Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 769

DoE, Pagbilao Energy coordinate after fire incident

THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it will coordinate with Pagbilao Energy Corp. (PEC) and other concerned agencies to ensure the proper provision of assistance following the fire incident at a power plant unit in Pagbilao, Quezon province, which resulted in casualties.

In a statement on Sunday, Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin said the agency has enjoined PEC to attend to the needs of all those currently in the hospital, ensuring that they receive comprehensive medical attention, proper care, and full support.

“The DoE also commits to assisting, where appropriate, in the recovery efforts for both the affected personnel and the power plant, ensuring that necessary support mechanisms are in place as operations move toward rehabilitation, while upholding the welfare of all workers involved,” she said.

Reports stated that a fire broke out at Pagbilao Power Station Unit 3 on the evening of Oct. 31, killing one personnel and wounding nine others.

In a statement, PEC said it continues to prioritize the treatment and care of individuals affected by the incident.

The company said that families and loved ones of the injured and deceased were promptly informed, and teams are coordinating with them to provide continuous and comprehensive medical, financial, logistical, and emotional support.

As of 9 a.m. of Nov. 2, seven of the injured personnel are in stable condition, while two have successfully undergone surgeries and are under close monitoring.

“PEC also reaffirms its dedication to the safety and well-being of all of our people on-site. We thank everyone for their compassion and support as we move through this difficult period together,” the company said.

The coal-fired power plant unit was inaugurated in 2018 and generates a baseload power of 420 megawatts. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera

Baguio City to cut emissions in 2025-2028 plan

BAGUIO CITY is setting sights on focusing on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving waste management, and promoting sustainable development in its environmental plan for 2025 to 2028.

The plan, part of the city’s Executive Legislative Agenda now being finalized, aims to make Baguio cleaner, greener, and more climate resilient.

Baguio City targets a 5% cut in greenhouse gas emissions based on 2026 levels and a 10% reduction in landfill waste to 270 tons daily from 300 tons. Around P100 million has been set aside to finish the Central Material Recovery Facility and build three more barangay waste centers to boost recycling and lessen landfill use.

The city also plans to work with the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme on a project that encourages residents to change waste disposal habits.

Upgrades to sewage and septage facilities are also planned, along with the rehabilitation of damaged sewer lines and the addition of 5,000 new household connections. The city wants to reach a 70% collection rate for sanitation and environmental fees by 2028.

For hazardous waste, the local government plans to establish a proper collection and disposal system by 2028. It will gather data on hazardous materials, explore better handling of e-waste and used oil, and create an ordinance to strengthen waste programs at the barangay level.

Air quality and urban forest management will continue under the CLEAR Baguio Strategy, which includes real-time air monitoring, a wider tree registry, and citizen participation. By 2028, the city hopes to launch a SMART platform that connects air and forest data, with at least 90% of stakeholders actively involved.

Water security and green spaces are also priorities. The city aims to increase its water supply by 3,500 cubic meters per day through system improvements and waterway rehabilitation.

From 2025 to 2027, parks like Burnham Park and Mines View Park will be redeveloped. By 2028, Baguio plans to complete a network of well-maintained parks and fully enforce its new Green Building Ordinance to promote eco-friendly construction across the city. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Labor agreements inked in BARMM

COTABATO CITY — Regional officials, employers, representatives from the labor and business sectors from across the Bangsamoro region have crafted resolutions to cooperate on special welfare and health programs for workers to boost their safety in workplaces and hasten their productivity.

The agreements, forged during the 2025 Bangsamoro Labor Summit and Tripartite Industrial Peace Council Convention in Cotabato City, were signed by officials led by Labor and Employment Minister Muslimin G. Sema, members of the Bangsamoro Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, representatives from the business and labor sectors and humanitarian organizations in the autonomous region.

Officials of the Ministry of Labor and Employment-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MoLE-BARMM), led by Mr. Sema, and BARMM’s Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua organized the summit as a venue for dialogues on how to further improve cross-section cooperation on interventions meant to boost the welfare of the region’s labor sector and enhance the relationship among workers and their employers.

“The summit was a multisector activity. It was productive. It was capped off with our signing of agreements good for the region’s labor sector, employers and traders who have establishments employing local residents,” Mr. Sema told reporters on Sunday.

