BusinessMirror February 02, 2023

Factory hiring still weak despite higher PMI

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

DESPITE the strong performance of manufacturing firms in January 2023, Standard & Poors (S&P) Global Market Intelligence noted that hiring activities of Philippine factories “remained weak.”

Based on S&P’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), the Filipino manufacturers’ output was at 53.5 in January 2023. The PMI was at 53.1 in December 2022.

S &P Global said rising business requirements did not allow manufacturing firms to increase the intake of workers. The season-

ally adjusted index edged close to the 50 neutral mark in January.

[The neutral mark indicates that] only a fractional rise in employment during January. Mentions of layoffs and resignations limited the pace of job creation,"”S&P Global said.

However, close to two-thirds of the panelists in the survey anticipated higher output in the coming 12 months compared to just 1 percent that were downbeat.

“Overall, the continued positive performance of the manufacturing sector in January resulted in higher levels of optimism across surveyed businesses. Improving from a four-month low in Decem-

ber, the degree of confidence was stronger than the historical average,” S&P Global said.

I n January, S&P Global said the manufacturing output in the Philippines posted its highest level in seven months and the third consecutive month of growth on the back of strong demand and aggressive monetary policy.

S &P said this performance benefited from cooling inflation with input price and output charge inflation registering the slowest in 24 and 15 months, respectively.

“Overall, strong domestic demand fed into higher optimism for the year ahead. Moreover, the lack of Covid restrictions, greater

investment in new products and undertaking new projects aided hopes of a prosperous year for the Filipino manufacturing sector,” S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said. “ The data also suggested that the aggressive monetary stance taken by the central bank has been effective as further signs of easing price pressures were recorded in January. Encouragingly, demand has yet to be impacted negatively by policy changes,” she added. Baluch said there was a sharp increase in output and new orders, suggesting that there is See “Factory,” A2

DOF HAS ASSET LIST FOR SALE TO SEED MIF–DIOKNO

PET FOOD SALES IN PHL SEEN TO RISE TO $434M

SALES of pet food in the Philippines is projected to grow by 9 percent on an annual basis to a record high of $434 million, driven by the growing number of dog and cat owners nationwide, an international agency said.

The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service in Manila (USDA-FAS Manila) said that pet food consumption in the Philippines increased as more Filipinos adopted more dogs

and cats during the pandemic. While people were confined to their homes during the pandemic, dog and cat adoptions increased and pet food consumption grew,” the USDA-FAS Manila said in its latest Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report.

The USDA-FAS Manila noted that the Philippines ranks fifth in the world in

Covid jabs enough for now, govt won’t buy new batches–Palace

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

In a statement on Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. found the 1.3 million Covid-19 jabs shipped by the Vaccines Global Access (Covax) facility to the country, “sufficient” for the current domestic needs amid the declining incidence of infections nationwide.

A s of January 29, the Department of Health (DOH) logged 9,982 active Covid-19 cases.

Hindi na kailangan kagaya ng 2021 na lagi tayong nagmamadali makakuha ng vaccine dahil pabawas na ’yung risk. [It is not like in 2021 when we had to rush the procurement of vaccines since there is now a lower risk],” the President explained at his meeting

with health officials on Wednesday in Malacañang.

Based on DOH data, around 73 million individuals got their Covid-19 vaccines, while 21 million individuals received their booster shots.

HCW allowances

ASIDE from vaccine jabs, Marcos also reiterated he wants the continuation of the allowance received by health care workers (HCW) during the pandemic, despite the lifting of the national state of calamity (SOC) last month.

"‘ Yung allowance nila ay pinag-aralan namin nang mabuti kahit hindi itinutuloy ang state of calamity ay hindi maapektuhan ang pagbayad doon sa ating mga

health workers ng kanilang mga benefits [We are now studying how we can continue the allowance of health workers without the state calamity],” Marcos said.

Marcos had given that same commitment last year, when DOH sought the extension of the SOC stating it could affect the allowance of HCWs as well as the government procurement and emergency use authorization (EUA) for Covid-19 vaccines.

Marcos, however, opted not to extend the SOC, which lapsed last month, after saying that

DOF…

Continued from A1

Some of the assets of the government we privatized and use [the proceeds] for the budget, but some assets, like the Mile Long Property, can be used as a source of the [Maharlika] fund. We can sell it altogether,” Diokno said.

A nother government asset that Diokno disclosed can be used for the Maharlika fund is the Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan Hydroelectric Power Plant.

A ngara asked Diokno if the economic managers are planning to sell as well the foreign assets of the government to bankroll the sovereign wealth fund, but Diokno replied, “not at this time.”

The DOF chief said, “We have a building on 5th Avenue and another residence somewhere in New York. In Japan, we have four properties. We might consider [selling] them, but I do not know if we are going to sell them at this time,” he said.

the situation in the country is normalizing.

The SOC took effect in March 2020 when then President Rodrigo R. Duterte issued Proclamation No. 929 in response to the spread of Covid-19 nationwide.

It was supposed to only last six months, but was extended twice via Proclamation No. 1021 and Proclamation No. 1218 until Sept. 12, 2022.

M arcos also decided to prolong the duration of the SOC until the end of 2022 through Proclamation No. 57.

Factory…

Continued from A1

strong demand for Philippine manufactured goods.

S &P Global noted international client numbers and stronger demand from China helped revive exports for the first time in 11 months.

It added that for the first time in a year, holdings of post-production inventories fell as firms utilized stocks to meet higher new orders.

“Additionally, supply chain pressures also eased further, with panelists citing that improved infrastructure, more vendors and lifting of port restrictions helped with delivery times,” Baluch said.

’Manufacturing could improve’

MEANWHILE , Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) Chief Economist Michael Ricafort said the country's manufacturing performance could still improve in the

Pet…

Continued from A1

terms of total dog population. Furthermore, dog food forms the bulk of pet food sales in the Philippines, it added.

“ Cat food, though minimal compared to dog food, has shown upward sales growth since 2017,” it said.

For this year, USDA-FAS Manila projected that total pet food sales in the country would rise by $37 million to $434 million from last year's $397 million.

The USDA-FAS Manila estimated that bulk of the total pet food sales would come from dog food, which is projected to be valued at $360 million, $29 million higher than last year’s $331 million.

Meanwhile, total cat food sales this year would be at $69 million, $8 million over last year's $61 million, according to the USDA-FAS Manila.

also entice more foreign investments in the country. To support her argument, De Leon cited the recent offshore sovereign bond issuance by the Philippines, which she noted had an order book of $28 billion. There is a lot of interest in the Philippines,” she said during the first joint hearing on the MIF by the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies; Government Corporations and Public Enterprises; Ways and Means, and Finance. R elated stories on the Senate MIF hearing on A16 and in B3, Banking.

D iokno also emphasized that infrastructure projects undertaken using the sovereign wealth fund could be completed faster than those financed by national budget, citing the case of the Bicol International Airport that took more than a decade to be completed.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon, meanwhile, told senators that the establishment of the sovereign wealth fund would provide the national government with “wider” options when it comes to income generation and improving the country’s economy.

“ For example, if we build a subway instead of borrowing money from Japan we can use this fund to invest in this particular undertaking. You just widen the options available to the government,” De Leon added.

De Leon also pointed out that the sovereign wealth fund would

coming months due to the easing of restrictions nationwide.

Th is will also be supported by the resumption of in-person schooling; accelerated administration of vaccine/booster doses vs. Covid-19; and efforts of the administration to mitigate the adverse economic effects of Russia's invasion/war with Ukraine.

R icafort added that increasing the capacity of many businesses/industries, including those in manufacturing, would also help further lead to faster recovery in local PMI manufacturing gauges to new prepandemic highs as seen recently.

E arlier in January, preparations for the holidays boosted the country’s employment numbers and brought down unemployment to its lowest level in nearly two decades, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

B ased on the results of the Labor Force Survey (LFS), the country’s employment rate reached 95.8 percent in November 2022, reaching 49.71 million employed Filipinos. The unemployment rate slowed to 4.2

Dry dog food remains the best-performing pet food in terms of sales, with a forecast growth of 9 percent. Economy dry dog food forms the bulk of dog food sales due to the high demand for affordability and convenience,” it said.

“ Mid-priced wet cat food remains the preferred pet food for cats in the Philippines. Companies introduced dog and cat food mixers with antioxidants, nutritionfilled ingredients, or formulas to increase appetite, which are suitable for sensitive digestive systems,” it added.

USDA-FAS Manila said local manufacturers have shown greater interest in selling pet food but most pure-breed pet owners prefer imported pet food.

The majority of imported dog and cat food originates in Thailand, the United States, and Europe. Pet food from the United States dominated the market from 2016 to 2019,” it said.

Pet food imports have also been growing, with local companies sourcing from traditional sources

Meanwhile, since proponents of MIF have been touting socalled best practices of sovereign wealth funds in other jurisdictions, Sen. Risa Hontiveros asked Diokno—who agreed to oblige the request—to provide the Senate with documents on such funds especially in the ASEAN region, specifically the charters of Indonesia’s wealth fund, the Indonesia Investment Authority, Singapore’s Temasek Holdings Limited and GIC Private Limited, and the Khazanah Nasional Berhad Board of Malaysia. She also asked Diokno for a copy of the charter of the scandal-ridden, insolvent Malaysian fund 1MDB, “if only to avoid,” she said partly in Filipino, “having Maharlika also used as vehicle for plunder and money laundering.”

percent with 2.18 million unemployed in November 2022. The employment and unemployment rates were the highest in 17 years or since April 2005, when the government adopted the International Labor Organization’s (ILO’s) employment definitions.

Based on PSA data, new entrants to the labor force increased year on year by 1.24 million in November 2022 and 54,000 compared to October 2022.

Mapa explained that the increase in new entrants and employment as well as the decline in unemployment was driven by Christmas-related activities.

These activities included preChristmas bazaars, midnight sales or night markets and the extension of mall hours, among others that required extra hands.

However, given the seasonality of these developments, Mapa said, this trend may continue only until December but have a slow start in the beginning of 2023. Some firms, Mapa said, may offer more permanent positions to workers, but not all of them will be absorbed.

due to supply issues, USDA-FAS Manila said.

“

Importers of US pet food experienced shortages in supply due to increased demand and logistical challenges during the pandemic,” it said.

“Apart from some US brands, pricing and the entry of new players, such as San Miguel Foods Inc., contributed to the rise in sourcing from Thailand,” it added.

I n Asia alone, the Philippines ranked the highest in dog ownership at 67 percent and the second-highest in cat ownership at 43 percent, the USDA-FAS Manila said, citing a 2021 Rakuten survey.

“Cats rank second in pet adoption and are gaining popularity recently as more people searched for cats on the internet during the pandemic,” it added.

USDA-FAS Manila added that the rise of condominiums also encouraged Filipinos to adopt small pets with the majority of them preferring cats, “given their quiet nature and comfort with indoor living.” Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

THE government has decided to hold off the procurement of additional batches of Covid-19 vaccines for now.

MMC approves ‘historic’ single ticketing system

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

THE Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Wednesday approved Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Resolution No. 23-02, implementing the single ticketing system (STS) that “will harmonize the existing national and local laws on traffic enforcement to establish effective transport and traffic management in Metro Manila.”

A fter 28 years, the STS is finally coming into reality after the Metro Manila mayors approved its implementation during the MMC meeting at the MMDA’s new office in Pasig City, the MMDA said.

T he local chief executives of Metro Manila have adopted the STS through the establishment of the Metro Manila Traffic Code (MMTC) of 2023, which provides for a system of interconnectivity among government instrumentalities involved in the transport and traffic management in the metropolis with harmonized fines and penalties.

T he standardized fines and penalties will also be endorsed to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and local councils for adoption.

MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said that the single ticketing system would give apprehended motorists convenience as they can now pay for their traffic-related violations regardless of the city where they may have been apprehended.

“ This is a historic moment for all of us because after more than 20 years, Metro Manila is finally adopting the single-ticketing system that will highly benefit our motorists,” he said.

Its approval and adoption will also help address different procedures of apprehension; payment of fines; redemption of licenses and plates; as well as uncoordinated implementation of traffic laws resulting in confusion of the driving public, loss of money and productive hours.

“ The single ticketing system would help avoid confusion among our driving public, as well as option to pay electronically for their violations. Driver’s license will also not be confiscated during apprehension,” he added.

THE government has abandoned the P130.5-million forfeiture case filed during the term of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III against the late Chief Justice Renato Corona and his heirs.

In a four-page resolution issued last January 30, 2022, the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division noted that the government, through the Office of the Ombudsman, did not appeal anymore its November 3, 2022 decision, dismissing the forfeiture case and lifting the writ of preliminary attachment issued the properties of the Coronas.

Based on its records, a copy decision of which was received by the Ombudsman through electronic means on November 4, 2002 and personal service on November 7, 2022, but no motion for reconsideration was timely filed by the government.

T hus, the Sandiganbayan declared its November 3, 2002 final and executory.

The failure of herein petitioner to file a motion for reconsideration or appeal from the dismissal of its amended petition for forfeiture against respondents renders finality to the decision dated November 3, 2022, which is executory by operation of law,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“Considering the finality of judgment in the instant case, it has now become a ministerial duty of the Court to issue a certificate of finality and to cause its entry of the same to the Books of Judgments,” it added.

Since its decision has now become final and executory, the San-

MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora expressed his gratefulness to the whole council for passing the historic resolution. He also said that the single ticketing system would be in effect within the first quarter of 2023.

The Metro Manila LGUs [local government units] will have to pass their respective ordinances adapting the Metro Manila Traffic Code 2023 on or before March 15 to fully implement the single ticketing system,” he said.

T he MMTC of 2023, which will serve as the guideline for the system, listed the most common traffic violation and penalties, which will be imposed uniformly in all Metro Manila LGUs, as follows:

Disregarding traffic signs:

I llegal parking (attended and unattended); number coding UVVRPtruck ban; light truck ban; reckless driving-unregistered motor vehicle; driving without license; tricycle ban obstruction; dress code for motorcycle; overloading; defective motorcycle accessories; unauthorized modification; arrogance/discourteous conduct (driver); loading and unloading in prohibited zones; illegal counterflow;overspeeding

Special laws: Seat Belts Use Act of 1999; Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act; Mandatory Use of Motorcycle Helmet Act; Children’s Safety on Motorcycle Act; AntiDistracted Driving Act; Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act.

T he Code also has provision for the interconnectivity requirements with the LTO’s Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

During the meeting, it was also agreed upon that the MMDA would provide the funds for the purchase of the hardware and IT requirements needed for seamless and simultaneous rollout of the LGUs integration with the LTMS.

T he LGUs will likewise enact ordinances that will adapt standardized fines on the identified common traffic violations and separate ordinance for traffic-related offenses not stated in the traffic code.

T he final draft of the MMTC was agreed upon by the officials of MMDA and LTO, as well as Metro Manila local traffic enforcement heads, last January 19.

diganbayan granted the plea of the Coronas to order the sheriff to serve copies of the certificate of finality of judgment to the relevant government agencies, parties and other garnishees, for the purpose of lifting the writ of attachment that the anti-graft court previously issued.

“Considering that the ancillary remedy of issuance of writ of preliminary attachment exists only as part or incident of an independent action, the dismissal of the instant amended petition for forfeiture consequently results in the dissolution of the writ of preliminary attachment,” it said.

I n its November 2022 ruling, the Sandiganbayan declared that the properties subject of the forfeiture case was legally obtained by the Coronas.

It held that they were able to fully explain the legality of their “undisclosed” cash and other assets, thus, cannot be held liable for forfeiture of their properties.

T he anti-graft court also agreed with the Supreme Court that the late Chief Justice was a victim of political persecution under the Aquino administration.

It echoed the Supreme Court’s ruling on the request of Corona’s widow, Ma. Cristina, for the grant of retirement and other benefits to the late chief justice, where it declared that the statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) “is a tool for public transparency and never a weapon for political vendetta.”

Corona was ousted by the Senate as the country’s chief magistrate through impeachment proceedings

Sandiganbayan denies Imelda’s bid to regain possession of several sequestered assets

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

sequestration, freeze order and provisional takeover of PCGG of the assets and properties subject of the case do not deprive them as owner of the title or any right to the property sequestered or taken over.

With respect to the surrendered assets by virtue of compromise agreements, the Marcoses argue that at the time of the compromise agreements were executed, their consent as rightful owners of the properties were not obtained.

T hey insisted that there was no valid contract when the agreements were entered into by the PCGG, thus, the properties subject of the said compromise agreements must be returned to  their lawful owners.

T he OSG echoed the findings of the anti-graft court  in its resolution dated December 6, 2005 that the bulk of evidence presented by the PCGG constitute prima facie presumption that the properties were ill-gotten.

T he said finding was affirmed by the SC in a decision issued on February 8, 2012. In their motion, the Marcoses noted that with the case having dragged on for more than three decades, they “have suffered greatly, mentally and emotionally, not to mention the dissipation of seized properties causing the unjust and unreasonable deprivation of their proprietary rights.”

In a 40-page resolution in Civil Case No. 0002 (reversion, reconveyance, restitution, accounting and damages), the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division sided with the Presidential Commission on Good Government’s (PCGG) opposition to the Marcoses’ omnibus motion for a writ of execution on the properties that are subjects of the civil case.

T he PCGG, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), filed its opposition to the motion last August 16, 2022 or barely two months after Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra assumed the post. Guevarra, who served as justice secretary during the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, was appointed by Presi -

dent Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., son of the former first lady.

T he Marcoses filed the omnibus motion for execution based on the Sandiganbayan’s resolution dated July 22, 2022 denying with finality the PCGG’s motion for reconsideration of its 2019 decision junking the P200 billion forfeiture case against them.

T he Marcos family moved that the sequestration and freeze orders on assets and properties included in the complaint could now be lifted following the 2019 ruling.

T hey also sought the anti-graft’s court  declaration that the properties were not ill-gotten and returned these to the previous owners.

T he Marcoses insisted that   the

A s to the sequestered assets, the Marcoses maintained that the PCGG only exercises powers of administration over the properties and never acquired ownership of the same.

T hey claimed that the PCGG has not offered any explanation on why some of the sequestered properties are not in their custody.

In opposing the Marcoses’ motion, the OSG stressed that the dismissal of the forfeiture case has yet to attain finality, thus, cannot be the subject of execution.

T he OSG argued that it filed a petition for review on certiorari before the Supreme Court on August 10, 2022, which is within the reglementary period.  It also pointed out that the Marcoses failed to raise valid reasons for the grant of their motion.

In ruling against the Marcoses, the Sandiganbayan held  the issuance of a writ of execution couldn’t prosper since its judgment has not yet attained finality with the filing by the OSG before the SC of an appeal of its July 26, 2022 resolution.

“

The fact that more than three decades have passed before the said case was decided is not a good reason considering that numerous factors have contributed to said length of period, which even includes the acquisition of jurisdiction over the defendants on different dates, the inclusion of additional defendants after the admission of the Second and Third Amended Complaints, and the filing of numerous motions and petitions, among others,”  the ruling penned by Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi stated.

