BusinessMirror December 29, 2022

THE Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) on Wednesday expressed bullishness on the Philippine economy despite the global adversities such as the war in Ukraine, where the Russian invasion just marked its tenth month.

“We at the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce & Industry Inc. [FFCCCII] are optimistic that Philippine economic growth in 2023 shall be between 6.5 to 7.5 percent and that Asian economic recovery shall continue, despite many gloomy forecasts about world economic recession next year due to expected USA recession, the global infl ation, high interest rates and EU economic turmoil due to the Ukraine War with Russia,” FFCCCII President Dr. Henry Lim Bon Liong said at the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

“We believe that Philippine economic and demographic fundamentals are positive, the ASEAN economic dynamism shall continue and the world’s No. 2 biggest economy China shall do well in its reopening after the global pandemic,” he added.

Moreover, Lim said the organization is adopting an optimistic yet realistic 2022 FFCCCII economic forecast after consulting its 170 member organizations around the country.

Despite the global upheavals, Lim said the Philippines is still a source of hope and recovery for Asia due to its positive economic

and demographic fundamentals. He noted that the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to upgrading infrastructure, improving agriculture, where he wears a second hat as department secretary, and pushing many reforms.

’Great opportunity’

ON January 3, the FFCCCII will join the business delegation for the China state visit of the President upon the invitation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

He said the historic state visit is very important to the growth potential of the Philippine economy, because China is the country’s most important economic and trade partner, the world’s emerging new economic superpower, and an Asian neighbor.

“ is state visit of President Marcos is a great opportunity to use our high-level diplomacy to promote more Philippine business and economic cooperation with China. Let us maximize the goodwill and deep sense of history of the Chinese people to boost Philippine economic cooperation, reminding our friends in Beijing that

MAJORITY of taxpayers will receive further personal income tax cuts beginning January 1, pursuant to Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which adjusted personal income tax rates.

“ e TRAIN law adjusted personal income taxes and fi xed the inequity of our tax system. We want our taxpayers to reap the fruits of their labor while enabling them to contribute their fair share to national development,” Finance

Secretary Benjamin Diokno said.

Individuals with an annual taxable income below P250,000 are still exempted from paying personal income taxes under the adjusted tax rates.

For those earning not over P400,000, there will be tax of 15 percent of the excess of over P250,000.

For those earning not over P800,000 there will be tax of P22,500 plus 20 percent of the excess of over P400,000.

For those earning not over P2 million, there will be tax of P102,500 plus 25 percent of excess of over P800,000.

For those earning P8 million,

THE government is eyeing to start a new round of infrastructures initiative by 2024 with the completion of a three-year project roadmap next year.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is now working on a ree-year Rolling Infrastructure Plan (TRIP) for 2024-2026.

It noted the government will make use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the said infrastructure as well as other projects on priority sectors.

e 8-point priority agenda

of the Marcos administration are food security, transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, education, social services, sound fi scal management, and bureaucratic efficiency.

e initiatives will be augmented by the Regional Development Plan (RDP) and the Public Investment Program (PIP) for 2023-2028, which NEDA is also currently drafting.

“ e administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is eyeing to pursue publicprivate partnerships on infrastructure development and facilitate the development of local PPP projects in priority

sectors to prop up the economy and create jobs,” the OPS said.

Aside from the said plans, NEDA is also pushing for the registration of the 92 million Filipinos in the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) and conducting the Census of Agriculture and Fisheries for Calendar Year 2022 and the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey.

It will also pursue the adoption of the five-year most favored nation (MFN) Tariff Structure and the passage of the remaining 30 bills in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Samuel P. Medenilla

there will be tax of P402,500 plus 30 percent of the excess of P2 million, and those earning over P8 million, they will be taxed P2.2 million and 35 percent of the excess of P8 million.

e revised tax schedule beginning January 1, 2023 reduces personal income taxes for those earning P8 million and below, compared to the initial tax cuts for January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022.

Meanwhile, to maintain the progressivity of the tax system, the tax rate for individuals earning P8 million and above annually will be maintained at 35 percent, the DOF said.

FOLLOWING a strong pandemic recovery of the tourism industry this year, the government expects at least 2.6 million international tourists to visit the country in 2023. e projection is about 50 percent higher compared to the 1.7 million tourist arrivals target of the Department of Tourism (DOT) this year.

Last week, tourism officials said

@brownindio

DIOKNO: “The TRAIN law adjusted personal income taxes and fixed the inequity of our tax system. We want our taxpayers to reap the fruits of their labor while enabling them to contribute their fair share to national development.”

Tourist...

the number of arrivals this year has already exceeded their expectation and reached 2.4 million.

“For next year, the DOT said it targets 2.6 million international tourist arrivals in a low scenario, and 6.4 million in a high scenario,” the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) said in a statement on Wednesday.

To make the country more attractive for foreign visitors, the DOT said it will prioritize improving tourism infrastructure, establishing cohesive digitalization and connectivity, enhancing the country’s overall tourism experience and equalizing product development.

For infrastructure, DOT said it is supporting local governmentinitiated tourism projects and is pushing for the development of Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) properties through public-private partnerships (PPPs).

It is also eyeing to promote Cruise Tourism in the country with the development of at least 136 ports of call in over 40 islands.

e agency is also pushing to boost the country’s “tourism brand” by conducting regional travel fairs, developing tourism circuits, establishing Tourism Information Desks and Tourist Rest Areas, enhancing the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence, and improving the accreditation standards.

e initiative also includes the completion of the National Tourism Development Plan 2023-2028, the launch of the Philippine Experience Program and creation of “Overwintering packages.”

Diokno: PHL GDP to grow over 7.5%, but will slow down by ’23

FINANCE

“All things considered, the Philippines did very well in 2022— both politically and economically.

e 2022 presidential and local elections were peaceful and the transfer of power was frictionless. Both feats should be the envy of most democratic governments,” Diokno said.

“ e Philippine GDP will likely grow much faster than the official target range of 6.5 to 7.5 percent this year,” Diokno said.

Infl ation, which has been a challenge for almost all countries both developed and emerging, has been a major concern for Philippine authorities, too. But for the Philippines, Diokno said the outlook is that infl ation will start to ease next year and will be within the target band of 2 to 4 percent by 2024.

“ is positive prediction is based on the very close coordina-

tion between monetary and fi scal authorities and the falling prices of oil and related commodities,” he said.

Oil prices, a major source of imported infl ation, have gone back almost to levels before the RussiaUkraine confl ict amid worries over global demand outlook, Diokno said.

e oil futures market remained in what he called “backwardization” status as of November 29, owing to weak demand due to production disruptions in China, tighter global fi nancial conditions and deteriorating world growth prospects.

For next year, however, the country’s GDP outlook will only grow less than 6 percent as many institutions and experts have predicted a global recession in 2023.

e interagency Development

“But an average GDP growth of 6.5 percent is nothing to be sneezed at: it is still one of the highest, if not the highest, growth rates among ASEAN+6 economies,”

Diokno said there were many reasons for this optimistic view, the fi rst of which was the early approval of the 2023 national budget.

“ is means that the programs and projects of the national government will start to run from day one of the new year. is is especially relevant for public construction which is about one-fi fth of the P5.2 trillion national budget,” he ere is also the early adoption of the fi rst-ever Medium-Term Fiscal Framework or MTFF 20232028, which President R. Marcos Jr. unveiled in his State of the Nation Address. He cited as well the swift approval of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028. e PDP is a coherent plan for economic and social Transformation that accelerates economic and social recovery towards inclusive and resilient prosperity.

“As long as the country stays united and its political leaders and policy makers remain focused on economic growth, the Philippines’ future remains bright. e trajectory of its growth will make the country one of the leading economies in the Asia-Pacific region,” Diokno said.

Nancy, tourism players, DOTr: Tighten border controls for Chinese tourists in PHL

Cleofe Albiso, managing director of Megaworld Hotels and Resorts,  recommended a balanced approach: “We all have had enough of the agony of having to address the Covid pandemic in the past couple of years. We will really appreciate it if the Philippine government  can have stepped-up requirements in the arrival of Chinese tourists or travelers from any country that still pose high count of infections.”

Impact on tourism recovery SHE said, “We can do this in the interim and have transition plans if numbers and cases show any decrease or levels that are not alarming. We recognize the

need for more foreign tourists to come and support our destinations in the goal of business recovery in the coming year, but we also need to do this with caution so we do not have to go back to square one in this journey.”

Before the pandemic, China ranked as the second top source for tourists, with arrivals reaching 1.74 million, accounting for 21 percent of the 8.26 million tourists in 2019. e market also contributed US$2.33 million in visitor receipts that same year.

DOT data showed total arrivals reaching 2.51 million from February to December 22.

Of the total, 1.9 million were foreign tourists, while 610,362 were overseas Filipinos. Arrivals from China were 37,377, putting the market on 11th spot.

Although Beijing has banned outbound leisure travel except to its territories, Macau and Hong Kong, said arrivals from China in the Philippines could be business travelers, according to the DOT.

Beijing claims 90 percent of its citizens are already vaccinated against Covid-19.

However, infection continues to spread as international news organizations report hospitals in China choking from increasing Covid patients and lack of adequate medical personnel.

Other local stakeholders group, meanwhile, welcomed the reopening of China’s borders.  (See, “Eased Beijing travel rules PHL tourism players,” in the BusinessMirror, December 28, 2022.)

FIL-CHINESE BIZ UPBEAT ON ECONOMY AMID RISKS

it was the parents of the President who pioneered opening official diplomatic relations between Manila and Beijing at the height of the Cold War, four years ahead of the United States’ opening of official diplomatic relations between Washington and Beijing.”

Lim also stressed that China can help accelerate Philippine economic growth and be a catalyst for Asian economic growth since it is now already the world’s second biggest economy and also the world’s leading consumer market—with about 16 trillion yuan ($2.3 trillion) in excess household savings between 2010 and 2022.

He urged the Philippines to export and sell more to China, maximize diplomacy and traditional ancient friendship for more business, investments, assistance and partnerships.

“We are hopeful for enhanced Philippines-China economic and development partnership, especially in areas of agriculture, trade, infrastructure, energy, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges,” he explained.

In infrastructure, China has extended support to the Philippines through various development

projects such as the multibillionpeso projects of the modern Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge connecting Makati and Mandaluyong, and the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in downtown Manila, among others.

Likewise, there are opportunities to explore technological cooperation in telecoms, bioscience, medical science, energy, mining, and industrial development, the industry leader pointed out. Lim said FFCCCII advocates to promote fi sheries cooperation between rural coastal fi shing communities of both countries, security, peace and order, disaster preparedness, public housing, public health and antiterrorism cooperation.

He hopes the state visit can help woo more China industrial export enterprises to invest here in the Philippines, because many of China’s export factories have been going to Vietnam, ailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia these past years.

Bizmen’s pitches

MEANWHILE , Cecilio Pedro, vice president of FFCCCII and founder, Hapee Toothpaste/Lamoiyan Corp., urged Filipinos to support locally-made products to boost the economy. In the case of Lamoiyan, he said Hapee toothpaste is a boon

to Filipino consumers as it is selling at a lower price compared to its competitors.

“Although they are locally available, these products have to pay licenses and royalties that will make them more expensive to the local products,” he said.

Jeff rey Ng, vice president of FFCCCII and president, Astoria Hotels and Resorts said in the open forum the country must prepare for the huge arrival of tourists from China once it relaxes the travel restrictions.

e three FFCCCII officials agreed that it is time to explore the use of nuclear energy to achieve energy security, economic growth and affordable power.

“Nuclear energy will make the economy run towards greater productivity,” Liong said.

“Even developed countries are now exploring the use of nuclear power again. ere are now modern technologies that can handle issues such as nuclear waste disposal and safety,” Ng said.

“Our economy needs nuclear power to cope with the increasing power demand. Modern technologies like the small modular reactors can provide the energy needs of the country’s more than 7,000 islands,” Lim said.

Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said the Philippine economy will grow by 6 to 7 percent next year in the face of external headwinds.

Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the country’s economy as measured by the gross domestic product will grow by more than 7.5 percent this year as all sectors were surging led by the manufacturing and construction sectors.

The Nation

BusinessMirror

BCDA, UK govt promote New Clark City to British investors

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is urging British firms to invest in the New Clark City, particularly in the development of the country’s first smart and green metropolis.

B CDA and the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO) recently conducted an investment briefing in London.

S ome 60 British investors involved in priority industries, such as information and communications technology, hospitality and transportation, attended the roadshow.

I am proud to present New Clark City, BCDA’s next frontier of development, as it is expected to catalyze inclusive and sustainable growth in Central and Northern Luzon in the Philippines. We invite UK investors to look at the investment opportunities in New Clark City and be part of this development,” BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Aileen R. Zosa said.

T he investment roadshow, BCDA said, highlighted the business readiness of New Clark City, as well as its competitive advantages

with emphasis on optimal location, robust workforce, and advanced infrastructure to attract potential locators and partners.

“As the country’s first smart, resilient and green metropolis, New Clark City offers a unique opportunity for the UK to work with the government of the Philippines in boosting investment and driving local growth that opens up

transparent, competitive opportunities for international business, including British business,” UK Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau Laure Beaufils said in a news statement.

BCDA said it was also able to conduct business-to-business meetings with interested companies, and learn from the UK’s expertise in mixed-use development, infra-

logs

structure planning and data center management through the conduct of a study tour.

T he delegation met with different UK organizations, such as Transport for London, Foster and Partners, Connected Places Catapult, and London Legacy Development Corp. to discuss potential collaborations on sustainable infrastructure and smart cities planning.

T he outbound mission was part of UK FCDO’s assistance to the BCDA under its Global Future Cities program, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and urban resilience in 19 cities across the world, including New Clark City.

P rior to this, UK FCDO in April turned over to BCDA an integrated sustainability plan for the staterun corporation. This included the design of the New Clark City Central Park, a 44.8-hectare open recreational space envisioned to become one of the largest public parks in the Philippines, as well as a 33.89-hectare affordable housing project, also in New Clark City. UK FCDO also delivered the framework for the creation of a Sustainability Unit in BCDA.

DAVAO CITY—A total of P1.3 billion in investments poured into the Bangsamoro region for the entire year, which represented only 64 percent of its target for the year as the country still reels from the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic.

T he amount was also slightly half of what it generated last year.

T he Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOIBARMM) said the approved and registered companies that invested in the BARMM included the Pagana Kutawato Corp. with P100 million worth of investments in van-type of hotel and restaurant expansion in Cotabato City; Hanabana Construction and Equipment Corp. with P96 million of bulk water supply operation in Cotabato City; Usman Banana Farm with P278 million investments in the former largest camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Matanog town, Maguindanao, Nama Concrete Phils. Corp. with P341 million worth of investments for a pre-mixed cement facility in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao;

T he Mt. Kalatungan Agri-Ventures, Inc. with P223 million investments in Cavendish banana in Amai Manabilang, Lanao del Sur; the Austrian Trade and Investments Group Inc. with P170 million investment in the production of Halal coffee

www.businessmirror.com.ph

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—A Malaysian Halal consulting and training agency has bestowed an excellence award to the Halal Verification Laboratory (HVL) of the Department of Science and Technology Region 11 (DOST 11).

T he DOST said it received the “Excellence Award for Halal and Hygiene Compliance” from the Malaysia Halal Consultation and Training Agency after the DOST laboratory underwent the Halal compliance audit on July 8.

It said the Malaysian audit unit gave the DOST 11 HVL an overall rating of 95 percent.

T he audit was conducted by Dr. Abdul Rafek Saleh, International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHIA) executive director and Malaysian Halal and Consultation Training (MHCT) principal Halal consultant, with Dr. Jane Tranquilan, the Halal lead auditor.

D r. Rafek Saleh congratulated the DOST 11 and the DOST Calabarzon “for their commitment to follow highquality hygiene practices and ensuring appropriate, efficient, and effective management of the

Halal laboratory.”

T he DOST 11 said its HVL “tests food and non-food products to ensure that it does not contain Muslim-prohibited contents through a variety of services such as ethanol analysis, which tests the presence of ethanol in food and beverages, gelatin analysis which tests the presence of pork in gelatin products, and porcine DNA detection by RT-PCR which determines the presence of pork DNA in non-gelatin food products.”

Ms. Alma Lamparas, DOST 11 Halal Laboratory technical manager, said the award “is a reflection of their commitment to carry out world-class Halal services to the Davao region and the rest of the country.”

“ We are grateful for this recognition as it is a collaborative work of our laboratory officers. We are deeply committed in sustaining and improving our services through consistent adherence to world-class standards so we can serve our customers better,” she said.

In July this year, food groups and organizations were called upon by the DOST to adopt the Halal Assurance System (HAS), “In order to promote halal awareness and boost the country’s Philippine Halal industry.”

products and assembly line that offers parts and components servicing and maintenance of coffee vending machines in Cotabato City, and the Kaltimex Rural Energy Corp. with P76 million worth of investments in diesel-fired off-grid power plant in Tawi-Tawi.

T he region also recorded a total of 1,052 employment for the year.

T he BBOI-BARMM said, “Over the past years, agriculture has become the top-ranked investment opportunity in the region due to its ideal agro-climactic conditions and fertile lands available in the region.”

However, for this year, other investment priority areas like infrastructure, manufacturing and energy are pushing through as investors see these industries as feasible in the Bangsamoro region,” it added.

BBOI-BARMM said it has exerted more effort in promoting investments by conducting BARMMwide Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP) consultations, “and even goes out of its way to attract investors through business coaching and investment facilitation.”

T he total investments this year though, fell short of the target despite the promising early showing this year, which already logged P1.2 billion by the first six months of the year.

The Bangsamoro government website said the region was off to a good start during its first three years, the period of its transition. On the first year in 2019, it generated P4.1 billion worth of investments but dropped to P114 million in 2020 and went up again to P2.8 billion in 2021.

The first three years generated jobs for 5,704 workers.

“We should not take this plunge in investment as something negative. We should see this as a challenge. Considering the vast potentials of BARMM, the certainties and more stable peace and order situation under the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim, these investments would influence regional investors and eventually put confidence to encourage national and even global investors to come in,” BBOI-BARMM Chairman Mohamad Pasigan said.

T he BARMM, meanwhile, announced it is building a modern public market worth P25 million for the upland municipality of North Upi in Maguindanao del Norte.

M inister Naguib Sinarimbo of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) said the project forms part of the agency’s Bangsamoro Local Economic Support Service (BLESS) Program, which aims to help local governments use their corporate power to increase and improve revenue generation.

“ We invested a lot of time and resources to find the best design for the public market, one that is both functional and indicative of our architectural heritage. It’s not just an ordinary market, but a good market that can draw our locals,” he said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

Sinarimbo, together with North Upi Mayor Ma. Rona Cristina Piang-Flores and other local government officials, led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the construction of the modern public market.

He noted that the BARMM government has allocated resources to ensure that public markets being built under the MILG are “not only functional and aesthetically pleasing but also symbolic of Bangsamoro’s architectural heritage.” With PNA,

Manuel T. Cayon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda on Tuesday ordered local chief executives in the province to ban “e-sabong” or online cockfighting operations, particularly the unlicensed and illegal ones.

In his memorandum, Pineda directed the local government unit (LGU) officials to strictly implement the banning of e-sabong, which, he said, has victimized and corrupted some “cabalen” or residents of the province.

“It has come to the attention of this office that despite the suspension by the national government of online/e-sabong operations, unlicensed and illegal online cockfighting operations are still being conducted by some unscrupulous individuals/ groups and that the same has victimized and corrupted some of our cabalens,” he said in his memorandum.

He likewise asked the local leaders

“to bring to justice any and all person/s engaged in unlicensed and illegal online cockfighting operations so that they may be dealt with in accordance with the law.”

Pineda reminded the local chief executives to comply with and observe all the pertinent issuances of the Office of the President, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Executive Order No. 16-2022 of the Office of the Governor.

Last May, the governor issued Executive Order NO. 16-2022 implementing the directives of former President Rodrigo Duterte and PAGCOR to e-sabong operators to shut down all gaming websites and cease gaming operations.

Duterte approved the cessation of esabong operations upon the recommendation of then DILG Secretary Eduardo Año last May 3. PNA

DOST

Halal laboratory receives excellence award from Malaysia

Death toll from Christmas weekend rains climbs to 25

THE death toll from heavy rains and floods that devastated parts of the Philippines over the Christmas weekend has risen to 25, with 26 others still missing, the national disaster response agency said Wednesday.

