Ayala Malls Gatewalk set to spark Mandaue City’s retail scene with Visayas’ first IKEA

MANDAUE CITY-- Ayala Malls is betting heavily on “wonder over predictability” with the announcement of Ayala Malls Gatewalk, a massive 56,000-square-meter retail and lifestyle destination slated to open its doors on December 16, 2026, anchored by the highly anticipated first IKEA store in the Visayas region, the development promises to transform Mandaue City into the regional "capital of fun and flavor."

The project, nestled within Ayala Land’s broader Gatewalk estate, represents a collaborative vision between Ayala Land, Ayala Malls, and IKEA Philippines to move away from purely transactional shopping and lean into deeply emotional, experiential spaces.

Ayala Land’s relationship with Cebu spans over three decades, beginning with the landmark opening of Ayala Center Cebu in 1994 and continuing through the evolution of Ayala Malls Central Bloc, Ayala Malls executives view Gatewalk as the natural next frontier, a new chapter in Ayala’s Cebu legacy.

“Malls are often the first point of connection between our customers and the Ayala brand... places where people connect, celebrate milestones, and create memories,” said Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer. “This is a new footprint for Ayala Malls, one that will help define the character of the area around it.”

Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Senior Vice President and Head of Leasing and Hospitality, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing a commitment to elevating everyday Cebuano life. “Ayala Malls Gatewalk reflects the kind of places we hope to build more of: places that make daily life easier, but also more joyful. This is where everyday life gets a little more extraordinary.”

The most playful mall Ayala has ever designed

Spanning four air-conditioned levels, the mall will break traditional design molds to feel joyful, energetic, and a little larger than life. Key features driving this playful atmosphere include—the ARTrium, an interactive digital art hallway curated by Filipino artists near the main entrance, designed to give visitors a vibrant sense of arrival.

Giant Whale Shark Slide--a botany-inspired slide stretching from the highest level of the mall directly to the ground floor, paying homage to one of Cebu’s most famous natural icons.

Active Lifestyle Quarter-- a bustling wing complete with sports concepts, play areas, and two modern cinemas.  Bi-Level Food Hall-- a culinary hub showcasing a curated mix of local Cebuano favorites, international formats, and experimental food concepts.

For everyday essentials, the mall also features a Shopwise supermarket to serve the daily grocery needs of the community. To maximize urban convenience, the entire complex will be seamlessly integrated with an adjacent office tower and a public transport hub.

                                        IKEA debuts a global compact concept

For many locals, the crown jewel of the development is the arrival of Swedish home furnishings giant IKEA, marking its first location in the Philippines outside of Metro Manila.

IKEA Philippines Country Retail Manager Ricardo Pinheiro confirmed the store will span a compact 4,000 square meters—roughly the size of five basketball courts. This streamlined footprint serves as a testing ground for a new global retail format.

IKEA Gatewalk store features a total catalog access with 8,500 items via convenient ordering; immediate takeaway with 2,500 cash-and-carry products; inspiration Showcases with 41 fully curated room setups such as kitchens, bedrooms, living rooms and specialized services for personalized planning for home and business storage.

Pinheiro noted that Mandaue City, widely regarded as the furniture capital of the Philippines, is the perfect gateway due to its strategic position between Cebu City and Mactan Island.

“Cebu’s growing market, strong design interest, and role as a center for home and family life make it a natural location. When I visited Mandaue for the first time, I went to the Lapu-Lapu statue in Mactan and said, ‘Lapu-Lapu, I’m Portuguese, I’m from IKEA, I come in peace.’ IKEA comes in peace,” Pinheiro said, adding with a smile.

Beyond retail, the project is poised to be a major economic driver for the province. The IKEA store alone is projected to generate approximately 100 new jobs—divided equally between 50 direct IKEA coworkers and 50 positions managed through local service partners.

Local officials have enthusiastically welcomed the development, viewing it as a testament to Mandaue’s rapid transformation into a dynamic, flourishing urban core. With construction progressing steadily within the Gatewalk estate, Cebuanos can look forward to exploring this new benchmark of retail and leisure when the doors officially swing open in December 2026. (Photos: MBCNewman)

DSWD7 steps up social protection campaign across Central Visayas

CEBU CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office 7 intensified its social protection campaigns across Central Visayas, executing a massive twin-program rollout that addresses both economic inflation for transport workers and nutritional security for poor families.

As of June 21, 2026, the DSWD7 successfully distributed ₱362.4 million in financial assistance to 72,495 drivers in Central Visayas, while simultaneously preparing to dispatch critical food supplies to over 25,000 households under its flagship anti-hunger initiative.

Under its newly implemented HAPSAY (Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield) framework, DSWD7 completely streamlined its payout process to eliminate unnecessary red tape.

