BusinessMirror August 23, 2023

Champion of OFWs, journalist Toots Ople, 61

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

‘MIGRANT workers’ rights are human rights. Diminishing these rights, diminishes us all.”

Thus said Susan “Toots” Ople during the meeting of the United Nations Committee on Migrant Workers last March 2023. This was her first and unfortunately became the last address before a UN body composed of experts on migrant workers.

Ople was a consummate champion of over 10 million Filipino migrant workers, one of the largest

diaspora populations in the world. For the newly elected head of the UN agency in charge of migrant workers, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ople’s demise was not only a loss to the Philippines, but also to the entire world.

“I am absolutely devastated by the passing of Secretary Ople. She was kind, fierce, funny and passionate. A true advocate for migrants and for the vulnerable.

The world is poorer today because of this loss,” Amy Pope, IOM’s Director General-elect, wrote on X (former Twitter).

n Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Her death is a tragedy for the Ople clan who are still grieving the loss of her two elder brothers--journalist Blas V. Ople Jr. and former Hagonoy Mayor Felix “Toto” Jr.

Her two brothers died five days apart last June and she sought for a two-week leave on July 25 to grieve and be with members of her family “while also looking after her own wellness needs” as Ople was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Secretary Toots was a special person. With the deep compassion really for the people she had to care for, namely the migrant workers;

she’s a big loss,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. told reporters after his visit in the Toyota manufacturing plant in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“It’s very, very sad news. I have lost a friend, the Philippines has lost a friend,” he added.

Crafting her own path BEFORE she was appointed as the first secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, Ople helped his dad—the late Senate President, Labor and

See “Ople,” A2

PROCUREMENT TO MIMIC ONLINE PLATFORM

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

STATE agencies could be “adding to cart” in the near future as the national government plans to create its own Lazada or Shopee online marketplace as an option to make state procurement easier and more efficient.

This was one of the measures disclosed by budget and management officials regarding the proposed amendments to the country’s Government Procurement Reform Act (GPRA).

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah

F. Pangandaman said the creation of a Lazada or Shopee-like online marketplace for government procurement is supported no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The DBM, led by Pangandaman, presented to Marcos the proposed reforms to the GPRA on Tuesday.

Procurement Service-DBM (PSDBM) Executive Director Dennis Santiago explained that the online marketplace would work just like any other online shopping platforms, with government agencies being able to browse through and purchase items of their need.

Santiago explained that the PS-DBM will craft and issue the mechanisms and guidelines on how the online marketplace for government procurement would work. Part of the guidelines would be the eligibility of items and suppliers to sell in the platform to ensure that the items are of quality and economical in value, he added.

“Not all products will be available in the marketplace. We will start with the basics in our platform: we will ensure that the products are of quality, necessary and available,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We will pilot-test this with motor vehicles. There will be motor vehicles with different brands in the marketplace,” he added.

Pangandaman explained that expanding the procurement options and making them more efficient and easier are part of the procurement reforms that the DBM is pushing for.

She pointed out that the DBM has divided the proposed amendments into six items with “innovative” procurement methods topping the list.

In

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. said he is hopeful that Toyota Motors Philippines Corp. (TMP) will continue to support the local auto industry and help in the country’s economic transformation.

In his speech during his visit to the TMP Manufacturing Plant at the Toyota Special Economic Zone in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, Marcos lauded the contribution of Toyota to the country’s economic progress through job creation in the last three decades.

“We have to recognize the help that it has given -- that this plant such as this has given us and our people,” he said.

“And now especially in these difficult times, these are the partnerships that we think— that I am certain will be of benefit not only to the Philippines but also to Toyota and even for our partners in Japan,” he added.

Since 2000, TMP and the Toyota Group have cumulatively invested P73.7 billion in the Philippines and paid P448 billion in taxes.

On Tuesday, the Chief Executive personally received 35 vehicles donated by TMP to the

Office of the President (OP).

The donated units included 10 units of Hiace Ambulance 3.0 M/T-ZD-24 as well as five units each of Lite Ace 1.5L Pickup MTVB-3, Innova 2.8J M/T-DM-6, Vios 1.3 XLE CVT-EK-29, and Lite Ace 1.5L Cargo MT-V2-5.

The OP also received three units of Yaris Cross 1.5 S HEV CVT 2T PC-BC- 2 and two units of Coaster, customized for the Lab For All program of the Office of the First Lady.

The keys for the said units were turned over to Marcos by Toyota Motor Corp. (TMC) Chairman Akio Toyoda.

See “Toyota,” A2

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the proposed interisland connection of Palawan and Mindoro Islands to expand the national grid.

The chief executive made the decision, when he met with officials of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Power Corporation (NPC) in Malacañang on Tuesday.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) had proposed the interconnection project with the use of submarine cables to improve the power supply in Palawan by connecting it to the main Luzon power grid.  Palawan and Mindoro suffered power outages in the past due to delayed release in Universal Charge Missionary Electrification (UCME) subsidy from National Power Corp. (Napocor) to power plants operating in both areas.  During the power sector meeting, Marcos also called for the use of renewable energy in 125 stand-alone islands served by small power utilities groups.

Marcos OKs interconnection project to expand grid

Vol. 18 No. 310

FRAGILE SECTOR

Manila's bustling streets, a man guides his wooden cart through Laong Laan Street and Lacson Avenue, offering budget-friendly household items to support his family. This scenario embodies the informal economy, where self-employed workers operate independently outside formal labor regulations. Often devoid of social protection, this sector's vulnerability is measured by the proportion of own-account and contributing family workers. The Philippines’ Labor Force Survey reveals that 38.3 percent of employed individuals fall into this category, underscoring the precariousness of their work arrangements and heightened susceptibility to crises or shocks. ROY DOMINGO

DA: High rice prices due to expensive imports, inputs

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie & Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

THE high cost of production and more expensive imports are putting pressure on prices of locally produced rice, officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA) told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Leocadio Sebastian said prices of regular milled rice could fall below P50 per kg once harvest starts, but it would be difficult to pull it down to a level seen before the start of the lean season.

During the budget briefing for the DA’s 2024 allocation, Sebastian said rice prices could fall to as much as P45 per kilo.

“We expect that by harvest time [prices will stabilize], considering the price of local rice has also gone up, [due to] higher cost of production and higher farmgate price. If we stabilize at P45 to P46 (per kilo), that will be good for farmers,” he said.

“Hopefully we can cope with that price, Mr. Chair. But at this time, because of the high price of imported rice coming in, it is pulling the price of the local rice to a higher level. The imported rice is costing more than local produce,” Sebastian added.

The palay harvest season is expected to start in September and will run until November.

“(Rice) prices are very variable around the country; in the provinces, rice is P40, but in Metro Manila, P46 to

P48 is the lowest. But in other places it’s much lower,” he said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman told the DA official that “stabilizing the price of rice” is nowhere near the president’s campaign promise of P20 per kilo.

“This campaign promise must have had the President win the presidency. But spiraling prices may stagger his incumbency,” said Lagman.

Sebastian said the agency is focused on reducing the cost of rice and make it more affordable.

Earlier, the DA said the initial harvest of palay from three provinces will augment the supply of rice and stabilize the price of the staple.

Sebastian said rice harvest has kicked off in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and North Cotabato, which could deliver some 900,000 metric tons (MT).

Search for solutions

FOR his part, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban assured the public that the agency is “continuously looking for solutions.”

“The prices of rice range from P38 to P60 (per kilo). We are looking for a solution to that. We have sent people to India to negotiate for the importation of some 500,000 metric tons of rice,” he said.

“We are still in the process of accelerating what will be done as far as rice price stabilization is concerned. The best solution, probably at this point, is to import to initially stabilize the price of rice,” he added.

Data from the DA’s National Rice Program showed palay prices in March 2023 rose to P17.69 a kilo for fresh and P19.73 for dry. Compared to the same month last year, palay prices were P15.99 for fresh and P18.41 for dry palay.

Separate data from the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), comprising rice millers and palay traders, showed both fresh and dry palay prices for the 2023 dry season: Isabela, P18.50 (fresh) and P22.50 (dry); Nueva Ecija, P19.50 and P23.50; Bulacan, P20 and P24; Tarlac and Pangasinan, P18.50 and P22.50; Mindoro, P19 and P23; Leyte, P17.50 and P21.50; Caraga, P19 and P23; Iloilo, P18 and P22; and Davao, P19.40 and P23.40.

Sombilla told lawmakers that the spike in rice prices is due to “various factors.”

“It’s being influenced by the global prices, which have spiked overtime, and also local farmgate prices, which have also [increased] over the last year, primarily from input costs, so the farm gate price has increased, and this is the reason we need to import. Our stocks are a bit thin, but we want to really ensure that we have enough—before the harvest season comes in— in case there are eventualities that we need to respond to,” she said.

“Hopefully, by government-togovernment [importation] arraignment through the private sector, we will get the reasonable prices that would maintain the price of rice. So the price increase is really beyond

House okays expanded NERS for jobs creation

Continued from A12

our control,” she added.

For 2024, the DA has a total budget of P167.5 billion, 9.7 billion more than 2023’s budget allocation.

The budget includes P9.55 billion for the implementation of fertilizer assistance through discount voucher and/or interventions monitoring card under the National Rice Program.

It also includes P9.8 billion for the implementation of hybrid seed assistance through discount vouchers and/or interventions monitoring card under the National Rice Program.

Sombilla also said the DA is targeting to reduce the price of regular milled rice to at least P32 per kilo by 2028.

“If the same environment would have prevail, we were really hoping to have a stable prices between P27 and P32 for regular mill rice by 2028, if all things being the same,” she said.

TMP is still the market leader in the Philippines based on the latest data from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. and the Truck Manufacturers Association.

The company led sales in January to July with 110,158 units, followed by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. with 43,831 units, and Ford Motor Company Phils. Inc. with 16,611 units.

“ We are not only talking about around 2.18 million unemployed Filipinos that comprise our 4.2 percent unemployment rate, but also at least 15.68 million informal workers that have been affected by the closure of various businesses during the pandemic,” the lawmaker said.

H e also said the JCP would include all national, regional, and local government units in the country, without prejudice to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) opting to adopt its own regional employment plan.

“ The bill requires the active participation of LGUs, as we recognize their vital role in localizing the JCP and ensuring it will fit the unique context of their jurisdictions,” the solon said.

T he bill creates an inter-agency council for jobs and investments to be chaired by the secretary of trade and industry, with the secretary of labor and employment as co-chairperson.

T he secretaries of finance, budget and migrant workers, director general of the National Economic and Development Authority, head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), one representative from employers’ organizations, and one representative from labor groups will sit as council members.

T he Department of Labor and

Employment (DOLE) will serve as the council’s secretariat. The inter-agency body is mandated to formulate a medium-term and long-term jobs creation plan (JCP) that shall include objectives and targets, action components, success measures, and performance indicators. It shall harmoniz e the employment, livelihood and training projects and programs of the national government toward the preservation and creation of more jobs. It shall c ollaborate with LGUs in planning, devising and implementing employment recovery and job generation programs within their localities.

I t shall ensure these programs are aligned with the JCP.

T he council shall also craft and provide guidelines for the institutionalization of the JCP in each government agency.

T he bill requires the active participation of LGUs in the national plan to recover jobs and generate more employment opportunities within their communities.

T he Department of Trade and Industry, DOLE and TESDA, in coordination with other concerned agencies and private stakeholders, shall issue implementing rules and regulations.

Initial funding shall be char ged against the agencies’ budgets. Subsequent requirements are to be included in their proposed annual appropriations.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

One of the changes being eyed by the DBM is improving the lowest calculated and most responsive bid methodology of procurement toward the most economically advantageous tender or MEAT.

“This is not new to us. This is already existing and being used in consulting services but we will apply it now to procurement of goods and infrastructure,” Santiago said.

financially compliant with the requirement of the procuring entity,” he explained. Santiago said a threshold amount will be determined as part of the amendments on the amount of procurement that can be subjected to direct acquisition.

The other procurement modality that the budget officials want to be part of the amendments to the procurement law is unsolicited proposals.

“He ordered for all renewable energy sources to become more holistic in outlook, to look beyond supplying power to households and to support the growth industries in the countryside,” Press briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez said in a press briefing last Tuesday.

T he said initiatives are part of the government’s efforts to achieve the President’s goal of achieving 100 percent electrification nationwide, which he announced during his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Samuel P. Medenilla

Ople. . .

Continued from A1

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople—as chief of staff. She later became undersecretary of the DOLE and ran for Senate twice.

“Toots came from a short dynasty of the best. Her father got laborers to have a department of their own; like bankers had the finance department. When OFWs came on the scene in greater numbers he anticipated their needs and added them to his concern,” former DFA Secretary and now Philippine Ambassador to London Teodoro Locsin Jr. said.

Toots never relented to continue her father’s legacy—championing the rights of Filipino workers. But she crafted her own path, by becoming the voice of the OFWs. In 2004, a year after her father died, she founded the Blas F. Ople Policy Center and Training Institute (Ople Center), a non-government organization focused on helping government agencies in combatting human trafficking. Daisy(not her real name) was in tears upon learning of Ople’s demise. She was in Aleppo, Syria at the height of the war in 2012. The Philippine Embassy is in Damascus, some 700kms away from Aleppo. Thousands of Filipina human trafficking victims had to devise a way to escape from their captors

“We are going to use percentages for technical aspects, for financial aspects and put them together to have the highest rated bid,” Santiago added. Santiago said direct acquisition will also be part of the procurement pool of government agencies. Under this method, state agencies would directly purchase from market operators or suppliers for their small valued procurement needs.

“This will be for products with small values. Sometimes the value is just P10,000 but would still need to undergo a bidding process. This time they can directly go to the source provided that the source is legally, technically and

and evacuate from the war at the same time. “It was Ms Toots who helped us,” Daisy said. “She guided us coz we don't know where to run to for help.”

DMW stint

OPLE was one of the OFW advocates who pressed for Congress to pass the law creating the DMW. Little did she know that when President Marcos Jr. won the 2022 elections, she would take the helm as the first secretary of the department.

Although her records were impeccable, she asked President Marcos Jr. pointblank if her cancer would be an issue.

“Nung unang pagkikita pa lang namin and he offered this position, akonanagsabi sakanilana,‘You know mga sirs, I have breast cancer.’ You know, it was perfectly fine. We instantly moved into discussions on policy matter,” Ople told the B usiness M irror in a live interview last June 2022.

Since her department had no budget in 2022, Ople started pushing for reforms including ridding corruption among the ranks of DMWs who were absorbed from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. She also opened a help desk and made the controversial Overseas Employment Certificate digital and free.

Ople also personally went to Egypt to help the Department of Foreign Affairs and Philippine Embassy in Egypt to repatriate hundreds of Filipino workers and students stranded in the war in Sudan.

Her decision to ban the deployment of first-time Filipino domestic helpers in Kuwait following the rape-slay of Filipino maid in January did not sit well with Kuwaiti government. Kuwait retaliated with a ban of all Filipinos to the Arab country.

They explained that they want to institutionalize unsolicited proposals as a procurement methodology across all items. Under this scheme, which is already being applied to infrastructure projects of the country, a private stakeholder can submit a proposal to a procuring entity which shall then be subjected to a “challenge,” Santiago explained. Furthermore, Santiago disclosed that they plan to ease the eligibility requirement for bidding purposes to make it more efficient to bidders by just requiring one document: the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System membership certificate.

“If the bidder submits that, then that will be their eligibility requirement,” he said.

That is just one of the activities in Ople’s to-do-list that she has been sharing to media. She wanted to professionalize the DMW, including the labor attaches who are heading the DMOs overseas. Her vision is for agencies to embrace “ethical recruitment.”

“Her deep concern and compassion for migrant workers is amazing. Nasa isip niya how to help OFWs in distress,” former DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis told B usiness M irror . “I lost a good friend who is hardworking, dedicated and loyal.”

Seguis said Ople’s death is a big blow to Marcos Jr.’s administration. Her replacement in DMW, he said, would have big shoes to fill.

“She (Locsin) was the best thing to happen to migrant workers; perfect and irreplaceable fit to head migrants’ own department; she worked on their behalf without office or means but her own before then; confused what to do DFA turned to her in her private commitment to the national good,” Locsin said in another X post.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Tuesday confirmed the death of Ople.

“Secretary Toots peacefully joined our Creator at around 1 p.m. today, August 22, 2023 surrounded by her family and loved ones,” DMW said in a brief statement.

It did not disclose the cause of Ople’s death.

“We shall be releasing more details soon. For the meantime, we ask for prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of our dear Sec. Toots,” DMW added.

Toots, however, always looked at loss as an opportunity to look at the world differently. In one of her columns in “Scribbles” here at B usiness M irror , she wrote, “God is teaching us what it means to live one day at a time. To think not only of ourselves, but also of others. The morning skies are bluer now. It’s the best time to look up.” With a report from Samuel P. Medenilla

Brawner:

PHL, Aussie assault exercise ‘not aimed’ at

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

Chief-of-Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner

Jr. on Tuesday doused insinuations that the ongoing “Exercise Alon” with the Australian Defense Force (ADF) is “not aimed” at China or any other country.

This as the AFP and the ADF on Monday, August 21, conducted an air assault exercise at Punta Baja in Rizal, Palawan, which is some 105 nautical miles away from Ayungin Shoal where Filipino supply boats and Chinese coast guard vessels figured in blocking and water cannoning incident last August 5.

“Hindinaman,walangspecific nacountry, pero dun tayo nag-exercise, hindi sya directed against China (The exercise is not aimed at any specific country, it just happen that we conducted the exercise there, and this is not directed at China),” Brawner clarified.

The air assault exercise marks the first major training serial between the AFP and the ADF.

This involved coordinated air, land and sea actions to simulate realistic combat scenarios, enhancing the forces’ preparedness and operational readiness.

Incidentally, “Exercise Alon” is part of Australia’s Indo-Pacific Endeavor (IPE) activities for 2023.

It marks the first bilateral amphibious exercise between Australia and the Philippines aimed at enhancing inter-operability and enabling the forces to share tactics, techniques, procedures, and best practices in the conduct of amphibious operations.

“Exercise Alon” is scheduled from August 14 up to the 31st.

Brawner said the scenario for the airassault exercise “as an assault from a ship, from the sea towards the land” using aircraft. Supply run on track

ALSO , he maintained that the resupply schedule for the Philippine detachment in Ayungin Shoal is on schedule and will push through soon.

“Abangan natin (we’ll just wait) within the week,” Brawner said.

The AFP chief also said that they will continue to “observe the rules of engagement” and will avoid any action that will “escalate the situation” as their mission is to conduct resupply only.

Earlier, the AFP said the Palawan air assault covered the insertion of ground combat elements via MV-22B “Osprey” from Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D), launched from HMAS Canberra to the Punta Baja Airfield on August 20.

Meanwhile, the helicopter assault force established a link with the 3rd Marine Brigade to secure the Punta Baja Airfield, and set-up a forward arming and refueling point.

