THE Philippines might not face as severe an impact from global trade tensions in 2025 compared to its regional neighbors, thanks to its service-led economy and smaller manufacturing base, according to the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (Amro).
On Tuesday, Amro chief economist Hoe Ee Khor shared the country’s growth forecast has been downgraded to below 6 percent, down from the previous estimate
of 6.3 percent in its last Asean+3 Regional Economic Outlook.
While this revision accounts for weaker-than-expected external demand and a slower recovery in tourism, Khor emphasized in a virtual press conference that “the strength of the Philippines is their service industry, especially the BPO [business process outsourcing] and going forward, the KPO [knowledge process outsourcing].”
The Amro economist added: “So we think that the Philippine economy generally will emerge from this tariff war quite well.”
Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority indicated that the services sector grew at 6.7 percent in Q4 2024, easing from 7.4 percent in the same period last year. Its full-year growth was at 6.7 percent.
He also pointed out that semiconductors, one of the country’s top exports, are exempt from tariffs, softening the blow even further.
Electronic products, led by semiconductors, topped Philippine exports from January to November 2024, earning $2.79 billion, based on another PSA data.
Amro’s group head and princi-
pal economist Allen Ng also underscored how the Philippines remains one of the most stable economies in the region, supported by solid domestic demand. The Amro forecast was finalized before US President Donald Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement. Ng said updates to the baseline projection are expected in the coming months, given how fast the situation is evolving.
“For now, our various scenarios of tariff actions, as per the Liberation Day and Pause scenarios,
‘U.S.-SOURCED MIGRANT REMITTANCES AT RISK’
Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed cash remittances, or money coursed through banks from overseas Filipinos, amounted to $2.716 billion in February 2025. Cash remittances during the month are higher by 2.7 percent from $2.646 billion sent in February 2024, but lower by 6.9 percent than the $2.918 billion in January 2025.
Institute for Migration and Development Issues (IMDI) Executive Director Jeremaiah M. Opiniano told BusinessMirror that a corollary development after Trump’s imposition of tariffs is his administration’s crackdown on immigration.
While most of those affected by Trump’s immigration policies are Latinos, Filipinos are not spared as some were likely deported and their pockets incarcerated, Opiniano said.
“If many of the hundreds of thousands of irregular Filipino migrants are deported, this development may lower cash remittance inflows,” Opiniano said. Data from the BSP showed nearly half, or 40.9 percent, of cash remittances in the Philippines came from the United States. Should Trump’s tariff policies be implemented after his announcement of a 90-day pause,
members. Travelers may also secure information on DOT-accredited establishments and other travel and tourism advisories, as well as real-time assistance in case of emergencies and referrals to concerned government agencies, from said hotline. In particular, Chinese tourists will be able to converse with Mandarin-speaking call center agents to address any concerns regarding their travel in the country. These Mandarin-speaking call center agents will be available between 8 am and 5 pm, from Monday to Friday. However, Chinese tourists may also reach out to the DOT for travel inquiries in the Philippines through mobile phone number (+639) 54253-3215, or via email at
touristassistance@tourism.gov.ph The DOT is also available for urgent tourist concerns through Facebook Messenger (Department of Tourism–Philippines), as well as its Click2Call and Live Webchat services on https:// beta.tourism.gov.ph
Korean speakers, too LAST year, there were 312,222 tourists from China, 82-percent down from 2019. In the first quarter of 2025, Chinese tourists plunged by some 34 percent to 72,665, from the same period in 2024. The continued sluggishness of the Chinese market and weakening of South Korean Won, which kept most of its citizens at home, resulted in a largely unchanged number of visitor arrivals at 1.65 million in the first quarter of the year. This led to a property brokerage firm projecting just 6 million foreign tourists for the entire 2025, almost the same number of arrivals in 2024. (See, “Foreign tourist arrivals stay unchanged at 6 million for 2025,” in the BusinessMirror, April 6, 2025.)
The Chinese Embassy in Manila recently warned its citizens of the alleged “unstable public security” situation in the country, as government authorities cracked down on Chinese criminals involved in Philippine Offshore
SC upholds Duterte EO hastening of energy projects
By Joel R. San Juan
T@jrsanjuan1573
HE Supreme Court, voting 13-1, has upheld the constitutionality of Executive Order No. 30 issued by former President Rodrigo Duterte creating the Energy Investment Coordinating Council (EICC) to hasten the approval of energy projects.
In a 40-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh, the Court dismissed the petition filed by several citizen groups seeking the issuance of an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) with a prayer for a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) to stop the implementation of the order. EO 30 establishes minimum guidelines to streamline and shorten the process of approving Energy Projects of National Significance (EPNS). These include: (a) a presumption of prior approvals, which requires agencies to start processing permit applications right away, even if other permits are still pending with other agencies; (b) a 30-day deadline to act on complete applications; and (c) automatic approval if no action is taken within the deadline.
Among those opposing the implementation of EO No. 30 were the Quezon for Environment, Atimonan Power to the People and several residents of the Quezon Province where the first coalfired power plant is located. Other petitioners were the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Center for Energy, Environment, and Development (CEED), Incorporated Sanlakas and several residents and electric consumers in Metro Manila. They invoked their constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology under Section 16, Article Ii of the Constitutional and the “Precautionary Principle” under the Rules of Procedure on Environmental Cases (RPEC) in assailing the constitutionality of the said order.
The petitioners argued that EO No. 30 was issued beyond the scope of the President’s Executive power.
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
[show] growth in the PH will be negatively affected and likely will fall below 6 percent,” he said.
On the inflation front, Amro increased its 2025 forecast to 3.3 percent, up from 2.9 percent in July. For 2026, inflation is seen easing slightly to 3.2 percent.
The revisions come on the heels of the March inflation print, which hit 1.8 percent—the lowest since May 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hinging on productivity push
LOOKING further ahead, Amro sees the Philippines’ potential growth, along with other economies of Asean member countries and neighbors, averaging 3.5 percent through 2040, unless key reforms are made.
“The Philippines, we are categorizing it as a middle-stage economy,” Ng said.
“One of the key factors that could actually improve the Philippines’ potential growth is actually productivity.”
For Amro, that means investing in infrastructure that improves efficiency, as well as embracing technology to upgrade jobs, not just in services, but in agriculture and other sectors, too.
“For example, in the services sector, how can we use technology to actually upgrade services for you to create more value-added, for you to create higher-paying jobs, and so on, and not just in services but also in agriculture and so on and so forth.”
Based on Amro’s simulation, he said if the Philippines pursues these reforms, it could unlock an additional 2 percentage points of growth. “So we are not looking at 3.5 percent, we are looking at closer to 5.5 percent to 6 percent,” Ng said.
DOE vows stable, reliable power supply for Holy Week
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
ENERGY
industry stakeholders assured the public of a stable electricity supply during the Holy Week.
The Department of Energy (DOE) said it has coordinated with the power generation companies, transmission concessionaire, and distribution utilities to ensure grid stability and readiness throughout the long holiday. Contingency plans are also in place to address possible demand surges or local disruptions, especially in high tourist destinations, and island provinces.
“We thank our partners in the electricity and downstream oil sectors for their collaboration to ensure a steady power supply, accessible fuel, and a safe, smooth travel experience for all,” DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla
Chinese…
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said.
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), for its part, has assured its customers of stable, reliable, and continuous electricity service.
“We join the nation in observing a solemn and safe Holy Week. As a 24/7 service provider, we assure our customers that our crews are fully prepared to respond to any power-related concerns that may arise,” Meralco Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga said.
With the Holy Week coinciding with the dry season, Meralco also reminded the public to continue prac-
Gaming Operations, which were ordered closed by President Marcos Jr. The recent kidnap-for-ransom and killing of Filipino-Chinese steel magnate Anson Que and his driver has separately sparked fears of the rise of organized
ticing electrical safety and energy efficiency for a safe and worryfree break.
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and distribution utilities, including electric cooperatives, have also been instructed by the DOE to monitor closely system conditions and deploy technical personnel to respond swiftly to any power-related issues that may arise during this Lenten break.
Separately, NGCP spokesperson Atty. Cynthia Alabanza said in an online news briefing that the grid operator is not likely to issue either yellow or red alert warnings this week because demand is not anticipated to peak.
She added that as long as “there’s no extension of maintenance shutdown or unplanned maintenance shutdown, and no de-rated plants,” there will be no red alerts.
“The power plants that promised to go online and begin com-
crime syndicates specifically targeting Chinese nationals and Filipinos with ethnic Chinese backgrounds. Meanwhile, aside from Mandarin, DOT’s call center agents also speak in English, Filipino, and Korean.
“We have already launched the Korean-speaking call center agents, and very recently we have also already launched the Mandarin-speaking call center agents,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco on the sidelines of an interagency inspection of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport passenger terminals on April 10.
‘Digitally empowered govt’ FRASCO said the hotline has already received an estimated 14,000 calls from 72 countries since its launch in October 2023.
“With a total of four languages already available, the Tourist Assistance Call Center aims to fulfill a key objective of the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, which is to enhance the overall tourist experience in
SC upholds…
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They noted that the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (Epita) and the Department of Energy (DOE) Act of 1992 do not authorize the President to issue an Executive order setting baselines and granting additional rights to energy projects.
Furthermore, the petitioners said EO No. 30 bypasses key environmental requirements like the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC), sets unrealistic deadlines for complex energy projects (some of which typically take over 1,000 days to process), and prioritizes speed over quality, reliability, and affordability of power.
However, the SC said that contrary to the petitioners’ claim, EO No. 30 was validly issued by Duterte as it is within the scope of the President’s Executive power.
“It is clear that Executive Order No. 30 was issued pursuant to the President’s Ordinance Power. By virtue of his power of control and supervision over the Executive department, the President can validly require his subordinates to act on a matter within a specified timeframe,” the SC said.
missions would enter the transmission system on time. For Semana Santa, at least, traditionally the demand is low so it helps mitigate...It would help balance the supply and demand for summer as well as the election day,” she added.
The DOE has also coordinated with petroleum retailers to ensure sufficient fuel inventory and efficient operations at gasoline service stations along major expressways and arterial roads.
Oil companies have committed to maintaining extended service hours and technical readiness to meet the expected increase in demand.
For electric vehicle users, the DOE reports a total of 962 publicly accessible charging stations operational as of April 14, 2025, with most located in the National Capital Region.
The DOE strongly encouraged the public to practice energy efficiency and conservation.
the Philippines,” she added. Also, “Our call center is also dedicated to deliver accessible, efficient, and world-class service to all tourists, both domestic and international, aligned with this administration’s goal of a digitally empowered government,” said the DOT chief.
The Tourist Assistance Call Center was honored with a Best in Service–Customer Support (Regional Level) award at the prestigious Asia Best of Best Awards 2024 in Dubai. Frasco said an estimated 30 million Filipinos and foreign tourists will be traveling in and around the country his Holy Week, which began on April 13, Palm Sunday, to last until April 20, Easter Sunday. Among the popular vacation spots this Lenten break, according to major carriers in the Philippines, include Caticlan, the gateway to Boracay Island; Cebu; and Palawan. (See, “Semana Santa break has Pinoys packing for popular destinations here and abroad,” in the BusinessMirror, April 12, 2025.)
“In a broader sense, the President is empowered to streamline Executive processes in the interest of economy and efficiency, provided that the exercise of these prerogatives operate within the framework of existing laws,” it added.
The SC also did not give weight to the claim of the petitioners that the executive order is unconstitutional because Section 7, which covers the processing of permits and other regulatory approvals of EPNS, are not granted in any other law and violates environmental laws.
Section 7 allows a presumption of prior approvals, action within 30days and automatic approval of energy-related projects.
“The 30-day timeframe is merely a baseline in the crafting of rules, regulations, or processes in the EICC to be adopted by concerned member agencies...Nonetheless, the 30-day timeframe may be extended, if necessary, to comply with a specific statutory directive or to avoid prejudice to public interest,” the SC pointed out.
The SC also ruled that an EPO is not appropriate in this case since the order applies to violations of environmental laws—not legal challenges as raised in the petition.
In his dissenting opinion, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen argued that EO 30 is unconstitutional. He viewed the 30day processing period as arbitrary since some permits require more time due to complexity or environmental impact.
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Opiniano said economic impacts leading up to a recession could be seen and felt.
Opiniano has told this newspaper before that a recession in the United States could diminish remittances from US land-based overseas Filipinos. https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/03/17/us-recession-fearsenter-remittance-territory/
“The worst is yet to come,” former Socioeconomic and Planning Secretary Cielito F. Habito penned in his column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, after Trump imposed tariffs on countries’ exports to the United States.
According to Habito, the “indirect hit” from a global economic downturn is a bigger threat for the Philippines even if the hit from Trump’s 17-percent direct tariffs will be much lighter. He cited the view of some optimists that “US purchases of goods from China, Vietnam and other neighbors that Trump slapped with much higher tariffs would shift our way instead, and that some factories now in China and Vietnam would move here as well.”
“Our biggest mistake would be to allow these silver linings to lull us into complacency and fail to see and prepare enough for the dangers that lie ahead,” Habito said, as the public has been told that the Philippines will “gain an advantage” over its neighbors given its small dependence on exports.
Opiniano said it is difficult for the Philippines to bank on overseas Filipinos and their remittances to shield the economy from external shocks, such as a recession in the United States.
“Their welfare and well-being primarily matter, while the nation and our financial system continue to directly benefit from foreign remittances,” Opiniano said.
The Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs have been ready to assist overseas Filipinos, but for the Philippine-based households affected by the new set of immigration rules, Opiniano said assistance may be needed to stretch their incomes and prepare for their prospective return and reintegration in the Philippines. While the number of Filipinos living in the United States at risk of deportation cannot be estimated, there are over 300,000 undocumented Filipinos in America.
Ricafort: Trade, investment, jobs at risk RIZAL Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said Trump’s tariffs and America-first policies could slow down global trade, investments and employment, including those of overseas Filipinos in the United States and around the world.
“The Trump Administration could tighten immigration rules in the US in an effort to create and protect more jobs for US citizens, thereby could potentially slow down OFW remittances from the US,” Ricafort said. Regardless of the US policy decisions, Opiniano said the Philippines must reduce its reliance on labor migration as the country is known as an export economy.
“The Philippines’s development stakeholders should continue to persevere in harnessing the development potential of remittances beyond consumption [and] in improving all Filipinos’ financial knowledge and behaviors,” Opiniano said. Filipinos remaining abroad, especially the distressed and vulnerable, should also be given help continuously through social protection measures, Opiniano added. Whether Trump pushes through with the reciprocal tariffs or not, Opiniano said the migrant-sending Philippines must buoy its internal economy further.
He emphasized that the rapid electrification of the country should be consistent with environmentally compatible processes.
BSP data showed cash remittances reached $5.63 billion from January to February 2025, 2.8 percent higher than the $5.48 billion sent home during the same period a year ago. This money, apart from the United States, came from Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Taiwan, Qatar, Hong Kong and other countries.
Meanwhile, cumulative personal remittances from
US deploys anti-ship missile system for Balikatan
ANOTHER missile system that can hit ships that are underway is now in the country for the annual RP-US Exercise Balikatan that starts on April 21.
Brig. Gen. Michael Logico, Balikatan spokesman, confirmed that the The US’ Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) is in the Philippines for this year’s Balikatan joint military exercises.
However, Logico did not reveal where th NMESIS system was deployed merely saying, “it (NMESIS) is going to participate...it is going to be a part of the exercises.” US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last month announced the deployment of the anti-ship missile system for Balikatan.
Hegseth, after meeting Philippine defense and military officials, said both countries “agreed on the next steps to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”
At the time, Hegseth said “we agreed that the United States will deploy additional advanced capabilities to the Philippines. This includes using the NMESIS, antiship missile system, and highly capable unmanned surface vehicles in exercise Balikatan this April.”
He also said, “These systems will enable US Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to train together on using advanced capabilities to defend the Philippines’ sovereignty.”
Norway-made THE NMESIS the US version of an anti-ship and land-attack missile developed by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA).
Kongsberg earlier said the missile had been selected by Norway, Poland, Malaysia, Germany, the United States, Japan, Romania, Canada, Australia and Spain as of 2022.
The missile could be launched from land-based and ship-installed launchers, as well as from aircraft and submarines.
Of state-of-the-art design, composite materials were used to give the missile sophisticated stealth capabilities and designed to hit its target just above the waterline.
The missile have a range of more than 185 kilometers and is designed for littoral waters as well as for open sea operations.
It is able to fly over and around landmasses, travel in sea skim mode, and then make random manoeuvers in the terminal phase, making it harder to stop by enemy countermeasures.
Chinese survey ship sighted off Batanes
THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that it has deployed a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft after a Chinese research vessel was spotted off the coast of Batanes this Tuesday.
PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, in a statement, said the deployed Islander plane has a tail number of 4177 while the detected Chinese research vessel was identified as “Zhong Shan Da Xue.”
“At approximately 8 a.m., the PCG Islander detected the Chinese research vessel at coordinates Lat 21°18.457 N, Long 123°12.281, roughly 78.21 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat, Batanes,” the PCG added.
The crew of the PCG Islander attempted to establish radio communication with the vessel multiple times, but there was no response.
“PCG aviators underscored on their radio challenge that the said Chinese vessel lacks
the authority to conduct marine scientific research within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, emphasizing that its activities constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” the PCG.
Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, Coast Guard commandant, said in a statement that the deployed Islander plane has a tail number of 4177 while the detected Chinese research vessel was identified as Zhong Shan Da Xue.
“At approximately 8:00 a.m., the PCG Islander detected the Chinese research vessel at coordinates Lat 21°18.457 N, Long 123°12.281, roughly 78.21 nautical miles northeast of Itbayat, Batanes,” the PCG added.
The crew of the PCG Islander attempted to establish radio communication with the vessel multiple times, but there was no response.
“PCG aviators underscored on their radio challenge that the said Chinese vessel lacks the authority to conduct marine scientific research within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, emphasizing that its activities constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act,” the PCG. Rex Anthony Naval
Comelec issuing show-cause orders aplenty as polls near
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
HE Commission on Elec -
Ttions is issuing show-cause orders left and right as more candidates are being flagged for possible violations of the poll body’s rules on anti-discrimination and fair campaigning for the 2025 elections.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said in a recent interview that the number of candidates being asked to explain their statements has been steadily increasing, almost on a daily basis and is approaching the 40 mark. Aside from the Task Force SAFE, or Task Force Safeguarding Against Fear and Exclusion in Elections, Garcia noted that citizens themselves have been actively reporting candidates they believe have violated Comelec’s Resolution 11116.
“I’m glad that the public is active and alert. Even social media posts, even campaign jingles, are
being sent to us. That kind of empowering citizenry is really encouraging,” Garcia said in Filipino. Following the show-cause order issued to Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia on April 4 for his “joke” about sleeping with single mothers who still menstruate, five more candidates were given similar orders last week.
Among them is Misamis Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia, who allegedly made derogatory remarks about women nurses and Maranao leaders. Batangas Vice Mayor and gubernatorial aspirant Jay Ilagan was also summoned for sexist and ageist remarks targeting his rival.
Related:https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/04/07/ misamis-oriental-batangasgubernatorial-bets-asked-toexplain-remarks-about-women. Cavite mayoral candidate Alston Anarna was also ordered to explain remarks where he joked
about being groped by supporters—including a grandmother— and told solo parents they would receive a “free spouse,” to be raffled off.
Nueva Ecija gubernatorial candidate Virgilio Bote, meanwhile, is being asked to explain comments allegedly mocking his rival, who is battling cancer.
In Davao de Oro, Rep. Ruwel Gonzaga—who is seeking the governorship—was flagged for multiple remarks made during a campaign event.
Gonzaga questioned whether women were as good as men at sex, saying, “Men are good at ‘f***ing. Are women just as good? Maybe even better? These are the questions you should be answering, because you keep saying women are equal to men. But that’s not true anymore. Nowadays, women choose, top or bottom.”
Pasig bet Sia was also issued a second show-cause order last week after he allegedly body-shamed an
aide in another campaign event. Comelec ordered all these candidates to explain why they should not be charged or disqualified for violating Resolution 11116.
The resolution prohibits gender-based harassment, public ridicule of persons with disabilities, coercion, and other forms of discrimination during the campaign period.
Violators may be penalized under Section 13 of Republic Act 9006, Section 261(e) of the Omnibus Election Code, and other relevant laws. They have three days to respond, and failure to do so will be considered a waiver of their right to explain.
For Garcia, show-cause orders should serve as wake-up call to voters on whom to choose on May 12.
“Because in the end, if we elect those we believe offended others or did something wrong, there’s no one else to blame for their three or six years in office but ourselves,” the poll chief said.
Legislator seeks major change in law-making process
ASENIOR lawmaker and his allies are pushing a bill that seeks to revolutionize the legislative process by establishing a crowdsourcing platform where ordinary citizens can directly propose new laws or amendments to existing ones.
Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, along with fellow Camarines Sur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, and Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, filed House Bill 303, or the proposed Crowdsourcing Act.
The bill aims to promote transparency, inclusivity, and efficiency by giving the public a direct role in shaping national legislation.
Under HB 303, the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) will be tasked with creating an online platform that will allow individuals and entities
to initiate proposals for laws or amendments. Once a proposal gathers at least 300,000 verified signatures, the PLLO will transmit it to the appropriate committees in the Senate and House of Representatives for further legislative action.
“This will be participatory democracy at its finest,” said Villafuerte. “This platform will enable direct citizen involvement in lawmaking—making the process more inclusive, responsive, and empowering.”
Villafuerte said the proposed portal would serve as a digital space where Filipinos can start campaigns to review, amend, repeal, or craft new laws—a tool to harness the collective expertise and insight of the public.
He emphasized that all comments submitted through the platform will be part of Congress’ official records and will be con -
sidered during deliberations.
The PLLO, created under the Office of the President during the time of the late President Corazon Aquino, serves as the link between Malacañang and Congress on legislative matters, as well as with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders.
Once implemented, the platform will be accessible via the PLLO website.
Villafuerte cited international examples such as Brazil’s Internet Bill of Rights, which allowed citizen participation in drafting legislation, as well as Finland and Iceland, which enabled public input on laws through online platforms.
He noted that although there was an attempt to introduce a similar bill in the Senate in 2012, the country has yet to establish a legal framework for such par -
House leader, military hail Google’s inclusion of WPS
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
THE leader of the House of Representatives on Tuesday welcomed Google Maps’ decision to reflect the label “West Philippine Sea,” saying it affirms the Philippines’ sovereign rights and highlights growing international recognition of the country’s maritime claims.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the proper and consistent labeling of the West Philippine Sea on a globally used platform like Google Maps is welcome news for every Filipino.
“This simple yet powerful update reflects the growing global acknowledgment of the Philippines’ sovereign rights over the maritime areas within our Exclusive Economic Zone [EEZ],” the Speaker added. He underscored that this development affirms the Philippines’ position based on the 2016 The Hague ruling, which upheld the country’s rights over areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under international law.
“This reinforces what we have long asserted: that these waters are part of the Philippines’ territory, and all must respect our sovereign rights,” Romualdez said, as he emphasized that “this recognition is not just a technical or cartographic correction but a geopolitical milestone.”
“Google’s decision to reflect the West Philippine Sea label is more than a map update. It’s a geopolitical affirmation. This platform shapes global consciousness, and this recognition adds significant weight to our cause,” Romualdez said.
Romualdez said this resonates with the sentiments of millions of Filipinos who steadfastly uphold the country’s sovereignty and national dignity.
“For the Filipino people, this is more than just a name on a screen. It is a symbolic and moral victory, a reminder of our decades-long struggle to protect what is rightfully ours,” Romualdez said.
International recognition
THE Armed Forces on Tuesday said the inclusion of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the database of Google Maps showcases international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights.
ticipatory legislation.
“The internet has transformed how we live—changing how we communicate, shop, travel, and even bank. It’s about time we apply this digital transformation to lawmaking,” Villafuerte added.
HB 303 mandates the PLLO, in coordination with both chambers of Congress, to release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) within 60 days of the law’s effectivity.
Through this initiative, Villafuerte said the State would save resources in identifying and addressing complex issues by tapping into the collective intelligence and lived experiences of the Filipino people.
“It’s high time we harness both the massive online presence of Filipinos and our strong culture of bayanihan to make democracy more dynamic and inclusive,” he said Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
“The AFP welcomes the inclusion of the West Philippine Sea on Google Maps. This affirms international recognition of the country’s sovereign rights, as upheld by the 2016 Arbitral Ruling under Unclos [United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea],” the military spokesperson, Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, said in a media briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, on Tuesday.
She added that this decision is a valuable contribution to truthful representation and public awareness.
Padilla said that this is important for the AFP as it is the defender of the country’s sovereignty.
“The AFP remains resolute in performing its mandate to protect our territory and uphold national integrity,” she added.
The President Benigno Aquino III in 2012 officially named areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago as WPS.
“The maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago are hereby named the West Philippine Sea. These areas include the Luzon Sea as well as the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough Shoal.” Administrative Order 29, signed on Sept. 5, 2012, reads.
Romualdez also credited the nation’s diplomatic efforts, stressing that peaceful assertion through international law continues to bear fruit.
“Placing the West Philippine Sea on the main map is a historic recognition of our rights and sovereignty,” he added.
“This shows that in the eyes of the world, our stand carries weight and meaning—a stand rooted in law, justice, and international order,” he also said.
He expressed hope that other institutions and nations would follow the lead of this platform in aligning with international law.
“We hope this move will encourage other mapping services, institutions, and governments to follow suit and acknowledge what the law and justice clearly uphold,” he said.
“The House of Representatives stands firmly behind all efforts that uphold Philippine sovereignty and promote peace and regional stability,” Romualdez said. With Rex Anthony Naval
Comelec places Maguindanao town under its control
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THE Commission on Elections on Tuesday has placed Buluan in Maguindanao del Sur under its control, following the “increase of violence” in the locality.
This marks the second town in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to be declared under Comelec control for the 2025 election period. The first was Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said the decision to place Buluan under full control was based on consolidated reports from the National Police (PNP), Armed Forces (AFP), and Comelec regional offices describing the deteriorating peace and order situation in the town.
“There have been multiple ambushes in the area over the past few days. One of those targeted was a candidate who also happens to be an incumbent local official,” Garcia said in Filipino.
