Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines still face challenges in scaling access to finance, expanding regional reach and deepening capital market integration. This is limiting the crucial sector’s ability to unlock its full economic potential, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said.

In its ‘Asia Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Monitor 2025’ report, the ADB said the Philippines nevertheless has a robust legal and institutional framework. This will support MSME growth and competitiveness through a series of regulatory policies.

Even so, the Manila-based lender flagged several critical constraints that continue to impede the MSME development. The ADB did so particularly amid rising global uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.

A primary challenge, the ADB said, is the lack of acceptable collateral to access credit. This, along with high credit risk perceptions and operational costs, makes MSME lending high-risk and low-return for financial institutions.

Data showed that MSME credit accounted for only 3.9 percent of total bank loans in 2024. It represented only 2.1 percent of gross domestic product.

Regional data showed that MSME lending in the Philippines remains highly centralized. Of national total, 83.8 percent of loans is concentrated in Metro Manila, reflecting ongoing geographic disparities in credit access.

‘Addressing structural challenges-such as risk-based lending, collateral requirements, and regional disparities-will be critical to unlocking the full potential of MSMEs in driving inclusive economic growth,’ the ADB said.

Less trading at the bourse

Meanwhile, the SME board under the Philippine Stock Exchange saw market capitalization decline slightly to P25 billion in 2024. Trading was reduced despite the addition of one new initial public offering raising the total to 11 listed companies.

This, the ADB said, suggests lower investor interest and liquidity. This reinforces the observation that the local capital market remains relatively underused as an MSME financing venue.

‘The overall scale and activity of the SME Board remain limited,’ the bank said.

‘This underscores the need for sustained efforts to promote capital market literacy, streamline listing requirements, and strengthen investor confidence to view the capital market as a viable alternative MSME financing source,’ it added.

Looking ahead, the ADB noted that policy and institutional support continue to evolve. Stronger efforts on digitalization, financial inclusion and innovation are seen boosting the growth of MSMEs.

‘Initiatives such as the Standard Business Loan Application Form, PalengQR PH Plus and expanded guarantee programs are part of a growing ecosystem to improve MSME resilience and competitiveness,’ the ADB said. INQ

Social Weather Stations fielded a special opinion poll on the topic of corruption in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the neighboring provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal (‘Mega Manila’ for short) last Oct. 19 to 22, on its own account. This survey is statistically representative of adults in those areas; it was geographically limited to cover the largest contiguous area that SWS could afford from its internal funds.

Last week was the first public presentation of the survey findings, at an event co-organized with the National Research Council of the Philippines, Social Sciences Division, held both face-to-face and via Zoom (see ‘SWS October Mega Manila survey on corruption presented at Kapihan sa SWS,’ www.sws.org.ph, 11/13/25, for the slides).

The Mega Manila survey findings are generally dire: 77 percent say corruption in government is more widespread now than three years ago; this 77 percent breaks down as NCR 80, Bulacan 71, Cavite 76, Laguna 74, and Rizal 74.

*Eighty-three percent of Mega Manila see corruption at the national level of government, while 38, 35, and 25 percent see it at the provincial, city/town, and barangay levels, respectively.

*Seventy-five percent say it is government officials who initiate the bribes, rather than the bribers offering them; 66 percent say it is improper to give any money or gift to speed up transactions with the government.

*Percentages of opinion on the steps taken by the current administration to eradicate corruption: very effective 12, somewhat effective 15, hardly effective 33, not at all effective 27, don’t know enough about them 13.

*Government institutions rated for sincerity in fighting corruption, starting from the worst (percentage sincere minus percentage insincere): Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) -43, Bureau of Customs -15, the House of Representatives -8, the Senate -6, Department of Budget and Management -4, Office of the President +4, Commission on Elections +4; all others are double-digit positive.

*Among those personally aware of a corrupt act, 49 percent experienced it in the last 12 months, but 96 percent did not report it, the main excuse being that nothing would happen anyway.

*Twenty-four percent were aware of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure even before being interviewed; their opinion is split as to whether the ICI will do a fair investigation of flood control projects.