“ On August 21, 2023, a joint raid was conducted at Tarumpitao Airfield by the combined forces of the AFP, ADF and USMC (United States Marine Corps) with close air support provided by Royal Australian Air

China

Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II aircraft. Meanwhile, the “exfiltration,” which is scheduled on August 22 involved the force leaving Tarampitao Airfield via MV-22B tiltrotor aircraft and returning to the Royal Australian Navy’s helicopter landing dock HMAS Canberra.

The exercise involved 175 troops from the AFP and two platoons from the ADF, with support from the USMC, as well as a Philippine Marine Corps ground-based security force.

Naval assets include HMAS Canberra and frigate HMAS Anzac, and air support by USMC MV-22B, and RAAF aircraft.

IPE23 serves as Australia’s flagship international engagement activity in the Southeast Asian and Indian Ocean regions.

This aims to promote security, stability, and stronger partnerships through bilateral and multilateral engagement, training, capacity building, and humanitarian efforts.

Aussie envoy meets with Palawan gov

PALAWAN Governor V. Dennis M. Socrates warmly welcomed Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu and party during their courtesy visit to the province on Tuesday.

Ambassador Yu discussed potential areas of collaboration between Palawan and Australia, as well as the Filipino and Australian forces assault exercises held in the municipality of Rizal, Palawan as part of enhancing the forces’ preparedness and operational readiness.

“Thanks to your province for the support in making these exercises possible in Palawan...Along with that, with you facing West Philippine Sea [concerns], hopefully we’ll see more and more engagement in Australia because as true friends and partners, it’s really upon us working closely together, to protect what is important and that’s our sovereignty.”

Among the explored areas of collaboration include maritime security, tourism industry, energy, telecommunications, and humanitarian response.

Gov. Socrates, for his part, shared the socio-economic situation of the province and his vision for the development of Palawan.

“I just want to make the system work. My primary concern here is the governance sector...But right now, provincial government is very keen on tourism and agriculture [because] it is really our engine for growth.”

He also expressed interest in future projects and collaborations with Australia that will be beneficial to the Palaweños especially the vulnerable sector.

In response, Ambassador Yu declared that the Australian government is indeed committed to help in terms of boosting Palawan’s economy. Rex Anthony Naval

Groups present downside of nuke power generation

ENVIRONMENTAL group Greenpeace said the radioactive water crisis in Japan is a harrowing example of how dangerous and unforgiving nuclear energy can be, describing it as an intergenerational problem rather than a solution for the energy and climate crisis.

Greenpeace issued the statement in reaction to the Japanese government’s announcement that it will start releasing wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific.

“Fukushima shows us that the consequences of adopting nuclear energy are just not worth it. From construction and maintenance to having to curb a crisis with global implications, nuclear energy will cost us trillions of pesos with centuries of commitment needed without a 100 percent safety guarantee,” the statement reads.

“Nuclear energy is the most complicated source of energy generation with impacts beyond its boundaries. The Philippine government should take this as a warning of what lies ahead should it continue chasing its nuclear dream: a nightmare that will haunt us for centuries. Instead, they overcomplicate our energy system and should refocus their vision on renewable energy; a much cleaner, more cost-efficient,

Resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal successful–NTF-WPS

By Rex Anthony Naval

THE National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) on Tuesday reported that the resupply mission for the contingent manning the BRP Sierra Madre (LST-57) in Ayungin Shoal has been successfully carried out by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“The routine follow on rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre was successfully conducted today, August 22, through the combined efforts of the AFP and the PCG,” the NTFWPS said in a statement.

This latest RoRe mission was able to deliver fresh provisions to

military personnel stationed on board the BRP Sierra Madre despite attempts by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) to interfere with the resupply mission.

“Notwithstanding attempts by CCG and CMM vessels to block, harass, and interfere with the supply mission, the Philippine supply ships Unaizah May 1 and Unaizah May 2, successfully completed their RoRe mission,” it added.

The NTF-WPS said that these supply boats were escorted by BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409) and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407).

“Philippine Navy vessels were also on standby during the mission. Routine missions to Philippine outposts on vari -

ous features in the WPS will continue on a regular basis,” it stressed.

It also said that these missions are part of the Philippine Government’s legitimate exercise of its administrative functions over the WPS, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Award, and domestic laws.

As this developed, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who is also the NTF-WPS chair, commended the unfailing valor, determination, and professionalism exhibited by the men and women of the AFP and PCG.

He added that the Filipino people owes these personnel a debt of gratitude for their commitment to

Uniform retirement benefits for judiciary officials pushed

LAWMAKERS called on the Senate for the swift passage of a measure that aims to ensure that retirement benefits are uniformly granted to officials in the judiciary.

Da vao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte said judiciary officials conferred with the same judicial rank as those of justices and judges have been unfairly treated when it comes to the grant of survivorship pensions and other benefits due them because of the absence of a law that expressly provides them these privileges.

T he House of Representatives recently approved on third and final reading the measure that would provide the uniform application of retirement and other benefits to judges, justices, and other judiciary officials.

D uterte was among the principal authors of this consolidated measure— House Bill 8392—which was approved by

Laoag bishop issues edict for 13-year old girl being prepared for sainthood

By Patrick V. Miguel

BISHOP Renato Mayugba issued an edict, calling for testimonies about a 13-year-old girl who is being pushed for Sainthood, according to a Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news report.

T he edict was dated August 16, exactly 30 years since the death of Niña Ruiz-Abad. She was known for devoting her life to the Eucharist.

“I in vite all of the faithful to provide me useful information regarding the said cause,” the Northern Philippine diocese wrote in the edict.

T he bishop is expected to assess the merits of testimonies before the decision to accept the petition or not.

the House on August 3. T he Senate’s counterpart measure has remained pending at the committee level.

“F airness and the equal application of the law are among the tenets that the judiciary is mandated to uphold and protect. Ironically, through no fault of their own, these tenets are not followed by the judiciary when it comes to providing retirement benefits to certain officials simply because of the lack of a law that standardizes the grant of such benefits,” said Duterte.

He cited, for instance, court administrators, who are given the same judicial rank, salary, and privileges as those of a justice

of the court. W hile they get to enjoy the salary and privileges that come with the rank while employed, these will cease once they retire because the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has excluded them from availing of such retirement benefits.

“ Thus, judicial officials with the judicial rank, salary, and privileges as those of justices and judges are left with no retirement benefits despite their long years of dedicated service,” Duterte said.

D uterte said the Supreme Court had sought to correct this inequity by issuing resolutions that would grant judiciary officials given the rank of judge or justice the same retirement benefits as those of

place their lives on the line daily to defend our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction throughout the expanse of the WPS.

This resupply mission was an offshoot of the harassment of Chinese coast guard and militia vessels of the Philippine resupply mission, which resulted in one supply boat reaching the Filipino detachment last August 5.

The AFP earlier said that BRP Sierra Madre remains an active Philippine Navy ship and that it is its responsibility to man it and to maintain it.

“Therefore we have to make sure that BRP Sierra Madre remains to be livable and provides (a) safe living environment for our troops,” it added.

judges or justices.

T hese include the court administrator, deputy court administrator, clerk of court, and other officials.

H owever, the High Court’s directives went unimplemented because the GSIS, and later, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), took out these benefits, citing the limits provided under Republic Act 910 and the law that amended it—Republic Act 9946, which provided for such benefits for members of the judiciary.

The enactment of a new law through the passage of the reconciled version of House Bill 8392 and the Senate’s counterpart measure is the solution to this gross violation of the equal protection clause enshrined in our Constitution,” Duterte said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz.

and safer way for us to meet our energy demand.”

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) expressed its opposition to the releasing of 1.3 million metric tons of treated wastewater from Japan’s ailing Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean.

The group was reacting to reports that the Japanese government confirmed releasing the Fukushima-treated radioactive water at the end of August.

The report also said that the plan came shortly after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to discuss the matter.

“We reaffirm our strong opposition to Japan’s plan to release 1.3 million metric tons of treated radioactive water from its tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. People from many East Asian nations, especially farmers and fishers, have already spoken and repeatedly expressed their concern about its environmental impacts. The Japanese government must heed the growing clamor of its neighboring countries to protect the world’s largest and deepest ocean from toxic radioactive wastes,” the group said. Jonathan L.

Mayuga

Should the bishop ac cept the petition, a request will be sent to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints for the nihil obstat. This will allow the official diocesian investigation of Abad’s life.

T he documentation from the diocesan inquiry will be sent to the congregation for saints’ causes, allowing the gathered information to be reviewed.

Should the Vatican adhere to the findings of the diocesan tribunal, the “Decree of Validity” will be issued. Following this, a Relator will be appointed for the Postulator to write “Positio,” the official report of the cause. A ccording to CBCP News, the writing could take years.

T he report would be then reviewed by Vatican theologians and cardinals. Once approved, it will be presented to Pope Francis for the “Decree of Heroic Virtues.” This will then result in Abad being declared “Venerable.”

T hen, beatification and canonization will take place, both requiring proof of miracles attributed to Abad’s intercession.

T he edict was read on Sunday Masses in all the parishes of the diocese. People were asked to provide information “of any kind” regarding Abad.

T he CBCP supported the introduction of Abad in July this year.

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

PBBM orders release of subsidy as fuel prices increase for 7th consecutive week

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

AMID rising fuel prices, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants concerned government agencies to fast track the release of fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

At a news briefing in Malacañang

on Tuesday, DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the Chief Executive wants the immediate utilization of the P3-billion fuel subsidy.

“The funding is available.

It’s just in the General Appropriations Act, the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) is required to come out with the Joint Memorandum Circular...We cannot release [the fuel subsidy] without

that,” Pangandaman said.

She said she already reminded Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista about the required JMC.

“Their JMC will not require much amendment. I think they can use the previous [fuel subsidy] JMC and then sign it and submit it to us then we will release the budget,” the DBM chief said referring to the fuel subsidy JMC last year.

The JMC will be signed by the Department of Transportation

NPC spearheads workshop on personal data protection in age of digital transition

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

AMID the rapid evolution of technology, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the United States Federal Trade Commission (US FTC) conducted a workshop to discuss, among others, the importance of safeguarding consumers’ personal information and confidence in digital transactions.

Department of Trade and Industry - Consumer Protection Group (DTI-CPG) Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said as technology continues to advance at a faster pace, “it has become imperative to safeguard the consumers’ personal information and ensure their confidence in digital transactions and interactions.”

Backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Strengthening

SENATOR Christopher Lawrence

“Bong” Go on Tuesday expressed concern over the proposed P10 billion budget cut for the Department of Health (DOH) in the 2024 national budget.

Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, stressed the importance of prioritizing the budget towards pandemic recovery and being prepared for any possible future health crisis, highlighting that the health-care system needs to be robust and ready to handle not only

Private Enterprise to the Digital Economy (SPEED), DTI said the workshop served as a platform for “in-depth” discussions on various pressing topics, such as the deceptive practices known as dark patterns, generative artificial intelligence (AI), online investigation tools and techniques, and the “prevalence” of multilevel marketing/pyramiding schemes. Presenters from the country’s privacy body and DTI emphasized their efforts and initiatives to ensure consumer protection and privacy in the country.

For NPC’s part, it provided updates on the draft guidelines regarding Deceptive Design Patterns and discussed complaints received against online lending applications. DTI, for its part, presented e-commerce policies, including the proposed Revision of the Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines and the proposed Internet

the lingering pandemic but also any possible health emergencies.

In an interview after assisting indigents in Tanay, Rizal, Go lamented, “For whatever reason, nabawasan po ng P10 billion ang budget ng DOH for next year.” Go was referring to the National Expenditure Program for 2024 currently being deliberated in the lower house.

H e stressed the need to continuously invest in the health-care system, and

Transactions Act.

DTI also shared its technologybased consumer projects, such as e-Presyo, an online price monitoring system that allows consumers to check the prevailing prices of basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs), and the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) Verification Mobile Application that enables the public to verify the authenticity of the ICC quality seal attached to imported products.

NPC Chief of Policy Division

Ivy Grace T. Villasoto underscored the importance of the ability to harness the potential of emerging technology going hand-in-hand with NPC’s commitment to “safeguarding and sustaining the trust of our data subjects.”

“Personal data breaches, privacy violations, and unauthorized personal data processing activities can undermine the trust gained and progress we have made so far,” Villasoto said, noting that it

recalled a previous instance where he opposed a budget cut to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).

“Bago pa magpandemya, hindi ako pumayagnabinawasanangbudget ng RITM. Pinadagdagan natin, ni-restore natin ang budget nila at dinagdagan pa natin. Kutob ko lang ‘yun, wala pang pandemya nu’n. Wala pang Covid-19. Bakit mo babawasan ang RITM? ‘Yun pala, tama ang kutob ko, ‘yung opisinang ‘yun ang napakalaki ang

Neda to harness PRiSM for food inflation mgmt

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

secondary data, such as data collected using drones.

(DOTr), DBM, and the Department of Energy.

Last August 6, DOTR said the new round of fuel subsidy would benefit over 1.6 million PUV drivers.

This after fuel prices rose for the seventh week in a row this week.

DOE projected the price hike will persist in the next two months, which can trigger calls for fare increase from PUVs.

is “paramount” that the privacy body is equipped to effectively investigate and take necessary enforcement actions against any violations that may happen.

Meanwhile, US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) experts talked about the prevalence and impact of dark patterns, emerging trends in “native” advertising and influencer campaigns and “greenwashing.”

“Speakers also discussed how they dealt with unfair and deceptive privacy and security practices by companies that share personal information with third-party providers,” DTI said in a statement released on Tuesday.

Moreover, the workshop explored “potential” deceptive trade practices related to products and services using machine learning and similar technologies.

In fact, DTI said during one of the sessions, the FTC speaker provided an informative overview of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). DTI noted this act “empowers” parents by granting them control over the type of information that websites collect from their children.

papelnungkasagsaganngpandemyadahil doonnag-conduct ng test parasa Covid-19,” recalled Go.

Go also highlighted the importance of the Cancer Assistance Fund, stating, “Nagdagdag tayo ng P1 billion noong 2023, ‘yung sa Cancer Assistance Fund for cancer treatment facilities...ito po ‘yung mga ginagamit sa cancer patients natinsatreatment assistance nila. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11215.”

The Cancer Assistance Fund will also receive a P1 billion funding under the proposed 2024 national budget.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is studying the potential of utilizing the Philippine Rice Information System (PRiSM) as a tool to inform the government’s measures to manage inflation, particularly for the country’s staple.

Neda sent a research team to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, to evaluate PRiSM. Based on the discussions, Neda found that PRiSM could provide validated rice field data to their registered stakeholders every 7th day of the succeeding month compared to the quarterly Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.

“Currently, we utilize PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) data to inform our inflation policy, but in order to enhance our inflation analysis, we need to augment our data sources. This is particularly important in the case of rice, our staple, and amid volatile weather situations,” Neda Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment Staff Officer-in-Charge Assistant Director Rory Jay S.C. Dacumos said.

Neda noted that PRiSM collects rice field data through satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) sensing, which is unaffected by cloud cover.

The data collected through the SAR has up to 95 percent overall accuracy, vis-a-vis the ground validated data with the help of PRiSM data collectors in the field across the country using a mobile application to record and upload data more efficiently.

When the SAR images are insufficient, PRiSM can process

A satellite, Sentinel-1A, provides the SAR images used by PRiSM. The next satellite, Sentinel-1C, is set to be launched within the year and has the potential to further augment PRiSM’s operations.

“We have also learned during the lectures and the field demonstration that the PRiSM data is reasonably accurate. So, we can see how this could enhance our policy recommendations on inflation,” Dacumos said.

The compiled data is presented in the form of rice area maps that indicate the locations where rice has been planted, the timing of rice planting, and estimated rice yield.

The data also indicates areas of rice affected by flooding due to heavy rains and tropical cyclones and areas where rice cultivation has been impacted by drought.

PRiSM began full operation in 2018 under PhilRice to assist the Department of Agriculture in making well-informed decisions for policy formulation and planning. Since then, PhilRice has been continuously improving the methodology and technology of PRiSM.

“PRiSM is currently only applicable to rice, but according to PhilRice, the technology and methodology of PRiSM could also be adapted for monitoring other crops,” Dacumos said.

Neda chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook. The committee was formed to provide high-level policy advice on how to address the recent high inflation.

Fulfilling this mandate, Neda said, involves providing anticipatory policy advice, which requires the analysis of timely data.

NFA-Albay gets rice donation for Mayon-affected residents

THE National Food Authority (NFA) received 10,000 bags of rice from the government of Japan for Mayon Volcano-affected residents of Albay recently.

The government of Japan, through its Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFFJapan) donated 10,000 bags of rice under the auspices of the Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Tier 3 Program.

Taking the lead in the event were Japanese Minister for Economic Affairs Nihei Daisuke, APTERR Secretariat General Manager Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, NFA Special Assistant to the Administrator Roger Navarro, and Social Welfare Director Michael Christopher Mathay.

The NFA-Operations Coordination Department (OCD) and the NFA Bicol Region, led by Regional Manager Osmundo Guinto Jr., also helped in the facilitation and coordination for the success of the event.

The 300 metric tons (MT) of rice

donated by Japan was accepted by Department of Agriculture (DA) Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban and the NFA for buffer stocking.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government of Albay will distribute the rice to identified beneficiaries.

For his part, Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman of Albay thanked the Japanese government and the APTERR for the donation.

“Hopefully, other countries will follow the lead of Japan,” the governor said.

APTERR is a regional cooperation among Asean+3 countries geared toward strengthening food security, poverty alleviation and malnutrition eradication.

As a member country, the Philippines, through the NFA, has continued to avail of the programs under the framework of APTERR to augment the country’s rice reserve in case of disasters and calamities.

Raadee S. Sausa

Go raises concern over proposed ₧10-B DOH budget cut for 2024

DAR

training program aims to develop Siquijor farmers’ food livelihood skills

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has recently conducted various trainings to boost the livelihood activities of farmers in Siquijor province.

The series of trainings, held in the respective localities of the farmers’ organization, aims to improve the knowledge of the farmers in agricultural enterprises, according to DAR Central Visayas Regional Director Leomides Villareal.

The Taculing Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Taculing, Larena, received training for Internal Control and Inventory System to help their organization learn the process of verification. It aims to teach the members to monitor if they still have sufficient resources to produce and sell goods to meet market demand, avoid maintaining excess products, and eliminate costs associated with purchasing, producing, and holding excess.

A monitoring and evaluation of agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization (ARBO) project

training was also conducted for members of the Cangmangki RIC, in Cangmangki, Enrique Villanueva. The training aims to enhance their monitoring and evaluation skills for them to efficiently gather and identify data on their lending, drum rental and sales of their banana chips and come up with a financial statement.

Good agricultural practices training was provided to Triple M FA, in Lower Cabangcalan, Lazi, to teach them the correct guidelines on farming practices to reduce the risk of microbial contamination related to food-borne illnesses on their farms. The guidelines are based on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s “Guide to Minimizing Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Produce.”

Arming them with the necessary knowledge on farming business will have a positive impact on their livelihood activities, hence a generation of bigger incomes,” Villareal said.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

Govt eyes October timeline for next-round salary hike

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

THE government is eyeing to complete the study for the possible next round of salary increase for public employees by October, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

T his, after the initial comprehensive review conducted by t he Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG) on the Compensation and Position Classification System “failed.”

