₱630-M Worth of DA-Backed Projects Boost Misamis Occidental’s Agri, Infrastructure Drive

By Bhal Abad Cabrera | July 23, 2026

OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental – Misamis Occidental is set to receive more than ₱630 million in fresh national government investments following the approval of two major development projects under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), Governor Henry Sevilla Oaminal announced.

In a statement posted on his official social media platform, Oaminal said he traveled to Manila immediately after a week of major engagements in the province to personally follow up on priority proposals with the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The governor’s visit resulted in the approval of a ₱350-million Integrated Coconut Processing Facility, which will soon rise in Misamis Occidental, and the ₱280.369-million concreting of the Sinara Bajo–Sinara Alto–Dinas–Katipunan Road in the municipality of Jimenez.

According to Oaminal, the newly approved projects are expected to accelerate agricultural development, expand economic opportunities, and improve road connectivity for farming communities across the province.

The Integrated Coconut Processing Facility is envisioned to strengthen the local coconut industry by increasing value-added processing, creating more livelihood opportunities for coconut farmers, and attracting agro-industrial investments.

Meanwhile, the road concreting project in Jimenez is expected to improve the transport of agricultural products, reduce travel time, and provide better access between upland barangays and commercial centers.

The approvals also complement the province’s ongoing rural infrastructure initiatives, including the ₱125-million Panalsalan–Cartagena–Luzaran–Dampalan–Macalibre Alto Farm-to-Market Road and the recently procured ₱150-million Landing–Lusot–Del Pilar–Baliangao Farm-to-Market Road, further expanding Misamis Occidental’s network of farm-to-market roads.

Oaminal expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Department of Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. for their continued support of the province’s development priorities.

“Thank God for these blessings!” the governor said. “A product of Misamisnons’ hard work and unity, in line with our 5Ms Development Agenda.”

The governor’s announcement came after Misamis Occidental successfully hosted several significant events, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Plenary Assembly, the visit of a Qatari delegation, and the US BMSI Humanitarian Medical and Surgical Mission—activities that highlighted the province’s growing role as a destination for governance, international partnerships, and humanitarian initiatives.

With more than ₱630 million in newly approved investments, the provincial government continues to advance its vision of sustainable and inclusive development by strengthening agriculture, improving rural infrastructure, and creating long-term opportunities for Misamisnons under its 5Ms Development Agenda.

COMMUNITY VIGILANCE PAYS OFF | Ozamiz strengthens grassroots anti-drug campaign with new drug-cleared barangay

By Bhal Abad Cabrera | July 23, 2026

Cagayan de Oro CITY, Misamis Oriental — The fight against illegal drugs is often won not only through law enforcement but through communities that remain vigilant long after operations end.

That collective effort was recognized on Thursday as Barangay 50th District of Ozamiz City was officially declared a Drug-Cleared Barangay by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC). At the same ceremony, 29 other barangays successfully retained their drug-cleared status, reflecting the city’s sustained commitment to community-based anti-illegal drug initiatives.

The declaration and retention rites were held at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office in El Salvador City and were led by PDEA Regional Director III Alex Tablate.

Among those present were Atty. Francisco III Sulita, representing Mayor Atty. Sam Norman G. Fuentes; DILG LGOO Edgel Vedra; Ozamiz City Police Chief PMAJ Agustine Arazo; City Health Officer Dr. Maria Florelyn Sorongon Datu-Yrogirog; Barangay 50th District Punong Barangay Evelyn Recamadas; and members of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC).

Beyond the recognition, the milestone highlights the continuing collaboration among barangay officials, law enforcement agencies, health workers, and residents in preventing the resurgence of illegal drugs through education, monitoring, intervention, and rehabilitation programs.

Under the Kanunay Asenso Ozamiz administration, the city continues to strengthen its grassroots peace and order initiatives, recognizing that safe and drug-free communities are built through shared responsibility. With another barangay joining the roster and 29 others sustaining their status, Ozamiz reinforces its commitment to protecting families and fostering safer communities for every Ozamiznon.

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP TAKES CENTER STAGE AS CARD MBA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL MICROINSURANCE SUMMIT

By Bhal Abad Cabrera | July 23, 2026

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – The Philippines strengthened its standing as a global leader in inclusive finance after CARD Mutual Benefit Association (CARD MBA) brought together microinsurance leaders from 12 countries to forge stronger partnerships aimed at protecting low-income families.

Held from June 17 to 19 at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, the Mutual Microinsurance Network Seminar 2026 gathered 101 delegates from the Philippines, United Kingdom, Myanmar, India, Kenya, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malawi, Mozambique, Paraguay, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

Organized with the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation (ICMIF) Foundation, the seminar carried the theme, “Replicating Success Globally: Scaling the Mutual Microinsurance Model for the Poorest,” emphasizing the expansion of proven mutual insurance models to underserved communities worldwide.

A major highlight was the renewal of the Memorandum of Agreement between CARD MBA and Kenya's CIC Group, reaffirming their commitment to advancing mutual microinsurance through innovation, knowledge sharing, and international collaboration.

