Category: Business Mirror

OIL firms are implementing a rollback this week by as much as P3 per liter.

Seaoil said it will slash diesel and kerosene prices by P3.83 and P3.84 per liter, respectively. Meanwhile, gasoline will be sold P0.32 per liter cheaper.

Shell, for its part, will reduce kerosene and diesel prices by P3.80 per liter. For gasoline, it will sell it at P0.30 per liter cheaper.

The new pump prices will take effect Tuesday, September 1.

Other oil firms have yet to announce their price rollbacks as of press time.

Last week, oil companies increased pump prices by P1.08 per liter for gasoline, diesel by P2.31, and kerosene by P0.95.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) grew its toll revenues by 8 percent to P19.6 billion in the first half, as newly opened road sections and stronger operations in Indonesia offset a soft domestic market where Philippine traffic slipped 1 percent.

The wider regional network-now spanning more than 1,100 kilometers of toll roads across the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam-pushed average daily vehicle entries up 1 percent to about 2.5 million.

Indonesia led the gains with 3-percent traffic growth to 1.67 million entries a day, while Philippine roads averaged 715,200 daily vehicle entries.

Revenue was buoyed by the opening of Cavitex C5 Link Segment 3B Phase 1 and Calax Subsection 3, which brought more of the company’s network into service.

In Indonesia, steady logistics activity, scheduled tariff adjustments and improved toll-road access amid ongoing road works also lifted performance.

MPTC, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), said its share in the net earnings of equity investments in Indonesia further boosted core profit.

‘Our first-half results reflect a broader and still-expanding regional business. Traffic in the Philippines is only one part of the picture. New road openings, stronger Indonesian operations and our equity investments all contributed to the period’s performance,’ the company said.

The Indonesian contribution traces to MPTC’s late-2024 investment in PT Jasamarga Transjawa Tol (JTT), which manages a 676-kilometer network of 13 strategic toll roads across West Java, Central Java and East Java.

At home, MPTC spent P7.6 billion in capital expenditures during the first half, down 5 percent year-on-year as right-of-way and related construction issues affected completion schedules. Ongoing works include Nlex Segment 8.2 Section 1A from Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway, the remaining Calax subsections, the Cavitex-Calax Link Expressway, Cavitex C5 Link Segment 3B Phase 2, and the Nlex Connector.

The company said toll adjustments are implemented only after regulatory approval and are meant to fund the operation, maintenance and continued development of expressways under their concession agreements.

It added that it has extended toll relief worth more than P2 million a day to qualified public transport and freight operators under government transport-support programs.

‘Our priority remains the same: keep our roads safe and reliable, finish critical links as quickly as right-of-way and construction conditions allow, and deliver better mobility for motorists, commuters and businesses,’ MPTC said.

Warning that the rapid expansion of digital gambling has effectively placed a casino within reach of every smartphone user, Cebu Rep. Karen Hope Garcia has filed a measure seeking to prohibit the advertising and promotion of online gambling across traditional and digital platforms.

House Bill 10982, or the proposed Online Gambling Advertising Prohibition Act of 2026, seeks to ban advertisements, promotions, endorsements, and sponsorships involving online gambling in the Philippines.

‘Every smartphone is now a potential 24-hour casino,’ Garcia said, arguing that the accessibility of online gambling has been amplified by aggressive marketing strategies that reach consumers through multiple channels.

Under the proposed measure, the prohibition would cover television, radio, print publications and billboards, as well as social-media platforms, websites and mobile applications.

Search-engine advertisements, targeted digital campaigns, influencer and affiliate marketing, email and text-message promotions would likewise be covered.

THE government’s push to favor locally made goods in public procurement could give local manufacturers a steadier market, with the Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (Cemap) saying the Tatak Pinoy strategy could help reduce the country’s reliance on imports over time.

Cemap President John Reinier Dizon, who was recently appointed as a private-sector representative to the Tatak Pinoy Council, said the strategy’s broader objective is to encourage more manufacturing activity in the country.

‘Hopefully in the long run we would become less import-dependent. Nothing wrong with importation, but we need to watch out for our balance of trade,’ Dizon said on Monday in a televised interview.

His remarks came as businesses contend with the peso’s recent slide past the P62-to-the-dollar level, which has raised the local cost of imported fuel, raw materials and other inputs.

‘We’re all observing the peso devaluing and, you know, it’s frankly impacting the businesses in the country. We are, as you know, still highly import dependent on oil and gas and a number of consumer goods,’ he said.

