Twitter – Page 32 – Author Carlo Carrasco

Dredging Work in Las Piñas City Intensified

September 6, 2025August 30, 2025carlocarrasco

In an effort to reduce the risk of flooding, dredging in the city has been intensified under the watch of the administration of Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar, according to a news article by Dredging Today.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Dredging Today news article. Some parts in boldface…

The City Government of Las Piñas, under the leadership of Mayor April Aguilar and Vice Mayor Imelda Aguilar, is intensifying its flood mitigation initiatives through the conduct of a clearing and dredging operation in Bangkalan Creek, Barangay Almanza Uno.

“This operation is not just an environmental effort – it is a proactive measure to safeguard lives, protect properties, and keep our city resilient against climate change and extreme weather events,” CENRO Las Piñas said.

“By conducting dredging and clearing works, the City Government ensures that waterways remain open, deeper, and unobstructed, thereby reducing the risks of overflow.”

The initial dredging operations uncovered plastic bags, plastic bottles, soda cans, and other non-biodegradable materials that had been stacked up through the years.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the City Government is doing enough to reduce the risk of flooding in the near future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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A Look Back at Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991)

September 5, 2025September 27, 2025carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1991 to explore one of the many tales of the Marvel shared universe through the Uncanny X-Men series…Uncanny X-Men #281.

For the newcomers reading this, Marvel had a major reorganizing of their X-Men-related comic book series in the 2^nd half of 1991. After the events of the Muir Island Saga, the X-Men grew into such a large group they had to be divided into two teams – Blue and Yellow – under Charles Xavier who returned as their leader. When X-Men #1 (by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee) launched in 1991, it showed the Blue Team dealing with Magneto. Uncanny X-Men #281 was released the same month as that comic book and it shows the first mission of the Gold Team composed of Storm, Jean Grey, Colossus, Iceman and Archangel. Very notably, its story took place immediately after X-Men #5 was released in 1992.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Uncanny X-Men #281, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story co-written by Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio and script by John Byrne. The art was done by Portacio with ink work by Art Thibert.

Early story

The story begins in the Australian outback where the Reavers are relaxing while the sandstorm is happening and with them is Donald Pierce. Suddenly, a group of Sentinels attacked them resulting in deaths of some of their members.

Elsewhere in New York City, Storm, Jean Grey, Archangel, Colossus and Iceman – all in formal attire as civilians – attend a lavish party at the headquarters of the Hellfire Club. It turns out, they were invited by Emma Frost who leads the club. Even with several guests and a lot of enjoyable things around them, the X-Men remain prepared to react if something unfortunate happens.

After a brief moment of tension between the X-Men and the Hellions, someone in a powered suit of armor crashed through a door near Jean, Storm and Archangel. Emma Frost emerges, takes the helmet off the armored person (a young woman) and even welcomed the X-Men. Frost claims that the armored lady was another assassin who tried to take her life and it is the 2^nd assassination attempt she encountered over the past weeks….

Quality

*The Sentinels, Lady Deathstrike and Donald Pierce in an intense scene.*

As this comic book was part of the new era of the X-Men, the creative team came up with tale that is loaded with sub-plots that had a mix of old (the X-Men fought with the Hellfire Club during the Dark Phoenix Saga, and had encounters with the Sentinels a number of times) and new (Trevor Fitzroy – the illegitimate son of Sebastian Shaw – and the Upstarts are the new antagonists of the X-Men) creative elements for the X-Men’s Gold Team to encounter. The fact that the Hellfire Club is present in the story requires readers to have some knowledge about them from previous X-Men comic books as well as other characters and past tales that formed the background of the newer characters.

The story was made to modernize the X-Men and their struggle with people they encounter, while creatively reconnecting with the past. This should not be a surprise because writer John Byrne (yes, the same creator behind The Man of Steel mini-series) himself was involved in the Dark Phoenix Saga. The result is a tale of intrigue, twists, action and a lot of tension here.

When it comes to encounters, I enjoyed the discussion the X-Men had with Emma Frost (first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129) who was their fierce enemy (Frost previously tried to manipulate Kitty Pryde) before having a change of heart and partnered with Professor X. Their exchange of words was civil, smart and there were some nice pay-offs in the form of intriguing revelations. The script by John Byrne was really solid here.