Nearly 400,000 people were affected, with over 81,000 still in shelters and nine others injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

Sixteen of the 25 deaths were reported in Northern Mindanao region in the south, while 12 of the 26 missing are from the eastern Bicol region, the council added.

A shear line—the point where warm and cold air meet—triggered rains in parts of eastern, central and southern Philippines, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

T he weather disturbance disrupted Christmas celebration in affected provinces, with photos from the southern province of Misamis Occidental showing rescuers carrying an elderly woman on a plastic chair as they waded through a flooded street. Some residents in the province were seen hanging on to floaters as Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rescuers pulled them across chest-deep flood using a rope.

T he disaster management council said 1,196 houses were damaged by the floods, while sections of 123 roads and 12 bridges were affected.

Some areas remain without power or water supply.

W hile the effect of the shear line has weakened, a new low-pressure area may bring moderate to heavy rains within the next 24 hours to the same areas affected by the Christmas weekend floods.

T he weather bureau said Wednesday that flooding and landslides are likely, especially in areas with significant prior rainfall.

Each year about 20 typhoons and storms batter the Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. The archipelago is located on the “Ring of Fire” along the Pacific Ocean’s rim, where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

T he government, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that relief efforts were continuing in communities that were flooded due to intense rains spawned by the shear line, with the bulk of the assistance efforts being focused in hardest hit Northern Mindanao.

NDRRMC Chairperson and Department of National Defense Officer in Charge Jose Faustino Jr. and NDRRMC Executive Director Raymundo Ferrer conducted an aerial inspection of the flooded areas on Wednesday morning to see firsthand the extent of the flooding in Misamis Occidental.

T hey also met with Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal and other local officials to discuss further actions needed to assist the affected communities.

“The President is closely monitoring the situation in Misamis Occidental and other affected areas and has instructed the NDRRMC to continue providing all needed assistance. The NDRRMC is working with all relevant agencies to

BFP reports 4.02% decline in fire incidents from Jan to December

By Glen Jacob Jose

THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) reported a 4.02 percent drop in the number of fire incidents from January 1 to December 26 this year.

In a television broadcast interview, BFP spokesperson Supt. Annalee Carbajal-Atienza said that the 13,029 fire incidents recorded from January 1 to December 26 period this year were lower compared to the 13,574 incidents during the same period in 2021.

Atienza noted that there were an increasing number of fire incidents due to firecrackers, explosions or fireworks this year with 19 cases compared to seven cases in 2021 in the same period.

Atienza urged the public to just watch instead the fireworks displays organized by their local government

units (LGUs) and to avoid using firecrackers in their residences to prevent injuries and fire incidents.

Atienza advised the public to use kitchen utensils as noisemakers to welcome the New Year.

She also appealed to the public to exercise an “emergency drill in the home [EDITH]” and advised households to discuss ways to ably respond to possible fire incidents.

Families should talk about the location of fire extinguishers and fire exits as well as what to do in case of fire,’’ said Atienza.

She added that 191 municipalities need fire trucks and their fire stations to be activated.

Atienza also assured that enough BFP personnel and well-conditioned fire trucks are now deployed in strategic places especially in Metro Manila, citing the valuable contributions of the “force multipliers,” which

are the fire brigade volunteers.

Atienza also said the BFP expressed overwhelming support to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s LGUs to set up a common area in their respective localities for fireworks display during New Year revelries to ensure public safety this coming New Year.

She noted that the BFP has continued to be visible to enhance the public’s awareness of preventing fire incidents to welcome the New Year.

Despite government’s efforts to maintain public safety in the New Year’s Day celebration, Atienza admitted that tracking down illegal fireworks sellers remains a challenge as they are mostly stored and sold inside residences.

What we can’t really monitor, to be honest, is this illegal selling that is sometimes done in residential houses, residential areas,” she stressed.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Supreme Court (SC) suspended all court activities starting 12 noon on Thursday, December 29, 2022, until Tuesday, January 3, 2023.

In a memorandum, Acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen said the suspension of court operations starting the afternoon of December 29 was decided to give parties, litigants and court personnel sufficient time to attend to personal engagements and make the appropriate travel arrangements to

celebrate the New Year.

However, the suspension of afternoon work for December 29 will not apply to court personnel who need to process bails, orders of releases or other writs of liberty, those that need to serve protection orders within the day, or those attending to other urgent matters at the discretion of judges and justices concerned.

Furthermore, the Court said court activities at all levels will also be suspended on January 2, 2023 in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Proclamation No. 90, which declared January 2, 2021 as a

special (non-working) day throughout the country.

A ll court operations will resume on January 3, 2023.

“Amid the frenetic pace of the holiday season, do make sure to carve out some time for yourself and prioritize self-care. Practice kindness at all times, especially to yourself,” Justice Leonen stressed.

Spend this additional time to reflect on and learn from the year that had just passed while, at the same time, preparing yourself for a fresh start. Help others who are less privileged,” he added.

More motorcycle lanes on major roads eyed

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it is considering to set up more motorcycle lanes on major roads in Metro Manila by next year to prevent motorcycle-related crashes.

I n a media statement, MMDA deputy chairperson Frisco San Juan Jr. noted the success of establishing

an exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue.

San Juan said the agency would look into the possibility of replicating the scheme as a traffic management solution on major thoroughfares in the metropolis.

We are studying the [establishment of] motorcycle lanes because of

its success along Commonwealth Avenue. We could review and implement this scheme in various major roads in Metro Manila),” he said.

In October, the Metro Manila Council, composed of Metro Manila mayors, agreed in principle to establish an exclusive motorcycle lane on Commonwealth Avenue to avert road crashes. PNA

ensure that timely and appropriate support is given to the displaced families,” Faustino said.

Heavy rains brought by the shear line were experienced during the past days in Regions 4B, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and in the Bangsamoro region,

triggering flooding and landslides in the affected regions.

T he NDRRMC said at least P16 million worth of family food packs, food stuffs, bottled water, shelter kits, hygiene kits, blankets and financial assistance have been

provided to the affected families in Bicol, the Visayas provinces, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and the Bangsamoro, through the combined efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

T he Department of Information and Communications Technology and OCD also deployed their emergency telecommunications teams equipped with VSAT equipment to ensure uninterrupted communications between local, regional, and national disaster managers. The OCD Region 10 has also deployed search and rescue teams to assist local government responders.

We thank and commend our counterparts in the local government units and national government for their timely preparation and quick response actions to ensure the safety and well-being of our countrymen.

Ipagpatuloy natin ang pagtutulungan at mahalin natin ang ating bayan,” Faustino said.

He said more supplies, equipment and assistance are set to be provided after discussions with local officials about the situation of the affected population.

We will continue to provide food, water, and other items to help the displaced families staying in the evacuation centers and in other affected areas. This will not stop until the situation improves and they are able to return to their homes,” Ferrer assured. AP and Rene Acosta

IN this image provided by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), an elderly woman sits on a chair while being carried by PCG personnel wading through floodwaters in Plaridel, Misamis Occidental province in the southern Philippines, Monday, December 26, 2022. Heavy rains and floods devastated parts of the Philippines over the Christmas weekend. PCG VIA AP

Agriculture/Commodities

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

DA official: Sugar imports via MAV scheme unlikely to temper prices

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

T

DA Deputy Spokesman Rex C. Estoperez said sugar imported via the MAV scheme will likely be sold at current prices due to high tariffs.

“ The tariff for MAV compared to those, which come from regular importation, is higher. So its price will not go down,” Estoperez said in a televised interview last Tuesday.

T he government imposes a 50 percent tariff on sugar imported within MAV and 65 percent for those outside of MAV.

M AV refers to the volume of a specific agricultural product that is allowed to be imported with a lower

tariff as committed by the Philippines to the World Trade Organization under the Uruguay Round Final Act.

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) said the importation of sugar via the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme may not make a dent in the domestic prices of the sweetener.However, most of the sugar imports of the country come from Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which are slapped with only a 5-percent tariff.

E stoperez issued the statement amid concerns the arrival of the imported sugar will coincide with the harvest season of sugarcane which could affect millgate prices.

“ What we are saying is for them to help bring [sugar] in urban centers, where the price of sugar is high, so they can help in bringing it down,” he said.

L ast week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the DA to import over 64,050 metric tons of regined sugar to help “stabilize” its price since it has been driving up inflation.

With the arrival of the imported sugar, the president hopes to arrest

the continuous rise in sugar prices.

Estoperez has also confirmed that three parties have already applied for the MAV.

However, before the sugar importation can proceed, he said, it will still go through numerous “finalities.”

First, we will get the position of the millers, PSMA [Philippine Sugar Millers Association Inc.]. Then we will convene the council. The Minimum Access Volume Management Council to decide on the recommendation [for importation].”

L ast week, sugarcane planters called on the government anew to undertake measures that will bring down the retail prices of sugar, which have remained elevated despite the decline in mill-gate prices.

T he Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc., Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers Inc., and the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters Inc. also urged the government to

engage the industry in an “earnest” dialogue. The three sugarcane producers’ federations represent 50 percent of domestic production.

“ We share government’s concern over the current inflation rate hounding the Philippine economy. This inflation has hurt not only consumers, but also Filipino farmers who are reeling from escalating costs of production. We thus support any reasonable measures to curb inflation,” they said in a statement.

“ We are therefore concerned that the reportedly ‘very high inflation rate of sugar, confectioneries and desserts’ is seen as a major contributor to inflation, and that measures must be taken to stabilize not only supply but prices of sugar in the domestic market,” they added.

T he producers’ groups, however, said that importing sugar via the MAV scheme to bring down the retail prices of sugar at this time is unwarranted.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

A

T he DAR, through the Support Services Office (SSO), recognized the graduates who completed the 7-month course, during the “Online Agro-enterprise Development

Integrated Learning Session cum Recognition Program.”

TOTAL of 118 officials and staff from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), representatives from local government units (LGUs), and agrarian reform beneficiary (ARB) organizations recently completed a course on “Agroenterprise Development (AED) Integrated Learning Session.”Atty. Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, Undersecretary for SSO, said the agroenterprise facilitators are instrumental in the economic empowerment of the farmers and in facilitating the launching of agro-enterprise projects in the countryside.

Now, you are part of the DARcertified agro-enterprise facilitators who are expected to encourage more ARBs to join clusters to increase their production and engage in marketing agreements with institutional markets,” Cristobal said.

She said the participants in this

THE Villar SIPAG (Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance) recognized 14 cooperatives for their contribution in improving the quality of life of Filipinos, especially from the countryside.

Former Senate President Manny Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar led the awarding ceremonies and hand over plaque of recognition the cooperatives that showed exemplary assistance to their communities coming from different parts of the country.

Each awardees likewise received P250,000 in cash from Villar SIPAG.

Thirty four cooperatives were shortlisted from among the 153 entries and 14 emerged as the final awardees.

“Cooperatives play a significant role toward realizing the aspirations of our countrymen, especially those from the rural areas. They are the true epitome of Sipag at Tiyaga, values that have helped me succeed in my career as a businessman and a public servant,” former Senate President Villar said.

“ Through this recognition, we hope to inspire and encourage cooperatives to continue with their work to uplift the lives of their communities,” added Sen. Cynthia Villar, director of Villar SIPAG.

‘India food

INDIA’S move to restructure the world’s biggest food program is a fiscally prudent and a politically deft move, according to Nomura Holdings Inc.

T he withdrawal of the free food plan was always going to be politically tricky, but the simultaneous reorientation of the food public distribution system makes it an easier political sell, Nomura economists Sonal Varma and Aurodeep Nandi wrote in a report to clients Tuesday.

operative,

course engaged in an interactive discussion on the relevance, effectiveness, and initial impact of the AED projects with the microfinance complementation approach.

“Consistent with the thrust of the current administration, we expect your wholehearted support through the Linking Smallholder Farmers to Market with Microfinance program as well as the other program beneficiaries’ development intervention of the department.”

R onald M. Gareza, Director of the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development said the completion of the course will serve as a

testament to how they utilized and applied the knowledge and skills to help the ARBs and smallholder farmers in planning and systemizing their production and introducing them to effective market engagements.

“It is the first step that will lead you in helping transform the lives of the ARBs and smallholder farmers to become better farmer-entrepreneurs.”

H e said that despite the challenges, the efforts in applying the learnings gained from the AED Course “bore fruit” with the 32 project sites launched now adopting the AED clustering approach in their agricultural activities.

Guagua Pampanga

7. General Trias Dairy Raisers

Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Purok 1 Brgy. Santiago, General Trias, Cavite

8 . Pangkalahatang Samahan Ng Mga Magsasaka Ng Siniloan, L. de Leon Street, Barangay Wawa, Siniloan, Laguna

9. Damayan Sa Cavite Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, 2nd Floor Dacco Mpc, 40 Anabu Road, Anabu Ii, Imus’s Cavite

10. Ibabao Multi- Purpose Cooperative, National Road, Ibabao, Cuenca,Batangas

11. Baao Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative, National Highway San Nicholas, Baao, Camarines Sur

Visayas:

1 2. La Castellana 1 Personnel Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cor.Ferla Roxas Street, Brgy. Robles Las Castellana, Negros Occidental

13. Bohol Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Poblacion Ubos, Loay, Bohol Mindanao:

Upper Green

St.

6. St. James The Apostle MultiPurpose Cooperative, St. James Coop Building, Purok 3, San Miguel Betis,

14. Bansalan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Ramon Delos Cientos Street, Bansalan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. House Deputy Speaker Camille Villar, Vista Land CEO Paolo Villar and Cooperative Development Authority Undersecretary Joseph Encabo also graced the event held at Villar SIPAG Complex in Las Piñas City.

program restructuring is politically deft’

T he move is particularly significant in light of the busy political calendar in 2023, with states elections due to be held in Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana, and general elections in the summer of 2024, they added.

T he government last week discontinued a version of a free-food program for low income households announced in April 2020, and replaced it with the new initiative that will also give out free grains while lower -

ing the quantity. This move, Nomura estimates, will result in subsidy savings to the tune of 0.16 percent of gross domestic product in the three months to March.

T he overall fiscal impact of these announcements “is positive,”and should help the government meet its deficit aim of 6.4 percent of gross domestic product in the current fiscal year, the economists said. They expect a sub-6 percent deficit target for next fiscal year starting April 1, but such

consolidation target would be “tricky” due to weaker growth, they added.

If the government can hold the line on its food subsidy expenditure, then it should help reduce one of the risks,” the economists wrote.

T he end of the free foodgrain program should help raise foodgrain stocks back over buffer norms and reduce the pressure on open markets for procurement. This, in turn, should help ease inflationary pressures on cereals, they added.

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UN calls on Taliban to drop restrictions on women

BERLIN—The UN Security Council on Tuesday decried increasing restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan, urging the country’s Taliban rulers to reverse them immediately.

The Security Council “reiterated its deep concern of the suspension of schools beyond the sixth grade, and its call for the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women and girls in Afghanistan,” it said in a press statement.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk pointed to “terrible consequences” of a decision to bar women from working for non-governmental organizations.

Last week, Taliban authorities stopped university education for women, sparking international outrage and demonstrations in Afghan cities. On Saturday, they announced the exclusion of women from NGO work, a move that already has prompted four major international aid agencies to suspend operations in Afghanistan.

“No country can develop—indeed survive—socially and economically with half its population excluded,” Türk said in a statement issued in Geneva. “These unfathomable restrictions placed on women and girls will not only increase the suffering of all Afghans but, I fear, pose a risk beyond

Afghanistan’s borders.”

“This latest decree by the de facto authorities will have terrible consequences for women and for all Afghan people,” Türk said, adding that banning women from working for NGOs will deprive them and their families of incomes and of the right to “contribute positively” to the country’s development.

“The ban will significantly impair, if not destroy, the capacity of these NGOs to deliver the essential services on which so many vulnerable Afghans depend,” he said.

Despite initially promising a more moderate rule respecting rights for women and minorities when they took power last year, the Taliban have widely implemented their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.

They have banned girls from middle school and high school, restricted women from most employment and ordered them to wear head-to-toe clothing in public. Women are also banned from parks and gyms.

“Women and girls cannot be denied their inherent rights,” Türk said. “Attempts by the de facto authorities to relegate them to silence and invisibility will not succeed—it will merely harm all Afghans, compound their suffering, and impede the country’s development.” AP

Taiwan extends compulsory military service to one year

By Huizhong Wu The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan will extend its compulsory military service from four months to a year starting in 2024, President Tsai Ing-wen said Tuesday, as the self-ruled island faces China’s military, diplomatic and trade pressure.

Taiwan, which split from the mainland in 1949 during a civil war, is claimed by China. The decades-old threat of invasion by China has sharpened since Beijing cut off communications with Taiwan’s government after the 2016 election of Tsai, who is seen as pro-independence.

China’s People’s Liberation Army in particular has stepped up its military harassment, sending fighter planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan on a near-daily basis in recent years. In response, the island’s military actively tracks those movements, which often serves as training for its own military personnel.

The longer military service applies to men born after 2005, and will start January 1, 2024. Those born before 2005 will continue to serve four months, but under a revamped training curriculum aimed at strengthening the island’s reserves forces.

“No one wants war,” Tsai said. “This is true of Taiwan’s government and people, and the global community, but peace does not come from the sky, and Taiwan is at the front lines of the expansion of authoritarianism.”

The White House welcomed the announcement on conscription reform, saying it underscores Taiwan’s commitment to self-defense and strengthens deterrence.

“We will continue to assist Taiwan

in maintaining a sufficient self-defense capability in line with our commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and our oneChina policy,” the White House said, adding it continues to oppose any unilateral changes in the status quo by either China or Taiwan.

Beijing has often used military exercises to respond to moves it views as challenging its claims to sovereignty.

In August, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, and China responded with the largest-scale military exercises it’s held in decades, because it saw Pelosi’s visit as an official diplomatic exchange. Although the US is the island’s largest unofficial ally, the two governments technically do not have diplomatic relations, as Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.

The plan sets Taiwan up for increasing its defense capabilities but what remains to be seen is how well the Defense Ministry will carry out the reforms, said Arthur Zhin-Sheng Wang, a defense expert at Taiwan’s Central Police University.

Taiwan’s current 4-month-long military conscription requirement was widely panned by the public as being too short and not providing the training that professional soldiers actually need. The government had slashed the period from a year to four months in 2017 as it was transitioning the army into an all-volunteer corps.

Of Taiwan’s 188,000-person military, 90 percent are volunteers and 10 percent are men doing their required four months of service. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

Nations to adopt entry restrictions amid China’s massive Covid surge

NATIONS across the globe are implementing or considering measures to test or restrict travelers from China as the country of 1.4 billion abandons its Covid Zero policy and prepares to reopen borders in early January.

The US is considering new coronavirus precautions for people traveling from China amid questions about the transparency of data China is reporting about the spread of the virus, according to American officials, who asked not to be identified discussing internal thinking. Japan moved quickly yesterday to announce steps requiring a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival soon after Beijing said it no longer subject inbound travelers to quarantine from Jan. 8.

China is rapidly dismantling its stringent pandemic measures in the face of discontent with Covid Zero rules, triggering outbreaks across the country. Uncertainty over the true scale of infections without reliable official figures is fueling concern that the rapid spread of the virus could lead to the emergence of new variants.

China is experiencing the world’s largest Covid-19 outbreak, raising concerns among publichealth officials worldwide. Almost 37 million people may have been infected with the virus on a single day last week, according to estimates from the government’s top health authority.

Earlier this week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said there are “great discrepancies” in information coming out

of the country, fueling growing concern. Japan will require negative Covid-19 test results upon arrival for visitors who have been in mainland China within a sevenday period, while those who test positive will have to quarantine for a week.

The US is weighing similar steps, the officials said, as a way to prevent further spread. Malaysia has also imposed new tracking and surveillance measures. India began random testing of about 2% of passengers arriving from other countries at all international airports a week ago to minimize the risk of any new variant entering the country.

Holiday bookings for outbound flights from mainland China jumped 254% Tuesday morning from the day before, according to Trip.com Group Ltd. data, underscoring how the country’s vast population is ready and hungry for travel. The top five destinations were Singapore, with a 600% increase in bookings, followed by about 400% for South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand.