Austin assures continued US support for PHL’s counterterrorism programs

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

VISITING Defense Secretary

Lloyd Austin III has assured Mindanao military officials of the United States’s continued support for the Philippines’s counterterrorism efforts.

A ustin arrived in the country on Tuesday night for a 2-day official visit before he would leave for South Korea. He is expected to meet with his Philippine coun -

in May 2012 after pronouncing him guilty of betrayal of public trust for failure to properly disclose his properties and cash assets in his SALN.  Corona, however, accused the then Aquino administration of orchestrating his impeachment following the Court’s 2011 decision ordering the distribution of the 4,915.75-hectare Hacienda Luisita to the farmer-beneficiaries of the sugar estate owned by the family of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

At the height of his impeachment trial, then former Akbayan representative and now Senator Risa Hontiveros, along with several others, filed a complaint for violation of Republic Act No. 9194 (Law of Forfeiture of Ill-Gotten Wealth).

A fter the conduct of a fact-finding investigation on the said complaint, then Ombudsman Conchita CarpioMorales issued a resolution on January 14, 2021 recommending the filing of a civil case for forfeiture of Corona’s ill-gotten wealth.

S pecifically, the Ombudsman claimed that Corona’s SALNs for 2001 to 2010 show an unexplained rise in wealth of P8.9 million; that he has undeclared peso and dollar cash assets and undeclared real properties that were acquired for amounts that are much higher than what were reflected in their SALNs.

However, the Court held that the Corona family was able to prove that the former Chief Justice had been gainfully employed for almost 45 years and that he had funds other than his lawful income in government service. Joel R. San Juan

terpart Carlito Galvez Jr. today, Thursday, for a meeting.

During his visit to Mindanao on Wednesday accompanied by top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines led by chief of staff, Gen. Andres Centino, Austin assured continued support to the Philippine military’s counterterrorism drive.

“ The emphasis is they are here to support us in counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” said Major General Roy Galido, commander of

the Armed Forces Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) following their meeting with the US defense official.

A side from visiting the headquarters of the Westmincom and conferring with military officials led by Centino and Galido, Austin also visited a small team of US Special Forces who are helping the Philippine military in counterterrorism operations in Mindanao.

T he US forces are headquartered inside the compound of

the Westmincom.

In today’s meeting with Galvez, Austin is expected to revisit the US-Philippines defense alliance and strengthen the security relations between the two countries. Reports from the US said he is also expected to discuss the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the pending request by the US for five additional military sites where the US Forces can stay for their rotational presence under the EDCA.

House welcomes Rex Gatchalian’s appointment as DSWD secretary

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE experience of incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian as a local chief executive will be an asset for the agency, lawmakers on Wednesday said.

R ep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., Northern Samar Rep. Paul R. Daza, Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, Deputy Speaker Rep. Ralph Recto and Manila Rep. Benny Abante agreed that President Marcos made a great choice in appointing Gatchalian as DSWD chief because of his sterling record both as a local chief executive and as a lawmaker.

Being a three-time mayor of Valenzuela City, his personal touch in attending to the needs of his constituents will be invaluable as he takes the helm of the DSWD,” Barzaga said.

Rex, who is a graduate of the George Washington University, has been my colleague in the House of Representatives where he was elected thrice so I know his competence and capacity as a public servant and more importantly, I know that he has a heart for the poor,” he added.

A s a mayor, one of his programs was the Barangay-Based Feeding Program (BBFP), Valenzuela City’s free supply of nutritious, ready-to-cook food for undernourished children.

T hey also had the Kitchen-onWheels program which is the mobile kitchen used by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to immediately deliver meals to typhoon victims or disaster-stricken communities.

D uring his tenure as three-term mayor of Valenzuela City, Daza, for his part, said Gatchalian vastly improved the Health and Social Services in his constituency.

“His exemplary performance as Valenzuela’s chief local executive, especially during the pandemic, showed his understanding of the problems on the ground and his commitment to public service,” he said.

As his fellow congressman in the august halls of the House of Representatives, and as his friend, I am confident that under his leadership, the DSWD will be guided by the same professionalism and compassion that have defined his successful career. A success that, I firmly believe, he can replicate in handling the country’s social and poverty alleviation programs,” Daza added.

For Salceda, Gatchalian’s governance of Valenzuela during the Covid-19 pandemic—through award-winning initiatives in contact tracing and the use of big data and statistics—showed a commitment to evidenced-based and datadriven governance.

“He is obsessed with results. He

will get things done. When I was Governor of Albay, Valenzuela was one of our toughest competitors for awards for good governance. Secretary Gatchalian has been one of the country’s most innovative mayors.

Valenzuela has pioneered several best practices that many of us in government look up to as examples to emulate in our own communities. These include Bahay Kalinga for elderly citizens and the Valenzuela Child Protection Center,” he added.

Gatchalian comes well prepared for one of the “toughest and thankless” jobs in government, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto, for his part, said.

R ecto said the Valenzuela lawmaker has what it takes to run DSWD, which he described as “one gigantic ATM—Ayuda, Tulong Machine.”

With a 2023 budget of P199 billion, DSWD, he said, will serve about 56 million people, or more than half of the population this year.

DSWD maintains a regular payroll bigger than the national government’s, in terms of payees, said Recto. It oversees the distribution of “G-Cash or government cash” to millions of senior citizens and impoverished families, to name just two recipient sectors, he added.

For this year, 22 million people in 4.4 million households get monthly stipends under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

THE Sandiganbayan has denied the bid of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos and daughter Irene Marcos-Araneta to regain possession of several assets, including a  frozen trust account that have either been sequestered or surrendered to the government for allegedly being part of the Marcos family’s ill-gotten wealth.

Peza approves ₧6.39-B investments in January

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) reported it has approved in January 19 new and expansion projects that are expected to bring in P6.39 billion in investments.

A ccording to Peza Officer-inCharge Tereso O. Panga, this is 83.69 percent higher than the P3.48 billion investments approved in the same period last year.

T he IPA said P2.277 billion of in-

vestments were approved for the 18 new and expansion projects of registered locator companies. Of these, 11 are for export manufacturing enterprises; four for facilities enterprise; two for IT enterprise; and one for domestic market enterprise. Meanwhile, Peza said, an economic zone development project was approved and is expected to bring P4.116 billion investments. This particular ecozone project, Peza said, is an IT Center that will rise in Makati City.

Davao City seeks ₧3.5-B fund support for WTE pilot project

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The Davao City Hall may need an additional P3.5 billion funding from the national government to push through with the pilot area implementation for a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facility.

A ssistant City Administrator, lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, said the city government has entered into partnership with national government agencies, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), to comply with requirements set by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board.

He said that the city would need an estimated P3.5 billion from the national government to finish or fully fund the entire construction of the facility. The Japanese government earlier gave P2.5 billion

for the project.

“As one of the conditions of the grant donation from the Japanese Government, a more in-depth feasibility study was done to check the financial viability of the project as well its compliance to governing and applicable Philippine and international standards on WTE and similar facilities,” Domingo said.

“ We are coordinating with DENR and just recently the city wrote DENR to follow-up on the plans to form a Technical Working Group [TWG] for the project,” he said, adding that the TWG will be composed of local government unit official project team, DENR and Environmental Management Burea officials and concerned departments and offices.

D omingo added that the partnership with DENR is vital as the funding from the national government would be coursed through the DENR, “the project being one of the pilot WTE projects in the country.”

T he mentioned projects will be located in Makati City, Pasay City, Calabarzon, Cebu City, and South Cotabato.

With the positive start of the year, we are bullish with our outlook this year, targeting a 10 percent investment growth based on the initial locator sector targets,” Panga said.

In relation to this, Peza has vowed to strengthen the implementation of the ecozone development program with the launch of the new Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028

last January 30.

“ With the inclusion of the ecozone development program in the new Philippine Development Plan, we are positive that more ecozones will be approved and created especially in the countryside,” Panga said.

T he Peza interim chief stressed that economic zones can be “shields to soften the landing of the headwinds, the external constraints, and all these global disruptions happening especially during this time.”

According to the PDP 2023-2028,

ecozones will be integrated into the local economy by relaxing the requirements, facilitating the free flow of parts, components, and other inputs, and increasing open trade between zone locators and firms outside the zones.

Meanwhile, at the recently held Philippine Development Forum 2023-2028, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President George T. Barcelon hailed Peza, noting that the country’s local government should

adopt the “DNA” of the IPA to attract more investments throughout the Philippines.

F rom January to December 2022, the Peza surpassed its 2022 target. The IPA reported in December that it had approved 198 projects within the said period last year, which, it said, are expected to bring in P140.7 billion worth of investments in the country. Panga said this is a 103.03-percent increase compared to the same period in 2021.

PBBM orders creation of new water mgmt office

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Mar-

cos Jr. has ordered the creation of a new office that will manage the country’s water resources amid challenges brought about by climate change.

T he Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the President ordered the formation of the Water Resource Management Office (WRMO) during Wednesday’s

multi-sectoral meeting in Malacañang to consolidate water management efforts of all concerned government offices.  We have to bring them together so that they are all following the overall plan,” Marcos said.  PCO said the core task of WRMO would be to formulate and ensure the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA)

and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

A n executive order (EO) will be drafted to enforce the said “collaborative mechanism under the WRMO.”

Once the WRMO becomes operational, Marcos said he wants it to prioritize “reducing the country’s reliance on groundwater and deep wells, as well as managing surface water supply.”

There’s enough water in the Philippines, we are just not using it properly so it ends up being

wasted,” Marcos said.  Marcos pushed for the creation of the WRMO due to the pending new law, which will create the proposed Water Resource Department (WRD).

T he WRMO will be coordinating with the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) in lobbying in Congress for the WRD.

T he country is heavily reliant on its water resources for its food supply, sustaining its growing urban areas, as well as its power supply through hydro power plants.

Salceda pushes passage of national measurement standardization bill PSA hits 40M mark in PhilID delivery, issuance

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

AN economist-lawmaker is pushing for a strong framework that will standardize measurements and boost the Philippines’s trade with the world as well as strengthen consumer protection.

House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda pushed for the passage of his House Bill No. 635 or the National Measurement System Modernization Act.

T he proposal seeks to create a national measurement system, which will include powers to monitor, regulate and enforce measurement standards and ensure that correct and accurate measures are used across the country.

The whole global economic system is built on one fundamental idea: that you get what you pay for. A kilogram of rice must be a kilogram —whether sold outright in the market, or traded as a futures contract, or securitized in a warehouse receipt. Otherwise, trust in the system is un-

dermined,” Salceda said on Tuesday. In such a system, a country with untrustworthy measures is a country few people will wish to trade with. In any case, the mere risk of measurement deviations will make any market participant trade at a discount. Standardized metrology also reduces trade barriers. Countries that can easily convert or use the same units of measure can trade more easily. That is why it is absolutely important for me, as an economist, to ensure that we have reliable metrology in this country,” Salceda added.

S alceda also cited global standards, which recommend the adoption of national legislation on the matter.

“I would like to point you to the Asia-Pacific Legal Metrology Forum’s recommendations on the national infrastructure for legal metrology and how this proposal measures up. The forum recommends a system of legal traceability through national standards and a reference laboratory, legal controls through surveillance, verification, and enforcement, all within the framework of national

legislation. These recommendations are incorporated in the bill,” he said.

Salceda also cited its role in land valuation and advance sciences.

Although metrology can seem very conceptual, its role in nationbuilding is actually very practical. In this country, the problem with metrology is most evident in the measurement of land. In that area, the lack of standardization of measuring instruments among surveyors and geodetic engineers has resulted in severe deviations in land measurement. That has negative implications on everything from banking to taxation to agriculture,” he added.

Salceda said Congress is working on making the country’s land valuation system more efficient “but if the land measurement itself is questionable, the total land value becomes suspect, even with better valuation standards.”

Salceda also recommended, “that the costs that businesses bear as a result of compliance requirements under this act should be treated as an ordinary expense, incurred in the course of doing business.”

THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has successfully delivered and issued a combined 40,869,141 PhilIDs and ePhilIDs to registered persons nationwide. According to the latest figures, 22,585,547 are delivered PhilIDs as of January 20, 2023, and 18,283,594 are issued ePhilIDs as of January 25, 2023.

We, at the PSA, extend our heartfelt gratitude to the public for their unceasing support for PhilSys and in making this milestone possible,” said PSA Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General.

“More and more Filipinos can utilize their PhilIDs and ePhilIDs in various transactions in the government and private establishments,” he added in a news statement issued over the weekend. This milestone is the result of the PSA’s collaborative efforts with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippine Postal Corp. (Post Office) for the production and delivery of PhilIDs, and strategies by the PSA Field Offices in the continuous implementation of the ePhilID.

IPOPHL DRAFTS WORK PLAN TO END COUNTERFEIT ACTIVITIES AT GREENHILLS

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) said it has proposed a work plan to tackle “long standing” counterfeit activities at the Greenhills Shopping Center as the shopping mall in San Juan City has once again been cited in the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 2022 Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.

While the shopping center’s continued inclusion in the list puts the Philippines’s reputation in protecting intellectual property [IP] rights on the line, we are pleased to see that several positive developments in this case have been cited by the USTR,” IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

According to the USTR report, which was published on Tuesday, Greenhills, a popular shopping hub with over 2,000 indoor and outdoor stores, houses storefronts that sell counterfeit goods, including electronics, perfumes, watches, shoes, accessories, and fashion items.

T he USTR report noted that among the developments was law enforcement authorities’ high-profile raid that led to the seizure of counterfeit luxury goods in April 2022. Moreover, the report stated that right holders report enforcement activity in the form of “warning letters and subsequent suspension” of businesses.

However, the US trade office said the targets of enforcement “often evade such efforts by moving the location of their stalls.”

A s acting chair of the 15-member National Committee on IP Rights (NCIPR), IPOPHL said it has proposed a work plan to address the counterfeit activities at Greenhills.

T he agency said the draft plan is currently under review by the NCIPR members who are expected to indicate what they can contribute to each proposed strategy. IPOPHL said the committee is slated to meet in late February.

T he proposed work plan, IPOPHL noted, includes major strategies such as strengthening the NCIPR’s collaboration  with Greenhills with hopes of compelling the shopping center to implement “stricter” monitoring of their stalls and impose “heftier” penalties against sellers of counterfeit products.

Moreover, under the work plan, the NCIPR will coordinate with brand owners to “actively” submit Affidavits of Complaints to Greenhills to indicate their expression of filing a legal complaint and as notice to the mall’s management of potential violators.

T he attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it would also help vendors appreciate the “long-term value” of respecting others’ IP rights and creating their own IP-protected products.

A s for the key policies it is pushing, IPOPHL said it also hopes to compel local government units (LGUs) to fully enforce the Intellectual Property (IP) Code of 1997 and the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) IP-related issuances, namely, Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020124 and MC 2022-055.

“ MC 2020-124 mandates local offices to issue an ordinance that will, among others, cancel business permits of IP-violating shops while MC 2022-055 encourages LGUs to adopt their respective Anti-Counterfeit and Anti-Piracy Policies to promote IP respect in the workplace,” IPOPHL said in a news statement issued on Wednesday.

Seven key bilateral deals expected to be inked during PBBM’s Japan visit next week–DFA

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

be signed during the working visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Japan next week, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

A mong those to be signed are the notes for the $3 billion infrastructure loan agreements to be later signed by the Department of Finance (DOF) for the North-South Commuter Railway and the NorthSouth Commuter Railway Extension.

“During the visit, we anticipate the signing of seven key bilateral documents/agreements covering cooperation in infrastructure development, defense, agriculture and information and communications technology areas that are the President’s priority agenda,” DFA Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs Neal Imperial said at a news conference in Malacañang on Wednesday.

He noted the pact for the defense will contain “umbrella terms of reference on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” while the accord on agriculture is expected to provide better market access for Filipino products in Japan.

Japan is the biggest bilateral source of active Official Development Assistance (ODA), providing concessional loans to finance important infrastructure and capacitybuilding projects, social safety net

Agri groups in final drive to stop RCEP

C astelo stressed that this excludes rice, sugar, and corn, and “all the other basic agri products that we commonly consume.”

Meanwhile, the agriculture stakeholders noted that new trade or market access opportunities under RCEP cover a tiny percentage of the country’s agricultural tariff lines and trade value.

Moreover, these stakeholders said “there is no guarantee of their benefit to us, because other RCEP membercountries will enjoy the same privileges. They will be gainers, and we will be the losers, if they are more competitive than us.”

‘Real danger’

THE agricultural groups noted, however, that in terms of industry, particularly for agriculture, there is a “real danger” of imports displacing the country’s local output, since they said the regional trade pact will eliminate tariffs on 93 percent of the country’s industrial tariff lines. Hence, they stressed that this could

result in “massive” job losses and bankruptcies of small and medium scale enterprises.

T he stakeholders also brushed off RCEP advocates’ claim that the trade deal by itself is good, and that concerns about the agriculture sector’s readiness to compete should be addressed separately.

T he proponents of the regional trade pact made no serious effort to dialogue “meaningfully” to avoid past mistakes and to achieve real progress, the groups added.

This shows that the executive is taking our concerns lightly. Nor does it have a credible plan on mitigating threats and maximizing opportunities in RCEP,” the stakeholders said on Wednesday.

Flexibilities

IN contrast, Trade Assistant Secretary Allan B. Gepty said in a recent chance interview with reporters that if one examines RCEP, “you actually have plenty of flexibilities or policiesbased when it comes to adopting and

continued from a16

implementing measures.”

Gepty said if the concern is a surge of imported products, there will be trade remedies to address the issue, as well as general safeguards and special safeguard measures.

“In addition, we have the RCEP transitional safeguard measure so what I’m saying is, there’s even a  trade remedy like anti-dumping measure, countervailing measure, they are still applicable,” the Trade official said.

T he regional trade deal is currently with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. After the hearings, the Committee will submit a recommendation to the plenary, where interpellations are expected.

T he Committee has a technical working group (TWG) to identify issues and let concerned agencies air their concerns.

DTI earlier expressed hope the Senate will approve the regional trade deal within the first quarter of 2023.

China stepped up patrols in WPS in ’22, AIS data show

Comparing the data of 2022 to the year 2020, the AMTI report said Chinese patrols in Second Thomas Shoal increased to 279 from 232, while at the Scarborough Shoal, it also rose to 344 from 287.

“Data on the reefs surrounding Philippine-held Thitu Island [Pagasa Island] was not collected in previous analyses, but CCG [China Coast Guard] vessels were on site 208 days over the past year. At some features, especially Scarborough Shoal, multiple CCG vessels were present simultaneously,” the AMTI said.

T he increased presence of Chinese patrols in the maritime waters of the Philippines, which Beijing disputes,

continued from a16

were also used to harass and stop the country’s oil explorations.

For instance, China convinced the Philippines to shut down renewed exploration of Reed Bank in April when the CCG 5203 shadowed a contracted survey vessel,” the AMTI report said. “ The CCG also worked with maritime militia at Second Thomas Shoal to obstruct resupply missions to Philippine marines stationed on the shoal multiple times throughout 2022. And in another publicized incident, Chinese and Philippine law enforcement came face to face at Thitu Island in November when CCG cut the tow line of a Philippine vessel

programs, education, agriculture and science and technology support and many other high impact programs.

