HE bias of the Marcos administration for infrastructure spending could be blamed for the widening of the country’s current account deficit, according to Nomura.
In its Asia Macro Outlook for 2025, Nomura said the country’s CA de cit (CAD) is expected to rise moderately to 2.5 percent of GDP in 2025 from 2.3 percent in 2024. e strength of the President’s allies could win the administration a signi cant number of seats at the House of Representatives and the Senate and may seal Nomura’s expectations for the CAD.
“Our current view is that President Marcos and by extension his allies are still doing well and are likely to control Congress. is might lead to a wider current account de cit as infrastructure spending is a top priority of President Marcos,” Nomura said. Nomura said the government is expected to miss the targets under its medium-term scal framework, running a still-large de cit of 5.5 percent of GDP in 2025 due to its infrastructure and the mid-term elections.
THE political developments in South Korea will likely a ect the country’s semiconductor sector, according to local economists. is is possible given the link between the Philippines and South Korea in the
PHILIPPINE outstanding debt
exceeding the P16-trillion mark recently is not a cause for concern as the economy is on track to outgrow its debt, according to Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
“We are on track. e economy is expected to grow faster than the debt,” Recto told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday. is comes after the government’s outstanding debt reached P16.020 trillion as of the end of October 2024 due to the peso depreciation against the US dollar.
External debt, which currently stands at P5.130 trillion, increased
by 3.5 percent month-on-month from P4.957 trillion as foreign exchange movements caused an additional P152.90 billion to the debt.
Despite this, Recto said 70 percent of the total debt stock is “owed to ourselves.” Domestic debt amounted to P10.889 trillion as of end-October 2024.
“ e de cit and debt ratios are gradually decreasing. We just received a credit upgrade from Standard & Poor’s [S&P] and we’re on track to achieving an ‘A’ grade 18 to 24 months from now,” Recto told this newspaper.
e government’s debt-to-GDP ratio, or the country’s debt compared to its gross domestic prod-
IN the photo are Caritas Manila Executive Director Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual (left) and ALC Group Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon.
credit, or installment and feature advanced AI-driven fraud prevention. “For Filipino enterprises, it paves the way to stronger competitiveness in the international market by enabling faster, more secure, and coste ective payment solutions,” Visa said. Meanwhile, Visa Philippines said with digital security becoming crucial for the payments landscape, dynamic security frameworks will become a best practice to rede ne the payment experience. is will include AI-powered fraud prevention and machine learning features crucial for the payments landscape. ese features will help banks anticipate and address cyberthreats.
Further, Visa said generative AI is “a transformative force in personalizing payment experiences.” AI can now automate and optimize nancial decisions to rede ne convenience for Filipino consumers.
“As we welcome 2025, Visa continues to shape the future of payments and continue opening new doors for seamless, secure, and inclusive digital transactions, further transforming the way Filipinos pay, shop, and do business,” Navarro said.
DFA: 13 Pinay surrogates in Cambodia got lighter terms
THE 13 Filipino surrogate mothers who were convicted in Cambodia have received a lighter jail sentence of two years owing to “mitigating circumstances.”
Surrogacy is considered a felony in Cambodia. It carries a maximum penalty of 15-20 years.
Philippine Ambassador to Phnom Penh Flerida Ann Camille Mayo said the 13 Filipinos were meted out a sentence of four years, which was further reduced to two years “due to mitigating circumstances.”
Asked what the mitigating circumstances were, Mayo replied,
In terms of GDP growth, Nomura expects the Philippine economy to end the year with a growth of 5.6 percent, slightly better than the 5.5 percent posted in 2023. However, growth is expected to average 6 percent in 2025 and 6.1 percent in 2026.
“It’s a closed court. We cannot go beyond the court’s media release.”
On September 23, the 20 Filipino women were arrested for agreeing to be surrogate mothers whose babies will be sold to child tra cking syndicates. Only 13 were detained as their surrogacy scheme ha dresulted in successful pregnancies, while seven were deported. (See related story: www.businessmirror.com.ph/2024/10/09/20-pinays-
e economy is expected to be among the most a ected countries in the region by China’s overcapacity. China remains one of the top import sources and export markets of the Philippines. Nomura said the country will face the highest risk in iron, steel and aluminum and low-end manufactured goods as it accounts for more than half of the country’s total imports.
“Apart from this, economic
arrested-for-baby-trafficking-in-cambodia/)
e Cambodian court tried the 13 Filipino mothers on November 28-29. During the trial, counsels appointed by the Embassy vigorously argued before the court “the best possible outcome” for the Filipino surrogates “within the framework of Cambodian law.”
On December 2, 2024, the Kandal Provincial Court found the 13 Filipino women guilty of violating the 2008 Law on the Suppression of Human Tra cking and Sexual Exploitation.
is is the rst time a Cambodian court convicted foreign women involved in commercial surrogacy. e women have been detained since September 23 at a designated medical facility under police protection.
Ambassador Mayo said they will continue to be detained at the
growth is expected to be a ected by domestic political issues such as the con ict between President Marcos and Vice President Duterte,” Nomura said. Meanwhile, in ation is expected to average 3.1 percent this year and trend lower to 2.9 percent next year. However, there could be a slight pick up in the increase in commodity prices to 3 percent in 2026.
With this, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is expected to be among the countries to implement the most aggressive cuts in the region. Nomura expects the Monetary Board to implement a 25-basis point reduction in policy rates in December 2024.
is will be followed by successive 25 basis point cuts in the rst three meetings of the Monetary Board in 2025. e BSP is also expected to reduce the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) of banks by 200 basis points to 5 percent by mid-2025.
e monetary easing implemented by the BSP brought down lending rates by 41 basis points. is suggested that there was an 81.5-percent pass through, higher
medical facility to serve their jail sentence.
Most of the women are in their second trimester of pregnancy— between four and six months.
Mayo said they will continue to provide medical care, welfare, legal and consular assistance, in coordination with the Cambodian authorities. e Philippine Embassy reminded the public that commercial surrogacy is strictly prohibited in Cambodia and that surrogacy arrangements could result in imprisonment.
ese Filipino women, she said, were recruited online by someone whom they only know a one “Ima.”
“ e Philippine Government continues to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and international partners, including Cambodia, in the ght against human tra cking and other transnational crimes,” she said.
than the 34 percent recorded in the 2019 to 2020 period.
“We believe the quicker and more complete transmission reects the impact of structural reforms by BSP, including its policy corridor framework in 2016 and the introduction of more liquidity management tools,” Nomura said.
Political noise played down EARLIER , the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said it does not expect the ongoing “political noise” to throw a monkey wrench into the country’s economic performance.
In a brie ng in Malacañang, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. 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-asusual” approach and continues to focus on attaining the country’s economic and scal goals and targets. (See: www.businessmirror.com. ph/2024/11/29/economy-can-rideout-political-noise-neda/)
ic and Development Authority (Neda), Undersecretary for Planning and Policy Rosemarie G. Edillon said the oversight agency is “still assessing the situation.”
a trade de cit of $4.28 billion in January to September 2024. e data showed the country’s total exports in the nine-month period amounted to $2.81 billion in January to September 2024 while imports amounted $7.09 billion in the same period.
In the September 2024 period, the trade in goods de cit reached $466.15 million. PSA said exports to South Korea amounted to $318.5 million while imports reached $784.65 million.
However, Ateneo de Manila University economist Luis Dumlao played down the impact of the latest developments, given the lifting of the declaration of Martial Law six hours after it was declared.
“ e South Korea Parliament lifted the Martial Law and leadership respected the process. So it is a functioning democracy that has no adverse threat,” Dumlao told BusinessMirror.
As for the National Econom-
e Associated Press reported that Martial Law was declared in South Korea “to eliminate antistate” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls the country’s parliament and which he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.
e surprising move harkens back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and was immediately denounced by the opposition and by the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party.
Following Yoon’s announcement, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, according to the government-funded Yonhap news agency. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/12/03/south-koreanpresident-declares-martial-law-accusing-opposition-of-anti-state-activity/) Cai U. Ordinario
uct, increased to 61.3 percent as of the third quarter, higher than the 60.9 percent in the previous quarter and 60.2 percent a year ago. Meanwhile, the de cit-to-GDP ratio settled at 5.1 percent as of the third quarter, coming from 4.87 percent in the second quarter and 5.7 percent a year ago.
Tight fiscal space
FORMER Socioeconomic and Planning Secretary Dante B. Canlas told the BusinessMirror that the public debt at P16 trillion is concerning as the government is already facing a tight scal space.
“As government borrowing persists, risk ratings su er, rendering borrowing more costly. Once interest rates rise, the country becomes vulnerable to a debt default,” Canlas said. e budget allocation for paying back the government’s debts crowds out spending for health, education and infrastructure, which are essential for growth, he added. Canlas noted the economic managers’ tempering of growth targets to 6 to 6.5 percent from 6 to 7 percent this year, which could take a longer period of time for the government to outgrow its debt. e former Neda chief said the government should pursue a responsible de cit-reduction program by protecting spending in health, education and infrastructure as it reduces its spending to be able to reach a 3-percent de cit-toGDP ratio.
“ ese investments represent not only Filipino values but are also growth enhancing,” Canlas said. Near global threshold
MEANWHILE, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort told the BusinessMirror that the current debt-to-GDP ratio is still near the international threshold of 60 percent to help sustain scal management in the long term.
“As long as the debt-to-GDP ratio would be close or even reduced to below the international threshold, this would help sustain the country’s favorable credit ratings at 1-3 notches above the minimum investment grade,” Ricafort said. e government could also be more disciplined in spending and consider other tax and scal reform measures, along with faster GDP growth, to help bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio below the acceptable margin, Ricafort added. e government’s outstanding debt is expected to reach P16.1 trillion at the end of 2024 and will further balloon to P20.7 trillion by the end of Marcos Jr.’s administration.
for R&D initiatives and industry clustering; high logistics costs, road and port tra c congestion, as well as limited inter-provincial/regional/island connectivity. PEZA greenlighted P201.55 billion in investments in the January
to November 2024 period, a 43.06 percent increase from the P140.88 billion approved in November 2023. In November 2024 alone, PEZA approved P77.79 billion of investments with 41 new and expansion projects. Of these, 22 are in manufacturing; 10 in the IT-BPM sector; 2 domestic, 2 in ecozone development; 1 in utilities; 3 in facilities development and 1 in logistics.
“Other high-performing regions include Bicol region with P142.89 billion and Ilocos Region with P87.04 billion,” the DTI said in a statement on Wednesday. For his part, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic A airs Frederick D. Go said the “robust investments in key sectors are a testament to our steady progress in realizing our national priorities.”
“ is growth is driven by the government’s steadfast implementation of investor-friendly policies—such as Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy [CREATE MORE] Act—which enhances our competitiveness in attracting both local and foreign direct investments. ese e orts are vital in sustaining our country’s strong economic growth and ensuring that the Philippines remains a prime investment destination,” Go said. e P1.58 trillion in investments approved in the January to November 2024 period brings the BOI closer to its P1.6-trillion investment approvals target for 2024.
Sara faces second impeachment case
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie
SEVENTY-FIVE citizens representing various people’s organizations on Wednesday filed the second impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, accusing her of betrayal of public trust related to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds during her tenure as head of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
The complaint was officially endorsed by the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives—Rep. France L. Castro of ACT Teachers party-list group, Rep. Arlene D. Brosas of Gabriela Women’s Party, and Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel of Kabataan party-list group.
The impeachment complaint cites multiple instances of misconduct unearthed during public budget hearings and legislative inquiries into the OVP and DepEd’s 2022 and 2023 budgets. According to the complaint, these proceedings revealed several irregularities in the disbursement of confidential funds from December 2022 to the third quarter of 2023.
The impeachment complaint cites three major issues: abuse, misuse, and wastage of P612.5 million in confidential funds; systematic cover-up through fabricated accomplishment reports, receipts, and documents submitted to COA; and deliberate obstruction of congressional investigation and oversight.
The complainants, who are leaders, and members of marginalized and underrepresented sectors allege that Vice President Duterte violated the Constitution by misusing public funds, thereby committing a betrayal of public trust— one of the impeachable offenses under Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution.
In a joint statement, the Makabayan bloc lawmakers emphasized their commitment to ensuring accountability for public officials, regardless of position.
“This impeachment complaint reflects the collective demand of the people to hold public officials accountable for misusing public funds,” said Castro. “As representatives of progressive sectors, we stand firm in our duty to endorse this complaint and ensure that due process is followed.”
“The Vice President’s brazen misuse of more than half a billion pesos in confidential funds, particularly the suspicious liquidation of P125 million in just 11 days at the end of 2022, represents a grave betrayal of public trust. The Commission on Audit itself has flagged these expenditures as very questionable and not in accordance with the law and guidelines on the use of confidential funds,” said BAYAN chairman Teddy Casiño.
“We call on Congress to act swiftly on this impeachment complaint. The Filipino people, especially our taxpayers who bear the burden of funding government operations, deserve accountability from their second highest official,” added Casiño.
According to Makabayan president Liza Maza, the misuse of confidential funds is a grave betrayal of the people.
“This is not just a simple technical violation but a systematic squandering and theft of public funds,” added Maza.
“The regime of fiscal impunity that has plagued the OVP since 2022 must end. VP Duterte must be held accountable through her removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public office,” emphasized Maza.
When the House uncovered the anomaly, former Bayan Muna congressman and impeachment counsel Neri Colmenares said VP Duterte did everything to cover up her wrongdoing and obstruct the pursuit of truth.
“She refused to attend budget hearings and congressional investigations, which goes against her sworn duty as Vice President to be an accountable public official,” Colmenares said.
The complainants called on the public to closely monitor the impeachment proceedings and join the growing clamor for transparency, accountability, and the abolition of all confidential funds, which they described as a significant source of corruption in government.
The House of Representatives emphasized that the chamber is constitutionally mandated to act on any duly filed impeachment complaint, in accordance with the 1987 Constitution.
House Secretary General Reginald S. Velasco reiterated that the process is not discretionary but a constitutional obligation.
“Pursuant to the Constitution, a verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any Member thereof,” he said.
“It is crucial to underscore that addressing an impeachment complaint is not a discretionary act for the House of Representatives but a constitutional obligation. The Constitution prescribes clear steps to ensure fairness and adherence to the rule of law,” he added.
The first impeachment complaint was filed last Monday against Duterte, citing multiple allegations of grave misconduct and constitutional violations.
The complainants, a coalition of civil society leaders, religious figures, former officials, and sectoral representatives, presented 24 articles of impeachment, accusing Duterte of betraying public trust, engaging in bribery, and committing other high crimes.
Senior officers tell senators: What destabilization plot?
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
SENIOR military officers assured senators on Wednesday that there will be no destabilization or plan of coup d’etat against the present administration.
They gave the assurance during Wednesday’s meeting of the Commission on Appointments’ Committee on National Defense, which convened to consider the ad interim appointments of 15 military generals and flag officers.
Under the law, the promotions of military officers from the rank of colonel in the Army, Air Force and Marines and captain in the Navy, must be approved by the bicameral CA.
During the hearing. Sen. Ronald
dela Rosa asked Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Barandon, commander of the newly activated Armed Forces Intelligence Command (AIC), if they were able to monitor any destabilization plot against the government.
“It behooves upon the leadership of the armed forces to maintain solidarity, united armed forces. Make sure that it is not penetrated by the destabilizers. If there are destabilizers, make sure you are united and don’t
let yourselves be divided so that there will be no conflict. You should be one,” dela Rosa said.
Dela Rosa’s patron, former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier called on the Armed Forces and other armed services to “protect the Constitution” during his tirade against President Marcos.
When Duterte assumed the presidency, he promoted dela Rosa from chief superintendent (one star) direct to director general (four stars) and appointed him chief of the National Police.
In reply, Barandon said the Armed Forces remains united and assured the senator that there is no destabilization plot.
To this, dela Rosa said, “It sounds good coming from you as the chief of the Intelligence Command of the Armed Forces that you were not able to monitor, that there is nothing to worry about as far as the people are concerned. They should not think about coup d’état, they should not think about destabilization.”
FALSUS IN UNO, FALSUS IN OMNIBUS Legislator asks PSA to verify identities of names listed in OVP’s, DepEd’s ARs
By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
ALEADER of the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to verify all names listed in the acknowledgment receipts (ARs) submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte, after confirming that one of the alleged recipients of its confidential funds, “Mary Grace Piattos,” does not appear in its data base and presumed to be fictitious.
Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Paolo Ortega called for a thorough review of the OVP’s and DepEd’s liquidation documents, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in public spending.
“The revelation that Mary Grace Piattos is a fictitious identity raises serious red flags. The PSA must immediately audit and verify all the names appearing in the ARs submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit,”
Ortega said.
The PSA recently certified that no birth, marriage, or death records exist for “Mary Grace Piattos,” whose name appeared in receipts justifying the disbursement of P500 million in confidential funds from late 2022 to 2023.
Ortega warned that the use of a fabricated identity could indicate a broader scheme of financial irregularities.
“This isn’t just an isolated case. If a fabricated name was used to justify millions of pesos in spending, it undermines the integrity of public accountability. It also raises the question: how many more fake names might be buried in those ARs?” he said.
He urged the PSA to cross-check all other names in the submitted receipts to uncover the potential breadth of the irregularities.
“We can’t stop at just one. The PSA’s findings should serve as a springboard to conduct a deeper investigation. The Filipino people deserve transparency and accountability, especially in the use of public funds,” Ortega, who represents
Senate inching
La Union pointed out.
Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre and Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman had earlier warned of a possible scheme to falsify financial records within the OVP under Vice President Duterte.
Both lawmakers said the discovery of Piattos as a fabricated entity might be just the “tip of the iceberg.”
Echoing their concerns, Ortega said, “The certification from the PSA opens up Pandora’s box of potential anomalies.”
“If one name was falsified, it is not unreasonable to suspect that other receipts may also contain fictitious names,” he added.
Ortega also backed Acidre’s assertion that the legal principle of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus [false in one, false in all] could apply to the OVP’s and DepEd’s financial records.
“If Mary Grace Piattos is fabricated, what else in these documents is true? We need to ensure that every peso spent is accounted for and backed by truthful, verifiable records,” he stressed.
towards concurrence with RP-Japan military agreement
THE Senate has inched closer to granting its concurrence, in a resolution, on facilitating access and cooperation between Filipino and Japanese defense forces, especially for humanitarian operations, even as senators noted the historical irony: the country’s invader over 80 years ago is now its staunchest ally in the region.
Sen. Imee Marcos, chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations, sponsored in plenary session on Tuesday Senate Resolution 1248, seeking the chamber’s concurrence of the “Agreement Between the Republic of the Philippines and Japan Concerning the Facilitation of Reciprocal Access and Cooperation between
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan (JSDF)” or simply, the RAA.
In endorsing Senate concurrence, Marcos recalled that the Philippines and Japan signed the RAA in July 2024 and was submitted to the Senate for its concurrence.
The RAA aims to deepen defense cooperation between the two countries and enhance the interoperability between the armed forces of both sides providing the legal framework for carrying out mutually determined cooperative activities, Marcos said.
“The RAA will facilitate the conduct of more in-depth practical military cooperation and exercises, joint training, disaster relief
and logistical support between the two countries,” she added.
“The agreement also outlines the privileges that will be accorded to the Visiting Forces and their Civilian Component in the context of entry and departure, importation and exportation, consistent with domestic laws and regulations,” she also said.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri cosponsored the resolution seeking concurrence, saying that he had been pushing for the military agreement between the two countries way back in 2022, and describing the capability of the JSDF in disaster management and rescue operations as “unmatched.”
See “RP-Japan,” A4
Dela Rosa is closely identified with the former president’s camp. Loyalists of the former President and his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte have lately been flocking to the Edsa Shrine, as tensions heightened between VP Duterte and the House of Representatives, where two separate investigations are ongoing— one on the hundreds of millions of confidential and intelligence funds released to the OVP and the Department of Education during her watch as Education Secretary, the other, on her father’s bloody war on drugs from 2016-2018. VP Duterte has accused the House, led by her potential 2028 rival, of politicizing congressional investigations. However, tensions heightened when she said in an online press briefing that she had contracted an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in case an alleged slay plot against her succeeds.
China renews attacks on PHL ships at Bajo de Masinloc
By Rex Anthony Naval
PHILIPPINE government ships on Wednesday were again harassed by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) while conducting a routine maritime patrol in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) off Zambales. “Today [Wednesday], the Philippine Coast Guard [PCG] and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources [Bfar] conducted a routine maritime patrol in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc to support Filipino fishermen actively engaged in fishing in the area,” the PCG and BFAR said in a joint statement. In this operation, PCG and Bfar ships experienced aggressive actions from several CCG vessels with bow numbers CCG-5303, CCG-3302 and CCG-3104.
Also taking part in the harassment were PLAN vessels with bow numbers 500 and 571.
“At around 6:30 a.m. CCG-3302 fired a water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya [MMOV-3003], aiming directly at the vessel’s navigational antennas while it was located 16 nautical miles south of Bajo de Masinloc. Following this hostile action, CCG-3302 intentionally sideswiped the BRP Datu Pagbuaya on its starboard side. Shortly thereafter, at 6:55 a.m., CCG 3302 launched a second water cannon attack on the same vessel,” it added.
The statement also said: “Aside from this, PCG vessels, including the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MMRV9701) also endured blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers from PLA Navy vessel 500 and CCG-503.
“Additionally, BRP Cabra (MRRV4409) was subjected to reckless maneuvers by CCG-3104 at a distance of 300 yards.”
“Despite these developments, the PCG and BFAR reaffirm their commitment to protecting the rights and safety of Filipino fishermen within its maritime jurisdiction,” the joint statement added.
“We will continue to be vigilant in safeguarding our national interests in the WPS,” it added.
The Coast Guard’s spokesman for the WPS, Commo. Jay Tarriela,
See “Bajo de Masinloc,” A4
DepEd eyes PPP to solve classroom shortage
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3
THE Department of Educa-
tion (DepEd) is eyeing the possibility of entering into public-private partnerships (PPP) to address the perennial problem of classroom shortage.
This was revealed by Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara in a recent dialogue with school leaders and teachers of La Paz, Tarlac, where he emphasized his priority to construct new school buildings, establish new classrooms, and provide digital devices to both learners and teachers.
“Ang tinutulak natin ngayon is mag -PPP tayo, public-private partnerships. Ibig sabihin, malakihan, bulto-bulto, 1,000 classrooms [per project]. Magpapa -bid t ayo ng isang libong school buildings at i-o -offer natin sa private sector na magkoconstruct,” Angara said. With limited resources and a protracted classroom shortage, Angara also called for increased awareness on the Adopt-A-School Program, underscoring the law’s tax benefits to the adopting company or enterprise.
“Baka hindi alam noong ibang negosyante o ibang nagdo -donate, ibang charitable organizations, ipaalam
niyo sa kanila na kapag nagdo -donate sila ng school building, maide -deduct nila doon sa kanilang taxable income,” Angara said.
“Marami lang hindi nakakaalam na may batas na ganoon. So with the help of the community, sana maipaalam natin sa kanila,” he said.
Angara added the agency’s focus on prioritizing digital technology to enhance learning opportunities and introduce innovations for learners and teachers.
