BusinessMirror April 19, 2024

THE WORLD | A12

NETANYAHU SAYS ISRAEL WILL DECIDE ITS RESPONSE TO IRAN’S AIR ASSAULT, IGNORING CALLS FOR RESTRAINT

THE Philippines is offering a safe haven for investors amid global headwinds as it continues to undertake reforms to make the country an investment destination for foreign businesses, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

In a statement, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said amid the global economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and election-related uncertainty in major economies, the country continues to create “compelling reasons” for investors to choose the Philippines as their next investment destination. Balisacan said the Philippine government’s optimism is anchored on its proactive approach in seeking out investment and trade opportu -

nities, as well as its swift implementation of projects crucial to the country's socioeconomic transformation.

“All of these initiatives will support and spur our numerous growth drivers—in construction and infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, retail and tourism, education and health, IT and creatives—as we go through this exciting stage in our nation’s development,” he said.

Balisacan said the government expects a significant boost to growth and job creation from the accelerated rollout of the “Build-BetterMore” infrastructure flagship projects worth $161.7 billion or P9.14 trillion.

@caiordinario

GEOPOLITICAL risks would make it more difficult for oildependent countries like the Philippines to tame inflation, which could accelerate to double digits if oil prices jump to unprecedented levels, according to local economists.

On Wednesday, Bloomberg reported that oil traders piled into more than 3 million barrels worth of options contracts in a bet that prices would spike to $250 a barrel by June as geopolitical risks remain elevated.

That figure is already making the rounds among local oil traders, according to De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas.

Economic team mounts PHL dialogue for US investors

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s inclusion in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024 shows his “brand of leadership” is now gaining international attention, Malacanang said Thursday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) attributed the recognition to Marcos' socioeconomic policies, which led to robust economic growth.

“Despite geopolitical tensions and the hurdles posed by the Covid-19 [novel coronavi-

rus disease] pandemic, President Marcos has elevated the Philippines on the world stage and contributed to regional stability, notably in the IndoPacific region,” PCO said.

“The President continues to steer the country towards peace and prosperity towards his vision of a Bagong Pilipinas [New Philippines],” it added.

In being named “influential leader,” Marcos Jr. joins the elite list of the global media brand known for its iconic Person

THE Philippine economic team convened the Philippine Dialogue on April 17 in Washington, DC, to attract American investors to expand their businesses to the country.

According to the Department of Finance (DOF), the dialogue enabled the country’s economic managers and US-based business and financial communities to engage in an in-depth roundtable discussion on investment opportunities in the Philippines.

The Philippine Dialogue was attended by around 90 executives from US-based funds and corporations, multilateral insti-

tutions, and the public sector, the DOF added.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto presented the country's growth trajectory, domestic market, and the “demographic sweet spot” to generate potential investors.

“Over the years, the US has been our stalwart ally. It has supported us in strengthening national security and provided investments and development programs that uplifted the lives of Filipinos,” Recto said.

The Finance chief said the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)

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The government also has a flagship housing program which aims to construct 3.3 million housing units by 2028 to plug the housing gap. Initially, the administration aimed to build 1 million homes annually.

Balisacan noted that the government has also undertaken reforms and initiatives to clarify ambiguities in the rules, expand markets for local industries, streamline government processes and promote more competition.

“We have laid the groundwork for major projects and programs. We expect to see more of these projects becoming operational this year onwards, improving connectivity and supporting growth and resilience,” stated the government’s chief economic planner. Balisacan added that with the increasing share of the workingage population, investors can expect demand to rise over the next few decades.

He assured them that the government is working on the fundamentals of education, health, and social protection systems so that the economy may benefit from this demographic dividend. Balisacan and the Marcos Administration’s Economic Team made their case to potential investors during the Philippine Investors Dialogue held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Wednesday, April 17. Cai U. Ordinario

NG collects ₧61B in duties, taxes under fuel marking

By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto

THE national government has collected over P60 billion in duties and taxes from more than four billion liters of fuel for the first quarter of the year in its campaign to prevent the illicit trade of petroleum products in the country.

In a statement on Thursday, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) said that from January to March 2024, the national government collected a total of P61.1 billion in duties and taxes through its fuel-marking program. The BOC said it marked 4.81 billion liters of fuel products for the first quarter of the year.

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grew by 5.6 percent, the fastest in the Asean region. Meanwhile, multilateral or-

The government started the fuel marking program on September 4, 2019, under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law to ensure that oil products sold in the market are tax compliant.

In 2023, the BOC marked a total of 18.97 billion liters of fuel, resulting in the collection of P234.18 billion worth

ganizations expect the country’s growth to expand by 5.8 percent to 6.3 percent in 2024, but lower than the economic team’s 6 to 7 percent projection for 2024.

Recto expressed confidence that the country’s domestic market offers “huge capacity” for enterprises to thrive as the

of taxes.

Petroleum products that are refined, manufactured, or imported to the Philippines such as, but not limited to, unleaded premium gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, shall be marked by an official marking agent after payment of taxes and duties, under the TRAIN law.

A unique chemical marker is used in marking fuel that can be embedded at a molecular level in petroleum products—gasoline, diesel, and kerosene—enabling authorities to test, identify, and distinguish petroleum products with paid excise taxes.

In terms of overall revenue collection, the BOC generated a total of P219.385 billion from January to March this year, exceeding its first-quarter target by P8.489 billion.

Philippines heads towards becoming an upper-middle-income country next year and the world’s 13th largest consumer market by 2030. The Finance chief also took note of the “robust” remittance inflows from the overseas Filipino workforce. According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, cash remittances rose to $2.65 billion in February 2024.

Recto added that the rebound of the tourism industry, reflected by increased tourism receipts as well as the "hefty" business process outsourcing (BPO) export revenues, gives the country "ample" buffers against external headwinds.

“Another reason why investing in the Philippines is the best move is our commitment to ensuring business stability through prudent fiscal management,” Recto noted.

The economic team recently adjusted the budget deficit ceilings to 5.6 percent of GDP to fund its infrastructure spending, and to 3.7 percent by 2028, as it expects debt-to-GDP ratio of 60.3 percent in 2024 and 55.9 percent in 2028.

Last year, the country’s fiscal deficit narrowed to 6.2 percent from its peak of 8.6 percent in 2021 at the height of the pandemic.

“The narrowing deficit path is attributed to the consistently

Additional revenue was also collected through the Prior Disclosure Program, other audit findings, and public auctions, totaling P1.088 billion, P89.071 billion, and P3.890 billion, respectively, the BOC added.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio cited the collective efforts of the Bureau’s employees, saying, “While the weight of our responsibilities may be heavy, our unified efforts have not only met but surpassed expectations. I extend heartfelt appreciation to the entire BOC community for their commitment and hard work.”

The BOC is tasked to collect close to P1 trillion in earnings in 2024, higher by 15 percent to 20 percent than what it collected in the previous year.

higher government revenue collections and improved expenditure management, which prioritizes massive infrastructure projects and social services,” Recto said.

Recto also underscored government’s commitment to ensuring business stability through probusiness policies, such as Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code and the institutionalized green lanes, as well as the refining of priority tax reforms.

Lastly, the demographic “sweet spot” with a median age population of 25 years old was also highlighted by Recto, making the country more “advantageous and globally competitive.”

Socioeconomic and Development Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. of the country’s economic team were present at the dialogue.

Among the guests were Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, HSBC Public Sector Banking Chairman of the Global Banking and Markets Michael Ellan, Citi Corporate & Investment Banking Vice Chairman Jay Collins, and Citi Managing Director and Head of Public Sector Group in Asia Pacific Michael Paulus. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

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“I am sure that the increase in inflation would be inevitable [should oil prices reach $250],” Oplas told B USINESS M IRROR on Thursday.

Aside from the acceleration in inflation rate, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas said the tripling of oil prices would worsen the country’s current account and cause the peso to weaken.

“The war in the Middle East is iffy. United Nation member countries want to avert an escalation. If de-escalation occurs under a good-sense scenario on the part of the protagonists, oil prices will stabilize,” Canlas told B USINESSM IRROR Peter Lee U, economist from the University of Asia and the Pacific, held a similar view on the “iffiness” of war: “I think they are assuming that war will break out in the Middle East. It's difficult to forecast as it depends on how extensive the war will be, which I would not try to estimate. But even if a war breaks out, doubt prices could reach that level (about 4 times current oil prices) or stay at that level for long. As the price of oil rises, it sets in play adjustments on the demand side (economic recession, which reins in demand, and switching to other fuels, and would tend to keep oil prices from further spiking. No doubt a war would still elevate oil prices.”

Mr. U noted, “250 is about 4 times current 80$ for WTI. Anything is possible with war. As they say, all bets are off in case of war. Personally, I think it’s low probability for that level though not impossible.”

Caution on price caps, subsidies

ATENEO de Manila University economost Leonardo Lanzona Jr. cautioned against implementing policies to moderate oil prices that would require government resources. Lanzona referred to the measures implemented in the 1970s when the government imposed oil price regulations and subsidized gasoline consumption.

At the time, Lanzona said, the government owned oil refineries, a situation that prompted the administration to take on “tremendous loans.”

“Yes, inflation is the main consequence [of high oil prices]. But we need to pass this difficult period before things get better. This will require new ways of living together. We may not be the best prepared nation in meeting these challenges,” Lanzona said.

“But as in a basketball match, the manner in which we combine our existing abilities and play as a team is more important than the individual contributions of each player. Our experience as Asian basketball champions should give us some valuable lessons in meeting these challenges,” he added.

Next inflation era

IN a new brief, Oxford Economics said inflation has been “exceptionally low and stable” in the 2000s and 2010s. However, recent geopolitical risks and extreme climate change may be paving the way for a new era of inflation.

Apart from these, inflation pressures are expected to rise on the back of srtong demand from increased public spending fof defense, greening the economy, and aging. De-globalization is also included in these pressures.

Given these, Oxford Economics expects policy rates to be elevated. Based on the recent action of central banks, the think tank said they were “prepared to risk recession to bring inflation back to target.”

of Year and annual roster of most influential people.

TIME correspondent Charlie Campbell did not sugar coat Marcos’ Jr. family background and how he rose to power in 2022 in his introduction:

“For Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos to make history, he first needed to rewrite his nation’s. His dictator father plundered billions of dollars from state coffers and stood accused of grievous humanrights violations until his ouster in 1986. Bongbong’s rise to the Philippine presidency in 2022 was owed to whitewashing this family legacy through clever manipulation of social media.”

However, the magazine noted that notwithstanding the apparent personal motivation for Marcos Jr. to run for office, he has risen above this and emerged as a statesman.

“Yet Bongbong’s desire to rehabilitate the Marcos name has resulted in other shifts. He

brought technocrats back into government, steadied the postpandemic economy, and elevated the Philippines on the world stage,” Campbell wrote. The Palace made no comment on the article’s criticism on the “tainted” family history of the President.

It said the President drew attention with his steadfast opposition to Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and his bolstering Philippine relations with the United States.

This year’s list of influential people from Time included artists such as Dua Lipa, Dev Patel, and 21 Savage; “icons” like Taraji P. Henson, Kylie Minogue and Elliot Page; “titans” such as Patrick Mahomes, Satya Nadella, and A'ja Wilson; innovators such as Jensen Huang, Maya Rudolph, and Shawn Fain; pioneers like America Ferrera, Lesley Lokko, and Ophelia Dahl. Marcos was included in the list's leaders category, which includes Yulia Navalnaya, Narges Mohammadi, and Donald Tusk, among others. Samuel P. Medenilla, Malou Talosig-Bartolome

“We expect central banks will remain committed to hitting their inflation targets. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that inflation won’t regularly exceed or undershoot target,” Oxford Economics stated.

“When it does, the scale and direction of any persistent misses will likely depend on the type, frequency, and scale of the shock that hits the economy, and whether it occurs against a broader backdrop of strong or weak economic fundamentals and firms' pricing responses,” the think tank added.

In the Philippines, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) raised interest rates by 450 basis points since 2022. The Monetary Board has maintained key policy rates at 6.5 percent in its April 8 meeting. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/04/09/inflation-may-prompt-ratecuts-delay-to-2025/).

Earlier, the BSP said it remained undaunted by the recent depreciation of the peso as well as the rise in oil prices due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

In a briefing on Wednesday, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. told reporters the depreciation of the peso is an “adjustment” that would only have a small impact on monetary policy.

As to the impact of higher oil, Remolona said there is no sense of escalation with regard to the tensions in the Middle East and that “retaliation will not be massive.”

(See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/04/18/bsp-

SC asked to halt Comelec deal with Miru

order (TRO)

injunction, Erice also asked the Court to eventually declare null and void the Comelec’s en banc resolution issued on February 21, 2024 which awarded the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count (FASTrAC) contract to Miru and its partners St. Timothy Construction Corp. and Centerpoint Solutions Technologies. The former solon also urged the Court to nullify the implementation of any other contract that the poll body may have entered into with the Korean firm in connection with the incoming elections.

In his petition, Erice said the deal violated the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7369 or the Automated Election Law, particularly on the bidding procedures and the use of prototype machines during the election process.

“We will become guinea pigs, it’s against the law,” Erice told reporters.

He also indicated that the contract is highly disadvantageous to the government and described it as a “robbery in progress.”

“I think the government stands to lose around P10 billion because of this contract,” the former lawmaker said.

He noted that the government had not spent over P6 billion in the last five automated elections. “It’s the first time that we will be spending P18 billion.”

The petition was filed a day after the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion in disqualifying Smartmatic-TIM Corp. from participating in the bidding process for the 2025 AES without giving it the opportunity to submit any bid and without any reference to the eligibility requirements prescribed by its Bids and Awards Committee.

Erice, however, denied that Smartmatic was behind his petition, claiming that he had been preparing for its filing since three weeks ago.

The recent Court’s decision favoring Smartmatic, according to Erice, only bolstered his suspicion that there were irregularities surrounding the contract with Miru.

Then, in less than a year, they were declared unserviceable although they were still covered by the warranties issued by Smartmatic,” Erice said.

“Instead of declaring them unserviceable, the most logical thing to do in order for the government to save money, was to have them fixed for free and utilize them in the coming elections,” he added.

He also noted that after declaring the machines unserviceable, the Comelec disqualified Smartmatic from joining the bidding process.

The former solon said he is mulling to file an impeachment case against Comelec Commissioner George Garcia because of these alleged anomalies.

SC Spokesman Camille Sue Mae Ting on Tuesday said the Court did not nullify Comelec’s contract with Miru despite finding grave abuse of discretion on the part of Comelec in excluding Smartmatic from its bidding process.

She clarified that the validity of Miru’s contract with Comelec was not the issue presented in the case before the SC.

Ting also said the Court’s ruling is not tantamount to upholding Comelec’s contract with Miru since it was not the issue decided upon by the magistrates.

Impact on elections

COMELEC said it is ready to face the petition filed before the SC. However, the poll body noted that Erice’s petition could derail its preparations for the automated 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE).

In a radio interview last Thursday, Garcia said the agency “welcomes” the opportunity to defend FASTrAC contract with Miru before the High Court.

“That is a welcome development. We accept that,” Garcia said in Filipino. The only concern of Comelec on the matter, Garcia said, is it can prevent them from conducting an automated election next year, which will violate RA 8436 or the Automated Election System Act. “In case we will be stopped (by the SC), then the production of (vote counting)machines will not push through,” Garcia said.

“And if [the SC] will not stop us, but it will later say the awarding process [of the contract] is nullified, it will have the same end result and we might not be able to automate the election,” he added.

Miru is scheduled to start the production of the 110,000 voting machines, which it will lease to Comelec, on April 19. With a report by Samuel P. Medenilla

“Imagine, we have voting machines, we actually owned these machines because we bought them from Smartmatic, [They are] still good until 2025. In November 2022, Comelec certified that the 97,000 machines were in good working condition, they were still functioning.

Bong Go assists TESDA students in Iligan City

SENATOR

Christopher “Bong”

Go has dispatched his Malasakit Team to assist the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) students during the TESDA Orientation held in Iligan City, on Tuesday, April 16.

“As TESDA students, remember that the skills and knowledge you have acquired here will be your foundation for success in your chosen field,” said Go in a video message.

“Ang inyong dedikasyon, pagsisikap at determinasyon ang magiging susi ninyo sa pagkamit ng inyong pangarap,” he added.

Held at the Robinsons Place in the neighborhood of Tubod in Iligan City, 46 beneficiaries benefited from TESDA scholarships through Go’s initiative. In addition, they were given pens, t-shirts, and phone accessories while select recipients were given a watch and a phone.

Likewise, Go emphasizes the importance of education in the nation’s progress. He pledged to support educational initiatives that can provide the poor a better future.

“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan. Sa bawat kabataan na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral, pati pamilya nila ay nabibigyan natin ng mas magandang kinabukasan,” he said.

PBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PCG to deploy ships for ‘Balikatan’ drills

By Rex Anthony Naval

THE Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the annual “Balikatan” exercises for the first time and will deploy six of its ship for the seagoing phase of the military drills slated for April 22 to May 10.

PCG Spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said four 44-meter multi-role response vessels and two larger patrols ships were ordered prepared for the event by Coast Guard chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Galvan.

He added that ships are tasked to regularly conduct maritime security operations in the country’s exclusive economic zones.

Balilo also said members of the PCG Special Operations Force are set to undertake joint interoperability exercises with the Philippine Navy and their counterparts from Australia, France, and the United States.

Earlier, “Balikatan” executive agent Col. Michael Logico said a possible highlight of this year’s exercise is a “multilateral maritime exercise” (MME) involving Filipino, American, and French ships.

Participating naval ships will come from the Philippine Navy and Coast Guards and from the US Navy and Coast Guard, and the French Navy.

Possible exercises for the MME include a combination of division

tactics, search-and-rescue, visit, board and seizure exercises, landing deck operations and gunnery, to name a few.

Logico also said military exercises like annual “Balikatan” drills with American troops aimed to demonstrate and make more efficient the combat readiness of participating personnel.

