10:19 a.m. June 28, 2026

NOT only does it boost local tourism, staging international meets such as the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships presented by the Philippine Sports Commission serves as a catalyst for the country’s grassroots development programs, according to PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“We have at least 40 local athletes here. If we sent them all to Europe and South America for competitions abroad, the PSC won’t be able to justify it,” said Gregorio during the press conference the other day in  tribute to newcomer Sophia Nicole Novino, who was the country’s first silver medalist in the tough continental meet.

“This (result) justifies what we are trying to do. Yung kalaban ni Sophia world-ranked pala,”  noted the PSC chief, referring to Kazakhstan’s Karakat Rakhybay, who was forced to work hard before pulling off a 3-1 win over the Pinay rookie in the women’s youth -47kg finals.

“These are eye-openers for us. This is the beauty of what we are trying to do. Sinsasala nating kaagad ng ating mga athletes by giving them the opportunities to go up against the world best as in sambo,” Gregorio stressed.

“So we are thankful to the Pilipinas Sambo Federation and its president Paolo Tancotian for the hosting of the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships for exposing our young athletes to world-class level of play,” he added in tribute of the sambo head, who was also present during the briefing.

Gregorio, who also heads the National Sports Tourism Interagency Committee, pointed out that “if we see the potential and promise of a sport and its athletes, they are much easier to support like sambo.”

For her part, Novino, 17, a varsity judoka and incoming Grade 12 student at UE, disclosed that having savored initial success in  a major international sambo meet “gusto ko po mag-devote more time sa sport kasi sa opportunities na maaring ibigay nito para sa akin.”

Tancontian disclosed that he received nothing but praises from International Sambo Federation and Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania officials plus majority of the participating foreign contingents  for how well-run the competition was.

“We have been made the example by the International Sambo Federation and Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania in how to run a competition properly. Bilib na bilib sila,” Tancontian said with pride.

“More than 15 foreign squads personally thanked and congratulated yours truly for the first-class treatment they had received from the moment they arrived at the airport, to the hotel and, of course, our excellent venue, the Ninoy Aquino Stadium,” he noted.

“We are being talked about in the sambo world. All eyes are on the Philippines,” Tancontian added. “This is more than what I could dream for and the federation thanks the PSC for making it happen.”

7:09 p.m. June 27, 2026

NephroPlus Philippines announced the expansion of its nationwide network to 50 dialysis clinics, a major milestone in its mission to make quality dialysis care more accessible to Filipinos.

NephroPlus recently opened its 50th clinic in Orion, Bataan. The achievement follows the addition of eight newly acquired clinics located in Cauayan, Isabela; Laurel, Batangas; Orani, Bataan; Cagayan de Oro; Aliaga, Nueva Ecija; Kamagong, Quezon City; Bacoor, Cavite; and Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay in Mindanao. The expanded footprint strengthens the company’s ability to serve patients in high-chronic kidney disease (CKD)-prevalence areas with limited access to specialized renal healthcare services.

The expansion also aligns with the broader international growth strategy of NephroPlus, Asia’s largest dialysis provider, while contributing to the country’s pursuit of universal health coverage through infrastructure and workforce developments. The company helps create local employment opportunities for healthcare professionals, clinical staff, and admin personnel in the communities it serves.

“Reaching 50 clinics in the Philippines is a defining milestone not just for NephroPlus but for every Filipino living with kidney disease, who deserves access to world-class dialysis care closer to home. The Philippines is now our second-largest country of operations globally, a testament to the trust communities here have placed in us. Our focus remains where it has always been, on our guests, their outcomes, and their right to live normally. At NephroPlus, life can be normal even when kidneys aren’t,” said Rohit Singh, Group CEO of NephroPlus.

Altogether, NephroPlus Philippines brings a total capacity of 686, serving an estimated 2,866 patients every month.

Standardizing Quality Across a Growing Network
As NephroPlus Philippines continues its nationwide expansion, the company ensures to invest in systems and processes that enable every clinic to deliver the same standard of care to its guests everywhere.

“Consistency is crucial for a continuously expanding network like NephroPlus,” said Gowtham Arumugam, Country Head of NephroPlus Philippines. “As much as we want every Filipino to receive the world-class dialysis they deserve, we first ensure that every clinic we open meets our NephroPlus standards – care that is safe, ethical, and compassionate. This demonstrates our commitment to quality dialysis care for our guests.”

