Category: Business Mirror

THE Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA) issued suspension and preventive suspension orders on five firms for allegedly violating fertilizer laws and regulatory policies.

The agency noted that the sanctions followed separate investigations, monitoring operations, and compliance checks involving fertilizer manufacturers, distributors, and product registrants.

FPA Executive Director Glenn Estrada said the violations include refusal to allow lawful inspections by the agency’s personnel, sale of counterfeit and off-specification fertilizer products, product mislabelling.

Unauthorized movement of products already covered by Stop Sale, Stop Use, Stop Move, and Hold (SUMS) orders is also included in the violations.

He added that some of the firms involved had been participating in government fertilizer procurement and bidding activities, including the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) fertilizer subsidy program.

‘These violations undermine the integrity of the country’s fertilizer regulatory system and may expose farmers and the agricultural sector to risks linked to unverified, unregistered, adulterated, or non-compliant products,’ Estrada said.

As such, the FPA stressed that only compliant, duly registered, and quality-assured fertilizer products and handlers are allowed to join government-backed agricultural programs.

For his part, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said strict regulation is crucial to protecting farmers and safeguarding public funds earmarked for agricultural support programs.

‘We cannot allow questionable and non-compliant fertilizer products to undermine our farmers’ productivity and compromise the integrity of government agricultural programs,’ Tiu Laurel said. ‘These enforcement actions send a strong message that the government is serious about protecting Filipino farmers and ensuring accountability across the fertilizer industry,’ he added.

The DA chief said the agency’s regional officials are also being investigated by Internal Audit Service to look into possible collusion with erring fertilizer firms.

‘We must make sure that our personnel in the regions are above reproach,’ he said.

The FPA added that some cases involve unresolved questions on the validity, traceability, and regulatory status of certain fertilizer products and registrations.

Pending final resolution of the cases, the FPA explained that affected companies and products will be temporarily removed from the official list of FPA-registered fertilizer handlers and products.

The agency said preventive suspension is a precautionary regulatory measure to protect farmers, consumers, and the public while investigations and compliance verification remain ongoing. The FPA warned that penalties against firms violating fertilizer regulations may include suspension or revocation of licenses, disqualification from government transactions, and possible criminal charges.

The agency then urged farmers and stakeholders to buy only FPA-registered fertilizer products from licensed dealers and to report suspicious or counterfeit agricultural inputs.

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property development arm of the Sy family, will open the SM Seaside Cebu Arena next month.

The facility will become the second largest indoor arena in the country, with seven storeys and a capacity of up to 25,000 people.

The large-scale venue is designed to meet global standards for live entertainment, sports and major events, the company said.

‘The enduring success of SM MOA Arena shows the strong demand for world-class entertainment venues, so we are bringing the same proven model to Cebu,’ Jeffrey C. Lim, the company’s president, said.

‘We believe Cebu is a key growth center, and this arena will help attract major events, support tourism and create more economic activity for the region.’ The company said its flexible event bowl allows seamless configuration for both large-scale concerts and more intimate events, giving promoters greater versatility in staging productions.

The SM Seaside Cebu Arena will feature one of the most advanced center-hung displays in the country, supported by LED ribbon boards that deliver a 360-degree viewing experience. These are complemented by high-capacity digital infrastructure, including 5G connectivity, enabling real-time engagement and enhanced production capabilities for both organizers and audiences.

Dedicated premium suites are integrated into the design to cater to corporate partners and elevate the overall hospitality offering, the company said.

Cebu Arena was also designed to support both front-of-house and back-of-house requirements for major productions. A practice court is available for performers, while multi-functional event spaces can be used as holding areas, breakout rooms or venues for smaller private events.

Located within the SM Seaside Complex, the arena benefits from direct access to retail, hospitality and transport infrastructure, creating a seamless ecosystem for visitors and event organizers. Its proximity to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and surrounding lifestyle developments strengthens its appeal as a regional destination for international acts and large gatherings.

BELGIUM has secured a regionalization agreement with the Philippines to maintain exports of poultry products despite the persistent threat of bird flu.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. signed Department Circular (DC) 25, which granted bilateral recognition of regionalization for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) to Belgium.

The same circular also lifted the temporary ban Manila imposed on birds and poultry goods, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from Belgium, which was issued in December 2025.

