BusinessMirror April 15, 2024

RBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ICE prices are vulnerable to spikes because of the drought, but the decision of the National Food Authority (NFA) Council to compete with the private sector could put pressure on prices, according to economists.

T he NFA Council on Thursday approved a higher buying price range for palay to a range of P23 to P30 per kilo of clean and dry palay, and P17 to P23 a kilo for wet and fresh palay.

(See: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2024/04/12/nfa-council-okays-higher-palay-buyingprice-range/).

TBy Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

HE state’s gross borrowings expanded to P419.973 billion in February this year as the national government sourced its finances through higher domestic borrowings.

T he latest data released by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed that national government borrowings in February 2024 were the highest recorded since the P437.212 billion posted in January 2022 during the pandemic.  B orrowings in February 2024 rose by 22.22 percent or P76.348

billion from P343.625 billion in the same month last year.  B roken down, almost all the gross borrowings in February came from domestic sources at 98.87 percent while the remaining financing at 1.13 percent was borrowed externally, Treasury data indicated.

TUnionbank Chief economist Ruben Carlo O. Asuncion told BusinessMirror NFA’s recent move owed to its aim to be more competitive against private traders when it comes to purchasing rice to fill the government’s buffer stock.

It may be that this move can even help maintain prices and help NFA with their buffers. Nonetheless, rice prices are still vulnerable to spikes because of the current challenges brought about by the drought,” Asuncion said.

A teneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr. said the increase in the NFA’s buying price could lead to an increase in rice prices nationwide, as the government can directly compete

with the private sector.

L anzona said if the government’s main goal is to build its reserves, buying rice should be done in areas where demand for rice is “stagnant and price is generally low.”

T his, Lanzona told BusinessMirror , will not only impact rice prices but will also achieve better regional distribution. However, NFA is buying rice in areas where prices are high.

“Given its access to taxpayers’ money, the government has undue advantage over the private sector, hence creating an upward pressure on prices,” Lanzona told this newspaper. With the directive to raise

buying prices, the NFA is now heading in areas where prices are already high and the added demand pushes prices higher,” he added.

L anzona said if the government’s aim is to help the farmers, this cannot be done by raising its buying price for palay which ultimately “distorts the markets and unfairly penalizes the private sector.”

E xtending assistance to farmers can be done by providing public goods such as farm-to-market roads and irrigation.

L anzona said such public goods will lead to lower production costs and benefit consumers and producers.

THE group of Philippine franchise brands is prodding

government to address the “bottlenecks” within the franchising industry such as the tax incentive framework and stringent requirements for Filipino brands to go international, among others.

S herill R. Quintana, Chairman of Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), unveiled the three “bottlenecks” that prevent Filipino brands from going international.  Comparatively, foreign brands are more aggressive because they have backing. First and foremost, even Singapore is like that: they have tax incentives, they have tax holidays when you are scaling up,” Quintana told reporters at a briefing Friday.  “Baligtad tayo [We’ve got it in reverse], when you are scaling up, the

more that you are taxed, the more that you are regulated, you’re the favorite [of] compliance [checkers],” the PFA chairman added, partly in Filipino.

Q uintana noted that in the Philippine setup, the support is being poured into startups. “When in fact when you graduate to that level, you need more support to be able to sustain your operations,” she added.

W ith this, the PFA chairman cited the key issues that should be looked into in order for Philippine brands to export or go international.

Tax perks system FOR one, she said there is a need to revisit the tax incentives framework in the country. “So when you scale up there should be some sort of concessions in terms of tax incentive programs of the government.”

MAV scheme must be nixed, risks corruption–MB member

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ASYSTEM that allows traders to import a certain amount of goods at lower tariffs must be abolished, according to a member of the Monetary Board.

T he minimum access volume (MAV) scheme committed by the Philippines to the World Trade Organization (WTO) tends to limit access to imports and could be a source of corruption, Monetary Board V. Bruce J. Tolentino told reporters.

cific agricultural product that is allowed to be imported with a lower tariff as committed by the Philippines to the World Trade Organization [WTO] under the Uruguay Round Final Act.”

T he law also mandated the establishment of an equitable and transparent mechanism to allocate the MAV for agricultural commodities whose quantitative restrictions have been lifted.

tons (MT) from the previous level of 54,210 MT.

A s for the impact of abolishing MAV on inflation, Tolentino said he views the scheme “more as a source of corruption, rather than an instrument for bringing down prices.”

A part from rice, meat prices contributed to the increase in March inflation, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

T he Treasury’s financing data showed domestic net borrowings in February increased year-on-year (YoY) by 26.73 percent to P415.056 billion from P327.499 billion due to the tender of Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs).

Under domestic borrowings, the largest was the RTBs at P341.412 billion, higher than the P252.091 posted in February 2023. Notably, the government raised a total of P584.86 billion from the 10-daylong tender of five-year RTBs in February this year.

70.34 percent to P4.741 billion in February 2024 from P15.984 billion last year.

B ased on the Treasury’s latest data, the government did not borrow or raise any amount through Program Loans, Global Bonds, and Islamic Certificates in February.

T he cumulative government’s gross borrowings settled at a total of P623.124 billion as of endFebruary. This is greater by 12.30 percent or P87.364 billion than the P710.488 billion in the same period last year.

He said the government wants to increase access for everyone who wants to bring in imported agricultural goods which will help beef up domestic food supply.

Under Republic Act 8178, the Agricultural Tariffication Act, the MAV “refers to the volume of a spe -

One of the recommendations that we have is really to get rid of the entire MAV system completely because the MAVs are relatively small. And the process of allocating the MAV is prone to corruption,” Tolentino said.

PHL...

Continued from A1

Q uintana explained further that, “The banks have high interest rates for loans, plus we are heavily taxed…[Bureau of Internal Revenue] BIR plus [Local Government Unit] LGU taxes. So at least [it helps] when you scale up and you have that encouragement to scale up, by tax incentives.”

A nother hurdle that the fran -

chising industry wants to overcome, the PFA chairman noted, is the set of requirements that Philippine brands have to comply with to go international.  “ How do we get it much easier for those who wish to comply? Especially when your food and your cosmetics [are] going abroad there are different compliances outside,”

F urthermore, the law said the mechanism should have the least government intervention, address the requirements of each geographical area, and should not entail any cost to importers of these products to the detriment of local consumers.

I n May 2021, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 133 which raised the country’s pork MAV to 200,000 metric

Quintana said.

Why can’t we have our [Food and Drug Administration] FDA here be able to help our local brands? They want to go to Australia for example, US, New Zealand have stricter guidelines in FDA, readying these local brands so that when they go there, they meet the requirements [of those countries]?,” the PFA chairman said.

Q uintana cited a need to lay down standards that are “on a par already with the standards” abroad.

I nflation posted by Meat and Other Parts of Slaughtered Land Animals was at 2 percent year on year, faster than the 0.7 percent posted in February 2024. This increase was particularly caused by rising pork prices.

T he PSA noted that meat inflation increased after four consecutive months of slowdown. Prices of fresh pork were higher on a monthon-month and year-on-year basis.

S he also recommended a “green lane of support” from FDA in place, adding, “What I’m trying to say is, how can we make it easier for the compliances in FDA to be able to comply in the countries we’re targeting to be?”

T he third bottleneck she divulged is the issue of intellectual property.

“

We’re working a lot with [Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines] IPOPHL. But in terms of Madrid Protocol for example, it’s very expensive for our member brands. We want to be part of those programs. So maybe in terms of funding, how can we make it more accessible to be able to apply for Madrid Protocol?” Quintana said.

A ccording to the website of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the Madrid Protocol is a “convenient and efficient way for trademark owners worldwide to file one application to register their trademark in multiple countries.”

Those are the top three bottlenecks but if those will be solved, it may be easier for us to be able to export our brands,” she noted.

Q uintana also noted that the foreign brands flocking to the Franchise Expo in the Philippines are “more aggressive.”  “ They see the potential in the market and they are able to expand quite dramatic compared to our local brands,” she said.

I n fact, she revealed that after the show last year, the PFA observed those that joined the show a year ago from Korea for instance were brands that opened already in the Philippines.

Franchise Asia Philippines Expo 2024 is a franchise show that showcased over 700 brands. The event ran from April 12 to 14.

I n terms of international brands present in the Philippines, PFA President Christopher Lim told reporters that “A hundred out of 700 brands here today are foreign looking to enter the Philippines.”

A mong the countries with a pavilion in this year’s show are Thailand, which carried 13 brands; Korea with 10 and Singapore with 7 or 8, said the PFA president.

Meanwhile, he noted that there are around 20 to 25 Philippines brands that want to go international.

Ph ilippines brands are mostly present in the Middle East, Lim added. Currently, there are already 20 Philippine brands that have gone international.

“

But eventually we need to get out of that mindset…that I’m not going to enter there to service the Filipinos. I’m there to service the locals. The Filipinos will com e para pagdating ko kikita na ako sa una kong store,” said the PFA president.

T he state has also borrowed P13.820 billion through the sale of Treasury Bills (T-bills), higher by 149 percent or P8.27 billion than the P5.550 billion recorded last year.

A n additional P60 billion from Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds was also borrowed, down by 14.28 percent from last year’s P70 billion.

M eanwhile, Treasury data showed that the national government’s external gross borrowings in February plunged by more than half to P4.741 billion, down by 70.33 percent from the P15.984 billion it recorded in the same month last year.

T he national government recorded P2.163 billion in payments in February this year, which led to the contraction of net external borrowings to P2.578 billion.

T he state’s external borrowings through project loans decreased by

Conceptually, it is wrong for the government to intervene through prices as this distorts the markets and unfairly penalizes the private sector,” Lanzona said.

If government intends to help the farmers, this can best be accomplishing by providing public goods which the private sector are not expected to produce,” he stressed.

Inflationary–UA&P exec

MEANWHILE , University of Asia and the Pacific Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA) Executive Director Senen U. Reyes said the increase in the NFA’s buying price for palay may be inflationary.

R eyes told BusinessMirror that the NFA earlier admitted that it had a buffer stock of less than one day making it necessary to purchase stocks.

However, given a buying price of P23 per kilo, Reyes said the NFA may face stiff competition from private traders who are also buying stocks for consumers.

Usually when NFA raises prices it does not revert to the old [prices], thus traders are likely to adjust their buying price depending on their assessment of supply with the El Nino,” Reyes told this newspaper.

Not inflationary

MEANWHILE , economists such as former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas told BusinessMirror the NFA Council decision will not lead to higher inflation in the short-term.

C anlas explained that the decision was reached to help farmers through a “price-support program” as they have been negatively affected by adverse weather conditions such as droughts and floods.

For six months, Israel has been bombarding Gaza Strip after Hamas militants attacked southern Israel and killed more than 1,400. Four Filipinos died, two were injured, and two were taken as hostages and later freed, during the October 7, 2023 Hamas siege.

The following are some of the guidelines issued by the Philippine Embassy:

■ Avoid going or defer travel plans

to Jerusalem (Temple Mount, Damascus Gate, Herod’s Gate, Al Wad Road, around East Jerusalem).

■ Avoid going or defer travel plans

I n January, the state’s total borrowings dipped to P203.151 billion, P163.712 billion lower than the P366.863-billion borrowings recorded in the same month last year due to downticks in external and domestic borrowings.

L ast year, the national government’s total borrowings recorded a single-digit growth at 1.38 percent on an annual basis to P2.193 trillion due to a narrower budget deficit posted in 2023.

T his year, the national government targets to borrow P2.202 trillion to secure financing, based on government data.

T he government’s target borrowings were anchored on a 75:25 mix, wherein 75 percent of the amount would come from the local debt market while the remaining quarter would be borrowed externally.

Going by past behavior of NFA, it will maintain the retail prices in order not to reduce consumer welfare. NFA will support the price support by running a bigger deficit. Hence, the price support will not be inflationary in the short run,” Canlas told BusinessMirror

Monetary Board Member V. Bruce J. Tolentino thinks it is crucial to ask how the NFA intends to finance the increase in the buying price.

C anlas said it is likely that the increase will be financed by NFA by incurring higher deficits.

Tolentino agreed and said the NFA did not have the funds to procure at higher prices given the significant volume.

S hould this happen, Canlas and Tolentino said, the reckoning will have an effect, though negligible, on the market.

Since the price-support program has no impact on inflation in the short run, nothing will deter the BSP from the interest-rate easing it announced may start in Q3 this year to support GDP growth,” Canlas told BusinessMirror

The prospects for higher inflation are for next year when financing NFA’s enlarged deficit has to be faced. That’s when BSP will cross the bridge,” he added.

O n Thursday, NFA’s policymaking body last raised the buying price to a range of P19 to P23 per kilo of dry palay and P16 to P19 per kilo of wet palay in September last year.

B ased on the Rice Tariffication Law, NFA said it needs to maintain a national rice buffer stock equivalent to at least nine days consumption, which now stands at 330,000 metric tons, to cover requirements in case of disasters and other calamities.

to West Bank, near the border in Lebanon, Golan Heights

■ Stay away or postpone plans to go to crowded places.

■ Follow instructions by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Home Front Command.

In a video message, IDF spokesman

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari advised everyone in Israel, “I remind you that no matter where the threat is launched

Business less optimistic in Q1, cites competition–BSP survey

COMPETITION from foreign traders and more goods in the market were among the reasons that made businesses less optimistic in the first quarter of the year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Based on data from its Business Expectation Survey (BES), the BSP said stiff competition made businesses less optimistic in the first three months of the year.

The data showed business sentiment in the Philippines turned less upbeat in the first quarter as the overall confidence index (CI) declined to 33.1 percent from 35.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

“Stiff competition means there is a strong opposition between rivals within the same industry,” the BSP said.

“Some details provided by our respondents on stiff competition included: competition with foreign traders, as well as the oversupply of certain products/goods in the market,” a BSP official also told the B usiness M irror

The BSP explained that stiff competition is caused by lowering prices “to undercut competitors.” This could lead to price wars as companies compete for customer’s purchasing power.

Another reason is advertising, where an increase could draw in more customers to the business and away from rival companies or brands.

The innovation of products and services that improve the saleability of certain goods or services could increase the market share of certain companies or brands, the BSP added.

Meanwhile, apart from stiff competition, business became less optimistic in the first three months due to post-holiday decline in demand for goods and services and slowdown in business activities.

There were also persistent inflationary pressures stemming from higher food and

oil prices and their impact on the economy, and adverse effects of the El Niño on the agriculture sector.

Q2 better

MEANWHILE, business sentiment improved in the second quarter this year and in the next 12 months.

The BSP said the country’s business confidence was more bullish as the overall confidence index (CI) rose to 48.1 percent from 38.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 survey result.

In the next 12 months, the data showed business confidence was similarly more upbeat as the overall CI increased to 60.8 percent from 54 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 survey result.

The improved outlook of businesses in the second quarter was driven by expectations of sustained strong demand for products and services.

Other reasons include continued favorable economic conditions, lower inflation, business expansions, and lower interest rates.

The first quarter 2024 BES was conducted during the period 5 January and 12 March 2024.

There were 1,525 firms surveyed nationwide—581 companies in the National Capital Region (NCR) and 944 firms in Areas Outside NCR, covering all 16 regions nationwide.

Samples were drawn from the Top 7,000 Corporations ranked based on total assets in 2017 from the Bureau van Dijk (BvD) database.

The nationwide survey response rate for the first quarter 2024 was lower at 60.3 percent from 65.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

The response rate was lower for both the NCR at 60.2 percent from 61.9 percent and AONCR at 60.4 percent from 66.9 percent.

Cai U. Ordinario

Economy

PHL role in regional infra devt in focus at IBF in May: PBBM

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

RESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said

Pthe country will be playing a crucial role in promoting regional “infrastructure development and economic ties” when it hosts the sixth Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IBF) next month.

He said he is looking forward to the hybrid forum, in which the Philippines will co-host the United States Department of State (USTDA) on May 21, in the event that is expected to draw the participation of 500 senior executives and government officials.

“This forum will serve as a catalyst for

driving investment and growth in emerging economies,” Marcos said in his arrival statement after his trip to the US last week.

The US Trade and Development Agency said the upcoming IBF this year will feature enhanced match making among the participants.

Among the issues to be tackled are infrastructure, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, clean energy, the digital economy, emerging technologies and inclusive trade.

The Chief Executive noted that the initiative is part of the government’s deepening relationship with the US. He issued such statement after returning from his trilateral

Foreigners flock to Palawan, Pampanga, Boracay, Bohol

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

THE National Capital Region (NCR) and the province of Cebu topped the list of regions which received overnight travelers in 2023.

Data on the regional distribution of overnight travelers as of March 7, 2024 shared by the Department of Tourism (DOT) with the B usiness M irror showed NCR received some 6.35 million travelers, while Cebu province (includes Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City) received 4.03 million. Both destinations also received the most number of foreign travelers at 2.1 million for NCR and some 1.45 million for Cebu.

DOT officials who spoke on background said the large number of foreign visitors received in the NCR and Cebu could be due to the fact that these are the country’s major international gateways, as these host the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan-Cebu International Airport, respectively. Also, “there is a possibility that some travel to other destinations as part

of their visit to the Philippines,” they said. For areas outside the NCR and Cebu, the most popular destinations for foreign travelers were: Palawan (including Puerto Princesa) at 680,895; Pampanga (including the Clark freeport zone, San Fernando City and Angeles City) at 583,743; Aklan (including Boracay Island) at 428,704; and Bohol at 325,499.

Shifting travel preferences

DOT data showed prior to the pandemic, in 2019, foreign travelers flocked to Cebu, reaching 3.37 million, followed by the NCR at 1.71 million, Aklan at 1.06 million, Palawan at 824,159, Bohol at 720,364 and Pampanga at 456,916.

The regional data confirms views of local destination management companies that foreign tourists may be shifting their travel preferences to Palawan and Bohol from the old favorite, Boracay Island, due to the latter’s numerous tourist fees, “chaotic” jetty port, more difficult access from the airport to resorts, among others. (See, “TPB chief: Boracay remains among our top priorities,” in the B usiness M irror ,

meeting with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington D.C. last week.

Marcos confirmed the country has received US$100 billion in investment commitments in the next five years from the US and Japan as a result of the new trilateral cooperation. The commitments will cover infrastructure development and connectivity in the Philippines, through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI); the implementation of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) in the Philippines; workforce development for the semiconductor industry; capacity-building in the

April 12, 2024.)

In terms of domestic travelers, NCR received the largest number at 4.24 million and could likely include Metro Manila residents checking into the region’s hotels for staycations. “It’s possible as the source of data provided by the LGU [local government unit] comes from accommodation establishments,” said the same DOT officials. A recent Klook survey showed that staycations continue to be popular among Filipinos as they take advantage of long weekend holidays. Batangas was the second most popular destination at 3.3 million; followed by Rizal at 3.04 million; Cebu province at 2.58 million; Zambales (including the Subic Bay freeport and Olongapo City) at 1.94 million; Aklan (including Boracay) at 1.73 million; Camarines Sur at 1.43 million; Davao del Sur (including Davao City) at 1.42 million; Negros Occidental (including Bacolod) at 1.41 million; Benguet (including Baguio City) at 1.37 million; and Cavite at 1.32 million.

