by Ferry Bayu | Jun 19, 2026 | Business
The Alsons Power Group’s Sarangani Energy Corporation (SEC) successfully synchronized Unit 2 with the grid on June 14, within six days after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, 2026. This follows the restoration of Unit 1 on June 11.
SEC owns and operates the 237-MW coal-fired power plant in Maasim, Sarangani Province, which consists of two 118.5-MW generating units.
The timely synchronization of SEC demonstrates the Group’s agility, operational resilience, and commitment to restoring operations safely and responsibly in the wake of the disaster.
“Our teams have worked around the clock since the earthquake to assess facilities, complete the necessary repairs, and safely restore generating units. SEC continues to inspect and test critical plant systems across its facilities to ensure safety and reliability of our operations,” said Alsons Power Chief Executive Officer Antonio Miguel B. Alcantara.
SEC continues to monitor plant operations and conduct assessments and repairs to ensure the safe return of all units to service. During routine monitoring, abnormalities were detected in the boiler system of Unit 1, prompting a temporary shutdown for further inspection and evaluation.
“Safety remains our top priority,” Alcantara emphasized. “While restoring generation capacity is important, we will only return our facilities to operation once we are fully confident that all systems are operating safely, reliably, and in compliance with our standards.”
Since the earthquake, Alsons Power has mobilized technical teams to conduct facility inspections, undertake repairs, and coordinate closely with government agencies, local government units, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Beyond restoring operations, Alsons Power continues to support affected employees and communities through relief and recovery efforts in partnership with the Conrado and Ladislawa Alcantara Foundation, Inc. (CLAFI), local government units, and other stakeholders.
“We Power with Care not only by providing reliable power, but also by standing with the communities we serve during challenging times,” Alcantara said. “As recovery efforts continue, we will work closely with all stakeholders to safely restore our facilities and help rebuild Mindanao.”
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 19, 2026 | Business
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — Color Your World Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Casino Plus, distributed hygiene and health kits on Sunday to families in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, providing much-needed medical support to communities still recovering from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao last week.
Around 500 households in Purok 20 received “Makulay” kits containing essential medicines and hygiene supplies. The assistance comes as many residents continue to stay in open spaces due to persistent aftershocks, exposing children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable groups to heightened health risks.
Among the beneficiaries was Malou Cabanlit, whose home was destroyed by the earthquake. Despite her own challenges, she lined up to receive a kit, saying the contents would help her family, particularly her husband, who has yet to resume dialysis treatments since the disaster.
“Malaking tulong talaga. Nakita ko ‘yung kit, mayroong para sa ubo, sa sipon, paracetamol. Hindi ka makatulog kasi maya-maya lumilindol dahil sa aftershock. Grabe rin ang maintenance sa dialysis patient,” said Cabanlit.
“Kahit gano’n ang nangyari, nandito pa rin kami. Masaya kahit mahirap, tinatanggap namin kung ano ang pagsubok na ito. Kayo ang malaking tulong sa Purok 20.”Residents from Purok 20 in Bgy. Lagao queue to receive Color Your World Foundation’s ‘makulay’’ kits on June 14, 2026.
Fellow quake survivor Jenie Agpalo said the past several days have been difficult after their home became uninhabitable.
Agpalo, who also received one of the foundation’s emergency tents, said access to medicines and other basic necessities remains a challenge, with many residents forced to travel outside their community to secure supplies.Residents from Purok 20 in Bgy. Lagao queue to receive Color Your World Foundation’s “makulay’’ kits on June 14, 2026.
Volunteers from Color Your World Foundation help bring ‘makulay’ boxes containing the health kits to the distribution site
For families like hers, the Makulay kits and temporary shelters have provided critical relief as they begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.
Under its disaster resilience pillar, Project Bigkis, Color Your World Foundation has been delivering hygiene supplies, medicines, temporary shelter, and other emergency assistance across General Santos City and Sarangani Province. Many displaced families remain in evacuation centers, makeshift camps, and open-air shelters as aftershocks continue to affect the region.
Recent rains have further complicated conditions on the ground, with affected communities reporting limited access to medicine, clean water, and safe shelter.
“In the aftermath of a disaster, preventing illness becomes just as important as meeting immediate survival needs,” said Michael Angelo Horfilla, Casino Plus Director for Corporate Social Responsibility. “Many families are still sleeping in open areas and dealing with the effects of continuing aftershocks and bad weather. These Makulay kits provide basic protection and help communities stay healthy as they recover.”
Relief operations are being carried out in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Philippine Red Cross, local government units, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure aid reaches affected communities safely and efficiently.
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 18, 2026 | Business
MANILA, Philippines – NOW Expo Asia 2026 (Nursing Opportunities Worldwide Ecosystem Expo) is a premier two-day event happening at Megatrade Hall 1, SM Megamall. Built by nurses, for nurses, the expo provides a healthy and safe environment where nursing professionals and aspiring students can access verified career advancement and growth solutions – free from scams and unverified information.
