BusinessMirror April 05, 2024

TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HE World Bank expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to wait for Federal Reserve rate cuts before it decides to lower key policy rates in the country.

Gonzalo Varela, World Bank

Lead Economist and Program Leader of the Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Practice Group for Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, said this is possible since inflation remains

THE

Cabinetlevel Development Budget and Coordination Committee (DBCC) cut its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target for the Philippine economy this year to 6.0 to 7.0 percent from its 6.5 to 7.5 percent outlook.

SHADY BUSINESS

Temporary tents provide shelter for visitors enjoying the scenic bay of Cavite City as the country braces for continued scorching temperatures brought on by the El Niño phenomenon. In response, some schools are transitioning to online learning to mitigate the effects of the sweltering summer heat. NONIE REYES

a major concern for the country. Varela, citing the words of BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr., said the country was not out of the woods yet when it comes to inflation. The BSP earlier said it expects March inflation to again increase. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/04/02/bsps-march-outlook-inflation-at-3-4-4-2/).

“What has been discussed is that we are not out of the woods, to use the same term, the same terminology that governor of central bank used. So we expect the normalization of monetary policy to

take a little bit, take a little while,” Varela said.

One key risk to inflation is oil. World Bank Group Deputy Chief Economist and Director of the Prospects Group M. Ayhan Kose said oil prices have been rising and the impact could be significant on countries like the Philippines.

The country is a net oil importer since it depends on imports to supply its domestic needs for crude. This makes it vulnerable to price volatilities in the international market.

Kose said the World Bank expects oil prices to be “rangebound” at between $80 and $90 per barrel this year. If oil prices, however, continue to increase, it would lead to higher inflation and, consequently, slower economic growth.

One factor that could drive oil prices this year are “intensified geopolitical tensions.” These tensions could lead to 0.2 percentage point cuts in global GDP growth and “complicate the jobs of central banks.”

In a briefing on Thursday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said while the growth target of the government was reduced to 6 to

7 percent this year, it will still contribute to poverty reduction and the increase in incomes.

In 2025, the government said the government aims to post a growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent and in the period of 2026 to 2028, post even faster growth of 6.5 to 8 percent.

“(The) 6.5 percent or 6 to 7 percent is still quite a high growth. We still fall within the realm of possibility for our entry to the upper middle income class. The threshold of almost

VAT collection efficiency is “substantially below” regional and global averages in Armenia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Türkiye, indicating that there is space for higher VAT revenue collections, according to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Unescap).

“On average, the developing Asia-Pacific region outperforms other developing regions in the world and OECD countries in the collection efficiency of value added

tax [VAT],” the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2024 noted.

Nonetheless, the study noted that “VAT collection efficiency is substantially below regional and global averages in Armenia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Türkiye, indicating that there is space for more VAT revenue collection.”

To further increase VAT revenue collection, the study said, citing a 2021 study by Acosta-Ormaechea

By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto

DBCC member and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced in a Malacañang press briefing on Thursday that the downward revision in growth targets for 2024 takes account of last year’s fiscal performance and the recent developments in the global economy, particularly in trade and finance.

ROTARIANS AND NSC Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr. (Ret.), the Deputy Director General and Chief of Staff of the National Security Council, joins Rotary Club of Manila President Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III and Rotarian Carlos G. Serapio during the 34th Rotary Club of Manila Weekly Membership Meeting at Manila Polo Club in Makati City. He was guest of honor and speaker. NONOY LACZA

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$4,500 in gross national income per capita should be there,” Balisacan said.

Currently, the Philippines is considered a lower middle income country with per capita Gross National Income (GNI) of $1,136 to $4,465 using 2022 figures. This is according to the latest income classifications of the World Bank released for Fiscal Year 2024.

An upper middle income country, meanwhile, will have a per capita GNI of $4,466 to $13,845 using 2022 GNI. A high income country, the World Bank said, would have an income of above $13,845 using 2022 data.

“Robust macroeconomic fundamentals will support this growth trajectory. These growth targets will sustain the country’s position as one of the fastest-growing emerging economies in the Asia Pacific region,” Balisacan said.

“Moreover, at this pace of growth, we are still on track to reducing poverty incidence from 18.1 percent in 2021 to single-digit level in 2028,” he added.

The World Bank earlier said better labor market conditions and slower inflation in the country could turn the administration’s single-digit poverty incidence aspirations into a reality two years ahead of schedule.

This was according to the latest Macro Poverty Outlook (MPO) for the Philippines released by the World Bank on Monday. It estimated that poverty incidence in the country could decrease to 9.3 percent in 2026 from 12.2 percent this year and 17.8 percent in 2021.

The World Bank said this was based on the poverty line for lower-middle income countries which is pegged at $3.65 per day using 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

The report also noted that inflation could also increase due to geopolitical tensions, further trade restrictions, and any weakness in agriculture output.

With a report by

Samuel P. Medenilla

Taiwan quake spells delay for PHL semicon makers

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

PHILIPPINE semiconductor manufacturers may experience delays in imported wafers after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan, host to the world’s top contract chip producers.

“We may see some delays in imported wafers, the extent of which depends on how soon [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.] TSMC can resume operations,” Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Seipi) President Danilo C. Lachica told the BusinessMirror in a viber message on Wednesday.

A Bloomberg report noted on Wednesday that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., touted as the world’s largest maker of advanced chips, halted some chipmaking machinery and evacuated staff after an earthquake hit the country earlier this week.

An updated version of the Bloomberg report on Thursday noted, however, that Taiwan’s semiconductor industry “restarted” operations, bringing back 70 to 80 percent of machinery back online within 10 hours after the earthquake hit.

Citing TSMC’s statement issued late Wednesday, the Bloomberg report noted, “There is no damage to our critical tools including all of our extreme ultraviolet lithography tools.”

“A small number of tools were damaged at some facilities, but the company is deploying all available resources to ensure a full recovery,” TSMC also noted.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’s Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) told this paper, “Because of TSMC’s significance in the market, any disruptions to its operations, could potentially affect the global supply chain.”

“The fact that TSMC is one of the world's top contract chip producers and commands a sizable share of foundry revenues and profits underscores the company's critical role in the semiconductor industry,” DTI-EMB Director

Bianca Pearl R. Sykimte told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday night.

The Trade department’s export marketing arm said it is checking with Seipi on the extent of the “potential impact” to the Philippines.

“But offhand, Taiwan accounts for roughly 7 percent of Philippine export market for electronic integrated circuits and parts thereof,” Sykimte said.

“On the flip side, Taiwan accounts for roughly 20 percent of Philippine imports of the same product, and of semiconductor devices,” the Philippine Trade official also noted.

According to the Seipi website, the Philippines imports wafers and discs, electrically circuit-programmed, whether or not coated on one side with gold or aluminum from the United States and Taiwan.

Electronic integrated circuits, meanwhile, are being sourced from South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore while materials and accessories for the manufacture of semiconductor devices are being imported from China, South Korea and Taiwan.

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“The normalization of oil prices, in the sense that a stable oil market will help this inflationary process, could also help central banks to think about starting the new cutting cycle sooner than later,” Kose said.

Earlier, the World Bank said higher interest rates in the United States may persist and create a “double whammy” for East Asia and the Pacific nations including the Philippines.

In a virtual briefing on Monday, World Bank East Asia and Pacific Chief Economist Aaditya Mattoo said this double whammy will come in the form of “financial tightening and growth tightening.”

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and Morozumi, it is “desirable to rationalize reduced VAT rates and exemptions to broaden the tax base.

“Fewer exemptions and simplified structure help reduce the complexity of tax administration and administrative burdens on tax compliance,” the survey said.

According to António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the report released by Unescap on Thursday highlights ways in which countries across Asia and the Pacific can “strengthen” access to financing.

“This includes working with donors, multilateral development banks and credit rating agencies to boost affordable financing and investment pathways in sustainable transitions, and making vital improvements to public-revenue collection and domestic savings,” said Guterres.

The report cited the need to strengthen tax collection and boost domestic savings as “critical” in attaining cheaper, longer-term financing for governments.

Under this particular national policy action, good practices on improving tax administration—effectively closing the tax collection gaps—“lower the perceived fiscal risks and thus the cost of borrowing.”

The study said governments in

The top countries of origin for Philippine Electronics Imports in November 2023, based on Seipi data, were China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

Lachica earlier explained that the semiconductor supply chain includes the integrated circuit (IC) design, wafer fab and assembly, test and packaging. He underscored, however, that the wafer fab is the “big gap in between,” albeit having the assembly, test and packaging and the IC design in the country.

Lachica illustrated the current process, saying that what they do today is to “send the tapes or Gerber files to a wafer fab specifically to [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company] TSMC.” (Full story here: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/05/01/seipi-eyes-partnership-with-us-semicon-firms-for-supply-chain/)

The Philippines is also seeking technical partners as it plans to establish a lab-scale wafer fab in the country. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/03/25/ phl-keen-on-partnerships-for-waferfabrication-plant/)

Mattoo explained that financial tightening could happen given the higher interest rates in the US, forcing central banks in the region to maintain high interest rates. With high interest rates, this could dampen economic growth in the region.

Given this, the World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific April 2024 Economic Update published on Monday project that the Philippines’s economic growth will remain below 6 percent until next year.

The World Bank said the country’s economic growth will perform below potential at 5.8 percent in 2024 and 5.9 percent in 2025.

The growth outlook for 2024 was maintained from the bank’s October 2023 report while the 2025 projection is a new forecast by the World Bank.

Asia and the Pacific will benefit from more financial resources, enhanced technical capacity and stronger political will to implement these policy initiatives.

“Together with an effort to increase tax collection, governments should also ensure that collected revenues are used effectively to benefit the people,” the Unescap report noted.

Further, it said this helps people “appreciate” the societal value of taxation and increases their willingness to pay taxes.

“Leveraging emerging insights from behavioral science, more public campaigns to boost self-esteem and peer pressure in fulf illing social duties and catching tax avoidance offenders should be explored,” the report underscored.

New estimates by Escap showed that, after considering a country’s specific characteristics, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, trade openness, the size of the agricultural sector and perceived corruption level, developing Asia-Pacific economies collected between 56 and 94 percent of their potential tax revenue levels during the period 2017 to 2019.

“Closing such tax collection gaps could produce additional revenues of at least 5 percent of GDP in Bhutan, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Malaysia, and at least 2 percent of GDP in China, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines and Viet Nam,” the report said. Andrea E. San Juan

Continued

“We have seen [the] continuing slowdown of the global economy and also taking into account the uptick in oil prices and as well as the trends in the inflation [and] interest rates not just in the Philippines but also in other countries, particularly all major trading partners with the US,” Balisacan said.

For 2025, the economic team also narrowed its real GDP growth targets to 6.5 to 7.5 percent from the previous 6.5 to 8.0 percent. The DBCC retained its growth targets of 6.5 to 8.0 percent for 2026 to 2028.

The country’s inflation rate was retained at 2.0 to 4.0 percent for 2024 until 2028 following the government's assessment of recent internal and external developments that impact the prices of major commodity groups.

In February, the country posted a 3.1-percent inflation rate while the fullyear average inflation rate for 2023 stood at 6.0 percent.

“The inflation outlook considers the monetary policy actions the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is undertaking and the nonmonetary strategies and measures the government is implementing,” Balisacan noted.

Dubai crude oil price per barrel this year is also projected to cost $70 to $90 per barrel for this year, while $65 to $85 per barrel is projected from 2025 through 2028.

The DBCC also lowered its peso-dollar exchange rate assumptions to P55 to P57 against the US dollar in 2024 while it retained its P55 to P58 against the USD in 2025 through 2028. The peso, it said, will continue to be supported by structural foreign exchange inflows and “firm” macroeconomic fundamentals of the country.

Exports of goods and imports of goods for 2024 are expected to settle at 3.0 percent and 4.0 percent, respectively, before increasing to 6.0 percent and 7.0 percent in 2025, and 6.0 percent and 8.0 percent in 2026 until 2028.

The economic team also noted the rising trade distortions and geoeconomic fragmentation to clip goods exports to 3.0 percent in 2024 before rebounding by 6.0 percent annually from 2025 to 2028.

Medium-term fiscal program

REVENUES are expected to reach P4.270 trillion, which is 16.1 percent of the GDP, in 2024 and will rise to P6.078 trillion by 2028.

The government's revenue performance will be driven by its tax administration reforms as well as revenue reform measures, the DBCC said.

Over the medium term, budget disbursements for social and economic programs and projects are seen to remain at an average of P5.754 trillion or 21.7 percent of the GDP in 2024. This is seen to increase to P7.450 trillion or 20.1 percent of the GDP by 2028.

Meanwhile, the budget deficit is projected to decline to 3.7 percent in 2028 from 6.2 percent in 2023. This, the DBCC said, is to provide the necessary fiscal space to support the government's spending plan to invest in more infrastructure and provide social services.

For 2024, it also projected the budget deficit to settle at 5.6 percent of GDP, and by 2028 to 3.7 percent as it expects debtto-GDP ratio of 60.3 percent in 2024 and 55.9 percent in 2028.

Proposed 2025 budget

THE DBCC also announced the proposed national budget for 2025 set at P6.200 trillion to finance public infrastructure projects and social services. This is higher by 7.5 percent from this year’s P5.768 trillion national budget and equivalent to 21.4 percent of GDP.

Balisacan said the economic team identified climate change and extreme natural disasters, such as El Niño, to continue to pose risks to food security and the stability of food prices.

Risks related to inflation, such as potential adjustments in transport fares, wages, and service utility fees higher than expected, could also affect household consumption.

External headwinds such as the global economic slowdown could weaken external demand while geopolitical and trade tensions could disrupt supply chains.

Trade and investment may also be disrupted by general elections in major economies as this could lead to political shifts, Balisacan added.

“For 2024, the Economic Team will strongly advocate for the enactment of much-needed next-generation reforms to further enable the transformation of our economy and ensure sustained and inclusive growth,” Balisacan said.

‘Cha-cha will allow GDP growth to exceed 8%’

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla & Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the Philippines’s GDP growth can exceed 8 percent by 2028 if the proposed Charter change (Chacha) pushes through.

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary

Arsenio M. Balisacan made the pronouncement more than a week after Pulse Asia released the results of its survey which showed that more than 70 percent of its respondents opposed Cha-cha. Balisacan also said the revised targets of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), which was approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last Wednesday, did not yet include the impact of the amendments to the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution on growth.

“If we can get those amendments that we would want in the Constitution,

particularly in the public services--education, I think we could achieve even more, we can get additional sources of growth,” he told reporters in a press briefing in Malacañang last Thursday.

Congress, with the support of the President, is pushing for the amendment to the economic provisions in the Constitution to remove restrictions on foreign ownership.

Last month, the House of Representatives (HOR) approved on third and final reading its proposed Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) No. 7. The Senate has yet to pass its own version of the resolution.

Balisacan, however, noted that even if Cha-cha is implemented soon, its expected impact in attracting foreign investments in crucial sectors like power generation will come at the tail end of the Marcos administration.

“It will take time for that to be felt because investment does not come in overnight,” he said.

Aside from Cha-cha, Balisacan said the government can attain its growth targets if interest rates will continue

‘Village chiefs in PAMBs more powerful than national officials’

SENATOR Cynthia Villar has set her sights on the powers of the barangay as a member of Protected Area Management Boards (PAMB), the highest policy-making body of a protected area, and to clip its power over PAMBs.

Villar, chair of the Senate committee on environment and natural resources, and climate change, expressed dismay over the PAMB resolution issued for the Captain’s Peak Resort during a public hearing on the defacement and exploitation of Protected Areas.

The PAMB resolution passed and approved by the body chaired by a barangay chairman, became the basis for the issuance of building permits in favor of the landowner for the construction of the resort’s facilities within Chocolate Hills, a protected area, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Villar said barangay chairmen sitting in the PAMBs can outvote national officials, including even Senators, and make decisions. In the case of the Chocolate Hills, the senator said she suspects that the barangay chairmen were used to pass the resolution.

There are times, she said, that barangays act in cahoots with business interests, allowing them to do business in protected areas.

During the hearing, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and Expanded NIPAS law, the membership of PAMBs is dominated by local interests, and the DENR which sits as chairman of the PAMB is a non-voting member.

Even without the DENR, the PAMB can hold a meeting and pass a resolution, according to Yulo-Loyzaga.

Yulo-Loyzaga said the DENR will submit a position paper to the lawmakers on the issue of the constitution of PAMBs, with the hope of clipping the powers of barangay chieftains in the decision-making process.

DENR Undersecretary for Legal

to fall and if the country can take full advantage of its “green metals,” such as copper and nickel, which are used in electric vehicles. He said the success of the government’s mass housing initiatives will also boost growth.

He cited other factors that will make the growth targets attainable, including the participation of the private sector investments in delivering public infrastructure and services and the full implementation of economic liberalization, investment-related and business-friendly reforms and initiatives, such as the recently enacted Public-Private Partnership Code.

Balisacan said the Marcos administration is maintaining its infrastructure spending target at 5 percent to 6 percent of GDP until 2028. The government is currently implementing the “Build Better More” program.

“There are many drivers [of economic growth] that we can build upon,” he said.

‘Stay the course’ DESPITE the results of a Pulse Asia

survey indicating a lack of support from Filipinos, proponents of amendments to the 1987 Charter in both the House of Representatives and the Senate should persist with their pursuit, as the “right decisions are not always popular.”

House Committee on Constitutional Amendments Chairman Rufus Rodriguez, one of the proponents, said the national leadership, led by the President believes in the potential benefits of altering the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution.

“The national leadership, beginning with President Marcos believes that changing the restrictive economic provisions of the Constitution would benefit the country as it would result in more foreign investments coming in,” Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, this sentiment is echoed by various sectors, including the business community, government officials, economists, and experts, who have testified in recent House hearings.

He said the dominant view expressed

by the resource persons during the hearings favored the changing of foreign equity and ownership restrictions in public utilities, education, and advertising.

Rodriguez urged President Marcos and the leaders of Congress “to stay the course.”

“The right decisions are not always popular,” he said.

He said reversing course at this point in the pursuit of economic reforms via Cha-cha would “worsen the country’s image” before the investing community.

