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US prefab housing firm Hive Modular eyes hotel, housing projects in PHL

Hive Modular Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Avrett — BEATRIZ MARIE D. CRUZ

HIVE MODULAR, an American startup producing sustainable prefabricated homes, is in talks with local residential and hospitality developers to roll out modular units nationwide, citing growing demand for sustainable construction.

“We have a pipeline of residential projects, but most are focused on hospitality,” Hive Modular Founder and Chief Executive Officer John Avrett said during a media tour of the company’s facility in Silang, Cavite, on Feb. 11.

“For hospitality developers, time is money. If they can get a hotel online by 10, 12 or 14 months faster, then they can easily rent those rooms out and get revenue,” he said on the sidelines of the event.

Part of its pipeline includes hospitality projects in La Union and Batangas, he added.

Construction of modular housing units takes about three months, with the overall project lifecycle averaging four to six months, Mr. Avrett said.

He noted that about 90% of construction work for its modular homes is completed at its 2,300-square-meter (sq.m.) facility in Cavite, which helps reduce on-site construction costs.

“We’re faster because we’re doing the construction work, and at the same time we’re doing the site preparation and foundation,” Mr. Avrett said.

The company said modular housing also incorporates sustainable practices, noting that traditional construction accounts for about 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Pricing for its CasitaM units, which measure 60 sq.m. with 45 sq.m. of interior space, starts at P5 million. The units include one bedroom, one bathroom, a lounge and living area, and a deck.

Meanwhile, its 60-sq.m. CasitaX units are priced at P7.5 million and include one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a deck.

The company is also optimistic about investing in the Philippines as a manufacturing base, Mr. Avrett said, citing the country’s young and skilled workforce as well as the growth of its shipbuilding and aerospace industries. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

To win over Asia, Canada needs more than nice speeches

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Andre Furtado from Unsplash

By Daniel Moss

CANADA is on a public-relations roll. Prime Minister Mark Carney wowed Davos elites by declaring a “rupture” with the American-led financial and industrial system that has prevailed for decades. That’s a message that resonates in Asia, where economies grew rapidly by supplying an abundance of goods to American consumers, only to be confronted with tariffs that were scarcely conceivable a few years ago.   

Ottawa is stepping up its courtship of the region. The campaign was readily apparent in Singapore last week with a conference devoted to stronger ties with Southeast Asia. This effort isn’t for the fainthearted, nor should businesses expect instant results just because of the premier’s aphorisms. Nor should it be under any illusion that the region is a substitute for America, destination for almost three-quarters of Canada’s exports and with whom its capital markets are intimately bound.

The air was thick with references to fragmentation and the demise of the rules-based order. Singapore, home to one of the world’s busiest ports, can relate. While the country was handed a relatively small US tariff of 10%, it feels spurned. In his budget speech on Thursday, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong described a “more dangerous” world.

There are sound reasons for Carney’s push. He wants to double non-US shipments in a decade, a tall order without seeking fresh opportunities. Economic growth in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was a better-than-anticipated 4.5% last year, according to the Asian Development Bank, and projected to be about the same in 2026. Trade with the US is robust, despite levies imposed by President Donald Trump.

It’s also a region looking for partners. None have abandoned defense ties with America, but are chastened by Trump’s territorial ambitions — and his musings that Canada itself should be swallowed. Southeast Asia is also wary of China’s military build-up and the risk of a miscalculation in the South China Sea. Ottawa can pitch itself as US-lite: Accents that sound similar, a legal system that seems straightforward and a Group of Seven economy. (Making inroads might also mean Canada pulls punches; I heard little direct criticism of Beijing in sessions I attended.)

Conditions can vary greatly; and businesses looking to invest here should be aware that there’s more than one Southeast Asia. There are prosperous countries like Singapore with first-class infrastructure and a highly educated, outward looking workforce. Vietnam has one of the most impressive rates of growth in the world. Then there are the places that aren’t doing so well: Thailand’s economy languishes and seems unable to escape deflation, while Indonesian markets have been pummeled, and economists are skeptical of economic data. Some speakers praised the region’s young populations. That depends on what you mean. Rates of fertility in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia are low and unlikely to climb much. Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are headed in the same direction.

