Real estate group presses DHSUD to speed housing project permits

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June 12, 2026

A Philippine real estate industry group has urged the government to speed up approvals for new housing projects and avoid midstream regulatory changes, warning that delays could worsen the country’s housing shortage and push up property prices.

Anthony Gerard O. Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), said prolonged delays in the issuance of License-to-Sell (LTS) permits by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) were slowing the rollout of residential projects across the country.

In a statement, Leuterio said developers in Cebu, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Ormoc and Metro Manila had reported lengthy waiting periods for LTS approvals despite having submitted complete documentary requirements.

He attributed the delays partly to the centralization of LTS approval authority at the national level, which he said had created processing bottlenecks and hindered the launch of pre-selling projects.

“The people suffering are not just corporations. They are small developers, community builders, and Filipino families waiting for homes,” Leuterio said.

He called on DHSUD to improve transparency by publishing data on the number of LTS approvals issued over the past six months, broken down by region and project type.

Leuterio also raised concerns over what he described as changing regulatory requirements for projects already under development, saying some developers were being asked to comply with new rules after securing financing, engaging contractors and committing to buyers.

He said such policy shifts could discourage investment and delay housing construction at a time when the Philippines faces a significant housing deficit.

“When projects stall, housing supply shrinks. When housing supply shrinks, prices rise,” he said.
The delays also affect overseas Filipino workers, who often depend on pre-selling projects with extended payment terms to purchase homes, Leuterio said.

Housing remains a key driver of the Philippine economy, supporting demand for construction materials, banking services, utilities and employment across multiple industries, he added.

Leuterio cited industry estimates showing the country’s housing backlog exceeded six million units in 2023 and could reach 13 million by 2040 without a significant increase in housing production.

He said the private sector was prepared to work with the government to address the housing shortage while maintaining consumer protection standards.

“We do not ask for the removal of regulations. We ask for regulations that are fair, consistent, timely and developed with industry participation,” Leuterio said.

DHSUD was not immediately available for comment on the concerns raised by the industry group.

Cebu Business News

dotTV launches Cebuano fantasy series ‘Higans Tols the Wind’ starring Bonel Balingit

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June 10, 2026

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Cebu-based broadcaster dotTV is expanding its original programming with the launch of “Higans Tols the Wind,” a Cebuano fantasy series starring veteran comedian and actor Bonel Balingit, as the regional network steps up efforts to produce locally made content for a national audience.

The series, created by Juniño Padilla and written and directed by Sam Costanilla, VF, blends fantasy, comedy and adventure with family-oriented storytelling, according to dotTV Studios, the network’s content production arm.

“Higans Tols the Wind” follows the adventures of a towering giant and his band of small but determined companions as they set out on a journey filled with challenges and life lessons. The production carries the tagline: “He’s 7 feet tall, they’re 7 feet small. Together, they’ll move mountains.”

The project marks the latest original offering from dotTV Studios, which is part of dotTV, billed as the first digital television network established outside Metro Manila. The network has been building a portfolio of Cebuano-produced programs aimed at bringing regional stories to a broader Philippine audience.

The fantasy series is scheduled to air on dotTV Channel 107 on Cignal, giving the Cebuano-language production nationwide reach.

The launch comes as regional media companies increasingly invest in original content to cater to audiences seeking programming rooted in local culture and language. Industry players have also been exploring digital and pay television platforms to expand the market for locally produced shows beyond their traditional geographic base.

Bonel Balingit, one of Cebu’s best-known comedians and actors, headlines the cast, adding star power to the production as dotTV seeks to strengthen its entertainment lineup.

While the network has yet to announce an official premiere date, it said “Higans Tols the Wind” will be coming soon to viewers across the country.

The new series underscores Cebu’s growing creative industry, with local producers, writers and performers developing original content capable of competing on the national stage while promoting Cebuano culture and storytelling traditions.

POP MART expands to Cebu as Philippine growth gathers pace

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June 5, 2026

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Collectibles retailer POP MART has opened its first pop-up store in Cebu, marking its entry into the Visayas as the company moves to expand its Philippine footprint beyond Metro Manila.

