‘GLOBAL RISKS TO HURT DEBT-GDP RATIO
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
WHILE the government’s debtto-GDP ratio is projected to fall below the internationally accepted threshold of 60 percent by 2026, a think tank warned that a global economic slowdown could cause it to reach 70 percent.
PHL EYES INVESTMENT MISSION BLITZ AFTER CREATE MORE I.R.R.
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
PHot money outflows surge by 61.4% in October—BSP
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
Prepandemic debt-to-GDP level was at 39.6 percent in 2019, but has shot up to 61.3 percent as of the third quarter of 2024.
The CPBRD said a recession
Based on the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) debt sustainability analysis, the government’s debt, measured against its gross domestic product, will settle at 59.4 percent in 2026 due to narrowing primary deficit and interest rate cuts. Th is projection, however, is later than the government’s mediumterm fiscal framework (MTFF) projection of 58.3 percent in 2025. The economic managers’ target of 55.8 percent, coming from 51.1 percent, debt-to-GDP ratio by 2028, was noted to be “still elevated.”
Tby double digits to P2.429 trillion as of the first 10 months of the year, to finance the fiscal deficit. L atest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed that the government’s gross borrowings reached P2.429 trillion from January to October 2024, up by 23 percent from P1.975 trillion during the same period in 2023. During the 10-month period, total borrowings accounted for 94.51 percent of the P2.570-trillion target for the year. Broken down, the bulk of the borrowings or 76.69 percent were
sourced locally while the remaining 23.31 percent came from foreign lenders.
D omestic borrowings increased by 22.64 percent yearon-year to P1.863 trillion from P1.519 trillion.
A total of P1.069 trillion was raised through the auction of Treasury bonds (T-bonds) while P209.381 billion was generated from Treasury bills (T-bills). L ast year, the government borrowed less through T-bonds at P894.153 billion and T-bills at P139.697 billion, sourcing 70 percent of financing domestically. Meanwhile, external borrowings amounted to P566.247 billion, 24.64 percent higher than the P456.311 bil-
HILIPPINE government officials are eyeing to do more investment missions to the United States, Japan, South Korea and the European Union once the implementing rules and regulations of Create More are finalized by February 2025, according to the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (Osapiea).
At the recent 3rd Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) Steering Committee meeting, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic
lion it loaned a year ago. A bout P256.235 billion was obtained from global bonds, P223.040 billion from program loans and P86.972 billion from project loans. Both global bonds and program loans increased coming from l ast year’s P163.607 billion and P187.573 billion, respectively. The government acquired fewer project loans compared to last year’s P105.131 billion.
For October alone, the state borrowed a total of P129.264 billion, of which P61.800 billion c ame from foreign financiers while domestic sources loaned P67.464 billion.
P rogram and project loans amounted to P49.892 billion and
Affairs Frederick Go said plans for such a roadshow are already in motion and are set to be launched “immediately” following the finalization of the implementing rules and regulations of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy.
“ The IRR is expected to be completed by February of next year. We’re waiting for the IRR before we do that roadshow,” Go said.
In a statement at the weekend, Osapiea explained that representatives from both the
THE country’s foreign portfolio investment outflows surged in October 2024, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has disclosed.
The BSP said there were $201.49 million more outflows in October 2024, representing a 61.4-percent growth in outflows during the period.
The country’s hot money outflows increased to $529.68 million in October 2024 from the $328.19 million posted in October 2024.
These investments refer to the following inward foreign investments registered with authorized agent banks: PSE-listed securities;
Peso-denominated government securities; [and] Peso time deposits with banks with minimum tenor of 90 days,” BSP said. [The list also includes] other Peso debt instruments; unit investment trust funds; and other instruments such as Exchange Traded Funds and Philippine Depositary Receipts,” it added.
The BSP said registered investments in October 2024 amounting to $1.48 billion increased by $525.49 million or by 55.1 percent compared to the $954.38 million recorded in October 2023.
However, gross outflows of $2.01 billion was higher than the gross inflows. The outflows in
P11.908 billion, respectively, in October as part of external borrowings.
The issuance of T-bonds generated P45 billion while T-bills brought about P22.464 billion during the month.
Th e government will borrow the remaining P141 billion this year to finance its expenses not covered by revenues. A mix of 75:25, in favor of domestic sources will be followed.
A s of end-September, the government’s outstanding debt reached a new record-high at P15.893 trillion with domestic and external debt amounting to P10.791 trillion and P4.957 trillion, respectively. Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
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October 2024 was also $726.98 million or by 56.7 percent compared to the gross outflows of $1.28 billion in October 2023.
Meanwhile, compared to the previous month, foreign investments registered with the BSP, through authorized agent banks, recorded net outflows of $529.68 million in October 2024, a reversal from the $1.03-billion net inflows posted in September 2024.
BSP said the $1.48 billion registered investments for the month are lower by $1.05 billion or 41.5 percent compared to the gross inflows compared to the $2.53 billion from September 2024.
During the month, 54.5 percent of registered investments were in PSE-listed securities at $807.08 million. These investments were made in banks; holding firms; transportation services; property; and food, beverage & tobacco.
The remaining 45.5 percent are in Peso government securities amounting to $672.79 million. Investments for the month mostly came from the United Kingdom; Singapore; the United States (US); Luxembourg; and Malaysia with combined share to total at 87.8 percent.
The $2.01-billion gross outflows for the month are higher by $503.49 million or 33.4 percent than the $1.51 billion recorded in September 2024.
The US remains to be the top destination of outflows, receiving $889.06 million or 44.2 percent of total outward remittances.
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM
Special to the BusinessMirror
MANILA was named the World’s Leading City Destination at the recent World Travel Awards (WTA) 2024, despite having been put on a list of most risky cities for international tourists.
The capital of the Philippines is mainly known for the historic Walled City of Intramuros, along with an assortment of shopping malls, museums, and casinos. It was the second time for Manila to receive this award, which was tuned over in a gala ceremony on November 24 in Madeira, Portugal. Manila beat out Acapulco, Bogota, Cancun, Cape Town, Doha, Dubai, Hanoi, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Marrakech, Mazatlan, Melbourne, Miami Beach, Nairobi, New York, Porto, Queenstown, Quito, Santiago, and Sydney. (See, “Manila listed among riskiest tourist sites,” in the BusinessMirror, July 17, 2024.)
Tourism Attaché for the United Kingdom Gerard O. Panga, who represented the Philippines at the awards, expressed optimism for
the direction of the tourism sector next year. “We’re looking forward to a greater year in 2025. It’s all about loving the Philippines, exciting experiences, authentic [experiences], and most especially, responsible tourism.”
He also expressed appreciation of the “hundreds of thousands, who voted for the Philippines, who continue to believe in the value of our products and services.” Voting at the WTA may be done by anyone in the travel trade industry and among consumers, just by creating a profile and log-in credentials.
The Philippines also received an award as World’s Leading Dive Destination, trumping Azores Islands in Portugal, Belize, Cayman Islands, Galápagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, Maldives, Mexico, St. Kitts, and the islands of Tahiti. This is the Philippines’s sixth win in this category.
W hile foreign visitor arrivals have been tepid in Boracay—known for its creamy and powerful whitesand beaches—the island was recognized as the World’s Leading Luxury Destination. Nominees in the same category were Jersey in the Unite Kingdom, Mustique, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and The Bahamas. It was the first time for Boracay to land
the award at the WTA. (See, “WTM travel buyers not so keen on Boracay now,” in the BusinessMirror, November 22, 2024.)
In the private sector, City of Dreams Manila received an award as the World’s Leading Casino Resort, its sixth successive win in said category. Last year, it also won as the World’s Leading Fully Integrated Casino Resort. City of Dreams edged out Okada Manila this year, aside from 20 other popular casino resorts all over the world including the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, and Wynn in Las Vegas; Resorts World Genting in Malaysia and Singapore; Marina Bay Sands in Singapore; Sun City in South Africa; and The Venetian in Macau.
A manpulo in Palawan was recognized the World’s Leading Dive Resort this year, an award it has been receiving since 2019. Also nominated in the category were Atmosphere Resort & Spa in Negros Oriental, the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Fiji, Palau Pacific Resort, three resorts in the Maldives, and others in Sanya in China, Belize, Cayman Islands, and Egypt.
The Department of Tourism was also recognized the World’s Leading Tourist Board for the first time, “reflecting its successful initiatives in
promoting the Philippines as a premier destination,” the agency said in a news statement. Other nominees in the category were tourism boards of Belize, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Madeira, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Santa Monica, South Africa, Tanzania, as well as the Greek Ministry of Tourism, and Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
“ These awards are a testament to the powerful synergy between the public and private sectors, driven by the aspirations set forth by our President for the country’s tourism industry, as well as the unwavering support of Filipinos across the globe,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. “We share this remarkable achievement with our dedicated stakeholders and every Filipino who continues to champion our country as a premier global destination,” she added.
Th e Philippines will unlikely meet its 7.7-million baseline foreign arrivals target this year, owing to the sluggish arrivals from China and so-called “geopolitical risks.” (See, “7.7-M arrivals goal now a ‘moving target’–DOT,” in the BusinessMirror, August 20, 2024.)
‘Risky’ Manila gets Leading City Destination tag at WTA Eyes…
United States and Japan, the partners of the Philippines in the development of the Luzon Economic Corridor, expressed their interest in the potential of this “new investment-inducing” law to attract greater participation and investments.
According to the investment and economic arm of the Office of the President, the US delegation highlighted the Create More Act as a “pivotal tool for enhancing investment opportunities within the [Luzon Economic Corridor] framework.”
“ They suggested Philippine officials to conduct a comprehensive roadshow that will showcase the benefits of this landmark legislation,” Osapiea said.
Go explained that the Board of Investments (BOI), together with the Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), is organizing a roadshow to all the countries that have “great interest in investing in the Philippines.”
“ We will answer the questions: What does the Philippines have to offer? What locations can we offer? What are the benefits of signing up with the Investment Promotion Agencies because of Create More?” said Go.
“ We will reach out to them, and let them know how Create More supports them, and how it gives predictability in the regulatory environment in the Philippines,” he also noted.
A mong the countries being explored to be visited are the US, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union. Since its launch in April, the Luzon Economic Corridor initiative continues to draw interest from various countries, Osapiea said.
Create More, a legislation seen to enhance the investment climate in the Philippines, was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. last November 11.
Business groups including the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham), the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines Inc. said in a statement last month that the enactment of the Create More Act is a “significant milestone” for the Philippines as it aims to “solidify its position as a competitive destination for investments and business expansion.”
This legislation addresses the urgent need to review and revise the country’s investment incentive policies, ensuring they remain aligned with international standards. We have been strongly supporting this bill to foster a business-friendly environment and spur economic growth,” the chambers said.
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or global economic slowdown that would force the economy to contract will adversely affect the debt-to-GDP ratio the most, as the government tends to respond by implementing expansionary fiscal policies or “whatever-it-takes” moves to stimulate the economy.
Th e government could ramp up borrowings and in turn, increase financing and debt accumulation.
Th e downward trajectory of the debt-to-GDP ratio is “contingent on brisk economic growth and the loosening of interest rates,” it added.
A s inflation reverts to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’s (BSP) target and nominal interest rates normalize domestically and locally, CBPRD noted real interest rates will negatively impact the debt-to-GDP ratio.
A favorable interest-rate growth differential is needed to stabilize public debt,” CPBRD said, noting that a sudden rise in interest rates will cost the government more interest payments on its debts.
The BSP does not operate within a vacuum. Its rate-setting capabilities are strongly influenced by rates abroad,” such as the US Federal Reserve limiting the BSP’s capacity to cut rates, it added. Moreover, the government’s preference for sourcing its debt domestically to reduce risks of exchange rate fluctuations could crowd out private sector borrowings and potentially dampen economic growth.
T he government’s outstanding debt reached P15.893 trillion as of the third quarter of 2024. Domestic and external debts amounted to P10.936 trillion and P4.957 trillion, respectively.
D ebt-to-GDP ratio is used to evaluate the country’s economic stability and debt repayment ability. A lower ratio indicates the country has a more sustainable debt level, which can affect its ability to source financing, attract foreign investments and pay off its obligations.
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T his classification is based on the per capita income, economic situation, and debt repayment capacity, among others. These are carefully calibrated such that as DMCs improve their economies, the interest payments they make for loans they secure also increase.
UMIC countries are among those that continue to benefit from ADB lending but at less concessional rates. However, the latest report of the Manila-based multilateral development bank consider its “2015 UMIC strategy outdated.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/09/09/adb-to-reviewlinks-with-umics-allow-accessto-concessional-financing/).
That provision in the Constitution mandates that the State “shall ensure that owners of real property acquired for national government infrastructure projects are promptly paid just compensation for the expeditious acquisition of the required rightof-way for the projects.” D uring the ceremony for the turnover of the transfer certificate of titles, BCDA OICSenior Vice President Richard Brian M. Cepe said one of the biggest challenges in implementing infrastructure projects is securing right-of-way, noting
BCDA’s experience in building the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
W ith this, the BCDA official commended the landowners for their “full cooperation for the realization of major infrastructure projects initiated by the national government.”
Th e BCDA official explained that through this Subic-ClarkManila-Batangas railway project, the four “economic centers” will be linked from the ports in Subic, to the airport in Clark, to the ports in Manila and Batangas.
C epe said this infrastruc -
ture project plays a crucial role in the country’s trade and economy as this will ease the flow of goods and services which can help in luring more investors into the country.
Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia G. Pineda said, “The Transfer of Certificates of Titles is a symbol of our commitment to ensuring that the rights of our citizens are protected and respected. As these certificates will be turned over, we recognize the challenges that our lot owners have faced and we acknowledge the patience and resilience they have shown. We also recognize the importance of this project in driving economic growth and development in our province.”
Monday, December 2, 2024
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Envoy assures safety of Filipinos in Israel
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
T@joveemarie
HE government has been assured of the safety of the some 28,000 Filipino workers in Israel amid the continuous fighting in the said country with the Hamas in Gaza City, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran, a leader of the House of Representatives said on Sunday.
The safety of the Filipinos in Israel was the primary topic discussed during the courtesy visit of Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss to the office of Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo at the House of Representatives in Batasan, Quezon City, last week.
“My question, Mr. Ambassador, is that we have a lot of Filipino friends, and they have a lot of relatives in Israel right now. How are they?” Tulfo, the nominee of the ACT-CIS party-list group, asked the ambassador.
To which, Fluss immediately guaranteed the safety of the Filipinos in his country despite the ongoing hostilities in their area.
“We’re treating them like Israelis. Their homes have shelter or safety rooms,” Fluss said.
“They [Filipinos] are not sent
close to the borders or wartorn area. We are making sure that where they stay they have a safety room, a shelter, and if they need anything, they have a number they can call,” the ambassador added.
The official explained that the Filipino workers are working in their “green zone” or “safe area” and are far from danger.
At present, more than 28,000 OFWs still remain in Israel, and many of them are caregivers and hotel workers.
Fluss also told Tulfo that Israel currently needs of more Filipino workers, but they could not hire more because of the existing deployment ban of Filipinos to Israel.
“We need workers in agriculture, in construction, in industries, in hotels, in restaurants. There are about 11 professions that we are looking for workers from overseas,” Fluss mentioned. “The war has totally affected the deployment of Filipinos.”
He also said in certainty that Israel is helping the families of Filipinos who have been affected by the war, such as when
BARMM: Sulu in expenditure program as SC ruling pends
By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox
DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro government assured Malacanang that it will not abandon Sulu yet while both the national and autonomous governments are waiting for the Supreme Court to rule with finality on the exclusion of the province from the autonomous region.
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said he welcomed Presidential Directive No. PBBM2024-1244 issued on November 18 “to ensure continued service delivery in Sulu, despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision severing the province from the autonomous region.”
Ebrahim said the BARMM has the unwavering commitment to serve the constituents of Sulu despite the High Court ruling that excluded
it from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“We remain committed to protecting the rights and welfare of the people of Sulu and ensuring that services and programs reach them without disruption,” said Ebrahim.
“In anticipation of this directive, the Bangsamoro government has included programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) for Sulu in the Bangsamoro Expenditure
Program (BEP) 2025,” he added.
Ebrahim also affirmed their collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other stakeholders to implement the directive without inconveniencing a smooth transition.
The BARMM quoted Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who is also co-chairman of the Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), as emphasizing in her November 21 press statement “the impact of the directive in sustaining the gains of the peace process, especially in the BARMM’s selfgovernance, peace, and economic development”.
Ebrahim thanked the Office of the President, noting that the urgent concerns regarding Sulu’s exclusion were being addressed while awaiting the high court’s decision on the Bangsamoro Government’s twin motions. He said the BARMM has held on to its opinion that Sulu is an integral part of autonomy for Filipino Muslims and would continue to knock on the halls of the Supreme Court to heed its appeal.
On September 9, the Supreme Court ruled that Sulu province is not part of the BARMM as a result of the 2019 plebiscite where 54
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LTFRB to issue special bus permits during holidays
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE Land Transportation
Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to issue special permits to public utility vehicles (PUVs) to accommodate the anticipated surge of commuters during the Christmas season. Applications for these permits will be accepted starting December 15, with validity from December 20, 2024, to January 4, 2025. LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III emphasized that this initiative aligns with the agency’s commitment to ensuring efficient and safe public transportation for Filipino passengers during the holidays.
“Like the usual practice, we are opening slots for special permits to ensure that there are ample PUVs that would cater to our riding public during the holidays,” he said. In addition to the special permits, the LTFRB has approved 5,000 slots for Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) to support the expanding ride-hailing market.
“ Iyong special permits ng TNVS opened last week, we have given 5,000 new units for the TNVS,” Guadiz said. Guadiz urged commuters to plan
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PHL loses ₧100-B yearly to TB
By Rizal Raoul Reyes @brownindio
THE Philippines loses some P100 billion yearly in terms of economic costs and treatment from tuberculosis (TB).
Thomas Dale Hiatt, TB Officer, World Health Organization (WHO), said the Philippines has been “unfortunately” consistent in the fourth spot behind India, China, and Indonesia.
“In terms of TB incidence, the Philippines unfortunately is fairly consistent in the group behind India, Indonesia and China,” Hiatt told BusinessMirror in an interview on the sidelines of the “Let’s End TB” media orientation on tuberculosis in the Philippines held on Friday at the Bayview Park Hotel organized by the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
In terms of per capita, he said the Philippines is ranked second behind Lesotho, a country in the sub Saharan African region.
According to the “World Health Organization [WHO] Global TB Report 2024,” 739,000 fell ill with TB, or 643 per 100,000 of the population. “It has over 100 deaths per day,” he said.
On a yearly basis, the Philippines experiences 38,000 deaths.