Republic Act 11981, or the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act, which was enacted in February 2024, is the country’s first national industrial policy institutionalized through law.

It seeks to expand the productive capabilities of domestic enterprises and enable them to produce more ‘globally competitive goods and services.’

The Council oversees the formulation and implementation of the Multi-Year Tatak Pinoy Strategy, which sets the policy’s priorities across government and the private sector.

For manufacturers, meanwhile, one of its more immediate implications is government procurement.

‘Given a choice between importing products, if the product that a manufacturer is looking for is locally available, we do encourage that the local supply be preferred. That is also part of the Tatak Pinoy Act, particularly for government procurement,’ Dizon said.

Government, he added, accounts for a large share of overall procurement, giving it the capacity to create demand for locally produced goods.

The policy push comes as manufacturing activity has started to pick up. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed the Volume of Production Index for manufacturing rose 10.1 percent in June, sharply faster than the 2.3-percent growth recorded a year earlier.

The country still faces external pressures, including geopolitical tensions and the Middle East crisis, but Dizon argued that manufacturing needs to expand alongside the country’s growing labor force.

‘We have easily 65 to 70 million working population, and we’re adding one million per year because of our demographics. So we need to create more jobs. We need to spur up manufacturing,’ he said.

Despite a rise in unemployment, the number of employed Filipinos increased to 50.66 million in June from 50.47 million a year earlier. The labor force also expanded to 53.25 million from 52.42 million.

For Dizon, strengthening domestic manufacturing ultimately comes down to creating demand for what local companies produce. ‘Let’s all support local industries. Let’s all buy local. And in that way, we create what is called the multiplier effect,’ he said.

Recent data from the PSA showed exports reached $54.92 billion in the first seven months of 2026, while imports totaled $92.26 billion, leaving the Philippines with a $37.34-billion trade deficit.

THE Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) has approved a project aimed at protecting a critical watershed, as well as boosting visitor arrivals in Naga City, Camarines Sur.

Tieza Chief Operating Officer Dr. Mark T. Lapid told the BusinessMirror he recently visited Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo to officially inform her that the Tieza Board has approved her P350-million request to fund the development of the 25-hectare Mt. Isarog National Park.

‘We are already preparing the bid documents for the project,’ he said, which is ‘necessary to protect a critical watershed, while enabling sustainable economic growth for Naga City and its surrounding communities.’

While the vital project was proposed by Robredo for 2027 Tieza funding, Lapid said it needs to be fast-tracked ‘before our funds run out.’

Lawmakers continue to push the removal of the travel tax, without identifying alternative funding sources to aid the development of tourism destinations.

Ecological stability in Bicol

AS per the Tieza project brief, Mt. Isarog serves as a ‘primary source of water and ecological stability in the Bicol Peninsula [and thus,] plays a vital role in sustaining agriculture, domestic water supply, and biodiversity.

The absence of proper infrastructure and management mechanisms exposes the area to environmental degradation caused by unregulated access and informal activities.’

Tieza added, ‘The proposed development addresses these concerns through the provision of controlled access, visitor facilities, and environmental protection measures, ensuring that tourism activities are conducted in a sustainable and regulated manner.’

Under the project, the scope of work includes the provision of Forest Park administrative office and pre-park amenities; camping grounds, lodges, and spa; the repair of existing facilities; installation of wildlife conservatories; waterfalls development; canopy walks and trails; landscaping; and hauling works; among others.

In May, Robredo unveiled a new tourism brand for the city, with the slogan: ‘Naga is the heart,’ identifying it as the gateway to Bicol Region. No updated figures have been made available, but in 2022, Naga City attracted some 2.2 million tourists, of which, 2.13 million were domestic travelers, and 57,522 were foreigners.

She has also met with industry leaders to secure their inputs on how to improve tourism in the city.

‘No construction of big structures’

MEANWHILE, in a post on her Facebook page on August 26, Robredo said the Mt. Isarog project ‘will rehabilitate or repair structures originally built by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, many of which have already deteriorated due to years of neglect and underutilization.’

She added that the project is being pursued not only to promote Mt. Isarog as a tourism destination but, more importantly, to help preserve its ecology. ‘Preservation of the ecology at Mt. Isarog is a component of the project,’ said Robredo said.

The mayor noted, however, that they didn’t want over-tourism in Mt. Isarog. Instead, the project that Tieza will fund, will focus on enhancing existing facilities and providing more opportunities for adventure activities without damaging the environment.