Sustained promotions for Boracay

AMONG overseas Filipinos, or Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad, some 40,000 favored Aklan; 10,925

peaceful uses of nuclear energy; and the Philippines’s membership in the Minerals Security Partnership Forum. These were on top of the close defense cooperation and joint coast-guard exercises to be held by three countries in the South China Sea, joint activities that are being opposed by China. “I’m confident that our collaborative efforts will pave the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for the Indo-Pacific region,” Marcos said.

“Together we can harness the power of infrastructure and innovation to drive sustainable development and economic growth,” he added.

went to Palawan; 10,459 went to Davao del Sur (including Davao City); 8,594 preferred Iloilo (including Iloilo City); 5,897 stayed in NCR; 3,328 went to Cebu; and 1,183 were in Camarines Norte last year. The DOT data on regional distribution of overnight travelers may be revised as more accommodation establishments submit their reports to the agency’s regional offices in the coming months.

Meanwhile, DOT Regional Director for Western Visayas Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez said the agency has sustained efforts to promote Boracay in international markets. These include facilitating visits of international media and influencers, supporting familiarization trips of international tour operators and travel agencies, joining key global travel trade events like ITB Berlin and local travel expos and providing support to highlight the island as a premier destination for MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions Exhibitions).

Boracay stakeholders attributed the tepid influx of foreign tourists into the island due to the alleged lack of promotions by the DOT. The agency’s marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board, has already said the island remains among its top priorities for promotions abroad.

Jobs generation remains below govt target–Ibon

DBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ESPITE the improvement in the country’s employment data, Ibon Foundation Inc. said the latest data showed jobs generation remained below target.

Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the nongovernment think tank said the number of employed persons in February increased only by 154,000.

The data showed the total number of

employed Filipinos reached 49 million in February 2024 from 48.8 million in February 2023. This is less than 30 percent of the “implied annual target.” “Wage and poverty figures in their entirety; the so-called gains in the labor market are lackluster and are clearly not translating into gainful employment where Filipinos make enough to live on,” according to Ibon.

The group said the government’s Labor and Employment Plan (LEP) 2023-2028 targeted to generate “over 3 million jobs” for Filipinos which is an average of over

500,000 annually.

The PSA also reported a decrease in the number of unemployed by 679,000 to 1.8 million from 2.5 million and underemployed by 210,000 to 6.1 million from 6.3 million.

However, Ibon said job creation remained weak and that a major reason for the decline in the number of jobless Filipinos may have been due to those who stopped looking for work and dropped out of the labor force.

The number of those in the labor force fell by 526,000 to 50.7 million from 51.3

SC, Australian govt partner to improve access to justice

Tmillion, and the labor force participation rate fell to 64.8 percent from 66.6 percent the year before.

Meanwhile, Ibon estimated that there are 20.4 million informal workers which is 41.6 percent of total employed persons as of February 2024.

It added that this is comprised of 2.1 million domestic workers, the data showed 13.3 million self-employed and 4.9 million working in family-owned farms and businesses including 3.8 million unpaid family workers.

Who’s lying, Duterte or China? Solons seek truth on WPS ‘deal’

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AMID conflicting statements from former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and the Chinese government regarding an alleged “gentleman’s agreement” concerning the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the House of Representatives would start inquiry to uncover the truth, saying the “agreement” is “constitutionally void.”

(WPS) is “constitutionally void,” said House Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea Chairman Neptali M. Gonzales II.

“Like the President, I am truly horrified by the idea that our country’s territory, sovereignty and sovereign rights may have been compromised by a deal guised as an ‘agreement’ to maintain the peace and status quo in the WPS,” Gonzales said.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Supreme Court has partnered with the Australian government for the implementation of the P350-million “Fostering Advancement of Inclusive and Rights”-based (FAIR) Justice Program that will help improve access to justice, especially for vulnerable groups.

The FAIR justice was officially launched last April 11, 20024 at the Baguio Country Club in Baguio City, where the justices are currently holding their yearly summer session.

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo said the FAIR Justice program aims to complement the Philippine Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI), the blueprint of the judiciary for 2022-2027 that is envisioned to hasten court proceedings, processes and resolution of cases.

Gesmundo said that the FAIR Justice Program “is a testament to the strength of the two countries’ shared commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and strong and accountable public institutions.”

The chief magistrate pointed out the SC’s long history of mutual assistance and collaboration with the Australian government principally through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFA).

The FAIR Justice program aims to complement the Philippine Supreme Court’s Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations 2022-2027 (SPJI) by improving access to justice, especially for vulnerable groups, by supporting judicial reforms and law and justice cooperation in the Philippines.

Likewise, this five-year program intends to support the Philippines to enhance the administration of justice for women, children, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, and other socially disadvantaged groups.

The FAIR Justice program is part of Australia’s AUD20 million (P727 million) flagship justice strengthening investment in the Philippines.

Gesmundo said that the FAIR Justice program was designed in close consultation

with stakeholders in the judiciary and targets “three mutually reinforcing outcomes” which are expected to be in place before the program ends in 2029.

These include the enhanced knowledge and capacity of judges and court personnel and demonstrated improvements in the management and adjudication of cases; adoption of key reforms to increase effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in delivering justice; and that legal and judicial processes and services, as well as multi- stakeholder rights-based mechanisms, promote and achieve greater accessibility and inclusivity in delivering and accessing justice.

“What FAIR Justice means is that our people, most especially the disadvantaged and vulnerable, can count on effective and efficient courts, helmed by competent and ethical judges and personnel, to uphold their rights and deliver the justice they deserve,” Gesmundo said.

“To do all this, FAIR Justice will lead and facilitate a wide range of activities and initiatives—including research and scoping; capacity building; twinning,

Bong Go helps improve access to healthcare in No. Mindanao

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, attended the blessing and inauguration ceremony of the Northeastern Misamis General Hospital located in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental, on Friday, April 12.

Senator Go, who was instrumental in establishing the hospital through his sponsorship of Republic Act No. 11721, emphasized the critical role the facility will play in improving medical services for residents.

The Act, formally titled An Act Establishing a General Hospital in the Municipality of Villanueva, Province of Misamis Oriental, designates the new establishment as the Northeastern Misamis General Hospital. Currently, the hospital has the capacity for 25 beds, with the potential for expansion in the future and is expected to bolster healthcare accessibility and efficiency in the region.

“Nais kong magpasalamat sa Northeastern Misamis General Hospital dahil isang napakalaking karangalan ang makasama kayo dito sa pormal na pagbubukas ng inyong ospital. Hindi lamang ito isang simpleng okasyon, ito ay isang patunay na patuloy nating isinasabuhay ang iisang mithiin para sa ating mga mamamayan,

ang magkaroon ng sapat at dekalidad na serbisyong pangkalusugan para sa lahat,” highlighted Go.

Also, as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go earlier pushed for funding for the construction of the said health facility.

“Ang pagkakaroon ng isang pangunahing ospital dito sa Misamis Oriental ay hindi lamang nagbibigay ng mas mabilis na access sa healthcare services, ito rin ay nagbibigay ng seguridad at kapanatagan ng loob ng ating mga mamamayan. Hindi na natin kailangang magpunta ng malayo para lamang makakuha ng karampatang pangangalaga sa kalusugan,” Go mentioned.

Earlier the same day, Senator Go was present at the launch of the 162nd Malasakit Center at the First Misamis Oriental General Hospital in Medina. Reflecting on this, Go, father of the Malasakit Centers program, cited that Northeastern Misamis General Hospital may have its own Malasakit Center in accordance with the law. Republic Act 11463, or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019, which was principally authored and sponsored by Go, mandates the establishment of Malasakit Centers in DOH-run hospitals as well as for other qualified public hospitals across the country, provided they meet specific criteria and

can ensure the sustainability of operations.

Senator Go continued his speech by expressing gratitude to the local officials of Villanueva, including Congressman Yevgeny Vincente “Bambi” Emano and Mayor Jennie Rosalie Uy, among others, for their collaboration and support in bringing the hospital project to fruition. He then reassured his support for the hospital’s operations and to enhance healthcare services to the best of his capacity.

“I will continue to push for bills and initiatives seeking to establish and improve the capacity of the public healthcare system in the respective communities such as Misamis Oriental and to provide quality facilities and services to Filipinos, especially in the grassroots,” he continued.

During his visit, Go provided snacks, grocery packs, shirts and basketball and volleyball balls to some residents in the area.

To enhance the healthcare infrastructure and make primary care, consultations and early disease detection more accessible to communities, Senator Go also pushed for creating additional Super Health Centers nationwide.

Thanks to the joint efforts of Senator Go, other legislators, the DOH, under the leadership of Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and local government units, sufficient funds

‘High voter turnout shows people’s desire to integrate with the Barmm’

THE high voter turnout among residents of the Special Geographic Area (SGA) in North Cotabato on April 13 highlighted the strong desire of these residents to have their communities be made a part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), according to Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) Secretary Carlito

G. Galvez Jr. This, as 72,358 out of 89,594 registered voters across the 63 barangays in the SGA participated in a plebiscite held in 67 voting hubs, boasting an impressive 81 percent voter turnout, resulting in the creation of eight new municipalities.

“We are delighted to see such a high level of participation from our constituents in the SGA. This is a testament of the peoples’ aspiration for their barangays to be part of [the] Barmm,” Galvez said last Sunday. The Opapru chief also added that this

huge turnout underscores the commitment of the people in the SGA to engage in the democratic process and help shape the future of the Bangsamoro.

“This plebiscite is also a very good preparation for the first regular Barmm regional elections to be held in 2025,” he added. Galvez commended the Commissions on Elections (Comelec) as well as the police and the military “for ensuring the peaceful, orderly and smooth conduct of the plebiscite.” He also expressed his gratitude to Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza of North Cotabato and to the leadership of the Barmm government.

The plebiscite, conducted under the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) 41 to BAA 48, marks a significant step in enhancing and strengthening the Barmm’s overall governance structure.

Once established, the new municipalities to be created out of the 63 barangays in

the SGA, will pave the way for enhanced local governance, improved service delivery, and increased community participation in decision-making processes. An officer-incharge will be appointed as the interim local executive of each new town.

“Our goal is to empower our communities and provide them with the tools and resources needed to thrive,” Galvez said. “The creation of these new municipalities will allow for more localized governance, tailored to the unique needs and priorities of each area within the SGA.”

The BAA 41 to BAA 48 provide for the creation of the municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Tugunan, Ligawasan, Malidegao, Old Kabakan, and Kapalawan, all within the province of North Cotabato.

The barangays of Central Labas, Kapinpilan, Malingao, Mudseng, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras, in Midsayap, North

secondment, and exchange; engagements with experts and technical assistance; policy dialogues and advocacy; and collaborative and strategic partnerships,” he added.

Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, who co-chairs the FAIR Justice Program Management Committee, said the program “is the visible representation of the shared commitment of the Philippine Supreme Court and the Australian government in fortifying the law in the Asia and the Pacific Region.”

Singh stressed that the objectives of the FAIR Justice program are aligned with the SPJI.

“With the FAIR Justice initiatives, we will endeavor to reach out to the most underserved sectors and protect the most vulnerable persons through programs that will reflect ‘fair justice’ in every aspect and iteration’,” the lady justice said.

For her part, Acting Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Moya Collett pointed out Australia and Philippines “shared commitment to the rule of law and strong and accountable institutions,” which she said are important elements “for stability, security and prosperity of the region we live in.”

were secured to establish over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including thirteen in the province with six in Cagayan De Oro City. Senator Go also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for one of these centers in Tagoloan later that day.

Furthermore, Go highlighted his advocacy for creating Specialty Centers within DOH regional hospitals. Through RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which he principally sponsored and is one of the authors in the Senate, these centers will focus on specialized healthcare services, further enhancing the capacity and capabilities of public healthcare institutions to treat a broader range of medical conditions in all regions.

Northern Mindanao Medical Centers currently features a variety of specialty centers for cardiovascular care, lung care, orthopedics, mental health, neonatal care, infectious disease and tropical medicine. Additionally, there are plans to expand its services to include a renal care and transplant center, physical rehabilitation medicine, toxicology, cancer care, burn care, trauma care, geriatric care and eye care.

Aside from the Malasakit Center launch in Medina and the groundbreaking of the Tagoloan Super Health Center, Go also provided aid to displaced workers in Medina and Villanueva. Go also attended the Misamis Oriental’s Farmer and Fisherfolks Forum in Gingoog City upon the invitation of Gov. Peter Unabia.

Cotabato, will be part of Kadayangan. Nabalawag shall be composed of barangays Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kudarangan, Nabalawag, Olandang from the municipality of Midsayap, and Dungguan from the municipality of Aleosan.

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.

Tugunan shall be composed of Barangays Balong, Bualan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasendeg, Manaulanan, Pamalian, Panicupan from the municipality of Pikit, and Tapodoc from the municipality of Aleosan.

Rex Anthony Naval

House Assistant Majority Leader Jefferson F. Khonghun said that at the forefront of the upcoming inquiry lies a pivotal question: “Who is lying—Duterte or China—regarding the existence of the contentious agreement?”

Khonghun stressed the importance of ascertaining the truth behind the purported deal, emphasizing its potential implications for the country’s sovereignty and foreign policy.

“It’s crucial to ascertain the truth if indeed the Duterte administration struck such a deal with China,” Khonghun, who sought a congressional probe, said.

The alleged agreement, purportedly made during the previous administration, has sparked intense debate, with Duterte now vehemently denying its existence, while China continues to assert the contrary.

The impending House probe underscores mounting concerns over China’s influence in Philippine affairs, particularly in territorial disputes in the WPS, and if proven true, the agreement could significantly impact the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, said the lawmaker.

Khonghun said the House investigation is expected to include hearings and testimonies from relevant parties, including former government officials and diplomatic representatives.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the House to conduct an impartial inquiry into the matter.

Demand for clarity

THERE is mounting demand for clarity regarding the alleged “secret” verbal pact recently disclosed by Duterte’s former spokesman, Herminio “Harry” L. Roque Jr. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he was “horrified” by the supposed “gentleman’s agreement” entered into by his predecessor and the Chinese government regarding the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Meanwhile, calls for transparency and accountability have also been echoed by Rep. France L. Castro, who emphasized the urgency of immediate action.

Castro highlighted the importance of full disclosure regarding the secret agreement, asserting the Filipino people’s right to know the compromises made and their implications for the country’s territorial integrity.

“We demand full disclosure of the details of this secret agreement. The Filipino people have the right to know what compromises were made and what implications these have on our country’s territorial integrity,” the lawmaker added.

‘Constitutionally void’

THE so-called “gentleman’s agreement between Duterte and China on the nonsupply of the BRP Sierra Madre grounded in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea

“The so-called ‘agreement,’ if [there is] any, is constitutionally void since it is tantamount to the surrender of our country’s sovereign rights over our EEZ. Such an agreement will be equivalent to a new National Policy, which must be enshrined in a Treaty to be submitted to the Senate for ratification before it can take effect,” he added.

Roque recently confirmed this secret pact of Duterte with China.

Gonzales reiterated that Ayungin Shoal is part of the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as reaffirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling on the South China Sea arbitration case.

“Likewise, under Article 56 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the coastal state, which in this case is clearly the Philippines, has the right to build and maintain structures within its EEZ. This would clearly mean that our country has every right to protect and safeguard all features within our EEZ including the Ayungin Shoal,” he said.

Necessary criteria

GONZALES said “assuming there is indeed an agreement between Duterte and China, it will not be an enforceable agreement.”

“There are still some necessary criteria that we should satisfy before it is considered legally binding here in the Philippines. First, for the alleged ‘agreement’ to be enforceable, it must be in the form of an Executive Agreement. Since there is no official record under our records, the alleged ‘agreement’ may not be considered an Executive Agreement,” Gonzales pointed out.

Since it is not in the form of a treaty or an Executive Agreement, then the “secret pact” of Duterte with China must not be honored in the Philippines.

“The more important question we should ask is whether it was even wise for anyone, no less than the President of the land, to even consider, much more agree to the conditions of this so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement,’” Gonzales asked.

“We should ask if this supposed deal really have any value to the ordinary Filipino people. If there is truly an agreement, did it achieve its objective of peace and status quo?” he added.

He urged the Filipino people not to “fall prey to this false narrative” that it is the Philippine government that is causing the rising tensions in the WPS.

“Since when do we blame a bullied person for being bullied? Also, if they claim that revealing this alleged secret agreement to the public is for the sake of transparency, then why do they cry foul when we expose their activities in our EEZ?” Gonzales explained.

“No, we should already put an end to this. Instead, we should just diligently continue our duty to protect the interests of our country,” he added.

DPWH completes Albay, Cagayan infra projects

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced over the weekend the completion of two infrastructure projects in Cagayan and Albay.

In Abulug, Cagayan, the agency cited successfully completing construction of the Abulug-Ballesteros Bay View Boulevard, “a vital artery that aims to transform tourism and bolster local industries in the area.”

This project, which spans 490 meters and boasts a 6.7-meter-wide concrete pavement, represents the culmination of Phase 5 of the coastal development initiative in Barangay Bagu.

With features such as sidewalks, slope protection, and a seawall, the boulevard not only provides a scenic vista of the beach but also serves as a protective barrier against potential storm surges and flooding.

“Abulug-Ballesteros Bay View Boulevard serves a crucial role in safeguarding the area against potential storm surge and flooding while providing a venue for various tourismrelated businesses along the coastline as it provides a panoramic view of the beach,” Public Works Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan

was quoted in a statement as saying. The project was implemented by the DPWH Cagayan 2nd District Engineering Office at a cost of P26.9 million, funded through the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program (TRIP).

Meanwhile, in Ligao City, Albay, the DPWH said it has delivered a farm-tomarket road (FMR) project that seeks to “transform agricultural transport and uplift rural communities.”

Stretching 800 meters, this two-lane access road in Barangay Balogo incorporates box culverts and stone masonry to ensure efficient drainage and prevent flooding.

“The construction of the concrete road will prevent delays in product trading and risk of accidents that benefits farmers and residents in the covered barangays”, Public Works Director Virgilio C. Eduarte said.

The DPWH-Albay Third-District Engineering Office spearheaded the project, which has a price tag of P11.9 million and was funded through the 2023 GAA. Lorenz S. Marasigan

www.businessmirror.com.ph

• Editor: Jennifer A.

Ng

Ifpri: Farm subsidies must have sunset clauses

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE International Food Policy Research Institute (Ifpri) s aid a measure that will allow the extension of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) s hould include its gradual phase out.