With the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 tests coming up, Angara encouraged education officials to intensify preparations through
practice tests, with the focus on nurturing learners’ critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills.
The meeting in Tarlac was attended by DepEd Regional Director Ronnie Mallari, La Paz Mayor Venustiano D. Jordan; and other local officials and civic leaders.
Apart from the dialogue with public school teachers, Angara was in Tarlac to lead the blessing and inauguration of Tarlac State University’s extended building, which the Secretary funded in 2023 when he was still senator.
The building was named after his late father, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara.
Group cautions consumers against using unsafe whitening products
ATOXICS watchdog group on Wednesday reiterated its call on consumers to avoid using skin-lightening products that contain high concentrations of mercury, which is harmful to people and the environment. The EcoWaste Coalition, in particular, highlighted the campaign on two unauthorized facial creams smuggled from Pakistan, which were verified to contain high concentrations of mercury, which is banned in cosmetic products.
In a statement, EcoWaste said that based on chemical screening conducted by the group on the two items it purchased for P180 each from a dealer based in Pasay City, both the Aima Gold Beauty Cream and Zoya Gold Beauty Cream proved to be contaminated and may pose harm to consumers upon use.
Using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, Aima and Zoya were found to contain 22,160
Bajo de Masinloc. . .
Continued from A3
said that China has no jurisdiction over Bajo de Masinloc, which is classified as a rock
and 21,350 parts per million (ppm) of mercury, way above the 1 ppm limit for mercury as a heavy metal contaminant under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Cosmetic Directive.
The products lacked proper market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and it is illegal to distribute and sell these.
As stamped on their containers, both products were manufactured in May 2024, way past the original 2020 global phase-out deadline for cosmetics such as skin-lightening products with mercury exceeding 1 ppm under the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The products will expire in May 2028. Aima entices consumers to use it with a promise of light and even skin tone and removal of freckles, pimples, and wrinkles.
under the 2016 Arbitral Award and Article 121 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
“The Philippines has sovereignty over it, including its territorial sea. The waters beyond Bajo de Masinloc’s
Zoya, on the other hand, claims “measurably reduced darkening marks, uneven skin tone plus visible fairness with regular continued usage.”
Both products provide a long list of organic and synthetic ingredients but exclude mercury and its compounds. Zoya even claims that it “contains no harmful ingredients” despite being contaminated with mercury.
EcoWaste Coalition previously reported the illegal sale of Aima and Zoya and three other Pakistan-made mercury-added products to the FDA on April 22, 2024.
The other three products reported were Armena Gold Beauty Cream, Pure Pearl Beauty Cream, and Zartaaj Beauty Cream.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mercury in skin-lightening products can cause skin rashes, scarring, and discoloration; reduced skin’s resistance to
12-nautical-mile territorial sea fall within the Philippine EEZ [exclusive economic zone] measured from Luzon’s baseline,” he added.
Tarriela emphasized that PCG and BFAR vessels are legitimately patrolling Philippine waters.
He also maintained that it is China that is encroaching upon Philippines
RP-Japan. . .
Continued from A3
“In this globalized age, we cannot afford to be insular. We cannot grow by keeping to ourselves, and refusing to expand our experience and our capabilities through engagement with other like-minded countries. In this spirit, I believe that we have to approach military cooperation with the same openness that we do with trade partnerships and cultural exchanges—only
bacterial and fungal infections; nervous, renal, and immune system damage; and anxiety, depression and psychosis.
The application of mercury-containing skin-lightening products, as pointed out by the United Nations Environment Program (Unep), can further contaminate the surrounding environment and contribute to global mercury pollution.
In August, EcoWaste Coalition wrote to the FDA to propose a solution-focused multistakeholder summit to tackle and solve the persistent trade of dangerous cosmetics with mercury in the country.
The group also urged the government to advocate for “natural is beautiful” to instill people’s acceptance of our inherent skin tone, inculcate respect for diversity, and promote appreciation that every skin color is beautiful.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
territorial waters and militarizing the area by deploying PLAN vessels to shadow PCG operations.
“The dangerous maneuvers and water cannon harassment by the CCG are not standard law enforcement actions; rather, should be interpreted as unlawful aggression by international law violators,”
Tarriela said.
with stricter terms of engagement, in order to protect our people and our natural resources,” the former Senate President said.
Zubiri said the Philippines could look forward to heightened interoperability for military vessels and equipment it had acquired from Japan and strengthen its modernization and capacity building efforts through joint military exercises with Japan. He said the Philippines could also boost its disaster preparedness efforts by learning from Japan’s experience.
Single-use plastic ban may affect 41,000 workers, UP study says
By Bless Aubrey Ogerio
ANATIONWIDE ban on single-use plastics (SUP) could threaten the livelihoods of 41,000 workers, a study from the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative and Development Studies revealed.
This development follows efforts by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, alongside the Climate Change Commission and environmental groups, to push for a national SUP ban last year.
In 2022, she introduced Senate Bill 246 aimed at regulating SUPs with penalties and incentives for industries and consumers.
The study’s findings indicated that an estimated 32,000 workers employed by nearly 500 SUP production firms would face direct impact, while an additional 9,000 workers in the midstream plastic industry could experience indirect consequences.
Among the most at risk are 21,000 SUP production workers, many of whom have expressed concerns about health hazards like lung diseases and exposure to toxic chemicals in their work environment.
Such hazards of plastic waste are well-documented, with the Philippines being a major contributor to global marine plastic pollution. According to the Climate Impacts Tracker Asia, the country generates over 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually, with around 20 percent entering the ocean.
But while the employment impact of the ban is substantial, the researchers noted that the impact remains manageable.
“These numbers are not insignificant but still minimal, in comparison to the 40 million labor force or the 20 million workers in formal employment.”
“The JSDF is unmatched when it comes to disaster management and rescue operations, to the point where disaster response has become nearly as important function for them as external defense and security,” Zubiri added. He said the RAA would solidify the Philippines’ partnership with Japan and pave a way for an even deeper bilateral cooperation in the future.
In her sponsorship, Marcos recalled her late father Ferdinand Sr., saying that the one you fight “most passionately” often becomes
Ensuring worker support
A JUST transition is essential to addressing worker concerns related to the proposed SUP ban, the study emphasized. This includes guaranteed alternative employment, retraining programs and financial support for displaced employees.
Workers reportedly expressed openness to the SUP ban if these measures are implemented, with older employees favoring separation packages for entrepreneurship and younger workers seeking retraining opportunities.
Expanding the formal waste management sector is another suggestion that could offer alternative employment. However, wages in this sector currently fall short of those in the SUP industry, underscoring the need for policies to make green jobs more financially viable.
A 2014 International Labor Organization report on green jobs indicated that such roles exist in both formal and informal sectors, but labor market data on available opportunities remains scarce. The potential of a circular economy was also highlighted, where materials like plastics are reused, recycled, or repurposed to reduce their environmental footprint. Yet, moving to this model will require strong government policies and collaboration with corporations.
Critics of the proposed ban argued that without adequate support for workers, the transition could exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.
Labor and environmental groups have long advocated for a transition that balances ecological and labor concerns. The study, however, calls for education campaigns to inform workers about the SUP ban and alternative livelihoods.
eventually your “best friend.” For her part, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said that while she fully supported the RAA resolution, Philippine lawmakers should continue looking for ways to help the “comfort women” get substantial justice, especially as their numbers are fast dwindling. The “comfort women” are Filipinas then in their teens who were forced to be sex slaves for Japanese soldiers when Japan occupied the Philippines from 1942 to 1944. Butch Fernandez
BI considers charges against Harry Roque for alleged illegal departure
TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is mulling to file charges against former presidential spokesperson and human rights lawyer Harry Roque for leaving the country allegedly through illegal means.
BI spokesman Joel Anthony Viado maintained that the agency has no records of Roque’s departure from the country through formal channels prior to his admis -
sion on Tuesday that he executed and sworn to his counter-affidavit in the qualified human trafficking case before the Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Pope Francis appoints Quiapo rector as new Balanga bishop
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
POPE Francis on Tuesday
named Fr. Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr. as the new bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, ending over a year of vacancy in the position.
The appointment was announced on December 3, coinciding with the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.
“The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Sescon, of the clergy of the metropolitan archdiocese of Manila, rector and parish priest of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno of Quiapo and episcopal vicar of Manila, as bishop of the Diocese of Balanga, Philippines,” read the official letter of appointment. Sescon, 52, succeeds Bishop Ruperto Santos, who was transferred to the Diocese of Antipolo in July 2023.
Sescon will serve as the fifth bishop of the diocese, which covers the entire province of Bataan and ministers to over half a million Catholics.
Since mid-2023, the diocese
has been under the temporary leadership of Archbishop Florentino Lavarias of San Fernando, Pampanga.
Reflecting on his new role, Sescon expressed gratitude and acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong mga pagbati at mga pangako ng panalangin, kailangan ko po ‘yan. At nawa sa tulong ng ating mahal na Poong Jesus Nazareno— sa pagdating ko po sa Balanga—ang kaniyang awa, pag-ibig, at biyaya ang aking maibahagi at maparanas din sa inyo,” he said. Sescon also urged the faithful to continue their trust in God.
“Mga kapanalig, tuloy lang ang ating tiwala sa Panginoon Mabuti Siya at lagi Niya tayong pagpapalain lahat,” he said. Prior to his appointment, Sescon served as rector of Quiapo Church from 2022 to 2024. He also spent 17 years as chaplain of the Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel in Makati City, and a private secretary to the late Manila archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin for four years.
Guarantee already void
THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday said there is no truth to claims of the communist movement that the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) is still operational.
The body’s Legal Cooperation Cluster made this comment after these groups claimed that a recent arrest of three ranking officials of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPPNPA) violated the JASIG.
“It is worthy to emphasize that the Philippine government validly terminated the JASIG on February 7, 2017 by serving a written notice of termination thereof, following the numerous violations committed by the CPP-NPA by employing violence, including killings and assaults,” it added.
The BI chief said Roque’s last recorded travel was in July when he came home from Los Angeles.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) earlier confirmed that Roque together with his wife Mylah availed themselves of consular services in Abu Dhabiu last November 29.
“The Philippine embassy in Abu Dhabi extended consular services to Mr. and Mrs. Roque as required for documents executed abroad for use in the Philippines. They were able to present valid passports and appear to be staying in the UAE legally,” the DFA said.
However, Viado claimed that Roque could have falsified his immigration clearances to be accepted by his destination country.
He added that formal entry and exit points are well-guarded, with CCTV cameras in major international ports, making it highly unlikely for Roque to use said areas. Viado said that they will be coordinating with the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi to get more information about Roque’s supposed travel.
“It’s impossible that he left via formal ports. His name is in the BI’s Lookout Bulletin, and he is a very well-known public figure. You can spot him miles away,” Viado noted.
Thus, the BI’s legal team is already studying filing more cases such as falsification of public documents against Roque for his illegal travel.
“Flight is an evidence of guilt. He likely left the country via illegal means, possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals,” Viado said.
Based on the complaint filed before the DOJ, Roque “actively participated” in the illegal activities of POGO operator Lucky South 99.
The complaint cited the claim of lawyer Jessa Mariz Fernandez, assistant president of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), that Roque and Lucky South 99 authorized representative Cassandro Ong went to their office to have a meeting with Pagcor chairman Alejandro Tengco regarding the arrears of the company.
EU, PHL to negotiate security, defense partnership deal
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
THE European Union (EU) and the Philippines have agreed to negotiate for an agreement to increase maritime, defense and cybersecurity cooperation between Manila and the world’s largest trading bloc.
Niclas Kvarnstrom, managing director of the Asia Pacific division of the European External Action Service, said this is one of the major items discussed during his bilateral consultative meeting with the Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro Tuesday. (See related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/12/03/
“One very interesting area in general to explore further cooperation is what we could say are new or hybrid threats, and some specific strands that we will work together with the Philippines on this cyber security. There will be projects to increase cooperation (on cyber security) and also on foreign information, manipulation and manipulation,” Kvarnstrom said.
The EU and the Philippines are now actively cooperating in the two maritime cooperative initiatives with the Indo Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) platform un -
der CRIMARIO 2 project and Enhancing Security In and With Asia (ESIWA). IORIS is a platform developed by the EU where agencies involved in maritime activities such as Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy, Philippine National Police—Maritime Group, Bureau of Fisheries and Agricultural Resources (BFAR), and Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Customs, can communicate and share information in secure, encrypted environment. (See related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/06/12/facebook-forthe-seas)
ESIWA, on the other hand, is an EU, Germany and French
Fernandez further claimed that Roque made several followups with her on the status of the application for the renewal of the online gambling permit of Lucky South 99.
Roque, however, denied involvement in the alleged illegal activities of Lucky South 99 or Whilrwind Corp. and that his inclusion as respondent in the human trafficking case was “mere afterthought.”
Meanwhile, DOJ Undersecretary Nicolas Ty said they would still discuss whether there was lapse on the part of embassy officials when they failed to immediately informed the DOJ or the DFA on Roque’s presence in Abu Dhabi.
project that finances activities related to counter-terrorism, crisis management, cyber security and maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. The Philippines is one of the countries in the pilot projects, Kvarnstrom said.
“What we would like to do is expand the cooperation with our partners, including the Philippines…We plan to increase cooperation on specific areas like cyber-security or maritime. It can capacity-building, it can be something li EU, he stressed, remains committed to the international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and “stands fully behind” the 2016 Arbitral Award.
“We feel that it’s one thing to have overlapping claims (in the South China Sea) but for us, the central thing is to follow UNCLOS, the international law,” Kvarnstrom said.
Feast organizers eyeing smaller Traslacion crowd
ORGANIZERS of the Traslacion 2025 expressed their optimism on Wednesday that next year’s celebration of the feast day of Jesus Nazareno will draw a smaller crowd compared to previous years.
na silang dumalo sa kanilang mga simbahan sa parokya na meron ding pagdiriwang ng kapistahan,” Irasga said.
tinues to draw millions of participants to Manila, with an estimated 6.5 million devotees attending last year’s event.
that we usually encounter will be resolved,” he said, speaking in Filipino.
“To iterate, while the now-terminated JASIG grants peace talks negotiators and consultants with immunity from arrest, this shall not cover acts which are contrary to the purposes of, and beyond their involvement in, the peace negotiations,” the NTF-ELCAC LCC said.
It added that although the JASIG was aimed at fostering an environment of trust and confidence in the peace process, it was never meant to undermine the country’s criminal justice system.
“The JASIG’s purpose was to foster dialogue, not to provide a sanctuary for individuals committing heinous crimes. We urge the public to be vigilant against the deceit of unscrupulous individuals whose goal is to sow fear and foster distrust to our duly constituted authorities. Our allegiance must always lie with the advancement of justice, peace, and the betterment of a united Philippines,” the NTF-ELCAC LCC said. PNA
It said law enforcement agencies have made these arrests by virtue of standing warrants of arrest issued by courts of competent jurisdiction.
In an interview, Technical Adviser Alex Irasga said the simultaneous celebrations of the feast in various parishes across the country may encourage more devotees to attend local masses instead of traveling to Manila.
“We expect na ang mga deboto, na ang sadya ay magsimba, maari
While simultaneous celebrations in other parishes have been practiced in recent years, they have not significantly reduced the number of attendees in Manila.
Masses honoring the image are held in provinces like Cebu and Davao, and replicas are brought to various locations in the weeks leading up to the feast, allowing local devotees to venerate it. Nevertheless, Traslacion con -
In preparation for next year’s procession, organizers conducted a walkthrough of the traditional route to ensure participant safety.
During the inspection, potential hazards such as damaged pavements, ongoing construction, and uneven sidewalks were identified, but Irasga assured the public that these issues have been addressed.
“There will be no change in the route. The usual problems
Meanwhile, the technical adviser clarified that the new appointment of Quiapo Church Rector Rufino “Jun” Sescon Jr. to the Diocese of Balanga in Bataan will not disrupt the feast preparations.
“Nagkausap kami kanina. Tatapusin niya ang pagdiriwang ng kapistahan. In practice there is usually a transition period maximum of four months. He has enough time to still be part of this effort,” he said. Justine Xyrah Garcia
Marcos hails ATC for dismantling, limiting resources of terror groups
PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday commended the AntiTerrorism Council (ATC) for its “significant milestones in dismantling threats” and fortifying the nation’s security” this year.
During the 33rd ATC meeting and yearend celebration in Malacañang in Manila, Marcos assured his administration firmly supports the Council’s mission.
“By disrupting terrorist organizations and limiting their resources, we have sent an unequivocal message: The safety of our people is our
topmost priority,” Marcos said.
The President said the government will continue investing in initiatives that “balance decisive action with inclusive approaches, ensuring a future where peace is not a fleeting idea but a continued and lasting reality.”
The mission of the ATC extends beyond neutralizing terrorist threats and prevent them altogether, he said.
“By implementing programs that prevent and counter violent extremism, we address the roots of radicalization and foster trust within our own communities,” the Chief Executive added.
Likewise, the President touted his administration’s accomplishments in the antiterrorism program. He said the freezing of assets linked to terrorism, coupled with successful prosecutions, underscores the country’s determination to contain the global threat.
Another noteworthy achievement is the progress toward exiting the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List, a milestone that benefits millions of Filipinos with smoother remittances for overseas workers and increased investor confidence, thus bolstering the Philippine economy, he said.
“These successes were made possible through the collaboration of various agencies, private sector stakeholders and tireless public servants. It reminds us that when we move as one, we can achieve goals that resonate across borders, across generations,” he said.
“The work we do requires constant evolution. Terrorism, fueled by advancing technology and shifting tactics, demands a response that blends strength with humanity, vigilance with compassion, and strategy with foresight,” he added.
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Controversial martial law declaration rocks South Korea, president faces impeachment
By Hyung-Jin Kim & Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s opposition parties Wednesday submitted a motion to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over the shocking and short-lived martial law that drew heavily armed troops to encircle parliament before lawmakers climbed walls to reenter the building and unanimously voted to lift his order.
Impeaching Yoon would require the support of two-thirds of parliament and at least six justices of the nine-member Constitutional Court would have to support it to remove him from office. The motion, submitted jointly by the main opposition Democratic Party and five smaller opposition parties, could be put to a vote as early as Friday.
Yoon’s senior advisers and secretaries offered to resign collectively and his Cabinet members, including Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, were also facing calls to step down, as the nation struggled to make sense of what appeared to be a poorly thought out stunt.
In his speech announcing the abrupt order Tuesday night, Yoon vowed to eliminate “anti-state” forces and continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. But martial law lasted only about six hours, as the National Assembly voted to overrule Yoon and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting.
The liberal opposition Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament, said Wednesday that its lawmak-
ers decided to call on Yoon to quit immediately or they would take steps to impeach him.
“President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration was a clear violation of the constitution. It didn’t abide by any requirements to declare it,” the Democratic Party said in a statement. “His martial law declaration was originally invalid and a grave violation of the constitution. It was a grave act of rebellion and provides perfect grounds for his impeachment.”
Impeaching him would require support from 200 of the National Assembly’s 300 members. The Democratic Party and other small opposition parties together have 192 seats. But the rejection of Yoon’s martial law declaration in a 190-0 vote included the votes of 18 lawmakers from Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, according to National Assembly officials.
The leader of the People Power Party, Han Dong-hun, who has long ties with Yoon dating to their days as prosecutors, criticized Yoon’s martial law declaration as “unconstitutional.”
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, seen as a potential presidential hopeful for the People Power Party, said Yoon’s martial law declaration
went against the “fundamental spirit of democracy” and that the deployment of troops to the National Assembly was an act that violated the separation of powers.
“Right now, the most urgent task is a thorough investigation. Through this, we must clearly hold accountable those who participated in destroying democracy,” Oh said in a televised statement.
If Yoon is impeached, he’ll be stripped of his constitutional powers until the Constitutional Court rules. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the No. 2 position in the South Korean government, would take over his presidential responsibilities. As calls mounted for Yoon’s Cabinet to resign, Han issued a public message pleading for patience and calling for Cabinet members to “fulfill your duties even after this moment.”
The Constitutional Court has only six justices following three retirements, which is one below the minimum seven needed to handle a presidential impeachment case, requiring lawmakers to speed up the process of naming new justices.
Yoon’s martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years, harkened to South Korea’s past military-backed governments when authorities occasionally proclaimed martial law and other decrees that allowed them to station combat soldiers, tanks and armored vehicles on streets or at public places like schools to prevent anti-government demonstrations. Such scenes of military intervention had not been seen since South Korea achieved a genuine democracy in the late 1980s until Tuesday night.
After Yoon’s declaration, troops carrying full battle gear, including assault rifles, tried to keep protesters away from the National Assembly as military helicopters flew overhead and landed nearby.
One soldier pointed his assault rifle at a woman who was among protesters outside the building demanding that the martial law
be lifted.
It wasn’t clear how the 190 lawmakers were able to enter a parliamentary hall to vote down Yoon’s martial law decree. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung livestreamed himself climbing over the wall, and while troops and police officers blocked some from entering they didn’t aggressively restrain or use force against others.
No major violence has been reported. The troops and police personnel were later seen leaving the grounds of the National Assembly after the parliamentary vote to lift the martial law. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik said: “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military.”
Han, the People Power Party leader, demanded that Yoon explain his decision and fire Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who he said recommended the martial law decree to Yoon. The Defense Ministry has not commented.
Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, warlike situations or other compa -
By Bassam Hatoum & Sally Abou Aljoud The Associated Press
NABATIYEH, Lebanon—Israeli forces carried out several new drone and artillery strikes in Lebanon on Tuesday, including a deadly strike that the Health Ministry and state media said killed one person, further shaking a tenuous ceasefire meant to end more than a year of fighting with Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed keep striking “with an iron fist” against perceived Hezbollah violations of the truce. His defense minister warned that if the ceasefire collapses, Israel will target not just Hezbollah but the Lebanese state—an expansion of Israel’s campaign.
Israel also carried out an airstrike in Syria, saying it killed a senior member of Hezbollah responsible for coordinating with Syria’s army on rearming and resupplying the Lebanese militant group. Israel has repeatedly hit Hezbollah targets in Syria, but Tuesday’s attack was a rare public acknowledgement.
Syrian state media reported that an Israeli drone strike hit a car in a suburb of the capital Damascus, killing one person.
Since the two-month ceasefire in Lebanon began last Wednesday, the US- and French-brokered deal has been rattled by near daily Israeli attacks, although Israel has been vague about the purported Hezbollah violations that prompted them.
On Monday, it was shaken by its biggest test yet. Hezbollah fired two projectiles
toward an Israeli-held disputed border zone, its first volley since the ceasefire began, saying it was a “warning” in response to Israel’s strikes. Israel responded with its heaviest barrage of the past week, killing 10 people.
On Tuesday, drone strikes hit four places in southern Lebanon, one of them killing a person in the town of Shebaa, the staterun National News Agency said. The Health Ministry confirmed the death.
Asked about the strike, the Israeli military said its aircraft struck a Hezbollah militant who posed a threat to troops. Shebaa is situated within a region of border villages where the Israeli military has warned Lebanese civilians not to return, with Israeli troops still present.
