BusinessMirror April 08, 2024

PSA cuts 2023 growth estimate to 5.5%; Q4 to 5.5%

THE faster increase in the prices in the overall economy, not just those experienced by households, led to the latest downward revision of the country’s economic growth in 2023.

T he Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said fourth quarter growth in 2023 was slower at 5.5 percent from the initial estimate of 5.6.

A s a result, the country’s full-year 2023 GDP growth was also revised downward to 5.5 percent, also lower than the initial estimate of 5.6 percent.

O n the sidelines of a recent briefing, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa told BusinessMirror that the “reason there [is that the] price, [the] implicit

THE country’s dollar reserves posted a threeyear high in the period ending in March 2024 on the back of higher foreign exchange and investments, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

E.O.

price index, is like a proxy for prices in the overall economy. This inflation is [consumer-led], consumed by households. The prices in the overall economy [which is proxied by the implicit price index], that’s the one with a big effect.” Mapa said the initial estimate for prices in the overall economy was at 4.5 percent. But additional data that were not included in this computation, and subsequently increased the estimate to 4.6 percent, leading to a slower GDP growth.

T his was especially observed in the estimate of constant GDP data. Mapa said in current terms, which is not adjusted for inflation, the country’s GDP value increased. In constant GDP terms,

which is compared to the 2018 base year to adjust for inflation, the data showed a lower figure.

B ased on PSA data, this estimate is now at P7.05 trillion in the fourth quarter and P24.319 trillion in the full year of 2023.

Initially, the PSA estimated the country’s GDP in current terms at a lower P7.051 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2023 but in the whole year of last year, GDP in current terms was higher at P24.319 trillion. Data showed that in constant terms, in the last quarter of 2023 it was at P5.885 trillion while full year was at P21.052 trillion.

I nitially, the estimate for GDP in constant terms was at P5.886 trillion in the fourth quarter and P21.054 trillion in the full year of 2023.

Nonetheless, last year still marked milestones for the economy. It was the first year that the country’s constant GDP value breached the P20-trillion mark, the first time since the earliest full year GDP growth of P447.43 million estimate for 1946.

B ased on the data of PSA, it is also the first time for the country to record a constant GDP value of above P5 trillion in the second and third quarters in any year since quarterly GDP data was estimated in 1981.  Cai U. Ordinario

Communications Technology (DICT).

T his move is part of the government’s overarching strategy to fortify the security and resilience of the nation’s cyberspace.

I n the two-page EO 58, President Marcos emphasized that bolstering the security and resilience of the Philippine cyberspace is a pivotal component in ensuring safety and security across cyber and physical domains as outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. The NCSP 2023-2028 is hereby adopted as the whole-

of-nation roadmap for the integrated development and strategic direction of the country’s cybersecurity,” stated EO 58, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin on April 4. P ursuant to Section 15 of Republic Act 10844, also known as the DICT Act of 2015, the DICT has crafted the NCSP 20232028 to delineate the nation’s policy trajectory and furnish operational guidelines aimed at establishing a trusted, secure, and resilient cyberspace for all Filipinos. Under EO 58, all concerned national government agencies, instrumentalities, and local government units (LGUs) are directed to support and cooperate towards the successful implementation of the NCSP 2023-2028 while the DICT is

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

SUBSIDIES extended by the national government to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) in February 2024 increased by one-third compared to the same month a year ago, mitigating the effects of El Niño on agricultural products.

Subsidies given to state-run corporations rose by 35.25 percent to P12.715 billion in February this year from P9.401 billion in the same month in 2023. This was the highest among the funds released in February to GOCCs, based on Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data.

For the first two months of the year, the government has disbursed the same amount this year in GOCC subsidies since there were no subsidies released in January.

Broken down, the bulk of the subsidies for February, or P9.781 billion (76.92 percent), went to major nonfinancial government

corporations, up by 30.45 percent or P2.283 billion from the previous year’s P7.498 billion.

Subsidies worth P2.822 billion or 22.19 percent went to other government corporations—also an expansion, by 60.43 percent or P1.063 billion from 2023’s P1.759 billion.

T he remaining 0.89 percent or P112 million of the subsidies were disbursed to the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation (NHMFC), the only agency under the government financial institutions given budgetary support.

T he National Irrigation Administration (NIA) obtained the bulk of the amount, getting P7.093 billion or 55.78 percent of the total subsidies disbursed in February to address the ongoing El Niño’s effects.

H igher food prices drove the inflation rate to increase in March at 3.7 percent.

BEHIND THE MASK:

CLIMATE CRISIS CHRONICLES The scene at Sol y Mar Iloilo Family Beach Resort in Tigbauan, Iloilo, depicts a dried-up pond with dead fish, creating a stark contrast against the resort’s vibrant features such as the man-made lagoon and cogon-thatched cottages. This image reflects the impact of the scorching sun on the environment. Amid this contrast, the resort’s serene ambiance, filled with the chirping of birds and rustling of pine trees, mercifully still provides visitors some refuge from a cruel season. BERNARD TESTA

Nancy urges PRA anew: Be careful on retiree visa grants

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

ALAWMAKER has sounded the alarm on  the continued proliferation of special retirement visas held by Chinese nationals engaged in illicit activities in the country.

S enator Nancy Binay on Sunday renewed her call to the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) to tighten its screening process for special resident retiree visas (SRRV), in the light of the recent arrest of four Chinese nationals, who have been using Philippine passports and SRRVs in their illegal business.

T his so-called “Chinese mafia” was allegedly distributing fraudulently acquired Philippine-government identification cards and passports, questionable SRRVs, documents, among

others to unwanted foreign nationals and victims of human trafficking.

I n a news statement, the lawmaker said, “We’ve pointed out several times that there are Pogo [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators] workers who happen to be SRRV holders. But what’s more alarming is that these four Chinese nationals who were recently arrested, owned retiree visas in the Philippines.”

S he added, “The growing number of interceptions of Chinese nationals presenting authentic government-issued

Philippine documents identifying them as Filipino traders or retirees has now become a national security concern. What is the monitoring mechanism of PRA to check if these ‘retirees’, together with those who pose as ‘investor-class immigrants’ are really legit?”

Binay pointed out that the issuance and renewal of SRRVs have long been exploited, adding that Chinese syndicates have likely connived, maintained ties, and established networks within the government bureaucracy.

D ata provided by the PRA showed  77,481 foreign retirees in the Philippines, of whom mainland Chinese accounted for the largest number at 29,3356; followed by South Koreans at 14,801; Indians at 6,688; Americans at 5,254; Taiwanese at 5,128; Japanese at 4,250; Hong Kong Chinese at 1,748; British at 1,585; German at 955; Australian at 927; and other nationalities at 6,789.

S he added, “Visa fraud and fake identities adversely impact national security. What’s largely alarming is the PRA policy of allowing Chinese SRRV applicants who are 35 years old, which can be categorized as ‘soldier’s age.’

T here should be security measures against this and PRA should tighten the vetting process for visa applications, regardless of

nationality.” I n late 2020, the PRA had actually raised the minimum age of foreign retirees to 50 year old after lawmakers, including Binay, found out that mainland Chinese retirees in the country were only 35 years old and could be working against Philippine interests, in the light of the continuing diplomatic issues between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea. N ewly appointed PRA general manager and CEO Roberto Zozobrado has said he planned to lower the minimum age for SRRV applications, but also tighten the security background checks for applicants. (See “PRA chief seeks to lower minimum age of retirement for foreign retirees,” in the BusinessMirror , February 19, 2024.)

Binay urged a whole-of-government approach was necessary to identify syndicates issuing fraudulently acquired government IDs including visas and passports, and tougher action against foreign nationals conducting illegal activities in the Philippines. “ It’s disturbing since these foreign nationals enter and exit the country using valid documents that we know were obtained through illicit ways. We expect NICA [National Intelligence Coordinating Agency] to help assess the scale of fraud perpetrated by these syndicates, and check the addresses and contact numbers provided in their ‘valid documents.”

A ccording to the Bureau of Immigration, the four Chinese nationals allegedly behind the proliferation of fraudulently acquired Philippine governmentissued IDs and documents were arrested in Puerto Princesa last March 19, after months of being monitored by government intelligence and law enforcement agencies. (See, “BI: Chinese mafia behind fake gov’t IDs, documents,” in the BusinessMirror , April 2, 2024.)

E arlier, Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert “Ace” Barbers warned about the Chinese mafia which was able to distribute legitimate Philippine documents to foreign nationals to pose Filipino businessmen but were engaged in the importation of illegal drugs.

Separately, in March 2022, Carlo Ponti Zialcita, then officer-incharge of the PRA official ClarkSubic satellite, was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation for issuing fake SRRVs to unsuspecting foreign nationals.

EO...

Continued from A1

ordered to adopt a system for the effective implementation, monitoring, and review of the plan.

It added that the DICT, in cooperation with the private sector, shall provide technical assistance to other government agencies and offices relative to the implementation of the NCSP 2023-2028, as may be necessary.

T he DICT is also directed to submit to the President a biannual report on the status and progress of the implementation of the NCSP 2023-2028 through the Office of the Executive Secretary and the National Cybersecurity Inter-Agency Committee (NCIAC).

EO 58 will take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette, or a newspaper of general circulation.  Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

GIR...

upward valuation adjustments in the value of the BSP’s gold holdings due to the increase in the price of gold in the international market, and net income from the BSP’s investments abroad,” BSP said.

B ased on the data, foreign investments amounted to $87.91 billion at the end of March 2024. This was also the highest in three years or since the $91.62 billion posted at the end of December 2021.

T he data also showed the country’s foreign exchange holdings amounted to $1.07 billion at the end of March 2024. This increased from the $677.8 million at the end of February 2024.

T he value of BSP’s gold holdings reached $10.53 billion at the end of March 2024. This was the highest since the $10.56 billion posted at the end of December 2023.

[The] biggest month-onmonth increases in GIR components: Foreign investments $1.462 billion or 1.7 percent; foreign exchange holdings $394 million or 58 percent; gold holdings $194 million or 2.9 percent, amid the 9 percent

month-on-month increase in global world gold prices, which posted new record highs recently,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said.

“ The national government’s planned global/ROP bonds as early as the second quarter 2024 would also be added to the country’s balance of payments [BOP] and GIR data,” he added.

B SP said the latest GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.7 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

T he BSP said the net international reserves, which refers to the difference between the BSP’s reserve assets or GIR and reserve liabilities, increased by $1.8 billion to $103.8 billion as of end-March 2024 from the end-February 2024 level of $102.0 billion.

T hese reserve liabilities consist of short-term foreign debt and credit and loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Meanwhile, rice inflation accelerated to 24.4 percent, the highest since the 24.6 percent posted in February 2009.  (See: https:// businessmirror .com. ph/2024/04/06/rice-pricessurging-as-inflation-hits-3-7/).

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the government is monitoring the effects of El Niño on vulnerable sectors and laid out the government’s interventions to mitigate inflation.  (See: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/04/06/ govt-tracks-el-nino-impact-onvulnerable-sectors-as-marchinflation-hits-3-7/).

A mong these is the NIA’s expansion of the distribution of solar-powered irrigation systems to major rice-producing areas to provide stable irrigation, ensure sufficient water supply, and support farmers during the drought season.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) was the second top recipient of government subsidies in February at P2.250 billion, which significantly increased by 253.22 percent or P1.613 billion from the P637 billion it allocated in February last year.

Yamsuan agreed with investment analysts and economists who have recommended turning to Japan for the financing of big-ticket infrastructure projects that were delayed as a result of the government’s move to scrap China as a funding source.  P ortions of the South Long Haul project could be funded by Official Development Assistance (ODA) from Japan, and the other parts through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode, Yamsuan said.

I nvestment analyst Terry Ridon of the think tank InfraWatch PH suggested that in funding the Philippines’s stalled infrastructure projects, the Marcos Jr. administration should tap Japan, which remains the Philippines’ top development partner.

C alixto Chikiamco, president of the Foundation for Economic Freedom (FEF), and Leonardo Lanzona, who teaches economics at the Ateneo de Manila University, also said the government should consider Japan as a source of financing

A mong the other recipients of large amounts of subsidies in February were the Social Housing Finance Corporation with P667 million, the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) with P303 million, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) with P284 million, and Small Business Corporation (SBC) with P250 million, among others.

M eanwhile, the smallest subsidies went to the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED) and the Philippine Tax Academy (PTA) amounting to P5 million each, and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APEZFA) with P8 million.

T he national government provides subsidies to state-run firms to fund operations not covered by corporate revenues or to finance specific programs or projects.

A fter recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, the national government’s subsidies given to state-run corporations plunged to P163.535 billion in 2023, dropping by 18.39 percent or P36.875 billion from P200.410 billion in 2022.

for its big-ticket projects. I n a privilege speech last year, Yamsuan called on his colleagues in Congress to support the reconstruction of the Bicol Express rail line, as a testament to their commitment to championing development strategies that widen access to opportunities and resources for all Filipinos.

Yamsuan said “the renaissance of the Bicol Express Line,” which the Philippine National Railways (PNR) used to operate from Manila to Albay, “will serve not only as an economic driver but as a powerful engine that would bridge communities and realize dreams while safeguarding the heritage of the Bicolanos.”

H e said reviving the Bicol Express would provide commuters with a fast, safe, affordable, and comfortable mode of transport going to and from Bicol; accelerate economic growth and create more jobs and livelihood opportunities in the region; boost tourism; and reduce the country’s carbon footprint.

Govt to cancel unused water rights–DENR

TBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE government is cancelling 3,000 unused water rights to allow other entities in several areas across the country to apply for it, according to an official of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“Water rights we provide them to all the users. Kasi government owns the water, we provide the right to use the water. There are many water rights grantees that do not use [what] was granted to them,” DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David told reporters on the sidelines of the Israel Water Technologies Roadshow to the Philippines last week.

The DENR official said the agency cancels these rights which were granted to both private and government entities to open again the use of the natural resource across the country. “Because you can’t apply for a right when someone has it.”

Meanwhile, David said that beyond water,

the natural resources of the country, such as its forest lands should be utilized.

Ang marching order sa akin ay open all the resources for partnership, mostly for PPP [public-private partnership]. And make sure that if it results to economic development of the country and community progress, whoever is on the ground has to also benefit from it... Ang daming resources nun.”

During the same interview, David said the DENR will consolidate all of the 18 dams in Cavite for the Cavite-wide Bulk Water Supply Project contract.

“So what we will do is consolidate all the dams and then only have one supplier for the whole province. That’s the Cavite Bulk project,” said the DENR official, adding that they have assigned the rights to the province of Cavite and “they will do the PPP for it.”

Currently, David said the country has two provincial-wide supply of water—one in Metro Manila and the other one is the Bulacan Bulk project. This Cavite bulk project, he added, will

augment the water supply in Cavite by 30 percent, adding that this province which has a population of four million, has a water supply shortfall.

“Yung consolidation ang iniiwasan ‘yung maiwan ‘yung maliliit na towns ng Cavite.

So this one you have to take the whole of Cavite. Some of the areas are highly financially viable but you will have to supply also the smaller towns. So that’s the purpose of consolidation,” he said.

Meanwhile, David said the DENR opened 247 opportunities for investments.

After a series of investment forums, he divulged, “I am now in receipt of more than 80 proposals… 88 ang last count ko but they come in pa.”

These proposals come from the biggest companies locally, and they come in the form of a letter of interest, added David. He noted that some of these proposals are bulk water supply projects while some are for hydropower. In Cavite alone, the investment cost could amount to P15 billion.

DOTr: Upgrades won’t interrupt Naia operations

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured the public that despite ongoing electrical upgrades at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3, operations will proceed without disruption.

In a statement, Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) General Manager Eric Ines said the maintenance activities—scheduled from April 2 to May 28—are “carefully planned” to minimize inconvenience to passengers and airlines, particularly during peak hours.

“The electrical upgrade activities from April 2 to May 28, 2024, shall not in any way impede the processing of passengers and baggage and shall have no disruptive effect on flight operations. There will be light and air conditioning in major parts of the Terminal building during the day,” he said.

The upgrade primarily involves replacing components of the medium circuit breakers across eight different electrical substations within Naia Terminal 3. To minimize disruption, the maintenance schedule has been timed after the last flight and away from peak operational hours. Maintenance activities will be confined to a window

between 12:01 a.m. to 3 a.m. and are expected to last from as short as 15 minutes to a maximum of three hours.

Areas affected by the upgrades include the south side of the Terminal, where passengers may experience reduced lighting and air conditioning in hallways, lobbies, staircases, certain offices, and parking facilities.

Elevators and escalators on this side may also be temporarily unavailable during maintenance hours.

However, Ines reassured the public that all Terminal 3 generators are on standby to address any contingencies that may arise during the maintenance period.

The announcement comes amid concerns regarding potential disruptions to travel plans due to the planned power outages.

The Naia has had multiple power-related issues that had flights cancelled, delayed, and passengers stranded at its terminal in significant holidays, Labor Day and New Year’s Day.

These issues primarily revolved around the “loss of power in the system due to a problem in the system’s electrical network, with its uninterruptible power supply also failing.”

An audit has already been conducted and the airport’s new operator, the San Miguel Corp.-led consortium vowed to address these issues once it takes over the gateway in the second half of 2024.

‘Require property developers to install rainwater harvesting facilities’ Plebiscite to create new LGUs from ex-North Cotabato villages

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

GIVEN the looming threat of drought across approximately 80 provinces during the dry seaon months, a senior lawmaker on Sunday suggested that both commercial and residential estate developers should be required to install rainwater retention facilities.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte said this proposal aligns with the efforts of the government to mitigate potential water scarcity issues caused by the recurring El Niño phenomenon.

Villafuerte urged Congress to pass legislation empowering local government units (LGUs) to mandate property developers to integrate rainwater catchment facilities into their projects.

He emphasized the necessity of such measures in light of the projected increase in drought-affected provinces, from 41 to as many as 80 in April or May.

“With El Niño seemingly getting nastier by the year, Congress can help Malacañang improve national water security and avoid a possible scenario of water scarcity in the years ahead by writing legislation that would empower our LGUs to compel com -

mercial and residential estate developers to put up facilities for retaining rainwater in their respective properties,” Villafuerte said.

“This is a sensible way for us to address the paradox of water scarcity and flash floods plaguing our country, especially in Metro Manila and cities outside the national capital, which is one awful consequence of climate change,” added Villafuerte.

The lawmaker introduced House Bill (HB) 5640, or the Rainwater Harvesting Facility Act, which grants LGUs the authority to mandate the installation of rainwater retention facilities in new commercial, institutional, and residential developments. This measure aims to ensure that future infrastructure projects prioritize water conservation and management.

In its report last week, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said El Niño’s latest onslaught has covered 10 of 16 regions, affecting some 54,000 farmers and causing P2.76 billion worth of agricultural losses.

HB 5640, referred to the Committee on Public Works for evaluation, seeks to promote sustainable water management practices by integrating rainwater harvesting systems into urban development projects. It also imposes penalties on developers who fail to comply with the requirement.

Villafuerte highlighted the need for government investment in small-scale water impounding facilities and pumps to support community-level water retention efforts.

For ongoing commercial, residential, and institutional projects whose approved designs have no such rainwater retention facilities, HB 5640 has a provision requiring the developers of these construction projects to build them within three years if and when this becomes law—or face penalties for every year of non-compliance.

“The primary goal of this proposed LGU requirement before property developers can start building their projects is to preserve, restore, or mimic the natural hydrology of the soil,” Villafuerte said. “Rainwater is a free, abundant, and regular natural resource that the Philippines is fortunate to receive year in and out. It is high time that we make use of it for the general advantage of our people.”

“These would-be rainwater retention facilities shall capture the rainwater, purify the same, and store it for non-potable uses, thereby effectively reducing the amount of rainwater that submerges Metro Manila roads during the rainy season, as well as

partially feeding the demand for water in the cities,” he added.

By conserving rainwater for non-potable uses such as gardening and cooling systems, HB 5640 aims to alleviate pressure on the public water supply and reduce flooding in urban areas.

Villafuerte urged swift action on the proposed legislation to address the pressing challenges of water scarcity and flooding exacerbated by climate change.

He cited successful initiatives in other regions, such as Cebu, Baguio, and Nueva Ecija, as models for sustainable water management.

“Metro Manila is annually drenched with some 20,000 millimeters of rainwater,” he said. “A significant part of Metro Manila and other major cities are unable to absorb the rainwater they receive. Instead of undergoing the earth’s natural process of recycling rainwater through its aquifers, the rainwater proceeds to the sewers, polluting the surrounding bodies of water and flooding roads.”

Overseas, he said, the state of California passed its own Rainwater Capture Act in 2012, while in Australia, most buildings use captured rainwater for fountains and for flushing toilets.

Bong Go seeks to make essential medicines more accessible and affordable to Filipinos

DURING a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health, joint with the Committees on Finance and Tourism, on Tuesday, April 2, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized the importance of enhancing the availability and affordability of essential medicines for Filipinos through PhilHealth’s initiatives. Furthermore, he voiced his support for its various programs, notably the Konsulta program, underscoring his commitment to improving healthcare accessibility.

