Japan says China’s dual-use export ban ‘unacceptable,’ rare earths in crosshairs

January 7, 2026 | 11:56 pm

Semiconductor chips-electronics — Semiconductor chips are seen on a circuit board of a computer in this illustration picture taken on Feb. 25, 2022. — REUTERS

TOKYO — Japan’s top government spokesperson said on Wednesday that China’s ban on exports of dual-use items to the country was “absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable,” as a diplomatic dispute between Asia’s top two economies ramped up.

Dual-use items are goods, software or technologies that have both civilian and military applications, including certain rare earth elements that are essential for making drones and chips.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi touched off the dispute with Beijing late last year by saying a Chinese attack on democratically governed Taiwan could be deemed an existential threat to Japan. China regards Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim the island rejects.

Beijing has demanded she retract the remarks, which she has not done, prompting a series of countermeasures, the latest of which was Tuesday’s ban on exports of dual-use items for military use.

“A measure such as this, targeting only our country, differs significantly from international practice, is absolutely unacceptable and deeply regrettable,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a daily press conference on Wednesday.

He declined to comment on the possible impact on Japanese industry, saying it remained unclear exactly what items would be targeted.

The reaction from markets to the news was relatively muted though Japanese shares were lower on Wednesday, bucking a global trend that carried US and European benchmarks to record highs.

Japan’s broad Topix gauge of equities slid 0.55%, with a subindex of mining shares leading declines, down 3.2%.

RARE EARTH RESTRICTIONS NEXT?
China Daily, a newspaper owned by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, reported on Tuesday that Beijing was considering tightening the license review of rare earth exports to Japan more broadly, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

Such a move could have sweeping implications for the manufacturing powerhouse, including its key automotives sector, analysts say.

While Japan has sought to diversify its supply of rare earths since China last throttled exports of the minerals in 2010, around 60% of its imports still come from China.

A three-month curb on Chinese exports of rare earths, like that seen during the 2010, could cost Japanese businesses 660 billion yen ($4.21 billion, $1 = 156.6800 yen) and shave 0.11% of annual gross domestic product (GDP), Nomura Research Institute Economist Takahide Kiuchi said in a note on Wednesday.

A year-long ban would knock 0.43% off GDP, he added.

So far, China Customs data has shown no sign of a decline in rare earth exports to Japan, though the data is released with some delay. In November, the latest month for which there was data, exports grew 35% to 305 metric tons, the highest tally last year. — Reuters

Lawmakers to ask Supreme Court to strike standby fund in 2026 budget

January 7, 2026 | 9:41 pm

GAA budget 2026 — PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026 during a ceremony at Malacañan Palace on Monday, Jan. 5. — NOEL B. PABALATE/PPA POOL

By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, Reporter

Minority congressmen plan to file a petition seeking to strike out all unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in this year’s P6.793-trillion national budget, according to an advisory issued on Wednesday.

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar R. Erice and Party-list Rep. Leila M. de Lima will submit a petition before the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the legality of the inclusion of standby funding in the 2026 budget law, based on a media advisory sent to reporters.

“The petition assails the inclusion of unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 national budget, citing violations of constitutional principles on public finance, budget accountability and congressional power of the purse,” it said.

According to a copy of the petition, obtained by BusinessWorld, the lawmakers said that UAs are unconstitutional as it allows the government to “spend beyond its declared means under the guise of ‘excess revenue.’”

Mr. Erice and Ms. De Lima, in the prefatory statement, explained this opposes the Constitution which requires that the General Appropriations Bill be based on a budget of expenditures and sources of financing.

“A budget that authorizes expenditures without existing and identifiable sources of financing is not a budget in the constitutional sense,” the lawmakers said.

“It is a conditional permission to spend, the activation of which is left entirely to Executive discretion. This is precisely what the Constitution was designed to prevent.”

Malacañang had earlier said it is confident the 2026 budget could withstand legal scrutiny, adding that it respects the right of the lawmakers to file a petition against the spending plan’s UAs.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. signed the 2026 budget law on Monday, vetoing around P92.5 billion from the over P200 billion in standby funding proposed by Congress. This brings the reserve funds to P150.5 billion, which Mr. Marcos has said was the lowest since 2019. Critics have said that UAs have been historically prone to corruption.

