership in that puzzle? And of course, as a central bank, we can only do so much in terms of addressing that lack of money problem,’ added the BSP official.

Meanwhile, Romulo-Puyat explained that the central bank is not only working on expanding financial access in the country. Beyond this, she said the BSP also aims to ‘measure and improve financial health’ in the country.

‘Missing layer of protection’

WITH insurance remaining a ‘missing layer of protection’ among many households and businesses, the BSP deputy governor said the central bank is set to expand access to insurance through banks by updating its bancassurance guidelines.

‘Banks already have trusted relationships with their clients. By making it easier for them to offer appropriate insurance because alongside banking products and services, we can help more families get insurance. At the end of the day, this is really about giving people greater confidence in their future,’ added Romulo-Puyat.

On the sidelines of the summit, she told reporters that the updated bancassurance guidelines were slated to be released this year to give banks more options to provide insurance products outside their own conglomerates.

‘It should be this year. Now, it’s within the conglomerate but we’re expanding it. It’s really supposed to be for this year, the exposure to expand bancassurance,’ added Romulo-Puyat.

As to what has caused the delay of the issuance of guidelines, she added: ‘I’m sure not that major because we are pushing for it. I don’t think anybody will be against it. Because it’s just giving banks more options…to provide insurance.’

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will draw on the expertise of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International (PoABI) to prepare its ports for public-private partnership (PPP) projects, sharpen crisis response, and push digitalization and green operations under a five-year cooperation agreement between the two port bodies.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago and PoABI Head of Business Development Maartje Driessens signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which sets up a framework for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and adopting international best practices in the Philippine port sector.

Under the agreement, the two parties may cooperate on port operations, planning and optimization, port and terminal performance, digitalization and smart port applications, safety and operational risk management, sustainability and green port operations, service quality management, and operational governance.

Santiago said the partnership will also open doors to training in areas critical to the agency’s pipeline of private-sector-led port projects.

‘This will provide opportunities for capacity building on operational readiness for public-private partnership [PPP] port projects, port crisis and emergency response management, cruise port development, and port strategy, as well as the exploration of potential investment opportunities related to port development,’ Santiago said.

The collaboration, likewise, covers security and inter-agency integration, including efforts to link port systems with those of other government agencies to deliver more seamless services to port users.

For its part, PoABI said it sees strong room for knowledge exchange as the Philippine port sector pursues modernization in infrastructure, digitalization, sustainability, and safety.

‘The Philippine Ports Authority is clearly moving toward full modernization of its port network, including upgrading physical infrastructure, digitizing operations, and strengthening green and safety standards,’ Driessens said.

She cited several PPA initiatives that caught PoABI’s attention, including improved passenger facilities, disaster resilience engineering, the implementation of ORAS and real-time data, and sustainability measures such as shore-based power supply and renewable energy.

‘These are initiatives where we can definitely learn from each other’s best practices and accelerate our growth strategies,’ Driessens said.

She also flagged the PPA’s PPP initiatives as an area ripe for further knowledge sharing and international cooperation, noting that such approaches can help improve port performance and efficiency.

PoABI provides consultancy, advisory, training, and management solutions for port and terminal-related projects internationally.

Malacañang said the construction of the proposed five rainwater impounding facilities across Metro Manila, which is the first part of the implementation of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)’s ‘sponge city’ initiative, to minimize flooding in the region will have an estimated cost of P4.05 billion.

Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto made the announcement last Tuesday after meeting with MMDA earlier this month to discuss the initial government funding for the project.

He said the fund will be included in the proposed National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Assistance Program.

The fund will be used for the facilities at the Camp Aguinaldo, Miriam College, Remedios Circle, Rajah Sulayman Park and the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Garden at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Vito Cruz.

Once completed, the five facilities will have a storage capacity of 107,600 cubic meters of rainwater preventing it from reaching flood-prone communities.

‘We need more than just the cleaning of drainage systems and waterways. We also need to increase Metro Manila’s capacity to catch and temporarily store water during heavy rains,’ Recto said in Filipino in a statement.

‘Our objective is simple: manage the water before it becomes a flood, and protect as many communities as possible,’ he added.

The five new facilities are part of the ‘sponge city’ project of the MMDA, which includes a total of 39 sites.

MMDA is targeting to complete the said projects by June 2027, and the 34 other facilities by the end of next year.

Recto has yet to disclose the source and the amount of funding for the 34 other sponge city facilities. The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) has also committed US$200 million to help finance MMDA’s sponge city initiative.

The Baguio Creative City Council is hoping to revive the city’s silver craft industry amid challenges, including dwindling artisans and limited access to raw materials.

‘It is good if we can have a bubbly silver craft industry just like in the past because it is one of the industries associated with Baguio,’ Marie Venus Tan, co-chairperson of the Baguio Creative City Council, said in a media interview Friday.

Tan said only two silver craft shops-Pilak Silvercraft and Gift Shoppe and Tawid Silver-remain in Baguio, with both facing difficulties in sourcing raw materials because their products are associated with mining. She said the number of artists and artisans skilled in silver crafting is also declining.

Both shops have begun adapting to changes in the business landscape, including by offering experiences that allow customers to learn about and participate in the craft.

Pilak Silvercraft, for instance, has started offering experiential tourism activities where customers can make their own jewelry, including wedding rings, Tan said.

The shop is also considering accreditation as a learning site for people interested in learning silver crafting, she said.

Romar Agpes, senior technical education and skills development specialist of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Benguet, which also covers Baguio City, said the agency offers scholarships and training programs that industries can tap to upgrade workers’ skills or develop a pool of skilled workers. ‘Now that we know we have silver craft shops that are interested in providing skills, we will coordinate with them so that a module can be prepared,’ Agpes said in a phone interview Friday.

He said previous efforts to develop silver craft training, including coordination with silver mineral miners, did not push through.

Agpes said TESDA is confident that silver crafting can eventually be included in its skills training programs to help sustain the industry.

Baguio Tourism Council chairperson Gladys Vergara said the council is also working to revive traditional industries in the city, including silver crafting, as part of efforts to preserve local heritage while creating opportunities for younger generations.

Woodcraft and leather footwear crafting are also among the traditional industries being considered for revival, she said. PNA