Category: Business Mirror

The future of office real estate is no longer just about location, accessibility, or prestige. Increasingly, it is about sustainability. Across Metro Manila and major business hubs across the Philippines, green and sustainable office buildings are transforming from a niche concept into a market necessity.

The numbers tell a compelling story. From 2026 to 2030, Colliers Philippines data show that about 1.1 million square meters of green office space are expected to be completed in Metro Manila, representing 61 percent of all upcoming office supply. This signals a clear shift in market priorities as developers respond to changing occupier requirements and investor expectations.

Sustainability is key

For occupiers, sustainability is increasingly a business imperative. Corporate tenants are under pressure to meet environmental goals, reduce carbon footprints, and comply with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments. As a result, office location decisions are now heavily influenced by whether a building possesses certifications such as LEED, WELL, or BERDE. Colliers data show that as of Q1 2026, approximately 63 percent of office transactions in Metro Manila were completed in sustainable-certified buildings, reflecting the growing preference for environmentally responsible workspaces.

The benefits extend beyond corporate branding. Sustainable buildings generate tangible financial returns. Studies and market evidence suggest that green developments can attract higher occupancy levels, and command rental and value premiums. These advantages create a powerful business case for both landlords and investors. Sustainability is no longer an expense; it is a profitability strategy.

According to a Colliers Philippines office survey, more than 70% of respondents consider green and sustainable features either critical or an important factor when selecting office space. Sustainability has evolved from a desirable feature into a competitive differentiator that influences leasing decisions and workplace satisfaction.

Beyond energy efficiency, sustainable buildings create healthier environments for employees. Features such as advanced air filtration systems, natural lighting, touchless technologies, thermal insulation, lower-density floorplates, and green spaces enhance employee well-being and productivity. In an era where attracting talent is as important as attracting tenants, workplace wellness has become a strategic investment rather than merely an operational consideration.

Equally important is resilience. Sustainable buildings are often better prepared to manage rising energy costs, climate risks, and evolving regulatory requirements. As governments tighten sustainability standards and investors place greater emphasis on ESG performance, green-certified assets are likely to experience stronger long-term demand and lower obsolescence risks. Existing buildings that fail to adapt may require costly retrofits to remain competitive. Sustainability audits and certification upgrades could soon become standard practice for property owners seeking to future-proof their assets.

From a ‘nice to have’ to a ‘must have’

Moving forward, developers should move beyond compliance and embrace innovation. The next generation of sustainable offices should integrate artificial intelligence, smart building systems, greentech solutions, rainwater harvesting facilities, optimized ventilation systems, and renewable energy technologies. Vertical gardens, open spaces, and wellness-focused amenities should become standard features rather than premium add-ons. Property technology, data analytics, and intelligent building management will play a crucial role in helping landlords reduce costs while enhancing tenant experience.

For policymakers, the priority should be to establish clear sustainability guidelines, encourage certification programs, and provide incentives that accelerate green development. For investors, sustainable assets should be viewed as long-term value creators capable of delivering resilient income streams and stronger capital appreciation. For occupiers, selecting a green office is becoming less about corporate image and more about operational efficiency, talent retention, and risk management.

At Colliers Philippines, we believe that green is no longer optional-it is inevitable. The buildings that prioritize sustainability today will attract the tenants, investors, and talent of tomorrow. In an increasingly competitive Philippine property market, the winners will not merely build higher or faster. They will build smarter, greener, and more sustainably. In Philippine real estate’s next chapter, sustainability will not just drive growth-it will define it.

Listening sounds simple until you try to do it well. You sit across from someone, you nod at the right moments, you make sounds of agreement, and you assume that is enough. Yet when the conversation ends, you can barely remember what they said. You remember the gist, maybe the topic, but the meaning of their words has slipped past you. This happens because hearing and listening are not the same thing. Hearing is automatic. Listening asks something of you.

