BusinessMirror April 04, 2024

By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto

THE national government’s outstanding debt as of end-February this year reached a new record high of P15 trillion, up by 10.37 percent from the P13.752 trillion reported in the same month last year, according to the Bureau of the Treasury.

The Treasury on Wednesday reported that the national government’s (NG) debt reached P15.178 trillion as of February, expanding by 2.62 percent or P388.51 billion from January’s P14.790 trillion.

The increase in the state’s debt stock in February was traced by the Treasury to “domestic debt issuances, though partially tempered by the effect of the stronger peso on foreign debt valuation.”

The bulk of the total debt stock is domestic debt at 69.68 percent, while 30.32 percent is external debt.

Broken down, domestic debt amounted to P10.576 trillion as of end-February, showing a yearon-year (YoY) increase of 12.01 percent from P9.442 trillion due to the net issuance of government securities.

The bulk of the domestic borrowings for the period went to government securities at P10.576 trillion, while loans only accounted for P160 million.

The Treasury said that for February, domestic debt gross issuance totaled P708.74 billion, including the P584.86 billion 5-year Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs) issuance, while interest payments amounted to P293.57 billion.

“Meanwhile, peso appreciation trimmed P0.66 billion from domestic

By VG Cabuag @villygc

MANUEL B. Villar Jr., a former politician who has focused on the family business the past decade, remained as the richest Filipino, according to Forbes The 74-year old Villar, ranked at 190th, is the only Filipino who landed in the magazine’s top 200, a list it based on stock prices and exchange rates.

Villar’s fortunes, mostly made on property development, according to Forbes’ calculations, climbed to $11 billion, up from $8.6 billion in the previous year.

Port and gambling magnate Enrique K. Razon Jr. followed at 224th with net worth of $10 billion, from the previous year’s $7.3 billion.

Ramon S. Ang, San Miguel

PBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has created two new Special Economic Zones in Pasig City and Cavite.

In his proclamation No. 512, the chief executive designated several parcels of land in Ugong, Pasig City to create an Information Technology Park, which will be known as Arcovia City.

Also to be integrated in Arcovia City are Lot 2-A (LRC) Psd-182507, TCT No. 55566; Lot 50-H-5-C9-C-6 (LRC) Psd-14125, TCT No. PT-110380; and Lot 3 (LRC) Pcs4405, TCT No. PT-110381.

The President also issued Proclamation No. 513 designating several parcels of land in Tanza, Cavite as part of the MetroCas Industrial Estates Special Economic Zone. The proclamation covers the

The issuance covers the following parcels of land, with an aggregate area of 123,837 sq.m: Lot 2-B-2-B (LRC) Psd-217415, TCT No. 55560; Lot 2-B-2-C (LRC) Psd-217415, TCT No. 55561; Lot 1-C (LRC) Psd-303880, TCT No. 55562; Lot 1-D (LRC) Psd-303880 TCT No. 55563; Lot 3-B-2-F-5-A (LRC) Psd-13550, TCT No. 55564; and Lot 1-A (LRC) Psd-148444, TCT No. 55565.

EXPECTED growth in 2023 and expectations that prices are already slowing are enough reasons to expect the Monetary Board to maintain key policy rates next week, according to an HSBC economist.

In an economic brief, HSBC Asean economist Aris Dacanay said he remained confident that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will move toward a 25 basis point (bp) cut in the third quarter.

He said monetary authorities are still expected to deliver a cut of 75 bps in key rates this year to place the Target Reverse Repurchase (RRP) Rate at 5.75 percent by year-end.

“With strong growth, there is no urgent need to cut policy rates. Rather, the BSP has the luxury of time to keep rates high for longer to make sure inflation expectations are well anchored and the USD-PHP is stable,” Dacanay said.

“[But] we expect headline CPI to immediately return to within the BSP’s target band in third quarter of 2024, opening the door for the BSP to begin its much awaited— but gradual—easing cycle,” he added.

Dacanay said the 5.6 percent GDP growth in 2023 made the Philippines the fastest growing Asean economy last year. This good performance is expected to continue in 2024 despite high interest rates.

He noted that credit growth in the country “is already past its trough” and public investment is robust. Dacanay also said “a strong labor market” will help the economy sustain its economic growth this year.

In terms of inflation, Dacanay said non-monetary measures such as the extension of the lower tariff rates on rice until the end of the year will be enough to place “a ceiling on domestic rice prices.” Rice prices has a Consumer Price Index (CPI) weight of 8.87 percent for All Income Households HSBC expert: MB likely to keep policy rates next wk

News

T1 Sp-04-000212-18; Parcel 2 Sp-04-000212-18; and Parcel 3 Sp-04-00021218; Parcel 4 Sp-04-000212-18; MLC-042120-09; and MLC042120-09-A. Marcos issued both proclamations on April 1, 2024, through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 7916, or the “Special Economic Zone Act of 1995”, as amended by RA No. 8748, the President may create such economic zones upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).

By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said on Wednesday it has intercepted an estimated P102 million worth of suspected dried marijuana or kush and vape products with cannabis content concealed in balikbayan boxes from Thailand on April 2.

A physical examination by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) on Tuesday found 82 kilograms of suspected marijuana and 1,881 pieces of disposable distillate vape pens with cannabis content.

The BOC said the shipment contained 200 balikbayan boxes, but five boxes gave a positive indication upon K9 sweeping by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) narcotic detection dog.

“For Filipino families, balikbayan boxes symbolize their love and longing for their loved ones. Unfortunately, it is now being

used by unscrupulous individuals to smuggle in illegal drugs, vapes, and many other items,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said.

CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the boxes were consigned to Marcelo D. Laylo Cargo Forwarders with the recipient listed as one Gerard Cruz.

The consignees, senders, and recipients of the balikbayan boxes could face charges in violation of Section 118 (Prohibited Importation and Exportation) and Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) in goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to Seizure

and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002).

Enciso added that the physical examination on April 2 was the result of the alert order issued on February 28, after the CIIS-MICP received derogatory information about the shipment.

The first balikbayan box contained 11 black pouches with approximately 500 grams of kush, 12 transparent pouches with another 500 grams, and two small boxes with 47 and 43 pieces of vapes, respectively.

and a CPI weight of 17.7 percent for the Bottom 30 percent or the poorest households nationwide.

“Global rice prices remain elevated while we will only know the actual damage El Niño has caused on food supply in the months ahead. Fortunately, unfavourable base effects naturally dissipate and Executive Order 50, which extended the lower tariff rates on rice until the end of the year, puts a ceiling on domestic rice prices,” Dacanay said.

The fourth balikbayan box was found to have two medium boxes— the first one had 11 black pouches with 500 grams of kush, while the second one had 782 pieces of vape.

The agents discovered in the fifth box two medium boxes—the first one had 22 clear pouches and the second one had 72 clear pouches all with 500 grams of kush inside—and two small boxes with 45 pieces of vape in each. The items were returned to the container van after the inspection, and the van was then sealed and padlocked for safekeeping and scheduled for turnover to the PDEA after full inventory.

“Here in the BOC, we want to assure our kababayans that we’re working hard to get to the bottom of this,” Commissioner Rubio said.

The BOC agents found in the second box 12 transparent pouches with about 500 grams of kush, one small box with 47 pieces of vape, and one medium box with 782 pieces of vape. The third box yielded two medium boxes with 12 clear pouches of 500 grams of kush each and two small boxes with 45 pieces of vape in each box.

Meanwhile, the BSP is expected to cut rates after the Federal Reserve starts cutting its key policy rates. This, Dacanay said, is expected to happen in June this year.

Dacanay noted that cutting rates ahead of the Federal Reserve will lead to higher foreign exchange volatility and, consequently, foreign exchangeinduced inflation.

This is especially the case given that the Philippines is considered a net food and oil importer. This means, a significant amount of food items used in the country are shipped from other countries along with oil as the country does not have oil fields.

“There is a need to mind the Fed. Although the current account deficit in 2023 at 2.6 percent was narrower than what we had expected [2.8 percent of GDP], it was still wider than the deficits accrued before the pandemic,” Dacanay said.

Earlier the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently disclosed that it expects higher inflation in March 2024 as rice and meat prices remained elevated.

billion; Islamic Certificates at P56.17 billion; and, Peso Global Bonds at P54.77 billion.

external debt, this amounted to P4.602 trillion as of end-February 2024, showing an increase of 6.77 percent compared to P4.310 trillion last year. However, this was lower by 0.56 percent compared to the previous month’s level of P4.628 trillion.

“The decrease was attributed to favorable foreign exchange movements by both local- and third-currencies against the USD amounting to P18.79 billion and P9.96 billion, respectively. These more than offset the P2.75 billion net availment of foreign loans,” the Treasury explained. The bulk of the government’s foreign debt as of February went to external debt securities amounting to P2.423 trillion, while loans for the period accounted for P2.178 trillion.

Debt from external debt securities as of end-February include the US Dollar Bond at P2.017 trillion, which is the biggest; Euro bonds at P209 billion; Japanese Yen Bonds at P85.21

Meanwhile, the government’s total guaranteed debt amounted to P344.93 billion which showed a decrease of 10.91 percent from last year’s P387.19 billion. Total guaranteed obligations also went down by 1.07 percent compared to the endJanuary level of P348.66 billion.

“The lower level of NG guarantees was due to the net repayment of external guarantees amounting to P3.23 billion as well as favorable foreign exchange movements by both local- and third-currencies against the USD amounting to P0.69 billion and P1.10 billion, respectively,” the Treasury said. “Moreover, the net adjustment in domestic guarantees further offset P1.29 billion from the outstanding balance as of end-February 2024.” By the end of this year, the national government’s outstanding debt is expected to balloon to P15.8 trillion.

In its latest inflation outlook, BSP said inflation could settle within the range of 3.4 to 4.2 percent in March 2024. The BSP’s inflation target is 2 to 4 percent in the near- and medium-term.

(See: www.businessmirror.com.

ph/2024/04/02/bsps-march-outlookinflation-at-3-4-4-2/)

BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said this will be used to inform any

Corp. president and CEO, came in at third richest Filipino, or 920th at $3.5 billion from the previous year’s $3.4 billion.

Forbes said there are now more billionaires than ever, 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021.

“They’re richer than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021. Two-thirds of the list’s members are worth more than a year ago; only one fourth are poorer,” the publication said.

Much of the gains come from the top 20, who added a combined

$700 billion in wealth since 2023, and from the US, which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion, it said.

China remains second, with 473, including Hong Kong worth $1.7 trillion, despite weak consumer spending and a real estate bust that helped wipe out some $300 billion in wealth. India, which has 200 billionaires, ranks third, Forbes said.

The Sy siblings were also on the list. Hans Sy came in at 1,286th with $2.6 billion, up from $2.4 billion last year; Henry Sy Jr. came in at 1,330th with $2.5 billion; Herbert Sy also at 1,330th at $2.5 billion; Harley Sy at 1,380th at $2.4 billion; Teresita Sy-Coson at $2.3 billion, 1,438th; and Elizabeth Sy at $2.1 billion, 1,545th.

Tycoon Lucio Tan was also at 1,330th at $2.5 billion, Andrew Tan came in at 1,623rd at $2 billion, Jollibee Foods Corp. founder Tony Tan Caktiong was at 2,152nd with $1.4 billion. The others on the list, whose riches were just above $1 billion, were grocery operator, couple Lucio Co and Susan Co, Lance Gokongwei and Wilcon founder Willam Belo. Topping the global list were Bernard Arnault and family at $233 billion, Elon Musk at $195 billion and Jeff Bezos at $194 billion.

UAE efforts to improve labor conditions cited

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

THE government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has made significant strides in enhancing labor conditions of foreign workers in UAE, according to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Highlighting a notable decrease in the number of runaway maids reported this year, including Filipino domestic workers in the UAE, Pimentel acknowledged “it is encouraging to witness such positive developments, indicating tangible progress in the welfare of foreign workers in the UAE.”

Pimentel pointed out that “the efforts undertaken by the UAE government, alongside the close cooperation with our very hardworking labor attachés, demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the protection and rights of all workers.”

The Senate Minority Leader likewise welcomed the recent directive issued by the UAE government mandating the inclusion of all private sector employees and domestic workers in the compulsory health insurance scheme.

Effective 2025, Pimentel reminded that “employers will be obligated to provide health coverage for their registered workers upon issuance or renewal of residency permits.”

“This action demonstrates a proactive stance toward enhancing the

welfare of workers and emphasizes the UAE’s dedication to fair employment standards,” he added.

Moreover, he also noted that “based on data, the UAE is the second home to one of the largest populations of overseas Filipinos in the Middle East.”

Pimentel authored Senate Bill No. 2556 seeking to declare August 19 of every year as a special day for the commemoration of the Philippines-United Arab Emirates Friendship Day, commemorating the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations on August 19, 1974.

“The Philippines and the UAE share a deep-rooted friendship, characterized by mutual respect, cooperation, and shared values,” Pimentel recalled, noting that his office has “collaborated with the UAE, facilitated by the Emirates Red Crescent, to execute the Iftar program during Ramadan, aimed at supporting various nominated Muslim groups throughout the holy month.”

At the same time, Pimentel underscored the “longstanding humanitarian efforts of the UAE towards the Filipino community, exemplified by various initiatives aimed at supporting Filipinos both within the UAE and in the Philippines.”

“We commend the UAE government for its proactive approach in addressing the needs of foreign workers and reaffirming its commitment to humanitarian principles,” he said.

logistics market, gets new trucks

THE Philippine Postal Corp. (PHLPost) has acquired a new transportation fleet of 22 units of brand-new trucks to reinforce its logistics service in addition to its mail and parcel delivery.

These mail delivery trucks will be distributed across the country. PHLPost is expected to reinforce the current PHLPost delivery efficiency and strengthen mail conveyance. The 18 6-wheeler and four 10-wheeler trucks are part of the continuous re-fleeting of the mail transport system which is expected to speed-up the delivery of mails and packages nationwide.

Postmaster General Luis Carlos said that the newly acquired vehicles will boost PHLPost capabilities to better serve the public and attract more institutional mailers to patronize PHLPost delivery and logistics services.

The postal service is now coordinating with the Department of Agriculture on logistics requirements in part or whole of our farmers in transporting goods at cheaper price,” he added.

“We are transforming the mail delivery into logistics services,” Carlos said.

As a logistics provider, PHLPost can also deliver or transport their agricultural products such as seedlings, fertilizers, and crops to far-flung areas that have no access to major cities in the provinces.

“We are expanding our services to help our small farmers sell their products to cities

Govt activates protocols to ensure safety of Pinoys in Taiwan–DMW

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla & Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that no Filipinos were hurt by the strong temblor that jolted Taiwan on Wednesday morning.

Citing initial reports from the Migrant Workers Offices (MWOs) in Taiwan, DMW Officer-inCharge Hans J. Cacdac said the estimated 159,000 Filipinos in Taiwan remain safe.

“Thus far, there is no reported injuries or fatalities from our OFW [overseas Filipino workers]. We are praying very hard that it stays that way,” Cacdac said in a television interview last Wednesday.

He said they also have yet to receive any report of Filipinos trapped in damaged buildings in Taiwan.

“We are also in coordination with [Taiwanese] authorities on the ground to monitor those they have saved in their ongoing rescue efforts,” Cacdac said.

DMW and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), which serves as the country’s de facto

embassy in Taiwan, are checking on the status and needs of Filipinos in Taiwan.

“The DMW’s three Migrant Workers Offices [MWOs] in Taiwan immediately activated protocols with Filipino communities, leaders, relevant Taiwan government agencies as well as employers and trade associations to ascertain the safety and status of Taiwan-based OFWs,” the DMW said in an advisory.

“The Taiwan MWOs are prepared to provide immediate assistance to affected OFWs as necessary,” it added.

DMW said it established a help desk for family members of Taiwan-based OFWs, who want to find out the condition of their loved ones.

It noted they can seek the aid of the help desk via the following contact details: 8522-3663, 83766352, 8426-0833, 8293-9155, 8252-1972; Mobile No: +63 919 067 3975; and email: repat@dmw. gov.ph.For Filipinos in Taiwan, they may contact the help desk via the following numbers: (Taipei) +886 932-218-057, (Kaohshiung) +886 988-976-596, and (Taichung) +886 966-537-732.

Cacdac said there are 150,000

overseas Filipino workers (OFW) and 9,000 non-OFWs in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century rocked the island during the morning rush hour Wednesday, damaging buildings and highways and leaving seven people dead.

Its Central Weather Administration reported that the earthquake occurred at 7:58 am. The quake’s epicenter is some 25 kilometers southeast of Hualien County, where over 1,400 OFWs reside. The quake damaged multiple buildings and prompted Japan and the Philippines to issue tsunami warnings.

Phivolcs advisory

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued Tsunami Information No. 1 at exactly 7:58 a.m. on April 3, which indicated that preliminary earthquake parameters will reach a depth of 19 kilometers with a magnitude of 7.5.

“Based on Tsunami wave models and early tide gauge records of the tsunami in the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, coastal areas in the Philippines fronting the Pacific Ocean are expected to experience

Davao court orders arrest of Quiboloy

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Davao City has ordered the implementation of the arrest warrant against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for child abuse and sexual abuse cases.

The order was issued on April 1, 2024 by Davao RTC Branch 12-Family Court Presiding Judge Dante Baguio.

Also ordered arrested are Quioloy’s co-accused Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemañes.

Baguio cited the need to observe the prosecution and the defense right for a speedy disposition of the case in ordering the implementation of its resolution issued on March 14, 2024 finding probable cause for the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.

The judge earlier granted the motion to defer/suspend proceedings and hold in abeyance issuance of warrant of arrest filed by Quiboloy’s lawyers pending resolution of their motion for reconsideration of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) resolution issued last March 19, 2024, indicting him for child abuse and sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking.

“Now that more than reasonable time has lapsed, the Court did not receive any resolution of the accused’s motion for reconsideration by the Department of Justice neither a copy of the same was furnished to the Court by accused’ counsels nor a manifestation was duly filed, at the very least,” the trial court said.

“Having received none as of this date, the Court declines this time to await. As what was earlier determined upon judicious examination and perused of information where it found probable cause, let the warrants of arrest already issued be implemented immediately,” it added.

Bong Go urges DOH, DBM to settle unpaid Health Emergency Allowances due to healthcare workers

Dwhere there is a potential market for them. PHLPost would like to help and uplift our local farmers to sell their product and improve their livelihood,” he said.

In addition, “We started to establish ‘Kadiwa pop-up store’ in some of our post offices and we shall do it in other areas as well. This is aligned with our goal to deliver cheaper agricultural products or goods through affordable logistics solutions directly to our farmers in support to President’s Marcos’ call for affordable food for every Filipinos.”

Carlos said, “PHLPost is also determined to ride on the e-commerce boom. The newly acquired postal vehicles will beefup the e-commerce and logistics delivery business of the postal service. With these brand-new trucks, there is a bigger chance and opportunity for PHLPost to enter the e-commerce and logistics market by 2025.”

Likewise, this re-fleeting project will support our program called ‘Postal Trinity’ which includes the establishment of Barangay Postal Stations nationwide to provide efficient last mile delivery, reaching out even to far-flung areas of the country, the implementation of the new seven digit alphanumeric new ZIP Code PH from the old four digit which will standardize the addressing system in the country and the Real Time Visibility system to modernize the delivery and efficiency of its mail operations,” Carlos added.