Officially launched during its press conference on February 12, 2026, NOW Expo Asia 2026 is gearing up to transform the local nursing landscape. The upcoming two-day event, scheduled for June 26–27, 2026, aims to address critical challenges faced by Filipino nursing talents by establishing a secure, scam-free environment for career advancement.
During the launch, organizers were joined by media representatives and executives from early Platinum Sponsors, DataFlow Group and TrueProfile.io, to discuss the current state of the Philippine nursing ecosystem. While the Philippines remains the global leader in exporting world-class nursing talent, practitioners and aspiring students frequently fall prey to predatory online scams and fraudulent information. These deceptive practices cost nurses valuable time and financial resources, often derailing their career aspirations.
In response, NOW Expo Asia 2026 was designed to champion a “new normal” – a safe, dedicated space where the nursing community can directly connect with verified, world-class industry leaders.
A Comprehensive, Trusted Ecosystem Under One Roof
The expo brings together trusted institutions across every touchpoint of a nurse’s professional journey. Attendees will have direct access to validated exhibitors, including:
– NCLEX and language review centers
– Primary source verification companies and fintech providers
– Licensed recruitment agencies and immigration consultants
– Educational technology companies
The event features an active Job Fair component, allowing attendees to engage face-to-face with verified international recruitment agencies and safely explore global employment opportunities. Beyond the exhibition floor, a curated lineup of local and international speakers will lead panel discussions and educational sessions, tackling the most pressing topics for today’s nursing students and professionals.
Backed by Industry Giants and Institutional Leaders
The inaugural expo has garnered robust early backing from major industry stakeholders. DataFlow Group, TrueProfile.io, Rachell Allen Review Services, and McCare Group of Companies anchor the event as Platinum Sponsors, alongside Silver Sponsor Kokos International Philippines.
The event is further elevated by institutional endorsements from leading ecosystem organizations, including the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Filipino Nursing Diaspora Network (FiND), Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and Empowering Nurses Across the Globe (ENAG).
Prioritizing the welfare of attendees, Grab Philippines and Move It have stepped up as the Official Mobility Partners, while ImmuniPlus joins as the Official Wellness Partner. Only verified leaders of the nursing ecosystem were invited to participate as exhibitors of NOW Expo Asia 2026 to ensure that every attendee will be given access to verified information and insights.
Empowering the Future of Healthcare
“Whether you are a practicing nurse, a nursing student, an allied healthcare worker, or a family member supporting a healthcare professional, you have the right to verified information that can safely propel your career,” the event organizers stated. “All nurses deserve a healthy, supportive ecosystem, and NOW Expo Asia 2026 is striving to build exactly that.”
Event Registration and Schedule
Admission to the two-day expo is completely free of charge. Attendees are encouraged to pre-register online with this link, but walk ins are also allowed.
– Day 1 (June 26, 2026): 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
– Day 2 (June 27, 2026): 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
For more information, to view the full event schedule, or to register for free, please visit https://www.now-expo.com/
About NOW Expo Asia 2026
NOW Expo Asia 2026 is the inaugural expo organized by NurtureRN, a Singapore based global nursing enabler.
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 18, 2026 | Business
As electric cooperatives seek franchise renewals, PARE asks a simple question. If franchise renewals determine the future of electric service, rates, and reliability, why are consumers often excluded from the process? PARE calls for greater transparency, accountability, and meaningful consumer participation in electric cooperative franchise approvals.
June 15, 2026 – Partners for Affordable and Reliable Energy (PARE) appeals to Congress to place consumers at the center of electric cooperative franchise renewals.
The group said the approval process should not rely solely on technical reports and regulatory evaluations. It must also consider the actual experiences of consumers who pay for and depend on electric service every day.
As more cooperatives seek and secure franchise renewals, PARE stressed that hearings should serve as an opportunity for consumers to ask critical questions. These include concerns about electricity rates, service reliability, system losses, disaster preparedness, governance, and the long-term plans of their cooperative.
“We consumers pay our electric bills every month, and we deserve a voice in franchise renewals, deciding whether our cooperative has earned another 25 years of public trust. A franchise is not an automatic entitlement. It is a public trust that must be earned through affordable rates, reliable service, transparency, and accountability,” said Nic Satur Jr., Chief Advocate Officer of PARE.
Unfortunately, many consumers are denied meaningful opportunities to raise these concerns. While Annual General Membership Assemblies (AGMAs) are intended to promote transparency and accountability, some cooperatives fail to hold them regularly, like PALECO. Others do not adequately address issues on rates, reliability, system losses, governance, and future plans. In some cases, consumer engagement takes a backseat to ceremonial activities and raffle draws, as seen in FICELCO. This limits opportunities for member-consumer-owners to receive updates, seek answers, and participate in decisions that directly affect the service they pay for every month.
As a result, many consumers remain uninformed about the actual performance, financial condition, governance issues, and future direction of their cooperative. PARE stressed that franchise renewal hearings should not become routine legislative exercises. They must provide consumers with a meaningful platform to evaluate whether cooperatives are fulfilling their mandate.