The store opened on June 5 at Ayala Center Cebu and features CRYBABY, one of the brand’s popular collectible toy lines. It follows POP MART’s rollout of four stores in Metro Manila, including locations in SM Megamall, SM Aura, SM North EDSA and SM Mall of Asia.

Marilen Villamayor, POP MART Philippines country head, said Cebu was deliberately chosen as the brand’s first expansion market outside the capital because of its established retail base and growing community of collectors.

“Cebu is a very important market,” Villamayor said. “We really wanted to open here first.”

The Cebu outlet will initially operate as a pop-up store, but the company is already considering a permanent location in the city. Villamayor said POP MART usually opens pop-ups first before deciding whether to launch a full inline store.

“Normally, what we do is we open our pop-up first and then the inline store will follow,” she said, adding that a permanent Cebu store could come by 2027.

POP MART is known for its “blind box” retail model, where customers buy sealed boxes without knowing which collectible figure is inside. The concept has developed a strong following among fans of designer toys, limited-edition characters and artist collaborations.

Villamayor said demand in the Philippines has been strong, with many local customers previously buying POP MART products abroad before the company expanded in the country.

“We are very happy with the market,” she said. “We’re really doing well, especially in Manila.”

The company’s online stores are also performing strongly, supporting plans to open more physical outlets in the Philippines, she said.

POP MART’s best-performing character lines in the country include Hirono, The Monsters, Labubu and Skullpanda. Villamayor said the company keeps demand active by regularly launching new products rather than relying on a single character or short-term trend.

“It’s not actually only a trend because every week we keep on launching new products,” she said. “The most important thing is we offer something new to the market.”

The Cebu pop-up will carry a range of products, including blind boxes, plush toys, dolls, accessories and larger collectible lines. Prices vary across product categories, with smaller items starting at about 300 pesos.

Villamayor said POP MART’s customer base cuts across age groups and income segments, although younger consumers remain a key market. Students, working women, men, children and families are among the brand’s buyers, she said.

“Everybody can enjoy blind boxes,” she said.

The Cebu store is expected to carry product allocations similar to those available in Metro Manila, although some items may be brought in gradually after the opening.

The company also plans to explore more locations in the Visayas and Mindanao after Cebu, Villamayor said.

The expansion comes as Cebu continues to attract more international lifestyle and retail concepts, supported by tourism recovery, business process outsourcing growth and rising consumer spending.

For POP MART, Cebu offers a gateway to a broader regional market as collectibles culture gains traction in the Philippines through fan communities, social media and demand for limited-edition merchandise.

Builders seek resilience as CebuCon opens in Cebu

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June 5, 2026

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The 31st CebuCon Build Expo opened on Thursday at SM Seaside City Cebu, bringing together nearly 100 construction, engineering and building materials companies as industry players sought ways to manage rising costs amid concerns over higher fuel prices and supply chain disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The four-day exhibition comes as the construction sector faces the prospect of higher transportation, logistics, and material costs should oil prices continue to rise.

Despite the uncertainties, industry participants said demand from infrastructure projects, tourism developments, industrial investments and urbanization continues to support construction activity, particularly in growth centers such as Cebu.

“We are operating in a more challenging environment, but that also pushes the industry to innovate,” Tristan JL Abais, president of LA Ducut Abais Innovations Inc., the event organizer, said.

Exhibitors are showcasing solar energy systems, water management technologies, digital construction platforms and energy-efficient building products designed to help contractors, developers and property owners reduce operating costs and improve efficiency.

About half of the exhibitors are from Metro Manila, highlighting Cebu’s growing role as a regional hub for construction, engineering and real estate investments in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The Philippine construction industry has remained resilient despite global economic headwinds. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed the sector expanded 6.8% in the first quarter of 2025, while approved construction projects increased 5.3% to 180,341 in 2024.

Industry participants said trade shows such as CebuCon have become increasingly important venues for identifying new technologies, strengthening supply-chain networks and exploring ways to cushion the impact of external shocks.

While geopolitical tensions and volatile energy prices remain concerns, developers and contractors continue to see opportunities from government infrastructure spending and private-sector investments, supporting demand across the construction value chain.