The artwork by Whilce Portacio here is still great to look at and his contribution on modernizing the X-Men’s look for the 1990s is a must-see. The same can be said with his take on Emma Frost, and the other established characters here. Portacio’s visualization of Trevor Fitzroy has that strong science fiction vibe combined with that fluffy early 1990s look.

Conclusion

*The X-Men witness an intense moment followed by the emergence of Emma Frost.*

Even though there were a few bumps on the flow of the narrative, I can say that Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991) is a very enjoyable read filled with intrigue, twists, reconnections to the past, notable character moments and sufficient spectacle. Its story has a lot of details and attachments to the past which will resonate with long-time X-Men fans. At the same time, Whilce Portacio’s art works made this one of the finest looking Uncanny X-Men issues of the 1990s and that is saying a lot. Considering the details and the richness of the writing, this Uncanny X-Men comic book should be read at a moderate pace as paying close attention to what was presented is essential.

That being said, this first tale of the Gold Team of the X-Men is a great read.

Overall, Uncanny X-Men #281 (1991) is highly recommended!

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Las Piñas City Congressman Santos Says Zapote River Drive Narrowed Waterway and Made Flooding Worse

September 5, 2025August 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Congressman Mark Santos visited the Zapote River Drive and pointed out that the construction of the road made the waterway narrower and resulted in worse flooding in recent times, according to a GMA Network news report.

For the newcomers reading this, the Zapote River stretches for several kilometers and it physically separates Las Piñas City from Bacoor City (Cavite province). The Zapote River Drive itself was constructed to decongest traffic in Las Piñas City.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the GMA News report. Some parts in boldface…

The construction of a road along the Zapote River in Las Piñas City has narrowed the waterway and worsened flooding in parts of the city, according to a lawmaker.

In Maki Pulido’s Thursday report on “24 Oras,” a resident of Barangay Zapote 2 said floodwater enters their home during heavy rains.

Due to the rains brought by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) in July, several areas in Las Piñas City were submerged in the ensuing floods.

According to Las Piñas Rep. Anthony Santos, there is a flood control project for the Zapote River, one of the major waterways in the city. But instead of dredging and cleaning the river, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) constructed a road alongside the river.

As a result, Santos said the river became narrower and prone to faster overflowing, causing more floods in different areas of the city.

“Malaki po ang inoccupy nito doon sa Zapote River kung saan makikita natin ngayon na medyo nabawasan yung puwang o luwang ng river na nagdudulot ngayon ng problema dito sa Las Piñas nung raw na mas malapad ito mas maraming tubig ang dumadaloy,” Santos said.

(The road occupies a larger portion of the Zapote River. The width of the river is now smaller, which is causing problems here in Las Piñas. When it was wider, more water was able to flow.)

The DPWH is currently repairing riprap after a portion of it collapsed.

“Itong river na ito, hindi dapat tinayuan para gawing kalsada. Ito po ay para linisin lang ang river, pero kita niyo ang nag initiate na predecessors ko. Conflict of interest po, very clear po dito, kasi lahat ng kalsadang dinaanan papunta sa mga lupa nila ng mga Villar kasi nagpagawa bridge papunta sa mga property nila. Ang dulo nito ay isang malaking mall na pag aari ng pamilya Villar,” Santos said.

(Roads were not supposed to be constructed alongside the river. It was intended for just cleaning the river, but look at what my predecessors did. It’s very clear that there is a conflict of interest because all the constructed roads lead to the properties of the Villars. At the end of this road is a mall owned by the Villar family.)

According to Santos, the road construction began in 2012 and now stretches to at least 10 kilometers.

Posters along Las Piñas Zapote Road indicate the road is a project by siblings and senators Mark Villar and Camille Villar-Genuino and their mother, former senator Cynthia Villar.

Santos won the congressional seat against the elder Villar during the 2025 Philippine elections.

“Wala naman pong kwestyun kung sino mag be-benefit dito e nag re-reklamo mga kababayan ko sa baha (there is no question who will benefit from this project, but the people are complaining about the floods),” Santos said.

Roads were also built alongside the city’s creeks, including Talong Creek in Barangay Pulang Dos.

According to a resident, in 2024, the retaining wall collapsed due to the volume of water and accumulated garbage in the narrower creek.

“Gumiba siya. Nag breach aming wall pinasok kami tubig. May portion pa na neck-deep. Kinakatakot namin papasok na naman tag-ulan wala na natutulog dito,” resident Elmer Pascual said, adding that their subdivision experienced flooding for the first time.

(The wall collapsed after it was breached by the water. In some areas, the floodwaters rose to neck-deep levels. We’re concerned that it might happen again during the rainy season.)

In a statement, Cynthia Villar said the Las Piñas Zapote River Drive is a flood control and traffic decongestion project to rehabilitate the Las Piñas River.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Have you ever traveled along the Zapote River Drive in Las Piñas City? Are you convinced that the Zapote River Drive made the river narrower and made flooding worse? Do you think the Zapote River Drive succeeded in decongesting traffic within the city? Do you live in a residential community bordering the Zapote River?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Las Piñas City Congressman Santos Says Over 40 DPWH Projects Lack Permits From City Government

September 3, 2025August 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the City of Las Piñas, Congressman Mark Santos revealed that more than forty projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the city lacked permits from the City Government, according to a BusinessMirror news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessMirror news report. Some parts in boldface…

Las Pinas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos revealed that a total of 42 construction projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), amounting to millions of pesos, were found to have been carried out without the required permits.

Citing acting City Engineer Michael Aguilar, Santos said that the Las Piñas–Muntinlupa District Engineering Office, failed to secure any building permits from the city government when the projects commenced earlier this year.

Santos, citing the district office, noted that of the projects inspected, 19 have already been completed while seven are still undergoing construction. Fifteen projects with ongoing activities were promptly issued notices of violation, while one project has stopped construction after being served with the same notice.

The City Engineering Office has directed the concerned private contractors and government offices to immediately secure the required building, electrical, and plumbing permits, along with zoning and barangay clearances, the lawmaker said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you think the mentioned projects in Las Piñas City will be able to get completed in the near future?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Free HIV Self-Test Kits Offered by Muntinlupa City Government

September 2, 2025August 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government announced that it is offering free HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) self-test kits to the public, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Registration for the kits is ongoing.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government is offering free HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) self-test kits to the public.

The HIV self-test kits are available at the Muntinlupa Reproductive Health and Wellness Clinic located at the Laguerta Health Center on Centennial Avenue in Laguerta, Tunasan.

To avail of the free HIV self-test kit, people need to register at https://tinyurl.com/sfr3yz2. They need to wait for the call or text from the clinic staff to verify their request. They will receive a confirmation text for the delivery of the kit.

“Ang pag-sumite ng iyong resulta ay mahalaga upang ikaw ay higit na matulungan. Bisitahin ang https://tinyurl.com/3yurw32m upang i-report ang iyong resulta (Submitting your results is important so that we can help you further. Visit https://tinyurl.com/3yurw32m to report your results),” the clinic posted on Facebook.

The instruction on how to use to the HIV self-test kit is available at https://alere.wistia.com/medias/guyym62w5j.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, do you need an HIV test kit? Are there many members in your local community who need the kits?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Vietnam-based Thien Long to invest almost $3 million in the Philippines

September 2, 2025August 26, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently the Vietnam-based office supplies company Thien Long announced that it will be investing almost $3 million in the Philippines as it is expanding in the Southeast Asian region, according to a news report by VnExpress.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…

Vietnamese office supplies company Thien Long plans to invest US$2.8 million in the Philippines as part of efforts to expand in Southeast Asia.

It will establish the Flex Office Philippines brand to distribute stationary products imported from Vietnam, according to a recent announcement.

In an interview with VnExpress in April, the company’s chairman, Co Gia Tho, had outlined plans to gain a bigger share of the Southeast Asian stationary market.

In recent years the pen and stationery market in the region has been shrinking, with businesses shifting to more profitable industries, offering Thien Long the chance to expand overseas, he said.

Exports currently account for 20% of the company’s sales, and have been growing in double digits over the last decade, reaching VND1 trillion ($38 million) for the first time in 2024.

The management aims to increase this share in the coming years through a “glocalization” strategy, leveraging domestic strengths and adapting them for international markets.

In May, through a subsidiary, it acquired Phuong Nam Cultural Corporation, which operates a chain of nearly 50 bookstores.

The management said the purchase is a strategic step to develop new product categories, particularly toys and lifestyle consumer goods, on which the company has been focusing in recent years.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you ever heard of Thien Long before? Do you think the Vietnam-based office supplies company will succeed with its $2.8 million investment in the Philippines?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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UA&P Sees Stronger Q3 Economic Growth for the Philippines Despite Trump Tariffs

September 1, 2025August 25, 2025carlocarrasco

As far as the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) is concerned, the economy of the Philippines will still grow stronger in the 3^rd quarter by 5.8% despite the 19% Trump tariffs, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

PHILIPPINE economic growth may pick up in the third quarter despite higher US tariffs and “milder” typhoons, the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) said.

“Despite the Trump tariffs, milder typhoon season will help accelerate GDP expansion in Q3 to 5.8%, given a low base in 2024,” it said in its latest The Market Call released on Friday.

If realized, this would be faster than 5.2% in the third quarter of 2024 and 5.5% print in the second quarter. This forecast is also within the government’s revised 5.5% to 6.5% target this year.

“Consumer spending remains strong, aided by low inflation but limited by new US taxes on OFW (overseas Filipino Worker) remittances,” UA&P said.

Inflation cooled to a near six-year low of 0.9% in July as utilities and food costs continued to ease. This brought the seven-month average to 1.7%, slightly below the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 2-4% target band.

UA&P said government infrastructure spending may also regain momentum in the third quarter. This was after state spending slumped due to the 45-day election ban on public works spending from March 28 to May 12.

UA&P said residential construction will remain subdued due to elevated policy and interest rates.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has so far lowered borrowing costs by a total of 125 basis points (bps) since it began its easing cycle in August last year. The policy rate now stands at 5.25%.

UA&P said the US dollar rate will “move either way” depending on rate cuts by the BSP and the US Federal Reserve.

“The peso-dollar rate has a fundamental depreciation bias although it will depend much on extent and timing of policy rate cuts by BSP and the Fed,” it said.

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 be able to grow stronger in the 3^rd quarter even though the 19% Trump tariffs are already in effect? Do you see any signs of Philippine exports to America slowing down already?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Seeking US Tariff Exemptions For Agricultural Commodities, Electronics and More

August 31, 2025August 30, 2025carlocarrasco

Remember the big meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., over a month ago? A 19% tariff by America on Philippine goods was set and now the government of the Philippines is seeking exemptions specifically for exports of agricultural commodities, electronics, vehicle tires, bags and aircraft parts, according to a BusinessWorld news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…

THE PHILIPPINES is asking the US to exempt exports of agricultural products and other goods from the 19% tariff imposed by US President Donald J. Trump, a Trade official said on Thursday.

Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty said the government is seeking US tariff exemptions for exports of agricultural commodities, electronics, vehicle tires, bags and aircraft parts.

“We submitted a list of products we asked the US to exempt from the imposed tariff rates, because these are key and complementary items. And some of them, in fact, are not even produced or manufactured there (in the US),” he told senators at a Senate briefing on the tariff set by Washington on Philippine exports.

“The immediate need right now is we want to negotiate for an exemption, because we want to protect our industries whose main export market is the US,” he added.

The US began imposing a 19% tariff on Philippine goods starting Aug. 7.

“We already submitted to the US the products that should be exempted from the reciprocal tariffs,” he said.

Mr. Gepty said about 23% of the country’s total exports to the US are exempted from the 19% tariff.

In June, the United States was the top destination for Philippine-made goods amounting to $1.22 billion, 35.2% higher from the same month a year ago. Around 53% of the Philippines’ total exports to the US were semiconductors and electronics, Mr. Gepty said.

The US has yet to set new global tariffs for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. Mr. Trump had earlier said he plans to announce higher tariffs on imports of semiconductors, but companies that plan to build manufacturing facilities in the US would be exempted.

“Ninety-nine percent of our semiconductors as of now are still exempted, there’s still no problem” he said. “If the 100% continues, that’s a big problem,” he added.

