Category: Business Mirror

A BUSINESS delegation composed of around 40 representatives from American companies in information technology, financial services, logistics and shipping visited the Philippines this month to explore investment opportunities.

As Manila and Washington mark 80 years of diplomatic relations, the delegation, which included firms from the US Northeast, Midwest and West Coast, attended a recent investment briefing and strategic forum by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

The mission was organized by the Philippine Embassy in the United States (US) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTICs) in the US.

According to US Embassy Senior Commercial Counselor Paul Taylor, the Philippines remains an important economic partner for the US in Southeast Asia.

‘This is an important market and an important trade and investment relationship [of the US] in Southeast Asia,’Taylor said.

‘We know that with a partner like the Philippines, the United States can greatly impact the transparency and the ability of all of Asean to operate in a way that is going to be built on shared values and is going to head in the right direction,’ he added.

Also, during the forum, Peza Director General Tereso Panga presented the country’s investment environment and discussed initiatives that the government expects to support future investments, including the country’s upper middle-income classification, the Luzon Economic Corridor and the proposed artificial intelligence hub under the Pax Silica initiative.

‘Today is the right time to invest in the Philippines because we are at the center of emerging opportunities in trade, manufacturing, technology, and sustainable growth,’ Panga said.

‘We in Peza are ready to roll out our red carpet to all investors and work closely with you every step of the way as you grow your business in the Philippines,’ he added.

Peza also noted that it continues to be cited in the US Department of State’s annual Investment Climate Statements for the Philippines, which says that the business environment is generally more favorable within Peza-administered economic zones, particularly for export-oriented enterprises, citing regulatory transparency and one-stop-shop services for investors.

Share prices gained for the third straight week, with the main index returning to the 6,400-point level, on waning concerns over the United States Federal Reserve’s policy outlook following signs that price pressures in the US are easing.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index gained 117.42 points to close at 6,404.11 points.

The biggest gains of the market came during the last three days of trading, with Friday’s rise reaching more than 1 percent.

Volume of trade, however, was still anemic, averaging at just P4.67 billion for the week. Foreign investors, who cornered just 38 percent of the trades, were net buyers at P889.66 million.

All other sub-indices managed to close in the green. The broader All Shares index gained 50.73 points to close at 3,444.07 points, the Financials index rose 25.11 to 1,941.68, the Industrial index was up by a mere 2.08 to 8,380.30, the Holding Firms index climbed 98.56 to 4,489.38, the Property index surged 62.85 to 1,955.81, the Services index soared 72.13 to 3,492.84 and the Mining and Oil index added 62.53 to 14,612.23.

For the week, gainers edged losers 111 to 104 and 28 shares were unchanged.

Top gainers were Rockwell Land Corp., Asiabest Group International Inc., Bloomberry Resorts Corp., Millennium Global Holdings Inc., First Gen Corp., Manila Broadcasting Co. and Pacifica Holdings Inc.

Top losers, meanwhile, were Primex Corp., Philippine Estates Corp., Cirtek Holdings Philippines Corp., Roxas and Co. Inc., Metro Alliance Holdings and Equities Corp. B shares, LBC Express Holdings Inc. and Acesite (Phils.) Hotel Corp.

This week

Share prices may go down this week mainly on selling pressures as the US-Iran war is still regarded as the biggest downside risk.

Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc. said the re-escalation of tensions between the two countries, which affects passage at the Strait of Hormuz, is pushing global oil prices higher again threatening the Philippines’s inflation outlook.

Currently, Brent crude is trading above $80 per barrel again. Local fuel prices are expected to see an increase next week, he said.

For the upward swing of the market to be sustained, strong catalysts must be seen moving, he added.

‘Without such, and with the headwinds at play, we may see a pull back for the local bourse (this) week. For a possible impetus, the market is expected to look towards second quarter corporate results.’

Broker 2TradeAsia said to expect volatility in forex and crude oil pricing, with the latest US-Iran tiff.

‘The DOE [Department of Energy] has flagged big jump in pump prices this week. NFA [National Food Authority] will raise palay prices to P21/kilo, or 24 percent from P17 per kilo, for incoming harvest season in September. Effectivity of NCR [National Capital Region] daily minimum wage hike of P60 percent day will start on 25 July 2026 to P755 percent day, up 8.6 percent versus old rate,’ it said.