Cathay Land taps COREnergy for power aggregation across property portfolio

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June 3, 2026

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Cathay Land Inc. has tapped COREnergy to bring 46 electricity connection points across its property portfolio into the Retail Aggregation Program, as the developer seeks to manage power costs across multiple sites.

The company, the real estate arm of the Cathay Group of Companies, will aggregate smaller electricity loads from its industrial and residential developments to qualify for participation in the competitive retail electricity market.

COREnergy is the retail electricity arm of Vivant Energy.

Cathay Land said the arrangement would allow it to manage power sourcing, reporting, and long-term electricity planning across its nationwide portfolio more centrally.

“Grouping these properties under the aggregation program is a practical step toward more efficient utility management,” said Mary Ann Kocencio, Cathay Land’s vice president for corporate administration.

The agreement comes as more property developers and large businesses with multiple locations look at retail aggregation to gain better visibility over electricity costs and supplier options.

The Retail Aggregation Program allows eligible customers to combine demand from several facilities so they can participate in retail competition and choose their electricity supplier.

COREnergy said businesses with multiple locations often face technical and regulatory hurdles in accessing the market.

“For businesses with multiple locations, the Power of Choice should not be limited by how their meters are structured,” said Marko Sarmiento, vice president and operations head of COREnergy.

Cathay Land said the partnership forms part of its broader push to improve operational efficiency and sustainability across its developments.

FEIHE backs fresh milk in campaign against child malnutrition

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June 2, 2026

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Philippine child malnutrition remains a drag on the country’s long-term economic potential, with nutrition advocates urging parents to pay closer attention to the quality and processing of milk products consumed by children.

FEIHE International Philippines said minimally processed fresh milk could help support the country’s campaign against childhood malnutrition, which continues to affect millions of Filipino children.

The Department of Health earlier described the country’s 23.6% stunting rate among children as “not acceptable,” warning that chronic undernutrition could lead to long-term learning difficulties and lower productivity in adulthood.

Data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) showed that 5.6% of Filipino children are wasted, 15.1% are underweight, while 9.1% of children aged five to 10 are overweight, highlighting what experts describe as the “double burden” of malnutrition.

Dr. Yvonne Marie Ferrer, scientific affairs director of FEIHE International Philippines, said addressing malnutrition is both a health and economic priority.

“Raising a generation of well-developed and intellectually sound individuals is not just a health imperative; it is our economic lifeline,” Ferrer said.

She noted that many parents provide milk daily to their children but still struggle to see improvements in physical development, underscoring the importance of nutritional quality and nutrient absorption.

According to Ferrer, milk that remains closer to its natural state may better preserve nutrients and bioactive compounds essential for growth and immunity.

“Several studies have shown that milk kept closer to its natural state helps retain important nutrients, making them easier for children to absorb,” she said.

The company said excessive heat treatment during processing may alter nutrients and reduce the effectiveness of naturally occurring compounds such as lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein associated with immune support.

“When you subject milk to brutal processing temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, you are essentially destroying the very nutrients you are trying to provide,” Ferrer said.

She advised parents to read product labels carefully, noting that ingredients listed first represent the largest component of a product.

“When fresh milk is listed first in the ingredient list, that means it is the foundational ingredient of the product,” Ferrer said.

Nutrition experts said improving food choices at the household level could help support broader national efforts to address malnutrition and improve long-term human capital development in the Philippines.

OFWs face higher housing costs as project approvals slow: Leuterio

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June 2, 2026

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Delays in the issuance of licenses to sell are limiting housing choices for overseas Filipino workers and threatening the livelihood of thousands of real estate sellers, an industry group said.

Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of the A Better Real Estate Philippines Movement, said the lack of new projects entering the market has become “alarming” as developers cannot launch pre-selling residential projects without licenses to sell.

In Cebu alone, more than 10,000 housing units are awaiting license approvals, Leuterio said, adding that the backlog is further tightening housing supply and pushing buyers toward more expensive ready-for-occupancy units.

“The issue is already alarming because there are fewer projects available for sale,” Leuterio said. “Without LTS approvals, developers cannot launch pre-selling projects, leaving buyers with limited options.”

Leuterio said supply has become particularly tight in the P3 million to P6 million housing segment, a popular price range among OFWs who typically buy properties early for future occupancy or long-term financial security.

