BusinessMirror July 26, 2024

GOVT SETS RECOVERY FUNDS AFTER

By Samuel P. Medenilla,

PRESIDENT

Ferdinand R. Marcos

Jr. on Thursday announced that the national government is ready to release funds to hasten the recovery of regions in Luzon that were battered by heavy rains, as the budget department reported that P11.1 billion remained in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) for disaster relief operations.

Supertyphoon Carina, which enhanced the southwest monsoon, killed at least 21 people, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). Related story in A3 Nation. The fatalities are mostly from the National Capital Region (NCR), Central Luzon, and Calabarzon which is composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

In an interview with reporters, Marcos said local government units (LGU) in the affected regions will receive relief packages.

“Many have already called me this morning [for financial aid]. So, we will put that all together so that we can go to the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] and tell them to release this already so it can be use by local officials,” he said. He made the remark after going to the Malanday National High School, which serves as an evacuation center in Valenzuela City, and the damaged North Navotas Pumping Station Navigation Gate.

“Now that I know what the situation is, where the areas are that need the most, we’ll be putting together already the [relief] packages for the LGUs, here in NCR, not only NCR, in Region 3, in Calabarzon,” Marcos said.

During a situation briefing Presidential Security Command (PSC) Compound, the chief executive ordered the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and other concerned government agencies to submit a detailed list of areas, which should be prioritized for government aid nationwide.

Telcos restore services in storm-affected areas

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ELECOMMUNICATION

Tcompanies in the Philippines have initiated restoration efforts to address service disruptions caused by the onslaught of typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a directive to public telecommunications entities (PTEs), mandating immediate actions to restore telecommunications services in affected areas.

In a memorandum, the NTC

emphasized the need for a sufficient number of technical and support personnel, standby generators, tools, and spare equipment in regions impacted by Typhoon Carina.

The commission also urged the fast-tracking of repair and restoration efforts to ensure the continuity of communication services.

Service disruptions were reported in several areas, primarily due to power outages, with floods exacerbating the situation by making roads impassable.

structure and as a result may

gain more from this area,” S&P Global said. These soft infrastructure measures are streamlining regulations, process improvements, more efficient maintenance and enabling greater private sector participation, S&P Global said.

Moreover, streamlining customs procedures or deregulating tariffs on utilities can smoothen logistics performance, improve returns and increase the efficiency of existing investment, it added.

TBy Ada Pelonia

HE Philippines allocated a quarter of its public spending on food security and nutrition to bolster the resilience of vulnerable sectors facing economic adversity, according to the latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report.

“These [middle-income countries] MICs allocate a much higher share of their public spending on food security and nutrition to strengthen the economic resilience of the most vulnerable to economic adversity,” the report read.

“For example, Brazil’s share is an impressive 63 percent, and that of Georgia, the Philippines and South Africa is around 25 to 30 percent,” said the report. Figures from SOFI showed that a 60 percent annual average of the total public spending on food security and nutrition in the Philippines for the 2019 to 2023 period went to addressing the major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition.

However, this was higher than the 40-percent annual average allocated to food consumption (food availability, access, and utilization) and health status (practices and health services and environmental health).

“In some MICs more spending is allocated to address the major drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition [69 percent in Brazil, 60 percent in the Philippines] than to support food consumption and health status.”

Among these drivers were conflict, climate variability and extremes, economic slowdowns and downturns, lack of access to and unaffordability of nutritious foods and unhealthy food environments, and high and persistent inequality. Meanwhile, the 2024 SOFI report said the world remains far from achieving zero hunger, with the global prevalence of undernourishment persisting at nearly the same level for three consecutive years. It added that hunger is still on the rise in Africa, but it has remained relatively unchanged in

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Asia, while notable progress has been made in the Latin American and Caribbean region.

With regard to economic access to nutritious food, the SOFI noted that about 2.8 billion people—a third of the world’s population—could not afford a healthy diet in 2022.

Data from the report showed that in 2022, 48.1 percent of the Philippines’s population was unable to afford a healty diet. This translates to about 55.6 million Filipinos.

The SOFI said achieving the goal to end global hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition would require increased and more cost-effective financing.

“Innovative, inclusive and equitable solutions are needed to scale up financing for food security and nutrition in countries with high levels of hunger and malnutrition,” it read.

However, it noted that the current food security and nutrition financing architecture is “highly fragmented” and requires a shift from a siloed approach to a more holistic perspective.

“Enhanced coordination among actors is needed on what is essential considering national and local policy priorities. To that aim, transparency and harmonizing data collection are crucial for improving coordination and targeting financing effectively.”

DMW helps OFWs stranded at Naia by storm disruptions

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has provided aid to overseas Filipino workers (OFW), who were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 due to the inclement weather caused by Supertyphoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon.

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“Round-the-clock restoration efforts are continuously being undertaken by the PTEs, including deployment of power generator sets until such time that commercial power is re-established, which will then hopefully restore regular telecommunications services within 24 to 48 hours,” the NTC reported.

Globe Telecom Inc. noted that over 90 percent of its mobile sites in

Metro Manila were operational as of Thursday, despite some facilities being affected by power outages. The company also confirmed that more than 95 percent of its 2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G sites in Northern Luzon remained functional.

“As the weather has improved and floods have subsided, our personnel are now working on quickly restoring services in the few isolated areas that experienced disruptions in their call, text and data services,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

Last Thursday, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac checked on the status of OFWs, whose flights were cancelled due to the recent weather disturbances.

He urged them to stay at the OFW Lounge where they will be provided with comfort and food while they are waiting for their delayed or rebooked flights.

“Secretary Cacdac also visited the Migrant Workers Airport Assistance Center to ensure that the Center is ready to assist OFWs and facilitate their safe departure,” DMW

Globe said it prepositioned personnel and equipment ahead of the typhoon’s onslaught to ensure a rapid response.

The company provided free calls, texts, and data to Globe Prepaid and TM users, alongside due date extensions for Mobile and Broadband Postpaid customers. Globe’s telehealth provider, KonsultaMD, also offered free video consultation vouchers.

PLDT Inc. reported minimal impact on its network, with only about 3 percent of sites down due

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“I need to understand where we need to immediately send our resources. So, I have to have more granulated information,” Marcos said.

Calamity funds

T HE DBM said Thursday agencies may tap the remaining P11.123-billion NDRRMF to finance various disaster relief operations. Access to the calamity funds under the 2024 General Appropriations Act is subject to the completion of damage assessment and recommendation by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the approval of the President.

The calamity funds may be utilized for aid, relief and rehabilitation services to communities and repair, rehabilitate and reconstruct works when natural or human-induced calamities occur in the current or two proceeding years.

The DBM has released P11.208 billion in calamity funds from January to June out of the P22.753 billion allotted for this year. The calamity funds include the P2.236-billion carryover from last year’s budget that can be used for various disaster relief operations until the end of 2024.

‘Use QRF’

B UDGET Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman told agencies to use their quickresponse fund (QRF). The QRF is a built-in budgetary allocation representing pre-disaster or standby fund for agencies to immediately assist areas hit by catastrophes and crises.

A total of P1 billion has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture; P3 billion for the Department

said in a social media post. The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reported that the bad weather from Typhoon Carina has led to the cancellation of 143 local and international flights.

As of press time, DMW has yet to release the number of OFWs, who were affected by the flight cancellations.

The widespread flooding from the heavy rains caused by Typhoon Carina, worsened by the southwest monsoon (habagat), has led Metro Manila and other provinces to declare a State of Calamity.

to Carina, primarily because of power shortages.

“Our network team confirms that sites that are down due to Carina comprise only about 3 percent of our installed base in those areas, so we consider the impact minor.

Of these affected sites, 80 percent is due to lack of power. Once commercial power is restored, we will be able to quickly recover all connectivity,” Cathy Yang, PLDT and Smart FVP and Group Head of Corporate Communications, noted. Lorenz S. Marasigan

of Education; Department of Health, P500 million; Bureau of Fire Protection, P500 million; PNP, P50 million; OCD, P500 million; Department of Public Works and Highways, P1 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P1.75 billion; and P75 million for the Philippine Coast Guard.

These agencies may request replenishment from the DBM once they utilize at least 50 percent of their QRF.

“Our government is prepared. We are ready to support all operations for disaster rescue and relief with the necessary budget,” Pangandaman said in a statement.

As of 5 a.m. on Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said heavy rains and floods affected 611 areas in Central Luzon, NCR, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.

The sheer number of affected areas in NCR prompted the Metro Manila Council to place the region under a state of calamity so that local governments can access their calamity funds.

The OCD, for its part, noted that 189,014 families or 910,536 people were affected by the typhoon.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said 360,228 family food packs were pre-positioned or distributed to help the typhoon victims in five regions.

Flood control

M EANWHILE , in the aftermath of Wednesday’s massive flooding that paralyzed the National Capital Region and impacted key regions in Luzon, focus was again shifted to the nearly half a trillion in flood-control funds that, lawmakers said, had seemed to have been misspent. Howls of protest came

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Logistics performance, returns and efficiency of existing investments will all be enhanced through streamlining customs procedures and reducing tariffs on utilities, according to S&P Global. A soft infrastructure approach can also yield material benefits and reduce lower direct public sector capital outlays, it added.

In the Philippines, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) coordinates infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs).

There are a total of 185 projects amounting to P9.558.14 trillion. A total of 3 projects have been completed, 65 projects are ongoing, 30 are approved for implementation and 5 projects are awaiting government approval, according to Neda’s IFP dashboard. S&P Global underscored that improved infrastructure will underpin strong growth in emerging Asia-Pacific, with an annual real growth rate of about 5.5 percent and the economy expanding to US$11.4 trillion. To drive emerging Asia’s growth, S&P Global said large investment and greater investment efficiency are required.

“Countries will need to keep investing to improve and expand infrastructure that supports growth and ensure climate resilience too.” Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

from Senate President Chiz Escudero, Sen. Imee Marcos and Sen. Joel Villanueva, who personally visited flooded areas in his home province in Bulacan. Related story in A5 News, “Where did P1-B daily flood control funds go?–solons.”

Carina continues to weaken as it moves further away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 24 issued on Thursday, Pagasa said Carina is now hovering over Southeastern China. The center of the eye of the typhoon is 550 north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes outside PAR.

It is moving west southwestward at 10 km/h packing a maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center with gustiness of up to 180 km/h. It is forecast to be at 670 north northwest of Itabayat, Batanes or in the vicinity of Fujian, China by 2 a.m. Friday. Nevertheless, Pagasa said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Batanes.

Carina, which entered PAR with the category of a Tropical Depression on July 19 induced the prevailing southwest monsoon rains, dumping 100-200 millimeters of rain in NCR and other parts of Luzon for days. At the height of the heavy rains on Wednesday, the water level at the La Mesa Dam reached the spilling level of 80.15 meters. Similarly, the water level in the Marikina River went up to a high of 20.3 meters, causing severe flooding and turning streets in low-lying areas of Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon into rivers, reminiscent of the impact of Ondoy in 2009.

Landslides, floods affect nearly 1,000 barangays

NEARLY 1,000 barangays in various parts of the country were affected by the heavy rainfall due to the southwest monsoon which was induced by two successive weather disturbances, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

At the same time, senators crossing party lines, joined Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino in hailing disaster responders and members of the media who risked their own safety to rescue lives and “keep the public informed 24/7” even as floodwaters inundated low-lying Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, and Batangas at the height of Typhoon Carina and heavy monsoon rains.

Tolentino acknowledged that “despite knowing the dangers, first responders, rescue volunteers, and members of the media did not hesitate to go into areas submerged in flood, risking their own safety in the line of duty, to come to the aid of our kababayans trapped in their own homes, and share timely information to the public. We are deeply grateful for your hard work, dedication, and sacrifices.”

At the same time, Tolentino's colleague, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, led relief operations Wednesday night for San Juan City residents affected by the massive flooding from the storm and habagat.

Estrada also paddled rescue boats to deliver food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) starting with those from barangay Kabayanan and later on to other barangays inundated by heavy rains.

Tolentino noted that round-the-clock reports from the media gave citizens and public officials timely information on which roads were already impassable, and which communities needed urgent help and rescue efforts due to heavy flooding.

Tolentino also took the opportunity to thank first responders, including uniformed personnel from the National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection

(BFP), Coast Guard, and the Armed Forces.

Moreover, he likewise acknowledged local government unit (LGU) executives and their respective disaster rescue teams and volunteers, and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In its Situation Report for the combined effects of the southwest monsoon or habagat as well as Typhoons Butchoy and Carina issued on Thursday, the NDRRMC reported the occurrence of 13 landslides in Regions 1, 7, 9, 11, 12, Caraga and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

The affected population in 997 barangays covers a total of 245,298 families or 1.1 million persons.

A total of 49 roads and eight bridges were rendered not passable during the height of the weather disturbances, the NDRMC reported, while 27 cities and towns experienced power interruptions.

The inclement weather also resulted in the cancellation of domestic and international flights, and 18 seaports became non-operational.

NDRMMC said local governments, particularly in Metro Manila and other affected provinces, declared a state of calamity

Pre-emptive evacuations were executed to ensure the safety of 1,242 families.

On Wednesday morning, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said a state of calamity has been declared in four more provinces—Bulacan, Bataan, Batangas, and Cavite. Earlier, a state of calamity was declared in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro. Kabacan, Cotabato; Pikit, Cotabato; Butuan, and Davao Occidental.

The NDRRMC said a total of 24,154 families have been assisted so far.

For Carina alone, the government has put on standby funds and preposition relief stockpile from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) amounting to P3.8 billion.

So far, the cost of assistance provided has reached P777 million as of 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the NDRRMC said a total of 4,538 families are currently intemporary shelter in 205 evacuation centers in various areas while 330 families are temporarily staying with their relatives or friends.

The NDRRMC said a total of P807 billion in standby funds are preposition for response intervention from the Department of Education, while P73.85 million worth of logistics from the Department of Health are available for logistics.

Carina has slightly weakened as it left the Philippine Area of Responsibility toward Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The weather bureau downgraded Carina to Typhoon Category as early as 4:00 a.m. Thursday, as it slowly leaves the country.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Postal Corporation deployed its mail delivery trucks to aid the relief and rescue missions conducted by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) following the devastation brought about by Typhoon Carina.

“As per coordination with the Office of Civil Defense [OCD] Operations Center, the Post Office has prepositioned mail vehicles at Central Mail Exchange Center [CMEC] to OCD compound, General Headquarter to help in the rescue and relief efforts,” Chairman and Postmaster General Mike Planas said.

“Post Office 6-wheeled trucks are already at OCD Response Unit awaiting the release of relief goods from OCD storage site. There is also a standby 10-wheeler truck for possible dispatch in case the OCD needs it”, he said.

Planas directed all Area Directors nationwide to provide a list of their vehicles which can be made available upon request by OCD. He also requested to identify facilities that may serve as hubs or logistics areas in subsequent OCD relief efforts.

The Post Office has also offered their mail operations hub as temporary shelter for Typhoon victims. Butch Fernandez, Jonathan L. Mayuga

Carina leaves 21 dead, 5 missing

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

AT LEAST 21 people died while five others were reported missing due to Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon, or habagat, that it enhanced, that flooded parts of Metro Manila and Luzon, the National Police said.

Those killed are mostly from Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon which covers the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

The latest situation report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Managemement Council (NDRRMC) reported a total of 14 dead, including eight persons who perished in Mindanao due to Butchoy.

Col. Jean Fajardo, National Police spokesperson, explained that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is still in the process of verifying if all of the reported fatalities are typhoon-related.

Fajardo said some of the fatalities died in landslides while there were also reports of electrocution and drowning, particularly in Metro Manila, which was submerged by floodwater at the height of Carina’s onslaught on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the official said a total of 47,682 families, composed of 202,015 persons, are now seeking refuge in almost 15,000 evacuation centers in various parts of the country.

Carina now in China

CARINA continues to weaken as it moves further away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), according to Pagasa. In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin 24 issued at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, the state weather

bureau said Carina is now hovering over Southeastern China. The center of the eye of the typhoon is 550 north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, outside PAR. It is moving west soutwesward at 10 km/h packing a maximumum sustained winds of 120 km/ near the center with gustiness of up to 180 km/h. It is forcast to be at 670 north nortwest of Itabayat, Batanes or in the vicinithy of Fujian, China, by 2 a.m. Friday.

However, Pagasa said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1 is still hoisted over Batanes.

Yellow rainfall warning PARTS of Luzon, includIng Metro Manila, will continue to experience rain and may experience flooding in low-lying areas.

In its Heavy Rainfall Warning 32 issued at 5 p.m. Thursday, Pagasa said the Yellow Warning Level is still up in Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac. Meanwhile, light to moderate with occasional heavy rains is expected over Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and Quezon within the next three hours, while light to moderate with occasional heavy rains will be affecting Nueva Ecija which may persist within the same period.

Carina, which entered the PAR as a tropical depression on July 19 induced the prevailing southwest monsoon rains. At the height of the heavy rains on Wednesday, water at the La Mesa Dam reached the spilling level of 80.15 meters.

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Friday, July 26, 2024

IPOPHL seeks amendment to 27-year-old charter

By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE Intellectual Property Office (IPOPHL)

Thas stressed anew the need to amend the 27-year-old Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines to respond to technological advances, which have given rise to challenges in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights.

On top of the list of IPOPHL’s “required amendments” is to strengthen the enforcement power of the agency and the expansion of Enforcement Office to Enforcement Bureau to address intellectual property rights violations including counterfeiting and piracy, considering the “limited” enforcement function of IPOPHL and advances in technology.

In a document sent to reporters which contains the amendments that IPOPHL wishes to be included in the new IP code, the

Intellectual Property rights body noted that in undertaking stronger enforcement functions, it is hoping to be entrusted with the power to “Issue temporary and permanent blocking orders, take down orders, cease-and-desist or disable access orders to intermediary service providers, domain name registries and registrars, online intermediaries, online platforms and social media platforms.”

IPOPHL also raised the concern on having outdated and “slap on the wrist” penalties and fines in the 27-year-old law, pointing out the need for “more effective and deterrent penalties and relief.”

The proposed amendment of the agency’s charter is to increase the penalties and provide “solidary liability” of manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of counterfeit and pirated goods, including online platforms and social media platforms.

Moreover, the country’s IP rights body said

there is a need to “Increase penalties to deter counterfeiting and piracy, particularly, those acts that endanger life and health.”

Another pressing challenge that IPOPHL raised is the limited access of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the agency’s services. With this, the intellectual property rights body is seeking the “removal of P200,000 threshold for claims in filing complaints/cases with the IPOPHL.”

Apart from keeping pace with technological advances in the IP enforcement aspect and increasing the penalties, the IPOPHL underscored the need to amend the 27 year-old IP Code to “comply” with the Philippines’ international commitments such as the protection of sound marks as provided in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement.

IPOPHL also noted that the existing IP law has to be updated to support Filipino inventors, increase patent filings and improve the

country’s Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking through “IP-related sub-indicators.”

In particular, the agency said the prohibition against parallel filing of patent and utility model application in the IP code must be removed and allow the filing of provisional patent application.

On copyright registration, IPOPHL said there is are also challenges being encountered in the area of “rationalization of copyright registration and deposit and support to the development of the creative sector.”

Hence, its proposed amendment noted, “Transfer the mandate of copyright deposit and registration to IPOPHL from the National Library of the Philippines.”

IPOPHL explained that there were five Site-Blocking bills filed by lawmakers. As to the site blocking bill proposed by Albay Rep. Jose Clemente “Joey” Sarte Salceda has already passed third reading in May 2023 while the

Group cites urgency of coastal greenbelt, mangroves protection

EBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

NVIRONMENTAL groups on Thursday

voiced their appeal to President Marcos to declare the proposed National Coastal Greenbelt legislation a priority bill and for the Senate to pass this with urgency following the devastation caused by Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or habagat.

A coastal greenbelt is a 100-meter band of mangroves and beach forests along the coast aimed at reducing the intensity of storm surges and strong waves during the onslaught of typhoons or even tsunamis.

Mangroves can also absorb carbon emissions four to five times greater than land forests.

“We are alarmed by the continuous decimation of mangroves on the coastal areas to make way for infrastructure projects, fishponds and other so-called economic activities, grossly disregarding the protection that mangrove forest areas cause to coastal communities and the food and livelihood security that this important natural life support system brings to them,” Oceana Vice President in the Philippines Gloria Estenzo Ramos said in a statement. Oceana aired the alarm on the decline of mangroves by 30 percent-50 percent

over the past 50 years owing to coastal infrastructure projects, aquaculture expansion, and overharvesting.