And for Canadian firms with goods and services to sell, finding the right local partner is important. As is understanding that ally and the nature of their friends and rivals. This was a point well made at one session devoted to infrastructure. A large slice of business is dominated by family conglomerates that dabble in everything from agriculture to telecommunications and banking. These clans enjoy warm ties with lawmakers and regulators. State investment companies, which ultimately answer to elected leaders, are also enthusiastic investors. This is fine, as long as things go well. But what happens when economies or joint ventures take a turn for the worse?

Also beware cultural and political landmines. A question from the floor startled me: Should Canadians try to engineer or encourage social change while they invest? Absolutely not. Western executives should steer clear of promoting views on gender, identity, and even freedom of the press, they were told. What sells in Montreal or Toronto won’t always go down well in Jakarta or Manila.     

No economic or political order is set in stone. Just because the US under Trump has turned from protector to insurgent doesn’t mean everyone else is a reliable bet. I remember when Vancouver was awarded the honor of hosting an early meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in 1997. Prior to that year, the story was all about bountiful growth. By the time I arrived to report on the summit, Thailand and Indonesia had been forced to secure emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund and South Korea was finalizing terms of its rescue.

As much as Carney’s soundbites were applauded, closer ties can sometimes come down to more basic requirements. Speaker after speaker at the Singapore gathering bemoaned how long it took to travel to the city state, and the convoluted passage they had to take to get here. Adding a few more direct flights would be a great — and very practical — enhancement.

Canada’s interest in Asia has come a long way since Justin Trudeau, the former premier, took a selfie in a Singapore park in 2018. Trudeau squatted in front of a plaque dedicated to a distant relative from the colonial era. By all means, come to Southeast Asia, she might have said. But keep your eyes open. The region is complex, and today’s corporations should pay heed.

BLOOMBERG OPINION

How PSEi member stocks performed — February 16, 2026

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, February 16, 2026.

Philippines to cooperate with ICC if warrants are issued vs Duterte allies

FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT / COUR PÉNALE INTERNATIONALE

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

THE Philippines will cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) if it issues arrest warrants against people linked to former President Rodrigo R. Duterte over his anti-drug campaign, Malacañang said on Monday, signaling Manila’s willingness to help despite its withdrawal from the tribunal.

“If it goes through the process, that’s what this government wants,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino. “Everything this government does goes through the process.”

The Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2018, with the exit taking effect in 2019. However, Ms. Castro said authorities might still cooperate in serving arrest warrants through the International Criminal Police Organization, similar to the mechanism used when Mr. Duterte was arrested in 2025.

Over the weekend, the ICC identified several high-profile figures as co-perpetrators in the drug war, including Senators Ronald “Bato” M. dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go. Mr. Duterte is detained in The Hague, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity.

Also named in court documents were former Justice Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II; former Philippine National Police chiefs Vicente D. Danao, Jr., Camilo P. Cascolan and Oscar D. Albayalde; ex-National Bureau of Investigation chief Dante A. Gierran; and former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency head Isidro S. Lapeña.

The ICC has yet to issue arrest warrants against them.

Mr. Aguirre and Mr. Go have denied the allegations. Mr. Dela Rosa has not attended Senate sessions since Nov. 11, 2025, when reports first surfaced about a possible warrant.

His lawyer, Israelito P. Torreon, earlier said the ICC’s disclosure was procedural and did not constitute a finding of guilt.

Ms. Castro urged those named not to evade authorities if they maintain their innocence.

“If you are hiding, what does that mean?” she asked. “There is no need to hide if you know you are not at fault.”

Mr. Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearings are scheduled for Feb. 23, 24, 26 and 27.

According to a less redacted version of the charge sheet from the ICC Office of the Prosecutor, Mr. Duterte and his associates shared a “common plan or agreement to neutralize alleged criminals” through violent means, including murder.

Prosecutors said Mr. Duterte bears criminal responsibility for three counts of crimes against humanity involving at least 76 deaths.

These include 19 killings during his tenure as mayor of Davao City, 14 murders of alleged high-value targets, and 43 deaths of lower-level drug suspects nationwide from 2016 to 2018.

Legal and foreign policy analysts said the Marcos administration’s stance reflects a broader effort to demonstrate adherence to international law.