“Many OFWs want to secure a property early while prices are still lower. What is happening now is that most available units are already near ready-for-occupancy, which are more expensive,” he said.

He said most OFWs and local buyers continue to look for affordable houses and condominium units despite rising prices, with only about 10% of the market preferring bigger units.

“Because there are fewer new projects, many OFWs are being deprived of the opportunity to own a house or condominium,” Leuterio said.

The delays come as developers face rising construction costs, inflation, high borrowing rates and increasing regulatory requirements affecting housing projects.

Leuterio said the impact extends beyond homebuyers. Licensed brokers, accredited salespersons and independent agents rely on projects with valid licenses to sell, and prolonged delays could affect their income.

“Most salespersons work on a project basis. They rely on projects with LTS. If there are no new projects to sell, their livelihood is affected,” he said.

He warned that a prolonged shortage of legitimate project inventory could push some sellers into informal or unauthorized selling activities.

“We want salespersons to remain legitimate and compliant. The industry needs a balanced housing environment that benefits both OFWs and underprivileged local buyers,” Leuterio said.

ABREP urged government agencies to adopt a more predictable and consultative regulatory approach, particularly on policies affecting housing development and balanced housing compliance.

Leuterio said faster license approvals would not only increase housing supply but also support the government’s Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino, or 4PH, program, as developers are required to allocate portions of their developments for socialized housing.

“When projects move forward, 4PH can also grow because developers are required to allocate portions of their developments for socialized housing,” he said.

He added that housing policies and compliance requirements should undergo wider consultations involving developers, real estate sellers and government agencies to ensure that rules remain practical while protecting buyers.

“The housing backlog remains significant. We need policies that protect buyers while also encouraging developers to build more homes and giving Filipinos more opportunities to own property,” Leuterio said.

The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development said on May 14 that delays in processing housing-related applications were occurring mainly at regional offices rather than at its central office.

Housing Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling said an internal audit showed that most pending applications for licenses, certificates and other regulatory transactions were stalled at the regional level.

The department has assigned undersecretaries to oversee its 17 regional offices, clear pending applications and assess performance under its Zero Backlog Program.

Aliling said DHSUD’s digitalization program is expected to help streamline processes and eliminate backlogs, in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve government services.

Globe rolls out AI, cloud and prepaid offers amid energy crisis

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June 1, 2026

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Globe Telecom has launched new mobile, broadband and artificial intelligence services aimed at helping Filipino households, small businesses and communities stay connected amid the ongoing energy crisis.

The company unveiled the products during The Blueprint, its quarterly media briefing held on May 26 at The Globe Tower, under the theme “Keep Going with Globe.”

Among the new offers is Globe Cloud, a lower-cost backup and storage service that allows customers to secure files and preserve photos. The service includes features such as Flashback and AI-powered editing.

Globe also introduced AI Fiesta, a platform that brings together several leading AI models in one service. The company said the offer is designed for students, creators, small businesses and entrepreneurs who want access to AI tools without paying for multiple subscriptions.

The service allows users to generate outputs from multiple AI platforms using a single prompt, under what Globe described as an affordable “sachet” model.

Globe also launched Instagram Basic, which allows users to stay connected inside the app, purchase promos, access personalized top-ups and use data loans through the in-app Mobile Center.

For prepaid, postpaid and Platinum customers, Globe said it continues to offer emergency loans, roaming assistance and the conversion of rewards points into essentials such as food and fuel.

Globe At Home also introduced initiatives linking GFiber Prepaid and GCash to traditional markets, providing free WiFi for vendors to access credit and insurance while allowing shoppers to use scan-to-pay services.

The company said its household connectivity offers now include flexible payment options, sustainable energy solutions and everyday rewards.

For enterprises, Globe launched Google Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience, which uses AI-powered concierges and conversational shopping assistants to help businesses modernize customer engagement.

Globe also said GFiber plans will include free vulnerability assessment scans to help businesses strengthen cybersecurity.

“Connectivity today is no longer just about access, it is about making people feel supported, and about building meaningful connections that strengthen lives,” said KD Dizon, Globe Enterprise chief marketing officer.