URING a public hearing on Tuesday, April 2, conducted by the Senate Committee on Health joint with the Committee on Finance, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expedite the release of the longoverdue Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) owed to healthcare workers for their critical service during the pandemic.

Last Congress, Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors in the Senate of the Republic Act No. 11712, which grants benefits and allowances to healthcare workers during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lifting of the State of Public Health Emergency in the country, he continues to appeal to the executive to release the pending health emergency allowances due to qualified healthcare workers.

During the hearing, Go commenced with an acknowledgment of the healthcare workers’ sacrifices during the pandemic. He expressed his commitment to ensuring their welfare is prioritized, particularly in urging concerned agencies for the release of the HEA.

“Sila po ang heroes sa panahon ng pandemya, hindi po natin mararating ito kung hindi po dahil sa kanilang sakripisyo,” he said.

“Alam niyo, isisingit ko nalang po. Nabanggit po sa (social media) posts ng mga healthcare workers natin na hindi pa nakatanggap ng HEA, nanawagan po sila sa akin. Gusto ko lang po sagutin ito. Nabanggit niyo doon na maybe na lip service lang po yung panawagan natin.

Hindi po ako ganun, ako po yung taong aksyon agad,” Go stated.

He clarified that while senators, like himself, can advocate and push for priorities

within the budget, the initial proposals and allocations come from the Executive Branch, specifically through the DBM, before being scrutinized and approved by the legislative bodies and finally signed by the President. The implementation of the government’s budget also lies with the executive.

“So, tatanungin po natin sila ngayon kung ano po ba ang naging prayoridad nila, at kung isa ba ang Health Emergency Allowance sa prayoridad nila dito sa paglalaan po ng pondo,” he said.

During the discussion, it was revealed that more than PhP19 billion has been allocated for HEA, with an additional PhP2.3 billion earmarked as unprogrammed funds. Go queried the proportion of the unprogrammed funds, emphasizing, “So, out of PhP731 billion (unprogrammed funds), PhP2.3 billion lang po ang inilaan sa unprogrammed funds ng Health Emergency Allowance. Bakit po ganun kaliit?”

DBM Undersecretary Janet Abuel responded, explaining that the PhP2.3 billion allocated for the HEA is in addition to the PhP19.962 billion provided under the DOH budget for the same purpose. Abuel clarified that the allocation was based on the DBM’s and the health committee’s strong desire to fulfill the amounts due to both public and private health workers as far as the health emergency allowance is concerned.

Furthermore, the DBM official mentioned that the DBM had advised the DOH that they could utilize another line item, the Administration and Personal Benefits Fund (APB), which amounts to P12.775 billion under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), to supplement the funding for HEA. This strategy was presented as a way to further support the health

high tsunami waves,” it read.

“It is forecasted that the first tsunami waves will arrive between 8:33 a.m. to 10:33 a.m. It may not be the largest and these waves may continue for hours,” it added.

Nearly three hours later, the agency canceled its tsunami warning for all coastal communities in the provinces of Batanes Group of Islands, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Isabela.

The canceled advisory also recommended the immediate evacuation in the coastal areas which was based on the initial evaluation of the major earthquake that occurred in Taiwan at exactly 7:58 a.m.

“Based on available data of our sea level and monitoring stations facing the epicenter area, no significant sea level disturbances have been recorded since 7:58 a.m. up until this cancellation,” Phivolcs said in its Tsunami Information No. 2 issued at 10:33 a.m. on Wednesday.

“With this, any effects due to tsunami warning have largely passed and therefore DOST-Phivolcs has now canceled all Tsunami Warnings issued for this event,” it added. With a report from AP

The DOJ has yet to comment on this latest development in Quiboloy’s case.

The prosecution has recommended a bail of P180,000 for charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and P80,000 for maltreatment under Section 10(a) of the same law.

No bail was recommended for the charge of qualified human trafficking under Section 4 (a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended.

The human trafficking case was filed before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City.

The DOJ said there is only one complainant in the said cases— then 17-year-old former member of Quiboloy’s religious sect.

COVID-19, served to highlight his sincerity in championing their welfare.

“Napakaliit na halaga niyan kumpara sa sakripisyo ninyo sa panahon ng pandemya. Hindi natin mararating ito kung di po dahil sa inyong sakripisyo,” he continued.

workers on top of the already allocated funds. The hearing also provided a platform for healthcare workers to voice their frustrations and concerns directly. Ronald Ignacio from the United Private Hospital Unions of the Philippines (UPHUP) provided an account of the desperate situation faced by healthcare workers, “Wala na po kaming pagbabalingan. (Hindi na po) namin alam kung saan kami mababaling dahil nagpunta na po kami sa ilang legislators, nag-ingay na po kami sa social media for the longest time, for the past three years, para lamang po mabigyan ng kasagutan ‘yung mga katanungan namin regarding our Health Emergency Allowance.”

Donell John Siazon from the University of Sto. Tomas Hospital Union highlighted the significant sacrifices made by healthcare workers during the pandemic and the perceived neglect they now face, “We have proven our worth during the time of pandemic. Nung nakiusap po ang gobyerno na labanan ang COVID-19, we were there. Namatay po‘yung mga kasamahan po namin in the front line.”

With this, Go reiterated his support for the healthcare workers who have been at the forefront of the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and in protecting the health of every Filipino.

“Let me repeat. Ever since the pandemic started, kaisa nyo po ako dito. Nakikisimpatya po ako sa inyo… ipinaglalaban ko po kayo dito,” Go declared, acknowledging the profound sacrifices made by healthcare workers, including those who paid the ultimate price.

The senator’s reference to his own advocacy efforts, including a privilege speech made in 2020 to expedite the release of death benefits for healthcare workers who died due to

In his appeal to the DOH and the DBM, Go then made a call for prioritizing the healthcare workers’ welfare and benefits, particularly as the nation moves forward from the state of public health emergency declared due to the pandemic.

“Ang importante dito, maisara na po ‘yung obligasyon ng gobyerno sa inyo. What is due sa inyo, dapat pong bayaran ng gobyerno. Services rendered na po ‘yan at pinagpawisan n’yo po ‘yan,” Go stressed.

Both the DOH and the DBM committed to reconcile records and ensure that the healthcare workers’ dues are expedited.

Abuel addressed the budget allocations and the intricacies of fund disbursement, laying out the numbers and the government’s plan of action.

She affirmed,“Yes, Mr. Chair. The DBM is one with the Committee Chairperson in our strong desire to fulfill and complete the amounts due to our public and private health workers as far as the Health Emergency Allowance is concerned.”

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa acknowledged the delays and the bureaucratic hurdles but reassured everyone of his commitment to rectify the situation.

Herbosa pledged, “Promise ko po sa ating mga health workers na hindi pa nababayaran. Gagawin ko lahat ng posible para mabayaran na sila at ma-kumpleto ‘yung Health Emergency Allowance na batas po na ipinasa ng ating chairman.”

The senator then pledged continued oversight and monitoring of the Senate Health Committee to ensure that healthcare workers receive the recognition and compensation they rightfully deserve.

Economy

Govt trade-marketing arm seeks additional perks for exporters

By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan

AS a new tax law threw a monkey wrench on the exports engines, a government unit under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is eyeing the establishment of a “green lane” and wider coverage of valueadded tax (VAT) exemption. The latter, an official of the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) told the BusinessMirror, is anchored on a bill that passed in the Lower House. We continue to closely monitor developments related to House Bill (HB) 9794, DTI-EMB Director Bianca Pearl R. Sykimte told the B USINESS M IRROR last Monday.

in various Committee hearings to provide technical inputs on relevant provisions of the Create More law.

Known as the proposed“Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy” (Create More), HB 9794 recently passed third reading at the House of Representatives.

Sykimte said they are actively engaged

“Specifically, we have advocated for the inclusion of the EMB as one of the accrediting offices for export-oriented enterprises,” she added. The latter, better known as registered export enterprises, or “REEs,” are companies maintaining at least 70 percent of gross sales and/or output for exports.

According to Sykimte, these firms are

particularly those outside the jurisdiction of an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) such as the Board of Investments, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority and other economic and freeport zone authorities.

Incentives, challenges

ACCORDING to Sykimte, the DTI-EMB’s proposed provision aims to allow EMB-registered REEs to enjoy VAT zero-rating on local purchases directly related to their export activities. This was a benefit previously enjoyed by EDA-accredited firms under EMB before the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10963 (Tax Reform for

Acceleration and Inclusion, or “Train,” law) and RA 11534 (Create law).

However, “we do not assume the proposed legislation intends to grant EMB the same level of authority as IPAs to administer fiscal incentives such as [Special Corporate Income Tax] SCIT, [Income Tax Holiday] ITH, VAT-exemption on imported capital equipment, among others,” Sykimte told the BusinessMirror.

RA 11534 (Create law) and its implementing rules have introduced significant changes to the incentives available to export-oriented enterprises in the Philippines. Under the new framework, only Registered Business Enterprises (RBEs) registered with IPAs are eligible for VAT zero-rating on local purchases of raw materials and packaging supplies, Sykimte explained.

According to the Trade official, this framework has left many exporters, particularly those not covered by IPAs, unable to avail of the VAT zero-rating incentive.

Further, Sykimte noted that the transitory provisions of the RA 11534 have given rise to challenges for existing export enterprises registered prior to its enactment, particularly those outside economic zones, as they are not covered by the transitional arrangements for VAT zero-rating.

“As a result, these enterprises face difficulties in sourcing locally and may be compelled to resort to importation, hampering the development of local industry

supply chains,” she said.

With the implementation of RA 11534 in 2021, Sykimte said the DTI-EMB ceased its accreditation services under the Export Development Act (EDA).

Green lanes

ANOTHER effort of the government to enhance the country’s export competitiveness is the setting up of a green lane facility. The latter is part of the implementation of RA 11981, or the “Tatak Pinoy” (Proudly Filipino) law, a measure aimed at promoting the production and offering of local products and services, among others.

“As part of the implementation of the Tatak Pinoy Act, an export green lane facility will be set up for qualified exporters to accelerate the processing and clearance of export requirements, including the importation of critical raw materials and capital equipment,” Sykimte told the BUSINESSMIRROR

This facility, she noted, will be under the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies.

“Applications submitted through these green lanes must be processed within the prescribed timelines outlined in the agency or LGU’s Citizen’s Charter, adhering to the provisions of the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007,” Sykimte said.

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Tatak Pinoy Act is currently in the drafting stage, she added.

The World

With famine looming, aid group suspends food delivery in Gaza after Israel strike kills 7 workers

By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—

Some of Israel’s closest allies, including the United States, on Tuesday condemned the deaths of seven aid workers who were killed by airstrikes in Gaza—a loss that prompted multiple charities to suspend food deliveries to Palestinians on the brink of starvation.

The deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers threatened to set back efforts by the US and other countries to open a maritime corridor for aid from Cyprus to help ease the desperate conditions in northern Gaza. President Joe Biden issued an unusually blunt criticism of Israel by its closest ally, suggesting that the incident demonstrated that Israel was not doing enough to protect civilians.

“Israel has not done enough to protect aid workers trying to deliver desperately needed help to civilians,” he said, adding he was “outraged and heartbroken” by their killings.

“Incidents like yesterday’s simply should not happen,” he added. “The United States has repeatedly urged Israel to deconflict their military operations against Hamas with humanitarian operations, in order to avoid civilian casualties.”

Ships still laden with some 240 tons of aid from the charitable group turned back from Gaza just a day after arriving, according to Cyprus. Other humanitarian aid organizations also suspended operations in Gaza, saying it was too dangerous to offer help. Israel has allowed only a trickle of food and supplies into Gaza’s devastated north, where experts say famine is imminent.

The dead from Monday night’s

strikes included three British citizens, Polish and Australia nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. Those countries have been key backers of Israel’s nearly 6-month-old offensive in Gaza, and several of them denounced the killings.

Israel already faces growing isolation as international criticism of the Gaza assault has mounted.

On the same day as the deadly airstrikes, Israel stirred more fears by apparently striking Iran’s consulate in Damascus and killing two Iranian generals. The government also moved to shut down a foreign media outlet—Qatari-owned Al Jazeera television.

The hit on the charity’s convoy also highlighted what critics have called Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and lack of regard for civilian casualties in Gaza.

Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced the results of a preliminary investigation early Wednesday.

“It was a mistake that followed a misidentification—at night during a war in very complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. He gave no further details. He said an independent body would conduct a “thorough investigation” that would be completed in the coming days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier acknowledged the “unintended

strike ... on innocent people” and said officials would work to ensure it does not happen again.

World Central Kitchen said it had coordinated with the Israeli military over the movement of its cars. Three vehicles moving at large distances apart were hit in succession. They were left incinerated and mangled, indicating multiple targeted strikes.

At least one of the vehicles had the charity’s logo printed across its roof to make it identifiable from the air, and the ordnance punched a large hole through the roof. Footage showed the bodies at a hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah, several of them wearing protective gear with the charity’s logo.

Israeli TV said the initial military investigation found that the army identified the cars carrying World Central Kitchen’s workers a rriving at its warehouse in Deir al-Balah and observed suspected militants nearby. Half an hour later, the vehicles were struck by the air force as they headed south.

The reports said it was not clear who ordered the strikes or why.

Throughout the war, Israel has said it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and uses sophisticated intelligence to target Hamas and other militants. Israeli authorities blame them for civilian deaths because they operate in populated

Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in 25 years damages buildings and roads, leaves 4 dead

By Christopher Bodeen The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century rocked the island during the morning rush hour Wednesday, damaging buildings and highways and causing the deaths of four people.

Taiwan’s national fire agency said four people died in Hualien County and at least 57 were injured in the quake that struck just before 8 a.m. The local United Daily News reported three hikers died in rockslides in Taroko National Park near the offshore epicenter.

A five-story building in Hualien appeared heavily damaged, collapsing its first floor and leaving the rest leaning at a 45-degree angle. In the capital Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings and in some newer office complexes, while debris fell from some building sites.

Schools evacuated their students to sports fields, equipping them with yellow safety helmets. Some also covered themselves with textbooks to guard against falling objects as aftershocks continued.

Train service was suspended across the island of 23 million people, as was subway service in Taipei, where a newly constructed aboveground line partially separated. The national legislature, a converted school built before World War II, also had damage

to walls and ceilings.

Traffic along the east coast was at a virtual standstill, with landslides and falling debris hitting tunnels and highways in the mountainous region. Those caused damage to vehicles, though it wasn’t clear if anyone was hurt.

Despite the quake striking at the height of the morning rush hour just before 8 a.m., the initial panic faded quickly on the island, which is regularly rocked by temblors and prepares for them with drills at schools and notices issued via public media and mobile phone.

Authorities said they had only expected a relatively mild quake of magnitude 4 and accordingly did not send out alerts.

Still, the earthquake was strong enough to scare people who are used to such shaking.

“Earthquakes are a common occurrence, and I’ve grown accustomed to them. But today was the first time was scared to tears by an earthquake,” Taipei resident Hsien-hsuen Keng said. “I was awakened by the earthquake. I had never felt such intense shaking before.”

She said her fifth-floor apartment shook so hard that “apart from earthquake drills in elementary school, this was the first time had experienced such a situation.”

Hualien was last struck by a deadly quake in 2018, which collapsed a historic hotel and

other buildings. Taiwan’s worst quake in recent years struck on Sept. 21, 1999, with a magnitude of 7.7, causing 2,400 deaths, injuring around 100,000 and destroying thousands of buildings.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami wave of 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) was detected on the coast of Yonaguni island about 15 minutes after the quake struck. Smaller waves were measured in Ishigaki and Miyako islands. Japan sent military aircraft to gather information about the impact around the Okinawa region.

Taiwan’s earthquake monitoring agency gave the magnitude as 7.2 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4. It struck about 18 kilometers (11.1 miles) south-southwest of Hualien and was about 35 kilometers (21 miles) deep. Multiple aftershocks followed, and the USGS said one of the subsequent quakes was 6.5 magnitude and 11.8 kilometers (7 miles) deep. Shallower quakes tend to cause more surface damage.

The earthquake was felt in Shanghai and several provinces along China’s southeastern coast, according to Chinese media. China and Taiwan are about 160 kilometers (100 miles) apart. China issued no tsunami warnings for the Chinese mainland.

Residents of China’s Fujian province reported violent shaking, according to Jimu News, an online outlet. One man told Jimu

areas.

At the same time, Israel has also insisted that no target is off-limits. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck ambulances and vehicles carrying aid, as well as relief organization offices and UN shelters, claiming that armed fighters were in them.

Israeli forces have also shown a readiness to inflict widespread destruction on suspicion of a militant presence or out of tactical need. Homes with Palestinian families sheltering inside are leveled by strikes almost daily with no explanation of the intended target. Videos of strikes released by the military often show them hitting individuals without visible weapons, while identifying them as militants.

More than 32,900 Palestinians have been killed in the war, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count.

Celebrity chef José Andrés, who founded the World Central Kitchen charity, said he was “heartbroken” by the deaths of the staffers.

“The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon,” he wrote

that the shaking awakened him and lasted about a minute.

In the Philippines, residents along the northern coast were told to evacuate to higher ground, but no major tsunami was reported about three hours after the quake. Villagers in the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Isabela were asked not to return to their homes until the tsunami alert was lifted, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Teresito Bacolcol said.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there has been no report of injury or damage in Japan. He urged the residents in the Okinawa region to stay on high ground until all tsunami advisories are lifted. He cautioned people against disinformation and urged them to stay calm and assist others.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii or the US Pacific territory of Guam. About three hours after the earthquake, it said the threat had largely passed for all areas with waves being reported only in Taiwan and southern Japan.

Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.

TheAssociated Press journalists Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Simina Mistreanu in Taipei, Taiwan, Ken Moritsugu in Beijing, Lorian Belanger in Bangkok, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed to this report.

on X, formerly Twitter.

The US, Britain, Poland, Australia and Canada all called on Israel to give answers on the deaths. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant launched an investigation and ordered the opening of a joint situation room enabling coordination between the military and aid groups.

But anger among its allies could put new pressure on Israel.

The British government summoned Israel’s ambassador for a rebuke and called for an immediate humanitarian pause to allow more aid in and the release of hostages.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Netanyahu that he was “appalled” by the workers’ deaths and described the situation in Gaza as “increasingly intolerable.”

A senior Canadian government official said there will be a joint formal diplomatic rebuke at the foreign ministry in Israel on Wednesday. The official also said a top official with Canada’s Global Affairs department made a formal representation to Israel’s ambassador to Canada on Tuesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

The deaths sent a further chill through UN agencies and other aid groups that have said for months that sending truck convoys around Gaza—particularly in the north— has been extremely difficult because of the military’s failure to either grant permission or ensure safe passage. Israel has barred UNRWA, the main UN agency in Gaza, from making deliveries to the north.

The US and other countries have been working to set up the sea passage from Cyprus to get around the difficulties.

World Central Kitchen was key to the new route. It and the United A rab Emirates sent a pilot shipment last month. Their second delivery of around 400 tons of food and supplies arrived in three ships to Gaza hours before the strikes on the convoy.