*Seventy-four percent want corrupt officials to suffer harsher penalties.

*Seventy-two percent have followed news about graft and corruption in government flood control projects. The percentages following the news consist of: very closely 22, somewhat closely 31, just a little 19, not at all 14, and just heard about it now 14.

Among those following such news, the net believability rates (percent believable minus percent unbelievable) of the accusations are very high, for all those implicated: Rep. Zaldy Co +69, Speaker Martin Romualdez +60, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap +59, former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy +59, Commission on Audit commissioner Mario Lipana +59, former Sen. Bong Revilla +53, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada +50, Sen. Chiz Escudero +49, Sen. Joel Villanueva +43, and former Sen. Nancy Binay +40.

The net believability rates are likewise very high for the testimonies of the witnesses: spouses Pacifica Discaya and Sarah Discaya +71, engineer Henry Alcantara +70, engineer Brice Hernandez +59, contractor Sally Santos +59, former security aide Orly Guteza +58, and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo +51.

Net agreements (percent agree minus percent disagree) about the Discaya spouses are: (a) they should NOT be made state witnesses because they should not be exempted from punishment, +42; (b) before they can become state witnesses they should first return the money they allegedly got, +78; and (c) because their government contracts allegedly reached 78 billion pesos, they are truly in a position to reveal information about corrupt government officials, +71.

Throwing survey numbers at the corrupt doesn’t solve corruption, any more than making hunger numbers feeds the hungry. The numbers are not directed at public officials in particular. They are simply for those who care.

Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD, 88, died at 9:07 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at UST Hospital in Manila, according to a social media post by Fr. Anthony Ibarra Banawa Fabella, SVD.

A friend and spiritual daughter of Dinter, Carole Diamante, said he had been brought to UST Hospital on Oct. 17, a day after his birthday.

‘This morning, Fr. Mike Yasis, SVD, arrived to give him the sacrament of anointing. According to the doctor, Amang (Fr. Dinter) is still fighting. But the doctor prepared us to say our goodbyes,’ she said.

The Societas Verbi Divini (SVD) – Philippines said Dinter was born Oct. 16, 1937, in Steinwitz, Wroclaw, Germany. He made his religious vows in 1961 and was ordained in 1965.

His first mission assignment was at the St. Raphael Mission House in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. After an initial orientation to pastoral work in the mission parishes of Bongabong and Mansalay and the Mangyan missions for three years, he was assigned to formation work at the newly established St. Augustine Major Seminary in Tagaytay as rector, spiritual director and procurator.

The seminary, under the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan, trains diocesan priests for Mindoro. He served in formation work from 1969 to 1976.

Dinter returned to Mindoro for parish work and the Mangyan missions at the Panaytayan Mangyan Settlement.

In 1979, he was elected provincial superior. In 1982, when the Philippine SVD was divided into three provinces, he continued as provincial superior of the Central Province. In 1985, he had a short stint as rector of Christ the King Seminary while also serving as a provincial councilor.

Beginning in 1986, his advocacy for the Mangyans led to a lengthy stay in the Mangyan missions. While still a provincial councilor, he chose to remain at the Panaytayan Mangyan missions, eventually establishing the Mangyan Education Center and serving as its director. He was appointed episcopal vicar for the Mangyan missions.

The Mangyan Mission Secretariat was later established in Calero, Calapan City, and he became known simply as the Mangyan Missionary.

While working with the Mangyans, he was appointed executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous People (ECIP) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines. He also served as vicar forane at the Risen Christ Vicariate Forane.

Fabella said Dinter was at Villa Cristo Rey, the SVD retirement house at the Christ the King Seminary compound in Quezon City, when he became ill. He was semi-retired at St. Raphael Mission House before being brought to Villa Cristo Rey and later confined at UST Hospital.

On Nov. 12, while hospitalized, the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro recognized him as one of its awardees for his contributions to the province during its 75th founding anniversary.