Hiatt said they have formed a multisectoral body including the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) because TB has a huge toll on the economy affecting the working population,
men and women. Although known as the disease of poverty, he said TB is affecting not only the D and E classes but also the upper segments of the population. He recalled that they have discovered a big number of TB cases in a middle class village located in Metro Manila. “TB is affecting all levels in the Philippines,” he said.
“It is absolutely worse in the poor areas but it’s really affecting everybody,” he exclaimed. Hiatt commended the national government, particularly the Department of Health for doing a good job in fighting TB. Nevertheless, he said it needs to do more by harnessing the synergy and generate more commitment in all levels from the national level to the local governments.
In another interview, Dr. Ghazal Babiker, Head of Mission, MSF Philippines said the group is focused in the First and Second districts of Tondo in treating TB. According to MSF, TB is one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and the Philippines is one of the top ten countries in the world with the highest TB burden. “TB is curable, also in children. The WHO has updated policies to guide countries in providing
Impaired child growth incidence
CALLING the situation “disturbing,” a lawmaker has raised alarm over Western Visayas’s ranking as the region with the highest incidence of impaired child growth, saying the children’s predicament was exacerbated by the high cost of food, particularly eggs and rice.
House Deputy Majority Leader Janette L. Garin, a former secretary of the Department of Health, said the increasing prevalence of stunting in the region is a critical public health concern.
Stunting, commonly referred to as “bansot” in layman’s terms, is attributed to factors such as poor maternal nutrition and health during pregnancy, improper child feeding and care practices, and repeated infections during the
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critical first 1,000 days of a child’s life, as detailed on the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Reseach Institute website.
The Department of Health-Western Visayas reported that the region is particularly affected by stunting, with high rates reported in Badiangan, Dueñas, and Carles in Iloilo, as well as Don Salvador Benedicto and Calatrava in Negros Occidental.
The lawmaker, during the recent Murang Pagkain Super Committee hearing, questioned the high prices of food, especially rice and eggs, which are considered staples in the diet of Filipinos, especially children.
Garin said that instead of simply controlling food prices, there is a need to ensure affordable food
the best possible care to children with TB, one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases,” said Stijn Deborggraeve, Diagnostics Advisor at MSF Access Campaign.
“Yet countries are lagging behind in adopting and implementing these solutions for testing, preventing, and treating TB in children. We urge countries, donors and technical agencies to put an end to this deadly status quo and step up their efforts to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of TB in children. We can no longer afford inaction—every delay means that more children die unnecessarily.”
Treating TB patients in Tondo BABIKER said MSF recently provided TB medications for 141 patients in Tondo, Manila. This was in response to a request from the Manila Health Department (MHD), which has been struggling with drug shortages over the past year. “This will enable patients whose treatment has been pending for several months to start taking their medication,” said Babiker. Tondo is one of the country’s most densely populated areas, with approximately 76,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. To date, MSF has screened 29,291 people and diagnosed 1,280 patients with TB. These findings translate to an average positivity rate of 4.3 percent, which is higher than the 3 percent national TB positivity rate in the Philippines. Furthermore, he said MSF will also help patients who started but were unable to complete their treatment because medication stocks were not enough for the
completion of the treatment duration.
Since January 2024, over 300 patients have been diagnosed with TB through the active case-finding activities of Doctors Without Borders in Tondo, Manila. While some patients were able to start treatment, many others were unable to start treatment due to the unavailability of TB drugs.
In Districts 1 and 2 of Tondo, Doctors Without Borders has been running an active casefinding activity for tuberculosis since 2022, in collaboration with the DOH. The MSF project makes TB screening accessible and available near the areas where Tondo residents live and work. MSF teams provide free TB screening, trace household contact cases, and refer TB-positive patients to local health centers. They also followed up with patients to ensure they adhere to the treatment regimen and break the chains of transmission.
“Since the older children have been able to benefit from the shorter three-month, once-weekly TB preventive treatment, they have really appreciated how easy it is to take, as have their parents, and the adherence to treatment is much improved.
This is a first-hand example of how keeping up with the latest recommendations can provide patient-centered quality of care as well as improving the national indicators on preventive treatment. We are looking forward to making it available for all ages soon,” said Trisha Thadhani, Filipino TB doctor from the MSF Borders TB project in Tondo, Manila.
in WV alarms congresswoman
to provide adequate nutrition for every Filipino.
“While I agree with the word ‘controlling’ [of the prices of food], I believe it is time to change that to ‘humanizing’ food prices— makatao at makatarungang presyo ng pagkain,” Garin, a member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food said.
She also slammed traders who, despite President Marcos’ issuance of Executive Order No. 62 in July to lower tariffs, kept rice prices high with minimal difference from the prices before the tariffs were reduced.
Garin also raised concern about the minimal price reduction following the 20 percent tariff cut.
Referencing a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority
percent of Sulu voters cast negative votes, effectively opting out of inclusion in the region. The BARMM’s Bangsamoro Attorney General’s Office (BAGO) filed a motion on October 1 for leave to intervene and admit the attached motion for partial reconsideration.
(PSA), she pointed out that the reduction was only 0.44 centavos, asking, “Why is the impact so small?”
The actual price drop is far from the government’s projected P5 to P6 reduction, as the government earlier noted, Garin said.
The rice import tariff was reduced by 20 percent, and the expected price drop should have been P5 to P6 per kilo. So why did the decrease only amount to 44 centavos?” she asked.
“The government is doing everything it can, but in the middle of the process, there are traders hoarding what should rightfully go to Juan and Maria. This must be called out because it undermines the government’s efforts,” she added.
The motion seeks to include BARMM as a party to the case concerning the severance of Sulu from the region and to re-include the province in the Bangsamoro region.
LTFRB. . .
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their travels ahead and to only ride legitimate public transportation.
“Please patronize legitimate public transportation, follow safety protocols, and report any overcharging, overloading, or
Envoy.
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someone dies or is held hostage while in their country.
“They are getting full support from the Israeli government, like any other Israeli victim of terror.
MOU with UAE boosts PHL’s energy transition
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy transition cooperation, boosting the country’s efforts to transition to clean and renewable energy, among others.
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced over the weekend that this MOU identifies areas of collaboration in renewable energy; liquefied natural gas as a transition fuel; power generation, transmission and distribution system; nuclear energy; energy efficiency and conservation; and alternative fuels and emerging technologies.
The MOU was among the key agreements reached during the working visit of President Marcos to the UAE where he met with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan last November 26.
“Our dialogue emphasized fostering meaningful business collaborations and positioning the Philippines as a prime destination for Emirati investments in critical energy sectors, including developing robust energy infrastructure and advancing renewable energy projects,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said in a statement.
To operationalize this MOU, an Implementation Agreement with a UAE state-owned company is expected by January next year, the DOE said.
“At its core, this partnership reflects the mutual recognition that energy lies at the heart of development. By combining the UAE’s leadership in innovative energy solutions with the Philippines’ ambitious drive for energy security and sustainability, this initiative has the potential to transform not only industries but also the lives of millions of Filipinos,” he added. Global partnerships would mean more investments in energy infrastructure, and this, Lotilla said, will result in generating new jobs, enhancing local expertise through technology transfer and capacity building, and strong support the development of a robust energy ecosystem. “The focus on these will ensure that these advancements benefit all sectors of society, contributing to a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities,” added the energy chief. The terms of the agreement were discussed with UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei in a recent meeting in Abu Dhabi last month, the DOE said.
‘Significant advancement in digital transformation’
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
THE Philippines has “significantly advanced” its digital transformation initiatives in government, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said.
Information and Communications Secretary Ivan John Uy said the agency and its partners, namely the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (Arta), have transformed local governments into digital service hubs, that bring government services closer to the people.
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
The Chief Minister urged all sectors to unite and cooperate in safeguarding peace and development in the Bangsamoro region.
other violations through our official hotlines and channels,” Guadiz said.
He noted that the LTFRB is coordinating closely with operators and enforcers to manage the expected increase in passengers during the holidays, aiming to provide a safe and smooth journey for all commuters.
So they get; they need a family to get a monthly income. If they need special assistance for education or medical [needs]. So those families are being taken care of.
We had two Filipinos that were taken hostage. Of course both were released. One of them is back here,” Fluss explained.
Uy cited initiatives including the eLGU System and eGovPH SuperApp as key drivers to this claim.
As of October, 838 local governments have adopted the eLGU System, a one-stop online platform that enables citizens to access services such as business permits, barangay clearances, building permits, and occupational health certificates.
The initiative, part of the Electronic Business One-Stop Shop (eBOSS) program, simplifies bureaucratic processes and enhances accessibility for millions of Filipinos.
“This will significantly assist citizens by streamlining various government processes and eliminating the bureaucratic hurdles associated with traditional methods,” Uy said. He noted that with this development, the country has climbed 31 spots in the 2024 United Nations (UN) e-Participation Index, ranking 49th from 80th in 2020. Similarly, it improved to 73rd
in the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.7621, surpassing the global average of 0.6382.
The rollout of the eLGU System spans the country, with 375 local governments in Luzon, 238 in Visayas, and 225 in Mindanao now integrated.
“We have successfully integrated 375 local governments in Luzon, 238 in the Visayas, and 225 in Mindanao into the system through a collaborative effort with the DILG, DICT, and Arta,” Undersecretary for EGovernment David Almirol said. The eLGU System is also linked to the eGovPH SuperApp, a comprehensive mobile platform launched in January 2024. The app consolidates various government services into a single platform, offering features such as the Digital National ID, eHealth, eReport, eTravel, and more. With over 9 million subscribers, the app is a flagship project under the government’s digitalization efforts.
“We anticipate that more local governments will embrace the eLGU system, enabling streamlined processes and benefiting even the smallest LGUs,” Almirol said.
According to the GSM Association (GSMA) Digital Nation Index, the Philippines ranks 6th among 18 Asia Pacific nations in terms of maturity across five digital transformation components. These five components are infrastructure, people, data governance, security, and innovation.
The GSMA emphasized, however, that digital transformation is a continuous journey, with increasing demands for infrastructure and cybersecurity as data consumption in the region grows.
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Group seeks govt help to prop up sugar prices
SBy Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
UGAR producers called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) to roll out interventions that will halt the decline in sugar prices.
The United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed) made the appeal after they noted a “huge drop” in milling prices, which registered an average loss of P100 per 50-kilogram bag during the previous week.
The group noted that mill prices averaged P2,500 per bag of sugar last Thursday at a time when farmers are hoping that prices will reach P2,800 per bag, which offers a slightly better margin.
“This is artificial pricing.
Somebody is playing with the market and an immediate intervention to curb downtrend in sugar prices is very much needed,” Unifed President Manuel Lamata said.
“We urge the Department of Agriculture and the Sugar Regulatory Administration to intervene as soon as possible and to unmask the culprits who are playing us.”
Lamata floated “suspicions” that artificial pricing was being caused by traders who wanted to
profit big to the detriment of sugar farmers, noting that these people “should be exposed.”
Despite the drop in mill prices, he noted that retail prices remain constant and will likely increase because of the upcoming holidays.
“I am also rallying the farmers to hold on to their sugar until
prices stabilize; we may all need to tighten our belts so we will not be abused by these unscrupulous traders,” Lamata said.
Unifed claimed that since the start of the milling season, prices have been erratically dipping and increasing contrary to the supply and demand figures which raised
suspicions that somebody is profiting from these.
“We need the DA and SRA’s intervention to prop up sugar prices at a comfortable level to prevent further losses especially now when there is also the issue of sugar purity that has gone down due to the long drought,” Lamata said.
He said this continued downward trend will cause “a severe impact” on small planters which comprise over 80 percent of the industry producers who are looking forward to a better holidays especially with the increase in production inputs because of the dry season.
“If government will come in and hopefully start buying our sugar, we will only sell directly to government and they can sell directly to the people, eliminating these traders until prices will stabilize.”
The prevailing price of refined sugar in selected Metro Manila markets reached P80 per kilo while washed sugar is being sold at P75 per kilo, based on the DA’s latest price monitoring.
Greenhouse backed by South Korea opens in Quezon
AGREENHOUSE and postharvest facility that received support from the Seoul opened in Quezon, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The agency said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. inaugurated the facility.
The new facilities, which was built with the help of the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA), will introduce advanced farming practices to local farmers, particularly in protective cultivation.
The DA added that this method allows for year-round crop production, which is critical in maintaining stable food supplies amid the unpredictable climate.
“This greenhouse represents more than just infrastructure; it symbolizes
innovation, hope, and the power of collaboration. It reflects our shared vision of sustainable farming that adapts to the evolving needs of our agricultural sector,” Laurel said.
The agriculture chief also expressed gratitude to KOPIA for helping the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the local government of Lucban bring the project to fruition. He said the project “underscores collaboration as a crucial step towards uplifting the country’s farming communities.”
Laurel noted the severe impact of climate change on the sector, including unpredictable weather patterns, disruption of planting schedules due to El Niño, and increasing prevalence of pests.
He said adapting modern farming technologies, like greenhouse cultivation, is
key to ensuring food security despite these environmental challenges.
“This initiative marks a significant step towards modernizing Philippine agriculture,” he said, adding that the agency continues to push for innovations that increase agricultural production and boost farmers’ incomes.
Laurel also reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural systems and supporting small-scale farmers, who are among the most vulnerable to climate change.
“Our goal is not only to ensure food security but also to build resilient farming systems that empower our farmers.”
The facility in Lucban is one of 20 greenhouses established with help from the South Korean government across pilot villages in Quezon, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija.
From yuck to profits: Some Zimbabwe farmers turn to maggots to survive drought and thrive
AT first, the suggestion to try farming maggots spooked Mari Choumumba and other farmers in Nyangambe, a region in southeastern Zimbabwe where drought wiped out the staple crop of corn.
After multiple cholera outbreaks in the southern African nation resulting from extreme weather and poor sanitation, flies were largely seen as something to exterminate, not breed.
“We were alarmed,” Choumumba said, recalling a community meeting where experts from the government and the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, broached the idea.
People had flocked to the gathering in hope of news about food aid. But many stepped back when told it was about training on farming maggots for animal feed and garden manure. (See related story of a similar initiative, in this Bright Leaf Award-winning article by Marilou Guieb: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/08/31/baguio-loving-fliesbut-the-good-kind/)
“People were like, ‘What? These are flies, flies bring cholera’,” Choumumba said.
A year later, the 54-year-old walks with a smile to a smelly cement pit covered by wire mesh where she feeds rotting waste to maggots—her new meal ticket.
After harvesting the insects about once a month, Choumumba turns them into protein-rich feed for her free-range chickens that she eats and sells.
Up to 80 percent of chicken production costs were gobbled up by feed for rural farmers before they took up maggot farming. Many couldn’t afford the
$35 charged by stores for a 50-kilogram (about 110-pound) bag of poultry feed, said Francis Makura, a specialist with a USAID program aimed at broadening revenue streams for farmers affected by climate change.
But maggot farming reduces production costs by about 40 percent, he said.
The maggots are offspring of the black soldier fly, which originates in tropical South America. Unlike the house fly, it is not known to spread disease.
Their life cycle lasts just weeks, and they lay between 500 and 900 eggs. The larvae devour decaying organic items—from rotting fruit and vegetables to kitchen scraps and animal manure—and turn them into a rich protein source for livestock.
“It is even better than the crude protein we get from soya,” said Robert Musundire, a professor specializing in agricultural science and entomology at Chinhoyi University of Technology in Zimbabwe, which breeds the insects and helps farmers with breeding skills.
Donors and governments have pushed for more black soldier fly maggot farming in Africa because of its low labor and production costs and huge benefits to agriculture, the continent’s mainstay that is under pressure from climate change and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In Uganda, the maggots helped plug a fertilizer crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. In Nigeria and Kenya, they are becoming a commercial success.
In Zimbabwe, the government and partners piloted it among farmers struggling with securing soya meal for their animals. A World Bank-led project later used it as a recovery effort for communities
affected by a devastating 2019 cyclone.
Now it is becoming a lifesaver for some communities in the country of 15 million people where repeated droughts make it difficult to grow corn. It’s not clear how many people across the country are involved in maggot-farming projects.
At first, “a mere 5 percent” of farmers that Musundire, the professor, approached agreed to venture into maggot farming. Now that’s up to “about 50 percent,” he said, after people understood the protein benefits and the lack of disease transmission.
The “yuck factor” was an issue. But necessity triumphed, he said.
With the drought decimating crops and big livestock such as cattle—a traditional symbol of wealth and status and a source of labor—small livestock like chickens are helping communities recover more quickly.
“They can fairly raise a decent livelihood out of the resources they have within a short period of time,” Musundire said. It also helps the environment. Zimbabwe produces about 1.6 million tons of waste annually, 90 percent of which can be recycled or composted, according to the country’s Environmental Management Agency. Experts say feeding it to maggots can help reduce greenhouse emissions in a country where garbage collection is erratic.
At a plot near the university, Musundire and his students run a maggot breeding center in the city of 100,000 people. The project collects over 35 metric tons a month in food waste from the university’s canteens as well as vegetable markets, supermarkets, abattoirs, food processing
Last July, the DA said it is planning to build more greenhouses that will enable farmers to raise crop yields. (See: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2024/07/29/ da-aims-to-build-more-greenhousesto-raise-crop-yields/)
Agriculture Undersecretary Jerome Oliveros said Manila is banking on its partnership with South Korea to expand the number of greenhouses in the country.
“We wanted to bring in more greenhouses like what we have seen here in the projects of KOPIA,” Oliveros said.
“It really inspires our farmers and the yields are very high—more than about 30 percent compared to open field farming.”
KOPIA is an ODA program of the Rural Development Administration, which is Korea’s largest agricultural research and development organization. Ada Pelonia
companies and beer brewers.
“Food waste is living, it respires and it contributes to the generation of greenhouse gases,” Musundire said.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, food loss—which occurs in the stages before reaching the consumer—and food waste after sale account for 8 percent to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally, or about five times that of the aviation sector.
The university project converts about 20-30 metric tons of the waste into livestock protein or garden manure in about two weeks.
Choumambo said people often sneer as she goes around her own community collecting banana peels and other waste that people toss out at the market and bus station.
“I tell them we have good use for it, it is food for our maggots,” she said. She still has to contend with “ignorant” people who accuse maggot farmers of “breeding cholera.”
But she cares little about that as her farm begins to thrive.
From bare survival, it is becoming a profitable venture. She can harvest up to 15 kilograms (about 33 pounds) of maggots in 21 days, turning out 375 kilograms (826.7 pounds) of chicken feed after mixing it with drought-tolerant crops such as millets, cowpeas and sunflower and a bit of salt.
Choumambo sells some of the feed to fellow villagers at a fraction of the cost charged by stores for traditional animal feed. She also sells eggs and free-range chickens, a delicacy in Zimbabwe, to restaurants. She’s one of 14 women in her village taking up the project.
“I never imagined keeping and surviving on maggots,” she said, taking turns with a neighbor to mix rotting vegetables, corn meal and other waste in a tank using a shovel. AP
Last month, Unifed urged the SRA to fasttrack the inspection of mills after its members reported lower sugar yield.