‘There will be no construction of big structures or facilities,’ she said, emphasizing that the goal is to promote tourism, while protecting the natural environment.

Lapid also visited Naga to inspect other Tieza-supported projects in the Bicol region, including the ecotourism project in Pasacao, Camarines Sur, as well as the Peñafrancia Museum, which is nearly completed.

Aside from Mt. Isarog, the annual Peñafrancia Festival, which honors the Our Lady of Peñafrancia, attracts millions of visitors to Naga. The latter, held every September, is reputed to be the largest Marian celebration in Asia.

THE traditional Filipino jeepney, in all its rugged vibrancy, is set to travel across the world on an envelope.

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) student Lauren Kerby Obaldo and his jeepney artwork won the 2026 Philippine edition of the UPS Express Envelope Design Competition, besting more than 400 submissions. Obaldo’s grand prize-winning entry, titled Haraya sa Kalsada, will be reproduced on an official UPS Express Envelope used by customers in the Philippines for international shipments under the shipping and logistics company’s massive network of 220 destinations worldwide.

‘I thought that the jeepney is important to our culture, especially na nakakalimutan na ‘to ng iba dahil sa modernization. Gusto ko lang i-imply na part ‘yung jeepney ng life and culture natin as Filipinos,’ the incoming sophomore Multimedia Arts student said last week at the Ayala Museum, where the top entries were recognized and showcased in an exhibit.

Obaldo’s design shows a textured depiction of the cultural icon skipping on the road beneath festive banderitas. Meanwhile, its driver in barong Tagalog peeks out of the vehicle with a smile and a wave, as the orange gradient background represents hope and a brighter future for the country.

This year’s competition featured UPS’ partnership with DLS-CSB, inviting students to reimagine the UPS Express Envelope. The initiative was launched in Japan in 2023 and expanded to Singapore in 2025.

‘Through this competition, we wanted to create a platform for young creatives to showcase their talent and bring fresh perspectives to one of the most recognizable symbols of our company,’ said Russell Reed, managing director for UPS Philippines and Indonesia. ‘What impressed us most wasn’t just the artistic talent on display, but the originality and thoughtfulness behind every submission.’

For this year’s contest, the students worked with three themes. The list included ‘Roots of Progress,’ which center on Filipino culture, values and heritage, and resilience as the ability to adapt and move forward.

There’s also ‘Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo,’ which focuses on connectivity, and how stronger connections open access to global opportunities. Lastly, ‘Clark Rising: Asia’s Center, Philippines’ Pride’ showcase innovation and modern infrastructure that place the Philippines within Asia’s network. The theme draws inspiration from UPS’s upcoming Clark Hub, which will open later in 2026, envisioned to strengthen connections between local businesses and the global marketplace.

Each submission was scored based on creativity and originality, visual appeal and design, design message and thought, and applicability of the design to logistics. From the 400+ submissions, DLS-CSB shortlisted 69 entries, or 23 per theme. It was trimmed down to half through public voting via the school’s official Facebook page, and then through another round of voting, this time by UPS employees in the Philippines. Finally, Filipino contemporary artists Jigger Cruz, Demi Padua, and Olivia d’Aboville, along with art patron Lisa Ongpin-Periquet, ranked the top three winners in each category and selected the overall grand prize winner.

Aside from the grand winner’s design being printed on the official UPS Express Envelope and distributed across Asia Pacific, there was also an additional P18,000 in shopping vouchers as a prize for first-placers per theme. Second placers got P12,000 in shopping vouchers, and third-placers P6,000 in the same value. The first-placers for each theme were Aleana Szobelle P. Lallamant’s Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here! for ‘Roots of Progress,’ Jana Lois D. Oliveros’ Reach for the Waves for ‘Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo,’ and Obaldo’s Haraya sa Kalsada for ‘Clark Rising.’ From these three, Obaldo was chosen the grand winner.

‘What makes each edition [of the UPS Express Envelope Design Competition] special is seeing how local students interpret the challenge through their own culture and experience,’ said Benedict Wu, Vice President of Marketing for UPS Asia Pacific. ‘I can honestly say that the DLS-CSB students made this chapter a very memorable one.’

According to Angelo Marco Lacson, vice chancellor for academics, DLS-CSB, they value partnerships like this with UPS, as they bring learning beyond the classroom and allow students to create for a real-world, global platform.