Apart from those in mainland Mindanao, traders and labor sector representatives from BARMM’s geographically separated Basilan and Tawi-Tawi island provinces also attended the summit, held at the Al Nor Convention Center in uptown Cotabato City at the weekend.

In a message, Maria Jenellyn P. Aguinaldo, Philippine project manager of the International Labour Organization (ILO), told summit attendees that the ILO will support all of MoLE-BARMM’s programs for the region’s labor sector.

The sectoral representatives who participated in the summit also pledged to help address child labor in far-flung areas in BARMM and the use of children as combatants by their own families that are involved in deadly clan wars. — John Felix M. Unson

Dodgers back-to-back champs

LOS ANGELES DODGERS pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. — REUTERS/IMAGN IMAGES-KEVIN SOUSA

Dodgers rally past Blue Jays in 11th to win second straight World Series

TORONTO — Will Smith hit a home run with two outs in the 11th to send the Los Angeles (LA) Dodgers to their second straight World Series championship with a 5-4 Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.

Smith’s second homer of the postseason came on a shot to left on a 2-0 slider from Shane Bieber (2-1).

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. led off the home 11th with a double against Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-1), who started Game 6 on Friday. Guerrero took third on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sacrifice. Addison Barger walked. Alejandro Kirk grounded into a season-ending double play.

The Dodgers tied the game at 4 on the first homer of the postseason by Miguel Rojas on a Jeff Hoffman 3-2 slider with one out in the ninth.

In the home ninth, Blake Snell allowed a one-out single and a walk before Yamamoto came in to load the bases with a hit batter before getting a force at home and a flyout to force extra innings.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the 10th against Seranthony Dominguez but failed to score.

Max Muncy also homered for the Dodgers, who became the first repeat World Series winners since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees.

Toronto’s Ernie Clement had three hits to set a postseason record of 30. He extended his postseason hit streak to 13 games, a franchise record. George Springer added three hits.

Shohei Ohtani, LA’s Game 4 starter, allowed Springer’s leadoff single in the third. Springer took second on Nathan Lukes’ sacrifice and moved to third on a wild pitch to Guerrero, who was then walked intentionally. Bo Bichette smashed a first-pitch slider to center for his first homer of the postseason and the Blue Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Ohtani allowed three runs, five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

Smith doubled high off the wall in left-center against Max Scherzer to start the fourth and took third on Freddie Freeman’s single. Muncy walked with one out. Center fielder Daulton Varsho made a diving catch on Teoscar Hernandez’s sacrifice fly but Smith scored.

Scherzer allowed one run, four hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Toronto’s Chris Bassitt walked Mookie Betts to start the sixth. Muncy singled and was out at second on Hernandez’s bouncer to the mound. Tommy Edman hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Clement led off the home sixth with a single, stole second and scored on Andres Gimenez’s double to center.

Toronto’s Trey Yesavage allowed Muncy’s third homer of the postseason with one out in the eighth on a 1-1 splitter. — Reuters

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3 wins) named World Series MVP

ON A TEAM loaded with stars that just won its second consecutive championship, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the clear choice for World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) following the Game 7 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.

“Yamamoto is the GOAT!” manager Dave Roberts shouted just before the Dodgers hoisted the World Series trophy — with much of the heavy lifting done by Yamamoto.

The right-handed starter collected three of the Dodgers’ four wins against the American League champion Blue Jays, including Game 7 which went 11 innings before Los Angeles emerged with the 5-4 victory.

Yamamoto allowed one hit and one walk with one strikeout in 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close out the game. He threw 34 pitches, 21 for strikes in lowering his postseason earned run average (ERA) to 1.45 in 37 1/3 innings and improving his record to 5-1.

He beat the host Blue Jays 5-1 with a complete-game, 105-pitch four-hitter on Oct. 25 to tie the series 1-1. He beat them again 3-1 on Friday in Toronto, working six innings and allowing five hits in a 96-pitch outing to keep the Dodgers’ hopes alive by tying the series 3-3.

In between, the 27-year-old from Japan also appeared ready to pitch if needed in Game 3 on Monday, but 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman solved that issue with a walk-off home run in the 18th inning for a 6-5 victory.

When he was called on zero days of rest on Saturday night, Yamamoto was ready — eventually.