China will start issuing new passports and Hong Kong travel permits to mainland residents, the National Immigration Administration said in an announcement on WeChat late on Monday.

Express checkpoints on the borders with Hong Kong and Macau will resume, while applications by foreigners to extend or renew visas will also re-commence as part of the relaxation of measures on January 8.

Taiwan may also adjust Covid measures such as testing as it anticipates tens of thousands of people returning from the Chinese mainland for the Chinese New Year later in January, cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng said in a statement. While Taiwan currently does not allow mainland Chinese tourists to get in, many Taiwanese work and invest in the mainland.

Philippine Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista called for Covid measures on Wednesday, including testing on inbound travelers from China. “We should be very cautious because if they have a lot of Covid cases, we should be careful about Chinese visitors coming into the Philippines,” he told reporters.

The new US travel precautions

Japan factory output falls a third month as global demand weakens

By Erica Yokoyama

JAPAN’S factory output shrank for a third straight month in November as cooling demand overseas pushed production levels further below pre-pandemic levels.

Industrial production edged down 0.1 percent from October, dragged lower by falls in output of conveyor belts, cranes and equipment for making chips and flat panel displays, according to the industry ministry Wednesday. Economists had forecast a 0.2 percent decline. Output also fell 1.3 percent from a year ago, compared with analysts’ expectations of a 1.5 percent drop.

The continued weakness in output supports the Bank of Japan’s view that the economy’s fragile recovery is still in need of support. Japanese firms, especially manufacturers, are growing increasingly cautious over the outlook as uncertainty builds over the extent of a global slowdown and the possibility of recessions in key overseas markets.

Weakening demand from business partners is already visible in trade figures showing the biggest month-on-month fall in exports from Japan since the

supply-chain snarls of last year.

“Overall, the outlook is not very promising,” said Kota Suzuki, economist at Daiwa Securities. “The economies of the US and Europe will slow down as monetary tightening takes effect. Even with the easing of China’s Covid Zero policy there are concerns about short-term disruptions from an infection surge.”

The latest figures showed production still below levels at the end of 2019, an indication that the economy has yet to gain its pre-pandemic power.

BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has repeatedly said the economy needs continued support while it lacks its preCovid strength.

Since the BOJ’s shock move last week to allow wider movements in long-term bond yields, speculation has ballooned of more changes to come.

Kuroda steps down in April and a new governor will likely have to consider how the central bank will steer policy toward normalization in the future.

For now, the latest figures offer few signs of the strength needed in the economy to justify further tweaks to the central bank’s stimulus before the governor leaves.

“Manufacturers are facing widespread pressure—from

slowing exports to sluggish consumer spending as inflation hits households. Companies’ projections tend to be on the optimistic side— so we see downside risks to the outlook,” said Bloomberg economist Yuki Masujima.

Retail sales data released Tuesday showed an unexpected fall in consumer spending even after the first full month of reopened borders to foreign visitors. Economists said the drop in spending suggests inflation in Japan is starting to weigh on sentiment after the release of pent-up demand from the pandemic.

With demand weakening at home and abroad, Japan’s recovery from an economic contraction over the summer may prove less robust than hoped. With a gloomy outlook, companies may be less willing to make the larger wage increases sought by the central bank and government to help stabilize a cycle of stable growth and prices.

“Recent indicators don’t seem to provide support for more policy tweaks by the BOJ,” Suzuki said. “In the end, it will depend on next spring’s wage negotiations. So we’ll have to wait longer for any indication of a policy change.”

are based on consultations with public health experts and international partners, officials said. They said the talks have been prompted in part by concerns over the lack of genomic sequencing data that could help identify the emergence of a new variant.

Health experts have said they’re worried that the virus’s unabated spread could spawn a dangerous new variant for the first time since the Omicron strain caused infections to surge more than a year ago. GISAID, the global consortium that maintains a database for scientists around the world to share coronavirus sequences to monitor mutations, said on Tuesday that China has ramped up its surveillance amid the ongoing outbreak.

All the sequences shared by the Chinese health authorities suggest the viruses fueling the massive nationwide outbreak closely resemble the circulating variants found in the rest of the world since July, they added. Bloomberg News

Hong Kong ends limit on group gatherings, scraps vaccine pass

By Jinshan Hong

HONG KONG will end some of its last major Covid rules, scrapping limits on public gatherings and no longer requiring proof of vaccination for entry to some venues, in a sweeping overhaul of policies aimed at reviving its reputation as a global financial center.

There will be no cap on public gatherings, and the city’s vaccine pass will also be scrapped, starting on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee said Wednesday. The city will also no longer require arrivals to undertake PCR tests, though they’ll be recommended to do rapid tests for five days, and close contacts of Covid-positive people won’t need to quarantine, he said.

The changes are based on a high immunity level in the city, sufficient medicine, experience of handling Covid among healthcare workers, an improved emergency response system and better awareness among residents, Lee said.

“The above mentioned changes are strongly pushing Hong Kong to recover.”

While the changes mean Hong Kong has done away with almost all of its major pandemic curbs—a mask mandate and daily rapid tests for schools remain—the incremental pace of loosening stands in stark contrast with the abrupt U-turn on Covid Zero in mainland China.

T he world’s second-biggest economy is set to emerge from almost three years of selfimposed global isolation early next month, after announcing an end to quarantine for inbound travelers, and no testing after arrival. It’s also set to resume issuing Hong Kong travel permits and reopen express checkpoints on the border, buoying the outlook for the financial hub that’s struggled to maintain its status as a global financial center amid strict coronavirus curbs. With assistance from Bruce Einhorn/Bloomberg.

A PATIENT rests in a bed at the emergency department of the Langfang No. 4 People’s Hospital in Bazhou City in northern China’s Hebei province on Thursday, December 22, 2022. As China grapples with its first-ever wave of Covid mass infections, emergency wards in the towns and cities to Beijing’s southwest are overwhelmed. Intensive care units are turning away ambulances, residents are driving sick relatives from hospital to hospital, and patients are lying on floors for lack of space. AP

A TALIBAN fighter stands guard as a woman walks past in Kabul, Afghanistan on December 26, 2022. The United Nations’ human rights chief on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, decried increasing restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan, urging the country’s Taliban rulers to reverse them immediately. He pointed to “terrible consequences” of a decision to bar women from working for non-governmental organizations. AP/EBRAHIM NOROOZI

editorial

SIM registration hitches: In defense of the telcos

GlItcheS and server issues affected thousands of mobile subscribers who wanted to register their SIM cards on the first day of implementation of the SIM card Registration law on tuesday. Mobile phone users reported that the registration sites of their telcos either crashed or can’t be accessed.

The telcos have been preparing for a heavy turnout on the first day of registration. However, a last-minute requirement, which is the inclusion of a registrant’s selfie holding his valid ID, completely ruined their readiness. As a result, all laid out plans for the gargantuan task of registering more than 160 million SIM cards have to change, as they need to recalibrate their registration sites at the last minute.

Smart Communications advised users at around 9 on Tuesday morning that subscribers may face difficulty accessing its registration page after a high number of users were on its site. “Our technical team is working on increasing capacity,” Smart said.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s chief sustainability and corporate communications officer, was heard on radio saying the group’s registration portal had been taken down temporarily to fix issues with its verification process, which asked users to upload a selfie. This additional step was added after the government required telcos to verify users’ information upon registering their SIM cards.

“If you recall, what the law asked of telcos is to register (SIMs) and in the registration process, you need to input all your data. But yesterday, based on the press conference, the government asked for some form of verification…. That’s why we are now asking for a selfie,” Crisanto said, disclosing where the registration “nightmare” started. “We need to adjust our system to follow what is asked of us.”

Initially, the government asked the telcos to get user’s full name, date of birth, sex, home address, and a valid ID: Passport, National ID, SSS ID, GSIS ID, Driver’s license, NBI clearance, Police clearance, Firearms’ License to Own and Possess ID, PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, OWWA ID, BIR ID, Voter’s ID, Senior citizen’s card, UMID (Unified Multi-purpose Identification) Card, Person with Disabilities card, or other government-issued ID with photo.

For businesses that register their SIM cards, they are required to provide the following documents: SEC Certificate of Registration or DTI Registration, Board Resolution designating the authorized representative, or Special Power of Attorney, in the case of other juridical entities.

Signed into law in October, Republic Act 11934 or the SIM Registration Act aims to fight text (SMS) scams that have become prevalent in the country. It was the first law signed by President Marcos, mandating users of all mobile devices, including prepaid broadband devices, to register their SIMs with their respective telcos or face deactivation.

You can register for free multiple SIM cards from any network and as many as you want under your name. The law has no limit on the number of SIM cards you can enroll.

As we said, there are more than 160 million SIM cards currently in use in the Philippines that need to be enrolled within 180 days, or until April 26, 2023. Despite unforeseen hitches on the first day of registration, telecommunications companies have assured subscribers that they are prepared to handle the heavy volume in the coming days.

More than the glitches and server issues encountered, there’s a bigger challenge for the telcos that we hope they can solve in 180 days. This pertains to the 35 million SIM cards owned by people living in areas with no Internet connection. The law says SIM card registration will be done electronically using a secure platform or website provided by the telcos. How can these people enroll their SIM cards if they have no Internet access? The answer, of course, is to bring to them portable broadband. But the permanent solution to bridge the country’s digital divide is the implementation of the National Broadband Plan.

First 2 years revealed President Biden’s generational ambition

By Zeke Miller | AP White House Correspondent

WAShINGtON—When he ran for the White house, Joe Biden told voters his presidency would be a bridge to the next generation. his first two years on the job have revealed it to be a much more ambitious venture.

As he nears the halfway mark on his first term, Biden is pointing to legacy-defining achievements on climate change, domestic manufacturing and progress on the Covid-19 pandemic—all accomplished with razor-thin majorities on Capitol Hill and rather dim views from the public.

Biden’s legislative accomplishments extend to nearly every aspect of American life—although their impact may take years to be felt in some cases—and his marshaling of a global coalition to back Ukraine’s defenses and of democracies against China’s growing influence will echo for decades. He defied history in the midterm elections, persuading voters to stick with his vision of long-term gains despite immediate concerns about inflation and the economy.

It turns out his conception of the job is about far more than restoring democratic norms and passing the baton, as the 80-year-old president looks toward an announcement in early spring that he’ll run again despite his record-setting age.

The road ahead will be far tougher: Republicans take control of the House on January 3, the threat of recession looms during stubbornly high inflation, and sustaining support for Ukraine will be harder as the conflict

approaches the one-year mark.

The next two years also will be complicated by a heavy overlay of 2024 presidential politics. And whatever Biden’s accomplishments, his job approval rating remains underwater and voters have expressed doubts about his capacity to lead. Biden swats away questions about his ability to hold up with a dismissive “watch me.”

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, echoing a refrain among presidential aides from chief of staff Ron Klain on down, says Biden has been “frequently underestimated.”

“I don’t think he ever thought of himself as a caretaker,” she said. “He came in with an unbelievably ambitious agenda, and a core belief that he had to preside over many investments in America and American workers, American infrastructure, American manufacturing, that presidents had not done or not been able to get done for decades before him.”

In the 2020 campaign, Biden offered himself as an experienced hand ready to step in to stabilize a pandemic-weary nation, but who was also mindful of a clamoring for fresh leadership.

“Look, I view myself as a bridge, not as anything else,” Biden said in March 2020, as he campaigned in Michigan

The next two years also will be complicated by a heavy overlay of 2024 presidential politics. And whatever Biden’s accomplishments, his job approval rating remains underwater and voters have expressed doubts about his capacity to lead. Biden swats away questions about his ability to hold up with a dismissive “watch me.”

with younger Democrats, including now-Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “There’s an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country.”

A week later, he swatted back at primary rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ agenda saying, “People are looking for results, not a revolution.”

Those statements have often been thrown back at Biden by Democratic critics of two minds: moderates who have wanted him to curb the ambition of his agenda as he’s navigated an often-rocky legislative path, and progressives urging him to step aside in 2024.

“Nobody elected him to be F.D.R.,” Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., told The New York Times pointedly last year as Biden’s agenda appeared at a stalemate, a line that was seized on by House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy to critique Biden’s agenda.

Meanwhile, some prominent Democrats have publicly declined

to endorse Biden’s reelection when confronted with the question, and the progressive group RootsAction is running ads in New Hampshire— recently unseated by Democrats as the first state on the primary calendar—calling on Biden to step aside for younger blood in 2024.

Biden aides and allies argue that such critics miss the point—that Biden never set out merely to keep the seat warm for the whippersnappers to follow, nor does he believe he’s finished the job. His successes of late have quieted many doubters — though some in his party still harbor private doubts.

“He couldn’t have thought about it more differently,” said Kate Bedingfield, the White House communications director and longtime Biden aide. “He’s leading with his experience, and the next generation is leading alongside him.”

Bedingfield pointed to Biden’s relatively youthful Cabinet and to Democratic candidates across the country that won election in the 2022 midterms by running on the president’s agenda.

Says Democratic political consultant Jesse Ferguson: “He’s not giving a hand-off; he’s really giving a leg up to the next generation and people are responding to that.”

For restive young voters who may have once gravitated toward the younger crop of Democrats, Biden pollster John Anzalone said the president is offering proof of “getting things done for the new generation.”

Abduction, torture, rape: Conflict in Congo worsens, says UN

By Sam Mednick | The Associated Press

DAKAR, Senegal—the accounts are haunting. Abductions, torture, rapes. Scores of civilians including women and children have been killed by the M23 rebels in eastern congo, according to a UN report

In addition, the M23 rebels have forced children to be soldiers, according to the report by a panel of UN experts. The 21-page report based on interviews with more than 230 sources and visits to Rutshuru area of Congo’s North Kivu province where the M23 have seized territory, is expected to be published this week.

Conflict has been simmering in eastern Congo for decades where more than 120 armed groups are fighting in the region, most for land and control of mines with valuable minerals, while some groups are trying to protect their communities.

The already volatile situation significantly deteriorated this year when the M23 resurfaced after being largely dormant for nearly a decade.

The M23 first rose to prominence 10 years ago when its fighters seized Goma, the largest city in Congo’s east, which sits on the border with Rwanda. The group derives its name from

a peace agreement signed on March 23, 2009, which called for the rebels to be integrated into the Congo army. The M23 accuse the government of not implementing the accord.

In late 2021 the reactivated M23 began killing civilians and capturing swaths of territory. M23 fighters raped and harassed women trying to farm family fields in areas controlled by the rebels, according to the report. The rebels accused civilians of spying for the Congolese army, said the report. They were often incarcerated and some were beaten to death, it said.

Not only are populations living under M23 subject to abuse but they are forced to pay taxes, said the panel. At the Bunagana border crossing with Uganda, the rebels earned an average of $27,000 a month making people carrying goods pay as they entered and left the country, said the UN. Two

locals living under M23 who did not want to be named for fear of their safety, told The Associated Press they’d been forced to bring the rebels bags of beans, pay $5 if they wanted to access their farms and take backroads if they want to leave the village for fear of reprisal.

The M23 did not respond to questions about the allegations, but has previously dismissed it as propaganda.

The violence by the rebels is part of an overall worsening of the crisis in eastern Congo, with fighting by armed groups intensifying and expanding in the North Kivu and Ituri provinces, said the report.

“The security and humanitarian situation in North Kivu and Ituri Provinces significantly deteriorated, despite the continuous enforcement of a state of siege over the past 18 months,” and despite military operations by Congo’s armed forces, Uganda’s military and the UN mission in Congo, said the report.

Adding to the difficult situation in eastern Congo, attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces—believed to be linked with the Islamic State group—are increasing, said the report. A nearly yearlong joint opera-

tion by Uganda and Congo’s armies “has not yet yielded the expected results of defeating or substantially weakening the ADF,” it said. Since April ADF attacks have killed at least 370 civilians and abducted several hundred more, including a significant number of children, it said. The group also extended its area of operations to Goma and into the neighboring Ituri province.

The fighting is exacerbating eastern Congo’s dire humanitarian crisis. Almost 6 million people are internally displaced in Congo with more than 450,000 displaced in North Kivu province since clashes escalated in February. Hundreds of thousands are facing extreme food insecurity and disease is spreading, say aid groups. Cholera cases are spiking in Nyiragongo, a region hosting many of the displaced people in North Kivu, with more than 970 cases of the disease discovered in recent weeks, said Save The Children.

Efforts to stem the violence have yielded little results.

A new regional force deployed to eastern Congo is facing pushback from local residents who say they don’t want more armed groups in the

“Abduction” A17

By E. Eduardo Castillo | The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday warned anew Ukraine that it must demilitarize, threatening further military action and falsely accusing Kyiv and the West of fueling the war that started with Moscow’s invasion.

Sergey Lavrov said Ukraine must remove any military threat to Russia—otherwise “the Russian army (will) solve the issue.” His comments also reflected persistent unfounded claims by the Kremlin that Ukraine and its Western allies were responsible for the 10-month war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

Russia launched the war on Feb. 24, alleging a threat to its security and a plot to bring Nato to its doorstep. Lavrov reiterated on Tuesday that the West was feeding the war in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and said that it depends on Kyiv and Washington how long the conflict will last.

“As for the duration of the conflict, the ball is on the side of the (Kyiv) regime and Washington that stands behind its back,” Lavrov told the state Tass news agency. “They may stop senseless resistance at any moment.”

In an apparent reaction, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted that “Russia needs to face the reality.”

“Neither total mobilization, nor panicky search for ammo, nor secret contracts with Iran, nor Lavrov’s threats will help,” he said. “Ukraine will demilitarize the RF (Russian Federation) to the end, oust the invaders from all occupied territories. Wait for the finale silently…”

A day earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Associated Press in an interview that his government wants a summit to end the war but that he doesn’t anticipate Russia taking part.

Kuleba said Ukraine wants a “peace” summit within two months with UN Secretary-General António Guterres acting as mediator. But he also said that Russia must face a war crimes tribunal before before his country directly talks with Moscow.

Both statements illustrate how complex and difficult any attempts to end the war could be. Ukraine has said in the past that it wouldn’t negotiate with Russia before the full withdrawal of its troops, while Moscow insists its military gains and the 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula cannot be ignored.

Testifying to the hardships of war, families of Ukrainian prisoners of war believed held by Russia on Tuesday said the Christmas holiday season is particularly painful and appealed for more to be done to bring their loves ones back home.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia have revealed the exact numbers of POWs they hold, while hundreds have been released as part of prisoner exchanges. Iryna Latysh’s husband Yevhen was captured exactly 300 days ago, in the early days of the war, and she says Christmas isn’t the same without him.

“We were decorating the Christmas tree together this time last year,” she sobbed. “We put the star together, the decorations.”

U.N. human rights investigators have warned that Ukrainian POWs appear to be facing “systematic” mistreatment—including torture —both when they are captured and when they are transferred into ar-

Abduction

. . .

continued from A16

area. Tensions are also rising with Congo’s neighbor Rwanda, which it accuses of supporting the M23 rebels, findings backed by the UN. Earlier this week the M23 said it was retreating from Kibumba, a town near Goma that it held for several weeks, as part of an agreement made last month at a summit in Angola,

Russia launched the war on Feb. 24, alleging a threat to its security and a plot to bring Nato to its doorstep. Lavrov reiterated on Tuesday that the West was feeding the war in Ukraine to weaken Russia, and said that it depends on Kyiv and Washington how long the conflict will last.

eas controlled by Russian forces or Russia itself.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting continued on Tuesday in the Russiaclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk regions that recently have been the scene of the most intense clashes.

Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that Russian forces are trying to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, but without success. Heavy battles are also underway around the city of Kreminna in the Luhansk region, Luhansk governor Serhiy Haidai said.

In the partially occupied southern Kherson region, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian-held areas 40 times on Monday, wounding one person, Ukrainian authorities said. The city of Kherson itself — which Ukraine retook last month in a major win — was targeted 11 times, said regional administrator Yaroslav Yanushevich.

Since its initial advances at the start of the war 10 months ago, Russia has made few major gains, often pummeling Ukraine’s infrastructure instead and leaving millions without electricity, heating and hot water amid winter conditions.