“It would strengthen their perception of the Philippines as ‘urongsulong’ when it comes to opening up its economy,” he said.

Rodriguez, a key author of RBH No. 7, said the proposed amendments focus solely on economic matters and do not include political amendments, such as term extensions for elected officials.

He attributed potential confusion among the public to the inclusion of questions on political amendments in the recent survey.

The House has already approved RBH No. 7 on its third and final reading and has sent it to the Senate. The Senate version, RBH No. 6, is authored by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo Angara.

Rodriguez said that for the first time in 37 years, the two chambers of Congress have come this close to proposing amendments to the Constitution.

“And we are limiting the proposed changes only to three areas. There is no proposal to extend the term of any elective official. There is no political amendment,” he said.

“We are ‘kulelat’ [a laggard] in terms of FDI [foreign direct investments] in Asean,” he added.

He called on the Senate to swiftly approve proposals to amending economic provisions in the Constitution once Congress reconvenes.

“The fate of economic charter reform is in the hands of our senators,” he said.

Pinoys among hundreds injured in Taiwan quake–DMW

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said three Filipinos suffered minor injuries after a strong earthquake jolted Taiwan last Wednesday.

In a press conference last Thursday, DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans J. Cacdac said the casualties are from Taipei, Taoyuan City, and Tainan country.

One of the Filipino casualties suffered a minor head injury due to fallen debris, while the one from Tainan had swollen hands after they were slammed into a door. Both were hospitalized, but were already discharged, according to Cacdac.

Ernesto Adobo, however, said the Protected Area Management Office (PAMO) which is headed by a DENR official in the area where the protected area is situated schedules and identifies the agenda of PAMB meetings.

Any member of the PAMBs, however, can call for a meeting with the support of the majority of the PAMB members.

In the case of the PAMB resolution, the meeting was called by the PAMO, which led Villar and Binay to conclude that the DENR is not oblivious and should not wash hands.

“Have you investigated personnel, and have you done any preventive suspension?” said Binay. “Paulit ulit na eh. Walang takot.” Senator Raffy Tulfo had also lamented the “notoriety” of the DENR for its failure to do its job.

In the case of Mt. Apo Natural Park in Davao and Surigao, Senator Ronald dela Rosa said there is a need for the DENR to do “no-nonsense monitoring” of protected areas, citing the conversion of protected areas in Surigao which was eventually used by a cult for its illegal activities.

Yulo-Loyzaga said there are 96 structures within the protected area, and only 3 have complete requirements to construct facilities—2 are operated by the Energy Development Corp. and one by Aboitiz. These companies have PAMB clearances, as well as environmental compliance certificates (ECCs).

Of the 96 structures, 57 have no ECCs while 37 are in the process of securing ECCs.

Members of the joint committee conducting the hearing also exchanged views with the DENR as to the possible relocation of informal settler families away from protected areas.

Yulo-Loyzaga said in the case of Surigao, various agencies are collaborating for the relocation of the members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. which eventually became a cult following the decision to shut down the area. Jonathan L. Mayuga

The third Filipino casualty collapsed due to stress after the earthquake and is still in a hospital, but only as a precautionary measure.

“They will also be provided psy-

chosocial counselling if needed,” Cacdac said.

He also said they already informed their respective families about their status.

Aside from the three injured, DMW said it has yet to receive new reports of Filipinos, who were injured, killed, or trapped in collapsed structures in the aftermath of the quake, which devastated Taiwan last Wednesday.

DMW earlier said there are around 159,000 Filipinos in Taiwan.

“At this stage we cannot safely say that 100 percent they are all accounted for. But the continuing trends there are no reports of casualties. No reports of major injuries. No reports of missing and no reports of work disruption. We hope it stays that way,” Cacdac said.

He attributed the low number of

casualties and the lack of requests for repatriation among Filipinos in the aftermath of the quake from Taiwan’s disaster preparedness.

Cacdac said work in Taiwan is expected to resume next week after a two-day holiday.

He said they are ready to help Filipinos, who might suffer work disruption using DMW’s Aksyon Fund.

The quake, which injured more than 1,000, struck just before 8 a.m. on Wedesday and was centered off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed.

Just over 150 kilometers (93 miles) away in the capital of Taipei, tiles fell from older buildings, and schools evacuated students to sports fields as aftershocks followed.

Govt tells Metro Manila villages to plug leaks, use ‘tabo’

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources Water Resources Management Office (DENR-WRMO) recently issued a bulletin urging Metro Manila villages and condominiums to conserve water.

The Bulletin on Water Management for Metro Manila Villages and Condominiums aims to ensure sufficient water supply in Metro Manila.

According to the DENR bulletin, El Niño is causing lower-than-average rainfall in the country and the condition is likely to persist

in April and May before it reverts to neutral conditions by June.

The office added that in the small chance that drought conditions continue beyond May and June, villages and condominium property managers are directed to observe water management measures, such as informing all residents of the WRMO Bulletin and encouraging them to practice easy-todo water conservation measures and hacks, and to purchase home appliances that help save water.

Village and condominium managers were also instructed to regularly check water meters, in the early morning or late at night, when there is no activity, to detect

any possible leaks. Watering of plants and lawns in common areas and cleaning of roads and sidewalks should only be done when necessary.

WRMO encouraged the use of water catchment systems, such as drums in downspouts, to collect and store water to be used for cleaning, and to postpone swimming pool maintenance work that will require draining and replacing the water from the pool.

The WRMO said households should use a pail and dipper or “tabo” for car washing, cleaning of driveways and watering of lawns, instead of water hoses.

According to the DENR, unobserved leaks can account for 15 to 40 percent of water

PHL Red Cross chair alerts public against heat-related emergencies

PHILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon instructed Filipinos to be safe against heat-related emergencies, particularly heat stroke which is very common with high heat indices in recent days.

“Mga kababayan, with the high heat indices, there are three simple things to remember to protect yourself and your loved ones against heat-related emergencies, spe-

cifically heat stroke: first is to stay hydrated and avoid sugary drinks, second is to stay in air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas, and third is to wear lightweight and light-colored clothing,” he said.

Chairman Gordon also reminded the citizens of the availability of PRC’s 143 hotline—a dedicated hotline number that people may call in times of disasters and emergencies for immediate aid.

“You can help save a life by dialing the Red Cross 143 hotline because our Emergency Medical Services [EMS] team is always ready to respond 24/7. In case somebody experiences symptoms of heat stroke such as the absence of sweating; red, hot, dry, and flushed skin; confusion, and disorientation, move the patient to a cooler area, spray water on

Bong Go expresses gratitude amid consistent high ratings in recent survey

IN the wake of the latest senatorial survey, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has extended his gratitude for the unwavering support and trust the Filipino people have placed in him.

In a Pulse Asia nationwide survey of potential senatorial candidates for the 2025 national midterm elections conducted last March 6-10, Go placed third to fourth place, getting a total of 44.2 percent among respondents.

Emphasizing his journey from a humble background in Davao City to earning the mandate to serve as a senator in 2019, Go has reiterated his dedication to serving the

people, particularly those in need. Go, often dubbed Mr. Malasakit, remarked on the positive survey results, stating, “Ako po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa patuloy na suporta at tiwala na ibinibigay ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino sa akin.”

“Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, hindi ko sasayangin ang pagkakataon na ito na makapagserbisyo sa inyo at maipaglaban ang kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino,” added Go.

Since assuming office, Go has focused on his role in aiding fellow citizens, especially the impoverished and most vulnerable sectors, driven by his belief that service to

humanity is service to God.

“Bilang isang simpleng probinsyanong binigyan ng Panginoon at ng mga mamamayangPilipinongmandatongmaglingkod bilang senador simula noong taong 2019, hindi ako tumigil sa aking mga gawain na makatulong sa kapwa sa abot ng aking makakaya lalo na para sa mga mahihirap at pinakanangangailangan,” Go remarked, reflecting on his journey and dedication.

The senatorial surveys, which serve as a barometer of public opinion and support, have fueled Go’s motivation and resolve. The senator noted, “Ang results ngmgapinakahuling surveys ay nakakawala ng pagod at

Japan quake

IN a related development, DMW also announced that it is monitoring the status of Filipinos in Japan which was jolted by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake on Thursday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the quake’s epicenter was located off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in the northeastern part of Honshu, Japan’s main island.

“Protocols for accounting for the safety and status of overseas Filipino workers [OFWs] in the affected areas have been activated,” DMW said.

“Both MWO [Migrant Workers Offices]-Tokyo and MWO-Osaka stand ready to assist OFWs should they require so. The posts will provide the DMW Head Office with updates as developments occur,” it added. Samuel P. Medenilla

used every month. During late at night or early in the morning, the agency said the water meter should be checked for activity when no one is using water inside the house.

Plugging these leaks can save 500 to 1,000 liters every month in dishwashing, the DENR said.

The agency said households should wash dishes right away to easily scrape off food waste or to soak plates before washing.

“Save 5 to 10 liters of water in washing clothes. When possible, run the washing machine at full load, and use the proper amount of detergent to use less water when rinsing,” the DENR-WRMO said.

Moreover, the DENR-WRO added that 568 liters of water per month can be saved when taking a bath by shortening shower time by a minute or two.

the skin, immerse the patient in circulating water, and call 143 for assistance. It’s so easy to remember because 143 means ‘I love you’. PRC cares for you at mahalaga kayong lahat sa amin,” Gordon added. PRC offers ambulance services 24/7 with 178 ambulances strategically positioned across the country. Anyone can avail of this service by dialing 143. Those who need to be transferred from one place to another in case of emergency can avail of this service.

nagbibigay sa akin ng dagdag na lakas at determinasyonupangipagpatuloyangaking serbisyoparasataumbayan.”

Reaffirming his commitment to the Filipino people, Go declared, “Bilanginyong Mr. Malasakit,patuloyakongmagseserbisyo sa inyong lahat dahil bisyo ko na ang magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos.”

Finally, Go extended his heartfelt thanks once more, promising to persist in his advocacies for the betterment of the country and all Filipinos.

“Muli, maraming salamat at ipagpapatuloy ko ang aking mga adbokasiya na makakabutiparasabansaatsalahatngating kababayang Pilipino,” he stated.

THIS BUSINESSMIRROR file photo shows Bohol’s iconic Chocolate Hills, one of the protected areas in the Philippines.

Economy

High prices, uncertainties dampen intimacy–CPD

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

HIGH commodity prices and economic uncertainties have convinced more Filipinos to delay dating, marrying and childbearing, even before the pandemic, according to the Commission on Population Development (CPD).

In a study, CPD data showed that as early as 2017, there was already a decline in total registered live births between 2017 to 2019, the three immediate years before the pandemic.

The largest drop was in 2020, during the height of the pandemic in the Philippines. There was a slight rebound in 2022 but it remained below the pre-pandemic and lockdown.

“Our recent study supports the assumption that Filipinos, even before the Covid-19 health situation, were already keen with their mindsets of delaying life-defining events such as dating, marriages and having children,” CPD Executive Director Lisa Grace S. Bersales said.

“These preferences were reinforced by the shocks in broader socioeconomic conditions and the rise in the level of uncertainties in various aspects of the pandemic,” she added.

Based on the data, CPD said birth rates before the pandemic slowed to 1.7 million in 2017; 1.68 million in 2018; and 1.67 million in 2019.

The trend continued when birth rates hit 1.53 million in 2020 and 1.36 million in 2021. But in 2022,

birth rates reached 1.46 million, higher than in 2021 but remained below the 2020 figure.

Bersales said the CPD will also monitor whether the trend has evolved to become the norm in the post-pandemic period.

Financial freedom

APART from the impact on the country’s population, HSBC Holdings Plc said this latest finding may highlight the need to think of the future more.

In a briefing on Thursday, Kai Zhang, HSBC’s head of Wealth and Personal Banking for South Asia, said that while this may reflect the reality in the Philippines, it may not be true for other countries in South and Southeast Asia.

In countries that she monitors, which also includes East Asian countries like Japan, the demographic picture is much different as average life expectancy can reach well in the 80s.

Zhang said if the retirement age is around 60 in the Philippines and life expectancy extends to 20 or 30 years after retirement, single or childless couples, should have more incentive to prepare for retirement.

This is another concern, Zhang said, as they are finding out that more and more young Asians, including Filipinos, have become successful. With their success being realized earlier, they also want to retire earlier, when they reach their 40s.

“One is that, as you say, the younger people, they’re probably

delaying marriage, they’re not having children, they think that they don’t have financial burden, right?” Zhang said.

“On the other hand, I think if they want to have freedom, financial freedom, or freedom to enjoy life, as we see in younger generation, they need to actually start financial planning even earlier,” shew added.

Family duties

FINANCIAL planning, Zhang said, should also include proving support for elderly parents. The younger generation of Filipinos may decide to be childless but this does not mean they can be free from family duties. Filipinos are family-oriented, as most Asians area. This means they are bound to extend support for elderly parents or family members.

Zhang said the financial costs of getting older will be higher in the future. This means there is a need to include this in financial planning.

“If you look at the earlier generation, which I see in the Philippines, most of them are comforted by the fact that they had quite structured retirement plans,” HSBC Philippines President and CEO Sandeep Uppal said.

“So the obligation was really on the employer. But now, in line with what’s happening overseas, it’s really on the individual. And that’s what they need to plan [for],” he stressed.

Demographic dividend

IN 2022, University of the Philippines

Demographer Michael del Mundo explained the importance of increasing the support ratio.

The support ratio refers to the number of dependents being supported by each worker. This, del Mundo said, is crucial if the country wants to reap the demographic dividend.

The number being supported by each worker takes into consideration the workers and two or more family members who are considered non-productive consumers or those who could not economically support themselves.

According to Del Mundo, the country’s support ratio is at 0.43 before the pandemic. This is below the recommended 0.5 support ratio that each country must have in order to reap the demographic dividend.

This means one effective worker is supporting 2.33 effective consumers or, simply put, a hundred effective workers in the country are supporting 233 effective consumers.

Del Mundo explained some of the non-productive consumers are those between the ages of 15 to 64 who are not earning a living. In order to reap the demographic dividend, each worker must be able to support himself or herself plus one family member.

The demographic dividend, he said, is not only about bringing fertility rates down but also ensuring that the population is able to earn, consume, save and invest.

Electronics, BPO sector seen to improve PHL-Israel trade

TBy Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan

RADE between Israel and the Philippines this year is seen to improve this year, which will be driven by the electronics and the BPO industry, among others, according to Israel Ambassador to the Philippines.

Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss told reporters on the sidelines of the Israel Water Technologies Roadshow to the Philippines that trade relations between the two countries in 2022 was at $533 million. He added that last year it was at $522 million. “2023 was actually similar. And the two countries are actually pushing,” said Fluss, who served as deputy head of the Mashav, Israel’s official international development cooperation program, from 2009-2016.

“So I’m very optimistic; [it’s] the Israeli mindset. Israeli culture is very relevant and fitting very well with the challenges in the Philippine market and working together with the Philippine people. So we are very, very optimistic and we’re pushing hard to make it happen,” the diplomat said.

Fluss said Israeli companies that are into the business process outsourcing (BPO) and electronic manufacturing services (EMS) are interested in doing business in the Philippines.

We see a lot of Israeli companies in the EMS sector that are moving into the Philippines to do their processes here, he said.

“For obvious reasons, because I mean, you know very well, what is the Philippine offering? In Israel, labor is expensive,” Fluss said. “And we’re focusing on innovation and on R&D [research and development]; but here we can do production [on a] bigger scale [with] cheaper labor: all kinds of other advantages,” Fluss added.

Moreover, the Israel ambassador said Israeli firms are also seeing a “growing interest” in the area of services.

For his part, Tomer Heyvi, the head of Israel Economic Mission to the Philippines, said that the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) recently ratified by the Philippines can also be an “avenue” to increase bilateral trade and investment between the two nations.

According to the website of Israel’s Economic and Commercial Mission to the Philippines, Israel’s export to the Philippines reached $340 million in 2022.

Machinery and electronic equipment were the top exported category with a 45-percent share valued at $183 million, the website of Israel’s economic mission noted. This category included semiconductors, telephone sets, electronic integrated circuits, automatic vending machines, valves and data processing equipment.

On the other hand, Israeli import from the Philippines in 2022 reached $193-million worth of goods. The top category was still under machinery and electronic equipment, accounting for 83 percent of the total imports, including electronic integrated circuits, printing machinery, engine and motors, telephone sets, vacuum cleaners and water heaters.

This was followed by agriculture products and foodstuff with a 6.1-percent share, mainly including edible fruits and nuts (mainly coconut), fruit juice, baked goods, tapioca and fish products.

Textile and footwear accounted for 5.3 percent (footwear, bags, clothing and clothing accessories) while optical and medical imports (gas and water meters, optical-fiber measuring instruments and medical instruments and appliances) accounted for 3.7 percent.

Staff policies issued, asked to be applied as days sizzle

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573 & Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

FROM the Supreme Court to the Bureau of Corrections, officials have issued policies to prevent health risks due to the extreme heat.

The Supreme Court-Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) has allowed trial court judges and personnel to implement a flexible working arrangement, to be implemented starting April 5, 2024 to May 31, 2024. During this period, working hours or court operations will start from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday duty will be from 7:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

“The Executive Judges shall act on petitions for bail and other urgent matters on Saturday afternoons after 12 noon, and on Sundays, official holidays, and special days, when exceptional circumstances so warrant,” the circular read.

“OCA Circulars and other approved work arrangements inconsistent with the foregoing are deemed suspended for the duration of the flexible arrangement as

provided herein,” it added.

Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. has ordered penal and prison officials nationwide to ensure steady supply of water for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) to prevent dehydration. Catapang said he also ordered prison health officers to check the status of PDLs.

“Our facilities are congested and due to the extreme heat that we are experiencing, our PDLs suffered the most, so I want to check on them,” Catapang said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) classifies temperatures ranging from 33 degrees Celsius to 41 degrees Celsius under “extreme caution” and temperatures from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius as “danger.” From March 28 to April 1, the agency recorded over 41 degrees Celsius in multiple locations in the country.

Hence, AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Ray T. Reyes has called on employers to heed a directive issued in 2023 by the Department of Labor and Employment (Labor Advisory 8) urging organizations to protect employees from heat stress.