Some 11,000 US troops and their support personnel along with 5,000 Filipino soldiers will participate in the three-week exercise.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said that the annual exercise between Filipino and American military personnel is not directed at any nation and it not meant to provoke anyone.

“The AFP emphasizes that the ‘Balikatan’ exercises are not directed towards any specific country. This long-standing initiative, spanning several years, is aimed at enhancing cooperation, fostering training opportunities, and strengthening re-

gional stability,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a message to reporters. She made this comment following Chinese claims that tensions rise in the area when countries outside the region are brought in to flex their muscles and stoke confrontation in the South China Sea. This iteration of “Balikatan” which will run from April 22 to May 10 will also demonstrate the AFP’s shift to the so-called “Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Council” which aims to protect all of the country’s territories including its exclusive economic zone.

The senator also filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2115 to institutionalize Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and livelihood programs for rehabilitated drug dependents. The bill seeks to provide skills training and enhance the employability of former drug dependents, allowing them to rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.

Meanwhile, Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography urged individuals with health issues to utilize the medical assistance services provided by the Malasakit Center located at Gregorio T. Lluch Memorial Hospital (GTLMH) in the city or at Kapatagan Provincial Hospital in Kapatagan town. The Malasakit Center is a convenient one-stop shop that brings together relevant agencies to provide medical aid to impoverished Filipinos. Go is the principal author and sponsor of the RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act, which has successfully assisted over 10 million Filipinos through the 163 Malasakit centers nationwide, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The lawmaker co-authored and co-sponsored Senate Bill No. (SBN) 1864, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, which has been approved in the third and final reading in the Senate. This proposed legislation aims to assist students facing challenges in repaying their student loans due to unexpected disasters and emergencies.

Meanwhile, Go supported the construction of Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary care, consultations and early disease detection closer to grassroots communities. Through the collective efforts of the DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa Jr., local government units, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of 700 centers nationwide. In Iligan City, a Super Health Center is funded in Brgy. Cabacsanan.

Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, has previously supported acquiring medical equipment for GTLMH and constructing a multipurpose building in the city.

Other projects he supported in the province are the construction of farm-to-market roads in Bacolod and Lala; road rehabilitation in Munai, purchase of one ambulance unit in Kapatagan; construction of flood control and drainage structure in Lala; rehabilitation of public markets in Magsaysay, and construction of multipurpose buildings in Kauswagan, Nunungan, Pantao Ragat, Pantar, Salvador, Tangcal and Tubod.

“Patuloy akong tutulong at magseserbisyo sa inyo sa abot ng aking makakaya dahil ang tangi kong bisyo ay magserbisyo at naniniwala ako na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” Go said who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to sectors in need.

Economy

Fuel subsidy for agri sector pushed amid high oil prices

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

IN light of the persistent surge in petroleum prices, a lawmaker has urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to facilitate the registration of farmers and fishermen in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) to enable them to benefit from the agency’s fuel subsidy program.

Rep. Wilbert T. Lee of the AGRI Party-list emphasized the need to modernize and streamline the RSBSA registration

process, citing the unfortunate circumstance wherein many agricultural workers fail to receive assistance due to inaccuracies or omissions in the registry.

“Given the burdens they bear, it’s regrettable that they’re not receiving the help they deserve,” Lee said last Thursday.

Apart from urging and assisting the DA in RSBSA registration, Lee underscored the importance of expediting and simplifying the requirements for registering machinery and boats to qualify for the fuel subsidy.

The DA recently announced it

has allocated P500 million to provide a one-time P3,000 fuel subsidy for farmers and fishermen who have their machinery and boats registered. The latter should have boats not exceeding three metric tons in order to qualify.

Diesel prices increased by P0.95 per liter this week, while gasoline prices rose by P0.40 per liter. Oil firms raised pump prices last week by P1.10 per liter for gasoline, P1.55 for diesel, and P1.40 for kerosene.

The lawmaker appealed to the DA to give time for farmers and fishermen to register their equipment as the department finalizes its guidelines for the subsidy.

“The DA should grant our agricultural workers the opportunity to register with RSBSA while

subsidy guidelines are pending,” Lee said. “When the subsidy distribution commences, the DA should utilize the latest registry to ensure equitable distribution.”

The lawmaker also urged the DA to consider giving another round of fuel subsidies in the second half of the year if fuel prices continue to soar.

“Given the frequent and substantial increases in petroleum prices, a one-time P3,000 subsidy is insufficient,” Lee said. “While the oil price surge persists, the DA should consider providing another round of subsidy before year-end to alleviate the burdens of our farmers and fishers, easing their worries about unforeseen expenses, particularly if a family member falls ill.”

During the past budget deliberations in Congress, Lee persistently called on the House leadership to provide an additional budget to update and streamline the effectiveness of RSBSA and for the swift delivery of fuel subsidies to farmers and fishermen.

UNO Bank triples users’ savings interest rates with new promo

UNO Bank Inc. is returning the favor to its active users not just once or twice, but thrice.

Clients who choose to do cashless transactions amounting to at least P300 using the digital bank’s app to settle their bills, purchase online with the UNO virtual debit card, and pay for an insurance premium are eligible to its “Triple Your Daily Interest” promo.

Ongoing until May 31, account

holders can increase their savings by earning up to 12.75 percent per annum (p.a.)—or three times that of its standard rate of 4.25 percent—for the day with every qualified transaction. Also, they can add and transfer money for free through InstaPay and PESOnet.

Those with accounts with the GCash app, on the other hand, can link their accounts directly once they download the UNO app to earn more in their savings interest rates.

Roderick L. Abad

CAAP told: Shape up on Davao airport

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

DAVAO CITY—The city government expressed its dismay on the management of the airport here and told the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines XI “to act swiftly and improve the facilities and services” at the Davao International Airport.

The city government issued the call on Tuesday and posted it on its website after it took notice of a string of comments from Davao residents and visitors on the state of airport facilities.

“This has been a recurring issue. The local government has constantly raised these concerns to the CAAP XI, which is the agency mandated to manage the Davao International Airport, yet we see no significant improvement until today [Tuesday],” the city government said.

The complaints ranged from poor or no water services at the rest rooms and untidy floors to poor air conditioning system, poor lighting inside the building and lack of push carts.

The city government said that while it has no direct control over the DIA, “the city government continues to support CAAP XI in various ways for the welfare of the public.”

The city government said it has provided augmentation security personnel within the DIA compound to ensure the safety and security of passengers and the public, as it also disclosed that it recently turned over additional push carts.

“While we acknowledge that CAAP is preparing for the transition of airport management to the Davao International Airport Authority [DIAA], it must not fall short in delivering its mandate to maintain our airport,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) warned that it would be exacting fines and sanctions to violators of the Davao City Mosquito Borne Disease Protection and Control Program or City Ordinance 0401 (series of 2020).

CHO Tropical Division Head Melodina Babante said dialogues were now being conducted between the City Treasurer’s Office, City Legal Office and the Barangay and Cultural Communities Affairs Division in order to penalize residents whose homes or places of business are found to have mosquito breeding sites.

Under the city ordinance, the dumping of old tires and batteries, as well as uncovered plastic drums, water tanks and containers are prohibited as these can become breeding sites for dengue-carrying mosquitoes, the City Information Office said.

Failure to adhere mandates a P1,000 fine and a two-day community service for first-time offenders, a fine of P3,000 and a four-hour community service for the second offense; and a P5,000 fine and a four-hour community service for the third offense.

Babante said the implementation of the penalties is one of the methods by which the CHO is trying to curb dengue cases which spiked in 2023.

In 2022, Davao City logged 1,481 dengue cases which resulted in 21 deaths. In 2023, however, cases ballooned to 6,269 which led to 52 fatalities.

From January to April 18 this year, the CHO already recorded 1,140 dengue cases which led to the death of eight people. This is higher than the six deaths logged for the same period last year.

“Right now we challenge all barangays to create the said task force because for us in the Tropical Division, our everyday activity is to go to the barangays, even ones without reported cases of dengue,” Babante said.

Babante said only 32 out of the 182 barangays in the city have a Dengue Task Force that monitor the cleanliness of their respective areas and actively search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds. This means that it is usually left to the CHO, City Environment and Natural Resource Office and the Ancillary Services Unit to find and destroy breeding grounds of disease-carrying mosquitos in most barangays, she said.

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Netanyahu says Israel will decide its response to Iran’s air assault, ignoring calls for restraint

JERUSALEM—Israeli

Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday his country would be the one to decide whether and how to respond to Iran’s major air assault earlier this week, brushing off calls for restraint from close allies.

Israel has vowed to respond to Iran’s unprecedented attack without saying when or how, leaving the region bracing for further escalation after months of unrest linked to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Israel’s allies have been urging Israel since the attack to hold back on any response that could spiral. These calls were repeated on Wednesday during visits by the British and German foreign ministers.

The diplomatic pressures came as Iran’s president warned that even the “tiniest” invasion of its territory would bring a “massive and harsh” response. Violence meanwhile surged on Wednesday between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese militant Hezbollah group, which fired a volley of rockets and drones on northern Israel. The attack wounded at least 14 Israeli soldiers, six seriously, the army said. The military said it struck Hezbollah targets deep inside Lebanon in response.

Speaking to a meeting of his Cabinet, Netanyahu said he met Wednesday with both visiting foreign ministers and thanked them for their countries’ support. But he said Israel would make the call on its own on how to respond despite “all sorts of suggestions and advice” coming from Israel’s allies, some of whom— including the United States, the United Kingdom and France—helped Israel repel Iran’s drone and missile assault.

“I want to be clear: we will make our decisions ourselves. The state of Israel will do whatever is necessary to defend itself,” Netanyahu said.

Despite the tough rhetoric, Israel appears unlikely to attack Iran directly without at least the support of its top ally, the US. But it could resort to more covert methods such as targeting senior Iranian commanders or Iran-backed groups in other countries, or launching a cyber attack.

It’s unclear how Iran would then respond, given the heightened tensions— any miscalculation by either side risks setting off a regional war.

President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday said it would place new sanctions on Iran and has worked to coordinate a global rebuke of the attack while urging all sides to de-escalate. US officials said earlier this week that Biden told Netanyahu that Washington would not participate in any offensive action against Iran.

Over the weekend, Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel in response to an apparent Israeli strike on Iran’s Embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed 12 people, including two Iranian generals.

Israel says it and its partners successfully intercepted nearly all the missiles and drones. A 7-year-old girl was wounded in the attack, which did not cause any deaths or major damage.

Israel and Iran have waged a shadow war for decades, but the strike over the weekend was the first direct Iranian military attack on Israel.

With tensions surging, Israel’s allies have reinforced a message of restraint. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron

Pakistan expects to avoid rupee devaluation in new IMF talks

By Eric Martin, Faseeh Mangi & Ranjeetha Pakiam

PAKISTAN’S new government does not anticipate any significant currency devaluation as part of its negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to unlock billions of dollars in lending and bolster the nation’s economic reform agenda.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said there’d be no reason for the rupee to depreciate more than the range of about 6 percent to 8 percent seen in a typical year. Pakistan last devalued its currency in January 2023.

While massive devaluations have accompanied some of Pakistan’s previous

and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock each appealed for calm while on separate visits to the region.

Cameron said “it’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act” against Iran, but he hoped they would do so “in a way that is smart as well as tough and also does as little as possible to escalate this conflict.” He spoke after meeting with Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, whose office is mainly ceremonial.

Baerbock said Germany stands “in full solidarity with Israel” but called on it to exercise restraint.

“Everyone must now act prudently and responsibly. I’m not talking about giving in. I’m talking about prudent restraint, which is nothing less than strength,” she told reporters. “Because Israel has already shown strength with its defensive victory at the weekend.”

The ministers said they would push for further international sanctions on Iran.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel against any retaliation as he addressed an annual army parade, which had been relocated to a barracks from its usual route and was not carried live on state TV—possibly because of fears that it could be targeted.

In remarks carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, Raisi said the weekend attack was limited, and that if Iran had wanted to carry out a bigger attack, “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime.”

Regional tensions have soared since the October 7 attack on southern Israel launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Palestinian militant groups supported by Iran. The attack killed some 1,200 Israelis, and the militants took around 250 hostages. Israel responded with one of the deadliest and most destructive military onslaughts in recent history, killing nearly 34,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, who do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count but say most of the dead are women and children.

Israel has withdrawn most of its forces from Gaza after major offensives that left its two biggest cities—Gaza City and Khan Younis—in ruins. But Israeli officials say the war is not over and that they plan to send ground forces into the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half the territory’s population of 2.3 million people have sought refuge from fighting elsewhere.

Hamas is still holding around 130 hostages, a quarter of whom are believed to be dead, and international efforts to broker a cease-fire and hostage release have made little progress.

Hezbollah, another close Iran ally, has traded fire with Israel along the border on a near-daily basis since the war began, in a low-intensity conflict that risks igniting all-out war. Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria have also launched attacks, and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted international shipping in the Red Sea, portraying it as a blockade of Israel.

The Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran; Jill Lawless in London and Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.

nation’s growth above 4 percent in the coming years.

IMF loans and are often a condition of the crisis lender’s programs around the world, nothing comparable should be necessary this time around, he added in an interview on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

“I don’t see the need for any step change,” Aurangzeb said Wednesday, citing solid foreign-exchange reserves, a stable currency, rising remittances and steady exports. “The only thing which can be a wild card, although in our projections we should be OK, is the oil price.”

Aurangzeb, 59, said the new government in Islamabad was looking to bolster industries including agriculture and information technology with support that it hopes will help push the

In its talks with the IMF, Pakistan plans to seek a traditional IMF loan through the institution’s so-called extended fund facility. It also wants to get money via the IMF’s new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, which intends to strengthen low-income and vulnerable countries against external shocks like the floods that devastated Pakistan in 2022.

One of the new government’s tasks will be to steer the country out of a high-inflation and low-growth pattern.

It also faces about $24 billion in external financing needs in the fiscal year starting July, about three times its reserves.

Aurangzeb said Pakistan is in “relatively good shape” to make those payments.

Pakistan needs to repay “a couple of billion dollars” in the present fiscal year but reserves are expected to reach around

The World

Russian missiles slam into Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches critical stage

By Illia Novikov The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Three Russian missiles slammed into a downtown area of the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv on Wednesday, hitting an eightfloor apartment building and killing at least 17 people, authorities said.

At least 61 people, including three children, were wounded in the morning attack, Ukrainian emergency services said, as rescue workers searched through partially demolished buildings and tall mounds of rubble. Chernihiv lies about 150 kilometers (90 miles) north of the capital, Kyiv, near the border with Russia and Belarus, and has a population of around 250,000 people.

The latest Russian bombardment came as the war has stretched into its third year and approaches what could be a critical juncture. A lack of further military support from Ukraine’s Western partners increasingly leaves it at the mercy of the Kremlin’s bigger forces.

Through the winter months, Russia made no dramatic advance along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, focusing instead on attritional warfare. However, Ukraine’s shortage of artillery ammunition, troops and armored vehicles has allowed the Russians to gradually push forward, military analysts say.

A crucial factor is the holdup in Washington of approval for an aid package that includes roughly $60 billion for Ukraine. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that he would try to move the package forward this week.

Ukraine’s need is acute, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank. “The Russians are breaking out of positional warfare and beginning to restore maneuver to the battlefield because of the delays in the provision of US military assistance to Ukraine,” the ISW said in an assessment late Tuesday, adding that “only the US can provide rapidly and at scale.”

Ukraine got some good news Wednesday from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who said his country has secured 500,000 artillery shells for Ukraine from countries outside the European Union. The first shells are due for delivery in June.

The 27-nation EU promised a year ago to send Ukraine 1 million artillery shells, but the bloc was unable to produce that many.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded with Western countries to provide more air defense equipment, including more surface-to-air Patriot guided missile systems. He said the Chernihiv strike “would not have happened if Ukraine had received enough air defense equipment and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror was also sufficient.”

Zelenskyy told PBS in an interview broadcast earlier this week that Ukraine recently ran out of air defense missiles while it was defending against a major missile and drone attack that destroyed one of Ukraine’s largest power plants, part of a recent Russian campaign targeting energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba repeated Zelenskyy’s appeal as he prepared to attend a Group of Seven foreign ministers’ meeting in Italy.

“We need at least seven more Patriot batteries to protect our cities and economic centers from destruction,” Kuleba told German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung in an interview published Wednesday. “Why is it so difficult to find seven Patriot batteries?”

Ukrainian forces are digging in, building fortifications in anticipation of a major Russian offensive that Kyiv officials say could come as early as next month.

Ukraine is using long-range drone and missile strikes behind Russian lines, which are designed to disrupt Moscow’s war machine.

Russia’s defense ministry said a Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Tatarstan region early Wednesday. That’s the same area that was targeted in early April by Ukraine’s deepest strike so far inside Russia, about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) east of Ukraine.

IN this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work at the site of a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv, Ukraine on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE VIA AP

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The World

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United Arab Emirates struggles to recover after heaviest recorded rainfall ever hits desert nation

By Jon Gambrell The Associated Press

DUBAI,

United

Arab Emirates—The United Arab Emirates struggled Thursday to recover from the heaviest recorded rainfall ever to hit the desert nation, as its main airport worked to restore normal operations even as floodwater still covered portions of major highways and roads.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, allowed global carriers on Thursday morning to again fly into Terminal 1 at the airfield.

“Flights continue to be delayed and disrupted, so we urge you to only come to Terminal 1 if you have a confirmed booking,” the airport said on the social platform X.

The long-haul carrier Emirates, whose operations had been struggling since the storm Tuesday, had stopped travelers flying out of the UAE from checking into their flights as they tried to move out connecting passengers. Pilots and flight crews had been struggling to reach the airport given the water on roadways. But on Thursday, they lifted that order to allow customers into the airport.

Others who arrived at the airport described hourslong waits to get their baggage, with some just giving up to head home or to whatever hotel would have them.