Business agenda

IMPERIAL said the visit of the President to Japan from February 8 to 12 would also translate to several investments deals.

“Commensurate with the strong economic ties between the two countries, a large business delegation will be joining the President’s trip. Roundtable and business meetings, business calls on the President and business seminar will be held on February 9 and 10. The President will also witness the signing of several business deals,” Imperial added.

A s of Wednesday, Imperial said at least 150 have signed up for the business delegation of President Marcos.

T he President will also hold a

dialogue with officials of Japanese shipping companies and associations to pursue “advance partnerships” to help improve the country’s maritime education for seafarers.

The President is devoting a lot of time in ensuring we are able to attract more interest from the Japanese investors and that we are able to sell more products for export to the Japanese markets,” Imperial said.

Japan is the country’s largest trading partner in 2021 and its third biggest export market.

Stronger ties

DURING his visit in Japan, Marcos will have his second face-to-face meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio after they met at the United Nations General Assembly in the United States last September.

T he Chief Executive and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are also set to be given an Imperial audience with their majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.

“ The official working visit is expected to reaffirm the strong and vibrant relations between the two countries. It also seeks to maximize the full potential of Philippine-Japan Strategic Partnership in all its aspects and facilitate closer defense, security, political, economic, and people-to-people ties,” Imperial said.

Marcos will wrap up his visit in Japan with a meeting with the Filipino community in Tokyo.

‘Luffy’ issue

IMPERIAL , however, said that the issue on the deportation of four Japanese nationals, one of whom is suspected to be “Luffy,” a notorious robbery ring leader in Japan, would not be tackled during the trip.

T he Japanese embassy has already requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to deport the four suspects, who also have outstanding warrants in Japan.

The Philippines will follow the timeline of deportation proceedings in accordance with Philippine laws,” Imperial said.

“

We feel that this is totally unrelated to the visit of the President. This is a consular matter being handled by the DOJ and Japanese embassy here and our embassy in Japan with the Ministry of Justice of Japan in Tokyo,” he added.

He also noted the President is also unlikely to raise the issue of Filipino comfort women or girls, who suffered sexual abuses from the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War.

“

The position of the Philippines on this issue is that compensation claims by former comfort women is considered to be already settled as far as the government is concerned. All the war-related claims are deemed to have been settled by our 1956 reparation agreements with Japan,” Imperial explained.

removing Chinese rocket debris from waters west of the island,” it added.

Given the constant presence of Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels in maritime waters that China disputes in Southeast Asia, the AMTI declared that “confrontations” are “inevitable.”

C hina’s nine-dash line also intrudes into the waters of other countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Indonesia, the latter being the only country in the region that is challenging Chinese vessels and their illegal activities in its waters.

Beijing’s expansive claims creep into Indonesia’s Natuna waters.

ATOTAL of seven economic and security bilateral agreements and documents will

Taiwan activates combat defenses in response to China’s deployment

Europe scrapes out economic growth by dodging gas crisis

By David Mchugh Ap Business Writer

FRANKFURT, Germany—Eu-

rope’s economy scraped out meager gains at the end of last year as galloping inflation fed by high energy prices and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine deterred people from spending in shops and restaurants.

Economic output crept 0.1 percent higher in the last three months of 2022 from the previous quarter, European Union statistics agency Eurostat reported Tuesday, avoiding an outright downturn as warmer-than-usual winter weather shelved fears of energy rationing.

The large-scale Chinese deployment comes as Beijing increases preparations for a potential blockade or outright attack on Taiwan that has stirred major concerns among military leaders in the US, Taiwan’s key ally.

In a memo last month, US Air Force Gen. Mike Minihan instructed officers to be prepared for a US-China conflict over Taiwan in 2025. As head of Air Mobility Command, Minihan has a keen understanding of the Chinese military and his personal remarks echo calls in the US for heightened preparations.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 20 Chinese aircraft on Tuesday crossed the central line in the Taiwan Strait that has long been an unofficial buffer zone between the sides, which divided amid civil war in 1949.

China claims the self-governing island republic as its own territory to be taken by force, while the vast majority of Taiwanese are opposed to coming under the control of China’s authoritarian Communist Party.

Taiwan’s armed forces “moni

tored the situation ... to respond to these activities,” the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

China has sent warships, bombers, fighter jets and support aircraft into airspace near Taiwan on a near daily basis, hoping to wear down the island’s limited defense resources and undercut support for pro-independence President Tsai Ing-wen.

Chinese fighter jets have also confronted military aircraft from the US and allied nations over international airspace in the South China and East China seas, in what Beijing has described as dangerous and threatening maneuvers.

A string of visits in recent months by foreign politicians to Taiwan, including by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and numerous politicians from the European Union, spurred displays of military might from both sides.

In response to Pelosi’s visit in August, China staged war games surrounding the island and fired missiles over it into the Pacific Ocean.

China has repeatedly threatened retaliation against countries seeking closer ties with Taiwan,

but its attempts at intimidation have sparked a backlash in popular sentiment in Europe, Japan, the US and other nations.

Taiwan is set to hold presidential elections next year, in contrast to China’s system of total control by president and party General Secretary Xi Jinping, who has removed term limits to effectively make him leader for life. China’s efforts to reach out to Taiwan’s pro-unification Nationalist Party have largely backfired.

Although the Nationalists performed well in local elections last year, the party’s pro-Beijing policies have failed to find resonance among voters on a national level.

Taiwan has responded to China’s threats by ordering more defensive weaponry from the US, leveraging its democracy and high-tech economy to strengthen foreign relations and revitalizing its domestic arms industry.

Compulsory military service for men is being extended from

four months to one year and public opinion surveys show high levels of support for increased defense spending to counter China’s threats.

In an interview last month, Taiwan’s envoy to the US said the island has learned important lessons from Ukraine’s war that would help it deter any attack by China or defend itself if invaded.

Taiwan’s de-facto ambassador in Washington, Bi-khim Hsiao, said there is a new emphasis on preparing military reservists and civilians for the kind of all-ofsociety fight that Ukrainians are waging against Russia.

“Everything we’re doing now is to prevent the pain and suffering of the tragedy of Ukraine from being repeated in our scenario in Taiwan,” Hsiao told The Associated Press. “So ultimately, we seek to deter the use of military force. But in a worst-case scenario, we understand that we have to be better prepared.” AP

1,700 flights canceled, at least 2 dead as ice storm freezes US

By Paul J. Weber & Jeff Martin

The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas—Winter weather brought ice to a wide swath of the United States on Tuesday, canceling more than 1,700 flights nationwide and snarling highways. At least two people died on slick roads in Texas and two law officers in the state were seriously injured, including a deputy who was pinned under a truck, authorities said.

As the ice storm advanced eastward on Tuesday, watches and warnings stretched from the western heel of Texas all the way to West Virginia. Several rounds of mixed precipitation—including freezing rain and sleet—were in store for many areas through Wednesday, meaning some regions could be hit multiple times, the federal Weather Prediction Center warned.

Emergency responders rushed to hundreds of auto collisions across Texas and Republican Gov. Greg Abbott urged people to stay off the roads.

Authorities said one person in Austin was killed in a predawn pileup Tuesday. A 45-year-old man also died Monday night after his SUV slid into a highway guardrail near Dallas in slick conditions and rolled down an embankment, according to the Arlington Police Department.

More than 900 flights to or from major US airport hub Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and more than 250 to or from Dallas Love Field were canceled or delayed Tuesday, according to the tracking service FlightAware. At Dallas-Fort Worth, more than 50percent of Tuesday’s scheduled flights had been canceled by Tuesday afternoon.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines canceled more than 560 flights Tuesday and delayed more than 350 more, FlightAware reported.

About 7,000 power outages in Texas were reported as of late Tuesday morning, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said following a briefing in Austin on the worsening conditions. He emphasized the outages were due to factors such as ice on power lines or downed trees, and not the performance of

the Texas power grid that buckled for days during a deadly winter storm in 2021.

Fleets of emergency vehicles were fanned out among 1,600 roads impacted by the freeze.

In Texas, a sheriff’s deputy who stopped to help the driver of an 18-wheeler that went off an icy highway on Tuesday was hit by a second truck that pinned him beneath one of its tires, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. About 45 minutes after the crash on State Highway 130, the deputy was freed from the wreckage and taken to a hospital, where he was in surgery Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The deputy is expected to survive, officials said.

In another wreck, a Texas state trooper was hospitalized with serious injuries after being struck by a driver who lost control of their vehicle, said Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

“The roadways are very hazardous right now. We cannot overemphasize that,” Abbott said.

As the ice and sleet enveloped Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis-Shelby County Schools announced that it will cancel classes Wednesday due to freezing rain and hazardous road conditions. The school system has about 100,000 students. The University of Memphis said it would announce plans for Wednesday classes by 6 a.m. tomorrow.

In Arkansas, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency Tuesday because of the ice storm. In her declaration, Sanders cited the “likelihood of numerous downed power lines” and said road conditions have created a backlog of deliveries by commercial drivers.

One of the main thoroughfares through Arkansas—Interstate 40—was ice-coated and “extremely hazardous” in the Forrest City area on Tuesday, according to the city’s fire department.

The department responded to two bad wrecks and about 15 other crashes Tuesday morning, Division Chief Jeremy Sharp said by telephone. In many of the crashes, the drivers pick up speed on the highway but run into trouble when they reach a bridge, he said.

“They hit the ice and they start wrecking,” he said.

“When I-40 shuts down like that, that can be hours of waiting,” said John Gadberry, who lives in Colt, Arkansas, not far from the highway. “I-40 is usually one of the first things that freezes over due to its slight elevation.”

By late Tuesday morning, I-40 was cleared and traffic had resumed, the Arkansas Department of Transportation announced. The interstate connects Little Rock, Arkansas, to Memphis, Tennessee.

The storm began Monday as part of an expected “several rounds” of wintry precipitation through Wednesday across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Tennessee, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard.

“Generally light to moderate freezing rain resulting in some pretty significant ice amounts,” Chenard said.

“We’re expecting ice accumulations potentially a quarter inch or higher as far south as Austin, Texas, up to Dallas over to Little Rock, Arkansas, towards Memphis, Tennessee, and even getting close to Nashville, Tennessee,” according to Chenard.

The flight disruptions follow Southwest’s meltdown in December that began with a winter storm but continued after most other airlines had recovered. Southwest canceled about 16,700 flights over the last 10 days of the year, and the US Transportation Department is investigating.

The weather service has issued a winter storm warning for a large swath of Texas and parts of southeastern Oklahoma and an ice storm warning across the midsection of Arkansas into western Tennessee.

A winter weather advisory is in place in much of the remainder of Arkansas and Tennessee and into much of Kentucky, West Virginia and southern parts of Indiana and Ohio.

Schools and colleges in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas planned to close or go to virtual learning Tuesday.

Martin reported from Woodstock, Georgia.

For all of 2022, the economy grew 3.5 percent, outpacing the 2.1 percent expansion in the US and China’s 3 percent growth last year.

The countries that share the euro currency—19 in 2022, now 20 after Croatia joined the eurozone in the new year—appeared to have avoided the worst case scenario: forced industrial shutdowns from running out of natural gas after Russia halted most supplies. Warmer weather and efforts to find new supply that comes by ship instead of pipeline from Russia have eased that worry for now.

Nonetheless, natural gas prices are still three times higher than before Russia started massing troops on Ukraine’s border, after rising to a record of 18 times that level in August. Those prices are hitting utility bills and leading companies to pass on costs to customers by charging more for goods and food.

“Growth was still very weak,” said Rory Fennessy, European economist at Oxford Economics. He added that “the positive reading could mask underlying weakness in domestic demand” and that “private consumption is likely to have contracted.”

“The main reason” pushing Europe into positive territory was strong growth of 3.5 percent in Ireland—a figure usually “distorted” by the large number of foreign firms located there for tax reasons, said Martin Moryson, chief economist for Europe at asset manager DWS. Major economies Germany and Italy shrank, by 0.2 percent

and 0.1 percent, respectively. Growth also faced headwinds from reduced activity in China, a major trade partner, due to the severe Covid-19 restrictions that have since been lifted. A possible economic rebound there is a key question for Europe and the global economy this year, given China’s previous role as a motor of global growth. While underwhelming, Europe’s growth figure at least raises the chance it will scrape by without a technical recession even if economic expansion is negative in the first three months of this year. Two straight quarters of falling output is one definition of recession, although the economists on the eurozone business cycle dating committee use a broader range of data such as unemployment and the depth of the downturn.

The news comes as the International Monetary Fund raised its forecast for global economic growth this year to 2.9 percent from 2.7 percent—not great but an improvement based partly on hopes for China. A stronger global economy is important for Europe given its extensive trade links.

Fears of lagging economic growth so far have not deterred the European Central Bank from its series of interest rate increases, which are sharply raising the cost of borrowing for businesses and consumers in an attempt to cool off inflation.

Consumer prices jumped 9.2 percent in December from a year earlier, far above the central bank’s goal of 2 percent. Rate increases are the chief antidote to excessive inflation but can slow the economy by making it more expensive to buy a house or a car on credit or borrow to expand a business.

The central bank’s governing council is expected to add another half-percentage point rate hike at its meeting Thursday.

Rate increases by other central banks around the world, including the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, also have added strain to the global economy. ECB officials say that raising rates now and capping inflation before it gets baked into the economy avoids the need for more drastic action later.

US, allies impose new sanctions on Myanmar 2 years after coup

By Philip J. Heijmans

THE US and its allies Canada, the UK and Australia have imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar, adding to pressure on the military regime, two years since it overthrew the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement Tuesday the US restrictions target six individuals and three entities linked to the junta’s efforts to generate revenue and procure arms, including senior leadership in its energy sector and its Air Force.

T he sanctions were also leveled against an arms dealer and the Union Electoral Commission at a time the junta is seeking to advance plans to hold what Blinken said would be “deeply flawed elections.”

“The United States remains firm in our position that the regime’s planned elections cannot be free or fair, not while the regime has killed, detained, or forced possible contenders to flee, nor while it continues to inflict brutal violence against its peaceful opponents,” Blinken said.

The action from the US and its allies comes as the junta weighs whether to extend emergency rule or hand over power to an interim government in preparation for elections to be held in August. An announcement is expected later on Wednesday.

My anmar’s military has used increasingly brutal tactics to subdue its enemies in recent

months—even as it further entrenches Myanmar as a pariah state abroad. A rare United Nations Security Council resolution in December called for an end to violence and the release of all political prisoners. More than 2,900 people have been killed and thousands more arrested in the military crackdown that followed the takeover.

The regime has also struggled to stabilize an economy that contracted 18 percent last year and is now seeing soaring inflation, a weakening currency and shrinking foreigncurrency reserves. Western sanctions targeting the coup leaders and related business entities, as well as an investor exodus, have harmed the junta’s finances. But while it presides over an economy in disarray, it retains control of vast economic interests, including lucrative natural gas exports.

While the US on Tuesday targeted leadership of the military-controlled Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, known as MOGE, it stopped short of penalizing the entity itself, drawing criticism from activists who have been pushing Washington to restrict one of the junta’s most important sources of revenue.

“While these latest sanctions are a positive step in cutting the junta’s access to resources, far more needs to be done to coordinate sanctions that systematically target the junta’s sources of revenue, arms and jet fuel,” said Justice for Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung. “So far, only the EU has sanctioned MOGE.” Bloomberg News

TAIPEI, Taiwan—Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems in response to nearby operations of 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy.

TAIWANESE Mirage 2000 fighter jets taxi along a runway during a drill at an airbase in Hsinchu, Taiwan on January 11, 2023. Taiwan scrambled fighter jets, put its navy on alert and activated missile systems on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, in response to nearby operations of 34 Chinese military aircraft and nine warships that are part Beijing’s strategy to unsettle and intimidate the self-governing island democracy. AP/JOHNSON LAI

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Editor: Jennifer

‘Cut onion harvest losses to boost local supply’

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

@jearcalas

M

Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

Spokesperson Jose Diego E. Roxas said local onion output would have been nearly sufficient to meet domestic demand if the country had “better postharvest conditions.”

R oxas noted that postharvest losses in onion production range from a low of 8 percent to as much as 30 percent of total harvest.

“As much as we want to reduce our postharvest losses, it is impossible to have absolutely no postharvest losses. We could reduce the losses significantly but not absolutely,” he told reporters in an interview on Wednesday.

T he Department of Agriculture (DA) said the country lost 100,000 metric tons (MT) of onions in 2022 alone due to the lack of proper post-

harvest facilities, such as cold storage facilities, and improper handling.

INIMIZING waste and postharvest losses in the onion value chain, which could reach as high as 30 percent, would allow the Philippines to reduce its reliance on imports.T he total volume wasted was almost 35 percent of the 283,172 MT of red and yellow onions and shallots harvested by farmers last year. The country’s total onion requirement, meanwhile, was estimated at 260,148 MT or about 21,679 MT per month, according to the DA.

Because of this, no less than President Marcos Jr., who is the concurrent agriculture secretary, proposed the establishment of a program that would improve the domestic onion industry, including the development of better postharvest facilities.

T he proposal, dubbed Optimization and Resiliency In the Onion Industry Network (ORION) program, is still being discussed by government officials.

Down the line we will not just focus on reducing post-harvest losses but also increasing mechanization to reduce labor costs and improve farmers’ yield through high-yielding varieties,” Roxas said.

T his year, the government has allocated P240 million to establish

PHOTO BY NONOY LACZA

cold storage facilities for onions.

T he Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) had estimated that at least P6 billion is needed to

double the industry’s storage capacity for onions and slash the disparity between the total supply annually and storage capacity. (Related sto-

House passes bill mandating full insurance coverage for ARBs

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

T

Lawmakers late Tuesday approved on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 6680 to provide immediate financial assistance to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the event of natural disasters to make their losses “more bearable.”

“ This measure, if enacted into law, is envisioned to help farmers recover from the adverse effects of circumstances that are beyond their control, such as natural calamities, the infestation of plant diseases and pests, or even death and injury of the beneficiary,” House Speaker Martin G. Romualdez said.

This is part of our legislative commitment to ensure food security by helping the hands that feed the nation—our farmers—and make sure

they bounce back from any event that may affect their ability to produce the food we have on our tables.”

O help farmers bounce back from natural disasters, the House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a measure that mandates full insurance coverage for farmer-beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).HB 6680 amends Republic Act (RA) 6657, as Amended by RA 9700, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988.

Under the approved bill, full insurance coverage is granted to all qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries who are actually tilling the land for compensable losses that are also defined under the measure.

