BY ALEX ALAGON
THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) is pushing to establish standard protections and address long-standing recruitment issues migrant workers face
At a press conference during the 2nd Mindanao Summit on Migration, Environment, Peace and Development, DMW Assistant Secretary Jerome Alcantara said the agency’s advocacy is for the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Fair, Ethical, and Sustainable Recruitment for Empowered Workers.
The proposed measure aims to align laws across ASEAN member states by requiring transparency in recruitment and establishing uniform policies on recruitment fees.
According to Alcantara, the lack of uniform standards among ASEAN nations has left workers vulnerable to exploitation and debt bondage.
Alcantara reported that under current conditions, a Filipino worker may be protected from paying placement fees domestically, but faces heavy charges upon arriving in a host country.
“Ang ending, pagdating nung worker doon, may utang na agad siya. Mahirap magsimula ng may utang ka na pupunta ka sa, pwede ka pa magpunta sa isang debt bondage situation,” he said.
He stressed that the declaration seeks to clearly define costs that must be covered by employers rather than the workers, such as round-trip airfare, local transportation to work sites, accommodation, and food allowances.
“We want to establish a benchmark and standards for across the whole ASEAN member states,” he stressed.
He noted that there should be fair treatment of recruitment fees and other related costs consistently applied across all member states.
Alcantara said the declaration is currently undergoing final technical reviews and is expected to be signed and formally adopted during upcoming ASEAN high-level meetings between October and November.
To monitor the compliance of member states, the framework will utilize an established ASEAN checklist for fair and ethical recruitment to benchmark regulations for member countries, employers, and recruitment agencies.
Furthermore, the initiative is integrated into the action plan of the ASEAN Committee on Migrant Workers (ACMW), backing the declaration with baseline data and a structured implementation plan.
“It is a statement of the ASEAN family of member states that we all share the same dedication, commitment, and passion in taking care of migrant workers,” the official added.
During the summit, Alcantara reported the country has deployed 2.74 million overseas Filipino workers in 2025, the highest on record, surpassing pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
MANILA – Hanabishi kicked off its 40th anniversary celebration this 2026 by honoring the people who have helped shape its success over the years. Last April, the company rewarded approximately 90 of its long-tenured employees to a four-day all-expenses paid trip to Hong Kong as a reward for their years of dedication.
“On the occasion of our 40th founding anniversary this year, our company decided to make the celebration more memorable by bringing all employees who have been with the company for at least five years, regardless of rank and file, on a 4-day-3-night all-expenses-paid trip to Hong Kong,” said Jasper Ong, President of Hanabishi.
“Our longevity is built on people’s time, dedication, and loyalty, and we value these contributions equally, regardless of one’s position at the table. Our universal tenure trip reflects our company’s inclusivity and demonstrates that there is no “us versus them” culture in our workplace. We are one big family with approachable leadership,” Ong said.
Celebrating the Unseen Heroes Behind the Company’s Success
The special anniversary treat gave Hanabishi employees from different departments the chance to celebrate and bond. Organized by Golden World Travel & Tours Inc., the four-day trip had them experiencing the magic of Hong Kong Disneyland and seeing the breathtaking views of Victoria Peak. They also had the opportunity to explore the shopping and cultural district of Mong Kok, and enjoy a scenic night cruise. They were also given had a free day to explore Hong Kong at their own pace.
One of the employees who enjoyed the anniversary treat was Leonides Villanueva, a W7 Supervisor who has been with Hanabishi since 2003. He said that he is proud to witness the company’s growth as it expanded its product range for Filipino families.
“Ang hangad at hiling ko sa Diyos ay lalo pang pagpalain ang Hanabishi para marami pa silang matulungan (My hope and prayer to God is to bless Hanabishi so that they can help more people),” Villanueva expressed.
