OnGo Smart Advertising proudly participated in the 15th Open Office Circuit Play hosted by Dentsu Philippines, an industry event that brought together media partners, agencies, and marketing leaders to foster stronger collaboration across the advertising landscape.

As an invited out-of-home (OOH) media supplier, OnGo showcased its growing portfolio of innovative advertising solutions, with particular emphasis on its in-car tablet advertising platform. Exhibiting alongside fellow media partners Outcomm and Summit Media, the company engaged in meaningful conversations with agency teams and brand representatives, highlighting fresh opportunities in data-driven and location-based media strategies.

Representing the organization, CEO Jeff Alias, together with the Accounts Team, reaffirmed OnGo’s commitment to building long-term partnerships and delivering impactful, results driven media solutions that respond to the evolving needs of advertisers.

OnGo Smart Advertising extends its congratulations to Dentsu Philippines for mounting a successful and well-executed event and looks forward to continued collaboration that will help shape the future of OOH advertising.

Known for her striking screen presence and growing influence in the entertainment industry, Santiago takes on one of her most demanding roles to date. In The Moments After, she portrays a woman at the heart of a crumbling marriage — a story that explores the fragile spaces between love, silence, and pride.

The episode follows a troubled architect fighting to salvage his deteriorating relationship as emotional distance and unspoken wounds threaten to permanently divide him from the woman he still loves. As communication breaks down and tensions rise, the narrative dives deep into the painful realities couples face when affection is overshadowed by ego and unresolved hurt.

At the center of this storm is Santiago’s character — a portrayal that promises raw vulnerability, layered emotion, and gripping intensity. Industry insiders describe the performance as a defining moment in her career, showcasing a depth and maturity audiences have yet to see.

Director Carlo Alvarez, celebrated for his nuanced storytelling and emotionally resonant films, brings his signature cinematic style to the project. With The Moments After, Alvarez continues his exploration of human connection — not just the beauty of love, but the consequences that unfold when it begins to fracture.

“This episode is about what happens after the damage is done,” a production insider shared. “It’s about the silence between ‘I love you’ and ‘goodbye.’ It’s honest, intimate, and uncomfortably real.”

Random Pieces has gained attention for its character-driven narratives and poignant themes, and this latest installment is expected to elevate the anthology series further. By blending compelling performances with emotionally grounded storytelling, the production aims to resonate with viewers navigating their own experiences of love, loss, and reconciliation.

Streaming exclusively on NDMplus, The Moments After is positioned to captivate a global audience seeking meaningful, thought-provoking content. The platform continues to expand its roster of original programming, spotlighting emerging talents and visionary filmmakers from the Philippines and beyond.

With anticipation building around the cast reveal, fans and industry observers alike are eager to witness Santiago’s transformation in this powerful new role. The project marks a significant milestone in her career, reinforcing her status as one of the most promising actresses of her generation.

The Moments After will premiere soon, exclusively on NDMplus.

For updates and streaming access, visit www.ndmplus.com

Connektive was established to address a persistent challenge faced by growing brands: fragmented creative efforts, inconsistent messaging, and missed opportunities to build meaningful audience relationships. Built on a strategy-first foundation, the company unifies creative execution and marketing direction to ensure campaigns are cohesive, intentional, and performance-driven.

Rather than operating across disconnected channels, Connektive integrates multimedia production, digital strategy, advertising, publication media, and event execution into one streamlined system. This structure enables businesses to move efficiently from concept development to full-scale implementation with clarity, consistency, and measurable impact.

“Brands often know what they want to communicate — but execution ultimately determines results,” the Connektive team shared. “Our objective is to bridge the gap between vision and impact by aligning creative direction with strategic marketing and data-informed decision-making.”

Connektive’s framework operates through three strategic pillars: Connect, Create, and Captivate.

Through Connect, brands are positioned effectively to reach the right audience with clarity and purpose. Through Create, high-quality visual and digital assets are developed to establish credibility and strengthen identity. Through Captivate, campaigns are optimized to sustain engagement and deliver long-term brand growth.

By consolidating these pillars into a cohesive creative ecosystem, Connektive provides Philippine businesses with an integrated approach that strengthens visibility, enhances brand trust, and drives measurable performance.