The hearing opened with Go addressing a critical concern regarding the affordability and accessibility of medicines. “Can PhilHealth also share its planned programs on making medicines affordable and accessible? Meron bang mako-cover ang PhilHealth nalibrengmedisina,itongmga generic medicines?”

Go brought up Executive Order No. 104 issued by former president Rodrigo Duterte, which aimed to set maximum drug retail prices (MDRP) for over 100 essential drugs and medicines, questioning, “What is the status of the implementation of the MDRP?”

Responding to Go’s inquiries, PhilHealth Chief Emmanuel Ledesma affirmed the availability of free medicines through PhilHealth. Dr. Clementine Bautista, Acting Senior Vice President of the PhilHealth, also stated, “Ngayon po, kasama na po sa Konsulta package, ‘yung gamot po for the primary care.”

Go delved deeper, seeking clarifications

on the types of medicines covered, their sources, and the mechanisms through which the public can access them. “Saan galing ‘yungmedisina?...Hindinilaalamsaansila pupunta at hihingi ng tulong.” He vividly depicted the plight of Filipinos, who, with prescription in hand, are often lost in navigating the healthcare system to find the assistance they need.

“Alammo,doktora,maraminglumalapit sa akin, naghahawak ng mga reseta. Hindi nila alam saan sila pupunta at hihingi ng tulong,” he articulated, emphasizing the gap between policy announcements and their reach to the end beneficiaries.

Bautista responded by emphasizing the inclusiveness of the Konsulta package, noting that it encompasses 21 medications designed to address the common illnesses Filipinos face. This package provides coverage for a range of ailments, including hypertension and diabetes, and includes the provision of antibiotics, showcasing its comprehensive approach to health care.

Bautista also mentioned the introduction of the Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment program, which seeks to broaden the scope of medications covered from 21 to an extensive list of 53 outpatient medications. Go then pointed out the need for greater dissemination of information and the expansion of accredited facilities where people can avail themselves of free medications and consultations.

He highlighted the potential of Super Health Centers in bridging this gap, urging PhilHealth to support and promote the accreditation of more centers to ensure the Konsulta program’s benefits reach more Filipinos.

To further improve the healthcare system and bring primary care, consultations, and early disease detection closer to communities, Go earlier advocated for establishing more Super Health Centers nationwide. Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.

Ledesma acknowledged the program’s shortcomings in reach and registration, committing to intensified efforts in partnership with stakeholders to enhance program visibility and accessibility, especially in remote areas.

The PhilHealth also presented its GAMOT or Outpatient Drug Benefit Package during the hearing. The package, aligning with the Universal Health Care law’s objectives, introduces 53 outpatient medications aimed at primary care.

“So, this benefit package intends to help decrease the out-of-pocket expense related to outpatient medicines. And this is also intended to complement the PhilHealth Konsulta as a service arm for the delivery of medicines,” Bautista said.

Go emphasized the need for transparent and rapid implementation of these programs to ensure they reach the people in need without delay. “So, important rito ‘yung close coordination between DOH [Department of Health] and PhilHealth,” he reminded.

He then questioned the increase in Konsulta rates, the assurance of PhilHealth’s financial stability, and the potential for future enhancements to the benefit packages. Go underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in PhilHealth’s operations, especially concerning its financial management and service delivery enhancements.

Ledesma assured, “Yes po. We can assure po. And we have full support of Malacañang po, of DOH [Department of Health] Secretary Ted [Herbosa], and, of House Speaker Martin [Romualdez] po, and kayopo.So,kakayanin po. Kakayanin ng PhilHealth.”

As the hearing concluded, Bong Go expressed his gratitude and optimism towards the initiatives presented by PhilHealth. He echoed a commitment to overseeing and supporting health programs that benefit the Filipino people, especially the underprivileged. “Maraming salamat...overwhelmed lang ako sa aking kasiyahan. And then lastly, salamat. Full support poakoas your Chairman sa Committee on Health and with the oversight function sa ating PhilHealth,” concluded Go.

DBy Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

AVAO City—Residents from barangays formerly with North Cotabato and who opted to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) would troop to designated plebiscite centers to cast their vote for the creation of new municipalities.

The plebiscite will be held on April 13, according to Bangsamoro government spokesman Mohd Asnin Pendatun.

The plebiscite would ratify the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 41-48 for the creation of eight municipalities for the 63 barangays of the former North Cotabato barangays that are currently designated as Special Geographic Areas (SGA).

What is being proposed are the new municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan to place under them the barangays that were formerly under the six towns of North Cotabato and which have a sizeable or dominant Moro population.

Pendatun said the BARMM has prepared security measures to avoid the outbreak of violence during the plebiscite, including gun ban which was imposed since March 14.

He said the first quarter Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting had discussed security preparations “and other relevant contingency plans to ensure a peaceful and credible plebiscite for the SGA.”

“At this point in time, there have been no incidents or reports of conflict or violence, specific to the 63 barangays, related to the upcoming plebiscite,” he said.

A total of 89,594 SGA constituents are qualified and expected to vote next week, in 67 available voting precincts.

The barangays of Central Labas, Kapinpilan, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras, in Midsayap, North Cotabato, will become part of Kadayangan. The combined barangays of Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Nabalawag, and Olandang, all from Midsayap, and Barangay Dungguan in Aleosan, North Cotabato, will become part of Nabalawag. Kaabakan will be composed of barangays Buluan, Nangaan, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Pedtad, and Tamped, in Kaabakan, North Cotabato.

Barangays Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig, in Carmen, North Cotabato, will be included in Kapalawan.

Malidegao will be composed of barangays Balungis, Batulawan, Fort Pikit, Gokotan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, and Nunguan in Pikit, North Cotabato.

The barangays of Balong, Bualan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasendeg, Manaulanan, Pamalian, and Panicupan in Pikit and Barangay Tapodoc in Aleosan, will form Tugunan.

Ligawasan will be composed of barangays Bagoinged, Barungis, Bulol, Buliok, Gli-Gli, Kabasalan, and Rajamuda in Pikit, North Cotabato.

Under the law, the Bangsamoro government is mandated to provide financial assistance for the administration and operation of the municipalities each month until they receive their share in the national tax allotment, subject to usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

BI arrests American wanted for fraud

TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) announced on Sunday the arrest of an American national wanted for fraud in his home country.

The foreigner who was arrested in Cebu province last April 3 was identified by the BI as Paul David Cardwell, 57. BI tourist visa section chief Raymond Remigio said Cardwell was discovered after he attempted to extend his temporary visitors’ visa using the agency’s online services last March 27.

Remigio said the agency conducted secondary checks on Cardwell’s records after being prompted by the system that subject is a convicted felon in the United States.

It was then discovered that Cardwell is a fugitive wanted for defrauding around

$850,000 or more than P48 million from a hospital in the state of Wyoming. A manhunt was conducted and intelligence operatives found him in Cebu last April 3, while inquiring about procedures for applying for a permanent residence visa.

The BI said Cardwell previously made headlines due to the said case after he was ordered to serve more than 10 years in prison.

He was quoted during the hearing saying: “I was prideful, I was arrogant, and I’m a thief.”

Public records show that he was again arrested in Bangkok for fleeing his fraud case.

BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco welcomed the arrest of Cardwell, who will remain in the BI’s facility before being deported to the United States.

Economy

Manila traffic jams to be solved by provincial progress–Marcos

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

Pprovinces and

of

fostering economic growth beyond the capital city and self discipline are the top three solutions to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

In a video blog on Sunday, Marcos admitted that the nation has long grappled with severe traffic congestion, with recent holidays seeing a significant increase in inbound and outbound traffic from Metro Manila, exacerbating the already challenging situation.

Despite numerous attempts by previous administrations to address this issue, he said traffic congestion

has remained a daily struggle for Filipinos, and the pursuit of solutions should never cease, whether you’re a commuter or a private vehicle owner.

According to the President, Metro Manila remains congested, prompting plans to develop nearby provinces and cities.

“While infrastructure projects such as bridges, flyovers, skyways, subways, and train systems continue to be constructed, alongside efforts to develop neighboring provinces and cities such as Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, and Laguna, the population and number of vehicles on the road continue to increase,” he said.

Enhancements to roads and bridges leading to these areas are ongoing, as well as improvements to airports, which will help disperse opportunities beyond

Metro Manila, he added. Marcos also acknowledged that these are long-term endeavors, and their immediate impact may not be fully felt.

He urged the public to exercise patience, emphasizing that the completion of these projects will ultimately lead to a significant improvement in the traffic situation.

“However, these are long-term projects, and their effects won’t be immediately felt. Patience is key, as the completion of these projects will undoubtedly improve our situation,” Marcos added.

Moreover, the President highlighted the need for enhanced discipline among motorists and commuters.

“Some may argue that even outside Metro Manila, traffic remains a challenge, and this is true. Areas that haven’t

Solar PHL JV firm seals loan to develop solar farm in Bali

THE joint venture between Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. and PT Medco Energi Internasional Tbk (Medco Energi) sealed a $14-million loan from Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) to partly finance the construction of a 25-megawatt (MW) solar farm in Kubu District, Karangasem Regency, East Bali. PT Medcosolar Bali Timur’s solar project in East Bali is estimated to cost $20 million and is funded by a combination of BNI’s credit facility and equity invested by Medco and Solar Philippines.

The JV is targeting to energize the solar project—touted as the largest groundmounted solar project in Indonesia—by the end of 2024.

Solar Philippines Founder and CEO Leandro L. Leviste signed the loan agreement alongside BNI Senior Vice President Ditya Maharhani Harninda, Medco President Eka Satria and Medco Chief Financial Officer Myrta Sri Utami. BNI’s representatives stated the BNI is actively focused on financing projects that are environmentally friendly as an effort

to encourage the green energy transition in Indonesia. This project is in line with Medco’s mission to create long-term value in renewable energy.

Aside from the 25MW solar farm in East Bali, the JV is also developing another 25-MW solar farm in West Bali, bringing the total capacity of the Solar Philippines JV with Medco in Bali to 50 MW. The second 25MW solar project is expected to be energized in 2025. Medco Energi is the largest independent oil and gas exploration and production company in Indonesia.

Recto asked to explore Tokyo as possible MRP funder

SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel on Sunday is asking Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto to seek Tokyo’s support in financing the long-pending Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).

“We do not want Mindanao to be left behind in the government’s railway infrastructure development plan,” Pimentel, a senior member of the House Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects, said. “We would urge the Finance Secretary to

consider visiting Tokyo, for the purpose of seeking additional official development assistance (ODA) from Japan; this time for the MRP.”

The lawmaker said through a statement issued last Sunday that the Japanese government “might be ready to help fund the MRP, considering that Tokyo is very interested in promoting peace and development in Mindanao.”

Pimentel cited Japan Prime Minister

Fumio Kishida’s recognition of Mindanao’s role in Tokyo’s vision of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”

The lawmaker quoted Kishida as having said that “stability in the Mindanao region is linked to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

“From this perspective, Japan has supported the peace process and economic development over the past two decades,” Kishida added.

The MRP, which encountered setbacks following the withdrawal from loan negotiations with China, stands as a critical catalyst for economic and employment growth in Mindanao.

Pimentel emphasized its potential to alleviate unemployment and poverty, addressing underlying conditions contributing to instability.

Meanwhile, Pimentel urged the National Economic Development Authority to expedite the revision of the estimated cost for the

caught up with infrastructure development struggle with dilapidated roads and ineffective local traffic laws. More than a lack of roads, what plagues Filipinos is a lack of discipline. Adherence to traffic rules, regardless of whether roads are new or old, is essential,” he said.

Marcos said giving way to others on the road should be second nature, and the “Bagong Pilipino” should be disciplined, courteous, and respectful on the streets.

Marcos said this transformation must begin within the government.

“Abuse and disregard for traffic laws should not be tolerated, as public servants are sworn to uphold the law and serve the nation. All government agencies must lead by example in fostering discipline on our roads,” he added.

In 2017, Solar Philippines began developing its Bali solar projects and, in 2019, formed its JV with Medco to submit a bid in the first competitive auction for utility-scale solar of Indonesia’s state utility PLN. The JV beat several international power companies to win 25 MW in East Bali and 25 MW in West Bali, for a total of 50 MW, and signed the power purchase agreements with PLN in 2022.

Indonesia has one of the world’s lowest solar capacity per capita, with an estimated total 500 MW of solar operating in a country of 279 million people. This is due to low power prices, and the scarcity of land in the most populous island of Java, with challenges similar to developing solar in Luzon. Lenie Lectura

first phase of the MRP. Originally projected at P83 billion, Phase 1 aims to establish a 102-kilometer train line connecting Davao del Norte’s provincial capital, Tagum City, to Davao del Sur’s provincial capital, Digos City.

Phase 1 will move 122,000 commuters every day in its first year of operation, with six commuter trains (with five cars each) deployed every hour and running through eight stations. The line will also have 15 freight cars for cargo shipments.

The entire MRP will eventually consist of a 1,544-kilometer railway stretching out to the cities of General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao, and Malaybalay.

Last year, the Department of Transportation announced the termination of collaboration with China for the implementation of three major projects, including the Mindanao Railway, the South Long Haul and the Subic-Clark Railway.

This decision was made due to China’s apparent disinterest in financing these projects. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Pangasinan governor sees positive growth trajectory

By Roderick L. Abad @rodrik_28

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Governor Ramon V. Guico III revealed last Friday the province’s fiscal status is stable due to several infrastructure projects and efficient tax collection.

“I’m just happy to inform you and assure you that the Province of Pangasinan is fiscally and financially sound and healthy,” Guico said during his second State of the Province Address (SOPA) 2024 held here last April 5.

The provincial governor said total tax revenue last year reached P5.2 billion, exceeding the P5.043 billion estimated income for a 103-percent collection performance. Including the nontax revenue of P360.3 million, on the other hand, Pangasinan’s aggregate tax and nontax topline amounted to P5.606 billion for at 102 percent collection performance, according to Guico. Meanwhile, the share of the province in mandated taxes and fees increased from P15.3 million in 2022 to a whopping P185.8 million last year.

Guico attributed the revenue performance to the province’s “businessfriendly environment, a well-taken cared of constituency and the manifold infrastructure projects that are either ongoing or in the pipeline.”

In an interview, the provincial governor told reporters they expect the province’s growth trajectory to be “positive” this year.

Agri, agribusiness sectors

GUICO also highlighted the improved performance of agriculture and agribusiness in the province.

The rice farmers of Pangasinan produced 1.388 million metric tons (MT) from 267,946.14 hectares, he said. With an average productivity yield of 5.18 tons per hectare, sufficiency level of the province reached 209 percent last year. This is a 1.6-increase in palay production compared to a couple of years ago.

Consolidated output for the yellow and white corn variants hit 419,577.5 MT, Guico said. Farmers and microscale, small-sized and medium-sized enterprises were supported with 25 “Kadiwa-On-Wheels” marketing initiatives that facilitated and optimized farm-to-consumer food supply chains, he added.

The concept of “Corporate Farming,” which the provincial government introduced in 2022, has expanded to seven sites with 154.55 hectares that produced 773 MT of palay last year. This translates to more savings in farm inputs, such as fertilizer, water supply, and labor cost. The same effort to help corn farmers was also launched in November of last year.

“It’s really a huge benefit if farm lands are consolidated. That’s because of economies of scale. So that’s what we are giving assistance to since it’s proven that the yield is higher at a lower input,” Guico said. “So we encourage all the farmers to participate in this program.”

Health, education THE Provincial Government, according

to Guico, spent P7.944 million for the construction, repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of hospital buildings and facilities of more than a dozen hospitals.

“Before, the option of Pangasinenses is to go to Manila or Baguio for hospitalization. Today, the 14 hospitals of the province are now the first options. We have become the hospital of choice,” he said.

Meanwhile, in education, Guico said 1,780 college scholars are now enrolled in the nine campuses of the Pangasinan State University through public funds. For 2023, the provincial government released P15.85 million for the scholars, he added sans revealing 2022 figures. Employment rate in the province continued to grow from 94.4 percent in 2022 to 95.5 percent last year, he said. A total of 3,340 job applicants were hired in local and overseas institutions and businesses; 7,874 senior high school students and 6,389 job applicants attended 67 career and employment coaching seminars; and, 3,393 locals were trained by the Pangasinan Public Employment Services Office in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, he added.

Big ticket projects

GUICO cited the various public works projects like the Bani-Mabini road with a total project cost of P9.475 million and the San Jacinto-Pozzorubio road at P4.995 million.

Other projects cited were: the Santa Maria-Flores road (with a total project cost of P5.099 million); the Imelda Bridge in Mangatarem repair and rehabilitation project (P6.993 million); the reconstruction of Calegu Bridge in Urdaneta City (P39.959 million; the Labit Proper Bridge project, Urdaneta

Editor: Angel R. Calso

The World

Asean finance leaders end Laos meetings, pointing to challenges from geopolitics to commodity prices

By Elaine Kurtenbach AP Business Writer

LUANG PRABANG, Laos—Southeast Asian economies are gaining ground as tourism and exports recover from the shocks of the pandemic, but geopolitical tensions and volatile commodity prices still pose serious risks, regional financial leaders said Friday. Laos’ Finance Minister Santiphab Phomvihane read out a joint statement following meetings among finance ministers at a hotel in the Laotian city of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO heritage site, but he made no other remarks and took no questions.

Estimates for economic growth in members of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations vary but are generally near a robust 5 percent for 2024.

“Nevertheless, there are still challenges due to adverse financial spillovers from geopolitical tensions, volatility in global commodity prices,” Phomvihane said, also pointing to climate change, aging populations and rapid development of digitalization as key factors for the region.

He did not elaborate, but the repercussions of the war in Ukraine and tensions between Washington and Beijing are among the geopolitical risks that have impacted trade and global commodity prices in recent years, trickling down to the smaller Asean economies that depend heavily on trade with China.

Asean members also include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. East-Timor is seeking to join.

As Asean’s most economically challenged economy, excluding its strife-torn neighbor Myanmar, Laos has time to prepare for the aging of its youthful population of about 7.5 million. Some of its neighbors are growing old before they become affluent. The government reckons it is in a demographic sweet spot with a couple of decades to prepare. But it faces a raft of other troubles, with massive foreign debt, a weakening currency and inflation running at about 25 percent.

In terms of US dollars Laos’ economy is shrinking due to the devaluation of its currency, the kip. However, in local currency terms it grew at a 3.7 percent rate last year and is forecast to expand at a 4 percent rate in 2024.

“Things are normalizing,” said Winfried F. Wicklein, director general for Southeast Asia for the Asian Development Bank.

But the country is deemed to be in debt distress, with payment obligations exceeding $1 billion a year and total borrowing amounting to about 125 percent of its economy, with half owed to China.

Chinese financial institutions are believed to have rescheduled payments for about $2 billion in those debts since 2020, helping Laos to avoid an outright default and relieving some pressure on the economy.

“Large chunks of debt repayments owed to China are being pushed into the future with little transparency around the interest and repayment process for this,” said Keith Barney, a professor at Australia National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy and who has been researching Laos for more than 20 years.

“The Lao economy is facing serious problems and it’s hard to see an immediately apparent

exit route,” he said. “Laos’s debt problems are narrowing its future pathways for economic growth in different ways.”

Still, Laos has acknowledged the seriousness of its debt quandary, allowing the public release of a report by the International Monetary Fund last year that minced no words in outlining urgent actions it said were needed to repair the country's finances, Wicklein noted.

“They realize they have a problem and are open to help. They are inviting you to the kitchen and it means a lot,” he said.

On the sidelines of the Asean meetings this week, Laos signed agreements on launching cross-border payments using QR codes, among other incremental steps aimed at integrating its finances and economy into those of its bigger and richer neighbors.

There were no big statements on climaterelated issues as the officials met surrounded by forests obscured by thick smoke from hill fires and burning of fields and waste, a seasonal problem that Laos shares with its Asean neighbors.

But such meetings allow top financial officials to collaborate in sharing lessons they have learned as they plot strategies on curbing carbon emissions.

“It’s a long way to go, but everybody is committed to the same direction,” Wicklein said. Wicklein pointed to a 600 megawatt monsoon wind power project that will allow Laos to export electricity to neighboring Vietnam as an example of increasing investments in the energy sector beyond Laos’ huge hydroelectric power sector.

“These megadeals have a demonstrable effect,” he said.

New U.S.-ChiNa talkS will addreSS a major ameriCaN ComplaiNt aboUt beijiNg’S eCoNomiC model–YelleN

By Fatima Hussein & Ken Moritsugu The Associated Press

GUANGZHOU, China—US Treasury

Secretary Janet Yellen said Saturday that upcoming US-China talks will tackle a top Biden administration complaint that Beijing's economic model and trade practices put American companies and workers at an unfair competitive disadvantage.

“I think the Chinese realize how concerned we are about the implications of their industrial strategy for the United States, for the potential to flood our markets with exports that make it difficult for American firms to compete,” Yellen told reporters after the announcement during her trip to China.

“It’s not going to be solved in an afternoon or a month, but I think they have heard that this is an important issue to us,” she said.