By coordinating in advance with local government units (LGUs), transport network companies, the DICT, and the LTFRB-7, the agency reduced the massive distribution down to a strict two-step process: verification and immediate cash release.

A total of 72,495 public utility and delivery drivers received a flat rate of ₱5,000 in Cash Relief Assistance (CRA) to offset rising operational costs. Breakdown of driver beneficiaries included Tricycle Drivers: 36,575; Motorcycle Taxi Drivers: 16,364; Delivery Service Drivers: 11,647; Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) Drivers: 4,528 and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) Drivers: 3,381.

To protect the massive influx of drivers from the dangerously high heat indices recorded across the region, DSWD7 partnered with SM Supermalls. Venues at SM Consolacion and SM Seaside City Cebu were provided entirely free of charge, offering air-conditioned, well-ventilated spaces for staggered payouts that spanned from April to June 2026.

"We want to deliver excellent public service, which means making things as straightforward as possible for our clients," said DSWD7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, noting that the HAPSAY framework aligns with the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s (ARTA) push for leaner government operations.

Walang Gutom Program targets 25,000 Households

Meanwhile, DSWD7 is also moving forward with its 6th Food Redemption Month (FRM), active from June 15 to July 3, 2026. The program targets 25,537 food-insecure families across 89 participating LGUs in Central Visayas.

Approved beneficiaries will be able to redeem food packages valued at ₱3,000.00 using Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at DSWD-accredited retailers. Expected beneficiaries include Cebu with 21,225 households composed of 53 Municipalities & Cities; and Bohol with 4,312 households in 36 Municipalities & Cities.

Lucero bared that there are critical eligibility guidelines with this program.  She clarified that for this specific sixth redemption cycle, only households registered under Listahanan 3 (the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction) are eligible to claim their packages. Redemptions for households registered under the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) are temporarily on hold.

Lucero urges beneficiaries to maintain close contact with their local barangays, LGUs, or Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs) to verify specific redemption schedules and retail locations to avoid logistical confusion. (Photos: DSWD7)

Baricuatro urges 10 earthquake high-risk LGUs to conduct structural integrity assessments

CEBU CITY— Taking a decisive stance on disaster prevention, Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro is set to issue formal directives to at least 10 local government units (LGUs) identified as highly vulnerable to severe seismic activity, strongly urging the local chief executives to conduct immediate structural integrity assessments on all public and private buildings and to tighten enforcement of earthquake-resilient building standards.

“Disaster resilience is not achieved through response alone. It requires strong institutions, informed planning, scientific understanding of risks, and sustained collaboration among all sectors,” declared Baricuatro.

The proactive measure marks a strategic pivot from traditional disaster response to data-driven risk mitigation. By pushing for local-level compliance, Capitoll aims to assist municipalities and cities in identifying vulnerable infrastructure that requires immediate retrofitting or complete decommissioning.

The directive mandates high-risk LGUs to systematically audit and classify both public infrastructure and private developments to ensure they comply with the National Building Code.

Engineering Threshold: Structures must be evaluated against their capacity to withstand a Magnitude 7.0 earthquake, which experts warn could cause catastrophic damage if infrastructure is left unverified.

The policy was officially adopted as an action point during the second quarter meeting of the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), presided over by Governor Baricuatro on June 29, at the Provincial Capitol.

Provincial Administrator Atty. Ace Durano, who formally moved for the adoption of the measure, underscored the urgency of structural screening: "We must make a concerted effort to assess the buildings, classify them for retrofitting, and explicitly pinpoint structures that cannot withstand a major Magnitude 7 earthquake."

Data-driven risk assessment: The REDAS Simulations

The policy shift was prompted by an alarming presentation from the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) that  showcased five distinct simulated Earthquake Impact Calculations specifically mapped for Cebu.

These projections were generated using the Earthquake Impact Assessment Module, a specialized tool within the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS). Developed by PHIVOLCS, REDAS simulates localized ground shaking to rapidly forecast physical structural damage, potential casualties, and immediate economic losses in the event of a major rupture.

Engr. Robinson Jorgio, Director of the DOST-PHIVOLCS 7 Visayas Cluster Monitoring Center for Earthquake and Tsunami, confirmed that both geological fault lines are currently classified as "potentially active," meaning they present real, tangible long-term threats to the province.

Following the ranking of the most severely impacted areas presented by DOST-PHIVOLCS, Cebu Province will dispatch official communications outlining specific timelines for the LGUs. Local engineering offices will be tasked with conducting the physical audits, updating local zoning safety protocols, and ensuring strict compliance with modern seismic design codes. (Photos: Capitol PIO)

 

 

AI, a practical toolkit for prediction, automation

CEBU CITY –Artificial Intelligence (AI) has officially transitioned from a speculative tech trend into an immediate, cross-sector toolkit capable of dramatically lowering costs, boosting efficiency, and permanently altering the workforce landscape.