Lavrov didn’t specify how the Russian army will achieve its goals of demilitarizing and “denazifying” Ukraine — which was Russia’s stated goal when the invasion started in February. The reference to “denazification” comes from Russia’s allegations that the Ukrainian government is heavily influenced by radical nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. The claim is derided by Ukraine and the West.

Lavrov warned further Western support for Ukraine could lead to direct confrontation.

“We keep warning our adversaries in the West about the dangers of their course to escalate the Ukrainian crisis,” he said, adding that “the risk that the situation could spin out of control remains high.”

“The strategic goal of the US and its Nato allies is to win a victory over Russia on the battlefield to significantly weaken or even destroy our country,” he said.

On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree banning oil exports to countries that support a $60-per-barrel price cap that was declared by the European Union and Group of Seven countries in a bid to reduce Moscow’s revenue during wartime. The ban takes effect in February and will run through July.

The price cap is higher than what Russian oil has sold for in recent weeks, so the potential effects of Putin’s ban are uncertain.

said Lawrence Kanyuka the M23’s political spokesman in a statement. However, residents from Kibumba said the rebels are still there and are still attacking civilians.

“My neighbor was whipped because he refused to let M23 slaughter his goat,” said Faustin Kamete a Kibumba resident. “They lied to the international community with their withdrawal,” he said.

Associated Press journalist Al-Hadji Kudra Maliro contributed from Beni, Congo.

By Hyung-Jin Kim | The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—South Korea’s president on Tuesday called for stronger air defenses and high-tech stealth drones while the military apologized for failing to shoot down North Korean drones that crossed the border for the first time in five years.

South Korea’s military scrambled warplanes and attack helicopters on Monday, but they failed to bring down any of the North Korean drones that flew back home or disappeared from South Korean radars. It raised serious questions about South Korea’s air defense network at a time when tensions remain high over North Korea’s torrid run of missile tests this year.

On Tuesday, the military again launched fighter jets and attack helicopters after spotting suspicious flight paths at a front-line area. A local county office sent emergency text messages notifying residents of a new batch of North Korean drones. But the military later said it was a flock of birds.

“We have a plan to create a military drone unit tasked with monitoring key military facilities in North Korea. But we’ll advance the establishment of the drone unit as soon as possible because of yesterday’s incident,” President Yoon Suk Yeol said during a regular Cabinet Council meeting. “We’ll also introduce stateof-the art stealth drones and bolster our surveillance capability.”

He said that South Korea’s military needs more intensive readiness and exercises to cope with threats posed by North Korean drones.

Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief di-

rector of operation at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised statement the military feels sorry because of its failure to shoot down the North Korean drones and for causing big public concerns.

Kang acknowledged South Korea lacks capacities to detect and strike small surveillance drones with a wingspan of less than 3 meters (9.8 feet) though it has assets to spot and bring down bigger combat drones. Kang said South Korea will establish drone units with various capacities and aggressively deploy military assets to shoot down enemy drones.

It was the first time North Korean drones entered South Korean airspace since 2017. The drone flights came three days after South Korea said North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles, extending its record testing activities this year. North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. Advanced drones are among modern weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to procure, along with multi-warheads, underwater-launched nuclear missiles and a spy satellite.

Since taking office in May, Yoon, a conservative, has expanded regular military drills with the United

Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief director of operation at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised statement the military feels sorry because of its failure to shoot down the North Korean drones and for causing big public concerns.

States and vowed to sternly deal with North Korean provocations. He’s offered massive support plans to North Korea if it abandons its nuclear weapons, but the North has rejected his overture.

On Monday, South Korea sent its own surveillance assets, apparently unmanned drones, across the border as corresponding steps against the North Korean drone flights. South Korea’s public confirmation of reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by Yoon’s government to get tough on North Korean provocations.

Yoon used the drone incident to hit at his liberal predecessor’s engagement policy with North Korea. He said Tuesday South Korea’s military had conducted little anti-drone training since 2017, when Moon Jaein was inaugurated.

“I think our people must have seen well how dangerous a policy relying on the North’s good faiths and (peace) agreements would be,” he said.

Moon’s liberal opposition Democratic Party accused Yoon of shifting his government’s “security disaster” to someone else. Party spokesperson Park Sung-joon called on Yoon to thoroughly disclose what he did when

the North Korean drones were flying in South Korean territory.

Lavrov: Ukraine must demilitarize or Russia will do it South Korea military sorry for failing to down North’s drones

Moon was credited with arranging now-dormant diplomacy on North Korea’s nuclear program, but also faced criticism that his appeasement policy allowed North Korea to buy time and boost its nuclear arsenal despite international sanctions. During his campaigning, Yoon described Moon’s government as “subservient” to North Korea and accused him of undermining South Korea’s sevendecade military alliance with the United States.

Earlier Tuesday, North Korea’s state media announced the start of a key ruling Workers’ Party meeting the previous day to review past policies and discuss next year’s plans. During the meeting, Kim Jong Un called for stronger efforts to overcome hardships and challenges facing his country. But he still claimed North Korea has reported some successes “in the arduous course” and said his country’s national strength has “remarkably” increased in military, economic and other areas, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

Some observers say Kim may need such propaganda-driven claims to draw greater public loyalty to bolster his weapons arsenal and address economic woes while facing US-led sanctions and pressure campaigns to curb his nuclear ambitions.

The North Korean Workers’ Party meeting is expected to last several days, and Kim will likely address issues such as his arms buildup, relations with the United States and the economy in later sessions.

By Ryan Beene Bloomberg Opinion

AS a winter storm bore down on a broad swath of the US, a staffing crisis was brewing for Southwest Airlines Co. in Denver.

Chris Johnson, the carrier’s vice president of ground operations, declared a “state of operational emergency” at the airport after “an unusually high number” of employee absences, according to a December 21 message to ramp workers seen by Bloomberg News.

It was just the beginning.

The so-called bomb cyclone kicked off a cascade of disruptions that have battered Southwest’s operations over the past week, forcing the carrier to cancel thousands of flights and stranding holiday travelers who now face days of waiting.

The chaos is still unfolding. As of Tuesday afternoon, Southwest had scrapped more than 60 percent of its Wednesday schedule, plus about 20 percent of its trips for Thursday, according to FlightAware data.

And although no airline was spared the storm’s wrath, rivals such as Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines Group Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. largely returned operations to normal this week.

Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan apologized again late Tuesday in a video posted by Southwest, saying the company reduced its schedule to gain time to reposition aircraft and crews.

“We’re optimistic to be back on track before next week,” Jordan said.

Southwest shares fell 6 percent on Tuesday, the most since July, to extend their 2022 decline to 21 per-

First

cent. US authorities and lawmakers, meanwhile, are scrutinizing the carrier’s response to the storm, which analysts at Citigroup estimate could shave as much as 5 percent from Southwest’s fourth-quarter profit.

Customers complained on social media of spending hours in line or on hold to book alternate flights, only to find few alternatives. Pilots and flight attendants, meanwhile, faced lengthy waits for work assignments and hotel accommodations as the storm and its subsequent disruption hobbled the carrier’s crew scheduling systems and left the company’s fleet of Boeing 737s out of position across the country.

Management messages to Southwest employees seen by Bloomberg News highlight how the chaos unfolded, and how the carrier struggled as the systems used to coordinate a vast network of airplanes, destinations and flight crews were first overwhelmed and then failed to recover.

The airline confirmed the authenticity of the memos, and in previous statements has apologized to customers and tried to explain what led to the crisis.

“Part of what we’re suffering is a lack of tools,” Jordan, a 34-year Southwest veteran, said to employees late on Christmas Day. The company’s crew scheduling system is one area in need of investment, he said.

“We need to be able to produce solutions faster. We need to be able to communicate with each other where it doesn’t involve a phone call,” Jordan said.

Cold front

T H E effects of the storm were building well before Christmas. By

the evening of December 21, frigid temperatures, high winds and heavy precipitation were disrupting Southwest operations in Denver, limiting the number of flights the carrier could handle safely, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said in one message.

The carrier suspended operations at Chicago’s Midway airport, meaning both locations had fewer flights shuttling crews between their home bases and assignments, he said.

By December 23, 90 percent of Southwest’s routes had been affected by weather. Yet, Watterson said, actions to deal with the chaos had positioned the carrier for fewer cancellations on Saturday, Christmas Eve.

“As long as there’s not another disruption, we’ll start the day in a much better position,” Watterson said.

Yet by late December 23, Southwest was “heavily disrupted, undoing all of the work” to position crewmembers, Watterson said in an update the next day.

Foggy San Diego

U N E x P ECTED fog triggered a ground stop and delays in San Diego. A glitch slowed refueling in Denver. Southwest’s Dallas Love Field stronghold was packed with parked aircraft to ease congestion at northern airports battered by cold, without enough gates to accommodate them.

Many flight crews began December 24 either out of position or resting under US aviation safety rules, leaving the airline with “no choice but to implement additional cancellations,” Watterson said.

By Christmas Day, hundreds of

Southwest flights were awaiting crew assignments even as improving weather helped alleviate a majority of its ground operational woes and competitors were restoring their schedules.

Supporting crew scheduling had become the company’s “larger focus,” with teams working extra shifts to troubleshoot problems with an “allhands on deck” approach, Watterson said in a December 25 update. The airline is in the process of upgrading its crew systems. The work by teams struggling to overcome the crew and scheduling chaos is “highly manual” and can’t be addressed with more people alone.

“Our current systems are overmatched in situations of this scale,” Watterson said.

In his video Tuesday night, Jordan said the company would double down on plans to upgrade systems “so that we never again face what’s happening right now.”

Official questions

ONCE Southwest gets its planes back in the air, it will have to answer questions from lawmakers and US transportation officials.

Jordan spoke Tuesday with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who conveyed the Department’s expectation that Southwest meet its obligations to passengers and workers and take steps to prevent a situation like this from happening again.

“This has clearly crossed the line from what’s an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airline’s direct responsibility,” Buttigieg said Tuesday on the NBC Nightly News. With assistance from Steven T. Dennis / Bloomberg

. . .

continued from A16

“You saw that in how they voted in the 2022 cycle and you’ll see that in 2024,” he added.

Yet while younger voters skewed toward Democrats in the 2022 midterms, their enthusiasm waned from 2020, when dislike for the chaotic presidency of Donald Trump drove them to the polls in greater num-

bers. It’s a potential warning sign for Biden, especially if the GOP nominates a fresh face. Biden entered the White House almost two years ago with pent up expectations but long odds for delivering on them with the slimmest of margins in Congress. Right out of the gate, he secured passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. But then he quickly ran into hurdles with a series of even larger proposals first billed as the “American Families Plan” and

later the “Build Back Better” package.

A tortuous period of on-again, off-again talks with West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin pared back those proposals and weighed down Biden and his White House for months, even after passage of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law.

In the legislative morass and the fallout from the darkest moment yet of Biden’s presidency — the chaotic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan last summer—Biden’s

approval rating plummeted. It wasn’t until mid-2022, as the midterm elections loomed, that Biden was able to break through the gridlock and secure legislation that would make for the most productive first-term Congress since President Lyndon Johnson, with bipartisan action on gun violence and rebooting domestic high-tech manufacturing, and Democrats-only investments in combating climate change and lowering drug costs.

Southwest Airlines memos showed growing alarm on eve of epic winter storm

PLDT EXECS BUYING FIRM’S SHARES AT LOW PRICES

By VG Cabuag @villygc

SEVERAL executives of PLDT Inc., including its chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan and its president and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio, are acquiring shares of the company as its price falls.

I n its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Pangilinan on December 19 has bought 3,000 shares between the price range of P1,235 to P1,269. Panlilio, meanwhile, also bought the same amount of shares also on December 19 at P1,270 per share.

L uis Gregorio D. Casas, a vice president of the company, bought 170 shares on December 19, while Victorico P. Vargas also bought 3,000 shares since October 11 through December 19 at  P1,425 to P1,260 per share.

L uis Limlingan, managing director at Regina Capital Development Corp., said it is “very tough” to say anything at this point on the intentions of the two top most executives on their buying.

“ It could also be a signaling to other investors that they believe the selling is overdone, as we can see today (Wednesday), the stock did react positively to the news of the buying as PLDT traded up once again,” Limlingan said.

At the end of the day, we can only guess their true inten -

Nancy,

tions,” he said.

P LDT shares were up on Wednesday by P51, or 4 percent, to close at P1,313 apiece. PLDT shares were the most sold down and has lost 26 percent of its price in four weeks, following the news of budget overruns that is now at P48 billion.

T he Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, earlier said, it is deeply concerned over the recent news surrounding PLDT.

This development has resulted in a sudden and sharp decline in the company’s market price over the past week, causing some apprehension among shareholders,” the group said.

We recognize the PLDT leadership for taking swift action in addressing the matter and in cooperating with regulatory bodies over inquiries raised. We trust that PLDT will take the necessary measures to uphold their values of transparency, accountability, and integrity,” SharePhil said.

Given PLDT’s commitment to good corporate governance, we call on them to ensure that their minority shareholders are given the same level of treatment and consideration as all of their other stakeholders during this process,” it said, adding that it is looking forward to a quick and decisive resolution of this matter, for the good of the investors and to restore investor confidence in the company.

tourism players, DOTr:

Tighten border controls for Chinese tourists in PHL

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

THE country’s premier group of tourism stakeholders has called on the government to step up its arrival protocols for inbound Chinese travelers so as not affect the growth in tourists from other markets.

Similar sentiments were aired by the Transportation secretary and the head of a Senate panel overseeing the tourism sector.

D epartment of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said he’s in favor of imposing Covid measures including testing on inbound travelers from China, mulling similar plans by the US amid a rapid rise in infections in the mainland as Covid Zero restrictions are lifted, according to a Bloomberg report.

“ We should be very cautious because if they have a lot of Covid cases, we should be careful about Chinese visitors coming into the Philippines,” Bautista told reporters Wednesday. Bautista said he supports testing visitors coming from China, but not banning them.

Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) President Jose C. Clemente III told the BusinessMirror , “With the current situation in mainland China, we would recommend elevated entry requirements for tourists coming to the Philippines. There should be pre-testing before departure and upon arrival, then quarantine if found positive.”

He explained, “We are already enjoying robust arrivals and any disruption due to a possible resurgence of the virus may set us back. Prudence is a must.” He noted the strength of the Canadian and European markets since the country reopened its borders to leisure travelers on February 10. Data from

the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed Canada arrivals at 113,776 and the UK at 95,388 from February to December 22. Germany and France were also among the top source markets for tourists at 36,487 and 22,656, respectively.

Prepping for Lunar New Year

WITH Beijing’s recent announcement of relaxed international travel procedures, a number of markets are tightening their borders to protect the health of their own citizens, as international news reports point to a surge in Covid infections in China. Japan, for one, will be requiring Chinese tourists to take an antigen Covid test upon arrival, and quarantine if found positive. India and Malaysia are also instituting similar requirements. The United States is considering stricter arrival protocols as well, claiming the lack of transparency in China’s Covid data. The Philippines has yet to announce any travel rules for arriving Chinese tourists.

For her part, Senator Nancy Binay also suggested caution on government’s part when receiving Chinese tourists, stressing, “safety should always be the priority. We expect an influx of Chinese tourists over the Chinese New Year holidays beginning January 22. As much as possible, we don’t want to discriminate tourists who want to visit the Philippines, but Covid cases in China have spiked to over a million already, and without the necessary border controls, incoming flights from the Mainland may trigger a surge of Covid cases in our country.”

She pointed out, “Traveling is still a major virus carrier, and as a default policy, we can still implement the ‘Test Before Travel’ rule, which requires all visitors from Mainland China to have a negative RT-PCR result 48 to 72 hours prior to travel.”

NTC orders telcos to report on SIM law registry issues

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

new processes.  “ While these glitches and birth pains are common during the initial stages of implementing new systems, we continue to optimize our SIM registration platform to mitigate future incidents, and to better serve more Filipinos. We are likewise confident that we will be able to accommodate the registration of all existing subscribers within the deadline set by the law and the implementing rules and regulations. Rest assured that we are doing our best to deliver the best SIM registration experience possible for our subscribers,” she said.

500,000” subscribers registered.  It added that it is in “close coordination” with the NTC.

T he three telcos launched on Tuesday their respective platforms for SIM Registration.

Smart’s website suffered glitches, with the platform showing 502 Bad Gateway notifications, while Globe had to go temporarily offline due to some optimization works and “potential minor vulnerabilities in the microsite.”

I n a memorandum dated December 27, NTC Deputy Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez said: “You are hereby directed to report to this Commission the incidents of incomplete registration, platform involved, number of subscribers affected, geographical area, and actions taken to address these issues, as well as actions taken to mitigate or eliminate future incidents of similar nature.”

Telcos are required to submit their reports on Wednesday, December 28.

The Commission has received information of numerous incidents involving unsuccessful or incom -

plete SIM registration from the general public. There are also initial social media reports of registration sites being down or inaccessible to subscribers,” Lopez said.

W hen sought for comments and clarifications, Smart Communications Inc. Spokesperson Cathy Yang said on the first day of SIM Registration, 244,840 Smart Prepaid, Smart Bro, and TNT users; and 143,682 Smart Postpaid subscribers, or a total of 388,522 subscribers, were able to complete their SIM registration.

S he admitted that there were glitches in Smart’s portal, but noted that these are common in

F or her part, Globe Telecom Inc. Spokesman Yoly Crisanto said Globe has logged over 1.5 million SIM registrations as of 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Its platform only went online on Wednesday, after some “finetuning and optimization for better customer experience.”

Our SIM registration platform is back up and running, and we’re happy to report that our customers are logging in to register. We shall continue to closely monitor the site’s performance using the 72-hour window from December 27 to check the stability and full optimization of the system,” Crisanto said.  Dito Telecommunity Corp., on the other hand, said its registration process has been “successful” with “close to

Dito, on the other hand, reported “success” and described the maiden implementation as “smooth,” given that it used its mobile application for the registration process.

A s of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, both Globe and Smart’s SIM Registration platforms are accessible to the public.

P resident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law the SIM Registration Act on October 10. Under the new law, mobile phone users are required to register their mobile numbers and their identities with their mobile operators. The law aims to reduce scamming and phishing incidents, which have become rampant over the course of the pandemic.

It also hopes to address misinformation, spam messages, and deter crimes such as human trafficking, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, and terrorism, among others.

Makabayan: Resume GRP-NDFP peace talks

THE Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives has called for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

House Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro filed a resolution to support the continuation of the GRP-NDFP peace process, which she said already went through several milestones.

S he cited among the major developments in the negotiations at that time was the common draft

of the Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reform (CASER), which would have “addressed the causes of the armed conflict.”

T he CASER includes provisions on “land reform and rural development and on national industrialization and economic development.”

“ The breakthroughs in the peace negotiations have generated much support among our people, including members of Congress,” Castro said.

D uring the 18th Congress, she said 130 members of the House of Representatives backed the

peace talks.

B ut before the CASER could be signed, President Rodrigo R. Duterte decided to terminate the peace talks in 2017 due to the alleged continued attacks of communist forces against government military amid the then ongoing negotiations.

C astro blamed the decision of Duterte to “sabotage by the militarists and opponents of basic socioeconomic and political reforms.”

S he said the current administration should complete the negotiations.

No amount of fake news, red tagging and presentation of fake

surrenderees can change the fact that there are glaring inequalities present in Philippine society. If these are not addressed then it will only worsen until the present oppressive and exploitative system is replaced by a more just and humane one,” Castro said.

C astro filed the resolution following the death of Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison last December 16.

T he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the death of Sison will pave the way for peace talks with local units of the CPP.  Samuel P. Medenilla

MOBILE operators are required to report to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issues related to the first day of implementation of the SIM Registration Law.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND A dog gingerly balances itself on the back of its owner’s motorcycle as they transverse Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022. ROY DOMINGO

ERC: Revising pass-through rules to protect consumers

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Pass-through costs are amounts collected by Dus for charges other than the distribution charge or the payment for use of the Dus f acilities. These include payments to generation companies, Feed-in Tariff a l lowance (Fi T-a l l), and un iversal Charge ( uC ).

but will also ensure the protection of all electricity consumers.

MWC, partners unveil facility for IP community

Water Foundation.

