Cebu economy, lumago pa rin noong 2025 kahit bumagal

by BRT @News | October 3, 2026

Photo: File

Patuloy na lumago noong 2025 ang ekonomiya ng Cebu Province at mga lungsod ng Cebu, Lapu-Lapu at Mandaue, kahit mas mabagal ang kanilang paglago kumpara noong 2024, ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 7.

Pinakamabilis ang paglago ng Cebu City sa 5.8 porsiyento, mula sa 7 porsiyento noong 2024. Umakyat naman sa P353.81 bilyon ang GDP nito mula P334.35 bilyon.

Lumago ng 3.3 porsiyento ang Lapu-Lapu City, 2.1 porsiyento ang Mandaue City at 2.7 porsiyento ang Cebu Province.

Samantala, umabot sa P1.32 trilyon ang ekonomiya ng Central Visayas matapos lumago ng 3.7 porsiyento. Nanatili rin itong pinakamalaking ekonomiya sa labas ng Metro Manila.

Pinakamabilis namang lumago ang health sector sa apat na ekonomiya, na nagtala ng double-digit growth.

PhilHealth, private insurers build on YAKAP to maximize primary care coverage

by Info @Brand Zone | October 3, 2026

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and major health maintenance  organizations (HMOs) and private health insurers (PHIs) have joined hands to make primary  healthcare more affordable and accessible for Filipinos. 

PhilHealth, together with Maxicare Healthcare Corporation, MediCard Philippines, Inc.,  PhilhealthCare, Inc., Health Plan Philippines, Inc., United Coconut Planters Life Assurance  Corporation, Asalus Corporation (Intellicare), Medicare Plus, Inc., Avega Managed Care,  Inc., Cooperative Health Management Federation, Pacific Cross Health Care, Inc., Insular  Health Care, Inc. (iCare), The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.), and InLife Benefits  Insurance Company, Inc. sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing the  PhilHealth YAKAP – HMO/PHI Benefit Complementation initiative in support of the  Universal Health Care (UHC) law. 

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Under the MOU, PhilHealth will serve as the initial source of coverage for primary care  services through its Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), while private insurers  complement this coverage by providing additional benefits. 

“With PhilHealth YAKAP as the first layer of protection, our private partners can focus  their benefits on what lies beyond the program package. That way, every Filipino gets more  care for every peso,” said PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho. 

“Together, we can establish a system that builds a healthier, more productive Philippines– where quality healthcare empowers every Filipino to drive the nation forward,” PhilHealth  Board Member and Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said. 

As the secondary payers, HMOs and PHIs can cover costs that exceed PhilHealth benefit  limits or fall outside primary care coverage, such as specialized procedures, branded  medications, or hospital room upgrades.

YAKAP covers consultations, 13 laboratory tests, selected outpatient medicines under the  GAMOT package, and outpatient services for six cancer screening tests. Under the  PhilHealth primary care program, specialized outpatient benefits such as animal bite  treatment, maternal care, Tuberculosis DOTS, HIV/AIDS management, and mental health  services are also included, as applicable. 

The direct integration of PhilHealth YAKAP with private insurance policies establishes a  more seamless healthcare system to prevent duplicate payment and effectively lower  patients’ out-of-pocket costs of shared beneficiaries. 

PhilHealth urges all members and policyholders to register for PhilHealth YAKAP via the  eGovPH app, PhilHealth Member Portal, or nearest PhilHealth office to instantly maximize  their primary care coverage alongside their private HMO benefits. Additionally, PhilHealth  invites other HMOs and private health insurers to join this complementation network to  expand financial protection and deliver seamless, affordable primary healthcare to every  Filipino family nationwide. 

For official announcements, program updates, and participating provider lists, members may  call PhilHealth 24/7 Corporate Action Center (02) 8662‑2588 or visit  www.philhealth.gov.ph, or follow PhilHealth's verified social media channels on Facebook  (@PhilHealthofficial) and X (@teamphilhealth).

Pag-IBIG Fund, Megawide mark first topping-off milestone under Expanded 4PH partnership

by Info @Brand Zone | October 2, 2026

Pag-IBIG Fund invested ₱10 billion in Megawide preferred shares to support the development of 7,143 housing units. Aliling and Acosta led the topping-off ceremony with Cavite 4th District Rep. Jennifer Austria-Barzaga, Dasmarinas City Mayor Elpidio Barzaga III, and Megawide officials led by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Edgar B. Saavedra.

Pag-IBIG Fund and Megawide marked the first topping-off milestone under their partnership on Oct. 1, further advancing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program as two residential buildings at JAB Residences in Dasmariñas City, Cavite completed their main structural works toward the development of nearly 4,000 housing units for Filipino workers and their families.

The milestone comes as the country begins National Shelter Month this October, highlighting the continued progress of efforts to bring more affordable homes closer to Filipino workers. Through the topping-off of the two residential buildings, JAB Residences has completed its main structural works, marking another important step toward the completion of the development. Finishing works and other construction activities will continue before the homes are turned over to qualified buyers. The project consists of 17 five-story buildings, with each 27-square-meter unit priced at ₱1.5 million and available at low monthly payments through the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan.

Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary and Pag-IBIG Fund Board Chairman Jose Ramon P. Aliling said the topping-off adds to the continuing momentum of Expanded 4PH as the administration works with more partners to increase housing supply while keeping homeownership affordable.

“We continue to heed the direction of President Marcos to make housing more accessible to more Filipino families. That is why we continue to address both sides of the housing equation. As we work with more partners to increase the supply of quality homes at prices our members can afford, we also make sure that financing terms remain within the means of Filipino workers. The progress we are seeing is made possible by the collective efforts of the national government, local governments, Pag-IBIG Fund and our private-sector partners, each contributing what it does best. This milestone is another step forward as we work to bring more homes within reach of more Filipino families,” Aliling said.

The milestone follows President Marcos’ visit less than eight months ago to Megawide Construction Corp.’s precast plant in Taytay, Rizal, where he saw how modern construction methods could help accelerate the delivery of quality and affordable homes under Expanded 4PH. The progress at JAB Residences now gives visible form to that push, with construction continuing toward thousands of new homes.

Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta said the thousands of homes being developed through the partnership show how Pag-IBIG Fund can use its financial strength to help increase housing supply while safeguarding and growing members’ savings.

In 2025, Pag-IBIG Fund invested ₱10 billion in Megawide preferred shares to support the development of 7,143 housing units. The investment earns 9% annually, allowing members’ savings to generate returns while helping support the construction of homes they need.

“Our members entrust us with their hard-earned savings. We have a responsibility to manage these prudently, grow their value and put them to work in ways that also help meet their housing needs. That responsibility extends to using Pag-IBIG Fund’s financial strength to help increase the supply of quality homes at prices our members can afford, while keeping our housing loan rates low so monthly payments remain within their means. For us, what matters most is when these efforts come together to help a member finally receive the key to a home of their own,” Acosta said.

To help members afford the homes being built, qualified socialized housing borrowers under President Marcos’ Expanded 4PH may avail themselves of the Pag-IBIG Housing Loan at a subsidized rate of 3% per annum. Pag-IBIG Fund also offers promotional housing loan rates of 4.5% per annum for loans above the socialized housing ceiling up to ₱4.9 million and 5.75% per annum for loans above ₱4.9 million up to ₱10 million. Both promotional rates are fixed for the first three years and are available until Dec. 31, 2026.

Aliling and Acosta led the topping-off ceremony with Cavite 4th District Rep. Jennifer Austria-Barzaga, Dasmarinas City Mayor Elpidio Barzaga III, and Megawide officials led by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Edgar B. Saavedra.