World PET Expo 2026 Returns for a Bigger Second Edition, Uniting Pet Owners, Businesses, and Industry Leaders

Manila, Philippines - Worldbex Services International (WSI) officially opens the second edition of the World PET Expo, a premier event celebrating the growing pet industry in the Philippines. Running from September 24 to 27, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, the expo brings together pet owners, businesses, and industry professionals for a weekend dedicated to pets and their well-being.

Pet ownership continues to grow across the Philippines. According to the International Trade Administration, a Kantar Philippines survey found that 94% of Filipino households are pet owners, giving the Philippines the highest level of pet ownership in Southeast Asia. While dogs remain the most common household pets, cats have also become increasingly popular.

For many Filipinos, pets are considered part of the family, with owners placing greater emphasis on their pets’ health, happiness, and overall well-being. This growing commitment has also driven demand for a wider range of pet products and services, from premium toys and accessories to diapers, strollers, and carriers designed for pets on the go.

The World Pet Expo responds to this growing interest by providing a dedicated platform where pet owners can discover products, services, and information to help them care for their pets. The event also highlights the businesses and innovations contributing to the continued growth of the pet industry.

The Opening Ceremony was held on September 24, 2026, at the World Trade Center Metro Manila and was hosted by radio DJ and events host Tina Ryan. Her enthusiasm and energy was felt throughout the ceremony and helped bring the mood of everyone watching on high lievels. The ceremony was attended by industry leaders, distinguished guests, and VIPs who gathered to celebrate the official opening of the expo.

Highlighting World Pet Expo’s growing role as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and industry development, WSI Managing Director Ms. Jill Athnie Ang shared, “World Pet Expo is becoming the premier platform where the pet industry comes together …  Together, we are building an industry, strengthening a community, and creating a better future for our pets.” 

Other distinguished guests also delivered messages during the ceremony, including Mr. Ernie Lopez, the Advocacy Ambassador for the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.; Ms. Pamela Pascual, the Chairman and CEO of the World Trade Center Metro Manila; Hon. Dr. Christian P. Daquigan, DVM, Officer-in-Charge and Director for the Bureau of Animal Industry for the Department of Agriculture (represented by Dr. Glenn Reyes); Hon. Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano , Mayor for the City of Pasay  (represented by Former Councilor Joey Calixto Isidro , Special Assistant to the Mayor ); Hon. Assistant Secretary Nylah Rizza D. Bautista, Supervising Head for the Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) in the Department of Trade and Industry (represented by Mr. Emerson Labang, Officer-in-Charge for the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion); and Hon. Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. of the Department of Agriculture (represented by Asec. Michael De Joya Garcia).

With four days of activities, exhibits, and opportunities for pet owners and industry stakeholders, the World Pet Expo 2026 aims to bring the pet community together while showcasing the products, services, and innovations shaping the future of pet care in the Philippines.

Spend your “fur-fect” week with your fur friends in this exciting event, here at the World Pet Expo 2026, happening here at the World Trade Center Metro Manila! This event is open until September 27, 2026, so come and get your tickets now at https://worldpetexpo.ph/. Follow the official pages on social media to stay up-to-date with the latest updates and news:

The World PET Expo 2026 is organized by Worldbex Services International and is for the benefit of the ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. 

#todayph26

PDRF empowers Dumagat-Remontado communities to lead risk and resource mapping in their ancestral domain

ANTIPOLO CITY—Recognizing the Indigenous knowledge and practices of the Dumagat-Remontado of Antipolo City, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), through its Building Resilience through Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (BRIDGE) Project and supported by the Antipolo City Government, conducted a community risks and resources mapping led by the chieftains and elders of the Kaksaan Ne Dumaget de Antipolo on September 14-18, 2026.

Rapu Modesto Sta. Ana and seven Chieftains of Kaksaan Ne Dumaget de Antipolo indigenous group participated and led the discussions during the five-day participatory risks and resources mapping workshops and field survey across the nine communities within their Ancestral Domain in Antipolo City. 