Israeli forces fired an artillery shell at one location and opened fire with small arms toward a town, the news agency reported. With Tuesday’s death, Israeli strikes since the ceasefire began have killed at least 15 people.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah is supposed to withdraw its fighters, weapons and infrastructure from a broad swath of the south by the end of the initial 60-day phase, pulling them north of the Litani River. Israeli troops are also to pull back to their side of the border.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said any violations of the agreement would be met with “a maximum response and zero tolerance.”
Speaking to troops on Israel’s northern border Tuesday, he said if the war resumes, Israel will widen its strikes beyond the
areas where Hezbollah’s activities are concentrated, and “there will no longer be an exemption for the state of Lebanon.”
The ceasefire ended 14 months of war between Israel and Hezbollah, capped by an intensified Israeli bombardment since late September and ground invasion that killed hundreds of Hezbollah members and civilians in Lebanon and sent more than 1.4 million fleeing their homes. Throughout that fighting, Israel largely refrained from striking critical infrastructure or the Lebanese armed forces, who kept to the sidelines.
Israel has said its aim is to push Hezbollah away from the border to allow the return home of tens of thousands of Israelis forced to evacuate from the north since Hezbollah began firing into Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.
“At the moment we are in a ceasefire, I note—a ceasefire, not the end of the war. We have a clear goal to return the residents, to rehabilitate the north,” Netanyahu said at the start of the government meeting Tuesday.
“We are enforcing this ceasefire with an iron fist, acting against any violation, minor or major,” he said.
Lebanese officials have accused Israel of violating the ceasefire dozens of times with strikes, overflights of drones and demolitions of homes. When Israel has issued statements about its strikes, it says they were done because of “hostile” actions by Hezbollah that posed a “threat to Israeli civilians,” without specifying their nature.
Tens of thousands of Lebanese who fled Israel’s bombardment in the past months
quickly returned to parts of the south after the ceasefire went into effect. In the southern city of Nabatiyeh, bulldozers cleared streets strewn with rubble and debris from destroyed buildings, and electricians worked on fixing power cables in an effort to restore electricity.
Imad Yassin returned to find his clothing store destroyed. He hopes the state will provide compensation so he can rebuild.
“Netanyahu is trying to displace us as southern Lebanon citizens,” he said. But like many others, he had little faith Israel would abide by the ceasefire.
Hussein Badreddin, a vegetable seller who also returned, said Israel was not committed to the truce.
“The Israelis are breaching the ceasefire whenever they can,” he said.
Israel says that under the truce deal, it has the right to retaliate for Hezbollah violations.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel would not discuss individual allegations of violations.
“We believe the ceasefire continues to be largely holding in place,” he said.
The US military announced last week that Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers alongside senior US envoy Amos Hochstein will co-chair a US-led committee that is supposed to monitor the ceasefire and ensure adherence to it. The committee also includes France, the UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon known as UNIFIL, Lebanon, and Israel.
The Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed.
rable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to restrict the freedom of press, assembly and other rights to maintain order. Many observers question whether South Korea is currently in such a state.
The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote.
Some experts say Yoon clearly violated the constitution in how he imposed martial law. While martial law allows “special measures” to restrict individual freedoms and the authority of agencies and courts, the constitution does not permit the functions of parliament to be restricted. But in following Yoon’s declaration on Tuesday, South Korea’s military proclaimed parliamentary activities were suspended and deployed troops to try to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly.
In Washington, the White House said the US was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 US service members based in South Korea.
In Seoul, the streets seemed busy like a normal day Wednesday.
Tourist Stephen Rowan, from Brisbane, Australia, who was touring Gyeongbokgung Palace, said he was not concerned at all.
“But then again, I don’t understand too much about the political status in Korea,” he said. “But I hear they are now calling for the current president’s resignation, so ... apparently there’s going to be a lot of demonstrations.... I would have been concerned if martial law had stayed enforced.” Yoon’s government and ruling party have been embroiled in an impasse with the Democratic Party over next year’s budget bill and a Democratic Party-led attempt to impeach three top prosecutors.
Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy” that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022.
South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, who was removed from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017. She was later pardoned.
The Associated Press writer Jennifer McDermott contributed to this report.
Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, called for Yoon to be immediately investigated on charges of rebellion over the way he deployed troops to the parliament. While the president mostly enjoys immunity from prosecution while in office, the protection does not extend to alleged rebellion or treason.
Syrian insurgents capture four central towns as government forces reclaim some territory
By Bassem Mroue The Associated Press
BEIRUT—Syrian insurgents captured four new towns early Tuesday, bringing them closer to the central city of Hama, opposition activists said, while government forces retook some territory they lost last week.
The new push came as Turkey’s president—whose country is a main backer of insurgent groups—says that Syria’s government must engage “in a genuine political process” to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.
The capture of the towns is the latest in the push by insurgents led by the salafi jihadi Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, as well as Turkeybacked opposition fighters. Insurgents now are about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Hama, the country’s fourth-largest city.
The latest push is part of a wide offensive by forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad that over the past days has captured large parts of the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, as well as towns and villages in southern parts of the northwestern Idlib province.
The insurgents’ military operations administration said gunmen killed 50 government forces as they captured 14 central villages and towns including Halfaya, Taybat al-Imam, Maardis and Soran. The Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, confirmed that the four towns were taken.
“We are going in the direction of Hama the city and after that, God willing, to Homs, and then to Damascus and the rest of Syria will be liberated again with God’s will,” said HTS member Abu Abdo al Hamawi.
State news agency SANA said Syrian troops are fighting fierce battles in the central Hama province adding that government forces are reinforcing their posts in the area. State media reported intense airstrikes by Syrian and Russian air forces in the area. Both the Observatory and pro-government media outlets reported that Syrian government forces on Tuesday captured the village of Khanaser, days after losing it. Khanaser sits on one of the roads that lead to Aleppo.
An aid group warned that some areas in northern Syria are witnessing food shortages.
“The recent escalation in Syria threatens to drag the country back into the darkest days of this near 14-year conflict,” Angelita Caredda, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Director said in a statement. “Civilian casualties are rising because of shelling and airstrikes, and thousands of families have been displaced.”
“We call on all parties to adhere to international law in their conduct of hostilities,” Caredda said.
The Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria contributed to this report.
MEMBERS of main opposition Democratic Party stage a rally against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea on Wednesday, December 4, 2024. AP/AHN YOUNG-JOON
Floods wreak havoc in Malaysia and Thailand, killing over 30 and displacing tens of thousands
By Syawalludin Zain & Jintamas Saksornchai The Associated Press
KOTA BARU, Malaysia—Severe floods caused by monsoon rains killed more than 30 people and displaced tens of thousands in Malaysia and southern Thailand, officials said Tuesday, with both countries preparing shelters and evacuation plans in anticipation of more heavy rain.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said five days of heavier-than-expected rain that battered the country’s east coast last week was equal to the rainfall over the past six months, wreaking havoc in the northeastern state of Kelantan and neighboring Terengganu.
The floods also submerged large tracts of rice fields, causing millions of dollars in losses to farmers, officials said. The heavy downpour also damaged roads, houses and public facilities in Kelantan and other parts of Malaysia. Rescue workers used boats to distribute food to victims trapped in their homes. “I was awoken around 3 a.m.
in the morning. I tried to move my car. I thought the water won’t rise this high. However, at 5 a.m. the water rose nonstop, so I was only able to rescue a few things,” laborer Ayob Othman said outside his partially submerged home in Tumpat district in Kelantan.
Another Tumpat villager, Asmah Ibrahim, despaired over how to rebuild her ruined home.
“To eat, drink, I have some cash, but to repair this?” she said. “Where can I find 40,000 ringgit ($9,000)?”
Anwar told Parliament on Tuesday that it would cost an estimated 1 billion ringgit ($224 million) to repair infrastructure damaged by the floods. He said the government will consider compensation for those who lost assets.
The rain eased over the weekend, but the Meteorological Department forecast heavy rains later Tuesday. Anwar said the government is bracing for another monsoon surge that is expected to hit on Sunday.
National Disaster Command Center data showed about 85,000 people across seven states remained in schools, community halls and relief centers after they were moved out of their homes due to the floods. This was down
New UN aid chief vows ‘ruthless’ approach to funding crises amid shrinking donations
By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press
GENEVA—The new head of the UN humanitarian aid agency says it will be “ruthless” when prioritizing how to spend money, a nod to challenges in fundraising for civilians in war zones like Gaza, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine.
Tom Fletcher, a longtime British diplomat who took up the UN post last month, said his agency is asking for less money in 2025 than this year. He said it wants to show “we will focus and target the resources we have,” even as crises grow more numerous, intense and long lasting.
His agency, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on Wednesday issued its global appeal for 2025, seeking $47 billion to help 190 million people in 32 countries—though it estimates 305 million worldwide need help.
“The world is on fire, and this is how we put it out,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
$3.2 billion.
Fletcher said his office needs to be “ruthless” in choosing to reach people most in need.
“I choose that word carefully, because it’s a judgement call—that ruthlessness—about prioritizing where the funding goes and where we can have the greatest impact,” he said. “It’s a recognition that we have struggled in previous years to raise the money we need.”
In response to questions about how much President-elect Donald Trump of the United States—the UN’s biggest single donor—will spend on humanitarian aid, Fletcher said he expects to spend “a lot of time” in Washington over the next few months to talk with the new administration.
from about 150,000 evacuees on Sunday. About 88 percent of the evacuees are from Kelantan and Terengganu.
At least six people died in Malaysia, while the death toll was higher in southern Thailand.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said Tuesday that 25 people perished in floods in the southernmost part of the country in the past week. More than 300,000 households have been affected, with many schools and 98 health facilities forced to close. The health ministry said 34,354 evacuees remained at 491 government shelters on Monday.
Although water levels have receded in several provinces, the department also warned of more heavy rains through Thursday, putting the areas further at risk of flash floods. Authorities prepared shelter, water pumps, evacuation trucks and boats, and put rescue workers on standby to prepare for more downpours.
The floods have affected tourism, with Malaysian officials urging citizens to defer travel plans to southern Thailand, a popular holiday destination.
Jintamas reported from Bangkok.
Trump vows to block Japanese steelmaker from buying US Steel, pledges to strengthen American steel industry
By Marc Levy And Josh Boak The Associated Press
ARRISBURG, Pa.—President-elect
HDonald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of US Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker.
Trump had vowed early in the presidential campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday night.
“I am totally against the once great and powerful US Steel being bought by a foreign company” and will use tax incentives and tariffs to make US Steel “Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” he wrote.
“As President,” he continued, “I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!”
US economic and national security.”
“It’s clear that President Trump understands the vital role a strong domestic steel industry plays in our national security, as well as the importance of the jobs and communities the industry supports,” the union said.
The deal has drawn bipartisan opposition in the US Senate, including from the incoming vice president, Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, although the federal government’s objections to the deal have drawn criticism that the opposition is political.
Some US Steel workers would prefer Nippon Steel acquire the company, given that it appears to have a better financial balance sheet than another potential buyer, Cleveland-Cliffs.
US Steel “provided a very, very good life for our families for a lot of years,” said Jack Maskil, a vice president at the Steelworkers local branch in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. “And we feel that with the Nippon deal that a lot more families for futures to come will be able to share the same.”
The office and many other aid groups, including the international Red Cross, have seen donations shrink in recent years for longtime trouble spots like Syria, South Sudan, the Middle East and Congo and newer ones like Ukraine and Sudan. Aid access has been difficult in some places, especially Sudan and Gaza.
recent days.
Such funds go to UN agencies and more than 1,500 partner organizations.
The office’s appeal for $50 billion for this year was only 43 percent fulfilled as of last month. One consequence of that shortfall was an 80 percent reduction in food aid for Syria, which has seen a sudden escalation in fighting in
The biggest asks for 2025 are for Syria—a total of $8.7 billion for needs both within the country and for neighbors that have taken in Syrian refugees—as well as Sudan at a total of $6 billion, the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” at $4 billion, Ukraine at about $3.3 billion and Congo at nearly
“America is very much on our minds at the moment,” he said, acknowledging some governments “will be more questioning of what the United Nations does and less ideologically supportive of this humanitarian effort” laid out in the new report.
This year has been the deadliest on record for humanitarians and UN staff, largely due to the Middle East conflict triggered by Palestinian militants’ deadly October 7, 2023 attack in Israel.
FBI urges telecom companies to boost security amid Chinese hacking campaign
By David Klepper The Associated Press
members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes the US and Britain. Dubbed Salt Typhoon by analysts, the wide-ranging cyberespionage campaign emerged earlier this year after hackers sought to penetrate the networks of multiple telecommunications companies.
The hackers used their access to telecom networks to target the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts.
The hackers succeeded in retrieving the actual audio files of calls and content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. The FBI has contacted victims in this group, many of whom work in government or politics, but officials said it is up to telecom companies to notify customers included in the first, larger group.
Despite months of investigation, the true scale of China’s operation, including the total number of victims or whether the
hackers still have some access to information, is currently unknown.
The FBI has said some of the information targeted by the hackers relates to US law enforcement investigations and court orders, suggesting the hackers may have been trying to access programs subject to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The law grants American spy agencies sweeping powers to surveil the communications of people suspected of being agents of a foreign power.
But on Tuesday, officials said they think the hackers were more broadly motivated, hoping to burrow deeply into the nation’s telecommunications systems to gain wide access to Americans’ information.
The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the Salt Typhoon operation and make it harder for
China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, said Jeff Greene, CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity and one of the officials who briefed reporters Tuesday.
“We don’t have any illusion that once we kick off these actors they’re not going to come back,” Greene said.
Several recent high-profile hacking incidents have been linked to China and what officials say is Beijing’s effort to steal technical and government secrets while also gaining access to critical infrastructure such as the electrical grid.
In September, the FBI announced that it had disrupted a vast Chinese hacking operation that involved the installation of malicious software on more than 200,000 consumer devices, including cameras, video recorders and home and office routers. The devices were then used to create a massive network of infected computers, or botnet, that could then be used to carry out other cyber crimes.
President Joe Biden, like Trump, also opposes Nippon Steel’s purchase of Pittsburghbased US Steel. Biden’s White House in September said that it had yet to see a report from the secretive Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which was reviewing the transaction for national security concerns. The committee, which is chaired by the treasury secretary and includes other Cabinet members, can recommend that the president block a transaction, and federal law gives the president that power.
Ahead of the November election, the proposed merger carried political importance in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state that Trump eventually won. Biden publicly sided with the United Steelworkers, the labor union, in seeking to reject the deal.
When he announced his opposition in a March statement, Biden said: “US Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”
Nippon Steel has said it is the only company that can make the necessary investment in US Steel’s factories and strengthen the American steel industry. Both Nippon Steel and US Steel on Tuesday released statements in support of the acquisition.
“This transaction should be approved on its merits. The benefits are overwhelmingly clear. Our communities, customers, investors, and employees strongly support this transaction, and we will continue to advocate for them and adherence to the rule of law,” US Steel said. The deal follows a long stretch of protectionist US tariffs that analysts say has helped reinvigorate domestic steel, including US Steel. US Steel’s shareholders have approved the deal, but the United Steelworkers oppose it. In a statement Tuesday, the union said the deal carries “serious long-term implications for
West Mifflin Mayor Chris Kelly said he met with Nippon Steel executives and found himself satisfied by their commitments. Located southeast of Pittsburgh, West Mifflin is home to US Steel’s Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant.
“There’s no question in my mind that it’s the best deal moving forward,” Kelly said at a panel hosted on Tuesday by the conservative think tank Hudson Institute, where Maskil was also speaking.
The Biden administration committee vetting the merger is scheduled later this month to decide on the acquisition or possibly extend the ongoing review.
William Chou, a deputy director at the Hudson Institute specializing in relations with Japan, said that “President-elect Trump’s view on the deal are important.” But given the upcoming deadline, “It’s up to President Biden to recognize how this deal will advance the interests of future generations of US Steel union steelworkers.”
Trump’s statement came two weeks after Nippon Steel’s vice chairman, Takahiro Mori, visited Pittsburgh and Washington to
RESIDENTS navigate through floodwaters outside their homes in Tumpat, on the outskirts of Kota Bahru, Malaysia on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. AP/VINCENT THIAN
TOM FLETCHER , undersecretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, talks to the media during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. SALVATORE DI NOLFI/KEYSTONE VIA
Govt to deploy Kadiwa kiosks in train stations
By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out the Kadiwa ng Pangulo’s Rice-for-All program offering P40 per kilo across key public markets in the National Capital Region (NCR) to provide consumers with affordable rice.
Assistant Secretary Genevieve Guevarra, head of the Kadiwa program, said in a statement that the program seeks to help Filipinos cope with rising food prices.
“The DA, in partnership with the Food Terminal Inc., will deploy Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks in
major public markets, including MRT and LRT stations. These kiosks will offer Rice-for-All at an affordable price of P40 per kilo, available from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.” Initially priced at P45 per kilo, the rice under the program was
'With investment, small-scale farmers can restore lands'
Th E UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) called for urgent investments to empower small-scale farmers to tackle land degradation and desertification, and contribute to safeguard the planet’s food security, climate and ecosystems Ifad made the appeal during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which kicked off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last December 2.
Land degradation is advancing at an astonishing rate across all regions, making it one of the world’s most pressing problems. But an abundance of healthy and fertile soil is the foundation of agriculture and a safe and prosperous future. Up to 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded today, affecting half of humanity. Land degradation and desertification affect in particular smallscale farmers from developing countries who produce one-third of the world’s food and are essential to the food security of their communities, their nations and the planet.
“The planet loses fertile land equivalent to the size of Uganda every single year,” said Alvaro Lario, the President of Ifad, ahead of the event. “We need to urgently invest to reverse this decline and restore millions of hectares to protect our climate, biodiversity, and food supplies.”
Estimates show that the benefits from investments in restorative and sustainable land management practices can be huge. Every $1 invested in restoration generates up to $30 in economic returns. Also, enhancing healthy soils can offset between 5 and 20 percent of global emissions while boosting food security.
Yet, global and domestic financing for rural areas and farming in developing countries falls short of answering their needs. For example, small-scale farmers receive less than 1 percent of global climate finance, representing about $5 billion per year. According to Ifad, the financing gap is estimated at $75 billion per year.
“We not only need more funding for food systems, but also smarter funding,” Lario said. “It is only by mobilizing private sector finance that we build more resilient and sustainable agrifood
systems. Nature is a common good, and investing in its longterm viability delivers returns, both economic and societal.”
Ifad noted the consequences of the lack of investment in food security, overcoming poverty and increasing stability.
“Desertification and drought threaten the livelihoods of an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. Small-scale farmers’ food production is essential for economic stability in many developing countries where agriculture drives GDP.”
In addition to the human and economic costs, land degradation and climate change could force up to 700 million people to migrate by 2050. Every 5 percent loss of GDP is associated with a 12-percent increase in the likelihood of violent conflict.
Recognizing the interconnectedness of land degradation and climate change, and in response to the growing emergency to take climate action, Ifad is boosting its spending to support climate action, including nature-based solutions and restoration, from 25 percent of its Programme of Loans and Grants during the 2019-2021 period to 40 percent from 2022 to 2024.
Ifad’s next financing cycle, from 2025 to 2027, will increase the share even further to 45 percent. In 2024, Ifad invested more than $750 million in projects supporting small-scale farmers to build their resilience to a changing climate, a major jump from the $502.7-million spent during 2022-2023.
Over its last two project cycles, 60 percent of Ifad’s portfolio has implemented agroecological practices that boost productivity while preserving natural resources. Between 2015 and 2021, Ifad-supported projects have halted desertification and reclaimed over a million hectares of land by putting over $1 billion into land restoration efforts, including agroecology.
h a lting desertification and deteriorating soil quality is the focus of COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13, 2024. Ifad said it will be the largest UN land conference to date, where participants will work to mobilize funding and investments to restore degraded land and boost drought resilience for the benefit of people and planet.
recently reduced to P43. Starting Thursday, the price will drop further to P40 per kilo, part of ongoing efforts to shield consumers from inflationary pressures.
“Currently, we are coordinating with the following major markets in NCR for the rollout:
Kamuning Market, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market, Pasay City Public Market, Balintawak Market, Cartimar Market, Pateros Grace Marketplace, Maypajo Public Market, Paco Market,” Guevarra said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco
P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has directed the deployment of Kadiwa ng Pangulo kiosks to force rice retailers and traders to lower prices.
“We plan to expand this program to other parts of the country where prices of rice remain high, a situation that borders on profiteering,” he said.
Laurel said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier approved an additional budget of P5 billion to support the P29 and Rice-for-All programs.
“This initiative underscores the DA’s commitment to ensuring food security and stabilizing rice prices across Metro Manila.”
Based on the DA’s report as of November 30, prices of imported and local rice sold in Metro Manila markets ranged from P43.55 per kilo to P59.82 per kilo.
El Nino and the recent typhoons destroyed standing crops
and widened the shortfall in rice supply. To plug the gap in domestic production, the Philippines increased its purchases of the staple.
Based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), that rice import arrivals in November hit an all-time high of 4.2 million metric tons (MMT). This was higher than the 3.606 MM of rice the Philippines bought in 2023. Of the volume that arrived in the country, BPI data indicated that over 3.26 MMT came from Vietnam. Thailand was the second-largest supplier, accounting for 544,724.15 metric tons (MT). The Philippines also imported from other countries, such as Pakistan (215,049.48 MT), Myanmar (184,815.75 MT), and India (22,260.82 MT).
Laurel had said that the country’s rice imports will reach 4.5 MMT by yearend.
Tobacco planters to get P100-M cash assistance from govt
Th E National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is gearing up to distribute a P100million crop production grant from the national government to qualified tobacco farmers across the country for the 2024-2025 cropping year.
In a recent meeting chaired by Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor B. Savellano, alongside NTA Administrator Belinda S. Sanchez, the NTA Governing Board identified 16,666 tobacco farmers as beneficiaries. Each will receive P6,000 in cash assistance by December 15, 2024.
“The giving of production assistance for our tobacco farmers is realized under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., through Agriculture Secretary Francisco P.
Tiu Laurel, Jr., and the NTA to enhance the production of quality tobacco considering that the tobacco industry remains one of the strongest pillars of the country’s economy, contributing 1 percent of the GDP and 6 percent of the overall annual tax revenue collections,” said Savellano in a statement.
The recipients were identified by the NTA branch offices based on the guidelines set and approved by the NTA Governing Board.
Of the total recipients of the assistance, 9,055 are farmers listed under the NTA’s Tobacco Contract Growing System (TCGS) program, and 7,611 are non-TCGS farmers.
The TCGS farmer-recipients should have planted tobacco in one hectare of farmland and below,
while the non-TCGS farmer-recipients must have grown tobacco in a half-hectare farmland and below, both for cropping years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. The beneficiaries must also be NTA-registered tobacco farmers personally tilling a tobacco farm, capable of providing adequate labor to attend to all activities in quality tobacco production, able to provide basic farm tools and equipment, such as plow, harrow, sprayer, work animal, irrigation pump, and curing bar/air curing shed, and should have adequate sources of good quality irrigation water and desirable for tobacco production.
Before the grant’s actual distribution, the NTA branch offices will ensure that the recipients will meet all the requirements
and surely plant tobacco this coming planting season. The number of recipients of the cash aid per NTA branch office follows Abra with 992 tobacco farmers; Batac, Ilocos Norte, with 2,778 farmers; Cagayan, 700 farmers; Candon (Ilocos Sur), 2,573 farmers; Isabela, 2,925; La Union, 1,667; Mindanao, 1,666; Pangasinan, 1,765; and Vigan, Ilocos Sur, with 1,600.
