Category: Business Mirror

The under-23 men’s national football team beat Kuwait, 2-1, at the CS Asset Minato Soccer Stadium on Tuesday for the country’s first men’s football victory in the Asian Games since the Tokyo 1958 edition.

The match was deadlocked until stoppage time when substitute midfielder Jax Peña was fouled inside the box by Saleh Almehtab in the 90th minute for a penalty.

Forward Andres Aldeguer calmly converted from the spot in the 92nd minute to seal the historic which was reminiscent of his great grandfather George Aldeguer’s winning goal against Japan in 1958.

Philippine Football Federation president John Anthony Gutierrez hailed the historic victory as a defining moment for the federation’s investment in its youth pipeline.

‘This is exactly why the Federation has poured so much into empowering our youth teams,’ Gutierrez said.

‘This Asian Games squad didn’t just work to put Philippine men’s football back on this stage after nearly seven decades, it worked to plant a winning mentality on Asia’s grandest stage, one that we know will spill over to the next generation of players coming up through our program,’ he added.

Head coach Garrath McPherson’s wards drew first blood in the 19th minute on forward Santi Rublico’s conversion in front of the goal off a chest receive from Michael Baldisimo’s right-wing cross.

But Kuwait leveled in the 66th minute after defender Scott Woods inadvertently turned a right-wing cross from Jasem Alenezi into his own net.

The Philippines created several dangerous chances with defender Christian Rontini twice testing goalkeeper Abdulredha Shehab with headers off long throws from Antoine Ortega in the first half, John Lucero’s inswinging corner kick striking the woodwork in the 62nd minute and two dangerous shots from Peña near the end of the Group C match.

Goalkeeper Nic Guimaraes and the defense of Rosquillo, Rontini, Ortega and Woods withstood Kuwaiti attempts, including efforts from Bander Almutairi, Talal Alqaisi, Omar Almatar and Montaser Al-Abdulsalam.

‘I feel very happy for the players, the staff and the supporters both here in Japan and at their homes across the globe,’ Mcpherson said. ‘I feel honored to be in a position to work with the players and staff we have in the U23 program, we continue to grow and learn together.’

THE government is moving forward with a proposed P2.48-billion project to upgrade and operate the digital infrastructure supporting the country’s National ID system, with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) eyeing a public-private partnership (PPP) for its implementation.

Approved earlier this month by the Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee (ICC-CC), the Philippine Digital National Identity (PDNI) Project will cover the upgrading, operation, and maintenance of key National ID systems.

These include registration and card production, identity authentication, as well as the technical integration of banks, businesses, and other private entities that use the National ID to verify customers.

The PSA said the project is expected to make National ID registration more accessible and improve the efficiency of identity authentication services.

‘This is a huge win for the PSA. Through this partnership, we can harness the expertise and resources of the private sector while ensuring that the National ID remains firmly anchored in its public purpose-to provide Filipinos with a trusted and convenient means of proof of identity to access critical services,’ National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a recent statement.

The ICC-CC approval allows the proposed PPP to proceed to the procurement stage, where other private companies will be invited to submit competing proposals.

As the original proponent, Unisys Public Sector Services Corp. will have the opportunity to match or improve the best competing offer under the comparative challenge process.

The P2.48-billion project will be implemented under a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) arrangement, with a six-month transition period followed by a 20-year concession.

Earlier, the PSA said around 97 million Filipinos had been registered for the National ID, leaving about 17 million still unregistered.

A significant portion of those yet to be registered are children aged 0 to 4 and overseas Filipinos.

‘The bulk of those who remain unregistered are overseas Filipinos. Before we always go to the Middle East, as a lot of Filipinos there are not registered. But because of the current security concern the PSA was not able to go there,’ Mapa said at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) budget briefing on Monday.

Mapa said P26.21 billion had been provided for the National ID system from 2018 through 2026, with about P24 billion already obligated.

The average cost of registering an individual is around P250 to P260, he added.

CHINESE companies will continue to honor existing energy contracts in the Philippines despite concerns triggered by reports that Beijing may scale back its economic engagements with Manila, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said on Tuesday.

‘We were concerned that our contracts with China might be in danger because of pronouncements in some Chinese newspapers or media groups that they would no longer honor their agreements,’ DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said at a panel discussion at the Asean-EU Business Summit.

‘When we talked to the embassy, that was not true,’ he added.

Speaking to reporters after the forum, Fuentebella clarified that Chinese firms are expected to refrain from entering into new energy agreements, but existing contracts remain enforceable.

‘Ang hindi nila papasukan ay mga bagong kontrata. [They won’t enter into new contracts],’ he said.

