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Maynilad Water Services Inc. is eyeing the Villar group’s troubled water utility business, potentially allowing it to expand its network beyond Metro Manila.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez confirmed they were ‘looking at’ PrimeWater Infrastructure Corp., whose customer base spans various provinces across Luzon.

He did not disclose other details.

In July, former Sen. Cynthia Villar said her husband, Manuel Villar, wanted to ‘dispose’ of PrimeWater, saying they were ‘not earning much’ from the company.

Villar-billionaire cited by Forbes magazine as the richest individual in the country-is a former senate president and House speaker.

‘Strategic’ asset

PrimeWater currently provides water utility services for more than 1.7 million households in parts of Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, Camarines Norte, Cabanatuan City and Sorsogon City.

Under its 25-year concession agreement with the government, Maynilad, for its part, services the West Zone of the Greater Metro Manila area.

Eduardo Francisco, president of BDO Capital and Investment Corp., said investing in PrimeWater would be ‘strategic’.

‘There’s interest because they’re really a dominant player, and they’re very extensive outside Metro Manila,’ Francisco said. ‘They’re a good asset. The question that needs to be discussed is the valuation.’

Challenges

PrimeWater was recently the subject of public scrutiny due to service lapses, with customers flagging prolonged water service interruptions. Some complained about dirty or murky water despite having to pay higher rates compared with PrimeWater’s counterparts.

President Marcos also called out local water districts and their joint venture partners in his State of the Nation Address for failing to meet the needs of more than six million consumers.

He said his administration would hold accountable ‘those who neglected and fell short of delivering on this vital public service.’

This development comes as Maynilad prepares for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO), which is seen to be the last local stock market debut for the year.

Maynilad plans to raise up to P34.33 billion from its IPO.

The best way to honor teachers amid the upcoming National Teachers’ Day celebrations is to push for additional incentives and secure jobs for Filipino educators, Quezon City Representative Patrick Michael Vargas said on Friday.

Vargas, in a statement, said that lawmakers can address two problems hounding the education sector today-teachers leaving their jobs due to low pay and widespread job insecurity-by backing two measures that he filed.

The lawmaker was referring to House Bill (HB) No. 5085, the proposed Distant Public School Teachers Incentive Bill, and House Bill (HB) No. 5083, the proposed Plantilla Positions for Volunteer Teachers Bill, both of which were filed on Thursday.

HB No. 5085 seeks monthly allowances for teachers assigned in far-flung or remote schools, recognizing the hardships of travel, isolation and resource scarcity. Meanwhile, HB No. HB No. 5083 proposes the creation of permanent plantilla positions for volunteer teachers who have served at least five continuous years, provided they meet qualifications and civil service requirements.

‘Learning outcomes are a function of resources and facilities. When teaching personnel are short and employment is not just a bureaucratic concern-they affect students, communities, and the morale of our teachers,’ Vargas said.

‘When we lose over 30,000 teaching-related personnel in a year or when volunteer teachers remain on the margins despite years of service, it’s a failure of policy and gratitude,’ he added.

According to Vargas, between 2022 and 2023, the number of public school personnel dropped by around 38,000, including teachers, teaching-related, and non-teaching staff.

Similarly, the Department of Education reported that for the 2025-2026 school year, more than 150,000 teaching positions remain either unfilled or temporarily covered by volunteers and contractual hires.

Vargas asked his colleagues in the House of Representatives to support the measures as the country gears to celebrate the National Teacher’s Day on October 5, noting that such policies put teachers at the heart of education reform.

‘Our country may be faced with current anomalies, but this should not deter us from addressing perennial concerns that have stagnated the country’s growth, such as its poor learning outcomes,’ he added.

Local bank lending grew at its slowest pace in nine months in August, the first month higher American tariffs took effect, as business appetite for credit weakened, particularly among exporters squeezed by faltering global trade.

