BEIJING — China is keen on expanding economic and trade cooperation with Ireland while aiming for mutually beneficial results, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the Irish prime minister on Monday, positioning stronger bilateral ties as a way to also boost relations with the European Union (EU).
Mr. Xi emphasized mutual respect and achieving win-win outcomes as “valuable experiences” for long term and stable development of China-Ireland ties in his opening remarks at a meeting with Prime Minister Micheal Martin at the Great Hall of the People, a media pool report showed.
China has shown growing interest in engaging with EU countries individually as ties with Brussels remain frosty. Beijing has also treated bilateral meetings as a means for conveying its views on relations with the EU.
China and the EU should focus on the long term, take an objective and rational approach to their differences, and look towards win-win cooperation, Mr. Xi told Mr. Martin, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“It is hoped that Ireland will play a constructive role in the healthy and stable development of China-EU relations,” Mr. Xi said, referencing Ireland assuming the rotating presidency of the EU Council in the latter half of this year.
China is interested in cooperating with Ireland in fields such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, pharmaceuticals as well as tourism, Xinhua reported citing Mr. Xi, who also urged more coordination and cooperation in international affairs to advocate for multilateralism and international justice.
Mr. Martin, the first Irish Taoiseach to visit Beijing in 14 years, said that Ireland acknowledged China’s “indispensable role” in the world, highlighting its role in peacekeeping efforts.
He also stressed Ireland’s stance on open trade, a topic that could feature in his discussions with Chinese leaders.
“We believe it’s fundamental that we try and work towards open trade, recognizing the interdependence of the world,” the Taoiseach said of trade ties with China.
Mr. Martin’s trip comes two weeks after Beijing announced tariffs on EU dairy products, imposing provisional duties of up to 42.7%, the latest in a series of measures against EU exports widely seen as retaliation for the bloc’s electric vehicle (EV) tariffs.
Ireland is among Europe’s largest exporters of dairy products, with farms shipping more than 90% of their output, worth about €6 billion ($7.02 billion). It was among the EU nations that voted in favor of tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Mr. Martin will travel to Shanghai before his state visit ends on Thursday. — Reuters
A VIETNAM DONG note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. — REUTERS
HANOI — Vietnam’s economy grew by 8% in 2025, accelerating from the previous year’s pace due to robust exports despite US tariffs, preliminary government data showed on Monday, as the country posted its highest annual trade surplus with Washington.
The Southeast Asian nation, which is one of the top exporters to the United States, is still in talks with Washington over a possible trade deal but has largely shrugged off US duties of 20% imposed on its goods by the Trump administration to cut Vietnam’s huge trade advantage.
Vietnam’s total exports rose by 17% to about $475 billion last year, the data showed, with shipments to the United States worth $153 billion, far outstripping 2024’s record figure of $119.5 billion.
That has led to an unprecedented trade surplus with Washington of nearly $134 billion last year, far higher than the previous peak reached in 2024, according to the Vietnamese figures, which are usually more conservative than US data.
The latest trade figures available from the US statistics agency show that Vietnam’s surplus with Washington had already hit an unprecedented $129.5 billion in September, higher than the $123.5 billion surplus recorded for all of 2024, which was a record.
Vietnam is a key link in global supply chains for electronics, textiles, shoes, and other goods.
Foreign multinationals, such as Samsung, Apple, and Nike, assemble their products in Vietnam, often made of components and raw materials from China, before exporting them – mostly to the United States, which is Vietnam’s main market.
Vietnam’s imports of Chinese goods reached a record level last year of $186 billion, the data showed, from $144.2 billion in 2024.
The Trump administration has accused Vietnam of being a transshipment hub for Chinese goods exported to the United States. Illegally transshipped goods face US tariffs of 40%, but the White House has not yet indicated its criteria to determine what can be considered as illegal transshipment.
ROARING GROWTH Vietnam’s growth rate of 8.02% last year, from 7.09% in 2024, showed no immediate disruption from the US tariffs that were imposed from August and from widespread damage from repeated floods last year.
Last year, the government had set an annual growth target of more than 8%.
In the fourth quarter, the economy grew 8.46% on the year, up from a revised 8.25% in the third quarter, to post the strongest quarterly growth rate of the year.
Despite the strength of recent years, growth did not meet the ambitious yearly average target of 6.5%-7% set by the ruling Communist Party for the 2021-2025 period, largely due to low growth in COVID-affected 2021.
For the five-year period, average annual growth stood at 6.25%.
For the 2026-2030 period, the government is targeting annual growth of at least 10%, according to a preliminary document expected to be endorsed at the five-yearly party congress later this month.
Last year’s growth was also backed by domestic consumption and higher government spending on infrastructure as the country tries to rebalance its growth model away from largely hinging on exports.
Industrial production and retail sales both rose by 9.2% in 2025, Monday’s data showed. Consumer prices in December rose 3.48% from a year earlier, and the inflation rate for 2025 was 3.31%.
Inflows of foreign investment in 2025 rose 9% to $27.6 billion, the data showed. Foreign investment pledges, which indicate the size of future inflows, were largely flat year-on-year at $38.4 billion. — Reuters
A WOMAN walks on the ice to a measuring point on the Pers Glacier near the Alpine resort of Pontresina, Switzerland, July 21, 2022. — REUTERS
CRANS-MONTANA — Pressure was building for answers on Monday from the investigation into a New Year bar fire in a Swiss ski resort that killed 40 people, after authorities said they had now identified all the victims, most of whom were teenagers.