Ian Pluma, who works in the service parts department and has been with the company since 2013, shared that he would always see the Hanabishi commercial playing on TV when he was young, not knowing that he would eventually work and stay for 13 years in the company.
“Nasaksihan ko kung paano dumami ang ating mga produkto at parts. Naalala ko pa dati na nangungupahan pa tayo ng warehouse. Ngayon, may sarili na tayong warehouse (I have witnessed how our parts and products grew over the years. I can still remember when we used to rent a warehouse. Now we have our own warehouse),” Pluma shared about Hanabishi’s growth.
Quality Control Engineer Kathleen Grace Ariola echoed Pluma’s statement. She has been with Hanabishi since 2016, joining the company immediately after graduating from college.
“Since almost all new product models pass through our department for testing, I can clearly see the company’s progress and development. From products that meet basic household needs to those that cater to the modern lifestyle of Filipino families, Hanabishi now offers a wide range of appliances that serve almost every need,” she said.
One Big Hanabishi Family
For many employees, Hanabishi’s family-oriented culture makes them feel valued, and considers it as one of the reasons they have remained loyal to the company.
Jessica Tayupon, for example, has been with Hanabishi for 20 years. “Family vibes lang. ’Yung tipong nagwo-work ka pero di ka papasok na may kaba or takot kasi sobrang babait ng boss mo. Dito parang nasa second home ka lang (It’s just a family vibe. The kind were you’re working , but you don’t come in feeling nervous or afraid because the bosses are really kind. Here, it feels like you’re in your second home),” she shared.
For Sales Staff Irene Villanueva, who has been with Hanabishi for 18 years now, it’s the company’s care for its employees that makes working at Hanabishi especially meaningful. “Mayroon silang malasakit at pagmamahal, na kahit nahihirapan ka sa task willing silang magturo at magpaliwanag (They have care and compassion that when you’re having difficulty with a task, they are willing to teach and explain),” she shared.
To sustain Hanabishi’s close-knit, family-oriented culture, Ong said that they need to preserve Hanabishi’s core values. “We can do this by maintaining approachable leadership and ensuring that each team member feels valued and rewarded,” he stressed.
Building the Next 40 Years Together
As Hanabishi celebrates four decades of success and growth, Ong said that they will remain committed to creating opportunities for their employees.
“Employees stay at a company when they feel respected, safe, and truly valued for their contributions. They also need to see a clear future for themselves, with opportunities to learn and grow. When this supportive environment is combined with fair pay, employees feel both satisfied and secure. Ultimately, creating a workplace that feels like a caring community is what inspires people to stay for the long-term,” Ong stressed.
He added, “As new industry challenges emerge, we will focus and invest on training our loyal employees so they have the skills needed to lead us into the future. It is also vital to keep the workplace safe for new ideas, where people feel comfortable experimenting, adapting, and learning from mistakes. In the end, treating our history as a source of strength rather than a rule book is exactly how Hanabishi will continue to grow without losing its heart.”
THE WILD Tree, Davao City’s newest restaurant and bar fusion of Thai and Filipino cuisine, held a grand opening on Tuesday, July 28, at Azuela High Street.
The establishment features a wide variety of food prepared with Thai aromatics and classic Filipino comfort foods that are loved by the locals. The menu includes popular and authentic Thai cuisines, namely the stir-fried rice noodles Pad Thai, Tom Yum sour soup, Som Tam (green papaya salad), as well as the Mango Sticky Rice dessert.
For those who want to enjoy the Filipino main dishes, the list offers Native Chicken Tinola, Bicol Express, Pork Humba, Beef Kare-Kare, and many more.
Signature handcrafted cocktails along with beverages such as Thai milk tea and fruit shakes are also available for customers.
The Wild Tree was inspired by Thailand’s gastronomy known for mixing sweet, spicy, and sour flavors, bringing its iconic dishes closer to Davaoenos.