The P6,000 production assistance, first distributed during the 2023–2024 cropping year, is funded by the General Appropriations Act. It supplements the support provided by buying firms, local government units, and farmer cooperatives, helping farmers improve the quality of their tobacco and, ultimately, their income.
Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
EU reaches deal to delay contentious deforestation law
Th E European Union reached a tentative deal to postpone its landmark law to tackle deforestation until the end of next year, giving global supply chains of commodities from coffee to beef more time to adapt.
An agreement reached with lawmakers on Tuesday brings a turbulent few months for one of the EU’s most far-reaching environmental plans close to an end. The law was met with widespread pushback from agricultural giants like Brazil and Indonesia, as well as EU countries such as Austria and Finland.
“We successfully postponed the implementation of the deforestation law by one year, giving European businesses, foresters and farmers the planning security they need, while protecting them from excessive bureaucracy,” said Christine Schneider, lead negotiator representing the European Parliament in the talks.
Aimed at curbing forest clearance in nations that export to the bloc, the legislation became a symbol of Europe’s environmental ambitions clashing with reality. Businesses such as chocolate makers said they needed time and money to prepare, as did nations that supply them with cocoa and other products.
In early October, the European Commission had already moved to propose delaying the rules. But the European People’s Party, the biggest group in the EU Parliament, led a push in the assembly to demand further changes, putting the delay at risk if no deal was reached before the end of this year. During
the meeting on Tuesday, representatives of the parliament dropped the requirements after the commission offered assurances to update the law within a year, Schneider said in a statement.
“We ensured that the Commission will complete the online platform and the risk categorization in due time, giving more predictability for all in the supply chain,” said Schneider, who is a member of the EPP group. “Last, but not least, an impact assessment and further simplification is to follow in the review stage for the low-risk countries or regions, giving countries an incentive to improve their forest conservation practices.”
Member states and parliament will still need to officially sign off on the deal before the end of the month, a step that is usually seen as a formality. The first step will be a vote in the European Parliament’s environment committee on Wednesday, to be followed by
a plenary ballot later this month.
Carbon rules
N E W Zealand has outlined new rules aimed at slowing the rate at which farmland is being converted into forestry for carbon credits.
The regulations will prevent owners of forests on the best farmland from registering their plantations in the Emissions Trading Scheme and will cap registrat ions from less productive land, the government said Wednesday in Wellington.
New Zealand has allowed polluters to offset their carbon dioxide emissions by buying credits generated by forestry. That drove up the value of trees and sparked a surge in purchases of land — frequently farms — for planting.
The farming and meat industries objected to the threat and the new center-right government has agreed.
“These measures help to protect our most productive farmland
while allowing room for sustainable forestry growth,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said. “Landowners will retain the ability to make smart land use decisions, enhancing both profitability and environmental outcomes.”
The new policies, expected to be effective in October next year, deliver on a key election commitment to protect food production for farmers and also address the previous government’s policies that encouraged large-scale conversions, he said.
The new rules impose a moratorium on exotic forestry registrations from the most productive classes of farmed land, and cap annual registrations for certain non-arable land at 15,000 hectares a year, the government said. Industry group Federated Farmers welcomed the changes, saying it will “stop the relentless march of pine trees across our productive farmland,” according to a statement. The cap is “a further step to safeguard against large-scale carbon farming,” it said.
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said the changes provide certainty for participants in the ETS and ensure that foresters, farmers, and investors can plan ahead with confidence.
“Forestry and agriculture both play an important part in our climate strategy,” he said. “It’s important we are incentivizing the right balance so New Zealand can have prosperous communities, increasing primary production and exports and a thriving economy while meeting our climate goals.” Bloomberg News
Photo from www.da.gov.Ph
AmA zon rainforest under threat as Belo monte dam spreads influence around Anapu and Belo monte towns in the southern of Amazonian state of Para, Brazil, Tuesday, December 16 , 2014. BloomBerg Photo/ dado galdieri
Manila named ‘World’s Leading City Destination’ at World Travel Awards
The recent accolade of being named the World’s Leading City Destination at the 2024 World Travel Awards (WTA) highlights Manila’s unique position on the global tourism stage. This recognition is remarkable, especially after the city was listed as one of the most risky destinations for international tourists. It raises important questions about perception versus reality in travel and the resilience of the Philippine tourism sector. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Risky’ Manila gets Leading City Destination tag at WTA,” December 2, 2024).
Manila’s charm lies in its rich history, exemplified by the Walled City of Intramuros, alongside its vibrant shopping malls, museums, and entertainment options. Winning the WTA award for the second time is a testament to the city’s allure. The competition was fierce, with Manila besting renowned cities like London, Dubai, and Las Vegas.
Tourism Attaché Gerard O. Panga’s optimism for the sector’s future is contagious. His comments regarding responsible tourism and authentic experiences resonate deeply in today’s travel landscape, where consumers increasingly seek meaningful and sustainable travel options. However, the backdrop of Manila’s success is a troubling one. The city has recently been labeled as high-risk for tourists, a classification that could deter potential visitors. The contrast between recognition and safety concerns highlights the need for comprehensive strategies to address security issues while promoting the Philippines as a premier travel destination. It is vital for the government and tourism boards to work collaboratively to enhance safety measures and communicate these effectively to potential visitors.
The recognition of Boracay as the World’s Leading Luxury Destination and the Philippines as the World’s Leading Dive Destination further illustrates the country’s diverse offerings. These awards reflect not only the natural beauty of the archipelago but also the potential for growth in niche markets like luxury and adventure tourism. The success of establishments like City of Dreams Manila and Amanpulo in Palawan showcases the strength of the private sector in enhancing the overall tourism experience.
Yet, the industry faces significant challenges. Despite these accolades, the Philippines is unlikely to meet its ambitious target of 7.7 million foreign arrivals this year, largely due to sluggish visitor numbers from China and geopolitical tensions. This reality serves as a reminder that recognition alone cannot translate into economic success; tangible efforts must be made to attract and retain international visitors.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco’s acknowledgment of the collaboration between public and private sectors is crucial. It is this synergy that can drive future initiatives and bolster the country’s reputation as a safe and attractive destination. The Philippines must leverage these awards to market itself more aggressively, addressing safety concerns head-on while showcasing its unique cultural and natural offerings.
Ultimately, Manila’s latest accolades highlight substantial accomplishments in the tourism industry while emphasizing the critical requirement for a comprehensive strategy to tackle safety and security issues. As the country looks towards 2025, a focus on responsible tourism, enhanced safety measures, and the promotion of authentic experiences will be key to sustaining this momentum. The journey ahead may be challenging, but with the right strategy, Manila can transform its dual narrative into a compelling story of resilience and growth in global tourism.
The shocking Covid report
FJohn Mangun
OUTSIDE THE BOX
Ive years ago the Christmas season was a rough one. The following stories were reported on December 24, 2019. “Typhoon Phanfone, called Ursula, hit the central Philippines on Tuesday, stranding thousands of travelers.” “A bomb exploded near Cotabato Cathedral during an evening Mass on Sunday, 3 days before Christmas.” “Toxic coconut wine kills at least 11 people during Christmas celebrations in the Philippines.”
Little did we know that less than three months later the world would be plunged into the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic of the US House of Representatives concluded a two-year investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic. Its conclusions after 100 investigative letters, more than 30 transcribed interviews/depositions, 25 hearings, and reviewing more than one million pages of documents follow.
The health impact from the virus led to millions of deaths, varying rates depending on countries’ health systems, demographics, and response measures. Also, there was a notable increase in excess mortality beyond official Covid-19 death counts due
CE-mail: news.businessmirror@gmail.com www.news.businessmirror@gmail.com Printed by
to indirect effects like delayed treatments for other conditions.
The global economy experienced the worst economic downturn since the 1930s. Unemployment rates surged, markedly affecting lowwage and informal sector workers. Industries like tourism, hospitality, and manufacturing were severely hit. The crisis exacerbated social inequalities, affecting vulnerable populations disproportionately.
An estimated 100 million people were pushed into extreme poverty with a disproportionate impact on developing nations. School closures disrupted education worldwide, leading to increased educational inequality.
The findings and conclusions of the Congressional investigation are
hInA isn’t short of options when it comes to critical minerals that could be used as counters in a trade war with the US. Beijing’s ban on Tuesday covering sales to the US of gallium, germanium, antimony and super hard materials, and tighter controls on graphite, are likely an opening salvo in export controls that could be extended to dozens of niche materials if trade frictions with Washington escalate.
“This may only be the start of the country ensuring national security and its strategic role in mineral resources,” Citic Securities Co. said in a note. The state-backed brokerage listed 10 commodities, including the 17 elements grouped as rare earths, in which China holds an outsized role as producer or processor. The minerals are typically crucial to high-tech manufacturing, including so-called dual uses in military applications. Beijing’s latest restrictions were imposed after the White House on Monday slapped fresh curbs on the sale to China of high-end memory chips made by US and foreign companies. The Biden administration is using targeted measures to slow the country’s development of advanced semiconductors and artificial intel-
ligence systems that may help its military.
President-elect Donald Trump, however, has threatened import tariffs as high as 60 percent on all Chinese goods, a measure that would invite a heavy response from Beijing.
Beijing is reminding Washington—including the incoming Trump administration—that it has a new arrow in its quiver, said Bloomberg Economics. We expect a second USChina trade war in Donald Trump’s second term. One key difference could be that Beijing escalates by using export controls in response to US tariffs.
As well as rare earths, Citic’s list includes tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, tin, indium, chromium, tantalum, niobium and cesium as candidates for export curbs. China also enjoys dominance in other com-
The health impact from the virus led to millions of deaths, varying rates depending on countries’ health systems, demographics, and response measures. Also, there was a notable increase in excess mortality beyond official Covid-19 death counts due to indirect effects like delayed treatments for other conditions.
devastating but we already knew many of these from our own personal experiences.
“School closures made an already alarming trend in declining physical health worse while significantly contributing to increased instances of mental and behavioral health issues.” “Pandemic-era school closures adversely impacted academic performance that will continue for years”.
For me, one son graduated from High School and another from college ‘online’. Yet, “Long term school closures were not supported by available science and evidence.”
The measures to mitigate and attempt to control the spread of the virus were “worthless”? You decide.
“FINDING: The US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention relied on flawed studies to support the issuance of mask mandates.” “FINDING: There was no quantitative scientific support for six feet of social distanc-
Beijing’s latest restrictions were imposed after the White House on Monday slapped fresh curbs on the sale to China of high-end memory chips made by US and foreign companies. The Biden administration is using targeted measures to slow the country’s development of advanced semiconductors and artificial intelligence systems that may help its military.
modities such as arsenic, which has a wide range of applications from herbicides to telecommunications.
ing.” The “6 feet apart” social distancing recommendation was arbitrary. During closed door testimony, Dr. Fauci testified that the guidance, “sort of just appeared.” It gets worse. “FINDING: Covid-19 vaccine mandates were not supported by science.” “FINDING: The Biden Administration and many public health officials exaggerated the power of Covid-19 vaccines.” Contrary to what was promised, the Covid-19 vaccine did not stop the spread or transmission of the virus. You can blame governments for their flawed response to the pandemic. It goes deeper.
“FINDING: But for the Chinese Communist Party blatantly downplaying and lying concerning the serious threat posed by Covid-19, travel restrictions would have been imposed earlier and been more effective.”
“COVID-19 ORIGIN: Covid-19 most likely emerged from a laboratory in Wuhan, China. The strongest arguments in favor of the “lab leak” theory include: The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature. Data shows that all Covid-19 cases stem from a single introduction into humans. This runs contrary to previous pandemics where there were multiple spillover events.
“Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers were sick with a Covid-like
See “Mangun,” A13
In China, Yunnan Lincang Xinyuan Germanium Industrial Co. surged by 10 percent, the daily limit, while Yunnan Chihong Zinc & Germanium Co. rose as much as 7.8 percent.
In Sydney, Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. advanced as much as 5.6 percent. The company last month opened the largest processing facility for the elements outside China.
The problem for Beijing is that further curbs on strategic minerals will only hasten efforts by the US and its allies to counter its dominance, which will dilute their impact.
For example, when China first tightened export controls on germanium and gallium in 2023, it would have signaled to buyers they needed to diversify supply. As a result, Chinese customs data showed zero exports of the two minerals to the US this year, which suggests that firms were instead tapping inventories or procuring the metal from other sources. with assistance from Paul-alain Hunt /bloomberg
In recent years, the US has relied on China for 60 percent of its supply of the metal, according to the US Geological Survey. Rare earths, meanwhile, have been a feature of China’s previous trade disputes, and last year the government halted the export of a range of technologies associated with processing the elements, making it harder for the US and its allies to bolster supplies of the strategic raw materials. In the wake of Beijing’s ban, investors rushed into companies that mine and refine critical minerals.
Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder
Since 2005
Macron asks French lawmakers not to topple the government
By Ania Nussbaum & Samy Adghirni
President emmanuel Macron called on French lawmakers to set aside their personal ambition and reject a vote that would topple the government and throw the country into political turmoil.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her National Rally party have vowed to support a no-confidence motion on Wednesday submitted by a left-wing coalition, a motion that will pass if backed by both groups.
The National Rally became the largest single party in the lower house of parliament in a June snap election, transforming Le Pen into Paris’s most influential power broker. But Macron expressed confidence that politicians would step back from the brink.
“The only question that politicians today need to ask themselves is how they can be useful to the country and to the French people,” Macron told reporters on Tuesday during a trip to Saudi Arabia. “Not how they can be useful to their own ambitions or their own interests.”
The president said in Riyadh that for Le Pen’s party to support the noconfidence motion “would be a vote of unbearable cynicism,” adding that “I can’t believe that they’d vote for the” motion.
Lawmakers in Paris will begin debating the motions at 4 p.m. in Paris Wednesday, with the voting to start shortly thereafter.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier also spoke of the potential that the no-confidence motion wouldn’t pass.
“I think it’s possible there will be a reflex of responsibility,” Barnier said on French TV Tuesday. “I think that the country’s higher interest, the common good, the national interest, mean something.”
“Le Pen might prefer political chaos to stability to put pressure on Macron to resign,” said Bloomberg economists Antonio Barroso, Eleonora Mavroeidi and Jamie Rush.
The political difficulties began after Macron called snap elections after getting trounced in European elections. That left the lower house split into three fiercely opposed blocs: a diminished center supporting the president, a leftist alliance and a strengthened far right led by Le Pen. With no coalition possible, Macron appointed Barnier prime minister in September with a core mission to get France’s messy finances in order.
Korean stocks fall, won recovers after Yoon’s brief martial law
By Youkyung Lee & Matthew Burgess
south Korea’s currency recovered while its stocks fell Wednesday, as investors braced for prolonged political uncertainties following a brief decree of martial law by President Yoon suk Yeol.
The won gained as much as 1.6 percent to 1,406.35 per dollar, to erase nearly all of its overnight loss.
The benchmark Kospi slid as much as 2.3 percent, while a gauge of equity volatility was on course for its biggest rise in three months. Credit default swaps for South Korean government debt widened 2.75 basis points, according to traders, poised for the biggest increase since early August, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
The political chaos has driven bond investors to punish France’s sovereign debt relative to its peers, pushing borrowing costs at one point last week to match Greece’s and leading Barnier to warn of a “storm” in financial markets if he is dismissed from power.
Investors have fretted for months over France’s political difficulties, just as the government has been trying to push measures that will reduce its unwieldy deficit. The budget bill initially presented by Barnier’s government contained €60 billion ($63.1 billion) of tax increases and spending cuts that aimed for a sharp adjustment in the deficit to 5 percent of economic output in 2025 from an estimated 6.1 percent this year.
A government collapse so close to the end of the year would take France into unchartered territory. The outgoing administration, acting in a caretaker capacity, could use emergency laws to collect taxes and guarantee a minimal level of spending, but the economic and financial impact is hard to predict.
The current finance minister, Antoine Armand, warned earlier Tuesday that stopgap legislation would raise taxes for millions of households and block planned spending increases for some priorities, including security and farming.
If the government is voted down, ministers remain in place with a caretaker status to manage current affairs, potentially including the emergency legislation to avoid a shutdown. It would then be up to Macron to appoint a new prime minister, although there is no constitutional deadline for his decision.
The president, meantime, said he wouldn’t resign until his full term had ended. While the left has called on Macron to step down, he can’t be forced out of his job. The next presidential election is set for 2027 and Le Pen remains the frontrunner, according to polls.
“I’ve been elected twice by the French people, and I’m extremely proud of that,” Macron said. “I’ll honor that trust with all my energy, right up to the last second, to be useful to the country.” With assistance from William Horobin /Bloomberg
Barnier used a constitutional mechanism on Monday to force through an unpopular budget bill, leading the National Rally and the leftist coalition to call for the votes of no confidence. Le Pen moved forward with the motion even after Barnier submitted to nearly all of the National Rally’s demands to change the budget legislation. If the government were to collapse on Wednesday, it would underscore the power acquired by Le Pen since Macron called the surprise election in June. It would also mark the shortest tenure for a premier since France’s Fifth Republic was founded in 1958.
virus in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered at the wet market. By nearly all measures of science, if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have already surfaced.”
Finally, more reasons to distrust government. “The Chinese government, agencies within the US Government, and some members of the international scientific community sought to cover-up facts concerning the origins of the pandemic.” “The World Health Organization’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic was an abject failure because it caved to pressure from the Chinese Communist Party and placed China’s political interests ahead of its international duties.”
Yoon sparked chaos with the late Tuesday decree, sending the won and South Korea-related exchange-traded funds sharply lower overnight. While extreme jitters dissipated as financial authorities swiftly vowed to provide “unlimited liquidity,” damage has been done to investor perception of South Korea’s financial markets.
Yoon’s shocking order was a highstakes move he claimed would prevent the main opposition Democratic Party from trying to paralyze his administration amid a rift that’s now set to deepen markedly. The Democratic Party said it is seeking charges of treason and impeachment against Yoon over the martial law order.
The political turmoil poses a setback to the government’s ongoing push for upgrades to developed
market status in global indexes. It’s another blow to the nation’s stock market since Yoon’s administration shocked the global investment community with a sudden prohibition of short selling about a year ago.
“This just adds to the disappointing track record for the government, and is not in line with the expectations investors have for a developed market,” said Joohee An, chief investment officer at Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. in Hong Kong. “The latest drama is not going to help the Korea market rerate when it’s already trading at steep discounts versus other Asian markets.”
Efforts by the Yoon administration to reduce the “Korea Discount” —persistent undervaluation of the nation’s stocks—have had little impact. The Kospi trades at about 0.8 times one-year forward estimated book value, while the MSCI World Index trades at 2.9 times, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Banks were among the worst hit in Wednesday’s stock selloff, along with companies seen as related to Yoon policies including nuclear energy and corporate reform. Shares of Samsung Electronics Co., the nation’s largest company, tumbled as much as 3 percent before paring their decline.
Yoon sparked chaos with the late Tuesday decree, sending the won and South Korea-related exchange-traded funds sharply lower overnight. While extreme jitters dissipated as financial authorities swiftly vowed to provide “unlimited liquidity,” damage has been done to investor perception of South Korea’s financial markets.
Retail investors instead piled into meme stocks seen as related to opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung.
South Korea’s top financial regulator Kim Byoung-hwan said after an emergency meeting that authorities will take “all possible measures” to ensure the stability of markets. A 10 trillion won ($7 billion) stock market stabilization fund is ready to be deployed immediately if needed, he said.
Bank of Korea’s monetary board announced steps to increase shortterm liquidity and also pledged measures in the event of currency volatility. Foreign-exchange liquidity is showing no particularly unusual signs after the brief episode of martial law, said Yoon Kyoungsoo, director general of the central bank’s international department, at a briefing in Seoul. Some traders were optimistic that a quick resolution to the standoff could bring a rebound. The incident stirred memories of the political turmoil in 2016-2017 that concluded with the first-ever impeachment of
Malaysia faces backlash over plan to broaden Internet controls
By Anisah Shukry
the Malaysian government has come under fire for its plan to tighten its grip over the internet, via regulations that critics warn could suppress dissent and undermine Prime Minister Anwar ibrahim’s pledge to protect free speech.
The government on Monday introduced a bill that seeks to impose stricter penalties on content violations and grant sweeping powers to law enforcement, such as the right of any “authorized officer” to search and seize without a warrant.
Service providers may also be held liable under the law, and compelled to disclose user data to authorities during investigations of alleged violations. Representatives from companies such as Meta Platforms Inc., Elon Musk’s X and Alphabet Inc.’s Google could face arrest under the envisioned regime.
While the government says the steps are necessary to curb illegal online content, critics say the proposed laws are the latest example of Anwar’s administration going against earlier pledges to protect free speech.
The proposed amendments “prioritize control over information, posing risks of censorship and suppression of dissent,” Article 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism said in a joint statement Tuesday. They include “highly disproportionate punitive measures and strengthening of investigative powers.”
Lawmakers are set to debate and vote on the proposed legislation during the current parliament meeting that ends December 12, prompting civil rights groups to urge the government to hit pause, pending further consultation and public feedback.
A spokesperson from the Communications Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Malaysia joins efforts by governments across Asia to clamp down on
The Malaysian government “seems to disregard public participation for purposes of political expediency. It is more focused on railroading through amendments that appear to control information and censor the Internet,” the civil groups said.
online platforms and hold Big Tech firms accountable for illegal content. From Kuala Lumpur to New Delhi and Canberra, officials are increasingly looking for ways to regulate or curtail social media, which can sway public opinion on politically sensitive issues. Big tech firms like Meta have said in the past they comply with local regulations, but argue that over-regulation endangers public discourse and places unfair burdens on online platforms.
Vietnam last month ordered foreign social media platforms to verify the accounts of users and provide their identities to authorities on demand. Indonesian lawmakers are discussing a bill that might extend
Lack of time to postpone BARMM elections: Law needs ratification in a plebiscite to be effective
By Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal
An Y law to postpone the scheduled Bangsamoro Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao elections has to be approved in a plebiscite by a majority of the registered voters of the political units directly affected in order for such law to be effective, in the same manner that republic Act 11054, or the Bangsamoro organic Law (BoL), became effective after it was ratified by the BArMM voters in a plebiscite in January 2019.
Clearly, to postpone again the said election will be an amendment of BOL, which specifically scheduled “the first regular election for the Bangsamoro Government to be synchronized with the 2022 national elections.”
In the 2004 case of Disomangcop vs Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that “organic acts (like the BOL) are more
than ordinary statutes because they enjoy affirmation by a plebiscite. Hence, the provision thereof cannot be amended by an ordinary statute (in that) the amendatory law has to be submitted to a plebiscite.”
In a word, any law postponing again the BARMM elections will be an amendment of the BOL, hence, pursuant to that SC decision, such amendatory law has to be submitted to a plebiscite before it could be-
In a word, any law postponing again the BARMM elections will be an amendment of the BOL, hence, pursuant to that SC decision, such amendatory law has to be submitted to a plebiscite before it could become effective. For sure, the Comelec does not have the luxury of time to conduct this plebiscite considering its vast preparations for the 2025 elections.
come effective. For sure, the Comelec does not have the luxury of time to conduct this plebiscite considering its vast preparations for the 2025 elections.