The two sides will hold “intensive exchanges” on more balanced economic growth, according to a US statement issued after Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held extended meetings over two days in the southern city of Guangzhou. They also agreed to start exchanges on combating money laundering. It was not immediately clear when and where the talks would take place.

Yellen, who arrived later in Beijing after starting her five-day visit in one of China's major industrial and export hubs, said the talks would create a structure to hear each other's views and try to address American concerns about manufacturing overcapacity in China.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency said the two sides had agreed to discuss a range of issues including balanced growth of the United States, China and the global economy as well as financial stability, sustainable finance and

cooperation in countering money laundering.

Xinhua said China had responded fully on the issue of production capacity, but the report did not provide details. China also expressed grave concern over American trade and economic measures that restrict China, according to the agency.

Chinese government subsidies and other policy support have encouraged solar panel and EV makers in China to invest in factories, building far more production capacity than the domestic market can absorb.

The massive scale of production has driven down costs and ignited price wars for green technologies, a boon for consumers and efforts to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels. But Western governments fear that that capacity will flood their markets with low-priced exports, threatening American and European jobs.

“It’s going to be critical to our bilateral relationship going forward and to China's relationship with other countries that are important, and this provides a structured way in which we can continue to listen to one another and see if we can find a way forward that will avoid conflict,” Yellen told reporters.

The exchanges on balanced growth and money laundering will be held under the framework of existing economic and financial working groups that were set up after Yellen met He in July.

Yellen struck a positive note on joint efforts to address US concerns about Chinese companies selling goods to Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

“We think there's more to do, but I do see it as an area where we've agreed to cooperate and we’ve already seen some meaningful progress,” she said. Moritsugu reported from Beijing

The World

Mexico severs diplomatic ties with Ecuador after police raid Mexican Embassy to arrest politician

By Regina Garcia Cano & Gabriela Molina The Associated Press

QUITO, Ecuador—Mexico’s government severed diplomatic ties with Ecuador after police broke into the Mexican Embassy to arrest a former Ecuadorian vice president, an extraordinary use of force that shocked and mystified regional leaders and diplomats.

Ecuadorian police late Friday broke through the external doors of the embassy in the capital, Quito, to arrest Jorge Glas, who had been residing there since December. Glas sought political asylum at the embassy after being indicted on corruption charges.

The raid prompted Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to announce the breaking off of diplomatic relations with Ecuador on Friday evening, while his government's foreign relations secretary said the move will be challenged at the World Court in The Hague.

“This is not possible. It cannot be. This is crazy,” Roberto Canseco, head of the Mexican consular section in Quito, told local press while standing outside the embassy right after the raid. “I am very worried because they could kill him. There is no basis to do this. This is totally outside the norm.”

On Saturday, Glas was taken from the attorney general’s office in

Quito to the port city of Guayaquil, where he will remain in custody at a maximum-security prison. People who had gathered outside the prosecutor's office yelled “strength” as he left with a convoy of police and military vehicles.

Glas’ attorney, Sonia Vera, told The Associated Press that officers broke into his room and he resisted when they attempted to put his hands behind his back. She said the officers then “knocked him to the floor, kicked him in the head, in the spine, in the legs, the hands,” and when he “couldn’t walk, they dragged him out.”

Vera said the defense team was not allowed to speak with Glas while he was at the prosecutor’s office, and it is now working to file a habeas corpus petition.

Authorities are investigating Glas over alleged irregularities during his management of reconstruction efforts following a powerful earthquake in 2016 that killed hundreds of

people. He was convicted on bribery and corruption charges in other cases.

Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld on Saturday told reporters that the decision to enter the embassy was made by President Daniel Noboa after considering Glas’ “imminent flight risk” and exhausting all possibilities for diplomatic dialogue with Mexico.

Mexico granted Glas asylum hours before the raid. Sommerfeld said “it is not legal to grant asylum to people convicted of common crimes and by competent courts.”

Alicia Bárcena, Mexico’s secretary o f foreign relations, on Friday posted on the social media platform X that a number of diplomats suffered injuries during the break-in, which she said violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Sommerfeld did not address the injury claims.

Diplomatic premises are considered foreign soil and “inviolable” under the Vienna treaties and host

country law enforcement agencies are not allowed to enter without the permission of the ambassador. People seeking asylum have lived anywhere from days to years at embassies around the world, including at Ecuador's in London, which housed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for seven years because British police could not enter to arrest him.

The break-in was condemned by presidents, diplomats and a regional body on Saturday.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro, writing on X, characterized the raid as “an intolerable act for the international community” and a "violation of the sovereignty of the Mexican State and international law” because “it ignores the historical and fundamental right to asylum.”

The Organization of American States in a statement reminded its members, which include Ecuador and Mexico, of their “obligation” to not “invoke norms of domestic law to

justify non-compliance with their international obligations.”

Bárcena on Friday said Mexico would take the case to the International Court of Justice “to denounce Ecuador's responsibility for violations of international law.” She also recalled Mexican diplomats.

Noboa became Ecuador’s president last year as the nation battled unprecedented crime tied to drug trafficking. He declared the country in an “internal armed conflict” in January and designated 20 drugtrafficking gangs as terrorist groups that the military had authorization to "neutralize" within the bounds of international humanitarian law.

Will Freeman, a fellow of Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the decision to send police to Mexico's embassy raises concerns over the steps Noboa is willing to take to get reelected. His tenure ends in 2025 as he was only elected to finish the term of former

President Guillermo Lasso.

“I really hope Noboa is not turning more in a Bukele direction,” Freeman said referring to El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, whose tough-on-crime policies have been heavily criticized by human rights organizations.

“That’s to say less respectful of rule of law in order to get a boost to his popularity ahead of the elections.” Freeman added that whether Glas was abusing diplomatic protection is a “separate issue” from the decision to send police to the embassy.

“We see a pattern of that in Latin America with politicians abusing embassies and foreign jurisdictions, not to flee prosecution but to flee accountability,” he said.

The Mexican Embassy in Quito remained under heavy police guard after the raid—the boiling point of recent tensions between Mexico and Ecuador.

Vera said Glas’ attorneys fear “something could happen” to him while in custody considering the track record of the country’s detention facilities, where hundreds of people have died during violent riots over the past few years. Those killed while in custody include some suspects in last year's assassination of a presidential candidate.

“In Ecuador going to jail is practically a death sentence,” Vera said. “We consider that the international political and legal person responsible for the life of Jorge Glas is President Daniel Noboa Azín.” Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Gonzalo Solano in Quito and Megan Janetsky in Mexico City contributed to this report.

By Samy Magdy & Sam Metz The Associated Press

CAI r o Israel's military said Saturday it had recovered the body of a 47-yearold farmer who was held hostage in Gaza, while negotiators prepared for another round of talks Sunday on brokering a cease-fire and securing the release of the remaining hostages, six months into the war.

Israel's army said it found the body of e lad Katzir and believed he was killed in January by militants with Islamic Jihad, one of the groups that entered southern Israel in the o c tober 7 attack, killed more than 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. Katzir was abducted from n i r o z , a border community that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

The discovery renewed pressure on Israel's government for a deal to get the remaining hostages freed, and thousands gathered in Tel Aviv to call for a deal as well as early elections. Hostages' families have long feared time is running out. At least 36 hostages have been confirmed dead. About half of the original number has been released.

"He could have been saved if a deal had happened in time," Katzir's sister Carmit said in a statement. " o u r leadership is cowardly and driven by political considerations, and that is why (a deal) did not happen."

Israelis are divided on the approach by Prime Minister b e njamin n e tanyahu and his government. A week ago, tens of thousands of Israelis thronged central Jerusalem in the largest anti-government protest since the war began. Inside Gaza, the toll of Israel's offensive is measured in tens of thousands of deaths and more than a million Palestinians displaced.

“We have arrived at a terrible milestone," the U n humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in a statement marking six months and noting “the immediate prospect of a shameful man-made famine.” He called the prospect of further escalation in Gaza “unconscionable.”

Cease-fire negotiations will resume Sunday, according to an e g yptian official and e g ypt’s state-owned Al Qahera TV. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak

publicly about the talks. US President Joe b den has sent CIA Director b i ll b u rns to e g ypt. A Hamas delegation will arrive Sunday to join the talks, the militant group said.

Hamas has insisted on linking a phased end to the war to any agreement releasing hostages. It has said it will agree to release 40 as part of an initial six-week cease-fire deal that would include the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Hamas also seeks the return of displaced people to devastated northern Gaza and more aid. Israel has offered to allow 2,000 displaced Palestinians—mainly women, children and older people—to the north daily during a six-week cease-fire.

The talks come days after international condemnation of Israeli airstrikes that killed seven humanitarian workers with the World Central Kitchen charity. The Israeli military described it as a tragic error. Aid groups said the mistake is hardly an anomaly. The U n s ays at least 190 aid workers were killed in Gaza through the end of March.

Some Israel allies now consider halting arms sales. b i den warned n e tanyahu that future US support for the war depends on swift implementation of new steps to protect civilians and aid workers.

“We need security guarantees for us as humanitarians but also for the people we serve,” said Marika Guderian with the World Food Program, speaking inside Gaza.

The killings halted aid deliveries on a crucial new sea route for aid directly to Gaza as the U n and partners warn of “imminent famine” for 1.1 million people, or half the population. The humanitarian group o x fam says people in northern Gaza are surviving on an average of 245 calories a day.

In Jabaliya, a refugee camp near Gaza City, families scrounged in the rubble for mallow leaves to make a thin broth to break the daily r am adan fast. “Life has become miserable. They (daughters) tell me, 'Father, you are feeding us mallow, mallow, mallow every day. We want to eat fish, chicken, canned food. We are craving eggs, or anything,‘” said Wael Attar. They shelter in a school as part of the 1.7 million people displaced in Gaza.

Israel has promised to open more border crossings into Gaza and increase the flow of aid. The U n says that in March, 85 percent of trucks with food aid were denied or impeded.

The death toll from the war in Gaza is 33,137, the territory’s Health Ministry said. Its toll doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants, but it has said women and children make up the majority of the dead.

The ministry said the bodies of 46 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes had been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours— the lowest daily tally in months.

By Sean Murphy

Abr A z en Los Angeles cash heist on e a ster weekend in which thieves cracked a safe and got away with as much as $30 million is believed to be one of the largest such heists in US history. The heist has triggered rampant speculation among a public long infatuated with daring burglaries and hefty criminal paydays.

Here are some things to know about the recent theft in Los Angeles and the history of such crimes.

The details on the L.A. heist

L.A. police and the F b I w ere tight-lipped Friday about any new developments in their joint investigation, but police Cmdr. e laine Morales told The Los Angeles Times, which broke news of the crime, that thieves were able to breach the money storage facility in the suburban Sylmar neighborhood and then crack into the safe containing the cash.

Media reports identified the facility as a location of GardaWorld, a global cash management and security company. The Canadabased company, which also operates fleets of armored cars, did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Police said officers received a call for service at the facility at 4:30 a.m. e a ster Sunday, and aerial footage from KA b C-TV showed a large hole on the side of the building that appeared to be boarded up with plywood.

What are experts saying?

J I M M C G UFF ey, an armored car and physical security expert, called the theft “a shock.”

Any such facility should have two alarm systems and a seismic motion detector right on the safe, he said, as well as additional motion sensors throughout the building.

“For that kind of money, you don’t just walk in and walk out with it,” he told AP.

“A facility should be protected from the top to the bottom and the sides.”

r an dy Sutton, a former police detective in n ew Jersey and Las Vegas who investi -

gated major crimes and high-end burglaries, said a crime of this magnitude had likely been planned for months or longer and involved numerous people.

“This took a tremendous amount of research and tremendous amount of knowledge on the technical end regarding the circumvention of security systems and surveillance,” he said.

He said much of the cash at a facility like the one operated by GardaWorld has already been in circulation, so unless it comes directly from the US Treasury, the majority of it may not be traceable.

He added that law enforcement has almost certainly started interviewing anyone who worked at GardaWorld or knew anything about its security protocols.

“

yo u can bet that not just current employees of that organization are going to be scrutinized, but prior employees as well,” he said.

Just how much is $30 million in cash?

L AW e nforcement officials have not discussed details of the cash that was stolen, but regardless of the denomination of the bills, such a massive amount of cash would be difficult to move and transport.

The weight of $1 million in $100 bills alone is about 22 pounds (10 kilograms), according to testimony from a US Treasury official to Congress. If the cash were in various denominations, like $5s, $10s and $20s, the weight of $1 million in cash could be closer to 250 pounds (115 kilograms), which could bring the overall weight of last weekend's haul to a whopping 7,500 pounds (3,400 kilograms), or about 3 1/2 tons (3.18 metric tons).

Sutton said it's likely the criminals who pulled of the caper already had a plan in place for how to launder that much money.

“It’s an interesting question: How do you get rid of that amount of cash?” he said. “I know it's a quandary we’d all like to have, but the reality is these criminals probably had that in their repertoire.”

Largest cash heists in US history A LT H o U GH t he largest cash heist in the world

is believed to be the plundering of the Central b an k of Iraq during the US invasion in 2003, and other large cash heists have been pulled off in e u rope and South America, the Los Angeles heist would be among the largest ever in the US.

The 1997 armed robbery of nearly $19 million at the Los Angeles Dunbar Armored Co. depot was the largest cash robbery in US history at the time, according to the Los Angeles Times. That caper, during which five armed robbers in black clothing and masks tied up a handful of workers at the depot, was planned with the help of a former employee at the facility. It took years to crack the case, and although all five culprits were caught, most of the cash was never recovered.

Although not a cash heist, nearly two years ago, as much as $100 million in jewels and other valuables were stolen from a b r ink’s big rig at a Southern California truck stop. The thieves haven’t been caught.

Cash heists in pop culture

Peo PL e have long been obsessed with bigmoney heists, as evidenced by the key role these criminal jobs play in movies, films and television. A central theme of the 1990 mobster classic “Goodfellas” is the true story of the Lufthansa heist in 1978, when gangsters made off with just under $6 million in cash and jewelry in what was the largest US heist at the time.

The blockbuster 2001 heist film “ o c ean’s 11,” which was a remake of a 1960 movie of the same name, also featured an ensemble cast determined to steal $160 million from a Las Vegas casino. That film spawned several sequels that centered on elaborate heists.

A popular heist film set in Los Angeles, 1995’s “Heat,” features a group of elite professional thieves who target armored cars and bank vaults. The film stars r o bert De n i ro as an L.A.-based thief and his crew looking to make a final $12 million bank heist while being chased by an L.A. detective played by Al Pacino. Associated Press reporters Stefanie Dazio and Eugene Garcia in California contributed to this report.

The World

Extreme weather hit Indian farmers hard. Some see natural farming as the answer

By Shawn Sebastian & Sibi Arasu The Associated Press

GUNTUR, India—There’s a pungent odor on Ratna Raju’s farm that he says is protecting his crops from the unpredictable and extreme weather that's become more frequent with human-caused climate change.

The smell comes from a concoction of cow urine, an unrefined sugar known as jaggery, and other organic materials that act as fertilizers, pesticides and bad weather barriers for his corn, rice, leafy greens and other vegetables on his farm in Guntur in India’s southern Andhra Pradesh state. The region is frequently hit by cyclones and extreme heat, and farmers say that so-called natural farming protects their crops because the soil can hold more water, and their more robust roots help the plants withstand strong winds.

Andhra Pradesh has become a positive example of the benefits of natural farming, and advocates say active government support is the primary driver for the state's success. Experts say these methods should be expanded across India's vast agricultural lands as climate change and decreasing profits have led to multiple farmers' protests this year. But fledgling government support across the country for these methods means most farmers still use chemical pesticides and fertilizers, making them more vulnerable when extreme weather hits. Many farmers are calling for greater federal and state investment to help farms switch to more climate change-proof practices.

For many, the benefits of greater investment in natural farming are already obvious: In December, Cyclone Michaung, a storm moving up to 110 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) brought heavy rainfall across India’s southeastern coast, flooding towns and fields. A preliminary assessment conducted a few weeks later found that 600,000 acres of crops were destroyed in Andhra Pradesh state.

On Raju’s natural farm, however, where he was growing paddy at the time, “the rainwater on our farms seeped into the ground in one day,” he said. The soil can absorb more water because it's more porous than pesticide-laden soil, which is crusty and dry. Planting different kinds of crops throughout the year—as opposed to the more standard single crop farms—also helps keep the soil healthy, he said.

But neighboring farmer Srikanth Kanapala’s fields, that rely on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, were flooded for four days after the cyclone. He said seeing Raju’s crops hold firm while his failed has made him curious about alternative farming methods.

“I incurred huge losses,” said Kanapala, who estimates he lost up to $600 because of the cyclone,

a substantial sum for a small farmer in India. “For the next planting season, I plan to use natural farming methods too.”

Local and federal government initiatives have resulted in an estimated 700,000 farmers shifting to natural farming in the state according to Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a government-backed not-for-profit launched in 2016 to promote natural farming. The state of Andhra Pradesh hopes to inspire all of its six million farmers to take up natural farming by the end of the decade.

The Indian federal government's agriculture ministry has spent upwards of $8 million to promote natural farming and says farmers tilling nearly a million acres across the country have shifted to the practice. In March last year, India’s junior minister for agriculture said he hoped at least 25 percent of farms across India would use organic and natural farming techniques.

But farmers like Meerabi Chunduru, one of the first in the region to switch to natural farming, said more government and political support is needed. Chunduru said she switched to the practice after her husband's health deteriorated, which she believes is because of prolonged exposure to some harmful pesticides.

While the health effects of various pesticides have not yet been studied in detail, farm workers around the world have long claimed extended exposure has caused health problems. In February, a Philadelphia jury awarded $2.25 billion in damages in a case where a weed killer with Glyphosate—restricted in India since just 2022— was linked to a resident’s blood cancer. In India, 63 farmers died in the western state of Maharashtra in 2017, believed to be linked to a pesticide containing the chemical Diafenthiuron, which is currently banned in the European Union, but

not in India.

“Right now, not many politicians are talking about natural farming. There is some support but we need more,” said Chunduru. She called for more subsidies for seeds such as groundnuts, black gram, sorghum, vegetable crops and maize that can help farmers make the switch.

Farmers' rights activists said skepticism about natural farming among political leaders, government bureaucrats and scientists is still pervasive because they still trust the existing farming models that use fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides to achieve maximum productivity. In the short-term, chemical alternatives can be cheaper and more effective, but in the long term they take a toll on the soil's health, meaning larger quantities of chemicals are needed to maintain crops, causing a cycle of greater costs and poorer soil, natural farming advocates say.

“Agroecological initiatives are not getting adequate attention or budgetary outlays,” said Kavitha Kuruganti, an activist who has advocated for sustainable farming practices for nearly three decades. The Indian government spends less than three percent of its total budget on agriculture. It has earmarked nearly $20 billion in fertilizer subsidies this year, but only $55 million has been allocated by the federal government to encourage natural farming. Kuruganti said there are a handful of politicians who support the practice but scaling it up remains a challenge in India.

A lack of national standards and guidelines or a viable supply chain that farmers can sell their produce through is also keeping natural farming relatively niche, said NS Suresh, a research scientist at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, a Bengaluru-based think-tank. Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India.

Iranian commander renews vow to avenge Syria strike attributed to Israel that killed 2 generals

ISFAHAN, Iran—A top military commander Saturday renewed Iran's promise to retaliate after an airstrike earlier this week w idely blamed on Israel destroyed Iran’s consulate in Syria, killing 12 people, including two elite Iranian generals. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s joint chief of staff, told mourners gathered for the funeral of Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahdi that Iran will decide when and how to stage an “operation” to take revenge. Zahdi was the highest ranking commander slain in Monday’s attack.

The time, type, plan of the operation will be decided by us, in a w ay that makes Israel regret what

it did,” he said. “This will definitely be done.” The attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound was a significant e scalation in a long-running shadow war between the two archenemies, and Israel has been bracing f or an Iranian response.

In all, 12 people were killed in the strike: Seven Iranian Revolutionary Guard members, four Syrians and a Hezbollah militia member.

On Friday, the commander of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard, Gen. Hossein Salami, w arned that “our brave men will punish the Zionist regime,” escalating threats against Israel. Tensions have flared against the

backdrop of the six-month-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, and raised re newed fears of a broader regional conflict. The Islamic militant group Hamas, which has ruled Gaza for 17 years, is one of Iran’s proxies, along with Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia and Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Both Hezbollah and the Houthis have carried out attacks along the fringes of the Gaza war, with Hezbollah engaging in daily crossb order exchanges with Israel and the Houthis frequently targeting Red Sea shipping.

Bagheri made the comments in Isfahan, Zahedi’s hometown, about 440 kilometers (270 miles) south of the capital Tehran. AP

Bhaskar r ao, a farm worker, sprays natural pesticide at a multi-crop farm belonging to Meerabi Chunduru, an avid practitioner and advocate of natural farming techniques, in aremanda village in Guntur district of southern India's andhra Pradesh state on sunday, February 11, 2024. The area has become a positive example of the benefits of natural farming, a process of using organic matter as fertilizers and pesticides that makes crops more resilient to bad weather. AP Photo/AltA f QA dri

DESPITE LOWER GROWTH GOAL, HOUSE UPBEAT ON ECONOMY

THE leadership of the House of Representatives is confident of the country’s ability to maintain its high economic growth trajectory, as economic policies and measures implemented by both the Executive and Congress are ensuring that “we stay on the correct path.”

