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GCash, the Philippines’ leading finance super app with the largest cashless ecosystem, announced the official launch of the GCash Pera Outlet Plus. Designed to economically empower Nano, Micro and Small (NMS) businesses, such as sari-sari stores, carinderias and other community-based retail shops, by becoming a local hub for daily digital financial transactions, such as cash-in, cash-out, load purchase and bills payment in their communities.

The new GCash Pera Outlet Plus is a separate and dedicated merchant app, currently available for Android mobile devices, that offers a wide range of digital financial services, with simple and powerful tools that enables community-based retail stores to earn additional income and help grow their businesses.

Store owners can unlock income streams and higher earning potential that can augment revenues to their existing business by earning commissions from everyday GCash financial services. Unlike a standard consumer e-wallet, the GCash Pera Outlet Plus wallet is designed for high-volume community transactions, offering higher wallet limits and a separate account history for better transaction tracking and management.

To help GCash Per Outlet Plus partner stores succeed, GCash offers a range of support including, but not limited to, free store merchandising set-up, exclusive merchant promotions and helpful digital tools such as ‘My Suki’ to save customer details and avoid mistakes in keying-in numbers, frontliner delegation features to allow a store front personnel to run the business while owners are away, and a very simple business onboarding process.

With thousands of registered outlets nationwide, GCash Pera Outlet Plus plays a vital role in the country’s digital transformation and in bridging the financial gap, as it paves the way to digitalization at the grassroots community level through NMS businesses.

“At GCash, we believe that empowering community-based retails shops is key to building a more inclusive and resilient economy,” said RenRen Reyes, CEO of G-Xchange, Inc. “With the new GCash Pera Outlet Plus, we’re giving nano,micro and small entrepreneurs the tools to help grow their businesses further, serve their communities and contribute to national development. This is a commitment to uplift local livelihoods and drive economic progress from the ground up.”

The GCash Pera Outlet Plus features help ensure that NMS businesses-have the digital tools to adapt, thrive, earn and lead. This initiative is a core reflection of GCash’s commitment to inclusive innovation in line with its vision of providing “Finance for All’. This vision centers on accelerating financial inclusion by providing accessible and meaningful digital finance solutions to empower all Filipinos, especially those who are unbanked or underserved by traditional financial institutions.

By expanding digital financial services to the furthest reaches of the country, the initiative directly supports the Philippine Government’s digitalization agenda for local and national economic development.

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has eased the initial public offering (IPO) timeline for the power sector, offering smaller players more breathing room before going public.

This follows the amendments made to the public offering requirement (POR) guidelines to boost compliance and improve capital market access for generation companies (gencos) and distribution utilities (DUs).

Under the updated rules, the five-year compliance period to conduct an IPO will start only once the genco is already compliant with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE)’s listing requirements.

These requirements include a proven track record of profitability, positive stockholders’ equity, sufficient market capitalization, established operating history and a required number of stockholders.

The move provides companies with a more practical timeframe to prepare for their public offering while aligning the requirements with the PSE’s existing listing standards.

‘The five-year compliance period isn’t new, it’s just a recalling. What we defined is when the five-year countdown starts,’ ERC chairman and CEO Francis Saturnino Juan said.

Under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act, gencos and DUs that are not publicly-listed are mandated to offer and sell to the investing public at least 15 percent of their common shares.

Before the amendment, new companies were required to implement their respective public listings not later than five years from the issuance of their certificate of compliance (COC).

‘If we didn’t do this (POR amendment) and simply counted the five years from the issuance of the COC, smaller gencos would be discriminated against because larger ones can immediately comply with the requirements by listing on the PSE right away,’ Juan said.

The ERC chief said gencos struggle to comply with the IPO mandate because PSE listing requires a minimum market capitalization of P500 million, while securities registration typically involves meeting 23 requirements.

Aside from relaxing the listing timeframe, the ERC has also sharpened the definition of ‘holding company,’ eliminating the past confusion about the scope of parent companies affected.

‘When energy companies offer shares to the public, it allows Filipinos to invest directly in the industry that powers our nation. It also makes these companies more accountable to their investors and the consumers they serve,’ Juan said.

Based on the latest ERC data, 49.6 percent or 131 of the 264 gencos in the country were not compliant with the IPO mandate, while the compliance rate was just 15.15 percent.

Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has authorized school officials to decide whether to suspend classes amid increasing cases of influenza-like illness or ILI.

Robredo said the decision of school officials must be based on protocols of the Department of Education (DepEd) and each institution’s guidelines on class suspension and learning continuity.

‘I am authorizing the DepEd and the school heads to determine whether a suspension of classes and a temporary shift to modular learning is warranted in view of the increasing ILI case,’ she said. ‘It has been noted that incidence of ILI varies across schools.’

She said she is confident that school authorities would exercise sound judgment and discretion in assessing their individual situation as well as implement appropriate measures to safeguard the health and well-being of students, teachers and school personnel.

League leader National U faces a tall order against title holder University of the Philippines to start the second round of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m. with the Bulldogs (6-1) wanting to keep the driver’s seat after an impressive first-round campaign with only one defeat – a complete turnaround from its Final Four miss last year. Skidding Ateneo (4-3) and Far Eastern U (2-5) battle at 2 p.m.

The Bulldogs’ lone scar came against the Fighting Maroons (4-3), losing a 13-point second-half lead en route to a 66-59 defeat.

Surely, NU would need to be resilient and composed against an expected in-form UP that’s been slowly heating up after a flat 0-2 start.

‘We have to refuel for the second round,’ said NU coach Jeff Napa after his wards hacked out a gutsy 71-66 overtime win over Ateneo to end the first round.

Because the PBA’s golden anniversary season is expected to extend to at least 15 months, there will be no draft next year. But in January 2027, the succeeding draft could be the richest and deepest in years.

The PBA had asked if the UAAP’s graduating players, including one-and-dones, could apply for this year’s draft but was turned down even with the qualification that those picked would finish their varsity obligations before crossing over. That meant the likes of Michael Phillips, Gerry Abadiano, Nic Cabanero, Jake Figueroa, John Abate, Ced Manzano, Dom Escobar, Kymani Lani, Forthsky Padrigao, Harold Alarcon and Josh Lazaro will wait one year before joining the draft. Since the next draft is set after the UAAP’s 89th season, the list of eligibles will bulge with the addition of blue-chippers Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez and Kean Baclaan. Then, there are Fil-foreigners like DJ Fenner, CJ Lane, Robin Duncan and Remy Martin, MPBL players, including Raven Gonzales, and NCAA stars like Clint Escamis waiting in the wings.

The big question is with so many talents available, who will be the first overall pick in 2027? Note that Barangay Ginebra just traded for Terrafirma’s first choice, giving up Maverick Ahanmisi and Aljon Mariano in exchange. It’s more than likely Terrafirma will end up at the cellar again this season, gaining as a result the first overall slot. Terrafirma remains in the market for sale but its value has diminished with the abdication of its first pick. Still, it’s a PBA franchise and a more attractive investment than an expansion option which is costlier.

The PBA’s Technical Committee, made up of four members, approved the trade on a unanimous vote. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial had nothing to do with the vote and has made it a point not to interfere with decisions of the independent committee. Ahanmisi had asked for a trade and his partnership with brother Jerrick was a perfect seal to deal with Terrafirma.

The timing of the next PBA draft couldn’t be more felicitous. The UAAP, NCAA and MPBL seasons will be over by then, making those eligible from the three leagues available to transfer. Overseas players who’ve never applied for the draft will have several months to think whether or not to enlist. Thirdy Ravena would be a prime candidate. Of course, most will opt to stay where they are. But imagine how fully loaded the draft would be if even just a few of the overseas players join in.

Amid recent earthquakes that hit the country, experts can adopt other techniques in studying active faults nationwide, based on a study by the University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Researchers used advanced optical correlation and interferometry techniques to provide precise measurements of surface displacement.

Comparing pre- and post-quake satellite images and studying seismic waves allowed researchers to better analyze temblors and hazards.

‘These methods are crucial for assessing earthquake risks and developing effective mitigation strategies,’ they noted.

‘Future research should consider integrating additional datasets, such as UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) data, and applying these methods to other surface processes,’ researchers said.

‘By refining hazard models, improving geological assessments and closely examining slip estimates, we can achieve a deeper understanding of the region’s seismotectonic configuration, ultimately enhancing earthquake preparedness,’ they added.

