CCCI backs PBBM’s economic agenda, highlights regional growth priorities

CEBU CITY — The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) expressed strong support for the economic priorities outlined in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), emphasizing that key national policy directions align closely with the development goals of Cebu and the broader Visayas region.

In an official statement released following the address, the CCCI welcomed the administration's focus on strengthening governance, economic competitiveness, energy security, infrastructure, and technology-driven industries.

Highlighting governance reforms, the business group here commended the administration's anti-corruption efforts, including investigations into flood control projects that led to the recovery, freezing, or preservation of approximately ₱25 billion.

"For the private sector, greater transparency and accountability in government processes are essential in building investor confidence and ensuring a more predictable business environment," CCCI stated, noting that redirecting recovered funds toward education, healthcare, and food security reinforces national growth.

Energy security emerged as a top concern for the regional economy. The Chamber backed national energy expansion plans—including tracking nearly 10,000 megawatts across 200 power projects through 2028, developing 1,700 MW in storage capacity, extending the Malampaya gas project, and exploring renewable energy, hydrogen, and nuclear power.

"For Cebu and the Visayas, ensuring sufficient and competitively priced electricity remains critical to sustaining manufacturing, tourism, information technology, and other key industries," the Chamber noted. The group also welcomed the proposed “Sariling Kuryente” Act, which seeks to boost household solar and battery adoption to improve energy resilience.

To bolster competitiveness, CCCI highlighted several national initiatives including Tax Relief and Compliance, Investment Facilitation, Infrastructure Accelerations, and AI Readiness.

CCCI applauded tax relief for the middle class and the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) one-time tax abatement initiative for micro-entrepreneurs to ease cash flow and encourage business formalization and noting the facilitation of over ₱6 trillion in investments via the Green Lanes initiative and ongoing free trade agreement expansions.

The Chamber is also supporting right-of-way process reforms to speed up logistics and project completion, alongside proposed updates to the National Building Code, disaster resilience projects like Ligtas Pinoy evacuation centers, and waste-to-energy solutions.

It also welcomed workforce training programs targeting 1.8 million Filipinos for artificial intelligence readiness, positioning Cebu to capture opportunities in advanced manufacturing and digital innovation.

The Chamber emphasized that national policy directives match local strategic blueprints, specifically reinforcing the Metro Cebu Economic Hub, the West Cebu Economic Corridor, the Central Cebu Conservation Corridor, as well as the North and South tourism and agri-industrial corridors.

Looking ahead, CCCI stressed that translating these pledges into reality requires seamless coordination. "Effective implementation, regulatory consistency, and sustained public-private partnership will remain critical in transforming these commitments into inclusive and sustainable economic growth," the statement concluded.

SM Group steers its fleet toward a 40% carbon cut by 2040

CEBU CITY — The Philippine conglomerate behind the country’s largest retail, banking, and property empires reaffirmed its commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the year 2040, backed by extensive investments in floating solar power, geothermal energy, and massive sustainable financing, the group is laying down a concrete blueprint for long-term climate resilience.

In the high-stakes push toward a greener economy, SM Investments Corporation is signaling that sustainability isn’t just good ethics—it’s smart business.

Speaking at the recent MUFG NOW Manila forum, Pathways to a Sustainable Future: Opportunities and Challenges, Timothy Daniels, Consultant and Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations at SM Investments, emphasized that the group’s targets are rooted in immediate, operational reality.

“When we looked at our emissions, we identified where we could make meaningful reductions and developed a target supported by specific programs and investments.  For us, sustainability helps reduce costs, improve reliability, and make our operations more resilient. It's simply part of how we run the business,” Daniels explained.

SM's multi-pronged strategy spans some of the most innovative renewable energy deployments in the region. To date, the company has outfitted its various properties with over 200,000 solar panels, harnessing local sunshine to alleviate strain on the national grid.

In Toledo City, Cebu, its mining unit, Carmen Copper Corporation, turned a water reservoir into a clean energy powerhouse. The company commissioned a three-hectare floating solar facility on the Malubog Reservoir. Featuring 8,540 solar panels, the 4.99-megawatt setup generates enough clean electricity to cover nearly 10% of the mine’s power needs.

Beyond solar, SM is deepening its footprint in baseload renewables through the Philippine Geothermal Production Company (PGPC), which manages extensive geothermal steam fields across South Luzon.