Think about the last time someone listened to you fully. Perhaps it was a friend who put down their phone, looked at you, and let you finish your sentence without rushing to respond. Perhaps it was a coworker who repeated back what you said in their own words, just to make sure they understood. You probably remember how it felt. That is the quiet power of being truly heard, and it is something you can offer to the people around you with practice.

Most of us are not poor listeners by choice. The world has trained you to do many things at once. You check messages while a family member tells you about their day. You plan your reply while your colleague is still explaining the problem. You assume you already know where the sentence is going, so you stop paying attention before they reach the end. None of this makes you a bad person. It makes you a busy one. The good news is that listening better is a skill, and like any skill, it improves the moment you decide to give it your attention.

Start with your body. The way you sit and where you look tell the other person whether you are with them or not. Put the phone face down, turn your body slightly toward them, and soften your shoulders. These small movements do something to your mind as well, signaling that this conversation matters. You do not need to stare without blinking or sit perfectly still. You just need to be there in a way the other person can feel that they have your full attention.

Next, slow down your urge to reply. Most people listen with half their brain while the other half drafts a clever response, a counterpoint, or a story of their own that somehow feels more interesting. Try to notice when this happens, and gently return your attention to the speaker. If silence falls after they finish, do not rush to fill it. A short pause tells them that you took their words seriously enough to consider them. Often, the speaker will continue and share something deeper than they planned, simply because you gave them room.

Ask questions that show you were paying attention. You do not need to be clever. You only need to be curious. Instead of jumping to advice, try asking what the hardest part was for them, or how the experience left them feeling. Questions like these tell the other person that you care about their experience, not just the facts. They also slow the conversation enough for real understanding to happen. If you are not sure you followed correctly, try repeating what you heard in your own words and inviting them to correct you. This costs nothing and changes everything.

Active listening also asks you to set aside the urge to fix. When a partner shares a frustration about work, your first instinct may be to suggest solutions. When a friend mentions a worry, you may immediately start thinking of ways to make things better. While that impulse often comes from a place of care, it is not always what the other person needs. Sometimes people do want advice.

Most of the time, however, they simply want to be understood before they are offered solutions. Ask gently what they need from the conversation. A simple question such as, ‘Would you like my thoughts, or would you rather I just listen?’ can make all the difference. Giving someone the space to express themselves without immediately trying to fix the situation is often one of the kindest and most supportive things you can do.

Of course, there will be days when listening feels difficult. You may be carrying your own worries, feeling exhausted after a long day, or struggling to focus because your mind is already full. On those days, honesty is kinder than pretending. If you cannot give someone your full attention, let them know. Tell them you genuinely want to hear what they have to say and ask if you can continue the conversation later, when you can be fully present. Setting that boundary is not dismissive. It shows respect for both the speaker and the conversation. Most people appreciate honest attention delayed far more than distracted listening offered out of obligation.

Over time, listening well becomes less an effort and more a habit. You will notice that people open up to you more easily, that disagreements cool before they grow heated, and that you understand the people in your life with greater depth than before. Your relationships will feel steadier, not because the world around you has changed, but because you have changed the way you meet it. Few skills shape your daily life as quietly and as completely as the practice of truly listening, and few gifts are as freely yours to give. The people in your home, your office, and your neighborhood do not need you to be wiser or more accomplished than you are. They need you to be present when they speak, and to receive what they say as if it mattered, because it does.

WHILE we may think of making an investment as something good, you must understand that there are also certain risks involved. There are many risks in making any investment, some of the more common ones include liquidity, volatility, credit, documentation, security, market, fraud, political and carrying costs.

Liquidity is how quickly an investment can be sold and the proceeds paid back to the investor. This becomes a problem in less popular fixed income and equity securities, where there is a thin market. Real estate investments may also have liquidity issues when the demand softens and the buyers have dried up.

Volatility risks happen when the prices move up and down rapidly, which could catch a weak investor to take a loss on his investment particularly when they have a short term investment horizon but have taken a long position with a higher term period.

Credit risks are when you make an investment in a corporate bond or equity shares but the company issuing the bonds or equity shares have gotten into trouble or goes bankrupt! When this happens, the value of these bonds or shares could drop or quite possibly even become worthless.