Research Fellow Emeritus at the IFPRI Director General’s Office, Mark Rosegrant, recently told reporters on the sidelines of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Food Security Forum held recently that it is important to place sunset provisions on farm subsidies.

Rosegrant issued the statement after recent reports indicated that Senator Cynthia A. Villar is proposing to extend the RCEF for another s ix years, doubling the support for farmers to P20 billion. “Granted they’re going to do it [extension] for six years but why not start p hasing down the level of support at two to three years and you could briefly put that into just direct payments to farmers? So that it doesn’t d istort the way the production decisions are made. I think that would be a u seful way to do it.” Once the RCEF is phased out,

he said the funds from rice tariffs could be used for other investments in the agriculture sector. This will ensure that government funds are spent for agriculture that could lead to “higher returns.” These other areas include research and development, improving value chains, and efforts that would help reduce post-harvest losses, among others.

One key investment, Rosegrant said, is irrigation systems that may become too expensive in the medium- to long-term. “So the idea then f or repurposing, is to move funding

from some of the subsidies programs into more productive investments.”

The RCEF is a fund dedicated to improving farmers’ competitiveness through the provision of certified seeds, mechanization, expansion of credit access, and delivery of extension services.

RCEF is a six-year P10-billion rice production development program created under the rice tarrification law, o r Republic Act 11203, which deregulated the rice industry.

T he law mandates that P5 billion should be allocated for farm mechanization, P3 billion for inbred seed

Groups form coalition to promote use of coconut in biodiesel

SEVERAL groups formed a coalition to highlight the benefits of coconut, particularly in biodiesel production.

d istribution, P1 billion for credit and P1 billion for extension.

In 2020, two years before the mandatory review of RCEF, economists said the P10-billion RCEF can b e used to finance the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture ( RSBSA). The National Economic and Development Authority said the mandatory r eview is part of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the Rice Trade Liberalization law. The University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Food and Agribusiness (CFA) told the

Roving testing lab for food safety launched

“My view of the coconut has evolved and matured since I and my staff encountered various resource persons who were interviewed for our video project on coconut as food and fuel,” said Reyes-Lapus.

To highlight the importance of the coconut as a superb biodiesel and sustainable fuel source, Reyes-Lapus recently produced a coconut video project, scheduled for release this month.

Last January, the Department of Energy mandated the gradual increase of the country’s long-standing 2 per cent coconut methyl ester (CME) blend in diesel over the next few years—to 3 percent this year, 4 percent in 2025 and 5 percent in 2026.

“We have been holding meetings to maximize our knowledge about the unusual gifts of the coconut in biodiesel while also promoting nationwide planting,” said Clara Reyes-Lapus, President of Mama Sita Foundation and Philippine Association of Condiments Producers Inc. (PACPI), who is leading the discussion group, in a breakfast forum held in Quezon City last Friday. The other members of the discussion group are Agnes Cristobal, Vice President of PACPI; Rafael Diaz, adviser of the Philippine Biodiesel Association (TPBA) and former Executive Director of the Asian Institute of Petroleum Studies Inc. (AIPSI); Yvonne Agustin, executive director of the United Coconut Association of the Philippines Inc.; and Bataan 3rd District Representative Gila Garcia.

CME—which comes from coconuts—is added to diesel to create a coconut-based biodiesel (also known as “cocobiodiesel”), which is the only kind of biodiesel used in the Philippines.

Reyes-Lapus said the mandate is a landmark move for the Philippine biodiesel industry after almost two decades. The Philippines has remained at 2 percent CME blend over the last 17 years since the passage of Republic Act 9367 or the Biofuels Act of 2006.

Unfortunately, the Philippines has been left behind by other Asean countries in terms of biodiesel blending mandates–with Indonesia currently at a 35 percent biodiesel blend (“B35”) and Malaysia at a 20 percent biodiesel blend (“B20”).

According to Diaz, the higher addition of

CME in diesel has been scientifically proven to improve fuel combustion and engine performance while contributing to cleaner air by substantially removing toxic emissions. He also said CME in diesel is capable of dissolving hard-to- burn carbon components, ensuring a complete combustion of fuel that guarantees better engine power and cleaner emissions.

Diaz said the greatest feature of CME is that it ensures the elimination of diesel soot emissions while boosting engine power because of its high solvency features that prevent carbon deposition and emissions, which are also carcinogenic. He added that the high solvency of CME in diesel de-clogs injector nozzles and fuel feeder lines, normalizing the fuel spray pattern of diesel engines. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

TO guarantee that plant-based foods are safe for human consumption, a modern Mobile Plant Food Safety Laboratory was launched by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and BPI Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban led the inauguration of the first roving laboratory for food testing of plant-based food produce last April 12, at the BPI complex in Manila.

“It will ensure the safety of consumers to make sure that plant-based foods are free from pesticide residues, chemicals and microbial contaminants particularly in markets where access to conventional laboratories are restricted,” Villar said.

“As Filipinos we are used to evaluating our fruits and vegetables by merely using our eyes. We look at their appearance, or by touching, smelling and tasting them and we conclude that they are fit for consumption, or whether

they are acceptable or rejected.” The chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food said the roving modern laboratory will tour markets in the capital city to raise awareness of food safety and good food handling practices. It is equipped to test for a range of harmful food contaminants and pathogens including toxic chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotics, among others.

The BPI mobile laboratory will check the presence of toxic chemicals, pesticides in fruits and vegetables, E.coli in water and salmonella.

“Test results take just a few minutes to a few hours. Although these tests are not as thorough as analyses performed in large laboratories, they are enough to detect the worst cases of contamination, allowing officials to alert sellers and buyers,” said Villar. Butch Fernandez

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Israel says Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles, 99% of which were intercepted

By Josef Federman & Jon Gambrell | The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Booms and air raid sirens sounded across Israel early Sunday after Iran launched hundreds of drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles in an unprecedented revenge mission that pushed the Middle East closer to a regionwide war. A military spokesman said the launches numbered more than 300 but 99 percent of them were intercepted.

incident was not over, and dozens of Israeli warplanes remained in the skies.

Iran fired 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles. Of those, several ballistic missiles reached Israeli territory, causing minor damage to an air base. Rescuers said a 7-year-old girl in a Bedouin Arab town was seriously wounded in southern Israel, apparently in a missile strike, though they said police were still investigating the circumstances of her injuries.

In Washington, President Joe Biden said US forces helped Israel down “nearly all” the drones and missiles and pledged to convene allies to develop a unified response.

The Iranian attack, less than two weeks after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria that killed two Iranian generals in an Iranian consular building, marked the first time Iran has launched a direct military assault on Israel, despite decades of enmity dating back to the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Condemnation from the United Nations chief and others was swift, with France saying Iran “is risking a potential military escalation,” Britain calling the attack “reckless” and Germany saying Iran and its proxies “must stop it immediately.”

Hagari said the vast majority of the intercepts came outside Israel's borders, including 10 cruise missiles that were intercepted by warplanes.

“A wide-scale attack by Iran is a major escalation,” he said. Asked whether Israel would respond, Hagari said only that the army “does and will do whatever is required to protect the security of the state of Israel.” He said the

Israel's military said its Arrow system, which shoots down ballistic missiles outside the atmosphere, handled most interceptions and noted that “strategic partners” were involved.

“At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week,” Biden said in a statement. “Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement that US forces “intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel, launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.”

Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke early Sunday, Israeli time, their governments said. Biden said in his statement that he reaffirmed “America’s ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security—a departure from his growing criticism of Israel’s conduct in its war on Hamas in Gaza.

Iran had vowed revenge since the April 1 airstrike in Syria, which Tehran accused Israel of being responsible for. Israel hasn't commented on it.

Israel and Iran have been on a collision course throughout Israel’s six-month war against Hamas militants in Gaza. The war erupted after Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two militant groups backed by Iran, carried out a devastating cross-border attack on October

Pope Francis sides with Peruvian villagers who accuse Catholic group of trying to steal their land

By Gabriela Molina | The Associated Press

QUITO, Ecuador—Pope Francis on Saturday sided with a group of Peruvian villagers who have complained that companies linked to a powerful South American church group have tried to evict them from their land using lawsuits and obscure land titling schemes.

In a video recorded at his residence in the Vatican, the Pope sent a message of support to members of the San Juan Bautista de Catacaos farmers community in northern Peru, who have been fending off lawsuits from companies associated with the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae since 2014.

“I know what happened to you,” the Pope said in Spanish. “Defend your land and don't let them steal it.”

The Sodalitium is a lay group that runs schools and spiritual retirement centers in several South American countries, but is also involved in real estate, agriculture and construction companies.

The conservative group was founded in Peru in 1971 and gained thousands of members in South America, where it also ran homes housing consecrated members.

But the Sodalitium has come under increased scrutiny in recent years after its founder and some of its main leaders were accused of committing sexual abuses against children. Peruvian prosecutors have also launched investigations into the Sodalitium's finances and have accused the group of hiding money in offshore bank accounts.

Last July, the Vatican sent a high level commission to Peru to investigate the Sodalitium’s actions and determine whether the group should be dissolved. The commission was led by one of the Vatican’s top prosecutors for sexual abuse cases and members spoke with journalists, Sodalitium leaders and survivors of abuse. During the visit, the Vatican’s investiga -

tors also met with members of the Catacaos farmers community.

The villagers accused the Sodalitium of trying to take over 1900 hectares (4,000 acres) of land farmed by their community for centuries, through forged documents that claim the land has been purchased by a group of local companies.

The villagers also claimed they have been harassed with dozens of lawsuits.

A Peruvian court is still reviewing the land dispute.

On Saturday, Francis urged the Catacaos villagers to persist in their efforts to defend the land, where they raise cattle and produce honey.

“Thanks for doing what you do,” the Pope said. “I give you my blessing and don’t forget to pray for me.”

The Pope’s message was shared on Saturday as the Catacaos community celebrates its 466th anniversary. Its current leader, Marcelino Ynga, thanked the Pope for his message and said he hoped the Vatican will soon make a decision about the group's future.

The community’s lawyer, Carlos Rodriguez, said the Pope’s message provides some “reparation” to the villagers and “recognizes their struggle.”

7 that killed 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped 250 others. An Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused widespread devastation and killed over 33,000 people, according to local health officials.

Almost immediately after the war erupted, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon, began attacking Israel’s northern border. The two sides have been involved in daily exchanges of fire, while Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen have launched rockets and missiles toward Israel.

In a statement carried late Saturday by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard acknowledged launching “dozens of drones and missiles towards the occupied territories and positions of the Zionist regime.”

In a later statement, the Revolutionary Guard issued a direct warning to the US: “The terrorist US government is warned any support or participation in harming Iran’s interests will be followed by decisive and regretting response by Iran’s armed forces.”

IRNA also quoted an anonymous official saying ballistic missiles were part of the attack. A ballistic missile moves on an arch trajectory, heading up into space before gravity brings the weapon down at a speed several times faster than the speed of sound.

Israel has a multilayered air-defense network that includes systems capable of inter -

cepting a variety of threats including longrange missiles, cruise missiles, drones and short-range rockets. However, in a massive attack involving multiple drones and missiles, the likelihood of a strike making it through is higher.

Iran has a vast arsenal of drones and missiles. Online videos shared by Iranian state television purported to show delta-wing-style drones resembling the Iranian Shahed-136s long used by Russia in its war on Ukraine. The slow-flying drones carry bombs. Ukraine has successfully used both surface-to-air missiles and ground fire to target them.

Some Israelis watched the interceptions light up the night sky.

Air raid sirens were reported in numerous places including northern Israel, southern Israel, the northern West Bank and the Dead Sea near the Jordanian border.

Israel’s army ordered residents in the Golan Heights—near the Syrian and Lebanese borders—as well as the southern towns of Nevatim and Dimona and the Red Sea resort of Eilat into protective spaces. Dimona is home to Israel's main nuclear facility, and Nevatim has a major air base. Loud booms were heard in Jerusalem and northern and southern Israel.

The army’s Home Front Command canceled school Sunday and limited public gatherings to no more than 1,000 people. Israel and some other countries in the region closed

their airspace.

Earlier, Netanyahu warned: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them.”

In Washington, Biden convened a principals meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the attack.

Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of the US military’s Central Command, was in Israel over the weekend consulting with Israeli defense officials. The Central Command oversees US forces in the Middle East.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a warning to both Israel and the US. “Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe,” it wrote online. “It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the U.S. MUST STAY AWAY!“

For days, Iranian officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had threatened to “slap” Israel for the Syria strike.

In Iran’s capital, Tehran, witnesses saw long lines at gas stations early Sunday as people appeared worried about what may come next. Dozens of hard-liners demonstrated in support of the attack at Palestine Square.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported heavy Israeli airstrikes and shelling on multiple locations in south Lebanon following Iran’s launch of drones. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it launched “dozens” of Katyusha rockets at an Israeli military site in the Golan Heights early Sunday. It was not immediately clear if there was any damage. Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP correspondents Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, Michael Balsamo in New York, Krutika Pathi in New Delhi, Stephen Graham in Berlin, Thomas Adamson in Paris, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.

Iranian missiles or drones were intercepted in the sky above the Jordanian capital, Amman. In Lebanon's capital, Beirut, and elsewhere in the country, residents reported seeing missiles in the sky and hearing explosions, likely from interceptions. In Syria, explosions were heard in the capital, Damascus, and elsewhere. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian air defenses tried to shoot down Israeli attempts to intercept Iranian missiles.

Israeli settlers launch attacks on Palestinians in West Bank after military found teen’s body

By Nasser Nasser & Jack Jeffery The Associated Press

Al-MUGHAYYIR, West Bank—Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank went on the largest rampage against Palestinians there since the war in Gaza began, as Israel’s army said Saturday the body of a missing Israeli teen was found after he was killed in a “terrorist attack.” Witnesses said settlers assaulted a number of communities.

The Israeli military said dozens of people were injured in confrontations in several locations, with shots fired and rocks thrown. It did not specify how many Palestinians and Israelis were hurt. Several companies with the defense forces were deployed and “all of the incidents have concluded,” it asserted.

The disappearance of 14-year-old Binyamin Achimair sparked the attacks on Palestinian villages on Friday and Saturday. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a statement on social media urged people not to take the law into their own hands in the territory where tensions have simmered for months.

On Friday, Palestinian Jehad Abu Alia was killed and 25 others were wounded in the attack on al-Mughayyir village, Palestinian health officials said. On Saturday, Israeli troops delayed for several hours the ambulance carrying the 26-year-old man's body for burial, witnesses said.

Dozens of Israeli settlers returned to the village’s outskirts on Saturday, burning 12 homes and several cars. The Palestinian Health Ministry said three people from the village were injured, one critically. Border police fired tear gas toward villagers who gathered, trying to disperse them.

“They entered the house and burned it and burned cars, as you can see,” 42-year-old Akef Abu Allu said, looking at his blackened two-story home in al-Mughayyir.

In the nearby village of Douma, Israeli settlers set fire to around 15 homes and 10 farms, the head of the local village council, Slieman Dawabsheh, told The Associated Press, saying he had been there. “The army came but unfortunately, the army were protecting

the settlers,” he said, asserting that it fired tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinians trying to confront and expel them.

The Israeli military didn't respond to questions. The Palestinian Red Crescent said six people were injured by gunfire but did not say who fired.

The Israeli human rights group Yesh Din in a statement said at least 10 villages in the West Bank were attacked by Israeli settlers, with homes and vehicles damaged.

Tensions in the West Bank have been especially high since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza on October 7, sparked by the Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 250 hostages. More than 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in Israel's offensive, according to Gaza health officials.

Since then, Hamas has been trying to ignite other fronts, including in the West Bank, in hopes of exerting more pressure on Israel. Such efforts have largely failed, though more than 460 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since October 7, most in clashes sparked by army raids but some by vigilante settlers.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the killing of the Israeli teen.

According to Israeli media, the teen was last seen leaving the settler outpost of Malachei Shalom early Friday to tend to livestock nearby. The sheep returned

to the outpost hours later without him, reports said. Israel's Channel 13 TV reported that Achimair's body was discovered by a drone. The broadcaster said he was not shot but did not elaborate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing. “We will get to the murderers and their helpers as we do to anyone who harms the citizens of the state of Israel,” he said in a statement issued by his office.

In 2014, the abduction and killing of three Israeli teens in the West Bank escalated tensions and eventually ignited a 50-day Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, at the time the deadliest round of fighting between the two sides.

Consecutive Israeli governments have expanded Israeli settlement construction in east Jerusalem and the West Bank, territories the Palestinians seek for a future state, along with Gaza. Some are highly developed and resemble suburbs of Israeli cities, while smaller outposts often have only a few caravans.

While Israel has established scores of settlements across the occupied West Bank, the outposts are not authorized, though the government gives them tacit support. The international community overwhelmingly considers all West Bank settlements illegal and obstacles to peace.

Over 700,000 Israelis now live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem—territories captured by Israel in 1967.

The World

US says China boosts weapons production sales to Russia to help war effort in Ukraine

By Aamer Madhani | The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—China has increased sales to Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry for use in its war against Ukraine, according to a US assessment.

Two senior Biden administration officials, who discussed the sensitive findings Friday on the condition of anonymity, said that in 2023 about 90 percent of Russia’s microelectronics came from China, which Russia has used to make missiles, tanks and aircraft. Nearly 70 percent of Russia's approximately $900 million in machine tool imports in the last quarter of 2023 came from China. Chinese and Russian entities have also been working to jointly produce unmanned aerial vehicles inside Russia, and Chinese companies are likely providing Russia with nitrocellulose used in the manufacture of ammunition, the officials said. China-based companies Wuhan Global Sensor Technology Co., Wuhan Tongsheng Technology Co. Ltd. and Hikvision are providing optical components for use in Russian tanks and armored vehicles.

The officials said Russia has received military optics for use in tanks and armored vehicles manufactured by Chinese firms iRay Technology and North China Research Institute of Electro-Optics, and China has been providing Russia with UAV engines and turbojet engines for cruise missiles.

Russia’s semiconductor imports from China jumped from $200 million in 2021 to over

Germany’s Scholz arrives in China on a visit marked by trade tensions, Ukraine conflict

By The Associated Press

BEIJING—German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in China on Sunday on a visit focused on the increasingly tense economic relationship between the sides and differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Scholz's first destination was the industrial hub of Chongqing, where he and his delegation of ministers and business leaders were to visit a partially Germanfunded company and other sites in the vast city, which is a production base for China’s auto and other industries.

Scholz is also scheduled to visit the financial hub of Shanghai during his three-day visit, before traveling to the capital, Beijing, to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.

German companies such as BMW and Volkswagen are highly reliant on the Chinese market, even as Beijing’s support for Russia creates frictions with the West.