SM’s climate push extends beyond its internal footprint. Through its banking flagship, BDO Unibank, the group is financing the broader transition of the Philippine energy sector.

BDO has deployed roughly Php 1.2 trillion in sustainable financing, funding 71 renewable energy projects across the archipelago. Together, these project commitments account for a combined capacity of 6,165 megawatts—significantly boosting the nation's clean energy pipeline.

While internal efficiency and localized solar projects deliver immediate wins, Daniels pointed out that reaching the 40% target will ultimately depend on the pace of broader national infrastructure upgrades. Further deep cuts in emissions rely heavily on grid modernization, expanded transmission capacities, and the nationwide availability of utility-scale renewable power.

By combining capital allocation with practical engineering, SM Investments is framing its 2040 vision not as a distant pledge, but as an ongoing business evolution built to weather both economic and environmental shifts. (Photos: SM Investment Corp)

Fortinet: 93% of PH firms hit by breach as AI outpaces cybersecurity talent

CEBU CITY – Organized cybercrime syndicates are shifting from chaotic hacking to operating like ruthless, profit-driven enterprises—and Philippine businesses are finding themselves squarely in the crosshairs, it is a cyberspace warzone.

According to Fortinet’s latest threat intelligence findings and a Philippines-focused Forrester study, an astounding 93% of Philippine organizations experienced at least one cyber breach in 2025, with 28% facing five or more attacks.

Bambi Escalante, Fortinet Country Manager, in a media briefing on July 30 in Cebu bared that from pervasive malware and phishing schemes to crippling ransomware, the average breach now hits local enterprise pocketbooks to the tune of $1.5 million.

Beyond the direct financial impact, 70% of victimized companies reported recovery timelines stretching past a full month, suffering severe operational downtime, revenue loss, and reputational damage along the way, Escalante said.

The primary culprit behind this vulnerability? A stark, escalating human deficit, she went on to say that a staggering 71% of surveyed companies attribute their security breaches directly to a lack of cybersecurity skills across their people, processes, or technologies.

As cybercriminals leverage artificial intelligence to supercharge their attack speed and evasion tactics, legacy defenses are buckling under the weight. Securing data (38%), cloud environments (28%), and Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure (27%) have emerged as the hardest technical domains to fortify, the report said.

Compounding the problem is tool fragmentation. Security teams flooded with relentless, uncoordinated alerts from disconnected tools suffer from severe alert fatigue, leaving them unable to react swiftly to high-speed AI threats.

AI vs. AI: Fighting back with next-gen defense

Despite the daunting landscape, Philippine enterprises aren't standing still: 94% of organizations plan to increase their cybersecurity resources, with nearly as many already deploying or experimenting with AI-driven defenses, Escalante noted.

Nap Castillo, Senior Manager and Systems Engineering PH emphasized that to turn the tide against AI-powered threats, industry leader Fortinet is advocating for integrated, platform-based solutions. Built upon 25 years of innovation, its FortOS framework consolidates network security, SASE, and automated AI security operations into a single operating system.

Beyond present-day AI capabilities, Castillo said the tech giant is also developing quantum-cryptography solutions to future-proof networks against impending quantum-computing disruptions. On the global stage, Fortinet's collaborative threat intelligence has already aided law enforcement in taking down over 1,200 cybercriminals and disabling 114,000 malicious networks.

While technology offers crucial armor, human expertise remains the ultimate cornerstone of defense. Recognizing that 96% of companies are eager to invest in certifying their existing staff, Fortinet has committed to a global initiative to train and certify on million people around the world, Castillo added.

In the Philippines, he said that this effort is taking root across both the public and private sectors, through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed with local universities and educational institutions, Fortinet is embedding specialized cybersecurity coursework directly into academic curricula to nurture the next generation of defenders.

Coupled with free online training modules via their NSE certification program—which has already issued 1.8 million certifications worldwide—and ongoing workforce awareness programs, the initiative aims to bridge the talent divide before the next wave of cyber threats strikes, Castillo said. (Photos: MBCNewman)

Moalboal’s famous dive tourism takes lead to protect its underwater paradise

MOALBOAL, Cebu — Famous worldwide for its breathtaking sardine run and thriving resident sea turtle population, Moalboal draws thousands of eager divers and snorkelers to its turquoise waters each year. But as tourism surges along the shores of Panagsa Beach, a crucial mission is unfolding beneath the surface, ensuring that the very attractions putting this quiet Cebu town on the global map are preserved for generations to come.

