BusinessMirror April 22, 2024

TRBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE Board of Investments (BOI) said it approved P607.22 billion of investments—bulk of which is in renewable energy—from January to April 2024, up 15 percent from the investment approvals recorded in the same period last year.

BOI Director Sandy Recolizado told reporters at a briefing on Friday that investment approvals in the four-month period came from 117 projects, mostly from domestic investors.

“Majority of the projects that we have approved came from Renewable Energy [RE] projects,” Recolizado said.

The BOI official noted that the biggest project that the investment promotion agency has approved is the RE project of Ahunan Power, Inc. which has a project cost of P296.98 billion.

The Ahunan power project is a 1,400-megawatt (MW) pumped storage hydroelectric power project located in Pakil, Laguna. Recolizado said this project is 100-percent Filipino-owned.

Recolizado said the second largest project the BOI approved is also a renewable energy project, the

PHL

Ivisan Windkraft Corporation’s 450 MW Frontera Bay wind power project, with a P83.70-billion project cost and will be located offshore of Cavite.

The Ivisan wind power project is 25-percent Filipino-owned, 75percent Singaporean-owned.

Of the P607.22-billion investments approved in the JanuaryApril 2024 period, Recolizado said P494.37 billion, or 81.42 percent, came from domestic investors.

She also noted that the BOI investment approvals in the four-month period are 15 percent up from the P527.24 billion recorded in the same period a year ago.

For his part, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, who cochairs the BOI, underscored the importance of drawing investments from domestic investors.

FIRST TO SIGN WB’S RAPID RESPONSE OPTION AGREEMENT

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

THE Philippines, which ranks the third most disaster-prone country in the world, can now immediately liquidate funds to address emergency needs when a crisis occurs. In a social media post on Sunday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto signed the Rapid Response Option (RRO) with the World Bank Group (WBG) on April 20.

The Philippines is the first state to sign the agreement,

from April 15 to 21, 2024, in Washington, DC. The RRO is part of the WBG’s Expanded Crisis Preparedness and Response Toolkit, which allows countries to quickly repurpose a portion of their unused World Bank financing across their existing portfolio to deliver timely responses when crises occur. “The flexible resource reallocation will provide the Philippine government with immediate liquidity to rapidly deliver critical services—such as healthcare, shelter, food—in times of emergency,” the DOF said.

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

AISING wages in the Philippines should have been done “yesterday” to allow worker’s benefits to catch up with the net profits of businesses they work for, according to a former chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas told BusinessMirror that the P100 across-the-board wage increase should have already been passed by Congress.

This would be of significant help to Filipinos who have identified high inflation as well as the abil -

ity of their incomes to continue covering for their basic needs as their top concerns, according to a recent survey by Publicus Asia. (See: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2024/04/03/pricesinadequate-incomes-top-phlhousehold-concerns/).

“The P100 wage increase being proposed in Congress should have been passed by Congress ‘yesterday.’ That’s just to allow labor to catch up, given the rise in labor productivity, with the rise in net profits of owners of capital and the compensation and bonuses of their top management,” Canlas told this newspaper.

However, De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas told BusinessMirror that rais -

ing wages could also be inflationary and can never be a solution against high inflation caused by, for example, higher oil prices.

Several bills lodged in both houses of Congress are proposing an across-the-board wage increase of anywhere from P100 to as much as P750.

Oplas said such proposals would benefit the interest of workers but economic policies should still balance the interests not just of workers, but also businesses. After all, higher wages could lead to job cuts.

“It is not only labor that we have to protect. We also need to balance it with the industry that will [be] burden[ed by] the [high] cost of labor,” Oplas said.

“It’s nice to be altruistic, but in order to sustain the industry, we also need to allow industry to gain profit.”

Oplas said government must work double time in terms of rural development, as this will significantly increase employment opportunities in the provinces.

With this, Filipinos in rural areas will not be forced to flock to congested areas like Metro Manila just to earn a living.

Recent efforts to extend support for farmers, Oplas said, are a step toward the right direction. This will help farmers and discourage them from leaving their fields in exchange for city living.

LBy Erwin M. Mascariñas

UNA, Apayao—After nearly a month of rehabilitation, a female Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)  rescued with three air gun pellets lodged underneath its skin was released back into its forest home on April 12, 2024, but the chief executive of the province of Apayao is seeking answers as to how the critically endangered raptor was shot.

Named after the area where it was rescued, Philippine eagle Nariha Kabugao was rescued last March 19 from a farmer in Barangay Bulu in Kabugao by a team from the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), representatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Local Government Unit of Apayao Province and Kabugao, and concerned citizens.

During the physical examina -

tion conducted by veterinarians and PEF biologist, the rescued raptor was later found to have three air gun pellets embedded within its skin, indicating the bird was shot several times in the past which might be the reason it got weak and was tempted to find an easy meal, resulting in getting itself trapped.

“We’ve been protecting our forest here and the conservation efforts have been there for more than a decade now, it’s sad to know that while our eagle was rescued and saved, we can’t deny and look the other way, we need to know at the situation as to the incident that our eagle was shot before it was rescued,” said Governor Elias Cayaba Bulut Jr. of the Province of Apayao.

“I am calling for an investigation and for the concerned government agencies to take an active role.

News

Marcos wants non-tariff curbs on farm products out

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

AMID rising food prices, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants to ensure the country’s food security by removing non-tariff barriers for agricultural products.

The chief executive has issued Administrative Order (AO) No. 20, which instructed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to take the lead in streamlining administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural products, and remove non-tariff barriers.

Malacañang said existing nontariff barriers--policy measures, other than customs tariffs that restrict trade—have “unduly add to the cost of importation,” which led to the continued increase of domestic prices of agricultural commodities.

“It is imperative to further streamline administrative procedures to foster transparency and predictability of policies on the importation of agricultural products in order to help ensure food security, maintain sufficient supply of agricultural goods in the domestic market, and improve local production,” Marcos said in the four-page AO, which he issued

through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin.

New guidelines

WITHIN 30 days after AO 20 took effect on April 18, 2024, DA must come out with the guidelines to process the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) within the prescribed period in their Citizen’s Charter.   “All SPSIC applications not acted upon within the prescribed period shall be deemed approved pursuant to Section 10 of RA [Republic Act] No. 9485, as amended, provided that all documentary requirements have been submitted and all required fees have been paid as indicated in their Citizen’s Charter,” Marcos said in AO 20.

During the said period, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) will issue new guidelines on the classification or automatic classification of imported sugar as well direct importation of sugar by

SRA-registered industrial users, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

By next month, DA will also review and revise its existing quantitative restrictions policies on the importation of frozen fish and fishery/aquatic products for wet markets during closed and off-fishing seasons or during calamities.

The agency will also work with the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Committee on Tariff and Related Matters to facilitate importation of certain agricultural products beyond the authorized minimum access volume (MAV).

It will also take concrete steps to improve logistics, transport, distribution and storage of imported agricultural products.

The new issuance also tasked the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to prioritize the unloading and release of imported agricultural products subject to the provisions of RA 10863 or the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.”

Surveillance team

TO ensure effective implementation of AO 20, Marcos sought the reconstitution of a surveillance team to be led by the DA, with the Department of Trade and Industry, BOC, Philippine Competition Commission, the Department of the Interior and Local

Government (DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The team will monitor importation and distribution of imported agricultural products; prevent price manipulation and other forms of unfair or uncompetitive commercial practices; implement remedial measures to address such unlawful acts; and create guidelines to facilitate information sharing among its members.

The DA, DTI, BOC, SRA and Department of Finance (DOF) are required to submit to the Office of the Executive Secretary and the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook (IACIMO) quarterly updates on the implementation of AO 20.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported inflation quickened to 3.7 percent last month from 3.4 percent in February 2024.

State statisticians attributed the trend to Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, which contributed to 76.4 percent overall inflation in March.

Government economic managers and economists are keeping a close watch on the impact of the ongoing El Niño and geopolitical developments such as the war in the Middle East, which can worsen the country’s inflation in the upcoming months.

The 1970s

UP professor emeritus Epictetus Patalinghug told B usiness M irror that a $250 per barrel increase in oil may be possible, but it will only be a temporary shock should an Iran-Israel war erupt.

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.

Patalinghug said after the initial shock, oil prices could return to “normal” levels after a week. Nonetheless, he recalled that during the Arab-Israel War in 1973, oil prices did not reach $250 per barrel.

“As long as Russia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Venezuela, Kuwait, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Norway, Kuwait, Mexico, and Brazil continue to supply oil and gas —even if Iran oil fields are shut down—world oil prices will not reach $200 per barrel,” Patalinghug explained in an email.

Different response—Lanzona

REGARDLESS of whether oil prices reach $250 per barrel, Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr. told Business Mirror that addressing high oil prices cannot be similar to how the country responded in the 1970s.

In order to keep oil prices stable locally, the government “imposed oil price regulations and subsidized gasoline consumption.” Lanzona added the government also took its response further by owning oil refineries that led to “tremendous loans.”

“Government resources would be better spent looking for and developing energy-saving alternatives, such as mass transport systems and renewable sources,” Lanzona said. “The government should also take this opportunity to initiate a comprehensive green economy program.”

Alongside these efforts, Lanzona said, the government should create a well-targeted social protection program to help cushion the impact of oil prices on the most vulnerable to these developments.

“Sooner or later, these oil prices will stabilize and go back to their normal levels. But regardless of what happens, if we accomplish these reforms and become less dependent on oil, we will be in a much better position than the one we experienced when the Marcoses first fled the country in 1986,” Lanzona said.

On Friday, Bloomberg reported that oil wiped out an earlier sharp jump as Iranian media appeared to play down the impact of Israeli strikes that followed last weekend’s unprecedented bombardment by Tehran.

For me, this is my perspective, if we all work together, we can do proper conservation but if we are hesitant then all our efforts will just go down the drain,” added Bulut.

The governor pointed out that after knowing that the eagle had air gun pellets within its body, authorities should have immediately investigated so action can be taken against the perpetrators who shot the endangered raptor.

“This case, this incident, this is a sad story on our part, we regretfully look at it since we’ve been doing everything, to protect them, to conserve them, we need to set the record straight that behavior’s that violate what we’ve worked so hard should never be tolerated,” said Bulut.

The governor recalled that when he was still mayor, he sent a relative to prison for violating a local environmental conservation law that they had kept.

Engineer Paquito Morales, Regional Executive Director of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) under the Cordillera Administrative Region, said in his speech—at the program held before the release of the eagle—that the behavior of wildlife such as the Philippine eagle is adjusting amid the threat of climate change and relentless hunting.

On the  air gun pellets found in the bird’s body, he urged everyone to “let the bird live alone” and cited Republic Act number 9147, or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protect Act, and the Presidential Decree number 705, or the Revised Forest Recode of the Philippines. Both prohibit the gathering and destruction of wildlife resources.

Morales said the acts include killing and destroying wildlife species, inflicting injury which could cripple and/or impair the reproductive system of wildlife species, and affecting destruction of critical habitats.

“We will keep an eye on wouldbe violators of these laws so they can be punished,” he said.

The challenge, Morales said, is for them is to make sure that the Philippine Eagle has a home in their mountainous region.

“Whether it was a migrant or homegrown, the challenge for us now is not just to preserve the Philippine eagle as a species, but to preserve genetic diversity or the flora and fauna surrounding it,” said Morales.

Kabugao Vice Mayor Fabulous Tucjang took responsibility for the eagle’s shooting and expressed his apologies on finding out that the eagle had airgun bullets within its body.

“Sorry because we found bullets in the body of Nariha, and with this incident, we are planning to craft an ordinance prohibiting this

BOI...

“Let’s not underestimate the domestic investments because that’s what we want to encourage in the Philippines...that our domestic investors commit their capital to projects in the Philippines rather than bringing out the money, their capital outside the Philippines,” Pascual said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The country’s trade chief emphasized that foreign investors are also looking to see if the country also generates investments from its own local investors, as these investors know the “innards” of the Philippines better than the foreign ones.

“Well, if the local investors are not investing here in the Philippines, and they know the innards of this country, then why should these foreigners invest?” Pascual asked aloud.

form of hunting activities that will endanger our environment and our species. Our Philippine eagles are considered critical, and we are so blessed that they consider this place as their habitat, we are very fortunate and lucky to have them,” said Tucjang.  Tucjang who personally tasked his personnel in coordination with the PEF in constructing a suitable rehabilitation pen in Brgy. Bulu, Kabugao where the eagle was transferred on March 26, in preparation for its release, said that by taking care of the environment and the habitat of the eagle, the communities  can attract visitors and tourists who can help the town grow in a more sustainable ecotourism venture.

“With our ecosystem, we can offer our visitors something unique and with such activity, it will help our town’s economic opportunities grow,” said Tucjang.

Apayao, a last frontier

PEF Executive Director Dennis I. Salvador called Apayao one of the places in the country that holds large natural areas and harbors the national bird.

“Two decades ago, it wasn’t even known that the species existed in the Cordilleras. Even our scientists believed that this bird doesn’t exist here. But Apayao proved them wrong, and because we treasure this heritage, we have returned Nariha to where she belongs. Hopefully, she finds her family and bears more eagles. And more importantly, we pray that this never happens again,” said Salvador.

Dr. Jayson Ibañez, in a statement, said that the country’s symbol and its home are in danger, noting that the area is one of the last strips of ancient forests commonly known to Apayao residents as “Paco Valley.”

“Paco Valley, in turn, lies at the core of the 177,000-hectare Apayao Lowland Forest Key Biodiversity Area. Dubbed as the North’s last natural frontier, the Provincial Government and the DENR are pursuing a ‘Unesco Biosphere Reserve’ designation of this ancient home to the eagles and its Indigenous Isnag co-dwellers,” said Ibañez.

According to PEF, Nariha Kabugao is the third Philippine eagle to be rescued in Apayao since 2005, and the second to be released back to the forest of the province, after Philippine Eagle Ingagan which was released in 2017.

“When combined with eagle rescue data from the Northern Sierra Madre, at least nine eagles, including Nariha Kabugao, were trapped since 1999 in Northern Luzon,” Ibañez added.

Based on historical records and sightings within the whole Apayao province, there are five known PH eagle territories in the province.

In 2023, BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo said the BOI approved P1.26 trillion worth of investment projects. This is 73 percent higher than the investment approvals recorded in the same period in 2022.

According to the BOI, the P1.26trillion investment approvals is equivalent to 311 projects, up 28 percent from the projects approved in 2022. These projects centered on renewable energy, telco infrastructure and the export of copper,gold, and other metals.

(See: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2024/01/08/boi-eyes-

Early this year, the investment promotion agency announced that it is eyeing around P1.3 trillion to P1.5 trillion worth of investment approvals for 2024, with RE, RE equipment manufacturing, and mineral processing investments seen occupying a larger chunk of the investment approvals pie.

BIR loses bid to collect ₧801.30M in unpaid taxes

sessment has legal and factual bases.

TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

“To stress, tax assessments issued in violation of the due process rights of a taxpayer are null and void,” the decision read.

“In fine, in view of the finding that the subject tax assessments are void for having been issued in violation of petitioner’s right to administrative due process, it is no longer necessary to address the other matters raised by the parties herein,” it added.

In its petition, the company ar -

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has lost its bid to collect P801.30 million in unpaid tax from a property leasing company. In a 25-page decision penned by Associate Justice Corazon FerrerFlores, the Special Third Division of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) granted the petition for review filed by the Marina Square Properties Inc. (MSP). The company sought the cancellation and withdrawals of the BIR’s assessment for alleged deficiency income tax, value-added tax (VAT) and documentary stamp tax (DST) for taxable year 2014. The CTA also set aside the formal letter of demand dated October 26, 2017, and the final decision on disputed assessment dated July 30, 2020, issued by the BIR against the company. The appellate court held that the tax assessments were issued in violation of MSP’s right to due process.

President

orders intensified actions vs poverty, social ills

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered concerned agencies and instrumentalities to intensify government efforts to combat hunger, poverty, and crimes through stronger grassroots engagement.

In his Memorandum Circular (MC) 47, the chief executive instructed the Task Force on Zero Hunger to intensify its coordination with stakeholders to make the “Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty” (EPAHP) program more sustainable.

“All national government agencies and instrumentalities, including governmentowned or controlled corporations and GFI [government financial institutions], are hereby directed, and all local government units are hereby encouraged, to extend full support and cooperation to the Task Force on Zero Hunger relative to the implementation of the EPAHP Program,” Marcos said.

The Chief Executive said the initiative aims to “bolster government efforts towards attaining zero hunger, food and nutrition security, and sustainable agriculture.”

Under the 2-page MC 47, the President ordered the task force to coordinate with GFIs to extend credit assistance to support food production, processing and distribution. Other efforts by the taskforce to enhance food supply chain includes providing better farm production technologies and extending services to government-assisted family

farms and rural-based organizations as well as constructing, repairing and improving irrigation facilities and appurtenant structures in irrigable areas in the countryside.

It also aims to increase the participation of Community Based Organizations in EPAHP programs through a Community Participation Procurement and linking them to prospective markets.

LGU support

THE President also wants to accelerate government efforts against crime through the implementation of the 2024 National Crime Prevention Program (NCPP), which he approved last February. The NCPP contains “cross-cutting strategies for further fostering safe communities, protecting the rights of Filipinos, and reducing the prevalence of criminal activities in the country.”

Marcos urged local government units (LGU) to back the implementation of the NCPP, which will be led by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).

“To ensure the success of the 2024 NCPP, it is necessary for all government agencies and instrumentalities, as well as local government units, to support and cooperate in the implementation of the 2024 NCPP,” Marcos said in his one-page MC 46. The President issued MC 46 on April 18, 2024, and MC 47 on April 19, 2024, through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin. However, both issues were only released to members of the press last Sunday.

Marcos’s AO expected to ease burden of high prices

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda on Sunday welcomed the recent issuance by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of an Administrative Order (AO) he expects would alleviate the burden of high food prices on Filipino consumers and provide much-needed support to the domestic agricultural sector.

In a statement, Salceda emphasized the necessity of addressing the excessive protectionism prevalent in the Philippines, which significantly contributes to the inflated cost of food items.

“The AO will make food cheaper. Right now, it’s very difficult for an honest exporter to sell food to the Philippines,” the solon said.

With tariffs hovering at around 27 percent of farm receipts across agricultural goods, he said the country boasts one of the highest rates of protection for domestic products.

However, the lawmaker said this protection often fails to benefit the intended beneficiaries—the local agricultural sectors—and instead fosters an environment ripe for exploitation and trade manipulation.

“With such levels of trade protection, we should not be surprised why food is expensive in the country. Such protection levels also do not directly accrue to the agricultural sectors they are supposed to protect. They also incentivize those who can completely disregard the law or corner domestic trade,” Salceda said.

According to the lawmaker, if fully enforced by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the AO promises to dismantle barriers to imports, particularly in critical sectors such as sugar and fish. “Apart from the RCEF [Rice Competitiveness

Enhancement Fund], there is currently no extant mechanism for directly supporting a domestic sector through tariff revenues. We hurt consumers with high trade barriers, but we also do not support farmers directly with tariff revenues.”

By allowing direct access to sugar imports for industrial use, Salceda said the initiative aims to inject dynamism into the stagnant food manufacturing industry.

Salceda said the Marcos’s AO “is a step in the right direction.”

“If implemented fully by the DA, it will open sugar imports to direct industrial users. That could end the stagnation of the food manufacturing sector. Right now, sugar prices in the Philippines are the highest in ASEAN,” he added.

Salceda believes the AO “will also poke holes in speculative bubbles in the price of fish, which has high levels of non-tariff protection, such as the Certificate of Necessity to Import.”

The solon acknowledged that while tariffs remain an essential tool in regulating trade flows, their utilization must evolve to better serve the interests of both consumers and producers.

To this end, Salceda has introduced House Bill (HB) 2471, which proposes the earmarking of all agricultural tariffs to their respective domestic sectors, saying this innovative approach ensures that tariff revenues directly benefit local farmers and incentivize agricultural productivity.

HB 2471 earmarks all agricultural tariffs directly to their corresponding domestic agricultural sectors, according to the solon.

“Apart from that, we are also preparing to submit a technical working group report on the ‘Livestock, Poultry and Dairy Competitiveness Act.’ The proposal will earmark meat and dairy import tariffs for the domestic sector,” Salceda said. “We are doing something similar for corn.”

gued that the deficiency tax assessments against it are null and void for having been issued in violation of its right to due process.