Outstanding loans from big lenders, excluding their short-term placements with the central bank, grew by 11.2 percent from a year ago to P13.62 trillion, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

That marked the weakest expansion since November 2024, when loan growth was 11.1 percent. Month on month, lending was nearly flat, edging up just 0.4 percent.

Dissecting the BSP’s report, business loans, which accounted for 84.6 percent of large banks’ total loan book, expanded by 9.9 percent to P11.51 trillion. This was also the softest clip in nine months or since last November’s 9.8 percent.

Credit to manufacturers, the fourth-largest borrower group at nearly 9 percent of the total, shrank for a fourth consecutive month, dropping 5.5 percent after a 6.3 percent decline in July.

Tariffs take effect

Leonardo Lanzona, an economist at the Ateneo De Manila University, said Filipino exporters continued to feel the strain from global trade uncertainties-a pain that may have been felt by other business sectors, too.

Latest government data showed export receipts grew by 4.6 percent to $7.1 billion in August, the weakest pace of expansion in eight months. Notably, outbound shipments to the US-which imposed a 19 percent tariff on Filipino goods beginning Aug. 1-tumbled by 11.2 percent.

‘To some extent, the decline in the manufacturing activity affected the loans. This, in turn, resulted from the diminished level of exports, which largely dominate manufacturing,’ Lanzona said.

‘While much of the activity in the economy comes from services, even this sector is linked to manufacturing. The point is that we cannot ignore the export sector despite the fact that its value added is low as sectors are interdependent on one another,’ he added.

Households

On the consumer side, loans remained robust after growing by 23.9 percent, a tad faster than the preceding month’s 23.6 percent. This was driven by credit cards, motor vehicle loans and salary-based borrowings.

Looking ahead, retail lending could help underpin credit growth in the coming months as holiday spending picks up, said Reinielle Matt Erece, an economist at Oikonomia Advisory and Research Inc.

‘We may see a rebound in spending activity come the holiday season, and may result in faster lending activity,’ Erece said.

Nani Epondulan may be new to the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball coaches’ circle, but he knows one win proves little.

But opening the season on a high note never hurts, as Jose Rizal University scored a 73-69 victory over Letran at San Juan Arena on Friday.

NCAA SCHEDULE: Season 101 men’s basketball tournament

‘This is just our first game so there are barely any scouting reports,’ said the newly minted coach.

Epondulan marked his rite of passage with a win at the expense of one of the league’s traditional juggernauts, giving JRU an early boost after finishing with a league-worst 4-14 record last season.

It also helped JRU’s cause that main gunner Justin Lozano caught fire to keep the Knights at bay.

‘I knew his capabilities from day one,’ Epondulan said of Lozano. ‘I saw that he’ll click in my system. The good thing with him is he can shoot the long bombs which worked to our advantage.’

Lozano finished with a game-high 17 points built on three buckets from beyond the arc.

Backstopping Lozano on JRU’s offense was Sean Salvador, who finished with 10 points for the squad’s first win.

Foundever was feted at the recent 21st Philippine Quill Awards for its innovative employee welfare programs and its skills development program entitled Language Academy.

The provider of customer experience solutions won Merit Awards for two entries.

One is the ‘Best Place To Work: The Tale of How Millennials and Gen Zs Found Foundever.’ This highlighted how Foundever adapted to the pressing need of millennials and Gen Zs for a collaborative workplace interaction, one where empowerment and active participation thrive.

The other is ‘The Language Academy at Foundever: Empowering Communities through Education.’ This showcased how the company’s initiative addresses a critical barrier faced by qualified candidates when accessing BPO opportunities.

The program identifies the competency gap between available talent and industry requirements, particularly in customer service communication. Through this, it serves as a strategic workforce development solution that benefits both job seekers and the industry.

‘These awards demonstrate how our strategic storytelling can amplify the success and meaningful impact by Foundever, further building lasting value for our stakeholders, our employees, and the communities that we serve,’ said Lena Madrid. She is head of marketing for Foundever in the Philippines, China and Malaysia.