The UAE, a hereditarily ruled, autocratic nation on the Arabian Peninsula, typically sees little rainfall in its arid desert climate. However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms.

By the end of Tuesday, more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport. Other areas of the country saw even more precipitation.

The UAE’s drainage systems quickly became overwhelmed, flooding out neighborhoods,

business districts and even portions of the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Road highway running through Dubai.

The state-run WAM news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”

In a message to the nation late Wednesday, Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, said authorities would “quickly work on studying the condition of infrastructure throughout the UAE and to limit the damage caused.”

On Thursday, people waded through oil-slicked floodwater to reach cars earlier abandoned, checking to see if their engines still ran. Tanker trucks with vacuums began reaching some areas outside of Dubai’s downtown core for the first time as well. Schools remain closed until next week.

Authorities have offered no overall damage or injury information from the floods, which killed at least one person.

“Crises reveal the strength of countries and societies,” Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wrote on X. “The natural climate crisis that we experienced showed the great care, awareness, cohesion and love for every corner of the country from all its citizens and residents.”

Pakistan expects to avoid rupee devaluation in new IMF talks

Continued from A12

$10 billion by the end of June from $8 billion now, said Aurangzeb. The dollar reserves currently cover about two months of imports.

Loan support

PAKISTAN relies heavily on bilateral nations such as China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE for loans that have been extended for many years once they reach maturity. As much as $10 billion in such loans are expected to be rolled over in the fiscal year starting July, said Aurangzeb.

Pakistan expects an IMF mission to visit in May and would like to reach a staff-level agreement on its next loan by the end of June or early July, Aurangzeb said, without specifying how much the nation was seeking.

Bloomberg News earlier reported that the nation plans to ask for at least $6 billion.

Securing a new deal may also boost Pakistan’s dollar bonds and stock market, which have handed investors one of the best gains globally since the nation began the current IMF loan last July. The IMF executive board is expected to approve the final

disbursement this month from the nation’s existing $3 billion loan that helped it avert a default on its debt last year.

Key objectives in the loan negotiations will include broadening the tax base, improving debt sustainability and restoring viability to the energy sector, the IMF said last month. These are steps that Pakistan has avoided for decades because of their unpopularity among a nation of more than 250 million people, where the military remains a formidable presence.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s pick of Aurangzeb, a former executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wharton School graduate, marked a shift to using technocrats to steer the cash-strapped economy and negotiate new loans from the IMF. He took on the job last month as Pakistan faced record-high economic pessimism, according to polling by Gallup.

Pakistan in recent years increased tax revenue and energy prices to meet IMF demands, though it hasn’t been able to make progress on long-term structural issues such as privatizing state-owned companies.

With assistance from Karl Lester M. Yap/ Bloomberg

The flooding sparked speculation that the UAE’s aggressive campaign of cloud seeding—flying small planes through clouds dispersing chemicals aimed at getting rain to fall—may have contributed to the deluge. But experts said the storm systems that produced the rain were forecast well in advance and that cloud seeding alone would not have caused such flooding.

Jeff Masters, a meteorologist for Yale Climate Connections, said the flooding in Dubai was caused by an unusually strong low-pressure system that drove many rounds of heavy thunderstorms.

Scientists also say climate change is responsible for more intense and more frequent extreme storms, droughts, floods and wildfires around the world. Dubai hosted the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks just last year.

Abu Dhabi’s state-linked newspaper The National in an editorial Thursday described the heavy rains as a warning to countries in the wider Persian Gulf region to “climate-proof their futures.”

“The scale of this task is more daunting that it appears even at first glance, because such changes involve changing the urban environment of a region that for as long as it has been inhabited, has experienced little but heat and sand,” the newspaper said.

Russian missiles slam into Ukraine city and kill 17 people as the war approaches critical stage

Continued from A13

Ukrainian drone developers have been extending the weapons’ range.

Another Ukrainian drone was shot down over the Mordovia region, roughly 350 kilometers (220 miles) east of Moscow, the ministry said. That is 700 kilometers (430 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

About an hour before the Mordovia attack, Russia’s civil aviation authority halted flights at airports in two of the country’s largest cities, Nizhny Novgorod and Tatarstan’s Kazan, because of safety concerns.

Also, unconfirmed reports said a Ukrainian missile struck an airfield in occupied Crimea. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian officials confirmed the strike, but local authorities temporarily closed a road where the airfield is located. Russian news agency Tass quoted the local mayor as saying windows in a mosque and a private house in the region were shattered in a blast there. TheAssociated Press writers Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed.

The World

Biden vows to shield US steel industry by blocking Japanese merger and seeking new Chinese tariffs

By Chris Megerian & Will Weissert The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH—President Joe Biden suggested to cheering, unionized steelworkers on Wednesday that his administration would thwart the acquisition of US Steel by a Japanese company, and he called for a tripling of tariffs on Chinese steel, seeking to use trade policy to win over working-class votes in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

The Democratic president’s pitch comes as Donald Trump, his likely Republican opponent, tries to chart a path back to the White House with tough-on-China rhetoric and steep tariff proposals of his own.

During a visit to the Pittsburgh headquarters of United Steelworkers, Biden said US Steel “has been an iconic American company for more than a century and it should remain totally American.”

Administration officials are reviewing the proposed acquisition of US Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, and Biden said last month he would oppose the deal, saying it was “vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”

But in front of a union audience, he went much further in pledging he may block it.

“American-owned, Americanoperated by American union steelworkers—the best in the world— and that’s going to happen, I promise you,” he said.

In another step that his administration argues can protect domestic steelworkers, Biden also announced that he will push for higher tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum, aiming to insulate American producers from a flood of cheap imports.

Biden’s push on steel reflects the intersection of international trade policy with his reelection effort, although the White House insisted they were more about shielding American manufacturing from unfair trade practices overseas than firing up a union audience.

The current tariff rate is 7.5 percent for both steel and aluminum but could climb to 25 percent under Biden’s proposal. The president said he was asking his trade representative to seek the increase, and separate tariffs of 10 percent on aluminum and 25 percent on steel would also remain in place.

The US imported roughly $6.1 billion in steel products in the 12 months ending in February 2023, but just 3 percent of those imports came from China, according to Census Bureau figures.

Citing existing trade barriers, the American Iron and Steel Institute said China last year accounted for even less—just 2.1 percent of US steel imports—making it America’s seventh-biggest source of foreign steel.

However, a senior administration official said there are concerns about China ramping up exports, making the higher tariff levels necessary as a preventative measure.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the

Chinese Embassy in Washington, said the “US is making the same mistake again and again” by seeking increased tariffs. In a statement, he also dismissed levies already in place as “the embodiment of unilateralism and protectionism of the US.”

Biden insisted that getting tougher on China was sound policy, including when it comes to preventing the exportation of advanced technologies that could “undermine our national security.”

He said he delivered a similar message to Chinese President Xi Jinping during previous conversations, telling him, “You’ll use them for all the wrong reasons, so you’re not going to get those advanced computer chips.”

Biden criticized Trump for failing to take such steps, saying that “for all his tough talk on China, it never occurred to my predecessor to do any of that.”

The administration also promised to pursue investigations against countries and importers that try to saturate existing markets with Chinese steel, and said it was working with Mexico to ensure that Chinese companies cannot circumvent the tariffs by shipping steel there for subsequent export to the United States.

“The president understands we must invest in American manufacturing. But we also have to protect those investments and those workers from unfair

exports associated with China’s industrial overcapacity,” said White House national economic adviser Lael Brainard.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai also announced Wednesday that her office, acting on a petition from five national labor unions, was investigating China for “targeting the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors for dominance.”

China’s Commerce Ministry responded hours later that the “US petition is full of false accusations.”

It “misinterprets normal trade and investment activities as damaging to US national security and corporate interests,” the ministry said in a statement. “And blames China for the US’s own industrial issues, lacking factual basis and running counter to common sense in economics.”

China produces about half of the world’s steel and is making far more than its domestic market needs. It sells steel on the world market for less than half what USproduced steel costs, senior Biden administration officials said. The first step to the higher tariffs is the completion of a review of Chinese trade practices. Once Biden gives the official authorization, there will be a public notice and a comment period that could take weeks.

Biden is on a three-day Pennsylvania swing that began in his childhood hometown of Scranton

China, Indonesia call for Gaza cease-fire, express support for Palestinian statehood

By Edna Tarigan The Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia—The Chinese and Indonesian foreign ministers called for an immediate and lasting cease-fire in Gaza after a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday, condemning the humanitarian costs of the ongoing war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told reporters that the two countries share the same view about the importance of a cease-fire and of resolving the Palestinian problem through a two-state solution.

“I am sure that China would use its influence to prevent escalation,” Marsudi said, adding that China and Indonesia “would also fully support Palestine’s membership in the UN.”

The meeting took place on the second day of a six-day tour during which Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also visit Papua New Guinea and Cambodia.

Wang blamed the United States for holding up ceasefire resolutions at the U.N.

“The conflict in Gaza has lasted for half a year and caused a rare humanitarian tragedy in the 21st century. The United Nations Se-

curity Council responded to the call of the international community and continued to review the resolution draft on the ceasefire in Gaza, but it was repeatedly vetoed by the United States,” Wang told reporters.

The US vetoed a number of proposed Security Council resolutions because they didn’t tie cease-fire directly to the release of Israel hostages or condemn Hamas’ attacks that prompted the war, before allowing a resolution to a pass with an abstention in late March.

American officials have argued that the cease-fire and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for a cease-fire.

“This time, the US did not dare to stand in opposition to international morality and chose to abstain. However, the US claimed that this resolution was not binding,” Wang said. “In the eyes of the United States, international law seems to be a tool that can be used whenever it finds useful and discarded if it does not want to use it.”

The two ministers also discussed their countries’ economic relationship and the South China Sea.

on Tuesday and will include a visit to Philadelphia on Thursday. After ignoring the first two days of Trump’s hush money trial in New York, Biden made a veiled reference to it on Wednesday, joking that his predecessor is “busy right now.”

Biden’s announcement on steel tariffs was cheered by US steelmakers. Kevin Dempsey, president of the American Iron and Steel Institute, accused China of disrupting “world markets both by subsidizing the production of steel and other products, and by dumping those products in the US and other markets.”

To coincide with the announcement, Biden’s campaign released a 60-second ad that will air on Pennsylvania television for the next five days. It features a steelworker, who is also a small-town mayor, praising the president’s economic policies. Higher tariffs can carry major economic risks. Steel and

aluminum could become more expensive, possibly increasing the costs of cars, construction materials and other key goods for US consumers. Also, inflation has already been a drag on Biden’s political fortunes, and his turn toward protectionism echoes Trump’s playbook.

The former president, who has said he would never allow the acquisition of US Steel by a foreign company to go through, imposed broader tariffs on Chinese goods during his administration and has threatened to increase levies on Chinese goods unless they trade on his preferred terms as he campaigns for another term.

An outside analysis by the consultancy Oxford Economics has suggested that putting in place the tariffs Trump has proposed could hurt the overall US economy.

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

PRESIDENT Joe Biden speaks at the United Steelworkers Headquarters in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. AP/GENE J. PUSKAR

The World

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Europe wants 2 things from China. It may not get far on either of them

By Ken Moritsugu The Associated Press

BEIJING—Europe wants two things from China: First, a shift in its relatively pro-Russia position on the war in Ukraine. Second, a reduction in the trade imbalance—Chinese goods exports to the EU exceeded its imports from the 27-nation bloc by 291 billion euros ($310 billion) last year.

It’s not clear if it will get very far on either front.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz became the latest European leader to leave China with promises to talk but little more. The Chinese statements on his meetings in Beijing this week didn’t appear to give ground on the issues that divide the EU and China.

There is some reason for hope in Europe. China badly wants foreign investment to boost its sluggish economy.

And China has made efforts to mend its relationships from Europe to the United States and Australia, despite its differences with them.

But those considerations may not outweigh the larger strategic reasons

China has for aligning itself with Russia as it seeks an alternative to the US-led global order and for promoting its green energy companies as it tries to build the nation into a technology leader.

A European divide on tariffs

BOTH the EU and the US are complaining that Chinese policies to promote green energy have incentivized companies to build too much manufacturing capacity for electric cars, solar panels and other related products.

Low-priced exports have taken a toll on solar companies in Europe and America and pose a potential threat to other industries. The EU launched an investigation last fall into Chinese subsidies and could impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China.

China has agreed to talks on production capacity with the US but remained steadfast in defending its exports of green energy products. They have “not only enriched global supply and eased global inflationary pressure, but also made an important contribution to the global response to climate change and the green and low-carbon transition,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Scholz.

Overcapacity is also a problem for China. Experts have called for better policy coordination so that not every province promotes the same industries. While that may avoid future problems, it won’t reduce existing overcapacity. Not everyone in Europe agrees that tariffs would be a good thing. China is a major market for many European companies, and some fear tariffs could trigger a trade war.

The German Chamber of Commerce said it would like the focus to be on further opening Chinese markets to German companies. In line with that thinking, Scholz called for a reliable legal system, the protection of intellectual property and equal market access for foreign firms in China.

These issues have taken on increased importance, as Chinese companies emerge as innovation leaders in key technologies. A recent Chamber survey of German companies found that 5 percent viewed Chinese competitors as innovation leaders, with 11 percent doing so in the auto sector.

“This is really a new topic,” said Maximilian Butek, executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in East China. “And if those highly competitive companies are still protected by the government, then we have actually global challenges resulting from that.”

A fundamental divide on Ukraine

If there is one issue most of Europe can

Indonesians leave homes near erupting volcano, airport closes due to ash danger

By Gracey Wakary & Edna Tarigan The Associated Press

MANADO, Indonesia—Indonesian authorities closed an airport and residents left homes near an erupting volcano Thursday due to the dangers of spreading ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and the possibility of a tsunami.

Mount Ruang on the northern side of Sulawesi Island had at least five large eruptions Wednesday, causing the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation to issue its highest-level alert, indicating an active eruption.

The crater emitted white-gray smoke continuously during the day Thursday, reaching more than 500 meters (1,600 feet) above the peak.

People have been ordered to stay at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the 725-meter (2,378 foot) mountain. More than 11,000 people live in the affected area and were told to leave. At least 800 have done so.

An international airport in Manado city was temporarily closed Thursday as volcanic ash was spewed into the air.

“We have to close flight operations at Sam Ratulangi Airport due to the spread of volcanic ash, which could endanger flight safety,” said Ambar Suryoko, head of the regional airport authority.

Eruptions Wednesday evening spewed volcanic ash approximately 70,000 feet into the atmosphere, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology’s Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre. The bureau said in a statement Thursday it was tracking and forecasting the ash dispersion.

Indonesia’s volcanology center noted the risks from the volcanic eruption include the possibility that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami. In December 2018,

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano island erupted and collapsed, losing around 3/4 its volume and triggering a powerful tsunami that killed more than 400 people.

An 1871 eruption at Mount Ruang also

European Union official urges G7 to step up air defense for Ukraine and expand Iran sanctions

By Nicole Winfield Associated Press

CAPRI, Italy—The European Union’s top diplomat urged Group of Seven foreign ministers on Thursday to take quick, concrete steps to provide more air defense systems to Ukraine, warning that continued delays could tilt the war in Moscow’s favor.

Without more Patriot air defense missile systems to guard against incoming Russian strikes, “the electricity system of Ukraine will be destroyed. And no country can fight without having electricity at home, in the factories, in the front line,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned.

He was speaking on the sidelines of a G7 foreign ministers meeting on the Italian resort island of Capri, where Russia’s

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agree on, it is the hope that China would lean on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the invasion of Ukraine, now in its third year with no sign of letting up.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said three weeks ago in Beijing that he had asked Chinese leaders “to put their considerable weight ... on Russia to influence the course of events.” Five days later, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné said after meeting his Chinese counterpart that France expects China to pass on clear messages to Russia on Ukraine.

This week it was Scholz’s turn. “China’s word carries weight in Russia,” he said. “So I asked President Xi to bear upon Russia so that Putin finally breaks off his insane campaign, withdraws his troops and ends this terrible war.”

The problem is that Europe and China have fundamentally different starting points. Europe, together with the United States, says Russia is in the wrong and should pull its forces back and leave Ukraine. China doesn’t blame Russia, and says any peace settlement would need to address Russia’s concerns as well as those of Ukraine and the West.

China has undercut Western sanctions by continuing to trade with Russia, and Scholz and others have expressed concern about reports that Chinese companies are selling “dual-use” items that help Russia build military hardware. China has blamed the US and others for prolonging the fighting by supplying armaments to Ukraine.

“China has not provided weapons to either side, and it is China’s right to maintain normal economic and trade relations with Russia,” said Ding Chun, the director of the Center for European Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

The Chinese government shares the desire of others to see an end to the fighting but seems unlikely to pressure Russia to pull out. The Chinese statement on the Xi-Scholz talks did not address the German leader’s request.

The Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed.

triggered a tsunami.

Tagulandang Island, east of the Ruang volcano, could be at risk if a collapse occurred. Its residents were among those being told to evacuate.

“People who live in the Tagulandang Island area and are within a 6-kilometer radius must be immediately evacuated to a safe place outside the 6-kilometer radius,” Abdul Muhari, spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said Thursday. “And especially those who live near the coast should be aware of the potential for incandescent rocks to erupt, hot clouds and tsunami waves that could be triggered by the collapse of a volcanic body into the sea.”

The agency said residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi island—a six-hour journey by boat.

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoeshaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

AP writer Rod McGuirk contributed from Sydney.

war in Ukraine and surging tensions in the Middle East over Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel were topping the agenda.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani opened the first working session of the meeting by calling for new sanctions against Iran for its weekend attack and concrete help for Ukraine to defend itself from Moscow’s invasion.

“If Ukraine loses, Putin will never sit at the peace table,” Tajani warned.