CARD MRI Founder and Chair Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle B. Alip underscored the importance of global cooperation in addressing the financial vulnerabilities of marginalized sectors.

“Through partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support, we can replicate successful models and create a stronger and more inclusive microinsurance network,” Alip said.

During the three-day event, delegates exchanged best practices on governance, digital transformation, claims management, member engagement, and sustainable business models that have enabled mutual insurers to reach millions of low-income families.

CARD MBA also highlighted its evolution from a members' mutual fund into one of the Philippines' leading mutual microinsurance providers, showcasing how technology and community-driven governance continue to strengthen its services.

Chief Executive Officer Jocelyn Dequito said trust remains the foundation of the mutual insurance model.

“Mutual microinsurance thrives on trust—not only between institutions and their members, but also among organizations working toward the shared goal of protecting vulnerable communities,” she said.

The seminar concluded with a field visit to a CARD Bank center in San Pablo City, Laguna, where international delegates observed firsthand the delivery of community-based microinsurance services and members' active participation in governance.

The gathering underscored the growing role of international cooperation in expanding financial inclusion and building stronger economic safety nets for vulnerable communities across the globe.

P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin welcomes first homeowners at Idesia San Jose del Monte, marking its debut in North Luzon

 

P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin, the joint venture between P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) and Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corporation, officially welcomed the first homeowners of Idesia San Jose del Monte during its Homeowners Turnover Ceremony.

The milestone signifies not only the beginning of homeownership for the project's pioneering families but also another achievement in the ninth year of partnership between P.A. Properties and Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corporation. It likewise marks the joint venture's first Idesia development in North Luzon.

Executives from P.A. Properties, representatives of Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corporation, local government officials, project partners, officers, employees, and the new homeowners attended the ceremony.

In her opening remarks, Asa Toda, Vice President of Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp. Philippines, underscored the significance of the project as the partnership's first venture in Bulacan.

"We are honored to be part of this growing province and to help build a community where people can enjoy a better quality of life," she said.

Welcoming the homeowners, Lawrenz Joseph Z. Alvarez, Director of P.A. Properties, described the turnover as more than the ceremonial handover of houses.

He said Idesia San Jose del Monte represents the arrival of the Idesia brand in Bulacan and reflects the joint venture's commitment to building thoughtfully planned communities where families can grow, neighbors become friends, and dreams flourish.

Following the ceremonial program, the homeowners were escorted to their respective units for the official turnover. Each family stepped inside their new home for the first time before receiving a house blessing, marking the beginning of their homeownership journey.

For many of the new homeowners, the occasion was an emotional and exciting milestone.

"We're so excited to move into our new home. We hope we'll have a wonderful life here," shared Idesia homeowner Mark.

Rising city, growing opportunities

Homeowners at Idesia San Jose del Monte will enjoy not only a master-planned community but also the long-term value of investing in one of Bulacan's fastest-growing cities.

As the largest city in the province, San Jose del Monte continues to emerge as a key growth center, driven by expanding residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Its strategic location near Metro Manila has attracted significant private investments, creating more opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Accessibility is also expected to improve with the completion of the MRT-7, which is projected to extend rail connectivity to San Jose del Monte by 2027 or 2028, significantly reducing travel time to Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, the development of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is expected to generate more than one million jobs and further accelerate economic growth across the province.

In her closing remarks, Atty. Marianne Reyna Lina-Cruz, President and CEO of P.A. Properties and P.A. Properties Hankyu Hanshin, highlighted the long-term value of investing in an Idesia home, citing her own experience as a homeowner in Idesia Dasmariñas.

"It was our second home, and truly, we have already reaped the benefits of our investment. We've seen how its value has appreciated because of how beautiful the project is," she shared.

As the first homeowners begin creating memories in their new homes, the successful turnover of Idesia San Jose del Monte marks another milestone in the enduring partnership between P.A. Properties and Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corporation. More than simply turning over houses, the event welcomed the pioneering residents of a thriving community. It reaffirmed the partners' shared commitment to building quality homes where Filipino families can build brighter futures.

About P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation

Nestled in San Pedro, Laguna, P.A. Alvarez Properties and Development Corporation (P.A. Properties) is a leading developer of low to medium-cost housing communities in Southern Luzon. Since its establishment in 1994, the company has crafted over 30,000 homes across key Philippine provinces, with plans to build an additional 20 communities in the next 5 years. P.A. Properties, guided by the tagline "Behind Every Home is a Story," not only addresses the nation's housing backlog but also actively contributes to economic growth. Through philanthropic initiatives, such as hospital donations in Cabuyao, providing right of way in Pampanga for civic centers, and establishing SanJo's markets in provinces like Laguna and Bulacan, the company weaves a narrative of community development and nationwide impact.