With its expanding capabilities — including multimedia production, digital marketing, broadcast partnerships, out-of-home advertising, and its ISSN-registered publication platform — Connektive continues to elevate brands across the Philippines, reinforcing its position as a results-driven creative and marketing platform in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Maxime Brings HOPE FUR-REAL to Local Rescues in Outreach Program

Putting compassion into action, Maxime Pet Food recently mobilized its “Hope Fur-Real” shelter outreach, providing quality nutrition and care for over 100 rescued dogs and cats of the Second Chance Aspin Shelter Philippines Incorporated (SECASPI) in  Calamba, Laguna.

Organized in partnership with the University of the Philippines’ Venerable Lady Veterinarians (UPVLV), Maxime’s “Hope Fur-Real” outreach program brought together animal lovers and welfare advocates for a half-day activity that included the distribution of pet food supplies, a vaccination drive, story-sharing sessions, and a community lunch with SECASPI on January 24, 2026.

"Events like this outreach program reflect Maxime’s advocacy for responsible pet ownership and compassion for animals," said Leonido Torres, Jr., Channel Development Specialist for Maxime, adding, "We're creating spaces where we can show genuine care for animals and connect with those who share our passion, especially for rescues. It ties up with Maxime's commitment to providing fur-babies with real meat and fish, with no artificial colors or preservatives, which is part of our broader thrust toward real, honest nutrition."

Championing quality nutrition, Maxime donated 15 sacks of dog and puppy food and 21 sacks of cat and kitten food. Maxime also provided brand new bowls and toys. Beyond material support, Maxime’s veterinary partners administered complete anti-rabies, 5-in-1, and 4-in-1 vaccines to 113 rescued stray dogs and cats.

"More than the donations, toys, vaccines, and services that our partners provided, this program is really about giving hope and showing kindness to animals," said Bea Hermano, Product Marketing for Maxime, adding, "You look at these cats and dogs here at SECASPI, and we know that they, too, deserve to be loved. That's what Maxime stands for, and that's the message that everyone here—our volunteers and partners—hope to spread."

SECASPI echoes this sentiment and underscores how compassion makes a real difference in their community, especially in the lives of their rescues. “Seeing the community come together for our rescues is truly moving. Every vaccinated dog and every full bowl of food represents a second chance at life,” said Cherry Licup, Overall Operations for SECASPI, adding, “We can't thank the team enough for choosing SECASPI; their generosity gives our animals more than just supplies—it gives them a healthier, happier future while they wait for their forever homes.”

By joining forces with compassionate partners like SECASPI, Maxime empowers pet parents and welfare advocates to #LiveTheBestLifeTogether, ensuring that every wag and purr is met with a lifetime of care. This is our promise of #MaximeHopeFurReal.

About Maxime

Maxime is the premium pet food brand of Aboitiz Foods. Leveraging decades of expertise in animal nutrition, Maxime offers a range of scientifically formulated dog and cat food made with real meat, essential vitamins, and no artificial colors. Maxime is dedicated to providing pet parents with high-quality, honest nutrition that supports the long-term health and vigor of their furry companions, empowering owners and pets to Live the Best Life Together.

For more information, visit @MaximePhilippines on Facebook / @Maxime.ph on Instagram.

CAPTIONS: 

1. Maxime is more than a pet food brand — it bridges the bonds between pets and fur parents, so they can #LiveTheBestLifeTogether.

2. Beyond feeding our pets, Maxime also endeavors to deliver quality nutrition to cats and dogs who need it the most.Through advocating for animal compassion and mobilizing community outreach programs, it gives Hope Fur-Real!

The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines has partnered with TripZilla, one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital travel media platforms reaching over 20 million travellers monthly, as its strategic digital media collaborator to spearhead a campaign designed to elevate the Philippines’ presence across Asia and key global travel markets. The initiative reinforces the Philippines’ ambition to strengthen its appeal within high-growth outbound regions.

The partnership reflects a strategic commitment to digitally led, market-responsive destination marketing at a time when travel decisions are shaped simultaneously by search engines, AI tools and social platforms.

Built for the Way Travel Is Discovered Today

Travel discovery no longer follows a single path. It unfolds across AI assistants, search results, short-form video feeds and region-specific social platforms – often within the same decision journey.

TripZilla’s regional ecosystem operates within this evolving discovery landscape.

Rather than relying on a single content format, the campaign deploys a coordinated mix of search-led editorial features, mobile-first short-form video and platform-native social storytelling to ensure the Philippines remains visible across every major discovery touchpoint.

Each format serves a clear role: capturing early-stage inspiration, supporting active trip research and sustaining destination consideration throughout the traveller journey.