Oceana and other groups launched a photo exhibit titled “Our Coastal Greenbelts, Our National Treasure” at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila on July 16.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Natural Resources, who led the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon of the exhibit, along with representatives of the different government agencies, and Congress, is one of the authors of the Senate bill.

Villar underscored the necessity of having an efficient coastal greenbelt plan:

biodiversity conservation that protects the marine ecosystems from threats like overfishing; sustainable livelihood for the coastal communities; climate change resilience; and economic development through tourism.

During the event, Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto, chairman of the House of Representatives’s Committee on Climate Change that spearhead the passage of its counterpart bill in the Lower House, expressed his “fervent hope that Marcos includes the integrated coastal management bill or the national coastal greenbelt bill that is now pending in the Senate among his administration’s priority legislation.”

comprehensive amendment bills are still pending at the committee level.

At the Senate, meanwhile, IPOPHL said the technical working group discussions on the site blocking bills have already started last April under the Senate Committee on Trade but no hearings have been conducted yet as regards the comprehensive amendment of the IP Code.

Among the salient points under the Site-Blocking bills which IPOPHL hopes to be incuded in the new IP law is for the agency to be able to gather intelligence, conduct investigations, and develop measure to deter counterfeiting and piracy and develop database of pending cases.

The intellectual property rights body also wishes to undertake the following with respect to site-blocking: Undertake (1) service and execution of administrative orders, (2) issue notice or warning, (3) recommend

Secretary Jaime Bautista of the Department of Transportation said for his part that effective mangrove conservation requires collaboration among environmental agencies, local communities, and other stakeholders.

“This collaborative approach ensures that transport development aligns with environmental stewardship.”

Even as Congress is poised to pass the National Greenbelt Action Plan (or NCGAP, as incorporated in the Integrated Coastal Management Bill), Oceana lamented that another government agency is preempting it.

agencies to

and

decisions, (5) report the result of

and execution of orders, and (6) issue such other orders or actions necessary and conduct monitoring activities.

The IPOPHL said it also

“For the past two years, social media has been reporting that the Department of Public Works and Highways has been building four-lane National Coastal Roads, particularly in Davao and Sorsogon City,” the group noted.

Jurgenne H. Primavera, Chief Mangrove Scientific Advisor of the Zoological Society of London, aired her concerns about this development: “Not only has thick concrete replaced existing mangroves, but it will also prevent the growth of young seedlings in degraded mangrove areas. Yet Republic Act 7161 or the National Internal Revenue Code and other laws confer protection on mangroves and prohibit their cutting. Therefore, there is urgent need for environmental government agencies and nongovernment organizations to call out this anti-mangrove, anti-environment coastal highway program of the DPWH for violation of such legislation and to inquire if an Environmental Impact Assessment has been made.”

PHL, Singapore improve on defense cooperation deal

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

THE Philippines and Singapore have forged an improved version of their defense cooperation agreement to further increase interaction between their militaries.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen signed the Memorandum of Understanding in Singapore Wednesday afternoon

“The MOU aims to enhance both countries’ collaboration in  defense policy, military training, and joint exercises. By fostering closer cooperation, both nations sought to promote regional stability and security,” the Philippine Embassy in Singapore In a statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the MOU builds on the existing arrangement between the two defense establishments on the conduct of education, training assistance and support activities on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief signed in 2023.

“The MOU serves as a framework to guide existing interactions and promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as military education and anti-terrorism, to foster closer people-to-people links,” MINDEF said.

The signing of the MOU coincides with the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic

relations between Singapore and the Philippines.

After the signing ceremony, Teodoro and Ng held bilateral talks where they affirmed the “warm and friendly” defense ties between Manila and Singapore. They also discussed and exchanged views on important issues of mutual concern.

“The meeting underscored the commitment of both countries to work together in ensuring peace and stability in the region,” the Embassy added.

The two ministers met last month at the sidelines of the 21st ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore.

Both ministers committed to continue cooperation on the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting and ADMM-Plus which also involves Asean dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russia and the United States.

Teodoro was joined by Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Medardo Macaraig and senior defense officials—Undersecretary for Strategic Assessment and Planning Ignacio Madriaga, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., Assistant Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs Marita Yoro, and Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché to Singapore Capt. Sherwin Respeto PN (GSC).

Trillanes: ICC tagged ‘Bato,’ 4 others ‘suspect’

FWhere did ₧1-B daily flood control funds go?–solons

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

LAWMAKERS on Thursday zeroed in on the huge funds that have gone to flood control programs the past several years, as the National Capital Region and six other regions reeled from the aftermath of widespread, devastating flooding triggered by typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or habagat.

While helping inspect floodaffected areas in Manila, Sen. Imee Marcos sounded aghast that over P450 billion has been allocated to flood control, and yet nonstop rains can overwhelm key cities so quickly.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development demanded an explanation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as to why the flood control systems failed to handle the recent heavy rainfall, while other lawmakers vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the massive flooding in the capital due to the supertyphoon Carinaenhanced southwest monsoon.

for flood control funds in the 2024 budget of the DPWH, but thousands of people were forced to flee to their roofs or evacuate due to the massive floods caused by Super Typhoon Carina.  Castro outlined the DPWH flood control projects in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as follows:

n DPWH / Convergence and Special Support Program / SIPAG / Flood Mitigation

Structures Protecting Public Infrastructure/ Facilities: P71,190,00,000.

n DPWH / Flood Management Program / Construction/

Maintenance of Flood Mitigation

Structures and Drainage Systems: P144,040,506,000

n DPWH / Convergence and Special Support Program / BIP / Flood Mitigation

Structures Protecting Public Infrastructure/ Facilities: P33,565,050,000

n DPWH / Flood Management Program / Construction/ Rehabilitation of Flood Mitigation Facilities with Major River Basins and Principal Rivers: P100,537,405,000.”

“This does not include foreignassisted projects purportedly for flood mitigation, but it already totals to P349,332,963,000, or P957,076,610.9589 per day of flood control funds. That is almost P1 billion of funds a day, but they failed catastrophically to do their jobs,” said Castro.

“This needs to be thoroughly investigated. They are wasting public funds, and yet, such failures still occur. Where are the more

than 5,500 flood control projects that President Marcos Jr. boasted about in his Sona? It seems like Super Typhoon Carina factchecked Marcos. This must not happen again, and those responsible must be held accountable for this disaster,” Castro added. Brosas also called for a thorough investigation into the budget allocated for flood control projects this year.

“The disconnect between the administration’s claims and the reality on the ground is alarming. Billions are supposedly allocated for flood control projects, yet year after year, citizens suffer from relentless flooding during the rainy season. The public deserves to know where this money is going,” Brosas stated.

“For years, we’ve seen corruption-tainted and ineffective flood control projects. We need to put an end to this cycle that only serves to line the pockets of corrupt officials while leaving our people vulnerable to disasters,” Brosas emphasized.

The lawmaker urged both chambers of Congress to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing flood control programs under the DPWH.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

ORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday disclosed a supposed confidential order issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) allegedly naming Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and several former National Police officials as suspects in the crimes against humanity case that the body is investigating in connection with the bloody anti-illegal drug campaign of the Duterte administration.

A copy of the alleged order was posted by Trillanes on his X account but as of press time, officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) have yet to respond to reporters seeking confirmation of the ICC order.

Aside from de la Rosa, Trillanes said the officers also considered as suspects by the ICC are: former National Police chief Oscar Albayalde, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group commander Romeo Caramat Jr., former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and former police intelligence officer Eleazar Mata. Dela Rosa was then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s first PNP chief, and was tasked with leading the bloody drug war. He was elected to the Senate in 2022.

Earlier, DOJ Spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the department is preparing to submit a briefer to President Marcos on the legal options available to the government as well as their implications, including the possible re-entry of the Philippines as member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the latter’s alleged impending issuance of arrest warrants against those charged

with crimes against humanity in connection with the Duterte drug war.

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra has given assurances that politics will not alter the non-cooperation stance of the Marcos administration in the ongoing investigation into alleged human rights abuses and extrajudicial killings during the previous administration.

Guevarra made the assurance amid the political squabble between former President Rodrigo Duterte and President Marcos and their allies over various issues such as the ICC, Charter change, West Philippine Sea and illegal drugs.

When asked for his comment on the ICC’s order disclosed by Trillanes, Guevarra, who served as justice secretary during the Duterte administration, merely said: “The document is marked confidential.”

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla shared Guevarra’s position, insisting that the government has no legal duty to comply with any obligation or proceedings before the ICC since the country has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute in 2019.

The DOJ and the OSG have repeatedly said that the country’s justice system is fully functioning and there is no need for the ICC to step in.

Even, Marcos had cited in his recent State of the Nation

Address the 79 percent drug conviction rate under his administration, with 11,316 drug cases filed before the courts.

Of these, 7,038 cases were resolved, resulting in 6,079 convictions, 635 acquittals, and 324 dismissals.

Marcos previously said the government would not serve any arrest warrant from the ICC against Duterte since the country had withdrawn from the Rome Statute in 2019.

Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano, chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, said he will summon officials of the DPWH and MMDA to a committee hearing.

“First and foremost, our agencies, such as the DPWH and the MMDA, need to explain why our flood control systems failed to handle the heavy rainfall from Typhoon Carina. While it’s true that this storm brought recordbreaking rainfall, we should have been prepared for such events. We must always expect the worst. Our benchmark should be super typhoons like Ondoy in terms of rainfall and Yolanda in terms of wind strength,” Valeriano said.

Besides the DPWH and MMDA, the committee also expects presentations from agencies responsible for delivering assistance to citizens during disasters, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“However, more importantly, we need to hear about the longterm plans and programs of these agencies. The ultimate solution is prevention. We need to prevent this recurring situation. It is disheartening to see our fellow citizens constantly having to restart their lives every time a typhoon hits,” he emphasized.

“We will seek explanations from relevant government agencies at the hearing to be conducted on July 31 at 10 a.m.,” he added.

Makabayan weighs in MEMBERS of the Makabayan bloc vowed to scrutinize the budget of DPWH and hold those responsible for the massive flooding in the National Capital Region (NCR) and parts of Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon accountable.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro and House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women›s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said the national government has allotted a drastically high budget

2nd Front Page Oil tanker sinks in Bataan, PBBM orders spill cleanup

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

& Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday ordered concerned government agencies to start planning for the containment of the oil spill from a capsized oil tanker, MT Terra Nova, off the coast of Bataan.

In a situation briefing held at the Presidential Security Command compound, the Marcos tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to determine the areas that may be affected by the oil spill.

“We’ll have to make that determination as to where the tides are running, how the wind is running, if in case it is headed into… towards coastal areas, which coastal areas are those so that we can try and prepare for that,” the Chief Executive said.

The President issued his orders after Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Baustista provided the events leading to the oil spill. According to Bautista, the Iloilo-bound tanker issued a distress call around 1 a.m. Thursday before it capsized 3.5 nautical miles from Limay, Bataan. MT Terra Nova was carrying 1,494 metric tons of industrial fuel, which spilled after the vessel flipped over.

The Transportation Secretary added that the Philippine Coast

Guard (PCG) rescued 16 of the 17 crew, 35 minutes before the tanker capsized. The search and rescue operation for the missing crew member is ongoing, Bautista said.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief said they were unable to immediately deploy containment resources because of strong winds and high waves from the effects of Super Typhoon “Carina” (international name: Gaemi).

“We have already coordinated with the private sector, Harbor Star, and they will deploy the resources as soon as possible,” Bautista said. He added that coast guard personnel spotted an oil spill from MT Terra Nova around 5.6 nautical miles (about 10.37 kilometers) east of Lamao Point.

According to Bautista, the PCG is preparing for contingency plans in case the oil spill, which the coast guard deems minimal, expands and reaches the shores of Metro Manila, Pampanga and Bulacan.

‘Time bomb’

ENVIRONMENTALISTS forming the nongovernment group Greenpeace expressed alarm over the incident, describing it as a “time bomb.”

“The sunken tanker is a ticking time bomb that further imperils the health, safety and livelihoods of coastal communities around Manila Bay,” a statement by the group quoted its Climate Campaigner Jefferson Chua as saying.

“Communities are still reeling from the impacts of ‘Carina.’ Now we’re facing another crisis with

this oil spill near Limay, Bataan.”

“This one-two punch of calamities highlights just how severe the danger fossil fuels can be to our environment and vulnerable communities,” Chua added. “With inadequate government social and financial support for recovery, communities are left in the lurch, as in the case of the MV Princess Empress last year. Fossil fuel companies who owned the cargo escaped responsibility, in large part because of lackadaisical government moves to hold them accountable.”

According to Greenpeace, the government and the companies involved must do everything to recover the vessel and its contents immediately to prevent further damage to the marine environment and coastal communities.

“The owners of MT Terra Nova and its cargo must come forward and claim responsibility: foot the bill for any environmental damage this may cause and provide compensation to the communities affected. The government must also ensure that the full weight of our legal system is applied to ensuring justice for the people of Limay and the other communities in the area,” it said.

Mapping ecosystem

ACCORDING to the DENR, Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga ordered the deployment of a survey vessel of NAMRIA, the country’s mapping agency under the DENR, to help locate the sunken tanker.

“The immediate thing we need to know is the location of the vessel and what is its structural condition, for us to understand and anticipate the dispersion of the oil,” Loyzaga said.

The survey vessel, BRP Hydrographer Presbitero, is used by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (Namria) to survey territorial marine and coastal environments.

“The second part of DENR’s work is the ecosystem protection,” Loyzaga added. “This means the mapping of the ecosystems reached by the spill and the determination of contamination of water sources once we have located the vessel.”

The DENR chief expressed support for “the efforts already being done” by the PCG, “which is the incident commander here, and the local government.”

Yulo-Loyzaga said she has placed the assets of the DENR at the disposal of the local officials “so we can determine the possible impact of the incident.”

The DENR is coordinating with the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines to model the possible dispersion of both vessel fuel and its oil cargo should leakages occur.

She said DENR regional offices will establish additional water quality and air quality stations whenever they may be needed and coordinate with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office on possible impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems.

Manila disaster office praised for rescuing pets in Carina floods

By Trxizy Leigh Bonotan

ETIZENS flooded MDRR -

NMO’s (Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Office) Facebook post, not with water, but with heartwarming comments for their compassionate inclusion of dogs in rescue operations during the devastating Typhoon Carina. The storm brought catastrophic rain and wind to Metro Manila, leading to a declaration of a state of calamity.

As of writing, the said post with the caption “ We’re all inclusive. Ohana… nobody gets left behind ” (Echoing Disney’s beloved character Stitch from the Lilo & Stitch franchise)  has garnered 502 comments and 14K shares — all applauding the efforts of the local government agency.

Some of the comments read:

n Thank you so much po, Manila DRRM Office. Malayo kami kaya agitated kasi we can’t help. But

WITH P308-M DAMAGE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO GET INSURANCE

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto

ATOTAL of 45 public schools across eight regions will be repaired and reconstructed under the National Indemnity Insurance Program (NIIP), according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

In a statement, the Treasury said it will file a claim under the NIIP after the public schools were ravaged by Typhoon Carina with costs of damage tallying to at least P308.5 million.

The Treasury said it is actively coordinating with the Department of Education (Deped) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in the filing of insurance claims under NIIP.

“Once a payout is confirmed, the Deped will be able to utilize the funds for the repair and reconstruction of the said schools,” the Treasury said.

“The implementation of the program underscores the commitment of the Bureau and the Department of Finance to ensure the nation’s financial resilience against disasters. We are actively coordinating with both Deped and GSIS to ensure the timely assessment and payout of the program.” National Treasurer Sharon P. Almanza said.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto commended the

Treasury for its measures in implementing the NIIP, highlighting the importance of protecting national assets to ensure the economic security of the people.

“Damaged school buildings pose a significant threat to this security, as they are the very places where we nurture the potential of our nation’s greatest treasure—our students. Poor school facilities negatively impact both teachers and students, leading to lower human capital development, reduced economic productivity, and persistent poverty,” Recto said.

The NIIP covers government assets against fire, lightning, typhoons, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.

Since the NIIP’s launch on January 1, 2024, the Treasury secured coverage for 132,862 school buildings nationwide with a total insured value of P843.11 billion.

The program is part of the country’s Disaster Risk Finance strategy to protect the government’s fiscal health, provide immediate liquidity post-disaster and reduce the impact of disasters on the most vulnerable.

Other instruments under this strategy are the Quick Response Fund, the Local and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, and the Disaster Stand-by Loan facilities secured by the DOF.

Globe Fintech subsidiaries waive fees in TC-hit areas

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ng tubig abot na sa mga leeg nila n yet they r there to rescue!  (Salute to all rescuers, you also risked your life! Imagine, the water rose to their neck, and yet they are there to rescue!)

n Bless you all po, at di niyo iniwan mga furbabies at sa mga rescuers bless you more and keep safe na hindi nyo pinipili and tutulungan kundi lahat ng may buhay...Ingat po kayo palagi  (Bless you all for not leaving the furbabies and to all the rescuers—bless you more and keep saf...you do not discriminate between who to help, as long as they are living creatures. Stay safe always)

n Salute to these heroes who rescued the pitiful dogs.

TWO subsidiaries of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. (DBA Mynt) announced the implementation of a 2-week payment grace period for GLoan and GGives borrowers in regions affected by Typhoon Carina (TC) covering due dates from July 21 to 31, 2024.

“Understanding the importance of having extra money during these challenging times, GCash is offering a grace period to customers whose due dates fall between July 21 and 31, 2024,” Fuse Lending Inc. President and CEO Anthony Isidro was quoted in a statement as saying.

These measures, effective from July 25 to 31, aim to ease the financial burden on those impacted by severe weather conditions. Meanwhile, GCash (a platform operated by G-Xchange Inc.) announced it is mobilizing donations for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved in relief operations. Users can make feefree donations to organizations such as the Ayala Foundation Inc., ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. and the Philippine Red Cross through the GCash app, the company said through a statement.

MANILA’S RRM Office (MDRRMO) posted on their FB page this photo of their Wednesday rescue operation that included pets.

learning that someone like you got them, gives us that calmness. Hats off!  (Thank you so much, Manila

DRRM Office. We›re agitated because we›re far away and can›t help. But learning that someone like you got them, gives us that calmness. Hats off!)

n Thank you for saving the puppers. Your kind heart will not go unnoticed.

n Salute to all rescuers, you risk also your life! imagine ang taas na

The netizens’ heartfelt reactions and overflowing support did not escape the notice of the animal welfare group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). On Thursday, July 25, PETA was gearing up to honor the agency with the “A Hero to Animals” award for their compassionate act.

PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker praised the MDDRM: “Thanks to the rescue team’s kindness and compassion, many dogs survived a harrowing ordeal that endangered their lives. PETA salutes these rescuers for looking out for everyone , regardless of species, and hopes this story inspires others to come to the aid of those in need.”

PETA also urged fur parents to prepare for emergencies by creating evacuation plans, posting signs indicating the presence of animals in their homes, and ensuring that their pets are spayed or neutered.

This extension allows customers to defer payments until August without incurring any penalties, according to Isidro.

Additionally, the company is waiving fees for buying prepaid load promos worth P59 and below and for cash-ins at GCash Pera Outlets in calamity-hit areas.

FORMER Senate President Manny Villar on Thursday confirmed that his daughter, Rep. Camille Villar, has decided to run for a Senate seat in next year’s election.

“Oh, yes, Camille will run. She has made up her mind. Many people are pushing her to run, so we said, why not? First of all, we need young blood in the Senate. It’s also good to have young people who are energetic. And aso good and qualified,”

“Our priority now is to ensure concerned organizations can quickly mobilize aid, tapping into the reach and impact of GCash,” GXChange President and CEO Oscar Enrico A. Reyes Jr.  was quoted in a statement as saying. Users can opt to send funds directly to the NGOs by searching for them in the “Pay Bills” feature under the “Others” category, or scan the official GCash QR Code of the organizations. Transactions fees for these donations are waived.

Asean diplomats meet in Laos to address Myanmar crisis, South China Sea tensions

By Jintamas Saksornchai The Associated Press

VIENTIANE, Laos—Southeast Asian foreign ministers and top diplomats from key partners including the United States and China were gathering in the Laotian capital on Thursday for the start of three days of talks expected to focus on the increasingly violent civil war in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea and other regional issues.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Vientiane, which come as both Beijing and Washington are looking to expand their influence in the region.

Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith thanked Asean members and partners for their “unwavering collective effort” that has led to its past achievements and emphasized the importance of the bloc’s continuous work to promote peace and stability.

