North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the construction site of an 8,700-ton nuclear-powered submarine capable of launching surface-to-air missiles in this picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 25, 2025. — REUTERS
SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles on Sunday, state media KCNA said on Monday.
The launch is the latest event attended by Mr. Kim in a flurry of activity by the North Korean leader to underscore the country’s military and economic progress before a key party congress expected to be held in early 2026.
On Sunday, Mr. Kim expressed “great satisfaction” as the cruise missiles flew along their orbit above the sea west of the Korean Peninsula and hit their target, KCNA said.
Mr. Kim said “checking the reliability and rapid response of the components of the DPRK’s nuclear deterrent on a regular basis … (is) just a responsible exercise,” as the country “is facing various security threats,” using North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Mr. Kim affirmed that North Korea would keep devoting all its efforts to the “unlimited” development of its nuclear combat force, KCNA said.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Monday its military had detected the launch of multiple cruise missiles around 8 a.m. on Sunday (2300 Saturday GMT) from the Sunan area near Pyongyang.
Sunday’s launch follows KCNA’s report last week that Mr. Kim observed construction of a nuclear-powered submarine with his daughter, a possible successor, and oversaw the test-firing of long-range surface-to-air missiles.
North Korea could conduct additional missile tests around New Year’s Day, Yonhap news agency said, citing a South Korean military official.
Mr. Kim also attended the opening ceremony of a paper mill on Sunday, KCNA said.
During the past month, Mr. Kim has attended multiple openings of facilities including factories and hotels, as the country races to wrap up its current “five-year plan” of development before convening the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea in early 2026.— Reuters
HEAVY TRAFFIC is observed along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Pasay City on Dec. 25, after the start of the EDSA rehabilitation project by the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR
By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter
PHILIPPINE infrastructure spending fell for the fourth straight month in October, as disbursements for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) continued to decline amid the corruption scandal and adverse weather.
The latest data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed expenditures on infrastructure and other capital outlays dropped by 40.1% to P65.9 billion in October from P110 billion a year ago.
Month on month, it also fell by 16.2% from P78.7 billion in September.
October marked the fourth straight month that expenditures fell on an annual basis, since the 25.3% drop in July after a corruption scandal involving flood control projects was made public.
The scandal has dampened economic activity and public spending, particularly on infrastructure.
The DBM said the year-on-year drop in infrastructure spending “resulted largely from the contraction in DPWH disbursements.”
The DBM noted that the slower budget release for public works was due to “non-submission of billions from contractors amid ongoing validation of the status of implementation and completion of flood control projects.”
The DPWH is at the center of a corruption scandal after department officials, lawmakers and contractors were accused of getting kickbacks from flood control projects that were either nonexistent or substandard.
The pending release of final payments due to delays in securing the Bureau of Internal Revenue Tax Clearance by contractors also factored in the drop in disbursements, the DBM said.
Contractors must obtain an updated tax clearance before final settlement of any government contract; otherwise, the contract may be suspended.
“(This includes) delays in the renewal of contractors’ Philippine Contractors Association Board (PCAB) licenses, which affected the submission of progress billings by contractors and subsequent processing of payments,” the Budget department said.
Adverse weather conditions also weighed on the release of the DPWH infrastructure budget, the DBM said.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said political noise around infrastructure projects, particularly flood control, pulled down spending in October.
10-MONTH PERIOD In the first 10 months, overall infrastructure and capital outlay disbursements stood at P943 billion, down 13.7% from P1.09 trillion a year ago.
This accounted for 62.33% of the P1.51-trillion full-year program.
“Infrastructure spending contracted since the onset of the flood control issues of the DPWH, which resulted in delays in the settlement of progress billings for its completed infrastructure projects,” the DBM said.
Data from the DBM showed that overall infrastructure disbursements, which include infrastructure components of subsidy and equity to government corporations and transfers to local government units, slipped by 11.5% to P1.13 trillion in the end-October period from P1.28 trillion a year ago.
For the rest of the fourth quarter, the DBM said lower infrastructure spending is expected to further weigh on overall government disbursements.
At the same time, the DPWH is ramping efforts to address corruption issues by creating a transparency portal that provides information on the agency’s projects.
The DPWH is also discontinuing defective flood control projects due to poor planning, as well as deleting duplicate projects.
In the coming months, Mr. Ricafort said infrastructure spending is expected to recover by early 2026 as part of the government’s catch-up spending plan.
“For the coming months, infrastructure spending could pick up in view of the catch-up spending plan by early 2026, hinged on the policy priority on anti-corruption measures/reforms and other reforms to further improve governance standards,” he said in a Viber message on Dec. 26.
Economic managers have insisted the spending slump is only temporary as reforms and investigations are underway.
Overall government disbursement reached P4.91 trillion as of end-October, up by 3.9% from P4.73 trillion in the same period last year. This represented 80.8% of the P6.08-trillion full-year expenditure program.