‘But for the old contracts, they will honor,’ he added.

Fuentebella said concerns among Philippine businesses arose from media reports in China suggesting a possible halt in cooperation amid ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing.

Several Chinese companies maintain energy-related agreements with Philippine firms, including contracts involving the supply of refined petroleum products and renewable energy equipment.

China remains the Philippines’s largest trading partner, with bilateral merchandise trade reaching $47.75 billion in 2025. Imports from China totaled $38.44 billion, resulting in a Philippine trade deficit of $29.13 billion.

The energy sector has become an increasingly significant component of bilateral trade as the Philippines expands renewable energy capacity and seeks to address rising power demand.

China continues to dominate the Philippine solar supply chain.

In 2025, the Philippines imported around $483 million worth of solar panels, of which 98 percent came from China. Imports accelerated further in early 2026, with solar panel shipments reaching $407 million from March to May alone.

Beyond equipment trade, Chinese firms remain involved in major Philippine energy infrastructure projects.

State Grid Corporation of China holds a 40-percent stake in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), while Chinese contractors have participated in the construction of dams, transmission facilities, and renewable energy projects.

However, Philippine officials have acknowledged that geopolitical tensions in the West Philippine Sea have dampened investor sentiment and complicated broader energy cooperation between the two countries.

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.

TIGHTER oil supplies amid the Middle East conflict may have pushed Manila’s mineral fuel import bill up nearly 30 percent in the first half of 2026, new data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.

The PSA on Tuesday reported that mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials emerged as the second-largest imported commodity group in the first semester of 2026, with a total value of $11.12 billion, up 29.9 percent from the $8.56 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Within the commodity group, ‘other’ mineral fuels posted the biggest annual increase, rising 39.5 percent to $7.5 billion from $5.38 billion a year earlier. The category includes diesel fuel and fuel oils, light oils and preparations, aviation turbine fuel, and other mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials.

This was followed by petroleum coke, which rose 17.7 percent to $2.29 billion from $1.95 billion, while coal and coke imports increased 7.3 percent to $1.32 billion from $1.23 billion.

Ateneo de Manila University economist Ser K. Peña-Reyes said the increase in fuel imports reflects both the higher cost of energy and supply conditions during the Middle East conflict.

‘Given the 2026 Middle East conflict, elevated crude or refined-fuel prices and supply disruptions clearly contributed,’ Peña-Reyes told the BusinessMirror.

However, Peña-Reyes said the PSA data alone does not allow for a reliable breakdown of how much of the $2.56 billion increase in the fuel import bill came from higher prices and how much came from larger import volumes.

‘Most of the $2.56-billion increase cannot be cleanly attributed to volumes from PSA data alone,’ he said, noting that the available figures report the change in import value but do not provide a price-volume decomposition.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency in March amid concerns over tighter crude oil supplies following the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

The Department of Energy (DOE) earlier said the Philippines sources the vast majority-or around 98 percent-of its crude oil imports from the Middle East.

It has since explored alternative oil suppliers and held talks with non-traditional sources, such as China, India, and Russia.

Based on PSA data, the country’s major sources of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials for the first semester of 2026 included South Korea at $2.33 billion, Indonesia at $1.51 billion, Singapore at $1.23 billion, Malaysia at $1.21 billion, Japan at $477.76 million, and Taiwan at $184.81 million.

Peña-Reyes said the increase in fuel imports ‘materially worsened’ the country’s external trade position.

PSA data showed that the Philippines’s trade deficit widened to $31.36 billion in the first half of 2026, up 28.1 percent from $24.48 billion in the same period last year.

‘Higher fuel import costs therefore add pressure to the current account and foreign-exchange demand, although strong exports and remittances/services can offset part of that pressure,’ he added.

China remained the Philippines’s largest trading partner in the first half of 2026, with bilateral trade reaching $28.43 billion.

This was followed by the United States at $12.85 billion, Japan at $11.70 billion, South Korea at $11.32 billion, and Hong Kong at $8.11 billion.

Among these major trading partners, the Philippines recorded its largest trade deficit with China at $18.02 billion and South Korea at $7.38 billion.

DepDev: Diversify energy mix

Meanwhile, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the government should ‘seriously consider’ diversifying the country’s energy mix, warning that reliance on a limited number of sources leaves the Philippines ‘so vulnerable.’

‘I’m talking about, for example, we can consider nuclear energy to the extent that these are technologically manageable and assure the safety of such technology,’ Balisacan said during the agency’s budget hearing at the Senate.

He said the relatively low cost of nuclear energy also makes it an option worth considering.