The fact that the BARMM election scheduled in the 2022 national elections was postponed by Republic Act No. 11593 amending the BOL and resetting said election to May 2025
a sitting South Korean president. The Kospi posted a 6 percent gain in about three months leading up to the impeachment decision by the court in March 2017.
“Markets will prefer a quick resolution to the stand-off and for political stability to return,” said Jun Rong Yeap, a market strategist at IG Asia Pte Ltd. in Singapore. Given Yoon’s low public ratings and difficulties enacting policies, “we may see some calm gradually return if more clarity were to be presented.”
Others were less sanguine. The ongoing drama poses a major setback for government efforts including the “Corporate Value-Up” program, which aims to erase the equity discount by making company boards more accountable to shareholders. Korean assets have been among the world’s worst performers amid China’s economic malaise and Donald Trump’s threats of sweeping trade tariffs after his US election win. The won has slumped almost 9 percent against the dollar this year, the worst performer among Asian currencies, while the Kospi has dropped about 8 percent.
“Yoon’s political career appears to be nearing its end,” said Jung In Yun, chief executive at Fibonacci Asset Management Global Pte. “Short term, this will be a buy opportunity. Longterm, the Korea Discount problems will persist and act as a headwind for growth.” With assistance from Winnie Hsu, Abhishek Vishnoi, Cecile Vannucci, John Cheng, Ameya Karve and Shinhye Kang /Bloomberg
broadcasting curbs from TV and radio to online platforms such as Netflix Inc. and YouTube. Potential offenses outlined by Malaysia on Monday include posting obscene, false, menacing and grossly offensive content such as hate speech. If the bill is approved, fines for certain offenses will increase more than threefold to 1 million Malaysian ringgit ($220,000), while the maximum prison time has been extended to 10 years from three. But the restrictions include expansive and vague terms that could be arbitrarily interpreted, Article 19 and the CIJ warned. That, combined with the low threshold required to order surveillance measures, would violate the right to privacy and enable misuse of power, they said. The Malaysian government “seems to disregard public participation for purposes of political expediency. It is more focused on railroading through amendments that appear to control information and censor the Internet,” the civil groups said Tuesday. With assistance from Norman Harsono and Francesca Stevens /Bloomberg
without undergoing a plebiscite, will not justify a repetition of the said unconstitutional procedure. RA 11593 is already an operative fact – an unalterable event. Thus, even a challenge to its validity for lack of ratification in a plebiscite, may only lead to the conclusion that the BARMM polls must be held in the immediately ensuing 2025 national elections similar to the SC’s 2023 ruling in Macalintal vs Comelec involving the postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).
In that case, the SC held that the postponement of an election could foster a government that is not “democratic and republican”. Thus, the postponement of an election should be supported by “sufficient government interest” and “genuine reasons grounded only on objective and reasonable criteria”. In other
words, an election could no longer be postponed based on the fleeting dictates of politics. Furthermore, the unconstitutionality of the proposed postponement of the BARMM elections will be further exposed if it is held independently in 2026, as suggested by Congress, as it will clearly violate the requirement of the BOL that such election shall be synchronized with a national election. It will likewise violate the clear intent of the 1987 Constitution that national and local elections shall be synchronized as echoed in R. A. 7166, which clearly provides that “It is the policy of the State to synchronize elections so that there shall be simultaneous regular elections for national and local officials once every three years.” Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal is an Election Lawyer.
BOI: Local firms dominate 11-mo approved investments
@andreasanjuan
FILIPINO
companies have contributed more investments in the country compared to foreign companies in the January to November 2024 period due to strong interest from investible funds, according to the Board of Investments (BOI).
e investment promotion agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that local investment approvals reached P1.20 trillion. is accounts for 75.95 percent out of the P1.58-trillion investments greenlighted by the BOI in the January to November 2024 period.
On the other hand, investments from foreign countries amounted to P379.31 billion or 24 percent of the investment approvals pie in the 11-month period this year.
e P379.31 billion approved foreign capital represents a 50.20-percent decline from the
P761.74 billion recorded in the 11-month period in 2023.
On the other hand, domestic investment approvals soared from the P339.99 billion in the 11-month period last year to P1.20 trillion in the January to November 2024 period this year.
BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo explained to the BusinessMirror that domestic investment approvals occupied a huge chunk of the investment pledges pie in the 11-month period this year because there is “strong interest” from investible funds. “ e percentage of domestic [ap-
economy to reap gains
@andreasanjuan
ECONOMIC zones should be integrated with the domestic economy to bene t from the “spillover e ects” arising from new investments, according to an o cial of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
“ ere’s one particular recommendation that I would like to highlight as well. Economic zones should be integrated with the domestic economy, because right now, it’s still challenging to move or to sell products coming from the zone to the domestic market and vice versa,” Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Undersecretary for DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group, said at the Tatak Pinoy Summit on Wednesday.
Aldaba cited the need to address the issue of integrating the activities inside economic zones with companies operating outside the zones because it appears that the ecozones stand as “another republic or another country.”
“Because right now, it seems like they’re another Republic or another country, and we we need to address that...if we are to enjoy all the spillover e ects arising, and mostly these are foreign investments, and there are a lot of bene ts that we can harness, if only we can integrate the zones with our domestic economy,” added the Trade o cial. In response to this, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso O. Panga said the investment promotion agency is encouraging ecozone locators to engage in domestic manufacturing to increase the ecozone products’ local content.
“In PEZA, we also encourage our ecozone locators to engage in local sales, domestic manufacturing [i.e., import substitution strategy] and outsourcing to increase the ecozone products’ local content,” Panga told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday.
“With the enabling laws such as CREATE More and Tatak Pinoy, we can accelerate the integration of the ecozones with the domestic economy,” the PEZA chief also noted. Integrating economic zones DTI: Ecozones should be integrated with domestic
provals] is big now. But we also see a trend, especially in Renewable Energy—where most of our projects are,” Rodolfo told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message on Wednesday.
“Big companies here identify a project opportunity, develop the concept, do the [Financial Statement] FS, develop the project. en when it reaches point of commerciality or bankability, foreign funds come in,” he noted.
According to Rodolfo, there is “strong interest from Sovereign Wealth Funds, Infra Funds, RE Funds, Private Equity Funds for these types of projects...the ones that are already investible.”
As to the decline in foreign investment approvals, Rodolfo pointed out that there may have been fewer foreign presidential missions this year compared to last year.
“It seems there were more foreign presidential missions last year, than this year,” he told this paper.
By sector IN terms of sector, Renewable Energy investments still occupied a
huge chunk of the pie with P1.35 trillion. is was followed by air and water transport, P121.20 billion; Real estate activities (mass housing), P34.67 billion; Manufacturing, P30.40 billion; Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities, P16.28 billion; Agriculture, forestry, and shing, P10.47 billion; Wholesale and retail, P8.25 billion; and Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM), P7.26 billion.
As to the source of foreign investments, Switzerland led the pack with P289.06 billion, followed by e Netherlands, P40.59 billion; Japan, P14.67 billion and South Korea, P12.72 billion. Singapore, ailand and the United States also contributed with P7.38 billion, P3.22 billion, and P2.51 billion, respectively.
In terms of recipient, Calabarzon region will get P623.19 billion in investments, followed by Central Luzon, with P277.08 billion, and Western Visayas with P245.95 billion.
N@caiordinario
EARLY one in ve Fili-
pino shoppers are making overseas e-commerce purchases every month, a trend that is expected to continue next year, according to Visa Philippines.
Visa said this is one of three main trends that would dominate the payments landscape next year. e other trends are connected commerce or businessto-business transactions and secure payment schemes.
Je rey Navarro, Country Manager for Visa Philippines, said the interconnected world requires innovations in the payments landscape to support consumers needs.
“As the world becomes more interconnected, reimagining payments goes beyond just technological innovation—it’s about creating a seamless, secure, and accessible ecosystem that enables individuals and businesses to navigate the global economy with con dence,” Navarro said.
“ is means developing payment solutions that not only enhance convenience but also ensure safety and inclusivity, empowering people from all walks of life to participate in the digital
economy,” he added. Electronic commerce has been a gamechanger and opened retail options of consumers to global shops and brands.
Visa’s Green Shoots Radar Survey showed that Filipino consumers shopping on cross-border e-commerce sites rose to 32 percent in 2024 from 27 percent in 2023. is has also paved the way for greater innovation in the digital space. ese included video-based shopping that blends entertainment and payment transactions.
“As these innovations take hold, 2025 promises to make cross-border shopping more intuitive and enjoyable, unlocking a world of opportunities for both consumers and businesses,” Visa said.
Visa also said through the integration of seamless global wallet connectivity and real-time payment options, businesses are able to transact across borders with ease.
Next year, Visa said its Visa Direct will start providing interoperable real-time payment (RTP) networks capable of processing multiple currencies. is will support multiple payment preferences such as debit,
is just one of the proposed action points laid out by DTI to propel industry growth in the country.
e Trade department also highlighted the need to increase the number of economic zones established with provisions for Research and Development (R&D) such as Knowledge, Innovation, Science and Technology (KIST) parks and pharmazones.
To which, Panga said, “ rough our initiatives on digital marketplace, reverse trade fair, job internship and skills training program, KIST parks for R&D and innovation, and industry excellence centers—we aim to enhance the ecozone local supply and global value chains, including their linkage with the domestic market.” e integration of economic zones into the domestic economy is the proposal of DTI under the infrastructure and logistics pillar of the Tatak Pinoy strategy. Under the infrastructure and logistics pillar, DTI said the issues hampering industry growth are: the lack of phsyical infrastructure
ALC Group turns over new Isuzu Traviz, cash, and relief goods to Caritas Manila
e ceremony, held on December 3, 2024, at the Caritas Manila Compound in Pandacan, Manila, was joined by Caritas Manila’s Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Antonio Cecilio T. Pascual. is gesture was part of the ALC Bayanihan Program, an initiative launched to support Filipinos a ected by the recent typhoons. rough the program, ALC Group’s management and employees came together to contribute resources that would help those in need.
e donation included a new Isuzu Traviz utility van provided through Gencars group, a chain of Isuzu dealerships under the ALC Group. e Isuzu Traviz will serve as the grand prize for Caritas Manila’s Bente Bente Grand Ra e Bonanza Program. e proceeds from this ra e will directly sup-
port Caritas Manila’s pro-poor programs, helping to further their mission of uplifting and assisting disadvantaged communities across the country.
In addition to the new vehicle, cash and relief goods were also turned over, providing immediate aid to those impacted by the calamities. ese contributions are expected to play a vital role not only in addressing urgent needs but also in assisting the long-term rehabilitation and rebuilding of affected communities.
Chairman Cabangon explained that the decision to partner with Caritas Manila stemmed from the organization’s ability to ensure that donations are properly assessed and delivered to those most in need.
“Without hesitation, we chose Caritas Manila, Inc., under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Antonio Pas-
cual. e organization has wellorganized and e ective programs for those in need. We are con dent that our donations will reach the right communities and be used where they are needed most,” Cabangon shared. Caritas Manila, through Fr. Pascual, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the ALC Group for its generosity and trust.
He highlighted how these donations will support their programs and provide vital assistance to those in need. Fr. Pascual also noted that, in light of the recent typhoons a ecting many of our countrymen, these contributions will be instrumental in helping them rebuild their lives and start anew.
In response, Chairman Cabangon shared, “We are happy to help those in need, knowing that through Caritas Manila, our dona-
tions will go a long way. e ALC Group, to the best of our ability, will support our fellow countrymen. All these are blessings we have received from God, and it is our honor to share them with others.” is is not the rst time the ALC Group has supported Caritas Manila. In 2023, the ALC Group also donated an Isuzu Traviz utility van, along with other donations, both in cash and in kind, to help further Caritas Manila’s programs and initiatives. For those who wish to contribute to the ongoing programs of Caritas Manila, the organization welcomes donations to further its mission of helping the poor and marginalized.
e ALC Group was founded by the late Amb. Antonio L. Cabangon Chua and is currently chaired by D. Edgard A. Cabangon.
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access to cheaper rice through the Kadiwa ng Pangulo retail sites compared to what is being sold in the market. Initially the RFA price was at P45 per kilo before it was reduced to its current price of P40 per kilo.
DA announced it will start implementing the RFA in major public markets in Metro Manila by ursday. “We will launch it in Guadalupe Public Market, Kamuning, Malabon Central Market, New Las Piñas City Public Market and at the Pasay City Public Market,” De Mesa said. Based on the latest price monitoring report of DA in major markers in the National Capital Region, the average weekly price of local well-milled rice is P48.24 per kilogram, while regular milled rice is at P43.55 per kilogram. Meanwhile, the retail price for imported well-milled rice is P47.42 per
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
Many coal power projects exempt from ban—DOE
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
AstAggering 20,0000 megawatts (MW) of power generation capacity are apparently not covered by the moratorium on new coal power facilities, a senior official of the Department of energy (DOe) said.
However, only 4,000 to 6,000 MW are likely to be developed into coal-fired power plants.
“Our coal that is not covered by the moratorium is 20 gigawatts (GW). There are many of them, but I think only 4 to 6 gigawatts will be pursued. Some are having difficulty seeking loans from bank for coal projects while others have very deep pockets,” said DOE Undersecretary
Rowena Guevara in an interview during BusinessMirror’s Envoys & Expats Night of Appreciation held last week. One GW is equivalent to 1,000MW.
Guevara affirmed that among those that are pursuing their coal power projects are the 1,200MW ultra-super critical coal-fired power plant in Quezon, to be carried out by Atimonan One Energy Inc. (A1E),
and Toledo Power Corp.’s 80 MW.
Both are under Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen), the power generation arm of the Manila Electric Co. MGen President Emmanuel Rubio earlier said the company awaits the issuance of a certificates of exception from the coal ban by the DOE.
Several proponents of coal-fired power projects have requested the DOE’s confirmation on non-coverage.
“Following a thorough review and verification by the Power Bureau, the DOE issues at the request of a project proponent a certification that a project is not covered by the moratorium,” the agency had said.
The DOE said the coal moratorium policy does not cover the following:
*existing and operational coalfired power generation facilities;
*any coal-fired power projects considered committed power
projects;
*existing power plant complexes that already have firm expansion plans and existing land site provisions;
*indicative power projects with substantial accomplishments, particularly with signed and notarized land acquisition or lease agreements for the projects, and with approved permits or resolutions from local government units and the Regional Development Council where the power plants will be located.
As of May 2024, there are 3 coalfired power plants (CFPPs) currently operating in the country with a total capacity of 12,556MW or equivalent to 43.9 percent of the total installed generating capacity. Luzon has 8,942 MW of CFPPs while Visayas and Mindanao have 1,346 MW and 2,268 MW CFPPs, respectively.
Coal still accounts for a chunk of the country’s power generation mix.
Meralco unit, EKPI seal solar deal
MSPECTRUM Inc., the solar power arm of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) will install a 630 kilowatt-peak (kWp) solar facility at Edward Keller Philippines Inc.’s (EKPI) industrial facility in Carmelray Industrial Park.
The food manufacturer and the Pangilinan-led firm signed an agreement for the solar project in Laguna. It is targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2025 and is expected to generate approximately 714,553 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy every year.
“This project not only helps us cut
energy costs by P1.2 million a year, but also helps us reduce our carbon footprint by 422 metric tons,” said EKPI President Alexander Ong Oh.
The 422-metric ton reduction in EKPI’s carbon footprint is equivalent to 23,000 trees planted and more than 2.03 million kilometers reduced in vehicle travel per year.
Apart from reducing its carbon footprint, the solar project will also allow EKPI to lock in its energy costs for the next 10 years and ensure its business remains operational even in the event of scheduled power interruptions.
“We would be counting on MSpectrum to help us achieve this, and we look forward to future collaborations, possibly adding more solar generation,” Oh said.
EKPI is one of the brands of DKSH Philippines that manufacture ingredients for food, personal care, specialty chemicals and pharmaceutical industries. It joins the roster of international and local companies that engaged MSpectrum to achieve more efficient and sustainable business operations.
“We celebrate the contract signing for the installation of 630 kWp
solar power generating system that will help EKPI achieve their sustainability goals,” MSpectrum Chief Operating Officer Patrick Henry T. Panlilio said.
On its eighth year of operations, MSpectrum has already installed more than 80 megawatts (MW) of solar rooftop project.
MSpectrum offers tailor-fit solar solutions for industrial, commercial, and residential customers through an in-depth understanding of energy consumption behaviors and strategic partnerships with worldclass technology partners. Lenie Lectura
Coffee traders cough up $7B in margin calls in wild month
IN Brazil’s Minas Gerais—the biggest coffee-growing state in the world’s No. 1 bean producer—farmers and exporters usually celebrate rising prices for the caffeinated commodity.
Not this year.
After several disappointing harvests, a sharp run-up in prices has left some big-name producers scrambling to square up their finances after finding themselves without sufficient cash to back their hedges on the exchange in New York.
Atlântica Exportação e Importação SA, for instance, which says it accounts for 8 percent of Brazil’s arabica sales, last week asked a local court for more time to negotiate with creditors in order to avoid filing for bankruptcy. Sister company Cafebras Comércio de Cafés do Brasil SA is seeking the same 60-day grace period. Industry watchers say they won’t be the last.
“Panic has hit the market with rumors that other trading companies could also face serious problems,” said Marcelo Moreira, a coffee specialist at Archer Consulting.
Futures prices for arabica beans— the variety favored for high-end brews—have been on a rampage, jumping around 70 percent between January and late November to the highest in more than four decades. Futures have since eased slightly but not enough to stem the pain. When prices rise, brokers require coffee producers and exporters to put up more cash in the form of margin deposits to cover possible losses. Some traders that sold futures are forced to buy them back to step away from the market, sending prices even higher
Dubai billionaire plans to build data centers in SE Asian countries
DAMAC Group, backed by billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani, plans to invest about $3 billion to build data centers across Southeast Asia as the region becomes a hub for AI and cloud services.
Edgnex Data Centers, a unit of the Dubai-based conglomerate, envisions spending the capital in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand over the next three to five years, said Danish Nayar, senior vice president of investments and acquisitions. The first of three Thai facilities, which will start operating March in Bangkok, will feature Nvidia Corp. chips.
Privately-held Damac, which focuses primarily on real estate in Dubai, has been diversifying into sectors such as technology and fashion. The Southeast Asian outlay is part of a plan to spend $5 billion to $7 billion on expanding Edgnex operations around the world, Nayar told Bloomberg News. It aims to build digital infrastructure that can house the high-end servers essential for storing data and providing artificial intelligence services. Founded in 2021, Edgnex already operates two data centers in Riyadh and Dammam, Nayar said.
The company has acquired land for two more data centers in Malaysia and Indonesia each, with the majority of them set to employ Nvidia’s new Blackwell chips, Nayar said. Edgnex is also exploring similar facilities in Vietnam and the Philippines, aiming to announce those plans in 2025.
“Today we have over 550 megawatts of projected capacity towards Southeast Asia, which effectively means that this could be a $5 billion market for us,” Nayar said. “And we are on our way to increase further.”
A longtime manufacturing powerhouse for automobiles and electronics, Thailand is playing catch-up with Malaysia and Singapore in boosting its high-tech industries. It has bagged
in a vicious cycle. Moreira estimates as much as $7 billion was put up in margin calls during the month of November.
Arabica prices were essentially flat on Tuesday after earlier rising as much as 1.6 percent in New York.
At Montesanto Tavares Group Participações SA, which owns Atlântica and Cafebras, the cost to maintain hedges jumped to a staggering 158 percent of accounts receivable in November from 74 percent in May, according to a court filing seen by Bloomberg News. “The constant margin calls made the short-term cash structure unsustainable,” reads the document signed by lawyers of Atlântica and Cafebras.
The surging coffee prices are pushing the market toward a breaking point, echoing the recent troubles
in other key commodities. In natural gas, prices spiraled out of control following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, forcing national governments to bail out some European utilities. Earlier this year, cocoa futures climbed to the highest in data going back to 1960 on a global supply shortage, triggering defaults and litigation among trading companies. Since many major traders deal in multiple commodities, coffee’s run-up only adds to their pain.
“High margin rates are a huge stress on the financial side, and for trade firms with contracts on both coffee and cocoa, it’s a double whammy,” said Judy Ganes, president at J. Ganes Consulting.
In addition to the financial stress, the coffee market is also reeling from high logistics costs
and inefficiencies. Coffee sellers spent an extra 7 million reais ($1.2 million) this year on things like additional storage space and other port fees, Brazilian exporters group Cecafé said. Shipping costs between coffee-producing countries in Asia and consumer markets in Europe are also rising amid the crisis in the Red Sea. Additionally, concerns are mounting that the next arabica coffee harvest will be smaller due to a severe drought.
“It’s the most aggressive movement I can remember in terms of domestic prices readjustments in a very short window,” broker Thiago Cazarini wrote in a report. Between higher borrowing costs and operational costs, it’s “all leading to stressful, not to say, business-killing atmosphere.” Bloomberg News
multi-billion dollar investment commitments from Amazon.com Inc., Google and Microsoft Corp. in recent years. Edgnex is now setting up a joint venture with security startup Siam AI, an official Nvidia cloud partner. The Dubai firm will allocate some of the capacity in the first Bangkok data center to the joint venture company, according to Nayar. It will also jointly acquire the Nvidia chips needed to power the operations.
Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang is in Thailand this week—the latest stop on an Asian tour this year that’s already encompassed India and Japan. He met with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday and offered to collaborate in AI education.
“We are here to help Thailand build its own AI,” Huang said at an event in Bangkok Wednesday. Nvidia will look to “invest in Thai ecosystem” with its tools, infrastructure and knowhow, he said.
Thailand is “the next frontier” for the world’s data center boom, according to Macquarie Equity Research, which cited the country’s ample power supply and high grid stability as key selling points. But a shortage of skilled workers will prove a challenge, analyst Kaushal Ladha noted in a report last week. Siam AI signed agreements with units of Thai conglomerates Charoen Pokphand Group and Gulf Energy to develop AI infrastructure and solutions in their data centers. Bloomberg News
Workers weigh arabica coffee cherries on a farm in Tepecoyo, La Libertad department, el salvador, on Tuesday, november 26, 2024. BlooMBerg news
Sales in pension, education plans boost pre-need sector
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE pre-need industry’s net income more than quadrupled to P8.049 billion as of the third quarter of 2024 on the back of higher sales of pension and education plans.
Latest data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed total net income of 16 companies rose by 347.52 percent to P8.049 billion from January to September 2024 from P1.798 billion during the same period in 2023. Since the start of the year, the industry has sold a total of 509,323 plans. This, however, is lower by 14.97 percent year-on-year from the 599,025 plans sold. The bulk of the plans, or 99.89 percent, were 508,787 life plans, which sales decreased by 15.02 percent from 598,723. Meanwhile, pension plans sold increased by 80.74 percent to 488 from 270. The sale of education plans also improved by 50 percent to 48 from 32.
Pre-need plans are contracts, agreements or deeds that provide benefits to the planholder at the time of actual need or agreed maturity date. These include funeral services, life insurance, pension, education and other plans.
