Author: WWC NEWSDESK

Singapore

Singapore’s Built Environment Is Getting an “Iron Man” Upgrade as Robots, Leasing and Virtual Inspections Move Into Construction

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s construction industry is accelerating toward a more automated future, with robotics, equipment leasing, smart machinery and virtual inspections being positioned as key tools to tackle manpower constraints and improve productivity. The push comes as the Government expands support for construction technology and encourages firms to move beyond traditional, labour-intensive methods. At the heart of the strategy is a simple idea: companies should not always have to buy expen

September 2, 2026

Singapore

Singapore Healthcare Faces a Double Pressure: Ageing Population and Workforce Shortages Top ASEAN Readiness Concerns

SINGAPORE — Singapore’s healthcare system is entering a critical period as rapid population ageing and workforce shortages emerge as the two biggest future pressures on healthcare readiness, according to the newly reported ASEAN Care Readiness Index 2026. The index found that 48% of Singapore respondents identified ageing populations as a major future pressure, while another 48% pointed to workforce shortages. The findings highlight a difficult balancing act for the city-state: caring for a rap

September 2, 2026

Business

PLDT Dominates 22ND Philippine Quill Awards With 21 Major Wins

PLDT Group is showing that corporate communication is no longer simply about making announcements—it can be a strategic tool for building trust, changing behavior, strengthening communities and supporting business goals. The telecommunications group was named Company of the Year at the 22nd Philippine Quill Awards, taking home 21 awards, including eight Awards of Excellence and 13 Awards of Merit. The recognition covered initiatives involving PLDT, Smart Communications and partner organizations

September 2, 2026

Business

Pizza Hut Singapore Names Liew Li Li as Marketing and Food Innovation Director as Brand Pushes Digital Growth

SINGAPORE — Pizza Hut Singapore has appointed veteran marketer Liew Li Li as its new Director of Marketing and Food Innovation, effective September 1, 2026, bringing more than two decades of experience across quick-service restaurants, consumer goods and digital marketing to the pizza chain. Liew succeeds Ailsa Tan, who stepped down after roughly three months in the position. The leadership change comes at an important point for Pizza Hut Singapore, which is trying to make the brand more releva

September 2, 2026

Business

FROM LOCAL TO NATIONWIDE: Filipino Entrepreneurs Are Taking Homegrown Products Online — But the Real Secret to Scaling May Be Where They Started

MANILA, Philippines — For many Filipino entrepreneurs, the path to bigger markets is no longer about abandoning their local roots. Instead, more homegrown businesses are discovering that their communities, traditions and locally made products can become their biggest competitive advantage in the digital economy. A new wave of Filipino entrepreneurs is using e-commerce to take products that once served mainly local customers to buyers across the Philippines—while keeping the stories and communit

September 2, 2026

Business

Keppel DC REIT Boosts Fundraising to S$625 Million After Strong Investor Demand

SINGAPORE — Keppel DC REIT has increased the size of its latest private placement to S$625 million, up from about S$600 million, after the fundraising drew strong demand from institutional and accredited investors globally. The placement was approximately 3.4 times covered, with the majority of the new units allocated to long-only investors and real-estate specialists, according to the REIT manager. The capital raising comes just days after Keppel DC REIT announced plans to expand its footprin

September 2, 2026

Philippines

More Than 10,000 Army Personnel Deployed for Historic BARMM Elections as Security Risks Come Into Focus

MANILA, Philippines — More than 10,000 Philippine Army personnel have been deployed across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as authorities mount one of the most closely watched election-security operations in the region’s recent history ahead of the September 14, 2026 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections. The Army said 10,031 soldiers and CAFGU Active Auxiliary members from the 1st, 6th and 11th Infantry Divisions have been mobilized to support security operations surrounding t

September 2, 2026

Politics

OVP Seeks ₱785-Million Budget for 2027 — But the Bigger Question Isn’t the ₱104-Million Cut

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President is heading into the 2027 budget season with a smaller spending plan, asking Congress for ₱785.204 million in new appropriations, or roughly ₱104 million less than the ₱889.236 million appropriated to the office for 2026. The proposed reduction translates to 11.7 percent, even as the overall proposed Philippine national budget is expanding to ₱7.2 trillion for 2027. The national spending plan is about 6 percent higher than the ₱6.793-trillio

September 2, 2026

Business

PAYMONGO AND SKYRO MOVE TO CLOSE PH CREDIT GAP — BUT THE BIGGER SHIFT MAY ALREADY BE HAPPENING

MANILA, Philippines — Digital payments are surging across the Philippines, but access to formal credit remains a major hurdle for millions of Filipinos. Now, fintech companies PayMongo and Skyro are trying to close that gap by connecting Skyro-approved credit with PayMongo’s growing network of QR Ph merchants. The partnership allows eligible Skyro customers to use their approved credit at participating merchants on PayMongo’s network through QR Ph — without requiring businesses to install new

September 2, 2026

Business

Singapore Polytechnic Launches Job Redesign Toolkit as CORENET X Reshapes the Built Environment Workforce

SINGAPORE — Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has launched a new Job Redesign (JR) CORENET X Starter Kit to help companies in the built environment sector redesign roles, identify skills gaps and prepare workers for Singapore’s increasingly digital construction and regulatory environment. The initiative comes at a critical moment for the industry. From October 1, 2026, CORENET X Gateway Processes will become mandatory for new projects with a gross floor area of 5,000 square metres or more, under Singa

September 2, 2026