BusinessMirror August 18, 2023

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Department of Energy (DOE) assured lawmakers on Thursday that there will be no red or yellow alert issuances for the Luzon grid until the end of the year.

During a Senate hearing, the agency’s power outlook for the rest of the year already took into consideration the scheduled maintenance shutdown of power plants, forced outage of power plants based on average unplanned plant outages for 2018 to 2021, and committed power projects which are

ongoing construction or at least secured project financing.

“We have no alert for the rest of the year,” said DOE Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said during the Joint Congressional Energy Commission hearing held on Thursday afternoon.

A yellow alert is issued by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the grid’s regulating and contingency requirement, which is set at 688MW each.

A red alert, meanwhile, is issued when supply is not enough to meet the demand and the regu -

lating requirement.

The DOE’s rosy projection also took into account the additional capacity coming from Ilijan power plant which partially resumed operation. The DOE said the Ilijan LNG (liquefied natural gas)fueled power plant has reached a maximum available capacity of 900 megawatts (MW) already.

“The Ilijan facility is not yet in full operation. It’s still in the testing, commissioning of supply. Then we also took into consideration the limitation of some power plants which are also in the testing stage. We also included in our projection the possible out -

ages. If those outages will not happen then the capacity will serve as a buffer,” said Marasigan.

For week 32, or from August 7 to 13, Luzon peak demand was lower by 91MW from the projected 13,125MW for the year.

FIba, bgay polls

M A RASIGAN s aid that the DOE power outlook also considered an increase in demand during the FIBA Basketball World Cup next week and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election in October this year.

BSP KEEPS RATES AFTER

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

MOnEtIZE naIa, raISE P7t

By Lito U. Gagni

THE government will, as part of a long-term plan, eventually monetize the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) complex once the two international airports under construction—the Bulacan and Sangley airports—are operating, and see proceeds of P7 trillion from the 70-hectare prime lot.

that before that happens, the government needs to have the Bulacan and Sangley airports operating.

In the meantime, the government will start modernizing the old airport which is now congested. Bautista said that the airport only has a capacity of 32 million passengers but it has to come to terms with 60 million in passenger volume.

The Monetary Board decided to keep the interest rate on the BSP’s overnight reverse repurchase facility at 6.25 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were also retained at 5.75 percent and 6.75 percent, respectively.

On Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said the decision of the Monetary Board took into consideration weaker GDP growth in the second quarter.

“The Monetary Board also recognized the challenging outlook for economic growth, as the weaker GDP outturn for

the second quarter of 2023 reflected a broad-based slowdown in domestic demand. Household consumption slowed due to elevated commodity prices, while government spending contracted relative to the previous year,” Remolona said.

“Given these considerations, the Monetary Board deemed it appropriate to maintain monetary policy settings to allow a moderation of inflation even as authorities continue to assess the emerging risks to the inflation outlook,” he added.

Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista bared this during a forum that followed his speech before the Rotary Club of Manila at the Manila Polo Club on Thursday, where he expounded on the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of President Marcos Jr. that aims to reduce cost of doing business, bring about carbon neutrality, create jobs, improve mobility, and spur economic growth.

Bautista said at P1 million per square meter, the government can realize P7 trillion from the eventual sale of the Naia, but stressed

“It is difficult to solve congestion,” Bautista said, but the government will introduce new ways of tackling the problem, including expanding the immigration counters.

The DOTr, Bautista said, is trying to “improve the passenger experience” by expanding the terminal. One terminal that is set to open is one in the old Philippine Village Hotel, where another terminal can be put up, although there is a court issue that is yet to be resolved.

THE Monetary Board decided to again maintain its key policy rates, the third pause since May 2023, in the hopes that the third time could work as a charm to boost the economy and allow inflation to further moderate.

SharED

harVESt tarlac heritage Foundation cofounder, Dr. Isa cojuangco Suntay, aFP chief of Staff gen romeo S. brawner jr., Environment Secretary Maria antonia Yulo-loyzaga, Defense Secretary g lberto c teodoro, Philippine army commanding general lt gen. roy galido and armored Division commander Maj. gen. Facundo Palafox—accompanied by representatives from asean countries, including Myanmar, laos, thailand, brunei and cambodia—gather at the hardin ng lunas biodiversity farm in camp O'Donnell in capas, tarlac, to celebrate the successful harvest of a variety of vegetables, highlighting the farm’s cultural and environmental significance. residents of Sta. lucia in capas, tarlac, lent their hands to the harvest, emphasizing community engagement and sustainable farming practices. the farm’s produce, ranging from okra to watermelons, served as a testament to the dedication of the Philippine army's armored Division in nurturing the land. Soldiers shared their harvest with Sta. lucia residents. BERNARD TESTA

Pinoys prefer travel abroad; high airfare, hotel rates cited

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

At Tuesday’s hearing on the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) P2.99billion budget at the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) Mark T. Lapid said about P3.2 billion in travel taxes were collected from January to July this year, or roughly P1,600 per Filipino traveler.

Tieza, the infrastructure arm of the DOT, is in charge of collecting travel taxes on outbound travelers such as Filipino citizens, taxable foreign passport holders, and nonimmigrant foreign passport holders who have stayed in the Philippines for more than one year. Departing overseas Filipino workers, Filipino citizens permanently residing abroad, and balikbayans (home -

coming Filipinos) who have stayed in the country for less than a year are exempt from paying the travel tax (P1,620 on economy passage or P2,700 on first class passage).

Following this, Zamboanga Sibugay First District Rep. Wilter

Y. Palma made this observation:

“Filipinos are going out instead of patronizing domestic travel [is] because of our pricing. If you take the plane from Manila to Cebu, the average price is P5,000, whereas from Manila to Hong Kong, it’s P6,000.”

As far as hotels go, he added that “the average hotel rate here is P10,000 to P12,000 [per night], while in Hong Kong or Singapore, you can get P4,000, which is already good. Instead of traveling abroad bringing our money outside, why

don’t we spend it here in the Philippines?” As per DOT data, he noted that 3.4 million international tourists arrived in the Philippines from January to August 15, 2023.

DTI asked to look into rates

T OU RISM Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco countered, however, that “it is domestic tourism which has buoyed the massive recovery of Philippine tourism, in addition to our inbound international tourists.”

She noted that the economy earned P1.5 trillion from domestic tourists last year, with 102 million domestic trips taken by Filipinos.

“While we recognize there are challenges in terms of competitiveness as far as price points are concerned, we have been in continuous conversation with the private sector, especially the airlines, hotel accommodation, and resorts providers to appeal for more competitive price points. We have also discussed the matter with the Department of Trade and Industry that is chiefly responsible to ensure price competitiveness and price aspects,” she said.

“We also have to consider the external factors that affect pricing of accommodations in the Philippines, that includes inflationary measures

BSP…

Continued from A1

and the like,” Frasco explained. She said the DOT has been “reintroducing regions to each other” by holding travel fairs and expos that highlight each region’s tourist destinations and activities as a way to further boost domestic tourism.

‘Dynamic pricing’ SINCE t he lifting of pandemic travel restrictions, the tourism sector has bounced back, although most hoteliers say they are yet to be profitable due to the lack of international tourists. However, most accommodation establishments have reverted to their prepandemic average daily rates. (See, “International tourists vital to hotels’ full recovery,” in the BusinessMirror, July 21, 2023.)

The issue of the Philippines having more expensive hotel rates compared to other countries in Southeast Asia has been regularly brought up in budget hearings and discussions on improving tourist arrivals. Hoteliers have said though that their rates do fall during the off-peak season, usually the rainy months between July and October.

On the part of local airlines, its executives have said they have adopted a “dynamic pricing scheme,” which allows the cost of airfare to rise or fall based on demand and time of purchase.

DOE…

Continued from A1

“Our available capacity, including the current resumption of operation of Ilijan, will provide ample supply and reserve to the Luzon grid. So, we don’t see any alert, especially with dispatch of ilijan power, as well as timely commissioning of the committed projects. All are reflected there, we have no any alerts for the rest of the year,” added Marasigan. Meanwhile, the DOE is soliciting comments from industry stakeholders on a draft circular that will prescribe the policy framework for the development of natural gas power generation facilities in Luzon.

Industry stakeholders have until August 24 to submit their comments.

Govt…

Continued from A1

“Also, we are adding more immigration counters,” Bautista said and the government is now taking space now occupied by concessionaires for the planned improvements. In July, the 26 immigration counters were increased to 44. All the improvements are meant to induce comfort for the passengers. And this includes upgrading the air conditioning system.

Upfront payment

L A ST J uly 25, Bautista said the government will require the winning bidder for the multibillion-peso Naia redevelopment deal to make an upfront payment—initially pegged at P30 billion.

This premium payment, which is typical for public-private partnership (PPP) deals even during the past two ad -

Monetary authorities revised their outlook this year and the next two years. Inflation is now expected to average 5.6 percent this year from the initial estimate of 5.5 percent.

For next year, the BSP's inflation forecast was raised to 3.3 percent from the initial projection of 2.8 percent. The inflation forecast was pegged at 3.4 percent in 2025.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said among the commodities that the BSP is monitoring in terms of prices are rice, oil and non-oil commodities.

Rice, as part of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has a weight of 8.87 percent for all households and 17.87 percent for Bottom 30 percent of households.

It can be noted that rice prices in July increased 4.7 percent, the highest since February 2019 when the increase in the commodity’s prices was at 4.5 percent. The Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) Act was implemented in March 2019. (Full story: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2023/08/04/ rice-price-hike-may-dampen-momentum-to-tame-inflation/)

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the Operation of Personal Transport Equipment had a weight of 2.81 percent on the CPI for all households and 1.73 percent for the basket of the poorest households.

Non-oil commodities, Dakila said, are also being monitored because, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are expected to clock in an inflation of 4.8 percent in 2023; 1.4 percent in 2024; and 0.5 percent in 2025. PSA said transportation prices contracted 3.2 percent in July.

These, Dakila said, could help mitigate inflation in the coming months. He also noted that while the El Niño is considered as a moderate risk for inflation and GDP growth.

Remolona stressed that the country's GDP target for this year remains attainable. The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) targets a GDP growth of 6 to 7 percent this year.

"The balance of risks to the inflation forecast continues to lean towards the upside. Potential price pressures are

ministrations, was triggered by the demand for the project, Bautista had explained then.

“Investors have a huge opportunity to invest in the Manila airport, given that other countries have already upgraded their airports. With the volume of passengers, the Manila airport would be a good deal for them,” he said.

Bautista said, “Part of the terms of reference is a socalled upfront payment. We are still finalizing the amount, but we are initially looking at P30 billion,” he said.

He defended this provisional requirement by noting that the proponent of the unsolicited proposal called Naia Masterplan even offered as much as P55 billion just to snag the deal.

The proponent, the Manila International Airport Consortium (Miac), is composed of six of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates: Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp., Asia’s Emerging Dragon Corp., Alliance

linked to the impact of possible higher transport charges; higher minimum wage adjustments; persistent supply constraints on key food items; and the effects of El Niño weather conditions on food prices and power rates. Meanwhile, a weaker-thanexpected global economic recovery remains the primary downside risk to the inflation outlook," Remolona said.

Expert views

G I v E N t he latest pause in monetary policy, Oxford Economics said it expects a pause in the succeeding policy meetings of the Monetary Board. A rate cut, however, is expected in the first quarter of 2024. The United Kingdom-based think tank believes the recent inflationary pressures are “supply-driven and unlikely to be sustained.”

Nonetheless, Oxford Economics said, upside risks to inflation include the nationwide minimum wage hike.

The BSP also views the minimum wage hike, particularly in Areas Outside the National Capital Region (AONCR), as a key risk that could lead to higher inflation. Transport fare hikes could also prompt inflation to increase.

“With the global economy set to slow, growth concerns should make the central bank more dovish, raising the risk of an earlier rate cut,” Oxford Economics said.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said he expects the local policy rates would still be a function of future Fed rate moves, regardless of whether this would be a pause or a hike. Ricafort also said the local inflation trend and the behavior of the peso exchange rate, which affects import prices and overall inflation, may also factor in future monetary policy meetings.

“The timeliness and size of any future local policy rate moves (pause or hike) would also be a function of the behavior of peso exchange rate, given its impact on import prices and overall inflation,” Ricafort said.

“So if the peso exchange rate is relatively stable, any future local policy rate adjustments would just match any future Fed rate moves (pause or hike) in the coming months of 2023,” he added.

On Thursday, the peso closed at P56.77 to the United States dollar. It traded at a high of P56.81 and a low of P56.57 to the greenback.

Global - Infracorp Development Inc., Filinvest Development Corp., and JG Summit Infrastructure Holdings Corp. Its P267-billion, 25-yearconcession proposal was placed in the back burner after the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) approved the P170-billion Naia Rehabilitation Project under a solicited scheme.

Meanwhile, at Thursday’s Rotary forum, Bautista said other projects in the pipeline include tackling the traffic situation as he cited a study that the cost of traffic to the economy is P1.277 trillion a year. Thus, new rail lines are being undertaken, and “shovel-ready” infra modernization thrusts are under way.

The DoTR projects include modernizing the Kalibo, Catbalogan, Laguindingan and Caticlan airports; and pushing forward the rail lines that include that in Mindanao.

All the projects are meant to nudge the economy, especially with the post-Covid situation.

SOME 2 million Filipinos traveled abroad in the first seven months of the year, based on travel taxes that have been paid to the government.

House serves expulsion notice on ex-Rep. Teves Jr.

HOUSE Secretary General Reginald

Velasco announced on Thursday that the lower chamber has served the expulsion notice to former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. as political parties strongly support the plenary decision against him.

Through a letter, Velasco said Teves was informed that the lower house has adopted the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

We have just released the letter to Mr. Teves Jr.; it was received by his office, informing him, through his office, about the decision of the plenary to expel him as a member of the House of Representatives,” Velasco said.

In an unprecedented move, the House expelled Teves for disorderly behavior and for violating the Code of Conduct of the lower chamber.

H ouse Committee on Appropriations Chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co described the leadership’s move as an act similar to that of a conscientious father who is firm in maintaining the institution’s integrity.

Co said the removal of Teves from the House is a demonstration of Romualdez’s commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards in the legislative body, as it likewise ensures accountability among legislators.

“Speak er Romualdez’s historic decision resonates as an enduring embodiment of the principles that guide our revered legislative institution. This bold step establishes a vital precedent, reminding us unequivocally that, as stewards of the people’s trust, we are bound not solely by the imperative to formulate and enact judicious legislation but also by the solemn responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity, honor, and integrity,” he said.

C rossing party lines, 265 lawmakers have voted to adopt the recommendation of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for the expulsion of Teves.

A ccording to Co, the decision was based on three pivotal factors that could not be overlooked: his contentious pursuit of asylum in Timor-Leste, his frequent and unexcused

absence from parliamentary duties that flagrantly violated House rules, and the disturbing instances of alleged “indecent behavior” displayed on social media platforms, which tarnished the image and integrity of the House of Representatives.

“ The decision is proof of Speaker Romualdez’s promise to safeguard the prestige, honor, and dignity of the House,” noted Co.

National Unity Party President and Camarines Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte said the NUP is firmly behind the decision to expel Teves.

“ The credibility, honor, and effectiveness of our House of Representatives hinge on the utmost integrity, transparency, and commitment of its Members. As representatives of the Filipino people, our primary duty as lawmakers is to uphold our oath, serve our constituents, and perform our law-making tasks that advance the nation’s well-being,” he said.

“The evidence presented against Rep. Teves is strong and deeply concerning. Seeking political asylum in another nation without concrete reason and abandoning his law-making duties have put in jeopardy the trust that the people of the 3rd District of Negros Oriental have placed in him. Moreover, the tarnish on our institution’s reputation wrought by the designation of its member as a ‘terrorist’ demands immediate and decisive action,” Villafuerte added.

PDP-Laban Deputy Secretary General and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel expressed his party’s unambiguous endorsement for Teves’ expulsion.

“Our allegiance to the core tenets of democracy and the well-being of the Filipino people remains unshaken,” he said.

“In our unyielding dedication to the pillars of democracy, the PDP-Laban demands absolute integrity, steadfast commitment, and unblemished accountability from every elected representative under its banner,” he added.

Pimentel said the grave designation of a House member as a “terrorist” is an affront to the sanctity and honor of our institution.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

House bill on disaster food banks now up for Senate OK

THE House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a bill providing for the establishment of disaster food banks and stockpiles throughout the country to speed up the delivery of relief goods and other supplies during calamities.

T his was after lawmakers last Wednesday approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 8463, which mandates the construction of a Disaster Food Bank and Stockpile in every province and highly urbanized city in the country, providing for their maintenance and appropriating funds for their operation.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said the proposal should be approved immediately since the country is visited every year by more than 20 typhoons, which have become stronger due to climate change.

“This reality requires us to prepare for the eventuality of storms and similar calamities displacing residents of affected areas. We have to have a faster, more efficient, and more effective system of responding to disasters and helping our people,” he said.

He said such a response can be institutionalized through the establishment of strategic food banks and stockpiles all over the country.

A single life we can save through the timely delivery of medicine, food, and critical items in the event of a calamity is worth more than the effort and money that will go into setting up these food and supply reserves,” the House leader said. Under the bill the disaster food bank and stockpile shall serve as the central repository of food, water, medicines, vaccines, antidotes, and other critical medical products, medical kits, portable power and light sources, clothing, tents,

MAP presses govt to retain new EDSA Busway System

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is calling on the government to retain the new EDSA Busway System and reject the proposal of bus operators to revert to the discarded practice of using two outermost yellow bus lanes for 3,000 bus units to resume operations.

In a statement released on Thursday, the business group said it “strongly” opposes the proposal of the bus operators because for the past three years, it has been demonstrated that the EDSA Busway and Bus Carousel Line system is a “far superior” public bus transport system as it was able to carry a one-day peak load of 454,649 passengers on December 27, 2022 using no more than 550 bus units running on just one innermost busway lane with more spare

system capacity to meet higher demand.

“ Capital expenditures, excluding cost of rolling stock, by the national government totaled only about P500 million, which translates to the lowest capital cost-topassenger ratio among transit systems,” MAP in the statement signed by president Benedicta Du-Baladad and MAP Infrastructure Committee chair Eduardo H. Yap.

M AP cited “other remarkable performances” of the Busway, such as the average daily busway ridership reaching 380,378 during the heavy Christmas season in December 2022. Moreover, the group said drivers are “better disciplined” and they stop only at bus stations and do not linger there.

“ Commuters’ travel time was reduced, allowing them to be more productive at work and enjoy quality time with their families,” MAP said, adding that the Busway

has facilitated travel for ambulances and emergency vehicles.

This high performance, MAP said, was achieved due to the “higher efficiency” of the inner lane busway as a people mover.

In contrast, the two yellow curbside (outermost) lanes bus system gained “worldwide notoriety” as over 3,000 buses jammed EDSA bumper-to-bumper, while passengers and other commuters suffered long commuting hours and massive volumes of exhaust fumes that polluted the air.

“ The drivers were impervious to discipline. Buses loaded and unloaded anywhere with impunity, weaving in and out of lanes in chaotic fashion,” MAP noted.

With this, reverting to the “failed” yellow bus lane system, MAP said, will be “grossly detrimental” to commuters, to bus operators themselves, and to the economy.

In fact, MAP noted that opportunity

SC reprimands five lawyers for homophobic socmed posts

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Supreme Court (SC) reprimanded five lawyers in connection with their social media posts that tend to ridicule the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual) community.

In a 26-page per curiam decision, the Court found lawyers Morgan Rosales Nicanor, Joseph Marion Peña Navarete, Noel V. Antay Jr., and Israel Calderon and Ernesto Tabujara III administratively liable for violation of Rule 7.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, which prohibits lawyers from engaging in conduct that adversely reflects on their fitness to practice law and prohibits them from behaving in a scandalous manner that tends to discredit of the legal profession.

Aside from being reprimanded, the Court warned the lawyers that a repetition of the same offense would be meted with severe sanctions.

“The posts also include statements that tend to propagate and enforce an unfair and harmful stereotype that are not representative of LGBTQIA+ individuals...There is no room for such stereotypes in conversations among lawyers,” it added.

Records of the case showed it was Antay who initiated a Facebook thread with a post stating he had “just prosecuted and helped convict a member of the LGBTQIA+ community for large-scale estafa.”

Antay added that the convict then began cussing at him and “the judge who is somewhat effeminate comes to my defense and warns the felon to behave.”

This was followed by a comment from Tabujara, who asked about the supposed homosexual judge who wears an eyeliner and eye shadow while conducting hearings.

about the mental fitness of judges and equated homosexual judges with corrupt ones,” the SC held.

T he Court held that the four other lawyers should thus be reprimanded for their intemperate language against the LGBTQIA+ community, adding that “their fixation on the respective sexual orientations of their subjects was uncalled for and they should be more circumspect in their choice of words and be mindful of gender-fair language.”

In finding the lawyers administratively liable, the SC declared that “the right to privacy of lawyers is limited, especially when it comes to their social media accounts.”

losses from traffic congestion may likely “gallop” way past the previously estimated P3.5 billion daily.

Moving forward, MAP urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to stay the course and expedite the completion of this project, preferably, in partnership with a private concessionaire, while adhering to global standards and best practices.

“F ull completion and upgrade of the busway up to global standards with a bus exchange system for convenient transfer of commuters to feeder lines will attract motorists to take public transit and leave their cars at home,” MAP said.

T he business groups emphasized that this shift will reduce vehicle volume and decongest EDSA. Moreover, car lanes may be reduced to make way for wider sidewalks to enhance non-motorized mobility and planting of trees.

allegation at best. Allegations are not proof. Further, the fact that the exchanges leaked means that his social media account is not locked as he claims or that there is a rat amidst them,” the Court pointed out. The Court stressed that members of the legal profession must respect the freedom of LGBTQIA+ individuals to be themselves and express who they are, as part of their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.

and communication devices. T he shelf life of these items should be at least two years.

T he establishment of the stockpile shall be an inter-agency effort, to be led by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), with the participation of the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Trade and Industry, Agriculture, Science and Technology, and local governments.

The NDRRMC shall determine the locations of the stockpiles, taking into consideration equitable distribution among regions, accessibility, safety, and security from natural and human-induced disasters, and the immediate release of the supply reserves in case of a calamity or an emergency. The locations will be kept secret.