“I was not sure if I could pitch tonight until I went to the bullpen tonight,” Yamamoto said postgame, via interpreter, “but I’m glad I was able to.”

The last pitcher to win three games in a World Series was Randy Johnson for the champion Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001. Yamamoto did it this year with a pitching line of three games (two starts), a 1.02 ERA, 10 hits, two runs, two walks and 15 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers signed him to a 12-year contract for $325 million in December 2023. He went 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in the 2024 postseason as Los Angeles won the National League pennant and beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

He was 12-8 with a 2.49 ERA, 59 walks and 201 strikeouts in the 2025 regular season and was selected to the All-Star Game. — Reuters

Świątek swats aside Keys for winning start at WTA Finals

RIYADH — World number two Iga Świątek began her quest for a second Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Finals trophy with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Australian Open champion Madison Keys in their round-robin clash at the season-ending championships on Saturday.

The 2023 champion made a fast start in the Riyadh showpiece, winning 12 of the first 14 points to take a 3-0 lead, as a rusty Keys struggled to find rhythm on serve in her first match since a stunning US Open first-round defeat in late August.

Świątek continued to pile the pressure on her American opponent, who looked out of sorts in her first appearance in the season finale since her debut in 2016, and the Pole raced away to take the opening set, dropping only one game.

“All the things I practiced, I got it together today to play with the right balance, in terms of being solid and aggressive,” Świątek said.

“I’m overall happy with the work that I’ve put in after the China swing, especially in Warsaw. That gives me confidence, for sure, to go forward and develop as a player.”

The pair swapped breaks at the start of the second set, but an untimely double fault from Keys handed the advantage back to Świątek, who made no mistake from there to wrap up the victory on serve in only 61 minutes.

The WTA Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world, has a record prize pool of $15.5 million and offers 1,500 points. The tournament culminates with the finals at King Saud University Sports Arena on Nov. 8.

FLAWLESS DISPLAY
In the second match from the Serena Williams Group, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina produced a flawless display on serve to see off WTA Finals American debutante Amanda Anisimova, 6-3, 6-1, and get her own campaign off to a winning start.

Kazakh Rybakina, who pulled out of last week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after reaching the semifinals to qualify for the season finale, showed no signs of the back issue that hampered her to beat Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Anisimova.

“Amanda’s a great player and a tough opponent. I knew I had to serve well… Hopefully I can continue serving like this.”

After breezing through the opening set, Rybakina broke early in the next for a 3-0 lead before Anisimova got on the board but there was no stopping the 2022 All England Club champion as she reeled off the games to prevail.

On Sunday, the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka begins her bid for a maiden WTA Finals title when the Belarusian takes on two-time major finalist Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Steffi Graf Group before holder Coco Gauff meets fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Unlike in the previous two editions of the tournament, the year-end world number one ranking will not be up for grabs with US Open champion Sabalenka assured of finishing on top after building up a 1,675-point lead over Świątek heading to Riyadh. — Reuters

GM and WGM titles up for grabs at 6th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships in Ozamiz

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Seri from Unsplash

AUTOMATIC Grandmaster (GM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) titles will be at stake when the 6th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships-Gov. Henry Oaminal Cup unfurls on Monday at the Misamis Occidental Resort and Aquamarine Park in Ozamiz.

A total of six GMs and a slew of International and FIDE Masters (FMs) are seeing action in the tournament that drew 40 participants in the Open section, 37 in the women’s side and 108 in the challenger category of this tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Leading the country’s charge are GMs Daniel Quizon, John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo and International Masters (IMs) Pau Bersamina, Jem Garcia, Christian Gian Karlo Arca and Michael Concio, Jr., the last four hoping they could win the eight-day event and clinch an automatic GM title.

But winning the event, the strongest the country is hosting in recent years, is easier said than done as it drew a strong foreign challenge in GMs Nguyen Duc Hoa, Tran Tuan Minh and Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam.

Russian IM Miroslav Vlasenko, top seed IM Phan Tran Gia Phuc of Vietnam, second seed IM Munkhdalai Amilal of Mongolia and a group of strong Indian IMs in Kamotra Soham, V S Raahul, Ramesh Avinash are also seeing action.