UA are standby funds that can only be used for certain projects that may be charged against excess or windfall revenues to fund specific programs and projects.

The looming legal challenge follows the closer-than-usual scrutiny of this year’s budgeting process, driven by public calls for greater transparency amid repeated concerns over alleged insertions to questionable projects.

Last year’s budget law also faced a similar challenge, as several petitioners sought to question the spending plan’s constitutionality over allegations of tampering after it had been ratified by Congress.

CONGRESS OVERSIGHT

Also on Wednesday, Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon, who heads the House Public Accounts Committee, said the Budget department should disclose to the public if the government has excess revenues to allow closer monitoring of UA spending.

“There was a bit of opacity in the previous use of unprogrammed appropriations,” he told a media briefing in mixed English and Filipino.

“You have to be transparent firstly on whether or not excess revenue exists,” Mr. Ridon said. “Also, you have to be transparent on whether they will have to borrow to fund these particular projects.”

His statement comes after he pledged to exercise greater oversight over state spending, which would include the monitoring of public bidding and project implementation to cut down on wasteful spending and corruption.

The Senate and House of Representatives have agreed to convene a joint oversight panel, tasked to safeguard government spending.

Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said they will create the committee when sessions resume on Jan. 26.

“Once we convene by Jan. 26, we will manifest the members of the on the plenary floor and the creation of the oversight committee, but we still have a lot of preparatory work,” Mr. Gatchalian told a news briefing in mixed Filipino and English.

The Finance chair added that the Senate is still looking to coordinate with the lower chamber on potential topics to be tackled by the oversight committee.

“Even though we have not yet convened, we are doing a lot of the research and coordination with agencies so that once session starts, we can already begin,” Mr. Gatchalian said.

The joint congressional panel is expected to handle the monitoring of government expenditures and the compliance of agencies with the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

“The budget deliberations are already finished. We are now in the implementation stage. It is the implementation that must now be monitored,” he said.

The panel will be led by the Finance heads of both chambers, acting as co-chairs.

“We will look at several items. Number one, utilization of agencies and underutilization because that is a perennial disease of agencies,” he added.

The senator noted that the oversight body will examine how projects are incorporated into the National Expenditure Program and assess whether projects proposed by local government units and communities are being observed.

“That’s important so we can see if the process of obtaining local projects all the way to national is being followed,” Mr. Gatchalian said.

He added that the joint oversight panel has not been implemented in previous years, despite its inclusion in the General Appropriations Act.

“Actually, this is not new. It’s under the General Appropriations Act. It has never been created so we will create it in the next few days,” he said. — with Adrian H. Halili

Gov’t told to boost defense capabilities, alliances amid ‘dangerous’ times

January 7, 2026 | 9:38 pm

WPS-water canon incident1 — PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTO

By Adrian H. Halili, Reporter

A SENATOR on Wednesday called on the government to bolster its defense capabilities and alliances, amid heightened uncertainty following the US’ attack on Venezuela and Beijing’s growing aggression in the South China Sea.

“These are very dangerous and volatile times, we have to be agile and open to discussion with all our defense partners as well as our allies and neighbors in Asia,” Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos, who heads the Senate Foreign Affairs panel, told a news briefing.

The senator’s remarks followed the US Special Forces’ overnight attack on Venezuela, one of the world’s largest oil reserves, resulting in the capture of its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Critics have warned that Washington’s attack on the South American country could embolden China to aggressively enforce its territorial claims over parts of the South China Sea and Taiwan.

“I think we have to broaden and expand our foreign policy notions to include what has occurred,” she added.

She said that the Philippines must continue its defense dialogues with other countries and improve its self-reliant defense position.

“We need to realign with our neighbors, diversify our alliances, and begin to think in a practical and tactical level with China, the US and all our significant allies,” Ms. Marcos added.

Manila has been increasingly active in forging defense agreements with foreign countries to push back against Beijing’s aggressive behavior in the vital waterway, which handles an estimated $3 trillion in annual trade. The area has become a flashpoint for potential regional conflict.

“It is a good thing that we have diversified our visiting forces agreements (VFAs) that isn’t just the US, so that we are not isolated like Venezuela,” she added.