"When Indigenous Peoples lead the identification and planning of programs that affect their communities, we unlock genuine ownership, trust, and wisdom that outside experts simply cannot replicate," said BRIDGE Project Director Anna Katrina Aspuria. "These communities have stewarded these ancestral lands for generations. Any resilience strategy that doesn't draw on that knowledge is fundamentally incomplete."

During the workshops conducted from September 14-16, the chieftains, elders, and community members identified and mapped the locations of the household settlements, critical facilities, lifelines, livelihoods, and water sources of the upland communities across their ancestral domain.

With the chieftains and the elders serving as the local guides, the BRIDGE Project Team and the representatives from the Protected Area Management Office surveyed, geo-tagged, and validated the location and status of the risks and resources mapped by the community during the last two days of the activity, including visiting areas that have the potential to become eco-tourism sites managed by the communities of Indigenous People (IP) in Barangay San Jose and Barangay Calawis. 

"The chieftains didn't simply point us to locations," noted the field team. "They explained the reasoning behind each settlement, the seasonal patterns, the vulnerabilities. That contextual knowledge is irreplaceable in building resilient communities."

The data and insights gathered through these activities will serve as input to the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP) of the Dumagat-Remontado of Antipolo, the critical document that outlines how an indigenous group manages, develops, and protects the ancestral lands and natural resources included in their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). 

BRIDGE Project is providing technical assistance in the development of their ADSDPP as part of the Foundation’s commitment to assist in the enhancement of resilience of Antipolo City through the increase in adoption of gender-responsive, climate and disaster resilient Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) practices by women and indigenous people.

Within the context of the BRIDGE Project, resilience is defined as “the ability of the communities and local institutions to foster self-reliance in building a sustainable future.” 

Funded by Global Affairs Canada, BRIDGE is a four-year project implemented by PDRF in partnership with the local governments and indigenous communities of Antipolo City and Baguio City.

Teodoro Leads Opening of ADMM-Plus Maritime Security Joint Cooperative Activity, Future Leaders' Program

OLONGAPO CITY, Zambales, September 21, 2026 – Underscoring the importance of trust, cooperation, and networking among regional partners, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. led the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security's (EWG-MS) Joint Cooperative Activity (JCA) and Future Leaders' Program (FLP) on September 21.

Co-hosted by the Philippines and Japan as co-chairs of the ADMM-Plus EWG-MS, the JCA and FLP will feature a series of harbor and sea phase activities involving personnel, naval assets, ships, and aircraft from eight ADMM-Plus countries from September 20 to 26, 2026. Observers from fellow ASEAN member states and ASEAN dialogue partners were also invited.

"We hope that this exercise will be foundational in two things: number one, learning the procedures or getting familiar with the procedures and working together and cooperation; and secondly, develop, at an early stage, networking, trust, and cooperation amongst all the participants and your respective defense establishments and navies," Secretary Teodoro said.

In his speech, the Defense Chief recalled the outcomes of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience last week, focusing on shared commitments on quicker anticipatory, science-based actions on natural calamities and disasters and the importance of secure and fast transmission of trusted information.

"Our collaboration and cooperation not merely in response but in early prepositioning, working together, and in detection becomes more critical," Secretary Teodoro said, adding that an important avenue for effective and efficient response are free open sea lanes of communication.

Complementing the JCA, the FLP will provide junior naval officers with an opportunity to engage their counterparts on climate change, maritime security, and key topics, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Critical Underwater Infrastructure security. 

With the theme, "Enhancing Maritime Security and Environmental Resilience in Response to Climate Change," these activities are vital in enhancing security and resilience of individual countries, the ASEAN, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

"We are committed to sustaining the significant progress we have made in our areas of practical cooperation, strengthening our solidarity, and to defending our principles, shared principles. I look forward to receiving feedback about key observations, lessons learned, and best practices from these important engagements which will guide us in navigating our future together," Secretary Teodoro concluded.

Also present were Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jose Ma. Ambrosio Q. Ezpeleta PN; RADM Edwin M. Nera PN, Chief of Staff, Philippine Navy and Co-Chair; and RADM Terada Hiroyuki JMSDF (Ret.), Co-Chair, along with members of the diplomatic corps and participating delegates.