Josue Raphael J. Cortez, a diplomacy lecturer at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, said the government’s position indicates an intent to collaborate with the ICC and reinforces its rule-of-law credentials.

He noted that the crimes occurred before the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute took effect, providing the legal basis for the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

“The very fact that the crimes transpired in the years prior to such withdrawal serves as the benchmark from which our National Government is dealing with the matter,” he said, rejecting claims that cooperation is purely political.

Francis M. Esteban, a faculty member at Far Eastern University’s Department of International Studies, said the move strengthens the Philippines’ image as a rule-based actor in the international system despite pressures facing multilateral institutions.

He said the administration appears to be reaffirming its view that international norms and institutions must be respected, even amid geopolitical tensions.

Mr. Cortez added that cooperation with the ICC also aligns with Manila’s broader diplomatic objectives, including its bid for a nonpermanent seat at the United Nations Security Council and efforts to maintain credibility among foreign partners.

Marcos promises affordable homes at 4PH turnover

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Monday pledged to deliver more affordable houses as he led the turnover of units under the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) program in Taytay, Rizal.

“We have come a long way, but we are still working hard to reach our target number of houses in the coming years,” he said in Filipino during the ceremony, which also marked the seventh anniversary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Since Mr. Marcos took office in 2022, the government has built more than 423,000 housing units under the program, according to official data.

The DHSUD is targeting 1.133 million housing units by 2028, with about 90,000 units planned for completion this year.

Mr. Marcos said the government is not only speeding up construction but also making it easier for families to finance their homes.

He cited lower interest rates offered by the Home Development Mutual Fund, also known as Pag-IBIG.

Pag-IBIG is offering a 3% interest rate for the first five years of loans under the Expanded 4PH Program to help keep monthly payments affordable for qualified members.

“With the help of subsidies from the government, more families now have the opportunity to own their own [house],” Mr. Marcos said.

He added that the administration would continue expanding housing production, including through modern construction methods.

The President visited a Megawide Construction Corp. precast plant, saying such facilities would help speed up building and increase output.

“We will do everything we can to not only build this plant that you see today but also to expand and multiply it to speed up construction and increase the number of homes we can provide,” he added.

During the event, Mr. Marcos awarded lot certificates and financial assistance to beneficiaries under the Enhanced Community Mortgage Program. He also handed certificates of entitlement to beneficiaries of longstanding presidential proclamations, granting them security of tenure on land they have occupied for decades.

The President said the government would continue working with private developers to accelerate construction, streamline procedures and widen the program’s reach.

“As long as there are Filipinos dreaming of their own home, the government will continue to act to support this dream,” he said.

The DHSUD, created under Republic Act No. 11201 in 2019, oversees housing and urban development policies nationwide. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

House to fast-track Marcos priority bills, says majority leader

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCAS

THE House of Representatives is accelerating action on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s priority measures, with several bills now nearing plenary deliberation, the chamber’s majority leader said on Monday.

House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III said eight measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority list are set for discussion at the House floor.

“These committee-level approvals show that the House is doing the hard work earlier under the leadership of Speaker Dy — building consensus, refining policy and making sure the measures we bring to the floor are ready,” he said in a statement.

He was referring to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, who was elected to lead the chamber in September following leadership turmoil linked to the multibillion-peso flood control controversy.

Mr. Marcos said the House had approved 12 priority bills as of February, including amendments to the bank secrecy law and a measure extending the estate tax amnesty period.

LEDAC recently added four more measures to the administration’s legislative agenda, including proposals to abolish the travel tax and to address the spread of disinformation.

Several other priority bills have cleared their respective mother committees and are awaiting action from the House Appropriations Committee on funding provisions.

These include proposals to establish an independent anti-graft body for public works projects, pass a national land use act, and enact a magna carta for small businesses.

Measures seeking to create a presidential scholarship program, reset elections in the Bangsamoro autonomous region, amend the government’s cash-assistance program for poor Filipinos, expand scholarship support and strengthen the Bureau of Immigration are also pending appropriations clearance.

“Our focus remains on bills that directly affect education, health, food security and social protection — areas where legislation translates into real impact for Filipino families,” the presidential son said.