ERC Chairperson Monalisa C. Dimalanta said the agency has adopted Resolution no. 14 Series of 2022, which revises the rules governing the automatic cost adjustment and trueup mechanisms and corresponding confirmation processes for distribution utilities (Dus).

i n a nutshell, the resolution will provide greater transparency in prescribing detailed calculations of different components of the power bill and will reinforce the Du s accountability by ensuring the accuracy and completeness of

the information provided to the ERC through more frequent submission of reports.

it will also set a limit, which if exceeded, prompts an adjustment to correct over or under-recovery of the pass-through charges; and it will streamline the process and will reduce regulatory lag for more efficient rate reviews.

a timely confirmation process strikes a balance between protecting electricity consumers from overcharging and Dus from underrecovery, Dimalanta said.

By its nature, the principle of “pass-through” dictates that the Dus shall not gain or lose from these charges.

under the revised rules, passedthrough costs to be collected are: generation charges, transmission charges, and other subsidies and mandatory payments, such as l i feline and Senior Citizen Subsidies, mandated by laws, System l o ss, and Other Pass-through Costs as may be approved by the Commission.

Dimalanta said the revisions will not only promote transparency and accountability among the Dus,

“We are looking forward to 2023 as the beginning of an era of greater transparency in electricity pricing. The new uR R [uniform reportorial requirement] form will allow more information to be available and accessible. This is the first step to the d igital transformation we are undertaking in the Commission to speed up our processes and allow more predictability in regulation,” she said.

Resolution no. 14 also directs the creation of a Restricted Fund by the Dus, in which over-collections are maintained and earmarked for the specific purpose of being used as repayment to customers in subsequent billing months.

This results in a mechanism whereby Dus effect more timely refunds without being subjected to regulatory lag, under certain conditions.

CIC online store opens lifestyle hub

CO n C EP S T ORE , a fullystocked online appliance store managed by Concepcion i n dustrial Corp. (C iC ), has opened its lifestyle hub with a variety of modern home appliances. a s ide from the personalized shopping experience, the company said customers can still avail of its exclusive gifting services.

a gift registry has been set up for a more thoughtful item selection, a dedicated shopper assigned to help customers discover the best gifts, gift wrapping services for a special packaging of gift items and, finally, the Santa’s Sleigh delivery service that offers single transaction-multiple delivery points to ensure gifts are delivered on time.

“Filipinos celebrate the holiday season intimately with family and friends and we understand that this can be a stressful experience for many,” said C iC Chief Strategy

and Transformation Officer Ma. Victoria a Betita.

“So, this holiday season we are giving the gift of relaxation to our customers through thoughtfully

selected products and seamless gifting services that make life easier so they can spend more meaningful and stress-free moments with loved ones.”

The ConcepStore l i festyle Hub now also serves as an events place for intimate occasions. To help clients curate their events, its current partner merchants— a u diophile, Bakerae, Wine Depot, and l e t’s Meat trading—provide customized services.

C i C has also introduced the ConcepClub, offering members exclusive access to events, first dibs on new products to be launched, and priority delivery. Members can enjoy a 20 percent discount on purchases. Roderick L. Abad

Manila Water Foundation, together with its institutional partners, Manila Water Co. (MWC), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and One Meralco Foundation (OMF), recently inaugurated a water treatment facility with a chlorinator and sand filter for a Dumagat community.

The facility will produce clean potable water to be stored in the five- water-tank reservoir over a 3-kilometer water line, and 17 watering points in Sitio Sapang Munti in norzagaray, Bulacan.

a g reements were formalized among the water concessionaires, MWSS, and the Department of Environment and natural Resources (DE n R ) to collaborate and complement resources for the ipo Watershed Management Plan, which safeguards its responsible protection, development, management and conservation.

Manila Water Foundation said it responds to the call for environmental sustainability within the watershed through the development of a program on Wa SH or water access, sanitation and hygiene, designed to address the needs of the indigenous peoples in Sitio Sapang Munti.

a series of technical and social assessments were conducted, with the cooperation of the MWSS Watershed Division and the community members, enabling the development of a water access project under the i nt egrated Wa SH program of Manila

During the water treatment facility handover, Manila Water Foundation Executive Director Reginald a ndal pointed out the importance of having a clean source of water to the community and how it can help protect individuals from having illnesses and diseases.

Isa po sa pinakamahalagang elemento ng ating pamumuhay ay ang ating tubig. Sisiguraduhin nating lagi po tayong may tubig para maligtas sa kahit anong sakit,” he said.

The water system project will be operated and managed by the community of Sitio Sapang Munti, to ensure a more sustainable, safe, and reliable water source for at least 100 families.

Sitio Sapang Munti resident Maritess Cruz shared the challenges of living in a waterless community. “Hindi po kami marunong maghugas ng kamay nang tama. Basta ganun-ganun lang. Hindi rin po namin alam na ‘yung kinukuhanan namin ng tubig noon ay marumi pala. Sa tagal po ng panahon, pakiramdam ko ngayon lang kami nagising,” she said.

Manila Water said the water access project demonstrates synergy across business groups. a long with Manila Water Foundation’s integrated Wa SH program, One Meralco Foundation will provide solar panels that will energize the water treatment facility. Hence, the water system and the solar electricity can enable the proper Wa SH practices in schools as their existing handwashing facility and toilet are now directly connected to the water line.

SOu TH Korean retail investors have bought a net $2.8 billion worth of Tesla inc. stock this year amid the electric-vehicle maker’s worst slump on record.

Day traders have added $160 million in Tesla shares this month through December 27, on track for a third month of net purchases, according to data from Korea Securities Depository. They continued to buy even as the stock has tumbled 44 percent in December, headed for its worst-ever month.

Tesla remains the most popular overseas stock among Korean retail traders, who sharply increased investment during the pandemic. Elon Musk has built a devoted fan base in the a s ian nation, luring dip-buyers in its 2022 collapse on top of those who piled in as it soared over the previous two years.

Tesla supplier lG Energy Solution ltd. has been a beneficiary as well, with Korean mom-and-pop investors pouring a record amount of funds into the battery maker’s initial public offering in January. lG Energy’s shares are up 46 percent since its debut.

GR a B has tied up with Tahanang Walang Hagdanan i n c., SOS Children’s Villages, and Caritas Manila for its initiative, “Paskumpleto Para Sa l a hat: Give Back Through GrabExpress.”

This initiative aims to use the company’s technology for good by giving discounts and rewards to consumers who use its parcel delivery service, GrabExpress, to send donations to the partner organizations until December 31.

To avail of these perks, customers can use the promo code Pa R aS a la H a T to get a 25 percent off on delivery fee. They can also choose to send their donations via the new GrabExpress service, i n stant-Saver, which lines up deliveries in batches of other parcels, giving the same convenience of a regular GrabExpress delivery, but at a cheaper price.

Receiving positive response from user-donors, the supperapp recently spent a Paskumpleto with Grab event in Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, wherein their donated n o che Buena packages with pantry staples and hygiene essentials were given to 270 workers.

“We are very thankful to Grab for bringing joy to us this Christmas season. We are very happy that you remember and choose to spend the holidays with us

through this activity. May this not be the first and last that it will happen here,” said Delia Rodriguez, a 60-year-old memberemployee of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan.

Founded in 1973, this nongovernment organization in Cainta, Rizal was established to provide programs, services, assistance and employment opportunities to more than a hundred people with disabilities (PWDs).

Since the Philippines has the longest Christmas celebration in the world, donors can still continue to send goodies until end of the year for its PWD workers through GrabExpress directly to the office of Tahanang Walang Hagdanan via Carmelita n a rciza at 09234536276 or Erika Villaflores at 09637683725. They can also opt to send financial support through Chief Operations Officer a n gelita B. Evangelista via GCash a c count n o . 09206447789.

Supporters of SOS Children’s

Villages in a l abang can send Media n o che packages to its over 170 kids, guardians and employees. Consumers can also help through financial support to help the organization continue its programs that support children’s health and developmental needs. a donation of P1,000 can cover five days worth of nutritious meals for every child. For coordination and queries about donations, get in touch with Corporate Relations Officer Kaila Gilo at 09274179071.

Those who want to help Caritas Manila’s Segunda Mana, they can send via cash or in-kind donations of clothes, bags, shoes, and household items for the benefit of the Youth Servant l e adership and Education Program and support of the education of more than 5,000 Filipino students. Through GrabExpress, donations can be coursed to any Segunda Mana Charity Outlet via 09175955083.

SSS’s disbursements up 13.2% to ₧236.3 billion in Jan-Nov 2022 period

THE Social Security System (SSS) announced having disbursed a total of P236.3 billion in benefits from January to November 2022, a growth of 13.2 percent from the P208.8 billion benefit disbursements it recorded for the same period last year.

SSS President and CEO Michael G. Regino was quoted in a statement as saying that the rise in disbursements this year is driven by the following: increases in number of benefit claims; number of members and pensioners; and, amount of benefit releases for retirement, disability and death.

Regino said that the agency received 4.58 million benefit claims for the first 11 months of 2022, 7.3-percent higher than the 4.27 million benefit claims received for the same period last year.

He added that the number of SSS pensioners grew to 3.18 million by November 2022 from just 3 million last year.

Regino added that SSS’s retirement, disability and death benefit monthly disbursements, which averaged at P16.6 billion in 2021, increased to P19.53 billion for January to November this year.

From 2016 to 2021, the amount of SSS benefit disbursements and the number of claims also grew by an average of 11.4 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively, despite the 1-percent decrease in both in 2020. Regino said the decrease was seen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The upward trend in SSS benefit payments in recent years is also attributed to the grant of additional monthly benefit, implementation of a new benefit program and higher salary base for benefit computation.

In 2017, the SSS granted a P1,000 additional monthly benefit for pensioners pursuant to a Memorandum from the Executive Secretary dated February 22, 2017, by authority of the President of the Philippines.

In 2019, Republic Act (RA) 11199 (Social Security Act of 2018) was implemented. Among other provi-

sions, RA 11199 expanded the SSS’s mandatory membership coverage, introduced the unemployment benefit program and Workers’ Investment Savings Program (WISP) and increased the minimum and maximum monthly salary credit (MSC).

In the same year, RA 11210 (105day Expanded Maternity Leave Law) was implemented, increasing the number of compensable days of maternity leave, from 60 days for normal delivery and 78 days for caesarian section delivery, to 105 days for live childbirth, regardless of the type of delivery, plus an additional 15 days if the female worker qualifies as a solo parent. The law also extended the maternity leave to every instance of pregnancy, miscarriage, or emergency termination of pregnancy, regardless of frequency, from the previous limit of only for the first four deliveries or miscarriages.

“With all these changes, we were able to disburse P1.20 trillion benefits through 23.87 million claims in less than six years, specifically from January 2017 to November 2022,” Regino said through the statement.

From 2011 to 2016, SSS’s benefit disbursements reached P606.47 billion for 16.79 million claims.

“As we continue to see higher benefit payments through these developments, it is equally important for us to also implement the scheduled reforms provided under the Social Security Act of 2018 that aim to strengthen the SSS fund for us to continue serving our current and future members and their beneficiaries,” he concluded.

Starting January 2023, the SSS will increase its contribution rate by 1 percent, making it 14 percent from the previous 13 percent. The employer’s share of the contribution will rise to 9.5 percent, while the employee’s share will remain at 4.5 percent. Selfemployed, voluntary and land-based Overseas Filipino Worker members, on the other hand, will shoulder the 1 percent increase. The minimum and maximum MSCs will also increase from P3,000 to P4,000 and P25,000 to P30,000, respectively.

Customers sue FTX co-founder as part of Chapter 11 case

CUSTOMERS of failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX sued in bankruptcy court in hopes of being first in line to recover some of the billions lost in the meltdown of Sam BankmanFried’s digital-asset empire.

A group of four FTX customers asked a bankruptcy judge last Tuesday to rule their holdings in the Bahamas-based exchange belong to them, rather than FTX. They want the judge to give customers repayment priority over other FTX creditors, according to a Delaware bankruptcy court filing. The group is also asking to have the suit certified as a classaction case.

Sam Bankman-Fried, cofounder of FTX Cryptocurrency Derivatives Exchange, departed from court in New York, US, last Thursday. Bankman-Fried was released on a $250 million bail package after making his first US court appearance to face fraud charges over the collapse of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange he co-founded.

Authorities accuse BankmanFried—the exchange’s 30-year-old founder—of fraudulently raising $1.8 billion from investors and using FTX funds to make high-risk bets at his hedge fund, Alameda Research, and cover personal expenses. He’s facing federal criminal charges of wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering. He’s currently free on bond and living with his parents in California.

“Cash and assets traceable to customers, which never belonged to FTX or Alameda and do not belong” to other bankruptcy creditors, “should be earmarked solely for customers,” according to the 63-page suit, known as an adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court.

Bankman-Fried’s spokesman didn’t immediately return an email for comment late Tuesday about the bankruptcy suit.

Federal prosecutors are investigating an alleged cybercrime that drained more than $370 million out of FTX just hours after the exchange’s Chapter 11 filing hit court dockets last month, Bloomberg News reported last Tuesday.

The amount stolen is considerably less than the billions Bankman-Fried is accused of swindling while at the helm of FTX. He’s also accused of buying hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of beachfront property in the Bahamas and making hefty political donations.

Bankman-Fried—known for his floppy hair, T-shirts and shorts—blamed FTX’s meltdown on his own sloppy management practices and wrong-way bets through Alameda. He has said he never intended to defraud investors.

The FTX customers suing Bankman-Fried and other FTX officials say they intentionally used customer holdings to wrongfully bolster Alameda and fund their own lavish lifestyles. Bloomberg News

Preference for short term tenors marks TDF auction

By VG Cabuag @villygc

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it raised P355.79 billion out of its offer of P360 billion from the term-deposit facility (TDF) auction on Wednesday, higher than the P260 billion last week as the central bank saw preference for the shorter term tenor.

The total offer volume was allocated between the 7-day was at P200 billion, up from last week’s P150 bil-

lion and 14-day tenors at P160 billion up from P110 billion.

A slight undersubscription was

seen with the 14-day TDF, with bidto-cover ratios at 1.03 times and 0.97 times the respective offer volumes for the 7-day and 14-day TDF, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco G. Dakila Jr. said

Total tenders received reached P362.59 billion, which the BSP said was well within its expected volume range.

The BSP awarded P200 billion, from P206.8 billion in bids, in the 7-day tenor and accepted P155.790 billion in the 14-day tenor.

The resulting weighted average interest rates for the awarded bids in both tenors continued to rise from last week.

The weighted average interest rates for the 7-day TDF rose by 3.9429 basis points to 6.2860 percent, while

for the 14-day TDF increased by 4.7972 basis points to 6.3803 percent. The yields accepted for both tenors also shifted higher but narrowed the band. The 7-day tenor moved to a range of 6.0750 to 6.4 percent, while that for the 14-day tenor stood at 6.2 to 6.6 percent.

The results of the TDF auction reflected the pass-through of the 50 basis points rate hike by the BSP last December 15.

“Eligible counterparties’ inclination for the shorter tenor was also observed amid preference for cash over the upcoming holidays. Going forward, the BSP’s monetary operations will remain guided by its assessment of the latest liquidity conditions and market developments,” Dakila said in a statement.

‘Slow adoption of next gen payment to impact banks’

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

IRISH-AMERICAN professional services company Accenture Plc (NYSE: ACN) said that up to $89 billion (4.6 percent) of global payment revenues could be at risk in the next three years for banks that are slow to offer next-generation payments options.

A new report by ACN identified that $34 billion of payment revenues is at stake in North America, more than $25 billion is under threat in Latin America and more than $24 billion in Asia-Pacific. In Europe, where more than 55 percent of consumers do not make use credit cards regularly, more than $4 billion of payment revenue is at risk.

The report, “Payments Gets Personal,” is based on a survey of more than 16,000 consumers in 13 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. It explores how leading banks and payments players can increase their relevance in the consumer transaction journey and capitalize on future payment innovations.

ACN said that “although traditional payment methods still dominate the consumer payments landscape, next-generation offerings are rapidly gaining traction.”

The Dublin, Ireland-headquartered firm said its survey identified high usage of traditional payments

methods such as cash (used by 66 percent of survey respondents), debit cards (64 percent) and credit cards (48 percent). However, more than half (56 percent) of consumers surveyed said use digital wallets and 10 percent use account-to-account (A2A) payment apps.

Disruption expected

ACN said to expect “more disruption” from biometrics payments (authentication of physical characteristics such as retinas, palm/fingerprints and faces.

It added that more than four in 10 respondents (42 percent) believe that biometrics are likely to be widely used by 2025. About 9 percent of respondents said they would be willing to use it as their in-person primary method of payment, if available, by 2025.

The research also found that external macroeconomic factors including inflation and rising interest rates are shaping consumers’ payment choices as they look to reduce debt interest. Almost one third (31 percent) of credit card users said they are considering switching to other payment instruments for inperson shopping, with slightly more than half (54 percent) of these planning to use non-interest-charging payment methods including debit cards, cash and buy now, pay later financing.

“As consumers re-evaluate how they pay and move their money, traditional payments providers are rapidly losing their hold over the customer payments experience to newer market entrants,” ACN Managing Director Sulabh Agarwal was quoted in a statement as saying. “This

significant threat to core banking revenue is compounded by the current economic volatility, accelerating digitization and consumer demand for seamless payments.”

Recommended strategies

THE report recommends several strategies for banks seeking to deliver seamless payments experiences.

The report suggests that banks need to embrace partnerships to scale. “Collaboration with other banks and fintechs can help defend core payments revenue and lock out new entrants.”

Simplicity and speed should also be offered. “Apps and digital wallets can replace physical branch interactions and digitize payments while offering deeper insights into customers’ behaviors and needs.”

The report also recommends that banks move beyond payments as “online marketplaces and ‘super-apps’ can position banks at the center of consumers’ digital lives.”

“Now is the time for banks to put a stake in the ground and implement a strategy to defend their core payments revenue,” Agarwal said. “Banks that make bold moves to embrace next-generation payment methods offering people more choice and control could unlock higher levels of customer engagement and drive growth in a rising-interest-rate environment.”

Insurer extends financial literacy to students, women

THE The Manufacturers Life Insurance Co. (Phils.) Inc. (Manulife) announced it has expanded its financial literacy program called “Peso Smart” with new sessions for over 300 university students from across the country.

Manulife added it also extended the program to provide financial lessons to 50 female heads of household from two communities in Quezon City and Sagada, Mountain Province. To further promote financial education through creative storytelling, a new iteration of the insurer’s storybook series is also available to download for free on the company’s website.

“These initiatives are aligned with a key area of focus within Manulife’s global impact agenda: driving inclusive economic opportunities to create a more even playing field for all,” the insurer said. It added that since starting the program in 2017, its financial literacy program has produced more than 1,500 graduates nationwide.

“We continue to evolve ‘Peso Smart’ so we can reach more Filipinos and equip them with the financial skills they need to be smarter money managers,” Manulife Philippines Chief Marketing Officer Melissa Henson was quoted in a statement as saying. “Through customized modules and activities that are delivered using various media, we share knowledge and practical skills that can empower them to save, grow their money and more confidently take charge of their future.”

Informed decisions

TO respond to the increasing desire among Filipinos for financial well-being, Manulife said it held a 4-part virtual “Peso Smart University,” or PSU,

class attended by 300 university students “who learned more about personal finances, investments and unit investment trust funds [UITFs], as well as explored a career as a financial advisor.”

This year’s PSU students included scholars of the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. who study at various universities, along with students from Silliman University, Saint Scholastica’s College Manila, University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines-Los Baños.

In partnership with the Corazon Sanchez Atayde Memorial Foundation Inc., the financial literacy program also produced self-learning modules and

instructional videos for female heads of household from Quezon City and Sagada, Mountain Province. These women gathered weekly for 2-hour huddles with a financial expert to discuss, share and analyze outputs, according to the insurer.

“To make financial education a family affair, we hope to empower Filipino families to manage their finances and make informed decisions together— like setting and monitoring their budget for basic necessities, saving for emergencies and covering school expenses—so that they can collaboratively build their plans for a better future and live every day better,” Henson said. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

This infographic courtesy of Accenture Plc shows the rising adoption of digital payments.

Health& Fitness

BusinessMirror

Govt urged to partner with private hospitals for bivalent vaccine purchase, administration

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

THE national government is encouraged to engage with private hospitals in the procurement and administration of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as in raising awareness on the dangers of a long coronavirus infection.

