BusinessMirror August 12, 2024

BusinessMirror

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

PAYMENTS made by the national government for its debts surged to P1.282 trillion in the first half of the year as amortization and interest payments posted double-digit growth.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the government’s debt service from January to June 2024 expanded by 41.29 percent, or P374.860 billion, to P1.282 trillion—from P907.927 billion recorded in the same period in 2023. Broken down, the government’s repayment of its loan principal or amortization outpaced interest payments making up 70.59 percent of the total debt service as of endJune 2024 while interest payments accounted for 29.41 percent. A mortization grew by 44.78 percent to P905.559 billion in the first six months of 2024 from the P625.469 billion posted in the same period in 2023. Domestic amortization swelled by 34.91 percent year-on-

year to P757.433 billion from P561.421 billion. Domestic Bond Exchange was allotted P243.449 billion while the Bond Sinking Fund received P513.373 billion. The remaining P611 million under domestic amortization went to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs).

Moreover, external amortization of the national government surged by 131.27 percent year-on-year to P148.126 billion from P64.048 billion. Meanwhile, interest payments increased to P377.228 billion from January to June 2024, higher by 33.55 percent than the P282.458 billion recorded in the same period a year ago.

The government shelled out P268.040 billion in domestic interest

DOT SEES 440K HOTEL ROOMS BY ‘28, BUT HOW?

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

@akosistellaBM

Special to the BusinessMirror

HE Department of Tour-

Tism (DOT) is looking to increase the number of hotel rooms in the country to temper the rise in their average daily rates (ADR).

Responding to concerns that traveling to the Philippines is more expensive than in other countries in Southeast Asia, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco told select media: “In comparison to our Asean neighbors, data from the Philippine Hotel Owners Association [PHOA] would show that our average US$100 per

among the reasons for the high room rates in the country. “We have to understand that the availability of the rooms also dictates the price, and with a very robust domestic market as far as tourism is concerned, it is always in high demand. So, the idea is to increase the number of rooms from its present 221,000 to 440,000 by 2028, as well as to increase the

NG diversifying financing options for key infra projects

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE national government is keen on diversifying its financing options to address the country’s infrastructure constraints, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Part of these efforts is the Neda’s proposal to identify 21 projects for the Luzon Economic Corridor, which was announced during the visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Washington.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI) economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region following the inaugural Trilateral United States-Japan-Philippines Leaders Meeting.

“It will be just another source of funds for us. So to the extent that they are ready, it can move

faster. Besides for this corridor, they are also looking at investing, their private sector investing into this corridor that’s why [there is interest] to invest into those infrastructure because their private sector will invest in those sectors,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in a recent briefing. Neda Undersecretary Joseph Capuno said some of the top projects are the Central Luzon Link Expressway or CCLEx phase 2 project; the NSCR system New Clark City Extension project; the ICT infrastructure in New Clark City project; and New Clark City Industrial Estate project. C apuno said the list also includes the Clark International Airport infrastructure extension project; Subic Bay Bridge project; Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge I; and the Subic-Clark ManilaBatangas railway project.

STATE-RUN Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (Pagcor) gross gaming revenues (GGR) rose to P89.23 billion in the second quarter of 2024, driven by the electronic games (E-Games) sector.

I n a statement on Sunday, Pagcor said its GGR in the second quarter grew by 32.32 percent to P89.23 billion from the P67.43 billion recorded in the same period in 2023. Th is is also higher by 9.21 percent than the P81.70 billion in revenues posted in the first quarter of 2024.

Pagcor Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alejandro H. Tengco attributed the revenue

growth to the E-Games sector. Revenues from the E-Games sector expanded sixfold year-onyear to P30.85 billion from P4.93 billion, according to Pagcor.

“ This sector continues to surpass targets and should help cover up for any shortfall resulting from the President’s order banning offshore gaming operations or Pogos by the end of the year,” Tengco said. The Pagcor chief also attributed the policy reforms it implemented in the last year to the performance of the E-Games sector.

M eanwhile, the country’s licensed casinos brought in P49.48 billion in the second quarter of

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number of flights coming into the country considering that at present, the Philippines ranks sixth as far as the number of international flights and seats coming into the Philippines,” she said.

In a briefing in April, Leechiu Property Consultants pointed out that only 308,000 hotel keys will be available by 2028, with just 87 new properties in the pipeline from 2025. This, it said, will not just result in higher ADR, but frustrate government’s ability to reach its arrivals target of 10-12 million by 2028. (See, “Keys Muna,” in the BusinessMirror, April 20, 2024.)

Frasco failed to disclose, however, how exactly the DOT will encourage the private sector to build more hotels or add more rooms. The agency so far, has been secretive about the details of its Philippine Hotel Industry Strategic Action Plan (Phisap), which it hatched with the PHOA, except for previously announced generalizations on the need for more infrastructure. Similarly, the DOT has never published the specifics of its oftenreferred-to National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, despite several requests from media.

The Phisap is supposed to be a roadmap on developing hotels, the incentives and infrastructure needed by investors, categories, and locations for new properties. PHOA earlier expressed concern on the aging of many hotels in the country, resulting in the Philippines inability to attract inbound travelers to the country,

and the need to upgrade hese hotels. (See, “Sans China, PHL must lure other Asians, Europeans,” in the BusinessMirror, June 17, 2024.)

Philippine Travel Mart 2024

A LEADING group of destination management companies, the Philippine Tour Operators Association (Philtoa) for instance, has often cited the high cost of traveling to and within the Philippines, such that many Filipinos opt to take vacations abroad such as in South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. (See, “More Pinoys traveling abroad for the Lenten break,” in the BusinessMirror, March 28, 2024.)

Meanwhile, Philtoa has scheduled its annual Philippine Travel Mart (PTM) from Sept. 6 to 8 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay, offering discount travel packages and tours, with a special focus on “NextGen Tourism” and destinations offthe-beaten track.

In a news briefing on August 7, Philtoa President Arjun Schroff said the group “hopefully exceeds the 56,000 foot traffic last year.” PTM 2023 also generated sales estimated at some P250 million.

A n example of a tour package for the next generation, for instance, is to combine a health and wellness destination like The Farm at San Benito with a nature destination like Tagaytay, all using digital reservation platform. Among the packages being promoted are “biodiverse destinations in lesser known places,” addded Schroff.

SRA clears 240K-mt sugar imports to boost local supply

By Ada Pelonia

THE Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has authorized the importation of 240,000 metric tons (MT) of refined sugar to beef up domestic supply.

Under Sugar Order (SO) 5, eligible participants for the importation program have been split into two. A maximum volume of 176,500 MT of refined sugar would be eligible for importers qualified under SO 2, while 63,500 MT would be eligible for those qualified under SO 3. SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona explained that the majority of the import volume was based on SO 2, “which was the voluntary purchase of farmer sugar to be

classified as reserve to avail of allocation for future import program.”

“ This is the first time where possible importers had to support the local farmers first in order to be eligible to join the program,” Azcona told the BusinessMirror

In the past administrations, importers were chosen subjectively, whether first come first served, or others, with volumes based on the decision of the SRA admin and/ or SRA board,” he added.

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He added that the Manila Bay Pasig River Laguna Ferry system project; Calamba-Batangas railway project; and the Southern

Batangas airport projects are also included in the list.

“I think that will be taken up again in the next steering committee if not this month, next month. But definitely this quarter, there’s going to be a meeting of the steering committee where they, I think, finalize which projects to be prioritized under that Tricountry agreement,” Capuno said.

E arlier, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the Luzon Economic corridor will connect Subic Bay in Zambales, Clark in Pampanga, Manila, and Batangas, which are investment areas that can create jobs.

Private financing

FINANCING efforts that will address the country’s infrastructure constraints are a must. ING Philippines Country Manager Jun Palanca told BusinessMirror that, as a wholesale bank, they are keen on contributing to this.

Palanca said ING is ready to provide financing for Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects as well as advise private sector proponents inclined to pursue PPP projects.

He said ING is ready to advise them in structuring the financing packages for these PPPs as well as other requirements such as hedging and export-credit financing.

“ To address these challenges, the private sector needs to work hand in hand with the government, to alleviate issues like severe traffic, long commutes, under-capacity in international airports, and port congestion,” Palanca said in an e-mail to BusinessMirror

Diversified funding strategies and the strategic use of publicprivate partnerships will enable the government to expedite the implementation of crucial infrastructure projects, addressing economic losses caused by opportunity loss, traffic congestion, and logistical challenges,” he added.

Apart from the usual financing options, Palanca said ING has also included in its sustainability agenda financing that addresses

The SRA chief said the remaining 63,500 volume import would be for replenishment of the sugar exported to the United States, which is “a market cheaper than our domestic.”

Exporters export at a loss, but may make up for it on the imports,” he said, noting that the agency would know the actual import volume after the export is shipped.

The SRA earlier issued SO 3 which allowed the exportation of 25,300 metric tons (MT) of raw sugar to the US. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/07/29/phl-gets-usraw-sugar-quota-despite-3-yrnon-compliance/)

Per the SO 5, it would be the first import program for crop year 2023-2024 and production crop year 2023-2024, with the aim of ensuring that “despite the pro -

environmental issues and those that deliver long-term social value.

Th e ING Philippines executive said these projects include t ransportation and logistics, energy, communications and social i nfrastructure.

The bank’s infrastructure financing has formed three teams to handle its financing options. These teams are slow infrastructure, fast infrastructure, and fund financing.

Th e slow infrastructure team focuses on financing assets defined by stable, longstanding re gulatory or concession frameworks, including government and utilities infrastructure.

Fast infrastructure focuses on financing infrastructure assets to support evolving equity investor strategies, including acquisitions, staple financings, and refinancings; while fund financing provides permanent or temporary leverage supported by cash flow analysis on a diversified pool of underlying infrastructure assets.

“Sustainability is central to ING’s business and we aim to make the most significant impact through our lending portfolio. We strive to align the nine highestemitting sectors in our loan book with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming well below two degrees,” Palanca said.

Palanca said ING also pursues sustainable business opportunities by supporting a range of clients in achieving sustainability goals. These clients often have a strong sustainability track record, an ambitious agenda, or are addressing major environmental, social, and governance issues such as waste management, renewable energy, water, and green buildings.

He added ING also finances energy projects that support climate action such as wind farms, solar energy, and geothermal power production, which are considered the major sources of renewable energy in the Philippines.

Fu rther, Palanca said ING has an Environmental and Social Risk Framework which serves as its guide in identifying, assessing, and mitigating the environmental and social risks of projects that we agree to finance. This is aligned with ING’s sustainability strategy.

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2024, lower by 4.29 percent than the P51.70 billion recorded in the same quarter in 2023. Revenues from licensed casinos also inched down by 0.40 percent from the previous quarter's P49.68 billion collection.

Despite the lowered revenues from the sector, Pagcor said it remained as the largest contributor to the gaming revenues.

jected ill effects of El Nino for Crop Year 2024-2025, the country will continue to have sufficient actual supply of sugar for domestic consumption and for buffer stock.”

However, Azcona assured the public that the country has enough stocks until the import arrives.

We have ample stocks until the import arrives as we maintain a 2-month buffer stock, and hopefully our refineries will be up and running in December,” he said.

According to the SRA chief, their raw mills will start on September 15 and “hopefully mill adequate” by October.

This import will ensure that we will always maintain that buffer to ensure that the current stable retail price on refined sugar is maintained for the consumer, and that our farmers of which 85 [percent] are land reform beneficiaries have a fair and stable price too.”

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payments as of end-June 2024, or 38.96 percent higher than it did in the same period in 2023, amounting to P89.574 billion.

Domestic interest payments were composed mainly of interest payments for Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds at P170.499 billion, followed by Retail Treasury Bonds at P74.661 billion, Treasury Bills at P15.783 billion, and others at P7.097 billion. Meanwhile, foreign interest payments of the national government from January to June 2024 rose by 21.90 percent year-on-year to P109.188 billion from P89.574 billion in 2023. For the month of June 2024, the government's debt service went down by 25.25 percent to P66.076 billion from P88.401 billion in the same month a year ago. Amortization payments in June 2024 dropped to P10.433 billion, down by 70.62 percent, compared to the P35.517 billion recorded a year ago. Meanwhile, interest payments in June 2024 inched up by 5.22 percent year-on-year to P55.643 billion from P52.884 billion. Outstanding debt of the national government stood at P15.483 trillion as of end-June 2024. The bulk is domestic debt amounting to P10.573 trillion while external debt reached P4.445 trillion.

The Department of Finance (DOF) raised the government's borrowing plan to P2.57 trillion in 2024, higher by 4.47 percent than the P2.46 trillion target set by the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). The government aims to raise P2.570 trillion from borrowings this year and follows a 75:25 borrowing mix in favor of domestic sources. Borrowings from the domestic debt market are pegged at P1.927 trillion while P642 billion will be loaned from foreign sources. Th e state's debt servicing program for this year is set at P1.911 trillion, the bulk allotted to amortization payments at P1.241 trillion and interest payments at P670.471 billion.

Moreover, Pagcor-operated casinos under the Casino Filipino brand continued to rake in lower revenues by posting double-digit declines from last year and the previous quarter.

C asino Filipino’s earnings went down to P4.20 billion in the second quarter of 2024, lower by 14.80 percent year-onyear from P4.93 billion. This

also declined by 10.41 percent compared to the previous quarter’s P4.69 billion collection. Revenues from bingo operations also decreased by 19.83 percent to P4.69 billion in the second quarter of 2024 from the P5.85 billion recorded in the same period in 2023. This is also lower by 2.49 percent than the P4.81 billion posted in the first quarter. P agcor’s net income in 2023 reached P79.37 billion, higher by 34.63 percent than the P58.96 billion in 2022. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

China: PAF plane warned

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

CHINA’s military said they were conducting “normal training and exercise activities” in Bajo de Masinloc (international name: Scarborough Shoal) when an aircraft of the Philippine Air Force “illegally intruded” into the airspace.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command claimed they expelled the PAF away from Bajo de Masinloc, or what the Chinese calls “Huangyan Island.”

Bajo de Masinloc, located 130 nautical miles off Zambales, is an atoll that is being claimed both by the Philippines and China.

An international arbitration tribunal in 2016 ruled that Scarborough Shoal is a high-tide elevation and can only generate a 12-nautical mile territorial sea around it. The award did not rule on whether Manila and Beijing owns the atoll.

“On August 8, an NC-212 aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, despite repeated warnings from China, insisted on illegally intruding into the airspace of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, disrupting China’s normal training and exercise activities.

“The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized naval and air forces to conduct identification and verification, tracking and surveillance, warning and expulsion in accordance with the law,” the Southern Theater Command said in a statement, released in Mandarin.

PLA conducted military exercises near Scarborough Shoal on

August 8, the same day that the Philippines, the United States, Australia and Canada held a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea. It is not clear whether the PAF plane also participated in the MCA.

The Chinese military insisted their operation on the PAF plane was “professional, standardized, legitimate and legal.”

PH air patrols to continue

THE Armed Forces will continue with regular patrol missions over the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) despite the PLAAF dropping flares on path of Philippine aircraft conducting maritime air patrols over Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) on August 8.

Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Armed Forces spokesman, said this incident only toughened the resolve of Filipino military personnel in going about their regular surveillance operations in the country’s EEZ. Padilla also said such actions are aimed at protecting Philippine sovereignty and ensuring security in the country’s vast maritime domains.

“And despite their attempts to intimidate our maritime patrols, our pilots will continue to take to the skies. We remain steadfast in our mission to protect our territory even in the face of [their threats],” Padilla said. She added that this latest Chinese action is violative of international law and regulations on aviation safety.

With Rex Anthony Naval

Hospital clerk gets jail term, ₧2.3million fine for PhilHealth fraud

Investigation (NBI).

TMalacañang, Senate leader denounce China’s provocation at Scarborough

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto & Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

THE Philippines has denounced China’s “unjustified, illegal and reckless” actions in an air incident in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea on August 8.

In a media release on Sunday, Malacañang said President Marcos “strongly condemns” the air incident and stands by the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, especially the Air Force (PAF).

The Armed Forces reported on Saturday the “dangerous and provocative actions” of China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) which harassed a PAF aircraft conducting maritime patrols over Bajo de Masinloc, located some 120 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales, well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army-Air Force aircraft were unjustified, illegal and reckless, especially as the PAF aircraft was undertaking a routine maritime security operation in Philippine sovereign airspace,” the Presidential Palace said in a statement.