HB 6680 also defined who the qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries are, and they are those mentioned in Section 3(b) of RA 10000, otherwise known as the “Agri-Agra Reform Credit Act of 2009.” Compensable losses, meanwhile, include those resulting from:

Natural calamities such as typhoon, flood, drought, earthquake, volcanic eruption, frost, and other destructive natural phenomena such as heat and hot wind;

Plant diseases caused by pathogens, bacteria, fungi, viruses, viruslike pathogens, and other similar foreign bodies;

Pest infestations caused by

DAR: Retired cops, soldiers from Pangasinan eye lands under CARP

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

RETIRED soldiers and policemen in Pangasinan had sought the assistance of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as they are keen on obtaining agricultural land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Unfortunately, there are presently no identified governmentowned lands suited for agriculture and distribution in Pangasinan, according to DAR.

DAR Regional I Director Maria Ana B. Francisco said Deputy Chief of Police Major Rommel Sembrano of the Urdaneta Police Office, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) retirees approached the DAR, in response to an announcement posted on the DAR’s Official Facebook account.

In its Facebook post, the agency instructed government veterans, rebelreturnees, and agriculture graduates, to visit any DAR office near them to find out if they are qualified to become agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

Section 40 of the amended Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, lists landless veterans, retirees, rebel returnees, and other similar

beneficiaries as those who will be considered potential land awardees under the CARP.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address last year also ordered the distribution of 52,000 hectares of unused government agricultural lands, under Executive Order (EO) 75, series of 2019, to qualified ARBs.

EO 75 directs the identification of all idle government-owned lands which are dedicated or suitable for agriculture for distribution to qualified ARBs.

“Secretary Conrado Estrella III has directed us to speed up the identification and validation of idle government-owned lands so we can distribute these the soonest possible time,” Francisco said. DAR issued a memorandum last January directing all its regional and provincial officers to start processing applications of retired personnel of the AFP, PNP, rebel returnees, and agricultural graduates.

This memorandum was issued because the DAR has been receiving numerous requests from these applicants seeking assistance to become or be identified as a potential ARB. We will be following rules and guidelines set by the government to know if these applicants are qualified,” Francisco said.

nematodes, insects, mites and spiders, millipedes and centipedes, symphylans, slugs and snails, sow bugs and pillbugs, parasitic higher plants, and other parasites; and

Loss of life or injury to the qualified agrarian reform beneficiary due to accident or any of the aforementioned causes.

For purposes of insurance coverage, these crops and other farming and fishery produce are covered under the measure: palay, corn, sugarcane, high-value crops as defined in Section 4(b) of RA 7900 or the High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995, coconut, tobacco; crops or stocks in fisheries farms; livestock; and non-crop agricultural assets used in actual farming and reported to and certified by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

T he measure also provides penalties for farmer-beneficiaries who may misuse or divert the financial aid granted under the measure, including forfeiture of the land transferred to him or her, without prejudice to criminal prosecution.

Upon enactment into law, the measure mandates the Secretaries

of the Department of Agriculture and DAR to include the operationalization of the insurance coverage in their respective programs.

T he bill creates a Congressional Oversight Committee for the Full Insurance Coverage of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (COCFICARB). It will be composed of the Chairperson of the Committee on Agrarian Reform of the House of Representatives and the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform of the Senate of the Philippines

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee lauded the impending passage of HB 6680, which aims to ease the impact of natural calamities on affected agrarian reform beneficiaries providing them with full insurance coverage.

“ This is a big win for agrarian reform beneficiaries, especially those who live in areas that are becoming more and more vulnerable to the effects of climate change,” Lee said.

“ This measure is crucial for our food security efforts because we give farmers the chance to recover from the calamities that now occur more frequently.”

Free trade deals undermined PHL food security, says group

A

This time, we are confident that the Senate, under the leadership of Senator Imee Marcos, as chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, will uphold the legacy of the upper chamber as an independent and pro-local agriculture institution,” SINAG said in a statement on Tuesday.

Currently, the issues related to the regional trade pact are being threshed out at the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

T he group said “it’s now time to change the narrative”, noting that all previous Philippine governments from former President Fidel Ramos to former President Rodrigo Duterte have all echoed the “neo-liberal dogma” of imports at all cost and let the so-called “market forces” decide.

“ The very people that pushed for the country’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) some 30 years ago, are the same cast of characters pushing for our accession to RCEP,” said SINAG Executive Director Jayson Cainglet.

ry: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/01/24/expanding-onion-cold-chaincapacity-to-cost%e2%82%a76b-group/)

CCAP President Anthony S. Dizon said the estimated capacity of cold storage facilities for onions is about 100,000 MT, or only 27 percent of the annual supply of 360,000 MT. “ There is an obvious disparity between demand and capacity,” Dizon told reporters in a press briefing on Monday.

To meet the storage needs of the onion sector, Dizon said total cold storage capacity nationwide must be doubled to 200,000 MT. He said, however, that the private sector alone cannot do this and that the government must help via “fiscal interventions.” Dizon said a cold storage facility with a capacity of 2,500 MT of onions cost about P150 million. To close the supply and cold storage capacity gap, a total of 40 cold storage facilities costing P6 billion must be built. T he country’s onion self-sufficiency ratio has been declining since 2019. In 2021, local onion production can only meet 68.2 percent of the country’s total requirement, the lowest level in three years, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Proposed onion institute to benefit economy–lawmakers

THE House Committee on Agriculture and Food on Wednesday created a technical working group (TWG) to further study proposals to create the Philippine Onion Institute.

House Committee on Agriculture and Food Chairman Mark Enverga said the TWG will consolidate House Bill (HB) 1379 of First District Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing and HB 3110 of Third District Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Vergara.

T he TWG was created amid the issues hounding the onion industry.

I n her bill, Suansing said the Philippines, with all its farming background and setting, can easily become a “respectable” onion-producing country.

A study of the farming industries in the globe will reveal that establishing an onion industry can substantially benefit a country’s economy. Australia, for instance, is an established onion producer that caters to both its domestic and export markets. Other countries with farming industries have relatively delved into onion production as well,” she said.

However, Suansing said a comprehensive study from the initial to the final stages of onion production has yet to be conducted, if any, or “altered to attune to modern conditions.”

GRICULTURAL groups, including the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), are pinning their hopes on an “independent” Senate that will assess the merits of the country’s membership to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).T he group noted that after 30 years, there is no promised “remarkable” growth under a liberalized trading regime. He said the supposed gains in trade, production output and employment “never materialized.”

“ The promised market access in developed countries did not materialize as the liberalized trade regime was really intended to expand the market opportunities for the big players such as the United States and the European Union, and lately China and other members of the G8.”

It said the neo-liberal policy turned the Philippines into a net food importing country, which “destroyed the country’s decades-old capacity” to produce its own food. “Such free trade thinking has undermined our food security, much more our food sovereignty where we decide our own agriculture and food policy.”

Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, the group said the balance of trade in agricultural goods in US$ millions was at -7,023.39; -6,854.72 in 2019; -6,375.63 in 2020 and -8,920.08 in 2021. This means the cost of the country’s imports exceeded the value of its exports in those years.

Prior to the free trade regime, the group noted that the share of agriculture in the country’s GDP fell to 8-10 percent, from 25 percent, in the last three years.

Her bill proposes to create the Philippine Onion Institute, which will catapult the country’s onion industry into a “more progressive entity.”

An industry capable of serving the domestic and international markets, bringing with it much-needed revenue, thus considerably uplifting the lives of Filipinos in the process,” she said.

T he bill also aspires to establish and operate one central experiment station which will undertake extensive research on onion culture and production such as, but not limited to, feasibility studies on merchandising onion farms, for example.

In her proposal, Suansing said the institute shall be placed under the supervision of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the purpose of employing the expertise of said agency and to assure the successful implementation of the same.

“ The DA as an administrative agency of the government is composed of experts in a specific field of specialization under its jurisdiction. Hence, the decision to place the aforesaid establishment under the supervision of the said agency certainly augurs well for the proposed bill.”

T he measure intends to conduct all kinds of research work for the onion industry, aiming to discover and introduce processes that will improve productivity.

Moreover, it aims to establish and maintain “a sustainable and balanced

relation” between production and consumption of onions in the domestic and foreign markets in the process.

“All to be done at a projected reduction of cost completing the metamorphosis of the country’s onion industry,” she said.

‘Viable livelihood’

FOR her part, Vergara said farming remains a viable source of sustainable livelihood for many Filipinos and a “promising catalyst for overall socioeconomic growth.”

“One such cash crop would be onions, which have been lauded as the ‘most indispensable culinary ingredient in the world’ due to the diverse range of flavors that it can provide depending on the variety used. Closer to home, it is also among the choice ingredients recognized to ‘make our meals distinctly Filipino.’”

Apart from its notable contributions to Filipino recipes, the lawmaker said onions have also been used to cure physiological disorders, such as cough, obesity, insomnia, hemorrhoids and constipation.

Hence, like the actual form of the vegetable, there may be indeed many more layers or useful facets to onion cultivation that just need to be further explored.”

Vergara noted that onion output from 2004 to 2013 posted an annual growth rate of nearly 4.94 percent.

“Moreover, compared to 134,161 metric tons (MT) of onions produced in 2013, the country produced about 240,314 MT of onions for the 20182019 cropping season. Now, after havingseentheindustry’spromisingpotential and notable performance in recent years, our country cannot therefore afford to regress on this opportunity. There is no other sound option but to build on our gains,” she said.

Also, it must be understood that such growth by the Philippine onion industry was not without its share of challenges. Hence, as issues, such as climate change, insect pests and diseases, price manipulation by cartels, and smuggling, also evolve, so must our country’s effective response to these.”

T he creation of the proposed Philippine Onion Research and Development Center will be at the forefront of the country’s unified efforts at harnessing the potential of the onion industry, according to Vergara.

Who can stop China’s territorial grab in SCS?

PreSident Marcos recently disclosed at the World economic Forum in davos, Switzerland that the long raging disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) involving China, the Philippines, and other claimants “keep him up at night.” the dispute “keeps you up at night, keeps you up in the day, and keeps you up most of the time. it’s very dynamic, it’s constantly in flux so you have to pay attention to it,” Marcos said in response to a question from W eF President Borge Brende.

The problem with China is its duplicity. In January 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that China sought openness and inclusiveness instead of closeness and exclusion; international law and international rules instead of seeking one’s own supremacy; and consultation and cooperation instead of conflict and confrontation.

These statements sidestep a decade of destabilizing Chinese behavior in the SCS. For example, China grabbed the Scarborough shoal or Bajo de Masinloc from the Philippines by flexing its military might. The Chinese government unilaterally imposed a fishing ban in the Scarborough shoal, depriving Filipino fishermen of their livelihood. The Philippines’s sovereignty claims over Bajo de Masinloc is based on international laws because it is an integral part of the Philippine territory. It is part of the municipality of Masinloc in Zambales, and is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, which is within the country’s 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zone and part of the Philippine Continental Shelf.

China’s claim of over 90 percent of the South China Sea contravenes the established exclusive economic zones of Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Rival claimants, however, remain helpless because China asserts supremacy by force and dismisses international law tribunal rulings.

From Bloomberg: “China’s Coast Guard maintained near-daily patrols at key features across the disputed South China Sea last year, ramping up its presence as tensions over the waterway with Southeast Asian neighbors remain high, new tracking data shows. Patrols in the waters surrounding the Vanguard Bank off Vietnam, an area known for its oil and gas reserves and the site of repeated standoffs between Chinese and Vietnamese vessels, more than doubled to 310 days in 2022, according to the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.”

The number of days Chinese ships patrolled near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where the Philippines maintains a garrison, increased to 279 from 232, while those at Luconia Shoals, near important Malaysian oil and gas operations, rose to 316 from 279, according to the analysis.

The patrols show Beijing’s determination to assert control over its claim to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, the analysis of ship identification data says, and raises the risk of a mishap at sea that regional officials worry could lead to a larger conflict.

“With CCG vessels operating in Malaysian, Philippine and Vietnamese waters every day of the year, it all but guarantees tensions remain high and run-ins with those neighbors a regular occurrence,” said Greg Poling, head of the Southeast Asia program at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Tensions between China and other claimants in the South China Sea— the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei—have been rising for years as Beijing invested more in naval and coast guard ships to enforce its claims.

Will China’s territorial grab in South China Sea ever end?

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently said the US is building a more lethal force posture in the Indo-Pacific as part of efforts to make sure China doesn’t dominate the region. China is “the only country with both the will and, increasingly, the power to reshape its region and the international order to suit its authoritarian preferences,” he said on December 3. “So let me be clear—we’re not going to let that happen.”

The economic ‘circle dance’

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

eConoMiC data is one of the most counterfeit information you will ever receive. the gross domestic product (GdP) is supposed to be the value of all “production” in the economy—what is made and bought and everything in between. But here is what governments do.

I have not looked closely enough to see if this occurs in the Philippines, but it does in the US. The US federal government is the largest employer (2.86 million civilians) with state and local governments having another 19.8 million. The GDP counts what those 23 million earn and spend as part of the GDP. But it also counts “government spending” as part of the GDP. Therefore, the $100,000 salary of some bureaucrat in Washington D.C. shows up twice in the GDP numbers. This is only one example of the distortion of the data.

Unless you are Singapore that has an inventory of every tree on public lands, accurate number crunching is almost impossible. Geography and demographics play a considerable role. Russia covers 11 time zones and

the flying time from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok takes half a day. Can India count all the production of its 1.4 billion people? Data is extrapolated like adding the “production” of a subsistence fisherman in Quezon province to the GDP.

However, it is the analysis and interpretation of the GDP data that is a “circle dance”—using the less vulgar term for what happens—by politicians, pundits, and pontificating economists. “A pompous, selfcongratulatory group discussion between like-minded individuals that validates mutual biases.”

In truth, the GDP growth rate does not mean a damn thing. Even the total GDP means almost nothing. What comes close to an accurate reflection of economic output—and that requires accepting the GDP

numbers as factual and estimating current population—is “GDP per capita (PPP based), the gross domestic product converted to international dollars using purchasing power parity rates and divided by total population.” What is the value of output, computed in US dollars (the standard currency of the world) with what you can buy factored in per person.

The per capita GDP in PPP for the Philippines was $8,983 in 2019. This fell to $8,017 in 2020 and rose to $8,365 in 2021. The projection from the International Monetary Fund for 2022 is $8,790. At least that takes us a little distance from “A million deaths is a statistic” to “A single death is a tragedy” understanding of what the GDP means.

Only the left/‘progressives’ offer a legitimate understanding about the economy that the “big numbers” do not mean much to the “little people” in the short term, and especially in a developing economy like the Philippines. Unfortunately, their solution is to put everyone in government Matrix-like pods with a feeding tube at the top and a waste disposal unit shoved up the bottom.

A successful economy must provide upward economic mobility that can only come from people growing their wealth from their excess production.

Modern Jewish folklore provides

this example. A man buys grain and bakes two loaves of bread. He eats one and sells the other. He does this until he has accumulated enough wealth to bake three loaves to be able to now sell two. Economic freedom will eventually move him up the economic food chain as he works to the point of hiring others for his business.

I knew a young tricycle driver stationed at the palengke who, while the other drivers were gambling for centavos, went to all the carinderias and bars in the area, offering to buy and deliver their market fresh food needs for a small mark-up. This was more than 20 years ago long before Anthony Tan and Hooi Ling Tan ever conceived of Grab Holdings. How do we provide this upward economic mobility? It starts with the lowest possible—if any—taxes for the lowest groups that are not able to save money. It continues with government banks providing the lowest cost loans possible as micro financing has successfully shown around the world. At the bottom of the checklist for every governmentfunded project: “How many private sector jobs will this create now and in the future?”

E-mail me at mangun@gmail.com. Follow me on Twitter @mangunonmarkets. PSE stock-market information and technical analysis provided by AAA Southeast Equities Inc.

Cheaters beware: ChatGPT maker releases AI detection tool

By Matt O’brien & Jocelyn Gecker

SAn Fr AnCiSCo the maker of ChatGPt is trying to curb its reputation as a freewheeling cheating machine with a new tool that can help teachers detect if a student or artificial intelligence wrote that homework.

The new AI Text Classifier launched Tuesday by OpenAI follows a weeks-long discussion at schools and colleges over fears that ChatGPT’s ability to write just about anything on command could fuel academic dishonesty and hinder learning.

OpenAI cautions that its new tool—like others already available —is not foolproof. The method for detecting AI-written text “is imperfect and it will be wrong sometimes,” said Jan Leike, head of OpenAI’s alignment team tasked to make its systems safer.

“Because of that, it shouldn’t be solely relied upon when making decisions,” Leike said.

Teenagers and college students were among the millions of people who began experimenting with ChatGPT after it launched Nov. 30 as a free application on OpenAI’s website. And while many found ways to use it creatively and harmlessly, the ease with which it could answer

take-home test questions and assist with other assignments sparked a panic among some educators.

By the time schools opened for the new year, New York City, Los Angeles and other big public school districts began to block its use in classrooms and on school devices.

The Seattle Public Schools district initially blocked ChatGPT on all school devices in December but then opened access to educators who want to use it as a teaching tool, said Tim Robinson, the district spokesman.

“We can’t afford to ignore it,” Robinson said.

The district is also discussing possibly expanding the use of ChatGPT into classrooms to let teachers use it to train students to be better critical thinkers and to let students use the application as a “personal tutor” or to help generate new ideas when working on an assignment, Robinson said. School districts around the

Teenagers and college students were among the millions of people who began experimenting with ChatGPT after it launched Nov. 30 as a free application on OpenAI’s website. And while many found ways to use it creatively and harmlessly, the ease with which it could answer takehome test questions and assist with other assignments sparked a panic among some educators.

country say they are seeing the conversation around ChatGPT evolve quickly.

“The initial reaction was ‘OMG, how are we going to stem the tide of all the cheating that will happen with ChatGPT,’” said Devin Page, a technology specialist with the Calvert County Public School District in Maryland. Now there is a growing realization that “this is the future” and blocking it is not the solution, he said.

“I think we would be naïve if we were not aware of the dangers this tool poses, but we also would fail to serve our students if we ban them and us from using it for all its potential power,” said Page, who thinks districts like his own will eventually

unblock ChatGPT, especially once the company’s detection service is in place.

OpenAI emphasized the limitations of its detection tool in a blog post Tuesday, but said that in addition to deterring plagiarism, it could help to detect automated disinformation campaigns and other misuse of AI to mimic humans.

The longer a passage of text, the better the tool is at detecting if an AI or human wrote something. Type in any text—a college admissions essay, or a literary analysis of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”—and the tool will label it as either “very unlikely, unlikely, unclear if it is, possibly, or likely” AI-generated.

But much like ChatGPT itself, which was trained on a huge trove of digitized books, newspapers and online writings but often confidently spits out falsehoods or nonsense, it’s not easy to interpret how it came up with a result.

“We don’t fundamentally know what kind of pattern it pays attention to, or how it works internally,” Leike said. “There’s really not much we could say at this point about how the classifier actually works.”

Higher education institutions around the world also have begun See “Cheaters” A15

Peshawar, the city of flowers, becomes epicenter of violence

By Riaz Khan & Munir Ahmed | The Associated Press

PESHAWAR, Pakistan—Pakistan’s Peshawar was once known as “the city of flowers,” surrounded by orchards of pear, quince and pomegranate trees. It was a trading city, situated at the gates of a key mountain valley connecting South and Central Asia.