‘While disinflation in gas and energy supported this view, it primarily reflects a temporary lag in energy transmission, capturing the lower oil prices of late May and early June. We feel this reprieve will be brief.’

Tantiangco said the 6,400-point line of the main index may be retested this week.

‘If the market is able to hold ground above the said line, its next resistance is seen at 6,550. The market’s 50-day and 200-day exponential moving averages are about to form a ‘Golden Cross.”

Stock picks

RCBC Securities Inc. gave a buy rating on Enrique K. Razon Jr.’s Bloomberry Resorts Corp., raising its target price by 5 percent to P2.40 per share driven by high conviction of the company in its online platform.

The said online gambling push, has placed its stock price to climb to P2.31.

‘Unlike the VIP-focused Solaire Online, FUNaloMAX targets the highly scalable local mass market. While front-loaded marketing costs will pressure second-quarter margins, this new platform introduces a vital, high-volume revenue stream that structurally diversifies BLOOM’s top line away from its core land-based casinos, which are currently being weighed down by the Middle East geopolitical tension.’

Bloomberry’s shares closed last week at P2.25 apiece.

Meanwhile, the broker gave a buy rating on Bank of the Philippine Islands, despite the lender reporting that its first-half income fell to P32.8 billion.

Total revenues reached P104 billion, up 12 percent year-on-year, supported by net interest income growth of 12.5 percent and a 12.1 percent non-interest income expansion. Non-performing ratio was flat quarter-on-quarter at 2.42 percent while NPL coverage ratio grew to 92.98 percent.

It gave a target price on the stock at P136.

BPI shares closed Friday at P104 apiece.

THE search for a new batch of promising taekwondo jins continues as the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) stages the 2026 Smart/MVPSF National Championships this Saturday and Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The association, under the able leadership of Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, is expecting a record number of participants this year, noting the Korean Martial Arts is gaining more attention from all walks of life.

All chapters from across the country are fielding their top players in the two-day tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee and Milo.

Collegiate standouts from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines and National Collegiate Athletic Association and all branches of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are seeing action.

The competition is for individuals in both Advanced and Novice divisions, featuring the Seniors, Juniors, Cadet, Gradeschool and Toddler (male and female) categories.

The tournament will utilize the taekwondo officiating system-KPNP Protector and Scoring System (PSS) and the Instant Video Replay (IVR)-to eliminate human error and enhance all PTA championships.

Elimination round starts at 9 a.m. with the opening ceremony slated on July 25 at 1 p.m. to be highlighted by a performance from the Philippine Demonstration Team.

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is now conducting an environmental impact assessment of the Pax Silica project amid emerging concerns on its possible negative effects in the communities to be covered by the United States (US)-led initiative, according to Malacañang.

The Pax Silica aims to challenge China’s dominance in semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI) by establishing new supply chains by building data centers and rare earth processing facilities in partner countries of the US.

The Philippines is among the 23 countries, which signed the Pax Silica Declaration, while Taiwan is a non-signatory participant of the said agreement.

Local scientific experts have warned of the potential destructive effects to the environment of the project. In the US, there is growing opposition against data centers used to train AI, which consume large amounts of power and water.

In a press briefing last Monday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said is now looking at the possible negative effects to the environment of the Pax Silica project and how to mitigate it upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos.

‘They will ensure the existence of an environmental impact statement and an environmental management plan [for Pax Silica]; regulations will be enforced through the Environmental Management Bureau, and Multipartite Monitoring Teams will conduct regular monitoring [for the project],’ she said in Filipino.

The announcement comes after the Bases and Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) announced the framework deal for the 4,000-acre AI hub to be built in the New Clark City in Tarlac under Pax Silica is set to be finalized by November.

Citing the position of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Castro said there is sufficient water supply for the said project.

‘The project is being planned and developed with the clear commitment that water needs of surrounding communities will remain the foremost priority and will not be compromised at any stage of implementation or operation,’ she said.