THE BANGKO SENTRAL ng Pilipinas (BSP) received just three applications for new digital banking licenses before the deadline ended on Nov. 30.
“The BSP received three digital banking applications within the deadline, which ended on Nov. 30, 2025,” the central bank told BusinessWorld in an e-mail on Friday.
The BSP had earlier opened four slots for new digital banking licenses.
The central bank said there is yet to be a decision on which applicants made the cut, noting that they are still finalizing the evaluation which would then be submitted to the Monetary Board.
“The BSP is currently finalizing the parallel assessment of the three digital bank applicants as provided in BSP Memorandum M-2025-032 dated Sept. 25, 2025,” it said. “The results of said assessment and the related recommendations will be elevated to the Monetary Board.”
It did not disclose who the three applicants are or when the final list will be released.
The BSP lifted its three-year moratorium on digital bank licensing in January this year, hoping to welcome into the industry four new players or traditional banks seeking to convert to digital operations.
The applications closed on Nov. 30 after the Monetary Board approved a new moratorium on licensing in early September.
In June, the central bank said a Europe-based digital bank had completed the requirements for a digital bank license application, while a rural bank had submitted its application but was still working on the requirements.
The BSP earlier noted that approvals would only be given to applicants with strong governance, sound risk management and a clear value proposition for Filipino consumers.
“With the criteria for new digital banks, we expect that they will commence operations with established capabilities — such as expertise in digital financial services, advanced technology platforms, or existing customer ecosystems,” the BSP told BusinessWorld. “These will enable them to scale more quickly and create a broader revenue base.”
To date, six digital banks are licensed by the central bank to operate in the Philippines, including Tonik Digital Bank, GoTyme Bank, Maya Bank, Overseas Filipino Bank, UNObank and UnionDigital Bank.
The BSP said the expected new entrants in the digital banking industry will help boost digital transactions in the country.
“Their expected contribution lies in expanding user bases, transaction pathways, and payments innovation which are critical to pushing the share of retail digital payments toward the 2028 goal,” the central bank said.
“In terms of pricing, these players are expected to implement a market-based, equitable framework with sufficient flexibility to encourage customer acquisition, transaction volume growth, and ecosystem expansion,” it added.
In 2024, the share of online payments in monthly retail transactions stood at 57.4% in terms of volume and 59% in value terms, according to the BSP’s 2024 Status of Digital Payments in the Philippines report. These are up from 52.8% and 55.3%, respectively, in 2023.
The central bank aims to make digital payments account for 60%-70% of total retail payments volume by 2028, in line with the Philippine Development Plan.
PHILIPPINE LAWMAKERS on Sunday signed the bicameral committee report on the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, with the Senate and House expected to ratify the report on Monday.
“We made sure the process is transparent and accountable to the Filipino people… This budget is a product of reforms both on the part of the House and the Senate towards transparency,” Nueva Ecija Rep. and House Appropriations Committee Chair Mikaela Angela B. Suansing said during the signing ceremony.
“This is a product of the first open bicam in history,” she added.
Ms. Suansing said Congress aims to ratify the enrolled copy of the bill or the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act on Monday (Dec. 29).
The measure will then be sent to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for review and approval.
“This will be signed by the President, so if there are changes (to the budget bill) it is in his power to do so,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who heads the Senate Finance Committee, said during the same event.
Once ratified by Congress, Mr. Gatchalian said the reconciled version of the budget bill will be uploaded on transparency portals of the House and the Senate.
“All documents will be uploaded including their annexes,” he added.
Mr. Gatchalian emphasized that next year’s budget focuses on education, health, and agriculture, which are important for the development of the country.
The conference committee report of the 2026 budget has over 4,300 pages, which Mr. Gatchalian said was proofread five times by congressional staff.
“This is the first time people can track the start of the budget process from the National Expenditure Program, the approved version of the House and Senate, and now the final version of the bicameral conference committee,” the senator said.
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto last week said that the President aims to sign the 2026 General Appropriations Act by Jan. 5. This would result in the government operating on a reenacted budget in the first few days of January.
Mr. Marcos was initially expected to sign the national budget on Dec. 29. However, disagreements over the Department of Public Works and Highway’sbudget had stalled the bicameral conference committee’s proceedings, which were livestreamed for the first time.
On the sidelines, Mr. Gatchalian said that the short reenactment of the 2025 budget would have minimal impact on the country’s economy.
“Due to the holidays, I don’t see that the five-day delay in signing the budget would have any impact on our economy,” he told reporters. “Because the budget report would be sent tomorrow, (the President) would really need at least one week to carefully study and review the provisions.”
Ederson DT. Tapia, a political science professor at the University of Makati, said that the long-term impact of a reenacted budget in the first few days of January could be manageable.