Recognizing that sustainable tourism relies on a thriving marine ecosystem, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Region 7 steps up efforts to position the local dive industry as the front line of defense for Central Visayas’ coral reefs.

Through its Coastal and Marine Management Unit (CMMU) under CENRO Argao, DENR-7 recently conducted a Green Fins implementation, re-orientation, and feedback session on July 27–28, at Panagsa Beach in Barangay Basdiot.

The initiative focused on accredited dive operators MB Ocean Blue and Lion Dive Resort, two key players in Moalboal's vibrant dive community.

Led by DENR-7 Green Fins Assessors Carlo Babiera and Eduardo Fidel, the sessions went beyond routine environmental standard checks. Operators, guides, and assessors engaged in candid discussions about marine biodiversity conservation, waste management, and practical ways to minimize the human footprint on delicate coral ecosystems.

The gathering provided a platform for dive leaders to share real-world challenges from the water and collaborate on practical solutions to uphold international Green Fins standards.

For Moalboal, where coastal livelihoods and the local economy are deeply intertwined with the health of the ocean, the program highlights a powerful synergy-- responsible diving isn't just good for nature, it's essential for business.

Preventing physical damage to reefs and reducing stress on wildlife directly safeguards the breathtaking underwater landscapes that make Moalboal a premier tropical getaway.  The initiative also reinforced strong ties among the DENR, the Local Government Unit of Moalboal, and the private sector, cementing a unified approach within the Green Fins pilot area.

"The success of marine tourism depends on the health of our oceans. Every dive operator, dive guide, and tourist have a role to play in conserving the coral reefs and marine biodiversity that make Moalboal a world-class diving destination, the DENR said.

By empowering dive operators as active environmental stewards, the Green Fins Program ensures that Moalboal’s tourism expansion goes hand-in-hand with conservation, guaranteeing that every plunge into its vibrant waters remains a world-class experience far into the future. (Photos: DENR-7)

DOST-7 drives tech commercialization as HEIs tackle Intellectual Property gaps

 
CEBU CITY — A survey of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Central Visayas revealed a significant gap in institutional frameworks for innovation-- out of 13 colleges and universities surveyed, only five have an established Intellectual Property (IP) Policy, just two possess a Technology Transfer Protocol, and none have a Spinoff Policy.

To bridge these gaps and bolster the region’s research-to-market pipeline, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office VII gathered nine academic institutions for a three-day Intellectual Property Policy Training-Workshop, running from July 29 to 31, 2026, at the DOST Central Visayas Regional Office in Cebu City.

Organized under DOST-7’s TECHGROW Project (Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship Collaboration and Harmonization of Growing Regional Opportunities on Wealth Creation), the workshop equips participating universities and colleges with the tools to formulate clear rules on IP ownership, protection, management, technology transfer, commercialization, researcher incentives, and revenue sharing.

Subject matter experts from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) were tapped to guide the participants through the policy-drafting process. The resource speakers included Adrian H. Sablan, Chief of the IP Management and Technology Transfer Division and Engr. Aldrex L. Aviso, Intellectual Property Rights Specialist.

Throughout the three-day activity, sessions address critical topics such as the Philippines’ ranking in the Global Innovation Index, institutional IP ownership models, disclosure procedures, portfolio valuation, legal frameworks for revenue distribution, and the core responsibilities of an IP Management Office.

Participants are actively drafting and refining their respective institutional IP policies, receiving hands-on feedback and direct consultation from IPOPHL specialists to ensure their draft policies align with their institutional mandates, research domains, and organizational structures.

Nine academic institutions participating in the capacity-building program represent both state-run and private higher education centers across the region including the University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu Technological University, Bohol Island State University, Mandaue City College, Cebu Institute of Technology–University, University of San Carlos, University of Cebu, Cebu Doctors’ University and University of San Jose–Recoletos.

By establishing robust IP policies and tech transfer protocols, DOST Central Visayas and its academic partners aim to protect local research outputs, guarantee fair incentives for academic researchers, and accelerate the commercialization of campus-developed technologies for regional economic growth. (Photos: DOST-7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FedEx expands Visayas footprint with New World Service Center in Cebu

LAPU-LAPU CITY— Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) has officially opened a new World Service Center in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu at the 2nd Floor (Unit 3) of the Ground-Air Logistics Corporation (GALCO) Complex inside the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Cargo Complex, bringing international shipping expertise and streamlined customs support right to the doorstep of local business owners in the Visayas.