Published in the Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences journal, the study was conducted by UP Diliman National Institute of Geological Sciences experts Khelly Shan Sta. Rita and Sotiris Valkaniotis, as well as UP Diliman Resilience Institute executive director Mahar Lagmay.

Boutique property developer Keyland Corp. is in the final phase of preparations to officially open Alino New Manila, a four-star, 20-storey lifestyle hotel along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue in Quezon City.

With Alino, Keyland marks its first foray into the hospitality business under its newly established Alino Hotels brand, expanding a portfolio long associated with residential and office developments.

Keyland’s residential developments are located in Makati, Filinvest City in Alabang, Las Piñas and Lipa City.

It likewise has office projects in Makati, Greenhills, Alabang and in Las Piñas City.

In a pre-opening press conference and mini tour of the soon to open hotel, Keyland Corp. executive director for hospitality Arthur Gindap admitted that because of its proximity to St. Luke’s Medical Center QC, which is just across the the street from Alino, the hotel hopes to attract families of patients confined or seeking treatment at SLMC-QC.

SLMC-QC continues to expand even as it has also put in place plans to build a larger and more modern facility in ASEANA City in Parañaque.

Gindap said that Keyland has a built-in synergy with SLMC because Keyland’s chairman and president, Jose Ma. Montinola, is also a board member of SLMC-Global City in Taguig.

Thus, Keyland was aware of the popularity of SLMC-Global City’s deluxe and executive private suite rooms where families of confined patients prefer to keep their sick relatives company.

They had observed that since SLMC Global City’s opening, the suites are always in demand.

As such, with SLMC’s clients in mind, some of the 128 rooms that Alino has designed are for families who may be seeking regular or long-term treatment at the nearby hospital.

A dedicated health care room equipped with a HEPA air purifier and hospital grade cleaning solutions will be available to accommodate families of patients confined at St. Luke’s who require a more sanitized environment.

A unique room feature that has PWD clients in mind is a spacious bathroom that can accommodate a wheelchair for easy bathing, definitely something that ordinary tourist and hospitality hotels do not offer.

The name ‘Alino,’ according to Lady May Elegado, general manager of the soon to open hotel, is drawn from ‘Alagang Filipino,’ which underscores the brand’s commitment to genuine, authentic Filipino care that includes the value of malasakit, the uniquely Filipino way of taking away another person’s burden.

By observing this Filipino value in travel and hospitality, Alino Hotels aims to ease the stress of travel, offer reassurance and deliver comfort that feels both sincere and personal.

New Manila is within a district that bridges heritage and modernity.

Unfortunately, most of the younger generation are not aware that New Manila is known historically for its large post-war ancestral estates that were formerly friar lands that were purchased by the American government and after the war, by rich families that included Lebanese-born Doña Magdalena Ysmael, whose family bought 75 hectares in what is now known as New Manila, according to John Paul ‘Lakan’ Olivares Lakbay ng Lakan website.

Initially known as the Magdalena Estate, development of the property started in the 1930s.

However, according to an article written by PR maven Rosary Ysmael (a great-granddaughter of Doña Magdalena) for The Diarist.ph, Doña Magdalena Ysmael was widowed and eventually re-married another Lebanese – Kemal Hemady.

Kemal Hemady, thus, helped Doña Magdalena Hemady develop her estate into what is now known as New Manila, with its old ancestral homes that have not been appreciated and preserved, left to ruins and eventually sold and redeveloped into modern townhouses – history lost to the younger generations.

The only link left is the name of Doña Hemady Street in honor of Doña Magdalena. Hopefully, our lawmakers will not foolishly rename Doña Hemady to honor some other lesser known personality.

New Manila is now emerging as a growth corridor with strong connectivity to Ortigas, Makati, Bonifacio Global City, and beyond via the Skyway.

The location of Alino New Manila allows it to meet diverse hospitality demands, such as medical tourism, visiting families, young professionals, business travelers and long staying guests.

The hotel will offer a range of categories, starting from essential twin, deluxe twin, deluxe queen, premier queen, junior suite, deluxe suite and a premier suite.

Standard in-room provisions include high-speed WiFi, 55-inch TV, coffee and tea setups, microwave and electronic safe.

Additional amenities include a laundrette, outdoor pool, gym and flexible function rooms.

