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Megawide’s PH1 allots P1B for Southscapes Trece Martires

PH1 WORLD DEVELOPERS

PH1 WORLD DEVELOPERS, INC. (PH1WD), the property unit of Megawide Construction Corp., is investing P1 billion in a residential project in Trece Martires, Cavite.

Located in Barangay Lapidario, Trece Martires, Cavite, the five-hectare project features 343 units designed with modern aesthetics and energy-saving functions. The units are slated for turnover by July 2026.

“Southscapes Trece is designed for discerning homebuyers in Trece who are ready to elevate their living experience,” PH1WD President Gigi G. Alcantara said in an e-mailed reply to questions.

“Whether you’re moving up from a starter home or seeking a fresh start in a vibrant community, Southscapes offers more than just a residence — it delivers a lifestyle upgrade.”

All units are priced between P3.2 million and P8 million, the developer said.

On Aug. 16, PH1WD unveiled its model unit block for the project, which includes three model units available in both standard-finish and dressed-up versions.

The model units include Alba, a 61-square-meter (sq.m.) middle-unit townhouse with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Meanwhile, Salana, an 80-sq.m. end-unit townhouse, and Elia, a 96-sq.m. single-attached unit, each offer three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The development’s environment-friendly features can help residents save up to P80,000 annually, PH1WD said.

Each housing unit is equipped with SolarSave Energy Panels that can generate up to P54,000 in annual savings, and ResiShade Tinted Windows that reduce indoor heat gain and can save over P2,500 per year, according to the company. It also features TropiCool Insulated Walls that provide thermal comfort, with expected annual savings of more than P5,500, it noted.

The township will feature solar-powered streetlights, while a dedicated electric shuttle service will offer free transport to key local destinations, including Trece Martires City Hall, the Cavite Provincial Capitol, and nearby grocery and shopping centers.

Open and green spaces will comprise 45% of the township, which will feature amenities such as swimming pools for adults and children, a multipurpose hall, a basketball court, and a children’s playground.

Southscapes Trece Martires is connected to Metro Manila and key areas of Cavite through the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Silang (Aguinaldo) Exit, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) C-5 Toll Plaza, and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which serves as a terminal for Cavite-bound buses.

“With a gross inventory value of P1.8 billion, the development delivers the serenity of suburban living without sacrificing accessibility,” PH1WD said. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of select ASEAN economies, August 2025

PHILIPPINE manufacturing activity expanded in August but at its slowest pace in two months amid a muted rise in output and new orders as the higher US tariffs took effect, S&P Global said on Monday. Read the full story.

Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of select ASEAN economies, August 2025

Netflix’ KPop Demon Hunters Success is no surprise

By Catherine Thorbecke

THE SUMMER smash-hit movie that caught everyone off-guard turned out to be an animated musical about demon-fighting Korean pop stars. It’s the latest example of how South Korea’s soft power shapes global trends. Seoul must now ensure it benefits from this unique storytelling as much as Netflix, Inc.

KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix’s most-watched original film of all time. Its two-day theatrical run topped the US box office, and it became the first soundtrack to have four songs in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 10. The breakout popularity among children and preteens has many comparing the franchise potential to Frozen, which is estimated to have made Walt Disney Co. billions of dollars. Analysts clearly see the potential. On an earnings call last week for US retailer Five Below, Inc., one asked bluntly about merchandise: “Three words: KPop Demon Hunters?”

Netflix thought it was making a movie for the K-pop and anime audience. In an increasingly interconnected world, these lines are more blurred than ever.

Political rhetoric and a trade war instigated by Washington may make it seem like the age of globalism is dying. But young people continuously show an appetite for a multicultural world. The film was set in Seoul, centers around a K-pop girl group, and takes inspiration from Korean mythology and demonology. While the dialogue is in English, it’s far from a White-washed narrative for an American audience. And it’s not just the Korean diaspora celebrating the film’s Asian representation.

Hollywood has no reason to be surprised anymore when seemingly “foreign” content becomes mainstream mega-hits. The Korean Wave has long been driving global pop culture trends. An International Monetary Fund report last year identified South Korea as having the highest level of “soft power.” Netflix’s most popular non-English show of all time is Squid Games. The streaming platform said last year that more than 80% of global subscribers have watched K-content on the platform.