“The key issue is predictability. The closer the signing is to the start of the fiscal year, the easier it is for agencies to plan and execute. From a governance perspective, avoiding reenactment altogether remains preferable, but a short one is more a governance inconvenience than a fiscal crisis, provided it does not become a recurring pattern,” he said in a Messenger chat.
Joy G. Aceron, convenor-director of transparency group G-Watch, said the economy may be affected by the reenactment of the “corruption-riden 2025 budget” even for a few days.
“Having a reenacted budget that has been the subject of corruption controversies this past year even for just one week is another indication of failing governance in the country,” she said in a Facebook Messenger chat.
The 2025 budget faced heightened public scrutiny after several opaque budget allocations and congressional insertions were found, prompting calls for better transparency and accountability.
Ms. Aceron said the Executive department’s review of the 2026 budget should be monitored to ensure that there are no budget realignments.
“Because of the general distrust, the review of the Executive needs to be checked to ensure it will not just be another way to realign pork according to partisan political lines,” she said. — Adrian H. Halili
A printed circled board and chips are pictured at the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI) in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Sept. 16, 2022. — REUTERS/ANN WANG
PHILIPPINE EXPORTS of semiconductor and electronic products are projected to grow by double digits this year to $48 billion, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (SEIPI) said.
“We’re poised to have double-digit growth, $48 billion. I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk, but we’re on that trajectory. And that’s higher than 2024, and hopefully comparable to 2023 levels,” SEIPI President Danilo C. Lachica told reporters.
In 2024, the Philippines exported $39.1 billion of electronic products, down 6.7% from $41.91 billion a year prior.
If the $48-billion projection is to be realized, it would represent an almost 23% growth from last year’s total. The growth would be faster than SEIPI’s 5-7% growth estimate last month.
Mr. Lachica said the optimism is driven by higher demand for semiconductors and electronics for artificial intelligence, internet of things, electric vehicles, among others.
According to preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, exports of electronic products surged 50.6% in November to $4.19 billion from $2.78 billion a year ago. Electronics remained the top export category, accounting for 60.7% of the country’s total exports.
The November surge brought year-to-date exports of electronic products to $41.81 billion, up 15.5% from $36.28 billion in the same period last year. Semiconductor exports alone rose 15.7% to $31.51 billion from $27.24 billion during the same period.
To further strengthen the industry, SEIPI is urging the government to implement the Philippine Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Roadmap.
The roadmap aims to grow the country’s semiconductor and electronics industry’s exports to $110 billion by 2030, roughly 2.5 times its current size. It targets $70 billion in semiconductor packaging and $40 billion in assembled electronics and integrated circuit design services.
“I do hope what the Department of Trade and Industry does is to implement the semiconductor electronics roadmap. It’s been almost a year. It hasn’t been implemented yet,” Mr. Lachica said.
SEIPI is also seeking government support for a semiconductor front-end wafer laboratory, a research facility that would allow the country to develop prototype wafers and circuits and build capabilities in advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
“Hopefully, they can also help fund the semiconductor front-end wafer lab, which we proposed to the Department of Science and Technology, which, up to now, hasn’t been approved yet,” Mr. Lachica said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel
Makesense Asia, a leading regional Ecosystem Support Organization (ESO) and incubator focused on just and regenerative solutions, is set to host its highly anticipated Makesense Academy 8 Demo Day on Jan. 22, 2026 at the Philippine Innovation Hub. The event will culminate eight years of expertise by showcasing a hand-picked cohort of growth-ready early-stage social enterprises driving systemic change across the Philippines.
Makesense Academy 8 Demo Day serves as an exclusive platform for the investment community, impact accelerators, corporate leaders, and policy makers to secure direct access to ventures that have successfully completed the rigorous Makesense Academy program. This intensive incubation is designed to de-risk early-stage startups and prepare them for significant investment and large-scale impact.
This year’s cohort features inspiring impact entrepreneurs tackling some of the nation’s most pressing social and environmental challenges in critical sectors, including circular economy, edtech, and sustainable agriculture. These entrepreneurs offer field-tested, scalable solutions that align with and contribute to national development goals and global sustainability mandates.
An early milestone for Academy 8, the Founders’ Retreat brings the cohort together to build community and lay the groundwork for strong organizational foundations.
“This cohort of entrepreneurs has completed a rigorous incubation program focusing specifically on solidifying their internal processes, operations, and strengthening market-critical partnerships,” Ally Malvar, Makesense Asia incubation lead, said.
“What is undeniable is their proven capacity to create viable, collaborative, and impactful business models that are addressing everything from upcycling glass waste to sustainable agriculture. This Demo Day is your chance to witness the solutions that allow us to tangibly imagine alternative, regenerative futures. It proves that innovation, circularity, and sustainability are not just about advocacy; they are the most promising avenues for economic growth and national progress. We invite all strategic partners — investors, industry leaders, policy makers and more — to add the essential fuel of investment and support to these impact-driven solutions,” she added.