Around 100 tons were unloaded

before the charity suspended operations, and the rest was being taken back to Cyprus, Cypriot Foreign Ministry spokesman Theodoros Gotsis said.

Still, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said Tuesday that ship deliveries would continue.

Anera, a Washington-based aid group that has been operating in the Palestinian territories for decades, said that in the wake of the strikes it was taking the “unprecedented” step of pausing its own operations in Gaza, where it had been helping to provide around 150,000 meals daily.

“The escalating risks associated with aid delivery leave us with no choice,” it said in a statement.

Jamie McGoldrick, the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, said the strikes were “not an isolated incident.” The UN says more than 180 humanitarian workers have been killed in the war.

“This is nearly three times the death toll recorded in any single conflict in a year,” he said.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Israel responded with one of the deadliest and most destructive offensives in recent history.

Two other Israeli strikes late Monday killed at least 16 Palestinians, including eight children, in Rafah, where Israel has vowed to expand its ground operation. The city on the Egyptian border is now home to some 1.4 million Palestinians, most of whom have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

One strike hit a family home, killing 10 people, including five children, according to hospital records. Another hit a gathering near a mosque, killing at least six people, including three children.

Magdy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writers Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; Rod McGuirk in Melbourne, Australia; Rob Gillies in Toronto; and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this report.

Indonesian president-elect vows to further strengthen ties with Japan after China visit

By Mari Yamaguchi The Associated Press

TOKYO—Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto said he wants to “further strengthen” relations with Japan as he met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday on the heels of a visit to China.

Subianto, who’s currently defense minister, told Kishida that the two countries are longtime friends who have built a cooperative relationship, and that he hoped to further strengthen the relationship.

Japan has been seeking closer ties with Southeast Asian countries, especially in maritime security and defense, in the face of China’s increasingly assertive military presence.

Subianto, who will succeed Joko Widodo in October, chose Beijing for his first official overseas trip after his February election victory in a bid to emphasize steady ties with China amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, where China and the Philippines have had repeated high-seas confrontations. In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Subianto pledged a continued friendly policy toward China.

China is Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with Beijing investing in major infrastructure projects, and Indonesia has maintained a relatively neutral stance amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines over rival territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Kishida welcomed Subianto’s early visit to Tokyo, telling his future counterpart that the two countries are longtime friends that share basic values and principles, and that Japan hoped to further strengthen cooperation in regional and global issues as “comprehensive and strategic partners.”

Kishida said Japan hopes to contribute to Indonesia’s development in areas including infrastructure and energy, while stepping up cooperation in security and defense.

Kishida’s meeting with Subianto comes just a week before the Japanese leader will travel to Washington for a summit with US President Joe Biden, and three-way talks that will also include Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at which the leaders are expected to discuss further reinforcing security ties.

Later Wednesday, Subianto held talks with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara. The two ministers vowed to enhance defense cooperation, the Japanese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Japan and Indonesia are expanding joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as capacity building and educational programs, Kihara told reporters after the talks.

“I’m determined to strengthen cooperation between our two maritime nations to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law,” he said.

The Associated Press video journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report.

The World

US Muslim leaders reject chance to break bread with President Biden as anger over Gaza festers

By Chris Megerian & Zeke Miller The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Last year, President Joe Biden hadn’t even spoken a word at the White House celebration of Ramadan before someone shouted out “we love you.” Hundreds of Muslims were there to mark the end of the holy month that requires fasting from sunrise to sunset.

There are no such joyous scenes during this Ramadan. With many Muslim Americans outraged over Biden’s support for Israel’s siege of Gaza, the White House chose to hold a smaller iftar dinner on Tuesday evening. The only attendees were people who work for his administration.

“We’re just in a different world,” said Wa’el Alzayat, who leads Emgage, a Muslim advocacy organization. “It’s completely surreal. And it’s sad.”

Alzayat attended last year’s event, but he declined an invitation to break his fast with Biden this year, saying, “It’s inappropriate to do such a celebration while

there’s a famine going on in Gaza.”

After rejections from Alzayat and others, he said the White House adjusted its plans Monday, telling community leaders that it wanted to host a meeting focused on administration policy. Alzayat still said no, believing that one day was not enough time to prepare for an opportunity to sway Biden’s mind on the conflict.

“I don’t think the format will lend itself to a serious policy discussion,” he said Tuesday afternoon.

The refusal to break bread— or even share a room—with the president is fresh evidence of how fractured the relationship between Biden and the Muslim community has become six months after Israel and Hamas began their current war.

When the Democratic president took office three years ago, many Muslim leaders were eager to turn the page on Donald Trump’s bigotry, including his campaign pledge to implement a “ total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”

But now Democrats fear that Biden’s loss of support among

Senegal swears in Africa’s youngest elected leader as president in dramatic prison-to-palace journey

By Babacar Dione & Jessica Donati The Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal—Senegal inaugurated Africa’s youngest elected leader as president on Tuesday, as the 44-yearold and previously little-known Bassirou Diomaye Faye completed a dramatic ascent from prison to palace within weeks.

Hours later, Ousmane Sonko, the popular opposition figure who helped catapult him to victory, was named as the country’s new prime minister.

Last month’s election tested Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in West Africa, a region rocked in recent years by coups and attempted coups. Both Faye and Sonko were released from prison less than two weeks before the vote following a political amnesty announced by outgoing President Macky Sall. Their arrests had sparked months of protests and concerns that Sall would seek a third term in office despite term limits. Rights groups said dozens were killed and about 1,000 were jailed. In his first speech as president, Faye remembered those killed and arrested during the protests and promised to deliver greater sovereignty for Senegal while working to build prosperity.

“I am aware that the results of the elections express a profound desire for systemic change,” he said. “Through my election, the Senegalese people have committed to building a sovereign, just and prosperous Senegal in a progressing Africa.”

This is the first elected office for Faye, a

former tax inspector. His rise has reflected widespread frustration among Senegal’s youth with the country’s direction—a common sentiment across Africa, which has the world’s youngest population and a number of leaders widely accused of clinging to power for decades.

“It’s the culmination of a long struggle for democracy and the rule of law,” said Aissata Sagna, a 39-year-old factory worker who worked on Faye’s campaign. “This is a day of celebration for us, even if we have lost young people killed during the demonstrations.”

Unemployment rates are high. The war in Ukraine has helped drive up the price of food and energy. Like residents of other former French colonies, Senegalese are increasingly disaffected with France, often accused of exploiting its longstanding ties with West Africa. Faye campaigned on promises to clean up corruption. Ahead of the election, he released a declaration of his assets and called on other candidates to do the same. It listed a home in Dakar and land outside the capital and in his small hometown. His bank accounts totaled roughly $6,600. A practicing Muslim, Faye has two wives, both of whom were present on Tuesday.

“I think the first challenge is the formation of his (Faye’s) government,” said Alioune Tine, founder of the Senegalese think tank Afrikajom Center. “This will be the first concrete message he sends to the Senegalese people.

The size, diversity and profiles will be analyzed with a fine-tooth comb to see if they meet the demand for a break with the past.”

Allies are closely watching Faye’s economic policies following his promise to improve the

Muslims could help clear a path for his Republican predecessor to return to the White House. This year’s election will likely hinge on a handful of battleground states, including Michigan with its significant Muslim population.

“There are real differences between the two,” Alzayat said. “But emotionally, there may be no differences for some folks. And that’s the danger.”

He added, “It’s not good enough to tell people Donald Trump is going to be worse.”

Several Muslim leaders attended Tuesday’s meeting with Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Muslim government officials and national security leaders. The White House would not name them.

Press secretary Karine JeanPierre said “community leaders expressed the preference” of having a “working group meeting,” which she described as an opportunity to “get feedback from them.”

As far as the iftar, Jean-Pierre said that “the president is going to continue his tradition of honoring the Muslim community during Ramadan.”

management of natural resources. Senegal has made new oil and gas discoveries in recent years, but the population has yet to see any real benefit. Analysts warn, however, that renegotiating deals could turn investors off.

Faye on Tuesday offered reassurance that change would not come at the expense of Senegal’s reputation as a stable democracy in a troubled region.

“In this work of building a new Senegal, I shall work tirelessly to preserve peace and national cohesion,” he said. “I bear in mind that our most precious resource remains our country’s political stability.”

The new president was little known until Sonko, who came third in the previous election in 2019, named him to run in his place after being barred from the election for a prior conviction.

Sonko, a former tax inspector, like the president, has promised to deliver greater transparency and sovereignty for Senegal. In his first speech as prime minister, he promised to deliver change.

“We’ll give it everything we’ve got. We will spare no effort to achieve what we have promised the Senegalese: a break with the past, progress and definitive change in the country,” Sonko said in a speech from the presidential palace broadcast live on local television late at night.

Faye was arrested for alleged defamation last year, while Sonko faced a number of charges, including a prolonged legal battle that started when he was accused of rape in 2021. He was acquitted of the rape charges but was convicted of corrupting youth and sentenced to two years in prison last year.

Sonko’s supporters say his legal troubles were part of a government effort to derail his candidacy.

No journalists were allowed to capture either the iftar or the meeting with community leaders, a change from previous years. Neither was listed on the president’s public schedule. Some people who had attended events in previous years, such as Mayor Abdullah Hammoud of Dearborn, Michigan, were not invited.

Outside the White House, activists gathered in the rain for their own iftar on Tuesday evening in L afayette Park. Organizers distributed dates, a traditional food for Ramadan, for people to break their fasts at sundown.

The boycotting of Biden’s invitation is reminiscent of a trip that White House officials took to Detroit earlier this year. They faced an icy reception from Muslim American community leaders in the swing state, where more than 100,000 Democratic primary voters cast protest votes for “uncommitted” as part of an organized showing of disapproval for Biden’s approach to the war.

A similar campaign was underway in Wisconsin, another political battleground. Organizers encouraged residents to vote

“uninstructed,” the equivalent of uncommitted, in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

The fighting began on October 7 when Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis in a surprise attack. In response, Israel has killed roughly 33,000 Palestinians. The number comes from Gaza’s Health Ministry. It’s unclear how many are combatants, which Israel accuses of operating in civilian areas, but the ministry said twothirds of the deaths are women and children.

The Biden administration has continued to approve weapon sales to Israel even as the president urges Israeli leaders to be more careful about civilian deaths and encourages them to allow more humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American–Islamic Relations, said he encouraged other Muslim leaders to decline invitations to the White House if they received them.

The message, he said, should be “unless he calls for a cease-fire, there will be no meeting with him or his representatives.”

“I believe that the president is

the only person in the world who can stop this,” Awad said. “He can pick up the phone and literally tell Benjamin Netanyahu, no more weapons, just stop it, and Benjamin Netanyahu will have no choice but to do so.”

Awad has previously clashed with the White House over his comments on the October 7 attack by Hamas. Gaza has spent years under an effective blockade by Israel—with help from Egypt— and Awad said he was “happy to see people breaking the siege” so they could “walk free into their land that they were not allowed to walk in.”

After the comments were circulated by a Middle East research organization founded by Israeli analysts, the White House issued a statement saying “we condemn these shocking, antisemitic statements in the strongest terms.”

Awad called it a “fabricated controversy” and said he had criticized the targeting of Israeli citizens in his same speech.

The Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti contributed from Grand Rapids, Mich.

Surge in gang violence led more than 53,000 to flee Haiti’s capital in less than three weeks

By Evens Sanon

The Associated Press

ORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—More than

P53,000 people have fled Haiti’s capital in less than three weeks, the vast majority to escape unrelenting gang violence, according to a United Nations report released Tuesday.

More than 60 percent are headed to Haiti’s rural southern region, which worries UN officials.

“Our humanitarian colleagues emphasized that these departments do not have sufficient infrastructure, and host communities do not have sufficient resources, to cope with the large number of people fleeing Port-au-Prince,” said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The southern region already hosts more than 116,000 Haitians who previously left Port-au-Prince, according to the report by the UN’s International Organization for Migration.

The exodus from the capital of some 3 million people began shortly after powerful gangs launched a series of attacks on government institutions at the end of February. Gunmen have burned police stations, opened fire on the main international airport that remains closed and stormed Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

More than 1,500 people have been reported killed up to March 22, and another 17,000 have been left homeless, according to the UN

Among the rare travelers trying to head north instead of south from the capital were Marjorie Michelle-Jean, a 42-year-old street vendor, and her two children, ages 4 and 7. “I want to see them alive,” swhe said, explaining that stray bullets keep hitting the tin roof of their home. Last week, they tried twice to travel to her hometown of Mirebalais in central Haiti but were forced to turn back because of roadblocks.

“I will definitely try again,” she said. “It’s absolutely not safe in Port-au-Prince.”

Of the 53,125 people who fled Port-auPrince from March 8-27, nearly 70 percent already had been forced to abandon their homes and were living with relatives or in crowded and unsanitary makeshift shelters across the capital, the UN found.

More than 90 percent of Haitians leaving the capital have been crowding into buses, risking travel through gangcontrolled territory where gang rapes have been reported and gunmen have been

known to open fire on public transport. The violence forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce last month that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created. Henry was in Kenya to push for the UN-backed deployment of a police force from the East African country when the attacks began, and he remains locked out of Haiti.

The transitional council, which will be responsible for choosing a new prime minister and council of ministers, has yet to be formally established.

Meanwhile, the mass migration from Port-au-Prince is expected to continue.

But Gary Dorval, 29, who was among a handful of people joining a demonstration on Tuesday, said he wants to stay until a new government is installed: “I want to be part of the change.”

The Associated Press reporters Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

Marcos to DA: Release El Niño aid promptly

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) to streamline the process for releasing financial aid to farmers who incurred losses due to El Niño.

The chief executive gave the instruction to the DA during the 4th Task Force El Niño (TFE) meeting last month to review “regulation barriers imposed by the insurance commission.”

He said he wants the concerned agencies to provide prompt financial aid to the affected farmers.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that some P487.1 million worth of assistance was extended to El Niño-affected regions of Mimaropa, Western Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

The aid includes food packs, fuel and cash aid among others.

“They are also ordered to engage in collaborative efforts to devise engineering solutions that alleviate the need for extreme water conservation measures and raise public awareness on the importance of constructing additional dams in mitigating the challenges posed by the El Niño,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement last Wednesday.

The Bureau of Fire Protection and the Department of Health were mandated to ensure public

During the TFE meeting, Marcos also ordered the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Water Resources Board (DENR-NWRB) to keep track of water oversupply and undersupply situations.

safety, while Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Tourism will address the impact of El Niño in tourist spots.

Voucher system

MEANWHILE, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced last Tuesday that the voucher system under the National Rice Program is currently under review and set for major changes in the coming months.

Laurel said there is a need to fix the voucher system introduced by the program to ensure government

Fashion shows to train spotlight on fabric from bamboo, banana

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

DAVAO City—Fabric from banana and bamboo is the star of the promotional fashion shows being organized by Mindanao design artists and the Department of Science and Technology to promote artisanal weaving for the fashion industry.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) said the spotlight must be trained on the rich tapestry of local fabrics to promote sustainable fashion.

The agency announced that it joined forces with the Davao Fashion Design Council Foundation Inc. (DFDCFI) to mount a charity fashion event in September. DOST said smaller shows will be held every now and then as precursor to the main event.

The DOST-PTRI said the charity fashion show is dubbed the

Stellar Fashion Gala, which will “celebrate the craftsmanship of Filipino weavers while supporting marginalized communities.”

“One of the main highlights of the gala will be showcasing fabrics made from bamboo and banana fibers, underscoring Davao’s potential as a major producer in this aspect.”

As part of efforts to drum up interest in the September event, a mini fashion show was stage at Discovery Samal, an upscale resort.

Organizers presented pieces in the fashion show made from pineapple-blended fabric and designed by members of the DFDCFI. “This partnership promotes homegrown sustainable fashion and lifestyle choices, emphasizing indigenous weaves and Philippine textile fibers.”

Emi Englis, president of DFDCFI, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration and said there will be a special segment in the gala that will

be dedicated to the bamboo fabric which will be one of the main highlights of the entire gala. This is also a part of the initiatives under the b.loom or Beyond the Loom project, which aims to revitalize artisanal weaving traditions while providing opportunities for local artisans and designers.

Dr. Julius Leaño Jr., PTRI director, said the collaboration between industry and government brings innovation to a holistic approach “that integrates farmers, weavers, designers, and consumers into the textile value chain.”

“As the fashion industry increasingly embraces eco-conscious practices, events like the Stellar Fashion Gala will showcase the potential of Philippine textiles in shaping a more sustainable future.”

Halal certification

MEANWHILE, the DOST-11 disclosed that it recently partnered

funds are fully utilized, farmers get full benefits, and rice production is substantially increased. Under the program, the DA distributes vouchers to farmer beneficiaries that could be exchanged for farm inputs, including fertilizers and rice seeds at DA-accredited merchants.

The DA chief said many merchants refuse to honor vouchers because they haven’t been paid, with total payables reaching P892 million–some dating as far back as 2021.

The bulk of the arrears

with Blue Lotus Hotel in Davao City to pursue halal certification of the hotel in a Memorandum of Understanding.

The MOU would include cooperation between DOST-11 and Lotus Hotel in developing a Halal Assurance System manual, organizing halal-related activities such as training, seminars, and workshops, conducting halal verification laboratory testing, facilitating the application process for halal certification, promoting collaboration, and exploring other avenues of cooperation as mutually agreed upon by both parties.

“This collaboration is one of the many steps we are taking towards enhancing the Halal industry in the Philippines. By working together to attain Halal certification, we aim to not only meet international standards but also tap into the economic opportunities presented by the global Halal market,” said DOST-11 Regional Director Anthony Sales.

He said DOST-11 would implement the Halal Research Ecosystem for Development and Innovation Program in Support of the Philippine Tourism Industry.

amounting to P849 million are payables from the recently concluded 2023-2024 Dry Season implementation. Payment delays are often due to incomplete documentary requirements.

The DA, in partnership with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), is pushing for new processes for settling accounts with accredited merchants. Improved rice seeds and the right amount of fertilizers, along with sufficient irrigation, contribute significantly to raising rice yields.

It also issued Memorandum Order 8, Series of 2024 to provide clearer guidelines in the implementation of programs and projects as indicated in the Special Provisions under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.

Laurel noted that the current voucher system has not addressed certain issues at the level of priority sectors and end users.

It is a major channel for DA’s distribution of the P22.9 billion budget this year for farm inputs, including hybrid rice seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizers as well as funds for the use of drone technology in rice cultivation.

Nearly P10 billion in inputs and assistance will be delivered to farmers via the voucher system.

Other modes allowed under the General Appropriations Act this year includes the use of intervention monitoring cards—e-wallets used for distributing P5,000 assistance to farmers under the Rice Tariffication Law–and direct distribution of inputs that DA regional offices are authorized to procure from qualified suppliers.

The agriculture chief said changes to the voucher system, which may include secure physical vouchers that may not be duplicated and soon pilottested to ensure farmers get the inputs needed to maximize rice yield, increase grain supply towards self-sufficiency levels, and consequently, increase farmers’ income.