Documentation risks happen when you don’t have the proper papers to support your ownership or purchase of the asset. Such as when you buy a piece of property but the title document has errors in it or the bank did not provide you with a time deposit certificate.

Security risk is when your investment in bearer bonds or precious metals, can be stolen and would be difficult to trace the ownership of. Let us say you invested in a gold bar or coin, you would need to keep that in a secure place such a safe or bank safety deposit box. Otherwise, you are taking a higher security risk that it could be stolen.

Market risk is when the market sentiment moves or the demand weakens resulting in changing the demand for your investment. These macroeconomic movements are driven by many global factors such as a recession, military conflicts, weather conditions, calamities and pandemics.

The risk of fraud is always present which is why it is always highly recommended that you only deal with reputable counter parties. Fraud could cost you the entire value of your investment, so you need to pay attention and exercise due caution.

Politics always play a significant role in investments. When the domestic and foreign investors perceive that there is political uncertainty, investments in that country always declines. Investments in businesses that require government approval such those with a legislative franchise, licenses and bidding, carry the risk of change in those granting those approvals.

Investments that have a certain carrying cost such as the payment of real property tax, association dues, security, insurance, maintenance costs and administrative expenses will always be subject to the risk of increasing costs.

Investment risks need to be taken into account and only when the returns on such investments is more that the risk, should the investment be made.

The views and comments of Dr. George S. Chua are his own and not of the BusinessMirror or the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex). The author was 2016 Finex President and a life member, 2010 to 2020 Federation of Philippine Industries President, and an entrepreneur. Dr. Chua is a Fellow at the Institute of Corporate Directors, a Professorial Lecturer 2 at the University of the Philippines Diliman and BGC Campus and Vice Chairman of the Market Governance Board of the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. Comments may be sent to georgechuaph@yahoo.com or gschua@up.edu.ph)

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has identified several persons of interest and is actively pursuing leads in its ongoing investigation into the alleged threats made by Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, NBI Director Melvin Matibag told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday.

Matibag declined to disclose their identities, warning that doing so prematurely could compromise the probe, endanger informants, and expose sensitive intelligence.

‘At present, our investigation and the task force’s work remain ongoing and active in addressing the threat to the president. We have leads that we are pursuing, and, in fact, we have already identified persons of interest who may be able to point to or identify the individual the vice president spoke with-or one of these persons of interest could be the very person she communicated with,’ Matibag testified.

The NBI’s special task force, he said, continues to investigate potential threats against the president, with efforts focused on determining who Duterte allegedly contacted in connection with a supposed plan to kill the President, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

While the agency has established persons of interest, Matibag clarified that this does not mean the NBI has conclusively identified Duterte’s alleged contact. Rather, these individuals may provide information that could help identify the person involved or shed light on the circumstances of the alleged communication.

He emphasized that naming them at this stage could jeopardize the investigation.

‘Revealing details in an open and continuing investigation could compromise our operations,’ Matibag said, adding that it could also put informants and field assets at risk.

The identification of the alleged contact, he noted, is a central part of the task force’s mandate, which includes ensuring the president’s security and determining whether a credible plot exists.

Matibag also revealed that the NBI’s Cybercrime Division has been monitoring social media posts and videos containing threats against the president, including references to shooting him, further heightening concerns over national security.

Matibag presented confidential task force reports, meeting minutes, and internal documents to the court, confirming that these contain information related to the persons of interest. However, he reiterated that such materials cannot be disclosed publicly due to their classified nature.

Meanwhile, during the hearing, presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero sustained the defense’s objection to a question from the prosecution asking what law Duterte may have violated, ruling that it called for a legal conclusion while the investigation remains ongoing.

Beyond ordinary

Matibag also said that any threat directed at the president of the Philippines goes beyond ordinary criminal acts and directly affects national security.

From a law enforcement standpoint, Matibag explained, the alleged threat has been elevated to a serious concern involving national security, as it could destabilize the government and the country.