“

So they will repeat it hopefully, and we will have the study by October,”  DBM Undersecretary Leo A ngelo M. Garcia said in a news briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday.

T he study, DBM said, will be necessary so it can determine the amount necessary for the proposed enhanced compensation package for

government workers next year.

Th is, after the last tranche of the salary increase under the Republic Act 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law of 2019 was implemented last January.

DBM has allocated an initial P16.95 billion for the planned compensation enhancement for public sector employees next year under its proposed 2024 budget.

T he 2024 National Expenditure Program is currently undergoing scrutiny from the House of R epresentatives.

IACAT to implement stricter departure protocols for overseas travelers in Sept

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) announced on Tuesday that it would be implementing stricter departure formalities starting next month in order to stem the rising number of human trafficking victims.

T he Department of Justice (DOJ), however, assured that the 2023 Revised IACAT Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-Bound Filipino Passengers would not curtail the constitutionally guaranteed right of the people to travel “but to serve as a protective bulwark shielding our fellow citizens from the dire perils of human trafficking.”

T he revised guidelines will take effect on September 3.

D OJ spokesman Jose Dominic Clavano said the revision was intended to encompass existing policies upheld by member agencies while conscientiously addressing emergent trends in human trafficking.

“ The problem has become se -

vere because we have seen a lot of cases wherein Filipinos who are being employed to a regular job abroad are being conned into human trafficking schemes and we’ve seen it too many times that we need to rescue them from abroad,” Clavano explained.  “ So, these new guidelines seek to screen them thoroughly before they leave so we don’t have any reasons to initiate rescues,” he added.

Under the revised guidelines, the IACAT said aside from the inspection of basic travel documents, immigration officers may propound relevant clarificatory questions and require outbound passengers to show additional supporting documents.

T he IACAT also said secondary inspection should not exceed 15 minutes unless extraordinary circumstances require a longer period of inspections.

T he 15-minute period will commence at the start of the interview by the secondary inspection officer.

B ureau of Immigration (BI)

spokesperson Dana Sandoval said immigration officers would be looking for documents to prove the relations of a Filipino going overseas with a foreign partner, including photos and other relative documents.

I mmigration personnel would also scrutinize the financial capacity of the foreigner to fund the travel and whether the foreigner has already sponsored a trip before.

Maybe we need to clarify that this is not a means to be strict on our citizens because in fact, based on our data, only 0.6 percent of departing passengers have not been allowed to travel vis-a- vis their actual purpose of travel,” she pointed out.

T he IACAT also prescribed new requirements for parents traveling with their children.

S tarting next

8th Gawad Patnugot Awards: KVNHS emerges as Best Performing Public High School in Calabarzon

IN a momentous celebration of educational excellence, the Kasiglahan Village National High School (KVNHS) of Montalban, Rizal emerged as the Best Performing Public High School in Calabarzon at the recently concluded 8th Gawad Patnugot Awards held at Lipa City Sports Academy on August 14.

S chools Division Office (SDO)-Rizal Assistant S chools Division Superintendent Gloria C. Roque together w ith KVNHS Principal Maria Cristina S. Marasigan and KVNHS Assistant Officerin-Charge Michael R. Añora proudly accepted the esteemed plaque and trophy.

W ith a gracious spirit, Dr. Maria Cristina S. Marasigan expressed her gratitude to the Divine and her family for their unwavering support.

U na sa lahat pasasalamat sa Panginoon. Pangalawa po sa aking pamilya, na umunawa ng pagkawala minsan ng oras, maraming salamat sa inyo, sa aking asawa at sa aking mga anak ,” Dr. Marasigan said after receiving the awards.

D r. Marasigan also extended her heartfelt appreciation to her SDO Rizal family a nd MonSO family, notably mentioning her fellow education leaders and Public School

Dis trict Supervisors (PSDS)

Maria Cristina Camarse, Dr. Van Russel Robles, Dr. Jojo Doblada, and Dr. Jay Baylon.

A ng parangal na ito ay isang pagpapatunay lamang ng pagmamahal, dedikasyon at pagbibigay ng oras sa aming anim na libo, limang daan at apatnaput dalawang mag aaral, na ibinigay ng buong puso ng aming dalawang daan apatnapot pitong mga guro,” she said.

D r. Marasigan also acknowledged the unwavering support of the faculty, p arents, students, and other stakeholders who had helped and participated in the implementation of the different p rograms, projects, and activities of the school.

K VNHS Asst. OIC Michael R. Añora said: ”We are o verwhelmed with joy and gratitude for this recognition of our hard work and commitment to excellence. This is o ur second time to reach this far in the Gawad Patnugot under the leadership of Dr. Marasigan, and this time, we finally nailed it.”

“A ng parangal na ito ay magsisilbing motibasyon upang ipagpatuloy at lalo pang paghusayin ang mga programang s umusuporta sa pagkamit ng dekalidad at matatag na edukasyon para sa lahat ng batang K asiglahenyos,” Añora said. This Gawad Patnugot journey would not have been possible without the help of our community partners, teachers, and students; kabahagi sila sa Gawad Patnugot

j ourney na ito,” Añora added.

We also would like to thank our Regional Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) committee for recognizing our efforts in providing relevant, accessible, liberating, a nd continuous education to our learners, especially our validators, EPS Lito Palomar, EPS Maybel Abrencillo, E PS Glenda De La Torre, and ICT Unit Head Rey Valenzuela” he said.

A part from KVNHS’s triumph, distinguished educators from SDO Rizal also garnered recognition. Arlene P. Paralejas, from Rizal National Science High School (RNSHS), was honored as the Most Outstanding Master Teacher at the secondary level. Similarly, Sammy Boy B. De Guzman from Kasiglahan Village E lementary School (KVES) earned the title of Most Outstanding SPED Teacher at the e lementary level.

F

urther adding to SDO Rizal’s commendable achievements, the division was lauded at the 8th Gawad Patnugot Awards for s ecuring the Philippine Quality Awards (PQA) for Performance Excellence and for achieving PRIMEHRM Maturity Level II for the Learning and Development Pillar as well as the R ecruitment, Selection, and Placement Pillar.

month, passengers traveling with a minor are required to present a certificate of exemption from the Department of Social Welfare and Development if the parents are not married, the traveling companion is a legal guardian, biological father who has sole parental authority or legal custody over the minor orphans traveling with substitute parents.

T he guidelines also listed the grounds for immigration officers to defer the departure of a passenger which include: refusal to

undergo secondary inspection; doubtful purpose of travel; inconsistent or insufficient travel or supporting documents; misrepresentation or withholding of material information about the travel; presentation of fraudulent, falsified, or tampered travel or supporting documents; non-compliance with previous deferred-departure requirements; or the passenger is a potentially trafficked or illegally recruited person, or a suspected trafficker/ illegal recruiter.

I ACAT explained that the new guidelines are not stricter compared to before and that they only laid out all of the requirements and documents Filipinos need to secure before traveling.

IACAT ardently anticipates that the enforcement of these meticulously-refined guidelines, complemented by an enhanced regime of information dissemination, will effectuate a palpable reduction, if not outright elimination, of human trafficking incidents,” it stressed.

Ex-PM Thaksin enters prison in Thailand, as his allies attempt to form a government

By Jintamas Saksornchai The Associated Press

BANGKOK—Thailand’s Parlia -

ment on Tuesday began voting in a second attempt to choose a prime minister, hours after ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand after years of selfimposed exile and entered prison to begin serving an eight-year sentence.

The Thaksin-linked Pheu Thai Party proposed former property developer Srettha Thavisin as the head of an 11-party coalition that includes two parties allied with its former military adversaries, holding 314 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives.

Srettha also needs support from the non-elected Senate, appointed by a previous military government. Both houses of Parliament vote together for prime minister under a militaryimplemented constitution, and senators, like the army, see themselves as guardians of traditional conservative royalist values.

Srettha is not a member of parliament and does not appear to be present for the vote.

Pheu Thai is the latest in a string of parties formed by Thaksin or his allies, two of which were removed from power by military coups, resulting in years of upheaval and division that pitted a mostly poor, rural pro-Thaksin majority in the north against royalists, the military and their urban backers.

Thaksin has said his decision to return has nothing to do with the Pheu Thai party’s bid for power, but many believe the party made deals with pro-military parties to facilitate the 74-year-old billionaire’s return.

Thaksin’s private jet landed around 9 a.m. local time in Bangkok, where family and supporters

welcomed him.

After walking out of the airport, Thaksin placed a flower wreath and prostrated himself before a portrait of Thailand’s king and queen. He spent a moment greeting supporters and the media waiting in front of the terminal but did not speak.

Hundreds of his supporters gathered outside of the airport hours ahead of his arrival, donning red, a color long associated with Thaksin, and holding sign with welcoming messages. They showed their devotion to him with songs and chants, and then raised raucous cheers when he appeared at the entrance.

“I feel fulfilled that I traveled here today to pick him up. If possible I want to hug him. Everyone has tears, tears coming out of their eyes,” said Makawan Payakkae, a 43-year-old from Maha Sarakham province.

Decades ago, Thaksin promoted populist policies and used his telecommunications fortune to build his own Thai Rak Thai party and be elected prime minister in 2001 and easily reelected in 2005, before being ousted in a military coup in 2006 and fleeing into exile a few years later.

Thaksin was tried in absentia on corruption charges he dismissed as politically motivated, and sentenced to eight years in prison.

His convoy went from the airport to the Supreme Court, where a special body that handles criminal cases against former officeholders confirmed the sentence. He then left the court and went to Bangkok’s main prison.

Correctional officers at Bangkok Remand Prison said in a news conference that following a medical check, Thaksin had been categorized as “vulnerable” due to his age and chronic conditions affecting his heart and lungs, including high blood pressure.

He will be quarantined for at least 10 days as a new inmate, officials said, adding that he is now confined at the prison’s medical wing alone and will be monitored at all hours due to safety and health concerns.

In what could be perceived as a special treatment, officials said Thaksin has not yet received the severe crew cut associated with Thai prisoners.

“The rule for haircuts is they have to be crew-cuts. But if it’s not too long, it doesn’t need to be trimmed in a hurry. In prison, hair needs to be cut according to the rules but his hair won’t be like other typical inmates: we have to also consider his age,” said Ayuth Sintoppant, director-general of the Department of Corrections.

It isn’t clear yet how long Thaksin will actually serve his prison sentence. Officials have said he, like other inmates, can apply for a royal pardon from day one.

His daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a key figure in Pheu Thai, posted family photos with Thaksin in the middle on Facebook with a message thanking people who went to the airport to welcome her father, saying “me and my family are very grateful.”

Less than a week before May elections, Thaksin announced he would like to return before his birthday in July, but the plan was repeatedly delayed.

Pheu Thai came in second in the elections but took over leadership in forming a new government after the surprise winner, the progressive Move Forward Party, was repeatedly rejected by conservative senators appointed by a previous military government.

Move Forward’s reform agenda appealed deeply to many Thais, particularly younger voters who were disenchanted by nearly a decade of military-backed rule, but was seen

accurate assessment, according to Isabelle Hoygaard, public information officer with the Gray fire incident management team.

“A good majority” of the homes and other structures burned were in the small city of Medical Lake and nearby Silver Lake, Hoygaard said. Medical Lake Mayor Terri Cooper said Monday that 5,000 residents had been displaced because of the fire, KREM-TV reported.

Fire crews were making progress on the Gray fire Monday, Hoygaard said, and a section of Interstate 90 that had closed because of the flames and burned trees falling into the roadway reopened on Monday afternoon. Some of the mandatory evacuations abated on Monday, according to Spokane County Emergency Management.

Second person found dead in Washington wildfires, hundreds of structures burned

By Lisa Baumann

The Associated Press

ASECOND person has died in wildfires in eastern Washington State that ignited on Friday, burning hundreds of structures and closing a section of a major interstate for days, fire officials said.

A body was found in the area burned by the Oregon fire north of Spokane on Sunday afternoon, fire officials told The Associated Press on Monday.

Another person died in connection with the Gray fire that started Friday west of Spokane, authorities said over the weekend.

Gov. Jay Inslee visited the burned areas Sunday and declared a statewide emergency.

Those fires have destroyed at least 265 structures and, together with others, have burned more than 53 square miles (137 square kilometers) combined around the state this year.

Inslee said Monday he had talked with President Joe Biden and Federal Emergency Management Administrator Deanne Criswell about securing federal dollars to help with

firefighting efforts.

“I appreciated President Biden’s call this morning to share his concern for the devastating Spokane County wildfires and what can be done to secure federal aid,” Inslee said Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Inslee said Criswell told him the agency would work with Washington to assess damages as quickly as possible to see what federal aid the state may qualify for.

Criswell spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, as Biden flew to tour wildfire damage in Hawaii. Criswell said FEMA had emergency response teams embedded with Washington state emergency response authorities “and they’re ready to support any resource request as needed.”

The Gray fire started near Medical Lake in Spokane County around noon Friday and had burned about 15.6 square miles (40 square kilometers) as of Monday.

At least 185 structures have been destroyed or

crews are able

as a threat by the country’s conservative elites.

Pheu Thai has been heavily criticized by some of its supporters for backtracking on a pre-election pledge not to join hands with pro-military parties. Party officials have defended the decision by saying it was necessary to break the political deadlock and seek reconciliation after decades of deep political divisions.

Thaksin was ousted while he was abroad in 2006. He came back briefly to Thailand in 2008 to face a court trial before fleeing the country. He

has avoided returning over concerns he would not be treated fairly by the military-backed government and establishment that has long held a sharp animosity toward him.

He has remained active in Thai politics, however, often making video calls to rallies of his supporters and parties backed by him.

“Thaksin’s plans to return to Thailand were postponed after the election results were announced— this implies a strong connection between the election, formation of coalitions, and selection of the prime minister

on one hand, and Thaksin’s personal agenda on the other,” said Napon Jatusripitak, a political science researcher and visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute.

“Thaksin has managed to make this election about himself personally, and the direction of a Pheu Thailed coalition heavily depends on his personal whims.”

Napon said Thaksin’s decision to return now suggests that “he has received assurances that he will not have to serve a prison sentence in full.”

The Oregon fire began Friday afternoon northeast of Elk, Washington. It had consumed about 15.8 square miles (40.9 square kilometers) of forest and cropland as of Monday, according to fire officials. More than 80 structures have burned in that blaze and about 150 remain at risk, according to Guy Gifford, public information officer for the Oregon fire.

Mandatory evacuations have been in effect around both fires with officials also noting that if residents feel threatened by fire, they should evacuate immediately.

“There may be no formal notice that you need to evacuate,” fire managers said on the fire incident information system website.

The cause of both fires is under investigation. Both started in dry, windy conditions that had prompted warnings of critical fire danger in the region.

Air quality around Spokane was the worst in the country on Sunday with poor air quality continuing on Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Spokane. Areas of western Washington that had experienced smoky conditions on Sunday started to see some improvement on Monday.

The Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.

SPOKANE County Fire District 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach gives an update on the wildfires on Saturday, August 19, 2023, in Medical Lake, Washington. Authorities say a second person has died in wildfires in eastern Washington state that sparked Friday, burning hundreds of structures and closing a section of a major interstate. Fire officials said Monday, August 21, a body was found in the area of the Oregon fire north of Spokane on Sunday. KXLY VIA AP

Protecting Filipino consumers during Christmas season

The latest price monitoring report of the Department of Agriculture (DA) indicated that prices of certain products, like onions, were relatively stable. In its survey of wet markets in Metro Manila, the agency’s regular report, dubbed Bantay Presyo, showed that price movements of a number of agricultural products have been minimal, except for rice. As of August 21, a kilo of regular milled rice now costs P55 per kilo, higher than the quotation of P38 per kilo to P52 per kilo just a week ago.

Prices of onions, especially the red variety, did not register dramatic spikes, according to Bantay Presyo data. Vendors from Malabon Central Market are even selling local red onions for as low as P140 per kilo. The thought that the price of this popular condiment remains stable is comforting, but this should not lull policymakers, particularly those averse to numbers, into complacency.

This is because Bantay Presyo data published on August 22, 2022 showed that the average retail price of local red onions was only at P140 per kilo. Five markets that were covered by the survey even sold red onions for as low P120 per kilo—Guadalupe Public Market in Makati, Pasay City Market, Pasig City Mega Market, Muñoz Market in Quezon City, and Malabon Central Market. Year-ago prices were lower than the average of P160 per kilo recorded on August 21.

The harvest of onions usually peaks in March or April, while the lean season is from June to December. This is why onion prices usually start rising in the third quarter and are highest during the holidays, when supplies have thinned due to the spike in demand. Some areas will start harvesting onions in December, but the volume is often not enough to meet the demand of individual consumers and establishments.

Before 2022, however, urban areas in the Philippines did not have to cough up as much as P700 for a kilo of red onions. The year 2022 was record-setting, as it was the first time in the country’s history that prices of red onions were comparable or even higher than the average daily minimum wage. And it happened despite the fact that traders bought red onions at an average farmgate price of P55 per kilo from January to June 2022, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The latest report of the PSA on the value of agri-fisheries production has a bit of good news, which gives us hope that the onion price spikes in 2022 will not happen again this year. The PSA reported that onion production in the second quarter went up by 3.4 percent to 84,900 metric tons from last year’s 82,080 MT. This brought the total onion production from January to June to 241,400 MT, 5.3 percent higher than the 229,220 MT recorded a year ago.

The Philippines will soon kick off the longest celebration of Christmas in the world in a few days. Demand for consumer products will soon rise along with their price tags. It would do well for government officials and policymakers to start implementing the necessary measures to cushion the impact of unscrupulous business practices on hapless consumers who continue to grapple with a stubborn inflation.

Dear DOH, fund cancer patients. Love, Toots

cer specialists and cancer patients and survivors to track the progress of such spending in curbing this disease. I cannot comprehend the callousness of this omission; the sheer barrenness of compassion for cancer patients that have already so much to bear on their weary shoulders.

Editor’s note: In her September 8, 2021 column in BusinessMirror , Susan V. Ople, fondly called “Toots” by everyone, shows her passion and courage in taking up good—albeit hard—causes. Despite battling cancer, Toots did her job as the first Department of Migrant Workers secretary, taking a “wellness leave” only a few weeks ago, as she dealt both with her cancer and the grief of losing two brothers five days apart.

‘TooTS” is my nickname. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer last year, and had breast surgery to remove the tumor done, two weeks before our first-ever enhanced community quarantine in March of last year. This column is dedicated to all the brave cancer patients that I have met, and the doctors, nurses, radiologists and medical workers that continue to care for them amid this global pandemic.

Listen up, DOH. I know you’re busy but….

Why in God’s holy name did you exclude a specific and separate allocation in your proposed 2022 national budget for the country’s cancer fund? Aren’t you supposed to be on the side of indigent cancer patients who troop to government hospitals hoping for your help to get their tumors removed? And how about the children? Kids who can’t even spell the word “cancer” and yet are waitlisted for chemotherapy, braving Covid-19 and the rains, just to have a fighting chance for a next birthday? Don’t you have any idea what these kids and their parents are going through?