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez made the statement following the decision of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to revise the growth targets for this year from 6.5 to 7.5 percent to 6 to 7 percent.

I am confident that we can hit at least the lowest end of the target range because the economic policies and measures the President and Congress have taken and pursued are keeping us on the right track,” Romualdez said.

H e suggested enacting charter revisions, saying, “We can even leapfrog if the proposed economic charter reforms are already in place,” he said.

H e emphasized that even achieving a 6-percent growth rate this year would position the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, following its distinction as the fastestgrowing economy in Asean in 2023, when it expanded by 5.6 percent.

T he country was followed by Vietnam, which grew by 5.1 percent; Indonesia, 5 percent; Malaysia, 4 percent; Thailand, 2.5 percent; and Singapore, 1.2 percent.

Coming from 5.6 percent, it should not be difficult for us to hit at least 6 percent this year. Our economy has been steadily expanding since President Marcos assumed office,” Romualdez said.

He underscored the potential impact of the extended dry season on agriculture

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

RENEWING his call for the revival of the Bicol Express rail line, a lawmaker on Sunday said the government should explore Japan as a feasible funding source to jumpstart the implementation of the stalled project.

H ighlighting Japan’s consistent offer of highly concessional financing packages for infrastructure projects in the Philippines, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan emphasized the potential benefits of securing funding from Japan to revive the Bicol Express rail line. Yamsuan noted that Japan continues to offer highly concessional financing packages to the Philippines for infrastructure projects.

F or instance, the third tranche of the loan for the proposed Metro Manila Subway, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), carries an annual

and food production, urging concerned agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the National Irrigation Administration, and local government units to provide timely assistance to the farming sector.

“ We should have all hands on deck. Irrigation and farm inputs are critical requirements; our farmers, especially those producing our staple rice, have to be supported with,” he said.

O n the traffic situation in Metro Manila and other urban areas, Speaker Romualdez echoed President Marcos’ concerns, emphasizing that congestion poses a significant challenge to economic growth.

H e advocated for infrastructure expansion, suggesting the construction of skyways along major roads with private financial support to alleviate traffic congestion.

Traffic is a big challenge to our economic growth. It is eating up a lot of precious man-hours, fuel, and money, which could be put to productive use. We have to expand our infrastructure. Maybe, we should build skyways along Edsa and other major roads with private financial support and participation,” he said.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Investments creating quality jobs vital to PHL growth–WB

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

MORE investments that can create quality jobs are crucial for the Philippines if it wants to continue increasing its potential growth rate, according to the World Bank.

I n a recent briefing with reporters, 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 the country’s potential growth rate is currently between 5.5 percent and 6 percent.

Varela said the latest GDP projection of the World Bank is even better than this potential growth rate. For 2024, the World Bank said the country’s growth is forecast to reach 5.8 percent and in 2025, 5.9 percent. (See: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/04/02/ persisting-higher-us-rates-tohurt-region-twice-wb/).

“ What you see is that the economy has improved [and] has been very close to that potential output growth. So it has been on the above or below, but very close to that range,” Varela said.

The important thing is that you get investment accelerations, you get reforms that stimulate productivity growth, so that potential output growth keeps growing and the

economy can grow then accordingly, sustainably in a way that creates good-quality jobs,” he explained.

Varela explained that potential growth rate can be explained as the level of economic growth that is possible if the economy is efficiently utilizing all of its resources. The many ways it can be measured means it can only be pinned by a range and not a single growth rate.

[It is the answer to the question] what is the growth rate of the economy if you’re using all of your resources efficiently? What would be the growth rate that the economy could afford?” Varela said.

A mong the important steps the Philippine government has undertaken that could contribute to raising this potential growth rate, Varela said, is the passage of the Public Services Act (PSA).

T he amendment, he explained, could help the Philippines attract more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in “key enabling services” such as telecommunication and transportation. This will help address the country’s infrastructure constraints.

He added that another important step is the recent decision to allow foreign players in renewable energy. This will not only fast-track the country’s green transition but also create green jobs.

Fully implementing the structural reforms that the governments, the two administrations, the preceding administration and this administration, have been working on, [the] PSA amendment, renewable energy, FDI liberalization and committing to fiscal consolidation, would be crucial for investment acceleration,” Varela said.

Ibon: Don’t forget wages

HOWEVER , more than these, Ibon Foundation Inc. noted that addressing the need for better pay for Filipino workers would help not just the economy but the lives of Filipinos.

I bon noted that bills are being taken up in Congress to legislate across-the-board increases in the daily minimum wage of private sector workers nationwide.

I n February, the Senate passed Senate Bill (SB) 2534 giving workers a P100 increase. Not to be outdone, the House of Representatives (HOR) a week after started deliberating various House bills increasing daily wages by P150 to P750.

I bon said these wage hikes are urgent because the real value of the minimum wage in all the regions is now smaller than it was 34 years

ago in 1989.

A responsible and propeople government would be the last to think that workers and their wages are burdens on firms and the economy, and the first to think that higher wages are a key measure for upholding workers’ welfare,” Ibon said.

Substantial wage increases are among the most important structural mechanisms for ensuring that workers get a just share of the fruits of their labor, as well as for improving equity and democracy,” it added.

I bon noted that there have been some 370 wage orders in the country’s 17 regions since 1989 when wage-setting was regionalized, but these haven’t even been enough to keep up with inflation.

Compared to 1989, Ibon said the real minimum wage averaged across all regions was worth 26 percent less in March 2024, with the largest decline in BARMM at 52 percent and lowest increase of 0.3 percent in NCR.

A cross all regions, Ibon said the average minimum wage is only P440 or just a little over one-third (36 percent) of the average family living wage (FLW) for a family of five (5) of P1,207, as of March 2024.

O f all regions, it said the NCR has the largest minimum wage of P610, but this is only half (51 percent) of the P1,197 FLW. In BARMM, the P361 minimum wage is not even one-fifth (18 percent) of the P2,053 FLW.

interest rate of  0.3 percent for non-consulting services and 0.2 percent for consulting services, with a lengthy 40-year repayment period, according to a recent statement from the Department of Finance (DOF).  “Jica’s concessional loan terms for the Philippines remain competitive enough for the Department of Transportation [DOTr]  to consider Japan as a viable funding option for the revival of the Bicol Express rail line,” said Yamsuan, who represents the Bicol Saro Partylist in Congress.  T he estimated cost of the first phase of the reconstruction, known as the South Long Haul Project, is approximately P142 billion. Yamsuan emphasized the importance of looking beyond the immediate need to alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila, pointing out the future implications for commuters residing in burgeoning urban hubs outside the National Capital Region.

Transport grp leaders want MC taxi cap kept at 45K

TO stop the addition of new two-wheel vehicles on the roads—and avert a  worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila—leaders of top transportation organizations are joining forces for the retention of the 45,000 motorcycle (MC) taxi cap.

R epresentatives from leading transport groups, including Pasang Masda, National Public Transport Coalition (NPTC), National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, underscored the importance of maintain-

ing the existing limit in preventing further congestion and upholding the safety and effectiveness of public transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR).

T hey warned of the harmful effect that uncontrolled growth in the MC taxi fleet could have on the already strained transport infrastructure in the metropolis. “ Every additional motorcycle taxi exacerbates our traffic woes and sidelines traditional transport sectors crucial for our city’s mobility,” NPTC National Convenor Ariel Lim said, emphasizing the urgency of keeping the cap.

Sharing a similar sentiment, Laban TNVS President Jun de Leon pointed out the broader implications on public safety and livelihoods. He said: “We must ensure that each step we take on our roads is a step towards progress, not regression.”

T he alliance of transport groups, together with Vice Chair Joel Chua of the Metro Manila Development Committee in the House of Representatives, called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the Department of Transportation, and the Motorcycle Taxi Technical Working Group to prioritize sustainable expansion outside Metro Manila,

citing the need for a balanced approach that takes into consideration traffic flow integrity of the city. A mid growing concerns on hasty fleet increases, the coalition advocates for a thoughtful strategy that includes rigorous impact assessments and stakeholder engagements before any expansions are entertained.

Noting the importance of inclusivity and sustainability, the transport leaders, including Chua, are championing a more organized, efficient, and safe transportation system that caters to the different needs of all commuters and residents in NCR. Roderick L. Abad

ROMUALDEZ

Brace for EU deforestation law, exporters told

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

EXPORTERS of coffee, beef, soy, palm oil, and rubber need to prepare for the entry into force of a law that aims to prevent the shipment of products linked to deforestation to countries in the European Union.

The Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) or Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 will enter into force in December.

“Exporting products to the EU has become increasingly challenging with its new and emerging regulations as part of the EU Green Deal. These regulations aim to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050,” Bianca Pearl Sykimte, director

of the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau, said in a statement issued by PhilExport.

According to Sykimte, EUDR applies to entities exporting commodities such as cattle/beef, soy, coffee, coco, palm oil, rubber and wood. “It requires these entities to demonstrate that their products are deforestation free and not linked to forest degradation.” Philexport noted that these

seven products, all of which are major drivers of deforestation, will no longer be sold in the EU if sourced from areas affected by deforestation or forest degradation practices.

The EUDR was “formally adopted” and came into effect on June 29, 2023 to prevent the importation of commodities linked to deforestation to curb forest loss, land degradation, and biodiversity loss.

“Companies have until December 30 this year to be compliant, except for micro and small undertakings, for which the regulation will apply from June 30, 2025,” said Philexport.

It further noted that businesses should now consider the impact of the EUDR on their supply chain due diligence to prepare for the new obligations that apply from December 2024.

Among the important considerations that firms need to be aware of, according to Philexport, is that the new measure covers a wide

range of products.

“According to global law firm White & Case, the EUDR covers the said seven commodities as well as their many derived products listed in the annex to the regulation. Examples of these derived products are meat products, leather, chocolate, coffee, palm nuts, palm oil derivatives, glycerol, natural rubber products, soybeans, soybean flour and oil, fuel wood, wood products, pulp and paper, printed books.”

Citing the law firm, Philexport said it is important to check carefully which products are covered, with reference to the products’ tariff classification under the Combined Nomenclature.

Philexport said the EUDR applies to goods produced on or after June 29, 2023 (except for timber and timber products, which are covered if produced before that date and placed on the EU market from December 31, 2027). However, it does not apply to goods produced entirely from material that has completed its life cycle

PHL poised to export more mangoes to Australia–DTI

THE Philippines will ship 3,000 kilograms (kg) of mangoes from Zambales to Australia this month, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The DTI said the move aims to bolster the Philippines’s trade relations with Australia. Last year, bilateral trade between the two countries soared beyond prepandemic levels.

Government data indicated that the trade volume between the two nations surged to $ 4.1 billion in 2023, a 20-percent increase from the previous year’s $3.4 billion.

DTI said FastboxPH, the logistics firm entrusted with the recent mango shipment, will be dispatching another batch of the country’s renowned mangoes to Australia.

In a Viber message sent to reporters, the Trade department said 3,000 kgs will be shipped to Perth and Sydney. “Additional shipment to follow 2 or 3 weeks later, then possibly another shipment in June.”

“Last shipment for the year will be in August or September before the mango season in Australia starts,” said DTI, adding that the mangoes will come from Zambales.

DTI said Fastbox reported a

“surge in demand” within the Australian market, attributing this to the “unparalleled taste and quality of Philippine mangoes.”

The Trade department noted that Philippine mango exports to Australia passed the “stringent” biosecurity regulations, documentation and inspection procedures.

“FastboxPH is now poised to further expand its presence across Australia. The company aims to establish partnerships with additional retailers and distributors nationwide, ensuring wider accessibility of Philippine mangoes to Australian consumers,” DTI said in a statement on Saturday.

For his part, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual expressed

THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said rising international quotations for vegetable oils, dairy products and meat caused the benchmark index for world food commodity prices to go up for the first time in 7 months.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a set of globally-traded food commodities, rose by 1.1 percent last month. It averaged 118.3 points in March, down 7.7 percent from its corresponding value a year ago.

FAO said the Vegetable Oil Price Index led the increase in March, rising 8 percent from February and reaching a one-year high as quotations for palm, soy, sunflower and rapeseed oils all rose.

“International palm oil prices increased due to seasonally lower outputs in leading producing countries and firm domestic demand in Southeast Asia, while those for soyoil recovered from multi-year lows, boosted by robust demand from the biofuel sector, particularly in Brazil and the United States of America.”

Dairy prices also rose for the sixth consecutive month in March, up 2.9 percent

from February, led by rising world cheese and butter prices.

“The FAO Meat Price Index also increased, rising 1.7 percent from the previous month, with international prices up for poultry, pig and bovine meats.”

By contrast, the FAO Cereal price Index declined by 2.6 percent, averaging 20 percent below its March 2023 value.

“The drop was led by decreasing global wheat export prices, which declined due to ongoing strong export competition— underscored by cancelled purchases by China—among the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States of America,” FAO said.

“Maize export prices edged upwards in March, partly due to logistical difficulties in Ukraine, while the FAO All Rice Price Index dipped by 1.7 percent amid subdued global import demand.”

The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 5.4 percent from February, with the drop mainly driven by an upward revision to the 2023/24 sugar production forecast in India and the improved pace of the harvest in Thailand.

confidence that the shipment to Australia could open up opportunities for the Philippines in other countries.

“For Australia, with the market access, we can expect an increase in trade,” Pascual said, adding that DTI aims to provide enhanced market access for Philippine stakeholders/exporters to many countries “as much as possible” including the non-traditional partners.

“Our challenge would be on the production side.”

Pascual said “key policy tools” such as the Second Protocol of the Asean-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which was signed by the Philippines last February 14, are essential to the administration’s goal of

expanding exports.

“The continued growth in our bilateral trade underscores the vast potential for our products in the Australian market. The successful export of our mangoes exemplifies the significant strides we’re making in facilitating agricultural trade, which is pivotal for our economic agenda.”

DTI told the BusinessMirror that Philippine exports of guavas, mangoes, and mangosteens, fresh or dried to Australia amounted to $389,659 in 2023.

The Trade department noted that Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Sydney (PTICSydney) is leading the charge in expanding the reach of premium Philippine agricultural products, particularly mangoes.

“Through strategic initiatives such as trade fairs and consultations, PTIC-Sydney is actively working to enhance the international visibility of Philippine products.”

The first shipment of Philippine mangoes arrived in Sydney and Perth last September 2023. This batch of mango shipment was harvested from the local farms in Malalag, Digos, Bansalan and Magsaysay municipalities in Davao del Sur. Andrea E. San Juan

and would otherwise have been discarded as waste.

Philexport also said non-compliance with the EUDR will prevent access to and exports from the EU.

Citing Global legal intelligence platform Lexology, the umbrella organization of Philippine exporters listed the requirements that must be met by commodities to be able to export to the 27-member bloc.

Philexport said the commodities should be deforestation-free; they have been produced with the relevant legislation of the country of production in terms of environmental protection, land use rights, and labor rights; and they are covered by a due diligence statement.

It also reminded companies of the penalties for non-compliance. “These may take the form of fines of up to 4 percent of the company’s EU turnover, confiscation, or exclusion from public funding or contracts.”

Last year, the EU was the Philippines’s sixth largest export market

with receipts reaching $8.4 billion.

“Food exports were valued at more than $400 million and included tuna, desiccated coconuts, preserved pineapples and pineapple juice, fruits and nuts, breads and pastries, rum and other distilled fermented sugarcane products,” Philexport said.

Business stakeholders such as officials of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) welcomed the resumption of free trade talks between the Philippines and the EU as this will strengthen bilateral cooperation and “deepen” economic ties between the two parties.

However, they noted that Philippine negotiators should also be “extra cautious in giving in to certain conditionalities imposed by the EU and ensure that these are justifiable and fair based on the country’s level of development.”

(See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/03/21/biz-groupsraise-concerns-ahead-of-resumption-phl-eu-fta-talks/_)

Local planters sell produce via WalterMart program

By VG Cabuag @Villygc

SM Investments Corp. (SMIC), the holding firm of the Sy family, said it is supporting the country’s agriculture sector by giving farmers access to their retail chain, WalterMart.

WalterMart’s program provides Filipino farmers with market access that enables them to bring farm-fresh produce to the customers efficiently, according to SMIC.

WalterMart goes above and beyond hosting products from farmers for just a limited period. Instead of bringing them in through concessionaires, they integrate them across 38 stores by providing a venue for them to sell daily, the company said.

“Making a difference in people’s lives has been an advocacy of the group borne from the simple dream of SM founder Henry Sy Sr. to uplift the livelihood of local farming communities,” SMIC president and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio said.

By harnessing the resources of SMIC, DyBuncio said the company aims to empower local farmers, strengthen rural economies and

contribute to food security.

“Our partnership with local producers through the Palengke Fresh program [of WalterMart] bridges the gap between farm and table and cultivates a sustainable agricultural culture between farmers and customers with each direct sale.

For us to make an impact on the livelihood of our farmers, we make it to a point that they are involved in our supply chain process,” Jennilyn Uy, president of WalterMart, said.

The Palengke Fresh program started in February 2022, with a few stores in Central Luzon. It has now transformed into one of WalterMart’s flagship programs in reaching out to more farmers and serving the best available produce to its customers.

Since its launch, Uy said the program has empowered several farmer cooperatives, selling over 2000 metric tons of produce, bolstering their income.

“The program helps our farmers sell their fresh produce,” she said.

“As a community mall, we look at more ways to create a positive impact and be inclusive of our communities and the customers we serve.”

DA: Deep piers for large ships will cut cost of logistics, inputs

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the construction of deep piers designed for large ships to reduce the cost of transporting farm inputs like fertilizers.

The agency said this could lead to a reduction in rice production cost and help planters boost their output.

“Our primary focus remains on elevating production levels and lowering production costs in rice cultivation, primarily through mechanization and reducing postharvest losses, as emphasized by Secretary [Francisco] Tiu Laurel,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said in a Palace statement following a news forum last Saturday. De Mesa said streamlining the logistics of farm inputs will enhance the competitiveness of the

country’s rice production. Highlighting logistical challenges, De Mesa noted the cost implications of transporting fertilizers from Bataan to Mindoro via multiple transfers.

He said the establishment of deep piers capable of accommodating larger vessels could significantly reduce transportation costs by enabling direct shipment, potentially lowering input prices by P15 to P20 per unit.

In March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that rice inflation accelerated to 24.4 percent, which compares with the 24.6 percent posted in February 2009. The highest rice price increase was recorded in July 2008 when it rose by 36.4 percent.

De Mesa said Vietnam produces rice at around P6 per kilo, compared with the P12 to P14 per kilo production cost in the Philippines.

“Labor is the major cost component in producing rice, and labor costs are at a premium in the Philippines,” the DA official said.

He said the Rice Tariffication Law was passed to reduce the labor cost component of producing rice.

The law allocates P10 billion annually for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF). Half of this or P5 billion is earmarked for farm mechanization.

Aside from improving logistics, the DA is also focusing on enhancing the distribution system, as well as post-harvest facilities to make the country’s agriculture sector more competitive.

According to De Mesa, the agency is targeting to raise rice productivity, noting that currently, the national average is only 4.1 metric tons per hectare.

Nueva Ecija, the country’s

rice granary, produces 6 to 8 metric tons per hectare. He said there are many areas in the country that are producing 3 to 4 metric tons per hectare because of the limited use of high-yielding varieties, irrigation, and fertilizer due to high input costs.

De Mesa said the DA is exerting “extra effort” to enhance rice production in the Philippines while reducing costs to alleviate the impact of global inflation on both food and non-food items, particularly rice.

He acknowledged that current post-harvest losses of around 15 to 20 percent, particularly during the drying and milling stages, attributed to the diverse varieties of rice being cultivated.

There are more than 18 existing varieties of rice per region, which the DA plans to cut down to just 2 or 3 for every region to ensure higher milling recovery.

editorial

Protecting children’s education in the face of climate change

The recent report by Save the Children Philippines highlighting the severe impact of climate change on schoolchildren is a wake-up call for governments and societies worldwide. With nearly two-thirds of schoolchildren, over 26 million in total, facing the consequences of climate change, urgent action is needed to protect their right to education and ensure a sustainable future. (Read the BusinessMirror report: “Climate change disrupts education of 26 million kids,” April 5, 2024).

Climate change has proven to be a multi-faceted challenge that affects various aspects of children’s lives. The looming threat of El Niño, with its scorching heat and limited access to water, poses a significant risk to the well-being of students. Stronger typhoons, a consequence of climate change, disrupt the education system through frequent class suspensions and damage to school infrastructure. Moreover, the Covid-19 pandemic has already disrupted education, and now the changing climate further compounds the challenges faced by students.

Rohj Olivo, a 17-year-old advocate for climate action, rightly points out that governments must guarantee uninterrupted access to quality education amidst the changing climate. It is crucial for leaders to not only listen to the voices of the youth but also recognize their wisdom in addressing this crisis. The future of our planet depends on the collective efforts of both present and future generations.

