Category: Philippine Star

A year into his term, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Francis Lim has already stirred up the hornet’s nest, drawing the ire of many powerful players in the country’s business environment.

Not surprisingly, not everyone is happy, and we’ve been hearing that some quarters are seriously asking the powers that be for his head. In exchange for what? Your guess is as good as mine.

This is alarming but I am not surprised, because here in our country, some people, especially those who move in the circles of the elite and the powerful, would do anything to ‘make their problems go away.’ They would try to convince the appointing powers to remove that thorn in their side.

It’s the reason why some Cabinet secretaries come and go. Especially vulnerable to the whims of the powerful are heads of the Bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue. We still remember a BIR commissioner’s sudden departure. Supposedly, somebody asked for his head. Such uncertainty surrounding their positions makes it difficult for them to really act fearlessly in fulfilling their duties. They stay away from ‘sacred cows’ or companies that are powerful enough to escape the rule of law.

This should not be the case. Meaningful reforms can only happen if there is political will – all the way to the top.

Fortunately for Lim, the SEC chairman has a fixed seven-year term, as mandated by Republic Act 8799, the Securities Regulation Code. This is just like the position of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor – also a fixed term, but for six years.

As regulators, the SEC and the BSP are protected via fixed terms for their leaders. This is to empower them to fearlessly execute their duties without fear that they could just be removed from office. The fixed terms also protect their respective agencies from being politicized.

Cracking the whip

As SEC chief, Lim has cracked the whip on erring companies, frauds, pyramid scam perpetrators and many others. He has also put an end to the terms of long-serving independent directors, a move that many veteran corporate executives did not like. Some even brought the controversial SEC move to court.

As expected, he has made enemies left and right. Some even alleged that some of his directives were meant to be personal attacks against certain individuals, against whom he had an axe to grind.

But he knew this was going to happen even before he accepted the job. He knew that he was going to make enemies if he did his job well. He may have even lost some friends.

Improving corporate governance

Just a year into his term, Lim, a well-known ACCRA corporate lawyer and the former president of the Philippine Stock Exchange, has rolled out policies aimed at promoting good corporate governance practices among corporations in a bid to strengthen transparency and investor confidence.

As I mentioned earlier, he set term limits for independent directors, supposedly to promote greater board independence and align domestic practices with international standards.

Through Memorandum Circular 7, Series of 2026, the SEC imposed a strict nine-year term limit for independent directors of publicly listed companies.

The SEC also introduced a 10-year cumulative term limit for broker directors of exchanges, under MC 17, Series of 2026, ‘to encourage greater diversity, independence and professional expertise.’

Another reform that the Lim-led SEC implemented is tighter beneficial ownership disclosure.

As a journalist, I appreciate this move because it makes company ownership more transparent.

Thus, the SEC has launched the Hierarchical and Applicable Relations and Beneficial Ownership Registry, a web-based registry for beneficial ownership disclosures, to streamline compliance, enhance corporate transparency and support the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing commitments.

Supporting the fight against corruption

In terms of fighting corruption, the SEC is currently reviewing the corporate governance framework. It seeks to designate private corporations that have been awarded government contracts above specified thresholds as corporations vested with public interest.

‘This aims to uphold the proper use of public funds and to combat corruption. It is also proposing amendments to accreditation requirements applicable to auditing firms and external auditors, including those with significant government infrastructure contracts, to strengthen audit quality and improve confidence in corporate disclosures,’ the SEC said.

Investor protection

In the area of investor protection, the SEC under Lim’s leadership has issued 15 cease-and-desist orders, revoked 25 corporate registrations and filed criminal complaints with the Department of Justice covering three entities and 40 individuals.

These include a criminal complaint against Villar Land filed in January 2026 for alleged ‘market manipulation, insider trading and misleading disclosures that distorted the company’s share prices and misled the investing public.’

The SEC also went after Maria Francesca Tan by seeking a Red Notice against her. Tan, who has left the country, is at the center of a large-scale fraudulent scheme.

The corporate regulator has also created a dedicated committee to oversee matters involving the Lopez Group of Companies in view of potential systemic market implications.

Lim has put many more reforms in place, and he has vowed to push for more. But with a bunch of enemies he has made, one wonders – who among them wants Francis Lim removed from the SEC?