Germany’s economy has benefited from China's demand for investment and manufactured items from cars to chemicals, but those ties have frayed amid increasing competition from Chinese companies and tightened regulations. Political interference has also been blamed for a sharp drop in foreign investment.

German companies have argued they face unfair market barriers in China and the government has pushed for a policy of “de-risking” to reduce reliance on the Chinese market and suppliers.

Despite that, China remained Germany's top trading partner for the eighth straight year in 2023, with 254.1 billion euros ($271 billion) in goods and services exchanged between the sides, slightly more than what Germany traded with the US.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV showed Scholz descending from his plane in Chonqing and leaving in a motorcade, but did not carry any comments made to the welcoming delegation.

Prior to his arrival, Scholz posted on social platform X that he had discussed the “massive” Russian air attacks on civilian energy infrastructure with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, and declared that Berlin will “stand unbreakably by Ukraine’s side.”

China has refused to criticize Russian aggression. It has maintained trade relations with President Vladimir Putin’s government and aligned its foreign policy with Moscow in opposition to the US-led liberal political order, while touting its authoritarian one-party system as a superior alternative.

$500 million in 2022, according to Russian customs data analyzed by the Free Russia Foundation, a group that advocates for civil society development.

Beijing is also working with Russia to improve its satellite and other space-based capabilities for use in Ukraine, a development the officials say could in the longer term increase the threat Russia poses across Europe. The officials, citing downgraded intelligence findings, said the US has also determined that China is providing imagery to Russia for its war on Ukraine.

The officials discussed the findings as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China this month for talks. Blinken is scheduled to travel next week to the Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting in Capri, Italy, where he's expected to raise concerns about China's growing indirect support for Russia as Moscow revamps its military and looks to consolidate recent gains in Ukraine.

President Joe Biden has previously raised his concerns directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Beijing indirectly supporting Russia's war effort.

While China has not provided direct lethal military support for Russia, it has backed it dip -

lomatically in blaming the West for provoking

Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to launch the war and refrained from calling it an invasion in deference to the Kremlin.

China has repeatedly said it isn't providing Russia with arms or military assistance, although it has maintained robust economic connections with Moscow, alongside India and other countries, amid sanctions from Washington and its allies.

“The normal trade between China and Russia should not be interfered or restricted,” said Liu Pengyu, spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Washington. “We urge the US side to refrain from disparaging and scapegoating the normal relationship between China and Russia.”

Xi met in Beijing on Tuesday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who heaped praise on Xi’s leadership.

Russia’s growing economic and diplomatic isolation has made it increasingly reliant on China, its former rival for leadership of the Communist bloc during the Cold War.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who returned to Washington this week from a visit

to Beijing, said she warned Chinese officials that the Biden administration was prepared to sanction Chinese banks, companies and Beijing’s leadership, if they assist Russia’s armed forces with its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The Democratic president issued an executive order in December giving Yellen the authority to sanction financial institutions that aided Russia’s military-industrial complex.

“We continue to be concerned about the role that any firms, including those in the PRC, are playing in Russia’s military procurement,” Yellen told reporters, using the initials for the People’s Republic of China. “I stressed that companies, including those in the PRC, must not provide material support for Russia's war and that they will face significant consequences if they do. And I reinforced that any banks that facilitate significant transactions that channel military or dual-use goods to Russia's defense industrial base expose themselves to the risk of US sanctions.”

The US has frequently downgraded and unveiled intelligence findings about Russia's plans and operations over the course of the more than 2-year-old war with Ukraine.

Such efforts have been focused on highlighting plans for Russian misinformation operations or to throw attention on Moscow’s difficulties in prosecuting its war against Ukraine as well as its coordination with Iran and North Korea to supply it with badly needed weaponry. Blinken last year spotlighted intelligence that showed China was considering providing arms and ammunition to Russia.

The White House believes that the public airing of the intelligence findings has led China, at least for now, to hold off on directly arming Russia. China's economy has also been slow to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic. Chinese officials could be sensitive to reaction from European capitals, which have maintained closer ties to Beijing even as the US-China relationship has become more complicated.

Meanwhile, China on Thursday announced rare sanctions against two US defense companies over what it called their support for arms sales to Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy Beijing claims as its own territory to be recovered by force if necessary.

The announcement freezes the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems held within China. It also bars the companies' management from entering the country.

Filings show General Dynamics operates a half-dozen Gulfstream and jet aviation services operations in China, which remains heavily reliant on foreign aerospace technology even as it attempts to build its own presence in the field.

The company also helps make the Abrams tank being purchased by Taiwan to replace outdated armor intended to deter or resist an invasion from China. General Atomics produces the Predator and Reaper drones used by the US military. AP writers Didi Tang and Fatima Hussein contributed reporting.

World paid little attention to Sudan’s war for a year. Now aid groups warn of mass death from starvation

By samy magdy The Associated Press

CAIRO—On a clear night a year ago, a dozen heavily armed fighters broke into Omaima Farouq's house in an upscale neighborhood in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. At gunpoint, they whipped and slapped the woman, and terrorized her children. Then they expelled them from the fenced two-story house.

“Since then, our life has been ruined,” said the 45-year-old schoolteacher. “Everything has changed in this year.”

Farouq, who is a widow, and her four children now live in a small village outside the central city of Wad Madani, 136 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of Khartoum. They depend on aid from villagers and philanthropists since international aid groups can't reach the village.

Sudan has been torn by war for a year now, ever since simmering tensions between its military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into street clashes in the capital Khartoum in mid-April 2023. The fighting rapidly spread across the country.

The conflict has been overshadowed by the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza Strip, which since October has caused a massive humanitarian crisis for Palestinians and a threat of famine in the territory.

But relief workers warn Sudan is hurtling towards an even larger-scale calamity of starvation, with potential mass death in coming months. Food production and distribution networks have broken down and aid agencies are unable to reach the worst stricken regions.

At the same time, the conflict has brought widespread reports of atrocities including killings, displacement and rape, particularly in the area of the capital and the western region of Darfur.

Justin Brady, head of the U.N. humanitarian coordination office for Sudan, warned that potentially tens or even hundreds of thousands could die in coming months from malnutrition-related causes.

“This is going to get very ugly very quickly unless we can overcome both the resource challenges and the access challenges,” Brady said. The world, he said, needs to take fast action to pressure the two sides for a stop in fighting and raise funds for the UN humanitarian effort.

But the international community has paid little attention. The UN humanitarian campaign needs some

$2.7 billion this year to get food, heath care and other supplies to 24 million people in Sudan—nearly half its population of 51 million. So far, funders have given only $145 million, about 5 percent, according to the humanitarian office, known as OCHA.

The "level of international neglect is shocking," Christos Christou, president of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said in a recent statement.

The situation in fighting on the ground has been deteriorating. The military, headed by Gen. AbdelFattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have carved up Khartoum and trade indiscriminate fire at each other. RSF forces have overrun much of Darfur, while Burhan has moved the government and his headquarters to the Red Sea city of Port Sudan.

The Sudanese Unit for Combating Violence Against Women, a government organization, documented at least 159 cases of rape and gang rape the past year, almost all in Khartoum and Darfur. The organization's head, Sulima Ishaq Sharif, said this figure represents the tip of the iceberg since many victims don't speak out for fear of reprisal or the stigma connected to rape.

In 2021, Burhan and Dagalo were uneasy allies who led a military coup. They toppled an internationally recognized civilian government that was supposed to steer Sudan’s democratic transition after the 2019 military overthrow of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir amid a popular uprising. Burhan and Dagalo subsequently fell out in a struggle for power. The situation has been horrific in Darfur, where the RSF and its allies are accused of rampant sexual violence and ethnic attacks on African tribes’ areas. The International Criminal Court said it was investigating fresh allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the region, which was the scene of genocidal war in the 2000s.

A series of attacks by the RSF and allied militias on the ethnic African Masalit tribe killed between 10,000 and 15,000 people in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur near the Chad border, according to a report by United Nations experts to the Security Council earlier this year. It said Darfur is experiencing “its worst violence since 2005.”

With aid groups unable to reach Darfur's camps for displaced people, eight out of every 10 families in the

camps eat only one meal a day, said Adam Rijal, the spokesman for the Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees in Darfur.

In Kelma camp in South Darfur province, he said an average of nearly three children die every 12 hours, most due to diseases related to malnutrition. He said the medical center in the camp receives between 14 and 18 cases of malnutrition every day, mostly children and pregnant women.

Not including the Geneina killings, the war has killed at least 14,600 people across Sudan and created the world's largest displacement crisis, according to the United Nations. More than 8 million people have been driven from their homes, fleeing either to safer areas inside Sudan or to neighboring countries.

Many flee repeatedly as the war expands.

When fighting reached his street in Khartoum, Taj el-Ser and his wife and four children headed west to his relatives in Darfur in the town of Ardamata.

Then the RSF and its allies overran Ardamata in November, rampaging through the town for six days. El-Ser said they killed many Masalit and relatives of army soldiers.

“Some were shot dead or burned inside their homes,” he said by phone from another town in Darfur. “I and my family survived only because I am Arab.”

Both sides, the military and RSF, have committed serious violations of international law, killing civilians and destroying vital infrastructure, said Mohamed Osman, Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Food production has crashed, imports stalled, movement of food around the country is hampered by fighting, and staple food prices have soared by 45 percent in less than a year, OCHA says. The war wrecked the country's healthcare system, leaving only 20 to 30 percent of the health facilities functional across the country, according to MSF.

At least 37 percent of the population at crisis level or above in hunger, according OCHA. Save the Children warned that about 230,000 children, pregnant women and newborn mothers could die of malnutrition in the coming months.

“We are seeing massive hunger, suffering and death. And yet the world looks away,” said Arif Noor, Save the Children’s director in Sudan.

About 3.5 million children aged under 5 years have acute malnutrition, including more than 710,000 with severe acute malnutrition, according to the World Health Organization.

Meralco’s partnerships with co-ops to bolster PHL economic growth editorial

THe Philippine economy is on the cusp of a transformative era, and Meralco, the country’s largest electric distribution utility company, has the potential to play a pivotal role in propelling it forward. Recent studies have unveiled a strong correlation between higher power consumption, higher power quality requirements, and an increased GDP per capita. Recognizing this connection, Meralco has wisely set its sights on partnering with electric cooperatives, presenting a promising opportunity to elevate the Philippine economy to new heights.

Playing a pivotal role in driving the company’s expansion strategy, Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan has consistently advocated for investments in electric cooperatives to assist them in enhancing their services. This vision aligns perfectly with the country’s urgent need for stable and reliable electricity, particularly in provinces outside Metro Manila, to attract businesses and investments. By leveraging its vast expertise and resources, Meralco can become an instrumental force in bolstering economic development and empowering communities.

One notable example of Meralco’s successful partnership with an electric cooperative is its collaboration with Pampanga Electric Cooperative Inc. II (PELCO II) through an investment management contract. Pampanga, known for its resilience and impressive economic growth, stands as a prime investment destination in the country.

The province has witnessed significant infrastructure improvements, including enhanced roads, bridges, ecozones, and transportation systems, all of which have facilitated business operations and logistics. Pampanga’s thriving economy, fueled by agriculture, manufacturing, and services, makes it an attractive place for both local and foreign investments. Notably, Pampanga is also the largest contributor to the GDP of Central Luzon, further solidifying its position as a key economic driver. PELCO II, once categorized as an “ailing cooperative” by the National Electrification Administration in the early 2000s, has experienced a remarkable turnaround since partnering with Meralco. The Investment Management Contract sealed between PELCO II, Comstech Integrated Alliance, Inc., and Meralco in 2014 has yielded impressive results. In 2021, PELCO II achieved the highest rating possible for an electric cooperative—an AAA Categorized Cooperative.

This transformation can be attributed to a series of accomplishments, including settling outstanding obligations and signing bilateral supply contracts with major energy providers, leading to reduced power purchase costs. Additionally, PELCO II successfully refinanced debts, significantly cutting interest expenses and demonstrating sound financial management. Notable strides have also been made in reducing system loss, lowering it from 13.3 percent in 2013 to an impressive 9.33 percent by the end of 2023, well below the regulatory feeder loss cap of 10.25 percent. The stability and reliability that Meralco’s partnership provides have attracted prominent investors like Ayala Land Inc. to establish Alviera, it’s second-largest estate, within PELCO II’s franchise area.

While Meralco’s achievements with PELCO II are commendable, more can be done through joint ventures with other electric cooperatives. Meralco’s ability to infuse capital into these partnerships will be instrumental in improving consumer services through essential investments in infrastructure, systems, and personnel training and development. Many electric cooperatives lack the necessary capital expenditure to build crucial sub-stations and upgrade their facilities. By joining forces with Meralco, these cooperatives can tap into a wealth of resources and expertise, enabling them to provide their communities with reliable and efficient electricity services.

Atty. Arnel Casanova, senior vice president and chief of Meralco’s External and Government Affairs Office, emphasizes the company’s willingness to venture into new areas in the provinces, forming joint ventures with electric cooperatives where they are needed. This commitment to collaboration and community empowerment exemplifies the power firm’s dedication to the development of the country as a whole. Meralco’s partnership with electric cooperatives has the potential to be a gamechanger for the Philippine economy. By leveraging its expertise, resources, and reputation, Meralco can uplift communities, attract investments, and drive sustainable economic growth. The success story of PELCO II serves as a testament to the transformative power of such collaborations. Meralco’s commitment to cooperative partnerships aligns with the government’s goal of achieving universal electrification in the Philippines, particularly the electrification of underserved areas. Given the company’s expertise and resources, it can greatly support this objective by assisting electric cooperatives in meeting the electrification targets and ensuring that reliable power supply reaches every corner of the country.

Are you ready for the Philippine Book Festival?

eAtty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

xciTeMenT fills the air as the country’s book-loving public eagerly awaits the opening of the Philippine Book Festival 2024 (PBF), the largest traveling book festival in the Philippines. This year, it will take place from April 25 to 28, 2024, at the World Trade center in Pasay city.

On Day 1 (April 25), highlights include “Simula: A Celebratory Ritual” to inaugurate the festival. Activities for the day include a Read-a-Long with guest artists, a musical for kids (“Si Al Buda an Tsinelas”), an event featuring Bicolano writer Kristian Cordero (“Vocabulario de la Lengua Bicol”), and a closing party with the Philippine Educational Publishers Association.

Day 2 kicks off with “Kumustahan with DepEd,” followed by a roundtable discussion with Jerico Silvers, a tribute to National Artist Nick Joaquin (“Dahling Nick”), a conversation with

celebrated screenwriter and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee (“Trip to Quiapo”), and additional storytelling activities, book signings, and talks.

Day 3 spotlights crime fiction writers and includes a discussion on pitching creative works to filmmakers. Attendees can also participate in book signings with historian and bestselling author Ambeth Ocampo and the creators of Firefly books, along with a talk on Artificial Intelligence by David Guerrero. The day concludes with a poetry slam organized by the

Book Development Association of the Philippines.

The final day features a book launch by author Ronaldo Vivo (“Ang Suklam sa Ating Naaagnas na Balat”), a cosplay contest (“Cosplay Filipiniana,” where fans portray Philippine literary characters), and various literary events such as “Reading the Readers: Education and the Power of Reading,” “A Day with Gwy Saludes,” “A Beautiful Day,” and “PANITIKolab.” The festival culminates with a closing ritual at 7:00 p.m. to mark the end of the four-day celebration.

Attendees can explore an exhibi-

tion by the National Library of the Philippines, showcasing its Rare Book Collection, including a new selection of rare manuscripts and facsimiles. Additionally, the Book Bar will offer a selection of award-winning books, and Guhit Pambata will feature creations from talented children’s book illustrators. This year, the PBF is also introducing the Tabuan Food Hall.

The festival also reintroduces Kid Lit, a dedicated area for children; Komiks, focusing on Pinoy Komiks; Booktopia, featuring a wide array of fiction and non-fiction titles; and Aral Aklat, dedicated to textbooks and educational materials. Apart from the Main Stage, where most of the aforementioned events will occur, there will also be a Creators Lab and Kids-at-Play area, showcasing exciting talks, activities, and workshops. The Philippine Book Festival is part of the National Book Development Board’s initiative to cultivate a reading culture and enhance the publishing industry in the Philippines. The fair is open to the public for FREE from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information and free registration, visit philippinebookfest.com.

SEC imposes heavy fines on Abra Mining officials for unregistered stock sales, prompting AMLC action

iT took a while but the Securities and exchange commission

and traded on the PSE in numerous transactions.

The decision said that “[the stockholders] never actually made full—if any—payment of stocks’ price, the [shares] were not valid and existing, and they ought to have known that [they] were illegally issued,” the MSRD held.

the e-mails as well as purported deposits in banks that Abra Mining officials submitted to the commission.               As per SEC’s decision, Illegal issuances of AR shares totaling 169.05 billion shares covering 474 stock certificates were found to have been made from 2015 to 2019. These illegally issued shares were lodged

“This operates as fraud upon stockholders and creditors of the company, which issued said shares. Even further, as [the stockholders] circulated the illegally issued shares on the market, this operates as fraud upon the investing public.”

In a separate decision, the MSRD also found AR’s transfer agent, Asian Transfer & Registry Corporation, as well as its president, Arline B. Adeva, corporate secretary Premy Ann, assistant corporate secretary Joseph M. Acuesta, and treasurer guilty of violating Sections 26 and 52.1 of the SRC, and Section 36.4.3.2 of the 2015

Implementing Rules and Regulations of the SRC.

In another decision, the MSRD also held several stockholders of Abra Mining, namely Ferdinand U. Collado, Leila V. Collado, Susan May I. Gacelo, Jubileum Air and Sea Logistics, Inc., and Andrei Vincent Freight Services Corp., liable for violations of Section 26 of the SRC.

With the decision, officers and directors of AR and its transfer agent, as well as the stockholders, have been disqualified from being a registered person and are prohibited from serving or acting as an employee, officer, or director of a registered financial

Philippines as a global tax leader

TJoel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part 19

he Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), in partnership with the Asia Pacific Tax hub of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), conducted a webinar entitled “Mobilizing Resources through Property Tax: Local and International Perspectives” on October 21, 2021. International and Philippine tax experts discussed best practices on property taxation, land value capture, and updates on the property tax reform in the Philippines.

Participating in the webinar was a distinguished panel of speakers that included Duke University Professor Roy Kelly, ADB Director Abdul Abiad, and ADB specialist and consultants Mr. Brian McAuley, and Ms Sissie Fun. The panel presented the international and local context of property taxation and the concept of Land Value Capture (LVC). Mr. McAuley and Ms Fung presented the Benchmark Study for Property Tax Reform in South-East Asia. This study provided an analysis of the performance of property taxes and the opportunities for reform and improvement based on current policies and implementation guidelines of Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. ADB Director Abiad discussed the concept of beneficiary funding and the LVC mechanism and its applicability in the local context and existing legal framework in the Philippines.