The Alpine getaway of Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais united in mourning on Sunday with condolences coming in from leaders ranging from Pope Leo to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Prosecutors said the fire that spread rapidly in the early hours of January 1 was likely caused by sparkling candles igniting the ceiling of the bar’s basement.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Authorities are investigating the two people who ran the bar on suspicion of crimes including homicide by negligence. On Sunday, police said circumstances did not currently merit them being put under arrest and they did not see a flight risk.
On Monday morning, Swiss newspaper Blick said anger over the case was growing.
“Why are the couple running the bar free?” the paper said on its front page, pasted over a photo of mourners and media gathered around the huge pile of flowers left in front of the “Le Constellation” bar.
The youngest victims of the blaze, which also injured well over 100 people, were only 14 years old, and the dead were from all around Europe, including several from France and Italy. Swiss authorities have not named the victims.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said in a social media post that “in civilized Switzerland, the prison gates will have to open for quite a few people”.
Mr. Salvini said there had been a failure to ensure the bar’s basement was safe, questioning the emergency systems and whether there had been enough inspections.
SILENT PROCESSION Aika Chappaz, a local resident who took part in a silent procession through the town on Sunday, said justice must be done for the sake of future generations.
“It’s crucial that such a tragedy never happens again. And the investigation must be thorough, because it’s so unbelievable,” she said.
Tages-Anzeiger, another leading Swiss newspaper, said questions must be answered about the age checks at the bar, the soundproofing material used in the basement and the standards governing use of the so-called fountain candles.
One of the bar’s two operators, Jacques Moretti, told Swiss media that Le Constellation had been checked three times in 10 years and that everything was done according to the rules.
Valais authorities say investigators were checking if the bar had undergone its annual building inspections, but that the town had not raised concerns or reported defects to the canton. — Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia aims to implement a slew of institutional reforms this year and next, including a two-term limit for the premiership, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday, amid renewed calls for sweeping changes to tackle corruption and improve governance.
In a speech to civil servants, Mr. Anwar said his administration will table a parliamentary bill to limit the tenure of prime ministers to a maximum of 10 years, a measure that was part of his ruling coalition’s election pledges in 2022.
“Everyone has a term limit. If given enough time to deliver, it is better for us to hand over to the next generation,” Mr. Anwar said.
He said a bill to separate the attorney-general’s role as the government’s top legal adviser from the function of leading public prosecutor will also be tabled when parliament reconvenes for its first sitting of the year this month.
The independence of Malaysia’s attorneys-general has often been questioned as they are appointed by the prime minister, prompting concerns about political interference in the judicial process.
The government also aims to introduce an ombudsman law to strengthen transparency in the public sector and provide the public with a formal channel to raise governance complaints, Mr. Anwar said.
A freedom of information law has also been proposed to prevent abuse of power in government projects, he added.
Mr. Anwar took office in 2022 on an anti-corruption platform but has faced accusations of backsliding on promised reforms, and his pledge to crack down on graft has also come under intense scrutiny.
The premier has said the government has been working hard to address governance issues and eliminate graft, but he has acknowledged the challenge of stamping out systemic corruption. — Reuters
Acumen’s Project Alphabet provides comprehensive insights on how today’s workforce is redefining the workspace
For almost a year, I sat in every focus group discussion, interview, and analysis session, listening firsthand to how each generation defines or has redefined work — and why Gen Z is now demanding quality life, not just quality job.
Across Philippine boardrooms, human resource channels, and leadership meetings, one question keeps resurfacing: What does Gen Z really want?
Some call them fragile. Others claim they’re entitled. Still others see them as “quiet quitters” who don’t want to work the way older generations did.
But findings from Acumen’s Project Alphabet interviews tell a deeper, broader story.
Gen Z is not running away from the system — they are interrogating it, challenging it, and reshaping it with demands rooted in wellness, authenticity, and activism.
And when you step back and look at the bigger arc of Philippine generational behavior, their actions don’t look rebellious. Rather, they are inevitable.
Work, as a cultural institution, has evolved dramatically across four generations:
Baby Boomers (born within 1946-1964): Have Work — stability and survival.
Gen X (1965-1980)-: Have Quality Work — competence, excellence, and career pride.
Millennials (1981-1996): Have Life Outside Work — boundaries and balance.
Gen Z (1997-2012): Have Quality Life Outside Work — well-being, purpose, and a lifestyle work must support.
This progression is not random. It reflects how socioeconomic conditions, workplace realities, and cultural pressures shaped each cohort. Understanding this context allows us to finally see Gen Z clearly — not as a “problem to fix” but as the generation insisting that the old system finally be fixed.
Boomers: The Era of Security and Sacrifice
For Boomers, work was synonymous with survival — a necessity to anchor a family, build a future, and secure stability in a recuperating economy.
One interviewee summed it up simply: “Boomers… would really tend to find stable work.”
Loyalty was a virtue. Sacrifice was expected. Pension schemes and long-term employment were the markers of success. Many Boomers defined their lives by the companies they stayed in for decades.
“I only know about our company because it’s my first and hopefully my last employer. Dito na ako magre-retire,” one respondent said proudly.
To Boomers, having work was the dream.
Gen X: The Rise of Competence and Professional Identity
Gen X inherited the Boomers’ hunger for stability but added their own twist: pride in mastery. For them, work wasn’t just a job — it was a craft.
“I take it seriously,” one Gen Xer shared. “This is what I do, and this is what defines me.”
Described by peers as “driven… adaptable… resourceful,” Gen X framed their identity around being technically excellent and professionally reliable. They respected hierarchy but valued fairness. They pursued titles, expertise, and the privilege of being trusted to perform.