‘For our students, seeing their ideas move from the classroom into the real world is incredibly meaningful,’ he said. ‘It affirms that their creativity has a place, and an audience, beyond De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.’

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) placed the Visayas grid under red and yellow alerts due to a power generation capacity deficit and widespread plant outages.

The red alert is up from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. while the yellow alert takes effect from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

A red alert status is issued when power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

As of 1:30 p.m., the Visayas grid’s available capacity stood at 2,119 megawatts (MW) while peak demand reached 2,406MW.

According to the NGCP, there are nine power plants on forced outage in August, 1 plant since July, three plants since June, seven plants since May, 1 plant since March, three plants since 2025, two plants since 2024, two plants since 2023, and one plant since 2021, while 17 plants are running on derated capacities, for a total of 956.2MW unavailable to the grid.

The NGCP also cited the factors that contributed to additional yellow alert declaration:

Increase in forecasted demand for Visayas by 112MW for 5PM

Limited power import from Mindanao (increase in forecasted demand for Mindanao by 157MW for 5 p.m.)

Simultaneously, the Mindanao grid was placed under a yellow alert driven by a localized demand spike and reduced export capabilities.

The yellow alert takes effect from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Mindanao’s available capacity was recorded at 2,566MW as against a peak demand of 2,389MW.

There are 19 plants are on forced outage, 4 plants since July, one plant since June, 2two plants since January, one plant since 2025, and one plant since 2024, while five plants are running on derated capacities, for a total of 755.1MW unavailable to the grid.

Meanwhile, the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) said Monday it has restored electricity to nearly all customers that experienced service interruptions due to the enhanced southwest monsoon.

The number of remaining affected customers have gone down to the last 2,800, representing less than one percent of Meralco’s total customer base. Over 1,000 of these remaining outages are in flooded and most of the remaining affected customers are in parts of Metro Manila, Cavite, and Bulacan.

THE provincial government of Camarines Sur has launched CamSur Uptown, a 200-hectare master-planned global city that is envisioned to be a seat for business, governance and investments outside the national capital and an infrastructure hub for information technology (IT).

‘CamSur Uptown promises to be even better than the Bonifacio Global City [BGC] as it is envisioned to become a premier hub for business, technology, governance and investments that will bring digital education, modern or hi-tech jobs and now untrodden possibilities for high growth,’ said Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte at he grand opening ceremony of project on Friday night.

‘It will be a place where we will invest heavily in health and livelihood, creating for Camsureños a future where economic growth is robust, sustainable, shared and inclusive,’ Villafuerte said.

Among the business leaders and investors present at the formal launch were Xentro Group of Companies Chairman Alexander Cruz, Green Xentro Chief Executive Officer Noel Ignacio, and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) President-CEO Michael de Jesus.

Also present were Vice Gov. Sal Fortuno, the Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) members; CamSur Reps. Migz Villafuerte, Luigi Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata; and Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon.

Villafuerte said that CamSur Uptown will ‘epitomize the economic transformation of our province and our people, and it will be the next financial tech hub in Luzon, with banks, financial technology companies [fintechs]and BPO [business process outsourcing]firms already expressing interest in setting up shop there-on the strength of CamSur’s forward-looking local governance, smart regulation and business-friendly leadership.’

The master plan for CamSur Uptown covers barangays Cadlan, San Jose and Sagurong in the province’s capital town of Pili.

The iconic, pili nut-shaped Provincial Capitol, which is nearing completion, is at the center of CamSur Uptown, a smart city that will feature not just a digital campus, artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory and logistics and manufacturing facilities but also mixed-use commercial buildings, resorts and parks, medical and lifestyle centers and a golf course.

CamSur is putting up there the country’s first ever local government-partnered, state-of-the-art Digital Transformation Center (DTC) with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) that will propel the province into a ‘premier hub for world-class IT infrastructure’ in the Philippines, according to Villafuerte.

‘This planned digital campus will mark a historic milestone as the first Level 4 flagship facility that the DICT is putting up in partnership with a provincial LGU under the Department’s Tech4ED-DTC program,’ Villafuerte said.

Earlier, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) green-lighted an almost seven-hectare special economic zone (SEZ) at the CamSur Uptown, in a development that will clear the way to an even larger stream of capital into this province that is becoming one of the country’s investment magnets outside Metro Manila.

Also part of the CamSur Uptown Global City Development is the tech-focused School of the Future, which is nearing completion and will soon be equipped with world-class facilities designed to upskill young Camsureños in digital technology, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity and other future-ready know-how to enable them to compete, innovate and lead in the global cyberspace.