Amnesty program will cover 40,000 ex-members of Red groups–Galvez

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE government’s amnesty program will cover at least 40,000 former members of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF), according to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU).

National Security Adviser (NSA) and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson Eduardo Año and OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. announced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the immediate implementation of the amnesty program

for members of the CPP-NPA-NDF, following Congress’ concurrence with Proclamation 404. Galvez said during a Palace briefing following the 5th executive meeting of the NTF-ELCAC on Thursday that the recent proc-

lamation only covers the approximately 40,000 rebels who have already surrendered.

He emphasized that should there be a final peace agreement in the future, a separate proclamation would be issued for those circumstances.

He also said the process ensures that only individuals who have “genuinely surrendered” and have complied with legal requirements will be granted amnesty.

“All those who have surrendered and returned to the fold of the law will be considered,” said Galvez. Galvez noted that the National Amnesty Commission retains discretion in accepting applications from potential surrenderers.

For his part, Año said there are currently 1,576 remaining NPAs with 1,406 firearms.

Last year, President Marcos issued Proclamation 404, granting amnesty to the former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF or their front organizations who have committed crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code and Special Penal Laws in furtherance of their

political beliefs.

Moreover, Año reiterated the President’s earlier directive for government agencies to activate their respective Project Development Officers to execute NTF-ELCAC projects.

Regarding the Barangay Development Program (BDP), Año disclosed that P30.4 billion has been allocated to benefit 4,501 barangays nationwide cleared of NPA influence.

However, he said that with only P2.6 billion appropriated under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, President Marcos deemed the allocation inadequate, advocating for an increase to P10 million per barangay.

To address this, the President tasked the Cabinet with augmenting financial support for the 846 BDP barangays in 2024. The chief executive instructed the Department of Budget and Management to enable these barangays to access financial assistance from local government units for immediate funding of essential infrastructure projects. The Department

of the Interior and Local Government and DBM will collaborate to implement the president’s directive.

Additionally, Año said Marcos urged the NTF-ELCAC to propose specific programs for continuous implementation in the 5,430 barangays that are part of the BDP program since its inception.

He said the President also mandated the Cabinet to review the proposed 2024–2028 NTF-ELCAC Roadmap. The roadmap, consisting of two tracks, aims to address the primary issues of the communist armed conflict and facilitate the mainstreaming of former rebels into nation-building efforts.

Meanwhile, Año said Vice President Sara Duterte has expressed her support for President Marcos’ initiatives during the execom meeting, which primarily focused on discussing the roadmap and necessary actions to be undertaken.

Earlier, Duterte affirmed her unwavering support for peace efforts but urged President Marcos not to grant amnesty to the CPP-NPA-NDF, saying “granting amnesty is not the way to peace.”

Over 4K schools resort to alternative setups to avert hot-weather injury

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

OVER 4,000 schools nationwide opted to implement Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) on Thursday amid the extremely hot weather.

The Department of Education (DepEd) said that 2,482,507 learners were affected after 4,769 schools have suspended in-person classes. Regions implementing ADM are: National Capital Region, Regions 3, 4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) National has urged the DepEd to revert to the June-March school calendar for school year (SY) 2024-2025 instead of the phased transition due to the hot weather.

“The Department of Education should hasten the returrn to the old school calendar where classes start in June and end in March,” TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said in a video message sent to the media through Viber.

“We think it can be done now, or at least should not take too long

to carry out. At least by next school year 2024-2025,” he added.

Under the current DepEd plan, Basas explained, there will be a phased transition before the full return to the old school calendar.

He noted that the next SY will still end in the last week if May 2025.

Only DPWH roadworks allowed for April 5-11 to avoid jams

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday announced that only roadworks of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be allowed starting April 5 until April 11.

“We will only allow DPWH to conduct 24-hour road repairs which they commit to finish on time and implement properly in the same manner as they implemented it during last Holy Week’s road repairs,” MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said.

Road reblocking and repairs to be undertaken by the DPWH next week are :

1. Tandang Sora Avenue Quezon City (from Commonwealth Avenue going C-5)

2. Bonny Serrano Avenue Quezon City (corners of 15th Ave. and 20th Ave.)

3. Edsa Northbound Mandaluyong (Apo Street to Pioneer St., outermost lane; beside sidewalk))

4. Edsa Southbound Mandaluyong (after Gate 4 to Edsa Shrine)

5. Roxas Boulevard Northbound Pasay (between Lourdes St. & Vicente Sotto St.)

6. Roxas Boulevard Northbound Manila (between Remedios St. & Pasaje del Carmen St.)

7. Roxas Boulevard Edsa Flyover Southbound Pasay (bridge approach, outer & inner lane)

SAYING the Philippine economy must outgrow its debt which is burgeoning at an “alarming” pace, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means panel, on Thursday said revenue from fiscal measures must be applied primarily to productive projects and not get swallowed up in debt service.

“Nakaka-alarma talaga, na lumolobo yung utang. Dahil yung utang na yan, babayaran yan, hindi lang tayo, kung di babayaran yan ng mga anak natin,

baka apo natin, baka yung anak pa nila. Kaya, intergenerational ang utang, eh. Kaya importante na manageable ito,” Sen. Gatchalian said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum.

While acknowledging that debts are a fact of life for most and that “perhaps 95 percent of countries” have debts, Gatchalian said it is crucial to “manage our debt well.”

It is fortunate, he said, that “we are growing at around 5 to 6 percent per annum,” but quickly reminded: “But it

Specifically, the DepEd said, it has given the school heads the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to ADM in cases of extreme heat and other calamities that may compromise the health and safety of learners, teachers, and non-teaching personnel.

This measure was the subject of Office of the Assistant Secretary for Operations No. 2023-077 issued

When asked for reaction, the DepEd issued a statement that the DepEd “reiterates the provisions of Department Order 037 issued in 2022, which provides guidelines on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in schools in the event of natural disasters, power outages/power interruptions, and other calamities.”

last 20 April 2023, and Office of the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching and Office of the Undersecretary for Operations Memorandum dated 28 February 2023 ADM in All Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. “Given that DepEd supervises more than 47,000 schools nationwide, it is in the best interest of the learning community to have localized assessments for timely response and interventions to ensure the welfare of learners and personnel,” the DepEd concluded.

Growth not good enough, PHL must cut debt faster–Ways and Means chief

is important that we can bring down our level of indebtedness.” That, he noted, “is something we haven’t done yet. I will give you an example. Before prepandemic levels, our debt to GDP [ratio], was about 27, 28 percent. Now, it’s 60 plus percent already. And if we cannot reduce that, if another pandemic or crisis strikes and we are forced to borrow again, we could exceed 100 percent.”

At this level, he added, it becomes “unsustainable.” This means all tax

revenue collected will just go to debt service. “That’s what we want to avoid. So what’s important now is that, our economy is not just growing, but that what we’re spending on will help expand our economy. That’s the most important thing. And that’s what we’re closely watching,” he said, partly in Filipino.

He agreed with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto that by January, debt service could reach about P158.9 billion. “So, if you compare it to our overall

Climate change disrupts education of 26M kids

Continued from A20

Republic Act 10821, also known as the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, that guarantees the continuity of services, particularly education, for children who are displaced prior,

For power generation companies (gencos), the DOE reminded them to strictly observe the outage allowance prescribed by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). Further, gencos’ committed power projects should be ready to deliver capacity within the target commercial operations date. In this regard, the DOE, ERC, NGCP, DUs (distribution utilities), Iemop (Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines), and all relevant government agencies shall provide support to ensure the implementation and completion of the gencos’ power projects.

during, and after disasters. Save the Children Philippines has been at the forefront of advocating for RA 10821, including its localization for the protection of all Filipino children from emergencies at all times.

The legislator lauded ongoing initiatives such as integrating climate

“NGCP and all GenCos shall immediately inform the DOEElectric Power Industry Management Bureau [EPIMB] of any shutdown of generation and transmission facilities and the occurrence of any significant incident identified in the Philippine Grid Code,” the DOE said.

For the DUs, the DOE reminded them to comply with the Philippine Distribution Code and ensure the continuous, reliable, secure, and stable operation of their distribution systems.

“All DUs shall immediately submit its Manual Load-Dropping [MLD] schedule to the DOE in case of the

change modules and the Green School Program, as well as supporting research and improving teacher training.

The program will help 47,000 public schools strengthen their climate mitigation adaption strategies and enhance resilience, thus lessening learning interruptions.

declaration by NGCP of red alert status, and implement the Interruptible Load Program [ILP], where applicable,” the DOE advisory stated.

The ILP is an energy demandside management program through which large-load customers are asked to use their generator sets or reduce their operations, instead of drawing power from the grid, to spare households from power interruptions during instances of red alert or when supply is insufficient to meet the demand.

“The DOE hereby enjoins the NGCP and DUs, as administrators of the ILP, to be fully ready to

Continued

“By imparting knowledge, and skills, and fostering critical thinking in our children, we empower them to become climate champions,” Congresswoman Chan said. The child protection group, likewise, has its own effort in this area via the Comprehensive School

activate and implement the ILP during the summer/dry season which has recently commenced. This is in addition to other measures to mitigate the effects of the El Nino phenomenon in the power sector,” the DOE said.

The DUs are also required to prepare an El Nino action plan which shall set out concrete measures, preparatory activities, and contingency plans, especially in areas anticipated to be heavily affected by the dry spells and droughts.

The National Electrification Administration (NEA), meanwhile, must assist electric cooperatives

budget of P5.5 trillion, it’s small. It’s manageable. But we cannot state that we’re still okay. It’s important to bring it down to pre-pandemic levels of about 25 to 30 percent. The logic being, that it stays low so that if a major crisis hits the country, we still have room, we have space. That’s why when the pandemic struck, we were able to raise it to 60 percent, because we came from a low figure. But it’s on the high side now. So it shouldn’t rise further.” Butch Fernandez

Safety (CSS) Ecosystems and Quality Assurance System (QAS) programs in over 21,000 schools and 12,000 barangays to ensure that children, schools, and communities are climate-literate, responsible and resilient to the inevitable impacts of climate change.

(ECs) in the preparation of an El Nino action plan, inventory of generator sets, and the report on the critical infrastructure.

The ERC, for its part, shall facilitate the timely issuance of all Provisional Authority to Operate (PAO) and Certificates of Compliance (COC) to ensure the continued operations of existing generation facilities and enable the entry of additional capacity from new ones.

Iemop was also reminded by the DOE, to facilitate the timely registration of new generation facilities in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

8. IBP–San

Avenue

Quezon City (Uno Fuel to Chinabank, truck

Payatas Road Quezon City bound to Batasan Road (before Maynilad Pumping Station to G3 Center, outer lane) 12. Payatas Road Quezon City bound to Batasan Road (Batasan Rd. to

St./Samar St. to Leyte St., outer lane)

G. Araneta Avenue Quezon City (Wayan St. to Mauban St., 1st lane from sidewalk) 14. Payatas Road Quezon City (Singko St. to Samar St., inner lane) Artes also said that allowing only DPWH to conduct road repairs was a result of the unfinished road works of private contractors last Holy Week.

“We have penalized the two contractors of a telecommunications company who were unable to comply with the deadline set for road works during the Lenten break. They will be fined P1.260 million,” Artes said.

Re t rofi tt i ng of K a mun i ng Fl yover MEANWHILE, the MMDA also assured the public that necessary traffic management will be implemented as soon as the DPWH commences with its retrofitting of Edsa Kamuning Flyover Southbound.

Artes said that Mabuhay Lanes will be utilized as alternate routes amid the repairs of the flyover which is set to start on April 25 and will last for 11 months.

“We will coordinate with the Quezon City local government unit, DPWH, Quezon City Police District, Highway Patrol Group, and the barangay to manage the traffic. We will divert the traffic so that motorists could avoid the certain portion that will be subject to re-decking,” he said.

Artes emphasized that the retrofitting of the Kamuning Flyover is necessary to avoid further damage and be structurally sound and ready in case of disasters such as earthquakes.

“The re-decking of the flyover cannot be deferred. We assure the public that we will manage the traffic in such a way that the impact of the repair is minimal to the motorists.”

He also said that leading to the start and during the repair of the flyover, the agency will intensify clearing operations in areas within the vicinity.

“This is to make sure that roads serving as alternate routes are clear and obstruction-free to minimize the effects of the repairs in traffic.”

NAW NOBEL

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49

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Able to speak, read, and write Chinese language

69 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

70 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista,

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INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

89 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

LE, THUY TIEN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Able to speak, read, and write Chinese and Vietnamese language Salary Range:

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Block 4, Lot 24-25, Cobalt

- Php 59,999

The World

US braces for retaliation after attack on Iran consulate, even as it says it wasn’t involved

By Ellen Knickmeyer & Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Shortly after an airstrike widely attributed to Israel destroyed an Iranian consulate building in Syria, the United States had an urgent message for Iran: We had nothing to do with it.

But that may not be enough for the US to avoid retaliation targeting its forces in the region. A top US commander warned on Wednesday of danger to American troops.

And if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent broadening of targeted strikes on adversaries around the region to include Iranian security operatives and leaders deepens regional hostilities, analysts say, it’s not clear the United States can avoid being pulled into deeper regional conflict as well.

The Biden administration insists it had no advance knowledge of the airstrike Monday. But the United States is closely tied to Israel’s military regardless. The US remains Israel’s indispensable ally and unstinting supplier of weapons, responsible for some 70% of Israeli weapon imports and an estimated 15% of Israel’s defense budget. That includes providing the kind of advanced aircraft and munitions that appear to have been employed in the attack.

Israel hasn’t acknowledged a role in the airstrike, but Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Tuesday that the US has assessed Israel was responsible.

Multiple arms of Iran’s government served notice that they would hold the United States accountable for the fiery attack. The strike,

in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killed senior commanders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for Syria and Lebanon, an officer of the powerful Iran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, and others.

American forces in Syria and Iraq already are frequent targets when Iran and its regional allies seek retaliation for strikes by Israelis, notes Charles Lister, the Syria program director for the Middle East Institute.

“What the Iranians have always done for years when they have felt most aggressively targeted by Israel is not to hit back at Israelis, but Americans,” seeing them as soft targets in the region, Lister said.

On Wednesday in Washington, the top US Air Force commander for the Middle East, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, said Iran’s assertion that the US bears responsibility for Israeli actions could bring an end to a pause in militia attacks on US forces that has lasted since early February.

He said he sees no specific threat to US troops right now, but “I am concerned because of the Iranian rhetoric talking about the US, that there could be a risk to our forces.”

US officials have recorded more than 150 attacks by Iran-backed

militias in Iraq and Syria on US forces at bases in those countries since war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7.

One, in late January, killed three US service members and injured dozens more at a base in Jordan.

In retaliation, the US launched a massive air assault, hitting more than 85 targets at seven locations in Iraq and Syria, including command and control headquarters, drone and ammunition storage sites and other facilities connected to the militias or the IRGC’s Quds Force, the Guard’s expeditionary unit that handles Tehran’s relationship with and arming of regional militias. There have been no publicly reported attacks on US troops in the region since that response.

Grynkewich told reporters the US is watching and listening carefully to what Iran is saying and doing to evaluate how Tehran might respond.

Analysts and diplomats cite a range of ways Iran could retaliate.

Since October 7, Iran and the regional militias allied to it in Syr-

Rescuers search for missing as Taiwan reels from strongest quake in 25 years

By Johnson Lai & Kanis Leung The Associated Press

HUALIEN, Taiwan—Rescuers searched Thursday for dozens of people still missing a day after Taiwan’s strongest earthquake in a quarter century damaged buildings, killed nine people, and left others stranded in remote areas or sleeping in tents.

In the eastern coastal city of Hualien near the epicenter, workers used an excavator to stabilize the base of a damaged building with construction materials, as some officers took samples of its exterior and chickens browsed amid potted plants on its slanted roof.

Mayor Hsu Chen-wei previously said 48 residential buildings had been damaged, some of which were tilting at precarious angles with their ground floors crushed.

Some Hualien residents were still staying in tents, and the main road linking the county to the capital and the island’s was still closed Thursday afternoon, but much of the island’s day-to-day life was returning to normal. Some local rail service to Hualien resumed, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.—one of the world’s most important manufacturers of

computer chips—restarted most operations, the Central News Agency reported.

Earthquakes regularly jolt Taiwan and its population is well prepared for them. It also has stringent construction requirements to ensure buildings are quakeresistant.

Hendri Sutrisno, a 30-year-old professor at Hualien Dong Hwa University, spent Wednesday night in a tent with his wife and baby, fearing aftershocks. “We ran out of the apartment and waited for four to five hours before we went up again to grab some important stuff such as our wallet. And then we’re staying here ever since to assess the situation,” he said.

Others also said they didn’t dare to go home because the walls of their apartments were cracked and they lived on higher floors.

Taiwanese Primer Chen Chien-jen visited some earthquake evacuees in the morning at a temporary shelter.

Nearly 1,070 people were injured in the quake that struck Wednesday morning. Of the nine dead, at least four were killed inside Taroko National Park, a Hualien County tourist attraction famous for canyons and cliffs, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the

island’s capital Taipei. One person was found dead in a damaged building, and another was found in the Ho Ren Quarry.

About 690 people were either still missing or stranded Thursday, including over 600 who were stranded inside a hotel called Silks Place Taroko, the National Fire Agency said. Authorities said the employees and guests at were safe and had food and water, and that work to repair the roads to the hotel was close to completion.

Others who were reported to be stranded, including two-dozen tourists and six university students, were safe too, they said.

Authorities also said some 60 workers, who had been unable to leave a quarry due to blocked and damaged roads, were freed. Central News Agency said all of them got off the mountain safely around noon. Six workers from another quarry were airlifted out.

Around 40 people, mostly hotel employees earlier reported to be in the national park, were still out of contact with authorities.

For hours after the quake, local television showed neighbors and rescue workers lifting residents through windows and onto the street from damaged buildings where the shaking had jammed doors shut. It wasn’t clear Thurs-

ia, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen have followed a strategy of calibrated attacks that stop short of triggering an all-out conflict that could subject Iran’s homeland forces or Hezbollah to full-blown war with Israel or the United States.