“We believe it is necessary to place the area under Comelec control to prevent further bloodshed—especially now that
civilians are also being harmed, even if they are not candidates or affiliated with any political group,” he added. Under Comelec Resolution 11131, the commission directed its deputized agencies—including the PNP, AFP, and Coast Guard (PCG)—to deploy a “sufficient number” of personnel to secure all polling precincts in Buluan.
Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino has also been designated as the Commissionerin-Charge, tasked to exercise oversight in the town.
Garcia noted that the poll body is still studying whether the entire province of Maguindanao should be placed under its control.
However, he said such a move would be premature and unfair to peaceful areas.
“As of now, Datu Odin Sinsuat will remain under Comelec control until election day—or possibly even beyond,” the poll body added.
With the increasing cases of electionrelated violence in BARMM, the Comelec
See “Comelec,”
Tall order–NFA on achieving 15-day natl rice buffer stock
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
THE National Food Authority (NFA) said achieving its target 15-day national rice buffer stock this year will be a “tall order” owing to lack of procurement funds and warehouses.
In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, NFA Administrator Larry R. Lacson said the agency needs additional P8 billion to augment its existing P9 billion budget so it can meet their buffer rice stock goal this year in line with Republic Act 12078 or the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).
“For this year, because the RTL has been changed, we will increase our buffer stock up to 15 days. So, from 9.36 [days] we will hit that 15 days as long as we have the money to buy rice from farmers,” Lacson said in Filipino. To finance the procurement of more buffer rice stock, he said they may request for additional budget “at the appropriate time” or use the agency’s earnings from the unloading of its existing stocks. He said the agency was able to procure 2.2 million bags of palay (unhusked rice) worth P2.6 billion during the first quarter of the year. Lacson said this puts the country’s current rice buffer stock of
rice at 358,000 metric tons (MT), which is equivalent to almost 7.16 million bags, which will be sufficient to feed the country’s population for around 9 days.
Last week, NFA said it wants to buy additional rice to bring its rice buffer stock to 555,000 MT to feed the country for at least 15 days.
Warehouse congestion ASIDE from its funding woes, NFA said it is also facing challenges when it comes to the storage of its additional rice it will procure.
In February, the Department of Agriculture declared a food security emergency to allow NFA to sell its old 300,000 MT rice stocks to make space in its warehouses so it can buy additional rice from local farmers.
Under RA 12078, NFA can sell its old rice stocks to government agencies, local governments and Kadiwa outlets.
However, even after they started selling the rice stocks, NFA reported it still plagued with ware -
house congestion.
“In fact, 36 percent of our warehouses in the high-producing regions of rice are full or almost full. That’s what we’re picking up on now on social media and all the news that the queue at the NFA is long because 36 percent of our warehouses in Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 12 are 36 percent full,” Lacson said.
As of Tuesday, Lacson said NFA was only able to sell 20,000 bags. He said some of the local governments may still be seeking exemption from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) or for the necessary resolution from their respective council to push through with their purchase.
He said they are now trying to build additional 36 warehouses and repair 136 other storage facilities so they can store more rice.
“As for the repairs, we expect by the end of next month that many of them will be completed and we will be able to use additional buffer stocks for this,” Lacson said.
Legislator seeks House investigation of MRT-7 concrete column collapse
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
LAWMAKER is pushing for a congres -
Asional investigation into the collapse of a concrete column at a Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT7) construction site on West Avenue in Quezon City, describing the incident as a “grave breach of public trust.” Bagong Henerasyon Rep. Bernadette Herrera, who serves as deputy minority leader, filed House Resolution 2262, urging Congress to exercise its oversight functions and conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident.
The resolution seeks to determine accountability, assess public safety risks, and strengthen government oversight on transportation infrastructure projects nationwide.
“This is not just a construction failure—it’s a serious breach of public trust. When a massive concrete post collapses at a major public transport site, the lives of thousands of Filipinos are put in danger. We cannot allow this to go unexamined or unpunished,” Herrera said.
The concrete column collapsed on Sunday, April 13, triggering panic among nearby residents and commuters.
The resolution names the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of
Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the MRT Project Management Office as among the government agencies that should be summoned to explain their roles and any possible lapses. Project contractors, subcontractors, engineers, and local government officials are also expected to testify.
She further called for mandatory structural audits, third-party safety reviews, and proper hazard notifications for communities affected by infrastructure developments.
Herrera’s resolution directs the appropriate House committee to hold hearings, compel the attendance of concerned parties—including DOTr, DPWH, local government officials, contractors, and affected residents—and submit its findings and recommendations within 30 days of the inquiry’s start.
“We owe it to the public to act swiftly and with integrity. This is about protecting lives, rebuilding trust, and ensuring that our infrastructure meets the highest safety standards,” Herrera said.
She underscored that the incident points to “alarming safety lapses” in the implementation and supervision of vital infrastructure projects, particularly the MRT, which should strictly adhere to engineering, environmental, and occupational safety standards.
“It is imperative to conduct an immediate
congressional inquiry to identify the root cause of the collapse, determine oversight failures, and recommend preventive measures for future projects,” she added.
AT a recent media briefing, Roberto Cola, former president of the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute (Pisi) and a member of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Metals Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), reported that substandard steel bars that are already banned in some countries are still lurking around the steelmaking plants in the country.
These are steel bars produced by facilities using induction furnaces (IF) which experts have long deemed substandard and could pose a threat to building safety. Cola emphasized that these IF-produced steel bars continue to proliferate in the market.
In fact, he said, “For the Philippines, induction furnace steelmaking capacity increased from less than 150,000 MT per year in 2017 to around three million MT [MMT] today.”
Cola divulged that plants that use IF process are scattered around the country, particularly in Pampanga, Bukidnon, Bataan, and Valenzuela.
In 2017, Cola said the Chinese government issued a policy statement banning induction furnace facilities for the production of construction-grade steel.
Bataan ARBs learn climate-resilient block farming
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said on Tuesday that Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) of Hermosa, Bataan, have undergone “Major Crop-Based Block Farming” to help them adopt modern, climate-resilient techniques to boost farm productivity and income.
The initiative is part of the DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program.
A total of 72 rice farmers from the Balsik Hermosa Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Association Inc. took part in the training, which also included the completion of the Farm Business School (FBS) program. Through FBS, farmers are equipped with practical skills in farm management and agri-entrepreneurship, preparing them to run their farms as sustainable businesses.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program
Officer (Parpo) Emmanuel G. Aguinaldo emphasized the benefits of crop-based block farming, a strategy that groups small farms into larger, jointly managed plots to improve efficiency and increase yields.
“By consolidating resources, sharing best practices and improving productivity, farmers can raise their incomes and build better livelihoods,” Aguinaldo said.
He also highlighted DAR’s continued support for ARBs, including the delivery of essential Farm Machineries and Equipment (FMEs) under the Sustainable Livelihood Support for Disaster-Affected Areas Program. These include a tractor, generator, water pump, grass cutter, power sprayers and a chainsaw—all of which have helped boost rice production in the area.
This year, DAR will provide even more support with the delivery of a four-wheeldrive tractor equipped with a rotary tiller, disc plow and trailer to further enhance the association’s farming operations.
The training underscores DAR’s commitment to empowering farmers through capacity development, FMEs and agricultural support. By helping ARBs adapt to climate change and improve farm productivity, DAR continues to strengthen local food security and rural development.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
First Duterte agri chief hit for govt debt claims
ALEADER of the House of Representatives slammed former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol on Tuesday for criticizing the Marcos administration over the country’s current debt of P16.63 trillion, calling Piñol’s remarks “brazen hypocrisy” and “a desperate attempt to rewrite history,” saying the current administration inherited a debt-laden fiscal landscape.
In a statement, Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun, chairman of the House Special Committee on Bases Conversion, said Piñol’s attempt to “weaponize” the country’s debt against the current administration is “laughably audacious,” given his controversial tenure in government.
“Let’s set the record straight: It was under your boss, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, when our country’s debt truly ballooned—with P7.2 trillion added in just six years. That’s more than the combined total debt of all Philippine presidents from Manuel Quezon to Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III over 89 years, amounting to only P6.6 trillion. If there’s a ‘death burden,’ it was the one the Duterte administration created,” Khonghun, a House Assistant Majority Leader, said.
Piñol made the remarks during a campaign sortie in North Cotabato, where he is seeking to return as governor.
“He [Piñol] presided over rice crises, proposed legalizing smuggling, bungled the bird flu outbreak, and was linked to questionable behavior in the Recto Bank incident. And now he wants to lecture us on responsible governance,” Khonghun said.
The House leader pointed out that the Marcos administration inherited a fiscal landscape already strained by Duterte-era loans, many of which were granted blanket approval under the guise of pandemic response but with little congressional scrutiny or transparency.
“We in Congress are now pushing for reforms to make sure future administrations don’t recklessly mortgage our nation’s future the way it was done under Duterte,” Khonghun said.
“That includes investigating how the P7.2 trillion in loans was used and whether the Filipino people truly benefited from that borrowed money,” Khonghun added.
House Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin earlier called for a congressional inquiry into the P7.2-trillion debt, saying unchecked borrowing during the pandemic years severely reduced the country’s fiscal space.
“The truth is simple: the current administration is paying for the sins of the past. The ones who bloated the debt are now acting like saints. It’s shameless,” Khonghun said. Khonghun added, “Before pointing fingers, look in the mirror. You resigned in disgrace. And you still owe the Filipino people answers—not lectures.”
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Old rice stocks set to be auctioned off
TBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE National Food Authority (NFA) will auction off aging rice stocks amid the low distribution rate to local governments despite the declaration of a food security emergency. This, as the rice released under the food emergency stood at 20,000 bags despite the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) recent move to expand the allocation that could be availed of by local governments to 1.35 million bags from the initial 625,600.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said the bid to trade rice stocks would allow the grains agency to free up space in warehouses and procure more palay from farmers.
With a total budget of P14.6 billion—of which P5.6 billion came from carryover funding last year along with its P9billion allocation—he said the grains agency could exhaust this fund to purchase palay provided there was space in warehouses.
Magpapa -auction ako under the law. [ Ang floor price] s a ngayon, wala pa. Pag-aaralan pa natin,” Lacson told reporters on Monday, assuring that the floor price will not settle below P30 per kilo.
“We will be targeting the auction for the regions na puno ang bodega so that we can free up [warehouses] na then we can buy [palay].”
Lacson said the grains agency has yet to disclose the initial volume that will be auctioned off. However, he noted that they will begin the auction as early as end-April.
Under the amended Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), the NFA should dispose of its aging rice buffer stock through public auction. Aging stocks are rice that has been stored for over two months and one day.
The NFA chief said the grains agency has procured 2.2 million 50-kilo bags of palay in the first quarter, equivalent to 110,000 metric tons (MT). As of April 11, he noted that the milled rice inventory settled at 7.17 million bags.
This year, the NFA is targeting to procure as much as 880,000 MT of palay to meet its new buffer stock requirement of 15 days as stipulated under the amended RTL.
The amended law states that the NFA should maintain a buffer stock enough to cover 15 days of national rice consumption, up from the previous nineday requirement.
Expansion plans up for New Clark City’s road network
THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is planning to expand the New Clark City’s road network as part of efforts to drive investments, with built roads expected to reach about 60 kilometers by yearend.
The state-run BCDA said Clark’s road network in Tarlac will stretch 57.18 kilometers by the end of the year, covering almost 40 percent of the 148.44-kilometer total road length planned throughout the whole development.
“One of the main elements that make Clark so attractive to investors is its unmatched connectivity, supported by its own international airport, a nearby seaport, and major expressways,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said in a statement.
“But we need to further build on this connectivity and invest more on infrastructure. By doing this, we can create the scale to make us more competitive against our neighbors and elevate New Clark City’s position as a premier investment hub.”
As of November 2024, state-run BCDA said 41.48 kilometers of the city’s road network had already been completed, which includes the 12-kilometer access road from New Clark City to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the 19.8-kilometer One Clark Boulevard connecting New Clark City to the Clark International Airport. The roads are now being used by motorists.
In addition, 15.7 kilometers of roads are now undergoing construction, a huge part of which includes the New Clark City Connecting Road Package 2. With a total length of 10.1 kilometers, this road package will ply New Clark City’s industrial area, as well as the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines and the Bangko Sentral
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(BSP) Complex.
The agency added that Road Packages 3 and 4 will soon be offered for bidding. These cover 7.5 kilometers and 6.7 kilometers, respectively. Connecting roads leading to the city’s sports complex, residential area, and the river park are also for procurement, while some 72.26 kilometers of road are also in the pipeline for future development.
The BCDA said the city’s road projects involve multiple lanes, complete with bicycle and pedestrian lanes, solar street lights and linear parks, and drainage and slope protection structures. This is expected to provide residents and locators of New Clark City convenient access to institutional, residential, and mixed-use developments within the city. It would also feature underground utility corridors to prepare for the needs of present and future locators in the area.
Spanning 9,450 hectares, the BCDA said New Clark City is envisioned to be the country’s “first smart, sustainable, and future-ready” metropolis. Once fully developed, it added that this is projected to have a population of 1.2 million and a total workforce of 600,000.
“The city’s extensive road network will form the backbone of the planned transit-oriented development in the whole Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone [SEZ], establishing robust interconnectivity within the SEZ and its neighboring communities,” the BCDA said.
“This will give way to the construction of multi-modal transport hubs, which will become pivotal in driving investments and creating sustainable, active communities.”
Ada Pelonia
DTI plans to use AI to ramp up MSME growth
TVendors Party-list slapped with DQ complaint
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to ramp up the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) amid the evolving technological landscape. Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque noted the agency’s bid to harness AI to address challenges faced by MSMEs, considered the backbone of the country’s economy.
“We’ll teach the MSMEs how to use AI to drive their businesses forward because we’re in a digital and technology world now, [and] we can’t be left behind,” Roque told reporters in Filipino on the sidelines of a turnover ceremony in Makati City on Tuesday.
The trade chief said MSMEs comprise 99.5 percent of the business establishment in the country and 60 percent of the workforce. “This is a sector that we definitely cannot ignore.” Meanwhile, DTI has joined forces with the Department of Education (DepEd) to advance AI development and transform Philippine industries and enterprises and education.
To mark this, the agency donated ten highpowered laptops capable of robust AI and data analytics, which will support the transfer of the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR) from the DTI to DepEd.
“This collaboration with DepEd is crucial in shaping integration of digital tools to transform our educational system, making tangible improvements in our schools and community, which will reflect in our local industries,” Roque said. By June 2025, the DTI noted the E-CAIR would roll out high-impact tools focused on improving operational efficiency, optimizing resource allocation, enhancing data-driven policymaking, and strengthening student support systems.
The agency said these would help in faster response to public inquiries, better matching of donors with schools in need, and examining trends in school leadership exams.
This would also aid in identifying gaps in education subsidies, early detection of learners with disabilities, monitoring child malnutrition, and assessing disaster risks in schools.
In February, the DepEd launched the ECAIR to integrate AI into the education sector to equip the country’s learners and educators with AI-powered tools and systems needed in an evolving digital world.
The DTI initially introduced CAIR in July 2024 under the leadership of then-Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual and thenUndersecretary for DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group Rafaelita M. Aldaba.
‘SC ruling on municipal waters may impact on coastal tourism’
ABy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
SIDE from threatening the livelihood of small fishers, the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing commercial fishing inside the 15-kilometer municipal waters may eventually impact the coastal tourism sector in the Philippine.
Coastal tourism is a come on not only for local tourists but foreign tourists as well, especially for those who adore the beauty of the country’s coastal and marine ecosystem. It provides a way of life that supports artisanal and small fishers, providing jobs, livelihood and business opportunities in coastal areas.
Marivic Verdadero Maramot, a SCUBA instructor, underwater photographer and owner of the Batangas SCUBA Academy, said activities such as SCUBA diving, island hopping, snorkeling, kayaking, and other activities will be adversely affected.
“Coastal tourism has various recreational activities that will be hampered by the decline in marine biodiversity due to increased fishing pressure from commercial fishers within municipal waters. This may cause the destruction of coral reefs and seagrass beds and will result in the decline of marine species and fish population that entice tourists to visit these islands and other coastal areas. We are afraid we will have fewer visitors and lower revenue from tourism activities,” said Maramot.
SCUBA diving hotspots, known for their diverse marine life, are especially at risk. As commercial fishing expands into these areas, the delicate balance of marine ecosystems could be disrupted.
“Divers and other tourists frequently look for spots rich in fish and coral reefs. The potential depletion of these resources could discourage them to dive and affect local dive shops and operators that depend on healthy marine environments,” Jeru Pakingan Cajapin of Dive Plan Ph explained.
Cajapin added that the Philippines has consistently ranked among the top SCUBA diving destinations in the world and commercial fishing can possibly jeopardize that distinction if our dive sites get depleted and destroyed Island hopping tours, a staple of Philippine tourism, are feared to encounter similar challenges. Many popular islands are within municipal waters. “Tour operators may need to modify their itineraries or explore alternative locations, potentially increasing operational
THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is on high alert, deploying its assets and volunteers in key areas as the nation observes Holy Week.
PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said that in case of an emergency, the public may call the PRC’s hotline 143 for immediate assistance as many travelers and pilgrims visit various destinations for long religious holidays.
PRC’s Semana Santa operations started on April 12 and will end on April 21, with 1,840 volunteers and 313 staff have been deployed in 375 first aid stations and 137 welfare desks across the country.
Meanwhile, PRC’s 58 ambulance units, 90-foot patrol teams, 70 roving mobile units, and 40 service vehicles are on standby in major public convergence points such as highways, churches, pilgrim sites, bus terminals, airports, seaports, and tourist destinations.
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
POLL watchdog Kontra Daya on Tuesday filed a petition seeking the cancellation of registration of the Vendors Samahan ng mga Maninindang Pilipino (VENDORS) Party-list and the disqualification of its top three nominees, claiming they do not genuinely represent the marginalized sector they purport to serve.
According to Kontra Daya Convenor Danilo Arao, the group’s nominees are “not vendors by any stretch,” calling their participation a mockery of the Party-list System Act of 1995.
“These top three nominees are far from being vendors. One is a contractor for the
Department of Public Works and Highways, while the others own large businesses,” Arao said in Filipino.
Named in the disqualification petition are Marilou L. Lipana, president of multiple construction and mining firms involved in government infrastructure projects; Florencio A. Pesigan, a former Batangas councilor previously suspended for oppression and misconduct; and Sheryl C. Sandil, a business owner whose husband operates a construction company with road projects in Antipolo and Palawan.
Arao warned that allowing groups like VENDORS to participate undermines the purpose of the party-list system, which was created to provide genuine representation to the poor and marginalized sectors.
“Congress is already dominated by the wealthy. Now even the limited 63 seats reserved for party-lists are being taken away from legitimate grassroots groups,” he said.
Under Republic Act 7941, nominees must belong to the sector they represent at least 90 days prior to election day.
The 2013 Supreme Court ruling in Atong Paglaum v. Comelec broadened this requirement, allowing individuals who may not be part of the sector but have a track record of advocating for it to be nominated.
For Kontra Daya, this interpretation has become a loophole exploited by groups with ties to political dynasties and big business.
“That 2013 decision opened the floodgates. Just because something is legal doesn’t make it right. It’s time to revisit that ruling,” Arao said. “This case will test how far the Comelec is willing to go—and if it will escalate to higher courts.” In a report released in February, Kontra Daya found that 86 of the 156 party-lists accredited for the 2025 elections do not represent marginalized sectors. Of these, 40 have ties to political clans, 25 to large corporations, 18 to former police or military personnel, seven have corruption records, 11 promote dubious advocacies, and nine lacked sufficient public information. Arao said the group is studying possible legal action against other party-lists that may have violated the Party-list System Act.
PNP to deploy 25,000 addl personnel to secure ports, hotspots during Lenten
Dcosts and driving away tourists,” said Cajapin. As commercial fishing expands, larger vessels could interfere with boating, kayaking and other activities in coastal waters and may have safety concerns for smaller watercraft.
Scott “Gutsy” Tuason a renowned underwater photographer and an expert blackwater photographer (underwater photography conducted in the open sea at night to document rare and unusual marine life) expressed concern over the ruling.
“I can’t imagine diving at night out in the open sea and being at risk of being ran over by commercial fishing vessels. Aside from that, their strong lights would compete with our lights that attract marine life from the depths. The government should really look into this decision as the standing of the Philippines as a world class diving destination, be it in the shallow water where coral reefs are or out in the open sea where we conduct blackwater underwater photography,” Tuason said.
Environmental advocates caution that the ruling could harm marine resources vital for both local communities and tourism.
Oceana Acting Vice President, Atty. Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio emphasizes that sustainable management of coastal areas is essential for preserving the health of ecosystems that draw visitors from around the globe.
The voice of the coastal tourism sector is important. Their concerns that allowing commercial operators inside municipal waters could negatively impact the economic landscape for small-scale fishers and coastal tourism operators, should not be ignored,” she added.
In January, Oceana and several other petitioners, including the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, the municipality of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island, Cebu, and four fisherfolk, filed a petition for intervention. The petition aimed to reverse the Supreme Court ruling from August 19, 2024, and to remand the case to the RTC so that the petitioners could be included as indispensable parties.
T he Department of Agriculture (DA)Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources submitted a motion for reconsideration to the Supreme Court, highlighting the importance of protecting small-scale fishers and preserving marine ecosystems. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. pointed out that coral reefs, particularly those in shallow to mid-depth waters are at risk and marine resources could face further depletion.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla
ESPITE the lack of security threat for the Holy Week exodus, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced it will deploy an additional 25,000 additional personnel nationwide to help secure the country’s ports and tourist spots.
In a press briefing in Malacañang last Tuesday, PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) chief Maj. Gen. Roderick B. Alba said they opted to increase their deployed personnel in anticipation of the large volume of travelers during the long Lenten holiday.
“We are actually deploying 40,000—these 40,000 cover the entire summer vacation security deployment. Now, when Holy Week comes, we increase it with another 25,000,” Alba said.
He said the personnel will help secure convergence areas such as ports and terminals, houses of worship, tourist spots, highways, as well as vital installations like powerplants and communication infrastructure.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) said it expects 30 million local and overseas tourists will travel to different destinations during the Holy Week holidays.
As of press time, the PNP official said they have yet to receive
Govt to build rehab hub for injured workers
THE Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has partnered with the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to establish a hub that will provide medical rehabilitation, livelihood support and housing for Filipino workers.
The Workers Rehabilitation Center Complex (WRCC) will be located on a 500,000-square-meter lot in Barangay Cuyambay in Tanay, Rizal.
Housing Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar emphasized that the project demonstrates a commitment to employees injured in the line of duty.
“[This is] especially for workers injured in the line of duty. It’s a message that they are not forgotten and never will be,” Acuzar said in his message.
On the other hand, Labor chief Bienvenido Laguesma described the WRCC as part of the effort “to create a society that values human dignity, prioritizes healing and the integration and builds systems that give those workers who suffered work-related injuries and disabilities the second chance they rightfully deserve.”
In 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported 27,636 cases of occupational injuries.
The WRCC will be developed under the Design and Build Scheme, in line with national procurement laws.
ECC will fund the project through the State Insurance Fund, while DHSUD will provide technical expertise for project specifications, bidding, and procurement.
Fulfilling the 1979 directive?
ON Monday, April 15, both agencies signed a memorandum of agreement in Tanay, Rizal to officially launch the project.
The initiative also involves the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Tanay local government.
According to DHSUD, the WRCC project fulfills the directive of Letter of Instruction 856, issued in 1979 by former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., which called for centers supporting industrially disabled workers.
Moreover, the housing department said that WRCC aligns with the administration’s goals in the Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. Bless Aubrey Ogerio
DOH deploys six-man team to Myanmar to provide psychosocial support for Pinoys
intelligence of potential threat during the Holy Week commemoration this weekend.
“On the part of the PNP, we remain on full alert especially in historically vulnerable areas. Our intelligence units are closely coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines including the Philippine Coast Guard to preempt any threats from any groups that would want to cause disorder in our country,” Alba said.
No overloading
FOR its part, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) declared heightened alert as it braces for the Holy Week travels. It deployed 17,000 personnel so it can conduct pre-departure inspection of ships and resorts.
“Our Coast Guard ships are also on alert, ready to respond to any maritime incident report, including our lateral coordination, as mentioned earlier by our PNP colleagues in our LGUs (local government units), in our municipal and city disaster risk reduction management offices, including our coastal barangays,” PCG Deputy Spokesperson Michael John P. Encina said.
Based on their latest monitoring, Encina said they have yet to receive any report of the ship, which was not cleared for travel due to lack of seaworthiness.
He said they are coordinating with shipowners to closely monitor the ports in Metro Manila, particularly the North Harbor, Batangas, Cebu and Zamboanga for possible overloading.
“So, we’re not just checking the passengers,
we’re also checking the figures on how many people should be on our ships, specifically the cargo that’s being loaded, because it doesn’t exempt them from this overloading issue of ours,” Encina said.
“Once we have observed overloading vehicles or overloading ships traveling, we will not allow them [to travel] in the first place,” he added.
Heat-related illness
FOR his part, the Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa declared a White Alert to ensure health facilities and personnel will be ready for potential health emergencies during Holy Week.
Herbosa also reminded the public about heatrelated illness during their travels for the Lenten holidays.
“So, very important, [for them to] stay protected. So, sunscreen for those going out; hydration; and then, don’t stay too long in the sun, for those people,” he said. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported temperature in 14 areas reaching danger levels or 42 to 43 Celsius last Monday.
Herbosa also urged the public to be wary of potential drowning incidents during the Holy Week holidays.
“Every Holy Week, we have problems of drowning and near drowning so it is also very important to watch your family especially in these places where you are vacationing and relaxing, make sure do not drink and drive,” he said.
“Maganda na mag-enjoy tayo pero siguraduhindinnatinnaligtastayo.Kamisa Philippine Red Cross aylagingnaghahanda sa Semana Santa. Saatingmgakababayan, bisitahin po ninyo ang official Facebook page ng PRC para malaman ang lokasyon ng ating first aid stations, welfare desks, at iba pang assets,” PRC Secretary-General Dr. Gwendolyn Pang remarked. Additionally, Dr. Pang mentioned the importance of preparing a first aid kit for safety, which includes bandages, alcohol, medicines, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for dehydration, and so on. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
“Nasaan man kayong lugar, naroon ang Red Cross. Pwede kayong tumawag sa 143 at magpapadala agad kami ng ambulansya We mobilized a network of ambulances, first aid stations, welfare desks, foot patrols, service vehicles, atmaramipangiba.Kahitkayoaynasabeach at maybiglangnalunod,maytaokamiroonpara magbigayngfirst aid,” Gordon said. He also encouraged Filipinos to get a Safe Card from the Red Cross that entitles its members to blood supply, ambulance service, and accident-related hospitalization coverage.