“We have hardly started to calm the waters, and it is already worrying that there could be instability in our airspace,” it added.

The Philippines and China recently reached an agreement to allow the seamless resupply of Filipino troops in Ayungin Shoal.

Malacañang said the Philippines remains committed to “proper diplomacy and peaceful means

of resolving disputes” but urged China to “demonstrate that it is fully capable of responsible action, both in the seas and in the skies.”

China claims the entirety of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea where Manila enjoys sovereignty, refusing to recognize a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated its claims and affirmed the Philippines’ EEZ.

The Philippines has been drumming up support from its allies in the international community, including longtime military ally the United States, while also beefing up the capabilities of its armed forces.

This developed as Peoples Liberation Army Air Force came under fire from the Philippine Senate leadership for “reckless and provocative actions” against a Philippine Air Force aircraft on maritime patrol over Scarborough Shoal, that is well within Philippine territory.

Finding it “unacceptable,” Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada denounced the Chinese action” stressing that “they must be met with firm and decisive condemnation from the international community.”

The ranking Senate leader stressed: “We urge the Chinese government to immediately stop

this clear act of aggression and adhere to international law.”

“This recent incident is a blatant violation of international aviation safety standards and the rights of all nations to carry out lawful maritime operations,”

Estrada deplored, stressing that “dropping of flares in the path of the PAF’s NC-212i is an affront to our sovereignty.”

Estrada reminded China that “the Philippines has always advocated for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to territorial disputes with China and this incident undermines our efforts in de-escalating unnecessary tensions.”

Still, Estrada affirmed that, “Will not be intimidated. We will continue to defend our sovereignty with resolve and determination while remaining committed to upholding the rule of law and promoting peace in the region.”

Meanwhile, the PAF and the United States Pacific Air Forces (Pacaf) held a bilateral integration exercise involving fighter and airlift assets in Pampanga and Cebu over the weekend.

Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo, Air Force Public Affairs Office director, said in a media release that the exercise dubbed “Iron Blade” was another demonstration of the “strong and enduring partnership”

between the Philippines and the US, as well as their commitment to regional security and stability.

The exercise involved a combined force of two Philippine FA-50PH “Fighting Eagle” fighter aircraft, two US Air Force F-22A “Raptor” stealth fighters, and a US Air Force C-130 “Hercules” transport aircraft.

During the maneuver, the aircraft conducted formation flights between Basa Air Base in Pampanga and Brig. Gen. Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu.

A photo exercise was also incorporated in the mission to further improve cooperation and interoperability, Castillo said.

Aside from the aerial maneuvers, subject matter expert exchanges were also held in Pampanga, focused on flight operations and maintenance, while cargorelated exchanges were tackled in Cebu.

“Iron Blade” is part of Pacaf’s redeployment activities following its participation in the Pitch Black Exercise in Australia. The Philippines is one of their stopover points before heading to Kadena Air Base in Japan. The US Air Force contingent had a total of six F-22s and three C-130s during the stopover to the Philippines. With PNA

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Metropolitan Trial Court in Pasig City has convicted a hospital clerk on 46 counts of falsification of documents stemming from the fraudulent hemodialysis claims involving deceased patients at the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

In a 20-page decision, Judge Jesusa Lapuz Gaudino of MTC Branch 153 in Pasig found Svend Agodilos Rances guilty beyond reasonable doubt of falsification of official documents under Article 172, in relation to Article 171, of the Revised Penal Code.

Rances was found guilty of forging from 2018 to 2019 the signatures in the documents for the PhilHealth claims of patients some of whom were already deceased. He was sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment ranging from six months to three years and ordered to pay a fine of P50,000 per count, with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency.

Rances worked as a PhilHealth clerk for TriHDCare from 2016 to 2019.

TriHDCare handles the operations of the hemodialysis unit of the TriCity Medical Center.

Rances’s conviction reinforced the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) clearing several doctors and hospital staff at Tricity Medical Center, who were implicated in the case.

Dr. Gjay Ordinal, TriHDCare Inc, president; Dr. Gjay Ordinal, and owners Drs. Jocelyn Cobankiat, Froilan de Leon and Dr. Lourdes Reyes-Padilla, were among those cleared by the DOJ with regard to the falsification and estafa cases filed by the National Bureau of

The DOJ held that all elements of estafa were absent in the complaint and the three physicians were able to sufficiently establish that they did not participate in the falsification of claim documents submitted to PhilHealth. They were able to sufficiently establish that their signatures in the falsified claims were forged after a thorough forensic analysis by the National Police. The case stemmed from the complaint of Ordinal which handles operations of the hemodialysis unit of TriCity Medical Center, Inc. (TriCity Med).

In his testimony, Ordinal claimed that Rances, who was employed as a Philhealth clerk in the hemodialysis unit of Tricity Medical Center, had falsified Claim Signature Forms (CSF), PhilHealth Benefit Eligibility Forms (PBEF), and the Statements of Account (SOA) and submitted false claims with PhilHealth, pertaining to the alleged treatments received by 12 former patients of the hemodialysis unit of TriCity Med. In support of Ordinal’s claim, the prosecution submitted an incident report wherein Rances repeated his admission of filing fraudulent claims with PhilHealth.

“Rances’ confession to the prosecution witnesses was voluntarily and freely executed. The declaration of an accused acknowledging their guilt of the offense charged, or of any offense necessarily included therein, may be given in evidence against them,” the court said.

The Court also noted that during a hospital meeting on June 20, 2019, upon inquiry by the Medical Director, Rances freely and voluntarily admitted to entering false claims with PhilHealth for deceased dialysis patients.

Go helps workers in Olongapo

SEN. Christopher Go gave aid to displaced workers in Olongapo City on Friday, August 9.

In a message, Go highlighted the importance of government’s support for poor laborers in revitalizing the livelihood sector to help the country regain its economic momentum post-pandemic towards inclusive recovery.

Held at the session hall inside the Olongapo City Hall, Go’s Malasakit Team provided snacks, vitamins, masks, shirts, basketballs, and volleyballs to 53 displaced workers. The senator’s team also gave shoes to select recipients.

In partnership with Go’s office and Councilor Gina Perez, the Department of Labor and Employment also conducted an orientation for those eligible for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

In his continuing effort to bolster support for the impoverished, Go introduced Senate Bill 420, aimed at creating job opportunities for low-income families in rural areas. The proposed bill seeks to establish the Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP), which aims to provide temporary employment opportunities to individuals who qualify as economically disadvantaged, impoverished, displaced, or seasonal workers.

To further close the healthcare access gap for Filipinos in need, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also championed the establishment of additional Super Health Centers across the country. These centers are intended to provide primary care, consultations, and early disease detection, making these crucial services more accessible to communities nationwide.

Through the concerted efforts of Go, fellow lawmakers, the Department of Health, led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, and local government units, adequate funding was allocated for more than 700 Super Health Centers nationwide, including four in the province.

Lawmakers to House: Investigate sale of fake products from China

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

TO protect local manufacturers and their workers, lawmakers want Congress to investigate the rampant online sales of substandard and counterfeit products, mostly from China.

House Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo revealed that hundreds of thousands of workers will be affected and could lose their jobs if the rampant online sales of substandard and counterfeit products, mostly from China, are not curtailed.

correct taxes and comply with all regulations and laws imposed by our government. Yet, they are the ones most affected and now suffering losses due to unfair market practices,” Tulfo added.

Among the local manufacturers who sought help from Tulfo’s office were American Home, Asahi, Astron, Camel, Carribean, Concepcion, Cooldaddy, Dowell, Eureka, Fujidenzo, Hanabishi, Karrlsson, Kyowa, Kuchenluxe, Nikon, Nova, Tefal, Tiger, Union, and 3D, which collectively employ 300,000 workers.

According to the resolution, “The newly enacted Republic Act 11967, otherwise known as the Internet Transactions Act, provides a regulatory framework that requires players in e-commerce to adhere to specific rules and regulations on the protection and promotion of innovation, competition, secure online transactions, and environmental sustainability.”

Government eyes construction of nuke power plant by 2028

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE government is targeting the construction of nuclear power plant to begin in 2028 and commissioning by 2032, the draft Philippine Nuclear Energy Program (PNEP) for 2024-2050 indicate.

“If this is not stopped, many manufacturers in the Philippines who adhere to our laws will be forced to close down due to losses. When this happens, hundreds of thousands of our fellow Filipinos are sure to lose their jobs,” Tulfo said. He said as many as 15 business owners, primarily manufacturers and sellers of appliances, personally approached his office seeking help as their businesses have been severely affected by the widespread sale of substandard and counterfeit products sold at lower prices.

“These business owners pay the

In response to this, Tulfo, along with his colleagues from the ACTCIS Party-list group—Reps. Edvic Yap and Jocelyn Tulfo—as well as Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and and Quezon City Rep. Ralph Wendel Tulfo—plan to file a resolution on Monday in Congress. The resolution calls for an investigation into the “unfair online sales practices” of offshore appliances, primarily from China, that are directly imported into the country and sold at lower prices.

“Let’s not wait until these companies are completely bankrupt and forced to shut down before we take action, when hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens have already lost their jobs,” Tulfo urged.

Tulfo also questioned government agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Customs ( BOC ) for allowing these products to enter the country without complying with government regulations.

Tulfo clarified that he is not against online selling but insisted that these businesses must also comply with the laws set by the government.

DA sets checkpoints to control ASF spread

T“Despite this regulatory framework, there have been reports that offshore brands, particularly those from China, have been allowed to directly deliver items to the country through platforms like Shopee and Lazada, without adhering to the same taxation and regulatory requirements imposed upon domestic appliance manufacturers,” it added.

“After receiving complaints about establishments that sell uncertified appliances, the DTI recently raided and seized appliances imported from China and Korea without Import Commodity Clearance stickers—a significant indication on the packaging which proves that the product is safe, of good quality, and not harmful to its user,” the lawmakers’ resolution stated.

that have died from the virus or those infected with ASF.

The PNEP outlined the key targets that must be achieved for the successful commercial operations of a nuclear power plant in the country. The target minimum nuclear power capacity is 1,200 megawatts by 2032, 2,400MW by 2035, and 4,800MW by 2050.

The key targets cited under the project development activities of Milestone 2 (2024-2028) include regulatory compliance of the country’s Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) (2025-2028) and construction of the nuclear power plant (2028-2032).

operation. The commercial operation of these NPPs will contribute to at least 1,200MW capacity using conventional, SMR (small modular reactors) or MMR (micro modular reactor) technology across multiple sites in the country.

“The benefits of a nuclear energy program exceed the boundaries of the energy sector, provided that the risks are addressed through transparent and accountability mechanisms. The Philippines is therefore prepared and determined to demonstrate that a framework for operational transparency, safety and non-proliferation will be in place for the peaceful application of nuclear power in the country,” the PNEP stated.

By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

HE Department of Ag -

riculture (DA) will set up livestock checkpoints across Luzon following the African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in Batangas.

It noted that the checkpoints are temporary measures while the government awaits the arrival of ASF vaccines, which could take a few more weeks.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. assured that the department has the resources to respond to the new ASF cases immediately.

“We have the funds to procure the vaccines and the emergency funds to indemnify hog raisers adversely affected by the resurgence

of the ASF virus,” Tiu Laurel said in a statement. He added that vaccine procurement is essential for controlling the outbreak, but acknowledged the delay in securing them.

Tiu Laurel earlier said the DA is preparing for the “emergency procurement of ASF vaccines to address the situation promptly” which could shorten the purchase period by about two weeks. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/08/08/da-plans-purchase-of-asf-vaccines-afteroutbreak-in-batangas/)

Constante Palabrica, DA Assistant Secretary for Swine and Poultry, explained that the additional border controls are designed to stop the movement of diseased hogs, which have been a significant factor in the rapid

spread of ASF in Batangas.

“We have set up additional livestock quarantines and will keep them there at least until December 31,” Palabrica said.

“Policemen together with Bureau of Animal Industry [BAI] and other DA personnel will man the checkpoints,” he added, noting that the border controls will help prevent the transport of other diseased animals, including birds.

The DA said, the new ASF outbreak has led several towns in Batangas to declare a state of calamity to access emergency funds, whose availability is critical for addressing the immediate impacts of the outbreak and for managing the disease’s spread.

Palabrica said the DA has identified central burial sites for hogs

Group seeks broader coverage of BPA ban

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

ALOCAL waste and pollu -

tion watchdog on Sunday called on the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) for a broader coverage of the ban on bisphenol A (BPA), a known endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) in baby feeding bottles and sippy cups.

This, as EcoWaste Coalition marked the fifth anniversary of the banning of BPA and lauded the FDA for its regulatory action to protect infants from harmful chemicals.

Promulgated on August 9, 2019, the FDA through Circular 2019-004 banned the manufacture, importation and distribution of infant feeding bottles and sippy cups containing BPA, an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate (PC) plastic, to reduce children’s exposure to BPA and thus protect

their health.

Classified as a hazardous chemical, BPA can leach from PC plastic, especially when exposed to heat, sunlight and acidity, and seep into food or beverages in containers.

BPA exposure has been linked to hormonal imbalance, allergic reactions, respiratory irritation, fertility damage, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular and behavioral problems.

To check on the availability of BPA-free baby feeding bottles and sippy cups in the market, the EcoWaste Coalition conducted a rapid market monitoring in the City of Manila.

One retail store in Quiapo was found to offer a variety of products marked “BPA-free.” Another store in Tondo also offered “BPAfree” products. However, the same store offered products without any labeling information.

To assist consumers in select -

ing products that are safe from BPA, the EcoWaste Coalition requested the FDA to make available a master list with photos of duly authorized baby feeding bottles and sippy cups that are confirmed to be BPA-free.

It also urged the FDA to remove unauthorized and unlabeled baby bottles and sippy cups in the market.

To further protect human health from the adverse effects of BPA exposure, the EcoWaste Coalition also called on the FDA to take its cue from the European Union (EU) and initiate a process of banning BPA in food contact materials, including plastic and coated packaging. The measure will also address the use of other bisphenols in FCMs to avoid replacing BPA with similarly harmful substances.

As reported by Food Watch, EU member states last June 12, 2024, agreed on the European Commission’s proposal to pro -

“This measure is part of the broader effort to control and eventually eradicate the virus, which has severely affected the hog industry since it was first reported in 2019.”

The ASF outbreak had devastating effects on the country’s hog population, which dropped from 12.7 million in 2019 to about 9.9 million by the end of 2023.

BAI monitoring indicate that ASF has spread in all 17 regions and has affected 74 provinces. It noted that 64 towns in 22 provinces have reported active ASF cases as of August 8.

“The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for coordinated efforts to manage and mitigate the impacts of ASF on the local hog industry and the broader agricultural sector,” the DA said.

hibit most uses of BPA and other bisphenols in FCMs. The proposal will become an EU law if the European Parliament and Council agree to it.

The EcoWaste Coalition and Arugaan, a group that advocates protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, in 2008 urged the Department of Health (DOH) to take action against the use of BPA in baby products like feeding bottles, stressing that breastfeeding is an excellent way to prevent and reduce BPA exposure among babies and children.

In 2011, the EcoWaste Coalition and the Save the Babies Coalition staged a creative protest at the DOH headquarters to press the department to ban BPA in baby feeding bottles. With the support of more than 70 nongovernment organizations, the EcoWaste Coalition and Arugaan petitioned the DOH in 2013 and 2014 to promulgate a policy banning BPA in feeding bottles following the regulations adopted in Canada, European Union, China, and the USA.

“Power supply arrangements for the power produced by the NPP project will be executed in 2027 while construction will commence by 2028. After five years, commissioning and grid synchronization of the NPP is expected,” the PNEP stated.

The legal and regulatory framework for available domestic nuclear materials and reliable and responsible foreign suppliers is expected to be finalized by 2025 while the selection of processing technology, especially for waste disposal will be completed in 2026.

Milestone 3, meanwhile, is the start of the commercial

On July 2, the United StatesPhilippines Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, or the 123 Agreement, entered into force. The 123 Agreement, signed in November last year, will establish a legal framework that allows the export of nuclear fuel, reactors, equipment, and special nuclear material from the US to the Philippines. The agreement lays the legal framework for potential nuclear power projects with US providers and aims to facilitate Philippine-US cooperation in the safe and secure use of nuclear energy, taking into full account the standards and safeguards set by the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as in accordance with respective national laws, international agreements, and regulations.