Russia’s war in Ukraine and the IsraelHamas war were taking center stage at the Capri meeting, which dovetailed with other reginal diplomatic efforts sending the same messages. On Wednesday, EU leaders meeting in Brussels vowed to ramp up sanctions on Iran to target its drone and missile deliveries to proxies in Gaza, Yemen and Lebanon.

Borrell said the existing EU sanctions regime on Iran would be strengthened and expanded to punish Tehran for its attack and help prevent future ones on Israel. At the same time, he said, Israel needed to exercise restraint.

“I don’t want to exaggerate but we are on the edge of a war, a regional war in the Middle East, which will be sending shockwaves to the rest of the world, and in particular to Europe,”he warned.“So stop it.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg were attending the Capri meeting as guests. Kuleba underlined his country’s need for essential military support, including artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems to bolster its capacity as Russia pushes along the front line.

He thanked Germany for providing Ukraine with a Patriot battery, but urged the US Congress to approve a funding package that has been held up.

DOE: High temperatures affecting power plant ops

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday said the extremely high temperatures have been affecting the operations of power plants as the red alert was once again raised for the third consecutive day in the Luzon grid.

The red alert notice was up from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. while the yellow alerts were expected from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., and 10:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. in the Luzon grid, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

remained tight since April 16, resulting in the issuance of red and yellow alerts in the Luzon grid and yellow alerts in the Visayas grid.

The DOE reiterated its call for everyone’s cooperation in minimizing power consumption especially at peak hours during the remainder of the hot season.

Heat index levels

this period of extreme heat where electricity usage is at a record high.

The agency recognized the cooperation of all stakeholders in the power sector for minimizing power interruptions despite the red alerts. The Interruptible Load Program (ILP) of the distribution utilities (DUs) also contributed significantly to this effort.

CHED: Chinese students in Cagayan are in SPUP

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Thursday clarified that there are no Chinese students enrolled in local public colleges and universities in Cagayan province, but there is a “significant” number of Chinese students enrolled in Saint Paul University Philippines (SPUP)Tuguegarao City.

CHED gave the statement following news reports on an alleged surge of Chinese nationals enrolling in universities in Cagayan and the concern over the prevailing situation in the West Philippine Sea.

label well-meaning Filipinos as “pro-China” or “pro-Chinese” or even “spies of China,” it said.

APCU and its members and many other Tsinoy organizations are neither pro-China or against any other nations. APCU is clearly pro-Filipino and working for the best interest of the country.

Started in the early 1970s, APCU was formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 1974.

It is the officially recognized friendship association between the Philippines and China.

CHED explains St. Paul’s status

In the Visayas grid, the NGCP issued a yellow alert status from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Based on the NGCP’s monitoring, both the Luzon and Visayas grids reached all-time-high peak demands for the year so far. The peak demand in Luzon was recorded at 13,222 megawatt (MW) last April 17, at 2:48 PM, while the Visayas grid reached a peak demand of 2,525 MW at 3:34 p.m.

Power supply conditions have

A red alert status is issued when the power supply is insufficient to meet consumer demand and the transmission grid’s regulating requirement while a yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), on the other hand, recorded the highest heat index level of 44 degrees Celsius in Dagupan City, Pangasinan; Puerto Princes City, Palawan; Aborlan, Palawan; and Catarman, Northern Samar, on April 17, 2024.

Thursday’s forecast predicted Luzon and Visayas with high heat indexes ranging from 42 degrees to 45 degrees, with areas affected including Aborlan, Palawan at 45 degrees, Dagupan City, Pangasinan at 44 degrees, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan at 44 degrees, and Catarman, Northern Samar at 44 degrees.

The DOE said it continues to closely monitor and coordinate with NGCP and all generation companies during

PHL, NZ to level up bilateral relations

THE Philippines and New Zealand have agreed to forge a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026 to mark the 60th year of bilateral relations between the two Pacific nations.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a joint statement that they have agreed to “elevate” the bilateral relations between the Philippines and New Zealand.

“The leaders directed their Foreign Ministers and relevant officials to put in place a Roadmap to guide the establishment of the Comprehensive Partnership, including the elevation of the Foreign Ministry Consultations to the ViceMinisterial level and the creation of new mechanisms including a Joint Economic Commission and a Maritime Dialogue,” the joint statement read.

Marcos and Luxon have also agreed to consider further visa facilitation between the Philippines and New Zealand.

The leaders committed to maintain and strengthen defense engagements while exploring new frameworks to deepen defense ties. Both sides committed to the signing of a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement (MLSA) by the end of 2024, and to concluding a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (Sovfa).

BOC

T“As Pacific maritime nations, the two leaders recognized the Philippines and New Zealand’s shared interest in preserving peace and stability at sea, and in this regard, looked forward to cooperating on maritime law enforcement, including addressing common threats, such as piracy, IUUF [illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing], maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, wildlife trafficking, and irregular human migration,” the joint statement read.

Marcos and Luxon expressed their shared serious concern over recent developments in the South China Sea. They affirmed the right of freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas accorded by international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

They committed to further eliminate unnecessary barriers to trade and to work together to ensure that exporters fully utilize the comprehensive suite of free trade agreements, with a view to achieving a mutually beneficial increase of 50 percent in two-way trade by 2030.

The leaders said Philippine and New Zealand companies can cooperate in agricultural technology and innovation, agribusiness, renewable energy, education and skills, and

digital infrastructure.

“The Philippines also welcomes investments in priority sectors and collaboration in sectors where New Zealand’s expertise is most valued, such as agriculture, knowledge and skills, and disaster risk management,” Marcos said.

Luxon, for his part, acknowledged the contribution Filipinos make to New Zealand’s economy, including filling critical gaps in New Zealand’s workforce. The leaders agreed to discuss social security issues relating to Filipinos in New Zealand.

Marcos and Luxon said they will strengthen cooperation regarding the welfare of migrant workers, particularly Filipino nurses.

“Both Leaders looked forward to the review of the existing bilateral migrant worker arrangement which will facilitate the recruitment of Filipino workers to New Zealand and other initiatives,” the joint statement read.

Marcos said the expected visit by New Zealand’s Foreign Minister to the Philippines later in 2024 could advance discussions on the Comprehensive Partnership further.

Luxon is in the Philippines for an official visit. Marcos welcomed the New Zealand leader in Malacanang on Thursday. Samuel P. Medenilla

seizes shabu declared as muffler

By Reine Alberto & Rex Anthony Naval

HE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it seized P218.48 million worth of suspected shabu initially declared as “machinery muffler” from Zimbabwe last April 17 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

In a statement on Thursday, the BOC said the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) found the shipment containing a total of 32.13 kilograms of shabu at the Paircargo warehouse facility in Naia but was profiled by the Intelligence Division after receiving the report.

The package arrived in the Philippines on April 13 consigned to Christine Tigranes from Balingasa Queen, Manila. It was shipped by a certain Isaac Chikore from Harare, Zimbabwe, according to the BOC. Tigranes was arrested and is facing charges in violation of Section 118 (Prohibited Importation and Exportation) and Section 1400 (Misdeclaration) in goods declaration in relation to Section 1113 (Property Subject to

Seizure and Forfeiture) of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and Republic Act No. 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002), the BOC said.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said the examination of the shipment and K-9 sweeping discovered what was described as white crystalline substances concealed inside the mufflers. An initial test yielded a positive result for the presence of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, he added.

“Our Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service [CIIS] at NAIA verified the information we received. After which, we tasked the X-ray Inspection Project to inspect the dubious images that were then found to be suspicious,” Rubio said.

The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group said Tigranes was arrested by the NAIA Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group during the interdiction operation at People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Co. Inc. at the NAIA Complex in Pasay City. The BOC said the operation came after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inspection of over two tons of shabu worth

P13.3 billion in Batangas, where he hailed agents for the operation’s success without resorting to violence.

“This operation is in line with our President’s directive to intensify our anti-drugs smuggling campaign by using our massive international and local networks to determine the source of the illegal drugs trade,” CIIS Director Verne Enciso said.

Commissioner Rubio said the BOC will keep operating and gathering intelligence based on the directive of President Marcos that using intelligence capabilities is the“only key to bringing down drug syndicates in the country.”

Marcos said the recent seizure of highquality shabu worth P13.3 billion shows the success of his administration’s “bloodless” drug war (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/04/16/shabu-haulshows-success-of-bloodless-drug-war/).

“I would also point out that this is the biggest shipment of shabu, which we seized, but not one person died, was shot or hurt. We just did the operation carefully. That for me is the right approach in a drug war,” Marcos said partly in Filipino during a press briefing.

In the franchise area of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), the ILP participants made up of large private users with their own generating units contributed around 300MW.

Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) said it is still collating information from power plant operators, whose facilities were on shutdown, for a proper evaluation.

“Investigation is done in a matter of course, but whether we will formalize it in proceedings that will result in penalties will depend on the initial evaluation after we collate information,” said ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.

The ERC, in a 2020 resolution, had set the maximum days of planned and unplanned outages per year and per generating plant technology.

The concern was aired by veteran legislators in the House of Representatives, and seconded by the Senate deputy minority leader on Thursday, even as a nongovernment group advocating people-to-people goodwill between Chinese and Filipino peoples counseled sobriety amid a rising “sinophobia.”

APCU seeks restraint

THE Association for Philippines-China Understanding (APCU), in a statement, called for strengthening people-to-people ties in the face of heightened Sinophobia and tensions over the South China Sea.

“When state-to-state and governmentto-government relations turn sour, our best hope for easing tensions and path to resolving differences is through peopleto-people dialogue.

“It is an important pillar in relations among nations because ultimately it will be the people who will be affected by what states and government do in its relations with other nations,” APCU said.

APCU expressed its concern on what it called increasing racism and Sinophobia in the country. It is baseless and totally unfair to

SPUP, according to CHED, is a higher educational institution granted autonomous status by CHED since 2002 and has “an Authority to Accept Foreign Students by the Bureau of Immigration.”

“As an autonomous HEI, it has the authority, among others, to establish linkages with recognized foreign higher education institutions,” Chairman Prospero De Vera III said in a statement.

This authority given to selected universities to enroll foreign students, CHED stressed, accounts for the significant number of students from India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Thailand, Nepal, Korea, and other countries in Philippine schools.

“The foreign students are attracted by the affordable cost of quality education, the use of English as a medium of instruction, and the globally recognized quality of instruction in such fields as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, public health, and engineering “ De Vera said.

De Vera also said that they have not received complaints as to violations by St. Paul University of the Joint Memorandum.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Addressing the delayed pandemic compensation for our health workers

THE news that the Department of Health still needs an additional P23.4 billion to pay 4.3 million claims for Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances (HEA and Covid-19 Sickness and Death Compensation) is deeply concerning. Our healthcare workers have risked their lives on the frontlines of the Covid-19 pandemic, and they deserve to be compensated in a timely manner for their immense sacrifices. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Payouts for pandemic duty of health workers lack P23 billion,” April 17, 2024).

According to the DOH, a total of P91 billion has been allocated to address the payment of HEA, Special R isk Allowance (SRA), and Meals, Accommodation, and Transportation benefits. W hile P14.2 billion has been disbursed to Centers for Health Development (CHDs) for SRA and MAT benefits, the remaining P23.4 billion is yet to be distributed. This delay is unacceptable, given the critical role that healthcare workers play in safeguarding public health The DOH has assured the public that it has released P76.8 billion to various health facilities and agencies, with P75.7 billion designated for HEA. However, it is now crucial for the CHDs to expedite the transfer of funds to health facilities and ensure that the necessar y documentar y requirements are met. The law, requiring a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between non-DOH facilities and the DOH, must be respected. However, this should not impede the prompt release of funds to deser ving healthcare workers.

It is crucial that we show gratitude for the immense sacrifices our healthcare heroes have made throughout the pandemic. They have put their lives on the line, enduring physical and emotional strain while providing essential care to our people. Moreover, the salaries of health workers in the Philippines are not high, making the timely payment of their dues even more crucial. These individuals deser ve not only our gratitude but also fair compensation for their invaluable ser vice.

It is imperative that the government acts swiftly to address this issue. The DOH, in collaboration with private and local government unit-owned hospitals and health facilities, must expedite the completion of the necessary requirements. Additionally, the COA Circular No. 2012-001, which requires the full liquidation or proper accounting of previously transferred funds, should be followed diligently but without unnecessar y bureaucratic hurdles.

T he gover nment officials responsible for overseeing the allocation and disbursement of these f unds must understand that time is of the essence. Our healthcare workers cannot afford to wait any longer for their rightf u l compensation. T he gover nment’s duty is not only to acknowledge their sacrifices but also to ensure that their needs are met promptly and efficiently.

The delayed compensation is not only a matter of financial remuneration but also a reflection of our government’s commitment to the welfare and morale of its healthcare workforce. By promptly addressing this issue, the government can demonstrate its appreciation for the dedication and hard work of these frontliners, boosting their morale and motivating them to continue their vital work.

It wou ld do well for t he gover nment to take immed i ate act ion to ensure t he sw ift payment of t he outstand ing cla ims for Publ ic Healt h Emergency Benef its and Allowances. Our healt hca re workers have gone above and beyond t he call of duty, and t hey deser ve t imely compensat ion for t heir invalu able ser v ice. It is t he least our gover nment off ic i als can do to honor t heir heroic effor ts and acknowledge t heir sacrif ices. Let us not allow bureaucrat ic processes to hinder t he just payment of our pandem ic heroes.

Showcasing Philippine history and culture through art at the Venice Biennale

FSonny M. Angara

BETTER DAYS

OR the fifth straight time, the Philippines is taking part in the La Biennale Di Venezia or the Venice Biennale. Now in its 60th year, the Venice Biennale is arguably the most prestigious and famous international art festival. A total of 88 nations will take part in the 2024 festival, including new participants Benin, Ethiopia, Timor Leste, Tanzania, Panama, and Senegal. The Philippines will once again have its own pavilion, which will be open for public viewing from April 20 to November 24, 2024.

T he f irst time the Philippines participated in the Venice Biennale was in 1964, where painter Jose Joya and sculptor Napoleon Abueva represented the countr y. Since then, the Philippines has skipped the biennial exhibition until 2015 when it finally made its way back for the 56th Venice Biennale. Proper credit should be given to Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda who worked hard for the return of the Philippines to the “Olympics of Contemporary Art.”

The persistence of the indefatigable Sen. Loren, alongside the parallel efforts of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Department of Foreign Affairs, paved the way for the Philippines to be showcased once again as a key player in the art world.

In the 2024 edition of the Venice Biennale, the Philippine Pavilion will feature the works of Mark Salvatus as curated by Carlos Quijon Jr Entitled “Sa kabila ng tabing lamang sa

panahong ito / Waiting just behind the curtain of this age, the exhibition embodies the enduring spirit of Apolinario de la Cruz, who is more popularly known as Hermano Puli, a local hero of the Quezon province who famously fought for religious freedom during the Spanish colonization. It draws inspiration from the landscape of Lucban and Mt. Banahaw.

Five Filipino artists were also selected for the main exhibition, “Foreigners Ever ywhere”, namely Pacita Abad, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Nena Saguil, Joshua Serafin, and Maria Taniguchi The theme is ver y much familiar to us since Filipinos can be found in practically ever y corner of the world. In 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that there were close to two million Filipinos working overseas. We can say that the contributions of Filipinos are essential in ever y field, notably in the maritime industr y, healthcare, arts and entertainment. Here at home, a significant portion of our population consists of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

The Philippines has also been part of the Venice Architecture Biennale

Non-deployment as basis for total and permanent disability benefits

ADennis Gorecho

Pinoy Marino Rights

SEAFARER who was no longer deployed back to work may be entitled to total and permanent disability benefits due to an illness he suffered while on board the vessel.

This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of CF Sharp Crew Mgt v. Daganato (GR 243399, July 6, 2022) involving an injured seafarer who was hired as Chief Cook.

W hile carr ying a heavy provision of food, the seafarer suddenly slipped and fell causing mild to moderate pain on his lower back area. The pain persisted and his condition worsened until he was medically repatriated.

After surger y and therapy, he was assessed by the company-designated physician with partial disability of Grade 11 (slight rigidity or 1/3 loss of lifting power of the trunk).

He t hen consu lted a personal doctor who issued a medical certificate stating that he is permanently unfit in any capacity to resume his sea duties as a seafarer He claimed disability benefits under the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Under Supreme Court rulings, the company-designated physician is required to issue a final and de-

finitive disability assessment within 120 or 240 days from the date of the seafarer’s repatriation. The extended period of 240 days must be justified, and it is the employer’s burden to prove the need for such extension.

Failure to issue such assessment within 120 or 240 days, as the case may be, will render the disability of the seafarer as permanent and total.

The 120 or 240-day periods shall be reckoned from the date of the seafarer’s repatriation for medical treatment, even in cases where the date of repatriation does not coincide with the

the 120-day period.

T he Court ruled that the seafarer’s disability has become total and permanent upon failure by the company-designated physician to issue a final and determinative assessment within the 120-day period required under the rules. On the other hand, the seafarer’s medical report certifies that he is permanently disabled to resume his work as a seafarer Prior to his deployment, the seafarer was declared fit to work and was not suffering from any physical anomalies that would render him unfit for seafaring activities.

The Court said that it is safe to assume that the seafarer would not have been allowed to commence his work, specifically for the Chief Cook position, which is a physically demanding job, if he was unfit for employment.

Jurisprudence dictates that permanent total disability means “dis-

since 2016. In the 2021 edition of the exhibition, the Philippines was given its first ever award in the Venice Biennale. The collaborative exhibition “Structures of Mutual Support” of the GK Enchanted Farm community and architects Sudarshan V. K hadka Jr and Alexander Eriksson Furunes, curated by the Framework Collaborative was given the Special Mention for Participation for its “exemplar y community project that creates a rich archive and experience of collaborative construction practices.”

The 2023 edition concluded on November 26, 2023 with the Philippine Pavilion’s exhibition “Tripa de Galina: Guts of Estuar y. The exhibition centered on a Manila estuar y and its communities, whose narrative stitched together historical roots and envisioned a resilient future amid present environmental challenges.