THE Department of Health (DOH) said it deployed a six-man team to Myanmar to provide psychosocial support for approximately 2,000 Filipinos in the Southeast Asian country as it recovers from the magnitude 7.7 quake, which devastated it last month .
H e said the members of the team, who come from the National Center for Mental Health, are helping in the processing of Filipinos who were affected by the recent natural disaster to strike Myanmar.
The DOH chief said they are targeting to create more Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) to boost the country’s preparedness and response to local and overseas disasters.
The country currently has three PEMAT, which are certified by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“S o, the training continues. We’re going to do continuous training and improvement,” Herbosa said.
O ver 3,000 people died from the recent earthquake in Myanmar, which also affected Thailand. Four Filipinos were reported missing in Myanmar following the incident.
Last week, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported two overseas Filipino workers (OFW) died from the said earthquake.
The Department of Migrant Worker (DMW) said it already extended aid to the families of the two OFWs.
“Rest assured that, upon instructions of the President, we are taking care of the families by providing them all the assistance during their hour of utmost need,” DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac said. Samuel P. Medenilla
After 2 years of civil war, Sudan faces de facto partition and deepening famine
By Samy Magdy & Fatma Khaled The Associated Press
CAIRO—As Sudan marks two years of civil war on Tuesday, atrocities and famine are only mounting in what the UN says is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Last month, the Sudanese military secured a major victory by recapturing the capital of Khartoum from its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. But that has only moved the war into a new phase that could end up with a de facto partition of the country.
On Friday and Saturday, RSF fighters and their allies rampaged in two refugee camps in the western Darfur region, killing at least 300 people. The Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps, which shelter some 700,000 Sudanese who fled their homes, have both been stricken with famine, and aid workers cannot reach them because of the fighting.
Half the population of 50 million faces hunger. The World Food Program has confirmed famine in 10 locations and says it could spread, putting millions in danger of starvation.
“This abominable conflict has continued for two years too long,” said Kashif Shafique, country director for Relief International Sudan, the last aid group still working in the Zamzam camp. Nine of its workers were killed in the RSF attack.
He said the world needs to press for a ceasefire. “Every moment we wait, more lives hang in the bal -
Russia
claims its
By Lorne Cook
The Associated Press
Bance,” he said. “Humanity must prevail.”
Here is what is happening as the war enters its third year:
Carving up Sudan THE war erupted on April 15, 2023, with pitched battles between the military and the RSF in the streets of Khartoum that quickly spread to other parts of the country. It was the culmination of months of tension between the head of the military, Gen. AbdelFattah Burhan, and the RSF’s commander, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The two were once allies in suppressing Sudan’s movement for democracy and civilian rule but turned on each other in a struggle for power.
The fighting has been brutal. Large parts of Khartoum have been wrecked. Nearly 13 million people have fled their homes, 4 million of them streaming into neighboring countries. At least 20,000 people have been recorded killed, but the true toll is probably far higher. Both sides have been accused of atrocities, and the RSF fighters have been notorious for attacking villages in Darfur, carrying out mass killings of civilians and rapes of women.
The military’s recapture of
Khartoum in late March was a major symbolic victory. It allowed Burhan to return to the capital for the first time since the war started and declare a new government, boosting his standing.
But experts say the RSF consolidated its hold on the areas it still controls—a vast stretch of western and southern Sudan, including the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The military holds much of the north, east and center.
“The reality on the ground already resembles a de facto partition,” said Federico Donelli, an assistant professor of international relations at Università di Trieste in Italy.
Donelli said it’s possible the two sides could seek a ceasefire now. But more likely, he said, the military will keep trying to move on RSF-held territory.
Neither side appears able to defeat the other.
“Both parties are suffering from combat fatigue,” said Suliman Baldo, director of the Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker.
The RSF is weakened by internal fissures and “lacks political legitimacy within the country,” said Sharath Srinivasan, professor of international politics at Cambridge University.
But it has strong access to weapons and resources, bolstered by support from the United Arab Emirates, Chad, Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia, he said.
“Without understanding the complex regional geopolitics of this war, it is easy to underplay the RSF’s resilience and ability to strike back,” said Srinivasan, author of “When Peace Kills Politics: International Intervention and Unending Wars in the Sudans.”
Famine is deepening HUNDREDS of thousands of people trapped by the fighting face hunger and starvation. So far, the epicenter of famine has been in the North Darfur province and particularly the Zamzam camp. The RSF has been besieging the camp as it wages an offensive on El Fasher, the regional capital and the last main position of the military in the Darfur region.
Amna Suliman, a mother of four living in the camp, said people have resorted to eating grass and tree leaves.
“We have no choice,” she said in a recent phone interview. “We live in fear, with no communication, no food, and no hope.”
Since famine was first declared in Zamzam in August, it has spread to other parts of the province and nearby South Kordofan province.
The WFP warned this week that 17 other locations will also soon fall into famine—including other parts of the Darfur region but also places in central and south Su -
dan—because aid workers cannot reach them.
“The situation is very dire,” said Adam Yao, deputy representative of the UN Food and Agricultural Agency in Sudan. Already, at least 25 million people, more than half of the country’s population, face acute hunger, including 638,000 who face catastrophic hunger, the direst rating used by aid agencies, according to the WFP. Some 3.6 million children are acutely malnourished.
The needs everywhere are huge IN other areas, the military’s capture of territory allowed aid groups to reach refugees and displaced people who have been largely cut off from aid for two years.
Sudan has been hit by multiple outbreaks of cholera, malaria and dengue in the past two years. The latest cholera outbreak in March killed about 100 people and sickened over 2,700 others in the White Nile province, according to the Health Ministry.
The economy has been decimated, with a 40% drop in GDP, according to the United Nations’ Development Program, UNDP. Full-time employment has been halved and almost 20% of urban households reported that they have no income at all, it said. At the same time, UN agencies and aid groups have faced funding cuts from major donors, including the United States. Only 6.3% of the $4.2 billion required for humanitarian assistance in Sudan this year has been received as of March, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.
“The reductions come at a time when the needs in Sudan have never been greater, with more than half of the population hungry and famine spreading,” she said.
About 400,000 people managed to return to their hometowns in areas retaken by the military around Khartoum and nearby Gezira province, according to the UN migration agency. Many found their homes destroyed and looted. They depend largely on local charities for food.
Abdel-Raham Tajel-Ser, a father of three children, returned in February to his neighborhood in Khartoum’s sister city of Omdurman after 22 months of displacement.
The 46-year-old civil servant said he found his house, which had been occupied by the RSF, severely damaged and looted.
“It was a dream,” he said of his return, adding that his life in the largely destroyed neighborhood with almost no electricity or communications is “much better than living as a refugee or a displaced person.”
The Associated Press Writer Lee Keath in Cairo contributed to this report.
deadly attack on Ukraine’s Sumy targeted military forces as condemnation grows
RUSSELS—Russia on Monday claimed its deadly missile attack on Ukraine’s Sumy that killed and wounded scores including children had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian troops, while European leaders condemned the attack as a war crime. Ukrainian officials have said two ballistic missiles on Palm Sunday morning hit the heart of Sumy, a city about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Ukraine’s border with Russia, killing at least 34 people, including two children, and wounding 119. It was the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in Ukraine in just over a week.
accused Kyiv of using civilians as shields by holding military meetings in the city’s center.
The ministry claimed to kill over 60 troops. Russia gave no evidence to back its claims.
Asked about the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia’s military only strikes military targets. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the strike targeted a gathering of senior military officers and
International condemnation
UKRAINIAN President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a global response to the attack, saying the first strike hit university buildings and the second exploded above street level.
“Only real pressure on Russia can stop this. We need tangible sanctions against those sectors that finance the Russian killing machine,” he wrote Monday on social media.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski,
whose country holds the European Union’s rotating presidency, called the attacks “Russia’s mocking answer” to Kyiv’s agreement to a ceasefire proposed by the United States over a month ago.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted that the attack on Sumy came shortly after President Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Saint Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It demonstrates that “Russia shows full disregard for the peace process, but also that Russia has zero regard for human life,” Valtonen said.
“I hope that President Trump, the US administration, see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill, and I hope the right decisions are taken,” Sikorski told
reporters in Luxembourg, where EU foreign ministers met.
Lithuania’s foreign minister, Kestutis Budrys, echoed Ukraine’s assertion that the Russian strike used cluster munitions to target civilians, calling it “a war crime by definition.” The Associated Press has been unable to verify that claim.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the attack shows that Putin has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire, and called for the European Union to “take the toughest sanctions against Russia to suffocate its economy and prevent it from fueling its war effort.”
The EU has imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia and is working on a 17th, but the measures are getting harder to agree on because they also impact European economies.
Germany’s chancellor-designate, Friedrich Merz, described the Sumy attack as “a serious war crime” during an appearance on ARD television.
Merz made clear he stands by his past calls to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, something that outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to do. He said the Ukrainian military needs to be able to “get ahead of the situation” and that any delivery of long-range missiles must be done in consultation with European partners.
Asked about Merz’s statement, the Kremlin spokesman said such a move would “inevitably lead only to further escalation of the situation around Ukraine,” telling reporters that “regrettably, European capitals aren’t inclined to search for ways to launch peace talks and are inclined instead to keep provoking the continuation of the war.”
than 1,400 strike drones and nearly 60 missiles of various types.
The attack on Sumy followed an April 4 missile strike on Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih that killed some 20 people, including nine children.
Trump has previously described the strike on Sumy as a “mistake.” On Monday, he said the mistake was allowing the war to start in the first place, criticizing former President Joe Biden, Zelenskyy and Putin.
“Biden could’ve stopped it and Zelenskyy could’ve stopped it and Putin should’ve never started it,” Trump said in the Oval Office.
“Everybody’s to blame.” Late Sunday, Russian exploding drones attacked Odesa, injuring eight people. Regional head Oleh Kiper said a medical facility was among the buildings damaged. Russia fired a total of 62 Shahed drones over Ukraine late Sunday and early Monday, Ukraine’s air force said, adding that 40 were destroyed and 11 others jammed.
Chinese volunteers TWO Chinese nationals, who were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting on the Russian side, said at a news conference in Kyiv on Monday that they had joined the war voluntarily after seeing recruitment announcements on TikTok. They said they weren’t encouraged or supported by Chinese authorities, who had warned them about the danger of participating in the conflict. One of the men, speaking through an interpreter, said he did not intend to take part directly in combat but was sent to the front lines anyway. Another said that Russian recruiters abused his trust and put him in what he described as a “trap.” They said they were given orders through gestures and hand signals, and Wednesday, April 16,
Relentless attacks
RUSSIAN forces this month have dropped 2,800 air bombs on Ukraine and fired more
Editor: Angel R. Calso
DISPLACED Sudanese families take shelter in a school after being evacuated by the Sudanese army from areas once controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, Sudan, March 23, 2025. AP
www.businessmirror.com.ph
270 trafficking survivors attempt mass escape from Myanmar detention centers
By Huizhong Wu
The Associated Press
BANGKOK—They walked out of the compound in Myanmar not knowing where they would go. Though they were aiming for the river that separated them from Thailand and freedom, they didn’t know if they would make it across.
A group of more than 270 some men and women, who were rescued from forced labor in scam compounds two months ago but remain in detention in Myanmar, attempted a mass escape Sunday out of fear that they may end up being sent back to prison-like compounds where they face beatings, torture and potentially even death.
“We will kill ourselves instead of going back to them,” said one woman, who has been waiting to go home to Ethiopia for more than two months. She came to Myanmar for what she thought was a job in customer service more than a year ago, only to realize she had been trafficked. She was forced to work in online scams targeting people across the world.
Facing pressure from China, Thailand and Myanmar’s governments launched a massive operation in February in which they released thousands of trafficked people from scam compounds, working with the ethnic armed groups that rule Myanmar’s border areas.
Some 7,200—overwhelmingly from China—have returned home, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but around 1,700 are still stuck in Myanmar, many detained in locked compounds not much different to those they were released from.
That includes this group of 270, most from Ethiopia and other African countries, who attempted to escape after a meeting in which guards suggested they could be returned to scam compounds. Their attempt underscores the ongoing humanitarian situation left by one of the biggest releases of forced laborers in modern history.
Multiple members of the group described the escape attempt to The Associated Press by telephone. All asked not to be identified out of fear of retribution from the armed groups holding them.
“The delay in assistance has caused severe physical and psychological suffering,” said Jay Kritiya in a statement, the coordinator of the Civil Society Network for Victim Assistance in Human Trafficking, an alliance of groups, who assists people who had been trafficked into scam compounds.
Working in the scam compounds means a minimum 12 to 16-hour days of in front of computers where they are forced to contact targets from around the world online and manipulate them into handing over money. Survivors said if they don’t meet targets, they are beaten or physically punished in other ways.
Most of the 1,700 people still in Myanmar are being held in army camps or repurposed scam compounds controlled by the Kayin Border Guard Force, an ethnic militia that rules this part of Myanmar.
But the most desperate were a group of 270 held by a neighboring ethnic militia group called the Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army, which rules an area south of the Border Guard Force.
Non-profit organizations based at the border have been fundraising to help get these men and women home, but as the wait dragged on their embassies told some of them that they were not on Myanmar’s official list of people waiting for repatriation. That could stop them from being sent home even if they had plane tickets.
In recent weeks, people from the group said, they saw visitors who appeared to be from the compounds come to talk to the DKBA militia soldiers.
After one of these meetings, the DKBA soldiers came to the detained people and offered them a chance to go back to the compounds. They told them: “Whoever wants to go back to work, can go back easily,” said one man. “There will not be punishment. There will be (a) salary.”
AP writer Samuel Getachew contributed to this report from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Xi Jinping touts ‘stability and certainty’ in Southeast Asia amid trade tensions
By Huizhong Wu The Associated Press
BANGKOK—China’s Xi is making the case for free trade as he tours Southeast Asia this week, presenting China as a source of “stability and certainty.”
On Monday, he was welcomed to Hanoi with pomp and ceremony by Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong. He paid respects to Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Vietnamese Communist Party, visiting his mausoleum on Tuesday ahead of heading to Malaysia for a threeday visit before ending his tour in Cambodia.
In Hanoi, Xi met with Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary To Lam, his counterpart. where he said the two countries “have brought the world valuable stability and certainty”
in a “turbulent world.”
“As beneficiaries of economic globalization, both China and Vietnam should strengthen strategic resolve, jointly oppose unilateral bullying acts, uphold the global free trade system, and keep global industrial and supply chains stable,” he added, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
China and Vietnam signed a series of memorandums on cooperation in supply chains and a joint railway project, and Xi also promised greater access for Vietnamese agricultural exports to China, although few details were made public about the agreements.
King Sultan Ibrahim Wednesday morning and the Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim later in the day.
Asean Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told Chinese state media that the agreement will eliminate many tariffs between China and the bloc’s members. “We will bring more tariffs down to zero in many cases, and then expand to all the areas,” he said in an interview with CGTN, the state broadcaster’s English channel.
Anwar called China a “true friend” during Li Qiang’s visit in June and has visited China three times since he took power in November 2022.
SBy Kim Tong-Hyung Associated Press
EOUL, South Korea—South Korea said Tuesday it will expand its financial support package for its crucial semiconductor industry to 33 trillion won (about $23 billion) in part of efforts to address uncertainties posed by the Trump administration’s tariff hikes.
The package represents roughly a 26% increase from the 26 trillion won (about $18 billion) announced last year. Officials are focusing on providing low-cost loans, subsidies, and other financial incentives to stimulate investment in the semiconductor sector. The government aims to facilitate the development of advanced chips by expanding financial assistance for research and development activities and high-tech manufacturing
equipment
Officials also plan to boost spending on industrial infrastructure, including covering the larger part of the costs for building underground power transmission systems in semiconductor clusters in the cities of Yongin and Pyeongtaek, which have attracted investments from chip giants Samsung and SK Hynix.
The government said in a statement that the plans aim to address uncertainties stemming from US trade policies and to maintain the competitiveness of South Korea’s chip industry. There are growing concerns that South Korean companies are falling behind rivals in Taiwan and other countries in producing high-tech chips for artificial intelligence and advanced applications, while Chinese competitors are rapidly closing the gap in memory chips.
Japan tariff team aims for early results from US negotiations
By Yoshiaki Nohara
J
APAN will seek early results from its US tariff negotiations set to start in a day or so, according to top trade representative Ryosei Akazawa. Tokyo will continue to seek a complete retraction of all additional tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed and threatened, Akazawa told reporters Tuesday. Japan’s chief negotiator will visit Washington April 16-18 to kick off formal talks with his counterparts US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
“I know it won’t be easy, but the government will work as one so that we can achieve results as
It was impossible for the AP to corroborate their statements or independently verify under what circumstances the two men spoke. When he first announced the capture of the Chinese nationals last week, Zelensky said there were more than 150 other Chinese fighting for Russia. Beijing responded that it always asks its citizens to avoid participating in any military operations.
quickly as possible—this is of highest priority,” Akazawa said.
Akazawa’s remarks signal urgency as a 25% tariff on cars, steel and aluminum and a 10% baseline across-the-board levy already threaten the nation’s economic outlook. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as akin to a national crisis.
“Frankly speaking with each passing day our companies’ profits are being chipped away,” said Akazawa.
Japan is one of the first nations getting into negotiations with the US after President Donald Trump abruptly put a hold last week on the so-called reciprocal tariffs. For Japan, the original rate was set at 24%, reflecting the large trade
While China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it is not believed to have knowingly provided Russia with troops, weapons or military expertise.
US President Donald Trump complained about the meeting, which comes days after his tariffs upended global markets and left governments across the world scrambling. Reacting to the meeting Monday, Trump said China and Vietnam were trying “to figure out how do we screw the United States of America.”
In Malaysia, Xi is expected to discuss a free trade agreement between China and 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nation, as Malaysia is chair of the association this year. Xi will meet with
China’s claims to the South China Sea are a point of contention with both Vietnam and Malaysia. Anwar vowed last September that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in an oil-rich maritime area in the South China Sea as the activities are within the country’s waters.
AP writer Eileen Ng contributed to this report from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
South Korea unveils $23 billion plan to bolster semiconductor industry
“The US government has postponed its plans for reciprocal tariffs for 90 days. There’s anticipation that product-specific tariffs
surplus the country has against the US.
Japan wants to understand what the US really wants to achieve and help the country meet its goals not through tariffs, but by leveraging Japan’s standing as the No. 1 investor in the US, Akazawa said. He refrained from remarking on further details of Japan’s strategy in going into the talks.
The US side probably wants to discuss foreign exchange in the trade talks, but Japan would like to keep close discussions on the matter between Bessent and Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato, Akazawa said. In Japan, the finance ministry is in charge of currency policies.
“For negotiations, it’s important to know how the other side wants to proceed,” said Akazawa. “We’ve at least entered a new phase in that the talks between the chief point people are starting.” With assistance from Erica Yokoyama/Bloomberg
will be announced for sectors such as semiconductors or pharmaceuticals,” South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok said in a
policy meeting on Tuesday. “This is a valuable time to strengthen the competitiveness of our companies in the face of a global trade war.” South Korea plans to dispatch a delegation to the United States soon to address recent tariff hikes and other trade concerns, part of Seoul’s ongoing efforts to shield the country’s export-driven economy from negative impacts. The government also last week launched an emergency funding program worth 3 trillion won ($2 billion) to help its automobile industry cope with the impact of increased tariffs imposed by the United States. That package includes expanded low-cost financing from state-run lenders, as well as a new financing program backed by auto giants Hyundai and Kia, along with financial institutions, aimed at supporting struggling carmakers and auto parts manufacturers.
writers
in Washington, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sam McNeil in Barcelona, Spain, Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
VIETNAM’S President Luong Cuong, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. AP/MINH HOANG
A LOGO of SK Hynix is seen at Korea Electronics Show in Seoul, South Korea, on October 8, 2019. AP/LEE JIN-MAN
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Trump’s 145% tariffs on China’s goods to impact millions of Chinese workers in blow to economy
ABy Bloomberg News
S China staggers into a slowdown caused by Donald Trump’s trade war, a hobbled jobs market is impairing the resilience Beijing needs to battle it out against the US.
Trump’s 145% tariffs on China’s goods are threatening to obliterate its access to the world’s biggest economy, with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. estimating that up to 20 million people—or about 3% of the labor force—may be exposed to US-bound exports. A full economic divorce would roil a workforce already drained by widespread salary cuts and layoffs.
On top of an uncertain business outlook, productivity gains from China’s adoption of artificial intelligence and automation likely contributed to slowing demand for employment despite an uninterrupted economic recovery during the first months of the Trump presidency.
H elped by government support deployed in late 2024, growth barely slowed in the first quarter to stay above 5% from a year earlier, according to most economists, outpacing the target set by Beijing.
By contrast, a measure of job openings compiled by Paris-based QuantCube Technology plunged nearly 30% from a year ago over the past two months, based on a data set that tracked online postings from over 2,000 companies.
An index of future hiring plans fell in March to a six-month low, according to results of a poll of mostly private companies surveyed by the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, or CKGSB. The employment sub-gauge of China’s non-manufacturing purchasing managers’ index is also in decline.
“The fourth quarter stimulus hasn’t translated into the labor market yet,” said Duncan Wrigley, chief China economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. “Companies want a more certain economic outlook before ramping up hiring.”
Exports have an outsized impact on employment, supporting about 120 million jobs in manufacturing and related services industries, according to an estimate by China Galaxy Securities in 2023. That’s almost a fifth of the overall workforce.
T he labor market’s exposure to trade with the US is also significant. Goldman
Sachs sees between 10 and 20 million workers linked to exports there. Citigroup Inc. estimates shipments to America could be connected to about 9 million urban jobs.
Chronic weakness in the jobs market is a major obstacle for a campaign to revive consumption, a priority for China’s leadership as it tried to engineer a turnaround in the face of a prolonged property crisis.
E mployment has been under pressure from challenges both at home and abroad, according to Wang Xiaoping, minister of human resources and social security. She spoke last month on the sidelines of the annual session of China’s legislature, which set the goal of adding more than 12 million urban jobs in 2025.
China’s struggle to make headway with jobs loomed large even as the economy powered ahead in early 2025 after ending last year by growing at the fastest clip in six quarters.
A dding to a late policy blitz, a recovery in private corporate sentiment provided a boost, especially after homegrown start-up DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough and President Xi Jinping’s high-profile meeting with entrepreneurs including Jack Ma.
By Madison Muller & Jennifer A. Dlouhy
Businesses reported rising confidence in sales and financing in the first three months, according to indexes built by CKGSB on the basis of its poll, which found the highest optimism in almost two years.
The economy’s strong run in the first few months likely convinced China’s central bank to delay monetary easing so far this year. Officials have yet to cut interest rates or lower the amount of cash banks must set in reserves, despite heightened expectations over the past few months.
Further evidence of green shoots appeared in demand for heavy equipment, a reflection of front-loaded government efforts to fund infrastructure projects by means of record bond sales.
China ’s excavator sales surged 29% in March from a year ago, the fastest expansion for that month since 2021. The government’s net debt issuance surged to 1.5 trillion yuan ($206 billion) in February, nearly triple the amount it raised in the same month in 2024.
Indicators compiled by QuantCube show that exports’ contribution to economic growth remained stable as of the beginning of April. Consumption picked up thanks to a recovery in housing-related spending in
could conclude more quickly.
recent weeks.
Q uantCube, an alternative data provider, bases its estimates of economic growth on high-frequency statistics such as transportation figures, online shopping orders and satellite data.
The first quarter of 2025 has continued the upward momentum seen in the fourth quarter across all sectors,” said ThanhLong Huynh, chief executive officer and co-founder of QuantCube.
Jumpstar ting consumption will grow more daunting in the absence of a more upbeat outlook for employment. To offset the shock of sweeping US tariffs, Beijing needs to ramp up domestic demand and help offset the loss of a market that absorbed $525 billion of Chinese goods last year.
Bloomber g Economics estimates that a wipe-out of China’s shipments to the US would leave as much as 3% of its gross domestic product at risk. Goldman Sachs, which is among global banks that cut their forecast for China’s GDP growth, now forecasts a gain of 4% in 2025, down from 4.5% previously.
The US announced late Friday that it
be placed on chips.
exempted smartphones, computers and other electronics from its so-called reciprocal tariffs. That could provide some relief for Chinese exporters, since the exclusion covers more than $101 billion in goods from the country.
S till, expectations are rising that Chinese policymakers will roll out greater stimulus to help the economy achieve the official target of around 5% growth this year. While officials have already signaled they’re pivoting to boosting consumption this year, measures enacted so far remain limited.
As a result, confidence among households has yet to turn a corner. An index constructed by Morning Consult Intelligence shows consumer sentiment weakened in early 2025 from last year, based on the firm’s daily survey.
“The combination of extremely high US tariffs, sharply declining exports to the US, and a slowing global economy is expected to generate substantial pressures on the Chinese economy and labor market,” Goldman economists led by Andrew Tilton said in a report. With assistance from James Mayger/Bloomberg
Trump initiates chips and drug probes, ahead of more tariffs of advanced lithography machines used to produce the smallest computer chips used in AI and other sensitive applications. The separate drug probe will examine imports of all pharmaceuticals—both finished generic and non-generic medicines— as well as the ingredients used to make them. Investigators also will probe imports of critical pharmaceutical inputs. The public is invited to weigh in on both probes with comments over the next 21 days. Tariffs would also be a blow to the world’s largest drugmakers, including Merck & Co. and Eli Lilly & Co., virtually all of which operate scores of manufacturing sites scattered across the globe.
PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s administration pressed forward with plans to impose tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports by initiating trade probes led by the Commerce Department.
T he moves, announced Monday in the Federal Register, are a precursor to imposing tariffs and threaten to broaden the president’s sweeping US trade war.