She also assured the government will provide support to farmers, who might lose their livelihood due to the construction of the AI-hub in Tarlac.

‘We know that the President’s heart lies with the farmers. They are his priority-primarily for the sake of food security. Should any farmers face displacement, the government will ensure they do not lose their livelihood,’ Castro said.

‘The President ensures that all actions taken are in accordance with the law and will not harm the environment or displace our fellow citizens without providing just compensation or alternatives,’ she added.

Castro also maintained that the government will continue to have control in the AI-hub.

‘The President previously stated that we will not surrender even a square inch of our territory to any foreign power. So, this applies to everyone-not just one country, but everyone,’ she said.

EVEN in the most unexpected places, plastics, or what remain of them, continue to persist. Built to last, they can remain in the environment for generations, far outlasting the people who once used and discarded them. Despite all our progress, changing leadership, and the passing of centuries, the plastic waste we discard today will remain long after us.

Originating in Australia in 2011, ‘Plastic Free July’ has since been observed to raise awareness of humanity’s pervasive plastic problem and to encourage behavioral change toward reducing plastic use. What began as a 40-person, month-long challenge eventually led to the establishment of a non-profit charity that now manages the movement and inspires millions of people around the world to say no to plastic.

The movement exists for an important reason. The rate at which plastic has become ubiquitous is unprecedented. Over the last century and a half, plastic has moved from being a remarkable innovation to an everyday staple of human life. It is now essential in packaging, construction, fashion, and textiles because of its low cost, durability, and lightweight nature. Yet its greatest drawback comes from the very boon it offers: plastic is built to last, and because it does not fully decompose, it can persist in the environment for hundreds of years.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, only 46 percent of all plastic waste is landfilled while the global recycling rate is projected to increase from 9 percent in 2019 to only 17 percent by 2060. This reveals a worrying gap between the scale of plastic consumption and the limited progress being made in addressing plastic waste.

Despite increasing efforts to regulate plastic use, uneven enforcement and a lack of affordable alternatives have kept plastics deeply embedded in daily life. Their widespread presence on land and in waterways threatens wildlife through ingestion, entanglement, and suffocation, while also degrading habitats by smothering coral reefs, accumulating in mangroves, and lining riverbanks, disrupting entire ecosystems.

These challenges are also evident in the Philippines, where marine plastic pollution continues to pose significant environmental, economic, and social concerns. This inescapable reality is largely caused by the country’s urban runoff, improper waste disposal, and still-developing regulations on waste management. A major underlying factor is the country’s sachet economy, where daily products such as shampoo, instant coffee, and chips are packed in small-quantity, single-use plastics due to economic and affordability constraints. Combined with Manila’s densely packed urban environment, this has resulted in a choking plastic waste problem for the country.

That said, significant progress was made in 2022 when Republic Act (RA) 11898, also known as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, lapsed into law and amended RA 9003, or the ‘Ecological Solid Waste Management Act’ of 2000. The law mainly applies to large enterprises that generate plastic packaging waste and requires them to recover, reuse, recycle, treat or properly dispose of a percentage of the plastic waste associated with their products. Obliged enterprises must establish an EPR program covering their plastic packaging, which may include plastic waste recovery, diversion, recycling, and the accounting of their plastic footprint. To promote continuous improvement, the Act establishes progressively increasing recovery targets, requiring obliged enterprises to recover 20 percent of their plastic packaging footprint by the end of 2023, increasing to 40 percent in 2024, 50 percent in 2025, 60 percent in 2026, 70 percent in 2027, and 80 percent by 2028 and every year thereafter. Compliance is a key factor, as violations may result in fines ranging from PHP 5 million to PHP 20 million, as well as possible business suspension.

In 2024, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued DAO 2024-04 or the ‘Compliance Reporting and Audit Guidelines for the EPR Act,’ which requires obliged enterprises to submit an EPR Compliance Audit report and strengthen the law’s compliance system. In the same year, the World Bank has developed a roadmap for the Philippines to achieve Zero Plastic Waste Pollution by 2040. The roadmap aims to achieve three outcomes: (1) improve waste collection infrastructure and regulations to provide the groundwork for implementation; (2) invest in recycling technologies, training programs, and encourage participation in recycling efforts to transform wastes into resources and promote a circular economy; and, (3) reduce the production, and consumption of plastics through public education campaigns and more stringent legislation.

