Bringing access to inclusive development through Islamic Financing

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

Cagayan de Oro – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and Escaping the Middle-Income Trap: Chains-for-Change (EMIT C4C) Program of the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) presented the landscape, opportunities, and challenges of developing Islamic Financing in the Bangsamoro region on December 9, 2025, in this city.

Attended by representatives from the Bangsamoro parliament, civil society, advocates, microfinance institutions, and academia, the presentation highlighted the development of Islamic finance in the region, current efforts to advance its implementation, and best practices from organizations that have implemented the program.

“The Islamic practices of Sharia Financing, Halal, and other essential mechanisms are not just viable options, but pathways to dignity, inclusion, and opportunities in the region, PEF Executive Director Roberto Calingo remarked.

Crafting the Islamic Finance Landscape

Islamic finance, or Shari’ah-compliant financing, refers to instruments and services that comply with Islamic law. According to the action research, its development and promotion will advance financial inclusion and deliver solutions for Muslims residing in the Bangsamoro region.

“This mechanism is an appropriate and relevant tool for promoting financing because it addresses the pressing need to mobilize capital ethically, fairly, and inclusively,” EMIT-C4C Co-Convenor Annette Balaoing-Pelkmans said in her presentation of the study results.

In April 2024, PEF and EMIT C4C partnered with the UP Strategic Research and Management Foundation to launch a collaborative action research project. The teams conducted extensive interviews and gathered data across Cotabato City, Sarangani, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and Zamboanga City. Their findings were later compiled into a comprehensive monograph published in 2025.

After presenting the study results, Bangsamoro Parliament’s Policy Research and Legal Service Director Nassef Manabilang Adiong shared the government's efforts to develop a framework for implementing Islamic Finance.

CARD-MRI Program Manager Daissiel Gonzales also presented their Paglambo project, their Shari’a-inspired microfinancing program. At the same time, Islamic Social Finance expert Rini Supri Hartanti from Indonesia shared the model used by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Dompet Dhuafa, along with other best practices in Islamic finance implementation from Indonesia, highlighting approaches to advancing inclusion and diversity in financing.

Making an Islamic Finance ecosystem a reality

According to Calingo, PEF will pursue additional efforts beyond action research to develop and scale up community-based models, while partnering with other institutions to expand the implementation of Islamic Finance in the region.

“This is not a one-time engagement for PEF but part of their long-term vision to empower families and strengthen local economies,” he said. 

Robinsons Hotels and Resorts Sets a New Landmark for Inclusivity as the Largest Muslim-Friendly Hotel Group in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 







January 2026, Manila – Robinsons Hotels and Resorts (RHR) has reached a historic milestone, becoming the largest hotel group in the Philippines to be certified as Muslim-friendly by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In a formal ceremony, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco personally awarded the certification to the RHR brand, recognizing its portfolio-wide commitment to inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. A total of 22 RHR properties have received this official certification, covering the group’s extensive portfolio including Grand Summit Hotel, Summit Hotels and Resorts, Go Hotels Plus, Go Hotels, and its international brands, The Westin Manila and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.



The journey toward this landmark certification began with Grand Summit Hotel General Santos, the first RHR property to receive the distinction. Its prayer room has been lauded by the DOT as one of the best in the country, subsequently serving as the blueprint for other hospitality establishments nationwide. To ensure a seamless experience for Muslim guests, RHR has implemented specialized facilities and services, including dedicated prayer spaces and specialized staff training to ensure hospitality that honors Muslim traditions and preferences.



This initiative is the latest achievement for RHR, which continues to be recognized on the global stage. Recently named “Philippines' Leading Hotel Group” at the World Travel Awards Asia and “Best Hospitality Developer” at the Property Guru Asia Property Awards, the group views these accolades as a responsibility to innovate.



Barun Jolly, Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, emphasized that the group is not resting on its laurels: "This certification is a testament to our deep respect for the Muslim community, which is an increasingly vital and vibrant part of our national tourism landscape. As a multi-awarded group—honored by the World Travel Awards Asia and Property Guru Asia—we are constantly looking for ways to be truly deserving of these citations. By certifying 22 of our properties, we are ensuring our hospitality is world-class and inclusive. We are honored to support the Department of Tourism’s vision of a more diverse and globally accessible industry where every traveler, regardless of faith, feels truly at home."



The certification of Robinsons Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality arm of Robinsons Land Corporation, marks a significant step in supporting the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan. By securing the most certifications for a single hotel group in the country, RHR cements its position as an industry leader, advocating for a more inclusive and culturally aware landscape for all visitors. Robinsons Hotels and Resorts is the largest hospitality group in the Philippines with the most diversified portfolio ranging from ultra-luxury to essential value. It has 30 properties in 20 cities and municipalities, with more than 5,000 room keys nationwide.

Electricity consumers call for transparency on RE projects amid Solar PH mess

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 





Metro Manila (January 22) – Electricity consumers are calling for transparency on all renewable energy (RE) project contracts and a swift, comprehensive probe into the controversy surrounding Batangas First District Rep. Leandro Leviste’s solar energy firm.

“We believe that the issues involving the congressman’s company are not fabricated, nor are they an isolated case,” says Kuryente.org National Coordinator Bas Umali. “Much like the public’s demand for justice on the flood control ‘ghost’ project scandal, we electricity consumers also demand transparency in all renewable energy project contracts and the status of their completion.”

Earlier, the Department of Energy (DOE) terminated 33 service contracts of Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPPHI) and announced a P24 billion penalty, due to its failure to deliver on its power production commitments. In total, the DOE cancelled 163 RE service contracts with a total potential capacity of over 17,900 megawatts.

“The company’s failure to fulfill contractual obligations has a direct impact on us consumers, who have long been suffering from high electricity prices. If supply were greater, there would be a higher chance of lowering electricity rates; thousands of megawatts could have been added to the capacity of our energy sector,” says Umali.

Leviste had previously claimed that the cancellation of the contracts was politically motivated amid his recent exposés related to the flood control corruption mess, while Secretary Garin asserted that the cancellations began in early 2024, before the flood control scandal was on the public radar.

Despite the terminated contracts, Garin assured the public that the government will hatch a catch-up plan to proceed with reaching the 35% target RE in the country’s power mix by 2030.

“We hope the DOE will resolve this matter urgently and will not exercise leniency knowing that the person and company involved is connected to an influential family,” adds Umali. “The DOE must also inform the public with regard to the status of other concessions with similar cases.”