To Gen X, having quality work was the goal.
Millennials: Boundary Builders and Balance Seekers
Then came the generation raised on overwork, globalization, and burnout: Millennials.
They were the first to actively challenge the idea that life must revolve around work.
One interviewee reflected: “Over the years… aabot ka talaga sa point ng life mo na, okay work, pero I have life outside work.”
Millennials mainstreamed the language of “boundaries,” “self-advocacy,” and “work-life balance.” They began negotiating compensation more boldly and rejecting the “martyrdom” culture of their elders.
And yes, they were the first to be labeled “entitled,” especially for demanding fair pay and humane policies. But their advocacy paved the way for what Gen Z would later take even further.
To Millennials, the priority became life outside work.
Gen Z: The Push for Quality Life, Not Just a Balanced One
If Millennials wanted life outside work, Gen Z wants a life of quality outside work.
And for them, work is merely the tool to fund and protect that life.
As one Gen Z participant confidently put it: “I want to have a holistic life… work is my means to do everything I want — travel, family, sports.”
They don’t want to escape work but they want work that does not harm them. They value compensation not as status, but as empowerment. They prioritize lifestyle, wellness, and meaningful experiences.
Gen Z is also the first generation to treat mental well-being as non-negotiable. They know the language of mental health. And they talk openly about it.
“Normalized na siya. Wala nang stigma,” one young worker shared.
Gen Z is unabashedly straightforward. They speak up. They negotiate. And they refuse unreasonable requests.
One supervisor described them as “disciplined in saying ‘no’ to work.”
Another young professional explained their instinct to question practices that don’t make sense: “I should be wrapping up — bakit uutusan pa ako?”
They critique norms not to disrespect authority but to fix inequity, inefficiency, or sheer irrationality.
They even embrace the label “mareklamo,” reframing it as courage: “Real change happens because someone goes out and says, ‘This is not it, guys.’”
More than any previous generation, Gen Z scrutinizes a company’s integrity. They care about whether an organization aligns with their values — especially on issues like social justice, transparency, inclusion, and sustainability.
One respondent asked explicitly: “Is my job serving a higher purpose?”
They’re not satisfied with corporate “mission statements.” They want proof manifested in culture, leadership, and daily decision-making.
To Gen Z, integrity is not branding — it is employer accountability.
When Boomers stayed, it was out of duty. When Gen X stayed, it was out of pride. When Millennials stayed, it was out of balance.
When Gen Z stays, it is because the work supports the life they want to live.
And if it doesn’t? They leave. Not out of defiance, but out of clarity.
“I want to protect my life,” one young worker said. Not their ego. Not their image. Their life.
It is the most rational career philosophy yet. And we can see that the future of work is healthier because they demand it. They are the end of unnecessary suffering disguised as professionalism.
They are not escaping the system. They are upgrading it. — Trizia Ann Magalino, Consulting Project Manager and Consulting Associate, Acumen (www.acumen.com.ph)
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TAIPEI — Chinese cyberattacks on Taiwan’s key infrastructure from hospitals to banks rose 6% in 2025 from the previous year to an average of 2.63 million attacks a day, the island’s National Security Bureau said, adding some were synchronized with military drills in “hybrid threats” to paralyze the island.
Taiwan has in recent years complained about what it sees as China’s “hybrid warfare” – from daily military drills near the island to disinformation campaigns and cyberattacks – as Beijing ramps up military and political pressure on the democratically governed island to force Taipei to accept its claims of sovereignty.
The average number of daily attacks in 2025 jumped 113% from 2023 when the bureau first began publishing such data, with sectors such as energy, emergency rescue and hospitals seeing the sharpest year‑on‑year increases, according to a report by the National Security Bureau on Sunday.
“Such a trend indicates a deliberate attempt by China to compromise Taiwan’s crucial infrastructure comprehensively and to disrupt or paralyze Taiwanese government and social functions,” the report said.
The bureau said China’s “cyber army” timed operations to coincide with military and political coercion. For example, China launched 40 “joint combat readiness patrols” by sending military planes and ships close to Taiwan and cyberattacks escalated on 23 of those occasions.
China also ramped up hacking activities during politically sensitive moments such as when President Lai Ching-te marked his first year in office with a speech in May and when Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim spoke at a meeting with lawmakers at the European Parliament in November.
“China’s moves align with its strategic need to employ hybrid threats against Taiwan during both peacetime and wartime,” the report said.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment.
China routinely denies being involved in hacking attacks.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taipei strongly objects to China’s sovereignty claims and says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
The Taiwanese report said the Chinese attacks included distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks designed to disrupt Taiwan’s daily life as well as man-in-the-middle attacks to steal information and penetrate the island’s telecommunications networks.
Science parks that anchor Taiwan’s semiconductor industry—home to firms such as TSMC—have also been prime targets, with attackers employing a range of techniques to steal advanced technologies.
The move was “an attempt to support China’s self-reliance in technology and economic development and prevent China from being put in a disadvantaged position in the US-China technology competition,” the report said. — Reuters
All owners or operators of facilities that discharge wastewater into Laguna Lake must get
a permit to discharge from the DENR or the LLDA. Existing industries without any permit
are given 12 months from the effectiveness of the implementation of the rules and
regulations (IRR) promulgated pursuant to this Act to secure a permit.
LLDA
Water from Angat Dam, meanwhile, is treated hence:
“The finished water we produce is within the drinking water standards mandated by the
Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW),” said Raymart Desales,
water supply operations engineer of Maynilad at the time of the shoot, as he toured the BusinessWorld team in the concessionaire’s water treatment facility in La Mesa.