Unifed President Manuel Lamata said he “questions the integrity of mills” due to the “doubtful results” related to the sugar yield of a 50-kilo bag per ton of cane (LKGTC) from the group’s members.
“We have had truckloads of canes which reportedly have zero LKGTC as extracted by the mills which makes us suspect that something strange is going on,” he said in a statement. In the past, he said sugar groups were allowed to send their chemists to the mills to check the accuracy of their extractions. This practice, Lamata said, has been discontinued.
While the long drought would have a negative effect on LKGTC, Lamata said “the results so far have been suspect and we urge the SRA to ensure that mill equipment are calibrated so as not to shortchange our sugar farmers.”
Local MSMEs join food and beverage expo in Paris
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spearheaded the participation of eight Philippine micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) specializing in exporting premium coconut products at the Salon International de l’Alimentation (SIAL) Paris 2024 as part of the DTI-led project ARISE Plus Philippines.
Held from October 19 to 23, ARISE Plus Philippines provided the MSMEs the opportunity to join the international exhibition, which aimed to boost the Philippine coconut industry’s global reach by capturing international markets while fostering long-term business and investment opportunities.
ARISE Plus Philippines is a joint-project of the DTI with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Food and Drug Administration, Bureau of Customs, the Department of Science and Technology, and the private sector. It is funded by the European Union (EU) with the International Trade Centre (ITC) as the technical agency for the project.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque lauded the EU’s continued support in the development of Philippine MSME exporters, significantly enhancing their reach and market potential.
“Our nation takes pride in our world-class food products that can compete on the world stage. This collaboration provides our exporters the opportunity to connect with buyers and potential partners from both Europe and beyond.”
The participation was organized by the DTIExport Marketing Bureau, the DTI-Philippine Trade and Investment Center Paris, the DAPhilippine Coconut Authority, and the ITC for MSMEs that specialize in exporting virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, and various processed coconut products.
One of the beneficiaries of the project, Arvin Kisig Lopez, CEO of Vegetari Vegetarian Products, shared his appreciation for the opportunity to join in SIAL Paris 2024 and the valuable experience of learning from industry veterans.
“This incredible experience has greatly helped us in shaping our company’s direction as we pursue the European market. Our special thanks goes to the ITC, DTI-EMB, and DA-CFIDP teams for considering us as part of the Philippine delegation.”
In preparation for the event, participating companies took part in capacity-building initiatives to ensure successful trade fair participation. These included training on promoting their companies and products, sourcing potential buyers, and optimizing their engagement during the exhibition.
SIAL Paris 2024 is a major food and beverage exhibition that attracted thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the globe. The Philippine’s participation aligns closely with the Philippine Export Development Plan 20232028 and the DTI’s priority Industry Clusters for promoting food security and boosting agricultural exports.
BLOOMBERG NEWS
Israeli strike in Gaza kills 5 World Central Kitchen workers amid humanitarian crisis
By Wafaa Shurafa, Tia Goldenberg & Bassem Mroue The Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip on Saturday killed five people, including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity said it was “urgently seeking more details” after Israel’s military said it targeted a WCK worker who was part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war.
WCK said it was “heartbroken” and it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the October 7, 2023 attack, adding it was “working with incomplete information.” It said it was pausing operations in Gaza. It had suspended work earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers.
The Israeli military in a statement said the alleged Oct. 7 attacker took part in the assault on the kibbutz of Nir Oz, and it asked “senior officials from the international community” and the WCK to clarify how he had come to work for the charity.
The family of the man named by Israel, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, rejected the allegations as “false accusations,” and confirmed in a statement he had worked with the charity. Israel named him as Hazmi Kadih.
The strike highlighted the dangerous work of delivering aid in Gaza, where the war has displaced much of the 2.3 million population and caused widespread hunger.
At Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, a woman held up an employee badge bearing the WCK logo and the word “contractor.” Belongings—burned phones, a watch and stickers with the WCK logo—lay on the floor.
Nazmi Ahmed said his nephew worked for WCK for the past year. He said he was driving to the charity’s kitchens and warehouses.
“Today, he went out as usual to work...and was targeted without prior warning and without any reason,” Ahmed said.
In April, a strike on a WCK aid convoy killed seven workers—three British citizens, Polish and Australian nationals, a Canadian-American dual national and a Palestinian. The Israeli military called it a mistake. That strike prompted an international outcry. Another Palestinian WCK worker was killed in August by shrapnel from an Israeli airstrike, the group said.
Another Israeli airstrike Saturday hit a car near a food distribution point
in Khan Younis, killing 13 people, including children. Nasser hospital in Khan Younis received the bodies.
“They were distributing aid, vegetables, and we saw the missile landing,” witness Rami Al-Sori said. A woman sat on the ground and wept.
Save the Children said a local employee was killed in one of the Khan Younis airstrikes while returning from a mosque.
And the director of Kamal Adwan hospital reported a strike in Tal al Zaatar in Beit Lahiya in the north where Israeli forces are operating, and estimated based on witness accounts that well over 100 dead were under the rubble. He said the area remained inaccessible.
Hamas releases new hostage video
O N Saturday, Hamas released a vide o of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander. Speaking under duress, Alexander referred to being held for 420 days and mentioned Prime Min -
NATO membership for Kyiv-controlled Ukraine could end ‘hot stage’ of conflict, says Zelenskyy
By Susie Blann The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine—An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control would end “the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine, but any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview.
Zelenskyy’s remarks on Friday signaled a possible way forward to the difficult path Ukraine faces to future NATO membership. At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership.
However, one obstacle to moving forward has been the view that Ukraine’s borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join so that there can be no mistaking where the alliance’s pact of mutual defense would come into effect.
“You can’t give an invitation to just one part of a country,” Zelenskyy said in an excerpt of the interview with Sky News. “Why? Because thus you would recognize that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine and the other one is Russia.”
Under the Ukrainian Constitution, Ukraine can’t recognize territory occupied by Russia as Russian.
“So legally, by law, we have no right to recognize the occupied territory as territory of Russia,” he said.
Since the start of the war in 2022, Russia has been expending huge amounts of weaponry and human life to make smallbut-steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls in east and southern Ukraine.
“If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That’s what we need to do, fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically,” he said. An invitation for Ukraine to join
ister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent $5 million offer for the hostages’ return.
“The prime minister is supposed to protect his soldiers and citizens, and you abandoned us,” Alexander said.
Netanyahu’s office said that he spoke with Alexander’s family after the release of the “brutal psychological warfare video” that held “an important and exciting sign of life.”
“(Netanyahu) reassured me and promised that now, after reaching an arrangement in Lebanon, conditions are right to free you all and bring you home,” Alexander’s mother, Yael, told demonstrators in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening.
A statement from US National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett called the hostage video “a cruel reminder of Hamas’s terror against citizens of multiple countries, including our own.”
“The war in Gaza would stop tomorrow and the suffering of Gazans would end immediately—and would have ended months ago—if Hamas
agreed to release the hostages,” it said.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed more than 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who don’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in their count but say over half the dead were women and children.
Ceasefire appears to hold Eff O RTS f or a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have faltered. But the US- and f r ance-brokered deal for Lebanon appears to be holding since Wednesday.
On Saturday, Israel’s military said that it struck sites used to smuggle weapons from Syria to Lebanon after the ceasefire took effect. There was no immediate comment from Syrian authorities or Hezbollah. Israeli aircraft have struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon several times, citing truce violations.
Israel’s strike in Syria came as insurgents breached its largest city, Aleppo, bringing fresh uncertainty to the region.
The truce between Israel and Iranbacked Hezbollah calls for an initial two-month ceasefire in which the militants should withdraw north of Lebanon’s Litani River and Israeli forces should return to their side of the border.
Many Lebanese, some of the 1.2 million displaced, streamed home despite warnings by the Israeli and Lebanese militaries to avoid certain areas.
“Day by day, we will return to our normal lives,” said Mustafa Badawi, a cafe owner in Tyre.
The toll of conflicts L E BANON ’ S state-run National News
Agency said an Israeli drone strike on Rub Thalatheen village killed two people and wounded two others, and another hit a car in Majdal Zoun village. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said three were wounded, including a 7-year-old child.
Israel’s military said it had been operating to distance “suspects” in the region, without elaborating. Israel says it reserves the right to strike against any perceived violations. Israel seeks to ensure that tens of thousands of displaced Israelis return home. But they have been apprehensive.
“No, it will not be like before,” said one Israeli evacuee, Lavie Eini.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel on October 8, 2023, in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israel and Hezbollah kept up cross-border fire until Israel escalated with an attack that detonated hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah. It then launched an intense aerial bombardment that killed Hezbollah leaders including Hassan Nasrallah, and a ground invasion in October.
More than 3,760 people have been killed by Israeli fire in Lebanon, many of them civilians, according to Lebanese health officials. The fighting killed more than 70 people in Israel, over half of them civilians, as well as dozens of Israeli soldiers fighting in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, during his only campaign debate with US Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war—raising concerns that Kyiv could be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations.
Thousands of Syrian insurgents seize control of Aleppo, embarrass Assad
By Sarah El Deeb The Associated Press
Bpanded as Syrian government forces began to retreat from their positions.
Hamas’ October 2023 attack killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostage. Tia Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel, and Bassem Mroue reported from Beirut. Mohammad Jahjouh contributed to this report from Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. u
NATO is one key point of Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” which he presented to Western allies and the Ukrainian people in October. The plan is seen as a way for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in any negotiations with Moscow.
Earlier this week, NATO SecretaryGeneral Mark Rutte said that the alliance “needs to go further” to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion. Military aid to Kyiv and steps toward ending the war are expected to be high on the agenda when NATO members’ foreign ministers meet in Brussels for a two-day gathering starting on Dec. 3. However, any decision for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require a lengthier process and the agreement of all member states.
There is also uncertainty as to the foreign policy stance of US President-elect Donald Trump. While Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a single day, he hasn’t publicly discussed how this could happen. Trump also announced Wednesday that Keith Kellogg, an 80-year-old, highly decorated retired three-star general, would serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
In April, Kellog wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.”
Zelenskyy’s statement comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Saturday that Russian forces had recently advanced near Kupiansk, in Toretsk, and near Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka, a key logistics route for the Ukrainian military.
At least four people were killed Saturday when a Russian missile hit Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said that the strike also wounded at least 21 people, of which eight were in a serious condition.
Ukraine’s air force announced Saturday that the country had come under attack from 10 Russian drones, of which eight were shot down over the Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. One drone returned to Russianoccupied territory, while the final drone disappeared from radar, often a sign of the use of electronic defenses.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 11 Ukrainian drones had been shot down by the country’s air defense systems. Both the mayor of Sochi, Andrey Proshunin, and the head of Russia’s Dagestan region, Sergey Melikov, both in Russia’s southwest, said that drones had been destroyed in their regions overnight. No casualties were reported.
On Friday, the Ukrainian president announced a number of changes to military leadership, saying that changes in personnel management were needed to improve the situation on the battlefield. Katie
Marie Davies contributed to this report from Manchester, England.
EIRUT—Thousands of Syrian insurgents took over most of Aleppo on Saturday, establishing positions in the country’s largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops, according to fighters and activists.
A war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized control of Aleppo International airport, the first international airport to be controlled by insurgents. The fighters claimed they seized the airport and posted pictures from there.
Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no opposition from government forces, to seize towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed Saturday evening to have entered the city of Hama.
A huge embarrassment for Assad T H E swift and surprise offensive is a huge embarrassment for Syria’s President Bashar Assad and raises questions about his armed forces’ preparedness. The insurgent offensive launched from their stronghold in the country’s northwest appeared to have been planned for years. It also comes at a time when Assad’s allies were preoccupied with their own conflicts.
In his first public comments since the start of the offensive, released by the state news agency Saturday evening, Assad said Syria will continue to “defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters.” He added that Syria is able to defeat them no matter how much their attacks intensify.
Turkey, a main backer of Syrian opposition groups, said its diplomatic efforts had failed to stop government attacks on opposition-held areas in recent weeks, which were in violation of a de-escalation agreement sponsored by Russia, Iran and Ankara. Turkish security officials said a limited offensive by the rebels was planned to stop government attacks and allow civilians to return, but the offensive ex-
The insurgents, led by the Salafi jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters, launched their shock offensive on Wednesday. They first staged a two-pronged attack in Aleppo and the Idlib countryside, entering Aleppo two days later and securing a strategic town that lies on the highway that links Syria’s largest city to the capital and the coast.
By Saturday evening, they seized at least four towns in the central Hama province and claimed to have entered the provincial capital. The insurgents staged an attempt to reclaim areas they controlled in Hama in 2017 but failed.
Preparing a counterattack
S Y RIA’ S a rmed forces said in a statement Saturday that to absorb the large attack on Aleppo and save lives, it redeployed troops and equipment and was preparing a counterattack. The statement acknowledged that insurgents entered large parts of the city but said they have not established bases or checkpoints. Later on Saturday, the armed forces sought to dispel what it said were lies in reference to reports about its forces retreating or defecting, saying the general command was carrying out its duties in “combatting terrorist organizations.”
The return of the insurgents to Aleppo was their first since 2016, following a grueling military campaign in which Assad’s forces were backed by Russia, Iran and its allied groups.
The 2016 battle for Aleppo was a turning point in the war between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters after 2011 protests against Assad’s rule turned into an all-out war. After appearing to be losing control of the country to the rebels, the Aleppo battle secured Assad’s hold on strategic areas of Syria, with opposition factions and their foreign backers controlling areas on the periphery.
The lightning offensive threatened to reignite the country’s civil war, which had been largely in a stalemate for years.
Late on Friday, witnesses said two airstrikes hit the edge of Aleppo city, targeting insurgent reinforcements and falling near residential areas. The Observatory said 20 fighters were killed.
Insurgents were filmed outside police headquarters, in the city center, and outside the Aleppo citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. They tore down posters of Assad, stepping on some and burning others. The push into Aleppo followed weeks of simmering low-level violence, including government attacks on opposition-held areas.
The offensive came as Iran-linked groups, primarily Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which has backed Syrian government forces since 2015, have been preoccupied with their own battles at home. A ceasefire in Hezbollah’s twomonth war with Israel took effect Wednesday, the same day that Syrian opposition factions announced their offensive. Israel has also escalated its attacks against Hezbollah and Iranlinked targets in Syria during the last 70 days.
Insurgents raise flags over the Aleppo citadel S PEAKING f rom the heart of the city in Saadallah Aljabri square, opposition fighter Mohammad Al Abdo said it was his first time back in Aleppo in 13 years, when his older brother was killed at the start of the war.
“God willing, the rest of Aleppo province will be liberated” from government forces, he said.
There was light traffic in the city center on Saturday. Opposition fighters fired in the air in celebration but there was no sign of clashes or government troops present. Journalists in the city filmed soldiers captured by the insurgents and the bodies of others killed in battle. Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher who fled Aleppo in 2016 and returned Friday night after hearing the insurgents were inside, described “mixed feelings of pain, sadness and old memories.”
“As I entered Aleppo, I kept telling myself this is impossible. How did this happen?” Alhamdo said he strolled through the city at night visiting the Aleppo citadel, where the insurgents raised their flags, a major square and the university of Aleppo, as well as the last spot he was in before he was forced to leave for the countryside.
“Syrian,”
Editor: Angel R. Calso
A wounded child being brought to nasser Hospital in Khan Younis following an Israeli airstrike on Saturday, november 30, 2024. AP P H OTO
Historic climate case begins at top UN court: Nations’ obligations under international law under scrutiny
By Molly Quell | The Associated Press
top United Na -
HE HAGUE—The
Ttions court will take up the largest case in its history on Monday, when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help vulnerable nations fight its devastating impact.
After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the UN General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on “the obligations of States in respect of climate change.”
“We want the court to confirm that the conduct that has wrecked the climate is unlawful,” Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, who is leading the legal team for the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, told The Associated Press.
In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahr -
enheit) since pre-industrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels.
Vanuatu is one of a group of small states pushing for international legal intervention in the climate crisis.
“We live on the front lines of climate change impact. We are witnesses to the destruction of our lands, our livelihoods, our culture and our human rights,” Vanuatu’s climate change envoy Ralph Regenvanu told reporters ahead of the hearing.
Any decision by the court would be non-binding advice and unable to directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol since it could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits.
On Sunday, ahead of the hearing, advocacy groups will bring together environmental organizations from around the world. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change—who first developed the idea of requesting an advisory opinion— together with World Youth for Climate Justice plan an afternoon of speeches, music and discussions.
From Monday, the Hague-based court
will hear from 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations over two weeks. It’s the largest lineup in the institution’s nearly 80-year history. Last month at the United Nations’ annual climate meeting, countries cobbled together an agreement on how rich countries can support poor countries in the face of climate disasters. Wealthy countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035 but the total is short of the $1.3 trillion that experts, and threatened nations, said is needed.
“For our generation and for the Pacific Islands, the climate crisis is an existential threat. It is a matter of survival, and the world’s biggest economies are not taking this crisis seriously. We need the ICJ to protect the rights of people at the front lines,” Vishal Prasad, of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, told reporters in a briefing.
Fifteen judges from around the world will seek to answer two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? And what are the legal consequences
for governments where their acts, or lack of action, have significantly harmed the climate and environment?
The second question makes particular reference to “small island developing States” likely to be hardest hit by climate change and to “members of “the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change.”
The judges were even briefed on the science behind rising global temperatures by the UN’s climate change body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ahead of the hearings.
The case at the ICJ follows a number of rulings around the world ordering governments to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In May, a UN tribunal on maritime law said that carbon emissions qualify as marine pollution and countries must take steps to adapt to and mitigate their adverse effects.
That ruling came a month after Europe’s highest human rights court said that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change, in a landmark judgment that could have implications across the continent.
“I walked in (the empty) streets of Aleppo, shouting, ‘People, people of Aleppo. We are your sons,’” he told The Associated Press in a series of messages.
City’s hospitals are full Ale PP o r esidents reported hearing clashes and gunfire but most stayed indoors. Some fled the fighting.
Schools and government offices were closed Saturday as most people stayed indoors, according to Sham FM radio, a pro-government station. Bakeries were open. Witnesses said the insurgents deployed security forces around the city to prevent any acts of violence or looting. The UN o f fice for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Friday Aleppo’s two key public hospitals were reportedly full of patients while many private facilities closed. In social media posts, the insurgents were pictured outside of the citadel, the medieval palace in the old city center, and one of the largest in the world. In cellphone videos, they recorded themselves having conversations with residents they visited at home, seeking to reassure them they will cause no harm. The Syrian Kurdish-led administration in the country’s east said nearly 3,000 people, most of them students, had arrived in their region after fleeing the fighting in Aleppo, which has a sizeable Kurdish population.