I am sure that you do, Department of Health (DOH). Your department is run by a doctor and is primarily

tasked by the State to ensure quality health care for all Filipinos. And yet, you failed all cancer patients and survivors, the people who were most jubilant over the passage of the cancer act in 2019—because you made funding for cancer programs invisible to the eye, obliterating all progress made in support of a more robust cancer prevention, screening, and treatment programs. Why include your proposed funding for cancer programs with equally vital concerns under the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases?

Why would you do that, knowing that cancer is the second leading cause of death for Filipinos with 62,300 deaths tallied last year? As such, a separate budget would enable our legislators, health and can-

By George Lei & Carter Johnson

WhIle Beijing moves to stabilize the yuan, Wall Street still sees plenty of room for the Chinese currency to fall.

After the offshore yuan weakened last week past 7.30 per dollar, just a stone’s throw from last year’s all-time low, the People’s Bank of China pushed back, with verbal warnings, urging dollar sales and following up with the biggest daily reference rate bias on record at the time for the managed currency.

While that appears to have slowed the momentum of the sell-off, along with a welcome bout of broad dollar weakness, strategists say these stopgap measures aren’t enough to halt the yuan’s depreciation—a trend shaped by a weak economy and relatively low yields. Rate cuts have only widened the yield gap with the US, and the lack of any significant steps to boost consumer spending and a spreading crisis in the property sector further undermine investor confidence.

“The fundamental case for additional yuan weakness remains very much intact,” JPMorgan Chase & Co. analysts led by Meera Chandan, co-

head of foreign exchange in London, wrote in a research report on Friday. “We see the dollar-yuan uptrend as durable, but recent events are a reminder that authorities will periodically try to disrupt one way moves.”

On Monday, funding costs in the offshore yuan market soared by the most in six years amid speculation that authorities are making it more expensive to bet against the currency.

On Tuesday, China once again delivered its most forceful fixing on record, relative to market expectations.

Yuan shorts squeezed T HE problem is, Chinese interest

I have been in that place where chemotherapy is done, and you crawl into bed afterwards, hit by a fatigue that only sleep can cure. I have gone through radiation, like being in a giant microwave, with the heat broiling the inside, anticipating that intermittent whirring sound, while praying for healthy organs to be spared. I count myself blessed and lucky enough to make it through all the prescribed treatments. But what about my fellow cancer patients who can’t afford to have their tumors removed?

What about Rowena, a street vendor from Bulacan, who has been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer? She scrounges for transport fare every time she has an appointment to see her surgeon at the East Avenue Medical Center. She sells “kwekkwek” and siomai in a pushcart to earn a living. Whenever she misses a day of work to follow up on her surgery and chemotherapy, her family goes hungry.

On top of missing several days of work and raising funds to get to Manila and back, she is now required to have a swab test, which for a street vendor is quite expensive. Rowena is now in a state of financial inertia, and scared witless of that tumor that remains alive and growing day by day.

Under the Cancer Act, patients like Rowena would have access to funds to assist patients in gaining

On Monday, funding costs in the offshore yuan market soared by the most in six years amid speculation that authorities are making it more expensive to bet against the currency. On Tuesday, China once again delivered its most forceful fixing on record, relative to market expectations.

rates remain well below their US counterparts across tenors. Two-year Treasuries now yield about 290 basis points above Chinese government bonds of the same maturity, a level last seen in mid-2006.

While the offshore yuan only started trading in 2010, the comparable onshore currency at the time was trading near 8 per dollar. That would imply a roughly 9 percent downside for the Chinese currency if the yield gap is sustained, without allowing for other factors.

“We don’t think there is a hard line-in-the-sand for the exchange

timely access to required services from screening, diagnosis to rehabilitation and reintegration. That was the intent of the authors of the NICCA. Instead, the DOH chose to embed funds to fight cancer into a lump sum budget for non-communicable diseases.  Kung baga, makikihati lang sa iba, sa kabila ng nakasaad sa batas

Sen. Nancy Binay slammed the DOH for this move. “The DOH should have taken our cue when we allocated P620-million last year for cancer. That’s the law and a long-term priority. Instead of moving forward, this is a step back that we should correct. When survival matters, you don’t make lifelines invisible.”

The Cancer Coalition of the Philippines has this to say: “It is disconcerting and disappointing, that the proposed 2022 National Expenditure Program of the DOH has failed to include the mandated line items on the National Integrated Cancer Control Program and the Cancer Assistance Fund. This is a direct violation of the provision, as stated in Republic Act 11215 or the NICCA. It also contravenes Rule X, Section 35 [Appropriations] of the IRR.”

“Further, the absence of a separate fund for the Cancer Assistance Fund, at a time when patients need it most, is alarming and life-threatening to cancer patients, already struggling with diminished assistance from PCSO, DSWD, Malasakit and nongovernment charity organizations.” DOH, you tell us to wear face shields and we follow. The law tells you to allot a separate and distinct budget for cancer patients, and you bail out on us. Shame on you.

rate,” said Ju Wang, head of greater China FX & rates strategy at BNP Paribas in Hong Kong. “Ultimately it depends on the yield difference between US and China, and we’re witnessing a nearly record widening of nominal rates differential.”

China’s central bank vowed to “step up macroeconomic policy adjustment” in its quarterly monetary report published on Thursday, reaffirming its accommodative policy stance. It also pledged to resolutely prevent excessive movements in the exchange rate.

The offshore yuan traded at 7.2870 per dollar Tuesday, not too far from the all-time low of 7.3749 reached in October. Earlier this year, it was trading around 6.70 amid hopes economic reopening would spur a recovery in the world’s secondlargest economy.

Christopher Wong, an FX strategist at OCBC in Singapore, said the market is closely watching whether “dollar-yuan will rise further to test

See “Wall Street,” A11

ScribbleS

Susan V. Ople

By Gerald Imray | The Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG—Vladimir Putin will be the odd one out when leaders from the BRICS economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa meet in Johannesburg this week.

While all the others are set to attend the meetings in person, Putin will dial in on a video call.

The reason? An International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued for the Russian president put summit host South Africa in a sticky situation and ultimately resulted in Putin staying at home.

Here’s what is expected when the group of emerging economies holds three days of meetings starting Tuesday in South Africa’s biggest city and financial hub:

Putin dials in

A LL the leaders from the BRICS countries traditionally attend its summits, and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping is making a rare trip overseas to be at the bloc’s first in-person summit since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Putin’s indictment by the International Criminal Court in March charging him with war crimes over the removal of children from Ukraine left South Africa with a significant diplomatic conundrum.

South Africa and Russia share strong ties and have a historically close relationship, but South Africa is also a signatory to the international court’s treaty. That meant it would be obliged to arrest Putin on the ICC warrant if he set foot on South African soil.

South Africa lobbied for months ahead of the summit to persuade Putin to stay at home so it could avoid the problem, South African officials say. South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile said last month that Putin was determined to come before an agreement for him to participate virtually was finally announced.

“It’s almost like you invite your friend to your house, and then arrest them,” Mashatile said at the time.

“That’s why for us his not coming is the best solution. The Russians are not happy, though. They want him to come.”

The Kremlin didn’t say if Putin had been intending to travel to South Africa, but stressed he would still play a key role in the main summit meeting Wednesday and address the delegates on a video link.

“We are talking about full-fledged participation,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “This will include a speech by the president and, if necessary, participation in an exchange of views.”

Some seeking a bigger BRICS

THE main discussion will be over expanding the five-nation bloc.

China and Russia are in favor of a bigger BRICS and are seen to be pushing for that. Nearly two-dozen countries have applied to become

Wall Street . .

continued from A10

the 7.38-41 resistance area.”

If that happens, it “may push markets to try and test higher possibly toward 7.50 within weeks,” Wong said. To Craig Chan, Global Head of FX Strategy at Nomura Singapore Ltd., the persistent gap between the yuan’s daily fixing and market expectations may have already begun to undermine the stabilizing effect of the reference rate. Authorities may be forced to sell dollars if the gap approaches the 2 percent daily band, Chan noted.

In its biggest pushback against a weaker yuan via the so-called daily fixing, the PBOC set the rate for the managed currency about 1.5 percent stronger than the average estimate

“There’s an unfortunate narrative being developed that BRICS is anti-West, that BRICS was created as competition to the G-7 or the Global North, and that is incorrect,” said Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s ambassador to BRICS. “What we do seek is to advance the agenda of the Global South.”

new members, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Argentina, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates.

But BRICS is a consensus-based organization, and all five members must agree on the principle of expansion and the criteria for new members before it can decide on who gets to join.

Brazil, India and South Africa are seen as less keen on expansion, fearing their voices might get diluted, but the bloc is moving ahead and the five leaders are expected to review proposals on the criteria for expansion.

If the policy is given the go-ahead, a bigger BRICS might be seen as an opportunity for China and Russia to extend their influence.

Relations with the West

T HE possible BRICS expansion is seen by some as part of China and Russia’s effort to challenge the Group of 7 major industrial nations and other Western international institutions.

The bloc insists its focus is not against the West but in looking out for the developing world’s interests.

Still, BRICS has openly criticized what it calls Western dominance of global governance and financial institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to the detriment of the developing world.

The group’s New Development Bank has a stated policy of trying to encourage more trade in local currencies and a move away from the dollar.

And BRICS has provided a forum for Chinese and Russian officials to sometimes lambast the West.

South Africa, the current chair of BRICS, says that doesn’t mean the bloc is taking an anti-West turn under the influence of China and Russia amid increased West-East geopolitical tensions.

“There’s an unfortunate narrative being developed that BRICS is anti-West, that BRICS was created as competition to the G-7 or the Global North, and that is incorrect,” said Anil Sooklal, South Africa’s ambassador to BRICS. “What we do seek is to advance the agenda of the Global South.”

in a Bloomberg survey with traders and analysts.

“Regarding yuan depreciation, our conviction level is at a maximum 5 out of 5,” Chan said, adding dollaryuan could possibly reach 7.50 and beyond. The biggest risk for beating on yuan weakness is a significant economic stimulus package out of Beijing, he said.

Still, the weakening yuan does come with some benefits for China, offering a leg up as the country battles deflation in stark contrast to many Group-of-10 economies.

“China needs to lower real rates right now,” Geoffrey Yu, senior strategist at BNY Mellon, said in an interview last week on Bloomberg Television. “That’s why they’re allowing the renminbi to depreciate, so they can import some inflation.” With assistance from Tania Chen and Iris Ouyang / Bloomberg

By John Hanna | The Associated Press

MARION, Kan.—The

The raids on the Marion County Record and the publisher’s home happened earlier this month, after a local restaurant owner accused the newspaper of illegally accessing information about her. A prosecutor said later that there was insufficient evidence to justify the raids, and some of the seized computers and cellphones have been returned.

But video released by the newspaper Monday shows just how upsetting the raid was to the mother of publisher Eric Meyer. The woman died the next day.

“Get out of my house…I don’t want you in my house!” Joan Meyer shouted at the six officers who were in the home she shared with her son. The surveillance video shows Meyer using a walker and dressed in slippers and a long robe or gown as she approaches the officers, swearing at them and demanding to know what they are doing.

She yells: “Don’t you touch any of that stuff!”

The raid on the Record put it and its hometown of about 1,900 residents in the center of a debate about press freedoms protected by the First Amendment to the US Constitution and Kansas’ Bill of Rights. It also exposed divisions in the town over local politics and the newspaper’s coverage of the community and put an intense spotlight on Police Chief Gideon Cody, who led the Aug. 11 raids months after the newspaper had asked questions about his background.

“As far as Chief Cody goes, he can take his high horse he brought into this community and giddy-up on out of town,” Darvin Markley, a Marion resident, said during a Monday afternoon City Council meeting. “The man needs to go. He

needs to be fired.”

Cody did not attend Monday’s meeting or respond to e-mail and cellphone messages seeking a response to those comments. He said in affidavits used to obtain the warrants that he had probable cause to believe that the newspaper and a City Council member whose home was also raided had violated state laws against identity theft or computer crimes.

Both City Council member Ruth Herbel and the newspaper have said they received a copy of a document about the status of the restaurant owner’s license without soliciting it. The document disclosed the restaurant’s license number and her date of birth, which are required to check the status of a person’s license online and gain access to a more complete driving record. The police chief maintains they broke state laws to do that, while the newspaper and Herbel’s attorneys say they didn’t.

Herbel, the city’s vice mayor, presided over the City Council’s meeting Monday, its first since the raids. It lasted less than an hour, and Herbel announced that council members would not discuss the raids—something its agenda already had said in an all-caps statement in red followed by 47 exclamation points. She said the council will address the raids in a future meeting.

While Herbel said after the meeting that she agrees that Cody should resign, other City Council members declined to comment. Mike Powers, a retired district court judge who is the only candidate for mayor this fall, said it’s premature to make any judgments.

The meeting came after Kansas Department of Revenue spokesperson Zack Denney said it’s legal to ac-

cess the driver’s license database online to check the status of a person’s license using information obtained independently. The department’s Division of Vehicles issues licenses.

“The website is public-facing, and anyone can use it,” he said.

The Department of Revenue website allows a searcher to see whether a person has a valid driver’s license and to see a list of documents related to that person’s driving record.

Searchers can go further: The site allows them to download documents or buy a copy of a driving record for $16.70. But they also need a person’s driver’s license number and date of birth, and they are asked to provide an address and phone number.

The affidavit to search the newspaper’s offices noted that when a person submits an online request for someone’s driving record, it lists 13 circumstances in which it is legal to obtain it. They include a person is seeking their own record or a business seeking it to verify personal information to help collect a debt.

The last item says: “I will use the information requested in a manner that is specifically authorized by Kansas law and is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety.”

Meyer, the newspaper’s publisher, said Monday that reporter Phyllis Zorn did not download or purchase any documents when at the site. He said the newspaper plans to file a lawsuit over the raid of its offices and his home.

“If they thought they were intimidating us, they were wrong,” said Meyer, who blames the stress of the raid for his mother’s death.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation continues to probe the newspaper’s actions. The KBI reports to state Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, while the Department of Revenue is under Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s authority.

Police seized computers, personal cellphones and a router from the newspaper and the publisher’s home and a laptop and iPhone from Herbel.

As of Monday, cellphones belong-

ing to the newspaper’s staff, two reporters’ computer towers and the newspaper’s main server were back in its offices, while it was still waiting for the return of four computers, two removable hard drives and a router. Those items remained with a computer forensics audit firm hired by the newspaper’s attorney, as did Herbel’s laptop and iPhone.

The auditing firm was checking the equipment for signs that materials were accessed or copied. Meyer said the paper believes police started to copy the hard drive of one computer in the newspaper’s offices but stopped and seized the equipment when that proved too slow.

Legal experts believe the police raid on the newspaper violated a federal privacy law or a state law shielding journalists from having to identify sources or turn over unpublished material to law enforcement.

Meyer has noted that among the items seized were a computer tower and personal cellphone of a reporter who was uninvolved in the dispute with the local restaurant owner— but who had been investigating why Cody left a Kansas City, Missouri, police captain’s job in April before becoming Marion police chief.

The newspaper is known for its aggressive coverage of its community, set among rolling hills that once were part of a vast sea of tall prairie grass. Some of the town’s residents believe the newspaper is too critical, a suggestion Meyer dismisses.

“I know it’s a well-run paper,” Powers said. “If you read the editorials, every week is a lecture about how horrible we are.”

Powers and Markley had an animated discussion about local politics in the hallway outside its meeting room before the meeting and again when the council had a brief closed session to talk to the city’s attorney about a matter unrelated to the raids.

“The world is watching Marion,” Markley told the City Council. “There has to be accountability for those involved.” Associated Press writers Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas, and Jim Salter in O’Fallon, Missouri, contributed to this report.

The science behind Japan’s plan to empty nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean

By Shoko Oda

TwISTEd sections of a reactor unit remain exposed at the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear plant and a crushed metal tank lies near the coastline, reminders of one of the world’s worst atomic disasters in 2011 and a response that’s already cost about 12 trillion yen ($83 billion).

Huge cranes are stationed across the site of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s wrecked facility, while some areas have been covered with giant domelike structures as work continues to manage the removal of dangerous fuel debris.

One of the most critical components of the current stage of decommissioning is much less obvious, a 10-centimeter (4 inch) wide pipe that funnels wastewater, in part generated as the stricken reactors are cooled, through a treatment process that will lead into the Pacific Ocean.

No element of Japan’s work to manage the risks from the disaster has been more contentious than its plan to start on Thursday discharging into the sea more than 1 million cubic meters of treated radioactive water — enough to fill 500 Olympicsize swimming pools — that’s currently stored in about 1,000 tanks.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday confirmed the process will start on Aug. 24 after a meeting of a cabinet panel. “If there are no issues with the weather and sea conditions, we expect the discharge to begin,” Kishida said. “The Japanese government will take responsibility to make sure the proposal is carried out safely, even if it takes decades until all of the treated

water is discharged.”

China has vociferously opposed the plans and threatened to extend curbs on imports of seafood, while Japanese companies including cosmetics brands have faced consumer boycotts. Restaurants in Hong Kong are already hurriedly seeking alternatives for the supply of some ingredients previously sourced from parts of Japan.

The ocean is “not Japan’s private sewer,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in June.

Public protests have taken place in South Korea, despite the government’s backing for Japan’s strategy. Any problems would have “an impact not just on our three countries, but all countries around the world,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said Friday at Camp David, after holding talks with Kishida and US President Joe Biden.

Releasing the vast volumes of water is necessary as storage tanks are forecast to hit capacity early next year, and because the full decommissioning of the site doesn’t allow for more giant vessels to be added. Discharges of cooling water from nuclear plants are also common practice across the industry.

“Controlled, gradual discharges of the treated water” into the Pa-

cific Ocean “would have a negligible radiological impact on people and the environment,” the International Atomic Energy Agency said last month, offering approval for Japan’s proposal after a two-year safety review.

Radiation levels at Fukushima have fallen over the past decade to the point that regular visitors are no longer required to wear fullbody protective suits. Guests must still carry a dosimeter, and cover up with long sleeves, goggles, masks and gloves. Tepco also asks those accessing the site to undergo scans to check bodily radiation before and after their visit.

A tour of the facility held last month was part of Tepco’s efforts to respond to concerns about the planned releases by presenting evidence, according to Junichi Matsumoto, the company’s chief officer for the advanced liquid processing system water management. “We are aware that there are people with a variety of opinions about this plan,” he told reporters at the site.

The process that’ll be used over about the next 30 years to release batches of the treated water about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) off the coast breaks down into four basic steps: measurement and confirmation, transfer, dilution and discharge.

Water is pumped into the facility and used to cool the damaged reactors. About 130 cubic meters of liquid—which also includes rain and groundwater—becomes contaminated each day after contact with nuclear fuel debris. It’s pumped out and processed through the advanced liquid processing system, or

ALPS, which uses a series of chemical reactions to lower concentrations of 62 radionuclides.

That process can’t remove tritium, a weakly radioactive form of hydrogen. Though it can be carcinogenic at high levels, a human would need to ingest billions of units of becquerels—a measure for radioactivity—before seeing any health effects. Water released by Tepco will have a concentration of less than 1,500 becquerels per liter.