It has signed VFAs with Australia, Japan and New Zealand, while similar talks with France and the United Kingdom are ongoing.

Ms. Marcos added the country can take advantage of its upcoming chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and potential seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to bolster alliances.

“We must exploit these positions to create a new alignment with our neighbors in the Asia Pacific,” Ms. Marcos said. “Let’s not be alone like Venezuela who has become very vulnerable because they are isolated.”

The country has also been lobbying for a position in the UNSC to strengthen its position amid the ongoing South China Sea disputes. Five non-permanent seats are up for grabs during the election by the middle of the year.

The Philippines is also set to host the ASEAN Summit this year, where member states are expected to tackle the completions of a code of conduct on the South China Sea.

Beijing has reportedly heightened its coercive behavior in the disputed waterway, where it claims 80% of its maritime features. This claim was deemed illegal by a United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal in 2016, which Beijing has rejected.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila rejected this claim, pushing back on the Philippines calls to uphold “rules-based international order” in the South China Sea.

“The Philippines truly intends to make itself look good and uphold the so-called ‘rules-based international order,’ it should first condemn the hegemonic action of a certain country, which sent its military over 3,000 kilometers away to brazenly use force against a sovereign state and detain its president,” the embassy said.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment. It earlier called for the enforcement of the international law amid the ongoing US-Venezuela conflict.

Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation said that the Philippines must continue to uphold international laws.

“As the world will go dim due to episodic warring states, the Philippines must maintain its global position for championing the vestiges of the international laws,” he said in a Messenger chat.

Mr. Cabalza added that Manila must also improve military modernization and defense economy, along with widening diplomatic and defense networks with allies and strategic partners from Asia, Americas, Europe and Oceania.

“In these turbulent times, we see the brutalization of international laws where major powers behave differently based on their own national interest to assert their superiority at the expense of the falling rules-based world order,” he added.

Public trust in Senate and House down at end-2025, survey shows

January 7, 2026 | 9:35 pm

BBM-Marcos-congress — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PUBLIC TRUST in the Senate and House of Representatives among other agencies weakened at the end of 2025, a nationwide survey found, reflecting Filipinos’ concerns over governance and responsiveness of the Legislature.

The PAHAYAG 2025 End-of-the-Year Survey reported trust in the Senate slipped to 31%, with 57% expressing low or no trust at all. Similarly, 38% of the 1,500 respondents expressed low or no trust, while 34% showed moderate trust in the House of Representatives.

Approval of the Senate also declined to 24% from 28% in the previous quarter, while approval of the House of Representatives edged down to 20% from 21%.

The year-end survey, conducted from Dec. 7-10, also found a broad list of agencies saw declining trust, with only the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) experiencing a “significant recovery” in trust and approval.

The DPWH was the sole gainer among government agencies, with public approval for the department rising to 16% from 12%, and trust climbing to 10% from 8%. The report attributed this improvement to a “growing confidence in the department’s ongoing infrastructure and flood control programs under Secretary Vince Dizon.”

“This recovery, alongside a similar gain for the Commission on Audit (31% to 35%), credited for its active role in auditing government officials and agencies, offers a rare glimmer of positive public sentiment in an otherwise challenging quarter for many institutions,” the report noted.

Approval ratings for most government agencies were broadly stable, but several institutions tied to economic management, public services and governance recorded declines.

Approval ratings fell for the Department of Health (44% from 49%), Department of Trade and Industry (34% from 42%), Department of Transportation (37% from 42%), Department of Agrarian Reform (35% from 38%), Depart-ment of Finance (26% from 30%) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (31% from 35%), the survey showed.

“While most agencies maintain stable approval, public perception highlights gaps in performance, particularly among agencies directly linked to governance, economic management, and legislative functions,” the report read.

“The DPWH’s recovery stands out as a model of how leadership and visible results can translate into public confidence.”

The PAHAYAG survey was independently conducted and not commissioned by any political group. PAHAYAG is a corporate social responsibility initiative of PUBLiCUS Asia, Inc., with Vox Opinion Research serving as its research arm.