State media reported that a number of “terrorists,” including sleeper cells, infiltrated parts of the city. Government troops chased them and arrested a number who posed for pictures near city landmarks, they said. o n a state TV morning show Saturday, commentators said army reinforcements and Russia’s assistance would repel the “terrorist groups,” blaming Turkey for supporting the insurgents’ push into Aleppo and Idlib provinces. Associated Press writer Albert Aji in Damascus contributed to this report.
Navigating political turmoil: A call for statesmanship and unity in the country
The recent public spat between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte has become a concerning distraction from the pressing issues facing the nation. While political tensions and rivalries are not uncommon, the open threats of violence and calls for impeachment threaten to further divide the country at a time when unity and cooperation are sorely needed.
Cardinal Jose Advincula’s plea for the nation’s leaders to rise above personal and partisan interests is a timely and important reminder. As the Archbishop of Manila said, the “brewing political storm” is hindering the government’s ability to address the urgent needs of marginalized communities still recovering from recent natural disasters. This is unacceptable—the well-being of the Filipino people must be the top priority for all elected officials. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Prelate seeks prayers in brewing ‘storm.’” November 27, 2024).
President Marcos’s call for restraint, urging lawmakers to steer clear of pursuing an impeachment process against the vice president, exemplifies statesmanship. He correctly points out the potential for such a process to be a significant distraction from pressing national issues, particularly the urgent needs of communities still recovering from recent typhoons. His statement, “Never say never,” regarding reconciliation with Duterte, while seemingly conciliatory, also reveals a complex political calculus. It suggests a desire to avoid further escalation, prioritizing stability over immediate retribution.
President Marcos’ openness to reconciliation with Vice President Duterte is a positive step, but much more is required. Both leaders must exercise true statesmanship and set aside their personal differences for the greater good of the nation. Engaging in respectful dialogue, demonstrating humility, and focusing on shared goals and the needs of the people should be the guiding principles. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Marcos open to reconciliation with Duterte,” November 29, 2024).
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Saturday urged for sobriety in a social media post, advising against fostering divisiveness: “We have to keep our heads and our equanimity for the sake of our country’s peace and order so that we can move on as one people in one country under God. Let us, in the meantime, sublimate our individual personal desires, interests, and disgusts for the common good of our people so that the safety and progress of our country will not be jeopardized,” he said.
Enrile added: “The world is not stable at the moment. It is turbulent. Let us not add to it our divisiveness. We have two national elections coming. Let us wait for those two events to settle our individual, group, or party interests. Let us believe, respect, support, and defend our constitutionalism, however feeble we think about it. I honestly think that this is the path we ought to follow.”
The concerning scene at the Edsa Shrine, where supporters were seemingly exploited for political purposes, is yet another troubling development. The Shrine’s rector was right to call for an end to the exploitation of well-meaning but misguided individuals. All Filipinos deserve leaders who will champion their interests, not use them as “hapless pawns” in political games.
The path forward is clear—our nation’s leaders must heed Cardinal Advincula’s call to prayer and statesmanship. Reconciliation, compromise, and a dedicated focus on serving the people should take precedence over personal conflicts and political agendas. It is only through this shared commitment to the greater good that the country can genuinely advance and address the urgent issues facing its citizens.
BusinessMirror
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The enduring impact of a Filipino hero
JusT
RISING SUN
a few days ago, the country paid tribute to Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and remembered his birth anniversary on November 27. Born in 1932 in Tarlac, Ninoy came from a political family that would significantly influence Philippine history. Despite his privileged background, Ninoy was acutely aware of the socio-economic disparities in the Philippines. he often expressed his willingness to challenge the status quo and advocate for the poor, victims of human rights abuses, and marginalized sectors. This awareness was evident early in his life and fueled his desire for social justice.
At just 22 years old, Ninoy was elected mayor of Concepción, Tarlac, marking the beginning of a long and colorful political career. His tenure as mayor laid the groundwork for his later roles as a senator and a vocal critic of government corruption and authoritarianism. Ninoy’s political journey was characterized by his commitment to democracy and human rights, which he pursued even at great personal risk.
His work, courage, and sacrifices led him to make the ultimate sacrifice, something that every Filipino is aware of as it is a crucial part of our country’s history. We hold this moment close to our hearts as a people.
Long after his assassination on August 21, 1983, Ninoy’s legacy continues to resonate in contemporary Philippine politics. The ideals he championed—democracy, accountability, and social justice—remain
As the country is currently mired in political infighting and unrest due to different issues in government, the more that we must remember Ninoy and his legacy. He was not just a martyr for democracy but also a symbol of hope and resilience for many of us. His unwavering commitment to truth and justice serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of civic engagement and accountability in governance. And today, as various sectors of society call for transparency and reform, Ninoy’s ideals resonate deeply.
relevant today as the country grapples with various challenges.
As the country is currently mired in political infighting and unrest due to different issues in government, the more that we must remember Ninoy and his legacy. He was not just a martyr for democracy but also a symbol of hope and resilience for many of us. His unwavering commit-
ment to truth and justice serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of civic engagement and accountability in governance. And today, as various sectors of society call for transparency and reform, Ninoy’s ideals resonate deeply. He famously said, “The Filipino is worth dying for.” This continues to motivate many of us to stand against corruption and oppression. In times of political strife, reflecting on Ninoy’s legacy encourages us all to uphold democratic values, strive for a just society, and protect the freedom that we have so valiantly gained.
As current events unfold in our beloved Philippines, may Ninoy’s spirit continue to inspire us all, especially the younger generations, to advocate for justice and equality. It is, therefore, important to increase our efforts in making sure that the sacrifices made by heroes like Ninoy are not forgotten. By honoring Ninoy’s memory and his legacy, we can inspire each other to nurture a deep commitment to democracy and to ensure that the fight for justice continues as long as it is necessary.
PAGCOR’s steadfast commitment: Empowering communities through disaster response and infrastructure development
ILITO GAGNI
N times of crisis, it is the steadfast resolve of a nation’s institutions that determines how quickly communities can recover. It is thus a marvel for Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), under the leadership of Chairman Alejandro Tengco, to have proven itself as a beacon of hope, providing unwavering support to communities in need.
Over the weekend, 3,000 residents of Ilocos Norte benefited from vital health services and assistance provided by PAGCOR through its Bawat Buhay Mahalaga Serbisyo Caravan, a new initiative for the gaming agency in achieving its dual mission —delivering immediate disaster relief and investing in long-term infrastructure development.
PAGCOR exemplifies a model for social responsibility and nation building. Its actions go beyond charity; they reflect a deep commitment to sustainable progress. Held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on November 29 and 30, this two-day event offered free medical consultations, medicines, food packs, and
other essential services to local residents.
Also, it donated P50 million worth of aid to the province, including wheelchairs, walking canes, bicycles for barangay patrols, emergency medical kits, and assorted medicines and raffled off 45 livelihood starter packages, including a pledge to deliver advanced medical equipment, such as 2D echo machines and portable ventilators, by early next year. PAGCOR further announced plans to provide educational grants under its Ayudang Hatid ay Tagumpay Program, in coordination with the provincial government. Somehow, Tengco has crafted game-changing initiatives for PAG-
PAGCOR exemplifies a model for social responsibility and nation building. Its actions go beyond charity; they reflect a deep commitment to sustainable progress. Held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena from November 29 to 30, this two-day event offered free medical consultations, medicines, food packs, and other essential services to local residents.
COR that shows his business acumen in presiding over the gaming agency. Whether responding to Typhoon Ofel’s devastation or launching groundbreaking infrastructure projects, PAGCOR’s initiatives are guided by a clear vision for longterm growth.
The agency’s efforts are not isolated acts but part of an ongoing cycle of support that strengthens the nation’s foundation, ensuring that assistance continues long after the immediate crisis has passed.
Typhoon Ofel’s impact on Northern Luzon underscored the vulnerability of many Filipino communities. Yet, PAGCOR’s response was swift and effective. The agency mobilized over 21,000 relief packs, distributing food, water, and essential supplies to the affected provinces of
Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. These relief packs were not just provisions—they were lifelines, ensuring that no community was left behind.
While PAGCOR’s immediate relief efforts address urgent needs, its long-term infrastructure projects play an equally vital role in nationbuilding. In October 2023, PAGCOR launched an ambitious initiative to construct 1,200 classrooms over the next four years.
This project focuses on underserved and remote communities where educational infrastructure is scarce. By building safe, modern classrooms, PAGCOR is ensuring that future generations of students have the resources they need to succeed. After all, education is the bedrock of a stronger nation, and PAGCOR’s commitment to improving educational access serves as a foundation for sustainable growth. In addition to classrooms, PAGCOR is also addressing the digital divide by establishing 200 new ELearning Centers. These centers will provide Internet access and computer stations for students across the country, serving as hubs for online learning, research, and digital literacy. In doing so, PAGCOR is
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Tech-driven government sustainability efforts
TJoel L. Tan-Torres
DEBIT CREDIT
Part four
he Organization for economic Co-operation and Development (OeCD) published in 2024 a publication entitled “Pricing Greenhouse Gas emissions 2024: Gearing up to Bring emissions Down.” This is part of its series on Carbon Pricing and energy Taxation.
This OECD publication dwells on carbon pricing mechanism, which is an essential factor in carbon taxation. It provides relevant and key insights with a focus on how developing countries can engage in the environmental sustainability efforts
The publication covers instruments such as emissions trading systems, subsidies and incentives for climate action, carbon taxes, and fuel excise taxes. These mechanisms align economic activities with climate goals.
Carbon taxes can generate significant revenue, which can be reinvested in renewable energy projects, adaptation measures, or offsetting social impacts. Public acceptability of carbon taxes in countries hinges on transparent revenue utilization.
The publication presents engagement strategies for developing countries. It suggests gradual implementation of carbon taxation programs and legislation. With modest carbon prices and taxation, these can then progressively be increased, allowing economies to adjust.
Leverage support from multilateral institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, the OECD and Asian Development Bank can be tapped for access by the Philippines for funding and technical expertise.
The use of carbon tax revenues to subsidize clean energy technologies or support vulnerable populations will ensure public and political buyin. The incorporation of carbon taxes into broader climate and economic strategies will result in alignment with national development goals.
There are several carbon tax bills pending in the Philippine Congress. These include House Bill No. 49 entitled Carbon Tax on Electricity, filed by Representative LRay Villafuerte in February 2022; House Bill 7705 or the Low-Carbon Economy Bill filed in 2023; Carbon Tax Framework filed at the Senate in January 2024; Senate Bill No. 2449 (Carbon Emission Levy) filed by Senator Win Gatchalian in January 2023; and Senate Bill No. 2023 filed by Senator Loren Legarda in February 2023.
The main features of these bills are the introduction of carbon pricing instruments that impose levies on emissions, such as a carbon tax
equipping students with the tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Beyond education, PAGCOR is making significant investments in healthcare. The agency plans to build 100 Health and Wellness Centers nationwide to provide essential medical services in communities where healthcare facilities are limited.
PAGCOR’s vision also extends to community development. The agency plans to build 50 Socio-Civic Centers across the country—multipurpose venues that will serve as hubs for local government units to host seminars, training, and social events. These centers will also double as evacuation sites during disasters, further bolstering community resilience. These centers are more than just buildings; they are critical assets that help strengthen commu-
Bonifacio-like bravery
TCarbon taxes can generate significant revenue, which can be reinvested in renewable energy projects, adaptation measures, or offsetting social impacts. Public acceptability of carbon taxes in countries hinges on transparent revenue utilization.
and carbon credit systems. Most of the bills aim to raise government revenues to fund climate action. These bills also focus on incentivizing behavioral changes and low-carbon technologies while addressing fiscal impacts. These bills are at various stages of committee deliberations. Their passage into law may take some time. Considering the slow pace of development in these urgent pending legislations, a champion should take the lead in moving forward these bills. I suggest that the Bureau of Internal Revenue, headed by Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr., take the leading role to push for the passage of these carbon pricing and taxation bills. Commissioner Lumagui can also advocate the earmarking of a portion of tax collections generated from the carbon tax to BIR implementation and sustainability efforts. Funds are much needed in implementing carbon pricing and taxation measures that are enabled by technology and other mechanisms.
These measures will not only contribute to the BIR’s tax collections, but it will be aligned with its other environmental sustainability initiatives. With the BIR assuming this role, it can be the show window for the rest of the world of tax administration assuming the task of nation building by collecting taxes and promoting economic sustainability.
Joel L. Tan-Torres was a former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. He has also held the various positions of Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, Chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co., and director of various corporate boards. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joel@ onecfo.com and his firm JL2T Consulting.
nity cohesion and prepare for future challenges.
PAGCOR’s disaster relief and infrastructure initiatives embody the antithesis of crisis and opportunity. Where natural disasters have left devastation in their wake, PAGCOR’s swift action and long-term investments pave a clear path forward. From the immediate aftermath of Typhoon Ofel to the agency’s ambit ious infrastructure projects, PAGCOR is helping build a more resilient and empowered nation. Through its unwavering commitment to both immediate aid and long-term growth, PAGCOR proves that every challenge is an opportunity to build a stronger future. Its tireless efforts to uplift Filipino communities reflect a vision of hope, resilience, and sustainable progress —principles that are essential to true nation building.
Tengco’s vision shows that, in the face of crisis, it is possible to transform adversity into a platform for positive change.
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
THE PATRIOT
he nation honors the legacy of Andres Bonifacio, widely recognized as the Father of the Revolution, annually on the 30th of November. Most Filipinos would know that soon after the execution of his mentor José Rizal in 1896, Bonifacio declared Philippine independence from Spain. What most Filipinos would not know is that Bonifacio was a self-taught and well-read individual who read books and articles on religion, as well as politics and law. For me, the name Bonifacio is synonymous to bravery, defined as having that strength and courage to face danger, fear, or difficulty.
These recent days, we have seen quite a handful of brave persons who appeared before congressional hearings, knowing that they are practically going inside the lion’s den, so to speak. Some observers believe that contempt orders have been issued by the Quad Committee, some of which were done with reckless abandon against brave souls who may show no or little fear in these difficult situations where “right” answers are a must, otherwise, detention.
One of the more prominent brave public officials who dared to face the lions in Congress head on is no less than the second highest official of the land, VP Sara Duterte. She has ignored an invitation to appear at least once; she has refused to take an oath at times; she has argued time and again against some legislators-investigators about the rules of the Committee. All done with zero fear.
She has held numerous press conferences wherein she publicly challenged all those who have been “attacking” her relentlessly, at least from her perspective, including the President himself. Appearing to exhibit Bonifacio-like bravery, VP Sara fearlessly fights off inquiries about
the use or misuse of confidential funds to the point of protecting her own chief of staff, Atty. Lopez, who was detained and later released by the Quad Committee.
Lopez was cited for contempt for alleged interference in deliberations on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Such detention likely touched a nerve of VP Sara as she personally became the guardian, lawyer, and protector of Atty. Lopez while in detention at Batasang Pambansa Complex and while at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.
VP Sara supposedly never left the side of her embattled chief of staff, and when she did, she made sure that her allies in the Senate (Senators Bong Go and Bato dela Rosa) would be in her stead. As to the reasons why VP Sara would take great lengths to bravely take on the powerful House of Congress whose rules have yet to be scrutinized by any judicial body, if at all possible, remain to be seen. One thing is certain—VP Sara has displayed bravery against seemingly insurmountable odds in Congress and in the current administration who
One of the more prominent brave public officials who dared to face the lions in Congress head on is no less than the second highest official of the land, VP Sara Duterte. She has ignored an invitation to appear at least once; she has refused to take an oath at times; she has argued time and again against some legislatorsinvestigators about the rules of the Committee. All done with zero fear.
may perhaps feel threatened by her growing popularity and mass base. Yet, for any Filipino to follow the footsteps of Andres Bonifacio, he must be reminded of what the Supremo of the k atipunan once said —“Love your Country next to God, your honor, and most of all yourself.”
Being brave is not about yourself. Fighting for your country is subordinate to loving God. One cannot be brave without the intestinal fortitude to fight. Part of being brave means trusting in the Lord as the true source of strength.
My pastor-friend Gary Galvez opines, and I agree, that Joshua was the greatest military leader in the Bible, as Joshua held an unblemished record of victories despite not having all the answers to the challenges of the enemies before him. What made Joshua successful was the fact that he acted in faith before “being strong and of good courage.” In the Bible, God spoke to Joshua and reminded him to be “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land, I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-7 ). Not once, but twice, did God
promise Joshua to be strong and courageous. But for every promise, there are instructions as my pastorfriend told me. And the instruction to Joshua was as simple as to “keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1: 8-9). Victories come from the small decisions we make every day to show our trust in God. Joshua followed the instructions from God to have the courage to lead his often-outnumbered soldiers into battle. In the process of following His instructions, the promise of victory after victory was given.
As most Filipinos and believers of God are aware of this instruction, both in the Preamble in the 1987 Constitution and in the book of Joshua in the Holy Book, we should prayerfully implore His presence in everything we do, including and especially when doing acts of bravery. If we were to follow His direction, study His Word, we will all have the courage to let go of fear, in any act of persecution, in Congress or elsewhere. Complementing a Bonifacio-like bravery, a Jesuslike love is what our leaders need to face and manage all the problems that beset our country.
A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.
Trump’s plans risk inflating bullish stock market into a bubble
By Esha Dey
The new Trump administration is coming in hot, with mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and threats of triggering a global trade war among its immediate priorities. Fighting continues in europe and the Middle east. And bond traders are scaling back bets on lower interest rates as the US economy risks a fresh bout of inflation.
But despite all of these risks, investors seem largely unperturbed, with the S&P 500 Index setting another record just this week. Traders are piling into the riskiest parts of the market, too, with the small-capitalization Russell 2000 Index nearly doubling the S&P 500’s performance over the past two weeks and approaching its first record since 2021. Meanwhile, the Cboe Volatility Index is at levels that historically indicate serenity among traders.
This degree of optimism in the face of those wider concerns is surprising even some Wall Street pros. To them, it’s also a cause for alarm.
“One of my top concerns is extreme bullishness, and we are seeing signs of that,” said Eric Diton, president and managing director of the Wealth Alliance. “We know from history that when investors are too bullish, and everyone is in the market, the question is who is buying to drive it higher?”
With the S&P 500 clocking 53 records this year—or about one every five days—rampant optimism in the stock market is hardly new. Still, signs of exuberance are starting to appear.
Wall Street’s soothsayers expect another year of double-digit gains after the S&P 500 posted back-toback advances of over 20 percent in 2023 and 2024. The index has delivered such a rally only once, during the dot-com bubble. Households’ equity holdings as a share of total assets are at a record—and so is a percentage of Americans expecting stocks to rise in the next 12 months. Data from Bank of America show
retail clients have a high chunk of their investments in equities and are taking on more risk.
“Investors seem to be shunning virtually any risk-averse strategy,” Richard Bernstein Advisors wrote in a note to clients this week.