“For the disinfection of La Mesa treatment plant 1, it’s chlorination,” Mr. Desales said.
“For the Putatan plant, it’s a different disinfection method naman.”
Maynilad’s Parañaque New Water project, on the other hand, feeds recycled water back
to the public water system by treating effluent (or treated wastewater), which is then
further purified into potable water in compliance with PNSDW and World Health
Organization guidelines:
“Hindi niyo mapapansin yung (You wouldn’t notice the) difference,” according to a staff
who toured the BusinessWorld team in the facility, when asked about how recycled water
tastes like.
The concessionaires are given until 2047 to connect most of Metro Manila to the sewer
line, according to Patrick Lester N. Ty, chief of the MWSS Regulatory Office.
“Only around 25% of the MWSS concession area has sewer coverage. The other 75% is
being serviced by sanitation,” he told BusinessWorld, as he pointed out that desludging
services are already part of a residential customer’s bill.
“They can just tap Manila Water and Maynilad to de-sludge their septic tanks once every
5 years,” he said. “This is part of their water bill already, so there’s no additional charge
for this.”
VII. Distribution Treated water makes its way to an underground network of pipes that are complemented
by pumping stations and reservoirs. A supply and pressure management team operates
these pumps and reservoirs, depending on a community’s demand, and how elevated its
location is.
MIKELAAGAN
The MWSS mandates a 7 pounds per square inch (PSI) of water pressure, said
Christopher R. Gaon, Maynilad’s head of north water production.
“We try to maintain this pressure based on the terrain,” he said in a Zoom call.
“We have certain areas that are also high, and that’s where we use inline boosters and
pumping stations to bring the water to higher elevations,” he said. With the pumping
stations, he added, “we grease the pressure so that it can travel again down the line.”
Maynilad optimizes where pumping stations are placed, due to their high energy
requirements, Mr. Gaon said.
An emailed statement on November 22, 2023 from Ricky A. Arzadon, CESO III, OICExecutive Director of NWRB, added:
“The allocation for MWSS is determined and approved by the NWRB on a monthly basis
as recommended by the Technical Working Group of the Angat Dam operations
composed of NWRB, MWSS, NIA, NPC and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
The recommended allocation is based on the PAGASA weather updates, status of the
Angat reservoir from the National Power Corporation, updates on the water supply
conditions in Metro Manila by MWSS and their monthly request allocation…”
Manila Water, along with Maynilad, received a 10-year extension of its water concession
agreement with the government, extending it to January 21, 2047.
Maynilad, in addition, kicked off the offer period on October 23, 2025 for its initial public
offering worth up to P34.3 billion ($590 million) after securing regulatory approval, with
shares priced at P15 each.
VIII. Challenges
A single water source Apart from climate change, the other most glaring challenge is the capital’s heavy reliance
on Angat as a water source.
The MWSS, Maynilad, and Manila Water agree that having one water source for the entire
capital is unsustainable.
“In terms of supply, it’s really the overdependency on one major source,” Manila Water’s
Mr. Sevilla said. Manila Water gets 1,600 MLD from Angat, which it distributes to the 7.4
million residents of the East Zone.
Like Maynilad, Manila Water has drawn up plans to maximize use of this precious
resource.
Raw water intake structure under Phase 2 of its aforementioned East Bay project, for
instance, is 92% complete as of June 2025. The structure is designed to draw 200 million
liters of water per day from Laguna Lake to reduce reliance on Angat Dam.
It is targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2026.
The concessionaire also completed the takeover of the WawaJVCo, Inc. from its parent
company, Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc., on October 1, 2025.
WawaJVCo’s portfolio includes the Tayabasan Weir in Antipolo, which has a capacity of
80 MLD, and the Upper Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, Rizal, with a capacity of up to 710 MLD.
Manila Water did not need to implement daily water interruptions during the pandemic,
Mr. Sevilla said.
“The average of Manila Water’s non-revenue water is about 13%. This is a lot better than
the international standard of 20-25%,” he added.
“Malakas naman daloy ng tubig (Water pressure is good),” said Beverly, a resident of
CAA in Las Piñas City.
BusinessWorld visited the community at the time of this story’s shoot to ask about the
water supply in the area.
“Kaya lang may time na may water interruption…’pag may ginagawa (It’s just
sometimes we experience water interruption when repairs are being done),” Beverly said.
“Nagte-text naman sila pag may ganun (The service provider texts when that happens).”
Domestic wastewater Another problem threatening Manila’s water supply is the quality of the water itself.
More than 80% of the organic load going to Laguna Lake comes from domestic waste,
according to Jocelyn G. Sta. Ana, head of the environmental laboratory and research
division of the LLDA.
“We also have water hyacinth proliferation, and this causes problems on navigation –
especially for the fishermen,” she said.
The areas within the western portion are industrialized and urbanized, she added. “These
are the areas from Marikina down to Calamba… The rivers on the eastern portion are the
areas which are still within the guidelines.”
LLDALLDA
The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the
country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources, namely industries and
commercial establishments, agriculture, and community/household activities. It
provides a comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution
through a multisectoral and participatory approach involving all stakeholders.
Most studies point to the fact that domestic wastewater is the principal cause of organic
pollution (at 48%) of our water bodies. Yet only 3% of investments in water supply and
sanitation were going to sanitation and sewage treatment. A 2013 World Bank report
pointed out that Metro Manila was second to the lowest in sewer connections among
major cities in Asia at less than 7% compared to 29% for Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and
30% for Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thirty-one percent (31%) of all illnesses in the country are
attributed to polluted water.