Senior legislator, consumer group back Meralco franchise renewal

AS the House Committee on Legislative Franchises resumes hearing on the bills seeking to grant Meralco a new 25-year franchise on Monday, a senior lawmaker and a consumer group on Sunday said stable power supply is vital for the continued growth of the Philippine economy.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, along with other lawmakers, lauded the Philippines’ 6.3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2024. The veteran legislator from Mindanao agreed that Congress’ favorable action on Meralco’s franchise application is a step toward maintaining the strength of the Philippine economy.

“Reliable, adequate, and efficient electricity service is crucial in supporting businesses and the economy. It’s also an essential component of daily life for Filipinos,” said Rodriguez.

“By renewing its franchise, Congress is ensuring that those currently served by Meralco will continue to benefit from affordable, efficient, adequate, and reliable power,” Rodriguez said.

A day before the congressional hearing in legislative franchise, Laban Konsyumer Inc. (LKI) asserted that Meralco’s continued operations would en -

sure a stable supply of electricity to millions of consumers, not only in Metro Manila but also in other high-growth areas.

Meralco’s current franchise, which primarily covers the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces, is set to expire in 2028.

LKI commended Meralco’s efforts to secure a sufficient and low-cost power supply through competitive selection processes (CSPs). Currently, Meralco is seeking bids for its 1,500-megawatt (MW) supply requirements starting next year.

“Meralco’s transparent bidding processes demonstrate its commitment to fulfilling its mandate to its customers,” LKI stated.

Earlier this year, Meralco also awarded contracts for a 3,000-MW baseload supply for 15 years and a 400-MW interim power supply requirement until next year.

“We strongly support Meralco’s series of CSPs. Power contracts secured through CSP ensure that supply comes from reputable and reliable sources, contributing to a stable and affordable electricity supply for consumers in the years to come,” the group added.

Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

‘Roadmap to ease Quezon coco sector woes’

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

LUCENA City—The creation of a coconut industry roadmap for Quezon will enable the province to address supply challenges and increase the income of planters, according to its top local official.

In an interview following the opening of the 2024 Niyogyugan Festival last Friday, Quezon Governor Helen Tan noted that the province is among the top producers of coconut in the Philippines, accounting for 10 percent of total supply nationwide.

However, Tan said the coconut industry of the province is currently grappling with a number of challenges, including the ill effects of El Niño.

She said the weather phenomenon compounded existing problems

in the sector and that the roadmap will guide the future of Quezon province’s coconut industry.

“We are lobbying for the creation of a coconut industry roadmap. An international organization has helped us map out the coconut industry in Quezon, and we’ve conducted consultations with major companies to focus on replanting, rehabilitation, and zoning,” said Tan.

“Our local oil millers are struggling with supply, forcing them to outsource because there’s no consistent roadmap. Farmers have diverse interests, so we need proper zoning to understand how much volume we need.”

Tan said there is a need to focus on beefing up planting and rehabilitation efforts and properly designing the industry’s future to ensure sustainable coconut production.

She said the roadmap will determine which areas are suitable for conversion, the number of farms

dedicated to coco sugar and coco water production and prevent any sector from sacrificing the overall health of the coconut industry.

The provincial government of Quezon, in collaboration with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), is conducting a study on the development of coconut industry growth areas in Quezon.

This initiative, which is expected to be completed by June 2025, aims to establish a value chain analysis and an agri-business model to increase productivity and income for local farmers.

Festival IN celebration of the annual Niyogyugan Festival, Tan underscored the importance of promoting local products and supporting farmers.

Tan said showcasing local goods is a key strategy for aiding farmers

Ubra: Humidity poses risk to poultry output

By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

THE poultry subsector’s positive performance in the second quarter may be difficult to repeat in the Julyto-September period, according to the United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra).

Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong said the third quarter is usually a difficult period for local poultry raisers due to several factors, including humidity.

“The third quarter is a difficult period for production,” Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong told the BusinessMirror. “Humidity remains high, and this affects the quality of the feeds, so it’s difficult for chickens to grow.”

Due to the so-called “third quarter syndrome,” the size of broilers are smaller than usual, which prolongs the rearing period of chickens, according to a statement released by the Department of Agriculture in 2007.

Figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that the country’s farm output contracted by 3.3 percent

in the second quarter as El Niño ravaged farmlands.

PSA data indicated that the crops and livestock subsectors recorded declines in terms of value while the poultry and fisheries subsectors buoyed the performance of Philippine agriculture in April to June.

The value of agriculture and fisheries production amounted to P413.91 billion in the reference period at constant 2018 prices. This was lower than last year’s P427.69 billion.

The poultry subsector, which amounted to P70.15 billion, posted a growth of 8.7 percent, with every poultry commodity recording increments in their value of production.

“In the third quarter, I’m not so sure if there will be that much of an increase, if at all—hopefully there will be an increase,” Inciong said.

He also said he was “surprised” by the performance of the poultry subsector in the second quarter, considering the dry spell and the woes experienced by raisers

in previous months.

“There was a period from October to March or April that the industry recorded heavy losses because of overproduction, which was exacerbated by importation. I expected a reduction as a reaction to the losses and oversupply situation. Apparently, the industry did not lose its momentum,” Inciong said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Meanwhile, Inciong urged the government to fast-track the creation of quarantine inspection areas at the customs border.

This after the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) called for urgent regional efforts to combat the rise in bird flu cases across the AsiaPacific region.

“That statement of the FAO should prompt the government to accelerate the establishment of quarantine inspection areas at the customs border.”

He added that FAO’s statement would make authorities “more aware of the need for urgency in implementing this long-time need of the entire agri-fishery sector.”

SL Agritech aims to uplift lives of more farmers–exec

SL Agritech will continue the legacy of its late founder Henry Lim Bon Liong, who sought to improve the lives of Filipino farmers, according to his daughter and company executive vice president Michelle Lim-Gankee.

Lim was founder and chairman of SL Agritech, the main mover of hybrid rice production in the country. He was also chairman and chief executive officer of Sterling Paper Corp.

“The company’s goal is to uplift the lives of Filipino farmers, and we intend to help more planters,” Lim-Gankee told the B usiness M irror in a phone interview.

She also said her father told her to keep the hybrid rice business going until the country achieves food security and becomes an exporter of ordinary rice.

The government is determined to help cement the legacy of Lim, the industrialist who paved the way for expanded and more meaningful corporate focus on technology to boost agriculture.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the Department of Agriculture (DA) will also continue the legacy of Lim, who died last August 2. “We can help with their research to improve their strain for better productivity and climate resiliency,” Laurel told the BusinessMirror.

For Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero, Lim’s passing was “such a loss to the dynamic rice sector.”

and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the province.

“You can see that we are showcasing local products here. This is one of our ways to help farmers promote their goods, which are sourced from our agricultural communities and MSMEs,” Tan said.

This year’s festival also marks a significant development—the registration of the Niyogyugan Foundation, according to Tan.

In the past, Tan said farmers had expressed their misgivings that they did not fully benefit from the celebration of the festival.

She said the foundation aims to address these concerns by ensuring that coconut farmers, who are integral to the festival’s spirit, feel the direct impact of the event.

“Five percent of the sales during

the festival will go to the foundation, which is managed by coconut farmers themselves. We also have a scholarship program focused on supporting farmers, fostering a culture of unity and mutual support.”

With the theme “Tara na sa Quezon! Niyogyugan na,” the week-long festival is set to showcase the rich culture, agricultural heritage, and tourism potential of the province.

The website of the provincial government indicated that Quezon has a total agricultural area of 4,167.6421 sq. km representing 47.87 percent of the total provincial land area as of 2023.

“The total area planted with coconuts covers 379,137.60 hectares, making Quezon the province with the largest coconut production

area in the Philippines. Also, Quezon is the top coconut producing province in terms of total coconut production in the country with 1,493,066.64 metric tons [MT] in the year 2020.” Copra making is considered one of the largest income-generating agricultural activities in the province. However, with the volatile price of copra both in the local and international markets, the government has encouraged intercropping and multi-storey cropping to generate additional income for the coconut farmers.

Another major crop of the province is rice, covering a total area of 50,183.35 hectares. Rice production is placed at 194,269.99 MT with an average yield of 3.87 metric tons per hectare in 2021.

“The varieties he developed and/or commercialized are protected under the IP regime. This will be recognized and remains part of the government’s procurement for quality seeds—from local or imported sources,” she added.

Caballero also said the Philippine Rice Research Institute is mandated to “help develop high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies so farmers can produce enough rice for all Filipinos.”

“In collaboration with the private sector including Mr. Henry Lim Bon Liong—it has extended a transparent platform for local seed businesses to thrive.” Ada Pelonia

“His passion and big contribution to the [Philippine] rice breeding program will live on,” Caballero told the B usiness M irror , noting that most of his contributions have been registered under the National Seed Industry Council.

Cocoa jumps most since May on West Africa dry weather fears

COCOA futures soared as much as 12 percent in New York, the biggest intraday jump in three months, as dry weather in the world’s top producers fuels concerns about output in the upcoming season. The most-active contract reached $7,525 a ton Friday, on course for a weekly gain of more than 10 percent. Top growers Ivory Coast and Ghana have seen a “significant decrease in shower activity” over the past month, leading to belownormal soil moisture and limited crop growth, said Brandon Fox, an operational meteorologist at Maxar Technologies Inc.

“If more rain doesn’t fall during the last week of August, then it would not be a great end to this growing season,” Fox said, noting that models continue to indicate below-normal rain for the next two weeks.

Still, analysts expect a recovery in West Africa’s cocoa production in the season starting in October, helping to flip the market into a surplus. Wetter conditions if a neutral La Niña pattern takes hold later this month could allay weather concerns, said Cade Groman, a forecaster at Commodity Weather Group. Showers are expected to be closer to normal next month, but October is “currently leaning drier,” Groman added. Interpretations of the weather’s impact have also been mixed. Some have seen “above-average rainfall raising the risk of disease,” so weather’s effect is difficult to gauge, said John Goodwin, a senior commodity analyst at ArrowStream Inc. Markets could be overreacting to the weather forecast, said Michael McDougall, managing director at Paragon Global

Markets. “A problem could be building,” but the price move could also “show how sensitive the market is to any supply issue now,” he said.

Futures may gain more upward momentum if they rise above $7,557 a ton, breaking a downward trend over the last few months. Otherwise, prices could “easily fall back down,” McDougall said. Meanwhile, arabica coffee fell in New York as traders continued assessing the risk of frost in top producer Brazil that pushed markets higher earlier this week.

“Should frost risk prove to be minimal as the charts indicate, the coffee markets may seek a correction on the downside,” said Thiago Cazarini, president of Cazarini Trading Co. “But if a Brazil frost strikes this market, we could see coffee prices climbing to rival all-time highs.” Bloomberg News

Monday, August 12,

Gaza crisis deepens: Israel orders more mass evacuations after deadly school strike kills 80

DBy Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy The Associated Press

Editor: Angel R. Calso

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Khan Younis, Gaza’s second-largest city, suffered widespread destruction during an air and ground offensive earlier this year. Tens of thousands fled again last week after an earlier evacuation order.

Hundreds of families carrying their belongings in their arms left their homes and shelters early Sunday, seeking elusive refuge. “We don’t know where to go,” said Amal Abu Yahia, a mother of three, who had returned to Khan Younis in June to shelter in their severely damaged home. “This is

my fourth displacement,” said the 42-year-old widow, whose husband was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit their neighbors’ house in March.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says the Palestinian death toll from the 10-month-old war is approaching 40,000, without saying how many were fighters. Aid groups have struggled to address the staggering humanitarian crisis in the territory, while international experts have warned of famine. Magdy reported from Cairo Gaza... Continued from A8

She said they went to Muwasi, a sprawling tent camp along the coast, but could not find any space. Ramadan Issa, a father of five in his 50s, fled Khan

Younis with 17 members of his extended family, joining hundreds of people walking toward central Gaza early Sunday. “Every time we settle in one place and build tents for women and children, the occupation comes and bombs the area,” he said, referring to Israel. “This situation is unbearable.”

The recent collaboration between the Department of education (Deped) and the private sector to launch an “enhanced work immersion program” is a crucial step towards aligning educational practices with the demands of the modern workforce. This initiative, aimed at enhancing students’ practical industry experience, is a commendable effort that could significantly impact the employability of students nationwide. (Read the BusinessMirror story: Govt, private sector launch ‘enhanced work immersion’ program in schools, August 9, 2024)

The Memorandum of Agreement signed between DepEd and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) highlights a strategic partnership that emphasizes curriculum alignment, job training, and employment matching opportunities. The program aims to narrow the disparity between theoretical education and practical experience by offering students additional hours to acquire industrystandard skills, thereby enhancing their attractiveness to prospective employers.

The decision to focus on key sectors such as information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), tourism and hospitality, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing reflects a forward-thinking approach to preparing students for diverse career pathways. The involvement of prominent industry organizations like the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines, IT Business Processing Association of the Philippines, Philippine Constructors Association, Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, iPeople through the n a tional Teachers College, SM Group, and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go n e gosyo) further underscores the commitment of both the public and private sectors towards empowering the future workforce.

The backing of the initiative by DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, along with PSAC’s focus on readying students for the changing demands of the private sector, demonstrates a collaborative drive to elevate educational standards and boost students’ employability. Through the provision of practical training schemes and real-world exposure, students stand to acquire invaluable skills and enhance their prospects for securing improved job placements after graduation.

As we move towards a more competitive and dynamic job market, initiatives like the enhanced work immersion program are essential for equipping students with the skills and experiences necessary to thrive in diverse industries. By fostering collaboration between educational institutions and industry leaders, we can ensure that our students are well-prepared, job-ready, and capable of meeting the challenges of the future.

This partnership between DepEd and the private sector represents a significant milestone in our collective efforts to empower the next generation of professionals. It is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change and preparing students for success in the workforce.

To be sure, the success of this initiative will hinge on its careful implementation. DepEd and PSAC must work closely to identify the optimal school sites, curate meaningful work placements, and foster strong partnerships with the private companies involved. Mechanisms for tracking student outcomes and soliciting feedback from all stakeholders will also be crucial.

This program holds immense promise if executed well. By equipping young Filipinos with the skills and experience employers demand, it can open doors to greater economic opportunities and, in turn, contribute to the country’s broader development goals. In an era of rapid technological change and shifting labor market dynamics, bridging the gap between education and industry has never been more vital. This partnership represents an important step in that direction.

One Daily: A new approach to employee well-being

WBy Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING

e’ve all encountered stressful situations at work, whether due to a difficult boss, unrealistic performance expectations, challenging personalities, or commuting problems. These work-related pressures often affect our mental health and overall well-being, especially since, on average, people spend about 90,000 hours at work—that’s about one-third of their lives.

According to the World Economic Forum, more than one in 10 workers miss workdays due to anxiety, depression, or burnout at any given time. In addition to challenges with work-life balance, personal issues, health concerns, and the high cost of living can all exacerbate this already fragile situation.

Brutal

By Hideyuki Sano & Aya Wagatsuma

JAPA n ESE equities shed $1.1 trillion in value as they kicked off August with a record threeday loss. For bullish investors, that’s providing a fresh reason to buy what has been one of 2024’s hottest trades.

The stocks that were hit the hardest are the ones that had soared the highest, bringing prices down to more attractive levels. The valuation improvement campaign that has boosted the international appeal of Japanese shares continues apace, and some of the froth has been removed from the now $6.1 trillion market.

While the Bank of Japan’s sudden interest rake hike last month caught traders off guard, the central bank followed up with comments that it won’t tighten so quickly as to risk further market turmoil. That’s help put a lid on sudden gains in the yen, removing a key threat to the stock rally.

In terms of major global catalysts, the latest US labor-market data helped ease concern about whether the Federal Reserve is easing fast enough to

After the pandemic, when people experienced collective trauma, the return to work was marked by mental health issues that affected workplace productivity. These issues sometimes led to absenteeism and quiet quitting, both of which have been shown to harm employers and business owners.

As a result, more organizations

According to the World Economic Forum, more than one in 10 workers miss workdays due to anxiety, depression, or burnout at any given time. In addition to challenges with work-life balance, personal issues, health concerns, and the high cost of living can all exacerbate this already fragile situation.

are now motivated to improve their employees’ well-being. The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened employers’ awareness of their role and responsibility in addressing their workers’ mental health problems.