In the webinar, then Research Fellow of the Philippines Institute for Development Study and currently an Executive Director of the Board of Directors at the ADB, Dr. Charlotte Justine Diokno-Sicat noted the need for improvement on tax administration such as updating the schedule of market values that will result in a better collection for the Local Government Units (LGUs).

Recognizing the importance of real property taxation of the LGUs, the ADB has been generous in granting technical assistance funding and loan financing to the Philippines, through the BLGF. Presently, the Local Governance Reform Project (LGRP) is being implemented by the BLGF. The loan agreement for the LGRP took effect in August 2020. This four-year project aims to enhance local government revenue mobilization, strengthen local public service delivery, and improve local governance in the Philippines.

The LGRP aims to empower LGUs by improving their revenue collection capabilities. It prescribes the adoption of digital tools for local real property tax valuation and collection. This project provides capacity building and training for LGU officials and staff on such topics as financial management, tax administration, and governance.

There is also a policy and institutional reform component to support legal and institutional reforms related to local resource mobilization, policy changes that promote fiscal sustainability and accountability, and collaboration with various government agencies to ensure a holistic approach to reform. With the project term expiring on December 31, 2024, the BLGF and other implementing agencies are pressed to complete the project outcomes.

A unique program initiated by the BLGF and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) is the Standardized Examination and Assessment for Local Treasury Service (SEAL) Program.

Under Department of Finance Order No. 053.2016, the SEAL aims to further professionalize the local treasury service, enhance the fiscal position of local governments, and establish high standards for qualifications, practice, and technical competencies in local treasury operations.

The SEAL Program consists of a three-level certification process:

Basic Competency on Local Trea-

TThe LGRP aims to empower LGUs by improving their revenue collection capabilities. It prescribes the adoption of digital tools for local real property tax valuation and collection. This project provides capacity building and training for LGU officials and staff on such topics as financial management, tax administration, and governance.

sury Examination: This level assesses fundamental knowledge and skills related to local treasury functions.

Intermediate Competency on Local Treasury Examination: At this stage, candidates demonstrate more advanced competencies in local treasury operations.

Advanced Competency on Local Treasury Examination: The highest level evaluates specialized expertise and proficiency in complex treasury task.

The first SEAL exam was conducted in August 2017. Since that time, several more tests of the various phases were conducted. It is appropriate that with the SEAL in place for over seven years already, an assessment be made by the Department of Finance and CSC of the positive outcomes, areas for improvement, and best practices of the SEAL that can be shared with the rest of the world.

In March 2024, the Asian Tax Hub released a publication on “Leveraging Technology for Property Tax Management in Asia and the Pacific: Guidance Note. (https://www.adb. org/publications/technology-propertytax-asia-pacific-guidance-note)

This guidance note explains why countries in Asia and the Pacific should use technology including remote sensing and artificial intelligence to reform property tax management and help strengthen public finances. This publication presents how technology can be used to roll out computerized mass appraisal systems, automated value modeling, and integrated land information systems. It assesses the hurdles and financial constraints facing countries and shows how ADB is helping better integrate land management into wider e-government systems. The publication contains informative content such as Gap Analysis and Possible Solutions, a Property Tax Tool Kit for Computerized Mass Appraisal System Development, and Advanced Computerized Mass Appraisal System Technologies. The BLGF can derive much information for its operational use and its LGRP and SEAL initiatives. The BLGF can take a leading role in pursuing real estate taxation and governance matters not only in the Philippines but also in the rest of the world.

To be continued Joel

Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

he escalating scuffle between the Philippines and China on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with conflicting claims is an enigma in itself. With former President Rodrigo Duterte singing a different tune with that of the Chinese embassy, it has become a “he said, they said” situation. China says “Ouch!,” asserting it was our country that provoked them, whereas the Philippines cries “Foul,” appearing as the perpetual “punching bag.” China says the conduct of its Coast Guard vessels in blocking the resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre were done in pursuit of China’s sovereignty, whereas the Philippines says the continued presence of Marines in Ayungin Shoal merely serves as an assertion of its rights already adjudicated in a UN Tribunal. Yet the China Coast Guard vessels are boulders, figuratively speaking, compared to “pebbles” of Philippine supply ships. In an abbreviated patois, it’s like saying “you bring food, I hit you with water”—via powerful water cannons and “you bring construction materials, I block you”—using colossal vessels!

China now insists that the Philippines has ceased from honoring the so-called Gentlemen’s Agreement, calling for a status quo, purportedly forged by former President Duterte during his term and President Xi Jinping. As per recollection of PRRD, he never ceded any rights over Ayungin Shoal. No gentlemen’s agreement whatsoever was crafted, just a “handshake,” which makes no or little difference, though PRRD remembered stating that in order to avoid war or further conflict, there will be no armed patrols in the contested area.

Former Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque already voiced out that yes, indeed, during the Duterte administration, our country supposedly agreed with China to “keep the status quo in the territorial waters.” But Roque’s former colleague in the Duterte’s administration, chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, vehemently denied the existence of any gentlemen’s agreement between the named two heads of states. Sadly, the mystery has gone

even murkier. A gentlemen’s agreement in the field of international relations is nothing new. Back in the days when the anti-Japanese sentiment evolved in the US West Coast, an informal “Gentlemen’s Agreement” (around 1907) and an analogous informal “Ladies’ Agreement” was crafted between the USA and Japan whereby the latter would have very little or no movement to the former. The US did not wish to infuriate Japan by passing official legislation barring Japanese immigration to the United States. The agreements remained effective until sometime when Congress eventually forbade all immigration from Japan. Straightforwardly, any Gentlemen’s Agreement is informal, verbal, fashioned out of beneficial etiquette, and relies on “word of honor.” In due deference to China, I wonder why it presumably settled for such an informal Gentlemen’s Agreement knowing the gravity of the maritime issue and having been dragged in the international arbitral tribunal. Any prudent per-

China now insists that the Philippines has ceased from honoring the so-called Gentlemen’s Agreement, calling for a status quo, purportedly forged by former President Duterte during his term and President Xi Jinping.

son in that situation would prefer, even demand, more than a “word of honor.” As serious as its claim over the WPS, China’s appropriate legwork and paperwork should have been geared towards the execution of a formal, legally binding written agreement. If China sincerely believes that the Philippines, through Duterte, ceded anything to them, then China should have inked it, or reduced it in writing.

This reminds me of a rule in evidence as fortified by jurisprudence that a mere allegation is not evidence. He who alleges has the burden of proving his allegation with the requisite quantum of evidence. Concerning the issue of surrendering any armed activity over the disputed maritime areas, the indispensable quantum of evidence would be a written document. Even the Chinese has a proverb for it: “The palest ink is better than the best memory.” This bespeaks of the importance of documenting important information IN WRITING. Would this be a best time now for China to re-think its position and adhere to its age-old aphorism? If it thinks it, then it should ink it. Such is a stark contrast compared to what the US, Japan, and the Philippines managed to do—ink a formal statement that stated, among others, “our coast guards also plan to conduct an at-sea trilateral exercise and other maritime activities in the Indo-Pacific to improve interoperability and advance maritime security and safety.”

For believers of the Christian faith, there was no Gentlemen’s Agreement. He chose to cement the Good News about our salvation, among other purposes, through a written book—the Holy Bible.

It exists so that we may know the covenant that our Heavenly Father marked for and with us: that because He so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life ( John 3:16 ). And on the matter of this most important requisite quantum of evidence about God’s love for us, we are reminded in the same Book that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” ( 2 Timothy 3:17-17 ). Indeed, our Abba Father saw the need to document His Word, for the Bible is not about God’s word, it is His Word! Our simple role is to “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” ( Joshua 1:8 ). Through it all, what prevails expectedly is the one written in ink—or reduced in writing. Even the Chinese, as earlier mentioned, considered writing as a superior form of documentation compared to memory. Yet it settled for a memory-predicated agreement whose fragility is now manifested by the conflicting statements of Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian and of Roque and Panelo.

I suggest we better ink whatever we want to remember and enforce lest we forget and lose ourselves in the process, memory included. What is it again?

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.

Israel attacked by Iran as Mideast enters perilous new phase

By Alisa Odenheimer, Arsalan Shahla & Donato Paolo Mancini

IRAN launched armed drones and missiles against Israel, marking a new and more volatile phase of the Middle east conflict. The attack, in retaliation for a strike in Syria that killed top Iranian military officers, marked the first time Iran has struck Israel from its soil.

Most of the more than 200 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones fired by Iran were intercepted with the help of Israel’s allies before landing, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari said early Sunday. He said the only impacts were a 10-yearold girl who was badly injured and minor damage to an army base. Hagari earlier called the attack from Iran “a severe and dangerous escalation.”

US President Joe Biden returned to the White House from his private residence in Delaware.

“I just met with my national security team for an update on Iran’s attacks against Israel,” Biden said in a posting on X, formerly Twitter. “Our commitment to Israel’s security against threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations said the action was a “legitimate” defensive response to the strike in Damascus—which Israel hasn’t acknowledged carrying out—and suggested it was a warning. It also warned the US to stay away from the conflict. “The matter can be deemed concluded,” the Iranian mission said in a social media post. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”

Multiple alarms sounded in various locations in Israel: Jerusalem,

Beer Sheva and Dimona in the south, and the Jewish settlement Ariel in the West Bank. Residents of Jerusalem reported hearing blasts. Alarms also sounded in Israel’s north. The Israel Defense Forces said it cut off GPS services in some areas to help counter the attack. A US defense official confirmed that its forces in the region shot down Iranian-launched drones targeting Israel. The UK Defense Ministry said it deployed Royal Air Force jets to intercept Iranian drones headed for Israel if necessary.

Israel has upgraded its air defenses considerably over the past decade and a half, adding new systems for interceptions of ballistic missiles fired from as far away as 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles.) That range includes Yemen, Syria and Iraq, where militant groups allied with Iran are based, as well as Iran. Israel’s most active and wellknown air defense is Iron Dome, which has intercepted thousands of rockets fired by Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2011. But Iron Dome is designed for missiles and drones with a short range, and is just one of the advanced missiledefense systems in place.

Israel also has a medium-tolong-range interceptor known as David’s Sling and the Arrow defense system, which developers say can intercept missiles fired from

Iran’s mission to the United Nations said the action was a “legitimate” defensive response to the strike in Damascus—which Israel hasn’t acknowledged carrying out—and suggested it was a warning. It also warned the US to stay away from the conflict. “The matter can be deemed concluded,” the Iranian mission said in a social media post. “However, should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran’s response will be considerably more severe.”

as far away as 2,400 kilometers (1,500 miles.)

Attack Condemned

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among the first leaders to respond to Iran’s attack. “The UK will continue to stand up for Israel’s security and that of all our regional partners, including Jordan and Iraq,” Sunak said in a statement. France, Germany and the European Union also condemned Iran’s action.

So did United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who called for an immediate halt to the hostilities, citing the risk of a “devastating region-wide escalation.” Israel asked for an emergency session of the UN Security Council.

The assault escalates a Middle East conflict that began on October 7 when thousands of Hamas operatives broke into Israel from Gaza, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 250. A direct clash between

Iran and Israel would likely draw in the Lebanon-based group Hezbollah, which like Hamas is backed by Iran, and heighten the possibility of a regional war.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has repeatedly warned Israel will be “punished” for the deadly strike in Damascus on April 1, which destroyed the Islamic Republic’s consulate building and killed at least 13 people, including seven Iranian military personnel. Israel hasn’t claimed responsibility for the attack, in keeping with its usual response to accusations of targeting Iran.

Recent history suggests any assault will be measured against what might come next from Iran’s adversaries. When the US killed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, for example, Iran opted for nonlethal attacks on military bases.

Israeli officials have said that if their country were hit, Iran’s leaders should expect a counterattack, although Israel may weigh what it portrayed as the failure of the Iranian assault in choosing its response.  Iran has tried to be circumspect on its role in hostile acts by allied militant groups beyond its borders. That policy became more difficult after Hamas attacked Israel, touching off an extended war in Gaza. Houthi rebels in Yemen used that as a pretext for missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, while Hezbollah has exchanged fire across the border with Israel almost daily since the incursion. With assistance from Ethan Bronner, Augusta Saraiva, Galit Altstein, Alex Wickham and Justin Sink /Bloomberg

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Dito will expand subscriber base to double revenues

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Dito telecommunity Corp. plans to double its business this year, a tall order that will be driven largely by an aggressive subscriber acquisition plan, according to a ranking official.

For 2024, she said Dito aims to grow by as much as 100 percent. At the same time, Dito is focusing on growing its subscriber base by as much as 60 percent to 16 million from 10.4 million at present.

“[We want our subscriber base to grow at the minimum to] 15 million to 16 million,” Jimenez said. “Right now, we are at 10.4 million.”

Prepaid still accounts for the majority of Dito’s subscribers, while postpaid accounts for “less than 100,000” subscribers.

“We have very high ambitions for postpaid. We’re really going to push more of our postpaid products. This year we really want to achieve 500,000 subscribers,” Jimenez said.

She noted that Dito has a “very high active rate of 90 percent” of its customer base with the biggest chunk in Luzon.

Currently, Dito has a population coverage of 82 percent and is gunning to “hit” 84 percent by July, in time for its last tech -

nical audit.

By the end of the year, Dito aims to further expand its coverage to 86 percent and 87 percent of the population—beyond its commitments to the government.

Part of Dito’s franchise are commitments and milestones, including a population coverage of 84 percent with a minimum download speed of 55 Mbps by July this year.

Dito plans to end the year with 8,000 towers.

In August 2023, Dito said it identified the enterprise segment as a major growth area in the mid-term. It aims to grow its contributions to the company’s overall revenues to almost a fifth in the next 3 years.

Jimenez had told reporters that the company is developing solutions that target businesses of varying sizes, including micro, small, and medium enterprises.

DOE: Bulk of RE deals for solar, hydro

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

So LAR a nd hydro projects accounted for a chunk of the renewable energy (RE) service contracts awarded by the Department of Energy (D o E ). The D o E said it awarded a total of 1,282 RE service contracts with a potential capacity of 130.93 gigawatts (GW) and an installed capacity of 5.78 GW as of January.

Latest data from the agency indicated that that 480 of these contracts are solar projects, 428 are hydro, 252 are onshore and offshore wind, 76 are biomass, 37 are geothermal, and nine are ocean.

The potential capacity of the solar service contracts could reach 29,689 megawatt peak (MWp) while installed capacity is at 1,432MWp.

For the 171 onshore and 81 offshore wind contracts, their poten -

STOCK-MARKET OUTLOOK

l ast week

Sh A RE p rices fell during the threeday trading week as macroeconomic headwinds persisted and the United States reported higher inflation rate.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) fell 86.07 points to close at 6,659.39 points. This was the main index’s seventh straight day of decline, as the PSEi was down all-week long.

Broker 2TradeAsia said US inflation came in higher than expected, putting renewed pressure on to the US Federal Reserve to sustain elevated rates longer than previously anticipated.

“Futures markets are now pricing in a fading probability of a June rate cut, down to 21 percent from 73 percent last month, pushing a more probable September 2024 cut. This aligns with our view from December that rates may come later than originally communicated, and rates are not coming down until high inflation fully relaxes into the 2 percent range.”

o t her sub-indices ended mixed.

The broader All Shares index fell 37.78 points to close at 3,517.40 points, the Financials index was up 14.82 to 2,040.73, the Industrial index declined 94.05 to 8,709.54, the h o lding Firms index shed 123.31 to 6,201.15, the Property index plunged 99.76 to 2,566.09,

For the week, losers outnumbered gainers 139 to 78 and 24

tial capacity could reach 86,635MW as against their combined installed capacity of 443MW.

For the hydro projects, all service contracts have a potential capacity of 12,702MW and an installed capacity of 11,193MW.

The potential capacities for biomass, geothermal and ocean service contracts are 207MW, 1,003MW, and 34MW, respectively. For installed capacities, 765MW are recorded for biomass service contracts, 1,951MW for geothermal, and zero for ocean.

The agency is pushing for a clean energy scenario (CES) to meet 35 percent of RE share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2050.

Based on the updated Philippine Energy Plan, which covers the period 2023 to 2050, two CSEs were drafted.

CSE1 involves high RE with low offshore wind (o S W), plus nuclear and coal repurposing, which targets at least a 50- percent RE share by 2040 and more than 50 percent by 2050. It also incorporates capacities from nuclear, 1,200MW by 2032, additional 1,200MW by 2035 and another 2,400MW by 2050. Furthermore, it also considers a 19GW capacity from o S W and the repurposing of coal facilities.

CSE2 or the high RE with high o S W, plus nuclear and coal repurposing, aims to surpass a 50-percent RE share between 2040 and 2050, including nuclear capacities—1,200MW by 2030, additional 1,200MW by 2035, and another 2,400MW by 2050. In addition, this scenario outlines significant expansions for a 50GW increase in o S W capacity, as well as strategic initiatives for repurposing coal facilities.

hawkish cake.”

“This forecast pushes the CPI [consumer price index] at the top end of the 2-percent to 4-percent target, driven by worsening upside risks.”

It said the probability of an extended downtrend past 6,500 should warrant extra caution in trades.

Atok-Big Wedge Co. Inc.

This week

Sh A RE p rices may post gains this week, but mainly on bargain hunting. Japhet Louis o. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said the local market is currently at a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.3 times, lower compared to its 2019-2023 average of 18.2 times.

“At its current position, bargain opportunities are seen. he nce, next week, we may see episodes of bargain hunting. h o wever, worries over the Philippines’s inflation and interest outlook are expected to persist which in turn may continue to weigh on the market. This comes amid the mounting inflationary risks which raise the possibility of a delayed rate cut by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.”

2TradeAsia said an upward adjustment on the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas inflation forecast for the year to 4 percent from 3.9 percent is the “icing on top of this quarter’s

o n that front, any stabilization above 6,600 could open windows for short-term range trading, at least while the broader market rationalizes capital cost outlook for the remainder of 2024 Disappointed markets tend to overreact on pricesgrounded expectations and objective trading is key,” the broker said.

Immediate support is seen at 6,500 to 6,600 points and resistance at 6,800 points.

stock pick

M Ay B A n k Securities maintained its buy ratings on Filinvest REIT Corp. (Filreit), as its income last year beat consensus estimates, despite being below the broker’s estimates.

“The underperformance resulted from lower revenues on declining occupancy rates coupled with increased expenses. We trim our 2024 and 2025 earnings to 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively, to reflect weak 2023 earnings.”

It also cut its target price on the stock by 8 percent to P4.04 per share.