But for the past four decades, it has borne the brunt of rising militancy in the region, fueled by the conflicts in neighboring Afghanistan and the geopolitical games of great powers.

On Tuesday, the city with a population of about 2 million was reeling after one of Pakistan’s most devastating militant attacks in years. A day earlier, a suicide bomber unleashed a blast in a mosque inside the city’s main police compound, killing at least 100 people and wounding at least 225, mostly police.

Analysts say the carnage is the legacy of decades of flawed policies by Pakistan and the United States.

“What you sow, so shall you reap,” said Abdullah Khan, a senior security analyst.

Peshawar was a peaceful place, he said, until the early 1980s when Pakistan’s then-dictator Ziaul Haq decided to become part of Washington’s cold war with Moscow, joining the fight against the 1979 Soviet invasion of neighboring Afghanistan.

Peshawar—less than 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Afghan border—became the center where the American CIA and Pakistani military helped train, arm and fund the Afghan mujahedeen fighting the Soviets. The city was flooded by weapons and fighters, many of them hardline Islamic militants, as well as with hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees.

Arab militants were also drawn there by the fight against the Soviets, including the scion of a wealthy Saudi family, Osama bin Laden. It was in Peshawar that bin Laden founded al-Qaida in the late 1980s, joining forces with veteran Egyptian militant Ayman al-Zawahri.

The Soviets finally withdrew in defeat from Afghanistan in 1989. But the legacy of militancy and armed resistance that the US and Pakistan fueled against them remained.

“After the Russian withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1980s, Americans abandoned mujahedeen, Americans even abandoned us, and since then we are paying a price for it,” said Mahmood Shah, a former Pakistani army brigadier and a senior security analyst.

The mujahedeen plunged Afghanistan into civil war in a bloody fight for power. Meanwhile, in Peshawar and another Pakistani city, Quetta, the Afghan Taliban began to organize, with backing from the Pakistani government. Eventually, the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in the late 1990s, ruling until they were ousted by the 2001 American-led invasion following al-Qaida’s 9/11 attacks in the US.

During the nearly 20-year US war against the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, militant groups blossomed in the tribal regions of Pakistan along the border and around Peshawar. Like the Taliban, they found root among the ethnic Pashtuns who make up a majority in the region and in the city.

Some groups were encouraged

continued from A14

debating responsible use of AI technology. Sciences Po, one of France’s most prestigious universities, prohibited its use last week and warned that anyone found surreptitiously using ChatGPT and other AI tools to produce written or oral work

On Tuesday, the city with a population of about 2 million was reeling after one of Pakistan’s most devastating militant attacks in years. A day earlier, a suicide bomber unleashed a blast in a mosque inside the city’s main police compound, killing at least 100 people and wounding at least 225, mostly police.

by the Pakistani intelligence agencies. But others turned their guns against the government, angered by heavy security crackdowns and by frequent US airstrikes in the border region targeting al-Qaida and other militants.

Chief among the anti-government groups was the Pakistani Taliban, or Tahreek-e TalibanPakistani, or TTP. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, it waged a brutal campaign of violence around the country. Peshawar was scene of one of the bloodiest TTP attacks in 2014, on an army-run public school that killed nearly 150 people, most of them schoolboys.

Peshawar’s location has for centuries made it a key juncture between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. One of the oldest cities in Asia, it stands at the entrance to the Khyber Pass, the main route between the two regions. That was a source of its prosperity in trade and put it on the path of armies going both directions, from Moghul emperors to British imperialists.

A heavy military offensive largely put down the TTP for several years and the government and the militants eventually reached an uneasy truce. Peshawar came under heavy security control, with checkpoints dotting the main roads, and a heavy presence of police and paramilitary troops.

TTP attacks, however, have grown once more since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in August 2021 amid the US and NATO withdrawal from that country. The Pakistani Taliban are distinct from but allied to the Afghan group, and Pakistani officials regularly accuse the Afghan Taliban of giving the TTP free rein to operate from Afghan territory.

Ahead of Monday’s suicide bombing, Peshawar had seen increasing small-scale attacks targeting police. In another spillover from Afghanistan’s conflict, the regional affiliate of the Islamic State group attacked Peshawar’s main Shiite mosque in March 2022, killing more than 60 people.

Shah, the former officer, warned that more TTP attacks could follow and said that Pakistan needs to engage the Afghan Taliban and pressure them to either evict the TTP or ensure it doesn’t launch attacks from Afghan territory.

“If we are to have peace in Pakistan, we should talk to TTP from the position of strength with help from the Afghan Taliban,” he said.

“This is the best and viable solution to avoid more violence.” Ahmed reported from Islamabad

could be banned from Sciences Po and other institutions.

In response to the backlash, OpenAI said it has been working for several weeks to craft new guidelines to help educators.

“Like many other technologies, it may be that one district decides that it’s inappropriate for use in their classrooms,” said OpenAI policy researcher Lama Ahmad. “We

How Myanmar is faring 2 years after army ousted Aung San Suu Kyi

By Elaine Kurtenbach | The Associated Press

years after Myanmar’s generals ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, thousands of people have died in civil conflict and many more have been forced from their homes in a dire humanitarian crisis.

BANGKOK—Two

Myanmar’s economy, once one of the fastest growing in Southeast Asia, now lags behind where it stood before the February 1, 2021, military takeover compounded the country’s struggles with the pandemic.

Ten years earlier, Myanmar had emerged from decades of military rule, gradually transitioning to a civilian government, opening its economy to more foreign investment and entrepreneurship and relaxing censorship of the media.

A modern consumer culture took hold, with glitzy shopping malls in the biggest city, Yangon, and use of Facebook and cellphones the new normal. The army takeover brought thousands into the streets in peaceful protests that were suppressed with lethal force.

What happened on Feb. 1, 2021?

THE army arrested Suu Kyi and top members of her governing National League for Democracy party, which had won a landslide victory for a second term in a November 2020 general election. The army said it acted because there had been massive voting fraud, but independent election observers did not find any major irregularities. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, best known for his role in a 2007 crackdown on pro-democracy protests, now leads the government.

The ouster of the civilian government provoked widespread demonstrations and civil disobedience. As weeks dragged on, security forces

crushed shows of opposition with violence. So far, nearly 3,000 civilians have been killed and tens of thousands forced from their homes by fighting between security forces and civilians who took up arms, sometimes allying themselves with ethnic armed groups that have been fighting for autonomy for decades.

The military’s seizure of power drew international condemnation. Many governments have shunned the army-led leadership and imposed sanctions, cutting off some financial flows. But neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and Myanmar’s most powerful ally, China, have balked at taking such actions.

Where is Aung San Suu Kyi?

NOBEL Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi, 77, was the de facto head of government, holding the title of state counselor, when the army arrested her and took power. In December a court sentenced her to seven years in prison for corruption in the last of a string of politically tinged criminal cases against her, leaving her with a total of 33 years to serve in prison.

Suu Kyi’s supporters and independent analysts say the numerous charges against her and her allies were an attempt to legitimize the military’s seizure of power while eliminating her from politics before an election promised for later this year.

Suu Kyi, the daughter of Myan-

mar’s martyred independence hero Gen. Aung San, spent almost 15 years as a political prisoner under house arrest between 1989 and 2010. She is being held in a newly constructed separate building in the prison in the capital, Naypyitaw, near the courthouse where her trial was held.

What is life like under military rule?

T WO years after the army seized power, life in Yangon and other big cities has inched back toward normality but fighting in much of the countryside has left the country deeply mired in civil conflict.

Rights advocates say the military and security forces have carried out arbitrary arrests, torture and other abuses to quash dissent. Human rights monitoring groups said Tuesday that Myanmar’s military is increasingly turning to airstrikes with deadly results to try to crush stiff armed resistance,

While the military is responsible for massive use of violence throughout the country, militants in the opposition have carried out bombings and assassinations of military officials and their supporters. Min Aung Hlaing on Tuesday accused opponents of army rule of trying to take power with “wrongful forcible means.”

The World Bank forecasts the economy will grow a meager 3% this year, with some strength in agriculture and industries such as garment making. But it remains smaller than it was in 2019, before the pandemic and then the military takeover.

The military’s return to power has stymied a decade of reforms and left 40 percent of the population living in poverty.

Despite stringent foreign ex-

change controls and uncertainty over rules and regulations under army rule, some businesses are finding ways to operate by using informal payments and trade channels. The reopening of Myanmar’s trade routes with China also has helped. But risks have been heightened by security issues due to the civil conflict.

What lies ahead?

THE way out of the crisis remains unclear. The military-controlled government enacted a law on registration of political parties that will make it difficult for opposition groups to mount a serious challenge to armybacked candidates in the general election set to take place later this year.

Critics have already said the military-planned election will be neither free nor fair because there is no free media and most of the leaders of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party have been arrested.

The party has declared it will not accept or recognize the election, which it has described as “fake” and a ploy by the military to gain political legitimacy and international recognition. The vote is also opposed by the National Unity Government, which was established by elected lawmakers who were prevented from taking their seats when the army seized power and serves as an underground parallel national administration.

Units of the People’s Defense Force, the armed wing of the banned pro-democracy movement, have been attempting to disrupt preparations for the election by attacking personnel of the military government who are conducting a population survey that could be used to assemble voter rolls.

Ukraine pushes for Western fighter jets after tank deals

By Susie Blann | The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine won support Tuesday from Baltic nations and Poland in its quest to obtain Western fighter jets, but there were no signs that larger nations like the US and Britain have changed their stance of refusing to provide warplanes to Kyiv after almost a year of battling Russia’s invading forces.

“Ukraine needs fighter jets...missiles, tanks. We need to act,” Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said in the Latvian capital of Riga at a news conference with his Baltic and Polish colleagues. Those countries, which lie on Nato’s eastern flank, feel especially threatened by Russia and have been the leading advocates for providing military aid.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov held talks with his French counterpart, saying they did not discuss specific fighter jets, but they did talk about aviation “platforms” to help Ukraine’s ground-toair defense.

“I don’t know how quick it will be, this response from Western allies” to Kyiv’s requests for fighter jets, Reznikov said. “I’m optimistic and I think it will be as soon as possible.”

He also listed weapons Ukraine has sought in the past year, starting with Stingers, and said the first response was always, “Impossible.’’ Eventually though, he said, “it became possible.’’

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, speaking with Reznikov, said there are “no taboos” on sending fighter jets. He also confirmed France is sending 12 more Caesar cannons in the coming weeks.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France doesn’t exclude sending fighter jets but set out conditions before such a step is taken, including not leading to an

don’t really push them one way or another. We just want to give them the information that they need to be able to make the right decisions for them.”

It’s an unusually public role for the research-oriented San Francisco startup, now backed by billions of dollars in investment from its partner Microsoft and facing growing interest from the public and gov-

escalation of tensions or using the aircraft “to touch Russian soil,” and not resulting in weakening “the capacities of the French army.”

Reznikov’s trip came a week after Western nations pledged to send Kyiv sophisticated modern tanks.

Several Western leaders have expressed concern that providing warplanes could escalate the conflict and draw them in deeper.

The UK government, among Kyiv’s staunchest supporters and military suppliers, said sending its fighter jets is “not practical.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman, Max Blain, said Tuesday that “the UK’s Typhoon and F-35 fighter jets are extremely sophisticated and take months to learn how to fly,” although he didn’t say London was opposed to other nations sending planes.

Asked Monday if his administration was considering sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, US President Joe Biden responded, “No.”

On Tuesday, Reznikov was asked if Biden’s ‘’no” to F-16s was the final word.

“All types of help first passed through the ‘no’ stage,” he said. “Which only means ‘no’ at today’s given moment. The second stage is, ‘Let’s talk and study technical possibilities.’ The third stage is, ‘Let’s get your personnel trained.’ And the fourth stage is the transfer (of equipment).”

ernments.

France’s digital economy minister Jean-Noël Barrot recently met in California with OpenAI executives, including CEO Sam Altman, and a week later told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that he was optimistic about the technology. But the government minister—a former professor at the Massachusetts In-

Reznikov said Ukraine went through those stages before it got the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, the Bradley armored vehicles and 155mm artillery.

“Remember the story of the German Leopards—the answer was also ‘no,’” he added. “And now we have a tank coalition. Therefore I believe an airplane coalition is within reach. But first there should always be a leader. And that’s why I’m here.”

Kyiv has repeatedly urged allies to send jets, callling them essential to challenging Russia’s air superiority and to ensure the success of future counteroffensives spearheaded by Western tanks.

The West also has ruled out providing Kyiv with long-range missiles able to hit Russian territory, citing potential escalation.

After months of haggling, Western allies agreed last week to send the tanks, despite the hesitation and caution of some Nato members.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared to balk at providing fighter jets, suggesting Sunday the reason for the discussion might be “domestic political motives” in some countries.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday there are “no taboos” in efforts to help Ukraine but added that jets “would be a very big next step.”

Asked Tuesday about Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov repeated the Kremlin’s view that “Nato long has been directly involved into a hybrid war against Russia.”

Following talks in Moscow with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, he said the Russian military will “take all the necessary measures to derail the fulfillment of Western plans.”

stitute of Technology and the French business school HEC in Paris—said there are also difficult ethical questions that will need to be addressed.

“So if you’re in the law faculty, there is room for concern because obviously ChatGPT, among other tools, will be able to deliver exams that are relatively impressive,” he said. “If you are in the economics faculty, then you’re fine because

He said Shoukry conveyed a message from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about Ukraine, which repeated calls from Washington for Russia to withdraw. Lavrov said “Russia is ready to hear any serious—I want to underline this word— proposal aimed at comprehensive settlement of the current situation.”

Both Ukraine and Russia are believed to be building up their arsenals for an expected offensive in the coming months after the war being deadlocked on the battlefield during winter.

Asked about Lithuania’s call for fighter jets and long-range missiles for Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the comments “reflected an aggressive approach taken by the Baltic nations and Poland, who are ready to do everything to provoke further escalation without thinking about consequences.”

Croatia President Zoran Milanovic, meanwhile, criticized Western nations for supplying Ukraine with tanks and other weapons, arguing those deliveries will only prolong the war.

Early in the conflict, discussions focused on possibly providing Kyiv with Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets that Ukrainian pilots are familiar with. In March, the Pentagon rejected Poland’s proposal to transfer its MiG-29s to Kyiv through a US base in Germany, citing a risk of triggering a Russia-NATO escalation.

Ukraine inherited a significant fleet of Soviet-made warplanes, including Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter jets and Su-25 ground attack aircraft. Switching to Western aircraft would require Ukrainian crews to undergo long training and raise logistical challenges over maintenance and repair.

ChatGPT will have a hard time finding or delivering something that is expected when you are in a graduatelevel economics faculty.”

He said it will be increasingly important for users to understand the basics of how these systems work so they know what biases might exist.

O’Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. AP writer John Leicester contributed to this report from Paris

A16 Thursday, February 2, 2023

Losses of wealth fund must be seen in context–Neda

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

(MIF) act filed by Senator Mark Villar, also the Baanks panel chairman.

BSP capital buildup delayed

MEDALLA said the BSP supports provisions that pertain to the central bank, particularly on its dividends. The BSP said while this will postpone the capitalization of the central bank, its balance sheet will be able to support the funds that it can contribute to the creation of the fund.

I n a joint Senate Banks committee hearing on Wednesday, Neda Undersecretary Rosemarie

G. Edillon said a long-term view should be used as a gauge when it comes to setting up these kinds of investment funds.

E dillon said, in reaction to Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda’s earlier query, that Norway’s wealth fund was recently in the news as it suffered from $164 billion in losses in 2022. But, she stressed. this was largely due to the war in Ukraine, rising commodity prices, and high interest rates.

The Chair is right that we have to look at it (setting up an MIF) over a longer time period,” Edillon said. “Their losses last year were really a

combination of the war in Europe, the high inflation rate, and the high interest rates.”

I n the 10-year history of Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, Edillon said, it suffered from losses twice. The first was during the Global Financial Crisis and in 2022 due to the reasons she mentioned.

E dillon said despite these years when the fund suffered “negative returns,” the past 10 years saw the fund post an average return of 12 percent annually.

Meanwhile, at the hearing—the first in the Senate—Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla expressed the central bank’s support for Senate Bill 1670 or the Maharlika Investment Fund

This postpones the buildup of the capitalization of BSP, but at this point our balance sheet is quite good and we could easily take the postponement,” Medalla said.

T he BSP also expressed support for the provisions that allow the central bank to extend regulatory relief to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) despite points raised by critics that this would be a competition issue.

Some critics may say that it gives undue advantage to LandBank and DBP relative to private banks, but one must be aware too that LandBank and DBP are also quite restricted by their mandates and don’t really directly compete very much with the private banks.

AGRI GROUPS IN FINAL DRIVE TO STOP RCEP

By Andrea E. San Juan

AGRICULTURE stake -

So we do not see that as a major problem,” Medalla said. Related stories on the Maharlika Investment Fund Senate hearing in A1 and B3, Banking.

E arlier, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, the Neda chief, said MIF could be tapped as another source of funding for infrastructure projects similar to Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the National Budget.

B alisacan said if the approval of the MIF could be done earlier, that would be better for the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The fund, he said, could complement the implementation of the country’s socioeconomic blueprint.

U sing the MIF for infrastructure projects, Balisacan said, would be helpful given the narrow fiscal space the government now has after Covid-19-related spending.

T he aim of the fund, Balisacan said, is to pool funds together so that the government can invest them in critical areas such as those for infrastructure development.

W hat is important is for the fund to have a mixed portfolio on where to invest and ensure that its investments are maximized.

holders have expressed anew their objection to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), saying there is no guarantee the trade pact would benefit the Philippines since other RCEP member-countries are more competitive.

RCEP proponents claim that we have not made any major commitments in agriculture beyond those already found in existing [free trade agreements] FTAs. They add that sensitive products like rice, meats, vegetables and corn are exempted from tariff reduction. Hence, they conclude, there is nothing in RCEP to worry about,” the agriculture stakeholders said in a statement on Wednesday.

T he agriculture stakeholders expressed their concern that “things could worsen, unless we act resolutely and fix the ills plaguing agriculture. More so, if our competitors in the region—in contrast to our complacency—continue to innovate and displace us in markets here and abroad.”

T he stakeholders present at the press briefing on

Wednesday were Rafael Mariano, former Agrarian Reform Secretary; Janel Geconcillo, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK); Raul Montemayor, Federation of Free Farmers (FFF); Bong Inciong, United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA); Rene Ofreneo, Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC); and Jayson Cainglet, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG).

A s the Senate is poised to tackle the issue of the regional trade pact concurrence, the coalition of agriculture stakeholders and trade justice advocates have come together to express their strong opposition to the agreement.

I n a televised interview on Tuesday, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary  for Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Ruth B. Castelo said, “we have to understand that there are only 33 agricultural tariff lines that will be affected. Out of the numerous agricultural products that we trade with other countries, there are only 15 agri products that will be affected and these are not the basic agricultural products that we have.”