The Makesense Academy team also curated a selection of top-performing social startups and Academy alumni who will also be featured at the Jan. 22 Demo Day, to connect investors with more investment opportunities.
Demo Day is the culminating activity of every batch of Makesense Academy. In recent years, alumni who pitched at Academy Demo Days include Rezbin, one of the recipients of the 2025 Filipinnovation Award, CP Health Innovations, a recipient of the 2024 Benita and Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF) Innovation Award, and Capilli Trading, a recognized circular economy innovator turning hair waste into high‑impact products. Alumni of the Makesense Academy have collectively impacted at least 135k+ lives across the Philippines in three years.
Makesense invites investors, policy makers, professionals, and impact advocates to witness these field-tested solutions firsthand. Secure your reserved slot for the Makesense Academy 8 Demo Day by registering at https://luma.com/wdft48tf by Jan. 12, 2026.
SparkUp is BusinessWorld’s multimedia brand created to inform, inspire, and empower the Philippine startups; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and future business leaders. This section will be published every other Monday. For pitches and releases about startups, e-mail to bmbeltran@bworldonline.com (cc: abconoza@bworldonline.com). Materials sent become BW property.
YGG Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have announced the first results of MFW City, their joint talent-development initiative designed to equip Metaverse Filipino Workers (MFWs) with the technical skills, mentorship, and career pathways needed to participate in the global digital economy. Its inaugural effort, carried out in the MIMAROPA region, trained participants in the Move programming language for the Sui blockchain, successfully producing 50 graduates.
Of the total 127 participants, 80% were third-year or higher students in computer science, IT, computer engineering, or related fields, with nearly half already coding for one to two years. The program addressed a clear exposure gap, introducing blockchain for the first time to a highly skilled cohort: 76% had zero prior exposure to blockchain, and none had experience with the Move language.
The program required a high level of commitment, with one online class and one in-person class held each week in Puerto Princesa, complemented by mentoring sessions with Sui contributors and ecosystem partners for feedback and code review.
The pilot attracted a mixed group, with one in five female participants, and students from a number of educational institutions across the region, including Palawan State University, Holy Trinity University, Fulbright College, the Association of Computer Scientists (ACS), and STI College.
“We’re thrilled with how it’s gone and we’re tremendously proud of the effort that everyone put in — DICT, YGG Pilipinas and Metaversity, and especially the students,” said James Wing, head of AAA Gaming Partnerships at Mysten Labs, the first contributor to Sui.
“We faced a lot of challenges with the weather, and we still were able to get really strong graduation numbers and really unique, innovative products that we wouldn’t have thought of before. It’s a testament to their perseverance: being able to adapt on the fly, especially with something as significant as not having internet. There is always going to be huge demand for builders who can adapt like these guys have proven they can do.”
Typhoon Tino struck Puerto Princesa on Nov. 4, bringing severe flooding, widespread power loss, and interruptions to internet and mobile connectivity. It forced the cancellation of the final class, yet the cohort still achieved a notably strong 40% completion rate for a voluntary blockchain developer program, demonstrating sustained commitment through both a technically demanding curriculum and the disruptions of a natural disaster that arrived in the program’s final week.
The program culminated with the presentation of the students’ capstone projects, where they were required to design and launch a working prototype on the Sui blockchain, and pitch their solution to a judging panel. Teams were tasked with solving the problem of creating a trusted, verifiable way to recognize community contributions across schools, guilds and online communities, so these achievements could be demonstrated when applying for work.
By piloting in Puerto Princesa, the collaboration demonstrated how regional hubs can serve as replicable models across the Philippines to deliver scalable blockchain education and professional development tracks, aligning with the DICT’s mission to create eight million digital jobs by 2028.
The DICT MIMAROPA provided the backbone for the program by opening training hubs, computer labs, and internet access (including Starlink for remote areas), mobilizing participants through its regional networks, and linking the initiative to local governments, schools, and community leaders. In parallel, YGG Pilipinas, through its Metaversity platform, drove program design and delivery, from curriculum and mentorship to workshops, project sprints, demo days, and certification.
SparkUp is BusinessWorld’s multimedia brand created to inform, inspire, and empower the Philippine startups; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and future business leaders. This section will be published every other Monday. For pitches and releases about startups, e-mail to bmbeltran@bworldonline.com (cc: abconoza@bworldonline.com). Materials sent become BW property.
Universal exchange Bitget has expanded its Blockchain4Youth initiative by bringing high-speed satellite internet to six schools across Surigao del Norte, Siquijor, and Negros Oriental through a major Starlink deployment.
Through this, Bitget has delivered reliable connectivity to more than 7,300 students and over 100 teachers, marking one of the most meaningful digital inclusion efforts in remote island communities in the Philippines.