Determining which rice seeds are best for certain areas will be done through an exhaustive process of holding Hybrid Rice Derbies participated in by seed companies and agriculturists, the agriculture chief said.

“By doing this, we will not only increase farm output but optimize the use of post-harvest and milling facilities to reduce wastage. It will increase farm yield, boost financial returns for farmers, and substantially bolster supply that could eventually bring down food cost for consumers.”

Albay coops receive portable dryers from govt Bird flu spooks meat, milk traders as virus hits dairy cows

AVIRUS that has killed millions of birds is spreading among US dairy cows, raising concerns that the outbreak may hurt demand for dairy and beef.

While the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said there’s little safety risk, the outbreak is unsettling the industry, with cattle and milk prices taking a hit. There’s concern some shoppers will balk at drinking milk or eating beef.

“Risks to consumer demand for dairy are prevalent in conversations,” StoneX Group Inc. analyst Dave Kurzawski said in a note to clients. He added that while there are “big risks on the table,” the impact of the illness on buyer behavior is unclear.

Bird flu has been confirmed in dairy cows across several states, with the USDA saying Monday it has been found in New Mexico and five additional herds in Texas. The virus has even infected a person in Texas, while the biggest US egg producer idled a plant after the virus was found in the facility.

The infection of cows by the same virus

strain that emerged in Europe in 2020—and has since caused an unprecedented number of deaths in wild birds and poultry globally—is also raising concerns on the supply side.

Infected Texas dairy cattle are experiencing decreased lactation and low appetite, with older cows more likely to be severely impacted. Some herds have reported pneumonia and clinical mastitis—an inflammatory disease—the Texas Animal Health Commission said by email. Most animals seem to recover in as many as two weeks with supported care, albeit with reduced milk production levels.

Some cows may never see their milk production recover to pre-infection levels, in which case they might be culled, according to a HighGround Dairy report Monday. “The longer-term impact on supply is not entirely clear, as farmers are trying to maintain herd inventories in a time of tight cattle supplies,” it said.

For an individual farmer who has already been struggling with low prices and low margins, even a small amount of

lost production adds another challenge, according to Alan Bjerga, executive vice president of communications and industry relations at the National Milk Producers Federation. But he added that the overall impact to the industry should be mild.

“When you consider the tiny number of farms with confirmed illnesses, the limited number of cows affected, the limit of that sickness to only older animals, and the fact that cows that become ill eventually recover to produce milk again,” the impact on the milk supply is minuscule, he said.

While no cases have been found in beef herds so far, cattle futures fell 2.7 percent on Monday following the confirmation of a person in Texas had been affected. The market trimmed some losses on Tuesday.

The person in Texas most likely contracted bird flu after being exposed to infected dairy cows, public health officials said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk to the general population remains low.

“The market has made a huge leap here into the idea that beef demand is definitely going to be severely impacted by bird flu,”

Dennis Smith, an analyst at Archer Financial Services Inc., said in an interview. Bloomberg News

TBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

HE Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Science and Technology (DOST) distributed portable solar dryers (Portasol) to three agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) in the province of Albay.

The government said the portable solar dryers will allow the farmers belonging to the 3 ARBOs to dry their grains easier and faster.

Fourteen units of portasol were given to the Southern Legazpi Upland Barangays Linksfarm Farmers Association, Inc. (SLUBFA Inc.), Cagbacong Farmers Association, and Bariis Farmers Association. A memorandum of understanding was also signed by the representatives of the DAR, DOST, and the local government unit of Legazpi.

Under the agreement, the DOST will fund the initiative for P511,000.00 for the acquisition of the Sun Drying Trays. The DAR for its part, will undertake the logisti-

cal support and aid with the training of the farmer-members of the 3 cooperatives. LGU-Legazpi will formulate, together with the cooperatives, an operating policy and guidelines on the use, access, and overall operation of the Portasol.

The distribution of portable drying equipment is part of the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology program, which is specially designed to support initiatives aimed at improving the rural populace’s standard of living.

DAR-Albay Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Patricia Rastrullo said one of the goals of Secretary Conrado Estrella III is to help boost the livelihood activities of the farmers and ARBs nationwide in partnership with other government agencies.

“The DAR assists ARBOs to get equipment like these from other government agencies. We in the government extend assistance through programs and projects that we can implement to help each other’s clients and stakeholders,” Rastrullo said.

The multipurpose solar dryers are stackable sets of grain thermal drying trays, clean, and space-efficient, and are specifically designed to reduce the moisture content of large volumes of produce. It can accommodate 150 kilos of palay per drying.

“The Portasol allows farmers to dry their grains easier and faster even during overcast days. By using it, farmers can avoid continuous wasteful drying every harvest season compared to the traditional way, which is drying on pavement and serves as a road hazard,” Rastrullo said.

Senestorio M. Apuli, President of SLUB Linksfarm Farmers Association, expressed her gratitude for the support they received, marking a significant step forward for innovation in local agriculture. “We are blessed to have been chosen by the DAR and DOST as the recipient of this technology which we consider as a manifestation of the government’s unwavering support for the cause and welfare of the farmers.”

PHOTO FROM WWW.DA.GOV.PH

Masungi foundation reacts to DENR plan to ‘cancel’ MOA on rights over 2.7K has

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Masungi Georeserve Foundation has expressed alarm over a plan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to cancel the 2017 memorandum of agreement (MOA) that paved the way for the creation of the Masungi Geopark Project reforestation project.

Billie Dumaliang, a Board Member and Advocacy Officer of Masungi, said the plan betrays the DENR’s statements that it is serious about protecting the environment and will only benefit large-scale fraudulent claimants, land grabbers, quarries, and swimming pool resorts that have lobbied for the projects’ cancellation because it collides with their interests.

“Who will benefit from this plan?

Neither the Filipino people nor the environment. Only the large-scale fraudulent claimants, land grabbers, quarries, and swimming pool resorts that have lobbied for the project’s cancellation because it collides with their interests will benefit from this,” Dumaliang said.

Dumaliang was reacting to a statement made by DENR officials that the MOA was unconstitutional and is “void ab initio” or void from the very beginning.

Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyza said the 2017 MOA was a legal matter and that the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicated that the MOA is void ab initio. “It doesn’t exist,” said Lozaga, responding to a question raised by Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment, natural resources, and climate change that started an investigation into the defacement and exploitation of the Chocolate Hills of Bohol and other Protected Areas in the Philippines.

DENR Undersecretary for Legal Ernesto Adobo Jr. added that the MOA is void ab initio or void from the very beginning and that there’s a recommendation to cancel the controversial MOA that grants Masungi perpetual rights over 2,700 hectares of land over the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMPRBPL).

“The DENR cannot even watch over protected areas, and yet they

PHL immigration bars Chinese man tagged in credit card fraud

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said a Chinese national suspected to be involved in credit card fraud was barred from entering the country through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

The BI-Interpol unit headed by Jaime Bustamante said that the 29-year-old man, whose identity was withheld in compliance with Interpol protocols, was intercepted last week at the Naia

Terminal 1 after he arrived via an Eva Air flight from Taipei.

The suspect was turned back after the immigration officer who processed him saw that his name is on the bureau’s record of blacklisted foreign nationals. The suspect’s name was included in the BI’s blacklist following the issuance of a blue notice by the Interpol in Beijing in November 2022 in relation to a criminal case that is pending against him in Taiwan.

The suspect was criminally charged by the municipal public security bureau

in Baoding City, Hebei province, China in April 2019 for allegedly facilitating the sale of his relatives’ credit cards to criminal fraud syndicates.

Based on the records of the case, the Chinese national is suspected to have committed the crime between December 2018 and February 2019 when he asked his sister to persuade 39 of their relatives to advertise the sale of their credit cards online.

The cards were, however, bought by criminal gangs abroad at the instance of the suspect, who fled China after getting the money from transactions.

still want to remove one of the organizations helping sustain these?” Dumaliang said, partly in Filipino, in reaction to the DENR’s statement.

“The Masungi Geopark Project has been an inspiration to many and has been touted as a world-class Filipino environment project on the global stage. It was spotlighted at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos as one of the best practices in the world for ecosystem restoration and won the 2022 UN Sustainable Development Goals Action Campaign Inspire Awards,” she said in a statement.

Dumaliang disputed the claim that the contract is void ab initio.

“The contract was validly entered into by the DENR Secretary under her broad powers under the e-NIPAS act to enter into agreements with non-state actors in pursuit of conservation. The contract also has all the elements of a valid agreement,” she said.

She said the MOA provision which declares that “the intent of the parties is to constitute the project area as a perpetual land trust”

Warning vs shakedown

THIS developed as BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco warned foreign nationals in the country against individuals who present themselves as BI employees intending to harass and extort money from them.

Tansingco issued the warning after receiving a request for verification of a mission order supposedly issued by the BI, targeting foreign nationals in Makati City.

The BI chief denied the issuance of the order and said verification with their records confirm that the document is fake.

“No such order was issued by the BI,” Tansingco said. He reminded foreign nationals that mission orders are always specific, and cannot be used to harass foreigners.

Extreme heat prompts suspension of face-to-face classes in some areas

FACE-TO-FACE classes in several areas in the country were suspended on Wednesday due to the hot weather. The Department of Education (DepEd) said the following areas opted to implement Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM):

14. Arayat

15. Masantol 16. Macabebe 17 Sasmuan

18. Candaba

19. Sto. Tomas

20. Polangui, Albay

*NEGROS OCCIDENTAL 21. Silay City

22. EB Maga ona

23. Talisay City

24. Murcia

*ILOILO 25. Dumangas

26. Calinog 27 Nueva Va encia

28. Sibunag

29. San Lorenzo

30. San Car os City

*REGION 7

31. Division of Talisay City

32. Division of Lapu-Lapu City

33. Municipality of Minglani

only in-person or face-to-face classes are suspended in those areas, as schools may shift to blended learning.

“We will update the list within the day as reports from the regions are still coming in,” Bringas said, adding that

“They are all on alternative delivery mode. Only face to face is suspended,” he added.

Last month, Bringas reiterated the DepEd reminder that school heads have

the authority to suspend classes due to extreme heat brought by the El Nino phenomenon.

“Since they are the school managers, they have that authority and we expect that they will exercise very wise discretion when it comes to suspension of classes,” Bringas had said.

is not a grant or gift of land to the foundation, contrary to malicious insinuations.

“A close reading of the contract will reveal that we can only manage the project for as long as the law or constitution allows, which is yet to be determined by the courts for conservation,” she said.

She noted that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines indicate that the intent to conserve in perpetuity must be integrated into legal agreements and covenants concerning privately protected and managed areas to safeguard conservation gains for the long term.

“As per the DOJ opinion, we have sent a position for their reconsideration as we were informed that they may not have been given the full facts in issuing the initial opinion. Nonetheless, the DOJ’s opinion was confined to an individual provision and does not apply to the entire agreement,” Dumaliang said.

Dumaliang asserted that the Memorandum of Agreement remains valid and binding until the court declares that it is void.

“The final determination of constitutionality and legality is the province of the judiciary and not the executive branch. We will do everything in our power to make sure that we will be able to continue doing the important work together with our up to 100 local rangers and thousands of volunteers,” she said.

According to Dumaliang, “there are other options that the DENR can explore if the concerns are truly on technicalities in the MOA, including formal negotiations and submitting to a dialogue in good faith, which the DENR secretary has not granted to us since the start of her term. She has not even visited the project site to check fact from fiction.”

The stance, she said, “casts a shadow on the true intents of a MOA cancellation which has been tagged by observers as a smokescreen for the DENR to avoid their obligations under the MOA to remove the fraudulent and large-scale illegal occupants in the protected areas, which includes personalities with government ties. We enjoin everyone to be vigilant with us to oppose and defeat this travesty of justice.”

Gadon: Extending terms of lawmakers, local execs will cut costs of elections

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

OFFICE of the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Lorenzo Gadon is pushing for amendments of the political provisions of the 1987 Constitution to extend the terms of lawmakers and local officials.

In a letter addressed to the House of Representatives (HOR) and the Senate, Gadon proposed prolonging the terms of members of the House of Representatives, Governors, Vice Governors, Board Members, Mayors, Vice Mayors, and Councilors to six years.

He said the initiative will allow the government to cut costs by reducing the number of elections and enhance governance continuity.

“The extended term should take effect in the 2028 national elections, ensuring the local officials who have served the present three consecutive terms cannot run 2028 but may do so subsequent national elections,” Gadon said.

Also part of his recommendations is to increase the number of senators from 24 to 48, and changing the country’s presidential form of government to parliamentary.

In Gadon’s proposed parliamentary government, the

He said school heads may give “intervention activities” to make up for the lost day if classes are suspended.

Schools may also switch to alternative distance mode or blended learning if the environment is not conducive to learning.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

at $3.65 per day using 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/04/02/ph -cou d-hit-single-digitpoverty-2-years-ahead-of-schedu e/).

Continued from A14

On March 18, Senator Raffy Tulfo in his privilege speech raised concerns about the presence of illegal structures, the conduct of illegal activities at Mt. Apo, and what he called the inadequate action by Mt. Apo’s PAMB despite the directive from President Marcos to preserve Mt. Apo as it vies for inclusion in the Unesco List of World Heritage Sites.   Villar lamented the culture of passing blame among government entities responsible for environmental protection, including the DENR, local government units, and PAMBs, highlighting the lack of

Senate President and the Speaker of the House will serve as prime ministers, while the President will still be the “Head of State, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.” The President and Vice President should also be elected as a single team, according to Gadon.

Economic provisions

As for the economic provision of the Constitution, Gadon called for nationalizing public utilities like power and energy, and the government providing fair compensation to the affected firms.

He also wants to repeal Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira).

Gadon called for political reforms as both houses of Congress are seeking to amend the Constitution.

“Charter change is a rare opportunity that demands meaningful changes benefiting our nation and future generations. Let us seize this moment to enact comprehensive reforms,” he said.

He stressed President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has no hand in his proposed reforms.

The HOR and the Senate, however, earlier stressed they will only amend the economic provisions of the Constitution and leave its political provisions untouched.

accountability and effective action.  She said the controversies surrounding the four mentioned protected areas may constitute the tip of an iceberg.

“We have yet to uncover the full extent of the challenges facing our protected areas. Consider this: the Philippines has a total of 248 protected areas—114 are formally legislated, 121 are initial components of the NIPAS System, and 13 are established through presidential proclamations. It would not be far-fetched to believe that many of our other protected areas also face problems threatening their sustainability,” she said.

Chinese mafia members arrested for fraudulent govt document scheme editorial

IDENTITY fraud is a serious and pervasive issue that affects countries around the world. Criminals exploit vulnerabilities in identification systems to obtain fraudulent documents, which they then use for various illegal activities. The case of the Chinese nationals arrested in Palawan sheds light on the global nature of this problem and the need for robust measures to combat it.

The recent arrest of four Chinese nationals believed to be orchestrating a vast network of fraudulently acquired government-issued identification cards and documents marks a significant victor y for the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and our law enforcement agencies. The operation, conducted in coordination with the Naval Forces West, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency 4B, and the A rmed Forces of the Philippines, showcases the importance of interagency collaboration in combating transnational criminal activities. (Read the BusinessMirror stor y—“BI: Chinese maf ia behind fake government IDs, documents,” April 2, 2024).

Led by Ly u Zhiyang, also known as Ken Garcia Lee, the Chinese mafia had been operating with impunity in Palawan, causing havoc in the local community. Ly u’s sy ndicate specialized in providing illegally obtained government documents to undesirable aliens and trafficking victims. Their activities posed a serious threat to national security and the integrity of the Philippine immigration system.

The successful arrest of these individuals is a testament to the tireless efforts of the BI’s intelligence division and the dedicated law enforcement agents who have been working on the case for months. Their close coordination with intelligence forces and other agencies ensured the smooth execution of the operation

It is alarming to note that this is not an isolated incident. Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers had previously expressed concern over the rising number of foreign nationals found in possession of Philippine documents. Moreover the Senate Blue R ibbon Committee, chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, has initiated a probe into these illegal activities, which is now regarded as a national security concern.

The discover y of genuine Philippine passports in the possession of 17 individuals, mostly foreign nationals, highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to combat identity fraud. The BI’s report of at least 10 cases involving arrested fake Filipinos presenting authentic Philippine documents is deeply troubling. Such incidents not only undermine the integrity of our immigration system but also pose potential threats to national security.

This recent arrest should ser ve as a wake-up call for all relevant stakeholders, including local government units, to be more vigilant and proactive in reporting cases of foreigners involved in illegal activities within their jurisdictions.

Commissioner Norman Tansingco’s call for increased cooperation between local authorities and the BI is crucial in preventing the proliferation of fraudulently acquired documents.

The magnitude of this operation cannot be understated. The apprehension of Ly u and his gang deals a significant blow to the entities facilitating these criminal activities. By providing Philippine IDs to foreigners posing as Filipinos, they enable individuals to evade scrutiny, manipulate the political landscape, and engage in illicit transactions. The disruption of their operations sends a strong message that the Philippines will not tolerate such illegal practices.

Moving for ward, it is imperative for law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to dismantle these criminal networks and bring all those involved to justice. Stricter safeguards and enhanced screening procedures should be implemented to prevent the exploitation of Philippine documents. Additionally, public awareness campaigns can educate citizens about the dangers of identity fraud and encourage them to report any suspicious activities.

The arrest of these Chinese nationals marks a significant step forward in the fight against identity fraud. It serves as a reminder of the importance of a robust and coordinated approach to safeguarding our national security and upholding the integrity of our immigration system. The Bureau of Immigration and its partner agencies deserve commendation for their dedication and determination in bringing these criminals to justice. Let this victory inspire further cooperation and action to protect our country from the scourge of identity fraud.

Tax the shadow economy

OJohn Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

NCE upon a time back in the early years after Edsa, the Philippine economy was fairly easy to calculate. So much of the gross domestic product was determined by the agricultural sector that you could take Agri production, multiply by 1.3/1.5 and that would be close to the actual GDP percentage growth number. The answer was actually more accurate than what the expert economists’ forecast today but that comparison is unfair. Today’s Philippine economy is much more complex and complicated and that makes predicting much more difficult.

Also back in the day, by some estimates from the global economic think tanks, 70 percent of the Philippine economy was infor mal or “underground.” At that time we discussed if the official GDP numbers could be accurate and reliable with so ample an amount of the daily economic transactions “ in the shadows.” I do not accept that it makes sense to speculate on something that you cannot arrive at an accurate answer

For example, if you said that the “off the books” company was growi ng faster —or slower —t h an t he recorded economy, you distort and bias any economic forecast. For me, it was better to simply assume that the tide-raises-all-boats and that the informal economy mirrored the formal numbers. This is not a meaningless issue. In

the US, it is estimated that the underground economy averages between 6.4 percent and 12 percent of GDP But what does that genuinely mean?

Studies have shown, based on currency flows in and out of Colombia, that illegal drugs used to represent around 7 percent of GDP and 70 percent of exports in the early 1980s, and now represent around 3 percent of GDP/25 percent of exports. Another factor to consider is the way that GDP is calculated and what is counted to make comparisons between economies.