Beyond strikes on US troops, possibilities for Iranian retaliation could include a limited missile strike directly from Iranian soil to Israel, Lister said. That would reciprocate for Israel’s strike on what under international law was sovereign Iranian soil, at the Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.

A concentrated attack on a US position abroad on the scale of the 1983 attack on the US Embassy in Beirut is possible, but seems unlikely given the scale of US retaliation that would draw, analysts say. Iran also could escalate an existing effort to kill Trump-era officials behind the United States’ 2020 drone killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

How far any other retaliation and potential escalation goes may depend on two things out of US control: Whether Iran wants to

day if any people were still trapped in buildings.

The quake and its aftershocks caused landslides and damaged roads, bridges and tunnels. The national legislature and sections of Taipei’s main airport suffered minor damage.

The quake was the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years. Local authorities measured the initial quake’s strength as 7.2 magnitude, while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4.

Huang Shiao-en was in her apartment when the quake struck. “At first the building was swinging side to side, and then it shook up and down,” Huang said. The Central Weather Administration has recorded more than 300 aftershocks from Wednesday morning into Thursday.

The economic losses caused by the quake are still unclear. The self-ruled island is the leading manufacturer of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips and other high-technology items that are sensitive to seismic events.

Hualien was last struck by a deadly quake in 2018, which killed 17 people and brought down a historic hotel. Taiwan’s worst recent quake struck on Sept. 21, 1999, a magnitude 7.7 temblor that caused 2,400 deaths, injuring around 100,000 and destroying thousands of buildings.

Leung reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu contributed to this report.

keep regional hostilities at their current level or escalate, and whether Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s far-right government does.

Sina Toossi, a fellow at the Center for International Policy, said analysts in Iran are among those trying to read Netanyahu’s mind since the attack, struggling to choose between two competing narratives for Israel’s objective.

“One perceives Israel’s actions as a deliberate provocation of war that Iran should respond to with restraint,” Toossi wrote in the US-based think tank’s journal.

“The other suggests that Israel is capitalizing on Iran’s typically restrained responses,” and that failing to respond in kind will only embolden Israel.

Ultimately, Iran’s sense that it is already winning its strategic goals as the Hamas-Israel war continues—elevating the Palestinian cause and costing Israel friends globally—may go the furthest in persuading Iranian leaders not to risk open warfare with Israel or US in whatever response they make to Monday’s airstrike, some analysts and diplomats say.

Shira Efron, a director of policy research at the US-based Israel Policy Forum, rejected suggestions that Netanyahu was actively trying with attacks like the one in Damascus to draw the US into a potentially decisive conflict alongside Israel against their common rivals, at least for now.

“First, the risk of escalation has increased. No doubt,” Efron said.

“I don’t think Netanyahu is interested in full-blown war though,” she said. “And whereas in the past Israel was thought to be interested in drawing the US into a greater conflict, even if the desire still exists in some circles, it is not more than wishful thinking at the moment.”

US President Joe Biden is facing pressure from the other direction.

So far he’s resisting calls from growing numbers of Democratic lawmakers and voters to limit the flow of American arms to Israel as a way to press Netanyahu to ease Israeli military killing of civilians in Gaza and to heed other US appeals.

As criticism has grown of US military support of Israel’s war in Gaza, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller has increasingly pointed to Israel’s longerterm need for weapons—to defend itself against Iran and Iranian-allied Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The US is “always concerned about anything that would be escalatory,” Miller said after the attack in Damascus. “It has been one of the goals of this administration since October 7th to keep the conflict from spreading, recognizing that Israel has the right to defend itself from adversaries that are sworn to its destruction.’’

Israel for years has hit at Iranian proxies and their sites in the region, knocking back their ability to build strength and cause trouble for Israelis.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, one of a network of Iran-aligned militias in the region, that shattered Israel’s sense of security, Netanyahu’s government has increasingly added Iranian security operatives and leaders to target lists in the region, Lister notes.

The US military already has deepened engagement from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea since the Hamas-Israel war opened— deploying aircraft carriers to the region to discourage rear-guard attacks against Israel, opening airstrikes to quell attacks on shipping by Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen.

It is also moving to build a pier off Gaza to try to get more aid to Palestinian civilians despite obstacles that include Israel’s restrictions and attacks on aid deliveries.

Palestinians want April vote on UN membership despite US saying peace with Israel must come first

By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS—The Palestinians want the Security Council to vote later this month on their revived request for full membership in the United Nations, despite the United States reiterating Wednesday that Israel and the Palestinians must first negotiate a peace agreement.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, said 140 countries recognize the state of Palestine, and “we believe it is high time now for our state to become a full member at the United Nations.”

The Palestinians are making a fresh bid for UN membership as the war between Israel and Hamas that began Oct. 7 nears its sixth month, putting the unresolved decades-old Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the spotlight after years on the back burner.

During the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the United States, Mansour said, countries were blocked from joining the UN, but they all eventually became members, including North Korea. The US doesn’t recognize North Korea but didn’t block its admission, he said, and asked why conditions should be placed on Palestinian membership.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered the Palestinian Authority’s application to become the 194th member of the United Nations to then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sept. 23, 2011, before addressing world leaders at the General Assembly. That bid failed because the Palestinians failed to get the required support of nine of the Security Council’s 15 members. Even if they did, the United States, Israel’s closest

ally, had promised at that time to veto any council resolution endorsing Palestinian membership, saying this should follow a negotiated peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Palestinians then went to the 193-member General Assembly, where there are no vetoes, and by more than a two-thirds majority succeeded in having their status raised from a UN observer to a non-member observer state in November 2012.

Mansour asked the Security Council on Tuesday to consider during April the Palestinians’ renewed application for membership, which was supported by the 22-nation Arab Group at the United Nations, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.

He told several journalists Wednesday that he expects the council’s Standing Committee on New Members, which includes all 15 council nations, to meet behind closed doors to consider the application before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on April 9.

Mansour said he then expects the Security Council to vote on the Palestinian request for full UN membership at its monthly meeting on the Middle East, being held at ministerial level April 18.

Seven of the council’s 15 members recognize the state of Palestine—China, Russia, Ecuador, Mozambique, Algeria, Guyana and Sierra Leone.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller was asked Wednesday whether the United States would veto full membership for Palestinians. “I am not going to speculate about what may happen down the road,” he replied.

The World

US Treasury secretary heads to China to talk trade as tensions rise between world’s largest economies

By Fatima Hussein The Associated Press

JOINT

BASE ELMENDORF-

RICHARDSON, Alaska—Treasury

Secretary Janet Yellen is headed to a China determined to avoid open conflict with the United States, yet the world’s two largest economies still appear to be hashing out the rules on how to compete against each other.

There are tensions over Chinese government support for the manufacturing of electric vehicles and solar panels, just as the US government ramps up its own aid for those tech sectors. There are differences in trade, ownership of TikTok, access to computer chips and national security—all of them a risk to what has become a carefully managed relationship.

The 77-year-old Yellen, a renowned economist and former Federal Reserve chair, laid out to reporters the issues that she intends to raise with her Chinese counterparts during her five-day visit. Yellen is headed to Guangzhou and Beijing for meetings with finance leaders and state officials. Her engagements will include Vice

Premier He Lifeng, Chinese Central Bank Governor Pan Gongsheng, former Vice Premier Liu He, leaders of American businesses operating in China, university students and local leaders.

Yellen, speaking to reporters Wednesday during a refueling stop in Alaska en route to Asia, said her visit would be a “continuation of the dialogue that we have been engaged and deepening” ever since US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in 2022 in Indonesia. She noted that it would be her third meeting with China’s vice premier. Yellen recently accused China of flooding global markets with heavily subsidized green energy products, possibly undercutting

the subsidies the US has provided to its own renewable energy and EV sector with funds provided by the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. She said she intends to repeat her concerns to Chinese officials that they’re flooding the global market with cheap solar panels and EVs that thwart the ability of other countries to develop those sectors.

“We need to have a level playing field,” Yellen told reporters. “We’re concerned about a massive investment in China in a set of industries that’s resulting in overcapacity.”

Yellen didn’t rule out taking additional steps to counter Chinese subsidies in the green energy sectors, adding, “It’s not just the United States but quite a few countries, including Mexico, Europe, Japan, that are feeling the pressure from massive investment, in these industries in China.”

The Treasury secretary’s travels come after Biden and Xi held their first call in five months on Tuesday, meant to demonstrate a return to regular leader-to-leader dialogue between the two powers. The leaders discussed Taiwan, artificial intelligence and security issues.

The call, described by the White House as “candid and constructive,” was the leaders’ first conversation since their November summit in California, which renewed ties between the two na-

tions’ militaries and enhanced cooperation on stemming the flow of deadly fentanyl and its precursors from China.

Still, it appears to be difficult for the two countries to strike a balance between competition and antagonism.

For instance, Xi last week hosted American CEOs in Beijing to court them on investing in China. Meanwhile, Biden last August issued an executive order that instructed an inter-agency committee, chaired by Yellen, to closely monitor US investment in China related to high-tech manufacturing.

Jude Blanchette, a China expert at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said, “the Biden administration’s efforts over the last year to stabilize the relationship are clearly working, but the main friction points all remain unresolved and will likely challenge the relationship for the foreseeable future.”

“For the time being, a ‘managed rivalry’ might be the best we can hope for, given the potentially catastrophic consequences of the relationship really going off the rails,” he said.

Yellen last week said China is flooding the market with green energy that “distorts global prices,” and plans to tell her counterparts that Beijing’s increased production of solar energy, electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries poses

NATO celebrates 75 years of collective defense as Russian troops increase control in Ukraine

By Lorne Cook & Matthew Lee The Associated Press

BRUSSELS—NATO marked on Thursday

75 years of collective defense across Europe and North America, with its top diplomats vowing to stay the course in Ukraine as better-armed Russian troops assert control on the battlefield.

The anniversary comes as the now-32nation alliance weighs a plan to provide more predictable longer-term military support to Ukraine. Plagued by ammunition shortages, Ukraine this week lowered the military conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks.

“Ukraine is under heavy attacks, like daily, 24-seven,” Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters, appealing for more military materiel for Ukraine like air defense systems, drones and artillery shells.

“We need to give these systems which we are not using to Ukraine, to take and protect their people, civil infrastructure and also energy infrastructure,” he said, before a ceremony with his counterparts to mark the day NATO’s founding treaty was signed: April 4, 1949, in Washington.

A bigger celebration is planned when NATO leaders meet in Washington from July 9 to 11.

At a small ceremony outside Brussels on Wednesday evening, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid tribute “to the millions of soldiers, sailors, and aviators whose courage and willingness to put their lives on the line have given weight to our sacred commitment to defend one another.”

Blinken said that even as foreign ministers mark more than seven decades of peace, “that security—together with

the Alliance’s core principles of democracy, liberty, and the rule of law—is once again being threatened by those who believe that might makes right...and who seek to redraw borders by force.”

Sweden’s foreign minister, Tobias Billström, is taking part in the first ministerial-level meeting since his country became NATO’s 32nd ally last month.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 drove Sweden and Finland into NATO’s arms.

“NATO represents the freedom to choose,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said, reflecting on the way the Nordic neighbors recently joined. “Democratic nations, free people chose to join. Unlike how Russia expands its by aggression or by illegal annexation.”

The alliance’s ranks have almost tripled from its 12 founding members, but Finland and Sweden joined in record time to shelter under NATO’s collective security guarantee, after coming under pressure

for compensation from populist leaders in Turkey and Hungary.

That promise—Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which has been shipped to Brussels for the ceremony—stipulates that an attack on any one of their number must be met with a united response. It’s only ever been used once, after the Al-Qaeda attacks on US soil in 2001.

“NATO was founded on a single, solemn promise: An attack on one ally is an attack on all,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on the eve of the anniversary. “From that foundation, we have built the most powerful and successful alliance in history.”

Among the more recent successes as it grew from the Cold War and after the Berlin Wall collapsed, NATO would count its 1999 air campaign against former Yugoslavia to end a bloody crackdown on separatist ethnic Albanians and its effort to avert near civil war in Macedonia in 2001.

At the other end of the scale lies the

operation in Afghanistan. NATO took command of the security effort in 2003 and it became the longest, costliest and deadliest in alliance history. It was marked by a chaotic retreat in August 2021, many of the successes over almost two decades abandoned.

Today, Ukraine also wants a seat at NATO’s table, but the alliance works on unanimity and there is no consensus on whether it should join. Most allies oppose membership while war rages on anyway. For now, NATO promises only that its door is open for Ukraine in the future.

Putin said he launched the war, in part at least, because NATO was expanding closer to Russia’s borders.

NATO allies cannot agree on whether to arm Ukraine either. As an organization, the alliance only provides non-lethal support like transport vehicles, fuel, combat rations, medical supplies and demining equipment. However, many members provide arms and ammunition bilaterally or in groups.

The bulk of NATO’s efforts since Russian troops began massing for the invasion has focused on reinforcing its own borders near Russia and Ukraine to dissuade President Vladimir Putin from targeting any of the allies next.

Article 5 was given perhaps its toughest test during Donald Trump’s term as president of the United States—by far NATO’s most powerful member country. Trump suggested the US might not come to the defense of any NATO ally who declined to boost their own defense spending to at least 2% of gross domestic product, as they had agreed to do in 2014.

Trump has repeated the threat during election campaigning this year. NATO predicts that 18 of its 32 members will reach that target this year, up from only 3 a decade ago.

In rare call, Russian defense chief warns French counterpart against sending troops to Ukraine

MOSCOW—Russia’s defense minister warned his French counterpart against deploying troops to Ukraine in a rare phone call Wednesday and noted that Moscow is ready to take part in talks to end the conflict.

risks to productivity and growth to the global economy.

China began to broaden its presence in the global economy more than two decades ago, exporting cheap goods that appealed to US consumers at the expense of factory jobs in many of those consumers’ hometowns. Research by the economists David Autor, David Dorn and Gordon Hanson into what’s known as the “China Shock” led to the steady demise of many factory towns, and in some cases led to greater political discontent.

Still, some experts see a benefit in an economic showdown to produce green products.

Shang-Jin Wei, a professor of Chinese business at Columbia University, says that a subsidy war could ultimately help consumers in both countries buy more climate-friendly products, which is an aim of the Biden administration.

“In contrast, a US tariff on EV imports could raise the price of EVs in the US and is therefore counterproductive for the purpose of inducing a green transition.”

Yellen’s trip will run from April 4 to 9. It’s intended as a follow-up to Yellen’s travel to China last July, which resulted in the launch of a pair of economic working groups between the two nations’ finance departments to ease tensions and deepen ties.

But this visit falls in an election year, where tough talk on China

has increased by Democrats and Republicans—who criticize Chinese ownership of popular social media app TikTok, the nation’s censorship and human rights record and hold a deep mistrust over recent acts of espionage such as hacking and the use of a spy balloon.

Scheherazade S. Rehman, a professor of International Business and Finance and International Affairs at George Washington University, said while “it’s an election year, so all the rhetoric is going to be sharper, the US and China are in a symbiotic trading relationship and ultimately need each other.”

China is one of the United States’ biggest trading partners, and economic competition between the two nations has increased in recent years. Yellen stressed Wednesday that the United States has no interest in decoupling from China.

China’s support of Russia as it continues its invasion of neighboring Ukraine is another issue that will come up during the meetings.

As the US and its allies sanction Russian officials and entire sectors of the Russian economy, like banking, oil production and manufacturing, trade between China and Russia has increased.

The Associated Press writers Josh Boak in Washington and Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.

Indonesia’s president-elect holds talks with Malaysian leader on bolstering ties

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Indonesian President-elect Prabowo

Subianto held talks Thursday with Malaysia’s leader on bolstering bilateral ties as part of a regional visit that has also taken him to China and Japan.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he and Subianto discussed next steps to strengthen bilateral ties, and also exchanged views on their political experiences.

“Our political journeys are almost similar as we were both tested with various challenges before being appointed,” Anwar said in a statement on Facebook after their meeting. He said Subianto also recalled his secondary education at a school in Kuala Lumpur. “May

Malaysia-Indonesia relationship continue to be strengthened for our common good,” he added.

Subianto, who is currently defense minister, will succeed Joko Widodo in October. The wealthy ex-general chose Beijing for his first official visit after his February election victory in a bid to emphasize the countries’ robust ties amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. In his Monday meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Subianto pledged a continued friendly policy toward China.

He then flew to Japan where he held talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday, and pledged to strengthen ties including defense cooperation. AP

Sergei Shoigu told French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu that if Paris follows up on its statements about the possibility of sending a French military contingent to Ukraine, “it will create problems for France itself,” according to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. It didn’t elaborate.

between Russian and French defense ministers since October 2022.

The conversation followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments in February, in which he said that the possibility of Western troops being sent to Ukraine could not be ruled out. The call marked the first such contact

Shoigu noted Moscow’s “readiness for dialogue on Ukraine,” emphasizing that a planned round of peace talks in Geneva would be “senseless” without Russia’s involvement. He added that possible future negotiations could be based on a draft document, which was discussed during Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul in March 2022.

Media reports have said that the draft negotiated in Istanbul weeks after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine envisaged that Ukraine will abandon its bid to join NATO and remain neutral. No final deal was reached and the talks collapsed quickly after.

The Russian Defense Ministry also said in its readout of Wednesday’s call that Lecornu

offered condolences over the March 22 attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed 145 in the deadliest assault on Russian soil in decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his officials have sought to link Ukraine and the West to the attack despite Kyiv’s fierce denial, a claim of responsibility issued by an affiliate of Islamic State group and an advance warning that the US had issued to Moscow about imminent attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that during the call Lecornu tried to persuade Shoigu that Ukraine and its Western allies had no relation to the concert hall raid, but Shoigu insisted that Moscow has “information about Ukrainian trace in organizing the terror attack.”