T he Commerce Department said it had begun investigating the impact on US national security of “imports of semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment” as well as “pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, including finished drug products” in a pair of register notices.
The probes, which began April 1 and were ordered under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, could play out for months. Under the law, the Commerce Secretary is expected to deliver the results of his investigation within 270 days, though Trump and other officials have signaled these efforts
The US president has long decried foreign production of drugs and chips as a threat to national security and threatened to slap tariffs on imports in a bid to revive American manufacturing of those products. But the duties could also wreak havoc on supply chains and drive up costs for Americans.
N ew levies threaten to roil a chips industry that notched more than $600 billion in global sales of semiconductors essential to products ranging from cars to airplanes and mobile phones to consumer electronics. Supply chains still feeling the effect of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic now could face new strains from the US duties.
The administration’s announcement came days after it exempted semiconductors, mobile phones, computers and other electronics imports from 145% duties applied to China. That announcement was seen as a boon to tech giants like Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp., but Trump and his advisers quickly said the relief would be short lived and that separate levies would
T he Commerce Department investigation on semiconductors is designed to have a wide range, evaluating imports of both legacy and leading-edge chips that are coveted for artificial intelligence applications. The probe will span imports of all semiconductors and the equipment used to manufacture them as well as electronic products that contain the components, according to the government notice.
Tariffs on the semiconductor sector risk affecting a wide range of companies that send billions of dollars in microprocessors and related goods to the US each year.
Foreign makers of advanced chips including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and SK Hynix of South Korea could be forced to raise prices or accept smaller margins if Trump delivers on his threat of import levies.
The measures also threaten to impose higher costs on Trump’s vision for expanding domestic semiconductor production, especially if imported chip-manufacturing equipment from companies like ASML Holding NV gets hit with tariffs. Netherlands-based ASML is a leading provider
D rug companies have raced to announce major investments in the US ahead of potential tariffs. Most recently, Swiss drugmaker Novartis AG said it plans to invest $23 billion in the US over the next five years, following earlier pledges from Eli Lilly, Merck & Co. and Johnson & Johnson.
But e xperts warned that likely wouldn’t blunt the impact of the tariffs.
See “Tariffs,” A9
White House ignores court order, bars AP from Oval Office event
By David Bauder Ap Media Writer
DESPITE a court order, a reporter and photographer from The Associated Press were barred from an Oval Office news conference on Monday with President Donald Trump and his counterpart from El Salvador, Nayib Bukele.
Last week’s federal court decision forbidding the Trump administration from punishing the AP for refusing to rename the Gulf of Mexico was to take effect Monday. The administration is appealing the decision and arguing with the news outlet over whether it needs to change anything until those appeals are exhausted.
The US Court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit set a Thursday hearing on Trump’s request that any changes be delayed while case is reviewed. The AP is fighting for more access as soon as possible.
Later Monday, two AP photographers were admitted to an event honoring Ohio State’s championship football team on the more spacious South Lawn. A text reporter was turned away.
Since mid-February, AP reporters and photographers have been blocked from attending events in the Oval Office, where President Donald Trump frequently addresses journalists, and on Air Force One. The AP has seen sporadic access elsewhere, and regularly covers White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s briefings. Leavitt is one of three administration officials named in the AP’s lawsuit.
The dispute stems from AP’s decision not to follow the president’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico, although AP style does cite Trump’s wish that it be called the Gulf of America. The AP argued—and US District Judge Trevor N. McFadden agreed last week—that the government cannot punish the news organization for exercising its right to free speech.
McFadden on Friday had rejected Trump’s request for more delay in implementing the ruling; now the president is asking an appeals court for the same thing.
“We expect the White House to restore AP’s participation in the (White House press) pool as of today, as provided in the injunction order,” AP spokeswoman Lauren Easton said Monday.
The extent of AP’s future access remains uncertain, even with the court decision.
Until being blocked by Trump, AP has traditionally always had a reporter and photographer among the small group of journalists invited into the Oval Office. McFadden did not order that to be restored, only that no news organization should be shut out because the president objects to its news decisions—under a principle called “viewpoint discrimination.”
“No other news organization in the United States receives the level of guaranteed access previously bestowed upon the AP,” the administration argued in court papers over the weekend. “The AP may have grown accustomed to its favored status, but the Constitution does not require that such status endure in perpetuity.”
David Bauder writes about media for the AP.
Tariffs. . .
Continued from A8
“There is no quick fix for exposed companies, in our view,” Leerink Partners analyst David Risinger said in a note to clients ahead of the announcement. “Redomiciling manufacturing would take years and be very costly.”
Drugmakers will face a choice between eating the costs of potential tariffs or raising prices for their medicines in what is already the most expensive market in the world.
“There’s a lot at stake politically I think for branded manufacturers to be increasing prices here,” said Marta Wosińska, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center on Health Policy. “I do think there’s going to be reluctance to passing through price increases.”
Because there are some controls on the price of drugs, tariffs could end up hurting drugmakers’ bottom line, leading them to scale back research, according to Lilly Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks.
“We have to eat the cost of the tariffs and make trade-offs within our own companies,” Ricks recently told the BBC. “Typically that will be in reduction of staff or research and development (R&D) and I predict R&D will come first. That’s a disappointing outcome.” Trump, who has repeatedly bemoaned US drugmakers’ reliance on overseas production, is breaking decades of tradition. The pharmaceutical industry has long side-stepped trade wars, protected by international agreements that largely protected medicines from tariffs on humanitarian grounds.
Worldwide impact
TRUMP’S move on semiconductors is similar to the way he’s targeted other sectors, with imported steel, aluminum and automobiles already facing 25% tariffs and an ongoing Commerce Department
trade probe expected to result in levies on foreign copper.
Under former President Joe Biden, the US already had doubled tariffs on so-called legacy semiconductors from China to 50% and last December launched a probe into Chinese concentration in the category that sets the stage for Trump to impose even higher levies. While not as advanced as chips driving artificial intelligence, the older technology is ubiquitous in autos, airplanes, medical devices and telecommunications.
Trump has cast revitalizing the US chipmaking industry and industrial base as essential for the nation’s security. Winning a global race to dominate the AI industry is also a top Trump administration priority. Analysts have warned that bringing chip manufacturing to the US will take years of hard work.
T he move on medicines will have an outsize effect on Ireland, with a $54 billion (€47.6 billion) trade surplus with the US that helped spur Trump’s wrath. The imbalance, heavily weighted by the pharmaceutical industry, stems from the country’s favorable tax regime and highly educated workforce. US drug companies, including Lilly and Pfizer Inc., operate nearly two dozen factories in Ireland that ship to the US, according to a TD Cowen analysis. The US biotech industry, which drives much of the innovation in drug development, is also vulnerable to the new tariffs. Nearly 90% of American companies rely on imported components for US-approved products, according to a recent survey by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. As a result, the supply of medicines for US
See “Tariffs,” A10
As Trump eyes retribution, Democrats prepare for potential criminal probes
By Steve Peoples Ap National Politics Writer
EW
NYORK—As President Donald Trump pushes the historical boundaries of executive power, some of the Democratic Party’s core political institutions are preparing for the possibility that the federal government may soon launch criminal investigations against them.
The Democrats’ dominant national fundraising platform, ActBlue, and the party’s largest protest group, Indivisible, are working with their attorneys for just such a scenario, according to officials within both organizations. Trump’s top political allies have suggested both groups should face prosecution.
Other Democratic allies are planning for Trump-backed legal crackdowns as well. Wary of antagonizing the president, most prefer to stay anonymous for now.
“Every one of our clients is concerned about being arbitrarily targeted by the Trump administration. We are going to great lengths to help clients prepare for or defend themselves,” said Ezra Reese, political law chair at Elias Law Group, which represents Democratic groups and candidates and is chaired by Marc Elias, the lawyer who has himself been a Trump target.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment when asked about potential investigations into ActBlue and Indivisible. But White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not downplay the threat of a potential criminal probe when asked specifically whether Trump wants the FBI, the Treasury Department or any other federal agency to investigate Democratic groups.
“Anyone who has (not) broken the law should not be worried,” Leavitt told The Associated Press. “If you have broken the law and engaged in the weaponization of justice, then you should be worried. It’s that simple.”
Indeed, far from distancing themselves from talk of retribution, many key Republicans are embracing it.
Trump’s allies argue they are justified in seeking vengeance due to the four criminal prosecutions against Trump, one of which led to multiple felony convictions in New York. There’s no evidence former President Joe Biden influenced the Trump prosecutions in any way.
Matt Schlapp, president of the American Conservative Union, said Democrats needed to be taught not to touch a hot stove.
“Someone needs to get burned for all this activity or they’re just gonna do it again,” he said. “And that’s not hypocrisy; that’s justice.”
Trump has made no secret of his plans to use the power of the federal government to target domestic political adversaries.
During a norm-breaking speech at the Department of Justice last month, Trump cast himself as the country’s “chief law enforcement officer,” a title ordinarily reserved for the attorney general.
On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order instructing the Justice Department to investigate Miles Taylor, a former Department of Homeland Security official who anonymously penned a book highly critical of his first presidency. Trump said that Taylor was likely guilty of treason, a crime that can carry the death penalty.
Musk calls Indivisible ‘criminals’ INDIVISIBLE has been perhaps the most important group in the Democratic resistance since Trump returned to the White House. The group’s leadership in Washington holds regular calls with state-based activists and recently released a detailed protest guide, which offers specific guidance to hundreds
of local chapters across the country.
This year alone, Indivisible groups have hosted more than 1,000 protests covering every state in the nation. The group was a key organizer in the recent Hands Off! protests that attracted hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
Trump top adviser and billionaire Elon Musk has publicly condemned Indivisible as “criminals.”
The statement was an apparent reference to violent attacks against Tesla dealerships and vehicles, which have spiked in recent weeks. Indivisible’s leadership released a guide earlier in the year encouraging protests outside Tesla dealerships, although the guide instructs protesters to remain peaceful and stay off private property.
No charges are known to have been filed against Indivisible or its leaders. But Indivisible co-founder Ezra Levin says it’s critical that Democratic institutions work together to speak out against the threats posed by the Trump administration. His organization has been discussing contingency plans with attorneys and other activists in the event that he or other Indivisible leaders face criminal charges.
“They may try to come at us directly, or it’s as likely that their non-state actors are inspired by their lies and propaganda, and try to come at us individually,” Levin said.
“And that is a risk in a moment where you’re facing anti-democratic threats like we are.”
“Our choice is, we can be quiet and hope that they won’t target us, or we can try to work as a mass opposition,” he continued. “If you’re not willing to do that, what are you doing here?”
Democrats’ fundraising at risk
MUSK, backed by several Republican members of Congress, has also called on the FBI to investigate ActBlue, alleging that the Democratic Party’s main fundraising platform has skirted campaign finance laws and allowed foreign nationals to make illegal contributions to Democratic candidates.
“I think the FBI’s going to do something on ActBlue soon,” Charlie Kirk, a key Trump ally who founded the conservative group Turning Point USA, said at a political event last month in Wisconsin.
ActBlue officials this week told the AP that they would continue to cooperate with a congressional investigation led by House Republicans into allegations of fraud within the organization. ActBlue is preparing a second batch of documents to comply with a new request by House Republicans. Additionally, two ActBlue staffers are expected to testify before a House panel behind closed
“It must be emphasized that these allegations, were they to prove true, would indicate a serious threat to the integrity of our elections, besides the victimization of American citizens,” Biggs wrote.
ActBlue said it is preparing for the possibility of “many different attacks on various fronts,” including investigations by the FBI or the Treasury Department. Meanwhile, Democratic candidates are relying on ActBlue to fund their campaigns as never before.
Donors have given more than $400 million to Democratic candidates through ActBlue over the first three months of the year, the organization told the AP. The fundraising haul represents the most money raised in any first quarter in ActBlue’s twodecade history.
While Republicans accuse the group of being funded by wealthy donors, ActBlue acts as a passthrough between donors and candidates that’s funded by a 3.95% processing fee on each donation.
doors later this month.
Multiple House Republicans in recent weeks have encouraged federal law enforcement agencies to pursue requested criminal investigations into ActBlue.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has asked the Treasury Department to investigate allegations that the nonprofit processed payments to “terror-linked organizations.”
Separately, Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., sent a letter to the FBI last month claiming that ActBlue is being used to “to skirt the integrity of federal campaign finance laws” by allowing foreign nationals to contribute to campaigns, among other allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
“These unfounded attacks haven’t shaken us—they’ve sharpened our resolve to fuel Democratic wins,” ActBlue spokesperson Megan Hughes said. “As our first-quarter fundraising demonstrates, Democratic grassroots donors are engaged, undeterred and ready to meet this moment.”
Leavitt is one of three administration officials who face a lawsuit from the AP on First- and Fifth Amendment grounds. The AP says the three are punishing the news agency for editorial decisions they oppose. The White House says the AP is not following an executive order to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
COMMUNITY organizer Emerson Wolfe leads a march hosted by Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids down Ottawa Avenue during a Hands Off! rally, April 5, 2025, in Grand Rapids, Mich. ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE/THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS VIA AP
President Trump complains of slow pace as Iran-US nuclear talks hit venue snag
By Maria Grazia Murru, Jon Gambrell & Chris Megerian The Associated Press
ROME—Talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program appeared ready to leave the Middle East on Monday, as an Italian source and others said the next round of negotiations would take place in Rome. But early Tuesday, Iran insisted the next round would again be held in Oman.
It wasn’t immediately clear where the negotiations would be held after Tehran’s overnight announcement. American officials have not said where the talks would be held. President Donald Trump separately complained Monday about the pace of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran as the two countries start a new round of pivotal negotiations.
“I think they’re tapping us along,” he said in the Oval Office during a meeting with El Salvador’s president.
The next meeting had been expected to take place on Saturday in Rome, according to a source in the Italian government who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also signaled the talks would take place there.
“We received the request from the interested parties, from Oman, which plays the role of mediator and we gave a positive response,” Tajani told reporters during a trip to Osaka, Japan. “We are ready to welcome, as always, meetings that can bring positive results, in this case on the nuclear issue.”
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, speaking at a meeting in Luxembourg, also said the coming talks would be in Rome. And Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly said Monday the talks would happen in Rome while speaking to his Iraqi counterpart on Monday, according to the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Then early Tuesday, the staterun IRNA news agency quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as saying the talks would be back in Oman, without elaborating on the reason. Easter Sunday will be this coming weekend, a major holiday in Rome, which surrounds Vatican City, the home of the Roman Catholic church.
The first round of talks over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program took place over the past weekend in Oman.
The stakes of the negotiations couldn’t be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon
with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Speaking of Iran, Trump said “I want them to be a rich, great nation.” However, he said “these are radicalized people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
Meanwhile, the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog separately confirmed he would be taking a trip to Iran later in the week, possibly to discuss ways to improve access for his inspectors to Tehran’s program.
IAEA chief to head to Iran ahead of talks
THE talks will follow a visit by Rafael Mariano Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iran later this week.
The IAEA played a key role in verifying Iran’s compliance with its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and has continued to work in the Islamic Republic, even as the country’s theocracy slowly peeled away its access after Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018.
“Continued engagement and cooperation with the Agency is essential at a time when diplomatic solutions are urgently needed,” Grossi wrote on X.
Grossi will arrive in Iran on Wednesday night and will meet with Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian, the state-run IRNA news agency reported, quoting Kazem Gharibabadi, a deputy foreign minister.
Sanctions relief and enrichment remain top issues
THE 2015 nuclear deal saw Iran agree to drastically reduce its stockpile of uranium and only enrich up to 3.67%—enough for its nuclear power plant at Bushehr. Today, Iran enriches up to 60%, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels and has enough stockpile for multiple nuclear bombs, should it choose
to build them.
The deal lifted economic sanctions on Iran and unfroze assets around the world. The deal’s collapse refroze those funds and limited Iran’s ability to sell crude oil abroad—though it still sells to China, likely at a sharp discount.
While the US can offer sanctions relief for Iran’s beleaguered economy, it remains unclear just how much Iran will be willing to concede. Judging from negotiations since 2018, Iran will likely ask to keep enriching uranium up to at least 20%. However, neither side has offered any public statements about what it is specifically seeking in the talks.
“There must definitely be guarantees in place regarding the fulfillment of commitments,” Baghaei said Monday. “The issue of guarantees is especially important given the history of broken promises in the past. God willing, the negotiating team will continue its work with all these factors and points in mind.”
He added: “As long as the language of sanctions, pressure, threats, and intimidation continues, direct negotiations will not take place.”
However, Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff did meet and speak face to face after some two hours of indirect talks mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi.
Speaking to journalists on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he met with Witkoff and that his envoy had “very good meetings on the Middle East.”
“We’ll be making a decision on Iran very quickly,” Trump said, without elaborating.
Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers David Biller and Giada Zampano in Rome, Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Molly Quell at The Hague, Netherlands, contributed to this report.
Amid tense negotiations, Iran’s Khamenei says nuclear talks with US off to good start
By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran’s supreme leader said Tuesday that the first round of talks with the United States went “well,” in his first public comment on the negotiations, state television reported.
The comments by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while couched, represented his endorsement of the talks so far.
“We are neither radically optimistic about the talks nor radically pessimistic about the talks,” the 85-year-old Khamenei said. However, he said the talks had been “implemented well in the first steps” and that Iran remained “pessimistic” about America.
He also urged officials “not to tie the country’s affairs” to the talks, which are scheduled to have a second round on Saturday.
Meanwhile, a second US aircraft carrier is operating in Mideast waters ahead of the next round of talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program, satellite photos analyzed Tuesday by The Associated Press showed.
The operation of the USS Carl Vinson and its strike group in the Arabian Sea comes as suspected US airstrikes pounded parts of Yemen controlled by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels overnight into Tuesday. American officials repeatedly have linked the US’s monthlong campaign against the Houthis under President Donald Trump as a means to pressure Iran in the negotiations.
Questions remain over where the weekend talks between the countries will be held after officials initially identified Rome as hosting the negotiations, only for Iran to insist early Tuesday they would return to Oman. American officials so far haven’t said where the talks will be held. The stakes of the negotiations couldn’t be higher for the two nations closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who represented America in last weekend’s talks in Oman, separately signaled that the Trump administration may be looking at terms of the 2015 nuclear deal that the president unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 as a basis for these negotiations. He described the talks last weekend as “positive, constructive, compelling.”
“This is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization,” Witkoff told Fox News on Monday night. “That includes missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there. And it includes the trigger for a bomb.”
He added: “We’re here to see if we can solve this situation diplomatically and with dialogue.”
Vinson joins Truman as second US aircraft carrier in Mideast SATELLITE photos taken Monday by the European Union’s Copernicus program showed the Vinson, which is based out of San Diego, California, operating northeast of Socotra, an island off Yemen that sits near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. The Vinson is accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Princeton and two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, the USS Sterett and the USS William P. Lawrence.
The US ordered the Vinson to the Mideast to back up the USS Harry S. Truman, which has been launching airstrikes against the Houthis since the American campaign started March 15. Footage released by the Navy showed the Vinson preparing ordinance and launching F-35 and F/A-18 fighter jets off its deck in recent days.
The US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, which oversees the Mideast, declined to discuss details of the Vinson’s operations.
Witkoff suggests 3.67% uranium enrichment for Iran
MEANWHILE , Witkoff offered for the first time a specific enrichment level he’d like to see for Iran’s nuclear program. Today, Tehran enriches uranium to up to 60%—a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%.
“They do not need to enrich past 3.67%,” Witkoff told Fox News. “In some circumstances, they’re at 60%, in other circumstances, 20%. That cannot be.
“And you do not need to run, as they claim, a civil nuclear program where you’re enriching past 3.67%. So, this is going to be much about verification on the enrichment program, and then ultimately verification on weaponization.”
“Re -onshoring key parts of the biotechnology supply chain to the US and our allies and strengthening the American manufacturing base should be a high priority for both national and economic security,” BIO President John Crowley said in a statement.
“It will take years, though, for this shift. We need to be mindful of the negative consequences of these proposed tariffs.”
patients and families are particularly vulnerable to proposed tariffs on the European Union, China and Canada, the group wrote. Nearly all of the companies surveyed said they expect manufacturing costs to surge if import tariffs are placed on the European Union. Half of the 42 companies said they’d be forced to scramble for new research and manufacturing partners or they’d need to rework or potentially delay regulatory filings for new products.
Trump’s exemptions
The US president earlier Monday announced he would consider temporary reprieves from his 25% tariff on automotive imports to allow companies time to bring production to the US.
T he announcement suggested that the president was willing to negotiate with industry leaders, and a similar push from technology and pharmaceutical executives is almost certain to follow.
“He’s going to get this onshoring to happen as soon as possible and as orderly as possible,” Trump economic adviser Kevin Hassett said Monday on Fox Business. “And so when he talks to CEOs and they say, ‘Hey, need a little more time with this, I need a little time more time with that,’ then he’s
absolutely willing to listen.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an interview with Bloomberg Television, said the administration remained focused on negotiating deals that would benefit Americans.
“I think we’re going to start the negotiations, and just like with everyone else, I’m telling them, bring your A-game. We’ll see what you got, and we’ll go from there,” Bessent said.
Trump was asked what short-lived product exclusions he was considering but did not specify how long a potential pause or lowering of auto levies would remain in place. With assistance from Michael Shepard, Annmarie Hordern and Hadriana Lowenkron/Bloomberg
The 2015 nuclear deal Iran agreed to with world powers under President Barack Obama saw Tehran agree to drastically reduce its stockpile of uranium and only enrich up to 3.67%—enough for its nuclear power plant at Bushehr. Iran in exchange received access to frozen funds around the world, and sanctions were lifted on its crucial oil industry and other sectors.
Iran’s Javan newspaper, which is believed to be close to its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, suggested in an editorial Tuesday that Tehran would be open to reducing its enrichment.
“Something that we have done before, why should we not carry it again and reach a deal?” the editorial asked. “This is not called a withdrawal by Islamic Republic from its ideals anywhere in the world.”
When Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, however, he pointed at Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile as one reason to leave the deal. Witkoff said any deal with Iran would have to include “missiles, the type of missiles that they have stockpiled there and it includes the trigger for a bomb.”
Iran relies on its ballistic missiles as a hedge against regional nations armed with advanced fighter jets and other American weaponry. Getting it to abandon its missile program likely will be difficult in negotiations.
The Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
British billionaire takes action as US aid reductions hit peanut butter shipments to malnourished children
By James Pollard The Associated Press
NEW YORK—This “yo-yo” of a year continues for America’s nutritional peanut paste manufacturers, nonprofits that have found their lifesaving food packets disrupted by the US State Department’s sudden pause in foreign assistance.
Georgia-based MANA Nutrition and Rhode Island-based Edesia Nutrition are two key links in the global supply chain sending nutritional mixtures of ground peanuts, powdered milk, sugar and oil to malnourished children worldwide. American farmers supply ingredients, shipping companies carry paste overseas and NGOs distribute the food throughout countries in need. Any delays complicate the network’s delicate logistics, relied upon by millions of children.
Yet the US scrapped all of their upcoming contracts to make peanut butter paste, according to an April 4 e-mail shared with The Associated Press detailing the US Agency for International Development’s anticipated summer demand. Enough boxes to treat more than 450,000 children in Yemen were cancelled and more than 800,000 others “will not move forward at this time.”
Complicating matters further, MANA Nutrition CEO Mark Moore said USAID didn’t pay $20 million in debts accumulated since December until last week. Neither maker was reimbursed by previous deadlines to expedite debt payments.
Keeping MANA afloat amid the US funding chaos is a longtime partner from across the pond: British billionaire hedge fund manager
Chris Hohn.
“The reason I cannot be in just complete panic right now,” Moore said last month, “is Chris.”
But the private support and reopened funding spigot are hardly enough to assure producers they will keep reaching youth in impoverished countries. And they don’t expect philanthropy to replace government funding forever.
The ups and downs underscore the pain felt even by the few surviving programs of the Trump administration’s USAID purge that recently targeted initiatives keeping millions alive.
Edesia Nutrition is still waiting to be made whole—and its production lines are running slowly. Production couldn’t restart until Edesia CEO Navyn Salem saw “at least some sign of payment.”
“It honestly represents an entire life,” she said, watching a suspended conveyor belt in March. “Every hour that goes by.”
How the butter gets made A SIMPLE recipe is behind the revolutionary treatment for the estimated 45 million children younger than 5 who suffer from “wasting.”
Ten ready-to-eat pouches are filled every second inside MANA’s rural factory. Locally sourced peanuts are roasted and cooled. Rollers separate kernels from skin be -
fore the peanuts are ground into paste and blended with powdered sugar. Kettles heat the final product to kill bacterial growth.
The sticky paste gets pumped into sachets resembling oversized McDonald’s ketchup packets. They don’t need refrigeration and have a two-year shelf life. Each contains 500 calories, providing vitamins and nutrients necessary for early brain development. Malnourished children can be rehabilitated in six weeks by eating three of these energypacked meal replacements a day.
The usual cost? About $40 for a 150-packet box.
This “miracle food” became humanitarians’ go-to tool for reducing undernutrition, which contributes to nearly half of deaths among children under age 5. NGOs forecast countries’ need months in advance. MANA and Edesia compete for government contracts to make the paste. USAID buys their boxes and ships them overseas. Partners such as UNICEF and the World Food Program deliver them.
Salem compares Plumpy’Nut— the popular brand name given by French company Nutriset—to baby formula. When the US experienced a shortage, she said, parents didn’t feed cookies to their children instead.
“We don’t make a nice-to-have food,” she said. “You can’t replace it with something else.”
‘Uncertainty and craziness’
ALL the grinding and mixing was supposed to halt Jan. 29 when MANA and Edesia received stopwork orders from the US State Department.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration sought a program-by-program review of which USAID projects, criticized as liberal, make “America safer, stronger or more prosperous.” He moved to keep strictly lifesaving emergency programs going—but confusion reigned over
exemptions.
Moore ignored it nonetheless.
“When you have 100,000 pounds of peanut butter surging through a system you can’t just really stop,” he said.
Welcome news came a week later when the stop orders were rescinded. In late February, however, Moore said USAID contracts totaling $50 million—enough to treat 300,000 children—were cancelled. That included requests for countries high on the Famine Early Warning System Network’s list of places expected to most need humanitarian food assistance.