MSP stressed that BIR’s right to assess its alleged unpaid taxes had already prescribed and that its tax assessments against it for 2014 have no legal and factual bases. The BIR, however, maintained that its final demand letter is valid and that the assessment was issued within the prescriptive period. The agency also insisted that the tax as -

However, the CTA ruled that the BIR’s right to assess deficiency VAT, expanded withholding tax and withholding tax on compensation had already prescribed.

The CTA also ruled that the formal letter of demand was issued by the BIR in violation of the company’s right to due process due to the agency’s failure to consider the defenses and evidence submitted by the company in its protest letter.

“In other words, the BIR merely reiterated the same findings as stated in the PAN [preliminary assessment notice], without giving any reason for rejecting the above-stated refutations and explanations made by petitioner in its protest letter dated July 26, 2017,” the CTA said.

“Consequently, petitioner was left unaware on how respondent or the BIR appreciated the explanations or defenses petitioner raised against the subject PAN, in clear violation of petitioner’s right to administrative due process,” the CTA added.

Construction value in Feb up despite fewer projects

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

DThe PSA said the total number of construction projects contracted 5.5 percent to 13,100 in February 2024 from 13,859 in February 2023. However, the total value of these construction projects surged 40.3 percent to P42.27 billion in February 2024 from the P30.84 billion in the same period last year.

The decline in the number of construction projects was mainly due to the 9.4 percent concentration in residential buildings which accounted for 63.7 percent of the total number

Release of ₧2.5B fuel cash subsidy to drivers urged

AVICE chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations is calling for the prompt release of the government’s P2.5-billion fuel cash subsidy to public transport drivers in response to recent hikes in gasoline and diesel prices.

Makati City Rep. Luis N. Campos Jr. emphasized the urgency of providing economic relief to drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV), taxi, tricycle, full-time ride-hailing and delivery service vehicles.

“Assuming the conditions that will trigger the grant of the subsidy have already been met, then we see no reason for any holdups in the distribution of the cash aid,” Campos was quoted as saying in a statement his office issued last Sunday.

Campos said Congress had shortened the trigger period for the award of the subsidy “precisely to give immediate economic relief” to drivers.

Under the 2024 General Appropriations Law, the subsidy is authorized once the price of Dubai crude oil reaches $80 per barrel for a continuous period of 30 days, as opposed to the previous requirement of 90 days.

The Department of Budget and Management earlier said the P2.5 billion for the “Subsidy to Transport Sector Affected by Rising Fuel Prices” program had already been released to the Department of Transportation.

Based on previous distributions under the program, modern jeepney and UV Express drivers received P10,000 in cash assistance.

Drivers of buses, minibuses, school buses, taxis, traditional jeepneys and ride-hailing services received P6,500 in cash aid.

Delivery riders and tricycle drivers received P1,200 and P1,000, respectively.

Year-to-date, the per liter pump prices of gasoline and diesel have increased by P9.30 and P6.05, respectively.

of constructions during the month.

The PSA said residential building constructions reached 8,345 constructions in February 2024, a decline from the 9,209 constructions posted in the same period last year. In terms of value, residential construction grew 20.6 percent to P19.344 billion in February 2024 from P16.03 billion in February 2023.

The data showed the majority of the total residential constructions were single-type houses that reached 7,104 or 85.1 percent of all residential construction projects in February 2024.

Single houses, however, contracted 15.3 percent in February 2024 from the 8,385 projects it posted in February 2023.

Among residential projects, the highest growth in terms of number of projects and cost are residential condominiums.

There was a 75 percent growth in the number of residential condominium projects to seven in February 2024 from only four in the same period last year.

The value of these projects also nearly doubled or posted a growth of 76.8 percent to P5.29 billion in February 2024 from P2.99 billion in February 2023.

Meanwhile, the non-residential type of construction reached 3,177 or 24.3 percent of the total number of constructions during the month.

The cost of these homes, meanwhile, increased 2.7 percent to P11.47 billion in February 2024 from P11.168 billion in February 2023.

This type of construction increased during the period at an annual rate of 1.4 percent. Most of the non-residential constructions were commercial buildings with 2,192 constructions or 69 percent of the total.

In February 2024, the total value of constructions amounted to P43.27 billion, reflecting an annual increase of 40.3 percent from P30.84 billion value of constructions posted in the same month of the previous year.

AFP: ‘Balikatan’ an evolving exercise; runs until May 10

By Rex Anthony Naval

THE annual “Balikatan” exercise between Filipino and American military personnel is always evolving to ensure that the participants will be able to meet and counter contemporary security threats.

This was emphasized by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla when asked what makes “Balikatan” distinct from other military exercises.

“Balikatan” will formally open this Monday, April 22 and will conclude on May 10.

Some 16,000 Filipino and American troops along with their support personnel will participate

in the exercise.

“[The] ‘Balikatan’ exercise is distinctive due to its scale and evolving nature, adapting to contemporary security challenges. Every ‘Balikatan’ is [more] complex than the last,” she added. Padilla said that “Balikatan” through the years has evolved to being a “tactical exercise” to the socalled “operational level of war.”

“We aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen alliances, and deepen regional security cooperation. Balikatan is a demonstration of combat readiness and interoperability with our treaty allies. Our focus remains on bolstering external defense capabilities and fostering peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region,” she added.

Padilla also clarified that “Balikatan” is not a reaction to the country’s ongoing tensions with China regarding the West Philippine Sea.

“This ‘Balikatan’ exercise is an annual event aimed at strengthening defense capabilities and alliances. While we remain vigilant in the face of regional challenges, the exercise is not explicitly tied to any particular country’s actions. Its primary objective is to enhance collective security and readiness among participating nations,” she emphasized.

Earlier, “Balikatan” executive agent Col. Michael Logico said military exercises like “Balikatan” seek to make more efficient the combat readiness of participating

personnel.

“You do exercises for that primary reason to maintain a high level of readiness. I do not discount the possibility that this also sends a message to our adversaries, to our friends, to our allies and also to our like-minded partners,” he added.

“Balikatan” will also demonstrate the AFP’s shift to the socalled Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Council (CADC) which aims to protect all of the country’s territories including its exclusive economic zone.

“If you take it into totality, the main goal of the exercise is to demonstrate the strength of our alliance and our willingness to defend our territory,” Logico said.

Zubiri hosts lunch meeting with NZ Prime Minister

ON 19 April 2024, Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri hosted a lunch meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati in honor of the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, and his delegation. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Honorable Simon Watts, Minister of Climate Change and Revenue, and the Honorable Paulo R. Garcia, the first member of Filipino descent elected to Parliament. A select number of New Zealand government officials and a 50-man business contingent were also part of the Delegation. Zubiri was joined by his spouse, Audrey Tan Zubiri, and Senators Joel Villanueva, Aquilino Martin dlL. Pimentel III, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Mark A. Villar, Cynthia A. Villar, Senate Secretary Renato N. Bantug, Jr., Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Kira Christianne DangananAzucena, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, Anti-Red Tape

Authority Director-General Ernesto V. Perez and Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jerome V. Oliveros.

In his opening remarks and toast, Zubiri welcomed New Zealand’s intention to become a key partner of the Philippines and acknowledged that the Prime Minister’s visit signifies his commitment in deepening Philippines-New Zealand relations with the goal of elevating ties to a Comprehensive Partnership. He also addressed the New Zealand business delegation and hoped that their visit will usher in more investments for the country.

In his response, Luxon thanked the Senate President for his hospitality and looked forward to stronger relations with the Philippines with great optimism. He stressed that relationships matter and that their visit is an opportunity to build and further strengthen these relationships with Philippine leaders. The Prime Minister said that New Zealand is a trading

nation with ambitious trading goals and who recognizes that security interests and economic stability go hand-in-hand in ensuring a safe and secure Indo-Pacific region.

During the lunch that followed,

₧1.2-B billing sparks row between DENR, Masungi

Continued from A9

The Foundation believes that the DENR is doing a misplaced and vicious—yet unfounded—character assassination against Masungi but is not saying anything to contradict despoilers who are the real enemies of the environment. It said the agency is blowing out of proportion a debatable alleged constitutional conflict which can be resolved faster if needed simply by coming to the table for cooperation like true partners do.

Masungi Georeserve

THE Masungi Georeserve resort forms

part of the Upper Marikina River Basin Watershed covering 27,980 hectares in Rizal province declared by executive order of the American governor general in 1904.

Since then, it has been covered by several presidential proclamations, republic acts, and administrative orders.

A JVA was entered into by BSCDC with the DENR in 1997 for the development and operation of Garden Cottages. In 2002, an additional area of 300 hectares was added to the JVA via a Supplemental Agreement.

A MOA in 2008 followed aimed at offseting the houses already built by Blue Star in Dasmariñas, Cavite, from the agreed 5,000-unit

Garden Cottages intended in Rizal Province. Contrary to the DENR’s assertions, the JVA was won by BSCDC through a public bidding process initiated by the government.

The project is governed by a complete Terms of References, created by the DENR, which guides the implementation and revenuesharing scheme with the government.

The Masungi Georeserve resort boasts of tourists trek to caves, stone formations and trails, rope bridges, and a spider web-like elevated platform that gives a 360-degree view of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

DENR notes that this tourist spot collects entrance fees from visitors (P1,500

Go backs proposal to consider WFH, virtual learning amid rising heat index

ON Thursday, April 18, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go expressed support for adaptive measures to protect workers against the escalating heat index in the country, prompted by the ongoing El Niño phenomenon. Go also emphasized the importance of revisiting work and educational setups to prioritize public health and safety.

“Unahin natin ang kalusugan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan. Tandaan natin na ang kalusugan ay katumbas ng buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Go said.

During an ambush interview after aiding displaced workers in Manaoag, Pangasinan, responding to queries about proposed actions to safeguard workers during the extreme heat, Go stressed the proactive steps that must be considered by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Unang-una, ang DOH, I’m sure, at ang DepEd ay pinag-aralan naman po ito. Kaya nga po walang pasok ngayon dito sa inyo, sa lugar nyo sa Pangasinan, at pati rin sa iba’t ibang opisina,” stated Go.

He further expressed affirmation for flexible working arrangements, “Ako po ay nakikiusap sa ating mga iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno na kung pwede magkaroon tayo ng tinatawag n a ‘heat breaks’… i -explore natin itong ‘work-from-home’ options. Ikonsidera natin ang kaligtasan ng mga empleyado natin na naiinitan.”

The senator also highlighted the necessity for ‘heat breaks,’ especially for field personnel like construction workers who are directly exposed to the scourging heat outdoors.

Reflecting on the pandemicinduced shift to remote work, he suggested, “Nakasanayan naman natin ito noong panahon ng pandemya na ‘work-from-home’ tayo. Baka pwedeng i -consider po ito ng ating gobyerno kung sakaling mag -

the Philippine and New Zealand sides also held conversations on issues such as tourism, geopolitics, employment, and initiatives in improving the investment climate in the Philippines, among others.

per person on weekdays and P1,800 on weekends); has a restaurant and accommodations priced from P5,000 a night; and hosts weddings and company events at rates starting from P120,000.

“We dare the DENR Secretary to come with the media to the site on April 22 or any day of her convenience to show to the public where the alleged hotel, swimming pool, and resort are in Masungi Georeserve and to substantiate her false and unfounded allegations against Masungi and Blue Star,” MGFI President Ben Dumaliang said of the DENR’s statement. “If she cannot come and substantiate her resort claims and other allegations, then she should resign. The office of DENR Secretary is crucial to the future of our nation and it must have the highest integrity.”

Chinese, Japanese tourist numbers help lift PHL visitor arrivals in 4 mos

Continued from A9

E-visa still on hold MEANWHILE , total arrivals from January to April were 14.5 percent less than the first quarter of 2019, and 34.5 percent lower than the arrivals in January to April 2019. But

they were 19 percent higher than the 1.58 million who arrived from January to April 13, 2023.

Other major markets for the Philippines this reference period included: Canada, which dipped 3.3 percent to 75,554 tourists; Taiwan with 67,526 (+ 33 percent); the United Kingdom with 54,430 (+ 9.27 percent); Singapore with 42,717 (+ 5.8 percent); and Germany with 32,629 (+ 15.24 percent).

The DOT is pinning its hopes on

increased arrivals from China to help inbound arrivals recover to the prepandemic level of 8.3 million in 2019.

That year, there were 1.74 million tourists from China, making it second as a top market, after South Korea, whose arrivals hit 1.99 million.

Last November, the Department of Foreign Affairs put on hold its electronic visa application system for Chinese travelers to the Philippines after being pilot-tested in Shanghai. Officials explained the system is “currently undergoing a period of reassessment and further enhancement.”

Lawmakers, however, have been urging relevant government agencies to tighten their screening of Chinese nationals applying for visas after recent crackdowns showed illegal activities being committed by Chinese tourists and holders of special retirement visas.

(See, “Nancy urges PRA anew: Be careful on retiree visa grants,” in the BusinessMirror , April 7, 2024.)

karoon tayo ng work from home arrangement kung kailanganin.”

Go continued, “Bigyan sila ng mas mahaba o mas frequent na heat breaks in one day. At sa mga may sakit, bigyan ng leave of absence kapag kailangan.”

Additionally, he pointed out the availability of a PhilHealth benefit for heat stroke victims, emphasizing the entitlement of every Filipino to this assistance: “Pwede silang mag-avail ng tulong mula sa gobyerno. Libre ito.”

“At sabi nga ng DOH, workers have a right to heat breaks. Unahin po natin ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Lahat naman ang Pilipino ay miyembro po ng PhilHealth,” concluded Go.

Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa recently highlighted the rights of workers to take heat breaks to avoid heat-related illnesses. This was brought to the forefront following an incident where a 75-year-old man reportedly died from a heat stroke in Ilocos Sur.

Secretary Herbosa supported the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) initiative to permit employees with health issues exacerbated by the heat to take leaves of absence and advocated for night shifts for construction workers to mitigate the risks associated with daytime heat.

The rising heat levels are a significant concern, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warning that the heat index could exceed dangerous levels of 42°C in May, especially affecting Luzon and parts of Visayas and Mindanao.

Pagasa’s Benison Estareja advised the public to adopt precautionary measures such as staying hydrated and using sun protection to combat the extreme temperatures anticipated in the coming weeks.

G7 FMs hit China use of water cannon vs PHL

Continued from A9

“We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties,” it said.

Ministers also “re-emphasized the universal and unified character” of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (Unclos), the so-called bible of the seas.

Unclos has an “important role” in setting out the legal framework for “all activities in the oceans and the seas,” it stressed.

PHL welcomes G7 support

“

WE appreciate the G7’s support in rejecting China’s baseless and expansive claims, and their call for China to cease its illegal activities, particularly its use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea that engage in dangerous maneuvers and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels,” the Department of Foreign Affairs

said in a statement Sunday.

The DFA said they “duly note and appreciate the G7’s reaffirmation” that the 2016 Arbitral Award is a “significant milestone and a useful basis” in peacefully managing the dispute of claimants in the South China Sea.

The Award invalidated China’s claim over the South China Sea using maps showing a nine-dash and U-shaped boundary line around the entire South China Sea.

Although a signatory to Unclos, China never participated during the arbitration proceedings in The Hague and has been junking the Award as “illegal, null and void.”

“We want to see [a] South China Sea of peace, stability and prosperity, and the cessation of interference, obstruction and harassment of the Philippines’ legal activities within our recognized maritime entitlements,” the DFA added.

The DFA also welcomed the reiteration of the G7 commitment to the rule of law and to the Unclos as an anchor to rules-based maritime order.

PHL first to sign WB’s rapid response option agreement

Continued from A1

Digitalizing PHL tax system

THE World Bank is also set to assemble a team to conduct a workshop and assist the DOF in enhancing its digital infrastructure to improve tax payment and collection efficiency.

In a statement on Saturday, the DOF said World Bank’s President Ajay Banga expressed support for Recto’s key priority to fully digitalize the country’s tax system to improve revenue generation, underscoring its importance in plugging tax leakages.

Banga stressed the need to build a solid digital infrastructure in the long term by creating a digital identity, a real-time payment structure, and a reliable document storage system for the government to get citizens on board and enhance the efficiency of public services.

In line with these objectives, Banga

proposed forming a World Bank team to work with the national government to plan and prioritize digitalization strategies focusing on increasing revenues and longterm benefits.

In addition, Banga backed infrastructure projects by providing advisory work on several public-private partnership (PPP) projects, establishing entrepreneurial centers, and providing wider access to seed capital through partnerships with local venture firms.

The upcoming Country Partnership Framework (CPF) developed by the World Bank for the Philippines will reflect the said areas with other key priorities of the current administration.

The WB International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) is the Philippines’s third largest official development assistance (ODA) partner, with a total ODA amounting to USD8.20 billion, as of December 2023.

April

photo courtesy of

Office of the Senate President and Office of

International Relations

Protocol

Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri (right) and Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, (left) during the lunch meeting that the Senator hosted. OFFICE OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND OFFICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND PROTOCOL

A. Ng

PHL frozen pork inventory declines by 13%

THE country’s frozen pork inventory fell as deliveries from importers and local hog raisers shrank, according to the latest data from an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Figures from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) showed that pork in cold storage facilities nationwide as of April 15 slid by 13.5 percent to 51,929.04 metric tons (MT) from last year’s 60,060.89 MT.

The latest pork inventory consisted mostly of imports which dropped by 10 percent to 51176.09 MT from the previous year’s 56,946.74 MT. Pig meat from local raisers plunged by 75 percent to 752.95 MT, from the 3,114.15 MT recorded on April 17, 2023.

On a monthly basis, the latest figure was also lower by more than 13,600 MT from the 65,582.05 MT recorded on

crimped output in areas struck by ASF.

From nearly 2.3 million metric tons (MMT) of hogs produced in 2019, when ASF was first detected in the Philippines, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that output plunged to 1.696 MMT in 2021, as the disease struck both commercial and backyard farms.

Hog production registered improvements in 2022 and 2023, when it reached 1.737 MMT and 1.793 MMT, respectively. The figures, however, are still lower than the 2019 volume. Manila had to lower tariffs on pork in its bid to ensure the stable supply of the Filipinos’ favorite source of protein.

Aside from the United States and Germany, the country bought imported pork from Spain, which increased its exports to the Philippines

World Bank, DA to review rural development projects

THE World Bank (WB) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) will assess the overall implementation performance and progress of two projects that aim to raise agricultural output.

The DA said in a statement that the 17th WB Implementation Support Mission (ISM) to the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) and the 2nd WB ISM to the PRDP Scale-up will be held from April 22 to May 9. Manila initially obtained a loan of $501.25 million for the PRDP in September 2014. It secured additional funding of $170 million for the project in March 2018. Last September 2021, the government secured additional financing of $280 million from WB for the PRDP.

As for PRDP Scale-up, Manila obtained a loan of $600 million from the Washington-based multilateral lender last year to finance the project which costs $818.40 million.

The DA said the development objective of PRDP is to “increase rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity in targeted areas in all the 16 regions of the country.”

The PRDP will also support reforms in the planning, resource programming and implementation practices of the DA.

For this mission, WB said it will focus on reviewing the projects’ compliance with the agreed actions from the previous mission and evaluate their financial management, disbursement, and procurement.

It also aims to oversee the remaining investments under the Second Additional Financing with European Union Grant and assess the implementation of the Institutional Strengthening Action Plan.

Led by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. and WB Country Manager Ndiame Diope, the threeweek-long mission will commence

on April 22 with a kick-off meeting and opening of the DA-PRDP Exhibit at the DA Central Office in Quezon City. The exhibit will showcase the PRDP’s 10-year evolution, major accomplishments, success stories, and the products of its supported rural enterprises.

A series of technical discussions between the WB and the components and units of the PRDP will also take place from April 23 to 26. The discussions will focus on key thematic areas, such as financial management, knowledge management and communication, monitoring and evaluation of subprojects, and mainstreaming of PRDP innovations.

On the second week of the mission, the DA-PRDP and WB will visit I-REAP and I-BUILD subprojects (SPs) in Visayas and Mindanao to inspect their implementation and progress and to engage with the implementing local government units

and proponent groups. The team will visit a total of seven subprojects, four in Bohol and three from the Davao Region.

In line with the DA chief’s digitization plans for the department, a two-day agriculture digital solutions roundtable discussion with agri-tech and fintech companies will also be held on May 7-8. The activity aims to advance the digitization of the PRDP’s enterprise investments and build a robust partnership with the private sector.

The 17th PRDP and 2nd PRDP Scale-Up WB ISM will conclude on May 9 with a wrap-up meeting where the World Bank will present its findings, recommendations, and overall performance rating of the projects.