T he bill mandates the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to build calamity-proof warehouses where the food and supply stockpiles would be stored.

T he NDRRMC, DSWD, and other concerned agencies shall make sure that the reserves are regularly monitored and replenished.

In the event of a calamity, the NDRRMC and DSWD shall initiate the use and deployment of the stockpiles. In the event that a calamity can be reasonably predicted, the NDRRMC shall preposition supplies in the areas to be affected.

The NDRRMC, in consultation with concerned agencies, shall issue implementing rules and regulations. Funds necessary for the establishment of the envisioned stockpiles shall be charged against the budgets of these agencies.

The Court also imposed a P25,000 fine on Tabujara “for not only did he violate the said Rule but he did so in a reckless, wanton and malevolent manner.”

“In the present case, the Court found the subject Facebook posts laced with homophobic undertones, with descriptions of the convict and the judge that are uncalled for and have no context in the narrative, thus showing gender bias.”

He added that it is a joke among lawyers that in the Taguig Hall of Justice “ the judges on the second floor are crazy, while those on the ground floor are homosexuals and corrupt ones.”

In another comment, Calderon insinuated that the convict could have noticed Antay’s intelligence and good looks and realized that he had no chance with him, thus, the cursing.

What makes his infraction worse than that of Atty. Nicanor, Atty. Navarrete, Atty. Antay Jr. and Atty. Calderon is that Atty. Tabujara III made a sweeping statement

Makati, Taguig mayors welcome creation of DepEd TC to resolve transition issue

THE Department of Education (DepEd) has created a Transition Committee (TC) to resolve the issue between Makati and Taguig over the jurisdiction of 14 schools in the disputed Enlisted Men’s Barrio or “embo” barangays.

The DepEd issued Department Order (DO) 23, s. 2023 which provides that the Office Education Secretary Sara Duterte shall directly supervise the management and administration of all 14 schools, pending a transition plan, effective immediately pursuant to its mandate to provide a safe and enabling learning environment, and in the pursuit of protecting the best interest and welfare of our learners, teachers and non-teaching personnel.

The TC is composed of a regional director assigned outside of Metro Manila, DepEd schools division superintendents of Taguig-Pateros and Makati, and the legal officers of the cities of Taguig and Makati.

Both the mayors of Taguig and Makati cities welcomed the DepEd order.

“We look forward to working wholeheartedly with the transition team created by the Vice President. This decision will greatly ease the worries and concerns of our students, parents and teachers. Kaisa kami ni Vice President Sara sakanyanglayunin.Unahinnatinangkapakananngating mgaguro,mgakabataanatkanilangmgamagulang[We are one with the objective of Vice President Duterte. The welfare of the teachers, children, and their parents will be the priority].

DepEd looks forward to a peaceful and orderly opening of classes on August 29, 2023,” Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay said.

For her part, Taguig City Mayor Laarni Cayetano thanked Duterte for taking a decisive role in the implementation of the final and executory Supreme Court (SC) decision transferring 10 barangays from Makati back to the jurisdiction of Taguig as it affects the management and administration of the public schools within those barangays.

“Her leadership and wisdom at this time is very much welcomed and appreciated.

“Her decision to immediately form a Transition Committee without the need for a Writ of Execution, a move that was welcomed by Mayor Binay herself, puts an end to that issue and allows all parties to move forward for the benefit of the community,” Cayetano said. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Citing the 2016 case of Belo-Henares v. Guevarra, the Court said it is clear that “there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy as regards social media posts, regardless if the same are ‘locked,’ precisely because the access restriction settings in social media platforms do not absolutely bar other users from obtaining access to the same.”

The Court further reiterated that restricting the privacy of one’s Facebook posts to “Friends” only does not guarantee absolute protection from the prying eyes of other users.

T hus, the Court said, it cannot give credence to the invocation of Atty. Antay, who started the post, of his right to privacy.

“His excuse—that his social media account is locked and the contents thereof cannot be accessed by outsiders—is a mere

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has enjoined anew the members of the Bar to faithfully adhere to the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) not just in the practice of the legal profession, but even in the daily lives of lawyers. In a message delivered on his behalf by Associate Justice Jose Midas P Marquez at the 50th Anniversary Celebration and Honoring Night of the Integrated Bar of the PhilippinesBohol Chapter (IBP Bohol Chapter) on August 10, 2023 at Fortridge Pavilion in Dauis, Bohol, Gesmundo referred to the CPRA as a “steady compass” on which legal professionals can rely, stressing that ethics lies at the heart of legal practice.

“Amid a world in flux, we have the CPRA to direct us unfailingly towards moral and just conduct,” the Chief Justice stressed.

“In a changing world, it reminds us of what is constant in our profession. In adhering to it, we maintain the honor and dignity of the legal profession, strengthen camaraderie and solidarity within it, and ensure our faithful compliance with our duties and obligations not only to the legal profession, but also to the courts and our justice system; not only to our peers and clients, but also to the public and our country,” he added.

4Ps list undergoes major purge amid findings of ‘duplications’

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s (4Ps) list of beneficiaries is currently being purged, following recent findings of duplicate entries that led to P7 million in overpayments in the years 2020 and 2021, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced on Thursday.

Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez, who is also a DSWD spokesperson, said that as of June 5, 2023, the 4Ps National Program Management Office (NPMO) and the National household Targeting Office (NhTO) had completed the validation process for 316 out of the 370 households, which were the subject of the Commission on Audit (COA) 2022 report.

“Of the 316 households that have undergone the validation process, 186 households, or 58.68 percent, were verified as

duplicates. These will be immediately delisted from the 4Ps program, while the excess cash grants to the duplicates will be recovered by DSWD through their active accounts that were retained,” said Lopez in a statement.

During a briefing on the DSWD budget, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that just 13 percent, or around P12.7 billion of the P94 billion budget for the 4Ps had been distributed, while the beneficiary list was being purged.

Gatchalian said the payout percentage for the P94.3 billion budget for the 4Ps for 2023 is 13.46 percent, while 30.74 percent of it has already been obligated.

“Admittedly, this is a bit low because we are completing the validation and further assessment of the 4Ps beneficiaries tagged as non-poor under Listahanan 3,” he said.

Moreover, Lopez said the delisting process due to overpayment is in accordance with the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 3, Series of

Ecozone developer FPIP to assist Red Cross organize disaster response teams in Batangas

hUMANITARIAN organization Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and Lopez-led economic zone developer f i rst Philippine Industrial Park Inc. ( f P IP) have agreed on a joint project to organize in Tanauan City, Batangas, volunteers who will be trained to respond rapidly to emergencies and disasters.

The PRC, through its Batangas Chapter Administrator Ronald G. Generoso, and f P IP, through Vice President Ricky Carandang, signed recently a service agreement for the implementation of their joint project, which also aims to strengthen the country’s disaster risk reduction and management system.

Under the agreement, both parties agree to help each other in mobilizing grassrootslevel volunteers who will train and familiarize themselves with PRC programs, in particular, with the Red Cross 143 Program (RC143).

Red Cross created RC143 to build community resilience where RC143 volunteers—composed of one leader and 43 members—serve as the eyes, ears, hands, and feet of the PRC.

The program aims to promote a culture of self-help in schools, workplaces, and communities by developing a network of Red Cross volunteers who will prepare for disasters and respond rapidly to emergencies.

Under the service agreement, the PRC through its chapter in Batangas, has committed to assume a number of responsibilities, like the recruitment and training of volunteers and monitoring their progress under RC143.

f P IP, for its part, has committed to assume a number of responsibilities, such as providing financial and logistical help for PRC training programs activities; assigning local persons from the f P IP administration to assist PRC; and supporting PRC’s recruitment, as well as PRC’s other activities like mass blood donation drives and annual fund campaigns.

Under Republic Act No. 10072, PRC assumes the role of an independent, autonomous non-government organization auxiliary arm of the government. Its goals include the integration into sustainable development policies and planning of disaster risk reduction, universal healthcare, emergency responses and volunteerism; and the development and strengthening of institutions, mechanism, and capacities to build resilience to hazards.

f P IP is a subsidiary of Lopez-controlled f i rst Philippine h o ldings Corporation, one of the oldest and biggest conglomerates in the country.

Together with Japanese partner Sumitomo Corporation, f P h established f P IP as a world-class location for global manufacturers and traders, as well as a platform for creating jobs for ordinary f i lipinos and tax revenues for the government.

The 520-hectare ecozone, which straddles the host cities of Tanauan and Santo Tomas in Batangas, now provides employment for almost 80,000 f i lipinos, aside from generating hundreds of millions of pesos in tax revenues for both cities.

2021, also known as the Omnibus Guidelines on the Recovery of Overpayments from Pantawid Pamilya Beneficiaries.

The DSWD statement was in reply to the COA report on the overpayments to the 229 and 139 4Ps beneficiaries in 2020 and 2021, respectively, which included duplicated names.

“Validation tests were conducted for payrolls amounting to P3,891,300 in calendar year [CY] 2020 and P3,217,300 in CY 2021 revealed that 229 and 139 names [first name, middle name, and surname] of beneficiaries, respectively, appeared twice with different household ID numbers,” COA said in the DSWD’s annual audit report for 2022.

The list of beneficiaries for 4Ps, which is the government’s poverty alleviation program, is selected from the database of households living below the poverty line, or the Listahanan, which is under the N h TO.

On the supposed discrepancies between

PPA eyeing to complete 19 more seaport projects in ‘23

the 4Ps beneficiaries and the Listahanan database as observed by COA, Lopez said there is an ongoing consolidation being conducted by the 4Ps NPMO, and this will incorporate the results of the special assessment made by the N h TO.

“During the comparison of the 4Ps database and Listahanan 2, it was also observed that the h o usehold ID numbers of those considered poor in Listahanan 2 differed from the ID Numbers of 4Ps beneficiaries,” the COA report said.

The COA added, “In the selection of 4Ps beneficiaries from the Listahanan, the household ID numbers from the said list were not used as ID Numbers of 4Ps beneficiaries, which prevented immediate detection of duplicates in the 4Ps payroll.”

Lopez said the 4Ps NPMO will remove these duplicate entries within a reasonable time in accordance with the provisions of DSWD MC No. 3, s. 2021.

IN f R ASTRUCTUR e development in ports nationwide would continue to accelerate in the coming months, as the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) gears toward the completion of another 19 seaport projects before the end of 2023, adding up to the 30 seaport projects already completed during the first year of President f e rdinand R. Marcos Jr.

PPA’s 19 seaport infrastructure projects to be completed by December this year include eleven projects in Luzon, four in Visayas and four in Mindanao ranging from the construction and rehabilitation of backup areas, breakwaters, RoRo ramps and RC Piers, among others.

The public can also expect convenience and experience improved cargo handling with the upgrading of the general cargo berth at the Port of Sasa in Davao City amounting to P902 million, which is the highest funded project among the 19 to be completed before the year ends; followed by the P693 million construction of wharf and port operational area with continuous RoRo ramp at the Port of Catagbacan

in Bohol; also set to be completed is the construction of the country’s first dedicated cruise ship terminal at Jubang Port in Surigao del Norte amounting to P620 million.

“We remain optimistic that we are continuously evolving to be at par with countries observing the highest level of port standards around the world, we already made it as one of the strongest ports in Southeast Asia as of 2023. h e re in PPA, we continue to participate in economic  globalization by advancing infrastructure development through building high quality ports,” said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago. As a manifestation of its sound fiscal management and responsible use of financial resources, PPA recorded a 23.18 percent increase of net income in the first half of 2023 amounting to P6.9 billion compared to P5.0 billion income for the same period in 2022. A record of more or less 12 percent increase of budget utilization every year has been a trend for PPA since 2016 with its highest budget utilization rate of 83 pecent last year.

Lawmakers led by Rep. Duterte push CDD approach in grassroots project implementation

LAWMA k e R S w ant community participation in the planning, budgeting, and implementation of projects that meet their priority needs as a means to combat poverty at the grassroots level.

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Benguet Rep. e r ic Yap, and ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. e d vic Yap filed h o use Bill 500 for marginalized communities to get involved in planning and implementing local development projects.

Duterte said this globally recognized strategy called the community-driven development (CDD) approach, should be institutionalized and provided with sufficient funding to ensure that underserved and remote communities are able to decide which programs and projects should be implemented to suit their needs.

“Poor and far flung communities should get a say on what should be done to alleviate poverty in their areas since they know what’s happening on the ground and what problems need urgent action. This is the true spirit of inclusive growth,” Duterte said.

“Allowing them to identify, plan, budget, and implement small development projects will not only give them a sense of

empowerment but would also ensure that they maintain and sustain these projects well. Since they are involved in all the aspects of the project implementation, they would make sure that their hard work would not go to waste,” he added.

Such projects, among others, include the construction of water systems, schools, street lighting, community health centers, and farm-to-market roads.

“Through this legislation, there will be a gradual shift in the dynamics of leadership as it embodies the bottomup approach, one in which policies are directed towards enhancing participatory governance practices, tapping community organizations, particularly the basic sectors, and responding firsthand to community needs,” the bill’s authors said.

h B 500 is derived from the k a pit-Bisig Laban sa k a hirapan—Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services ( k A LA h -CIDSS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which has pioneered and sustained this World Bank-assisted initiative in selected poor municipalities in the country.

“With local government units [LGUs] expected to receive over P827 billion in

2024 as their National Tax Allotment or their share in the collection of national taxes, many cities and municipalities can well allocate a portion of this windfall to help fund CDD projects in their localities, especially once the bill becomes a law,”

Duterte said.

Duterte said that to institutionalize the CDD strategy, the bill mandates that not only the DSWD, but other national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) adopt this approach in their community-based programs.

Accredited civil society organizations and academic institutions are also encouraged to participate in facilitating technology transfers and assisting communities in securing collaboration or funding from other institutions.

The amount needed to implement the measure shall be charged to the annual appropriations of the DSWD. To help sustain the CDD projects, the bill provides for the establishment of an endowment fund consisting of voluntary contributions, donations, grants, or loans from domestic and foreign sources, government subsidies, and other income.

h B 500 provides for the creation

of an Advisory Council on CDD Institutionalization, chaired by the DSWD Secretary and co-chaired by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Its members shall include representatives from the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), the National e c onomic and Development Authority (Neda), the Departments of Budget and Management (DBM), Agriculture (DA), Agrarian Reform (DAR), h e alth (DO h ) , e d ucation (Dep e d ), and h u man Settlements and Urban Development (D h S UD), as well as nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

The measure also calls for the creation of advisory councils at the regional level. To help fine-tune and ensure the success of the CDD strategy, the bill includes the establishment of the CDD k n owledge and Resource Institute. As a non-stock, non-profit governmentowned and controlled corporation, the Institute shall provide support for continuing research and technology development, partnership development, policy advocacy, resource mobilization, capacity building of communities, and monitoring and evaluation of projects.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for

11 JG SUMMIT OLEFINS CORPORATION Simlong, Batangas City (Capital), Batangas

SANTOS, ARNEL LAMCO

Manufacturing Director Head

Brief Job Description:

Lead and manage the organization’s operations, strategy, and overall performance

Must have 25-30 years of strong work experience in the manufacturing industry, including market trends, technologies, and competitors, is essential

12 KOU FU COLOR PRINTING CORPORATION

Lots 6-7, Block 3, Phase II, Mountview Industrial Complex, Bancal, Carmona, Cavite

7

6

PHILIPPINES, INC.

19 Lot 2, Units 1-4 Centereach Resources, Inc., Bldg 5, Lima Technology Center, San Lucas, City of Lipa, Batangas

8 DAIHO (PHILS.), INC.

Phase 1, Block 22, Lot 3, Lima Technology Center, San Lucas, City of Lipa, Batangas

YAJIMA, MASAAKI Sales Assistant Manager

Brief Job Description: Maintain relationship w/ Japanese clients by providing support, information & guidance, improvement researching and recommending new opportunities, recommending profit

OSAWA, TETSUJI

General Manager - Product Development Department

Brief Job Description:

Over-all in-charge of product development department, manufacturing and operations process of Daiho Phils Inc.

TAN YEN HAO (CHEN YANHAO)

9 HI-P PHILIPPINES TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

Bldg. X2, Lot 11A, Phase 1B, First Philippine Industrial Park, Ulango, City of Tanauan, Batangas

10 IRISO ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES, INC.

Lots 10 & 12, Block 22, Phase IV, Cavite Economic Zone, Tejeros Convention, Rosario, Cavite

Operations Director

Brief Job Description: Plan and monitor the day-to-day running business to ensure smooth progress/supervising staff from different departments and provide constructive feedback

ISHIZAKA, NORIO Manufacturing Senior Manager

Brief Job Description:

Develop strategic plan to advance the company’s mission and objectives and to promote revenue, profitability and growth as an organization

Basic Qualification: Highly knowledgeable of the Japanese business culture and able to converse well in English and Japanese language

Salary Range: Php90,000 - Php149,999

Basic Qualification: With strong background on product development / management, manufacturing process and production operations

Salary Range: Php90,000 - Php149,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php150,000 - Php499,999

Basic Qualification:

Proficient in developing new ideas and mitigate risk and improve current processes. With strong analytical and planning skills

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

The World

Pakistan arrests 129 Muslims after mob attacks on minority Christians

By K.m. Chaudhry & Munir Ahmed The Associated Press

JARANWALA,

Pakistan—

Police in eastern Pakistan

arrested 129 Muslims overnight after a Muslim mob angered over an alleged desecration of the Quran attacked churches and homes of minority Christians, prompting authorities to summon soldiers to restore order, officials said Thursday.

The Christians living in the city of Jaranwala in the Faisalabad district quickly moved to safer places as the mob rampaged Wednesday, and there were no casualties from what was one of the country’s most destructive attacks against Christians.

They slowly returned home to see the destruction Thursday. At least one church was burned, four were damaged and two-dozen homes were torched or badly damaged.

“We were sitting at home when suddenly we heard that a mob is coming and it is burning homes and attacking churches,” Shazia Amjad said as she wept outside her torched home. She told The Associated Press that the mob burned household items and furniture and some of her possessions were stolen while she was staying with her family in a safer place.

Amjad said the rioters sprinkled petrol to burn homes. Other Christians described similar ordeals and expressed bewilderment.

Azeem Masih wept as he sat outside his burned home on a street where several were burned.

He said some of the rioters brought vehicles to take the Christians’ household items after burning their furniture and other belongings. “Why did they do it to us? We had not

done anything wrong,” he said.

Local Christians consoled each other outside their damaged homes, wept and cried, and those who lost their homes had no idea where to go or what to do now.

Local priest Khalid Mukhtar told AP earlier he believed most of Jaranwala’s 17 churches had been attacked and his own home was damaged.

Delegations of Muslim clerics arrived in Jaranwala to help calm the situation, as troops and police patrolled the area. Local authorities have shut schools and offices and banned rallies for a week to prevent more violence.

The violence drew nationwide condemnation, with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul-ul-Haq Kakar ordering police to ensure the rioters are arrested.

On Thursday, Rizwan Khan, the regional police chief, said 129 suspects had been arrested and the situation was under control.

The rampage started after some local Muslims claimed they had seen a local Christian, Raja Amir, and his friend tearing out pages from a Quran, throwing them on the ground and writing insulting remarks on other pages.

Police say they are trying to arrest Amir, who fled into hiding, to determine whether he desecrated Islam’s holy book.

According to Khan, the mob quickly gathered and began attacking multiple churches and several Christian homes. The rioters also attacked the offices of a city administrator on Wednesday, but police eventually intervened, firing into the air and wielding batons to disperse rioters with the help of Muslim clerics and elders.

Videos and photos posted on social media show an angry mob descending upon a church,

throwing pieces of bricks and burning them. In another video, four other churches are attacked, their windows broken as attackers throw furniture out and set it on fire.

In yet another video, a man is seen climbing to the roof of the church and removing the steel cross after repeatedly hitting it with a hammer as the crowd down on the road cheered him on.

The violence drew condemnation from various domestic and international human rights groups.

Amnesty International called for repealing Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the US State Department, called for calm and asked Pakistan to conduct a full investigation.

At a news briefing in Washington on Wednesday, he said: “We support peaceful freedom of expression and the right to freedom of religion and belief for everybody. And as we have previously said, we are always concerned of incidents of religiously motivated violence.”

Under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death. While authorities have yet to carry out a death sentence for blasphemy, often just the accusation can cause riots and incite mobs to violence, lynching and killings.

Domestic and international human rights groups say blasphemy allegations have often been used to intimidate religious minorities in Pakistan and settle personal scores.

The Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Associated Press writers Asim Tanveer from Multan and Babar Dogar from Lahore, Pakistan, contributed to this report.

Nicaraguan govt seizes highly regarded university from Jesuits

MEXICO CITY—Nicaragua’s government has confiscated a prestigious Jesuit-run university alleging it was a “center of terrorism,” the college said Wednesday in announcing the latest in a series of actions by authorities against the Catholic Church and opposition figures.

The University of Central America in Nicaragua, which was a hub for 2018 protests against the regime of President Daniel Ortega, called the terrorism accusation unfounded and the seizure a blow to academia in Nicaragua.

The government did not confirm the confiscation or comment on the Jesuits’ statement.

The Jesuit order, known as the Society of Jesus, said it received a judicial order Tuesday notifying it of the confiscation. It said the government seized all the university’s property, buildings and bank accounts.

“With this confiscation, the Ortega government has buried freedom of thought in Nicaragua,” said María Asunción Moreno, who was a professor at the university until she was forced into exile in 2021.

The order quoted the government as claiming the university “operated as a center of terrorism.”

“This is a government policy that systematically violates

human rights and appears to be aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state,” the Society of Jesus of Central America said in a statement.

The university, known as the UCA, has been one of the region’s most highly regarded colleges It has two large campuses with five auditoriums, engineering laboratories, a business innovation center, a library with more than 160,000 books in Spanish and English, a molecular biology center and facilities for 11 sports. Of the 200,000 university students in Nicaragua, an estimated 8,000 attend UCA.

Founded 63 years ago, UCA also houses the Institute of History of Nicaragua and Central America, which is considered the main documentation and memory center in the country, equipped with its own library, a newspaper library and valuable photographic archives.

Since December 2021, at least 26 Nicaraguan universities have been closed and their assets seized by order of the Ortega government with a similar procedure. Seven of those were foreign institutions.