Reinstatements arrived late March 2 and MANA began squeezing ready-to-use therapeutic food the following morning after about one week down.
“We’re grateful,” Moore said. “But there’s been a whole lot of uncertainty and craziness injected into our lives.”
Thousands of Plumpy’Nut boxes piled up in Edesia’s warehouses after the Trump administration paused contracts for their truckers. Salem said some shippers even had contracts terminated while
in transit.
Maersk Line, Limited—a container shipping company that transports ready-to-use therapeutic food, or RUTF—worked with the U.S. government to comply with the foreign aid pause while “minimizing” supply chain disruptions, according to senior communications and media advisor
Patrick Fitzgerald.
Salem halted production on two lines for the first time since her nonprofit’s 2010 founding. Edesia finally received $16 million in April for USAID orders shipped last year, she said, but still faces a $20 million hole that opened when the Trump administration froze humanitarian spending abroad. Lacking payments and clarity, she said she was forced to lay off 10% of Edesia’s team.
While this period has been difficult, Salem hopes they emerge “more efficient and end up having more impact on children.” But switching production on and off is complicated and takes a toll.
BBy Justin Spike The Associated Press
UDAPEST, Hungary—Hun -
gary’s parliament on Monday passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, a decision that legal scholars and critics call another step toward authoritarianism by the populist government.
The amendment, which required a two-thirds vote, passed along party lines with 140 votes for and 21 against. It was proposed by the ruling Fidesz-KDNP coalition led by populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Ahead of the vote—the final step for the amendment—opposition politicians and other protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to a parliament parking garage. Police physically removed demonstrators, who had used zip ties to bind themselves together.
The amendment declares that children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development supersede any right other than the right to life, including that to peacefully assemble. Hungary’s contentious “child protection” legislation prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors aged under 18.
The amendment codifies a law fast-tracked through parliament
A British philanthropist steps up ENTER HOHN . The Londonbased investor, who is described as unassuming, has made nutrition a cornerstone of The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
His charity declined to disclose how much money Hohn has donated to MANA. But neither the nonprofit factory nor Hohn views philanthropy as a sustainable way to fund malnutrition work that already lags behind the immense need.
“Sudden aid cuts have immediate and severe consequences for children, depriving them of life-saving support from products like RUTF,” Hohn said in a statement to The Associated Press. “While we are working with partners to minimize the impact, short-term solutions cannot replace stable, long-term government funding.” Hohn—who had previously given more than $250 million to MANA—called for “urgent action” to bridge the funding gap and “prevent further suffering.” The World Food Program has cut food rations and suspended nutrition assistance in recent years amid donor countries’ dwindling support.
A federal judge on March 10 ordered Trump officials to begin paying the roughly $2 billion owed to aid groups and businesses up to mid-February.
Therapeutic food composes such a small fraction of US spending that it amounts to a “rounding error,” according to Moore. Nobody thought cuts would meaningfully help balance the federal budget.
“All of a sudden, boom. It’s in the crosshairs for the first time ever as a partisan-type conversation,” he said. “It does, though, highlight how we are at a unique moment where it could be politicized.”
“For sure, the ones who have the most costly price (are) children who will lose their lives as a result of these interruptions,” Salem said.
Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events, seen as major blow to rights
in March that bans public events held by LGBTQ+ communities, including the popular Pride event in Budapest that draws thousands annually.
That law also allows authorities to use facial recognition tools to identify people who attend prohibited events—such as Budapest Pride—and can come with fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($546).
Dávid Bedő, a lawmaker with the opposition Momentum party who participated in the attempted blockade, said before the vote that Orbán and Fidesz for the past 15 years “have been dismantling democracy and the rule of law, and in the past two or three months, we see that this process has been sped up.”
He said as elections approach in 2026 and Orbán’s party lags in the polls behind a popular new challenger from the opposition, “they will do everything in their power to stay in power.”
Opposition lawmakers used air horns to disrupt the vote, which continued after a few moments.
Hungary’s government has campaigned against LGBTQ+ communities in recent years, and argues its “child protection” policies, which forbid the availability to minors of any material that mentions homosexuality, are needed to protect children from what it calls “woke ideology” and “gender madness.”
Critics say the measures do little to protect children and are being used to distract from more serious problems facing the country and mobilize Orbán’s right-wing base ahead of elections.
“This whole endeavor which we see launched by the government, it has nothing to do with children’s rights,” said Dánel Döbrentey, a lawyer with the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, calling it “pure propaganda.”
Constitution recognizes two sexes
THE new amendment also states that the constitution recognizes two sexes, male and female, an expansion of an earlier amendment that prohibits same-sex adoption by stating that a mother is a woman and a father is a man.
The declaration provides a constitutional basis for denying the gender identities of transgender people, as well as ignoring the existence of intersex individuals who are born with sexual characteristics that do not align with binary conceptions of male and female.
In a statement on Monday, government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács wrote that the change is “not an attack on individual selfexpression, but a clarification that legal norms are based on biological reality.”
Döbrentey, the lawyer, said it
was “a clear message” for transgender and intersex people: “It is definitely and purely and strictly about humiliating people and excluding them, not just from the national community, but even from the community of human beings.”
The amendment is the 15th to Hungary’s constitution since Orbán’s party unilaterally authored and approved it in 2011.
Facial recognition to identify demonstrators ÁDÁM REMPORT, a lawyer with the HCLU, said that while Hungary has
used facial recognition tools since 2015 to assist police in criminal investigations and finding missing persons, the recent law banning Pride allows the technology to be used in a much broader and problematic manner. That includes for monitoring and deterring political protests.
“One of the most fundamental problems is its invasiveness, just the sheer scale of the intrusion that happens when you apply mass surveillance to a crowd,” Remport said.
“More salient in this case is the
effect on the freedom of assembly, specifically the chilling effect that arises when people are scared to go out and show their political or ideological beliefs for fear of being persecuted,” he added.
Suspension of citizenship
THE amendment passed Monday also allows for Hungarians who hold dual citizenship in a nonEuropean Economic Area country to have their citizenship suspended for up to 10 years if they are deemed to pose a threat to public order, public security or national security.
Hungary has taken steps in recent months to protect its national sovereignty from what it claims are foreign efforts to influence its politics or even topple Orbán’s government.
The self-described “illiberal” leader has accelerated his longstanding efforts to crack down on critics such as media outlets and groups devoted to civil rights and anticorruption, which he says have undermined Hungary’s sovereignty by receiving financial assistance from international donors.
In a speech laden with conspiracy theories in March, Orbán compared people who work for such groups to insects, and pledged to “eliminate the entire shadow army” of foreign-funded “politicians, judges, journalists, pseudoNGOs and political activists.”
HUNGARY’S parliament has passed an amendment to the constitution that allows the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities, in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, April 14, 2025. ROBERT HEGEDUS/MTI VIA AP
Reviving abaca: A long-overdue solution to PHL’s plastic pollution
THIRTEEN years prior to the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 11898 in July 2022, an agency affiliated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) had proposed an alternative to help companies and local government units minimize their plastic waste. The Fiber Industry Development Authority called on LGUs, business leaders and the general public to use packaging materials made of natural fiber like abaca. In a statement it released in March 2009, Fida said the use of natural-fiber based packaging materials will not only reduce the risk of global warming and environmental degradation, but also help spur the development of the Philippine natural fiber industry.
Fida noted that unlike plastics or synthetics that harm the environment, abaca-based materials are not only recyclable, but are also biodegradable. Natural fibers like abaca, the agency pointed out, will not break easily as abaca fiber is considered the strongest natural fiber—three times stronger than cotton and two times stronger than sisal. An investment in research and development efforts and other initiatives for incorporating abaca and other natural fibers in packaging materials would have exponentially increased the need for the indigenous crop.
As little had been done to popularize the use of abaca and other natural fibers in packaging materials, PhilFida—the agency that resulted in the consolidation of Fida and the Cotton Development Administration— is again making a similar appeal. The call for help came two years after the central bank first started circulating polymer banknotes. (See, “Agri chief asks BSP, DFA to support PHL abaca farmers,” in the BusinessMirror , April 7, 2025). The DA said it would ask the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to reconsider its decision to remove abaca fiber from Philippine banknotes.
A year before PhilFida’s predecessor advocated for the adoption of abaca in packaging materials, the country produced 77,000 metric tons (MT) of abaca fiber in 2008, reflecting a 27.5 percent increase compared to 2007. Last year, government data showed that abaca production settled at 43,055.78 MT, lower than the 44,868.36 MT recorded in 2023. Abaca output in the past two years paled in comparison to the 63,640.61 MT produced in 2022.
Arresting the decline in the output of this indigenous crop would require a concerted effort from the private sector and the government to prop up domestic demand for abaca. Tapping natural fibers for certain consumer items, such as packaging, would hasten the country’s shift towards sustainability and enable companies to meet the goals of RA 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law. Had the Philippines made strides in replacing some of the plastics used in packaging materials years ago, it is possible that it would not have earned its current reputation of being one of the world’s worst offenders on marine plastic pollution.
Aside from the government, companies should also now do their part in finding viable means to significantly reduce the country’s plastic pollution. Earlier this year, a home-grown firm announced that it was able to develop a technology that can make sustainable plastics by incorporating plant fibers, such as abaca or spider lilies. (See, “D&L unit taps abaca for sustainable plastics,” in the BusinessMirror, January 15, 2025). Local firms can consider making the same investment as this will not only cut the Philippines’ plastic waste, but also allow them to earn extra income.
Our labor force
OTHE BUILDER
UR labor force is becoming more dynamic. With mega infrastructure projects powering the economy, our goal to reduce the unemployment rate in the Philippines as low as possible has become very attainable.
The quality of jobs in the Philippines is also on an upward trend, partly fueled by construction spending by both the government and private entities.
Data from the latest Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals a substantial decrease in underemployment, which refers to individuals seeking more work or longer hours.
The rate fell to 10.1 percent in February 2025, a notable improvement from 12.4 percent recorded in February 2024. The quality of employment also showed year-on-year progress. The number of Filipinos in full-time employment increased by 1.7 million, while those in middle- and highskilled occupations rose 1.1 million. The number of individuals engaged in remunerative wage and salaried work saw a rise of 151,000.
While the unemployment rate saw a slight uptick to 3.8 percent in February 2025 from 3.5 percent in the same period last year, it remained below the government’s target range of 4.8 percent to 5.1 percent for 2025. Unemployment on a monthon-month basis eased from 4.3 percent in January 2025.
The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) linked
Angel R. Calso, Dionisio L. Pelayo Ruben M. Cruz Jr.
Eduardo
the year-on-year increase primarily to a larger number of young individuals entering the labor force. Despite this marginal rise, the Philippines’ unemployment rate is comparable to our Southeast Asian neighbors, like Malaysia (3.1 percent), Vietnam (2.2 percent), China (5.4 percent) and India (6.4 percent).
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sees our strong economic growth as a key driver in generating employment opportunities for Filipinos.
The ADB’s April 2025 Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report predicts the Philippine economy growing by 6.0 percent in 2025 and 6.1 percent in 2026, an increase from the 5.6-percent expansion in 2024.
Per the ADB, robust domestic demand, sustained investments in social services and crucial public infrastructure, along with moderate inflation, will continue to support the Philippine economy.
It identifies the Philippines as a bright spot in the Southeast Asian region, with robust private consumption and sustained investments, particularly in infrastructure, continuing to fuel growth.
Infrastructure spending is, indeed, a cornerstone of this economic expansion. The government aims to
By Yvonne Yue Li
RICHMAN,
the owner
of E.W. Berger
& Bro, has been loading up on copper plumbing parts to get ahead of possible US import tariffs—filling his warehouse with extra fasteners, fittings and tubing made from the red metal.
The New Jersey wholesaler, which sells to mom-and-pop tradesmen as well as larger-scale builders, is taking a risk that it’ll be stuck with excess inventory if the economy takes a turn and buyers disappear. But Richman didn’t feel like he has much choice given the outlook for costs.
He’s already paying more for copper items because suppliers to his family-run business boosted prices as much as 12 percent in the past cou-
ple months in anticipation of tariffs. Richman—like others in his shoes— is passing on those higher costs to all but his most loyal customers.
“The consumer is the one who’s losing,” he said in an interview.
Richman’s situation is similar to what many businesses across the US are going through as President Donald Trump mulls imposing tariffs on copper imports, possibly within weeks. The levies threaten to inflict
Data from the latest Labor Force Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveals a substantial decrease in underemployment, which refers to individuals seeking more work or longer hours. The rate fell to 10.1 percent in February 2025, a notable improvement from 12.4 percent recorded in February 2024.
maintain infrastructure expenditure at between 5.0 percent and 6.0 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) over the medium term, with an average of 5.8 percent of the GDP allocated to infrastructure from 2022 to 2024.
The Philippines is in the midst of building large-scale transportation projects, such as the Malolos Clark Railway Project and the South Commuter Railway Project, connecting Metro Manila to the northern and southern provinces of Luzon, as well as the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, which is anticipated to be among the world’s longest bridges upon completion.
Among the various economic sectors, construction plays a significant role in employment generation, accounting for about 56 percent of the workers in the industry sector. Overall, the construction industry employs over five million Filipinos.
Official data show that in terms of absolute numbers, the total employed population reached 49.15 million in February 2025,up from 48.95 million in February 2024 and 48.49 million in January 2025.
Correspondingly, there were about 1.94 million jobless individuals as of February 2025, up from 1.80 million in February 2024 but a decrease
from 2.16 million recorded in January 2025. The underemployment rate showed a positive trend, decreasing to 10.1 percent in February 2025 from 12.4 percent in February 2024 and 13.3 percent in January 2025. In terms of magnitude, 4.96 million of the 49.15 million employed individuals expressed a desire for additional work hours or a new job with longer hours in February 2025.
Per the PSA, the top five subsectors contributing to the annual increase in employed persons in February 2025 were accommodation and food service activities (377,000); fishing and aquaculture (365,000); public administration and defense; compulsory social security (330,000); construction (258,000); and other service activities (232,000).
Month-on-month, the top five sub-sectors with the largest increases in employed persons in February 2025 were wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (620,000); construction (434,000); and manufacturing (225,000).
The growth in construction employment reflects the steady economic expansion. The robust labor market signals stronger domestic demand, a positive indicator for insulating the Philippine economy from global uncertainties and potential trade conflicts, per the Department of Finance.
We need to continue building more infrastructure projects, housing units and commercial establishments to sustain job generation and keep the Philippine economy a bright spot in these challenging times.
For feedback e-mail to senatormarkvillar@ gmail.com or visit our web site: https://markvillar. com.ph
pain across a broad section of the US economy because of the myriad industries and applications that rely on the metal—everything from automobiles and data centers to home construction and consumer electronics.
Its widespread usage is the reason why the metal is dubbed “Doctor Copper”—a barometer for the health of the economy.
“At the end of the day, tariffs will make US copper more costly for consumers,” said Ewa Manthey, commodity strategist at ING Bank NV. “Higher copper prices might also feed into higher inflation.”
It isn’t certain they’ll be imposed, but Trump first talked about copper tariffs in late January. On February 25, he ordered officials to consider
trade measures on the metal, and days later, in a speech to Congress, the president suggested copper imports could be subject to a 25 percent tariff. The US consumed 1.6 million metric tons of refined copper last year, with about half coming from abroad, according to US Geological Survey estimates. Chile, Canada and Mexico are the biggest foreign suppliers. Major metals producers including Freeport-McMoRan Inc. and Rio Tinto Group also fill US demand through mines in southwestern states including Arizona and Utah. US copper prices already reflect the threat of tariffs—they started surging after Trump first floated the idea, with the price on New York’s See “New Jersey,” A13
Mark Villar
Multibillion dollar exodus hits China ETFs amid Trump tariff war
By Leda Alvim
INVESTORS are dumping exchange-traded funds tracking Chinese stocks at a record pace as the world’s biggest economies face off in an escalating trade war that is set to challenge global growth.
Outflows from US-listed emerging market ETFs that invest across developing nations, as well as those that target specific countries, totaled $5.57 billion in the week ended April 11, the most in a year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Of that total, $3.69 billion came from China.
The $5.6 billion iShares China Large-Cap ETF recorded $1.2 billion in outflows last week, while the KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF saw more than $1 billion in withdrawals and the Xtrackers Harvest CSI 300 China A-Shares ETF recorded $780 million in redemptions. In each case, the outflows were records. Meanwhile, a popular ex-China fund hasn’t seen inflows since September.
“The combination of tariff escalation and negative speculative rhetoric around Chinese ADRs led to capitulation on China specific ETFs last week,” said Malcolm Dorson, senior portfolio manager at Global X Management. “This could continue unless we see the two sides begin to find some common ground.”
Trade tensions between the world’s biggest economies have whipsawed global markets and stoked concern over global growth this month. Last week, Beijing retaliated against Trump’s latest tariffs by hiking duties on all US goods to 125 percent, while calling the administration’s actions a “joke.” The White House set 145 percent levies on Chinese goods.
Harvard refuses to surrender independence after Trump threat
By Janet Lorin and Brooke Sutherland
HARVARD University refused to accept a deal with the Trump administration two weeks after the US government threatened to halt $9 billion in funding, vowing it won’t “surrender its independence or its constitutional rights.”
home town on its policies. Elected officials, including Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons, joined a protest over the weekend on campus that also drew alumni and current students.
would work with the administration, challenged the idea that the government was focused solely on antisemitism.
While China said it won’t match any further hikes, it reiterated its vow to “fight to the end” with other, unspecified countermeasures. The impact of this escalating trade war will likely begin to materialize from this month.
The escalating trade war and its potential implications on China’s growth is raising questions among investors on which steps will be taken by policymakers to defend the economy. Last week, top leaders from China discussed additional economic stimulus in response to Trump’s tariffs, which could include measures to boost consumer spending, the birth rate and subsidies for some exports.
Still, the scale and timing of new stimulus are yet to be finalized, while questions on whether that will be enough to support the Asian nation remain.
“Part of the calculation is the need to save policy room for what comes down the road,” Hirson said.
Meanwhile, Chinese ETFs listed on the mainland saw nearly $24 billion in net inflows last week, eclipsing a prior record of around $23 billion set in October, as state-backed funds purchased the products to support the stock market. Bloomberg
“If it’s a scenario where the Trump administration maintains very high tariffs on China, it’s clearly negative for China’s growth this year and over the medium term,” said Michael Hirson, head of China Strategy for 22V Research.
Trump’s tariff rationale challenged in suit by small firms
By Sabrina Willmer
EVERAL small US businesses
Ssued President Donald Trump over his “Liberation Day” tariffs in the latest legal challenge to his use of sweeping executive powers to extract concessions from foreign trade partners.
Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose tariffs is unconstitutional and the emergency he declared to justify the levies “is a figment of his own imagination,” the companies said in a suit filed Monday in the US Court of International Trade. “Trade deficits, which have persisted for decades without causing economic harm, are not an emergency.”
The suit is at least the third challenging Trump’s tariffs, though some industry groups in the US have been hesitant to oppose the levies in court.
IEEPA gives the president broad power to regulate certain financial transactions when declaring a national emergency in response to an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”
In a statement, White House spokesman Harrison Fields said, “Never Trumpers will always oppose him, but President Trump is standing up for Main Street by putting an end to our trading partners—especially China—exploiting the US. His plan levels the playing field for businesses and workers to address our country’s national emergency of chronic trade deficits.” Trump became the first president to use the statute to impose tariffs when he announced levies in February against China, Mexico and Canada to respond to the “extraordinary threat” of undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs moving through US borders.
On April 2, Trump invoked IEEPA on what he called “Liberation Day” to impose a blanket 10 percent tariff on all imports and put additional duties on almost 60 countries. But a week later, he announced a 90-day pause on the additional tariffs on most countries while boosting duties on Chinese imports to 125 percent, which he increased to 145 percent the following day.
The moves by Trump have rattled markets, prompted forecasts of a potential recession and strained relationships with overseas trading partners.
The suit was filed by the libertarian-leaning Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small companies, including a New York-based wine distributor, a Vermont-based brand of women’s cycling apparel and a Virginia-based producer of educational electronic kits and musical instruments.
An earlier suit was filed by the conservative-funded New Civil Liberties Alliance on behalf of a small stationery business called Emily Ley Paper Inc., which opposed the first two rounds of China tariffs. A separate suit was filed by members of the Blackfeet Nation, a Native American tribe in Montana benefiting from trade with Canada.
“This court should declare the president’s unprecedented power grab illegal,” said attorneys representing the companies in Monday’s lawsuit. They argued that their clients will face increased “costs for the goods they sell, less demand for their higher prices products, and disrupted supply chains, among other threats to their livelihood, up to and including potentially bankrupting otherwise-solvent companies.” Bloomberg
“Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government,” the school’s lawyers—Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and King & Spalding—wrote in a letter Monday to US agencies including the Department of Education.
Harvard president Alan Garber said in a post on the school’s website that the administration demanded new terms late Friday that went beyond prior requests in exchange for maintaining federal funding. These included reforming its governance, ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs, changes to its admissions and hiring and curbing the “power” of certain students, faculty and administrators because of their ideological views.
The oldest and richest US university—with a $53 billion endowment—had emerged as a target as the government sought changes at the nation’s top colleges, which were roiled by pro-Palestinian student protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel and the Jewish state’s retaliatory response in Gaza. Garber, who had said repeatedly he
“It makes clear that the intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and constructive manner,” Garber wrote.
“Although some of the demands outlined by the government are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental regulation of the ‘intellectual conditions’ at Harvard.”
The White House campaign to force changes at elite universities has fueled concern among faculty and students that they’re violating free speech and damaging scientific research. A group of Harvard professors suing the administration has accused it of exploiting Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to “coerce universities into undermining free speech and academic inquiry in service of the government’s political or policy preferences.”
The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a resolution last week calling on Harvard to rebuff the Trump administration’s demands, a rare comment by the university’s
The Trump administration has already canceled $400 million in federal money to Columbia University in March, and has frozen dozens of research contracts at Princeton, Cornell and Northwestern universities. It also suspended $175 million at the University of Pennsylvania because the school allowed a transgender athlete to compete on its women’s swim team several years ago.
Garber has acknowledged the need to tackle antisemitism, noting that he’s experienced it directly while serving as the university’s leader, and said Harvard is committed to working with the administration. The law firms, responding to the government agencies, also said the school has made “lasting and robust” changes over the past 15 months, including tightening disciplinary procedures.
“Harvard is in a very different place today from where it was a year ago,” according to the letter.
In recent weeks the school placed the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee on probation and forced the faculty leaders of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies to leave their posts. Harvard also suspended a partnership it has with Birzeit University in the West Bank.
But the university, in a defiant note on its website, stated it will “not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.” The school initially posted language that indicated it would not “negotiate,” which was updated.
Former Harvard president Larry Summers, a frequent critic of the school’s response to antisemitism on campus, was supportive of the school’s move on social media, saying he hoped other universities take a similar stand. Jeff Flier, the former dean of Harvard Medical School, on X described it as a “powerful and entirely justified” statement by Garber. Democratic lawmakers were also supportive with Massachusetts governor Maura Healey offering “gratitude” to Garber and the Harvard Corp. for “standing up for education and freedom by standing against the Trump Administration’s brazen attempt to bully schools and weaponize the US Department of Justice under the false pretext of civil rights.”
But the move also elicited a furious response from US Representative Elise Stefanik. The Republican lawmaker from upstate New York said it’s time to “totally cut off U.S. taxpayer funding to this institution that has failed to live up to its founding motto Veritas.” With assistance from Akayla Gardner and Bill Haubert /Bloomberg
Latin America is stuck in the middle of Trump’s China trade war
By Andrew Rosati
DONALD TRUMP is pulling his nation’s closest neighbors into the center of his trade war with China as he seeks to elbow the Asian giant out of a region the US has long considered its own backyard.
The president last week dispatched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to Panama as part of his ongoing effort to reassert American dominance over the isthmus nation’s prized canal. On Monday, he hosted El Salvadoran leader Nayib Bukele, a close ally, in the White House, while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Buenos Aires and reiterated US desires for Argentina to end its reliance on Chinese financing.
It’s a diplomatic blitz aimed at blunting China’s widening influence in Latin America, where it has become one of the principal providers of funding, a top trading partner, and an increasingly annoying thorn in Washington’s side.
“What we are trying to keep from happening is what has happened on the African continent,” Bessent said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Buenos Aires on Monday. “China has signed a number of these rapacious deals marked as aid, where they’ve taken mineral rights and added huge amounts of debt onto these countries’ balance sheets.”
“They’re guaranteeing that future generations are going to be poorer and without resources, and we don’t want that to happen any more than it already has in Latin America,” he added.
The intensifying battle between the world’s two largest economies has left governments from Mexico to Argentina grappling with the reality that their days of doing big business with Beijing without serious blowback from Washington are numbered, a shift that is threatening to force them to pick a side.
“It’s likely going to be a bumpier
New Jersey . . .
continued from A12
Comex reaching an all-time high in late March.
Prices have since retreated amid a broad selloff across markets as Trump’s tariffs stoke concern that a recession is coming. Still, Comex copper is about 14 percent higher this year and carries more than a $700-a-ton premium to contracts on the London Metal Exchange.
road going forward than it has been for the past two decades,” said Matias Spektor, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo.
China established a beachhead in the Americas early this century, gobbling up raw materials from resource-rich South America and pouring so much money back into the region that it supplanted the US as the continent’s top trading partner. It also spread influence through the Belt and Road Initiative, its flagship economic development program that more than a dozen Latin American nations have signed onto.
It continued to make inroads despite Trump’s tough talk during his previous presidency, with Chinese companies taking on mega-projects like the metro in the Colombian capital of Bogota, and the now-completed Chancay port in Peru. Beijing also won hearts and minds by doling out aid and medical supplies when Latin America was being ravaged by Covid-19.
This time around, Trump has shown little interest in trying to match China’s economic engagement. He has instead railed about apparent economic dangers of Chinese-made vehicles in Mexico and its operations in the Panama Canal, even threatening to “take back” the waterway the US constructed more than a century ago.
He has taken steps since returning to office that could put China’s footprint at risk. The US announced “secondary tariffs” on countries that purchase oil from Venezuela—the biggest buyer of which is China. And a BlackRock-led group of investors said last month it would buy ports
RM-Metals, a distributor based in South Plainfield, New Jersey, has seen sales slow over the past two months with customers reluctant to pay higher costs, according to Vice President Sam Desai. The company imports copper wire, rod and strips from Asia and sells to US buyers such as appliance makers.