The program now supports Espoir School of Life and Lasala Integrated School in Surigao del Norte, Apo Elementary School and the Arts & Design Collective Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, and Siquijor State College and Siquijor Provincial Science High School in Siquijor.
For many of these schools, this marks their first time experiencing dependable high-speed internet access. This transforms how classes are conducted and how teachers prepare lessons as they previously relied entirely on printed worksheets due to unreliable or nonexistent internet connectivity.
“This project is not just about connectivity, it’s about opportunity,” Bitget CEO Gracy Chen said. “By bringing Starlink to these islands, we are giving thousands of young people their first real access to the digital world and the tools they need to participate in tomorrow’s economy.”
Alongside each installation, Bitget’s team conducted educator consultations, digital readiness assessments, and early testing of Blockchain4Youth learning modules. These activities lay the groundwork for future Web3 and digital literacy programs, ensuring that schools can make full use of their newfound connectivity beyond simply accessing the internet. Teachers now have access to online training and updated curricula, while students can engage with interactive learning resources that were previously inaccessible.
This Starlink rollout is part of Bitget’s broader vision under its PayFi Islands initiative, which aims to extend digital infrastructure and education into underserved regions across the Philippines. Bitget plans to continue deploying connectivity solutions and launching digital skills programs to ensure that no student or community is excluded from the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
By combining high-speed internet access with long-term educational support, Bitget is helping remote communities bridge the digital divide, improve learning outcomes, and build pathways toward full participation in the global digital economy.
SparkUp is BusinessWorld’s multimedia brand created to inform, inspire, and empower the Philippine startups; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and future business leaders. This section will be published every other Monday. For pitches and releases about startups, e-mail to bmbeltran@bworldonline.com (cc: abconoza@bworldonline.com). Materials sent become BW property.
Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin — Photo from facebook.com/DOEgovph
Energy is an indispensable part of modern society, acting as the foundation for nearly every aspect of daily life, including economic development, health, communication, and overall quality of life. Almost everything deemed productive in today’s world needs energy, from the phones used on a daily basis to the computers that make businesses function.
This importance makes the function of the Department of Energy (DoE) in ensuring sufficient and accessible energy for households and industries all the more significant. As the government agency responsible for ensuring a stable energy supply, the DoE’s policies and programs influence both how households access and consume energy, and also how industries operate, innovate and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
The DoE was formally established in 1992 through Republic Act No. 7638, also known as the Department of Energy Act of 1992, in response to the growing need for a centralized authority to manage the country’s energy resources. Prior to its creation, energy planning and regulation were fragmented across multiple agencies — including DoE’s predecessor, the Petroleum Board, created in 1972 — which often led to inefficiencies, unreliable supply, and difficulties in implementing long-term strategies.
Based on the law, the agency’s primary mandate focused on energy planning, policy formulation, and regulation. This included oversight of electricity generation and distribution, management of fossil fuel resources, promotion of renewable energy development, and the implementation of programs that encouraged energy efficiency across all sectors. Beyond these operational roles, the DoE was also tasked with aligning the Philippines’ energy policies with national economic plans as well as ensuring environmental protection.
Over the years, the agency’s role expanded in response to modern challenges such as increasing energy demand from a growing population, industrialization, and the global push for sustainable and low-carbon energy sources. Today, the agency does its mandated functions while also actively promoting research in new energy technologies, supporting private sector competition, and fostering public awareness on energy conservation, making it the country’s linchpin in energy security and economic progress.
The 2024/25 Nuclear Power Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP), held in collaboration with South Korea, successfully concluded back in October. — Photo from facebook.com/DOEgovph
Recent milestones and achievements of the DoE include the pursuit of a diversified energy future with the successful conclusion of the 2024/25 Nuclear Power Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP) in collaboration with South Korea.
Officially launched last Feb. 25 in collaboration with prominent Korean energy institutions, such as the Korea Energy Economics Institute (KEEI) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), and the Asia Economic Development Committee (AEDC), which serves as the program’s coordinating body, this bilateral initiative seeks to enhance energy cooperation and develop a secure, resilient energy system for the future. Through knowledge transfer, technical visits to advanced Korean facilities, and the creation of collaborative frameworks, the KSP and DoE significantly strengthened the Philippines’ technical expertise and institutional capacity in the field of nuclear energy.
Another accomplishment of the department is its distinction as the only government agency in the Philippines to achieve the internationally recognized ISO 50001 certification, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to energy efficiency. This prestigious achievement underscores the DoE’s dedication to responsible energy management and highlights its proactive efforts to minimize energy waste within its operations and across government.
“This significant milestone reflects the DoE’s commitment to responsible energy management through practical internal measures, including optimizing energy use and conducting regular audits, and spearheading the Government Energy Management Program to achieve substantial electricity savings,” the agency said in a statement.