Other citations

Great Place to Work Institute has certified Foundever as a Great Place to Work (GPTW) and one of the Best Workplaces in the Philippines. This recognizes the company’s commitment to fostering a positive and people-centric workplace culture anchored on growth, wellbeing, belonging, and purpose.

Also, Foundever in the Philippines has been named as one of the Top 10 Inspiring Workplaces in Asia for 2025 by the Inspiring Workplaces Group (IW). This recognizes companies that lead with purpose and put people at the heart of their culture. Out of many entries across the region,

Further, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Statista listed Foundever among the Philippines’ Best Employers.

Early in my career at RFM Corp., I was assigned the additional responsibility of doing food service sales, a role that combined both sales and brand management.

This rare arrangement became a powerful learning opportunity. Managing both areas taught me how sales and marketing must work together, and how understanding both offers a strategic edge.

Years later, I started a direct sales company, driven by a growing curiosity about the different ways people sell, and why some approaches succeed while others don’t.

One lesson has stuck with me: great salespeople don’t just sell well; they know when to shift how they sell.

The problem with one-style selling

Many companies understand that selling today is no longer about product pushing or memorizing features. Customers are more informed, more strategic and under more pressure to find solutions that truly align with their goals.

And yet, many salespeople still behave like order-takers. They wait for the customer to ask, then respond with a brochure, a price list or a standard pitch. That may have worked in the past. It no longer does.

In today’s environment, the best salespeople act more like business partners. They listen, guide and, most importantly, adapt. They know when to shift from one selling style to another depending on the customer, the stage of the conversation or the complexity of the deal.

Let’s explore the four core selling styles every salesperson should master, and why knowing when to shift makes all the difference.

1. Solution selling: When the problem is known, but the path is unclear

Solution selling works best when the customer already feels the pain. They know something is not working. Maybe their system is outdated, their process inefficient or their results inconsistent. But they are unsure how to fix it.

In this scenario, your job isn’t just to sell a product. It’s to diagnose before you prescribe.

Ask smart, targeted questions. Get to the root cause of their problem.

Only then should you explain how your product or service fits as a solution.

Customers are quick to spot when you’re just pushing for a sale. They will trust you more if they see that your recommendation is based on real understanding, not just a desire to close.

2. Consultative selling: When the customer needs guidance

In some cases, the customer doesn’t even fully understand the problem.

They sense that something needs to change, but they are unsure where to start.

They are looking not for a product, but for a partner-someone who listens, advises and understands their business environment.

This is where consultative selling comes in. You move from being a salesperson to becoming a trusted advisor. To do this well, you must invest time in learning the customer’s industry, their goals and even internal dynamics like decision-making processes and political factors.

Ask open-ended questions like, ‘What are your top priorities this quarter?’ or ‘What’s holding your team back from hitting targets?’ These spark conversations that build trust.

In consultative selling, you’re playing the long game. Don’t rush. Build credibility and the sales will follow, even if it takes time.

3. Strategic (big account) selling: When the account is large and complex

Some clients aren’t just customers; they are strategic accounts. These are large organizations with multiple decision-makers, long buying cycles and high-stakes contracts. Here, you’re not chasing one deal; you’re building a presence inside a system.

Strategic selling requires structure. Who influences the decision? Who controls the budget? Who might block the process? How does procurement work?

In this environment, team selling is often essential. You may need to bring in product managers, technical experts or even your CEO for high-level meetings. Everyone must be aligned around a strategy.

This type of selling rewards patience, persistence and careful planning.

It takes time, but when done right, the value of the relationship can grow far beyond a single sale.

4. Challenger selling: When the customer doesn’t yet see the problem

What if the customer is happy with how things are? What if they say, ‘We’ve been doing it this way for years,’ and see no reason to change?

