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A former engineering director at Meta who has testified before Congress about child safety on Instagram told jurors Wednesday at a landmark trial that the company took a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach on kids under 13 on its platforms.

During his second day of testimony, Arturo Béjar said Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being. ‘If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,’ he said.

The trial that began Tuesday in federal court in Oakland, California, pits Meta against the states of California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey and is expected to last about six weeks. The four states were among 29 that sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy-the other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts, including one underway in Tennessee. The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public. It also argues that Meta routinely collects data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent, in violation of federal law.

Meta says users must be at least 13 years old to create an account, in line with the law, called the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA.

‘The attitude in particular on Instagram was ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,” Béjar said in response to a question about his perception of the company’s attitude towards users under 13.

The company has rejected the claims and said evidence at the trial will show its commitment to safety.

‘You will hear over the course of this case a lot of important issues, issues like teen mental health, issues like social media, issues like how teens use social media,’ Meta lawyer Paul Schmidt said Tuesday. ‘Those are important issues, and they’re issues where Meta believes that it has a responsibility. It has a responsibility to act on its own. It has a responsibility to try to work with teens and parents in partnership to try to address those questions.’

Plaintiffs’ witness says safety was an ‘afterthought’

Béjar worked at Facebook from 2009 to 2015, attracting wide attention for his work to combat cyberbullying. He returned from 2019 to 2021 as a contractor to work on safety issues. He testified before Congress in 2023 about social media and the teen mental health crisis, saying that Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, knew about harms Instagram was causing but chose not to make meaningful changes to address them.

In his testimony Wednesday, Béjar said employee performance reviews and compensation for those who worked on user-facing products were mostly focused on user numbers and how long they spend with those products.

‘In that context, safety was an afterthought,’ he said.

The states are seeking changes to user experiences for Facebook and Instagram as well as financial damages, which could include billions of dollars in penalties. In a written statement, the office of California’s attorney general said if Meta loses, the amount of any damages would be set by the court. ‘This case is about stopping Meta from offering a dangerous product to teens, and from lying to teens, families, and the public about the dangerousness of their platforms. The primary remedy under our state consumer protection law is an injunction,’ the statement said.

Béjar walked through Meta features he said were designed for adults and are ‘inherently unsafe for teenagers.’

This includes video autoplay, which can mean teens see videos that may cause them harm even if they don’t click on them; as well as various counters that track how many people liked, viewed or commented on your content or how many followers you have.

Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.

Age verification has been criticized for not going far enough

Despite Meta’s statements that it works to find kids under 13 on its platforms and ban them, Béjar testified that he found ‘tens of thousands’ of kids under 13 on Instagram through his research. He said it was ‘common knowledge’ at the company that such young children were on Instagram.

‘Meta has one of the most sophisticated infrastructures in the world to detect fake accounts,’ he said. But despite that, he added, there were ‘no goals, no metrics’ to detect and check kids’ ages who were suspected to be under 13.

Over the years, Meta has introduced features it says are designed to make the experience safer for young people. But Béjar said these did not work.

LOWER revenue expectations are forcing the Philippines to scale back infrastructure spending, creating a fiscal tradeoff that could weaken growth, complicate efforts to stabilize debt and the sovereign’s ‘BBB’ rating, Fitch Ratings said.

In a commentary, the credit rating agency said reduced revenue projections, which have fallen to around 15.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) over the medium term from around 16.5 percent in last year’s framework, are causing ‘significant adjustments’ in the government’s fiscal plans.

As a result, the government is planning to reduce infrastructure disbursements to roughly 4 percent of GDP, about 1 percentage point lower over the projection period.

‘Weaker public infrastructure spending could weigh on medium-term growth, although the extent to which lower disbursements will affect growth remains unclear,’ Fitch said.

Governance reforms could improve spending efficiency and guard the economic impact of lower infrastructure spending levels, while increased use of public-public partnerships and local government units for infrastructure investment could reduce overall government disbursements, it added.

In April this year, Fitch revised its outlook on the Philippines’ issuer default rating to ‘negative’ from ‘stable’ while affirming the country’s ‘BBB’ sovereign rating due to ‘growing risks’ around the country’s medium-term growth potential.

‘Investment remains well below its pre-pandemic trend; and without a sustained recovery, downside risks to medium-term GDP growth are likely to persist,’ the agency said.