The recent cancellation of classes in various regions due to record-high temperatures underscores the immediate need for action. It is commendable that the country’s youth representative engaged in discussions with international figures such as Unescap Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana and UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development Surya Deva to advocate for children’s rights to a healthy environment. This dialogue provides a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing to find effective solutions.

In a sideline event on education and climate change, Rep. Ma. Cynthia King Chan emphasized the importance of investing in education as a means to secure economic development, opportunity, and a prosperous future for the nation. Education is not only a fundamental right but also a vital tool for empowering individuals to understand and address the challenges posed by climate change. By investing in education, governments can equip children and youth with the knowledge and skills needed to build a sustainable and resilient society.

It would do well for our government, like many others around the world, to prioritize investments in education that account for the realities of climate change. This includes improving school infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, integrating climate change education into the curriculum, and promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices among students. Additionally, collaboration between government agencies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations is crucial to develop comprehensive strategies and policies that protect children’s education in the face of climate change.

As we confront the dual challenges of climate change and inequality, it is crucial to remember that the well-being and future of our children are at stake. We must act swiftly and decisively to ensure that climate change does not rob them of their right to education and a prosperous future.

There is no better time than now for governments, international organizations, and communities to come together, listen to the voices of children and youth, and take concrete steps to build a greener and more sustainable world for generations to come.

Philippines needs a raise

NDr. Rene E. Ofreneo

LABOREM EXERCENS

eDA envisions a Philippines becoming a middle-class economy by 2040. It is a vision of an economy where all Filipino families shall have decent homes, social protection and access to health, education and other basic services and necessities in life. In a middle-class economy, all workers shall have decent quality jobs.

How can such a vision be fulfilled if majority of our Filipino workers remain trapped in low-wage, lowproductivity employment in a very unequal society?

Dios por santo, for five long decades, real wages in the Philippines are either stagnant or stagnating like our manufacturing sector, which has been left behind by our Asian neighbors. The Philippines needs a raise. Filipino workers, both formal and informal, need a raise in wages and incomes.

For our middle-class aspirations to happen, we need to overhaul the overall economic development framework and the narrow wageemployment system we have.

The minimum wage increase pro-

posals advanced by the Senate and the House deserve the collective support of the nation. P100 or P150 additional? Is this doable?

It is. In fact, corporations such as those in the power industry, telecommunications industry, water industry, banking industry, big construction industry, mining industry, logistics industry and malling/ entertainment industry have been reporting openly on their multi-billion profits that are near a trillionpeso level. They should share more of their earnings with the workers and with the larger society in terms of taxes. Konsiyensiya lang po.

For the rest of the industries, there should be dialogues on transi-

tioning, meaning labor-industry negotiations on how to comply with the new minimum wage. The Labor Code has explicit provisions on the importance of labor-management consultations and concertations on issues such as wages and working conditions even if an enterprise is nonunionized. Article 255 (renumbered as Article 267) states that workers shall have the right…to participate in policy and decision-making processes of the establishment where they are employed insofar as said processes will directly affect their rights, benefits and welfare.” The Article explains, “For this purpose, workers and employers may form labor-management councils.”

How to implement the minimum wage adjustments in small and medium companies having financial difficulties? One way is to copy the solution advanced in Malaysia by the government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim: give these companies transition wage subsidy. As a backgrounder, major industrial relations actors in Malaysia today have been discussing the Malaysian government’s proposal for a “progressive incremental wage increases across industries.” The objective is not only to raise the workers’ take-home pay but also to push industries to invest more on technology upgrading and

productivity-raising measures as part of a broader win-win program to make Malaysia more competitive. The Malaysian progressive wage increase proposal is an expansion of the Singapore’s Progressive Wage Model, which seeks to progressively increase the wages of the lowest-paid workers while providing them at the same time opportunities for upskilling and career advancement.

Unfortunately in the Philippines, some of our economic planners are stuck with the old idea that the best way to make the country’s growth robust and sustainable is to rely on the cheapness of labor. Hence, the laborintensive export-oriented formula of Neda in the 1970s. This was reinforced in the 1980s with the World Bank’s policy conditionality asking the Philippine government to continue the policy of “wage restraint” for workers. Thus, the 1970s and 1980s were decades of horrible wage declines for the Filipino workers. From the 1990s onward, there has been limited advancement in the wage situation. Limited because the wage fixing system of the Regional Wages Boards simply links wage adjustment to inflation, resulting in the annual changes of minimum wages in nominal, not real terms. Eventually, there has been a deterioration

See “Ofreneo,” A11

Delayed legalization of motorcycle taxis has adverse impact on MSMEs and economy

The Technical Working Group of the LTFRB that is currently conducting a pilot study as a prerequisite for formulating legislation to legalize this particular mode of transportation has yet to come up with its recommendation. And now, there are plans to conduct additional research.

As a result of this, the enactment of the law permitting motorcycle taxis to operate within the country’s business environment will be delayed. Consequently, the anticipated legalization, which would greatly benefit the growth and vitality of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), will be postponed, affecting their potential for increased success and prosperity.              It must be noted that delivery

apps that allowed transactions to take place between a consumer and a business unit have led to an increase in commerce, and it is these apps that allowed the country to partially offset the effects of Covid-19 on businesses like hotels and restaurants.

With the delivery apps, consumers can opt to stay at home having their favorite food brought to their place still piping hot and even order a car to pick them up from their place and go to a business meeting.

In a way, the delivery apps have fostered the growth of dynamic MSMEs, thereby contributing to economic expansion. The impact of these apps extends beyond creating business opportunities; they have also generated additional employ-

ment opportunities.

We understand that Grab is said to have created more than 100,000 driver and operator jobs and digitalized more than 15,000 small and medium enterprises between 2019 and 2021, and this is credited for easing the national unemployment rate by 1.1 percent to 1.6 percent in that time frame.

Researchers from the University of Asia and the Pacific estimate that the app of the same Singapore-based TNC contributed P37 billion to P165.6 billion to the country’s GDP, a key economic matrix in the same period.

The economists also revealed that this app-based transport company, unlike other modes of transportation, has a 3.42 multiplier effect, which means that every P100 pesos spent on the app results in an additional P342 in output, the so-called multiplier effect.               Therefore, the simple fact that motorcycle taxis offer an additional avenue for MSMEs to promote their businesses should serve as sufficient grounds for the LTFRB to expedite their study. This would enable the passage of pending bills in both houses of Congress, allowing for the implementation of necessary regulations.

The bill that is now being deliberated upon will address all the concerns on safety and other issues. In essence, the only obstacle hindering its passage is the pilot study. It is crucial to overcome this state of analysis paralysis and allow the motorcycle taxi bills to be enacted. This would result in a significant boost to the vitality of MSMEs, which account for 70 percent of employment opportunities.

Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed his clear intention to push for the passage of the motorcycle taxi bill. Similarly, Senator Grace Poe, the advocate in the upper chamber for legalizing motorcycle taxis, shares the same determination.

Poe earlier said the legalization and regulation would help address safety risks present in both registered motorcycle-for-hire and the “colorums” or habal-habal as well as improve commuter welfare by giving them the option to choose legitimate service providers.

The bill, which is an amendment to Republic Act 4136, or the Land Transportation and Tariff Code, defines motorcycles-for-hire as any two-wheeled motor vehicle registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which transport

See “Gagni,” A11

Tapang ng Catapang

Philippines as a global tax leader THE PATRIOT

AJoel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

peruSAL of the Asia pacific tax Hub (tax Hub) of the Asian Development Bank presents troves of treasures for tax administrators, taxpayers, practitioners, and researchers. the tax Hub is a comprehensive online platform of the ADB that serves as a knowledge hub and resource center for tax-related information and initiatives in the region. (https://www.adb.org/what-we-do/asia-pacifictax-hub). this provides such information as tax data and resources, including tax revenue statistics of ADB member countries, a repository for ADB’s publications, research papers, and knowledge products related to taxation, and information on ADB’s technical assistance and capacity-building initiatives in the area of taxation.

There are several papers and research on tax incentives and investments. These references are relevant and necessary for the Philippines’ tax stakeholders. Taxpayers are interested in knowing the state of taxation and investment incentives in their home country as well as the neighboring states to provide inputs to their plans for future expansion or trade.

a publication of the a DB in January 2024 entitled “Tax investments and incentives” provides an analysis of how tax incentives are employed across a sia and the Pacific, looks at their effectiveness, and considers how these can best be used to encourage investment in activities with clear social benefits. (http://dx.doi. org/10.22617/BRF240006).

This publication is also a useful tool for government fiscal and tax authorities.

This provides estimation methodologies to help tax policymakers, analysts, and administrators estimate losses from tax expenditures and incentives.

a nother resource available in the Tax Hub is the publication entitled “a Comparative a nalysis of Tax ad ministration in a sia and the Pacific: se venth Edition.” (http:// dx.doi.org/10.22617/TCS240003-2).

This comprehensive reference was published in January 2024 and provides a comparative analysis of the administrative processes and tax performance of tax administrations in 41 economies to highlight reform challenges, benchmarking capabilities and outline opportunities. The Bureau of internal Revenue is included in this publication. The various processes in tax administration are covered in this reference. There are comparative discussions on the taxpayer registration and identification process, taxpayer services, tax return filing and assessment, tax payment processes, post-filing verification activities, dispute resolution, enforced debt collection, tax crime investigation, and taxpayer segmentation, a lso discussed are the financial resources for tax administration offices, human resources data, and the demographics of the tax offices’ workforce. The publication also scrutinizes the growing digitalization and transformation initiatives in the a sia-Pacific region.

To complement the topic of tax digitalization, there is this blog posting in the Tax Hub entitled “Digitizing a sia’s Tax a gencies.” (https:// blogs.adb.org/blog/digitizing-asia-s-

continued from A10

tax-agencies) This blog dwells on the need for tax administrations to accelerate digitalization and further explore innovative technology solutions. it d iscusses that “over the past two decades, tax authorities have harnessed digital technology to improve their efficiency in collecting taxes and increasing transparency, as well as providing better service through streamlined processes and user-friendly interfaces.” in the case of the Philippines, its Tax Computerization Program, which was funded by the World Bank in 1993 for $63 million, was the predecessor of the various digitalization initiatives of the BiR . The most current of such is the Digital Transformation Program contained in Revenue Memorandum Order No. 27-20, providing for the transformation roadmap for the period 2020 to 2030.

The blog expounds that each tax administration in the region differs in its digital transformation journey. a lthough there are common overall objectives and standardized phases and endpoints, each transition is different due to a multitude of factors, including the baseline, availability of infrastructure to support a digital transformation, tax administration, and taxpayer capacity.

it also mentions that the key essentials in the digital transformation of the tax office include planning, designing, and executing a digital transformation journey. The Bi R has a long history and experience in administering large computerization and now, digital transformation programs.

BiR Commissioner Romeo “Jun” Lumagui can take the lead in showcasing the successful and best practices in its digital transformation journey for the rest of the a sia-Pacific tax administrations to emulate, and for our taxpaying community to derive the beneficial outcomes.

To be continued

QSiegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

uite a few Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) officers have been targeted; some have perished as in the case of Atty. Fredric Santos in 2020, the Bureau’s erstwhile Chief Legal Officer, likely due to some disgruntled elements in the underworld. As to who could possibly do such brazen act of killing another remains another case of unresolved mystery, just like most of the gruesome deaths in this country.

Named after Philippine revolutionary generals, Gregorio and Pio del Pilar, current BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang is no stranger when it comes to life and death situations. several days ago, one of his vehicles, though used by his co-worker in the Bureau, was shot at by unidentified assailants. Being a reform-minded leader, before in the a r my and now in the correctional system, DG Catapang is used to seeing disgruntlement among his ranks. When asked if he was afraid of losing his life in the process of making changes in his agency, DG Catapang simply said that “risks to life” have been with him ever since childhood. He claimed to have been gifted with several “second chances” in life as he has had several near-death experiences, perhaps worthy of a Netflix documentary. His boldness and courage come with no surprise given his steadfast trust in his faith, which is openly shared for all to witness.  Leaders, especially those who “rock the boat” for the sake of making their organizations better, should follow the example of DG Catapang—fearless not reckless, courageous and audacious! upon his assumption in office, DG Catapang instituted operational level reforms, mostly in technology and infrastructure, such as the installation of more CCTV cameras and the use of GPs technology to locate the whereabouts of correctional of-

ficers on duty. More importantly, DG Catapang is fixated on the Bureau’s mandate of reformation, defined in law, as the acts to “ensure the public (including families of inmates and their victims) that released national inmates are no longer harmful to the community by becoming reformed individuals prepared to live a normal and productive life upon reintegration to the mainstream society.” under R a 10575, reformation programs include (1) Moral and spiritual, (2) Education and Training, (3) Work and Livelihood, (4) sports and Recreation, (5) Health and Welfare Program, and (6) Behavior Modification Program. Curiously, in this enumeration, the law states Moral and spiritual Program ahead of all others, as if to emphasize the power of Divine Providence in any reformation process. in a media forum, The a genda at Club Filipino, DG Catapang kept his advice to inmates as simple as “Find Your God!”

Parallel to this effort within BuCor are legislative efforts in making laws to free those released from prison from the stigma of being branded as “ex-convict” that results in discrimination in employment or education. House Bill (HB) 1681, among others, seeks to provide incentives to employers who will hire former prisoners and to create the Office of Employment Opportunities for Former Prisoners under the Department of Justice (DOJ). HB

7938 or what would be called the Clean sl ate act seeks to allow those who have served their time for petty crimes to request the expungement of their criminal record, presumably to lessen the stigma of being an “exconvict.” if it becomes a law, no one can access criminal records of those who have gone to prison for minor offenses, save for certain kinds of employers and agencies. On top of these congressional initiatives are after-care activities done by the private sector. There is a second Chance Program in partnership with relevant government agencies that aims to fight recidivism by accompanying young offenders, aged between 17 to 23 years old, to be successfully reintegrated into society.  a nd of course we have Republic act 10592, or the New Good Conduct Time a l lowance (GCTa) law—considered as the “textbook” for detainees and convicted prisoners as it is a lifeline. This law grants good conduct time allowance and other privileges available to (1) “any offender qualified for credit imprisonment pursuant to a r ticle 29 of the RPC,” and in the alternative (2) “any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation, or detention center in any other local jail.” Even recidivists, habitual delinquents, escapees, and persons deprived of liberty convicted of heinous crimes may earn GCTa credits, per the supreme Court in the case of Guinto et al., v. Department of Justice; Inmates of New Bilibid Prison, et al. v. Department of Justice (GR 249027 and GR 249155). The sC emphasized that a r ticle 97 of the RPC, as amended by R a 10592, is clear that “any convicted prisoner is entitled to GCTa as long as the prisoner is in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, or any other local jail.” a nd yes, even prisoners defined as a “Colonist” (inmates of the New Bilibid Prison, Muntinlupa City v. secretary De Lima; GR 212719) are entitled to a credit of a GCTa credit. BuCor DG Catapang’s life seems to mirror the “second chances” favor, if not a “complete erasure” privilege conferred by the aforecited laws to

North Korea’s ballistic missiles getting valuable battlefield testing in Ukraine

By Soo-Hyang Choi & Jon Herskovitz

Russia’s use of North Korean missiles in its assault in ukraine is giving Pyongyang a rare chance to test its weapons in combat and perhaps take away lessons that could improve their performance, a top us general said.

“i don’t believe that in my recent memory that the North Korean military has had a battlefield laboratory quite like the Russians are affording them to have in u k raine,” said General Charles Flynn, the us a r my Pacific’s commanding general.

(50 miles) south of seoul.

Flynn said a great concern for him and others is that North Korea will be able to learn things about their weapons “they would otherwise not have access to absent a conflict” like the war in u k raine.

The us will be deploying missile systems with mid-range capability to the indo-Pacific region soon, Flynn said, without giving further details on timing or locations. such a move could draw the ire of China, which in 2019 warned that us allies in the region risked countermeasures if they accepted the deployment of intermediate-range a merican missiles.

missile that can reliably hit targets with a high degree of precision, according to weapons experts.

any convicted prisoner in any penal institution, rehabilitation or detention center, and local jail. His advocacy on reformation seems a necessary and natural offshoot of accepting the lifeline offered by these laws and the private sector. a nd his valor in pursuing his duties as a public servant despite threats of and actual danger to his life is nothing short of a clear manifestation of his firm faith in his Heavenly Creator.

interestingly, the GCTa credit, expungement of criminal records, and full acceptance in societal set-up available to a convict are comparable to the R iGHTEOusNEss status of a believer in faith. When a believer accepts and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is his savior (Romans 10:911, the Bible), he is considered righteous, his sinful records expunged by our a bba Father. For we were all sinners, “convicts” in law, but in God’s eyes, a believer’s transgressions are completely erased as He only sees Jesus and his sacrifice on the Cross. This is the consequence of salvation as cemented in 2 Corinthians 5:21: “For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” Distinctly though, while GCTa a nd other legal privileges are to be earned, and predicated on the prisoner’s reformation, God’s salvation is FREE—a gift that need only be aCCEPTED by the recipient.

Following DG Catapang’s “ Tapang,” no matter the peril, may we also set our foot on the same “Tapang” or bravery in embracing God’s gift of salvation, symbolized on the cross. Let’s all “ Tapang ” take it!

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

utility vehicles, drivers would be required to undergo rigorous training, motorcycle-for-hire service providers would be strictly regulated, and only up-to-standards motorcycles will be utilized.

With the legalization, safety issues will be addressed squarely. There are now 134 habal-habal terminals in Metro Manila alone, some outside malls and LRT and MRT stations. By legalizing motorcycle taxis, the issue of safety is effectively addressed, paving the way for further expansion of MsMEs and their contribution to the economy.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Previously, he was also the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He now has his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy. passengers and goods on a for-hire basis, and which may utilize online ride hailing or pre-arranged transportation platforms. The measure requires motorcyclefor-hire to secure a certificate of public convenience or a special permit issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, aside from the usual vehicle and driver registration. Poe said that like all other public

That gives North Korea an opportunity to gain valuable information in technical matters, procedures and the munitions themselves. The us will be watching closely how this unfolds, Flynn said saturday during a visit to the sprawling us a r my Garrison Humphreys, about 80 kilometers

Ofreneo

continued from A10

over time of Philippine wages in real terms, as documented by both the Philippine statistics authority and the social Weather station.

Compare this to China, where according to the iLO, real wages, not nominal wages, increased by 896 percent between 2000 and 2021! This surge in real wage increases in China was used by the Chinese government in transforming some cities such as shenzen into high-tech and high productivity ones that are now competing head to head with the silicon Valley of a merica. China literally forced these cities to get out of the low-tech laborintensive industries to enable China

The us, south Korea and others have accused North Korea of sending to Russia its newest nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that are easy to hide, quick to deploy and hard to shoot down. images provided by the us indicate they are Hwasong-11s, a wide class of short-range ballistic

to move up the higher rungs of the technology and industry ladder. This is industrial Policy in action!

The point is that it is time to abandon the old thinking that the way forward is to rely on the relative cheapness of Philippine labor in making the economy competitive.

Limang dekada pong bagsak ang bansa sa ganitong pag-iisip. Time for a more pro-future and pro-worker transformation program for the country.

Of course, we should not neglect the informal workers and the informal sector enterprises. They constitute the majority of the workers and enterprises. Sa usaping ito, mahalaga na naman ang pag-uusap at konsultasyon. a program for the general upgrading of MsMEs and income situation of informal workers requires a

They have ranges of 380 to 800 kilometers and increase the pool of weapons Russian President Vladimir Putin can draw upon. Prosecutors in Kharkiv said in March that Russian forces have fired North Korean missiles at u k raine about 50 times since the start of the invasion, providing documentation for what it said included a Hwasong-11 family missile, specialist service NK News reported. The North Korean missiles sent so far are similar in size and flight dynamics to Russia’s iskander series, weapons experts have said. a report last year by the Center for strategic and international st udies showed that the us Patriot air defense system has so far been largely effective in countering Russia’s missiles. us allies south Korea and Japan both deploy Patriot batteries. These

more thorough consultation process with all the sectors.

Two major doables can be done: one, linking the economic and technological upgrading of our informal economy with the promotion of the newly-passed law on “Tatak Pinoy”, and two, passage of the Magna Carta for Workers in the informal Economy or MCW iE a re-development of communities and towns all over the archipelago under the Tatak Pinoy program can be pursued. On the other hand, the empowerment of the informals in terms of freedom to form their organizations and become productive partners of society in building a new economy is a good way out of the “low-income, lowproductivity” system in the country. in summary, it is high time that

air defense systems have a powerful radar able to track as many as 100 targets including cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft, according to a report from the Congressional Research service.