In April, the Vatican closed its embassy in Nicaragua after the country’s government proposed suspending diplomatic relations.

Two congregations of nuns,

including from the Missionaries of Charity order founded by Mother Teresa, were expelled from Nicaragua last year. The expulsions, closures and confiscations have not just targeted the church. Nicaragua has outlawed or closed more than 3,000 civic groups and nongovernmental organizations.

In May, the government ordered the Nicaraguan Red Cross shut down, accusing it of “attacks on peace and stability” during antigovernment demonstrations in 2018. The local Red Cross says it just helped treat injured protesters during the protests.

In June, the government confiscated properties belonging to 222 opposition figures that were forced into exile in February after being imprisoned by Ortega’s regime.

Those taken from prison and forced aboard a flight to the United States on Feb. 9 included seven presidential hopefuls barred from running in the 2021 election, lawyers, rights activists, journalists and former members of the Sandinista guerrilla movement.

Thousands have fled into exile since Nicaraguan security forces violently put down mass antigovernment protests in 2018. Ortega says the protests were an attempted coup with foreign backing, aiming for his overthrow.

Russia attacks grain depots again as foreign ship tries out Kyiv’s new Black Sea corridor

By Hanna Arhirova & Susie Blann The Associated Press

At the same time, a loaded container ship stranded at the Black Sea port of Odesa since Russia’s full-scale invasion more than 17 months ago set sail along a temporary corridor established by Ukraine for merchant shipping. Ukraine’s economy, crunched by the war, is heavily dependent on farming. Its agricultural exports, like those of Russia, are also crucial for world supplies of wheat, barley, sunflower oil and other food that developing nations rely on.

A month ago, the Kremlin tore up an agreement brokered last summer by the UN and Turkey to ensure safe Ukraine grain exports through the Black Sea. Since then, Kyiv has sought to reroute transport through the Danube and road and rail links into Europe. But transport costs that way are much

higher, some European countries have balked at the consequences for local grain prices, and the Danube ports can’t handle the same volume as seaports.

Odesa Gov. Oleh Kiper said the primary targets of Russia’s overnight drone bombardment were port terminals and grain silos, including at the ports in the Danube delta. Air defenses managed to intercept 13 drones over Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, according to the Ukraine Air Force’s morning update.

It was the latest attack amid weeks of aerial strikes as Russia has targeted the Danube delta ports, which are only about 15 kilometers (10 miles) from the border with Romania, a Nato member. The Danube is Europe’s second-longest river and a key transport route.

Meanwhile, the container ship

departing Odesa was the first vessel to set sail since July 16, according to Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister. It had been stuck in Odesa since February 2022.

The Hong Kong-flagged Joseph Schulte was traveling down a temporary corridor that Ukraine asked the International Maritime Organization to ratify. The United States has warned that the Russian military is preparing for possible attacks on civilian shipping vessels in the Black Sea.

Sea mines also make the voyage risky, and ship insurance costs are likely to be high for operators.

Ukraine told the IMO it would “provide guarantees of compensation for damage.”

Analysts say Black Sea shipping has in general remained steady

tees, raising fears that the death toll could rise as rescue work carries on.

Homes in some districts were also washed away after a cloudburst—a sudden, very heavy rain—Sunday night, leaving roads flooded and people stranded.

Cloudbursts are defined as when more than 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) of rainfall occurs within 10 square kilometers (3.8 square miles) within an hour. They are a common occurrence in Himalayan regions, where they have the potential to cause intense flooding and landslides affecting thousands of people.

(NDRF) on August 15, 2023,

Heavy rain, landslides killed 72 people this week in an Indian Himalayan state

By Chonchui Ngashangva & Sibi Arasu

The Associated Press

NEW DELHI—Days of re -

lentless rain in India’s Himalayan region have killed at least 72 people this week, a government official said Thursday, as a heavy monsoon triggered landslides and flash floods that have submerged roads, washed away buildings and left residents scrambling for safety.

Rescuers in the mountainous Himachal Pradesh state have been working through challenging weather conditions to save people trapped under mud and debris from the rains that struck over the weekend. India’s weather department has put the state on high alert and expects the downpours to continue over the next few days.

Vikram Singh, an operator at the state’s emergency operation center, said on Thursday that the

72 deaths occurred over the previous five days and that rescue work was ongoing.

Hundreds of roads remain blocked and schools in the capital city of Shimla have been ordered shut as the Indian Air Force and disaster response teams help evacuate people from low-lying, vulnerable areas. The state’s chief minister, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, said over 2,000 people have been rescued using helicopters and motor boats and are now safe in relief camps.

Visuals on social media showed trees falling apart as homes, built atop the hills, collapsed in succession. In the background, people can be heard crying out in horror, as they shouted, “get out from here” and “get back.”

In Shimla, a Hindu temple collapsed on Monday amid deadly landslides, and authorities feared that people are still buried under the debris. Authorities said the temple was crowded with devo -

Sukhu, the chief minister, told the Press Trust of India news agency that it will take a year to rebuild infrastructure destroyed by the rains of this monsoon, and claimed the estimated loss to be about $100 billion. “It’s a big challenge, a mountain-like challenge,” he said.

Last month, record monsoon showers killed more than 100 people over two weeks in parts of northern India, including in Himachal Pradesh, which was the worst hit.

Disasters caused by landslides and floods are common in India’s Himalayan north during the June-September monsoon season. Scientists say they are becoming more frequent as global warming increases.

However, local experts say the current disaster is likely due to unplanned construction in this vulnerable region. “It is poor planning and governance that has led to this much damage,” said Anand Sharma, a retired meteorologist with the Indian Meteorological Department, the country’s weather agency.

since the end of the grain deal, despite higher insurance rates, but shipments out of Ukraine have dropped off.

Last Sunday, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a Palauflagged cargo ship in the southern Black Sea. According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, the Sukru Okan was heading northwards to the Ukrainian Danube River port of Izmail.

Ship-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press confirmed that the Joseph Schulte was steaming south. The Joseph Schulte is carrying more than 30,000 tons of cargo, with 2,114 containers, including food products, according to Kubrakov.

He said the corridor will be primarily used to evacuate ships stuck

in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi since the outbreak of war.

Wheat prices climbed more than 5 percent in Chicago trading Wednesday amid Russia’s attacks, which have caused grain prices to zigzag on global markets.

Prices for global food commodities like wheat, rice and vegetable oil rose in July after months of declines, following the end of the grain deal and India’s restrictions on some rice exports, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said.

The Joseph Schulte was the highest value ship of the 60 still stuck in Ukraine since the war began, according to John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80 percent of the world’s commercial fleet.

He noted that China’s political closeness to Russia likely helped enable the ship’s departure. It is unlikely other vessels will follow, he said, either because of their flags or locations in Ukraine.

On the war’s front line, Ukrainian officials claimed another milestone in Kyiv’s grinding counteroffensive, with Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar saying troops have retaken a village in the eastern Donetsk region.

The village of Urozhaine is near Staromaiorske, a hamlet that Ukraine also claimed to have recaptured recently. The claims could not be independently verified.

Ukraine appears to be trying to drive a wedge between Russian forces in the south, but it is up against strong defensive lines and is advancing without air support.

Elsewhere, an 18-year-old civilian was killed and four others were injured by Russian shelling of the southeastern Ukraine town of Mezhova, local authorities said.

Also Wednesday, the Russian military said it shot down three drones over the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow and blamed the attack on Ukraine. No damage or casualties were reported.

It was not possible to verify the sides’ battlefield claims.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Wednesday that about 45,000 of the Russian capital’s residents are fighting in Ukraine—some 20,000 as draftees, 20,000 as contract soldiers and volunteers and an estimated 5,000 are fighting with private groups. In late July, he said about 30,000 Muscovites were in the war. The discrepancy in the figures could not be explained. Sobyanin said the Muscovites’ presence is “a significant part of those who are there.” The total number of Russian troops in Ukraine is not known, but the US-based Institute for the Study of War has estimated the number at about 300,000.

T he Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Courtney Bonnell in London contributed to this report.

Japan exports shrink for first time in more than two years

By Erica Yokoyama

JAPAN’S exports dropped for the first time in more than two years as patchy overseas demand weakened, signaling headwinds for an economic recovery that has relied increasingly on external markets as domestic spending sputters.

The value of exports fell 0.3 percent in July from a year earlier, retreating for the first time since February 2021 as sharp falls in shipments of chip-making gear and parts outweighed a jump in demand for cars, the finance ministry reported Thursday. Economists had forecast a 0.2 percent decline.

Imports fell for a fourth month, sliding 13.5 percent from the previous year, the steepest decline since September 2020 as commodity prices ease. Economists had estimated they would fall by 15.2 percent.

The trade balance slipped back into the red, with a deficit of 78.7 billion yen ($538 million) after a 43 billion yen surplus in the previous month. Economists had expected the surplus to widen to 47.9 billion yen.

The figures come days after data showing the economy grew at a 6 percent annualized pace in the second quarter, with much of that expansion powered by external demand. Combined with signs of sluggish domestic demand—household spending fell for a fourth straight month in June—the data add to the case for Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda and his board to retain their ultra-easy policy as authorities wait to see if recent gains in wages become a trend.

“Japan’s export engine—which powered a surprisingly strong pickup in growth in the second quarter—entered 3Q23 sputtering, with outbound shipments

falling in July. The adjusted trade deficit widened slightly, suggesting net exports could drag on the economy,” said Bloomberg economist Taro Kimura.

Exports data continued to highlight uneven economic conditions overseas. Shipments to the US rose by 13.5 percent from a year ago, a slightly faster pace than in the previous month, and those to Europe increased by 12.4 percent.

Meanwhile, exports to China, Japan’s biggest trading partner, slid by 13.4 percent, the largest drop since January, with shipments of cars and chips and chip components dipping at double-digit clips.

Shipments to China fell for an eighth consecutive month, a trend that may persist as economic activity cools. The world’s second largest economy saw slower-than-expected growth in the second quarter, prompting economists to slash their forecasts for 2023 growth.

Exports to the US were powered by shipments of cars, which rose 34 percent as supply-chain glitches were ironed out. Japan also shipped more cars to Europe.

It’s unclear if that demand will be sustained. Leading economic indicators in the US and Europe have shown signs of slowing, partly due to continued interest rate hikes.

“The automobile industry has been recovering, but this trend will soon run its course,” said Makoto Ishikawa, senior research associate at Itochu Research Institute. Once it runs its course, “Japan’s exports to Europe and US will weaken.”

In its latest Outlook report, the BOJ noted that external demand may flag in the months ahead, saying, “Exports and production are projected to be affected by the slowdown in the pace of recovery in overseas economies.”

By product, exports of mineral fuel fell by 60 percent, the biggest drag, while shipments of chips and

chip manufacturing equipment declined by 27 percent.

“Deteriorating semiconductor market conditions pushed down prices, putting downward pressure on overall exports,” said Ishikawa.

The decline in imports comes as commodities prices have declined. Brent averaged about $80 a barrel in July, down from around $105 a barrel in the same period last year. That drop signals that commoditydriven inflation is easing in line with the BOJ’s view.

The yen’s retreat to the weakest since November is offsetting some of that impact by pushing up the costs of imported goods. For Thursday’s trade data, the average exchange rate was 142.32 yen against the dollar, as Japan’s currency weakened by 4.6 percent compared with a year earlier.

The deterioration in the trade balance comes even as inbound tourism helps bring money into the country. The number of foreign visitors to Japan topped 2 million for a second consecutive month in July, recovering to about 78 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

That effect could build in coming months after China last week ended a ban on group tours to Japan. Daiwa Institute of Research estimates that Chinese tour groups will boost inbound spending by about 200 billion yen to roughly 4.1 trillion yen ($28.2 billion) this year.

The weak yen is fueling the strong interest among tourists in visiting Japan. It should also help boost the profits of exporters, but it also puts upward pressure on import bills.

“Continued yen depreciation will increase the amount paid overseas,” said Shuji Tonouchi, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley. “In the short term it’s a negative, deteriorating factor for the trade balance.” Bloomberg News

KYIV, Ukraine—Russian drones pounded grain storage facilities and ports along the Danube River that Ukraine has increasingly relied on as an alternative transport route to Europe, after Moscow broke off a key wartime shipping agreement using the Black Sea.

In this photo provided by the Odesa Regional Administration Press Office, a granary destroyed in a Russian drone attack at night is seen in a Danube port near Odesa, Ukraine in the early hours on Wednesday, August 16, 2023. ODESA REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION PRESS OFFICE VIA AP

In this photo made available by the National Disaster Response Force

an NDRF personnel carries an infant to safety in flood-affected Himachal Pradesh state, India. Days of relentless rain in India’s Himalayan region have killed more than 70 people this week, a government official said Thursday, as a heavy monsoon triggered landslides and flash floods that have submerged roads, washed away buildings and left residents scrambling for safety.

Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.

PHL and Germany vow deeper ties to fight climate change

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he considers Germany as a key ally in pushing for his climate-change agenda globally.

D uring the presentation of credentials of new German Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke in Malacañang, the Chief Executive said the country’s newly signed partnership with Germany will help in his promotion of  “the climate agenda in both the local and international settings.”

It is axiomatic to me to say that no country can do this alone. The economies, climate change, energy, all of these things have to be done in partnership. So, let’s look in that direction Mr. Ambassador,” Marcos said during the event.

U nder the Philippines-Germany Joint Declaration of Intent on Interdepartmental Consultations for Bilateral Technical Cooperation Projects, both countries will “hold regular interdepartmental consultations about ongoing and pipeline bilateral technical cooperation projects” related to climate, energy and biodiversity.

T he Marcos administration, through the Climate Change Commission, has been calling for the creation of loss and damage mechanism to help in the climate change adaptation measures of developing countries.

T he President stressed the importance of a collective response from the international community to address the effects of climate change.

“ I always describe it as really the first truly global problem that humanity faces because it’s global in the sense that everybody is affected. And it’s also global because we cannot solve it without everybody doing their part,” Marcos said.

A side from climate change the President and Pfaffernoschke discussed the thriving people-topeople connections between the Philippines and Germany.

T hey committed to maintain the Philippine-Germany diplomatic relations, which will mark its 70th anniversary next year, and exploring other areas of cooperation.

“ There are many things that I think we can do. I hope few of them will come to fruition so that we can say that we have done the fullest that we can do in this partnership,” Marcos said.

BCDA, Tarlac provincial govt sign pact for devt of tech hub in NCC

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Bases

BCDA President and CEO Joshua M. Bingcang and Tarlac Governor Susan A. Yap signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday August 11, 2023, for the development of a

47-hectare property in NCC. Under the agreement, the BCDA said it grants usufructuary rights to the Provincial Government of Tarlac for the use of the subject property.

The state-owned group said the land shall be used for the purpose of “establishing, developing, and institutionalizing a hub for agro-industry, research and development [R&D], logistics, and other complex technological facilities like hyperscale data centers.”

“ We are grateful that through the efforts of the Provincial Government of Tarlac, we are realizing our dream of developing New Clark City as the Philippines’ model for future smart cities,” Bingcang said.

The BCDA chief said this “milestone” is a product of years of hard work by the government and the private sector to bring in investments in the fields of ICT, big data, and R&D, among others.

For his part, Tarlac Governor Susan A. Yap said this partnership with BCDA would bring in investments and eventually open up employment opportunities for the people of Tarlac.

Rest assured that the Provincial Government of Tarlac will be here, hand in hand, to support the dreams

Go extends relief to ‘Egay’ flood victims in Dinalupihan, Bataan

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence “Bong”

Go underscored his unwavering commitment to support communities hit by disasters as he lent a helping hand to those affected by typhoon “Egay” in Dinalupihan, Bataan, on Saturday, August 12. The assistance was carried out at the respective barangay halls of Tucop, Old San Jose, Payangan, and Mabini Extension, where Go’s team distributed food packs to 250 town residents affected by floods. The relief activity was in partnership with Councilor Gary David.

NATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año has hailed the Mawab, Davao De Oro-based 10th Infantry Division (ID) of the Philippine Army for its efforts in containing the communist insurgency in the region.

Since the activation of the 10ID 17 years ago, transformations and developments have been made and built for the greater good of a region once called the heartland of the longstanding communist insurgency,” he said during the unit’s founding anniversary Wednesday, August 16.

A ño, who also served as 10th ID commander before being appointed AFP chief of staff in 2017, recalled that the unit confronted the most advanced and sophisti-

The senator voiced his determination to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness and response strategies. Go is the proponent of Senate Bill No. 188, also known as the Department of Disaster (DDR) Bill. He introduced this legislation with the aim of creating a unique agency exclusively concentrating on disaster risk reduction and management.

T hrough the establishment of a specialized institution, the bill intends to make disaster management more efficient and boost the country’s capability

cated territorial unit of the New People’s Army (NPA)—the Southern Mindanao Regional Party Committee, composed of five Sub-Regional Committees, each with three full-size Guerilla Fronts, and eight “Pulang Bagani” Commands. But look at where we are now. It is very reassuring to know that the seeds we planted several years ago are bearing fruitful yields and are continually watered and nourished by the sweat and blood of our entire force,” the NSA, who was the event’s guest-of-honor and speaker, said.

From 2016 to 2022, the 10ID has neutralized 105 high-value targets and key leaders; caused the surrender of 13,689 and their supporters; dismantled 16 Gue -

Choice of Locsin as special envoy to China draws praise

F or more than half a century, Teddy Locsin has articulated our dreams, chronicled our battles, and moved the nation with prose that inspires. In his newest mission for the Republic, there is no doubt that he can effectively champion our interest,” Recto added.

The chair of the Senate defense committee, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, remarked: “It’s an interesting move by the President, I must say, as it came on the heels of a series of disturbing incidents in the West Philippine Sea involving the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard.

Locsin Jr. “brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary and as the Philippine ambassador to the United Nations,” said Estrada.

“As an experienced diplomat and skilled communicator, his deep understanding of diplomatic protocol, international relations, and the nuances of various issues will enable him to engage with China on a wide range of concerns. Clear communication is crucial for building mutual understand -

ing and finding common ground.” E strada praised Marcos for his decision, saying it proved his sincerity when he said he will respond to the territorial rows with China through diplomatic negotiations and affirming the country’s “friend to all and an enemy to none” foreign policy.

“ The success of Locsin’s role as a special envoy will depend on his ability to navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy, communicate effectively, and foster a productive atmosphere for a dialogue between the two countries. Observers will be keenly watching how he will handle the complexities of his role and whether this will lead to positive developments insofar as our country’s relations with China is concerned,” added Estrada.

M alacañang’s designation of the Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom Teodoro Locsin Jr. was billed by another senator and a think tank analyst as “an impressive and interesting choice,” and one that hopefully would bolster the country’s efforts in engaging China

amid fresh tensions over its aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

He is an adroit diplomat and skilled leader, unafraid to go to whatever lengths necessary for the best interest of the Filipinos,” said Sen. Grace Poe in a statement.

“ We hope he can help the country navigate through the rough waters of the West Philippine Sea to defend and protect what belongs to us,” she added.

A s imilar hope was expressed late Wednesday by Prof. Dindo Manhit of Stratbase in an interview with CNN Philippines’s Pia Hontiveros.

B oth Manhit and Hontiveros noted Locsin’s reputation in handling sticky situations with China when he was DFA secretary during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte.

Manhit expressed confidence he would be good for negotiations moving forward amid China’s insistence that Manila make good on a supposed promise to remove the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal, within the Philippines’s EEZ.

PS-DBM: NO NCSE DEALS UNTIL REFORMS DONE

and aspirations of the BCDA for this next frontier of development,” Yap said.

BCDA engages in public-private

partnerships to push forward vital public infrastructure such as tollways, airports, seaports, and also major real estate developments.

to handle future emergencies effectively.

G o also stressed that founding a devoted department for disaster resilience would not only heighten collaboration but would also offer a formalized mechanism for responding to crises, equipped with a more defined mandate, authority, expertise, and resources. The Office of Civil Defense has recently voiced its support for the establishment of the DDR, emphasizing the importance of such institution in improving operations in managing and responding to future crises.

rilla Fronts and six “Pulang Bagani” Commands; recovered 2,687 firearms; and cleared 390 barangays, which resulted in an insurgency-free Davao Region.

Meanwhile, 10th Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Jose Eriel M. Niembre, hailed the unit for its many victories against the NPA and its allies. In a short period, despite being one of the youngest major units of the Philippine Army, 10ID has attained a significant number of these. Credit goes to our brigade and battalion commanders, who have played a key role in the success of our vision. It is now our task to build upon these achievements and sustain our gains,” he added. Rex Anthony Naval

Continued from A18

T he Presidential Communication Office (PCO) announced on Wednesday the new appointment of Locsin, who is currently serving as the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

“He [Locsin] is in a concurrent capacity,” PCO Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil told reporters in a Viber message, referring to Locsin’s dual roles as the President’s envoy to China for “special concerns” and his post in London.

During Locsin’s term as DFA chief of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the country terminated its joint oil and gas exploration talks with China due to constitutional issues of such collaboration.

While he led DFA, Locsin stressed the country did not surrender a single inch of its territory to China since every intrusion by Chinese forces within Philippine territory was met with protest.

H owever, Locsin was known to have earned a healthy respect from his counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with both sides praising each other amid tough discussions.

Continued from A18

Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and the Provincial Government of Tarlac have forged a partnership, which BCDA said would pave the way for the development of a 47-hectare technology hub in New Clark City (NCC).

‘The wise rest at least as hard as they work’

AmericAn psychologist Herbert Freudenberger coined the term “burnout” in 1974 to describe the consequences of severe stress. Burnout is a state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Those experiencing it find it difficult to engage in activities they normally find meaningful. They may feel an increasing sense of hopelessness, as they no longer care about the things that are important to them.

Apart from loss of motivation, burnout has other emotional symptoms, like feeling alone in the world, helplessness, lack of contentment, sense of failure or self-doubt, and cynicism.

In an article published by The New Yorker— Burnout: Modern Affliction or Human Condition?—American historian and journalist Jill Lepore wrote: One Swiss psychotherapist, in a history of burnout published in 2013—“Burnout is increasingly serious and of widespread concern”—insists that he found it in the Old Testament. Moses was burned out, in Numbers 11:14, when he complained to God, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.” And so was Elijah, in 1 Kings 19, when he “went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough.”