The WB ISM is conducted semiannually to ensure that all Bank-assisted projects are efficiently implemented and on track to achieving their project development objectives.

Lawmaker urges public to practice urban farming

SBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ENATOR

Cynthia A. Villar

asked Filipino households to turn to “urban agriculture and home gardening” to meet the increasing food demand of a swelling population.

The senator said she herself had been practicing urban agriculture and home gardening at her residence in Las Piñas City for “instant food supply” at her home.

As presiding chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture

and Food, Villar vowed to further “promote urban agriculture and home gardening in the households.”

“Mahalaga sa ating mag-papalay ang pagkakaroon ng cash crop habang naghihintay ng pag ani, at ito ay ang pag tatanim ng gulay, pagdikit nito sa mamimili, at pagsunod sa good agricultural practices o GAP.”

Moreover, the lawmaker said the Villar family has four farm schools located in Las PiñasBacoor; San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan; San Miguel, Iloilo; and Davao City. She added that she has also

been distributing vegetable seeds nationwide for free to be used for home gardening.

“This will ensure the availability of affordable and nutritious foods for Filipino families. This can also provide livelihood since the products are brought to the market.”

At the same time, the senator recalled that she was also an organic practitioner in Las Piñas City since 2002, noting that “to date, there are 89 composting facilities in almost all the barangays in Las Piñas and

by 50 percent last year, according to Euro Pork.

“We are optimistic that it is going to grow this year as Spain is now a major supplier of pork in the Philippines,” Andrea Gonzalez, representative of Euro Pork in the Philippines, told the BusinessMirror in an interview on the sidelines of a recent meat tasting event held at the Bonifacio Global City.

Gonzales also said Portugal is keen on exporting meat products to the Philippines and that EU Pork is now working on making this happen.

NMIS said its latest frozen pork inventory came from accredited commercial and in-house cold storage facilities including slaughterhouses and meat processing plants.

Regions 3, 4-A and the National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for a chunk of the frozen pork inventory

during the period.

Data from the NMIS also indicated that the inventory of dressed chicken declined slightly to 51,044.32 MT from the previous year’s 51,130.69 MT.

On a monthly basis, however, dressed chicken inventory fell by nearly 16 percent from the 60,999.33 MT recorded on March 18.

Imports accounted for more than half of the dressed chicken inventory at 34,849.22 MT while deliveries from local raisers reached 16,195.1 MT.

Regions 4-A, 3 and the NCR again accounted for the lion’s share of the dressed chicken inventory recorded on April 15.

NMIS said its data did not include fresh chilled chicken and mechanically deboned meat. Those in already in distribution channels were also excluded. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

50 in Vista Land and Camella communities nationwide.”

She noted that “a composting machine can produce 1,000 kilos of organic fertilizer per month from kitchen and garden wastes from 500 households in Las Piñas City.”

This activity called “Villar Las Piñas Kitchen Wastes Composting Project” won the Energy Globe Award, an international award for environmental sustainability. She reported it was also recognized as the “World’s Best Environmental Project in 2022” during a ceremony in Austria.

Davao cacao co-op credits growth to tieup with Landbank

FOcial emphasized the importance of this partnership especially in streamlining the process of securing financial assistance whenever they needed it.

“Because of this long-standing relationship we have with Landbank, it was easier for us to process documents for the assistance we need,” said Ocial.

Today, Barbco’s portfolio includes the consolidation and processing of cacao beans into various chocolate products, including tablea, nibs, cacao butter, and powder.

ROM its humble beginnings to the success it is now reaping, the growth of the Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (Barbco) is deeply rooted in the soil of collective endeavor, resilience, and fruitful partnerships. Barbco was established in 1992 by former employees of the defunct Philippine Cocoa States Corp., and initially ventured into the Lakatan banana industry. It has since grown into a prominent agriculture player in the region, primarily engaged in cocoa production, marketing, and cocoa liquor and chocolate production. It now has 41 regular members and 215 associate members. Their journey, however, was not without challenges. Barbco General Manager Guadalupe Ocial admits that the 200 hectares of land awarded to them as Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) was a significant opportunity, but needed much work to really establish a productive and sustainable business. They needed enough working capital to fuel their growth—and this was where the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) stepped in. Barbco first turned to Landbank for support during the co-op’s early beginnings in the 1992 when they availed funding for Lakatan banana production. This relationship grew over the years and paved the way for their successful venture into the cacao value chain in 2016.

This access to credit and ease of doing business with Landbank has empowered Barbco to expand their reach. What began with cacao bean consolidation solely within Davao City has now extended to Davao del Norte, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Sur.

And the cooperative’s success extends beyond financial gains. Barbco serves as a conduit of support from Landbank to its farmer members, ensuring fair compensation for their produce. This commitment to uplifting local farmers has garnered attention even from international food corporations, who now supply cacao beans to Barbco, drawn by the promise of equitable pricing.

“As a cooperative, we are like a channel of the support of Landbank. So whatever we get from Landbank, we provide it to our farmer members by making sure that we give them the best price for their cacao beans,” said Ocial.

For Ocial, Barbco’s success is not measured solely in profits but in the fulfillment of a collective vision. As she reflects on their journey, she underscores the legacy that the co-op aims to leave behind—a legacy of empowerment, shared prosperity, and community upliftment.

“It’s a legacy na maiiwan, because I’m not really after my own gain and profit. As long as I can provide for my family, I’m fulfilled. As long as my members and workers are happy and satisfied, then so am I,” she added.

As Barbco continues to sow the seeds of success, their partnership with Landbank remains steadfast— a testament to the transformative power of collaboration in driving inclusive growth and prosperity in the rich agricultural landscape of Davao and beyond.

Even during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Barbco stood resilient. Through prudent management and unwavering support, they were able to sustain their workforce, ensuring that employees are properly compensated amid limited operations.

UNMARKED gold bars at a gold and silver refinery operated by MMTC-PAMP India Pvt. Ltd., in Nuh, India, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022. ANINDITO MUKHERJEE/BLOOMBERG

China is front and center of gold’s record-breaking rally

GOLD’S rise to all-time highs above $2,400 an ounce this year has captivated global markets. China, the world’s biggest producer and consumer of the precious metal, is front and center of the extraordinary ascent.

Worsening geopolitical tensions, including war in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the prospect of lower United States interest rates all burnish gold’s billing as an investment. But juicing the rally is unrelenting Chinese demand, as retail shoppers, fund investors, futures traders and even the central bank look to bullion as a store of value in uncertain times.

Biggest buyer

CHINA and India have typically vied over the title of world’s biggest buyer. But that shifted last year as Chinese consumption of jewelry, bars and coins swelled to record levels. China’s gold jewelry demand rose 10 percent while India’s fell 6 percent. Chinese bar and coin investments, meanwhile, surged 28 percent.

And there’s still room for demand to grow, said Philip Klapwijk, managing director of Hong Kong-based consultant Precious Metals Insights Ltd. Amid limited investment options in China, the protracted crisis in its property sector, volatile stock markets and a weakening yuan are all driving money to assets that are perceived to be safer.

“The weight of money available under these circumstances for an asset like goldand actually for new buyers to come in - is pretty considerable,” he said. “There isn’t much alternative in China. With exchange controls and capital controls, you can’t just look at other markets to put your money into.”

Imports jump

ALTHOUGH China mines more gold than any other country, it still needs to import a lot and the quantities are getting larger.

In the last two years, overseas purchases totaled over 2,800 tons—more than all of the metal that backs exchange-traded funds around the world, or about a third of the stockpiles held by the US Federal Reserve.

Even so, the pace of shipments has accelerated lately. Imports surged in the run-up to China’s Lunar New Year, a peak season for gifts, and over the first two months of the year are 53 percent higher than they were in 2023.

Central bank

THE People’s Bank of China has been on a buying spree for 17 straight months, its longest-ever run of purchases, as it looks to diversify its reserves away from the dollar

and hedge against currency depreciation. It’s the keenest buyer among a number central banks that are favoring gold. The official sector snapped up near-record levels of the precious metal last year and is expected to keep purchases elevated in 2024.

Shanghai premium

IT’S indicative of gold’s allure that Chinese demand remains so buoyant, despite record prices and a weaker yuan that robs buyers of purchasing power.

As a major importer, gold buyers in China often have to pay a premium over international prices. That jumped to $89 an ounce at the start of the month. The average over the past year is $35 versus a historical average of just $7.

For sure, sky-high prices are likely to temper some enthusiasm for bullion, but the market’s proving to be unusually resilient. Chinese consumers have typically snapped up gold when prices drop, which has helped establish a floor for the market during times of weakness. Not so this time, as China’s appetite is helping to prop up prices at much higher levels.

That suggests the rally is sustainable and gold buyers everywhere should be comforted by China’s booming demand, said Nikos Kavalis, managing director at consultancy Metals Focus Ltd. China’s authorities, which can be quite hostile to market speculation, are less sanguine. State media have warned investors to be cautious in chasing the rally, while both the Shanghai Gold Exchange and Shanghai Futures Exchange have raised margin requirements on some contracts to snuff out excessive risk-taking. SHFE’s move followed a surge in daily trading volumes to a five-year high.

ETF flows

A LESS frenetic way to invest in gold is via exchange-traded funds. Money has flowed into gold ETFs in mainland China during almost every month since June, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. That compares with chunky outflows in gold funds in the rest of the world.

The influx of money has totaled $1.3 billion so far this year, compared with $4 billion in outflows from funds overseas.

Restrictions on investing in China are again a factor here, given the fewer options for Chinese beyond domestic property and stocks.

Chinese demand could continue to rise as investors look to diversify their holdings with commodities, BI analyst Rebecca Sin said in a note. Bloomberg News

ANDREY RUDAKOV/BLOOMBERG

The World

Israeli strikes in south Gaza kill 13 Palestinians, mostly children

By Mohammad Jahjouh And Samy Magdy The Associated Press

RAFAH, Gaza Strip—Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 13 people, including nine children, health officials said Sunday, as the United States was on track to approve billions of dollars of additional military aid to its close ally.

Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt despite international calls for restraint, including from the US.

The House of Representatives approved a $26 billion aid package on Saturday that includes around $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

The first strike killed a man, his wife and their 3-year-old child, according to the nearby Kuwaiti Hospital, which received the bodies. The woman was pregnant, and the doctors managed to save the baby,

the hospital said. The second strike killed eight children and two women, all from the same family, according to hospital records. An airstrike in Rafah the night before killed nine people, including six children. The Israel-Hamas war has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, devastated Gaza’s two largest cities and left a swath of destruction across the territory. Around 80 percent of the population has fled their homes to other parts of the besieged coastal enclave, which experts say is on the brink of famine.

The conflict, now in its seventh month, has sparked regional unrest pitting Israel and the US against Iran and allied militant groups across the

Middle East. Israel and Iran traded fire directly earlier this month, raising fears of all-out war between the longtime foes.

Tensions have also spiked in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Israeli military said troops “neutralized” two Palestinians who attacked a checkpoint with a knife and a gun near the southern West Bank town of Hebron early Sunday. It was not immediately clear if they were killed. No Israeli forces were wounded.

At least 469 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Most have been killed during Israeli military arrest raids, which often trigger gunbattles, or in violent protests.

The war in Gaza was sparked by an unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which Hamas and other militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to call for new elections to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a deal with Hamas to release the hostages. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and all the hostages are returned.

The war has killed at least 34,049 Palestinians and wounded another 76,901, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count but says at least two-thirds have been children and women. It also says the real toll is likely higher as many bodies are stuck beneath the rubble left by airstrikes or are in areas that are unreachable for medics.

Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties because the militants fight in dense, residential neighborhoods, but the military rarely comments on individual strikes, which often kill women and children. The military says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters, without providing evidence. (Magdy reported from Cairo.)

1,300 people from Myanmar flee into Thailand after new clashes broke out in key border town

By Jintamas Saksornchai The Associated Press

BANGKOK—About 1,300 people have fled from eastern Myanmar into Thailand, officials said Saturday, as fresh fighting erupted at a border town that has recently been captured by ethnic guerillas.

Fighters from the Karen ethnic minority last week captured the last of the Myanmar army’s outposts in and around Myawaddy, which is connected to Thailand by two bridges across the Moei River.

The latest clashes were triggered in the morning when the Karen guerillas launched an attack against Myanmar troops who were hiding near the 2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, a major crossing point for trade with Thailand, said police chief Pittayakorn Phetcharat in Thailand’s Mae Sot district. He estimated about 1,300 people fled into Thailand.

Thai officials reported people had started crossing since Friday following clashes in several areas of Myawaddy.

The fall of Myawaddy is a major setback for the military that seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. Myanmar’s once-mighty armed forces have suffered a series of unprecedented defeats since last October, losing swathes of territory including border posts to both ethnic fighters, who have been fighting for greater

autonomy for decades, and pro-democracy guerrilla units that took up arms after the military takeover.

The clashes, involving drone attacks from the Karen forces and airstrikes by the Myanmar military, had subsided by noon Saturday compared to the morning, but Mae Sot police chief Pittayakorn Phetcharat said he could still hear sporadic gunshots. He said Thai authorities would move people fleeing into a safer area.

Footage from the Thai border showed Thai soldiers maintaining guard near the bridge with sounds of explosions and gunshots in the background. People with children waded across the river with their belongings and were received by Thai officials on the riverbank. Several are seen taking shelter in buildings along the riverbank on the Myanmar side. Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin wrote on the social media platform X on Saturday that he was closely monitoring the situation at the border. “I do not desire to see any such clashes have any impact on the territorial integrity of Thailand and we are ready to protect our borders and the safety of our people. At the same time, we are also ready to provide humanitarian assistance if necessary,” he wrote.

In March, Thailand delivered its first batch of humanitarian assistance to Myanmar for about 20,000 displaced people. Nikorndej Balangura, a spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Friday that Thailand is currently working to expand its aid initiative.

A PAlestiniAn youth mourns his relative killed in the israeli bombardment of the Gaza strip, at the morgue of the Kuwaiti Hospital in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza strip, early saturday, April 20, 2024. AP Photo/IsmAel Abu DAyyAh

The World

Haiti on the brink: Violence, fear, and desperation grip the capital

By Dánica Coto | The Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—As the sun sets, a burly man bellows into a megaphone while a curious crowd gathers around him. Next to him is a small cardboard box with several banknotes worth 10 Haitian gourdes—about 7 US cents.

“Everyone give whatever they have!” the man shouts as he grabs the arms and hands of people entering a neighborhood in the capital of Portau-Prince that has been targeted by violent gangs.

The community recently voted to buy a metal barricade and install it themselves to try to protect residents from the unrelenting violence that killed or injured more than 2,500 people in Haiti from January to March.

“Every day I wake up and find a dead body,” said Noune-Carme Manoune, an immigration officer.

Life in Port-au-Prince has become a game of survival, pushing Haitians to new limits as they scramble to stay safe and alive while gangs overwhelm the police and the government remains largely absent. Some are installing metal barricades. Others press hard on the gas while driving near gang-controlled areas. The few who can afford it stockpile water, food, money and medication, supplies of which have dwindled since the main international airport closed in early March. The country’s biggest seaport is largely paralyzed by marauding gangs.

“People living in the capital are locked in, they have nowhere to go,” Philippe Branchat, International Organization for Migration chief in Haiti, said in a recent statement. “The capital is surrounded by armed groups and danger. It is a city under siege.”

Police officers have to wait weeks to be paid. “Everyone is under stress,” said Isidore Gédéon, a 38-year-old musician. “After the prison break, people don’t trust anyone. The state doesn’t have control.”

Gangs that control an estimated 80 percent of Port-au-Prince launched coordinated attacks on February 29, targeting critical state infrastructure. They set fire to police stations, shot up the airport and stormed into Haiti’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates.

At the time, Prime Minister Ariel Henry was visiting Kenya to push for the UN-backed deployment of a police force. Henry remains locked out of Haiti, and a transitional presidential council tasked with selecting the country’s next prime minister and Cabinet could be sworn in as early as this week. Henry has pledged to resign once a new leader is installed. Few believe this will end the crisis. It’s not only the gangs unleashing violence; Haitians have embraced a vigilante movement known as “bwa kale,” that has killed several hundred suspected gang members or their associates.

“There are certain communities I can’t go to because everyone is

Phones ping often with alerts reporting gunfire, kidnappings and fatal shootings, and some supermarkets have so many armed guards that they resemble small police stations. Gang attacks used to occur only in certain areas, but now they can happen anywhere, any time. Staying home does not guarantee safety: One man playing with his daughter at home was shot in the back by a stray bullet. Others have been killed. Schools and gas stations are shuttered, with fuel on the black market selling for $9 a gallon, roughly three times the official price. Banks have prohibited customers from withdrawing more than $100 a day, and checks that used to take three days to clear now take a month or more.

scared of everyone,” Gédéon said. “You could be innocent, and you end up dead.”

More than 95,000 people have fled Port-au-Prince in one month alone as gangs raid communities, torching homes and killing people in territories controlled by their rivals.

Those who flee via bus to Haiti’s southern and northern regions risk being gang-raped or killed as they pass through gang-controlled areas where gunmen have opened fire.

Violence in the capital has left some 160,000 people homeless, according to the IOM.

“This is hell,” said Nelson Langlois, a producer and cameraman. Langlois, his wife and three children spent two nights lying flat on the roof of their home as gangs raided the neighborhood.

“Time after time, we peered over to see when we could flee,” he recalled.

Forced to split up because of the

lack of shelter, Langlois is living in a Vodou temple and his wife and children are elsewhere in Port-au-Prince.

Like most people in the city, Langlois usually stays indoors. The days of pickup soccer games on dusty roads and the nights of drinking Prestige beer in bars with hip-hop, reggae or African music playing are long gone.

“It’s an open-air prison,” Langlois said.

The violence has also forced businesses, government agencies and schools to close, leaving scores of Haitians unemployed.

Manoune, the government immigration officer, said she has been earning money selling treated water since she has no work because deportations are stalled.

Meanwhile, Gédéon said he no longer plays the drums for a living, noting that bars and other venues are shuttered.

He sells small plastic bags of water on the street and has become a

handyman, installing fans and fixing appliances.

Even students are joining the workforce as the crisis deepens poverty across Haiti.

Sully, a 10th grader whose school closed nearly two months ago, stood on a street corner in the community of Pétion-Ville selling gasoline that he buys on the black market.

“You have to be careful,” said Sully, who asked that his last name be withheld for safety. “During the morning it’s safer.”

He sells about five gallons a week, generating roughly $40 for his family, but he cannot afford to join his classmates who are learning remotely.

“Online class is for people more fortunate than me, who have more money,” Sully said.

The European Union last week announced the launch of a humanitarian air bridge from the Central American country of Panama to Haiti. Five flights have landed in the

northern city of Cap-Haïtien, site of Haiti’s sole functioning airport, bringing 62 tons of medicine, water, emergency shelter equipment and other essential supplies.

But there is no guarantee that critical items will reach those who most need them. Many Haitians remain trapped in their homes, unable to buy or look for food amid whizzing bullets.

Aid groups say nearly 2 million Haitians are on the verge of famine, more than 600,000 of them children.

Nonetheless, people are finding ways to survive.

Back in the neighborhood where residents are installing a metal barricade, sparks fly as one man cuts metal while others shovel and mix cement. They are well underway, and hope to finish the project soon.

Others remain skeptical, citing reports of gangs jumping into loaders and other heavy equipment to tear down police stations and, more recently, metal barricades.

Biden avoids Middle East spiral as Israel and Iran show restraint. But for how long?

By Aamer Madhani The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—President Joe Biden can breathe a bit easier, at least for the moment, now that Israel and Iran appear to have stepped back from the brink of tipping the Middle East into all-out war.

Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Iran and Syria caused limited damage. The restrained action came after Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to temper its response to Iran’s unprecedented direct attack on Israel last week and avoid an escalation of violence in the region. Iran’s barrage of drones and missiles inflicted little damage and followed a suspected Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus this month that killed two generals. Iran’s public response to the Israeli strikes Friday also was muted, raising hopes that Israel-Iran tensions— long carried out in the shadows with cyber attacks, assassinations and sabotage—will stay at a simmer.

The situation remains a delicate

one for Biden as he gears up his reelection effort i n the face of headwinds in the Middle East, Russia and the Indo-Pacific. All are testing the proposition he made to voters during his 2020 campaign that a Biden White House would bring a measure of calm and renewed respect for the United States on the world stage.

Foreign policy matters are not typically the top issue for American voters. This November is expected to be no different, with the economy and border security carrying greater resonance. But public polling suggests that overseas concerns could have more relevance with voters than in any US election since 2006, when voter dissatisfaction over the Iraq War was a major factor in the Republican Party losing 30 House and six Senate seats.