Moreover, the industry’s investments in trust funds expanded by 13.13 percent to P140.544 billion from P124.232 billion.
Pre-need reserves also increased to P126.641 billion, 6.30 percent higher than the P119.136 billion in 2023.
Total assets of the pre-need industry jumped by 11.35 percent to P164.637 billion while total liabilities grew by 5.86 percent to P133.603 billion.
Total net worth also surged by 43.33 percent to P31.033 billion from P21.651 billion.
Among the 16 companies, the St. Peter Life Plan (SPLP) Inc. sold the most number of life plans at 501,341 with a total contract price of P29.076 million. SPLP’s net worth of P23.838 billion is also the largest, with P16.050 billion in total premiums and P7.805 billion in net income.
SPLP was followed by Cosmopolitan Climbs Life Plan Inc., which sold 3,182 life plans worth P167.85 million in contract price, and PhilPlans First Inc. with 1,893 plans valued at P300.92 million.
The latter was the only firm that sold pension and education plans during the period, amounting to P347.10 million and P17.10 million, respectively.
Four pre-need companies reported net losses as of end-September. AMA Plans Inc. obtained the biggest loss with P8.01 million, followed by Manulife Financial Plans Inc. with P2.31 million, Diamond Memorial Care Plans Inc. (P2.12 million) and Mercantile Care Plans Inc. (P1.44 million).
BPI extends ₧4B in loan for wind-power project
THE Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), with support from the International Finance Corp. (IFC), has extended a P4-billion loan to the wind power project of Alternergy Holdings Corp. (PSE: Alter) in Tanay, Rizal. Alter President Gerry P. Magbanua expressed “delight” that the Tanay Wind Power project is recognized “as a core asset under the BPIIFC Green Bond.
“This is our first project finance transaction with BPI,” Magbanua added. “Throughout negotiations and due diligence, we witnessed a significant alignment of values and commitment towards sustainability between Alter and BPI.”
The BPI also named the Tanay Wind Power project as the first asset to “successfully embed” BPI and IFC’s environmental and social management provisions in the facility agreement. This is consistent with Alter’s Green Finance Framework that was recently adopted through technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
BPI Head of Institutional Banking Juan Carlos L. Syquia expressed optimism in the lender’s partnership with Alter. Syquia said the firm’s management “has brought to commercial operations pioneering proj-
BANKERS will soon be able to claim credit for emissions they say their financing has helped avoid, as the world’s largest voluntary carbon accounting framework for the finance industry works on broadening standards. Under the approach, banks can assume a counterfactual scenario in which emissions remain elevated, and contrast that with the CO2 avoidance their loans or bonds enable, according to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials. PCAF also is proposing expanding existing avoided-emissions guidelines to include all asset classes, rather than just the renewable power plants to which such reporting has so far been limited.
Such measures would, for example, allow banks to claim they’re help-
LGUs told not to exact tax, fees from electric co-ops
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
THE Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Finance (DOF) signed a memorandum circular exempting electric cooperatives (ECs) from paying local taxes, fees and other charges imposed by the local government units (LGUs).
A joint memorandum circular (JMC) signed on December 4—by Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto—said that only ECs that have complied with the financial and operations standards set by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) are qualified. That caveat immediately qualifies 121 ECs registered with the NEA or the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA). The joint circular provides guidelines for ECs on the availment of
preferential rights under Republic Act (RA) 7160 (An Act Providing for a Local Government Code of 1991), in relation to RA 10531 (An Act Strengthening the NEA). Under this circular, ECs are required to secure an annual “Certificate of Compliance” from the NEA, demonstrating their adherence to the prescribed financial and operational standards.
To qualify for this certification, ECs must achieve at least a 75-percent rating based on the NEA’s compliance parameters. These pa-
rameters include maintaining high collection efficiency, achieving a positive net worth, meeting system reliability and system loss standards, conducting annual general membership assemblies and district elections as scheduled, implementing electrification projects to attain 100-percent customer connection, and submitting complete and timely reportorial requirements to the NEA.
All ECs, however, remain subject to regulated and reasonable administrative costs imposed by LGUs, in accordance with JMC 2019-01 signed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DOF. This Circular established the guidelines for reasonable rates of regulatory fees and service charges levied by LGUs.
These costs include fees for business permits, mayor’s permits, barangay clearances, community tax certificates, and other charges such as those for water consumption, electricity, and toll fees.
The NEA is expected to issue the guidelines governing its issuance of “Certificate of Compliance” within 15 days from the effectivity of the
joint circular.
“This local tax exemption is a significant milestone for our qualified ECs, as it directly translates to reduced financial burdens that can be reinvested into improving services and achieving 100 percent total electrification,” Lotilla said. “By reducing these costs, we empower them to focus on expanding access to electricity, especially in unserved and underserved areas, ensuring no Filipino household is left behind,” he added. Local taxes is defined as taxes or enforced contributions imposed by an LGU in provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays through an ordinance, such as real property taxes, business tax, franchise tax, and tax on transfer of real property ownership. NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano C. Almeda witnessed the signing of the joint circular. Recto was represented by Undersecretary Bayani H. Agabin. Almeda said this development “proves the government’s commitment to fostering equitable financial support to all ECs, without distinction, while ensuring their compliance with operational standards.”
New banknotes to feature PHL biodiversity–BSP
By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be issuing its first Philippine Polymer (FPP) Banknote Series that will feature the country’s rich biodiversity.
ects over the years.”
“BPI is proud to support Alternergy as it now embarks on bigger projects,” he added. “The Tanay Wind Power project is its largest project to date and promises to bring bigger positive impact to the country, the society and the environment.”
To date, the construction of the Tanay Wind Power project is in full swing and expected to be completed by end of next year. The renewableenergy capacity from the project is expected to help accelerate the government’s goal of energy transition and contribute to the target of a 35-percent renewable energy share by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
“This investment reflects our commitment to accelerating the energy transition in the Philippines,” said Jane Yuan Xu, IFC Acting Country Manager for the Philippines. “The banking industry will be crucial to these efforts, and we hope this project catalyzes more investments in renewable energy that will help the country achieve its climate goals.”
In May 2024, Alter, through Alternergy Tanay Wind Corp. (ATWC), secured up to P8 billion syndicated term loan facility for the Tanay Wind Power project, with BPI as co-lender equivalent to 50 percent. Lenie Lectura
ing avoid emissions by financing the early retirement of coal-fired power plants or a shift in steel production over to renewable energy. PCAF is now launching a consultation designed to get answers on how the industry should report the carbon footprint of such capital allocations, the group said on Tuesday. Respondents have until the end of February to provide feedback.
The market has been asking for metrics that look at “not only the negative emissions, but also avoided emissions,” Caspar Noach, technical director at PCAF, said in an interview. It’s a “hard field” that will require more work to finalize, “but we at least wanted to put out some initial guidance on this in the market,” he said. PCAF’s proposed standards are part of a larger package of changes
According to the BSP, banknotes in the Philippines have always featured the country’s heroes and natural wonders in banknotes and coins. The central bank said the new polymer series celebrating the country’s
biodiversity are expected to co-circulate with paper banknotes, which continue to feature heroes.
“The new polymer banknotes shall be circulated alongside the existing paper banknotes. Paper banknotes shall remain legal tender,” the BSP said. The BSP also said heroes and historical figures will not be removed from paper banknotes, which remain considered legal tender in the Philippines.
“Featuring different symbols
and additions that will result in at least 90% of assets under management globally being covered by the carbon accounting system. While equities, corporate bonds and sovereign debt make up the bulk, creating a harmonized methodology for green bonds and avoided emissions will likely be significant, said Hetal Patel, head of climate investment risk at Phoenix Group who also works with PCAF.
The concept of so-called avoided emissions refers to carbon pollution that will no longer be produced, as higher-emitting assets and products get replaced with lower-carbon alternatives. As a model, it’s also drawn some skepticism.
Mahesh Roy, investor strategies program director at the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change,
says that even though calculating avoided emissions holds promise for measuring contributions to the net zero transition, it “faces challenges in data reliability, methodology standardization, and addressing tradeoffs with generated emissions.”
In the finance industry, meanwhile, the topic is gaining traction. Several large investors, including Abrdn Plc, Lazard Asset Management LLC, and Franklin Templeton Cos., have published their own research on how to approach avoided emissions, while Baillie Gifford & Co has developed a methodology. And firms, including Brookfield Asset Management and General Atlantic LP, have released data on the avoided emissions of some of their funds.
The Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, the largest finance
of national pride in our banknotes and coins reflects numismatic dynamism and artistry and promotes appreciation of the Filipino identity,” the BSP said.
In October 2021, the BSP announced that it is eyeing to circulate—on a limited and trial basis— new P1,000 banknotes made from polymer.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan earlier said that in light of the global health crisis, polymer
ING Group N.V. announced last Wednesday the appointment of Deepali Bhargava as the new head of research and chief economist for Asia Pacific.
Bhargava succeeds Robert Carnell, who led ING’s Research team in Asia Pacific since 2017 before retiring, read a statement issued by the Dutch multinational corporation.
banknotes are seen to be more hygienic and sanitary.
Tangonan said other central banks have reported that they are less likely to host viruses and bacteria due to their smooth and non-absorptive surfaces. Polymer banknotes can also be sanitized without damage, compared to paper banknotes (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/10/25/bspto-circulate-polymer-banknotesby-next-year/).
A ccording to ING, Bhargava most recently served as director and head of South Asia macro, global macro, and asset allocation at Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., where she led macroeconomic analysis for India, Southeast Asia, and Australia, with a primary focus on private markets. Bhargava began her career at ING
sector climate coalition, introduced the idea of a new metric last year to drive transition finance, calling it expected emissions reductions (EER). The basic principle is that finance firms compare the emissions associated with the entity or asset in a business-as-usual scenario with those achieved if that company implements a science-based transition plan, or if a polluting asset is eventually shut down. The so-called delta is the EER.
The PCAF says it will pay particular attention to creating guardrails that prevent greenwashing.
“We clearly will organize this separately from financed emissions” because otherwise there would be “a high risk of potentially conflating the figures, or greenwashing,” Noach said. “So we really want these num-
bers to be reported separately” and for there to be “some key guardrails” that PCAF will introduce, he said. The goal is to have a transparent and consistent model that allows stakeholders to compare one bank’s claims with another’s, Noach said. It will still be up to banks and asset managers to define transition assets for themselves, he added. Once introduced, PCAF expects its methodology would affect how use-of-proceeds bonds will be accounted for in future.
“In some cases, an investment in a green bond requires an initial investment to some infrastructure that only down the line generates reductions,” Noach said. That’s why the expected emission reduction is a “relevant metric,” he said. Bloomberg News
Vysya Bank in Mumbai. She holds a BA Honours and an MA in Economics from Delhi University.
BEST SELLER This November 17, 2024, photo shows Catricia B. Bantoc,
BHARgAvA CREDIT: ING GRoup N.V.
Health& Fitness
Awareness, regular check-ups, early diagnosis vital vs Peripheral Neuropathy
By Rory Visco Contributor
SOME people may have heard of diabetic neuropathy or diabetic retinopathy. The first one generally affects the nerves, while the latter is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness. But how about Peripheral Neuropathy?
Many are unaware they have it and unfortunately, many are often undiagnosed and untreated, and tend to suffer quietly. It is one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system, which controls all functions of our body, such as sensation in the hands, and movements of the muscles. Among the symptoms include numbness, tingling, prickling, and stabbing or burning pain, mostly in the feet and hands.
PN increasing in numbers
THE increase in the number of people with peripheral neuropathy or “PN” is closely linked to the number of diabetics. According to Dr. Bien Matawaran, a consultant on Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism of the UST Hospital, and past President of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PCEDM), diabetic PN is high among patients with diabetes
in Southeast Asia, up to almost 60 percent in some countries.
Those with Vitamin B deficiency and polymedication are other highrisk factors along with diabetes, which leads to peripheral nerve damage. Those at risk for PN are diabetic patients, obese persons, chemotherapy or surgery patients, elderly, heavy drinkers, people with nutritional deficiencies, and smokers. However, it can also affect younger and supposedly healthy people without any obvious reason.
Dr. Rizaldy Pinzon, a neurologist at the Neurology Department of Bethesda Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, stated that many people affected by the disease are not aware that their symptoms are due to PN because the disease often develops slowlythen progresses silently over long periods of time. At some point symptoms become more severe, bothersome and will affect various aspects of patients’ lives.
“Suddenly, patients start losing mobility, have difficulty using the stairs or driving, struggle while executing simple day-to-day things like cooking, difficulties in sleeping, have injuries in their feet which they did not notice—all due to the progressing nerve damage,” Dr. Pinzon said.
As for barriers to early diagnosis, Dr. Francis Pasaporte, consultant
Multi-sector collaboration is key to eliminating cervical cancer in PHL
By Candy P. Dalizon Contributor
The Philippines is taking significant strides towards eliminating cervical cancer, a preventable disease that disproportionately affects women. A key strategy to achieve this goal is strengthening collaboration between government agencies, healthcare providers, and local communities.
Rep. Natasha Co of the Barangay h e alth and Wellness (B h W) Partylist emphasized the importance of allocating sufficient funds to health programs and fostering strong partnerships to ensure their successful implementation.
Co shared that approximately P44.5 billion has been allocated for the purchase of drugs, medicines, and vaccines in 2025. For cancer control, the budget allocation is P1.768 billion with an additional P1.15 billion for the cancer assistance fund.
“So all in all, that’s about P47 billion allocation. I think it’s enough. The problem here is not the budget. It’s the utilization.
We have allocated enough,” said Co during the recent health forum, “Together for h e alth: The Progress Made and What More Needs to Be Done for Cervical Cancer e imination,” held in line with the Cervical Cancer e limination Day of Action. The forum brought together stakeholders to highlight efforts in combating cervical cancer, a preventable disease that claims the lives of 12 Filipino women daily.
Low utilization Co pointed out that even with low utilization at 3.4 percent, they are glad that they have been given enough.
“ o v ersight and coordinated efforts are crucial to address gaps and ensure that vaccines and medicines reach those who need them most,” she said.
Co likewise advocated for strengthening the collaboration between the Department of h e alth (D o h ) and the Department of e d ucation (Dep e d ) to increase h PV vaccination rates among school-aged girls.
“Starting next year, this collaboration will enable us to ensure that we reach more young Filipinas who need protection,” said Co. She highlighted that schools are ideal venues for health programs due to their wide reach and accessibility to students, parents, and communities.
DepEd commitment
Fo R h is part, Dep e d A ssistant Secretary Dexter Galban reaffirmed the department’s commitment to student well-being through its school-based immunization programs.
on diabetology at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital and past president of Diabetes Philippines, pointed out that barriers among patients and the community include lack of awareness of PN and risk factors, not noticing early signs, not seeing a doctor often, and difficulties verbalizing the symptoms. “Physicians, on the other hand, often struggle with crowded clinics and limited time, lack of awareness and routine to diagnose PN.”
Sadly, recognition and diagnosis of the disease happens at a late stage when nerve damage that could have been avoided earlier has already progressed. When more than 50 percent of the nerve fibers are damaged, regeneration is no longer possible.
It is estimated that by 2045, at least 441 million people will be prediabetic, making them targets or at risk of PN.
Positive vs. Negative WHEN asked by BusinessMirror during the P&G Health Asia Pacific media roundtable if there are other types of neuropathy or retinopathy, Dr. Matawaran stated that the first thing to remember about neuropathy is its diverse presentation. He said a patient may present positive symptoms like tingling, sharpness, the hot and cold perception, but the worse are the negative ones.
ing closely with barangay health workers to identify and engage eligible individuals,” said Marasigan.
“Through our vaccination program, we aim to protect learners and their families, regardless of their location, be it in the city or the province,” Galban said. As part of its efforts, Dep e d l aunched the “Bakuna e sk wela” campaign to promote awareness about h PV vaccination and encourage greater participation.
“We call on all families to support ‘Bakuna e sk wela’ to ensure that learners, especially young women, are protected from cervical cancer,” Galban urged.
Dep e d a lso integrates the Child and Adolescent Reproductive h e alth Program with the Wash in Schools Program, providing accessible health services at over 1,000 school-based centers. Galban noted that these initiatives empower students and families to make informed health decisions.
Addressing vaccine hesitancy
AT the same time, Co stressed the importance of combating vaccine hesitancy, which was exacerbated during the C oV ID-19 pandemic.
“We must educate families about the life-saving benefits of the h PV vaccine, particularly its role in significantly reducing the risk of cervical cancer,” said Co. Co also called for a multi-agency approach to expand the program’s reach, including engaging the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). By partnering with DILG, the congresswoman said they can tap into community resources to spread awareness and increase vaccination coverage.
LGUs at the forefront of prevention
The World h e alth o r ganization (W ho) ha s set out a clear roadmap to eliminate cervical cancer, targeting a 90–70–90 approach by 2030. This means 90 percent of girls are fully vaccinated against h PV by age 15; 70 percent of women undergo high-performance screening by ages 35 and 45; and 90 percent of women with pre-cancer or invasive cancer receive timely and effective treatment.
Local government units are critical to achieving these targets by integrating these goals into community health programs. Local leaders have emphasized the importance of tailored strategies to reach underserved areas and improve access to services.
Sto. Tomas, Batangas Mayor Arth Jhun Marasigan shared his municipality’s focus on improving access to vaccination in rural communities.
“ o u r strategy is to bring vaccination services closer to our constituents, work-
“This is where you actually do not feel anything because of what we call the ‘LOPS’ or ‘loss of protective sensation.’ You have probably heard about horror stories of people walking around with nails or thumbtacks in their feet without them knowing it. That increases their risks for foot ulcerations and even amputation,” he said.
As for retinopathy, Dr. Matawaran pointed out that it involves the proliferation of new vessels in the eyes, and the problem is that it can actually burst. However, there are other ophthalmologic complications of diabetes.
“In patients with diabetes, we expect earlier onset of cataracts, although most of those that we see are really in the elderly. But there are patients with diabetes that actually suffer earlier and much worse cataracts because they are diabetic,” he said.
He emphasized that neuropathy has very diverse presentation so medical professionals have been reiterating early diagnosis so that patients and physicians should be aware of those varied presentations. “For retinopathy, you really have to be screened. Early on, it should be looked at so that intervention can be done early as well.”
Taking steps AS part of the celebration of World Diabetes Day this year, P&G Health, makers of Neurobion brought together renowned health experts from Indo -
Similarly, Gelo Devanadera, Mayor of Sampaloc, Quezon, related the success of his municipality in achieving a 100 percent h P V vaccination rate despite financial constraints.
“We focus on reaching every household through consistent engagement, leveraging community partnerships to maximize the available resources,” Devanadera emphasized.
LGUs are also instrumental in crafting policies to support cervical cancer prevention efforts. Bulacan Vice Governor Alex Castro discussed the importance of a provincial approach to vaccination, ensuring that all municipalities within the province benefit from health initiatives. Charm Ferrer, Councilor of Quezon City District 1 and cervical cancer warrior, underscored the need for policies that prioritize prevention. She advocated for a more comprehensive and supportive approach to women’s health, stressing that the local government’s role in cervical cancer prevention is crucial.
HPV self-sampling for screening Be SID e S v accination, h PV self-sampling is a promising approach to cervical cancer prevention. By allowing women to collect their own samples at home, it can help overcome barriers such as stigma, discomfort, and lack of access to healthcare facilities.
By enabling women to self-collect samples, h PV self-sampling increases access to cervical cancer screening and empowers women to take charge of their health. This evidence-based approach aligns with the W ho s 2030 goal of achieving 70 percent screening coverage.
Relatedly, the forum also discussed the Centralized Laboratory Model for h PV Screening or the CLAMS Project. The project introduces a streamlined approach to cervical cancer screening. Supported by Roche Diagnostics, CLAMS uses centralized laboratories in urban centers to process h PV samples collected through self-collection kits. By leveraging advanced h PV DNA technology, the project simplifies the screening process for women and strengthens testing capacity of public facilities. Moreover, the project strives to increase awareness of and demand for cervical cancer preventive services in Manila, Navotas, Quezon City, Taguig, and Muntinlupa through direct support for health education and promotion initiatives.
Through a comprehensive approach involving vaccination, innovative screening, and robust government partnerships, the Philippines is indeed making meaningful progress toward eliminating cervical cancer. This comprehensive approach is saving lives and securing a healthier future for generations to come.
nesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to dwell on the latest research findings on PN diagnoses and treatment in diabetes and pre-diabetes. With one in two diabetics and one in 102 pre-diabetics suffering from PN and its painful symptoms, and an estimated eight out of 10 patients still undiagnosed, these health experts focused on the urgent importance of raising awareness regarding PN in the general population, doctors, and pharmacists.
P&G Health also came up with its new “Neurometer Pro,” a simple digital self-screening tool for patients. Many are not aware that early diagnosis can help enable better treatment outcomes and better quality of life, and damaged nerves can be regenerated if nerve damage has not progressed so much. Thus, diabetic PN’s progression or symptom relapse can be prevented through early diagnosis and timely treatment.
For Aditya Gupta, Senior Marketing Director—Asia Pacific of P&G Health, stated that to address the need to facilitate early diagnosis, P&G Health’s Neurometer Pro, a digital patient selfscreening questionnaire with just five questions, can help assess the patient’s risk for nerve damage. Created by PN experts from 10 countries and multiple specialties, the Neurometer Pro reduces screening time for physicians and empowers patients to act early to avoid long-term complications of PN. The tool is freely available for use for communi -
ties in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia to aid timely diagnosis of PN and improve patient care.
During the event, it was also shown that treatment with Neurotropic B Vitamins are effective in the overall relief from PN Symptoms. Based on the 2023 NENOIN study, it was concluded that the synergistic combination of Neurotrophic B vitamins (B1, B6, and B12) can not only relieve symptoms but also significantly improve nerve function in patients measured via ankle and knee reflexes, muscle strength, and sensory perception in toes and fingers of patients with PN.
Finally, Dr. Kenny Merin, pharmacist and Assistant Vice President for Academics and Research at the Lyceum of the Philippines University in Davao, said that other than knowledge about the condition, it is important for people to understand the consequences of PN in relation to reduced quality of life and increased risk of foot ulcers to encourage early self-referral.
“I am happy to see the consumer education efforts made by companies such as P&G Health helping to change the dialogue from one of fear to one of empathy. By helping people understand signs and symptoms in a relatable manner, and the role of early diagnosis and timely treatment, we can empower them to take proactive steps towards seeking treatment and improving their quality of life,” he said.
PhilCare, healthway partner to provide primary care services to members
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
TO p rovide its members access to their full suite of services, from diagnostics to primary care, PhilCare, one of the country’s top HMO providers, has entered into a partnership with Healthway MultiSpecialty Centers (HMC), the clinic arm of Healthway Medical Network (HMN).
This development comes on the heels of a recent partnership that allows PhilCare members to receive leadingedge, holistic, and affordable cancer treatment via the Healthway Cancer Care Hospital (HCCH).
“We are excited to be joining forces with PhilCare as they are aligned with our entire care continuum model that starts from screening, diagnosis, and treatment, all the way to post-recov -
Ch IL DR e N an d youth gathered in Manila last November 30, 2024 to envision their futures in 2050. The h e Y. Fest! ( h e ed the e mpowered Youth) is UNIC e F Philippines’ theme for this year’s World Children’s Day. The mini music festival encouraged adults to “listen to the future” and considers three megatrends affecting children’s lives: demographic change; climate and environmental crises; and frontier technologies.