It could be anyone whose businesses – or misdeeds – he has disrupted or stopped, but especially those who stand to lose the most.

In a relief to the country’s hog industry, a vaccine against African Swine Fever (ASF) is now commercially available, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced.

This means that local hog raisers may now purchase the AVAC vaccine from Vietnam at veterinary shops and outlets accredited by the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI).

‘When the supplier’s stocks arrive, the ASF vaccine of our hog raisers can be bought to protect and stabilize the price of pigs at the farmgate level,’ Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said.

Before the commercial approval, the DA had been conducting a trial deployment of the AVAC vaccine at registered hog farms throughout the country.

He added that the DA will also meet with retailers to ensure that vaccine prices remain reasonable for hog farmers.

‘The availability of a commercially approved ASF vaccine is crucial to our repopulation program. It gives hog raisers another tool to protect healthy animals as we work to rebuild the industry and secure a more stable supply of pork,’ he added.

Tiu-Laurel told reporters that additional vaccines for ASF would likely be approved for commercial use by the BAI next year.

‘We can see that two or three new vaccines will be approved from other countries, so there is competition,’ he added, noting that sources include Korea, Thailand, and another from Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Undersecretary Constante Palabrica said the Korean PROVAC vaccine is currently undergoing BAI testing.

Palabrica added that the agency is proposing about P1 billion next year to fund subsidized ASF vaccination programs, including vaccination for backyard pig farms.

The commercial approval of the vaccine offers a renewed boost to the hog industry, which continues to grapple with ASF. BAI data showed that the ASF outbreak has affected 76 of the country’s 82 provinces.

Hog farmers continue to recover from the effects of the virus, which has decimated hog populations, raised local pork prices, and caused billions in losses since the initial outbreak in 2019.

In Cebu, the provincial government has extended the ban on the entry of live hogs, pork, and pork products from Negros Island and other ASF-affected provinces and areas to 90 days.

This comes after Cebu Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro issued Executive Order No. 44, Series of 2026, on Aug. 20, extending the 45-day prohibition previously imposed under Executive Order No. 38

Around 2,500 fighters – black belters included – from across the country will take part in the 2026 Smart/MVPSF Best of the Best Taekwondo Championships on Sept. 5 to 6 in two different venues inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The two-day event is organized by the Philippine Taekwondo Association to honor Smart Communications and PLDT big boss Manny V. Pangilinan, who has poured in a great amount of resources for over decade now to spot and train future Filipino champions.

Like PTA Grandmaster Sung-Chon Hong, Pangilinan hopes to see a Filipino win an Olympic gold medal especially in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

No Filipino fighters have won an Olympic medal since Stephen Fernandez (bantamweight) and Bea Lucero (featherweight) won bronzes when the popular Korean martial art was held as a demonstration sport during the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The Kyorugi (free sparring) competition will take place at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada refused to enter a plea for his graft and plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Thursday, September 3.

A “not guilty” plea was automatically entered on his behalf during his arraignment today.

Estrada is facing graft and plunder charges in connection to the alleged kickback scheme that led to irregularities in flood control works.

He is accused of receiving P573.75 million in kickbacks through the manipulation and rigging of processes and siphoning funds from the flood control budget.

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, originally charged alongside Estrada, has seen his charges dropped following a motion from the Ombudsman to have him be a state witness instead.

Estrada is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas and has been suspended from his work as senator.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has formally submitted the list of witnesses and evidence to be presented against former president Rodrigo Duterte in his upcoming trial for crimes against humanity.

ICC deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang formally submitted the lists on Aug. 31, the deadline set by the ICC Trial Chamber III.

The lists were tagged as confidential ‘as both include sensitive witness information,’ read the three-page filing.

Duterte’s trial is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30, barring any new development that could defer or adjourn the trial.

During the case’s first status conference in May, ICC senior trial lawyer Julian Nicholls said as many 70 witnesses may be presented against the former president during his trial.

These include 31 insider witnesses, 17 crime-base witnesses and 12 witnesses ‘who are relevant to explain the background and the contextual elements of the crimes charged.’

The prosecutor intends to call 25 to 30 of these witnesses to give viva voce or verbal testimony during the trial.