Second-quarter GDP remained slow at 2.3 percent, dragged by investments and capital formation, which both contracted by 9.2 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

‘Slower growth is feeding into the fiscal outlook,’ Fitch said, noting the government’s deficit target of 5.1 percent of GDP in 2027, which was slower than the 4.8 percent deficit forecast in last year’s medium-term fiscal framework.

‘Repeated upward revisions to medium-term deficit targets suggest the government continues to prioritize supporting growth over a faster pace of consolidation, leaving risks tilted towards a more gradual reduction in deficits over the next few years,’ it added.

Fitch said the government has also turned ‘more cautious’ in its growth assumptions and expects medium-term growth to average around 6 percent, although risks are tilted towards weaker outcomes.

The ratings agency also sees general government (GG) debt to GDP to increase slightly in the near term before stabilizing over the medium term.

‘Achieving that outcome will depend considerably on growth performance, investment recovery and the effectiveness of efforts to sustain infrastructure investment,’ it said.

The province of Zambales has declared a state of calamity after sustaining more than P591.98 million in damage to agriculture and infrastructure from the combined effects of the enhanced southwest monsoon, or habagat, and tropical cyclones ‘Luis’ and ‘Maymay’ in the past two weeks.

Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. told BusinessMirror the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution declaring the state of calamity on Wednesday, August 19, upon the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC).

The PDRRMC said heavy habagat rains whipped up by the recent typhoons caused widespread flooding, landslides, soil erosion, disruption of transportation, and damages to houses, agriculture, and critical and lifeline infrastructure, including river dikes and flood-control structures. The disaster also caused the displacement of 5,770 families composed of 17,317 persons, as well as the isolation of residents of Barangay Sta. Fe in San Marcelino town when the bridge connecting the upland barangay was swept away by strong river currents, the council noted.

According to consolidated reports from the Zambales Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), the province sustained more than 22.71 million in damage in agriculture.

The agricultural damages include losses of P11.21 million in rice crops, P8.7 million in corn and other high-value crops, P1.1 million in livestock, P1.39 million in fisheries, P1.34 million in agricultural infrastructure, and P61,500 in farm equipment and machinery.

PDRRMO head Rolex Estella also said that a total of 256 houses were partially damaged while 32 were totally destroyed during heavy rains from the typhoon-induced habagat.

Most of the damaged houses were in Subic town, with 154 showing partial damage and 10 completely wrecked.

Heavy infra losses

Damage to government infrastructure, meanwhile, reached a staggering total of P569.26 million.

In particular, seven sections of river dikes along the Bucao River in Botolan, Zambales, which channels lahar deposits downstream from Mount Pinatubo, were totally destroyed, the Zambales 1st Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways reported.

With a total length of 2,931 linear meters, the destroyed sections cost a total of P293.1 million while total rehabilitation would cost an estimated P728.14 million, the DPWH said.

Six other slope protection projects in the towns of Masinloc, Cabangan, and Botolan were totally damaged, with losses totaling P390.21 million and repair estimated at P966.24 million.

In Subic and San Marcelino towns down south, four river revetment projects collapsed, incurring total damage of P96.85 million, with estimated rehabilitation cost totaling P114 million, the DPWH 2nd Engineering District said.

The PDRRMC said the magnitude and geographic spread of the weather impacts indicated a need for provincial-level intervention.

‘[As] the province continues to experience weather-related threats and the potential for further flooding and landslides, [there is a need for] sustained emergency preparedness, response and recovery operations,’ the council added.

The PDRRMC said the declaration of a state of calamity will strengthen coordination of response, recovery and rehabilitation measures, and enable government offices and local government units to take necessary actions to protect life and property, restore basic services, provide assistance to affected communities, and implement appropriate recovery and rehabilitation programs.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and officials from the provincial government of Davao de Oro conducted the ceremonial signing of a deed of land donation on Monday, August 17.

The land situated in Barangay Pasian, Monkayo, Davao de Oro will be the site of the Group Home for the Elderly. It will be established as the Older Adult Supportive Integrated Services (OASIS) Village, providing residential care and support for abandoned, neglected, and at-risk senior citizens.

Davao de Oro 1st District Representative Maria Carmen Zamora-Mabanglo and Governor Raul Mabanglo represented the provincial government of Davao de Oro as the donor, while Secretary Gatchalian accepted the property donation on behalf of DSWD.

DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez was also present as a witness to the formal signing. (KI)

RATING and Investment Information, Inc. (R and I) affirmed the Philippines’ ‘A-‘ investment-grade credit rating and maintained its ‘stable’ outlook on improving fiscal balance and expectations of sustained economic growth.

The Japanese credit rating agency on Friday announced that it affirmed the sovereign’s Foreign Currency Issuer Rating at ‘A-‘ and the Foreign Currency Short-term Debt at ‘a-1.’

‘R and I’s affirmation of the Philippines’ A- rating and Stable outlook recognizes the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts and the strength of our economic reforms,’ Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go was quoted as saying.

R and I said the fiscal balance has improved as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) and the government debt ratio is likely to ease in the medium term.

The debt ratio, at 63.2 percent in 2025, remains manageable and is expected to decline over the medium term due to the ‘improving’ trend in the fiscal deficit path, R and I said.

‘The government is pursuing fiscal consolidation while balancing economic growth,’ it said. ‘The country has a certain level of debt affordability, given the manageable level of interest payment burden.’

Economic expansion is likewise expected to continue, backed by population growth, infrastructure investment and inflows of foreign direct investment, it added.

However, R and I said this year’s economic growth is ‘highly likely’ to fall below the previous year’s level of 4.4 percent due to slower infrastructure spending affected by stricter validation and governance measures introduced following corruption allegations involving flood control projects.

Despite remittances staying stable amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, R and I said rising energy costs have pushed up the cost of living and resulted in muted private consumption.

‘With the current account deficit and external debt remaining at manageable levels, there is limited concern on the external front,’ the rating agency added.

Stable surplus items, particularly remittances from overseas workers, continue to provide support, while the trade deficit reflects strong domestic investment and business activity, R and I said.

Higher imports of raw materials and intermediate goods for infrastructure projects help in laying the groundwork for future growth, it added.

‘Considering this structure, R and I believes that the present level of current account deficit does not necessarily have negative implications for the assessment of creditworthiness,’ it said.

The country’s foreign exchange reserves are also sufficient relative to imports, while net external debt remains low as a share of GDP, limiting external risks, R and I said.

The debt watcher also cited the stability of the Philippine banking sector as another factor supporting the sovereign’s credit profile.

‘The country’s resilience is supported by a sound banking system, an efficient payments system, and a healthy external position,’ Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said in a statement.

‘The BSP will continue to take a forward-looking and data-driven approach to monetary policy, financial supervision, payments oversight, and external sector management. These efforts help preserve stability and sustain confidence in the Philippine economy,’ Remolona added.

The Philippines’s sovereign credit ratings remain at investment-grade levels, with R and I and Japan Credit Rating Agency affirming their ‘A-‘ ratings.

Other major credit rating agencies have also maintained their investment-grade ratings on the Philippines, among them S and P Global Ratings at ‘BBB+,’ Fitch Ratings at ‘BBB’ and Moody’s Ratings at ‘Baa2.’

‘WE all know TV is dying,’ said Vice Ganda during a press conference marking her partnership with MediaQuest Holdings Inc. at The Lighthouse at Meralco Center.

Under the agreement, Vice Ganda is expected to develop content for TV5, as well as other MediaQuest media and digital platforms.

This officially means that she is now a Kapamilya, a Kapuso, and a Kapatid.

‘She is the Queen of All Networks,’ said MediaQuest chairman Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP).

For Vice Ganda, the signing of the agreement is a healing experience because she admitted was disappointed when It’s Showtime, the daily noontime variety show he hosted with other celebrities, left TV5’s programming lineup in 2023.

‘I admit that I felt hurt at the time, but in this industry, we don’t burn bridges. I eventually said yes because I believed in what they wanted to accomplish.’

Vice Ganda and MediaQuest intend to revive free TV in the country in an era where Filipinos consume more content from digital and streaming platforms.

‘We have the same goal. Our goal is to extend the era of TV, especially in the Philippines. We can only do that if the people involved collaborate and bring together our different capabilities,’ said Vice Ganda.

‘MVP told me, ‘You have what I don’t have, and I have what you don’t have. So why not unite?”

Aside from Vice Ganda and Pangilinan, present at the signing ceremony were Slingshot Studios head for partnerships, people and business development Ranvel Rufino, and MediaQuest Holdings president and CEO Victorico Vargas.