In 2014, Britain began counting, estimating, the value of illegal drugs and prostitution when assessing the growth of its economy. This was not unusual as at that time, the only illegal activities that were included in GDP were estimates on alcohol and

For 2024, the government budget deficit is projected to be P1.363 trillion or $24.3 billion. Taxing even half of the shadow economy at 10 percent would reduce the government budget deficit by 75 percent.

of these activities were legal in certain European Union countries, and comparable figures were important. All member states needed the same standard because they are used to assess a member state’s contribution to the EU budget.

Fast-for ward to current realities and here are some interesting numbers for Asean based on the conclusions of various independent economic research firms. Both the percentage of the GDP and the amount of the projected underground economy are included in the summaries.

The size of Thailand’s informal economy is estimated to be 46.5 percent at GDP PPP levels, which represents approximately $884 billion, noted as both the highest percentage and amount in the dominate Asean economies. Next is the Philippines’ estimated to be 34.4 percent representing approximately $362 billion. Follow ing is Malaysi a (25. 3 percent/$255 billion), Indonesia (22.6 percent/$811 billion), and Vietnam (20.6 percent/$244 billion).

That is all a nice intellectual exercise but what does that $362 billion of uncounted economic mean in real

life? Here are two illustrative stories.

“September 23, 2023: BOC reports record high total of P31.5-B worth seized smuggled goods year to date.” “As of December 31, 2023 the BOC has sur passed its revenue collection target of P874 billion by 1.08 percent, recording a total preliminar y collection of P883.6 billion since Januar y 2023.”

A portion—maybe even a large portion—of the increase in BOC collections is from reducing smuggling. Strongly enforcing anti-smuggling laws and maybe a smuggler w i ll stop, considering losing a shipment or two or more is not worth it. BOC revenues go up.

If $362 billion of economic activity is off the books, it is also untaxed.

If that $362 billion was taxed even at 10 percent, that would mean an additional $36 billion would go to the government in revenues. Total government revenue for 2023 was approximately P3.9 trillion or $69 billion. Best case, a 10 percent taxation of even half of the $362 billion u nderg rou nd economy—$18 bi llion—would increase gover nment revenue by a potential 25 percent.

For 2024, the government budget deficit is projected to be P1.363 trillion or $24.3 billion. Taxing even half of the shadow economy at 10 percent would reduce the government budget deficit by 75 percent.

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Biden escalates criticism of Israel after aid worker deaths

By Josh Wingrove

PRESIDENT

Joe Biden said Israel hadn’t done enough to protect civilians after the death of seven aid workers, in some of his sternest criticism yet of the country’s conduct in the months since it launched a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.

“This conflict has been one of the worst in recent memor y in terms of how many aid workers have been killed,” Biden said in a statement released Tuesday night. “This is

Biden has called out Israel before but the sharply worded statement was among the most critical since Israel launched its campaign in response to Hamas’s assault on October 7. It also highlighted growing US frustration with Israel’s prosecution of its war and the mounting civilian

one dual-citizen American and one Australian.

Biden said he was “outraged and hea r tbroken by t he deat hs” and called for a swift investigation. “Israel has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into why the aid workers’ vehicles were hit by airstrikes. That investigation must be swift, it must bring accountability, and its findings must be made public.”

Biden said he would continue to press Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid, and that he is pushing hard for an immediate cease-fire as part of a hostage deal.”

Biden said he had spoken with Andrés to express condolences. Netanyahu and other Israeli of-

f ic i als expressed reg ret over t he deaths. “Unfortunately, in the past day there was a tragic event in which our forces unintentionally harmed non-combatants in the Gaza Strip,” the prime minister said on the social media platform X. “This happens in war We are conducting a thorough inquir y and are in contact with the governments. We will do ever ything to prevent a recurrence.”

Israeli militar y chief of staff Herzi Halevi, speaking in a video statement uploaded to X, said Israel will continue to protect aid workers. “The strike was not carried out with the intention of harming WCK aid workers. It was a mistake that followed a misidentification at night, during a war in ver y complex conditions. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said. “Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the people of Gaza.”

Australian PM expresses anger to Netanyahu in call PRIME Minister Anthony Albanese said he expressed “anger and concern” over the death of an Australian aid worker during a telephone

“Biden,”

Trudeau offers billions to boost homebuilding, with strings attached

By Brian Platt

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau is pressuring Canada’s provinces to remove barriers to building more housing, including requiring them to freeze municipal development charges and allow up to four units on every lot.

Trudeau announced his government will provide C$5 billion ($3.7 billion) in new infrastructure funding for provinces, but only if they sign an agreement by Januar y 1, 2025, to make certain reforms to allow for increased housing supply.

The move puts Trudeau’s government squarely in conflict with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who recently ruled out allow ing four plexes as-ofright across Canada’s most populous province. Ford argued that putting larger buildings into communities of single-family homes would create “a lot of shouting and screaming,” calling it “a massive mistake.”

But as Trudeau’s gover nment sinks in the polls, the prime minister is attempting to relieve Canada’s sky-high housing prices by boosting construction—and to put the spotlight back on provincial and municipal governments, which control most of the direct policy levers on housing.

Tru deau also annou nced t he government will tie federal transit funding to municipal rules such as eliminating minimum parking requirements near a mass transit line, and allow ing high-density housing near both transit systems and postsecondar y institutions.

“One of t he biggest pressures on young people right now is housing,” said Trudeau’s office in a news release. “We need to bring home prices back within reach by increasing housing supply right across the board—and quickly.”

The new provincial infrastructure money will be earmarked for “critical housing infrastructure” such as water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste infrastructure, the news release said.

To qualify for the federal funding, provinces will have to agree to “key actions” that include requiring cities to approve four units as-of-right, implementing a three-year freeze on increasing development charges in larger cities, and adopting changes to the national building code to support more housing options.

The news release also said provinces would have to adopt measures f r om t h e fede r al gove r nment’s planned “bi ll of rights” for bot h renters and homeowners, but it did not specify what those measures would be.

Biden

continued from A

with Israeli counter part Benjamin Netanyahu

The two leaders spoke Wednesday morning, Albanese told reporters in Canberra, following the announcement that Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom was among se ven a id workers with World Central K itchen who were killed in an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip. “This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity This is completely unacceptable,” Albanese said. “W hen I spoke with the prime minister I emphasized the importance of full accountability and transparency.” Albanese said there must be a thorough investigation into the killing of the aid workers, and added that Netanyahu had committed to doing so. The Israeli PM had previously said the killings were unintentional and that Israel would “do ever ything so that this does not happen again.” Australia has been a longtime friend of Israel, however the huge civilian death toll from the war in Gaza has tested the limits of Canberra’s support for Netanyahu’s ad-

US-Europe gripes on China overcapacity aren’t all backed by data

ITrudeau also announced the government will tie federal transit funding to municipal rules such as eliminating minimum parking requirements near a mass transit line, and allowing high-density housing near both transit systems and post-secondary institutions.

Onta rio Hou si ng Mi n ister Pau l Ca land ra’s off ice sa id t he prov i nc i al gover nment needs to see t he deta i ls of t he proposal. “However, we know t h at local mu n ic ipal it ies know t heir commu n it ies best and don’t bel ieve i n forc i ng t hem to bui ld where it doesn’t make sense,” a spokesperson sa id i n an e-ma i led statement.

The federal government will make a further C$1 billion available in infrastructure funding directly to municipalities, Trudeau said.

The federal Housing Accelerator Fund will also get a C$400 million top-up, bringing it to a total of C$4.4 billion. That fund has been used by Housing Minister Sean Fraser to push cities to loosen their zoning rules and allow for denser housing construction.

The Conser vative Party which is currently far ahead of Trudeau’s Liberals in the polls—criticized the new measures as ineffective. “Today’s announcement shows that the Liberals have no solutions to the crisis they created,” said a statement from Conser vative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s office. “Under Trudeau, Canada is building fewer homes than we did in the 1970s when Canada had half the population, yet the Liberals continue to double down on their failed policies.”

Tuesday’s announcement follows a pledge last week to boost renters’ rights, and other recent announcements on expand i ng c hi ld-ca re spaces and creating a school food program.

The measures are all to be included in the April 16 federal budget, and are aimed mostly at voters aged 40 and younger, a cohort that has increasingly turned against Trudeau over the past couple years, according to public opinion polls. With assistance from Jay Zhao-Murray / Bloomberg

ministration. Albanese’s center-left Labor government has prev iously voted in favor of a ceasefire at the United Nations. Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed Albanese’s comments in an inter view with Sky News on Wednesday and demanded accountability from Israel. “We are outraged by what has occurred,” she said. “I want to start by honoring the life of Zomi Frankcom, someone whose life was dedicated to the ser vice of others, and I want to express to her family and those who loved her that Australians mourn with her.”

The war in Gaza started shortly after the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and abducting some 250 others. Israel initiated a military campaign against the group, which is designated a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, in a conflict that has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to authorities in the Hamasrun enclave.

The UK government said Tuesday it had summoned Israel’s ambassador in the wake of the killings, with Foreign Secretar y David Cameron calling the deaths “completely unacceptable.” Ben Westcott /Bloomberg

By Tom Hancock

N Washington and Brussels, there’s a consensus that China is experiencing a surge of excess capacity that could wipe out overseas industries, spurring protectionist measures to stem the damage.

“C hi na’s overcapac ity d i stor ts global prices and production patterns,” US Treasur y Secretar y Janet Yellen said ahead of her visit to the countr y this week, highlighting solar panels, electric vehicles and batteries. There are similar concerns in Europe, with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen citing overcapacity as a reason for opening an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs.

A look at the data suggests that while China does have widespread industrial overcapacity, much of this is driven by industries that Western nations don’t compete with China on, such as low-tech goods and those related to the nation’s property slump —from cement to furniture.

For EVs, the issue for advanced economies appears to be more that Chinese companies are more efficient rather than loaded with excess capacity. Chinese leaders have been pouring money into manufacturing, focusing on new industries such as EVs, batteries and renewable energy, as Beijing looks for new sources of growth for its slowing economy. Trading partners worried about the prospect of low-cost imports flooding their markets and wiping out jobs are pushing back—and in some cases raising the barriers on Chinese products.

Beijing has said it wants to curb overcapacity, so analyzing the data is important as it shows where China sees an issue. The EV industr y is likely not one of them, though overcapacity is present in solar and batteries. It also provides advanced economies an indication where they might find more success when pressuring China to act on overcapacity.

Here’s a look at what the numbers say:

Prices

FROM the rest of the world’s perspective, overcapacity can be felt through lower prices. Chinese export prices fell last year at the fastest pace for almost a decade, but that was driven by low-tech goods like clothing and toys.

C hi na’s a u tomob i le expo r ts, which surged last year as the countr y overtook Japan as the world’s top car exporter actually became more expensive. That suggests their rising attractiveness isn’t due to price cuts.

Chinese companies aren’t dumping electric vehicles on global markets at a lower cost either Leading Chinese EVs fetch roughly double on average in Europe than domestically.

Utilization

THE most common way of measuring overcapacity is capacity utilization, rated on a scale where zero means factories are laying idle, to 100 meaning maximum use.

China’s capacity usage rates across industr y was below 76 percent for all of 2022 and 2023, the longest stretch recorded since 2016 when Beijing launched a nationwide capacity-cutting campaign. That was below the level of around 80 percent considered “normal,” according to a commentary by the Communist Party’s leading financial body.

But that doesn’t seem to be causing alarm in Beijing. First, the rate is several percentage points higher than in 2016 and has picked up in recent quarters. “Under these circumstances, it is hard to believe that China has a serious structural overcapacity,” Fan Lei an economist at Guolian Securities, wrote in a recent note.

Second, data suggests that while some sectors like electrical equipment, which includes solar panels, have unusually low utilization, the headline number has been draggeddown by low-tech sectors impacted by China’s property crisis. That has cut demand for products like glass and cement, where capacity utilization has fallen to as low as 30 percent, according to Daiwa Securities Group Inc.

In other sectors like auto manufacturing, chemicals, and equipment such as wind turbines, the rate is climbing toward the 80% threshold.

Use of assets

THOSE conclusions are supported by China’s monthly sur vey of the financial performance at industrial firms, which allows the calculation of how efficiently companies are using their fixed assets.

That data shows historically low levels of asset efficiency in sectors like electrical machinery, phones and computers, according to analysis by Gavekal Dragonomics. But the ratio for auto manufacturing is high by historical standards,

likely reflecting strong use of production lines for electric vehicles, according to Gavekal’s Thomas Gatley.

Autos

CHINA is by far the world’s largest market for pure electric and hybrid vehicles, with domestic sales surging 36 percent last year and expected to grow 25 percent this year Its ratio of exports to production is far lower than other car producing nations such as Germany, Japan and South Korea.

Overcapacity might result in vast parking lots filled with unsold cars.

But Chinese automakers’ inventories don’t look high according to a Bloomberg analysis of listed companies. Data on dealers’ inventories from China’s car dealer association also doesn’t show an unusual increase.

Some analysts, who est i mate

China has a carmaking capacity of 50 million or more and conclude that utilization is below 50 percent relative to domestic sales of 22 million, include obsolete capacity in their calculation or are “simply bluffing,” said Paul Gong, head of China autos research at UBS Group AG. “The overcapacity narrative has been exaggerated and oversimplified,” he added.

One oversimplification is ignoring the distinction between EV and internal combustion engine (ICE) cars, of which sales have plummeted amid the transition to electric and hybrid vehicles.

China’s biggest EV exporters including BYD Co., Tesla Inc.’s Shanghai factory and SAIC Motor Corp. all have capacity utilization rates above 80 percent, according to estimates from JSC Automotive. Only one major exporter Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., which relied on ICE vehicles for the majority of its sales last year, has a low capacity use of 44 percent.

The internal combustion engine sector is “much more affected” by overcapacity, said Camille Boullenois, an analyst at R hodium Group. EV overcapacity is concentrated in smaller and u ncompet it ive companies that will likely not sur vive, she added.

The real issue for advanced economies is that Chinese carmakers are more competitive, thanks to technology, local supply chains, brand new transport infrastructure, and lower energy and land costs. Government subsidies play a role, but they may be secondary to innovation: China leads the EU and the US in peer-reviewed publications on green technology.

China’s top EV expor ters “are competitive on quality as well as

price,” Boullenois added.

Green goods

HOWEVER, when it comes to batteries used in EVs, it’s clear that capacity is running ahead of demand.

Planned annual output capacity of China’s EV batter y manufacturers will reach 4,800 gigawatt hours by next year but the countr y will need at most 1,200 GW h Zhu Huarong, chairman of carmaker Changan Automobile, said last year

Prices are plunging, with the cost of lithium carbonate—the white salt that goes into making batteries— down 80 percent from a 2022 peak. The same is true for solar panels as prices more than halved last year BNEF compared China’s planned manufacturing capacity for batteries used in EVs and power grids with the level consistent with reaching net-zero emissions by mid-centur y, finding capacity from 2024-2027 is about double what would be needed.

For solar, it compared announced capacity with its “optimistic” demand scenario, finding China’s planned production capacity over 2024-2027 will be more than double demand.

“The good news: an oversupplied world is one where costs are low,” said BNEF analyst Antoine VagneurJones. But it will make plans by countries to onshore production much harder to justify he added.

To be sure, future demand growth can exceed expectations. That potential for under-estimation is large for green goods, where carbon reduction targets may be raised in years to come.

New capacity can often replace older capacity, rather than sitting alongside it when an industr y is developing new techniques. In solar, the traditional “PERC” solar cell design is being driven out by new technologies.

“The old factories are obsolete and any firm that doesn’t replace them will likely fail. This is one argument for the sheer levels of planned overinvestment,” Vagneur-Jones added.

Ma rket forces a re al ready reduc i ng t he capac ity pipel i ne. C hinese sola r and batter y compan ies h ave al ready canceled several la rge projects t his yea r, and compan ies a re brac i ng for a “bruta l” wave of bank ruptc ies.

This has a downside for competitors overseas. China’s wave of solar sector bankruptcies a decade ago left only the most advanced firms standing. Today’s overcapacity problem can become tomorrow’s competitiveness challenge. With assistance from Dan Murtaugh /Bloomberg

Biden, Xi spoke by phone about AI risks, Russia and fentanyl

By Michelle Jamrisko & Jennifer Jacobs

US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke by telephone on Tuesday, their first one-on-one communication since meeting in California last November.

The leaders of the world’s two biggest economies have managed to maintain a veneer of diplomatic stability despite deep mutual suspicion between their countries, and as their governments pursue export controls, sanctions and tariffs. At the same time, they have sought common ground on issues including risks posed by artificial intelligence and combating illicit drugs like fentanyl.

The call was carefully orchestrated, both countries issued statements calling it “candid and constructive,” and said they discussed AI, militar y cooperation, climate change and efforts to fight drug trafficking, among other subjects.

Biden raised concerns about China’s “support for Russia’s defense industrial base,” according to a US summa r y of t he ca ll. Biden also emphasized the importance of rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, according to the statement.

The W hite House also hinted at a pending tariff decision, say ing that Biden raised China’s “unfair trade

policies and non-market economic pract ices” and “emph asi zed t h at the United States will continue to take necessar y actions to prevent advanced US technologies from being used to undermine our national security, w ithout undu ly limiting trade and investment.”

T he ta riff rev iew d id not specif ica lly come up duri ng t he leaders’ conversation, W hite House spokesman Joh n K irby sa id Tuesday after t he call. Biden and X i d id d isc u ss t he f ut ure of t he C hi nese-owned soc i al med i a platfor m Ti kTok, for whic h t he US president is seek i ng to force a sale over data-sec urity concer ns.

X i ’s statement s i

risks instead of de-risking. He also characterized any potential US involvement in supporting a Taiwanese bid for independence as a “red line.”

More talks

THE two leaders agreed in November to communicate more regularly, since it had been a year since their previous one-on-one talks. The relationship reached a nadir last year after the flight of a Chinese balloon across the US. Biden faces a reelection campaign against Donald Trump, who started a trade war against China after he first took office and is proposing a 60% tariff on all Chinese imports if he returns to power

Yellen visit

PLANS for a Biden-X i call were accelerated when National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met in late Januar y with his counter part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Bangkok. Treasur y Secretar y Janet Yellen is expected to visit Beijing in the coming days and Secretar y of State Antony Blinken plans to follow in the coming weeks, according to a senior US official.