Management of water quality will either be based on watershed, river basin or water
resources region. Water quality management areas with similar hydrological,
hydrogeological, meteorological or geographic conditions which affect the reaction and
diffusion of pollutants in water bodies are to be designated by the DENR in coordination
with the NWRB.
Solid waste pollution Plastic pollution is the number one problem in Laguna de Bay, if one were to ask Hipolito
Aguirre, a fisherman interviewed by BusinessWorld. Nobody draws up water from the
lake to drink, he said.
Maynilad’s Mr. Padua has said that it was ten times harder to treat water from Laguna
Lake than from Angat Dam.
Consumers like Lyndon, another resident of CAA in Las Piñas City, are not taking chances
either. He says his family buys bottled water to drink to be safe.
“Para sure lang (Just to be sure),” he said in a separate interview. “Mura lang naman
(It’s affordable, anyway).”
“Number one yan nagiging problema din sa lawa… siguro hanggang ganito na kakapal
ang plastic diyan sa ilalim – baka nasa isang metro na sa tagal kong nangingisda (Plastic is the number one problem here…the plastic submerged at the bottom of the lake
is probably a meter thick now),” Mr. Aguirre added
IX. Water Security
Given the ever-growing populace, MWSS has drawn up a water security roadmap that
aims to ensure water security for the capital.
Part of the roadmap includes recovery of non-revenue water, which is the losses on the
system due to leaks.
MWSS
Patrick James B. Dizon, whose most recent role designation at the MWSS is department
manager of the Water and Sewerage Management Department, discusses more during an
interview when he was still serving as district manager of the Angat/Ipo Operations
Management Division.
“It’s one of the key challenges in water industries right now,” he said, “even for the water
districts in the provinces.”
MWSS is constructing a water treatment plant in Laguna Lake.
Mr. Dizon also talks about the progress of Kaliwa Dam:
“Kaliwa Dam and its tunnel construction is ongoing with 26.04% accomplishment,” he
emailed on October 21, 2025.
Mr. Dizon added the MWSS is confident that Kaliwa Dam will be completed by 2027.
MWSS and its concessionaires have likewise completed a P3.17 billion tunnel at Ipo Dam as of June 2024.
MWSS
Practicing water conservation measures matters, according to Mr. Dizon. Every drop
counts.
“We still need to continue water conservation,” he said. “[It’s] as simple as paggamit ng
batya ‘pag naghuhugas ng mga pinggan, pagpatay ng faucet ‘pag nagtoo-toothbrush
(using a basin when washing the dishes or turning off the faucet when brushing one’s
teeth). That will be a great help.”
It’s as much a mindset issue, said Emiliano Parao, a Bantay Lawa coordinator in Laguna
de Bay.
“Kahit sabihin pa po natin na fully nai-implement ng ating LGU, pero kung ang ating
mamamayan [hindi nagwa-]waste segregation…,” he said. “Sa usapin po ng basura, ay
kailangan baguhin ang kaisipan ng tao (Even if waste management is fully implemented
by the local government unit, if people don’t follow…when it comes to waste, there’s really
a need to change individual mindsets).”
Disclaimer: Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which holds a majority stake in Maynilad,
is one of the three Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others
being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest
Holdings, Inc., has an interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group,
which it controls.
Feature by Patricia Mirasol, Emmanuel Garcia, Earl Lagundino, Patricia Garcia, Jino Nicolas, Ed Geronia, Arjale Queral, Jayson Mariñas, and Richard Mendoza
I. Intro
Over 14 million people call Metro Manila home. On weekdays, this number can swell up
to 18 million as workers from neighboring provinces troop to the capital to report for
work.
Millions of people gathering in one place at any given day stretches already strained water
resources, particularly as the government sounded the alarm over El Niño and the
challenges on how to mitigate its effects.
Water is a precious resource, and concerns about a scarcity of supply have been hogging
headlines. But how much do we know of the liquid gold we often take for granted? How
much work goes into supplying taps with a running flow?
Keeping the capital humming is a delicate dance that entails ensuring there are enough
key resources – including water – for all.
II. The flow of potable water
Water that then courses past the Novaliches portal undergoes treatment at the
concessionaires, after which they pass through an underground network of pipes and into
individual households.
III. Agencies involved Providing water for Metro Manila is the responsibility of the following agencies and
entities: the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the Metropolitan Waterworks &
Sewerage System (MWSS), and the concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc.
(MWSI) and Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI).
The reason behind this water management setup traces back to the 1990s, when Metro
Manila faced a water crisis. The Global Atlas of Environmental Justice reports that one-third of all households in the capital had no access to piped water. MWSS, meanwhile,
had a debt of US $880 million and 60% of non-revenue water – which is water lost due to
leaks, theft, or poor metering.
The infrastructure was also inefficient and old.
It was in this backdrop that then-President Fidel V. Ramos privatized water services in
1997 through the Water Crisis Act (Republic Act No. 8041).
Republic Act No. 8041 was aimed at transferring the financial burden of the MWSS to the
private sector to improve service standards, increase operational efficiency, and minimize
tariff impact.
The responsibility to operate and improve the waterworks system was hence passed on to
two private consortiums: MWSI for the West Zone, and MWCI for the East Zone.
The east zone served by Manila Water Co. covers parts of the cities of Quezon and Makati,
the southeastern parts of Manila, Taguig, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, the
municipality of Pateros, and Rizal province.