Continued on A5

China stepped up patrols in WPS in ’22, AIS data show

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

CHINA did not only sustain but even stepped up its patrols in the South China Sea last year, including in the waters of the two features owned or claimed by the Philippines, but which it is also disputing.

B eijing’s maritime patrols in the regional waters, nearly all of which China is aggressively claiming under its nine-dash line, was documented by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) by analyzing the automatic identification system (AIS) data of commercial provider Marine Traffic.

“ China’s coast guard presence in the South China Sea is more robust than ever,” declared the AMTI of the US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which claimed the patrols were backed

by the presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the Southeast Asian waters.

D isguised as civilian ships, the sturdy and hull-reinforced Chinese maritime militia vessels are paramilitary ships, which the US has declared an integral part of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy and are not immune to attacks in case a direct confrontation occurs between the US and China.

“ The China Coast Guard (CCG) maintained near-daily patrols at key features across the South China Sea in 2022. Together with the ubiquitous presence of its maritime militia, China’s constant coast guard patrols show Beijing’s determination to assert control over the vast maritime zone within its claimed nine-dash line,” the AMTI report said.

A MTI’s analysis of AIS data from Marine Traffic for the year 2022 focused on the five features that were most frequented by Chinese

patrols, and these were the Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), Luconia Shoals, Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), Vanguard Bank and Thitu Island.

C hina has been exercising de facto control over the Scarborough Shoal near Zambales after it wrested control of the feature from the Philippines in 2012 and it was conducting regular patrol over the waters of the Second Thomas Shoal although it was still being guarded by Filipino troops who were stationed aboard the partly-sunken BRP Sierra Madre.

O n January 9 this year, the Chinese Coast Guard drove away a Filipino fishing boat from the waters of Ayungin Shoal despite China’s assurance during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ‘s state visit to Beijing that it will not impede Filipino fishermen’s activities in the waters that it was contesting with the Philippines.

UNFAVORABLE economic conditions currently affecting other wealth funds abroad must not prejudice the country’s decision to set up the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

HIJAB DAY Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a bill declaring February 1 of every year National Hijab Day to show solidarity with Muslim women, and to value the significance of their wearing the Hijab as a sign of modesty. In filing Senate Bill 1272, Padilla said the Hijab is a "visible and distinguishable expression of the Islamic faith" but which has sometimes been targeted in acts of discrimination and prejudice against Muslim women. ROY DOMINGO

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Meralco: Power supply deal with SPPC still suspended

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

Meralco First Vice president and head of regulatory management office Ronald Valles confirmed the receipt of the c A decision granting the writ of preliminary injunction (W pi) sought by Sppc “ With the W pi, implementation of the pSA will remain suspended until such time that the court resolves the petition for certiorari filed by Sppc ,” he said via SMS.

Valles reiterated that preserving the pSA serves the best interest of Meralco’s 7.6 million customers, as this would protect them from potentially higher electricity rates.

“The company will continue exhausting all measures and work with relevant industry stakeholders to find ways to mitigate the impact of this W pi and ensure the continued delivery of stable and reliable power to its customers.”

The p S A involves the supply of power to Meralco from Sppc s i l ijan gas-fired power plant. However, the resolution does not terminate the p S A. i n stead, the issuance of the W pi is meant to allow Sppc and Meralco to negotiate the terms of the p S A.

“To be clear, the grant of W pi

suspends the continued implementation of the p S A but does not terminate the same. This is to allow the parties to negotiate the terms of the pS A. The parties are directed to enter into good faith negotiations as stated in paragraph 11.4 (d) of the p S A,” Associate Justice Mary c h arlene Hernandez-Azura said in an 8-page order promulgated on January 25. Sppc a unit of SMc Global power Holdings corp. of conglomerate San Miguel corp.—and Meralco shall agree on a “satisfactory solution” regarding the amendment of their pSA to Sppc s commercial position prior to such change in circumstances, including an adjustment of the contract price.

if the parties fail to reach an agreement within 60 days from the start of negotiations, Sppc would be entitled to terminate the pSA.

To recall, Sppc secured a temporary restraining order (TRo) that stopped the energy Regulatory commission (eRc) from enforcing its September 2022 order. The TRo then led to the cessation of the 670MW supply that Sppc was obligated to

deliver under its pSA with Meralco.

The eRc order denied the rate hike joint petitions of Sppc and San Miguel energy corp. (SMec) and Meralco for price adjustments to serve as temporary relief covering a combined p5.2 billion in losses incurred from January to May 2022 due to the unprecedented spike in fuel prices.

Separately, the e R c said on Wednesday that its next step is to consult with government lawyers.

“We are seeking guidance of our counsel, oSG [of fice of the Solicitor General], on this latest resolution of the 13th Division of the court of Appeals that granted the permanent injunction in favor of Sppc , while the 16th Division earlier denied the injunction plea of SMec

A s of today, the oSG has not yet received a copy of the Writ of preliminary injunction, if indeed it has already been issued to Sppc The 13th Division ordered Sppc to post a p100 million bond to cover for any and all damages that may result from the W pi should the court later decide against Sppc,” said eRc chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta.

CIC earnings doubled in Q4 2022

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Concepcion i n dustrial

c orp. (c ic ), known for its stable brands of refrigerators and air conditioners, said its earnings doubled to p 6 0 million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The company attributed the increase to the 8-percent year-on-year growth in sales to p3.5 billion for the period, partly as a result of the

stronger peso against the US dollar.

Strong demand from the commercial and aftermarket businesses boosted sales of c a rrier, Toshiba, c o ndura, Kelvinator, Midea and o t is.

However, the consumer business recorded a 1 percent decline in sales due to rising inflation.

For the full year of 2022, the company’s income slid 5 percent to p 3 58 million from last year’s p 378.09 million. ne t sales, mean-

while, grew 8 percent to p 1 3.2 billion from the previous year’s p 1 2.23 billion.

The company said its slight recovery in the fourth quarter was not enough to recover the weak sellout in the first quarter due to o m icronrelated restrictions, coupled with higher commodity and logistics costs and the weak peso.

“We felt the enduring effect of the pandemic and the economic impact to supply and demand in

2022. However, we have continuously made refinements in our processes throughout the course of these challenges, with the utmost goal of protecting the long-term prospects of the business,” Raul Joseph A. c oncepcion, the company’s chairman and c eo, said.

“We remain optimistic into the future and we are constantly preparing the organization to be wellpositioned to seize the opportunities as they present themselves.”

B1

Consumers file raps vs 6 firms

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

Six companies, including cocacola ph ilippines, are facing charges before the Department of Trade and industry (DT i) for allegedly using dangerous plastic packaging and for their “false” recyclable plastic advertisements.

This after the DT i recently handed down certificates to File Action against the respondents in the landmark complaint filed by 32 concerned Filipino consumers last november, paving the way for the adjudication or the legal process in which an arbiter—in this case, the DT i reviews evidence and arguments of opposing parties.

Aside from coca- cola, the other companies named respondents to the consumer complaints are pepsi- cola, nestle, Unilever, colgate pa lmolive, and Universal Robina corp. (URc)

The complainants include fishermen residing in Malabon, navotas, parañaque, and cavite, and members of civil society organizations and environmental advocacy groups.

Lauding the DTi for its prompt action that will allow their legitimate complaints against the manufacturing firms to be justly heard, the complainants are confident in pursuing what they describe as a strong case that will hold the respondents accountable.

After a successful DT i mediation, the complainants and one of the companies—procter and Gamble—have agreed to continue the dialogue with the hope of reaching an amicable settlement.

cycle me” label, and other recycling words, marks, and symbols on their plastic bottles, packets, tubes, and sachets arguing that these are “false and misleading.”

The complaints want the respondent firms to replace their packaging and invest in reuse and refillable systems of product delivery, and refund the premium they paid for the recyclability claim.

i n cidentally, the respondentcompanies have been blamed for causing global plastic pollution and were identified as worst offenders in local as well as global brand audits. in the brand audits conducted by Break Free from pl astic, coca- cola consistently topped the list of the worse polluters worldwide in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The other respondent companies are consistently in the top 10,” according to the complaint.

The complainants said plastics used for food packaging are not recyclable and contain harmful chemicals that may endanger the health and well-being of consumers. packets, tubes, and sachets are comprised of multiple layers of different types of materials, adhesives, and dyes that make any of these impossible to recycle. The plastic labels and caps on the bottles are not recyclable, they also argued.

Worse, they said there is no recycling system and structure at a sufficient scale in the philippines.

“Thus, the ‘recycle me’ label is false and misleading.”

TH e n a tional p o wer c o rp. ( n pc ) is seeking to recover over p 1 billion in fuel cost it incurred in 2020.

i n a filing with the e n ergy Regulatory c o mmission ( e R c ), the state firm said it wants to recover the amount through the Generation Rate Adjustment Mechanism (GRAM) over a two-year period in the amount of p 1 .203 per kilowatt hour (kWh) in Luzon, p 1 .9080 per kWh in Visayas, and p 0 .9402 per kWh in Mindanao, for a total of p 1 .0836 per kWh.

Under n pc s application, which covers the billing period from July to December 2020, the power plants under n pc -

S p U G (Small p o wer Utilities Group) has incurred additional operating costs amounting to p 1 ,247,850,185.73 as a result of increasing fuel prices used in power generation.

o f the amount, the deferred fuel costs and for Luzon amounted to p 6 34,974,406.47; p 1 24,386,073.42 in Visayas, and p4 88,489,705.84 in Mindanao. n pc which is allowed to recover the amount through the GRAM, proposed to recover this within 2 years to mitigate the impact to customers in the missionary areas. Lenie Lectura

“We welcome with guarded optimism the move of p rocter and Gamble to sit down and talk to address this legitimate consumer complaint. As for the other companies, the complaint against them for their false recyclable plastic advertisement is strong and we are confident that the agency mandated to protect consumer rights will be on our side,” pablo Rosales, one of the complainants said in a statement. on november 15, 2022, accompanied by their lawyers, the complainants in the case trooped to the DT i in Makati city and filed the complaint before the Fair Trade enforcement Bureau-Mediation and Adjudication Bureau against coca- col a, pe psicola, nestle, Unilever, procter and Gamble, colgate pa lmolive and Universal Robina corp. (URc). They are hoping to stop these manufacturing giants from further using plastic packaging due to its threats to people and the environment.

They are also asking these corporations to correct or remove the “re-

Because the plastics are not recyclable, the complainants say that the undeterred production and use of plastic packaging contributed, in a major way, to the massive plastic pollution in the ph ilippines, and the world.

Break Free From pl astic Movement agrees with the complainants in expressing caution over corporations that continue producing highly-polluting plastic packaging.

“The government and consumers should be wary of these corporations that promote false solutions, often nicely worded as plastic neutrality and offsetting schemes. But in reality, these greenwashing activities involve burning of plastic waste in cement kilns and have nothing to do with drastically reducing plastic production,” Miko Alino, p roject coordinator for corporate Accountability, Break Free From plastic, said. For her part, Greenpeace philippines country Director Leah B. Guerrero accused corporations like cocacola, pepsico, nestlé, and Unilever of making consumers believe that plastic recycling is the solution to plastic waste.

TH e consortium building the $150-million ph ilippine

Domestic Submarine c a ble network (pDSc n ) has tapped Japanese firm n T T World en gineering (W e) Marine c orp. for the last leg of the undersea cable project.

c o nsortium members Globe,

e a stern c o mmunications, and

i n finiVA n said n T T W e Marine will take charge of the landing and laying of cables in the project’s nine remaining segments that cover 13 sites through its cable ship Subaru.

“With the final phase of the pD S c n in motion, we are excited to take a major step towards our goal of nation-building through digitalization. We are committed to completing the project to provide a First World ne twork by bringing

fast and reliable connectivity to every corner of the ph ilippines,” Globe Group p resident and c eo er nest cu said in a statement.

“This is a crucial step towards bridging the digital divide and providing equitable and reliable connectivity, which is essential for the economic and social development of our country.”

The last 13 sites of the 2,500-kilometer cable system are the following: c a latrava, Romblon; pa sacao, c a marines Sur; Bulan, Sorsogon; c a lbayog c i ty, Samar; p a lanas, Masbate; Mactan, c e bu; Maasin c i ty, Leyte; c l aver, Surigao del norte; Kinoguitan, Misamis o r iental; c a miguin; Dipolog, Zamboanga del norte; Liloy, Zamboanga del norte; and Zamboanga c it y, Zamboanga del Sur. Lorenz S. Marasigan

Present during the contract signing were (seated, from left to right) t WA, Inc. chief operating officer and general manager John s. Pineda, president no lan L. rada, eternal Gardens chairman and chief executive officer D. edgard A. Cabangon, vice chairman Benjamin V. ramos, (standing, from left) eternal Gardens president and chief operating officer numeriano B. ro drin, t WA, Inc. vice chairman ed ward William tan, and eternal Gardens vice president for Finance Marvin C. timbol.

The Manila electric Co. (Meralco) said on Wednesday its 670MW power supply agreement (PSA) with South Premiere Power Corp. (SPPC) remains suspended until the Court of Appeals (CA) issues a decision on the petition for certiorari.

Economists, businessmen cite Maharlika fund risks

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Contributor

ECONOMISTS and business executives representing several institutions reiterated their warnings against the creation of a government investment fund as it is “fundamentally flawed” and unable to attain the economic goals it has set out to accomplish.

While they welcomed the removal of the state pension funds from contributing to the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), members of the Foundation for Economic Freedom, the Management Association of the Philippines and the University of the Philippines School of Economics Alumni Association said, requiring the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and government financial institutions (GFIs) to invest in the MIF instead, puts these institutions “and ultimately the national government (NG)…in harm’s way.” The groups’ joint position paper dated January 26 was sent to all the senators as the chamber began discussions on Senate Bill 1670, a replica of House Bill 6608, which establishes the MIF.

SB1670 was authored by Senator Mark A. Villar whose Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies held a public hearing on his proposed MIF Act. The hearing last Wednesday was held jointly with the Committees on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, on Ways and Means and on Finance.

During the hearing, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros read out the groups’ position paper and asked that they be invited in the next hearing on the bill. Several senators also pointed to recent news on the losses of Norway’s and Hong Kong’s sovereign wealth funds.

The groups pointed out that the provision regarding BSP’s remittance of 100 percent of its declared dividends in the first two years of the MIF and 50 percent in the succeeding years, “not only amends the BSP’s mandate to promote monetary stability by adding an earnings factor for the MIF in its key performance indicators, but also effectively deprives the BSP of its ability to strengthen itself from its earnings to manage liquidity and inflation, as well as help distressed financial institutions.”

At odds

THE groups added that the provision in the proposed MIF Act “compromises the BSP’s autonomy, independence and ability to deliver on its price and financial stability mandates.”

Under the law, the BSP is allowed to retain a portion of its dividends as the national government’s con-

tribution to its recapitalization of P50 billion. In SB1670, after BSP has been fully capitalized, it is again mandated to remit 100 percent of its dividends to the MIF.

The groups’ position paper explained that the BSP imposes reserve requirements on banks, on which it may pay interest.

“Easing these requirements reduces the ‘income’ of the BSP and, by extension, its dividends, but it boosts the economy by lowering the costs of financial intermediation,” the position paper read. “The BSP’s monetary objectives could be at odds with the MIF’s need for funding through the BSP’s earnings and dividends.”

The groups added that the BSP also intervenes in the forex market, to create a more stable environment for companies.

“Such interventions can cause the BSP to gain or lose profits. Should the BSP’s forex stabilization efforts be tainted by pressure to maximize dividends for the MIF?”

Additional liabilities

IN the bid to reduce the risk of the GFIs’ exposure to the fund, the bill requires the NG to guarantee the security or debt instruments to be issued by the Maharlika Investment Corp. to the GFIs.

However, the groups said doing so will, instead, “create additional contingent liabilities for the national government at a time when there are serious concerns about the size of the government’s outstanding debt, contingent liabilities in infrastructure projects and pension funds and burgeoning unfunded liabilities in the retirement program for the armed forces. Managing our debt and contingent liabilities is critical to protecting our credit ratings.”

They warned that the proposed bill may push the GFIs such as Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines to use all their resources to invest in the MIF without due diligence, because the government guarantee makes these lendings “risk-free assets.”

This can lead to the same “legacy problems” encountered by the National Development Corp., which had to write off billions of pesos in losses due to poor investments in the First Centennial Clark Corp., the National Steel Corp., Philippine National Construction Corp., the Leyte Industrial Development Estate, to name a few.

“Rather than pursue the MIF, we respectfully recommend that the legislature focus instead on working with and strengthening existing institutions and fulfilling developmental aspirations through the budget process as mandated by our Constitution,” the groups said.

‘Maharlika fund to ease, not deepen, PHL indebtedness’

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

an initial capital of P50 billion from the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank) and P25 billion from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). That, she noted, is a small part only of the P1.3 trillion in investible funds of the LandBank and P800 billion of the DBP.

Augmenting this initial capital are funds from state gaming regulator Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), from the royalties and other special assessments on natural resources, privatization of government assets and borrowings.

At the first hearing on the MIF of the Senate Committee on Banks last Wednesday, De Leon said the MIF will pool investible funds from agencies and financial institutions of government, which can be used to draw in the private sector.

The pooled funds can be used to finance infrastructure projects, for which, she noted, the government usually resorts to borrowings.

Replying to questions from Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian and Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros, de Leon cited the example of other sovereign wealth funds. These, she said, were able to generate other coinvestments.

De Leon said government’s financial managers foresee, “there will be even more funding in terms of the

equity that will come in.”

“Eventually, that reduces the fiscal pressure on the budget” or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), she added.

However, De Leon conceded to senators that they cannot yet get solid commitments from investors, at this point, “because we don’t have the legislation yet,” and can only present the draft legislation.

‘Leveraging’

ASKED by Hontiveros what would be the impact of MIF on the government goal to reduce the debt-toGDP ratio, the national treasurer asserted that “this can ease the burden, as it will reduce our need to borrow.”

As conceived, the MIF will have

Sovereign wealth funds have been created in more than 50 countries— including Indonesia, Vietnam and Kenya—whose economies are at par with the Philippines. The government can use its revenues from the MIF to fund infrastructure projects and social services or for public assistance projects, especially in health care.

Asked by Gatchalian what is the difference between MIF and GAA, since “we are putting so much money” into this fund and yet “have to exert so much effort” in the process, de Leon replied, that the key is on “leveraging,” as “we can get co-investors” from within and offshore and thus, increase the investible amount of the fund.

‘Malampaya was misused’

MEANWHILE, Finance Secretary

Benjamin E. Diokno assured senators the MIF, as conceived, will have better safeguards to ensure that funds from natural resource windfall, such as the Malampaya Fund,

New IFC chief for Asia-Pacific to focus on inclusive recovery

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

WORLD Bank Group’s private sector arm International Finance Corp. (IFC) will be placing its focus on partnerships for green, resilient and inclusive recovery in the region.