“In light of the rapid and complex geopolitical and geoeconomic changes, we need to further enhance Asean centrality and unity so as to promote the relevance and resilience of Asean, aiming at addressing emerging challenges and seizing opportunity in the future,” he said in the opening statement.

For the Asean members—Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos—the violence in Myanmar is at the top of the agenda as the bloc struggles to implement its “five-point consensus” for peace.

The plan calls for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, a dialogue among all

concerned parties, mediation by an Asean special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through Asean channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. The military leadership in Myanmar has so far ignored the plan and has raised questions about the bloc’s efficiency and credibility to mediate for peace.

Broader talks, including diplomats from elsewhere in the region including Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, are expected to focus on issues including the economy, security, climate and energy. Regional issues, including Cambodia’s decision to build a canal off the Mekong River that Vietnam, which is downstream, worries could have ecological and security implications, as well as massive dam building projects in Laos further upstream could also feature in the meetings.

In Myanmar, the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule, leading to increasing violence and a humanitarian crisis.

In an effort to put pressure on Myanmar, Asean has prohibited it from sending any political rep -

Japan’s population falls for 15th year with record low births and record high deaths

By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press

TOKYO—Japan’s total population declined for the 15th straight year in 2023, dropping by more than a halfmillion people as the population ages and births remain low.

Births in Japan hit a record low of 730,000 last year. The 1.58 million deaths last year were also a record high. Japan’s population was 124.9 million as of January 1.

The data released Wednesday by Japan’s Internal Affairs Ministry also showed that the 11 percent increase in foreign residents helped their population surpass 3 million for the first time. They now make up nearly 3 percent of the total population and are mostly of working age from 15 to 64. Surveys show that younger Japanese are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living—which rises at a faster pace than salaries—and a gender-biased corporate culture that

India and UK launch technology initiative to drive economic growth, collaboration

NEW DELHI—India and the United Kingdom launched a new technology security initiative expected to boost economic growth and deepen collaboration, the two countries announced during the first official visit to India by the new British foreign secretary.

According to the agreement, which was announced late Wednesday, the two countries will work together on crucial technologies, from critical minerals and AI to semiconductors and telecoms. It will also strengthen cooperation on issues like

climate, trade, technology and education, according to a statement released by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s office. “This will mean real action together on the challenges of the future from AI to critical minerals. Together we can unlock mutual growth, boost innovation, jobs and investment,” Lammy said.

In talks with his counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the two also agreed to boost defense and security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and discussed global issues including the Russia-

resentatives to top-level meetings, and it has sent bureaucrats instead. Aung Kyaw Moe, the permanent secretary of Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, represents the country in this week’s meetings, which run through Saturday.

More than 5,400 people have been killed in the fighting in Myanmar and the military government has arrested more than 27,000 since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. In addition, there are now more than 3 million displaced people in the country, with the numbers growing daily as fighting intensifies between the military and Myanmar’s multiple ethnic militias as well as the socalled people’s defense forces of military opponents.

As the needs of civilians grow, discussions on humanitarian assistance to Myanmar will also be a focus of the Asean talks, Bolbongse Vangphaen, head of the Thai Foreign Ministry’s department for Asean, told reporters ahead of the meetings.

Thailand, which shares a long border with Myanmar, has already been heavily involved in providing

adds a burden only on women and working mothers.

The government earmarked 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion) as part of the 2024 budget to fund incentives for young couples to have more children, such as increasing subsidies for childcare and education, and is expected to spend 3.6 trillion yen ($23 billion) in tax money annually over the next three years.

Experts say the measures are largely meant for married couples who plan to have or who already have children, and don’t address the growing number of young people reluctant to get married.

Japan’s population is projected to fall by about 30 percent, to 87 million by 2070, when four out of every 10 people will be 65 or older.

Ukraine conflict, according to a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry. Lammy said his trip to India reflects one of the new government’s top foreign policy priorities: a reset with Europe, both on climate and with the Global South.

Britain’s new Labour Party government, which swept the polls in the July 4 election, says it wants to “reset and relaunch” U.K.India relations, particularly by restarting formal talks that began in 2022 on a free trade agreement hailed by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson as a key goal after Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2020.

The Associated Press journalist Jill Lawless contributed from London.

humanitarian assistance, and Bolbongse said the country is ready to support the next phase of delivery being planned by the Asean Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.

He did not say when or where the aid delivery would be.

Thailand initiated its first delivery of aid to Myanmar in March from the northern province of Tak. It was said to be distributed in Kayin state to approximately 20,000 out of millions of people displaced by fighting.

Landlocked Laos is the bloc’s poorest nation and one of its smallest, and many have expressed skepticism about how much it can accomplish while the crises mount. But it is also the first Asean chair that shares a border with Myanmar. Laos has already sent a special envoy to Myanmar for meetings with the head of the ruling military council and other top officials in an attempt to make progress on the peace plan.

Asean also has introduced a mechanism of trilateral informal consultation among its current, past, and future chairs, specifi -

cally for ensuring continuity in its response to the situation in Myanmar. The troika met for the first time on Wednesday, attended by Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Wednesday after the meeting that she raised concerns about increasing numbers of cross-border crimes and refugees that resulted from a crisis in Myanmar. She said she urged Asean to “promote trust and confidence building through a balanced and low-key approach” to foster an inclusive dialogue among all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar.

“The worsening conditions in Myanmar have a direct impact on efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” she said.

Dulyapak Preecharush, a professor of Southeast Asia Studies at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said Asean is not the only stakeholder when it comes to Myanmar, with China and India also major players—and both attending the Asean meetings.

Progress on Myanmar “needs to start with countries that share borders with Myanmar, such as

China, India and Thailand, to find a joint consensus to address the problems” before expanding to other countries, he said.

In other issues, Asean members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei are locked in maritime disputes with China over its claims of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most crucial waterways for shipping. Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.

An estimated $5 trillion in international trade passes through the South China Sea each year. China has been increasingly involved in direct confrontations, most notably with the Philippines and Vietnam.

This year, tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated, with Chinese coast guard and other forces using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Filipino navy personnel.

The Philippines, a treaty partner with the US, has been critical of other Asean members for not doing more to get China to back away from its increasingly assertive approach.

China and the Philippines said Sunday they have reached a deal that they hope will end the confrontations, aiming to establish a mutually acceptable arrangement at the disputed area without conceding either side’s territorial claims.

The rare deal could spark hope that similar arrangements could be forged by Beijing with other countries to avoid clashes while thorny territorial issues remain unresolved.

Asean has been working with China to produce a South China Sea code of conduct, which is expected to be part of the talks in Vientiane.

contributed to this report.

Typhoon Gaemi batters Taiwan and PHL, leaving death and destruction in its wake

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan has seen flooding in low-lying areas, along with landslides and damage to homes and shops after Typhoon Gaemi made landfall on the island.

The storm swept up the western Pacific, leaving 22 people dead in the Philippines from flooding and landslides, and three in Taiwan, with more than 220 reported injured.

Offices and schools in Taiwan were closed for the second consecutive day on Thursday and people were urged to stay home and away from the coastline.

The island is regularly hit by typhoons and has boosted its warning systems, but its typography, high population density and high-tech economy make it difficult to avoid losses when such storms hit.

The capital, Taipei, was unusually quiet, with light rain falling and occasionally gusting winds.

In the Philippines, the death toll rose due to drownings and landslides. At least three people are missing, according to police.

The Philippine coast guard reported that an oil tanker, MT Terra Nova, loaded with about 1.4 million liters (370,000 gallons) of industrial fuel oil sank off Limay town in Bataan province early Thursday and rescuers saved 15 of 16 crewmembers.

It’s not immediately clear if the sinking

was related to the bad weather and rough seas but Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said coast guard personnel could not immediately reach the area to contain a possible oil spill because of the rough sea conditions.

The storm prompted the cancellation of air force drills off Taiwan’s east coast. Gaemi, called Carina in the Philippines, did not make landfall in that archipelago but enhanced its seasonal monsoon rains. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered authorities to speed up efforts to deliver food and other aid to isolated rural villages. “People there may not have eaten for

The Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia,

MYANMAR Foreign Secretary Aung Kyaw Moe, Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith,

Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, Cambodia Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and Asean Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a group photo during the 57th Association of southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’ Plenary Meeting session in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday, July 25, 2024. AP/SAKCHAI LALIT

Global shares tumble after wipeout on Wall Street as Big Tech retreats

By Yuri Kageyama Ap Business Writer

TOKYO—Global shares retreated on Thursday, with Tokyo’s benchmark losing more than 1,300 points at one point and closing down more than 3 percent, as pessimism set in over a nose-dive on Wall Street.

France’s CAC 40 slipped 1.5 percent in early trading to 7,400.08. Germany’s DAX fell 1.2 percent to 18,161.70, while Britain’s FTSE 100 shed 1.1 percent to 8,066.27. The future for the S&P 500 fell 0.2 percent while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.2 percent. US stock indexes suffered their worst losses since 2022 after profit reports from Tesla and Alphabet helped suck momentum from Wall Street’s frenzy around artificialintelligence technology.

In Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 3.3 percent to 37,869.51, its lowest close since April.

The recently strengthening yen, which has recovered from trading above 160 Japanese yen to the dollar earlier this month, hurts profits of Japanese exporters when they are brought back to Japan. Toyota Motor Corp. shares dropped 2.6 percent, while Sony Group’s sank 5.4 percent. In currency trading, the US dollar edged down to 152.50 yen from 153.89 yen. The euro cost $1.0844, up from $1.0841. The yen has been gaining against the dollar largely because of speculation the Bank of Japan will raise its near-zero benchmark interest rate soon. The central bank’s next policy

meeting ends on July 31.

“The major risk is that the BOJ might refuse to hike next week, causing the entire long yen trade to collapse. But that’s probably just a bad thought,” said Ipek Ozkardeskaya, a senior analyst at Swissquote Bank.

Chinese shares fell as investors questioned a central bank decision to cut another key interest rate after several similar moves earlier this week.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng declined 1.7 percent to 17,021.91, while the Shanghai Composite fell 0.5 percent to 2,886.74.

South Korea’s Kospi declined 1.7 percent to 2,710.65 after the government reported the economy contracted at a 0.2 percent rate in the last quarter.

Among the region’s technology shares, Samsung Electronics fell nearly 2 percent, while Nintendo lost 2.4 percent. Tokyo Electron tumbled nearly 5 percent.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 1.3 percent to 7,861.20.

Wednesday on Wall Street, the S&P 500 tumbled 2.3 percent for its fifth drop in the last six days, closing at 5,427.13. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1.2

US economy shows resilience amid cooling growth and easing inflation

By Paul Wiseman Ap Economics Writer

percent to 39,853.87, and the Nasdaq composite skidded 3.6 percent to 17,342.41.

Profit expectations are high for US companies broadly, but particularly so for the small group of stocks known as the “ Magnificent Seven.” Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla need to keep delivering powerful growth after being responsible for most of the S&P 500’s run to records this year.

Tesla was one of the heaviest weights on the market and tumbled 12.3 percent after reporting a 45 percent drop in profit for the spring, and its earnings fell short of analysts’ forecasts.

Tesla has become one of Wall Street’s most valuable companies not just because of its electric vehicles but also because of its AI initiatives, such as a robotaxi. That’s a tough business to assign a value to, according to UBS analysts led by Joseph Spak, and the “challenge is that the time frame, and probability of success is not clear.”

In energy trading, benchmark US crude lost 59 cents to $77.00 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 56 cents to $81.26 a barrel.

Amid tensions with China, US states purge Chinese companies from their investments

By David A. Lieb

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.—As state treasurer, Vivek Malek pushed Missouri’s main retirement system to pull its investments from Chinese companies, making Missouri among the first nationally to do so. Now Malek is touting the Chinese divestment as he seeks reelection in an Aug. 6 Republican primary against challengers who also are denouncing financial connections to China.

The Missouri treasurer’s race highlights a new facet of opposition to China, which has been cast as a top threat to the US by many candidates seeking election this year. Indiana and Florida also have restricted their public pension funds from investing in certain Chinese companies. Similar legislation targeting public investments in foreign adversaries was vetoed in Arizona and proposed in Illinois and Oklahoma.

China ranks as the world’s second-largest economy behind the US. Between 2018 and 2022, US public pension and university endowments invested about $146 billion in China, according to an analysis by Future Union, a nonprofit pro-democracy group led by venture capitalist Andrew King. The report said more than fourfifths of US states have at least one public pension fund investing in China and Hong Kong, “Frankly, there should be shame—more shame than there

is—for continuing to have those investments at this point in time,” said King, who asserts that China has used intellectual property from US companies to make similar products that undercut market prices.

“You’re talking a considerable amount of money that frankly is competing against the US technology and innovation ecosystem,” King said.

But some investment officials and economists have raised concerns that the emerging patchwork of state divestment policies could weaken investment returns for retirees.

“Most of these policies are unwise and would make US citizens poorer,” said Ben Powell, an economics professor who is executive director of the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University.

The National Association of State Retirement Administrators opposes state-mandated divestments, saying such orders should come only from the federal government against specific companies based on US security or humanitarian interests.

The US Treasury Department recently proposed a rule prohibiting American investors from funding artificial intelligence systems in China that could have military uses, such as weapons targeting. In May, President Joe Biden blocked a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near a Wyoming nuclear missile base, calling it a “national security risk.”

Yet this isn’t the first time that

states have blacklisted particular investments. Numerous states, cities and universities divested from South Africa because of apartheid before the US Congress eventually took action. Some states also have divested from tobacco companies because of health concerns.

Most recently, some states announced a divestment from Russia because of its war against Ukraine. But that has been difficult to carry out for some public pension fund administrators.

The quest to halt investments in Chinese companies comes as a growing number of states also have targeted Chinese ownership of US land. Two-dozen states now have laws restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land, according to the National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas. Some laws apply more broadly, such as one facing a legal challenge in Florida that bars Chinese citizens from buying property within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of military installations and critical infrastructure.

State pension divestment policies are “part of a broader march toward more confrontation between China and the United States,” said

Clark Packard, a research fellow for trade policy studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. But “it makes it more challenging for the federal government to manage the overall relationship if we’ve got to deal with a scattershot policy at the state level.”

Indiana last year became the first to enact a law requiring the state’s public pension system to gradually divest from certain Chinese companies. As of March 31, 2023, the system had about $1.2 billion invested in Chinese entities with $486 million subject to the divestment requirement. A year later, its investment exposure in China had fallen to $314 million with just $700,000 still subject to divestment, the Indiana Public Retirement System said.

Missouri State Treasurer Malek tried last November to get fellow trustees of the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System to divest from Chinese companies. After defeat, he tried again in December and won approval for a plan requiring divestment over a 12-month period. Officials at the retirement system did not respond to repeated questions from The Associated

Press about the status of that divestment.

In recent weeks, Malek has highlighted the Chinese divestment in campaign ads, asserting that fentanyl from China “is drugging our kids” and vowing: “As long as I’m treasurer, they won’t get money from us. Not one penny.”

Two of Malek’s main challengers in the Republican primary— state Rep. Cody Smith and state Sen. Andrew Koenig—also support divestment from China. Koenig said China is becoming less stable and “a more risky place to have money invested.”

“In China, the line between public and private is much more blurry than it is in America,” Smith said. “So I don’t think we can fully know that if we are investing in Chinese companies that we are not also aiding an enemy of the United States.”

A law signed earlier this year by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis requires a state board overseeing the retirement system to develop a plan by September 1 to divest from companies owned by China. The oversight board had announced in March 2022 that it would stop making new Chinese investments.

As of May, it still had about $277 million invested in Chinese-owned entities, including banks, energy firms and alcohol companies, according to an analysis by Florida legislative staff.

Florida law already prohibits investment in certain companies tied to Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Venezuela, or those engaged in an economic boycott against Israel.

In April, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have required divestment from companies in countries determined by the federal government to be foreign adversaries. That list includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela.

Hobbs said in a letter to lawmakers that the measure “would be detrimental to the economic growth Arizona is experiencing as well as the State’s investment portfolio.”

WASHINGTON—The American economy, boosted by healthy consumer spending, is believed to have regained some momentum this spring after having begun 2024 at a sluggish pace.

The Commerce Department is expected to report Thursday that the gross domestic product—the economy’s total output of goods and services—increased at a solid if unspectacular 1.9 percent annual rate from April through June, according to a survey of forecasters by the data firm FactSet. That would be up from 1.4 percent annual growth in the January-March quarter.

Despite the likely uptick, the US economy, the world’s largest, has clearly cooled in the face of the highest borrowing rates in decades. From mid-2022 through the end of 2023, annualized GDP growth had exceeded 2 percent for six straight quarters.

This year’s slowdown reflects, in large part, the much higher borrowing rates for home and auto loans, credit cards and many business loans resulting from the aggressive series of rate hikes the Federal Reserve imposed in its drive to tame inflation. The Fed raised its benchmark rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023, to its current 23-year peak of roughly 5.3 percent. The Fed was responding to the flareup in inflation that began in the spring of 2021 as the economy rebounded with unexpected speed from the Covid-19 recession, causing severe supply shortages. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made things worse by inflating prices for the energy and grains the world depends on. Prices spiked across the country and the world.

US inflation, measured year over year, eventually did tumble—from 9.1 percent in June 2022 to the current 3 percent. Economists had long predicted that the higher borrowing costs would tip the United States into recession. Yet the economy kept chugging along. Consumers, whose spending accounts for roughly 70 percent of GDP, kept buying things, emboldened by a strong job market and savings they had built up during the Covid-19 lockdowns.

The slowdown at the start of this year was caused largely by two factors, each of which can vary sharply from quarter to quarter: A surge in imports and a drop in business inventories. Neither trend revealed much about the economy’s underlying health. Consumer spending did slow as well, though: It grew at a 1.5 percent annual pace from January through March after having topped 3 percent in both the third and fourth quarters of 2023.

Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at tax and consulting firm RSM, said he thinks consumer spending probably bounced back to a solid 2.5 percent annual pace last quarter. Overall, Brusuelas predicts overall 2.4 percent annual growth for the quarter. But this time, he says, the expansion was probably exaggerated by an upturn in business inventories.

Dan North, senior economist at Allianz Trade, noted that the quarterly GDP report also contains the Fed’s favored measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures price index.

“Maybe inflation is more important in this report than growth,’’ North said. The PCE index is expected to show that inflationary pressure eased in the April-June quarter after having accelerated to a 3.4 percent annual rate in the January-March period, from 1.8 percent in the final three months of 2023. Fed officials have made clear that with inflation slowing toward their 2 percent target level, they’re prepared to start cutting rates soon, something they’re widely expected to do in September.

Brusuelas of RSM said he thinks the central bank shouldn’t wait that long, given that the economy is slowing and inflation is headed down.

CURRENCY traders watch monitors near a screen showing US President Joe Biden at the foreign exchange dealing room of the KEB Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday, July 25, 2024. AP/AHN YOUNG-JOON

THE American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, February 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. Some US states are scrapping investments in Chinese companies amid tensions between the world’s largest economies. AP/KIICHIRO SATO

Biden delivers solemn call to Americans to defend democracy, explains race exit

By Zeke Miller, Seung Min Kim

& Will Weissert The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—Pres -

Wident Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country’s democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.

Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden used his first public address since his announcement Sunday that he was stepping aside to deliver an implicit repudiation of former President Donald Trump. He did not directly call out Trump, whom he has called an existential threat to democracy. The 10-minute address also gave Biden a chance to try to shape how history will remember his one and only term in office.

“Nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy,” Biden said, in a somber coda to his 50 years spent in public office. “And that includes personal ambition.”

It was a moment for the history books—a US president reflecting before the nation on why he was taking the rare step of voluntarily handing off power. It hasn’t been done since 1968, when Lyndon Johnson announced he would not seek reelection in the heat of the Vietnam War.

“I revere this office,” Biden said. “But I love my country more.”

Trump, just an hour earlier at a campaign rally, revived his baseless claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, which he lost to Biden. His refusal to concede inspired the Capitol insurrection of

January 6, 2021, which Biden called “the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.”

Biden skirted the political reality that brought him to that point: His abysmal performance in a debate against Trump nearly a month ago, where he spoke haltingly, appeared ashen and failed to rebut his predecessor’s attacks, sparked a crisis of confidence from Democrats. Lawmakers and ordinary voters questioned not just whether he was capable of beating Trump in November, but also whether, at 81, he was still fit for the high-pressure job.

Biden, who said he believed his record was deserving of another term in office, tried to outlast the skepticism and quell the concerns with interviews and tepid rallies, but the pressure to end his campaign only mounted from the party’s political elites and from ordinary voters.