The west zone served by Maynilad Water Services includes parts of Manila and Quezon
City, west of South Superhighway in Makati, Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas,
Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and Malabon, as well as the municipalities of Bacoor,
Imus, Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario in Cavite province.
The MWSS, through its Regulatory Office’s Technical Regulation area, is tasked to ensure
that both Maynilad and Manila Water meet their service obligations, which encompasses
disaster resilience and infrastructure reliability.
This includes resilience against The Big One.
The Big One refers to a major earthquake that could strike along the West Valley Fault,
located directly underneath the capital. According to the World Bank in a March 2023
post, this probable maximum scenario could result in an estimated 48,000 fatalities and
$48 billion (or about P2.83 trillion, based on the November 19, 2025 exchange rate of
P58.91 for every $1) in economic losses.
The Philippine government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency are in talks
to revisit in 2026 the latter’s 2004 study on the impact of The Big One.
Photo credit | ERVIN MALICDEM, 2015
Water service reliability includes ensuring water remains available even during times of
calamity, said Jeric T. Sevilla, Jr., spokesperson for Manila Water, adding there are
projects earmarked for this probability.
“Manila Water’s projects include the construction of emergency reservoirs,” he said.
“These are placed on basketball courts and schools, so there will be available water – at
least for drinking – in times of calamities.”
“We have already begun reinforcing our plants and facilities to be able to withstand a
magnitude 7.2 earthquake,” he added.
In a message to BusinessWorld, Maynilad said they’ve likewise retrofitted their pipes for
such purposes.
IV. Angat Angat is at the heart of this story, as over 90% of the water’s capital comes from it – over
60 years since it was commissioned in 1967.
The forest reserve surrounding the dam likewise provides a large catchment area, making
it ideal for collecting and storing water.
Situated largely in the Bulacan municipalities of Dona Remedios Trinidad, Norzaragay
and San Jose Del Monte, the Angat Watershed Reservation lies on the southernmost tip
of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range. Its Northeastern boundaries, meanwhile, stretch
into the municipalities of General Tinio, the province of Nueva Ecija and Infanta, and the
province of Quezon.
The dam was also chosen in the 1960s over other proposed projects – like the Marikina
Multi-Purpose Project – due to geological concerns in Marikina. Then-Bulacan
congressman Rogaciano M. Mercado supported the Angat project, which helped push its
development forward.
An increase in the demand for potable water in the 1990s, meanwhile, led to the
enactment of the Umiray-Angat Transbasin Project, which further added 780 million
liters per day to the reservoir by diverting water from the Umiray River in Quezon to
Angat Dam.
Angat Dam’s socio-economic value is as follows:
Main source of water for Angat Hydro-electric power plant
Main source of water for the irrigation of about 31,485 hectares of riceland in 16
municipalities of Bulacan and 4 municipalities of Pampanga
Provides 4000 million liters per day to Metro Manila
An ideal place for nature tripping, mountain climbing, boating and bird watching,
and biodiversity studies/research
Home to more than 800 indigenous families known as Dumagats found residing
in fourteen resettlement areas.
The National Power Corporation (NPC) has a master plan for the protection of the Angat
watershed, said Emmanuel A. Umali, NPC’s department manager for the Watershed
Management Department.
“We identified three major zones in the watershed,” he said in an interview. “These are
mainly the strict protection areas where we employ forest protection activities and
enforcement of forest laws, rules and regulations” through partners such as volunteers
and the military, he added.
The Angat watershed, Mr. Umali said, “is the only remaining forested area in the Metro
Manila, and it serves as the lungs of the metropolis…because the area is still forested.”
Angat Dam structural integrity is sound, Wilfredo S. Senadrin, NPC’s manager for the
Dams, Reservoirs, and Waterways Division, also said.
“As long na ginagawa mo yung proper maintenance, hindi mawawala yun (As long as
you conduct the proper maintenance, that’s not going to change),” he said in a separate
interview.
The dam’s retrofitting was completed in 2018 by flattening the downstream slope to
further improve its slope stability.
He told BusinessWorld that its being an embankment type of dam contributes to Angat’s
strength:
“Kung matatandaan niyo nung 1990 …nung nagkaroon tayo ng earthquake sa
Luzon…Ang epicenter nun nandiyan lang sa Nueva Ecija, e gaano kalapit lang sa Angat,
pero ang Angat walang naging problema (If you remember, there was an earthquake in
Luzon in 1990. The epicenter was in Nueva Ecija, which is near Angat, but Angat didn’t
encounter problems then).”
Notwithstanding the dam’s sturdy structure, El Niño and changing rainfall patterns due
to climate change still pose a threat to Metro Manila’s water supply.
Recycling water is one way to combat this global issue, according to Maynilad.
“The Angat-Ipo system is affected because of climate change, [which includes] El Niño
and La Niña,” Ronaldo C. Padua, Maynilad’s spokesperson and vice president and head
of water supply operations, said.
Maynilad, he said in an interview with BusinessWorld, has started reducing its reliance
on the Angat-Ipo system by tapping Laguna Lake.
It has two water treatment plants (WTPs) in Muntinlupa, each with a capacity of 150
million liters per day (MLD).
“In Laguna Lake, [on the other hand,] we are being affected mainly by the water quality,”
he also said. “It’s actually ten times more expensive [to treat water from Laguna Lake]
than it is to treat water from here in the treatment plants in La Mesa.”
In December 2023, Maynilad inaugurated a third WTP in Laguna Lake, for which they
get about 150 MLD to serve Manila and parts of Cavite.