Around the world, three out of five workers say they’re burned out. A 2020 US study put that figure at three in four.

The World Health Organization recognized burnout syndrome in 2019, but only as an occupational phenomenon, not as a medical condition. WHO defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” In other words, workplace stress makes you unwell.

In a Bloomberg article—Burnout is back in a big way—Here’s why —Julia Hobsbawm said: “Recent data from Deloitte and the research firm Workplace Intelligence cites about half of workers saying they are either exhausted or stressed, and 60 percent of employees say they would consider changing jobs to find better wellbeing provisions.” From Mayo Clinic: Ignored or unaddressed job burnout can have significant consequences, including excessive stress, fatigue, insomnia, sadness, anger or irritability, alcohol or substance misuse, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and vulnerability to illnesses.

Deloitte is one of the largest global professional services network in the world. From November 2021 to January 2022, it conducted a survey on workrelated stress and burnout, with 23,220 respondents from 46 countries. Philippine participants included 300 Gen Z respondents and 100 millennials.

According to the study, 70 percent of Gen Zs and 63 percent of millennials in the Philippines are experiencing burnout because of the “demands of their workload.” What’s alarming is that this number is a far cry from the global average of 45 percent. This means that the majority of the country’s young workforce has experienced burnout due to work-related stress.

Unfortunately, this national prevalence of burnout also translates to higher incidences of anxiety and stress, with 48 percent of millennials and 68 percent of Gen Z in the Philippines claiming to be anxious and stressed out all or most of the time—higher than the global average of 46 percent for Gen Z, and 38 percent for millennials.

Due to the prevalence of both burnout and work-related stress in the Philippines, Deloitte said statistics regarding resignations are also increasing, with 58 percent of respondents saying that many of their colleagues resigned due to “work pressure,” 15 points higher than the global average.

The survey results indicate that workplace stress is overpowering many young Filipino workers. This is most disturbing because the negative effects of burnout can spill over into every area of their life—including family and social life. The costs of employee burnout to an organization can include absenteeism, lower productivity, low quality work, tardiness, and employee turnover.

It would do well for our health authorities to note the rising number of Filipino workers experiencing burnout. There’s a need for the government, employers and workers to come together to try to find solutions that can lessen if not eradicate workplace stress and burnout.

To all millennials, Gen Z and other workers experiencing burnout, here’s a word of wisdom from Mokokoma Mokhonoana: “The wise rest at least as hard as they work.”

Addressing today’s most urgent needs and preparing for the future

prices for the benefit of consumers.

sonny M. angara

Better Days

THe Senate has officially started its deliberations on the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024 with the briefing of the Development Budget coordination committee on the macroeconomic assumptions and key data for the all-important measure. By rule, it is the House of representatives that goes over the budget measure first, initially in the form of the national expenditure Program (neP). But in order to expedite the process and as part of tradition, the Senate simultaneously conducts its own hearings on the neP, through the committee on Finance.

This is the fifth budget measure that I am handling as Chairman of the Finance Committee and it is always a challenge to strike a balance between fulfilling limitless needs and working with limited funds. The 2024 proposed budget is no different. The requirements of the country remain the same but generating the revenues needed to fund these have become more challenging, particularly with the economy just recovering from over two years of inactivity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

What is encouraging with the 2024 proposed budget is its focus as reflected in the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Securing a FutureProof and Sustainable Economy.” Just like the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the 2024 NEP is forward-looking and hews closely to the Medium Term Fiscal Framework, which the

Department of Finance describes as “the government’s blueprint to steer the economy back to its high-growth trajectory.”

Among the priorities of the 2024 budget is ensuring food security.

Consumers have been dealing with rising prices of food, particularly rice, vegetables, pork and fish. This is the result of a combination of factors such as low production, high transport costs and bad weather. We were just hit by two successive typhoons that caused massive flooding and damage to agriculture in the Central Luzon and other parts of the country.

This is while we are in the midst of El Niño, which is expected to bring about severe drought in most parts of the country in the coming months. Programs to support farmers and fisherfolk are included in the proposed budget to increase production and eventually, stabilize supply and

Another priority in the 2024 budget is on reducing transport and logistics cost through various infrastructure projects as part of the Build Better More program of the administration. A significant amount of funding was proposed for the Department of Transportation to implement its Rail Transport, Land Public Transport, Aviation Infrastructure, and Maritime Infrastructure Programs. Most of the projects will not be completed in the near term but with funding provided under the proposed budget, we can be assured the implementation of these will continue and hopefully, be completed within their target dates.

And even though we are no longer in a pandemic, the 2024 budget provides for the continued strengthening of our country’s health system. This includes the health facilities enhancement program and beefing up the operations of the Department of Health-run hospitals. On a sectoral basis, health has the third highest allocation, just behind education and public works. It is important to keep our health system prepared for future emergencies. We can no longer afford to be caught off guard when the next health crisis strikes.

The 2024 budget also recognizes the need to enhance the digital economy and the administration has proposed a corresponding 60 percent increase in the allocations for ICT and digitalization from the current year. This includes improving Internet access and speeds through the National Broadband Plan, the National Government Data Center Infrastructure

and the National Government Portal. Programs related to flood control, water sufficiency, coastal and marine resources management and enhancing our forest cover are also included under the umbrella of promoting sustainability. Keeping our people and communities safe and ensuring that they have sufficient access to clean water are key priorities that have emerged and will require sustained interventions if we are to address these for the long term.

In line with our Tatak Pinoy or Proudly Pinoy advocacy, the budget measure contains funding for programs to advance research and development and innovation (R&D). This includes the continued support to the Innovation Fund, the R&D of our state universities and colleges, the Small Enterprises Technology Upgrading and the Science for Change Programs under the Department of Science and Technology. In the coming weeks and months, the Finance Committee, with our very capable vice chairpersons, will start to dive into the proposed budgets of all government departments, agencies and offices. As what we have done in previous years, we will work non-stop with the goal of approving the measure on time and providing our people with the services that they deserve.

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

AP, other news organizations develop standards for use of artificial intelligence in newsrooms

By David Bauder | AP Media Writer

neW YOrK—The Associated Press has issued guidelines on artificial intelligence, saying the tool cannot be used to create publishable content and images for the news service while encouraging staff members to become familiar with the technology.

AP is one of a handful of news organizations that have begun to set rules on how to integrate fastdeveloping tech tools like ChatGPT into their work. The service will couple this on Thursday with a chapter in its influential Stylebook that advises journalists how to cover the story, complete with a glossary of terminology.

“Our goal is to give people a good way to understand how we can do a little experimentation but also be safe,” said Amanda Barrett, vice president of news standards and

inclusion at AP.

The journalism think tank Poynter Institute, saying it was a “transformational moment,” urged news organizations this spring to create standards for AI’s use, and share the policies with readers and viewers.

Generative AI has the ability to create text, images, audio and video on command, but isn’t yet fully capable of distinguishing between fact and fiction.

As a result, AP said material produced by artificial intelligence should be vetted carefully, just like material

from any other news source. Similarly, AP said a photo, video or audio segment generated by AI should not be used, unless the altered material is itself the subject of a story.

That’s in line with the tech magazine Wired, which said it does not publish stories generated by AI, “except when the fact that it’s AI-generated is the point of the whole story.”

“Your stories must be completely written by you,” Nicholas Carlson, Insider editor-in-chief, wrote in a note to employees that was shared with readers. “You are responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality and quality of every word in your stories.”

Highly-publicized cases of AIgenerated “hallucinations,” or madeup facts, make it important that consumers know that standards are in place to “make sure the content they’re reading, watching and

listening to is verified, credible and as fair as possible,” Poynter said in an editorial.

News organizations have outlined ways that generative AI can be useful short of publishing. It can help editors at AP, for example, put together digests of stories in the works that are sent to its subscribers. It could help editors create headlines or generate story ideas, Wired said. Carlson said AI could be asked to suggest possible edits to make a story concise and more readable, or to come up with possible questions for an interview.

AP has experimented with simpler forms of artificial intelligence for a decade, using it to create short news stories out of sports box scores or corporate earnings reports. That’s important experience, Barrett said, but “we still want to enter this new See “AP,” A17

Jane Birkin–The Brand Muse for ‘that bag’

NexT year

Hermes and Jane Birkin’s collaboration remains the most successful, enduring and strongest alliance in the fashion world. The bag that she designed now sells from $10,000 to $450,000, the latter representing the winning bid for a diamond Himalaya Birkin that was sold in a Sotheby’s auction in 2022. That is p25 million these days—a lot of dough for a fashion accessory—but that’s the mystique of the Birkin bag.

Despite its exorbitant retail and resale prices, the Birkin bag still, in the words of Anna Johnson in the book The Power of the Purse, “provokes demonic levels of desire.”

Blame Jean-Louis robert Frédéric Dumas, who served as chairman of the Hermes group from 1978 to 2006, for giving us a masterclass on choosing a brand muse with optimum results.

You’ve probably heard how Jane and the French billionaire met on an Air France flight from London to paris in 1981. In an interview with Christian Amanpour, Jane recalled: “I remember it perfectly well! I’d been upgraded by Air France on a flight to London, and I found myself sitting next to a man [the visionary Jean-Louis Dumas of Hermès]. I’m not quite sure what type of bag I had with me—my husband Jacques Doillon had reversed his car over my basket, crushed it on purpose not too days before. [Dumas] thought I deserved more.”

Dumas asked Birkin to draw her ideal handbag, which the former actualized a few months later through Hermes’ artisans. Dumas gave her the bag for free provided she would allow the company to call it a Birkin. Feeling flattered, she agreed and in 1984, Hermes launched what would become the world’s most famous purse.

So what did the Hermes chairman see in Jane Birkin in 1981 that made him name a bag after her? It’s because Birkin was an atypical star—she had the British cool and the French chic, and she was multi-talented too.

Jane was born in Marylebone, London but relocated to paris in 1969 after filming Slogan with Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she fell madly in love. The two collaborated on the duet “Je t’aime,” which became a massive hit with other songs and movies.

Jane epitomized glamor without the snobbishness and shone with bohemian chic and unique personal style that captivated women in France and the uK . It also helped that she was internationally famous as a singer, actress and model.

She did not milk her fame dry. She chose her projects meticulously, retired from acting in the early ’70s, and then made a comeback. There’s

AP . . . continued from A16

phase cautiously, making sure we protect our journalism and protect our credibility.”

ChatG p T-maker o p enAI and The Associated p ress last month announced a deal for the artificial intelligence company to license A p s archive of news stories that it uses for training purposes.

News organizations are concerned about their material being used by AI companies without permission or payment. The News Media Alliance,

Knowing the independent, irresponsible critic

maths, Aristotle. He is said to have said these lines (which have been quoted and requoted various ways):

in colleges and universities, in small provincial papers. In the regions. At the peripheries.

Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions

“Irresponsibility is part of the pleasure of all art; it is the part the schools cannot recognize.” Pauline Kael

There is what appears to be a crisis in the arts, in the realm of cinema, that seems to be bothering a number of people. It began from a website that freely ranks films according to a standard that while many of us, including this critic, are not aware of, may exist. Which brings us to the next question: does a critic have to explicate his standards? Yes and No. Some feel strongly about setting up a framework from which the reader can understand more the position of the criticism—its delimitations. The rest of us believe the elements we highlight, the facets we underscore give us away and our theoretical tendencies. Our prose becomes our standard.

“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” us ing this wisdom, we can say, a critic is one who does something, says something, and is something. These are traits found in all of us. We all have the abilities to critique.

Amidst the debates, one question, not existential but real, has surfaced: Where are the critics? Where are we indeed amidst the accusation that there are individuals who are “noncritics” because the “legit” ones are nowhere. Did we go advertising, as pauline Kael in her quotes wickedly implies?

Critics are not only those who write online in flashy postings and murderous memes. Critics are teachers of Humanities and Social Studies. Where they are found in distant, isolated barangay high schools, then we thank our gods that somehow some of our poor students who would never hear of Tarkovsky and Kidlat Tahimik could learn how cinema can be useful in classrooms.

a sense of exclusivity about her that is compatible with the brand. The woman had class, and during those years, she was already a style icon.

So there, Dumas, a nonpareil marketer and businessman, created the most iconic fashion accessory of all time with Jane Birkin as designer, muse and inspiration.  What a pure genius.

Today, “that bag” has become the ultimate symbol of status, success, power and affluence among women. It is carried by first ladies, A-list celebrities, socialites and the ultra-rich, especially if they want to kick ass.

Women buy it, collect it, flaunt it, carry it, work it and invest in it.

“Birkins outpaced the stock markets and gold in the last 18 months,” said a 2017 study by The Baghunter.

Yes, Birkins are better investments than gold. Come to think of it—carrying a Birkin is like having a performing asset in your hand for everyone to see during board meetings or a simple lunch with the ladies. In terms of investment returns, a Birkin that you can actually use beats stock certificates or gold in your vault that you barely look at.

Imagine walking to an Hermes shop and telling your hard-working partner that you will be investing, instead of shopping.

So what makes it so expensive?

Scarcity. Each bag takes a minimum of 18 hours for an artisan to make, according to Sotheby’s. That does not include the pre-stitching processes such as leather selection, cutting, etc. Every bag is hand-made, which makes the craftsmanship impeccable.

That results in a wait list of 2 to 5 years, and you have to be an important client of Hermes to be allowed to buy one.

As a muse of Hermes, Jane Birkin is unparalleled in terms of success and recall. It is worth noting that Jane also provides a masterclass on being a brand muse, as there is no picture of her carrying another branded bag. one might wonder if exclusivity was part of her deal with Hermes.

There are other famous brand muses like pr incess Diana for Christian Dior, Jessica Stam for Marc Jacobs, Sofia Coppola Speedy for Louis Vuitton, Alexa Chung for Mulberry, among others, but nobody compares to Jane Birkin’s success. perhaps the question most people would like to know is how much did Hermes pay Jane Birkin?

She answered this during a CNN interview in February 2020: “A certain amount of money every year goes straight to my charity, and it will continue to after my death. So, that rather trivial piece of heavy luggage has done a lot of good in the world.”

representing hundreds of publishers, issued a statement of principles designed to protect its members’ intellectual property rights.

Some journalists have expressed worry that artificial intelligence could eventually replace jobs done by humans and is a matter of keen interest, for example, in contract talks between A p and its union, the News Media Guild. The guild hasn’t had the chance to fully analyze what they mean, said Vin Cherwoo, the union’s president.

“We were encouraged by some provisions and have questions on others,” Cherwoo said.

When the furor reached me, the discussions had already reached the Fifth Fire alarm, which by philippine standard requires some 20 fire trucks to douse the flame eating up homes and god forbid, critics sleeping in their homes and studios of filmmakers out in the field shooting their magnum opus. So there, it is pretty obvious I make light of the brouhaha (suddenly I miss dear old Frank Mallo). There is no crisis and seeing many familiar names humoring each other in the ether, these conflicting emotions regarding film criticism shall never kill cinema nor will it give rise to darling art films. What it will do is to convince us that, despite the continued killings of journalists and innocent bystanders, writing continues. reckless writing that has no regard for rubrics in good essay writing. Independent writing that is wayward and fierce.

If no priest has a monopoly of the Holy Spirit, then no writer has a monopoly of film criticism. And, lest it be forgotten, a proprietary right to a theory. We need all kinds of criticisms

as we need all forms of perspectives. The critical number of critics or writers who feel they are critics is important for it assures us that in the population, there is one bound to be unafraid, a free spirit. I go back to my favorite critic (who is also the

There is a grain of truth in that accusation. In the gaps created by the silence of those we think ought to know and ought to teach us, certainly voices will seep in. New authorities, if you may, are born. Is this wrong? Not at all. Counterpoint values, to borrow the words of sociologists, are necessary in the hearing of values— so that we may know what the people out there are thinking, feeling.

As for me, I share a feeling of candor that soon my use of the English language in a formal broadsheet may be irrelevant. But I am unfazed. There are, as with other film critics who have columns on media, societies, politics and cultures and who worship at the shrine of anthropology, more avenues for film criticism. This is film education.

most opinionated), pauline Kael who has been quoted saying: “In the arts, the critic is the only independent source of information.” Again, the critics of the critics will ask: who are the critics?

Allow me to philosophize and go back to one of the greatest poly-

And out there is an important direction insofar as the question of where the critics are. I could speak for the critics I know and I am not pertaining only to the members of the Manunuri ng pelikulang pi lipino of which I am long a member. I talk of the many other critics out there

As a film educator, I talk, not write, among teachers, not to teach them but to share with them the gospel of Kael, which is not taught in schools, that films are not all about moral lessons. And neither are they about actors and celebrity directors. There are aspects like editing and sound. And cultures in cinemas. The tyranny of technologies. The problem of the nation in films. And so on. Still out there, I am with regional filmmakers in small film festivals with other critics and artists passing judgment on the good films. We make sure we choose the right winners and come up with lucid reasons for our decisions because fair judgment is sustainable film education. If there is time, we engage the filmmakers and the public in a discussion, away from the more vociferous urban tastemakers. And like in Campbell’s monomyth, we go back to our cities and charming offices heroes, with the boon to share with our own limited public.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

$3 narcotic pill sold in the Gulf worries European officials

By Sam Dagher & Samy Adghirni

EuropE is bracing for the possible influx of a drug that’s hooked the Middle East as political shifts and crackdowns in the Gulf spur producers in Syria and Lebanon to tap new markets.

Selling for around $3 to $25 per tablet, the amphetamine-type pill captagon is primarily produced and trafficked by individuals and groups tied to Syrian president Bashar AlAssad and his ally the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, according to the uS State Department and Treasury, the uK ’s Foreign of fice as well as independent researchers.

Already popular in parts of the Middle East with everyone from teenagers to low-income construction workers, the narcotic is easy to make. Called “the poor man’s cocaine,” it’s reported to trigger bursts of energy and productivity, wakefulness, euphoria as well as delusions and a sense of invincibility. The drug has also been associated with militants in Iraq and Syria.

Two leading researchers at the think tank New Lines Institute estimate that captagon has generated business worth as much as $10 billion over the past three years, with most of the revenue benefiting Assad’s inner circle and allies, who remain heavily sanctioned by the West over their bloody quelling of Syria’s 2011 uprising. Assad and his government deny involvement in the manufacture and trade of captagon.

But now captagon is likely to become a threat for Europe and the rest of the world too, warn officials and experts. A crackdown by the Saudis coupled with their recent efforts to reengage Assad in order to curb flows of the drug is spurring producers to develop new routes and markets, experts say.

“Like any illicit economy, these traffickers and smugglers are becoming much more sophisticated and advanced in trying to target new transit markets, identify new routes, and then also try and carve out new consumption markets,” said Caroline rose, a director at the New Lines Institute, where she leads a research project on captagon trade. “They’re adapting and adopting new methods.”

Two senior European union officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that intelligence reports they have seen and briefings they received from counterparts in the Middle East suggest it’s very likely that captagon flows into Europe will intensify, driven by Syria’s need for cash and Assad’s desire to export addiction and social tensions to countries that in his view harmed him.

Like the uS, European powers first backed popular protests against Assad and then supported political dissidents and rebel groups that have sought to topple him.

The officials, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said that while captagon hasn’t become a problem in Europe yet, the issue is now on everyone’s radar with policymakers and security officials across the continent increasingly concerned about it.

In an interview with Sky News Arabia last week Assad said war, weak governance and corruption have turned Syria into a “flourishing” base for captagon manufacturing and trade but denied involvement by him or his government. He said responsibility lay with Western and regional states which “sowed chaos in Syria” by intervening on his opponents’ side.

New markets

EuropE risks experiencing the

same scenario that has played out in Iraq and Turkey, according to the New Lines Institute’s r ose, noting that those two countries were popular trans-shipment points for captagon but are now becoming destination markets. Iraqi authorities announced in early August that they had busted a key network after discovering the first captagon factory in July.

The threat, she said, is not just to countries in Europe’s periphery like Greece and Italy, where authorities seized more than 14 tons of captagon in 2020, but also in the center and north where there have been numerous captagon warehouse raids in recent years.

In 2021, Austrian investigators coordinating with counterparts on four continents broke up a transnational gang bringing in captagon pills from Lebanon and Syria to Europe. The drug ring, which used a pizzeria in Salzburg as one of its hubs, was shipping captagon to Saudi Arabia inside pizza ovens and washing machines. The smugglers’ rationale was that the Saudis were less likely to search cargo from Europe.

As narcotics get trafficked through new routes, some intermediaries are paid in kind with the drug itself, creating the risk of spillover into the local market, according to a senior official familiar with the thinking of the united Nations off ice on Drugs and Crime.

The expanding scope of the captagon trade is also alarming the uS

Two uS lawmakers introduced a bill in July to issue new sanctions against Assad with one of them describing him as “a transnational drug kingpin.” In June, the Biden administration released its strategy to “disrupt, degrade, and dismantle the illicit captagon networks linked

to the Assad regime” as mandated by the “Captagon Act” passed last year.

This year, Brussels, London and Washington imposed sanctions on Syrian and Lebanese individuals including three cousins of Assad they accused of mass producing captagon.

The drug first appeared in the early 1960s in Germany as an authorized pharmaceutical under the trade name “Captagon.” Its main ingredient was fenethylline and it was prescribed for a range of conditions including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.

Following the collapse of the Soviet union, both Syria and Lebanon began to emerge as production centers in the 2000s. production surged after a popular uprising against Assad was brutally crushed and became a war that drew in regional and world powers and extremist groups. Gulf Arab states have been the biggest market for captagon over the past two decades.

A billion pills

SAuDI Arabia stands out as a cautionary tale of what captagon can do to a society.

More than 1 billion captagon pills have been seized in the last three years with the bulk destined to the kingdom, according to Karam Shaar, a Syrian economist and researcher who has advised Western governments on Syria’s war economy.

A Saudi medic at a unit of a r iyadh public hospital treating addiction and overdose called the situation dire, with adolescents often rushed in after taking 10 or 15 captagon pills. He’s seen users move to more harmful synthetic drugs like crystal meth. Attempts to reach officials at the Saudi interior and health ministries were unsuccessful. With assistance from Jonathan Tirone, Cagan Koc and Mohammad Tayseer / Bloomberg

will be 40 years since the holy Grail of handbags— the Birkin—was born. Jane Birkin, the bohemian, ultra-chic British-French actress, singer, model and activist who lent her last name to hermes for that bag, died last month at 76.