“I have decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation,” Biden said, saying he wanted to make room for “fresh voices, yes, younger voices.”

He added, “That is the best way to unite our nation.”

It was a belated fulfillment of his 2020 pledge to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders—and a bow to the drumbeat of calls from within his party to step aside.

Biden’s address was carried live by the major broadcast and cable news networks. He spooled out a weighty to-do list for his last six months in office, pledging to remain focused on being president until his term expires at noon on Jan. 20, 2025. He said he would work to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, fight to boost government support to cure cancer, address climate change and push for Supreme Court reform. The president sought to use

Trump turns his full focus on Kamala Harris at first rally since Biden’s exit from 2024 race

By Meg Kinnard & Adriana Gomez Licon

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Donald Trump

unleashed a barrage of attack lines

Wednesday against his likely new opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he called his “new victim to defeat” and accused of deceiving the public about President Joe Biden ‘s ability to run for a second term. The rally in Charlotte, North Carolina marked his first public campaign event since Biden dropped out of the 2024 matchup and Harris became the Democrats’ likely nominee. The rally concluded minutes before Biden addressed the nation to explain he dropped his reelection bid to “pass the torch” to Harris, who is 22 years younger than him.

“So now we have a new victim to defeat: Lyin’ Kamala Harris,” Trump said, labeling her “the most incompetent and far-left vice president in American history.”

Trump called her a “radical left lunatic” and said she was “crazy” for her positions on abortion and on immigration. He also mispronounced her first name repeatedly, a denigrating approach to the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent likely to lead a major party’s presidential ticket.

Trump’s speech signaled the next stage for the campaign may be especially brutal and personal, even as some GOP leaders warned Republican allies not to use overtly racist and sexist attacks against Harris.

Trump has ramped up his criticism of the vice president since Biden’s abrupt departure, calling Harris “the same as Biden but much more radical.” He blamed her for what he portrays as the Biden administration’s failures, particularly security along the US-Mexico border. On Wednesday, the speakers who appeared on stage before the Republican nominee attacked Harris’ record on the border, highlighting she was tasked with leading a

the address to outline the stakes in the election, which both Biden and Harris have framed as a choice between freedom and chaos, but he tried to steer clear of overt campaigning from his official office.

“The great thing about America is here, kings and dictators do not rule,” Biden said. “The people do. History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America—lies in your hands.”

Biden was also making the case for his legacy of sweeping domestic legislation and the renewal of alliances abroad. But the way history will remember his time in office and his historic decision to step aside is intertwined with Harris’ electoral result in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the achievements of the Biden administration.

His advisers say he intends to hold campaign events and fundraisers benefiting Harris, whom Biden praised as “tough” and “capable,” albeit at a far slower pace than if he had remained on the ballot himself.

Harris advisers will ultimately have to decide how to deploy the president, whose popularity sagged as voters in both parties questioned his fitness for office.

Biden, aides say, knows that if Harris loses, he’ll be criticized for staying in the race too long and not giving her or another Democrat time to effectively mount a campaign against Trump. If she wins, she’ll ensure his policy victories are secured and expanded, and he’ll be remembered for a Washingtonian decision to step aside for the next generation of leadership.

Biden said he’s grateful to have served as president—nowhere else would a kid with a stutter grow up to sit in the Oval Office.

“I’ve given my heart and my soul

not committing to appearing at the debate currently on the books and saying he’d only agreed to debate Biden twice, not Harris.

White House effort to tackle migration issues. Harris’ name was met with boos several times during the speeches.

“She was assigned that, she was given that task, and she failed,” said Brandon Judd, former president of the National Border Patrol Council, the union that represents agents.

Trump also accused Harris of being just as responsible for Biden’s policies at the US-Mexico border, which saw illegal crossing arrests reach record highs at the end of 2023 and repeated his pledge to conduct mass deportations with the help of local police.

“Kamala’s deadly destruction of America’s borders is completely and totally disqualifying. She shouldn’t be allowed to run for president with what she’s done,” Trump told supporters.

Harris, meanwhile, spent Wednesday in Indiana, telling members of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta that “we are not playing around” and asked for their help in electing her president in November, an election she characterized as “a choice between two different visions for our nation, one focused on the future, the other focused on the past.”

Harris’ campaign released a statement after Trump’s speech describing it as “unhinged, weird and rambling.”

“Unity is over for Donald Trump,” said campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa, referring to unity pledges made during the Republican National Convention.

Harris is expected to make abortion a key part of her campaign, looking to present herself to voters as someone who will fight against abortion restrictions. Earlier this week, she said she “trusts women to make decisions about their own bodies.”

Trump has hedged on plans for an expected debate with Harris, first saying that he wanted Fox News, not ABC, to host the matchup he had originally scheduled for September with Biden. On Tuesday, Trump appeared to tweak that message again, saying on a call with reporters that he’d like to debate Harris “more than once” but

to our nation,” he said. “I’ve been blessed a million times in return.”

Press secretary Karine JeanPierre said Wednesday that any question of Biden resigning his office before the election—which would allow Harris to run as an incumbent—was “ridiculous.”

Jean-Pierre said Biden has “no regrets” about his decision to stay in the race as long as he did, or his

Quietly, Republicans have spoken about how subbing Harris in for Biden nullifies a portion of their party’s argument in favor of Trump’s vitality and vigor.

At 81, Biden would have been the oldest presidential nominee heading into a general election. Now, the 78-year-old Trump occupies that slot. Harris, 59, has launched a campaign that at least in some corners appears to be stoking interest among the younger voters who could be key in deciding an anticipated close general election.

Trump’s stop in North Carolina shows he’s concerned about keeping the state in his column this November, even as his team reaches for wins in traditionally Democraticleaning states like Minnesota, which Trump is set to visit on Saturday.

North Carolina is a state Trump carried in both his previous campaigns but by less than 1.5 percentage points over Biden in 2020, the closest margin of any state Trump won. Trump stumped heavily in North Carolina even as the Covid-19 pandemic wore on, while Biden largely kept off the physical campaign trail and did not personally visit the state in the last 16 days of the election.

This year, Trump had planned to hold his first rally since the start of his hush money trial in Fayetteville, but that event was called off due to inclement weather. Trump called in from his private plane instead.

Democrats also have been working to win North Carolina, where the party’s most recent presidential win was Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, despite recent GOP dominance.

Biden held a campaign event in Raleigh the day after his disastrous June debate with Trump. While he was much more forceful in that appearance than he was on the debate stage, it did not help much to quell the growing concern from members of his party about his ability to win the White House again.

Trump’s Charlotte event was his second campaign rally since a July 13 assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. Days later, Trump accepted the GOP presidential nomination and gave a speech at the Republican National Convention, where his ear—injured in the shooting—was bandaged.

decision to quit it over the weekend. She said Biden’s decision had nothing to do with his health.

Trump, who watched Biden’s remarks from his private jet, posted on his social media platform that the president “was barely understandable, and sooo bad!”

As he spoke inside the Oval Office, Biden was joined off-camera by family members, including his wife, Jill, son Hunter, daughter Ashley and several grandchildren. Hundreds of administration aides held a watch party in the White House and gathered in the Rose Garden afterward to hear Biden thank them for their service. Outside the gates, supporters of Biden gathered holding signs that read “We love Joe,” and a brass band played.

When the e nergy Regulatory Commission makes governance mistakes, distribution utilities like Meralco bear the brunt of consumer dissatisfaction. A recent incident involved Meralco retracting its rate adjustment in June due to the e RC’s directive for a staggered collection of generation charges from the Wholesale e lectricity Spot Market for May’s power supply. The staggered collection is scheduled to take place from July to September 2024. As a consequence, Meralco announced a significant power rate hike of P2.1496 per kilowatt-hour in July, up from P9.4516 per kWh in June. This increase will impact many consumers and likely cause significant resentment towards Meralco, even though the issue originated with the e RC’s governance lapses.

Meralco has unfortunately experienced governance failures from the e RC before, but what’s even more distressing is that a former e RC commissioner is now seeking to exacerbate the power distributor’s woes. This excommissioner has filed a petition with the Court of Appeals, arguing that the e RC’s decision to order Meralco to refund P40.5 billion is inadequate, claiming that the refund owed to consumers is four times that amount. h owever, a closer look reveals an even more distressing story.

As e RC commissioner from 2011 to 2018, including a stint as officer-incharge from 2015 to 2017, the petitioner was in a position of authority to address the very issues he is now highlighting. Yet, by his own admission, the e RC under his watch did not conduct a regulatory reset for Meralco or other power distributors during that time. This inaction directly contributed to the absence of a timely review and approval of electricity rates.

The irony is compounded by the fact that petitioner was the e RC’s oversight commissioner, responsible for presiding over public consultations and hearings related to rate-setting rules and regulations. The e RC’s failure to drive meaningful reforms during his tenure raises questions about his motives and commitment to consumer welfare.

Meralco’s response, while understandably defensive, points out the hypocrisy of the petitioner’s actions. It highlights his inaction during his tenure, questioning why he didn’t resolve these issues when he had the authority and opportunity to do so.

The company also points to his past involvement in administrative cases that were deemed anti-consumer, further undermining his credibility as a champion of consumer rights. For instance, the Ombudsman suspended him for one year for delaying the conduct of the competitive selection pro cess to secure power supply agreements, and another three months for his failure to issue rules or policies on bill deposits.

This situation exposes a disturbing pattern of inaction and account ability issues within the e RC. It raises broader questions about the effec tiveness of its regulatory oversight, and underscores the need for a more robust system of independent audits and oversight mechanisms to ensure that consumers are protected from unfair pricing practices. The e RC must be held accountable for its actions, or lack thereof, and ensure that its decisions are driven by the best interests of consumers.

Typhoons as acts of God

The power industry is a critical sector, and those entrusted with its regulation must be held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. The e RC, as the institution tasked with overseeing the industry, has a responsibility to ensure timely and effective regulation, not just when faced with public pressure.

The issues raised by the petition deserve a thorough investigation. h owever, the true test will be whether the relevant authorities, including the e RC and the courts, are willing to hold all parties, including former e RC commissioners, accountable for their actions and inactions that have ultimately impacted the pockets of Filipino consumers.

The people’s need to access reliable and affordable electricity is paramount, and the guardians of this system must be made to answer for their stewardship. Only then can we truly have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the power industry’s regulatory framework.

Atty. Dennis Gorecho

The Philippines is no stranger to natural disasters like earthquakes, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions.

Located along the Pacific Typhoon Belt, the Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons per year.  h eavy precipitation, intense wind, storm surge and landslides result in deaths or injuries to the population, damages to physical assets, machinery and capital equipment, crops and livestock, as well as to infrastructure facilities such as irrigation systems, roads, and bridges.

Some of the recent catastrophic typhoons that badly hit the Philippines include Frank (2008), Ondoy (2009), Pepeng (2009), Pedring (2011), Sendong (2011), Pablo (2012), Yolanda (2013), Glenda (2014), Lando (2015),  n ona (2015), Ompong (2018), Rolly (2020), Ulysses

817-2807. (Circulation) 893-1662; 814-0134 to 36. E-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com Printed by brown madonna Press, Inc.–Sun Valley Drive KM-15, South Superhighway, Parañaque,

(2020), Odette (2021), and Paeng (2022).

Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009 dumped around 445 millimeter of rainfall, which was equivalent to a full month of rain. It caused one of the worst floods to hit Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon, with 464 people killed and over 500 injured.

Typhoon Yolanda was the deadliest typhoon to have affected the country in recorded history, killing more than 6,300 people as it crossed the Visayas region in n ovember 2013.

The stronger typhoons carry more moisture, track differently, move faster and aggravated by sea level rise, one of the most certain consequences of climate change.

The Acts of God coverage in insurance policies started seeing popularity due to the devastation wrought by typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These incidents are also seen as wakeup call to get insured since the damages incurred from a natural catastrophe can significantly hurt an individual financially.

These are becoming more destructive and violent than before.

Fortuitous events, force majeure, or acts of God like typhoons can have significant legal implications in cases involving liability for damages or losses.

Article 1174 of the Civil Code of the Philippines defines fortuitous events as those which could not be foreseen, or which were foreseen but inevitable. The law further provides that no person shall be responsible for such fortuitous events and exempts from liability the person obliged to do or perform something.

An act of God has been defined as an accident, due directly and exclusively to natural causes without human intervention, which by no amount of foresight,

pains or care, reasonably to have been expected, could have been prevented.

In n akpil vs. United Construction Company (G.R  n o. l-47851, October 3, 1986), the Supreme Court underscored the elements of force majeure for exemption: (a) the cause of the breach of the obligation must be independent of the will of the debtor; (b) the event must be either unforeseeable or unavoidable; (c) the event must be such as to render it impossible for the debtor to fulfill his obligation in a normal manner; and (d) the debtor must be free from any participation in, or aggravation of the injury to the creditor.  If upon the happening of a fortuitous event or an act of God, there concurs a corresponding fraud, negligence, delay or violation or contravention in any manner of the tenor of the obligation, which results in loss or damage, the obligor cannot escape liability. n egligence is conduct that naturally or reasonably creates undue risk or harm to others. It may be the failure to observe that degree of care, precaution, and vigilance that the circumstances justly demand, or the omission to do something which a prudent and reasonable man, guided by considerations that ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do.

Dr. Leonardo A. Lanzona

In sum, the whole speech seemed to be just an array of hopes and dreams. could it be just a smokescreen to the overall mismanagement of the government? combining so-called achievements with reforms and programs might mislead people into thinking that the government has really done something.

these supply-side constraints that require long-term solutions. h owever, the speech then boasted that the government had implemented short-term measures, such as rice price caps and lower tariffs. Unfortunately, the government does not realize that such programs had effectively offset the productivityenhancing programs by disincentivizing local production. This is a classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. Smuggling control is meaningless because this administration is allowing the entry of imported goods anyway. Also, expanding Kadiwa stores would just

Antonio L. Cabangon Chua

“Gorecho,” A11

Mer A lco linemen repairing power lines in caloocan city.

AMICUS CURIAE

CrowdStrike’s tests failed to flag bug behind epic crash

By Katrina Manson, Ryan Gallagher & Michael Hennessey

CrOW dStrIke Holdings Inc., the cybersecurity company at the center of massive global It outages, said that a bug in a quality-assurance tool the company uses to check updates for mistakes allowed flawed data to go out to customers, causing last week’s meltdown.

On Friday, the company pushed through an update for Windows machines via a rapid-response mechanism, meant to respond quickly to changing threats. That update contained a critical flaw. CrowdStrike’s “content validator,” which is supposed to test updates for errors before they go out, malfunctioned and let the bug pass through, the company said in an incident report published on Wednesday.

That undetected error crashed Windows systems and kicked off one of the most spectacular rolling IT failures in history. The US company is trying to piece together the series of events that led to crashed Microsoft Windows computer systems around the world, taking down airline, banking and stock exchange operations from Australia and Japan to the UK.

Microsoft and CrowdStrike rolled out fixes last week, and many systems have been restored. But for several hours, bankers in Hong Kong, doctors in the UK and emergency responders in New Hampshire found themselves locked out of programs critical to keeping their operations afloat. More than 8.5 million Windows users were affected, according to Microsoft.

CrowdStrike said it’s working to improve Rapid Response Content testing in the future. A new check “is in process” in order to fix the faulty content validator. The company also said it would give customers greater control over how these updates are delivered onto their systems.

The company—which was criticized for mass-deploying the catastrophic update instead of starting with a smaller rollout that would’ve prevented widespread outages— also said it plans to stagger future updates via “canary deployments” which are tested piecemeal before bigger rollouts.

These updates will be a “vital step in mitigating any future risks” and could prove to be a useful model for similar companies and create better industry practices, said Nathan Oliver, chief information security officer at Microminder Cyber Security.

Still, the power that this mistake

Gorecho . . .

continued from A10

In National Power Corporation vs. Cruz (G.R. No. 96410, July 3, 1992), the Supreme Court stressed that the principle embodied in the act of God doctrine strictly requires that the act must be occasioned solely by the violence of nature. Human intervention is to be excluded from creating or entering into the cause of the mischief.

The Court added that when the effect is found to be in part the result of the participation of man, whether due to his active intervention or neglect or failure to act, the whole occurrence is then humanized and removed from the rules applicable to the acts of God.

In Sulpicio Lines vs Sesante (GR No. 172682 July 27, 2016) that involved the sinking of  M/V Princess of the Orient in 1998 due to

Remembering the flood

AMicrosoft and CrowdStrike rolled out fixes last week, and many systems have been restored. But for several hours, bankers in Hong Kong, doctors in the UK and emergency responders in New Hampshire found themselves locked out of programs critical to keeping their operations afloat. More than 8.5 million Windows users were affected, according to Microsoft.

had to hobble critical businesses and services worldwide last week has raised fears about the vulnerability of the global IT system, which is dependent on a handful of dominant tech companies.

“What I would still be concerned about, is these companies are such an intrinsic part of the global supply chain and global infrastructure,” said Saif Abed, a former doctor with the UK’s National Health Service and expert in cybersecurity and public health. “These fixes being proposed today are very particular, but they don’t necessarily provide me with an assurance that something of this catastrophic nature might not happen again for different reasons.”

CrowdStrike’s shares dropped nearly 30 percent in the aftermath of the outage, slashing billions of dollars from its market value. The US House Committee on Homeland Security requested an appearance from Chief Executive Officer George Kurtz and lawmakers called on him to explain how the company will mitigate risks of a similar incident in the future.

Shawn Henry, CrowdStrike’s chief security officer, apologized in a post on LinkedIn on Monday, saying that the company had “failed” its customers.

“The confidence we built in drips over the years was lost in buckets within hours, and it was a gut punch,” he said. Bloomberg

a storm, the Supreme Court said that while a common carrier may be relieved of any liability arising from a fortuitous event, the provision still requires exclusion of human agency from the cause of injury or loss. The Court noted that the immediate and proximate cause of the sinking of the vessel had been the gross negligence of its captain in maneuvering the vessel. The Acts of God coverage in insurance policies started seeing popularity due to the devastation wrought by typhoons, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. These incidents are also seen as wakeup call to get insured since the damages incurred from a natural catastrophe can significantly hurt an individual financially.

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786.

Tito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

t about 10 this morning, July 24, 2024, a colleague sent a message in our group chat: take care, guys. Wherever you are, stay safe. Outside, the two tall trees fronting us were bending still gracefully but I knew the harmony in their movements was deceiving. the wind was too strong to assure me of a lovely overcast day—that, which youthful imagination always dubs as “cuddle weather.”

The air reeked of a typhoon that was either leaving or arriving, or circling the land.

I responded back to my old friends: Stay dry and safe. I went further: Is this Ondoy all over again? This was the tropical storm, which caused record rainfall in most of the places in the country. During its onslaught, the reporting about the storm brought into our consciousness the notion of a “disorganized eye” of the storm. Whatever was the meaning of that, the flash flood that followed was enough for the meteorologist to declare the highest rainfall in recorded history for Metro Manila.

EDSA was closed because while you could be safe on top of the flyovers, the dirty waters were lapping at the ascending and descending parts of the bridge. People, we were told, were walking along EDSA. For

those with heavy luggage, you could see them bearing those heavy items on their head. The buses and taxis had stopped.

I remember where I was that day.

The night before, Sept. 25, 2009, the rain never stopped falling at all; in fact, the rains began on Sept. 24. I woke up the morning of Sept. 26 with the rain still around. Did it rain last night the whole time? It did, we recalled then.

I was dressed that morning formally in Barong Tagalog to attend the funeral of the mother of a dear friend. The Mass was going to be held then in the Church of Della Strada. I made it to the early morning ceremony. But an hour after, it was obvious many were coming late. The relatives of the family living in the southern and northern part of the city were not yet around. This was unusual because I knew the family

to be formal about certain functions, and a funeral was one of those functions. There must be a reason why these close relatives had not arrived yet in time for the final ceremonies.

Something was amiss outside that day. That was the feeling hovering over us.

The rain continued unabated. Soon the tiered gardens around the church began to look like small waterfalls, as the flood raged around the area.

There was no need to follow up on those kin. The closest relatives who were there decided fast: postpone the funeral.

I asked permission to leave, with a van as a service vehicle all to myself that day. I was staying then in Scout Chuatoco around the Morato area in Quezon City. Given the expected traffic, I advised my driver to take the C.P. Garcia peripheral road. From afar, I could see trucks turning around and, I could see more parked outside that street that bracketed the UP campus. There was another van that circled around the trucks and returned to the direction of Katipunan. The driver of that vehicle was kind enough to tell us that the peripheral road was impassable. Even for trucks? I was incredulous. The driver nodded. The flood was that high.