Pangilinan said MediaQuest is offering Vice Ganda several platforms where the actor-comedian can showcase her talents. ‘You have built an exceptional career with your exceptional talents. On your own, you have built a distinctive brand, an audience that is not only nationwide but goes beyond the shores of the Philippines, in a career that very few people in this room can match. This event completes the elevation of Vice Ganda to the title of Queen of All Networks,’ said Pangilinan.

‘We offer to you the many platforms, television studios, streaming services, PLDT and Smart, various platforms that we can scale and reach. We offer something to you, a topic that is bigger, better and different to entertain,’ he added.

Vice Ganda said unity is the key in the effort to keep the era of television alive

‘Pareho lang kami ng goal din eh. Ang goal namin is mapahaba pa ‘yung era ng television, especially sa Pilipinas, at least. We’re only able to do that if we collaborate.’

‘Kailangan nilang magsanib-pwersa. ABS-CBN, GMA, TV5, and other platforms. Kahit ‘yung mga streaming platforms nakaka-collaborate rin nila,’ she said.

No details are available yet about the content but Vice Ganda hinted that it will be fun and funny because he knows that Filipinos want to laugh, if only to forget temporarily the problems they are facing.

EXECUTIVE Secretary Ralph Recto assured students that the Marcos Jr. administration will continue to expand scholarships and educational assistance nationwide to help more Filipinos finish college and secure better opportunities.

Speaking to presidential scholars during his recent visit to Cebu, Recto said financial hardship should not force students to abandon their education.

The executive secretary told the students in Filipino that the President has great confidence in them, which is why they were chosen as scholars.

He relayed the chief executive’s requests: Study hard, finish the course, and when the time comes, use what they have learned to help others.

Under the Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Presidential Scholars Program, five fourth-year college students in every village will receive 20,000 each in financial aid.

This year, 210,000 students in more than 42,000 villages nationwide are expected to benefit from the program.

Each village has a P200,000 allocation from the Presidential Socio-Civic Projects Fund, with P100,000 earmarked for assistance to the five scholars.

Cebu City has 5,330 scholars from its 1,066 barangays.

Recto said the program forms part of the government’s broader effort to expand access to education, from free basic education and tuition in state universities and colleges to scholarships for medicine, science, graduate studies, specialized courses and other fields.

The government official said every scholar who graduates from college represents an investment not only in their individual future, but also in their families and communities.

OMODA and JAECOO Philippines officially introduces the JAECOO J5 HEV and JAECOO J5 EV to the Central Visayas market, giving Cebuano customers two electrified SUV options backed by competitive pricing, intelligent technology, and a limited-time package of ?49,800 in exclusive ownership benefits.

The JAECOO J5 HEV is priced at ?1,179,000, while the JAECOO J5 EV is priced at ?1,469,000 in Cebu. JAECOO J5 HEV: Hybrid Performance Without Range Concerns

Priced at ?1,179,000, the JAECOO J5 HEV is designed for customers who want to experience electrified driving while retaining the convenience and flexibility of a hybrid powertrain.

Powered by JAECOO’s Super Hybrid System (SHS), the J5 HEV combines efficient electrified performance with everyday practicality, making it suitable for both city driving and longer journeys.

Beyond its hybrid powertrain, the J5 HEV features a modern SUV design, intelligent technology, advanced safety features, and a Smart Cockpit designed to provide a more connected and convenient driving experience.

JAECOO J5 EV: Fully Electric Mobility with 461-km Range

For customers ready to make the move to fully electric mobility, the JAECOO J5 EV is priced at ?1,469,000 in Cebu.

The J5 EV delivers a 461-kilometer NEDC-rated driving range, giving drivers the confidence to travel farther on a single charge. Its capability was further demonstrated through a 539.2-kilometer real-world range recorded during an endurance drive observed by the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP).

The J5 EV combines its fully electric powertrain with intelligent technology, modern SUV versatility, advanced safety features, and a Smart Cockpit, providing customers with a more seamless and connected electric driving experience.

More Value with ?49,800 in Exclusive Ownership Benefits

To make ownership even more rewarding, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines is offering a limited-time package with ?49,800 worth of exclusive ownership benefits.

The sales policy includes:

?10,000 Thanksgiving Loyalty Gift – Existing OMODA and JAECOO customers can receive a ?10,000 repurchase incentive when purchasing a new vehicle.