The us, south Korea, Japan and Europe have accused North Korea of sending massive amounts of munitions to Russia, which are interoperable with the soviet-era systems being used in u k raine. Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the charges despite a multitude of satellite photos released by research groups and the us government showing the flow of weapons from North Korea to Russia and then to munitions dumps near the border with u k raine.

in return for the arms, which are likely valued at several billion dollars, Russia is providing North Korea with food, raw materials and parts for weapons manufacturing, south Korean officials have said. Bloomberg

the government economic planners abandon their neo-liberal thinking that allowing wages to sink based on the interplay of supply and demand forces will eventually make the economy competitive and will ultimately benefit the workers and their families as the economy grows with the increased flow of investments. Kailan po kaya ito mangyayari? Two or three more decades?

Above is a slightly edited version of the statement read by the author in the Congressional hearing on the proposed national minimum wage adjustments in the country.

Dr. Rene E. Ofreneo is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines. For comments, please write to reneofreneo@ gmail.com.

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Filinvest Development sets aside ₧25B for 2024 capex

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Filinvest Development Corp., the holding firm of the Gotianun Group, said it has allotted some P25 billion for capital expenditures (capex) this year to drive growth.

The spending budget for 2024 is some 28 percent lower than last year’s P35 billion.

Brian T. Lim, FDC’s treasurer and CFO, said, said the bulk of the spending will go to the company’s real estate business under Filinvest Land Inc., 15 percent for the group’s power projects, another 15 percent for FDC’s hospitality business and the remaining 10 percent for other businesses and digitalization.

building the 240-key Grafik Baguio, the latest brand under the FDC portfolio. The company wants to open the hotel by the first quarter of next year.

The company is also renovating its Crimson Clark hotel and is planning to expand Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan.

‘Semiconductor makers to hire thousands of workers in Calabarzon’

MRhoda A. Huang, the company’s president and CEO, said the company is targeting an annual growth of 20 percent for the medium term. She said most of the budget for capex will come from internally generated funds. Huang also said the company is still timing its preferred shares offering, part of which will fund the capex.

“It’s early. We want to see the developments for the purposes of the capex budget utilization. If ever, it will be late in the fourth quarter or first quarter in 2025 because we have funding in place for the purposes of the budgeted capex for 2024. We will be opportunistic,” Huang told reporters.

Lim said FDC is currently in the middle of developing a 20-megawatt (MW) solar power facility in Misamis Oriental, while another 12-MW is under development in Cebu under unit FDC Utilities Corp.

FDC is looking to beef up its portfolio of hotels that include Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan and Boracay, Crimson Hotel in Alabang, Quest Hotel and Conference Centers in Cebu and Clark.

In particular, FDC is currently

Ysmael Baysa, FDC chief operations officer, meanwhile, said the group is looking to consolidate the various enterprise resource plans into one as part of its digitalization effort while enhancing the purchasing, project management system and the management report and analysis and planning system.

FDC earlier reported its profits last year grew 46 percent to P12.1 billion from the previous year’s P8.3 billion. Revenues hit P71.1 billion, up 31 percent from P92.8 billion.

Converge sets sights on cloud gaming

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

COn v ERGE ICT Solutions Inc. is diversifying its business through its planned venture into cloud gaming and virtual reality.

Dennis Anthony H. Uy, the company’s CEO, said the group has already started its foray into the gaming industry by partnering with content providers.

“We have started with some gaming partners already with some content. In the future, we might venture into virtual reality and cloud gaming,” he said at the sidelines of Ookla’s awarding ceremonies on Thursday, where Converge bagged four titles. Cloud gaming, also known as

gaming on demand or gamingas-a-service, is a type of online gaming where the processing power required to run games is provided by remote servers hosted on the cloud.

Instead of running games on a local device like a console or PC, cloud gaming allows players to stream games over the internet directly to their devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart T vs , or computers. This eliminates the need for highend hardware specifications on the user’s device since the game processing is handled remotely. Meanwhile, virtual reality gaming is a type of gaming experience that immerses players in a com-

puter-generated virtual environment, where they can interact with the digital world and experience a heightened sense of presence and immersion.

v R gaming typically involves wearing a v R headset that tracks the user’s head movements and position, allowing them to look around and navigate within the virtual environment.

These types of games require high volumes of data to be processed in servers typically housed in data centers.

Uy said Converge plans to build three data centers in the Philippines-one in Pamapanga, another in Caloocan, and one in Laguna.

“They are coming up. They have

United Air calls off May investor day after safety incidents

Un I TED Airlines Holdings Inc. is calling off an investor meeting scheduled for early next month because it would “send the wrong message” to celebrate its performance in the wake of a series of headline-grabbing safety incidents.

The May 1 event will likely be rescheduled in the fall, when the carrier will discuss its “unique competitive advantages, new opportunities in loyalty and our bright future,” according to an email to investors and industry analysts Friday that was reviewed by Bloomberg news.

The surprise decision highlights the seriousness of safety concerns that have emerged in recent weeks. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reviewing United’s safety procedures and considering measures that would curb the airline’s growth, including preventing it from adding new routes, Bloomberg reported last month. That followed a recent spate of incidents involving United aircraft, including a wheel that flew off a Boeing Co. jet after takeoff, a fuselage panel lost during flight and a plane that ran off a runway.

“Right now, our entire team is focused on cooperating with the FAA to review our safety protocols and it would simply send the wrong message to our team to have an exciting investor day focused primarily on financial results,” United said in the Friday message signed by its investor relations department.

United shares fell 1.8 percent as of 5:14 p.m. after the close of normal trading in new York. The stock

had increased 4.7 percent this year through Friday.

The FAA will step up its presence in United operations to review the airline’s processes, manuals and facilities, the carrier’s vice president of corporate safety told employees in March.

The mishaps also triggered an internal review to determine if its safety training or procedures need to change, United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby told customers in a message last month. “While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus,” he said. United said at the time it already

had planned several changes, including an additional day of in-person training for pilots starting in May and a centralized curriculum for new maintenance technicians. The airline is also dedicating more resources to supplier network management, Kirby said.

United is scheduled to report first-quarter financial results on April 16.

In the case of the recent runway incident, a United captain appeared to stray from procedures for landing in slippery conditions before skidding off a wet runway in Houston, according to a preliminary report from the national Transportation Safety Board. Bloomberg News

a capacity of more or less 16MW,” he said.

The company was recently hailed as the local provider with the “Best Internet Gaming Experience.”

ULTI n A TIO n A L semiconductor and electronics firms that are about to set up shop in the Philippines will create as much as 7,600 semiconductorrelated jobs in Calabarzon, according to EMS Group Chairman and CEO Ferdinand Ferrer. Ferrer said EMS was able to attract “a couple of big investors” in the Philippines. One investor will build what he described as “an entirely new facility” in Batangas which would house a European brand offering consumer electronic products for women.

“Hopefully we can start the facilitation in June. The facility’s there so now we have to refacilitate it to be able to suit to this new product. This is in partnership with EMS,” Ferrer told reporters on the sidelines of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) General Membership Meeting in Makati City last Friday.

“This is a big plant, a very big factory in Batangas. We also have (one) in Laguna; we’re expanding a semiconductor business there.”

The Batangas plant alone could create as much as 5,000 jobs, according to Ferrer.

He said it will take 4 to 5 months to facilitate the building. By the fourth quarter of this year, he said, “we want to be able to qualify the building and the facility,” adding that the building

would need to secure international certification first before starting the operations by the first quarter of next year.

Apart from the European firm, he revealed that a Japanese and an American company that are into semiconductors are also looking at investing in the Philippines.

These two firms which he did not identify will likely create 2,600 jobs. “These are semiconductor highpaying jobs. There is no minimum wage here.”

He said the combined investment cost of both firms could reach $700 million to 750 million. These two foreign firms will set up shop in Calabarzon.

Ferrer attributed these developments to the current dynamics in the global business community.

“They call it ‘ABC,’ anything but China,” adding that “there are several different products or services na umaalis sa China. ‘Yun ang hinahanapan namin ng bahay dito.”

He noted that the Philippines is in the “right spot” to take advantage of attracting the firms that exit China.

According to its website, EMS Group is a “complete electronic, semiconductor and medical subcontracting group that offers technology and manufacturing solutions.” Andrea E. San Juan

Banking&Finance

SSS to hike membership to avert fund depletion

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

THE Social Security System (SSS) aims to increase its membership by two million members this year to protect its reserve funds from depleting, an official of the state-run pension fund said.

SSS Chief Actuary Edgar B. Cruz told reporters last Thursday that 15 years from now, SSS will be releasing more benefits to its members but collecting fewer contributions.

“It will reach its peak and that’s around 2039 for now. [That is] when because of shifting demographics, there will now be more benefits going out than contributions coming in,” Cruz said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The reserve fund of SSS will gradually decline until it reaches a zero balance, with its fund life ending by 2054, he added.

“If we do nothing now to reform the system and increase membership, ganon ang mangyayari [that is what will happen], which is why it is important to act now [rather] than wait until [2054],” Cruz stressed.

SSS President and CEO Rolando

L. Macasaet said the SSS is targeting to increase its membership to two million members this year. Half a million new members have been registered as of the first quarter of the year, Macasaet added.

“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 country,” the SSS chief said. “Otherwise, over time, [the] number of Filipinos having pensions will decrease.”

Meanwhile, Cruz said that the SSS is “in the works” in hiring fund managers to expand the pension fund’s investment portfolio and generate more earnings. He added the idea began after the SSS last year tapped state-run banks Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as its local fund managers.

The pension fund is currently relying on its 20 million paying members and is banking on its mandatory contribution hike provided under Republic Act 11199 (Social Security Act) to guard its fund life.

Under the law, the SSS should gradually increase the contribution rate by one percentage point every two years until it reaches 15 percent by 2025.

The employers will shoulder the 1-percent increase, which means their contribution will now be at 9.5 percent. The remaining 4.5 percent will be deducted from the employee.

Cruz assured that with the increase in contributions, SSS members can expect higher benefits when they retire, adding that the increase was already factored into the law.

Philhealth hikes benefits for breast cancer patients

PATIENTS diagnosed with early- to late-stage breast cancer can now avail of the enhanced “Z Benefits Package for Breast Cancer” of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The enhanced coverage for breast cancer under the state health insurer’s “Z benefits” package increased to P1.403 million, or 1,300 percent, from the P100,000 package rate available since 2012 to its members dealing with breast cancer.

In a news briefing last Friday, PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. said the enhanced package will make a “huge difference” not only to the lives of women battling with breast cancer but also to their families.

Under the “Z Benefits” package, patients diagnosed with Stage-0 Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS) to Stage IV will be covered. Previously, the benefits package covered up to Stage III-A only.

The benefits breast cancer patients will receive include: diagnostics covered up to P14,900; surgery of up to P140,000; chemotherapy worth from P122,000 to P198,000; hormonotherapy from P5,400 to P36,000; targeted therapy worth P1,000,008 for the 18 cycles of trastuzumab treatment; and, surveillance worth up to P14,000.

During the second year of treatment, patients can still avail themselves of the package and benefit from hormonotherapy and surveillance.

Moreover, even if the patient is declared cancer-free already, they can still avail of the surveillance benefit of the package to monitor their health.

Currently, there are only 21 contracted health facilities in the country where patients can avail of the “Z benefits” package. In the National Capital Region, these are the Philippine General Hospital and the East Avenue Medical Center.

Ledesma said that over 110 million PhilHealth members in the country and abroad can avail of the “Z benefits” package.

Whether they are direct or indirect contributors, such as indigent patients, persons with disabilities and senior citizens, Vice President for Quality Assurance Group Francisco Z. Soria Jr. said they can still

Faster inflation pace dashes analysts’ hopes for rate cut

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THOSE looking for cheaper loans will be disappointed to know that analysts do not expect “aggressive” rate cuts any time soon due to the latest inflation print.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the country’s overall inflation rate was at 3.7 percent in March 2024, faster than the 3.4 percent posted in February 2024. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/04/06/rice-prices-surging-as-inflation-hits-3-7/).

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) said inflation is expected to breach the high-end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) target of 2 to 4 percent in the second quarter of the year.

“Aggressive rate cuts are unlikely given the prevailing inflationary environment. Global supply constraints and geopolitical tensions are contributing to a faster rise in prices compared to the past decade, limiting the BSP’s room for significant rate reductions,” the lender said.

The BPI expects the BSP to only start considering rate cuts once inflation stabilizes in the third or even fourth quarter of the year. It added that the economy has also been resilient in the face of these rate cuts.

avail of the package.

“Yung mga walang premium payments, pwede pa ring mag-avail ng Z Benefits [package],” Soria added. [Those with no premium payments can still avail the package.]

“Everybody, from the day you’re born until the day you die, is covered by PhilHealth, which means lahat ay miyembro [everyone is a member],” Macasaet said, adding that everyone must register under the health insurance.

PhilHealth members and their dependents shall first undergo consultation and clinical examination for any abnormalities, lumps and other signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Eligible for the package are those that have a positive breast mass and/ or palpable axillary lymph node, BI-RADS category 4 or 5 results of either mammogram or ultrasound and a confirmed malignant breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ biopsy result.

The contracted health facility shall defer receiving any payments from eligible patients to avail of the diagnostic tests to be conducted at the facility and to qualify for the benefits package.

Philhealth noted that the multidisciplinary-interdisciplinary team of the health facility shall assess and evaluate patients diagnosed with breast cancer to determine the appropriate protocol before seeking pre-authorization approval from PhilHealth needed before providing surgery, systemic therapy and surveillance to patients.

The “Z Benefits” package shall not cover ongoing chemotherapy sessions for patients in the noncontracted health facility as patients must complete the required cycles or sessions of chemotherapy before enrollment in the package.

Patients who relapsed and are in need of surgical procedures on the same side of the breast shall be covered under the All Case Rate (ACR), whether or not covered by the Z Benefits.

Patients who underwent a procedure or treatment of breast cancer may also avail of the surveillance packages at the contracted health facility to monitor their condition and detect potential recurrence or progression. Reine Juvierre Alberto

“The economy has been resilient despite the elevated interest rates, with loan growth showing a recovery in January. We continue to expect a rate cut of around 75 basis points (bps) this year,” BPI said.

Rate cuts may only be on the table for the Monetary Board if the

US Federal reserve cuts rates. But it will still depend on the timing and the magnitude of this rate cut.

Given this, the BPI expects the Philippine peso to appreciate in the second half of 2024, depending on what the Federal Reserve will do. The bank observed the peso seem to strengthen when the Fed eases monetary policy.

“However, while a Fed cut might lead to Peso appreciation, its gains are likely to be smaller compared to other emerging market currencies given the substantial current account deficit of the country,” BPI said.

HSBC’s Asean economist Aris Dacanay said it was understandable that “market jitters” would surround expectations that inflation will breach the BSP’s inflation target.

But, Dacanay said, this expectation is mainly due to unfavorable base effects such as those coming from rice prices. He expects that these will wear off in August allowing inflation to return to the inflation target range of the BSP.

Last month, rice inflation accelerated to 24.4 percent, the highest since the 24.6 percent posted in February 2009. The highest rice prices recorded was 36.4 percent in July 2008.

“This isn’t to say that rice prices aren’t a concern. Since rice is a big staple in the Philippine consumer basket, high rice prices may spill over

Perspectives

to the other components of the CPI basket,” Dacanay said.

“The good news is that this spillover seems to be benign so far, with core CPI easing year-on-year. This showcases that monetary policy is in the works and that there is no impending need for the BSP to raise policy rates further,” he also said.

Keeping it tight

GIVEN these concerns, Global Source Partners Inc. Country Analyst Diwa

C. Guinigundo considers the BSP’s hawkish monetary policy stance appropriate.

Guinigundo said the latest inflation print was dissapointing and noted the “very little progress has been seen in ensuring sufficient food supply in the Philippines.”

With headline inflation continuing to rise to 3.7 percent, it was worth noting that core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, slowed to 3.4 percent in March 2024 from 3.6 percent in February 2024 and 8 percent in March 2023.

“This means that supply-side inflation factors remain strong and the government’s non-monetary measures seem limited in its mitigating impact,” Guinigundo stressed. “The tight monetary policy maintained by the BSP proves correct with the moderating core inflation.”

The former central bank deputy governor noted that rice remains a game-changer for inflation in the Philippines due to the weight it is assigned in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Rice has a weight of 8.87 percent for the CPI for All Income Households and 17.87 percent for the Bottom 30 percent or the poorest Filipinos. It is the country’s staple and a waterloving crop. This is a concern, Guinigundo

said, given that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that more and more provinces are reporting a “severe dry spell” in their locale.

The El Niño phenomenon, based on the NDRRMC report for April 7, the dry spell has affected 29,409 farmers and 26,731.4 hectares of crops. The total agriculture damages have reached P1.24 billion.

“More and more provinces reported severe dry spell. El Niño is expected to bring havoc until May, or even after,” Guinigundo said.

Data showed rice prices have been increasing in the double digits since September 2023, when rice prices increased 17.9 percent and started the year with a rice inflation of 22.6 percent.

Rice prices have been rising since January 2022 at 1 percent from the 0.1 deflation in December 2021 and 0.3 percent increase in January 2021.

The PSA said regular-milled, wellmilled, and special rice categories all exhibited double-digit increases year-on-year and single-digit growth month-on-month.

Data showed regular milled rice increased 28.1 percent to P51.11 per kilo in March 2024 from P39.90 per kilo in March 2023. On a month-onmonth basis, there was a 1.3-percent increase from the P50.44 per kilo average in February 2024.

In terms of well-milled rice, prices grew 27.6 percent to P56.44 per kilo last month from P44.23 per kilo in the same period last year. On a monthly basis, the growth was 0.9 percent from P55.93 per kilo in February 2024.

Special rice prices, meanwhile, increased 19.9 percent to P64.75 per kilo in March 2024 from P54 per kilo in March 2023. Compared to February 2024, special rice prices increased 0.5 percent from P64.42 per kilo.

As cloud over-spending rises, look to cost optimization

AS the rapid pace of change accelerates in the digital economy, organizations racing to remain competitive and enhance business value are facing significant new challenges to manage cloud spending.

With the cloud, consumption is often decentralized and IT departments no longer have tight control over on-site data centers and their costs. Shadow IT has become more common along the way, with users easily able to access alternative technology platforms and IT infrastructure. Wasteful cloud spending is further driven by complex billing structures, compounded in many cases by the use of multiple cloud services.

In the Flexera 2023 State of the Cloud Report, it shows that on average, enterprises are spending 35 percent more on cloud resources than needed to meet their business objectives. IT financial management processes often fall short when trying to account for cloud spending’s variable nature—KPIs are not focused on the right outcomes and reporting. Finance teams meanwhile often lack the technical acumen to make recommendations for cost savings, while engineering and development teams lack incentives to think financially.

Without the appropriate strategy, tools and governance in place, effective planning, monitoring, reporting and decision making on cloud spending and performance becomes difficult. Enterprises can repeatedly incur avoidable cloud spending unless current environments are correctly sized and ongoing discipline is established to manage technical configurations,

commercial levers and active financial management.

Embed governance to enhance spending efficiency

SIMPLY put, the race to the cloud has typically resulted in wasteful spending and insufficient oversight, leaving many organizations struggling to balance the advantages of cloud agility and innovation against the need for guardrails and enhanced transparency to control costs.

A holistic, enterprise-wide approach to cloud cost optimization is critical – taking into account people, processes, governance, data and technology. Implemented strategically, you increase agility, simplify the platform architecture and lower the total cost of ownership. The key to success is the need to embed governance that delivers significant new opportunities for cost optimization. Built-in governance enables businesses to become operational quickly without the need to worry about manual system controls. Control costs, create hierarchies and enforce a tagging strategy from the start. As KPMG professionals stress to clients on the cost-optimization journey:

n Establish spending objectives and implement cost controls so teams can work at speed and remain policy compliant.

n Apply policies with flexible hierarchies to multiple subscriptions with management groups and efficiently manage access policies and compliance for subscriptions.

n Quickly identify systems owners and business functions with tagging and continually track cloud spending.

Look to cloud FinOps to gain control

KPMG specialists are accelerating the journey to the cloud safely and securely by enhancing cloud investments through leading FinOps practices.

FinOps refers to financial management of cloud resources by cross-functional teams focused on spend accountability and businessvalue optimization. Teams from IT, finance and business units collaborate on data-driven spending decisions. Transparency is prioritized and everyone takes ownership for their cloud usage—ultimately enhancing financial control and predictability, reducing friction and accelerating product and service delivery.

To avoid certain pitfalls, we advise clients to pursue these five objectives for success:

n Improve and maintain cost predictability. Identify, plan and track cost and usage metrics that provide clues for optimizing the use of cloud resources. Use financial modeling powered by machine learning and cloud-based tools to predict costs and set targets.

n Optimize total cost of ownership. Design the cloud architecture, right-size resources, purchase reserved capacity, and capitalize on favorable pricing models and commitment discounts to improve average cost rates and deliver a better return on cloud investments.

n Increase ownership and accountability. Incentivize a culture of financial responsibility. Track and report data around cloud usage and costs to hold employees who manage cloud environments accountable for their spending.

n Improve governance efficiency. Create explicit policies to govern the provisioning of cloud resources.

n Improve monitoring and reporting capabilities. Boost monitoring and reporting capabilities by creating data collection pipelines for cloud-optimization metrics, automating controls and reports. Combine machine learning and human analysis to spot irregularities and find opportunities.