It also started operations at its P1.6-billion Cupang Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) in
Muntinlupa, which can treat 46 million liters of wastewater daily. The facility is designed
to serve approximately 33,000 customers in Sucat, Buli, Cupang, and Bayanan,
Muntinlupa.
“Maynilad is doing all its efforts for us to be able to adapt to this ever-changing condition
of our water sources,” Mr. Padua added. “We are ensuring that we are partnering with the
different government agencies and doing some education campaigns to our customers.”
V. Laguna Lake Laguna Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the Philippines and the third largest inland
body of water in South-East Asia, after Toule Sap of Cambodia and Lake Toba of Sumatra.
The W-shaped body of water has two peninsulas in the north. The middle lake lobe
between the two fills the large volcanic Laguna Caldera, formed by two volcanic eruptions
sometimes between 1 million and 27,000 years ago. There is a total of nine islands on the
lake of which the largest is Talim Island, which is part of the division between the West
and Center Bay.
LLDA
Laguna de Bay – as the lake is also known – has an area of 90,000 hectares, an average
depth of 2.5 meters, and an estimated 3.2 trillion liters of water.
It provides the rest of the capital’s needs at present, with the western side utilized by
Maynilad and the eastern side by Manila Water.
Maynilad, for its part, has two WTPs in Putatan, Muntinlupa City that serve a 1.6-million
population
Manila Water, on the other hand, is completing its East Bay Water Supply System (Phases
1 and 2), which is expected to serve approximately 2.08 million customers.
The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), is responsible for monitoring and
maintaining water quality of the lake and its 21 major tributary rivers.
It has been monitoring the lake and the rivers since the 1970s and now has 16 lake
stations and 36 river stations in the 24 sub basins of the region as of 2024.
An attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
the LLDA also issues permits for both concessionaires for the abstraction of water from
the lake.
Economic growth slowed to an over four-year low of 4% in the third quarter, as the flood control scandal affected government spending and hurt business and consumer confidence. — PHILIPPINE STAR/WALTER BOLLOZOS
By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter
The Philippines trimmed its economic growth targets until 2027, after growth likely slowed to about 4.8% to 5% this year, according to Economy Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.
In a briefing on Monday, Mr. Balisacan said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) had lowered its gross domestic product (GDP) growth targets to 5%-6% for 2026 and 5.5%-6.5% for 2027. It kept the GDP growth target at 6%-7% for 2028.
The government earlier aimed to achieve 6%-7% GDP growth annually from 2026 until 2028.
This comes after Mr. Balisacan said the economy likely grew by 4.8-5% in 2025. This is much slower than the 5.7% GDP growth in 2024, and below the government’s 5.5-6.5% growth target.
“The emerging number, growth scenario for 2025, is something like 4.8 to 5%,” he said. “But if you achieve 5% for the entire year, because the first three quarters’ average is already 5%, that still puts the economy into one of the fastest growing economies in Asia.”
Economic growth slowed to an over four-year low of 4% in the third quarter, as the flood control scandal affected government spending and hurt business and consumer confidence.
“The developments last year are likely still to be felt this year, although in a diminishing effect, and so we expect growth perhaps in the first quarter or at least in the first half to be still quite not as rosy as we would want it to be,” the Economy chief added.
Mr. Balisacan said the economic team is still expecting consumption to drive the economy despite massive budget cuts for infrastructure projects, specifically on flood control plans.
“Consumption is likely going to be still supported by employment, growth and employment and remittances. But we will also expect the rebound of consumer confidence… We do expect that the broad economy will grow as sufficiently strong especially toward the second half,” he said.
More than its innovative services and solutions, Cocolife is recognized for its ability to consistently attract and retain top talents in the insurance industry, grounded in genuinely caring for its people, as it has received the Best Companies to Work for in Asia — Philippines award from HR Asia for four years in a row.
“This award reflects Cocolife’s unwavering commitment to its mission of prioritizing people alongside business success, and its vision of creating a workplace culture that is empowering, transparent, and purpose-driven,” Rita Aurora O. Bernad-Ventura, first vice-president and head of the Compensation and Benefits Department at Cocolife, said.
A number of organizations speak of teamwork and collaboration, but only a few, like Cocolife, cultivate a culture where people feel connected and supported.
On building reputation
In a competitive job market, it becomes an additional challenge to find a company that puts its employees as the topmost priority. With its latest recognition, Cocolife is further acknowledged as a people-oriented workplace within the industry.
Rita Aurora O. Bernad-Ventura, First Vice-President and Head of Compensation and Benefits Department, COCOLIFE
“Our company intends to maintain its reputation as one of the best workplaces in the country across Asia by fostering a culture that actively listens to employee feedback, responds thoughtfully, and adapts proactively to the evolving needs of the workforce and the broader environment,” Ms. Bernad-Ventura said.
Cocolife has constituted programs for awards and recognitions. These include service and sales awards such as Gawad Sanghaya and CHAMPs. Spotlight features centered on studies and certifications are also valued to encourage growth and enhance employee morale. Employee attrition is also monitored to identify gaps.
“Engagement initiatives are thoughtfully designed to cater to specific groups of employees who share common interests and passions,” Vice-President and Talent Acquisition, Development and Engagement Department Head Roger Martin F. Ruiz added. “These programs foster a vibrant, supportive environment that nurtures both professional development and personal connection.”
Leadership practices
Acknowledging as well that leadership is not about merely practicing power but guiding people toward a shared vision, Cocolife is also building up the capabilities of its leaders to understand people and lead by example.
“Cocolife invests in ongoing leadership development and accountability,” Ms. Bernad-Ventura shared. “Leaders are not only expected to set the tone but also to serve as role models who inspire trust and uphold the company’s standards in their day-to-day interactions. The company’s core values and principles are strongly upheld.”