BAD YEAR

In a separate survey, more than two in three Filipinos claimed 2025 was a bad year for both their families and the country due to the ongoing corruption scandal as well as the calamities that hit the disaster-prone nation.

In a non-commissioned survey, conducted from Dec. 30- Jan. 2, Tangere found that 67% of 1,800 respondents perceived 2025 as a year of adversity, with the highest levels of hardships seen among those from Mindanao (71%), the Visayas (70%) and Northern Luzon (69%).

This was also most heavily felt by respondents in socio-economic Class D (70%), which accounted for nearly 90% of the population.

Despite this, about 78% of Filipinos express optimism about the year ahead. “The prevailing positive outlook is contingent upon tangible improvements in Philippine governance and a more robust stance against corruption,” the report said. — CMAH with CAT

Health dep’t to issue new rules for medical assistance program

January 7, 2026 | 9:23 pm

THE Department of Health (DoH) expects to complete guidelines for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program by late January or February, with the new rules to take effect immedi-ately upon issuance, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said on Wednesday.

The Health chief said the agency already has “basic principles and a working draft” for the guidelines, but MAIFIP will continue to operate under the existing 2025 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) until the up-dated framework is finalized.

“As of now, [MAIFIP] will be following the existing 2025 IRR,” Mr. Herbosa said. “That is what we will follow until we finish writing the current rules for 2026.”

MAIFIP provides financial assistance for hospital bills and medical needs of indigent patients and has been under scrutiny amid broader government efforts to tighten rules on the use of public funds and standardize access to health assistance programs.

Mr. Herbosa also detailed how the government finances its zero-balance billing policy. He said zero-balance billing is largely funded through hospital budgets rather than a single line item.

Roughly 30% of hospitalization costs in DoH hospitals are paid by the state health insurer, with reimbursements recycled as a revolving fund to sustain services, Mr. Herbosa said

DoH hospitals are also allowed to retain income under special budget provisions, enabling them to buy medicines and supplies instead of returning excess funds to the Treasury.

The government has allocated an additional P1 billion to support zero-balance billing in local government hospitals and another P1 billion for specialty hospitals, as it pushes to expand the policy beyond DoH facilities.

Mr. Herbosa said a P1-billion MAIFIP allocation for local government units (LGUs) will serve as a pilot to determine how much funding is needed to fully implement zero-balance billing at the local level.

“To fulfill universal health coverage, we really need zero-balance billing in LGU-run hospitals,” he said in mixed English and Filipino, noting that patient admissions in DoH basic accommodation wards have risen by about 20%.

Under the draft IRR, medical assistance will be limited to patients admitted to basic accommodation or semi-private rooms, including in private hospitals that maintain basic accommodation beds, Mr. Herbosa said.

Patients admitted to suites or single rooms would not qualify for taxpayer-funded medical assistance.

He added that DoH hospitals have been instructed to partner with nearby private hospitals when capacity is full, allowing patients to be transferred and supported through zero-balance billing arrangements.

Addressing concerns over political involvement in medical assistance, Mr. Herbosa said the department will strictly follow the law, which already bans certain forms of political promotion. The IRR, he said, cannot go beyond what the law provides.

He also stressed that the expansion of zero-balance billing is intended to eliminate the need for patients to seek help from politicians altogether.

“There are no more guarantee letters because there is zero balance,” Mr. Herbosa said. “As long as we inform people that basic accommodation in DoH hospitals are under zero-balance billing, there is no need to go to an elected official.”

Mr. Herbosa said P1 billion has been set aside to roll out the program in secondary and tertiary LGU hospitals as part of the department’s P448-billion budget for 2026.

The pilot will initially cover about five provinces that have met commitments under the universal health care law, including Sarangani, Laguna and Aklan.

“We have actually selected provinces that have fulfilled their commitments to universal health coverage,” he said.

The pilot will focus on Level 2 and Level 3 LGU hospitals, which handle more complex cases and higher-cost procedures, he added. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Fresh VP raps not budget-driven

January 7, 2026 | 9:21 pm

ANY FRESH moves to impeach Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio this year would not be driven by money, as lawmakers would likely be focused on preserving the integrity of the process and ensuring accountability, a congressman said on Wednesday.

Groups seeking her removal have signaled plans to file a new impeachment complaint once the restriction is lifted on Feb. 5.