Our cloud cost-optimization pillars

KPMG specialists can provide a full review of your cloud estate, identifying waste and delivering necessary innovations to help minimize spending and maintain a robust environment. KPMG professionals’ holistic approach means faster and more detailed cost takeout than inhouse teams or cost tooling alone can achieve. Transparency and optimization of cloud financials are both tactical and structural as we apply five cost-optimization levers to help clients clearly define key objectives and how best to achieve them.

BEHIND THE MASK:

Exploring the dominance of anonymous voices in online political discourse

By Ali Swenson & Melissa Goldin The Associated Press

NEW YORK—The reposts and expressions of shock from public figures followed quickly after a user on the social platform X who uses a pseudonym claimed that a government website had revealed “skyrocketing” rates of voters registering without a photo ID in three states this year—two of them crucial to the presidential contest.

“Extremely concerning,” X owner Elon Musk replied twice to the post this past week.

“Are migrants registering to vote using SSN?” Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, asked on Instagram, using the acronym for Social Security number.

Trump himself posted to his own social platform within hours to ask, “Who are all those voters registering without a Photo ID in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Arizona??? What is going on???” State election officials soon found themselves forced to respond. They said the user, who pledges to fight, expose and mock “wokeness,” was wrong and had distorted Social Security Administration data. Actual voter registrations during the time period cited

were much lower than the numbers being shared online. Stephen Richer, the recorder in Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix, refuted the claim in multiple X posts while Jane Nelson, the secretary of state in Texas, issued a statement calling it “totally inaccurate."

Yet by the time they tried to correct the record, the false claim had spread widely. In three days, the pseudonymous user’s claim amassed more than 63 million views on X, according to the platform’s metrics. A thorough explanation from Richer attracted a fraction of that, reaching 2.4 million users.

The incident sheds light on how social media accounts that shield the identities of the people or groups behind them through

clever slogans and cartoon avatars have come to dominate right-wing political discussion online even as they spread false information. The accounts enjoy a massive reach that is boosted by engagement algorithms, by social media companies greatly reducing or eliminating efforts to remove phony or harmful material, and by endorsements from high-profile figures such as Musk. They also can generate substantial financial rewards from X and other platforms by ginning up outrage against Democrats.

Many such internet personalities identify as patriotic citizen journalists uncovering real corruption. Yet their demonstrated ability to spread misinformation unchecked while disguising their true motives worries experts with the United States in a presidential election year.

They are exploiting a long history of trust in American whistleblowers and anonymous sources, said Samuel Woolley, director of the Propaganda Research Lab at the University of Texas at Austin.

“With these types of accounts, there’s an allure of covertness, there’s this idea that they somehow might know something that other people don’t,” he said. “They’re co-opting the language of genuine whistleblowing or democratically inclined leaking. In fact what they’re doing is antithetical to democracy.”

The claim that spread online this past week misused Social Security Administration data tracking routine requests made by states to verify the identity of individuals who registered to vote using the

last four digits of their Social Security number. These requests are often made multiple times for the same individual, meaning they do not necessarily correspond one-toone with people registering to vote. The larger implication is that the cited data represents people who entered the US illegally and are supposedly registering to vote with Social Security numbers they received for work authorization documents. But only US citizens are allowed to vote in federal elections and illegal voting by those who are not is exceedingly rare because states have processes to prevent it.

Accounts that do not disclose the identities of those behind them have thrived online for years, gaining followers for their content on politics, humor, human rights and more. People have used anonymity on social media to avoid persecution by repressive authorities or to speak freely about sensitive experiences. Many left-wing protesters adopted anonymous online identities during the Occupy Wall Street movement of the early 2010s. The meteoric rise of a group of right-wing pseudonymous influencers who act as alternative information sources has been more recent. It’s coincided with a decline in public trust in government and media through the 2020 presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic. These influencers frequently spread misinformation and otherwise misleading content, often in service of the same recurring narratives such as alleged voter fraud, the “woke agenda” or Dem -

ocrats supposedly encouraging a surge of people through illegal immigration to steal elections or replace whites. They often use similar content and reshare each other’s posts.

The account that posted the recent misinformation also has spread bogus information about the Israel-Hamas war, sharing a post last fall that falsely claimed to show a Palestinian “crisis actor" pretending to be seriously injured.

Since his takeover of Twitter in 2022, Musk has nurtured the rise of these accounts, frequently commenting on their posts and sharing their content. He also has protected their anonymity. In March, X updated its privacy policy to ban people from exposing the identity of an anonymous user.

Musk also rewards high engagement with financial payouts. The X user who spread the false information about new voter registrants has racked up more than 2.4 million followers since joining the platform in 2022. The user, in a post last July, reported earning more than $10,000 from X's new creator ad revenue program. X did not respond to a request for comment, which was met with an automated reply.

Tech watchdogs said that while it’s critical to maintain spaces for anonymous voices online, they shouldn’t be allowed to spread lies without accountability.

“Companies must vigorously enforce terms of service and content policies that promote election integrity and information integrity generally,” said Kate Ruane, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democ -

racy and Technology.

The success of these accounts shows how financially savvy users have deployed the online trolling playbook to their advantage, said Dale Beran, a lecturer at Morgan State University and the author of It Came from Something Awful: How a Toxic Troll Army Accidentally Memed Donald Trump into Office.

“The art of trolling is to get the other person enraged," he said. “And we now know getting someone enraged really fuels engagement and gives you followers and so will get you paid. So now it’s sort of a business.”

Some pseudonymous accounts on X have used their brands to build loyal audiences on other platforms, from Instagram to the video-sharing platform Rumble and the encrypted messaging platform Telegram. The accounts themselves—and many of their followers—publicly promote their pride in America and its founding documents.

It’s concerning that many Americans place their trust in these shadowy online sources without thinking critically about who is behind them or how they may want to harm the country, said Kara Alaimo, a communications professor at Farleigh Dickinson University who has written about toxicity on social media.

“We know that foreign governments including China and Russia are actively creating social media accounts designed to sow domestic discord because they think weakening our social fabric gives their countries a competitive advantage,” she said. “And they’re right.”

Stevanovicigor Dream S ti me.com

LONDON-BASED fashion brand COS (www.cos.com), which in the Philippines can be found at SM Aura Premier, returned to the runway for its first-ever show in Rome, presenting the brand’s Spring Summer 2024 mainline and Atelier collections in the Italian capital.

The runway came to life within the Corsie Sistine, part of a 15th-century hospital, notably the oldest in Europe, which has been lovingly conserved and restored by local health organisation ASL Roma 1 (L’Azienda Sanitaria Locale). A contemporary walled structure, made with recycled voile, juxtaposed with the historic venue as the models, including iconic Italian supermodel Mariacarla Boscono, revealed 33 elegant looks surrounded by 13,000 square feet of frescoes.

This season, uplifting, airy volumes and delicately layered transparent fabrics meet soft, sculptural lines, blending elegant draping with tailored precision. Billowing off-the-shoulder tops and wide-leg trousers cocoon the wearer crafting a dynamic, voluminous visual that exudes confidence. Traditionally laid-back styles are reinvented in mesh fabrics that cascade around the body, while classic tailoring crafted from smooth silk takes on a loose unstructured silhouette.

COS also debuted its latest Atelier offering with the collection continuing to be distinguished by fine fabrics and impeccable attention to detail. Statement looks feature hand-pleated shoulder pads, fishtail skirts, and fluid maxi-lengths, while tailoring and knitwear are redefined through elongated hybrid sleeves and inward folding lapels. Experimenting with technique, material manipulation and slicing enhances the surface texture of leather jackets, ballerinas and loafers. Pleated wide-leg trousers, crafted using bespoke paper moulds, feature handpainted edges, creating depth and fluid movement. Investigating the materiality of light, COS experiments with the infusion of color through translucent materials and surfaces. Tones of red in bold, color-drenched silhouettes create a striking contrast against a backdrop of neutrals—steel blue, black, white, and sand.

Early bets at 60th Binibining Pilipinas

THE Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) held its final closed-door screening at the New Frontier Theater on April 5 for the 60th edition of its prestigious pageant. I observed the proceedings in my hometown of Cagayan de Oro, also home to Binibining Pilipinas International 1989 Lilia Eloisa Marfori Andanar (later Miss International 1989 Miss Friendship), Miss Universe Philippines 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtbach (later Miss Universe 2015) and Binibining Pilipinas InterContinental 2021 Cinderella Faye Obeñita (later Miss InterContinental 2021). Contrary to widespread speculations that there will be 60 delegates for its Diamond Jubilee Year, BPCI bared “only” 40 official candidates.

Welcomed into the fabled Binibini sisterhood are Aleckxis Chuidian, Carmella Cuaresma, Charisse Abanico, Christal de la Cruz, Corrine San Pedro, Erika Ballon, Geraldine Buenafe, Gracelle Distura, Jasmin Dingson, Jasmine Bungay; Joyce Anne Garduque, Kara Villarosa, Kristin Baconawa, Kylie Atiliano, Liezle Jones, Ma. Flordeliz Mabao, Mae Kimberly De Luna, Maria Jajalla, Marikit Manaois, Monica Acuno; Myrea Caccam, Myrna Esguerra, Cagayan de Oro’s Mythosela Villanueva; Nicklyn Jutay, Phoebe Godinez, Rendell Ann Caraig, Roella Frias, Roselyn Evardo, Samantha Acosta, Shaira Marie Rona; Shannen Manzano, Sheny Sampang, Sheryl Velez, Tracy Mae Sunio, Trisha Hernandez, Trisha Martinez, Vera Dickinson, Vienne Feucht, Zeneth Joy Khan and Zianah Joy Famy.

The reigning Binibining Pilipinas International Angelica Lopez is yet to compete abroad while Binibining Pilipinas Globe Anna Lakrini finished second runner-up in her international campaign. Miss International 2023 Nicole Borromeo emerged as third runner-up in her journey.

Even with only two crowns in contention— International and Globe—Binibining Pilipinas still attracts quality contestants.

“An end of an era, a new one starts. We are happy with this year’s batch since a lot are winners in their own local pageants,” says fashion director and BPCI executive committee member Raymond Villanueva.

He was referring to the following: Kimberly de Luna, Miss Caloocan 2024; Myrea Caccam, Binibining Naujan 2023 and Miss Oriental Mindoro 2023; Zeneth Khan, Miss Philippines Earth Top 20 and Miss Universe Philippines Isabela 2022; Geraldine Buenafe, Binibining Lungsod ng Batangas 2024; Marikit Manaois, Aliwan Fiesta Digital Queen 2022; Nicky Lynn Jutay, Miss Iloilo Binibini 2024; Rendelle Ann Caraig, Binibining Laguna 2024 and Miss Los Baños 2023; Roselyn Evardo, Miss Lumiere Philippines Eco-Tourism Queen 2018: Shenny Sampang, Binibining Bukidnon Pilipinas 2023; Tracy Mae Sunio, Miss Bacolod MassKara First Runner-up; and Christal Jean de la Cruz, Miss Olongapo 2022, Binibining Zambales 2023, Supermodel International Philippines 2023.

A lovely and captivating lass is Liezle Jones, who was beyond grateful in her social-media post: “Top 40. Journey starts now and I’m excited to share. Always remembering the divine guidance, the endless support from the people [who] have invested [their] energy into me and ultimately authenticity through it all. Experience is valuable. Memories are valuable.

Sassa Gurl takes Tara to another level

Tara and the video is part of Colourette’s rebranding. “Colourtint in #ThatPeach, which has become the iconic multi-use tint since 2017, is today’s most-loved lip product on social media with over 2 million units sold,” said Colourette Cosmetics on Instagram. Colourette is probably the first beauty brand to tap not just big beauty influencers and content creators but literally anyone who loves Colourtints. Its founder and CEO, Nina Dizon, is a maverick and the team behind her always knows how to tap into the minds of the brand’s fans.

Their campaigns are not always viral but the brand has always been known for inclusivity. Their campaigns and strategies have been copied and imitated so many times. They were one of the first local brands to use darker-skinned models with Filipino features instead of olive-skinned mestizos and mestizas in the name of inclusivity.

Not all their products are as popular as the

I’m excited. Networking is valuable. With gratitude I am honored to be a part of the 60th anniversary of Binibining Pilipinas. Laban Ormoc!” Here are some of the strong contenders who were beyond ecstatic: Myrna Esguerra, Miss Abra 2023: “I am your Binibini Myrna Esguerra from the awesome province of Abra. Who would’ve thought that a small town girl like me is actually capable of being one of the Top 40 official candidates of this year’s Binibining Pilipinas 2024? I’m here to remind you that dreams do come true. And its possible because of the love of the people who continuously extend their hand whenever I need them.”

Jasmin Castro Bungay: Miss Pampanga (Mutya Ning Kapampangan) 2016: “It was a wild journey of self-discovery, my life in Dubai that is. Lost my footing 5 years ago, packed my bags and started anew in the sandpit, survived all the sandstorms that came along the way, came out a woman ready to reclaim her dream. Now here we are, a Binibini. Thank you, everyone! Dakal pung salamat!” Trisha Martinez, a dentist by profession and a heavy favorite last year: “The doctor is in. Officially a #Binibini again this year. Thank you so much to everyone who send their warm support and love. See you in Araneta. No more holding back!”

Colourtint but generally, Colourette is well loved by consumers as a brand because it delivers. You get value for money from their products. Personally, my favorites are First Base (a skin tint with SPF) and Colourbounce (a blush). Another Filipino brand that’s making wave on social media and in real life is Vice Cosmetics, which recently released eight shades of its Cover Up Skincealer, Hyper Wear 24HR Airbrush Powder Foundation, micro-fine Universal Fix Baked Setting Powder, and a 24HR Lock Setting Spray with a patented Pollushield Technology.

The powder foundation is not new. Vice Cosmetics already had them a few years ago but this version is definitely better. I liked the old powder foundation but the new one is less powdery and has more coverage. I have been using it with the Skincealer, which is also amazing. It’s full coverage and long-lasting. But what surprised me from this collection was the

Roella Frias, Miss CosmoWorld 2023-Entrepreneurship: “It took a lot of courage for me to submit my application yesterday, but my heart is so full knowing that my childhood dream will become reality.”

Kristin Baconawa: “Officially a Binibini. All glory to God. As a Filipina who’s been self-supporting ever since 16 years old, I could say that my life has been pretty challenging over the years. Challenged financially, emotionally and mentally. These challenges made me stronger and a better person with the help of my loved ones and my community. I thank God for developing my inner strength because now I can confidently show the world what kind of a Christian woman He has created.”

For International Women’s Day, the FilipinoCanadian Vera Corinne Dickinson, Binibining Kanlahi 2023, says: “What better way to celebrate it than to look back on a purposeful reign. Forever grateful to the Binibining Kanlahi organization, government of Tarlac and my municipality Concepcion for giving me this opportunity that led so many doors to open. May we remind ourselves, not just today but everyday, to be strong, one of a kind, independent, bold and passionate in everything we do. Sending my warmest love to all women out there.” n

Universal Fix Baked Setting Powder. I normally stay away from setting powders because they often leave a white cast. This setting powder (I have the yellow one) doesn’t. It sets your makeup perfectly.

I have always been a fan of Vice Cosmetics. I think the brand comes out with products that are really useful for people. For example, their matte lipsticks are very matte but they aren’t extremely drying. Their mascaras are good and inexpensive. Their lip liners are topnotch.

If you want to look put-together with a limited budget but don’t want to take the risk of using makeup that’s not FDA-approved, Vice Cosmetics is a good and consistent brand.

I am so happy that Filipino brands have made great strides in beauty. That is good for Filipino beauty consumers who now have a myriad of choices instead of just buying what they can afford, even if it’s a bad product.

ONLY one person can out-blush Sassa Gurl and that is herself. Her video for Filipino brand Colourette

GOOD NUTRITION, LIFESTYLE VITAL TO REVERSING, MANAGING TYPE 2 DIABETES

GOOD nutrition has long been recognized as a key tenet of diabetes management. Those who take the time to learn about and implement good nutrition and lifestyle modifications, including regular exercise and medication adjustments, can make huge progress in their diabetes control.

for some individuals, others with diabetes may benefit from personalized medical nutrition therapy to manage their condition.

Recent research shows that remission of type 2 diabetes is possible for some individuals using certain interventions, like following very low-calorie diets.

“We have seen encouraging results when individuals with type 2 diabetes participate in a multifaceted weight management program,” said Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center’s Medical Director, Obesity Clinical Program and Director of Inpatient Diabetes Program, during an Abbott symposium at the American Diabetes Association’s 83rd Scientific Session.

Dr. Hamdy presented the Diabetes Remission Outcome Protocol (DROP), which used this nutrition intervention for 12 weeks—combined with strength training— followed by nine months of a low-calorie diet and exercise. Individuals with diabetes for less than five years had remission from diabetes.

In one study, one year after individuals followed a very low-calorie diet as part of a weight management intervention, almost half were in remission of type 2 diabetes. At two years, nearly one in three remained in remission. Because of this emerging data, very lowcalorie diets using meal replacements, including diabetes-specific nutrition formulas, are recommended by diabetes medical societies like Diabetes Canada. While very low-calorie diets may work

“Following a very low-calorie diet and timerestricted fasting for 16 hours helps individuals with type 2 diabetes lose weight, which ultimately can induce diabetes remission.”

Genki

“Speaking with a healthcare professional can help individuals develop a nutrition plan that is customized to their needs and lifestyle; but nutrition recommendations can be hard to customize to specific cultures or lifestyles,” said Jose Rodolfo V. Dimaano, Jr. MD, MD, Area Medical Director for Pacific Asia at Abbott. “For this reason, Abbott and an international group of experts developed the transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (or tDNA)—a global diabetes nutrition care model that translates nutrition recommendations based on cultural differences in diets and lifestyle to improve diabetes management and outcomes.”

Local experts have started to adapt tDNA in many regions and countries around the world. A clinical trial in Malaysia studied the effect of implementing tDNA in the country and found that a lifestyle intervention program using tDNA helped adults with type 2 diabetes improve their diabetes control and body weight.

Nutritional tools, like tDNA, and advancing research, like studies looking at the potential impact of weight management programs that incorporate lifestyle modifications like low-calorie/low-carbohydrates diets, can empower healthcare professionals and individuals with type 2 diabetes to successfully manage their condition.

BDO Unibank Inc. received the “Best Advance in Responsible Finance Award” at the Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2024 in Singapore for its pioneering Blue Bond initiative. This recognition is a testament to BDO’s innovative financing solutions aimed at promoting environmental protection and conservation while driving economic growth.

The BDO Blue Bond, amounting to US$100 million through the investment of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), marks a significant achievement in the banking sector not just in the Philippines, but also in Southeast Asia. It represents the first private sector issuance that prioritizes projects dedicated to fostering the blue economy.

the RHG Talent Developer Award 2023. This accolade recognized Olalo’s exceptional leadership in identifying, nurturing, and empowering talent within the organization. Through her unwavering dedication to the professional growth and development of the hotel’s team members, Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa has set a standard for talent management in the region, showcasing a commitment to achieving the hotel’s goals and fostering a culture of excellence. The two prestigious awards garnered at the South East Asia Pacific General Managers Conference 2024 showcase Park Inn by Radisson North Edsa’s dedication to up

Through the Blue Bond proceeds, BDO is poised to bolster various initiatives such as water conservation, wastewater treatment, plastic recycling, sustainable tourism, fisheries, and sustainable seafood processing initiatives, among others.

The bond’s proceeds have funded crucial water and wastewater management projects, including the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project and the Wawa Bulk Water Supply

Project. These programs address water scarcity issues in the Philippines, benefitting numerous households and communities. Furthermore, these initiatives contribute to environmental and social welfare by aiding in climate change mitigation, meeting the rising demand for clean water, and preserving water reservoirs for future generations.

“This award exemplifies our unwavering commitment in creating positive impact to the environment towards a more sustainable and equitable future. We believe that sustainable finance plays a crucial role in addressing pressing global challenges, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement,” said Atty. Federico Tancongco, Senior Vice President and

BDO

Singapore, Kuwait, Philippines, China, Australia,

BHS for a welldeserved recovery breakfast, replenishing their energy for the exciting activities ahead.

Amidst the lively atmosphere, a classroom session of Trail101 awaited, led by the esteemed Coach Miguel Lopez. Renowned for his expertise in outdoor sports and trail running, Coach guided participants through the fundamentals of trail running, sharing invaluable insights and techniques to enhance their skills on the terrain.

The attendees witnessed as Salomon unveiled its newest campaign showcasing

the 90-second “Welcome Back to Earth” brand film. Salomon offered this invitation to connect with the outdoors through this campaign. By highlighting the value of the outdoors for our minds and bodies, the campaign captured a universal truth that applies to humanity: a deeper connection with nature makes us all better.

The spring/summer 2024 season marked an evolution in Salomon’s approach to the running category. “The collection embodies our relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in outdoor gear,” remarked Aiza Dagdagan, Brand Executive of Salomon.

As the day unfolded, attendees immersed themselves in the world of outdoor exploration, gaining firsthand experience with Salomon’s SS24 collection and connecting with like-minded enthusiasts. From the rugged trails to the bustling city streets, the event epitomized the spirit of adventure and camaraderie that defines the Salomon community.