Members of the Advisory Council of Experts (ACE), led by Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion, made these suggestions on how the administration can proceed with bivalent vaccines and become more successful in its future inoculation initiatives.

“We remain the government’s ally in its vaccination efforts,” said the entrepreneurial czar, who earlier sent a letter to the Department of Health (DOH), which contains the recommendations from ACE members, experts’ insight and guidance from the private sector.

Procurement pact

THE country’s foremost authorities on medicine, public health, epidemiology, economics, research and data analytics who comprise the Council advised private hospitals and other health-care facilities to enter into agreements to procure bivalent vaccines.

These jabs can then be sold at cost and administered by health-care professionals as part of the hospitals’ corporate social responsibility efforts.

They, likewise, proposed that anyone can receive the vaccines, even those who may fall outside the priority-queueing system that was used in the government’s previous inoculation activities.

ACE members also sought to address the lack of Certificates of Product Registration of the bivalent vaccines and to

help the health agency achieve higher vaccine accessibility and coverage, as well as help ease the government’s tasks and allow it to focus on the vulnerable sectors of society.

Past initiatives of the private sector include the August 2021 lockdowns to stem an impending surge in cases, as well the “A Dose of Hope” vaccine procurement program that secured millions of doses for the Philippines amid limited supply and regulatory roadblocks. It also resulted in initiatives that reopened businesses as the pandemic became more manageable.

Commitments gained

MANNY Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Group’s hospitals have already committed to the plan to procure the vaccines and sell them at cost with a minimal administration fee.

Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Co believes that other private hospitals can follow suit. He noted that it depends on their manpower capacity, vaccine storage and logistics, as well as approval from the DOH and the local government units.

According to him, the plan to tap private hospitals and clinics makes sense. He said: “Majority of those willing to get the vaccine are also those willing to pay for it. Patients also feel more comfortable getting vaccinated in the healthcare setting rather than having to do it in a mall or school or wherever else, because the facilities for monitoring postvaccination problems are better assured in a hospital than in a mall or makeshift vaccination center.”

They are, likewise, more confident of highly trained health-care professionals performing the inoculation on them and are assured of the quality of storage and

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Using nicotine during adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.

a c cording to U s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the brain keeps developing until about the age of 25. i t a dded that each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections, or synapses, are built between brain cells.

“Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. n cotine changes the way these synapses are formed. Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs,” the U s CDC stated.

Nicotine is harmful

w it H t his, the Parents a g ainst Vape (PaV ) has

raised alarm against the plan of Philip Morris i nternational i nc (PM i ) t o make its heated tobacco product BO n D s by i Q O s available in sari-sari stores nationwide.

t h e PaV a lso called on other parents and guardians to take a stance against the plan of the PM . B O n D s by i Q O s with its accompanying tobacco sticks, B l en D s is a new product from i Q O s

F ormally launched in 2019 in Davao City, Parents a g ainst Vape is an association of parents working together to promote policies that protect children and youth against the harmful effects of vapes and e-cigarettes.

BO n D s by i Q O s is the PM i s heated tobacco product that was launched recently in the Philippines. t he product is intended for adults who would otherwise continue smoking or using other nicotine products.

Both BO n D s by i Q O s and B l en D s are now

handling of special vaccines like mRNA since doing so can be a challenge for hospitals with fewer resources, he added.

“Note that the mRNA vaccine will require storage at temperatures at less than minus 20 degrees Celsius, and once removed from storage, will be thawed at two to eight degrees Celsius, where the hospital/clinic should maintain this temperature,” explained Dr. Co, who is also chief of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases section at the University of Santo Tomas.

When initially thawed, the vaccines will be good for one month, but once the vial is opened, and its contents diluted, it is good only for the next six hours. He said: “This is one vaccine where proper storage is key to maintaining stability of the contents in order to retain its potency. Without the preservation of the proper cold chain and logistical preparation, it would be more wastage of vaccines.”

Widening vaccine coverage

WHILE vaccine wastage linked to low booster take-up has led to doing away with the priority sector system, Vaccine Expert Panel member Dr. Rontgene Solante believes that giving jabs to people who want it is but one of many strategies to increase coverage.

“There are pockets of strategies to increase vaccine coverage among the population at risk, focusing on the benefits of additional protection with bivalent vaccines,” he said.

The chairman of Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at San Lazaro Hospital urged that the private sector should require all employees with comorbidities to get the bivalent vaccines; incentivize vaccinations among senior citizens; and the general popula -

tion must be aware of the dangers of a prolonged coronavirus infection.

“Long Covid…is now considered an important cause of morbidity due to long-term complications such as brain fog, chronic fatigue and mental health, which can affect productivity and quality of life,” he said.

Drs. Solante and Co agreed that bivalent vaccines can provide significant protection.

“It has better and broader protection against Omicron VOCs [variants of concern] and its subvariants, both in getting the infection and developing severe infection,” the former said, adding that bivalent boosters add 50 percent efficacy against severe disease from Omicron.

The latter offered that recently published studies revealed that the bivalent vaccines continue to show efficacy at protecting high-risk patients from hospitalization. Co said: “While we do not have a perfect vaccine at the moment as none of those in the market are transmission blockers, the vaccines work at making the disease less severe when we do get breakthrough infections.”

He added that bivalent vaccines’ efficacy must be considered in the light of the economic impact on health at a time of a pandemic.

“Lockdowns alone do not work at decreasing the risk of future surges. The virus continues to evolve and survive and co-exist with us. We need to remember that while we cannot be one step ahead of them, we can prevent the virus from [becoming] debilitating,” Co said.

“I think we’ve come to a point where people already know how to keep themselves from being infected. Our job now is to make sure they have the means to keep protecting themselves from severe illness and death,” Concepcion stressed.

DOH urges public to find safer ways to usher in 2023

Blast or burns without amputation, eye injury that might lead to blindness, t etanus, poisoning (ingestion), and death are the direct health effects of the misuse of fireworks or firecrackers according to the Department of Health (DOH). to a void these firework-related injuries or even death, DOH officer-incharge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire encouraged the public to find harmless, family-friendly ways to welcome 2023.

Families, Vergeire said, can alternatively utilize loud noises from other sources such as loud speakers, horns, percussion instruments, pans and pots among many others for a safer and more joyous holiday celebration.

Hospitals ready

Meanw H i le , the DOH said that hospitals are ready to accommodate victims of firecrackers.

“Our hospitals are well prepared for this. we ha ve robust surveillance system for our fireworks injuries,” she said.

Vergeire said that the DOH officials will inspect hospitals to check on their preparations to attend to firework-related injuries or any form of emergency.

to day, the DOH will visit four hospitals starting with the l a s Pinas tr auma Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, e as t av enue Medical Center, and a m ang Rodriguez Medical Center for the “iwas paputok” campaign.

On December 31, Field i mplementation and Coordination team officials will be visiting communities in l u zon, Visayas, and Mindanao to ensure that families are celebrating the coming of 2023 safely.

t h e DOH, through the “ i w as Paputok Campaign,” has always advocated for the practice of a safe and

joyful n e w Year by practicing the safe observance of the holidays by avoiding fireworks/paputok and promoting alternative means of celebrating the n ew Year.

“Families and individuals are strongly encouraged to avoid purchasing and using fireworks this holiday season and instead observe fireworks displays from afar or ones that are professionally prepared and organized,” Vergeire said.

Reduce firework related injuries

tH e D OH likewise called upon the local government units and the private sector to join and support the campaign to help reduce the number of firework related injuries and casualties. “ t h rough this mobilization, our partners can help in promoting alternative and safer ways of celebrating the holiday season.”

t h e DOH assured that they will be proactively monitoring and conducting surveillance activities of the situation on the ground and “in our hospitals to ensure that our health facilities are supported in any way or form in combating physical injuries, diseases, Covid-19, and any form of health emergency.”

Finally, on the first day of the new year, the DOH will be hosting a postn e w Year Media Forum and will make the rounds of hospitals in Baguio City and the surrounding areas to assess the overall situation after the n e w Year celebrations in light of the i w as Paputok campaign.

a s o f December 27, the total number of firework-related injuries is 25. t h ese injuries were reported from December 21 to December 27.

available in Metro Manila as of n o vember 2022, with more sari-sari stores expected to carry the product next year.

“ n i cotine, in any form, is harmful to our child’s growing brain. we , as parents and others, should take efforts to reduce the exposure of our young children to e-cigarettes,” PaV s aid. “Vaping is far from being safe.”

Serious public health issue

Pa V added that vaping among the youth is a serious public health issue.

PaV i s also worried about the impact of ecigarettes on the lungs, for according to the U s CDC, vaping can fill the lungs with many aeros ols, including nicotine and vitamin e acetate.

l ab oratory data show that vitamin e ac etate, an additive in some tetrahydrocannabinol ( t H C)containing e-cigarette, or vaping, products, is strongly linked to the e - cigarette or Vape- a s so -

ciated l u ng i njury ( e Va li ) o utbreak.

EVALI in PH i n 2 019, the Department of Health (DOH) officially received a report on the first case of e Va li f rom a private pediatric pulmonologist based in the Visayas.

a c cording to the case report, the patient is a 16-year-old female adolescent who had been using e-cigarettes for six months while concurrently consuming combustible cigarettes, referred to as “dual use.”

“a s p arents we should not let our children try e-cigarettes at all. l e t us be concerned with the health and welfare of our children,” PaV s aid.

“ t h is Christmas, the best gift we can give our children is good health. l e t’s make sure that they are safe and free from harms brought by vapes and e-cigarettes,” PaV s tressed.

lU ng c ancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in the Philippines, bringing about nearly 17,000 fatalities among Filipinos in 2020. t h is is likely due to the very large smoking population of 28 percent or 17.3 million Filipinos over 15 years old are smokers.

a c cording to the Philippine Cancer s o ciety, lung cancer does not stay contained to the lungs. “ l ung cancer could also spread through the bloodstream and affect other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, and can metastasize in vital organs,” said Cardinal s a ntos Medical Center’s (C s M C) s e ction Head of Pulmonary Medicine and l ung Cancer expert, Dr. Percival P. Pangilinan.

By Rory Visco | Contributor

aCCORD i ng to the Philippine s t atistics a u thority (P s a), ischemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and neoplasms continue to be the top three leading causes of deaths in the country for the period January to s ep tember 2022.

Diabetes mellitus, on the other hand, was the fourth leading cause of death in the country with 23,602 cases or 6.4-percent share, while hypertensive diseases recorded 21,160 cases or 5.8-percent share, making it the fifth leading cause of fatalities in the Philippines.

t h is is also the same situation for the same period last year, says the country’s central statistical authority on primary data collection.

i n the last nine months of the year, the P s a r ecorded a total of 67,601 cases of ischemic heart diseases that made this disease the leading cause of deaths in the Philippines with 18.4 percent of total fatalities. Cerebrovascular disease was at second place with 37,936 deaths or a 10.3-percent share, while neoplasms, or what is commonly called “cancer,” came a close third in terms of cause of deaths in the country as it registered 37,470 recorded cases for a 10.2-percent share.

i s chemic heart disease generally refers to the weakening situation of the heart due to reduced

blood flow, which is the result of coronary artery disease, or the narrowing of the heart’s arteries.

Compared to ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, which includes stroke, carotid stenosis, vertebral stenosis and intracranial stenosis, aneurysms, and vascular malformations, the reduced blood flow may be caused mainly by the narrowing of blood vessels, formation of clots, blockages or worse, blood vessel rupture. n e oplasms or cancer, on the other hand, is about the presence of tissue mass in the body that is formed due to abnormal cell growth. i t can be classified as benign (not cancerous) or malignant when it spreads into, or invades, other tissues or other parts of the body.

Focus on hypertension e V e n though it is only the fifth leading cause of deaths in the country, much effort in raising awareness, management and monitoring of hypertension remains a vital issue. High blood pressure continues to be a risk factor more than heart disease, according to t h e Mayo Clinic, a non-profit group committed to clinical practice, education and research. w h en left uncontrolled, it “can quietly damage the body for years before symptoms develop, and can lead to disability, poor quality of life, or even a deadly heart attack or stroke.”

Hypertension can also cause damage to the arteries, the heart, brain, kidneys such as kidney scarring and kidney failure, increases the risk of damage to the eyes, particularly the retina or retinopathy, even cause erectile dysfunction.

a s h ypertension continues to be among the top causes of deaths in the country, further focus, increased awareness and its improved management remains a crucial national health priority. a s such, efforts to educate and help Filipinos mitigate or manage hypertension are necessary to ease the burden of the disease.

Staunch advocacy on blood pressure monitoring

FOR the past several years, OMRO n Healthcare continues to strengthen and align its efforts in staunchly advocating the value of continued monitoring of blood pressure among Filipinos in partnership with the Philippine s o ciety for Hypertension. One such activity is the May Measurement Month, the global campaign organized by the i nternational s o ciety of Hypertension to encourage more people to get their blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

a n d just recently, OMRO n announced its continued partnership with Mercury Drug, where OMRO n will officially retail its H e M -7120 blood pressure monitor (BPM) at all Mercury Drug

stores nationwide so that more Filipinos will have better access to innovative and intuitive health monitoring devices.

“OMRO n Healthcare’s mission has always been centered around offering accessible healthcare innovations to as many Filipinos as possible.

Mercury Drug has proven to be a strong partner to us in this goal, and we are happy to be launching the H e M -7120 blood pressure monitor in Mercury Drug’s extensive network of branches nationwide. we s trongly believe that this helps bring us closer to our vision of zero hypertension cases in the country,” according to Yusuke Kato, g e neral Manager for OMRO n a sia P acific Pte. l td -Philippine Branch (Healthcare Division).

Clinically validated by the Philippine s o ciety of Hypertension, the OMRO n H e M -7120 was proven to be reliable in ensuring accuracy and reliability in home blood pressure monitoring. i t comes with a Cuff w r apping g u ide to guide users in correctly putting the cuff wrap. i f t here is inaccuracy due to unexpected body movements, body movement detection also aids in asking the user to perform the measurement again.

t a lso comes with a Hypertension i ndicator with a heartbeat symbol that would blink if the user’s systolic or diastolic pressure is higher than the recommended value to easily determine if the user has high blood pressure.

Unfortunately, some signs and symptoms of lung cancer do not show at an early stage, making it hard to detect until the cancer is advanced. t h e main symptoms of lung cancer can include a long-term cough that worsens over time, persistent breathlessness, tiredness or fatigue, and coughing up blood.

t h e most common cause of lung cancer is, of course, smoking,” said Dr. Pangilinan. “But some lung cancer patients develop cancer despite not being smokers. i n cases like those, it is likely due to their environment. Perhaps they have family members or loved ones who smoke, which means they are exposed to secondhand smoke, which is just as deadly.”

Other

lung cancer causes

wH i le smoking is the primary cause of the disease, there are other ways one can contract lung cancer. e x posure to radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas which occurs naturally in soil, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Moreover, exposure to hazardous industrial compounds like asbestos, arsenic,

l a st year at this same time period, we had 22 cases. s o o ur cases right now are 14 percent higher than that of last year,” Vergeire said in a press briefing.

Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

and petroleum products, as well as exhaust fumes and vehicular pollution, may increase the risk of developing lung cancer. s o, what can be done in order to prevent lung cancer?

a c cording to Dr. Pangilinan, “ t h e best way to prevent lung cancer is to not start smoking in the first place. a n d if you are already smoking, i u rge you to quit for the sake of your health, as well as the health of the people around you.” a d ditionally, certain lifestyle choices can also help lower the risk of developing the disease. Consume foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, dark-green leafy vegetables, oats, and fish. Being physically fit and active can also strengthen the body and protect it.

Regular checkups

FinallY, i t is important to get regular checkups and cancer screenings at a medical institution. C s M C’s Pulmonary i nstitute-Center for t h oracic and Critical Care Medicine aims to provide patients who experience pulmonary diseases with comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical services. t h e hospital also offers treatments and services for other pulmonary diseases, such as pneumonia, asthma, emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis and others.

i highly encourage patients to visit C s M C if they would like an assessment of their lung health,” said Dr. Pangilinan. “ we a re glad to share our expert advice and quality care so that you will be able to live the best life you possibly can.”

For more information about the programs and services that C s M C offers, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com.ph/. C s M C is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www. facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

Parents

raise

Holiday foods can be toxic to pets

By Leticia Fanucchi Oklahoma State University

DURING the holidays, it’s typical for people to indulge in special foods. Being a pet owner myself, I know that many pet parents want to give their fur babies special treats, as well.

As a veterinarian and clinical veterinary researcher, however, I also know that some very common foods—including many popular holiday staples—are dangerous to pets.

Here are some of the most common food-related crises we veterinarians encounter in the animal ER during the holidays, and what to do if they happen.

FATTY FOOD RISKS

TURKEY with gravy is probably among the most popular holiday meals. And most dogs or cats would certainly agree with their humans that roast turkey is delicious. However, the fat contained in turkey skin—and the excess of fatty, greasy foods that can accompany it, such as gravy, butter and bacon—don’t go down well with cats and dogs. Pets that ingest an overload of fats may develop pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that helps break down fat, protein and carbs.

Pancreatitis causes the pancreas to leak digestive enzymes and ultimately “digest” itself. If untreated, pancreatitis can affect other organ systems such as the kidneys and the liver and even cause blood clotting.

Treatment for pancreatitis mostly involves dealing with its symptoms. The pet receives IV fluids to help establish electrolytes balance, with added anti-nausea and pain medications to stop the vomiting. Antibiotics may be necessary, as well as liver protectants and probiotics, and a special diet.

ONION OFFENSES AND BREAD BADNESS

If only turkey were the sole problem! Many other common holiday ingredients can also harm pets.

Several allium species common to holiday cooking, such as leeks, garlic, onions, chives and shallots, can be healthy for people. For dogs and cats, though, alliums are toxic. If ingested, they can cause hemolytic anemia—a decreased number of red blood cells.

The signs of hemolytic anemia, which normally appear a few days after ingestion, include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and jaundice.

In this partnership with Toy Kingdom and LEGO, SM City North Edsa invites families and their kids to step into a LEGO Christmas wonderland and have fun while they shop in the freeplay area filled with DUPLO and LEGO blocks, or take family holiday photos under the 10-feet Christmas tree and huge LEGO 3D Nutcracker statue.

During the launch, special guests Joy Sotto and family and Nadine Samonte and kids had so much fun at the free Play and Activity Area, viewing of exclusive LEGO exhibit, and taking photos with giant Lego displays. SM Little Big Star Kids also joined in the fun and had the rare chance of meeting their favorite LEGO Friends Mascots.

For the kids and kids-at-heart wish list, there are LEGO gifts with up to 29-percent off published rates and up to 35-percent off on best LEGO gifts and checkout bundle promotions until December 31 at The Annex of SM City North Edsa.

Want to meet favorite LEGO friends? Watch out for a brand mascot meet-and-greet with Lego Ninjago Kai on January 7 and 8.

To treat hemolytic anemia in pets, veterinarians do blood tests to determine whether a transfusion is necessary. They address the symptoms of allium intoxication with IV fluids, antioxidants and antinausea drugs. Yeast-risen foods like rolls and breads are also holiday dinner staples that people should keep away from their pets. The yeast in these foods can ferment in a pet’s warm stomach and produce toxic levels of ethanol. In pets, ethanol toxicity may lead to metabolic acidosis, which can cause sudden drop in blood glucose, respiratory depression, seizures and cardiac arrest.

Normally, pet owners do not suspect metabolic acidosis until it is almost too late, because it has few outward symptoms. So if there’s a possibility that a pet has swallowed any type of cooked or raw yeast dough, get it to a veterinary ER right away.

By the way, pets can also experience ethanol toxicity by lapping up cocktails or beer, so keep alcoholic drinks out of their reach as well.

NO CHOCOLATE FOR PETS

NOW, what about a favorite holiday treat—chocolate?

Pets that ingest chocolate can develop “chocolate

intoxication,” a condition in which methylxanthines accumulate in the body and make them sick. Signs of chocolate intoxication in pets include tremors, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and even seizures.