Balisacan also agreed that establishing a Philippine oil reserve or storage facilities could be explored, after Senator Erwin Tulfo raised the option during the hearing.

‘We need to look at what is the most advantageous, especially from a fiscal viewpoint because our fiscal space is so challenging,’ Balisacan said.

SOME of the proposed nodes under the Philippines’ emerging technology corridor could eventually host companies linked to the United States-led Pax Silica initiative, according to a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official.

Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, who also heads the Board of Investments (BOI), said the other proposed nodes could accommodate either Pax Silica partners or companies outside the initiative, depending on the projects that eventually locate in each area.

‘For now, New Clark City is the most tangible,’ Rodolfo told reporters on the sidelines of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines event in Taguig on Monday.

‘The others can be with a Pax Silica partner or a Pax Silica non-partner,’ he added.

The proposed Philippine Technology Corridor maps six regional nodes covering critical minerals, advanced materials, integrated-circuit (IC) design, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI) computing, connectivity and semiconductor fabrication.

New Clark City is identified as the advanced manufacturing hub; the National Capital Region as an IC design and innovation hub; Mindanao as a minerals corridor; Batangas as an AI compute and cloud hub; Aurora as a Pacific-facing connectivity gateway; and Bulacan as a future wafer fabrication hub.

Per Rodolfo, the government is not creating these projects from scratch. Rather, it is bringing existing projects and government plans under a common technology-value-chain framework.

‘We’re just looking at the different projects that we have. Those projects already exist. The lens to look at them towards a whole ecosystem, that’s new,’ the BOI Managing Head explained.

For its part, the BOI is currently taking the lead in developing the corridor concept because it serves as the government’s main interface with private-sector investors, Rodolfo said.

However, the initiative involves several agencies that already have separate plans involving areas such as artificial intelligence and advanced technology.

Development of the nodes is also unlikely to happen simultaneously.

Rodolfo said the government and private sector are already moving on the New Clark City node, with the IC design hub expected to follow.

The pace could differ depending on the type of investment. For instance, an advanced manufacturing or semiconductor facility in Clark would require basic infrastructure such as power and water before actual factory construction could begin.

‘In Clark, remember, you only need infrastructure there, power, water. It will take some time to build that,’ Rodolfo said. ‘Before you can see the actual investment in the factory, it might take more than a year to see that. While in IC Design, it might be faster.’

THE Department of Energy (DOE) believes that the decline in world market oil prices will be sustained through Friday, paving the way for a price rollback next week.

‘In the past three trading days, the decline was almost $17 for diesel. This Monday, our estimate is around P8 per liter rollback if this will continue up to Friday,’ said Director Rino Abad of the DOE’s Oil Management Bureau during an online news briefing.

Oil companies raised pump prices this week by P4.88 per liter for gasoline, P8.82 per liter for diesel, and P6.47 per liter for kerosene. Oil companies adust their prices weekly to reflect movements in the world oil market.

Abad said based on the latest report monitored by the DOE, Saudi Arabia is now loading 14 million barrels of crude oil ready for export back through the Strait of Hormuz. ‘It sends the message that they will continue to supply their buyers. That will really drastically change the price trend; instead of going up, it’s going down. We just hope that more will be added,’ Abad said.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, meanwhile, reiterated that the Philippines cannot control global fuel prices because the country is an importer, and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East suggests the situation will not be resolved immediately.

Garin said that while the country must remain pragmatic but optimistic, Filipinos are urged to be mindful and control their fuel and electricity consumption.

The DOE said it is implementing various programs, and the nation currently holds a stable national average supply of approximately 53 days of inventory, which is well above the legally required 15 to 30 days.

‘You might ask, ‘How long will this continue?’ We cannot dictate what will happen. While all this is unfolding, the Philippines has no control over the global market, as we are an importer. I certainly do not wish to constantly deliver bad news.

‘We simply need to remain optimistic about the situation, yet proceed with caution; we must be pragmatic while maintaining optimism. We hope and pray for this to end, but we must be prepared. Given the developments in the Middle East, it is likely that this will not be resolved immediately. We cannot control prices, but we can control how we use fuel and electricity,’ Garin said.

GCash’s in-app stock trading platform GStocks now serves more than 2 million users, accounting for the majority of all online retail stock market accounts with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

The platform, which operates through broker AB Capital Securities Inc., is available through GInvest, the investment hub of the finance super app. GInvest also offers other services such as GFunds and GBonds.

GStocks’ user base makes up a large share of the 3.22 million online retail accounts recorded by the PSE in 2025.

According to the PSE’s 2025 Stock Market Investor Profile report, total stock market accounts rose 27.3 percent to 3.64 million last year from 2.86 million in 2024.