?10,000 Thanksgiving Referral Gift – New customers can receive a ?10,000 referral incentive, while the recommending customer will also receive two complimentary maintenance services.

1 Year Complimentary Preventive Maintenance Service (PMS) – Customers receive one year of complimentary preventive maintenance.

1 Year Roadside Assistance (RAS) – Added support and assistance for greater peace of mind on the road.

3 Years Complimentary Mobile Remote Vehicle Control Service – Customers can enjoy convenient remote vehicle functions through the applicable mobile service.

Complimentary 7kW Wall Charger – J5 EV customers receive a complimentary 7kW wall charger for added convenience in home charging.

The ownership package is designed to provide value beyond the vehicle purchase, covering maintenance, roadside support, connectivity, customer incentives, and home-charging convenience for qualified customers.

Battery Confidence with SOH Warranty

Adding further reassurance for customers, OMODA and JAECOO Philippines offers a Battery State of Health (SOH) Warranty across its full vehicle lineup. The Philippine-first commitment provides free battery replacement if the battery’s State of Health drops below 70% within the applicable warranty period.

This customer-first warranty provides owners with greater peace of mind and added confidence in making the transition to electrified mobility, particularly for customers considering a fully electric vehicle for the first time.

Built for the Future of Everyday Mobility

The JAECOO J5 family gives customers a choice between hybrid and fully electric mobility, depending on their driving needs and lifestyle. With the J5 HEV, customers can enjoy the benefits of electrification without relying solely on charging infrastructure. With the J5 EV, customers can experience fully electric driving with a long driving range, supported by a complimentary 7kW wall charger for convenient home charging.

Both models bring together electrified performance, intelligent technology, safety, comfort, and SUV practicality, while the Smart Cockpit enhances the overall in-car experience.

Now Available for Cebu Customers The JAECOO J5 HEV and J5 EV are being showcased at SM Seaside City Cebu from August 20 to 23, 2026, giving customers the opportunity to see both variants and learn more about their features and ownership benefits.

Public test drives will be available from August 21 to 23, allowing customers to experience the J5 HEV and J5 EV firsthand.

As part of the launch activities, customers can also get a chance to win a Vivo V50 every day from August 20 to 23, while customers who make a full payment may receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab as a special token, subject to applicable terms, conditions, and availability.

With competitive Cebu pricing, two electrified powertrain choices, a ?49,800 ownership benefits package, and added battery protection through the SOH Warranty, the JAECOO J5 HEV and J5 EV offer Cebuano customers greater choice, confidence, and value as electrified mobility continues to gain momentum in the Philippines.

THE Marcos administration may have reached a single-digit poverty rate ahead of its 2028 target, but economists cautioned that the headline improvement may be masking gaps in how poverty and living standards are measured.

On Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that poverty incidence fell to a historic low of 9.7 percent in 2025, equivalent to 11.08 million Filipinos. This was significantly lower than the 15.5 percent recorded in 2023 and 18.1 percent in 2021.

At the household level, poverty incidence declined to 6.4 percent, or 1.90 million families, from 10.9 percent in 2023 and 13.2 percent in 2021.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said reaching the single-digit poverty rate ahead of schedule ‘demonstrates that expanding economic opportunities, complemented by effective social protection, can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.’

However, Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo A. Lanzona Jr. said the poverty threshold used for the 2025 estimates may not accurately capture living conditions because it remains based on an outdated methodology.

‘The ruler used to measure or the poverty threshold seems outdated, and that matters for how much we should trust the number,’ Lanzona told the BusinessMirror.

Based on PSA data, an individual is only considered poor if his or her monthly income falls below the per capita poverty threshold of P2,927 per month, equivalent to P35,121 annually.

For a family of five, the poverty threshold is at P14,634 per month.

These thresholds were about 5.5 percent higher than the P2,775 monthly per capita threshold and P13,873 monthly threshold for a family of five in 2023.

Lanzona pointed out that the PSA had earlier acknowledged concerns over the food component used in setting the poverty threshold, particularly the roughly P21 per-meal budget that critics said was too low to adequately meet basic nutritional needs.

The agency has been working on a revised methodology, but this has yet to be incorporated into the latest poverty estimates.

‘The 5.5-percent increase we’re seeing is consistent with the old, admittedly-too-low threshold, not the corrected one,’ he emphasized.