Yellen will spend two days in the southern commercial and manufacturing hub of Guangzhou beginning April 5, before heading to Beijing for two more days of talks, the Treasur y Depa r tment annou nced Tuesday. With assistance from Jacob Gu, Josh Wingrove and Akayla Gardner / Bloomberg

The US is weighing a final decision on its review of tariffs on China, which is expected to impose some new levies, including on connected vehicles. The W hite House has not said when it will make its tariff announcement. X i has sought to keep tensions low as he seeks to revive a struggling economy, holding a last-minute meeting last week with American business leaders in Beijing including Blackstone Inc.’s Stephen Schwarzman and Qualcomm Inc.’s Cristiano Amon. The Chinese president told t he g roup t h at C hi na’s economy hasn’t peaked, while calling on US companies to invest in his nation, say ing he sees no need for Washington and Beijing to decouple, Bloomberg reported last week. The US side prepared a laundry list of other bilateral and international issues for Biden to discuss with X i: cybersecurity and the US need to prevent advanced technologies from undermining national security; concerns over Hong Kong’s autonomy; a call for China to release Americans wrongfully detained or under exit bans; and concerns over potential Chinese inter ference in the 2024 US election.

t hese mu n ic ipal it ies, t he hig hest pover ty i nc idence among t he popu lat ion was est i mated i n t he Mu n ic ipal ity of Tabu an-Lasa, Provi nce of Basi lan, w it h est i mated pover ty i nc idence of 7 3.4 percent or seven out of 10 residents were considered poor i n 2021,” PSA sa id. Apa r t f r om Tab u an-Lasa, ot her mu n ic ipal it ies included in t he top 10 poorest locales nat ionw ide a re Tapu l in Su lu w it h a pover ty inc idence rate of 70.7 percent; Pa rang in Su lu 69.7 percent; and Oma r in Su lu and Hadji Moh ammad Aju l in

Basi lan bot h w it h a pover ty inc idence of 68.5 percent. T he l ist inc ludes Pangl ima Est ino (New Panamao) in Su lu w ith a pover ty incidence of 68.3 percent; Hadji Muhtamad i n Basi lan, 67.6 percent; Al-ba rka in Basi lan, 67. 3 percent; Akba r in Basi lan, 64.9 percent; and Hadji Pangl ima Ta hi l (Ma rungga s) in Su lu, 64.1 percent. T hese a re classif ied by PSA as Level 2 mu n ic ipal it ies or t hose w it h a pover ty inc idence rate of 60 to 80 percent. As of 2021, however, t he cou nt r y no longer h ad Level 1 mu n ic ipal it ies w it h pover ty rates of above 80 percent. “Look ing at t hose in Level 2, 18 out of t he 22 mu n ic ipal it ies belong ing to t his categor y a re f rom t he Bangsamoro Autonomous Reg ion in Musl im Mindanao (BARMM), whi le t he four rema in ing mu n ic ipal it ies were f rom t he Zamboanga Pen i nsu la,” PSA sa id. “S pec i f i cally, four mu n i c ipal it ies we re f rom t he Provi nce of Zamboanga del Nor te, eleven m u n i c i pal i t i es we r e f r om t h e Pr ov i nce of S u l u and t he rema i n i ng se ven came f rom t he Prov i nce of Bas i lan,” it added.

STREAMLINING Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions along with better tax administration could help accelerate the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts, according to the World Bank.

T his was accord ing to Gonzalo Va rela, World Bank Lead Econom ist and Prog ram Leader of t he Equitable Growt h, Finance and Inst it ut ions Pract ice Group for Brunei, Malaysi a, t he Phi l ippines and T h a i land.

In a brief ing w it h repor ters on Wednesday, Varela sa id t he gover nment sti ll has a lot of room to reduce t he cou nt r y’s f iscal def ic it in t ime for t he ta rget of bring ing it down to 3 percent by 2028. “You can inc rease your tax collection w it hout increasing t he rates t hrough better tax administ rat ion. T here is a lot of space, I wou ld say, t hrough better tax adm in ist rat ion

and also t hrough a broaden ing of t he tax net,” Va rela sa id. T h e Wo r ld Bank econom i st expla i ned t h at h av i ng many exempt ions in t he VAT “c reates d istor t ions” and reduces t he gover nment’s capac ity to inc rease t heir collect ions. Va rela sa id t hese exempt ions s h o u ld be ca r ef u lly st u d i ed i n te r ms of how t hese benef its a re d i st ri

ri ef i ng t h at t h e Phi l i pp i nes i s t h e only co u nt r y i n t h e Asean and i n t h e wo r ld w h ose r est ri ct i ons a r e i n t h e Const i t u t i on. Teves proposed to remove all restrictive” economic prov isions in t he Const it ut ion, to put t he cou nt r y’s legal f ramework on a pa r w it h Asean ne i g hbor s. T hese i nclude t he prov isions in educat ion, publ ic ut i l it ies and adver t ising.

T he out ri g ht removal of t he econom ic prov isions of mass med i a, land, and nat ural resources f rom t he Const it ut ion, whic h was not inc luded in t he RBH7, was also proposed by Teves. Teves said the removal will also give Congress the flexibility in imposing limitations, regulations, or even a safety net, as well as reverse it quickly to changing international and domestic conditions through legislation. Meanw hi le, c urr ent F i nance Sec reta r y Ralph G. Recto is also back ing C h a r ter c h ange to amend cer ta in econom ic prov isions in t he Const it ut ion to per m it foreign investors in t he cou nt r y. Recently, Recto sa id he is open to “delet ing” t he econom ic prov isions specif ically in education public serv ices, and mass med i a. “T h e Const i t u t i on h as been t here for 37 yea rs... Wala pang update yan [T here’s no update yet on t h at],” Recto sa id. However, si nce cer ta i n prov isions u nder t he RBH7 i nd icated “as may be prov ided by law,” Recto sa id he respects” t hose. Alt hough it is t he prerogat ive of Cong ress and t he Exec ut ive branc h cannot inter vene, Recto said he suppor ts t he in it i at ives to amend t he C h a r ter for econom ic g rowt h T he House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on March 20 its proposed amendments to t he econom ic prov isions of t he Const it ut ion, w it h a vote of 288 in favor, eight against, and two abstent ions.

and Mt. Apo Natural Park. “T he committee’s hearing today is prompted by the public uproar over the v iral image of resor t facilities, including cottages, slides, and what appears to be an Olympic-sized sw imming pool, built at the foot of three of our cherished Chocolate Hills in Bohol Prov ince. Indeed, ‘ T he picture says it all.’ It exposes the stark defacement and desecration of our national treasure,” Villar said in her opening statement. Acco r d i ng to V i lla r, t h e approx imately 1,776 u n ique con ical mou nds t h at comprise t he C hocolate Hi lls a re not merely a tourist att ract ion; t hey st and as a Unesco-recogn i zed Nat ural Monu ment since 1988, for m pa r t of t he Phi l ippines’ f irst Global Geopa rk as designated by Unesco in 2023, and a re collect ively considered protected a rea u nder

By VG

GOTIANUNLED Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC) on Wednesday said its attributable income jumped by 58 percent to P8.9 billion last year from the previous year’s P5.7 billion as all its business segments posted double-digit growth.

TPinoys in Taiwan get free mobile data, calls from Globe and Smart DigiPlus allots half of capex for upgrades

subscription of their LSI tranche.

The e-payment method may already be used to pay PSE EASy subscriptions for the upcoming first IPO of 2024, the PSE said. VG Cabuag L

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

LOBE Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc.

said on Wednesday they are

i ngs.

ity product for our customers – lending with good terms building long-term relationships with our partners and customers, and maintaining efficient operations and risk management,” BillEase CEO and Co-Founder Georg Steiger was quoted in the statement as say ing. “W hile 2023 was a solid year that further proves our business model, we are even more excited for 2024 and beyond. As part of the growth plan, we are investing to further strengthen our team w ith the addition of senior roles in key departments. On the product side, we plan to launch new and innovative financial products while

it plans to file criminal and civil charges in relation to

raid as

warehouse operators may have violated several sections (eight) of Republic Act 8424 (National Internal Revenue Code) from 106 (“Value-added tax on sale of goods or properties”) to 263 (“Unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax”). In Februar y, the BIR won a tax evasion case against those behind the seller of the “Tap Fog” vape products with an estimated civil liability of about P1.2 billion. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/02/27/ bi r -says-wo n -i n -ta x -cas e -a g ai n stvape-t rader/) T he revenue-generating agency also filed tax evasion complaints against four other vape traders in December 2022. Reine Juvierre Alberto

of assessment helps in high BOC Q1 take

By Reine Juvierre

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced last Wednesday of having exceeded its revenue target for March, bringing its total collection of P219.385 billion in duties and taxes for the first quarter of the year.

The bureau said it also sur passed its target of P210.896 billion in

payment of Government Importation for

collection.

further integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into our operations. We also plan to continue expanding our reach, increasing engagement w ith our merchants and their customers, and developing BillEase as the lender of choice by our target customer.” BillEase became the first credit-focused fintech in the Philippines to integrate w ith Alipay+ enabling customers to use BillEase with global merchants like Agoda. BillEase is also available through major payment gateways and aggregators in the region. This enabled BillEase to increase its merchant network by more than three times from over 3,000 in 2022 to over 10,000 in 2023 the company said. Additionally, BillEase introduced a bills payment feature, allow ing customers a more flexible payment plan to pay utility bills and many others through its partnership w ith CIS Bayad Center Inc. As part of its funding strategy, BillEase is pursuing a Series-C equity financing round that would unlock substantial capital to further accelerate the expansion of its consumer loan portfolio.

positions BillEase on a path to emerge as one of the Philippines’s largest and most disruptive consumer fintechs w ithin the next 3 to 5 years. BillEase raised $11 million in Series B funding led by BurdaPrincipal Investments, the growth capital ar m of Hubert Burda Media in 2022. Other investors included Centauri (backed by Telkom Indonesia and KB Investment), 33 Capital, and Raisin DS CEO Tamaz Georgadze. BillEase’s total equity raised reached around $15 million.

PDIC: 2023 asset liquidation efforts hit ₧330-M in sales BillEase outperforms trad’l banks with 47% ROE in ’23

AIn a statement, Asialink said it secured a P300 million credit line from the 49-year-old CUB, the third Taiwanese bank to extend credit support to Asialink.

Asial ink has ea rl ier secured a credit line facility from CTBC Bank (Philippines) Cor p. and Yuanta Sav-

Lings Bank Philippines Inc., a whollyowned subsidiar y of Yuanta Commercial Bank in Taiwan. “This latest partnership will allow us to sustain growth in our customer base. One of our strengths has always been our partner network, and the support we have been getting from our partners in Taiwan has just been tremendous,” said Asialink President and Chief Operating Officer Eillen B. Mangubat.

According to Asialink, these partnerships are “opening up new windows to individual lenders and small companies with little to no access to

traditional sources of funding.”

Last year, Asialink released over P11 billion in loans, with monthly growth recorded throughout 2023 It had close to 27,000 new borrowers as 2023 drew to a close.

Ea rl ier Asi al i nk expanded its loan footpri nt i n t he fast-g row i ng ma rket for brand-new and u sed t rucks t h at a re essent i al to t he g rowt h of e-commerce and log ist ics. Over t he past yea r t he company h as been lend i ng to log ist ics, const ru ct i on, h a u l i ng f r e i g h t for wa rd i ng and manu fact ure r s. As i al i nk i s f i nanc i ng t h e p ur -

c h ase of vehicles f rom all pur pose vehicles, l

cases and similar which were quite a blow for the industry.”

Lithuania’s efforts to tighten the reins on cr ypto mirror steps regulators have taken around the world over the past three years. Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai are among f inancial centers that introduced

BITCOIN investors facing pronounced swings in Asia may be grappling with the fallout of automated trading protocols reacting to flows data for US exchange-traded funds holding the cr yptocurrency.

Dai ly f ig ures on the level of demand for these spot-Bitcoin ETFs propagate across the cr ypto market in Asian hours following the close of US share trading. On Tuesday, the d ig ita l asset embarked on its worst drop in a month in the Asian mor ning as the flows numbers pointed to investors pu lling money out. Bitcoin was little changed at around $66,000 on Wednesday.

“From an algorithmic trad ing perspective, bots can basically auto-scrape this data and buy and sell based on this,” said Shi liang Tang, president of principa l trad ing f ir m A rbelos Markets. “It seems that’s basically what is happening.”

A batc h of US B itco i n ETFs

comprehensive regulator y regimes for digital assets since 2021. Seven of the world’s largest cr ypto exchanges are already present in Lithuania, K repsta said. Some of the digital-asset firms operating there are already l icensed in ot her EU states, meaning they may not need authorization in Lithuania, he said.

Health& Fitness

Get those kidneys checked to avoid dialysis–experts

By Rory Visco | Contributor

IT was in the 1940s when dialysis, a treatment that enables the body to remove extra fluid and waste from the blood, was used when the body’s kidneys are unable to function the way they should. Thirty years later, it became a standard procedure for those with kidney failure.

In effect, dialysis carries out some of the kidney’s functions the moment it is failing already. Aside from removing extra fluids and waste to prevent them from building up inside the body, it also keeps the balance of certain minerals in the blood and also helps regulate blood pressure.

There are two types of dialysis that can be done today. There is hemodialysis, which uses a machine to remove blood from the body, filters the removed blood using a “dialyzer” or artificial kidney and then returns the cleaned blood back. It can be done in a hospital or dialysis center. Peri-

toneal dialysis, on the other hand, filters the blood using a cleansing solution that has water, salt, and other additives. It works through a catheter inserted through the belly and into the abdominal lining or “peritoneum,” hence the name, and can be done in the home or any suitable location that can be decided on by the patient and the doctor.

Dialysis is recommended for those whose kidneys are failing, or those suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is when the kidneys are performing at only 10 to 15 percent of their normal functions

because of damage brought about by certain diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes. Kidney transplant is also an option. The Mayo Clinic said “only one donated kidney is needed to replace two failed kidneys, which makes living-donor kidney transplant an alternative to deceaseddonor kidney transplant.” However, kidney transplants usually take time since patients are put on a waiting list until a suitable kidney coming from a deceased donor is found. It is easier if it is a living donor such as a family member who are most likely compatible living donors, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Awareness, preventive behavior

CLICHÉ as it may seem, but prevention remains to be much better than any cure, and dialysis won’t be needed if kidneys are healthy. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) revealed that one Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour, or about 120 Filipinos per million population every year.

Chronic Kidney Disease or CKD is one of the leading causes of death in

the Philippines. It is a condition where the kidney’s functions have gradually decreased over a period of time, and can no longer filter blood as properly as before. As a result, excess waste and fluid remains in the body and causes other health problems such as heart disease and stroke.

This is the reason why during every celebration of World Kidney Day, a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations–World Kidney Alliance (IFKF–WKA), everyone is encouraged to get their health, especially kidney health, checked. This global campaign helps raise awareness about the importance of kidneys, including fostering behaviors focused on “prevention,” cognizance of risk factors, and even how to live with a kidney disease.

“The problem with this is that it has no early signs. Symptoms will only show when your kidneys have deteriorated already,” according to Dr. Greta Cortez, Head of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc. “Fortunately, there are a number of ways

we can keep our kidneys healthy and prevent CKD such as early screening, lifestyle checks, and understanding your family’s medical history.”

There is a simple two-step screening process to check kidney health, according to Cortez. First is the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a blood test that measures the waste called creatinine in the blood, while the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR) test measures albumin or protein level present in the urine through a urine sample.

The two primary conditions that often lead to CKD are Diabetes and Hypertension. Lifestyle factors such as age, smoking, family history of CKD, and obesity also put individuals at risk of CKD. “Unhealthy lifestyles are also considered because they might cause you to eat foods high in sugar and sodium, be exposed to constant stress, or keep you from moving your body,” Cortez pointed out.

Healthy kidneys, healthy whole body

CORTEZ highly recommends that people get enough exercise every day

even if it’s just walking and eat food that contains less sugar and salt and eat more of fruits and vegetables. She also urged Filipinos to practice healthy stress management habits in their lifestyle such as regular exercise, a healthy diet, and enough sleep to prevent high blood pressure or diabetes. “If you start incorporating these healthy habits in your daily life, CKD can be the least of your worries,” she explained.

As for Reynaldo Abacan Jr., founder and President of Dialysis PH, a support organization for renal failure patients and their families, cultivating a healthy lifestyle within one’s community is key to maintaining them. “We can hold each other accountable. We encourage everyone to check their kidney health as chronic kidney disease is a lifelong condition that affects the quality of life, not just of the patient but of their loved ones as well.”

He likewise reminded Filipinos that seeing a doctor, together with their loved ones, to have their kidneys checked as soon as possible is the most straightforward way to find out if they are healthy.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

THE US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recalled that back in the late summer of 2011, a chain of events occurred during the dry season in the Republic of Zambia in Africa. That was when an anthrax outbreak occurred.

A group of hippos that were hunting for food, came across a pile of food that had been rotting in the soil. The hippos eventually died because they had been infected with anthrax.

People living near where the hippos died saw the carcasses as a convenient and free source of food.

“The resulting outbreak of anthrax among people who had either eaten the meat of the infected hippopotamuses became a serious and deadly twist on the title of a popular children’s game,” the CDC said.

Found in soil

THE Department of Health (DOH) said that anthrax is a serious, potentially deadly infection caused by a bacteria that is naturally found in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals.

“Anthrax does not spread from person to

THE Medical City (TMC) emerged victorious at the Healthcare Asia (HCA) Awards 2024 held on March 26, 2024 in Singapore, with TMC Ortigas, TMC South Luzon, and TMC Clinic securing the top three awards for the Healthcare Providers Category, reinforcing the organization’s position as the leader in the healthcare industry and dedication as the Filipinos’ Trusted Partner In Health. HCA Awards, an annual event that recognizes and celebrates excellence in the healthcare sector, named The Medical City Enterprise as the Hospital of the Year (TMC Ortigas), Secondary Hospital of the Year (TMC South Luzon), and Primary Care Provider of the Year (TMC Clinic) Awards, in recognition of its commitment to innovation, compassionate patient care, and excellence in service delivery.

Hospital of the Year

TMC Ortigas has clinched the prestigious Hospital of the Year award four times in the last five years (2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024). This recognition is a testament to their relentless dedication to pushing medical science boundaries and patient care. One key contributor is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Imaging Services, which led to a significant improvement, with the finalizing results compliance rate jumping from 98 percent to an impressive 99.88 percent. Additionally, the introduc-

person like colds or the flu. It is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis, which produces spores. Animals like livestock are the ones most affected,” the DOH said.

The DOH assured that they are closely monitoring developments in other countries that have reported a higher than usual number of anthrax cases.

An outbreak of anthrax was reported in Laos last week where more than 50 suspected human cases have been reported.

Laos media reported 65 suspected cases, including 54 in southern Champasak province which borders Thailand.

The Thai government has already ordered a close watch on livestock, to closely monitor the disease and to protect the public.

Preventive measures

THE DOH shall also be coordinating with the Department of Agriculture for preventive measures for animals including livestock.

In the Philippines, only 82 suspected anthrax cases were recorded over seven years, from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023.

There were no reported anthrax health events in 2019 to 2021; neither have there been any from January 1 to March 29, 2024.

tion of Microwave Ablation for tumordebulking, a first in the Philippines, and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for scarless removal of thyroid nodules further solidified TMC’s commitment to cutting-edge treatment options, contributing to a 9.2 percent revenue increase in 2023.

Milestones like the 11th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and the successful completion of 24 Outpatient Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs) enhanced patient care efficiency.

Furthermore, groundbreaking efforts in cardiovascular and neurological innovation, such as the Mechanical Thrombectomy and Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT) program, earned TMC Ortigas the “Patient Care Initiative of the Year award.”

Over the years, TMC has impressively risen in the Top of Mind Status, moving from 5th place in 2017 to a virtual tie for the top position, showing TMC’s growing influence and trust within the community.

A key driver of this ascendancy has been the strategic use of social media, which achieved an unprecedented 80 million reach in 2023, demonstrating the power of digital platforms in amplifying our message of healthcare excellence and innovation.