Mindoro priest Fr. Edwin Gariguez paid tribute to Dinter, calling him ‘a missionary whose life was marked by steadfast service, solidarity, and love for the marginalized.’

Gariguez said Dinter’s ‘gentle way of entering Mangyan communities, not to dominate, but to listen, to learn, and to walk with,’ became for him ‘a shining model of what true missionary discipleship means.’

He added that in the schools Dinter helped build and in the ‘young Mangyan professionals who emerged with dignity and pride,’ the late priest left behind ‘a legacy that is unmistakably missionary in spirit

A lawmaker who authored one of eight pending anti-political dynasty bills in the House said he expected the measures to advance at the committee level by December or January, as lawmakers and watchdogs challenged Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III to follow through on his pledge to prioritize the long-delayed reform.

On Friday, Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, author of House Bill No. 381, said the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms headed by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong could tackle all eight bills including Flores’ measure in the panel’s next meeting and later form a technical working group (TWG) to consolidate the measures.He added that the process might ‘not take long because the eight bills have many common and similar provisions,’ particularly on the limitations set for a political dynasty.

Most of the bills seek to define political dynasties up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity.

‘Pragmatic prohibition’

This is in contrast to the Makabayan bloc’s HB 209 and 4784, which seeks to prohibit relatives within the fourth civil degree from simultaneously holding or running for elective office.

The Akbayan bloc composed of Reps. Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno, Dadah Kiram Ismula and Dinagat Islands Rep. Arlene Bag-ao also recently filed its own version-also seeking a ban up to the fourth degree-a day after Dy told his colleagues to push for an anti-dynasty measure to help restore trust in government.

Flores said limiting dynasties up to the second degree sets the most ‘pragmatic prohibition scenarios.’

He expressed hope that his bill as well as that of Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima’s House Bill No. 2131 would ‘serve as the working documents for the consolidation process.’

‘I hope the TWG will be able to report out the substitute bill and that the committee will approve it before we go on [a] year-end break at the earliest or by January when we return,’ he added.

‘No room for loopholes’

Dy’s support for the passage of an anti-dynasty law has placed pressure on Congress where both chambers have long been dominated by entrenched political families.

The clamor has intensified as the Marcos administration continues to grapple with the fallout from a flood control scandal that has implicated several House members, including the President’s cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

A report by the United Nations Development Programme found that political families dominate 72 out of 77 provinces or 94 percent, with an average of 2.31 political clans per province.

‘We remain deeply skeptical. History has shown us that political dynasties themselves have repeatedly blocked genuine reform,’ the Makabayan bloc composed of ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said in a statement.

‘Besides, the Marcos and Duterte dynasties are some of the worst iterations of a political dynasty in the Philippines and they too will become stumbling blocks to these bills,’ they warned.

Nevertheless, the bloc maintained that its measures were the most comprehensive and ‘leave no room for loopholes,’ as it challenged Dy as well as their colleagues in the House to support their version instead of ‘watered-down versions designed to preserve the status quo.’

Magnolia coach LA Tenorio joked that the offseason pickup of Raffy Verano was aimed at being a carbon copy of Rain or Shine.

‘I want all my players to be good-looking like Rain or Shine,’ said Tenorio, drawing plenty of laughter inside the press room following the Hotshots’ 90-75 victory over the Blackwater Bossing.

But in all seriousness, Verano is more than just a pretty boy, as his 12 points plus contributions on the defensive end helped Magnolia pull away and complete the comeback against the struggling Blackwater side.

It was the best performance of the conference for Verano, who, after being let go by his former team Phoenix, was signed by Magnolia shortly before the start of the season-opening Philippine Cup.

For Verano, he was only heeding Tenorio’s emphasis on stepping up when needed.

‘Like Coach LA said, it’s next man up, and I come with whatever minutes I have, defensively,’ said Verano. ‘I think that’s where I find my groove. And like what Coach LA says, what’s nice about this team is everyone can score, but he usually harps on defense.