Living standards skewed

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas raised a related concern, noting that the poverty measure does not provide a broad-based picture of people’s living standards.

‘One criticism of this measure is it’s all based on nominal income but leaves out social indicators like child nutritional status and adult life expectancy,’ Canlas told the BusinessMirror.

He explained that the PSA’s poverty metric is based on a menu designed to meet minimum caloric requirements, with certain items deemed non-essential excluded from the basket.

This means the measure primarily determines whether household income is sufficient to meet a prescribed set of basic food and non-food needs, rather than capturing broader indicators of well-being.

Tougher road ahead

The economists also acknowledged a tougher road ahead for the Marcos administration in sustaining the ‘gains’ from poverty reduction.

Canlas warned that the slowdown in gross domestic product in recent quarters, alongside elevated inflation, could put these gains at risk.

‘As income inequality persists, the poor are likely to experience sharper income declines and slip further into poverty,’ he said.

PSA data showed that the economy expanded by 2.6 percent in the first half of 2026, less than half the 5.4-percent growth recorded in the same period last year.

Inflation, meanwhile, averaged 5 percent in the first seven months of 2026, significantly higher than the 1.7 percent recorded in the same period last year.

Canlas said a further slowdown in the second half could stall poverty reduction, particularly as recent typhoons and flooding threaten to weigh further on economic activity.

He added that delays in implementing the minimum wage increase in the National Capital Region could also leave low-income workers at a disadvantage.

Lanzona, for his part, said these pressures highlight the importance of viewing recent poverty data with caution.

‘The poverty rate looks good right now for two reasons that have nothing to do with today’s economy: it reflects last year’s conditions, and it’s measured against a bar that was already considered too low even before this year’s price shocks even started,’ he said.

The Ateneo economist emphasized that the achievement of a single-digit poverty rate remains reversible, as the current economic squeeze has yet to show up in official poverty data.

‘Calling this a durable win is premature on two counts: the current economic squeeze isn’t captured yet, and whenever the threshold finally gets the update PSA itself says it needs, poverty could look meaningfully worse overnight-not because people got poorer, but because we started measuring more honestly,’ he added.

Poverty gains unlikely to reverse

Secretary Balisacan, however, said the gains in poverty reduction are unlikely to be reversed despite the more challenging economic environment this year.

‘Current developments may slow the pace of poverty reduction, but early indications do not point to a reversal of the gains we have achieved,’ he said.

He said the government’s priority is to keep families that have moved out of poverty from falling back below the threshold.

Sustaining the gains, Balisacan added, will require a recovery in economic growth, stronger investment and productivity, continued job creation, and upskilling and reskilling for emerging sectors.

Foods and drinks linked to higher Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in older adults center on ultra-processed items, sugary beverages, processed meats, excess saturated fats, and alcohol. Emerging research associates these with accelerated cognitive decline through inflammation, insulin resistance, vascular damage, oxidative stress, and other pathways. While diet is one modifiable factor among many (genetics, exercise, sleep, and vascular health also matter), prospective studies and reviews consistently highlight patterns that raise risk, particularly in mid-to-late life.

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, involves progressive brain changes including amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and neuronal loss. Diet influences these processes over decades. Protective patterns such as the Mediterranean, DASH, and especially MIND diets- emphasizing vegetables (particularly leafy greens), berries, nuts, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and legumes while limiting certain foods-are linked to lower risk. The inverse points to the foods and drinks that appear harmful.

Ultra-processed foods and processed meats

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs)-industrially formulated products high in additives, refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, sugar, and salt, with little whole-food content-stand out as a major concern. These include packaged snacks, ready meals, sugary cereals, soft drinks, and processed meats. Multiple cohort studies and systematic reviews link higher UPF intake to elevated dementia and cognitive impairment risk.

A 2026 Harvard-led analysis of more than 5,300 U.S. adults over 50 (Health and Retirement Study data, average 9-year follow-up) found those in the highest UPF consumption group had a 58 percent higher risk of dementia and 46 percent higher risk of mild cognitive impairment compared with the lowest group. Processed meats contributed particularly strongly. Minimally processed foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unprocessed meats) showed the opposite protective association.

Virginia Tech researchers analyzing data from about 4,750 adults aged 55+ reported that extra daily servings of ultra-processed animal products raised cognitive impairment risk by about 17 percent, while sugar-sweetened beverages raised it by about 6 percent. Other UPF categories showed weaker or null links in that analysis.