“Impeachment proceedings are based on the quest for truth and accountability,” Party-list Rep. Terry L. Ridon said in a media briefing. “If House members or civil society would want to file it again… they are free to do so.”

“I don’t think they’ll be motivated by any promises of any projects for 2026,” he added.

Office of the Vice-President Spokeswoman Ruth B. Castelo did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

Ms. Duterte is the first vice-president to be impeached, but her Senate trial to decide whether she would be removed from office and barred from public service for life was aborted after the Supreme Court ruled the impeachment unconstitutional.

She had faced a slew of accusations ranging from budget anomalies to plotting the assassination of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife and his cousin, a former House speaker. The Vice-President has denied any wrong-doing.

Ms. Duterte had said in December that she is prepared to answer allegations if a new complaint is filed against her, but alleged the process of removing her from office as a “budget-driven” effort. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

SC: 48.96% passed 2025 bar exams

January 7, 2026 | 9:14 pm

PHILIPPINE bar passers for the 2025 examinations were officially released on Wednesday by the Supreme Court (SC), with 5,594 successful examinees out of 11,420 takers, or a 48.96% passing rate.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, chairperson of the 2025 Bar Examinations, said during the release of the results in Manila, that the Supreme Court played a supportive role in the process with the passers and hopefuls.

“I wanted to make the examinees feel that the Supreme Court and I were always with them. We’re not foes; we’re not here to judge them. We’re here to support them,” she told a press briefing, explaining that the bar is designed to test knowledge fairly and not to intimidate.

The exams, which were held on Sept. 7, 10, and 14, 2025, were conducted simultaneously in 14 testing centers across the country.

Law school performance this year showed notable achievements, according to the SC.

Ateneo de Manila University recorded the highest passing percentage among schools with more than 100 examinees, followed by the University of the Philippines, and the University of Santo Tomas.

For schools with 51 to 100 examinees, Ateneo de Davao University achieved a perfect 100% passing rate, while West Visayas State University led schools with 11 to 50 examinees.

North Eastern Mindanao State University topped schools with 1 to 10 examinees, also achieving a 100% passing rate.

The 2025 bar examinations were topped by Jhenroniel Rhey T. Sanchez of the University of the Philippines, who earned an overall rating of 92.70%.

Other top passers include Spinel Albert Allauigan Declaro (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 92.46%), Alaiza Agatep Adviento (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 91.91%), Angelica De Castro Mitra (De La Salle-Lipa, 91.69%), Marc Angelo Galvez Santos (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 91.59%), Jeowy Loyloy Ompad (University of San Jose-Recoletos, 91.25%), Enrico Gabriel Reyes Paguia (Ateneo de Manila University, 91.25%), Johann Raphael Silapan Gata (University of Santo Tomas-Manila, 90.90%), Marie Shantelle Atienza Sarmiento (University of the Philippines, 90.88%), Richmond Bulan Lucas (University of La Salette, 90.45%).

Complete details, including the full list of passers, topnotchers, and law school rankings, are available on the Supreme Court’s official website.

The oath-taking ceremony and the signing of the roll of attorneys for the new lawyers are both scheduled on Feb. 6, 2026. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

PhilHealth to use AI against fraud

January 7, 2026 | 9:10 pm

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will implement artificial intelligence (AI) in strengthening its fraud control measures, its chief said on Wednesday, following a state think tank’s recommendation for an overhaul.

PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer Edwin M. Mercado said the state health insurer has already tightened “gates” this year through pre-authorization and pre-validation measures designed to stop questionable claims before payments are made.

“This year, we put in place many ‘gates,’ such as pre-authorization and pre-validation, to prevent problems,” he told a Palace briefing in Filipino.

“It is better to preemptively screen what will be covered rather than allowing care to be delivered first — especially after we have already paid and only then try to recover the funds.”

The approach marks a move away from post-payment recovery, which he said is more costly and difficult once care has been delivered and reimbursed.

Mr. Mercado was responding to a recent Philippine Institute for Development Studies report that called for an overhaul of PhilHealth’s fraud control framework, including a shift to proactive monitoring and an expanded definition of fraud under the global budget system.