“The Kyiv regime does nothing without approval of its Western handlers,” the ministry quoted Shoigu as telling Lecornu.”We hope that the French special services weren’t involved in it.” AP

IN this photo provided by Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim left, shakes hands with Indonesian president-elect and Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Prime Minister’s office in Putrajaya, Malaysia on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

editorial

Pinoys worry about high prices and low incomes

THE latest survey conducted by Publicus Asia Inc. has shed light on a growing concern among Filipino households: the rising prices of basic commodities and the challenge of meeting their fundamental needs due to insufficient incomes. This alarming trend calls for immediate attention and decisive action from the government to alleviate the burden faced by the most vulnerable members of society. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Prices, inadequate incomes top PHL household concerns,” April 3, 2024).

among households in Mindanao, Balance Luzon (areas in Luzon outside Mega Manila), and the National Capital Region, while Mindanao and Visayas households were concerned about limited employment opportunities. The looming threat of losing sources of ivelihood was a pressing concern for households in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon. The sur vey also revealed that senior citizens aged 60 and above were particularly worried about the escalating prices of basic commodities, while younger Fi ipinos aged 18 to 24 were most concerned about affording their basic needs, inadequate wages, and the difficulty of finding jobs. Filipinos between the ages of 25 and 49 expressed the highest level of anxiety about job security and the risk of unemployment. It is evident that these economic challenges affect individuals across various age groups, highlighting the per vasive nature of the problem. Furthermore, the sur vey provided valuable insights into the priorities that Filipinos believe the government should address. Respondents emphasized the importance of tackling issues such as inflation, the economy, corruption, poverty, and jobs, which were identified as the primar y areas of concern for the President. Other significant concerns included agriculture, wages, education, illegal drugs, peace and order and international relations concerning the West Philippine Sea.

The consequences of rising inflation are far-reaching and have the potential to impede economic growth and exacerbate the struggles faced by low- and middle-income households. It is essential for the government to take proactive measures to mitigate these effects and provide relief to those most affected. Policymakers must prioritize implementing measures that stabilize prices, boost income levels, and create a favorable environment for job creation.

In combating inflation, it is crucial to address the root causes and ensure the availability and affordability of essential commodities. This can be achieved through targeted inter ventions, such as subsidies for basic necessities and the diversification of the agricultural sector to enhance productivity. Additionally, efforts should be made to improve the overall business climate and attract investments that create obs with fair wages.

To alleviate the burden on vulnerable households, it would do well for the government to consider implementing social safety nets that provide direct assistance, particularly to low-income families and senior citizens. These measures can include conditional cash transfers, healthcare subsidies, and support for skills training and education to enhance employability and income potential.

Furthermore, efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance are essential to ensure that resources are utilized efficiently and transparently. Addressing corruption not only bolsters public trust but also helps to create an environment conducive to economic growth and equitable distribution of resources.

The Publicus Asia sur vey underscores the urgent need for the government to address the concerns of Fi ipino households grappling with high prices and insufficient incomes. It is imperative for policymakers to prioritize the stabilization of prices, income enhancement, job creation, and social welfare to alleviate the hardships faced by the most vulnerable members of society. By taking decisive action, the government can foster economic growth ensure social inclusivity, and improve the overall wellbeing of Filipino households.

A ‘Tatak Pinoy’ classroom

OSonny M. Angara

BETTER DAYS

VER the past few weeks we have started seeing an alarming trend of schools suspending onsite classes because of extreme heat being experienced in various areas of the country. With temperatures reaching the high 30s and over 40 degrees Celsius, students and teachers alike have found the sweltering heat unbearable and not conducive for learning. A survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Teachers showed that around 67 percent of the respondents said they experienced intolerable heat in their classrooms, with the most commonly reported result being the students’ difficulty paying attention to lessons. The teachers also noted how they were conducting lessons in congested classrooms, which result in severe difficulties for students with medical conditions.

Apar t from the long-time problem of congestion, there are also other issues that hound schools, par ticu larly their ability to handle extreme weather cond itions. Year after yea r we see many sc hools that are severely damaged whenever our countr y is hit by typhoons.

T he classrooms a re not bui lt to w ithstand typhoons and as a resu lt of the damages, the affected students are forced to miss classes.

T he same impact is being seen now

w ith the extreme heat our countr y is experiencing. T he suspension of classes by several schools has led to the utilization of the alter nate deliver y mode—the same system that was used during the Cov id-19 pandemic when the schools were shuttered for the safety of our children. T his brings about another set of problems such as students who have no Inter net access at home or just have diff icu lty lear ning outside of the classroom setting. T he

up sav ing us more money and hopef u lly, addressing w ith f inality school disruptions. One of the key objectives of Republic Act 11981 or the Tatak Pinoy (Proudly Filipino) Act is to enhance our productive capabilities. It is also about expanding our know-how to make a better society for our people, including among other things, design i ng and const ruct i ng our schools to make them more climate resilient. During our public hearings on the Tatak Pinoy Act, I spoke about how there must be some way of inf using a “Filipino” identity into our built spaces such as our classrooms, especially since two of the biggest budgets under the annual General Appropriations Act go to the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Depar tment of Education. We are now seeing that we cannot continue building our sc hool bui ld ings and classrooms the same way in a one size f its all manner The same problems emerge ever y year and from what we are seeing, the effects of climate change are intensify ing.

We are not just talk ing about the outward appearances of the buildings but the ver y designs of these st ruct ures need to solve “Tatak Pinoy” problems. T here is a vast amount of knowledge and expertise out there that can be tapped to prov ide solutions to these problems— be it from abroad, homeg rown talent, and maybe even indigenous/ heritage w isdom. All of these can be brought together to come up w ith creative solutions, tailor-made for our needs.

Singapore, for instance, being situated near the equator, has gotten ver y good at g reening their urban spaces to help lower ambient temperatures. T he nation’s found ing father Lee Kuan Yew was famously remembered for say ing that air conditioning is “one of the signal inventions of histor y.” PM Lee said air cond itioning “changed the nature of civ ilization by mak ing development possible in the tropics.” He knew that people in a comfor table environment would be more productive. Researchers all over the world have also come up w ith the whitest paint, so reflective that they actually help cool down surfaces. A quick f i x to our hot classrooms wou ld be to install air cond itioners but g iven our tight f iscal space, we need to See “Angara,” A

Insights on the landscape of gig economy in the Philippines

Joseph El Roy B. Cassion II

GEAGLE WATCH

IG economy is described as an emerging market often facilitated by digital platforms or mobile applications that are common in short-term, freelance, or temporary employment opportunities. In the gig economy, employees work on a flexible term performing specific tasks for different customers rather than being employed full-time. One advantage is the workers’ autonomy in their schedules and the freedom in choosing their clients and projects. However, the downside is that this type of work can also entail uncertainty in employee’s income, social security, health insurance, and paid leave, which are commonly offered in a traditional job.

Given the rise of technology and the emergence of dig ital platfor ms that connect ser v ice prov iders offeri ng on-demand ser v ices, ride sha ring, food del iver y, f reelance w riting, and g raphic designing to consumers, g ig economy has been i nc reasi ngly prom i nent not ju st here in the Philippines but across the world.

According to a World Bank Repor t, t he g ig economy accou nts for up to 12 percent of the global labor market. Developed countries dominate the demand for g ig work; however the demand in developing countries has grown at a much faster rate. For instance, the job demand in the largest dig ital platfor m in

Sub-Saharan Africa has g rown by 130 percent, while dig ital workers in Nor th America recorded a 14 percent g rowth rate. Perhaps, it is also relevant to show a picture of the g ig economy in the Philippines. In the October 2021 Labor Force Sur vey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the agency has included a rider question on the engagement in online platfor m or mobile application in the worker’s line of work. T his question in the sur vey is a good star t to capture the g ig economy in the Philippines. Resu lts show t h at t here is an est i mated 4 3,815,08 3 employed persons in t he Phi l ippines. About 19. 39 percent of t hese employed

It is evident that the gig economy is a growing sector in the Philippines, intensified by the presence of digital platforms and mobile applications that connect work providers to general consumers. Though gig economy or gig workers can contribute to employment and production, the uncertainty of income and employment benefit should be examined by the government and other stakeholders.

persons a re work ing using onl ine platfor ms or mobi le appl icat ions. Moreover, onl ine platfor ms or mobi le appl icat ions a re dom inantly used by workers in t he Nat ional Cap ital Reg ion (28.74 pe rcent), followed by Calaba r zon (15.6 3 percent) and Cent ral Lu zon (10. 30 percent). In ter ms of t he class of work, most g ig workers in t he Phi lippines a re in l ine w it h ser v ice and sales workers (19.45 percent), followed by clerical suppor t workers (18.42 pe rcent) and profess ionals (16.99 percent) mostly hired by private establ ishments (58.90 percent), followed by t he gover nment or gover nment cor porat ions (17.11 percent) and self-employed (16.86 percent).

Look ing into the demog raphics of the g ig workers, 50.87 percent of t hem a re female whi le 49.13

percent are male w ith age rang ing from 26 to 35 years old. In ter ms of highest grade completed, 49.77 percent of the g ig workers are college g raduates. Moreover, the common basic daily pay ranges from P501 to P1,500, where most of the g ig workers in this income bracket are ear ning P501-P700 per day. It is ev ident that the gig economy is a g row ing sector in the Philippines, intensif ied by the presence of dig ital platfor ms and mobile applications that connect work providers to general consumers. T hough g ig economy or g ig workers can contribute to employment and production, the uncer tainty of income and employment benef it shou ld be examined by the gover nment

Karaoke and Intellectual Property Rights

KDennis Gorecho

Kuwentong Peyups

ARAOKE is a significant and integral part of Filipino culture, synonymous with happiness and goodwill. Rain or shine, no true Filipino party is complete without Karaoke!

Shigeichi Negishi, the inventor of the world’s first commercially available karaoke machine, has died in Japan on Januar y 26, 2024 at the age of 100 years old. Negishi was in his 40s when he came up with the idea in 1967 of prototyping a mass-produced, coinoperated karaoke machine, branded “Sparko Box.”

T he Sparko Box employed the wiring of a microphone, speaker and eight-track cassette tapes of commerc i ally ava i lable i nst ru mental recordings, with lyrics provided in a paper booklet. However Negishi dissolved it in 1975 due to financial problems. He never secured a patent for his invention.

Filipino Roberto del Rosario is the known sole patent holder in the world of the karaoke machine. He developed the karaoke’s sing-along system in 1975 and was partially responsible for the popu larity of karaoke today. This was confirmed in the case of Del Rosario, v. Janito Cor p (GR 115106. March 15, 1996) wherein it was ruled that there was a violation of Del Rosario’s patent rights as the machines/models performed the same function, or accomplished the same result by identical or substantially identical means, and the principle or mode of operation is substantially the same. Cablecasting of karaoke channels is

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Filscap that the unauthorized exercise of the copyright holders’ communication to the public rights as a result of cablecasting the two karaoke channels is copyright infringement.

The fiction of the other loves

think out of the box and come up w it h alter nat ive solut ions. Aside from mak ing them resistant to the heat, these classrooms shou ld also be able to w it

is making that work accessible to members of the public from a place or time individually chosen by them. This is the essence of the “communication to the public” right in the IP Code.

The Supreme Court in essence upheld Filscap’s argument that while Section 177 of RA 8293 does not use the term “broadcasting right,” its equivalent is either or both the “public performance” and “communication to the public” rights. Home Cable’s retransmission of works through the simultaneous relay of broadcast signals exercised both these exclusive rights, without the consent or authority granted by the copyright holder over those works.

A later amendment to the IP Code further expanded the scope of “communication to the public” to include broadcasting, rebroadcasting, retransmitting by cable, and retransmitting by satellite.

All intellectual property rights are not mere economic exercises. The Constitution and laws recognize their social function and benefit to the common good. Copyright, in particular is linked with culture.

To encourage the creation, proliferation, and innovation of literar y, artistic, and scientific works, our laws have designed a regime of protection that balances the incentives to an individual for disclosing their works and the eventual benefit to the public once the protections lapse and these works become freely available. An essential component of this balance is certainty of enforcing creators’ rights against unauthorized trespass. Our firm, Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB) law offices, handled the case for Filscap.

Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the SVBB Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

TTito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

HE question was unexpected when this young man sat beside me, after I finished my lecture on how to read films. “Sir, what is love?” I was not sure I heard him. But I saw him, the white linen shirt, the left side of the collar slightly frayed, the eternal J Crew khaki pants, the shoes fashionably worn, and that open face. It was not vulnerable but a helpless look as if any answer from me would save his day or, at least, his hour that very moment.

“Let me get through the Q&A,” I half admonished, half mocked him.

In forums like this, I was already used to people preferring to give their opinions rather than asking questions. Anyone and ever yone has opinions when it comes to cinema.

But the opinions that morning were magnificent. T hese are readers, I told myself, while my peripheral vision caught my waiting interrogator (long, long, hair smelling of Argan oil) and wrists circled several times by beads of d ifferent ideolog ical persuasions.

We all have Judgment Day. I had it that day, with this eager young man who came to listen (I assumed) to a talk on cinema but managed to hide an agenda, which was to demand from a critic the meaning of love.

Actually (there was pretension in my voice as I uttered that banal adverb), the film critic is the last person to know about love.” I expected a word of protest from him but he sat there, looking at me, waiting for what would constitute an answer T his cannot be serious, I nea rly hissed to myself.

I twisted more from my seat and I was nearly facing him. Polite, gentle, not invasive, honest, and if his heart would be cracked open, sunshine from within, scattering bright energies sufficient to whitewash any film

noir on screen, and just a light, tremblingly charming smirk plastered on that mask of a face—he was all this. “Love for critics—some of them— is a collection of quotes, d i alog ues f rom f i lms, about love and breakups and tragedies and bright, happy endings.”

“Yes ! He almost shouted. “You a re an expert on those lines! You could throw them, like like ” He was tr ying to be relentless but it was pathetic looking at him like that. But he would not stop.

Straightening up, he swooned and sighed to me: “Affection is a pressure I can bear.”

Oh, Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor Aquita ine, hav ing alighted from the barge in that resplendent, nearly campy opening of The Lion in Winter approaches Alice, the new girlfriend of Henr y II, played with aplomb by Peter O’Toole, and delivers that line. “That was not the only line in the film. And that was not a definitive line about love.” I sensed my voice rising. I knew it: critics should

never talk about love. That emotion or state of grace does not figure in criticism. Something else does. Many other things are used. Detachment. Objectivity. Suspension of disbelief. A great deal of theorizing.

“Imagine love as all those! I said this while looking intently at those eyes that began as two shallow pools and now were whirling like witches’ brew! This boy is dangerous. He was not stopping. But, last month, you said these lines: “Say it. Say that you love him before it’s too late. Let another moment wedge between you and it will become a month a year a decade. Your hair will be white. His cuffs will be frayed. And t here w i ll be anot her Madwoman of Chaillot. Say it before the music stops.” “You were Countess Aurelia! I

threw the shar pest look whittled from my collection of rage and angst at him: I was uttering the lines of Countess Aurelia as played by Katharine Hepburn (again? I asked myself) in the film adaptation of Jean Giraudou x’s La Folle de Chaillot or The Madwoman of Chaillot “And was that love?”

MacKenzie Scott’s quiet dignity

STATISTICS show that half of marriages end in divorce. Whether you are rich or poor, this exercise of uncoupling is one of life’s most stressful and transformative experiences. In most cases, one of the parties feels aggrieved and might blame the other for betrayal. But MacKenzie Scott’s divorce from Jeff Bezos defied expectations. She showed immense dignity and admirable silence throughout the ordeal and remains composed to this day.

In January 2019, Jeff, the founder of Amazon, announced that he and Mackenzie were in the process of divorcing. The joint statement expressed a united front of enduring friendship and gratitude to one another Unlike other acrimonious divorces, theirs was unbelievably civil, professional and almost bizarre.

The statement pre-empted salacious headlines from the National Enquirer which published in the latter part of the same month sexually explicit and risqué text messages from Jeff to Lauren Sanchez, while

ers’ employability and output. To help g ig workers meet the needs of the market and take advantage of better-pay ing possibilities, such effor ts can concentrate on dig ital literacy, customer ser v ice, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, by prov iding spe-

he was still married to MacKenzie. “I love you, alive girl. I will show you with my body, and my lips and my eyes, ver y soon. I want to smell you I want to breathe you in. I want to hold you tight. I want to kiss your lips I love you I am in love with you,” read such messages. Accord ing to t he tabloid, Jeff sent the messages to his mistress months before the divorce. It was sensational, perhaps even meant to provoke MacKenzie into outrage and indignation at her husband for the public humiliation. We all know

c i al i zed f i nanc i al se r v i ces and products catering to their needs, f i nanc i al i ncl u s i on i n i t i at i ves promoted t hroug h collaborat ion

w it

what a woman scorned is capable of, especially someone with the capacity to influence Amazon’s fate.

However that is not the path

Mackenz i e c h ose. In fact, s h e showed nothing and said not a word when the Enquirer published the sexts. She must have been at her w it’s end read i ng her hu sband’s declarations of love to Lauren for all the world to see, conf ir ming his i nf idel ity. W h at k i nd of woman would not feel betrayed and enraged by all that?

W hatever outrage she felt, MacKenzie restrained it. There were no press statements, no inter views, no whining, no snarly remarks against the mistress despite having all the means to do so. W hile the mistress enjoyed the spotlight with the man she was married to for 25 years, Mackenzie shunned it. Either she possesses extraordinar y composure or pure class. The divorce was finalized on April 5, 2019.

On an X post, she said, “grateful to have finished the process of dissolving my marriage with Jeff with support from each other and ever yone who reached out to us in kindness, and looking for ward to next phase as co-parents and friends.”