Retail investors held 99.2 percent, or 3.61 million, of these accounts. Of the retail accounts, 3.22 million were held online through digital trading platforms and e-wallets. Online retail accounts grew 30.5 percent year-on-year.

GCash said its paperless registration and streamlined onboarding allow Filipinos to invest directly through the app, bringing more retail investors into the local capital markets.

‘By improving digital access to investing, an area that was once traditionally reserved for the privileged few, we are helping create pathways for more Filipinos to build a more secure financial future,’ said Winsley Bangit, group head of New Businesses at Mynt Inc., the parent company of GCash.

Alongside market research and beginner-friendly guidance within GStocks PH, GCash has launched Pera Coach, an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool that gives users on-demand access to educational tips and investment information.

‘Beyond making access to investing more convenient, we’re doubling down on our financial literacy efforts to help Filipinos better understand and use the tools we provide,’ Bangit said.

Following the global unveiling of its latest innovations at IFA, Anker today brings its next chapter to the Philippines with the local introduction of its Ultimate, Unified: Anker, bringing together its growing portfolio of technology designed to make everyday life more seamless.

For nearly 15 years, Anker has evolved from a charging brand into a global technology company with expertise spanning charging, audio, smart home, power, and more. Over the years, dedicated brands such as Anker, soundcore, eufy and Anker SOLIX have built deep expertise within their respective categories, developing their own technologies, products and communities.

In the Philippines, this evolution builds on Anker’s growing local presence, with products available across retail and online channels. As technology becomes increasingly connected, Anker continues to focus on creating products that combine thoughtful design, advanced technology and everyday practicality.

‘Ultimate, Unified’ captures this next chapter, a commitment to bringing together innovation across categories while keeping the consumer experience at the center.

Anker Essentials For Your Newest iPhone

At the heart of Anker’s latest innovations is a simple idea: technology should make every moment with your devices more seamless. Designed as Anker Essentials For Your Newest iPhone, the latest additionals bring together three everyday essentials, staying connected, staying powered and charging smarter.

The Anker soundcore AeroClip 2 is designed to deliver clear calls and immersive audio while keeping users aware of the world around them, while the Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro brings fast magnetic wireless charging with active cooling technology. Completing the lineup is the Anker Nano Charger, a compact charging solution with a smart display designed to provide a more intuitive charging experience.

For the upcoming iPhone 18 series, model identification will be supported on the Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro and Nano Charger (OTA version). The Anker Nano Charger (OTA version) will receive an OTA update on September 30, ensuring compatibility with the latest generation of iPhone models.

Together, these three essentials showcase how Anker is bringing smarter, more purposeful technology into the everyday iPhone experience, from the way users listen and communicate, to how they charge at home and stay powered on the go.

Anker soundcore AeroClip 2: Loud World, Clear You

Designed for consumers who move through busy environments without wanting to disconnect from the world around them, the Anker soundcore AeroClip 2 brings a new approach to open-ear audio.

Its standout innovation is its advanced voice-calling system, combining two voice pickup units that capture mechanical vibrations from the vocal cords with four MEMS microphones. The system works with the THUSS AI Chip, which cross-references these signals in real time to separate the user’s voice from surrounding noise.

The result is technology built around one clear promise: ‘Loud World, Clear You.’

The six-sensor hybrid array gives AeroClip 2 a dedicated approach to voice separation, while the THUS AI Chip delivers approximately 150 times the previous generation’s AI computing power for this specific task.

The technology behind AeroClip 2 has also been recognized for its speech-quality performance. In September 2026, AeroClip 2 received a Guinness World Records certification for World’s Clearest Open-Ear Clip-On Earbuds for Calls, Powered by Anker THUS AI Chip.

Beyond calls, AeroClip 2 is designed around the open-ear philosophy, allowing users to enjoy their audio while remaining aware of their surroundings. Its C-bridge design sits comfortably along the ear, while the Golden- titanium wire inside the silicone bridge and a Comfort-Grip Zone were developed using data from more than 2,000 3D ear scans. For everyday listening, AeroClip 2 features a 12mm dual-magnetic high-excursion driver, LDAC support, Hi-Res Audio Wireless Certification, and HearID 5.0. It is also Apple Made for iPhone (MFi) Certified, with native iOS connection for a seamless experience with iPhone users. AeroClip 2 offers up to 8 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 32 hours with the charging case, while a 10-minute charge can provide up to four hours of use.

With its open-ear design, and all-day comfort, AeroClip 2 is built for consumers who want to stay connected without needing to pause their day.

Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro: Charging, Now Air-Conditioned

While AeroClip is designed to keep users connected, the Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro is designed to keep their devices powered, while addressing one of the most challenges of wireless charging, HEAT.

Magnetic wireless charging can generate heat, particularly when charging at higher speeds. The MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro addresses this with an active cooling system designed to maintain a hand-friendly surface temperature of 36°C or below while delivering full 25W wireless charging. The technology has received SGS Premium Performance certification for its charging and heat-dissipation performance.

Inside, the power bank combines a low-resistance battery cell, a miniature fan, dedicated air ducts, temperature sensors, and graphene thermal management. Together, these components are designed to draw heat away from the charging coil and manage temperature during charging.

In Anker’s internal laboratory testing, the MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro can charge an iPhone 17 Pro to 50% in 25 minutes.

It is also designed to function as more than a portable battery. The built-in 0°-80° stepless kickstand supports hands-free viewing, while a smart display provides information including the connected iPhone model, battery level, battery health, temperature, charging mode, and estimated time remaining. Its magnetic connection provides up to 12N of holding force, while 45W self-recharging can bring the power bank to 80% in approximately 52 minutes.

With a 10,000mAh capacity and a compact 220g design, the MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro is designed to be a practical everyday companion for users who want fast, intelligent, and more comfortable wireless charging on the go.

Price and Availability

The Anker soundcore AeroClip 2 is now available for P9,995 only in Burgundy Red, Midnight Black, Cloud White and soon to be available in Mist Blue.

The Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro is now available for P5,995 only in Phantom Gray, Starlight Silver and Polar Night and soon to be available in Burgundy Red.

Both products are now available through Anker’s official e-commerce stores on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop and soon be available on Anker authorized stores and retail partners nationwide and Authorized e-commerce stores in Anker Charging on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop and Anker soundcore on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

For more information on Anker’s latest products, promotions, and updates, follow Anker Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

About Anker

Anker Innovations, known globally as Anker, is a consumer technology company founded in 2011 with a commitment to Ultimate Innovation. Its products span charging, power, audio and video, smart home, robotics, health and creative tools, serving more than 200 million customers across over 180 countries and regions. To learn more, visit Anker.com.

The Cebu City government is stepping up measures to contain African swine fever (ASF) in three upland villages as authorities move to remove more than 50 pigs from affected areas and continue surveillance for additional infections.

Kenneth Siasar, chief of staff of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, during a press briefing said that the city is coordinating with the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries (DVMF) and other offices to contain the spread of the disease in barangays Toong, Buhisan, and Pamutan.

The latest DVMF report cited by Siasar showed seven pig deaths as of Sunday, September 20. He also reported 14 deaths recorded earlier in September, while more than 50 pigs in the affected areas have been identified for culling as part of the containment effort.

Siasar clarified that the city’s use of the term ‘culling’ refers to the removal or separation of pigs in areas affected or considered at risk, rather than indicating that all of the more than 50 animals had already died.

The development places additional pressure on backyard and small-scale hog raisers in the city, who face the loss of livestock and restrictions on animal movement while authorities work to prevent the disease from spreading to other communities.

The city government is continuing disease surveillance in the affected barangays to determine the extent of infection and identify possible sources of the reported deaths.

Authorities are also looking into possible movements of pigs from other towns, including Consolacion and Liloan, as part of efforts to trace potential transmission routes.

Siasar said testing is being conducted within a 500-meter radius of affected areas. Carmel Pedroza

Police personnel are also being deployed to help enforce movement restrictions around the affected barangays, particularly in areas where pigs cannot immediately be removed.

The city is coordinating with its Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) for equipment that will be needed to remove dead pigs from affected areas.

These measures are aimed at preventing infected animals from being transported beyond the identified hotspots, a key concern for the local hog industry given the economic losses associated with ASF outbreaks.

Siasar said affected hog raisers may receive indemnification under Department of Agriculture (DA) guidelines, although the amount depends on the animal’s age, weight and classification.

Under the rates cited during the briefing, pigs aged 21 to 90 days are covered for P4,000, while hogs weighing 25 to 70 kilograms are covered for P8,000. Sows are covered for P12,000.

The assistance, however, applies only to registered animals.

Siasar acknowledged that some affected hogs are not registered and therefore may not qualify for the regular DA indemnification program. The city is seeking other forms of assistance, including support through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, for affected raisers who may be left outside the regular compensation system. The city is also looking at alternative sources of livelihood for affected families while restrictions remain in place.

Siasar said some residents have received cockerels, while ready-to-lay chickens have also been provided with assistance from private companies.

The livelihood interventions are intended to help households whose income from hog raising has been disrupted by the outbreak and the resulting movement controls.