Following his inspection in Las Piñas City, Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., announced that the government will push ahead with its waste-to-energy program, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Metro Manila was recently hit hard by heavy rain during the weekend of August 8-9 and flooding happened in many parts of the metropolis as garbage clogged waterways.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA article. Some parts in boldface…
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Tuesday the government will push ahead with its waste-to-energy program as part of efforts to address garbage buildup in waterways and help mitigate flooding.
Marcos raised the issue after inspecting a high-vacuum self-priming drainage trailer pump in Barangay Zapote, Las Piñas City, amid heavy rains brought by two back-to-back tropical cyclones and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” in parts of Luzon.
The President said garbage had accumulated in waterways in nearby Parañaque City after floodwaters opened drainage channels, with high tide causing the waste to be trapped.
“Nakita niyo ‘yung mga picture, punong-puno ng basura ‘yung mga kanal na hindi naman galing sa Parañaque, galing sa ibang lugar ‘yun (You saw the pictures – the canals were full of garbage that did not come from Parañaque. It came from other places),” Marcos said.
He urged local government units (LGUs) and the public to dispose of waste properly, warning that garbage dumped indiscriminately could worsen flooding and cause significant damage.
Marcos said the government will continue its waste-to-energy program, which involves processing garbage to generate electricity.
“Kami naman sa pamahalaan, itutuloy na namin ‘yung sa waste-to-energy program. ‘Yun ‘yung kinukuha ‘yung basura at ito ay pino-process at ginagawang kuryente (For the government’s part, we will continue with the waste-to-energy program. It takes garbage, processes it, and turns it into electricity),” he said.
“Napakalaking bagay niyan kapag nagawa natin (That would be a very significant thing once we accomplish it).”
Marcos said waste-to-energy technology is already established, indicating that the government sees the program as a viable long-term measure for addressing the country’s waste problem.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the national government will succeed with pushing forward with the waste-to-energy program?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
With growing demand for high-quality protein realized, the Philippines will keep importing more dairy products from the United States, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. It should be noted that the Philippines does not have a huge dairy production and local consumption of dairy (and other products that require dairy to be made) kept on growing.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines is expected to increase its imports of dairy products from the United States (US), driven by growing demand for high-quality protein and limited local dairy production, according to the US Dairy Export Council (USDEC).
USDEC Regional Director Dali Ghazalay said US dairy exports to the Philippines are on track to remain strong this year, as demand for dairy products continues to expand.
She said the demand is particularly strong when it comes to meeting the country’s nutrition needs, with dairy playing a crucial role in nutritionally adequate diets.
“The demand for dairy will still be very strong because of nutrition and what dairy can contribute to the nutrition needs of the Philippines,“ Ghazalay said on the sidelines of USDEC’s trade seminar on Thursday, Aug. 13.
Based on USDEC data, US dairy exports to the Philippines are estimated at around 143,000 metric tons (MT). Top exports include skim milk powder, buttermilk powder, and dairy permeate.
Currently, the Philippines is the top export destination for US dairy goods in Southeast Asia, according to USDEC.
Increased demand this year is expected to be driven by dairy products with high-quality nutritional protein, such as skim milk powder.
Ghazalay said demand is also on the rise for whey proteins and milk proteins, which are usually integrated into high-value-added products such as protein powder for fitness purposes.
Ultimately, she noted that increased dairy demand from the US is also a direct result of the country’s subpar domestic output, which remains unable to meet local demand.
“Local dairy production is still very small. And you do need to supplement that with different dairy ingredients to meet all these different products that the consumers here need,” said Ghazalay.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that nuclear energy will be realized in the Philippines in your lifetime? Did you encounter a lot of people living with nuclear fear?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
As Greenland struggles to fill its labor gap, the number of Filipinos living and working there has exceeded one thousand and their community has grown significantly, according to a news report by VnExpress.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the VnExpress news report. Some parts in boldface…
Filipinos and Thais have become the two largest foreign communities in Greenland, filling a labor gap the Arctic territory cannot close from its own population of about 57,000.
Roughly 1,300 Filipinos and 460 Thais now live on the island, CNA reported. The Filipino community has grown nearly fivefold from five years ago, while the Thai population has roughly doubled.
AFP put the Filipino figure slightly lower, at about 1,200, in a May report from Ilulissat, and identified Filipinos as the largest foreign diaspora in the Danish autonomous territory.
In Nuuk, the capital, there were 770 Filipinos in 2026, compared with 118 a decade ago.