Led by Netflix, global tech giants have accelerated, and profited from, the massive popularity of Korea’s cultural exports. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have helped everything from K-beauty brands to Samyang Foods Co.’s Buldak ramen — and KPop Demon Hunters dances and lip-sync videos — go viral.

These cultural exchanges are a good thing. Co-director Maggie Kang, a Korean-Canadian filmmaker, recalled in an interview how her elementary school teacher couldn’t even point to South Korea on the map. During a screening in Seoul, Kang said her advice to aspiring local-content creators was never to try to cater to the opinions of others. “That’s the only way K-content can reach an even broader audience — show our culture exactly as it is, with confidence,” she said.

South Korea must now ensure that it’s not just Western companies that profit from its coolness. Much debate in the US has centered around whether Netflix left money on the table when it limited the theatrical release of the film, or failed to forecast the skyrocketing demand for merchandise. (Not to mention Sony Pictures Animation’s pandemic-era decision to sell the movie rights to the streaming service for what, in retrospect, was a very low-ball figure.) But this discourse is missing a broader issue. At a time when global demand for K-content is growing, ensuring Korean companies maintain the IP rights for global franchises like Demon Hunters is an important place to start.

For platforms trying to capitalize on South Korea’s soft power, there’s a lesson: Not everything has to be culturally watered-down for an American audience. The team behind the film went to great lengths to make sure that the story maintained its authenticity in representing Korea to the world. The efforts have clearly paid off.

Netflix should be commended for recognizing the international appeal of Korean storytelling and investing in it early. But it’s now time South Korea guards and profits from its cultural franchises. — Bloomberg Opinion

80 years without a world war, looking at global prosperity

Today is the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (WW2). Sept. 2, 1945 saw the signing of the official surrender of Japan to the Allies, Germany had surrendered in May that year. So, it has been 80 years of no world war, only civil wars or war between neighbors, but not a continent-wide or world war. Congratulations humanity for prioritizing development and prosperity over war mongering.

How much has humanity prospered since the end of WW2? I checked the only available database that I know of, the Maddison Project by Prof. Angus Maddison and younger faculty of the University of Groningen in Netherlands. The database covers GDP size at 1990 values of Geary-Khamis (G-K) international $, population, GDP per capita, etc. by country from the First Century.

The GDP size of the Axis Powers in 1939 when WW2 started, in 1945 when the war ended, and post-war 1950 levels were as follows: Germany — $374.6 billion, $302.5 billion, $265.4 billion; Italy — $154.5 billion, $87.3 billion, $165 billion; and, Japan — $203.8 billion, $102.6 billion, $161 billion.

The Maddison database for GDP size is only until 2008 so I continued with the IMF database. Many countries, especially in Asia, do not have data for 1945 so to compute the multiples in GDP expansion, I used the data from 1950 to 2005. After five decades, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, and the US have expanded only six times their original value while the UK expanded only four times. And from 2005-2024 or two decades, the same countries have expanded only two times (see Table 1).

In contrast, from 1950 to 2005, the Asian nations have expanded between 11 times (Philippines) to 63 times (Taiwan) except Bangladesh. And from 2005-2024, economies expanded between two times (Iran) to six times (China). Japan expanded 17 times after WW2 but expanded only 1.6 times in the last two decades (see Table 2).

We often hear the statement that “Post-WW2 the Philippines was second largest or richest economy in Asia next to Japan.” This is not true. In 1950, the Philippines was 8th largest, even smaller than the economies of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The slow expansion in GDP size of Europe and America is also reflected in the slow expansion, even degrowth, in their total energy supply — from transportation to power generation. From 1965 (the earliest data available from the Energy Institute database) when Germany had 10.58 exajoules (EJ), this expanded in the 1970s and ’80s, then shrank to only 10.14 EJ in 2024. The UK fared even worse, from 8.32 EJ in 1965 to only 6.43 EJ in 2024.

In contrast, the energy supply over the same period has expanded 38 to 50 times from their base in 1965 in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea, 30 times in China, 12 times in the Philippines, and only three times in Japan (see Table 3).

East Asia has prospered a lot since WW2. But Japan has aligned its economic, energy, and climate policies with the US and Europe, and its expansion has significantly declined. The Philippines has the smallest energy supply among the countries listed — we are still in energy poverty compared to many of our East Asia neighbors.

The country’s current economic team, energy and environment sectors should abandon the West and the UN’s fear-mongering climate agenda. We should instead focus on more growth and prosperity, a bigger energy supply and be agnostic about where the supply comes from.

We should also ignore war mongering by certain sectors. We have had 80 years of no global war, we can have another 80 years or more of no world wars, and 80 years or more of continued economic prosperity instead.

 

Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. is the president of Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr. Research Consultancy Services, and Minimal Government Thinkers. He is an international fellow of the Tholos Foundation.

minimalgovernment@gmail.com

8990 Holdings targets Oct. 28 for voluntary PSE delisting

8990HOLDINGS.COM

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER 8990 Holdings, Inc. has filed a petition with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for a voluntary delisting of its common shares, targeting an effective date of Oct. 28.

“Subject to compliance with the PSE’s Amended Voluntary Delisting Rules, the voluntary delisting is expected to be effective by 28 October 2025,” the company said in a disclosure on Monday.

Prior to the delisting, shareholders were offered the option to tender their shares at a cash premium.

As part of the delisting process, 8990 Holdings’ subsidiary 8990 Housing Development Corp. will acquire minority shareholders’ stakes through a tender offer at P10.42 per share, running from Sept. 2 to 30.

“The bidder intends to acquire the tender offer shares, consisting of up to 580,570,390 common shares in the company,” the disclosure said.

The tender offer follows the PSE’s voluntary delisting rules, under which the bidder aims to acquire at least 95% of the company’s shares to complete the delisting.

Following the voluntary delisting, share transfers will require a certificate authorizing registration from the Bureau of Internal Revenue before legal title can be transferred.

8990 Holdings is engaged in property development through the brands Deca Homes, Deca Towers, and Urban Deca Towers. Its portfolio includes low-cost mass housing units and subdivision lots, as well as medium-rise and high-rise housing units. The company is also engaged in hotel operations.

On Monday, 8990 Holdings shares rose 1.57% to P10.36 apiece. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno

Lagarde warns of global economic risk via Trump interference on Fed

RAWPIXEL

PARIS — Steps by US President Donald J. Trump to remove US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome H. Powell or Fed Governor Lisa Cook would represent a “very serious danger for the US economy and the world economy,” said European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde on Monday.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly attacked Mr. Powell for not cutting the short-term interest rate and threatened to fire him. Mr. Trump is also attempting to fire Ms. Cook.

“If US monetary policy were no longer independent and instead dependent on the dictates of this or that person, then I believe that the effect on the balance of the American economy could, as a result of the effects this would have around the world, be very worrying, because it is the largest economy in the world,” Ms. Lagarde told Radio Classique.

Ms. Lagarde also told Radio Classique that a ruling on Friday by a US appeals court that most of Mr. Trump’s tariffs were illegal were adding a “further layer of uncertainty” to the global economic outlook. — Reuters

ALI, Megaworld lead property sector in Kantar brand strength study

AYALALAND.COM

AYALA LAND, INC. (ALI) and Megaworld Corp. were among the companies identified in the Kantar BrandZ Philippines 2025 Report as leading real estate brands.

ALI was ranked as the “Most Meaningfully Different Brand” in the sector, followed by Megaworld, according to Kantar, a data, insights, and consulting company.

In a statement on Monday, the company said its Kantar BrandZ Philippines 2025 Report analyzed 120 brands across eight categories, measuring Demand Power, Kantar’s aggregated metric for a brand’s desirability and market potential, and Future Power, a metric of a brand’s likelihood for future growth based on consideration and brand awareness.

“These brands successfully maintained relevance and carved a unique identity in an increasingly competitive, fast-changing market,” it said.

In the airlines category, Philippine Airlines was followed by Cebu Pacific.

Other brands cited were Max’s and Kuya J’s for casual dining; Bench and Penshoppe for apparel; Lucky Me!, Purefoods, and Century Tuna for pantry; Dove and Pond’s for feminine beauty and skincare; and Downy and Surf for fabric care.

Kantar also listed Luxe Organix, Delimondo, and Tiny Buds as emerging Filipino brands.

Kantar said brands that show a “meaningful difference” are defined by three qualities: meaningful, difference, and salience.

Eva Claravall, business unit head, head of marketing growth, and CX lead at Kantar Philippines, said such brands go beyond functional benefits.

“It’s about relevance, emotional connection, and salience,” she said.

“The challenge for leaders today is to focus their limited resources on what will make the biggest difference in building their brand.” — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

Top 10 Agricultural Export Commodities

Top 10 Agricultural Export Commodities

Entertainment News (09/02/25)

Coke Studio PH Season 9 to stage concert of collabs

COKE STUDIO Season 9 is back with a one-night-only concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept. 5, headlined by global pop singer Lauv. He will be joined by a powerhouse roster of Filipino artists that will showcase genre-breaking collaborations and live music. Set to perform are P-pop girl group BINI with the Orchestra of the Filipino Youth; P-pop boy group ALAMAT with acoustic artist mrld; R&B singer Dionela with rapper Alex Bruce; and indie rock band Over October with alternative pop artist Ena Mori. Concert tickets are available by collecting raffle tickets by purchasing Coca-Cola products from Jollibee, 7-Eleven, Grab, and Lazada.

Gracenote mounts solo concert

FILIPINO alternative-pop band Gracenote will be taking center stage for their solo concert titled Walang Makakapigil, happening on Sept. 6 at Teatrino, Promenade in the Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. Presented by Soupstar Music, in partnership with Redlines Productions, EMI Records Philippines, and UMG Philippines, the concert will showcase some of the pop-rock quartet’s most memorable hits and brand-new songs. Rising indie act Hey June! will join as a special guest.

NOBITA, Yeng Constantino collaborate on new ballad

FILIPINO pop-rock quintet NOBITA has linked up with Yeng Constantino in the collaborative new single “Gayuma,” out now via Sony Music Entertainment. The song explores a quiet kind of love that swells in secret. According to NOBITA, the demo had been shelved for some time until they revisited it and realized they needed a female collaborator who could bring balance and emotional nuance to the song. The song is produced by Brian Lotho.

HBO Max adds Harry Potter movies in September

THIS SEPTEMBER on HBO Max, the full Harry Potter movie collection will be available on the platform. Users can also stream the premiere of HBO Original drama series Task, starring Mark Ruffalo, and the thriller Black Bag with Cate Blanchett. From the creator of The Office, a new comedy series The Paper will also premiere, starring Domhnall Gleeson and Sabrina Impacciatore.

Singaporean indie artist Shye drops single

SHYE, the indie pop singer-songwriter and producer from Singapore, is back with her newest single, “Shed.” The song is about carrying the quiet weight of an unchangeable past. Shye’s new track aims to be both sonically immersive and emotionally resonant. It is now available on digital music streaming platforms.

Two new MYX shows premiere in September

FILIPINO music and pop culture channel MYX has introduced two new shows on YouTube, MYX NOW and Clocked Out, to showcase today’s favorite acts, pop culture trends, and backstage happenings. The shows are led by new MYX video jocks Ella, Eya, Jarren, Kring, Ozzie, Robbie, and Samm. MYX NOW is a daily backstage pass featuring surprise music guests, fresh recommendations, and the “MYX Daily Top 10” countdown. Meanwhile, Clocked Out is a weekly joyride with stars as they unwind, recharge, and keep it real while off the clock. These shows are available on the MYX YouTube page and the MYX cable channel.

Christian Bautista, Abi Marquez release Christmas track

A NEW Christmas cover has been dropped in a collaboration between singer Christian Bautista and “Lumpia Queen” viral sensation Abi Marquez. The song is their rendition of the Jose Mari Chan classic “Let the Love Be the Gift,” in time for the start of the Philippines’ very long Christmas season. It is out now on all digital music streaming platforms.

Darren Aronofsky makes odd, humorous crime film

ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR Darren Aronofsky, known for dark dramas like Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, is back with a fun movie titled Caught Stealing. Based on the novel of the same name by Charlie Huston, it tells the story of Hank Thompson (played by Austin Butler), a former baseball player-turned-bartender living in downtown New York. He falls into the city’s dark criminal underground when his neighbor Russ (played by Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days. It opens in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 10.

New romantic fantasy film to premiere in September

FROM THE MIND of minimalist director Kogonada, the upcoming film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey is geared towards “movie lovers hungry for new worlds, new characters, and a new way of thinking about the human experience.” The film stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell together on screen for the first time, as strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding. It will be out in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 17.

Japanese Film Festival returns

THE Japan Foundation Manila has announced the return of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) this month. It will offer a selection of 12 films. Admission is free. The theme for this edition is “Bridg(e)ing,” highlighting films that serve as metaphorical bridges. Opening the festival is the 4K remaster of Love Letter (1995), Shunji Iwai’s acclaimed directorial debut and a timeless romance film. Also on the festival roster are Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1956), the animated cult classic Ghost in the Shell (1995), Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001), the newer film A Samurai in Time (2024), and the live-action adaptation of Cells at Work! (2024), among others. JFF 2025 kicks off in Manila at the Shangri-La Mall in Mandaluyong on Sept. 18. The festival will move to SM City Baguio on Sept. 26, followed by screenings in SM City Cebu, SM City Davao, and SM City Clark. The festival will then return to Manila at the UP Film Institute, and conclude at SM City Manila.

Kids’ cartoon character Gabby gets big screen debut

THE upcoming film Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie, based on the 11-season global hit streaming series for children, will arrive at cinemas on Sept. 24. Laila Lockhart Kraner is reprising her role as Gabby, taking off on a road trip to Cat Francisco with her Grandma Gigi, played by four-time Grammy Award winner Gloria Estefan. Trouble ensues when Gabby’s dollhouse, her most precious possession, is stolen by the eccentric cat lady Vera (Kristen Wiig).

Japanese anime, Korean period drama on Disney+

TWO highly anticipated series will be released on the same day on Disney+: global animé sensation Cat’s Eye and 16th century set K-drama The Murky Stream. The former is a 12-part series that follows three sisters who run a popular café by day and execute high-stakes art heists at night. Since its debut in 1981, the manga Cat’s Eye by Tsukasa Hojo has developed a global fandom. Meanwhile, the K-drama The Murky Stream will offer stories of corrupt local officials, bandits rising to seize control, and a fierce fight for justice. Set in the Joseon dynasty, it tells of an unlikely alliance among three individuals: noble youth-turned-fugitive, his childhood friend who is now an officer, and sharp-witted merchant leader. Both shows drop on Sept. 26.

The Ridleys to open for Morissette’s concert

INDIE-FOLK band The Ridleys have officially joined Morissette’s 15th anniversary concert, Ember, as the opening act. The concert is set to take place at Cubao’s Smart Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 28. The organizers have also opened a new section, Patron A, offering premium reserved seating with risers near the stage. Morissette has hinted that she “carefully curated a full-circle setlist that spans her 15-year career.” Tickets are available via TicketNet.

GMA Pictures, Mentorque join forces for horror film

TWO STUDIOS have come together for a project — GMA Pictures and Mentorque Productions. The horror feature, Huwag Kang Titingin, will be their first co-production. It promises a “fresh, uniquely Filipino horror experience with a frighteningly modern Gen Z narrative that collides viral internet challenges with deep-rooted folkloric fears.” In the cast are Sofia Pablo, Allen Ansay, Marco Masa, Michael Sager, Sean Lucas, Kira Balinger, Josh Ford, Anthony Constantino, Charlie Fleming, Shuvee Etrata, and Sherilyn Reyes. It will be directed by Frasco Mortiz and written by Ays De Guzman. The release date has yet to be announced.

Beyond survival: Are Filipino businesses truly resilient?

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Rawpixel.Com from Freepik

Five years ago, our country and the rest of the world experienced the worst disruption of the century: the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact was felt across many facets of our lives and our livelihoods. In the business sector, the vulnerability of Philippine MSMEs manifested in the temporary closure of a staggering 70.6% of such businesses in 2020. However, by 2023, many of these enterprises didn’t just survive, but the numbers even rose by an average rate of 9.3% from 2021. This brings us to an important question: How can businesses go beyond merely surviving? Have Filipino businesses learned how to be truly resilient and thrive during such trying times?

Resilience has become a buzzword, especially back during the pandemic. It loosely describes any organization that has managed to keep its doors open despite severe challenges. However, genuine organizational resilience goes deeper than just “survival.” While survival is reactive, resilience is proactive and transformative. Organizational resilience isn’t just about bouncing back, but more about bouncing forward to a better place. This is done by strengthening structures and the capacity to identify risks, preparing strategic responses, and implementing timely continuity plans — all working towards sustainability and positive transformation.

Resilience transcends the traditional crisis management mindset. Most large businesses have integrated risk management in their governance practices, but only a few have embraced the more inclusive approach of organizational resilience. The glaring difference is that risk management is defensive while resilience is both defensive and offensive, turning potential threats into opportunities for growth and innovation.

From a study I conducted among selected boards and managers of private and public institutions in the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan, three major dimensions of resilient organizations surfaced:

First is continuity and sustainability, or the establishment of effective processes for risk identification and response. More than just having a crisis manual, organizations should have well-oiled systems for organizations to spot red flags before they become full-blown threats. They do this through constant environmental scanning, scenario planning, and stakeholder assessment.

Next is adaptability and timing, which involve understanding and responding to the changing needs of stakeholders and employees, and not just the internal organizational capabilities. The most resilient organizations value the urgency of pivoting operations while staying grounded with their core values and mission.

Last is innovation and resourcefulness, which highlight technology-driven transformation. More than just digitization of existing processes, resilience also involves reimagining value creation and delivery, which can manifest through redesigning business models and creating new opportunities.

Organizational resilience is deeply influenced by cultural contexts. Countries with collectivist cultures, such as those in Asia, show higher organizational resilience, as shared values and group interests are prioritized over individual concerns. While this is meant to be seen as a positive trait for us Filipinos, there’s also a danger of its being overly romanticized, leading to passiveness and tolerance of challenges that could have been prevented with proper planning and management.

The most important aspect of organizational resilience is its transformative nature. Resilient organizations build their capacity for futureproofing against prospective threats; they look beyond risk identification and management, and short-term thinking. Organizational resilience espouses long-term visioning, people empowerment, and a culture of continuous learning and innovation that must be embedded in the organization’s daily operations. The most resilient organizations are those that practice resilience every day, in ordinary circumstances — building capabilities that will be put to good use in the advent of extraordinary challenges.

In these times, Filipino businesses need to be mindful of documenting and harnessing organizational learning at all levels so that best practices are continued, and mistakes are not repeated. Organizations need to continuously invest in the development of human capital and technology and to strengthen stakeholder relationships. Resilience entails championing organizational cultures that encourage innovation and experimentation — where failures are seen as learning opportunities, and continuous improvement is part of the norm. As organizations move forward in this VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous) world, they will inevitably face disruptions. And it is only when they are prepared to turn these challenges into opportunities that they can be described as truly resilient.

 

Dr. Glorife Soberano-Samodio is a faculty member and graduate school coordinator of the Department of Management and Organization and head of the Creative Industries Studies Network at De La Salle University.

glorife.samodio@dlsu.edu.ph

S&P Global rates Maynilad ‘medium green’ for service improvement efforts

MAYNILADWATER.COM.PH

WEST ZONE concessionaire Maynilad Water Services, Inc. said it has received a “medium green” rating from S&P Global Ratings, highlighting its low-carbon initiatives through service programs.

In a statement on Monday, Maynilad said the credit watchdog issued a Climate Transition Assessment (CTA) on the company, reflecting the water company’s service improvement initiatives.

These include non-revenue water reduction, potable water reuse through Maynilad’s New Water project, watershed restoration, and infrastructure upgrades.

“This independent assessment provides a transparent benchmark of our climate transition efforts,” said Maynilad Chief Sustainability Officer Roel S. Espiritu. “It highlights both our progress and the areas where we can continue to strengthen.”

The CTA provides a qualitative opinion on how prepared a company is for the transition to a lower-carbon economy, considering governance, strategy, risk management, and climate-related targets.

S&P said all of Maynilad’s revenues come from activities it classifies as environmentally sustainable under its CTA framework.

The report also confirmed the company’s alignment with international sustainability standards, including the International Finance Corporation’s guidance for blue finance and the World Federation of Exchanges’ Green Equity Principles.

Maynilad serves certain portions of Manila, Quezon City, and Makati. It also operates in Caloocan, Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas, and Malabon. Additionally, it supplies the cities of Cavite, Bacoor, and Imus, and the towns of Kawit, Noveleta, and Rosario, all in Cavite province.

Pangilinan-led conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which holds a majority stake in Maynilad, is one of three Philippine subsidiaries of First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside 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. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

How PSEi member stocks performed — September 1, 2025

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Monday, September 1, 2025.

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