Globe said the new services are part of its broader push to position connectivity as a lifeline for families, communities and businesses.

Cebu Business News

CCAP rebrands as CXAP as AI reshapes customer experience industry

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May 27, 2026

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The Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) has rebranded as the Customer Xperience Association of the Philippines, or CXAP, marking the 25-year-old organization’s shift from traditional contact center services toward higher-value, AI-enabled customer experience work.

The rebrand was unveiled during Contact Islands 2026, held from May 26 to 28 at Shangri-La Mactan in Cebu, as the annual industry conference marked its 10th year.

“The Philippine CX sector has positioned itself for the next phase of growth as AI transforms global service delivery and creates new opportunities for higher-value, human-led work,” said Benedict Hernandez, CXAP president and founding board member.

CXAP said the industry’s evolution reflects the growing role of artificial intelligence in enhancing, rather than replacing, Filipino talent. The sector is moving beyond transaction handling into problem-solving, relationship management, customer journey design, and AI-supported business processes.

The CC-BPM sector generated $33.9 billion in revenue in 2025, up 6.94% from $31.7 billion in 2024, according to CXAP data presented at the conference. Revenue is projected to rise further to $35.7 billion in 2026.

The sector employed 1.68 million full-time workers in 2025 after hiring more than 60,000 agents during the year. Employment is forecast to reach 1.73 million in 2026.

CXAP said emerging roles include prompt engineers, AI trainers, GenAI maintenance officers, CX AI solutions architects, and AI ethicists, as companies adopt tools such as generative AI, predictive analytics, chatbots, agentic AI, and robotic process automation.

Haidee Enriquez, CEO of Microsourcing and Beepo and president of CXAP, said the new name reflects how the industry’s identity has changed.

“Our people are no longer simply handling transactions. They are solving problems, building relationships, and creating value,” Enriquez said.

SM Prime targets June 2026 opening for SM Seaside Cebu Arena

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May 15, 2026

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SM Prime Holdings is targeting a June 2026 opening for the 25,000-seat SM Seaside Cebu Arena, as the Philippine mall operator expands its push into large-scale live entertainment venues outside Metro Manila amid rising demand for concerts, sporting events and regional tourism.

The company said the seven-storey arena, located within the SM Seaside City Cebu complex, is designed to host international concerts, sports events, and large conventions, following the model of the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“The enduring success of SM MOA Arena shows the strong demand for world-class entertainment venues, so we are bringing the same proven model to Cebu,” SM Prime President Jeffrey Lim said in a statement.

SM Prime said the Cebu arena will feature a flexible event bowl configuration, immersive LED ribbon boards, 5G-enabled digital infrastructure and premium suites aimed at corporate clients and high-end hospitality offerings.

The project comes as Cebu continues to position itself as a growing hub for tourism, meetings and entertainment in the Visayas, supported by increasing domestic travel and improved air connectivity through Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The arena is expected to strengthen Cebu’s appeal to international touring acts and event organizers by offering a large-capacity indoor venue outside the capital region.

SM Prime said the facility has already secured advance bookings for several concerts this year, including performances by Filipino pop group BINI, rock band IV of Spades, singers TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan, and American pop-rock band LANY.

The arena is integrated within the broader SM Seaside complex, providing direct access to retail, hospitality and transport infrastructure intended to support both visitors and event production requirements.

Cebu Business News

UCMed launches hyperbaric oxygen therapy center in Cebu

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May 15, 2026

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University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed) has introduced Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) at its Skin & Wellness Center in Mandaue City, expanding its services in wellness, recovery, and preventive healthcare.

The hospital said HBOT delivers oxygen in a pressurized chamber to help support the body’s natural healing process. The service is now available at UCMed’s Skin & Wellness Center, located on the second floor of the hospital building along Ouano Avenue in Mandaue City.

“HBOT helps the body heal more effectively by delivering a higher concentration of oxygen in a pressurized environment,” Dr. Jennifer Tan, chairman of the UCMed Skin and Wellness Center, said in a statement.

According to UCMed, the increased oxygen supply can stimulate cell repair, promote the formation of new blood vessels, and reduce inflammation—processes that are important in recovery. The therapy may benefit people recovering from surgery or injury, as well as patients managing infections, diabetes, and respiratory or circulatory concerns.