Muddy outlook
R I Sk- ON momentum in equities has lately been concentrated in small caps. Since Donald Trump’s victory, the group—a laggard for most of the year—has caught up in a hurry with the broader market, and is now up 20 percent in 2024, compared with the S&P 500’s 26 percent advance. The group is expected to benefit from the new administration’s protectionist trade tactics because they’re least exposed to international markets.
The thing is, while there’s logic to small-caps rallying based on the incoming administration’s socalled “America First” agenda, that isn’t the whole story. The group’s earnings outlook isn’t great, and uncertainty is on the rise about how Trump’s plans would impact economic growth, inflation and the central bank’s interest-rate path.
Small companies are particularly sensitive to monetary policy because they tend to rely on debt financing. And the Federal Reserve has indicated that it’s slowing the expected pace of future rate cuts. That may not be an ideal backdrop for small caps, which are considered among the riskiest nooks in the market.
“In trader talk, this seems like a group to date, but not to marry,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist
Wall Street’s soothsayers expect another year of double-digit gains after the S&P 500 posted back-to-back advances of over 20 percent in 2023 and 2024. The index has delivered such a rally only once, during the dot-com bubble. Households’ equity holdings as a share of total assets are at a record—and so is a percentage of Americans expecting stocks to rise in the next 12 months. Data from Bank of America show retail clients have a high chunk of their investments in equities and are taking on more risk.
at Interactive Brokers. There are other fault lines in the market opening up as well. Semiconductor stocks, which have led US equities over the past couple years, are under closer scrutiny. The fervor for all things related to artificial intelligence that fueled much of their rally has started to calm down.
Meanwhile, chipmakers are going to be on the front line of any trade war, given the global nature of their supply chain.
“While tech remains near the top of the leader-board on a yearto-date basis, it’s near the bottom over the last one and three months,” Jonathan k r insky, chief market technician at BTIG, wrote in a note to clients. “Bulls really need to see semis stabilize here to prevent a bigger breakdown into 2025.” Keeping the faith T H AT being said, optimists still see plenty of reasons to keep faith. They point to the healthy broadening of market leadership, with stocks from industries other than technology or AI gradually taking over. And valuations, while stretched, are not quite at peak levels. While the S&P 500’s 10year annualized return has climbed
sharply, it’s not at the point where investors might want to abandon ship just yet, according to Bloomberg’s Cameron Crise. Then there’s the expectation that the Trump administration’s plans for lower corporate taxes, looser regulations and a softer stance on antitrust policies will more than offset any headwinds. Bulls also take confidence from Trump’s own penchant for using the stock market as a scoreboard for his success. Wall Street’s enthusiastic reaction to Trump picking Scott Bessent as his nominee for Treasury secretary was predicated on the idea that he would temper the administration’s aggressive trade and economic proposals.
Another factor that may be driving the enthusiasm for equities is investors’ memories of how they did in Trump’s previous term—and the belief that it’ll happen again, despite the differences between 2016 and 2024.
“People’s experience with the stock market in Trump’s last term is skewing their perception of what to expect in this frothy market,” said Alex Atanasiu, portfolio manager at Glenmede Investment Management. “At that time, the market was recovering, and this time valuations are even higher, we have had two strong years and it is risky to assume the market has the same kind of legs.”
All together, these factors can feed the sense of euphoria and keep the rally alive for some time— whether it’s rational or not. The recommendation from market pros is simple: Be cautious at these levels and read the tea leaves carefully.
“Anyone who thinks we are not in a highly speculative period, if not a bubble, isn’t really paying attention,” said Richard Bernstein, founder and chief investment officer at Richard Bernstein Advisors. “Look at crypto. There is nothing fundamental going on there.” With assistance from Vince Golle /Bloomberg
Monday, December 2, 2024
PHL seizing low-rate loan options as it nears UMIC
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
AS the nation inches toward upper middle income country (UMIC) status, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the government is taking advantage of all the financing windows at its disposal, including long-term loans that bear concessional rates.
In a recent briefing, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said it is believed that once the country “graduates” to UMIC status, it would not be able to access concessional loans that bear low interest rates and longer repayment periods.
However, Balisacan said, the country’s development partners assured them that there are other financing options for UMICs that give them an opportunity to access similar concessions enjoyed by lower middle income countries.
Many of our current ODA [Official Development Assistance] now are long-term anyway. That’s why we have been
approving also many projects because we want to take advantage of the situation where we are still a lower middle-income country,” Balisacan said.
“ But again, we talk with our development partners. They tell us that there are other windows that could offer the same features as the current window, as the window for lower middle income countries, and it’s probably something that we want to explore,” he added.
Apart from these options, Neda Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Rosemarie G. Edillon said the country’s “Road to A” roadmap remains on track given the recent upgrade on the country’s credit rating outlook by Standard & Poor Rating.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) earlier said such an upgrade opens the possibility for the country to see an “A-” credit rating within 24 months. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/27/phl-eyes-arating-as-standard-poor-upgrades-outlook/).
The Road to A is encapsulated in the Philippine Public Financial Management (PFM) Reforms
Roadmap 2024-2028 that the blueprint will help the government arrive at an “A” credit rating. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/09/18/dbm-roadmap-to-manage-public-financeto-lead-to-a/).
“[This is] one demonstration that we are on track and we will continue to work with the entire government, including the legislative, to make sure that we get to that ‘A’, so that the valuation of our cost of capital for the Philippines will actually be brought down,” Edillon said.
Edillon also noted that the country, together with other UMICs, aims to engage in policy discussion at the multilateral level in an important middle income country conference that the Philippines is hosting next year.
The Philippines is expected to become a UMIC by next year, a target that remains achievable, according to the Neda. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/04/05/ amid-lower-growth-goals-umicstatus-still-possible/).
“For next year, the Philippines will be hosting the conference of middle income countries and we will
have a chance to, you know, shape that discussion and that agenda,” Edillon said. “We hope to have a multilateral effort towards this.”
ADB review IN September 2024, Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it aims to embark on a review of its engagement with UMICs which could allow these countries to tap concessional financing.
Based on the midterm review of its “Strategy 2030,” the ADB said there is a proposal to pilot a new sovereign climate financing window with access to concessional funding for UMICs.
The pilot concessional financing may be available for high-impact climate and biodiversity projects with national and regional benefits.
Cu rrently, no country has graduated from ADB assistance, despite the presence of large economies among its Developing Member Countries (DMCs). However, there are countries that are classified as having grant-only, concessional, and market-based lending.
See “PHL,” A2
DFA STAFF TO MANALO: HOLD FOREIGN ALLOWANCE TWEAKS
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig
RANK-AND-FILE employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs have asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo to hold the implementation of the Executive Order recently signed by President Marcos Jr. mandating adjustments to their overseas allowance.
Dominic Macaraig, secretary general of the DFA Rank and File Association, wrote a letter to Manalo saying there was “no prior consultation” among its members before the EO was released on October 30, 2024.
T he DFA management and the DFARFA recently signed a collective negotiation agreement (CNA), which their members have “overwhelmingly ratified.”
Ho wever, Macaraig said, the DFA employees became “disappointed” after receiving information about the signing of Executive Order No. 73 entitled “Prescribing the New Rates and Allowances of Foreign Services Personnel.”
At its face, all the base rates of the overseas allowance and living quarters allowance in EO 73 have increased compared to EO 156 in 2013.
“ However, the average incremental increase, in particular with the living quarters allowance, is overwhelmingly wiped out by a remarkable decrease of indices mostly in FSPs located in the European region,” Macaraig wrote.
The Department of Budget and Management had earlier said that the new EO will increase the overseas and living quarters
allowance to 40 percent, and will be implemented in four tranches. The representation allowances will also be raised by 15 percent. (See story https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/05/phl-diplomats-foreignservice-staff-get-allowance-hikes/)
However, some diplomats told BusinessMirror that the indices for 72 countries or cities with higher cost of living have been decreased. (See story https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/18/diplomatsgrumble-what-allowance-increase/)
DFA employees left scratching their heads on what valid justification DFA negotiators had in mind in crafting EO 73 where it appears that expenses of rental of apartment and living conditions in 2024 have gone down compared to 2013.
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
OVERY 40 landowners in Pampanga whose lots were affected by the Subic-ClarkManila-Batangas (SCMB) railway project have already been paid the just compensation and received their transfer certificate titles (TCTs) from the government, according to stateowned firm Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
In a statement at the weekend, the state-run firm announced that BCDA OIC-Senior Vice President Richard Brian M. Cepe distributed 68 Transfer Certificate of Titles (TCTs) to the landowners in Porac and Floridablanca towns in Pampanga affected by the SCMB railway, formerly known as the Subic-Clark Railway Project or SCRP. The state-run firm explained that these TCTs were distributed
to “privately titled” lots affected by right of way.
Certain parties were affected by right-of-way so their areas shrank. Essentially, the titles that were distributed are those retained by lot owners while the affected areas were transferred to BCDA,” the state-run firm explained to reporters in a Viber message on Sunday.
These are titles of their lands minus the areas affected by SCMB right of way,” it added. BCDA said the landowners who received the TCTs were given “just compensation” under Republic Act 10752 or the Right of Way Act. R A 10752 noted that according to Article III, Section 9 of the Constitution, “Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation.“
See “SCMB,” A2
By Ada Pelonia
THE Philippines’s meat imports this year could reach 1.17 million metric tons (MMT), driven by extended lower tariffs levied on meat products, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The FAO forecasts global meat trade to surge in 2024 following two consecutive years of decline, with volume expected to hit nearly 42 MMT. This is mostly owing to higher shipments of bovine meat.
It noted that the United States would likely account for over 7 percent of total import demand this year, largely due to tight supply of bovine meat from domestic sources.
Similarly, in the Philippines, the extension of lower tariff rates on key meat products, aiming to mitigate rising meat prices, which
will be applied until 2028, is likely to induce more purchases,” the FAO report read.
Th e international organization also forecasts the global poultry meat trade to rebound to 16.3 MMT this year due to rising import demand in key markets including the Philippines.
“ In the Philippines, rising domestic chicken meat prices in local markets, driven by insufficient internal supplies, are forecast to support growth in poultry meat imports.”
I n terms of world pork trade, the FAO estimates it will settle at 10 MMT in 2024. This would be driven by anticipated demand increases in the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines.
“ In the Philippines, continued challenges related to animal diseases are expected to constrain domestic supplies, result -
ing in higher import demand.”
The Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) recently said that the country’s meat imports by yearend could exceed last year’s record as animal diseases and bad weather crimped domestic output. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/25/phl-meat-importsseen-surpassing-23-record/)
Mita issued the statement after figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that the country’s meat imports as of September 30 rose by 12.65 percent to 1.04 MMT from 923,160 metric tons (MT) a year ago. Meat importation breached 1 million metric tons in September, which indicates that the Philippines will break last year’s record-high of 1.2 MMT,” Mita President Emeritus Jesus Cham said via Viber. D ata from BAI, an attached
agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), indicated that the Philippines imported 1.2 MMT of meat products last year. Nearly half of the volume consisted of pork products.
C ham, however, warned that the increase in shipments would not automatically offer relief to consumers, especially during the holidays due to the threat of port congestion and the impact of a weak peso on prices.
The record-high importation is worrisome as signs of port congestion are appearing.”
A ccording to Cham, the depreciation of the peso could increase the landed cost of imported meat products. Meanwhile, the successive typhoons have hurt demand and consumption and importers may not be able to raise prices enough to cover the added costs.”
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
SEC gives delinquent firms more time to access ECIP
By VG Cabuag @villygc
The Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) has extended until the end of the year a program that slaps lower fines and penalties on noncompliant, delinquent, suspended and revoked corporations for the late and non-filing of their reportorial requirements.
The SEC issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 17, Series of 2024, providing for the extension of Enhanced Compliance Incentive Plan (ECIP) applications until December 31. The said program allows noncompliant and delinquent, as well as suspended or revoked corpora-
tions, a chance to settle their fines and penalties over failure to submit their annual financial statements (AFS), general information sheet (GIS) and official contact details at significantly lower rates.
Corporations may apply for ECIP by submitting the expression of interest, integrated in their accounts
on the agency’s electronic filing and submission tool (eFAST).
Applicant corporations are required to submit their latest due AFS and GIS by December 31, the agency said.
Non-compliant corporations and those placed under the delinquent status may settle their fines and penalties for P20,000.
Those with suspended and revoked registrations need to pay only half of their assessed fines and penalties, plus P3,060 to process their petition to lift the order of suspension or revocation.
In addition to the AFS and GIS, corporations whose Certificates of Incorporation have been suspended or revoked need to submit the petition to lift order of suspension or revocation, along with other supporting documents such as directors or trustees certificate, proof of ongoing operations, secretary’s certificate of no
intra corporate controversy and MC 28 compliance.
Such documents should be submitted to the designated SEC email addresses. Corporations based outside of Metro Manila must submit the requirements to the concerned SEC Extension Office.
As of November 28, more than 3,200 corporations have already applied and paid the corresponding ECIP fees.
Failure to submit the complete set of requirements by December 31 will forfeit the ECIP fee of P20,000 for non-compliant corporations and 50 percent of the total assessed penalties, as well as the initial petition fee of P3,060 for suspended/revoked corporations, in favor of the agency.
The new rates are around 900 percent to 1,900 percent higher compared to the previous rates that had been in place for more than two decades.
Prime Infra, DENR ink pact for UMRBPL
PBy Lenie Lectura @llectura
r I ME Infra has signed a tripartite agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural r esources (DEN r ) and the provincial government of r i zal for the rehabilitation and sustainable management of the Upper Marikina r i ver Basin Protected Landscape (UM r BPL).
The MOA states that the parties are committed to “rehabilitate, conserve, and sustainably manage” an initial 4,000 hectares within the UM r BPL, and to establish a model for afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation that integrates sustainable livelihoods, biodiver-
Globe builds cell site in Tawi-Tawi
GLOBE Telecom Inc. has started the construction on the first off-grid, solar-powered cell site on Taganak Island in the Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi, aiming to provide reliable mobile and data connectivity to approximately 10,000 residents in this remote area.
According to Globe Senior Director and Head of Technology Strategy and Innovations Gerhard Tan, the project, expected to be completed by mid-2025, will utilize solar energy, eliminating the need for diesel generators, and is projected to avoid approximately 40 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
“This project is a solid testament to Globe’s commitment to sustainable connectivity, made possible by a strong partnership with the government and local leaders to empower even our most remote communities.”
Tan noted that the Turtle Islands, a critical nesting ground for green sea turtles and a designated wildlife sanctuary, will benefit from enhanced environmental monitoring and protection facilitated by the new connectivity.
The local government allocated land on Taganak Island for the cell site. Lorenz S. Marasigan
UBy Ada Pelonia
NIVEr SAL robina Corp.’s (U r C ) P5.4-billion flour milling plant in Quezon will help meet the nutritional needs of Filipino families, according to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
sity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, while generating verified nature-based credits.
“With this agreement, we aim to rehabilitate an initial 4,000 hectares of degraded land within the Upper Marikina protected area combining science-based approaches with community-centered efforts,” said DEN r Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.
Prime Infra , for its part, said the project activities will ensure that these are aligned with the objectives of the National Greening Program (NGP) and contribute to the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.
“Today’s milestone reflects that
US hits
commitment—a decisive step toward safeguarding and restoring nature’s resources through innovative, science-based interventions, focusing closely on forest rehabilitation and management. This initiative also aligns with Prime Infra’s broader mission of building better lives and resilient economies, creating long-term value for both people and planet,” said Prime Infra Chairman Enrique r a zon Jr.
r a zon noted that the province of r i zal has long been a strategic focus for Prime Infra, hosting two of its key infrastructure projects— the Wawa Bulk Water Supply Project and the Wawa Pumped Storage Power Project.
“These projects, along with
the MOA we are signing today, reinforce our dedication to driving sustainable development and creating a resilient future for the people of r i zal.”
Prime Infra Chief r e gulatory Officer Vince Dizon and Chief Administrative Officer Minerva Matibag; WawaJVCo President Melvin John Tan; and DEN r Undersecretaries Juan Miguel Cuna, Ignatius Loyola r odriguez, Analiza r ebuelta-Teh, Marilou Erni, Joselin Marcus Fragada, Ernesto Adobo Jr., and Augusto Dela Peña; and r e gional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria were also present during the MOA signing led by r a zon, Loyzaga and r i zal Governor Nina r icci Ynares.
Southeast Asian solar imports with duties up to 271%
SOLA r imports from Southeast Asia are being unfairly sold in the United States below their production costs, according to initial findings of a Commerce Department review that laid out duties of as much as 271 percent to counteract the practice.
The preliminary determination released Friday marks another victory for US solar panel makers that argued those cheap imports are harming their business and undermining government investments meant to nurture a domestic supply chain.
At issue are imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells—and modules made with them—from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, countries which provide the bulk of US supply of that equipment today. Those nations provide the bulk of US solar cell and module imports. The announcement comes nearly two months after the US agency issued preliminary findings from a separate but related probe that the solar imports from Southeast Asia are unfairly benefiting from government aid.
The investigations represent the latest bid by US manufacturers to confront overseas rivals. After similar duties were imposed on solar imports from China roughly 12 years ago, Chinese manufacturers responded by setting up operations in other Asian nations that weren’t affected by the tariffs. The US probes were triggered by an April petition from the Ameri-
can Alliance for Solar Manufacturing Trade Committee, which represents companies including First Solar Inc., Hanwha Qcells USA Inc. and Mission Solar Energy LLC.
“With these preliminary duties, we are moving closer to addressing years of harmful unfair trade and protecting billions of dollars of investment in new American solar manufacturing and supply chains,” Tim Brightbill, partner at Wiley r e in and lead counsel to the petitioners, said in an emailed statement. “These initial rates are in line with our expectations of market conditions and how these four countries were engaging in unfair trade practices to undermine American manufacturing and jobs.”
Shares of First Solar rose as much as 3.8 percent after the announcement, while JinkoSolar’s US depository receipts fell as much as 2.9 percent.
The cases have drawn opposition from some foreign manufacturers and domestic renewable power developers that argue tariffs give an unfair advantage to larger incumbent panel makers operating in the US while raising the cost of solar power projects.
New rates
U NDEr Friday’s action, imports from Cambodia face a cash deposit rate of 117.12 percent.
For Malaysia, initial assessed rates range from 17.84 percent for
Jinko Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd. to 81.24 percent for other suppliers. Hanwha Q Cells Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. was preliminarily assessed to have no dumping margin and therefore was assigned an initial cash deposit rate of 0 percent. Bloomberg News
Laurel noted the crucial role the facility would play in ensuring a stable availability of high-quality flour, a vital ingredient in many staple food products like bread, pasta, cereals, and crackers.
“Flour is integral to our economy, from family dining tables to largescale food production,” he said.