There was another option: take the Xavierville route and exit to Kamias. As we were approaching that street, we could see cars and vans turning around, returning to where we came from—the Katipunan area. But I persisted. Kamias was flooded but people—men, women, and children who were playing—were wading through the water. I was happy I could go home. But, upon reaching the Kalayaan Street, which bisects

Kamias, we, with the rest of the cars, stopped.

The intersection was flooded. I would not be cautioned. I told the driver to leave me at that juncture. I saw my plan. Wooded trailers, the kind used by scavengers, were ferrying people from our side of Kamias to bring them across, where there was dry land.

There was no turning back. I got out of the car and hailed one of the drivers of the pushcart. When they came closer, I realized it was a team of three. They asked me to remove my shoes, which were already wet at that time. I insisted on keeping them. I hopped into the cart, assisted by one of the burly men. They only had one instruction, that I held on tightly to where I was seated – a huge beam forming one of the four sides of the cart. Soon, my ship was moving. Hold tight please, the command was issued by the captain. I did. The flood had pushed up the cart, elevating me above the waves. I looked out to the other side of that street—the dry land of salvation. Some 15 or 20 people were standing, waiting for me. It felt like an eternity to cross that short distance. I knew we were on the other side because applause had issued from the crowd. I felt mighty as I stepped onto the ground. I became a PR for that crossing: take this, it’s quite comfortable. This is the only way for you to make it home. On the other side of that street, I saw a small store crowded by coffee-sipping men, like me, all wet. Inside, everyone was talking to one another. We were all friends under the stormy sky. One of the men was a cab driver, on his way to Morato. That’s where I live, I happily told him, my instant coffee a shorthand for instant friendship.

The world’s hunger problem is barely improving, UN says

By Agnieszka de Sousa

THE world has made little progress in combating global hunger as conflict, extreme weather and economic challenges restrict people’s access to food, according to the United Nations.

About 733 million people—or 9.1 percent of the global population— were undernourished in 2023, little changed for a third straight year, UN agencies said in a report Wednesday.

That’s still 152 million more than in 2019, putting the world off track to reach key goals, including zero hunger, by the end of this decade.

“While we have made some progress, improvements have been uneven and insufficient,” the UN said in the annual flagship study. “Vulnerable populations, particularly women, youth and indigenous peoples, are

Lanzona . . .

continued from A10

market share of smaller retailers or sari-sari stores that had existed before the pandemic. The complementarity between long-term and short-term solutions seems lost in this government.

Second, recent reforms and programs that this administration instituted were already presented as measures of success. If these were, indeed, successful, then why are we still facing problems in these sectors? Examples included the Unified Philippine Grid, which did not prevent the blackouts and energy outages this year. Private-Public Partnerships on waterways and airports were also cited, but travelers experience the usual grind of delays and cancellations. While the number of generic drugs in PhilHealth, the implementation of school feeding programs, and cash transfer programs (4Ps) were enhanced, human capital formation remained inadequate. Expanding Internet con -

More than 20% of people in Africa faced hunger last year, the largest proportion of the population among all regions. That compares with 8.1% in Asia and 6.2% in Latin America and the Caribbean. Still, Asia remains home to more than half of all those dealing with hunger. About 2.8 billion people—roughly a third of the world’s population—couldn’t afford a healthy diet in 2022, the latest year available for that particular metric, the UN said. Some improvements have been made in child and maternal nutrition. This includes lower rates of stunted growth and higher numbers of mothers who exclusively breastfed infants.

disproportionately affected.”

While hunger is still on the rise in Africa, it has remained relatively unchanged in Asia, according to the report. Latin America and the Caribbean have made notable progress in securing regular access to adequate food.

More than 20 percent of people in Africa faced hunger last year, the

nectivity, another reform, is not yet enough to improve the productivity of workers. Surely, such reforms exist because they are out there. The issue is whether these reforms were implemented successfully. Regulations and institutions must first be established before the positive benefits come. Even the banning of the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators will require institutional measures because the executive branch cannot just remove laws passed by the legislative branch. Furthermore, the regional disparities must be corrected first before these reforms can be fair and effective.

Third, these supposed achievements were juxtaposed with programs that are still in their initial phases. These include railway projects that are mostly located in urban areas, new airports, the modern Philippine General Hospital (PGH), and the newly instituted seafarers’ hub. None of these programs are fully operational. Nevertheless, these were presented along with so-called successful reforms even if these have not produced any results yet.

largest proportion of the population among all regions. That compares with 8.1 percent in Asia and 6.2 percentin Latin America and the Caribbean. Still, Asia remains home to more than half of all those dealing with hunger.

About 2.8 billion people—roughly a third of the world’s population—

Fourth, a substantial number of achievements cited cannot be attributed to this administration. Examples are the achievements of universities, the Olympic athletes, the graduates of 4Ps, and the developments in BARMM. These successes are “sariling kayod” (based on the individual efforts of these institutions, players, students, and schools). Surely, the government was there in the background, but these individually driven accomplishments could have been achieved under any administration. Still, these were mixed up with alleged accomplishments of the government that wants to take credit for them. One must give credit to whoever truly deserves it, i.e., the individual, not to any government program. In sum, the whole speech seemed to be just an array of hopes and dreams. Could it be just a smokescreen to the overall mismanagement of the government? Combining so-called achievements with reforms and programs might mislead people into thinking that the government has really done something. Even the

couldn’t afford a healthy diet in 2022, the latest year available for that particular metric, the UN said. Some improvements have been made in child and maternal nutrition. This includes lower rates of stunted growth and higher numbers of mothers who exclusively breastfed infants.  However, rising trends in adult obesity, and anemia among women aged 15-49 are worrying, the UN said. Increasing women’s access to financial services would help improve food security and nutrition for households and communities, it added. Overall, the number of undernourished people globally—defined as those regularly without enough calories to lead a normal and healthy life—is a midrange of estimates between 713 million and 757 million people. Bloomberg

reduction of poverty and unemployment were highlighted as achievements, but how permanent are these figures? Does making a family reach an income just above poverty threshold cause its members to be non-poor? Does giving a person a low-quality job make him better off? All these positives can be wiped out by inflation or a health crisis such as Covid, as shown by our recent history. Towards the end, some reference was made that the West Philippine Sea is not a figment of the imagination—probably a taunt to the previous administration that did not implement the arbitral rulings on the sea to our favor. Ironically, the whole SONA itself could be a figment of the imagination. The speech even ended with a quotation that seemed to have no bearing at all to the entire proceedings. To quote the First Gravedigger in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “‘Tis a quick lie, sir; ‘twill away again from me to you.”

Dr. Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr. is Professor of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila University.

ONE MERALCO FOUNDATION CHAMPIONS

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR THE FILIPINO YOUTH TOWARDS A BRIGHTER FUTURE:

EDUCATION is key in securing a bright future for the youth, but many Filipino students struggle to have access to learning opportunities due to financial limitations. For students living in off-grid and remote areas, inadequate power supply for classrooms also poses a big challenge for learning.

As part of its mission to provide solutions to the challenges faced by the country's education sector, One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), partners with various organizations including the Department of Education (DepEd), local government units (LGUs), and the private sector to implement programs for the education sector. This advocacy is rooted in the vision to foster partnerships for community development, harness capability of beneficiaries, and uplift the lives of Filipino families.

SCHOOL ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM

MOST schools located either in the mountains or in islands are not able to tap into a power source, making it difficult for students and teachers to maximize multimedia aids such as televisions to view educational videos or laptops for learning.

OMF has responded to these challenges through its School Electrification Program, through which it provides solar photovoltaic (PV) systems that supply power to school beneficiaries. This support enables students and teachers to use their laptops, TVs, printers, and scanners for interactive learning. Similarly, the teachers no longer have to travel to areas with electricity just to print activity sheets or test papers, increasing their productivity.

In 2023, a total of 10 public schools benefitted from OMF's School Electrification Program. These include Kboyong Elementary School in T'boli, South Cotabato, which has 134 students of tribal descent. These students endure a 6-hour travel via a motorcycle ride and a long walk just to go to school. OMF partnered with Lenovo Philippines to provide the learning community with laptops that

allow students to watch educational videos and connect to the internet for research purposes.

Blanga Elementary School in Sitio Blanga, Barangay Nalilidan in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat receives one of the laptops donated by Lenovo Philippines Inc.

Since 2011, OMF was able to provide solarpowered electricity to 300 public schools nationwide under its School Electrification Program, which has since benefitted more than 91,000 students and almost 3,000 teachers.

Electrification of schools is an essential step to ensure that students and teachers are able to utilize modern ways of learning and teaching. An energized school improves teaching conditions using multi-media teaching aids and empowers students to widen their knowledge and enrich their learning using technology. This does not only contribute to their individual progress, but also the development of the community and ultimately, the nation

- Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer and One Meralco Foundation President Jeffrey O. Tarayao

BALIK ESKWELA PROGRAM

PUBLIC school students gear up for the new school year with Balik Eskwela kits.

OMF and its partners also help thousands of public-school students prepare for the school opening through the Balik Eskwela Program.

Meralco employees, through the Meralco Employees Fund For Charity, Inc. (MEFCI), Meralco business centers, and Meralco subsidiaries jointly support the program by donating bags and other school supplies to student beneficiaries, making sure they are equipped to participate in class.

In the past years, OMF has handed out “Laging Handa” disaster preparedness kits for students, “Teacher Frontliner” backpacks for teachers during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and “Power Pack Kits” to provide student with lunch meal kits. Students from San Diego Elementary School in Quezon City received Balik Eskwela kits from OMF and the Meralco Internal Audit team.

In 2023, more than 3,400 kindergarten students have received the back-to-school kits, each including a backpack, a set of school supplies, and a hygiene kit.

A total of 44,000 students have benefitted from OMF’s Balik Eskwela Program which started in 2014.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN

OMF scholarships empower young people to acquire new skills which they can use for their chosen profession.

As a champion of diversity and inclusion, OMF also empowers women who aspire to pursue a career in the power industry. Through the “MpowHER” scholarship

program, OMF provides financial support to female electrical engineering students from partner schools such as Batangas State University, the University of the Philippines, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

In addition, OMF offers scholarships for aspiring female electrical technicians through its partnership with Don Bosco College Canlubang in Laguna that covered the technical vocational course on Electrical Installation and Maintenance and Mechatronics Servicing, a National Certificate II (NCII) Program. Since 2022, OMF has already supported 67 women scholars, some of which are now employees of Meralco.

In partnership with the Pasig City LGU and Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, OMF also supported deserving students from the LGU who aspire to become doctors. These scholars are expected to serve in the different public hospitals and health centers in Pasig once they complete their degree.

Recently, OMF, together with other non-profit organizations under the MVP Group and Full Phils Association Inc., has allocated an educational grant fund to help overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong to study through online learning. OMF walks along with Filipinos who dream of improving their lives and skills through quality education. It continues to implement initiatives and foster strong partnership with the government, schools, universities, and Meralco employees to help the Filipino youth build a future that they can look forward to.

STUDENTS of Kboyong Elementary School in T’boli, South Cotabato can now use electronic gadgets for easier learning after the installation of a solar PV system that provides electricity to the school building.

PUBLIC school students gear up for the new school year with Balik Eskwela kits.

STUDENTS from San Diego Elementary School in Quezon City received Balik Eskwela kits from One Meralaco Foundation and the Meralco Internal Audit team.

OMF scholarships empower young people to acquire new skills which they can use for their chosen profession.

BLANGA Elementary School in Sitio Blanga, Barangay Nalilidan in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat receives one of the laptops donated by Lenovo Philippines Inc.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Extreme weather fires up CIC earnings in Jan-June

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Concepcion industrial corp. (cic) on Thursday said its income in the first half doubled to p726.66 million from the previous year’s p350.3 million, on the back of its “well-executed” sales strategies, enhanced customer engagement, and strong market demand fueled by hot weather conditions.

Revenues in January to June rose by a third to P9.81 billion from the previous year’s P7.23 billion.

Rajan Komarasu, the company’s chief finance and operating officer, said the company achieved “a significant milestone” in the second quarter. “We have surpassed our prepandemic performance and set new record for sales and earnings. The hot weather worked in our favor, allowing us to solidify our market position and demonstrate the effectiveness of

our strategies, delivering on our commitments to stakeholders.”

For the April to June quarter alone, the company said its income also doubled to P540.96 million from the previous year’s P257.08 million.

Sales rose 6 percent to P5.97 billion, a 37-percent increase from the previous P4.35 billion.

Including its associate Concepcion Midea Inc., net sales of the group jumped by 46 percent year-on-year to P7.7 billion.

The consumer business division recorded P4.6 billion in net sales, a 42-percent year-on-year increase, driven by growth across all product categories.

Air conditioning product sales rose 43 percent due to increased demand during the dry season, while refrigeration product sales grew by 44 percent, fueled by strong demand for light commercial products and no-frost refrigerators.

Laundry product sales recov -

ered in the second quarter, posting a 49-percent increase compared to last year.

The commercial business, meanwhile, saw sales rising by 25 percent year-on-year to P1.4 billion. This was primarily due to higher sales of HVAC equipment, along with the timely delivery of elevator equipment and project advancements.

“This year has been a testament to the principle that opportunity meets preparation, and together, we have seized that opportunity with outstanding results. We prepared meticulously, focusing on channel execution, innovation, quality, and customer service,” Ariel Fermin, the company’s CEO, said.

Last year, the company recorded consolidated earnings of P667.3 million, 86 percent higher than the P358.06 million posted in 2022.

Net sales reached P14.7 billion, an 11 percent growth from the previous year’s P13.17 billion.

Filinvest to develop Baguio property

FILINVEST Hospitality Corp.

is set to develop a 730-square meter prime property in Camp John Hay in Baguio, after winning the bid for a six-year lease contract offered by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and John Hay Management Corp. (JHMC).

The official signing of the agreement took place last July 23, according to the subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corp.

Located along Sheridan Drive in Camp John Hay, the property is a stone’s throw away from Grafik Hotel Collection Baguio, a new hotel being built by the company that it topped off last month.

As a complementary offering, it plans to build a restaurant on the newly acquired space which was the former site of Cantinetta.

The new project, dubbed The Hay Diner, will reuse existing architec-

ACEN grants loan guarantee to subsidiary

ACEN Corp. has signed a P1.92-billion loan agreement with its subsidiary Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. to fund the latter’s capital expenditure (capex) for its solar power project in Zambales.

The capex is meant to finance Phase 3 of the San Marcelino solar power project with a capacity of 200 megawatts (MW).

Phase 3 is expected to be completed in the last quarter of next year.

“ACEN executed a loan agreement with Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. for P1,920,000,000.00 loan to fund the capital expenditure requirements for the San Marcelino Solar Power Project Phase 3 in San Marcelino, Zambales,” the power firm of conglomerate Ayala Corp. said in a disclosure to the stock exchange on Thursday.

Phase 1 (284MW) and 2 (101MW) of the solar power project are already injecting power into the grid since January. Lenie Lectura

‘PHL economy to get boost from 5G advancements’

THE Philippine mobile economy is poised for substantial growth, driven by advancements in 5G technology and an increasing digital transformation across various industries, according to the Mobile Economy Asia Pacific 2024 report of the GSM Association (GSMA).

According to the report, 4G and 5G will dominate the technology mix in the Philippines by 2030, accounting for 51 percent and 46 percent respectively; 2G will be virtually non-existent at one percent, while 3G will be at two percent.

The report showed that 5G will significantly eat the share of 4G from the current market mix. As of 2023, 4G accounts for 80 percent of the mix, while 5G is at a measly 6 percent; 3G is at 11 percent, while 2G is at 3 percent.

Local telcos have been ramping up their 5G networks in anticipation of greater demand for faster internet connections, a prerequisite for several digital applications and use cases, including enterprise-grade automated solutions.

ties for innovations such as smart factories, IoT-enabled products, and digital transformation initiatives.

The 5G technology is expected to add almost $130 billion to the Asia Pacific economy in 2030.

tural elements, redesigning with minimal changes to preserve the current structure’s Baguio charm.

Headroom, the lead design firm, aims to maximize Baguio’s cool temperature through passive cooling by utilizing the existing window openings. The design team also prioritized sustainability by installing supplementary inverted air conditioning units, LED lighting, water-efficient toilet fixtures and low-VOC paint.

“We envision this new project to become a valuable addition to Baguio’s vibrant restaurant scene. It also aligns with our plans to not only expand our hotels and resorts, but also our investment in new F&B [food and beverage] ventures,” said Francis C. Gotianun, Filinvest Hospitality’s first senior vice president.

Filinvest’s hospitality portfolio encompasses a diverse range of properties aimed at providing dis -

tinct experiences to guests. This new project will be the latest F&B venture of the group following the success of Baker J, a French-inspired café found in key cities and destinations.

Grafik Baguio is a 5,700-square meter, 256-room full-service hotel being constructed in accordance with the EDGE Green Building Program of the International Finance Corp. The company aims to showcase the hotel’s unique sustainable design by the first quarter of 2025.

“Our goal is to expand our business while enhancing the natural attractions of the Philippines, ultimately boosting the country’s tourism industry. We are excited for the chance to reinvigorate tourism activities in Baguio, and we are committed to doing it conscientiously to preserve the area’s beauty for generations to come,” Gotianun said.

“Camp John Hay is thrilled and

eagerly anticipates this new gastronomic experience, thoughtfully curated by Filinvest Hospitality,” Marlo Ignacio V. Quadra, president and CEO of JHMC, said.

“We are elated to partner once again with Filinvest Hospitality Corp. in bringing this new restaurant venture to Camp John Hay. With FHC’s expertise in providing exceptional customer experience, and its dedication to pay homage to Cordilleran heritage, we are sure this restaurant will make a mark in Baguio’s rich culinary scene and elevate the experience of tourists visiting John Hay,” said BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang.

VG Cabuag

SEC to regulate sale of property with rental deals

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is regulating the sale of properties with rental pool agreements amid the rising trend of real estate developers offering potential investment returns and additional income by renting out properties.

The agency issued Memorandum Circular 12, Series of 2024, on Securing and Expanding Capital in Real Estate Investment Transactions (SEC RENT).

SEC RENT provides the guidelines for the issuance of investment contracts, certificates of participation, profit-sharing agreements and other forms of securities issued by real estate developers and/or managers in relation to rental pool agreements.

Rental pool agreements refer to investment contracts in which a property developer sells or offers units in real estate projects such as condominiums, hotels, resorts or dormitories to prospective buyers, provided that they contribute the units to a rental pool managed and operated by the company or a third-party operator. Buyers in rental pool agreements typically receive a share in the real estate developer’s income earned by renting out the units to third parties. Such investment contracts, certificates of participation or participation in a profit-sharing agreement, fall under the definition of securities under Republic Act 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), which are required to be registered with the commission before they can be offered to the public. Under the guidelines, the real estate devel-

oper or manager should secure the necessary approvals from the SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department, Corporate Governance and Finance Department, Enforcement and Investor Protection Department, Office of the General Counsel, and Office of the General Accountant (OGA) before filing its registration statement with the Markets and Securities Regulation Department (MSRD).

The OGA will review the company’s financial statements to determine their compliance with Revised SRC Rule 68 and the Philippine Financial Reporting Standards and other relevant issuances of the SEC, after which the company will be given pre-evaluation clearance.

After completing the pre-filing activities, the company should submit the pre-evaluation clearance, SEC RENT Checklist form, SEC RENT Form and Prospectus, and all other required exhibits to the MSRD for pre-processing.

Once accepted for processing, the MSRD should initiate the 45-day review period upon the company’s payment of the necessary fees.

Upon favorable consideration by the SEC en banc of the registration statement, and the company’s subsequent compliance with additional requirements, the MSRD will issue an Order of Registration and/or Permit to Sell Securities to the Public.

The public offering of the securities will commence within 10 business days from the date of the effectivity of the registration statement. Otherwise, the registration statement will be cancelled. VG Cabuag

Subscriber penetration in the Philippines is also projected to rise from 73 percent in 2023 to 78 percent by 2030, while smartphone adoption is expected to increase from 86 percent to 92 percent.

The report, released on Thursday, projects that the mobile industry’s contribution to the Asia Pacific economy will exceed $1 trillion by 2030, with a significant portion of this growth driven by 5G technologies.