The celebration featured dance, theater, and musical performances; workshops with influencers from UNIC e F ’s Creators for e v ery Child; a special art collaboration between children with disabilities and painter Manuel Baldemor; and an intergenerational dialogue between adults and young advocates.
A celebration in Mindanao was held on November 13, where hundreds of children in Cotabato City participated in an “Art of the Future” painting exhibit, a video time capsule, and a panel discussion with leaders from UNIC e F an d the Bangsamoro Government about protecting the future of children in the Bangsamoro.
This year, UNIC e F appointed Bacolod City-based Joshua Villalobos and Cotabato City-based Fatima Darwissa Mansul as UNIC e F y oung advocates.
o n N ovember 20, the actual World Children’s Day, children in the Philippines took over the pages of Manila Bulletin to share their visions for the future, pledges, and calls for action from today’s generations.
“Children in the Philippines face many threats to their survival and development. We can choose a hopeful future or continue with business as usual and leave our children behind. As we commemorate 35 years of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
ery. We’re happy that their members c an now access our multi-specialty clinics and hospitals located all over the Philippines,” said Jaime Ysmael, Healthway Medical Network President and CEO.
“Our Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers are very eager to develop special programs and packages for PhilCare members, as well as to deliver h igh-quality care to them in the most efficient way possible. I am certain that the partnership will expand to other exciting mutually beneficial initiatives,” Ysmael added.
Alignment of goals
A C CORDING t o PhilCare Executive
Vice President for Operations Raymond Tiangco, the partnership is a testament to the alignment of the goals, mis -
and approach the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, we must equip children with the skills and resources to navigate a rapidly changing world,” said UNIC e F Philippines Acting Representative Behzad Noubary.
UNICEF Flagship Report
A CC o R DING t o the 2024 State of World
Children’s report The future of childhood in a changing world, urgent action is needed to safeguard children’s rights in the face of three megatrends. Climate hazards will continue to impact children, child populations will shrink globally, and the digital divide will affect children’s ability to use digital tools in education and future workplaces.
The report contains some good news.
Globally, life expectancy at birth is projected to increase, and access to education will continue to improve. With increased investment in education and public health and more stringent environmental protection, outcomes for children can improve significantly.
The gender gap in educational attainment can narrow, and exposure to environmental hazards can be reduced.
Megatrend: Demographic Shift
I N t he Philippines, demographic shifts offer both promise and peril. Urbanization is increasing, with over half the population living in cities and projected to rise to twothirds by 2050. Fewer births can mean more resources per child, less competition for jobs, and reduced poverty. By 2040 or 2050, the Philippines can be the 14th largest economy in the world. Investment in health, education, and skills building is crucial to harness this demographic dividend.
sion, and vision of PhilCare and HMN, t hrough its Multi-Specialty Centers, to provide quality care to the Filipinos— and this sets his company apart from the rest of the market.
“Unlike other HMOs that are putting up their own clinics, PhilCare h as a different plan....We intend to partner with experts. And there is no more premium brand than Healthway when it comes to delivering healthcare services,” he said. Healthway Multi-Specialty Centers COO Edwin Magsino said that HMC is happy to become the go-to provider of PhilCare members for essential healthcare needs. He is confident that the p artnership will satisfy the needs of many people—from their entry to the clinic all the way to their availment of HMC services.
Megatrend: Climate Change Ch I LDR e N in the Philippines face severe climate change impacts like typhoons, floods, and heatwaves, leading to shortages and health risks. Rising temperatures can displace millions by 2050. Despite youth involvement in climate action, children lack representation in policy discussions such as the updating of the Nationally Determined Contributions plan. They need to be included in developing and implementing climate policies.
Megatrend: Frontier Technology The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the digital divide, with many children lacking internet access, leading to lost learning. UNIC e F c alls for digitalization of education through the 3Cs: Content (innovative, inclusive digital learning solutions), Capacity (enhancing digital skills), and Connectivity (affordable internet and devices) to close the digital divide. The Philippines is a major center for child sex abuse material production, with AI-generated child sexual abuse materials emerging as a threat. While the government prioritizes ending online child abuse, more can be done to strengthen all sectors to work together on child protection, educate families on how online abuse impacts children, and hold perpetrators accountable. Children must also be involved in shaping green, frontier technologies. As the government increases renewable energy production, equipping children with new skills is essential. With advancements in AI, neurotechnology, vaccines, and next-generation solar and
Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz
Future of children in the PhL featured during World Children’s Day celebrations
Pinoy sculpture light artist shines in Milan
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
AMILAN-based Filipino sculpture light artist is shining brightly in Italy with an exhibit of her works at the Philippine Embassy in Rome.
Mirei Monticelli spotlighted her crowning jewel “Bukang Liwayway” (Dawn) at the Philippine Embassy’s exhibit “Tropical Lightscapes: An Exhibit of Sculptural Luminaires Crafted with Philippine Textiles.” Bukang Liwayway is her tribute to the first light of day which she said “embodies the renewal and hope that sustains the Filipino spirit in foreign lands.”
Like her mother—Filipino fashion designer Ditta Sandico—Monticelli incorporates indigenous and sustainable materials for her creations. In her luminaries, she uses “banaca” (banana and abaca) fiber, woven by an artisan community from Bicol Region. Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, who happened to be in Italy for the G7 Foreign Ministerial Meeting, graced the opening of the exhibit last November 22. Italian congressman Salvatore Deidda, who is a parliament member and chair of the Philippines-Italy Friendship Group of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and Amb. Neal Imperial were also guests of honor.
In his remarks, Manalo said that Monticelli “brings pride to both the Philippines and Italy, with her works that embody creativity, sustainability, and social responsibility.”
Also featured in the exhibit are her “Nebula Grande,” “Cassiopeia,” “Sirenetta” and “Laminari” lamps; as well as “Celeste” flexible sculpture; among others.
Regina dei Fiori—four wall-mounted pieces created in collaboration with Giah De los Reyes—are among the exhibit’s highlights. Said artwork echoes the “delicate forms of Philippine flowers that pay homage to the vitality and resilience of life in the tropics.”
Six days after the opening of her event, Monticelli announced that she is offering the lightscape paintings for sale to support weavers in Catanduanes who are affected by
Japan donates rice to Leyte’s calamity-affected communities
ON November 27, Japan turned more than 300 metric tons of rice to support families affected by calamities, including the El Niño phenomenon and severe tropical storms, which include Severe Tropical Storm “Kristine” (international name Trami) one of the strongest that significantly affected the Eastern Visayas Region.
The donation was made under the “Asean Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR)” framework—a regional cooperation which aims to strengthen food security, poverty alleviation and malnourishment eradication among its member-countries. They distribute stockpiled rice to affected nations when severe calamities occur.
The turnover ceremony was held in Leyte’s Palo City. In his speech, First Secretary Hidenori Akasaka of the Embassy of Japan expressed his hopes that the donated rice would soon reach the affected families and serve as their source of nourishment and revitalization. Also in attendance were Deputy Administrator Mario Andrada of National Food Authority (NFA), Undersecretary for Disaster Management Diana Rose Cajipe of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and General Manager Choomjet Karnjanakesorn of APTERR. The donated rice will be dis-
tributed to the disaster-affected areas in the province of Leyte. As of October 2024, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that “Kristine” affected around 178,685 families or 685,049 people in the region. Likewise, the Office of Civil Defense also reported 4,299 families, consisting of 14,528 individuals, stayed in evacuation centers. Japan, as a key contributor to APTERR rice in the Philippines, has consistently shown compassion and solidarity with the Filipino people during challenging times. Over the years and through the framework, hundreds of tons of stockpiled rice from the East Asian country were distributed to thousands of families who survived typhoons.
Severe Tropical Storm “Pepito” (international name Man-Yi)
“These artisans have lost their homes, tools, and looms—the very heart of their craft,” she wrote on her Instagram post. “By purchasing our art, you’re not just collecting a piece of beauty; you’re restoring livelihoods and preserving a centuries-old tradition.”
With 60 percent of the proceeds going directly to the weavers to help them rebuild lives and continue their artistry, Monticelli urged: “Let’s weave a story of hope together.”
She pursued her cutting-edge techniques of furniture handcrafting in 2017 at Politecnico di Milano,
where she earned a Master’s degree in Design & Engineering. She founded Studiomirei in Milan in 2019 and, in that same year, her Nebula lamp received acclaim at the Milan Design Week’s Salone Satellite at Rho Fiera Milano.
The exhibit, which will run until December 6, coincides with the 77th year of the establishment of “cordial and enduring” diplomatic relations between Manila and Rome.
There are around 180,000 to 200,000 Filipinos in Italy, which serves as one of the strongest bonds that tie the two countries. Cooperation in defense and security, development, trade and investment, tourism and culture are also robust.
Taiwan delivers disaster-relief aid
CONSIDERING the severe damage brought by consecutive typhoons that struck the Philippines, and in the spirit of “bayanihan,” the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has gathered relief supplies as its response to the latest disasters.
The supplies included emergency shelter kits, solar lamps, bedding sets, sleeping mats, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, and personal hygiene items, which the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) said addresses “the most immediate needs of the affected people.”
On November 22, the relief materials—nearly 5 tons in weight and valued at more than P5 million—were transported to the Philippines. Rep. Wallace Chow of Teco handed them over to the Philippine government, who was represented by Chairperson Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office or MECO, who transferred the items to the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD for coordinated distribution.
Taiwan’s government, according to Chow, hopes that, “during this difficult time, these…donations will provide care and support to the affected communities in the Philippines, helping them return to normalcy before the Christmas holidays.”
To address damages brought by the
natural disasters, Taiwan will continue to collaborate with the Philippines by exploring feasible bilateral Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response mechanisms. The former’s government will also closely monitor the disasters’ development and assess the necessity of providing timely assistance.
The office conveyed the heartfelt condolences of the Taiwanese government and its people to the families of the typhoon victims and their wishes for the swift recovery of the injured, with hopes that they will soon rebuild their homes and resume normal lives.
THE United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with the private sector for more locally accessible, stigma-free and lifesaving HIV services.
The country has one of the fastestgrowing HIV epidemics in Asia, according to the US Embassy.
Backed by the US president’s funding for the “Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),” the collaboration with Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc. (AC Health) will develop, test and scale approaches to improving and expanding HIV care and prevention services in the Philippines, with a special focus on online health services and the direct delivery of critical medication such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): a drug that, when taken as scheduled, prevents HIV transmission.
This linkage reflects the US global commitment to tie-up with privatesector firms in accelerating the progress of fighting HIV. Together, USAID and AC Health will help more Filipinos access services they need without fear or judgment, combat stigma, and promote the lifesaving message of “U=U,” or “Undetectable equals Untransmittable.”
“The agreement…will leverage the power of collaboration, [plus] the resources and skills of the private sector to address the HIV epidemic,” Amb. MaryKay Carlson said at the partnership launch on November 26. “As your partner in prosperity, the US remains committed to working together for a future rooted in compassion, understanding and improved access to health care for all.”
Under the cooperation, AC Health will integrate its ecosystem—including its “KonsultaMD” telehealth application, Generika Drugstore chain, and Healthway Medical Network—into local HIV channels to bring gamechanging HIV-prevention solutions for more Filipinos, especially those
living with HIV and at an elevated risk of contracting it.
AC Health will onboard qualified health-service providers on the KonsultaMD platform, expand HIV awareness and screening services beyond health facilities such as in schools and workplaces, and increase the commercial availability of PrEP and other lifesaving technologies through their importation and distribution channels IE Medica and MedEthix, as well as their Generika Drugstore chains.
For its part, USAID will support community engagement, provide technical assistance to Healthway Medical Network, and introduce private sector models for HIV service delivery. The aid agency will also train health-care providers, share research, expand telehealth access through KonsultaMD, and coordinate with partners to provide free HIV selftesting kits.
“Our mission at AC Health is to make quality and affordable health care accessible to more Filipinos,” said AC Health chair Fernando Zobel de Ayala. “Through our partnership with USAID, our dedicated teams at Healthway Medical Network, KonsultaMD and Generika Drugstore have been equipped with specialized training to serve key populations affected by HIV. This collaboration brings us closer to bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing, ensuring these critical services reach more communities nationwide.”
USAID and AC Health launched their partnership ahead of World AIDS Day on December 1. This year’s celebration under the theme “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress” highlighted the importance of uniting the public and private sectors, community organizations, and international partners to create an inclusive and effective response to HIV. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes
ARTIST Mirei Monticelli (second from right), with Italian congressman Salvatore Deidda (from left), Sec. Enrique Manalo, and Amb. Neal Imperial PHILIPPINE EMBASSY-ROME
FIRST Secretary Hidenori Akasaka
REP. Wallace Chow (right) and MECO chair Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil
USAID Philippines mission director Ryan Washburn (seated, from left) with AC Health presidentCEO Paolo Borromeo are joined by USAID Philippines director Andrea Halverson (standing from left), Amb. MaryKay Carlson, AC Health chair Fernando Zobel de Ayala and USAID Philippines deputy director Tracy Hawry.
Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval featured in ‘Asian Heroes 2024’ coffee-table book
MALABON Mayor Jeannie Sandoval was featured in the “Asian Heroes 2024,” the latest coffee-table book launched by Seagull Philippines Founder Dr. Maria Rosa “Bing” Carrion that tells the stories of 37 noble leaders and public servants who made great contributions in the continuous improvement of the society.
Sandoval received a trophy that recognized her as an Asian Hero from Dr. Carrion during the book launch held at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel recently. The mayor was included in the list of Asian Heroes for her leadership that helped improve the lives of the Malabueños.
The mayor was recognized in the “Asian Heroes 2024” along with Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, Senator Mark A. Villar, Rep. Wilbert 'Manoy' T. Lee, Rep. Camille A. Villar, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Antonilo DC. Mauricio, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr., ViceConsul David C. Ackerman, Philippine Red Cross Secretary General Gwen Pang, and other outstanding public servants, lawyers,
doctors, and individuals.
“I am very honored and proud to be one of the Asian Heroes. Truly, nakakainspire lalo na tumulong at magsilbi sa taong bayan. Hindi lang naman ito isang tropeo kundi ito ay nagsisilbing isang simbulo ng pagsusumikap, pagsasaaayos, pagsisilbi ng taos-puso at buong-buo sa taumbayan…Naliligayahan po ako but at the same time, this inspires me to serve better [Truly, it is especially inspiring to help and serve the people. This is not just a trophy but it serves as a symbol of hard work, organization, serving the people wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly... I am happy but at the same time, this inspires me to serve better],” Sandoval said.
Dr. Carrion said she envisioned the book to present inspiring, values-laden stories of
“everyday heroes” and serve as a shining light to young people who will comprise the next generation of leaders. She shared that individuals should aim for excellence and strive to be the best version of themselves to reach their full potential and enhance the lives of those around them.
During her first term as Malabon’s top executive, Sandoval implemented programs such as the Malabon Ahon Blue Card (MABC), which aims to reduce the financial concerns of the residents, improve access to health care services, and ensure a high quality of life for all. There are over 80,000 MABCs distributed by the local government to the residents since it was launched in 2023.
Around 1,000 families also benefitted from the housing and lot allocation programs of the city government, including the distribution of Certificate of Entitlement for Lot Allocation, and the St. Gregory Homes incity housing project in partnership with the national government.
Programs for livelihood, effective and efficient disaster and emergency response, health, education, safety, and security that strengthened the communication between
ABS-CBN Foundation, Worldbex Services International: A
legacy of giving
WORLDBEX Services International (WSI) and ABS CBN Foundation Inc. shared a commitment to build dreams and shape the future together for two decades, creating lasting positive change for our nation. Together with Bantay Bata’s vision of becoming the Philippines’ most trusted foundation, where partners work together for the common good of our nation, these two organizations are committed to create a brighter future through initiatives that protect, nurture, and empower the next generation.
This 2024, World Bazaar Festival, the longestrunning Christmas Charity Bazaar in the country, returns for an even more festive holiday with the theme “Shop All the Way!” which will bring together the best lineup of bazaaristas from all over the country as they offer a unique and affordable shopping experience for everyone.
A one-stop shopping destination at the heart of the Metro, World Bazaar Festival remains steadfast in community service as it strengthened its partnership with the ABS CBN Foundation Incorporated last October 29, 2024, at the Gina Lopez Building of ABS CBN Compound in Quezon City. Present during the MOA Signing were Christine Joy C. Dabu, Senior Resource Mobilization Officer of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.; Roberta Lopez-Feliciano, Managing Director of ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.; Jill Aithnie Ang, Managing Director of WSI; Michelle Paula Ang-Yu, Finance Director of WSI; and Leo Z. Salonga, Marketing Communications Manager of WSI.
Continuing the mission to spread joy, the World Bazaar Festival is set to deliver even more joyous and festive highlights, activities, and competitions. On its 24th edition, WBF is bringing back the much-anticipated return of Pop Diva: Colors of Pride Season 2, Woobie’s Coswalk: The Parade of Characters, and Hallyu Stage: K-Pop Dance Cover Competition. Enjoy the vibrant shopping experience as you navigate the different bazaar zones - Celebrity Pavillion, Designers’ Avenue, Christmas Village, Woobie’s Food World, Woobie’s Goodies, Woobie’s Pet Zone, Woobie’s Gift Shop, and a whole lot more.
ProAge breaks down barriers on women’s perimenopausal, menopausal journeys
PROAGE, a pioneering advocacy-based skincare and wellness brand in the Philippines, raised critical conversations about perimenopause and menopause at its recently held forum titled “Don’t Pause for Menopause.” Hosted by TV host Suzi Entrata-Abrera, the event gathered women’s wellness experts and advocates to celebrate women who refuse to pause for menopause and ultimately spark a change in the narrative.
Menopause is becoming a rising topic on a global scale, with prominent personalities like Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, and Naomi Watts normalizing the conversation on their personal experiences using their wide platforms. ProAge is extending the normalization of these discussions in the Philippines by leading the advocacy and raising awareness on menopause.
“A lot of brands discuss women empowerment, but not a lot of them talk about empowering women during the perimenopausal and menopausal phases of their lives. This topic has been a taboo, but at ProAge, we aim to shatter the stigma surrounding such conversations and address the needs of women in this demographic,” said Claudine Viquiera
“Women usually experience uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and anxiety during perimenopause and menopause. It’s high time that we offer them solutions specifically catering to their experiences.”
Invited speakers busted myths and misconceptions about menopause and enlightened the attendees on other important truths about the topic. They also shone light on how it affects women’s overall health and how
women can better handle their symptoms. Before the event ended, the speakers also answered common questions about menopause to encourage women to be more confident as they embrace the natural changes in their bodies during this stage.
Present at the event were Dr. Annebelle D. Aherrera, OB gynecologist and a feminine wellness advocate; Michelle Aventajado, Executive Director of Best Buddies Philippines and a ProAge advocate; and Claudine Viquiera, Founder of ProAge and a menopause advocate.
As a company founded by a woman in menopause herself, ProAge understands women’s pain, anxiety, and struggles at this stage. It has developed various lines of products that help with the management of their symptoms. Developed in Korea but made for Filipino skin, these offerings were specifically formulated to address menopause concerns like dryness, sensitivity, breakouts, dullness, and pigmentations.
One of its major products for instance, Meno Gummies, is a natural and non-hormonal solution designed to provide relief from brain fog, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and insomnia caused by menopause.
ProAge also offers a wide array of skincare products, including its Be Gentle with Me Bakuchiol Serum, a milder and natural alternative to retinol derived from the leaves and seeds of the Babchi plant, which is often used in Chinese medicines. The serum brightens the skin and helps with reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
ProAge’s skincare range also has the hydrating facial cleanser No Dirty Secrets, eye cream Eye See Yah, and the
The World Bazaar Festival is dedicated not only to letting shoppers enjoy an all-out shopping experience but also to spreading joy as you shop all the way! World Bazaar Festival 2024 takes place from December 13 to 22, 2024 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, from 10 am to 10 pm. Get your tickets now via www. worldbazaarfestival.com or scan QR code to learn more! This event is organized by the leading event organizer in the country, Worldbex Services International.
Holy Grail Cica Toner. All these were made with natural, vegan, cruelty- and paraben-free ingredients, making it safe and gentle for women’s skin. With its patented ingredients, ProAge products were clinically tested and are safe for cancer patients, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to safe, efficient, and mild formulations.
“Women’s skin goes through a series of changes during menopause, therefore, they should use products that can change with them. They need skincare that is adaptive, potent, and mild, promoting resilience, selflove, and confidence during midlife and beyond,” said Claudine Viquiera
ProAge’s advocacy goes beyond products that address women’s needs. As a brand championing women empowerment, it has fostered a community that serves as a safe space for women to openly discuss and share their experiences as they navigate the unique challenges of perimenopause and menopause.
Through its online community, engagement with healthcare professionals, and holding and participating in local women’s health events, ProAge is gradually breaking the taboo regarding menopause and promoting healthy discussions on women’s health and resilience.
“ProAge understands what women experience during menopause and we know that their experience with it can also affect their work, marriage, family, and even social life. Through this community, we want to empower women to embrace change naturally and live their life anew as they continue to glow naturally as they age, which we believe is a privilege,” said Claudine Viquiera
ProAge is a women-focused skincare and wellness brand that champions and addresses the needs of women in their perimenopausal and menopausal stages. By redefining beauty and wellness for this stage of life, ProAge continues to advocate for a growing but often overlooked demographic. To learn more about ProAge, visit proagebeauty.ph/.
the city government and the communities were also launched under the leadership of Mayor Sandoval.
Dr. Carrion also shared that she found a “soul sister” in Sandoval as they are both very humble and composed, and love to plan and think before they answer.
“Ako po ay nagpapasalamat and very, very honored to be part sa isang grupo na prestiguous, na talagang kinikilala hindi lang sa kanilang larangan kundi sa kawang gawa. It is truly inspiring to be able serve people at lalo ko pong pagiibayuhin ang aking adbokasiya para sa taong bayan [I am grateful and very, very honored to be part of a group that is prestigious, and that is really recognized not only in their field but for their charitable work. It is truly inspiring to be able to serve people and I will strengthen my advocacy for the people,” the mayor said.
Dr. Carrion was recognized as one of 100 Most Influential Global Filipinas (2016) by the Filipina Womens Network based in San Francisco, California, USA for her 47 notable published books found in select libraries around the world and her CSR advocacies in the fields of Peace, and Empowerment of
Women and Girls. Sandoval was also recognized by the FWN as a “Most Influential Woman” this year for her contributions to the business sector and public service.
Dusit Davao Hotels Unveil a Radiant ‘Culture Luxe’ Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
DUSITD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao officially welcomed the festive season with a captivating Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony held in the main lobby of dusitD2 Davao. This year’s celebration featured the elegant theme “Culture Luxe,” a luxurious interpretation of a culturally infused Christmas close to the heart of Davao.
The lobby gleamed with blue and gold ornaments, modern patterns, and Mindanaoan-inspired accents, reflecting Dusit Davao’s commitment to highlighting local artistry with a contemporary twist. Each detail, from the harmonious blue and gold palette to the traditional Davao patterns reimagined was chosen to embody the essence of both luxury and cultural heritage.