Right after this year’s breakthrough run of tennis ace Alex Eala in world tennis, Gov. Villafuerte had invited corporations, sports groups and investors to partner with the provincial government in putting up the country’s first-ever tennis academy at CamSur Uptown, with an eye to nurturing more world-class Filipino athletes in Eala’s mold in this racket sport.

Villafuerte wants his proposed tennis academy at CamSur Uptown to be on the par with the premier Rafa Nadal Academy, which was founded in 2016 by Rafael Nadal-once ranked Number 1 in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)-in his hometown of Manacor in Mallorca, Spain, and where Eala trained from the age of 13 until she finished her studies at the academy in 2023.

THE chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on MSME Development said Occidental Mindoro, once widely associated with persistent power outages, emerged as the country’s fastest-growing local economy in 2025 after posting an 11.2 percent growth rate.

Citing data gathered by the Philippine Statistics Authority, House Committee on MSME Development chairman and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela said Occidental Mindoro’s performance marked a sharp turnaround from years of recurring electricity problems that had affected households, businesses, and investors, earning Occidental Mindoro the reputation of being a ‘brownout capital.’

Tarriela said the province’s economic growth reflected the impact of improvements in the power situation, infrastructure development, and increased economic activity.

‘From being known as the ‘brownout capital’ to becoming the country’s fastest-growing local economy, this shows that development can be achieved through cooperation and sustained effort,’ Tarriela said.

Tarriela said resolving the province’s power crisis had been among his key priorities, requiring sustained coordination with the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation, Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, and various power suppliers.

He also credited the national government under President Marcos for its intervention in addressing the province’s long-standing electricity problems.

The improved power situation was followed by increased public and private investments in agriculture, energy, transportation, and infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and ports.

The province also saw the establishment of a 7.4-megawatt solar power plant in San Jose, as well as private investments in cold storage facilities, batching plants, diagnostic centers, hospitals, schools, and shipyards.

Tarriela said the improved investment climate contributed to stronger participation among micro, small and medium enterprises, while generating jobs, increasing consumer spending and supporting tourism activity in the province.

He said Occidental Mindoro’s economic turnaround showed how addressing basic infrastructure and power constraints, combined with national government support and private-sector participation, could help accelerate growth in provincial economies.

THE proposed P14.8-billion water and wastewater project for New Clark City has moved closer to implementation after the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) granted original proponent status (OPS) to the consortium of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and South Korea’s state-owned Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water).

The BCDA Board approved the OPS on August 28 following its evaluation and negotiations with the proponents, allowing the consortium to advance the project to the next stage of the public-private partnership (PPP) process.

The project covers long-term water supply and wastewater management for New Clark City in Tarlac, with the public utility component to be operated by a duly qualified entity.

The BCDA said the proposed system is intended to serve the expanding requirements of residential, commercial, institutional and industrial developments in the estate, while treating wastewater in accordance with environmental and wastewater standards.

The project is also expected to provide utility capacity for industries requiring reliable water services, including advanced manufacturing, data centers and other high-value activities, it added.

With the OPS granted, the proposal will proceed through the required approval process before entering the Swiss challenge, where other qualified private-sector proponents may submit competing proposals.

BCDA is targeting the award of the contract by December, subject to the outcome of the PPP process, required approvals and other conditions.

‘Growth requires infrastructure that can keep up with it. Water and wastewater are fundamental to that growth; and we want New Clark City to have a system that is reliable, sustainable and built to meet the needs of the metropolis for the long term,’ BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang said.

The project comes as New Clark City’s existing water capacity remains at an estimated 20 million to 30 million liters per day. Under the proposed development, capacity could rise to as much as 150 million liters per day, according to the BCDA.

The expected demand could also rise as new industrial projects are added to the estate.

The BCDA has estimated that the proposed Pax Silica project, a planned semiconductor and advanced-technology investment cluster, could eventually require between 65 million and 90 million liters of water per day.

In its presentation, the agency said the planned water system would use surface-water harvesting, storage, treatment and recycling, with the initial system designed for a capacity of up to 135 million liters per day.

In February, Bingcang disclosed that K-water had submitted an unsolicited proposal to develop a bulk water supply system for New Clark City.

At the time, the project was estimated at about P15 billion and was expected to be implemented through a 50-year PPP joint venture with Maynilad.

K-water is also the operator of Angat Dam, a major water source for Metro Manila.