That’s when challenger selling becomes effective. Your job is not to wait for a problem; it’s to help the customer see what they haven’t yet noticed.

You lead the conversation by teaching, provoking thought and reframing their assumptions.

You might highlight risks they underestimated or opportunities they overlooked. For this to work, you need deep knowledge of their industry, market trends and competitive threats.

If done well, challenger selling creates what is called constructive tension, a sense that staying the same might actually be riskier than taking action.

But always do this with respect. Boldness earns trust when it’s backed by insight and genuine intent to help.

Why shifting styles is essential

Customers aren’t one-dimensional, and neither should your selling approach be.

Even within a single company, you might need to consult with one stakeholder, challenge another and offer tailored solutions to a third.

Rigid selling limits result. Flexible selling builds trust, unlocks value and closes deals more effectively.

The best sales professionals read the room, listen closely and adapt intentionally. They don’t rely on one method; they use the right method for the moment.

What sales leaders must do

If you manage or train salespeople, your job isn’t just to boost confidence, it’s to build capability.

If your team is trained in only one selling style, they will eventually hit a wall. Maybe they perform well with warm leads, but struggle with complex deals. Or they pitch well, but can’t challenge a complacent buyer.

Help your team become more situationally aware. Role-play diverse scenarios. Provide feedback. Show them how to recognize when their default style isn’t working, and how to shift into one that does.

Teams that can shift selling styles are more resilient, win more competitive deals and earn lasting client respect.

It’s no longer about the seller

In the past, customers adjusted to the seller. Today, the seller must adjust to the customer.

Sales success isn’t about who talks the best, or who knows the most product specs.

It’s about who listens, who understands and who can flex their approach to meet the customer where they are, and take them where they need to go.

So ask yourself: ‘Am I selling the way I want to sell, or the way the customer needs to buy?’

The best salespeople don’t just master selling. They master shifting, and in doing so, they lead customers through a buying journey that creates value for both sides. -CONTRIBUTED

For many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), remittances reflect years of sacrifice and hope. SMDC’s Symphony Homes Mabalacat converts those sacrifices into enduring assets-supporting families daily while increasing their financial stability for years to come.

Created for Life Upgraders: Filipino families, returning OFWs, and first-time buyers, Symphony Homes Mabalacat rises in Luzon’s growth hubs. This master-planned community keeps families near schools, hospitals, transport hubs, and SM malls, delivering everyday convenience today and investment confidence for tomorrow.

Connected Living, Compounding Value

Symphony Homes Mabalacat supports everyday living: safe, walkable streets, pocket parks, and a multi-purpose clubhouse where families can gather, play, and recharge. Homes feature efficient, expandable layouts, spaces that can be converted from nursery to study, or a WFH corner to a guest room-as needs change. The result is a secure, connected living, with confidence that your investment grows with your family.

‘Symphony Homes carries forward our mission of building communities where families can thrive. Every design choice is guided by the values of comfort, dignity, and belonging.’

– Jessica Bianca T. Sy, VP – Head of Design, Innovation and Strategy

By pairing location advantage with disciplined design and everyday utility, Symphony Homes Mabalacat converts hard work abroad into an asset. It safeguards family life today, builds wealth for tomorrow, and keeps rental or resale options open-without losing the convenience families rely on.

The magnitude of corruption in flood control projects has become the most important issue in the Philippines today. And rightly so. Trillions of pesos meant for these projects have been stolen over the years by public officials and private contractors. Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos rallied on Edsa and at Luneta to protest this palpable waste of public funds.

Congressional investigations revealed that the uncontrolled rise in unprogrammed appropriations was one of the ways this corruption is facilitated. For example, in 2025, the original proposal was only P158.7 billion, then it was massively raised to P531.7 billion in the bicameral conference committee. It was eventually reduced to P363 billion after the President vetoed some line items.