SiGMA Foundation donates 3,500 wheelchairs to the Philippines

The SiGMA Foundation has formally donated 3,500 wheelchairs to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), supporting communities across the Philippines affected by the southwest monsoon and strengthening a longstanding partnership between the two organisations.

The ceremonial turnover took place on Wednesday, 16 September, at PAGCOR’s Corporate Office at the MET Live Building in Pasay City, Metro Manila. SiGMA Asia Managing Director Neil Shih represented the SiGMA Foundation, while PAGCOR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco represented the government corporation.

In its effort to help individuals in need across the province and cities, PAGCOR will distribute wheelchairs as part of its relief goods programme. The idea is to assist people with mobility problems in functioning more independently and participating in everyday activities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shih highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to ensuring SiGMA’s presence in the Philippines extends beyond its role as an events organiser.

“For SiGMA, our presence in the Philippines has always been about more than organising an event. Since we established SiGMA Asia in Manila, we have received tremendous support from PAGCOR, the Philippine government, our industry partners and local communities.”

He added that the organisation’s growing presence in the country comes with a corresponding

responsibility to contribute to the communities that support it.

“As our platform continues to grow in the Philippines, we also believe our responsibility

to contribute to the community should grow with it.”Supporting mobility and independence

The contribution demonstrates the SiGMA Foundation's commitment to programmes that deliver real social impact. According to Shih, the importance of the wheelchair for the people who receive it is much bigger than the mere object itself.

“A wheelchair may appear to be a simple piece of equipment, but for the person

receiving it, it can mean much more. It can mean mobility, independence, dignity and the ability to participate more fully in everyday life.

The Foundation worked with PAGCOR to ensure wheelchairs could reach communities and individuals in need through PAGCOR’s established relief efforts.

For PAGCOR, the donation also represents an extension of its relationship with SiGMA, which has developed through three successful gaming summits held in Manila. Tengco recalled the early stages of the partnership, including his first meeting with Neil Shih when the organisation was seeking PAGCOR’s support to establish a gaming conference in the Philippines.

At the time, Shih told Tengco that he expected the inaugural event to attract at least 10,000

delegates. Tengco recalled questioning the scale of that projection, having recently attended a gaming conference in Macau with considerably fewer attendees. The first SiGMA Summit in Manila subsequently attracted close to 15,000 delegates.

A partnership beyond business

Reflecting on how the relationship has evolved since those early discussions, Tengco described the partnership between PAGCOR and the SiGMA Group as warm and established, with the two

organisations now looking beyond events and industry development to community outreach.

He said the wheelchair initiative demonstrated what could be achieved through cooperation between the private sector and government.

Tengco thanked Shih and the SiGMA Group for their support, while signalling PAGCOR’s willingness to continue working together on future initiatives.

“The wheelchairs are ready to be distributed to the different parts, cities, municipalities and provinces of the Philippines. So, on behalf of PAGCOR, I would like to thank you

[SiGMA Foundation] for the support that you are providing to PAGCOR ”

The PAGCOR Chairman also suggested thatcommunity- focused initiatives could become a regular part of the organisation’s relationship, with opportunities to identify further ways to support communities across the country.

Shih likewise emphasised the importance of the partnership, thanking Tengco, Senior Vice

President Dan Cecilio and the wider PAGCOR team for their continued trust and cooperation.

“The relationship between SiGMA and PAGCOR has developed far beyond the traditional partnership. We share a common interest in supporting the responsible development of the industry while also creating a positive impact beyond the business community.”

Continuing the commitment

The event also brought together media, partners and stakeholders for interviews, photography

For SiGMA Foundation, the donation forms part of its ongoing commitment to giving back to the communities in the markets where the SiGMA Group operates. In the Philippines, that commitment is being delivered in partnership with an organisation with an established national reach and infrastructure to distribute assistance to communities in need.

Shih said the initiative demonstrated the potential of collaboration between government and business when both sides share a focus on community support.

“Today, the ceremony is a meaningful example of what can be achieved when the private sector and government work together with a shared purpose. We hope these 3,500

wheelchairs will make a difference to thousands of Filipinos and their families.”

The donation also reinforces SiGMA’s continued commitment to the Philippines, where its events have brought together the international gaming industry and local operators, regulators,

government representatives, and other stakeholders.