Moreover, there’s a generational factor at play: Generation Z is more likely to quit due to mental health concerns. They are also more open to discussing mental health, accepting support, and expecting employers to treat them as “whole people,” not just workers. Their perspectives are influential, and employers are taking note.

It is also clear that if mental health problems in the workplace are not addressed, the economic costs will be high. Globally, an estimated 12 billion workdays are lost each year to depression and anxiety, costing about $1 trillion

in lost productivity.

Research shows that in private sector organizations where employees experience strong health and well-being management, organizational performance is more than 2.5 times greater than in those with poor management. This underscores the fact that mental health challenges affect morale, relationships, and the well-being of families and communities. So, what’s the next step? Employers must recognize that they can be part of the solution. To make a difference, strategies must be implemented and success must be measured.

In the Philippines, One Holistic Community (OHC) is an organization striving to make a difference. They recently launched One Daily, designed specifically for organizations, teams, companies, and groups. It is also open to individual participants.

One Daily begins on September 1st. For a monthly fee of P999, members gain access to 60-100 live sessions each month, conducted via Zoom by more than 17 health experts. These sessions are delivered or facilitated by OHC’s mental health mentors who specialize in various healing modalities.  Interested parties can sign up or obtain additional information at https://oneholistic.site/onedaily.

head off a potential recession. And the world’s major technology companies are steaming ahead with plans to spend billions on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

“It’s not like we had a major economic or financial crisis,” said Tetsuro Ii, chief executive of Commons Asset Management Inc., adding that it will probably take just two or three months for the market to fully recover. Investors now recognize that monetary policy in Japan and the US has “entered a new stage,” having taken this as a cue to exit crowded positions.

The benchmark Topix is down 12 percent since the end of June. Stocks that had outperformed earlier in the year have suffered more. An MSCI Inc. gauge of the nation’s semiconductorrelated stocks—whose AI-fueled surge was a key driver of this year’s rally— has fallen 25 percent in that span. A measure of banks, which had surged on anticipation of higher rates, is down 16 percent.

Japan had become one of the favorite markets of global traders this year amid expectations that inflation will return after more than two decades of price stagnation and hopes that Japanese companies will return more cash to shareholders at the urging of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

estimated forward earnings, compared with 20 times for the S&P 500 Index. The Japan chip gauge is down to 21 times from 35 times earlier this year.

“People

Japan had become one of the favorite markets of global traders this year amid expectations that inflation will return after more than two decades of price stagnation and hopes that Japanese companies will return more cash to shareholders at the urging of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The recent slide make stocks cheaper, potentially making them even more attractive to overseas investors such as Warren Buffett, who has poured funds into Japanese trading houses. The Topix is now trading at 13 times

“I wouldn’t call it a bubble but the market just got carried away,” said Toru Yamamoto, chief strategist at Daiwa Asset Management Co. “When you need to cut risks, the most bloated positions will get slashed.”

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua

SUN

A word about ‘vault files’

IAdoption of a new BIR logo comes with new expectations

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

Joel L.Tan-Torres ThE PaTRIoT

n the academy, “vault files” is a term used to describe a set of documents that has been repeatedly utilized and carried over time year on year. It can be synonymous with archived records where users can refer or revert to whenever a similar task is given to them.

In legal terms, vault files are like templates or patterns where lawyers can pattern their current draft entries in a contract, affidavit, or memorandum. After all, starting a document from scratch can be tedious if not time consuming. In law schools, some students make use of old bar exam questions or notes used by a professor in previous years as “vault files,” as reference when they study the law. Wagering on the likelihood that the same professor will use the same exam questions or similar questions, some students principally rely on these “vault files” when they study for an exam.

When I entered the Bureau of Immigration in 2011, I always inquired what legal bases were used to arrive at a course of action. If the action was supported with legal basis, I don’t challenge. But if the foundation was just based on mere “practice,” as in “vault files”, I find ways to improve the resolution process, without or with little reliance on how these issues were handled in the past.

In the Philippine Army, General Roy Galido is not a fan of “vault files” despite being an academy graduate (PMA 1990). When he took over the helm of the Army last year, his mindset was not to accept the status quo but to always improve it, somehow, someway. The philosophy of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” does not really resonate well with the current Commanding General of the biggest branch of our uniformed services. For him, there’s always room to enhance current processes. He is never afraid to think and do things “outside the box.”

For example, upon noticing the Officer’s Club being underused and individual Army personnel eating separately at the headquarters, General Roy introduced the pioneering concept of a “mess hall” to facilitate a self-service lunch setting for communal dining. In procurement, General Roy practically initiated a revamp in anticipation of the changes in government procurement, doing away with “vault files” in terms of planning what to buy. Instead of buying what was bought during previous years, the game-changing general from Antique opted for a demandbased procurement. Why buy something that soldiers do not need just because it was bought before? Why keep on buying the same thing when it’s not fit for use, in the eyes of the soldier based on feedback? In training, General Roy is looking for ways to introduce the concept of servant leadership in the Army where a significant majority still adopts the authoritarian style of command. Exemplifying this leadership style, he even personally served me coffee instead of asking his security detail to do it on his behalf. Little gestures matter. Of course, “vault files” help but a leader just cannot and should not lackadaisically rely on them hook, line, and sinker.  In the spiritual realm, our “vault files” is the Holy Book. But unlike the vault files used in the academy, in law schools, and in government agencies, these “files” are irrefutable, timeless, and not and never subject to “copy paste” and then edit. Biblical doctrines are replete with this constant—“Your word, LORD,

Wis eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” ( Psalm 119:89). “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” ( Isaiah 40:8). “I the Lord do not change” ( Malachi 3:6 ). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” ( Matthew 24:35 ). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” ( Hebrews 13:8). God’s Word is the foundation upon which believers confidently proclaim the truth to an audience, regardless of time, culture, or political agenda. That is why the insertion of the word “Almighty God” in the preamble of the 1987 Constitution has far reaching implications that believers should anchor on when it comes to spreading the Word. Being a Filipino, subject to the laws of the country, is being and becoming a person who ought to implore the assistance of One God in the pursuit of a just and humane society for the common good. The Preamble, practically a Vision Statement for the country, calls on every Filipino to help build a “regime of truth, justice, freedom, love, equality, and peace”, which are interconnected to the Fruit of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol (Galatians 5:22-23). Every Filipino should strive to be a true patriot, one who honors God, first and foremost. Serving our beloved c ountry is honorable, but it takes a far different valor when one serves the country because he or she believes it is a way of honoring his or her Creator. There is a recalibration process here, because a person may be ultra-skilled and efficient in his job of serving the country but without reverence and submission to God, imploring His authority and aid, then any excellence, even with good intentions, will be for naught. This was a lesson the biblical King David learned when he brought his desire to build a temple before the Lord. God told him no, it was not a task for David to do, as He had other plans for him. Like David, we may desire to do something great—perhaps lead the country, or in the case of General Roy, lead the Army into a combat ready and corrupt-free organization. But that desire may not be granted unless there is a Good Shepherd to guide us. Whenever we do even the smallest of tasks by reverting first to our real “vault”—our Heavenly Creator and His timeless Word, we will honor God in our work and bring Him glory. In every task, we should refer to this “vault file,” our repository of wisdom, vis-à-vis our intimate connection with God, our one true “vault.” God has designed work in such a way that we are serving Him as we work. Paul says in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord and not for men.” The most critical question for us to ask ourselves, and repeat every day: Who is my real vault file? When we set our hearts and minds to do something, our direction should serve as an offering to God.

If all leaders, General Galido for instance, could see Jesus Christ as their real “vault file,” would they serve differently?

DEBIT CREDIT

Conclusion

hat’s next after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) launched its new logo or emblem during its 120th-year anniversary celebration last august 1, 2024?

The tedious process of re-branding or changing the vestiges of the old logo should be done with haste. These include the signages, forms, employee pins, decals, stampers, letterheads, and a host of other items, both in electronic and physical forms.

Simultaneously, the BIR should proceed with its communication awareness campaign so that all stakeholders, employees, and external parties, are aware of the existence of the new logo.

I believe that the most important action is actualizing the messages and meanings in the new logo. The logo presents the BIR’s commitment to further move forward in the digitalization age with enhanced and transformed practices in taxpayer service and operational efficiency. This is the most challenging impact of the introduction of the new logo with taxpayers and other affected stakeholders expecting that the negative practices of delayed refunds, burdensome tax audits, and corruption, will be further minimized, if not eradicated, and the positive side of the BIR as a taxpayercaring and effective institution will prevail. Much has been done in these

areas by BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. and his team but more can be put in place.

I cite the situation in the United States when its tax collecting agency, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), came up with its own re-branding several decades ago.

The IRS was originally called the Bureau of Internal Revenue. The change of the name to Internal Revenue Service happened in 1953, as part of a reorganization effort to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the tax collection system in the United States.

The name change was part of a broader reorganization under President Dwight Eisenhower, aiming to streamline government operations and improve public perception of the tax collection agency. The reorganization plan, known as Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1952, became effective on March 9, 1953. The goal was to modernize the agency, enhance taxpayer services, and ensure better compliance with tax laws.

One reason for the name change was the IRS’s direction of reflecting a more modern and service-oriented

I believe that the most important action is actualizing the messages and meanings in the new logo. The logo presents the BIR’s commitment to further move forward in the digitalization age with enhanced and transformed practices in taxpayer service and operational efficiency.

approach to tax administration. This signified a shift from merely being a tax-collecting agency to an organization focused on taxpayer service and support. It was directed to improve the image of the then BIR by emphasizing “service” rather than “bureaucracy.”

The strategy then was to encourage voluntary compliance by creating a more taxpayer-friendly image.

The impact of the change that resulted over time was enhanced services to taxpayers, including the introduction of new taxpayer services, more accessible information, assistance programs, and better customer support. There was also improved compliance from taxpayers, who responded with increased tax payments and positive feedback on the IRS changes. The IRS pursued organizational and operational reform, such as continuous efforts to reorganize and improve the IRS’s operations, including the adoption of new technologies and processes to streamline tax collection and enforcement.

The IRS today has transformed since the days when it was called the Bureau of Internal Revenue. This exemplifies what a change in brand or name can positively result in tax administration. Can Philippine taxpayers expect the same results with the BIR’s change of its logo?

I sincerely hope so. The initiatives of Commissioner Lumagui have re -

sulted in generally positive optimism and acceptance by taxpayers and BIR personnel alike. These measures, which encompass enhancement of the organization, administrative practices, and taxpayer interactions, should be sustained and institutionalized.

The Asian Development Bank approved a $400 million loan in November 2023 to help the efforts of the Philippines and the BIR to transform tax administration, systems, and processes. I understand that the preparation of the detailed road map for this has already been awarded and will soon start.

The leadership of the land, from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto fully support the efforts of the BIR. Taxpayers and several multi-sectoral organizations have joined the Group created by the BIR to regularly meet to discuss priority tax measures and issues. The outpouring of all these developments and support points to the strong likelihood that with the change of the BIR logo, the attainment of the expectations of the public and the nation is forthcoming. Even without the need to change the name of the BIR to Internal Revenue Service of the Philippines?

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

Threat to Keir Starmer persists as riots expose UK social divisions

By Alex Wickham, Ellen Milligan & Ailbhe Rea

Awave of UK riots that led to hundreds of arrests over the past two weeks appears to have subsided, but for Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s new government, the threat remains.

Most pressingly, government and law enforcement officials see the potential for fresh violence at the weekend, after Britain witnessed its worst disorder for more than a decade in the past two weeks.

Starmer’s aides don’t yet think they’re out of the woods and stress their priority is ensuring the rioting doesn’t resume.

But even if the next two days pass in relative calm, there’s a recognition in the premier’s team that the recent strife has exposed deep-seated grievances and challenges that the new government must resolve. That includes cutting immigration, restoring the fortunes of deprived areas, and addressing the threat posed by online misinformation, racism and incitement to violence—and Starmer’s aides privately acknowledge the argument they’ll have to make is complex, nuanced and uncomfortable for some in the governing Labour Party.

“We need to hear a message to the whole of Britain about what are the legitimate concerns that many have, and which views are illegitimate,” according to Sunder Katwala, director of the British Future think tank, who said the premier should make a speech to the nation following the unrest. Starmer “has got to tell a story about what to do about the condition of Britain.”

The spark for the disorder was the killing of three young girls in Southport,

Brutal . . . continued from A10

The geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing that took the wind out of the tech stocks last month remain in play, especially with the US election looming. The Nikkei Volatility Index, Japan’s

northwest England on July 29, combined with online posts falsely claiming the suspect was a Muslim migrant. Attacks on police officers, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers since then led to some 500 arrests.

A f urther expected flare-up failed to materialize on Wednesday when thousands of anti-racism counter-protesters and a heavy police presence neutralized the anticipated far-right disorder outside immigration-related facilities. But police and government officials view the return of England’s football season on Saturday as an unpredictable factor that could prove either a distraction or a vector for hooliganism. Thousands of officers will be on duty this weekend, London’s Metropolitan Police force said.

Starmer has focused on restoring calm by stressing the real consequences for those involved in the disorder. He’s ensured courts and prosecutors are quickly processing people who engaged in both the physical violence and the online incitement.

P erpetrators are already being sentenced, something the prime minister highlighted Friday in a pooled interview. “That’s a reminder to everyone that whether you’re directly involved, or whether you’re remotely involved, you’re culpable and you will be put before the courts if you’ve broken the law,” Starmer said.

But the premier also knows attention will soon turn to the difficult social questions posed by the wave of racist criminality.

S tarmer, a former chief prosecutor, sees the rioters as racist thugs with no legitimate grievances, people with

version of the “fear gauge” closed at 45 Friday. While that’s down from the intraday spike of 85 on Monday, it’s still well above the long-term average around 22.

For Ben Bennett, head of investment strategy for Asia at Legal & General Investment Management Ltd., crowded positioning became a reason to avoid Japan stocks.

Starmer has focused on restoring calm by stressing the real consequences for those involved in the disorder. He’s ensured courts and prosecutors are quickly processing people who engaged in both the physical violence and the online incitement.

knowledge of his thinking said. He also believes he’s taken charge of a country whose social fabric is frayed by underlying policy problems ranging from deprivation, anti-social behavior and crime to record immigration, broken public services and communities that feel ignored.

T hat combination of factors helped fuel Britain’s divorce from the European Union, but remain unresolved, despite politicians including former Conservative premiers Theresa May and Boris Johnson, ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and Brexit architect Nigel Farage all highlighting the concerns of so-called left-behind towns.

Answering those challenges is central to the promises of change and renewal that Starmer made in the election campaign. It’s seen by his strategists as fundamental to keeping hold of the swing voters who handed him power and preventing a surge in the populist right evident in other Western countries— whose seeds were evident in 14 percent of the national vote picked up by Farage’s Reform UK party. Yet producing successful policies to prevent irregular migrants entering Britain by boat, fix the country’s poorly

performing National Health Service, fight crime and spread economic opportunity across the country would be hard enough even if Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves wasn’t preparing a budget of tax rises and public spending restraint forced on her by an unenviable fiscal outlook. Labour aides explicitly blame the national malaise directly on Tory governments not meeting pledges in recent years to “level up” economic opportunities nationwide and to “stop the boats” of asylum seekers crossing from France. They’re conscious that failure to deliver again may stoke tensions further. Still, Starmer’s strategists see political opportunity in success where their opponents failed. Stronger borders and a functioning justice system and NHS would let the premier dominate the center-ground while his Tory and Reform critics move further to the right, one said. They suggested Farage had misjudged the public mood by pushing conspiracy theories in recent weeks, arguing Reform voters were mostly disillusioned rather than extremists.

For now, the government is focusing on the law-and-order response. Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have been speaking to senior police officers multiple times daily about operational plans, with the premier’s home affairs adviser, Harvey Redgrave, becoming a key figure coordinating communications. A communications campaign aimed at reaching millions of people has focused on deterring future riots by amplifying lengthy prison sentences handed out to those involved, something they see as instrumental in preventing Wednesday’s planned demonstrations. With assistance from Eleanor Thornber/Bloomberg

“The question is whether this stretched positioning has been reduced significantly,” he said. “I suspect it will take more than a few days of volatility to get that positioning back to neutral. If anything, I think investors who are bullish Japanese equities might even add to positions given the recent weakness.” Given the various pressures on a market at elevated levels, the latest turbulence wasn’t a surprise to Arihiro Nagata, managing director at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.