TMC South Luzon: Secondary Hospital of the Year

TMC South Luzon (TMC SL) won Secondary Hospital of the Year for its service

Low risk

THE risk of the general public getting infected by anthrax is very low.

Veterinarians, farmers, livestock personnel, and other workers who handle animals and their products may have a higher risk.

Because the risk is specific to certain populations and occupations, available vaccines for anthrax are not used for the general population.

“The public can avoid getting anthrax by avoiding raw or undercooked meat or meat products. Avoid contact with livestock or animal remains,” the DOH said.

Signs and symptoms

THE presence of Anthrax varies depending on the type of infection.

For cutaneous infection (skin): A raised, itchy bump resembling an insect bite that quickly develops into a painless sore with a black center; Swelling in the sore and nearby lymph nodes.

For gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine) infection: Nausea;

innovation, patient care, and community outreach, marking its second win since 2022. In 2023, TMC SL achieved a remarkable 14.32 percent revenue growth, driven by new services like the expanded Wellness and Lifestyle Center. Notable additions include the Bella Aesthetic Unit and Vivant Weight Wellness Unit, extending services through Sunset Clinics for afteroffice hours. Moreover, TMC SL’s cardiovascular program received accreditation for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) in Laguna, showcasing commitment to patient safety. Introduction of smart rooms with voice-controlled features enhanced patient satisfaction, maintaining a high rating of 4.28 in 2023. TMC SL also actively participated in community events, raising funds for various foundations.

TMC Clinic: Primary Care Provider of the Year

TMC Clinic was named Primary Care Provider of the Year, for its commitment to enhance primary healthcare accessibility. With 10 new ambulatory care clinics, TMC Clinic now operates 60 fully equipped facilities with an aim to cater to modern healthcare needs. The expansion also includes the renovation of eight existing clinics to further enhance patient experience.

Collaborating with corporate partners, TMCC manages 11 corporate accounts in 23 Occupational Health Clinic sites, supporting

Vomiting; Abdominal pain; Headache; Loss of appetite; Fever; Bloody diarrhea in the later stages of the disease; Sore throat and difficulty swallowing; and Swollen neck.

For inhalational (lungs) infection: High fever; Shortness of breath; Mild chest discomfort; Vomiting of blood; and Coughing up blood.

Prevention and control

TO help reduce the risk of infection, one must: Practice proper hand hygiene; Avoid coming into contact with infected animals; Avoid eating meat from animals that were sick when slaughtered; Be educated about Anthrax and personal cleanliness, especially if one might handle potentially contaminated objects.

31,000 more employees, with plans for 12 additional corporate accounts in 2024.

Marketing Initiative of The Year and Allied Health Initiative of The Year

ASIDE from these awards, TMC Ortigas also won the “Marketing Initiative of the Year Award” for its All-In Maternity Package launched during the 2023 Women’s Month Celebration alongside the dedicated video campaign “Some Days are Bigger Than Others.” This initiative set a new standard in maternity care, centered on providing care, comfort, and unmatched medical support for expectant mothers and their newborns.

TMC SL also won the Allied Health Initiative of the Year for its annual “Med Tech Week.” The event offers these medical professionals a platform to discuss various topics related to laboratory tests, including the latest technologies, limitations, and specialized pathways.

HCA Awards recipients underwent rigorous scrutiny and evaluation by a distinguished panel of judges comprising leading experts and luminaries from globally respected institutions. The panel includes esteemed representatives from renowned entities such as Boston Consulting Group, KPMG

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

WITH or without a pandemic, admissions to hospitals continue to increase in the country due to the rise of contagious diseases like pertussis, adding to common illnesses that afflict the general populace. This, coupled with a lack of manpower in laboratories, affects the delivery of healthcare that is of high quality and in a timely manner from clinics and hospitals.

“In the Philippines, as elsewhere, laboratories are under immense pressure to meet growing patient needs with limited resources,” said Lee Yean San, head of Siemens Healthineers Lab Solutions for Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia. “The Atellica CI Analyzer is our answer to this challenge, empowering healthcare providers to deliver faster, more accurate diagnoses and exceptional patient care.”

This latest diagnostic tool is designed to tackle such challenges and empower Filipino healthcare providers to constantly bring exceptional care to the patients.

A game-changing lab equipment

THE Atellica CI Analyzer by Siemens Healthineers addresses some lab problems. It is compact in size at 1.9 square meters, thus, making it fit even for smaller labs that lack space. Because such an instrument still uses the same reliable reagents and software found in Siemens Healthineers’ larger Atellica analyzers, a streamlined workflow and consistency across an entire healthcare network are guaranteed. Other features include independent processing engines and standardized workflows that lead to enhanced efficiency and productivity for labs of all sizes.

Since studies reveal that many healthcare systems worldwide, including the Philippines, are faced with delayed diagnoses concerns, the Atellica CI Analyzer boasts of faster test results. With turnaround times of under 14 minutes for key assays, it enables healthcare providers to diagnose patients more rapidly, thus, leading to better clinical results.

Also, it has an impressive test menu with more than 200 assays planned, covering a

broad range of conditions.

“In a country like the Philippines, where lab efficiency is of high importance, the Atellica CI Analyzer’s independent engines are a game-changer,” she said. “This unique feature minimizes downtime and ensures labs can continue delivering critical test results to patients without delays.”

‘Win-win’ solution

PATIENTS and healthcare providers are benefitted in many ways with this new lab technology.

Due to its faster turnaround times, giving diagnoses to patients is quicker, hence, interventions are provided earlier, leading to better outcomes. What’s more, the standardized testing processes ensure the accuracy and consistency of result, diminishing potential errors.

Considering that time is crucial in every patient’s survival, immediate diagnosis and treatment decisions are very important for improved outcomes across a wide range of conditions.

For instance, early detection of heart disease can result in lifestyle changes and medication that prevent heart attacks and strokes. Also, catching cancers at an early stage allows for more successful treatment options and a higher chance of remission.

By bringing faster outcomes, the analyzer enables healthcare providers to intervene sooner, potentially saving lives and improving the quality of life of patients here and abroad.

Significant leap forward

SIEMENS Healthineers has taken a big step ahead in diagnostic technology with the Atellica CI Analyzer—thanks to its delivery of fast and accurate results while solving common lab dilemmas.

It is integrated faultlessly with the company’s Atellica Laboratory Evaluation Suite, a built-in software that simplifies adherence to accreditation guidelines and guarantees the security of patient data.

By helping the healthcare industry to deal with the critical need of innovative diagnostic technology, the Atellica CI Analyzer is indeed a powerful tool for healthcare providers in the country and the rest of the world to deliver outstanding patient care.

Protect your kids from common summer conditions

FOR a family with young kids, summer means three things.

The months-long break is forever synonymous with carefree days of sleeping in and waking up late and playing in the backyard all day. But summer is also the season for ailments and conditions that crop up during the searing weather.

Don’t let them get in the way of your fun. Leading health institute Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www. makatimed.net.ph), through its Department of Pediatrics, enumerates summer’s most common diseases among kids and how to prevent your little ones from getting them.

SKIN CONDITIONS. Kids who stay out in the sun too long are bound to get one or both of these common skin conditions. “Prickly heat or bungang araw is an itchy and uncomfortable rash that develops when your sweat glands are blocked and sweat cannot rise to the surface of the skin to evaporate,” says Angelica Cecilia Tomas, MD of MakatiMed. “Adults get it, but children get it more because their sweat glands are still developing.” Apply calamine lotion or talcum powder to soothe the itchy, stinging sensation, and keep kids cool by changing them from sweaty clothes to loose, lightcolored apparel.

While outdoor play and more movement is encouraged for kids, it’s important to be aware of the hours when sun exposure is more helpful than harmful. “Morning sunshine is still best for outdoor play. Ask your kids to take a break from playing (or play in a shaded area) when the sun’s rays are at their most intense—between 10 am to 4 pm—and have them hydrate regularly by drinking at least 8 glasses of water,” advises Tomas.

In case a child develops a painful sunburn, give him a cool bath or apply a cool compress to the sunburned area. “Applying aloe gel or topical moisturizer also helps relieve the burn.”

FOOD- AND WATER-BORNE DISEASES. “Food poisoning is the result of consuming spoiled food and drinks. It happens more often during summer because bacteria thrive in hot weather and multiply in warm, moist places,” says Tomas. Unsanitary food handling also adds to the risk of food contamination.

Upset stomach, vomiting, diarrhea and fever are telltale signs of someone who may have eaten spoiled food. If a child exhibits such symptoms, “give him or her plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration,” says Tomas. And prevent food poisoning from happening in the first place. Make sure the people who prepare the food observe sanitary practices by handwashing, cook food thoroughly and consume it immediately after it’s cooked, and serve and store them in clean containers. If anything looks, smells, or tastes funny, throw it away!

MEASLES. Otherwise known as tigdas measles is a viral disease characterized by large, red flat blotches on the skin. The first signs of measles usually appear after seven to 14 days after exposure to a person with the virus. Most common symptoms are high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes or conjunctivitis. The rash would appear after three to five days.

According to Tomas, “In the Philippines, cases of measles reach their peak in the summer months. “It’s an airborne disease, and when a child infected with the virus doesn’t cover his mouth when he sneezes, the infected droplets spread into the air, contaminating others.” Vaccinations protect your kids from catching measles. “Ideally, the first dose should be given at 9 months, the second dose between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the third dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years,” Tomas points out.

SORE EYES. Conjunctivitis, typically known as sore eyes, is spread when your child touches his eyes after getting in contact with things (like toys) containing the eye secretions of an infected person. It can also enter your child’s eyes while he’s swimming in a poorly chlorinated pool.

Symptoms include redness in the eyes, a watery or pus-like discharge in the eyes, difficulty opening the eyes in the morning, and pain when the eyes are exposed to sunlight.

“If the conjunctivitis is viral and without complications, it can heal on its own within a week,” she explains. “But if it is bacterial and affects vision, see an ophthalmologist for proper assessment and medication.”

“Again, hygiene is the best way to prevent sore eyes,” says Tomas. “Wash your hands regularly, don’t rub your eyes when your hands are dirty, and do not share handkerchiefs and towels.”

Parentlife

Are smart toys safe?

OEmpowering the Vulnerable in the Digital Environment, www.mwcbarcelona.com

Experience life-changing evening of wisdom, meditation and happiness

IT is easy to get lost in the distractions and noise of everyday life. But achieving peace of mind is possible especially with the help of people who can give us much-needed guidance, strength and even clarity during our moments of stress and adversity.

That is the mission of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a world-renowned humanitarian leader, spiritual teacher and ambassador of peace who will be in Manila for an unforgettable evening of wisdom, meditation and happiness tomorrow, April 5, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm at The Fifth at Rockwell, Powerplant Mall, Makati.

At In Joy with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, attendees will experience Gurudev’s wisdom which has touched the lives of millions of people across different cultures, nationalities and religions in over 180 countries. His impact has led to the creation of two of some of the world’s largest volunteer-based organizations, namely, the Art of Living founded in 1981 and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV) in 1997.

Art of Living offers educational and selfdevelopment programs that aim to eliminate stress, bolster mental health and well-being, and build resilience through evidence-based breathwork and meditation techniques, while IAHV focuses on humanitarian,

conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and sustainable development work. Both organizations have benefitted more than 500 million people worldwide through various courses, projects and initiatives, including 15,000 people in the Philippines alone.

The cornerstone of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s teachings is the Sudarshan Kriya (SKY)—a simple but powerful breathing technique that has been demonstrated in over 100 independent peer-reviewed scientific studies to significantly reduce depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress; boost immunity; improve sleep; and increase life satisfaction, among other benefits. A recent study among Yale University students compared the SKY technique to two other programs (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Emotional Intelligence) and showed that SKY had the highest results of all the programs, benefiting stress, depression, mental health, mindfulness, positive emotion, and social connectedness. There are currently 45 US universities, including

Harvard, Yale, MIT and Stanford, that are teaching the SKY technique to its students through IAHV’s SKY Campus Happiness program. CNN has called the programs “life-changing”, while US President Joe Biden has described Art of Living as an organization “with an incredible following that cuts across all religions, cultures and backgrounds—a very, very difficult thing to do in today’s world”, and commended Gurudev for all his work in promoting peace, combatting violence and drug addiction, and empowering the youth.

The In Joy with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar event is made possible through its sponsors: Standard Insurance, Wings Publication International, Security Bank, Jollibee, Oakley, Speedo and Healthy Foodie. Special thanks are given to Shangri-La The Fort, Pandaworldz photography and Mr. R. Chua. Book early as seats are limited. To purchase tickets (price starts at P800, with early bird rate is at P500), visit www. artofliving.org.

More states seeking parental permission before children join social media

SPacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) for demonstrating effective talent mobilization and organizational capability that deliver consistent business results while remaining aligned to the company’s purpose.

“We would not be where we are today if not for the passion and dedication of our advisors and employees,” Sison added. “We would like to thank them for their commitment to our mission of helping Filipinos achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives.”

Eastwood City hosts first-ever Night Drill in Metro Manila in partnership with QC DRRMO, Office of Civil Defense

EASTWOOD City, in partnership with the Q uezon City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office ( Q C DRRMO) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) hosted the National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill (NSED) Night Drill for the first quarter of the year at the Richmonde Hotel last March 25, 2024. The event marked a significant step towards enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in the community.

The NSED Night Drill aims to simulate emergency response procedures in the context of nighttime conditions. Recognizing the unique challenges posed by nocturnal emergencies, this drill provided participants with valuable experience and insights into handling disasters during low-light situations. “Eastwood City is committed to promoting safety and resilience within our community as a responsible corporate citizen. We aim to equip our stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond

effectively to emergencies, even under challenging circumstances by partnering with QC DRRMO and OCD for the NSED Night Drill,” said Eastwood City Estate Association (ECEA) head Anton Calugay,

The NSED Night Drill featured a series of simulated scenarios designed to test the readiness and coordination of Eastwood City’s emergency response teams, tenants, residents, and visitors. Participants underwent training exercises, evacuation drills, and mock rescue operations, guided by experts from Q C DRRMO and OCD.

The partnership between Eastwood City, Q C DRRMO, and OCD underscores the importance of public-private cooperation in building resilient communities and mitigating the impact of natural disasters. By working together, stakeholders can leverage their respective strengths and resources to create safer environments for all.

Eastwood City invites all stakeholders to participate in the NSED Night Drill and contribute to the collective effort to build a safer, more resilient future for Q uezon City and beyond.

For more information and updates on the latest happenings, visit megaworld-lifestylemalls. 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).

TIRED of juggling loose coins or unsure of what to do with your idle coins at home?

Say goodbye to clutter and hello to a world of savings, investments, and digital funds with Maya, the #1 Digital Bank in the Philippines, along with its partnership with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Thanks to the BSP’s Coin Deposit Machine (CoDM), your spare change can now become valuable assets! Here’s what you can do with your newly converted digital funds with Maya: Grow Your Money: Grow Your Money with Maya! Experience impressive interest rates of up to 14 percent p.a. on Maya savings by simply using Maya for your transactions. Start your Time Deposit Plus account with a minimum target amount of P5,000 and enjoy up to 6 percent p.a. interest.

Additionally, you can open up to 5 Personal Goals accounts, each with balances of up to P1,000,000, earning 4 percent interest p.a.

Invest: Dive into the world of financial growth by exploring opportunities in Crypto starting from as low as P1. You can also opt to begin investing for as low as P50 with Maya Funds and Stocks to build your wealth portfolio.

Simplify Your Transactions: Make your daily transactions a breeze by using your Maya for purchases, buying load, or settling bills with ease.

HISTORY was made once more by Team Suzuki with over 1,000 Raider R150 riders firing up their engines and hitting the open roads of the Metro including the expressway for what proved to be an unforgettable Suzuki Raider Big Ride. An unprecedented event to celebrate supremacy and promote road safety, the ride was a 44-km journey which convoyed a very long stretch of Raider R150 motorcycles signifying its dominance and securing its title as the unrivaled Underbone King. As early as 3 am on March 23, 2024, Raider riders from Calabarzon, NCR, Bulacan and Pampanga converged at the Suzuki Caloocan Cyclemar 3S Shop situated at the Metro’s heart of motorcycle and spare parts dealers - 10th Avenue in Caloocan City for the Suzuki Raider Big Ride.

The massive parade of the Underbone King commenced at 7:45 am passing by the stretch of Edsa to Roxas Boulevard entering the ManilaCavite Expressway (Cavitex) exiting to Bacoor and proceeding to Bacoor Coliseum in Molino. Touted as another milestone in the motoring industry, the occasion is the first organized large convoy of riders which allowed entry of small displacement motorcycles in an expressway in Manila.

The expressway experience added thrill to the Raider riders who fostered discipline and camaraderie all throughout the journey until the ride’s endpoint which promised more excitement with the program that Suzuki had prepared for everyone. Hosted by DJ Tanya Tsinita, the show revolved around the importance of safety riding with a Safety Riding segment that tested the riders’ understanding of the country’s rules and regulations on the road. The riders were also treated with raffle items of parts, accessories and safety riding gears given by Suzuki’s trade partnersRacing Boy Philippines, AV Moto Sales, HJC Helmets, Shinko Tires, Triumph JT Marketing Corporation and Ryzen Helmets from Team Graphitee. As a major gift of thanks, the brand gave away a brand-new V-STROM 250 SX which was won by John Erickson Martel from the R150 All Star Nation.

Don’t

on Twitter for the latest updates.

The event was attended by Suzuki executives and group heads led by President Koichiro Hirao, Managing Director Norminio Mojica, General Manager for After Sales and Marine Yukio Sato, Division Head for Motorcycle Sales and Marketing Joey Salavarria, Assistant to the Division Head Daigo Morikawa, Assistant General Manager for Manufacturing & Engineering Noli Silvestre, Marketing Communications Group Head Edelyn Yanilla, Product Marketing

Envoys&Expats BusinessMirror& Senate president leads bilateral meets in Geneva with Thai, Vietnamese reps

SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri led two-way dialogs with delegates from Thailand and Vietnam at the 148th InterParliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Zubiri joined by Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Nancy Binay and Ambassador Carlos D. Sorreta, who is the Philippines’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, met with the delegation from the Parliament of the K ingdom of Thailand led by its Senate president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai on the assembly’s sidelines on March 24. The senate president recognized the Philippines and T h a i land bi lateral relat ions’ 50th anniversar y.

For his part, Wichitcholchai recalled meeting with his counter part on the sidelines of the 31st AsiaPacific Parliamentar y Forum, which was hosted by the Philippines last November 2023 He extended his gratitude for the warm hospitality accorded them at the APPF 31, and also expressed Thailand’s deep regard for its ties with the Philippines.

Zubiri intimated to the Thai dele-

gation his scheduled visit to Bangkok from April 3 to 6 to reciprocate their visit in Manila during the APPF31, as he conveyed his joy to see and visit the kingdom’s parliament building. He underscored the importance of “rice diplomacy” between the two countries, as the Philippines buys the crop from Thailand. T he Fi lipino solon also considered T hai land as the “K ing of Touri sm i n Asean—an ac hievement worth emulating by the Philippines, for which he suggested a healthy exchange of best practices and the common prog ram of sharing tourists through the “t wo countries, one destination” prog ram.