These efforts, the agency noted, have already resulted in savings exceeding 30% in many agencies and are freeing up public funds for essential services. The DoE’s certification promotes responsible practices by setting a positive example for other government agencies and the public, all in alignment with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s resolve to ensure every peso of public money truly benefits Filipinos.
Another notable initiative by the DoE is the streamlining of the permitting process for energy projects through the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) System. Through the system, the time frames for a number of permitting processes of various government agencies were adjusted from working days to calendar days to align with Republic Act 11234 or the EVOSS Act.
Currently, there are 48 processes incorporated in the EVOSS according to the department, including the department itself, National Electrification Administration, National Transmission Corp., National Power Corp., Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, along with many others integrated into the EVOSS System.
Alongside the celebration of the department’s anniversary, an ongoing effort the department has initiated is the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM). The annual celebration that places an emphasis on creating public awareness for energy conservation and consumption began through then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Proclamation No. 867, declaring December of every year as “Energy Consciousness Month.”
This year’s NECM carries the theme, “Energy for EveryJuan: Bawat Bahay, May Enerhiya,” highlighting public awareness on responsible energy use, energy efficiency, and the nation’s ongoing energy transition. Next year’s department priorities were also placed in the spotlight, which will include strengthened policies, digitalization, and the advancement of renewable energy, among other initiatives.
“Our task is simple to say but demanding to deliver: keep the lights on, keep prices fair, and keep our transition just and people-centered,” DoE Secretary Sharon S. Garin said during the NECM’s opening ceremony.
The agency’s five-day celebration involved free public exhibits showcasing government energy projects and infrastructures, such as the Malampaya Deep Water Gas-to-Power and Pagbilao Power Station, alongside interactive and educational games for all visitors, especially students from schools around Metro Manila, such as STI College Global City, Tibagan High School, and the Benigno “Ninoy” S. Aquino High School.
The DoE remains at the forefront of ensuring that households and industries enjoy reliable, accessible, and sustainable energy. Through the agency’s strategic policy-making, infrastructure development, and the promotion of renewable and efficient energy technologies, it continues to strengthen the nation’s energy security while supporting economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Recent accomplishments, including the knowledge-sharing programs, ISO 50001 certifications, the streamlined permitting system through EVOSS, and public engagement via the NECM, show the agency’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and inclusivity. These efforts are the spark needed to power a resilient, future-ready energy system that benefits every Filipino. — Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz
RAYMOND RED’S crime drama Manila’s Finest was the big winner at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), garnering a total of eight prizes.
It took home Third Best Picture (which it shared with Call Me Mother), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Musical Score, Best Sound Design, Best Original Song for “Sandalan,” Best Float, and the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award.
Meanwhile, the Best Picture award went to I’mPerfect, a romance starring actors with Down Syndrome. It also received the Best Actress award for Krystel Go, who played the female lead, Jessica.
In her speech, she thanked the film’s director, Sigrid Bernardo, for giving her the chance to represent persons with disabilities in a love story.
“Maraming salamat po sa pagkakataon na ito para mabigyan kami ng boses at mapakita namin na kaya rin naming umarte (Thank you so much for this opportunity that gave us a voice and allowed us to show that we can also act),” she said at the awards night on Dec. 27.
Also a big winner that night with a total of seven awards, including being named the Second Best Picture, was Unmarry, about a couple who separately process the dissolution of their marriages through annulment. One of its seven wins was Best Director for Jeffrey Jeturian.
The Gatpuno J. Villegas Cultural Award was accepted by Jane Basas, president and chief executive officer of MediaQuest Ventures which produced Manila’s Finest. “We have only started producing films three years ago and from GomBurZa, to The Kingdom, to now Manila’s Finest, we have the Filipino culture as part of our ethos.
“This recognition affirms our commitment to telling stories that matter. Manila’s Finest reflects the direction we are taking as a studio, supporting films that are ambitious in craft, grounded in history, and able to engage audiences beyond the surface,” she said.
The film — which stars Piolo Pascual, Enrique Gil, Joey Marquez, and Romnick Sarmenta, in a large ensemble cast — is about Manila police officers who strive to uphold their principles in the early 1970s.
Another notable winner that night was Vice Ganda who received the Best Actor award for his role as an adoptive mother in Call Me Mother, which also tied for Third Best Picture with Manila’s Finest. It marks the first time a queer person has won the award in MMFF’s history.
The 51st MMFF film screenings, which started on Dec. 25, are ongoing nationwide through the first week of January. — Brontë H. Lacsamana
And the winner is…
HERE is the full list of winners at the 2025 Metro Manila Film Festival awards night which was held on Dec. 27.