Commenting on the partnership, Winnie Tan, CEO of TripZilla, said: “Sustainable tourism growth today depends on how effectively destinations align their narratives with real traveller intent across markets and platforms. Visibility alone is no longer enough - relevance and precision drive competitive advantage. Through our partnership with TPB Philippines, we are delivering coordinated, multi-market activation powered by audience intelligence to strengthen the Philippines’ standing across key regional and global audiences.”

Market-Led Execution Across Regions

Beyond distribution strategy, the campaign is shaped by market intelligence.

TripZilla’s regional editorial teams adapt narratives to reflect local travel priorities, search behaviour and content consumption patterns unique to each audience. Rather than replicating a single storyline globally, the Philippines is positioned through perspectives that resonate authentically within each region.

This approach ensures the destination is not only visible – but contextually relevant within each target market.

A refreshed Destination Spotlight hub on TripZilla’s platform anchors the initiative, providing travellers with a streamlined gateway to curated stories, itineraries and partner offerings within one cohesive planning experience.

Reinforcing the Philippines’ Global Appeal

Through authoritative storytelling and coordinated regional distribution, the campaign highlights the Philippines as:

- A multi-island destination offering both iconic landmarks and lesser-known experiences

- A culturally rich archipelago defined by authenticity and hospitality

- A compelling choice for diverse traveller segments worldwide

The initiative underscores TPB Philippines’ continued investment in search optimisation, social-first storytelling and cross-platform reach as essential drivers of global tourism competitiveness.

TripZilla: A Regional Leader in Digital Travel Influence

TripZilla reaches over 20 million travellers monthly across some of Asia’s fastest-growing outbound markets, including Southeast Asia and India. For more than a decade and a half, the platform has worked with national tourism organisations, airlines and global travel brands to shape how destinations are discovered, evaluated and chosen.

With multilingual editorial capabilities and a content ecosystem built for the “Search Everywhere” era, TripZilla connects destinations with high-intent travellers through platform-native storytelling and strategic regional distribution.

The collaboration with TPB Philippines reinforces TripZilla’s role as a trusted strategic partner for destinations seeking sustained visibility and competitive digital positioning  across Asia and beyond.

MANILA, Philippines — As passenger traffic continues to rise at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), mobility platform Xpress Super App has officially deployed its Xpress EV Taxi fleet within the terminal — introducing a structured, safety-first taxi system powered entirely by electric vehicles.

Located at the Terminal 3 entrance, the Xpress EV Taxi pick-up point operates 24 hours daily, offering passengers a regulated, app-booked alternative to traditional street-hail systems.

According to data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), road safety incidents in Metro Manila remain a key public concern, particularly in high-density transport corridors. With PITX serving thousands of provincial and city-bound commuters daily, ensuring verified drivers and traceable bookings has become increasingly critical.

Xpress EV Taxi addresses this gap by deploying:

Full-time, salaried drivers

Government-mandated benefits

Digitally recorded trips via the Xpress app

24/7 availability

Electric vehicles reducing noise and emissions inside the terminal

Unlike informal pick-up systems, all Xpress bookings are routed through the app, creating trip visibility, fare transparency, and route traceability for passengers.

“This is about structured mobility inside critical infrastructure,” said the partnership manager representative of Xpress Super App. “When passengers arrive at PITX — often late at night or carrying luggage — safety, predictability, and professionalism matter. We’ve built this deployment around that.”

The electric fleet consists of BYD EV units, reinforcing Xpress’ push toward sustainable urban transport while improving passenger experience inside enclosed terminal environments.

In coordination with PITX management, the deployment includes:

A dedicated queuing lane

On-ground uniformed staff assisting passengers

Clear Xpress EV Taxi signage at the terminal

Integrated dashboard monitoring for terminal oversight

Passengers may book through the Xpress Super App and proceed directly to the designated pick-up area.

With PITX positioned as a flagship intermodal hub in the Philippines, Xpress’ entry signals a shift toward structured, app-based electric mobility within national transport gateways.

This message took center stage at the recently concluded HR & Business Leaders Forum, where HR executives, finance leaders, and business decision-makers gathered to examine how AI can responsibly scale organizations without compromising employee confidence or regulatory integrity.

The theme, Human x AI, reflected the growing importance of responsible AI adoption in HR and payroll because of their impact on compensation, statutory contributions, and employee trust.

AI in HR & Payroll: Accuracy Comes First

“Payroll is not an experiment,” said Patrick Gentry, CEO of Sprout. “It’s one of the most sensitive trust functions inside an organization. When you apply AI in payroll and HR, you’re not just improving efficiency but influencing how employees feel about their employer.”