They work in supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, fisheries, cleaning companies, breweries, health facilities and small businesses.
CNA reported that 12% to 13% of the workforce now comes from outside Greenlandic backgrounds, a category that includes Danes and other Europeans. AFP, citing Greenland’s employers’ organizations, put the share of Asian workers at 5% to 6%.
Greenland is the world’s largest island at about 2.16 million square kilometers, roughly the size of Western Europe, but its ice sheet covers close to 80% of the surface and its population is smaller than that of a mid-sized town.
The island is expanding tourism, services, mining and energy. A survey by the Greenland Business Association found a shortfall of around 600 workers across all sectors, and the association says the real gap is larger.
“If we all had two or three jobs, we still wouldn’t have enough people in Greenland. So we are going to be dependent on people coming in,” Christian Keldsen, the association’s director, told CNA.
A worker from Asia in Greenland earned an average of $52,800 across all sectors in 2024, according to figures cited by CNA. That is about 9.5 times the average annual wage in Thailand and more than 12 times the average in the Philippines.
A work permit also carries publicly financed healthcare, medicine, education and retirement benefits, said Steven Arnfjord, a professor at the University of Greenland who directs its Center for Arctic Welfare.
Few migrants arrive through recruitment agencies. One relative secures a permit, establishes themselves, then brings a spouse or children through family reunification.
Kristine Juul, a researcher at Roskilde University, has described the pattern to Polar Journal as chain migration, in which relatives and friends pass job information across continents.
Annabelle Cruz, 39, is a sales leader at the Brugseni supermarket chain in Nuuk. She is one of 31 members of her extended family now living and working in the capital, a chain that began 16 years ago when her sister moved.
Cruz arrived from Pampanga two years ago and now switches between English, Danish and Greenlandic on the shop floor.
About 10.7 million Filipinos live overseas, close to a tenth of the country’s population, according to the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
Personal remittances reached a record $39.62 billion in 2025, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported, while cash remittances of $35.63 billion equaled 7.3% of GDP. Thailand’s inflows run at roughly 2% of GDP, World Bank data shows.
Keldsen said the government is working with employers on faster hiring. The old assumption that outside labor signals local incompetence is a colonial hangover that could fuel a backlash if handled badly, he said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Are you surprised to learn about the fast-growing community of Filipinos living there in Greenland? Do you know anyone who visited Greenland before?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The Philippines, which has been struggling with weak economic growth and high inflation, attracted 3.7 million international visitors in the first 7 months of this year, according to a news report by BusinessWorld.
Be mindful that the words “international visitors” includes both foreign tourists as well as Filipinos who are based abroad who happened to return to the country as “balikbayan”. For insight, the Philippines attracted 5.9 million foreign tourists in 2025 plus over half-a-million Filipinos from overseas which combines for 6.4 million international visitors for the year. For the first half of 2026, the nation attracted 2.9 million foreign tourists.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld news report. Some parts in boldface…
The number of Philippine international visitors grew to around 3.7 million as of July, buoyed by more relaxed visa policies, with growing markets seen in China, India, and Taiwan, according to the Department of Tourism (DoT) on Friday.
DoT Undersecretary Verna Esmeralda C. Buensuceso cited the figure, noting a 4.25% increase in tourist arrivals compared to last year.
“From January to July this year, the Philippines welcomed approximately 3.7 million international visitors, representing a 4.25% increase in visitor arrivals compared to the same period last year,” Ms. Buensuceso said during the launch of the 4th Travel Sale Expo 2026.
“We are seeing good growth from markets like China at 67%, India at 34%, and Taiwan at 11.21% growth, buoyed in large part by more liberal visa policies,” she added.
The tourism Undersecretary also noted sustained growth trajectories from the country’s traditional foreign markets such as the United States of America, Canada, and Japan, driven by additional flights.
The country is also experiencing double-digit to triple-digit growth in international arrivals from our Southeast Asian peers, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Timor-Leste, due to the ongoing ASEAN Summit 2026 where the Philippines serves as the host country.
“These are encouraging signs, but let me emphasize that our goal is not simply to increase the number of arrivals,” Ms. Buensuceso said.
“Our real goal is to increase the value of tourism. We want tourism to create more jobs, attract more investments, and generate more opportunities that reach communities across the country,” she added.