“I think a correction was waiting to happen on any trigger,” he said. “It was hard to predict, but I think the positioning has become light and the market has become inexpensive.” Bloomberg

Monday, August 12, 2024

2nd Front Page

Heavens ‘cry’ as PNP anti-kidnapping hero, killed rescuing Chinese nationals, is buried

Text and photos by Bernard Testa

HEAVY rains poured Saturday afternoon after slain antikidnapping hero Sgt. Nelson Santiago was brought to his town church for the last rites in honor of Santa Rosa de Lima.

The family, relatives and friends, wearing white, heard the last Mass for the deceased officiated by Rev. Fr. JD Guillermo, the parish priest.

Members of the Philippine National Police’s Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) were conducting a rescue operation for two abducted Chinese nationals on August 3 in Angeles City when shooting ensued. Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Santiago was hit and later pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital while Police Chief Master Sergeant Eden Accede was wounded.

A representative from the Chinese embassy attended the funeral rites to condole with the family and handed over a token of their appreciation for his heroism.

Santiago’s mother Felisa and wife Mary Rose comforted his children—Tin Laran, 7, who was holding a portrait of his father, and Merea Rose, 3. “Marunong makisama, mabait at ulirang pulis, at hindi pabaya sa pamilya [He was kind, got along well with others, a good policeman and a good family man],” was how his mother-in-law remembered Santiago.

Authorities said the AKG’s operation stemmed from a report by a Chinese police attaché that kidnappers demanded 500,000 yuan or P8 million as ransom for the two Chinese victims, who are residents of Makati City. Police said the two unnamed victims were rescued while the suspects, identified as Hu Kai and Ryu Don, both from China, were arrested.

A CHINESE embassy representative offers condolences and a token of appreciation at the funeral of Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Santiago, who was killed during a rescue operation for two abducted Chinese nationals in Angeles City. CHINESE EMBASSY, MANILA

IN a solemn farewell, fellow policemen carry the casket of Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Santiago from his hometown church, as his mother Felisa, wife Mary Rose, and children Tin Laran, 7, clutching his father’s portrait, and Merea Rose, 3, bid their final goodbyes. BERNARD TESTA

IN a heart-rending moment, 7-year-old Tin Laran stands resolutely, saluting with one hand while clutching a portrait of his father, fallen hero Police Staff Sergeant Nelson Santiago, in the other. BERNARD TESTA

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

New approach to cut PSA application backlog–ERC

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) is implementing a “one plant, one rate” approach in addressing backlogs for unresolved power supply agreement (PSAs) applications.

From 2021 to 2023, PSA cases reached 828. However, only 381 cases were resolved during the period, representing a resolution rate of only 46 percent. There are still 447 PSA applications that remain unresolved by the commission.

“We have already started this to clean up our backlog and decisions on pending PSAs would be issued in the course of the year based on this approach,” ERC Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta said in a Viber message.

The usual practice for PSA applications, according to the ERC chief, is “to do the evaluation fresh for each PSA application, with no or very little reference to previous rates of the same plant in other PSAs.”

With the “one plant, one rate” approach, the ERC evaluates the cost components of a power generation

plant to set its base rate. “We then use that base rate to compare it with the rate in the PSAs it has with various distribution utilities that are still pending with us and we adjust based on inflation and similar indices to account for the different supposed dates.

This makes the rates for the same plant across various PSAs uniform, except for inflation adjustment, and, granting the CSP [competitive selection process] requirements are all complied with, will then be adopted by the Commission for approval of the PSAs,” Dimalanta said. The ERC chief informed lawmakers last week during the deliberations on ERC’s proposed P1.5-billion budget for 2025 that it has started implementing a new approach to address the PSA backlog.

“We call this the ‘One plant, One rate’ approach. What we will do for all power plants with pending PSA for approval is to implement one rate for all PSAs for the power plant. This is meant to simplify the process. That’s the approach adopted by the commission to resolve the pending PSAs in our backlog, many of which have already expired.”

Pending PSA applications remain one of the four major challenges that beset the ERC. The three other major challenges are the delay on the reset of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives, pending over and under recoveries cases, and backlog of cases carried over since the creation of ERC. From 2001 to 2023, the total number of cases filed with the ERC reached 9,546. Of which 6,847 cases have been resolved leaving 2,699 pending cases. Of the 9,546 cases, consumer related complaints top the list at 4,265. Of which, the ERC has resolved 3,630, representing a resolution rate of 85.11 percent.

The ERC’s strategic priorities for 2025 include least cost pricing towards affordability, structural reforms for effective regulation, adopting regulatory framework in support of energy transition, advancing consumer empowerment through energy democracy, and supporting the quest for energy security

and sustainability.

The ERC is seeking a budget of P1,517,350,000 for 2025. This year’s approved budget is only P911,627,000, lower than the approved budget of P1.05 billion for 2023.

The agency’s revenue collection in 2023 stood at P1.076 billion, higher than its budget for that year and for 2024. As of June, the total collection reached P132 million which nearly triple the collections recorded in June 2023, when it reached P45 million. Bulk of the revenues will be collected by the end of September this year.

The ERC also told lawmakers that it will study if the lowest price offer bid could be used as the benchmark for approving power rates.

“The proposal of Congressman Zaldy Co of benchmarking is similar, to a certain extent, to the ‘One Plant, One Rate’ method. He proposes that the resulting bids per technology or type of plant for the previous year, based on global prices, can be used as benchmark rates per type of plant that will participate in CSPs for the current year. We will study this as our moving-forward measure, considering previous studies on benchmarking commissioned by the ERC in prior years but were not adopted,” said Dimalanta.

‘SMC to finish Slex expansion in Q4’

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

SA n Miguel Corp. (SMC) said over the weekend it is on course to meet its fourth-quarter target for the completion of the expansion of the South Luzon Expressway (Slex), as well as the enhancements to its toll collection system. The diversified conglomerate said the expansion of the 36.1-kilometer main carriageway to six lanes in each direction and the improvement of its cashless payments system for barrier-less toll plazas will be “completed by the end of the year.”

Furthermore, the company is also

widening around 20 bridges along the expressway. This expansion is intended to alleviate traffic bottlenecks and ensure smoother vehicle flow, aligning with the six-by-six lane configuration designed to accommodate the increasing volume of vehicles traveling through Slex.

“SMC SLEX Inc. understands the importance of SLEX in supporting the growth trajectory of the Calabarzon Region, which accounts for about 20 percent of the country’s GDP,” the company said in a statement. “Once the facility upgrades are completed, it will improve the quality of travel of the general motoring public, and result in faster movement of goods

and services as well.”

Slex serves key high-growth provinces, including Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Quezon.

These infrastructure upgrades follow the implementation of the Seamless Southern Tollways project in 2022, which reduced the number of stops required for motorists traveling along the Skyway System, Slex, and Star Tollway.

This project included the decommissioning of the Calamba Main Toll Plaza and the Slex Greenfield Toll Plaza, which were previously the termini of Slex and Toll Road 3, respectively.

The company noted that it has

introduced automatic license plate readers (ALPR) at entry toll plazas along Slex. These ALPR systems, combined with RFID technology, will enable the implementation of barrier-less toll plazas by accurately recording and cross-referencing vehicle license plates for seamless toll collection.

“The upgrades are likewise in line with the government’s directive to implement contactless toll collection and barrier-less plazas along expressways,” the statement read.

Additionally, the company is upgrading its servers to enhance their capacity to handle the growing number of vehicles using the expressway.

Disney plots villains-themed land, new ships in big resorts push

WALT Disney Co. unveiled a slew of new theme-park attractions, including its first land devoted to movie villains and a doubling of its Avengers Campus in California, as part of an extensive expansion of its resorts business. The projects were unveiled Saturday at the company’s biennial D23 fan-club convention in Anaheim, California. Disney announced longterm plans for its parks and resorts unit last September that included doubling capital investment to $60 billion over 10 years. now it’s providing much-awaited details. The land devoted to villains will be at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida. The space will be roughly the same size as its sprawling Star Wars-themed lands, and include two attractions, as well as shopping and dining. In the same park, Frontierland will get an upgrade that includes a Cars-themed area. One ride there will takes guests through the wilderness, past mountains and geysers. Together, the two projects represent the largest expansion ever at the 53-year-old Magic Kingdom.

“Our growth ambition is incred-

ibly high,” Josh D’Amaro, who leads the resorts division, said in an interview. “We wanted the world to know that we’re serious about that and really doubling down on our investment and experiences around the world.” Disney is forging ahead with the ambitious plans despite a slowdown in its parks business tied to weaker consumer trends. With its most recent earnings on August 7, the company reported lower profit at the resorts, which had been a growth engine in recent years.

The Avengers Campus at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim will get two new attractions, including a flight simulator tied to Marvel’s Tony Stark character. The park will also get an attraction devoted to the Pixar film Coco, following the character Miguel Rivera through the Land of the Dead.

That’s in addition to the previously announced Avatar land, which will be based on the second and third films in that series. Construction for all of the projects will begin over the next five years, D’Amaro said.

Disney is planning four new cruise ships, in addition to four already in development and five currently at sea, a huge commitment to that industry. The new ships will be completed between 2027 and 2031.

The company recently announced a new ship that will be based in Singapore. D’Amaro declined to say where the new ones will sail, but suggested more international ports could be on the horizon.

“There’s demand all over the world for these cruise ships,” he said. “We’re gonna be really intelligent in deploying the fleet to bring these stories and experiences to as many people around the world as we can.”

Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida will get a land based on Pixar’s Monsters Inc. franchise, including a roller coaster. The nearby Animal Kingdom will get a new ride devoted to Indiana Jones and one recreating the magical house from the animated hit Encanto.

new Spider-Man attractions are coming to Disney parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong. In Paris, the company will build a lake and a separate log flume ride based on The Lion King. Bloomberg News

By VG Cabuag @villygc

THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised the public against engaging with Bagong Bansang Maharlika (BBM) International Inc., a group whose corporate registration has been revoked due to the illegal solicitation of investments.

The SEC said it reiterated this warning after finding that BBM International maintained its operations in certain parts of Visayas and Mindanao, despite the issuance of a revocation order of the SEC Enforcement and Investor Protection Department in november 2023.

BBM International’s corporate registration was revoked due to its collection of membership fees from residents of various local communities, promising to provide food security, free education, free hospitalization, cash assistance, and livelihood to all Filipinos aged one year and above worldwide.

It also made use of President Marcos Jr.’s image as part of its marketing materials, creating an impression that its programs are legitimate and sanctioned by the current administration.

The SEC has also issued an advisory against BBM International as early as August 28 last year warning the investing public to exercise caution when dealing with the group.

Those who act as salesmen, bro-

WER I DE Inc., a Chinese self-driving automotive company, is seeking to raise as much as $440 million in a US initial public offering and concurrent private placement.

The Guangzhou-based autonomous vehicle company, which was granted approval last year by the Chinese securities regulator for a US listing, is offering 6.45 million American depositary shares at $15.50 to $18.50 each, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission filing Friday confirming an earlier Bloomberg news report. With each ADS representing three ordinary shares, WeRide would have a market value of about $5 billion at the top of that range based on the filing.

A group of investors agreed to buy $320.5 million worth of ordinary shares via private placements, the filing shows. Alliance Ventures, the venture capital fund of the Renault nissan Mitsubishi Alliance and an existing WeRide backer, is set to purchase $97 million worth of shares, according to the filing. Alliance Ventures took part in WeRide funding rounds in 2018 and 2021. Other investors buying stock in the private placements include JSC International Investment Fund SPC and Get Ride Inc.

kers, dealers or agents, representatives and promoters of unauthorized investment activities may be held criminally liable under the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, as well as under the Securities Regulation Code, which are both penalized separately up to P5 million, or imprisonment of up to 21 years, or both, the SEC said. Last november 2023, the SEC announced the revocation of the corporate registration of BBM International for operating as a nongovernment organization without the without the necessary licenses, while using the president’s name to lure members.

SEC said BBM International violated Section 44 of Republic Act 11232, or the Revised Corporation Code (RCC), which provides that no corporation shall possess or exercise corporate powers other than those conferred by the RCC or by its articles of incorporation (AOI).

While BBM International is a duly registered corporation with the SEC, activities such as coordinating welfare programs and collecting investments require secondary licenses from the appropriate government agencies. BBM International is only allowed to exercise powers inherent to its existence as provided in the RCC and those conferred in its AOI.

SEC said dealings which are irrelevant to the purposes mentioned in its AOI are considered unauthorized.

Separately, auto parts maker Robert Bosch GmbH agreed to buy as much as $100 million worth of ADS at the IPO price, the filing shows. The number of ADS available for sale to the public will be reduced to the extent that Bosch purchases any ADS. The IPO and placements would be a rare sizable listing by a Chinese company in the US since ride-share company Didi Global Inc.’s disastrous 2021 offering. The $4.4 billion IPO prompted a crackdown by Beijing on companies selling shares abroad, and resulted in additional scrutiny on firms with sensitive data listing overseas. Since then, Chinese IPOs in the US have been few and far between. Overseas investors’ appetite for Chinese stocks hasn’t returned, with the S&P China Selectzk ADR Index, which tracks American depositary receipts trading in the US subject to size and liquidity requirements, still 66 percent off its February 2021 high, according to Bloomberg calculations. The index has shed about 9 percent in 2024. The largest IPO this year by a

BusinessMirror file photo

Editor: Dennis Estopace

High deficit-to-GDP ratio may prompt interest rate increase

By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto

INTEREST rates could further increase as the share of the government’s budget deficit to the overall economy rose to 4.9 percent in the first half of 2024, Leonardo A. Lanzona, Economics professor at the Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), told the BusinessMirror.

Lanzona explained that the rise in government expenditures outpacing tax revenue collections led to higher fiscal deficit and interest rates.

“It is problematic because this can potentially raise interest rates as the government competes with the private sector for funds,” the economist said last Sunday.

The national government’s fiscal deficit stood at 4.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from January to June 2024, higher than the 4.8 percent ratio posted in the same period in 2023.

“If interest rates increase, a

crowding-out effect occurs as the government forces out the private sector from accessing these funds,” Lanzona said adding that an “anemic” growth in consumption and investments was observed.

This comes after the economy grew by 6.3 percent at a faster-thanexpected pace in the second quarter of 2024.

However, according to Lanzona, the growth was achieved at the expense of the poor because the excess reserves of the state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) were remitted to the Treasury as new

sources of government funds.

“This is even worse since this affects the poor households in need of health care,” he said.

Lanzona added that the increase in both the GDP and deficit-to-GDP ratio is “enough evidence that something is amiss.”

The deficit-to-GDP ratio was lower than the 6.2 percent recorded in 2023 and the Cabinet-level Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) deficit ceiling for 2024 at 5.6 percent.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the government’s more disciplined spending and intensified tax and other government revenue collections contributed to the lowerthan-expected deficit-to-GDP ratio.

He noted, though, that “there was still some pick up in government expenditure as bloated by higher prices/ inflation since 2022 and also higher debt servicing costs on higher US global and local interest rates, as well as the weaker peso that increased debt servicing costs of foreign debts.”

Ricafort told the BusinessMirror that more tax and fiscal reform measures may be needed to further sustain the country’s favorable credit ratings of one to three notches above

the minimum investment and to be on better terms with international lenders to finance the budget deficit.

“Increasing recurring tax revenues through intensified tax collections from existing tax laws and more disciplined spending through fiscal reform measures may be needed, with new taxes and higher tax rates as the last option especially if inflation stabilizes further,” Ricafort said last Sunday.

A P613.9-billion budget deficit was recorded in the first half of 2024, as expenditures reached P2.763 trillion outpacing revenue collections amounting to P2.149 trillion.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said earlier the budget deficit is “way below the mid-year target” while the deficit-to-GDP ratio remains “very manageable.”

Over the medium term, Recto said 10.3 percent average annual growth in total revenues is anticipated while disbursements are expected to grow by an average of 7.4 percent and remain at 21.1 percent of the GDP.

The government’s fiscal deficitto-GDP ratio is projected to drop to 5.35 percent in 2025 and decrease further to 4.73 percent in 2026, 4.13 percent in 2027, and 3.72 percent in 2028.

Navigating the future of seamless commerce in Asia Pacific

FOLLOWING on from the postpandemic recovery, consumers across the Asia-Pacific region have been adapting to many challenges: inflation, a cost-of-living crisis and supply-chain-related instability of product availability, to name a few.