Philippine payroll carries complex statutory requirements: from 13th-month pay and holiday premiums to BIR tax compliance, SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG remittances, and DOLE reporting.

While global HR platforms provide workforce visibility, local payroll execution requires deep regulatory precision. The same principle now applies to AI.

Generic AI tools can provide general HR answers. But they cannot access company-specific payroll rules, leave balances, or contribution histories, which thereby creates the risk of inaccurate or incomplete guidance.

“Enterprises cannot afford AI that guesses.” shared Gian dela Rama, Chief Product and AI Officer at Sprout. “AI for work must be grounded in Philippine regulations and integrated with actual company data. That’s how you scale responsibly."

Human-Led AI: Strengthening HR Teams, Not Replacing Them

Sprout’s AI positioning emphasizes human capital augmentation over replacement, which involves using automation to reduce repetitive admin work while preserving human judgment in high-stakes decisions.

“The AI in HR conversation isn’t about replacing HR teams.” said Gentry. “It’s about giving HR leaders intelligent tools that allow them to focus on strategy, culture, and employee experience, while ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance stay airtight.”

This perspective was shared by Sir Winston Malapad, Director for AI-Augmented Process Intelligence and Systems Integration at Foundever. During his keynote and the HR and Business Leaders Forum, he introduced the A.M.P.L.I.F.Y. Leadership Model: a framework for ensuring AI adoption strengthens human decision-making rather than diminishing accountability.

“The most valuable employee will be the one who collaborates best with intelligence systems.” Malapad said. “By 2030, organizations will not compete on talent alone. They will compete on how intelligently their talent is amplified.”

This philosophy is shaping Sprout’s AI development across HR, payroll, and workforce systems.

One example is Sidekick, an AI assistant built specifically for Philippine HR and payroll environments. Unlike public AI platforms that offer generic information, Sidekick is trained on Philippine labor regulations and designed to align with company-specific policies and payroll data, helping employees receive accurate, context-aware guidance while easing repetitive inquiries for HR and payroll teams.

The goal: to strengthen human oversight, not remove it.

Reinforcing Trust in Payroll Systems

As AI becomes more embedded in HR and payroll systems, security and governance are equally critical.

Sprout recently achieved a major milestone with its SOC 2 Type 2 validation for Sprout Payroll, confirming the effectiveness of Sprout Payroll’s security controls.

This certification reinforces that Sprout’s payroll platform meets internationally recognized standards for enterprise-grade security and control effectiveness, strengthening its readiness to support regulated industries and multinational organizations operating in the Philippines.

“For enterprise clients and regulated industries, trust is built on proof,” said Jay-Ryan Trinidad, Sprout’s AVIP for Legal and Compliance. “SOC 2 Type 2 validation reinforces that our payroll platform meets rigorous security standards. After all, innovation means nothing without protection.”

Building the Next Era of HR & Payroll in the Philippines

As AI adoption continues to expand, the message is clear: the future of work in the Philippines will not be defined by automation alone, but by how responsibly it’s deployed.

Payroll remains one of the areas where businesses and employees are most cautious about AI. After all, compensation accuracy, contribution compliance, and dispute resolution require transparency, human accountability, and trust.

Sprout believes AI must serve as an assistive layer, helping HR and payroll teams detect inconsistencies, flag potential risks, and resolve issues faster. At the same time, people remain fully in control of final decisions and actions that affect employee livelihoods.

“The companies that fail will not be those who avoided AI,” Malapad warned. “They will be those who implemented AI without redesigning leadership.”

“The future isn’t AI versus humans,” shares dela Rama. “It’s Human x AI: where technology supports people, compliance strengthens trust, and businesses scale with confidence.”

For example, a Philippines-based outsourcing agency collecting retainers in USD might find that a seemingly small 3% exchange margin on $5 million in annual billings actually costs them $150,000 a year – money that could have been reinvested into delivery capacity or client acquisition. Payoneer is a platform for cross-border payments that’s actively solving this problem.

This article breaks down how money moves across the map and how emerging FinTech platforms like Payoneer remove these invisible obstacles. Along the way, we’ll look at:

●   how small FX spreads and intermediary fees reduce margin at scale;

●   how delayed or misrouted payments create knock-on operational risk;

●   why managing inbound and outbound flows separately increases cost and complexity;

●   how holding and deploying funds in multiple currencies protects profit;

●    how integrated platforms like Payoneer turn cross-border payments into a controlled, repeatable system.