Belgium received system accreditation to export live poultry and chicken meat into the Philippines in 2016.

Under DC 25, the Philippines requested several documents from Belgium’s veterinary authorities to evaluate the measures it applied and implemented against bird flu.

The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), an attached agency of the DA, then reviewed the country’s application for bilateral recognition of regionalization for HPAI.

BAI concluded that Belgium ‘maintains sufficient veterinary oversight and has established necessary control and mitigating measures against HPAI,’ which ensures a low risk of importing live poultry, day-old chicks, eggs, and semen from identified proposed zones for recognition.

With this, the circular noted that all import transactions should follow the bilaterally agreed import terms and conditions on regionalization and the current rules and regulations, the DA said.

A regionalization agreement stipulates that the Philippines will restrict shipments of the commodity only from certain areas with confirmed bird flu cases instead of imposing a country-wide ban.

The measure aims to sustain trade of poultry goods, since imposing a temporary ban for the entire country limits sources of raw materials that could potentially affect prices.

Bird-flu free

IN a separate development, South Cotabato has regained its bird flu-free status after a confirmed outbreak of the disease in the province in October 2025.

Tiu Laurel signed Memorandum Circular 26, which declared South Cotabato free from bird flu, following a confirmed case of the HPAI H5N1 strain at a backyard duck farm in the town of Norala.

Upon the detection of bird flu, the DA said the government conducted disease investigation, culling, cleaning and disinfection, movement restrictions, and surveillance in the affected areas.

‘Continued disease monitoring and surveillance in the one-kilometer and seven-km surveillance zones surrounding the affected farms yielded negative test results for influenza type A virus and the initial and final cleaning and disinfection operations were completed.’ Prior to the recent outbreak, South Cotabato had reported bird flu cases in 2022 wherein the province has subsequently regained its AI-free status the following year.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired police major general Ma. Oronado Ranada Aplasca has refused to cooperate with investigators probing last week’s shooting incident inside the Senate complex that coincided with Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa evading arrest over an International Criminal Court warrant.

Aplasca is a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987. He reportedly entered the academy as a classmate of Dela Rosa under PMA Class of 1986 but graduated a year later.

In a Malacañang press briefing Tuesday, Interior Secretary Juanito Victor ‘Jonvic’ Remulla Jr. said Aplasca declined to appear before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and refused to surrender his firearm for ballistic examination.

‘He refused to appear and gave an excuse. He was supposed to turn over his firearm so that we can run the ballistics, but he did not appear before the CIDG,’ Remulla said.

Aplasca earlier admitted firing what he described as a warning shot during the incident. The Office of the Ombudsman subsequently placed him under six months’ preventive suspension to prevent possible interference in the investigation.

Based on an investigation conducted by the Philippine National Police using closed-circuit television footage from the Government Service Insurance System building in Pasay City, where the Senate is temporarily holding office, authorities believe Aplasca initiated the shooting incident.

Initial reports indicated the shots were fired after Aplasca allegedly believed members of the National Bureau of Investigation were attempting to enter Senate premises to arrest Dela Rosa.

Remulla said investigators found that Aplasca also fired toward the vicinity of a person later identified as an NBI agent.

‘Shortly thereafter, he fired three shots toward-not exactly in the direction-but toward the vicinity of the NBI agent,’ Remulla said.

The NBI agent reportedly returned fire after believing he was under attack.

The DILG clarified that the NBI personnel involved were stationed only in the GSIS section of the building to secure valuable paintings from possible protesters and were not deployed inside Senate premises.

Scene of the Crime Operatives recovered 44 spent shell casings from the incident. Aside from Aplasca, authorities identified Charlie Dumlao Montilla, Joemil Salazar Ledesma and NBI Senior Agent Darwin Nicomedes Francisco as among the probable shooters involved.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said 21 of the recovered shell casings came from firearms used by Montilla, Ledesma and Francisco.

‘We will be inviting again on another day for General Aplasca to appear. That is to finally identify the source of the remaining 23 fired cartridges,’ Nartatez said.

The PNP has already turned over its findings to the Department of Justice, including what authorities described as ‘compelling’ evidence contradicting claims by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano that the Senate had been attacked.

Remulla, however, stopped short of saying the incident was staged.