One of their strategies to ensure such is their internal engagement survey, which is a feedback mechanism that provides insights from their constituents to leaders. The survey implies a democratic approach, wherein employees are free to share their sentiments in exchange of leaders reflecting and adjusting to the needs of organizational goals. By doing so, Cocolife’s leaders empower their teams not just to succeed, but to thrive as individuals.
Community over competition
In a world where work often feels like a race against time, being part of a company that values a sense of community can be transformative.
Cocolife is creating a space where employees get to enjoy without compromising services by merging the Filipino familial culture and a human-centered approach.
Roger Martin F. Ruiz, Vice-President and Head of Talent Acquisition, Development and Engagement Department, COCOLIFE
“[The] management actively supports collaboration across divisions and departments, encouraging teamwork and unity throughout the organization,” Mr. Ruiz shared.
Furthermore, a group of Engagement Ambassadors was established to lead initiatives and cultivate partnerships to further enhance employee engagement. Programs include “Decor Your Floor” contests, exhibition games, fellowship programs, and corporate social events (such as anniversary and Christmas parties) that also aim to celebrate shared successes.
Cocolife also has blood donation drives, outreach activities, and calamity relief operations, which highlight the company’s dedication to building communities beyond good internal governance.
Through social responsibility, Cocolife fosters a culture of care both within and beyond the workplace.
Nurturing employee health
A good company sees its people not as mere resources to be maximized, but as human beings to be nurtured. As much as it values the health of its clients, Cocolife promotes physical wellness among its employees through promotion of sports and participation in both internal and external tournaments.
“Our MOVE program serves as a transformative fitness initiative that motivates employees to break unhealthy habits and commit to sustainable health and wellness goals,” Ms. Bernad-Ventura shared.
With mental health increasingly recognized as an integral factor to human productivity, Cocolife has partnered with MindYou to provide professional counseling services covered under their Healthcard program.
Through its initiatives in building a well-rounded workplace culture, Cocolife has testified that when people within an organization are cared for — leaders listen, employees uplift one another, and every action is guided by empathy and respect — they naturally care for the clients they serve. An environment where everyone belongs, contributes, and grows together, creating valuable and innovative services.
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The Philippines and France are expected to finalize a visiting forces agreement (VFA) within the year, paving the way for closer defense cooperation between the two countries, according to a document shared by a senior Philippine Navy official on Monday.
Manila and Paris are likely to sign the pact in early 2026, based on a handout summarizing key military developments in 2025 that was shared with reporters by Rear Admiral Roy Vincent T. Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesman on the South China Sea.
The Department of National Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent via Viber.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. approved negotiations on a VFA with France in March last year. Since then, the two sides have held talks, with the most recent discussions taking place in December.
In a Dec. 11 statement, the Defense department said the negotiations reflect a shared commitment to deepen defense ties, improve interoperability and strengthen cooperation in support of regional peace and stability.
Once concluded, the agreement would make France the first European country to secure a VFA with the Philippines. Manila has been seeking to widen its network of security partners as tensions persist in the South China Sea.
The Philippines remains locked in a sea dispute with China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea based on a “nine-dash line” map. A United Nations-backed arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claim is illegal, a decision Beijing has rejected.
In response, Manila has expanded defense cooperation beyond the US, its long-standing treaty ally. It has signed VFAs with Australia, Japan and New Zealand, while similar talks with the United Kingdom are ongoing. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
A person holds a Venezuelan flag as government supporters gather after US President Donald Trump said the US has struck Venezuela and captured its President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela, January 3, 2026. — REUTERS/GABY ORAA
BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing cannot accept any country acting as the “world’s judge” after the United States captured Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro.
“We have never believed that any country can act as the world’s police, nor do we accept that any nation can claim to be the world’s judge,” Mr. Wang told his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday, referring to “sudden developments in Venezuela” without directly mentioning the US.
“The sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law,” China’s top diplomat added, in his first remarks since images of the 63-year-old Mr. Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on Saturday stunned Venezuelans.
Mr. Maduro is in a New York detention center awaiting a Monday court appearance on drug charges.
Beijing has ambition to become a diplomatic heavyweight, a goal it articulated most clearly after brokering a surprise rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, pledging to “play a constructive role in global hotspot issues.” Analysts say Beijing’s success in going toe-to-toe with the US in trade negotiations has only reinforced China’s confidence.
However, President Donald Trump’s assertion that the US will oversee Venezuela’s government for the time being poses a stern test to the “all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership” Beijing and Caracas struck in 2023, marking almost 50 years of diplomatic ties.
“It was a big blow to China, we wanted to look like a dependable friend to Venezuela,” said a Chinese government official briefed on a meeting between Mr. Maduro and China’s special representative for Latin American and Caribbean affairs, Qiu Xiaoqi, hours before his capture.
Mr. Maduro’s son visited China’s top-ranking Peking University in 2024, where he enrolled in 2016, they said, adding they were unsure whether he would return despite years of diplomatic engagement with Caracas around his education and ties to China.
The world’s second-largest economy has provided Venezuela with an economic lifeline since the US and its allies ramped up sanctions in 2017, purchasing roughly $1.6 billion worth of goods in 2024, the most recent full-year data available.
Almost half of China’s purchases were crude oil, customs data shows, while its state-owned oil giants had invested around $4.6 billion in Venezuela by 2018, according to data from the American Enterprise Institute think tank, which tracks Chinese overseas corporate investment.— Reuters