At R.G. Manabat and Co., doing our part begins within our own walls.

We actively implement internal initiatives to combat plastic waste, such as enforcing strategic waste segregation and cultivating a culture of environmental awareness among our professionals. Beyond our own operations, we extend this commitment to the wider business community. Drawing from our experience and expertise, we support our clients in navigating their own sustainability journeys by offering specialized services in waste monitoring, tracking, and EPR audit-related services. Ultimately, our goal is to help organizations bridge critical compliance gaps while empowering them to integrate genuinely sustainable practices into their core business strategies.

Our battle against pollution certainly has a long way to go as the waste we leave behind continues to persist long after it has served its purpose. While initiatives like Plastic Free July help raise awareness and disrupt current habits, lasting change depends on turning a month-long reflection into a year-round commitment to circularity.

The progress we have made and the growing number of people advocating for a cleaner tomorrow give us reason for hope. When the world one day inherits the legacy we leave behind, let us ensure it is not made of plastic.

LANAO del Sur has the highest number of election areas placed under the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) highest security classification ahead of the Bangsamoro parliamentary elections, with 21 localities tagged under the red category.

The latest Election Areas of Concern (EAC) classification showed that 27 areas across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were placed under the red category, 21 of which are in Lanao del Sur.

Under the EAC classification, red areas are those with serious threats arising from armed groups, intense political rivalry or a history of election-related violence that warrant the highest level of security attention.

Meanwhile, orange areas have the presence of armed threats, yellow areas have a history of election-related incidents, while green areas are generally considered peaceful and free from significant election security concerns.

Apart from the red areas, Lanao del Sur also recorded 14 yellow and five orange areas, giving the province the highest number of election areas requiring heightened security monitoring in the region.

Maguindanao del Sur recorded the second-highest number of red areas with three, along with 14 orange and seven yellow areas.

Basilan and Maguindanao del Norte each had one red area, while Basilan also listed five yellow, two orange and four green areas.

Maguindanao del Norte recorded nine yellow and three orange areas.

The Special Geographic Areas (SGA) posted one red, three orange and four yellow areas.

Tawi-Tawi, meanwhile, remained the only BARMM province with no areas under the yellow, orange or red categories, with all 11 municipalities classified under the green category.

Overall, the latest EAC list placed 15 areas under the green category, 39 under yellow, 27 under orange and 27 under red.

The EAC classification serves as a guide for election security preparations, with areas under the higher categories receiving closer monitoring and additional security measures during the election period.

If President Donald Trump knows where he wants to take the war in Iran, he’s giving little sign of it publicly.

The conflict continued to spiral over the weekend, with both sides trading attacks in the aftermath of an Iranian strike that killed two US service-members in Jordan and injured others. Both Iran and the US have largely abandoned the tentative peace deal the president had touted.

The week of escalating missile and drone strikes underscored the risk that the conflict will reignite in full again even as the man who started it stayed largely silent on what if anything he’ll do next. US Central Command announced Sunday that a third service member died the day before during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone in northern Iraq. And the US said unidentified remains of another victim in Friday’s Jordan strike were being examined.

As the conflict turns deadly again for the US military, where Trump will take the fight now is not clear.

Trump did acknowledge the fallen soldiers while speaking to reporters Sunday evening after the World Cup finale.

‘Those great patriots were out there fighting so that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,’ he said when he arrived back in Washington from New Jersey.

‘Iran is just very, very badly damaged. They’ve lost everything almost militarily,’ he said. ‘So we’ll see what happens, but we hit it very hard again tonight, and we did that in honor’ of the servicemembers.

He has so far stopped short of ordering a substantial escalation, and called earlier on Sunday for Congress to roll new Iran penalties into a Russian sanctions bill. He invoked the wishes of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, although Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, said Graham didn’t want the two combined.

Trump kept a low profile on Saturday and spent much of Sunday celebrating the World Cup finale in New Jersey. Meanwhile, his administration signaled it would simply maintain the status quo in the Middle East: striking Iran while attempting to continue to ferry tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, but the weekend’s exchanges showed the risk the fighting could spiral.