The hospital said HBOT sessions may also support muscular tissue rehabilitation, ulcer care, and recovery related to several conditions. UCMed also cited possible applications in beauty care, anti-aging, and skin-related conditions such as atopic dermatitis, gangrene, and burns.

Inside the hyperbaric chamber, patients sit comfortably as air pressure is gradually raised to up to twice normal atmospheric pressure. This allows the body to absorb more oxygen than usual, which UCMed said may help tissues recover faster and function more efficiently.

Each session typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Patients may relax, read, or rest during the procedure while oxygen circulates through their system.

“When tissues receive more oxygen, the body can repair itself faster, strengthen its immune response against bacteria, and support tissue regeneration,” Tan said. “It enhances the body’s ability to recover from certain injuries and conditions while supporting overall wellness.”

UCMed said the therapy is non-invasive and medically supervised. Its chamber can accommodate two persons, allowing a patient to be joined by a companion for added comfort. The facility also includes clear viewing panels and a two-way communication system to help patients feel at ease during the session.

For UCMed medical director Dr. Armando V. Tan, the addition of HBOT reflects a broader shift in healthcare, where hospitals are combining treatment with prevention and wellness.

“Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has long been recognized for its role in improving healing and tissue recovery,” he said. “By bringing this technology to UCMed, we are expanding how we care for patients, not just when they are ill, but as they work to stay well.”

The hospital advised patients to consult a physician at the UCMed Skin & Wellness Center to determine whether HBOT is appropriate for their needs.

Cebu Business News

Converge revenue rises to P11.2bn in Q1 as subscribers top 3 million

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May 15, 2026

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Converge ICT Solutions Inc. said first-quarter revenue rose to P11.2 billion as its subscriber base surpassed three million, driven by strong growth in its prepaid fiber internet service.

The Philippine fiber broadband provider said its total subscribers reached 3.09 million as of end-March 2026, up 14% from a year earlier. Its Surf2Sawa prepaid fiber service grew 86.7% year-on-year to 674,000 customers.

Converge reported net income of P3.02 billion for the quarter, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 3.3% to P6.9 billion. EBITDA margin stood at 61.8%, while return on invested capital reached 15.6%.

The company’s enterprise business also expanded, with revenue rising 16% to P2 billion during the quarter.

Converge co-founder and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy said the company was focused on expanding its fiber footprint, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao, while also preparing to offer more cloud and data-heavy services to enterprise customers.

The company said it recently completed a national digital infrastructure platform comprising its fiber backbone and satellite network, international subsea cable systems, cable landing stations and scalable data centers.

Cash capital expenditure reached P2.9 billion in the first quarter. Converge maintained its full-year capex guidance of P18 billion to P23 billion, with spending focused on network expansion, reinforcement and preparation for future demand.

President and co-founder Maria Grace Uy said the company’s financial performance remained steady despite geopolitical turmoil affecting the local economy, adding that Converge was working to improve the resolution of network issues.

Cebu Business News

Cebu utility firm Vivant posts P313m core net income in Q1

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May 15, 2026

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Unknown-98 — Vivant Corporation Chief Executive Officer Arlo G. Sarmiento

Cebu-based utility and infrastructure firm Vivant Corporation reported a slight decline in first-quarter earnings as losses from its off-grid power assets offset gains from its on-grid plants and expanding water business, the company said on Tuesday.

Vivant said consolidated core net income slipped 2% year-on-year to 313 million pesos ($5.5 million) in the January-to-March period, while reported net income attributable to equity holders fell 6% to 267 million pesos.

The company said its power generation business recorded a 16% drop in net income contribution after a one-off loss linked to a plant outage at an off-grid subsidiary weighed on results.

Still, Vivant’s 35%-owned utility Visayan Electric Company remained the group’s biggest earnings contributor, accounting for 267 million pesos or 48% of total net income contribution after electricity sales to captive customers rose 4% to 975 gigawatt-hours.

The company’s retail electricity supply arm, Corenergy, sold 91 GWh of energy during the quarter, up 43% from a year earlier as it expanded its customer base.