Chocolate intoxication in pets is a medical emergency. The pet needs to have its stomach emptied and receive support therapy with IV fluids and activated charcoal. The vet will probably want to know the type and how much chocolate the pet ate, because some kinds of chocolate, such as baking chocolate, can have worse toxic effects.

Chocolate also has a lot of fat, so the cat or dog’s pancreas will not enjoy it either.

GRAPES AND DOGS DON’T MIX

HOW about fruits? Well, there is a fruit very toxic to dogs that often shows up at holiday gatherings: grapes, both fresh and dehydrated into raisins.

If eaten, the tartaric acid in grapes or raisins may cause acute kidney disease. Common signs of acute kidney disease in dogs are vomiting, intermittent diarrhea and increased intake of water.

Acute kidney disease in dogs is a medical

emergency. If it is suspected, the pet should be rushed to a veterinary hospital or ER right away. Treatment is typically limited to stabilizing the pet with IV fluids.

FOR PEOPLE, POISON TO PETS

SWEET

WHILE xylitol toxicity is one of the more common emergencies we veterinarians see these days, it’s still largely unknown among pet owners.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in sugar-free products. While safe for humans, for cats and dogs it’s a fast-acting and potentially deadly poison.

Emergency treatment for a pet with xylitol toxicity involves giving the animal IV fluids containing dextrose to raise its blood glucose level and carefully monitoring its progress.

The bottom line? Several delicious foods that are safe for humans can be very dangerous for pets in general—not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and pocket pets like mice, hamsters and gerbils. So make the holidays special for furry or feathery babies by giving them treats from the pet food store or veterinarian’s office, and keep them away from the kitchen counter and trash can. THE CONVERSATION

THE New Year is now only a few days away. December 30, Rizal Day, is happening even sooner. If there is anything that these two years of the pandemic has taught me more deeply, it is to insistently find that courage to be grateful amid all the challenges and uncertainties, and to care for the important things in life, including ourselves.

It made me remember one of the assignments we were given when I was taking my teacher’s degree. The assignment was “What are my gifts? How did I nurture them?”

1. The gift of being born. I was born as a healthy 8.8-pound baby at the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila. I consider it as a gift because my mother had a miscarriage, before I was conceived.

2. The gift of appreciation of many people who loved me in my childhood. First is my Grand Aunt, who reviewed with me each night and each morning because my memory at age 4 was as poor as an 80-year-old’s. I had a grandfather with whom I shared the love of pandesal, bihon and ube ice cream with. And of course, I had my nanny, Manang Eyang, our laundry lady really who pushed me to do my best in school by rewarding me with a bag of Chippy.

3. The gift that my parents were both visionaries and hard workers. We were never made to feel less because we were all girls. My dad always believed we could achieve what any boy can, maybe

even better. My mother was a critic like all mothers, but she showed us passion.

4. The gift of art. At 4, I remember painting one afternoon. I remember learning at preschool that week to put some color on one side of the paper then folding it to create a mirror image. This began my journey for art and colors.

5. The gift of my faith in God’s providence. I love stories and personalities. I look at each person and experience as yet another book to know and love. I love reflecting on each experience, and thanking God each day for these stories to learn from, and to transcend to people around me. The best providential gift I received from God is my family. I am a mother of two vibrant kids and a wife to an ever-understanding husband. I work for my dad and get to work with my

younger sister, who is almost like my “firstborn.” I enjoy spending time with my husband’s family, and they have been real siblings and parents to me. I have colleagues at work who share my drive and passion, maybe even more. I have great friends—old and new, from school, work and outside of work—with whom I foster deep bonds.

6. The gift of passion. Passion for me is that zone of toil, where you are deaf to the world. It goes beyond the need to achieve or prove something, but simply appreciating the gift “ to be.” I was once told that I was lucky to have passions because not everyone does. It made me more conscious to relish the gift, and to hope people I love also find theirs. My passion has always been with kids and the arts. If I were not in business, I would have pursued a career in teaching and painting.

I have been asked how do I nurture my gifts. I believe that for each role I was gifted with, there is “work” to be done. Work for me is never confined to any four-corner office. Work for me has always been an opportunity to experience and learn. Above all else, work for me is its own reward. I work hardest to be a good working mom.

I read so many books and articles for parenting, business, the spiritual, and biographies. I have attended many talks from experts. What I have always stood by is convergence and consistency in my role as a mother and an employee. I believe that

motherhood is a gift to our workplace—and our work is a gift to motherhood. Motherhood teaches us a lot of great values to be patient, fair and nurturing. Whether I like it or not, I am a role model to our kids, especially in their earlier years. Because of this, there is great accountability to be assumed. I am responsible for a gift of life and how it can contribute to society one day. I bring these values in being an effective leader to my people.

On the flipside, the workplace throws me a myriad of tasks and experiences that hone my ability to efficiently manage situations. Strategic and long-term thinking methods have always proven effective in driving a company’s success. I share to my kids what my day was like at work and how I was able or not able to handle things.

Looking back at these answers made me see the many things I am grateful for, as well as what I wish to value even more moving forward. I have always valued relationships. I hope to continue nurturing them. I am grateful I am given the chance to pursue my passions, especially in education. I hope to also take on the challenge my husband and my friends constantly push me to pursue—self-care while caring for people around me. I am glad I found the book One for Me, One for You by Eva Olsen.

This coming New Year, I wish all of us this simple yet meaningful abundance each one of us deserves.

PHOTO BY MARK ZAMORA ON UNSPLASH

REBUILD the world one block at a time at the LEGO Christmas exhibit ongoing at SM City North Edsa Annex Atrium until January 8, 2023.

THE Infinity Saga Iron Man Figure from LEGO

SM Little Stars Lance Leyson and Kristoffer Gonzales having fun building their LEGO masterpieces.

THE LEGO Candy Shop and Cafe display at the exhibit

A Merry, Festive Feast at Crowne Plaza Seven Corners and Xin Tian Di Restaurant Holiday Offers

Manulife Philippines wins award for insights-based integrated marketing

finances, especially among younger generations, based on the Know Your Ys and Zs study. The sentiments and behavior of Filipino Millennials and Gen Zs have helped Manulife innovate its offerings to help address consumer needs through tailored insurance and investment solutions.

Manulife’s financial literacy program Peso Smart was also named as a Finalist in the Excellence in the Corporate Social Responsibility category at this year’s awards.

MANULIFE Philippines won a Bronze Award at the local Marketing Excellence Awards 2022 for the integrated marketing campaign centered on its research study: “Know Your Ys and Zs: A Closer Look at the Financial and Mental Well-Being of Filipino Millennials and Gen Zs in the time of COVID-19.”

The Marketing Excellence Awards Philippines is organized by Marketing Interactive Magazine, Asia's leading source of advertising, marketing, and media news, which recognizes exceptional campaigns

and talent. The Know Your Ys and Zs study won in the Excellence in Data-Driven Marketing & Consumer Insights category.

“Through our campaigns, we hope to empower more Filipinos to secure their financial future,” said Melissa Henson, Chief Marketing Officer, Manulife Philippines. “This recognition inspires us to amplify our efforts to help address the evolving protection needs of Filipinos as we strive to make every day better for our customers.”

The pandemic heightened Filipinos’ concerns about health, well-being, and

The 2021 Financial Inclusion Survey of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas found that only two percent of Filipinos can correctly answer basic financial literacy questions. Manulife has evolved Peso Smart to reach beyond its initial beneficiaries, who were grade school students from public schools, by partnering with different organizations to bring financial skills and knowledge to university students and out-of-school youth, as well as teachers, principals, and the children’s parents.

Most recently, Peso Smart was also brought to female heads of households from marginalized communities in Quezon City and Sagada, Mountain Province. Manulife’s Peso Smart is also one of the main drivers of Manulife’s Impact Agenda in the Philippines, which aims to promote inclusive economic opportunities, empower health and well-being, and accelerate a sustainable future.

Holiday Homecomings are Unforgettable at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo with special offers

IT’S the season for reunions and get-togethers once again! Celebrate in Iloilo City by spending an epic holiday break with those you love at Richmonde Hotel Iloilo as you indulge in their many special Yuletide offerings to make your bonding moments delightfully unforgettable.

Have a happy homecoming or relaxing staycation at Richmonde and enjoy the most spacious rooms in the city with its splendid amenities and friendly service. Book from December 16, 2022 to January 26, 2023 at rates starting at P5,700 nett (room only) and P6,200 nett (room with breakfast buffet for two). These include Wi-Fi access, use of the swimming pool and Fitness Center, discount privileges in participating establishments at the Festive Walk Mall, and tours to the first-of-their-kind museums in Western Visayas--the Brandy Museum and the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art both located just a few steps away within the Iloilo Business Park.

On December 24 and 31, have a Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve stay for as low as P6,000 nett (room only) and P6,500 nett (room with breakfast buffet for two) with all the above-mentioned perks. For a truly joyful celebration, room package options are also available from P8,580 nett, that include two seats to the lavish Christmas Eve/New Year’s Eve Luxe Dinner Buffet and the hearty Christmas Day/New Year’s Day breakfast buffet, in addition to the Festive Walk Mall store discounts, museum tours, WiFi access, and use of the gym and pool. Want to stay out late on the last day of the year and wake up to an exquisite brunch buffet? Then book the New Year’s Day Champagne Brunch Buffet Package available only on December 31, for as low as P7,350 nett, complete with perks good for two.

This year’s festive feasts at The Granary are extra delectable with an impressive spread of holiday dishes the whole family will surely love! The Holiday Luxe Dinner Buffets happening on December 24, 25 & 31, 2022 and January 1, 2023, overflow with flavorful gourmet fare like cochinillo, braised short plate, roast lamb leg, roast turkey, smoked ham leg, roast beef, paella, sushi, sashimi, dimsum, and so much more, all lovingly prepared by Executive Chef

The holiday buffets open at 6pm and you can eat-all-you-can until 10pm, for only P1,500 nett. Children six to 12 years old get 50 percent discount and children five years old and below eat for free. Buffet menus vary but you can inquire about them when you reserve your table.

Begin the first day of 2023 with an indulgent meal at The Granary as it serves its first Champagne Brunch Buffet in celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings. Priced at only P1,350 nett inclusive of a glass of champagne, get your fill of sushi and oysters, house-made breakfast sausage, beef pot roast, saltcrusted Norwegian salmon, frittata, and many more. Relish this fabulous feast on January 1, 2023 from 11am to 2pm.

For those long-awaited family reunions and much-anticipated face-to-face parties, Richmonde has Holiday Banquet Packages to let you safely gather as you revel in style. Rates start at P59,000 nett for 30 persons, and include a delectable lunch or dinner buffet with a round of drinks; coffee and tea; five bottles of wine; four pool passes each good for two persons; a gift certificate for an overnight stay for two persons in a Deluxe room with breakfast buffet; plus discount vouchers for room accommodations and food and beverage orders.

Still can’t find the perfect present for the people on your Christmas list? Just head on over to The Granary and choose

from the assortment of signature pastries and limited-edition Holiday Goodies for yummy gifts that make tummies happy.

From the hotel’s signature ensaymadas (classic, ube, pork floss, and mini) and tasty banana breads (walnut, choco, pumpkin, sunflower seed, and almond), to premium donuts (bandi, turon, white champorado, tablea champorado, and dragon fruit bilberry) and pastry treats (pineapple and apple turnovers, peach Danish, focaccia bake, and granola bar), these freshly baked bites will certainly add good vibes to the holidays, or those at-home celebrations and potluck parties, The Granary also has Holiday Hotbox Specials that let you savor hot, gourmet meals anytime and anywhere with its convenient self-heating packaging. Choose from the Bento Hotbox that’s good for a single serving (from P900 nett), the Platter Hotbox 1 that can serve up to two persons (from P1,150 nett), and the Platter Hotbox 2 that’s good for 4 to 5 persons (from P2,150 nett). The Holiday Goodies and Hotbox Specials are available for takeaway and delivery until January 31, 2023.

For inquiries, reservations, bookings and orders, call +63 33 328 7888 or contact stay@richmondeiloilo.com for room accommodations; +63 917 563 3973 / sales@ richmondeiloilo.com for banquet bookings; and +63 917 563 3558 to order holiday goodies. Bookings and order of goodies may also be made online at Richmonde’s official website, www.richmondehoteliloilo.com.ph

New Year’s Eve at Seven Corners, we will be highlighting the following dishes: Our signature Ribeye Steak, savory Roasted Turkey with Bread Stuffing, festive Holiday Ham and our succulent Salmon Wellington. You can enjoy these astounding dishes only at P3,300 nett per person.

Xin Tian Di has prepared a special set menu for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve that will surely complete your holiday celebrations. For as low as P1,888++ per person, you can enjoy authentic and luxurious Chinese flavors personally crafted by our in-house Chinese Executive Chef.

As we welcome the year 2023, celebrate Media Noche with us at Seven Corners Restaurant for a special rate of P2,500 nett per person. Let us fill our hearts with gratitude for the past year and toast to the one ahead of us for good luck and prosperity!

For inquiries, contact us at (02) 87900 3100, or email fandb.reservations@ihg.com

Canter Express Modern PUV achieves 8.8 km per liter in FUSO Fuel Eco-Run Challenge conducted in Region 3

THE Canter Express Modern PUV (Class 3) achieved an impressive fuel consumption figure of 8.8km per liter over nearly 152.7 kilometers. This means that customers can save up to P6.30 per kilometer compared to traditional PUVs or jeepneys that travel with an average fuel consumption of 5.2km/l while simulating the actual PUV operating environment such as passenger load and road conditions during the FUSO Fuel EcoRun Challenge.

Based on the survey among modern PUV drivers, six to seven kilometers per liter is their benchmark for fuel efficiency. The FUSO Modern PUV was driven from San Fernando, Pampanga to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan, and all the way back within a single day. It was observed and certified by Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) and covered by its media partner, Autoindustriya.

The objective of the FUSO Fuel Eco-Run Challenge is to promote and advocate the fuel efficiency of FUSO commercial vehicles among existing owners and prospective buyers — to highlight fuel mileage, driving comfort and the vehicle’s powerful performance.

“Moving forward, today’s activity is for us to testify the fuel efficiency of our product. Results will be included as part of the unique

selling point and advantage of FUSO vehicles. We assure you that FUSO is ready to provide the best quality and hassle-free transportation to Filipinos across the country,” said Yosuke Nishi, the President and CEO of Sojitz Fuso Philippines (SFP).

Mr. Noriyuki Sekita, EVP for Sales and Marketing mentioned in his message, “The goal of this activity is to demonstrate the Unique Selling Point (USP) of our PUVs, which is fuel efficiency and vehicle performance. Our initiative is to showcase the efficiency of our vehicles under normal driving conditions for the benefit of operators and drivers.”

With the outstanding result, SFP is confident that the brand’s modern PUVs will continue to increase its market share across the country. To know more about the FUSO product portfolio, visit www.fuso.com.ph

Smart teams up with MPIC's mWell app to bring Gift of Wellness and Health to Smart Signature subscribers

MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has teamed up with mWell by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) to bring the gift of wellness and health at the fingertips of subscribers.

Downloadable on the App Store and Google Play Store, mWell is the Philippines’ first fully integrated health app committed to providing quality healthcare for users with the support of partner doctors from top hospitals and clinics, offering online consultations - both on-call and by appointment. With mWell, over 500 family doctors, specialists and mind health experts are just a few taps on your screen away.

Under the partnership, Smart Signature subscribers with Plan 1999 and above, and Smart Infinity members with at least two years of tenure shall receive an mWell Health Pass, allowing them to consult doctors online for FREE. This offer also comes with an e-prescription, medical certificate, and lab referrals after their check-up.

On top of telemedicine, mWell empowers users to take control of their health by giving access to fitness programs designed by Olympians, healthy yet delicious recipes created by nutritionists, and the mWellness Score—a digital tracker that measures physical health, step count and sleep daily. Just like a credit score, this is a single, unified metric which uses real-time data from smart phones and wearable devices to predict and prevent chronic disease to promote a long and healthy life.

By using the mWell app, subscribers may also access a range of healthcare products and

services on the e-shop! These include best value health plans with the most affordable consultation rates, insurance plans, medicine delivery, home care, and emergency service.

Eligible Smart subscribers shall receive a text notification and email invitation containing a unique voucher code for the mWell Health Pass which is valid for use until Feb. 28, 2023. To claim this benefit, simply follow these steps:

Download the mWell PH app and register/log-in Click the SMART banner on the homepage screen. Input the unique Health Pass code received from SMART.

Use your SMART Gift of Wellness Health Pass for a ‘Consult Now’ session immediately or use the health pass when you have selected a doctor and are at the checkout.

“Our partnership with mWell adds to the many ways we make the Smart experience both empowering and rewarding for our subscribers, always going beyond providing the fastest and best mobile network for Filipinos,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless BusinessIndividual at Smart.

MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla says, “We are pleased to partner with Smart in making health and wellness even more accessible to Filipinos through mobile technology. As the country’s first fully integrated health app, mWell offers a holistic approach to digital healthcare— from doctor consultations, e-pharmacy, emergency services and home care-- to fitness and nutrition programs created by experts. With partners like Smart, mWell will continue developing its services to keep up with the evolving needs of the public.”

Smart empowers subscribers to live their best lives powered by the country’s best mobile network as recognized by Ookla, global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence. Smart earned the citation after dominating two crucial Ookla Speedtest Awards categories, namely the “Fastest Mobile Network” and “Best Mobile Coverage” from Q1-Q2 2022.

TAKE your celebrations anywhere and get hot gourmet meals anytime with Richmonde’s Holiday Hotbox Specials. Platters good for sharing and bento boxes for single serving are available.

Ariel Castañeda and his kitchen team.

MANULIFE wins Bronze Award for Excellence in Data-Driven Marketing and Customer Insights for their integrated marketing campaign centered on their research study, Know Your Ys and Zs.

REDISCOVER the warmth and joy brought by this Yuletide season as you dine at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria!

Bask into the sumptuous feast from our season's selections with your loved ones and friends. In celebration of Christmas Eve and

Envoys&Expats

EU envoy: Human rights beneficial for businesses

sustainable…Also in the economic sense, it has no business case,” said Philipp Dupuis, minister-counselor and Trade Section head of the EU Delegation to the country. He discussed EU policies and initiatives on business and human rights.

”With the initiative to develop a national action plan, the Philippines is uniquely placed to contribute to, and benefit, from such a roadmap,” Poulsen said. “The adoption of a National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights in the Philippines will be a critical milestone.”

Alongside governments and civil society, businesses play a significant role in promoting human rights, having the ability to drive equality not just in the work place, but in the community. By providing quality employment opportunities, they support the advancement of social and economic rights.”

These elements were discussed recently at the “Business and Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities” symposium organized by the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in the Philippines, in coordination with the University of Asia and the Pacific during the celebration of Human Rights Day. The gathering focused on human rights in the corporate sector, which highlighted the United Nations’ (UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the Philippine context.

Ambassador Luc Véron of the EU delegation emphasized the corporate sector’s huge responsibility in the area of human rights, as he underlined the opportunities respect of human rights can bring for business.

“Sometimes we hear that human-rights advocacy would stand in the way of trade and investment. Nothing could be more wrong. I have met many investors who confided that poor governance and subpar access to justice—a context in which

individual and collective rights are ignored or insufficiently protected—[are some of] the most powerful business inhibitors. In other words, human rights are good for business,” Véron expounded. ”In our age of transparency and people power, there is a clear reputational benefit for companies who abide by high [global] human rights and environmental standards. For most companies, if not all, brand value is among their most important assets, and human-rights violations could strongly damage that value,” he added.

According to the delegation, the EU supports the international approach outlined in the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which stresses that states not only have the duty to protect human rights, but companies also are responsible to respect them, including in their global supply chains.

The bloc ascribes to multilateral instruments in the responsible conduct of human rights anchored on the business sector’s compliance with international standards on human rights in the work place.

Due diligence

“NOWADAYS a company that tolerates human-rights violations in its operations, whose business model even relies on—for example, forced labor—is not…

In the symposium, Dupuis stressed the need for companies to exercise human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and address human rights risks in their own operations or in their supply chain.

“Human rights due diligence obligations in recent EU legal initiatives apply to European companies. However, they can have an indirect effect on operators abroad because EU importers will have to exercise the obligation down their supply chain,” the minister-counselor explained.