Department of Tourism XI regional director Tanya Rabat-Tan attended the opening ceremony and said in an interview that The Wild Tree’s addition to one of Azuela Cove’s establishments shows that Davao City’s culinary scene is booming and becoming more vibrant.
“This is something that is very exciting and another addition to the many offerings of Davao. It’s also showing clearly that Davao is a melting pot,” she said.
She also said the City Tourism Operations Office has been very active in initiating circuit tours, one of which is a gastronomy tour to include the local restaurants.
Direct flights in domestic and international hubs, such as the route connecting Thailand to Davao, also help draw more visitors to choose from many dining experiences in the city.
- Sara accuses ICC of being a lapdog of PBBM, Trillanes
IN A FIERY address to supporters outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) on July 28, Vice President Sara Duterte defended former President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, dismissing allegations of crimes against humanity and claiming the case against her father was fueled by dirty politics.
Labeling both President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former senator Antonio Trillanes as “traitors to a Filipino and to the country,” the Vice President accused the tribunal of acting as an instrument for political rivals in Manila.
“The ICC is a puppy of Trillanes and Marcos… because the ICC has no other case except for the case of President Rodrigo Duterte, and they found Marcos, Trillanes, and money in the Philippine case,” she claimed. “Maleta (suitcases of money) ang pinag-uusapan dito. So where is the justice in all these?”
She concluded by declaring that the ongoing proceedings offer “no justice for the Philippines, no justice for the Filipinos, and no justice for former President Rodrigo Duterte.”
As of press time, Malacañang, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and Representative Zaldy Co have yet to issue official statements regarding the Vice President’s allegations.
Addressing overseas Filipino supporters, the Vice President argued that standard government policy execution—even if flawed—does not equate to an international crime, while questioning the validity of the listed victims under the ICC investigation.
She challenged the assertion that all casualties linked to the previous administration’s drug campaign were state-sanctioned killings, attributing many deaths to rampant, low-cost gun violence in the country.
“How a program is implemented—whether there were mistakes, errors, or it was a bad program—is not a crime against humanity,” Duterte said. “They cannot even say right now if the victims are truly victims of the drug war because gun violence is so common in the Philippines.”
To illustrate her point on the accessibility of hitmen in the country, she added:
“I have a husband, my husband has a mistress, I can hire a gunman for ₱5,000 to kill the mistress… That is how bad gun violence in the Philippines is, and that is [mischaracterized as] EJK. So how can you say that all listed victims or all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war?”
Duterte went on to level grave accusations against political opponents, alleging that money changed hands to influence ICC investigators probing the former president’s anti-illegal drugs drive.
According to the Vice President, sworn statements have been executed by former military and administrative personnel alleging that funds were channeled to investigators through former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, backed by House Appropriations Committee Chair Zaldy Co.
“Former soldiers, former employees of Congressman Zaldy Co already executed affidavits saying that they were told to exchange pesos to dollars because these will be delivered to the ICC investigators through Trillanes,” Duterte alleged. “This is not hearsay because the person who did the delivery… was the same person who talked to Zaldy Co.”
ALL LANES along the Davao–Bukidnon Highway in Sitio Marahan, Barangay Marilog Proper, remain closed to all types of vehicles as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) XI accelerates round-the-clock repair operations on the collapsed section.
According to a traffic advisory released by DPWH XI, total road closure is necessary to allow heavy engineering crews to proceed with crucial slope stabilization and restoration works following a major ground slip that severed the primary inter-provincial corridor.
24/7 emergency repairs
The agency confirmed that 24/7 emergency operations are underway following directives issued by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who personally inspected the site to assess the structural damage.
Dizon ordered field engineers to fast-track interventions to restore vital transport connectivity between the Davao Region and Northern Mindanao as quickly as possible.
As part of the immediate structural reinforcement, crew members have already driven 44 steel sheet piles into the affected slope to stabilize the ground and prevent further collapse.