“As Cebu continues to strengthen its position as a major hub for trade, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship, FedEx remains committed to investing in infrastructure that helps local businesses connect with global opportunities,” said Maribeth Espinosa, Managing Director of FedEx Philippines.

Whether you are a growing online merchant shipping hand-crafted local goods or a small-scale manufacturer expanding to international buyers, navigating export regulations can often feel overwhelming. The Cebu World Service Center brings FedEx services closer to customers, making international shipping more accessible, efficient, and convenient.  

The new facility sits right next to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Cebu office. This strategic placement is specifically designed to cut through bureaucratic delays and streamline international clearance processes for local exporters and businesses across the Visayas.

With cross-border e-commerce and regional exports on the rise, the new center addresses a key bottleneck for local enterprises—from micro-SMEs to established manufacturing firms—by offering direct, on-site customs support and hassle-free shipment drop-offs.

Customers visiting the center can consult with on-site clearance processors for real-time guidance on customs documentation, regulations, and international trade requirements. Additionally, the venue functions as a walk-in drop-off hub, allowing shippers to dispatch packages without waiting for scheduled courier pickups.

The opening of the World Service Center builds upon FedEx’s robust flight schedule operating out of Cebu, which currently features six inbound flights, Sunday through Friday and five outbound flights on Monday through Thursday, plus Saturday weekly.

By linking direct ground-level customs assistance with an active flight network, FedEx aims to give businesses in Cebu and surrounding island provinces faster, more reliable connectivity to over 220 countries and territories worldwide.

The opening ceremony was led by key FedEx leadership, including Anne Marie Liwag-Inawat Senior Manager for Sales, Maribeth Espinosa Managing Director, and Raymond Morales Operations Manager. (Photos: FedEx) 

 

DSWD-7 launches UPLIFT financial aid to shield CV families from rising inflation

CEBU CITY — To protect vulnerable Filipino households from the sting of rising inflation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII rolled out the national government's Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) assistance program across Central Visayas.  

Across Central Visayas, a total of 152,672 qualified household beneficiaries have been identified across 101 LGUs. Among these, 98,350 are situated in Cebu Province, while 54,322 are in Bohol.

The first wave of payouts was on July 20, delivering vital financial relief to families impacted by escalating fuel costs and economic ripples linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  

During the initial launch, DSWD-7 served 1,503 poor and near-poor households categorized under the program's Group 2 tier, providing each recipient with Php 2,000 in direct cash assistance.

Concurrently, rollout began for Group 1 beneficiaries, comprising families already enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).  

The initial rollout covered six key local government units (LGUs) in the region. In Bohol, the municipalities of Buenavista and Getafe with 400 beneficiaries, at 200 beneficiaries each town.

Cebu has registered the municipalities of Aloguinsan with 189 beneficiarie; Badian with 207; Borbon with 190 and Mandaue City with 205 beneficiaries.

To prevent political interference and ensure transparency, eligible beneficiaries were mapped out independently using data from the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).  

To ensure fast and transparent distribution, DSWD Field Office VII is leveraging its HAPSAY (Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield) framework—the same streamlined strategy utilized for transport sector cash relief operations.

While initial payouts were distributed manually to verify identities and link preferred payment methods, subsequent disbursements are transitioning to digital distribution channels, including direct electronic bank transfers via Landbank and registered e-wallets.  

"By streamlining our processes, we ensure that beneficiaries can access their assistance promptly and without unnecessary delays," stated DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

What is the UPLIFT Program?

Established under Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the UPLIFT framework was enacted as a whole-of-government initiative to safeguard purchasing power, maintain supply chains, and mitigate energy emergency shocks triggered by global developments.  

The program's social protection component, spearheaded by the DSWD, divides target beneficiaries into three distinct streams:

Group 1 are existing social safety net families such as the 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program under the DSWD National Database with One-time cash support.

Group 2 are poor and near-poor non-4Ps households identified through the PSA 2024 CBMS Data with monthly Php 2,000 cash aid.

Group 3 are low-income wage earners as listed from the SSS and 2024 CBMS Data with target wage protection subsidies.

By bridging the gap for low-income and "near-poor" families who often fall just outside standard social safety nets, the UPLIFT rollout aims to prevent over a million Filipino families nationwide from slipping below the poverty line amid global economic pressures. (Photos: DSWD7)