He said the NBI’s work did not end with the filing of criminal complaints for grave threats and inciting to sedition before the Department of Justice. Instead, the bureau created a special task force to continue the investigation, monitor threats, and immediately report developments requiring action.

The task force was formed through Administrative Order No. 11, issued on April 16, 2026, and is tasked with coordinating closely with the Office of the Director while providing continuous updates and urgent reports when necessary.

Matibag said the decision to establish the task force was influenced by several factors, including the Vice President’s public statements and an April 12 rally of the RAGE Coalition, where Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte allegedly made statements referencing the President.

The defense objected to the inclusion of the rally, arguing it was irrelevant, but the presiding officer allowed the line of questioning, instructing the prosecution to establish its relevance.

According to Matibag, the task force integrates multiple NBI units-including cybercrime, intelligence, and forensic divisions-to conduct surveillance, monitor online threats, coordinate with international counterparts, and analyze evidence.

He emphasized that threats against the president could lead to instability and disorder, making them a matter of national concern.

Matibag also explained that the NBI evaluates threats using several key factors: pattern of violence, gravity, identity, capability, and motive.

On the seriousness of the threat, he noted that the individuals allegedly targeted include the president, the first lady, and a former speaker-figures holding or having held top government positions-making the situation particularly grave.

Investigators also examined Duterte’s previous public statements, including a November 23, 2024, online press conference where she repeatedly said she was not joking.

Matibag said this, along with other statements, reinforced the NBI’s assessment that the Vice President may have communicated with someone who allegedly agreed to carry out the killing.

On identity, he said the source of the statements had been clearly established, noting that Duterte herself publicly made and acknowledged them.

Regarding capability, the NBI considered Duterte’s network and influence, including connections formed during her father’s presidency.

Matibag said Duterte remains the subject of a continuing investigation and that the bureau now treats her alleged threat as ‘hindi banta kundi isang plano’ to kill Marcos.

On motive, Matibag pointed to the constitutional line of succession, explaining that the vice president would assume the presidency if the sitting president were to die.

He added that the situation has already contributed to public tension, citing numerous threats being monitored on social media, which further underscores the seriousness of the issue.

‘It’s creating chaos-there has been disorder, followed by a series of attacks against the government. Among ordinary citizens, we can see that threats against the president persist. In fact, we have monitored numerous threats on social media,’ Matibag testified.

‘Pattern of violence’

Matibag also cited what he described as Duterte’s ‘pattern of violence’ as among the factors considered in the investigation into her alleged threats against the president.

Testifying before the Senate impeachment court, Matibag said the NBI Special Task Force reviewed publicly available information and other materials as part of its ongoing threat assessment.

Among the incidents examined was a 2011 altercation in which Duterte, then mayor of Davao City, allegedly punched a court sheriff implementing a demolition order.

‘We noted an event when the vice president was still mayor, where she reportedly called the sheriff and struck him in the face,’ he added.

Matibag also said the task force reviewed a document attributed to self-confessed former Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascañas.

The document alleged that Duterte, while serving as mayor, approved anti-drug operations and instructed operatives to abduct suspected drug personalities and bury them instead of shooting them to avoid media attention.

In a portion read before the court, Lascañas claimed that former Davao City police chief Ronald dela Rosa told him Duterte preferred that targets be abducted and buried at a quarry so they would simply be reported missing.

Another excerpt alleged that Lascañas personally heard Duterte instruct a retired police officer to kidnap suspected drug personalities and other alleged criminals instead of shooting them.

Another portion alleged that Lascañas personally heard Duterte instruct a retired police officer to kidnap suspected drug personalities and other alleged criminals instead of shooting them.

The document attributed to Duterte the instruction ‘Shooting your target is too brazen. Just kidnap them so they will just go missing and so that the media won’t bother us.’

The defense repeatedly objected to the reading of the document, arguing that it was unsigned, unnotarized, and not made under oath. It also emphasized that Matibag was not the author and had no personal knowledge of the claims.

Matibag explained that law enforcement agencies routinely review open-source intelligence and similar materials for possible leads, even if they are not yet verified as evidence.

‘In law enforcement, we have what we call open-source intelligence. These are materials sent to us that we follow up on,’ he said, adding that the investigation remains ‘open, continuing, and active.’

He noted that such information is cross-checked with other data and can help guide investigators.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero allowed Matibag to identify and read portions of the document solely to explain the materials used by the NBI in its investigation.

Escudero repeatedly reminded senator-judges that the testimony should not be taken as proof that the allegations in the document are true.

The portions read were marked as prosecution exhibits, subject to the defense’s continuing objection and the court’s limitation on their evidentiary value.

Players from Thailand, Indonesia, India, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and the Philippines battle for honors in the Oscar J. Hilado J60 World Tennis Championship at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The first leg is set July 20-26 and the second leg slated July 28 to Aug. 2.

Stefi Marithe Aludo, who together with Tennielle Madis swept last year’s doubles titles, will lead the Philippines’ campaign in the Under-18 competition along with John Kendrick Bona.

Also seeing action are Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz, Louraine Jallorina, Erynne Francesca Ong, Ayl Xyza Gonzaga, Mikaela Rose Ngu and Katlyn Ann Bugna in the girls division, and Loucas Sebastian Go, Kenzo Marcus Brodeth, Miguel Ricardo Lagac III and Gavin Kraut in the boys division.

Past champions include Alexandra Eala, Francis Casey Alcantara, John Bryan Otico, Arthur Craig Pantino and Khim Iglupas.

Organized by Phinma Corp., Phinma Foundation, Inc., and the Philippine Tennis Academy, the annual tournament, on its 18th year, has been renamed in honor of Phinma Corp. Chairman Emeritus Oscar J. Hilado, following his passing in 2025, in recognition of his contributions to Philippine tennis.

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) has ordered casino operators to strengthen their anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML-CFT) frameworks after completing its latest sector-wide risk assessment.

The country’s gaming regulator also warned that the industry’s controls must keep pace with risks linked to VIP gaming, junkets, electronic gaming and cross-border transactions.

In an advisory that formally circulated Pagcor’s second casino sector AML-CFT risk assessment, covering the period from 2021 to 2024, the agency said casino operators are required to be on the guard against AML-CFT.

An article in the gaming newsletter GGR Asia said that all Pagcor-licensed gaming operators are expected to review and update their institutional AML-CFT risk assessments, incorporate the report’s findings into their compliance frameworks, and assess whether existing policies, procedures and controls remain appropriate for their risk profiles.

The advisory added that future supervisory activities would take into account the extent to which operators had incorporated the assessment’s findings into their risk management and compliance programes.

Casinos and other gaming establishments that fail to ‘reasonably consider the assessment’ would be subjected to Pagcor’s supervisory and enforcement actions, it added.

The agency assessed the Philippine casino sector as facing a high money laundering risk and a medium-high terrorism financing risk.

It said casinos remained materially exposed to proceeds from serious crimes because of high-value transactions, cash-intensive operations, VIP (very important person) and junket business, electronic gaming and remote channels, even though no confirmed terrorism-financing case involving a Pagcor-regulated casino was identified during the assessment period.

The regulator said operators should strengthen customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence measures, including beneficial ownership verification, source-of-funds and source-of-wealth reviews, politically exposed person screening, and sanctions checks.

Pagcor also called for enhanced oversight of VIP, junket, remote and other high-value customer relationships, alongside stronger monitoring of unusual buy-ins, rapid redemptions, minimal-play activity and cross-channel movement of funds.

It urged licensees to improve customer-level data aggregation so suspicious patterns could be detected more effectively and customer activity reconstructed when required.

For terrorism financing risks, Pagcor said operators should treat it as a distinct component of their institutional risk assessments rather than merely an extension of money laundering risk.

The regulator also urged additional staff training for frontline, cage, surveillance, electronic gaming and compliance personnel to improve detection of lower-value or indirect terrorism financing indicators.

Pagcor said the assessment would also guide its own supervisory priorities, with greater attention to higher-risk licensees, junket and VIP arrangements, cash and chip movements, electronic gaming operations and reporting quality.

The agency stated that operators should focus on ensuring controls are effective in practice, rather than relying solely on formal policies and procedures.

Other Pagcor-regulated entities that do not conduct gaming operations but provide services to licensed gaming operators, should use the latest recommendation ‘as guidance in their group-wide risk assessments and in designing controls that support the AML-CFT obligations of Pagcor-licensed gaming operators,’ the agency stated.

THE Association of Firearms and Ammunition Dealers of the Philippines Inc. (AFAD) will officially open the 32nd Defense and Sporting Arms Show (DSAS) on Wednesday at the SMX Convention Center at the Mall of Asia Complex.

Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri will lead the opening ceremony as guest of honor.

For more than three decades, the show has served as the country’s premier firearms exhibition and the flagship event of AFAD, bringing together the firearms industry, government agencies, sports shooters, collectors, retailers, manufacturers, distributors and responsible firearm owners to promote responsible gun ownership, public safety and continued industry development.

This year’s event also highlights AFAD’s long-standing legislative advocacy for policies that protect the rights of responsible, law-abiding firearm owners while encouraging the growth of the Philippine firearms industry.

AFAD President Alaric ‘Aric’ Topacio stated that the organization feels honored to welcome Zubiri as AFAD acknowledges the senator as a leading supporter of responsible firearm ownership in the country.

He serves as the main author of significant changes to firearms laws. And these amendments have made it more practical for lawful firearm owners to comply with regulations and have supported the ongoing expansion of the firearms sector.

‘Senator Migz Zubiri has consistently listened to the concerns of responsible firearm owners and the firearms industry,’ Topacio said. ‘His legislative work reflects the principle that the law should focus on criminals and illegal firearms and not create unnecessary burdens for citizens who faithfully comply with existing laws.’

THE Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) partially awarded bids for the 4-year Treasury bonds (T-bonds) on Tuesday as investors sought higher risk premiums amid the renewed Middle East tensions.

Average yield on the 4-year debt papers climbed by 37.9 basis points to 7.195 percent from the previous 6.816-percent rate last June 23.

That is also higher by 13.5 basis points than the secondary benchmark rate of 7.060 percent for the same tenor.

The Treasury accepted yields ranging from a low of 7.1 percent to a high of 7.228 percent.

Unwilling to pay too much, the Treasury only awarded P25.071 billion out of the P30 billion it intended to borrow for the day.

The auction was still 1.5 times oversubscribed, as bids for the government-backed securities reached P47.624 billion.

Yields edged higher as tensions in the Middle East persist, as well as oil price risks and interest rate concerns, cloud investors’ outlook, Jonathan A. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., noted.

Armed strikes exchanged by the United States and Iran went on for 10 days straight despite mediators seeking to revive a truce the two countries signed on June 17.

‘At the same time, inflation and borrowing requirements remain on the market’s radar. As a result, investors sought higher returns before committing funds,’ Ravelas added.

Inflation slowed to 6.4 percent in June from 6.8 percent in May and 7.2 percent in April. However, local pump prices will increase this week, with diesel rising by P10.68 per liter, driven by fresh tensions in the Middle East.

‘These renewed inflation risks could push inflation higher,’ Ravelas said.

He noted that the Treasury’s decision to make a partial award was a ‘prudent move’ to avoid locking in expensive borrowing costs.

‘The Treasury’s decision signals that it has sufficient funding flexibility and can afford to wait for better market conditions, helping keep debt servicing costs in check,’ Ravelas explained.

Next week, the Treasury will auction 91-day, 182-day and 364-day Treasury bills (T-bills), as well as 3-year and 20-year bonds.

The government aims to raise up to P1.120 trillion from the local debt market this third quarter, of which P700 billion will come from T-bonds and P420 billion from T-bills.

