Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

PARIS Olympian gymnast Aleah Finnegan, former skateboard star Margielyn Didal and even Eumir Felix Marcial won’t be in Nagoya but Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino believes Team Philippines will have enough potential gold medalists in the 20th Asian Games.

‘There are names who won’t be competing in next month’s Asian Games because of many reasons, but it opens the door for many athletes to show what they got,’ said Tolentino on Tuesday after sealing a partnership with Bilyonaryo News Channel (BNC) the ‘POC Phil Olympic Hour’ program on the platform that opens on October 10.

‘We will miss some athletes, but we can get medals from the new ones,’ Tolentino said. ‘I’m optimistic that we can match and surpass our four gold medals [plus two silvers and five bronzes] in Hangzhou four years ago.’

Jakarta 2018 Asian Games gold medalist Didal is injured and so is Finnegan, gold medalist in last year’s Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok.

Marcial, bronze medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver medalist at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, announced that his eighth professional fight against American Omar Ulises Huerta is scheduled on the same day of the opening ceremony of the Asian Games on September 19.

Paris 2024 double gold medalist gymnast Carlos Yulo and brother Karl Eldrew, Asian Games and Asian record holder pole vaulter EJ Obiena, tennis star Alex Eala and Olympic medalist boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Aira Villegas tops the list of gold medal potentials.

Team Philippines is also pinning hopes on rising skateboarding ace Mazel Paris Alegado, as well as the esports bets who will be among the 443 athletes the country is fielding in 38 sports in Aichi and Nagoya.

Tolentino and BNC SVP for Marketing and Sales Maria Fatima Baylon and BNC SVP for News and Current Affairs Chair Favila, meanwhile, signed the contracts for the POC program that will air from 11 a.m. to 12 noon every Saturday starting October 10.

For families looking at commercial property as a long-term investment, lasting value is closely tied to the economic activity around it. Beyond location, what matters is the strength of the businesses, workforce, infrastructure, and daily activity that create sustained demand and support the asset over time.

At LIMA Estate, that economic base is already established. More than 200 foreign and domestic manufacturers and over 75,000 employees generate a steady flow of business and daily activity across the estate, creating demand that extends beyond industrial operations. Biz Hub at LIMA Estate brings commercial activity into the center of that economy, creating space for businesses to serve the companies, employees and communities that make up the estate.

‘LIMA Estate has significantly evolved from its original industrial purpose, and that evolution has created new demand within the estate,’ shared Rafael Fernandez de Mesa, President and CEO of Aboitiz Economic Estates and Aboitiz Land. ‘Biz Hub at LIMA Estate was the natural next step in the masterplan, creating the commercial district the community benefits from today in response to an ecosystem that has already grown around our industrial base.’

Industrial activity creates economic value that extends beyond the factory floor. As companies operate, they bring employees, suppliers and business activity into the estate, creating demand for the everyday needs of a growing business and residential community.

LIMA Estate functions as a self-sustaining economic system, where industry, services, and community converge within a single operating environment.

Biz Hub at LIMA Estate is positioned within this existing flow of economic activity. Its commercial district gives businesses a place to serve the companies, employees and communities that have already made LIMA Estate part of their daily lives.

This is part of the estate’s broader evolution into a business and community destination outside Metro Manila, where industrial activity provides the economic base for a wider range of commercial uses.

LIMA Estate’s industrial base is supported by a growing ecosystem around work, learning, living, and business. Residential communities such as The Villages at LIMA Estate, Campo Verde, and Summer Hills sit close to employment centers, while Batangas State University-LIMA Campus and Edustria help develop talent for the businesses operating within the estate. LIMA Tower One and Holiday Inn and Suites Batangas Limapark further support enterprise and business activity.

Retail, recreation, and mobility complete the daily ecosystem, from The Outlets at LIMA Estate and LIMA Exchange to The Golf Range at LIMA Estate and the Red Link Hub electric transport network. Together with the LIMA Gateway exit to the STAR Tollway, these elements make LIMA Estate a place where people can work, live, study, conduct business, and spend time within the same connected environment.