Alternate Routes
Traffic authorities advised all motorists, freight operators, and traveling commuters to take alternative routes, exercise heightened caution, and strictly obey directives from field traffic personnel deployed along detour points.
Light vehicles travelling between Davao and Bukidnon are advised to navigate designated provincial detour roads, while heavy cargo trucks and public utility buses are directed to monitor official DPWH updates for heavy-vehicle routing.
The DPWH urged the public to stay tuned to official channels for continuous updates regarding the progress of repair works and the target reopening date.
WARNING that her 81-year-old father may not survive a prolonged legal battle in foreign detention, Vice President Sara Duterte has appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite proceedings against former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Speaking to reporters in The Hague on Wednesday, July 29, Duterte expressed deep frustration over what she described as sluggish progress, noting that the former chief executive has been held in ICC custody for 16 months—or a year and four months—with the formal trial scheduled to begin only in November.
“We only have what is released in the ICC publications, and the trial will be set in November. And that is too far along for us,” Duterte said. “We can only request and plead with them to speed up the trial because he is already 81 years old and he cannot afford to stay in detention for three, four, five years more.”
Duterte, who visited the former president at the ICC detention facility, noted that while he is coping with the “usual aches and pains of an 81-year-old man,” he is currently receiving treatment from the detention health unit for a skin boil or rash.
She reiterated that the family remains “angry” over how the former leader was taken from the country, framing his custody as an “injustice,” although they continue to engage with the court’s official processes.
Instructions in case of death in custody
The Vice President revealed that the protracted process has forced the family to confront the possibility that the former president might pass away while in detention.
“There is always the possibility that he will pass inside the prison. And that is something that I already discussed with [former] President Duterte. That is why he gave his instructions in case he dies in prison. But of course, as a Filipino, as a daughter, we want him to die on Philippine soil,” she shared.
A LAWMAKER here is considering expanding the scope of its proposed local migration policies to monitor internal migrants relocating to the city.
Councilor Rachel Zozobrado said this, following recommendations to address rural-to-urban population shifts alongside foreign migration.
The issue, along with other concerns, was tackled during the 2nd Mindanao Summit on Migration, Environment, Peace and Development on Tuesday, June 28.
The regional migration summit was organized by the Mindanao Migrants Center for Empowering Actions, Inc. (MMCEAI), where local leaders and stakeholders reviewed pending local legislation aimed at migrant welfare.
Zozobrado, who chairs the council committee on migrant workers, stated the need for a strengthened local tracking framework to monitor internal migrants could be integrated into the city’s pending legislation.
“Internal migration, meaning those coming into Davao City and settling here, I think we can incorporate that in our OFW Barangay Help Desk,” Zozobrado said.
She noted that while existing platforms primarily target overseas workers, expanding the help desk functions to the local level can help barangays track new residents moving into their communities.
“If naa na ta ana nga OFW Help Desk, that can also be one of their functions per barangay, to monitor ang katong mga dayo nga nianhi diri sa ilang bawat barangay,” she added.
While internal migration tracking is being considered for inclusion, the pending local legislation targets to address the sharp increase in illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The summit disclosed data showing that illegal recruitment cases in the region jumped from 60% in 2025 to 80% in the first half of 2026.
Zozobrado highlighted that community-level intervention is critical to catching illegal schemes before the workers are deployed overseas.
“Down to barangay level pa lang daan magbantay na ang opisyales, and information i-disseminate nato sya sa tanang lumulupyo sa barangay, para kabalo sila unsay makita ninyo sa Facebook, ayaw dayon mo pagtuo, atong ihan-ay ang proseso,” she said.
The barangay desks will not just serve as a receiving desk but will conduct information campaigns and seminars for pre-employment.
“Didto palang, isulti na nato unsa ang dapat ninyo na bantayan, dapat licensed ang recruitment agency, dapat inyo jud i-double-check with the DMW,” Zozobrado emphasized.