Vivant’s water business posted a turnaround, contributing 75 million pesos in income compared with a 12-million-peso loss a year ago, driven mainly by finance income from its desalination and wastewater concessions.

The company said it had also expanded its water footprint in Cebu after completing the acquisition of Bantayan Resource Management and Development Corporation in April, a water distributor serving more than 4,000 households in Bantayan town. Another subsidiary, Bantayan Island Water Solutions Corporation, also began commercial operations last month.

Vivant’s consolidated revenues rose 9% to 2.6 billion pesos during the quarter, supported by higher electricity sales and growing water-related income.

Cebu Business News

Tech care firm Asurion launches Cebu site, plans 2,000 hires

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May 15, 2026

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Global tech care company Asurion has opened a new customer solutions center in Cebu City, marking its sixth site in the Philippines and creating about 2,000 jobs over the next two years, the company said.

The new facility, located across six floors of the Faustina Center near Bonifacio District, expands Asurion’s Philippine operations beyond its existing sites in Santa Rosa, Iloilo, Clark, Calamba City, and Bonifacio Global City. The company already employs more than 7,000 people in the country.

Asurion said the Cebu site will support its global customer base as demand grows for device protection and technology support services. The company provides repair, replacement, and 24/7 support for connected devices, including phones, gaming systems, and major appliances. It serves more than 230 million customers worldwide.

The Cebu center will hire workers for customer care, technical support, human resources, IT, operations, training, digital marketing, and workplace solutions roles. Asurion said it offers full-time employment, HMO coverage from day one, retirement benefits, leave benefits, transportation allowances, and free daily meals.

“As technology becomes more central to everyday life, the need for simple, reliable support continues to grow,” Asurion Chief Executive Officer Guru Gowrappan said. “This investment in Cebu reflects both that demand and our confidence in the Philippines as a critical part of our global operations.”

Adam Hachey, Asurion’s vice president of customer solutions, said Cebu represents the next stage of the company’s growth in the country.

The expansion adds to Cebu’s position as one of the Philippines’ major outsourcing and shared-services hubs, supported by a large pool of college graduates, English-speaking talent, and office developments catering to multinational companies.

Asurion said it has more than 18,000 employees globally and has been recognized as a Great Place to Work for four straight years. In the Philippines, it was recently entered into the Philippine Economic Zone Authority Hall of Fame as a three-time PEZA award winner, including for Outstanding Employer.

Cebu Business News

Filipino Homes’ Leuterio urges Cebu to sustain ASEAN Summit-level discipline, public service

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May 12, 2026

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Filipino Homes founder Anthony O. Leuterio has called on government officials to sustain the efficiency, discipline, and public order seen during the recent ASEAN Summit, saying Filipinos deserve the same quality of service long after major international events have ended.

Leuterio, one of Cebu’s most prominent real estate industry leaders, said public service standards should not improve only when foreign dignitaries, investors, and business delegates are in town.

“Treat every Filipino as your boss,” Leuterio said, stressing that public officials derive their authority and mandate from the people.

He said clean streets, cleared roads, proper waste collection, peace and order, and visible police presence should be part of everyday governance, not temporary measures rolled out only for high-profile gatherings.

“Treat every day like an ASEAN Summit, because Filipinos deserve the same level of care, attention, and respect,” he said.

Leuterio said the same level of preparation shown during major international events should be applied daily in communities, especially in urban centers such as Cebu, where growth in tourism, real estate, and business activity continues to put pressure on public infrastructure.

He said better traffic management, road discipline, sanitation, security, and public order are not only basic expectations from residents, but also important factors in attracting investors and visitors.

Leuterio’s remarks reflect a common public sentiment that infrastructure cleanups, traffic enforcement, and security measures are often intensified during international gatherings, only to weaken after the events are over.

For Cebu, he said maintaining higher standards of public service is crucial as the province strengthens its position as a major business, tourism, and real estate destination in the Philippines.

A clean, safe, and well-managed city, he added, helps improve quality of life for residents while making Cebu more attractive to companies, investors, tourists, and event organizers.

“Public service should not be seasonal. It should be consistent,” Leuterio said. “Every Filipino deserves the best service from our country.”

Cebu Business News

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