The tourism industry contributed 8.1% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025, down from 8.7% in the previous year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It also employed around 7.70 million Filipinos in 2025.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DOT is padding the numbers on tourist arrivals to avoid embarrassment in the near future? Do you think the Philippines will be able to surpass 2025’s 5.9 million foreign tourist count by the end of this year? Do you believe that hosting the ASEAN Summit is actually helping the Philippine attract more tourists from its Southeast Asian neighbors?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
A delegation led by Thailand’s ambassador to the Philippines Makawadee Sumitmor visited the Subic Bay Freeport Zone and was welcomed by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), the authorities confirmed. With the ambassador were business leaders of Thailand and they visited to explore investment opportunities in the Freeport.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the official announcement of the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…
A delegation of Thai business leaders, led by Her Excellency Makawadee Sumitmor, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Philippines, recently visited Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) to explore promising investment opportunities in this strategic economic zone.
The delegation was warmly received by Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, Chairman and Administrator of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), who highlighted the region’s strategic location within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and its potential as a hub for trade and industry.
On 26 July 2026, at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC), members of the Thai business delegation met with SBMA’s Business and Investment Group (BIG) officers to discuss avenues for collaboration and potential investments in the SBF.
Ambassador Sumitmor emphasized the strong investment potential for Thai companies in sectors such as energy, logistics, technology, digital innovation, and various service industries. Representatives from the Thai embassy, the delegation, and PTT Philippines Corporation expressed optimism about future partnerships.
The delegation also toured key facilities and businesses within the Freeport, identifying strategic areas for investment in the LEC. PTT Philippines Corporation, a leading oil and energy company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand’s PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (PTT OR), serves as a strong foundation for expanding Thai ventures within the region.
The Subic Bay Freeport Zone plays a crucial role as a western maritime gateway in the Luzon Economic Corridor, linking major economic centers including Subic, Clark, Manila, and Batangas.
The LEC initiative aims to enhance infrastructure and logistics, fostering greater connectivity through substantial planned investments.
Thailand is actively pursuing opportunities in trade, logistics, and manufacturing within the Philippines’ LEC. Therelative proximity of Subic Bay to Thailand, accessible by sea within three to four days, offers significant logistical advantages for Thai businesses seeking regional expansion.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident about Thailand making new investments in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone as the nation is actively pursuing opportunities within the Luzon Economic Corridor? What kind of businesses do you think Thai investors will set up in Subic Bay? Do you feel that direct travel connections between Thailand and Subic Bay will be realized soon?
To ensure that the ambitious Pax Silica will have its very own power supply to meet its needs, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) recently announced that the proponents are studying the construction of a dedicated power plant, according to a business news report by GMA News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Sunday that proponents of the US-led Pax Silica project in New Clark City, Tarlac, are studying the construction of a dedicated power plant to ensure the facility does not compete with nearby residential communities for electricity.
Pax Silica has faced scrutiny over its projected resource requirements, with the BCDA estimating that the facility could require up to 3 gigawatts (3 million kilowatts) of power at full development.
“‘Yung kuryente, pinag-aaralan nila na magkaroon ng dedicated power plant… na hindi ito magsasapanganib sa supply ng kuryente lalo na para sa mga residential na komunidad. Ayaw rin nila ‘yon,” BCDA President and CEO Joshua Bingcang said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
(Regarding power, they are studying the establishment of a dedicated power plant so that it will not jeopardize the electricity supply, especially for residential communities. They also want to avoid that.)
Bingcang said officials have discussed power and water requirements with the project’s proponents and partners from the United States, Japan, and South Korea, who also want to ensure that the facility has sufficient utility supplies.
“Kasi kung nakikita nilang wala, hindi rin pupunta ‘yung mga industriya na ito. So gusto nila, ‘pag pupunta rin sila dito, is stable, reliable at maaasahan ang kuryente,” Bingcang said.
(Because if they see that there is insufficient supply, these industries will not come. So if they invest here, they want the power supply to be stable, reliable, and dependable.)
“Kaya ngayon po, kasama na po, hindi lang po sa paggawa ng mga planta doon sa New Clark City, tinitingnan din nila ‘yung ecosystem,” he added.
(That is why they are looking not only at building plants in New Clark City but also at the entire ecosystem.)
Bingcang said this ecosystem includes the availability and reliability of power and water, as well as infrastructure, airports, seaports, and other facilities.
Clean, green energy –The BCDA said Pax Silica aims to use clean and green energy, with solar farms among the primary options being considered.
“So ang una po naming tiningnan dito ay solar farms. So meron na po tayong inaprubahan na solar project po diyan—ang mamumuhunan po ay sa Saudi Arabia,” Bingcang said.