“For the short term, prices go up—that means everybody has to pay extra,” Desai said. A 25 percent copper import tariff would add $68 to $275 in incremental
at both ends of the Panama Canal controlled by CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong conglomerate.
But it’s a risky strategy in a region where China is still leaning on a friendlier approach. Chinese leader Xi Jinping painted his nation as a champion of economic globalization during summits in Peru and Brazil last year. And while Beijing has sought to delay the port sales in Panama, it is unlikely to try to browbeat its neighbors, said Michael Hirson, head of China analysis at 22V Research in New York.
“China will respond with carrots,” said Hirson, who served as the Treasury Department’s top representative to China under President Barack Obama. “They’ve been skillful at managing the political shifts here, even as Brazil and Argentina have swung between left and right.”
Washington, by contrast, appears to be wielding only sticks. Bessent said that he expects Argentina to pay off its $18 billion swap line with China, but said there are currently no talks for any credit line from the US Treasury.
The US provided about $2.5 billion in foreign assistance to Latin American nations in fiscal year 2024, according to government data. But the future of such aid is unclear due to Trump’s efforts to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development, a move that risks hindering US efforts in Latin America and elsewhere.
“The US won’t be operating with the full set of tools that would be necessary to really compete,” Hirson said.
The success of Trump’s pressure campaign will likely rest on how much each country depends on US economic might, and could result in a split between those closest to its borders and those farther south, said Christopher Garman, a managing director at the political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.
Mexico, Central America and to a lesser extent Colombia—Washington’s closest South American ally— are “married to the US economy. They got nine kids, there’s no divorce,” Garman said.
South America’s largest nations, however, will likely prove more difficult to sway. Trade between Brazil and China has grown steadily under both current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who never followed through on pledges to break with past governments’ policy of being “friendly with communist regimes.”
The flows totaled some $158 billion last year, nearly double the amount with the US. And in the wake of Trump’s tariff announcements, China immediately began ramping up its purchases of Brazilian soybeans last week.
Argentina President Javier Milei, who has positioned himself as the continent’s most Trump-friendly leader, has also adopted a more congenial tone toward China since taking office. Milei, who had called China an “assassin” on the campaign trail, labeled it a “great trade partner” and pledged to “deepen the commercial relationship” between the two nations in a January interview. The libertarian has sought to strengthen ties with the US and Trump, even pitching a free trade deal between the two nations. But China is currently Argentina’s second-largest trading partner behind only neighboring Brazil, and Milei’s pragmatism is likely a reflection of his realization that he can’t turn his back on Beijing entirely.
“Milei seeking a free trade agreement with a country turning more protectionist is like banging your head against the wall,” said Jimena Zuniga, Latin America Geoeconomics analyst at Bloomberg Economics. “He knows he needs to hedge.” With assistance from Gabriel Diniz Tavares /Bloomberg
raw material costs to the price of a car sold in the US, with electric vehicles particularly affected because they have about four times as much of the metal, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Data centers that help fill rising demand for artificial intelligence computing are also reacting to the tariff threat. DataBank, a data-center developer, is locking in contracts for copper cable, wiring, pipes and fittings earlier than it planned for projects that are still on the drawing board, and favoring local sources over foreign suppliers. “This is definitely a high focus point,” said Tony Qorri, who’s vice president of construction at the firm.
trade uncertainty will inevitably
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
P200 wage hike at risk as US tariffs stoke inflation fears
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
THEP200 across-the-board wage hike that Philippine lawmakers are pushing for may lose its value before it’s even passed, as economists warn of looming inflation triggered by new US tariffs.
With the cost of imports expected to rise, experts said any wage gains could be wiped out as businesses adjust prices and pass on higher costs to consumers.
In an interview with BusinessMirror, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) economics professor Leonardo A. Lanzona said the US tariff policy could lead to a global economic slowdown that would tighten supply chains and raise prices locally.
“If there is a depression in the US, there’s going to be a decline in the global supply. And in the process, there might be inflation. The 200 pesos might not be enough to meet the demands of the global economy,” Lanzona explained.
ADMU professor Fernando T. Aldaba echoed this concern, warn-
ing that a wage hike, when combined with higher import costs, create the “formula for higher inflation.”
“I’m not sure if it’s the right timing to clamor for a wage increase. Minimum wage affects only a certain portion of the population...especially only the formal sector,” Aldaba added. This kind of uncertainty is also making it easier for employers to push back against wage increases.
Canlas: Labor must persist FORMER National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Dante B. Canlas explained that large employers may use the tariff-driven inflation as another argument to delay or reject wage hikes.
“The US tariffs give big employers an additional reason to resist the
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the petition seeking to compel the Commission on Election (Comelec) to disclose documents in relation to the P18 billion contract that it signed with automated election system (AES) provider Miru Systems Co. Ltd. for the conduct of the 2025 midterm elections. In a 50-page comment, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the petition filed by members of the Right to Know, Right Now Coalition (R2KRN), the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), the Philippine Press Institute, journalists, and academics should be dismissed “for being procedurally infirm and for utter lack of merit.” R2KRN’s petition sought the issuance of a mandamus to require the Comelec and Miru to act on their request for information with regard to the P18 billion contract in light of the withdrawal of the latter’s local partner St. Timothy Construction Corp. (STCC) from the joint venture agreement and its impact on the 60 percent Filipino ownership requirement. The petitioners are specifically seeking an updated joint venture agreement that includes the current composition of the Miru joint venture, the detailed allocation of remaining partner’s financial, technical, and operational contributions or any applicable contributions of money, property, or industry, along with their monetary valuation and the resulting percentage interest of each remaining partner.
They also urged the poll body and Miru to confirm whether the performance bond submitted by Miru remains valid and callable on demand despite the withdrawal of STCC. The petitioners said they filed the petition on the basis of the people’s constitutional right to information on matters of public concern.
In addition, petitioners are urging the SC to promulgate rules to address the procedural gaps in enforcing the right to freedom of information (FOI) under the Constitution.
However, Guevarra denied the claim of the petitioners that the respondents violated their constitutional right to information.
Although the Comelec may not have provided R2KRN a risk assessment and con -
tingency report, or a detailed allocation of each remaining MIRU-JV partner’s financial, technical and operational contributions, Guevarra noted that the poll body allowed the petitioners access to information such as the adjusted percentage of contribution and distribution, and the adjusted responsibilities of each remaining operation in the joint venture.
In addition, the chief government counsel maintained that the poll body did not commit grave abuse of discretion when it deemed the documents furnished to R2kRN on November 11, 2024 as sufficient compliance with its FOI request.
R2KRN has maintained that the documents provided by the Comelec in its November 11 letter were incomplete due to lack of information necessary for independent verification of legal compliance with the 60-40 ownership rule, risk assessment, status of the performance bond and other records or documents used by Comelec as basis for its decision.
But, the SolGen pointed out that based on its reading of the joint venture agreement, it appears that the foreign equity of Miru-JV is limited to Miru’s 40 percent share in asset contributions and profit distribution.
“Hence, petitioner R2KRN’s contention that it was deprived of the ability to independently verify whether private respondent Miru-JV continues to meet the nationality, financial, technical and legal requirements under the law, is bereft of any factual or legal basis,” Guevarra stressed.
On the other hand, Guevarra noted that the information pertaining to the performance security is posted on Comelec’s website. With regard to petitioners’ request for other records or documents used by Comelec as basis for its decision, the solicitor general noted that under Comelec’s FOI Manual such request should “reasonably” describe the information being sought.
“Based on the foregoing provisions, petitioners R2KRN does not have unbridled right to request for access to information without specifying which information it seeks to be furnished with, or, in this case, which official act or decision it seeks to have access to,” Guevarra said.
“Hence, public respondent Comelec could not have granted this portion of petitioner R2KRN’s request as the same is not compliant with Sections 20 and 21 of public respondent Comelec’s FOI Manual,” he added.
proposed [Minimum Wage Law]. But workers and labor leaders must continue to bargain for higher wages,” Canlas said.
After an eight-month deadlock in the House of Representatives’ Committee on Labor and Employment, the bill mandating a P200 wage increase for all private sector workers nationwide was passed pn second reading in February.
The current national average daily wage stands at P469, with rates ranging from P645 in Metro Manila to as low as P361 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
‘Caught in crossfire’ THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has called for immediate government action, urging the creation of a “Tripartite Tariff Task Force” to develop a national response plan.
TUCP Rep. Raymond C. Mendoza said this body, comprising labor, business, and government representatives, should devise a national strategy to shield workers and industries from the tariff fallout.
“If we don’t form this Tripartite Tariff Taskforce now and promote pro-labor rights pivot in our negotiations in America, Filipino workers will be caught once again in the
crossfire and become a casualty of the global trade war of economic giants,” Mendoza said in a statement.
The party-list representative also advised the Marcos administration not to play down the tariffs’ effects, saying it’s the workers who will be “the first and the worst affected.”
For Federation of Free Workers President Sonny G. Matula, the escalating trade war is a reminder of the country’s long-standing vulnerabilities.
“We must modernize Philippine agriculture, complete agrarian reform, and support our SMEs...A national wage hike isn’t just timely—it’s necessary for resilience in a global economy that’s becoming more protectionist,” Matula said.
A recent Milieu Insight survey found that 91 percent of Southeast Asians believe tariffs will push up prices.
In the Philippines, 61 percent said they don’t trust the government to manage the fallout, while 51 percent expect businesses to pass the burden to consumers.
On April 10 (PH time), US President Donald Trump rolled out reciprocal tariffs of at least 10 percent on nearly all its trading partners—including the Philippines.
These will take effect after a 90-day grace period.
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) released on Monday night the preliminary Green Energy Auction Reserve (GEAR) price for the fourth round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA4), allowing for a way to more capacity for power-hungry Philippines.
GEA4 involves 9,378 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (RE) capacity from ground-mounted solar, roof-mounted solar, floating solar, and onshore wind projects. The auction will also introduce the Integrated Renewable Energy and Energy Storage System (IRESS), with 1,100MW of solar projects paired with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
These technologies must be delivered between 2026 and 2029.
The draft proposed preliminary GEAR prices for GEA4 are P4.7679 per kilowatt hour (kWh) for rooftop solar, P4.1480 per kWh for ground-mounted solar, P5.9515 per kWh for floating solar, P6.5134 per kWh for onshore wind, and P5.2835 per kWh for solar-BESS combination.
The ERC urged interested bidders to submit their comments not later than April 25. Public consultations will be held on April 24 and 25.
When sought for comment, the chairperson of the Philippine Solar and Storage Industry Alliance and president of SunAsia Energy said her group would need more time to assess the proposed GEAR prices.
“Our technical working groups are still studying the proposed prices. Initially however, we noticed that there are significant deviations in the methodology adopted by the commission viz GEAP 1 and 2.
The private sector simply seeks consistency in the
and
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Meralco vows modernizing after govt renews franchise
By Lenie Lectura @llectura & Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla Reporters
THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will be able to operate for another 25 years after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the new law for the renewal of the franchise of the electric power distribution firm.
“Signed by the President, not lapsed into law. MRO (Malacañang Records Office) shall release after the RA (Republic Act) number has been affixed,” Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin said in a message to Palace reporters last Tuesday. The House of Representatives submitted House Bill (HB) 10926, which contains the franchise renewal of Meralco, to the Office of the President last month.
CLI income grew 8% on higher sales
CEBU Landmasters Inc., a regional property developer, said its net income last year rose 8 percent to 3.01 billion from the previous year’s P2.79 billion, on higher sales.
Consolidated revenue reached P19.52 billion, up by 4 percent from the previous year’s P18.81 billion, fueled by strong market demand in the Visayas and Mindanao.
“CLI continues to invest in projects that deliver quality and value for money, meeting the changing needs of our markets,” CLI chairman and CEO Jose R. Soberano III.
“Our foundation remains strong and we’re well-positioned for continued growth. Our proven track record, strategic pipeline, and deep roots in VisMin power our momentum as we expand across the country,” he said. Ongoing and new projects remained in high demand throughout the year, reaching a strong 92 percent sell-out rate largely driven by CLI’s mid-market and economic brands. Casa Mira, at 33 percent and the Garden Series at 54 percent, and together accounted for 87 percent of total residential sales.
CLI entered 2025 with optimism, backed by project pipeline and consistent market demand in its key regions. The launch of One Manresa Place in Cagayan de Oro, which generated P4 billion in sales within just two days, signals continued appetite for CLI’s offerings.
“Encouraged by our 2024 turnout, CLI is set to roll out 10 to 12 new projects this year worth P36 Billion worth of sales value, having a mix of ongoing developments and new ventures in emerging markets and locations. These launches aim to build on CLI’s regional momentum and capture opportunities in underserved markets. 2025 is a critical stage as we move into bigger-scale residential and township developments, and ramp up our recurring income projects,” Soberano said. The company said it is launching P36.4 billion worth of projects this year, almost twice more than last year’s P13.67 billion, as it aims to surpass its record revenues generated in 2024.
CLI President and COO Jose Franco Soberano said in a briefing that they are increasing capital expenditures slightly, by 7 percent to P13.83 billion this year from P12.89 billion in 2023. VG Cabuag
Bersamin said Marcos finally signed the franchise renewal of Meralco on April 11.
In a statement, Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said Meralco will pursue modernization initiatives to ensure its services will be resilient from “climate-related” disruptions as well as achieve “energy independence.”
He lauded the passage of the new law, which will allow them, he said, to continue providing service to the consumers and push through with their target long-term investments.
“This development fortifies our commitment to deliver stable, reliable and affordable electricity to millions of Filipinos across our franchise areas,” Pangilinan was quoted in the statement as saying.
“The renewal reflects a shared effort to ensure that Meralco continues to meet the evolving needs of consumers through innovation, operational excellence and dependable service,” he added.
Pangilinan expressed gratitude to Marcos and the Congress for the passage of the law for the franchise renewal.
The new law renewed the franchise of Meralco, which was supposed to expire in 2028, allowing it to continue distributing power in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon and Pampanga until 2053.
Meralco’s customer base stood at 8.04 million at end-2024, 3-percent higher than the 7.83 million customers recorded in 2023. Its services cover 39 cities and 72 municipalities.
Mariveles Power to borrow ₧50B
SAN Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. will guarantee the P50-billion loan to be taken out by its subsidiary by Mariveles Power Generation Corp. (MPGC).
In a filing, the power arm of conglomerate SMC said Tuesday that it will “sponsor” and will act as “shares security grantor” in relation to the loan and security agreement executed by MPGC, which owns 4 x 150 megawatt (MW) Circulating Fluidized Bed coal-fired power plant located in Mariveles, Bataan.
The lenders are Asia United Bank Corp., Bank of Commerce, China Banking Corp., Development Bank
of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, and other financial institutions.
San Miguel Global Power is also increasing its authorized capital stock (ACS) to P7.8 billion from P3.77 billion. These were approved by the stockholders’ during a special meeting. Also approved are the amendment of the Seventh Article of the Amended Articles of the Corp. (AOl) to reflect the ACS increase; and the ratification of the subscription by SMC to 1,011,093,800 shares of stock of San Miguel Global Power with par value of P1.00 per share at the sub -
scription price of P30 per share or for a total subscription amount of P30,332,814,000.00 out of the ACS Increase. These are all subject to the approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission, it added.
In 2024, San Miguel Global Power captured a share of 22.44 percent of the power generation sector in the national grid. According to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the power firm had the highest installed generating capacity nationwide at 6,079.6 MW. Of which, 5,519MW was installed in in Luzon; 180.67 MW in Visayas; and 379.89 MW in Mindanao. Lenie Lectura
CebPac carried more passengers as travel demand remained firm
ABCEN Australia Pty Ltd has secured A$750 million in debt financing from financial institutions to help bankroll its renewable energy (RE) projects in Australia.
The amount will help finance its solar, wind and energy storage system projects in Australia. Among these are ACEN Australia’s 520 megawatt direct current (MWdc) Stubbo Solar project in New South Wales (NSW), which is nearing completion; the 521MWdc New England Solar project which will be expanded; the 400megawatt hour (MWh) battery energy storage system; and the 936MW Valley of the Winds project.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange, ACEN said the financing was supported by leading Australian and international lenders. Among these are ANZ Banking Group, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, CTBC Bank Co. Ltd, Singapore Branch, CTBC Bank (Philippines) Corp., Cathay United Bank, Deutsche Bank AG, Sydney Branch, DBS Bank Ltd, Australia Branch, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. Ltd, (HSBC) Sydney Branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., Sydney Branch, UOB, and Westpac Banking Corp.
ACEN Australia managing director David Pollington said the financing establishes a robust funding base for the company’s diverse renewable energy portfolio of wind, solar,
pumped hydro and battery storage projects, including more than 1,000 MW of renewable capacity in operation and under construction across the National Electricity Market.
“Our ability to attract top-tier financial partners reinforces our position as a trusted, long-term developer, owner and operator of assets, and reflects growing investor appetite for high-quality, renewable infrastructure in Australia,” Pollington said. ACEN Australia chief financial and investments officer Phillip Mak said the transaction demonstrates the company’s ability to independently access and structure competitive capital solutions as a key portfolio business of its listed parent, ACEN Corp.. Macquarie Capital and Morgan Stanley were joint financial advisors to the transaction.
ACEN, the Ayala group’s listed energy platform, is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy platforms in Asia Pacific, with the Philippines as its core and largest market, accounting for 35 percent of its capacity.
It also has a significant presence in Australia, Vietnam, India, and Lao PDR, along with strategic investments in Indonesia and other markets. The company currently has about seven gigawatts of attributable renewable energy capacity spanning projects in operation, under construction and with signed agreements.
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
UDGET carrier Cebu Pacific said on Tuesday it carried 2.2 million
percent from 81.6 percent year-on-year. Domestically, Cebu Pacific flew 1.66 million passengers—20.2 per-
cent higher than in March 2024. This came alongside a 17.9 percent increase in available seats and a load factor of 84.1 percent.
On international routes, passenger volume rose by 15.2 percent, though SLF slipped to 74.3 percent due to a 22.9 percent expansion in capacity.
For the first quarter of 2025, Cebu Pacific flew 7 million passengers, 26.3 percent higher than the 5.5 million recorded the year prior. Its average load factor for the quarter stood at 84.9 percent, while capacity rose by 24.8 percent to 8.2 million seats.
“Despite the shift of Easter from March of last year into April of this
year, the traffic growth and seat load factors remained robust for both domestic and international networks.
For the first quarter, overall, we have registered increases in load factor while growing capacity at circa 25 percent. This reinforces our positive outlook for the second quarter this year,” Cebu Pacific President Xander Lao said.
Cebu Pacific operates 99 aircraft, touted as one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the region, and currently flies to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations.
The Gokongwei-led low-cost carrier has flown more than 250 million passengers since its inception.
BUSINESSMIRROR
Reduce cost properly
George S. Chua
FINEX FREE ENTERPRISE
ANY sane person, particularly businessmen and managers, would want to reduce costs in the hope of improving their bottom line. Essentially, there are three ways or approaches to reduce costs, namely through reduction, substitution and efficiency, but there is really only one way to reduce cost properly without having to face the negative consequences of your actions.
Cutting down cost through a reduction of service or product always have an adverse effect. Anyone who has queued up on the tollway, bank teller, supermarket check-out counter, government office, waiting on the phone for customer service or anything with a long line, will soon realize that there is a lack of people to service the needs of their customers. The same thing also happens even if you are not in line, such as sitting at your table in a restaurant waiting for someone to take your order or bring your food and drinks. Typically, you would see closed booths or tellers in spite of the long queue, indicating that the facility did not provide for enough personnel. In some cases, there would not be enough workstations to accommodate customers, which indicate a shortfall in the available facilities.
Sometimes, this is also manifested in run down or improperly maintained facilities, where the owners or managers do not spend for the proper upkeep and maintenance for their operations. This type of cost reduction results in unfavorable customer satisfaction which would result in a backlash of looking for another hotel with newer rooms, restaurant with better service or a different bank with shorter lines. You might think that the people in line have no choice but to swallow that, but even in government offices, those people can protest or vote them out of office.
Substitution of an ingredient, spare parts, or the use of generics are typically done because of lower costs or lack of availability of what was needed. This can also happen in service situations where your regular barber or caddie is not available and you have to make do with whoever is. Chances are you will not be happy. Typically, a cheaper substitute will not be better that the more expensive original, resulting in a shorter life span, lower quality and perhaps a catastrophic failure leading to horrific accidents such as a car crash.
A cheaper substitute may actually cost you more in the long term. The replacement part may cost 20 percent less but if it only lasts 50 percent of the original, it actually costs more. There are other considerations that needs to be taken into account with an inferior substitute such as safety, installation costs and effect on other systems. A substitute part that causes a short circuit could affect the whole system leading to extensive damage and higher costs.
The only true way to reduce cost is through efficiency, doing something more and better at less cost. There are many examples of this such as the use of LED lights where you have less power consumption while producing a brighter white light with practically no heat! Inverter air conditioners are another example of an effective way to reduce cost. You can easily reduce your electric bill by half, while having a quieter air-conditioner that is more reliable and cooler! Similarly, there are fuel conditioners that will work on gasoline, diesel, bunker and even coal to improve combustion, reduce fuel consumption, increase power, reduce emissions and allow for a longer maintenance cycle. These fuel enhancers will typically reduce your fuel cost by 10 percent to 20 percent or even more, while increasing your power output and reducing emissions. Finding ways to reduce cost is always important in an increasingly competitive world, but it has to be done properly.
The views and comments of Dr. George S. Chua are his own and not of the newspaper or the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines. The author was 2016 Finex president and life member, 2010 to 2020 Federation of Philippine Industries president, an active entrepreneur in fintech, broadcast, media, telecommunications and properties sector. Dr. Chua is also a Professorial Lecturer 2 at the University of the Philippines Diliman and BGC Campus. He is also the vice chairman of the Market Governance Board of the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corp. Comments may be sent to georgechuaph@yahoo.com or gschua@up.edu.ph.
Banking&Finance
BIR Q1 take up on VAT compliance
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE Bureau of
Internal
Revenue
(BIR) pinned its higher firstquarter collection to the compliance of big companies with the value added tax (VAT) ecosystem.
an increase in the people coordinating because of the ‘ghost’ receipts,” Lumagui said.
Despite the shortfall in revenue collections for the quarter, Lumagui said he is “sure” that the BIR will overshoot its target as the current data is still preliminary and is still being reconciled.
collections reached P647.477 billion out of the P641.315 billion goal. This is also higher by 13.22 percent than the P571.872 billion raised a year ago.
file their taxes on the last day of tax filing. Lumagui said only 9 percent are anticipated to comply, as 91 percent had already filed as of Saturday.
Collections from BIR operations are composed of income taxes, VAT, excise taxes, percentage taxes and other taxes from transactions not classified as “Non-BIR Operations.”
Last day of tax filing
Lumagui said the increase in collections during the first quarter is largely attributed to VAT payments after the BIR’s crackdown on fake receipts used by big corporations to lower their tax obligations.
“Now, the [VAT] collection is really high. Even last year, the collection was really high. But now, there’s also
On the sidelines of the last day of tax filing in Revenue Region 6 in Intramuros, Manila, Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. told reporters that the preliminary collections of the BIR from January to March amounted to P668.790 billion. The figure is 12.78 percent higher than the P593.001 billion raised during the same period last year, but still fell short of the total P671.994 billion goal.
The gap, based on preliminary data, was due to the lower collections from non-BIR operations. This amounted to P21.312 billion, 30.53 percent lower than the P30.678 billion target for the three-month period.
Collections from non-BIR operations include final withholding tax (under income taxes) and documentary stamp tax collections from transactions on government securities.
Meanwhile, revenues from BIR operations exceeded the target, as
Maya Bank cited by US, UK publications
MAYA Bank Inc. announced last Tuesday it has been recognized as the country’s “best overall bank” and “top digital bank” by two foreign publishers.
The bank stood out among the field of all Philippine traditional and digital banks, ranking highest in the Philippines, according to a survey conducted by Forbes Media LLC, publisher of Forbes magazine. This marks the digital bank’s first time at the top of the local list and its third consecutive appearance on the publication’s global roster.
Forbes, in partnership with research firm Statista, surveyed more than 50,000 consumers across 34 countries to assess banks based on customer satisfaction and five weighted dimensions: trustworthiness, terms and conditions, customer service, digital services and quality of financial advice.
GoTyme Bank, another digital lender, of the Gokongwei group follows second, and Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co. was third.
Meanwhile, The Banker, a publication of the Financial Times (Nikkei Inc.), named Maya Bank the top-ranked digital bank in the Philippines in its inaugural Neobank Rankings, a global bench-
marking of licensed digital banks based on asset strength, capital efficiency and growth. This recognition places Maya Bank alongside the world’s top 100 digital-first banks, reflecting its robust financial performance and growing relevance in a highly competitive sector.
“These global recognitions reflect our relentless focus on creating a digital banking experience that is simple, inclusive, and deeply trusted by our customers,” Shailesh Baidwan, Maya Group president and co-founder of Maya Bank, said.
“Our goal at Maya Bank has always been to make everyday banking more accessible and meaningful for more Filipinos. These recognitions remind us that designing for inclusion— whether it’s easier credit, better savings, or seamless digital access—can create real impact at scale,” Simeon Angelo S. Madrid, president Maya Bank, said.
“We are proud to represent the Philippines in the global banking and fintech stage, and we remain committed to building an equitable future for all Filipinos where financial empowerment is truly universal,” Orlando B. Vea, Maya founder and CEO and Maya Bank co-founder, said. VG Cabuag
‘Law’s gains outweigh taxation’
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SENATOR Sherwin T. Gatchalian expressed confidence the economic benefits of a tax incentives law will far outweigh any potential downside risks to the government’s revenue collection efforts.
Gatchalian, principal author and sponsor of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy, or “Create More,” law issued his statement after doubts were raised on the law’s effectiveness.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had earlier expressed concerns about the potential impact of the Create More law, Republic Act (RA) 12066, on tax collection.
“Create More gives us a competitive advantage in attracting foreign direct investments,” Gatchalian said. “The economic benefits that we will
NASDAQ-listed Bitcoin mining firm Bitdeer Technologies Group is doubling down on its self-mining operations while pushing ahead with plans to make machines in the US, as it confronts a cooling crypto market and mounting uncertainty over US trade policy.
