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For years, residents of Barangay 128 in Tondo lived with the heavy burden of Metro Manila’s waste problem. Located near the old Smokey Mountain dumpsite and along Manila Bay, the community endured foul odors from rotting garbage, plastic-choked waterways, and fast-rising floods even during light rains, as local official Wendy Cañeda recalled. Today, however, conditions have greatly improved, thanks to the Eco-Ikot Center launched in October 2024.

The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF), in partnership with food and beverage industry leader Universal Robina Corp. (URC), operates the Iskolar ni Juan scholarship program to provide young Filipinos—especially those unable to afford college education—with a clear alternative pathway toward stable employment.

Filipino banana growers could soon gain access to advanced artificial intelligence and drone technologies as Japanese agri-tech company E-SupportLink Ltd. moves to expand its operations in the Philippines, potentially accelerating efforts to modernize one of the country’s most important export industries.

Japanese health technology firm Tanita Corp. is considering the Philippines as the site of a new export-oriented manufacturing facility, a potential investment that could generate about P2 billion in export sales and create around 500 jobs within five years of operations.

FAST Logistics Group is ramping up its renewable energy investments, unveiling plans to install solar power systems across its nationwide warehouse network as it pushes to build a greener and more resilient supply chain.