What are cross-border payments?

Simply put, a cross-border payment is a transaction where money moves between entities in different countries. In a B2B context, these cross-border transactions are the lifeblood of your international contracts.

Complexity creeps in as your money navigates different banking jurisdictions, currency conversions, and local regulations. To grow, you’ll need to turn this obstacle course into a straight path.

B2B cross-border payments vs traditional international transfers

B2B ecommerce payments require a different strategy than standard transfers. The stakes are higher.

Take an outsourcing agency paying a distributed team from incoming client revenue. If an international payment stalls due to a clerical error in payment details, contractor payouts may be delayed. This creates a ripple effect: delivery schedules tighten, team confidence dips, and client work risks unnecessary disruption

Platforms like Payoneer provide the specialised infrastructure to prevent this. You can manage local bank details in major currencies, allowing you to be paid by clients as if you were a local business, avoiding the SWIFT chain entirely.

Types of cross-border payment solutions for businesses

Most businesses choose between a traditional bank and an agile FinTech platform. Banks offer a baseline for occasional transfers, but they often lack the speed and digital integration modern cross-border commerce requires.

B2B ecommerce payment processing like Payoneer meet this challenge head-on. Instead of stitching together multiple systems, you get a unified toolkit. For instance, an IT outsourcing agency can receive USD from a US client and immediately use that balance to pay their developers in India or the Philippines, avoiding double conversion fees.

The role of SWIFT in cross-border payments

Think of SWIFT as a global ‘postal service’ for money. While it’s the standard network for bank communication, funds often pass through several intermediary banks on their way to their destination. Each stop adds time and hidden fees.

The role of SWIFT in cross-border payments is being augmented by FinTech platforms to provide the tracking and visibility that you’d expect from a parcel delivery service. You can see exactly where your funds are – whether they’re sitting with an intermediary bank in Frankfurt or have finally landed in Singapore.

Cross-border payment platforms explained

Managing separate portals for different regions is a headache. A dedicated cross-border payment platform acts as your global financial headquarters, centralising invoicing, currency exchange, and reconciliation.

This is vital for managing intercompany transfers and moving liquidity between international subsidiaries. It gives you oversight of every penny, replacing guesswork with a single source of truth. By syncing directly with software like Quickbooks and Xero, every transaction is automatically categorised, saving you from boring manual entry at month-end.

Cross-border payment gateways for global businesses

A gateway is the ‘gate’ that lets a payment into your system. While cross-border payment gateways are excellent for individual digital transactions, the service usually ends once the transfer is initiated.

For B2B companies, the gateway is only the first mile. A full-stack platform allows you to hold that money in a multi-currency account. This is a strategic move: if the Euro is strong today, you can hold your EUR revenue in your balance and wait to convert it until the rates are more favourable, protecting your profit margins.

Reshaping cross-border payments with FinTech

The cross-border payments FinTech revolution is about integration. With Payoneer, your business can receive a payment from a New York client, hold it in USD to protect it from currency volatility, and use that same balance to pay a provider in Jaipur.

Keeping money in one ecosystem skips unnecessary conversions and speeds up settlement. For larger operations, you can settle up to 1,000 global transactions with one CSV upload. Your payment stack becomes a driver of efficiency, not a bottleneck.

How to choose the right B2B cross-border payment solution

Choosing the right B2B cross-border payment solution depends on your business’s growth roadmap. Look for providers offering transparent exchange rates and the ability to handle the compliance requirements of your target markets. Evaluate today’s fees alongside tomorrow’s needs.

As your business expands, you’ll need a payment partner that offers robust governance, security, and multi-currency support. The ideal solution should keep things simple, whether you have two international clients or two hundred.

Leading cross-border payment companies and what they offer

The market is full of cross-border payment companies, but most still focus on just moving money from A to B. This narrow focus leaves you to bridge the gap between your income and expenses manually.

Payoneer stands out by bridging the inbound and outbound sides of your business. It allows you to receive, hold, and send funds in multiple currencies within one ecosystem. By linking your global accounts receivable directly to your accounts payable, you stop losing time and money to manual processes – perfect for B2Bs handling complex cross-border transactions.

Future trends in cross-border payments

The future of finance is moving from ‘guessing’ to ‘knowing’. We are seeing three major shifts:

●  Rich Data (ISO 20022): This new data standard carries more info with every payment, transforming reconciliation into an automated process so high-volume transactions don’t become overwhelming.