“Human rights are also part of the wider EU foreign policy through its trade initiatives,” Dupuis explained. “For instance, the trade and sustainable-development chapters of EU free-trade agreements contain commitments to ratify and [roll out] core International Labour Organization conventions, and to promote responsible business practices.”

PHL: ‘Uniquely placed’ MEANWHILE, Signe Elneff Poulsen, senior human rights adviser at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, said that to build on the progress made in the 11 years since the adoption of the Guiding Principles and address hurdles, the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights is implementing the UN Guiding Principles “10+” project that will take a deeper look at the progress so far, and to prepare a roadmap for the next decade for states and business.

“Only through [everyone’s joint action—including the UN, governments, human-rights defenders, labor unions and other civil-society actors, and by leveraging on] the influence of business committed to advancing human rights—do we have the best chance at tackling urgent global challenges, and achieving a more sustainable future for all,” she further stated.

Atty. Jacqueline de Guia, who is the executive director of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), urged all sectors to align with the vision of the commission: ”I hope that you join us in our vision that corporate social responsibility should not be mere philanthropy,” as she called for self-regulation, and urged sectors to heed the call for climate action.

”The CHR, as the premier and independent national human rights Institution of the Philippines, is your partner in advancing business and human rights in the country,” the official said. “The different government instrumentalities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and the academe are also… collaborators to further [boost] the advocacy on the responsible business conduct and operationalization of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in the country. Only when we work together and share our learnings across our sectors can we move forward.”

Filipino ambassador now heads

THE Administrative Council of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) recently elected Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya as the acting president of the council starting 2023 until 2024.

The election of Malaya, who is Philippine ambassador to the Netherlands, was affirmed by acclamation during the council’s 208th session on December 12 at the Peace Palace in the Hague, upon the nomination of the Asia Group in the Administrative Council. It is the PCA’s governing body composed of representatives from 122 member-states.

In his remarks upon assumption, Malaya affirmed the Philippines’s commitment to contributing to the PCA’s important undertakings, as he pledged to work closely with the memberstates and PCA Secretary-General Marcin Czepelak.

He noted that “the PCA represents our great ideals of achieving justice and peace through law.”

The next two years, he added, are auspicious for the PCA as it will commemorate its 125th-year milestone in 2024.

“It will be a time for a review and assessment on the status and prospects of our organization. In a world…deeply troubled by wars

near and far…beset with climate change and other global challenges, it is also a time for reflection for us in the Administrative Council on how we, in our time, can ensure that the PCA remains dynamic, relevant and faithful to its original vision as a permanent institution of arbitration accessible to all and at all times, working for the maintenance of global peace,” the new PCA president pointed out.

Malaya is the first Filipino and second non-Dutch national to

serve at the PCA’s Administrative Council helm. The diplomat led the Philippine accession in 2010 to the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, which paved the way for the country’s membership in the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Prior to being the Philippine a mbassador to the Netherlands, Malaya was foreign affairs undersecretary (deputy minister, from 2019 to 2021), and has twice served as assistant secretary (director-general) for Treaties and

Legal Affairs (2007 to 2011, and 2017 to 2019). He was the country’s envoy to Malaysia (2011 to 2017), and foreign affairs spokesperson (2009 to 2011).

He is also the author, main author and editor of nine books on international law, diplomacy and history; notably, Philippine Treaties in Force 2020 and Forging Partnerships: Philippine Defense Cooperation in Constitutional and International Laws. He is vice president of the Philippine Society of International Law, a member of the Philippine Yearbook of International Law editorial board, and in 2021 was elected to the Asian Society of International Law executive council.

The PCA is one of the world’s foremost dispute settlement tribunals, alongside the International Court of Justice. The awards and decisions of its tribunals and commissions have significantly shaped the development of international law and contributed to world peace.

Meanwhile, its Administrative Council provides general guidance on the PCA’s work and general direction, while supervising its administration, budget and expenditure. It shapes the policy of the organization in consultation with its secretary-general.

ON Human Rights Day the Netherlands Embassy recognized Filipino artist collective Dakila with the second “Embassy Tulip” award for human rights, in a reception hosted by Ambassador Marielle Geraedts.

Geraedts explained that the award is meant to “recognize outstanding organizations that promote human rights in peaceful ways, especially for their innovation and creativity.” She also shared that it “seeks to support humanrights defenders with visibility, and a broader platform for engagement and critical discussions.”

Dakila is an artist-activist collective who has pioneered “creative resistance” by harnessing the power of arts, media and popular culture in popularizing human rights and democratic values in the Philippines. Since it was founded 17 years ago, it has created a community of artists and activists of all ages that integrates Filipino culture and values in countering efforts to discredit human-rights work, and in reclaiming and shaping the human rights movement.

One of the most notable achievements of Dakila is the establishment of the “Active Vista International Human Rights Festival:” the biggest, broadest and longest-running festival celebrating rights and freedoms

in the Philippines. It also has a strong presence on social media, as it uses emerging platforms to make human rights more digestible and understandable for the public, especially the youth.

Dakila’s Secretary-General Leni Velasco remarked: “[With] this Tulip Award, we in Dakila, our Active Vista Center, and the breadth of our constituency, renew our commitment to ignite this movement of heroism, and usher in a new generation of heroes that will creatively resist amid fear and despair, that loves radically between the gaps and crevices of social polarization and division, and disrupts an angry, hateful world with kindness and empathy built on justice.”

The Netherlands has a long tradition of protecting humanrights defenders. The “Embassy Tulip” is the local version of the annual Human Rights Tulip award given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hague each year. The awarding ceremony was attended by ambassadors and representatives of the international community and members of the human-rights community.

Through the award, the Dutch Embassy hopes it adds a layer of protection, especially against extraordinary harassment or threat, as it assures continued monitoring and support for their work.

Artist-activist collective Dakila gets ‘Tulip Award’ Renewable energy leader lights up El Nido residences

LET there be light…or to be more precise, solar light.

Last month acciona.org, the corporate foundation unit of Spanish sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy leader ACCIONA and Ayala Foundation piloted the “Light at Home: El Nido” project that will bring access to affordable, sustainable and reliable electricity to more than 100 households, and about 10 community centers at Barangay Sibaltan, an off-grid area in the Palawan municipality.

José Gabriel Martín, acciona.org Foundation’s director, said the project is its first in Asia, in partnership with Ten Knots Phils., AirSWIFT, AC Energy and Huawei, with the support of El Nido and Barangay Sibaltan local government units (LGUs).

Martin pointed out that “Light at Home…” will provide households and community centers with 100-percent clean electric energy through solar-home systems. Before that, the households and centers were yet to be connected to the main power grids, as they were dependent on diesel generators and oil lamps for electricity. Even those with smaller solar equipment still find them insufficient to cover their daily requirements.

The director said that their plight would change, as the new solar home systems to be turned over under the

project would enable communitymembers to carry out their educational, productive, domestic or recreational activities more efficiently, reduce their energy expenditure, and avoid the emission of combustion smoke indoors and outdoors. These, he said, will favor their social, economic, and environmental development.

“Luz en Casa, which means ‘Light at Home,’ is the most important acciona.org initiative, having benefited tens of thousands of people, mainly in Latin America, in the last 13 years,” Martin explained. “We are proud to launch it in the Philippines.”

Spanish ambassador to the Philippines Miguel Utray, Ayala Foundation Inc.’s senior director for Social Development Joanna Duarte, ACCIONA’s Regional Director Ruben Camba and LGU officials also attended the inauguration ceremony.

In the Philippines, ACCIONA has established a reputation for pioneering sustainable water treatment and transportation infrastructure. Since its 2016 market entry, the company has been involved in landmark projects, which include the Putatan II and the Laguna Lake drinking watertreatment plants in Muntinlupa City, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway cable-stayed bridge, and the MalolosClark Railway Line. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

‘COUNTRIES with a higher degree of respect for human rights have [better], more sustainable economic growth rates, and higher levels of human development.

DAKILA’S Secretary-General Leni Velasco (center) receives the distinction from Ambassador Marielle Geraedts (left).

AMBASSADOR Malaya (right) receives the PCA gavel from the outgoing Administrative Council president and South African envoy to the Netherlands.

Malixi—no thanks to jetlag—behind by 9 shots in Florida golf tilt first round

M alixi shot just one birdie against five bogeys and a double bogey while seeking to feel her way around the tough course as she dropped to 40th in a field of 96 with a six-over card marred by a backside 41.

She didn’t play well—jetlag, weather and non-familiarity (with the course) affected her game,” said Malixi’s father Roy. “She played while her body and mind clock were on sleep mode. I hope she would adjust and acclimatize in the second round.”

Holing out with a par on No. 5 to launch her campaign in the 72-hole championship in a shotgun start, Malixi missed a chipin bid for birdie on the sixth, birdied the next and muffed a chance from six feet on No. 8 and another on the ninth.

S he failed to get up and down on the 10th, hit the flag on her approach shot on the next for par and missed a long birdie try on No. 12.

After a regulation par on the par-three 13th, the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed shotmaker dropped two strokes on the next and lost her rhythm and touch the rest of the way.

The recent Thai Junior World champion bogeyed Nos. 16 and 17 and yielded more strokes on the first and third holes to fall way off Zhang, whose threeunder card netted her a one-stroke lead over Angela Zhang of the US, who turned in a 70.

M alixi, out to improve on her No. 159 world ranking, had looked forward to a strong start coming off a run of impressive finishes the last three months, including three runner-up finishes and two third-place efforts in her last seven tournaments overseas.

But she failed to cash in on her early birdie feat and recover from a doublebogey mishap although she hopes to settle down in the second round and work her way back into contention.

Meanwhile, Malixi, winner of two American Junior Golf Association titles this year, will next see action in the Orlando International Amateur from January 4 to 6 at the Orange Country National and in the Annika Invitational fron January 15 to 17 at the Eagle Creek Golf Club, both in Florida.

DICKIE BACHMANN NAMED PSC

By Josef Ramos

MALACAÑANG appointed former professional basketball player Richard “Dickie” Bachmann as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), replacing Jose Emmanuel “Noli” Eala who headed the government sports arm for only four months.

Officer in Charge Cheloy Garafil of the Office of the Press Secretary confirmed to BusinessMirror the 54-year-old Bachmann’s appointment on Wednesday afternoon.

“Yes, it’s confirmed,” Garafil said in reply to a text message.

Bachmann became the 12th chairman of the PSC which was established under the Office of the President in 1990.

Also appointed as commissioners of the fivemember PSC board were former

national fencer Walter Francis Torres and Edward Lim Hayco, former head of the Cebu Sports Commission. They joined bowling great Olivia “Bong” Coo who was named commissioner in July.

Bachmann wasn’t available for comment. He’s on vacation in the US with his family and is expected back on Friday.

E ala, meanwhile, thanked President Marcos a few hours before news of Bachmann’s appointment broke out.

“ I wish to thank President Bongbong Marcos for affording me the chance to help Philippine Sports to rise to greater heights,” Eala tweeted. “I serve under the pleasure of the President and I fully respect his decision.”

E ala added: “My brief stint in the PSC gave me an opportunity to once again serve with passion in a field I hold close to my heart … With humility, I can say that I gave dignity and respect to the position of Chairman and worked tirelessly for Philippine Sports.”

B achmann wasn’t in the radar as either a potential PSC chairman or a replacement for Eala, who was said to have been replaced for being one of dozens of Palace appointees endorsed by former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez.

It was Bachmann’s brother, squash head Robert Bachmann, who was floated as a potential chairman

of the sports agency a day after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was declared winner in June of the May elections.

But he didn’t get the appointment although his name again rang a bell early this week, along with that of former De La Salle basketball player Dino Aldeguer.

R ichard Bachmann played or served for 26 seasons at Alaska in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)—held key positions in the team as manager and eventually governor in the league’s board before the team disbanded early this year.

Following his appointment, Bachmann has to resign as head of operations of the local organizing committee of the country’s hosting of the 2023 Fiba World Cup and quit as basketball commissioner of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, a post that he’s supposed to hold for three seasons.

E ala, a former PBA commissioner, served the shortest term as chairman of the PSC having been appointed by Malacañang only on August 30.

He anchored his administration at the PSC on serving both elite and grassroots sports.

P hilippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said he felt regret that Eala won’t be able to continue his plans at the PSC, saying that he and Eala have laid the foundations of a better

PNVF, Japan Volleyball Association forge training exchange program

OFFICIALS of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) were on a working holiday on Monday by forging a Training Exchange Program with the Japan Volleyball Association (JVA).

PNVF president Ramon “Tats” Suzara met with JVA head Shunichi Kawai at the JVA headquarters in Tokyo to seal the program that involves the national indoor and beach volleyball teams of both nations.

It is an honor and a privilege to be working alongside such strong federation with a grand tradition and rich history in the sport,” said

Suzara, who was accompanied in Tokyo by PNVF executive director Marie Louise Principe and executive assistant Antonio Carlos Jr.

This collaborative partnership of PNVF with JVA helps underline the FIVB’s initiatives under its Empowerment Commission, to strengthen national training programs of different federations through knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices,” added Suzara, who was appointed by the International Volleyball Federation or FIVB as secretary of its Empowerment Commission.

Under the general terms of

Djoko back Down Under a year after deportation

ADELAIDE, Australia—

Novak Djokovic has arrived in Australia almost a year after he was deported over his stance against Covid-19 vaccination, Tennis Australia confirmed Wednesday.

D jokovic will open his 2023 campaign in Adelaide as he prepares for a shot at a 10th Australian Open title.

T he 21-time major winner has been granted a visa by the Australian government and is

listed to play at the Adelaide International, which starts Sunday.

The 35-year-old Serb arrived in Adelaide on Tuesday night, the governing body confirmed.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley indicated at a news conference Tuesday that Djokovic had arrived.

Novak is welcome in Australia,” Tiley said. “I think as we speak he has landed in Adelaide and he’s going to be the player to beat (at the Australian Open) again.”

The Australian Open runs from January 16 to 29 in Melbourne.

D jokovic missed the Grand Slam last year because of his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Australia has since lifted strict rules for

doing nip and tucks to their arsenal.

B akbakan ’yan next season,” a revered basketball coach and keen observer of the game told me in a post-Christmas tete-a-tete over coffee, made more enjoyable by a cool, lazy December breeze.

Teams that were out of it in Season 85 are tired of being left out of the party, he said, and are making changes. First, De La Salle U is on a major fortification program, he shared. The team is getting huge financial support (as in “huuuge”) from alumni and benefactors—a necessary thing now that erstwhile DLSU godfather Danding Cojuangco is no longer around.

reference of the program, Japan’s men’s volleyball team will arrive ahead of the Volleyball Nations League that the country is again hosting in June next year for friendly exhibition matches with their Philippine counterpart on top of promotional efforts for the event.

Japan’s national beach volleyball teams will also hold a winter training camp at Club Laiya in Batangas in January and February.

The Philippine indoor squads,

on the other hand, will hold training camps with Japanese university or club teams for two weeks in April, while the beach volleyball teams will have theirs at Japan’s national volleyball training center at the Toyota Center in Hekinan City in Aichi Prefecture in February and March.

Noli Eala is very cooperative and he looks forward to the betterment of the athletes,” Tolentino said. “So we’re hoping new chairman Dickie Bachmann will do the same and that he’d do the same thing.”

Former Alaska ace Jojo Lastimosa—now with TNT Tropang Giga management and coaching staff—said that Bachmann has “what it takes to lead the PSC and the Filipino athletes.”

“ I think Dickie has a lot of experience as both as a player, assistant coach and team manager I worked with him in the basketball operations of Alaska,” said Lastimosa, a teammate of Bachmann from 1993 to 1998. “He’s very good in organization and very good in finances.”

B achmann was a member of Alaska’s 1996 grand slam team under coach Tim Cone. He also served as playing assistant coach for Alaska in 1998.

For the many years that I have known Dickie, he’s an upright person,” Lastimosa said. “His moral compass is in the right place, no gray area, only black and white.”

B achmann is the son of the late basketball great Kurt Bachmann, who was a member of the national team that placed eighth in the 1959 world championships in Chile and 11th in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

missed

A

unvaccinated travelers.

I mmigration Minister Andrew Giles last month confirmed that Djokovic, who had been facing a possible three-year ban after being deported, was granted a visa.

D jokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times, including the last three times he played.

Rafael Nadal won the 2022 title in Djokovic’s absence.

Over the years I’ve been really fortunate to start very strong in Australia and I love playing there,” Djokovic said in Dubai last week at an exhibition tournament. “After obviously what happened earlier this year, hopefully I can have a decent

reception there and hopefully that can help me play some good tennis.” But questions remain around how Djokovic will be received by Australian fans. Tiley told reporters Tuesday he believed Djokovic will be well-received.

“I have a great deal of confidence in the Australian public,” Tiley said.

“We’re a very well-educated sporting public, particularly those who come to the tennis. They love their tennis, they love seeing greatness, they love seeing great athleticism, great matches.

And I have a lot of confidence that the fans will react like we hope they would react and have respect for that.”

the upper rungs of the UAAP basketball ladder. Will Jerom Lastimosa return for the Adamson Soaring Falcons? Will Ateneo’s first Ange Kouame-less season, have a good replacement for the two-time League MVP, Finals MVP, Rookie of the Year and Mythical Team member? Can he be replaced at all?

Basketball never stops

THE collegiate men’s basketball season is over. And so it begins again.

Despite the Christmas break and the need to enjoy some merrymaking with friends and family, teams of the country’s premiere collegiate league, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), are avidly looking forward to next basketball season, making big moves or

From massive player recruitment to a change of head coach, La Salle is serious about recapturing the glory it enjoyed from 1998 to 2001 via four-peat, then 2007, with the last championship claimed during the ultra dominant Ben Mbala days of 2016.

A ccording to the grapevine, my source said, Jamike Jarin and Olsen Racela are in the mix of possible replacements for Derick Pumaren who was reported to not have been renewed by the Green Archers. Coach Derick himself says he has not been informed of that decision, but the rumor mill keeps grinding and from inside the Archers’ camp it is clear they are most unhappy that their team had

“Sayang,” my source said. “That was a strong team. That was a well-coached team. It’s just that their big man could not cut it when pitted against the big men of the other teams. Plus it lacked height.“

A pparently FEU’s 0-5 start made it hard for them to play catch-up, although the Tamaraws showed their true mettle in the second round.

A s for University of Santo Tomas (UST), they will be out to growl in a big way in Season 86. Finding themselves in most unfamiliar territory at the bottom of the pack in Season 85, expect the Growling Tigers to stage a major hunt for glory. Rookie coach Bal David gamely took over the reins of the team in July 2022, barely two months before the start of hostilities in this much-watched basketball tournament. Preparations were still raw and the new season demanded near flawless execution and utmost attention to detail. In Season 86 UST will come better prepared. Season 86 will be different as well for even the teams in

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will have to deal with whether or not Carl Tamayo will still suit up or accept the numerous lucrative offers he is getting from Asian pro leagues. Who else will leave with Carl, if ever? Who will be back? The roster may look a little different next season.

A nd then again, will National University perfect their game when the league opens the new season in September next year? Will the University of the East Red Warriors build on the gains they made in Season 85?

It’s a long way to go, but believe me, preparations are already in dead earnest as early as now.

Ne xt week, my source analyzes the present terrain and challenges of collegiate basketball. How has the game changed, how do the current crop of players think and what do they aspire for? What kinds of fans spark phenomenal interest in collegiate basketball but may be harming the game in the long run?

See you next week, and meanwhile, have a Happy New Year!

the semis for the fifth time in the last 11 years.

nd what about Far Eastern University (FEU) that had missed the Final Four for the first time in nine seasons? Olsen Racela resigned recently in a gallant acknowledgement of that fact.

NOVAK

DJOKOVIC will play in the Australian Open. AP

PHILIPPINE National Volleyball Federation president Ramon “Tats” Suzara with Japan Volleyball Association head Shunichi Kawai.

relationship between the two bodies.

RICHARD “DICKIE” BACHMANN is the 12th chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

RIANNE MALIXI wavered with a 78 trying to fight off jet lag and cold conditions as she fell nine strokes behind Vanessa Zhang of Canada after 18 holes of the Citrus Golf Trail Ladies Invitational at the Sun ‘N Lake course in Sebring, Florida, Tuesday.