‘I think in the short term, unfortunately, we’re in an escalatory cycle,’ said Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank.

The US response after Friday’s fatal strike indicated an attempt at restraint, but the broken trust on both sides makes deescalation difficult, she said. ‘This is a more dangerous moment than we’ve had in the past.’

With the on-and-off conflict now in its 21st week, the endgame for either side is as unclear as ever- a warning sign both for the global economy and for Trump, who said one reason he agreed to a ceasefire is that he did not want to become the next Herbert Hoover, the US president during the 1929 stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression.

The administration sent a mix of messages over the weekend, as the US death toll hit 17 since the war began on February 28. Central Command announced the deaths and retaliatory strikes, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the soldiers’ deaths will only strengthen US resolve.

Trump aide Dan Scavino posted a cryptic video of a B-2 bomber in flight, set to the tune of the Nessun dorma aria, while the US is reportedly moving more refueling planes to the region, teasing a potential escalation. The White House declined to address the report.

The president spent the weekend occupied by other matters-he didn’t make any public appearances Saturday at his New Jersey golf club before attending the World Cup Final in person on Sunday. He made no mention of Iran during a pregame interview on the Fox broadcast, and a flurry of social media posts focused more on a recent economic announcement and renovation projects in Washington, DC.

Instead, it was Energy Secretary Chris Wright who took to the airwaves Sunday morning on the administration’s behalf, attempting to calm concerns and pledge that the Strait of Hormuz had not yet ground again to a de facto halt.

‘It’s tragic to lose American lives, but this is a mission that will save countless lives going forward,’ Wright said on ABC’s This Week. ‘His focus is on degrading the Iranian ability to terrorize the world, to hold world commerce hostage as they are doing right now, and to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons – that is unchanged.’

Wright held open the door to a detente: ‘The president is always looking for the diplomatic off-ramp. President Trump wants to end it with a peaceful agreement with Iran, but it takes two parties to do that.’

Total shipments out of the Gulf, both through the Strait of Hormuz and pipelines used to avoid it, are at about two-thirds of pre-conflict levels, Wright said.

Michael O’Hanlon, director of research in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, said he worried Trump may be repeating mistakes of Vietnam and other past American conflicts.

‘If you try to create just the right amount of psychological and strategic pressure-not too hot and not too cold-history suggests it’s very hard to do that,’ he said, adding that Iran appears to be betting on Trump’s desire to reach a deal to buoy his midterm election prospects.

‘Right now they think that he’s desperate for a deal and they’re tougher than he is,’ O’Hanlon said. ‘He may have to, just as a matter of legacy, accept that he very well may lose those chambers, start acknowledging that and say ‘if that means I have to keep pressure on Iran for six more months, I’ll do it.”

Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and former chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said he expected Trump to simply resume the military campaign that was paused with the ceasefire.

‘Now we’re going to move forward with plan A again,’ McCaul said on Fox News Sunday. ‘The military is going to move in, take out their launch pads, take out their ability to send Shahed drones, to hit tankers.’ Degrading Iran’s ability to control the strait ‘has to be the fundamental objective, key objective right now,’ he added.

The spiraling conflict underscores the quagmire risk of foreign interventions-the type of which Trump and Vice President JD Vance have long criticized.

Trump has mused previously about ramping up American efforts, including potentially attempting to seize Kharg Island, the crucial oil export hub. And each passing week puts further strain on US military supplies and crews of ships that continue to stretch their time away from port.

For Trump, ‘there are no good options right now. There are only bad and less-bad options,’ Yacoubian said. ‘We are in something that is potentially a phase change in this conflict and unfortunately there may need to be more pain inflicted before both sides once again relent.’

DESPITE the government’s heightened enforcement against illicit tobacco, authorities expressed frustration as translating seizures into successful convictions remains a major challenge.

Prosecutor General Richard Anthony Fadullon said many complaints filed under the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act still require additional investigation because the evidence gathered by law enforcement agencies is insufficient to withstand judicial scrutiny.