For families looking to diversify their holdings beyond traditional urban centers, Biz Hub at LIMA Estate offers commercial land within an economy that is already operating at scale. Its underlying demand comes from the businesses, workforce, residents, suppliers, and visitors that move through the estate every day.

That activity gives the district a broader base of commercial demand, while LIMA Estate’s growing mix of industry, services, housing, education, and community amenities continues to deepen the ecosystem around it. For investors, this creates an opportunity to hold commercial property within a functioning business district rather than one dependent on future development alone.

The proposition is reinforced by Aboitiz Economic Estates’ experience in developing and managing large-scale industrial estates and the infrastructure that supports them. For families taking a long-term view of their assets, Biz Hub at LIMA Estate offers commercial land anchored by an established economy, with the scale and institutional foundation to remain relevant as the surrounding district grows.

SEN. Francis Escudero’s proposal to fix the tenure of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years to ensure long-term stability in grassroots governance has received multisectoral support.

At Monday’s public hearing of the Senate Sub-Committee on Local Government presided by Escudero, representatives from the Liga ng mga Barangay, the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, and the National Youth Commission (NYC) expressed their strong support for the bill aimed at institutionalizing the five-year term and breaking the cycle of frequent postponement of barangay and SK polls.

‘My bill does not extend. My bill fixes,’ Escudero told the public hearing which was also attended by officials of the Commission on Elections and relevant government agencies, and members of civil society groups. ‘The natural effect will, of course, be to postpone the upcoming election, but the subject matter of this bill is fixing the term, not just postponement.’

Escudero emphasized that barangay governments, as the frontline of public service, need longer terms to sustain community development, disaster response, and peace and order programs without election disruptions.

According to NYC representative Eriven Nepomuceno, the proposed measure is a ‘strategic progression to ensure that local officials have sufficient time to implement meaningful community programs and improve public service delivery.’

Councilor Jose Maria Rodriguez, who represented the Liga ng mga Barangay, said they ‘respectfully manifests its position in favor of a consolidated measure fixing the term of office of elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan at five years and establishing a definite election schedule corresponding to that term.’

Senate Bill 2387 reiterates existing termlimit rules: barangay officials may serve up to three consecutive terms, while SK officials are restricted to only one term. Those already on their third consecutive term cannot run in the November 2028 elections.

According to Escudero, counting existing terms ensures fairness, preventing incumbents from benefiting from an outright extension.

The hearing agenda also included SB 2067 filed by Sen. Imelda Josefa Remedios Marcos, which seeks to postpone the November 2026 Barangay and SK elections to October 2027, citing economic and logistical constraints.

Escudero directed the committee secretariat to draft a report reflecting the amendments and resource persons’ inputs, which is expected to be completed this week for deliberation in the plenary.

‘Subject to the amendments proposed by the parties which we shall consider-including the decoupling, the Comelec’s points on appropriations and the election date, as well as the position of PPCRV and Namfrel that elections proceed as scheduled with the fiveyear term to begin thereafter-we shall reflect these in the committee report,’ he also said.

THE Invitational Confeence kicks off Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with four of the Premier Volleyball League’s (PVL) top clubs taking on powerhouse teams from Thailand and Vietnam in a six-squad sprint that promises little room for error.

Eleven-time league champion Creamline and defending titlist PLDT banner the Philippine side that includes Farm Fresh and Nxled in a six-day, single-round-robin battle against Thailand’s EST Cola and a new Ho Chi Minh City-based club from Vietnam.

Opening day action begins with PLDT’s clashing with EST Cola at 1:30 p.m., Nxled and Creamline squaring off at 4 p.m. and Ho Chi Minh taking on Farm Fresh in the 6:30 p.m. main event.

Duels on September features PLDT against Nxled at 1:30 p.m., Fresh against EST Cola at 4 p.m. and Creamline against Ho Chi Minh at 6:30 p.m.

On September 3, Farm Fresh and Creamline take the court at 1:30 p.m., Ho Chi Minh battles PLDT at 4 p.m. and EST Cola takes on Nxled at 6:30 p.m.