Laurel noted that the plant’s daily production capacity of 1,320 metric tons (MT) would significantly contribute to meeting the nutritional needs of millions of Filipinos.
Built in a 10-hectare property in Sariaya, the manufacturing facility is scheduled to start commercial operations in January and will directly employ 102 workers.
The plant, situated in Barangay Talaan-Aplaya, spans 10 hectares and is the third facility of its kind under UrC , the food manufacturing arm of the Gokongwei Group.
The agency said the new milling facility has an annual production capacity of 297,000 MT of flour and 99,000 MT of bran and pollard. It features a fully automated milling technology that will streamline flour production, storage, and packaging processes.
It added that the facility is expected to play a key role in ensuring
a stable and affordable supply of the products.
Laurel said the milling plant represents “a critical link” in strengthening the nation’s agricultural value chain, with UrC ’s commitment to innovation and productivity setting a positive example for the private sector’s role in national development.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., U rC Chairman Lance Y. Gokongwei, Secretary Conrado Estrella of the Department of Agrarian r eform (DA r ), and local government officials from Quezon attended the inauguration.
UrC and the Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier forged a 5-year agreement to implement a program that seeks to increase the income and productivity of potato farmers. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/07/30/ urc-govt-aim-to-hike-potato-output/)
The DA said UrC joined the Sustainable Potato Program (SPP) before the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country.
“Since its inception in 2019, SPP exemplified the power of public-private partnerships in driving positive change,” Laurel said.
“This agreement solidifies our shared commitment to improve access to quality planting materials, enhance potato production practices and technology, boost local sufficiency, and ultimately uplift farmers en route to a sustainable future.” Laurel said UrC committed to upscale the project and expand production areas in the Cordilleras, Bukidnon, and Davao provinces.
President Ferdinand r. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the new flour milling plant of Universal robina Corp. (UrC) at sariaya, Quezon last november 29, 2024. Joining the President are Agrarian reform secretary Conrado estrella iii, Agriculture secretary Francisco tiu
Gokongwei,
Lee,
Photo by NoN
Banking&Finance
BRICS’s commitment on US$ use demanded
US President-elect Donald Trump warned the so-called BRICS nations that he would require commitments that they would not move to create a new currency as an alternative to using the US dollar and repeated threats to levy a 100-percent tariff.
“The idea that the BRICS Countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump said in a post to his Truth Social network on Saturday.
“We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100 percent Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful US Economy,” he added.
Trump on his campaign trail pledged that he would make it costly for countries to move away from the US dollar. And he’s threatened to use tariffs to ensure they complied. Saturday’s threat took on new relevance as the president-elect prepares to retake power in January.
Trump and his economic advisers have been discussing ways to punish allies and adversaries alike who seek to engage in bilateral trade in currencies other than the dollar. Those measures include considering options such as export controls, currency manipulation charges and levies on trade, according to people familiar with the matter.
Trump has long stressed that he wants the US dollar to remain the world’s reserve currency, saying in a March interview with CNBC that he “would not allow countries to go off the dollar” because it would be “a hit to our country.”
The president-elect’s warning against the BRICS nations suggests “how confused the incoming administration is about the global trade and capital system,” according to Michael Pettis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
“There is no chance that the BRICS will replace the US Dollar in International Trade, and any Country that tries should wave goodbye to America,” Trump said Saturday. Bloomberg News
Perspectives
Future of corporate services
CORPORATE Services must play a larger role in helping deliver enterprise-wide value. To accomplish this, these functions—procurement, human resources (HR), finance, information technology (IT), and legal—should be more closely aligned to support value creation, prevent value loss, and proactively mitigate risk.
Faced with increasing competitive, regulatory, and sustainability pressures, companies are now asking more from their Corporate Services. To gauge how effectively Corporate Services is stepping up to these demands, KPMG carried out a global survey of 250 senior executives representing various industries and functions including front, middle and back office, as well as key C-suite and non-back-office leaders.
R.G. Manabat & Co. Management Consulting Partner Imelda H. Corros shared: “In today’s competitive and regulated market, unlocking value through Corporate Services involves driving innovation, minimizing risk, and preventing value erosion.”
“While technology is a key enabler, the real impact comes from a strategic approach that integrates these functions seamlessly across the organization. This alignment maximizes their collective contribution to overall business performance,” Corros added.
Releasing the full potential of Corporate Services IN many organizations, Corporate Services are failing to fulfill their full potential. Despite ongoing performance improvement initiatives, two-thirds of survey respondents say Corporate Services functions are “just meeting” the expectations of business partners in terms of quality and efficiency. And only about one-third describe Corporate Services as “effective.” One factor that holds back effectiveness is the tendency for each function to work in isolation, with its own goals, working practices, data, and systems. A significant proportion of front and middle office respondents (40 percent) and Corporate Services respondents (42 percent) agree that their organization’s Corporate Services functions are siloed.
Strategic imperatives
CORPORATE Services is unlikely to remain a collection of disparate functions acting independently. A connected enterprise needs connected Corporate Services, with a common goal of driving, enhancing, and preserving value. This includes supporting the middle and front offices by offering fast service, and providing data, to understand the business, serve end customers better, and improve operational effectiveness. It also means enhancing business capabilities by using AI and Gen AI to boost performance. To do so, Corporate Services must address these four strategic imperatives: n Focus on enterprise value—and design Corporate Services to support value creation. Competitive and technology pressures can quickly make existing business models redundant.
No, Arsie, politics will hurt the economy–Guinigundo
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
CONTRARY to the expectations of the Philippines government’s economic team, US-based Global Source Partners believes the current political climate in the country could have a “more serious impact,” particularly on prices and foreign debt.
In an economic brief, Global Source Partners country analyst Diwa C. Guinigundo said the infighting between the top political leaders in the country could negatively affect the economic health of the Philippines.
To thrive (or even survive), companies need to constantly assess their value proposition, and future winners will be agile, able to swiftly change to new sources of value. But they can only do this if they have an equally agile Corporate Services that can support value creation and protect against value loss. n Harness the power of data to deliver more value for the business. The various Corporate Services functions are the natural custodians of enterprise data. This means a connected, integrated Corporate Services function is dependent upon the fast flow of and seamless access to common data. Today’s strategic decision-making demands streamlined processes, with connected, cross-organizational data repositories. These processes can deliver accurate, upto-date information to drive productivity improvements, cost savings, and new insights about customers, competitors, threats, and opportunities.
n Embrace Gen AI to fundamentally change Corporate Services, including the workforce. Advanced AI—and specifically Gen AI—is profoundly reshaping Corporate Services, replacing many types of jobs and processes. But it will only reach its potential when paired with human expertise and ingenuity. Leaders need to consider how to balance digital and human capabilities to enhance the expected benefits while maintaining trust in AI. n Incentivize and enable change to advance Corporate Services. C-suite executives wish to align Corporate Services functions more closely with each other—and with the rest of the business. In some Corporate Services functions, forces are holding back such change, in the form of entrenched, siloed structures and ways of working. A significant proportion (45 percent) of key leaders from outside of Corporate Services believe the top priorities of their function and the wider organization are fully aligned; but for Corporate Services functional leaders, the response drops dramatically to just 20 percent.
How KPMG can help
KPMG professionals believe that business transformation is now a necessity—and that successful transformation requires the right tech and industry best processes with people whose insights are as broad as they are deep. This excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://kpmg.com/xx/en/ our-insights/value-creation/future-of-corporateservices.html. © 2024 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member firm of the KPMG
organization of independent
firms affiliated with KPMG Int’l Ltd., a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. For more information, you may reach out through ph-kpmgmla@kpmg.com, social media or visit www.home.kpmg/ph. This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice to a
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio ‘Arsie’ M. Balisacan earlier said he did not expect the ongoing “political noise” to throw a monkey wrench into the country’s economic performance (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/11/29/ economy-can-ride-out-politicalnoise-neda/).
“Outside politics, all these volatile
developments could certainly lead to some market backlash,” Guinigundo wrote in his economic brief. “It’s quite difficult to discern whether what is happening is just preparatory to something more serious. It would be more than helpful for the leadership in the Philippines to get more real.”
The former central bank official noted the Bloomberg story that Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. indicated the possibility of a “senior” peso, which could be a threat to increasing inflation and making external debts more expensive.
The Philippines is a net food and
oil importer. This means, it needs to purchase food and oil needs from other sources abroad, requiring it to pay for these goods in US dollars. A depreciation in the value of the peso means it will require more pesos to buy US dollars. This will then increase the cost of goods purchased from foreign sources.
“(Recently), BSP Governor Eli Remolona even prepared the market for a P60-to-a-dollar exchange rate as an eventuality. Higher inflation could not be too far behind,” Guinigundo said.
Further, the depreciation of the peso would also mean higher costs in terms of paying for external debt. Guinigundo said this could be a threat given the recent pronouncements made by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).
In its annual report, the BTr said an aggressive return to the prepandemic debt ratio of below 40 percent may be detrimental to the country’s economic growth and cause delay in structural reforms (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/29/low-debt-ratioto-delay-structural-reformsdent-growth/).
“Doubts have been raised whether the Philippines would still be able to hit pre-pandemic debt to GDP ratio
of less than 40 percent from the current over 60 percent. Even Philippine Treasury officials expressed doubt that a reduction in the national debt could be reduced significantly,” Guinigundo said.
In a briefing in Malacañang last Thursday, Balisacan noted that for the past 12 years, the country’s economic performance was not affected by political noise.
Balisacan reiterated that despite the feud between the President and Vice President, the economic team has adopted a “business-as-usual” approach and continues to focus on attaining the country’s economic and fiscal goals and targets.
Based on government data, the country’s economy has been growing above 6 percent in recent years. GDP growth even breached the 7-percent mark in 2010 and 2016, when it reached 7.3 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively.
Between 2010 and 2023, GDP growth fell below 6 percent only in four years, and this was during the pandemic years.
Data obtained from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that in 2011 GDP grew 3.9 percent; 2020, a contraction of 9.5 percent; 2021, 5.7 percent; and 2023, 5.5 percent.
Sen. Bong Go calls on PhilHealth to fulfill promises
SENATOR Christopher “Bong”
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has praised the inclusion of dental services in the healthcare benefit packages of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth). The initiative marks a significant step in expanding universal healthcare access, prioritizing preventive oral healthcare, and fulfilling promises made to the Filipino people.
“This is a big win for public health,” Go remarked. “Matagal na nating isinusulong ang mas malawak na benepisyo para sa kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino, at kasama na dito ang dental care. Ang kalusugan ng ating bibig ay konektado sa ating pangkalahatang kalusugan, kaya dapat lang na bahagi ito ng universal health care.”
The newly approved benefit package by PhilHealth includes essential dental services such as oral screening, prophylaxis or teeth cleaning, fluoride varnish application, pit and fissure sealants, Class V restorative procedures, emergency tooth extractions, and dental consultations.
Go has been a staunch advocate for expanded healthcare benefits particularly under the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act, emphasizing during various Senate hearings the importance of integrating oral health into the broader healthcare system. He credited persistent efforts in ensuring that oral health does not remain an overlooked aspect of Filipinos’ overall well-being.
“Sa bawat pagdinig, paulit-ulit nating ipinaalala na ang Universal Health Care ay hindi kumpleto kung hindi kasama ang oral health. Importante ito, lalo na para sa mga kababayan nating hindi
LAOAG CITY—Over
3,000 residents of Ilocos Norte benefited from vital health services and assistance provided by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) through its “Bawat Buhay Mahalaga Serbisyo” Caravan. Held at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena from November 29 to 30, the 2-day event offered free medical consultations and services,
kayang magpabunot o magpagamot ng ngipin,” he added.
Under the approved package, PhilHealth will provide maximum coverage of P1,000 per patient annually for preventive oral health services. This includes P300 for the first visit, covering oral examinations, cleaning, and fluoride varnish application. A second visit, at least four months apart, will also be covered for the same amount. Additionally, a maximum of P200 per tooth (up to two teeth annually) will be allocated for pit and fissure sealants or Class V restorative procedures.
The program also prohibits copayments for public dentists, ensuring that patients accessing services from government facilities will receive treatment at no additional cost. For private dentists, co-payments will be capped at specific rates, including P1,500 for oral exams and prophylaxis, and P600 for emergency extractions.
Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa Jr. also highlighted the preventive approach of the package, noting that dentists under the PhilHealth Konsulta Program will deliver the services, with referrals from Konsulta providers also being accommodated.
Meanwhile, during previous Senate hearings, Go recounted one of his visits in Cebu where an individual sought help for dental care. When referred to the Department of Health, the patient was informed that giving dentures was not covered by government medical assistance programs under the current regulations: “Napasubo ako. Sabi ko, bigyan ko kayo ng (pustiso). Pero bawal po.
medicines as well as food packs and other essential services and community assistance.
Pagcor also handed over P50-million worth of donations to Provincial Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc. It included bicycles for barangay bike patrols, GoBags equipped with first aid kits, wheelchairs, walking canes, cot beds, reading glasses and assorted medicines.
Go emphasized that many poor Filipinos are unable to pay for dental services, and this lack of access severely affects their quality of life. He questioned why comprehensive dental care, including the provision of dentures, could not be included as part of medical services that can be covered by medical aid from government.
“Sa mga mahirap nating kababayan na ayaw na magpa- dentist, gagamit ng sinulid o hihilain na lang (‘yung ngipin nila)…Wala po silang pambayad sa dentist,” he noted.
The senator then called for amending the regulations, suggesting that affordable dentures should be made available to those in need through medical assistance programs given the sufficient amount of budget allocated this year.
As the leading proponent of health reforms in the Senate, Go continues to advocate for accessible healthcare across all sectors reminding PhilHealth to fulfill its commitments to the Filipino people. After numerous appeals from Go, PhilHealth has also officially committed to ensuring the implementation of their other promises such as increasing case rates; expanding benefits packages, especially for the top 10 mortality diseases; providing free medicines and assistive devices, such as eyeglasses and wheelchairs; inclusion of dental, visual, emergency and preventive care; as well as updating policies to meet the needs of Filipinos.
Go has pressed PhilHealth to accelerate its other reforms following the long-overdue scrapping of the Single Period of Confinement
(SPC) policy last month. While its removal was a significant step triggered by Go’s consistent appeals for reform, he has also brought to light the 24-hour confinement rule, which required patients to be hospitalized for at least a day to qualify for insurance coverage. PhilHealth officials have also committed to revisiting and remove this rule.
“Pera po ito ng taumbayan, bawat piso ay pinagpaguran. Dapat po itong gamitin sa paraan na talagang makikinabang ang mga mamamayan,” Go said, reaffirming his commitment to policies that lessen the financial burden on ordinary citizens.
Earlier, Go expressed strong commendation for the Supreme Court’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the National Treasury.
“This is one big win for the Filipino people! Sulit ang ating pangungulit!” he declared, underscoring that public health funds should solely support the health and wellness of Filipinos.
“Ang pondo ng PhilHealth ay para sa Health!” Go reiterated, emphasizing that these funds are essential for meeting the medical needs of Filipinos, particularly the underprivileged.
While appreciative of the TRO, Go stressed that this is merely a step in his ongoing efforts to ensure that PhilHealth fully delivers on its commitments to Filipinos.
Pero hindi dito nagtatapos ang ating krusada para sa kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan. Hindi ko titigilan ang PhilHealth hanggang tuparin nila ang lahat ng kanilang pangako,” he said.
Additionally, 45 livelihood starter packages were raffled off during the event, and the agency pledged to deliver medical equipment by early next year. Pagcor also announced plans to provide educational grants under its “Ayudang Hatid ay Tagumpay” program, with the number of scholars to be finalized in coordination with the provincial government.
RISE OF THE ‘MANOSPHERE’:
How misogyny surged after Trump’s win
By Christine Fernando The Associated Press
IN the days after the presidential election, Sadie Perez began carrying pepper spray with her around campus. Her mom also ordered her and her sister a selfdefense kit that included keychain spikes, a hidden knife key and a personal alarm.
It’s a response to an emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers who have seized on Republican Donald Trump ’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice” at women online and on college campuses.
For many women, the words represent a worrying harbinger of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights.
The fact that I feel like I have to carry around pepper spray like this is sad,” said Perez, a 19-yearold political science student in Wisconsin. “Women want and deserve to feel safe.”
Isabelle Frances-Wright, director of technology and society at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a think tank focusing on polarization and extremism, said she had seen a “very large uptick in a number of types of misogynistic rhetoric immediately after the election,” including some “extremely violent misogyny.”
I think many progressive women have been shocked by how quickly and aggressively this rhetoric has gained traction,” she said.
The phrase “Your body, my choice” has been largely attributed to a post on the social platform X from Nick Fuentes, a Holocaustdenying white nationalist and far-right internet personality who dined at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida two years ago. In statements responding to criticism of that event, Trump said he had “never met and knew nothing about” Fuentes before he arrived.
Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law, said the phrase transforms the iconic abortion rights slogan into an attack on women’s right to autonomy and a personal threat.
“ The implication is that men should have control over or access to sex with women,” said Ziegler, a reproductive rights expert.
Fuentes’s post had 35 million views on X within 24 hours, according to a report by Frances-Wright’s think tank, and the phrase spread rapidly to other social media platforms.
Women on TikTok have reported seeing it inundate their comment sections. The slogan also has made its way offline with boys chanting it in middle schools or men directing it at women on college campuses, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue report and social media reports. One mother said her daughter heard the phrase on her college campus three times, the report said.
School districts in Wisconsin and Minnesota have sent notices about the language to parents. Tshirts emblazoned with the phrase were pulled off Amazon.
Perez said she has seen men respond to shared Snapchat stories for their college class with “Your body, my choice.”
It makes me feel disgusted and infringed upon,” she said. “... It feels like going backwards.”
M isogynistic attacks have been part of the social media landscape for years. But Frances-Wright and others who track online extremism and disinformation said language glorifying violence against women or celebrating the possibility of their rights being stripped away has spiked since the election.
Online declarations for women to “Get back in the kitchen” or to “Repeal the 19th,” a reference to the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote, have spread rapidly. In the days surrounding the election, the extremism think tank found that the top 10 posts on X calling for repeal of the 19th Amend -
ment received more than 4 million views collectively.
A man holding a sign with the words “Women Are Property” sparked an outcry at Texas State University. The man was not a student, faculty or staff, and was escorted off campus, according to the university’s president. The university is “exploring potential legal responses,” he said.
A nonymous rape threats have been left on the TikTok videos of women denouncing the election results. And on the farflung reaches of the web, 4chan forums have called for “rape squads” and the adoption of policies in The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian book and TV series depicting the dehumanization and brutalization of women.
“ What was scary here was how quickly this also manifested in offline threats,” Frances-Wright said, emphasizing that online discourse can have real-world impacts.