Choice of Locsin as special envoy to China draws praise

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

a former defense chief and maritime and security experts hailed on Thursday the designation by President Marcos of Ambassador Teodoro L. Locsin Jr., the country’s man in London, to a concurrent role as special envoy of the President to China on special concerns.

Two used the word “interesting” to characterize a decision seen as an effort to give Manila more flexibility in engaging its Asian neighbor and trade partner, with which tensions rose anew after a water cannon incident on August 5 involving the Chinese Coast Guard and a Philippine resupply mission for the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine Navy’s sentinel in Ayungin Shoal.

F ormer Defense Secretary Orlando “Orly” Mercado, under

whose term the Navy deliberately ran aground the Sierra Madre at Ayungin amid China’s “creeping invasion” in the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone, said that although he is not privy to the rationale for President Marcos Jr.’s appointment, he knew Locsin as a “very talented” mediator.

K arla Cruz, fellow of AIF International-Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Locsin is a good choice for Marcos Jr. to engage China.

“ He’s good choice. I think he has the gravitas and the conviction to say what people don’t wanna say,” Cruz said.

T he fellow of the US-based think tank thinks Locsin, as former foreign affairs secretary under the Duterte administration, “can unite the narrative” that China has been listening to from different actors in the Philippine government.

Ang hirap kasi ang dami-daming opinyon, parang nagiging local issue. Parang nagiging local politics, eh [It’s hard when there are so many opinions and it starts sounding like a local issue. Like local politics], when in fact it’s a global geopolitical issue that affects so many people,” she added.

C ruz said Marcos Jr. should delineate the specific role of Locsin, vis-a-vis the role of Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jaime FlorCruz.

P rof. Jay Batongbacal, maritime expert, believes Locsin has already established rapport with the Chinese Foreign Ministry officials when he was still the Philippine foreign minister.

B atongbacal doesn’t think that

PS-DBM: NO NCSE DEALS UNTIL REFORMS

DONE

Locsin’s appointment will diminish the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Philippine ambassador to Beijing.

He’s basically there as DFA. He is still the concurrent Ambassador to UK. So it’s just additional assignment,” the law professor of the University of the Philippines added.

No rabble-rousing, but reboot

HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader Ralph Recto noted that Locsin is the kind of diplomat known for delivering eloquent insults.

But, Recto added, “he will not be there to rabble-rouse, but to press the reboot button, so that the PHChina relations will pivot toward a mutually respecting phase.”

W hile Locsin “has the command of language that makes him our best weapon in a shouting war, the situation calls for no bullhorn diplomacy, but quiet labor that brings results,” is how Recto views Locsin’s unique extra assignment. “ But if need be, he [Locsin] can stare down China’s practitioners of wolf diplomacy.

Continued on A15

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Procurement ServiceDepartment of Budget and Management (PS-DBM)

will resume entertaining new non-common use supplies and equipment (NCSE) contracts from state agencies only in 2025 as it is still improving its services.

P S-DBM Executive Director Dennis S. Santiago told lawmakers in a recent House of the Representatives hearing that the agency is implementing reforms to improve its services while focusing on its main mandate of procuring common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) for the national government.

It has been a year since the PS-DBM temporarily suspended its services of procuring NCSEs for state agencies.

I t stopped accepting new NCSE requests from state agencies. Nonetheless, it is completing NCSE procurement contracts that are still within its pipeline prior to the suspension of the services.

S antiago said PS-DBM will “venture out” again procuring NCSE after the agency is done “reviewing” and “upgrading” its

technical specifications. “ For the meantime, will focus on CSE so that we will be able to keep up with our mandate to centrally supply these goods to the whole of government,” he said.

I loilo 1st District Rep. Janette

L. Garin asked Santiago if PSDBM can resume doing NCSE procurement next year.

S antiago responded that they can resume “hopefully” procuring NCSE by 2024, but disclosed that the agency’s timeline is really by 2025.

“ I am looking at 2025 so that we can prepare ourselves because there are still pending on-going procurements for other government agencies that are already being implemented plus our very own CSE. We really have to overhaul, so that we can serve the main mandate of the agency,” Santiago explained.

S antiago disclosed that as part of the PS-DBM reforms, the agency would be “selective” in the future in accepting NCSE procurement contracts. He explained that PS-DBM would only accept NSCE procurements with complete budget, technical specifications and complete plans.

Continued on A15

LAWMAKERS,

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, August 18, 2023

DOTr taps firms to evaluate feasibility of infra projects

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency has tapped Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Isla Lipana & Co. (PwC Philippines), and SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV) for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operations and maintenance and feasibility studies for the NCR- e d sa Busway, Manila Bay-Pasig River-Laguna Lake Ferry System (MAPALLA) and North Long h a ul Inter-Regional Railway. The contracts were signed with

the Public-Private Partnership Center.

Bautista said the agency will “rely” on the private sector’s expertise in transportation planning, architecture, landscape architecture, civil engineering and other aspects of the projects.

“The Marcos administration is committed to leverage the private sector’s efficiency and flexibility,” Bautista said. “Pursuant to the President’s directive, the DOTr is working full speed and is com-

mencing the feasibility studies of four IFPs.”

The North Long h a ul InterRegional Railway is envisioned to be an 800-kilometer railway, which will reconstruct the legacy railway to Ilocos and Cagayan Valley and will provide better transportation for passenger and goods, linking rapidly urbanizing economic centers in the northern and northeastern parts of Luzon.

The government said the MA-

PALLA System will reconstruct and expand the Pasig River Ferry for quality and higher frequency services throughout the Greater Capital Region, including Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

The ferry system will feature low-carbon ferries servicing tens of thousands of passengers daily.

The NCR- e d sa Busway, meanwhile, is expected to enhance the existing e d sa Carousel to address the high demand for transportation services along the median of e d sa and feeder roads by increasing capacity and service reliability.

The project may also involve the introduction of electric buses, reducing the carbon emissions along heavily trafficked corridors of Metro Manila.

A 13.18-kilometer bus lane in Cebu stretching from Mambaling to Cebu IT Park, the Cebu BRT is expected to serve up to 160,000 passengers daily in its full operations.

Casino set to rise in Villar asset

By VG Cabuag @villygc

The group of tycoon Man-

uel B. Villar Jr. is putting up his second casino operation in his Villar City, a 3,500-hectare development in the southern part of Metro Manila.

The project will be developed by Prime Asset Ventures Inc. (PAVI), the private investment company headed by Villar’s son Manuel Paolo, through whollyowned subsidiary Vertex e n tertainment and Resort Corp.

“This is going to be a work of a lifetime—even beyond my lifetime—because of its sheer size. I won’t be able to see it through its full completion but it would be a proud moment for all of us here now to say that we are the pioneers of Villar City,” Villar said.

Based on the masterplan, Villar City will have 15 satellite cities, seen to complement one another to provide residents, entrepreneurs and companies. These planned cities will include a modern central business district, a tech valley, a university town, and a premier lifestyle hub, among others, set amid verdant landscapes with some 1 million trees.

“These satellite cities will also

be seamlessly connected via a thoughtfully planned road network that links to major thoroughfares such as Daang h a ri and MCX [Muntinlupa-Cavite e x pressway], among others,” Villar said.

Villar City spans 15 cities— Taguig, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, Imus, San Pedro, General Mariano Alvarez, Silang, General Trias, Tanza, Trece Martires, Carmona and Tagaytay.

Last year, Villar said his group is also putting up a casino complex in the 80-hectare Global South at the boundary of Parañaque and Las Piñas, in an area near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Villar said his group has partnered with Korean businessmen to run the casino business in Global South, due to start operation before the end of the year or the first quarter of next year.

Villar said last year that the

development will feature hotels, condominiums, a mall, and a theme park, apart from the casino and will require investments of about $1 billion.

Last week, the Villar Group unveiled the 6.2-kilometer Villar Avenue in Villar City, which will serve as the main artery of the mixed-used development being developed by Villar’s Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc. and PAVI.

Coupled with the group’s acquisition of the 4-kilometer MCX, Villar City is being positioned as the “new center of gravity” in southern Metro Manila.

“At 3,500 hectares, Villar City will be about 10 times as big as Bonifacio Global City, indicating its sheer magnitude not only in terms of the number of homes, offices and complexes that will be built within this vast community, but also with respect to its potential contribution to job generation and economic development,” the group said.

B1

PAL, Emirates offer more travel options via expanded tie-up

FLAG carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and emirates struck an “expanded interline agreement” that enables the latter’s passengers to access domestic points in PAL’s network via Cebu and Clark.

Previously, the two carriers’ interline agreement only covers connections via Manila.

The partnership also allows passengers to fly on Philippine Airlines flights via Dubai to connect seamlessly to emirates’ network to cities in europe, Africa, and other parts of the Middle east.

“Covering all three gateways in the Philippines served by e m irates—Manila, Cebu and Clark— this partnership expansion will provide seamless connectivity for passengers to reach even more destinations in the Philippines using a single ticket and a convenient baggage policy,” PAL said in a statement.

“emirates’ passengers can enjoy a convenient booking process to destinations in Philippine Airlines’ network including Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan De Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Caticlan and Puerto Princesa via Cebu; as

well as Cebu, Caticlan and Busuanga via Clark.”

It noted that PAL passengers may also book emirates-operated flights to Amman, Birmingham, Cape Town, Dammam, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Muscat, and Riyadh via Dubai.

Currently, PAL operates daily flights between Manila and Dubai, enabling connections to european, African and Middle eastern destinations.

The arrangement allows for passengers to obtain their boarding passes and check through their baggage all the way to final destination.

The expansion comes months after PAL and em irates first announced their interline agreement, reaffirming the commitment of both airlines to serve growing demand by providing travelers with more choice and flexibility, as well as enhanced customer experiences.

Last March, PAL announced that it will double its capital expenditures for 2023 from the year prior, as it focuses on improving its brand image while increasing the number of operating jets this year.

Lorenz S. Marasigan

FILIPINOS including organizations, must collaborate and “take up arms” against fake news, according to a research and intelligence firm.

Capstone-Intel Corp. said it is “impossible” to measure the damage that has been caused by the dissemination of false information in the Philippines.

“It has resulted in the massive decline of public confidence both in the country’s leaders and media institutions, divisive political leanings, and even the deterioration of quality education,” said Nic Conti, chief of public affairs at Capstone-Intel.

“The negative impact of fake news in the Philippines cannot be overstated. It has led to the erosion of public trust in institutions, the

rise of political polarization, and the spread of harmful misinformation.”

The research firm said the issue of fake news has increasingly become a major problem in the Philippines. The spread of false information through social media platforms and other online channels has led to widespread confusion and distrust among the public.

This phenomenon, it noted, has been amplified by the fact that many people consume news primarily through social media, where it can be challenging to distinguish between real and fake news.

“Furthermore, fake news has been used to justify human rights abuses, incite violence, and undermine the democratic process. Ad-

dressing the problem of fake news in the country will require a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, media, civil society, and the public,” said Conti.

he said various efforts have to be made in order for the national government to completely eradicate the continuous spread of fake news on social media.

“This is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach, including education and awarenessraising, media literacy initiatives, and regulation of social media platforms.”

The research firm said it “strongly supports” the recent pronouncement by the national government to wage the war against misinformation in the Philippines.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Thursday it has signed the consultancy deals for 4 infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs).

‘All Filipinos must fight false information’

DBP OKs ₧500-M loan for

rice farms

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) announced

last Thursday it approved a P500-million loan for a digitalized rice farming project in Albay that seeks to boost palay output in the province by at least 28,000 metric tons.

The DBP said it granted the funding support to various farmer cooperatives in Albay who will be the beneficiary of the “digital rice clustered farming” (DCRF) project.

According to the state-run lender, the project would combine advanced automation, precision farming techniques and data analytics to increase the annual yield of rice farmers by up to 30 percent.

“[The] DBP recognizes the immense potential of this innovative farming initiative to elevate Philippine agriculture to greater heights,” DBP president and CEO Michael O. Jesus said. “Through this project, [the] DBP is able to bring forward a revolutionary farming technology to the market and empower farmers to thrive in an ever-changing agricultural landscape.”

The DCRF project was funded by the bank’s “Expanded Rice Credit Assistance” program as part of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

De Jesus explained that the DCRF project would be piloted in Albay through the joint efforts of the Provincial Government of Albay, the Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization, the National Food Authority, and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

He added that the DCRF would consolidate individual rice farm holdings to achieve economies of scale. The project has already identified five farmer cooperatives that would participate in the clustering project, according to the DBP.

“The technology-enhanced farming solution would be utilizing a ‘digital transformation platform,’ which includes the use of satellite imagery, machine learning, and artificial intelligence seen to significantly boost rice production by 28,000 metric tons annually with 2,000 hectares of land with upside production by up to 70,000 MT covering a cluster farm size of 5,000 hectares,” de Jesus said.

The DBP is the co-implementer of the P1 billion annual credit budget under the RCEF. From 2019, the DBP receives P500 million to provide credit assistance to small palay farmers.

Created through Republic Act

11203, the RCEF is expected “to improve the competitiveness of rice farmers and increase their income” as Manila liberalized the Philippine rice trade policy. Last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P10 billion for the RCEF.

‘BIR rules negate Create law’s intent’

By Andrea E. San Juan

INVESTOR firms within Clark and Subic Freeports, big business groups including the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), have passed a resolution urging the government to review the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) law and sought the “immediate” suspension of recent Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issuances in order to preserve the original intent of the Create law.

The Joint Resolution, signed on May 19, 2023, but only sent to the media on Thursday, comprised of nine signatories.

The signatories were: Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) President Francisco L. Villanueva Jr. and CILA Chairman Cristopher Magdangal; AmCham Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe; Metro Clark Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MACCII) President Elizabeth Carlos-Timbol; Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) President Benjamin E. Antonio III; Metro Clark ICT Council (MCICTC) Chairperson Grace Fabros-Tyler; IBPAP President Jack R. Madrid; and, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAMCHAM) President Teressa David Carlos.

In a statement sent to reporters last Thursday, CILA said these investor-firms and major business groups have “unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to suspend the implementation of new

Pagcor to take legal action vs 33 Pogos

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) is taking legal action against 33 offshore gaming licensees, including some who have left the country, for unpaid fees amounting to P2.02 billion, Pagcor chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco announced in a statement issued last Thursday.

Pagcor’s statement read that its “records show that the operators, who were given licenses during the previous administration, have not paid their license fees for over a year now in violation of Section 4.C of the Offshore Gaming Regulatory Manual.”

Tengco was quoted in the statement

as saying that “despite appeals by the current management, the offshore gaming operators in question have not remitted regulatory fees due to Pagcor.”

“Because of this situation, we are duty-bound to take a legal course of action. We are now in the process of gathering pertinent information to file appropriate cases against them,” he added. Pagcor said that of the 33 erring offshore gaming operators, two were billed as of May, while two others were endorsed to Pagcor’s Legal Group in February.

“Also, while five of the operators already closed shop, Tengco warned that their refusal to abide by Philip-

pine laws and to pay the government what is due shall be dealt with legally,” the statement read.

“Pagcor will continue to ensure that all our regulated gaming entities—including offshore gaming operators and service providers—will abide by our regulatory policies, including proper payment of fees and taxes,” Tengco said through the statement.

During a congressional hearing early this week, the Pagcor chief said some offshore gaming operators who were granted licenses during the previous administration closed shop during the pandemic, leaving behind billions of pesos in unpaid dues.

rules that have started to take away tax incentives and other fiscal perks.”

“We appeal in the strongest terms for the government to cure the situation by ordering the review and amendment of the IRR and the immediate suspension of [Revenue Regulation] RR-21-2021, [Revenue Memorandum Circular] RMC 242022 in order to preserve the original intent of the Create Act,” the Joint Resolution states.

CILA said the Create law (Republic Act 11534), signed on February 3, 2021 is meant to lower the corporate income tax rate, rationalize and streamline fiscal incentives.

Moreover, it said, the law has a socalled sunset provision that allows registered enterprises to continue enjoying the 5 percent tax on Gross Income Earned (GIE) up to 2031. Payment of GIE is an incentive in lieu of all national and local taxes, CILA said.

CILA, a group of investors and businesses, said the IRR and BIR

issuances “effectively stopped” the enjoyment of the tax incentive and other fiscal perks as some investor firms are now levied with ValueAdded Tax and other forms of taxes.

“The IRR and BIR revenue regulations RR-21-2021, RMC 24-2022 went beyond and against the provision of the Create Act insofar as the transitory provision in Section 311 of Chapter VI is concerned,” the resolution stated.

Moreover, the resolution claimed that the IRR and assailed BIR issuances have “caused massive “confusion as well as substantive impairment to the cost structure, business models and the viability of existing and potential investors.”

Officials of the said business groups have lamented that business climate here and other economic zones has deteriorated and may lead the Philippines’ further lag in the share of Foreign Direct Investments in the Asean region, CILA noted in its statement.

Bill to regulate Internet deals nears enactment

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

WITH no signs of tough opposition to Senate Bill (SB) 1846, the proposed measure to regulate electronic commerce in the country inches closer to early enactment. This sentiment was expressed by Senator Mark A. Villar, who sees the enactment of SB 1846 as the Internet Transactions Act (ITA) of 2023 as “good news for online shoppers and online sellers.”

“The bill we just defended will protect merchants and consumers against fraudulent practices in Internet transactions,” Villar said. He added they expect the bill, if enacted into law, “will address the pressing need to ensure that Filipinos can harness the benefits of the digital world without compromising their privacy and security.”

Villar envisions that as soon as it is enacted into law, the ITA will “prevent online scams and assure safety of both consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce.”

The bill also makes digital platforms or e-marketplaces subsidiarily liable with the online merchant or retailer if it failed to perform its responsibilities as laid down in the bill that caused damage to the consumer. This bill also establishes a code of conduct for all businesses involved in ecommerce in order to safeguard and advance consumer interests.

The bill mandates the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to “exercise regulatory jurisdiction over e-marketplaces, e-retailers, online merchants, and other digital platforms that sell or allow the sale of exchange of

Respect and recognition: More meaningful than the pay

YOU were hired as an association executive with a relatively good compensation package. To show your appreciation and loyalty, you’ve worked your best and have delivered impact to the organization. However, the board considers you as a paid staff only and most often downplays your accomplishments, not even giving you a pat on the back.

Has this situation ever occurred to you?

In a world that seems to prioritize material gains and monetary rewards, it may be necessary to pause and reflect on the true drivers of work satisfaction and motivation. While fair compensation is undoubtedly vital, the value of respect and rec-

ognition in the workplace should not be underestimated. These intangible elements not only enhance staff well-being but also contribute significantly to overall organizational success. As the saying goes, “the organization is only as good as its people.”

Respect is the cornerstone of a healthy work environment. When staff members feel respected by their peers and leaders, they are more

likely to be engaged, productive, and loyal to the organization. Respect fosters a sense of psychological safety, allowing employees to voice their opinions, share innovative ideas, and take calculated risks without fear of retribution.

A respectful workplace also promotes a positive culture, where collaboration and teamwork thrive. Staff members who feel valued and respected are more likely to work harmoniously and support one another, leading to higher levels of creativity and problem solving. In such an environment, conflicts are handled constructively, and diversity is celebrated as a rich source of ideas and perspectives. Recognition, on the other hand,

is the fuel that ignites the flames of motivation. Beyond financial compensation, acknowledging and appreciating a staff’s efforts and achievements are powerful drivers of job satisfaction and commitment. A simple “thank you” or public recognition for a job well done can go a long way in boosting morale and reinforcing positive behaviors.

Effective recognition programs not only celebrate major accomplishments but also applaud the small wins and daily contributions of employees. Regular and genuine recognition creates a culture of positivity and reinforces the organization’s values, encouraging employees to take pride in their work and strive

for excellence.

Employees spend a significant portion of their lives at work, and their overall well-being is deeply connected to their workplace experiences. When employees feel respected and recognized, they are more likely to experience job satisfaction, reduced stress levels, and improved mental health. This, in turn, has a positive impact on employee retention and reduces the risk of burnout.

While competitive pay and benefits are undeniably important, respect and recognition remain the foundation of a truly fulfilling work experience. When employees feel respected and valued for their contributions, they are more likely

goods, services, and are purposely availing of the Philippine market.”

SB 1846 also seeks the abolition of the e-Commerce division created by the DBM under the DTI’s Competitiveness Bureau. This would be replaced by an eCommerce Bureau (Sec. 7) that would also be under the purview of the trade department.

Future-proof VILLAR said it was good that “the concerns of our fellow senators” were discussed.

“The purpose is to make the ITA future-proof so that its application will not be limited especially [for a] business model [still unavailable] at this point,” he added.

The solon recalled that the interpellation highlighted the Senate’s commitment to deliver a well-crafted and impactful law.

Villar underscored the importance of creating an environment where individuals and businesses can confidently participate in the digital world, ensuring a safer and more prosperous online future for all.

We just finished the interpellations, the lawmaker said adding they “are now looking forward to the period of amendments.”

Villar said he is hopeful the latter could start by next week “so we can reflect all the comments and concerns raised by our colleagues.” The lawmaker believes that once enacted into law, the ITA “will prevent online scams and assure safety of both consumers and merchants engaged in e-commerce.”

Sec. 17 of the measure, to note, identifies 18 rights and obligations of consumers involving Internet transactions.

to thrive both personally and professionally.

Associations that prioritize creating a culture of respect and recognition reap the rewards of engaged, motivated, and loyal employees who drive their success forward. In the pursuit of a thriving workplace, remember that the currency of respect and recognition is more meaningful and impactful than any monetary consideration.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” PCAAE will hold its 11th Associations Summit at the PICC on December 6, 2023. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

SURE DEAL This Wednesday, August 9, 2023, photo shows (from left) Pru Life Insurance Corp. of UK (Pru Life UK) Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Francis P. Ortega; Pru Life UK President and CEO Eng Teng Wong; Atram Trust Corp. Board Chairman Manuel N. Tordesillas; and, Atram Group CEO Michael V. Ferrer. The executives recently signed an agreement formalizing their strategic partnership. CREDIT: PRu L fE InsuRanCE CoRP of uK

Upsetting the establishment

a godforsaken hour on a weekend, while I’m still catching up on my beauty rest.)