He noted the study drew on data from previous years and said reforms have since accelerated.

Within the current quarter, PhilHealth will pilot AI-enabled pre-validation of electronic claims, Mr. Mercado said.

The system is designed to flag inconsistencies by checking whether diagnoses align with laboratory tests submitted, allowing the insurer to block potentially ineligible claims at the point of filing.

Beyond technology, PhilHealth is also ramping up patient-facing measures to address information gaps that can enable abuse.

Mr. Mercado said the agency will roll out hospital posters detailing members’ rights and benefits, including zero-balance billing and coverage under Z benefit packages at accredited facilities, to ensure patients know when they should not be charged. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Tom Brady, college teammate lead Raiders’ search for coach

January 7, 2026 | 9:07 pm

If ever there was a doubt that Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Raiders in name only, principal stakeholder Mark Davis set the record straight in kickstarting the search for the franchise’s 15^th coach since the turn of the century.

Brady, approved for a minority stake in the Raiders by the NFL last season, was at the team facility to coordinate with the front office as Las Vegas charts a course for 2026. The first step was firing Pete Carroll, who finished 3-14 in his lone season, the league’s worst record.

“Moving forward, general manager John Spytek will lead all football operations in close collaboration with Tom Brady, including the search for the club’s next head coach,” Davis said on Monday in a brief statement.

But the message was loud and clear: Brady is driving the decisions in Las Vegas, a franchise with a cumulative 21-47 record since the end of the 2021 season.

Private and public consternation from NFL owners arose when the league signed off on Brady’s ownership with the Raiders while also having access to assistant coaches and players during game-week production meetings for his other job as game analyst for Fox Sports.

Brady also holds sway in the next massive decision awaiting the Raiders: how to invest the No. 1 overall draft pick. Brady has been highly complimentary of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner for the undefeated Hoosiers who is currently the betting favorite to be the top pick in April.

The Raiders haven’t had the No. 1 draft pick since 2007. They drafted LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was a bust under then-head coach Lane Kiffin.

Davis didn’t have to introduce Spytek and Brady, who were college teammates at Michigan. Spytek, previously assistant general manager with the Buccaneers, was also instrumental in bringing Brady to Tampa Bay as a free agent in 2020.

“We see football similar,” Spytek said. “We don’t see it the same. We have plenty of discussions and disagreements, and I’m not afraid to tell him that. I think that’s kind of why he likes me. But I do believe that we see things similar. We’ve both had a lot of success seeing it that way, and I think we know what we’re after, and it’s up to us now to go find it.”

The Raiders’ head coaches (including interim coaches) since 2000: Pete Carroll (2025), Antonio Pierce (2023-24), Josh McDaniels (2022-23), Rich Bisaccia (2021), Jon Gruden (2018-21, 1998-2001), Jack Del Rio (2015-17), Tony Sparano (2014), Dennis Allen (2012-14), Hue Jackson (2011), Tom Cable (2008-10), Lane Kiffin (2007-08), Art Shell (2006), Norv Turner (2004-05) and Bill Callahan (2001-02). — Reuters

Bill gives MSME more supply chain access

January 7, 2026 | 9:07 pm

Public market-shopper — Stalls selling school uniforms are seen at Quiapo Market in Manila. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

A BILL establishing a supply chain program to expand Philippine enterprise participation and help them scale the value chain was filed at the House of Representatives last month.

House Bill No. 6599 aims to support the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by helping them scale the value chain through incentives offered to larger firms that integrate MSMEs into their supply chains.

“This program seeks to increase the number of MSMEs who can serve as suppliers to firms in priority industrial clusters,” Parañaque Rep. Brian Raymund S. Yamsuan, who authored the measure, said in the bill’s explanatory note.

He said the measure seeks to give MSMEs the chance to join the supply chains of larger domestic and international firms as smaller businesses have long struggled with access to markets, leaving them confined to low-value segments and short-term contracts that hinder growth.

A 2025 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) survey showed that smaller businesses grappled with access to financing, ability to compete with other firms and labor retention.

The bill seeks to create a government fund to provide financing for MSMEs to help them scale, including grants to cover up to half the cost of acquiring new machinery, technology and personnel training to meet supply chain needs.