Justice Secretary Frederick A. Vida said a DOJ panel has begun reviewing evidence gathered by investigators, including materials collected from the Senate complex between May 11 and May 14.

Vida said authorities have already identified possible individuals who may be held liable, although he declined to disclose names pending completion of the verification process.

THE Senate on Tuesday moved closer to granting Filipino citizenship to Fil-Am athletes Bennie Francois Boatwright III and Matthew James Ramos with an eye to boosting the country’s performance when competing internationally.

Senators lined up to express support for the initiatives, after Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan delivered the omnibus sponsorship of two committee reports: one in consideration of House Bill No. 6639 granting citizenship to Boatwright and another in consideration of HB 6644 granting citizenship to Ramos.

The House measures correspond to Senate Bill 1595, authored by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senators Pia Cayetano, and Bong Go, for Boatwright’s case; and SB 1613, authored by Go, in the case of Ramos.

Co-sponsoring the move was Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, a known sports patron, and followed by Senators Pia Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri, both award-winning athletes; and Sen. Bong Go.

The Senate, however, later suspended consideration of the sponsorship measure to allow senators to read all the documents.

Still, the mood in the chamber was to act favorably on the Pangilinan-led sponsorship, as requested by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

‘Matthew and Bennie are world-class athletes who, despite the many opportunities and paths available to them elsewhere, have chosen to cast their lot with the Filipino people,’ said Pangilinan in his omnibus sponsorship.

He described Ramos as ‘a decorated wrestler and a proud son of a Filipino-Pangasinense father, Cresente Holanday Ramos.’

At the height of a promising wrestling career in the US, Ramos ‘made the life-changing decision to represent the Philippines in international competitions and help elevate the sport of wrestling in our country,’ said Pangilinan. Ramos was runner-up in the 2023 NCAA championships and was hailed as Purdue University’s 60th All-American. He is a two-time NCAA qualifier and a two-time Big Ten placewinner-finishing seventh in 2022 and third in 2023. He became the 2022 US Open champion in the 57-kilogram category and reached the NCAA championship round of 12 in the 133-pound division that same year.

He was also a two-time NWCA (National Wrestling Coaches Association) scholar and, at a young age, captured the 2018 cadet world championship in the 51-kilogram category.

Pangilinan said Ramos was ranked among the top wrestling recruits in the US by Flowrestling, Intermat and the Open Mat. ‘Despite these accolades and the many doors open to him in America, Matthew Ramos chose the Philippines.

He embraced not only our food-from adobo, to dinuguan, and to balut-if you are able to eat balut, you are very very Filipino in that sense. but also the deeper values that define us as a people: respect for elders through ‘po’ and ‘opo,’ the importance of family.’

Like adobo, ‘which is cooked differently in every region of the country, being Filipino comes in many forms. But whether in cooking, in sports, or in nationhood, what matters most is the heart, ang puso. And for Matthew Ramos, becoming Filipino is already in his heart. Boatwright III, meanwhile, is a 27-year-old basketball player from Los Angeles, whose talent and leadership have already inspired countless Filipino basketball fans,’ said Pangilinan.

‘Standing at 6 feet 10 inches, Bennie joined the San Miguel Beermen in December 2023 as the team’s import for the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. He played a crucial role in leading the Beermen to the championship, delivering 19 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in the title-clinching game six,’ added Pangilinan.

‘But beyond his athletic ability, Bennie understands something deeply familiar to Filipinos: that basketball is never about one person alone. It is about trust, sacrifice, and teamwork.

‘That spirit mirrors our own Bayanihan tradition-the belief that people achieve greatness when they lift one another up.

‘By embracing the Philippines and choosing to stand with Filipino athletes, Bennie Boatwright strengthens not only our basketball program, but also our hopes of excelling on the international stage, defending our Asian Games title, and one day returning to the Olympics.’

ECONOMISTS from the De La Salle University (DLSU) issued a polemic on exporters’ reliance on a weak peso, which zaps whatever strength left in the local value chain and manufacturing sector, a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product.

‘For a long time, we have argued that this (currency depreciation) is not a sensible development strategy,’ the economists wrote in the ‘DLSU Report of the Philippine Economy,’ for May.

The experts emphasized that while exporters earn more peso per dollar of sales when the local tender depreciates, the imported content, energy, machinery, and other inputs also become more expensive.