“Happy to be giving him all of my interests in the Washington Post and Blue Origin, and 75 percent of our Amazon stock plus voting control of my shares to support his continued contributions with the teams of these incredible companies. Excited about

“Love is more than a satire. It cannot belong to the T heater of the Absurd. To think of life, one must not concede to a reality that is meaningless and therefore we, as ar tists, shall provide any form of meaning to such a life. Life has meanings. Positive. It can f ill a space of one mor ning when you walked w ith a person you barely knew but you felt it made sense to be w ith him or her as you case a park, as you gaze at the lofty spires of an old church Love was that passage by the river You were touching the dark leaves but your hand brushed past the hair of the person, aimless ahead of you and you felt a sensation ak in to shav ing recklessly, where a bleeding began, and a scar was for med, but there was no pain. Just a memor y of that moment. And the scent of hairs cleaned off, your face the face of a forlor n Angel.” “Do yo u u nde r stand me?” My turn was brisk, my head arched, my back cur ved inward. I was Sisyphus with an eternal cup of coffee, an eagle caught in a soft net but relishing the break from the formless sky, a godless thespian urged by the gods to display rage, joy, desire, lust, loss, light, life, and, and, and love. Love? You hear that.” But there was no one to hear save for the rustling of yout h van i shi ng i nto the wall, a critic of my own criticism, a lover of love because (listen!) “My dear young man, love is an illusion. Write that down,” I shouted deep into my heart. But I was not finished. “W hat did Basho say? “Come, see real/flowers/of this painful word.” That’s not for him. Young people will never understand the truths in love

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

my own plans. Grateful for the past as I look for ward to what comes next.”

While her post appears candid and personal, naysayers might suggest that an army of lawyers from both sides may have checked and polished their statements. It makes sense for both MacKenzie and Jeff to appear cordial and friendly because the future of Amazon is at stake.

By all accounts, this is divorce with a difference. Obser vers, including Donald Trump, thought the shit wou ld hit the fan—why wou ldn’t they? It has all the mak ings of a d isaster—a mu lti-bi ll ion for tune built by the couple threatened by a cheating husband and a brazen mistress.

Much to the chagrin of punters, the Battle of the Bezos dissipated before it even began. Sure, there must have been tough negotiations between t heir lawyers—but t hat wasn’t the bone that the couple gave the media to chew on. Instead, they presented a united front.

Some might say that nearly $40 billion (the reported amount that Mackenzie Scott received from the settlement) is more than enough to hold one’s tongue. Yet, a vindictive wife who can write (she authored a book or two) could have found numerous ways to exact revenge—but she did not.

MacKenzie Scott’s quiet dignity amid the divorce that ended her 25year marriage to the world’s richest man is nothing short of admirable.

‘Better tax collection offsets impact of lower growth goal’

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

WHILE the lower growth targets may reduce the government’s revenues for the year, the Marcos administration remains confident it can still boost tax collection this year.

depend on a better tax system to generate f unds for t he state. Given t hi s sit u at ion, Fi nance Secreta r y Ralph G. Recto sa id t he bureaus wou ld opt im i ze t heir perfo r mances t hr o u g h “c r eat i v i ty, t ranspa rency, and eff ic iency” i n tax and c ustoms adm inist rat ion.

T h e gove r nment’s econom i c team has c ut t he 2024 g rowt h ta rgets to 6.0 to 7.0 percent f rom its 6.5 to 7.5 percent outlook.

For 2024, it also projected t he budget def ic it to settle at 5.6 percent of GDP, and by 2028 to 3.7 percent as it expects debt-to-GDP rat io of 60. 3 percent in 2024 and 55.9 percent in 2028.

Bal isacan sa id t he DBCC’s ta rgets of lowe r debt-to-GDP and def ic it-to-GDP rat ios have to do w it h f iscal measures, suc h as improv ing tax collect ion effor ts and tax measures.

Bal i sacan noted t h at ce r ta i n count ries have lower tax rates but were able to collect more taxes, while the Philippines has higher tax rates but has lower tax collect ion.

“So, t here’s so muc h space for i mp rov i ng tax adm i n i st r at ion,”

Bal isacan added.

In ter ms of tax measures, Bal isacan said new tax measures have to

T he mac roeconom ic ass u mpt ions, as proposed and approved by t he Cabinet-level DBCC and President Ferd inand R. Ma rcos Jr., st i ll reflect “quite a robust g rowt h ” in tax revenues f rom t he two ma in tax collect ing agenc ies, Bal isacan added. “Even w it h t he sl ightly lower g rowt h forecast, revenues f rom t hese two agenc ies a re expected to rise, to increase,” Bal isacan sa id.

be ident if ied, but he sa id t he DBCC is quite real ist ic” in foc using on and improv ing tax administrat ion.

Outgrow debt problem

BALISACAN also expressed conf idence t h at t he cou nt r y can add ress its debt “problem,” w hic h settled at P 15.178 t ri ll ion as of end-Febru a r y 2024, i f t he economy g rows at a faste r pace t h an its debt so t h at t he debt-to-GDP r at io w i ll slow down. “We need to make t he economy more eff ic ient, more effect ive and t hat’s why t he issue of eff ic iently using t hose f iscal resources,” he sa id. Exampl i ng anot her sit u at ion, Bal isacan sa id t hat if a responsible household borrows, they should not worr y about it if t hey w i ll use it eff ic iently. “T he incomes t

u st ens ur e t h e i nteg ri ty and r el iab i l i ty of t h e g ri d at all t i mes by ave r t i ng g ri d i nte rru pt i on and d i st ur bances. T hese cou ld be done i f NGC P completes all major t r ansm i ss ion pro j ects as sc hedu led i n t he f ir st h alf of t he yea r, i nclud i ng t he He r

By VG Cabuag @villygc

JOLLIBEE Foods Corp. said it is keen on increasing its investments in restaurants serving Chinese cuisine after its wholly owned unit committed some S$90 million (some P3.77 billion) in Titan Dining II, a fund managed in Singapore.

SRANOFI SA said it has agreed to settle approximately 4,000 lawsuits accusing the French drugmaker of selling its Zantac heartbur n medicine without warning patients that it could cause cancer The pact, the first major resolution of cases related to the product, will apply to litigation pending in courts in

Inter nat ional Ph a r maceut icals Inc., whic h is located in t he hea r t of t he c ity,” Rockwell C h a ir man and CEO Nestor Pad i lla sa id. “We’ll f ir st offe r r es i dent i al u n its t hrou g h L i ncoln, i nspired by t he well-received Proscen iu m tower in Makat i and w i ll soon be complemented by a reta i l a rea t h at

its disclosure.

The fund size of Titan Fund II will be S$100 million, which will be used to bankroll strategic investments in food and beverage concepts with the objective to further grow Asia Pacific food ser vice brands and bring strong global food ser vice brands to the region.

Jollibee is targeting to triple its income from now through 2028 via the expansion of its brands in four focus areas.

In t he f ried chicken categor y, it will be delivered by its flagship brand Jollibee, burgers by Smashburger, coffee and tea by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Co. and the Chinese cuisines through Tim Ho Wan and Yonghe K ing.

“We shall stay in these four categories as primar y focus. The other part of (Titan) Fund II will continue to fund the Chinese cuisine categor y. That’ll be two of those categories,”

Shin said.

“Not hi ng h as been ident i f ied

u nder C hinese c uisine. T here’s no spec if ic brand t h at h as been ident if ied. T he ot her categor y I ment ioned, a spec if ic brand, h as been

He said the company is now at a point where it can accelerate the growth Yonghe K ing.

“So ambition

we env ision w i ll excite t he market.”

Rockwell sa id w i ll also develop a new hori zontal neighborhood in San Jose, Bu lacan. T he 100-hectare project in Bu lacan w i ll be designed to bui ld a hi llside escape and wellness retreat for its f ut ure residents, t he company sa id.

T he company w i ll develop a f ut ure project in Li an, Batangas po i sed to be its f ir st p r em iu m hori zontal beac h commu n ity i n t he a rea.

In 2021, t h e company an-

nou nced t h at it forged a deal w it h Juan D. Nepomuceno Realty Group for an upscale m i xed-use proper ty in Angeles C ity in Pampanga, its f irst in Cent ral Lu zon.

T he company sa id last yea r t h at it is keen on h av ing an affordable housing segment project in Sout h Lu zon in suppor t of t he gover nment’s call to bui ld more houses. “As we expand our product offerings ac ross d ifferent segments and geog raphically, we want to offer it also in t he nea r f ut ure.” VG Cabuag

considering a potential investment in Omani lu x ur y f r ag r

company Amouage, according to people familiar with the matter T

h beauty g roup has been holding talks on the possible purchase of a minority stake in Amouage, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. Amouage’s owner, the SABCO Group conglomerate, has discussed a valuation of more than €3 billion ($3.2 billion) for the business in any deal, according to the people. Amouage was founded in 1983 with a pitch drawing on the sultanate of Oman’s heritage as a cultural crossroads at the center of ancient trading routes for incense and myrrh Some of its perfumes fetch €365 for a 100-milliliter bottle, according to Amouage’s website. T he company sells its products, marketed as “the Gift of Kings,” in about a dozen standalone boutiques and 1,000 other locations including department stores, perfume shops and air ports. Retail sales at Amouage increased to more than $210 million in 2023, more than doubling over a three-year period. The company is controlled by SABCO, a local business group led by Chairman Sayyid K halid Bin Hamed

Al Busaidi that also has interests in real estate, media, automotive distribution and electrical equipment.

L’Oreal has pursued a string of acqui sit ions and l icensi ng deals that have helped it build a stable of cosmetics and perfume brands. The company last year bought Australian cosmetics brand Aesop for an enterprise value of $2.5 billion. There’s no certainty the deliberations will lead to a transaction and details of the potential deal could change, the people said. Amouage cou ld also att ract i nterest f rom other investors. A representative for L’Oreal declined to comment. A spokesperson for SABCO couldn’t immediately comment, while calls to Amouage weren’t answered.

L’Oreal

Zantac recall SANOFI recalled Zantac in 2019, about a month after Valisure—an independent lab—released tests show ing the likely carcinogen NDMA in the drug and its generics. T he lab’s research ind icated the drug’s active ingredient, ranitidine, formed NDMA over time or in elevated temperatures. T he US Food and Drug Administration confirmed the findings in April 2020 and ordered drugmakers to take the medicine off the market.

Sanofi has since returned Zantac to store shelves, but without ranitidine. It’s now made with famotidine, the active ingredient in competitor Pepcid. Zantac is the third leading antacid sold in the US. Other companies, such as GSK and Pfizer Inc., have resolved individual Zantac cases ahead of jur y trials, but haven’t backed wider settlement efforts.

T he Sanofi accord focuses on state court cases. A federal judge in 2022 threw out more than 5,000 suits filed in federal court in Florida, saying the science behind the cancer claims was flawed.

time during which Sanofi marketed Zantac and the strong defenses available to Sanofi in these cases.” Zantac, developed by GSK and WarnerLambert, hit the US market as a prescription drug in 1983 before becoming an over-the-counter heartburn treatment in 1996. It was owned by several companies before Sanofi acquired it in 2017. The deal doesn’t resolve an estimated 20,000 Zantac claims against Sanofi in Delaware, said the people, who requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the pact. A judge hasn’t yet ruled whether those cases can proceed to trial.

TBanking&Finance

Feb NPL ratio higher than a year ago

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Philippine banking system posted a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 1.56 percent in February, latest data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

2 Approach to tasks. Managers typically employ a structured and procedural approac h emphasi zing task completion, monitoring performance, and adhering to established procedures. On the other hand, leaders use flexibility and inspiration, motivating others through a compelling v ision, fostering innovation, and empowering team members to contribute to the association’s success.

3. Decision making. Managers often make decisions based on data and existing policies, procedures, and guidelines and prioritize efficiency and adherence to established protocols. Leaders are more inclusive and empowering, inclined to make decisions that align with the association’s long-term vision and goals, even if it means challenging the status quo.

4. Risk taking. Managers are more risk averse and tend to prioritize risk management, focusing on minimizing risks and maintaining stability within the association while leaders are more inclined to take calculated risks in pursuit of innovation and growth and embracing uncertainty as part of the journey towards achieving the association’s long-term goals.

5. Innovation. Managers often prefer stabi ity and predictability, seeking to maintain the status quo and minimize disruption. Leaders are more adaptable and embrace change as an opportunity for growth and innovation by inspiring others to embrace change and creativity, navigate uncertainty, and adapt to new circumstances.

6. Team dynamics. Managers typically have a transactional relationship with their team members, focusing on assigning tasks, monitoring per formance, and providing feedback. Leaders, on the other hand, build strong relationships based on trust, respect, and inspiration. They mentor and coach team members, empower them to take ownership, and foster a collaborative environment.

7. Motivation. Managers are often motivated by extrinsic rewards, e.g., bonuses, and promotions while leaders seek more intrinsic motivating factors such as pur pose, personal growth and fulfillment.

8. Goal orientation. Managers often have a short-term orientation, focusing on immediate challenges and goals within the association while leaders have a long-term perspective, envisioning the future direction of the association and setting strategic ob ectives that align with this vision.

W hile both managers and leaders play crucial roles within an association, they operate with distinct approaches, priorities, and mindsets. Managers focus on tasks, operations, and efficiency while leaders inspire and motivate others toward a shared vision, encourage innovation, and foster a culture of collaboration and growth

Octavio Peralta is the founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

respectively, in the second quarter of 2023 Nonetheless, the AMRO said the risk to the banking sector of NPLs wou ld be limited g iven their improved profitability and sufficient liquidity and capital buffers.

The AMRO pointed out that the net interest margin of the banking sector improved to 3.98 percent in the second quarter of 2023 from 3.47 percent in 2021.

HSBC vows investment during gab with Prex Asean pay initiative adds Lao, Brunei central banks

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Cor p. (HSBC) committed new investments in the countr y during a courtesy meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr last Thursday.

In his discussion with the President, HSBC Hold i ngs Plc Group Chairman Mark Tucker said they will be expanding their operations in the countr y. “Today, we are left as one of the few inter national banks. But our commitment to the Philippines, and continuing to invest, continuing to work here remains absolutely intact,” Tucker said.

T he executive also backed the ongoing government drive against red tape.

Malacañang did not elaborate on the details on the investment commitment of HSBC.

Nonetheless, Marcos welcomed HSBC’s cont i nu ed cont ri b ut i on to the countr y’s economic growth through interconnections and synergies.

“T hank you aga in for HSBC’s continued interest. We continue to encourage, well, the economy, actually, we’ve tried to open it up, we put ver y, we put much…on the fact that private partnerships are necessar y,” the President said.

HSBC has been operating in the Philippines for almost 150 years engaged in wholesale banking, market and securities ser vices, and wealth and personal banking. It is ranked 14th as the largest

universal bank and second as the largest foreign bank operating in the Philippines.

According to a Bloomberg report, HSBC reported that its “fourth-quarter profit fell 80 percent after taking unexpected charges on holdings in a Chinese bank and from selling its French retail operations.”

“However, rising interest rates globally boosted HSBC’s full-year ear nings to a record,” Bloomberg News repor ted on Apri l 3 “T he bank’s shares are down 2.5 percent this year in Hong Kong. They gained 29.8 percent last year.”

Bloomberg News also reported that the UK lender has been selling businesses outside of Asia—recently concluding the sale of its Canadian business to the Royal Bank of Canada.

SSS offers loan to Filipinos in Taiwan

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

OVERSEAS Filipinos affected by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday will soon be eligible to avail of the calamity loan offered by the Social Security System (SSS).

The state-run pension fund said at a news briefing last T hursday that members of the SSS who are expats and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will soon be able to apply for a calamity loan.

SSS President and CEO Rolando

L. Macasaet said the loan the agency offers applies only to members affected by calamities that occurred in the Philippines.

“We don’t have calamity loans abroad; I think this is the first time,” Macasaet said.

Once approved, a qualified SSS member can borrow up to P20,000 (around NTD11,358.46).

According to Vice President of the Benef its Administration Div ision Joy A. Villacorta, about 10,000 SSS members are in Taiwan.

Under the SSS calamity loan as-

sistance program, members can avail of a loan amount equivalent to onemonth salar y credit computed based on their average salar y or the total amount of damages as certified by the member in the application form, whichever is lower

The calamity loan to be offered to Filipinos in Taiwan will mirror the existing loan program in the Philippines, including its repayment terms and interest rates.

Macasaet said the guidelines will be released on April 8, and that all loan applications will be processed online. He added he has already given instructions to immediately recommend to the Social Security Commission (SSC) that it should allow workers affected by the Taiwan earthquake to be able to avail of its financial assistance.

The SSS official assured that 99 percent of the SSC will support the SSS in this move.

“I’ve already asked the management to prepare a recommendation [and] I’ve already advised [Finance] Secretar y Ralph [G.] Recto,” Macasaet added.

Net income

THE pension f u nd i s expect i ng

its net income for 2024 to reac h over P100 bi ll ion on t he back of inc reased investments and member cont ribut ions as well as “massive” collection effor ts and prudent management.

Macasaet said there are currently 42 million members of SSS and about 20 million of them are paying members. SSS is targeting to have two million new members this year “I’ve given instructions that we increase the number of SSS members from one million to 1.5 million to at least two million a year to exceed the population growth of this countr y,” Macasaet noted. “Other wise, over time, [the] number of Filipinos having pensions will decrease.”

Last year the net income of SSS rose to P83.13 billion, higher by 62.8 percent of its target, as it recorded higher revenues than its expenses.

According to its 2023 unaudited financial statement, the P83.13 billion net income of SSS in 2023 surpassed the P52.60 billion net income recorded

THE Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB) and Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) become the latest addition to the Regional Payment Connectivity Initiative (RPC) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

In a joint statement, the RPC said BDCB signed the second supplemental pages of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in RPC (MOUCRPC) at the end of Februar y. T he BOL, meanwhi le, signed t he third supplemental pages of the MOUCRPC last Wednesday at the sidelines of the 11th Asean Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Gover nors’ Meeting in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.

“The inclusion of BDCB and BOL bring the RPC group to a total of eight Asean central banks. Pioneered by the central banks of Indonesia, Malaysia, Phi lippines, Singapore and T hai land in late 2022, later joined by Vietnam in August 2023 and now Brunei Darussalam and Lao PDR, the RPC initiative is expected to be extended to other Asean countries and beyond,” the RPC said.

The RPC statement indicated that

Hajah Rokiah binti Haji Badar, the Managing Director of BDCB, expressed her contentment for BDCB in becoming a signator y to the MOU RPC alongside Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Badar stated that the scope and areas of cooperation in the MOU RPC will be beneficial, particularly in advancing cross-border payment connectivity.

“This will ser ve as a means to facilitate further trade, investments and economic activities within the region and further foster close collaboration with fellow central banks,” Badar also said.