She expressed optimism that establishing local desk points and information drives will yield measurable results.
“Kung kana magiyahan nato sila, mubaba jud ang illegal recruitment and trafficking in persons. I’m very hopeful,” she said.
Zozobrado said the inputs gathered from the summit’s multi-sectoral workshops will be evaluated to refine the draft ordinances before submitting them for the plenary at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) XI is actively pushing for the implementation of the Registry of Barangay Inhabitants and Migrants (RBIM) to address internal migration challenges.
Within Davao Region, a saturation of the RBIM has been completed in the municipality of Kiblawan in Davao del Sur, with validation ongoing, and is also currently halfway through implementation in Asuncion, Davao del Norte, while training is scheduled to begin in Panabo City this August.
Currently, Davao City has not yet adopted the RBIM system due to its large geographic size and population, but CPD Region XI is preparing to pitch the tracking system directly to the local government of Davao City Population Division.
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) XI launched the Madayaw Coconut Philippines: A Davao Region Trade Fair on Tuesday morning, July 28, at the SM Lanang atrium to showcase the best coconut-based products and innovations.
The trade fair features 30 exhibitors representing six provinces and cities in Davao Region, offering items ranging from food, drinks, health and wellness products, handicrafts, and other goods.
It also aims to strengthen the competitiveness of the coconut industry in the Philippines through the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) by widening market opportunities and promoting value-added chains.
Madayaw Coconut Philippines: A Davao Region Trade Fair will run July 28 to August 3, and is a major side event of the Davao Coconut Cooperative Summit 2026 in partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and SM Lanang Premier.
The opening ceremony was attended by key representatives of DTI XI along with partner agencies to deliver their message of support.
In an interview, DTI XI regional director Romeo Castañaga said the event provides a platform for market access and is a priority initiative by DTI Secretary Cristina Roque in order to provide more opportunities for the coconut farmers in trade fairs across the country.
“This [trade fair] we can already include it in our signature regional trade fair in Davao Region so that more farmers, more MSMEs will be able to connect with the market. Otherwise, we make a product, but there’s no market access so it becomes nothing,” Castañaga said.
Asec Leonila Baluyut of the DTI Regional Operations Group emphasized that the secretary also prioritizes MSMEs development other than the agency’s international-related programs and projects.
She also said the event will help generate sales and encourage farmers and cooperatives to participate in the trade fairs to see the value chain of products manufactured and processed using coconut as raw materials.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Philippines exported $3.6 billion worth of coconut products in 2025. It is also the second-largest coconut producer in the world, with 14.9 million tons in 2026, based on the World Population Review.
THE PROVINCE of South Cotabato will hold the Mindanao Bamboost Forum: The South Cotabato Experience in Koronadal City on Aug. 7 to convene bamboo champions, partner government agencies, and industry players.
During the Habi at Kape media forum on July 29, Mahintana Foundation Inc. executive director Liza Duropan-Lopez said the event will focus on the development of the value-added chain for bamboo since it has become a growing industry in Mindanao.
Lopez added that experts and industry leaders will be invited to share insights as bamboo is a valuable and sustainable resource widely used for products such as soap, cotton, apparel, furniture, textiles, and others.
Tyron Jann Villanueva, provincial LEDIPO under the South Cotabato Economic and Investment Promotion Center, said the forum will also establish the market for bamboo in terms of its industry potential.
“In the province of South Cotabato, we see bamboo as one of our economic drivers. So we just need to push the idea of having bamboo as one of the priorities in our development,” Villanueva said.
South Cotabato is also poised to become the “Bamboo Corridor of the South,” focusing on sustainable industry development and innovative housing and infrastructure.
According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plan Information System, the Philippines has a total of 39,000 – 53,000 hectares of bamboo stands found in riverbanks of forest lands and some in private properties.
The bamboo industry has also faced challenges, namely insufficient raw materials, limited technology, marketing strategies, and others.
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