MSMEs must be tapped by larger businesses to qualify for the grants, which could also see big firms provide their own resources to help modernize the operations of smaller businesses.

“The endorsing ‘anchor firm’ shall contribute at least 25% of the total project cost, which may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions such as technical supervision, training, equipment loans, or technology licensing,” the measure said.

The proposal seeks to incentivize large firms to integrate MSMEs into their supply chains and support technology transfer and skills development, offering a tax deduction equal to 150% of training and technology transfer costs for companies that have onboarded smaller businesses for at least two years.

The Trade department is mandated to develop a “digital matchmaking platform” that will allow large firms to identify small businesses capable of meeting their supply chain needs.

MSMEs account for 99.6% of all business establishments and generate 67% of the country’s total employment, BSP data showed. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Neymar extends Santos deal through 2026, eyeing World Cup return

January 7, 2026 | 9:06 pm

SAO PAULO — Neymar has agreed to extend his contract with Santos until the end of 2026, the Brazilian club said on Tuesday, as he maintains hopes of a World Cup call-up despite recent injuries.

The 33-year-old forward returned to his boyhood club Santos in January 2025 and played a key role in their survival in the Brazilian top flight, scoring five times in their last five matches.

“Santos is my place, I’m at home,” Neymar said in a video published on the Brazilian club’s social media. “It’s with you that I want to achieve the dreams that are still missing,” he added, referring to Santos’ fans.

Neymar, who has long struggled with injuries, underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his knee last month.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, Brazil’s all-time top scorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the five-time World Cup winners since 2023. Manager Carlo Ancelotti said in October he must be fully fit to earn a recall.

Brazil will face Scotland, Morocco and Haiti in Group C of the World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. — Reuters

Grizzlies come from behind to edge Spurs, 106-105

January 7, 2026 | 9:05 pm

NBA Results
Results from the NBA games on Wednesday (home team in CAPS)

WASHINGTON    120 Orlando 112
Cleveland     120  INDIANA       116
MEMPHIS       106  San Antonio   105
MINNESOTA     122  Miami         94
LA Lakers     111  NEW ORLEANS   103

Cam Spencer scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and Santi Aldama blocked a potential game-winning shot by De’Aaron Fox with 5.2 seconds remaining to lift the Memphis Grizzlies to a 106-105 victory over the visiting San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night.

Spencer gave the Grizzlies the lead with 37.3 seconds to go on a baseline jumper. A minute earlier, he had connected on a 3-pointer to trim San Antonio’s lead to 105-104.

Fox, who struggled shooting 4-of-18 from the field, scored seven straight Spurs points, including a floater with 1:39 left, for a 105-101 lead.

Jaren Jackson, Jr. matched Spencer with 21 points and had nine rebounds. Jock Landale contributed 19 points and nine boards and Vince Williams, Jr., returning from a lengthy injury absence, finished with 15 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Aldama added 10 points and nine boards.

Victor Wembanyama came off the bench to lead the Spurs with 30 points. Julian Champagnie added 23 points and eight rebounds and Stephon Castle had 15 points and eight boards before fouling out with 3:13 to go.

Memphis overcame committing 23 turnovers.

The Grizzlies played without starters Ja Morant, Cedric Coward and Zach Edey. Morant missed his second straight game with a right calf contusion and his 18^th game overall of the team’s 36 contests because of a variety of injuries. Coward sprained his left ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers.

Memphis used a 13-0 run in the opening minutes of the third quarter to grab a 59-57 lead, their first since the opening minutes of the game. A 3-pointer by Jackson gave the Grizzlies an 82-81 advantage entering the final quarter.

Champagnie had 19 first-half points, including 15 in the first quarter that helped the Spurs to a 10-point advantage (31-21) entering the second.

Memphis rallied to tie the game at 37-all in the second quarter behind a 16-6 run to open the period. Williams, who had missed the previous eight games with knee tendinitis, had three 3-pointers during the run. The Spurs recovered behind Champagnie and Castle to push ahead 54-46 at the half.

Memphis shot 39.8% on the night, only slightly better than the Spurs’ 37.3% overall, but the Grizzlies finished with a 61-50 rebounding advantage. — Reuters