After the initial treatment, a first series of measurements of radionuclide levels are taken before the water is moved on to vessels where it’s mixed and circulated for 144 hours. Independent analysis company Kaken Co. and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency then begin a further testing process that can last about two months.

China has complained the IAEA didn’t evaluate the long-term effectiveness of Japan’s purification equipment, and has argued that waste from a nuclear accident— rather than from the usual operation of a power plant—hasn’t previously been handled in this manner.

“We hope that the public can be reassured by the fact that it takes a long time” for the treated water to clear protocols, Kenichi Takahara, a Fukushima-based risk communicator for Tepco, told reporters during last month’s visit. The process is also deliberately slow, because Tepco is capable of releasing at most about 500 cubic meters of treated water a day—a fraction of the 510,000 cubic meters of seawater brought into the facility every 24 hours. Bloomberg

initial online search of a state website that led a central Kansas police chief to raid a local weekly newspaper was legal, a spokesperson for the agency that maintains the site said Monday, as newly released video showed the publisher’s 98-year-old mother protesting a search of their home.

Putin was meant to be at a summit in South Africa this week. Why was he asked to stay away?

The initial online search that spurred a raid on a Kansas paper was legal, a state agency says

Retailers want clear terms on single-use plastics tax

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) said imposing tax on single-use plastics (SUPs) would affect local retailers and consumers, as it highlighted the need to clarify the definition of single-use plastics in the bill.

T he excise tax on single-use plastics is one of the essential measures that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. asked Congress to prioritize in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 2023.

PRA President Roberto S. Claudio said while imposing excise tax on single-use plastic is a “good environmental direction,” the concern today lies in the definition of plastic.

“Kasi meron nang plastic na 30 percent degradable. Meron nang plastic na 50 percent degradable. So,  kung nagde -degrate, iislap-an mo pa ng tax?”

Claudio told reporters on the sidelines of the recent National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) 2023.

T he PRA president sought “more clarity,” saying, “They need to define more what plastic means. Single use, eh. Anong ibig sabihin nung single use?”  “

So, kung ‘yung plastic na gamit ko sa palengke, bumili ako ng isda, pagdating ko sa bahay hinugasan ko ’yung plastic, nilinis ko, at ginamit ko ulit. Hindi na single use ’yun. So dapat wala nang tax ‘ yun,” Claudio explained. He also noted that it is important

to clarify the definition of single-use plastic because there might be confusion in the implementation of the law once it passes through the lower and upper house.

U nder the approved version of House Bill (HB) No. 4102 or the Single-use Plastics Bags Tax Act, an excise tax of P100 will be imposed for every kilogram of SUPs removed from the place of production or released from custody of the Bureau of Customs (BOC).  S ingle-use plastics is defined by the bill as “secondary level plastics made of synthetic or semisynthetic organic polymer, such as ‘ice,’ ‘ labo ’ or ‘ sando ’ bags, with or without handle, used as packaging for goods or products.”

C laudio aired the retail industry’s concern, saying, “We’re the ones who will be hardest hit  by that tax on single-use plastic because we’re the ones selling, we wrap the goods and give them to the customer.”

T he additional cost, he noted, will eventually be shouldered by consumers.

A s an alternative solution, the head of the association of retailers in the country recommended that the gov-

AI LIKELY TO ‘AUGMENT,’ NOT DESTROY JOBS–ILO

By Patrick V. Miguel

GENERATIVE Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more likely to augment than destroy jobs through automating tasks instead of taking over a role entirely, according to a new study the International Labour Organization discovered.

ernment encourage the use of reusable or tote bags.

So instead of taxing... pag magsabi ka sa amin, dalhin mo ‘yung reusable (bag) wala kaming sisingilin sayo. Humingi ka sa akin ng plastic bag, chacharge kita so much. So, and then ’yun ’yung ibabayad ko kung the government decides to tax single-use plastic para may pambayad ako. But eventually, who will carry the burden? Consumers, right? Siya ang nagbayad,” Claudio pointed out.

Still, the PRA chief stressed that the retailers are willing to comply. However,  he said, “unless we define properly how it will be carried out, and how we will define the singleuse plastic, there’s confusion on the implementation.”

Implementation is tricky. But the idea of reducing plastic, yes we support that. Exactly how and who should shoulder the cost, that’s the  question because there are costs involved,” he explained.

T he House of Representatives of the Philippines approved on third reading a bill that seeks to impose excise tax on single-use plastic (SUP) on November 14, 2022.

Most jobs and industries are “partly exposed to automation” and most likely just complemented by AI, according to the study “Generative AI and Jobs: A global analysis of potential effects on job quantity and quality.”

T he most significant impact of AI is then not to destroy jobs but to change the quality of jobs, specifically work intensity and autonomy, according to the study.

O ne of the existing examples of AI in the study is ChatGPT, a language processing tool that can answer questions and assist people with tasks.

T he study concluded that it “depends” on how the diffusion of AI is managed, through certain policies.

“ Without proper policies in place, there is a risk that only some of the well-positioned countries and market participants will be able to harness the benefits of the transition, while the costs to affected workers could be brutal,” the study wrote.

W hat is crucial in the workplace involving AI are concerns on “power balance, voice of the workers affected by labor market adjustments, respect for existing norms and rights, and adequate use of national social protection and skills training.”

“ It is humans that are behind the decision to incorporate such technologies and it is humans that need to guide the transition process,” the authors noted.

report singles out 3 power firms for their innovativeness in RE shift House okays expanded NERS for jobs creation

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) cited ACEN Corporation, Citicore Energy REIT Corp. (CREIT), and Solar Philippines as among the power firms that have demonstrated “impressive innovativeness” in their renewable energy (RE) journey.

I n its latest report, the IEEFA said investors put a demonstrably higher value on firms that have a greater share of renewables in their business than on traditional utilities.

“ In terms of how investors view asset values, pure play renewables companies command a valuation premium over utilities having lower levels of renewables in their mix,” said Ramnath Iyer, report author and IEEFA’s Climate and Renewable Energy Finance Lead, Asia.

Valuation premiums for pure play renewables companies – as seen in their higher price-to-book ratios, stronger market valuation of installed capacity, and stock performance over the past five years – suggest that this focus on renewables as a concentrated strategy has paid off,” he added.

I nvestors value each megawatt (MW) of installed capacity at ACEN at P137 million based on the market capitalization and power generation capacity in operation as of August 4 this year, and CREIT’s renewable arm, CITICORE Renewable Energy Corp. (CREC), at P102 million per MW.

First Gen Corporation and Aboitiz Power are valued at only P26.7 million/MW and P73.7 million/MW, respectively.

I EEFA said ACEN’s valuations are likely boosted by the fact that it has taken the most initiatives to focus on renewables and to grow in both size and geography in the RE space.

ACEN has about 4,400 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia and India, with a renewable share of 98 percent, which is among the highest in the region.

Attracting financial and investor interest is also evidently easier for renewables-focused companies, particularly those that are able to execute their plans. This may explain the valuations for ACEN, which has taken the most initiatives to develop

renewables and to grow in both size and geographic presence,” the report stated.

S olar Philippines, operator of 183 MW of solar generating capacity, has rapidly moved from being a start-up in renewables in 2013 to possibly joining a global conglomerate. Its listed entity, SP New Energy Corporation, raised more than $425 million in the second quarter by selling a 43-percent stake to Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

First Gen, the Philippines’ thirdlargest independent power producer, owns the biggest renewables company, Energy Development Corporation (EDC). It owns and operates 30 power plants across the country with 2,721 MW of attributable capacity. The report noted that First Gen’s purportedly clean energy portfolio is dominated by gas, which makes the firm an ongoing case study in the energy transition as it continues to hold on to fossil fuel assets.

A boitiz Power has the Philippines’s second-largest net attributable capacity of 3,495 MW in coal, oil, geothermal and hydropower. While it has a long history of hydropower projects, its non-hydro renewables portfolio is primarily limited to geothermal power and a relatively small 59 MW solar facility. It plans to add 1GW of renewables, primarily solar energy, by end-2026.

I n the near term, though, Aboitiz Power remains more heavily geared to coal, which makes up more than 60 percent of its mix, and also has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.1 (net) and 1.5 (gross), according to the report.

Examples of successful renewables investments and other innovative mechanisms, such as REITs (real estate investment trust) and privately financed coal phaseouts and retirements, can guide regional fossil-dependent utilities to invest aggressively in renewables to stay relevant and capitalize on opportunities offered by the energy transition,” said Iyer.

“On the other hand, laggards, who stick with fossil fuel assets as their main line of business, will likely continue to see ebbing interest among investors and financial markets unless they can change and adopt some of the more successful strategies,” he added.

THE House of Representatives approved on third and final reading on Tuesday a bill seeking to institutionalize and expand the present National Employment Recovery Strategy (NERS) to a jobs-creation plan.

Voting 235-3-0, lawmakers approved House Bill (HB) 8400 or the “Trabaho para sa Pilipino Act.”

S peaker Martin Romualdez said the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the closure or downsizing of many businesses, which in turn meant the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.

Now that we are recovering gradually from the health crisis, we have to regain lost jobs and create more employment and income opportunities for our people,” Romualdez said.

H e said the expansion of NERS, created under Executive Order No. 140 into a comprehensive national jobs creation blueprint, is the House answer to the problems of unemployment and underemployment.

“ Through this plan, and with the cooperation of the concerned agencies and especially of local government units (LGUs) throughout the country, we hope to address these twin issues related to employment,” he added.

H ouse Committee on Labor chairman and Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles  said this measure allows the country to fully recover from the pandemic.

“ We need to institutionalize and expand the current National Employment Recovery Strategy, or NERS, and establish a Jobs Creation Plan (JCP), which would help us address the various labor, social, and economic issues that have cropped up during the pandemic,” Nograles said. A ccording to him, the measure would be crucial in helping Filipinos find meaningful employment.

IEEFA

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Exec: Jollibee can exceed financial goals for this year

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Richard Shin, Jollibee’s CFo, said the company was “surprised” by its performance in the first half, when its operating income rose by 50 percent despite last year’s high base.

our optimism really comes from seeing strong month after month performance in our domestic business, and also seeing some of our laggards of last year, like the Smashburger, turning around,” he said.

Early this month, Jollibee reported that its profit in the first half fell

by 6 percent to P4.69 billion from last year’s P4.99 billion. Its revenues during the period reached P164 billion, 23 percent higher than last year’s P133.12 billion.

Shin said the decline in profit was due to a one-time gain from the sale of land worth P2.9 billion recorded last year.

“The operating income line grew over 50 percent, that’s income generated from our stores. So the optimism really comes in from the fact

that we are growing the top line on a steady basis,” he said.

“So you know, again, coffee, food, we’re seeing different trends in different places. But I think it’s really coming from the fact that our bigger engines have been performing well, based on fundamentals. We’re not price discounting; we’re not taking extreme pricing either. So we’re just continuing to do what we do and seem to be gaining momentum.”

Shin said Jollibee is looking to grow systemwide sales by 15 percent to 20 percent this year, which will translate to a same-store sales growth of 7 percent to 10 percent, with its first-half results at the higher end of the guidance.

our operating income will deliver a growth somewhere of around 20 to 25 (percent). And at the end of the first half, we are in line,” he said.

“So we’re beating the guidance. Now operating income is ahead of guidance as well. So for the rest of

the year, we believe that will not only deliver guidance, but likely exceed that.”

Shin said Jollibee is still behind its targeted capital expenditure spend of P17 billion to 19 billion as it is becoming “more selective” on where to put its money.

He the company remains focused on expanding its network of stores in its main markets such as the United States, China and the Philippines.

“The total addressable market of China is just too big to ignore in terms of the food and dining space, as well as coffee and tea space,” he said.

“And for the US, no doubt, this is the number one market globally. And if we want and have the ambition, to really be right up there with the global players and continue to grow at double digits, we’re going to continue to focus on the US.”

The Philippines, meanwhile, continues to provide growth for the company, he said.

‘DXHIC to open PHL facility in Q3’

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

DXHIC, a bag manufacturer based in South China, is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia by setting up its first facility in the Philippines which could start operations by the third quarter, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DTI said this was relayed by top officials of DXHIC on the sidelines of the 2023 ASEAN-China Greater Bay Area (Qianhai) Economic Cooperation Forum during their meeting with Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, who was in the Chinese tech-hub, Shenzhen City, to join other high-level Asean trade and science and technology officials.

Citing one of the investors of Good Manufacturing PH Leathers Inc. in

Subic, the DTI said the “locational advantage” of the Philippines being situated at the heart of Asean and being near the China Greater Bay Area, along with the country’s “dependable workforce” were the key reasons for their decision to set up shop in the country.

The DTI said in a statement that the Chinese company intends to eventually export bags from their new facility in Subic to foreign clients including those from Europe.

DTI said around 1,200 Filipinos are “initially” expected to be employed by the company by the end of this year. In the medium-term, the Chinese firm will hire up to 5,000 employees in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, DTI said the Subic facility, although labor-intensive, will also feature some top-of-theline equipment to ensure the “fine

quality” of products demanded by the luxury accessories market.

For his part, Rodolfo encouraged business people, academics, and local leaders attending the Qianhai Economic Cooperation Forum to continue the “good track record” of cooperation between China Greater Bay Area and Asean.

The Trade official said Greater Bay Area firms can help with the Philippines’s “industrial transformation through science, technology and innovation,” especially as the country positions itself as Asean’s regional hub for smart manufacturing and services.

In 2022, China was the Philippines’s top trading partner. Data showed that total trade between the two countries rose by 2.32 percent to $39.14 billion last year, from $38.25 billion in 2021.

Fortune Life joins LifeConPH in Cebu

B1

Globe blocks fewer banking scams in H1

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

GL oB E Telecom Inc. said on Tuesday it has recorded a “significant decrease” in blocked bank-related scam and spam messages in the first half of the 2023.

Citing internal data, Globe said blocked bank-related scams dropped by 46 percent to 4.85 million in the first six months of the year from 9.06 million the year prior.

According to Globe Chief Information Security o f ficer Anton Bonifacio, the decline in blocked bank-related scams could be attributed to “Globe’s strategic partnerships with financial institutions.”

“This decrease in fraudulent messages signifies our steadfast commitment to protecting our consumers from online threats. It is also a testament to the power of collaboration between industry leaders and regulators in curbing cyber fraud,” he said.

Bad actors often utilize scam and spam messages to extract personal information from mobile users. o n ce in possession of this data, cybercriminals can hijack online accounts and drain funds from the victims’ bank or e-wallet accounts.

o u r partnerships with banks and financial institutions have allowed us to implement immediate and effective measures against online fraud, protecting the hardearned money of our consumers.”

Last year, Globe entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (M o U ) with the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) and signed separate agreements with major banks to facilitate a more efficient alerting mechanism, seamless data-sharing, and expeditious filtering of fraudulent activities.

Bonifacio added that Globe’s investments in “advanced technologies” and its initiative to streamline reports also helped thwart scams.

FoRTUNE Life Insurance Company took part in the first ever Life Insurance Convention Philippines (LifeConPH) with the theme, “Sparking Passion, Igniting Action” from August 9 to 11, 2023 at Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu City. The event was organized by the Life Underwriters Association of the Philippines (LUAP) and the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT) Membership

Communication Committee (MCC) Philippines.

LifeConPH aims to explore new strategies from different international and local financial experts.

Insurance Commissioner Reynaldo A. Regalado graced the event as one of the 16 invited plenary speakers.

Fortune Life representatives led by EVP and Chief operating of ficer Emma M. Abad together with SVP &

oIC-Marketing and Sales Virgilio S. Aquino, Billing and Collection Manager Maricel B. Dagan, and MDRT member Elimar R. Depamaylo, Branch Manager of Zamboanga City, received a warm welcome from the LUAP and MDRT MCC officers.

Fortune Life belongs to the umbrella of the ALC Group of Companies, founded by the late Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua.

Left photo shows (from left to right) MDRt MCC Chairman Wilson Yu, fortune Life SVP & OIC-Marketing and Sales Virgilio Aquino recognized Branch Manager elimar Depamaylo of fortune Life Zamboanga branch as an MDRt member together with 2023 National President of LUAP Phils. Christina Maciba. Right photo shows (from left to right) MDRt member Depamaylo with fortune Life eVP and COO emma Abad.

FastFood giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) said it is confident of exceeding its financial targets for this year, as it is optimistic on the rebound of the Philippine economy and other areas where it operates.

High yields sought for T-bills after BSP stance

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE national government borrowed P15 billion from its tender of Treasury bills (T-bills), snapping a two-week partial award by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) as yields fell below or near secondary market rates.

The Treasury made a full award across all the three tenors of T-bills (91day, 182-day and 364-day) at Tuesday’s auction. This the first time in three weeks and the second time this month that the Treasury was able to raise its full intended amount for T-bills tender.

The state’s T-bills auctions have been hounded by rising yields due to a confluence of events that include higher US treasury yields, rising world oil prices, and movements in the policy rates both locally and in the US.

The average yields on Tuesday’s auction were: 5.671 percent for the 91-day tenor, 5.986 percent for 182-day debt paper, and 6.334 for the 364-day government security.

The yields were below or within the vicinity of their secondary market counterparts: 5.765 percent for the 91-day, 6.0 percent for the 182-day and 6.329 percent for the 364-day.

Despite the yields moving closer to their secondary market levels, they remained higher on a weekly basis. The yields last week were: 5.671 percent for 91-day tenor, 5.986 percent for 182-day tenor and 6.334 percent for the 364day tenor.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the higher T-bills yields reflected movements in the US market as well as the recent pause by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on its policy rates.

“Mostly higher T-bill auction yields after new highs in nearly 16 years (since October 2007) for the benchmark US Treasury yield, now at 4.34 percent,” Ricafort told the BusinessMirror.

“Also after signals of hawkish pause from local monetary officials, or readiness to hike rates, if needed. As well as signals of no cut on banks’ [reserve requirement ratio] for now,” he added. Ricafort noted that “offsetting positive factors” in the coming tenders would be signs of appreciation by the Philippine peso against the greenback and correction in the global crude oil prices.

The Treasury said the T-bills auction remained oversubscribed as total bids reached P43 billion, about 2.9 times of the programmed amount.

BIR signs MOA with Nat’l Library of PHL

BSP seeks balance between credit card users, businesses

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

Based on Circular 1165, the maximum interest rate or finance charge on the unpaid outstanding credit card balance of a cardholder remains at 3 percent per month or 36 percent per year.

The BSP also said the monthly add-on rates that credit card issuers can charge on installment loans is maintained at a maximum rate of 1 percent while the maximum

processing fee on the availment of credit-card cash advances stays at P200 per transaction. The ceilings on credit card transactions are subject to review following a six-month period.

“The BSP’s decision to maintain the current ceilings on credit card transactions strikes a balance between providing consumers with access to credit card financing at steady rates and ensuring long-term

viability of banks/credit card issuers so that they can continue to provide quality service to their clients,” BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. said.

Based on the latest BSP data, credit-card receivables posted doubledigit growth of 29 percent year-onyear as of May 2023. This was higher than the 17.1 percent registered in the same period last year.

The central bank said this was on the back of firm demand for credit cards as evidenced by 34.6 percent growth in credit card billings, compared to the 28.5 percent growth in the previous year.