“There is 46 percent upside to our target with 2024/2025 implied yields of 9.9 percent/10.5 percent, thus maintain our buy recommen -

e x traordinary and Plenipotentiary r o yal Thai e mb assy in Manila Tull Traisorat; PFa p resident Joseph Tanbuntiong (Jollibee Foods c o rporation); PFa c hairman s a m c hristopher l

“Acceleration of RE development is led by the private sector, enabled by the D o E ’s policy and regulatory framework, and requires complementing technologies such as energy storage systems and grid enhancement,” the agency said.

Evelyn Jimenez, the company’s chief commercial officer, said the group targets to double its revenues in 2024, from almost P11 billion the year prior. She said in 2023, Dito posted a 50-percent surge in revenues.

Banking&Finance

Perspectives

Telco to techco

THE term “techco” is a relatively new buzzword that has emerged to describe the transformation of traditional telecommunications companies (telcos) into more technologyfocused and innovative businesses. This transformation is driven by the rapid pace of technological change and the increasing demand for digital services.

The evolution of telcos into techcos reflects the convergence of telecommunications and technology. As the digital world becomes increasingly interconnected and reliant on data, techcos are poised to play a crucial role in shaping the future of communication and innovation. Today’s telcos know that in order to survive and thrive in the digital age they should be built around their customers, with an ability to continuously respond and adapt to ever-changing needs.

Major telecommunications companies in the Philippines have already transitioned from being traditional telcos to techcos, positively impacting their businesses in various areas, including digital inclusion.

Signals of change

TELCO service revenue has stabilized over recent years. A TM Forum report states that despite substantial revenue growth in technology-related industries, telco operators experienced slow revenue growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of just under 1 percent. This sluggish growth is primarily attributed to stagnant consumer service revenues, with both fixed and mobile subscription numbers reaching saturation points, and intense competition continually eroding average revenue per users (ARPUs). As a result, telcos are increasingly shifting their focus to the business-to business (B2B) segment as a key driver for revenue growth.

What are the key characteristics of a techco?

They create value for their customers. Techcos strive to understand and meet the needs and expectations of customers, fostering a customer-centric mindset. Products and operations are designed to focus on delivering the best customer and shareholder experience through connected value streams that align across the business end to end. Leveraging technology, techcos enhance customer interactions and gain deep customer insight to continuously improve their offerings and customer satisfaction.

They operate over defragmented cloud architectures. Techcos design and deploy digital services over cloud architectures to maximize efficiency, flexibility and scalability. Decoupling the software and hardware enables generic hardware to be used. Virtualization of resources maximizes flexibility and scalability. Application programming interfaces (APIs) simplify access and real-time orchestration. And that gives product managers and software developers the flexibility to focus on customer expectations when developing product features and designing user journeys.

They develop a portfolio of digital services. Techcos develop a spectrum of innovative services delivered and/or consumed over digital channels. They are constant innovators and con-

tinuously launch pioneering products and services while enhancing existing ones. At the same time, the decoupling of the software and hardware layers has led to the emergence of two distinct models in the technology space—digital service providers that offer digital solutions and cloud service providers that offer services to developers and digital service providers.

They provide full digital experiences and advanced automation. Techcos excel at creating seamless, intuitive and engaging user experiences across a range of digital channels, platforms, devices and contexts. They combine technologies like customer experience management systems, self-service platforms, chatbots and AI-enabled virtual assistants to deliver real-time order to fulfilment, self-care, charging and service monitoring.

They enable data-driven decision-making. Techcos actively engage in the collection, storage, analysis and utilization of diverse data sets to generate insights, make decisions and create value. Leveraging user data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI), they extract insights on customer behavior to develop personalized services (such as dynamic pricing, tailored service plans, customized marketing offers and customer service) and optimize operations.

They are agile and innovative. Techcos leverage the flexibility of their operating model, partnerships with hyperscalers, co-creation approaches with vendors, and deep insight into customer behavior and expectations to rapidly adapt to changing customer needs, market conditions and technological advancements. They promote experimentation, rapid prototyping and continuous learning to stay ahead of trends and emerging opportunities which enables them to go to market faster with new services and features.

They can attract and retain top talent. In the digital era, tech talent is one of the scarcest strategic resources. Techcos nurture a culture and professional environment that attracts top talent, provides opportunities to work in leading-edge projects and technologies, offers clear career paths and helps employees to grow.

“Transitioning from a telco to a techco requires a strategic shift and restructuring of telco operations. To overcome challenges and maintain a competitive edge in the digital landscape, it is crucial to prioritize customer needs, foster innovation and embrace agility,” said KPMG in the Philippines Head of Technology, Media and Telecommunications Jallain Marcel S. Manrique.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://kpmg. com/xx/en/home/insights/2024/01/telco-totechco.html.

© 2024 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership, is a member firm of a global organization of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG Int’l Ltd. All rights reserved. This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

US consultants to explore partnership to boost MIF

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

AdelegAtion from two

Washington-based international strategic advisory firms is set to pay a visit to the Philippines to discuss potential partnerships to boost the Maharlika investment Fund (MiF) and enhance the country’s digitalization efforts in generating revenues.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto engaged with top executives of strategic advisory firms McLarty Associates LLC and Ankura Consulting Group LLP. last Friday during the working visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Washington, DC.

The meeting with McLarty Association’s Vice Chairman John D. Negroponte and Ankura’s Chairman

of Latin America & Caribbean Fernando L. Battle focused on the firms’ support to the sovereign wealth fund by offering strategic advisory services to improve the management, enhance the participation of investors, and attract more investments into the MIF.

The DOF added that both firms’ executives extended their assistance to the DOF to achieve its goal of utilizing digital technologies for more

AMLC gives BTr ₧50M linked to terror funds

HE Anti-Money Laundering

TCouncil (AMLC) has recently turned over P50 million in terrorism financing funds to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

In a statement, AMLC said this was in accordance with the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Manila, Branch 18, in Civil Case No. 20-001-37, a case AMLC filed on behalf of the Philippine government.

AMLC said the money was discovered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) during the government efforts to retake Marawi City.

“The RTC found that the funds were related to terrorism financing in connection with the Marawi City Siege, where the notorious Maute family violently attempted to establish a terroristic government,” AM LC said.

AMLC said the turnover of the cash was accomplished through the joint efforts of the council, the AFP, BTR, and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Other institutions involved in the turnover were the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which also received its share as counsel for the Republic.

Last year, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. told reporters that the deadly bombing in Marawi

could make it difficult for the Philippines to exit the gray list of the Paris, France-headquartered Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The bombing in Marawi, which killed four people and wounded 50 others, could make FATF “more demanding,” given that the incident could indicate the presence of terrorism financing.

The FATF flagged the country for supposed inadequacies in the effectiveness of the targeted financial sanctions framework (TFS) for both terrorism financing and proliferation financing. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/12/08/exit-from-fatfgray-list-hard-after-marawibombing-bsp/)

In February, AMLC said the Philippines has remained on the FATF gray list which meant it is still part of the list of 21 countries who are under increased monitoring of the FATF. These countries include Asian countries like Vietnam and African nations such as South Africa.

AMLC said, however, that the FATF cited the government’s commitment to address their concerns. The initial deadline given by FATF to the country was January 2023. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/02/26/fatf-notesphls-progress-but-keeps-it-onits-grey-list/) Cai U. Ordinario

efficient and aggressive tax collection by enhancing its digitization systems to combat tax fraud.

“Secretary Recto welcomed the firms’ eagerness to assist the government in its digitization initiatives,” according to the DOF.

Drawing from the firms’ “extensive practical experiences” in various countries over the years, the DOF said it will ensure that the MIF fulfills its objectives.

McLarty Associates is an international strategic advisory firm that counsels corporations and nonprofits on strategic planning, government relations issues and advocacy, market access, mergers and acquisitions, and more.

Ankura Consulting, meanwhile, provides consulting services on expert witness, bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, litigation support, forensic accounting, geopolitical risk assessment, and general management consulting services.

Recto was joined by his Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan Tiuseco during the meeting, the DOF noted.

Last Friday, Recto also met with executives of the Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC) top executives for a potential collaboration in the energy sector. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/04/13/dof-dtidoe-chiefs-meet-nuclear-techinvestor-with-eye-on-energycollaboration/)

The meetings were part of President Marcos’s working visit to Washington, DC from April 10 to April 14.

US President Joe Biden hosted a trilateral meeting attended by Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last Thursday to talk about economic and defense cooperation.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel dG. Romualdez said the government is eyeing to secure $100 million worth of investments from the trilateral meeting based on investment packages covering digital infrastructure, physical infrastructure, and energy, prepared by economic managers.

(See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/04/12/phl-eyes-1-00minvestment-from-meeting-withus-japan/)

Pag-ibig releases ₧200M for govt housing projects

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund has released P200 million in loans for the government’s housing projects in Luzon and the Visayas.

In a statement issued by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), the Pag-IBIG Fund issued the loans to two private contractors currently implementing the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program.

One contractor received P40 million and the other contractor received P160 million to finance the 4PH housing projects. This is the second time that Pag-IBIG Fund released funding for 4PH projects.

“More than the actual value of the loan, it’s the confidence that these releases build on our private partners, especially private contractors/developers that is huge for the success of our Pambansang Pabahay,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar said. “Malaking bagay din ito para mahikayat natin pati mga private banks na sumali na sa 4PH.” [This is also important so as to encourage private banks to join the 4PH.]

According to the DHSUD, the PagIBIG Fund recently handed over P350 million for the Palayan City Township Project, which is also under the 4PH program.

The Pag-IBIG Fund also approved almost P13 billion revolving credit lines for the National Housing Authority (NHA) and the Social Housing Finance Corporation to support their respective 4PH projects.

Meanwhile, Pag-IBIG CEO Marilene C. Acosta said the fund remains capable and ready to provide financing for the 4PH through its “direct developmental loan” program.

Acosta said more 4PH projects will lead to an increase in the supply of quality but affordable homes for Filipinos. She welcomed the opportunity to collaborate more with developers, contractors, and other national agencies to address the country’s housing backlog.

“Though [the[ Pag-IBIG Fund stands as the single largest source of home financing in the country, we understand that we cannot solve the country’s housing backlog on our own and that addressing it requires the participation of all stakeholders in the housing industry,” Acosta said.

To date, more than 30 “Pambansang Pabahay ” projects are now ongoing throughout the country and currently in various stages of development and construction.

Acuzar stressed the need for private sector to actively participate in the flagship program to help address the country’s growing housing backlog.

Green the roads, grant tax break to two-wheeled electric vehicles–think tank

THE Philippines’ leading think tank believes it is time to bring the “green” to Philippine roads by expanding current tax breaks to include two-wheeled electric vehicles (EVs).

Through a statement, The Stratbase Institute Inc. President Victor Andres Manhit was quoted as saying the group commends the government’s issuance of Executive Order (EO) 12, which gives tariff incentives to importers of electric vehicles.

“But these have been limited to four-wheeled units [that] only affluent Filipinos can afford,” Manhit said citing that even the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) has recommended the amendment of the issuance to include the vehicles that more Filipinos can afford.

“It will also allow more to make a substantial contribution for the environment,” he added.

According to the Statista Research Department, motorcycle riders account for approximately 7.81 million registered vehicles in the country in 2022, making them the most popular vehicle type among motorists.

Experts foresee a growth surge in the electric vehicle industry if the EO is expanded as many sectors are clamoring for. The country’s EV fleet is seen to rise especially since e-motorcycles generated over P3 billion in import tax without the incentives.

The Department of Energy (DOE) aims to increase the country’s EV fleet by 50 percent, or an additional 2.4 million units, the Stratbase Institute statement

read. According to the DOE, using e-motorcycles is more efficient, as they only cost P0.34 and save 1.72 liters of fuel per kilometer compared to their gas-powered counterpart, which burns P1.20 per kilometer, which makes them not only cheaper to run but also more eco-friendly.

“E-motorcycles are already gaining popularity as a transport option even if a 30-percent import tariff is added to the unit price,” Manhit said.

“Imagine how much faster it could grow if the tariffs were done away with altogether. This will quicken the shift to e-motorcycles that will result in substantial reductions in harmful emissions from conventional combustion engines and at the same time reduce consumer depen-

dence from expensive gasoline,” he added.

According to Manhit, the public health hazard and economic loss caused by pollutants emitted from motor vehicles is another dimension that should be emphasized as constant exposure causes respiratory issues.

The organization cited that the World Health Organization (WHO) has published alarming reports that measure Philippine levels of airborne particles of lead (Pb) are three times than the acceptable limit.

A published report of the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities revealed that air pollution causes 66,000 deaths and P4.5 trillion in economic

losses every year.

EO 12, issued on January 12, 2023, temporarily modifies the rates of import duty on electric vehicles, parts, and components under Section 1611 of Republic Act 10863 or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. It was created to complement the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, creating an EV industry in the country to reduce emissions in compliance with the Philippines’ commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The EO seeks to modify the tariff rate for electric vehicles to help mainstream their use among Filipinos.

“The people have long suffered the sorry state of the public transportation system,” Manhit was

quoted in the statement as saying.

“With this option, they could find a better, more affordable way of going to their destinations while also doing their bit for their own health and for the health of the environment.”

He added that if the administration is serious about its approach to climate change, total inclusivity should be the approach in all green initiatives.

“The various sectors clamoring for the rectification of this glaring policy oversight in EO 12 will greatly appreciate the President’s swift action on this matter,” Manhit said. “This move will usher in a societal transformation to green transportation and encourage investments that will hopefully build a thriving EV industry in the Philippines.”

How immigrant workers in US have helped boost job growth and stave off a recession

By Paul Wiseman, Gisela Salomon & Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press

MIAMI—Having fled economic and political chaos in Venezuela, Luisana Silva now loads carpets for a South Carolina rug company. She earns enough to pay rent, buy groceries, gas up her car—and send money home to her parents.

Reaching the United States was a harrowing or deal. Silva, 25, her husband and their then7-year-old daughter braved the treacherous jungles of Panama’s Darien Gap, traveled the length of Mexico, crossed the Rio Grande and then turned themselves in to the US Border Patrol in Brownsville, Texas. Seeking asylum, they received a work permit last year a nd found jobs in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

“My plan is to help my family that much need the money and to grow economically here,” Silva said.

Her story amounts to far more than one family’s arduous quest for a better life. The millions of jobs that Silva and other new immigrant arrivals have been filling in the United States appear to solve a riddle that has confounded economists for at l east a year:

How has the economy managed to prosper, adding hundreds of thousands of jobs, m onth after month, at a time when the Federal Reserve has aggressively raised interest r ates to fight inflation— normally a recipe for a recession?

Increasingly, the answer appears to be immigrants—whether living in the United States legally or not. The influx of foreignborn adults vastly raised the supply of available workers after a US labor shortage had l eft many companies unable to fill jobs.

More workers filling more jobs and spending more money has helped drive economic g rowth and create still-more job openings. The availability of immigrant workers eased the pressure on companies to sharply raise wages and to then pass on their higher labor costs to their customers via higher prices that feed inflation. Though US inflation remains elevated, it has plummeted from its levels of two years ago.

“There’s been something of a mystery— how are we continuing to get such extraordinarily strong job growth with inflation s till continuing to come down?’’ said Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute and a former chief economist at the Labor Department. “The immigration numbers being higher than what we had thought—that really does pretty much solve

that puzzle.’’

While helping fuel economic growth, immigrants also lie at the heart of an incendiary e lection-year debate over the control of the nation's Southern border. In his bid to return to the White House, Donald Trump has attacked migrants in often-degrading terms, c haracterizing them as dangerous criminals who are “poisoning the blood” of America and frequently invoking falsehoods about migration. Trump has vowed to finish building a border wall and to launch the “largest d omestic deportation operation in American history.” Whether he or President Joe Biden wins the election could determine whether the influx of immigrants, and their key role in propelling the economy, will endure.

The boom in immigration caught almost everyone by surprise. In 2019, the Congressional Budget Office had estimated that net im migration—arrivals minus departures— would equal about 1 million in 2023. The actual number, the CBO said in a January update, was more than triple that estimate: 3.3 million.

Thousands of employers desperately needed the new arrivals. The economy—and consumer spending—had roared back from the pandemic recession. Companies were struggling to hire enough workers to keep up with customer orders.

The problem was compounded by demographic changes: The number of native-born A mericans in their prime working years— ages 25 to 54—was dropping because so many of them had aged out of that category and were nearing or entering retirement. This group's numbers have shrunk by 770,000 since February 2020, just before Covid-19 slammed the economy.

Filling the gap has been a wave of immigrants. Over the past four years, the number of prime-age workers who either have a j ob or are looking for one has surged by 2.8 million. And nearly all those new labor force entrants—2.7 million, or 96 percent of them—were born outside the United States.

Immigrants last year accounted for a record 18.6 percent of the labor force, according to the Economic Policy Institute’s analysis of

government data.

And employers welcomed the help.

Consider Jan Gautam, CEO of the lodging company Interessant Hotels & Resort M anagement in Orlando, Florida, who said he can’t find American-born workers to take jobs cleaning rooms and doing laundry in his 44 hotels. Of Interessant’s 3,500 workers, he said, 85 percent are immigrants.

“Without employees, you are broken," said Gautam, himself an immigrant from India who started working in restaurants as a dishwasher and now owns his own company.

“If you want to boost the economy," he said, “it definitely needs to have more immigrants coming out to this country.”

O r consider the workforce of the Flood Brothers farm in Maine’s “dairy capital’’ of Clinton. Foreign-born workers make up fully half the farm’s staff of nearly 50, feeding the cows, tending crops and helping collect the milk—18,000 gallons each day.

“We cannot do it without them," said Jenni Tilton-Flood, a partner in the operation.

For every unemployed person in Maine, after all, there are two job openings, on average.

We would not have an economy, in Maine or in the US if we did not have highly skilled labor that comes from outside of this country,” Tilton-Flood said in a phone interview w ith The Associated Press from her farm.

“Without immigrants—both new asylumseekers as well as our long-term immigrant contributors—we would not be able to do the work that we do,” she said. “Every single thing that affects the American economy is driven by and will only be saved by accepting immigrant labor.”

A study by Wendy Edelberg and Tara Watson, economists at the Brookings Institution’s Hamilton Project, has concluded that o ver the past two years, new immigrants raised the economy’s supply of workers and allowed the United States to generate jobs

without overheating and accelerating inflation.

I n the past, economists typically estimated that America's employers could add no m ore than 60,000 to 100,000 jobs a month without overheating the economy and igniting inflation. But when Edelberg and Watson included the immigration surge in their c alculations, they found that monthly job growth could be roughly twice as high this year—160,000 to 200,000—without exerting upward pressure on inflation.