‘In an economy like the Philippines, where international trade operates in US dollar and where key sectors have a significant import content, a depreciation does not strongly boost exports: it raises production costs (import content), and may reduce output,’ the economists said in their report.

A matter of goods

INSTEAD of defending the peso, the economists pointed to local manufacturing.

They emphasized that development entails changing what countries produce and export outside borders. The economists believe the Philippines should go the direction of making products with higher ‘income elasticity of demand’ and are more attractive in foreign markets in terms of quality, uniqueness, and reliability.

John Paolo R. Rivera, Senior Research Fellow at state-run think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) explained that products with higher income elasticity of demand refers to goods whose demand grows faster as consumers become richer.

‘When incomes rise around the world, people tend to spend more on higher-value products, such as advanced electronics, branded goods, specialized services, and premium tourism experiences,’ Rivera told the BusinessMirror.

He said these are the kinds of products and services that offer ‘better long-term growth opportunities.’

Negative in the long run

AGAINST the backdrop of the faster depreciation of the Philippine peso, the DLSU economists said the possible impact of a weakening peso on the country’s trade balance will be ‘negative’ in the short run. ‘This is because the quantity of exports will not change and prices are set in US dollars, while the depreciation is passed on immediately to the price of imports in peso,’ the economists led by Dr. Julian Felipe wrote.

However, they noted that the depreciation may have a ‘positive effect’ in the medium-term and long-term relative to the reaction of exporters and importers on whether contracts may be renegotiated and on shifts in the sourcing patterns.

In general, the economists noted that depreciations only work as a ‘mechanism’ to improve the trade balance if these are continuous in successive periods. ‘Moreover, we have always advocated upgrading and diversifying our export basket, and moving in the direction of exporting products with a higher income elasticity of demand for exports and more complex (i.e., higher quality, more attractive in foreign markets, more knowledge intensive). This is what all successful economies have done,’ the DLSU economists said.

Depreciation’s impact

THE economists also explained that with Philippine exports and imports priced in US dollars, known as dominant currency pricing, ‘the USD/PHP exchange rate still matters through several channels.’

In the case of exports, the DLSU economists explained that a peso depreciation if the peso weakens, each dollar of export revenue converts into more pesos; and a firm’s profitability increases.

The experts said a weaker peso also has an effect on exports’ competitiveness. They explained that even if prices are ‘sticky’ in the dollar sense, a depreciation allows firms to cut dollar prices and this way gain market share or keep dollar prices constant and earn higher margins.

Either way, the economists emphasized that competitiveness is affected.

As to the import content of exports, the economists underscored that Philippine exports, mainly through the electronics gross value chain, use imported inputs.

If the peso weakens, imported inputs become more expensive in pesos, and this can offset the gain from higher export revenues.

As such, ‘the net effect depends on import intensity,’ wrote the report’s authors who included Susan R. Kurdli, Mariel Monica R. Sauler, Gerome Vedeja and Seth Paolo Paden.

Meanwhile, at the macroeconomic level, the exchange rate affects inflation (import prices), interest rates and aggregate demand. The economists said these also feed back into export performance indirectly.

Taking all of these into account, the economists deduced: ‘A once-and-for-all depreciation will not improve the trade balance permanently.’

After the initial depreciation, if the exchange rate remains, the trade balance would revert to its former level.

Inputs, costs

RIVERA told the BusinessMirror that a more sensible strategy is to ‘move up the value chain by producing more sophisticated and differentiated products and services.’

In the short term, he said the government should help firms manage high input and logistics costs, improve trade facilitation, and support access to finance, he said.

In the long term, the focus should be on strengthening infrastructure, skills, innovation, and institutions so the country can compete based on productivity and quality rather than on a weak currency, Rivera added.

‘Sustainable development comes from making better products, delivering more complex services, and building strong institutions. Currency depreciation may help temporarily, but it is not a substitute for structural transformation,’ he said.

A LAWMAKER is pushing for stronger and more accessible mental health services in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), citing the growing number of Filipino youth experiencing anxiety, depression, and other psychological challenges.