PARE also argued that the current evaluation process should move beyond NEA performance ratings. Consumers continue to express confusion over why some cooperatives receive high ratings – such as triple AAA and double AA classifications – yet still experience prolonged brownouts, unreliable service, high system losses, and expensive electricity rates. This has been the case with BATELEC II, FICELCO, and MOELCI I just to name a few.
These concerns highlight the need to ensure that franchise evaluations reflect not only administrative compliance but also the real experiences of consumers on the ground.
“Consumers deserve to know what concrete plans cooperatives have to lower rates, improve reliability, reduce system losses, strengthen disaster response, and improve service quality. These are the questions that matter most to households, businesses, farmers, students and communities that rely on electricity every day,” Satur said.
PARE further emphasized that accountability should not end with cooperatives. Congress and the House Committee on Legislative Franchises also share responsibility for ensuring that only qualified, transparent, and consumer-focused cooperatives receive franchise approvals. If a cooperative fails to deliver affordable and reliable service, consumers have every right to ask whether the approval process was sufficiently rigorous and whether warning signs were adequately scrutinized before a franchise was granted.
“A franchise is a privilege granted in the public interest, not an automatic entitlement. Shared accountability between cooperatives, regulators, and policymakers will help ensure that renewals are based on actual performance and consumer welfare, not simply paperwork and compliance reports,” Satur added.
PARE said franchise renewals must become a platform for transparency, accountability, and genuine consumer participation. Consumers deserve answers, not excuses. Those entrusted with delivering an essential public service must be prepared to demonstrate that they have earned the public’s trust and are capable of fulfilling their responsibilities for the next generation of consumers.
About Partners for Affordable & Reliable Energy
For more information, please feel free to message us
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES.
by Ferry Bayu | Jun 18, 2026 | Business
TAGUIG CITY, PHILIPPINES 12 June 2026 — On this Independence Day — a day that has always called Filipinos to stand together, Color Your World Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Casino Plus is mobilizing short and long term aid to quake-hit victims in Mindanao.
Through its flagship disaster resilience pillar, “Project Bigkis”, Color Your World will complement the ongoing government and partner-led disaster response efforts, and deliver immediate and coordinated humanitarian assistance to thousands of families affected by the magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck offshore Sarangani earlier this week.
“Our hearts are with our brothers and sisters in Mindanao during this devastating time. When disaster strikes, the truest measure of who we are — as organizations, as people — is not what we say, but how quickly and meaningfully we show up. We are committed to acting swiftly: providing temporary shelter, essential supplies, and the immediate support they need to begin healing,” said Casino Plus Chief Executive Officer Evan Spytma.
Color Your World Foundation will be distributing over PhP 3-million worth of emergency packages consisting of at least 150 livable tents, nearly 1,500 hygiene and medicine kits, over 1000 units of solar-powered lamps and provide potable drinking water in the most-affected areas in General Santos City and Sarangani Province.
“Bigkis means bond. And that is exactly what this response is about — binding resources, binding partners, binding people together around the families who need us most. Because no family should have to face the aftermath of a disaster alone. Casino Plus is here to recolor the lives of Mindanaoans — one family, one community, one act of compassion at a time,” said Michael Angelo Horfilla, Director for Corporate Social Responsibility, Casino Plus
To ensure its long-term commitment to progress and assistance to vulnerable communities, Color Your World Foundation targets to rebuild classrooms. This will ensure safe and functional learning spaces needed by thousands of affected learners and teachers amid the start of the new academic year.
Aside from these, the foundation will also roll out livelihood programs targeting hardest hit communities, equipping them to color their lives again with the skills, tools, and opportunities to rebuild not just their homes but their hope for the future.
“Casino Plus’ commitment goes beyond immediate relief. We are in this for the long term—helping communities rebuild, recover, and rediscover the hope, dignity, and joy that define them. Together with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), we will work to ensure sustained support for the Color Your World Foundation as we continue our mission of helping create more Makulay Lives for Filipinos,” added Spytma.
About IGO Digital High Technology, Inc.
Casino Plus is a trusted online casino platform in the Philippines, duly licensed and regulated by the PAGCOR. The company is committed to providing a secure, fair, and engaging digital entertainment experience, guided by the principles of responsible gaming and player protection. With its continuous expansion, Casino Plus is now regarded as one of the country’s leading online casino platforms, combining entertainment excellence with meaningful corporate social responsibility initiatives. About Color Your World Foundation Inc. Color Your World Foundation, Inc. is the corporate social responsibility arm of Casino Plus and Stotsenberg Leisure Park and Hotel Corporation. Through programs anchored on its four core pillars—Disaster Preparedness and Resilience; Education & Livelihood Access; Community Support for Health, Culture and Environment; and Responsible Gaming Research & Education—the Foundation is committed to creating more ‘makulay’ (colorful) lives, reflecting its philosophy: where play creates color and color creates good. Color Your World Foundation partners with public and private sector stakeholders to deliver sustainable initiatives that uplift lives, empower communities, and contribute to nation-building.
This press release has also been published on VRITIMES.
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