There are significantly more people working in the country," Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week in a speech at Stanford University. Largely because of the immigrant influx, Powell said, “it’s a bigger economy but not a tighter one. Really an unexpected and an unusual thing.’’ Trump has repeatedly attacked Biden's immigration policy over the surge in migrants at the Southern border. Only about 27 percent of the 3.3 million foreigners who entered t he United States last year did so through as “lawful permanent residents’’ or on temporary visas, according to Edelberg and Watson's a nalysis. The rest—2.4 million—either came illegally, overstayed their visas, are awaiting immigration court proceedings or are on a parole program that lets them stay temporarily and sometimes work in the country.

“

So there you have it,’’ Douglas HoltzEakin, a former CBO director who is president of the conservative American Action F orum, wrote in February. “The way to solve an inflation crisis is to endure an immigration crisis."

M any economists suggest that immigrants benefit the US economy in several w ays. They take generally undesirable, lowpaying but essential jobs that most US-born Americans won’t, like caring for children, the sick and the elderly. And they can boost the country’s innovation and productivity

because they are more likely to start their own businesses and obtain patents.

Ernie Tedeschi, a visiting fellow at Georgetown University’s Psaros Center and a former Biden economic adviser, calculates that t he burst of immigration has accounted for about a fifth of the economy's growth over the past four years.

Critics counter that a surge in immigration can force down pay, particularly for l ow-income workers, a category that often includes immigrants who have lived in the United States longer. Last month, in the most recent economic report of the president, Biden’s advisers acknowledged that “immigration may place downward pressure on the w ages of some low-paid workers" but added that most studies show that the impact on the wages of the US-born is “small."

Even Edelberg notes that an unexpected wave of immigrants, like the recent one, can overwhelm state and local governments and saddle them with burdensome costs. A more orderly immigration system, she said, would help.

The recent surge “is a somewhat disruptive way of increasing immigration in the United States,” Edelberg said. “I don’t think anybody would have sat down and said: ‘Let’s create an optimal immigration policy,’ and this is what they would come up with.”

Holtz-Eakin argued that an immigration cutoff of the kind Trump has vowed to impose, if elected, would result in “much, much s lower labor force growth and a return to the sharp tradeoff’’ between containing inflation and maintaining economic growth that t he United States has so far managed to avoid.

For now, millions of job vacancies are being filled by immigrants like Mariel Marrero.

A p olitical opponent of Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro, Marrero, 3 2, fled her homeland in 2016 after receiving death threats. She lived in Panama and E l Salvador before crossing the US border and applying for asylum.

Her case pending, she received authorization to work in the United States last July. M arrero, who used to work in the archives of the Venezuelan Congress in Caracas, found work selling telephones and then as a sales clerk at a convenience store owned by Venezuelan immigrants.

A t first, she lived for free at the house of an uncle. But now she earns enough to pay rent on a two-bedroom house she shares with three other Venezuelans in Doral, Florida, a Miami suburb with a large Venezuelan community. After rent, food, electricity and gasoline, she has enough left over to send $200 a m onth to her family in Venezuela.

“One hundred percent—this country gives you opportunities,’’ she said.

Marrero has her own American dream: “I imagine having my own company, my house, helping my family in a more comfortable way.”

Jenni TilTon- Flood poses for a photograph in a dairy barn at Flood Brothers Farm, wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Clinton, Maine. AP/Robe R t F. b u k At y

Christian Carlos: The thrill of the hunt for vintage luxury

MAKING luxury accessible to more Filipinos has proven to be quite a lucrative venture for vlogger/teacher Christian Carlos. His swanky store, Japan Luxury by Christian Carlos (JLCC), sells vintage bags from Chanel, Hermes and Louis Vuitton, among many others.

In Japan, JLCC is located at Shinsei Building, 1F, Taito, Taito-ku 4-7-6 in Tokyo. It has become a favorite shopping pit stop for style icons such as Heart Evangelista. In the Philippines, meanwhile, JLCC recently opened at High Street South Corporate Plaza, Tower 1, 26th Street, 9th Avenue, BGC, Taguig City. JLCC is not only emerging as an enterprising power player in the pre-loved market, but is also redefining sustainable and ethical fashion. And gaining a cult following in the process.

BIG IN JAPAN

JAPAN is Christian’s second home. When he was 16 years old, he worked as a part-time teacher in his cousin’s school, the Victory International Preschool, then at Kokoa Day Care which is for kids up to six years old. “My family and relatives live here. Every summer vacation and Christmas break since I was 12, I came here for about three months a year. After I graduated from high school, I decided to stay in Japan to work and pay for my university expenses. I started working when I was 16 years old as a factory worker, in construction, as a waiter, and some other odd jobs,” Christian, 29, shared via e-mail. Christian went home to the Philippines to study but eventually decided to return to Japan. His inspiring story started in 2018 with his vlog (www. youtube.com/@iancarlosTV ) about his travels outside Japan. It didn’t take off, so he thought of vlogging instead about his explorations inside the country. “My mom is a luxury-bag aficionado, and she took me once to a second-hand shop. I took that as an idea to make another vlog. It garnered thousands of views, which caught me by surprise. I thought to myself that there’s potential here and decided to look for more second-hand shops around our area,” Christian recalled. The video that went viral was the one where Christian went to a flea market where piles and piles of Louis Vuitton bags were everywhere, sharing: “Not only did it get 2.3 million views, but people also started asking me to be their personal shopper. At that time, live selling was not a thing yet, and people living outside Japan weren’t aware of this [second-hand] market here.”

TRANSITION FROM EDUCATOR TO ENTREPRENEUR

GRWM RELEASES SEASIDE GLAM COLLECTION

FILIPINO beauty brand GRWM Cosmetics presented another mega collection, this time for summer, consisting of seven blushes, three highlighters, five bronzers, and three contour sticks. Everything is in stick form or should I say “Stix” as the products in the Seaside Glam Collection are called “Glam & Go Stix.” Each product retails for P449

First, an overview of the formula and the packaging. The products are in a metallic tube, each one color-coded depending on what the product contains. The product, because it is a Stix, is retractable but during the launch, we were told that it was better to get the product directly out of the tube instead of applying it on the skin. This is because, with the exception of the highlighters, each one is buttery soft. Direct application could be messy. I have used each of the Stix a few times and indeed, it is much better to go in with a brush or even your own fingers and apply that on your face.

Every item in the collection is also very pigmented so application should be done with caution. Each of the Stix is a cream-to-powder formula that works well for summer. I thought it would be so soft that it would melt away in this heat but surprisingly, that did not happen.

First, the blush. The Glam & Glow Blush Stix comes in seven shades, including Fig (medium mauve pink with cool undertone), Pink Malibu (medium rose pink with warm undertone), Pumpkin Spice (medium terracotta peach with warm undertone), Bubblegum (light baby pink with warm undertone), Candyman (light nude coral peach with warm undertone), Sunkissed (dark coral rose with warm undertone), and the GRWM bestseller Pablo’s Latte (medium pink with neutral undertone). The cream-to-powder formula is pigmented (so apply sparingly) and is very easy to apply. It is long-lasting. I have applied it over a bare face and on a madeup face and I prefer the latter. My favorites are Bubblegum and Pink Malibu. On the tube, the colors seem similar but they are true to description.

The bronzer comes in Waffle (fair), Eclair (light), Creme Brulee (medium), Crollie (tan), and Toast Deep. Meanwhile, the contour comes in Affogato (fair to light), Cafe Au Lait (medium), and Con Panna.

“HONESTLY, no one [mentored me about how to be a businessman]. I just felt like doing it since many of my subscribers wanted me to sell designer bags. I initially thought of it as extra income for me to travel the world. I didn’t plan or dream about being a businessman,” he admitted.

“I thought it was fun talking to people around the world. By that time, I wasn’t just talking to Filipinos; I also had foreign customers,” Christian added. “I love it when I think that they need me to look for something

“Most of those customers didn’t even pay that much compared to people who pay a lot but are still thankful. I haven’t fully overcome this, but I’m used to it already. I explain to them nicely at first, then try to help them understand more. If it doesn’t work, I might block them. Just kidding!”

TEACHABLE SKILLS FOR BUSINESS

“WELL, navigating the vast landscape of designer brands is challenging, as the industry is continuously evolving. Vintage items, in particular, pose a unique challenge, especially in the Philippines, where such items are less common compared to Japan, where they are abundant in every city. “Despite these challenges, my passion for exploration and learning keeps me motivated. During live-selling sessions, I find myself lecturing like I would in a classroom, even though I know not everyone is listening.

“Overall, my teaching background has enabled me

The evolution of the barong

THE leading brand for all this Filipiniana, Kultura (www.kulturafilipino.com) celebrates “Barong for Everyone” by highlighting how it has evolved through the years to become the outfit of choice for many Filipinos—from office workers to the stylish set to Presidents. It’s not surprising as the barong’s lightweight fabric, sleek shape and comfortable cut make it perfect for tropical climates like ours. Besides that, embroidery, appliques and other embellishments highlight its fashion possibilities, even for women, who have made it part of their Filipiniana and formal wear wardrobes. Combining elements from both the precolonial native Filipinos and traditional Spanish colonial styles, the barong was named the official national attire in 1975. What is considered the distinctive type of modern barong—with its tapering cut, cuffs and flared sleeves—was created by fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier of Pierre Cardin Manille in the 1970s.

Since then, we have had short-sleeved polo barongs preferred by office workers made with linen, ramie or cotton; as well as shirt jack barongs popularized by politicians. The finest barong Tagalog are made from a variety of indigenous sheer fabrics—piña from pineapple fiber, piña seda interweaving piña with silk, and jusi handwoven from abaca fibers. Pinukpok from the Bicol Region is made from loosely woven abaca fibers; jusilyn is mechanically woven from silk or cotton or polyester; while organza is made from silk or polyester. At Kultura, the brand embracea the barong’s ability to unite those from diverse backgrounds with the different ways it can be worn today. Classic or modern, paired with slacks for formal occasions or jeans for a street-style take, the timeless and versatile barong remains a symbol of cultural pride. Take inspiration from these individuals who’ve made it their own. Regardless of age, gender identity, nationality, and beyond, these men and women illustrate that the barong is for everyone.

with a good profit margin. However, that was seven years ago, and prices have skyrocketed since then. Nowadays, I can’t find one even at a cost price of ¥30,000, which is quite disheartening.

“The most elusive items, however, are the Holy Grails of Hermes and Chanel as both brands are at the top of fashion-luxury hierarchy.”

THE THRILL OF THE HUNT

“THE thrill of the hunt for covetable bags is fueled by the constant discovery of new and interesting pieces. Some of these bags are very rare, while others are from 50 to 60 years ago but still hold a timeless appeal.

“It’s fascinating how fashion works, as styles from the past keep coming back and influencing current trends. The fashion industry’s perpetual evolution ensures that there will always be something new to

THE barong crosses cultures with Indian actor and singer Addy Raj in a blue silk cocoon barong with geometric embroidery.

What is the difference between a bronzer and contour? A bronzer serves to warm the complexion while contour helps to carve out angles. For instance, if you want your cheeks to look less full, then you should use a contour which has a gray tinge. Bronzers can also double as blush.

The new GRWM highlighters come in Honey Glazed (rose gold), Coco Jelly (champagne gold) and Maple Syrup (warm bronzed gold). These highlighters are firmer in texture and have a wet look finish.

I love the bronzers and the blushes. They can be a bit messy because of the texture so you need to wipe the tube after every use and not to raise the product so high. I actually don’t raise it. I just swipe the product with my brush or fingers.

All in all, GRWM has come out with a solid collection. You don’t need to buy it if you still have a lot of cheek products but if you don’t, they’re nice to have. I am a big fan of the brand, especially their Milk Tints, and I’m always rooting for any other brand that comes out with affordable makeup of good quality.

IU IS THE NEW ESTÉE LAUDER AMBASSADOR

ESTéE Lauder did the right thing by signing Korean singer, songwriter and actress IU as its newest Global Brand Ambassador. This is because she is the perfect spokesman for the brand’s iconic Advanced Night Repair Serum. She has great skin and has an overall youthful appearance.

IU will be Estée Lauder’s first Korean Global Brand Ambassador and will be featured in campaigns for the brand’s hero franchises, Advanced Night Repair and Double Wear. She joins the current roster of Estée Lauder Global Ambassadors, including Ana de Armas, Amanda Gorman, Bianca Brandolini D’Adda, Carolyn Murphy, Grace Elizabeth, Imaan Hammam, Karlie Kloss, Manushi Chhillar, and Yang Mi.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Estée Lauder,” said IU in a press release.

“It is an iconic brand founded by an inspirational woman leader and is beloved by so many women around the world. I am truly honored to be part of it.”

“Over the past 16 years, IU has been a pioneer in every aspect of her career, inspiring fans around the world with her talent, passion and dedication. Beyond her star power, it’s her sense of purpose and commitment to giving back to others that deeply connect with our brand’s core values,” said Kyumoon Lee, senior vice president and general manager, Estée Lauder Asia Pacific.

New hires set to e N

j oy perks, be N e F i ts as Fou N d ever™ rolls out job F a ir carava N s

Foundever™, a global leader in the customer experience (CX) industry, is rolling out its job caravan this April in various sites including Baguio, n a tional Capital r e gion ( n C r ), and Tarlac. The job caravans give new hires the opportunity to receive joining bonuses, early holiday perks, and other incentives, including HM o benefits from day one.

According to v P for Talent Acquisition Willy Lim, Foundever knows that it is crucial for employees to feel valued, be gainfully compensated, and have opportunities for professional and personal growth. He said, “An employee can provide excellent customer experience only when he or she also has an excellent experience in the workplace—after all, we can only give as good as what we also have. So, top-level employee experience equals top-level customer experience, as well.”

From the get-go, new employees at Foundever enjoy HM o benefits for themselves and their families; they receive paid training from day one and may also get free shuttle service in certain locations.

“At Foundever, each employee benefits from a leadership that recognizes and values their individual voice,” Lim said. “Plus, they get to work in a fun environment that fosters trust and looks out for their total wellbeing.”

n e w hires also get the chance to work at a global company with an impeccable reputation; Foundever employs hundreds of thousands of associates around the world, providing the best experiences for hundreds of the world’s leading and digital-first brands. o u r teams of associates learn that existing solutions can always be made better. They take on that challenge and, as a result, develop expertise in creating a leveled-up customer experience for each client. This is the reason why our customer brand loyalty has remained high,” Lim said.

The Foundever executive was included in the Top 100 Talent Leaders in 2024 by the Bridge Club, a recognition celebrating individuals shaping the Philippines’ workplace culture. The awardees are lauded for

Partakan comeback brings success, excitement in the north

TH e Partakan Festival is back this 2024 after a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The grand comeback of one of the biggest motorcycle tourism events in the country gives a two-day jampacked activities with long rides, fun beach activities, motorcycle competition such as invitational flat track and trail ride, and live music entertainment.

As background, r o pali Motorcycles, a top motorcycle dealer in the Philippines, has continuously dominating the market up north, started the Partakan Festival in 2014

in the Cagayan va lley by a few men who are riding enthusiasts. They planned the best days for a long ride to the best beach in Sta. Ana, Cagayan.

All throughout the past years, Partakan Festival the number of attendees has grown, bringing camaraderie from various riding clubs and groups all over the Philippines.

When translated, Partakan means “let’s accelerate and ride together.”

Partakan Festival 2024 brought back the excitement among motorcycle enthusiasts who experienced Partakan during its past

their visionary leadership in innovating talent acquisition practices, advancing diversity and inclusion, and fostering environments conducive to employee growth and transformative change.

“I’ve always held the belief that doing business today largely revolves around having a clear and deeper understanding of what your customers are saying and building that connection in turn fostering lasting relationships,” Lim noted.

“Giving back to your customer base should always be the cornerstone of whatever we do.”

The Foundever Job Caravan will be recruiting new associates at the following sites: various places in nC r including (April 5) Ace Foundation and P e S o Manila S r A ; (April 9) Pe S o San Juan L r A ; (April 10) Pe S o Quezon City; (April 11) P e S o Antipolo; (April 12) P e S o Manila S r A and Ace Foundation Job Fair; (April 17) u S T Job Fair and P e S o Manila Job Fair; (April 18) u S T Career Fair and P e S o Pasig L r A ; (April 19) u S T Career Fair, P e S o Manila L r A , and Ace Foundation Job Fair; (April 23) Pe S o Makati L r A ; (April 24)

P e S o Antipolo L r A ; (April 25) P e S o Pasig L r A ; (April 26) P e S o Manila S r A and Ace Foundation Job Fair; and (April 20) P e S o Las Piñas L r A

In Baguio, the Foundever Job Caravan will be at the following sites: (April 3) 9th San Fernando City People’s Job Fair; (April 18) P e S o u r biztondo Job Fair; and (April 21-22) Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair P e S o Benguet. Meanwhile, in Tarlac, the job caravan will be held at (April 12) P e S o Bamban; (April 19) P e S o Moncada L r A ; and (April 26) Pe S o Tarlac Job Fair. The Foundever job caravans were organized in cooperation with its partners: Public e m ployment Service o f fice (P e S o) branches in Manila, Makati, Las Piñas, San Juan, Quezon City, Pasig, Antipolo, Bamban, Tarlac, Moncada, ur biztondo, San Fernando, and Benguet; Ace Foundation; and the u n iversity of Santo Tomas.

More job opportunities at Foundever can be found here: https://foundever.group/ uC P

renditions. After four years of rest, Partakan re-animated the glorious revival and the restoration of r o pali's unique tire mark in the industry this 2024.

This 2024, Partakan had two goals. First was the promotion of moto-tourism in the n o rth, and second was to advocate safe riding.

Partakan Festival was organized in coordination with the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism. With their guidance, r o pali was able to select the best places to visit in the Ilocos r e gion. The promotion of the #PartakanFestival2024 on social media was trending due to continuous posting of the best locations in the n o rth.

The tourist spots traversed by riders are the Minor Basilica and d i ocesan Shrine of o u r Lady of Charity in Agoo, La u n ion, Baluarte Watch Tower in Luna, La u n ion, Calle Crisologo in v i gan, Paoay Church, Bangui Windmills, and Patapat Bridge in Pagudpud.

o n the other hand, r o pali partnered with the MM dA Motorcycle r i ding Academy (MM dA -M r A ) to promote safe riding among our participants. The MM dA Master r i der even shared with rider-participants the best tips for long rides.

M r A instructors advised them to always take a rest and have a good sleep before riding, be a defensive rider, always check your motorcycle, and always wear your protective gears, among others.

As safety had been discussed, Partakan was supported by the Philippine national Police (Pn P) to maintain the security and order for all our riding participants and guests in the Partakan main event area.

WITH the shared vision of enhancing Filipino beauty, Galderma Aesthetics, and Slate Medical Group have joined forces to revolutionize the aesthetics scene in the Philippines.

This partnership highlights the innovative and groundbreaking power in activating the skin’s collagen regeneration of Sculptra, the original collagen bio-stimulating injectable. Sculptra is now available at Slate clinics nationwide.