“We see this issue rising in saliency, and at the same time we’re seeing voter appraisals of President Biden’s handling of foreign affairs being quite negative,” said Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. “That combina-

tion is not a great one for Biden.”

Biden has staked enormous political capital on his response to the IsraelHamas war as well as his administration’s backing of Ukraine as it fends off a Russian invasion.

The apparent de-escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran also comes as the House on Saturday approved $95 billion in wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, a measure that Biden has pushed for as Ukrainian forces run desperately short on arms.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., pushed the package forward after months of delay as he faced the threat of ouster by his party’s right flank. The legislation now awaits a vote in the Senate. The new money would provide a surge of weaponry to the front lines, giving the White House renewed hope that Ukraine can right the ship after months of setbacks in the war.

Biden also has made bolstering relations in the Indo-Pacific a central focus of his foreign policy agenda, looking to win allies and build ties as China becomes a more formidable

economic and military competitor.

But Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have an argument to make that Biden’s policies have contributed to the US dealing with myriad global quandaries, said Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Washington think tank Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Republicans have criticized Biden’s unsuccessful efforts earlier in his term to revive a nuclear deal with Iran brokered by the Obama administration and abandoned by Trump, saying that would embolden Tehran. The agreement had provided Iran with billions in sanctions relief in exchange for the country agreeing to roll back its nuclear program. GOP critics have sought to connect Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and they blame the Obama administration for not offering a strong enough response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s 2014 seizure of Crimea. “You can make an intellectual case, a policy case of how we got

from Point A to B to C to D and ended up in a world on fire,” said Goldberg, a national security official in the Trump administration. “People may not care about how we got here, but they do care that we are here.”

Polling suggests Americans’ concerns about foreign policy issues are growing, and there are mixed signs of whether Biden’s pitch as a steady foreign policy hand is resonating with voters.

About 4 in 10 US adults named foreign policy topics in an open-ended question that asked people to share up to five issues for the government to work on in 2024, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll published in January.

That’s about twice as many as mentioned the topic in an AP- NORC poll conducted in the previous year.

Further, about 47 percent of Americans said they believe Biden has hurt relations with other countries, according to an AP-NORC poll published this month. Similarly, 47 percent said the same about Trump. Biden was flying high in the first

six months of his presidency, with the American electorate largely approving of his performance and giving him high marks for his handling of the economy and the coronavirus pandemic. But the president saw his approval ratings tank in the aftermath of the chaotic withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 and they never fully recovered.

Now, Biden finds himself dealing with the uncertainty of two wars. Both could shadow him right up to Election Day.

With the Israel-Hamas war, Republicans pillory him as not being adequately supportive of Israel, and the left wing of his party harshly criticizes the president, who has shown displeasure with Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war, for not doing more to force the Israelis to safeguard Palestinian lives.

After Israel’s carefully calibrated strikes on Iran, Middle East tensions have entered a “gray area” that all parties must navigate carefully, said Aaron David Miller, an adviser on Middle East issues in Republican and Democratic administrations.

Neighbors raise a metal gate as they work to install it as a barricade against gangs, in the Petion-Ville neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, haiti on saturday, April 20, 2024. AP Photo/RAmon EsPinosA

ADB TO HELP DIGITALIZATION, HUMAN WARE, DISASTER PREP

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has committed to supporting the Philippines in enhancing digitalization, human capital and infrastructure, and disaster preparedness through a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the Philippines.

In a statement on Sunday, the Department of Finance (DOF) said Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto secured commitments from ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa during a high-level meeting with the ADB and the country’s economic managers on April 17.

The key strategic priorities in these areas will be reflected and aligned in ADB’s upcoming CPS, which also encapsulates the development priorities of the current administration, the DOF said.

According to the ADB, the CPS is the multilateral lending bank’s platform for designing operations to deliver development results at the country level.

Recto said the slow adaptation to digitalization amidst the rise of e-commerce would result in an “immense potential revenue leakage” since a fourth of Filipino consumers have shifted to e-commerce.

For its part, the ADB has committed to collaborate closely with the Philippine government on a proposed Digital Transformation Project for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

This is in line with the Bank’s longstanding support for Philippine tax reform measures and domestic resource mobilization efforts, the DOF added.

Recto also urged the ADB to boost assistance for human capital development, particularly in education and nutrition programs, to uplift the quality of life of every Filipino.

Banking on the recently enacted Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, Recto encouraged the ADB to help the country attract more investors for its flagship infrastructure projects to boost competitiveness, particularly in power and physical and digital connectivity.

The Finance chief also called for increased cooperation in utilizing renewable energy resources to hasten the Philippines’ switch to sustainable energy. Lastly, the DOF sought the Bank’s support for Manila’s proposal to host the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF)— a global climate fund established in November 2023 under the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The ADB is the Philippines’s second-largest official development assistance (ODA) partner with a total ODA commitment of USD11.40 billion, as of December 31, 2023. Around USD4.48 billion in ODA loan financing has been secured from the ADB for priority programs and projects for business and employment, agriculture, inclusive finance, domestic resource mobilization, and infrastructure development since the start of Marcos Jr.’s administration.

The meeting was joined by ADB’s Vice President of Southeast Asia Operations Scott Morris; General Counsel Tom Clark; Director General for Strategy, Policy and Partnerships Department Tomo Kimura; and Chief Advisor to the President Haruto Takimura. Recto was accompanied by National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

Chinese, Japanese tourist numbers help lift PHL visitor arrivals in 4 mos

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

INBOUND arrivals in the Philippines reached some 1.88 million from January to April 15 this year, with tourists from mainland China and Japan kicking up the largest increases among the country’s top markets.

Department of Tourism (DOT) data showed foreign tourists accounted for 1.77 million of total arrivals, while the rest, at 107,606, were overseas Filipinos or Philippine passport holders permanently riding abroad.

South Korea remained the top source market for tourists in the country, with arrivals reaching 514,146, and representing a 27.4-percent market share. Said arrivals increased by 31.5 percent from the 390,857 who arrived from an almost similar period, from January to April 13, 2023. Recently, a Korean Air official predicted arrivals from South Korea will reach 2 million this year, from the 1.77 million in 2023. (See, “South Korea visitors to reach pre-Covid levels by 4Q,” in the BusinessMirror , April 19, 2024.)

In second place this year was the United States, from which tourists grew by 4 percent to  295,281, and accounted for a 15.74-percent market share. Mainland China was the third largest market with 122,812 tourists, surging by 138.22 percent from the same period last year. The market accounted for a 6.55-percent market share.

₧1.2-B billing sparks row between DENR, Masungi

By Roderick L. Abad | Contributor

WHAT has been hailed in some international circles as a model of conservation is now deeply embroiled in an escalating legal battle between the national government and a private construction company whose officers overlap the conservators behind the acclaimed Masungi Georeserve.

Blue Star Construction and Development Corp. (BSCDC), the construction company behind the alleged resort built in the environmentally protected Upper Marikina River Basin in Rizal Province, is charging the government P1.166 billion supposedly for its failure to deliver lands in a state-owned territory.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed in a statement on April 20 that it received the latest statement of account dated April 11, 2024 from BSCDC, citing expenditures it incurred from the “unrealized delivery” by the agency of a 10-hectare parcel of land allocated for the National Bilibid Prisons under the Presidential Proclamation 1158 signed on September 8, 2006.

The total expenses to date, per the billing, included legal, security, and miscellaneous expenses amounting to P11,200; damages due to delay of the delivery of the lot worth P17,389,006; and even a P100,000 monthly rental paid to a “professional squatter.” The statement also showed the costs were

incurred beginning in June 2018.

According to BSCDC, it has no choice but to submit a monthly account of said expenses to push the DENR to do its contractual obligations under their joint venture agreement (JVA) and to prevent unnecessary expenses which will ultimately end up as cost to the government.

Such billings of BSCDC, however, are without legal basis, per the DENR Investigation Committee formed in 2019 to look into the said contracts.

“The contracts entered into by BSCDC [Blue Star] had legal infirmities ranging from unlawful excise of land for housing purposes in a National Park to award of contracts without bidding,” it stated.

The 2017 MOA BSCDC’s disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission reveal that Ben Dumaliang, Ann Adeline Dumaliang, and Billy Crystal Dumaliang are among the company’s key officers and stockholders. They are involved in a series of questioned contracts with the

Shift in Chinese travel preferences

ARRIVALS from Japan increased by a hefty 62.74 percent to 116,020, and represented  6.18 percent of total arrivals, while Australia’s grew by 1.5 percent to  81,391, with a 4.34-percent market share.

This developed as a  March 27, 2024 report from  the Economist Intelligence Unit (EI wU) noted China’s “tepid and partial growth for outbound tourism in 2023,” with trips to other countries outside of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan reaching 2.4 million, “only recovering 36.3 percent of its 2019 levels.”

The sluggish recovery of China’s outbound tourism has been attributed to its slowdown in economic growth, widespread youth unemployment, inadequate tourism services, and lack of flights.

The EIU forecasts the number of Chinese outbound travelers continuing to rise, but “we do not expect outbound tourism to return to prepandemic levels until 2025.”  It believes the market’s travel preferences “will gradually shift away from shopping overseas to consumption of cultural and experiential products. This change has already taken shape; the share of shopping in the total spending of Chinese tourists in Japan dropped from 51.1 percent in 2019 to 37.3 percent in 2023. In contrast, their spending on accommodation and entertainment surged. In this regard, sports and musical events that drive overseas travel could be more popular among Chinese tourists.”

DENR—the most recent of which is the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the late Environment

Secretary Gina Lopez with Masungi Georeserve Foundation Inc. (MGFI) on April 25, 2017 for the protection of the nature reserve and wildlife sanctuary covering 2,700 hectares in the city of Antipolo and the towns of Baras, Tanay, Rodriguez, and San Mateo, all in Rizal.

The pact gave the MGFI a “perpetual land trust” over the area which is now a resort referred to as Masungi Georeserve, whose key officers and trustees are also the Dumaliangs mentioned above.

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) deemed void ab initio their MOA with the late Secretary Lopez. Based on its Position Paper dated February 15, 2023 addressed to the House Committee on Natural Resources via Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. that probed the alleged irregularities in Masungi, the DOJ said the MOA violated the Constitution.

The DENR investigative team, on the other hand, cited several offenses by the foundation, such as no clearances from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), no free and prior consent from the ancestral domain owners and the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP), no Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC), and no accreditation from the Department of Tourism.

Masungi conservators respond REACTING to these, the MGFI un -

derscored that the 2017 MOA must be strengthened, not undermined, because it paved the way to a pioneering public-private partnership on conservation that must be replicated and scaled nationwide given the country’s dire environmental situation.

It said the pact’s provision that “the parties intend to constitute the project area as a perpetual land trust for conservation, subject to law” is intentionally being muddled by the DENR to make it look like MGFI has been granted a gift of land forever. The Foundation said this is “completely false” and the provision itself says it is subject to law, and MGFI knows it can only conserve the area for as long as the law and constitution allows.

As to the DOJ’s stand, it said the agency’s initial opinion on constitutionality is confined to this specific provision and has no effect on the constitutionality of the whole agreement. MGFI has written the DOJ to reconsider its initial opinion given more complete information.

It noted that only the courts can declare an agreement void ab initio. Until a final decision is made by the court, the MOA remains valid and binding upon parties and the DENR must uphold its obligations under it, which is to implement environmental laws and assist MGFI in its Unesco Geopark Application and necessary permits.

G7 FMs hit China use of water cannon vs PHL

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

FOREIGN ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) criticized China for firing water cannon on a Philippine supply ship in the West Philippine Sea.

This is the first time that the G7 made specific reference to China’s use of water cannon, alluding to the China Coast Guard and militia’s latest action against the Philippine supply boat near Ayungin Shoal. (See related story: https:// businessmirror.com. ph/2024/03/23/china-fires-

water-cannon-anew-on-phlrore-mission-to-ayungin-shoalanew/)

Manila immediately welcomed the G7 statement, while China’s state-owned daily Global Times derided G7 for projecting China to the world as a  “bully.”

Foreign ministers from the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom,  the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union met in Capri, Italy, and discussed global issues including China.

They said they are “seriously

concerned” about the situation in both the East and South China Seas and “oppose China’s militarization, coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea.” “We continue to oppose China’s dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea and its repeated obstruction of countries’ high seas freedom of navigation, and we express serious concern about the increasing use of dangerous maneuvers and water cannons against Philippines vessels in this regard,” the G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued Saturday (Philippine time).

The G7 is a forum comprising the seven most advanced democracies in the world, plus the EU—the largest trading bloc comprising 27 member-states.

For the past few years, G7 ministers have expressed concern about China’s dangerous maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea.

Last Saturday, the G7 reiterated that the Arbitration Tribunal decision on the South China Sea in 2016 is “legally binding.”

“There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Alarming rise of hotel rates threatens growth of PHL tourism industry editorial

THe high cost of travel and accommodation in the Philippines has been a long-standing concern for domestic tourists, destination management companies, and lawmakers. The situation has reached a point where many people now prefer to travel abroad, where they can get more value for their money. The issue is not limited to expensive domestic airfare; even hotels, especially those in Metro Manila, have significantly raised their room rates, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Unfortunately, this trend is projected to continue in the medium term, posing a serious threat to the government’s goal of attracting 12 million international arrivals by 2028. (Read the BusinessMirror story: ‘Keys Muna’: Imminent hotel room shortage—and resulting higher room rates—could derail PHL’s ambition to lure more visitors, April 20, 2024).

According to a recent briefing by Leechiu Property Consultants (LPC), there is an impending hotel shortage in the country. Only 87 properties are in the pipeline from 2025 to 2028, adding a mere 25,000 hotel rooms to the supply. This means that by 2028, there will be a total of 308,000 hotel rooms available. To achieve the target of 12 million inbound tourists by 2028, there needs to be an annual growth rate of approximately 10 percent. However, the growth in hotel keys during the same period is expected to be less than one percent, significantly limiting the country’s ability to reach its tourism goals. As a result, room rates and occupancy rates will undoubtedly increase, making travel more expensive for both locals and foreigners.

The majority of the new hotels (40 percent) are concentrated in Metro Manila, with the rest distributed among popular destinations such as Cebu, Boracay, Davao, and Palawan. While this development is promising, it may not be sufficient to meet the growing demand for accommodations. Furthermore, factors such as a high inflation rates and the cost of funding pose significant challenges to hotel development. High inflation rates make borrowing and financing more difficult, hindering the construction of new hotels.

The pandemic has also played a role in delaying hotel constructions. Many ongoing projects were halted, leading to a shortage in available rooms. Additionally, the current cost of funding, as reflected in lending rates, further contributes to the impending hotel shortage.

Inflationary pressures are expected to drive the average daily rates (ADR) of hotels to continue rising, outpacing occupancy and revenue per available room (RevPAR). While ADR typically lags behind occupancy growth, hotels have been focusing on increasing rates to offset higher operating costs driven by inflation. Luxury hotels in Metro Manila have already experienced significant ADR growth, surpassing prepandemic levels. This trend, coupled with the slow return of international travelers and rising operational costs, has made it challenging for hotels to generate profits.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has projected inbound arrivals to reach 11.5 million and domestic trips to reach 137.5 million by 2028. However, the current National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) lacks a clear identification of the number of hotels needed to accommodate these projected numbers. To address this, the DOT is working with the Philippine Hotel Owners Association to develop a strategic action plan for the hotel industry. The plan aims to identify incentives for hotel investments, required facilities, and suitable locations for construction.

It is crucial for the government and relevant stakeholders to address the rising cost of vacationing in the Philippines to ensure sustainable tourism growth. Efforts should be made to encourage the construction of more hotels, especially in popular tourist destinations beyond Metro Manila. Collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential to develop a comprehensive plan that addresses the challenges faced by the hotel industry, such as inflationary pressures and high funding costs. Additionally, exploring measures to promote competitive pricing, improve infrastructure, and enhance the overall tourism experience can help attract both domestic and international travelers.

The Philippines has immense potential as a tourist destination, offering diverse attractions and natural beauty. However, the stakes are high, as a shortage of affordable, quality accommodations could severely constrain the growth of the tourism industry—a critical driver of economic development, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings. Decisive action is needed now to avert this looming crisis and unlock the full potential of the Philippines as a premier travel destination.

Planet vs. Plastics: Earth Day 2024’s call to action

eAtty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

ARTH Day, established in 1970, has evolved into a global movement that underscores the urgent need to protect and preserve our planet. In 2024, earth Day adopts a poignant theme: “Planet vs. Plastics.” This highlights the goal to achieve a 60 percent reduction in plastics by 2040, educate the public on its detrimental effects on biodiversity, and advocate for policies and technologies aligned with a plastic-free world.

The global plastic pollution crisis poses an urgent threat to ecosystems, wildlife, marine life, and human health. Additionally, plastic pollution contaminates waterways, soils, and air, exacerbating environmental degradation and harming ecosystems. As the world grapples with the environmental repercussions of plastic waste, Earth Day serves as a clarion call for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments to address this pressing issue.

The theme fosters collective efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste. It advocates for innovative solutions to redesign products, promote sustainable alternatives, and implement effective waste management strategies. Earth Day initiatives focus on raising awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution and empowering individuals to take meaningful action in their

daily lives.

Businesses have a big role to play, as they are encouraged to adopt sustainable practices, minimize plastic packaging, and invest in circular economy models. Governments are urged to enact policies regulating single-use plastics, promote plastic recycling infrastructure, and to hold polluters accountable for their actions.

To commemorate the 54th International Earth Day on April 22, numerous groups are organizing initiatives and campaigns to raise awareness and confront environmental issues, particularly plastic waste. Here’s a rundown of local events and activities initiated by advocacy groups: EarthDay Jam Foundation, Incorporated, in collaboration with the local government of Quezon City, hosts “Earth Jam Day 2024” on Saturday,

April 27, at 3 pm, at SM Novaliches. The event features jam sessions, exhibits, and film screenings, with free admission.

The Earth Island Institute Asia Pacific, in conjunction with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Disaster Resilience Institute, leads an online educational discussion webinar on Monday, April 22, at 9 am, via Zoom. The webinar aims to raise awareness about fighting plastic pollution, protecting marine wildlife, and highlighting the plight of the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin in the Iloilo-Guimaras Straits.

Kalikasan People’s Network, in partnership with various environmental groups in the Philippines, invites everyone to participate in month-long Earth Month activities,

including environmental summits, bike tours, forums, and art exhibits nationwide until April 29.

The National Confederation of Cooperatives hosts an online forum to discuss pressing environmental issues, including health hazards associated with plastic. The webinar takes place on Monday, April 22, at 2 pm, via Zoom.

Youth organization Proyekto Philippines, along with several groups and government agencies in Iloilo, invites everyone to “Earth Warriors Invasion: An Earth Day 2024,” a full-day event featuring cleanup drives, workshops, and policy advocacy campaigns on Wednesday, April 24, at SM City Iloilo.

Samsung Galaxy, in collaboration with the charity organization Tzu Chi Philippines, organizes the Runrio Earth Day Run on April 21 at the SM Mall of Asia Complex. The activity aims to promote environmental consciousness and collective action, with registration fees ranging from P1,200 to P2,000.

The University of the Philippines

Visayas University Student Council invites cause-oriented individuals to join the call for climate justice at the Panay Environment Summit 2024 on Monday, April 22, 8 am, at the University of the Philippines Iloilo campus. The summit addresses concerns such as the Jalaur River mega dam’s impact on the Tumandok people’s ancestral domain and the effects of mining in Pan de Azucar, Concepcion on livelihoods and marine resources.

Philippines nears comprehensive energy security with landmark LNG collaboration

THe long-awaited aspiration of President Marcos, shared by the entire Filipino population burdened by frequent brownouts, is on the brink of becoming a reality: achieving comprehensive energy security in the country.

In a landmark move to address the energy woes that have perennially beset the country, three of the largest and most innovative firms in the country have joined forces to provide a clean solution. These firms—Aboitiz Power Corp., Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen) and San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP)— are jointly launching the Philippines’ first and most expansive integrated liquefied natural gas

(LNG) facility in Batangas.

The entire enterprise, valued at $3.3 billion, is aimed at boosting energy security and steering the country’s shift towards a cleaner, more sustainable future, as it is likewise designed to make energy competitively priced, affordable, and accessible to a broader base of Filipino consumers.

Under the agreement, AP and MGen will jointly invest in two of SMGP’s gas-fired power plants—

the 1,278 MW Ilijan power plant and a new 1,320 MW combined cycle power facility, which is expected to start operations by the end of 2024.