Previous violent rhetoric on 4chan has been connected to racially motivated and antisemitic attacks, including a 2022 shooting by a white supremacist in Buffalo
that killed 10 people. Anti-Asian hate incidents also rose as politicians, including Trump, used words such as “Chinese virus” to describe the COVID-19 pandemic. And Trump’s language targeting Muslims and immigrants in his first campaign correlated with spikes in hate speech and attacks on these groups, Frances-Wright said.
The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism reported similar rhetoric, with “numerous violent misogynistic trends” gaining traction on right-wing platforms such as 4chan and spreading to more mainstream ones such as X since the election.
Throughout the presidential race, Trump’s campaign leaned on conservative podcasts and tailored messaging toward disaffected young men. As Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention over the summer, the song “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown blared from the speakers.
O ne of several factors to his success this election was modestly boosting his support among men, a shift concentrated among younger voters, according to AP VoteCast, survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. But Trump also won support from 44% of women age 18 to 44, according to AP VoteCast. To some men, Trump’s return to the White House is seen as a vindication, gender and politics experts said. For many young women, the election felt like a referendum on women’s rights and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss felt like a rejection of their own rights and autonomy.
“For some of these men, Trump’s victory represents a chance to reclaim a place in society that they think they are losing around these traditional gender roles,” Frances-Wright said.
None of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump or anyone in his immediate orbit. But Trump has a long history of insulting women, and the spike in such language comes after he ran a campaign that was centered on masculinity and repeatedly attacked Harris over her race and gender. His allies and surrogates also used misogynistic language about Harris throughout the campaign.
“ With Trump’s victory, many of these men felt like they were heard, they were victorious. They feel that they have potentially a supporter in the White House,” said Dana Brown, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics.
Brown said some young men feel they’re victims of discrimination and have expressed mounting resentment for successes of the women’s rights movement, including #MeToo. The tension also has been influenced by socioeconomic struggles.
A s women become the majority on college campuses and many professional industries see increasing gender diversity, it has “led to young men scapegoating women and girls, falsely claiming it’s their fault they’re not getting into college anymore as opposed to looking inward,” Brown said. Perez, the political science student, said she and her sister have been leaning on each other, their mother and other women in their lives to feel safer amid the online vitriol. They text each other to make sure they got home safely. They have girls’ nights to celebrate wins, including a female majority in student government at their campus in the University of Wisconsin system.
“I want to encourage my friends and the women in my life to use their voices to call out this rhetoric and to not let fear take over,” she said.
SADIE PEREZ , left, and her sister Amalia Perez are seen Thursday, November 28, 2024, in Wisconsin. AP/MORRY GASH
Global watch, accessory brand launches in PHL in time for the holidays
DANIeL WeLLINGTON, a global icon known for its minimalist design and timeless craftsmanship, has officially launched in the Philippines just in time for the holidays.
With Watch Republic Shops as the official distributor, Daniel Wellington’s exquisite watches and jewelry are now exclusively available in key locations of Watch Republic across the country, offering a premium shopping experience that reflects the brand’s dedication to quality and style.
Daniel Wellington delivers stylish, highquality products that stand the test of time. The brand presents a modern classic design, featuring refined essentials that complement any look for any occasion.
Daniel Wellington’s Classic Collection, for instance, takes inspiration from Scandinavian minimalism. With an ultra-thin metal bezel and beveled case back, these watches promote understated luxury and offer a featherlight feel and near-seamless profile.
Meanwhile, the Petite Collection redefines contemporary minimalism with its delicate design and elegant mesh bracelet. Created to be an everyday companion, these versatile watches add a subtle touch of sophistication to any look. For those who dare to stand out, the Quadro Collection offers a distinctive twist on traditional round watches.
Lastly, the Classic Jewelry collection is a true celebration of the impeccable craftsmanship behind all of Daniel Wellington’s timeless designs. it features a casual yet tasteful allure designed to be worn every day, no matter the occasion. Lean more about Daniel Wellington and explore the latest collections by visiting www. watchrepublicshop.com. Daniel Wellington watches and jewelry are also available in Watch Republic Shops nationwide. More information is available on the Watch Republic page on Facebook or instagram.
‘Bisti’: Traditional crafts, modern sensibilities
CeBu City—The Mall NuSTAR, though an upscale shopping mecca replete with luxury foreign labels, continues to tap and showcase local talents. in its aim to instill a lasting appreciation for Filipino and Cebuano heritage and culture, the mall recently mounted Bisti: Art and Fashion Show by Jane Ebarle and Philip Rodriguez
The one-of-a-kind fashion show and art exhibit was in celebration of the 4th Visayas Fair and Bodega Design Caravan in partnership with NuSTAR Resort and Casino. Rodriguez presented 22 frocks with Filipiniana motifs while ebarle unveiled 10 paintings inspired by the intricate patterns of traditional weaving.
“Our aim was to marry traditional arts and crafts to modern sensibilities so we could share it to the new generation,” said Rodriguez. ebarle has a fine arts degree from the university of Santo Tomas. But her artistic pursuits were sidelined when she worked for decades at the corporate and retail world. It was in 2017 when she was commissioned to do 25 paintings that were given to the heads of states who attended the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Manila.
Her signature style, known as Hibla abstract which is similar to real fabric, has been showcased at the Asian Civilizations Museum in Singapore in 2011, the Philippine Center in New York in 2013, and group shows in San Francisco, Korea and New York, and at the National Museum. Rodriguez, meanwhile, is a prime mover in the Queen City of the South’s cultural and social scene. One of the country’s best proponents of the Filipiniana, he had the genius idea of doing a collaboration with a visual artist. It’s akin to the legendary collaborations between the italian fashion sa Schiaparelli and Salvador Dali, the Spanish surrealist painter.
“We had choices on our Cebu venue. But I believe TAR fits our requirements. elegant, intimate, a new and favorite destination in Cebu. The elegant members of Cebu society came to the opening night on November 14. I am so grateful. The crowd overflowing,” gushed Rodriguez.
damit in Tagalog and kawes in Pangasinan, the home province of ebarle. The event was for the benefit of the Tabor Hills College of Music. It was directed by Dexter Alazas, himself a fashion O of Admire Models Agency.
“The collaboration started when I saw Jane’s work on Facebook. She had an exhibit and I bought one of her pieces because it reflected the look I wanted for my room—Abstract Filipiniana,” revealed Rodriguez.
“I wanted a Filipino Moderne look. From that transaction, I started asking about her family name that was familiar to me and which turned out that indeed it is of Mindanao origin and we had common friends. Plus she used to be an ads and promotions manager during the 1980s of Robinsons Department Store, which was on the same street where my atelier
SunnieS Studios eyewear and basically anything Sunnies are always highly anticipated holiday gifts, especially if the recipient is Gen Z. The Sunnies holiday collection is always in my shopping list for December. It can be a pair of sunnies, a lip gloss, or anti-radiation glasses. Last year, I remember that Sunnies Studios came up with different colors for its soft eyeglass cases and you could also personalize them. i also picked some sunglasses and Lip Treats from Sunnies Face.
Another thing that makes Sunnies gifting very convenient is their gift bags. This year, they have the
Holiday Gift Box—a checkered box in the prettiest holiday colors. The box, which comes in three sizes, is available for free with a minimum spend of P400. The Holiday Gift Box, which comes with a gift tag, is also available for purchase both online and in-store.
The Sunnies holiday collection is all about bows, cuteness, and a shade the brand calls Taffy. Taffy is defined as “a light, bright, fun fuchsia pink with a magenta undertone” but Sunnies interprets Taffy as a sweet candy pink.
The Taffy Collection consists of three frames— Devon, Lane, and Lucy. You can embellish them with Taffy Charms, included for free with every Taffy frame + lens upgrade, or purchase them separately to customize your look.
The holiday collection introduces a cheerful new addition to the Sunnies Flask lineup: The Sunnies Flask in taffy, which you can only find in the Taffy Kit.
The Taffy Kit, which is available for P3,595 in stores and online at sunniesstudios.com, contains your choice of Lane, Devon, or Lucy in taffy; a pair of magnetic charms for the frame, Sunnies Flask 32oz bundle and boot in taffy; Sunnies Face Blush On in Trance; Dumpling Pouch in Taffy; Hard Case in taffy;
is in Cebu City Of course, she remembered my shop. So the ideas came up for possible collaborations. And we would watch together some TernoCon presentations to inspire her.
“We agreed that we would give each other free hand in our works. After all, I have seen her lines and existing works. For my part, I just let my imagination flow.”
FILIPINIANA IS FOREVER
WITH a vast archive of textiles that is the envy of fashion designers, Rodriguez created fantastic outfits. Among the stupendous pieces are the modern renditions of the Maria Clara in pinya callado paired with stripe Thai silk accented with dainty floral and butterfly applique bordered with delicate Chantilly lace; and the Balintawak in orange pinya puro with vintage floral silk shantung underlay highlighted with handmade silk organdy chrysanthemum flowers. It perfectly complemented the artwork of ebarle called Bisti ni Rosa.
Model Ambra Anzani as La Juventud Filipina
Comb in taffy; Pocket Mirror in taffy; and Taffy candies. The actual value of the products amounts to P5,000. Following the launch of Sunnies Flask’s new 32oz and Space of BTS collaboration, Sunnies also introduces the Charm Loop—a new strap with a keyring hole to accessorize your Sunnies Flask. You can purchase this for an additional P50 on top of your Sunnies Flask bundle, or purchase it separately at P245. You can also get free charms when you purchase two bundles and a Charm Loop For the holiday, Sunnies invites Sunnies Club members to the #SunniesGiftingSuite at the Sunnies HQ. “Step into the Sunnies HQ where you can explore a world of Sunnies, showcasing the latest collections in a space inspired by the Taffy collection. This unique opportunity allows you to receive personalized assistance from the team, ensuring that you find the perfect gifts for you and everyone on your list,” said Sunnies.
As part of the gifting suite experience, there will be exclusive promotions, limited-edition freebies, and delightful goodies to take home. You can sign up at sunniesclub.com for a chance to eat, sip, and shop while enjoying an exclusive 20-percent discount on
wore a “yellow ruffled tulle concoction in high and low skirt paired with cadeneta embroidered cotton organdy to give a refreshing and youthful ensemble, with shoes by Shandar.
Miss universe Philippines Cebu Kris Tiffany Janson as Rosas Pandan, inspired from the flowers in Busay mountain, is a basket-weave modern tea-length terno. A model as Ang Dalagang Pilipina wore a pinya concoction with varied weaving techniques. Lorraine Hann as a Philippine Carnival Queen circa 1930s wore a traje de mestiza in opulent colors of copper and gold. The bodice was intricately woven banig-style and tapis in sari material richly blending the handpainted Thai silk appropriately accented with Filipino filigree jewelry and stylized headdress. The dashing Sharuen Hafeel was an illustrado Filipino gentleman in the finest callado and
Young Health Programme Launches in the PHL
ASTRAZENECA Philippines and the Iloilo Provincial Government recently announced the launch of the Young Health Programme in the Philippines with the PHAPCares Foundation. Supported by the Department of Education Iloilo Schools Division and the Department of Health Regional Office VI, the programme is a global community investment initiative from AstraZeneca, focusing on empowering young people to help prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disease.
The Philippine iteration of the Young Health Programme (YHP), which is dubbed as “Healthy Youth, Healthy Future,” aims to impact 30,000 adolescents aged 10 to 19 in Iloilo within two years. It seeks to address health and social issues, specifically NCD awareness, mental wellness, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among the youth.
“Improving adolescent well-being will deliver significant positive impact for the Ilonggo youth and create a ripple effect to their children in the future” said Lotis Ramin, Country President of AstraZeneca Philippines. “With this collaboration, we look forward to a healthier world for the youth that goes beyond treatment – a strong and preventive health ecosystem of disease awareness and lifestyle management. With the pilot’s success, we are positive we can replicate YHP across the province, and eventually throughout the Philippines.”
The sites for the programme are three
municipalities in Iloilo Province, namely Carles, Mina, and Pototan. Carles is a 2nd class, coastal municipality with a population of over 72,000. Mina is a 5th class town with over 24,000 people. Pototan is a 1st class municipality with over 78,000 residents.
“The Province of Iloilo welcomes the launch of the Young Health Programme with our partners in AstraZeneca, PHAPCares Foundation, together with the Department of Education and Department of Health. YHP is a significant step towards enhancing youth support services in the province through education, health, and community resources. This proactive approach in Iloilo youth development, along with our other existing guidance and counseling programs will prepare our youth for future challenges and opportunities, ultimately contributing to a healthier, more informed, and more capable province,” said Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. “Healthy Youth, Healthy Future” will
Toyota announces winners for 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup
TOYOTA Motor Philippines (TMP) has concluded the 2024 season of its annual motorsports series, the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Philippine Cup (TGR Philippine Cup). Racing prodigy Iñigo Anton from Toyota BalintawakObengers Racing Team, back-to-back champ Alain Alzona from Toyota General Santos - Chooks-To-Go Racing Team, consistent top performer Bong Garbes from Inbox – Toyota San Fernando, and sim racer turned circuit racer Russel Reyes from TOYOTA GAZOO Racing PH secured the win in their respective classes after three race weekends.
The final race weekend happened on November 9, 2024 and was followed by the awarding of the overall winners.
Drumbeaters greeted the audience during the opening program as TMP President Masando Hashimoto arrived in his Vios one-make-race (OMR) car. During the program, he shared how he had cut his business trip short so that he could fly back to Manila to participate in Race Weekend 3 of the TGR Philippine Cup.
“I wanted to meet the racers, mechanics, coaches and motorsports fans; this is my motivation for coming back. Today is the last race weekend of the TGR Philippine Cup, which will decide the season winners, so I wanted to say congratulations to them,” he said.
With tension high in the air and bigger points at stake, the Sprint Race for the Novice and Promotional classes went underway, with Lexi Mendiola and Johndale Dy in pole position for the Novice and Promotional classes, respectively. Grid positions were reversed based on the results of the previous sprint race. After a heated battle which saw lots of contact on track, Pablo Salapantan came out on top for the Novice Class, followed by John Rey San Diego in second, and Russel Reyes in third. Bong Garbes, meanwhile, took the win in the Promotional Class, with Ryan Agoncillo, who led the second half of the race but was handed a one-place grid penalty after causing a collision, in second place. Dy rounded up the Promotional Class podium in third.
The Sprint Race for the Sporting and Super Sporting classes followed right after, with Danzel Waytan in pole position for the Sporting Class, and Royce Sarmiento for the Super Sporting Class. Waytan managed to convert his pole position into a win by defending well against other racers in the Sporting Class. Jay Lao and Alain Alzona completed the podium in second and third, respectively.
In the Super Sporting Class, Russel Cabrera sealed his win after taking the lead into turn one and creating a gap to separate himself from the rest of the pack. Mikey Keilani Jordan followed in second after a tight battle with Iñigo Anton, who finished in third.
Professional drifters Dane Cruz and Hans Jimenez entertained the audience with a drifting exhibition and shotgun rides while waiting for the start of the Endurance Race. Members of GR Supra, GR Yaris and GR 86 car clubs also took to the track their super cars and even gave a few lucky people from the audience a hot lap ride around the speedway.
All the classes were grouped together for the Endurance Race, putting 34 racers on the grid. The Super Sporting Class made up the front of the grid, followed by the Sporting Class, Promotional Class, and the Novice Class. The starting grid was based on the finishing order of the sprint races.
The 1.5-hour race proved to be a challenge, with the hot temperatures putting a toll on both racers and cars. Racers are required to do a mandatory pit stop, so strategy was also key to getting an advantage in the race. Driven by the thrill of the competition, racers pushed their limits to try and secure a place on the podium for the Endurance Race.
Iñigo Anton emerged victorious after making his way to the front of the Super Sporting Class in a series of masterful overtakes. He is followed by Russel Cabrera in second, who led most of the first half of the race. Rounding up the podium was Maila Alivia in third.
In the Sporting Class, Alain Alzona took first place, with Jesse Garcia in second and Paolo Ayo in third.
Bong Garbes dominated the Promotional Class with a consistent drive. Julia Delos Angeles clinched a place on the podium after getting her elbows out and overtaking a few cars to finish second place. Ryan Agoncillo completed the podium in third.
The Novice Class saw Jamil Lacuna crossing the finish line in first place, followed by Reph Bangsil and Russel Reyes in second and third, respectively.
Capping off the race weekend was Filipino band, The Juans, who energized the crowd with their hit songs and lively stage presence.
With the conclusion of three race weekends, the 2024 season of the TGR Philippine Cup came to a close. Season winners were determined by the number of points collected from six sprint races and three endurance races.
“What an amazing TOYOTA GAZOO Racing season. Please give yourselves a round of applause. Congratulations!” Hashimoto happily said as he greeted the racers and racing teams during the end-ofseason awarding ceremony.
“Guided by Chairman Akio Toyoda’s WE LOVE CARS spirit, we can develop Philippine motorsports for the better. Because of you, we can bring motorsports closer to more Filipinos and share with them the FUN TO DRIVE experience,” he added.
focus on three areas: non-communicable diseases, mental health, and SRHR, as these health issues contribute to health outcomes and premature mortality among the youth. It does this by addressing the primary risk factors like tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, and exposure to air pollution that contribute to NCDs.
Tobacco use and a sedentary lifestyle are among the most concerning risk factors for NCDs. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey found that 12.5 percent of students aged 13 to 15 were using tobacco products. Filipino adolescents were also found to be the most physically inactive in the world, according to the 2022 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth.
A nationwide survey of the University of the Philippines Population Institute indicated that close to one in five Filipino youth aged 15 to 24 have considered ending their life.
Meanwhile, about one out of 10 babies are born to adolescent mothers. While the number of total adolescent births declined from 2016 to 2020, births to mothers younger than 15 years old slightly increased each year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The activities that will help address these issues include medical outreach, development of education materials, information sessions, and training of healthcare workers.
“We appreciate Governor Defensor’s vision in prioritizing health and emphasizing wellness as a central element in all of the provincial government’s programs. YHP not only provides vital health education but also fosters access to health services, community engagement and support to ensure that
young people have the resources they need. It is our hope that with this project, we can create a ripple effect of health and well-being that extends beyond individual lives of young people, transforming entire families and communities in the process,” explained Dr. Rorie Siasoco, Executive Director of PHAPCares Foundation.
“This project is wholeheartedly embraced by the Iloilo Provincial Government as it aligns perfectly with our development mantra of MorProGRess Iloilo, movement for a robust, progressive, globally competitive, and resilient Iloilo. We are truly excited about this partnership as it addresses clinical issues faced by our adolescents,” explained Dr. Maria Socorro C. Quinon, Provincial Health Officer II of the Province of Iloilo
The recent ceremonial MOA signing event held at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Building was also graced by Dr. Fritzi Ann Suzette Jeroso, Health Promotion Unit
PLAYMATES, it’s that time of year for the season of giving. Casino Maxx, your newest online e-gaming platform in the market under Play Maxx brand, joins the fun of celebrating the upcoming season of giving by adding even more generous promos and bonuses dedicated to its players to make their gaming experience more fun and rewarding.