The deployment of 5G standalone (SA) networks is anticipated to boost various sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, and public administration. These industries are expected to leverage 5G’s capabili-

“The growth in Asia Pacific’s mobile internet usage over the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable and the region continues to innovate at a pace. Asia’s rapid adoption, and invention, of new mobile digital services is bringing new use cases to life, that the rest of the world can learn from,” said Julian Gorman, Head of Asia Pacific at the GSMA. The GSMA report also noted the ongoing challenge of addressing the digital divide in the region. Despite significant advancements, large segments of the population, particularly in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, remain unconnected. This “usage gap” is attributed to factors such as the high cost of devices and insufficient digital skills among older citizens.

In response to these challenges, the GSMA launched the APAC Fintech Forum, a new initiative aimed at bridging the gap between mobile network operators and the fintech and commerce sectors. The forum seeks to foster innovation and enhance online trust, enabling more inclusive participation in the digital economy. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Photo from www.globe.com.Ph

Young Filipino women top online taxpayers–report

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

FEMALE Millennials are the top online taxpayers driving economic growth, a report by online tax filing and payment platform operator Taxumo Inc. asserts.

Taxumo’s “2024 State of Online Taxation” report, Filipino women Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—accounted for the highest percentage in annual income tax filing in 2024 at 42.9 percent. About 10.6 percent are accrued to Filipino women belonging to Generation Z, or Gen Z—people born from 1997 onwards.

Income tax filed by gender also showed that females’ filings grew by 131 percent from 2020 to 2024.

Gen Z’s “growing economic influence” is displayed in their income filings which rose to 12.7 percent in 2024 from 9 percent in 2023, according to Taxumo.

“Gen Z’s rising participation reflects their adaptability and forward-thinking approach to economic engagement,” read the report.

None of the individuals in the “Rich” category have experienced a decline in their economic status, but 44 percent have broken out of their “High Income” status from the previous year becoming Newly Rich.

Harnessing the Value of Member Advisory Boards

By Octavio B. Peralta

“This indicates a strong presence of female representation in these younger generations within the socioeconomic spectrum,” the report read. The report added that Millennials remain the “backbone” of the online taxpayer demographic, accounting for 73.5 percent of income filings in 2024.

The report noted that income taxes filed by Filipinos through the Taxumo platform grew at 58.45 percent year-on-year signaling a trend towards digitalization and ease of compliance.

“This generation, born between 1981 and 1996, remains a critical driver of economic activity and tax revenue in the Philippines,” it said. Meanwhile, Gen-Z online taxpayers are also on the rise due to their early entry into the workforce and preference for digital solutions in managing their financial responsibilities.

In terms of socioeconomic class, poor taxpayers who considered being “Poor” last year remained “Poor” at 65 percent while 35 percent have moved down coming from the “Low Income” category.

Individuals in the Low Income category, or 41 percent, have experienced a decline in their socioeconomic status coming from a higher earning bracket while 40 percent have seen an improvement in their socioeconomic status.

Taxumo noted that informal employment remains a “significant” issue. The firm cited a report by private think-tank IBON Foundation Inc. that 41.6 percent of the workforce, or 20.4 million people, are engaged in informal work, such as domestic workers, selfemployed individuals and unpaid family workers.

“The prevalence of informal employment underscores the need for more robust economic policies and support systems,” Taxumo said. Moreover, service-oriented businesses, such as events management, travel agencies and social media agencies, dominate the online tax filings, with the information technology and technology sector showing substantial representation.

Tax filing deadline in ‘Carina,’ habagat-hit areas moved

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced it is extending several tax deadlines due on July 25 for taxpayers affected by Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

“Extended po ang deadline ng mga sumusunod na dues sa mga piling RDO na naapektuhan ng Bagyong Carina at Habagat,” Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said via a social-media post. [The deadline for the following are dues are extended in select Revenue District Office affected by Typhoon Carina and Habagat.]

The submission of the quarterly summary list of sales and/or purchases and/or importations by a value-added tax (Vat) registered taxpayer and the sworn statement

of manufacturer’s or importer’s volume of sales of each particular brand of alcohol products, tobacco products and sweetened beverage products for the quarter ending June 30, 2024, are moved to endJuly 2024.

The filing and payment, both electronically or physically, of BIR Form 2551Q (Quarterly Vat Return) and BIR Form 2551Q (Quarterly Percentage Tax Return) for the quarter ending June 30, 2024, are also extended until July 31, 2024.

The RDOs covered by the deadline extension are those in Region 3, such as Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Angeles and Olongapo. RDOs in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon Province under Region 4A are also included

DICT: Banning POGOs a key step vs curbing cybercrime

THE government’s total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) is a critical step toward curbing cybercrime in the country, believes Information and Communications Technology

Secretary Ivan John E. Uy.

Speaking at the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Briefing last Wednesday, Uy emphasized that shutting down POGOs will hinder the activities of cybercriminals. He added the latter have been exploiting Pogo locations as fronts for their illicit operations.

“In many instances, a lot of these scamming syndicates are operating behind legitimate Pogo operations. And so it’s definitely a welcome announcement when the President announced [in] his Sona of finally banning Pogo; it will now make our lives easier because we have been tracking a lot of these scammers or operating behind these operators,” he said.

Last Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) “to wind up and cease operations of Pogos by the end of the year.” Marcos also directed the Department of Labor and Employment to help affected countrymen find jobs.

“By finally cutting the umbilical cord, there will be lesser opportuni-

ties for them to utilize those same bandwidth, those same technology, in scamming and in defrauding our people,” Uy said.

Over the past few years, the Philippine government has faced a significant number of cyberattacks, primarily targeting its digital infrastructure and online services. These attacks have varied in scope and sophistication, often attributed to geopolitical tensions and cybercriminal activities.

These include hacks on the systems of several government agencies, even the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) itself. According to Marcos, the government would beef up its cyberdefense through the roll out of a National Cybersecurity Plan, which would serve as the blueprint to safeguard the country’s systems against cyberattacks.

The President has directed agencies to ensure that the speed and quality of the country’s IT development “mirrors the pace and trajectory of our economic aspirations.”

According to Uy, the DICT is doubling down on its efforts against cybercriminals as the agency has partnered with different counterparts in countries such as the US and Japan for knowledge and technology exchange. Lorenz S. Marasigan

in the deadline extension.

The tax deadline on July 25 in all RDOs in all cities of the National Capital Region (NCR) is pushed to July 31, 2024.

Lumagui also announced that RDO 1 to RDO 10 in Region 1 and Region 2 are added to RDOs covered by the deadline extension by the declaration of the local government.

Lumagui said the BIR chief will formally issue a Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) in the following days concerning these matters.

Notably, the revenue collections of BIR in the first half of the year fell short of the government’s midyear revenue assumptions. The BIR generated P1.36 trillion from January to June this year, missing the mid-year program of P1.40 trillion

by 2.92 percent or P41 billion.

Despite this, Lumagui said the BIR posted a double-digit increase, or 11.72 percent, compared to the P1.219 trillion collected in the same period in 2023.

The BIR chief expressed confidence in reaching the tax agency’s target of P2.848 trillion full-year revenue goal on the back of taxing vape products and online sellers.

In June 2024, the BIR collected P172.5 billion, up by 4.71 percent from the P164.7 billion collected in June 2023.

The BIR targets to generate P331.305 billion in July this year.

This month, the BIR aims to collect the second-highest collection goal for the year; the highest was in April pegged at P405.948 billion.

Reine Juvierre Alberto

GSIS, SSS members in calamity areas offered loans

STATE-run fund managers Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Social Security System (SSS) will be providing emergency and calamity loans to assist their members affected by Typhoon Carina and the Southwest Monsoon (habagat).

In a statement, GSIS said it allotted P18.5 billion in emergency loans to assist over 860,000 members and pensioners in regions declared calamity areas.

GSIS said members and pensioners impacted by the typhoon and habagat may apply for emergency loans from July 26 to October 28, 2024. GSIS members and pensioners without existing loans may apply for up to P20,000. Those with existing emergency loan balances may borrow up to P40,000 to enable them to clear their previous loans and receive a maximum net amount of P20,000.

Active GSIS members, with a net take-home pay not less than P5,000, must not be on unpaid leave, have no pending administrative or legal cases and made at least six months’ worth of premium payments to qualify for the loan.

For old-age and disability pensioners, a net monthly pension of at least 25 percent of their gross pension after deducting the amortization of the loan is needed to be

eligible for the loan.

Eligible members may apply online through the GSIS Touch mobile app or file their application through the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks in all GSIS branches, major government offices and selected malls.

Calamity loan

MEANWHILE, the SSS said it will also be providing calamity loan assistance to its members in areas declared under a state of calamity.

Members may borrow a loan equivalent to one monthly salary credit or up to a maximum of P20,000. SSS President and CEO Rolando L. Macasaet was quoted in a statement as saying the SSS will always be ready to assist members in typhoon-affected areas.

“We want to assure them that in times of calamities, they can rely on SSS to provide them the needed financial assistance as they recover from Typhoon Carina,” Macasaet said in the statement.

SSS members must have at least 36 monthly contributions, six of which must be posted within the last 12 months before the month of filing of application, living or residing in the declared calamity area and below 65 years old at the time of loan application. Reine Juvierre Alberto

ON the invitation of the Tourism Promotions Board, the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism, I presented on the topic “Maximizing the Value of Client Advisory Boards” at the MICECON 2024 held recently at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

MICECON is short for MICE Conference, the country’s premier and biggest gathering of professionals in the meetings, incentive travels, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Over 700 attendees from here and overseas joined the threeday event themed, “MICE XD: Xperience Diversified.”

An advisory board is defined as a group of key and diverse individuals who represent different segments of an organization’s stakeholders, assembled to provide strategic advice, feedback, and insights on various aspects of the organization’s business, products, or services.

There are at least three kinds of advisory boards that share many similarities and often serve overlapping purposes but are tailored to specific context and types of relationships, namely, client advisory boards, customer advisory boards, and member advisory boards. I will cover member advisory boards as it relates to associations.

A member advisory board (MAB) is commonly found in associations, nonprofits, and member-based organizations. Its participants are members of the organization, such as those who pay dues or have joined the association for specific benefits. Usually, this board focuses on program and service improvement, member engagement, policy recommendations, and community building. An example is a professional association creating a MAB to get input on professional development programs and member benefits from its diverse membership.

Benefits of a MAB include the following:

1. Enhanced member engage -

SBy Roderick L. Abad Contributor

INGAPORE-headquartered

Oona Holdings Pte. Ltd. has launched its “critical illness” insurance product against fatal illnesses for less than $3 a year.

Through Oona lnsular lnsurance Corp. (formely Mapfre lnsular lnsurance Corp.), the package offers bundling coverage for all three critical illnesses starting from P145 (about $2.47 at current exchange rates) per year, as well as a stand-alone package for each illness beginning at P51 annually only.

“At Oona, we believe quality insurance should be a right for all. We are excited to introduce Oona Critical Illness insurance to Filipinos. With real-time policy issuance and 100-percent of the coverage amount paid in cash, customers can use the funds for hospital bills, daily expenses or any other needs. This financial support al -

ment. By involving members in decision-making processes, associations can increase engagement and loyalty.

2. Diverse perspectives. A wellcomposed MAB provides a broad range of perspectives, ensuring the association’s actions reflect the diverse needs of its membership.

3. Improved programs and services. Direct feedback from members helps to tailor programs and services more effectively to meet their needs.

4. Stronger community. The MAB fosters a sense of community and belonging, as members feel their voices are heard and valued.

5. Strategic insights. Members can provide valuable insights into industry trends and emerging issues, helping the association to stay ahead. The size of a MAB can vary but usually ranges from 10 to 20 members to ensure manageable and productive discussions while covering a broad spectrum of perspectives. Board members usually serve fixed terms, often one to two years, with the possibility of renewal. Staggered terms can be used to maintain continuity.

Member responsibilities include attending regular meetings (e.g., quarterly or bi-annually) and actively participating in discussions, providing honest and constructive feedback on various aspects of the association, and acting as ambassadors for the association, helping to communicate goals and initiatives to the broader membership.

A MAB is a strategic tool that allows associations to leverage the insights and expertise of their members to drive better organizational decisions, enhance service offerings, and build stronger member relationships.

Octavio Peralta is founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” PCAAE will hold its 12th Associations Summit at the PICC on November 27, 2024. The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

lows them to concentrate on what truly matters: their treatment and recovery,” said Oona Insular Insurance President and CEO Ramon L. Zandueta.

The package provides coverage for three main causes of sickness and fatality nationwide: cancer, heart attack and stroke, referred to as noncommunicable diseases. Cancer remains a leading cause of death, with lung, breast and colon cancers being the most common. Likewise, heart disease and stroke are among the most fatal diseases, significantly impacting the quality of life and financial stability of many families.

Recent data show an upsurge of incidence of these diseases among younger populations. The Department of Health has noticed a worrying trend where cases of critical illnesses are no longer common to older adults but are increasingly diagnosed in younger individuals.

By Eugenia Last

❸

HAVING had to recently attend back-to-back conferences in Cebu, then in Manila, I was able to check out one of the coolest hotels in Newport City, Pasay.

The 460-room Belmont Hotel Manila, a homegrown brand of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, sits almost across the ballroom of a nearby hotel, where I was to then cover a major summit of sales and marketing professionals.

As I was checking in, having arrived from a hellishly early morning flight from Mactan, I noticed the long queue of guests entering the hotel’s main dining area, Café Belmont, to have breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised that many of them were foreign guests, considering it was already months after the peak balikbayan travel season when homecoming Pinoys bring their foreign partners or friends, and Americanized/Europeanized children for a visit to the native land.

Frankly, outside of two major international conferences I had attended in Manila in 2022 and recently in Cebu, I hadn’t seen large groups of foreign leisure travelers congregating in one space since before the pandemic. But I’m guessing Belmont’s strategic location—being near major event spaces and its proximity to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia)—makes the hotel a wise option for many travelers. In fact, the hotel is a short walk

away from Naia 3 via “Runway Manila,” a bridge that connects said terminal to Newport City. So super convenient.

Belmont Manila has everything I needed in a business hotel. The first room I was booked in was compact but made great use of the space. It featured a firm but comfortable queen bed, and a desk with the correct height that won’t leave you with a crick in your neck when typing on your laptop, which doubled as a makeup area with adequate lighting, and a coffee/tea space. It has a strong, no nonsense Wi-Fi connection, accessible in all parts of the hotel.

The bathroom was a bit too small for me, but was adequate enough for a regular-sized shower area, a sink for stationing a limited number of toiletries, and the toilet itself.

But the best feature of that room was its floor-toceiling window with an amazing view of the airport.

Oh my. I had to use all my powers to peel myself away from the window and run to the conference I was supposed to attend, as I was so mesmerized with the view of the parked aircraft, and the planes readying their taxi to the runway. It was like a promise of an escape from life’s worries, especially as I espied vehicles slowly moving along the skyway just outside the terminal.

I missed that view when, upon returning from the conference I had attended, I found out I had been moved to a suite. The upside was the suite was definitely more spacious as it had a living room, with a sofa on which I comfortably esconced myself as Bailey Bear and I watched the CNN Presidential Debate the next morning, after breakfast. The suite also featured a Nespresso machine, which quickly whipped up a post-brekkie cup of coffee for me.

I was only too glad I had a sufficient and tasty meal at Café Belmont—shakshouka (eggs poached in tomatoes) was available at the buffet—despite the unpalatable performances from Lolo Joe and Valdetrump. And the debate did make me sorry I

didn’t choose to swim in the hotel’s inviting pool on the rooftop instead, where I envied the kids who shloshed in its cool waters under the noonday sun.

Later in the day, disatisfied with the food choices in the convenience stories and cafes on the ground floor outside the hotel, I returned to Café Belmont for lunch. And I was glad I did as I savored its Lechon Kawali (crispy fried pork belly) with atchara (pickled papaya) and garlic rice on the side. Though the dish came with its own lechon liver sauce, the amiable waitstaff was only too happy to get me a dipping sauce of soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi, with minced garlic and bird’s eye chili mixed in. Yum! For P580, it was tremendous value for money.

I suppose I had a good appetite that day as my stay in Belmont gave me a relaxing respite from what had been a super hectic week. I had managed to snag a 90-minute massage the evening before, from the inhouse spa, B Calm Spa. The experienced hands of the therapist kneaded out those knots from my shoulders and back. The massage was quite relaxing that I heard myself snore almost immediately. It was just the apropos remedy to indeed calm me and put me in a restful sleep.

At the lobby, where I waited for my hired car to bring me home to Quezon City the next day, I admired the display of some artwork using paint made of coffee, and tittered at the whimsical lighting fixture of tiny glass umbrellas hanging from ceiling of the guest services area. These lent a stylish and chic flair to the hotel’s entryway.

Alas, my stay was too brief, but still I was grateful for the pleasant break from work. Bailey is now at home and is a constant reminder for me to take regular pauses to remove myself from grind and just enjoy periods of nothingness, however fleeting.

Belmont Hotel Manila is located at the Newport Boulevard, Newport City. For inquiries and reservations, call 5318-8888 or e-mail info@ belmontmanila.com. ■

GEMINI

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Use your imagination, and implement discipline and common sense to ensure you develop a winning combination that fits your budget and allows you to use your expertise to control whatever situation you encounter.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Offer to help, but don’t let anyone take advantage of you. Consider where your skills and experience will make the most impact. Plan an outing that encourages meeting people of interest or offers insight into how you can make a difference in your community. Romance is favored. ★★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Slow down, smell the roses, think, reflect and consider the outcome of your words or actions. Look for opportunities to upgrade, learn something new and enhance marketability. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Let your insight, kindness and intellect carry their weight in social settings. Refrain from letting anyone bait you into an argument; instead, allow everyone to have opinions and preferences. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take pride in how you present yourself. Be true to yourself, speak from the heart and be kind. The gestures you make will set the tone for what’s to come. A pleasant, entertaining demeanor will stifle negativity and encourage a positive response. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Misinformation, trust and indecisiveness weigh heavily on your decisions. Don’t feel bad for making others wait if it helps you avoid a terrible mistake. Choose your words wisely and let your instincts direct your actions. ★★★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You may crave change, but check your motives before you initiate your next move. Don’t allow your emotions to dictate or encourage you to ignore the truth. Call an expert for sound advice before engaging in a joint venture. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Choose to revamp your lifestyle, or remodel or construct a space that encourages you to explore projects you enjoy most. Set high standards regarding personal contacts and surround yourself with people who enhance your life instead of those holding you back. Romance is on the rise. ★★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Know not to make a move when uncertainty prevails. Sit tight, regardless of what others do and observe. There are lessons to learn, and taking time will lower stress while you figure out what and who is important to you. ★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are kind, astute and ambitious. You are precise and benevolent.

Toronto

Film Festival lineup includes movies from Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, more

THE Angelina Jolie-directed war film Without Blood, a documentary about Bruce Springsteen and Mike Leigh’s contemporary tragicomedy Hard Truths will have their world premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival this fall. The festival announced its gala and special presentation lineup Monday.

Jolie’s film stars Salma Hayek and Demián Bichir and is based on the Alessandro Baricco novel Without Blood. The Springsteen film, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band charts behind the scenes of his world tour. Leigh’s film, his first in six years, has him reuniting with his Secrets & Lies star Marianne Jean-Baptiste.

Also announced were the world premieres of Gia Coppola’s The Last Showgirl, starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista and Kiernan Shipka, and Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut The Fire Inside about the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. Barry Jenkins wrote the screenplay. Edward Burns has a new film, Millers in Marriage with Minnie Driver and Morena Baccarin, as does David Mackenzie with the thriller Relay starring Riz Ahmed and Lily James. Jennifer Lopez costars in the Ben Affleck-produced sports drama Unstoppable about American wrestler Anthony Robles. And Hugh Grant leads the eerie Scott Beck and Bryan Woods-directed A24 pic Heretic

One year after TIFF went on through the actors strikes, the star power has returned to the prestigious film festival which helps inform the conversation around the season’s awards hopefuls.

Focus Features will play its Edward Bergerdirected, and Ralph Fiennes-starring papal thriller Conclave at the festival. But it won’t be the world premiere for Conclave—that event will likely happen at either Venice or Telluride, which have yet to announce their full lineups. The studio will also bring Piece by Piece to TIFF, Morgan Neville’s Pharrell Williams documentary told with LEGOs. More TIFF films will be announced in the coming weeks, as will the lineups for other important fall festivals including Venice, Telluride and New York Film Festival.

TIFF kicks off on September 5 and runs through September 15. AP

‘The Parades’: In life after death

No, absolutely nothing No, I regret nothing

T—from Edith Piaf’s song

HIS is where those who die with regrets go, so says the dead bar hostess to the young mother who perished in a tsunami.