Parañaque Rep. Brian Yamsuan filed House Bill 7354, which seeks to institutionalize the establishment of a Mental Health Office (MHO) in every SUC campus. The measure aims to fill the gap in mental health support at the tertiary level, complementing recent initiatives of the Department of Education (DepEd) for basic education students.

‘While the DepEd has been focused on ensuring the mental well-being of students in the basic education sector, no such initiative has been institutionalized at the tertiary level to benefit college students, who are as vulnerable to emotional stress, depression, and even bullying,’ Yamsuan said.

The lawmaker cited the recent rollout of DepEd’s Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline #33733, which provides round-the-clock mental health assistance to younger students through direct access to the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline.

‘Our proposed legislation will address these gaps in the implementation of government programs aimed at effectively responding to the growing mental health crisis among our youth,’ Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan raised alarm over data from the University of the Philippines Population Institute showing that 7.5 percent of Filipinos aged 15 to 24 had experienced suicidal thoughts in 2021-more than double the 3 percent recorded in 2013. Cases of self-reported depression also rose from 7 percent to 11 percent over the same period.

He also pointed out that in 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 3,133 deaths due to intentional self-harm, with nearly 30 percent involving individuals aged 15 to 24.

‘It is not only academic pressure that college students face, but also stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns-especially for those who are working while studying or living far from their families,’ he said.

Under HB 7354, each SUC will establish an MHO that will operate dedicated hotlines staffed by trained guidance counselors and mental health professionals. These offices will provide support not only to students but also to faculty and other members of the academic community. The bill also mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to require all SUCs to implement mental health programs, including awareness campaigns focused on suicide prevention, stress management, counseling, and overall well-being.

To address the shortage of mental health professionals, the measure authorizes SUCs to hire specialists on a full-time or contractual basis and to train graduates in psychology and related fields under proper supervision.

In addition, the bill tasks CHED, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Civil Service Commission (CSC), Department of Health (DOH), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), to develop a comprehensive career development plan for mental health professionals. This includes provisions for competitive salaries, training, scholarships, research grants, and incentives.

Yamsuan expressed hope that lawmakers would act swiftly on the measure.

‘We hope that our fellow lawmakers will recognize the urgency in passing this measure that aims to institutionalize mental health services in SUCs. The lack of mental health support does not only affect academic outcomes but also one’s personal well-being and, sadly, could sometimes lead to self-harm,’ Yamsuan said.

He also noted that a similar measure had already been approved on third and final reading in the House during the 19th Congress, with former Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara among the authors of its Senate counterpart.

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) has extended a credit line to the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) to partially settle its contractual obligations to Light Rail Manila Corp. (LRMC).

The state-run bank signed a credit line agreement with the LRTA to help settle the government’s remaining P3.6-billion obligations to LRMC, the private operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1).

Under the agreement, LandBank will provide financing to cover the amount needed to settle the government’s obligations to LRMC, including fare deficit payments and reimbursements.

The LRMC took over the LRT 1 in 2015.

The unresolved claims eventually drove the company to seek international legal recourse. The LRMC filed a request for arbitration against the DOTr and the LRTA before the International Chamber of Commerce, seeking compensation for delayed fare adjustments covering 2016, 2018, and 2020, as well as claims for the difference between the stipulated fare and the approved fare under the concession agreement.

‘We hope that as we settle our obligation with the private concessionaire, we will see more improvements on their services, including structural upgrades, digitalization, and reliability of the rail line,’ Transport Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez was quoted in a statement as saying.

LandBank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said the agreement underscores the government’s commitment to honoring its obligations and strengthening public-private partnerships in the transport sector.

‘This loan facility represents a deliberate action by the National Government, through the LRTA and the DOTr, to fulfill its commitments and maintain strong and credible partnerships with its development partners,’ Ortiz was quoted as saying in the statement.

According to the statement, the LandBank views the agreement as complementing ongoing government efforts under a new program that supports alternative transport services to help cushion commuters against the impact of fluctuating fuel prices.

The DOTr has been ordered to settle its duties to private concessionaires to ensure reliable, safe and commuter-centric service for passengers.

‘Thousands of commuters ride the rail line every day. So we owe it to our commuters to provide them with quality and efficient service at masiguro ang kanilang kaligtasan,’ Lopez said.