Processed red meats (hot dogs, bacon, sausage, deli meats, salami) specifically elevate risk. Preliminary research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, tracking over 130,000 U.S. adults for up to 43 years, found roughly two servings of processed red meat per week associated with a 14 percent higher dementia risk versus fewer than three servings per month. Unprocessed red meat showed weaker or inconsistent links. A systematic review noted higher processed meat intake associated with greater Alzheimer’s incidence.

Sugary and artificially sweetened beverages

Sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, sugary teas, fruit drinks) repeatedly appear as offenders. High fructose intake can impair learning and memory in animal models by disrupting insulin signaling and synaptic plasticity in the brain; omega-3s may partially counteract this. Human data link higher free sugar from beverages (especially soda/fruit drinks) to increased dementia risk in linear or near-linear fashion in large cohorts such as UK Biobank.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohorts found higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake associated with a pooled relative risk of about 1.49 for Alzheimer’s disease. Artificially sweetened beverages also showed a positive association in some analyses, though findings are mixed and not universal across all late-life consumption studies. Excess sugar promotes insulin resistance (‘type 3 diabetes’ framing of Alzheimer’s in some literature), inflammation, and vascular damage.

Saturated fats, fried foods, and related items

Diets high in saturated fats (from fatty red meats, full-fat dairy in excess, butter, certain processed items) and fried/fast foods are flagged in risk models and MIND diet guidance. Older ecological and observational data linked high saturated and total fat intake to higher dementia risk. Trans fats have been particularly concerning. Fried and fast foods contribute to UPF load, inflammation, and poorer vascular health, which is tightly tied to cognitive outcomes.

Alcohol

Recent large-scale evidence challenges earlier observational suggestions of benefit from light drinking. Genetic (Mendelian randomization) analyses of data involving millions of people, including UK Biobank participants, indicate a dose-dependent increase in dementia risk with greater alcohol consumption and no clear protective effect at low levels. Observational U-shaped curves may partly reflect reverse causation (people reducing intake after early cognitive changes) or confounding. Heavy drinking and alcohol use disorder clearly elevate risk; any intake appears non-protective in the genetic data.

Expert perspectives and resources

Neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter emphasizes ultra-processed foods as a primary dietary driver, citing data linking each additional daily UPF serving to roughly 13 percent higher Alzheimer’s risk in some analyses, and frames the disease as heavily metabolic and inflammatory. He discusses these topics in interviews and writings on microglia, insulin resistance, and lifestyle.

Dr. William Li has highlighted how saturated and trans fats can raise Alzheimer’s risk (citing figures around 39 percent to 48 percent in relevant research contexts) while omega-3s and certain dietary patterns lower it, discussing brain vessel health and inflammation in videos. Dr. Michael Greger stresses plant-forward patterns that reduce saturated fat, processed meats, and added sugars, noting associations with substantially lower dementia rates in observational data. Cleveland Clinic clinicians and MIND diet researchers routinely advise limiting the categories above in favor of whole, nutrient-dense foods.

Useful expert videos include discussions by Dr. William Li on fats and dementia risk, Dr. Michael Greger on plant-based approaches, Dr. David Perlmutter on UPFs and metabolic brain health, and shorter explainers from institutions like Cleveland Clinic on diet and Alzheimer’s prevention.

Practical implications

These associations are primarily observational; randomized trials of long-term diet for Alzheimer’s outcomes are limited, and residual confounding is possible. Still, the consistency across large cohorts, dose-response patterns in several studies, biological plausibility, and alignment with cardiovascular and metabolic research support caution. For older adults and those at elevated risk, reducing UPFs (especially processed meats and sugary drinks), limiting excess saturated fat and fried foods, moderating or avoiding alcohol, and shifting toward MIND/Mediterranean-style eating offers a low-risk strategy that also benefits heart health, weight, and overall vitality.

Small, sustained changes- swapping a daily soda for water or unsweetened tea, choosing whole-food proteins over processed meats, cooking with olive oil, and filling half the plate with vegetables-accumulate. Diet is powerful but works best alongside physical activity, cognitive engagement, sleep, social connection, and vascular risk management. The evidence increasingly shows that what older adults (and those approaching older age) eat and drink can meaningfully influence the trajectory of brain aging.