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THE Philippine Embassy in Beijing has advised Filipinos to comply with China’s new immigration regulation, State Council Decree No. 841, which will take effect on September 15, 2026.

In its August 24 advisory, the Embassy stressed that the decree does not abolish existing visa categories or restrict legitimate travel.

Instead, it reinforces requirements that visa purposes must match actual activities, that all documents are authentic, and that invitation letter issuers and visa agencies are legally accountable.

A valid visa will not necessarily guarantee admission, as border authorities retain the power to assess whether a traveler meets China’s entry requirements.

Violations could lead to rejection of applications, denial of entry or exit, fines, or bans lasting several years.

China’s State Council Decree No. 841, formally titled the Regulations of the State Council on Exit and Entry Administration, was approved on June 29 and promulgated on July 22, 2026.

It applies to mainland China’s immigration system only. Hong Kong and Macau maintain their own immigration laws, visa categories, and border-control procedures.

This means the decree governs the mainland side of the journey: entry or exit through a mainland airport or land checkpoint is subject to the new rules, while admission into Hong Kong or Macau is decided under those territories’ separate immigration systems.

The regulation introduces clearer grounds for denying foreign nationals’ entry.

Visa or immigration authorities may bar a person for one to five years if false materials are submitted or false statements are made during a visa application abroad or at a Chinese border checkpoint.

The same maximum applies to foreigners punished for obstructing border administration or penalized for fraudulently obtaining documents or crossing illegally.

One of the most consequential provisions is its link to Beijing’s sanctions and economic-security measures.

Under Decree No. 841, foreigners placed on China’s Countermeasure List, Unreliable Entity List or Malicious Entity List-or otherwise subjected to legally authorized countermeasures-may be denied visas or refused entry when the underlying decision calls for such restrictions.

The official explanation says the rule is intended to strengthen China’s legal response to foreign sanctions, interference and what Beijing describes as ‘long-arm jurisdiction.’

The measure does not automatically bar every employee of a listed company.

Instead, it creates a formal link between sanctions designations and immigration controls, potentially exposing designated individuals and relevant personnel to visa denial, entry bans or other immigration consequences.

Officials and legal experts also emphasize that the decree is an enforcement measure, not a wholesale rewrite of China’s visa categories.

It does not abolish visa-free arrangements, create a universal visa requirement, or automatically bar employees of companies targeted by Chinese measures.

Instead, it gives authorities more explicit grounds to scrutinize and reject applications or deny entry where a traveler’s documents, stated purpose or immigration history raise concerns.

There are about 12,000 Filipinos living in mainland cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xiamen, while 140,000 Filipinos reside in Hong Kong and 30,000 in Macau, mostly employed in domestic work, hospitality and construction.

Tourism flows are also significant, with more than 1.19 million Filipino tourists visiting Hong Kong and 1.16 million traveling to Macau in 2024.

The Embassy assured that legitimate travel remains permitted but urged Filipinos to keep their visa category, invitation letters and actual activities consistent, and to consult the Embassy or China’s National Immigration Administration hotline (12367) for guidance.

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is expanding its No Co-Payment Policy to more private hospitals, with St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City (SLMC-GC) committing 53 beds for eligible patients.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Beverly C. Ho and SLMC-GC President and CEO Dr. Dennis P. Serrano on Tuesday.

It was witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who encouraged more hospitals to partner with PhilHealth on similar undertakings.

The agreement will enable PhilHealth members to access inpatient benefit packages at SLMC-GC without additional out-of-pocket payments under the state insurer’s No Co-Payment Policy or No Balance Billing (NBB) program.

The hospital will also provide assistance to PhilHealth members to navigate their benefits, complete requirements and process the necessary documentation.

‘May this partnership be just the beginning, and that the rest of St. Luke’s network, as well as other private hospitals, follow suit and find this partnership worth emulating,’ Ho said during the signing ceremony.

SLMC-GC Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Director Dr. Anthony R. Perez said the hospital is prepared to accommodate NBB patients, as the facility will distribute the beds across different floors and room configurations instead of placing beneficiaries in a single charity ward.

‘We intend to provide this particular subset of patients the same care given to our paying patients,’ Perez said in a separate media briefing.

Currently, the agreement covers SLMC-GC in Bonifacio Global City. Perez said the hospital’s branch along E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City will also soon offer beds for NBB patients.

Administration’s commitment

‘This administration remains committed to making quality health care accessible and affordable to more Filipinos,’ President Marcos said during the ceremony.

‘But we in government cannot do this alone, and that is why we welcome the private sector’s participation in helping us deliver better health outcomes and provide much-needed relief to our patients and their families,’ he added.