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TODAY’S learners face considerable challenges; their learning journey was set back several years by the global pandemic that halted face-to-face classes from March 2020 (the first implementation of community quarantines) to November 2022 (when the Department of Education, or DepEd, ordered a full return to school-based learning).
According to UNICEF, Filipino learners missed more learning opportunities compared to their global counterparts, as the Philippines was among the last countries to reopen in-person classes—effectively putting Filipino learners at a significant disadvantage.
This situation is concerning, with Filipino learners collectively ranking 77th among 81 countries in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022 rankings released in December 2023—an indication that many have been left behind.
However, this disheartening situation of the Filipino learner also presents an opportunity for education stakeholders—parents, teachers, school leaders, and academic publishers—the whole learning community, to unite and give the country’s millions of learners (18,370,310 in the public school system alone, according to DepEd’s data for school year 2024–2025) the support they need to overcome this disadvantage and so they can thrive and succeed.
Rex Education, the country’s leading academic publisher for over seven decades and a vital stakeholder in the education sector, takes the challenge. REX has championed the Filipino learner since its founding in the 1950s, initially selling, and then publishing, textbooks and other scholastic
Head – Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development and Dr. Ernesto F. Servillon, DepEd Iloilo Schools Division Superintendent. Both offices pledged their commitment to support the programme in its implementation in the province.
The Philippines is the 41st country to launch the Young Health Programme. The initiative has directly reached 15 million youth worldwide since its establishment in 2010. It has also trained 580,000 young people to implement health interventions, and 225,000 healthcare workers to respond to adolescent health needs. Disease prevention is a critical component of building stronger, more resilient health systems. By empowering youth and youth-serving organisations with the knowledge to make informed choices about their health, the YHP aims to reduce the future burden of NCDs on the health system.
from left). Passing on a similar replica to Roxas is Moroo Shino, Chief Executive Officer, Marubeni Asian Power Singapore (3rd from right). Also on stage is Mitsuhiro Kojima, Officer in Charge, TeaM Energy (left), and Kazunobu Takijima, Chief Finance Officer, TeaM Energy (right). On October 25, 2024, TeaM Energy completed the turnover of the 1,200 MW SPS, located in Sual, Pangasinan, to the Philippine government, through PSALM. The plant was built under a 25-year Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme with the national government, then represented by the NPC. On the same day of TeaM Energy’s transfer of the plant to NPC and PSALM, Sual Power Inc., a subsidiary of San Miguel Global Power (SMGP) received the facility from PSALM.
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our classrooms, although it cannot be perfected, is an imperative.”
That press release proved prescient five years later, as digital classrooms like Rex Education’s Schoology became integral to advancing education during a time when traditional classes were closed indefinitely. Moreover, Rex Education expanded Schoology, making it accessible to more learners nationwide, adding additional resources to the platform, and introducing new features and capabilities. Now, with the pandemic in the rearview, Schoology remains an educational powerhouse, advocating for the Filipino learner in this age of hybrid education by enhancing traditional learning environments and providing 21st-century learning experiences. With traditional modalities infused with digital tools, today’s learners can embark on the challenging journey of making up for lost years while also preparing for a technology-focused future.
However, Filipino learners still have significant ground to cover, particularly in math and science, where they ranked near the bottom in the same PISA 2022 rankings. Rex Education, through First Eduspec Inc. (FEI), helps address this gap by offering a comprehensive ICT and robotics curriculum that can enrich the learning opportunities and experiences of today’s learners and prepare them for the challenges of tomorrow.
While today’s Filipino learners may be disadvantaged, they can achieve more and reach their full potential with the right support. This is a challenge to all the sector’s stakeholders—an urgent call to action—and Rex Education continues to rise to the occasion, para sa bata, para sa mamamayan, para sa bayan.
THE Iloilo Provincial Government, AstraZeneca Philippines, and PHAPCares Foundation are all pitching in to implement the Healthy Youth, Healthy Future Project
Casino Maxx rolls out 12 Weeks of KrisMaxx promo for holiday season
The wicked way to inspiring PR campaigns
LAST year, all the buzz was on Barbie, the iconic doll who inspired a blockbuster movie and memorable collaborations like a special Burger King burger in Brazil and a breathtaking Malibu Dreamhouse for rent on Airbnb.
This year, it’s all about gladiators and witches as Gladiator 2 and Wicked hit the big screens. In the latter, the story revolves around Elphaba, a misunderstood character in the Wizard of Oz branded “wicked” by those who distort her truth.
At its core, Wicked is all about “authenticity, courage and connection,” says Kim Markus, a senior director at Inspire Group, in an article in prnewsonline. And PR pros can learn a lot from it. After all, in an age dominated by misinformation, “communicators have a responsibility to lead with honesty and foster meaningful relationships.”
Here, Markus shares some lessons to inspire modern PR in Reclaiming Authenticity in the Era of Misinformation: Five PR Lessons from Wicked.
1. own your narrative TAKING control of the story is key, especially if it is your own.
n Department of tourism marks anilao, Batangas as first post for the ‘philippine Dive e xperience’ circuit BATANGAS, PHILIPPINES—The Department of Tourism (DOT) officially launched the first “Philippine Dive Experience” on Thursday (November 28) to reinforce the Philippines’ position as a premier global destination for diving and marine biodiversity exploration. Highlighting the Philippines’ recognition as the World’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco led the dive-focused initiative under the DOT’s Philippine Experience program which brought together high-ranking diplomats including South Korean Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Lee Sang Hwa, Bangladesh Ambassador H.E F.M Borhan Uddin, Indian Ambassador H.E. Harsh Kumar Jain, Lao-PDR Ambassador H.E. Sonexay Vannaxay, Malaysian Ambassador H.E. Malik Melvin, New Zealand Ambassador H.E. Catherine McIntosh, Sri Lanka Ambassador H.E Chanaka Talpahewa, Thailand Ambassador H.E. Tull Traisorat, Vietnam Ambassador H.E. Lai Binh, as well as diplomatic and consular
corps from Cambodia, China, France, Indonesia, and the United States of America. They were joined by leaders in the dive and tourism sectors, heads of tourism associations, dive operators, and certification agencies at the gathering, which celebrated the Philippines’ unparalleled marine biodiversity and its potential to attract global attention.
In her keynote address, Secretary Frasco underscored the event’s alignment with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision for tourism transformation: “At the heart of the Philippine Dive Experience is our President’s vision of transformation for tourism. We’re not interested in recovering only what was lost, but rather in transcending to the rightful place that the Philippines deserves in the global community of tourism nations. A country that prioritizes the sustainability of its destination and the regeneration of its resources while it seeks to reintroduce itself to the world from the strength of its identity, heritage, and culture.”
anilao: a gateway to global dive tourism
A N ILAO, a w orld-renowned diving destination, was the launch point for the Philippine Dive Experience tourism circuit. Secretary Frasco highlighted Anilao’s strategic role and its connection to the globally significant Verde Island Passage. “Starting here in Anilao, Batangas, a world-re -
Markus recalls how Elphaba’s story was “defined by those who misunderstood her. The Wizard and Madame Morrible manipulated public opinion to cast her as a villain.” With that, they shared perceptions before she had a chance to share her truth.
Insight: It is best for communicators to proactively shape the story. Whether it’s managing a crisis, responding to a controversy, or launching a new initiative, Markus says that “authenticity and transparency are essential to earning t rust and credibility.”
2. embrace what makes you extraordinary G L INDA’ S charm and charisma make her memorable, but it’s her decision to lean into her unique strengths that set her apart. Similarly, PR professionals must help brands and organizations uncover what makes them remarkable—and special.
Insight: Markus believes it’s best to “highlight the qualities that differentiate the organization and communicate them authentically.” Cookie-cutter messaging won’t resonate in today’s competitive landscape.
nowned diving destination, we shine a spotlight on the Verde Island Passage. This globally significant corridor is a haven for marine life and a dream destination for underwater photographers.”
Certified divers explored Anilao’s vibrant underwater landscapes, including the LOVE Reef—an artificial reef created through community-driven conservation efforts. Non-divers were introduced to the underwater world through guided scuba experiences, offering an immersive glimpse into the Philippines’ marine treasures.
A coastal cleanup at Anilao Pier emphasized the DOT’s commitment to sustainable tourism.
Secretary Frasco remarked. “On the sustainability of dive tourism, we have worked with our partners both from the private sector, our regional offices, and our stakeholders from around the world to continue interest for Philippine diving, as well as to inject education and importance on the conservation of our marine resources.”
enhancing dive tourism infrastructure and training
D U RING the event, Secretary Frasco announced key initiatives to boost dive tourism, including the installation of hyperbaric chambers at strategic dive sites to ensure diver safety and meet international standards. She also highlighted the success of the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) program, which has trained over 262,000 tourism
3. avoid misleading narratives T HE W izard maintains power through deception, relying on illusions to reinforce his authority. But “his lack of authenticity ultimately erodes trust.”
At a time of heightened scrutiny, “misleading or exaggerated claims can damage reputations irreparably.”
4.leverage influence responsibly W E a ll know of people like Madame Morrible who “uses her influence to sway public opinion,” which shows us how powerful advocates can shape perceptions.”
In PR, influencers and spokespeople are important, “but their alignment with brand values is critical.”
Insight: Choose advocates who genuinely represent a brand’s mission. After all, “a misaligned part -
professionals nationwide, including more than 10,000 from the Calabarzon region. These efforts come as the Philippine dive industry continues to thrive, contributing PHP 73 billion in revenue in 2023 and playing a crucial role in sustainable economic growth, livelihood creation, and environmental conservation.
“To our esteemed friends from the diplomatic community, our partners, all the delegates and participants, we invite you to become ambassadors for Philippine diving. Together, we will share to the world the beauty of our dive destinations and to ensure the treasures of our seas remain a source of pride and prosperity for generations to come,” Secretary Frasco said, urging attendees to champion the country’s underwater wonders.
recognition for the philippine dive industry
T HE D OT celebrated a banner year for Philippine diving, earning the title of World’s Leading Dive Destination for the sixth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards. The country also received accolades such as Best Dive Destination at the TripZilla Excellence Awards and Best Diving Destination at the Diving Resort Travel Show.
Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas, represented by Provincial Administrator Wilfredo Celis, welcomed the Philippine Dive Experience delegates.
“Batangas is very pleased to be a
nership can lead to reputational risks, while authentic voices amplify a message effectively.”
5.Build trust through advocacy T HE townsfolk for Oz are quick to believe gossip about Elphaba, showing how word of mouth can shape public perception—for better or worse. Today, this dynamic is amplified through social media and online reviews where trust is the currency of success.
Insight: Markus believes that we should foster trust through authentic engagement. “Celebrate your advocates, respond to criticism with empathy, and encourage positive word of mouth,” she says. As of now, Wicked has built wonderful brand partnerships with Crocs, Walmart, Samsung, Petron, Conair, Lexus, and dozens of others to get you anything
host to all of you in the next two days. I’m sure you will find your experience as pleasant as possible. And again, we’d like to thank the Department of Tourism for its continued support to the province.”
Mabini Mayor Nilo Villanueva, through Tourism Officer Ian Bueno, expressed gratitude for hosting the inaugural Philippine Dive Experience. “Our community takes pride in our natural treasures, and we are excited to share them with you. This event is not just about exploring the depths of our oceans, but also about fostering international cooperation and promoting sustainable tourism.”
a sustainable and immersive dive experience
T HE s econd day of the Philippine Dive Experience will feature a coastal cleanup at Anilao Pier, with participants—including members of the diplomatic corps and local volunteers—working together to protect marine environments. This will be followed by a cultural immersion via the Taal Heritage Tour, highlighting Batangas’ rich history and artistry, and offering visitors a deeper appreciation of the province’s vibrant cultural identity.
n shangri-l a the fort manila celeBrates chinese arts anD culture in ‘the art of Brush anD ink’ MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Shangri-La The Fort, Manila proudly hosted “The Art of Brush and Ink:
from a Wicked branded green mac and cheese to a Stanley tumbler to ember luggage. By owning narratives, embracing uniqueness and building trust through advocacy, PR pros can defy gravity and inspire campaigns that truly connect.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
Discover Chinese Calligraphy,” a special cultural event celebrating the timeless elegance and profound artistry of Chinese calligraphy. Held last November 23, 2024, at the esteemed Canton Road, the event aimed to honor and promote Chinese arts and culture.
In collaboration with the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University, the event featured three acclaimed calligraphy artists—Tai Yijing, He Yi, and Wang Meijuan. These master calligraphers shared their expertise, offering guests an intimate look into the intricate art of brushwork and the philosophy behind this ancient tradition.
Through live demonstrations and engaging interactions, attendees had the opportunity to explore the beauty and discipline of Chinese calligraphy, a craft that harmonizes form, movement, and meaning. Attendees were also treated to an interactive cultural exhibit featuring traditional Chinese books, clothing, and leisure artifacts. The exhibit offered a deeper appreciation of the artistic and historical context behind calligraphy, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the beauty and diversity of Chinese heritage.
Shangri-La The Fort, Manila is dedicated to fostering meaningful cultural exchanges as part of its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitment to celebrating the rich heritage of Chinese artistry.
Tperformance to emerge champion of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87 Cheerdance Competition witnessed by a jampacked crowd of 19,121 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
NU showcased its championship pedigree with a celestial-inspired performance—far from their Elvis Presley Act last season—to dominate all the tumbling, stunts, tosses, pyramids and dance categories for a whopping 713 points.
The Adamson University Pep Squad put up a karaoke-inspired performance to finish second with 679.5 points while the Far Eastern University Cheering Squad could only finish third this time from last year-s title-performance on a “Frozen”themed routine with 650 points.
The University of the East Pep Squad was fourth with 641 points, followed by University of Santo Tomas’s “Gawi” with 634.50 points, University of the Philippines Varsity Pep Squad with 560 points, De La Salle University’s Animo Squad with 525 points and Ateneo Blue Eagles with 490 points.
“The support of [NU] management and the community, the program, these are what makes us strong,” said NU’s second-year head coach Gab Bajacan. “We continue to achieve something new in this competition.”
The “Spaceman” of NU transported the crowd to both a literal and figurative outof-this-world experience to run away with the title of the context presented by MAX. It was NU’s eighth title to tie UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe and UP for the most championships won in the league.
“All out sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears, bore this fruit of success,” Pep Squad team captain JP Cabido said. NU Pep also swept the special awards—MWell Power Performance Award, Juicy-fied Pyramid, AIA Ascend Best Aerial Performance, Jollibee Best Toss, Silka Stay Lit Dance Move Award, Skechers Stylish Performance Award, Yamaha Most Unique Dance Move Award and the MAX Most Synchronized Dance Move. They won a total of P280,000 in cash prizes with a special edition UAAPxMWell Special Edition Power Watch in prizes in addition to the P100,000 they received from the UAAP. A damson University and FEU banked P60,000 and P40,000, respectively, from the league and Dunkin’.
Mapua wins Game 1 of NCAA hoops Finals
BIMP-EAGA Games: Sports never stops in Puerto Princesa
By Aldrin Quinto
economic partnership.
“ We are committed to strengthening our cooperation and solidarity as we set a unified goal of growth and development within our region. As we open this year’s BIMP-EAGA, we emphasize the important role that sports play in achieving meaningful milestones together,” Bachmann said.
“ To all our delegates, may you feel the benefits of our integration that guide us along the right path,” Bachmann said. “Enjoy the amazing beauty of Puerto Princesa City, which serves as the perfect stage to showcase your strength and skills.”
BIMP-EAGA Facilitation Center head Susan Pudin reminded the athletes, aged 16 to 21, about the spirit of competition.
“ You are little ambassadors from your home countries, cheer for one
another and let the spirit of BIMPEAGA shine through your actions, humility and good will,” Pudin said.
Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron encouraged the teams to savor the games and enjoy the other activities set during the five-day event.
On Saturday, organizers opened the BIMP-EAGA Sports Expo and Cultural Fair at the Mitra Sports Complex, with booths set up by the participating teams and the event’s patrons. The mascot Batik, based on the monitor lizard, was also unveiled.
“ Together we can make this event a celebration of friendship, collaboration and sheer aspiration,” Bayron said. “To the athletes, I encourage you to compete with passion, integrity and respect for one another.”
breaking all defense thrown at him and making his teammates look
good all game long. Saint Benilde did have Allen Liwag with his long and marauding presence to finish with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks and two steals, but he was practically all by his lonesome doing what was needed to be a team effort. Escamis masterfully mocked the Blazers’ defense from the get-go while finding the lethal support from JC Recto, who had 15 points, and John Jabonete, who had eight points in that crucial stretch in the final period. It was another 30-point performance for Escamis after dropping a career 33-point effort in an 89-79 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University in the Final Four last November 23.
podium spot with a 21-18, 17-21, 15-12 victory over Philipp Waller and Timo Hammarberg of Austria.
Molly Shaw and Toni Rodriguez of the US completed a Cinderella run in the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge Nuvali, turning back Noa Sonneville and Brecht Piersma of the Netherlands, 24-22, 17-21, 15-10, to claim the women’s gold medal.
At 105th in the world, Shaw and Rodriguez were among the unheralded players from the US delegation but proved their worth with an amazing rise from the qualifying event to the top of the podium at the Nuvali Sand Courts.
Rodriguez had 27 of the pair’s 41 attack points and also had four blocks as the American pair clinched gold to add to their bronze medal from the BPT Challenge Chennai and silver in the BPT Challenge Haikou. Aldrin Quinto
way” and persevered, I became successful in my craft.
Truthfully? I relished that maverick self and who was never flavor of the month. I just kept plugging away and soon got noticed and given opportunities.
But not everyone is like that.
Many do not have the gumption to go for it, the depth of understanding, to go against the tide, or even fight for one’s basic right and fairness.
And I think that is a tragedy because they carry this through their life—meek, accepting and that lack of goals.
That in my opinion, is not only the function of good parenting, but also good coaching or mentoring.
Alas, there is a severe lack of adult figures to guide and mentor these kids on one hand, and on the other, teach them.
I am not learned or as experienced as someone like Tim Cone or Tab Baldwin, but I do know enough to help my students. Or even back when I was coaching in amateur or recreational leagues to help in their goal setting, managing expectations, and work ethic. Sure many kids are not mature enough to understand many of these concepts and that is why the small and short term goals should always be doable, measurable and time bound.
If one is able to achieve that, they can see real and tangible progress whether small or not. The mentor’s believability factor increases and
THE National University Pep Squad descends from outer space for a championship-clinching performance.
CLINT ESCAMIS delivers the goods for the Cardinals in the opener of the best-of-three championship series.
TEAM USA’s Toni Rodriguez (standing) and Molly Shaw let go of all their adrenalin after the hard-fought title victory. NONIE REYES