Sure, Vega dressed up in a costume, with their face all made up, but that’s what drag is all about. It’s taking inspiration from everyday life and mounting performances with creative costumes, makeup, and music to exaggerate the feminine (or masculine) for entertainment. I can only assume that the people in the video, who were singing and dancing along, paid to see the show. So, to be clear, Vega didn’t perform the Ama Namin in church, during an actual Mass with other parishioners. It was a drag show, and it was private. Too bad, Vega posted it online, thus making it public, therefore reaping the criticisms.

But as much as drag is a form of gender expression in an exaggerated manner, the reaction of many Filipinos to Vega’s performance is even more exaggerated. In other words, OA. We should all welcome the singing of Ama Namin or The Lord’s Prayer in all forms, language, and musical genres. Sing it in English or Filipino, perform it in an elegant and classical manner, or perhaps use a rock, hip-hop, rap, or metal arrangement, sing it solo or with others inside or outside a church, do it in costume or otherwise.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS

DAY: Madelaine Petsch, 29; Andy Samberg, 45; Edward Norton, 54; Robert Redford, 87.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Learn all you can this year and position yourself for success. Ask questions, take courses and build your qualifications to match your dreams. Be cognizant of what it will take to meet the demands surrounding your goals. Don’t let personal matters conflict with your plans or cause you to second-guess yourself or change your course. Be true to yourself and those who support the decisions you make. Your lucky numbers are 5, 17, 20, 24, 32, 38, 47.

aARIES (March 21-April 19): You can have fun, but don’t go overboard. Poor behavior will have its downside. Pay attention to raising the bar and putting your energy where it counts. Self-improvement, nurturing relationships and finding your niche are priorities, and romance is favored. HHH

bTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Be honest with yourself and others regarding what you want and how you plan to achieve your goal. Enlist people who are dedicated, eager to help and can make a difference in the outcome. Don’t immerse yourself in the impossible; be realistic. HHHHH

preaching to the masses, this Christian rock music was the last straw for the elders. Anything that upsets the establishment is quickly condemned. Meanwhile, so many nasty words have been expelled because of one drag queen’s supposed blasphemous performance of the Ama Namin (The Lord’s Prayer) at what appeared to be a bar. I caught snippets of the performance, and it looked fun, considering Pura Luka Vega committed to it by dressing up like a cross between the Black Nazarene and the Child Jesus. People who attended the performance seemed to have enjoyed it immensely.

The Ama Namin is a prayer of praise and supplication. We recognize the Lord’s holy name, and say that we accept whatever He thinks we deserve in life. At the same time, we ask Him to care for us and implore Him to forgive us our sins, in the same way that we forgive those who have also wronged us. We ask that He protect us from things that will turn our attention away from His words and works that are meant keep us from the straight and narrow path to salvation.

“At patawarin mo kami sa aming mga sala, para nang pagpapatawad namin sa mga nagkakasala sa amin .”

cGEMINI (May 21-June 20): Take additional time to go over every detail to ensure your success. Someone will try to talk you into something costly or unnecessary. Don’t accommodate others; do what’s best for you. False information will set you back. Home improvement is favored. HH

dCANCER (June 21-July 22): Embark on a plan and call on those who can contribute to your vision. Home improvement and using your skills to get what you want will turn out splendidly. Don’t hesitate or waste time because you fear failure; finish what you start. HHHH

eLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Live and learn. Listen to what others say, and implement new ideas into your daily routine. Set yourself up for success by staying in touch with what’s trending and adding skills and qualifications to meet the demands of today’s competitive world. HHH

NOW playing on Netflix is Jesus Revolution, a movie based on true events and characters, who helped sparked the born-again Christian movement in the 1970s that eventually spread throughout the world. The movie shows disaffected hippies, who had been experimenting with mind-altering substances, turning to Jesus to fill the void in their lives.

But the road to the movement’s success was met with a lot of challenges, especially from the more established Christian churches. But it was through pastor Chuck Smith’s (Kelsey Grammer) openness to a charismatic, Bible-quoting preacher Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie) that he was not only able to increase his church’s attendees, but help expand the movement. When Frisbee leaves to work on his marriage, Smith appoints Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) to take over a church and preach the Good News.

To attract more young people to his church, Smith allowed a youthful band to perform. It was one of the amusing parts in the movie as the musicians sang and preached about Jesus’s love and forgiveness through “noisy” rock music, which quite annoyed the older attendees of the church. Already offended by Frisbee’s new way of

Yet now, per news stories, some local governments and politicians are declaring Vega persona non grata for their Ama Namin performance. Did it prevent these local officials from catching criminals in their areas, or delivering their basic services to their constituents, I wonder? Also, whatever happened to the separation of Church and State?

As a practicing Roman Catholic, who prays the Rosary, attends Mass sometimes in person, but still mostly online (sorry Bishops, but I’m still crazy-wary of Covid, so I still try to avoid gatherings in enclosed spaces), I do understand why some believers may have misunderstood the performance, and therefore, were offended by it. The comments, bordering on the nasty and crudeness, blew up the issue and everyone just took a ride, including lawmakers.

Personally, I wasn’t put off by Vega’s performance.

For one, they didn’t change the prayer’s lyrics to make these rude or disrespectful. I’ve actually heard much worse, where a prayer or gospel hymn’s lyrics were deliberately mangled, and sung profanely. Vega, along with the audience, sang the prayer’s exact lyrics in a joyful, pop-rock manner, and in tune!

(Which I can’t say the same for my neighbors, who constantly caterwaul on their karaoke machines at

If for anything, Vega is guilty of uncovering the dichotomy in the lives of many believers like myself. We who profess to listen and strive to live Jesus’s words are often the most unforgiving and intolerant of others, even as He opened His heart to all—tax collectors, prostitutes, nonbelievers, traitors, tyrants, and do-gooders.

I find that these days people expend so much energy being offended with nonsense and the ridiculous, when we should be more insulted and aggrieved by rampant hunger and poverty, the killing of our youth by cops, sexual abuse, human rights violations, pervading corruption in government, and legislation that only protect the powerful. The Lord I believe in condemns all these.

nnn

On HBO Go meanwhile, is The Righteous Gemstones, a hilarious series depicting a televangelist family led by Eli Gemstone, and how his children bunglingly take over the reins of their father’s megachurch. Many have compared it to the wildly successful Succession, except the heirs are endowed with an outrageous sense of fashion. The Gemstones are mega-rich, live in palatial homes, and own luxurious vehicles. But like many rich folks who look down on others not their own kind, the family has enemies, which include domestic terrorist in-laws/cousins. Its irreverence is a knowing wink to all preachers who try to sell us salvation, but often forget how to live Jesus’s words as well.

CDC urges accreditation: Elevate Clark tourism with DOT seal

hotels for the event.

VST Devanadera underscored the importance of securing such accreditation. She mentioned that this will guarantee the implementation of government-mandated protocols aimed at safeguarding the interests of tourists and the core tourism establishments.

I

T his procedure also highlights the readiness of the venues to accommodate the upcoming MICE Con 2024 event, as the certification is also a requirement for the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) in selecting official

The tourism department formally recognizes businesses that have adhered to the set minimum standards for the operation of tourism facilities and services by awarding them DOT accreditation. The certification represents a tourism establishment’s dedication to quality assurance. It guarantees that all MICE events in Clark meet high standards of excellence, professionalism, and industry best practices.

fVIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t hide when you should act. Use your intelligence, and you’ll find a way to make the most out of your situation. Opportunity is within reach. Recognition and willingness to step up and make things happen is up to you. HHH

gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Go over every detail before you sign up for something. Make sure you can finish what you start before you begin. Charm may buy you time and help, but it won’t compensate for laziness. Others will remember your actions and determine the outcome. HHH

hSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Affiliate with upward-moving individuals and you’ll gain momentum, knowledge and a different perspective regarding the possibilities. Trust those who have proven themselves capable and forward-thinking. Don’t let your actions damage your reputation or position. Protect against injury and illness. HHHH

iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Protect your home and family. Don’t share sensitive information or get into emotional conversations that put you in a vulnerable position. Put emphasis on health, love and looks. Focus less on what others do or say. HH

jCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take advantage of everything. Step into the spotlight and make your voice heard, and your actions will bring about positive change. Opportunity will pay off financially and help you raise your standard of living. An unexpected turn of events will favor you. HHHHH

kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t alter what’s already working. Boredom will lead you down a slippery slope that can cost you dearly. Pay attention to how you present yourself physically, and you’ll find an exciting way to appear more appealing. Romance is favored. HHH

lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You’ve got the right idea, so don’t let outside interference slow you down. Aim to finish what you start, and take advantage of opportunities that come your way Clear your head and forge into new territory with enthusiasm and confidence. HHH

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are persistent, distinctive and resourceful. You are appealing and fun-loving.

‘getting even’ BY SUSAN GELFAND

PHOTO by Pixabay on Pexels

A wish, a sigh, a good film: ‘When this is all over’

WHO shall make a great film about the great lockdown when it is over? Apparently, there is already one.

Perhaps, “great” is such a monumental modifier it loses its kick when applied to a work that is acerbic. That film is called When this is all over—hope all over it but also hopelessness, a sigh here, and a sense of recklessness from beings who have seen the possibility of extinction.

The film opens with a shot that follows our young man. He passes by a line, skips it and enters a tunnel of light where there seems to be none at the end of it. But there is; in fact, there are lights but they seem to snuff out brilliance from everyone. In a dance? In a trance? Our young man keeps on moving until a voice calls him out. Are you the guy?

That is his name, The Guy. No more and no less. To add more to it is to kill him. To deduct some from him is to bring him alive. It is good enough that he can move, stop somewhere, press himself against a wall, not a loser but also not a winner. He is our guy.

He is trafficking in drugs. He comes upon young, supple women, sophisticated beyond their age. His night shall end with money that he saves so he can leave this shithole or this hell.

But hell comes upon them: the men and women gyrating as if there is no tomorrow all at once are alerted by their mobile phones. They find out: Manila will be locked down.

The party is over. It’s time to call it a day.” Well, they are not only calling it a day but a night. They are witnesses to a social universe that is shutting down. Is this a punishment for those who have all the money in the world to dance and drink through the night?

In Kevin Mayuga’s film, When all this is over , no vindication is offered because there was no indictment anyway. This is just human life and the world gone awry. Caught in the throes are people whose lives would go on, lockdown or no lockdown. If there is a lesson in this cinema, it is that in this world, there are people who can go through life breaking rules without being punished. Except with a virus.

However, if When this is all over is a treatise on class structure, then it would have been tedious viewing. Endure the mind-games and drug-induced separate realities (they could go on and on and on) and the film will reward

you with the gifts of original cinema. There is the screenplay, which has produced the most exuberant dialogues, even if many of the characters are made to speak in English. The brisk exchange, the dark wit and the saddest send-up of other people’s conditions are so natural one could sense all the actors are acting their own neuroses and narcissism. I could feel the glee in the audience’s heart when these brats are “discovered.”

And there is the story of how the lockdown has proceeded: in a condominium. A cross between Sartre’s no-exit existentialism and a circus that has never recovered its investment, the building houses these characters who are locked down in their own twisted desires (to party and forget the pandemic) and the guards and staff who are the caretakers of the Underworld, except their station in life has not given them the chance to study myths. The condo world is headed by Miss Kate (the glorious Lotlot Bustamante), benign to the rich and a dour dominatrix to staff.

As the mother, Ana Abad Santos is hopelessly a Madonna whose arms have long been vacated by her son. She pretends to love her boy now left to fend for himself in a land that has become a foreign soil for him as he badly wants to be Stateside.

Two actors of varying popularity are the newest heralds of good performances. Let us begin with Juan Karlos who reminds you of a very juvenile John Lloyd. He gets scenes that have allowed him to show what we call “range” but, interestingly, he never becomes self-conscious, losing in the character of

a drug runner what he really is: a boy. In a dream scene, Juan Karlo’s “The Guy” looks for his mother and encounters a prostitute, all this is watched by a child. Then in a twist that is awfully disarming, he is faced with the small boy. Here the line uttered is heartbreaking: “Are you good?”—the same line delivered to him always by those he supplies with chemical happiness. The Guy the boy, a macabre if not a literal depiction of return to the past. Juan Karlo proves to be an actor of supreme strength and sincerity.

Another wreath of admiration belongs to this obscure actor with a piquant name, Jorrybell Agoto. She appears as the guard in charge of the roof deck. She is the type one ignores, the face that one easily forgets. As the film progresses, however, we become aware of her own self-awareness. In the end, The Guy runs after her, Rosemarie. They face. She is expressionless. She has left the reading of her face to us. She has lured us into her quotidian world, the ordinariness that gave us glory about ourselves when we pretended to be kind to each other when everyone seemed to be dying around us, and dreamt of a wonderful world when all this was over.

W hen This is All Over is directed by Kevin Mayuga from the screenplay credited to him, Abbey Mayuga-de Guia and Benedict O. Mendoza. The nearly surreal images delivered by its director of cinematography, Martika Ramirez-Escobar, completes our incursion into a world that we survived only to face back the world domineering.

Oprah, others to be honored at Academy Museum Gala

LOS ANGELES—The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures will pay tribute to Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, Michael B. Jordan and Sofia Coppola in its annual fundraising gala on October 14, the museum announced Tuesday. The Academy Museum Gala has become a key fundraising event for the Los Angeles movie museum since its opening in 2021. This year’s event, the third such gala, received a greenlight from the striking actors and writers

guilds. SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild have limited what promotion activities their members can do during the ongoing work stoppages.

Streep, Winfrey, Jordan, and Coppola will each be given awards celebrating their careers at the gala, which is being co-chaired by Ava DuVernay, Ryan Murphy, Halle Berry, and museum trustee Eric Esrailian.

We are excited to gather again at our third

Madonna’s North American tour dates kicks off in December after ICU stay

annual Academy Museum Gala to celebrate the power, global impact, and indelible importance of cinema,” said Jacqueline Stewart, director and president of the Academy Museum, in a statement.

After years of delays, the $484 million, Renzo Piano-designed Academy Museum has established itself as a cultural mainstay in Los Angeles, attracting as many as 700,00 visitors a year. AP

The King of Romance reigns supreme in legendary

IN the name of timeless tunes and romantic rhythms, Newport World Resorts reignites the love of music fans for the iconic pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck.

For more than 50 years, the quintessential balladeer mastered the art of wooing audiences all over the world, earning him the title “King of Romance.” This September, the legendary British crooner returns to the country as part of his ongoing world tour “The Legend Continues.”

Fans will be serenaded by his passionate performances in a two-night concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on September 9 and 10, 7:30PM. Romance is truly at the heart of Humperdinck’s music and lasting success. He has shown a knack for picking songs with eternal themes of love and longing. Among his

concert

commercially successful singles are “Release Me,” “Quando Quando Quando,” “Spanish Eyes,” and many more.

Fall in love once again to the romantic tunes of Engelbert Humperdinck in “The Legend Continues” concert at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on September 9 and 10. Tickets are now available at all TicketWorld and SM Tickets outlets: P12,800 (PLATINUM), P11,800 (SVIP), P10,500 (VIP), P8,000 (GOLD), P5,500 (SILVER), and P2,500 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact JhayR dela Cruz at 0917 818 9847, Raf Sangco at 0917 807 9387, and Jimmy Iglesias at 0917 872 8734. Know more about “The Legend Continues” concert by visiting www.newportworldresorts.com.

LOS ANGELES—Madonna‘s rescheduled Celebration Tour in North America will kick off in Brooklyn, New York, in a matter of months.

In June, Madonna suffered what her manager called a “serious bacterial infection” that led to her hospitalization in an intensive care unit for several days. The North American leg of her Celebration Tour was originally scheduled to start July 15 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and to run through October 8 in Las Vegas. It was postponed as she recovered.

Her tour will now start on October 14, at London’s O2 Arena.

On Tuesday, Live Nation announced that the majority of Madonna’s North American tour dates have been rescheduled. They immediately follow a stint in the U.K. and Europe, kicking off on December 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and running through April 24, 2024, when it will conclude at Mexico City’s Palacio de los Deportes.

Dates in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Phoenix—as well as Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Nashville, Tennessee—have been canceled due to scheduling conflicts. Refunds will be available at point of purchase.

At the time of the initial tour postponement, Madonna shared a message on Instagram. “I’m on the road to recovery and incredibly grateful for all the blessings in my life,” the pop superstar wrote. “My focus now is on my health and getting stronger and I assure you, I’ll be back with you as soon as I can.”

Her manager, Guy Oseary, originally broke the news. Madonna “developed a serious bacterial infection which led to a several-day stay in the ICU,” he wrote on Instagram. “Her health is improving, however she is still under medical care. A full recovery is expected.”

JUAN

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK

Mondelez Philippines Celebrates 60 Years of Partnership with Parañaque City

OREO, Cadbury, Eden, Cheez Whiz, Tang, and Toblerone:

these are just some of the brands that have defined snacking for the everyday Filipino. For decades, Mondelez Philippines has been one of the leaders of the country’s snacking landscape; proudly sporting its mission of providing the right snack, for the right moment, and made the right way – and this year is no exception.

It is this commitment to lead the future of snacking that’s brought its greatest milestone yet: 60 years of empowering every Filipino to snack right. At the epicenter of the company’s snacking operations is its eight-hectare manufacturing and commercial facility located in Parañaque City, which has been its home since July 31, 1963.

This is why while 2023 marks Mondelez Philippines’ anniversary in the Philippines, it is more importantly its 60th year of calling the City of Parañaque home. It is this heritage manufacturing facility and home office along Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue that’s been the nucleus of delivering some of the Philippines’ favorite snacks all over the country.

“We extend our gratitude to the City of Parañaque for being our home all these many years,” said Mondelez Philippines Vice President Aleli Arcilla. “We have benefitted from the support that the City has provided us, and in turn we have done our utmost to be a responsible corporate citizen.”

Aside from being one of the City’s top taxpayers for many years running, a part of the Company’s 60-year-old heritage is Mondelez Philippine’s various advocacies.

In recent years, the company, along with the Parañaque City Government,

have embarked on several advocacy campaigns on health like the Company’s 11-year long Joy Schools feeding program that’s fed thousands of the City’s students; the donation of more than 2,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines to the Paranaque Local Government Unit (LGU) during the pandemic; and Mondelez Philippines’ recent collaboration with the City Health Office to provide a learning session for Barangay Health Workers on its Mindful Snacking advocacy, led by speakers from the Nutritionist-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP).

The company has also dedicated its efforts to pursuing its advocacies on environmental sustainability by partnering with the city to build a plastic recycling facility that aims to help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in nature. Additionally, the company painted the crosswalk in front of its complex in rainbow colors as a show of solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community

Gear Up for the Future: One Roundtable at a Time

IN the heart of Manila, a new dawn awaits the auto tech and mobility industry. The pace of technological advancements in this sector is nothing short of electric, and to ensure that we are steering in the right direction, collaboration is key. Enter the Auto Tech & Mobility Startups Roundtable (Roundtable ATM), an event poised to be a game-changer for the industry. As we stand on the brink of the fourth industrial revolution, it’s imperative that we synchronize our gears, both figuratively and literally. Industries worldwide are swiftly adapting to the whirlwind of technological advancements. From AI-driven vehicles to innovative mobility solutions that defy traditional transport models, the future seems promising yet daunting. However, to harness the full potential of these advancements, stakeholders need a platform to share, collaborate, and innovate. This roundtable aims to be that very catalyst.

for Pride Month, and in partnership with the city’s Special Services Office.

This is why the Parañaque City government recently conferred to Mondelez Philippines a symbolic “Key to the City,” which aims to express the former’s gratitude and civic recognition of the company’s contributions to the people of Parañaque City. “With all these milestones and accomplishments, we express our appreciation and gratitude to Mondelez Philippines for all the collaborative efforts and unwavering support to Parañaque City,” said Mayor Eric Olivarez, who personally awarded the symbolic key during a ceremony held on August 7, 2023, in Parañaque. “Today’s event is a celebration of the Company’s values of strong leadership, commitment to serve the community, and sense of volunteerism for the last 60 years. We look forward to more years of success to come between our institutions.”

PHILGUARANTEE backs CARD Inc.’s P3.5 B financing to support financing opportunities in agriculure sector

Held at the prestigious Asian Institute of Management - Dado Banatao Incubator, this event serves as the cornerstone for startups, innovators, and industry leaders. The Asian Institute of Management - Dado Banatao Incubator (AIM-DBI) has been at the forefront of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. Known for its unparalleled commitment to startup success, it’s no surprise that AIM-DBI has taken up the mantle of facilitating this monumental movement in the auto tech and mobility space.

The recent founding members meeting held at AIM-DBI witnessed these innovators gather to discuss, debate, and devise a blueprint for a more connected and efficient future. Their discussions were not just about technology but also about the economic, environmental, and societal implications of these advancements. The objective was clear: to cultivate an environment where startups, innovators, and industry giants can collaborate, innovate, and drive the nation forward.

The Roundtable ATM isn’t just another networking event; it’s a vision-casting session. It is the genesis of what is envisioned to be the Auto Tech and Mobility Startups Association of the Philippines. But why is such an association vital?

The auto tech and mobility sectors are uniquely positioned. Their growth is not just representative of technological progress but also holds the potential to impact broader socio-economic dimensions. Think of improved urban mobility solutions easing daily commutes, or the potential for green vehicles reducing the carbon footprint. These advancements hold the promise to transform cities, lifestyles, and economies. Hence, creating a unified voice in the form of an association can pave the way for

collaborative progress, pushing boundaries and setting new industry standards.

Yet, the journey to such an integrated future has its challenges. Startups, despite their innovative ideas, often struggle to find the right market fit or scale their operations. On the other hand, established industry players might grapple with adapting to rapidly evolving tech trends. This roundtable, themed “Gear Up for the Future,” is all about bridging these gaps. It provides a platform where challenges are not just discussed but solutions are collaboratively built. But what can participants expect from the roundtable?

1. Insightful Discussions: With a diverse pool of attendees from different segments of the auto tech and mobility sectors, expect rich, multifaceted discussions that cover a broad spectrum of industry challenges and opportunities.

2. Networking Opportunities: This isn’t about exchanging business cards but about building relationships. From startup founders to industry stalwarts, the event promises interactions that could lead to potential partnerships, investments, or even mentorships.