With demand for Bitcoin mining rigs faltering, Singapore-headquartered based Bitdeer will focus on using its rigs to mine Bitcoin for itself—rather than selling them to other miners, according to Jeff LaBerge, head of capital markets and strategic initiatives at the company.
It’s a sign that crypto mining firms may face a lean period. Bitcoin’s hashprice—a key measure of mining profitability—has slumped to near all-time lows, after last year’s quadrennial “halving” slashed the rewards earned by operators. At the same time, US President Donald Trump’s tariff program has disrupted the supply chain for mining rigs, which for the most part are assembled in China and Southeast Asia.
“Our plan going forward is to prioritize our own self-mining,” said LaBerge.
Founded in 2020 by crypto mogul Jihan Wu, Bitdeer is among the top Bitcoin miners by compute power globally and runs one of the largest facilities
generate from such investments will not only lead to job creation, but also increased export competitiveness and overall economic development, which would then lead to increased revenue collection for the government.” RA 12066 was enacted into law in November last year and provides a more targeted set of incentives to attract more foreign direct investments into the country.
Sa pagkakaroon ng mas maraming pamumuhunan sa bansa, inaasahan ang pagdami ng trabaho na kalaunan ay magpapataas sa koleksyon ng buwis,” Gatchalian said.
With the implementation of the Create More law, the government is hoping to bring back the country’s foreign direct investments to its level prior to the pandemic, he added. Foreign direct investments into the country inched up by 0.1 percent to reach $8.93 billion in 2024.
in Texas. Miners use specialized computers to solve mathematical puzzles for a chance to verify transactions and earn rewards in Bitcoin.
Bitdeer plans to take advantage of the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by Trump on April 10 to ship rigs from Southeast Asia to the US, LaBerge added. But some customers have postponed deliveries of pre-ordered machines, and in those cases the firm has redirected machines to its own sites outside of the US—specifically in Bhutan and Norway.
Bitdeer is also preparing to kick off US-based manufacturing in the second half of this year, part of a long-planned effort to localize production while curbing supply chain risk. Beijing-based Bitmain Technologies Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer of mining equipment, announced the launch of a US production line last year, without disclosing details of the facility. Bitdeer’s Wu is a co-founder of Bitmain. “This is something we’ve been planning for a long time,” LaBerge said of the US expansion. “We want to bring jobs and manufacturing back to America.”
While the specialized chips used to make mining rigs—sourced from Taiwan’s TSMC—are currently exempt from Trump’s tariffs, Bitdeer is bracing for rising costs. Bloomberg News
High
MEANWHILE, Lumagui remains confident that the BIR’s P207.630billion target of taxes on net income and profits in April will be achieved based on the turnout of the tax filing season.
“Some people say, based on their feedback, [that it is] faster and easier [to file and pay taxes],” said the BIR chief citing anecdotal evidence.
Around 1.4 million individuals and corporations are expected to
“Almost all filed online,” he said adding that only micro-scale and small-sized businesses— those allowed to use a new, simplified form under the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) Act—may file manually.
“We were able to make a successful tax campaign for this year. There was a Tax Awareness Month last February and we were able to coordinate with the taxpayers. We became aggressive in reminding [the public],” Lumagui said. The BIR chief was firm that there would be no extensions for the filing and payment of taxes, with penalties of 12-percent interest and a 25-percent surcharge imposed on these tardy filers and payors.
investor demand for 10-yr treasuries raises ₧135B for PHL
THE Republic of the Philippines generated P135 billion in its issuance of 10-year Fixed-Rate Treasury Notes (FXTNs) on Tuesday as demand reached more than six times of what was offered.
On the first day of the 10-day offering of the FXTNs, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) was met with overwhelming demand as initial tenders reached P197.305 billion, or 6.5 times oversubscribed the P30 billion offer.
This enabled the Treasury to award P135 billion to investors and reject P62.305 billion of their bids.
Yield of the FXTNs averaged at 6.286 percent, as rates went for as low as 6 percent to 6.4 percent. The average yield is 1.5 basis points higher than the benchmark 5-year Philippine Bloomberg Valuation (PHP BVAL) rate of 6.271 percent.
The interest rate is also 7.9 basis points higher than the 6.207 percent rate set during the previous auction of the 10year tenor Treasury bond on March 18, 2025.
The FXTNs had a coupon rate of 6.375 percent and will mature on April 28, 2035.
According to Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), the average auction yield— the highest in two and a half months—increased due to global uncertainties, pushing investors to demand more favorable returns.
Ricafort said the higher US tariffs, as well as its trade war with China, are driving volatility in global bond markets, with the US 10-year Treasury yield hitting 4.36 percent.
The Treasury aims to generate at least P30 billion from the issuance of benchmark 10-year FXTNs. Government securities eligible dealers (GSEDs) can purchase the notes at a minimum of P10 million and in increments of P10 million thereafter.
“The 10-year FTXN offering is intended to raise additional funding to support the implementation of the government’s budget priorities, including projects and programs related to agriculture, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development,” the Treasury said.
The investing public can join the auction until April 24, unless terminated earlier at the discretion of the Treasury.
Data from the Treasury showed the outstanding 10-year T-bonds issued by the national government reached P2.268 trillion. The securities are set to mature from 2027 until 2034.
This year, the Treasury is tasked to raise P2.037 trillion in gross domestic borrowings and $3.5 billion in global bond floatation.
So far, the Treasury generated $3.3 billion in dual-currency and triple-tranche issuance of US dollars and Euro-denominated global bonds last February, while gross domestic borrowings reached P140.8 billion.
The government is set to borrow a total of P2.545 trillion this year, following an 80:20 borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources.
It has borrowed a total of P552.692 billion as of the end of February, while the government’s outstanding debt reached a new high of P16.632 trillion.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
NEW LOVE
IT’S been a while since the actress and her husband went their separate ways. The latter is openly dating someone while the wife seems to be focusing on her career more than her lovelife. Recently, the actress was spotted at an event and this seems to confirm the rumor that she is dating a guy who’s had a crush on her for a while now. The guy is very low-key and seems to be the opposite of the actress’ ex. This is the first time that the actress is dating someone almost her age as her ex-husband is way older than her. Her ex-husband is said to have groomed her and their marriage seemed okay in the beginning until the actress “grew up” and realized she was not happy.
FLIRTY BOYFRIEND
IT’S said that the young actress and her boyfriend, who is also a celebrity, have separated after just a year of being together. The guy allegedly flirted with another woman and the actress caught him. Nothing is confirmed, of course, and everything is just speculation. Apparently, the boyfriend is known to be a player. The actress, meanwhile, is someone who loves deeply. If this is true, she must be very heartbroken. She also caught her former boyfriend flirting with other women on Instagram DMs and this was the reason why she ended the relationship. Her current has the same modus except that he does it in person. A passionate and loyal girl like the actress deserves someone who will match her energy.
STARMAKER NO MORE
HE is known as a starmaker but for years, he has not discovered a new star. A network hired him for a huge amount of money but he somehow failed to deliver. It’s said that the starmaker is leaving that network very soon to transfer to another because of a huge offer, or is it because his contract will not be renewed. During the time that he was with his current network, the starmaker tried his best to work with the people there and while they were cooperative, he found their ways too bureaucratic. The starmaker is used to being given a free hand with his decisions. Now, he has to seek approval for his every move. Hopefully, he will be happier and more fulfilled once he makes this big career move.
CAREER MOVE
NETIZENS are laughing at an actress who abandoned her career roots to explore certain possibilities. The actress has had steady work but she has yet to achieve success. These netizens don’t know that the actress needs the money to help her family out. So while they are mocking her, she continues to grow as an artist and a performer. Right now, she is trying to be an influencer in the world of beauty and fashion. It’s understandable that the actress wants to make it big. She has the looks and the potential to make it big.
Show BusinessMirror
‘A Minecra�t Movie’ stomps to $80.6 million in second weekend
NEW YORK—After just two weeks in theaters, A Minecraft Movie is already the highest grossing Hollywood release of 2025.
The Warner Bros. videogame adaptation followed up its blockbuster opening with a second weekend of $80.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Worldwide, it’s quickly surpassed $550 million.
After doubling expectations in its $300 million global debut, A Minecraft Movie continued to draw audiences unlike anything else this year. The film, directed by Jared Hess and starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, slid 50 percent in its second go-around in US and Canadian theaters—an impressive hold after such a big debut.
Though critics slammed the movie (46 percent
“fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience scores were merely good (a “B+” CinemaScore), A Minecraft Movie latched on with moviegoers who have increasingly turned out in droves for big-budget videogame adaptations.
A Minecraft Movie, a $150 million co-production of Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, has helped—at least for now—reinvigorate theaters after a dismal start to the year. Overall ticket sales were double that of the same weekend in 2024, according to Comscore. Before A Minecraft, box office revenues trailed last year’s by 11 percent, but have now virtually pulled even. (2025 grosses still trail 2019’s by 31 percent, according to Comscore.)
None of the weekend’s new releases—Angel Studios’ The King of Kings, the Walt Disney Co.’s The Amateur, Universal Pictures’ Drop or A24’s Warfare came close to challenging Minecraft, but several films outperformed expectations.
The King of Kings, an animated tale of Jesus’ life aimed at Christian audiences, came in second with $19.1 million in 3,200 theaters. The film, loosely based on a children’s book by Charles Dickens, includes a starry voice cast led by Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman.
With an enviable “A+” CinemaScore from audiences, The King of Kings is posed to capitalize in the
SEE “MINECRAFT,” B5
Shangri-La Plaza brings double kid-ventures in Easter celebrations
PREMIUM retail hub Shangri-La Plaza presents kids with a pixel-powered Easter scavenger hunt and a bustling kid marketplace this April.
Tradition meets tech on April 20, Easter Sunday, as the Shang celebrates the beloved Easter egg hunt with a colorful, larger-than-life Minecraft-themed event. In “Pixel Lab: Eggsploration and Innovation at the Shang,” young hunters will get to visit the mall’s various merchants for egg stickers, picking up bonus pixelated gems from select booth stations along the way. Exciting prizes from participating stores await kids who complete their sticker map.
To join, register children between 2 and 12 years old through eventsatshangri-laplaza.helixtickets.asia and choose between two schedules: 1 pm to 4 pm, or 4 pm to 7 pm.
Receive a Lab Entry QR Code as a confirmation of registration and have it scanned during check-in at the East Atrium on April 20. Each participant gets a Mission Map detailing merchant locations and XP booth stations, as well as an Adventurer’s ID, which covers one child and one adult. Once
complete, turn over the Mission Map at the East Atrium to redeem a mystery prize chest. Children’s drawings also come to life at the East Atrium’s Pixel Lab, transforming them into animated elements in a digital world. They can also try their hand at virtual axe-throwing with a digital target challenge.
On April 26 and 27, business-minded boys and girls can tap into their entrepreneurial chops in “Growth Hub by Kiddopreneur,” a weekend marketplace run by kids aged 5-17 years old. Head over to the Grand Atrium from 10 am to 5 pm to catch the selling event that allows kids to design their booth the way they want and promote their original products to real-life customers. Prizes will be given to those with the Best Booth Design, Best Service, Best Concept, and Best Ad.
Beyond the booths, the weekend fair also features engaging interviews with the budding entrepreneurs, lively special performances, and an insightful talk on business fundamentals.
More information can be found at www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficial.
Eugenia Last
set ground rules that ensure equality. ★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Heart-to-heart talks will help you avoid a meltdown with someone. Use your way with words to soften the blow, but be sure to get your point across. Incentives, a positive attitude and suggestions regarding what you can contribute to make your relationship purposeful will help. ★★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Tone down your rhetoric and avoid a dispute. Live within your means, regardless of temptation. Set feasible goals and focus on personal growth, health and fitness. Look inward, and you’ll discover how great you are and what you can do to achieve peace of mind and appease your soul. ★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Stick to basics, the truth and a budget you can afford. You will set yourself back if you take on too much or try to impress others with exaggerated information. Avoid lavish events, unnecessary purchases, travel and impossible promises. Get your home and finances in order. ★★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Cultivate meaningful relationships. Don’t ignore the signs and signals you receive. An astute recollection of what transpires and finding solutions that satisfy everyone will put you in the driver’s seat. Being the go-to person moving forward will give you the courage and clout to develop and incorporate positive enterprises. ★★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Smile and move forward positively. What you achieve will send you to bigger and better opportunities. Don’t be shy; express your desires and promote and market who you are and the talent and experience you can offer. ★★★★
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Educate yourself and confidently move forward. What you know and how you present your wisdom will help manifest optimal changes. Don’t limit yourself by setting boundaries. Explore places that offer opportunities to develop your skills and pay for the lifestyle of your choice. ★★
BIRTHDAY BABY:
JACK BLACK (from left), Jason Momoa and Sebastian Hansen in A Minecraft Movie.
Image BusinessMirror
The algorithm of infamy: Part 2
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PATHWAY TO INFAMY REVEALS ITS INSIDIOUS TRUTH: THE VULNERABLE PAY THE PRICE. HOW DO WE
By Pauline Joy M. Gutierrez
IN 2015, Belle Gibson, the Australian founder of the wellness app The Whole Pantry, claimed she had cured her brain cancer through diet and alternative therapies. Her story—a beautiful young woman defying terminal illness through sheer willpower—launched her to fame. She landed book deals, awards, and a devoted following. Then came the investigations: Gibson had never been diagnosed with cancer. Similarly, Ruby Franke, a YouTube parenting influencer with 2.3 million subscribers at the time, built an empire documenting her family’s life on her YouTube channel 8 Passengers. Her brand?
Strict discipline, “tough love,” and picture-perfect domesticity. But in 2023, Franke was arrested for aggravated child abuse after her malnourished 12-year-old son escaped her home with duct-tape wounds.
If Anna Delvey and Simon Leviev represent the archetype of the charismatic scammer—polished, affluent, and audacious—then Gibson and Franke illustrate another pathway to infamy: exploiting and endangering the vulnerable.
Gibson and Franke operated in different spheres— wellness and family vlogging—but their methods mirrored each other. Both identified an audience hungry for certainty and offered a fantasy of control.
Gibson’s con was particularly insidious because it capitalized on hope itself. Wellness culture, already prone to pseudoscience, leaves real victims behind: patients who abandoned conventional treatments in favor of her unproven remedies, often with devastating consequences.
Franke’s case was more grotesque. Her YouTube channel thrived on performative discipline, framing emotional and physical abuse as “strong parenting.” For years, followers either dismissed or rationalized the warning signs—until formal police reports rendered denial untenable.
Their playbook operates on three simple rules: target the vulnerable, sell the unattainable, and monetize the delusion. By the time the harm is visible, it’s already irreversible. They, however, have already cashed the check.
PLATFORMS’ PROFITABLE COMPLICITY
WHILE influencers and internet personalities often bear the brunt of public scrutiny, platforms that accord these individuals commercial profit and fame are rarely held to the same standard. Many benefit financially from sensational content through ad revenue yet avoid direct accountability due to “complex and opaque” moderation systems.
Following Ruby Franke’s arrest, YouTube demonetized 8 Passengers, but her channel’s archived videos continued to remain accessible and draw views. Similarly, Instagram only took down Belle Gibson’s account after sustained legal pressure, despite years of user complaints.
THE FICTIONALIZATION OF HARM
ADDING a layer of distance—and danger—is the fictionalization of real-life harm. Stories like Gibson’s and Franke’s are now rehashed in docuseries, true-crime podcasts, and Reddit or TikTok deepdives, where they become serialized content. The real victims are sidelined as the perpetrators are repackaged as “protagonists” in narratives designed
AUTOMATION is everywhere these days. Whether it is self-checkout machines at fast food restaurants, chatbots handling customer service, or smart algorithms sorting through job applications, businesses increasingly rely on machines to handle tasks once done by people. But as we rush toward efficiency and speed, it is important to ask what we are losing in the process. The truth is, automation comes with some serious disadvantages that are too often ignored.
One of the most immediate and obvious drawbacks is job displacement. As businesses automate more processes, many workers will find themselves out of work, especially in industries like manufacturing,
DETOX?
Whitney Phillips, assistant professor of digital platforms and ethics at the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, finds the commodification of true crime troubling, as it “reduces victims’ lives and tragedies to marketable content.” She explains, “This branding of real violence dehumanizes victims by turning them into merchandise and memes.”
CAN REGULATION KEEP UP?
FROM regulation to reeducation, the fight to detox the attention economy has begun, but the odds are stacked.
In 2023, the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) introduced stricter transparency rules for algorithms, requiring platforms like TikTok and Meta to disclose how content is amplified. Similarly, California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act mandates protections for minors’ data.
However, enforcement remains inconsistent across regions, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that the companies managing these platforms participate in policy development through advisory roles and technical working groups.
In an op-ed for Le Monde, ethics professor Peter Kirchschläger cautions EU institutions against relying on large tech companies to shape the rules governing digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
retail, transportation, and even sectors like accounting and data entry. For example, think about a car factory that once employed hundreds of workers to assemble vehicles. With automation, many of those roles are now handled by robotic arms working around the clock. While production might be faster and more cost-effective, the community surrounding that factory might now be facing unemployment and economic instability. Beyond the job market, automation can seriously harm customer experience. We have all experienced calling customer service and instead of speaking to a real person, you are stuck talking to a chatbot. It asks so many questions and offers no real solution which can be really frustrating. The risk of automation is that customers end up feeling like they are being handled by a machine and not being valued as customers. Personalization, empathy, and genuine human interaction are often stripped away, leaving customers annoyed and less likely to return.
ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, compared smartphones to slot machines, emphasizing how notifications, alerts, and social media feeds are engineered to trigger dopamine responses, encouraging users to keep coming back for more. He points out that this design, by tapping into human psychology, can encourage behaviors that prioritize engagement over users’ well-being. Harris suggests that platforms could redefine success by focusing on value rather than engagement. For instance, Instagram could prioritize content accuracy over engagement metrics, or YouTube could emphasize time spent learning instead of sheer viewing time.
These concepts are not purely theoretical; similar changes have been tested. In 2021, Twitter (now X) experimented with “read before retweet” prompts and added community notes, and Pinterest began downranking anti-vax content in 2019 to avoid spreading scientifically disproven claims that vaccines aren’t safe.
USER ACCOUNTABILITY: THE MYTH OF DIGITAL WILLPOWER WHILE well-intentioned, the common refrain “Just log off!” overlooks the powerful psychological mechanisms at play. Research shows that infinite scroll interfaces are carefully designed to trigger
I recently experienced this myself when I lined up to order a meal at a fastfood restaurant. When it was finally my turn, the cashier pointed me to the selforder kiosk instead of taking my order. So I used the kiosk as instructed, placed my order, and then lined up again to pay. When I got to the counter, the cashier reviewed my order and informed me they had run out of drinks. I told her it was fine and I would take the meal without drinks but she insisted the system had to reflect that no drinks were provided, and asked me to cancel the order and re-do the whole process. I was disturbed. If she had just taken my order the first time, the situation could have been handled in seconds. Instead, I was left repeating a process that should have been simple. That moment, and others like it, really made me question whether automation actually improves the customer experience or just adds another layer of frustration. Then there is the issue of complexity and reliability. Automated systems are not perfect which means they can crash, malfunction, or be hacked. A single glitch can result in delays, errors in orders, or even total shutdowns. For example, an online retailer might use automated picking and packing systems to fulfill orders. If that system goes down for even a few hours, thousands of customers might experience delays, and the company’s reputation takes a hit. And let us not forget the ongoing costs of maintaining and updating these systems, training staff, and dealing with inevitable growing pains.
our brain’s reward systems, creating dopaminedriven feedback loops remarkably similar to those in gambling environments.
Still, users aren’t powerless. The rise of alternative or alt-platforms like Mastodon and Substack suggests audiences are increasingly valuing quality over quantity. Creator-led pushes for “ethical virality”— like YouTuber Hank Green’s refusal to use clickbait— show that people will engage with integrity, if given the option.
But individual actions can’t outweigh systemic forces. Rather than placing the burden entirely on individuals, tech companies might consider how to create digital environments that support healthier engagement from the ground up.
A PATH FORWARD OR A PIPE DREAM?
THE solutions exist—but they demand something the attention economy resists: collective sacrifice. Slowing virality means lower profits.
Prioritizing truth means alienating conspiracy theorists (and their lucrative engagement). Protecting children means dismantling “family influencer” empires.
However, there are signs of progress. Platforms are experimenting with modest reforms, such as TikTok’s screen time limits and Meta’s optional AI recommendations. But detoxifying the attention economy will take more than minor adjustments. It demands a fundamental shift in the architecture of the internet—one that values human dignity over data extraction. The algorithm of infamy may never fully disappear. But with enough friction, we can starve it. n
‘Minecraft’...
Continued from B4
coming week before Easter. Part three of Fathom Entertainment’s TV series, The Chosen: Last Supper, also looked to appeal to Christian audiences. It launched with $6.2 million from 2,296 cinemas. The Amateur, a 20th Century production starring Rami Malek as a CIA cryptographer hunting down his wife’s killers, debuted with $15 million domestically, plus another $17.2 million overseas. Critics deemed the revenge thriller an awkward star vehicle for Malek, who also produced. The Amateur cost $60 million to make.
Warfare director Alex Garland’s follow-up to 2024’s Civil War, opened with $8.3 million in ticket sales from 2,670 theaters. Garland co-wrote and co-directed the A24 release with Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, who based the film on 2006 mission he and his fellow Navy SEALs undertook during the war.
Warfare, which cost about $20 million to make, was lauded by critics as an uncommonly realistic portrait of combat.
Drop, the latest thriller from Blumhouse Productions, debuted with $7.5 million from 3,085 theaters. Christopher Landon’s film stars Meghann Fahy (The White Lotus) as a single-mom widow on a first date (Brandon Sklenar) who’s being terrorized by an unknown person by messages to her phone. Drop, which premiered at SXSW, cost less than $10 million to produce. n
Another often overlooked consequence is the lack of flexibility. Humans are great at problem-solving depending on the situation which machines still need to learn. An automated checkout machine will not know how to handle a confused elderly customer trying to pay with their card, but a human cashier might smile and make their day. That kind of human discretion is hard, if not impossible, to program. So while automation might work flawlessly when everything goes as planned, it can fall apart quickly in real-world situations.
I am not saying that automation is bad or should be avoided altogether. When used thoughtfully, automation can free up time, reduce repetitive tasks, and help businesses grow. But it should never come at the cost of human connection, job dignity, or customer satisfaction. Businesses must ask themselves if automation is making life better for their customers and employees, or if it is just cutting corners. Just because it is high tech and trendy does not mean it is always the best way. It only serves us well if it ultimately enhances the customer experience. The goal should always be to create smoother, more meaningful interactions and not just faster ones. Automation is a powerful tool but like any tool,
PHOTO BY MATÚS GOCMAN ON UNSPLASH
Richmonde Hotel Ortigas celebrates 26 years of shaping future hospitality leaders
AT Richmonde Hotel Ortigas (RHO), leaders aren’t just hired— they are cultivated. For 26 years, the hotel has been more than just a workplace for its employees; it has been a training ground for aspiring hoteliers who have grown into leaders through hands-on experience, strong mentorship, and a culture that values potential over tenure. This enduring commitment to nurturing talent has shaped a remarkable legacy—one that continues to thrive through the success stories of individuals who started with humble beginnings and now hold key management positions.
Since opening its doors in 1999, RHO has been a gold mine for diamonds in the rough. Over the years, many have discovered their passion and honed their craft within its walls. Some have moved on to pursue new endeavors, while others have stayed and grown with the brand. As the hotel celebrates its 26th anniversary, it not only reflects on its legacy as a trusted name in Philippine hospitality but also honors its employees whose careers it has shaped.
Today, an impressive 85 percent of the hotel’s managerial team is made up of homegrown talents—17 out of 20 managers and department heads who have climbed the ranks since working at Richmonde. Jun Justo, current Cluster General Manager for NCR+ of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts (MHR) and concurrent General Manager of Eastwood Richmonde Hotel, exemplifies this success story.
A former Rooms Division Manager at
RHO in 2007, he became Hotel Manager at Eastwood Richmonde Hotel in 2010 but has remained involved with RHO with his appointment as Cluster Director of Operations for Richmonde Hotels in 2015 and now Cluster GM for MHR. “It has always been Richmonde’s culture to nurture talent,” he says. “At the hiring stage, we give more weight to a person’s potential and character than their work experience. Building leaders from within didn’t start as a conscious effort or a formal policy—it happened naturally as needs arose, roles changed, and people stepped up.”
Now under the management of MHR, RHO continues this legacy with renewed purpose. Methodical training programs, mentorship, and on-the-job coaching complement the culture of trust and empowerment that has long been its hallmark. “With the Richmonde brand now under the MHR umbrella, our talents are no
longer limited to opportunities within the property,” shares current General Manager Oliver Esguerra. “They now have a bigger stage to grow and take on leadership roles within the expanding MHR portfolio.”
For Annie Dioso, Cluster Director of Communications for the Richmonde Hotels group, who began her journey as Executive Assistant in 2000, the company’s confidence in its people and the team-oriented environment played a crucial role in her development. “The trust and support given by management, coupled with the cooperation and assistance from other managers and associates, make Richmonde a great place for career growth,” she shares. “As the industry evolves, new positions emerge and new skills are needed. When this happens, Richmonde always looks within its pool to fill those gaps, giving all employees equal chances for career development—or at the very least, the
Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila Embarks on New Horizons with The Ascott Limited
SINCE opening its doors in 2009, Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites has quickly become a household name in the Ortigas area. Strategically located in the city’s Central Business District, the beloved hospitality brand will embark on a new chapter, effective on April 1, 2025, as it joins the portfolio of well-appointed hotels and serviced residences under the management of renowned global hospitality group, The Ascott Limited as its 17th operating property in the Philippines. The momentous occasion comes timely as the Ascott group celebrates its silver anniversary, having been with the Philippines for the last 25 years. The addition of Joy~Nostalg to its already robust portfolio aligns perfectly with the promise of the group’s Horizons campaign, as Ascott looks to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of hospitality excellence.