A ground floor, all-day dining outlet, Kutchara, will be open to guests and outside visitors. The restaurant outlet will be led by executive chef Rexsan Abarquez, who hails from Iloilo and has honed his kitchen skills from training with Mandarin Oriental Manila, Makati Shangri-La and Sofitel Philippines Plaza.

Kutchara’s menu offering includes local cuisine classics such as kinilaw na tanigue cured in suka sa niyog and calamansi, to Ilonggo favorite kansi at baka, a beef shank broth soured with the batwan fruit, and a whole inasal na manok marinated in calamansi and lemongrass.

Hopefully, Alino will be able to ensure that Chef Abarquez secures his premium ingredients for the kinilaw and kansi, which I, as an Ilongga, would love to be able to enjoy following my regular check ups at St. Luke’s.

As Alino is still finalizing its food offerings at Kuchara, we suggested that they explore other regional cuisines that are not so easily available in the metropolis, ensuring that they secure the authentic condiments and ingredients to prepare the dishes.

The QC area is well-known for its competitive restaurant scene and good food is key to a hotel’s success.

Alino Hotel, according to Gindap and Elegado, hoteliers with years of local and international experience, will reflect Keyland’s commitment to delivering a service culture defined by malasakit which will differentiate the Alino Hotels brand in a competitive hospitality market.

Alino New Manila is part of the broader strategy of Keyland to diversify into hospitality and lifestyle-driven developments.

Tala marked a new phase of growth with the announcement of its expansion in Latin America that started with the launch of its services in Guatemala.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, it continues to serve the global majority, or the portion of the world’s population who has historically been excluded from accessing financial services, across three continents.

Leveraging AI to deliver financial services to customers here and around the world, the company’s proprietary software Tala in a Box now allows for rapid geographic expansion. This enables Tala to scale its platform across new markets simultaneously, fulfilling its mission to address insufficient access to essential financial products like credit among the global majority.

‘This marks the start of Tala’s next chapter, grounded in the belief that potential exists everywhere and that technology and data can unlock immense value for underserved people and markets,’ said Shivani Siroya, CEO and founder of Tala.

‘Over the past few years, starting in 2020, we’ve built a next generation data engine and proprietary software platform that takes full advantage of Tala’s data moat-billions of data points from a decade of customer relationships across multiple geographies,’ Siroya said.

Championing credit access, financial literacy for Filipinos

Considered as one of its key markets, Tala’s presence continues to grow in the Philippines where it has over 4 million customers. It has disbursed more than 26 million loans totaling to around P129 billion since entering the country in 2017.

While this growth can be attributed to Filipinos becoming more open to using credit, it is also anchored on the increasing positive perception of customers to the impact of financial services to their day-to-day lives.

Tala’s latest Impact Report has revealed that 91% of borrowers in the Philippines felt improvement in their quality of life due to their digital loan, particularly when it comes to affording household expenses and bills, accessing finance and reducing stress over money.

Beyond credit, Tala actively promotes financial literacy through the TALAkayan with Salve Ibañez workshop series and digital content series. Over 1,200 participants across 14 workshop sessions have learned basic financial concepts such as saving, budgeting and investing, and been equipped with knowledge of online credit.

Furthering its commitment, Tala Philippines also partnered with non-profit organization Project PEARLS to conduct an outreach, financial education and a scholarship program in Tondo, Manila, raising further awareness on the importance of financial literacy for the global majority while supporting the needs of partner communities.

‘As Tala continues to expand in the Philippines, we are focused on leveraging our technology and products to meet the diverse needs of our customer base in the Philippines, empowering them to grow and achieve their goals through increased access to credit and financial education. All these are aligned with our mission to bridge the financial inclusion gaps in the country,’ said Moritz Gastl, general manager of Tala Philippines.

Badminton Asia and the Philippine Badminton Association formally launched AirBadminton – the outdoor variation of badminton – in the Philippines yesterday at The Village Sports Club in Parañaque.

The event marked another milestone in the development of badminton across Asia, as the sport continues to evolve to become more inclusive and accessible to communities.

Leading the launch was Badminton Asia senior development manager Thana Arikrishnan, a former national team player from Malaysia, who emphasized how AirBadminton brings the game beyond indoor courts and into open spaces.