He added that the chamber aims to ensure measures are thoroughly reviewed before reaching the floor.

“The goal is to pass sound, well-vetted laws that people can actually feel in their daily lives, whether in the classroom, at the health center, or at the dinner table,” he said. “That’s progress, and we intend to sustain it.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Dynasty ban seen as move against Duterte clan

BW FILE PHOTO

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

THE Marcos administration’s push to ban political dynasties is being viewed by some analysts as an effort to curb the Duterte family’s political ambitions, amid a widening rift between two of the country’s most influential clans.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has included anti-dynasty legislation in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s priority measures, reviving a long-debated constitutional provision that prohibits political dynasties “as may be defined by law.”

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, said isolating the Dutertes could benefit the Marcos bloc in the short term but might also energize their supporters ahead of the 2028 elections.

“Isolating the Dutertes would be useful in the short term, but also risks consolidating pro-Duterte forces for 2028,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati, said the initiative could be read in two ways.

“Some will see it as an institutional reform measure,” he said via Messenger. “Others will read it as a political maneuver aimed at recalibrating the competitive landscape, particularly in relation to families with strong regional machinery.”

The rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte camps has intensified in recent months. Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, daughter of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was once Mr. Marcos’ running mate.

Tensions have since escalated, culminating in Mr. Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court and impeachment moves against Ms. Duterte.

Both families are entrenched political dynasties. The Marcoses have long dominated politics in Ilocos Norte, while the Dutertes have held power in Davao for decades. Both patriarchs have served as President.

Mr. Juliano said Mr. Marcos might gain short-term moral advantage from backing anti-dynasty reform, particularly among civil society groups that have long pushed it.

“Mr. Marcos’ position is likely to capture short-term moral high ground,” he said, though he added that the President’s own dynastic background complicates the optics of the proposal.

Mr. Tapia cautioned that an anti-dynasty law would not target just one family.

“Anti-dynasty legislation would not only affect one family,” he said. “It could potentially reshape the entire electoral map, especially in provinces where local power has been consolidated within extended kinship networks.”

He also noted that banning dynasties would not automatically dismantle patronage politics, weak party structures or the influence of money in elections.

The reform might become symbolic if it is not paired with broader institutional strengthening, including campaign finance regulation, party development and enforcement capacity, he added.

Several bills have been filed in both chambers of Congress seeking to define and prohibit political dynasties, almost four decades after the ratification of the 1987 Constitution. Despite the constitutional mandate, no enabling law has been passed.

Joy G. Aceron, convenor-director of transparency group Government Watch, said a well-crafted anti-dynasty measure could curb the concentration of power that weakens accountability.

“A proper anti-dynasty measure can check concentration of power that undermines accountability,” she said, noting that the reform would affect all major political families, including both the Marcoses and the Dutertes.

She added that limiting dynastic control could improve transparency and widen political participation.

“Political efficacy can increase if people know that the playing field is leveled — if opportunities are not limited to a few families who have been there for a long time,” Ms. Aceron said.

The Senate and House electoral committees are conducting hearings on the m measure, with lawmakers still divided over how broad the ban should be and which relatives should be covered.

House urged to hasten VP ouster

Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Department of Justice, May 9, 2025. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A MINORITY lawmaker on Monday urged the House of Representatives majority bloc to begin efforts to secure enough votes to directly transmit the impeachment cases against Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio to the Senate.

House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said it would be better if the House immediately transmits the complaint to the Senate, which would convene as an impeachment court, so Ms. Duterte could promptly face the allegations against her.

“It’s still better if we fast-track this so we can move straight to trial and finally settle, once and for all, the issue of the Vice-President’s alleged misuse of confidential funds,” he told reporters in Filipino.

Ms. Duterte faces three impeachment complaints alleging the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to her office and to the Education department when she was secretary.

Mr. Tinio said the complaints will likely be referred to the House floor for its referral to the Justice committee on Wednesday, which would jump-start her impeachment proceedings and bar more complaints from being filed against her.

“If we go through the Justice committee, that’s fine too, so everyone is refreshed,” he said. “It’s also better that everyone is reminded again why there is a strong basis for impeaching the Vice-President.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DoJ issues travel ban vs Estrada, Bonoan

BW FILE PHOTO

THE Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday said a travel ban has been issued against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, and four others amid an ongoing investigation into a multibillion-peso plunder and corruption case involving government infrastructure projects.