The rest of the witnesses will be presented under ICC’s Rule 68, which allows ‘the introduction of previously recorded audio or video testimony of a witness, or the transcript or other documented evidence of such testimony.’

The prosecution previously estimated that its direct examination of the witnesses will take approximately 175 to 200 hours.

ICC Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner previously underscored the need for an expeditious process, citing Duterte’s advanced age.

She said that presentation of evidence ‘must take place in the shortest and clearest way’ and reminded parties to avoid unnecessary and lengthy legal arguments.

The ICC has yet to release the findings of the panel of independent medical experts that was formed to assess Duterte’s fitness to stand trial.

The defense on Monday also moved for the refiling of the document containing charges against the former president.

The Philippines could generate about P24.4 billion in additional annual revenue starting in 2029 under a proposed global minimum tax, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

The estimate is based on revenues that the government could have collected from 2021 to 2024 had the global minimum tax rules been in place, Finance Assistant Secretary Euvimil Nina Asuncion said.

‘If we pass it this year and the law is effective by Jan. 1. We can start collecting by (2029). There’s a gap. So that you’re able to set your compliance,’ Asuncion told reporters.

The proposed qualified domestic minimum top-up tax (QDMTT) is a coordinated international framework that ensures large multinational groups pay at least a 15 percent effective tax rate in each jurisdiction by imposing a top-up tax where the effective tax rate falls below 15 percent.

The measure will not apply to ordinary domestic businesses, including ordinary domestic businesses or small and medium-sized enterprises.

About 1,001 multinational enterprise groups operating in the Philippines, covering around 4,037 local subsidiaries, could fall within the scope of the global minimum tax, according to a DOF presentation.

The DOF is also proposing higher excise taxes on sweetened beverages, tobacco and alcohol, single-use plastics and certain high-end goods, as well as measures targeting the wealthy.

Finance Undersecretary Rolando Ligon Jr. said the department is targeting September for the filing of the proposed Progressive Tax Reform (Progress) Act.

‘Dapat September ma-file na sana,’ Ligon said in a chance interview when asked about the target filing date.

Under this measure, the DOF is also proposing to increase excise tax on automobiles priced at P8 million and above. The bill also seeks to raise the excise tax rate on non-essential goods to 25 percent and expand its coverage to other high-end products.

The expanded coverage would include private aircraft, such as planes, jets and helicopters, as well as private or recreational vessels such as jet skis, speedboats, sailboats and motorboats intended for pleasure, private use or sport.

The government collected P307 million from excise tax on non-essential goods in 2025.

‘Magkano ang monthly?’ For many families,this question determines whether a property stays on the shortlist or not. The monthly payment has to live alongside groceries, tuition, transport, savings, and the unexpected expenses of the family. It is a practical first filter.

But it is rarely the only one.

Ligtas ba ang community? Malapit ba sa trabaho, paaralan at hospital? May enough space ba for the family? Is this somewhere we can see ourselves living for years?

These are considerations that ultimately shape a homebuying decision. Price matters, but so do the neighborhood, location, everyday convenience, and the kind of life a home makes possible.

That is why Pag-IBIG Fund’s decision to raise its maximum housing loan from P6 million to 10 million matters. For qualified members, it creates more room to consider a wider range of homes, including house-and-lot options that previously have sat beyond the old financing limit.

A bigger loan ceiling means more room to choose, not simply more to borrow

P10 million is the maximum Pag-IBIG can approve for one borrower. It is not an automatic entitlement, and it does not mean a P10-million home will be automatically financed in full.

Actual approval still depends on income and capacity to pay, credit evaluation, the property’s appraised value, and Pag-IBIG’s housing-loan guidelines.

For buyers, the value of the higher ceiling is in having more options to consider while still choosing a home and monthly payment that make sense for the household.

The Pag-IBIG details buyers should know are:

Up to P10 million per qualified borrower, payable for as long as 30 years.

A 4.5% promotional rate for qualified loans above the socialized housing threshold and up to P4.9 million.

A 5.75% promotional rate for qualified loans above P4.9 million and up to P10 million.

Promotional applications under the current offer must be filed by December 31, 2026. Buyers should confirm the fixing period and the rate that may apply afterward.