Speaking as the keynote presenter at LAMBO, Cebu's AI Business Summit on June 27 at Waterfront Hotel Cebu, data science and AI specialist Christopher Monterola argued that modern AI systems are now practical, highly affordable, and broadly applicable for small and large enterprises alike.

Monterola, who has overseen more than 100 data science and AI projects yielding an estimated $178 million in annual recurring revenue across various organizations, emphasized that the commercial value of AI fundamentally boils down to two main pillars: prediction and automation.

According to Monterola, traditional statistical and mathematical models frequently fail businesses because they are fundamentally designed to ignore extreme events.

"Previous math, previous statistics is designed not to predict the outliers," Monterola explained during his address. "But AI does not make that assumption. It was built to make predictions."

This capability allows organizations to isolate complex, multi-variable patterns that human cognition or traditional physics models miss—such as equipment failure risks, fluctuating retail demand, or even the water levels of Metro Manila’s critical dams a year in advance.

The summit highlighted several notable milestones achieved through targeted AI deployment in the Philippines:

Banking Regulation: A review system developed for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas slashed a staggering 20,000 person-hours of manual account audits per month down to a highly optimized 11 minutes per account.

Logistics & Parcel Routing: An address-standardization system built for logistics giant LBC successfully parsed inconsistent, non-standard text formats for 1.5 million parcels monthly, projecting a conservative savings of 7.9 million pesos in operating costs.

Fintech Inclusivity: A motorcycle-lending tool developed for Uni Star automates asset value assessments using simple smartphone photos and 5-to-10-second engine audio recordings. This allows rapid, objective credit decisions for underbanked citizens lacking formal financial histories.

Retail Supply Chains: Demand-forecasting inventory models deployed for fuel retailers in Oriental Mindoro optimized stock levels, trimming overall operating costs by 5% to 10%.

Manufacturing Maintenance: In a major factory setting, AI models analyzed acoustic noise and human-machine interaction patterns to detect equipment failure risks completely invisible to human engineers, preventing costly downtime for machines valued at up to $500,000 each.

Confronting the realities of corporate layoffs

Addressing the controversial question of whether AI will replace human workers, Monterola bypassed typical industry sugarcoating.

"Some are trying to say that it will only replace humans who are not using AI. Let me mention... that is not true. AI can actually replace lots of jobs," he stated openly, pointing to recent down-sizing and workforce reductions at global giants like Oracle and Citi.

Reports suggest automation could contribute to roughly 70 million layoffs globally over the next two years as companies use AI to quietly eliminate repetitive tasks.

However, Montetola emphasized that the macroeconomic outlook is far from bleak. While 92 million jobs are expected to be lost to automation, the shifting landscape is projected to create 170 million new roles—resulting in a net global gain of 78 million jobs.

An unusual economic phenomenon is emerging, he noted: businesses are aggressively growing their earnings and increasing remaining salaries while simultaneously downsizing administrative positions. Capitalizing on these shifts will require rapid workforce adaptation and widespread retraining.

Democratizing tech for small businesses

A major takeaway from the summit was how drastically the cost of advanced technology has dropped. Driven by massive declines in data storage expenses and monumental leaps in compute power, sophisticated tools are no longer exclusive to multinational corporations.

"The same techniques that work for DBS, one of the best digital banks in the world, will be applicable to a rural bank," Montetola remarked, noting that generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, and Gemini allow micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to process documents, launch websites in minutes, and deploy automated customer support for pennies on the dollar.

To mitigate development costs, Monterola urged Filipino business owners to identify common, recurring industry-wide bottlenecks, share generalized solutions among peer firms, and leverage collaborative networks.

By focusing on strategic adoption and proactive workforce upskilling, Monterola remains confident that the Philippines can successfully navigate the disruption and capture AI's massive economic upside.(Photos: MBCNewman)

Some 373 PLHIV clients in Central Visayas receive aid from DSWD7

CEBU CITY— Some 373 people living with HIV (LPHIV) in Central Visayas received aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Field Office 7 through the agency’s Community-Based Services Section–PLHIV Assistance and Psychosocial Support Program from January to April 2026.

DSWD7 provides comprehensive support to help affected families of PLHIV overcome economic challenges.  These include psychosocial care and support services in accordance with Section 36 of Republic Act No. 11166 that offers economic assistance such as education, livelihood, burial or funeral expenses, transportation, medical needs, and food support.

This provision aims to mitigate the impact of HIV and AIDS on affected individuals and their families while ensuring their well-being.  PLHIV clients in Central Visayas received a total of  P4,000 cash assistance for their immediate needs.

Aside from cash assistance, DSWD-7 also offers a free wireless mental health and psychosocial support service for individuals and families experiencing crisis situations. The program operates through online and wireless platforms such as text messaging, email, websites, and Facebook.