The evening commenced with an opening performance by the Kalumon Performing Ensemble, who graced the ceremony with the enchanting sounds of the Kulintang and a contemporary dance piece. Cluster General Manager Christoph Kuch shared a heartfelt message, stating, “Tonight, as we light our tree, we’re reminded of the joy of coming together, celebrating our shared values, and embracing the unique beauty of each culture. Our theme, 'Culture Luxe,' represents the elegance of tradition and the warmth of unity. Dusit Davao has always been a place where cultures meet, where every detail, from our hospitality to our spaces, is crafted to welcome you with luxury and care.”
Special guests included Hon. Al Ryan Alejandre, representing Hon. Sebastian Duterte, and Assistant Regional Director Judy Colaljo, on behalf of the Department of Tourism’s Regional Director Tanya Rabat-Tan, both of whom delivered holiday messages that emphasized unity and gratitude.
This year, Dusit Davao Hotels launched a special partnership with Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Foundation through the "Stars of Hope" initiative. Guests are invited to purchase star ornaments at the hotel concierge for P250, personalize them with heartfelt wishes, and hang them on the Christmas tree. Field of Dreams Board Secretary, Geri Evangelista, expressed his gratitude for the collaboration, highlighting its positive impact on the community.
The Dusit Davao Management and Field of Dreams team hung the first ornaments, symbolizing hope and community.
The lighting of the Christmas tree was marked by a ceremonial gong struck by Tomas Lorenzo, CEO of Torre Lorenzo Development Corp. As the tree lit up, Lorenzo shared a toast: “This beautiful Christmas tree not only reflects the festive spirit but also the essence of Davao and Mindanao. The attention to detail—rooted in what is local—truly reflects what dusitD2 Davao and Dusit Thani Residence Davao stand for, as a meeting place for our local and international guests alike. I am optimistic about Davao and the Philippines, and we are excited to continue our projects here. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone!”
The tree lighting was more than just an illumination of lights; it symbolized the unity of diverse cultures and the spirit of togetherness, embodying Dusit Davao Hotels’ dedication to creating meaningful holiday experiences. Through dance, music, and the symbolic stars of hope, the ceremony not only celebrates the festive season but invites all to partake in a deeper celebration of community, compassion, and cultural pride.
Celebrate the holiday season in style at Dusit Davao Hotels, the perfect destination for festive indulgence with your loved ones. Embrace the spirit of Christmas with a
Parentlife
aRaneTa City lives up to its yuletide tradition with this year’s lighting of the annual giant Belen display on november 22. located at gen. Macarthur avenue, the socalled City of Firsts unveiled its annual life-sized Belen which depicts the nativity of Jesus Christ with Mary, Joseph, and the three kings. it is a holiday tradition observed by araneta City since 1991. Rev. Father William garcia, parish priest of Our lady of Perpetual Help in Quezon City, led the blessing of the Belen. it was followed by a ceremonial lighting led by Quezon City councilors Wency lagumbay and Chuckie antonio, lgU officials from Brgy. Socorro, and Araneta City executives and personnel. The blessing was made solemn by the ensemble performance of the Octava Chorale Society.
The lighting of Belen is part of the many Christmas events and activities in araneta City this year under the theme A Christmas Bliss, Making New Meories it follows other exciting araneta City festivities such as the star-studded lighting of the iconic giant Christmas tree on november 14 which was reinstalled in its original location beside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and a series of mall and office Christmas tree lighting.
Other traditional Christmas attractions at the City of Firsts include the Parolan bazaar where one can find quality and affordable Christmas decorations; the Fiesta Carnival which is open daily for a fun and exciting day with family and friends; the spectacular grand Fireworks Display every Fridays to Sundays at 7 pm; the Santa Claus and friends meet-and-greet and mascot parade at araneta City malls every weekend; and the ongoing “70 gifts for 70 years” digital promo for a chance to win amazing prizes from the City of Firsts.
Parent-teacher organizations aren’t only for the kids
By Tracee M. Herbaugh The Associated Press
THeY’Re known at school as the group of parents who orchestrate everything from Halloween parties to book fairs, but a parentteacher organization isn’t just for the kids.
Parents join a PTO for all kinds of reasons. it has helped some revitalize career skills, share passions, find job opportunities, and assuage the middle-age friend desert, all while making sure the kids have fun.
i thought it was important for my kids to see i thought they were important and that their education was important,”′ said Judy Walters, 54, of central New Jersey, recalling her stay-at-home-mom days raising two little girls. “But really, i wanted to meet people and have a life.”
The PTO was where Walters met some of the people she still considers best friends. “i got close to a number of my room-mom people, and i met a lot of parents who i wasn’t close to but still really liked and enjoyed,” she says.
PTO is a common acronym for the group of parents and teachers who work together to fundraise, plan activities and provide extra enrichment for students. The term can be used interchangeably with the Parent Teacher Association, a national nonprofit headquartered in alexandria, Virginia, or the PTC, or parent-teacher council. as kids return to school this fall, you might see flyers or emails pleading for parents to get involved. PTOs play an important role as school boards face tough budget choices, particularly for “extras” not directly related to the curriculum. especially as schools and families emerge from
A Filipino Noche Buena: Bringhe
Planning to include the all-time favorite Spanish paella in your Filipinothemed noche Buena?
Chef Paul John Pamaran Zamora of lulu’s Pie recommends Bringhe, a classic Filipino dish from Pampanga usually made with sticky rice, chicken, vegetables, and, of course, gata Chef Paul, who promotes Filipino culture, hospitality and warmth through food whenever he can, shares how his fascination on cooking dishes with coconut milk piqued his interest in Bringhe.
it is a complete meal in itself,” he noted. “it is a one-pot dish that has protein, starch and vegetables.”
The Culinary arts graduate from the De la Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DlS-CSB) School of Hotel, Restaurant, and institution Management (SHRiM) likewise recommended adding toppings of choice. “You may create your own version,” he encouraged. “Seafood and other ingredients are optional.”
To continue his mother’s legacy, Chef Paul currently leads the beloved lulu’s Pie, a go-to brand for apple pies for celebrations and milestones. Under his guidance, he conducted extensive training and supervision for the staff, developed food safety standards that resulted in high-quality service ratings from customers, and launched marketing
campaigns on various platforms including television appearances and cooking demonstrations.
For those who wish for a welcome addition to their Filipino Christmas spread, the young entrepreneur shared his easy-to-prepare personal recipe which utilizes accessible ingredients available in local markets.
Serves 5 people
Bringhe
Preparation time: 40 minutes.
Ingredients:
pandemic lockdowns, people are looking for ways to connect. PTOs can provide that at a time in life when making new friends typically slows down because of work and family.
Sara Dean, 46, signed up for her school’s PTa, nervous about assimilating into what she saw as an established group. But by spring, she was happy to have made new friends.
Dean hosts the podcast “The Shameless Mom Academy,” which discusses women’s empowerment, and balancing parenthood and work. She devoted an episode to what she learned from working as the PTa president at her child’s school outside Seattle.
“The opportunities for bonding happen quicker,” she said of working on the PTa. “There is more comradery and ease of building relationships that i wasn’t expecting but that was a lovely experience.”
She also didn’t expect to pick up career-building skills. Dean was used to working independently, as a writer and podcast host and producer. as PTa president, she was thrown into building teams, helping everyone get along, and finding resolutions to problems the school faced—skills that could easily translate into corporate america or the world of nonprofits.
“That’s not why I signed up but it’s a benefit that is really cool,” she said.
The same goes for Colleen nolan, 46, of newton, Massachusetts. The eight years she spent working various roles on an elementary school PTO led, she said, to two nonprofit board positions—at a city food bank and a neighborhood improvement group—and a paid, part-time position as a records keeper.
“i met people in the neighborhood and, over the years, they recognized me as someone who was a ‘doer,’” nolan said. “People saw me as someone
who could answer questions and they used me as a resource.”
Many parents bring their passion projects to the PTO, said andy garlick, an elementary school principal in needham, Massachusetts. These might include personal finance, diversity, or cultural customs from another country, for example. Parents bring what they know to the table.
“There’s a lot of people who want to use the minimal free time they have to do good in their community,” he said.
There are criticisms and jokes, of course. in the 2018 comedy Bad Moms, Christina Applegate and Mila Kunis spar over who is the better PTa presidential candidate. And the Netflix series Ginny & Georgia shows a snooty mother from “Wellsbury, Massachusetts” arguing with an outsider from Texas about how to best raise money for the PTa in reality, wealthy neighborhoods tend to have far more parental involvement and fundraising power than areas without such affluence. This leads to more enrichment opportunities for students, and more educational necessities like books or tech gadgets. Some argue it compounds inequities in the US.
And PTO parents often spend their own money. Some organizations have dues and others don’t, but many parent volunteers end up paying for projects and events.
Kimberly Rae Miller, 39, of Suffolk County, New York, joined the PTa to become more involved and was surprised to find how much money it required out of her own pocket.
But, she said, “If you have the time and financial resources to participate, it’s a great way to have access to a part of your children’s life that you don’t always have access to.” n
CheF Paul John Pamaran Zamora of Lulu’s Pie
BriNghe, a classic Filipino dish from Pampanga.
FrOM left: Araneta City VP for operations Morriel Abogado, Quezon City councilor Chuckie Antonio, Araneta City SVP for operations Antonio Mardo, Quezon City councilor Wency Lagumbay, Brgy. Socorro chairman Ted Santos, Araneta City property C manager Anabelle De Leon, Farmers Market maintenance officer engineer Bilmer galicia, and Farmers Market property manager gracie ilagan.
PHL bets sparkle in combat sports
By Aldrin Quinto
PUERTO PRINCESA City— Erika Said came through for the Philippines as foreign entries seized the other three titles in solo competitions of pencak silat competitions Wednesday in the 11th Brunei Darussalam-IndonesiaMalaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Friendship Games at Robinsons Place Palawan.
S aid bagged gold in the Seni (artistic) Bebas (solo creative) senior female event, with Wani Zatul Isma Izzah Binti Ismail of Malaysia claiming silver and Trishna Marangon of the Philippines taking bronze. Marangon got her chance in the Seni Ganda (doubles) and earned gold with Honey Mae Agravante in the senior female event, while Mark Lloyd Diaz and Clark Joseph Navarro ruled the male division.
Muhammad Hafiz Bin Ortiz of Malaysia seized the spotlight in the senior male, beating Philippine entries Bara Alrasheid and Aldrin Lonzon.
M asli Nur Afifah Shaheqah of Brunei Darussalam topped the Seni (artistic) Tunggal (solo) senior female, while Muhammad Ilham of Indonesia won the men’s side.
In badminton at the Edward Hagedorn Coliseum, Malcolm Gabriel Mag-Aso and Andre Alexis Macalalag clinched the mixed doubles gold medal with a 21-12, 21-16 victory over Gabriel Zapanta and Garnet Mediatrix Hervias in an all-Filipino final.
A ndrew Aguwell of Malaysia
Indonesia, 21-17, 14-21, 21-11, in the men’s final.
Ihsan Muitar Alimil and Bagaskara Qowwiyu Herdian of Indonesia won the men’s doubles final, 21-12, 21-14, denying Aguwell, who played with Bin Hazis Mohd Raineul, a second title. In karatedo at the NCCC mall, Jamie Danielle Nirza of the Philippines clinched the women’s individual kata gold.
T he 18-year-old Nirza got 36.5 points for a slim win over Malaysia’s Anisa Aira Nur, who scored 36.2. Malaysia’s Ameera Liew and Brunei Darussalam’s Nasir Abdul bagged bronze medals.
Nirza fell just short of a double, however, as she, Yesha Lee Ho and Al Rhina Kawano tallied 34.6 points for the silver medal in the team event.
When I perform, I go there with my very best, and I just feel honored and blessed to bring something that our country can be proud of,” Nirza said. “I worked hard for this one. I’m glad I was able to perform the way I wanted and I’m happy for my teammates we were able to perform well.”
Quendy Fernandez, Rookie MVP in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2023, wound up with five gold medals for the meet after topping the girls’ 200-meter backstroke in two minutes and 27.62 seconds.
Jieangela Mikaela Talosig placed second in 2:29.01 followed by Lora Micah Amoguis in 2:33.34. A University of the Philippines swimmer, Fernandez earlier topped the girls’ 50-m (30.22s) and 100-m backstroke (1:07.21), and was part of the gold medal-winning teams in the 200-m medley relay (2:06.68), 200-m freestyle relay (1:55.76).
P hilip Sahagun won the boys’ 200-m backstroke in 2:14.38 to raise his haul to five gold medals. The La Salle tanker also led off the Philippine 200-m medley relay team that had Juan Alessandro Suarez, Paolo Miguel Labanon and Pietro Dominic Requiza, the squad finishing in 4.06.66 for gold. In donesia clocked 4:15.04 for silver and Malaysia finished third in 4:18.21.
JAMIE NIRZA wins the women’s individual kata gold medal to share the day’s spotlight with Honey Mae Agravante and Trishna Marangon who dominate their event in pencak silat.
All-Filipino action heats up anew
REMIERE Volleyball League
PAll-Filipino Conference action again heats up Thursday with four teams aiming to either continue or break their respective streaks at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
W hile Creamline and Cignal remain unbeaten in three matches, the rest of the 12-team roster have experienced turbulent starts that underlines the league’s competitive balance.
Petro Gazz and Akari clash at 6 p.m. with both teams eager to get back into the thick of things—Petro Gazz is 2-1 won-lost with a victory over Choco
Mucho up its sleeves, while Akari is determined to recover after back-to-back losses after two straight wins.
Mangin, Colonia, Inan lead Siklab youth awardees
Angeline Colonia and Lovely Inan banner the heavy cast of awardees in the Nickel Asia Corporation Siklab Youth Sports Awards 2024 on Thursday at the Market! Market! Activity Center Ayala Malls BGC. Also, Quezon City First District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo”
in the World Taekwondo Junior Championships in Chuncheon, South Korea, to become only the second Filipino to win gold in the tournament after Alex Borromeo, won the men’s -47kg division in the 1996 edition in Barcelona. Colonia and Inan, on the other hand, topped the women’s 45-kg and 49-kg categories, respectively, to push the Philippines to third overall among 28 countries in the International Weightlifting Federation World Junior Championships in Leon, Spain. Joining them are US Junior Girls champion Rianne Mikhaela Malixi (golf), Alexander Gabriel de los Reyes (wushu) Asian juniors gold medalist Karl Eldrew Yulo (gymnastics) and youth champion Kheith Rhynne Cruz (table tennis) in the awards ceremony backed by the Philippine
ASIAN Age Group Championships gold medalist Jamesray M ishael Ajido and Riannah Chantelle Coleman lead a 12-member team seeing action in the 46th Southeast Asian Age Group Championships th at start Friday at the Bangkok National Swimming Center in Thailand. T he team formed by the Philippine Aquatics Inc. (PAI) include Ryian Zach Danzel Belen, Reinielle Jan M ikos Trinidad, Peter Cyrus Dean, Jaydison Edrei Dacuycuy, and Ivo
Nikolai Enot in the boys’ side. World Juniors campaigner Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh, Shania Joy Baraquiel, Sophia Rose Garra, Maxene Hayley an d Liv Abigail Florendo make up the girls’ squad, according to delegation head and PAI vice president Jessie Arriola. The PAI also fielded for the first time in the championships two junior water polo teams, a three-member diving team and an artistic swimming squad, said PAI secretary-general, Batangas First
vs Green
Sports Commission, MVP Sports Foundation and Ayala Malls and powered by Smart. Muay thai world-beaters Janbrix Ramiscal and Lyre Anie Ngina, chess Olympiad gold medalist Ruelle Canino head the list in the Super Kids Award category og the gala organized by the Philippine Sports Commission-Philippine Paralympic Committee-Philippine Olympic Committee Media Group. Four special awards will be handed out to Olympic boxing medalist Nesthy Petecio as this year’s Sports Idol, longtime sports manager Agapito “Terry’’ Capistrano as Godfather of the Year and Senator Chris topher Lawrence “Bong’’ Go (Lifetime Achievement Award.
District Rep. Eric Buhain.
T he water polo boys team is made up of Aishel Cid Evangelista, Elijah Caleb De Leon, Lance Edrick Adalin, Matthew Cameron Dasig, Julian Christi Malubag, Miel Joaquin Ugahan, Kenzzie Trey Dumanglas, Niklas Joaquin De Guzman, Andrei Karl Alagban, Joaquin Federico Mirasol, Alexandre Gabriel Establicida, Dave Russel Geda and Sean Gabriel Enero.
Brooke van Sickle will lead Petro Gazz’s attack, supported by veterans Aiza Pontillas, Remy Palma and Jonah Sabete, while Akari will bank on Eli Soyud, Faith Nisperos, and Ivy Lacsina with Grethcel Soltones hoping for a
SIXTH-SEEDED Filipino Miguel
Iglupas defeated Puchit Sukjai of Thailand, 7-5, 6-3, Wednesday to reach the boys’ singles quarterfinals of the International Tennis Federation (IFT) J60 Coca-Cola Philippine Tennis Association International Juniors Leg 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. T he University of the Philippines
Green—ironically the school colors of host school University of the Philippines (UP). Which makes the rivalry seem fated in a way.
The uneasy feels between the two schools is not as pronounced or as inst itutionalized as the Ateneo-La Salle rivalry. But it’s been brewing in the nether regions (like Taal Volcano?) for several seasons now. As they say in Filipino, “may hugot.” UP, of course, is the upstart rival—with no dynasty to boast of or shiny championship trophies to flash. Its winning culture was instilled only recently, first by its former head coach, now Office of Athletics and Sports Development Director Bo Perasol, then ingrained and driven in by current head coach Goldwin Monteverde and coaching staff.
De La Salle University has dynasties and a long tradition of winning in men’s basketball—both in the UAAP and in its former league the National Collegiate Association of the Philippines (NCAA). It has 10 UAAP championships and five NCAA titles in its vault.
But even just as the kid that came to play, the Fighting Maroons have inflicted some harm on the storied Archers. There was a stretch of time when UP had La Salle’s number, if I’m not mistaken, all of Season 81 and 82. Most memorable win for UP during that period, and frustration on La Salle’s part, was that game where Juan Gomez de Liaño’s booming triple, executed
IGLUPAS in action against Thailand’s Perawat Sukjai.
stronger showing as she continues to recover from a hand injury.
In the 4 p.m. match, Farm Fresh and ZUS Coffee with both squads coming off confidence-boosting victories—the Foxies stunned the Chargers in straight sets for a 1-2 card, while the Thunderbelles swept the Nxled Chameleons and Galeries Tower Highrisers to hike their record to 2-1. Trisha Tubu, riding high after a 21-point performance, will once again spearhead Farm Fresh alongside Caitlin Viray, Rizza Cruz, Alyssa Bertolano and skipper Louie Romero. ZUS Coffee, meanwhile, looks to extend its winning streak to three behind the leadership of Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chai Troncoso and standout rookie Thea Gagate. Coach Jerry Yee will also rely on solid contributions from Chinnie Arroyo, Gayle Pascual, Michelle Gamit and playmaker Cloanne Mondonedo.
Ceniza surprised why he’s dropped from natl squad
PBy Josef Ramos
ARIS Olympics weightlifter John Febuar Ceniza on Wednesday said he was surprised by the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas’s (SWP) decision to drop him from the national team stressing his only desire was to train in Manila under a new coach. Ceniza was the Philippines’ entry in the men’s 61 kgs and Vanessa Sarno competed in the women’s 71 kgs class in Paris 2024 with both earning No Lifts results.
“I was coming from a shoulder injury and I still feel it today,” Ceniza told BusinessMirror. “But I’m surprised with my removal from the national team.”
to hurt after the first set, I’m glad that I was able to finish the match,” said the 18-year-old Iglupas from Iligan City, who is playing in his final tournament in the juniors.
Like his elder sister Khim, a member of the Fed Cup team, Miguel also trains at the Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA) founded by Romy Chan.
“Miguel’s mindset is solid, even if he was suffering from cramps, he fought well. That’s the No. 1 rule in PTA,” said PTA head coach Bobbie Angelo, a Southeast Asian Games medalist and Davis Cupper. “He made many winning shots, he has a very offensive forehand.” In the girls’ division, third seed Stefi Marithe Aludo downed Korean Choi Jeong In, 6-4, 6-3, to also secure a quarterfinal berth in the tournament supported by official ball Technifibre.
O ther winners were No. 2 and first leg champion Oh Jiyun and compatriot Park Seojin of Korea, and Kannchaya Chungwatana of Thailand. Oh clobbered Pimlaphat Lim of Thailand, 6-1, 6-2; Park whipped Sasya Sakashita of Japan, 6-2, 6-0; and Chungwatana beat Lara Rauti of Hong Kong, 6-2, 6-1.
with a steal on a sprained ankle, put UP ahead in the dying seconds to win, 72-71. Another “hugot” game was the UAAP Season 84 men’s Final Four where the Fighting Maroons pulled the rug from under the Green Archers. Ahead by double digits, UP pressed and scored and turned the tables on DLSU in the end game, frustrating them in their bid to get into the Finals to face Ateneo. After that experience, the Archers voswed “never again.”
The Green Archers did not immediately get to avenge that painful loss, but came Season 86, the gleam in the Green Archers’ eyes was different, and unmistakable. Playing under new head coach Topex Robinson, the Men In Green played with purpose, amazing teamwork and swag. Although the Fighting Maroons still had their number in the first round, it was the Green Archers’ turn to ask “who’s your Daddy” in the second. From that time on, the Archers never let go. And although the Maroons were the top seed that season, it was the Archers who would prove triumphant in the end.
Leading by seven with eight minutes left in Game 3 of the Finals, Kevin Quiambao unleashed a triple and set the stage for a barrage of points that the Maroons could not answer. Finally, after seven long years, the basketball crown was back at Taft. UP had another bridesmaid finish at 69-73. A painful, not
Stressing he didn’t violate any rule, Ceniza added: “All I wanted was to train in Manila, but they did not allow it. I do not know why?”
“They wanted me to train in Cebu,” he said. “That’s what they said about my removal. About my return to the national team? Let’s wait and see.” Ceniza no longer receives monthly allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission after he was dropped from the national roster since September, but claimed he missed training under national coach Ramon Solis because of his injury.
The 26-year-old Cebuano, however, said he feels no despair on missing the world championships in Manama, Bahrain, saying qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics start in 2027.
“It’s not an Olympic qualifying event,” he said. “But my priority is to be in shape and I have to train on my own for the meantime.”
S arno also isn’t on the national team in Bahrain worlds that starts Saturday with two-time Olympian Erleen Ann Ando, Rosegie Ramos, Fernando Agad, Dave Lloyd Pacaldo and John Dexter Tabique leading the Philippine campaign.
impossible, still surmountable lead had time not run out. It was a painful wound that would fester all through the new season.
So here we are in another Maroon vs. Green predicament, with new hostilities set to begin December 8 at the Araneta Coliseum. The Green Archers swept the Fighting Maroons
CENIZA
MIGUEL
THE Creamline Cool Smashers beat the Choco Mucho Flying Titans, 25-22, 25-20, 30-32, 25-20, on Tuesday night for a 3-0 start in the conference.