Other notable entrants in the mix are IM Dang Hoang Son and Nguyen Quoc Hy, IM Zhenyong Jayden Wong of Singapore, FIDE Master Fabian Glen, Pitra Adyka and IM Nayaka Budhidharma of Indonesia, FM Wong Yinn Long of Malaysia.

The country’s very own WGM Janelle Mae Frayna will lead the women’s division alongside fellow WGMs Nguyen Thi Mai Hung and Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam as well as Mongolian Woman FIDE Master Batpelden Buyankhishig, Indonesian Woman International Master (WIM) Kaysa Latifah and two Russians in IM Evgenija Ovod and WIM Ekaterina Smirnova. — Joey Villar

Indiana Pacers rally late, upend GS Warriors to notch first win of season

AARON NESMITH poured in a season-high 31 points, Quenton Jackson and Pascal Siakam buried key 3-pointers down the stretch and the short-handed Indiana Pacers outfinished the visiting Golden State (GS) Warriors for a 114-109 victory on Saturday night in Indianapolis.

Facing a winless team playing the second night of a back-to-back without Tyrese Haliburton, Ben Mathurin, Obi Toppin and TJ McConnell, the Warriors appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win when Stephen Curry nailed a 3-pointer for a 104-93 lead with 6:05 remaining.

But the Pacers took charge from there, initially using a 9-0 run to get back into the game before finally overtaking the visitors at 109-107 with 1:09 to play on a Jackson 3-pointer following a Jarace Walker offensive rebound.

Jimmy Butler III had a chance to put Golden State back on top, but he missed a free throw after getting fouled on a game-tying dunk with 56 seconds left.

Siakam then drilled the difference-maker, a 26-footer with 37 seconds remaining to break the tie and put Indiana on top for good en route to its first win in six tries this season.

After Jonathan Kuminga misfired on a potential game-tying 3-pointer, Jackson capped a 25-point night with a two-point bank shot with 5.2 seconds to go.

Jackson also found time to complete a double-double with a game-high 10 assists, while Siakam finished with 27 points for the Pacers, who got 99 of their 114 points from their starters. Isaiah Jackson added 10 points and eight rebounds to the cause, while Walker was the Pacers’ top rebounder with nine to go with six points and five assists.

Curry paced the Warriors with 24 points but misfired on 12 of his 16 3-point attempts. Golden State shot just 12-for-44 (27.3%) from deep. — Reuters

Bulls’ streak

For the first time since Michael Jordan ruled the National Basketball Association in the nineties, the Bulls have opened a season with five straight victories. In and of itself, the remarkable streak invites nostalgia. That said, these Bulls — built more on cohesion than celebrity — are not simply basking in a hot start. They have clearly turned a presumed transition year into a showcase of precision, balance, and purpose. Their 118-108 win over the Knicks the other day preserved an unbeaten record and, perhaps more importantly, underscored the presence of a foundation that could well lead to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas.

To be sure, the win mattered more than typical early-season matchups. The Knicks, battle-tested and rarely outworked, opened the Cup as the favorites in East Group C. And still, the Bulls confidently dictated tempo and tone, collecting 31 assists on 45 made field goals. They played fast but under control, boasting of an offense built more on timing than on isolation. Not for nothing did six stalwarts of the red and white finish in double figures, proof of their discipline in motion.

Creditably, Josh Giddey has belied scouting reports questioning his shooting touch. The 32 points he put up against the Knicks were a career high, and featured four three-pointers in the first half alone. He orchestrated from the wings, cut decisively to and through the paint, and absorbed contact without fear and as needed. Hitherto measured by his passing, he showed all and sundry that he could be a go-to scorer as well.

NBA annals are littered with fast starts that give way to sudden swoons once the schedule hardens, but the Bulls’ early success appears formative. Four of their half-dozen triumphs have been against playoff-caliber teams. And, tellingly, they dispatched the Pistons, Hawks, Magic, and Knicks by leaning on communal rhythm rather than All-Star brilliance. Every possession has been a small act of trust and, at the same time, a firm reinforcement of a larger principle: that ball movement can still prevail in a league obsessed with one-on-one mastery.