For full-year 2026, the Treasury will borrow a total of P2.682 trillion domestically. The national government’s outstanding debt climbed to P18.546 trillion as of end-May.

Phoenix Super LPG looks to extend its winning streak to four games when it faces winless Rain or Shine on Tuesday in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.

The Fuel Masters, fresh off an 81-78 victory over Commissioner’s Cup champion Barangay Ginebra, take on the Elasto Painters at 7:30 p.m.

‘We are happy we are racking up wins,’ said Phoenix coach Charles Tiu. ‘We hope to sustain the run and sneak into the playoffs. But we cannot take anyone lightly, especially Rain or Shine, which is looking for its first win.’

Phoenix has opened its campaign with victories over Magnolia, Meralco and Ginebra. Import BJ Johnson has averaged 27.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, while Jason Perkins is averaging 15.0 points and Ricci Rivero 14.0.

Gian Mamuyac will face his former team for the first time since being traded to Phoenix last week.

Unbeaten Blackwater goes for its third straight win when it takes on Meralco at 5:15 p.m.

The Bossing have opened with victories over Rain or Shine and Magnolia behind the strong play of import Kentrell Barkley, who is averaging 27.5 points, 13 rebounds and 6.5 assists. RK Ilagan has also been solid with 21.5 points per game, while Sedrick Barefield and rookie Dalph Panopio continue to provide support.

‘My players are having fun. Let us have fun and play as hard as we can,’ Blackwater coach Patrick Aquino said.

Meralco enters the game with a 1-1 record after losing to Phoenix before bouncing back with a win over Rain or Shine.

A LAWMAKER is pushing for the passage of a bill that seeks to modernize the Philippine Blood Center (PBC) and strengthen its role in ensuring timely and safe access to life-saving blood services.

Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan said converting the PBC into an institution with administrative autonomy and stable funding would allow it to effectively address the country’s persistent shortage of blood supply, particularly during disasters and public health emergencies.

‘The Philippine Blood Center currently operates without a legislative charter, and its budget remains limited for it to properly perform its functions as the national service facility for blood collection, testing, distribution, and other blood-related services. It is very important that it be given enough funds and authority because of its extremely critical role in saving lives,’ Yamsuan said.

‘As the country celebrates National Blood Donors Month to raise awareness about voluntary blood donation and recognize selfless blood donors, we should, likewise, put equal focus on the need to institutionalize a national blood center to promote the uniform implementation of standards for blood safety and availability,’ he added.

To address these gaps, Yamsuan filed House Bill 7871, which seeks to institutionalize the PBC and provide it with an initial funding of P100 million.

The PBC was established in 2005 through an administrative issuance of the Department of Health (DOH) to serve as the national service facility for blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution, as well as donor recruitment and training.

Despite these vital functions, the PBC operates without a legislative charter. Thus, its existence, authority, organizational structure, and funding remain dependent on administrative issuances and executive priorities.

‘The PBC was established twenty-one years ago, yet up to now, many of our countrymen depend on the Philippine Red Cross if they need blood for critical surgeries, diseases, and traumatic injuries. This is because the PBC lacks the funds and authority to implement its functions,’ he added.

Yamsuan said institutionalizing the PBC through HB 7871 will ensure the center has sufficient funding necessary for it to invest in modern technologies and infrastructure and sustain a nationwide blood donor mobilization drive to fill the country’s annual requirement of one million units of blood.

To bring blood services closer to underserved communities, the bill also provides for the establishment of regional blood centers that would be fully coordinated with the PBC to ensure that their operations remain aligned with national standards and policies.

‘This approach promotes equity in accessing blood services and will dramatically improve response times during emergencies. It will also strengthen capacities at the local level for blood collection and other blood services and enhance preparedness during public health crises and disasters when rapid mobilization is critical,’ Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said this network would improve access to blood services, enhance local capacities, and ensure faster response during emergencies and disasters.

He added that the proposal aligns with World Health Organization recommendations, which call for a nationally coordinated blood system backed by a legislative framework to ensure the safety, quality, and adequate supply of blood and blood products across the country.