Since assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Finance in 2019, we have constantly provided our support to the Philippine participation in the Venice Biennale. From 2020 to 2024, we have ensured that there is funding support for this endeavor in the General AppropriaSee “Angara,” A

to work, or any justification to extend

no longer resume his seafaring activities or work as a chief cook as it requires him to be in excellent physical condition. The Court stressed that the seafarer’s total and permanent disabil-

ity is bolstered by the fact that he was no longer deployed back to

Judy Shaughnessy’s horrible sin

NOT all mothers deserve to be one. Motherhood is one of the most complex and challenging roles a woman could ever choose. After the painful process of childbirth comes the lifetime role of a nurturer, comforter, value-shaper, teacher and model of how life should be lived and led. She has to be the cornucopia of love and security for her offspring—and that role does not have a deadline.

Judy Shaughnessy had no regard for any of that. The mother of three daughters was negligent, irresponsible, physically abusive and an alcoholic. It didn’t help that they were living in poverty. The children’s stepfather made it worse by violence and sexual abuse.

W hen the eldest daughter, Diane, was eight, she was placed in foster care because of parental neglect. Judy was left with Lisa, who was four then, and her baby sister Patty.

One would think that Judy would have felt remorse for losing a child and mend her ways. She didn’t, and continued to condone the physical violence perpetrated by her husband, including duct-taping Lisa’s mouth when they didn’t want to hear her speak and strapping her in a high chair for hours when she didn’t finish her food. The stepfather of the children, Jack Kleiner “would grab Lisa by her long hair and slam her head against the concrete driveway repeatedly when she was just six or seven years old.” And then, he began raping Lisa when she was in eighth grade. W hile Judy found out about the sexual abuse, she did nothing to stop it. Judy even found a way to benefit from her daughter’s suffering. She offered sex w ith her daughter as payment for repairers working in their house. She prostituted Lisa for menial tasks. In an article published about Lisa, Judy was said to have told her, “You have to earn your keep” being in the house.

It didn’t stop there. The stepfather’s friends gang-raped her and would beat her if they felt she wasn’t up to it.

There was only so much a young adult could take. Lisa’s escape? She got married at 18. For all the trauma that she endured as a child up to her adolescence and the bad example around her, Lisa could not make the right decisions for herself. She married her stepbrother Carl Boman, who was also abusive and with whom she had four children in

Angara . . . continued from A

tions Act (GAA). A total of P289.5 million has been allocated in the GAA over the five-year period, P194 million of which was based on our own initiative. Speaking of the arts, on October 15 to 19, the Philippines is also set to embark on another historic journey, this time as the guest of honor in the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse, the world’s most prestigious book fair

the first four years of their marriage. Her mother, Judy, and Carl convinced her to have tubal ligation, and she did – but the effects were catastrophic for Lisa in terms of immense emotional trauma that led to delusions. Lisa claimed she was pregnant several times, even after the sterilization.

She divorced Carl and married Kevin Montgomer y, but the former threatened to file for custody of her two minor children and to expose her sham pregnancies to her new husband, who was unaware of her sterilization. She had to stop it, so she convinced her new husband that she was expecting a child. The year was 2004.

This is the backdrop of extreme child abuse suffered by Lisa at the hands of her mother, Judy Shaughnessy, and her stepfather Jack Kleiner Her harrowing ordeal could have led anyone to severe mental disorder

She was diagnosed with “borderline personality disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder brain damage and dissociation—an altered state of consciousness that includes confusion and disengagement from reality.”

W hat happened next in Lisa’s life is one of the most gruesome murders ever per petrated by a woman.

On December 16, 2004, Lisa went to the Missouri house of a pregnant Bobbie Jo Stinnett, strangled her, cut open her belly using a kitchen knife, removed the 8-month fetus and returned home to her family in Kansas with the baby.

She was arrested, tried, conv icted and sentenced to death on April 4, 2008 for the murder of Stinnett.

Lisa was executed on Januar y 13, 2021 t hrough let hal inject ion at the age of 52. Lisa escaped the life of v iolence and abuse that she has known since child hood through a death sentence.

This is not just the stor y of Lisa Montgomer y’s tragic life. This is also about Judy Shaughnessy—the abusive mother who committed a horrible sin against her daughter

A poet’s history of home: Mapping according to Dinah Roma

TTito Genova Valiente

ANNOTATIONS

HERE are thousands of years that separate Herodotus, the so-called “Father of History,” and Dinah Roma, this poet who dares to announce that what she is doing is history. But if we go by the Western standard of Herodotus, we are introduced to a man who never believed we should believe what he wrote or documented. Throughout his career, it is said, Herodotus continued to favor the Ionian definition of history as one that means “research.”

Dinah did her own research and if the first book of histor y was about names and places, then Herodotus would find a home in Basey—enumerating not only names but also people and t he events he hea rd from them. Dinah was elaborating the nexus between geography and histor y. But Dina h is a poet f irst and foremost and here she is with the language of the maps couched in lyricism rather than historical markers, as she talks of how “Your palm hesitates over an expanse/Of ancient hearsay, where faith wavered/The journey, as if to say,/Grip the courage in your heart/To scale earth and, at last,/ See it not made of matter

The fact is a poet indeed has to defend her position in historicizing places and persons.

In the first chapter, Dinah charts not the map—exteriorized always, with mounds and hills—but sings of Basey as a poetic imagination. This poetr y proceeds from what she calls “the intersections between humans and their environment.” A whole slew of anthropological literatures cover this field. Human geography. Anthropogeography. Cultural ecology.

W hat are these disciplines? They have something to do with a book written by Dr Dinah Roma, who while tr ying to remember her hometown opted to respect histor y as allegor y. In her book, we see on the cover the title Weaving Basey, a nod

to the mat-makers of the place, and a salutar y remark to histor y that is anti-histor y, to poetr y that tries to eschew poetr y if only to recover the facts of a place.

Here is the poet in the interstices of histor y and here is the historian, the socio-political chronicler, making comments in between narratives.

To quote James Clifford in his inter view with Alex Coles: “The world seemed to secrete many, divergent, arts and cultures, discrepant modernities.”

In her book about her hometown, Dinah was doing ethnography but this is one that included sensing, feelings—dimensions that were eschewed by classic ant hropology t h at ma rveled at its power to remain objective.

question: how do we avoid running out of gas?

You can stop traveling to where the archives are and stay at your home.

In the case of Dinah she listened to Inna (her own mother) and her own uncle, Isko, talk in the kitchen, where the Pulahanes ceased to be a historical lecture but a reminiscence. As Dinah recalls, the two would repeatedly talk about Pulajanes. The frequency with Tatay Isko mentioning the group made her think he was part of the movement.

In the same chapter, the muchcited study conducted by R ichard Arens, contains the complaints of the historian about “the dearth of materials as a critical challenge to understanding the complexities of the movement.”

Another study by Brian McAllister Linn on the same movement

It appears not so. Histor y does not end in the past; it continues on and on. In fact, the mind documenting goes back to the Spanish colonial era when the fear being talked about with the coming of the pulahanes equated with the fear of Muslim marauders who kidnap men, women, and children. The future of fear is also here when the talk of bandits and undue taxation is carried into the news of new subversion present in contemporar y Samar and Leyte.

She talks of a multitude of narratives: the Moro raids, the Pulahanes movement, the ancient trade routes , the haunting shadow cast by the Balangiga massacre and the enduring allure of its skilled mat weavers.

At the heart of this book are the material struggles of a writer and her memories. Here also are the questions: Are the methodologies of ethnography infinitely expandable? Or do they snap when pushed too far? Are the historical methods infinitely expandable?

To Clifford, “all methodologies, which in the inter pretive/ historical studies are always modes of partial translation, first get you somewhere and then run out of gas.”

So, to Dinah Roma, we ask this

talks of the “same lack of documentar y sources.”

There in the two sentences are the primacy of the text. Literature can save these pulahanes from being accused of mere banditr y. The binar y opposition is really between the literate and non-literate.

True enough in Etymolog ies of Home, Dinah claims: “And w ith this promise of local histor y, I add my stake as a poet w riting an account of her home, returning home, retur ning to its home t he i mag i n i ngs made possible by poetr y, by the metaphors t h at en ric h t he laye r s of jour neys, each poem a closing in of distance a prelude to arrival.

She samples us with her autoethnography, which in the book by Tony E. Adams, Stacy Holman Jones and Carolyn Ellis is defined as “proximity not objectiv ity” as not becoming “an epistemological point of departure and return.”

She has towards the end this wish: that we do not allow the tradition (like the mats) to fray at its edges. Or in the absence of archives, there are always memories, and kinship. Even love for home.

Weaving Basey A Poet s Histor y of Home is published by Katig Writers Network Inc. The book was formally launched in De La Salle University on April 13 2024.

Did Dinah also raise her hands in disgust when she could not find any written documents about her hometown? Or did that signal for her to find other voices—to celebrate the polyphonic? Were texts and written documents the only necessar y tools to reminisce about her hometown?

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Elon Musk stakes fortune on the cult following who made him rich

By Tom Maloney

ELON MUSK is making one of his biggest asks of Tesla Inc. investors yet.

It was one thing for shareholders to approve his moonshot pay package in 2018, when it contained seemingly audacious goals and the market for electric vehicles was still Tesla’s to lose.

In requesting that they ratify the same package again, Musk and Tesla’s board are gambling that the billionaire’s cult following and his role in the carmaker’s stock surging about 700 percent over the past six years—which its leadership says merits a big payday—will outweigh the fact that much has changed since 2018. Most notably, that the pay in question was voided by a Delaware court earlier this year Tesla’s 2024 proxy statement, filed Wednesday, asks shareholders to approve the same 2018 compensation package for its chief executive officer that was rejected by Delaware Chancer y Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, who argued the board wasn’t looking out for the best interests of investors.

Apart from showcasing the works of our artists and writers, the Philippines’ continued participation in these inter national festivals also offers a unique opportunity for us to connect with the world and prov ide non-Filipinos a glimpse into our culture and histor y. We have a wealth of talent here at home and people are starting to recognize this over the years.

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 19 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 10 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate. E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

This is only the second time that a Southeast Asian countr y has been named as guest of honor in the book fair based in Germany—the first being Indonesia in 2015. This brings Philippine literature and culture to the forefront of the international book industr y. The guest of honor program seeks to increase the number of translations from the chosen countr y into German. T he Phi l ippi nes also made its debut at t he Bologna C hi ld ren’s Book Fa ir, t he biggest i nter nat ional fa ir for c hi ld ren’s content last Apri l 8 to 11, 2024. T he Nat ional Book Development Boa rd and t he Phi l i pp i ne Boa r d on Books fo r You ng People presented a c ur ated select ion of 10 3 books, explori ng t hemes suc h as c u lt ure, d iversity, ident ity, peace, commu n ity, and t he env ironment.

W hat’s immediately at stake for Musk are Tesla stock options that make up nearly a quarter of his net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. But so too, according to the proxy, is his future as CEO.

“If the 2018 CEO performance award is not ratified, then Tesla may need to negotiate a replacement compensation plan with Mr Musk,” the filing said. “There is a risk that failure to ratify would further delay any compensation for the CEO, which could affect his incentive to continue devoting time and energy to Tesla, which is essential to the company.”

T h e u np r ecedented compensat ion package awa rded hi m 12 tranches of options dependent on the company hitting increasingly

steep targets related to market value, revenue and adjusted earnings. Each tranche of options corresponded to 1 percent of Tesla’s outstanding shares. There was significant doubt about whether the targets were achievable at the time—the filing cites a New York Times article that called the top market capitalization goal of $650 billion “a figure that many experts would contend is laughably impossible”—but they were all met by the end of 2022. That gave Musk the maximum number of options outlined in the pay package, which are currently worth $40.2 billion.

73% approved

SHAREHOLDERS were w illing to bet their money alongside Musk’s in 2018. About 73 percent of disinterested shareholders voted to pass the package, even though large proxy advisers said it was too costly and openly questioned why Musk needed more equity to stay committed to the company. But things have changed since then. For one, shareholders know the goals related to the moonshot package have already been achieved. Rather than betting on targets that could also make them wealthy, now it’s only Musk getting rich—to the tune of about 8 percent of Tesla’s current market capitalization. The vote also comes at an awkward time for the electric carmaker The company is cutting more than 10 percent of its workforce amid slowing growth and shares are down about 37 percent this year, making it the

Tesla’s 2024 proxy statement, filed Wednesday, asks shareholders to approve the same 2018 compensation package for its chief executive officer that was rejected by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, who argued the board wasn’t looking out for the best interests of investors.

second-worst performer on the S&P 500 Index. More awkward still, the company has un-met” some of the award’s original goals. Tesla’s stock is currently trading well below its highest market capitalization target, for instance. Musk would still receive all the options if the pay package is approved.

St i ll, dozens of i nst it ut ional shareholders have contacted Tesla and expressed support for the 2018 compensation plan, including four of the top 10, according to the filing. The carmaker also said that thousands of retail investors have sent letters and e-mails to the board expressing the same sentiment.

Tesla cited a letter Chair Robyn Denholm received from T. Rowe Price Group Inc., one of the automaker’s biggest shareholders, which called the ruling “a negative sur prise,” and suggested that the package be put up for another vote. “We believe the 2018 plan demonstrated strong alignment with the interests of long-term investors, and it was followed by an impressive, validating period of value creation,” a T. Rowe spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement.

Wealth impact

ALTHOUGH Tesla’s board says the voiding of Musk’s 2018 pay package means he hasn’t been compensated

for any of his work for the past six years, he isn’t struggling financially.

Musk owns about 13 percent of the company, exclud i ng t he opt ions package, a stake that has appreciated by more than $55 billion over the past six years. He also sold stock worth more than $39 billion during that time.

Musk is worth $173.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which considers the options part of his fortune until there’s clarity around his pay package. After starting the year in the ranking’s top position, he’s now the fourth-richest person in the world, having lost $55 billion largely due to Tesla’s stock decline. If the compensation package is rejected, Musk’s net worth would drop by $40.2 billion and he would be the eighth-richest person on the planet, behind Google co-founder Larr y Page.

However, Tesla’s boa rd wou ld probably need to quickly approve an alternate package, and the special committee reviewing Musk’s compensation made it clear he’s unlikely to accept much less.

“Although the Special Committee expressly and consciously did not negotiate [or renegotiate] with Mr Musk about his compensation, it expects from its inter view with him that, for Mr Musk to agree to it, any new plan would need to be of a similar magnitude to the 2018 CEO performance award,” the filing said. Tesla launched a website to encourage its shareholders to vote for the compensation deal and move to Texas, www.supportteslavalue.com, which says shareholders should vote in favor of the compensation plan both to reward Musk

A20 Friday, April 19, 2024

strategy involving collaboration among various government agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Department of National Defense (DND), and Bureau of Immigration (BI).

“Under the directive of Speaker Martin Romualdez, we convened to ensure that our contingency plans are watertight and responsive to the potential crises our OFWs in the Middle East may face,” Salo stated.

The DFA, represented by Undersecretary Ed De Vega, emphasized the confidentiality of the contingency plan for security reasons while ensuring thorough coordination with other government agencies through the One-Country Team Approach (OCTA).

Philippine ambassadors from Middle Eastern countries, including H.E. Pedro Laylo, H.E. Raymond Balatbat, H.E. Wilfredo Santos, and H.E. Ezzedin Tago affirmed their commitment to OFW welfare during the session via Zoom, providing updates on the ground situation.

Highlighting the nation’s readiness, the DFA gave the country’s preparedness a confidence rating of 9 out of 10, saying the government has continuously refined its response mechanisms, drawing from extensive experience in managing similar crises previously.

OIC Secretary Hans Cacdac of the Department of MigrantWorkers (DMW), along with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), pledged swift assistance for OFWs, particularly in repatriation efforts.

The Center for Migrant Advocacy (CMA), a private stakeholder in attendance, lauded the government’s proactive stance and its efforts to engage leaders of Filipino communities and organizations in these nations of concern in their crisis management strategies on the ground.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), the Department of National Defense (DND), the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), OFW groups and recruitment agencies, also assured their readiness and collaboration.

“I feel relieved and assured that our agencies, primarily tasked with ensuring the safety of our Kababayans, have affirmed that a contingency plan is in place in the event of war in the Middle East. Furthermore, this plan is shared with and supported by all other agencies, is consistent with the pertinent laws of the host states, and is properly communicated with our Filipino communities,” Salo said. Salo, meanwhile, urged OFWs in the Middle East to exercise caution and preparedness.

“I urge our OFWs to remain vigilant, stay informed about developments, and promptly seek assistance from our embassies if necessary,” emphasized Salo.

“Today’s gathering demonstrated a united front in our resolve to ensure the safety of OFWs, especially in crisis areas. It is this type of wholeof-government, whole-of-nation, and whole-of-society approach that reflects our commitment to our Kababayans,” said Salo. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

The coalition proposed the implementation of the Comprehensive Publ ic Transpor t Refor m (COMMUTER) Program as an alter native to the gover nment’s current strategy, which involves the consolidation of PUV franchises until April 30.

It expla ined t hat t he proposed program aims to improve commuter ser v ice qu al ity by ensuring safety, stabi l ity, suff ic iency, and inclusivity in t he t ranspor tat ion system whi le wa rrant ing a fa ir t ransit ion for t ranspor t workers.

Under t hi s proposal, priority routes wou ld be ta rgeted for comprehensive refor m, w it h a foc u s on appoint ing single, consol idated f ranc hise holders and establ ishing clea r ser v ice plans, standa rds, and monitoring mec hanisms.

T his wou ld involve t he development of local publ ic t ranspor t route plans, ser v ice cont racts, and t he adoption of moder n technology suc h as GPS t rack ing and fa re collect ion systems.

“T hese ser v ice plans and standa rds per route shou ld be properly mon itored and enforced by t he gover nment so commuters receive improved ser v ices, operators a re

g iven incentives to meet and exceed ta rgets for qu al ity and suff ic iency, and accountabi l it ies a re clea r,” t he coal it ion sa id. Add it ionally, it emphasi zed t he impor tance of prov id ing fa ir compensat ion for t ranspor t workers who may volunta

Off ice of Transpor t Cooperatives must focus their limited resources on building good case studies, demonstrating success, and building trust, instead of spreading themselves too thin managing consolidation ever ywhere,” Move As One said. Further more, the COMMUTER program suggests prioritizing franchise allocation to existing transport workers w ith time-bound exclusivity per route to promote proper fleet management and reduce competition among franchise holders. “Gover nment shou ld g ive incent ives for t ranspor t workers to consolidate, includ ing par tnering w it h local gover nment units to enter into ser v ice contracts in t hese exclusive routes,” Move As One sa id. It also contends t hat t he current Apri l 30 deadl i ne overlooks t he system ic issues w it hin t he t ranspor tat ion sector and may exacerbate c hallenges for commuters and t ranspor t workers. Move As One a r g u ed t h at a “piecemeal approach lacks the necessar y infrastructure and resources to faci l itate effect ive consol idat ion nat ionw ide. “T he gover nment’s

acquire moder

T he PUVMP, whic h sta r ted in 2017, a ims to overhau l t he nat ion’s publ ic t ranspor tat ion system, pa rt ic u la rly foc using on jeepneys, t he backbone of publ ic t ransit in t he Phi l ippines.

T he prog ram’s ma in goal is to moder nize and unify the fragmented publ ic ut i l ity vehicle indust r y, emph asi zi ng t he replacement of older vehicles w it h t hose meet ing Euro 4 em issions standa rds. T he program’s objectives include changing t he f ranc hising system, int roduc ing new routes, and prov id ing educat ion to d rivers. Commuter g roups and networks and driver organizations had called on t he gover nment to delay t he implementat ion of t he prog ram, as t his w i ll resu lt in a signif icant loss in transpor t supply, which they a rg ue has already been insuff icient to meet t he c urrent demand.

TOURISTS from South Korea will likely revert to their prepandemic numbers by the fourth quarter of the year.

This was the confident prediction of Korean Air Country Manager Byungkwon Lee. He said, “For 2023, our average load factor on Seoul [Incheon] - Naia [Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila] was above 85 percent, which is considered very high.” Department of Tourism (DOT) data showed that last year, there were some1.44 million arrivalsfrom South Korea, accounting for 26 percent of the 5.45 million total inbound arrivals in the Philippines.

As of April 15 this year, there were 514,146 South Korean tourists, or a 27.4-percent market share of the 1.88-million total arrivals for the period. South Korea continues to be the top source market of tourists for the Philippines.

In prepandemic 2019, there were almost 2 million arrivals from South Korea,

a 22-percent share of total inbound arrivals then that reached an historic high of 8.3 million. Korean Air flies three daily flights to Manila, using an Airbus A330300 and Boeing 777-300, while it flies daily to Cebu on a B777-200. “In the new summer schedule starting March 30, we actually maintained our flight frequency to Manila at three times daily and Cebu at once daily. It was significant because the summer is a low season, and normally airlines cut back on services during the low season. But we maintained our frequency,” said Lee. “We are experiencing strong passenger volumes, even in low season, and want to deliver the same level of service to our Filipino passengers that fly with us not only to Seoul, but also to many destinations beyond Seoul to North America and Japan,” he added.

Conversely, more Filipinos were flying to South Korea, confirming the view of many local travel agencies. This is why

Korean Air decided to increase their flights to three-times daily between Incheon and Manila this year, said Lee, from two-times daily, when the route was restarted in 2020 after a brief pause during the pandemic. A separate industry source said the South Korean embassy in Manila has been issuing 1,000 to 1,300 visas to Filipinos, daily. The embassy opened its Korea Visa Application Center in Taguig last August, in response to the growing demand for tourist visas from Filipinos. Meanwhile, passengers from the Philippines may also fly Korean Air if they want to go to the United States as it offers seamless connections to many points because of its joint venture with Delta Air. “Travelers

TRotary journalism awards in its short 16-year existence.

The BusinessMirror has also consistently reaped top awards in the Brightleaf Journalism Awards for Agriculture and the Philippine Agricultural Journalists-San Miguel Corp. (PAJ-SMC) Binhi Awards, also for the best in agriculture journalism.

The BusinessMirror was also repeatedly adjudged the leading daily in biotechnology journalism, a recognition bestowed by the Jose G. Burgos Jr. Biotechnology Journalism Awards.

The “broader look” mantra also drew recognition from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which named the BusinessMirror, at its first awards rites in 2018, as the inaugural “Data Champion.”

In the first “Bantog Science for the People” awards for media from the Department of Science and Technology, the BusinessMirror got the top award for the Institution category for Print; and the grand prize in the individual category for science journalist Stephanie Tumampos. In 2018, Environment Reporter

Jonathan Mayuga received the Luntiang Aligato award from the Climate Reality Project, a nonprofit organization founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore.

The Broader Look at biodiversity was also recognized. It was named among the Asean Champions of

j from the prestigious R which named it “Busin

Club, which named it “Business Newspaper of the Year” for 2018-2019, and again in 2020. In all, it has received six top

BResorts Corp. said Thursday it will focus on ramping up the operations of its Solaire North Resort in Quezon City before pursuing other projects.

Cavite. “There’s no specific timeline (for Solaire’s second phase expansion). All depends on how the market goes over the next several years. But the focus now will be on ramping up of Solaire North first before we start any new projects,” Razon said. “Once Sola ire Nor t h i s f u lly ramped up, and bot h proper t ies (Solaire and Solaire North) are generating a certain expectation that

Tthe public to invest their money in the stock market. The removal of the minimum stockbroker’s commission seeks to address this, and hopefully bring out more retail investors and spur trading activity,” SEC chairman Emilio B. Aquino said.

we have on cash flow once that expectation is reached or met, then we will probably launch the Paniman project.”

Razon also said Solaire’s operations are back in full swing.

“Apart from further ramping up gaming operations from 2022, activity in our resort businesses has picked up significantly. Occupancy at the Bay and Sky Towers reached 79.8 percent, a new F&B [food and beverage] concept and more retail outlets were rolled out at the Shoppes, and the new Solaire Grand Ballroom was opened.”

Meanwhile, the $1-billion Solaire Resort North, the first of its kind in Quezon City, will open in late May, according to the company.

The new Quezon City gambling facility stands at 38 floors, offering a view of the urban landscape and the metropolis.

“From a decade ago when we opened Solaire Resor t Enter tainment City, it has always been our

mission to provide a fresh yet indulgent brand of lu xur y that has not been experienced in the Philippines before,” Razon said.

He said Bloomberr y’s investment in Quezon City has created 4,200 direct employment opportunities. “With Solaire Resort North we uphold the same mission in the hope that the property’ presence and operation will support Quezon City’s endeavors to enhance and promote tourism, generate employment for Filipinos, and further attract opportunities for economic and social investments. At the same time, we anticipate that our presence in

TBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it signed an agreement with Jollibee Foods Cor p. (JFC) and Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) for a training program for micro, small and medium enter prises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs. DTI said JFC will conduct a half-day learning session for small merchants on April 25. Under the guidance of DTI Undersecretar y Ma. Cristina Roque, the Trade department said the DTI-MSME Development Group will lead the “collaborative efforts” with JFC and JGF, focusing on “empowering” MSMEs through “capacity building and knowledge sharing.”

“Topics covered will be JFC/JGF’s experience i n l i nk i ng small holder farmers as suppliers of JFC and How to succeed in Business: B2B [businessto-business] and B2C [ business-toconsumer] transactions,” DTI said in a Viber message. Trade Secretar y Alfredo E. Pascual told reporters that Jollibee will conduct the learning session “because they have the management, the experts who will share the actual experience.”

“This isn’t going to be theoretical like the lectures in school. This is the actual experience.”

Pascual said the fastfood chain will also take care of the cost and the planning of the program while the Trade department’s role is to intro-

T he removal of the minimum commission takes into account the rise of online trad ing platfor ms, which have paved the way to more cost-efficient transactions. It also takes cues from other neighboring jurisdictions which do not prescribe a minimum stockbroker’s commission.

The SEC is banking on the removal of the minimum commission to help spur trading in the stock market, in line with other recent reforms implemented to boost the capital market.

The new rule also seeks to empower the investing public to engage

“The SEC will continue to review existing rules and regulations to see areas where we can make improvements to achieve our goal of boosting the capital market,” he said.

the services of a broker of their choice based on cost preference. In 202 3 t he SEC app roved t he s hor te r settlement cycle of T+2 f rom T+3 , t he reby allow i ng i nvestor s to rece i ve p roceeds f rom sec urit ies t r ades w it hi n two days i nstead of t hree. T hi s also reduced ri sk expos ure for t r ad i ng pa r t i c ipants by one day.

Stockbroker AB Capital and Investment Cor p. chairman and CEO Antonio Jose Periquet said the Philippines has too many brokers, compared with its regional peers, competing in a small market.

He said stockbrokers in the Philippines should start thinking of consolidating to sur vive. VG Cabuag

duce the company to MSMEs that can be invited. As to the program’s target number of beneficiaries, Pascual said an initial range of 20 to as much as 50 small merchants “depending on the response rate.”

The experience from the one-time session, the Trade chief said, will determine if this will result in more training sessions with the small merchants.

“Initially ‘yung one-time [program] depending on the experience then we will discuss and see whether it’s gaining traction siyempre hindi naman sila mga teachers so we’ll see if the participants will appreciate their sharing of experiences and sharing of expertise.”

In a statement on Thursday, Pascual said the memorandum of understand-

ing the agency signed with Jollibee “symbolizes a partnership built on shared values, mutual respect, and a common goal.”

“It is a testament to our collective belief in the private and public sectors in the transformative power of entrepreneurship and the profound impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities.”

DTI said this partnership backs the goals cited in Republic Act 9501 or the Magna Carta for MSMEs, which it said, “mandates nationwide support for MSME growth through expanding entrepreneurship training programs, fostering linkages between large and small enter prises, and encouraging private sector engagements.”

of Governors at the Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four (G-24), appealed to the World Bank, the International Monetar y Fund and other financial institutions to intensify” their efforts in assisting developing countries, such as the Philippines, to alleviate the factors threatening their economic growth “Alarmingly, one in ever y four developing countries is now poorer than before the pandemic. Any slowdown in global economic per formance will surely hit the developing economies the hardest. This poses a grave threat to the peace, economic security and prosperity of all our people,” Recto said.

T he G-24 Ministerial Meeting was held in Washington, DC, on April 16. Formed in 1971, the G-24 helps coordinate the positions of developing countries on inter national monetar y and development finance issues.

In his opening remarks, Recto said securing immediate access to short-term liquidity and affordable long-term financing is the primar y concern for emerging markets and developing economies.

“We call on t he inter nat ional f inancial inst it ut ions to develop more innovative and responsive financing solutions that will help us sustain productivity, enhance longterm growth prospects and increase resilience to economic shocks,” the Finance chief said.

Specifically, Recto mentioned the International Development Association, or IDA21, as a “critical lifeline” for developing countries as it provides grants and low-interest loans for low-income nations.

Recto war ned that unless improvements to short-term financing conditions are improved, decades of individual and global efforts to eradicate poverty and inequality, counter climate change and invest in growthenhancing infrastructure projects will be halted, if not reversed.

In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said IMF Managing Director K ristalina Georgieva and WBG President Ajay Banga presented the institutions’ respective initiatives to provide wider access to concessional financing and support developing countries.

Furthermore, the G-24 stressed t he i mpor tance of ensuri ng t he long-ter m su sta i nabi l ity of Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) finances to strengthen the assistance to low-income countries, the DOF added.

The Group also urged action to red irect Spec i al D raw i ng R ights (SDR) from members with strong Balance of Payments positions towards strengthening resources for Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs) as well as Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

The DOF noted that G-24 also lobbied for a downward revision of the margin on the IMF rate of charge given the organization’s “solid” financial performance at a time when EMDEs face limited fiscal space and a high debt ser vice burden.

“This will reduce member’s burden and create the fiscal space necessar y to implement programs and policies that enhance the achievement of development and climate goals,” the G24 Bureau said.

Apart

Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Iran, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago and

Banking&Finance Banks not funding RE enough–group

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Philippine government’s decision to impose a moratorium on greenfield coal plants may have cut financing for coal projects but it was not enough to raise funding for renewables, according to the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).

m, i mplyi ng t he i mpor tance of nat ional pol ic ies as ma rket s i gnals,” t he repor t stated.

The report stated that after the

ONE key benefit of attending webinars, which I do as part of my work as volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), is that you always learn something new. Such is the case when I hosted the webinar, “Leadership Elevated: Transforming Managers into Visionar y Leaders” by Dr Celia Chomón Zamora, CAE and director of Professional Learning and Certification for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). From Dr Zamora’s webinar and from researching more for this column, I’ve learned at least two new things: SCABS and mnemonic. Before delving into SCABS, I’ve first learned a new word “mnemonic” derived from the ancient Greek word mnemonikos meaning “of memor y” or “relating to memor y.” A mnemonic, therefore, is a device, memor y aid, or technique used to help individuals remember information more easily. These devices can be pa r t icu la rly helpf u l for remembering complex information, lists, or sequences by breaking them down into more manageable components. SCABS is one such mnemonic device to remember five different aspects of effective leadership and team management: “Success,” “Challenge,” “Assistance,” “Brainstorm” and “Shout-out,” as follows:

navigate obstacles more effectively and to capitalize on opportunities for advancement.

Assistance. Providing assistance and support to team members is crucial for association leaders. Leaders should be accessible, approachable and willing to offer guidance, mentorship and resources as needed. By providing assistance, leaders empower their teams to overcome obstacles, develop new skills and achieve their goals. This encourages a sense of trust, collaboration and mutual respect within the association, leading to greater cohesion and effectiveness.

Brainstorm. By encourag ing open and inclusive brainstor ming sessions, association leaders can tap into the collective w isdom and creativ ity of their team members. T his generates f resh ideas, solutions and oppor tunities for improvement. Leaders shou ld facilitate brainstor ming sessions effectively, encourag ing par ticipation from all members and valuing diverse perspectives. T his promotes innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement w ithin the association.

OLONGAPO CITY—Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)

C hair man and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has formally taken over as president and chief operating officer of the state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) on April 18, a statement by the SBMA read.

DOE moratorium, Chinabank and BDO Unibank led banks in terms of financing fossil fuels with scores of 3.78 and 3.56, respectively.

Other banks included in the top five are Metrobank and the Philippine National Bank (PNB) which both scored 2.78 followed by the Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) with a score of 2.56.

The study also stated that the Land Bank of the Philippines, with a score of 2.56, led banks in terms of fossil fuel financing before the DOE’s moratorium.

This was followed by Asia United Bank Cor p. with a score of 2.30; BDO Unibank

Success. Recognizing achievements, milestones and contributions fosters a positive and motivated team culture. By acknowledging and celebrating success, association leaders inspire confidence, boost morale and reinforce desired behaviors among team members. This can lead to increased engagement, productivity and overall satisfaction within the association.

Challenge. Instead of fearing or avoiding challenges, association leaders should encourage their teams to embrace them as catalysts for improvement. By promoting a culture that embraces challenges, these leaders can empower their teams to develop resilience, problem-solving skills and adaptability, enabling the association to

Shout-out. Publicly acknowledging team members who demonstrate excellence, initiative and dedication boosts morale, motivation and a sense of belonging. Association leaders should regularly give shout-outs to team members who go above and beyond their roles. This reinforces positive behaviors, strengthens team morale and fosters a supportive and inclusive team culture. Ultimately, it contributes to a more engaged, productive and high-performing association.

By integrating the SCABS principles into their leadership approach, association leaders can cultivate a positive and high-performing organizational culture that drives success and achieves collective goals.

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

Eisma, who was appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr as Pagcor director on March 27, 2024, ser ved as director of the Development Bank of the Philippines after she left the SBMA in 2022, according to the statement. Eisma was sworn into office as Pagcor president and COO last T hursday mor ning in Malacañang by Exec ut ive Sec reta r y Lucas P Bersamin, according to the Pagcor An Ap ri l 2 memo r and u m from Bersamin had previously informed Pagcor Chairman Alejandro H. Tengco that Malacañang had also approved Eisma’s nomination as Pagcor president and chief operating officer Tengco was quoted in a statement t h at Pagcor i ssued last T hur sday t h e gove r nmentowned and cont rolled cor porat ion is “ h appy to welcome” Eisma as Pagcor’s new President and COO.

“We know she will be a great asset, and her vast experience in both the government and private sectors will surely be put to good use here,” the Pagcor chairman added.

I’M pretty sure everyone feels like they’ve been r u lly fryin like n e in p n over l es because of this seriously worsening heat index, which has already exceeded 40ºC in Metro Manila, according to our cli ate experts at agasa nd while it’s i practical not to use any underwear—an idiotic suggestion by, naturally, one of our brilliant law akers—I’ve been oving about in y cotton shirts and pambahay shorts ost of the ti e, that is, if I do need to leave the house or press events, however, when I’ forced to wear so ething ore than y regular house attire, y linen tops paired with white slacks or cotton pants have so far

kept e a tad co fortable ince the te peratures shot up to si ling heights, I’ve also started bringing a face towel, just in case sweat starts dripping fro y face, an extra shirt to change into, and a s all water bottle to keep hydrated My everyday bag is literally bursting at the sea s because of all these extra things I need to bring to survive this su er hile any are uick to bla e cli ate change for the rising te peratures, it is our penchant to cut down trees to give way for yet another all or another condo iniu that is really part of the proble e city dwellers are under assive attack fro the concrete buildings around us, and the asphalt on the roads our vehicles cross daily hese aterials absorb the rays of the sun, which shines at its iercest this ti e of the year, and re lect these throughout the city and into our ho es On the other hand, trees and vegetation lower the sufrace area by absorbing water via their roots, then releasing water vapor into the air, which help cool our surroundings his is one of the reasons I’ve been assiduously nagging a nu ber of our property developers to please, please, please allot large spaces for greenery on their properties

y walking exercise just so I don’t drop dead fro the heat I’ve noticed a few other people have discovered the area as well and walk or jog there here are also children, who I suppose live in the condo iniu s in the area, and they play on the green grass he kasambahays relax there, too, exchanging gossip while their charges read doggies bark at passersby he garden does provide so e respite fro the su er heat, but it’s just too iniscule to cool the area as the buildings around take up a uch wider space hat’s why I hope yala and creates a larger haven for trees, plants, and of course people, and develop that space that used to host the C tent into another park hat area is fenced o f right now, but I hear a etallic thu p thu p within whenever I’ walking around It will be unfortunate if it’s going to be another building If not there, perhaps they can allocate another space for greenery o, I have y ingers crossed

you love. Be the one to make a difference; you’ll earn a place with those you admire. Stand tall and make yourself heard. Your numbers are 9, 17, 26, 31, 34, 44, 49.

Take a chance and follow your plans. Pay attention to detail and see matters through to the end. Don’t hesitate to say no to anyone pressuring you to put their needs first. Choose what gets you where you want to go and makes you happy.

Step outside your comfort zone if it will help you explore possibilities. Engage in something that encourages you to expand your circle of friends and makes you feel good about yourself and your decisions.

Embrace change and personal growth.

Don’t get bogged down by what others choose to do. Relying on your instincts and ability to reach your goal will satisfy your soul and raise your self-esteem. If someone applies pressure, look at it as a learning experience and do what’s necessary.

An adventure will spark your imagination and encourage you to explore possibilities. A creative endeavor will enrich how you see the world around you and bring you in contact with someone who offers insight into something new and exciting.

Be careful; someone will lead you astray if you are gullible. Think and do for yourself, and you will maintain control over the outcome. Trust your intelligence, experience and know-how to reach your destination. Personal gain, love and romance are on the rise.

Pour your emotional energy into something that adds value to your life. Learning or experiencing something new will give you a new lease on life. Changing your surroundings or visiting a place that reminds you of lessons learned will encourage positive decisions.

Settle any differences you have over money, contracts or medical issues. Stick close to home and take care of unfinished business. Do whatever is necessary to ease the pressure you are feeling, and it will lift your spirits and encourage new beginnings.

You’ll have additional discipline and the courage to do things differently. Consider a change in routine or setting your sights on someone or something that contributes to your life and how you live. Make each moment count, and personal growth and gains will be yours.

FEELING the summer sizzle? Beat the heat with a new delicious drink that can help keep you refreshed, tantalize your taste buds, and leave you feeling absolutely peachy.

C2 Cool & Clean has a wide range of refreshing and delicious tea-based drinks that make for a quick yet delightful pick-me-up. Recently, the well-loved beverage brand introduced C2 Black Tea Peach, a refreshingly light drink you can enjoy this summer.

IT BURSTS WITH THE DELIGHTFUL, FRUITY FLAVORS OF RIPE PEACHES. Imagine taking a bite out of a fresh, sunripened peach on a hot summer’s day. That’s reminiscent of the feeling you’ll get on your first sip (and whiff) of C2 Black Tea Peach. This refreshing drink delivers not only the juicy taste of ripe peaches but also their irresistible aroma.

IT HAS THE GOODNESS OF FRESHLY BREWED BLACK TEA. Like other C2 variants, this oh-so-soothing peachflavored drink is made with freshly brewed tea. To make C2 Black Tea Peach, natural black tea leaves, which are known to be rich in antioxidants, are brewed and bottled on the same day to retain peak freshness. So, you get the goodness of real black tea along with a sweet and fruity peach flavor.

IT COMES IN VARIOUS BOTTLE SIZES TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS. Whether it’s for a poolside hangout with friends, a lunch break at the office, or a family picnic on the weekend, C2 Black Tea Peach has you covered. This sweet and soothing tea

drink comes in three convenient sizes: solo (230ml), regular (500ml), and litro (1L). You can easily choose between having a single drink and sharing a glass or two with your loved ones.

If you’re looking for a delicious drink when you want to relax and refresh on a hot, humid day, C2 Black Tea Peach might just fit the bill. Refreshingly light and with the right amount of sweetness, it can be your daily go-to beverage, especially during this warm season.

C2 Cool & Clean is from Universal Robina Corp. (URC), the maker of popular snack and beverage brands such as Great Taste Coffee, Jack ‘n Jill Piattos, Magic Crackers, Cloud 9, and Cream-O.

I the di ying at osphere of late, there are a few good things happening around On y way to Makati via the M on uesday, I noticed a sight i paired old an seated in the train e was preoccupied with what I took to be a radio progra playing on his phone, which is si ilar I guess to how sighted people spend their ti e co uting to their destination, except they watch progra s or surf ou ube acebook videos

As I was preparing to alight our train at the Ayala Avenue station, I heard the fa iliar crackle of the guard’s walkie talkie as she radioed her colleagues for assistance e arkably, as soon as the train doors opened, another guard was already waiting to help the sightless an he put his hand on her shoulder so she could guide hi to the escalator and, I assu e, out of the train station I hope this isn’t a one o f thing and such assistance is readily available to anyone physically challenged ow, if only there were ore working elevators in stations not just of the M but the as well, co uting will be uch ore convenient for seniors and persons with disabilities hat a ternoon, as I ade y way fro the Makati hangri a, where I attended a press event, to the

Don’t be fooled by what you hear. If you get your information from the source, you’ll save yourself grief. Recognize your value and what you have to offer before you bend to someone else’s demands. Don’t rely on others; trust in your ability to get things done.

It’s up to you to bring about change. If you dawdle, someone else will decide for you. Pay attention to medical issues and documents, and update anything that is about to lapse. A domestic investment will pay off. Get the facts and act accordingly. Let

Dramatizing duplicity in ‘Ripley’

Hugh Grant says he took ‘enormous sum’ to settle suit alleging illegal snooping by ‘The Sun’ tabloid

LONDON—Hugh Grant accepted “an enormous sum of money” to settle a lawsuit accusing The Sun tabloid of unlawfully tapping his phone, bugging his car and breaking into his home to snoop on him, the actor said on Wednesday after the agreement was announced in court. Grant said he reluctantly settled because of a court policy that could have stuck him with a huge legal bill even if he prevailed at trial—a reality that could also force fellow claimant Prince Harry to settle, their lawyer said. A civil court rule intended to avoid jamming up the courts would have required Grant to pay legal fees to both sides if he won at trial but was awarded anything lower than the settlement offer. “As is common with entirely innocent people, they are offering me an enormous sum of money to keep this matter out of court,” Grant said on the social media platform X. “Even if every allegation is proven in court, I would still be liable for something approaching £10 million ($12.4 million) in costs. I’m afraid I am shying at that fence.” The amount of the settlement was not disclosed. NGN said in a statement that it admitted no liability and said the settlement was in the financial interest of both parties to avoid a costly trial.

Grant and other claimants have alleged that NGN, a subsidiary of the media empire built by Rupert Murdoch, violated their privacy through widespread unlawful activity that included hiring private investigators to intercept voicemails, tap phones, bug cars and use deception to access confidential information between 1994 and 2016. AP

AWARD-WINNING FILIPINO CREATIVE LYNYRD PARAS EXPLORES DUALITIES IN ART EXHIBIT

TO explore the dichotomy of life, award-winning Filipino creative Lynyrd Paras delves into the dualities and complexities of human existence in a solo exhibit, titled LYNYRD. A 2018 Cultural Center of the Philippines 13 Artists awardee, he features 34 artworks that simultaneously portray the intersection and contrasting realities through his unique blend of mixed graphics and painting. The personal show depicts images of beauty and the grotesque. It reveals bodies of smoothed skin ravaged by bones and innards. The showcase likewise unveils powerful emotions through compelling text which immerse the viewers into the depths of life-and-death confrontations. Paras is a renowned painter whose work offers a fresh perspective on self-representation. His pieces provide styles with a sense of melancholy. It engages the spectators to be critical in their own actions amid the current modern age.

The show is produced by the Center for Campus Art (CCA) of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and curated by its director Ar. Gerry Torres. The event is Paras’ second installation at Benilde. This is after his one-day show as part of the CCA’s Music X Art and To Differ Digitally 2, all digital presentations of masterpieces for online audiences during the height of the pandemic. His creations have been shown in individual and group exhibitions across different parts of the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore.

LYNYRD is presented at the Greenway Gallery of Benilde Taft Campus, Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila, until April 30, 2024.

Sizzles...

ANDREW SCOTT made us believe in the unseen and impossible in 2023’s All of Us Strangers where, as Adam, he goes back to his childhood home and inds his parents who passed on when he was young. There he confesses to his mom who he has become and cries to a father who was not there when he was alone, scared in the dark. But here in Ripley, Andres Scott, in the title role, makes us doubt everything—love, kindness, maleness. He makes killing a dreary art form, his insouciance ever apparent, the arrogance in check, his appearance as cool as the Brooks Brothers cotton shirts he has adopted as a uniform.

The limited series opens in New York in the 1960s. We meet Tom Ripley, a con artist who makes a living writing fake collection letters to unknowing clients. He is approached by a wealthy shipbuilding magnate, who took Tom as a former classmate of his son, Dickie reenleaf, who has le t for Europe and yet to come back. At the moment of the meeting, Dickie is in Italy studying painting, an endeavor the father never believes his son will ever get into. Thus begins the adventure of the talented Tom Ripley.

It is an adventure in pretend that is made so exciting because even as the other characters, like Dickie and his girlfriend, Marge, appear not to believe in the persona of Tom, the same character is so strong we almost encourage others to take him in.

The appeal of Tom is written in the story about how in the scheme of things, there are individuals who can insert themselves into homes, in the inner recesses of any human activity, and ind themselves acceptable, or, at least, tolerated. And there, in those interstitial spaces, lies are born and passed o f as truth.

At the center of this magical charade is Andrew Scott, with that face so open and yet holding back not only personal secrets but also desire, even lust. The problem for the moralists as regards Ripley is how the plot has made the psychology of one deceitful person not only seductive but also compellingly desirable.

Critics are talking of the close-up shots of Andrew Scott as Tom and how we can practically feast on his limitless expressions—from the subtle shading of the glance, which he does by tilting his head, and from a gracious smirk that is revelatory of his duplicity. But if Tom is duplicitous, aren’t we all?

This power of Scott, as an actor, is evident already during that irst meeting with the parents of Dickie. He drops the name “Princeton” like weightless erragamo cu links, and, under his breath, talks of non-existent rich parents who perished in an accident.

His ability to control the other people’s apprehension of his background is but a surface form of his treasure trove of lies that are almost limitless. It is when he begins to scrape the bottom of

his narratives that he pursues other actions, which include murder and more murder. And yet, there is another more persuasive presence in the ilm Ripley and this is in the cinematography as directed by Robert Elswit. or the irst time, a ter so many years, here is a ilm where the visuals have gained primacy as the storyteller par excellence. In shot a ter shot, circles of blacks and grays su fuse the screen as images cease to be merely atmospheric. There seems to be no limit as to the geometric shapes the streets and structures in Italy assume as the actions of Tom Ripley in relation to the other characters begin to take other forms, other meanings. Elswit has always been a believer of shooting in black-and-white and employing ilm rather than digital technology. And indeed the di ference is marked and obvious: the wet pavement and the shadows on the walls hark back to the era of silent ilms where majestic images are as much part of the

performance of the actors on the screen. Think of the Cabinet of Dr Caligari or even of Metropolis. The feeling that there is fastidious thinking involved in the making of this cinema.

Elswit has worked with many black-and-white ilms, the most noted is that done with eorge Clooney, titled Goodnight, and Good Luck. He has also collaborated with Paul Thomas Anderson, and won the Academy Award for There Will be Blood in 2008.

Ripley is based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel

The Talented Mr. Ripley, a ilm version starring Matt Damon as Tom was made in 1999. The present Ripley stars Dakota Fanning as Marge and Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf.

Directing Ripley, an eight-episode limited series, is Steven Zaillian, as written by Zaillian himself. Completing the neo-noirish ilm is the dark and somber music by Je f usso. It is streaming on Net lix.

GMA Network sweeps PHL wins at NYF TV & Film Awards

MEDIA giant GMA Network wins big for the Philippines, bringing home a total of seven medals—including one World Gold medal—at the 2024 New York Festivals TV & Film (NYF) Awards. This marks the first time all the GMA shortlisted entries won in their respective categories.

At the virtual Storytellers Gala held on April 17 (Philippine time), multi-awarded GMA Public Affairs once again dominated the country’s winning entries with six medals. The bi-monthly public affairs program The Atom Araullo Specials clinched a World Gold Medal again, this time for the powerful documentary “Batas Bata” (Child’s Game) in the Documentary: Social Justice category. The episode showed Atom Araullo exploring the lives of minors entangled in the complex web of crime and conflict within the heart of Manila. The documentary also assessed the Philippines’ existing legal framework and whether it adequately addresses the unique challenges faced by these young individuals.

industrious o ice workers. Our southie friends are certainly fortunate to have a terminal like this. Maybe Ayala Land can do the same for the northies. Hydrate, people.

A second The Atom Araullo Specials documentary, “Hingang Malalim” (One Deep Breath), earned a Silver Medal under the Documentary: Human Concerns category. The episode featured the life of the Badjao people in Mindanao, who make a living out of diving for pearls.

GMA Public Affairs’ flagship documentary program I-Witness earned three medals this year. “Bawat Barya” (The Price of Dreams), also a documentary

by Araullo, won a Silver medal in the Documentary: Social Issues category. It featured the story of two young boys who search for coins in a dirty water channel for a living. Winning Bronze medals each were Howie Severino’s documentary “Boat to School” and Mav Gonzales’ documentary “Sisid sa Putik” (Rise from the Mud). “Boat to School,” which won under the Documentary: Heroes category, showed the plight of the students in Liaonan Siargao, who had to traverse the sea using a boat just to go to school. It also told the story of how one resident took it upon herself to gather children in her small home to teach them what she could with the little knowledge she had. Meanwhile, “Sisid sa Putik” took

home the Bronze medal in the Documentary: Community Portraits category. Mav’s documentary featured the old tradition of Agusan del Norte residents diving into the waters to get mud that will be used to plant frog grass. Arriving

OGAWA Unveils Game-Changing Wellness Solutions this Stress Awareness Month

WDR. Ronnel Ybañez and City Councilor Glenn Malihan, standing alongside esteemed leaders from Love Church

Asia’s Gold Icon Awards and Events Inc. conducts medical mission in Dasmariñas City

Awell-being of residents. The success of the medical mission was made possible through the collaboration of various partners and sponsors. These partnerships exemplify the power of collective efforts in addressing community needs and promoting healthcare accessibility.

Medical missions play a crucial role in providing healthcare services to underserved communities. By offering free medical consultations, screenings, and treatments, these initiatives help bridge the gap in healthcare access, particularly for those who may face financial or geographical barriers. Additionally, medical missions often serve as platforms for health education and awareness, empowering individuals to take proactive measures towards their well-being.

AS Stress Awareness Month unfolds, OGAWA, a pioneer in wellness technology, introduces an array of innovative products designed to redefine relaxation and elevate lifestyles. From the bustling urbanite seeking respite to the discerning individual prioritizing self-care, OGAWA presents a suite of solutions tailored to promote serenity and well-being.

At the heart of OGAWA’s offerings lies the OGAWA Smart Reluxe Lite, a marvel of engineering and design. Boasting Airbag Massage Technology, Foot Rollers, and six meticulously crafted Auto Programs, this cutting-edge device transcends traditional massage chairs, offering unparalleled stress relief, improved sleep quality, and muscle relaxation. Priced at an affordable P4,138.88 per month for 36 months, it beckons individuals to embark on a journey of tranquility without breaking the bank.

For those seeking an accessible yet indulgent relaxation experience, OGAWA introduces the OGAWA MyZonic. With its intuitive controls and user-friendly interface, navigating the MyZonic is effortless, ensuring that relaxation is within reach for individuals of all ages. Elevate your well-being affordably with monthly installments starting at just P2,219.44 for 36 months.

Benefits to Enjoy: Maintain supple joints and boost flexibility; Improve sleep quality; Relieve aches and pains; and Stress reduction

In addition to unparalleled relaxation, OGAWA prioritizes quality and customer satisfaction.

All OGAWA products are ISO Certified, providing assurance of excellence and reliability. Moreover, customers can take advantage of the Buy Now, Pay Later option at 0 percent interest, coupled with a two-year Warranty (Including Leather) and FREE Delivery within Metro Manila, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience from purchase to delivery.

“Amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life,

prioritizing self-care and relaxation is essential,” says Marianne Rodillo, Marketing Manager at OGAWA. “With our innovative wellness solutions, we aim to empower individuals to embrace tranquility and elevate their lifestyles.”

“This month, we’d also like to give the public a teaser of the newest face who will represent the brand. She’s captured the Universe’s attention with her captivating walk, intelligence, and charm. And we are beyond grateful that in the coming weeks, the cat will be out of the bag.” Rodillo Added during an interview.

Whether unwinding after a long day at work or indulging in a moment of self-care, OGAWA invites individuals to embark on a journey of relaxation and rejuvenation.