Also, the three firms will invest together in almost 100 percent of the LNG import and regasification terminal owned by Linseed Field Corp.

All three companies will likewise acquire the LNG import and regasification terminal of Linseed Field Corporation, and use this to receive, store and process LNG fuel for the two power plants, thus fully integrating the local energy sector into the global natural gas supply chain.

Once fully operational, this joint effort among the three entities is projected to enhance the country’s power supply by an impressive 2,500 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity, supported by state-of-the-art LNG storage and regasification capabilities. Such initiative will not only meet

the country’s energy requirements but also support its environmental objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This initiative supports the President’s goals for the country.

Moreover, it aligns perfectly with the comprehensive endeavor to vigorously promote the advancement of renewable energy in the nation, championed by Congressman Joey Salceda, the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, widely recognized as the “RE Expansion Champion” in the present legislative assembly. Salceda has been advocating for expansion of renewable energy sources in the country, as well as having more RE power plants. He is also advocating for the liberalization of the renewable energy sector to encourage foreign capital participation. Salceda, who also holds the position of senior

Crossed the line

Philippines as a global tax leader THE PATRIOT

TJoel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part 20

he Asian Development Bank has been focused on assisting the Philippines’ tax collection efforts and enhancement of its tax administration systems. In the ADB press release of August 27, 2021, it announced that the ADB has approved a $400 million policy-based loan to the Philippines to help improve local governments’ capacity to provide high-quality public services. This Local Governance Reform Program subprogram 2 intends to assist in the strengthening of the local government units’ service delivery framework, modernize local public financial management, and improve LGUs’ financing and investment capabilities.

Under this program, ADB is supporting reforms to move toward the full devolution of national government functions to LGUs based on Executive Order 138 Series of 2021 and increased revenue allocations to LGUs as a result of the 2019 Supreme Court Mandanas decision.

The new program builds on ADB’s support since 2006 to help the Philippines boost efficiency, accountability, and transparency in local governments’ financial management and service delivery. A $300 million policy-based loan in 2019 helped the government create a legal and institutional framework to mobilize local revenues. A $26.5 million investment project in 2020 is supporting government initiatives and reforms to improve local governments’ real property tax collection.

The Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF), under Executive Director Consolacion Agcaoli, is the lead agency in these real property tax reforms. Specifically, this includes the Local Governance Reform Project that started in 2020. The LGRP consists of various components including the adoption of digital tools for local real property tax valuation and collection, capacity building and training for LGU officials, and the implementation of legislative and policy mandates.

The BLGF definitely will be very much involved in the implementation of the Real Property Valuation and Assessment Reform (RPVAR). The bicameral committee concluded its hearings in March 2024 and the bill is scheduled for signing into law by the President within the next few weeks.

The RPVAR is another landmark tax measure that aims to improve local finance and empower LGUs toward sustainability. The current real property system suffers from multiple, overlapping valuations, leading to wide disparities in property values among various LGUs. Outdated valuations are used for governmental purposes, resulting in inefficient tax collection processes and foregone revenues. Furthermore, there is no single agency responsible for ensuring that valuations are completed according to standards. RPVAR seeks to address these issues by adopting internationally accepted valuation standards and professionalizing real property valuation administrators and processes. Additionally, RPVAR mandates the establishment of a comprehensive real property electronic database to capture transactions and support regular property re-valuations. The intent is to improve real property tax collections by updating property valuations without increasing taxes

continued from A10

stitutional Amendments, has underscored that his utmost focus as senior vice chair of the panel is “to promote the liberalization of the renewable energy sector, in line with the President’s directive to attain energy security.”

The AP-MGen-SMGP project also perfectly fits in the Philippine Energy Plan being driven by the De -

or imposing new ones. The bicameral body adopted the Senate version of providing an amnesty on interest and penalties for taxpayers with unpaid real property taxes. I am pleased that this provision, which was based on my written position paper submitted to the Senate Ways and Means Committee, was incorporated into the RPVAR.

In my submission, I gave the rationale for the amnesty as needed to “support the fiscal and revenue capacity and resources of the LGUs and to promote up-to-date information on real properties and improvements and taxes thereof that will be unloaded in the electronic database. With the tax amnesty, taxpayers who are late or did not pay their real property taxes in the past years will be encouraged to pay their unpaid taxes due to the savings they will derive from the waiver of the penalties and interests.” “Owners of undeclared real properties and improvements will also be encouraged to report these and pay the taxes due for the same reason that they will be deriving savings from the waiver of the penalties and interests related to the non-payment or late payment of taxes.” The BLGF will be at the forefront of implementing these many reforms and initiatives. I am sure that the officials of the BLGF and other government agencies will be capable of administering simultaneously the VTARA, the tax amnesty, Standardized Examination and Assessment for Local Treasury Service Program, the LGRP, setting up of the comprehensive real property electronic database, and the capacity building of the treasurers and staff of 81 provinces, 144 cities, and 1,490 municipalities (not counting anymore the 42,080 barangays that can also collect their fees, permits, and “taxes”).

I wish them my prayers and call for motivation for them to handle all of these mandates, which can, later on, be broadcasted and shared with the global tax community as being best practices for revenue collections.

To be continued

Joel L. Tan-Torres was a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held the various positions of Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo.com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.

partment of Energy (DOE), which has identified LNG as crucial for the country’s energy sustainability and security, aiming to boost natural gas’ share in the power generation mix to 26 percent by 2040.

Experts have characterized LNG as a crucial contributor to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the fight against climate change, the enhancement of air quality, and the improvement of public health.

Boosting LNG as energy source

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

The conflict is beyond complicated. As Israel intensified its ground campaign to cleanse Gaza of its hamas leaders and supporters, Iran recently launched a 300-missile attack against Israel. Iran apparently joined the fray by saying that Israel “crossed the line!” Israel has since countered with a calculated missile attack on its own. Judging from the historical relationships between the two countries, a larger conflict can be seen on the horizon.

Similar to its predecessor, the Persian Empire, Iran has a powerful arsenal of weapons, nuclear ones included. Israel, owing to its vulnerability in terms of location and sheer numbers being surrounded by Arab states, has developed a fighting force with the help of the United States. Significantly, both Iran and Israel are led by leaders who are not necessarily known as peace advocates in the region. While the tension between the two leaders has intensified due to these drone strikes, some say that these exchanges of missiles are simply for show, if not by design.

Some interested parties such as Syria, Lebanon, and other Arab states may be directly involved soon. What remains obvious is that this “war” is a war to gain international support or sympathy, from both ends.

In the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the leadership of China has deployed deceiving tactics, including the insistence of a supposed Gentlemen’s Agreement, in asserting its baseless claims over the disputed islands. As a response, the Philippines has rallied its allies and supporters by way of recent official visits (US, Australia, to name a few), by signing cooperation agreements (Japan, New Zealand, to

name a few), and the conduct of upcoming joint military exercises. These activities are all aimed for show, if not by design, to impress upon the leadership of China that the Philippines will not just kowtow to the unreasonable demands of China when it had the chance to participate in a UN-sanctioned arbitration years ago.

In the domestic front, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos said, “She crossed the line” referring to Vice President Sara Duterte as the latter was seen smiling or smirking when her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte used the word “bangag” (on drugs) to describe President Marcos Jr. in one of the anti-charter change rallies where she participated in. During a departure ceremony for a Marcos trip, First Lady Liza and Vice President Sara were seen ignoring each other. After a landslide victory in the 2022 elections, this “marriage of convenience” under the slogan UNITEAM is bound for destruction, not necessarily of the same epic proportions in the Israel-Gaza conflict. But expectedly other interested parties, such as Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senator Imee Marcos, and other politicians who were once united under this UNITEAM may soon join the

war to gain political support, concessions, or even victory in the coming elections.

Whenever powerful forces, be they countries such as Israel and Iran or China and the Philippines, or families such as the Marcoses and Dutertes, have collided or are about to collide, inevitably others will choose sides.

While neutrality is possible as in the case of long-time neutral Switzerland, these conflicts in the international and domestic fronts will ultimately evoke some form of sympathy for one and not the other.

I was once asked about the current conflict in Gaza. For me, it is far beyond fixing, not even in the next century. I cannot claim that Hamas and its supporters were right in the massacre of innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023 as a response to Israel’s supposed decades-long oppression and discrimination against Palestinian people. Yet, I cannot claim that the leadership of Israel is right and just in its campaign of getting rid of Hamas in Gaza without due regard to the life of innocent people, particularly women and children. But, whenever one crosses the line, it can get more complicated as in the case of this ongoing conflict in Gaza. It does not matter who crossed the line first since it will be an endless debate.

Fortunately, participants contesting the issue in WPS have yet to cross the line. But, in response to the question, who should I support—Palestine or Israel, I rather say that I cannot support those who promote war. Biblically, the land in dispute was granted to the Israelites (now known as Israelis) as they are God’s chosen people, but politically, after a series of wars and occupations over many centuries, the Arabs and Palestinians living in the land in dispute, particularly Jerusalem, have as much claim as the Jews. “It is complicated,” borrowing how President

BBM described his current relationship with the Duterte family, like a Facebook status.

But, as a believer of the Bible, I can find peace in understanding that our battles are ultimately the Lord’s to fight. It would be wise to seek refuge from God’s promise as found in Ephesians 6:12, as it reminded me that any struggle or conflict is not against people but against the spiritual forces of evil. Should any violence erupt in the WPS, I will remain calm in keeping to what Jesus declared on the cross, “It is finished.” (John 19:30).

For Filipino believers who are fearful as to how this WPS issue will pan out, remember the Lord stands on the frontlines of the battlefield, leading the charge against the forces of evil (not China but the leaders in China who promote violence or war).

As prayerful Filipinos, we just have to align ourselves with our Heavenly Creator, by trusting in His perfect power. Just as what the Bible prophesied in Isaiah 2:4, “He will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

Military exercises in the WPS serve well to minimize tension or conflict. But our constant prayers should seek peace in a way so that “nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:4). By then, there will no more line to cross.

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

‘Planet vs Plastics’: Transitioning to circular economy

By Selva Ramachandran

WAsTes pose a broad challenge that affects human health, livelihoods, the environment, and prosperity. The waste pollution, especially from plastics, is pushing our planet further to the brink of irreversible loss and damage.

The convenience that is associated with the use of plastics is a doubleedged sword that has led the world to double its plastics production over the last 20 years. More than 400 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide every year, with one third of which is used only once.

If that is not concerning enough, the equivalent of over 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic is dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers, and lakes every single day. This is primarily why our seas and oceans are choking with mismanaged plastic wastes, which end up infiltrating even the food that we eat.

Millions of Filipinos rely heavily on coastal and marine resources, which today is affected by marine plastics. Its emerging economy contributes to the increase in plastic generation. This is alongside the permeation of the “sachet economy” that most Filipinos are used to, partly driven by the small purchasing capacity of most of the population.

The Philippines is considered as one of the main contributors in the world to marine plastic pollution. Annually, the country generates 2.7 million tons of plastic waste, of which over 500,000 tons end up in the seas and oceans every year.

contributes to attaining the Philippines’ own goal to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2030.

Sabin M. Aboitiz, Chair of AP, said: “Both LNG and renewables are needed to achieve a balanced energy mix and well-planned energy transition. Above all, this is a big win for the Philippines and the people. Economic development is impossible without energy security, and this investment is a definitive step forward in that direction.”

The current linear economic model is also contributing significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the chain. Material handling and use—from extraction, processing, manufacturing, delivery, use, and disposal of goods—are further accelerating climate change. The “business as usual” model is more wasteful and makes inefficient use of materials and finite resources. This stresses our waste management system and poses huge environmental, economic and social costs.

Left unattended, these wastes will continue to pile up and choke our soil, waterways, and seas, and will result to the degradation of our ecosystem and the increase of public health issues, in turn affecting the production potential of resources upon which millions of Filipino households depend on.

To address this seemingly unsurmountable challenge, one solution stands out: Transitioning to Circular Economy.

The principle and practice of circular economy have shown promising results in breaking the cycle of plastic pollution. Numerous developed countries have launched innovative solutions—from nature-

Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chair of MGen, commented: “This is a pathbreaking venture. Apart from transforming the energy landscape of the Philippines, this symbolizes a milestone alliance among major players in the energy industry towards a more sustainable future. We are thrilled to have such reliable partners as we lay the foundation for a brighter, greener future.”

Ramon S. Ang, Chair and President of SMGP, added: “For the first

based to technology-based—to tackle the plastics problem.

The circular economy approach enables us to extend the lifecycle of products, thus minimizing our material footprint, reducing wastes to a minimum, and more importantly, open massive economic opportunities in the value chain, involving manufacturing materials for sustainable packaging, recycling, reuse, sharing, refurbishing, and repairing, among others.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recognized this, and embedded circular economy as a key strategy in the National Plan of Action (NPOA) for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter.

A major push in this campaign is the enactment of the Republic Act 11868 or the Expanded Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act. This new legislation widens the environmental accountability of enterprises for the entire life cycle of the goods they produce, especially in the post-consumption stage—by strengthening recycling, reuse and resource recovery—and is thus a significant pillar of the policy environment for circular economy. For UNDP, circular economy is a key pillar engagement in the Philippines. In addition to our work for the NPOA on Marine Litter, we supported the DENR in the development of implementing rules of the EPR law, the establishment of the EPR Registry, and organizational assessment to fulfill the requirements of the law.

time, three leading power companies are working together to secure our country’s energy needs while transitioning towards cleaner power sources. This represents a major leap forward for our energy future, ensuring not just reliability but also cost-efficient power for many Filipinos.” The three firms intend to leverage their combined expertise and resources to guarantee the delivery of dependable and competitively priced energy while helping boost

Moreover, UNDP engaged with five cities to pilot test priority circular economy solutions. These were all made possible through the support of the government of Japan.

Furthermore, through the support of the European Union and led by the DENR, a new program called the Green Economy Program in the Philippines was recently launched. Through this Program, the UNDP, in collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, will be working with 20 LGUs in their “greening” journey and their circular economy transition. Targeted support to 40 more LGus are envisioned to be added in the Program.

These are all aligned with the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution, which commits a 75 percent GHG emission reduction and avoidance by 2030. The NDC identified circular economy and sustainable consumption and production among the key mitigation measures against climate change that would bring about co-benefits, including green jobs and investments, while ensuring a just transition.

This year, the commemoration of Earth Day under the theme “Planet vs Plastics” reminds us that our urgent actions across all levels on plastic pollution matter. It is time to accelerate our efforts and transition to a circular economy before our planet is cloaked by plastics.

Selva Ramachandran is the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in the Philippines.

economic growth and environmental preservation for the country.

Through the AP-MGen-SMGP initiative, as well as other RE development undertakings, and including RE expansion and liberalization as espoused by Cong. Salceda, the nation may finally look forward to a future with no brownouts, no disruptions of work and business due to power outage, and no inconveniences to life due to non-availability of electricity; only secured supply of energy.

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL :

Entries may be submitted by any person or organization wishing to direct the attention of the CMMA to a meritorious program, series, article, material and the like. A person or a company may submit more than one entry in each category. Entries need not be Christian and nominees need not be Catholics. All entries must be those media works released from May 2023 to April 2024.

STUDENT LEVEL:

ADVERTISING

Best TV Ad-Branded

Best TV Ad-Public Service

Best Digital Ad-Branded

Best Digital Ad-Public Service

MUSIC

Best Inspirational Song-Religious

Best Inspirational Song-Secular

Best Music Video

PRINT / E-PUB

Best Children’s Magazine

Best Editorial Cartoon

Best Investigative Report

Best Local Community / Parish Newspaper

Best News Coverage

Best News Photograph

Best Opinion Column

Best Short Story

Best Special Feature

Best Comic Story

Best Youth Magazine

All bona fide students enrolled in any of the participating schools, colleges and universities within the school year 2023-2024.

RADIO (AM OR FM) / PODCAST

Best Business News

Best Counseling Program

Best Public Service Program

Best Drama Program (Episodic or Serial)

Best Educational Program

Best Entertainment Program

Best News Commentary

Best News Program

Best News Feature

TELEVISION

Best Adult Educational / Cultural Program

Best Children and Youth Program

Best Comedy Program

Best Drama Series / Program

Best Entertainment Program

Best News Magazine

Best News Program

Best Public Service Program

Best Special Event Coverage

Best Talk Show

Best Children’s Short Story

Best Family-Oriented Magazine

Best Tv Special (One-Time feature)

Best Station ID

SOCIAL MEDIA

Best Website

Best Vlog

STUDENT CMMA

Best Student Organ-Grade School

Best Student Organ-High School

Best Student Organ-College

Best Short Film (Documentary or Narrative)

Best TV Production (Documentary or Narrative)

Best Student Public Service-Radio Ad

Best Student Public Service-Print Ad

Best Student Public Service-TV Ad

SERVIAM AWARD

Best Literary Publication

Individual Corporate / Institutional

ST. JOHN PAUL II AWARD

SEC files suit against MFT over investment contracts

By VG Cabuag @villygc

The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) filed a case against the Maria Francesca Tan (MFT) Group of Companies Inc. and Foundry Ventures I Inc. before the Department of Justice (DOJ) over their illegal investment-taking activities.

Also implicated in the complaint was Isla Lipana and Co., which served as the independent auditor of the MFT Group and Foundry Ventures for fiscal years 2018 to 2021. The SEC has filed a criminal complaint against the MFT Group and Foundry Ventures for violation of the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), in relation to Section 6 of Republic Act 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. The SEC implicated in the complaint the officers of MFT Group and Foundry Ventures, including Maria Francesca Tan, Eduardo Tan, Florita Tan, Enrique Eduardo Tan, Charles Edward Tan, Christian Konstantin Agbayani, Mario dela Fuente, Philip Tan, Jenna Fuentes, among others. The filing of the criminal case stemmed from complaints submitted

by several investors who participated in the investment scheme of the MFT Group, which later transitioned to Foundry Ventures. The MFT Group allegedly promised guaranteed returns ranging from 12 percent to 18 percent of the amount they invested, which was considered as interest income. The scheme was perpetuated through the issuance of postdated checks reflecting a 1 percent to 1.5 percent monthly interest to interested investors, who were given either a promissory note or borrower-lender agreement, as proof of their investment.

“The instruments executed by MFT Group and Foundry Ventures are clearly investment contracts considering that the scheme, the transactions, as well as the attendant circumstances show that elements provided under SRC Rule 26.3.5 are all present, which are also

the elements under the Howey Test,” the complaint read.

The SEC also noted that the unauthorized investment-taking activities of MFT Group and Foundry Ventures resemble the nature of a Ponzi scheme, since their success and viability are anchored on the additional investments of existing investors and/or the investments of new investors.

A cease-and-desist order was earlier issued by the SEC against the MFT Group and Foundry Ventures in January, which directed the officers and directors of the companies to stop their investment solicitation activities without the necessary licenses from the SEC.

The order was subsequently made permanent on April 1.

In addition, the SEC found that the MFT Group and its officers and directors are liable for 17 counts of misrepresentation in its 2018 to 2021 audited financial statements by reflecting dividend income which has no basis.

The SEC noted that the amount received by the MFT Group from its investors should have been recognized in its books of accounts either as part of the company’s liabilities or creditor’s equity or share capital or stockholder’s equity. This is consistent with the accounting equation that any increase in the asset of an entity must have a corresponding increase in the company’s liabilities or capital or both.

The MFT Group declared dividend revenues from its subsidiaries for the

Eternal Gardens honors 71 top sales achievers for 2023

EThis year’s event, with the theme “A Lasting Commitment,” celebrated the outstanding achievements of 71 honorees who have exemplified exceptional dedication to their work and to Eternal Gardens.

During his speech, Numeriano B. Rodrin, the President and COO of Eternal Gardens, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the salesforce for their unwavering commitment. He emphasized that commitment extends beyond meeting targets; it involves dedicating oneself wholeheartedly to a cause or purpose. Rodrin commended the salesforce for consistently raising the bar and surpassing expectations.

He remarked, “Year after year, our sales agents continued to raise the bar higher, setting and exceeding targets that seemed unattainable. Your passion, hard work, loyalty and commitment have been the driving force behind our success. Kaya naman tanggapin po ninyo ang aming taos pusong pasasalamat...” The Guest of Honor, Department of Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Atty. Napoleon U. Galit, began his keynote speech by sharing a personal story about his time working with the ALC Group of Companies in the early 1980s. He also remembered the late founder, Amb. Antonio L. Cabangon Chua, whom Usec. Galit admires for his service and dedication to the nation. He mentioned how important this experience was for him and how it shaped his journey to who and where he is today.

He then praised the salesforce, calling them the backbone of Eternal Gardens, and thanked them for their hard

work. “Sa mga manggagawa, sa ating mga salesforces na sinasabi nating bread and butter ng Eternal Gardens, mabuhay po kayo!” He stressed the importance of loyalty, noting that while cleverness is valuable, loyalty holds even greater significance. He emphasized that while knowledge can be taught, loyalty comes from the heart and is a quality that is deeply cherished within the ALC Group of Companies. “‘Yung kaalaman ay pupwedeng ituro ng Eternal Group, pero yung loyalty ay mahirap ituro. Kinakailangan ‘yan ay nanggagaling sa ating puso.”

Usec. Galit encouraged everyone to continue their commitment and loyalty to the ALC Group of Companies, recognizing that it is this unwavering dedication that truly sets them apart.

Vice Chairman Benjamin V. Ramos, in his message, reflected on the resilience of Eternal Gardens, noting that the company has witnessed various presidencies, weathered different worldwide financial crises, and most recently, the pandemic.

Despite these challenges, the company has emerged stronger each time.

“Nagsimula ang Eternal Gardens sa panahon ni Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ngayon si Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Inabutan na natin ‘yung from Macapagal to another Macapagal president. Aquino to another Aquino president. Ilang worldwide financial crisis at maging pandemic na rin ang inabot ng Eternal Gardens. Nandito pa rin tayo. Matatag at matibay,” Ramos said. He also recognized the contributions

of the salesforce, stating, “Over the years, your contributions to Eternal Gardens have been invaluable, and we are proud of that. From 1 park to 13, 14, 15… and we expect that by the time we celebrate our 50th year, madadagdagan pa ‘yan. ‘Yan commitment ng ALC Group at ng Eternal Gardens.”

Chairman and CEO D. Edgard A. Cabangon expressed his appreciation for the salesforce’s commitment and dedication, assuring them that the company will continue to grow as long as they work together and support each other.

“Our group is growing because of your commitment, dedication, and loyalty. On behalf of the Cabangon family and the Eternal Gardens Group, we are further encouraged by you. Rest assured, as I always say, we will go a long way as long as we work together. Our group is expanding, and our memorial services are complete.”

He encouraged the salesforce to continue their hard work, as their efforts are instrumental in the company’s success. “Hindi lalago ang ating kumpanya kung hindi dahil sa ating pagtutulungan. Maraming salamat sa inyong suporta at pagmamahal,” he added.

As part of their incentives, the qualified sales associates were treated to an all-expenses-paid trip to Vietnam.

The Grand Annual Awards, attended by over 280 guests, served as a fitting tribute to the dedication and commitment of Eternal Gardens’ salesforce, highlighting their invaluable contributions to the company’s success.

WESM prices soar as power demand jumps

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

years 2018 to 2021 without basis, as its related companies did not declare any dividends due to insufficiency of retained earnings or, in some cases, due to negative balance or deficit.

The SEC claimed that Isla Lipana colluded with the MFT Group in their fraudulent activities by making it appear that the financial statements of the company were fairly presented despite inconsistencies and inaccuracies in the annual financial statements (AFS).

“The investing public, including and especially MFT’s investors, relied on these AFS in making investment decisions. Stated otherwise, the information/entries in the AFS of the MFT Group were essential in convincing investors to part with their hard-earned money, and entrust the same to the MFT Group, because they presented MFT Group as financially healthy and viable,” SEC said.

“Considering that this discrepancy happened over the years, and given its significant impact on the financial position of the MFT Group, the same cannot be considered an isolated event. The fact that respondent auditors repeatedly engaged themselves in this kind of irregularity is a clear indication of its intention to conceal the actual financial status of the MFT Group, to the prejudice of its investors.”

THE average price at the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) in Luzon and Visayas, when both grids were placed on red and yellow alert last week, surged to as high as P13.39 and P14.64 per kilowatt hour (kWh), respectively.

Data from the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (Iemop) showed that on April 16, when the red alert was first issued by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), Luzon WESM rates stood at P5.55 per kWh while Visayas WESM rates reached P5.73 per kWh.

The following day, the WESM rates for both grids rose to P8.12 per kWh in Luzon and P8.29 per kWh in Visayas.

On April 18, WESM rates further went up to P13.39 per kWh in Luzon and P14.64 per kWh in the Visayas.

The NGCP placed both grids on red and yellow alerts for those days. 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 WESM operator, IEMOP, said

these prices are still subject to pricing validations, which will take place by the end of the current WESM billing month.

The system peak demand has reached 18,256 megawatts (MW) at 4:50 p.m. last April 17 with a supply of 20,108MW. While the margin of supply met the demand, localized power interruptions have been experienced in areas of extremely high demand.

“Iemop supports the Department of Energy’s campaign to implement energy conservation measures and optimize energy usage during peak hours in both businesses and households.”

The red alert was again raised on April 19 in Luzon and the Visayas.

“The Visayas grid was upgraded to red alert status due to higher forecasted demand in Visayas and Mindanao, resulting in less power shared by Mindanao through the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection,” NGCP said last week.

Both grids were on normal condition the following day, April 20.

Department of agrarian reform

Undersecretary atty. napoleon U. Galit inspires the salesforce of eternal Gardens in his keynote address. the 2023 awardees were led by Florita B. arellano, first place, General agency manager category; Juvy a manalo, first place, regular Unit manager category; ruby B. Olaso, first place, regular Sales Counselor category; ma. Cecilia m romasanta, first place, League manager category; Jonah marie m romasanta, first place, Sales Counselor category; ace Cornelio a abesa, first place, personal Sales Counselor category; and Sean patrick S. pacheco, first place, personal Unit manager category.

Banking&Finance

Perspectives Insurance transformation

CLAIMS is one of the most underutilized strategic assets within many insurance organizations today and insurance leaders recognize it will take nothing short of a transformation to unlock the value that the function could deliver. Insurance businesses understand that claims can make a material difference to their balance sheets. The function also plays a leading role in defining the customer experience and bringing the organizational strategy to life for clients. Yet traditional claims functions were not built to deliver on this strategic value. More often, claims organizations were built upon a foundation of technical claims handling expertise. Now the function is being asked to augment this with technology, including the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) in order to redesign and transform how the claims function operates.

To unlock the true potential of the claims function, a deeper, more holistic and transformative approach is needed. At its core should be a steel thread that connects claims with underwriting, actuarial, finance and other key functions though an integrated, end-to-end business architecture.

Five key considerations for modernizing the claims function

CREATE the foundations. Transformation starts with a vision of what the organization wants to become. That means understanding how the claims function can add value to the business and how the business wants to evolve in the future. A clear strategy — well-articulated — can help the business make the right investments and decisions as the transformation progresses and specific business use cases and needs change.

At all times, the customer should be kept at the center of the business strategy and the claims strategy. That will require claims functions to really get to know the business’s customers, what they want and how they want to interact with the claims handlers. It will also be important to understand your internal customers and how they plan to use claims data and insights in their processes. Helping to ensure the alignment of the customer experience across distribution, service and claims will be key.

Focus on the data. Data is central to unlocking the strategic value of claims. By leveraging data analytics, organizations can develop more precise risk and behavioral profiles for customers, allowing them to tailor pricing, coverage and underwriting decisions accordingly.

The problem is that insurance data is often spread across the organization, locked up in silos or inconsistently tagged. However, there are now a range of technologies that can be applied to help improve data access and enhance consistency. It does not necessarily require a massive lift and shift.

Update the processes. True transformation comes from reimagining processes with the desired outcome in mind— combining the best of business design with the best of digital claims capabilities so that the business can orchestrate all parties to support a claim and get deep visibility into each step of the processes. While thinking

end-to-end, also think function to function. There are handoffs that should be considered, integration opportunities that can be found and data that can be shared.

Change the ways of working and capabilities. As the claims function transforms into a source of strategic value, new and different skillsets and ways of working will likely be needed.

In part, this is about how the claims function can interact with the business so that—together—they can deliver value to the customer and help to maximize financial efficiency.

Some of this will be dictated by the reimagined processes, data requirements, and the business’s appetite to adopt AI technologies.

At the same time, capabilities should shift to support business architects, operational leaders and those who understand how to connect data with insights.

As the more manual activities start to become automated, claims leaders will likely be able to shift their capabilities to focus on architecting the end-toend experience using data and analytics to engage business partners and suppliers in new and different ways.

Make sure the transformation sticks. One of the main reasons that many transformations fail is because people tend to fall back into old habits. But there are tools and mechanisms that can be put in place to help assess and manage how new approaches are being adopted.

For example, KPMG firms have helped organizations set up centers of excellence (CoE), where dedicated teams assess to what extent new processes are being followed—and KPMG’s transformation teams have worked with change champions to empower them to validate and check themselves. Indeed, there are a lot of very practical steps that can be taken to provide confidence that the new ways are working. These teams can also provide insights into the things that are not working, thereby allowing claims functions to reassess their processes or approaches as part of a program of continuous improvement.

Seize the moment

THIS is a unique point in time for the claims function. The business often wants the function to transform—The tools and technologies for transformation have matured, and the risks of functional transformation are better understood. It is an opportunity to create competitive advantage across the industry, to encourage innovative ideas and models, and to significantly differentiate the customer experience. We believe that now is the time for insurers to start reimagining how the claims function can live up to their full strategic potential.

BSP: Digital financial services useless if ICT infra still clunky

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

DESPITE evidence that Information Communication Technology (ICT) and electronic-government (IEG) development has ushered financial inclusion, the impact could just as easily head south if inequality persists.

In a discussion paper published by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), researchers found that equality in the development of IEG could lead to greater financial exclusion. Without the necessary infrastructure and ser-

vices to promote the use of digitalization nationwide, this would be useless to consumers, it added. “The necessity of developing crucial ICT and digital infrastructure and improving access to them is vital. Digital

BDO to stay cautious but aggressive in expansion

By VG Cabuag @villygc

BDO Unibank Inc., the country’s biggest lender led by the SM group, said it will remain cautious yet still aggressive in its expansion this year even as its profits seem headed to beat last year’s record performance.

In a news briefing, BDO president and CEO Nestor V. Tan said that, he prefers to take the bank’s performance one quarter at a time.

Tan said they remain cautious because of geopolitical risks.

“Being cautious does not mean you pull back. Being cautious means that you just have to manage the consequences and prepare for it. So, basically, if we have outperformed (in 2023), it’s because we’re cautious, and we’ve looked at the eventualities, and we adjusted our strategy or actions to take advantage of it,” he added.

Tan said the bank will still be aggressive in going after good credits but not “when you say aggressive which is going down the risk spectrum.”

“If you look at what we’re doing, we’re not sacrificing quality. We’re just reaching out to more. So, when you reach out to a bigger market, to a bigger geographic reach, you tend to get more good credits. So we’re aggressive in terms of going

after good credits but not aggressive in the sense of going down the risk chain and sacrificing quality,” he added.

For capital expenditures, Tan said while he does not have the figure for BDO’s budget this year, the bulk will be allocated for information technology and branch expansion.

“We’re looking at about a hundred to 120 new branches across the whole group. Which means BDO Network Bank and main bank. Our technology expansion will continue with the current rate that we have,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BDO Board of Directors approved an increase in the regular cash dividends on common shares of BDO to P1.00 per share per quarter beginning on the second quarter of 2024. This will be the new dividend policy of BDO going forward.

It also approved the declaration as property dividends the Treasury shares arising from the merger of BDO and SM Keppel Land Inc., with BDO as the surviving entity.

The merger, which is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals, will result in the creation of Treasury shares equivalent to approximately one percent of current outstanding shares.

financial services will not be of much use to consumers if they do not have access to the needed infrastructure, such as good internet and mobile connection,” the discussion paper stated.

The researchers noted that the development of crucial ICT infrastructure and improving access to it have a greater marginal effect on financial inclusion.

“IEG is more strongly associated with usage of financial services than with availability of or access to such services,” the research stated.

Apart from this, the study found that IEG can have a greater impact on financial inclusion in lower-income economies compared to those that have higher incomes.

For developing countries like the Philippines, this underscored the importance of developing IEG to achieve greater financial inclusion.

“A probable explanation for this observation is that high income countries have relatively higher proportions of financially included individuals and households in their populations, thus, interventions will only have marginal effects on financial inclusion,” the paper stated.

Last year, in his keynote speech at the Digital Financial Inclusion Awards on Tuesday, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said 65 percent of households already had accounts in 2022, higher than the 56 percent posted in 2021. Remolona also said 65 percent of households have accounts in 2022 and 42 percent of Filipino adults have made digital transactions.

The BSP Governor said the goal is to convert 50 percent of the total volume of retail payments into digital form and to onboard 70 percent of Filipino adults to the formal financial system.

Government payment for debt obligations rose 6.84%

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

THE state’s payments for its debt obligations in the first two months of the year rose by 6.84 percent to P452.513 billion from P423.545 billion in the same period of 2023, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

Latest data from the Treasury showed the country’s debt service as of end-February increased due to higher amortization payments, which made up 73.03 percent of the entire debt service for the said period.

Amortization payments, which reached P330.465 billion, were lower by 3.50 percent than the P342.466 billion recorded in the two-month period last year.

The payments made by the state for domestic amortization also dropped by 19.67 percent to P243.763 billion from P303.464 billion in the same period in 2023.

External amortization reached P86.702 billion, higher by 99.77 percent than the P39.002 billion posted in the first two months of 2023.

In terms of interest payments, the national government paid a total of P122.048 billion for the first two months of the year, higher by 50.53 percent from the P81.079 billion recorded in 2023.

Treasury data showed that the state’s domestic and foreign interest payments both posted double-digit growth rates during the January to February period.

The government paid P83.173 billion in domestic interest payments, 71.24

percent higher than it did in 2023 at P48.571 billion.

Meanwhile, foreign interest payments rose by 19.58 percent to P38.875 billion from P32.508 billion in 2023.

Domestic interest payments were composed mainly of interest payments for Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds at P62.602 billion, followed by Retail Treasury Bonds at P11.309 billion, Treasury Bills at P5.861 billion, and others at P3.401 billion.

For February, interest payments decreased by 35.56 percent to P47.827 billion from P74.221 billion in January, with both domestic and external interest payments also declining to P34.350 billion and P13.477 billion, respectively. Amortization payments in February, meanwhile, went down by 28.68 percent to P243.625 billion from P341.605 billion in January.

Domestic amortization rose to P243.487 billion from P138 million in January this year, while external amortization shrunk by 97.44 percent from P84.539 billion to P2.163 billion in February.

Last year, the state reported a total of P1.603 trillion in debt payments, with amortization at P975.278 billion outpacing interest payments at P628.333 billion.

Debt service in 2023 rose by 23.97 percent to P1.603 trillion compared to the P1.293 trillion total recorded in the previous year.

DOF urged: Stop borrowing as debt crisis ‘worsening’

DEVELOPING countries, such as the Philippines, tend to rely on financial assistance from international and multilateral financial institutions to fund their programs and projects through loans.

Activists protested outside the Department of Finance (DOF) on Friday to urge the national government to halt its borrowings from these institutions as this places developing countries in a “worsening debt crisis.”

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, who is currently in Washington, DC, for the World Bank-International Monetary Fund (WB-IMF) Spring Meetings from April 15 to April 21, has secured the WB’s support in the government’s digitalization program to enhance tax administration as well as assist in the areas of energy, agriculture, and investments in human capital.

The Spring Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the IMF and the WB Group gather central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss the world economic outlook, poverty eradication,

economic development, and aid effectiveness.

Flora Asiddao-Santos, national president of the women’s group Oriang, said that as the national government’s debt balloons from its continuous borrowings, its payments of debt are also nonstop.

Oriang, together with activists from the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), and others, urged the government to “cancel” these loans arguing that it uses its funds to pay for its debts instead of allotting budget for public service.

“Walang serbisyo na nararamdaman ang mga mahihirap nating mga kakabayan. Bayad nang bayad [ng utang ang gobyerno] pero hindi naman napupunta sa tao [There is no public service that can be felt by the poor. The government keeps on paying its debt but it does not go to the people],” Asiddao-Santos told the BusinessMirror on the rally’s sidelines. Recto, who also serves as this year’s Chair of the Board of Governors at the Intergovernmental Group of TwentyFour (G-24), appealed to the World Bank, IMF, and other financial insti-

tutions to “intensify” their efforts in assisting developing countries to alleviate the factors threatening their economic growth.

“We call on the international financial institutions to develop more innovative and responsive financing solutions that will help us sustain productivity, enhance long-term growth prospects, and increase resilience to economic shocks,” the Finance chief said in the G-24 Ministerial Meeting on April 16.

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 lowincome nations.

Asiddao-Santos appealed to Recto and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., to stop securing loans from the IMF-WB and instead prioritize funding public services, particularly education, health, and livelihood.

“The revenues the country generates go to interest payments for the IMF-WB. They are already rich. Why are we putting them first?” AsiddaoSantos noted, adding that the government must think of ways to generate funds instead of relying on borrowing

from external sources. The national government’s outstanding debt as of end-February this year reached a new record high of P15.178 trillion, up by 10.37 percent from the P13.752 trillion reported in the same month last year, according to the Bureau of the Treasury.

The bulk of the total debt stock is domestic debt at 69.68 percent or P10.576 trillion, while 30.32 percent or P4.602 trillion is external debt.

Last year, the government borrowed a total of P2.193 trillion due to a narrower budget deficit, 75 percent of the amount would come from the local debt market, while 25 percent will be borrowed externally.

A total of P559.035 billion, or 25.49 percent of the 2023 borrowings, was borrowed externally. Of which, P204.279 billion was borrowed through program loans.

As of end-January, the government paid P74.221 billion for interest payments. Of which, interest payments to external entities amounted to P25.398 billion.

Debt service in 2023 rose by 23.97 percent to P1.603 trillion compared to the P1.293 trillion total recorded in the previous year. Reine Juvierre Alberto

Climate activists aren’t just young people: Dispelling 3 big myths for Earth Day

By Dana R. Fisher, American University The Conversation

Earth Day is april 22, 2024, and climate activists around the world are planning rallies and other events to draw attention to the growing threats posed by climate change.

Many of these demonstrations will focus on what humanity can do to stop fueling the damage. But while activists are amplifying the dire findings from scientists, you’ll likely see fossil fuel supporters attacking them on social media and TV. It’s easy to get caught up in the myths about climate activism, particularly in today’s polarized political environment. So, let’s take a moment to explore the truth about three of the big myths being told about climate activism and the climate movement today.

Myth 1: Climate activists are just young people

The media tends to focus most of its attention on young people in the climate movement, including those inspired by Greta Thunberg’s school strikes for climate, the international Fridays for Future, or the Sunrise Movement, which focuses on US climate action.

Nevertheless, a substantial proportion of the active climate movement today is made up of older adults, including those called “climate grannies” and the “rocking chair rebellion.”

Just as young people have outspoken climate leaders, many of these older activists were inspired to get involved by longtime activists such as Jane Fonda and Bill McKibben and the group McKibben started specifically to mobilize older Americans: ThirdAct. As my research has found, these more mature activists cut their teeth in the civil rights and anti-war movements, along with earlier waves of the environmental movement.

Over the past 25 years, I have surveyed numerous waves of activists participating in demonstrations and protests to understand who they are and what motivates them to participate in activism. My new book, Saving Ourselves: From Climate

Earth

Day:

MShocks to Climate Action, brings these findings together to understand how the climate movement has evolved along with the climate crisis.

When I surveyed participants at the March to e nd Fossil Fuels, which drew 75,000 people in New York City in September 2023, a quarter of the crowd was 53 years old or older. At a much smaller demonstration that targeted the White h ouse Correspondents’ Association dinner in April 2023, I found the average age of the activists was 52, and a quarter of them were 69 or older.

Myth 2: Climate activists mostly do things like throw soup and disrupt events

Wh I le the activists engaging in civil disobedience, such as throwing soup on famous paintings or disrupting sports events, get the lion’s share of the media attention, the climate movement includes a wide spectrum of environmentally concerned activists using a broad range of tactics.

Activists are actively working to get climate-concerned candidates elected, pressure corporations to cut their emissions,

encourage schools and municipalities to transition to electric buses, and make front-line communities more resilient to climate shocks, among many other efforts to slow climate change.

Many activists are involved with established organizations, such as 350.org, the e nvironmental Defense Fund and the Citizens’ Climate l obby. Their numbers— e DF alone claims 3 million supporters— and financial strength can give them a powerful voice.

Others participate in less formal groups that make up the radical flank, such as e xtinction Rebellion and Climate Defiance. Although these factions of the movement do not necessarily agree on the path to social change, they share the same mission: to end the climate crisis.

Myth 3: Confrontational climate activism doesn’t work

I N recent months, protesters have thrown soup at the Mona l isa, dumped pink powder on the US Constitution and disrupted a Broadway show, among other events. These confrontational actions are not generally popular, but neither

were the radical tactics of earlier social movements.

In 1961, 61 percent of the US population disapproved of the Freedom Riders, who rode interstate buses into the South to challenge segregation. And 57 percent thought that sit-ins at lunch counters and other locations where Black Americans were refused service hurt the Civil Rights Movement. In hindsight, research has shown how essential those efforts were to the success of the Civil Rights Movement.

Nonviolent civil disobedience in the climate movement also plays an important role in keeping climate change in the media and on people’s minds. e ven though the radical flank of the climate movement is not particularly popular with the general public, there is no evidence that it is turning off other activists in the movement. In fact, there is reason to believe that confrontational acts can help mobilize sympathizers to support more moderate efforts of the climate movement.

When I asked participants at the 2023 March to e nd Fossil Fuels if they supported climate groups doing nonviolent civil

How a senator’s idea more than 50 years ago got people

I ll IONS of people around the world will pause on Monday, at least for a moment, to mark e arth Day. It's an annual event founded by people who hoped to stir activism to clean up and preserve a planet that is now home to some 8 billion humans and assorted trillions of other organisms. h ere are answers to some common questions about e arth Day and how it came to be:

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY?

e arth Day has its roots in growing concern over pollution in the 1960s, when author Rachel Carson's 1962 book “Silent Spring,” about the pesticide DDT and its damaging effects on the food chain, hit bestseller lists and raised awareness about nature's delicate balance.

But it was a senator from Wisconsin, Democrat Gaylord Nelson, who had the idea that would become e arth Day. Nelson had long been concerned about the environment when a massive offshore oil spill sent millions of gallons onto the southern California

disobedience, not one of the respondents reported disapproving of these groups and their actions.

The impact of these activists’ efforts goes well beyond media coverage, too. For example, when President Joe Biden announced his decision to pause approvals of liquefied natural gas exports in January 2024, he mentioned climate activists: “We will heed the calls of young people and frontline communities who are using their voices to demand action from those with the power to act.”

Myths about climate change are often spread to try to slow efforts to deal with climate change and are often funded by fossil fuel interests.

But that isn’t stopping climate activists, who, like the rest of the world, are experiencing climate change and feel a responsibility to speak out.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here : https://theconversation.com/climate-activists-arent-just-young-people-dispelling-3-bigmyths-for-earth-day-225269.

fighting for their planet

coast in 1969. Nelson, after touring the spill site, had the idea of doing a national “teachin” on the environment, similar to teach-ins being held on some college campuses at the time to oppose the war in Vietnam.

Nelson and others, including activist Denis h ayes, worked to expand the idea beyond college campuses, with events all around the country, and came up with the e arth Day name.

WHY WAS APRiL 22 CHOSEN FOR EARTH DAY?

A history of the movement by e arthDay.org, where h ayes remains board chair emeritus, says the date of the first e arth Day—April 22, 1970—was chosen because it fell on a weekday between spring break and final exams and the aim was to attract as many students as possible.

iS EARTH DAY A REAL HOLiDAY?

It’s not a federal holiday. But many groups use the day to put together volunteer events with the environment in mind, such as cleanups of natural areas. You can see a list

of events worldwide, or register your own event, at e arthDay.org.

HAS iT HAD AN iMPACT?

It has. The overwhelming public response to the first e arth Day is credited with adding pressure for the US Congress to do more to address pollution, and it did, passing landmark legislation including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. More broadly, it's seen as the birth of the modern environmental movement. In later years, e arth Day expanded to become a truly global event. It now claims to have motivated action in more than 192 countries.

In 2000, e arth Day began taking aim at climate change, a problem that has grown rapidly more urgent in recent years.

WHATS THE THEME THiS YEAR?

This year's e arth Day is focusing on the threat that plastics pose to our environment, with a call to end all single-use plastic and find replacements for their use so they can quickly be phased down. AP

CAGAYAN DE ORO—The City of Golden Friendship has a glaring lack of male models who have made it big on the national modeling scene. Their last heydays were in the early 2000s when Raphael Kiefer won the local search of the MTV Best Model of the World in 2003, and when Jobo Roa won the Fashion Designers Association of the Philippines’ Bodyshots competition in 2008.

This April, the Oro Fashion Designers Guild (OFDG) is gearing up for Mindanao Fashion Summit (MFS) 2024 in August at the Ayala Centrio Mall. Some of the sought-after models at the annual spectacle are featured in this special shoot.

Alan Roy Sambaan II, Kevin Pong and Kurt Naik are with the Models Association of CDO under top stylist Zoe Botwin, while Kelly Barro is with the DNA Modeling Agency under visionary director Dennis N. Almazan.

KELLY BARRO

“I PRIORITIZE comfort over conformity, adhering to my own unique style rather than following trends,” Kelly Jones V. Barro, 19, says of his personal fashion sense. A first-year BS Electrical Engineering student at Xavier University, Kelly was a reluctant model.

“My sister is affiliated with the DNA Model Agency, and despite my reserved nature my mother urged me to consider modeling as well. When members from DNA visited my sister, I stayed hidden in my room,” he recalled, sharing that he was more into basketball, video games, and reading comics.

Secretly, however, Kelly harbored a desire to pursue modeling: “I made a silent vow that one day I would be a part of their agency. Summoning courage, I took a chance and participated in their go-see. Fortunately, I was selected as one of their new recruits.”

One of the standout moments in his modeling journey was his inaugural project, a fashion show: “Stepping onto the stage, I lacked any prior workshop or experience, yet I confidently strutted forward, embracing the challenge wholeheartedly.”

Kelly is an exquisite mix of Spanish, Chinese and Filipino blood. Though he’s blessed with that rare star quality, he doesn’t derive any enjoyment from joining pageants: “I participated in two school pageants solely to fulfill my academic requirements, as my personal interest lies elsewhere. But from my experience, I learned that lack of passion inevitably leads to failure in whatever endeavor you pursue.”

Does he have plans of modeling at the national level?

“At present, I have no intentions of pursuing modeling at the national level as my priority is to focus on my studies. Pursuing engineering demands dedicated time and commitment to studying.”

KURT NAIK

HAVING rock-star sex appeal and an engaging personality, Kurt Naik, 23, is made for reality TV. He was discovered while he was serving as an usher at a beauty pageant. He then appeared at a series of shows at the MFS.

“What I learned about myself from my modeling

and to always be kind,” Kurt intimated.

“I like every OFDG member because I respect the passion that they have in making each of their pieces for their collections,” noted the incoming business administration student at Liceo de Cagayan University.

“I don’t really have a personal favorite brand and the one that I actually have and wear is H&M,” Kurt said, adding that boxing, basketball and playing the

Does he have plans of modeling at the national level? “Yes, since it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

KEVIN PONG

AT only 18 years old, Kevin James P. Pong has already racked up four years of modeling experience. As the male muse of OFDG president Mark Christopher Yaranon, he is a constant fixture at MFS.

With matinee-idol good looks, Kevin is a natural for runway shows, fashion editorials and commercial shoots.

“My confidence got boosted because of ramp modeling. Now, I know how to style and play with clothes,” says the first-year tourism management student at Liceo de Cagayan University.

Designers Gil Macaibay III and Juniel Doring are also his local favorites and citing Dsquared2, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Maison Margiela, Doc Martens, Uniqlo, Chrome Hearts, Adidas, Doc Martens, Uniqlo, H&M, and Nike as his foreign preferences.

Does he have plans of modeling at the national level?

“Yes, in the sense that I’ll do editorials and runways for known brands and companies i.e. Vogue PH, Preview, Scoutmag, etc. I want to proceed to the national level because I believe I have what it takes.”

ALAN ROY SAMBAAN II

KNOWN as Bogart, the 21-year-old BS Entertainment and Multimedia Computing 2 student at Xavier University is currently competing at Mister Island Tourism Philippines 2024 in Cebu City.

“I started modeling when I was 15 years old when Sir Zoe Botwin picked me to join a summer fashion show for SM Downtown Premier,” shared Bogart, whose other interests are volleyball, basketball, playing instruments, singing, dancing, sketching, digital art and painting.

“I would probably say the MFS shows are some of the most important I’ve done. My favorite outfits are made by the OFDG members as well as from Uniqlo, H&M, Levi’s, Adidas, and Smyth.” For pageantry, Bogart was a semifinalist at Mister International Philippines 2023: “The overall experience helped me understand and know myself better, which then led me to take better care of myself and being more confident with who I am, and inspiring me to do my best to become the person I aim to be.” Does he have plans of modeling at the national level? “I do. I aim for the best, and I believe it will lead me to more opportunities.” ■

GROOMING: For Kelly, Kevin and Kurt by Steph Balabat; for Alan Roy by Bryan Edulan Alingaro

CLUBWEAR: Mark Christopher Yaranon

LOCATION: Chamen Resort, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro; special thanks to Anito de la Calzado and Menchu Chupuico Dy

Hello Glow crowns Top 6 finalists in Miss Universe Philippines runway show

MISS Universe Philippines 2024 hopefuls recently took centerstage at SM North Edsa The Block for the Hello Glow x Miss Universe Philippines Runway Show. All 53 candidates strutted their stuff, vying not only for the national crown but also for a chance to be named Miss Hello Glow.

A panel of esteemed judges, namely Miss Universe 2012 1st Runner-Up Janine Tugonon, Smart head of strategy Edson Guido, and Doctor of Veterinary Science, pageant expert and cruelty-free and clean beauty advocate Dr. Demiee Sy, narrowed down the competition by selecting the Top 5 Miss Hello Glow finalists based on the candidates’ overall appearance, runway performance and stage presence. Social media played a role in the selection. Fans actively participated in a separate contest, propelling Miss Lucban Rikki dela Pena to the top spot as the People’s Choice with a whopping 109,179 likes on her Hello Glow Instagram entry.

After combining the judges’ scores and the social media winner, Hello Glow revealed the Top 6 Miss

Hello Glow finalists; Miss Quezon Province Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, Miss Iloilo Alexie Brooks, Miss Pampanga Cyrille Payumo, Miss Baguio Tarah Valencia, Miss Bacoor Victoria Velasquez Vincent, and Miss Lucban Rikki Dela Pena (Fan Vote).

Each finalist received a cash prize of P10,000. But the journey doesn’t end there, as two most coveted

Filipino beauty brand invites public to talk via a billboard

YEARS ago, a real estate company used the name of a certain Olivia for one of its campaigns. Everyone thought it was about Isabel Oli, who played Olivia in a Max’s commercial opposite Piolo Pascual.

In 2019, Jeffree Star unveiled a billboard for his Jeffree Star Cosmetics Jawbreaker Palette.

In 2023, Dove launched a billboard made out of syringes to call out toxic beauty standards. Apparently, tens of thousand of Canadian teens aged 14 to 17 have had injectable cosmetic treatments.

Haircare brand Redken unveiled a billboard that involved scanning a giant QR code, which launches a

web app and encourages the users to take selfies. The selfies then get pushed to the display and appear in the content.

Recently, a billboard with the words, “’Wag na tayo mag break, please. Love, D,” was seen along C5 in Quezon City. Later, it was revealed to be part of a creative marketing campaign orchestrated by Dermorepubliq, a Filipino-owned skincare brand.

Dermorepubliq disclosed the inspiration behind the billboard and invited the public to discover the story behind the mystery. “We understand the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies acne breakouts, and we refuse to let anyone face it alone,” saidKeith Sta. Barbara, Dermorepubliq’s chief executive officer. “’Wag na tayo mag-break, please’ is our way of letting Filipinos know that we stand with them in their journey towards clearer, healthier skin.”

Following the teaser last March, Dermorepubliq’s subsequent billboard message on April 9, “Sabi ni D, break out no more,” serves as an empowering revelation as Dermorepubliq aims to inspire individuals to embrace their unique beauty and overcome any insecurities they may have.

“At Dermorepubliq, we believe in empowering

individuals to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin,” said Sta. Barbara. “Our billboard campaign is a testament to our commitment to self-love, acceptance and empowerment.”

Dermorepubliq exhorts the public to join the discussion and share their thoughts and experiences with the hashtag #SabiNiDermoRepubliq.

Dermorepubliq is a popular TikTok Shop skincare brands known for its essential science-based formulations tailored for men and women aged 18 to 35. Dermorepubliq has 21 skincare products tailored to diverse skin needs and concerns.

Stay connected with Dermorepubliq at www.dermorepubliq.com and on social media for more updates and exclusive content.

REVIEWS: CYNOS SHAMPOOS

I RECENTLY got to try a shampoo (Intense Repair) from CYNOS and got reacquainted with

will be chosen from this shortlisted group. The grand reveal will take place on May 22, 2024, during the Miss Universe Philippines 2024 Coronation Night at the Mall of Asia Arena. The winners of these two major titles will walk away with P50,000 each.

FOR the second year running, the National Book Development Board Philippines (NBDB) is bringing together publishers, authors, artists, educators, and readers at the country’s biggest traveling book festival.

Taking place at the World Trade Center in Pasay from April 25 to 28, 2024, the PBF is a four-day celebration showcasing the richness of Philippine literature, culture, and arts. This unique book fair integrates education, entertainment, tourism, and shopping into a single family-friendly event.

In addition to the extensive collection of published works and titles from the Philippines, this year’s festival offers a diverse range of talks and workshops.

throughout the four-day festival.

“This year, we have more authors and we bring together the best of Philippine content for the entire family. The country needs more reading spaces that encourage conversation, creation, and collaboration. The Philippine Book Festival is the NBDB’s way of encouraging everyone to join this endeavor to encourage Flipinos to read books because reading is for everyone.” said NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade.

The event is longer this year to give ample time for teachers, librarians, and organizations to research the books they need for their schools. Similar to last year, NBDB is working closely with the Department of Education (DepEd) to train more than 750 book evaluators and procurement officers to scope and evaluate books to purchase for public school libraries and library hubs. Evaluators from all over the country will fly in to source educational books for the students of their regions.

A Feast for the Eyes

The festival brings back its four popular realms: Kid Lit, a land just for children, Komiks, which puts the spotlight on Pinoy komiks, Booktopia, home to an abundance of fiction and non-fiction titles, and Aral Aklat, which is devoted to textbooks and educational materials. There will be a Creators Lab, Main Stage, and Kids-at-Play that highlight exciting talks, activities, and workshops more specific to the interests of readers and fans of those genres.

Panels, puppet shows, storytelling with surprise television and movie celebrities, and live performances are also scheduled

Highlights include “A Day with Gwy Saludes,” featuring an exclusive book signing and meet-and-greet session with the author. Historian and bestselling author Ambeth Ocampo will lead “Ambeth Without the Overcoat,” a book signing session. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts, Ricky Lee, will present “Trip to Quiapo,” while “Dahling Nick: A Tribute to National Artist Nick Joaquin” will honor the renowned writer. Other sessions include “Aklat Para Sa Accla: New Trends in Boys Love and Girls Love,” “Comics Can Change the World” with Patti Ramos, and “Zine-making 101,” a workshop on crafting independently-produced “fanzines” led by Komiket’s Bunny Luz. Attendees can anticipate the comeback of the Rare Book Collection by the National Library of the Philippines, which will feature a new selection of rare manuscripts and facsimiles; the Book Bar–a library of sorts filled with award-winning books; Cosplay Filipiniana, a cosplay competition allowing fans to portray their beloved Philippine literary characters; and Guhit Pambata, an exhibit highlighting the creations of some of our best children’s book illustrators. This year, the PBF will launch the Tabuan Food Hall, wherein guests can feast in between pages.

THE festival will be a feast for the eyes too as it features the designs of talented graphic designer and children’s book illustrators Marc Vincent Soriano, Liza Flores, and Beth Parrocha. Parrocha designed the four realms, finding inspiration in the four major elements: water for Kid Lit; earth for Komiks; fire for Aral Aklat; and air for Booktopia. Each realm has its color as well—pink, purple, yellow, and aqua—to make it easy for guests to figure out which part of the festival they’re in.

“I had fun doing all the visuals. It’s a great opportunity for any artist to be given the whole World Trade Center as a canvas for my art,” Parrocha said.

A Stronger Culture of Reading

THE Philippine Book Festival is part of the National Book Development Board’s effort to promote a culture of reading and develop the publishing industry in the Philippines.

“The Philippine Book Fair is a program that, on the one hand, is about celebrating Philippine culture, but on the other hand, encompasses our agency’s long-term plans: improve access for every Filipino reader, democratize distribution, and enable our publishers and authors to keep producing Philippine books,” said Chairperson Dante Francis Ang II.

The fair is open to the public from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on April 25-28, with no entrance fees. For more information on the Philippine Book Festival and to register for free, visit www.philippinebookfest.com

HOTEL101-FORT the largest hotel in Taguig City in terms of room inventory, with 606 HappyRooms, welcomed the candidates of Miss Philippines Earth 2024 as its Official Residence. Miss Philippines Earth candidates will stay until today before they head to Bukidnon for more activities and for the coronation night on May 11, 2024. Hotel101-Fort Hotel Manager, Sherwinne Cabalang, warmly welcomed the ladies as they experience the hospitality the newly opened hotel provides. “We are delighted to welcome these beautiful, vibrant, and cause-oriented ladies here at Hotel101-Fort and to offer them the comfort and convenience that the hotel provides to all our guests,” he said.

“Our signature HappyRoom is highlighted with beds from Emma Sleep, ensuring guest satisfaction by delivering a better night’s sleep and unbeatable comfort for each and every guest who stays with us,” Cabalang enthused.

Meanwhile, Melissa “Peachy” Veneracion, the Vice President and Project Director of Carousel Productions Inc., the organizer of Miss Philippines Earth, thanked Hotel101 for partnering yet again with Miss Philippines Earth as its official hotel residence

and for supporting its environmental causes.

“We are very happy to once again be partners with Hotel101, experiencing their newest hotel, Hotel101Fort! The delegates are fortunate and pleased to be here because of the exquisite services and facilities, and most especially because of the beautiful and comfortable rooms.”

The Miss Philippines Earth 2024 pageant is the 24th edition of the national competition that advocates for environmental protection. “Our winners, as well as the candidates, are expected to spearhead projects that promote sustainability and encourage people to adopt a lifestyle that prevents further harm to the planet, which aligns with the 101 Stay Green campaign of the Hotel101 Group,” Veneracion added. Hotel101 Group is a subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corporation, which operates Hotel101-Manila and Hotel101-Fort, Injap Tower Hotel in

Fujifilm Philippines supports campaign to end TB

F

UJIFILM Philippines, a global leader in imaging and healthcare technology, has expressed support for the Department of Health (DOH) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in their campaign to end tuberculosis (TB) in the country. DOH data from 2022 show that around 106 Filipinos die every day from TB, a severe lung infection caused by bacteria.

Fujifilm Philippines is dedicated to the fight to end TB by introducing cutting-edge technologies and innovations. One of the critical contributions

Fujifilm has made is providing FDR Xair, a portable X-ray system. This innovative device plays a crucial role in early TB detection by enabling healthcare professionals to conduct rapid and accurate screenings in diverse settings. By deploying portable X-ray systems in areas across the country, Fujifilm is helping bridge healthcare access gaps and improve diagnostic capabilities.

The FDR Xair, well-known for its portability and high image quality, plays a pivotal role in enhancing TB screening efforts, particularly in remote and underserved communities where access to healthcare infrastructure is limited. The FDR Xair, with its portable design and advanced imaging technology, revolutionizes TB screening in remote areas by providing reliable performance, ease of use, and data- driven approaches to TB control.

Fujifilm’s innovative solutions align with the efforts of USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems

Strengthening project, implemented by FHI 360, to reach, cure, and prevent TB in the country using a whole-of-government approach.

Fujifilm Philippines conducted their first Medical Mission and TB screening using their x-ray systems (FDR nano and FDR Go PLUS) in Majayjay Laguna in 2023. The company plans to continue this program annually and utilize FDR Xair. By working closely with affected communities, local healthcare providers, and grassroots organizations, the company ensures that TB interventions are culturally sensitive, equitable, and sustainable.

In light of the global challenge posed by TB, Fujifilm recognizes the necessity of a coordinated, multi-sectoral approach. The company stands in solidarity with governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector to tackle TB head-on, with the shared goal of building a healthier, TB-free future.

Fujifilm Philippines recognizes the urgent need to enhance TB detection capabilities as cases of this infectious disease continue to surge across the country, according to the DOH. As of December 31, 2023, DOH recorded over 600,000 cases of TB, or 549 cases per 100,000 people. This figure is higher than that of 2022, with 439 cases per 100,000 people. Despite its lethality, TB can be cured through free medication provided at TB DOTS clinics nationwide, where patients undergo a six-month treatment regimen without interruption.

Creating ConneCtions through arts and Culture

FROM the founding father of Public Relations, Edwards Bernays who authored the book “Crystallizing Public Opinion” in 1923 to modern PR practitioners, relationship-building has been a core principle of successful communication strategies for over a century.

Now more than ever, PR professionals acknowledge that building meaningful relationships with your public is pivotal. One of the ways to achieve a robust connection with stakeholders is harnessing the soft power of arts and culture. Maintaining this well-established bond can be had by channeling both arts and culture’s magic to create special moments for people, connect individuals, communicate messages, shape beliefs, and renew interest in aesthetic experiences.

At Far Eastern University, the commitment to promoting art appreciation extends beyond its physical structures and artworks. With the establishment of the FEU Center of the Arts (FCA) in 1990, it endeavored to serve as a hub for Filipino arts

David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Bullet

and culture among students and the wider community through various programs encompassing the performing arts, visual arts, cinematic arts, campus tours, and heritage walks. The FCA strives to keep Filipino arts and culture alive and thriving.

Lifting the words of former FEU president Michael M. Alba from the book “Silanganan,” the public will have “a spirit ennobled by art, a rediscovered sense of country, and history, burnished pride in the Filipino, and a better and deeper appreciation of holistic Filipino education, and a university’s role in the life of the nation.”

FEU opens its Manila campus to the community for art appreciation tours, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the “national treasure that the FEU campus is.” Pre-registration is required for these tours, which are available on Wednesdays and by appointment.

FEU’s initiatives reflect its institutional principles and align with global goals for sustainable cities and communities. By safeguarding Filipino memory and advancing cultural

brand new foundation. At the same time, the action-romcom hybrid is also a much-welcome love letter to Hollywood’s greatest heroes: stuntmen. Ryan Gosling plays Colt Seaver, a stuntman at the top of his game until a shocking accident puts him out of commission. The event causes him to withdraw not just from the job, but also from his girlfriend, camera operator Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). After a year of laying low, Colt resurfaces to take on his first stunt job since the incident, but gets way more than he wanted when he gets pulled into a conspiracy involving a missing actor, drug-induced hallucinations, and a dog with a talent for biting crotches.

With David Leitch, the quality of the action is a given; not only has he helmed some of the most well-regarded action flicks in recent years, he’s also the executive producer of the John Wick series. His vision for fight choreography and breathtaking stunts is unmatched, and the action scenes in this film hum with a rhythm that never loses a beat in engaging its audience.

But surprisingly, where The Fall Guy also excels is in the strength of its romance. Ryan and Emily have tremendous chemistry (honestly, who doesn’t have amazing chemistry with Ryan Gosling?), but it’s David’s creative choices that make

appreciation, FEU contributes to enriching society and preserving national identity.

In 2005, FEU’s five art deco buildings were granted the Unesco Asia-Pacific Honorable Mention Heritage Award. Recently, FEU received prestigious recognition from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as six of its buildings were declared National Cultural Treasures, another distinction that underscores the university's commitment to preserving Filipino heritage. The designation, conveyed through Museum Declaration-1-2018 by the NCCA, marks a significant milestone for FEU. The buildings include the Nicanor Reyes Sr. Hall, Administration Building, Admissions Building, Architecture and Fine Arts Building, Science Building, and the FEU Chapel. Each of these structures serves as a

their relationship feel so real. The movie is littered with small, quiet moments of emotional honesty between its two leads, creating genuine kilig without straying into cheesy territory. And when paired with such organically delivered comedy, it’s hard not to imagine the likes of Nora Ephron or Nancy Meyers shooting these scenes exactly the way David Leitch did. It certainly helps that the movie has such a strong cast of characters to play with. Hannah Waddingham is absolutely delicious as film producer Gail, who appears to be the kind of person Ted Lasso’s Rebecca would have been if she’d stayed with her cutthroat ex-husband. Aaron Taylor-Johnson is spot-on

testament to FEU's rich history and contributes to the nation's architectural tapestry.

FEU’s status as a living museum is further embellished by its collection of artworks that depict important aspects of Philippine history and culture. The “Mosaic of Our Lady of Fatima” by National Artist for Visual Arts Vicente Manansala is on the façade of the FEU Chapel. Entering its hallowed sanctuary, visitors are greeted by the masterpieces of National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong” Francisco, including the “Stations of the Cross” and “The Crucified Christ.” A fourth artwork by Botong that was also declared a National Cultural Treasure is his Fluvial Festival which hangs in FEU's Administration Building. Other National Cultural Treasures in the Administration Building are the “bas reliefs” of Italian artist

as Tom, the narcissistic lead of The Fall Guy’s film-within-a-film, while Winston Duke is utterly endearing as Colt’s film-obsessed best friend. One small knock on the cast is Stephanie Hsu, who is severely underutilized as Tom’s long-suffering personal assistant; with such limited screen time, Stephanie’s performance mostly sticks to notes audiences have seen her hit ad infinitum in previous work.

The most charming quality of The Fall Guy, however, is David’s unabashed appreciation for stuntmen. He makes no effort to hide his respect for the profession, and does well to bring to light several industry issues that these workers have

Francesco Ricardo Monti, which chronicle the different historical eras of the Philippines, “Empowering the Youth through Education,” the country’s largest art deco mural by Antonio Dumlao and his “Sarimanok Triptych” in crushed glass and resin. Overall, arts and culture can connect people, foster emotional confluences, and engage diverse audiences. By integrating arts and culture into a PR strategy, like FEU’s commitment to preserving its timeless cultural and artistic artifacts, organizations can build relationships that are based on shared experiences, values, and a sense of community.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier organization for PR professionals around the world. Rowena Capulong Reyes, PhD is the vice president for Corporate Affairs of Far Eastern University (FEU). She is an executive committee member of the Metro Manila Film Festival 2023 and heads its education committee. She was formerly the Dean of FEU Institute of Arts and Sciences and Colegio de San Juan de Letran. She is the immediate past president of the Philippine Association of Communication Educators (PACE), serving two terms.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.

to deal with. That the end credits are essentially a behind-the-scenes reel that allows viewers to actually see the faces of the stunt doubles as they work is a powerful feelgood moment.

Overall, The Fall Guy sets the standard for any film that aims to marry the action and romcom genres together. It’s equal parts spectacle and romance; levity and authenticity. It’s also one made with a mission worth supporting—greater public recognition for stuntmen—and in a year where adobo Magazine is exploring ways to make our creative industries more sustainable for those who work in them, The Fall Guy comes highly recommended.

The Feu chapel features two life-size mural paintings, “The stations of cross” and “The crucified christ” by national artist for Visual arts carlos “botong” Francisco. FEU M E dia C E nt E r

The nicanor reyes hall Pocket Garden, commonly known as the “smiling Tamaraw Garden,” proudly displays a sculpture of the Feu founder dr. reyes, sr. by Peter de Guzman FEU M E dia C E nt E r

a s T uden T guide explains the modern and unconventional interpretation of bayanihan by Feu alumni artist roberto ko in his artwork “Gintong Pawis.” FEU GU id E s

Levi, Joanie make Paris: Eleven and counting....

By Josef Ramos

and

IT’S now

in Korea with gymnast Levi JungRuivivar, who got herself qualified in Doha on Friday night. Neither was actually on the radar but both turned out as surprise packages to formally and officially make it an 11-athlete Philippine contingent to the Olympics that start in under a hundred days.

“Eleven, formally, and counting,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Sunday morning, adding Team Philippines is actually composed of 15 athletes so far.

Weightlifter Rosegie Ramos is unofficially the 12th Filipino to qualify for Paris pending the International Weightlifting Federation’s official announcement of the roster for the Games. The country is also guaranteed three qualifiers—one in athletics and two in swimming—under the universality rule making the Filipino Olympian count unofficially at 15.

Thai ace focuses sight on victory in ICTSI Luisita tilt

ULTI-TITLED Patcharajutar

MKongkraphan adds to the elite flavor of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Ladies International when the $100,000 championship tees off Tuesday at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

With 20 titles she won worldwide— including victories on the Thailand Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and Epson Tour—the seasoned 32-year-old Thai emerges as one of the top contenders in the tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (PGT). Eager for redemption after missing the title in last year’s ICTSI Anvaya Cove Ladies International, Kongkraphan faces fierce competition from a talented field, including top-ranked TLPGA players No. 2 Yu-Ju Chen, Jo Hua Hung, Yi-Tsen Chou and Chih Yun Wu.

The tournament, sponsored by ICTSI and serving as the third leg of the TLPGA and fourth stop of the LPGT, promises thrilling action over 54 holes.

Local talents, led by Harmie Constantino, however, are poised for battle, aiming to secure victory on home soil.

Constantino, fresh off consecutive victories at Rancho Palos Verdes and Caliraya Springs, seeks to continue her winning streak at the challenging Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course.

Other local contenders are Daniella Uy, the reigning LPGT Order of Merit champion, along with Princess Superal, Chanelle Avaricio, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Mikha Fortuna, Sarah Ababa and rookies Mafy Singson and Lois Kaye Go.

As anticipation builds for the tournament, a select group of pros will engage in the traditional pro-am tournament Monday, offering a glimpse of the competitive spirit and camaraderie that define the sport.

Meanwhile, other top players from Thailand vying in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and supported by official apparel Kampfortis Golf are Wannasiri

“We expect more of our athletes to be in Paris as qualifiers in various sports are still being conducted,” Tolentino said. Also qualified for Paris are pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Erleen Ann Ando and John Febuar Ceniza. A natural athlete having played varsity volleyball for the University of Northeastern Philippines in Iriga City, Delgaco achieved what Tokyo Olympian Cris Nievarez missed at the World Rowing Asian and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification

Regatta and Asian Cup in Chungju. All the 26-year-old Southeast Asian Games gold medalist needed was to finish in the top five of the six-rower final of the 2,000 meters in women’s single sculls.

She finished with enough to spare just outside the podium at fourth place in seven minutes and 49.39 seconds on the artificial Tangeum Lake carved between two dams that wasn’t close to being placid on race day because of the winds. She finished 32 seconds behind the winner, Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Anna Prakaten, a native of Uzbekistan who once competed for Belarus and now racing under the Russian flag.

Japan’s Shiho Yonekawa 7(:35.93) for silver and Iran’s Fatemeh Mojallalltopraghghale (7:37.07) clinched bronze with Vietnam’s Hue Thi Pham (7:53.08) finishing fifth for the last Olympic berth.

Delgaco played school volleyball for four years until she shifted to rowing in 2016—a decision she won’t regret for the rest of her life.

“I played volleyball in the Palarong Pambansa but volleyball is not my world, I found home in rowing and now I’m really happy to qualify for the Olympics,” Delgaco told BusinessMirror via internet call on Sunday.

“Rowing was alien to me when I was a volleyball player and I wanted to play in the Manila leagues,” she said. “When I graduated from high school, I started to focus on rowing and I love it.”

Seoul Olympian Edgardo Macabitas Maerina, trainer and coach of the rowing association headed by Patrick Gregorio, said Delgaco made Philippine rowing history. “Joanie’s the first Filipina to qualify for Olympic rowing,” he said. Nievarez, on the other hand, missed his shot at a second straight Olympics after finishing fifth in the semifinals of the 2,000 meters of men’s singles sculls Saturday.

“Congratulations to our new qualified Olympians,” Tolentino also said in his official Facebook page. “The POC extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for continued success as they compete in Paris 2024, the entire Philippines stands behind you.”

Schoeman, Visser conquer Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu

RIO DE JANEIRO Olympics bronze medalist Henri Schoeman and Els Visser of the Netherlands dominated Sunday’s 70.3 Lapu-Lapu with exhilarating display of endurance and skill in Mactan. Schoeman engaged in a fierce battle with England’s Thomas Bishop and New Zealand’s Sam Osborne in the swim leg in the men’s pro division, while Visser dominated her side of the battle in the opening leg.

The duo sustained their form for wire-to-wire triumphs in the premier category of the 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run race presented by Megaworld The Mactan Newtown.

Each pocketed $5,500 for their remarkable performances.

Barely emerging on top of the swim (24:15), Schoeman established a commanding lead of nearly three minutes over Bishop and Osborne after an impressive bike leg (2:08:48) and enduring the punishing run (1:24:29) in scorching conditions to claim the title in 4:02:31.

Osborne outpaced Bishop in the closing run and took runner-up honors in 4:06:40 with leg times of 25:44. 2:10:44 and 1:25:12, while Bishop settled for third in 4:11:01 with clockings of 25:18, 2:10:54 and 1:29:10.

‘Mondo’ breaks world record anew

Aa record.

The Olympic and two-time world champion proved that with his eighth world record as he surpassed his 6.23 from last September at the Diamond

Sirisampant, Chonlada Chayanun, Onkanok Soisuwan, Nemittra Juntanaket, Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng and Mookharin Ladgratok, all former LPGT leg winners.

League meet in Eugene, Oregon.

“This is my first time in China and it’s exciting to get my season going,” Duplantis said.

Known as Mondo, Duplantis entered the competition at 5.62 meters and cleared 5.82 and 6 meters before attempting the record and clearing it at his first try.

Sam Kendricks placed second at 5.82, followed by Huang Bokai at 5.72.

Ernest John “EJ” Obiena skipped the tournament. AP

Also in the Thai roster are Pakin Kawinpakorn, Kultida Pramphun, Queen Meeson-us, Alisara Wedchakama and Unyong Polnamin.

Happiness for everyone

Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup. Palestine is second in Group I to unbeaten Australia (4-0-0) with a 2-1-1 card. Lebanon, running third, is 0-2-2, while tail-end Bangladesh is 1-3-0.

Since Palestine defeated the Philippines in basketball during the 2015 Fiba Asia Championship in China, I have followed its sports teams. For a team with no nation of its own, no home field to play in and is constantly in the state of war, it is incredible it manage to field a team and unite its people.

Palestine is the one team in the Middle East which

Jung-Ruivivar achieves dream a year after major surgery

months to a year to heal, but for Jung-Ruivivar, it took shorter for her rehabilitation and back to the gym she was and the fruit of her labor came in the form of a ticket to the Paris Olympics from the International Gymnastics Federation Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Qatar.

“I had to work on my Achilles after having both my feet in a cast,” she said. “I never thought I could do this again because it was a pretty major surgery.”

She added: “But I have been gone better as a gymnast because of my determination and drive in my recovery.”

Jung-Ruivivar earned 13.633 points on a 5.8 degree of difficulty to finish behind Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour (15.366), who qualified for Paris as early as last year, and ahead of neutral athlete Alena Tsitavets (13.600).

FILIPINO-AMERICAN Levi Jung-Ruivivar clinched her first medal at the gymnastics World Cup—a silver—in Doha on Friday, exactly a year to the day she underwent a career-threatening bilateral foot surgery.

“Last Friday was the anniversary of my bilateral foot surgery in both heels, I got my bone spurs removed,” Jung-Ruivivar told BusinessMirror in a one-on-one online interview on Sunday.

The demanding training a gymnast undergoes caused those bone spurs that almost cut short the Dallas-based Jung-Ruivivar’s athletic career—she’s a veteran at 17 having competed for the US before embracing her Filipino citizenship.

Bilateral surgeries take four

Jung-Ruivivar clinched the women’s floor exercise silver medal at the International Gymnastics Federation Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha to become the third Filipino gymnast in Paris.

The 17-year-old FilipinoAmerican amassed 13.633 points

Australian Caleb Noble placed fourth in 04:13:47 followed by fellow Aussie Calvin Amos (4:15:19), ChineseTaipei’s Tuan Chun Chang (4:18:42), another Aussie Nathan Dortmann (4:19:05) and the United Arab Emirate’s Luke Mathews (4:21:10).

Denmark’s Daniel Bakkergard, one of the pre-race contenders, didn’t start due to back pains.

In the women’s pro division, Visser finished with a time of 4:21:29, beating Germany’s Anne Reischmann (4:24:39) and Hungary’s Zsanett Bragmayer (4:36:41).

every Arab and Muslim nation cheers for. And my guess is, so much more in the free world.

It isn’t simply sports. Having a national team is a political statement and more so in this ongoing Israel-Hamas War.

When Palestine played Afghanistan, another country that has never seemed to know peace, in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification, the game in itself was a triumph. Palestine won by aggregate, 3-1.

Even in this current climate with a new Cold War having taken front and center, Ukraine’s qualifying for this summer’s European Championship was another bit of good news. And similar to Palestine, Ukraine play its home matches in Poland because of

the ongoing war with Russia. It is incredible how teams like Palestine’s are able to field teams and compete in spite of the trauma they have to go through.

I recall when I corresponded with a Palestinian blogger after its national side defeated the Philippines, 1-nil, in the Asian Cup of 2014, how they compete not just for a win, but for its people who have endured so much. It plays for something bigger than themselves, the blogger explained. It’s not just showing up to be counted or to say, “we’re here.” The Palestines compete to win and bring a sliver of joy no matter how fleeting.

When FIFA finally recognized Palestine in 1998, it was a welcome validation of existence, and of dreams that could come true. Although it has yet to qualify for the FIFA

The podium finish catapulted Jung-Ruivivar from No. 5 with only 32 Olympic qualification points from her performance in three World Cup legs to No. 2 with 62 points, enough to bring her to Paris alongside former world champion and Tokyo Olympian Carlos Yulo and fellow Olympics firsttimer Aleah Finnegan.

“I feel this is the time to go big and strategize with new skills … even I though I’m nervous,” she said. “Everything paid off and this is so sweet because I made it on the same day that I had a surgery last year … so special.”

If she clinched her first World Cup medal, Yulo made good on his word to go for a comeback by clinching gold in parallel bars and silver in vault in the same competition on Saturday night.

But those medals meant less to Yulo’s already achieved Paris goal. “Carlos is not here to win medals but to watch his competitors,” said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines President Cynthia Carrion. Josef Ramos

on a 5.8 difficulty to finish behind Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour (15.366 ) and ahead of neutral athlete Alena Tsitavets (13.600).

The performance allowed JungRuivivar to leapfrog from No. 5 in the qualification table to No. 2 for that Olympic berth.

battle for a slot in the finals on Friday in the same venue.

Umingan National High School from Pangasinan, which also swept its five matches in Pool B, Philippine Christian University, Hermosa (Bataan) and Canossa AcademyLipa disputed the other semifinals pairings late Sunday.

In girls’ play, unbeaten National University (NU) picked up where it left off by trouncing fellow University Athletic Association of the Philippines bet La Salle-Zobel, 25-18, 25-16, 25-17, while La Salle-Lipa defeated Gracel Christian College, 25-14, 25-13, 25-21, to set their own semifinals clash.

NU and La Salle-Lipa joined University of Santo Tomas and Kings’ Montessori School, which arranged the first girls’ semifinals duel after also making short work of Canossa Academy-Lipa and San Juan Institute of Technology-Batangas with threeset victories.

The ongoing quarterfinals are being played under the traditional five-setter formats from the short three-set plays in the group phase featuring 12 teams in each division. Like the quarters, the semifinals and finals are to be disputed in a winor-go-home duel for the prestigious crown of the first youth tourney of the PNVF headed by President Ramon “Tats” Suzara.

World Cup, what an incredible feat that would be if it does. When its national football team reached the knockout stages of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time after its defeated Hong Kong, 3-0, last January, the on field display of emotion was moving. In fact, defender Mohammed Saleh lost some of his family in the ongoing conflict. Added midfielder Mohammed Rashid during an interview at CNN, “I think we needed this joy, this happiness for everyone.” Hopefully, peace as well, as the always volatile region has faced new danger with escalations of conflict between Israel and Iran painting a darker picture for regional and world peace. In the meantime, pardon me, as root for the ultimate underdogs in sport. Here’s to the World Cup.

ANGATLETA Orion’s Joshneil Matula in action against Taytay’s Sabian Rashad Ong and Lazarrus Antonio. R OY D OMINGO

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is ecstatic over the qualification of rower Joanie Delgaco and gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar.

11

counting for Team Philippines to the Paris Olympics after rower Joanie Delgaco made it a 1-2 weekend punch on Sunday morning

ups the ante by an inch.