Together with the GS1, the KPMG has produced the “Navigating the Future of Seamless Commerce in Asia Pacific” report based on a survey of 7,000 consumers across 14 markets in the region reflecting multiple patterns and expectations among consumer groups. About half of the respondents in each market were from the Gen Z group (18 to 24). In addition to the research, the report features interviews with senior C-suite-level executives from market-leading retailers, brands and e-commerce marketplaces.

One overriding conclusion is clear: The era of seamless commerce has arrived and while both online and offline channels remain popular throughout the region, traditional retail business models are unlikely to meet the expectations of many of today’s consumers. Retailers and brands have to adapt or face the consequence of not moving with the market. The “Seamless Commerce Insights” report was covered at the inaugural National Retail Federation (NRF) 2024: “Retail’s Big Show” in Singapore.

“Commerce is evolving through digital transformation, driven by

rapid technology adoption. Continuous and compelling innovation is a must to meet customer expectations and enhance the customer experience,” KPMG in the Philippines Deal Advisory Principal and Consumer and Retail Head Jerome Andrew Garcia who attended the event shared.

“A key highlight from the report is that competitive pricing and delivery experience are the cornerstones for successful ecommerce retail models across the region. Additionally, payment pathways continue to move away from cash towards mobile banking and e-wallet enablers as the preferred payment models,” Garcia added. Here are six key seamless commerce trends in Asia Pacific. The arrival of seamless commerce: fueled by platforms. What was once merely a buzzword, omnichannel has now given way to a more comprehensive approach that seamlessly integrates various platforms and services. This shift, accelerated by the pandemic, has propelled retailers to invest heavily in technology, AI solutions and streamlined supply chains to meet the demands of an increasingly digital-savvy consumer base. Gen Z consumers are the key to retail’s future growth and shape. This demographic is driving unprecedented change because of their markedly different attitudes toward lifestyle and priorities, especially in online shopping behavior, sustainability concerns and

their use of retail technology. While consumers overall across Asia Pacific identified mobile payment as the retail tech they have tried the most, among Gen Z the most popular was social commerce – especially in China, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

AI is shaping customer experiences and driving sales. AI is already playing a significant role by enriching the shopping experience across various sectors such as beauty, home furniture and apparel. With continued market support, AI can substantially improve the operational efficiency of retail stores and fine-tune the consumer experience at crucial points in the shopping journey.

The continued rise of digital payments. Digital e-wallets are gaining ground in Southeast Asia, while debit or credit cards remain dominant in more developed economies such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and South Korea. By meaningfully taking these variations into account and offering local payment options tailored to target regions, retailers can expand their reach, both locally and internationally.

Know your customers: Data collection and analytics are shaping seamless commerce and powering loyalty programs. To meaningfully serve consumers who are increasingly price-sensitive yet demand orchestrated experiences, businesses must first consider how to infuse technology at the right and critical moment, making technology the key driver of seamless omnichannel experiences.

The unstoppable drive towards sustainability. Sustainability isn’t a marketing add-on, it’s the baseline. Brands should stitch diversity, ethics and social responsibility into their core, 65 percent of consumers in Asia-Pacific are willing to pay a premium for sustainability. This is the future of commerce, sewn by a generation with hearts and wallets for the green revolution. Regulators and investors echo the call, but

Total banking assets grew to ₧26.195T as of June ‘24

By Cai U. Ordinario

TOTAL assets of the Philippine banking system posted double digit year-on-year growth in June 2024, according to latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

BSP data showed total banking assets grew 12.45 percent to P26.195 trillion as of June 2024 from the P23.295 trillion posted in the same period last year.

There was also a 2.23-percent growth in the assets of the Philippine banking system compared to the P25.62 trillion recorded in the period ending May 2024.

These assets are composed of net total loan portfolio (TLP) amounting to P13.84 trillion. This represented more than half of the total assets of the banking industry in June 2024.

Total assets also included net total investments—which amounted to P7.528 trillion as of June 2024— followed by cash and due from banks amounting to P2.749 trillion.

BSP data also showed that the net real and other properties acquired in settlement of loans (ROPA) reached P109.42 billion while other assets amounted to P1.969 trillion as of June 2024.

Meanwhile, BSP data also showed the Philippine banking system’s liabilities reached P23.032 trillion as of June 2024.

This represented a 12.71 percent growth from the P20.434 trillion liabilities posted as of June 2023 and

2.35 percent growth from the P22.5 trillion posted as of May 2024. The liabilities recorded as of June 2024 is composed mainly of deposit liabilities worth P19.52 trillion followed by financial liabilities worth P80.196 trillion; other liabilities worth P1.767 trillion; bills payable worth P937.57 billion; and, bonds payable worth P544.9 billion. In terms of deposit liabilities, majority of these liabilities are in Philippine peso amounting to P16.22 trillion as of June 2024 and the rest are in foreign currency reaching P3.299 trillion.

Earlier, BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said total assets of the banking sector expanded by 9.2 percent to P25.2 trillion, representing 83.3 percent of the total resources of the Philippine financial system. Remolona added that banks continued to report robust balance sheets and profitable operations in 2023.

Further, capital and liquidity buffers remained sufficient against unforeseen shocks and market volatility, with capital adequacy and liquidity ratios that are well above BSP regulatory minima and international thresholds. The non-bank financial institutions likewise posted solid performance in 2023. The non-bank sector serves as an able conduit for the delivery of crucial financial products and services to underserved and unserved market segments through their extensive physical network nationwide.

‘Law may have been violated in Philhealth funds’ transfer’

consumer pressure roars loudest. The Philippines THE Philippines has the most fragmented e-commerce market–and one of the strongest adoption rates of Facebook Marketplace.

A majority (61 percent) are comfortable shopping both online and in physical stores but tend to make more purchases online.

In terms of technology adoption shopping online, the Philippines is an outlier, with social commerce (24 percent) narrowly outranking mobile payments (23 percent), livestream shopping recording 19 percent and voice shopping 14 percent. The level of engagement with livestream shopping is highest among consumers aged 35 to 44, while voice shopping ranked prominently among consumers aged 25 to 34.

Filipinos are the most likely of any market to support retailers and brands with clear and transparent sustainability commitments, at 98 percent, with 74 percent “actively seeking them out” and just 24 percent say it significantly impacts their purchasing decisions. They are also more likely to pay a premium for such goods or services–just 19 percent expect prices to match other products and 56 percent are willing to pay up to 20 percent more.

Key points were taken from this KPMG publication: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/ home/insights/2024/05/navigating-the-future-of-seamless-commerce-in-asia-pacific.html.

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

Asenior lawmaker has asked the House of Representatives to look into the transfer of P89.9 billion in Philhealth funds to the national treasury, saying it violated Republic Act (RA) 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez’s proposal is contained in House Resolution 1903, which he filed last week.

Rodriguez said the law clearly provides that excess Philhealth funds shall be used to increase the health care benefits of millions of members and to reduce their monthly premium contribution.

The solon cited that Section 11 of RA 11223 provided that “Philhealth shall set aside a portion of its accumulated revenues not needed to meet the cost of the current year’s expenditures as reserve funds.”

“Provided,” the section further states, “that the total amount of reserves shall not exceed a ceiling equivalent to the amount actuarially needed for two years’ projected program expenditures; Provided further that whenever actual reserves exceed the required ceiling at the end of the fiscal year, the excess of the Philhealth reserve fund shall be used to increase the program’s benefits and to decrease the amount of members’ contributions.”

Rodriguez said it is clear that Department of Finance Circular 003-2024 authorizing the transfer of Philhealth’s P89.9 billion to the treasury “is violative” of RA 11223.

He added that a provision of the 2024 General Appropriations Act mandating government corporations to remit their excess funds to the national treasury cannot be used as basis for the transfer.

The Mindanao lawmaker, who is a former law dean, invoked the ruling of the Supreme Court in the case of the Philippine Constitution Association against then Budget Secretary Salvador Enriquez (GR 113105).

“The Supreme Court ruled that a provision in an appropriations act cannot be used to repeal or amend other laws,” Rodriguez said.

The lawmaker added that the transfer of the Philhealth funds contravened two other laws—RA 11467 and RA 10963—that allocate portions of revenues from tobacco excise taxes, e-cigarettes and sweetened beverages to Philhealth for its members’ benefits. Several health care advocates also challenged the transfer before the Supreme Court.

Increase MEANWHILE, amid the transfer of the P89.9 billion excess funds of the PhilHealth to the national treasury, Agri Partylist Rep. Wilbert T. Lee also filed a separate House Resolution 1900, urging the state health insurer to implement another round of 30-percent increase in all its benefit packages and coverage.

HR 1900 seeks to determine how PhilHealth can expeditiously increase the current benefits and introduce new benefit packages such as the inclusion of vital diagnostic tests and other essential laboratory exams as outpatient services.

“PhilHealth shall serve as the national healthcare provider and not as an investment powerhouse. It is mandated and obliged to utilize most of the funds to increase the program’s benefits and decrease the amount of members’ contributions,” Lee said.

To complement the said resolution, Lee also wrote a letter to PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. last August 8 urging the agency to implement another 30-percent increase in all its benefit packages. The availability of substantial funds shows that PhilHealth can expand its benefit packages and can even introduce new benefits to cover more of the actual hospitalization costs of beneficiaries,” Lee said in the letter. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Sex eligibility rules for female athletes are complex and legally difficult. Here’s how they work

By Graham Dunbar AP Sports Writer

PARIS—Women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics has highlighted the complexity of drafting and enforcing sex eligibility rules for women’s sports and how athletes like Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yuting of Taiwan are left vulnerable in the fallout.

When eligibility for women’s events has come into question, it often has been a legally difficult process for sports bodies that has risked exposing athletes to humiliation and abuse. In the 1960s, the Olympics used degrading visual tests intended to verify the sex of athletes.

The modern era of eligibility rules are widely known to have started in 2009, after South African 800-meter runner Caster Semenya surged to stardom on the track as an 18-year-old gold medalist at the world championships.

Semenya, the Olympic champion in the 800 meters in 2012 and 2016, is not competing in Paris because she effectively is banned from doing so unless she medically reduces her testosterone. She is, however, still involved in a legal challenge to track’s rules, now into its seventh year.

Here’s a look at sex tests in sports and the complexity they create amid changing attitudes toward gender identity:

What is the criteria for female participation?

Testosterone levels—not XY chromosomes, which is the pattern typically seen in men—are the key criterion of eligibility in Olympic events where the sport’s governing body has framed and approved rules.

That’s because some women, assigned female at birth and identifying as women, have conditions called differences of sex development, or DSD, that involves an XY chromosome pattern or natural testosterone higher than the typical female range. Some sports officials say that gives them an unfair advantage over other women in sports, but the science is inconclusive.

Semenya, whose medical data proved impossible to keep private during her legal cases—has a DSD condition. She was legally identified as female at birth and has identified as female her whole life.

Testosterone is a natural hormone that increases the mass and strength of bone and muscle after puberty. The normal adult male range rises to multiple times higher than for females, up to about 30 nanomoles per liter of blood compared with less than 2 nmol/L for women.

In 2019, at a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing, track’s governing body argued athletes with DSD conditions were “biologically male.” Semenya said that was “deeply hurtful.”

Semenya’s case played out very publicly before 2021, when gender identity was a big story at the Tokyo Olympics and in society and sports in general. She took oral contraceptives from 2010-15 to reduce her testosterone levels and said they caused a myriad of unwanted side effects: weight

gain, fevers, a constant feeling of nausea and abdominal pain, all of which she experienced while running at the 2011 world championships and 2012 Olympics.

Female athletes of color have historically faced disproportionate scrutiny and discrimination when it comes to sex testing and false accusations that they are male or transgender.

Why does sex verification testing differ between sports?

Each governing body of an Olympic sport is responsible for drafting its own rules, from the field of play to who is eligible to play.

Women’s boxing came to the Paris Games with effectively the same eligibility criterion—an athlete is female in her passport— as at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 after the International Boxing Association was permanently banned from the Games following decades of troubled governance and longstanding accusations of a thorough lack of normal transparency. Much has happened in the science and debate in those eight years.

Since the Tokyo Games in 2021, track’s World Athletics tightened the eligibility rules for female athletes with DSD conditions. Starting in March 2023, it required them to suppress their testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L for six months, commonly through hormone-suppressing treatment, to be eligible to compete.

That was half the level of 5 nmol/L proposed in 2015 for athletes competing at distances from 400 meters to 1 mile.

World Athletics followed another major sport—World Aquatics—in prohibiting transgender women from competing in women’s races if they had undergone male puberty. The International Cycling Union also took this step last year.

The swim body’s world-leading rules additionally require transgender women athletes who did not benefit from male puberty to maintain testosterone levels below 2.5 nmol/L.

World Aquatics is not actively testing junior athletes. The first step for athletes is that national swim federations “certify their chromosomal sex.”

Similarly, soccer’s world body FIFA defers to its national member federations to verify and register the sex of players.

“No mandatory or routine gender testing verification examinations will take place at FIFA competitions,” it said in a 2011 advisory that is still in force and has been under a lengthy review.

Why do governing bodies care about who identifies as female?

Many

of play. They also argue that in contact and combat sports, like boxing, physical safety is a key consideration.

In the Semenya case, the judges at the Court of Arbitration for Sport acknowledged in a 2-1 ruling against her that discrimination against some women was “a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means” to preserve fairness.

Male athletes are not required to regulate their natural levels of testosterone, and female athletes who do not have DSD conditions also can benefit.

“The idea that a testosterone test is some kind of magic bullet is actually not true,” International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams said in Paris as the women’s boxing debate has raged. What does the IOC require?

The IOC is at times very powerful and at others not at all.

The Switzerland-based organization manages the “Olympic Charter” book of rules, owns the Olympics brand, picks the hosts and helps fund them through the

billions of dollars it earns selling the broadcasting and sponsor rights.

The Olympic sports events, however, are run by the individual governing bodies, like FIFA and World Athletics. They codify and enforce their own athlete eligibility and field-of-play rules as well as disciplinary codes.

So when Olympics sports reviewed and updated how they handled sex eligibility issues, including with transgender athletes, the IOC published advice in 2021, not binding rules.

That was the organization’s framework on gender and sex inclusion that recognized the need for a “safe, harassment-free environment” honoring athletes’ identities while ensuring competitions are fair.

Boxing, however, was different, and the consequences have hit hard in Paris.

The IOC has been in a yearslong and increasingly bitter feud with the International Boxing Association, which is now Russian-led, culminating in a permanent ban from the Olympics last year.

For the second straight Summer Games, the Olympic boxing tournaments have been run by an IOC-appointed administrative committee and not a functioning governing body.

In this dysfunction, boxing eligibility rules have not kept pace with other sports, and the issues weren’t addressed ahead of the Paris Games.

At the 2023 world championships, Khelif and Lin were disqualified and denied medals by the IBA, which said they failed eligibility tests for the women’s competition but has given little information about them. The governing body has contradicted itself repeatedly about whether the tests measured testosterone.

In a chaotic press conference Monday in Paris, IBA officials said they did blood tests on only four of the hundreds of fighters at the 2022 world championships and that it tested Khelif and Lin in response to complaints from other teams, apparently acknowledging an uneven standard of profiling that is considered widely unacceptable in sports.

Who is challenging established rules in some sports?

Before Semenya, there was sprinter Dutee Chand of India who went to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. She challenged track and field’s initial testosterone rules passed in 2011 as a reaction to Semenya.

A first CAS ruling for Chand in 2015 froze the rules and led to an update in 2018, which was then challenged by Semenya. Her career in the 800 stalled because she refused to take medication to artificially suppress her testosterone levels and was barred from competing at elite events. Semenya lost at CAS in 2019 but went through Switzerland’s supreme court to the European Court of Human Rights, where she scored a landmark, but not total, win last year. In May, another ECHR hearing in Semenya’s case was held, and a ruling likely will come next year. The case could be sent back to Switzerland, maybe even back to CAS in the Olympic home city of Lausanne, Switzerland. Other sports are watching and waiting.

Alger I A n boxer Imane Khelif poses for a photo after an interview with SnT V at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, August 4, 2024, in Paris, France. AP/VA dim GhirdA

heat in the women’s 5000-meter run at the World Athletics Championships on July 20, 2022, in eugene, Ore.

Style

Team Philippines wins at Precious of Malaysia fashion week

WHILE we were all engrossed with the gold medal performances of gymnast Carlos Yulo at the Paris Olympics, a small contingent of our fashion designers was also winning accolades in Malaysia.

Mentored by the Paris-trained Dong Omaga-Diaz, designers Ryan Salazar Lopez of Aklan and Klevin

Remoto Bartolaba of Agusan del Norte participated in the Precious of Malaysia International Cultural Fashion Week, held at the Menari Affin at TRX in Kuala Lumpur on August 3.

Precious of Malaysia is a fashion week hoping to promote culture and tourism through fashion.

It is produced by the FM Group of Malaysia headed by Jonathan Kok Poh Lee with the assistance of the Malaysian Tourism Council. Designers from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, China and the Philippines joined the international exposition.

“The invitation to participate at the Precious of Malaysia fashion week came rather late. I had only a few days to build the national team. A lot of young designers were considered and called but alas only two of them said yes to find their own place under the Asian sun,” Omaga-Diaz said.

There were 18 participating designers from all over Asia who showed at the finals, but not everyone received an award. Klevin Bartolaba, 35, was awarded Most Talented Designer while Ryan Salazar Lopez, 44, won the Best Traditional Designer Award. They each showed two menswear and three womenswear designs.

“As mentor/leader of the Philippine team, I was overwhelmed with emotions as Klevin and Ryan presented their collections and were later on awarded for their outstanding creations.,” Omaga-Diaz exulted.

“All the work and perseverance are all well worth it. The Filipino designers, indeed, have a place under the Asian sun. Congratulations to one and all!”

The mission, Omaga-Diaz deems, is to tap more emerging designers especially from the regions who are blessed with talent (and resources) but are not yet given the proper opportunities.

RYAN SALAZAR LOPEZ

(Kalibo, Aklan): Best Traditional Designer of the Year

Omaga-Diaz connected with Peter Rian Casidsid, an Aklan native and an alumnus of Asia Fashion Week 2019, who told him about Ryan. Noted Filipino designer Cherry Samuya Veric, another Aklanon and Ryan’s mentor, accompanied Ryan to Kuala Lumpur together with Casidsid and another designer, BonBon Matorres.

Lopez calls his collection Scarecrow: “The Philippines is an agricultural country with a labor force engaged in farming and related activities.

“My collection was inspired from the scarecrow which is relevant to every Filipino farmer. I was amazed with the scarecrow’s symbolic and cultural significance, representing themes of protection.

“I integrated in my collection the pride of Aklanon heritage, the piña, which is the queen of Philippine

NOW in his 50s, Richard Yap has good skin and hair, excellent posture, and a toned body. The actor is indeed a good example of a man who takes care of himself even when he is no longer in his prime, which these days is considered to be in the 30-40 age range.

Natatawa po ako when women say that they have a crush on him. It means that he’s attractive,” said Richard’s daughter Ashley Sandrine, a content creator and an entrepreneur like her parents. “She’d tell me, ‘Buti na lang may nagka-crush sa ’yo kesa wala,’” said the actor. When Ashley released her first product, a collagen drink named Sip2Glow, it was only logical that Richard would be the brand’s ambassador.

At the launch of Sip2Glow in Electric Garden, it was very apparent how close the Yap family is. One of their favorite bonding moments is enjoying coffee together. Richard said Ashley could be out with friends but she would always find time to have coffee with him and his wife Melody before going their separate ways.

“At night, I would drop by my parents’ room to say hi and ask them about their day,” said Ashley. Richard is very happy that his daughter got his entrepreneurial spirit.

“She has my full support. I guess it is only natural because I am a businessman as my dad was,” said the actor. Ashley graduated from La Salle with a degree in Marketing Management.

And so Ashley’s first business venture is Sip2Glow, a ready-to-drink collagen made with Korean Collagen

Editor: Gerard S. Ramos • Monday, August

KULTURA CELEBRATES TIMELESS ELEGANCE OF PhILIPPINE PEARLS

wITh MARIAN RIVERA

FOR generations, pearls have been cherished as symbols of beauty and elegance. More than that, with the Philippines known as perlas ng silangan, these gifts from the sea represent much of who Filipinos are and the values the country possesses.

From the country’s pristine shores to Kultura stores and finally to consumers, Kultura has become a premiere destination for authentic Philippine pearls. The store’s extensive collection includes Freshwater pearls with their whimsical shapes, distinctive surface texture and the warmth of their luster. For those who like some drama, Tahitian pearls come by their dark color naturally, while Baroque pearls have an irregular non-spherical shape. And of course, there are the South Sea pearls, the Rolls Royce of pearls, the largest and most valuable pearls grown today. As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Kultura has launched its latest pearl campaign featuring the radiant Marian Rivera.

Whether you are looking for a tasteful gift, a precious Philippine souvenir, or your own perfect piece for a special occasion, pearls will always be the ideal choice. Here are a few of our favorite picks from the new collection.

Khai Pearls radiates confidence in pearl and gemstone jewelry featuring sparkling semi-precious stones surrounding a stunning freshwater pearl. Or make a dazzling entrance with the brand’s bold and beautiful baroque freshwater pearl pieces in monochrome layers. Venture out of your comfort zone by mixing and matching pearls—Tahitian, Freshwater and South Sea pearls in different sizes and shades

with a multi-row freshwater pearl necklace, a paperclip link bracelet with South Sea pearl charm, and an enchanting trio of triple-wire freshwater pearl bracelets. Aurea glows with lustrous sheen of these golden South Sea pearls. Marian is the queen in two layers of South Sea pearl

TEAM PhILIPPINES IN MALAYSIA Klevin Bartolaba, winner of the “Most Talented Designer Award” and his Tinangpuso Collection, Ryan Salazar Lopez wins “Best Traditional Designer Award,” mentor Dong Omaga-Diaz and Klevin Bartolaba; Ryan Salazar Lopez’s Scarecrow Collection

“As a whole, this ensemble is a representation of the vibrant and rich cultural heritage of the Philippines by incorporating the Filipiniana silhouette with a modern touch highlighting the piña fabric as the main textile, and accentuated with buri. The entire collection was integrated with native bags and earrings.” n Brand Name: Ryan Salazar Lopez n Shop Location: N. Roldan Street corner Veterans Avenue, Poblacion, Kalibo, Aklan

KLEVIN REMOTO BARTOLABA

(Butuan City, Agusan del Norte): Most Talented Designer of the Year

Butuan City is Omaga-Diaz’s home away from home. While there on one of his frequent visits, he was introduced to Klevin.

Unlike Team Aklan, Bartolaba went to Kuala Lumpur all by his lonesome. Though feeling frustrated at times because of time and financial constraints, he took comfort in the thought that his participation in an international show is dedicated to his ever-supportive mother and his collaborators

Tripeptide, Fish Collagen Peptides, Vitamin C, and Aminobutyric Acid or GABA. During the launch, Sip2Glow invited board-certified dermatologist Beatrice Maxine Chua, who talked about how collagen supplements were used as a substitute for sugar and fat, especially by those who were trying to lose weight. There are different schools of thought on collagen supplementation and this is Chua’s stand on that: It will depend on what type of collagen you are taking.

“Hydrolyzed collagen is collagen that has been degraded into smaller pieces. This makes it easier for them to be absorbed and digested by our body. It has higher solubility compared to native collagen,” said Chua.

The board-certified dermatologist said the best form of collagen to take orally is the powder or liquid form which has

soul. Even up to this era, the place still remains to be magical and mystical because of ancestral remains excavated together with the balanghai, or boat coffins.

“My inspiration flourished as I studied and dug up information in order to come up with a collection that I will show to everyone how blessed Mindanao is with its great cultural heritage.

“It has been the home of the Manobo Tribe commonly seen in Butuan, Agusan del Norte. I have been inspired by their rich cultural background, and indulged myself in learning to do the Manobo embroidery called ‘suyam.’

“Their tribal patterns have been so inspirational that every design has something interconnected with the environment and sometimes challenges us with a puzzle to solve. “The suyam embroidery uses Manobo-based colored threads in order to highlight its patterns. Each tribal pattern follows their culture of giving importance to the wearer of the dress.

“This collection embodies the empowered men and women of today who never forget their roots as it signifies the patterns that honor the family.”

n Brand Name: KRB House of Fashion, Butuan City

the highest bioavailability, meaning it gets absorbed quickly by the body.

Sip2Glow comes in ready-to-drink packs and can be purchased from the TikTok Shop.

MUSC NUDE IS A ‘SKIN’

FRAGRANCE

THE Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musc Nude fragrance is one of the newest launches in the market. It’s a sensual fragrance with that second skin quality that’s very popular with Gen Z. The “floriental” fragrance has addictive spicy, cosy and earthy notes of musk, tonka bean, and patchouli that come in after the floral heart of precious damask rose oil, white jasmine and orange blossom has faded away. Created by Sonia Constant, it’s the kind of scent you’d wear on a first date or an important interview. Narciso Rodriguez For Her Musc Nude is a versatile scent that would work from day to night.

Meanwhile, For Him Vetiver Musc is a woody aromatic that opens with a vibrant blend of nutmeg, cypress, spicy cardamom, and the signature heart of musk contrasting with bourbon geranium and red seaweed. The base notes are vetiver and patchouli.

“For Him Vetiver Musc is a new chapter that evolves the For Him line toward a more sensitive and multi-faceted masculinity, enhanced by new floral, aromatic and mineral nuances,” said perfumer Mathilde Bijaoui, who created the fragrance.

Narciso Rodriguez fragrances are available at Rustan’s and the Narciso Rodriguez Flagship Store on LazMall.

DOST-CAR Bridges STI, Community through RSTW in Ifugao State U

THE Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) successfully staged the 2024 Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation Week (RSTW) celebration at the Ifugao State University-Main Campus in Nayon, Lamut, Ifugao.

Running from August 7 to 9, 2024, the event, held under the overarching theme of “Siyensya, Teknolohiya at Inobasyon: Kabalikat sa Matatag, Maginhawa at Panatag na Kinabukasan,” highlighted the critical importance of science, technology, and innovation (STI) in society. It also brought together key officials, government representatives, academic leaders, and various stakeholders to showcase advancements and future directions in STI for the region.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., alongside DOST Assistant Secretary for Development Cooperation Rodolfo J. Calzado Jr., DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho A. Mabborang, DOST-TAPI Director Atty. Marion Decene (represented by Atty. Joycel Aguilar), and DOST-CAR Regional Director Dr. Nancy A. Bantog. They were joined by Ifugao Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao, (represented by Ram Cabbigat), Ifugao Governor Jerry U. Dalipog, and Lamut Mayor Victomar Hagada Bunnol. Ifugao State University officials and employees, led by Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, also actively participated in the event.

Guests and partners from state universities and colleges (SUCs), higher education institutions (HEIs), local government units (LGUs) in CAR, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), media partners, as well as private sectors and industry representatives were also

in attendance.

In her welcome remarks, Dr. Bantog emphasized the benefits of DOST’s programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) for the region. She highlighted the importance of strengthening the STI ecosystem in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and called for active community involvement to shape the future through STI. Decene, represented by Joycel N. Aguilar, discussed the rationale behind the RSTW celebration. He put the spotlight on the hard work of the agency and its scientists in advancing STI, emphasizing the significant contributions of science to local development.

Dalipog expressed gratitude for the partnership with DOST and urged the people of Ifugao to embrace innovation with DOST’s support. He called on local leaders to collaborate with DOST in implementing new technologies suitable for the province and region. Chungalao, represented by Cabbigat, conveyed his full support for DOST’s PPAs, especially during budget hearings in Congress. He assured that all PPAs benefiting the people of Ifugao would receive backing in Congress.

Mabborang, refocused the agency’s PPAs to align with equitable operations at the national, regional, and provincial levels. He presented how DOST-CAR has effectively implemented its PPAs in the province and affirmed DOST’s commitment to fostering a sustainable future for all.

In his keynote address, Solidum emphasized DOST’s collaboration with local

government units (LGUs) to provide solutions and open opportunities, stressing the importance of developing fit-for-purpose solutions for LGUs. He outlined DOST’s four pillars that support the socio-economic agenda of the administration and the ultimate goal of achieving smart and sustainable cities and communities across all local governments.

He also introduced the 8th big R&D project focusing on biologics in pharmacology, aiming to develop preventive and curative medicinal applications to ensure readiness for future epidemics or pandemics and enhance resilience across various sectors beyond disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). Moreover, Solidum mentioned that the agency is currently working with partners and academes to support the country’s green economy program, aiming to recycle 20,000 tons of plastic waste by 2028, create green jobs, and support waste reduction strategies.

The event also featured a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing and the ceremonial turnover of the TaRaKi DRR-CCAM Knowledge Management Kiosk, aimed at mobilizing DRR-CCAM knowledge transfer to all partners in Cordillera and also the MOU signing for Natural Dye Hubs in Abra. The 2024 SETUP Praise and Best CEST Community awards recognized outstanding SETUP cooperators and CEST beneficiaries. A press conference followed, discussing various DOST programs and initiatives for the region.

Throughout the celebration, different fora and activities were held, addressing agendas under DOST’s four pillars. These discussions aimed to provide solutions and open opportunities for the Cordillera Administrative Region through science, technology, and innovation.

PCCI thanks Pascual; hopes new trade chief will prioritize MSMEs

AMID the resignation of Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is hoping that whoever President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. will appoint as his replacement will continue the programs and innovations he introduced in the department during his term.

“We have high respects for Secretary Pascual for his dedication and hard work in promoting MSMEs to the core. We’ve worked with him on various programs and advocacies that support the development

of MSMEs,” said Consul Enunina V. Mangio, PCCI president. Malacanang announced the resignation of Pascual as DTI Chief effective August 2 and his plan to go back to private sector. Mangio said that PCCI has established a good working relationship with Pascual in pursuing certain advocacies and plans that support dynamism and competitiveness of MSMEs in the country.

“We, in PCCI, would support whoever will the President appoint as the new DTI Chief. After all, we all work for the

common good of our enterprises and the consuming public,” Mangio said. She hopes that initiatives and programs such as promotion of regional industrialization, enhancing ease of doing business, addressing skills mismatch, attracting investments, expanding exports and enhance consumer protection will remain as priority programs of DTI. PCCI and DTI have closely been working on various initiatives such as MSME resilience program, educating MSMEs on the importance of intellectual property rights, investment promotion

(through in-bound and out-bound mission) and trade education and advocacy campaign on the various free trade agreements (FTAs), among others.

GPULP Scholarship Foundation issues Call for Applications

BROTHERS Gregorio L. Uy (second from right) and Samuel L. Uy, CPA, RGC (leftmost), founders of the Gregorio P. Uy & Lee Peng Scholarship Foundation (GPULP Scholarship Foundation), have been helping college students in Isabela fulfill their dreams through education. With them in this photo are officer Geralda P. Hoggang, RGC (fourth from right) and the Foundation’s first 12 scholar-graduates from Isabela State University and Cagayan State University.

A long-time advocate of education, the GPULP Scholarship Foundation is now ready to accept applications for its scholarship grants. Successful entrants will get monthly allowances and necessary support for their physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual development up until they graduate. They will also receive monetary grants for accommodation and other fees during their licensure examination period.

“The GPULP Scholarship Foundation envisions a world where education is inclusive and accessible to all—regardless of economic circumstances—to ensure that no talent goes to waste and to leave a lasting positive impact on individuals, families, and communities. This program we now call ‘LF: Scholar’ aims to carry on our advocacy of helping end the cycle of economic hardship through education. So, to the

youth and our next generation of professionals, never give up on your dreams because there is always hope,” said GPULP Scholarship Foundation Vice President Michael Uy. Qualified applicants include those who are: Incoming second-year students of the Isabela State University (ISU) or Philippine Normal UniversityIsabela; Taking up majors in Engineering, Accounting and Business, Technology, or Education; Able to demonstrate their commitment to academic success by maintaining a minimum grade point average or GPA of 85 percent or equivalent; and Willing to attend values formation sessions that promote holistic personal development. Required documents include Certification of Grades, copy of your water and/or electricity bill, sketch of your home address, and completed application form, which is downloadable from the GPULP Scholarship Foundation Facebook page <fb. com/gpulpscholarshipfoundation>. Submit files via

SM Retail truly has it all for You

THE SM Retail Group truly has it all for the Filipino consumer and it continues to expand its portfolio to address the growing needs of its customers.

From food,

continues to offer a wide array of

for the

consumer. All this and more will be showcased at the National Retail Conference and Expo slated for August 29 to 30, 2024 at the SMX Convention Center. This year’s

Under the SM Retail umbrella

email at gpulp.scholarshipfoundation@gmail. com. You may also join the caravan happening at ISU Cauayan Campus on today, August 12, 2024 or get in touch with their respective school coordinators for further details.

After careful screening and evaluation, a total of 18 students will be chosen. The awarding of the scholarship grants will take place on August 19, 2024. Terms and conditions apply.

The GPULP Scholarship Foundation is the corporate social responsibility arm of Century Ventures Diesel Parts and Supplies Corporation and Ford Tractor Philippines Inc., respectively owned by brothers Gregorio Uy Jr. and Samuel Uy. It was named after their parents Gregorio P. Uy and Lee Peng, whose legacy of kindness and dedication to education drives the Foundation’s goal.

Started in 2011 as a grant offer to more than 30 students of the ISU as a way of giving back to their settlement community, it has since grown into a thriving foundation helping students achieve their dreams. To date, the GPULP Scholarship Foundation has over 140 scholars in the different ISU campuses as well as in Cagayan State University. Of this number, 89 have already graduated, with a 100 percent rate of employability.

Scholars are encouraged to pay it forward by serving their respective communities using the education they gained, simply to create a ripple effect of positivity in society. Follow the GPULP Scholarship Foundation page on Facebook <fb.com/gpulpscholarshipfoundation> or visit the website <gpulp.org> for more details.

Radenta Introduces Strategic Project Leadership Team (SPLT)

RADENTA Technologies, one of the country’s leading solutions integrators, now offers a unique solution to plan and implement business-critical IT projects efficiently. Strategic Project Leadership Team (SPLT) is suited for private businesses, government agencies, schools, and any other enterprise that uses technology in their day-to-day operations.

SPLT fast tracks projects through various stages. Initiation, planning, management, execution, monitoring and controlling, and conclusion.

During initiation, the project manager outlines the project scope and goals. He then shifts into the planning stage to craft a comprehensive project management plan (PMP) and Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). It is at this point when establishing critical timelines, assigning resources, and identifying potential risks that may influence the project’s outcome are laid out.

Throughout the execution phase, the project plan is activated by the team. This involves the deployment of resources such as personnel, equipment, and supplies. Additionally, the project manager ensures that every team member is clearly briefed on their specific responsibilities and the schedule for completion.

In the monitoring and controlling phase, the project manager spots any variances from the predetermined project plan and framework and pinpoints the reasons to implement remedial measures. Other members of the SPLT record and document any agreement or changes.

The project then concludes. This phase involves securing the necessary final approvals and endorsements, carrying out a retrospective project evaluation, recognizing the successes, pinpointing opportunities for betterment, and recording the insights gained.

Radenta A ssociate Project Manager Angelo Edcel Perez comments, “The Radenta SPLT is a Project Management Group on steroids.” We power through projects with the applicable technology, the latest data, and highly trained personnel. We do it right and we do it fast.

The members of Radenta SPLT have a combined eight years of experience as Project Managers, Associate Project Managers and Project Secretariat.

Certifications currently pursued or completed include Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Scrums Fundamentals, Disciplined Agile, Generative AI for Project Managers, Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Supervisory and Leadership Skills Development, Effective Communication Skills, and Excellence in Customer Service.

The SPLT Service Menu consists of three packages. Basic includes project charter, kickoff, stakeholder

registry, work breakdown structure, communication plan, meeting minutes, delivery receipt, testing, and completion certificate. Intermediate has the elements of Basic plus Project Management Plan, Inception Report, and Work Breakdown Structure up to project conclusion. Premium focuses on the most critical elements and comes with a detailed RACI Matrix to clarify responsibilities plus a thorough risk management plan.

Radenta SPLT brings the following: EXPERTISE and Experience: These are evident in planning, execution, risk management, and problem-solving.

Resource Optimization: The focus is on how to allocate resources effectively, optimize budgets, time, and workforce efficiently.

Structured Approach: Structured methodologies and best practices tailored to IT projects are followed reducing the likelihood of delays or budget overruns.

Risk Management: This involves identifying potential risks early, implementing mitigation strategies, and addressing issues promptly to keep the project on track.

Quality Assurance: The team implements quality assurance processes and standards to maintain highquality outcomes and meet client expectations. Communication and Stakeholder Management: Project Managers play a crucial role as intermediaries between IT and business, ensuring complex ideas are effectively communicated and understood. Focus on Core Competencies: For organizations, outsourcing IT project management allows them to focus on their core competencies rather than diverting resources to manage projects internally. Scalability and Flexibility: SPLT services can scale resources and expertise whether it is a small-scale implementation or a large-scale IT transformation.  In essence, the  SPLT represents a transformative approach to project management, elevating the role of project managers beyond traditional execution to that of strategic leaders.

“Project management is not just about delivering outputs, but also about creating outcomes that matter. It is the art and science of transforming ideas into reality, and Radenta Strategic Project Leadership Team has the expertise, experience, and passion to make it happen,” ended

PCCI President Consul Enunina V. Mangio

RADENTA Strategic Project Leadership Team.

Time to replace annoying office buzzwords

AS Marcel Schwantes says in an article in Inc.com, “Everybody hates it. But everybody uses it.”

The Contributing Editor and Founder, Leadership from the Core, of course is referring to the dreaded office jargon “that peculiar corporate language consisting of clichés that manage to say nothing about everything.”

Unnecessarily confusing, “most workers see excessive office jargon as a cover for a lack of experience, knowledge, and confidence.” Not mentioning trying hard to be cool and authoritative. And eliminating these from your vocabulary and greatly improve your workplace communication.

Here, he shares with us The 11 Worst Examples of Office

Re M e M B e R in g Fi L i P in o C R e aT i ve and ad M an d i no Moji C a MANILA, PHILIPPINES—“If Dino had written his own obituary, it would be much cooler t han this,” words from Katryna Mojica. On July 26, 2024, a brilliant mind and compassionate heart ceased to beat.

A master storyteller who

spent his life illuminating brands, how would he have written his own?

Perhaps that’s where the power of shared memories resides. Through the eyes of those who knew him best, we can glimpse the extraordinary life of Dino Mojica.

Dino, a technical advisor and Executive Creative Director at Hakuhodo Lotus in Jakarta since 2012, leaves behind a l egacy etched in the advertising industry. He spent nearly a d ecade at Leo Burnett Manila, followed by several years a t Phibious in Vietnam before joining Lotus:H. Dino’s impact extended far

Jargon and What You Should Say instead.

n Low-hanging fruit.

These are easy pickings— tasks easy to accomplish.

What we can say instead: Quick and Easy. Simple

n Have synergy

This is, Schwantes says, “Office jargon as its very worst.”

Describing “two or more organizations, substances, or agents that produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their parts.

What we can say instead: Things or people work well together

n Push the envelope

What envelope? What are we pushing it to?

beyond the realm of advertising. His work for the World W ide Fund for Nature, the “Burning Elephant” campaign, ignited conversations about the urgent issue of forest fires. He was also a pioneer in the fight against fake news, with his Telkomsel ad serving as a powerful indictment of the problem.

Those who knew Dino intimately paint a portrait of a m an as remarkable as his work.

Greg Garcia, a veteran of the industry where he and Dino collaborated under Leo Burnett Manila, described Dino a s a disciplined creative with an uncanny ability to trans -

What we can say instead: Going above and beyond, raising expectations, and extending limits.

n Make hay

A take-off from “make hay while the sun shines,” it’s about maximizing opportunities in front of you while they’re still available.

What we can say instead: Make most of this opportunity

n Circle back

Execs talk about circling back when they prefer to discuss a matter at a later date.

“It makes sense and is nice and diplomatic, especially when looking for an ‘out’ during tricky conversations,” says Schwantes. But it’s overly complicated.

What we can say instead: “Let’s revisit this later.”

n Boil the ocean

In corporate speak, boil the ocean “describes an impossible task or something that would take too much time.”

It’ s obscure, confusing, and unnecessary phrases like this that “make workplace conversations more convoluted than what they mean.”

What we can say instead: Let’s not waste time on this

form commodities into iconic b rands.

“Dino started at the bottom, so to speak. He began as a p rint production assistant [Leo Burnett Manila]. He was a disciplined creative who understood that outstanding creative work stems from a strong c opy strategy. He was one of the few creatives I’ve worked with who understood that our task is to disrupt the usual, not for the sake of awards, but to create brands out of commodities or to elevate brands i nto icons.”

Alan Couldrey emphasized Dino’s magnetic personality and undeniable talent. “Cool

n Singing from the same hymn sheet

This is all about teamwork and being on the same page. In other words, “to work effectively together. Team members must pull in the same direction towards the same goal.”

What we can say instead: “share the same understanding” to achieve our goal.

n Trim the fat

Schwantes says that as far as office jargon goes, ‘trim the fat: isn’t that bad. It’s easy to decode, meaning cutting back, stripping down and removing any unnecessary parts. Still there is room for misinterpretation and is nowhere as clear as it should be.

What we can say instead: Cut it down.

n Blue sky thinking

This is another way of saying the annoying “thinking outside of the box.”

“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel when asking people to come up with original ideas,” says Schwantes.

What we can say instead: Request some creative thinking

n Bandwidth When a colleague or supervi -

on a motorbike, rugged good looks, creative ad man, and allaround wonderful guy…almost an unfair combination. So sad to say such a sudden goodbye.”

Katryna Mojica, Dino’s wife, shared a poignant reflection on their life together. Her w ords, filled with love and loss, capture the essence of a man deeply cherished. “We had a wonderful life. He truly helped shape the person I am today, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared it with him. We have countless pictures, and I wish I had captured more on video. I have several videos of him walking down the street. Some of you know our love for

sor says that they don’t have the bandwidth for you right now, they are actually saying that they are too busy. This can get confusing when you use bandwidth to explain your packed-out calendar. Think time and resources instead.

What we can say instead: I don’t have the time or resources available at the moment

n Move the needle This means driving change and having a visible impact. Quite confusing.

What we can say instead: “Making a noticeable change.”

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdombased International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

walking shots. But I yearn for more of his voice in this age of text.”

“Fifty-two years filled with love, color, wit, swear words, dance, art, travel, booze, bazooka, laughter, old stories, j okes, and friendship… so grateful yet…WTF…we longed for more decades…” Dina Ocampo’s heartfelt tribute echoed t he sentiments of many, celebrating a life rich in love, l aughter, and adventure.

Dino Mojica was more than a creative director; he was a mentor, a friend, and an inspiration.

M ay his memory continue to illuminate the lives he touched.

PHL ranks with world’s elite

Sports

Well done in Paris–Tolentino

By Jun Lomibao

PARIS—A job well done as Filipino athletes do excel on the global stage against the elite and that there are opportunities to accomplish more with an aggressive program aimed toward Los Angeles 2024.

“ We’re the best performer in Southeast Asian and No. 7 in Asia,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Sunday just hours before the closing ceremony for the Paris Olympics. “We wanted more but with two gold and two bronze medals, should we ask for more from Paris?”

C arlos Yulo’s gold medals on floor exercise and vault of gymnastics and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas’s bronze medals put the Philippines in a share of 35th place with Hong-Kong China in the medals

stop thanking Him for gifting me two gold medals in the Olympics.”

A fter his historic feat last weekend, Yulo relaxed by visiting the beautiful sights that France offers with San Jose, amid the controversy that continues to hound the Yulo family. Y ulo said that part of his postParis plan is a trip to Tokyo to visit Munehiro “Mune” Kugimiya, the Japanese coach who molded him in his pre-world championships and

pre-Olympic training. I couldn’t have reached this level if not for my Japanese coach,” he said. “He taught me a lot—how to build myself, how to train and compete, in my education.”

Yulo, according to gymnastics head Cynthia Carrion-Norton, will also focus on sharing his elite skills and knowledge to aspiring young gymnasts. Jun Lomibao

Curry’s late barrage gives US hoops gold

over France

PARIS—Stephen Curry was thinking about this two years ago, after winning his fourth National Basketball Association (NBA) title with the Golden State Warriors.

The only thing left for him to win was Olympic gold.

A nd in the ultimate moment, he made sure that medal would be his.

PARIS—Bianca Pagdanganan came so close to making the podium but what a performance for the country’s top female golfer at the Paris Olympics.

Pagdanganan went just a stroke shy of forcing a playoff for the bronze medal but her fourth-place finish was the best ever for a Filipino athlete in Olympic golf that was played for only the third time in the Olympics after Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.

PARIS—The Philippines reached new heights in Olympic history as Paris lowered the curtains for its third hosting— second in a hundred years—of the games on Sunday.

“ We cannot imagine the joy flowing through every Filipino as the country secured two golds and two bronze medals—the highest we’ve ever achieved,” said Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann, who witnessed Philippine sports history unfold in the French capital in its entirety.

The US is atop the international men’s basketball world once again, after Curry scored 24 points—all on threepointers—and led the way to a 98-87 win over France in the final at the Paris Games on Saturday night. It was the fifth consecutive gold medal for the US and the 17th in 20 all-time appearances for the Americans at the Games. You just stay confident, stay present and don’t get rattled by the moment,” said Curry, who had 17 3-pointers in his last two games, starting with nine against Serbia to get to the gold-medal game.

A dded US coach Steve Kerr: “Steph earned this.”

Curry made four three-pointers in the final 2:43, including the one that just sealed the win with 1:19 remaining. It put the US up 93-84 and he skipped down the court letting out a yell, shaking his jersey so everyone could see the “ USA” across the front. AP

That’s Nesthy! Bronze medalist Nesthy Petecio (right) shows how Filipinos take a “groufie” during the

for women’s

Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan and bronze medalists Esra Yildiz of Turkey at Roland Garros on Saturday night. AP

It’s been a great Olympic experience,” Pagdanganan told the Philippine Olympic Media Pool and Cignal on Saturday afternoon after the women’s golf competition topped by New Zeland ace Lydia Ko, her first Olympic gold medal. I wanted a huge improvement and I wanted to make my country proud and I did everything,” Pagdanganan said. “I really feel proud of how I performed in such extreme pressure knowing that I can handle myself in those situations, it should be a great motivation.”

P erforming in extreme pressure she did.

Pagdanganan wasn’t in the radar to medal in the first three rounds at Le Golf National in Guyancourt but on Saturday, she birdied the 18th for a four-under 68 and a four-day total of 282 to finish in a tie with Australia’s Hannah Green, South Korea’s Amy Yang and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita for fourth to seventh places—four shots behind Ko. Pagdanganan started Saturday’s final round tied for 13th place but the Ladies Professional Golfers Association campaigner unleashed a mighty comeback but ran out of holes.

Her finish bettered the ninth-place performance of Yuka Saso, now playing under the Japanese flag—in Tokyo. Saso struggled the entire competition in Paris. Jun Lomibao

“ These medals are just one part of the legacy we’ve built,” he said. “With our recent performance in Paris, we have proven that our sporting success is sustainable and expanding.”

The PSC, Bachmann

stressed, is committed to do better job by pounding on the growing motivation of every Filipino— especially aspiring athletes. We aim to promote the positive effects of sport and advance the status of national grassroots sports initiatives,” he said, adding “our agenda has proven effective, as shown by the global victories we achieved.” B achmann said grassroots sports would always play an important role in discovering talents who could be like a Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, first gold medalist in Tokyo 2020, and Carlos Yulo, double-champion in Paris. We can support the rise of new talents to reach the highest levels and produce world-class athletes which will continuously connect our country’s name within the international sporting limelight,” he said. PSC’s support at the grassroots and elite levels will burn incessantly, Bachmann said.

“These milestones we have written basically are the fruit of the non-stop support of the  government for athletes and Philippine sports. Let’s all work together to empower our national pride and inspire generations.”

Jun Lomibao

I must be one of the few fans of both Michael Jordan and James although I must be very clear that the former is the “Greatest of All Time” with James a very close second.  A s for Curry, why did he now only suit up for the US team? Yes, he has two Fiba World Cup gold medals, but the Olympics means

award ceremony

featherweight with (from left) silver medalist Julia Szeremeta of Poland, gold medalist

STEPHEN CURRY hugs LeBron James after their gold medal-clinching victory. AP

YULO

TOLENTINO

BACHMANN

WITH the world watching, big-hitting Bianca shows her full repertoire. AP

Final flight The Olympic cauldron rises, with the statue of Joan of Arc in the foreground, as Paris prepares for the closing of the 2024 Games. PHOTO BY NONIE REYES, CANON R6