Best Picture:I’mPerfect
2nd Best Picture: Unmarry
3rd Best Picture:Manila’s Finest and Call Me Mother
Best Director: Jeffrey Jeturian, Unmarry
Best Actress: Krystel Go, I’mPerfect
Best Actor: Vice Ganda, Call Me Mother
Best Supporting Actor: Tom Rodriguez, Unmarry
Best Supporting Actress: Odette Khan, Bar Boys: After School
Breakthrough Performance: Zac Sibug, Unmarry
Best Child Performer: Lucas Andalio, Call Me Mother
Best Screenplay: Chris Martinez, Therese Cayaba, Unmarry
Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award: Manila’s Finest
Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence: Bar Boys: After School
Gender Sensitivity: Call Me Mother
Best Cinematography: Raymond Red, Manila’s Finest
Best Editing: Benjo Ferrer, Unmarry
Best Production Design: Digo Ricio, Manila’s Finest
FIRST OFF, we all deserve hearty congratulations for surviving 2025. It was crazy on so many levels, wasn’t it? Freaky weather, freaky world events, freaky politicians, freaky government contractors. The year was a gift that kept on giving us a variety of surprises — from happy ones to heartache-inducing.
Now that we’re ready to close the curtains on the year, it’s time for our customary resolutions for the next one — a 2026 that’s still pristine and unsullied. See if any (or all) these are also on your motoring/mobility wish list.
1. A better EDSA. We were all dreading the originally planned massive (though much needed) rehabilitation of the country’s main road artery that is the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) last year — one that had us on tenterhooks because of the implications to our daily commute, and for two years at that. Well, the government has given us a sort of compromise to minimize the discomfort and inconvenience while getting to tick crucial boxes. As reported by our sister publication The Philippine STAR (through Ghio Ong and Rainier Allan Ronda), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said that, along with a budget slash from P17 billion to P6 billion, fixing EDSA will be done in two phases of four months each. The first one — covering Roxas Boulevard up to Orense Street in Makati — commenced on Christmas Eve (11 p.m., to be exact) and should be done in “April or May next year.” Here’s hoping that when everything’s completed, we don’t have to contend with unexpected, gaping potholes after typhoons or seasonal showers. To the DPWH chief’s credit, he acknowledged that people get angry at endless reblocking measures (i.e., an endless revenue stream?), so he knows the value of a one-time, bigtime effort.
2. Kinder motorists. How many of us have gone viral in 2025 — and for the worst of reasons? We’ve seen drivers duke it out on the road — letting their fists or makeshift weapons settle matters that could have been done through sober, level-headed talk. May the unexpected gifts we receive next be pleasant ones, not a show-cause order from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), a suspension of our license, or worse.
3. Pedestrian-friendly developments. Sometimes, in a mad rush to open thoroughfares, put in light or electric poles, or even fix drainage, the end result can be a savaged, hardly recognizable sidewalk. People like saying that roads are for cars and sidewalks are for people. What’s a pedestrian to do when there are no sidewalks at all, or when they’re iffy and unilluminated at night? Commuters already have to contend with such difficulties on a daily basis. It wouldn’t be asking too much to make the metro more pedestrian-friendly, right? While we’re at it, penalizing motorists (including riders) not respecting crosswalks, bike lanes, and sidewalks must be the order of the day if our daily experience on the road is to improve.
4. Roads are not for peddling vegetables. Of course, it works both ways. We wonder why congestion gets so bad during the holiday season, only for us to see vendors encroaching onto streets. It’s not a crime to make a living, but there’s a place for everything. This is just wrong, and dangerous.
5. More public charging points. As the number of battery electric vehicle (BEV) models are on the rise from a number of brands, a lingering pain point remains to be an inadequate public charging infrastructure. While the increased range of newer vehicles helps dispel the worry of running out of charge on the road, a meaningful and decisive shift to electric cannot happen with huge gaps in the national charging network. The numbers are certainly there though. If you’ve been to the mall lately, you’ve seen how EV charging slots are usually taken — sometimes irritatingly by vehicles that are already fully charged but have been conveniently left by their owners.
6. Safer public transportation. We’re looking at you, bus, jeepney, and truck drivers and operators. The abundance of “accidents” caused by “brake failure” is staggering, and frankly leaves the rest of us fearing for our lives when we get close to any of these vehicle types on the road. While we do appreciate the efforts of government agencies to crack down on these clunkers and “rolling coffins,” there simply isn’t enough manpower to go around. We need the sector stakeholders and players to step up — to simply care enough and realize that lives are being put in their care every time they take in passengers and hit the road.