3. Shaping the Future: One of the primary objectives of the roundtable is to lay the foundational stones for the Auto Tech and Mobility Startups Association. Participants have a unique opportunity to be part of this nascent stage, influencing the direction and objectives of this proposed association.

4. Expert Inputs: From navigating regulatory challenges to understanding market dynamics, industry experts will share their insights, providing startups with invaluable guidance.

“Gear Up for the Future: One Roundtable at a Time” is not just a theme; it’s a clarion call. It embodies the spirit of collaboration, urging industry stakeholders to come together and shape the trajectory of the auto tech and mobility sectors.

In conclusion, the Roundtable Auto Tech & Mobility is more than an event; it’s a movement. It recognizes the pivotal role collaboration plays in pushing the boundaries of innovation. As we gear up for this future, this roundtable stands as a testament to the power of collective effort. After all, the journey towards a technologically-driven, sustainable future is not a solo ride but a shared drive.

STATE-OWNED Philippine

Guarantee

Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE)

and the Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) Inc. forged a guarantee agreement to support financing opportunities that will benefit CARD’s twomillion strong members, while promoting sustainable agriculture practices and driving economic growth in rural areas.

“Today’s agreement demonstrates the commitment of both organizations to support and uplift these crucial sectors and the hardworking individuals and communities they represent,” PHILGUARANTEE President and CEO Alberto Pascual remarked during the signing ceremonies held last July 31 in Makati City. PCEO Pascual was joined by CARD Chairperson Emeritus Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, Chairperson Lorenza Bañez, Executive Director Vicente Briones Jr., and other officers of the organization.

PHILGUARANTEE SVP Emmanuel Torres and VP Teresito Cayo Butardo represented the Agriculture Guarantee Group (AGG) during the signing of the partnership accord.

Around P3.5 billion worth of agri-loans is projected to be released by CARD to be enrolled for Agricultural Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP) guarantee coverage, with an estimated 179,027 SFFs to benefit from the partnership.

Dr. Alip expressed optimism that CARD will be able to further their agricultural lending pursuits in the countryside.

“We are very happy to have this signing ceremony. I think PHILGUARANTEE is in the best position to help us achieve our objectives, and we are committed

to supporting the program, especially benefitting the agriculture sector,” he said.

Established in 1986, CARD, Inc. is one of the largest micro-finance non-government organizations in the Philippines, led by Dr. Alip, with 1,554 offices in 82 provinces nationwide, and an asset size of P18.0 Billion by end-December 2022. With the partnership, CARD becomes one of PHILGUARANTEE’s strong partner lending institutions with the objective of enhancing micro enterprise development and growth.

As of March 31, 2023, it has provided P9.6 billion in loans to its clients.

As of June 30, 2023, PHILGUARANTEE approved guarantee cover on loans to the agriculture sector among its 58 partner lending institutions amounting to P3.82 billion. From September 1, 2019 during the effectivity of the merger of Philippine guarantee programs and agencies as directed by EO 58, s. 2018 up to June 30, 2023, more than 170,000 farmers and fisher beneficiaries have been supported by PHILGUARANTEE agriculture credit guarantees, thru its forerunner Agriculture Guarantee Fund Pool (AGFP) facilities.

In 2022, PHILGUARANTEE supported 39,811 agri-based workers thru the AGFP guarantees, with P4.83 billion volume of loans guaranteed. For his part, Torres lauded the partnership, noting that the guarantee to be provided represents the unwavering commitment of both institutions to uplift the agriculture sector, through the support that will be extended for those “unsung heroes of the nation.”

“Through the PHILGUARANTEE AGFP

guarantee, we create a safety net that enables our partner financial institutions like CARD to continue investing in our smallholders,” SVP Torres explained.

As the administrator of the AGFP, PHILGUARANTEE encourages lending institutions to extend unsecured agricultural production loans to SFFs or their organizations. Eligible lending institutions include banks, cooperatives, farmers or people’s organizations other than cooperatives, non-government organizations, and corporations lending to SFFs. The PHILGUARANTEE AGFP credit facility refers to loans granted for the following activities: agriculture and fisheries production including processing of fisheries and agri-based products and farm inputs; acquisition of work animals, farm and fishery equipment and machinery; acquisition of seeds, fertilizers, poultry, livestock, feeds and other similar items; rehabilitation of farms resulting from calamities; and agricultural and fish production including processing of agri and aqua-based products, farm inputs and/ or processes across the food commodity value chain. Beneficiaries of the guarantee programs of the agency include those women in business and those women beneficiaries, as an advocacy of gender inclusiveness and equality.

Through EO 58, PHILGUARANTEE, the Principal Agency for State Guarantee Finance of the Philippines, remains committed to enhancing the capability of the government to provide sovereign guarantees to socio-economic sectors.

NANOACE Japan, an environment friendly self-cleaning solution for all spaces, is now available in the Philippines

DRAWING on the concept of peace of mind (PoM) as a result of the pandemic which sparked a major global crisis has infected public social mentality. People are now more mindful of the importance of health and put extensive measures to preserve life.

NANOACE, a Japanese Innovation and Research Corporation, brings to the Philippines a Photocatalyst technology that kills germs, bacteria and viruses through a photocatalytic activity when exposed to sun and light.

Last August 8, 2013, at the Eastwood Richmond Hotel marked the launching of NANOACE Philippines. Graced by honored guests from different government agencies and private enterprises, the stakeholders headed by Honey Iwamoto, the President and CEO of NANOACE Philippines unveiled this green technology that brings peace of mind (PoM) to every home, churches, offices, schools, hotels

and public transportations and much more. Due to the NANOACE Solution’s particle size of 2 NANOMETER (1/50), efficacy is greatly enhanced - making application hold and adhesion effectively tight. Moreover, the NANOACE catalytic best feature is its SELFCLEANING mechanism which continues over a long term of 12 months or more solely through light.

NANOACE is composed of highly safe substance which are present in food additives, cosmetics, sunscreens and more. It is likewise safe to pregnant women, infants and pets. NANOACE is now open for business in the Philippines. Helping Filipinos live better lives with green technology. Protecting our lives, protecting our future, protecting our planet.

For inquiries, reach out and FOLLOW US @ NanoAce Philippines (Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Linkedin; www.nanoaceph.com

IN the photo are, from left, Mel Alipo-on, Paranaque Tourism Head; April Valencia, Mondelez Philippines People Lead; Dr. Olga Virtucio, Paranaque Health Office Head; Mae Corona, Mondelez Philippines Senior Legal Counsel; Joan Villafuerte, Paranaque Vice Mayor; Eric Olivarez, Paranaque Mayor; Aleli Arcilla, Philippines Vice President & Managing Director; Virge Lapuz, Mondelez Philippines Finance Lead; Atty Melanie Malaya, Parañaque Business Permits and Licensing Office Head; Caitlin Punzalan, Mondelez Philippines Corporate and Government Affairs Lead; Mark Allen Besa, Paranaque Environment Head.

ENGLAND IN FINAL AGAINST SPAIN

SYDNEY—Lauren Hemp

didn’t let the Women’s World Cup semifinal match between Australia and England become the Sam Kerr show.

Hemp scored to restore England’s lead eight minutes after a superb equalizer from Kerr, and then provided a perfect pass for the clincher as the Lionesses moved into their first World Cup championship game with a 3-1 victory over Australia on Wednesday.

The semifinal outcome ended a Matildas run that captivated Australia for almost a month and sent England to a matchup with Spain in the final, where the Lionesses will have a chance to bring a World Cup home for the first time since 1966.

Sarina Wiegman became the first coach to lead two countries to the Women’s World Cup final, and in back-to-back tournaments. Her run with the Netherlands in 2019 ended with a loss to the United States.

O n either side of that, she guided Netherlands to the European title in 2017 and then took over the England squad for its breakthrough Euro 2022 title.

I’m the lucky one—the last two tournaments I’m going to the final,” said Wiegman, the only female head coach of any team to reach the

it’s really special,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Am I here in the middle of a fairytale or something?’”

England dominated possession in the first half, starving the Australians of the ball and shutting down the Matildas’ transitional, counterattacking game.

It was rewarded when Ella Toone scored in the 36th minute with a powerful right-foot shot diagonally inside the far post. A throw-in from Rachel Daly went to Hemp, who turned and sent it into the area where Alessia Russo turned the ball back past Hemp for Toone to swoop.

K err was in Australia’s starting lineup for the first time in the tournament after overcoming a left calf injury.

Her equalizer in the 63rd gave the 75,784-strong crowd and millions of fans watching around Australia renewed hope, but Hemp responded with a goal in the 71st and provided a perfect through ball for Russo to finish from a tight angle four minutes from the end of regulation.

Even after Sam’s goal there was no fear in the squad. We weren’t nervous. We just played our football,” Hemp said. “We showed the relentlessness inside the squad to make it 2-1. And then even when we’re on the backfoot going into the final few minutes, I felt like we showed calm, composure on the ball to manage to counterattack them and obviously make it 3-1.”

England and Spain will each be playing in the Women’s World Cup final for the first time at Stadium

Australia on Sunday. It will be the first all-European final since 2003.

Australia will play Sweden, which lost to Spain 2-1 in the other semifinal, for third place on Saturday in Brisbane.

“ We had a chance for 2-2 and a couple of minutes later it was 3-1,” Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said. “It was one of those games, unfortunately.”

K atrina Gorry created chances in each half of her 100th game for Australia but said the Matildas weren’t able to dominate the way they needed to.

But you know, we’ve got a quick turnaround and we want to win the bronze medal,” she said.

A fter topping its group, advancing over Nigeria on penalties in the round of 16 and beating Colombia in the quarterfinals, England was playing in the semifinals for the third consecutive Women’s World Cup. Australia was in the final four for the first time.

It showed, particularly in the first half and in the last 20 minutes, when England had a harder edge and was more clinical when it counted.

The Australians seem to have played their final in the 7-6 penalty shootout win over France last weekend, their first win in four quarterfinal appearances at the Women’s World Cup.

K err missed the group stage, played the last 10 minutes in the round-of-16 win over Denmark and went on as a second-half substitute in that narrow win over fifth-ranked France before finally getting a start against England. AP

Obiena, Cray, Brown brace for tough worlds

Armand Duplantis.

By Josef Ramos

“EJ” OBIENA

ERNEST JOHN

JONATHAN PAGAURA will try not to settle for second place this time.

THE inaugural 5150 Triathlon

Dapitan blasting off September 10 promises to be different in big ways with a seasoned Olympic distance triathlon campaigner, a champion golfer and a celebrity heading a subtle field in the premier endurance race stuffed with a weight of history.

Jonathan Pagaura, who finished second in last year’s Sun Life 5150 in his native Bohol, seeks no less than the top spot this time, both in his 26-29 age group and in the overall championship in the Shrine City of the Philippines, which is guarantee-

and hurdlers Eric Shauwn Cray and Robyn Lauren Brown bracing for a gargantuan challenge in the World Athletics Championships that start Sunday (Monday in Hungary) in Budapest. For Obiena, the task is to stay or improved on his No. 3 world ranking—with his focus also on improving his Asian and personal best 6.0 meters in men’s pole vault that’s sure to draw the best in the world led by Olympic and world champion and world record holder

For Cray and Brown, an additional target is to make the grade for the Paris 2024 Olympics—Obiena qualified as early as last July 2 with his 5.82 meters at the Diamond League’s BauhausGalan meet in Stockholm, Sweden—on top of making it past the heats in a hurdles field that’s also stacked with the best in the world.

He’s working hard. As always, there are challenges,” Obiena’s personal adviser Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “He is prepping and tweaking his technique.”

“

It’s the World Championships

and hence it’s always important. But let’s bear in mind the real focus is the Paris 2024,” Lafferty said. “Everything we do today is with an eye towards the Olympics.”

Obiena will arrive in Budapest on Monday along with Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. He and 29 others will vie in the men’s pole vault qualification on Wednesday with the final—featuring the top 12—is set next Saturday.

C ray and Brown qualified for the world championships through the Asian championships last month in Bangkok.

C ray, an eight-time Southeast

Pagaura, former golf ace Piccio vying in 5150 Dapitan

ing a successful staging of its initial foray in hosting the 1.5-kilometer swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run race in Zamboanga del Norte.

Mayor Seth “Bullet” Jalosjos and the entire Dapitan City community vowed to provide the leading triathletes and rising stars of the ever-growing trisport a racing experience like no other with an eye on hosting the Ironman 70.3 in the future.

Joining Pagaura are David Gordon,

Alfred Sajulga, John Paul Paluca, Jeremy Pepito, Alex Limbo and Eric Gallardo, along with 20-24 campaigners RJ Vince Cabahug, Nikko Baguisa, Jacob Taylor, Jed Mission and Jesus Castillo II and 30-34 entries Banjo Norte, Rey Gomez, Nikko Ramirez and Erwin de Guzman.

Mia Piccio, a former Southeast Asian Games golf team gold medalist, and show business personality Bubbles Paraiso are also in the fray in the

women’s side that also drew Angela Gatuslao, Valerie Marcos, Anne Relova, Arianne Durana, Pearl de la Cruz, Kristine Macalisang and Luigine Tan. The registry books showed 334 entries have so far confirmed their participation in the event to be held for the first time in Dapitan City where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was exiled—with the roster expected to double with still three full weeks left before the blue-ribbon event is fired off.

THE Lionesses move into their first World Cup championship game. AP

Balajadia stars in ROTC arnis

NATHANIEL BALAJADIA

bagged the men’s non-traditional single weapon to lead the winners in arnis in the Air Force section of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Games Visayas Leg on Thursday at SM Iloilo in Iloilo City.

Representing West Visayas State University-Main, the 20-year-old Balajadia beat Lenar John Avance and Renato Aguado Jr. for the gold medal, underscoring he’s one of the country’s best in the indigenous sport which he dominated twice in the Palarong Pambansa.

M arcel John Judicpa ruled the Army bracket and RJ Mahinay topped the Navy division also of arnis’s men’s non-traditional single weapon.

J udicpa defeated Capiz State University’s John Mike Frial and Cebu Technological University’s Meg Ryan Gutierrez.

Roperly Mae Bangero, Jazzel Joan Agacia and Kyla Omega de la Torre ruled the women’s contest in the Air Force, Army and Navy brackets, respectively.

In boxing, Daniel Panes, Christian Moses and Alfred Deslate ruled the Army division. Moses clobbered Kent Eugene Adrias via technical knockout and Deslate beat Edramel Mangubat, 4-1.

Asian Games champion, and Brown, women’s 400 meters hurdles gold medalist in Bangkok, arrived in Budapest Wednesday.

We’re just figuring it out how to get healthy and push the pace in practice, changing my race plan as well,” said Cray, whose target is to run 48.70 seconds in the 400m hirdles to make it to Paris.

There’s enough time to adjust and hope to break my national record and qualify for the Olympics—these are the ultimate goals,” said Cray, whose joined by wife and coach Samantha in Budapest.

Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association president Terry Capistrano and secretary general Eduard Kho are in Budapest to also attended the World Athletics Congress.

Spicing up the 5150 Dapitan, also held to promote local tourism, is the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint, featuring a 750-meter open water swim, 20-km bike ride and a 5-km run.

The- Noli Run, a 3-km fun run, will usher in the main event on September 9.

O verall winners in the men’s and women’s 5150 will pocket P175,000 each while those who will top the Go for Gold Sunrise Sprint will get P75,000 each, according to the organizing The Ironman Group.

For details and registration, log on to www.ironman.com/5150-dapitanphilippines-register.

A new book relives Philippine basketball’s lost glory–and more

By Ray Roquero Special to BusinessMirror

PERHAPS we do not need an American coach in basketball, because we know all the techniques and strategies.”

So said the Philippine basketball’s foremost leader, the late Senator Ambrosio Padilla, the fiercest defender of the faith that Filipinos were the best players in Asia. It was late 1965, 13 months had passed since the Philippines’ shocking elimination in the qualifying tournament for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and a few months from facing its biggest challenge in the Asian Basketball Confederation or ABC (now FIBA-Asia) as the region’s undisputed power.

It was a moment when “still in control of their destiny, the basketball moguls were thrust into the crucible of a historic choice,” wrote Noel Albano in “When We Were Champions,” a magisterial work on Philippine basketball’s astonishing rise as a monolithic power in Asia and, for a time, a world contender in the sport.

But the “critical moment of the sixties came to pass frustratingly, silently,” in Albano’s words.

Instead  of an “audacious stroke to re-imagine the future,” the moment became a “step taken backwards…pride in the nation’s basketball tradition prevailed over a bold strategic change in

direction in mid-decade. Believing that the key to their deliverance still could be found in the past, Filipinos turned more inward-looking than ever.”

The book brings readers back to this and other pivotal moments in a sweeping narrative, grand in scope and immense in power.

A ccompanied by a bonus of rare, neverbefore-seen pictures, the narrative summons to life the 1900s.

But basketball had played second fiddle to football and baseball, and it had much to do with the fact that the game, under the original rules, had been “a slow, sleepy affair.” That changed in the mid-1920s with the birth of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

More significantly, it provided the talent pool of the first Philippine Olympic team which saw action in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. So we encounter the NCAA’s first two scoring champions, Padilla and Charlie Borck, and speedy playmakers in Jacinto Ciria Cruz and Primitivo Martinez.

The book’s most lyrical part comes when it hits the 1950s when Filipinos, incomparably talented, enjoyed a near-absolute dominance of Asian basketball.

They won the bronze at the 1954 world championship in Rio de Janeiro, placed seventh at the 1957 Melbourne Olympics, collared a third successive Asian Games basketball gold in 1958, and swept the ABC inaugurals in 1960. Th is was the handiwork of the “golden generation” at a time when all that the Filipinos

had to do to win the Asian crown was “show up in the arena.”

L eading the Filipino gladiators were the peerless Carlos Loyzaga, Lauro Mumar, Antonio Genato, Ramon Campos, Rafael Hechanova and later Carlos Badion, Bonnie Carbonell, Constancio Ortiz Jr., Gerry Cruz, Alfonso Marquez, Kurt Bachmann, Narciso Bernardo and Edgardo Ocampo.

But the distant murmur of insurrection, which Filipinos ignored, became nearer, louder as the 1960s rolled in. After missing the Tokyo Olympics, they lost successively the ABC crown to Japan in 1965 and the Asian Games gold to Israel in 1966.

For the record, Filipinos last saw action in Olympic basketball in 1972. That’s half a century ago. The last time we held an Asian crown was in 1986, nearly four decades ago. And we have not won the Asian Games gold in 60 years.

Is there hope of a Philippine basketball revival under MVP’s Gilas Pilipinas program? Read the book. It offers as much consolation as hope.

I h ad the privilege to write the Foreword after reading the raw final manuscript and finding it an intrepid and sometimes mesmerizing account of the glory years of Philippine basketball.

Now that it’s out, “When We Were Champions” deserves a prominent spot in the book shelf of every passionate fan of the game.

Asean

archery tilt in Cebu City aims to generate more youth tourneys

WORLD Archery  Philippines (WAP) president Atty. Clint Aranas is hopeful that the First Asean Youth Archery Championships will generate more youth-oriented international tournaments in the region and in Asia to identify and hasten the development of budding archers in the continent.

We pray that this initial tournament will spark our Southeast Asian and Asian  neighbors in organizing more international youth competitions in both the recurve and compound disciplines so we can scout our promising athletes at an early age and keep them in the sport,” said Aranas in his speech read for him by WAP secretary general Rosendo Sombrio at the event’s opening Thursday in Cebu City. “

This event will test the capabilities of our young archers as they prepare for the big international events next year,” he said during the simple ceremony held at the Dynamic Herb Sports Complex.

As iron sharpens iron, World Archery Philippines is optimistic that this initiative will  hasten the development of our promising young archers in Southeast Asia and Asia, encouraging them to continue and compete in the dynamic sport we all love,” he added.

That close to 300 archers from Chinese-Taipei, India, Indonesia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the Philippines are here shows the growing need for competitions at the age group level so  there can be a smooth transition among our budding archers through the ranks until they reach senior play,” Aranas stressed.

Gracing the opening  were Southeast Asia Archery Federation president Sanguan’s Kosavinta of Thailand, former World Archery Asia secretary general Dr. Sungho Um of South Korea, Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama and Councilor Dondon Hontiveros, Commissioner Edward Hayco of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Cebu City Sports Commission (CSC) chairman John Pages.

NATHANIEL BALAJADIA dominates in Iloilo City.

ToyoTarollsouTTheall-NewyarisCross

Available in HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), it is also the latest addition to the brand’s most comprehensive range of electrified vehicle offerings. According to TMP, the All-New Yaris Cross is expected to intensify the brand’s drive for carbon-neutral mobility. With its attractive price point, the latest model is Toyota’s most affordable electrified vehicle yet.

No less than TMP president Atsuhiro Okamoto presented the latest model during the official launch explaining how Toyota hopes to bring the electrified lifestyle even closer to more Filipinos.

“In Toyota, we believe in a multiple pathway approach to achieve carbon neutrality. One of the ways we are empowering you, our customers, to help build a sustainable future is through electrified vehicles,” said Okamoto. “The way to maximize the environmental benefits of electrified vehicles is through widespread adoption. That is why we offer the widest range of Hybrid Electric Vehicles or HEVs in the market,” he added.

AC200 Series DE VELOPED under the Toyota-Daihatsu joint project, the latest model (AC200) utilizes the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) platform. The All-New Yaris Cross exudes a solid and dynamic design inside and out. Dimension-wise, the vehicle is about 4,310mm long, 1,770mm wide, and 1,615mm tall. Wheelbase is 2,620mm long, while the ground clearance is 210mm.

Upfront, the design language is consistent with its bigger siblings, the Corolla Cross and RAV4. The grille features a prominent trapezoid design matched with a pair of sharplooking headlamps and a sporty-looking bumper. The rear, meantime, highlights a compact tailgate and geometric rear lights. Exclusive to the top-spec HEV variant is the panoramic moonroof to further accentuate the premium styling of the All-New Yaris Cross. The sport LED headlamps, daytime running lamps, fog lamps, and rear combination lamp design are standard across the board. The G grade rolls on 17-inch alloys, while V and S HEV roll on bigger 18-inch two-toned alloys.

Inside is a seven-inch TFT multi-information display complementing the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen audio display with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and voice command. Exclusive to the HEV variant is the six-speaker Pioneer system. Soft touch materials are everywhere, with fabric and leatherette seat material options, depending on the variant. Also, a wireless charging dock, automatic climate control, eight-way power-adjustable seats (V and S HEV), a power tailgate, and electric power steering (EPS). Interestingly, many USB charging ports exist (front and back).