Procurement reform matters

HAVE you ever wondered how the government procures goods and services? Similar to how we usually buy things for ourselves, the first step is planning. We canvass or compare prices and specifications of an item we intend to purchase and, if necessary, negotiate with the seller to get the most acceptable deal.

In the public sector, government procurement is the acquisition of goods, services, and properties to fulfill the needs of the masses. Government procurement requires public bidding, which undergoes a thorough process and, in some exceptional cases, direct negotiation with the supplier. This allows the government to explore the most advantageous terms.

In other words, public bidding ensures that the government gets the most suitable arrangements in a transparent and competitive manner.

RA 9184, or the Government Procurement Reform Act, regulates government procurement in the Philippines. Senate President Edgardo J. Angara authored the law. Some might even consider it one of the best procurement laws of its time. Be that as it may, a lot has undeniably changed since its passage in 2003.

Our technological advancements in 2024 are, to say the least, worlds away from 21 years ago. Most of the technologies we enjoy today were still being

n The PhiliPPine e aTsPerience oPens in rizal Park and inTr amuros in m anila MANILA, PHILIPPINES—One of Luneta’s pocket gardens transformed into a bustling food park on April 03, as over 30 food joints offered dishes like Cebu lechon, Chicken Inasal, Ilocos empanada, and Bicol Express, among other iconic food that represent the Filipino way of celebration.

The new Filipino fiesta-themed food and lifestyle market at Noli Me Tangere Garden is now open to the public, featuring various regional cuisines for one year. It is accessible to commuters and cars, just a stone’s throw away from Roxas Boulevard and Kalaw Avenue.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the traditional pot-breaking to launch “Philippine Experience” to celebrate Filipino Food Month 2024.

Experience the historic feel of Rizal Park while grabbing a bite or drink with friends and family. The Filipino lifestyle and food market is now open to the public from 7 am to 10 pm Friday to Sunday in Luneta and 7 am to 5 pm in Intramuros daily.

Along with the lineup of vendors, the food joints also feature a weekly lineup of food demonstrations and activities to drum up food goers while they enjoy their weekend food trip.

The perfect place to satisfy your Filipino street food cravings, the new food joints aim to serve the best Filipino food.

highlighting Filipino food culture S PEAKING before guests from partner government agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, and invited guests, Secretary Frasco zeroed in on the Department’s efforts to promote the Filipino brand and identity in all aspects of travel.

“Today, we gather here at the Rizal Park not just to savor the sumptuous flavors that our nation offers but to recognize Filipino food and cuisines as pivotal to our cultural heritage. The Department of Tourism is fully committed to the task of preserving and elevating our culinary assets on both the domestic and international tourism markets,” she said.

As part of the DOT’s flagship project, the Philippine Experience Program (PEP), Eatsperience celebrates the Filipino Fiesta, recognizing the pivotal role of food and gastronomy in shaping the country’s tourism landscape.

“This Philippine Eatsperience is a component of the Philippine

developed two decades back, including sending text messages, reading emails, taking high-definition pictures, monitoring health statistics, browsing the internet, making video calls, and processing payments. Now, people can do all those with the simple flick of a finger on any device. Our society has improved rapidly and exponentially. Behind all these technological advancements, however, challenges emerged.

The provisions of RA 9184 couldn’t keep up with the increasing complexities of the changing times, hindering modern public service. This is why the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), under the leadership of Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, saw it proper to amend the law.

In December 2023, the House of Representatives, through Speaker Martin Romualdez, Deputy Speaker Dong Gonzales, and Rep. Edward Maceda, passed House Bill 9648 to modernize the procurement law.

Now Senate Bill 2593 or the “New Government Procurement Reform Act,” sponsored by Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, is undergoing interpolation. Lawmakers anticipate resuming debates on the bill later this month.

Senate Bill 2593 boasts of many key features to improve government procurement. One of these is the introduction of

Experience, and it highlights one of the most enjoyable things that you can experience when you visit or when you live in the Philippines, the Filipino Fiesta,” the Tourism Chief added.

Quoting from the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028, the country’s tourism roadmap, Secretary Frasco said the DOT strives to offer travelers an authentic taste of Filipino hospitality while visiting top destinations like Rizal Park and Intramuros.

“We are crafting unique culinary tours and circuits that allow connoisseurs and travelers alike to explore our gastronomic delights at the grassroots level. Through these, we aim to showcase the diversity and richness of our culinary traditions,” Secretary Frasco explained, promising to elevate the Philippine tourism experience.

From rizal Park to intramuros: hop on at eatsperience M E ANWHILE the Filipino Fiesta brought the Tourism Chief and guests to the next stop at Baluarte Plano Luneta de Sta. Isabel in Intramuros, where over 30 food junctions, cooking demonstrations, and tasting await hungry travelers on board the Philippines Hop-OnHop-Off. Open seven days a week, HOHO guests can now have their own Eatsperience. Philippine Eatsperience is the

Early Procurement Activities, which address the bottleneck that has long pervaded government procurement. By allowing Early Procurement Activities, government agencies get to plan, scope the market, and perform public bidding in advance so that by the time funding has been granted, contracts can be immediately be awarded and executed. This ensures expeditious implementation of government projects and services.

Senate Bill 2593 also introduces a system of interconnectivity between government agencies, allowing different government entities to relay important information about bidders or contractors who wish to participate in procurement activities. The bill also introduces new ways of procurement such as Competitive Dialogue, Unsolicited Offer with Bid Matching, Direct Acquisition, Small Value Procurement, and Direct Procurement for Science, Technology, and Innovation. These new

flagship program of the DOT under the leadership of Secretary Frasco, in collaboration with the Intramuros Administration (IA) and the National Park Development Committee (NPDC) launched in time for the celebration of the Filipino Food Month 2024 or Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino.

An annual celebration declaring April of each year as Filipino Food Month or Buwan ng Kalutong Filipino aims to ensure the appreciation, preservation, and transmission of Filipino culinary traditions.

“Everywhere in the Philippines, wherever you may find yourself, whether up in the North, in Central Philippines or the South, there is always a fiesta that is celebrated. In these fiestas, we show the best virtues of being Filipinos: compassion, generosity, and a sense of community towards others,” said Secretary Frasco.

“I invite all of you to celebrate the Filipino culinary spirit as we put F ilipino flavors in the spotlight of Philippine tourism and showcase to the world the multitude of reasons to love the Philippines,” added the tourism chief.

Ambassador Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony of the Embassy of Malaysia, Ambassador Tull Traisorat of the Royal Embassy of Thailand, with NPDC Executive Director Cecille Lorenzana-Romero, IA Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla, National

modes provide government entities with fresh tools to manage specialized needs. For example, a government entity may resort to Competitive Dialogue when the procurement calls for a new design or solution. Government entities can invite suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors, consultants, and service providers to propose alternative solutions.

Another highlight of Senate Bill 2593 is the establishment of an e-marketplace. The e-marketplace will be a platform where government entities can purchase common-use items, from pens, papers, and other office supplies, through a website similar to shopping websites like Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee.

Recognizing the crucial role public procurement plays in the efficient delivery of government services and the prudent use of public funds, our government strives to eliminate inefficiencies, enhance transparency, and strengthen accountability.

Commission for Culture and Arts

Chairman Victorina Manalo, and DOT Undersecretaries Gail Yu Pamintuan and Ferdinand Jumapao all graced the event.

n allied Pinnacle aPP o in T s m o lasses as creaT i ve lead F or launch o F innovaT i ve Wise WheaT brand

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—Manufacturer and supplier of bakery ingredients and frozen products Allied Pinnacle has appointed FMCG brand and design agency Molasses to help launch Wise Wheat to Australia. This new naturally grown wheat contains six times more fiber than standard wheat flour. Molasses won the business following a multi-agency pitch and, working alongside the Allied Pinnacle team, is developing the brand strategy, positioning, and creativity from naming and identity through to campaign execution.

Set to launch in the second quarter of this year, Wise Wheat is all-natural, farmed in Australia, and high in amylose, meaning the resulting flour contains six times more fiber than standard wheat flour. Wise Wheat looks, tastes, and bakes like regular flour, so there’s no compromise on taste or texture when baked into your favorite food products.

For more than 100 years, Allied Pinnacle has brought unique and

These proposed amendments will help digitalize the process and address the concerns above, creating a more transparent, efficient, and competitive procurement system.

At the end of the day, the bill ensures that public procurement serves the best interests of the Filipino people, ultimately fostering a more responsive and efficient public sector.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Wilford Wong is an IPRA member and is currently working as an Undersecretary at the Department of Budget and Management.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

innovative flour, ingredients, and bakery products to millions. The new high-fiber wheat is available exclusively through Allied Pinnacle in Australia.

Allied Pinnacle appoints Molasses as creative lead for launch of innovative Wise Wheat brand Dan Parritt

Dan Parritt, Co-founder and Brand Director at Molasses, said, “It is an absolute privilege to work with the Allied Pinnacle team, helping launch this new and exclusive product to the Australian market. They have a clear vision to improve Australians’ health by providing an easy way to get extra functional benefits in their food, and Wise Wheat delivers that. “Wise Wheat has been positioned and named to highlight a wise choice for the consumer. The unique product proposition provides the best natural source of high-fiber wheat flour in the market, and we knew we had to make this clear – from name and visual identity through to the brand campaign. The logo has to do a lot of the heavy lifting as it is initially an ingredient brand. We’ve created something that’s both bold and natural which we’ll carry through to the campaign work. We are delighted that Molasses specialist capabilities in FMCG branding and design have been recognized by Allied Pinnacle to help launch the brand in Australia.”

BROOKE VAN SICKLE is pulling

off one big surprise after another from her bag of tricks.

Van Sickle hit the reset button on her career-high for the sixth time in her debut in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) as Petro Gazz essayed a cardiac five-set victory over defending champion Creamline on Saturday at the Santa Rosa Sports Complex.

The 26-year-old Filipino-American outside spiker unloaded 29 big points on 23 attacks, four blocks and two aces—along with 20 excellent receptions and 12 excellent digs—to help the Angels turn back the Cool Smashers, 15-25, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19, 15-13, in the season-opening AllFilipino Conference of the flourishing professional league organized by Sports Vision.

Van Sickle came up big for Petro Gazz especially in the decider with crucial hits to finish with six points in the final set and help her squad force a tie with Creamline at second spot on a 6-2 win-loss record.

For her exceptional all-around performance that allowed the Angels to secure just their second win over Creamline in their past 19 matches, Van Sickle was named the seventh PVL Press Corps Player of the Week this season for the period of April 2 to 6.

“ I would just focus on grit, really. It’s just grit, taking one point at a time, really. How I see it is it can go anywhere, really like you win just by a couple of points so we came on top this time so I’m proud of our team,” said the former US NCAA standout. Van Sickle’s latest outburst surpassed the 27-point performance she recorded last March 21 in a fiveset loss to Chery Tiggo at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 5-foot-9 outside spiker from University of Hawaii edged Majoy Baron of PLDT, Sisi Rondina of Choco Mucho, Jovelyn Gonzaga of Cignal, Ivy Lacsina of Nxled, and Dindin Santiago-Manabat of Akari for the weekly award deliberated upon by print and online scribes covering the league, which is also streamed live on www.pvl.ph

Stefanie & Jana show in Nuvali beach volley

By Aldrin Quinto

SANTA ROSA City— Australia put on a dazzling display of finesse and power in front of an adoring crowd with the performance culminating with the coronation of Stefanie Fejes and Jana Milutinovic as queens of the Smart Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tour Nuvali Open on Sunday. Fejes and Milutinovic held off Jasmine Fleming and Georgia Johnson, 21-19, 25-23, in an allAustralian showdown for the title to the delight of the big Sunday crowd at the world-class Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land.

W ith the teams very familiar with each other’s every move, the match that started in searing heat ended in fading daylight—and under the floodlights—and the FejesMilutinovic duo secured the gold medal after a 52-minute tug-ofwar with their compatriots. We knew them very well so we knew it was going to be a good matchup, we fought till the end and we played our game,” said the lefthanded Fejes.

Huge boost for Olympic bid

NDEFEATED

UUniversity of Santo Tomas (UST) remained unblemished in four outings by rallying past Gracel Christian College, 19-25, 25-17, 25-13, Sunday in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Under-18 Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The junior Tigresses of coach Emilio Reyes overcame a lethargic start to keep their hold of the top spot in girls’ Pool A with 4-0 winloss record.

Unlike in their previous three assignments against Montessori School (25-16, 25-23), Limitless Sports Center (25-8, 25-9) and La Salle-Zobel (25-16, 25-20), UST dropped a set but was able to get the job done in 69 minutes.

THE research and analytics paid off for the Iranian squad preparing for the final phase of the Asian qualification for the Paris Olympics.

I ran’s Abbas Pourasgari and Alireza Aghajanighasab overcame Thailand’s Tipjan Pithak and Taovato Poravid, 21-17-21-15, in the men’s gold medal match of the tournament backed by Foton, Akari, Mikasa, Senoh, Seda, Asics, Cignal, One Sports, One Sports+ and Pilipinas Live.

B ack-to-back aces from Pourasgari put Iran at match point, 21-13 and

IM 70.3 marks 10-year milestone in Lapu-Lapu City

Who should coach Liverpool?

EVERY football pundit and Premier League fan has been postulating on who should replace departing Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Heavy favorite and former Liverpool player Xabi Alonso took himself off the board by stating he is staying with Bayer Leverkusen which is on course to win the German Bundesliga this season. And that was the right thing for him to do—stay put because the German club gave him his break.

Furthermore, following Klopp is a tough act to follow.

O ther names include Thomas Tuchel, Ange Postecoglou, Pep Ljinders, Julian Nagelsmann, Roberto de Zerbi and Ruben Amorim.

Here’s my take.

The coach who should come in should have two traits— he knows how to win and has won a championship or two somewhere, and he has the personality to represent the club.

Hey, tactical nous is a given so let’s not even mention that.

For my reason No. 1—you know how to win and have

Pithak and Poravid held on for the next two plays before the Iranians sealed the win in 39 minutes.

A ghajanighasab is very pleased they continue to do well in international competitions, noting that they have an excellent support team for the AVC tournament and the quest for an Olympic berth.

I’m very happy, this is a big win,” Aghajanighasab said. “I dream of going to the Olympics, we’re training very hard and we play well in tournaments. I want to go to Paris 2024.”

THE Ironman Philippines celebrates a milestone 10th anniversary staging of its 70.3 triathlon series in Lapu-Lapu City on April 21 with a diverse and international roster of competitors in the men’s and women’s divisions.

O ver the years, the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu has evolved into a highly prestigious event, drawing the country’s leading athletes and emerging talents, along with the top triathletes from around the world.

Th is speaks volumes about its soaring popularity and the exceptional experience it offers athletes, bolstered by its recognition as the best spectator race globally in 2018.

Billed as the Crown Jewel of Asia, the IM 70.3 presented by Megaworld and Mactan Newtown will unfold across a challenging 1.9-km swim, 90km bike and 21-km run course.

R egistration is ongoing. For details, visit ironman.com/im703-cebuphilippines-register

L apu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan expressed excitement about hosting the event, which also features competitions in various age categories, emphasizing the unique opportunity to present the city’s top sites and adventures

a championship—which is exactly why I will not select Postegoclou and de Zerbi.

They may run pleasing tactical or exciting football, but how do you tell a team how to win when you have not won?

Many of their players still have won everything there is in football with Liverpool.

How do you buy into a system and a coach who hasn’t won?

Th at has the makings of an ugly divorce.  I t is one thing to build a team from the ground up and its wholly another to work with a team that has

A treat for beach volley fans

THE matches for the bronze medals were also intense, providing a treat for the huge Sunday crowd that arrived early and braved the searing heat to witness the medal matches. S uzuka Hashimoto and Reika Murakami held off Asami Shiba and Saki Maruyama, 21-17, 16-21, 15-12, in an all-Japan showdown for the final place in the women’s podium in the tournament organized by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation led by Tats Suzara.

while heralding its status as a premier destination for sports and adventure.

“

Lapu-Lapu has played a crucial role in the success of the IM 70.3 in Cebu over the last decade,” Chan said. “We are thrilled to welcome participants from around the globe to our shores once more, offering them an unforgettable racing experience.”

Lapu-Lapu, known for its pristine white-sand beaches on Mactan Island, also offers an abundance of water activities such as para-sailing, jet skiing, diving and island hopping, making it a paradise for tourists. It is also buzzing with resorts and rich cultural sites.

The country’s triathlon scene has witnessed remarkable growth since hosting its first international race in Camarines Sur in 2009.

The Ironman series, in particular, has become a hit, attracting up to 3,000 athletes from across the globe to its Cebu event since 2012.

Following a brief hiatus in 2020-21 due to the pandemic, the series made a triumphant return in 2022 with Augusto Benedicto and Ines Santiago claiming the overall honors in the Megaworld Ironman 70.3 Philippines in Mactan Newtown. T he 2022 race was notably

won something.

Australia’s D’Artagnan Potts and Ben Hood salvaged the men’s bronze medal with a 21-15, 21-14 victory over Surin Jongklang and Dunwinit Kaewsai of Thailand.

Fejes and Milutinovic defeated Hashimoto and Murakami, 21-12, 2118, in the semis on Sunday morning while Fleming and Johnson held off Shiba and Maruyama, 21-17, 21-17.

P ithak and Poravid edged Potts and Hood, 21-15, 18-21, 15-11, while Pourasgari and Aghajanighasab defeated Surin and Dunwinit, 21-13, 21-17.

e La Salle-Zobel finally snapped back-to-back losses with a 25-22, 25-15 win over Limitless Sports Center for its first win after three matches also in women’s Pool A of the tournament organized by the PNVF headed by Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

imitless Sports Center was already eliminated for a playoff spot going being winless in four matches.

n women’s Pool B, Colegio de Los Baños snapped a two-game losing skid after dealing Parañaque to 19-25, 25-13, 25-12 to improve its win-loss record to 1-2.

Parañaque’s losing curse stayed and fell to 0-3.

n boys’ Pool A on Saturday, De La Salle Lipa maintained its unbeaten streak by crushing Batangas Christian School, 25-22, 25-17, to improve its win-loss record to 3-0. Batangas Christian School dropped to 0-3 and also considered eliminated for playoff spot.

A ngatleta Sports from Orion Bataan bested Golden Whiskers Club, 25-16 2519, on Saturday for back-to-back victories in 45 minutes to stay unbeaten in Pool A of the boys’ competition. Golden Whiskers Club slid to 0-2.

U ndefeated Umingan-NHS bested VNS Volleyball Club, 25-20, 24-26, 25-19, to secure its third consecutive victory in boys’ pool B. VNS Volleyball Club dropped to 1-2.

A ngatleta Bataan and Canossa Academy were battling on Sunday, Umingan-NHS from Pangasinan was also competing with Taytay Rizal, and Colegio de Los Baños and Hermosa Bataan was also playing as of press time. enhanced by the inclusion of the CCLEX—Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway—bridge, the country’s longest a nd tallest bridge, adding an iconic backdrop to the bike event of the competition.

Even the criteria of “winning” can be split into two. There are those who win by building a team and others who inherit a winning team and still win. The latter—it is just my opinion, but it’s the system. Not necessarily the coach.

So to clarify that statement—it is having won the hard way by building a team, a system, and a culture.

L iverpool is not Man City that splurges on players. So the coach is good at managing what he has.

A nd furthermore…

He ought to have the personality strong enough to take on a club with the pedigree of Liverpool. To spell it out, he is media savvy, and can represent the club well.  Th is eliminates Tuchel from the discussion.

So who in my opinion should be in the running?

Zinedine Zidane

AS both player—one of the all-time best and a coach, he displayed vision, flexibility and attacking football, and an ability to unite the dressing room. And he is a winning manager in his own right having led Real Madrid to multiple honors. He is a philanthropist with a big heart.

He will fit well except that he might not have the open checkbook he had while at Madrid.

Claudio Ranieri

HE knows how to improve teams and get them over the hump from Leicester in England to Cagliari and Fiorentina in Italy, Valencia in Spain, as well as Monaco in France. He also makes his teams work without the financial muscle of top clubs.

A nd he is a hit with the media because of his humor.

Julian Nagelsmann

IN his first managerial stint, he gave TSG Hoffenheim its best finishes ever where after narrowly avoiding relegation, secured a Champions League berth, twice. He then took RB Leipzig to the Champions League semi-finals.

Nagelsmann transferred to Bayern Munich where he won three titles.

He is currently the German national team coach.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the three. It’s a win-win situation for all. They all fit the bill.

Piolo and Kara on bikes Celebrity Piolo Pascual (second

annual cycling event is part of Sun Life’s initiative to foster a healthy and active lifestyle among Filipino families and offered a range of activities designed to cater to participants of all ages and abilities.

STEFANIE FEJES (right) and Jana Milutinovic dominate an allAustralia finale. NONIE REYES

GRACEL Christian College’s Patricia Denise Ebardo tries to break University of Santo Tomas’s defense. ROY DOMINGO