The agreement between the three parties was signed by Ortiz and LRTA Administrator Hernando T. Cabrera, witnessed by Lopez, LRTA OIC-Deputy Administrator for Administrative Jose Jobel V. Belarmino and LandBank Executive Vice President Charlotte I. Conde.

As the Philippine real estate market continues its trajectory toward an estimated $27.11 billion valuation by 2031, prefab construction company Hive Modular is spearheading a shift in the industrial landscape, positioning the country not just as a consumer of modern housing, but as a future export hub for modular technology.

The prefab construction sector in the Philippines is currently seeing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.07 percent, which is fueled by a critical housing shortfall of 6.94 million units and an increasing demand for disaster-resilient, ready-made housing solutions. Hive is addressing these gaps by integrating modern Building Information Modeling (BIM) and sustainable manufacturing into the local construction framework.

Economic contribution and job quality

While the traditional construction industry saw a significant employment decline of approximately 550,000 workers between late 2024 and 2025, Hive is focused on reversing this trend by providing high-quality, stable employment.

By moving construction from traditional, labor-intensive sites to a controlled manufacturing environment-in this case, their factory in Silang, Cavite-the company is upskilling local talent, from laborers to industry professionals, into high-skilled manufacturing roles.

‘Our vision at Hive is built around purpose,’ said John Avrett, Hive Co-founder and CEO. ‘The Hive method isn’t just building faster-it’s also about giving people back their time and making the entire construction process simple and seamless.’

‘A lot of our clients are balikbayans who want to build back home, but managing a project from overseas just isn’t practical. We take care of everything, step by step,’ he added.

With the global prefabricated and modular housing market projected to reach $203.49 billion by 2030, Hive also sees a strategic opportunity for the Philippines to serve the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The company’s innovative approach combines prefab efficiency with custom designs, making high-quality spaces accessible even in remote locations.

The company plans to expand its production team significantly this year to meet both domestic demand and its long-term goal of international export. By utilizing Building Information Modeling techniques and eco-friendly materials, Hive Modular aims to elevate the ‘Made in the Philippines’ brand within the global green building sector. Transforming the property landscape

The rise of modular construction comes at a pivotal time for the Philippine economy. With a $44.5 billion public-private-partnership pipeline and a labor force participation rate reaching 65.7 percent, the demand for quality infrastructure and housing has never been higher. Meanwhile, as the Philippines’s economy faces headwinds from global uncertainty, Hive is doubling down on its bet that the future will depend on ‘traditional’ and infrastructure-heavy industries, like manufacturing and construction.

‘We see the prefabricated construction industry as a strong hedge against looming disruptions from AI and other sources to the Philippines’s service sector,’ Avrett said.

‘I am confident that the Philippines is poised to be a global leader in this industry, and we’re excited to be among the first wave to usher in these new future-oriented jobs.’

On top of that, Hive Modular’s entry into the mainstream property conversation comes at a time when speed and sustainability are becoming non-negotiable for developers and buyers alike.

Hive’s ‘ready-made’ product model simplifies what is traditionally complex construction, offering a functional and sustainable foundation for forward-thinking homeowners and business owners alike. As the industry evolves, Hive remains committed to leading the transition toward smart, efficient, and resilient development, ensuring that the Philippine property market remains bullish and globally competitive.

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has joined the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and partners that are advancing the circular economy.

The DILG took part in the High-Level Interagency Roundtable on the National Circular Economy Framework (NCEF) held in Metro Manila recently.

Representing the Department, Assistant Secretary Lilian M. de Leon reaffirmed the DILG’s commitment to strengthening local governance and improving basic service delivery through sustainable and environment-responsive policies at the local level.

In her Statement of Commitment, de Leon said the DILG will maximize local mandates, performance systems, and monitoring mechanisms to help ensure that circular economy principles are integrated into local governance, particularly in improving waste management and promoting resource efficiency across local governments (LGUs).

The roundtable gathered key national government leaders, including Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr., and Director General Jose Francisco B. Benitez of the Technical Skills Developing Authority (Tesda), alongside representatives from various agencies.

The initiative forms part of the DENR-led program supported by the EU-PH Green Economy Partnership under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative.

The DILG reaffirmed its support for stronger interagency collaboration to translate national environmental policies into concrete and sustainable action at the community level, recognizing LGUs as key drivers in building cleaner, smarter, and more resilient communities.