For the Catholics, this could be purgatory.

But in this Japanese film The Parades, in that violent act of washing off sins, happens; only this act of coming to terms not with death but with a life one has lived. In some press releases, the film is described as a supernatural thriller. This is unfair. It does not only banish the singularity of the narrative; it also presumes so many things about the difference between the real and the unreal and leads us to a deadend: Be afraid. Be very afraid of ghosts.

But this is precisely where the charm and magic of the film The Parades lies: how it offers us a new and, whether you take it or leave it, hopeful way of looking at death, or that which can be found at the terminus of life. Which is not final and executory.

The sea figures greatly and grandly in the film (the drone shots of the sea are terrifying yet spiritual). In the absence of a god, the sea is almighty and omnipresent. It is there at the opening at what appears to be a memory of someone calling out to a beloved. Later, we would get to know more about this loving arm reaching out to someone running towards it. Then we see the waves overwhelming a figure, which ends on the shore. The person is Minako. She is one of the survivors of a huge earthquake and the massive tidal waves that engulfed the human communities along their path.

Minako is alive. But her son, Ryo, is missing. She manages to get up to begin her search for her son. It is when Minako has begun to walk that we see her—a lonesome figure amid the rubbles. She shouts for help but it seems the rescue teams hovering around the area cannot see her. Or they ignore her. She walks to where the journalists are—Minako is [was] one of them. She runs to her senpai (literally, senior) but she is not able to touch her. This is one of the first giveaways in the film. But it is her luck that somebody finally “sees” her and brings her to a place. There in that magical place where a ferris wheel is eternally lighted, ready to turn around to bring life to everyone, Minako meets other people. All of them are like her.

All of them are there because all of them have regrets. She meets Kaori, the Mama-san, warm

and motherly, ever ready to serve one’s drink or favorite cocktails. Minako is irritated first by him but soon becomes fond of Michael, an ex-producer who exemplifies a person with a huge unfinished business—an unfinished film and a love unexpressed. Two young men are in the group: a former yakuza, Katsu, who has left a young “wife,” and a handsome amiable man, Akira, who spent his life in bed, sick. There is Tanaka, a mysterious gentleman only because he seldom speaks, only to be revealed halfway as the guardian of those who qualify to move to “the other side.”

Halfway through the tale, a young high school girl arrives. She, by way of her own memories, brings us back to a sad, bullied life.

All of them have regrets. What happens if one does not resolve one’s regrets? Minako writes this question as she begins to come to terms with that halfway place between hell and heaven (but of course I am imposing my Christian categories, and so apologies).

But there is no apology to the surplus of enchantment present in this film called The Parades The scenes between the young yakuza as he spies on his young wife—ever sad and ever lovely. When he sees that the wife has found a good man as a partner, the young yakuza loses his sadness and regrets even as he remains confident as the hotter lover. On the poignant side, Akira has one regret: that he did not

recognize his father’s love for him while he was still alive. He thought his father found him a weak and useless son, unfit to be a farm boy. He is wrong. In that place, which is a cross between an enchanted circus and a court of appeals, he looks back at the world of the living and finds his father doing what he likes best to do—to write and to use one’s imagination. And yet, nothing can outdo the enthralling ritual when there is a full moon. This is the time when all the inhabitants of that unseen world participate in a parade, where everyone helps in finding those missing in the life of the infinitely living. The ritual is simple: if you are seen by these people walking in the pale light of the moon, then you have left the world of the living.

The Parades has a stellar cast, which includes Masami Nasagawa as Minako, with several awards to her name; Shinobu Terajima as Kaori (Silver Bear award for Best Actress in the Berlin Film Festival for Wakamatsu Kōji’s Caterpillar in 2010); Lily Franky as Michael (Best Actor for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Shoplifters, Palme D’Or in 2018 Cannes); Kentaro Sakaguchi as Akira (multi-awarded including the Japan Academy Film Prize); Ryusei Yokohama (Japan Academy Film Prize, among many other awards); and Nana Mori (also has string of awards to her name).

Written and directed by Michihito Fujii, The Parades is streaming on Netflix. n

FROM the successes of Encantadia, Amaya, Sahaya, Legal Wives, and Maria Clara at Ibarra, GMA Network presents the most important Philippine TV series of 2024, Pulang Araw Premiering on primetime on GMA this July 29, the family drama boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Barbie Forteza as Adelina dela Cruz, Sanya Lopez as Teresita Borromeo, David Licauco as Hiroshi Tanaka, and Alden Richards as Eduardo Dela Cruz, with Dennis Trillo in a very special role as Col. Yuta Saitoh. Pulang Araw is poised to capture the hearts of viewers both locally and internationally, as it will also be available on Netflix Philippines today, marking a first for the network. Global Pinoys can also catch it via GMA Pinoy TV beginning July 29. Set during World War II, Pulang Araw traces the intertwined lives of four childhood friends—Eduardo, Teresita, Adelina, and Hiroshi. As war ravages their homeland and Japanese forces occupy the country, their dreams, friendships and loyalties are tested, leading them on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Alden shared the emotional challenges he faced with his character, Eduardo: “May reality aspect ang Pulang Araw. Nangyari siya talaga. Ang mahirap sa akin is kung paano kumalas sa trauma. Paulit-ulit tumatakbo sa isip ko na dinanas ito ng mga kapwa nating Pilipino. It’s very emotional and disturbing kahit inaarte lang namin, ramdam namin ’yung trauma. That’s why I consider this as one of my most important projects because we will be telling the untold legacy of the Filipinos during World War II.” Meanwhile, Barbie teased her fans that they will be seeing a different side of her in the series. According to her, “Sa umpisa kahit hindi sila nabigyan ng marangyang buhay ng kanyang Kuya Eduardo, ang saya nilang magkapatid na parang nasa kanila ang lahat. Kitang-kita mo ’yung pagkabata ni Adelina hanggang sa nabuo ang pangarap niyang maging vaudeville star kasama ang kanyang Ate Teresita. Kaya hindi

mo aakalain na kakayanin niyang lumaban sa giyera. Lalaban si Adelina.” Sanya, on the other hand, highlighted how her role taught her to never give up: “I was given the privilege na makausap nang personal ang dating comfort women. Ramdam mo ang sakit na pinagdaanan nila, sobrang sariwa pa rin sa isip nila. Malaking bagay na mai-share natin ito sa viewers dahil marami silang matututunan. Minsan may mga problema tayo na akala natin sobrang hirap na, pero hindi natin nakikita na may mas mabigat pang pinagdaanan ’yung ibang tao. Kung sila nga hindi sumuko, bakit ka susuko, ’di ba? ” David also mentioned how the series pushed him to level up his acting skills: “Si Hiroshi, marami siyang internal conflicts. It’s like a battle between the head and the heart. Pipiliin ba niya ’yung mga mahal niya sa buhay, ’yung pamilya niya at si Adelina o ’yung obligasyon niya sa bansa kung saan siya nagmula? Very challenging talaga ’yung role, napakahirap ng teleseryeng ito kaya pagpasok ko rito, marami akong ginawang preparations.” Pulang Araw features some of the most respected artists in the industry, including Angelu de Leon, Epy Quizon, Robert

ALDEN RICHARDS SANYA LOPEZ

BARBIE FORTEZA

DAVID LICAUCO

ANGELINA JOLIE

DBP feted by international body for renewable energy facility

STATE-OWNED Development

Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has been recognized by an international body of development financing institutions for its pioneering financing facility that focuses on the development and growth of the renewable energy sector, a top official said.

DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Michael O. de Jesus said that the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) conferred DBP the award of merit for the Bank’s Solar Merchant Power Plant (SMPP) Financing Program, which supports utility-scale solar power developers and bolster overall investment in renewable energy projects.

“DBP is thrilled to receive this latest recognition from the ADFIAP as it validates our untiring efforts to support the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for cheap and reliable energy through the promotion and utilization of renewable energy sources,” de Jesus said.

DBP is the 10th largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small, and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.

The ADFIAP serves as the focal point of all development banks and

other financial institutions in the AsiaPacific region with a membership of 90 institutions in 40 countries. Its annual ADFIAP Awards recognizes memberinstitutions that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to sustainable development practices and initiatives.

De Jesus said the SMPP Financing Program provides funding for solar power developers intending to sell electricity through the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market for eligible projects such as construction and expansion of infrastructure facilities and acquisition of

machinery and equipment.

He said DBP expects the program to contribute meaningfully towards the attainment of the National Government’s goal of generating 15,304 megawatts of power from renewable energy sources by year 2030 under the flagship National Renewable Energy Program.

“This latest acknowledgment from ADFIAP further motivates the men and women of DBP to continue working together in financing projects that help harness the country’s natural energy resources,” de Jesus stated.

Globe Business sets stage for Open Finance with ‘Breakthrough’ webinar series

that your businesses need to succeed with your Open Finance journey,” said KD Dizon, Head of Globe Business.

“As we embark on this journey of exploration and discovery, let us open our minds to the possibilities that lie ahead. We at Globe Business are truly excited to empower Filipino businesses with innovation that propels businesses towards growth and drives financial inclusion in the country,” she added.

The webinar addresses specific needs of diverse subsegments within the finance sector, including banking and non-banking institutions, cooperatives, microfinance, insurance, and pawnshops.

This targeted approach ensures that the solutions and strategies discussed are applicable and actionable for businesses at various stages of digital maturity, tailoring insights to the unique challenges and opportunities each segment faces.

Ayala Land Taps Seasoned Hotelier to Lead Hospitality Expansion and Renovation

AYALA Land, Inc. (ALI) continues to signal its commitment to the hospitality industry by appointing George Aquino as the President and CEO of Ayala Land Hospitality. Aquino, a seasoned hotelier, brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as Vice President and Managing Director of AHC Hospitality, a prominent hotel and resorts management company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States.

Aquino’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as the company aims to double its room inventory across its hotels and resorts portfolio to 8,000 by 2028.

Ayala Land Hospitality owns and manages a diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts, including the renowned El Nido Resorts in Palawan. Pangulasian, Lagen, and Miniloc form the trio of ecosanctuary resorts in Bacuit Bay which have been recognized for their commitment to sustainability and their ability to provide guests with unforgettable experiences amidst the natural beauty of the region.

Under Aquino’s leadership, the renovation of the 51-room Lagen Resort is a top priority. The resort temporarily closed last June 1, 2024, for a major upgrade of its facilities and amenities, aimed at transforming the property into a brandnew luxury resort that will reopen in 2025.

The renovation of Lagen Resort is part of Ayala Land Hospitality’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence in the hospitality sector and provide guests with exceptional experiences that cater to evolving preferences and expectations. In addition to this, Aquino will also lead renovation of existing properties to ensure they meet current global standards.

Aquino’s impressive credentials and diverse background made him the ideal candidate to lead Ayala Land Hospitality’s ambitious growth plans. As a teenager, Aquino migrated to the United States, where he pursued a multifaceted education, studying journalism, interior design, and food & beverage. He later completed the prestigious Advanced Management Program at the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, further honing his skills and knowledge in the hospitality industry.

Over the course of 36 years, Aquino built an extensive career in the hospitality industry in North America and Caribbean, holding various leadership roles and gaining valuable experience. However, his heart remained in the Philippines, and he made the decision to return home to fulfill his lifetime goal of redefining the future of Filipino hospitality. Aquino was appointed as President and CEO of Ayala Land Hospitality in May 2024.

Ayala Land Hospitality also owns and manages Huni Resort in El Nido, Palawan and Sicogon Island; and Seda Hotels, which currently has 12 properties around the Philippines. Completing their hotel portfolio are Raffles Makati, Fairmont Makati, Holiday Inn & Suites, and Mandarin Oriental Makati which will open in 2026.

“Globe

The series kicked off with insights from Anatoly “Jing” Gusto, Bank Officer V of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas; Imelda “Ida” Tiongson, President and CEO of Opal Portfolio Investments; and Alan Ainsworth, Open Finance Lead of the Cambridge Judge Business School. Each speaker brought a unique perspective on the framework’s principles, its potential for innovation, and the practical challenges of adoption.

The discussions showed that financial institutions actively seek opportunities for upskilling to close gaps in their operations or discover innovative approaches to enhance their existing technology programs.

These businesses are also seeking resources to understand new financial frameworks, the best technological applications, and successful tech transformation stories. By integrating these insights and practices into their operations, they seek to boost their competitiveness in the market.

The “Breakthrough” webinar series represents a significant step forward in Globe Business’ journey toward a more inclusive and technologically adept financial ecosystem. Initiatives like these not only help individual businesses adapt and thrive but also contribute to the country’s financial inclusion and technological advancement. Sign up to get exclusive Globe Business offers at https://bit.ly/prexclusiveoffer.

Nikkei’s Highly-Anticipated DEN Set to Open at Forbes Town

THE latest culinary adventure from the esteemed Japanese restaurant chain Nikkei is set to open its doors at Forbes Town this July. DEN by Nikkei is the latest addition to the renowned brand, promising to redefine Japanese dining by bringing its unique izakaya experience to the township’s signature lineup of concept bars and restaurants. DEN by Nikkei

yet refined ambiance, perfect for both casual outings and special occasions. DEN by Nikkei will be open from Sunday to Thursday, 4 pm to 1 am, and Friday to Saturday, 4 pm to 2 am. Forbes Town seamlessly blends art and lifestyle with its curated selection of high-end retail stores, concept bars, and restaurants located within Taguig City’s business district. The township offers a refreshing escape with its alfresco areas and unique

Experience this and more when DEN by Nikkei opens its doors soon. establishments, perfect for creating lasting memories. For more updates on the latest happenings, visit megaworldlifestylemalls.com or call their hotline at 8-462-8888 or follow their social media accounts on Facebook (https://www. facebook.com/megaworldlifestylemalls), Instagram (@MegaworldLifestyleMalls), and TikTok (@megaworldlifestylemalls).

COLUMBIA is proud to introduce its latest footwear technology, Omni Max. This groundbreaking innovation, Omni-MAX™, delivers nonstop underfoot energy by combining adaptive cushioning, enhanced stability, and increased traction for superior performance on variable terrain.

The launch of the Columbia Omni Max kicked off on the bustling streets of 5th Avenue in BGC Taguig, featuring an impressive 3D video that captivated audiences throughout May on the country’s only 3D billboard. This visual spectacle marked the beginning of an exciting journey for the Omni Max.

On May 25, 2024, the launch celebration continued with an activation event at R.O.X. BHS. Visitors had the opportunity to win prizes by taking photos with the 3D billboard or by purchasing Columbia items at R.O.X. BHS. This event brought together outdoor enthusiasts and fans of Columbia, offering them a chance to engage with the brand in a unique and interactive way. Taking the Omni-MAX™ technology from urban streets to the rugged outdoors,

Columbia Hike Society, conducted a realworld test of the new footwear at the scenic trails of Masungi Geo Reserve on June 28, 2024. This event welcomed outdoor enthusiasts and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) from the hiking community to experience the unparalleled performance of Omni-MAX™ firsthand. Participants, including those who purchased the Columbia Konos, praised the footwear for its exceptional comfort, stability, and grip. Building on the success of these events, Columbia plans to continue testing the Omni Max through a series of hikes in partnership with the Columbia Hike Society. These ongoing activities will allow more outdoor enthusiasts to experience the revolutionary Omni-MAX™ technology in various terrains and conditions. Columbia’s innovative approach to launching the Omni Max through immersive and engaging events has truly set a new standard for product launches in the outdoor industry. The brand’s commitment to creating memorable experiences for their customers and the outdoor community is evident in every aspect of the Omni Max launch.

DBP Senior Vice President Carolyn Olfindo (third from left) and DBP Vice President Raquel Atienza (rightmost) receive the ADFIAP Merit Award for Infrastructure Development from ADFIAP 2nd Vice Chairman Kao Thach (leftmost) and Chairman Saud Minam (2nd from left) during the ADFIAP Sustainable Awards held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

GEORGE Aquino, President and CEO of Ayala Land Hospitality, Leads Group Expansion and Renovation

TStory & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

HREE years after its Philippine debut, the Honda City Hatchback recently received much-needed aesthetic updates and the brand’s suite of driver assist functions, the Honda Sensing. The updated model now boasts interior and exterior enhancements as a follow-up to the brand’s newest offering in the B-Segment hatchback category.

Exclusively RS and looking sportier

AVAILABLE solely in the RS variant, the myriad of RS design elements has been enhanced to make the sporty variant look even better. The updated RS body kit comes with a new bumper and front grille. It also comes fitted with 16-inch Berlina Black alloy wheels with radial and unrestrained spokes, supporting its sportier image and prominent diameter expression. Of course, the Gloss Black front grille with RS Emblem is still there. It is complemented by full LED headlights and LED Daytime Running Lights, emphasizing an integrated solid wing face similar to the RS sedan. There are also the High Gloss Black power-folding mirrors, RS Design rear bumper with new sophisticated diffuser, High Gloss Black tailgate spoiler, and Full LED taillights. New tech updates such as a 4.2” TFT Meter, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are inside the full RS-trimmed interior. Seats are now RS full leather.

Versatile seating configuration

MEANWHILE , given its hatchback styling and configuration, the All-New City Hatchback comes with Honda’s signature Ultra Seats (ULTR). It allows flat or flip folding of the rear seats to easily and quickly adapt to various passenger lifestyles and cargohauling needs. One of the modes is “Utility”, which allows folding both the rear seats flat to accommodate large cargo items in the back storage area. Another is the “Long Mode”. It will enable the front passenger

TGR Philippine Cup off to a roaring start

10th season of the iconic Vios Cup, renamed the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup).

“The thrill-filled event saw thousands of spectators flock to the Clark International Speedway to watch more than 30 racers battle it out on track for the sprint and endurance races under the auspices of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP).

“During the opening ceremony, TMP President Masando Hashimoto revealed that he would be participating in the Novice Class—a new event for winners and top performers from the Autocross Challenge. He was joined by influencers Lexi Mendiola and Reph Bangsil, media racers Jamil Lacuna, Jose Altoveros, Pablo Salapantan and John Ray San Diego, and sim racer Russel Reyes.

“Seasoned racers under the Promotional, Sporting and Super Sporting classes also returned to bring adrenaline-pumping action against 2024 newcomers.

“The morning saw racers drive under sunny skies, while afternoon action was met with rain showers. The differing weather conditions put both racers and cars to the test, providing fans with high-octane, wheel-to-wheel battles.

“Four-wheeled showstoppers were also spotted on track as car club members took to the speedway their GR performance vehicles for the Car Club Track Day. This was followed by a driving exhibition by drifters Hanz Jimenez and Dane Cruz.

“A select few from the public were also given the exciting opportunity to ride shotgun and experience being drifted on the track. Freebies were also given away at the sponsors’ booths and TGR GT Cup experience booth.

“The race weekend was capped by performances by Filipino band Autotelic, raffles for the public and the awarding of winners.

“The TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup was presented by Petron and GT Radial tires, in cooperation with Official Timekeeper Seiko. The event was supported by Toyota Financial Services Philippines, myTOYOTA Wallet, Denso, AVT, 3M, ROTA, Tuason Racing, OMP and Kinto One.

“The second leg is on September 28, also at Clark and again free to the public.

“For more information on the

(LKAS), Road Departure Mitigation and Lane Departure Warning (RDM with LDW), and Auto High Beam (AHB).

Powertrain and safety features THE 1.5-liter four-cylinder DOHC with an i-VTEC petrol engine was retained. Power output is rated 119 hp at 6,600 rpm and 145 N-m maximum torque at 4,300 rpm. The

seat to be fully reclined and the rear passenger seat to be folded flat so the vehicle can carry two passengers and accommodate long cargo items such as surfboards.

On the other hand, the “Tall Mode” allows the rear seats to fold upward so that the vehicle can accommodate tall items that need to remain upright, such as a large plant or tall

TGR Philippine Cup, visit https:// toyota.com.ph/tgrphilippines Follow TOYOTA GAZOO Racing on Facebook and Instagram and TMP’s official pages—Toyota Motor Philippines on Facebook and Instagram, ToyotaMotorPH on X, and join the Viber community at

RACE 1: SPRINT RACE 1

luggage. Last is the “Refresh Mode” by removing the front-seat head restraints, moving the seats forward, and tilting the back. It connects the front and rear seats, providing a comfortable place for two people to relax.

Now, with Honda Sensing

ADDED as a standard safety feature is

Toyota PH for updates.