In an order dated Feb. 10, the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 issued a precautionary hold departure order to the Bureau of Immigration, preventing the respondents from fleeing the Philippines while the case is ongoing.

“There is probable cause to believe that respondents will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the crimes against them,” the order by Judge Juan G. Rañola, Jr. stated.

The respondents face charges of plunder, graft, and direct bribery for allegedly orchestrating a massive bid-rigging scheme and pocketing kickbacks from fictitious flood control projects. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Trimester school system backed

Students walk inside the campus of a high school in Quezon City, April 18, 2024. — REUTERS

THE PALACE on Monday backed the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal to implement a trimester school system but noted the proposal is still under review and will go through thorough consultations with stakeholders.

“This is just a proposal, and they are presenting the possible advantages of having a trimester that is being promoted by the DepEd,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino.

“It is still at the proposal stage, so it is better to do more studies sooner if it should be implemented.”

The DepEd earlier proposed replacing the current quarterly system with a trimester academic calendar to better distribute academic and non-academic activities and help reduce teachers’ workload.

Under the proposed School Year 2026-2027 calendar, the 201 school days would be organized into three terms.

Each term would feature longer teaching periods along with scheduled breaks intended for lesson planning, student assessment and other professional responsibilities.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education has noted that Filipino student proficiency is in critical decline.

Around 30.52% of Grade 3 learners were assessed as barely sufficient in key subjects, with proficiency rates falling to nearly zero by senior high school. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Visit Mary Jane Veloso, Marcos urged

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

AN OVERSEAS Filipino worker advocacy group on Monday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to personally visit Mary Jane F. Veloso in prison and expedite her clemency, a year after she was transferred to Philippine custody.

In a picket at the Department of Justice, supporters of Ms. Veloso noted that the family has submitted thousands of clemency pleas since 2024, as Migrante International Chairperson Joanna Concepcion said in a statement that Malacañang’s recent suggestion for a personal appeal is “cruel.”

“Marcos has all the power to free Mary Jane. He is heartless for not using it,” Ms. Concepcion said. “It is he who should have the compassion to meet her in prison.”

The group also urged the government to resolve a habeas corpus petition filed on Nov. 14, 2025, which challenges the legality of her continued detention at the Correctional Institution for Women.

Ms. Veloso, who has been incarcerated for over 16 years following a 2010 drug trafficking conviction in Indonesia, recently issued an open letter seeking freedom to care for her aging parents and children. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

73% say bribery is most common form of corruption

MOST Filipino adults believe bribery is the most common form of corruption in the government, according to a survey by OCTA Research released on Monday.

About 73% of adult Filipinos cited bribery as the most widespread form of corruption, followed by irregularities in the use of public funds at 66%, vote buying at 64%, and slow justice at 54%, based on a non-partisan survey commissioned by the Office of the Ombudsman of 1,200 respondents conducted from Dec. 3 to 11, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.

“The prominence of bribery may reflect its visibility in routine transactions with government offices. Many Filipinos may have directly encountered or observed informal payments in frontline services, making it the most immediate and recognizable form of corruption,” the OCTA Research said.

While bribery leads nationally, vote buying emerged as a particularly dominant concern in parts of the Visayas and Mindanao, suggesting that electoral integrity remains a localized flashpoint.

Socioeconomic differences also shaped perceptions. Among higher-income respondents in Class ABC, 78% identified bribery as the top concern, while irregularities in public funds (67%) and slow justice (64%) were cited more frequently than among lower-income groups.

By contrast, respondents in Class E showed the highest sensitivity to vote buying at 69%, while only 47% in this group cited irregularities in public funds as a major concern.

Regionally, vote buying emerged as the dominant concern in Eastern Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Davao Region, and Soccsksargen, while irregularities in public procurement were cited more frequently in the National Capital Region at 40%, above the national average of 32%.

“Overall, the results underscore that effective anti-corruption strategies must address both institutional structures and lived public experiences, ensuring reforms are responsive to the everyday realities identified by respondents,” OCTA said. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

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