(The first option we looked at was solar farms. We have already approved a solar project there involving an investor from Saudi Arabia.)
“Susunod po, hinihikayat na rin o nire-regulate na rin ng Department of Energy magkaroon ng mga battery storage… Kasi ang solar farm po ay mga ilang oras lang po, ‘pag gabi, wala na, so kailangan meron pong imbakan o storage ng baterya para sa maipon na enerhiya sa mga solar farm,” he added.
(Next, the Department of Energy is encouraging and regulating the use of battery storage. Solar farms generate power only during the day, so battery storage systems are needed to store energy for use when solar power is unavailable.)
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think Pax Silica will eventually have its very own, high-capacity power plant to ensure it has sufficient energy while sparing the local communities that relied on the national power grid? Do you think solar power is sufficient for Pax Silica which will have AI-related projects?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The economy of the Philippines slowed down even further in the 2nd quarter of 2026 landing at 2.3%, according to a news report by GMA News. Embarrassingly, this made the Philippines an economic weakling among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippine economy continued to slow down in the second quarter of 2026, still due to a subdued investor and consumer sentiment amid the lingering effects of the flood control corruption scandal and the inflationary pressure brought by Middle East crisis-induced global fuel price shocks, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Friday.
At a press conference, PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the economy, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP)—the value of goods and services produced in a period— grew 2.3% in the April to June 2026 period, slower than the 2.8% growth seen in the first quarter of 2026.
This is the economy’s weakest footing since the fourth quarter of 2009—excluding the contraction seen during the COVID-19 pandemic years— when the GDP growth rate was at 1.8%.
The 2.8% second quarter GDP growth put the Philippines behind its neighbors in Southeast Asia that already released their April to June economic growth rates such as Indonesia at 5.29%, Vietnam at 8.39%, and Singapore at 5.7%.
The first half of 2026 GDP growth rate stood at 2.6%, still behind the government’s downwardly revised target of 3.5% to 4.5% for the entire year.
Despite the economic slowdown, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said, “What we are experiencing right now, I believe, is transitory, temporary.”
“Domestic demand remained subdued, mainly because total investment continued to contract as public construction declined. Household consumption growth also moderated amid higher inflation, job losses, and lower remittance receipts arising from the Middle East conflict,” Balisacan said.
Household final consumption expenditure grew 2.8%, slower than 5.2% in the same period last year, weighed by contractions in transport (-7.5%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (-1.9%), recreation and culture (-0.8%), and restaurants and hotels (-0.2%).
Government expenditure, likewise, slowed down by 8.3% from 8.7% year-on-year; while gross capital formation (GCF) —which measures investments— contracted by 9.2% from a growth rate of 0.9% a year ago.
The decline in GCF was due to the decline in construction at 14.8% with government spending on construction contracting 32.4%.
“Although public construction is a small part of the economy, the amount of contraction, at 32%, brought a significant impact on the economy,” Balisacan said.
“The sharp decline in public construction was the main contributor in the decline in investments… driven by continuous caution due to the flood control scandal,” the country’s chief economist said.
Among the major economic sectors, agriculture posted a growth rate of 2.7%, slower than 7% year-on-year; industry declined by 2.4%, from an increase of 2.1% weighed by the construction’s depreciation; services grew slower at 4.5% from 6.9%.
Agriculture, industry, and services sector contributed 7.5%, 27.9%, and 63.3%, respectively to the total GDP during the quarter.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the economy of the Philippines will eventually fall into a recession in 2027? Do you believe that the hosting of the ASEAN summit by the Philippines will result in economic miracles and more foreign investment?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has officially launched the Swiss challenge for the P7 billion proposal for the upgrading and management of the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA) and this opened the field for entities to submit their proposals challenging the existing proposal of Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments LLC, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
For previous blog posts about the SBIA project, click here, here and here.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has formally started the Swiss challenge for the ₱7-billion proposal to manage and upgrade the Subic Bay International Airport (SBIA), as it issued a call to potential challengers to submit competing offers.
In a bid bulletin dated July 31, theSBMA invited firms to submit their comparative proposals for the project proposed by United States (US)-based Cerberus Asia Pacific Investments LLC.
SBMA saidinterested firms have until Oct. 29 to submit their proposals, with thebid opening scheduled to take place on the same day. A pre-bid conference to clarify the requirements and address queries from participating firms is set for Sept. 14.
Under a Swiss challenge, also known as a comparative challenge, the SBMA is allowing other companies to match the unsolicited proposal for the SBIA submitted by Cerberus, which was approved in April last year.