Beyond partnerships with private hospitals, Marcos said the government is also strengthening its programs that help reduce the financial burden of medical care, such as through Zero Balance Billing in hospitals under the supervision of the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH also offers the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program, while PhilHealth provides free consultation, laboratory tests and medicines through its ‘Yaman ng Kalusugan Program’ or Yakap.

Marcos urged other private hospitals to also partner with PhilHealth so they can make their medical services accessible to more Filipinos through the government’s No Co-Payment Policy.

Under the MOA, St. Luke’s will initially provide 53 beds for PhilHealth members, which will require specialized treatments through the No Co-Payment Policy of the government.

‘By joining this effort, St. Luke’s also sends an important message: that quality care in leading private hospitals can be made more accessible to qualified PhilHealth members, and that both government and the private sector have a role in making Universal Health Care work,’ Marcos said in his statement after the MOA signing event.

‘We encourage more hospitals across the country to support PhilHealth in advancing Universal Health Care by embracing the No Co-Payment Policy. Together, let us ensure that no Filipino is denied the care that they need only because of financial hardship,’ Marcos said.

‘These are the new initiatives we are undertaking to further expand the support we provide to our patients and to strengthen and improve our healthcare system, so that we can help more people and ultimately achieve the universal healthcare we aspire to,’ he added.

The following hospitals have already expressed their support for the program: Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, and The Medical City Ortigas.

‘We started with St. Luke’s, and we will expand this further so that all our facilities-our healthcare facilities-are truly included in our programs,’ he added.

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defended its move to accept government-blocked Binance Holdings Inc. as a global crypto asset exchange partner in the agency’s regulatory sandbox.

SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said admitting Binance in the sandbox does not mean that the business may happen outright.

‘We should not close our minds to innovation. In fact, my principle is we do not approve innovation only because it is new, neither do we reject it because it is unfamiliar. I think we are on the verge of global innovation,’ Lim said.

Binance’s platform as been geoblocked by the National Telecommunications Commission and removed from major app stores under orders from the SEC in 2023

The SEC in 2024 has identified Binance and concluded that the public’s continued access to these websites or apps poses a threat to the security of the funds of investing Filipinos.

In May, however, the SEC approved BlockShoals Technologies Inc. to kickstart the testing of its financial products and services under the agency’s regulatory sandbox.

Its model allows Philippine-based users to access selected products and services offered through its global virtual asset service provider partner.

Upon successful integration with its virtual asset service provider (VASP), BlockShoals will proceed with the implementation of its approved testing plan, including user onboarding through its partner, Binance.

Both Binance and Blackshoals do not hold a VASP license from the central bank.

SEC Commissioner Rogelio V. Quevedo said being included in the sandbox does not cure the penalties that will be imposed on a company that has committed violations against the securities regulations code.

‘Being in the sandbox is not an excuse, nor is it the highway, to be approved already by the SEC. It is just there so that the SEC can properly evaluate,’ Quevedo said. ‘I can also say that to conduct testing, I cannot agree that we will open the system, because abuses might be committed while it is being tested.’

‘The sandbox is not an excuse to get on the road to approval by the SEC. It is not because you are in the sandbox that you will continue to be approved by the SEC. There are still a lot of processes that it will go through,’ he added.

Lim said even in mature markets like Singapore, it takes quite a while-about two years-before one can graduate in the sandbox.

He added that another market innovation is the tokenization of the shares in stock to let in as many people as possible into the trade.

In crypto, tokens are digital asset built on top of an existing blockchain platform. Unlike coins, which operate on their own native blockchain, tokens can represent anything from a stake in a project to a specific utility inside a digital ecosystem

‘There are a lot of shares with high value. So, tokenize it. Unitize it, right? That can generate more market participants. So, let’s keep an open mind to innovation,’ Lim said.

THE proposed Pax Silica hub in New Clark City will test whether the government can speed up investment processing without weakening legal, environmental and social safeguards, the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) said.

ARTA said streamlining government procedures should focus on reducing processing times, compliance costs and inter-agency bottlenecks, but should not mean bypassing statutory requirements or limiting public participation.

‘ARTA is actively collaborating with regulatory agencies across the semiconductor ecosystem to systematically optimize processing times, compliance costs, and inter-agency procedures,’ the agency said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘The Pax Silica initiative provides a key platform to advance this agenda through coordinated and predictable governance,’ it added.

The statement comes as the proposed development faces scrutiny over its potential impact on water resources, communities and the country’s exposure to foreign interests.

Malacañang said earlier the project would remain subject to existing laws and environmental requirements, including measures to prevent the displacement of communities without appropriate safeguards.

Pax Silica covers about 1,600 hectares in New Clark City and is envisioned as an advanced manufacturing complex for semiconductor production, including wafer fabrication, chip design and critical minerals processing.

The project is intended to focus on higher-value semiconductor manufacturing and related activities that require significant capital investment.

It has been projected to attract between $40 billion and $70 billion in domestic and foreign investments and create jobs for engineers, researchers, computer science professionals and skilled technical workers, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said.

Further, under the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 (Republic Act 11032), Arta is tasked with helping improve government service delivery and reduce regulatory burdens.

The pace of approvals, however, remains separate from the actual development timeline.

BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua Bingcang earlier said site development could begin in three to five years, initially covering about 500 hectares of the proposed 1,620-hectare site. Full development is expected to take place over about 30 years.

Arta said it would continue working with regulators, local governments and private-sector stakeholders to streamline procedures for the project while keeping regulatory requirements in place.

Military amputees and war veterans in Ukraine marked Independence Day on Monday by finishing a grueling endurance race that took them more than 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) around the country.

At a lake outside the capital, Kyiv, athletes removed their prosthetics and pulled on wetsuits to complete on the closing day of the weeklong event, with some needing help to get into the water.

Known as Iron Week, the competition is led by three-time Olympic triathlete Danylo Sapunov, who supports veterans as the country endures more than four years of war since Russia’s full-scale invasion. ‘This is not a competition. There is no winner, and it does not matter who swims faster,’ Sapunov said as athletes gathered at the lake. ‘The important thing is to participate and unite as one.’

Ukraine is marking the anniversary of its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union as European leaders traveled to Kyiv to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for official celebrations.

The amputee athletes completed seven consecutive days of competition – swimming, cycling and distance running – while traveling around Ukraine, including through war-torn cities in the east.

Yevhenii Lakhnenko, a 46-year-old army serviceman who had his right arm and left leg amputated after being wounded last October, said swimming had been central to his recovery.

‘I am finishing my recovery and will get back in the ranks,’ he said. ‘I do not think there is another country in the world as strong as Ukraine. Only our people are capable of doing what we are doing.’

Maksym Yuzviak, 35, a strike-drone operator who lost both legs in January 2025, said Ukraine’s independence rested on the actions of ordinary people.

‘Independence is about the people,’ he said. ‘People who are ready to take responsibility and who, as they say, are capable of taking action.’

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) authorized the release of P1 billion to the University of the Philippines (UP) System to boost the disaster prevention capabilities of Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

A statement issued by the DBM on Monday read that the funding, chargeable against UP’s built-in appropriation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, will scale up Project Noah’s flood forecasting powered by artificial intelligence (AI), real-time hazard monitoring and early warning systems.

Of the P1-billion allocation, P935 million is earmarked for research and development services, while the remaining P65 million is allotted to general management, supervision and operational support.

The DBM said the funding will bankroll the procurement and deployment of critical information and communications technology (ICT), digital and scientific equipment and the recruitment of highly specialized technical personnel.

‘This P1-billion investment in Project Noah is an investment in prevention. We are putting science, AI, and real-time hazard information to work so government can act earlier, communities can prepare better, and more Filipino lives and livelihoods can be protected,’ Budget Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon was quoted as saying.

‘The best disaster management is when we are able to prevent disasters from becoming a catastrophe. Every peso we invest in better forecasting and preparedness can help save lives, protect livelihoods, and avoid far greater losses later on,’ he added.

Project Noah, managed by the UP Resilience Institute, advances disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation and mitigation through research, development and extension services.

The program generates real-time hazard assessments, predictive flood scenarios, and science-based information by utilizing AI-enhanced modeling, light detection and ranging mapping, data analytics and other digital technologies.

The project helps national government agencies and local governments make faster and better-informed decisions before and during emergencies.

In the past, the DBM and UP Noah collaborated to incorporate disaster risk reduction techniques into the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation (Project Dime), which assisted in determining how vulnerable and resilient government infrastructure projects were to natural disasters.

THE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) on Tuesday placed the Visayas power grid on red alert from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and yellow alert from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Since the start of the year, the yellow alert has been raised 86 times while the red alert was raised 21 times for the Visayas power grid.

A red alert is issued when power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

Available capacity at the Visayas stood at 2,412 megawatts (MW) while peak demand reached 2,570 MW.

There are 10 power plants are on forced outage this month, one plant since July, three plants since June, seven plants since May, one plant since March, three plants since 2025, two plants since 2024, two plants since 2023, and one plant since 2021, while 13 plants are running on derated capacities, for a total of 904.5 MW unavailable to the grid.

‘The Visayas grid continues to experience tight supply conditions. From our coordination with the industry, we expect major power plants to return to service soon,’ said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.

TVI Unit 2 (169MW) and Kepco SPC Power Corp. (105MW) are expected to return to service within the week, followed by TVI Unit 1 (169MW) and Cebu Energy Development Corp. Unit 1 (135MW) in the coming weeks of September, providing additional capacity.

Garin said the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) will help reduce red and yellow alerts in Visayas. ‘We also have mandated the NGCP to install about 250 megawatts of batteries… We have instructed them to connect the four power plants of batteries located in Iloilo, Negros, Cebu, and Leyte so that everything is balanced… at the minimum, 50 percent less yellow and red alerts will be in the Visayas,’ she said.

These BESS are located in Leyte, Cebu, Panay, and Negros.

‘We could easily address, reduce the yellow and red alerts by installing battery energy storage system. But, in the meantime, we are continuously studying if our alert levels will continue then we have to commission as well the liquid fuels that can be easily deployed,’ Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said.

At the same time, the agency is closely monitoring the developments of committed new power projects in the country.

‘We have 48 projects that are already completed, including 11 BESS with a capacity of 1,846MW… as far as what is the closest we can complete, we are looking at the 25 major power projects which we are closely monitoring. In the end, we are still looking at 10,000 MW by end of 2030,’ added Marasigan.

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), committing to further align its business practices with globally recognized principles on human rights, labor, environmental responsibility, and anti-corruption.

The UNGC is the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, bringing together companies and organizations committed to responsible business practices and advancing sustainable development.

As a participant, Maynilad will further integrate the UNGC principles into its business strategies, operations, risk management, and decision-making, and report annually on its progress through the UNGC’s Communication on Progress (CoP).

‘Joining the UN Global Compact gives us a globally recognized framework to further strengthen how we integrate environmental, social, and governance considerations into the way we operate and make decisions. As a water and wastewater utility, we have a direct responsibility to the communities we serve and the environment in which we operate,’ said Maynilad Chief Sustainability Officer Atty. Roel S. Espiritu.

Maynilad’s existing sustainability initiatives include expanding access to reliable water and wastewater services, investing in water-source diversification and climate resilience, and advancing circular economy practices through its NEW WATER program, which treats used water for reuse as an alternative water source. Its other initiatives include reducing non-revenue water and environmental impacts, expanding sewerage and sanitation services, and promoting employee health, safety, and development.

Participation in the UNGC will also provide Maynilad access to knowledge-sharing and learning opportunities with organizations pursuing similar sustainability goals, supporting the company’s efforts to continuously strengthen its ESG programs and practices.

Maynilad operates the largest water concession by population served within a single concession area in the Philippines. It is a concessionaire of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System for the West Zone of the Greater Manila Area, covering portions of Manila, Quezon City and Makati; the cities of Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon; and the cities of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the municipalities of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite Province.

Brand Protection Bootcamp equips businesses with practical tools and guidance to strengthen intellectual property protection in e-commerce

As the Philippine digital economy continues to grow, protecting intellectual property (IP) has become increasingly important to sustaining business confidence. Valued at P2.74 trillion and contributing nearly 10 percent of the national GDP, the digital economy continues to create new opportunities for businesses, with e-commerce accounting for over 32 percent of the sector and supporting over 75 percent of digital economy jobs.

Against this backdrop, Shopee Philippines recently held its Brand Protection Bootcamp, bringing together representatives from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), brand owners, and industry partners to share practical approaches to protecting IP in today’s digital marketplace.

The bootcamp combined practical demonstrations with discussions on emerging IP challenges in e-commerce. Participants received a walkthrough of Shopee’s Brand Portal, a self-service platform that enables rights holders to report suspected IP infringements through a structured process, and joined a panel discussion on how businesses, platforms, and government each contribute to strengthening trust across the e-commerce environment.

In a keynote speech, IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Policy, Legal Affairs and External Relations Nathaniel Arevalo emphasized that effective IP protection and enforcement must move from a whole-of-government to a whole-of-society approach. ‘When businesses know their brands and innovations can be protected, they are more willing to invest, expand, and bring new ideas to market. This requires both a strong government policy framework for IP protection and rights holders who actively use available mechanisms to safeguard their IP, strengthen consumer trust, and protect their competitive edge,’ explained Arevalo.

Meanwhile, for many brand owners, protecting intellectual property extends beyond addressing suspected counterfeit listings. It is about safeguarding the years of investment, innovation, and trust they have built with customers.

‘Building a brand takes years of hard work, investment, and constant improvement. Seeing someone copy your products is frustrating because they’re benefiting from work they never had to do,’ said Atty. Kristian Nico C. Acosta, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Cosmic Technologies, Inc. (CTI) Group, which operates the Pure Living brand. ‘Every product and every customer matters. Having practical tools to help protect our brand gives us peace of mind and allows us to focus on improving our products and serving our customers,’ he added.

The bootcamp reflects Shopee’s broader efforts to strengthen trust within the e-commerce landscape by equipping rights holders with practical tools while reinforcing platform safeguards. Alongside resources such as the Brand Portal, Shopee continues to enhance proactive detection capabilities, strengthen seller accountability measures, and work closely with brands, industry partners, and government agencies to address IP infringement.

These efforts build on Shopee’s longstanding collaboration with IPOPHL through the E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which Shopee joined as one of the original signatories in 2021. Since then, Shopee has participated in annual reviews, shared best practices with fellow signatories, and worked alongside government agencies and brand owners to strengthen online IP protection and support the MOU’s implementation.

‘E-commerce is no longer just a sales channel. It is where brands are discovered, customer relationships are built, and business reputations are earned,’ said Jack Ng, Head of Commercial, Shopee Philippines. ‘As more businesses establish an online presence, protecting their IP becomes increasingly important. Through initiatives like the Brand Protection Bootcamp and our continued collaboration with our government partners, we want to equip businesses with practical knowledge and tools to better protect what they have worked hard to build.’

Shopee will continue working with IPOPHL, brand owners, and industry partners to strengthen IP protection and foster a trusted digital marketplace where legitimate businesses of all sizes can continue to grow.

The Philippine automotive market struggled to entice consumers to purchase new cars in January to July mainly due to geopolitical tensions, but its performance in the previous month gave the sector a much-needed shot in the arm.

Data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) showed that vehicle sales reached 241,725 units in the seven-month period, down 10.2 percent from 269,207 units a year earlier.

Car companies heaved a sigh of relief in July, however, as Campi-TMA members sold 37,319 vehicles during the month, just a tad below the 38,295 units recorded in July 2025 and 0.6 percent higher than June’s 37,079 units.

‘With this…growth, the industry is riding on a good momentum. We are hopeful that the positive trend will continue for the remainder of the year,’ Campi President Jose Maria Atienza said.

Despite the July improvement, most vehicle categories recorded weaker sales compared with last year. Passenger car sales fell 11 percent to 47,856 units from 53,767 units. The segment accounted for 19.8 percent of total industry sales.

Sales of commercial vehicles, which accounted for 80.20 percent of the market, declined 10 percent to 193,869 units from 215,440 units.

Within the commercial vehicle segment, Asian utility vehicles and multipurpose vehicles posted a 7.9-percent drop to 43,706 units from 47,452 units. Light commercial vehicles slid 10.4 percent to 144,652 units from 161,388 units.

Light-duty trucks and buses plunged 14.2 percent to 3,388 units from 3,948 units, while medium-duty trucks and buses dropped 12.3 percent to 1,770 units from 2,019 units.

Heavy-duty trucks and buses saw the sharpest contraction, with sales plunging 44.2 percent to 353 units from 633 units a year earlier.

Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. led Campi-TMA member brands in July with 17,797 units. Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. followed with 6,271 units, while Suzuki Philippines Inc. recorded 1,689 units.

Electric performance

The clearer shift in the market was in electrified vehicles (xEVs), with sales continuing to expand rapidly even as the overall market remained below last year’s level.

Sales of xEVs-covering battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs)-reached 38,286 units in January to July, 136.4 percent higher than the 16,195 units sold in the same period last year.

Their share of total industry sales consequently more than doubled to 15.84 percent from 6.02 percent.

July alone accounted for 7,086 xEV sales, up 161.8 percent from 2,707 units a year earlier and 3.6 percent higher than June’s 6,843 units.

Atienza said xEVs accounted for 29.5 percent of the market in July, up 18 percentage points from the same month last year.

‘The shift to electrification continues to accelerate, with xEVs accounting for 29.5 percent of the market last July. This is up 18 points from same month last year,’ he said.

HEVs remained the largest electrified-vehicle segment for the seven-month period, with sales rising 55.9 percent to 20,716 units from 13,290 units.

BEV sales, meanwhile, jumped 300.3 percent to 10,476 units from 2,617 units, while PHEV sales surged 2,363.2 percent to 7,094 units from just 288 units.

For July alone, HEVs accounted for 41.83 percent of xEV sales, followed by BEVs at 35.56 percent and PHEVs at 22.61 percent.

The figures cover BEVs, HEVs and PHEVs recognized by the Department of Energy as of August 10.