PLHIV clients may also avail themselves of medical assistance for their maintenance needs through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), provided they meet the assessment and documentary requirements.

DSWD-7 also actively partners with government and nongovernment organizations in providing immediate support to persons living with HIV. The agency accepts referrals from nongovernment organizations (NGOs) for cash aid assistance and psychosocial support services.

Recently, the DSWD7 through the Community-Based Services Section – PLHIV Assistance and Psychosocial Support Program, participated in the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial held at the Cebu City Health Department in May 2026. (Photos: DSWD7 & Google Images)

 

 

Smarter, more flexible systems key to powering VisMin economic boom, Experts Say

MANDAUE CITY-- The economic center of gravity in the Philippines is rapidly shifting south, but sustaining this momentum will require a massive overhaul of how the country handles energy, automation, and artificial intelligence.

This was the collective verdict of energy regulators, local government officials, and global technology leaders who gathered at the Bai Hotel, June 24 for Schneider Electric’s Innovation Day Philippines 2026, anchored on the theme “Powering Progress Through Future-Ready Industries.”

The forum highlighted the Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) regions as the country's primary frontier for economic transformation—while sounding the alarm on critical grid readiness.  Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Executive Director Atty. Nancy Aurora Fajardo declared that energy is no longer just a passive operational input, but a "strategic enabler" of investment, data centers, and industrial productivity.

Fajardo argued that the traditional metric of success—simply having enough power plants—is outdated. Following a string of recent yellow and red alerts across the Visayas grid, the regulator is shifting its focus toward systemic agility.

"Recent yellow and red alerts in the Visayas demonstrate that today’s challenge is no longer simply supply adequacy, but system flexibility. Forced outages and tightening reserves exposed vulnerabilities in the grid, particularly as renewable energy penetration increases,” Fajardo said

To combat this, the ERC is leaning heavily into Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), revealing that the commission has already received 17 BESS applications dedicated to the VisMin corridor.  This aligns with a Department of Energy (DOE) mandate requiring new variable renewable energy projects of 10 MW or more to integrate storage capacities of at least 20 percent.

Furthermore, to eliminate severe transmission bottlenecks, Fajardo highlighted a crucial regulatory shift: the ERC has issued a framework allowing qualified third-party entities other than the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) to directly finance and construct critical transmission projects.

Cebu Leads a Strategic Transformation

The push for a more resilient grid comes at a time of unprecedented regional growth. Schneider Electric Philippines Country President Ireen Catane pointed to recent Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showing that Central Visayas expanded by a staggering 7.3 percent in 2024, comfortably outpacing the national average.

Catane emphasized that Cebu is no longer a mere supporting region but the vanguard of a new economic trajectory driven by tourism, digital infrastructure, and sustainable manufacturing.

However, keeping pace with this growth requires a departure from legacy setups. "Companies are now looking for more connected approaches that bring together electrification, automation, and digital technologies," Catane noted, adding that managing these components in traditional, isolated silos is no longer sufficient for modern industrial demands.

The Triple Threat: Energy, AI, and Geopolitics

Zooming out to the global stage, Schneider Electric East Asia Zone President Pang Xing Jian challenged local industries to move from mere awareness to rapid execution. He outlined three mega shifts redefining global business.

The New Energy Landscape: Decentralized energy transitions and an exponential rise in electricity demand driven by rapid urbanization and industrialization.

The AI Explosion: Digitalization is no longer optional. Pang projected that data centers—which he termed "AI factories"—will reach 200 gigawatts of global installed capacity by 2030, consuming roughly five percent of worldwide energy.

"More AI requires more compute. More compute requires more energy," Pang warned, emphasizing that infrastructure must be built smarter and more efficient by design.

A Multipolar World: Rising trade barriers, tariffs, and geopolitical turbulence mean companies must build highly resilient, localized supply chains to ensure operational continuity.

"The future is not only about to electrify, it is also more intelligent," Pang stated, calling for open, software-defined ecosystems over proprietary frameworks.

Public Service Through Innovation

The call for rapid adaptation was echoed by local government. Representing Mandaue City Mayor Thadeus Ouano, Atty. Kevin Honorides emphasized that for local government units, technology must translate into tangible human impact.

"For Mandaue City, innovation is not limited to technology. It is about finding better ways to improve mobility, strengthen public service, support businesses, create jobs, and make everyday life better for our people," Honorides said.

He stressed that bridging the gap between emerging tech and public welfare can only be achieved if government, regulators, and private tech firms sit at the same table.

As Visayas and Mindanao cement their status as national growth drivers, the forum concluded with a unified message: building a clean, inclusive, and resilient grid is no longer a long-term goal—it is an immediate economic necessity.