Cerberus has been granted original proponent (OP) status by the SBMA for its unsolicited proposal to upgrade, expand, operate, and maintain the SBIA. As the OP, Cerberus will have the right to match the best offer during the challenge process.
Cerberus is seeking to manage the SBIA under a 25-year operate-rehabilitate-add-transfer scheme to develop the gateway into a strategic cargo and logistics hub that would help ease congestion at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
“Currently underutilized, SBIA requires substantial investment and comprehensive operational improvements to realize its full potential over the concession period,” SBMA said.
Cerberus is planning to invest ₱7 billion to develop the project, nearly 13 percent higher than the initial project cost pegged at around ₱6.2 billion.
The investment will focus on upgrading existing airport facilities to align them with international benchmarks, alongside the development of new facilities to transform the airport into a higher-capacity logistics hub.
SBMA noted that the airport’s location and air-to-sea access pose a significant opportunity to develop it into a hub for commercial cargo and warehousing.
“This highlights a growing demand for air cargo services, driven by the need for industrial supplies and the transportation of finished products,” it said.
In addition, SBMA noted that the ongoing development of the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) further increases the need for improved air connectivity.
The LEC is an initiative led by the Philippines, the US, and Japan aimed at accelerating high-impact investments to enhance connectivity between Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas.
“All these factors lead to the conclusion that the manufacturing industry in the Philippines, and particularly Central Luzon, is highly likely to significantly grow in the upcoming decade, both in terms of size of current facilities, and additional factories,” SBMA said.
“This leads to demand for air cargo in terms of industrial supplies, as well as output products, and attracts population growth and consumer wealth, leading to consumption increase and related air cargo demand,” it added.
By developing the SBIA, SBMA said it is ensuring that Clark International Airport will not be the only alternative once NAIA reaches its cargo capacity limit in the future.
The agency said an upgraded SBIA can ensure competitive pricing and provide additional options for airlines operating or planning to set up shop in Manila.
With this, Subic Bay is expected to help accommodate an additional 200,000 tons of cargo by 2035.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there will be a lot of corporations locally and overseas that will submit their Subic Bay International Airport proposals to the SBMA? When was the last time you arrived at the international airport in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone?
Inflation here in the Philippines for the month of July 2026 landed at 6.2% which is clearly above the government’s comfortable ceiling of 2% to 4%, according to a business news report by GMA News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News business report. Some parts in boldface…
The country’s inflation rate slowed down further for the third straight month in July 2026 amid improved fuel supply conditions during the period, when the Middle East conflict was waning.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, National Statistician and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) chief Claire Dennis Mapa said inflation — the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services — slowed down 6.2% last month from 6.4% in June 2026.
July’s inflation print brought the year-to-date rate to 5%, still above the government’s comfortable ceiling of 2% to 4%.
Mapa said the main contributor to the downtrend was the slower increase in the Transport index at 11.9% from 12.8% month-on-month.
“Ito [Transport] ay may 57.4% share sa pagbaba ng pangkalahatang inflation sa bansa (It had a share of 57.4% to the overall deceleration of the country’s inflation),” the PSA chief said.
This as inflation for gasoline and other passenger transport by road slowed down to 34.1% from 39.2% and 5.3% from 5.4%, respectively.
Meanwhile, food inflation was steady at 5.3%, as lower meat prices and slower increases in vegetable prices offset sharper rice inflation.
“Every peso saved from slower price increases means more room for the family budget for food, transport, education and other essential needs,” Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a statement.
“While challenges remain, particularly in managing food price pressures, these results show that our interventions are making a difference in easing the impact on Filipino households,” Balisacan said.
The DEPDev chief the government’s UPLIFT Committee will continue implementing targeted interventions to protect vulnerable sectors from the effects of higher prices and other economic shocks.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the government is running out of new ideas on bringing down inflation? Do you think the high inflation is a sign that the economy of the Philippines will grow weaker going into 2027? Do you think inflation will end up above 5% by the end of this year?
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Following the unfortunate decision made the by Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) regarding birthright citizenship, US President Donald J. Trump signed two new Executive Orders to formally end birth tourism while also protecting the meaning and value of American citizenship.
To put things in perspective, posted below is the News24 (formerly Sky News Australia) video covering the Oval Office. Watch it and pay close attention to the details.