As the Foundation continues to develop its social impact work, the wheelchair donation provides a tangible example of how established industry partnerships can extend beyond commercial activity to support communities and individuals across the country.

#todayph26

Revised outage limits raise concerns on power system reliability in Visayas and Mindanao

QUEZON CITY, 10 September 2026 — Filipino consumers are facing mounting pressure for a more dependable power system as recurring grid alerts expose vulnerabilities in the country’s electricity supply. The Visayas alone recorded 123 yellow and red alerts since January, underscoring the need for policy and system-level measures to strengthen the power system and ensure consumers have access to affordable and secure electricity. 

Following the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)’s recent revision of reliability standards and allowable equivalent unplanned outage days for generating units, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) is raising concerns that higher outage allowances could weaken incentives for generation companies to improve plant reliability. 

Over the past year, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has issued repeated yellow and red alerts across Luzon and Visayas grids, signaling that available power reserves had fallen to critical levels. These alerts have coincided with a pattern of unplanned outages among large power plants, particularly coal-fired units, which have gone offline unexpectedly and placed additional strain on an already tight power system.

Under the new ERC Resolution, allowable unplanned outage days have increased for nearly all generation technologies covered by the previous standards. In several cases, the revised allowance is nearly double the limit previously set under Resolution No. 10, Series of 2020.

	Old Allowable Unplanned Outage Days (Resolution No. 10, Series of 2020)	Updated Allowable Unplanned Outage Days (Resolution No. 23, Series of 2026)
Biomass	7.0	32.06
Circulating Fluidized Bed	16.9	27.32
Pulverized	16.8	32.15
Gas Turbine	22.7	26.92
Combined Cycle	7.7	14.35
Diesel	14	21.09
Geothermal	13.7	22.98
Oil-fired thermal	27.8	37.03
Hydro Conventional	6.8	12.72
Pumped-Storage Hydro	-	18.98
Run-of River Hydro	-	12.03

Under the new framework, nearly all generation technologies are allowed more unplanned outage days, although the extent of the increase varies across technologies. For several technologies, among them pulverized coal, combined cycle, and conventional hydro, the allowable outage days effectively doubled. 

According to the ERC, the revised thresholds were based on actual operating and outage data between 2015 and 2024. ICSC acknowledges the value of this data, noting that a decade of operating history provide a clear picture of where the country's generation fleet has struggled to perform reliably. 

However, ICSC stressed that this same historical record should be used to identify reliability gaps, not to establish past underperformance as the accepted benchmark for future reliability.

"A reliability standard should be built around what the grid, and the consumers who depend on it, need going forward, not around what plants have already delivered," Mr. Alberto Dalusung III, ICSC’s Energy Transition Advisor said. "And when a single power plant fails, the impact is rarely confined to that plant alone."

The consequences extend beyond individual plant performance. The Philippines remains heavily reliant on a limited number of large, centralized power plants, a structure that leaves the broader grid vulnerable whenever one of these plants fails unexpectedly. When a major generating unit unexpectedly goes offline, available reserves are quickly depleted, particularly during periods of high demand or limited supply. The grid may then need to dispatch more expensive backup generation, and prices in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) can rise as a result. These costs are ultimately borne by consumers, who have no direct role in how power plants are operated or maintained.

“When a major power plant gets offline, it can put the entire grid under pressure,” Mr. Dalusung added. “This makes it important for reliability standards to drive better plant performance and ensure that the system is better protected from unexpected outages, rather than simply accepting historical performance as the benchmark. The allowable outage limits should therefore be regularly reviewed and tightened as plant performance improves.”

ICSC has proposed that the ERC treat the revised thresholds under Resolution No. 23 as a transitional standard rather than a permanent benchmark, outlining the following recommendations.

1. Progressive tightening of standards - The ERC should periodically review and reduce allowable outage days as generation performance improves, rather than treating the revised thresholds as a fixed benchmark.

2. Use of outage data for diagnosis, not dilution - Recurring outages should prompt corrective investment and increased regulatory oversight, rather than serve as justification for higher allowances in future revisions.

3. Stronger public disclosure and accountability - Outage performance should be made publicly accessible, with meaningful consequences applied to plants that repeatedly exceed their allowable limits.

4. System-wide evaluation of outage impact - Reliability assessments should account for how outages affect grid reserves, market prices, and consumer costs, rather than treating each incident in isolation.

5. Parallel investment in grid diversification - Expanding rooftop solar, battery storage, and other distributed energy resources would reduce the broader grid's exposure to the failure of any single power plant.

ABOUT

The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities is a Philippine-based non-governmental organization that advances climate, energy, and low-carbon solutions to enable fair and climate-resilient development at the national and international levels.

#todayph26

STRENGTHENING ASEAN AIR TIES: PAF HOSTS 23RD AACC

The Philippines reaffirmed its role in advancing regional air cooperation as it hosted the 23rd ASEAN Air Chiefs’ Conference (AACC) under the theme, " Forging Interoperable and Integrated ASEAN Air Forces: Unified Action for Regional Stability” on September 9, 2026. The conference was conducted via Video Teleconference (VTC), with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) hosting the Philippine component at the PAF Museum, Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, Pasay City. Chaired by Lieutenant General Arthur M Cordura PAF, Commanding General, Philippine Air Force, the conference featured an exchange of views among ASEAN Air Chiefs on matters of mutual interest and regional security, with Defense Attachés and Embassy representatives from ASEAN member states present at the venue.

The conference provided a platform for the Air Chiefs to share views and discuss areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening professional engagement, interoperability, and regional security. As part of the proceedings, the AACC Chairship was handed over from the Philippines to Malaysia for the AACC 2027. In the Philippines, Lieutenant General Cordura handed the Chairship to Colonel Jafri Ahmad Zulaydi, Malaysian Defense Attaché to the Philippines, representing the incoming AACC Chairman, General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Muhamad Norazlan bin Aris, Chief of Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force. Meanwhile, Colonel Michael F Lugtu (MI) PA (GSC), Philippine Defense Attaché to Malaysia, represented the Philippines in the corresponding handover to the Malaysian Air Chief through the VTC.

The hosting of the 23rd AACC underscores the PAF’s role in strengthening air force-to-air force engagement within ASEAN. Through continued dialogue and exchange of views, the conference supports closer cooperation and a shared commitment to regional security and stability.

PH to Convene ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy, Pushing Region's Shift Away from Single-Use Waste

MANILA, Philippines — As ASEAN economies grow, so does the waste they leave behind, with plastics, packaging, and electronics piling up faster than the region can recover them. The Philippines is convening the region's policymakers, industry, and civil society to change that trajectory, hosting the ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy (ARDCE) on 22 to 23 September 2026 at the New World Hotel Makati.

The two-day Dialogue, convened under the Philippine ASEAN Chairship 2026, will look at how member states can move from a linear "take-make-dispose" model toward one built on reuse, recycling, and resource efficiency, guided by the ASEAN Framework for Circular Economy, the ASEAN Sustainable Consumption and Production Framework, and the ASEAN Regional Action Plan on Marine Debris.

Discussions will span national circular economy policies, the role of local governments, Extended Producer Responsibility and other policy instruments, and financing and market mechanisms that can help businesses and communities make the shift. A dedicated session will focus on ensuring MSMEs and informal waste workers are not left behind as the region formalizes and scales up circular systems.

"Long-term solutions must also address the problem at its source and strengthen measures that can discourage repeated abuse of natural resources," Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said in an earlier DENR statement on strengthening the country's waste management framework under the EPR Act.

For ordinary Filipinos and communities across ASEAN, the Dialogue points to something concrete: cleaner neighborhoods, new livelihoods built around recycling and resource recovery, and stronger safety nets for the informal waste workers who already do much of this work today. Because waste and pollution do not stop at borders, the region's response has to be shared, and the Dialogue is designed to turn that shared urgency into partnerships and investments member states can act on.

The Dialogue will produce an ASEAN Chair's Summary on Circular Economy Policy and Implementation, capturing key policy messages and priority recommendations. The Summary will feed into discussions at the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in October 2026, carrying the region's work forward as the Philippines' Chairship year builds toward the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila this November.