Amid the expansion in credit card receivables, the BSP said banks/credit card issuers maintained the quality of their credit card portfolio. Nonperforming credit card receivables as of May 2023 was lower at P23.4 billion compared to the P29.3 billion in the previous year.

Ratio of non-performing credit card receivables to credit card receivables also declined to 3.9 percent as of May 2023 from 6.3 percent Nonperforming loan (NPL) ratio last year. The central bank assured it will continue to pursue strategies to promote digitalization in the financial industry. Through the prudent use of innovation, banks/credit card issuers will be able to improve delivery of their services as well as enhance customer experience at lower operating cost.

Meanwhile, the BSP said its ongoing efforts to instill the importance of the responsible use of credit cards as part of financial literacy programs will help consumers make sound personal financial decisions. All these efforts are geared towards ensuring a resilient, dynamic and inclusive financial system, the central bank said.

Adjusting the sails: Dealing with and leading change

‘IT is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”

-Charles Darwin

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced last Tuesday that BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Library of the Philippines (NLP) on August 7 at the BIR National Office in Quezon City for the acquisition and implementation of the “KOHA Integrated Library System” (ILS).

The primary objective of the MOA is to enhance the accessibility and efficiency of library services and information access within the BIR. As part of the Agreement, the NLP will provide expert assistance in implementing the Linux operating system and Koha ILS on designated BIR desktop computer. Orientation and tutorials for selected BIR personnel on how to use the said systems will also be conducted by the NLP.

“Our collaboration with the [NLP]

will help ensure accessibility and efficiency in providing library services and access to information. This demonstrates our commitment to providing better services to the public and promoting a seamless flow of information,” Lumagui was quoted as saying in a statement from the BIR. The MOA becomes effective upon signing and will remain in effect until the completion of the agreed activities.

Also present during the MOA signing were Deputy Commissioners Teresita M. Angeles, Marissa O. Cabreros, Maridur

V. Rosario and Ma. Rosario Charo E. Curiba, Assistant Commissioner Marivic A. Galban, and Head Revenue Executive Assistant Cecilia C. Felipe. Attendees from the NLP were Director Cesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, Assistant Commissioner Edgardo B. Quiros and IT Division Chief Leonardo P. Bernabe Jr.

THE recent past has been a turbulent period. The unprecedented pandemic, the Russian adventurism in Ukraine, the Fitch downgrading of US government debt, the continuing Philippine incidents with China on claims over the Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, climate change, and more have kept all aware that things are never the same. Amidst these developments, one thing is crystal clear–Change. Change. Re-invention. Innovation. Transformation. Call it what you will, the phenomenon of change is inevitable, eternal, inescapable, and imperative. As one futurist said, change is “not merely necessary to life, Change is life itself”.

The world of business—A changing panorama

THE world of commerce and business has experienced change, perhaps more so than any other spectrum of life. Advancements in science and technology, intense global competition, access to unprecedented levels of information, and the impact of the pandemic have irredeemably transformed the way business is conducted. What has changed?

Too much has changed. And be-

ing engulfed in these changes, it is often hard to see the ‘big picture’ of change clearly. Allow me to venture on some core changes that businesses have grappled with:

Ubiquitous technology - The omnipresence of technology is the most visible change in business. Advances in information technology, telecommunications, web-based tools, connectivity, convergence, and artificial intelligence have transformed the marketplace. A business that has not adapted to technological changes cannot exist for long.

Economic power

TRADITIONALLY, productivity and profitability were assumed to move together. When a company increased its productivity, increased capacity, it earned more profits. However, the fierce competition for global economic leadership has changed the way business, trade and everything are done. Those who have strong hold on critical goods have evolved to some sort of “cartel” where the supply is “managed” and so, the prices and profits. Alignment of

nations/economies for “common goals” has been the order of the day.

Globalization

FREE trade, the interdependence of the world economies and presence of businesses with global reach have not only intensified competition but also enhanced risk. What happens in one part of the world, now significantly impacts the other. Global and local knowledge have become increasingly relevant, for a business to survive.

The “commoditization” of everything—The commoditization of products, and technologies is history. In our midst is increasingly a marketplace where services, skill sets, human resources, knowledge, and even, innovation are getting commoditized. Differentiation and climbing the value chain require incessant reinvention.

Change thyself–Adjusting the sails

THE business world has changed and it will continue to change at a faster pace. In this environment, the survival and growth of corporations will be driven by their capacity to change and constantly and consistently adapt to the environment.

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination”, a country song says. So it must be,

for businesses to survive in the world.

“Adjusting the sails” or constant adaptation to the external environment is not easy for any entity. Companies must constantly clarify their core purpose, vision and destination in the changing landscape. Based on the changing environment, companies must re-assess the structure, strategies, processes and collective behavior. Most importantly, companies need to propagate a corporate culture that embraces change and encourages innovation. And finally, large-scale change programs are successful only when they are led from the ‘top’, by committed change agent leaders, and are implemented with purpose and passion.

In the dynamic marketplace, what leaders can most give to organizations is the capability of reinvention, the corporate culture of change. A change driven leader empowers his/her company to navigate the seas, adjust its sails and reach its destination. It is then that one can truly create the desired change.

Conchita L. Manabat is the President of the Development Center for Finance. A past President of FINEX and past Chair of the International Association of Financial Executives Institutes, she serves as the Chair of the IAFEI Advisory Council. She is a member of the Consultative Advisory Groups (CAGs) of the International Auditing & Assurance Standards Board and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants.

DND chief’s proposals for MUP pension reform to be included in House bill

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

DESPITE potential opposition from economic managers, a leader of the House of Representatives said the lawmakers will accept the proposals of Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro Jr. on the substitute bill to the “Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) Pension Reform” measure.

Ad Hoc Committee on the MUP Pension System Chairman Rep. Ma. Jose Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda said since the committee already terminated proceedings, lawmakers will introduce Teodoro’s proposals as amendments during plenary deliberations instead.

Salceda said the proposals will add some P1.2 trillion more to the actuarial reserve deficiency from the current P2.2 trillion under the current substitute bill.

“I need a figure that still allows me to protect the reform’s three guarantees: guaranteed salary increase, guaranteed pension increase, and guaranteed funding source,” the law-

maker said last Tuesday. “So, moving forward, any additional proposals should bear the costs in mind.”

Teodoro has proposed to mandate new MUP to contribute 9 percent with the government counterpart at 12 percent.

Salceda said he will also “heed the request for full indexation for those who are retired and due for retirement.”

The lawmaker added “there could be some pushback from the DOF [Department of Finance] and the economic managers on the Teodoro proposal.” Salceda said he hopes “that within the executive, they will sort their position out.”

Earlier, the Ad Hoc Committee on the MUP Pension System approved the MUP reform bill, which they said was “acceptable” to all stakeholders, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, as well as economic managers.

“As Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, I would like to assure the Secretary that his requests are acceptable. We will adopt the Te-

odoro proposal of indexation for all retired and retireables and a transitioned-contribution scheme,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker explained that his job “is to get a bill that will [not only] work fiscally but is also acceptable to all stakeholders.”

Salceda said part of that job is to accommodate Teodoro’s “major concerns.”

“Not without DOF concerns, of course; but that’s for them to settle in the Cabinet.”

Salceda added lawmakers will still clarify with the DOF and the Department of National Defense exactly what the request is.

“Because we are hearing clarifications that they just want to ensure that those who have given 20 years of service or more will not pay contributions or be subject to lower indexation,” he said. “Our initial impression from the statement is that they don’t want anybody from the active service to pay any contribution or to give up any amount of indexation.” Salceda said he also would “like to

remind all stakeholders that the aim of fiscal sustainability is to ensure that the pension system is substantially preserved in a way that can still be guaranteed by the state.”

“In other words, a reform that is not too expensive but also not too disruptive,” he added.

According to the lawmaker, the Lower House is committed to approving its version on third reading as soon as possible or before August 29.

Under the committee-level proposed scheme, for the first three years of the reformed MUP pension, the government will shoulder 16 percent of the contribution, while the MUP would contribute 5 percent to fulfill the 21 percent total monthly premium for the trust fund.

In the next three years, 7 percent will come from personnel and 14 percent from the government. This sharing scheme will be updated until the seventh year, when a contribution ratio of 9 percent to 12 percent is reached.

The sharing scheme for new entrants will be 9 percent from personnel and 12 percent from the

government.

The economic team emphasized that the proposed MUP pension reform, which is a priority measure of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., is an “investment in peace and security.”

According to Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, the President has approved decreasing the contributions of the government to the pool of funds for the pension of MUP, among other reforms to avoid a fiscal collapse.

For this year alone, Diokno said the government would spend more than P120 billion (roughly $2.21 billion at current exchange rates) to fund the pensions of those serving under several state institutions. The latter are: the Armed Forces of the Philippines; the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; the Bureau of Fire Protection; the Philippine National Police; the Philippine Public Safety College; the Philippine Coast Guard; and, the Bureau of Corrections.

THE Monetary Board decided to retain the existing ceilings on credit card transactions, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

FinEx FrEE EnTErprisE Conchita L. Manabat

This photo courtesy of the Bureau of internal Revenue (BiR) shows BiR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. (fifth from left) with officials from the BiR and the National Library of the Philippines after the signing of an agreement between the two institutions.

Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Internal revenue

Michael Jackson sexual abuse lawsuits revived by appeals court

“it would be perverse to find no duty based on the corporate defendant having only one shareholder. And so we reverse the judgments entered for the corporations.”

Jonathan Steinsapir, attorney for the Jackson estate, said they were “disappointed.”

Two distinguished trial judges repeatedly dismissed these cases on numerous occasions over the last decade because the law required it,” Steinsapir said in an email to The Associated Press “We remain fully confident that Michael is innocent of these allegations, which are contrary to all credible evidence and independent corroboration, and which were only first made years after Michael’s death by men motivated solely by money.”

Vince Finaldi, an attorney for Robson and Safechuck, said in an email that they were “pleased but not surprised” that the court overturned the previous judge’s “incorrect rulings in these cases, which were against California law and would have set a dangerous precedent that endangered children throughout state and country. We eagerly look forward to a trial on the merits.”

Steinsapir had argued for the defense in July that it does not make sense that employees would be legally required to stop the behavior of their boss. “It would require low-level employees to confront their supervisor and call them pedophiles,” he said.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Jeremy Lin, 35; Scott Caan, 47; Shelley Long, 74; Barbara Eden, 92.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Slow down, think matters through and build a solid foundation this year. Plan every move and follow through with strength, courage and facts to ensure you reach your target and maintain your reputation. Refuse to let emotions step in and take over when dealing with sensitive issues that can affect your personal or professional life. Make every word and move count. Your lucky numbers are 8, 14, 17, 26, 34, 39, 45.

aARIES (March 21-April 19): Be careful who you trust with personal information. Choose a healthy lifestyle and a minimalist attitude to avoid overindulgence due to hasty decisions. Honesty is the best way to handle situations that compromise your position. HHH

bTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Think and act, and you’ll make headway. Mix business with pleasure, and your connections will amplify your chances to advance. Refuse to give in to a temptation that might tarnish your reputation or give someone a chance to make you look bad. HHH

cGEMINI (May 21-June 20): Get the facts; don’t a ct on hearsay. Your reputation will be at risk if y ou are too quick to judge or respond. Evaluate your lifestyle, looks and direction, and adjust anything slowing you down or causing you grief. Improve your surroundings. HHH

dCANCER (June 21-July 22): Spend more time on details and honoring promises. The help you give others will offer unexpected rewards and assure that you’ll receive the same kind of treatment n return. An offer will tempt you, but don’t take on more than you can handle. HHHHH

MICHAEL JACKSON arrives at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, California on May 25, 2005. A California appeals court on August 18, 2023, revived lawsuits from two men who allege Michael Jackson sexually abused them for years when they were boys. The Santa Maria Times via AP

By Andrew Dalton

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES—A California appeals court last week revived lawsuits from two men who allege Michael Jackson sexually abused them for years when they were boys.

A three-judge panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the lawsuits of Wade Robson and James Safechuck should not have been dismissed by a lower court, and that the men can validly claim that the two Jackson-owned corporations that were named as defendants in the cases had a responsibility to protect them. A new California law that temporarily broadened the scope of sexual abuse cases enabled the appeals court to restore them.

It’s the second time the lawsuits—brought

by Robson in 2013 and Safechuck the following year—have been brought back after dismissal. The two men became more widely known for telling their stories in the 2019 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland A judge who dismissed the suits in 2021 found that the corporations, MJJ Productions Inc. and MJJ Ventures Inc., could not be expected to function like the Boy Scouts or a church where a child in their care could expect their protection. Jackson, who died in 2009, was the sole owner and only shareholder in the companies.

T he higher court judges disagreed, writing that “a corporation that facilitates the sexual abuse of children by one of its employees is not excused from an affirmative duty to protect those children merely because it is solely owned by the perpetrator of the abuse.” They added that

because of his alleged womanizing so his latest actions are puzzling, to say the least.

HER COLORFUL LOVE LIFE

Holly Boyer, another attorney for Robson and Safechuck, countered that the boys “were left alone in this lion’s den by the defendant’s employees. An affirmative duty to protect and to warn is correct.”

Robson, now a 40-year-old choreographer, met Jackson when he was 5 years old. He went on to appear in three Jackson music videos. His lawsuit alleged that Jackson molested him over a seven-year period.

Safechuck, now 45, said in his suit that he was 9 when he met Jackson while filming a Pepsi commercial. He said Jackson called him often and lavished him with gifts before moving on to sexually abusing him.

T he Associated Press does not typically name people who say they were victims of sexual abuse. But Robson and Safechuck have come forward and approved of the use of their identities.

eLEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep tabs on what’s happening around you. Don’t overplay a situation or act hastily. Time is on your side, and patience will pay off. Spend more time on selfimprovement instead of trying to convince others to change. Refuse to let jealousy ruin your day. HH

f(Aug. 23-Sept. 22) : Don’t share secrets or offer unnecessary information. Using experience, you must decide what’s in y our best interest based on the changes you make. Trips and educational pursuits will end up going over budget. HHHH

gLIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Put your best foot forward and network. The connections you make will offer suggestions that tap into your strategy for what’s to come and how to make the most of what you’ve got. The gestures you make will determine the support you receive. HHH

hSCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): A partnership looks better than anticipated. Do your due diligence, and you’ll clear your mind of any anxiety about changes. Your dedication will not go unnoticed, and an extended invitation is one you should c onsider. Tidy up loose ends. HHH

FLASHER

THERE’S a story going around that a certain older actor has been flashing people in public restrooms—and he isn’t flashing women, but men and gays. He doesn’t do it everywhere and anywhere, just in his home studio. This is strange because everyone there knows him, so now they just see him as a pervert. The actor is also known to be heterosexual and is, in fact, married to a woman. He and his wife recently had some marital troubles

THE actress and her boyfriend are said to have broken up. Showbiz observers who know the tea ask, “which boyfriend?” as the actress is alleged to be the mistress of a powerful politician. The actress has had a colorful love life, even if she’s been in only two official relationships in recent years. Her most recent ex is a businessman but she is alleged to be the powerful politician’s mistress. There’s a story going around that the businessman ex is just someone the actress met randomly and whom she “spruced up” so that he’d look decent. According to the grapevine, the actress would pay for everything in the relationship, including the guy’s house.

EMBRACING HER FLAWS

WHEN the starlet was in high school, she already had her nose done. Naturally, her classmates would talk about it because the starlet’s appearance really

drastically improved. What the starlet would do is confront her classmates to insist that her nose is natural. These were normal high school pettiness. It’s funny though that the actress now admits that she indeed had rhinoplasty when she was younger and she even says there’s nothing to be ashamed of if you want to have it done.

STRAYING HUSBAND

WHEN this power couple still didn’t have kids, they had no female helpers at home. That was because the wife was afraid of her husband falling in love with any of them. Recently, pictures are circulating of the husband on trips with another woman. The supposed other is also rich and well-educated so the wife is afraid that he would leave her and their children, just like one of his relatives did to his wife and kids. The wife is beautiful and famous but she knows that that isn’t enough to hold a husband who wants to be with other women. This is the not first time that the husband has strayed but this time, he seems to be very much in love with the other woman.

iSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Revisit how you present yourself to the world, and consider sporting a trendy new look. Fitting in will position you to get the support you require to get things done on time. Don’t count on others; oversee a nd redo if necessary. HHH

jCAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) : Take advantage of whatever comes your way; your efficiency will lead to victory. Your instincts a re on target, and your ability to manipulate situations to suit your needs is extraordinary. Don’t b e afraid to do things differently. HHHH

kAQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Keep moving forward, regardless of what others do or say. Don’t venture down a path to avoid friction. It’s up to you to make decisions that h elp you forge ahead instead of fast-forwarding someone else’s agenda. Take better care of yourself a nd your loved ones. HH

lPISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A detailed plan will go hand in hand with getting what you want and when. Stay focused on your end game and remain intent on strategically putting everything in its place. Don’t let temptation stand between you and what’s best for you. HHHHH

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are sensitive, bighearted and smart. You are protective and responsive.

‘totaled cost’ BY ADAM SIMPSON

The

Avoiding victim mentality

IWAS talking to my nephew the other week, and I asked him why he had a low grade in some of his subjects. He explained that he had tough teachers and equally difficult final exams. I asked him what he was going to do about it if he had another difficult teacher or his exams became more challenging. That got him thinking and it forced him to think of solutions. I got him to commit to improving his grades by forcing him to think of what he could do, rather than focusing on what he was dealt with.

Many people in the workplace are like my nephew. They think and feel that instead of doing something about their situation, they play victim and blame others or their circumstances rather than do something about their condition. But why do people play victim?

Some people play victim because they like the attention and sympathy from their learned helplessness. Bad behavior is rewarded with coddling and a lot of handholding. Essentially, they deflect the consequences of their actions by blaming everybody but themselves. And because they cannot take accountability for their actions, they avoid taking risks by passing on the responsibility to others. People also play the victim because they are too lazy to look for solutions to their problems. More often, they feel that life has always been unfair to them and whatever they do, they will end up miserable, thus perpetuating the vicious cycle of a selffulfilling prophecy. The worst part is, they attract people who think like they do. And when placed in leadership positions, they lack the self-confidence to rally others because they feel that whatever they do, they will always fail.

When people play victim at work, they will always find a way to blame others for their shortcomings. If they lead a team, they create an environment where people lack accountability and ownership of their work. In a relationship, they will lean towards meaningless ones because they will always find blame in circumstances. Their partners will find it hard to trust them because they will not own up to their mistakes and they will always use their circumstances as an excuse for their bad behavior. If you find yourself often blaming others for your mistake, you might be suffering from victim mentality.

A significant reason why people play the victim is the thinking that they will never be good enough.

To overcome thinking like a victim, write down your accomplishments in a journal or on a piece of paper to remind yourself of what you have accomplished. This will also help you remember what you had to do to succeed, which in turn will motivate you to keep pushing yourself.

To boost your confidence, start small by volunteering for simple projects until you feel confident about yourself. Small wins help keep your morale

up until you find your footing. This will also help you develop the foundational skills for bigger projects and help you discover your strengths and identify your opportunities for growth so you can work on them in the future.