As Stress Awareness Month unfolds, discover the ultimate in relaxation with OGAWA. Operating at full capacity and with over 30 stores nationwide, that include a branch in One Ayala Makati, Greenhills Mall, Gateway Mall 2, Shangri-La Plaza, SM Megamall, Greenbelt 5, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Robinsons Manila, Ayala Malls Vertis North, Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, SM Fairview, SM North EDSA The Block, TriNoma, UP Town Center, Promenade Greenhills, Alabang Town Center,

For stores outside Metro Manila, OGAWA is located in SM City Bacoor, Ayala Solenad 3, and SM Sta. Rosa

Crafting Authentic Connections: Connectify MNL’s Innovative Approach to Influencer Marketing

The celebration was attended by Dasmariñas City Councilor Glenn Malihanwho expressed gratitude and support for the medical mission. The involvement of local government officials highlights the significance of such community-driven initiatives and the positive impact they can have on the

SIA’S Golden Icons Awards and Events Inc. (AGIA Inc.) organized a medical mission to celebrate the anniversary of the Love Church, where Dr. Ronnel Ybañez, the President of AGIA Inc., is a member. The medical mission was successfully conducted with the support of Dr. Ryan Encabo, Encabo Medical Group, Gluo Pharmacy, and UNILAB, who provided participation and assistance for the celebration. Bibles sponsored by Bro. Odie Limuco, were also distributed to the church members during the event.

The medical mission organized by Asia’s Golden Icons Awards and Events Inc. (AGIA Inc.) in De La Salle University, Alumni Building, Dasmarinas City, Cavite last April 7, 2024, highlights the importance of community engagement, partnerships, and collective efforts in addressing healthcare needs. Through such initiatives, organizations like AGIA Inc. contribute to the overall well-being of communities and promote a culture of compassion and service.

HATASU rolls out its HATASU CAREAVAN campaign in provinces

The HATASU Careavan is an offline event touching base in different cities and provinces. During the two to three days event, the brand conducts ebike education talks such as a Safety Riding Program in coordination with the local government unit and a HATASU ebike 101 to introduce and demonstrate the different available HATASU ebike models and their functions. The event is also an avenue for existing ebike users to have their units checked for repair or maintenance. Interested customers,

on the other hand, can also avail their dream ebike during the HATASU Careavan wherein sales representatives and installment partners will be present to assist potential buyers with their inquiries.

“At HATASU, we want to do our part in ensuring proper road guidelines and etiquette are in place hence we are rolling out the HATASU Careavan campaign to empower our existing and potential customers with the proper ebike education as well as provide them an avenue to access our products and have them regularly checked,” says Austine Huang, HATASU Philippines COO.

The first-leg of the HATASU Careavan was successfully held last March at Goa, Bicol in partnership with K-Servico. During the three-day event, the brand conducted talks on safe riding, ebike check-ups for existing HATASU users, selling activities, test drive opportunities, and fun booth activities.

HATASU recently announced that they’ll be having the second leg of the HATASU Careavan at Bajada, Davao in partnership with EMCOR. This was held JVR Building, EMCOR Bajada, Davao store from April 12 to 13.

Want to know if your city is next? Follow the official HATASU Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ HATASUPH and their official TikTok page at https://www.tiktok.com/@hatasuph for updates on the next HATASU Careavan legs!

I

NFLUENCER marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for brands to connect with their target audiences authentically, especially in today’s digital age. It leverages the influence of social media personalities to promote products or services to their audiences. By partnering with content creators and influencers, brands can reach highly engaged audiences and build trust through authentic endorsements.

Personalities often create sponsored content that resonates with their followers, making it more persuasive than traditional advertising. This allows brands to tap into niche markets and target specific demographics with tailored messages. As social media continues to dominate daily lives, influencer marketing has become a go-to strategy for brands seeking authentic connections with their audience.

And, that’s exactly what Connectify MNL specializes in.

Owned and founded by Jim Reynold Zamora, the influencer marketing and talent management agency connects brands with the most relevant and influential social media personalities and content creators to create authentic and impactful partnerships. Made up of a small group of young, dynamic, and innovative storytellers, Connectify MNL remains at the forefront of influencer marketing.

The agency actively engages in continuous learning and staying connected with industry trends and changes. They combine research with networking and collaborative learning, ensuring that they remain agile, adaptive, and wellequipped to navigate the dynamic landscape of influencer marketing effectively.

Connectify MNL has in-house content creators where brands can collaborate seamlessly while its extensive pool of influencers and celebrity contacts ensures successful partnerships. The agency ensures that they represent influencers and creators and maintain authenticity and credibility.

“We strive for these core values to shine through in all our content, partnerships, and projects. We believe in letting our talents shine as their genuine selves, fostering collaborations where content creators and key opinion leaders can contribute ideas. At Connectify MNL, authenticity and credibility are at the heart of everything we do, representing individuals and creators authentically.”

Connectify MNL treasures the essence of content creation, seeking to partner with content creators, celebrities, and key opinion leaders who share the same values in crafting authentic and impactful content, branding, and imaging.

“The beauty of Connectify lies in the diverse array of creators we collaborate with, whether they’re exclusive or non-exclusive.”

With Connectify MNL expanding services to cater to a broader range of clients, content creators, and influencers aligns perfectly with the evolving landscape of influencer marketing.

“By adapting to market trends and meeting the diverse needs of our stakeholders, Connectify MNL aims to solidify its position as a leader in the industry. Our commitment to innovation and client satisfaction will drive us toward achieving our goals while maintaining a focus on fostering meaningful connections and authentic collaborations.”

With his keen understanding of the influencer landscape and passion for fostering meaningful collaborations, Zamora shares the story of how Connectify MNL came to be. He started off his career as an entertainment and lifestyle news writer which later led him to become the leader of the editorial team of a Philippine-based digital magazine.

“It all started at a local lifestyle magazine, where connected with celebrities as editor-inchief. Transitioning to PR, I delved into influencer marketing, collaborating with brands across industries like tech, fashion, and health. After years of experience, Connectify was born—my legacy is being built on meaningful connections.”

With his understanding of how creators and brands work and collaborate together, Zamora also has advice for aspiring influencers and creators aiming to join Connectify MNL.

“Embrace the journey, and don’t be afraid to try. If content creation ignites your passion, dive in and start creating, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. Remember, growth often comes from pushing past those initial feelings of doubt. Dreams become reality when backed by action, so don’t hesitate to take those first steps. Your journey may surprise you, and someday, you’ll look back and be grateful for the courage to begin.”

Join Connectify MNL on its journey to revolutionize influencer marketing and elevate brand storytelling to new heights through this link and visit @connectifymnl on Instagram.

THE Goa, Bicol leg of the HATASU Careavan.

By Josef Ramos

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is again offering a house and lot—or houses and lots—to Filipino athletes who will win gold medals in the Paris Olympics.

“If I gave houses and lots to the medalists in the Tokyo Olympics, why can’t and won’t do it again for Paris,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said in Thursday’s official launching the POC-Cignal TV partnership “Isang Daang Taon Laban Para sa Bayan: Celebrating 100 Years of Filipino Excellence in the Olympics” at Cignal’s Launchpad Building headquarters in Mandaluyong City.

Four medals—topped by Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo in women’s weightlifting, the country’s first Olympic gold medal— were clinched in Tokyo 2020, a windfall in a hundred years of Philippine Olympic participation.

The haul inspired Tolentino that he gifted Diaz-Naranjo, boxing silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and even bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial a house and lot each in Tagaytay City.

The compound where the three boxers’ homes are located is now aptly called Olympic Village.

the par tnership. With them are Cignal First Vice President and Head for Channels and Content Sienna Olaso

Free-to-Air and Pay TV—and on digital and social media through One Sports, One News and News5.

Joining Basas in the launch was Cignal TV First Vice President and Head of Channels and Content Sienna Olaso.

Month-long training camp for PHL athletes in Metz POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has put in place a first in Philippine sports history—a monthlong training camp for athletes who will compete in the Paris Olympics.

“We plotted this two years ago, and we really looked for facilities that would accommodate our athletes,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino and POC secretarygeneral Atty. Wharton Chan signed a contract in January last year with La Moselle president Patrick Weiten for the training camp in Metz.

PARIS—As the countdown clock to the Paris Olympics passed the 100-day mark, the question of holding the opening ceremony on the Seine River loomed large over the milestone celebrations on Wednesday.

Organizers have planned a parade of about 10,500 athletes through the heart of the French capital on boats on the Seine along a 6-kilometer (3.7mile) route in the opening ceremony at sunset on July 26. But French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the exceptional open-air event in central Paris could be shifted to a more conventional opening ceremony at the Stade de France if the security threat is deemed too high.

“If we think there are risks, depending on our analysis of the context, we have fallback scenarios. There are plan Bs and plan Cs,” Macron said.

in full swing and should go ahead as planned.

“We are heavily working on Plan A which remains the central scenario and the very, very dominant scenario,” France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said.

She added, enthusiastically and with a large smile: “We keep working on that fantastic ceremony on the River Seine.”

The sports minister emphasized that visitors to Paris will be safe during the Olympics.

“We know that risks exist,” Oudéa-Castéra said. “We know the world is complex, sometimes unstable, sometimes unpredictable, sometimes dangerous,” she said, before insisting. “We really want to say to the whole world that, in any case, France will be a safe place.”

Celebrating ‘Isang Daang Taon Laban Para sa Bayan’

THE campaign will not only kick off the country’s campaign in Paris but also to celebrate a century of Philippine participation in the Olympics which began with track athlete David Nepomuceno as the sole representa-

“Our gold medalist, one or more, in Paris fully deserves this reward for their hard work, dedication and love for sport and country,” said Tolentino, also the first POC president to ever harness a month-long training camp for an Olympic participation by any Philippine delegation. Tolentino’s incentive in Tagaytay City is one of several bonuses to athletes, the biggest of which are P10 million, P5 million and P2 million for an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist, respectively, in individual sports under the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, as well as separate bonuses expected from the POC and Malacañang. The private sector also chips in a major chunk of incentives with DiazNaranjo securing product and service endorsements that reportedly breached P100 million.

“Cignal TV has always believed in the skills and talent of the Filipino athlete and this partnership only reiterates our commitment to them,” said Cignal TV and MediaQuest President and CEO Jane Basas. “We want them to know that we’re with them every step of the way.”

POC President Abraham “Bambol”

Tolentino said: “We’re honored to have Cignal TV as our gracious partner for the Paris-bound athletes and this early, we have high hopes of another memorable showing in the Olympics.”

Cignal TV will be there chronicling the journey of the Filipino athlete through comprehensive news coverage aired and featured on the various MediaQuest platforms—Cignal TV,

Former champs eye age group titles in Mactan

SIX former champions, among them two full Ironman winners, are shifting their focus on the age group competition in the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu set this Sunday in Mactan.

The Czech Republic’s Petr Lukosz and the Netherlands’ Eric van der Linden will still be aiming for the overall championship in the men’s division of the challenging 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run race but might opt to concentrate on their respective age brackets given the high level of competition expected in the main event.

Lukosz, who triumphed under tough conditions to claim the full Ironman title in Subic in 2022, leads

Fresh talents vying in Gov. Castro Cup meet in Roxas City

MORE than 250 emerging talents from Western Visayas will compete in nine singles age groups in the Governor Fredenil Castro Cup National Junior Tennis Championship at the Villareal Stadium hard courts in Roxas City. The Group 2 tournament, presented by Dunlop, kicked off competitions in the boys’ 18-, 16-, 14-, 12-and-under divisions, as well as the 10-and-U unisex category, and girls’ 14- and 16-and-under class Thursday.

Heading the title chase in the premier division of the event hosted by Castro and held in celebration of the Capiztahan Festival are promising talents Ian Ituriaga, Ralph Angeles, Marben Alimarin, Niño Rey, Alexandra Onte, Maxene Panizales, Wenzhey Lacupa and Alleva Suace.

In the 16-and-under category, notable names likes Bjorn Castigador, Ituriaga, Alimarin and Theo Zapatos (boys) and Onte, Keisha Fungo, Rufyne Ansino and Panizales are expected to dispute top honors and ranking points, while Castigador, Alimarin, Francisco de

the

field.

the field in the 40-44 age category, while Van Linde, who succeeded Lukosz the following year, competes in the 50-54 age division.

Local standout John Alcala, who emerged victories in the international Ironman 70.3 Puerto Princesa in 2022 and dominated the IM 70.3 Subic last year, headlines the men’s 30-34 age class in the event presented by Megaworld and The Mactan Newtown.

In the women’s category, Leyann Ramos, the overall champion in last year’s IM 70.3 Puerto Princesa, is a notable contender in the 30-34 age group, while Ines Santiago, who shared top honors with Alcala in Subic, leads the 40-44 age class in the

top endurance race organized by The Ironman Group. Ramo and Santiago face tough competition in their quest for titles with to be challenged by the likes of Malgorzata Nowak, Almira Lopez, Christy So, Christy Leung, Rhia Stawicki, Fatima CasimiroPineda, Katrina Arellano, Christi Chan, Aiprel Patalinjug, Alexandra Bolzonello of Australia and former golf champion Mia Piccio. Santiago, on the other hand, gears up for a fierce battle with Sarah Pelayo, Sarah Eraña, Pearl Madrigal, Rhea Siangko, Wanlun Tsai, Fumi Watanabe, Thuha Tran, Sheila Co and Maryfel Aumentado, among others.

school’s athletes’ quarters, a 12thstorey building where all of their athletes will be housed. High on the university’s golden anniversary celebration are the Altas doing well in all sporting events, specifically the men’s basketball team which is now handled by nine-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) champion Olsen Racela. Gusi said it has been the dream of Perpetual Help chairman Dr. and Brig. Gen. Antonio Tamayo for the school to win a first National Collegiate Athletic Association championship after falling short in 1988 with a team then bannered by PBA great Bong Hawkins and in 2004 by Noy Javier.

“The athletes will have everything there in Metz—training facilities, sports science and medicine, comfortable accommodation and the perfect nutrition,” said Tolentino, adding the POC intends to bring in a Filipino chef to oversee the needs of the athletes ahead of the Olympics.

Metz is an hour and 15 minutes by train from Paris.

Training at Metz starts June 22, a day after the official send off for Team Philippines on June 21 at the Ayuntamiento de Manila.

France is on high security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which are expected to draw millions of visitors to the country. Organizers, French government officials and French athletes at the J-100 (“100 Days To Go” Olympic event) on Wednesday all acknowledged security concerns over the opening ceremony, which will bring huge crowds and over 100 world leaders to the embankments. They insisted that preparations for the parade on the Seine are still

Tony Estanguet, the head of the Paris Games’ organizing committee, said the plan to open the Games with the sunset parade on the Seine remains unchanged and “it’s our duty, our role to make sure it will happen.”

However, there are as yet unspecified contingency plans in place whereby organizers will adapt to any circumstances that might arise, Estanguet added.

David Lappartient, the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee, accepted there are challenges in preparing an event like the Olympics in a city like Paris at the time of heightened tensions and raging wars.

“The situation worldwide is quite complicated,” said Lappartient, who is also an International Olympic Committee member. There are challenges with transport and security, and it’s reasonable and reassuring that the “government is trying to see all the options on the table.”

Former France handball star

Michaël Guigou, who won multiple Olympic and world titles, said security risks have become part of daily life reality in France, such as when he goes to a concert. But he has full trust in security arrangements at the opening ceremony—wherever it may take place—and in fan zones, Olympic venues and the city of Paris itself.

“It’s part of life today, unfortunately,” Guigou said. “We have enough intelligent and competent people in place to look after that, so I’m not doubting things.”

Dany Dann, a French breaker who will take part in his first Olympics as breaking makes its debut, has no concerns. AP

Games and we thank the local government of Salcedo for helping us spread the agenda of the PSC for the sake of indigenous

towns—Cervantes, Gregorio del Pilar, Lidlidda, Suyo, Banayoyo, Burgos, Galimuyod, Nagbukel, Quirino, Sugpon, Alilem, San Emilio and Sigay.  The event is supervised by PSC Commissioner Matthew “Fritz” Gaston with Elias Samorin as project head. “We are totally ready for this year’s

Min Southern Metro Manila with the recent opening of its newest branch, Motor Image Alabang.

company has identified ASEAN as the critical engine for future growth

T he expansive show room boasts a sleek si x-car display area, showcasing the latest Subaru models in a moder n and inv iting setting. Private transaction areas and a wellappointed lounge are designed to prov ide v isitors w ith a comfor table and engag i ng env ironment. T he show room also ser ves as a receivi ng locat ion for Suba ru vehicles scheduled for ser vicing at the nearby satellite workshop facility, ensuring customers a seamless and convenient experience. Moreover Motor Image Alabang offers a w ide range of quality products, genuine par ts, and accessories. T his newest branch is staffed by a team of highly sk illed and dedicated sales and after-sales professionals committed to delivering the best possible Subaru experience for all customers.

The

With the opening of Motor Image Alabang, MIP underscores its commitment to delivering outstanding products and services to its esteemed customers in the Southern region. Catering to career-driven individuals with a penchant for vibrant lifestyles and outdoor pursuits, Motor Image Alabang marks a new milestone to solidify further Subaru’s position as a leading automotive brand in the Philippines.

Subaru Outback Turbo MEANWHILE, on display was the newly introduced Outback 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight. This turbocharged version debuted at the recently concluded Manila International Auto Show 2024. Motivation comes from a 2.4-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder boxer engine boosting 246 hp at 6,000 r pm and 350 N-m of torque at 4,800 r pm. The Outback Touring 2.4 XT features a revised Subaru Lineartronic Transmission (SLT) with optimized gear/differential ratios to suit the increased power deliver y and towing performance. Subaru claims that the Outback 2.4 XT Touring EyeSight can now tow up to 2400 kg, a significant increase from the current 2.5-liter naturallyaspirated Outback’s 2,000 kg limit. The unbraked towing capacity remains at 750 kg across the range. The Interior comes with Nappa leather seats, an electric sunroof, a heated steering wheel, Harman Kardon audio, an 11.6-inch

pegs at a ver y reasonable P1,498,000. Jing said the new Corolla Cross is packed with convenience features, suc h as a 12. 3 -inc h f u lly d ig ital multi-information display (MID) for the GR-S HEV. The V HEV, meanwhile, has a 7-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) MID, while the G HEV has a 4.2-inch TFT MID. Further, the GR-S and V variants are equipped w it h Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), which includes PreCollision System (PCS), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Trac ing Assist (LTA), Lane Departure Alert (LDA) and Dynamic Radar