Bounleua X inxayvoravong, the Governor of BOL, has emphasized that the signing of the MOU RPC is a significant move toward enhancing future Asean regional cooperation.

“Faster and cheaper financial trans-

actions as well as a secure and seamless payment system infrastructure will support the expansion and sustainability of our economy,” X inxayvoravong said.

The joint statement explained that the RPC is an initiative that aims to promote, faster cheaper more transparent and more inclusive cross-border payments.

Since its inception in 2022, the RPC has strengthened the central banks’ ability to foster and accelerate the development of payment connectivity in the region through among others, quick response (QR) code-based payment and fast payment modalities.

The regional effort also allows participants to reap the benefits of crossborder economic activ ities, including prov id i ng small and med iu m-si zed enter prises access to the international market, easing of trade and facilitating worker remittance transactions.

Earlier the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona

Jr that said two years from now, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families may be able to enjoy a cheaper way to send and receive remittances.

This is thanks to the “Asean Nexus” platform that, according to Remolona, may be ready-for ser vice” by July 2026.

According to the BSP the platform will allow cross-border payments between and among countries with fastpayments systems—like the countr y’s InstaPay—for a fraction of the cost.

Remolona said, however, the platform’s reach will be limited to countries with fast-payment systems such as Asean members Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. Countries like India and Brazil, who also have fast payments systems, can be added to the platform. However coun-

heart and breathe easy. Leave nothing to chance or the imagination. Clarity will be the pivotal point in your life that motivates you to turn complicated matters into a simpler lifestyle with less drama. Trust your instincts, and come up with innovative plans that offer stability. Make health and meaningful relationships your focuses, and you’ll broaden the scope of what’s possible. Your numbers are 5, 14, 22, 28, 33, 42, 47.

Refuse to let anyone decide for you. Trust in your ability to notice what’s best for you. Put more faith in how you present yourself to the world and what you offer. Presentation and enthusiasm will put you ahead of the competition.

Call an expert and tie up loose ends. Get your facts straight before you make a move. Your confidence will change how others perceive you and how they are willing to put their faith in what you have to offer.

Rely on yourself, get your facts from the source and take precautions when injury, illness or loss are at stake. Hide your emotions when dealing with professional or money matters. Make decisions based on logistics.

Protect your health, reputation and position. Focus on learning, updating and expanding your goals. Your enthusiasm will lead to financial gains and opportunities to try something new and exciting.

Stay focused on your responsibilities, and apply what you know and can do to get things right the first time. Educate yourself, practice and prepare to outsmart anyone who tries to outsmart or outdo you. Apply pressure where necessary and strive for perfection.

Send positive vibes, and the changes you want will resonate with others. How accommodating you are will determine the outcome of a pending situation. A change of plans or location will give insight into alternatives you may want to consider.

Set the stage to impress those you want to accommodate, and everything will fall into place. Your innovative approach to life and maintaining a positive balance between work and play will revive your faith in your goals.

Get out, network, mingle and converse with people heading in a similar direction. Let your mind wander and implement lifestyle changes that appeal to you and will encourage better results professionally and socially. Embrace change.

Bypass anyone trying to slow you down. Refrain from letting confusion set in due to gossip or misinformation. Stay on top of the facts and act accordingly. Focus on truth, aligning yourself with the right people and putting your energy where it will do the most good.

Discipline will pay off; zero in on what’s essential and what will help you reach your objective. Be ready to initiate change when least expected, and you’ll open doors to help you surpass your goal. Listen to complaints when dealing with domestic matters and avoid the consequences.

A little pressure will pay off, but too much, and you’ll face setbacks. Communication will help clear up misunderstandings and help you find common ground when trying to reach a goal you share with someone close.

Show no fear, focus on your target and make changes to contribute to your sanity. It’s time to call the shots. Stop bending; head

Witness the birth of evil incarnate in

‘The First Omen,’ coming to PHL cinemas next week

First

stars Nell Tiger Free, Tawfee Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, with Charles Dance and Bill Nighy, and is directed by r asha Stevenson.

Set in 1971, the new Omen chapter, which serves as both a prequel and a standalone masterpiece, follows argaret, a young merican woman who is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church. There, she encounters a dar ness that causes her to question her own faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

Building upon the ominous legacy of the iconic Omen series, The First Omen transports moviegoers bac to the very beginning, exploring the roots of the petrifying prophecy that foretells the rise of the ntichrist.

The First Omen, acting as the prequel, now puts a spotlight on the mother of the ntichrist, a clear transition from the franchise’s previous focus on the ntichrist Damien. What mysteries will it inally put to end?

There are clear shi ts from the nown origins of Damien from The Omen (1976) as this time, the prequel shows the birth of the evil incarnate manifested through a human mother, instead of a ac al once nown as aria Scianna.

In the earlier movies, there was also little to no mention as to why and how the mother was chosen to birth Damien. Churning in more fear into the story, The First Omen will further shed light on the events of 1971 that brought forth the ntichrist through the eyes of the protagonist, argaret, a novitiate who was sent to Rome.

Witness the birth of evil as The First Omen opens in theaters nationwide on pril Follow 20th Century Studios on www.facebook. com/20thCenturyStudiosPH for more updates.

GMA Network’s top-rating flagship newscast 24 Oras marks a significant milestone in the broadcast industry as it celebrates its 20th year on Philippine television. Airing weeknights at 6:30 pm, 24 Oras is anchored by award-winning broadcast journalists Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Emil Sumangil. They are joined by segment hosts Iya Villana-Arellano (“Chika Minute”), Kuya Kim Atienza (“#KuyaKimAnoNa”) and Martin Javier (“Game Changer”), as well as the rest of the GMA Integrated News team which brings reports from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, plus other parts of the world.

In the past two decades, GMA Integrated News’s flagship newscast has shaped the news landscape of Philippine TV with its top-notch delivery of news and information to the public. It continues to provide the public with information and public service through its news reports, special features, and exclusive stories and interviews.

“As 24 Oras celebrates two decades of delivering the news with integrity and dedication, the men and women of GMA Integrated News remain steadfast and true to our mission and calling: ‘Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan.’ In the midst of the changing times, 24 Oras will continue to strive to be the ‘News Authority ng Filipino,’” says senior vice president for integrated news, tegional TV and synergy Oliver Victor B. Amoroso.

IN the beginning there is the institutional church; at the end, there is still that church. Within that church and without, there is the Filipino family, solid in the introduction but where its fate will go is never foretold.

he ilmma er, oselito ltare os, has given us a foretaste of where his art was going early this year when he released his Lihim ni Antonio. Instead of doing a new version, an uncut or a director s cut, ltare os opted to drain all the colors in that coming-of-age ilm for a boy who discovers too soon how gender exploration remains still a crime. endered in blac -and-white, the ilm with its gory murder scene assumes a tabloid truth, its neonoir loo ma ing that part where ntonio and his mother are arrested by the police less cinematic and more of an early evening brea ing news. agni icent how colors when removed reveal something more, concealing less as the actions are refocused by the new tints, the shadows con uring new spaces.

Then comes Guardia de Honor. The ilmic decision is to do it in blac -and-white. We are not privy to the reason and we need not belabor that, but we see the results: a gothic splendor unfolding bit by bit, moods a ter moods, a character and another character, in a series of mise-en-scene, some self-conscious enough to call attention to itself, many of sheer theatricality, and, overall, an atmosphere that is nothing but cinematic. It is as if ltare os is reminding himself of what live loom has said in his boo Gothic Histories: The Taste for Terror, 1764 to the Present: “a new sense of the imagination”

While the meticulous production design of ay ustodio is a ma or element in the overall impact of the ilm, there is something onscreen that has no material lin nor the sense of doom pervasive as the irst image lic ers before us has an internal logic. Things merely happen as all days do, ful illing again what Bloom has told us: this new imagination “was not merely a set of exterior devices… but a mechanism for describing not only the wor ings of the mind, but also the mind in relationship with the supernatural,

the universal and the divine.”

nd so it is that in that opening scene at the church, the sacrament of Baptism, the primary mediation between the sacred and the profane in a human s life, is presented but visuali ed irst as if a head has crac ed open and from it burst forth water, but a twist in the visual perspective reveals the head of an infant being ministered to by a priest. It is a disturbing act no less, a sense that continues until the irst social interaction ensues between a matriarch and the priest. The latter is trying to convince the old woman he would li e to accompany her but she, in a subtle move, brushes o f the priest s hand.

The next scene shows a car speeding o f away from the church into a home, but inside we already now what home they are going to. The unease continues well into the neighborhood, and to the living room. t dinner, commands are given by the matriarch, who has an edge to her voice, and a catch in the throat of her two children and one grandchild. We now something is o f but we do not now what it is.

During dinner, the eldest son mouths a slogan about how important the family is. He also declares his love for his mother. Why? Why say things that are given and natural? Is it because around that table or in that living room, those things never existed?

Or if they did, they already have been banished?

Dissipated?

ore strange things occur: music is played and they all dance. We have seen this in ltare os s other

LOOKING BACK TO kick off the newscast’s anniversary celebration, 24 Oras took viewers on a trip down memory lane on March 15, beginning with the program’s first broadcast airing date exactly 20 years ago. As one of the pioneer anchors, Mel shared how nervous she was when she found out she was to work with the late Mike Enriquez for the network’s flagship newscast. Both Mel and Mike were at the helm of two separate newscasts back then: Mel for Frontpage: Ulat ni Mel Tiangco and Mike for the late-night newscast Saksi

The idea to have Mel and Mike lead the flagship news program came from GMA

Network chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. Ako talaga ang nakaisip niyan. Sinuggest ko ’yun at sa awa ng Panginoon tinanggap naman ng manonood, nagustuhan. That’s one of the reasons why 24 Oras [became] No. 1,” says Gozon. The challenge of making this newscast work back then was enormous.

“Mike Enriquez na, Mel Tiangco pa. So kailangan tapatan natin ng sipag at ng husay sa pagbibigay ng content para sa mga kababayan natin dahil nandun na ’yung mga credible sa industriya,” admits GMA Integrated News assistant vice president of news cluster 1 Tonio Magsumbol. 24 Oras’ TV debut could not have come at a more crucial time in history. Twenty-twenty was

ilm, Memories of Forgetting where the dance brings bac memories. But in Guardia de Honor, the dance functions for the family to forget. What is it they see to forget? photo on the wall is that person the mother will later confront for abandoning them too soon. He is the absent patriarch, the missing partner in the dance. et, he will come bac to remind them they are of the family that revisits the past.

In gothic tales, the past is ever invasive. nd death is the companion to this past. In a screenplay that explores how the elite can hold on to traditions even if those beliefs include the power to ta e other people s lives, ltare os has le t the territories of sexuality to go into the other forbidden—the family as the basic unit of destruction. Guarding this tradition is a cast that honors restraint for that is the only defense of the characters they portray, their last remaining decency. Therese alvar is once more the most compelling young star of her generation, a daughter whose wound is never nown because the grandmother would rather tend to the obvious ulcers on her father’s stomach. Sunshine Cruz, to use a cliche, is a uiet revelation, as this long-su fering sister whose closeness to her brother hides more intimacies.

For the breadth of their role, llen Dizon has this unpredictability, which the ilm exudes. When the camera focuses on him, we sense danger but where it is coming from we do not now. Presiding this household is Laurice Guillen, as the feisty head of the family who listens to music as if anticipating always a disruption to the melody. She is scary because she has seen crimes from that home and she nows it is bound to happen again.

anuel T. Garcellano, who is also the colorist, has visualized for us dar ness and danger in a place we have always nown to be our safest zone—the home. Von de Guzman’s music is a bravura element of the ilm. The master narrator is also the editor and we wonder what experimentation in narrative shall ltare os venture into again.

The ilm is produced by DCC Productions with ole tib.

a year of significant transition in Philippines. Filipinos were going to elect their next set of leaders, beginning with the most important position of all—the presidency. The newscast stood its ground to be unbiased and nonpartisan since day one. “Kahit sino ang presidente objective tayo at neutral. Hindi naman tayo kumikiling kahit kanino at naiintindihan naman na kahit sino ang maging presidente, naiintindihan nila,” says Gozon. “Sapagkat ang balita kailangan credible lalong lalo na sa panahon ngayon napakaraming fake news. ’Yan ang ating trademark at ’yan ang ating mini-maintain. Totoo ’yan, hindi tagline lang,” he adds.

FORGING AHEAD

BEYOND news reporting, 24 Oras has been the Filipinos’ reliable source not just of news but also of hope and inspiration. It gives voice to those who demand and seek justice for various crimes, extends help to those who are in need, and gives viewers a platform where they can also help others. At the same time, it brings good vibes and entertainment through its various segments.

Hindi naman nagkakalayo ang mga nilalamang kuwento at balita ng mga daily news programs, pero bakit kaya mas-pinapanood ang 24 Oras?” muses Mel. “Sapagkat ang 24 Oras ang may puso. Tumitibok at nagmamahal sa kanyang mga tagatangkilik,” she adds. “24 Oras to me is more than just a news

program. It’s a commitment—and the past 20 years of showing up for super typhoons, political crises, attacks on press freedom, and even the darkest days of the global pandemic validate that,” shares Vicky.

Amid the changes and challenges in the TV news landscape, 24 Oras remains the Filipinos’ top choice of evening newscast, even taking over other programs in primetime.

It is the Philippines’

LALAMOVE, the leading on-demand delivery platform, strengthens its commitment to connecting and empowering communities, this time in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) by providing simple and affordable same-day delivery services within and outside the region.

According to Lalamove Philippines Managing Director Djon Nacario, the presence of Lalamove in the region, particularly for Baguio City and the whole of Benguet, will open doors for enabling the growth of the micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and offering flexible livelihood opportunities to aspiring Lalamove partner drivers.

With the recently launched Lalamove Partner Driver Center in the heart of Baguio City, residents looking to earn more extra income using their vehicles will be assisted to kick start their journey as partner drivers of the platform. Nacario emphasized that not only is Lalamove connecting partner drivers to the MSME community; they also have access to the array of Panalomove benefits, giving them more than earnings from orders.

Anchored on “simplified deliveries,” Nacario explained that the convenience and access to affordable same-day and long-distance delivery services from CAR to anywhere in Luzon is what

IN a strategic move towards fostering financial inclusion and improving the lives of Filipinos, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), through its social development arm, BPI Foundation (BPIF), has joined forces with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to unveil their groundbreaking Digital Financial

During

pilot run, which commenced in February, the program targeted beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). The initiative, an embodiment of BPI Foundation’s commitment to “Kasama Lahat sa Pag-Unlad,” aims to equip 4Ps beneficiaries with essential knowledge and skills related to budgeting, saving, investing, and fostering responsible financial behavior.

Lalamove aims to deliver to the communities in the region, especially to the residents of Baguio City.

“In just a few taps using the app, users no longer have to go out of the house to pick up or drop off their packages—whether for personal errands or business needs. Lalamove can do that for them. More than this, the app also functions as an accessible source of livelihood for those in need of jobs by joining the Lalamove partner driver community,” he remarked.

After recording a positive 11.3 percent economic growth in 2022, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin “Benjie” Magalong” has high hopes for the partnership with Lalamove, saying, “Together, let us build a brighter future for Baguio City, where innovation thrives, businesses flourish, and people prosper. May our partnership [with Lalamove] continue to thrive and grow over the years.”

In response to the task given to strengthen CAR’s agriculture sector since 2019, Magalong recently signed Resolution No. 685, series of 2023 as a commitment to helping local farmers of the country’s summer capital with a doable development plan.

As a nod to the Mayor’s pledge to further support the agricultural sector of Baguio City and CAR, Nacario emphasized, “More than a delivery platform connecting users and MSMEs with partner drivers, Lalamove will work hand-in-hand with Mayor Magalong to empower farmers and cooperatives through innovative logistics solutions, further paving the way for digital inclusion for the agricultural sector.” Magalong agreed, saying, “[This] will increase the city’s economic activity, providing entrepreneurs with more logistics and agricultural possibilities.”

as a narrative, a story of transformation.

During the sessions, participants enthusiastically exchanged insights on fundamental financial literacy. “I learned how to save and how to budget so that will be able to support and give my family a good future,” said a participant from Quezon City.

“I learned to control my spending and to be more responsible in many things. When I understood the concept of cash flow, even if I am always short on cash, I make sure that still have some money left so that I will have a better cash flow,” shared another participant from Bulan, Sorsogon.

Following this pilot phase, the program will undergo a thorough evaluation to assess its impact and gather feedback from participants. This evaluation phase is integral to refining the initiative before its full-scale rollout.

#3

organization

this also marks the third consecutive year that Hilton was ranked as the top hospitality company to work for in the list. The recognition, a result of Great Place to Work®’s annual workforce study in the country, evaluates metrics such as trust, the provision of opportunities for all employees to reach their full potential, as well as all employees’ daily experience of the company’s values.

“Nurturing an environment that empowers our Team Members across all backgrounds and roles to thrive both personally and professionally has always been a key priority at Hilton. Receiving this accolade for the third year running underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering a great workplace culture anchored on inclusion, wellness, growth and purpose. Our Team Members are the secret to our success, and we will continue to be committed to empower them to bring their best selves to work,” said Alexandra Murray, vice president, regional head of South East Asia.

To help Team Members realize the myriad of growth opportunities at Hilton and enable a best-in-class employee experience, Hilton’s initiatives include:

Thrive@Hilton, the company’s industry-leading program and employer proposition that provides meaningful opportunities for growth and personal development

Care for All, a new industry-leading mental wellness and caregiving initiative that provides the tools and resources for team members to care for themselves, as well asthose closest to them.

Hilton SEA Management Trainee program, that seeks to attract, retain, and nurture young talent across Hilton’s hotels in South East Asia, serving as a pipeline for the next generation of leaders in hospitality to grow and hone their leadership capabilities.

Women In Leadership (WIL) initiative, a newly launched initiative to help women leaders across South East Asia grow in both professional and personal capacities, through various learning and development programs such as workshops, eLearning, as well as mentoring and networking sessions.

Lead@Hilton, an industry-leading platform that offers a suite of learning resources on management and leadership, including virtual development programs created in partnership with Harvard. Careers@Hilton, to provide guidance and highlight opportunities for young people in the hospitality industry through annual awareness campaigns.