This is the aim of IFC’s newly-appointed Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, Riccardo Puliti, who assumes his position at a time of great uncertainty due to various economic headwinds.

Puliti emphasized the need for more private sector investment, given the limited fiscal space of countries in the region. This is especially in view of the economic and geopolitical risks identified by the World Bank’s recent “Global Economic Prospects” report.

“With the global economy facing multiple headwinds this year, there is an urgent need for more private investment in the region to create jobs and boost output,” Puliti said.

leading the Bank’s global efforts to build effective infrastructure in developing and emerging markets.

Previously, he served as Regional Director, Infrastructure, Africa and before that as Global Director, Energy & Extractives. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, Puliti was Managing Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“The reality is investment growth in emerging markets and developing economies in Asia and the Pacific – as in the rest of the world – remains below the average rate of the last two decades. That must be turned around as history tells us strong investment growth delivers dividends,” Puliti said.

“It is also vital for climate targets and to progress the development of clean, renewable and affordable energy and seize all the opportunities digital infrastructure can deliver for the region’s people,” he added.

will not be misused.

“’ Yung Malampaya Fund, nasayang po ’yun…kung saan saan lang napunta [The Malampaya Fund was wasted; it went to inappropriate projects,” said Diokno, apparently referring to graft-laden projects like pork barrel projects ostensibly to help typhoon-affected farmers and which drew funds from the Malampaya Fund. The latter was envisioned by law to be used mainly for initiatives to help develop the energy sector.

Diokno expressed hope as well in the projected boost to government revenues from the minerals development roadmap.

The bottomline, Diokno said, is that the fund will “widen the options available to the government.” And, while he acknowledged Hontiveros’s point that the government has existing options for sourcing funds such as borrowing from, for example, multilaterals like World Bank, such will be subject to certain limits, i.e., limit on funding for, say, housing sector.

Also, Diokno said, when projects are funded via the GAA, sometimes Congress cuts funding midpoint in the multiyear project, delaying its turnover.

He cited the case of the international airport in Bicol, which tookten years, “ kasi piche piche lang ang pasok ng pera… so nawawala ang present value nung project [because the money came in trickles, so the project loses its present value],” in contrast to if it had been finished in, say, three years.

US Federal Reserve expected to slow rate hikes in signal work’s not over

FEDERAL Reserve officials look set to moderate interestrate increases again, with Chair Jerome Powell keeping further hikes on the table while leaning against bets they will cut later this year.

The policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee is widely expected to raise rates by 25 basis points at the conclusion of its two-day meeting Wednesday, bringing its benchmark to a target range of 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent. The move would be another downward step for officials, who increased rates by 50 basis points in December, following four 75 basis-point hikes last year.

With no update at this meeting to their economic projections, Fed officials will rely on their statement and Powell’s press conference to hammer home the message that their work is not done.

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

TO provide relief to companies, which are still reeling from the effects of the pandemic, the Employers Compensation Commission (ECC) lowered the penalty for delinquent Social Security System (SSS) and Government Service Insurance (GSIS) contributors.

Under its Board Resolution 2212-36, the ECC decided to adjust the penalty rate for self-employed or employers, who are unable to remit the employees’ compensation (EC) contribution of their workers from 2 percent per month to just 6 percent per annum.

“If any EC contribution is not paid to the SSS or to the GSIS as herein prescribed, the delinquent employer shall pay the unremitted or delinquent contribution, plus a penalty thereon of 6 percent per annum,” according to the 5-page resolution.

In a televised interview last Wednesday, ECC Executive Director Jose Maria S. Batino said the new resolution, which was issued last month, is expected to reduce the financial burden of pandemichit firms.

“The reason for this is simple: since there was a pandemic, many companies are struggling and still recovering from it,” Batino said.

He noted the measure is in line with the same condonation policy adopted by SSS.

The ECC is an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) that manages the EC funds from SSS and GSIS to provide benefits to employees, or their dependents if applicable, in cases they suffer work-related sickness, injury, disability or death.

From January to September last year, it was able to provide P1.9-billion worth of assistance to 316,686 claimants.

“With the right policies in place to attract and incentivize new investment, countries can leverage private sector financing to help meet their large unmet investment needs,” he added.

Digital infrastructure

PULITI most recently served as the Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank,

Fine for delinquent SSS, GSIS contributors lowered JICA eyes institutionalization of BIR Transfer Pricing Team

Puliti holds an MBA from Instituto Superior de Estudios de la Empresa (IESE) and completed his postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and Imperial College.

In fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises.

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced that BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. met with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema and other representatives of the agency last January 9, wherein JICA’s proposal for the institutionalization of an Intensive Transfer Pricing Team in the Bureau was presented. The main frameworks of the work plan for the proposed institutionalization of an International Taxation Service was thoroughly discussed, the agency’s statement read. The discussion included the actual “trans-

fer pricing” practice and conduct of capacity development (i.e. seminars, workshops, knowledge-sharing, etc.) in collaboration with other donors, such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), among others.

Currently, the JICA and the ADB have been working together for the conduct this month of an interactive workshop on Mutual Agreement Procedure for the BIR to educate concerned revenue personnel on “Advance Pricing Arrangement” and “Transfer Pricing Assessment.”

“Where there is a market disconnect is that the Fed keeps saying over and over again—and these are doves and hawks alike—that the policy rate is likely to stay at peak for quite some time,” said Ellen Zentner, chief US economist for Morgan Stanley.

The decision will be announced at 2 p.m. in Washington and the chair will speak to reporters 30 minutes later.

Recent economic reports suggest price pressures are easing and growth is cooling—all signs that the US economy is responding to the Fed’s aggressive rate increases as policymakers work to tame inflation. But a still-tight labor market could add more pressure on the Fed to extend its tightening campaign or hold rates at restrictive levels for longer.

Peak near?

POLICYMAKERS say they think rates need to get above 5 percent and then stay there to give the higher borrowing costs time to travel through the economy.

One thing to watch for is whether Powell refers to Fed forecasts released in December, which showed that officials saw rates rising to a median of 5.1 percent this year, as an accurate measure for where they see rates headed now, said Jonathan Pingle, the chief US economist for UBS Group AG.

There may be clues in how Powell talks about recent inflation data, which showed that prices are cooling faster than officials expected. The personal consumption expenditures index rose by 5 percent in December from a year earlier, the slowest pace since 2021 but still well above the Fed’s 2 percent target.

“They’re getting incrementally more confident that inflation is peaking, but I think it’s much too soon” to signal that a pause is near, said Pingle.

AllAying concern that creating a haphazard Maharlika investment Fund (MiF) might worsen the country’s huge indebtedness, national Treasurer Rosalia V. de leon said that, on the contrary, the need to borrow to finance development can be reduced if sovereign wealth fund can be tapped for such endeavor.

Health& Fitness

Support and love are key ingredients in raising consciousness about autism

By Rory Visco Contributor

go vernmental organizations and some corporate institutions who continue to find ways to facilitate meaningful conversations o n various issues concerning autism concerns.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about one percent of t he world’s population, or about 75 million, has ASD, and one in every 44 children in the US. It also cited that the country where diagnosed autism is highest is in Qatar, with France having the lowest rate.

On the other hand, the Philippines is listed at 121st in terms of p revalence, registering 81.80 per 10,000 children, according to worldpopulationreview.com’s autism rates per country.

But how should people, especially parents, deal with their kids w ho have ASD? Unfortunately, some people do not even know how to identify one with ASD.

Recognition is key

T h e CDC said recognizing some of the early warning signs of ASD is important to know when to screen or further evaluate children, and how to counsel families of the situation. Some of these signs, it said, involve a “child’s social skills, communication, and

restricted or repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, activities, and emotional regulation.” There is no set age when ASD will manifest. The CDC pointed out that diagnosing ASD can be difficult because it can’t be detected or diagnosed by a mere b lood test. “Doctors look at the child’s developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis. ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months of age or younger,” the CDC pointed out.

Diagnosing for ASD has several steps in this process such a s developmental monitoring, screening, and diagnosis, and each step is vital. “The results of a formal developmental evaluation can also inform whether y our child needs early intervention services. In some cases, the s pecialist might recommend genetic counseling and testing for y our child,” the CDC explained.

Consciousness about autism

SUPPORT for children diagnosed with ASD is not lost in the country, particularly among non-

One such way is the holding of “AOK Pilipinas, Live!,” whose theme was “Building a Nation Powered by Transformative Autism-inclusive Innovation,” and w as organized by the Autism Society Philippines (ASP), SM Cares, a division of SM Foundation and the corporate social r esponsibility arm of SM Supermalls, the Mandaluyong City g overnment, and the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), in observance of the 27th National Autism Consciousness Week.

Guests and panelists included Komunidad ng Pamilya, Pasyente at persons with Disabilities ( P3PWD) party list representative, Rowena Guanzon; ASP Chair e merita Dang Koe; ASP National President Mona Magno-Veluz; former Mandaluyong City councilor Charisse Abalos-Vargas;

Q C Kabahagi Center e x ecutive Director Karen Sagun; Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation e x ecutive Director h a zel Borja; and SM Supermalls

Assistant Vice President Richard Caluyo, and SM Supermalls Senior Vice President e n gr. Bien Mateo. Autism awareness advocates such as Troy Montero, Aubrey Miles, and Candy Pangilinan, who are also proud parents of children with autism, were also present and shared some of the ideas and experiences in rearing a child with autism.

The group focused on the importance of innovation in addressing issues concerning

people on the spectrum, while Montero, Miles, and Pangilinan also shared useful tips for other parents living with family members with autism. The panelists a lso expressed their support for other parents who are taking care of children who have autism and assured them that support is available if and when they need it.

Pangilinan assured that everything will be okay and advised ot her parents not to treat autism as a burden. She also said one concern parents of a child diagnosed w ith autism should look at is how to secure the child’s future.

“Conditioning the mind was key for me, where I had to explain several things and should b e done in the simplest of terms that the child would understand. e x posing the child to various people and environments is also important to allow him or her to learn on their own, and even determine their interests in life,” Pangilinan stressed.

For Montero, he feels hopeful for the future in the country, “ for your children, our children. Just look around. There is so much support. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone.”

As for Miles, determining the interests of a child diagnosed with autism is also a key s trategy, just like for their fouryear-old daughter Rocket, who has shown interests in weather, news and music.

For his part, Mateo thanked the ASP for always believing in the advocacies of SM Cares, while reiterating that SM malls welcome all, living with disability or not. “We want to send the m essage to all our mall-goers, including people with autism, that y ou’re always welcome at SM.”

De C e M B e R 2 1 was a significant milestone for the women of Baguio City and their families as Mayor Benjamin Magalong, the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), and Roche (Philippines) Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the implementation of P roject e C hO i n the Summer Capital of the country.

Project e C hO, short for Project e xtension for Community h e alth Outcomes, will help address the alarming p ublic health concern of the Philippines having the highest incidence of breast cancer in Southeast Asia per the “Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Time Trends” study by the World h e alth Organization’s International Agency for R esearch on Cancer.

The tripartite collaboration will benefit almost 45,213 women in Baguio, a ged 40 years old and above (from the 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority age-sex distribution of Baguio City), allowing them to access early screening, diagnostics, and prompt, appropriate and innovative treatment for b reast cancer.

In his speech, Magalong emphasized how Project eC hO ’s telementoring model aligns with his vision for Baguio as a S mart City by 2027. A Smart City, per Magalong’s speech, is characterized as a “smart, green, and sustainable city with the ultimate goal of improving the urban quality of life.” Among the aspects t o be improved are “better public health and social systems.”

“Our ultimate goal is to save lives. Creating a supportive partnership be -

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

The prices of maintenance medicines for non-communicable diseases are affected by inflation an d peso devaluation as these are also commodities in the market, a health department official said recently.

“Based on our monitoring in December 2022, we have seen a slight price increase in a set of medicines, these hypertensive medicines, which was because of t he inflation and the peso devaluation,” Department of h eal th (DO h ) o fficer-incharge Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a press briefing in Pasay City. Vergeire did not cite the brand names of the medicines.

The DO h , through the Cheaper Medicines Act or Republic Act 9502, monitors t he prices of medicines to ensure quality medicines are available to the public.

“Overall, the prices of our medicines are stable and this is because of our e xecutive Order 155, wherein we placed p rice caps starting March 23, 2022 for hypertension, for diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, and for COPD [chronic ob structive pulmonary disease], colorectal, lung and breast cancers, must be in o ur capping, regulating their prices in order to be more accessible to our fellowmen,” she said.

T he price caps for these medicines are still in effect and can still be regulated, she added.

We also have the MDRP or the medium drug retail price where the prices o f medicines are reduced to make them more accessible to the public,” she said. PN A

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

The Department of h e alth (DO h ) -Ilocos Region through the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative he alth Care (PITA hC ), recently launched the h e rbal Medicine Access Program ( h e rbMAP) to benefit the marginalized and underserved households in San e m ilio, Ilocos Sur.

Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco stated that the h e rbMAP is in support of the goals of the Universal h e alth Care Act for free access to essential medicines.

“The program provides safe, effective and quality herbal medicines and products manufactured by PITA h C w hich promotes and advocates the use of traditional medicines and products to Filipino households to treat common ailments,” Sydiongco said adding that they prioritize GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) and the marginalized and underserved population.

Homecare package INCLUDeD i n the he rbMAP homecare packages are one box of lagundi tablets for the treatment of cough and asthma, one bottle of virgin coconut oil for food supplement, antibacterial soaps including guava soap used for washing of wounds and sores and “akapulko” soap for use in washing of skin problems brought about by fungal infections like scabies and ringworm. h e len A. Posilero, Regional Program Manager for tradition and

herbal medicines said that they will be prioritizing the distribution of he rbMAP packs in identified GIDAs of Ilocos Sur province.

“We will be reaching out to all residents of GIDAs in Ilocos Sur for them to be able to access herbal medicines and products which will provide them treatment and care for chronic illnesses,” Posilero added.

Meanwhile, San e m ilio Mayor Joey Warren A. Bragado expressed his utmost gratitude to DO h and PITA h C f or selecting his local government unit as a beneficiary of the h e rbMAP initiative of the health department.

Nutribox DO h - Ilocos Region also started its distribution of Nutribox packages for pregnant women of San e m ilio, Ilocos Sur.

“The nutribox is a diet supplementation package for the First 1,000 Days program for pregnant women to prevent low-birth weight prevalence in the region, especially those living in remote communities and GIDA,” Sydiongco stated in her message during the launching program held at the municipal covered court of San e m ilio, Ilocos Sur on January 26.

Sydiongco added that 38 pregnant women in Pampanga and Zambales were chosen as initial recipients of the nutribox program.

According to the United Nations International Children’s e me rgency Fund (UNIC e F ), poor diets lacking in key nutrients like iodine, iron, folate, calcium and zinc

can cause anemia, pre-eclampsia, hemorrhage and death in mothers during their pregnancy.

It can also lead to stillbirth, low birthweight, wasting and developmental delays for children.

Jovita Leny S. Calaguas, Ilocos Regional Nutritionist and Dietician, said that the first 1,000 days covering a woman’s pregnancy period up to the first two years of the child’s life, must be well taken care of. “ e v ery opportunity and essential interventions that will provide a positive impact on the child’s development must be given.”

“It is important that we intervene, even before a child is born, we have to provide the mother the essential nutrients she needs for her baby to become healthy.”

Rice, TVP

T h e Nutribox package contains 10 kgs iron-fortified rice, texturized vegetable protein, dehydrated vegetables, iodized salt and margarin.

A total of 38 beneficiaries from the town of San e m ilio were given nutribox packages. Only identified GIDAs will be prioritized for the Nutribox distribution.

Among the cities and municipalities in the Ilocos Region, Dagupan City recorded the highest number of total live births in 2021 with 8,461 births. San Carlos City, Pangasinan followed with 7,125 births; City of Urdaneta, Pangasinan with 5,753 births; City of San Fernando, La Union with 4,866 births; and City of Alaminos, Pangasinan with 4,014 births.

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

IN an effort to stamp out the Covid-19 crisis and reduce it to an endemic state, the city of Muntinlupa is beefing up the rollout of its mobile vaccination activities to bring protection to more of its constituents.

This is a positive development as coronavirus cases in the country continue to decline, which health experts consider as an indication of the imminent post-pandemic era.

To help realize the near end of the ensuing health crisis, the Muntinlupa City he alth Office (C hO) launched the “Rolling Bakuna” for fisherfolks at the Bayanan Baywalk last January 26.

This inoculation on wheels program started its mobile vaccination in 2021, catering to all barangays and various communities.

Get vaccinated to avoid infection MAYOR Ruffy Biazon encouraged local

tween the public and private sectors to a ddress these types of diseases is strategic as we can make this a legacy for t he next generation,” Magalong said during his speech.

National disease strategy

RO C h e (Philippines) Inc. Pharmaceuticals Division General Manager Dr. Diana e d ralin looks forward to the future success of the Baguio City pilot program, hoping that the Baguio model can help support the Department of h e alth in its national disease strategy.

“Project e C hO i n Baguio City will also serve as a champion in professionalizing the role of our Barangay h e alth Workers and elevating their part in our patient navigation program. Baguio City’s shining example can be used as a framework for other communities to improve the care and referral pathway from the community to t he regional and national levels,” Dr. e d ralin said.

The Baguio launch was well-attended by supportive Baguio community leaders, groups, and institutions, which i ncluded the Baguio Sangguniang Panlungsod, Baguio City h e alth Office Team, different private Baguio hospitals, representatives from the DO h a nd the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and patient groups like Minda’s Buddies.

Roche (Philippines) Inc., through Project e C hO, will continue to collaborate with stakeholders who recognize t he shared responsibilities of solving health-care inequities and #ClosingTheCancerCareGap.

residents to get a jab or avail of a booster shot to protect themselves and the people around them, especially from mutated variants of Covid-19.

“We need to think of the welfare of our community and loved ones as well,” said the local chief executive.

The latest Omicron subvariant is reportedly more transmissible compared to the previous versions of the virus.  he alth authorities have advised Filipinos to get vaccinated in order to lessen the opportunity for the coronavirus to mutate and remake itself as it gets passed from one host to another.

City he alth Officer Dr. Juancho h . B unyi urged Muntinlupeños to get periodic booster shots to enhance effectivity of the vaccine, which is designed mainly to reduce the chances of severe Covid.  he , likewise, told Muntinlupeños that they are free of charge, and the rolling vaccination caravan is on-call and so with the locally maintained vaccination sites in the city which are open daily.

THERE is much debate when it comes to identifying autism, more professionally called as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While some call it a neurodevelopmental situation, there are those who look at it simply as sort of neurodiversity.

Ba G u io City Mayor Benjamin Magalong shakes hands with Roche (Philippines) i nc Pharmaceutical Division General Manager Dr. Diana Edralin after both have signed the M o u to launch Project EC H o in the City of Pines.

inflation, peso devaluation affect maintenance

meds prices: DoH

DOH gives out herbal care, nutribox packages to Ilocos Sur residents

Roche Philippines to bring better public health to Baguio City with Project ECHO launch, MOU signing

Muntinlupa intensifies vaccinationon-wheels program for fisherfolks

Bakuna” for fisherfolks at the Bayanan Baywalk.