A recent study by the European Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (EU-Asean) Business Council and Euromonitor International estimated that the government lost at least $2.5 billion, or around P141 billion, in revenues over the past two years owing to illicit tobacco products.

The study also found that one in every four cigarette sticks and more than four in five vape products sold in the country were illegal, contraband, counterfeit, or unbranded.

In response to the enormous losses from the illicit tobacco trade, lawmakers and government officials agreed there is an important need for intensified efforts to prosecute and convict the criminal syndicates behind the illegal market, saying seizures alone have failed to deter offenders.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rolando Valeriano of Manila urged law enforcement agencies to work on the successful prosecution and conviction of criminals instead of confiscating illicit tobacco products.

The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) is constructing a P96.7-million ice plant in its fish port in Bulan, Sorsogon to preserve seafood quality, reduce waste, and raise incomes across fishing communities in the region.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and PFDA Acting General Manager Glen Pangapalan inspected the facilities of the Bulan fish port complex, including the 60-metric ton (MT) ice plant and ice storage.

Tiu Laurel said the modern post-harvest facilities were as critical as boosting fish output and extending market reach.

‘Food security is not only about catching more fish. It is about making sure every kilogram that reaches our ports is preserved, marketed efficiently and delivered to Filipino families in the best possible condition,’ he said. ‘Investments like the Bulan ice plant help reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen the fisheries value chain and improve the incomes of our fisherfolk.’

The PFDA explained that the new ice plant can produce around 1,200 blocks weighing 50 kilos each for every 24-hour production cycle.

With a storage capacity for 120 MT or about 2,400 ice blocks, this ensures a stable supply during the peak sardine fishing season when landings surge.

Given the increased capacity, the PFDA said the facility would boost the ice supply in the municipality of Bulan and provide fisherfolk, fish brokers, and traders with a reliable and affordable source of ice.

This would help preserve fish quality, minimize post-harvest losses, and maintain the freshness of seafood throughout the supply chain, it added.

Ice would be sold at P130 per 50-kilo block, which is available in whole blocks or crushed ice. Every kilo of ice can preserve a kilo of fish for seven days.

The PFDA assured stakeholders that water from deep wells and the local water system undergoes treatment before entering the ice-making process to ensure a clean supply for fish preservation.

Meanwhile, the PFDA said it is also implementing the Phase I expansion of Bulan fish port complex, which will feature a new trading hall, ice stalls, and a Materials Recovery Facility.

The project would address the growing demand for fish port services by expanding post-harvest facilities and providing additional space for fish trading, handling, and packing activities, it added.

‘The expansion of the Bulan complex will reinforce the government’s drive for a more resilient fisheries sector and stronger national food security,’ Tiu Laurel said.

AT least 684 families have received land tenure documents under the expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program, as the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) resumed the distribution of residential lots covered by presidential proclamations.

The agency said the initiative revives the distribution of Certificates of Lot Award (CELA) and Certificates of Entitlement (COE) for residential lands covered by various presidential proclamations, giving beneficiaries documentary proof of their right to occupy and eventually own the lots.

The first batch of beneficiaries came from residential sites in Los Baños, Laguna; Lucena City, Quezon; Narra, Palawan; and Jaro, Iloilo City, which are covered by Presidential Proclamation Nos. 550, 436, 574 and 1538.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said the expanded program complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to broaden the government’s housing initiatives and address long-pending land tenure concerns.

‘Under the Expanded 4PH Program, we are not only building new housing units,’ Aliling said.

‘We are also giving long-waiting families the certainty of finally becoming legitimate owners of the land where they live.’

He added that the government is speeding up the issuance of land tenure documents to provide more Filipino families with security of tenure and improve their living conditions.

DHSUD said only 24 beneficiaries received CELAs or COEs from 2019 to 2022 because of implementation challenges, including disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic and shifting program priorities.

The agency said the expansion of the 4PH Program enabled it to award 684 land tenure documents in less than a year.

Of the total, 218 beneficiaries were from Los Baños, 195 from Lucena City, 213 from Jaro and 58 from Narra.

DHSUD said many of the recipients had waited for decades before finally receiving documents recognizing their right to occupy and eventually own the land where they had built their homes.