The September 4 triple-header pits PLDT against Farm Fresh at 1:30 p.m., Nxled against Ho Chi Minh at 4 p.m., and Creamline against EST Cola at 6:30 p.m.

The elimination round winds up on September 6 with Farm Fresh and Nxled meeting at 1:30 p.m., EST Cola facing Ho Chi Minh at 4 p.m. and Creamline and PLDT closing out the eliminations at 6:30 p.m.

All matches, including the championship, will be played at the Big Dome.

With three matches scheduled on each playdate and only the top two teams advancing to the championship, every game is expected to carry the weight of a virtual knockout as the field races to the finish.

President Marcos said that the government plans to build five sabo dams in Nueva Ecija in 2027 as part of measures to mitigate recurring flooding in Central Luzon.

Sabo dams are structures designed to trap sediment and debris in upstream areas, reducing erosion and slowing the movement of sediment downstream. Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism mentioned in its website that they can also help control debris flows and stabilize river channels.

Marcos said the five projects would slow the flow of water from the Sierra Madre, reduce siltation and, in the government’s plan, help store water for household use and agricultural irrigation. The projects are among the immediate, medium-, and long-term measures discussed during a situation briefing on flooding in Central Luzon, Marcos said.

‘The immediate term is to fix what was damaged,’ Marcos said in an interview.

He said the government would also pursue longer-term measures to ensure that repaired infrastructure would not be repeatedly damaged by heavy rains and flooding.

The announcement came as Pampanga dealt with prolonged flooding that has displaced thousands of residents. Marcos visited evacuation centers in Bacolor on Monday prior conducting an aerial inspection of flood-hit areas in Pampanga and Bulacan.

At the Bacolor Mini Convention Center, Marcos met with 62 families comprising 276 individuals who had been sheltering there for 16 days, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

He also visited the Bacolor Integrated School, where 216 families comprising 836 individuals were staying. Across Bacolor, 11 evacuation centers were housing 559 families or about 2,221 individuals, the PCO said.

Marcos said the volume and intensity of the rainfall had overwhelmed existing flood-management measures and pointed to climate change as a factor behind increasingly severe weather events.

‘We also need to understand that it is not only because of problems with flood-control projects, but also because of the intensity of the rain that we have not seen in the history of the Philippines,’ he said.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda said the province has long been vulnerable to flooding because water from upstream areas including Aurora, the Sierra Madre, and Nueva Ecija eventually flows toward Pampanga and Manila Bay.

‘We have been submerged for a long time,’ Pineda said. ‘Sometimes we can no longer handle the water coming down from the upper areas.’

Pineda said the planned series of dams could help hold back water before it reaches downstream communities in Pampanga. She said the projects give residents hope for a long-term solution to the province’s recurring floods.

Other measures under consideration include dredging and declogging waterways, building floodgates and pumping stations, and constructing a proposed road-dike stretching about 100 kilometers toward Bataan. Marcos said the road-dike remains under study.

The government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, also provided P10,000 in cash assistance as well as food packs and hot meals for evacuees.

Marcos said assistance would continue as long as affected residents need it.

‘It is still a developing situation,’ he said. ‘We will continue to monitor and do everything we can to mitigate very strong rains and the flooding that comes with it.’

Snacks maker Mondelez Philippines Inc. is cautiously optimistic about its prospects for this year even as changing consumer preferences weighed on its sales in 2025.

Mondelez Philippines Corporate and Government Affairs Lead Caitlin Punzalan said the company saw a slowdown in the local market last year, but this was not due to the decline in snacking.

‘There was a slowdown for the Philippines in 2025 because of some big consumer shifts in preferences for other formats,’ Punzalan told reporters on Tuesday in Mandaluyong City. ‘They’re snacking on something else.’

The company, however, did not provide more details about its sales performance.

The change is shaping how the company approaches the market, with Punzalan saying Mondelez continues to look for ways to adapt its products while providing what consumers consider value.