Pag-IBIG illustrates the difference with a P2.5-million loan payable over 30 years. At 4.5%, the estimated monthly amortization is about P12,667, roughly P2,700 lower than at the previous 6.25% rate. For families planning around a monthly household budget, savings like this can create room for other priorities, from education and transportation to everyday family needs.

Where the change matters most for Symphony Homes buyers

At Cheerful Homes, currently listed at P1.3 million to P2.1 million, and Cheerful Homes 2, at about P2.3 million to P5 million, the bigger story may be the 4.5% promotional tier rather than the P10-million maximum.

For buyers looking for a home they can see and experience before making a decision, ready-for-occupancy options also offer a practical advantage. Families can visit the community, walk through an actual home, understand the space, and picture their everyday life there before taking the next step.

Location then becomes the next important consideration

Mabalacat places buyers near the Clark growth area, with access to schools, healthcare, retail, and major transport connections. Current regional trends support that appeal: Colliers reported that Central Luzon is attracting buyers who want more affordable and spacious choices outside Metro Manila. It linked Pampanga demand to Clark and improved NLEX and SCTEX access, while noting continued residential activity around Tarlac’s industrial estates and logistics corridors.

For families whose lives are rooted elsewhere, the wider Symphony Homes portfolio provides more choices according to where they work, where their families are, and where they see themselves building their future.

In Batangas, options include SunnyHomes in Padre Garcia and Primerarosa, Reginarosa and Amorrosa in Santo Tomas.

In Tarlac, buyers can consider SunnyVale, SunnyVale Premiere and SunnyVale 2.

More choices should lead to better options

But ultimately, the opportunity is not simply the ability to borrow more.

It is the chance to choose a home that better fits the family’s budget, preferred location and everyday life.

More space for a growing family. A community closer to work. Better access to the places that matter. Or simply more choices than a buyer may have thought possible before.

For qualified Filipino homebuyers, Pag-IBIG’s expanded financing can make the home search a little wider, and the possibility of finding the right home a little closer.

DJI, the global leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, has launched the Osmo 360 II, its latest 360° camera designed to capture high-quality footage from every angle, day or night.

The Osmo 360 II’s technical DNA evolved from innovations in DJI’s distortion control for aerial photography, stabilization from the professional Ronin series of gimbals, and color science through successive generations of Osmo Action cameras. Moreover, Osmo 360 II innovates on the company’s first 360° camera, Osmo 360, and its first 360° drone, Avata 360, to deliver further enhanced imaging capabilities.

The camera features an advanced 1-inch square HDR image sensor with up to 14.5 stops of dynamic range, 8K/60fps 360° video and 2.4 µm pixels for clearer, sharper action shots. Its AI SuperNight 2.0 noise-reduction technology is designed to deliver cleaner low-light footage.

Osmo 360 II’s advanced square HDR image sensor increases sensor utilization by 25%1 , reducing power consumption while keeping footage clean and clear, day or night1.

Diverse scenarios, various angles

The Osmo 360 II is built for a range of activities, including motorcycling, diving, skiing, cycling and vlogging.

Motorcycling: The camera can be securely mounted anywhere for unique multi-angle shots. With Gesture Control and Voice Control, creators can start recording instantly without releasing the throttle.

Diving: The camera is ready for underwater action up to 10 meters1 out of the box. For deep dives, creators can seal it inside the Invisible Waterproof Case and explore down to 50 m.

Skiing: The camera can be used in -20° C (-4° F) temperatures1, and will start shooting by double twisting the selfie stick. Creators can unlock aerial views with the 2.5m Extended Carbon Fiber Selfie Stick, and add Motion Blur for a more cinematic run.

Mountain Biking / Road Cycling: The camera’s powerful stabilization can smooth out the rough trails. Creators can add the Sports Dashboard overlay to create engaging data-rich cycling videos.

Vlogging: The camera can be used for solo selfie videos with the Invisible Selfie Stick serving as an on-the-go camera crew. Paired with Dual Recording, creators can capture passing scenery and multiple people in a single frame to make their stories even more immersive.

For creative shooting, the camera supports 120MP HDR 360° photos, 16K 360° timelapses, 8K/120fps Vortex video and up to 64x panoramic slow motion through DJI Studio’s AI frame interpolation. All video formats support 10-bit color depth and the D-Log M color profile.