7. Rider beware, be aware. Speaking of being fearful, I genuinely am concerned for moto riders out there. I don’t know if it’s George Gerbner’s Mean World Syndrome (related to his Cultivation Theory) rearing its ugly head. To those unfamiliar, the longtime theory posits that “heavy consumers” of media, particularly violent depictions (or even gory coverage of accidents), can lead to perceptions of “increased fear, distrust, and anxiety.” But can you blame me? It’s quite common these days on the news to hear of riders getting mangled underneath buses and other vehicles. It doesn’t matter who’s at fault; it doesn’t justify having lives abruptly ended on the road. So, please be careful out there. An abundance of caution is infinitely more favorable than speeding and being reckless just to get to your destination faster. Getting there in one piece is the only acceptable goal.
8. Better public transportation. Safe is one thing; being comfortable is another. How many of us feel tired after riding the MRT, LRT, bus, or jeepney? How many of us enjoy being packed like sardines? I know it can get crowded in other countries, too, but our public transportation takes congestion to a whole other level. It’s like beating a dead horse at this point, but could you imagine how better off we would be now if those billions of stolen government funds were funneled into the improvement of the transportation sector? We would be, to quote the infamous Sarah Discaya, “happy, happy, yes.”
9. Service and smart enforcement. People have said that it’s easy to know when there are traffic enforcers at an intersection, because the congestion gets woefully worse. That seemingly tongue-in-cheek comment actually holds a nugget of truth. When some enforcers “hijack” or override traffic lights, it sometimes screws up the traffic more. And you get irate people riding their horns because they see the green light but they don’t get to go. Don’t get me wrong. Traffic enforcers don’t get enough credit for risking life, lungs, and limb to keep things moving and in order. But I swear, we need to train them not just to spot violators but to have a better understanding of how the traffic flows and how they can make or break it.
10. EDSA Busway compliance — for real. Whatever happened to the sanctity of the EDSA busway or carousel? If we go by the rules, it is primarily for Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-authorized city buses. There are exceptions for ambulances, fire trucks, PNP, and only the top government officials (the President, Vice-President, Senate President, Speaker, and Chief Justice) and their convoys. Other exceptions include service vehicles for the busway. But really, we’ve seen such an abuse of the lane that it’s beginning to look ridiculous. Here’s a thought: The reinstated contactless apprehension measure should deal with these abusers — and make them famous.
11. Reviving the Mabuhay lanes. Mabuhay lanes, intended to be less-congested options for motorists, cannot work if the communities living along them do not cooperate by parking vehicles, peddling food or items on the road, or nonchalantly crisscross the length of the street.
12. Simple courtesies. Let’s make motorists great again. Learn to queue and not recklessly cut in line (I’m looking at you, habitual violators on EDSA entering the southbound Shaw underpass). Also, the traffic light turning green doesn’t mean you need to honk loudly to make things move. And please learn to use your turn signals, people. They’re there for a reason.
For greater effect I’m now going to listen to “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” by The Smiths. Have a Blessed New Year, and good luck to us all!
THE Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) will reclassify 13 listed companies into new sectors and subsectors effective Jan. 5.
In a circular issued on Friday last week, the local bourse said the reclassification “is in consideration of corporate developments disclosed to the Exchange as well as the result of a review of the companies’ financial statements for the years 2022 to 2024 and the latest quarterly report for 2025.”
Under the PSE Sector Classification Guide, a listed company is assigned to the sector and subsector that account for at least 60% of its revenue.
ATN Holdings, Inc. (ATN) will be placed under the industrial sector’s construction, infrastructure and allied services subsector, from holding firms.
“Accordingly, ATN and ATNB shall become a constituent of the industrial index from the holding firms index,” the exchange said.
DITO CME Holdings Corp. will move to services-telecommunications from services-information technology.
East Coast Vulcan Mining Corp. will be reclassified to mining and oil under the mining sector from industrial-construction, infrastructure and allied services.
EasyCall Communications Philippines, Inc. will remain in the services sector but will be classified under information technology from other services.
Filsyn Corp. will also remain in the industrial sector, shifting to the chemicals subsector from other industrials.
Jackstones, Inc. will be reclassified to the property sector from services-information technology.
PH Resorts Group Holdings, Inc., the gaming firm of Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy, will remain in the services sector but will be placed under hotel and leisure from casinos and gaming.
Pryce Corp. will move to the industrial sector under the electricity, energy, power and water subsector, while Uniholdings, Inc. will be reclassified to the property sector. LMG Corp. will be moved to the financials sector under other financial institutions. These three companies were previously classified under the industrial sector’s chemicals subsector.
Meanwhile, Philippine Racing Club, Inc. (PRC), Premiere Horizon Alliance Corp. (PHA), and Wellex Industries, Inc. (WIN) will all be reclassified to the property sector.
PRC was previously under the services sector’s casinos and gaming subsector, while PHA was classified under other services. WIN was previously part of the holding firms sector. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
Another notable initiative by the DoE is the streamlining of the permitting process for energy projects through the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) System. Through the system, the time frames for a number of permitting processes of various government agencies were adjusted from working days to calendar days to align with Republic Act 11234 or the EVOSS Act.