It’s too early to say if the Bulls will hold steady once the grind sets in, but they have, if nothing else, earned the right to be taken seriously. They may be without a dominant scorer or headline-grabbing roster, but they have balance that reflects their capacity to be collectively greater than the sum of their individual parts. Five games in, they are not merely unbeaten; they are believable. And in a campaign built to test both intent and talent, their competitive advantage might just be enough to take them all the way to Vegas.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Samsung unit to invest over P50B in PHL ceramic capacitor facility

SAMSUNGSEM.COM

SAMSUNG Electro-Mechanics Philippines Corp. (SEMPHIL) is investing P50.7 billion in a Philippine manufacturing facility for automotive multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), according to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA).

The manufacturing plant is expected to begin commercial operations by July 2027 and will generate over 3,500 jobs, OSAPIEA said in a statement over the weekend.

MLCCs are key components in electric vehicles and smart devices.

The investment commitment was finalized during the Philippine delegation’s meeting with SEMCO’s top executives on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Summit in South Korea.

“The products that they make in the Philippines are of the highest tech that you can imagine. And so that is very, very important for us,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. told reporters after the meeting.

Samsung also committed to partner with universities to train Filipino workers and conduct research and development, Mr. Marcos added.

SEMPHIL, the Philippine subsidiary of Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co. (SEMCO), is based in the Calamba Premiere International Park and is registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

At the end of 2024, SEMPHIL employed 7,000 workers and accounted for nearly half of SEMCO’s worldwide MLCC output, OSAPIEA said.

The investment pledge is also the first to receive fiscal incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy Act.

Under the law, the President may grant tax incentives in the interest of national economic development or as recommended by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board.

Qualified projects are eligible for incentives such as Income Tax Holidays, the Special Corporate Income Tax, and Enhanced Tax Deductions.

Perks also include value-added tax (VAT) zero-rating on local purchases, as well as VAT and duty exemptions on imports.

PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga called the investment a “landmark achievement for the electronics sector,” noting that the expansion will “strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global semiconductor value chain and create more opportunities for Filipino talent.”

In 2024, electronic products remained the Philippines’ top export, accounting for nearly 60% of total shipments, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

PHL, Peru to create joint trade commission

THE PHILIPPINES and Peru will establish a joint trade commission (JTC) to explore ways to boost bilateral trade, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement over the weekend, the DTI said: “The JTC will serve as a formal platform for dialogue and cooperation aimed at expanding bilateral trade, diversifying trade, and exploring new areas of partnership.”

Trade Secretary Cristina A. Roque and Peruvian Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism Teresa Stella Mera Gómez announced the creation of a JTC on the sidelines of the 32nd APEC Summit in South Korea on Nov. 1.

In a separate statement, the Philippines and Chile reaffirmed their commitment to advance the Philippines–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations.

“Both sides expressed determination to finalize the trade deal at the soonest possible time and to forge stronger regional collaboration as the Philippines pursues accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Chile’s interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),” DTI said.

Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty and Chilean Vice Minister of Trade Claudia Sanhueza met on the sidelines of APEC Leaders’ Week to reaffirm their commitments to advance CEPA negotiations.

Chile is the Philippines’ 37th largest trading partner. Total trade between the two countries rose 137% to $334.13 million in 2024. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

PEZA to launch Cebu AI training facility

REUTERS INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF JOURNALISM AND OXFORD UNIVERSITY

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is set to launch its first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tech Academy in Cebu on Nov. 17.

“We feel that AI will steer the next technological revolution, so we cannot pass up on this opportunity,” PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga said last week.

Stacktrek invested in a two-storey facility to host AI training sessions for ecozone worker as a joint project with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP).

“There will be two tracks to this — one is through the IBPAP, which is into IT services.  And the other one, which we hope to roll it out also, is on advanced manufacturing to benefit our electronics industry,” Mr. Panga said at an event last week.

The Cebu facility has more than workstations for trainees, Mr. Panga said.

“It’s an investment by the private sector. Our role, really, is (focused on) how we can mobilize the industry to support it by way of donations of equipment, and then getting TESDA on board to provide grants to workers that will undergo the AI training,” Mr. Panga told reporters separately.

PEZA is also hoping to launch AI training facilities in other key cities and provinces, including one in its main building.

Philippine workers are under pressure to upskill as more firms incorporate AI into their operations.

AI technologies can boost the Philippine economy by $31 billion, according to a 2025 report by Google Philippines and consulting firm Public First. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz

1...768769770...14,244Page 769 of 14,244
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube