The more than P100-billion proposal was submitted by Manila International Airport Consortium and US-based Global Infrastructure Partners. The proposal includes a significant upfront payment to the government and committed investments in new facilities and technology to transform the dilapidated NAIA into a world-class airport.
The six conglomerates include Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., Ayala-led AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Lucio Tan’s Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Andrew Tan’s Alliance
SHORT-TERM investments made by foreign investors hit the net outflow territory in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Data showed hot money net outflows reached $309.42 million, with March posting net outflows worth $70 million.
This is the second time this year when the country recorded net outflows. Data showed February’s net outflows amounted to $531.27 million.
“The $1.33-billion gross out -
flows for the month are larger by 9.5 percent [or by $115 million] compared to those recorded in February 2023 [$1.2 billion]. The US received 67.2 percent of total outward remittances,” BSP said.
Hot money investments or foreign investments registered with the BSP through Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) included Philippine Stock Exchange-listed securities and peso-denominated government securities.
The list also included peso time deposits with banks with minimum tenor of 90 days; other Peso debt instruments; unit investment trust funds; and other instruments such as Exchange
Traded Funds and Philippine Depositary Receipts.
The BSP, however, said the $1.26-billion registered investments for the month are higher by 84.7 percent or by $576 million compared to the $680 million recorded in February 2023.
“Majority of investments [or 64.6 percent] registered were in PSE-listed securities [investments mainly in banks, property, holding firms, food, beverage and tobacco and transportation services], while the remaining went to investments in Peso government securities [35.4 percent] and
See “Q1,” A2
Global-Infracorp Development Inc., the Gotianun’s Filinvest Development Corp. and the Gokongweis’ JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp.
“We are ready to put our combined resources forward in partnering with the Government on this massive undertaking. Our consortium brings unrivalled expertise, proven solutions and extensive capital. As the only large-scale operating gateway airport to the Philippines,
See “NAIA,” A2
activity held at FilOil Flying V centre in San juan city on th
Pr E SIDE n t Ferdinand r Marcos jr. witnesses the ceremonial contract signing between the DOtr led by Secretary jaime b b autista (left) and winning bidders of the north-South commuter railway-South commuter contract Packages S-02 and S-03b on thursday, ap ril 27, 2023, at the President’s hall in Malacañang. the P28.2-billion cP S-02, covering 7.9 kms of railway viaduct structure and three stations, was awarded to the joint venture of acciona construction of the Philippines, Inc. and D.M. consunji Inc. the joint venture of leighton contractors (a sia) limited and First b alfour, Inc. secured the P23.3-billion cP S-03b, covering the civil engineering, tunnel and building works for 6.1 kms of railway. Story in Economy, A4 REY BANIQUET/PNA
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
THE Department of Environment and Natural R esources (DENR) has placed environmental damage caused by the Oriental Mindoro oil spill at P7 billion.
This was revealed by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga during an interview in ANC’s Headstart.
Environmentalists have expressed dismay over what they describe as the inadequate response
of the government and the DENR, the agency mandated to manage the country’s natural wealth.
In particular, they want the DENR to come up with a damage assessment of the disaster, d ismayed that the agency was slow even to come up with public pronouncements and update of its ongoing coastal cleanup and damage assessment activities.
The MT Princess Empress sank off the waters of Naujan on February 28, 2023.
See “DENR,” A2
ACONSORTIUM that includes Manuel V. Pangilinan and Japan’s Mitsui is taking private conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., which controls some of the country’s profitable power distribution, water, toll roads and hospital business.
First Pacific Co. Ltd. together with GT Capital Holdings Inc., a consortium including Mitsui and Co. Ltd., and a management investment group led by Pangilinan have launched a tender offer to MPIC shareholders to buy their shares at a price of 4.63 pesos per share.
SIX of the country’s biggest conglomerates have regrouped to create a consortium and submitted an unsolicited proposal to the government to rehabilitate and upgrade the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Continued from A1
the modernization and long-term sustainability of NAIA is a critical development priority for both the country’s public and private sectors,” Kevin Andrew L. Tan, AGI’s chief executive said.
“We submit this proposal united in the belief that our gateway to the world needs to represent the best of who we are as Filipinos. Passing through our international gateway should be a seamless experience.
We want the first thing that locals and foreigners alike see, when they arrive in the Philippines, to be a source of pride for all Filipinos. The consortium is confident that with additional financial resources as well as operating process and technology improvements, NAIA can help achieve that vision,” Filinvest’s CEO Lourdes Josephine Gotianun Yap said.
The group envisions NAIA with the ability to serve up to 62.5 million passengers per annum by 2028, more than double its currently constrained design capacity, which stands at only 31 million passengers for the four terminals.
Prepandemic passenger traffic had already reached 48 million passengers in 2019, underscoring the need to upgrade the airport to meet growing demand.
“We envision a truly world-class airport befitting the beauty of the Philippines: one where congestion, reliability issues, and unpleasant passenger experiences will become things of the past. Domestic and international connectivity are keys to unlock economic growth to take the country to upper middle-income status,” Tan said.
Airports currently and previously owned or operated by members of the consortium include Mactan-Cebu, Clark, London Gatwick, Edinburgh, London City and Sydney airports.
In a statement, the another 35 overseas Filipino workers and 15 students were safely evacuated to Egypt by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
It noted this brings the total number of evacuated Filipinos from Sudan to 409. The bulk or over 300 were transported by the Department
way, with a combined share to total at 86.4 percent.
of Foreign Affairs (DFA) from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum last Wednesday for Egypt via Wadi Halfa Highway, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) reported in a statement.
Another 35 overseas Filipino workers and 15 students were safely evacuated to Egypt by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), PCO said.
It noted this brings the total number of evacuated Filipinos from Sudan to 409.
PCO said DMW Secretary Susan V. Ople and Undersecretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac
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in other instruments [less than 1 percent],” BSP said.
Listed as the top five investor countries for the month were the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Luxembourg and Nor -
Year-on-year, registered investments in March 2023 are lower than the $1.28 billion recorded in March 2022 (by 1.7 percent or by $22 million), while gross outflows are lower by 16.2 percent (or by $257 million) vis-à-vis the gross outflows recorded for March 2022 ($ 1.6 billion).
“The $70-million net outflows in March 2023 is an improvement from the $305-million net outflows recorded for the same period a year ago,” BSP said.
The registration of inward foreign investments delegated to AABs by the BSP is optional under the rules on foreign exchange (FX) transactions.
It is required only if the investor or its representative
will be in Cairo, Egypt to provide aid to the evacuated Filipinos.
The Department of National Defense (DND) also said it is ready to extend aid to the DFA in the ongoing evacuation efforts in Sudan.
On Wednesday, DFA hoisted an Alert Level 3 or the voluntary evacuation phase after clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted last April 15.
The ongoing armed conflict has led to the deaths of 459 people and injured 4,072 others.
will purchase FX from AABs and/or their subsidiary/affiliate foreign exchange corporations for repatriation of capital and remittance of earnings that accrue on the registered investment.
Without such registration, the foreign investor can still repatriate capital and remit earnings on its investment, but the FX will have to be sourced outside the banking system.
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It was carrying 900,000 liters of industrial oil that continue to spread in various coastal towns in the M imaropa, particularly Oriental Mindoro, and the Western Visayas Region.
The estimate was based on “what could be exposed by way of coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves and f isheries,” the DENR chief was quoted in a statement.
“The possible exposure area for us is P7 billion,” Loyzaga said, referring to the initial estimated cost of the environmental damage caused by the oil spill.
However, she said the DENR would need to “actually go underneath and v erify” once it is safe to dive in waters severely affected by the oil spill.
“ We’re not allowed to fish in the area. We’re also not allowed to dive yet, but we want to do that immediately because we want t o observe what the physical impacts are,” Loyzaga p ointed out.
“What we have to do now is verify on the ground how much of these reefs have actually been touched, how many of the mangroves have actually been destroyed, and how many of the seagrasses have actually been affected,” she added.
D uring the interview, the apparently defensive Loyzaga explained the role of the DENR in the “wholeof-government” response to the oil spill disaster.
“The DENR is responsible for offshore and nearshore contamination and impacts,” Loyzaga explained.
The general operation is legally under the
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The tender offer price takes into consideration the voluntary delisting rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange and represents a premium of 22 percent over the 12-months volume-weighted average trading price of MPIC on the PSE.
MPIC shares were suspended for trading at the PSE for a day.
The transaction also brings in a strategic partner, Mitsui, which the company said creates potential growth and expansion opportunities to MPIC through their operational expertise in various sectors.
“Mitsui’s leading capabilities and expertise in the global infrastructure business will further contribute to solidifying MPIC’s unparalleled offerings and position in the Philippines. First Pacific and GT Capital warmly welcome the long-term value and synergies offered by the strategic partnership with Mitsui,” the companies said.
The bidders said they feel that the value of MPIC’s core investments in infrastructure in the Philippines has not been fully reflected in the company’s share price for some time.
BDO Securities has placed a target price on MPIC at P5.60, while Maybank Securities placed a price at P6.20 per share.
MPIC shares, however, were stuck at more than P4 per share—at a 52-week high of P4.62 and 52-week low of P3.14 per share. MPIC was last traded at P4.26 per share.
“The tender offer and successful delisting will allow MPIC’s minority shareholders to realize a significant premium over historical share prices of MPIC. At the same time, a delisted MPIC will be better aligned with the objectives of the bidders to continue investing in longterm infrastructure projects supporting sustainable economic growth in the Philippines,” it said.
Under the tender offer, First Pacific, through its Philippine affiliate Metro Pacific Holdings Inc., would spend approximately $90 million to increase its stake in MPIC by as much as 3.8 percent, using internal financial resources. MPHI owns 46.1 percent of MPIC.
d irection of the Philippine Coast Guard [PCG]. S o they are onsite right where the source is happening. We are left to actually work on the forensics, what is happening, w here the hazards going, what will be affected, and our area is nearshore and offshore.”
Loyzaga said the DENR was first on the scene as soon as the news about the oil spill broke out. The DENR chief said that on Day One, she was already meeting with Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor and had a technical meeting with PCG and o ther agencies involved in the oil spill response.
On Day Two, Loyzaga said the DENR teams were already on the ground testing the water and air in oil s pill-hit areas.
“Day Three, we deployed the mapping ship of NAMRIA. Why? Nobody could say where the ship had sunk and we didn’t have a remotely operated vessel, so we sent the mapping ship we used to map t he Philippine Rise to actually identify where the s hip was underneath the water,” she narrated. She said that from the third to fifth day, the DENR was already coordinating with the University o f the Philippines-Marine Science Institute, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the D epartment of Labor and Employment, the Department of Tourism, and the p rivate sector.
“Every step of the way, we actually reported to the President,” Loyzaga added.
GT Capital would increase its stake to a maximum of 20 percent from the current 17.1 percent by paying some $70 million in the transaction for the residual 2.9 percent, funded through internal cash.
Mit-Pacific Infrastructure Holdings Corp., a joint venture of Mitsui and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development, would buy up to 20 percent of MPIC under the tender offer, becoming a shareholder for the first time.
The management investment group of Pangilinan would buy up to 10 percent.
“Participation of the management investment group is expected to closely align the interests of management with shareholders of the newly private MPIC,” it said.
The tender offer values MPIC at P133 billion in equity value, while the transaction costs about P48.4 billion.
“We envision this transaction will release value in MPIC for the benefit of our shareholders and we look forward to working with our partners in MPIC for the long term, undistracted by the need to focus on short-term—often quarterly—goals that public ownership often imposes,” said First Pacific executive director Christopher H. Young.
“We are pleased to participate in this tender offer to increase our current stake in Metro Pacific. This further diversifies GT Capital’s core portfolio. Our participation aligns with our mission of creating further value for our stakeholders and contributing to nation-building,”
GT Capital CFO Francisco H. Suarez Jr.
MPIC owns 47.5 percent of Manila Electric Co., 99.9 percent of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., 52.8 percent of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and 20 percent of Metro Pacific Health Corp.
“By combining MPIC's business foundation with Mitsui's long-standing capabilities and experience in the global infrastructure business, we will contribute to the energy transition in the Philippines. In addition, we will support MPIC’s business development and create collaborative projects by leveraging our comprehensive capabilities in the digital field and other areas, thereby enhancing MPIC’s corporate value,” Takehiko Ainoya, Mitsui’s general manager of Division I (Asia), Infrastructure Projects Business Unit, said. VG Cabuag
TOP officials of the Philippine Army (PA) and the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) vowed to bolster bilateral ties during a visit of delegates from the latter at the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
P olicy and Plans Department (G5) Director General Maj. Gen. Norimichi Shirakawa led JGSDF delegates in a courtesy call on Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. prior to a conference between the top brass of the PA and their Japanese counterpart. Brawner and JGSDF Chief of Staff Gen. Yasunori Morishita, who is in Japan, then discussed sustaining and bolstering Army-to-Army ties through video-teleconferencing.
D uring the meeting, the two leaders emphasized the strong strategic partnership between the two ground forces.
They also talked about advancing the bilateral cooperation between PA and JGSDF,” Army
Spokesman Col. Xerxes A. Trinidad said adding the cooperation is anchored on the trilateral Terms of Reference signed by representatives of the PA, Philippine Marine Corps and the JGSDF in September last year.
Awarding
MEANWHILE, members of the Army Artillery Regiment (AAR) were awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara by the United States Field Artillery Association during the Combined Joint Littoral Live Fire Exercise as part of the “PHL-US Combined Exercise Balikatan 38-2023” on April 27, 2023 at the Naval Training Base, San Antonio, Zambales. US Army Pacific 25th Division
Artillery Commander Col. Joseph A. Katz, together with Lt. Col. Timothy B. Lynch, donned the medallions to the awardees.
T he three Saint Barbara recipients were: AAR Commander Brig. Gen. Francis Anthony M. Coronel; AAR Chief of Staff Col. Archie A. Ares; and, AAR Assistant Chief of Staff for Education and Training (G8) Lt. Col. Tara V. Cayton.
“ MECO-ATN [Assistance to Nationals Section] and MWO [Migrant Workers Office] are in close coordination with police authorities regarding the incident and investigation, and the swift repatriation of the remains of those who died,” the former labor secretary said.
He said the MECO will ask the employer to release the benefits and other assistance due to the victims under the existing laws of Taiwan, which includes survivor benefits under the labor insurance of law of Taiwan and death benefits.
bon monoxide poisoning, and are currently undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
In a statement issued last Thursday, Bello expressed condolences to the families of Renato Larua of Cavite, Nancy Revilla of Marinduque and Aroma Miranda of Tarlac.
“My heart goes out to them in their hour of extreme sorrow,” the MECO chief said.
T he three were killed in a fire that broke out at the second floor of a factory by Lian-Hwa Foods Corp.
in Changhua county, central part of Taiwan, last Tuesday.
Five other Filipino workers— Sheila May Abas, Jessie Boy Samson, Maricris Fernando, Rodel Uttao and Santiago Suba Jr.—have been declared out of danger but are still under observation in different hospitals, the MECO said. Bello said families of all the fatalities and the injured have been informed.
In addition to the benefits due from the employer of the victims, Bello said they are also entitled to benefits from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. These benefits include death benefit (P200,000 or $3,590.50 at current exchange rates), burial benefit (P20,000 or $359.05), education and livelihood assistance and training for members of the families and compulsory insurance.
Bello said he visited the five survivors who have suffered severe car-
As of press time and per attending nurse feedback, he said four of them are already conscious, stable and recovering well but there is still concern regarding the condition of Fernando. “She is still in ICU and has not yet regained consciousness. During our visit, she is undergoing dialysis,” Bello said. “Per attending ICU nurse, her urine discharge is very minimal, thus the need for dialysis. Company President of Lian-Hwa checked on her yesterday [Wednesday].” Bello, meanwhile, said his office is preparing to release P5,000 to the victims to help in their personal expenses.
“[The] OWWA is also coordinating with the TMA [Taiwan Manpower Agency] and the employer for the necessary documentary requirement for the available benefits. MECO Taichung is also onboard for the shipment of remains,” the MECO chief added.
CAVITE CITY—Around 1,000 families have been displaced by a fire that razed a residential area in Barangay 22-A, 22M and 28, Quadra, Cavite City, on Wednesday, April 26.
T he Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)
Cavite City said the fire broke out at 1:32 p.m. and reached the third alarm at 1:43 p.m. It was placed under control by 5:22 p.m. and declared fire out at 10:37 p.m.
According to Mayor Denver Christopher R. Chua, the displaced families are now in the Ladislao Diwa Elementary School (LDES) and the Biblical Church of Christ serving as temporary shelters. Chua said the victims are being provided with food, water, bedding and hygiene kits. The mayor said new portable toilets have also been installed for the evacuees.
T he City Health Office under Dr. Lino Antonio S. Barron said its staff has set up a mobile clinic with on-duty doctors and nurses to address the evacuees’ health concerns. Chua said the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) is managing the
meals of each family.
T he mayor said he also tapped the office of the Vice Mayor to be the in-charge of the donation drive. He also thanked the Philippine Air Force, for helping dropping water at the fire site, and all the fire volunteers, for responding to this fire incident.
C lasses at the LDES have been temporarily suspended until further notice, Chua said.
According to the report gathered by the CSWD, a total of 6,622 families were affected by the fire.
T he CSWD added that 609 families or 1,998 individuals are at the school while two families composed of 13 individuals are at the church. About ten families composed of 16 individuals were recorded to have opted to stay with relatives.
T he office of Congressman Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III of the First District of Cavite said the lawmaker promised food packs and immediate financial assistance to the affected families during a meeting called by the local chief executive.
AMID the reported rise in Covid-19 cases, Jose Maria A. Concepcion III said alert levels are “no longer necessary” as there is “little evidence” the variant that is currently circulating is a cause for concern. The question we should be asking is why are we still implementing this alert level
system when we are no longer under a State of Public Health Emergency?” Concepcion, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship in the Duterte administration, said through a statement he issued last Thursday. Concepcion also flagged the lack of alert mechanism when there’s a rise in dengue cases. We [only] warn the public and increase awareness so that they will be more careful.”
SILVESTRE H. BELLO III, head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan, assured the families of three Filipino workers, who died in a fire incident in a food factory, that they will receive benefits not only from the Philippine government but also from Taiwan.
THE House Special Commit-
tee on Land Use on Thursday approved the proposed National Land Use (NLU) Act of the Philippines.
Committee Chairman Rep. Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas II (Surigao del Norte, First District) said the substitute bill is the consolidated version of 19 house bills.
T he unnumbered substitute bill was approved after the endorsement of a technical working group (TWG) headed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna “Ria” V. Vergara.
This [bill] is the product of several TWG sessions and the consideration of the position papers and comments submitted to the TWG by some committee members and various government agencies and stakeholders,” Vergara said.
We all know that our country is blessed with abundant natural resources and diverse landscapes, but these resources are not always used in the best way. This important legislation is a critical step toward achieving sustainable development in our country,” she added.
The proposed NLU Act is included in the priority bills of the LegislativeExecutive Development Advisory Council (Ledac).
According to Vergara, the consolidated version adopted and harmonized the common provisions in the various House bills calling for the establishment of a NLU Council (NLUC) and similar councils at the regional, provincial, and city or municipal level.
Further amplify
VERGARA said that during the TWG sessions, the participants agreed to further amplify provisions by creating the NLUC as a Commission under the Office of the President and creating the positions of NLUC Commissioner with the rank of Cabinet Secretary who shall act as NLUC chairman and two Deputy Commissioners with the rank of Undersecretary.
A lso, Vergara said they recommended naming the director of the Environmental, Land Use and Urban Planning and Development Bureau of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) as the Executive Director of the NLU Office (NLUO). The latter shall serve as the technical secretariat to the NLUC, Vergara explained.
She added they also included in the bill the creation of Regional Land Use Offices, or “RLUOs.”
“These were introduced to empower the NLUC in light of the magnitude of the powers and functions granted to it under the pro -
posed legislation and enable it to properly coordinate with the lowerlevel land use councils,” the lawmaker explained.
VERGARA said the various House bills provide specific provisions dealing with the so-called “Special Areas of Concern” (SAC). The SAC were identified as: forestlands and watersheds; coastal zones; settlements development; National Integrated Protected Areas System sites; agricultural lands; energy resources; industrial development areas; tourism development areas; and, infrastructure development.
These provisions were adopted in this consolidated bill with some revisions based on the inputs given by the different agencies with expertise on these fields or with mandates to protect the interest of the marginalized sectors including the indigenous peoples and cultural communities,” Vergara said.
In addition to these areas, the lawmaker said the TWG added agroindustrial development as an area of special concern.
T he lawmaker said this new area was added in line with government’s goal of “food security.”
This provision calls for the consolidation of small-scale agricultural landholding through a program to be established by the Department of Agriculture [DA] so as to take advantage of economies of scale in agricultural production and promote value chain development,” she said.
In line with our thrust to attain food security, Vergara said the consolidated bill protects from conversion the following: prime agricultural lands as defined in the bill; all irrigated and irrigable lands; all lands developed or suitable for high value crops; and, all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will lead to serious environmental problems.
Informed decisions
VERGARA said “in order to promote productive use of our land resources,” the consolidated bill also seeks to impose an idle land tax on any person or entity who shall cause any irrigated land within the protected areas for agricultural development to lie idle and unproductive for a pe -
riod exceeding one year unless due to force majeure.
She added that the consolidated bill likewise seeks to penalize a landowner and designated developer who, without justifiable cause, fails to commence or complete the development of agricultural lands with approved order of conversion.
More importantly, the bill seeks to authorize DHSUD to penalize LGUs who fail to formulate and implement their Comprehensive Land Use Plans (Clups) pursuant to Republic Act 11201 (DHSUD Law).
“Such failure may even lead to conviction and imprisonment of the local chief executive and other local officials and employees responsible for the formulation and enforcement of the Clups in certain cases and subject to compliance with due process requirements,” she said.
At its core, Vergara said the proposed NLU Act is about “empowering communities to make informed decisions about how their land is used.”
It provides a mechanism for local governments and stakeholders to work together in identifying and prioritizing land use policies and projects that align with their unique needs and aspirations. This bottomup approach to land use planning is critical in a country as diverse as the Philippines, where the needs of each community can vary greatly,” she said.
The National Land Use Act is an important piece of legislation that has the potential of enabling our country to maximize the use of our natural resources in a sustainable and coherent manner,” she added.
No assurance
FOR her part, Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene D. Brosas said the TWG’s version of the administration’s NLU bill would not ensure food security and sufficient public housing for Filipinos.
Brosas explained that what the NLU bill merely does is to protect existing irrigated and irrigable lands from conversion instead of expanding lands for food production, particularly rice and other key agricultural commodities.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, she said that as of 2020, only 1.97 million hectares remain as irrigated lands.
By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenillaMORE than 2,000 jobs are expected to be generated once the construction of the contract package (CP) S-02 and CP S-03B of the South Commuter Railway Project (SCRP) start later this year.
P resident Ferdinand R. Marcos
Jr. witnessed the ceremonial signing of both accords, which were held at the President’s Hall in Malacañang last Thursday.
Marcos lauded the signing of the accords that he said will not only mean better convenience for commuters but also generate more economic activities.
“As the civil works for these contract packages commence, we expect not only the generation of more than 2,000 jobs but also the creation of other opportunities and livelihood during its construction,” Marcos said in his speech during the signing ceremonies.
T he over P28.2-billion CP S-02 covers 7.9 kilometer (km) of railway
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM SENATE Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva wants solutions on agricultural insurance woes of farmers to be in-cluded in the government’s plan to mitigate the impacts of El Niño.
T he Majority Leader filed Senate Resolution 549 that seeks to look into the state of the government’s agricultural insurance program, considering the impact of unfortunate natural occurrences on agriculture. Ultimately, Villanueva said he aims to put in place sufficient measures to protect Filipino farmers and fishermen.
Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority in its Labor Force Survey last January, the senator reminded that 22.2 percent or 10.5 million employed Filipinos depend on agriculture as a source of income.
“Almost one-fourth of our labor force are in the agriculture sector and if we don’t take the necessary measures to protect it, we will see a severe decline in employment which will in turn lead to low agricultural
viaduct structure and three stations. The package was awarded to the joint venture between Acciona Construction of the Philippines Inc. and D.M. Consunji Inc.
T he joint venture of Leighton Contractors (Asia) Ltd. and First Balfour Inc. secured the P23.3 billion CP S-03b. This package covers the civil engineering, tunnel and building works for around 6.1 kilometers of railway.
Awarded last February, both contract packages will be financed by the Asian Development Bank. Construction for both projects is expected to start during the last quarter of the year.
T he 55.6 km-SCRP, stretches from Blumentritt, Manila, to Calamba City, Laguna, and will have 19 stations and one depot. The latter would be established at Barangay Banlic, Calamba City, Laguna. It is projected to be completed by 2029 and slash by more than half the travel time from Blumentritt, Manila and Calamba City, Laguna, from 150 minutes to only 72 minutes.
production, endangering the livelihood of millions of Filipinos in the sector and also our country’s food security,” Villanueva said.
T he senator pointed out that the low availment of agricultural insurance for farmers is alarming given that the country needs to be prepared for the impacts of natural extreme events, disasters and climate change. Our agriculture insurance program needs to be future-ready and easily accessible for the benefit of our farmers and fisher[men],” he stressed.
Address issues
THE Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) provides insurance under seven (7) agricultural insurance lines: rice crop; corn crop; high-value crops; livestock; fisheries and aquaculture; non-crop agricultural assets; and, credit and life-term insurance.
In 2020, the PCIC was able to insure a total of 3,090,251 farmers and fishermen. The amount of protection assured was P94.591 billion and the premium generated was P5.086 billion, the resolution said.
Railway project seen to generate 2k+ jobs
‘Include agri-insurance woes in El Niño plan’
BusinessMirror News
‘Reap demographic bonus via lifelong learning’
On Thursday, Undersecretary for Population and Development (POPDEV) Lisa Grace S. Bersales said the country’s total fertility rate was already at 1.9 in 2022, below replace -
ment level. This means less than two children are born to women of reproductive age.
ITH the country’s fertility now below replacement rate, the Commission on Population and Development (Popcom) said lifelong learning is crucial to reaping the demographic dividends and sustaining the country’s economic growth.B ersales said this has contributed to the gradual decrease in population growth rate and changing population-age structure, with an increasing proportion of the working-age population.
“ We envision that by 2028, more Filipinos would have increased access to high-quality education and lifelong learning opportunities that will equip them further with additional and enhanced competencies. These will support their positive
contribution to the economy, their respective communities, and to society as a whole,” she said.
Bersales added that the current administration’s socioeconomic development agenda, transformative lifelong opportunities will be pursued as an integral strategy to ensure all Filipinos will realize their full potential centered on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly on Quality Education or SDG 4. This has yielded a wider window of opportunity for optimizing the country’s demographic divi -
dend,” Bersales said in her statement at the 56th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD 56).
Bersales said transformative education and lifelong learning, according to her, was outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028 as key strategies aimed at improving the quality, inclusivity, adaptability and resiliency of basic education.
She added there is a need to attain global competitiveness and inclusivity in terms of technical and vocational education and training and heighten governance for human-
capital development.
T he Popcom Chief said various pieces of legislation, such as the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act, or Republic Act 10968 helps in this regard.
T his seeks to establish standards and levels of learning outcomes aligned with industry qualifications toward holistic human capital development.
She added that the Philippine Skills Framework was also developed and is being implemented jointly by agencies on higher education, skills development and employment to
better prepare the labor force for the said “future economy.”
Meanwhile, she said the Philippine Youth Development Plan (2023-2028) is presently enabling unified action among the young, institutions and stakeholders promoting holistic and meaningful youth participation by promoting health and educational outcomes.
At the 56th Session of the Commission on Population and Development, Bersales delivered the national statement before global stakeholders based on this year’s theme of population, education and sustainable development.
PRICES of coal and fertilizer—
two commodities that are essential to the Philippine economy—are projected to decline this year, according to the latest report from the World Bank.
However, the World Bank said global rice prices are expected to post an average of 17 percent in 2023.
Rice prices, the Washington-based lender said, has already gone up by 11 percent in the first quarter.
For the remainder of this year, commodity prices are forecast to remain broadly unchanged. However, prices are still expected to remain above pre-pandemic levels, which will continue to weigh on affordability and food security,” the report stated.
Upside risks to prices include possible disruptions in the supply of energy and metals (in part due to trade restrictions), intensifying geopolitical tensions, a stronger-thananticipated recovery in China’s industrial sector, and adverse weather events. Disappointing global growth is the major downside risk,” it added.
T he report stated that coal prices are expected to decline by 42 percent in 2023 and by 23 percent in 2024. This is mainly due to the expected
increase in production in Australia and Indonesia as well as weaker demand in countries, offsetting higher demand for the commodity in China.
Fertilizer prices, meanwhile, are seen to decline by 37 percent in 2023 along with lower natural gas and coal prices. However, the price level of the commodity could remain high, similar to the 2008 to 2009 food crisis.
I n terms of rice, the country’s staple, prices are expected to increase due to high demand which is fueled by major festivals and restocking in Asia as well as currency appreciations against the US dollar among rice producers such as India, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Further, the World Bank said there was tight supply conditions in Asia’s rice producers such as China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam while Pakistan suffered from “catastrophic floods” in September 2022 which affected its harvests and exports of the commodity.
“R ice prices on average are expected to be 17 percent higher in 2023, with much of the increase already taken place. Rice prices are expected to decline in 2024, as Pakistan’s exports recover and high rice prices
in 2023 encourage rice production elsewhere,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, a proposed export tax on nickel ore in the Philippines could also push nickel prices up. This proposed tax, the World Bank said, came on the heels of an export ban of the commodity in Indonesia.
T he Philippines is the world’s second-largest nickel ore and accounts for 15 percent of the global nickel supply. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently said the government is mulling over the imposition of a nickel ore tax or a ban similar to Indonesia.
A local mining engineer Graciano
M. Calanog Jr. told the BuinessMirror last year that building a ferronickel smelter will allow the Philippines to maximize the potential of its rich nickel deposits.
Calanog said if the country is able to build smelters and process nickel before exporting them, the Philippines can become an industrialized country in a decade.
“ The proposed tax could further tighten supply and put upward pressure on nickel prices, although its impact is expected to be modest because the country accounts for
only about 15 percent of the global mined nickel supply,” the World Bank report stated.
‘Sharp decline’
THE World Bank’s Commodity Markets Outlook report said prices are expected to post the sharpest decline since the pandemic. Food prices globally are expected to decline by 8 percent in 2023. However, prices will remain elevated with food price inflation now at 20 percent globally, the highest level over the past two decades.
“Thesurgeinfood and energy prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has largely passed due to slowing economic growth, a moderate winter, and reallocations in the commodity trade,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s Chief
THE Department of Health (DOH), together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched on Thursday a nationwide supplemental immunization campaign to vaccinate children against measles, rubella, and polio.
T he campaign is in line with the observance of World Immunization Week (WIW) this April.
All children have a right to a bright and healthy future. We recognize the efforts of the DOH and partners to bring renewed energy to accelerate catch up and prevent future outbreaks. Covid-19 has shown us that collective and concerted action works. We must exercise that same vigor for children’s immunization to make sure that children in the Philippines do not get left behind,” said UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov during the launch of “Chikiting Ligtas 2023: Join the Big Catch Up, Magpabakuna para sa Healthy Pilipinas!”
According to UNICEF, around 67 million children globally missed out entirely or partially on routine immunization between 2019
and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This ranks the Philippines second to the highest number of children with zero doses in East Asia and the Pacific Region, and fourth in the world.
U NICEF’s flagship publication also revealed the sharp decline in public perception in the Philippines of the importance of vaccines for children, decreasing by 25 percent and registering one of the steepest declines from 55 countries studied.
For the Chikiting Ligtas campaign, DOH said it is mobilizing the full weight of its financial and human resources, allocating funds for Centers for Health Development’s hiring of vaccinators, risk communications and advocacy activities, and delivery of vaccines and other supplies. This support will also extend to routine vaccinations until the end of the year.
A s an aid to the campaign, the WHO and UNICEF support the DOH by providing assistance in procuring vaccines, deploying additional health staff, engaging with communities to address hesitancy and misinformation, and building cold chain capacities, among others.
We must act now to protect every child in the Philippines from vaccine-preventable
diseases. The Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Big Catch-up present a unique opportunity to catch up on missed vaccinations and strengthen our immunization systems for future generations. We fully support the Department of Health’s Chikiting Ligtas campaign and its supplemental immunization activities,” said Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus, WHO Representative to the Philippines.
“Let us work together to ensure that no child is left behind and that every child in the Philippines has access to life-saving vaccines. Our appeal to families: your children’s health is too precious to leave to chance. Vaccines are free, safe, and effective in keeping them healthy. By keeping up to date with vaccines, you are giving your children a shot at a brighter future,” he added.
For her part, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said that one of the department’s “evergreen goals” is to protect Filipino children from preventable diseases and those include measles, rubella, and polio.
“As a measure to provide them protection, we shall continue to prioritize vaccination through programs such as Chikiting Ligtas 2023: Join the Big Catch Up, Magpabakuna para sa Healthy Pilipinas! to reach our young Juan and Juanas anywhere in the country,” she said.
Bill filed replacing K to 12; low hiring, burdens cited
The bill said the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall jointly formulate the appropriate strategies and mechanisms needed to ensure smooth transition from the existing enhanced basic education (K to 12) cycle to the new enhanced basic education (K Plus 10 Plus 2) cycle provided by this proposal.
It added that the strategies may cover changes in physical infrastructure, manpower, organizational and structural concerns, to include the students’ pursuit of post-secondary technical or vocational cer-
tificates, and transitions for those availing of the ladderized education program.
“Modeling for post-secondary, pre-university education may be implemented in selected schools to simulate the transition process and provide concrete data for the transition plan. Said strategies shall replace the need for Implementing Rules and Regulations,” the bill said.
T he House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo and the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go, agreed to immediately
tackle the “K + 10 + 2” legislative proposal once it is referred to the panel.
“ The last two years will not be voc-tech [vocational-technical education]; they will be similar to the foundation of college courses in Europe while they are preparatory to university education.... In my bill, it will be K + 10 because it will [only] be up to Fourth Year High School and then they [students] graduate,” said Arroyo.
Arroyo said she filed the bill in consultation with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte and with the knowledge of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics.
their poorest citizens using targeted income-support programs rather than price controls,” Gill added. O verall, commodity prices are expected to fall by 21 percent in 2023 relative to last year. Energy prices are projected to decline by 26 percent this year. Cai U. Ordinario
G
By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor
OVERNANCE Commission for GOCCs (GCG) Chairperson
Ret. Justice Alex L. Quiroz reminds Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations that apart from working to be at par with international standards, they must also always ensure that quality services are delivered to the Filipino people.
Celebrating its 12th anniversary this June, the commission also takes on the challenge to be a reputable institution for corporate governance and to strive to provide better public service every day.
The GCG was created under Republic Act No. 10149, otherwise known as the “GOCC Governance Act of 2011,” as the central policymaking and regulatory body mandated to safeguard the State’s ownership rights and ensure that the operations of GOCCs are transparent and responsive to the needs of
the public. Simply put, GCG is the agency that regulates state-owned corporations.
Under RA 10149, the GCG is empowered to:
nOversee the selection and nomination of directors/trustees and maintain the quality of Board Governance;
nInstitutionalize transparency, accountability, financial viability and responsiveness in corporate performance by monitoring and evaluating GOCC’s performance;\
nRationalize the sector through
It has introduced major policy reforms such as Fit and Proper Rule for Appointive Directors and CEOs of GOCCs, the Ownership and Operations Manual Government the GOCC Sector and the Code of Corporate Governance for GOCCs.
It established the Performance Evaluation System (PES) that enabled GOCCs to identify their strategies for development and achieving breakthrough results. The GCG also instituted the adoption of the Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008) in GOCCs to link regular strategy and operations review to process re-engineering.
The GCG also implemented the Performance Evaluation for Directors in order to monitor and assess the performance of appointive directors in GOCCs through peer re-
streamlining, reorganization, merger as well as recommending to the President of the Philippines the privatization or abolition of GOCC; and nEstablish compensation standards to ensure reasonable and competitive remuneration schemes that attract and retain the right talent.view, organizational performance and Board attendance.
Commercial, non-commercial activity GOCCs are state-owned enterprises that conduct both commercial and non-commercial activity. An example of a GOCC is the Government Services Insurance System or GSIS, a social security system for government employees. GOCCs are expected to perform government and business functions and at the same time provide essential services to the public. They receive subsidies from the government. The government likewise collects a substantial amount of dividends from GOCCs to help fund priority programs and projects.
In December 2022, GCG recognized 14 GOCCs based on the 2021 Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS). The top GOCCs include the National Power Corporation (Napocor), Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), Cebu Ports Authority, Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Landbank of the Philippines, LBP Leasing and Finance Corporation, National Electrification Administration, Philippine Crop Insurance, Philippine Deposit Insurance Corpora-
tion (PDIC), Philippine Reclamation Authority, Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation, and Small Business Corporation.
Benchmarked methodology
THE CGS, regarded as the most visible aspect of the commission’s oversight function, was developed using a methodology benchmarked against the Principles of Corporate Governance of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. The annual assessment through the CGS aims to determine GOCCs’ governance performance, and recognize their strengths and opportunities for improvement, and help them adhere to the international best practices and standards.
The Commission holds an annual exit conference to ensure that the GOCC Sector remains steadfast in their pursuit of better corporate governance and to transform them as good examples that private firms can take their cues from.
New vision and strategy
DURING its planning sessions in
November and December 2022, the GCG came up with a new vision and strategy which is to take on the challenge to be an esteemed institution for corporate governance, “exemplifying the highest levels of professionalism in the stewardship of GOCCs to safeguard accountability, economic viability, and responsiveness to the needs of the Filipino by 2028.”
The commission crafted this guided by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to Quiroz, “Tulungan natin ang ating bansa.” It also follows the President’s marching orders of transparency, rightsizing the government, and digitalizing government services. Quiroz noted that they have already begun the work with its Anti-Corruption and Integrity Program and dialogues about the Compensation and Position Classification System. These priorities are among the new strategies of the commission.
The GCG chairperson also remarked that they could overcome any difficulties through collaboration and coordination. A lso part of the GCG’s improved strategy is the streamlining of its processes for efficient service delivery. GCG executives likewise enjoined the agency personnel to always work with the highest standard of excellence and service.
THE Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) said that it welcomes inquiries that will help inform the government's decision on the proposed merger of the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).
" We welcome all resolutions, inputs, and study that will provide the Commission better under-
standing and information to determine whether it is appropriate to merge the concerned government financial institutions (GFIs),” said GCG Commissioner Gideon D. V. Mortel.
The GCG recently submitted to the Office of the President a legal study that says that the proposed merger of LANDBANK and DBP can be done through executive action. The study says that Republic
Act No. 10149 or the GOCC Governance Act of 2011, among other legal bases, statutes, and applicable jurisprudence, empowers the GCG to ascertain whether such GOCCs should be merged.
In a resolution on Tuesday, 17 April 2023, Senator Risa Hontiveros called for an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the proposed merger of the two GFIs. Senator Hontiveros raised concerns over the potential risks and
benefits the merger may bring to the economy, the financial system, and stakeholders.
Commissioner Mortel said that any further inquiry on the proposed merger will provide better light on whatever determination GCG would have.
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno announced in March 2023 that the government was contemplating a merger between the two state-run financing institutions,
GOCC officials seeking reappointment should submit documentary requirements by
sectoral group that the incumbent represents, and clearances from the Civil Service Commission, Office of the Ombudsman, Sandiganbayan, and the National Bureau of Investigation. A ppointive Directors of GOCCs are only allowed a term of one year, pursuant to Section
with the LANDBANK as the surviving entity. The merger is expected to create the largest banking institution in the country, with a total of more than PHP4.179 trillion in assets.
May 15
17 of RA
No. 10149. This also covers CEOs, who are considered Appointive Directors, pursuant to Section 1.4 of MC 2012-04 (Fifth Issue).
The GCG may nominate Appointive Directors for reappointment by the President. A set of performance criteria
posal for merger. He said that the Commission is still studying the positions of its stakeholders such as the Philippine Competition Commission, Commission on Audit, Department of Finance, LANDBANK, and DBP. The Commission is looking into various aspects of the proposed merger, including operational efficiency, market reach, enhancement of new product lines, and geographic reach, he added. I n an 18 April 2023 memorandum for incumbent and acting chief executive officers (CEOs) and members of the GOCC Governing Board, the GCG told GOCC officials whose terms are expiring on June 30, 2023 to submit to the Commission a letter of intent and
GCG welcomes inquiries on proposed LANDBANK-DBP merger other documentary requirements listed under GCG Memorandum Circular No. (MC) 2012-04 (Fifth Issue) if they wish to be considered for reappointment. R equirements include, among others, an Appointive Director Data Form (ADDF), endorsement letter from the
Establishing order
SINCE its creation in 2011, the GCG has been recognized for its important role of establishing order into what was once a largely unregulated sector in the government.
WASHINGTON—House Republicans narrowly passed sweeping legislation Wednesday that would raise the government’s legal debt ceiling by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep spending restrictions, a tactical victory for Speaker Kevin McCarthy as he challenges President Joe Biden to negotiate and prevent a catastrophic federal default this summer.
Biden has threatened to veto the Republican package, which has almost no chance of passing the Democratic Senate anyway, and the president has so far refused to negotiate over the debt ceiling which the White House insists must be lifted with no strings to ensure America pays its bills.
But McCarthy’s ability to swiftly unite his slim majority and bring the measure to passage over opposition from Democrats and even holdouts in his own party gives currency to the Republican speaker’s strategy to use the vote as an opening bid forcing Biden into talks. The two men could hardly be further apart on how to resolve the issue.
The bill passed by a razor-thin 217-215 margin.
“We’ve done our job,” McCarthy said at the US Capitol after the vote.
“The president can no longer ignore by not negotiating,” he said. “Now he should sit down and negotiate.”
As the House debated the measure, Biden on Wednesday indicated he was willing to open the door to talks with McCarthy, but not on preventing a first-ever US default that would shake America’s economy and beyond.
“Happy to meet with McCarthy, but not on whether or not the debt limit gets extended,” Biden said. “That’s not negotiable.”
The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive.
Zelenskyy was upbeat about the conversation, which offered him the chance to insert his views into what had been a bilateral dialogue between Moscow and Beijing. Russian President Vladimir Putin is eager to keep Xi close as a counterweight to the United States, which has sided with Ukraine.
“I believe that this call, as well as the appointment of Ukraine’s ambassador to China, will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy said on Facebook.
An official readout on his website called the conversation “productive” and said it leads the way toward “possible interaction with the aim of establishing a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine.”
Zelenskyy emphasized the need to regain all Ukrainian lands and stated, “There can be no peace at the expense of territorial compromises.” In an indirect reference to US reports that China had considered supplying weapons to Russia for its war, Zelenskyy’s office said he asked countries to refrain from doing so because “any support—even partial—is converted by Russia into the continuation of its aggression, into its further rejection of peace.” China has said it won’t supply weapons to either side in the conflict.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing’s “core stance is to facilitate talks for peace,” announcing that an envoy—a former ambassador to Russia—would visit Ukraine to seek a “political settlement.”
The ministry’s statement struck a positive tone, giving a nod to Kyiv’s insistence that its territory cannot be broken up by Russia’s annexations and making clear that Beijing values its longstanding ties with Ukraine.
“Mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation of China-Ukraine relations,” the statement said. “China’s readiness to develop relations with Ukraine is consistent and clear-cut. No matter how the international situation evolves, China will work with Ukraine to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.”
Analysts expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace.
The call balances China’s dialogue with Russia by showing it is “recognizing Ukraine’s leadership and indicating Ukraine is an important entity,” said political science professor Kimberly Marten of Barnard College at Columbia University in New York.
But, she added in an interview with The Associated Press, unless undisclosed details reveal otherwise, “it’s a non-starter. It’s proRussian. I would not guess that this holds a lot of significance for ending the war.”
She noted the Chinese statement didn’t call for Russia to leave occupied areas or brand Russia as an aggressor, and refers to the situation as “a crisis, rather than a war.”
Elizabeth Wishnick, of the US-based think tank CNA and Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute, noted in an e-mail to AP that the Chinese statement about the call contains “no mention of a Russian troop withdrawal, which, to my mind, makes this a less than serious initiative and unlikely to contribute in any major way to ending the war, which will likely
be decided on the battlefield.”
In Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commended China’s approach, praising Beijing’s “readiness to strive to establish a (peace) negotiations process,” while slamming Kyiv’s “rejection of any sound initiatives aimed at a settlement.”
The White House described it as a positive development, allowing Xi to hear Ukraine’s view of the “illegal, unprovoked invasion.”
“We think that’s a good thing,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
Talks between the two leaders had been anticipated for weeks, after China produced a 12-point proposal to end the fighting, although it did not contain details.
Russia and Ukraine are far apart in their terms for peace. The Kremlin wants Kyiv to acknowledge Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which most nations have denounced as illegal. Ukraine has rejected the demands and ruled out any talks with Russia until its troops pull back from all occupied territories.
Zelenskyy said in an interview with the AP last month that he hadn’t spoken with Xi since the war began and invited him to visit Ukraine.
China has announced it was keen to act as mediator in the war that has reenergized Nato. Xi’s position reinforces China’s claim that it’s neutral in the war, despite blocking UN efforts to condemn the Kremlin’s invasion.
While Zelenskyy has moved his country closer to Nato and persuaded alliance members to send Ukraine sophisticated weapons
to help defeat Russia, Beijing has echoed the Kremlin line in accusing the West of provoking the conflict and “fanning the flames” by arming Kyiv.
When China called in February for a cease-fire and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijing’s involvement but said success would depend on actions, not words.
Putin warmly welcomed Xi to the Kremlin, in what was seen as a powerful message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow over the fighting in Ukraine have fallen short.
Also on Wednesday, Zelenskyy used the 37th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear disaster at Chernobyl to repeat his warnings about the threat of a new atomic catastrophe during his country’s war with Russia.
Zelenskyy drew a parallel between the Chernobyl accident on April 26, 1986, to Moscow’s brief seizure of that plant and its radiation-contaminated exclusion zone following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Last year, the occupier not only seized the [Chernobyl] nuclear power plant, but also endangered the entire world again,” Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post in English.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian and Russian officials announced the latest prisoner exchange, saying 44 Ukrainian and 40 Russian POWs were released this week. The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said on Telegram that the Ukrainians included soldiers, sailors, border and national guards, and two civilians.
McDonald reported from Beijing. Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Andrew Katell in New York contributed.
The Associated Press
CANBERRA, Australia—Australia
will end a decade-old freeze on the minimum wage for skilled migrant workers as part of an overhaul of what the government described Thursday as a broken migration system that fosters exploitation and favors attracting lowpaid employees over filling critical skill shortages.
“What has emerged is a system where it is increasingly easy for migrants to come to Australia in search of a low-paid job, but increasingly difficult for migrants with the skills that we desperately need,” said Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil. “One of the reasons there is so much exploitation in Australia is because we have allowed low-wage migration programs to operate
in the shadows.”
Australia has long had one of the highest rates of immigration of any country within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. But the migrant workforce that used to settle permanently has become increasingly temporary.
The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold had been frozen by a previous government at 53,900 Australian dollars ($35,600) a year since 2013. A new minimum wage of AU$70,000 ($46,300) would apply from July 1, O’Neil said.
A government statement released Thursday said that “around 90 percent of all full-time jobs in Australia are now paid more than the current TSMIT, undermining Australia’s skilled migration system.”
The Australian economy was “stuck in a productivity rut” that migrant workers
could help resolve, O’Neil said.
All temporary skilled workers in Australia, many of whom had become “permanently temporary migrants” living on various visas in the country for years, would be given clearer pathways to permanent residency by the end of the year, she said.
Speaking to the National Press Club, O’Neil criticized outdated preferred occupation lists that no longer reflect the needs of the economy or emerging technology industries, among other aspects of the migration system under the previous government that ruled for nine years until May 2022.
“Our migration system is suffering from a decade of genuinely breathtaking neglect,” she said. “It is broken, it is failing our businesses, it is failing migrants themselves. And, most important of all,
Passage of the sprawling 320-page package in the House is only the start of what is expected to become a weekslong political slog as the president and Congress try to work out a compromise that would allow the nation’s debt, now at $31 trillion, to be lifted to allow further borrowing and stave off a fiscal crisis.
The nation has never defaulted on its debt, and the House Republican majority hopes to maneuver Biden into a corner with its plan to roll back federal spending to fiscal 2022 levels and cap future spending increases at 1 percent over the next decade, among other changes.
McCarthy worked nonstop to unite his fractious Republican majority, the “five families” including the conservative Freedom Caucus and others, making postmidnight changes in the House Rules Committee in the crush to win over holdouts.
Facing a revolt from Midwestern Republicans over doing away with biofuel tax credits that were just signed into law last year by Democrat Biden, GOP House members relented and allowed the tax credits to stay on the books in their bill.
“Our delegation has stood united for Iowa’s farmers and producers fighting to amend the bill to protect biofuels tax credits,” said the four House Republicans from Iowa in a joint statement announcing their support for the bill.
Republicans also agreed to more quickly launch the bolstered work requirements for recipients of government aid, starting in 2024 as proposed by another holdout, Freedom Caucus’ Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.—who has led previous challenges to McCarthy and ultimately voted against the bill.
Republicans hold a five-seat House majority and faced several absences this week, leaving McCarthy with almost no votes to spare. In the end the speaker lost four Republican no votes, and all Democrats opposed.
“This bill is unacceptable, it’s unreasonable, it’s unworkable, it’s unconscionable— and it’s un-American,” said the Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. “That’s why we oppose it.”
Democrats derided the Republican plan as a “ransom note,” a “shakedown” and “an unserious bill” that was courting financial danger.
But as McCarthy worked to shore up support, some of the most conservative rank-and-file Republican members who have never voted for a debt ceiling increase in their quest to slash spending said they were preparing to do just that, rallying behind the speaker’s strategy to push Biden to the negotiating table.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he “wanted double” the deficit savings contained in the bill but would vote for it “because it starts the ball, it gets us in the arena to solve the debt problem.”
It’s a first big test for the president and the Republican speaker, coming at a time of increased political anxiety about the ability of Washington to solve big problems amid the need to raise the federal debt limit in a matter of weeks.
The Treasury Department is taking “extraordinary measures” to pay the bills, but funding is expected to run out this summer. Economists warn that even the serious threat of a federal debt default would send shockwaves through the economy.
In exchange for raising the debt limit by $1.5 trillion into 2024, the bill would roll back overall federal spending and:
n Claw back unspent Covid-19 funds.
n Impose tougher work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other government aid.
n Halt Biden’s plans to forgive up to $20,000 in student loans and
n End many of the landmark renewable energy tax breaks Biden signed into law last year. It would tack on a sweeping Republican bill to boost oil, gas and coal production.
A nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analysis estimated the Republican plan would reduce federal deficits by $4.8 trillion over the decade if the proposed changes were enacted into law.
Several Republicans from the party’s right wing, eager for even stricter spending cuts, said the bill was at least a starting point as they prepared to vote for McCarthy’s strategy and bolster his hand in talks with Biden.
Freshman Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said: “It’s our obligation to get Speaker McCarthy to the table.”
it is failing Australians.”
O’Neil commissioned a review in November of Australia’s migration program that found 1.8 million temporary migrants were living within a national population of 26 million.
The review reported: “It is not in Australia’s national interest to maintain a large proportion of temporary entrants with no pathway to citizenship as it undermines our democratic resilience and social cohesion.”
In September, the government increased its permanent immigration intake to 195,000—an increase of 35,000—for the current fiscal year that ends June 30 as the nation grapples with skills and labor shortages.
Australia’s unemployment rate was 3.5 in March, which many consider maximum employment.
Others though, remained noncommittal or flat-out no’s.
Rep. Andy Biggs, the former chairman of the Freedom Caucus who voted against the bill, said he had wanted Republicans to do more to end deficit spending. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., also a “no” vote, said of the nation’s nearly $32 trillion in debt, “that’s my major concern.”
In the Senate, leaders were watching and waiting.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said House passage of the legislation would be a “wasted effort” and that McCarthy should come to the table with Democrats to pass a straightforward debt-limit bill without GOP priorities and avoid default.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who stepped aside to give McCarthy the lead, said the speaker has been able to unite the House Republicans.
Now, he said, Biden and McCarthy must come to agreement. Otherwise, he said, “We’ll be at a standoff. And we shouldn’t do that to the country.”
In a statement late Wednesday, the White House press Secretary Karine JeanPierre said congressional Republicans “must act immediately and without conditions to avoid default.... That is their job.”
The Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Mary Clare Jalonick and Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.
KYIV, Ukraine—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a “long and meaningful” phone call Wednesday, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a “political settlement.”THIS combination of file photos shows China’s President Xi Jinping, taken in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 19, 2022, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy taken outside Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 7, 2023. Chinese leader Xi talked Wednesday, April 26, 2023, with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy by phone and appealed for negotiations in Russia’s war against his country, warning “there is no winner in a nuclear war,” state media said, in a long-anticipated conversation after Beijing said it wanted to act as peace mediator. AP
THE United States Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Vermont is christened at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., October 20, 2018. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol are set to sign an agreement including plans to have US nucleararmed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years. SEAN
WASHINGTON—Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday will sign an agreement that includes plans to have US nuclear-armed submarines dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, a conspicuous show of support to Seoul amid growing concern about nuclear threats by North Korea, according to senior Biden administration officials.
The planned dock visits are a key element of what’s being dubbed the “Washington Declaration,” aimed at deterring North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbor. It is being unveiled as Biden is hosting Yoon for a state visit during a moment of heightened anxiety for both leaders over an increased pace of ballistic missile tests by North Korea over the last several months.
The three senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity ahead of the official announcement, said that Biden and Yoon aides have been working on details of the plan for months and agreed that “occasional” and “very clear demonstrations of the strength” of US extended deterrence capabilities needed to be an essential aspect of the agreement.
The agreement seeks to allay South Korean fears over the North’s aggressive nuclear weapons program and to keep the country from restarting its own nuclear program, which it gave up nearly 50 years ago when it signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yoon earlier this year said his country was weighing developing its own nuclear weapons or asking the US to redeploy them on the Korean Peninsula.
The US and South Korea also would coordinate more deeply on nuclear response strategy in the event of the North attacking the South—but operational control of such weapons would remain in US control, and no nuclear weapons are being deployed onto South Korean shores.
Biden and Yoon did not directly address the agreement during their remarks at a pomp-filled arrival ceremony before nearly 7,000 guests on the White House lawn on Wednesday morning before their private talks. Biden stressed both nations’ commitment to work together to ensure a secure Indo-Pacific.
“We’re taking on the challenges of the world, and we’re taking them on together,” Biden said.
The state visit comes as the US and South Korea mark the 70th year of the countries’ alliance that began at the end of the Korean War and committed the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 US troops are currently based in South Korea.
“Why did they sacrifice their lives for this faraway country and for the people that you’ve never met?” Yoon said of the US troops who served during the war. “That was for one noble cause: to defend freedom.”
The agreement also calls for the US and South Korean militaries to strengthen joint training and better integrate South Korean military assets into the joint strategic deterrence effort. As part of the declaration, South Korea will reaffirm its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement signed by several major nuclear and non-nuclear powers that pledged their cooperation to stem the spread of nuclear technology, the officials said.
As a candidate for the presidency last year, Yoon said he would call for the increased deployment of US bombers, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines to South Korea as he looked to offer a firmer response to the North’s threats than his predecessor Moon Jae-in.
In the midst of the Cold War in the late 1970s, US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines made frequent port visits to South Korea, sometimes two to three visits per month, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It was a period when the US had hundreds of nuclear warheads located in South Korea.
But in 1991, the United States withdrew all of its nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula, and the following year Seoul and Pyongyang signed a joint declaration pledging that neither would “test, manufacture, produce, receive, possess, store, deploy or use nuclear weapons.” But as the North has repeatedly violated the joint declaration over the years, there’s been increased support in South Korea for the United States to return nuclear weapons to the country.
One Biden administration official cautioned it is “crystal clear” that there are no plans by the administration for “returning tactical or any other kind of nuclear weapon to the Korean Peninsula.” Instead, administration officials said they envision that the visit of ballistic missile submarines will be followed by the US military more regularly deploying assets such as bombers or aircraft carriers to South Korea.
North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats, along with concerns about China’s military and economic assertiveness in the region, have pushed the Biden administration to expand its Asian alliance. To that end, Biden has thrown plenty of attention at Yoon as well as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Next week, Biden will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for Oval Office talks.
In the past year, North Korea has been steadily expanding its nuclear arsenal, while China and Russia repeatedly block US-led efforts to toughen sanctions on the North over its barrage of banned missile tests.
The stepped-up testing by North Korea includes the flight-testing of a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time earlier this month. The recent test is seen as a possible breakthrough in the North’s efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States.
Besides nuclear deterrence, Biden and Yoon, and their aides, also are expected to discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The Biden administration has praised South Korea for sending some $230 million in humanitarian aid to Kyiv, but Biden would welcome Seoul taking an even bigger role in helping the Ukrainians repel Russia.
Yoon’s visit comes just weeks after the leaks of scores of highly classified documents that have complicated relations with allies, including South Korea. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Korea’s National Security Council “grappled” with the US in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine.
The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States’ ultimate goal.
One Biden administration official said that Biden planned to talk to Yoon about “what it means for all like-minded allies to continue to support Ukraine” and ask the South Korean leader “what the future of their support might look like.”
Besides their talks on Wednesday, Biden and Yoon are scheduled to host a joint news conference. In the evening, Biden and first lady Jill Biden will honor Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, for a state dinner at the White House.
This year may be shaping up as a more downbeat story. The economy is widely expected to decelerate steadily and to slip into a recession sometime this year.
Some early such signs could begin to emerge Thursday, when the Commerce Department will issue its first estimate of the economy’s performance in the first three months of 2023.
Forecasters have predicted that the gross domestic product—the broadest measure of economic output—grew at a 1.9 percent annual rate from January through March, according to a survey by the data firm FactSet. That would mark a significant slowdown from the 3.2 percent growth rate from July through September and the 2.6 percent rate from October through December.
The obstacles the economy faces are growing more troublesome.
The biggest among them is the dramatically higher cost of borrowing. The Federal Reserve, in its fight against an inflation rate that last year hit a four-decade high, has raised its benchmark rate nine times in just over a year.
As those higher rates spread through the economy, it is becoming steadily more expensive for consumers and businesses to borrow and spend. The cost of a loan to buy a house or a car or to expand a business can become prohibitively expensive.
Many economists say the cumulative impact of the Fed’s rate
hikes has yet to be fully felt. Yet the central bank’s policymakers are aiming for a so-called soft landing: Cooling growth enough to curb inflation yet not so much as to send the world’s largest economy tumbling into a recession.
There is widespread skepticism that the Fed will succeed. An economic model used by the Conference Board, a business research group, puts the probability of a US recession over the next year at 99 percent.
The Conference Board’s recession-probability gauge had hung around zero from September 2020, as the economy rebounded explosively from the Covid-19 recession, until March 2022, when the Fed started raising rates to fight inflation.
Already, higher rates have clobbered the housing market, which depends on the ability of buyers to take out long-term mortgages.
Investment in housing plummeted at an annual rate of 27 percent from July through September and 25 percent from October through December.
Consumers, whose spending accounts for roughly 70 percent o f US economic output, seem to be starting to feel the chill. Retail sales had enjoyed a strong start in January, aided by warmerthan-expected weather and bigger Social Security checks. But in February and again in March, retail sales tumbled.
“The US economy is unwell, and it’s starting to show,’’ said Gregory
Daco, chief economist at the consulting firm EY.
Tumult in the banking sector—the United States endured its second- and third-biggest bank failures ever last month—poses another threat. After depositors yanked money out of troubled Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, forcing regulators to shut them down, many banks are cutting back on lending to conserve money to handle potential bank runs.
The worst fears of a 2008-style financial crisis have eased over the past month. But lingering credit cutbacks, which were mentioned in the Fed’s survey this month of regional economies, is likely to hobble growth.
“We place a roughly 55 percent-60 percent chance of a mild recession in the US,” Tony Roth, Wilmington Trust’s chief investment officer, said in a research note. “Recent bank stress has subsided, but the risk of tighter financial conditions increases these recession risks.’’
Political risks are growing, too. Congressional Republicans are threatening to let the federal government default on its debts, by refusing to raise the statutory limit on what it can borrow, if Democrats and President Joe Biden fail to agree to spending restrictions and cuts. A first-
ever default on the federal debt would shatter the market for US Treasurys—the world’s biggest—and possibly cause a global financial crisis.
The global backdrop is looking bleaker, too. The International Monetary Fund this month downgraded its forecast for worldwide economic growth, citing rising interest rates around the world, financial uncertainty and chronic inflation. American exporters could suffer as a consequence.
Still, the US economy has surprised before. Recession fears rose early last year after GDP had shrunk for two straight quarters. But the economy roared back in the second half of 2022, powered by surprisingly sturdy consumer spending.
A strong job market has given Americans the confidence and financial wherewithal to keep shopping: 2021 and 2022 were the two best years for job creation on record. And hiring has remained strong so far this year, though it has decelerated from January to February and then to March.
The jobs report for April, which the government will issue on May 5, is expected to show that employers added a decent but still-lower total of 185,000 jobs this month, according to a survey of forecasters by FactSet.
THE deadly combination of high temperatures and low rainfall that affected millions in the Horn of Africa was made about 100 times more likely by climate change.
Gl obal warming is altering rain patterns and bringing more heat to southern Somalia, eastern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, according to a study by scientists at the World Weather Attribution network, which seeks to quantify the role of climate change in extreme weather events. Such exceptionally dry conditions have a 5 percent chance of happening in any given year on today’s warmer planet.
People in the Horn of Africa are no strangers to drought, but the duration of this event stretched people beyond their ability to cope,” said Cheikh Kane, a policy advisor at the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre. “Five consecutive seasons of below-normal rainfall, combined with rain-dependent livelihoods and vulnerability multipliers, like conflict and state fragility, have created a humanitarian disaster.”
At least 43,000 people died in
Somalia alone last year as a result of the region’s worst drought in four decades and some 6.5 million Somalis are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the United Nations. The organization is seeking $2.6 billion in aid for the country, but only 15 percent has been raised. The situation in the Horn of Africa is an example of how developing nations that have emitted a very small amount of the greenhouse gas warming the planet are disproportionately suffering the consequences of rising temperatures.
“The international community must step up and dramatically increase the volume of funds to support Somalia in this moment of difficulty,” United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said during a two-day visit to the country earlier this month. “Despite Somalia’s zero contributions to climate change, it has become a victim of it.”
To determine the role of climate change on this crisis, scientists at WWA analyzed rainfall patterns from January 2021 to December 2022. They also looked at the traditional rainy seasons last year, from March to May and from October to December. Researchers examined the data using a peer-reviewed
scientific method that simulates weather conditions in today’s climate, which has warmed 1.2C since pre-industrial times, and in a scenario without any warming.
They concluded that the unusual combination of low rainfall and evaporation of water in the soil and plants—a phenomenon known as evapotranspiration—would not have led to drought at all in world where temperature increases had remained below 1.2C. Specifically, the lower-than-average rains seen between the March and May period were twice as likely because of climate change.
Signs of drought were everywhere in Baidoa, one of the cities Guterres visited in Somalia. Dead tree branches and animal corpses were scattered on the ground.
Families forced to move from their villages camped in the city’s outskirts in the hopes of finding food and shelter.
Among them was Amina Hassan, a mother of five who walked for eight days to cover the 150 miles to Baidoa from her village. The drought had destroyed her family’s livestock and crops.
“Two of my children were nearly dead when I ran into another family heading to the city,” she said. “They gave us water which revived
my children.”
In recent weeks, sudden rains have led to flooding in some areas, worsening the situation for hundreds of people, according to Gamal Hassan, director of the Center of Excellence for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Protection at IGAD, an intergovernmental organization that’s been fighting drought in the region for decades.
“People are very fragile and there’s a water management crisis that we need to deal with,” Hassan said. “There’s a lack of infrastructure to deal with flooding and communities around riverine areas already impacted with crop and livestock destruction. Waterborn diseases are very possible.”
The only way forward is a coordinated response across governments in the region and across different sectors, he said. While investments in recent years have improved governments’ abilities to respond to climate emergencies in some specific cities or areas, funds remain insufficient to deal with the emergency everywhere.
“We have the reports, we have the information on weather and climate change,” Hassan said. “But the capacity, the resources to prepare for flooding and drought are not there.” Bloomberg News
Writer
WASHINGTON—Despite surging interest rates, punishing inflation and global turbulence, the US economy stood firm last year. From employers to consumers, the picture was one of surprising resilience.A STEEL worker inspects a 155 mm M795 artillery projectile during the manufacturing process at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant in Scranton, Pa., Thursday, April 13, 2023. On Thursday, the Commerce Department issues its first of three estimates of how the US economy performed in the first quarter of 2023. AP/MATT ROURKE
The Philippines is an archipelago with thousands of kilometers of coastline, a geographic feature ideal for salt production. Ironically, the country imports more than 90 percent of its salt requirements. The Philippine Association of Salt Industry Networks (PhilAsin) said our annual salt production has gone down to 60,000 metric tons, not enough to meet the country’s requirements of up to 683,000 metric tons annually.
Lawmakers want Congress to help President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejuvenate the moribund Philippine salt industry by creating an interagency Philippine Salt Industry Development Council. House Bill 7357, authored by Camarines Sur Representatives LRay Villafuerte, Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata, and Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Yamsuan, said the proposed interagency PSIDC will be tasked to craft a masterplan to expand areas devoted to salt-making, boost domestic salt output, promote investments in this sector and market Philippine products made from this essential nutrient. (Read, “4 solons push bid to revive moribund PHL salt industry,” in the BusinessMirror, April 24, 2023).
“HB 7357 seeks to address the revitalization of the local industry by providing the right government support services for its protection and direction, specifically those that involve production and development,” said Rep. LRay Villafuerte.
The measure mandates the PSIDC to craft a Philippine Salt Industry Development Roadmap comprising of programs and projects for the development and management, processing, utilization, business development, and commercialization of Philippine salt.
The solons cited four factors that nearly killed our salt industry, including the Philippine ratification of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in 1994, which allowed cheap salt imports, and the enactment of Republic Act 8172 or the Act for Salt Iodization Nationwide (ASIN) Law in 1995, which required the addition of iodine to salt to address the country’s micronutrient malnutrition.
“The capital requirement for the machinery and technology for salt iodization was a heavy burden for local salt makers, leading many of them to drop one by one and shift to other livelihood sources,” the bill authors said.
The solons also traced the salt industry’s continuous decline to rapid urbanization, which led to the conversion of more and more salt-producing places into residential and industrial areas, and erratic weather patterns caused by climate change, which adversely affected salt producers dependent on weather conditions.
To fund the proposed law, an initial amount of P100 million will be sourced from the contingency fund of the Office of the President. Additionally, an amount of P100 million shall be sourced from Pagcor revenues for the law’s first year of implementation. After that, “the amount necessary for the effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act”.
The proposed law gives local government units an important role: To work with the DA, BFAR, DTI, DOST- Forest Products Research and Development Institute and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute to identify appropriate areas for local salt production in their respective localities.
HB 7357 provides for the establishment of provincial, city and municipal Salt Industry Development Councils (SIDCs) that shall regularly conduct a survey of existing salt farms and salt enterprises in their respective areas of jurisdiction. The bill directs the BFAR to be the Secretariat of the PSIDC, and to organize the necessary technical working group for the Council.
The bill has drawn up the following incentives for investors involved in salt production and development: The Board of Investments (BOI) shall classify salt farms as preferred areas of investment under its Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) subject to pertinent rules and regulations; salt farm owners, processors and other related businesses shall be exempt from the payment of import duties for imported machines and equipment subject to pertinent rules and regulations; salt farm owners in public lands shall be exempt from the payment of forest charges that may be imposed by the national government, and other fees or taxes imposed by LGUs; salt farmers and processors shall be given priority in accessing credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted by government financial institutions; and salt farm development and their equipment shall be covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp.
There’s an urgent need to revitalize the Philippine salt industry because salt is a food security issue. Our inability to produce local salt will adversely affect the country’s competitiveness in the long run.
A roadmap for the development, modernization and protection of the salt industry will help attract investments. To make the business environment attractive to small and medium enterprises, it would do well for the government to help promote alternative methods and techniques of salt farming that allow year-round production, given the erratic weather caused by climate change.
SINce the start of the year, the Second congressional commission on education has been conducting regular meetings and consultations as part of its mandate to perform a comprehensive assessment of the Philippine education system. As one of the commissioners of eDcOM 2, I can say that we will look into every aspect of education in the country and leave no stone unturned in our goal of coming up with the necessary reforms to address the weaknesses and other issues hounding the sector.
Part of EDCOM 2’s work is to evaluate the K to 12 program. Enacted on May 15, 2013, Republic Act 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, institutionalized the K to 12 program in the country.
K to 12 composed of at least one year of kindergarten, six years of elementary, four years of junior high school and two years of senior high school.
One of the main arguments made when the K to 12 program was being debated in Congress was that it would put the Philippines at par with the rest of the world by increasing the number of years in basic education to at least 11 years.
It was argued then that Filipino professionals, including engineers and nurses, were not qualified to prac-
One of the main arguments made when the K to 12 program was being debated in Congress was that it would put the Philippines at par with the rest of the world by increasing the number of years in basic education to at least 11 years. It was argued then that Filipino professionals, including engineers and nurses, were not qualified to practice in many countries due to the requirement of the host countries for a graduate to complete at least 12 years of basic education.
tice in many countries due to the requirement of the host countries for a graduate to complete at least 12 years of basic education. Nurses from the Philippines, for instance, would end up being employed as nursing aides only in some countries before the K to 12 was institutionalized.
Promises were also attached to the K to 12 program, including improving the employability of its graduates. According to the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Basic Education Report, only a little over 10 percent of K to 12 graduates were able to land a job. Vice President Sara Duterte, in her capacity as the Secretary of Education, noted that few employers were willing to hire
the K to 12 graduates even though they have acquired many skills and underwent work immersion.
The DepEd and EDCOM 2 will work hand-in-hand in reviewing the K to 12 program and come out with recommendations to improve the curriculum, which the DepEd has found to be “congested, that some prerequisites of identified essential learning competencies are missing or misplaced, and that a significant number of learning competencies cater to high cognitive demands.”
An immediate and practical response to the problem of employability would be for the government to take the initiative of hiring more K to 12 graduates. There are many functions of an
ANSw er INg this question calls for a quick overview of our economic landscape. we a re still categorized by the world Bank as a lower-middle income country. Malaysia and Thailand are upper-middle income countries. Brunei and Singapore are high-income countries.
Our economy remains consumption-led and services-led. On the demand side, household expenditure comprises 73 percent of gross domestic product. On the supply side, services comprise 61 percent of GDP. We have generally been a net importer since 1961, as import growth (6.6 percent) has outpaced export growth (6.5 percent). As of January 2019, our pre-pandemic unemployment rate was 5.2 percent—the highest among five Asean members (Philippines, Malaysia,
Some economists claim that the key to progress is to put women at work. Having more educated women lowers child mortality. Likewise, women with higher economic opportunities tend to postpone their pregnancy since their trade-off of having a child is high. Giving the young, especially women, more opportunities may lead our country to demographic transition.
office that do not require college graduates to perform. What is important is that the K to 12 graduates are given the opportunity to make some money while gaining work experience and invaluable exposure in an actual workplace environment. Once this initiative gains traction, I am optimistic that the private sector will follow the lead of the government in hiring more K to 12 graduates. Another problem faced by our K to 12 graduates, particularly those who choose to take the technicalvocational-livelihood track, is the absence of an acceptable certification system on the level of skills they acquired in their senior high school years. Employers from the private sector are often hesitant to hire the K to 12 graduates, even with their skills training, because of this problem with certifications. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) has been issuing certifications for its Tech-Voc students and so it is all a matter of applying the same to the K to 12 graduates. The Commission on Human Rights also came out recently with a report on the transition from school to work of the youth in the context of the implementation of the K to 12 program and the Covid-19 pandemic. It showed that the graduates had a difficult time adjusting to the
See “Angara,” A11
tality. Likewise, women with higher economic opportunities tend to postpone their pregnancy since their trade-off of having a child is high. Giving the young, especially women, more opportunities may lead our country to demographic transition.
Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam).
Fortunately, our pre-pandemic population growth was 2 percent—among the highest in the world. Our growing population is composed mostly of young people, 65 percent of whom are aged 15 to 64. However, our Asean neighbors have also a higher proportion of younger population in their labor force. Among ages 15 to 64, Singapore and Thailand have 72 percent, while Malaysia and Vietnam have 70 percent.
What can our government do to take advantage of having a younger population? One could be a demographic transition, a shift from high-mortality and high-fertility to low-mortality and low-fertility.
Developed economies like South Korea, Japan, and Canada experienced this phenomenon. This transition is driven primarily by having more women, who are educated, in the labor force. Some economists claim that the key to progress is to put women at work. Having more educated women lowers child mor-
Our government should also invest more in health, education, and innovation. The younger population should be provided with necessary skills to prepare our country for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is a new era of advanced robotics, autonomous transport, artificial intelligence and machine learning, biotechnology, and genomics. According to the World Economic Forum, complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, people management, coordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgment and decision making, service orientation, negotiation and cognitive flexibility are the most in-demand skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
With neighbors whose populations are composed of younger See “Eagle Watch,” A11
available for me his car.
To mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa, the International Labour Organization’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, explains why making safe and healthy working environments a fundamental right for workers matters and what can be done to make this reality.
It’S now 10 years since the rana Plaza building, located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, collapsed. that fateful day, at least 1,132 people —mainly garment workers—were killed and more than 2,500 injured.
The disaster seized global attention and led to change. Yet while a major catastrophe such as Rana Plaza captures headlines, accidents and deaths occur in workplaces across every country daily.
In fact, some 2.9 million women and men around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year; that’s over 8,000 deaths every single day.
The toll is enormous, both in terms of personal tragedy and hardship as well as economic loss.
In June 2022, the International Labor Organization took a historic step when it added a safe and healthy working environment to its Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Why does this matter?
It matters because occupational safety and health can now no longer be viewed as an optional extra. All of ILO’s 186 member states are now obligated to respect, promote and achieve a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work, irrespective of whether they have ratified either of the ILO’s conventions relating to occupational safety and health.
This is significant for several reasons. First and foremost, it recognizes that every worker has the right to be protected from hazards and risks that can cause injury, illness, or death in the workplace.
By making occupational safety and health (OSH) a fundamental right, the ILO is sending a clear message to governments and employers that they must take responsibility for providing a safe and healthy working environment for all workers.
Protecting workers’ health and well-being is not just a moral imperative; it makes good business sense too as a recent cost-benefit analysis carried out by the Asean Secretariat on OSH in the construction sector showed.
In Asia and the Pacific, progress on OSH is being made on many fronts. ILO OSH-related conventions have been ratified while there are new national OSH policies, laws and programs across the region. Steps are being taken to ensure that no one is left behind, with efforts, for example, to reach out to sanitation and waste recycling workers in South Asia and the smallest enterprises and informal economy workers in Asean. Meanwhile, the capacity of labor inspectors—who are on the front-line of efforts to ensure workplaces are safe and healthy—has been boosted through training and the use of technology.
These are all important initiatives, which must be applauded and supported. However, for OSH to become a daily reality for all workers, it must be addressed alongside ILO’s other Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. These relate to freedom of association and collective bargaining, the elimination of forced and child labor as well as ending discrimination in the world of work.
The participation of both employers and workers through social dialogue and workplace cooperation is vital if a sound culture of prevention in OSH is to be created. Freedom of association and collective bargaining help workers organize and negotiate for better working conditions, including safety and health. Without these rights, workers may be unable to advocate for themselves and may be more vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment.
Trade unions have an important role to play in this regard, helping voice concerns of workers as well as training them in OSH basics. Meanwhile, enterprise level OSH committees such as those set up in the Indonesian palm oil industry as well the Bangladesh garment sector allow workers and employers to address safety and health issues face to face and as equals.
“Yo no hablo de venganzas ni perdones, el olvido es la única venganza y el único perdón.”—Borges
After more than a decade, I was on my way back to the island of my birth—ticao, in Masbate. Its isolation has always been palpable to us who have left it. But to its inhabitants, like in San fernando, the town of my grandparents is as much a land that remembers itself as a land. to forget its “landness” is to be swallowed by the sea, and be forgotten.
No one forgets an island. A town gets richer and turns into a city; a city becomes a capital. The shifts banish a place of simple life as people embrace the wealth of progress. Small islands isolated from the bigger land are not given the grace to change. It must do so much for its terrain and territory to change.
To go back to an island therefore is always a journey to the past. Imagined past. It is for me.
There are, however, changes after all. When before, it was always in the town of Bulan that we took off as we left the mainland before crossing, this time it was by way of Pilar, still in Sorsogon. Some 20 years ago, we managed to cross Ticao Pass in kumpit, motorized boats with outriggers. They are banned already. In their place are ferries that could carry a number of vehicles, big and small.
As it happened, arrival on the island was through another town, San Jacinto, and not San Fernando. Upon docking at the port, we were whisked off to a home where the Mayor, Francisco Altarejos, was holding court as his staff edited the program for the fiesta. The mayor was the perfect host, a raconteur and wine was offered to us. But we had to leave.
This particular trip had two purposes: to conduct a film education workshop in San Jacinto for selected teachers as arranged by the principal of Bagahanglad National High School, Henry Lumbero Macabuhay. I was also there on the island to coordinate events for the 2nd Bikol Book Festival under the National Book Development Board,
Ateneo de Naga University Press and Savage Mind.
How far is San Fernando from San Jacinto? What time do we wake
The town of San Jacinto woke up early. The sun was up at 6 in the morning. Coming into the principal’s home at almost 8 in the evening, we spent the first dinner in that home on a porch, where we looked down on tall trees. The next morning, we saw we were in a house built on higher ground compared to other homes. But we were not prepared with what the open windows of the house offered us—a strip of the bluest sea was hemmed in by the land on either side, creating a narrow channel where lazy boats floated.
The breakfast was good and quick. Henry was kind enough to move the dried fish away from me, an island boy who does not eat fish.
Driving to San Fernando, we passed by ponds around which hovered old mangroves and low-lying
As a child, I recalled how San Jacinto and San Fernando were considered very far from each other. That distance—13 kms—made no sense that day. The curving roads slowed down the driving but the two towns could have been villages linked to each other.
Gone in one day my memories of a distant town where death and sustenance supplied its fame. There was no hospital then in San Fernando and when a loved one was brought to the hospital in San Jacinto, that always elicited quiet sobs or hysteria. Was he dying? And when indeed a dead body returned from the said hospital, death became remembered as linked to the old town. In the same way, a particular kind of bread—Pan Navarro—assured everyone the two towns were on eating terms, if not on speaking terms, with each other. That day—my second—on the island, I was back in the town of my birth. I went around, going first to the old church, its age a mere remembrance. A new structure is in place. The Aligada bells, donated by the family of the same name, and fashioned from the Fundacion Sunico, were still there. The said foundry was the maker of the bells found in many old heritage houses across the country.
Why would this small town with its small church be gifted with such an important bell?
Many years ago, in May, a visit to the same church always brought us to a grandmother, Lola Diday, she with her lyric soprano, busy teaching young girls and boys the song for the Flores a dedicatory rite for the Blessed Virgin. The women of the family were singers. With our own grandmother, Emilia, was another grandaunt, Ambrosia. During Holy Week, their newest acquisition were black, simple dresses, as dolorous as the sorrow of the Mary whose loss they fleshed out with their dulcet voices.
up in the morning if we were to be there in San Fernando at 8 in the morning? A letter has arranged a meeting with the young town leader, Mayor Byron Bravo. We could not be late.
hills. The pavement eased down always to the sea or to a body of water, lime green as it moved farther into the woods.
The sign above the police outpost stated the name of San Fernando. We were that fast? Are we just near?
They are all gone now. Some in graves younger kin could never visit. But we remember them as we remember this island. As Borges has once said, let me not speak of vengeances nor of forgiveness; to forget is the only revenge and the only forgiveness as well.
When workers feel safe and healthy in their workplace, they are more likely to be productive and efficient. This can benefit workers, employers as well as the wider economy. Conversely, when workers are injured or become ill due to workplace hazards, it can have a significant negative impact on productivity and economic growth.
Making OSH a fundamental right promotes social justice and equality. This is particularly important for workers in marginalized communities who may be at greater risk of workplace hazards due to factors such as poverty, discrimination, and lack of access to education, training and OSH services.
It is also important in terms of ensuring compliance with OSH regulations and standards, which in turn can lead to better working conditions and improved health outcomes for workers.
continued from A10
Forced and child labor as well as discrimination in respect of gender, age, migrant status, employment and occupations are also all intrinsically linked with workplace safety and health. Unless they too are tackled, men, women, the aged, youth and the vulnerable will continue to find themselves toiling in hazardous circumstances, where accidents are commonplace and social protection rare.
A safe and healthy working environment is now a fundamental right for each and every worker. Governments, employers, trade unions as well as companies at every level of the supply chain must work together to make this right a reality.
We can do so through shared commitment, joint efforts and by taking a holistic approach. One that recognizes and promotes all fundamental workers’ rights and helps deliver social justice and decent work for all.
it more responsive to the needs of our students. In the coming months and years EDCOM 2 will come out with its policy recommendations after its consultations with DepEd, TESDA and the stakeholders of the education sector.
Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.
Clearly there are many issues hounding the K to 12 program and changes have to be made to make
E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara
The good principal had made
the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos is a deeply concerning case of human rights abuse and injustice. Jonas Burgos was a filipino farmer and activist who was abducted by unidentified men on April 28, 2007, in Quezon City, Philippines. Since then, he has not been seen or heard from, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
The enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos is a clear violation of his fundamental human rights, including the right to life, liberty, and security of person, as well as the right to due process and a fair trial. It is a heinous act that has caused immense suffering to his family and loved ones, and has sent shockwaves through the human rights community in the Philip-
continued from A10
groups, what is the edge of our youth over other Asean youth? China sent thousands of its younger population to Europe and the United States to study sciences and engineering. In fact, the number of Chinese engineering graduates averaged at 3,922,837 from 2010 and 2020— almost half of total engineering graduates globally.
With regard to proficiency in Mathematics, Singapore ranks first in terms of PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) Score from 2010 to 2020. Two autonomous regions in China took the second and third ranks, with Hong Kong having an average score of 553.3
pines and around the world.
Despite the efforts of his family, human rights organizations, and civil society groups to seek justice for Jonas Burgos, the perpetrators of his enforced disappearance have yet to be held accountable. This highlights the problem of impunity that continues to plague the Philippines and other countries where enforced disappearances
and Macau at 545.8, respectively.
The Philippines seems to enjoy an abundance of business professional graduates and a population capable of handling blue-collar jobs. The bottleneck is in the number of younger generations from mathematics, sciences, and engineering degrees. It seems that one key factor to make our labor force competitive to the Fourth Industrial Revolution is to encourage the younger population to embrace hardcore sciences and mathematics as their profession of choice. There must be a paradigm shift to the classic thinking that mathematics and sciences are nothing but an abstract illustration of reality. This should, however, begin with how our education system teaches mathematics and sciences.
occur. Impunity undermines the rule of law and perpetuates a cycle of abuse and injustice.
In its decision on the Writ of Habeas Corpus and the Writ of Amparo on March 17, 2013, the Court of Appeals resolution (a) recognized the abduction of Jonas as a case of enforced disappearance; (b) held Maj. Harry Baliaga, Jr. et al as responsible for the abduction; (c) named the Armed Forces of the Philippines and elements of the AFP, particularly the Philippine Army as accountable for the abduction of Jonas Burgos. On February 2, 2014, the Supreme Court upheld these findings of the Court of Appeals.
It is essential that the Philippine
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com workplace, due in large part to their lack of soft skills. The lack of soft skills has been a problem among the youth even before the pandemic. It’s one of the concerns our educational system needs to address going forward, alongside poor reading comprehension and competency in mathematics and science.
Finally, there is a need to offset the unintended consequences of several landmark government policies. According to a study released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), our existing free-education program will reduce the quality of tertiary education as it will drive-out competition among universities. Most students will flock to state-owned institutions to take advantage of the free-tuition. Increasing minimum wage and endo are disadvantageous for the young, inexperienced, less-educated, and women. Firms will experience higher cost, which will lead to laying-off workers to maintain the existing level of production. Workers who will likely be removed first are those with poorer credentials. To reiter-
government takes action to address the enforced disappearance of Jonas Burgos and ensure that those responsible for his disappearance are held accountable. This includes conducting a thorough and impartial investigation into his case, as ordered by the Supreme Court, providing his family with the truth about his whereabouts and fate, and providing them with adequate reparations for the harm they have suffered. Additionally, the government must take steps to prevent future cases of enforced disappearance and ensure that human rights are fully respected and protected for all citizens.
FREE JONAS BURGOS MOVEMENTate, government should do something to offset the unintended consequences of these policies and protect the youth.
The Philippines will grow no matter who the President is, but the extent of growth depends on the strength of our institutions and quality of our policies. In 10 to 15 years, our labor force will likely remain young.
How competitive will be the Filipino youth’s skill set in the world? Can we still catch up with richer nations?
It will all depend on how we develop our younger population.
A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental right for every workerMr. Jhon Louie B. Sabal is a graduate student at the Ateneo de Manila University and the former Chairperson of the Department of Economics of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.
SENIOR Deputy Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo is pushing for the passage of a bill replacing the present K to 12 education program in the country covering Kindergarten and 12 years of education with a K + 10 + 2 program covering compulsory Kindergarten and 10 years of basic education with—for those seeking to proceed to professional degree studies such as accounting, engineering, law, medicine— an additional two years of post-secondary, preuniversity education.
I n House Bill 7893, Arroyo said the failure of the K to 12 program to provide its graduates with promised advantages exacerbates the additional burden on parents and students imposed by two additional years of basic education.
I n a country like the Philippines where the poverty incidence is 18 percent, Arroyo said there should be an option for the young to graduate from basic education soonest, after four years of high school, so that they can help their parents in their farms or microbusinesses.
If they want to go on to a professional education, that is when they can prepare themselves by having two years of post-secondary or pre-university education after high school to enhance their chances of succeeding in college or university and onward to professional licensure,” she said.
A ccording to Arroyo, Grades 11 and 12 were added to the country’s basic education program on the assumption that with the two additional years, senior high school (SHS) graduates should be able to
immediately get a job, or put up their own business should they choose not to pursue college.
College grads still preferred
“UNFORTUNATELY, the reality of the market seems to be that the private sector continues to prefer hiring college or university graduates over those who finish the K-to-12 program,” she said.
C iting a December 2020 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Arroyo said only one in five senior high school graduates enter the labor force, with the rest opting to continue with their education.
“Anecdotal evidence indicates that they opt to continue with their education upon realizing that the private sector prefers to hire college or university graduates,” she said.
The PIDS study further revealed that in the labor market, there is no clear advantage or disadvantage [among] SHS graduates compared to [Grade 10] or second year college completers. Furthermore, a 2022 Pulse Asia survey showed that a plurality of 44 percent of Filipinos said they were dissatisfied with the K to 12 (K-
12) system,” said Arroyo.
U nder the bill, the enhanced basic education program encompasses at least one year of kindergarten education, six years of elementary education, and four years of secondary education, in that sequence.
P rovided that, there shall be an additional two years of post-secondary, pre-university education as preparation for professional degree studies.
K indergarten education shall mean one year of preparatory education for children at least five years old as a prerequisite for Grade I, said the bill.
It added elementary education refers to the second stage of compulsory basic education which is composed of six years. The entrant age to this level is typically six years old.
S econdary education refers to the third stage of compulsory basic education. It consists of four years of high school education.
Post-secondary, pre-university education refers to the fourth stage of education, compulsory only as preparation for professional degree studies, according to the measure.
Continued on A5
THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) came up with another record-breaking income performance after it posted a total revenue of P17.70 billion for the first quarter of 2023, surpassing by 42.8 percent its P12.4-billion production during the same period last year.
O f the agency’s P17.70-billion income haul for the first three months of the year, P16.87 billion came from gaming operations. The amount is 49.43 percent higher than the P11.29billion earnings from gaming in 2022.
Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco said the staterun gaming and regulatory firm’s outstanding revenue for the first quarter of the year was fueled by the local gaming industry’s robust performance in 2022.
The local gaming industry picked up from where it left off in 2022, and this is good news for our mandated beneficiaries as it means bigger remittances from us this year,” he explained.
W ith Pagcor’s latest income feat, the agency was able to infuse P10.98 billion to nationbuilding—a huge 50.59-percent
leap from its P7.29-billion total contribution in the first quarter of 2022.
In accordance with the Pagcor Charter and other governing laws, P843.87 million or 5 percent of the agency’s total income haul from January to March (P16.87 billion) went to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as franchise tax, while half of the remaining 95 percent or P8 billion went to the National Treasury as government share. The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), meanwhile, received P15 million.
Pagcor also remitted a total of P400.84 million to the Philippine Sports Commission to fund the training and preparation of the national athletes for various major international sports competitions. It likewise contributed P8.19 million as national athletes and coaches benefits and incentives.
T he agency also made huge contributions to the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice (P12.16 million), the government’s sociocivic programs and its own corporate social responsibility projects (P1.58 billion) and the cities hosting Casino Filipino (P112.92 million).
35.
experience as mandarin chief electric officer, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification:
36.
HE, CHANGKUN Mandarin Chief Officer Brief Job Description: The mandarin chief officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
LI, SHAOJUN Mandarin Chief Officer Brief Job Description: The mandarin chief officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.
Proven experience as mandarin chief officer, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin chief officer, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
37.
LIANG, ZHENGFU Mandarin Chief Officer Brief Job Description: The mandarin chief officer will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
XU, HENGCHAO Mandarin Construction Management Specialist
Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin chief officer, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
38.
Brief Job Description: The mandarin construction management specialist will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
CHEN, SHIGEN Mandarin Cruise Director
Brief Job Description:
39.
The mandarin cruise director will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
Basic Qualification: Proven experience as mandarin construction management specialist, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification:
Proven experience as mandarin cruise director, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Basic Qualification:
40.
ZHONG, ZHENMI Mandarin Cruise Director
Brief Job Description: The mandarin cruise director will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.
Proven experience as mandarin cruise director, with familiarity, knowledge and awareness on machinery and heavy equipment use by company. Demonstrable experience in developing strategic business plan.
Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999
Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Regional Office No. IV-A
4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362 April 28, 2023
NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)
Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s:
1 GAIN CITY SOLUTION PHILIPPINES CORPROATION
GARLAPATI, HARIPRASADA RAO
General Administration Officer
1025, Me Toclong, Toclong Road, Toclong, Kawit, Cavite Brief
3 GAIN CITY SOLUTION PHILIPPINES CORPROATION
1025, Me Toclong, Toclong Road, Toclong, Kawit, Cavite
Job Description:
Attract
potential customers by answering product and service questions by suggesting information about other products and services
NIU, LEI Mandarin Speaking Customer Service Representative
Brief Job Description: Responsible for the services necessary for the smooth running of the organization
Range: Php30,000Php59,999
4 IMASEN PHILIPPINE MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Business
Control
And Production and Inventory
Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999
Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months experience, with good oral and written communication skills, knowledgeable in computer applications
Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999
5 MITSUBISHI POWER (PHILIPPINES) INC. AG&P, Special Economic Zone, San Roque, Bauan, Batangas
34 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.
Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite
35 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.
Island Cove II, Covelandia
LUONG, THI HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative
38 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.
Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite
TRAN DANG HUNG
Vietnamese Customer Service Representative
Brief Job Description:
Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries
TRAN HAU ANH
39 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.
Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite
40 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.
Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite
Vietnamese Customer Service Representative
Brief Job Description:
Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries
TRAN LE THUY
Vietnamese Customer Service Representative
Brief Job Description:
Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries
Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language
Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999
Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language
Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999
Basic Qualification:
Able to speak, read and write Chinese language
Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999
57 SAMSUNG ELECTRO- MECHANICS PHILS. CORP.
Block 5 & 6, Calamba Premiere International Park, Batino, City of Calamba, Laguna
58 TOYOTA TSUSHO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Lot 2, Block 4, Main Road 3, Calamba Premiere Industrial Park, Batino, City of Calamba, Laguna
59 TOYOTA TSUSHO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION Lot 2, Block 4, Main Road 3, Calamba Premiere Industrial Park, Batino, City of Calamba, Laguna
JEONG, MINAH HRD Interpreter
Brief Job Description: Translate conferences and meetings as an Official Translator
KODAMA, NAOYA Sales Coordinator
Brief Job Description: Crates and maintain relationships and partnerships with clients and business partners for the benefit of the company
TSUKAMOTO, KAZUHIKO
Sales Manager
Brief Job Description: Create new local and foreign business for automotive and non-automotive group to achieve corporate goals
Qualification: College graduate with experience in the same field Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999
Basic Qualification: 3 years of work experience in sales and sales administration earned from automotive industry
Salary Range: Php500,000 and above
Basic Qualification: Work experience in sales and sales administration earned from automotive and nonautomotive industry, high level of fluency in speaking and writing Japanese
Salary Range: Php500,000 and above
Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE Regional Office IV-A located at 3rd and 4th Floors, Andenson Building II, Parian, Calamba City, Laguna, within 30 days after this publication.
Please inform DOLE Regional Office IV-A if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.
By authority of the Regional Director:
Friday, April 28, 2023
By VG Cabuag @villygc
Under the proposed adjusted rates, the SeC will raise the penalty by 20 percent from the base penalty per offense. t he monetary penalty will be imposed on a per report and per year basis.
t he agency on April 26 issued for public comment draft guidelines on the updated scale of fines for the late and non-submission of audited financial statements and general information sheet, as well as noncompliance with SeC Memorandum Circular (MC) no. 28, Series of 2020.
t he proposal to increase fines follows the Se C ’s grant of amnesty to non-compliant and suspended and revoked corporations under Se C Memorandum Circular no. 2, Series of 2023, which gave corpo-
rations a chance to avail of lower fines and penalties for the late and non-filing of their AFS, GIS, and MC 28 report.
t he scale of penalties will be based on the retained earnings for domestic stock corporations, fund balance for domestic non-stock corporations, and accumulated income for foreign stock corporations, including branches, representative offices, and regional headquarters, as well as foreign non-stock corporations.
t he proposed guidelines provide that the base penalty for the late filing of reportorial requirements for domestic stock and non-stock corporations with retained earnings of less than p100,000 is at p5,000 for
the first offense and up to p9,000 for the fifth offense.
t he SeC will also impose a p1,000 monthly fine for every month of continuing violation. non-filing of reportorial requirements will incur fines amounting to p10,000 for the first offense up to p18,000 for the fifth offense both domestic stock and non-stock corporations with retained earnings of less than p100,000. Continuing violation will result in an additional fine of p1,000 per month.
Meanwhile, the base penalty for late filing of reports by foreign stock corporations with an accumulated income of less than p100,000 is at p10,000 for the first offense, up to p18,000 for the fifth offense, plus p1,000 per month of continuing violation.
t he fine is lower for foreign nonstock corporations with the same accumulated income, which will in-
cur fines worth p5,000 for the first offense up to p9,000 for the fifth offense, plus p1,000 per month of continuing violation.
t he lowest penalty for foreign stock and non-stock corporations for the non-filing of reportorial requirements will be at p10,000 for the first offense, up to p18,000 for the fifth offense.
Meanwhile, a fine of p20,000 will be imposed on those who fail to comply with MC 28.
In addition to the monetary fines that will be imposed, the SeC may declare a corporation under delinquent status in case of failure to submit reportorial requirements for 3 times consecutively or intermittently within 5 years.
A fourth offense may also constitute a revocation of a corporation’s registration if it has been given reasonable notice regarding its delinquent status.
Property developer DoubleDragon Corp. on t h ursday said its unit Hotel101 Global p t e. Ltd. will open a branch in Madrid, Spain after it signed an agreement to purchase 6,593 square meters of commercial land in the Spanish capital.
Hotel101-Madrid will have about 736 rooms and will be the company’s first development in e u rope. t h e usual Hotel101 facilities will also be available, such as an all-day dining restaurant that will be concessionaire-operated, a business center, swimming pool and a fitness gym as well as com-
mercial space for a 24 hour convenience store.
t h e company said it expects sales revenue of about €143.3 million or about p 8 .8 billion from the Hotel101-Madrid project given the high real estate investment demand in Madrid due to the Spanish Golden Visa. t h e Hotel101-Madrid site in
Avenida Fuerzas Armadas, Valdebebas, Madrid is surrounded by major landmark buildings.
It is a 3-minute walk to the Valdebebas tr ain Station, a 4-minute walk to the IF e M A convention complex, 5 minutes away from r e al Madrid Sports Complex and 7 minutes away from the new Madrid Barajas International Airport.
Hotel101-Madrid is set to become one of the top 5 largest hotels in Madrid, Spain. It is also set to become the first homegrown Filipino hotel chain to enter Spain.
“DoubleDragon’s vision for Hotel101 to become world-class in all standards and create job opportunities to Filipinos who reside in the p h ilippines or abroad, and bring a pinch of pride and honor to each and every Filipino from anywhere around the world where Hotel101 will eventually locate and operate,” the company said. VG Cabuag
B1
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
Open S IG n A L on t hursday said the mobile experience landscape in the p h ilippines “has significantly shifted,” as Globe dominated the awards list of the crowdsourcing analytics company.
According to the first quarter Mobile n e twork e x perience r e port of o p ensignal, Globe users have the best experience when streaming video, playing multiplayer mobile games, and using voice apps—both overall and on 5G.
“Globe has managed a remarkable feat—replacing Smart as the outright winner for all three overall experiential awards [for] Video e x perience, Games e x perience, Voice App e x perience,” the report read.
Likewise, Globe was the sole winner of the corresponding 5G experience awards, as it retained the 5G Video e x perience win from the last report, and likewise won the 5G Games e x perience and 5G Voice App e x perience outright.
Smart, however, continued to be the “outright winner” of both Download Speed e x perience and 5G Download Speed awards.
“It wins Download Speed e xp erience with a score of 25.3Mbps—2.6Mbps or 11.2 percent faster than Dito’s 22.8Mbps and 9.1Mbps or 56 percent ahead of Globe’s score of 16.2 Mbps. Smart users saw the fastest average 5G
download speeds—133.2Mbps, 22.5Mbps faster than Globe users’ 110.8Mbps,” the report read.
Meanwhile, Dito users, according to the report, “have the most consistent experience in the p h ilippines.”
t h e p h ilippines’s newest mobile operator has knocked Smart off the top spot for e x cellent Consistent Quality and replaced Globe as the outright winner of the Core Consistent Quality award.
Dito won the e x cellent Consistent Quality with a score of 58.8 percent and a lead of 2.1 percentage points over Smart. o n Core Consistent Quality, Dito led by a similar margin, with a score of 79.9 percent compared to Globe’s 77.7 percent.
n o netheless, Smart retained the 5G Availability, 5G r e ach, and 4G Coverage e x perience awards under its belt.
“
t h is means that our Smart 5G users spend the greatest proportion of their time connected to 5G, Smart users also find 5G in the most locations of all they visit, with Smart scoring 4.7 points on a 10-point scale for 5G r e ach— ahead of Globe’s 4 points,” the report read.
Smart users also found it the easiest to get 4G signals, connecting to 4G in most locations out of all those visited by Filipino users.
Smart won the 4G Coverage e x perience with a score of 8.2 points on a 10-point scale, narrowly ahead of Globe’s 8.1 points, while Dito, with 5 points.
Con C e p C I o n Industrial Corp. (CIC), the maker of air cooling products and refrigerators, said its income in the first quarter reached p93.2 million, three times higher than the p30.6 million recorded last year despite slow sales. net sales fell 7 percent to p2.9 billion from the previous year, partly as a result of the late onset of the hot dry season, phasing in of new models and the impact of inflationary pressures which slowed down market demand.
t he consumer segment generated net sales of p2.1 billion during the quarter, 8 percent lower against last year’s level. “We expect sales performance to improve for the rest of the year with new product introductions, as well as distribution expansion activities. We will continue to pursue cost efficiency measures in order to sustain profitable growth,” company chairman and Ceo r aul Joseph A. Concepcion said. VG Cabuag
FILI n V e S t Land Inc. (FLI) announced the concurrent appointment of its president, tr istan Las Marias, as chief executive officer (C e o) during the company’s organizational meeting held on April 24.
Josephine Gotianun yap, president and Ceo of Filinvest Development Corp. (FDC), who has held the position in FLI for 11 years, has passed on the torch fully confident of Las Marias’ ability to continue the legacy and mission of FDC’s real estate subsidiary. “I have worked closely with tr istan and have no doubt that his leadership and unwavering dedication to our vision and organization will not only enable us to grow as planned, but more importantly, accelerate innovations that will take our real estate business to the next level.”
A 27-year veteran of FLI, Las Marias has been instrumental in the company’s stronghold in Visayas and Mindanao under his leadership as VisMin Business Group Head. He led p u blic- p r ivate
projects such as FLI’s 50-hectare City di Mare town-
ship in Cebu. He was Head of the r e sidential Business and the Chief Strategy o f ficer before he became p r esident in 2022.
Las Marias graduated from the Advanced Management p r ogram of the Harvard Business School.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Management e c onomics from the Ateneo de Manila University.
“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with the role of both p r esident and C e o I look forward to working with the FLI management team, most of whom I’ve worked with for many years, to unlock our company’s full potential. t h is year, our priorities are to sustain the growth of our core businesses, optimize the returns from our assets, unlock land values through township developments, and develop additional sources of revenues from new businesses,” Las Marias said.
“As we build the Filipino dream, we are prioritizing sustainability, making it a part of the way we do business. o u r efforts also aim to ensure that we protect the interests of our homebuyers and our tenants, as well as our business partners, shareholders, stakeholders, and the communities we operate in,” added Las Marias.
t h e appointment of Las Marias comes at a pivotal period as the company explores new growth opportunities amidst advancing technology and a constantly evolving market landscape.
The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) is increasing the fines and penalties to be imposed on corporations for the late submission and non-filing of certain annual reports, in an effort to boost compliance with reportorial requirements.
In the membership lifecycle framework, member engagement is in between member recruitment and member retention.
For me, it’s the most challenging task of an association professional.
If you imagine the work (and challenges) involved in the membership aspect of association management to be that of a diamond-shaped figure, then member engagement will be at the center and the biggest area.
Member engagement actually starts during prospecting and accelerates when a member joins. It must be sustained during membership; otherwise, retaining the member will be difficult. (For more on member engagement, please refer to my column of March 15, 2017 https://businessmirror. com.ph/2017/03/15/associationmembership-life-cycle/)
I was excited to learn more on the subject from Amanda Lea Kaiser, member engagement speaker and strategist at U.S.-based Kaiser Insights LLC and author of Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating Thriving Member Communities. Here are my key takeaways from Amanda’s recent presentation at a session organized by the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE):
1. Engagement is getting harder. People are busy. In fact, they are getting busier and busier than before. In the context of associations, all the members that you are trying to engage with, feel exactly the same way. They are busy at work, at home, and at every slice of life between those two places. This busyness, this universal lack of time, is changing the nature of engagement.
2. There is a new formula for engagement. Given this new time-strapped reality, there is need for a new mindset to engage members. Amanda’s formula is simple: Engagement = va lue + Experience. Most associations are incredibly focused on value. They mostly assume that value is synonymous with engagement. But there’s another whole element to leverage on: experience. Experiences trigger emotions, and emotions start the engagement engine. Members will be more willing to engage when they feel the organization is, among others, friendly, warm, kind, open, and generous. Experiences warm new members up so they can begin to perceive the value the association has to offer them.
I found this quote in the article, “Logic vs. Emotions: w h ich is Better” by Marc Shulman in the Long Island Philosophy website: “Logic is, by default, a method of making decisions that uses sound and rational decision-making to find the best conclusion. Emotions, on the other hand, are true feeling. If logic is the brain, emotion is the heart, and the heart is where happiness is…love and embrace your emotions, but have a strong sense of logic as well.”
So this is why Amanda’s formula works as it combines both logic (value) and emotion (experience)—the “secret sauce” of member engagement.
Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@ pcaae.org.
Speaking during the 16th Philippine Insurance Summit at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City on wednesday afternoon, the DOST chief cited the need “to scale up the widest possible cooperation and multi-lateral collaboration for climate action and disaster resilience and to use technology and innovations to safeguard the country’s economic gains, while saving lives in times of disasters.”
“Let the climate and disaster data settle in. Let science and technology be central in our realization of building climate and disaster resilience,”
Solidum told 320 participants representing close to a hundred insurance companies and organizations of insurance companies.
SOLIDUM emphasized that climate
change poses major risks for development in the Philippines.
“Climate shocks, whether in the form of extreme weather events or slow-onset trends—will hamper economic activities, damage infrastructure and induce deep social disruptions. nothing undermines development like disasters. Disasters can destroy decades of progress in an instant. This is why it is crucial that in our development agenda, we understand, prevent, mitigate and manage climate and disaster risks,” said the Science and Technology Secretary.
Citing the recently-launched “PH Climate and Development Report,” Solidum stressed that 1.2 percent to as much as 4.6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is lost annually due to the damages brought upon by typhoons.
Meanwhile, in the “ world Risk
Report 2022,” Solidum noted the Philippines placed the highest among 193 nations in the world risk index as the country most at risk and exposed to natural hazards and the adverse effects of climate change. He noted that the report covered elements of exposure, vulnerability, susceptibility, lack of coping capacity and lack of adaptive capacities, where the Philippines gained very high classifications according to projections based on the last 20 years.
“This means that we are most prone to experience naturally occurring hazards including the impacts of Climate Change,” he said.
PDP
THE DOST Secretary pointed to the Philippine Development Plan 20232028 (PDP) as the country’s roadmap to becoming climate-resilient and disaster-resilient amidst these threats.
“In the new [PDP], there’s a dedicated chapter on ‘Accelerating Climate Action’ and ‘Strengthening Disaster Resilience.’ This reflects the overall strategic direction of the current administration to protect the environment and for people to mitigate and adapt,” he said.
Solidum cited the targeted outcomes where the DOST’s current efforts are aligned: increased climate and disaster risk resilience of communities and institutions; enhancement of ecosystem resilience; and, just transition to a low carbon economy.
“In the recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it recognized how human
activities greatly contributed to the change in climate. Thus, the need to transition to renewable energy solutions,” he added.
Science, innovations
SOLIDUM said the DOST has developed applications using technology to harness science, governance and “disaster imagination” and localization such as the “GeoRisk Philippines.”
An innovative geospatial integrated platform developed by the DOST in cooperation with other mandated government agencies, “GeoRisk Philippines” aims to harmonize information, gather and share multi-hazards information, to improve the vulnerability and risk assessments and disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery planning.
“The vision of the multi-agency ‘GeoRisk Philippines’ is to be the country’s central source of information for hazards and risk assessment, in order to help the government, increase Filipinos’ resilience to natural hazards,” he said.
Meanwhile, another technology developed by the DOST is the “GeoAnalyticsPH.” This technology provides visualization and hazards assessments of local government unit (LGU)-level land area, population and related exposure information, such as schools and health facilities.
The “GeoAnalyticsPH” produces a rain-induced landslide assessment for the city of Cebu.
Another publicly-available platform is the “HazardHunterPH,” which provides site-specific seismic-
related, volcanic-related and hydrometeorological-related hazards. The system is also capable of producing a comprehensive report that explains what the hazard means and what recommendations can be given to the users. All the information comes from the government agencies.
Lastly, the DOST has the “PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild” web application that aims to streamline the processes in releasing funds for rehabilitation and recovery by allowing the LGU to auto-generate their rehabilitation and recovery plans.
Insurance
In T ERv I E w ED by the BusinessMirror after his talk, Solidum said science and technology, particularly those that deal with climate change and disaster risk reduction, are useful tools for both the insurer and their potential clients.
“Actually, we have been a longtime partner with the insurance industry in terms of exposure database development and risk assessment,” Solidum told this newspaper. “In fact, they actually need our projections and the tools when they evaluate and develop services or new ways of insuring the different sectors for life and the assets of businesses.”
Essentially, he said insurers need the science, data and information gathered by the DOST in the way they formulate the premiums for their insurance.
In the process, he said, “the people who need financial protection will be protected while the insurance companies also profit from it.”
AYALA-LED Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the oldest bank in the country, remains bullish about the domestic economy amid rate hikes and global uncertainties.
In a briefing last Thursday, BPI President and CEO Jose Teodoro K. Limcaoco told reporters that the consumptiondriven Philippine economy is expected to post high growth as observed in the “robust” performance of the bank’s corporate and consumer loan businesses.
Limcaoco noted their non-performing loans also remained muted.
In the first quarter, BPI saw its net income surge 52 percent in the first quarter of 2023 which it attributed to its “solid performance” during the period.
(Full story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2023/04/21/credit-card-securities-trade-segments-boost-bpisincome-to-p12-1b-in-q1/)
“Two years ago, people were worried that balance sheets would have been destroyed by the pandemic; it seems not and the spending continues to remain strong. The Philippines is a consumer-led economy and that’s why we think, that’s why I personally think that the economy will remain strong,” Limcaoco said.
Key challenge
HOw E v E R, the executive said managing expectations would require ensuring that the execution of its plans for the year will be carried out.
Limcaoco admitted that factors beyond the control of the bank and the government remain threats to the economy this year.
“I think the key challenge for us is executing. w hen you look at the macro, we’re relatively sanguine. Obviously, things you can’t control—things like external issues, things that are happen-
ing in Europe, you need to watch it; you need to be prepared for it. For us, we are being very focused in executing on the strategies,” Limcaoco said.
In terms of loan growth, the bank expects to see its first-quarter numbers which showed a growth of 13 percent, sustained throughout the year. The figure, notably, is slightly lower than the 14-percent booked last year but remains above the industry average.
The bank also expects delinquencies to be well-managed this year. Limcaoco said they have provisioned P1 billion for these loans. The figure is significantly lower than the loan-provisioning of around P2.5 billion.
FOR its fundraising activities, the bank intends to refinance a portion of its $600-million fund maturities through a syndicated loan rather than a public offering to avoid volatile market conditions that are affecting financial markets, according to Limcaoco. The rest of the maturing bonds this year will be covered by existing funds.
For its consumer segment, Limcaoco pointed to the lender’s “future-ready” mobile app. The new app offers online check deposits and an artificial intelligence-backed system for the user’s savings and spending.
The lender will also open its first “phygital” branch next month in Agoo, La Union. According to BPI Consumer Banking Head Maria Cristina L. Go, this is going to be the first branch of 25 that BPI intends to open this year.
Go said the “phygital”—portmanteau of physical and digital—branch accommodates manual and online transactions. She simply put this as being “consumer-centric.” “ w h at you will see in the ‘phygital’ bank, moving forward, is several
Lhuillier Financial Services (Pawnshops) Inc. (M. Lhuillier), two other remitting firms earlier authorized by GSIS to accept loan payments from its members.
Like Bayad and M. Lhuillier, USSC will soon receive advanced GSIS loan payments as well as for those that are underpaid, delayed, unpaid or are already in default (unpaid for more than six months).
new things. One would be when you go into the branch, you will be met by a concierge who will ask you what kind of transaction you will conduct and redirect you to either a person or to another new feature, which will be a self-assisted area where you will have the usual ATMs and have access to the online set-up,” Go said.
BPI will also be “very active” in providing financing to many of the country’s companies this year who are already raising funds for their various undertakings, Limcaoco said. Some areas that the bank intends to serve this year include data centers where it sees some financial activities coming this year.
The newly-launched mobile app adds to several online platforms the lender has started last year. Each of these platforms target specific segments: small and medium enterprises (BizKo); retail clients (BPI Mobile and BPI Online); stock market investors (BPI Trade Online); self-employed micro-entrepreneurs (BanKo); corporate clients (BizLink); and, for general lifestyle and payment ( vybe).
The bank also established “Agency Banking,” which will enable a network of partners composed of department stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, gas stations and online partners to serve customers through technologyenabled infrastructure.
The lender also launched the BPI Flagship Store on the Lazada platform, where clients can open a deposit account, apply for an auto loan, a mortgage loan or a credit card. The lender said users can soon buy insurance and investment products through the platform owned and operated by Chinese multinational technology company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3MAYOR Mar-len Abigail “Abby”
S. Binay announced last Thursday that the Makati City local government achieved 72 percent of its full-year revenue target of about P17.84 billion in the first quarter after its total collection reached nearly P13 billion (P12.93 billion).
Based on the latest revenue report from the Office of the City Treasurer, Binay said the city topped its collection for the same period last year by 18 percent.
“By all indications, Makati is well on its way to full recovery from the pandemic. Once again, we are seeing double-digit growth in our total revenue collection as brisk business in the city attracts more new investors, while driving current businesses to expand,” the mayor was quoted in a statement as saying.
She added she’s “heartened by the remarkable results” of the reforms and innovations the LGU has done to make their systems and processes “more efficient, transparent and sustainable.”
According to a report by City Treasurer Jesusa E. Cuneta, business tax collection increased by 33 percent or a total of P7.07 billion as of end-March, compared to P5.27 billion in March 2022. The amount collected is also 71 percent of the full-year target of P9.90 billion for business tax.
Cuneta said collection from real property tax also increased by six percent with P4.84 billion collected, which is already 101 percent of target for the entire year.
THE City Treasurer also noted increased collection from business tax
paid through the city’s 2-year-old online assessment and payment portal. From P6.11 million recorded in the first quarter of 2022, online business tax payments nearly quadrupled with P28.92 million collected as of end-March, according to Cuneta. Other local revenue sources include “fees and charges” with P441.53 million and “economic enterprises” with P100.15 million. From other sources, the city got P417.9 million in national tax allotment (n TA), P30.8 million as share from The Philippine Economic Zone Authority and P83.89 million from “interest income.”
Based on the records of the Business Permits Office (BPO), there were 1,343 new business registrants in the first quarter of the year. Their combined capital investment reached over P5.9 billion. A total of 34,436 businesses renewed their business permits and reported combined sales of over P1.64 trillion in 2022.
Binay said she expects more positive outcomes from ongoing efforts of her administration to effect digital transformation in local governance and public service in Makati. The mayor said digital transformation “is indispensable to our successful transition to a veritable smart city–climate resilient, sustainable both economically and ecologically and genuinely inclusive.”
To date, Makati remains among few local government units in the country that are not dependent on the n TA (formerly called Internal Revenue Allotment or IRA).
Since 2016, the city government has implemented reforms to facilitate business registration and promote transparency, including an aggressive campaign against fixers.
providers to more than 10,000 outlets.
ways to further improve our loan collection efficiency,” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. veloso was quoted in a statement his office issued last Thursday. According to veloso, the GSIS has collected more than P346 million for 33,224 transactions through Bayad and M. Lhuillier as of April 24.
ments through their GSIS Touch mobile app account.
GSIS’s accredited external payment sites, including the 6,000 branches of CIS Bayad Center Inc. (Bayad) and Michel J.
“This will encourage our borrowers with arrears to update their accounts conveniently. This is also one of the
The official added that GSIS is already in talks with Paragua Pawnshop and Financial Services Inc. (Palawan Pawnshop) and SM Corp. to bring the total accredited external service payment
GSIS borrowers may pay at the nearest USSC outlets and fill out a form with their last name, business partner (BP) number, loan type, and payment amount, he said. The validated USSC form will serve as proof of payment. GSIS loan borrowers who pay through any of USSC’s payment sites will receive a transaction slip to confirm receipt of their payment and a text message on the posting of their payment. They may also validate their pay-
“The key driver that USSC strives for is financial inclusion in servicing our customers using effective technology, harness that with the strength of our distribution network to provide customers and beneficiaries with efficient, hassle-free, and pain-free service,” USSC Chief Finance and Administrative Officer Carlos M. Borromeo was quoted in the statement as saying. “ we hope to extend the same service to GSIS.”
U. Solidum highlighted the importance of science and technology and its application in developing a comprehensive insurance policy in disaster-prone areas and in the face of extreme events triggered by climate change.
Makati’s total
company USSC tapped
SOCIAL media can be mentally draining. And when mentally drained, you are more likely to be influenced by a high number of likes on posts—even to the point of clicking on ads for products you don’t need or want—according to our recent experiments on how social media affects behavior.
As a professor of advertising, I have studied socialmedia behavior for years. In late 2022, my colleague Eric Haley and I conducted three online studies on Americans aged 18 to 65 to test how people under various mental loads respond to ads differently.
The control group in each study was given no introductory task—we just had them look at an ad. A second group had to memorize a nine-digit number and then look at the ad. The third group scrolled through their Instagram feed for 30 seconds and then looked at the ad. The first study used an ad for a meal prep service, the second was for ice cream and the third was for coffee beans.
The ad photo and caption were the same for everyone in each group, with only the number of likes manipulated. Participants randomly saw an ad with a few hundred likes or tens of thousands of likes.
After viewing the ad, each participant rated how willing they would be to buy the product, and how much mental effort it took to think about the information. The group that used Instagram first
were the most likely to want to buy the featured product when there were lots of likes or comments, and they also reported using the most mental effort to assess the ad.
In one study we asked people to explain why they wanted to buy a product, and those in the control group gave simple, rational answers for their choice: “I was thinking of the ice cream flavors and how they would taste.” Or, “I like the ad. It is simple and clean. It gets straight to the point...”
However, those who had just scrolled social media for 30 seconds often gave answers that made no sense. For example, some gave one-word answers like “food” or “plate.” Others explicitly told us it was difficult to process: “It had too many words and options in the picture.”
Researchers refer to this mentally exhausted state as “cognitive overload.” Using social media puts you in this state because you are constantly evaluating different types of text, photo and video posts from so many different people. In the span of several seconds you can see a text from your spouse, a photo from a coworker, a video from a celebrity and a meme from your brother. All of this scrolling and evaluating leaves us feeling frazzled and scattered.
Imagine asking your roommate if they want to go get pizza. Under normal conditions, the roommate might consider several factors such as cost, hunger, timing or their schedule. Now imagine asking your roommate the same question while they are on the phone with a sick relative after having stepped in dog
DID you know that you spend 90,000 of your waking hours—roughly a third of your life—at work? Moreover, if you sit behind an office desk anywhere between four to nine hours a day, you would be devoting about two months in a year exclusively to chair time, say researchers who did the math. Given that so much of people’s time is allotted to their jobs, it’s vital for bosses and business owners to prioritize the health and wellbeing of their workforce.
“Companies that put a premium on employees’ overall health and wellness can expect fewer sick leaves. They also create a positive working environment and boost employee satisfaction and engagement. When employees are happy, they not only work more productively and efficiently— which is good for business—they tend to stay in the company longer,” says Joel
A. de la Rosa, MD, a cardiologist of top health institution Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph).
Implementing health and wellness initiatives in the workplace doesn’t have to be complicated or pricey. As MakatiMed points out, it can in fact be fun and benefit both management and the rank-and-file. Here are simple yet effective ways to improve workforce wellness:
■ PROMOTE EXERCISE. What’s not to like about exercise? It keeps you in shape, releases mood-lifting hormones, reduces stress, develops relationships, and enhances memory and concentration—all
Eugenia Last
CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS
DAY: Jessica Alba, 42; Penelope Cruz, 49; Jay Leno, 73; Ann-Margret, 82.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Take stock before you start again. Don’t count on others when you should do the work yourself. You have plenty to gain, but it will take ingenuity and doing or overseeing the work yourself. Put your energy where it will bring the highest return. Place your emotions on the back burner to ensure they don’t interfere with your progress. Keep your cash and belongings someplace safe. Your numbers are 7, 18, 21, 29, 32, 35, 46.
poop and they also just got a text from their ex while remembering they were late for work. They no longer have the mental energy or resources to logically consider whether pizza for dinner is a good idea. They might just yell “Yeah, sure!” while running inside to clean their shoes.
The one exception to this is when a person has a lot of experience, history or knowledge with the particular product or idea. When this is the case, they are able to think about whether they will actually benefit from buying the advertised item.
We confirmed this in the experiment with the ad for coffee beans. In general, coffee lovers will carefully consider many factors—type of bean, roast level, country of origin and more. So even when these people were in a mental fog, they were not persuaded by ads with high metrics.
By understanding how they might be influenced by social media in unconscious ways, consumers can be more thoughtful and deliberate in regulating their use—and hopefully not buy yet another water bottle they don’t need.
We don’t yet know which social media platforms are the most draining.
Media-rich environments like TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube are presumably the most mentally taxing because they have text, photos, videos, animations and sound—often all at once and overlapping. These platforms are also where advertisers spend a lot of money, as they offer a high return on investment for brands THE CONVERSATION
of which affect work output in a good way.
“Ask employees what they’re interested in. Maybe they want to form walking or running groups, play basketball or bike together,” De la Rosa says.
“Turn a conference room into a workout place and hire a yoga or Zumba instructor to lead classes a couple of times a week. Since almost everyone has a smartwatch or can install a pedometer in their smartphones, you can organize a friendly challenge on stepping up your steps and targeting 10,000 per day.” New research shows that walking 10,000 steps a day has been linked to less cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia.
MakatiMed even had its own “Step Up Your Steps” program under its Cardiology department, with employees being encouraged to target the number daily, and some nifty prizes as incentives for them to reach their goals.
■ SUPPORT HEALTHY EATING HABITS.
“Provide a water cooler in the pantry to resist the urge to step out for a calorie-rich coffee or milk tea. Swap salty and sweet snacks like chips and donuts served during brainstorming sessions and replace them with fresh fruits or nuts,” De la Rosa advises.
According to MakatiMed, you can take this further by launching Meatless Mondays, wherein everybody becomes vegetarian for a day, or host a catered vegetarian buffet in the office, to show staffers that going meatfree can be delicious too.
■ RESPECT PERSONAL TIME. E-mails and messaging apps have made work encroach on our out-of-office lives, so much so that it’s become almost automatic to squeeze in a request for an employee to finish a report overnight or over the weekend.
“Once employees clock out for the day or week, their time is theirs. Allow them to spend it the way they want,” De la Rosa says. “Time off from work relaxes and recharges the body, mind and spirit; it makes one look forward to a new work week ahead. Give your employees this luxury.”
■ LISTEN. If there’s one thing all
employees appreciate, it’s being told that they are valued and needed. The health institution underlines that knowing management recognizes them for the work they do motivates them to do better.
Establish an open-door policy among employees. Schedule meetings with each of them and ask them about their professional goals and what the company can do to help them grow. Hear them out on how the company or business can be better.
“Open, honest discussions clear the air and establish a healthy relationship between an employer and employees, De la Rosa says.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Keep a low profile; if you are too outspoken, you’ll argue with someone you love. Choose to prioritize health, fitness and healthy eating, and make personal growth your target. A kind gesture will enhance your relationship with someone special. ★★★★★
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Stop thinking about change and do whatever it takes to get the ball rolling. Focus on your surroundings and make them more inviting. How you live represents who you are. Organize your life to fulfill your expectations. Avoid emotional confrontations. ★★
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone will lead you astray if you are too trusting. Listen carefully and decide what’s true or false. Set a budget for home improvement projects that create a safe and friendly environment. Control your emotions and keep your thoughts to yourself. ★★★★
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Gather information, talk with experts and devise a plan that fits into your schedule and budget. Emotional situations will arise that will make it difficult for you to confide or work alongside someone. Keep your goals to yourself and do your own thing. ★★★
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Get the lowdown before you share your thoughts and feelings. You’ll make a mistake if you are too quick to respond. Make plans with someone who lifts your spirits, and you’ll gain perspective regarding your strengths and weaknesses. ★★★
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your health and personal well-being first. Letting workrelated stress wear you down will significantly affect you physically, emotionally or financially. Curb bad habits and implement a healthier lifestyle. ★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stifle problems before they become something you can’t manage. Set the record straight and do whatever it takes to keep the peace. A creative opportunity or traveling will be what you need to lift your spirits. ★★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep your emotions contained. Consistency will be the best way to manage situations involving partners. Engage in events or entertainment that take your mind off work, and an exciting opportunity will give you hope for a better future. ★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t gamble or take a financial risk. Avoid big-ticket items and spending to make an impression. Use charm, not cash, to win hearts and praise. Uncertainty will prevail and confusion will arise if you trust and believe everything you hear. ★★★★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take care of work-related responsibilities before you move on to fun and games. Consider what’s important to you and arrange to spend quality time with someone you love. Avoid anyone who tends to overdo it or takes advantage of you. ★★★
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Communication problems are apparent. Think before you respond, and be mindful of your words. A kind gesture will get you much further than harsh criticism. Choose peace and love over discord. Concentrate on self-improvement. ★★★
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Handle money, medical and legal matters quickly. Updates, payments and persistent symptoms left unattended will leave you vulnerable. Trust your instincts, ask questions and verify the information to ensure you get the proper care. ★★★
BIRTHDAY BABY:
You are sensitive, flexible and energetic. You are imaginative and determined.
THE title is too much—
Dreams: The Life, Times and Legend of James Dean. It crams into that space beauty and sorrow and that terrible word, legend, to spell out a life that is destined for doom and yet not just nothingness. For in the life of James Dean, his death is really just the beginning of a long, wondrous career but without him, the body.
But I quite love the words “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. Cinematic, they bring back the sheen of an age burnished by sensuality, of illicit affairs, or of loves that are crossed—cursed—under the stars. It is also the title of a song covered in the late ‘50s by Tony Bennett, in that nearly over-the-top rendition requiring an open diaphragm and a vocal chord ready to whip out those harsh, hard notes.
I did choose this bio of James Dean because of that title.
The book written by Paul Alexander is revealing.
With more than 60 photographs, the book requires the reader to revel in the images of James Dean, the actor whose face and posture and moods have influenced generations including his and the many that followed after the actor’s death. The photos are a treasure for photographers as they capture James Dean in poses that have become a template for models and ads. It appears that before the release of East of Eden, Warner Bros wanted publicity shots of James Dean. The actor himself dreamt of having his images on Life Magazine, then the magazine that indicated success for any actor or celebrity on the rise.
Roy Schatt was contacted by James Dean to take his photo. Inspected by Life Magazine editors, the editors told Schatt they wanted more masculine photos. The duo soon plunged into a series of photo sessions with the hope that they would create a new image for Dean. According to Paul Alexander in the bio, “the photos that came out of this session would be “some of the most dark and sensual ever taken of Dean.”
Still no Life
The actor would soon meet Dennis Stock, who followed him to his hometown in Fairmount and produced some of the most iconic images produced about Dean. In this portfolio was that most famous photo of the actor, as described in Boulevard of Broken Dreams, actually the last shot of Stock. In it, “Jimmy is walking down Times Square in the rain. Bundled in a heavy black overcoat, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his face darkened by shadows, Dean looks off to the left. The large glassy puddle through which he is walking is broken here and there by tiny drops of rain.”
No foreboding of death ever manifests in those photos, even in that one where he sits inside a coffin.
Most of these photos were taken in February 1955. On March 10 of that year, his film East of Eden would be previewed.
On September 30, 1955, James Dean was dead. He was killed in a car crash. He was 24 years old.
The scene of the accident and the moments before preceding the crash are graphically presented in the book. The actor broke his neck and he was found with his “body slung over the passenger seat.”
Two pastors would be present during Dean’s funeral, including James DeWeerd, an individual the reader would encounter at the beginning of the biography: “Indeed, over a number of years, De Weerd and Jimmy had a romantic relationship that regularly included sex.” DeWeerd later would say “Jimmy never mentioned our relationship nor did I,” this he would tell a newspaper years later, as the bio puts it.
By October of 1955, Jimmy Dean was not yet that big. But letters started to pour in. In the funeral, the father of the young actor intimated how he did not want another Valentino, a reference to the mad obsession around the actor after his death. But then, East of Eden, where Dean had second billing only to Julie Harris, was released and, for the first time, he got real publicity. The major mainstream magazines had notices about Dean—Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Look and Life James Dean had become, as the title to one chapter shows, Valentino Redux.
Francois Truffauit, writing for Cinema Cahiers,
MADRID—Meryl Streep has won one of Spain’s most prestigious awards in the arts for her long career of acting excellence, the jury of the Princess of Asturias awards said on Wednesday.
The jury said that in her nearly five decades onscreen, Streep has “developed a brilliant career that given life to full and complex feminine characters which inspire reflection and a critical spirit in the spectator.”
The 73-year-old actor has won multiple accolades, including three Oscars for her work in Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice and The Iron Lady. The €50,000 ($55,000) award is one of eight prizes covering the arts, communication, science and other areas that are handed out annually by the foundation named for Spanish Crown Princess Leonor.
Flamenco musical artists Carmen Linares and María Pagés won the arts award last year. Other past winners include English director Peter Brook, and American directors Martin Scorsese
and Francis Ford Coppola. The prizes are among the most prestigious in the Spanish-speaking world. The awards ceremony takes place each October in the northern Spanish city of Oviedo. AP
defines James Dean as cinema, following the destiny of Lilian Gish, Chaplin, Ingrid Bergman. The book states how, by the 1980s, he [James Dean] along with Elvis and Marilyn Monroe had become three of the most popular cultural figures in the United States and all over the world.
By the time of James Dean’s death, only one film of his had been released. The letters to his studio had not stopped. There were two more films that had not yet been released. These were Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. To Warner Bros. it was clear their ads had to change; their actor cannot be addressed anymore in the present tense. When Rebel without a Cause was released, it was clear the world had found a new star, a new actor. The comparison could not be avoided: James Dean was better or as good as Marlon Brando. Boulevard of Broken Dreams opens with a chapter with this paragraph: “Think of him now and we see what has become a cliché. Dressed in a pair of blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a red nylon zip-up jacket, he stands hunched over slightly with his head cocked to one side, his eyes squinted just so, his hands stuffed in his front packets.”
In those times, this was new. James Dean had provided a face to the youth unable to stop themselves from fighting societies at the cusp of change. For the curious, the bio is famous for the nude— full frontal—of James Dean who, to the end, was indeed a rebel. n
THE government official’s lover is reportedly being accused of assaulting a minor. The official’s in-laws (yes, she is married), who have disapproved of her from the beginning, are horrified. The government official and her husband have an open marriage and her lover is tolerated by her spouse. It’s not yet clear what the official’s husband stand on the matter but there are rumors that money has changed hands and no complaints will be filed against the wife’s lover. In public, the government official and her husband seem
DURING a recent social event, a married actor met his ex-girlfriend with his wife present. After the party, there were a lot of blind items about the actor looking at his ex longingly, even in front of the wife. According to eyewitnesses, no such thing happened. While the exes were cordial with each other, it seemed clear to everyone that past is past, and no one looked longingly at anyone. But the wife was annoyed, not at her husband nor his ex, but at those who insinuated at things that never happened.
IN the maritime industry, there are those who are called “babaeng akyat barko” and these women are said to be part of the sex trade. There’s an upscale version of “akyat barko” and they’re the so-called “yacht girls.”
These girls are models or Instagram influencers who are reportedly paid hefty amounts of money when they accompany rich (not necessarily old) men in yachts. These girls are well-educated and articulate, aside from being gorgeous. It will be recalled that years ago, a Filipino model, who graduated from an international school, was frequently seen with a royal. The recent most famous yacht girl is a model who has been spotted living a lavish lifestyle even though she is practically jobless. The model has also been seen with rich and famous men—and never with the same guy twice.
A RECENT viral video has brought forth horror stories about this high-profile woman and how she treats people, especially those who she sees to be inferior to her. For instance, she would call her employees derogatory names. Or she would not physically abuse them but use her pointer finger on their head to make a point. When the high-profile person would arrive at the office, everyone would reportedly scatter like ants to get away from her line of sight because she also likes to scream at people.
BEGINNING May 8, the most intense and gripping tale of love and revenge unfolds in GMA’s upcoming afternoon series The The program is bannered by Glaiza de Castro and Mike Tan. Playing important roles are Valerie Concepcion and Boy2 Quizon.
The Seed of Love follows the story of Bobby (Mike) who decides to have his sperm frozen due to a cancer scare. He has been in a long, tedious relationship with a bratty socialite Alexa (Valerie) until Bobby finally breaks up with her.
Later on, Bobby meets the optimistic and doting Eileen (Glaiza). Their love blossoms and soon, the two get married. Bobby and Eileen agree to have their child via in-vitro fertilization using his preserved sperm cell.
But Alexa will do everything to destroy the couple and win her exboyfriend back. One day, Alexa steals the embryo of Eileen and Bobby. She does this in connivance with Peter (Boy2), her obsessed and hopeless romantic lover.
Peter then implants the stolen embryo in Alexa’s uterus and replaces Eileen’s with a random embryo. Alexa eventually convinces Bobby that he impregnated her after a recent one-night stand.
How will the truth unravel? Is it really
goodbye for Eileen and Bobby’s happy family? How far can Alexa and Peter go for the sake of their wrong and unfair love?
Also starring in this daring and intriguing series are Alan Paule, Bernadette Allyson, Tina Paner and Ervic Vijandre. Completing the star-studded cast are Ashley Rivera and Yanna Asistio.
The Seed of Love is an original concept of RJ Nuevas and Nehemiarey Debad Dallego.
Rasonable. The creative team is composed of creative director Aloy Adlawan, creative head for Afternoon Prime Dode Cruz, creative consultant Denoy NavarroPunio, head writer RJ Nuevas, and writers Ken de Leon, Nehemiarey Debad Dallego, Benjamin Benson Logronio.
The Seed of Love airs beginning May 8, weekdays at 4:05 pm on GMA.
DR. RICHARD NIXON GOMEZ, a scientist, inventor and general manager of Bauertek Corporation led members of the media and other visitors in touring the medical manufacturing facility in Guiguinto Bulacan, that will process the medical cannabis or marijuana to become a medicine.
The research, manufacturing and development company will process the marijuana to treat various medical ailments, including depression, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, sleep disorder, anxiety, among others.
Dr. Gomez said that once the bill on medical cannabis is enacted into law, his facility is more than ready to process the medical cannabis to turn it into a medical tablet and medical oil. This, in turn, can be planted with other plants or herbs for food supplement, which are being manufactured by Bauertek Corp. since December 16, 2019, the facility’s date of establishment.
Gomez said that the medical cannabis can be planted in different places in the Philippines.
With the tour of the facility, the same was used as studio for live Media Health Forum and for Gomez’s live radio program “Kaibigan sa Kalusugan”
aired over various radio stations. His programs also offer free consultation with health lecture on symptoms, causes, complications and intervention of ailments or diseases.
The public can listen to Dr. Gomez’s radio programs on Radio Veritas 846 KHz on AM Radio, www.veritas846.ph Monday
– Friday 2:00pm -3:00 pm; DWWW 774 on AM Radio, www.774dwww.ph Monday
– Friday 6:00 pm –7:00 pm ; DZWT 540 KHz on AM Radio, www.dzwt540.com
AWARD-WINNING residential property developer BRIA Homes recently received yet another recognition, this time from stakeholders in the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), citing BRIA as one of the top developers in Mindanao for the year 2022. It was the year BRIA rolled out its affordable housing projects in the progressive south, specifically BRIA Homes Tagum in Davao del Norte; BRIA Homes Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon; and BRIA Homes Digos in Davao del Sur. BRIA Mindanao Operations Head Ivy Provido was visibly excited to receive the award on behalf of the developer, saying, “This recognition validates BRIA Homes’ consistent efforts to raise the bar in the affordable housing sector. Now, aspiring homeowners who want to settle down in this picturesque region stand to benefit from the trademark lifestyle of comfort and security that BRIA offers.”
During the ceremony held earlier this month, Provido acknowledged the value of
receiving an award from the Pag-IBIG Fund, with whom BRIA has enjoyed great synergy through the years. “These institutions have always shared the vision of providing quality housing to ordinary Filipinos,” she said. “While we continue to be inspired by this collaboration, we are first and foremost proud to be recognized by them.”
The Pag-IBIG Fund is a governmentowned-and-controlled corporation with the mandate of providing affordable housing loans and other financing options to Filipinos so they may acquire the homes of their dreams.
Prospective BRIA homeowners and investors may also avail of BRIA’s cashless transactions for reservation and amortization payments through BRIA’s bank partners: Maybank, BDO, Unionbank, PNB, Security Bank, RCBC, Robinsons Bank, and Metrobank. E-wallet services like GCash, Paymaya, Shopee Pay, and All Easy are likewise available. Finally, they can reserve a house online through https:// www.bria.com.ph/online-reservation/
Monday – Thursday 7pm – 8pm; J101.5 FM Big Radio www.J101FM.wix.com/ BIGRADIO, Saturday, 8:00 am– 9:00 am; DWZR 101.7 FMRadio, www.facebook. com/Birahee.
In the said Health Media Forum, guests included: Chuck Manansala, President, Masikhay Research; Lui Manansala, Co-Convenor ng Seniors for MedCan Philippines; Lea Fullon, Program Director ng Haraya Policy Center.
THE Philippine Food Expo, the country’s only All-Filipino Food Show, makes a much-awaited comeback after a three-year absence due to the pandemic with bigger, more exciting and more diverse exhibitors.
Running from April 28 to April 30, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the biennial event is organized by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex) Inc. which gathers over 300 micro, small, medium and exporters involved in food manufacturing, growing, export, equipment, packaging, ingredients, additives, and allied services and industries.
Also taking part are handling, labeling and processing equipment, kitchen fittings and accessories, refrigeration showcase, silverware and glassware, bar coding, distribution management, food safety and hygiene, and test and instrumentation companies.
during the pandemic, will also exhibit for the first time to expand their market reach.
“The demand for new food products and technologies in Southeast Asia has increased exponentially, which local manufacturers must be able to meet. In line with this, we are working out measures to improve our exports and manufacturing sector by partnering with our Asean countries for the steady supply of raw materials,” added See, who also owns leading banana chips producer See’s International Food Manufacturing Corp.
Supported by the Department of Agriculture, the event is in conjunction with the Filipino Food Month, an annual celebration of the country’s culinary traditions and treasures.
THE Philippine Alliance of Recycling and Materials (PARMS), an industry-wide non-stock and non-profit coalition of stakeholders across the supply and waste value chain, has come together for the 22nd Signing Anniversary of Republic Act No. 9003.
Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 mandates a necessary policy framework, institutional mechanisms, and mandate to the local government units (LGUs) to achieve 25 percent waste reduction through establishing an integrated solid waste management plan based on 3Rs— reduce, reuse, and recycle.
During a two-day conference held in Quezon City, the new Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Law or RA No. 11898 was discussed, explaining how obliged enterprises are mandated to divert a certain percentage of their verifiable plastic footprint year-on-year.
In response, PARMS members laid out plans to step up their Zero Waste to Nature (ZWTN2030) roadmap, which was first announced in 2020. This declaration of commitment, alongside other implementable policies by PARMS
members aims to implement up-todate sustainable practices and systems across the industry and the country to reduce, collect, and recycle waste.
“In 2023, we mark the start of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) journey in achieving a waste-free Philippines,” says the Vice Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Commission and the Founding President of PARMS, Commissioner Crispian Lao.
In 2020, PARMS also announced Zero Waste to Nature: Ambition 2030 in support of efforts to reduce, collect, and recycle waste with the 2025 sustainable packaging commitments.
Other industry partners from the private sector including Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) and Basic Environmental Systems & Technologies, Inc. (BEST) also discussed their contributions to this goal and showcased their programs to aid in post-consumer plastic collection.
“With the commitment and support of the government, private sector, civil society, and NGOs, we can kickstart plastic waste circularity, while investing in the waste sector and its many workers
and groups.” Lao further highlights the opportunity for green jobs to thrive thru this course of action.
“We need to change the mindsets fundamentally about plastics and focus where plastic streams are seen as a resource with value. Only with this value proposition is realized, we will see positive change,” highlights DENR Secretary Toni Loyzaga in her Keynote Address during the conference, as read by Usec Juan Miguel Cuna. “We look forward to the successful implementation of the new EPR Act and as we continue to harmonize our efforts in reducing the country’s plastic waste to achieve plastic neutrality.”
Anchored on the 4Rs of REDUCE, REUSE, RECOVER AND RECYCLE, and with localized EPR, PARMS commits to implement a competitive, standardized, transparent, accountable, and inclusive sustainable model to achieve Zero Waste Philippines in the next decade.
“As before, exhibitors are putting their best foot, and best food, forward, as we try to regain our global competitiveness in the post-pandemic era by providing a one-stop shop and enabling platform for buyers, sellers and other stakeholders in the food industry,” Philfoodex president Ruben See enthused.
He noted that new home-grown medium and small enterprises born out
Spicing up the Expo is the Culinary Challenge which will showcase the skills of students and faculty in the categories of food styling and photography, Philippine regional table setting, Kitchen Masters, PINASarap breakfast, healthy pasta, modern Filipino dessert, and mystery ingredient.
Endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education and with the University of Santo Tomas as official partner school, the fringe event is a vital input in enhancing the competencies of future frontliners in the food service and tourism industries. Community members at the barangaylevel are involved through the special category: Mother’s Specialty Dish.
It also features the Young Farmers Challenge Program which engages young farmers and fisherfolk in the national thrust for food security and agricultural modernization.
Philippine Food Expo is backed by the Department of Trade and Industry, UnionBank of the Philippines, Spanish Chamber of Commerce, Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce of the Philippines Inc., Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Hotel and Restaurant Chefs’ Association of the Philippines, and the Food Caterers Association of the Philippines.
It is also in partnership with Centrex Corp., Gomeco Group of Companies, Everest Appliances, BCS Systems and Technologies Inc. and Blue Silver.
GRANDMASTER Eugene Torre brings his Hall of Fame wits to Cambodia.
GRANDMASTER (gm) Eugene Torre and Woman GM Janelle Frayna led an 11-member chess team that flew to Phnom Penh on Thursday along with the cricket squad for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that open in exactly a week.
The chess and cricket squads will join the members of the windsurfing team who were already in Cambodia since April 18 to familiarize themselves with the competition venue in Sihanoukville.
Ne xt to fly to Cambodia on Saturday are the hockey, triathlon and volleyball teams as well as support staff from the Philippine Sports Commission.
Members of Team Philippines are flying to Cambodia on different batches based on their competition schedule with a big bulk of the delegation set to leave for Phnom Penh on May 2, three days before the opening ceremony on May 5 at the 60,000-seat Morodok Techo Stadium.
The PSC is funding the country’s partipation in Cambodia with 840 athletes seeing action in 38 of 40 sports in the Games program.
C hess starts on Saturday with the ouk chaktrang, a Cambodian chess variant introduced by the hosts. The country clinched two silver and three bronze medals last year in Hanoi.
The team from the Philippine Cricket Association Inc. was led by chief executive officer Faisal Khan, six-a-side captain Jennifer Olmillo Alumbro and T10 skipper Simranjeet Figuerra Sirah.
C ricket is being played in the SEA Games for only the second time since Kuala Lumpur 2017.
The windsurfers who are already in Cambodia are Josa Gonzales, Ronelio Castelio, Teogenes Villando and Jeanson Lumapas. They are out to improve on the two gold and one silver medals they bagged in Hanoi.
THE Philippines starts its trek back to the men’s basketball throne of the Southeast Asian Games when Gilas Pilipinas plays Malaysia on May 9 at the Morodok Techno National Stadium Elephant Hall 2 in Phnom Penh.
The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and host Cambodia are in Group A, a bracket Gilas deputy coach Jong Uichico described as “easy.”
I ndonesia, which beat Gilas in the final in Hanoi last year, is with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos
USA Boxing has terminated its 77-year membership in the International Boxing Association (IBA) ahead of its move to a rival governing body that hopes to return the sport to Olympic favor.
The US organization announced the move Wednesday in a letter to its membership from executive director Mike McAtee.
USA Boxing intends to join the World Boxing International Federation, which was established two weeks ago in an attempt to preserve the Olympic future of boxing heading into the second straight Games without IBA involvement.
McAtee said USA Boxing is making the move because of the IBA’s “failure to uphold its mission and principles of its constitution, and failure to respect the Olympic charter and movement.”
CARLOS YULO sprained his left ankle in training in Japan and won’t be able to compete in the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) World Cup Apparatus Series in Egypt.
Although the injury isn’t serious, Yulo could no longer make the competition that started Thursday and ends on Sunday.
“I’m already in Cairo and unfortunately, Caloy [Yulo] is not here as he sprained his ankle and would no longer be competing here,” Gymnastics Association of the Philippines president Cynthia CarrionNorton told BusinessMirror via internet call on Thursday.
“His doctor in Japan recommended that Caloy shouldn’t compete here anymore and I found out about it when I was already here,” Carrion-Norton said. Cairo is the fourth and last leg of the World Cup series that
in Group B. Gilas’s group could look easy, but Uichico said he’s wary of the crossover phase.
Everybody is thinking that we’re in a lighter group, but our crossover group is absolutely tougher,” Uichico told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “You may top Group A, but it doesn’t mean that when you face the other group, everything is easy.”
Gilas takes an opening day bye on May 10. After Malaysia, the Philippines takes on Cambodia on
determines who would earn berths to the September 29 to October 8 world championships in Antwerp, Belgium, a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympics. No worries though for the 23-year-old Yulo—a former world champion in vault and floor exercise—as he already qualified for Antwerp after emerging No. 2 in parallel bars and No. 3 in floor exercise after three legs in series.
He won three golds (floor, vault and parallel bars), one silver (parallel bars) and two bronze medals (parallel bars and vault) combined in the first three legs held in Cottbus (Germany), Doha (Qatar) and Baku (Azerbaijan).
Carrion-Norton said the Cairo organizers are disap-
May 11 and Singapore on May 13. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on May 15 semifinals with the final set on May 16. Gilas management has yet to announce its lineup from the originally 28-member pool that was trimmed to 22 after 6-foot-11 June Mar Fajardo, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Roger Pogoy, Mikey Williams and Japeth Aguilar are unavailable for the Games for personal reasons or injuries.
pointed with the absence of Yulo.
The good news for Yulo is that his doctors said he would be available for the Southeast Asian Games that start May 5 in Cambodia and the 10th Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships from June 10 to 18 at the OCB in Singapore.
“He’s already qualified for the worlds, it doesn’t matter. He should just rest,” Carrion-Norton said.
Carrion-Norton said Yulo will fly to Manila on May 4 and will join his teammates in a flight to Phnom Penh on May 7. Yulo will compete in the team event, individual all-around, parallel bars and high bars in Cambodia.
T he remaining players in the pool are CJ Perez, Marcio Lassiter, Stanley Pringle, Chris Newsome, Calvin Oftana, Kevin Alas, Aaron Black, Arvin Tolentino, Jeremiah Gray, Deschon Winston, JP Erram, Christian Standhardinger, Brandon Rosser-Ganuelas, Raymund Almazan, Filipino-Americans Ben and Michael Philips, Jerom Lastimosa, Kevin Quiambao, Mason Amos and AJ Edu.
The team flies to Phnom Penh on May 6. Josef Ramos
SACRAMENTO, California—
With the hostile crowd roaring and Sacramento making a big push, the Golden State Warriors did what they have done so often over their dynasty. They silenced a crowd and came away with a back-breaking road win.
Stephen Curry scored 31 points, Draymond Green had his highestscoring game in more than five years and the Warriors earned the first road win of their series against Sacramento, beating the Kings, 123-116, Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead.
I n Memphis, the Grizzlies’ stars
finally played well together in the same game, and Desmond Bane already is planning to be back for another tipoff Sunday in Memphis.
Even with Game 6 looming Friday night in Los Angeles, where the Grizzlies have yet to win this season or in this series.
B ane had 33 points and 10 rebounds, two-time All-Star Ja Morant added 31 points and 10 boards, and the Grizzlies staved off elimination Wednesday night, beating the Lakers, 116-99, to force their first-round Western Conference series back to Los Angeles.
The Warriors won a road game for the National Basketball Association (NBA)-record 28th straight playoff series, encompassing the entire era of Curry, Green and Klay Thompson.
The experience that they’ve had over the last decade playing in a lot of big games, it’s definitely helpful,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought they did a great job tonight of staying poised down the stretch when Sacramento made their run and really made some big plays in the last five minutes to seal it.”
G reen had 21 points and seven assists in his first game back in
Sacramento since getting ejected and later suspended for stepping on Domantas Sabonis› chest in a Game 2 loss.
G olden State now can try to wrap up the series with a fourth straight win at home on Friday night.
I think this team has really grown together,” Green said. “Every year, that team has to grow together. This year took longer than we normally like…it’s starting to go well for us.”
Boxing has been a member of the IBA, formerly known as AIBA, since 1946. Boxers from the US have won more medals than any nation in Olympic history.
But the end of the relationship highlights the profound schism between the current IBA leadership and an apparently growing number of national programs determined to renew the sport’s profoundly frayed relationship with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
“ USA Boxing remains committed to the Olympic movement by following the principles of proper governance, promoting neutral thirdparty oversight of the field of play, condemning false and misleading information from IBA leadership (and) demanding transparent financial management,” McAtee wrote in the letter.
The IOC suspended its recognition of the IBA in 2019 and hasn’t restored its status because of concerns about the IBA’s finances, governance and competition judging.
The divide between the bodies has grown deeper in recent months, with the IBA defiantly announcing its own Olympic qualification tournaments even though it no longer has the power to choose Olympic competitors.
A n IOC task force ran the boxing tournament at the Tokyo Olympics, and another task force is running the qualifications and competition for the
Paris Games next year. B oxing, which has been part of every Olympic program but one since 1904, is not on the provisional program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, although the IOC has said it still could be added.
In announcing USA
Boxing’s decision, McAtee cited several national governing bodies’ “growing concern that IBA leaders have failed to follow IOC’s recommendations and have failed to implement the necessary changes required ... for readmission into the Olympic Movement.”
The IBA also has ignored the IOC’s instruction to prohibit Russian and Belarussian athletes from competition under their national flags and colors. The IBA’s president, Umar Kremlev of Russia, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last September.
K remlev has said in recent months that the IOC has no right to dictate how the IBA is run. He also said the IOC has no authority to determine Olympic qualification, saying any qualification tournaments must be run through the IBA.
A lso Wednesday, the IBA filed a complaint to the Boxing Independent Integrity Unit against unnamed “individuals and entities involved in creation of a rogue boxing organization” and claimed that those found guilty “will face consequences.” The BIIU is a theoretically independent investigative department of the IBA itself.
The US was among several countries that pulled out of the IBA world championships earlier this year.
World Boxing has an interim executive board that includes boxing leaders from Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, New Zealand and the Philippines. The body plans to select permanent leadership at its inaugural congress later this year. AP
THE Highlands Ladies Cup gets going Saturday with a maximum field of 200 and a load of prizes making the event’s much-awaited return from a threeyear respite all the more interesting and exciting.
A sparkling Swarovski watch worth $2,000 courtesy of Marixi Prieto and daughter Sandy PrietoRomualdez, has been added as hole-in-one prize on No. 3 of the Lucky 9 course, one of the three nines tapped to accommodate the big number of players of all genders all ready and eager for the 18-hole fun but competitive tournament at the Midlands course.
The shotgun tee-start is set at 8 a.m. with play held under the System 36 scoring format. Organized and hosted by the Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter (THLC), the event is used to be staged late in the year but the THLC moved it to an earlier date to coincide with the Tagaytay Ladies team’s 18th founding anniversary celebrations. B elle Corp.’s Willy Ocier, Rosalind Wee of W Group of Companies and SM Director Jojo Mendiola will hit the ceremonial drive to usher in the tournament backed by Diamond sponsors W Group Inc., CWC Int’l. Corp., Agrikulture and Ocier.
The event—backed by Platinum sponsors CLC Marketing Ventures Corp., Parola Maritime Corp., Powerball Gaming, Miniso PH and SM Dept. Store and Gold backers Lucerne, Regent Travel and Moringa-02—will be staged in a fiesta-life atmosphere with a mix of fun and food, including BBQ grilling, at hand at Midlands’ front and back nines and Lucky 9. Drinks will be provided by Summit Water, Paraiso Beer and Oishi Smart C.
The THLC, in its continuing effort to contribute to a positive environmental impact, will also give away plants to help the participants connect with nature.
A Lucerne watch is also staked as prize for an ace on No. 9, also of Lucky 9, while a Club Car, a Cobra LTDx golf iron set, a Regent Travel “Barkadahan” Dumaguete all-expense-paid trip package for four, and 10 gift certificates worth P100,000 from GAOC Dental are also up for grabs for hole-in-one feats on designated holes at Midlands.
The Barkadahan package and GAOC Dental GCs will be raffled off if no one scores an ace in the event also held to raise funds for the Sisters of Mary boys’ and girls’ town center in Silang, Cavite as part of THLC’s commitment to help the underprivileged youths achieve their dreams.
Friday, April 28, 2023
Story & photos
by Randy S. PeregrinoSMC Asia Car Distributors Corp.,
the official distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, recently launched the latest generation of its smallest Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), the All-New X1. The arrival of the new generation X1 showcases its sharper design and cutting-edge digitalization. According to the German automaker, the entry model X is now more appealing than ever thanks to its superior design, spaciousness, and advanced digitalization to help define the forward-looking character of a true Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) for the premium compact segment. Since its initial release in 2009, the X1 badge has achieved 1.9 million units sold globally.
A modern surface treatment, increased visual presence, and robust looks
THE upright front end provides a
greater sense of presence. It has slim adaptive LED headlights, a large, almost square BMW kidney grille, Xshaped lines radiating to the sides, and eye-catching chrome strips in the lower air intake serving as its defining elements. Expressively sculpted surfaces and an extended roofline are the distinguishing features of the new model’s dynamically stretched silhouette. When viewed from the rear, the narrow tailgate window, horizontal lines, striking LED lights, and flared wheel arches produce the typical SAV look.
Those surface treatment, lines, and classy exterior design details of the BMW X1 display its SAV identity more clearly than ever. Distinctive design features include powerful proportions, almost square wheel arch contours, and the signature BMW X model styling of the front and rear ends. Further, the vehicle’s strong aura can be intensified to significant effect with the specific design elements of the xLine model,
which include stylistic underride protection. It comes with 18-inch alloy wheels in Star-spoke Style 865.
The progressive ambiance and versatile space
A RAISED seating position and a progressive premium ambiance style helped to create a distinctive driving experience inside the compact SAV. The critical elements of the cabin’s redesign are the slender Luxury instrument panel, the BMW Widescreen Display, the “floating” armrest with an integral control panel, and a storage shelf for wireless charging at the front of the center console.
The latest generation X1 also treats its occupants to the latest-generation
BMW iDrive multi-sensory vehicle experience in the form of the standardfit BMW Live Cockpit Plus. Based on BMW Operating System 8, it comprises the BMW Widescreen Display with its state-of-the-art graphics and menu structure, along with the BMW Intelligent Voice Assistant, which has gained additional skills.
The fully digital screen grouping is formed by the 10.25-inch information display and the controlled display with a screen diagonal of 10.7 inches.
The new BMW iDrive aims to provide intuitive touch and voice control. The broad-based digitalization of the interior enables the number of physical buttons, controls, and switches required for operation to be significantly reduced. Smartphone integration using Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ is also available in the new BMW X1.
Comfort-wise, there are the newly developed sports seats, electric seat adjustment with memory function, and lumbar support. These come in Sensatec Perforated Black upholstery. Improvements have been made to both acoustic comfort and occupant protection. The integrated passive safety concept now includes a new interaction airbag between the front seats. The BMW Maps navigation system, a Sport leather steering wheel, intelligent three-zone automatic climate control, and a rain sen -
sor with automatic headlight activation are standard in this new model.
Four USB-C ports, two 12V power sockets, and many driver assistance systems have also been added.
The rear compartment includes three full-sized seats offering a notable improvement in seating comfort, with the 40:20:40 split back seat backrests. Boot capacity can be increased from 540 to a maximum of 1,600 liters.
MOTIVATION comes from a BMW
Twin Power Turbo In-line 4-cylinder diesel engine generating 150 hp and 350 N-m of torque. It also has a sevenspeed Steptronic Transmission with
Double Clutch. These come together to deliver the best driving dynamics and fuel economy.
The compact all-rounder’s sophisticated chassis technology produces a perfectly harmonious balance between sporty, agile handling on the one hand and long-distance comfort on the other. All the tools required here are provided by a body construction that reduces weight while increasing rigidity, a long wheelbase, wider tracks than the predecessor model, and targeted upgrades to the single-joint spring strut axle at the front and the three-link rear axle. Near-actuator wheel slip limitation is standard in the new BMW X1, benefiting traction and directional stability. Other new features include the integrated braking system and the extra lift-related damping at the front axle.
Wide variety of systems for driver assistance
THE technological advances made in the latest X1 compared with its predecessor are also evident in the greater variety of automated driving and parking systems available. Standard features include Cruise Control with brake function and the front-collision warning system, which can detect pedestrians and cyclists when turning right. The Parking Assistant, including Reversing Assist Camera and Reversing Assistant, also form part of the standard equipment roster. The new BMW X1 sDrive18d xLine retails at Php 3,890,000 and comes with a comprehensive BMW 5-year warranty.
ISUZU scored a festive blast last week that became a hot topic of conversation in the industry for its innovative and eye-popping features.
In a rare feat, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) unveiled its latest editions of D-MAX and mu-X at Alabang Town Center in a well-applauded event quaintly called the “Isuzu Summer Music Festival.”
The event saw IPC unfurling its new models of D-MAX and mu-X, along with other activities, such as free test drive, afternoon games, dog show, car club meet-up and live performances from well-loved OPM artists to entertain the whole family.
In a dispatch by IPC’s communications team led by Yvonne Linchangco, it said: “The new Isuzu D-MAX is now made even more dynamic and sporty with a redesigned exterior that boasts a new two-tone front grille matched with its new matte dark gray 18-inch alloy wheels all laden in its new body color Islay Gray, giving it a rugged yet stylish look.”
The story in full: THE new mu-X is now labelled as a
‘Premium Family SUV’ that’s perfect for road trips, especially this summer season. The premium SUV’s fresh new look brought by its new sleek two-tone front grille and new 20inch alloy wheels design exudes an upscale and luxurious vibe, elevating its exterior design. The new mu-X also has a classy new color variant, Norwegian Blue which is available for LS-E variants.
“The new mu-X also has the Smart Power Tailgate with Step Sensor. This is a new feature that allows the owner to open its tailgate automatically through advance key detection and sensor technology for more convenient loading and unloading of luggage.
“But more than the aesthetics, both D-MAX and mu-X have the 4JJ3-TCX diesel engine that optimizes performance with fuel efficiency—tried and tested to give drivers more miles on the road without having to spend much on fuel costs.
“Both models were awarded with 5-Star Safety by the ASEAN NCAP, thanks to the Active and
Passive safety features, as well as Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) with Smart Duo Cam, which is loaded with Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Turn Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go Functionality, to name only a few.
“Said IPC President Tetsuya Fujita:
‘As your responsible partner in providing durable and reliable vehicles, we are elevating your driving experience with safer, more efficient, and more comfortable drive—a drive that will suit the needs of all members of the family.’”
My kind of leader.
For more details about the new DMAX and mu-X, go to www.facebook. com/IsuzuPhilippines.
PEE STOP ANNA MEDALLA has been making waves as a mainstay of the Under-17 PHL female football team. She rightfully belongs there as, for one, she maintains a regimen of regularly waking up at 4 a.m. for a training so Spartan it makes her super fit constantly for global battles. For another, she maintains excellent grades as she treats her studies as equally important as her football career. Oozing with pride, of course, is Sunny Medalla, Anna’s father who is based in Tokyo, as Director for Mini in BMW Group Japan. Says Toyota hotshot Vince Socco, Sunny’s original mentor when Sunny was still with Toyota Motor Philippines: “Sunny is well-loved by the Mini dealers in Japan and the management team of BMW Group in Japan and its HQ in Munich.” Cheers!