Magnolia targets solo third in all-time PBA victories

‘So luckily, I’m the one that got my opportunities and scored today,’ he added while being thankful for being given a shot by Tenorio when ‘I just worked my butt off while training with them.’

Tenorio was quick to praise Verano and the rest of the team for having the right attitude as a collective unit, something that also eases the challenges of being a first-time coach.

‘It’s hard for them to trust a young coach, and that’s the natural tendency. But all of my players have a great attitude, not as a player but as a person. And that’s what I like about this team,’ Tenorio said.

CEBU CITY-JR Quiñahan has been making the rounds on social media lately, but this time it had nothing to do with basketball.

The former PBA player was among many Cebuanos who felt the full force of Typhoon Tino a few days ago, and his resilience during the ordeal and active participation during recovery efforts earned praise from netizens.

So when he showed up at Cebu Coliseum on Saturday to watch Meralco’s East Asia Super League game against the Macau Black Bears, he was greeted with thunderous appreciation.

WATCH: JR Quiñahan is in attendance for the #EASL game between Meralco and Macau.

Quiñahan, who last played in the PBA two years ago, stopped for photos and selfies as fans approached him the moment he entered the historic Cebu sporting venue.

Not too long ago, his eatery, Adobohan ni Quiñahan-House of Paka, organized a relief drive in Talisay to help feed those hit hard by Tino.

His presence at the EASL game also carried added meaning with all ticket proceeds from the Bolts-Black Bears matchup will be donated to Cebuanos as disaster aid following the recent earthquake and typhoon.

The Supreme Court has designated several regional trial courts (RTCs) to hear corruption-related cases involving the government’s infrastructure projects plagued by anomalies.

In a statement on Saturday, the high court announced that the Office of the Chief Justice has approved the recommendation of Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta to designate specific RTC judges to handle the cases.

The court explained that jurisdiction over graft cases involving public officers holding positions lower than Salary Grade 27 will, meanwhile, be assigned to the proper RTC, Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court in line with Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, or the Judiciary Reorganization Act.

‘These special courts will exclusively hear and decide corruption-related cases arising from infrastructure projects,’ read the statement from the Office of the Spokesperson of the Supreme Court.

In areas without designated RTCs, the cases shall be referred to the nearest judicial region with special courts.

Should there be any appeals from the decisions of the designated RTCs, they will be heard by the main anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan.

The high court did not disclose how many RTCs were designated as special courts but explained that the directive was in accordance with Republic Act No. 10660, or the law that expands the jurisdiction of RTCs to include graft-related cases.

The law states that the RTC has ‘exclusive original jurisdiction’ when the graft case does not involve damage to the government or any bribery, or when it involves damage to the government or bribery from transactions not exceeding P1 million.

Judges of the RTCs designated as special courts will also undergo training from the Philippine Judicial Academy, including lectures to be led by associate justices of the Sandiganbayan.

The training will cover ‘substantive and procedural laws,’ according to the Supreme Court, including RA 7080, or the anti-plunder law; RA 3019, or the anti-graft law; rules on bail in plunder cases; evidentiary rules in anti-graft cases; the rule on cyber warrants; rules on forensic evidence; among others.

The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced on Friday the launch of a fully automated and paperless filing system for retirement and life insurance claims, enabling inactive members to submit and track their applications through the Touch mobile application.

In line with GSIS Memorandum Circular No. 068, series of 2025, government agencies are now required to electronically transmit the service record, retirement date and Leave Without Pay certifications of retiring personnel at least 20 working days before effectivity.

GSIS President and General Manager Wick Veloso said the shift to digital pre-processing removes the need for manual paperwork and speeds up benefit validation.

‘We want our retiring members to experience a smooth and worry-free transition. By shifting pre-processing to a digital and agency-driven workflow, GSIS can validate records earlier and retirees no longer need to submit paper documents,’ Veloso said in a news release.

Through the upgraded GSIS Touch app, inactive members may file retirement, separation and life insurance claims using secure facial authentication.

The platform also allows them to view the tentative computation of their benefits and monitor their application status in real time via the Transaction Monitoring System.