Seven Partners, One Platform. Keepital's Startup Pavilion at WOCEE 2026

 

Keepital Philippines brings together six of the country's most promising startups, and a powerhouse IP institution, for a dedicated showcase at the World of Consumer Electronics Expo this August. The World of Consumer Electronics Expo (WOCEE) has long been the Philippines' most significant gathering of technology companies, manufacturers, and industry decision-makers. This August 5 to 8 at the SMX Convention Center Manila, it returns with more than 33,200 expected visitors, over 110 exhibitors, and 15,000 square meters of exhibit space. This year, Keepital Philippines is adding a new dimension to the expo. Under the dedicated Startup Pavilion, Keepital is bringing six carefully selected startups to the WOCEE floor and providing each one a curated platform to present their products, connect with buyers and investors, and reach the scale they deserve.

The Exhibitors

Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO)

Anchoring the pavilion is the Ateneo de Manila University's Intellectual Property Office, an institution dedicated to fostering innovation, research commercialization, and startup development within one of the Philippines' most respected academic ecosystems. (aipo.ateneo.edu)

KLARO

KLARO is a sales and inventory platform built for cooperatives and small Filipino businesses that still run on handwritten logbooks. Its AI-powered OCR engine photographs a logbook and extracts line items, quantities, and totals in under 30 seconds, feeding the results into a dashboard that gives agri-terminals and consolidation hubs real-time visibility over volumes, buyer accounts, and payment status. With partners including the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, Quezon City's Pangkabuhayang Program, and Ateneo BUILD already on board, KLARO represents a compelling intersection of AI capability and real-economy application. (meetklaro.com)

a11y media

Formerly known as Wika, a11y media is a Filipino startup working for the social and economic inclusion of people with disabilities, democratizing accessibility for the deaf, hard of hearing, and Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters through assistive content such as sign language videos, captions, and audio descriptions. Co-founded in 2018, a11y's platform functions similarly to YouTube but exclusively for accessible content, and empowers anyone to upload their own sign language videos and captions, with 70% of FSL interpreters on the platform being women.The only Philippine startup selected out of 800 applicants across Asia for the Real Madrid Next Accelerator, a11y arrives at WOCEE with both global recognition and a mission that sits at the intersection of technology and genuine social impact. (a11y.media/wika)

Domantay Consulting 

Not every pavilion participant is a tech product company, and that is precisely the point. Founded in 2018, Domantay Consulting (DC Digital) is a holistic digital consultancy offering public relations, social media management, digital marketing, and creative multimedia production. A cross-generational team of PR, media, marketing, and fine arts professionals, DC Digital brings something every technology company eventually needs at WOCEE: the expertise to communicate what they build in a way the market can actually hear. (domantayconsulting.com) 

Vaura

Vaura enters the pavilion as an AI-powered content engine built for businesses that need to produce content at scale without sacrificing quality or brand consistency. In a market where content demand is outpacing the capacity of most in-house teams, Vaura offers a smarter production pipeline where it generates output that is faster to produce and easier to manage across channels. At WOCEE, Vaura's presence speaks directly to the exhibitors, distributors, and brand teams on the floor who are looking for more efficient ways to keep their content working as hard as their products do. (vaura.io) 

BetterClinic

BetterClinic is an AI ambient scribe built for medical practitioners: it listens during a consultation and automatically generates SOAP notes, prescriptions, medical certificates, PhilHealth claims abstracts, and ICD-10/RVS coding. No EHR, no setup, no typing required. Its transcription engine handles mixed-language speech, local medication names, and the accents and dialects Filipino patients bring into the room, and is built in full compliance with the Philippine Data Privacy Act. For a country with a large and geographically dispersed medical workforce, a tool that runs on a smartphone and requires no institutional integration is not a luxury but a practical necessity. (betterclinic.ai)

SOFI AI

SOFI AI automates customer engagement for Philippine SMEs, most of which rely on Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and comment sections to drive sales. Its platform delivers 24/7 chat responses, smart sales assistance, multilingual support, and automated data collection across Facebook, Instagram, Shopify, Telegram, and more, adapting to each brand's tone and personality. A member of the NVIDIA Inception Program and a selected participant in Google for Startups, SOFI AI brings a proposition at WOCEE that is immediately relevant to the SME owners, brand managers, and distributors walking the expo floor. (sofitech.ai) 

The Startup Pavilion is a deliberate cross-section of where Philippine technology is heading. AI applied to agriculture, healthcare, customer engagement, brand communications, workforce development, and the infrastructure beneath all of it. What WOCEE provides is the kind of audience that normally takes years to reach. The pavilion compresses that timeline.

For anyone attending WOCEE this August, the Startup Pavilion is worth the detour. Come with questions. The founders will be there to answer them.

Happening from August 5–8, at the SMX Convention Center Manila. Register now at https://register.worldbexevents.com/registration and get ready to explore this show of innovation.

Learn more at wocee.ph 

About KEEP Pte Ltd.

Keepital was established in 2013 and has now grown into Southeast Asia’s Leading Industrial B2B marketplace that facilitates connections between suppliers and buyers worldwide through our online platform. They stand out with their highly competitive pricing and offer a comprehensive range of services beyond just product listings. Their advertising options are designed for affordability and simplicity, featuring a one-time payment and low renewal fees for product and service suppliers on our online portal.