This quality is evident across the company’s operational excellence, workforce development, and digital innovation.

The company maintains a robust operational framework that includes active compliance monitoring, standardized clinical protocols, structured onboarding of newly integrated centers, regular quality audits, and continuous patient feedback mechanisms. From operations to senior leadership, direct engagement across all clinics helps strengthen accountability and ensure consistent standards of care.

Every patient at NephroPlus is referred to as a “Guest,” based on the company’s Guest Care Model, which is a commitment to safe, ethical, and patient-centered care. To support this philosophy, the company recently launched the NephroPlus Hemodialysis Training Center in Quezon City, its first-ever training facility in the country. The center develops highly skilled dialysis professionals through programs aligned with the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Society of Nephrology, and international standards.

Complementing its investments in infrastructure and workforce development, NephroPlus is leveraging technology to enhance guest support nationwide. Earlier this year, the company launched its Guest App, a first-of-its-kind digital platform designed to support comprehensive renal care management beyond treatment sessions. Apart from appointment scheduling, guests can access a learning hub, lifestyle guidance, and a patient community network that overall support their healthcare journey.

NephroPlus Philippines’ ongoing investments in clinic expansion, professional training, and healthcare innovation are a collective effort to reinforce its global commitment: to provide every guest living with kidney disease the opportunity to live a fuller, healthier, and more meaningful life.

6:54 p.m. June 26, 2026

The Municipality of San Ildefonso in Ilocos Sur has established a dedicated anti-contraband task force to strengthen local enforcement against illicit and smuggled cigarettes, becoming one of the latest local government units to institutionalize anti-illicit trade measures at the community level.

Mayor Amante “Tito” Purisima II issued Executive Order No. 23, Series of 2026, creating the San Ildefonso Anti-Contraband Task Force (SIACTF), a multi-agency body tasked with coordinating inspections, investigations, public awareness campaigns, and enforcement activities against illicit tobacco products.

The task force will be composed of local government officials and representatives from key offices, and is authorized to coordinate with national agencies such as the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and Bureau of Customs (BOC) in carrying out inspections, intelligence-sharing activities, confiscation operations, and legal actions against violators.

Under the executive order, businesses selling cigarettes in San Ildefonso are required to maintain supplier records, ensure products bear lawful BIR tax stamps, allow inspections by authorized officers, and report suspicious suppliers or undocumented cigarette products. Violators may face permit suspension or revocation, closure of establishments, and criminal or administrative charges.

“We want to ensure that legitimate businesses are protected, taxes are properly collected, and illicit products do not find a place in our municipality,” Purisima said following the issuance of the order.

The move comes shortly after the International Tobacco Summit organized by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), where government officials, local leaders, farmers, and industry stakeholders called for stronger coordination among national agencies, local governments, and enforcement bodies to address illicit tobacco trade.

Participants in the summit emphasized that illicit trade can no longer be viewed solely as a customs or law enforcement concern, but as an issue with implications for government revenues, legitimate businesses, agricultural communities, and local governance.

The executive order comes as the national government intensifies its campaign against illicit tobacco and smuggling, following repeated directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen enforcement against illicit trade and economic sabotage. Recent estimates have placed government revenue losses from illicit tobacco and vape products at approximately ₱141 billion over the past two years.

During the summit, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla warned that illicit tobacco trade had become deeply entrenched because of corruption and weak enforcement, and urged stronger coordination among government agencies and local authorities to address the problem.

San Ildefonso’s initiative follows similar actions by other local government units, including Mariveles, Bataan, which earlier established a comprehensive anti-illicit trade program. Policymakers in other areas, including Davao City, are likewise considering anti-illicit trade ordinances and dedicated enforcement mechanisms.

The executive order also directs the municipal government to conduct information campaigns in barangays, organize community orientations, and establish complaint and reporting mechanisms to encourage public participation in anti-smuggling efforts.

Stakeholders say local government participation remains critical to the national anti-illicit trade campaign and enabling an “all-government” approach in addressing illicit tobacco trade, as LGUs are often best positioned to monitor establishments, detect violations, and support enforcement efforts on the ground.