The company noted that while there is still room for growth in the Philippines, it is mindful of risks from global and domestic developments that could affect consumer demand and business activity.

‘We know there’s an opportunity for snacking, but we also are cautious in terms of global and local events that could hamper business growth,’ Punzalan said, citing the Middle East crisis earlier this year as an example of an external shock that affected businesses.

‘So, [we’re] cautiously optimistic. We know that snacking, there is potential for growth for sure. But we just need to prepare for any external factors, whatever they may be.’

The company said it so far avoided raising prices in response to the geopolitical tensions and does not have a price increase planned for this month.

Punzalan said the company has tried to keep prices at the same level ‘as much as possible,’ particularly since higher fuel costs and other pressures could dampen demand.

She also said keeping prices stable is one way of limiting the impact of external cost pressures on consumers.

In its 2026 State of Snacking report, Mondelez found that 38 percent of Filipino snackers choose snacks that offer nutritional benefits, such as being high in fiber or a source of vitamins.

The report also found that Filipino consumers remain frequent snackers, with only 5 percent skipping morning snacks and another 5 percent skipping afternoon snacks. About 37 percent seek energy-boosting snacks in the morning, while 30 percent do so in the afternoon.

Punzalan said Mondelez continues to offer products with nutritional components while using portion sizes as another way of responding to changing consumption patterns.

‘Portion control’ is also part of the company’s broader mindful-snacking strategy, which encourages consumers to consider how much they consume rather than restricting snack consumption. Moreover, product reformulation is also an ongoing process, she said.

The company’s latest snacking report said its global portfolio is also moving toward individually wrapped portions or products carrying its Mindful Portion label. In 2025, around 94 percent of Mondelez International’s net revenue came from snacks meeting that criterion, it said.

Plastic tax

Mondelez is also pushing back against a proposed increase in the tax on single-use plastics, arguing that additional charges could affect consumers and businesses across the food supply chain.

Punzalan said the company does not support an increase in the single-use plastic tax, adding that it is already complying with the country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law.

Rather than relying on a higher tax, Punzalan said the company supports the existing EPR framework, which requires manufacturers to take responsibility for the plastic packaging they put into the market.

‘We know that plastic waste is not just manufacturers’ responsibility; it’s everyone’s,’ she said. ‘Consumers, governments, other community stakeholders.’

The Philippine Plastics Industry Association had already called the proposed single-use plastic excise tax ‘discriminatory’ during a December 2025 House hearing.

Meanwhile, Mondelez said its Philippine operations are already being supplied with 100 percent renewable energy through a combination of hydropower, solar power and bioenergy.

FOUR months into the final stretch of 2026, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) is within P83.534 billion of its P300-billion investment goal, after approvals more than doubled from a year earlier.

Peza approved P216.466 billion worth of investments from January to August, equivalent to 72.16 percent of its P300-billion target for the year.

The amount was 104.53 percent higher than the P105.834 billion approved during the same period last year.

The increase came alongside a rise in the number of approved projects, with the Peza Board clearing 196 new and expansion projects in the first eight months, 9.50 percent more than the 179 projects approved in the same period in 2025.

The projects are expected to generate $6.604 billion in exports and 26,994 direct jobs nationwide.

August contributed significantly to the year-to-date total. On August 20, the Peza Board approved 22 new and expansion projects worth P64.565 billion, more than four times-or 334.13 percent above-the P14.872 billion approved in August 2025.

‘Our job now is to move these projects forward quickly and ensure their benefits reach more Filipino workers and communities,’ Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque said.

Manufacturing accounted for the largest share of approved projects during the eight-month period, with 80 projects.

It was followed by 31 ecozone development projects, 30 information technology and business process management projects, 19 facilities projects, 15 logistics projects, 15 export-oriented projects for the domestic market, four tourism projects and two utilities projects.

Most of the approved investments remain concentrated in Luzon, which accounted for 161 projects. The Visayas had 23 projects, while Mindanao had 12.

The Philippines was the largest source of investors among the approved projects, followed by the Netherlands, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

Large-scale investments also accounted for a substantial portion of the approvals. About 34 projects were classified as big-ticket investments, with a combined value of P193.713 billion.

The investment approvals come alongside continued activity in existing economic zones.

Peza’s ecozone reports for the first half of 2026 showed actual exports of $32.89 billion, up 2.35 percent from the same period last year. Direct employment in the zones reached 1.82 million, 1.56 percent higher than the first half of 2025.

‘With four months to go, Peza remains relentless in turning investor confidence into lasting economic opportunities for the country,’ Peza Director General Tereso Panga said.

THE ongoing impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte and the run-up to the 2028 presidential elections could weigh on confidence, reform implementation and the passage of planned revenue measures, Moody’s Ratings warned.

Despite Moody’s affirmation of the Philippines’s ‘Baa2’ investment-grade credit rating and keeping its outlook stable, it said political noise could pose risks to the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts if it delays reforms or undermines investor confidence.

‘A reversal or stalling of the reforms underpinning prior gains in economic and fiscal strength-including from political developments weighing on policymaking-or a material erosion in institutions and governance strength would put downward pressure on the rating,’ the ratings agency said.

With the government announcing a broader tax package, Moody’s noted that offsetting revenue measures have yet to be legislated and any delay or dilution could slow fiscal consolidation.

A more pronounced deterioration in fiscal and government debt metrics relative to peers, such as if the current slowdown continues to erode medium-term growth potential or if the growing debt stock cannot be arrested, could likewise lead to a rating downgrade, Moody’s added.

‘Nevertheless, a material shift in overall policy direction appears unlikely given that most major economic reforms have already been legislated and the focus is increasingly on execution,’ it noted.

The Department of Finance (DOF) said Moody’s affirmation reflects the resilience of the Philippine economy’s underlying fundamentals, citing its strong access to domestic and international funding markets and sufficient foreign-currency reserves to weather global capital flow volatility.

‘We welcome the stable outlook credit-rating affirmation, even as the world deals with real headwinds. Moody’s assessment confirms our strong macroeconomic fundamentals, and that the reforms we’ve put in place are working,’ Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go was quoted in a statement as saying.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) also welcomed Moody’s affirmation, which recognizes the economy’s ability to withstand global economic headwinds.

‘On the part of the BSP, we will continue working to bring inflation back close to target, safeguard the soundness of the country’s banking system, promote a safe and efficient payments and settlements system, and prudently manage the country’s international reserves,’ it said in a separate statement.

Moody’s also noted the Bureau of the Treasury’s ‘proactive’ liability management, which lengthens average maturity and maintains a predominantly fixed-rate, local-currency stock, to continue in mitigating refinancing and interest-rate risks.

‘The affirmation reinforces that we are on the right track in managing the National Government’s debt portfolio and strengthening our fiscal position,’ National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza was quoted in a separate statement as saying.

‘Our objective is to sustain this progress and, over time, move up the credit rating ladder toward our coveted A rating,’ she added, noting that the Treasury will continue to pursue prudent fiscal and debt management policies aimed at strengthening the government’s fiscal position and preserving investor confidence.

Moody’s said it expects fiscal consolidation to stay on track, as the government’s response to recent energy shocks has been measured.

Credit upgrade if…

A credit rating upgrade would be possible if the Philippines sustains a record of fiscal consolidation that puts government debt on a firm downward trajectory and reverses the deterioration in debt affordability.

Stronger growth that lifts the economy’s medium-term potential through higher private investment and productivity gains would also be credit positive, it added.

Moody’s expects the fiscal deficit to widen to around 4 percent of gross domestic product this year on higher energy imports and peso depreciation, before narrowing as energy prices ease and export demand firms.

CLOSE to 11 million people are benefiting from public infrastructure projects funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Green Green Green Program (LGSF-GGG), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

The DILG, which implements the LGSF-GGG program, continues to support local governments in building greener, safer, and more people-centered communities.

The GGG Program provides funding support to beneficiary local government (LGU) for the development and improvement of public open spaces and active mobility infrastructure, including public parks, bicycle lanes, pedestrian walkways, and sports facilities.

The program directly addresses gaps in urban development, particularly the lack of accessible green and public spaces at the local level, while ensuring that projects adhere to prescribed design concepts and environmental principles.

From 2024 to 2025, the LGSF-GGG received a total allocation of P1.755 billion.

A total of 135 LGU projects are currently enrolled in SubayBAYAN, covering the construction, rehabilitation, repair, and improvement of various public spaces and facilities nationwide.

The DILG said it regularly monitors the implementation of these projects and their impact on local communities.

In Muntinlupa City, the Bayanan Lakeshore Public Park was developed as a comfortable, safe, and accessible public space. The improvement has drawn positive feedback from residents.

In Navotas City, the Navotas Green Zone Park in barangay NBBN forms part of the city’s planned development of green spaces. Mayor John Rey Tiangco highlighted its benefits both to residents and the environment.

‘It is not just a place where you can relax, unwind, and take a walk. It also helps the environment,’ Tiangco said.

Meanwhile, residents of Pavia, Iloilo welcomed the improvement of the Municipal Public Plaza, noting how the project has made the area more attractive to residents and visitors.

The DILG said investments in green and accessible public spaces also help LGUs create more pedestrian-friendly communities, support active mobility, provide strategic spaces that can complement local economic activity, and improve the overall quality of life of residents.

Through the GGG Program, the Department remains committed to supporting LGUs in developing free, accessible, ecological, and people-centered public spaces, recognizing that sustainable local development must improve communities while protecting the environment, Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla said.

AFTER the flooding problems everywhere, I could just encourage affected people with this: Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain. I am aware that those affected cannot laugh about this recommendation.

While it is good to see that quite a number of companies have responded to the call for sustainability in terms of changing their business model to address natural resource consumption, raw material selection, product packaging design, we certainly want more companies and organization to join the sustainability movement and help the country win the war against plastics.

Today I would like to highlight companies and organizations that have recently taken the plastic issue seriously, and site recommendations to address the garbage issue:

The BSP takes out the trash the green way. The BSP is promoting proper waste segregation and educating employees on recycling practices.

The DOST called for prioritizing national efforts and initiatives on research and development of seaweed-derived bioplastics, that can be broken down into harmless materials through natural processes. Seaweed farming needs to be extended to sustain seaweed supplies.

The DepEd will teach solid waste management in schools.

Environmental groups have called on the government to focus on waste-to-energy and avoid the unchecked flood of single-used plastics-sachets, Styrofoam and plastic bags. The government must also fully implement the country’s solid waste management laws.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) offered its assistance (after the garbage flooding in Paranaque) to local governments enforcing their respective ordinances on waste disposal, including the provision of trash bins for biodegradable and non-biodegradable garbage.

The DENR has ordered 155 companies to explain the failure to recover and recycle plastics.

Without action from the local governments, this waste disposal problem will become even more unmanageable. Per the DENR, at least 48 percent of the 65,000 tons of waste generated daily nationwide ends up in waterways, bodies of water, and streets.

The future of sustainability-as can be seen by the above examples-is not driven by regulation alone. It may not be driven by activism, investor pressure, or corporate commitments alone. The real catalyst may be something much simpler. Sustainability gains momentum when companies discover that doing the right thing also happens to be good for business. In contrast, if companies do not focus on sustainability, they will fall behind! I look forward to seeing more organizations following those as listed above.

In conclusion, here are some prohibited acts to address the garbage issues:

Littering, throwing waste matters in public places such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks.

Unsanitary collecting and trucking, open burning of solid waste, causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated or unsorted waste.

Squatting in open dumps and land-fills. Open dumping, burying of biodegradable or nonbiodegradable materials in flood-prone areas.

Importing toxic waste misrepresented as ‘recyclable’.

As I said in a previous column: make sustainability a purpose of business and society. And politics, please create and implement attractive policies that will strengthen these initiatives.

And let’s learn how to dance in the rain.