Mr. Gepty said most of the semiconductors are made by US companies in the Philippines and exported to the US. He noted the higher tariffs would pose problems for the US supply chain, particularly for its defense industry.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has not formally granted zero tariffs on US products, as negotiations over a reciprocal trade agreement remain ongoing, he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the Philippines will succeed in getting an exemption from the Trump tariff on key exports?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Muntinlupa City Government Prohibits Names and Images of Local Officials on Projects and Programs

August 30, 2025August 21, 2025carlocarrasco

Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, the City Government approved a key ordinance that specifically prohibits putting the names and photos of local officials on local programs and projects of the government, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

The Muntinlupa City government has passed an ordinance that prohibits putting names and photos of local officials on government-funded infrastructures, programs, and projects.

Ordinance No. 2025-004, also known as the “Anti-Epal Ordinance of Muntinlupa City,” will prohibit the “marking or installation of identifiers such as names, initials, aliases, insignias, logos, images of incumbent government officials on infrastructure, programs, or projects funded by government appropriations.”

It was signed by Mayor Ruffy Biazon after the measure was passed by the Muntinlupa City Council.

One basis of the ordinance is a 2010 memorandum of the Department of the Interior and Local Government that banned the names, initials or photos of government officials on billboards and signages of government programs and properties.

“Elected and appointed government officials have engaged in the practice of displaying their names, logos, insignias, and even photographs on government-funded projects and programs facilitated by their office and administration during their term. In reality, such projects are fully funded by taxes collected from the Filipino people, making this act clearly contrary to the law,” the ordinance noted.

It added, “the City Government of Muntinlupa firmly upholds the principle that all government programs and projects are funded by public money and must not be used as platforms for self-promotion or political propaganda by any public official, and asserts that such acts undermine the integrity of public service and mislead the people.”

Under the ordinance, government officials refer to “any person, appointed or elected to government service at the city or barangay level, whose office is given the authority, privilege or right to identify, administer, implement, coordinate or propose a government program or projects.”

Government project, as used in the ordinance, refers “to all current and future government infrastructure, engineering works and service contracts, and other related and necessary activities such as site acquisition, supply and/or installation of equipment and materials, implementation, construction, completion, operation, maintenance, improvement, repair and rehabilitation, funded from local sources.”

Government program refers to “all current and future government projects providing the delivery of any basic or special services, falling under all programs of social outreach and services, anti-poverty measures, educational, infrastructure, livelihood, and all Other programs that utilize government funding and resources for the provision of giving any tangible or intangible support to the citizenry, and other related and necessary activities or all Muntinlupenos.”

Public works include “the construction, improvement, rehabilitation, repair, restoration, or maintenance of sidewalks, walkways, roads and bridges, irrigation, flood control and drainage, water supply, sanitation, sewerage and solid waste management systems, shore protection, school buildings, hospital buildings, public buildings, public parks, sports facilities, waiting sheds, and lamp posts, which are funded, wholly or partly, through public funds expended by the local government.”

Prohibited acts under the ordinance include “naming after or marking with the initials, alias, insignia, logo, or image of an incumbent elected local government official on government projects or programs funded by public funds; affixing, or causing to be affixed, the name, initials, alias, insignia, logo, or image of any incumbent local government official to a signage announcing a proposed, on-going, or existing public works project funded through government appropriations;” and “installing, or causing to be installed, signage/s announcing the maintenance, rehabilitation, and/or construction of public works crediting any incumbent local elected government official, or bearing his or her name, initials, alias, insignia, logo, or image for the maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction of such public works funded by public funds.”

Also prohibited are “attaching any stickers that contains the name, initials, alias, insignia, logo, or image to property owned or items given away by the city government and barangays that were bought using public funds including but not limited to vehicles, relief goods, supplies, equipment and the like; and putting the image or picture of local officials in business license plates and permits.”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you glad that the City Government approved the anti epal ordinance? Do you think the approved new ordinance will make Muntinlupa a shining example for other cities dealing with pride and vanity of local officials on projects, programs and infrastructure?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Philippines Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Sector and Government React To Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025

August 28, 2025August 27, 2025carlocarrasco

It is not surprising that both the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector of the Philippines and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) reacted to the filing of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 which was filed in the United States Senate, as reported separately by BusinessWorld, BusinessMirror and the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

For the newcomers reading this, the Philippines BPO sector (sometimes referred to simply as the call center industry even though many local firms have gone beyond taking calls) is now a major part of the national economy with more than 1.7 million Filipinos employed, $35 billion in annual export revenues and the United States of America (USA) alone is the single largest market with 2024 export revenues reported at $25 billion (reported by BusinessMirror).