Members will receive text messages or email notifications once their records have been reconciled and cleared for filing. Approved benefits are credited directly to their bank accounts.

GSIS said the digital filing initiative advances its ‘Ginhawa (Convenience) for All’ thrust by promoting greater accessibility, transparency, and faster service delivery for members and pensioners nationwide.

The online facility is exclusive for retiring members under Republic Act No. 8291.

Jaclyn Sawicki will be joined by fellow Philippine women’s football team members Katrina Guillou and Bella Flanigan in the country’s bid to do well on home soil in the inaugural Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup, which starts on Nov. 21 at Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

A key fixture during the Filipinas’ debut in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, Sawicki hopes to do the same on the indoor scene for the Filipina5 as they face Poland, Morocco and Argentina in Group A.

Sawicki is one of 14 players named to coach Rafa Merino’s roster for the competition that will last until Dec. 7, including Guillou and Flanigan, who have been part of the Filipina5 program since January.

Also on the roster are Filipinas pool members Inday Tolentin, Charisa Lemoran, Catherine Graversen and Judy Connolly, Alisha del Campo, Samantha Hughes, Regine Rebosura, Rocelle Mendano, Isabella Bandoja, Lanie Ortillo and Kayla Santiago.

The Filipina5 begin their campaign on the first opening gameday of the competition against Poland, followed by a matchup with Morocco on Nov. 24 before wrapping up the group stage with a big fixture opposite Argentina on Nov. 27.

The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals.

The team recently held a two-week camp in Spain where the Filipina5 faced local clubs and the Spain national squad in exhibition matches.

Sawicki, who turned 33 last Friday, appeared in all three matches for the Philippines in the 2023 World Cup, and was used heavily playing the role of central midfield.

Cignal turned back Savouge Aesthetics, 34-32, 25-22, 25-22, to regain its winning ways and advance to the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals on Friday at Paco Arena.

Licking the wounds of their tough five-set loss to University of Santo Tomas-Gameville last Wednesday, the Super Spikers vented their ire on the Spin Doctors to improve to 5-2 and join unbeaten Criss Cross and guest teams Kindai University (Japan) and ProVolley Academy (Australia).

Louie Ramirez led Cignal with 14 points and 12 receptions. Lloyd Josafat added 10 points, including four blocks, while Wendel Miguel and Jau Umandal had nine each.

‘The score was close, but the difference was really the soft skills,’ said Cignal coach Dexter Clamor. ‘Things like patience, intensity, aggressiveness, stuff you don’t always see on the court. Our mental toughness was probably our edge in this game. We were just really hungry to win because that loss to UST really stung.’

Savouge fell to 4-3 in third place. Reymark Betco and Giles Torres paced the Spin Doctors with nine points each.

Meanwhile, Criss Cross remained unbeaten in six games after sweeping UST-Gameville, 25-22, 25-15, 25-21.

Garcia led the King Crunchers with 19 points. Poy Colinares haunted his college team with 10 points, as Jaron Requinton and Noel Kampton added eight points apiece.

‘Coming from our game against FEU-DN Steel, we reminded ourselves that just because they’re a collegiate team doesn’t mean they won’t fight,’ said Colinares. ‘They’re here because they qualified through the V-League, which is no joke. In men’s volleyball here, no matter your age, whether you’re a pro or a college player, you can definitely keep up.’

UST-Gameville dropped to 4-2, with Al-Bukharie Sali leading the charge with 12 points.

Alpha Insurance revived its semifinal chances with a 25-18, 25-21, 25-19 win over PGJC-Navy.

Paolo Javelona led the Protectors with 13 points, while Barbie San Andres added 12 points and 10 receptions as they improved to a 3-3 record.

Navy remained winless in six games. Joeven Dela Vega and Peter Quiel had eight points each.

The also-ran FEU-DN Steel ended a three-game slide with a 25-16, 25-21, 25-18 sweep of VNS with Dryx Saavedra and Lirick Mendoza finishing with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

The Tamaraws improved to 2-4, while VNS dropped to 1-5