It goes without saying that you need to start taking responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, own up to it. Part of growth is understanding what you need to do to improve. If you stop growing and discovering better ways of doing things, you will resort to old patterns and habits which will yield the same results. But if you want to excel, you need to take risks by doing something new to get a different result. And if you fail, take it as an opportunity to learn what can be done better the next time.

It also goes without saying to stop blaming others for your mistakes. There will be times when it really is other people’s fault, but focus on the aspects where you have control. My nephew was focusing on what he was dealt with, which he does not have control. What he can control are his reactions and what he can do so that he can have a better grade. When I asked him to focus on his end goal, he realized that there are things he can do even if he was given a challenging teacher or a difficult exam. When you focus on the things you can do, it becomes easier to take control of your situation and

accept that there is only so much you can do. It also becomes easier to think of what you can do better, and to start thinking of solutions rather than finding someone to blame. You also need to accept that you cannot control other people, but you can control how you react to them. To stop blaming others, look at what is within your control and what you can do if it happens again. It will become easier to accept the things that you cannot control when you understand that other people cannot be blamed for your reactions. They can trigger you and make you feel bad, but how you respond to them is absolutely within your control. The moment you allow them to trigger you into doing something you do not like, then they have control over you. You need to learn how to keep your emotions and reactions in check.

One way to take control back of your reactions is learning how to say “no”. Saying “no” not only helps you walk away from people who trigger you to react unnecessarily, but also protects you from committing to do more. Part of the reason for playing the victim is taking on more that you could possibly do, and then blaming your manager and other people for the results. Developing healthy and clear boundaries can help you take your life back in your hands and choose those that make you happy and content. Taking control of your life begins with an under-

Stay fit at home regardless of weather conditions

UNPREDICTABLE weather patterns can often hinder individuals from visiting the gym or engaging in outdoor activities, especially now that the rainy season is here.

Recognizing this challenge, Santé, a premier natural health and wellness product and service provider, introduces a range of indoor workout routines, ensuring individuals can stay fit and healthy regardless of the weather. These exercises are easy, convenient, and require minimal equipment since they can be performed in the comfort of your home, allowing individuals to maintain their fitness goals. H ere are five easy indoor exercises recom-

mended by Santé:

n Stationary walking. This exercise serves as an excellent alternative to outdoor walks, requiring only a pair of shoes and some uplifting music. It is a perfect starting point for individuals looking to incorporate regular exercise into their routine, even during monsoon season. Stationary walking is also a safe exercise option for pregnant women.

n On-spot jogging. This fun activity allows individuals to burn calories like normal jogging, without leaving their homes. All that is needed is a pair of running shoes and comfortable clothing for unrestricted movement.

n Planking, squats, pull-ups. Strength training exercises using body weight can be performed at home and offer benefits such as improved bone density, increased muscle mass, and effective weight management.

n Mat pilates. This activity is a holistic exercise form that focuses on concentration, precise movement patterns, and controlled breathing. By engaging abdominal and lower back muscles, pilates helps strengthen the core, improves flexibility and posture, and promotes relaxation. All that is required is a mat and comfortable clothing to fully enjoy the benefits of this exercise.

n Yoga. This is an excellent exercise that enhances flexibility, promotes inner peace, and aids in weight loss. Practicing yoga indoors on a yoga mat, wearing comfortable clothing, allows individuals to experience various poses and breathing exercises that contribute to overall well-being.

Aside from engaging in indoor exercises, it is important to fuel the body with healthy drinks. Santé emphasizes the significance of consuming nutritious beverages, such as Santé’s Fit N’ Trim. This 3-in-1 fat burner and energy booster serves as your reliable fitness partner.

At Santé, we are dedicated to helping individuals live healthier lives by providing natural health and wellness products. So, if you want to take control of your diet and physical activity, Santé’s Fit

N’ Trim is an excellent choice,” says Joey Marcelo, CEO of Santé. “With organic barley grass providing fiber to keep you feeling fuller for longer, and the combined benefits of green tea, L-Carnitine, and lemon, Fit N’ Trim supports weight loss and enhances physical performance.”

Visit mySanté.com to experience the benefits of Santé’s Fit N’ Trim and explore the wide range of Santé health and wellness offerings.

standing that there are things you can control and things you cannot control. For the things you cannot control, you need to learn to accept. For the things you can control, you need to know how to use them to your advantage. Do this again and again until you become comfortable with the idea that you are the product of the choices you make every day.

Social media algorithms warp how people learn from each other

PEOPLE’S daily interactions with online algorithms affect how they learn from others, with negative consequences including social misperceptions, conflict and the spread of misinformation, research shows.

People are increasingly interacting with others in social media environments where algorithms control the flow of social information they see. Algorithms determine in part which messages, which people and which ideas social media users see. On social media platforms, algorithms are mainly designed to amplify information that sustains engagement, meaning they keep people clicking on content and coming back to the platforms. Evidence suggests that a side effect of this design is that algorithms amplify information people are strongly biased to learn from. This information is called “PRIME,” for prestigious, in-group, moral and emotional information.

In our evolutionary past, biases to learn from PRIME information were very advantageous: Learning from prestigious individuals is efficient because these people are successful and their behavior can be copied. Paying attention to people who violate moral norms is important because sanctioning them helps the community maintain cooperation.

But what happens when PRIME information becomes amplified by algorithms and some people exploit algorithm amplification to promote themselves? Prestige becomes a poor signal of success because people can fake prestige on social media. Newsfeeds become oversaturated with negative and moral information so that there is conflict rather than cooperation.

The interaction of human psychology and algorithm amplification leads to dysfunction because social learning supports cooperation and problem-solving, but social media algorithms are designed to increase engagement. We call this mismatch functional misalignment.

One of the key outcomes of functional misalignment in algorithm-mediated social learning is that people start to form incorrect perceptions of their social world. For example, recent research suggests that when algorithms selectively amplify more extreme political views, people begin to think that their political in-group and out-group are more sharply divided than they really are. Such “false polarization” might be an important source of greater political conflict.

Functional misalignment can also lead to greater spread of misinformation. A recent study suggests that people who are spreading political misinformation leverage moral and emotional information–for example, posts that provoke moral outrage–in order to get people to share it more. When algorithms amplify moral and emotional information, misinformation gets included in the amplification.

A key question is what can be done to make algorithms foster accurate human social learning rather than exploit social learning biases. New research centers on new algorithm designs that increase engagement while also penalizing PRIME information. This might maintain user activity that social media platforms seek, but also make people’s social perceptions more accurate. THE CONVERSATION

AFFI Participates in FL Asia 2023, Elevating Global Expansion Opportunities for Filipino Franchisers

Assist and Assistance Concept Inc. is acquired by MPT Mobility Corp.

MPT Mobility Corp., the technology-forward, innovations arm of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), is excited to announce the successful acquisition of Assist and Assistance Concept Inc. (AACI), a company wholly-owned by AXA Partners Holding SA. This strategic move reinforces MPT Mobility Corporation’s commitment to improving the mobility landscape in the country by providing comprehensive technology-based solutions which address transport and mobility challenges and enhance the travel experience of motorists and commuters.

AACI is a leading provider of subscription-based roadside assistance and has been operating in the Philippines since 2011. In addition to its flagship roadside assistance solutions, AACI also offers Travel and Medical Assistance and other essential offerings, catering to the diverse needs of its esteemed clientele.

Ronald Carrillo, AACI CEO, stated: “We look forward to coming under the management and guidance of MPT Mobility. With the combination of our expertise and the MPT Mobility capabilities, our clients will benefit from a holistic mobility ecosystem.”

Rodrigo Franco, MPT Mobility’s Director, emphasized the mutual benefits of the deal, stating: “The acquisition of AACI is a win-

win for the parties involved and their respective teams. It enables the provision of service to a broader market, including B2C clients; while bringing MPT Mobility a step closer to its goals of providing an expanded mobility ecosystem centered on improving customer experience.”

The acquisition also enhances AACI’s market position as a leading player in the roadside assistance market while empowering MPT Mobility Corporation to augment its mobility solutions for key urban centers across the country.

AACI will operate under MPT Mobility’s Smart Mobility Solutions Division headed by Vice President Mark Richmund De Leon.

Araneta City completes Gateway Square with new mall, hotel

THE Araneta Group completes the Gateway Square complex with the launch of its final two components:

The New Gateway Mall 2 and Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City.

The P5-billion new mall, the muchawaited expansion of Araneta City’s flagship retail development, covers more than 100,000 square meters and over 11 levels of additional choices for shopping, dining, entertainment and leisure in the City of Firsts.

“The New Gateway Mall 2 promises to be like no other mall in the world. This is the latest in our ongoing efforts to keep providing more memorable firsts in the City of Firsts,” Lorna Fabian, VP for Leasing of the Araneta Group, said.

Meanwhile, Ibis Styles Manila Araneta Center, the first hotel under the Ibis Styles brand in the Philippines, is also expected to be open very soon. Situated adjacent to the New Gateway Mall 2, the P2-billion hotel will be operated by the international hospitality brand AccorHotels, the same company that manages Novotel Manila Araneta City.

These two developments complete the 400,000 square-meter mixed-use Gateway Square superblock which already includes the Gateway Mall, Gateway Office,

Gateway Tower, Novotel Manila, the iconic Smart Araneta Coliseum, and the Parking Garage South Building.

The New Gateway Mall 2 enhances Araneta City’s breadth and depth of choices in fashion and accessories, recreation and entertainment, health and wellness, and gadgets and gaming from local and international brands in over 400 outlets. It also expands the choices for quick bites, family fare, traditional comfort food, concept restaurants, regional cuisine and bars and lounges to over 150 dining options.

Other mall features include a 1,000-capacity church on the roof deck, sensory and culinary gardens, the 3,700 square-meter Shopwise International Grocery Shopping, and one-of-a-kind LED-powered Quantum Skyview for various activities and events, all in one establishment that interconnects the MRT and LRT stations and straddles the Big Dome, Gateway offices, the Novotel and Ibis Styles hotels, Gateway shopping and parking facilities.

Also, the public can now access the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum through doorways located inside the New Gateway Mall 2. This makes the New Gateway Mall 2 the only mall in the country that is directly

connected to an indoor arena.

Ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, the modern, creative, and trendy member of the Ibis brand family, will have almost 300 guest rooms and six function rooms for meetings and conferences. Its roof deck will feature an overhanging swimming pool and a bar that overlooks the Metro Manila skyline and the stunning Manila Bay sunset.

With these new developments, Araneta City’s Gateway Square is expected to provide opportunities for a break from the routine. The superblock will have a total of 18 cinemas with VIP lounges, over 3,000 parking spaces and convenient links to attractions such as air-conditioned indoor floating garden The Oasis, the openair Toplary Park and the arts sanctuary Gateway Gallery.

In all, the Gateway Square boasts of a bustling complex with two shopping malls, two office towers, two hotels, a parking building, and a coliseum right at the very heart of Metro Manila.

“These new properties revitalize the Integrated Gateway Square, a development that offers opportunities for an experience you can personalize yourself in a thoroughly modern and contemporary environment,” Fabian said.

THE Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc (AFFI) recently joined the esteemed FL Asia 2023 event in Singapore for the second consecutive year. This event served as a valuable platform for AFFI members to gain global exposure, learn from industry experts, and expand their businesses internationally.

AFFI President Jaypee Morales expressed his enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing its significance for the association and its members. By participating in FL Asia, AFFI members acquired valuable insights and knowledge from industry leaders, establish connections with franchisers worldwide, and explore potential collaborations.

FL Asia 2023 provided AFFI members with a unique opportunity to showcase their businesses and products to a global audience. This exposure enabled them to promote their franchises to potential investors and customers from various countries, facilitating expansion beyond the borders of the Philippines.

The event focused on sharing the latest trends, innovations, and strategies in the franchising industry. Participants attended seminars, workshops, and panel discussions conducted by renowned speakers and industry experts, covering topics such as franchise development, marketing strategies, operational excellence, and international expansion.

AFFI’s participation in FL Asia reflected their commitment to supporting their members’ global expansion endeavors. By leveraging the insights gained from this event, AFFI aims to equip their members with

the necessary tools and knowledge to thrive in the global franchising landscape. Overall, AFFI’s involvement in FL Asia 2023 showcased their dedication to promoting the franchising sector in the Philippines and providing their members with opportunities to expand their businesses globally. Through events like these, AFFI continues to empower their members with the knowledge, resources, and connections essential for success in the competitive world of franchising.

PhilHealth reminds members that it covers confinements for dengue and leptospirosis

THE Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has reiterated its coverage for dengue and leptospirosis which are prevalent during the rainy season after the Department of Health reported more than 80,000 cases of dengue and over 2,000 cases of leptospirosis in the country as of July 15, 2023.

Dengue produces flu-like symptoms that can quickly escalate into severe complications, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly, while leptospirosis is a disease transmitted through exposure to water contaminated by the leptospira bacteria that can lead to severe symptoms and potentially life-threatening complications if left untreated.

PhilHealth pays P10,000 for confinements due to dengue fever with or without warning signs, and P16,000 for severe dengue. For hospitalizations due to leptospirosis, PhilHealth pays P11,000. The state agency said that as of June 5, 2023, it paid more than P700 million for 76,000 dengue claims; and P19 million for 1,654 leptospirosis claims nationwide.

“All Filipinos have PhilHealth benefits

if they are hospitalized for dengue or leptospirosis,” PhilHealth’s Chief Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. said, adding that all Filipinos are immediately eligible for the benefits in case they need them as mandated by the Universal Health Care Law.

He also urged the public to take the necessary precautions to avoid dengue and leptospirosis through good personal hygiene, proper sanitation, by not wading in flood waters if possible, and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. He further emphasized the importance of seeking medical attention once signs and symptoms are observed. “Let’s not ignore the symptoms of dengue and leptospirosis because they are dangerous diseases. Get yourself checked immediately and get yourself confined if needed because PhilHealth will shoulder the cost,” he asserted.

Moreover, Ledesma urged the public to register or update their records with the agency to ensure hassle-free availment. “To make it easier for you to avail of your benefits, I encourage those who have not yet registered to register with PhilHealth. Our offices are open so we can serve you.”

Fi Asia Thailand & Vitafoods Asia 2023: Don‘t miss this Game-Changing Combo next month in Bangkok

BANGKOK is the place to be this September! From September 20 to 22, 2023, two big names, Fi Asia Thailand and Vitafoods Asia, are teaming up at QSNCC.

If you’re in the food, drink, and nutraceuticals business, this is for you.

Fi Asia Thailand 2023 offers an unmissable deep dive into the ASEAN food and beverage industry. Expect a dynamic gathering of over 600 international exhibitors from 40+ countries, unveiling the latest in ingredients and solutions. With the co-location with Vitafoods Asia, you have a golden chance to connect with a broader spectrum of professionals, amplifying your opportunities for new partnerships, trends, and markets.

Vitafoods Asia 2023 is set to cater to the escalating demand in the nutraceutical sector.

The emphasis on health and wellness is on a meteoric rise, with nutraceuticals leading the way. Given Asia’s projected nutraceutical industry growth to a whopping USD 229 billion by 2026, there’s no better time to tap

into this booming market. Engage with over 460+ exhibit companies that are poised to shape the future of the nutraceutical industry.

Three packed days of:

Networking: Connect with the industry leader of the F&B and nutraceutical worlds. Innovations: Discover state-of-the-art ingredients, products, equipment, and services.

Learning: Benefit from expert-led seminars, technical presentations, and business insights.

Exploration: Scout new ingredients, extend your product line, and discover emerging trends.

Event Details:

When: 20-22 September 2023

Where: Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Bangkok, Thailand.

Fi Asia - G floor, Hall 1-4

Vitafoods Asia - LG floor, Hall 5-7

For more information visit: Fi Asia: www.fiasia.com, Vitafoods Asia: www. vitafoodsasia.com

PRESENT during the closing signing at the Novotel Hotel in Quezon City, were seated from left to right, Rod Franco, MPT Mobility Director; Rogelio Singson, MPTC President; Silvain Villeroy de Galhau, AXA Partners Holding SA CFO; Ronald Carrillo, AACI CEO. Standing from left to right are Mayen Ligot, MPT Mobility AVP for Human Resources; Donald Saurombe, MPT Mobility AVP for Business Development; Lendl Tan Monterola, AACI HR Manager; Marissa Estacio, AACI Motor Business Unit Head; Annie Dela Cruz, AACI Customer Relations and Sales Officer; Mona Sanson, MPT Mobility VP for Finance; and Mark de Leon, MPT Mobility VP for Smart Mobility Solutions.

BusinessMirror

Data centers: A shining star in the property sector

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

As more companies digitize and turn to cloud platforms for seamless operations, JLL head of research and consultancy Janlo Delos Reyes said the property management firm believes the increased reliance online will translate to greater data consumption that will boost demand for data centers in the future. “Altogether, the abovementioned factors point towards the Philippines’ prospects as an attractive destination for data centers in the years to come.”

Sustainability and data centers

L E ADIN g f iber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc., responded promptly to the call of sustainability by switching to 100% clean energy to run its data center in Angeles City, Pampanga which is owned and operated by its parent company, ComClark Network and Technologies Corp.

“As part of our green initiatives and overall sustainability commitment, we are progressively moving towards the use of renewable energy in our operations. Data centers which operate 24/7 require a lot of cooling and thus, consume a lot of energy. This is the reason why we need to ensure that our power requirement

comes from renewable sources like geothermal energy so that it will have less impact on the environment,” said Converge CEO Dennis Anthony Uy.

“Converge is continuously looking for ways to further reduce its carbon footprint as we have always believed that we need to protect the environment for our business to be sustainable and continue to flourish,” Uy stressed.

Converge announced the bold initiative on Earth Day 2022, underscoring its commitment to ensure a livable planet and environmental sustainability.

The company also recently entered into a supply contract with First g e n subsidiary, g re encore g e othermal, to secure 14.4MW of geothermal energy for two years (or 7.2 MW per year) until 2024 for the Pampanga data center. The contract was availed under the government’s Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) as mandated by the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) and with g r eencore in compliance with the Department of Energy’s Renewable Portfolio Standards.

Two years ago, Converge concluded a similar agreement with Lopez Holdings’ First g e n, con

tracting 48 MW of geothermal energy until 2023 for the company’s headquarters in Pasig, Metro Manila which also houses a data center.

Converge has switched to 100 percent clean energy to run its data center in Angeles City, Pampanga which is owned and operated by its parent company, ComClark Network and Technologies Corp.

Uy pointed out that the ‘greening’ company operations is among the key principles of the Con -

verge sustainability framework, under the pillar of ‘ g i ving Back to Our Planet’. Furthermore, the sustainability framework is now integrated in the overall company strategy to ensure Converge remains aligned with environmental, economic, social, and governance goals as it pursues company growth.

aWS’ road to net zero carbon

T HE I nternational Energy Agency identified cloud-enabled tech -

nologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), edge computing, data lakes, and real-time, big data analytics—as being critical to accelerating systemic transformations at scale. Furthermore Organizations around the world, including in developing countries, are already leveraging the power of the cloud to modernize and drive sustainability solutions.