●  AI Pre-Validation: Smart systems now check for errors before money leaves your account. By catching mismatches early, these tools prevent stalled payments and keep your supply chain moving.

●  Embedded Finance: Payments are moving inside your daily software. Your invoicing or ERP system will handle transfers natively, so you no longer have to skip between different workflows to manage liquidity.

Conclusion

Cross-border payments are at the heart of global trade. When that heart skips a beat due to slow processes or hidden fees, your whole business feels the lag. With the right tools, you can make international expansion your greatest opportunity.

Understanding the payment models that are out there helps you to choose the right setup for international growth, and partnering with a platform like Payoneer ensures your business is built to thrive on the global stage.

BookingAssist today announced its launch in the Philippines, helping service businesses convert customer messages into confirmed appointments and purchases through a single platform.

The launch comes as customer journeys shift to chat-first interactions. DataReportal reports that ads on Meta’s Messenger reached 61.8 million users in the Philippines in early 2025, equivalent to 63.4% of the local internet user base, highlighting how often customer conversations start in chat. DataReportal also estimates there were 97.5 million internet users in the Philippines at the start of 2025 (83.8% penetration), reinforcing that digital booking is now a mass-market expectation.​

For many operators, the bottleneck is not getting inquiries. It is confirming them fast enough before customers move on.

“Philippine customers message quickly and expect fast replies,” said Minrie Macapugay, Operations Lead at BookingAssist. “If confirmation takes hours, they move on. BookingAssist helps businesses confirm appointments directly from chat, so customers do not book elsewhere.”

BookingAssist is built for service operators where speed and responsiveness directly impact revenue, such as salons managing peak-hour demand, clinics coordinating patient intake, and home service teams scheduling jobs on the move. It combines booking, sales, and reporting in one place.

- Dashboard and analytics: Track inquiry volume, conversion to bookings, and operational performance from a single dashboard.

- Bookings plus product sales: Sell products alongside appointments (for example packages, add-ons, retail items) in the same system.

- AI receptionist: Guide customers through onboarding and booking via WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, reducing delays between initial inquiry and confirmation.

BookingAssist is now available in the Philippines and serves businesses across Southeast Asia. To request a demo, visit bookingassist.co.

About BookingAssistBookingAssist is an all-in-one automated booking and business management platform. It includes built-in AI receptionist capabilities and data analytics.

Media Contact sales@bookingassist.co

Use the code: "MEDIA50" to get 50% off on your first month

QUEZON CITY, 26, FEBRUARY, 2026 – LEV users and advocates, industry representatives, transport workers, local government units and national agencies gathered on February 27, 2026 at Harold’s Hotel in Timog Avenue, Diliman for Life With LEVs: Powering the Future of Low-Carbon Mobility, a two-part panel discussion and creative action organized by 350 Pilipinas with media partner, The Trip Chainist.

The event explored the experiences, challenges, key implementation issues, and future prospects of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), with particular focus on pedal-assist bicycles, e-scooters, and e-trikes. Discussions highlighted how LEVs are increasingly shaping commuting, livelihoods, and last-mile delivery services in urban communities and and opportunities for integrating renewable energy sources into LEV infrastructure development

“The urgent need to decarbonize our transport systems must translate into concrete, people-centered programs that highlight their benefits to the public and to the climate. For us, this emphasizes the continuous alignment of national regulations with local government initiatives, strengthening support for small retailers, and ensuring that the transition to electric mobility remains inclusive and just” said Jheny Dabu, Sustainable Transport Campaigner, during the event. “We hope that spaces like this continue to exist to examine both the opportunities and the policy gaps in accelerating low-carbon mobility in the light of the rise of electric mobility” she added.

Fread De Mesa, National Coordinator of 350 Pilipinas, emphasized the importance of climate action and collaboration among multi-stakeholders. “The transport sector remains one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines, yet we also see solutions already working. The question now is how we can work together to ensure that these technologies serve both the people and the planet. Translating climate action into real change requires transforming transport systems toward sustainability, promoting cleaner air, and moving away from dependence on fossil fuels.”

Participants included commuters, delivery riders, LEV retailers and distributors, civil society organizations, and representatives from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of Energy (DOE), alongside representatives from the Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Marikina and San Juan Local Government.

The event concluded with a creative action featuring an artwork that showcased diverse modes of transportation and extended an invitation to sign the commitment toward zero-emission transport — a call for a renewable-powered and equitable mobility future.