PEE STOP Deepest condolences to the loved ones of Arben Santos, a sports patron and an avid Lexus fan. He once drove me around BGC Taguig on board his Lexus sports car a day after he

the brand’s proprietary driver-assist system, developed as a response to the brand’s goal to realize a collisionfree society by 2050, providing safer roads for all. These functions include Lead Car Departure Notification (LCDN), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System

bought it from then Lexus Manila president Danny “Sir John” Isla, who is New Zealand-based for years now. Enjoy your vacation in the company of our dear Maker, Pareng Arben...From Ermin Garcia, Sunday PUNCH Publisher: “Hi Al! My Toyota CONQUEST

saved my life when the First North Luzon passenger bus rammed me while I was crossing an intersection on Mnl North Road recently upon exiting TPLEX in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Thank you Toyota for this great lifesaver vehicle.”

RACE 2: SPRINT RACE 2

RACE 3: ENDURANCE RACE 1

2024 Paris Summer Olympics

Editors: Jun Lomibao & Francine Medina

A Special Feature Business Mirror

Quest for gold on in Paris Olympics!

By Jun Lomibao

THE Philippines is back to where its Olympic journey began as the Games of the 33rd Olympiad opens on Friday in Paris with a lavish and first-of-a-kind opening ceremony over the River Seine.

From a lone representative when Paris first hosted the quadrennial Olympics in 1924—track athlete David Nepomuceno—to 22 athletes this time, a century later, the Philippines is hell bent—but most prepared as ever to match or outdo the one-gold, two-silver and onebronze medal haul in the pandemic delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.

according to Tolentino, was not only the perseverance that took 20 years to polish, but a team of elites in their respective tasks—a head coach, strength and conditioning coach, nutritionist, physical therapist and psychologist.

“The template’s here, tried and tested, this adds confidence that Filipino athletes can win gold in the Olympics,” said Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino while on a short break doing the rounds at the Athletes Village in Paris as the hands-on president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The template was validated when the country’s first Olympic gold medal weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won in Tokyo and was supported by the silver medals of Nesthty Petecio and Carlo Paalam and the bronze of Felix Eumir Marcial, all in boxing.

“Winning medals—may they be gold, silver or even bronze—is that high in the echelon of sports technology,” Tolentino said. “Gone are the days when one coach looked over an athlete, these times, a worldclass athlete needs an

“That’s the template, plus the international exposures where an athlete could reap the experience he or she needs to master the art of competing at the elite level,” Tolentino said.

boxers with Petecio and Paalam back to improve on the silver medals they reaped in Tokyo and now professional boxer Marcial, who’s fighting in a heavier weight class but nevertheless is a favorite light heavyweight atop the ring.

Obiena, who’s in Europe most of the year training, knows pretty well how the Games would turn out in Paris.

“All the athletes in the Olympics are facing tough adversities,” he said.

“I know not everything is not in my control, but I am an optimist by nature.”

He added: “So can I perform at the highest level in Paris? Yes, I believe I can as a proud Filipino. That’s the goal, win the Olympic gold medal.”

my last Olympics and I will be happy to capture the gold medal.”

Paalam said: “When I won silver in Tokyo, I never stopped training and fighting despite all the challenges that I faced. Now that I’m back in Paris Olympics, I will do my very best to win the Olympic gold medal for my country and for my family.”

Paalam and Petecio will be the flagbearers for a 19-member Philippine delegation in the opening ceremony on Friday and on the very next day on Saturday in Paris, two of the top prospects—Yulo and Marcial—and rower Joanie Delgaco kick off the Philippine campaign. Yulo, 23, competes in the qualification round of the men’s individual all-around beginning at 9:30 p.m. (Philippine time) with the finals of set on Wednesday (July 31.)

The 28-year-old Marcial, on the other hand, will be competing in the light-heavyweight division also at 9:30 p.m. (Philippine time) on Saturday. Delgaco, meanwhile, tries to advance to the finals from the women’s single Sculls heats at 3 p.m. (Philippine time)— she’s the first Filipina to qualify for Olympic rowing.

“It’s D-Day,” Tolentino said. “Our athletes are well prepared and focused, and definitely, the Philippines will deliver again in Paris,” Tolentino said.

Under Tolentino’s watch in Tokyo were 19 athletes and this time around in Paris, he’ll be tending to three more as the Philippines qualified the most since Barcelona 1992 (26) with 26 athletes in Paris. They are boxers Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Hergie Bacayadan and Eumir Felix Marcial; weightlifters John Febuar Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno, and Erleen Ann Ando; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung-Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo; pole vaulter EJ Obiena, fencer Samantha Catantan and rower Joanie Delgaco; swimmers Jarold Hatch and Kayla Sanchez; golfers Dorothy Ardina and Bianca Pagdanganan; judoka Kiyomi Watanabe; and hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman.

Obiena, the world No. 2 men’s pole vaulter, and Yulo, a former world floor exercise and vault champion, stand as two of the most potential to clinch a medal in Paris.

Also tops on the list are the

Yulo used to stay full time in Tokyo training, but returned home last year opting to master his technics at the Rizal Memorial Gymnastics Center in Manila.

“My goal remains—win the Olympic gold medal in floor exercise, vault and parallel bars,” he said. “And I’m hoping to qualify in the individual all-around event, too.”

Boxing, like all other martial arts or combat sports, always carry that element of a lucky punch or kick, but the Olympics offer a much higher and intangible objective.

“I’m always focused, motivated and inspired to win the Olympic gold for our country,” Marcial said.

“This is going to be my last attempt for an Olympic gold, so I really have to give my best.”

Petecio and Paalam have the same mindset.

“Focus and mental preparation and peace of mind—these are very important in my quest to win a gold medal in Paris,” Petecio said. “I know I can. I’m thinking that this will be

Obiena in high gear in bid to win pole vault title

By Josef Ramos

memory as he goes for a Paris Olympics gold medal in the men’s pole vault that a man many call Mondo has been dominating with relative ease for years.

“It’s the consistency in training that I need,” Obiena, the world No. 2 pole vaulter, told BusinessMirror who is behind Swedish Armand Duplantis, the reigning Olympic and world record holder who he once beat when the Swede was in his one of his bad hair days.

“But I’m taking everything one step at a time as the Olympics gets closer,” the 28-year-old Asian champion, who trained in

Normandy Sports Centre in France for two weeks, added.

Duplantis does have his bad hair days having missed the podium twice since dominating the event from September 2022 to July 2023—in the Monaco Diamond League in July 2023 when he was fourth with 5.72 meters with Obiena claiming silver with 5.82m in the tournament ruled by American Chris Nielsen’s 5.92m. Obiena’s first victory over Duplantis was in the Brussels Diamond League in September 2022 when cleared 5.91m for the gold

Contenders, players to watch as golf takes centerstage in France

By Aldrin Quinto

Tolentino said. What made Diaz-Naranjo successful,

THE boxing team greets Carlo Paalam a happy birthday while in training camp.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and former Filipino Olympians during the send off for the Paris Olympics.

CARLOS YULO’S relentless in training for Paris.

2024 Paris Summer

A landmark event

PARIS—When Snoop Dogg agreed to become an Olympic torch bearer, the hip-hop star recalled an emotional, iconic moment watching Muhammad Ali light the cauldron at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Now, Snoop Dogg  hopes to recreate some of that magic for a global audience watching the Paris Olympics. He’ll be one of the final torch bearers of the Olympic flame ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony on Friday.

It’s an opportunity he never imagined.

“It was emotional for all of us to see the champ holding that torch and walking up there,” Snoop Dogg said Wednesday of the late Ali, who surprised the crowd when he lit the cauldron because he had Parkinson’s disease.

Snoop Dogg will carry the torch in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, according to the town’s mayor, Mathieu Hanotin.

“This is my own version of it,” Snoop Dogg said. “I don’t want to get too emotional, but I know that this is special.”

Snoop Dogg said he’s thankful for being a representative from the US and France’s support in him taking part. He spoke during a call with sportscaster Mike Tirico and Molly Solomon, executive producer and president of NBC Olympics Production.

“This says a lot about America as far as where we’re at in this world,” he said. “At the same time, it says a lot about France as far as connecting the dots and allowing me to do this. I look at this as a prestigious honor and something

medal, pishing Duplantis to a silver finish with 5.81m and Nilsen to third with 5.71m.

But in the past two years, Duplantis has been the god of pole vault after beating his personal best outdoors with 6.24 meters—his eighth record breaking feat—last April in Xiamen, China—and an indoor world record at 6.22m in Claremont-Ferrand in February 2023 at the All-Star Perche.

Obiena and Duplantis were the first pole vaulters to qualify for the Paris Olympics after they cleared the 5.82m qualifying standard at the Bauhaus-Galan Diamond League which opened the qualifying season on July 2 last year.

Duplantis registered 6.05m to win the gold followed by Obiena’s 5.82m for the silver medal.

Obiena has become a member of the elite 30-athlete 6-meters club of pole vaulting having cleared the height twice last year, but that isn’t full guarantee that he—or anybody else in the club—

Furue is not seeing action in the women’s Olympic competition, as Japan already has Saso and Miyu Yamashita.

Both Olympic gold medalists from the 2021 Tokyo Games return to seek back-to-back victories, with Schauffele entering Paris in top form and Korda looking to regain her rhythm after losing some momentum from a sizzling start to the season.

Longshots seeking major upsets

I truly respect. I would have never dreamed of nothing like this. I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.”

Along with his torch-bearing duties, Snoop Dogg will serve as a prime-time NBC correspondent during the Games. He’ll be on the ground exploring the city’s landmarks and attending competitions and events.

The ultra-smooth entertainer already has had casual on-video interviews with a few Olympians about their sports, including women’s basketball player A’ja Wilson, gymnast Sunisa Lee, skateboarder Jagger Eaton and beach volleyball players Sara Hughes and Kelly Cheng. Last month, he met with track star Noah Lyles and participated in a 200-meter race—clocking in at 34.44 seconds—with NBC analyst Ato Boldon and former national champion Wallace Spearmon.

Snoop Dogg arrived in Paris about 10 days before the opening ceremony, meeting with athletes and their family members along with learning their back stories. He has gone to the practice facilities to visit various teams such as judo, weightlifting, 3x3 basketball and fencing.

“I’m going to show you why they made me the man to do it,” he said.

“I’m going to put all of my resources and energy around it with peace, love and harmony. That’s what the Olympics is all about. I feel like that’s why they chose me. That’s what I represent.” AP

could beat Duplantis, who made it past the height in 2018.

“Every competition is unique…all you do is do the best you can,” Obiena said. “It’s a mix of a lot of things more than being inspired, more than the drive, and the training, it more than a lot of these things.”

“A lot of things can happen and all I can do is do the best of my abilities, and that’s the only thing I can do,” he added.

After clearing six meters in June 2023 at the Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway, Obiena repeated the feat in the August 2023 world championships that earned him silver behind Duplantis, who sailed to 6.10m. There are 10 days to go before the men’s pole vault qualifying round at the Stade de France with Obiena all set to advance to the final set August 6.

“I just have to be ready all the time,” said Obiena, who, like everybody else in the pole vaulting community considers Duplantis unbeatable—although he’s human still.

THE Philippines’ Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina are some of the longshots to watch, literally and figuratively, among the women teeing off August 7 at Le Golf National in Guyancourt just outside Paris after the men compete from August 1 to 4. Long off the tee, Pagdanganan is third in driving distance in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) with an average of 274.538 yards. The 26-year-old Pagdanganan, who helped the Arizona Wildcats bag the National Collegiate Athletic Association title in 2018, was joint seventh in the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey. She is also no stranger to carrying the Philippines’ tri-colors, having won two medals for the Philippines in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta with gold in the team event and bronze in individual play. At the East Course of the Kasumigaseki Golf Club in Saitama three years ago, Pagdanganan tied for 43rd and undoubtedly will set loftier targets when she competes on the par-72 L’Albatros course at Le Golf National. Ardina, meanwhile, is making her Olympic debut and she goes into battle in Paris with some momentum No. 1 in driving accuracy in the Epson Tour at 90.8 percent, Ardina also has LPGA status and she tied for seventh in the Dana Open for Children last week in Ohio, making big

PARIS—Lézana Placette felt a wave of calm looking up at Paris’ most iconic landmark. “Whenever I get a bit nervous, I’ll just turn my head and look at the Eiffel Tower. That should help remind me what I play for,” the French beach volleyball player said, standing on the sand of the Olympic stadium in the tower’s shadow for the first time.

The first training session for the Olympic beach volleyball athletes took place Wednesday at the photogenic venue.

The French women’s team, Placette and her teammate Alexia Richard, took the court for a 45-minute session under sunny Parisian skies. The duo, who have played together for a decade, will represent France in their first Olympics together.

“I got goosebumps stepping into the court and imagining the French fans cheering,” Richard said.

The Eiffel Tower stadium, with its 12,000 seats, is poised to be a centerpiece of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics. The atmosphere during practice was a blend of excitement and

reverence, as athletes familiarized themselves with the venue installed in a park that once served as the training grounds for Napoleon Bonaparte.

The Paris organizers have made an effort to creatively tie the Summer Games to the city’s rich history, setting events like BMX, 3x3 basketball and skateboarding in the historic La Concorde square, and the equestrian competition in Versailles.

For many athletes, the presence of the Eiffel Tower adds an unparalleled sense of grandeur.

“We’ve got the best seat in the house. I don’t know who made the call for setting us here, but I really appreciate it,” Adrian Carambula from Italy said.

Yorick de Groot of the Netherlands, participating in his first Olympics, also took in the extraordinary setting.

After his practice session, the 24-yearold spent several minutes capturing the moment with photos, selfies and videos, both with his coaches and alone, cheerfuly laying in the white sand.

“I have to show this to my people at home, to make sure that they believe me. This is a memory that I

will never forget,” de Groot said. The anticipation is heightened by the promise of a full stadium, a stark contrast to the empty venues of the Tokyo Olympics due to Covid-19. Organizers have announced that most of the competition will be played to sold-out crowds.

“Visualizing a packed stadium like this is what gets me going,” said Carambula, who at 36 believes this will be his last Olympics after competing in Rio and Tokyo. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the stadium on Wednesday, accompanied by Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizing committee, and French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. Macron shared his enthusiasm in a selfie video from the top row of the stands facing the Eiffel Tower.

“See the rings behind me? And the Eiffel Tower? Everything is ready, let’s open up the Games,” Macron said. After the beach volleyball tournament, which starts Saturday, the stadium will transition to host the blind football competition during the Paralympics. AP

Davao golfers sweep JPGT 13-15 titles at Apo Golf

a challenging Wednesday, where they were shut out of the title race in two age categories, the Davao golfers bounced back with a stellar performance on Thursday, claiming the 13-15 division titles in impressive wire-to-wire fashion at the ICTSI JPGT Mindanao Series I at the

Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao. Johanna Uyking showcased her skill with another three-birdie round, carding a three-over 75 and finishing with a 54-hole total of 227 (79-74-75). She won the girls’ title by a commanding 24 strokes over fellow Davaoeña Merry Rose Wacan, who ended with a total of 251 after an 83. Jed Santinna Patosa, also from Davao, secured third place with a total of 333 following a round of 113.

“It feels great to win for the first time in JPGT. This victory is significant because all my hard work has paid off,” said Uyking, who will turn 13 this year. “I expected to win because I had a substantial lead after 36 holes.”

Looking forward to the Mindanao Series 2 at South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates next week, Uyking plans to prepare diligently and aims to perform at her best while enjoying the game.

In the boys’ division, AJ Wacan demonstrated his class with a 23-shot victory, finishing with a three-day total of 229 after a remarkable closing round of 74.

Despite slipping with a couple of bogeys on the back nine, Wacan pulled away with a birdie on the 13th and finished strongly, putting him comfortably ahead of his competitors.

Joaquin Pasquil, who was eight strokes behind after 36 holes, ended in second place with a total of 252, while Dexter Eiki rallied with an 83 to claim third place with a total of 262. Santi Asuncion of Taguig, previously in third,

fell to fourth with a 267 after a final round of 90.

“I’m thrilled to win for the first time in JPGT. Although there was pressure, I played with relaxation and focus,” said Wacan,

SNOOP Dogg gets a pole vaulting lesson during the US Track and Field Olympic Team Trials on Sunday in Eugene, Oregon. Snoop will be one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony Friday in Paris. AP

PAGDANGANAN ARDINA

JOHANNA UYKING nails three birdies in the

round. BERNARD TESTA

Olympics

City of Light turns into battleground of Olympians

PARIS—Paris has long been a city of dreamers: Just look at the Eiffel Tower, for decades the world’s loftiest structure. Audacity also underpins the French capital’s plans for its first Olympic Games in a century, which open Friday with an opening ceremony for the ages.

The most sprawling and elaborate Olympic opening ever—a gala spectacular Friday evening on the River Seine that even French President Emmanuel Macron says initially felt like “a crazy and not very serious idea”—kicks off 16 days of competition that promise to be ground-breaking, with nearly every corner of the city hosting some aspect of competition.

After two toned-down, pandemichampered Olympics, expect a bold celebration. The heady marriage of sports and France’s world-renowned capital of fashion, gastronomy and culture could also help secure the Olympics’ longer-term future.

Olympic organizers were struggling to find suitable host cities for their flagship Summer Games when they settled on Paris in 2017, enticed by its promise of innovations and the potential for the city of romance to rekindle love for the Olympics, especially with younger audiences that have so many other entertainment options.

But Paris’ challenges are huge, too. Past and present sorrows hang over Games

THE city that has been repeatedly

struck by deadly extremist attacks has to safeguard 10,500 athletes and millions of visitors. The international context of wars in Ukraine and Gaza add layers of complication for the gargantuan security effort. French elite special forces are part of the security detail for Israel’s delegation.

Still, if all goes well, Paris hopes to be remembered as a before-and-after Olympic watershed.

The first Games with nearly equ al numbers of men and women, an advance that’s been a long time coming since 22 women first got accepted as Olympians 124 years ago, also in Paris, will take another step toward aligning the Olympics with the post-#MeToo world.

Paris also hopes to reassure climateconscious Generations Z and beyond by staging Games that are less polluting, more sustainable and more socially virtuous than their predecessors. Many of the sports venues are temporary, because Paris didn’t want to repeat the mistake of previous Olympic host cities that built new arenas and then had no use for them.

With iconic Paris monuments as backdrops—beach volleyball in the Eiffel Tower’s shadow—and breakdancing added to a growing list of Olympic sports that target young audiences, expect plenty of viral moments on Instagram, TikTok and elsewhere.

Crowds will be back for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic forced Tokyo to push back its Games to 2021 and keep spectators away, and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022, when China was locked down.

SAINT-ETIENNE, France—

The Olympic men’s football tournament got off to a violent and chaotic start Wednesday with Morocco’s shocking, 2-1, win against two-time gold medalist Argentina.

The result tells only part of the story after a dramatic end to the match in Saint-Etienne, which had to be suspended for nearly two hours when furious Morocco fans ran onto the pitch and threw bottles from the stands to protest a late goal by Argentina in the 16th minute of added time.

The angry and bizarre scene sparked confusion over whether the game had been concluded or paused.

The crowd was told to leave the stadium, but players remained at the venue and returned to the pitch for a final three minutes of added time in front of empty stands.

Moments before play resumed, Cristian Medina’s disputed goal was disallowed by VAR for offside, and Morocco held on for the victory.

Argentina’s football federation said it had issued a formal claim to world

the necessary regulatory measures for such a serious event.”

Prize-winning French theater director Thomas Jolly is turning central Paris into an open-air stage for the opening ceremony that will run through sunset and showcase France, its people and their history. The 330-meter-tall (1,083-foot-tall) Eiffel Tower will surely feature prominently.

Hundreds of thousands of people, including 320,000 paying and invited ticket-holders, are expected to line the Seine’s banks as athletes are paraded along the river on boats.

During the extravaganza, a no-fly zone extending for 150 kilometers (93 miles) around the capital will close Paris’ skies, policed by fighter jets, airspace-monitoring AWACS surveillance flights, surveillance drones, helicopters that can carry sharpshooters and dronedisabling equipment.

Helping Parisians move past attacks of 2015

SHOWCASING and celebrating Paris could be joyously cathartic for the city that was plunged into mourning by extremist attacks in 2015.

Guesses about the identity of the person or people who might get the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron include soccer icon Zinedine Zidane and other French sporting heroes, but also survivors of Islamic State-group gunmen and suicide bombers who killed 130 people on Nov. 13, 2015.

Paris is also taking gambles in hopes of leaving an indelible impression on the Olympics’ global audience of billions. AP

Editors: Jun Lomibao & Francine Medina |