Founded in 2018, The Slate Medical Group has proven its commitment to giving patients top-of-the-line aesthetics and dermatological procedures. With the addition of Sculptra to their roster of aesthetic solutions, Slate Medical Group once again proves their devotion to helping Filipinos achieve their health and wellness goals.

“Sculptra is the definition of state-of-theart. It rebuilds the natural facial collagen through F dA -approved poly-L-lactic acid collagen bio-stimulation. I like it because it doesn’t have any downtime and because I have heard nothing but great results from my satisfied patients,” says d r. Maika Slatensek.

“This is the original natural collagen biostimulator with natural results that can last up to two years.”

r esults can be seen within a week after getting the treatment. Joni Mc nab, a beauty queen and theater actress, said that she has been getting compliments about her skin. "I was not expecting that the results would be this apparent. I'm at the beach, but my skin is looking more and more hydrated and refreshed as the days go by. People are starting

to notice, and I’m getting compliments about my skin. Sculptra really is the solution for my skin," Mc nab shared.

o n skin problems, Genesis r e dido, an actor and model, shared that this is a common concern when one lives a life with a hectic schedule. After getting Sculptra, he noticed some immediate improvements. “I am achieving the natural, youthful, nomake-up look that I want. I will really recommend Sculptra to all my friends.”

Bonita Penaranda, a creative director and fashion stylist, shared that this generation’s aspiration is to be beautiful in the most natural way. "I'm in my no-make-up era. It's important for me to look natural. I don't want to change myself; I just want to enhance what I already have. I can see myself looking more rejuvenated, and glowing," Penaranda explained. Michelle d e Jesus, Business u n it Head of Galderma Aesthetics, added that "Sculptra represents a shift forward in the Philippine aesthetics industry. Sculptra offers youthful, longer-lasting results that challenge traditional beauty standards. Before, the preference was towards drastic changes. n o w, a more natural but enhanced version of you is possible with Sculptra.” Slate Medical Group is also running a

This April, Foundever™, a global leader in the CX industry, is sending its recruitment teams to various sites in NCR (Manila, Makati, Las Piñas, s an Juan, Quezon City, Pasig, and Antipolo); Baguio City; and Tarlac.

Want to be more likable?

AS PR pros, getting the work done depends as much on one’s likability as much as experience, skills, and of course, connections. In an article in Inc. com. Scott Mautz has observed that “over my 30-year career, I’ve seen that likable people who are easy, fun to work with have far more successful careers than curmudgeons.”

While what he calls “sticks in the mud” might win the occasional promotion or get that project in the short run, likable people win out over the long haul. How does one become likable.

Interestingly, he has observed Highly Likable People Avoid These 12 Behaviors, which he shares with us.

1. Humblebragging

Fe Ign I n g humility to (seemingly) coyly brag to show both your humility and accomplishments can be such a big turn-off. A Harvard research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology reveals that humblebragging accomplishes neither. Mautz’s advice: “Maintain just the humble part. If you’re a great leader, you’ll get recognized without having to force the issue.”

2.Oversharing

We all know that TMI can be exasperating for polite listeners and oversharing pictures, updates, accomplishments in social indicate one could be desperate for empathy.

A University of Birmingham research showed that social media oversharing results in people feeling less connected to you because you’re not discerning about who you share with. “Be more selective about what you share,” says Mautz. In short, save what you share for your most important and relatable moments.

3.Being all about yourself

YoU k now the type—all about them all the time. Constantly talking about, and looking out for themselves. “Self-interest nets lack of interest from others,” says Mautz. “If you truly embrace that leadership isn’t about you, you’ll personally benefit more.”

4.Being non-transparent

“We humans don’t miss cues of insincerity,” warns Mautz. “ n o thing’s more transparent when someone’s not being transparent.”

The sad thing is that we may not have the chance to show that’s not how we are all the time and “hidden agendas rarely remain as such.”

5.Rotating to your topic before responding to theirs

YoU c an tell when someone isn’t listening, instead merely waiting for their turn to talk. They’re not interested and just want to be interesting. With that, “you feel like an inconvenience to them, like someone interjecting on their soliloquy.”

Instead, “listen and practice the WAIT principle if necessary (ask yourself, “Why Am I Talking?). Ask questions. Show interest.”

6.Over-listening and under-sharing

A STU dY b y the American Psychological Association showed balance in sharing and listening is key, that it’s best to discreetly self-reveal and versus blatantly withhold.

Mautz acknowledges it’s great if you’re a great listener and ask lots of questions, but you have to do your share and contribute to the conversation. o t herwise, the connection—and most likely the relationship—weakens.

7.Being emotionally skewed

I T ’ S h ard to like people who lose their temper too much or never show any emotion. o n t he no emotion side, this includes never smiling. Tim Sanders, author of The Likeability Factor, says authentic smiles directly foster likability.

8.Staying at arms-length

M AU T z r ecalls he had a boss

who’d say “The door is always open!” But when he went into his office, “it was like the bottom half of the door was shut —like working for a bank teller. He kept me emotionally at arms -length. Cold. Unwelcoming. no t surprisingly, I never connected with (or liked) him. Being aloof is the exact opposite of being likable.

9.Catastrophizing everything n e g AT I v e people drain us— and we’re not alone. “They’re constantly in crisis, trying to make their drama yours,” sights Mautz. “Leaders especially can’t get sucked into an orbit of negativity.”

As a leader, “people are taking their cues from you, and you become more unlikable the more negative you get.”

10. Non-credible complimenting

Be sincere when you compliment. It will show. For Mautz, “I’d rather receive no praise than false praise. When someone throws out compliments without basis, you basically can’t help but hold it against them.”

11. Approval-seeking

We all would like to help friends in need, but we can’t be their parent, assuring them they’re okay constantly. People who want you to validate them “can quickly cross the line into pitiful. Ironically, they can mask their need for approval by constantly being overly nice.”

12. Never passing up the opportunity to pass judgement

To avoid being judgmental, Mautz simply reminds himself “how little I enjoy being judged.” We should, too.

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. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

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.

agenda of strengthening our government agencies and various business sectors to continue the country’s momentum of growth. Apart from boosting our digital solutions to make digital integration seamless and elevated, we believe that heightening the security of both the public and private sectors should be of utmost priority to ensure the integrity of their operations,” Samsung e l ectronics Philippines Corporation (S e P C o ) P resident Min Su Chu said.

Attended by the d e partment of Information and Communications Technology ( dICT) Secretary Ivan John e . U y, d e partment of Science and Technology ( d o S T) Undersec -

retary Maridon o. S ahagun, Bases Conversion and d e velopment Authority (BC dA ) President e n gineer Joshua Bingcang, Roxas City Mayor Ronne T. d a divas, and key business partners of Samsung, the Samsung B2B e x po was a venue for both the public and private sectors to emphasize the importance of the Philippine digital transformation as an integral tool for nation-building.

p r otection for every layer

S A MSU ng ’ S business expo also featured a Samsung d i gital City which exhibited the latest security solutions for both the public and private sectors showcased in a command center. Through Samsung Knox, a business platform for configuring and managing mobile devices to keep mobile infrastructure connected, protected, and productive, Samsung delivers seamless unified

endpoint management, combining hardware and software for top-tier data protection.

Trusted globally by over 30,000 businesses across industries, Knox supports all Samsung products, boasting mobile device management, firmware controls, and performance analysis. With a strong combination of the Knox Security Platform and the Knox Cloud Solutions, users can track devices, install apps, and manage updates remotely with additional data on fleet performance and device health. This seamless integration through Knox Cloud Solutions also allows users to maximize Samsung devices, enabling them to flash tactical operations on several screens, which is essential in emergency operations. Presenting the response strategy in Samsung tablets and interactive displays, such as the FlipPro and the e - board, team collaboration, planning, and alignment become effortless.

With its secure folder feature, Knox creates an

PHL’s Varga, Buytrago settle for silver medal behind Czechs

By Aldrin Quinto

ITY of Santa Rosa—

CJames Buytrago and Rancel Varga fought toeto-toe with the Czech Republic’s Krystof Jan Oliva and Vaclav Kurka, ending up just a step short in the gold medal showdown, 21-16, 16-21, 13-15, on Sunday in the FIVB Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Futures.

Blessed for the experience,” said Varga, still all smiles after an energy-sapping 56-minute battle under the lights on the showcourt of the at the Nuvali Sand Courts by Ayala Land.

“ It was a good run,” said the 24-year-old former University of Santo Tomas spiker.

It was a silver that glittered like gold for Buytrago and Varga, who obliged selfie seekers even as they tried to catch their breath right after the match.

Buytrago was even apologetic to fans, mouthing “we’re sorry.”

“ We fell this short,” Buytrago said, using his fingers to indicate a tiny amount.

Germany’s Chenoa Christ and Anna-Lena Grüne won the women’s title, beating Alaina Chacon and Mariah Whalen of the US, 21-12, 13-21, 15-12.

Toms Liepa and Ernests Puskundzis of Latvia bagged the men’s bronze, beating Turkey’s Hasan Huseyin Mermer and Kurt Sacit, 22-20, 21-10.

Japan’s Riko Tsujimura and Takemi Nishibori defeated New Zealand’s Danielle Quigley and Olivia MacDonald, 21-14, 15-21, 15-12, in the women’s bronze medal match.

A delightful performance

JAMES BUYTRAGO and Rancel Varga earlier Sunday defeated Toms Liepa and Ernests Puskundzis of Latvia, 21-14, 21-16, in the semifinals.

Suarez triumphs in Corpus Christi

By Josef Ramos

HARLY SUAREZ beat

CMexican-American Luis Coria by unanimous decision in a non-title fight on Sunday in Corpus Christi, Texas, for his 17th straight victory since turning pro after his Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics campaign.

Suarez was knocked down in the eighth round by Coria, a replacement for his original opponent, unbeaten Puerto Rican Henry Lebron, but that didn’t matter in the eyes of the judges.

Two judges favored Suarez, 77-74, while the third scored 76-75 also in favor of the 35-year-old Filipino who’s now 17-0 won-lost with nine knockouts after the 10-round super featherweight bout organized by Top Rank boss Bob Arum.   Coria, the younger fighter by 10 years, knocked down Suarez in the eighth round with a left straight to the chin. But Suaraz wasn’t shaken and went on to score the one-sided victory at the American Bank Center. Coria fell to 15-7 win-loss record with seven knockouts.

Suarez was supposed to fight Lebron (19-0 record, 10 knockouts) for a shot at world title eliminator, but the Puerto Rican withdrew without a valid reason.

A merican Ruben Villa (22-1 winloss record with seven knockouts) scored a unanimous decision win over Mexican Cristian Cruz Chacon (22-7-1 record with 11 knockouts) in the main event to win the vacant World Boxing Council silver featherweight belt.

The Cebuano pair overpowered the Latvian team that they also defeated in straight sets in pool play of the tournament featuring 38 teams from 16 countries.

But we still considered ourselves the underdogs,” Buytrago said. “It’s an entirely different match, anything can happen so we approach it like any other match.”

Varga, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Saturday when they beat Japan’s Yusuke Ishijima and Kensuke Shoji of Japan in straight sets in the quarterfinals, is glad the sacrifices are paying off for the team.

“ We knew the task at hand and we knew we could not waste opportunities like this. We went to bed early, woke up refreshed and ready to play,” Varga said.

Varga and Buytrago wrapped up their semifinal match in 38 minutes in the event backed by Smart Communications, Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Senoh, Mikasa, Foton Motor Philippines Inc. and Seda Nuvali. P revious University Athletic Association of the Philippines rivals, Varga and Buytrago now add to the Philippines’ recent achievements in beach volleyball.

I n the FIVB World Beach Pro Tour Futures Subic in December 2022, the Philippines went 1-2 in the women’s division with Sisi Rondina and Jovelyn Gonzaga earning the gold by beating Gen Eslapor and Floremel Rodriguez.

E slapor now competes with Kly Orillaneda, the duo bowing out of women’s pool play also in Santa Rosa.

C hacon and Whalen advanced to the final with a 21-18, 21-15 victory over Tsujimura and Nishibori.

C hrist and Grüne beat New Zealand’s Danielle Quigley and Olivia MacDonald, 21-17, 23-21, in the other semifinal.

ARACAS, Venezuela—It’s been a while—40 years to be exact—since Venezuelan trap shooter Leonel Martínez last competed at the Olympics. He was only 20 when he took part in the Los Angeles Games in 1984, but says he’s in better shape now, at

AB8 Monday april 15, 2024

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

60, as he prepares to compete in Paris after the second-longest gap between Olympic appearances in history.

I give very little relevance to the number,” Martinez told The Associated Press about his age. “Now I feel

better than when I was 20 years old. Now I am much more confident than when I was 25 years old.”

O nly Japanese dressage rider

Hiroshi Hoketsu waited longer to return to the Olympics. He first competed in Tokyo in 1964 and returned to the Games in Beijing in 2008.

M artínez, who is from Ciudad

Ojeda in the western oil state of Zulia, didn’t intend to wait this long. After finishing 41st out of 70 in Los Angeles, Martínez was planning to compete at the Seoul Games in 1988 but was absorbed with personal and business commitments.

He started a company that manufactured disposable medical supplies such as scrubs and met his wife-to-be Magaly Chacín. The couple had two children. But he sensed something was missing in his life. Almost three decades after his retirement from the sport, Martínez decided to pursue his dream again.

“Something awakened in me. There was a new spark in my life,” Martínez said in an interview at a hotel in Venezuela’s capital of Caracas. He returned to the sport in 2011 when he qualified for the Pan American

A nswer: Yes.

Games in Guadalajara, México. A nother trap shooter from South America became his inspiration. Francisco Boza, the Peruvian who won the silver medal in that discipline in Los Angeles in 1984, convinced Martínez that age was just a “state of mind.”

M artínez was amazed in 2015 when he saw Boza, who was 50 at the time, win a gold medal at the Toronto Pan-American Games, beating opponents half his age.

It took several years to start attaining success in regional competitions and get his confidence back.

M artínez secured his spot in Paris after winning the silver medal at the Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile, last year. He missed gold by one point to Jean Pierre Brol, a 41-yearold from Guatemala. AP

UGUSTA, Georgia—Scottie Scheffler was in the lead and seemingly in control of his game Saturday in the Masters until realizing there was no such thing at Augusta National. He posed over another beautiful shot at the flag on the 10th hole and was stunned to see it take a hard hop over the green and roll down into the bushes. He made double bogey and suddenly was one shot behind.

“ Make another bogey at 11 and all of a sudden I’m probably going from in the lead to a few out of the lead and then,” Scheffler said, “you know, things happen pretty fast out there.”

It was so fast and furious that it was hard to keep up.

Six players had at least a share of the lead at one point. There was a fiveway tie for the lead early on the back nine. No one was safe. It was like that to the very end.

Scheffler made an 8-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-under 71 that gave him a one-shot lead over Collin Morikawa, the two-time major champion who has largely disappeared from the elite in golf and now is one round away from the third leg of the Grand Slam.

Bryson DeChambeau looked to be on the verge of a meltdown when he drove into the trees right of the 18th fairway, punched out to the short grass and then hit wedge from 77 yards that spun back into the cup for a birdie to sum up a wild Saturday.

Easier than putting,” DeChambeau, adding that he was joking although there was some truth to that. He three-putted three times on the back nine.

M ax Homa has gone 32 holes without a birdie and he was only two behind after a round of 17 pars and one bogey for a 73.

X ander Schauffele has gone 25 holes without a bogey, and that goes a long way. He was five back after a 70.

Augusta National didn’t need a ferocious wind to be wildly entertaining. The course was tough as ever, with a wind that would have felt scary if not for the day before. The greens made players feel as though they were putting on linoleum floors.

Scheffler was at seven-under 209 as he goes for a second Masters green jacket and tries to extend a dominant stretch that includes two wins on tough courses (Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass) and a runner-up finish in his last three tournaments.

It’s nice to have that experience, but going into tomorrow, that’s really all that it is,” he said.

Scheffler leads by 1 shot on wild day at Masters Venezuelan trap shooter returns to Olympics 4 decades after LA Games and at 60 years old

Morikawa made two tough pars to finish off a 69—of those was a long birdie putt that hit the lip and spun 12 feet away. He is the only player to break par all three days at this Masters. Not bad for a someone who only found a swing key on Monday, switched putters after the first round and hasn’t had a top 10 since the first week of the year.

If you asked me at the beginning of the week I’d be one back heading into Sunday, I would have taken that any time,” Morikawa said. “You give yourself a chance with 18 holes left, that’s all you can really do.”

A nother shot back was Homa, whose last birdie was on the fourth hole of the second round. He has made 32 pars in his last 36 holes. Eight players were separated by five shots going into the final round, where the greens are likely to be even faster, crispier and more frightening.

Tiger Woods was not among them.

track and field athletes have around four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who argue they don’t need the internet to make sure they have good uniforms.

Th is year marks the 10th anniversary of the Ironman 70.3 in Cebu and draws close to 1,400 athletes from 58 countries. They will compete in the challenging triathlon consisting of 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run over a world-class

A mong those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wondered on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in this team kit?!?”

titles.

USA Track and Field (USATF) said uniform maker Nike consulted with several athletes while designing the uniforms, which were unveiled in Paris earlier this week.

A mong those taking part in the rollout were world champion sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson and Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu, who wore versions of the uniform that covered more than the kit that grabbed so much attention.

Australia’s Dimity-Lee Duke and The Netherlands’ Els Visser head the women’s field in the competition organized by The Ironman Group. Twelve titles are at stake in various age divisions and also on tap in the event are the all male, all female and mixed relayds. R egistration is ongoing at ironman.com/im703-cebuphilippines-register. We are proud to be part of this remarkable festival of strength, perseverance and sporting excellence,” said Graham Coates, First Vice President and Head of Megaworld, Lifestyle Malls. “This event aligns with our commitment to promoting a culture of challenge and achievement.” The bike route will again include the fast CCLEX bridge, and the run will offer a vibrant, festive atmosphere, boosting the energy and morale of the triathletes as they push toward the finish line.

Nike responded to a request for comment from The Associated Press by sending a statement quoting executive John Hoke as saying the company worked “directly with athletes throughout every stage of the design process.”

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER goes for a second Masters green jacket as he also tries to extend a dominant stretch. AP

Neither was Rory McIlroy. Woods, having made his Mastersrecord 24th consecutive cut Friday, started the third round seven shots out of the lead and hopeful of at least making his massive following think there might be more magic left in that battered 48-year-old body.

I nstead, Woods posted his highest round in three decades playing the majors. He shot an 82, the third time he has failed to break 80 in a major, and the first since the 2015 US Open. “Just hit the ball in all the places that I know I shouldn’t hit it,” Woods said. AP

JAMES BUYTRAGO (left) and Rancel Varga celebrate a point in their final match against the Czech Republic. NONIE REYES