Go Hilton, the company’s popular team member travel program which offers discounted travel benefits.

GoFlexi!, a new flexible work initiative in South East Asia launched in response to the evolving nature of work and the diverse needs of Team Members to provide an accommodating work environment that values wellness, while enhancing employee engagement and overall productivity.

Beyond various initiatives for Team Members, Hilton also contributes to the growth of the hospitality industry in the Philippines. To build the next generation of hospitality leaders, Hilton properties in the Philippines have partnered with Punlaan School to offer scholarships and training programs for underprivileged young women passionate about growing a career in hospitality, while equipping them with life skills.

To determine the Philippine’s Best Workplaces™ 2024 List, Great Place To Work® analyzed confidential survey feedback from over 450,000 employees across different industries in the country through the Culture Management platform Emprising® and the Trust Index Survey™.

For more information about joining the Hilton team, visit jobs.hilton.com.

in a critical medical infrastructure—blood

facilities act as a lifeline, meticulously processing, testing, and separating the donated blood into components tailored to specific patient needs. Amidst the blood supply shortage in the country, this preparation ensures a constant supply ready to meet the demands of emergencies and complex medical procedures.

In championing the nation’s well-being, SM Foundation (SMFI) plays a significant role. Collaborating with various partners, they organize blood donation drives across SM malls and offices.

Under Republic Act 11310, the 4Ps program plays a pivotal role in supporting Filipino families through conditional cash transfers to enhance their access to health, nutrition, and education. However, recognizing the need for sustained financial wellbeing, the Digital Financial Literacy initiative comes as additional support beyond the program’s duration. Financial education, as emphasized in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) National Strategy for Financial Inclusion, is seen as essential for empowering individuals to efficiently access and utilize financial products and services.

The pilot run of the Digital Financial Literacy program unfolded over one week in households located in Quezon City; Cagayan de Oro City; Guiuan, Eastern Samar; Bulan, Sorsogon; Iloilo City; and Esperanza, Agusan del Sur. The program is designed not merely as a post-event report but

Carmina Marquez, BPIF Executive Director, emphasized the transformative power of education, stating, “Through our partnership with DSWD, we aim to empower families with the essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage their finances and make informed financial decisions that will lead to long-term economic stability. This forms part of BPI’s vision to help build a better Philippines—one family, one community at a time.”

Every single blood bag drawn from SM customers and employee donors holds the potential to be a lifesaver, or even save multiple lives.

While the bags of blood collected during these drives are stored for use by SM employees and their dependents during emergencies, non-employees can also avail of these upon the request and recommendation of SM employees and depending on the availability of the required blood.

Once a beneficiary, now a donor

A REGULAR donor in SM Foundation’s blood donation drive is the family of Eleanor Bolaños of Pasay City, who once benefited from a blood donation provided by the Foundation.

On Good Friday 2023, Eleanor was scalded with boiling water while cooking at home. Rushed to the Philippine General Hospital, she received treatment for first-degree burns. However, the hospital informed her family that she would require

“Financial digital literacy plays an important role in helping 4Ps beneficiaries improve their lives, offering them the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the modern financial landscape with confidence. As we strive to empower these individuals and families towards greater financial stability, we are grateful for the support of the private sector such as BPI who complemented the DSWD’s efforts in providing accessible digital financial education, resources, and services tailored to the needs of 4Ps beneficiaries”, said Vilma B. Cabrera, Undersecretary for National Household Targeting System and 4Ps.

This collaborative initiative by the DSWD and BPI sets the stage for a brighter future for 4Ps beneficiaries and their families, offering support to more Filipinos in their journey towards attaining financial stability. The story of empowerment is just beginning, as the program looks forward to making a lasting impact on the lives of countless Filipinos across the nation.

a blood transfusion. Since it was Good Friday, they turned to their neighbor for help, who promptly contacted SMFI despite it being a holiday.

With the help of the blood transfused to her, she is back to work. The scars from her ordeal serve as a constant reminder for her to actively support blood donation drives whenever possible.

Blood transfusion’s life-saving impact

BLOOD transfusion proved to be a lifesaving measure in the battle against Covid-19 for Ma. Cecilia “Gin” Navarro. Her encounter with the deadly Delta strain of the virus inspired her to be a staunch advocate of blood donation.

Struggling to breathe and facing hospital bed shortages, her family found a lifeline at Marikina Medical Center. But a new hurdle emerged–a critical need for rare B+ blood plasma, which had been depleted due to the pandemic.

In a bid to fight for their loved one, Gin’s

POWER INVENTION Joel Catalbas (extreme right), inventor and developer of Gasification Technology that produces electricity using rice hulls as fuel, shows to Ramon Uy, an inventor himself who supported the project’s development, his creation in Bacolod City in the company of Electrical Engineers Arsenio Rodriquez and Henry Ortaliz. Catalbas’ invention can be used to support the operation of Pandayan ng Bayan para sa Bagong Magsasaka (a small fabrication shop) to be set up in the rural areas soon to cater and service existing agricultural equipment programs by the government in a bid to spark the manufacture of small agricultural machinery, to fabricate farm tools, and to help provide rural electrification. The new technology can also trigger the mini rural industrialization in the countryside in a bid to create more jobs

Now deeply grateful for her second chance, Gin actively encourages her colleagues to participate in blood drives near their office at the Mall of Asia, ensuring others have the chance to fight for their own second chance.

Sharing the stories of Eleanor and Gin are retired journalist Catalino Makabenta and SM Mart employee Analyn Miguel.

Catalino urgently needed blood for his upcoming colon cancer surgery. He received blood bags, which were crucial for his successful operation. Meanwhile, Analyn’s mother-in-law, battling liver cirrhosis from an autoimmune disease, urgently needed a blood transfusion. Her tireless hunt for blood ended when she learned about the SM Foundation’s assistance.

husband reached out to SM Foundation. The foundation assisted in locating and delivering the necessary blood type. In no time, Gin received the life-saving transfusion.

Analyn remains grateful for the help extended by SM through the blood donation. “Malaking tulong po itong programang ito ng SM Foundation para madugtungan po ang buhay ng mga nangangailangan,” she said.

To learn more about SM Group’s blood donation drives, visit www.sm-foundation.org AT a

ISUZU Motors Limited (IML) has recently debuted the D-MAX BEV concept at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show (BIMS).

4x4 powertrain. The two electric motors have a combined power of 174 horsepower (130 kW). The front motor generates 40 kW while the rear does 90 kW. The total combined torque is 325 N-m, with the front motor generating 108 N-m while the rear dishes out 217 N-m. Maximum speed is over 130km/ h, and the primar y source of power is a 66.9 kW h Lithium-ion batter y. As for the maximum payload, it is 1,000kg w ith 3.5 tons maximum towing capacity.

Light-duty truck “ELF” EV MEANWHILE, anot her BEV model on d isplay was t he ELF EV. Isu zu int roduced t he all-elect ric ELF to f u lf i l t he d iverse needs of c ustomers a rou nd t he world towa rd a ca rbon-neut ral soc iety. Ut i l i zing t he I-MACS (Isu zu Modu la r A rc hitect ure and Component Standa rd), an ISUZU product development platfor m, allows Isu zu to offer models w it h va rious power source opt ions so t h at c ustomers can h ave t heir f reedom of c hoice. For t he BEV models, Isu zu sh a res as many operat ional components and layouts as possible w it h d iesel models to p r ov i de compat i b i l ity

Isuzu claims that the full-time 4WD system with newly developed e-Axles in front and rear offers excellent performance on rough roads and a linear acceleration feel characteristic of BEVs—all while minimizing noise and vibration. Furthermore, high towing capacity is ensured by adopting high-power electric motors along with a robust frame and body design, allowing the D-MAX BEV to perform just as well as existing diesel models. Keenly aware that customers use pickup trucks for various applications, D-MAX BEV offers an alternative power source. Isuzu is committed to the realization of a carbon-neutral (CN) world, striving to enrich people’s lives through the development of CN vehicles.

RICKY VARGAS welcomed the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upholding the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to formally de-recognize the International Boxing Association (IBA), in effect cutting it out of the Olympic movement altogether.

“The CAS and IOC have spoken—a new international federation that conforms to the ideals and goals of IOC is needed to fill the void and make sure boxing remains with the Olympics from Paris onward,” said Vargas, chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines and a member of the WB’s Executive Board.

Vargas quoted a statement from the WB: “World Boxing [WB] welcomes the decision by CAS to revoke the recognition of the IBA and the subsequent comments made by the IOC stating that it wishes to work with a new International Federation.”

“This is the last remaining hope for the sport to maintain its Olympic status beyond Paris 2024. There is no alternative,” the WB statement added.

Vargas is encouraging other national federations to register with WB to which ABAP has aligned with from the start.

“The ABAP has foreseen this development and firmly believes in the capability and integrity of World Boxing to accomplish the task of running international boxing according to IOC standards— competently, fairly and inclusively,” Vargas said.

“A rare opportunity to put order back in chaos has been presented,” he said. “All national boxing federations ought to seize the moment.”

Reports said IBA may be mulling to elevate the issue to the Swiss Federal Tribunal.

IOC in search of suitable new body for boxing

LAUSANNE—The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday said it needs to find a suitable new international boxing body by early next year or else risk boxing dropping out of the Olympics for the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

The IOC stripped the International Boxing Association (IBA) of the right to run the Olympic boxing tournaments in Tokyo in 2021 and Paris this year.

On Tuesday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upheld the IOC’s decision to formally derecognize the IBA, in effect cutting it out of the Olympic movement altogether.

The IOC has long cited concerns about the IBA’s governance and the integrity of how boxing matches are refereed and judged. Last year, it also accused the IBA’s Russian president Umar Kremlev of using “violent and threatening language” about IOC personnel.

“Because of the universality and high social inclusivity of boxing, the IOC wants it to continue to feature on the program of the Olympic Games,” the IOC said Wednesday.

“Unfortunately, this is far from certain for the Olympic Games LA 2028 because, for governance reasons, the IOC is not in a position to organize another Olympic boxing tournament. To keep boxing on the Olympic program, the IOC needs a recognized and reliable International Federation as a partner, as with all the other Olympic sports.”

The IOC called on national boxing

By Aldrin Quinto

CHD, Julius can now go on a honeymoon...for real

class in Rio de Janeiro 2016.

HIDILYN DIAZNARANJO won’t be going to Paris for what could have been her fifth straight Olympics.

But the country’s first Olympic gold medalist at women’s 56 kgs of weightlifting in Tokyo 2020 has resigned herself to being a wife to husband and coach Julius.

To fulfill those roles, the pride of Mampang in Zamboanga City and Julius Naranjo went on a honeymoon in Phuket the morning after her botched bid at 59 kgs at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Cup in Phuket.

“What I would do now is take a good rest and think about the priorities in my life,” Diaz-Naranjo, who’s now 33 years old, told the IWF website. “It wasn’t my day, Paris wasn’t meant to be.”

Diaz-Naranjo first broke into the Olympics as an innocent 17-year-old windcard in Beijing 2008, returned to London 2012 where she crashed out without a legitimate lift but claimed a silver medal in the -53 kgs

bodies and Olympic committees to help set up a new international governing body for boxing. To keep boxing in the Olympics for Los Angeles, “the IOC needs to have a partner International Federation for boxing by early 2025,” it said.

The IOC didn’t name any candidates but the likeliest might be World Boxing, a breakaway body backed by boxing officials in the United States and Britain which split from the IBA last year and elected its own president, Boris van der Vorst of the Netherlands.

World Boxing has started hosting its own tournaments and said it had members from 27 nations and territories when it held a congress in November. In response to the IOC statement, World Boxing said it was “the last remaining hope” for boxing at the Olympics.

“This is an urgent situation and the clock is ticking,” World Boxing said Wednesday and called for more national boxing bodies to join its movement. “We urge every one of them that cares about boxers and the future of the sport to apply to join and support World Boxing in its efforts to ensure boxing remains at the heart of the Olympic Movement, before it is too late.”

The IBA said Wednesday it was considering whether to file an appeal to the Swiss supreme court against the CAS ruling, which it said had failed to appreciate the IBA’s own reforms.

“The IBA feels that disregarding these and other improvements suggests a biased view,” the IBA said. AP

ITY of Santa Rosa—The Philippines dished out a triple treat in the opener of the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Thursday.

The Ran Abdilla-AJ Pareja and James Buytrago-Rancel Varga men’s tandem and the women’s pair of Gen Eslapor and Kly Orillaneda delivered big victories at the worldclass Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land that’s hosting its second major international tournament in five months.

Abdilla and Pareja were first on the showcourt and did not disappoint by holding off Australia’s Potts D’Artagnan and Ben Hood, 21-17, 21-19.

Abdilla and Pareja overcame a tense moment in the second set when the Australians erased a three-point deficit to tie it at 15. But the Pinoy spikers, paired only two months ago, held their nerve to complete the straight-sets win.

“This is a huge confidence booster, it’s our first time pairing up. This gives us the confidence that we have what it takes,” the 6-foot-4 Pareja said.

Abdilla said they were never rattled.

“One point at a time. The important thing is when they score, we’re able to rally back,” said the 31-year-old Abdilla.

Buytrago said familiarity with Varga, an old pal from Cebu but a rival in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, was key as they cruised past an Indonesian squad they had not seen before.

They registered a 21-11, 21-9 drubbing of Yogi Hermawan and Ketut Ardana also at center court.

“We can’t take anyone lightly.

We

don’t know them but we know that Indonesia has a good program,” said Buytrago, a former National University Bulldog and Varga saw action for the University of Santo Tomas Tigers.

“We strike when given the opportunity,” Buytrago added.

In the year-delayed Tokyo Games, she had fire in her eyes and packed a three-Olympic experience to end the country’s gold medal-bid in the Games at -56 kgs.

However, that weight class was scratched from the Paris program and she could only wind up 11th in the world rankings—a rung outside the magic 10.

She lifted 99 kgs in snatch and 123 kgs in clean and jerk for a 222kg total, 26 kgs under Phuket gold medalist Luo Shifang, the Chinese world and Olympic champion. Erleen Ando, who got Olympic experience in Tokyo, hitched a ticket to Paris by lifting 228 kgs to be safely tucked at No. 7 in the world.

“I love this sport, I don’t want to stop, but what can I do now,” DiazNaranjo also told IWF News. Philippine Olympic Committee

(POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, her No. 1 cheerer in Tokyo, gave Diaz-Naranjo a tap on her back.

“Given the new weight class and the strong oppositions in -59 kgs, let’s give Hidilyn a big respect as the Philippines’ first ever gold medalist in the Olympics,” Tolentino said. “We will always be proud of her whatever happens.”

“But overall, I’m happy. I have given a lot to this sport, and it has given a lot to me,” said Diaz-Naranjo who was having a fun time in Kathu on Thursday morning.

“We gave it our best,” Julius Naranjo said. “Hidilyn is still a legend.”

Ando vows to do best in Paris

ELREEN ANN ANDO’S now marked for Paris after earning her second trip to the Olympics by winding up as the world’s No. 7 in women’s -59 kgs.

“I’m really motivated and so inspired to punch a ticket to Paris,” Ando told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “I finally did.”

Ando thanked her coach, Christopher Bureros, for helping her, as well as fellow Cebuano John Febuar Ceniza, who’s also competing in Paris in the men’s 61 kgs division as the world’s fourth-ranked athlete.

Ando’s back on the Olympic stage where she hopes to improve on her eighth-place finish in Tokyo.

A medal perhaps?

“Any medal, any color, that’s my very target in Paris and I believe it’s doable,” she said. “Gold? Let’s see.

Ando expects Paris to be that tough though.

“I don’t want to speak about my game plan, but anything can still happen in the Olympics,” she said. “I’ll do my best to surpass my numbers, nothing is impossible.”

Ando thanked Diaz-Naranjo for providing her inspiration.

“Hidilyn is my inspiration and motivation,” Ando, 25, said. “I was touched when she approached and hugged me after the event.”

The Olympics July 26 to August 11 with the IWF making an official announcement on who are qualified for Paris on April 18. Josef Ramos

Eslapor and Orillaneda made it a triple for the Philippines after dispatching Cecilia Huichin Soh and Tin Wing Chan of Singapore, 21-9, 21-15.

Abdilla and Pareja’s fine start also relieved some of the pressure for old friends Varga and Buytrago, who pounced on the Indonesians for the quick win in the first session of the tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation led by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

“Their win [Pareja-Abdilla] was a huge boost in confidence for us,” Varga said.

Alexa Polidario and Jenny Gaviola, however, bowed to Australia’s Tara Phillips and Elizabeth Alchin.

Paul Burnett and Jack Pearse of Australia defeated New Zealand’s Juraj Krajci and James Sadlier, 21-11, 21-15, in the event backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live.

Thailand’s Surin Jongklang and Dunwinit Kaewsai downed Malaysia’s Kaixu Looi and Weichun Ler, 21-12, 21-15, while China’s Li Zhuoxin and Liu Chuanyong scored a 21-18, 21-11 victory over Singapore’s Eng Cheng

Feng Renfred and Ranjiv Sasikumar.

Iran’s Abdolhamed Mirzaali and Abolhassan Khakizadeh beat Dmitriy Yakovlev and Sergey Bogatu, 21-13, 19-21, 17-15.

In other women’s matches, Thailand’s P. Woranatchayakorn and P. Charanrutwadee eased past Macau’s Leong Onieng and Law Wengsam, 21-14, 26-24, while Japan’s Suzuka Hashimoto and Reika Murakami overpowered

Eliza Chong and Huiying Ang of Singapore, 21-10, 21-12.

New Zealand’s Danielle Quigley and Olivia Macdonald thrashed

Malaysia’s Mashitah Muhamad Nasir and Auni Shamsulrizal, 21-9, 21-10, while Japan’s Asami Shiba and Saki

Maruyama defeated Kazakhstan’s Anastassiya Ukolova and Mariya Peressetskaya, 21-8, 21-17.

The PNVF will also host in Nuvali the Volleyball World Beach Pro TourFutures from April 11 to 14 and after that the Volleyball Nations League Men’s Week 3 from June 18 to 23.