Zubiri appealed to the Thai Senate president to include arnis—the Phi l ippi nes’s nat ional spor t— i n the Southeast Asian Games, which will be hosted by Thailand in 2025. Wichitcholchai committed that he will do ever ything to accede to the

former’s request.

T he T h a i gover nment off ic i al also i nfor med t he Phi l ippi ne Senate delegat ion of t he IPU’s approval for T h a i land to host t he “Reg ional Confe rence on Healt h and Sec urity” i n 2025, to whic h t he T h a i Senate president extended an i nv itat ion for t he Ph i l ippi nes to attend t he same.

With Vietnam’s Natl Assembly members

THE Philippine Senate’s delegation also engaged on the same date members of the National Assembly of Vietnam headed by Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong who was joined by the other delegates.

Phuong c ited robust and continuing strategic ties between the Philippines and Vietnam—the 10th anniversar y of which will be commemorated in 2025. Both will also be celebrating 50 years of bilateral ties in 2026. He also recalled the visit to the former by then-chairman of their National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue in 2022.

The Vietnamese delegation considers the Philippines as a leading, emerging market in the world and extended its warmest congratulations for the successful hosting of the APPF31. They are pleased with t he st rong development of t heir t rade relat ions w it h t heir Asean

neighbor which also happens to be one of the largest trading partners of their countr y.

The Vietnamese delegation also looks for ward to more exchanges from both parliaments at all levels and channels to explore further cooperation especially in defense and security, agriculture, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges. They also see the need to maintain close inter-parliamentar y coordination through multilateralism.

Zubiri, for his pa r t, acknowledged Vietnam as “a close f riend and a st rateg ic ally” i n t he reg ion, w it h a sh a red v ision of prosperity for t heir people and t he reg ion. He cons i de r s t he Asean nat ion as a model for econom ic g rowt h t hen cong rat u lated it for bei ng a prog ressive economy. He extended t he Phi l ippi nes’s apprec i at ion for its neighbor ’s help for rice supply, even duri ng t he pandem ic. The Senate President agrees that defense cooperation is necessar y— especially in the light of regional maritime issues. He shared his admiration for Vietnam’s courage in defending its territor y.

Finally, the solon informed the delegation of the recent ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership or RCEP, which encourages more business with Vietnam. Kary Villaflor, Senate Social Media Unit/OIRP

Malaysia’s mid-tier firms to set local market footprints

RECOGNIZING oppo r t u n it ies i n g row i ng i nf r ast ruct ure and development projects i n t he Phi l ippi nes,

PHL, Australia usher new era in their Strategic Partnership

AI felt goosebumps as I heard him address a joint sitting of the Austral ian Parl iament. He described how much our two countries have in common, our shared belief in a rulesbased global order, and our strategic agency on the international stage in which we each play a crucial part. It wasn’t just the substance of the address, but also the unprecedented nature of the occasion. President Marcos was the first Philippine leader to address the Australian Parliament—the ver y heart of Australia’s democratic political system. The warmth closeness and trust in the Chief Executive’s meetings with Governor-General David Hurley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Leader of the Opposition

Peter Dutton were similarly striking.

The former visited Australia again on March 3 to attend the “Asean-Australia Special Summit” in Melbourne. There, he brought with him House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, Secretar y of Foreign Affairs

Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretar y Ralph Recto, Trade Secretar y Alfredo Pascual, Energy Secretar y Raphael Lotilla, and Director General Tereso Panga of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, among others. Officials from the Bases Conversion and Development Aut hority and the National Development Company also participated.

The business delegation led by the President comprised top Philippine conglomerates and industr y representatives from sectors. It was ent husiastically received by Australian businesses at the Philippine Business Forum. Members of the Australia-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines even flew from Manila to Melbourne for the forum.

The strength of the Philippine

delegation was deeply appreciated by the Australian government, as we embark on a bold and unprecedented journey to stretch our trade and investment relationship w ith Southeast Asia. We know that our future prosperity is tied to this region.

Australia’s roadmap for our trade and investment relationship w ith t he reg ion: “Invested: Austral ia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040,” provides exciting opportunities for Australia and the Philippines to work together

As strategic partners, both countries have an immense stake in protecting the rules-based international system, growing our economies to meet opportunities and challenges of the future, while sharing the benefits of closer cooperation. For its part, Australia has instituted a range of new and expanded initiatives, boosting our business links in practical and substantial ways. Some of the exciting initiatives announced at the summit were a $2-bill ion “Sout heast Asi a Investment Financing Facility” to catalyze Australian private-sector investments in the region, an additional AUS$140 million through the “Partnerships for Inf rastruct ure” prog ram, t he appointment of Macquarie Group CEO Shemara Wikramanayake as Australia’s business champion for the Philippines to facilitate greater commercial links between the two countries, extending business visitor visas to 5 years and introducing the frequent traveler stream to boost people-to-people links, and a bespoke investment deal team in the Australian Embassy in Manila. As ambassador, I have always been ambitious for our bilateral relationship—especially the economic aspects—to flourish So, seeing the Australia-Philippines relationship blossoming before my eyes, living up to the definition of a “Strategic Partnership,” fills me with excitement and optimism. We have never been more closely aligned. We have the opportunity to fulfill the potential of our long and trusted friendship. Let’s do this together for the benefit of both our peoples.

Italy brings opera to Tondo; envoy cites value of cultural diplomacy

T

HE Embassy of Italy, under Ambassador Ma rco Clemente’s leadership, successfully staged on March 23 in Tondo, Manila “Gianni Schicchi ” —a comic opera in one act by composer Giacomo Puccini

As partner at the Philippine World Building and Construction Expo or WORLDBEX 2024 in Manila, delegates networked with relevant authorities, associations and industr y players, as part of MATRADE’s efforts to acquaint Malaysian firms with rules and regulations on doing business in the Philippines.

Duri ng t he network i ng d i nner i n conju nct ion w it h t he event held at t he Emba ssy of Malaysi a i n Man i la, Ambassador Dato’ Abdu l Ma-

Trade Commissioner in Manila Intan Zalani said: “This mission will provide an enormous opportunity for Malaysian companies to establish their presence in the Philippine market and expand key business relat ionships. Wit h emerg ing infrastructure projects with focus on smart cities and sustainability initiatives as well as [a booming local construction industr y], this mission will offer valuable prospects for Malaysian-made products and ser vices that are synonymous with quality and compliance with international standards.” MATRADE, through its office in Manila, coordinated 30 one-to-one business meetings and engagements with leading importers and potential partners. Complementing this program included the “Seminar on Doing Business with Malaysia” which will be held in Davao, and a site visit to the National Government Administrative Centre in New Clark City, among others.

l i k Melv i n Castel i no sa id t h at t he embassy is comm itted to fac i l itati ng Malaysi an bu si nesses to access t he Phi l ippi ne ma rket, as pa r t of t he ef for t to st rengt hen t he bonds of f riendship and cooperat ion w it h its Asean neighbor: “Toget her, we can c reate more oppor t u n it ies for development and g rowt h for bot h of our cou nt ries as we, as a reg ion, ma rc h for t h i n our pursuit for econom ic and soc i al better ment of our people.”

From Januar y to December 2023, total trade with the Philippines was at $7.91 billion, which ranked it as Malaysia’s 16th-largest trading partner It was also ranked as the latter’s 15th-largest destination for exports valued at $5.79 billion.

For imports, the Philippines was Malaysia’s 16th-largest source valued at $2.12 billion. In the past 5 years, total exports for both countries showed a positive compound annual growth rate of 7.3 percent: from $4.49 billion to $5.79 billion.

Among the five main shipments from Malaysia were petroleum products, electrical and electronic products, chemical products, palm oil and palm oil-based agricultural products, and processed food.

Filipino companies who are looking to source Malaysian products and ser vices can connect with MATRADE-Manila via manila@matrade. gov.my to receive market updates and infor mation

business

Members of the Manila Sy mphony Orchestra at San Pablo Apostol Parish Church on Velasquez Street performed the act before audience members who numbered about 500.

According to Clemente, the goal of staging an opera in Tondo slums is to showcase the importance of culture in the countr y—a component that binds the Philippines and Italy.

[Both have an established bilateral relationship, which] continues to thrive through cultural diplomacy,” Clemente said. “Through the years, we aim to progress the significance of culture between the two nations.”

Aside from advocating for the significance of culture, Clemente also pointed out the way cultural diplomacy links communities regardless of their background.

“Cultural diplomacy in the Philippines has to be strengthened, as

it gives avenues for the Philippine government to boost their cultural signif icance and show t he world the talents that Filipinos have,” the envoy stated. “Clearly, Filipinos are good performers, and they need to be known across the globe.”

The diplomat said Italy will continue to provide similar activities for Filipino youth, so they could reflect on the role that culture plays in their national identity.

T he opera in Tondo is part of the six-month-long activities of the embassy leading to Italy Day, which is celebrated ever y second of June, but will be commemorated in the Philippines on the third day of the said month

AMBASSADOR

THAI Senate president Pornpetch Wichitcholchai and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (fourth and fifth from left) with senators from their respective countries

with senators from their countries

Ceniza: From reed-thin porter in Cebu to weightlifter in Paris

Del Rosario returns to LPGT eyeing title repeat in Caliraya

By Aldrin Quinto

SAME circumstances. Same course.

Pauline del Rosario is counting on the same result.

Del Rosario returns to action in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) looking to replicate her triumph last year in the Caliraya Springs Championship.

It was April last year when, on break from the Epson Tour, Del Rosario recorded a wire-to-wire victory at the challenging course in Cavinti, Laguna Twelve months later she’s back and this time armed with solid performances in three tournaments highlighted by a top 10 finish in the LPGA’s development tour.

“I’m very excited and happy to be back home during the four-week break,” said del Rosario, who tied for 47th in Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, was joint 10th in the IOA Golf Classic and finished with a share of 26th spot in the Atlantic Beach Classic.

“Just trying to bring that confidence and momentum moving forward,” del Rosario added.

The P1 million 54-hole tournament gets underway next Tuesday, April 9.

Del Rosario knows it won’t be a cakewalk, with Sarah Ababa back in the champions’ circle and former Order of Merit winner Harmie Constantino already with a title early in the season—both earning victories on remarkable final-round fightbacks the series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Ababa rose from four strokes down to top the Apo Golf Classic, while Constantino overcame a five-stroke deficit to win at Palos Verdes.

The final-round collapse at Palos Verdes behind her, first-year pro Lois Kaye Go looks to play steadier this time.

“I need to stay patient,” said Go, who led for two days before a closing 78 pushed her to fourth spot.

Eyes will also be on Mafy Singson, who placed second at Apo and 10th at Palos Verdes, and Laurea Duque, who also posted two top 10 finishes. Also vying for honors are in the tournament supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf are Mafy Singson, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Marvi Monsalve, Miya Legaspi, Gretchen Villacencio, Annika Cedo, Rev Alcantara, Apple Fudolin, Kristine Fleetwood, Pamela Mariano and Velinda Castil.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland—

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has upheld the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision to remove the International Boxing Association (IBA) from the Olympic family.

The court announced Tuesday that it dismissed the IBA appeal because the organization “had not complied with the conditions set down by the IOC for recognition.”

The Russian president of the IBA, Umar Kremlev, said in November they would appeal at Switzerland’s supreme court if they lost their appeal at CAS, sport›s highest court.

Last year, the IBA was derecognized after a years-long dispute fueled by defying advice and instructions from the International Olympic Committee, which had long cited concerns about boxing’s

governance, reliance on money from Russian state energy firm Gazprom, and the integrity of bouts.

Boxing kept its status as an Olympic sport for the coming Paris Games, but the IOC is overseeing the qualifying and medal tournaments without IBA involvement, as it did for the Tokyo Games in 2021.

A CAS panel appointed to hear the appeal took testimony from both sides in November and said the IBA failed to meet the IOC’s conditions for recognition.

“The IBA had not increased its financial transparency and sustainability including through diversification of revenues,” the CAS statement said Tuesday.

Next, it said the IBA “had not changed its process relating to referees and judges to ensure its integrity, including a monitoring period for IBA’s own competitions ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.”

Finally, the IBA failed to implement governance reform measures “including a change of culture.”

“As a consequence, the panel determined that these three elements justified the IOC Session’s decision to withdraw recognition of the IBA and emphasized that the IOC’s right to control the circumstances in and the conditions on which it confers recognition outweighed the IBA’s personality rights,” the statement added.

The IBA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Golf mixed team event in LA28?

THE Grant Thornton Invitational began last year to strong reviews from the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour players who took part in the first mixed-team event since 1999.

Next on the horizon are the Olympics.

PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara said all systems are in place and the Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land have been conditioned for its second hosting of a major international competition after last December’s Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge.

“Everything is ready for the PNVF’s first major international competition for the year and precautions—such as breaks at noon when the sun is at its hottest—and medical teams wellequipped for heat-related incidents— are also in order,” Suzara said.

Sports court upholds IOC rule vs boxing body

The format already is set for the Summer Olympics at Le Golf National outside Paris. Just like in Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, there will be 72-hole competitions for the men and the women.

But Olympic officials are close to finalizing a team competition for the 2028 Games at Riviera in Los Angeles.

One person involved in the talks said an announcement could come as early as the Masters. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details are not completed.

JBy Josef Ramos

his Olympic dream all cut out at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket where, despite missing the podium at fourth place, he remained the world’s No. 6 in the men’s 61 kgs class. He’s safely tucked well within the magic number—the world’s top 10 in each weight class will go to Paris— with only the IWF official announcement of Olympic qualifiers pending until April 18.

Way to go for one who was once a reed-thin 13-year-old from Barangay

Pasil in Cebu City who tested weightlifting with a solid background of portering on his back and shoulders sacks full of coconuts, bananas and firewoods from the hills to the lowlands in Cebu.

“I was one of those kids in the farm carrying sacks full of anything,” Ceniza told BusinessMirror via internet call from the Team Philippines’ official billeting at the Royal Phuket Hotel.

“Now I’m heading to Paris and hoping to take home a medal, hopefully gold,” he said. “Nobody ever thought I could become what I’m now because I was skinny compared to the other weightlifters.”

“But I trained hard and I’m determined to win,” added the 26-year-old athlete, the seventh Filipino guaranteed to compete in Paris—the others are are boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.

From his previous best lift of 298 kgs, Ceniza added two more kilos to total 300 kgs on 132 kgs in snatch and 168 kgs in clean and jerk in the competition conducted at the Phuket Rajabhat University.

China’s Li Fabin, 31, won the gold medal—total lift of 312 kgs (146 in snatch and 166 in clean and jerk)—which was expected of the Tokyo Olympics winner and three-time world champion, Hangzhou Asian Games titlist and fourtime Asian championships gold medalist.

Rising star Hampton Miller Morris of the US bagged the silver medal with 303 kgs while North Korea’s Pak Myong Jin clinched bronze with 301 kgs.

Thailand’s Teerapong Silachai tallied 299 kgs to finish behind Ceniza.

Ceniza’s fellow Cebuano trainer and coach Christopher Bureros was so proud of his ward.

of being the team with the most basketball championships in the UAAP, has made some major moves.

Among the details are how many teams would play and the format for the competition. The current plan for 2028 is for the men to start on Wednesday (instead of Thursday) and finish on Saturday. The team competition could take place on Sunday and Monday. The women would have a practice round on Tuesday and start their competition on Wednesday. AP K

“Imagine we only started with 280 kgs in Bogota [2022 world championships] where he placed No. 10,” the former national athlete Bureros said. “But look, we’ve continuously improved every competition and he already hit 300.”

Ceniza was fifth at the Riyadh world championships last year with 296 kgs and improved to 298 kgs at the Doha Grand Prix last. He skipped the Asian championships in Tashkent because of a minor hip injury.

Young stars lead field in Cycle PH

YLE ECHARRI and Raven Rigor are set to energize the Sun Life Cycle PH event this Sunday at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite. The two young actors will be participating alongside Piolo Pascual, a long-standing client and brand ambassa-

for over a decade through the SunPIOLOgy, an annual charity event focused on health and education initiatives.

As emerging talents from Star Magic, Echarri and Rigor embody the spirit of maintaining health through enjoyable activities and while many opt for traditional workouts like gym sessions or running, a growing number have embraced cycling as both a form of exercise and a leisure activity.

Not used to these jarring assaults on its image, FEU now looks dead serious about recapturing lost glory. After losing its major stars to graduation (LJ Gonzales), the Philippine Basketball Association (Xyrus Torres) or to player transfers (Patrick Sleat and Bryan Sajonia), the Tamaraws have taken in the PBA’s one-time Mr. 100 percent awardee as its head coach.

Sean Chambers, the affable, puppy-eyed PBA import that gave the Alaska Aces their first PBA championship in 1991 and had ruled the skies with the Aces for 10 seasons, now rides the FEU bench and will call the shots when the Tams debut in Season 87.

The Sean Chambers addition to FEU reunites him with his ol’ pal back in the Aces’ hangar (the Aces during the Paul Alvarez era used to be called the Alaska Air Force)—Johnny Abarrientos, a King Tamaraw during his college days alongside the Batman to his Robin, Victor Pablo. Johnny A has been a long-standing member of FEU’s coaching staff.

The Alaska Milk flavor is expected to run strong in the FEU bench and locker room in this new Sean Chambers era. Remember that Alaska’s much-loved import who considers the Philippines his second home, had been steeped in the teachings and philosophy of one Tim Cone, the reigning guru of the game in both the professional and national levels. He has his own version of Cone’s vaunted triangle offense, he told former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala in his Power & Play program. “It’s

Hundreds of participants in various age categories and skill set will vie in the 30-km and 45-km races, a corporate challenge covering 60 kms, as well as special categories for children and families.

These include a kids’ ride for ages 6-15, a family ride permitting a child to cycle with an adult, and tricycle rides for toddlers aged 2-5 over distances of 100 meters and 500 meters.

The Sun Life Cycle PH Expo, which opens Friday at the Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, serves as a gathering for fitness aficionados, according to the organizing The Ironman Group/ Sunrise Events Inc.

gonna be very similar to Tim Cone’s but it has a little bit of a Sean Chambers flair to it,” Sean said.

Coaching a varsity team is not new at all to Sean Chambers either. He has been busy coaching the girls varsity team at Antelope High in California for some time now and has been active in the basketball world back home, hosting basketball showcases and running his own sports uniform manufacturing company.

But the call of Philippine basketball has been much too enticing for Sean Chambers. He was excited about coming back to the Philippines, running drills, honing skills and imparting his philosophy to young people in the colorful, electrically charged universe called Pinoy basketball.

Not only that. He follows and has heard much about the UAAP, its rabid rivalries, its competitive atmosphere, its nonstop excitement and all-out crowds. He wants to be a part of that and also leave his imprint on this new stage and this new role that he will play in front of Pinoy fans.

FEU needs a Sean Chambers in their set-up to bring them back to basketball heights that Tamaraws are used to, and more. Sean Chambers will welcome the challenge and the crazy-good experience of coaching in the most-watched collegiate basketball tournament. The “thrilling” is mutual.

PAULINE DEL ROSARIO goes for victory in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour. NONIE REYES