The President, in his third State of the Nation Address, expressed anger at the level of corruption that he ordered a strict audit of infrastructure, in particular, flood control projects. Subsequently, he also ordered lifestyle checks on all government officials.

Institutional mechanisms must be in place to ensure that corruption will be substantially reduced in this and succeeding administrations.

What has been done so far: House Resolution No. 94, adopted on Aug. 5, 2025, allows accredited people’s organizations to observe the 2026 budget hearings. Meanwhile, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, adopted on Aug. 13, mandates full transparency mechanisms for the 2026 budget. It mandates both houses to upload key documents such as the General Appropriations Act, committee reports, transcripts of budget briefings and hearings, and plenary deliberation records to be fully accessible to the public. The bicameral process will also be livestreamed in response to public calls for a more open budget deliberation process.

On Sept. 11, President Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 94 creating the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), an ‘independent fact-finding body to investigate alleged irregularities in government flood control and other infrastructure projects.’ The ICI will investigate possible corruption in the planning, financing, and implementation of government projects undertaken in the past 10 years, with a specific priority on investigating flood control projects and may recommend cases to the Ombudsman or the Department of Justice for prosecution.

Reforms must cover not only the budget deliberation process but also include statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs), digitalization of transactions, and publishing of bidding documents, among others.

Recommendations: 1. The President should convene the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) to align executive and legislative priorities, deciding which programs are programmed and unprogrammed in the 2026 budget before bicameral deliberations and submission to Congress. Ledac should also be used to monitor spending throughout the year to ensure efficient delivery of public services.

2. The development budget coordination committee should regularly track government spending, especially in agencies with low budget utilization, to avoid idle funds.

3. Amend the Bank Secrecy law to allow:

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to examine bank deposits and investments of elected and appointed government officials as part of corruption investigations or lifestyle checks;

The AMLC to verify the declared bank accounts of public officials in their SALNs;

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to examine deposits of stockholders, directors, and employees of supervised financial institutions if there is reasonable ground.

4. Make the SALNs accessible to the public again by revoking the current circular as it is inconsistent with the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials granting public access to SALNs.

5. Automatically upload online bidding documents and other infrastructure project documents like the Bill of Quantities, which include itemized details like materials, labor, and equipment, with respective quantities.

6. Fully implement electronic invoicing, allowing businesses to send, receive, and process invoices online instead of using paper. Transactions will be faster, more secure, and harder to tamper with.

7. Pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill requiring government offices to make budgets, contracts, and project updates accessible to the public while protecting personal data, national security matters, and ongoing investigations. Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam already have FOI laws.

The government must quickly respond with concrete policies to improve transparency and accountability to avoid disruptions to peace and order.

The government should institutionalize and strengthen anticorruption mechanisms through robust policy reforms and digitalization initiatives, combined with sustained political will. These will enable the government to restore public trust and ensure accountable governance in future administrations.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has extended the validity of the licenses for driving schools, driving school instructors, medical clinics, and physicians in the country.

In a memorandum dated September 29 and released on Friday, LTO Chief Vigor Mendoza II said the accreditation is extended to October 31 for licenses set to expire between July 2 and October 15 this year.

The memorandum was issued to all LTO regional offices, including the Central Accreditation Committee on Driving Schools and Medical Clinics (CAC-DSMC).

According to Mendoza, the extension aims to ‘ensure the continuous and unimpeded delivery of public services while supporting a seamless and efficient transition to the centralized accreditation system.’

‘This measure aligns with the ongoing implementation of the centralized accreditation system,’ he said.

During the extension period, the LTO chief said all relevant accreditations shall remain valid and active within the Land Transportation Management System.

He added that the validity must not be subject to automatic deactivation, provided that a ‘complete, compliant, and timely’ renewal application has been duly submitted to the CAC-DSMC, in accordance with applicable procedures.

All concerned offices, committees, and personnel are hereby directed to fully and strictly comply with the provisions, said Mendoza.