Ken Haig, Head of Energy and

Environmental Policy for Amazon Web Services (AWS), Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, said that the Jeff Bezos-controlled Amazon is committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 as part of The Climate Pledge—10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

“As part of The Climate Pledge, Amazon is on a path to power its operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2025, five years ahead of the initial 2030 target. AWS is making progress to meet its commitment to be water positive by 2030, focusing on efficiency across all aspects of our infrastructure, and reducing waste,” he told the BusinessMirror in an email interview.

Haig said the country has to seize the opportunity to lead the digitalization efforts of the region, especially as there is a big push towards cloud computing.

“Cloud aligns with digital initiatives such as the Philippine Digital Roadmap which aims to make the country a regional leader in digital transformation. Filipino organizations are moving to the cloud to take advantage of its benefits—agility, cost savings, elasticity, innovation and the ability to deploy globally in minutes,” Haig said during a recent online press briefing.

CitadineS Benavidez JoinS the Makati SkyLine Experience the Ultimate City Lifestyle at Soon-To-Rise Citadines Benavidez Makati

MANILA, Philippines—The Ascott

Limited

Philippines has announced the opening of Citadines Benavidez Makati, located in the heart of Makati City. The latest addition to the Citadines brand will complement the mix of Ascott’s properties in Makati which include Ascott Makati, Somerset Millennium Makati, Citadines Salcedo Makati, Somerset Central Salcedo Makati, and the soon-to-open Somerset Valero Makati. The property offers a vibrant and comfortable living experience, equipped with top-notch facilities that cater to the needs of modern travelers.

Citadines Benavidez Makati caters to the lifestyle of active guests who collectively share a love for experiencing the city. The property offers 207 units, ranging from Studio Deluxe, Studio Premier, One-Bedroom Deluxe, Two-Bedroom Deluxe, and Two-Bedroom Premier. Each unit boasts a modern design and is equipped with a kitchen, comfortable bedding, high-speed Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs.

Once guests are ready to take on the city, Citadines’ own Citazens are on standby to provide guests with the best tips to ensure

everyone gets the ultimate local city experience. The Citazens also double up as baristas, so coffee lovers looking for a quick caffeine fix can count on these amazing people to always satisfy and deliver. The property is equipped with a wide range of amenities that allow guests to enjoy themselves without leaving the comfort of the property. It’s all-day dining restaurant offers a wide selection of local and international cuisines, perfect for travelers looking to indulge in a culinary adventure. For business travelers, Citadines

Benavidez Makati also features a meeting room that can accommodate up to 20 people, complete with audiovisual equipment and high-speed Wi-Fi. Fitness enthusiasts who want to get a quick workout can easily put their routine at the Fitness Corner or take a dip in the Swimming Pool, which is both conveniently placed on the property’s rooftop overlooking the breathtaking view of the city. For those looking to keep their clothes clean and fresh, the launderette is readily available on-site.

“We are thrilled to open the

new Citadines Benavides Makati as part of our continued commitment to providing world-class accommodations and services to our guests,” said Philip Barnes, Country g e neral Manager for The Ascott Limited Philippines. “Our latest property in Benavidez is strategically located in the heart of Makati City, providing guests with convenient access to key business and leisure destinations. It is also designed to complement other Ascott properties in the area, including Ascott Makati, Somerset Millennium Makati, Citadines Salcedo Makati, Somerset Central Salcedo Makati, and the soonto-open Somerset Valero Makati. Together, these properties offer a range of options for travelers looking for serviced residences in the central business district of Makati.”

Citadines Benavidez Makati is set to open its doors in September 2023 and will mark another milestone achievement for The Ascott Limited as they continue to grow in the Philippines.

For reservations and updates about The Ascott Limited’s Citadines properties, visit the official website and its social media pages in Facebook and Instagram.

Pro P erty giant Megaworld officially broke ground for the 17-story residential condominium tower one Crown Suites within the 3-hectare Winford resort in Sta. Cruz, Manila. o ffering 389 “smart home” units that all feature its own balcony, one Crown Suites is perfect for students and professionals working in Manila since it will be surrounded by colleges and universities within the University Belt. Shown in the photo leading the groundbreaking ceremony is Wilson Sy, special adviser on Chinatown affairs, Megaworld (center). also joining him were (left to right): Paul Chan, marketing manager, Megaworld Manila; Steve velmonte, sales director, Megaworld Manila; vic tor Solidum, senior assistant vice president and head of training and digital, Megaworld Manila; engr. Jennie torio, senior construction manager, Megaworld; engr. Carlo Cuenco, project manager, one Crown Suites; ken tee, sales director, Megaworld Manila; Paulo Guevara, sales director, Megaworld Manila; and engr. dominique olandesca, project manager, Bauer Foundation Philippines.

Last of two parts

Aside from a big number of internet users, strong social media and e-commerce adoption, the Philippines government’s strong support to cloud computing has ensured that the country will be another option for investors to invest in data centers.

ConverG e engineers check out the latest data at its data center

ConverG e Ceo dennis anthony Uy

a d rone shot of an amazon data center

Citadine S Benavidez photo renders

Team USA strikes blend of focus, fun in FIBA World Cup

By Tim Reynolds

The Associated Press

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates—This was the last act of the World Cup preseason for Team USA.

A few hours before flying to the Philippines on Monday for its World Cup stay, a good portion of the USA Basketball travel party—some players and family members, along with coaches and staff—visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, a magnificent center of worship that has seen the likes of Pope Francis, President Joe Biden, King Charles III and Rihanna shed their shoes to step on its gleaming white marble floor in recent years.

M ikal Bridges and Cam Johnson posed for photos with tour guides.

Erik Spoelstra marveled at what he saw. Steve Kerr got a bunch of pictures with his wife. And when the tours were done, nobody was in a hurry to leave.

“ I had to see the mosque,” Kerr, the US coach for the World Cup, said earlier in the week. “It looks amazing.”

It is, after all, vacation time in the National Basketball Association (NBA). And USA Basketball went to great lengths to ensure that there would be a work-life balance for those who committed six weeks of their time with hopes of getting the Americans back atop the international stage.

S ome who made the trip halfway around the world to be part of the experience have ridden camels.

Others went to the Ferrari World amusement park, some played golf, some shopped or visited the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

There was plenty of time to chill at the pool or walk along the sand as the 102-degree bath water of the Persian Gulf gently lapped the shore.

But now, Manila awaits. The World Cup is finally here.

I know everyone’s going to be focused on who wins, and obviously we are—we desperately want to win,” Kerr said. “But this is an incredible experience, too, for our players, our coaches, our families to see the world, to really experience competition at the highest form all over the globe. What an experience. I think our guys are loving it.”

W inning helps. The Americans played five exhibition games this summer and won them all, rallying from a 16-point deficit in the second half to cap that stretch Sunday with a 99-91 comeback victory over Germany.

The team was confident in its chances before Sunday, and that win only heightened those feelings.

They’ve enjoyed every second of the trip so far.

I was with my family and I was walking through the hotel and someone’s screaming ‘Austin, can I take a picture?’” said US guard Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“For that to happen over here, it’s special to me. I never take any of that for granted. Anytime I can try to sign anything for anybody, I try to sign everything. For me, it’s special. It’s something one day I will look back at and smile about.”

US forward Bobby Portis was in Abu Dhabi last year as well—he and the Milwaukee Bucks flew over to play in the preseason against the Atlanta Hawks. He got a kandura—the traditional white long-sleeved robe— and matching headdress on that trip and wore them to the arena Sunday for the Americans’ finale in the desert. He brought his family on the trip.

“ I had to bring them on this journey,” Portis said. “They keep me going.”

MADRID—The leader of Spain’s soccer federation marred the country’s Women’s World Cup victory after kissing a player on the lips during the medal ceremony, drawing criticism for inappropriate conduct in a sport that has struggled to overcome sexism.

T he Spanish government and the world players’ union condemned the behavior of Luis Rubiales on Monday, a day after Spain’s 1-0 win over England.

T he soccer federation led by Rubiales sought to downplay the incident through a statement it attributed to the player he kissed, then later released a video in which Rubiales apologized.

I mmediately after Spain’s victory, Rubiales grabbed his crotch in a victory gesture—seemingly oblivious to 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofía standing nearby.

H e later kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the medal and trophy ceremony on the field, drawing unwanted attention away from the celebration and souring the country›s biggest day for women’s soccer.

The kiss was shocking given the sport’s long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct by male soccer presidents and coaches against female players on national teams.

Two of the 32 World Cup teams, Haiti and Zambia, had to deal with the issue while qualifying for the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

Spain’s acting minister for sports and culture Miquel Iceta told public broadcaster RNE “it is unacceptable to kiss a player on the lips to congratulate her.” The world players’ union called the kiss “deeply lamentable.”

O n Sunday, Spain’s government equality minister had an even stronger reaction.

“ It is a form of sexual violence that women suffer on a daily basis, and which has been invisible so far, and which we should not normalize,” Irene Montero said wrote Sunday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The Spanish soccer federation

WHAT’S IN A KISS? IN SPAIN, IT’S NASTY

Hermoso can be seen laughing and shouting, “But I didn’t like it!” Asked by other players what she was doing, she shouted, “Look at me, look at me,” intimating she couldn’t do much about it.

FIFPRO, the Netherlands-based players’ union, took a harsh view of Rubiales’s actions.

“It is deeply lamentable that such a special moment for the players of the Spain national team that was taking place before a global television audience should be stained by the inappropriate conduct of an individual in a role carrying so much responsibility,” the union said in a statement.

Uninitiated and uninvited physical gestures towards players are not appropriate or acceptable in any context. This is especially true when players are put in a position of vulnerability because a physical approach or gesture is initiated by a person who holds power over them.” Rubiales also is a UEFA vice president and was the European soccer body’s most senior elected representative at the final in Australia. AP

released a statement late Sunday, attributed to Hermoso, to try to settle the controversy.

It was a totally spontaneous mutual gesture due to the immense joy of winning a World Cup,” Hermoso said in the federation’s statement.

“The president and I have a great relationship, his behavior with all of us has been excellent and it was a natural gesture of affection and gratitude.” But on Monday the federation released a video statement of Rubiales apologizing and acknowledging he “surely made a mistake” but in “a moment of maximum effusiveness.”

When you are president of an institution as important as the federation, you have to be more careful,” Rubiales said in the video.

Rubiales, 45, led the world players’ union’s Spanish affiliate for eight

years before being elected to lead the national soccer federation in 2018.

The Spanish squad was in nearmutiny last year because of some players’ complaints about the culture under coach Jorge Vilda.

A fter the game, when Hermoso passed along the line of soccer dignitaries to collect her medal, Rubiales put his hands to her head and kissed her on the lips. He also hugged several other players and put his arm around Queen Letizia of Spain.

I n an Instagram video in the dressing room after the incident, the players screamed and laughed while watching the kiss being replayed on a phone.

OBIENA LOCKED, LOADED IN BUDAPEST

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA

competes at the athletics world championships on Wednesday in Budapest hoping to finish third or better and reaffirm his stature in men’s pole vault as one of this generation’s best.

Obiena clinched bronze at last year’s worlds in Eugene, Oregon, and has since remained world No. 3—but for a week last month rose to No. 2— but he will be up against a formidable field in Hungary’s capital starting with the 35-athlete qualifying field set around 4 p.m. (Manila time)

Wednesday.

The 27-year-old Asian record holder hopes to advance to the top 12 and get himself to the podium to keep the Philippine colors afloat after Eric Shauwn Cray and Robyn Lauren Brown exited in the men and women

400 meters hurdles earlier. “ EJ [Obiena] is okay he’s been training,” Obiena’s long-time physiotherapist, Antonio Guglietta, told BusinessMirror on Tuesday via a chat message. “I think everybody is here like Mondo [Armand Duplantis] and Chris [Nilsen].”

L egendary Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov accompanid Obiena in Budapest and the duo already surveyed the men’s pole vault facility at the Athletics Centre.

Olympic and world champion Duplantis remains the man to beat in Budapest although he has had a rare bad day at the Monaco Diamond League last July 23 where he settled for fourth place at 5.71 meters effort, way below his world record of 6.22m.

Obiena bagged silver in Monaco at 5.82m to cap a remarkable four podium finishes in four outdoor competitions in Europe.

Dominican Republic priority for Gilas–coach Chot

AFTER 10 weeks of training camp and three tune-up games, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Chot Reyes narrowed down the team’s priorities to one initial target—the Dominican Republic.

No more other things to talk about, but only Dominican Republic,” Reyes told a handful of reporters after Gilas lost to Mexico, 84-77, in the last of four tune-up matches Monday night at the PhilSports Arena.

Our next three days of practice will be focused on Dominican Republic,” Reyes stressed.

Gilas faces the Dominicanos at 8 p.m. in Day 1 Friday of the FIBA World Cup at a Philippine Arena expected to be filled with thousands

Two days to jump ball

The Southeast Asian Games king has beaten Duplantis at the Brussels Diamon league September last year. He won gold at 5.91m while the Swiss wonder got silver at 5.81m.

He [Duplantis] pushed the quality of pole vault to a high level. It’s very good for the sport, but bad for the other pole vaulters because it’s hard,” Obiena said. “I do enjoy competing with Mondo, and we’re pretty good friends.”

Obiena’s bound for his second consecutive Olympics in Paris next year after having met the 5.82m standard at the Bauhaus Galan in Sweden last July.

C ray, meanwhile, was seventh in his heat in the men’s 400m hurdles at 50.97 seconds to crash out last Sunday, with Brown also winding up seventh in her heat of the same event in the women’s side at 56.83 Monday.

‘Mother’ of PHL hoops book out

THE mother of all books on Philippine basketball is out.  “ It’s a book that begged to be written,” said Noel Albano, author of “When We Were Champions,” in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum (PSA) at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. A lbano, a jaded sportswriter and former newspaper managing editor, presented his book and vowed to take readers back in time—during the country’s most glorious years in the sport.

In this book you will read about the tales by our elders. The great Philippine teams of the 50s and 60s and further back to 1911,” he said. “It covers a period of six decades (until 1973).”

He said the men behind the book exerted the “best possible effort and got the best possible assistance,” and that it was written “as objectively and as honestly as possible.”

Now that it’s been printed, I leave it all to destiny,” Albano said. “

It’s a labor of love—10 years in the making. It’s about time we write a book about the history of Philippine basketball,” said Ray Roquero, also a former sportswriter and ex-mayor of Valderrama in Antique.

Reading this book is like watching Netflix,” added Roquero, who helped publish the book with great assistance from Anak Kalusugan Partylist Rep. Ray Florence Reyes.

A lbano said the next plan is to knock on the doors of the country’s leading bookstores and the Department of Education on the possibility of distributing the book in schools, colleges and universities nationwide.

of fans expected to root for the home team to get that first of two wins that would send the nationals to the next phase of the tournament.

The expected multitude of fans and Jordan Clarkson provide some scare to the Dominican Republic, which arrived Monday night from its own training camp in Granada, Spain.

They are very aggressive and it’s going to be noisy,” the Dominicanos’ head coach Nestor Garcia told a television interview upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“Clarkson is a starter and we know he’s very dangerous. He produced a lot of things,” Garcia said “The Philippines have a great team, for us it’s a big motivation.”

its historic campaign in the Fiba World Cup for men’s basketball.

It won’t be easy when our boys finally plunge into action despite months of massive preparation to nail two wins that could trigger a possible trip for us to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

G ilas Pilipinas debuts against dangerous Dominican Republic on Friday in an 8 p.m. contest fraught with thrill, spill and shrill as the game’s outcome would immediately impact on how far we could go in the 32-nation quadrennial meet.

It is a must-win situation for Gilas to jump-start its bid to advance to the second round for the first time ever as a loss would shove the Filipinos to a near-impossible mission of sweeping their last two games against Angola (41st) on August 27 and against Italy (10th) on August 29.

A lthough Dominican Republic holds a huge psychological edge of being ranked 23rd in the world against Gilas’ ranking of 40th, we have a sudden surge of fighting spirit with the presence of Triple Towers 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto, 6-foot-10 June Mar Fajardo and 6-foot-10 AJ

The Dominican Republic beat Canada, 94-88, but lost to Spain, 8677, in its tune-up games in Granada.

O n the same plane with the Dominicanos was Gilas deputy coach Tim Cone, the designated scout for the national team’s first assignment in the World Cup.

R eyes and his staff dissected Cone’s scouting report before they plunged to an evening practice on Tuesday and will announce the final 12 on Wednesday.

Coach Tim [Cone] has all the files from the Americas qualifiers,” Reyes said.

Gilas beat Ivory Coast, 85-62, last Friday but lost tyo Montenegro, 87102, Sunday in its tune-up matches.

Josef Ramos

Edu. Add the 6-foot-9 Japeth Aguilar and the 6-foot-7 Jordan Clarkson and you have the tallest starting five ever assembled in Philippine basketball lore.

Do you know that Clarkson, the Utah Jazz star and a winner of the National Basketball Association’s Sixth Man plum, will play point guard as per coach Chot Reyes’ marching orders?  Interesting.

The country will also try to shatter this Friday the crowd mark of 32,616 set in the 1994 Toronto Fiba World Cup game won by the US over Russia, 137-91.

I believe we can do it, especially because organizers, led by the super energetic basketball chieftain Al S. Panlilio, have prepared 400 49-seater buses to transport fans to the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.

The free point-to-point trips are flagged off in an hourly basis starting at 11 a.m. on Friday from terminals in PITX Paranaque, MOA Arena in Pasay, One Ayala, BGC Taguig, SM Megamall, Araneta City, Trinoma, SM North, SM Baliuag, SM Pampanga and SM Clark.  I t hink we are the only country that has this unique

A lbano told the forum presented by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. that the book will take readers back to nine or 10 Far Eastern Games and as many Asian Games, the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1954 world championships.

brand of service exclusively to Fiba World Cup fans. Awesome.

A nd there’s more. Upon arrival at the Philippine Arena, each fan is given a Jollibee sandwich, chicken joy and drinks—for free.

Spectators will also be treated with live shows at the Arena by top-rated performers like The Dawn, Ben & Ben, Alamat and Sarah Geronimo.

It is a one-day package packed with entertainment like no other. Isn’t sports entertainment itself? Pure. Unadulterated.

THAT’S IT Let’s raise a glass to both private and public sectors for moving as one to make our hosting of the Fiba World Cup of men’s basketball something to remember for the ages. We may not win the sport’s most coveted metal but, definitely, we take pride in winning the “trophy” symbolizing world-class hospitality and clockwork efficiency in handling such a gigantic global event.  Mabuhay!

LUIS RUBIALES (right), president of Spain’s soccer federation, embraces Alba Redondo as Queen Letizia of Spain (second from left) congratulates Laia Codina and Princess Infanta Sofia embraces Athenea Del Castillo during the awards ceremony for the Women’s World Cup at Stadium Australia in Sydney Sunday.

LUIS RUBIALES is seen in a video grab kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips.

AUTHOR Noel Albano (left) presents his book with Ray Roquero during Tuesday’s forum.

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA seeks another podium finish in the world championships.

HEAD coach Chot Reyes trains his sights on the Dominicanos.