In the Filipino perspective, call centers are very important because they offer a lot of high-paying jobs for Filipinos who badly need employment. The so-called call center effect on local society and economics includes new stores and food vendors opening up nearby, the opening of new convenience stores operating 24/7, the established restaurants nearby serving customers around-the-clock, and the opening of new branches of banks. Of course, the income Filipinos earned from their BPO jobs enabled them to acquire new things, pay their bills, subscribed to digital services, and move into better residences while helping their families make ends meet.

Having been a call center agent myself a very long time ago, I have witnessed such socio-economic developments happen whenever a call center is present and I was in Cebu province.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA highlighting the reaction of the DTI. Some parts in boldface…

Diversification will help cushion the possible impact of the proposed “Keep Call Centers in America Act,” aimed to protect local jobs by removing federal grants to companies that have call centers outside the United States.

The business process outsourcing (BPO) industry contributes a big part to the Philippine economy, with employment of around 1.4 million in 2024 and revenues of about USD38 billion. Around 70 percent of clients are based in the US.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque said there are no discussions yet with officials of the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) but expressed openness to talk about possible measures to help the sector.

“But for us, (the) DTI, of course, we’ll continue to help the IT-BPO (and) IBPAP businesses in whatever they need from us. Of course, we’ll assist the same way we’ve assisted in the past,” she said.

“We can’t just look at the US as the only market. The world is the market. If you look at their population as compared to the world, it will show you that we should really find other avenues to explore.”

Next, the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) confirmed it is still evaluating the potential impact of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025. For insight, posted below is an excerpt from the BusinessWorld report. Some parts in boldface…

THE IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it is still evaluating the potential impact of the proposed Keep Call Centers in America act.

“It talks about US call centers so I really do not know who that will affect with the way that it is worded,” IBPAP President and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan R. Madrid said on the sidelines of an ECCP AI Forum.

“We need to understand it a little bit more. I think I know what their intention is. But I don’t know the likelihood of this passing. Obviously it is something we are monitoring, and with the way that it is worded, we need to study it more,” he added.

Introduced in the US Senate last month, the bill aims to impose restrictions on US firms outsourcing their call center operations.

In particular, the bill, if signed into law, will render employers outsource call center work overseas ineligible for new federal grants or guaranteed loans.

“I am speaking to the American Chamber of Commerce; we are discussing it and we will see. But we are all aligned on how we will manage this,” he said.

“While the bill is still in the early stages of the legislative process, we remain committed to keeping our stakeholders informed, providing timely guidance, and ensuring that the Philippine IT-BPM industry is well-positioned to adapt and thrive in a changing regulatory environment,” he said.

Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said that the proposed bill poses a “clear risk to the Philippine IT-BPM industry, especially in the call center segment.”

“By restricting access to US federal grants, contracts, and loans for companies that offshore customer service jobs or do not properly disclose them, the bill raises the regulatory and reputational costs for offshore operations,” he said via Viber .

He said the Philippine industry has been evolving beyond voice-based call centers, which are less exposed to call center-specific legislation.

“We now see strong growth in high-value services such as finance, healthcare information management, legal process outsourcing, software development, and data analytics,” he said.

With the US Senate’s proposal to bring back call centers to the US, he said that the Philippines must continue to move up the value chain to reduce exposure to such policies.

“While the bill underscores vulnerabilities in our call center export model, it also reinforces the importance of accelerating investment in high-value, tech-enabled services where the Philippines can maintain global competitiveness,” he added.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the bill could be “a potential drag on future growth of the industry.”

For this year, the IT-BPM industry is expected to generate $40 billion in export revenue and increase its workforce to 1.9 million.

To examine the details of the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025, click here and here.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to the recent developments? Do you think the IT-BPM sector of the Philippines has what it takes to protect itself from whatever effects the Keep Call Centers in America Act of 2025 could create if ever it gets signed into law? Do you personally know anyone who is working in a BPO firm or a call center here in the Philippines? What kind of assistance do you think the national government will offer to the IT-BPM sector? Do you think the existing call centers should search for English-speaking clients in England, Ireland, Scotland, Israel and the like?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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