‘Compared to traditional badminton, AirBadminton can be played outdoors – on grass, hard courts, or even sand,’ said Arikrishnan. ‘The goal is to make badminton accessible to everyone, regardless of where they are. It’s a faster, more dynamic version of the sport.’

AirBadminton uses the specially designed AirShuttle, which is wind-resistant but still compatible with standard badminton rackets.

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) has strengthened its drive against digital financial crimes with the launch of its Cybersecurity and Fintech Handbook and the renewal of its partnership with GCash.

The event also introduced the Scam Assistance Hub, a project aimed at facilitating the quick and easy filing of scam reports through a simple QR Code. These major initiatives are targeted to complement law enforcement efforts in addressing emerging cyber fraud and scams for more timely and coordinated action.

The PNP-ACG and GCash renewed their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), first signed in 2022, which established a framework for cooperation on cybersecurity awareness, capability-building and information sharing.

This reaffirms the shared commitment of both institutions to handle financial cybercrimes and to strengthen consumer protection amid the continued growth of digital payments.

‘Financial technology continues to evolve, and with it, the methods used by cybercriminals,’ said Miguel Geronilla, Chief Information and Security Officer at GCash.

‘We at GCash are honored to support the PNP-ACG in enhancing the capabilities of law enforcers through education. By sharing fintech-specific use cases, we aim to help build a more informed response force against digital financial threats.’

Supporting cyber defense frontliners across the country

The Cybersecurity and Fintech Handbook was created in partnership with GCash to complement the efforts of the Regional Anti-Cybercrime Unit (RACU) and ACG personnel by outlining key trends and schemes in financial cybercrime.

Specifically, the handbook features modules on cybersecurity frameworks, cybercrime laws, financial investigations, fintech systems and cryptocurrency fundamentals, ensuring officers are better equipped to address today’s digital crime challenges.

‘These initiatives are a collective step forward in our continuing effort to protect Filipinos in the digital space,’ said Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang, director of the PNP-ACG. ‘Through strategic collaborations and timely learning tools, we are building a law enforcement force that is ready to address today’s emerging cyber threats.’

Other key officials present at the ceremonial event were PNP ACG Chief Investigative Officer PCol Jay Guillermo, GCash Chief Information and Security Officer Miguel Geronilla, Public Affairs Manager Mabel Niala and External Affairs Manager Jerome Lantin.

The handbook will be rolled out to regional units via virtual assemblies and video modules, aligning with the PNP’s ongoing modernization strategy and the national government’s National Cybersecurity Plan (NCSP) 2023-2028.

Developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the NCSP sets the policy direction for a secure and resilient cyberspace in the Philippines.

This joint effort also comes on the heels of the recently released Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act (AFASA), a new law passed in July 2024 aimed at curbing online scams and fraudulent financial activities.

The AFASA targets key financial crimes such as social engineering scams and money muling, while also empowering institutions like the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to investigate suspicious financial activities.

The Cybersecurity and Fintech Handbook seeks to help reinforce these regulatory updates by helping frontline police better understand and enforce provisions under AFASA.

Reporting scams made easier via QR

The event also marked the introduction of the Scam Assistance Hub (SAH), a new platform that simplifies scam reporting for the public.

The SAH QR code connects users to the GCash SAH website, a platform where victims of online scams can file police reports, receive assistance, and process documentation for claims under GCash’s Express Send Scam Insurance.

This initiative ensures a more coordinated response between the PNP-ACG and GCash in handling fraud complaints and supporting affected users.

Building a future-ready police force

These efforts complement the PNP-ACG’s broader public education and prevention campaigns designed to build digital literacy among both law enforcement and the general public.

‘Technology will continue to evolve, and criminals will continue to adapt,’ Yang added. ‘These initiatives will help in the long journey of strengthening our cyber defenses. What matters is that we are moving forward together with stronger capabilities, a clearer direction and a deeper resolve.’

The group reminded that while the SAH QR Code is still being prepared for deployment, any incidents of cybercrime and fraud can still be reported via the PNP-ACG’s hotline 1326 or via GCash’s app Help Center or through any of the official customer support channels.

The public may also follow PNP-ACG’s official social media pages for updates on its ongoing efforts to fight cybercrime and promote digital security nationwide.