ICE and Hybrid options

M O TIVATION comes from two engine options. The G and V grades share the same 1.5-liter gasoline engine as the Vios, Avanza, and Veloz, generating 106 hp and 138 N-m of torque. On the other hand, the top-spec S HEV variant is fitted with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine generating 90 hp and 121 N-m torque, combined with a single electric motor producing 79 hp and 141 N-m of torque. The 0.7 kWh lithiumion supplemental power battery is mounted under the rear seats. Both engines are paired with CVT. The HEV variant is also the first electrified Toyota vehicle to carry the HEV carbon neutrality badge, signifying Toyota’s strong commitment toward a carbon-neutral future.

Toyota Safety Sense

THE S HEV and V CVT variants are equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS). These features include Pre-Collision System (PCS), Automatic High Beam (AHB), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The G CVT, meantime, has active safety features such as Electronic Brake Distribution (EBS), AntiLock Brake System (ABS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC). Moreover, rear parking sensors and six airbags are all standard, while S HEV and V grades have a 360-degree camera.

Luneta showcase; China’s dominance

THE top qualifiers of the Toyota Gazoo Racing GranTurismo will battle it out in a live e-racing tussle at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s iconic Luneta on August 24.

Free to the public, the event is part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival culminating the 35th anniversary of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), according to TMP’s Allana Faith Rufo.

The e-racers got behind the wheel in the third and final round of the virtual Toyota GR010 Hybrid in Germany’s famed Nürburgring GP track, giving them the luxury to experience the thrill of the muscle’s powerful four-wheel-drive racing hybrid powertrain.

David Enzo Ison placed first in the Junior Class, followed by Russo Gabriel Formoso and Satoshi Jacobo Taguchi Paredes, respectively.

Finishing 1-2-3 In the Promotional Class were Stanley Theodore Golez, Jan Rene Cortez Aldiosa and Benedict Salido. Russel Reyes prevailed anew in the Sporting Class, with Jether Lugo Miole and Matthew Spencer Ang finishing second and third, respectively.

The Top 8 qualifiers advancing to the National Finals for a chance to represent the Philippines in the Asia Regionals in Kuala Lumpur are Russel Reyes, Jether Miole, Matthew Ang, Mark Elman, Luis Moreno, Topher

Pricing and color

AVAILABLE in three variants, the 1.5 S HEV CVT retails at P1.598 million, the 1.5 V CVT at P1.296 million, and the 1.5 G CVT at P1.199 million. Available colors are Platinum White Pearl Mica, Attitude Black Mica, Scarlet SE, Attitude Black Mica, Dark Turquoise SE, and Attitude Black Mica for the S HEV CVT. For V CVT, Scarlet SE, Attitude Black Mica, Dark Turquoise SE, Greenish Gun Metal, and Platinum White Pearl Mica. For G CVT, Attitude Black Mica, Greenish Gun Metal, and Scarlet SE.

Lithium, a major maker of lithium products, with a chokepoint score of 6.8. Novoray, a major producer of inorganic compounds, scored 7.1, while Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, which makes cobalt materials, rated at 5.7.

“Heavy dependence on Chinese supplier entails risks.

Tejada, Estefano Rivera and Bob Villangca.

Rufo said that aside from the National Finals, on tap are the exhibition races on drifting and gymkhana by international and local drivers on August 23, led by Akio Toyoda, the Toyota Motor Corporation chairman himself.

More details of the multiple treats are available on Facebook and Instagram through toyota.com.ph/gazoo.

CHINA’S DOMINANCE

NEARLY 40 percent of the suppliers for materials used in Tesla's electric vehicle (EV) batteries are Chinese companies, according to a recent Nikkei report.

That’s a lot, another proof of China’s growing dominance in this strategic sector.

Excerpts of Nikkei’s find:

“China was the largest supplier of materials for the lithium-ion batteries used in Tesla's EVs, constituting 39 percent of the 61 companies in the ‘storage battery’ category.

“The findings have complicated implications as countries tighten regulations and boost investment to secure supplies of materials important for economic security. China appears to be gaining the upper hand in the global market for battery materials crucial for manufacturing EVs.

“Chinese companies that were found to be vital suppliers for Tesla included Ganfeng

“Mari Yamamoto, a director at Fronteo, said the most worrisome risk for Tesla is that a supply chain breakdown as the U.S. and China battle for global hegemony could make it hard for the American automaker to buy batteries. An EV maker faces the risk of production disruptions if a leading supplier of a key component stops shipping the product to the manufacturer.

“With the rivalry between the US and China becoming increasingly confrontational, Tesla is taking steps to lower its reliance on Chinese parts and materials.

“As we look ahead a few years, a fundamental chokepoint in the advancement of electric vehicles is the availability of batterygrade lithium,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said at the groundbreaking ceremony for a Texas lithium refinery in early May.

“The $375 million facility is designed to produce enough of the battery metal to build about 1 million EVs by 2025.”

PEE STOP Going strong is the colossal P740-billion, four-lane airport project in Bulacan being spearheaded by San Miguel Corp. chieftain Ramon S. Ang. Ang is the sole distributor of BMWs in the country. Once completed in five years or so, the airport will trigger a massive modern transport system, both land and air, that is so efficient it will become a global envy—not to mention job opportunities for a multitude. Cheers!

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) has expanded its crossover segment lineup by recently introducing the highlyanticipated subcompact crossover, the All-New Yaris Cross.

THE All-New Toyota Yaris Cross S HEV CVT top-spec in Scarlet SE color

DrIVEr-CENTrIC cabin design full of smart features

THE S HEV’s 1.5-liter gasoline engine combined with a single electric motor

The Philippines’ Best Hospitals

MakatiMed offers innovative procedures to fight growth in neurological illnesses

or reconstitute blood flow to the blood vessels of the brain. This procedure usually utilizes a blood vessel coming from the scalp or blood vessels from the brain itself and is sewn together to the blood vessels in the brain.

A gain, this procedure is not for everyone. Dr. Guillermo Victorno T. Liabres, a cerebrovascular neurosurgeon, said the procedure is for those who suffer from recurrent strokes despite the best medical therapy and conditions aggravated by hypotension, among others.

The goal of this bypass surgery is to prevent future stroke and patients will have to undergo perfusion CT scan and cerebral angiogram to determine who is the best candidate for cerebral bypass surgery,” he said, adding that he has performed 21 bypass procedures and all patients have recovered.

A s for MakatiMed’s SRS

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Th is procedure, called awake craniotomy, is just one of the neurological services that Makati Medical Center now offers because of the seriousness of the illnesses associated with it.

At a press briefing, Dr. Saturnino P. Javier, Medical Director of Makati Medical Center, pointed out that the hospital is zeroing in on five important domains which he termed CONGO, namely Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Gastroenterology and Orthopedic Surgery.

We have embraced the Neurology thrusts because of the seriousness of the illnesses associated with it,” Dr. Javier noted. “From 2021 to the first half of 2022, the number one cause of death is cardiovascular diseases followed by cerebrovascular diseases. The causes of cardiovascular diseases are the same as those for cerebrovascular diseases. They are intertwined. The number 3 cause of death is cancer.”

Stroke mortality

DR. Javier added that the mortality from stroke during the last 10 years remains high with an average of 63,804 deaths per year. In 2021, the recorded annual Philippine stroke death was at 68,180, an increase from the 64,381 recorded in 2020.

Factors that could contribute to this include the low number of neurologists, inadequate CT scan machines, lack of stroke training among health workers, lack of stroke protocols and pathways and low awareness about the disease, among others.

To address this growing number of neurological health issues, MakatiMed presented a number of world-class neurological procedures that are available in the country such as awake craniotomy surgery for brain tumor patients, cerebral bypass surgery and stereotactic

radiosurgery (SRS).

Filipinos only stand to benefit from innovations in neurological care. New and improved procedures make the recovery process easier for the increasing number of Filipinos with neurological disorders,” Dr. Javier said. “It’s hard to understate the importance of a sound neurological condition given its impact on cognitive functions which directly shapes your quality of life.”

Highly specialized procedure

SINCE 2018, MakatiMed has offered awake craniotomy surgery which is a highly specialized surgical technique that offers a safer and more effective approach to brain tumor removal while reducing the risk of neurologic deficit.

The procedure targets parts of the brain controlling speech and motor function,” explained Dr. Michael Sabalza, head of the Neurosurgery Section at MakatiMed. “Not only does it minimize risks, but our team also offers postoperative care to ensure patients get back to their regular lives easily.”

Dr. Sabalza explained though that the procedure is not for everyone. A potential candidate from this procedure has to be thoroughly assessed by a clinical psychologist to ensure that the patient can withstand the demands of the procedure.

“If you are panicky or if you are obese, you might not be a good candidate for this procedure because you have to be awake and be able to follow instructions. What is good about this procedure is that no anesthesia is involved, and you do not need to recover at the ICU. This translates into shorter hospital stay.”

Restore blood flow

CEREBRAL bypass surgery, on the other hand, is a procedure that aims to restore

program, the hospital is more than willing to share new innovations with other local hospitals. Hospitals in the Metro Pacific Health network (which MakatiMed is a part of) receive collaborative care from MakatiMed for SRS. These collaborations extend the efficacy of SRS to thousands of patients across the Philippines, guaranteeing better treatment and recovery well beyond its immediate scope.

From the consistently high success rates of its pioneering neurosurgical procedures to the decades-long experience and expertise of its doctors, MakatiMed demonstrates that world-class care can be found at home. “Cases of neurological disorders are on the rise, and that means doctors and hospitals must be able to adapt and evolve,” Dr. Javier declares. “Though it won’t be easy, it is a challenge we certainly welcome.”

IMAGINE this scene from one of the medical drama shows in the United States. A neurosurgeon performs a brain surgery on a patient while he is awake. As the surgeon moves around the brain with his instruments, he makes his patient sing or read a book aloud to make sure that he has not touched any sensitive portion of the brain. He manages to perform a successful surgery while he engages his patient in a conversation.

In the photo are, from left, Senior Vice President for Creative, Communications and Sales Services Arlyn L. Songco, Dr. Guillermo V. T. Liabres, Dr. Michael N. Sabalza, President & CEO Atty. Pilar Nenuca P. Almira, and Medical Director Dr. Saturnino P. Javier.

The Philippines

C2 Friday, August 18, 2023 | www.businessmirror.com.ph

Asian Hospital’s Breast Center turns 10

ASIAN Hospital and Medical Center’s (AHMC) Breast Center celebrated its 10th anniversary yesterday, August 14, 2023 with the theme “A Decade of Empowering Women: Celebrating Breast Center’s 10th Anniversary.”

Present during the celebrations were AHMC President and CEO Dr. Beaver Tamesis; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jose Acuin; Asian Cancer Institute Head Dr. Corazon Ngelangel and Breast

Center Head Dr. Aldine Basa. Highlights of the event include patient testimonials and performances from doctors and staff. Know more about Asian Hospital by visiting www.asianhospital.com.

Top Physicians Recognized at MDH’s 1st Service and Leadership Excellence Awards

IN its thrust to further give value and honor to the modern heroes of the country, Manila Doctors Hospital, one of the leading private tertiary hospitals in the country, paid tribute and recognized the invaluable contribution and unwavering commitment of its 130 physicians, a gathering that reflects the hospital’s genuine service, inspiring leadership ane excellence, and core values.

A total of 130 esteemed doc-

tors attended the first ever Service and Leadership Excellence (SLEx) Awards last June 9, 2023 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, Taguig City.. Recognizing the unparalleled contribution of its homegrown physicians, MDH honored the Stalwart Doctors, those who have given 34 to 39 years of service and dedication to quality and comprehensive patient care. Moreover, MDH recognized the doctors’ medical leadership, knowledge, and ex-

pertise that have helped navigate the hospital to greater heights through the years. The Current and Past Medical Leaders and Presidents of the MDH’s Medical Staff Association were also given the most-deserved spotlight during the evening.

M anila Doctors Hospital will not be one of the leading and trusted hospitals in the country today if not without the doctors who trail blazed the very foun -

dation of the hospital’s mission and vision. The hospital’s Legacy Doctors revolutionized the way the hospital provides excellent and comprehensive patient care services, thereby giving birth to some medical breakthroughs that have helped shape and mold the healthcare industry in the Philippines.

“ Through your work, your expertise and dedication, your unwavering commitment to ser -

vice and your push for continuous learning, you have helped establish a hospital that is known for its excellent and exceptional care,”

Arlene P. Ledesma, MDH President, said as she addressed the crowd of highly-esteemed doctors at the Grand Hyatt. Noting the rapid rate of change in the healthcare environment, Ledesma recognized the doctors as the co-creators in setting the direction and strategy for the hospital’s future, and of the

society as a whole.

Manila Medical Services, Inc.,

(MMSI) Chairwoman Anjanette T. Dy Buncio believes that being a servant and a leader are two sets of responsibilities which are now carried on by just one person. “As we recognize your achievements tonight, I would like to assure you that the board and management will continue to strive to support your commitment in becoming good servant leaders”, she added.

Asian Hospital and Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Beaver Tamesis delivers his message during the anniversary celebration of the Breast Center.

Asian Hospital and Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jose Acuin.

The Breast Center team with Dr. Aldine Basa (left) and Dr. Corazon Ngelangel.

The Breast Center team led by Dr. Aldine Basa.

MDH Medical Directors

MDH Doctors with MDH HR Director Karen Martinez (3rd from left), MDH Medical Director Dr. Eugene Reyes (3rd from right) and MMSI Chairperson Anjanette Ty Dy Buncio (center)

MDH Legacy Doctors

MDH Stalwart Doctors

Best Hospitals

NURTURING THE FUTURE WITH A MOTHER’S LOVE

Cardinal Santos Medical Center Joins Hands to National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

CARDINAL Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is proud to announce its enthusiastic support for National Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Cardinal Santos aims to raise the public’s consciousness about the vital role of breastfeeding in promoting infant health and nutrition. As part of its commemoration, CSMC is also encouraging donations to its Lactation and Human Milk Bank, a crucial resource that supports premature and vulnerable infants in their journey to a healthier start in life.

Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants. It is safe, clean and contains antibodies which help protect against many common childhood illnesses. During this month, Cardinal Santos Medical Center reaffirms its commitment to promoting breastfeeding as the cornerstone of child health and well-being.

Dr. Counselo Teodoro, a Pediatrician and the chairman of the CSMC Breastfeeding Committee shared her thoughts on this year’s celebration. "This year’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month Theme, “ENABLING BREASTFEEDING: Making a difference for working parents” is apt in CSMC setting

since we are not only a MotherBaby Friendly Hospital but also a Mother-Baby Friendly Workplace.

We have a Lactation Management Clinic where not just our patients but also our employees can express and store breastmilk during their lactation breaks. Our Lactation Implementers are also available 24/7 to assist them with nursing positions, latching, expressing breastmilk, performing breast massage as well as counseling on breastfeeding matters. This means that our mom employees do not have to choose between breastfeeding their babies and their work, they can do both!

Located beside our LMC is our Hu-

man Milk Bank where milk donors are screened and milk donations are accepted."

Calls for Community Support to Nourish the Tiniest Lives

As part of its efforts to support newborns in need, CSMC established its Lactation and Human Milk Bank in 2022, a pioneering initiative that collects, pasteurizes, and dispenses donated human milk to premature babies and those with specific medical conditions. Human milk is especially crucial for infants that are in neonatal intensive care

units (NICUs), as it offers essential protection against infections and facilitates optimal growth.

Donating to CSMC's Human Milk Bank is a straightforward and meaningful way for lactating mothers to positively impact the lives of infants in need. The process involves thorough screening of donors to ensure the safety and quality of the collected milk. The donated milk undergoes a rigorous pasteurization process to remove any potentially harmful pathogens while preserving its nutritional value.

According to Dr. Lourdes Dizon-Co, Pediatrician and Head of CSMC’s

Human Milk Bank, "The CSMC Human Milk Bank’s mission is to improve the health and survival of the most vulnerable infants. These babies deserve access to human milk. We carry out our mission through the safe collection and distribution of human donor milk, education, advocacy, and research.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center continues to champion initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of its patients, with a particular focus on newborns and

infants. The commitment to promoting breastfeeding and the establishment of the Human Milk Bank align with the hospital's mission to provide compassionate and people-centered care to all, especially the most vulnerable.

To learn more about Cardinal Santos’ Lactation and Human Milk Bank or to inquire about donation opportunities during the World Health Organization Breastfeeding Week, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

The Philippines’ Best Hospitals

WHERE HOPE IS FOUND, FUTURES ARE CREATED

The Medical City’s Pursuit of Innovation

IN the fast-evolving healthcare landscape, The Medical City (TMC) finds ways to offer services that will help bring hope to every Patient Partner that entrusts their well-being to the institution.

TMC, anchored in the principle of Patient Partnership, puts its patients at the center stage of every advancement, every breakthrough, and every pioneering technology. These are for one simple yet profound mission: to deliver hope and create futures for its patients.

Adopting technologies, navigating

excellence: TMC Marks 25th successful surgery using O-arm and StealthStation Navigation System

On August 9, TMC successfully completed its 25th procedure using the O-arm and StealthStation Navigation System. The surgery was led by Dr. Larry Acuna, a spine surgeon, and assisted by Dr. John Alfred Yap, Dr. Dexter Maverick Falcon, and anesthesiologists Dr. Michelle Luciano and Dr. Patricia Quintin.

The 25th procedure was done with a 66-year-old male patient, diagnosed with scoliosis. The patient has a five-year history of low back pain aggravated by strenuous activities caused by degenerative changes in his lumbar spine. These changes led to instability of

his spine, disc degeneration, and impingement of his nerves.

TMC is the first hospital in the Philippines to acquire the surgical imaging systems. This stateof-the-art tool allows surgeons to visualize intricate anatomical structures clearly. The O-arm Imaging system offers real-time 3D imaging of the surgical area, while the StealthStation Navigation system tracks the position of surgical instruments in relation to the patient’s anatomy. This enhances precision and minimizes the invasiveness of procedures, resulting in shorter recovery times and reduced complications for patients.

With TMC utilizing this acquisition, patients can be assured that their doctors can perform surgeries more quickly and accurately.

Empowering Hearts: TMC successfully performed the 11th Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedure.

In July, TMC’s Cardiovascular Institute (CVI) achieved a significant milestone by successfully performing its 11th TAVI procedure, recording a consecutive success rate of 100%.

This is the first unproctored procedure of CVI’s Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Clinic

Care Program. The 11th TAVI was led by Dr. Paolo Prado, the Director of the AMI Clinical Care Program and Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Adrian Manapat, Dr. Alduz Cabasa, Dr. Donato Marañon, Dr. Vic Lazaro, Dr. Rafael Poblete, and a competent Cath Lab team comprised of skilled nurses and allied operating staff. The AMI Clinical Care Program is a recipient of the JCI Gold Seal of Approval®, a status that is first of its kind in the country.

TAVI is a safe and minimally invasive procedure that replaces the aortic valve without undergoing open heart surgery for patients

with severe aortic stenosis, a condition where the heart can no longer pump blood efficiently. A new valve is inserted without removing the old, damaged valve during this procedure.

Compared to traditional surgical methods, TAVI only requires a few small incisions, resulting in reduced chest and heart trauma, and a quicker recovery period, allowing the patient to return to their healthy routine just a few days after the procedure.

A Historic First: Tumor-Debulking

Procedure Using Microwave Ablation

On July 8, 2023, TMC made history in medical innovation by successfully performing a case of tumor-debulking using percutaneous ultrasound-guided thermal ablation, specifically Microwave Ablation. This breakthrough procedure, conducted by the Section of Head and Neck Surgery of TMC’s Department of Surgery, establishes TMC as the first tertiary hospital in the Philippines to offer this advanced technique using the ECO BASEMED Microwave Ablation Machine.

The team, led by Dr. Rainer Yu Lutanco and supported by Dr. Michael Jeff B. Fontano, Dr. Christelle Anne M. Almanon, and Dr. Gracielle Mia Banares, utilized an innovative approach to tumor-debulking. This approach involves using an electromagnetic field that induces cellular death through coagulative necrosis via dipole and ionic mechanisms.

While microwave ablation has already gained worldwide recognition as a safe and effective method for managing tumors amenable to ablation in the Head and Neck, this procedure is more commonly used for non-cancerous thyroid nodules. The procedure performed at TMC was the first to use this technology for metastatic, unresectable thyroid cancer in the country.

This procedure represents a significant leap in providing safer and more effective treatment strategies, particularly for traditionally high-risk tumors.

TMC’s deployment of the microwave ablation technique—more common for non-cancerous thyroid nodules globally—on metastat-

ic, unresectable thyroid cancer is a testament to its forward-thinking approach. The benefits are numerous, from reduced blood loss and faster recovery times to cost-effective treatments that promise superior outcomes compared to conventional methods.

Hope Springs Here: TMC introduces Hope Mobi-Clinic TMC and AIA Philippines have come together to bring the Hope Mobi-Clinic–an on-the-go cancer screening program that brings the TMC brand of care outside the four walls of the hospital.

Hope Mobi-Clinic’s pilot program will provide free breast cancer screening that aims to help improve early detection rates among women of San Juan City, who may not have access to these services. The mobile clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art digital mammogram and medical professionals who are committed to providing quality healthcare services.

What makes this program distinct from other cancer screening initiatives is that TMC and AIA will cover all hospital costs, from diagnosis to surgery treatment, of patients who will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This program aims to save Filipinos from this dreaded disease and help them lead healthy and cancer-free lives for years to come.

Hope Mobi-Clinic will soon be offered in underserved communities in Pasig City. TMC also plans to expand this service to companies and assist them in taking care of their employees’ well-being.

Through these innovations and advancements, TMC sustains the Hospital of the Year title conferred by the Healthcare Asia Awards. This is the third time in four years that TMC received the prestigious award. TMC believes that healthcare should be a dynamic field that consistently evolves to meet the needs of patients, who deserve nothing but only the best healthcare services, and this is what the institution strives to deliver. Embracing the latest advancements, TMC is revolutionizing healthcare with one milestone at a time. For more information about these services, visit www.themedicalcity.com.

First Tumor-Debulking Procedure Using Microwave Ablation Arm and StealthStation