In America, birth tourism is already a huge problem that has yet to be full resolved. If it is left unchecked, it will negatively impact and even deform democracy in the US. That said, President Trump signed the Executive Order ending birth tourism. To understand it fully, posted below is the entire content of the said Executive Order sourced from the White House website. Some parts in boldface…
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. United States citizenship is among the greatest inheritances the Nation can bestow. It embodies a sacred bond between the American people and the Nation in which they live, and carries profound rights, privileges, and responsibilities reflective of the enduring allegiance of citizens to the United States and our Constitution. Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through calculated exploitation and evasion of the immigration laws, such as by entering the United States on a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth within the Nation’s borders.
Birth tourism operators use deceptive advertisements and inducements to entice foreign nationals to travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth on American soil. They promise citizenship; access to public benefits; and short-term stays in specialized facilities, hotels, or rentals, but often fail to deliver on these promises. These operators coach their clients to misrepresent the purpose and duration of their travel to consular and border officials to obtain visas authorizing entry into the United States. Failure to appropriately combat these schemes has resulted in thriving industries around the world that profit by enabling the evasion of American immigration laws to obtain citizenship and other immigration benefits for foreign visitors, and the exploitation of the women who travel here for purposes of giving birth.
The immigration laws of the United States establish discrete categories of temporary nonimmigrant visas to allow foreign visitors into the United States for study, exchange, temporary employment, tourism, and other transitory activities that are now exploited by birth tourism operators. Participants in birth tourism schemes abuse these categories to establish a permanent foothold in the United States by securing the advantage of citizenship for their children and then potentially for themselves.
Birth tourism, defined in section 3 of this order, undermines the integrity of the Nation’s immigration system by enabling foreign nationals to exploit their temporary admission to obtain permanent immigration-related benefits. Birth tourism also diverts limited consular inspection and enforcement resources away from legitimate visa applicants, erodes public confidence in the faithful enforcement of the immigration laws, and impairs the executive branch’s ability to protect the national security.
The United States has a compelling interest in ensuring that each visa category is used only for the purpose for which it was established. Foreign nationals seeking temporary admission into the United States must adhere to the purposes for which the Congress has authorized their temporary admission, and cannot be permitted to circumvent the immigration laws in an attempt to vest themselves and their children with lasting benefits that are irreconcilable with their nonimmigrant status.
It is therefore the policy of the United States to promote the integrity of its immigration system, to ensure that nonimmigrant visa classifications are used only for their lawful and intended purposes, and to prevent the exploitation of those classifications by persons engaging in birth tourism.
Sec. 2. Authorities. Pursuant to section 301 of title 3, United States Code, the authority granted to the President under section 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1185(a), is hereby delegated to the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to the extent necessary to implement this order, including the authority to issue or adopt rules, policies, operational guidance, or other guidance to carry out this order.
Sec. 3. Definition. For purposes of this order, “birth tourism” is defined as:
(a) the entry of any foreign national into the United States via a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on American soil; or
(b) any effort by any foreign national to facilitate the entry of any foreign national into the United States via a nonimmigrant visa for the purpose of giving birth on American soil.
Sec. 4. Scope and Implementation. (a) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take such actions and update any rules, policies, operational guidance, or other guidance as necessary to effectuate the policy set forth in this order. Such actions may include, within the Secretaries’ respective discretion and authority, appropriate action to prevent the entry into the United States of, or the granting of any visa or other travel authorization to, any alien entering or attempting to enter the United States for the purpose of engaging in birth tourism; revoking the visa or travel authorization and permanently barring entry of any alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States for the purpose of engaging in birth tourism; denial of entry to, or removal of, any alien who previously engaged or plans to engage in birth tourism; or other appropriate action against entities, organizations, or individuals, within or outside of the United States, responsible for facilitating or enabling birth tourism in any manner.
(b) All other relevant executive departments and agencies shall provide such records and information as are necessary for the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement the terms of this order and the rules, policies, operational guidance, or other guidance issued pursuant to it, subject to applicable law.
Sec. 5. Exemptions. Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this order, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may exempt a foreign national from actions taken pursuant to this order on humanitarian grounds or when the foreign national’s entry is in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
(d) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstances, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of any of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
(e) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Homeland Security.
DONALD J. TRUMP
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the two new Executive Orders signed by Trump will effectively end birth tourism while protecting the value of American citizenship? What kind of responses do you think the Democrats will come up with to oppose the Executive Orders. Do you think Islamist states like Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and Bangladesh are deliberately sending their citizens to America with birth tourism in mind? Did you spot any Chinese nationals engaging in birth tourism in America lately?