One of the newest members of the House of Representatives, Ang Probinsyano Rep. Alfred delos Santos, has family members running companies that have won government contracts in Albay province, the Inquirer learned.

On Thursday, Delos Santos was officially proclaimed as one of three party list representatives-including those of Abono and Murang Kuryente-who could assume seats in the 20th Congress following the disqualification of the Duterte Youth group.

All in the family

It is a comeback for the Albay-born lawmaker, who debuted at the chamber in 2019 after Ang Probinsyano, then a newly formed group, won two seats with more than 760,000 votes. He retained his House seat in 2022.

The Inquirer learned that his mother, Maria Gracia delos Santos, is the authorized managing officer of Wearr Enterprises and Development Corp.

The Legazpi-based company bagged at least 48 government projects in Albay, Sorsogon, and Camarines Sur worth P2.4 billion from 2016 to 2025, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) project and contract management application (PCMA).

According to the Sumbong sa Pangulo website, the online desk ordered set up by President Marcos to receive complaints or leads regarding public works projects for possible investigation, Wearr bagged P377.2 million worth of flood control projects in Albay, under the current administration alone.

Delos Santos’ three brothers also have their own construction firms.

Raymond delos Santos is currently the authorized managing officer for WCS Construction Inc., also in Legazpi City, which has won P1.6 billion worth of infrastructure contracts in Albay in the same period.

It has one flood control project under the Marcos administration, a P102.3-million project in Guinobatan, Albay, which was supposed to have been finished in 2024.

RCDS Construction and Supply Inc., based in Ilawod, Guinobatan, Albay, is owned by Richard delos Santos and has 57 contracts worth more than P3 billion in total.

It has five flood control projects worth P243.6 million, all undertaken in 2023.

3Diamonds Construction Corp., owned by Wilfred delos Santos, has 55 contracts worth P2.5 billion.

It has the most flood control projects of the four firms: 14 undertakings worth a total of P616.7 million from 2022 to 2023.

None of them has been accused of any anomalies in the ongoing investigations.

In an interview on Thursday, Delos Santos confirmed their relations but stressed that he himself was not involved in their companies and that he had never used his office to give them undue advantage.

‘We’re party list representatives, so the budget (for those contracts) [doesn’t] pass through us. What we do is we just file bills. And even allocations, we don’t have such things, so there is no conflict of interest,’ he told the Inquirer.

Delos Santos also stressed that their companies have been long-standing firms long before he became a congressman in 2019.

3 party-lists proclaimed

When still a neophyte lawmaker, Delos Santos was caught on video trying to punch a waiter in a fast-food chain in Legazpi City. He apologized later, saying he was ‘not a bully or a troublemaker . I am not a siga, astig or sanggano. The people who know me well can attest to that.’

‘This single incident does not represent me or my values, and I will prove it by working hard to deliver our party platform and campaign promises to fellow probinsyanos, and from hereon conduct myself as an exemplary public servant worthy of the trust and confidence our people placed [in] us last election,’ he said.

Aside from Ang Probinsyano, taking the other seats in the House that became available after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) canceled the registration of Duterte Youth are Abono and Murang Kuryente party lists.

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia announced this during a press conference on Thursday, before the first nominees of the three party lists were proclaimed by the commission.

They were former Rep. Robert Raymund Estrella for the Abono party list, former Agriculture Secretary and Bohol Gov. Arthur Yap for Murang Kuryente, and Delos Santos for Ang Probinsyano.

‘This decision of the Commission and the National Board of Canvassers is a result of the recommendation of our law department as well as the supervisory group in charge of all the aspects of canvassing and proclamation,’ Garcia said.

According to him, the Comelec based its decision on recent cases, such as An Waray vs Comelec, with the three seats originally allotted for Duterte Youth given to the party lists that got the most votes among those who did not make the cut during the May 2025 elections. -WITH A REPORT FROM GILLIAN VILLANUEVA