Delighted about Joy~Nostalg’s promising partnership, Patrick Vaysse, Country General Manager of Ascott Limited Philippines, shares: “We are excited to collaborate with one of the premier hospitality names in Metro Manila. Having Joy~Nostalg join our portfolio strengthens our presence in Ortigas, a dynamic center for growth in the Philippines. Together, we will elevate the guest experience and bring even greater value to this already prominent Central Business District that’s home to the nation’s top corporations, and some of its best dining and shopping venues.”
As Joy~Nostalg transitions to being part of The Ascott Group, its guests, both new and returning, will enjoy the evergrowing list of benefits when staying at the property with The Ascott Limited’s globally recognized Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) loyalty program—members booking on the ASR app or through DiscoverASR.com can indulge in unparalleled rewards with points awarded after each stay, ensuring a seamless and truly rewarding hospitality experience.
With 17 properties now under its banner in the Philippines and an additional 14 new hotels and serviced residences in the pipeline, The Ascott Limited’s expansion reflects its dedication to growth in the region. The company boasts a remarkable global presence with 955 properties across 14 brands in 230 cities, spanning more than 40 countries. The addition of Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila further cements The Ascott Limited’s commitment to delivering
exceptional hospitality experiences.
“We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter as Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila becomes part of The Ascott Limited family. This partnership marks an exciting milestone in our journey, allowing us to elevate our offerings while staying true to our commitment to delivering unparalleled experiences. With Ascott’s global expertise and quality standards, we are confident that our guests will enjoy and create even more memorable stays, blending the warmth of home with world-class hospitality,” Jacinto Ng Jr., Group Executive Officer of the Joy~Nostalg Group said. “This collaboration reflects our shared vision of excellence, and we are pleased about the opportunities it brings for our guests, associates, and stakeholders.”
This collaboration introduces Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila to The Ascott Limited’s expansive network while offering a unique opportunity for the group to elevate its F&B outlets and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) operations and facilities. These enhancements will be complemented with a major renovation and property refresh later this year, ensuring upgraded rooms and modernized amenities. Guests, whether staying short-term or for extended durations, can look forward to an elevated and reimagined experience at one of Ortigas’ premier addresses.
As The Ascott Limited celebrates 25 successful years in the Philippines, the inclusion of Joy~Nostalg Hotel & Suites Manila signifies a continued commitment to excellence, innovation, and growth. Together, they look forward to creating memorable guest experiences and fostering a vibrant future for the country’s hospitality industry.
chance to hone their talents.”
This culture of support and collaboration is something Myca Bonoan, now Assistant Director of Sales, experienced firsthand. She joined in 2020 as a Sales Executive, just before the pandemic lockdown. “Richmonde is an ideal place for both personal and professional development. The supportive and collaborative team encourages learning, and the company fosters a culture of excellence and professionalism,” she says. “Because of that, I was given opportunities to grow and take on leadership roles even during challenging times.”
She also credits her growth to the values she learned at Richmonde: “Commitment to exceptional hospitality and customer service, strong teamwork, and adaptability in a fast-paced industry.” Looking ahead, Myca sees herself giving back to the next wave of hotel professionals. “I hope to mentor and
share knowledge with new team members, help them grow, and continue to innovate to improve guest experiences and operational efficiency.”
For Axel Zapanta, now PMD Manager who began as an HR Assistant in 2017, the encouraging environment at Richmonde is what stands out most. “Richmonde Ortigas empowers its employees to strive for excellence,” he says. “It fosters a culture where innovation is not only encouraged but actively executed, making every achievement truly rewarding.”
As Richmonde Hotel Ortigas commemorates its 26th year, it celebrates not just its success as a business, but its people— the heartbeat and driving force of the hotel. With a strong foundation built on faith, dedication, and teamwork, the hotel remains steadfast in its mission to shape the next generation of hospitality leaders.
Double The Fun: Hot Wheels, Barbie Take Over Cove Manila this Summer
GET ready for the most exciting, stylish, and actionpacked event of the season! Okada Manila proudly collaborates with Barbie and Hot Wheels, bringing their worlds of speed, creativity, and collectibility to Cove Manila in a spectacular summer event like never before.
Until May 25, 2025, families, fans, and collectors alike are invited to immerse themselves in a summer adventure at Cove Manila, Okada Manila’s world-class indoor beach club and leisure destination. Offering the exciting Beach Club Daycation experience under its breathtaking UV-protected glass dome, Cove Manila provides guests with premium private cabanas, crystal-clear pools, and a unique beach atmosphere right in the heart of the city.
Exciting activities await, including thrilling Hot Wheels race tracks and interactive play zones designed for speed enthusiasts of all ages. Meanwhile, Barbie fans can immerse themselves in a glamorous, stylish pool party experience featuring fabulous photo installations, glamorous fashion runways, and creative play spaces that celebrate self-expression and imagination. Expect exhilarating interactive experiences, amazing toys, and specialedition collectibles guaranteed to spark creativity and excitement among kids and kids-at-heart. Explore life-sized Barbie Dreamhouse installations, test your racing skills on thrilling Hot Wheels tracks, and capture unforgettable moments with iconic displays featuring
TCafé and on swimming lessons. “Our Hello Summer 2025 campaign is a heartfelt invitation to embrace everything the season represents— joy, connection, and well-deserved rest,” shares Carmela Bocanegra, Vice President for Sales & Marketing of Chroma Hospitality. “Across all our Crimson Hotels & Resorts, Quest Hotels and Timberland Highlands Resort properties, we’ve thoughtfully prepared experiences that let our guests create lasting memories this summer season.” Guests are encouraged to follow @ChromaHospitality and all property social media pages for summer promos, pop-up events, and other summer-exclusive experiences throughout the season.
your favorite
HIS Easter, Seda Manila Bay embarks on an extraordinary journey beyond the universe with “Galactic Egg-Venture,” a cosmic-themed Easter celebration happening on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Families and their young space
THE homegrown leaders of Richmonde Hotel Ortigas.
Editor: Tet Andolong
NHA rolls out game-changing initiatives; PIDS cites need for reforms to address housing problems
By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio
NATIONAL
Housing Authority
(NHA) General Manager Joeben Tai early last week rolled out a trifecta of transformative initiatives to mark the agency’s 50th anniversary—composed of financial relief, food security, and bringing Kadiwa stores to NHA community.
He also expressed housing targets to uplift half million informal settlers with socialized homes.
“This is our legacy moment,” declared Tai before a packed audience at the Pandesal Forum. “Fifty years ago, the NHA was born from a dream to shelter the nation. Today, we reignite that dream with compassion, innovation, and urgency.”
Tai said the NHA’s P3.7 billion condonation program—the largest in its history—will erase 100 percent of penalties and 95 percent of unpaid interest for delinquent housing loans, offering relief to approximately 220,000 struggling families from May 1 to October 31, 2025.
“Life’s storms—economic crises, emergencies—have left many drowning in debt. They refuse to let hardworking Filipinos lose their homes over interest. This condonation is their lifeline: a chance to rebuild without the weight of the past,” Tai pointed out. The initiative aims to recover unpaid principal amounts to fund future housing projects while granting distressed families revised payment terms. “This is not charity,” Tai stressed. “It’s justice.”
In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the NHA will launch Kadiwa stores in resettlement sites across Regions 3 and 4 by May 2025, slashing middlemen to connect farmers directly with consumers. Simultaneously, subsidized rice
WITH a growing number of condominium developments in Metro Manila, homebuyers are becoming more discerning. Beyond location and price, many are now prioritizing quality, thoughtful design, and long-term value—a shift reshaping the real estate landscape.
A recent report by Colliers Philippines highlights that while residential supply is increasing, demand remains strong for developments that offer prime locations, highquality construction, and premium amenities. Similarly, a 2024 study by Santos Knight Frank reveals that Filipino homebuyers are now placing greater emphasis on well-being, sustainability, and future-ready spaces—factors that go beyond the traditional considerations of size and price.
This evolving demand underscores why developments like Le Pont Residences by RLC Residences stand out. By prioritizing architectural excellence, premium craftsmanship, and lifestyle-driven features, Le Pont Residences appeals to discerning buyers looking for a home that offers more than just space—it delivers an elevated, future-proof living experience.
Beyond Space: The Appeal of Thoughtful Design
at P33 per kilogram—up to 50 kilos per family—will be sold at NHA sites to combat food insecurity.
“A home has more than four walls. It’s access to affordable food, dignity, and community. With Kadiwa stores, families save, farmers thrive, and our settlements become hubs of hope.”
Tai said the program is anchored on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Kadiwa ng Pangulo” initiative, to boost his Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
Tai is hopeful of providing 500,000 informal settler families homes while issuing a provocative challenge to private developers: “Please reduce condo prices by 50 percent—because you can still profit, so that we can help ease the condominium glut situation.”
A studio unit priced at P6 million can sell for P3 million. “Developers will still gain. Empty towers help no one. Let’s make condos more affordable.”
A KEY factor influencing homebuyers today is the desire for flexible, well-designed living spaces that support modern lifestyles. With hybrid work now the norm, homes are no longer just places to rest—they must also function as workspaces, wellness hubs, and personal retreats.
Le Pont Residences addresses this shift with expansive unit layouts designed for multi-functional living. High ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows enhance natural light and ventilation, creating a bright and airy ambiance. Loggias offer stunning city skyline views, fostering a sense of tranquility amid the urban landscape. These design elements not only improve daily living but also enhance property desirability and long-term investment value.
A Smarter Investment in the Long Run IN a dynamic real estate market, well-built and strategically located properties continue to appreciate in value. Le Pont Residences, situated in Bridgetowne Estate—an emerging business and lifestyle hub—benefits from sustained property value growth. Its integra -
Tai paid tribute to 94-year-old former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos, who is credited for establishing the NHA. He also thanked Senator Imee Marcos and former Congressman Francisco Benitez for championing legislation to modernize the NHA’s new charter, calling it “the blueprint for our next 50 years.”
He said the reforms align with President Marcos’ push for a *Bagong Pilipinas, though skeptics question funding logistics and developer cooperation. Tai, however, remains undaunted: “To those who doubt: Visit our sites. Speak to our beneficiary families.”
A lingering problem GOVERNMENT think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) pointed out that housing accessibility continues to be a serious problem over the past
decades, affecting both low-income families and the middle class. Exacerbating the problem was house prices have surged while increase in wages have been laggard which has compounded the affordability problem manifested in the country’s persistent informal settlements, homelessness, congestion, and high costs of travel to places of jobs and livelihood.
It said that a typical Filipino family is experiencing a huge challenge in buying a house on the market, even when assuming the provision of a lump sum amount or a downpayment of 10 to 20 percent of the housing price.Moreover, the scenario is happening in highly urbanized locations like Metro Manila and urban areas of Cebu and Davao del Sur.
Meanwhile, PIDS researchers Marife M. Ballesteros, Tatum P. Ramos, and Jenica A. Ancheta noted in their study called “Measuring Housing Affordability in the
Philippines” urged an overhaul of policy reform of the housing program for the poor and vulnerable sectors because “the government’s primary concern for this sector should be moving the poor and vulnerable households from impoverished housing for these families to gain resilience and improve their productivity.” The study emphasized the need for policy reforms to address the housing affordability problem to address housing market distortions. Further, the authors urged government to investigate the relationship between income inequality and housing access in the Philippines. “An increase in income inequality is expected to lead to housing inequality, as higher-income households tend to drive increased demand for quality housing and consequently raise prices. Additional policy reforms will be necessary if such a relationships significantly exist in the country.”
RECOVERY TAKES SHAPE AS PHILIPPINE PROPERTY MARKETS ADAPT IN Q1 2025
1
the pace of these exits tapering off, we expect contrac-
tion of smart home features and sustainable building materials aligns with the increasing preference for future-ready homes.
Le Pont Residences has earned an EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) preliminary certification, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Designed with eco-conscious living in mind, the development incorporates energy-efficient systems that lower electricity consumption, reducing utility costs for future residents. The use of eco-friendly materials ensures durability while minimizing environmental impact. Green spaces and landscaped areas provide a refreshing escape, promoting healthier living and improved well-being for homeowners. With a focus on quality, design, and sustainability, Le Pont Residences presents a compelling investment opportunity—one that supports modern living while securing long-term value.
tions to ease further in the coming quarters.
Vacancy Rates Stabilize Nationwide THE nationwide office vacancy rate held steady at 17 percent in Q1 2025, marking a slight improvement from the previous quarter’s 18 percent. While vacancy remains in double digits, the decline reflects a gradual recovery, driven by sustained demand and a slowdown in space contractions. Vacancy is expected to trend further downward in the coming quarters, particularly in core CBDs such as Makati and BGC, as active leasing requirements begin to convert into signed deals.
Market Outlook THE Philippine office market is projected to
The Role of Exclusive Amenities IN the evolving Philippine real estate landscape, there is a notable shift in buyer preferences towards residential developments that offer wellness-focused amenities and holistic living environments. This trend reflects a discerning market seeking top-tier amenities and strong capital appreciation potential.
At Le Pont Residences, residents can experience a well-rounded lifestyle with hyper-sized pools designed for relaxation and recreation. A well-equipped co-working space provides a conducive environment for remote work, while a state-of-the-art fitness center encourages a healthy, active lifestyle. At the top of the development, the exclusive function villas offer breathtaking city views, creating the perfect setting for social gatherings and unwinding after a long day. These amenities transform daily living into an exclusive, elevated experience, making Le Pont an attractive choice for those who value both comfort and convenience.
The Future of Homeownership
AS homebuyers become more selective, the demand for high-quality, well-crafted homes is expected to rise. Rather than competing in an oversaturated market, developments like Le Pont Residences stand out by offering something more meaningful—a home designed to last, adapt, and enrich everyday life. Discover what sets Le Pont Residences apart, schedule a visit at our showrooms, or visit rlcresidences.com for more information.
achieve a net take-up of 490k sqm by end2025, representing a 16 percent year-onyear increase. This growth will be fueled by strong leasing activity, particularly from the IT-BPM sector, and a continued slowdown in space contractions—largely due to the tapering of POGO exits that had previously dampened market performance.
Industry Insight “The office market in the Philippines continues to show grit in the face of global and local challenges. The IT-BPM sector remains to be a reliable key driver of growth, while traditional office tenants are also increasingly active. With a promising outlook for the rest of the year, we expect resiliency amidst potential headwinds.” Mikko Barranda
THE Philippine residential market showed signs of a moderate recovery in the first quarter of 2025, with a 14 percent increase in condominium demand. This growth was supported by favorable policy rate cuts and attractive developer promotions. Meanwhile, the retail and data center sectors also demonstrated resilience, with retail sales surpassing pre-pandemic levels and the data center market continuing to attract investment despite challenges.
Key Highlights
Residential Market:
Moderate Recovery Demand Growth: Residential condominium demand in Metro Manila grew by 14 percent in Q1 2025, with a total of 6,508 units taken up. This uptick comes as key policy rate cuts over three consecutive quarters, and the anticipation of more, have helped ease buyer concerns and fuel property acquisitions.
Decline in New Launches: New residential project launches saw a sharp drop of 77 percent, with only 1,347 units launched in Q1 2025 compared to 5,928 in the previous quarter. Developers are focusing on marketing existing inventory, particularly within the mid-range segment, before rolling out new projects.
Improving Loan Performance: Nonperforming Residential Real Estate Loans (NPRREL) continued their decline, reaching 6.3 percent in 4Q2024, down from a peak of 9.6 percent in 3Q2021 during the pandemic. However, this ratio has yet to return to prepandemic levels.
Buyer Sentiment and Developer Strategy: While developer promotions and competitive payment terms have spurred buyer interest, the recent volatility in global capital markets may temper this enthusiasm.
Buyers are advised to conduct thorough research to capitalize on favorable terms while supply remains tight.
Luxury Market Outlook: The luxury residential segment experienced a 39 percent decline in sales this quarter. However, this sector remains attractive for long-term investors, as several developers plan to launch new luxury projects in the coming years, making the market increasingly competitive.
Retail Market: Robust Recovery and Growth
Surpassing Pre-Pandemic Levels: The retail sector showed a strong recovery, with
revenues from the top three mall developers surging 19 percent above pre-pandemic levels. Between 2019 and 2024, 977K sqm of Gross Leasable Area (GLA) was added, increasing retail space portfolios by 9 percent. Food & Beverage Sector Performance: The food and beverage (F&B) sector has exceeded its 2019 revenue levels by 11 percent as of the first nine months of 2024, reflecting strong consumer demand and recovery in the retail market.
Data Center Market: Steady Investment Amid Challenges Continued Growth and Investment: The Philippines' data center market remains strong, with a current power capacity of 215MW and an additional 1,505MW under development. Despite local concerns, the government's renewable energy targets are driving long-term confidence in the sector, attracting continued foreign investment.
Market Outlook THE outlook for the Philippine property market in 2025 remains cautiously optimistic. The residential market is expected to continue its recovery, although global capital market volatility may introduce short-term uncertainties. Developers are likely to remain focused on selling existing inventory, particularly in the mid-range and luxury segments, where competition is expected to intensify. The retail market is expected to sustain its recovery, with further growth in consumer spending, particularly in the F&B sector. As more malls are developed to meet evolving market demands, the sector is poised for continued growth.
The
Industry Insight “We’ve
we need to move with caution for now due to very recent developments in the world capital markets. For developers, they will need to be more aggressive with their marketing: their promos, payment terms. For buyers, this will be a good time to research and take a deeper
National General Manager Joeben Tai
homes to the City's informal settler families.
Rory makes Belfast so very proud
Btime that the course in Northern Ireland has had that honor after 1951 and 2019. Royal Portrush is located
home club in Holywood when he finally won the Masters on his 17th try.
THE Tour of Luzon comes as a complete package of a multi-stage race when the fabled summer sports spectacle returns on April 24 with the “Great Revival” edition.
“Eight stages of technical riding among the cyclists and their respective teams,” said Arrey Perez, Chief Regulatory Officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, presenter and title sponsor of the
Rookies Nitura,
SHAINA NITURA of Adamson University and Amet Bituin of Far Eastern University (FEU) delivered performances rarely seen from rookies in the previous week of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 volleyball tournament.
Nitura, front-runner in the Rookie of the Year race, kept hitting her mark to become season’s top scorer at 314 points and in the Lady Falcons’ lasty game, she made 37 points on 31 attacks, five blocks and a service ace against Final Four-seeking Lady Tamaraws.
Bituin, on the other hand,
MMcIlroy’s 61 at age 16 in the 2005 North of Ireland championship still stands as the old course record at Royal Portrush.
“He has given us one of Northern Ireland’s biggest sporting achievements,” Emma Little-Pengelly, the country’s deputy first minister, posted on X. “He will undoubtedly get a deserved hero’s welcome when he comes home. The reception when he steps onto the first tee at Royal Portrush in July will be incredible. Hopefully he can give the home fans plenty to cheer as he bids to win a second Open Championship.”
T he British Open is the year’s last major. First, McIlroy will play the PGA Championship in May and the US Open in June.
McIlroy defeated Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff on Sunday to win the elusive Masters title, adding to his two PGA Championship titles (2012 and 2014), one US Open trophy (2011) and one British Open (2014). There were scenes of joy at McIlroy’s
helped secure the league-leading Tamaraws a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals following consecutive victories over the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Adamson University Falcons. In his first-ever career start, Bituin scored 17 points and added nine excellent receptions in FEU’s four-set triumph over Ateneo. With their impressive games, Nitura and Bituin were named the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period April 9 to 13.
“I’m thankful to the Lord because I’m per-
In England, the Manchester United soccer club published a note of congratulations on Monday addressed to McIlroy, who is a big fan of the team.
After saying during the winner’s press conference that he wants to celebrate with his parents back home in Northern Ireland “next week,” McIlroy was asked if he might take the green jacket to a game at Manchester’s Old Trafford stadium.
“If it can inspire some better play, absolutely,” McIlroy said.
Former world snooker champion Dennis Taylor declared McIlroy Northern Ireland’s “greatest ever sportsman”
That’s no small assertion for a country that has produced soccer great George Best and snooker star Alex Higgins.
“Massive congratulations to Rory McIlroy on his incredible victory at The Masters—making history as the first ever from our island to win the prestigious Green Jacket!” Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill said on X. “This is a huge moment in sporting history, and one that has filled everyone back home with great pride.” Irish premier Micheal
forming this way,” said Nitura, who already broke Alyssa Valdez’s record of most points in a single match (38) and most 30-point outings in five matches which the former Ateneo star set in Season 77.
“I can’t really describe how I feel,” she added.
Nitura beat University of Santo Tomas’s Kassy Doering and Joan Monares, National University’s Bella Belen and University of Santo Tomas’s Kyla Cordora for the weekly honor supported by Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors.
Bituin, meanwhile, credited his
Martin described the win as “epic.”
“It was an incredible evening and we were all up late in the morning,” Martin added Monday.
The Irish premier said the occasion reminded him of Ireland’s 1990 World Cup penalty shootout win over Romania and George Hamilton’s famous “the nation holds its breath” commentary.
“ Well, we were holding our breath every five minutes for a good few hours yesterday,” Martin said. “Literally holding our breath at every putt and every tee shot. It was a marvelous national occasion and it’s a moment in time that we will all remember.”
U lster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt called for McIlroy to be knighted.
“For a country the size of Northern Ireland, it is remarkable how many sports people have become icons in their fields. Think George Best, Mike Gibson [rugby], and Mary Peters [athletics], to name just three. Rory McIlroy has just trumped all of them and, with the Grand Slam monkey off his back, looks set for even more success,” Nesbitt said.
“This universally popular figure deserves the highest praise the nation can bestow, and a knighthood is just that,” Nesbitt added.
coach and teammates for playing beyond expectations.
“I thanked the coaching staff for their trust in me,” he said. “And my teammates who never cease to push me do better things on the court.”
Bituin pumped in 14 points in an easy sweep of the also-ran Falcons as the Tamaraws tightened their grasp of holding top seed in the Final Four. He garnered more votes than teammate Lirick Mendoza, NU’s Leo Aringo and Obed Mukaba, UST’s Popoy Colinares and De La Salle’s Noel Kampton for the award.
HOLLERING instructions only he fully understands, coach Koji Tsuzurabara delivered his message loud and clear—so clear that it shattered the once mighty aura of the Creamline Cool Smashers.
D espite his deep respect, or perhaps fear, of the 10-time Premier Volleyball League champions, Tsuzurabara never called his Petro Gazz Angels favorites—they were, in
his words, “mere challengers.”
W hether it was a motivational tactic or a way to shield his team’s fierce intent, the label stuck. And yet, with a measured silence and calm leadership, Tsuzurabara steered the Angels to a historic All-Filipino crown in the process dethroning the Cool Smashers, the gold standard of women’s volleyball for years.
Even with a talent-laden roster led by star Brooke Van Sickle and a 10game win streak in the preliminaries, Tsuzurabara downplayed expectations at every turn and media appearances became exercises in humility, post-game interviews often punctuated with a firm “no comment.”
B ut it wasn’t evasion, it was intention and he let the game speak for itself.
In the heat of battle, he handed the huddle to team captain Remy Palma, even in pressure-packed moments, a quiet trust empowered his players, fostering leadership from within.
O ff the court, he focused the spotlight on others as he brought unsung players to post-match press conferences, making sure every contribution was acknowledged, even those beyond the outside stats sheet. His humility was unwavering, even at the peak.
Masters champ a philanthropist
That’s why everybody is excited for this event,” said De Rosas ahead of the Category B event of World Athletics. “Even our national athletes and Paris Olympians Jan Tolentino Cabang and Lauren Hoffman are excited.”
ORE than 800 athletes— including 60 from six foreign countries—will see action in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Philippine Athletics Championships 2025 scheduled May 1 to 4 at the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. Reli de Leon, special assistant to Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Terry Capistrano, said the country’s finest will be on hand as well as athletes from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, India and Papua New Guinea. The event serves as the basis for the selection of our national team to the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December so we expect the best performances from them,” de Leon told Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Conference Hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. D e Leon, who was joined in the forum by national coaches Dario de Rosas and Jeoffrey Chua, said the country’s top under-18 athletes will also vie as they seek slots to the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain in October.
C hua said the foreign bets will not take the event lightly because points are at stake as they try to qualify to the World Championships in Japan in September.
The modern stadium, venue of the 2019 SEA Games, makes the event more competitive. To ensure the safety of the bets considering the intense summer heat, competition events are set from 2 to 9 p.m. except for walkathon that has morning sessions.
ATHLETICS officials (from
immortality can be achieved in a most unique way imaginable.
The battle for glory was for 72 holes. But in the end, only one hole became the final battleground. McIlroy had appeared set to win it, staring at a one-shot lead over Justin Rose going to the par-four 18th. Par would do it. Uh-oh. Not so fast. From 125 yards on the fairway, McIlroy found the greenside bunker using the same wedge that caused that double-bogey on 13. Still, he had a fat chance to make it when he blasted to within 8 feet. Missed it. Sudden-death with Rose. At 18.
It was then that McIlroy showed his steely nerves, his mental toughness, his will to win and, yes, his resolve to please the gods. McIlroy would literally photocopy his 72nd tee shot earlier, driving practically to the same spot 125 yards to the green.
He would next ignore Rose’s approach that landed 15 feet off the pin, took aim as if his whole life depended on it, and hit the shot of the tournament—the ball hitting the center of the green some 25 feet past the flag, spinning back in a curl to the right and then stopping tantalizingly under four feet off the cup. The roar of the crowd could be heard all the way from Augusta to Atlanta, Georgia.
spoke volumes of how
W hen Englishman Rose, unfortunately, missed his 15-footer, golf’s most prestigious crown was there for the taking for McIlroy, who, after sinking the winning putt, tossed his putter in the air, dropped to his knees, cupped his face while sobbing
A s the Angels erupted in celebration after a classic four-set title-clincher, Tsuzurabara slipped away, standing at the sideline alone, soaking it all in. He was later embraced by Palma—a poignant, emotional moment sealing their unlikely, powerful, winning partnership. At the post-championship press conference, the typically reserved mentor let his guard down. For a man who rarely speaks, the tears he shed were more than than enough to describe how he felt.
uncontrollably as his childhood buddy and caddy, Diamond, consoled
RORY MCILROY poses with his trophy with his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy. AP
left) Jeoffrey Chua, Reli De Leon and Dario De Rosas grace Tuesday’s forum.
COACH Koji Tsuzurabara doen’t call the Angels favorites, but mere challengers.