The Osmo 360 II also introduces Spotlight Follow, which keeps subjects centered as the camera rotates, as well as NFC connectivity for quick pairing with the DJI Mimo app and easier footage transfers. Professional users can also import 360° footage into DaVinci Resolve through DJI Studio’s plugin.

Weighing 183g, the camera comes with 105GB of built-in storage and can record for up to 100 minutes at 8K/30fps. Its replaceable lenses feature an ultra-hard optical film for improved scratch and wear resistance. The battery can fast-charge to 80% in 22 minutes, while the Battery Extension Rod can add up to 180 minutes of runtime.

The camera also features a four-mic array and wind-noise reduction, with support for DJI’s OsmoAudio Direct Microphone Connection and compatible DJI microphones.

Price and Availability

The DJI Osmo 360 II is available in the Philippines starting Sept. 3 in the following configurations:

Osmo 360 II Standard Combo: P32,490

Osmo 360 II Adventure Combo: P39,490

Osmo 360 II Limitless Riding Combo: P34,490

Additional accessories include the Lens Replacement Kit (Dual) at P1,890, Multifunctional Battery Case 3 at P3,299, Battery Extension Rod at P5,590, and other filming accessories.

DJI Care Refresh is also available for the Osmo 360 II, offering accidental-damage replacement coverage, with up to two replacements under the one-year plan and up to four under the two-year plan.

The Senate impeachment court may hold whole-day trials in October as senators juggle their duties as judges trying Vice President Sara Duterte and as senators scrutinizing next year’s proposed P7.2-trillion budget.

Before adjourning Day 21 of the trial yesterday, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero informed parties of the possible grueling schedule on Oct. 1, 2, 5 to 9 and 12 to 15, from 10 a.m. to ‘early evening’ and ‘on some occasion, exceed dinner time.’

There will be no trial during the interim between Oct. 16 and Nov. 6 to give way to budget committee hearings, as well as the Undas break.

Trial will resume on Nov. 9 and 16, but only from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., then ‘proceed to normal programming’ starting Nov. 23 ‘until we finish the case’ by December, the court’s target verdict date, according to Escudero.

‘This is a heads-up that time may come that we will have a whole-day trial, so we can dispense one to three witnesses per trial date,’ Escudero said.

Defense lawyers said they are ready for the new schedule.

Sen. JV Ejercito said the new setup may be ‘the best solution’ for senators to don their hats as jurors and as lawmakers to have committee and plenary debates on the outlay.

‘The problem is it’s either we finish impeachment or else we have a reenacted budget,’ Ejercito said.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said he is feeling the toll of working for 12 hours a day.

Impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol said another setup being looked into would allow senators to attend budget hearings while trial is ongoing as part of the ‘continuing quorum’ rule.

During yesterday’s plenary session, senators approved Zubiri’s motion for the suspension of Senate rules to allow senators to still be declared present for the plenary session while attending budget committee hearings.

The Panata Awards 2026 enters a new chapter in its 17th year with a campaign that reflects what the Philippine Association of National Advertisers (PANA) stands for: the responsibility of advertisers to uphold standards that advance effective, responsible and impactful brand building.

As ‘The Award for Advertisers, By Advertisers,’ Panata occupies a unique position in the industry. Judged by senior brand builders and leaders across the industry, it recognizes work that delivers measurable business results while upholding the highest standards of strategic thinking, creativity and responsible brand stewardship.

Recognition matters not simply for the prestige it brings, but for the shared responsibility behind the work it celebrates.

Not only success – but the principles that define it.

Not only achievement – but the values that endure beyond it.

For PANA, the Panata Awards represents more than honoring exceptional campaigns. It reaffirms the Association’s commitment to define, uphold, build upon, and elevate the standards of Philippine brand building.

This year, PANA invites advertisers, brand builders, agencies and marketing partners to submit their most effective work from 2025 and join the country’s leading brand builders as part of an institution that celebrates not only achievement, but lasting impact.

As the country’s foremost recognition for effective, responsible, and impactful brand building, Panata continues to honor the work that sets today’s standards and inspires the work that will shape tomorrow.