Let’s nurture each child’s giftedness

5 ways to be HealtHy— witH your kids

WHENEVER we admonish our kids to “Eat your vegetables!,” “Get up from bed already!” and “Put that gadget down now!” for the nth time, how many of us catch ourselves thinking that we should be doing the same?

“Children are likely to develop and maintain healthy habits in an environment where these healthy habits are seen and practiced regularly,” says Rosario P. Paguntalan, MD, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics of the top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed. net.ph). “For kids to adopt these habits as their own, their parents need to serve as role models of healthy behavior.” What better time to commit to positive (and hopefully lasting) change than at the start of a brand-new year? You and your family can begin your journey to healthy living together and on a clean slate. Remember, kids stick to good habits if they see you doing them, so take the lead in ingraining these five healthy practices.

n Eat better. Everyone, no matter what age, will certainly benefit from this health resolution—and it doesn’t have to be done cold turkey. “Make changes gradually during mealtime,” shares Paguntalan.

“Replace pork and beef with chicken, fish and seafood, and look for recipes that incorporate vegetables into dishes. Plant-based meat substitutes are also available in the market today, and can be used as alternative protein sources.”

Even little tweaks make a huge difference. Limit trips to or ordering from fastfood joints as these food items contain trans fats that elevate bad cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. You and your kids can also swap calorie-rich colas, boxed juices and milk teas for freshly squeezed juices or water, and replace salty chips with crunchy nuts and slices of fresh vegetables.

n Be active. If you’re looking for a reason to start exercising, why not make your family your motivation? “By getting fit, you can live long enough to see your kids’ kids,” Paguntalan stresses. “Even 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day for five days a week has a positive impact on your physical, mental and emotional well-being.” While you’re at it, enlist the kids to keep you company. Not only will they get their daily dose of exercise (and decrease chances of childhood obesity), they’ll ensure you’ll stick to yours, too. “When you workout alone, you’re tempted to slack off or, worse, quit,” Paguntalan underlines. “Working out with a buddy, or in this case, your kids, means you’ll stay consistent.”

n Limit technology. These days, almost everything we do involves some type of gadget and the internet: from schoolwork to office work to entertainment to simply keeping in touch, even the simplest everyday activities are fueled by technology. But it doesn’t have to take over your life. “Establish a no-gadgets schedule in the family. During mealtimes, keep phones and tablets away from the dinner table,” suggests Paguntalan. “Or spend a few gadget-free hours together listening to each other talk about how your day went. The hours away from tech can help you and your kids encourage bonding. A solid and comfortable parent-child bond contributes to good mental health for all parties concerned.”

n Get a checkup. Sure, you’re on top of your kids’ pediatrician and dental appointments—but when was the last time you had an annual physical exam?

“Again, make your children your reason for staying healthy,” says Paguntalan. “When you see your family physician regularly for a checkup—and not only when you’re feeling ‘off’ or experiencing symptoms—it’s your way of assuring your kids that you’ll be around for a long time.”

n Have a healthy attitude. How you deal with stress, disappointment, success, or affection from your spouse and children, and other circumstances in life sets an example for your children to follow. “If they see you behaving consistently toward, say, a bad situation by lashing out in anger or shirking from responsibility, that’s what they’ll do, too,” Paguntalan explains. “Conversely, if they see you face challenges head-on with a positive, can-do mindset, they’ll do the same. Overall good health and well-being can only happen at home when you initiate it, and your kids can see the benefits of living this way.”

AS the world opens up after this Covid-19 pandemic, we as parents are starting to revert back to our routines and pre-pandemic lifestyles. We somehow assume that as our children start going back to physical school, and we are able to now go out and join social activities, it should be the same for them. The reality is this pandemic has had the biggest impact on our children. Dr. Sean Deoni, associate professor of pediatrics and diagnostic imaging at Brown University, shared that in one of the studies they recently conducted of post-Covid children, they noticed that children were not paying as much attention or not getting as far with the activities as before. The reason, he shared, is due to the lack of stimulation these past few years.

Iba na ang mga bata ngayon” is what we are realizing. They are more exposed to technology and other external stimuli, as they have relied on mobile games, Internet videos and online messaging to entertain themselves and connect with their peers. But due to the limited exposure and activities for the past couple of years, they also experienced delays in brain development. Luckily, parents can still address this and raise their children into gifted kids by nurturing their brain first with proper stimulation and nutrition.

During the Gifted Together event held at the ShangriLa, The Fort Manila in Taguig City on January 26, pediatric experts and parents, led by event host Issa Litton, discussed how raising a gifted kid starts with a gifted brain—and what parents can do to implement this winning formula.

Deoni said 90 percent of a kid’s brain development happens during the first five years of their lives. A big part of this development is the brain’s myelination, a process by which information is being processed quickly for better understanding.

In fact, studies have shown, particularly the World’s First Pediatric Neuroimaging Study, that “an increase of +36 percent percent in myelin can lead to faster language development, together with proper nutrition and stimulation,” Deoni added.

“The brain continues to develop as we grow older. But the brain’s development also has a trajectory that is often dictated by how it grows during our childhood, particularly from birth to five years of

age. And studies have shown, particularly at the World’s First Pediatric Neuroimaging Study to help advance brain development, that processes during brain development can enhance the brain’s functions. These processes—for instance, myelination—can be supported by proper diet and nutrition,” Deoni said.

Dr. Ryan Carvalho, chief medical officer and global head of the Nutrition Product Development Center, said that brain development depends highly on two factors: time and nutrition.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in kid’s milk is known to be an essential nutrient that promotes health and development. DHA, with a kid’s regular healthy diet, is believed to help promote adequate brain development. But Carvalho said that with the additional health risks due to the pandemic— particularly how it has affected the kid’s dietary habits and exposure to health risks and stimulation— this may not be enough.

Carvalho said improving kid’s diet and nutrition can overcome these adverse effects and put brain development on the right track. For instance, he noted that studies have shown that DHA together with Milk Oligosaccharides (MOS+), which includes Sialic Acid,

help double up the development of memory, learning and cognitive skills in kids.

Carvalho explained, “With how our world has changed due to the pandemic, it’s important to pay closer attention to our kid’s diet. Kids are more susceptible to hindrances in their brain development. So parents should implement changes and improvements to their lifestyles and diets to prevent these roadblocks from affecting their kids in their growth.”

As a mother, Georgina Wilson said it’s enlightening to learn how important nurturing the kid’s gifted brain is in raising a gifted kid. “With so many factors affecting our lives and health, we as parents need to be more proactive in learning these things,” she said. Wilson added that joining parenting groups and reading articles on raising kids, taking educational classes, as well as supplementing her kid’s diet with PROMIL have helped her and her kids.

“That’s why at Wyeth Nutrition, we strive to bring in experts because we want to listen to the needs of Filipino parents, so that we can continuously innovate our products,” said Mea Guinhawa-Gabunada, group brand manager for PROMIL, Wyeth Philippines Inc. n

2023 interior design trends: Happier, vibrant and eco-conscious

TWENTY-TWENTY Three design trends promise happiness, with society continuing to adjust to the “new normal” as we open our doors to welcome families and friends into our homes.

Professional interior designers Katherine Ann Correa, an advocate of heritage conservation, and Markee Madolaria, a consultant and art director, noted that this is the year to create spaces that make us smile.

“To gather by being together is how we will experience design spaces in 2023,” they started. “We are out of our protective shells, yet cautious enough for our well-being, thus we ignite our social lives while still being mandated by certain health rules.”

“Spaces that enclose us will fade out,” they added. “The conundrum of whether we are safe inside or safer in an open space will definitely be answered. The designed environment will appear to have a better knowledge of what and how humans should interact with each other. A new escape, a new experience will evolve.”

Correa, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Interior Design Program chairperson, and Madolaria are both educators under Benilde School of Environment and Design (SED). They revealed that eco-conscious homes will be popular this year.

This is following the solar revolution report of global trend forecast WGSN, a team of over 250 specialists and data scientists that curates an online library of insights and inspirations.

With the increase of gas prices, people will look for an energy source

that is free, local and green.

“We want to design in harmony with the natural world while still being chic and upscale,” Correa and Madolaria stated. “We want to create a sustainable space considering climate change. It is a solid investment. That way, we can also help save the environment.”

People will continue to bring the presence of nature inside their homes, from floral wallpapers and tiles to natural touches such as wood and stones. Fluted glass and panels are likewise top choices.

“We remain interested in textures that either mimics the natural environment or the use of the natural materials itself, yet only applied in a new technology,” they shared.

For forms, there will be more of a geo-organic approach or a play of geometrical shapes in a very refined and organic way. Arches, soft cornered cuboids and spherical items will evolve. “The pandemic reminded us to pause,” they explained. “This year, we will be reminded how important making great memories with each other is, and how time can define spaces that are curated and connected to the user.”

Ushering in a more positive future, the powerful and empowering Color of the Year Viva Magenta (Pantone 18-750) will continue to encourage experimentation and self-expression in interior design. The professionals advised to add a right ratio of this shade toward a neutral background for

a head-turning visual play.

“Viva Magenta will help create a space that denotes passion and excitement, at the same time glamorous. Depending on its glossiness or flatness, it would either pull a strong key as an accent, or place it on as textural component,” they described. “It will give birth to spaces that inspire gatherings,” they added.

“The word ‘viva’ means ‘to be alive’ in Spanish. This is a call for everyone to re-experience life as we hop on another journey of human evolution.”

Correa and Madolaria confirmed that vibrant, rich, and saturated hues will define 2023, especially for open and airy layouts. Deep reds, browns, greens, as well as eye-catching pastels are in.

Newport World Resorts opens first urban farm in partnership with Malaysian firm

Conti’s Cakes and Weight Loss? Yes, They Can Go Together

SATISFYING your sweet tooth or craving with your favorite dessert does not necessarily lead to weight gain: you can eat cake without feeling guilty again. In fact, it can even help you slim down. How? Do it when you’re happy. Studies have shown that happiness plus cake is a formula for losing weight. When a person is happy, there is a boost of dopamine levels in the body. Known as the "happy hormone," dopamine is only released once we feel happy or experience something pleasurable. And isn’t the sight of a beautiful cake like Conti’s’ Mango Tart a trigger that suddenly shifts our mood to a happy one with its toppings of delightful ripe mango slices with vanilla cream on butter crust?

Fresh from the bakeshop and chilled just right, cakes can bring that inexplicable feeling of pleasure, bliss, and happiness. A cake no matter the size, color, design, or flavor has the power to release dopamine which is a very good hormone for weight loss. A dopamine diet helps control your waistline while keeping your brain happy, even with a decadent treat like Conti’s’ well-loved Black Velvet with its sumptuous icing and swirls of flavorful ganache chocolate. You’d be surprised that with every bit you take, you’d tend to have less cravings, but get to be motivated to be active and do more.

THE country’s pioneering integrated resort, Newport World Resorts, is taking a bolder step in its property-wide I Love Earth (ILE) sustainability program with the launch of a technology-controlled onsite farm, through Marriott Hotel Manila, to grow high-value vegetables for use in its restaurants.

The collaborators tapped BoomGrow, a regional agriculture technology startup to develop the first ILE Urban Farm within the property as part of its sustainable culinary program. Through BoomGrow’s proprietary Indoor Precision Farming technology, the entire complex will have access to farmfresh, clean and sustainable produce throughout the year.

The opening of the ILE Urban Farm makes Newport World Resorts the first destination resort outside of Malaysia to house BoomGrow’s Indoor Precision

Farming Machine. Fresh produce will be grown and nurtured within a highly controlled environment, using bestin-class hydroponic systems that are supported by artificial intelligence to ensure optimal conditions at all times.

The ILE Urban Farm is the latest addition to the healthy, responsible, and sustainable sourcing initiatives that include sustainable seafood offerings and cage-free egg use led by Marriott Hotel Manila executive chef Meik Brammer.

Last year, Newport World Resorts ramped up its commitment to caring for the planet with the launch of the ILE program, which carries out specific initiatives with concrete goals, by harmonizing the respective sustainability programs of the integrated resort and its international partner hotels.

This has allowed the ILE initiatives

to prosper, and by 2022, earn a coveted Bronze Benchmarked certification for the whole complex from EarthCheck, the world's leading certification, consulting and advisory group for sustainable destinations and tourism. Newport World Resorts’ I Love Earth sustainability program is part of Alliance Global Group’s wider SustainAGIlity initiative. Escape the ordinary at Newport World Resorts, you know you want to. For more information on the I Love Earth sustainability initiative, visit www.newportworldresorts.com and follow @newportworldresorts and @ILovEarthPH on Facebook and Instagram, and @nwresorts on Twitter. Make the most of your visit and sign up for an Epic Membership or download the Newport World Resorts Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Dermclinic introduces ‘The Good Derma’

Advocacy

organizations such as the Yellow Boat Foundation, helping families and students in the coastal area of Zambales.

The Good Derma is also supporting Hope for the Nations and International Care Ministries, promoting better lives and education for the ultra-poor.

“We have strengths as a business, but we also saw that we have limitations that our partners are strong with. We are planning to support medical missions, we are planning to support how they can help the community. We really wanted to support children and their education, because we believe that education is part of everything. That’s something that we advocate for.” Dr. Pineda said. She added, “Where it's not reachable, we want to be there. That is why we are partnering with businesses and organizations that promote the same theme. Because when you merge with them, you become stronger with the advocacies that you go for.”

According to the US Calorie Control Council, losing weight has less to do with what kind of food you eat and more to do with the number of calories you consume. Hence, when eating your favorite cake like

Conti’s’ Sans Rival, with layers of chewy wafers filled with buttercream icing and cashew nuts, you have to double your efforts from overeating. The right way to indulge in your cravings is to savor them, eat them slowly, and then continue to do other things that will make you feel happy and active.

Happiness begets more happiness. The next time you feel giddy, go ahead and enjoy your favorite Conti’s cake. You’ll feel even more upbeat and motivated to be more active. That’s a recipe for shedding some unwanted or excess weight.

The delightful Conti’s cakes are available in over 70 Conti’s branches nationwide and are available for delivery via website, Grab Food and Foodpanda. To know more about Conti’s Bakeshop & Restaurant, visit www. contis.ph or check out their Facebook (@ contisph), Instagram (@contis_ph), and TikTok (@contisph) pages. Other pages bearing the name and images are fake. They do not in any way represent the brand.

Villar pushes for the development of the yellow corn industry for livestock, poultry sector

SENATOR Cynthia A. Villar has sought the approval of her bill on yellow corn, noting its importance in poultry, especially the egg-laying type (layers).

Villar said the proposed measure, Senate Bill No. 120, An Act to Develop and Promote the Yellow Corn Industry, to Enhance Availability of Affordable and Quality Feeds, and to Provide for a Corn Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, will also increase production of corn and affordable feeds for the livestock and poultry sector.

While the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows our yellow corn production has been in upward trend since 2017, Villar said this is not sufficient to cover the needs of the livestock and poultry sector.

She noted that the production cannot satisfy the demand of the country which is 8.8 million tons.

To cope with the demand, she said the country continues to import corn, feeds and other feeds components, which greatly affects the income and welfare of our corn farmers.

EMBRACING its golden anniversary, Dermclinic wanted to share the beauty of everything that it has witnessed and experienced over the past 50 years. Aside from providing Filipinos with good and genuine hair and skin services, Dermclinic aims to extend its gratitude by supporting several charities aiding local communities in rural and coastal areas.

Last November 2022, Dermclinic finally introduced “The Good Derma Advocacy” to the public. According to the Executive Vice

President of Dermclinic Dr. Angela Pineda, The Good Derma covers a broad aspect when it comes to customer relationships and corporate social responsibilities. It will serve as Dermclinic’s mobile arm, providing free skin and hair consultations for the whole year of 2023. This campaign will also serve as a new avenue for Dermclinic to be more accessible and to be able to reach more people who cannot visit their mall branches.

It has also started partnering with

The Good Derma has begun its first initiative for the year, where everyone is invited to share their story about health and wellness, and 50 deserving patients will be chosen to receive 50,000 worth of Dermclinic products and services.

“My brother (Arnold Pineda) and I wanted to mark our 51st year by us giving back, because we’ve received a lot of support and blessing, even back then from my dad’s clients. Now it's the time to celebrate goodness. We want to multiply the goodness through our patients, first and foremost, and to be more present through The Good Derma. We want to reach people where they’re at.” Dr. Pineda concluded.

This can be achieved by institutionalizing mechanization, hybrid seeds propagation and distribution, credit, extension and training, provision of insurance, marketing, organization of farmers, among others, said the chairperson of the Senate committee on Agriculture and Food.

She said yellow corn is one of the country's main agricultural crops which Is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds.

“It is a rainfed crop, requires simple land preparation, and can be grown in upland, even in sloping areas. It is usually harvestable after 55 to 75 days. It is mainly used for livestock and poultry feeds,” related Villar.

According to the senator, corn is preferred for feeds because of high carotene content. Yellow corn accounts for about 50 percent of the component of feeds.

Aside from importation, also affecting the corn farmers are high cost of inputs, weather patterns, and pests and diseases.

The National Corn Program, a banner program of the Department of Agriculture, is the government's response to these major challenges facing the corn industry.

Still, the senator lamented the development of com industry has been left behind despite being a major input to the livestock and poultry industry.

“Our corn farmers are still dealing with these issues even if there has been sufficient budget given to the program through the years,” she said.

Due to this, she renewed her call to develop and strengthen the corn industry as it will result to better livestock, poultry and dairy industries.

NEWPORT World Resorts President and CEO Kingson Sian and Marriott International Multi-Property Vice President - The Philippines Bruce Winton (center) led the launch of Newport World Resorts’ I Love Earth Urban Farm with, from left, Marriott Hotel Manila Executive Chef Meik Brammer, Department of Tourism National Capital Region Director

Sharlene Zabala-Batin, Pasay City Mayor Imelda “Emi” Calixto-Rubiano, Embassy of Malaysia Deputy Chief of Mission Mohd Fareed Zakaria, and BoomGrow Co-Founders Murali Krishnamurthy and Dr. Jay Desan.

WILCON EXEC HONORED AT UP. Wilcon Depot SEVP-COO Rosemarie Bosch - Ong received the University of the Philippines Gawad Oblation Award on January 17, 2023, held at Ang Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman. The University President gives the award to UP’s alumni and supporters who have rendered “extraordinary service with or in the name of UP.” Photo shows from left, Vice-President for Public Affairs University of the Philippines System Prof. Elena E. Pernia, Ph.D., President of University of the Philippines System Prof. Danilo Concepcion and Wilcon Depot SEVP-COO Rosemarie Bosch - Ong.

CONTI’S Bakeshop and Restaurant’s Sans Rival, Black Velvet, and Mango Tart cakes

Envoys&Expats

PHL-UK trade ties tightened through economic briefing

The British Embassy-Manila considers the timing of the visit as auspicious, as the two countries’ bilateral relationship is strengthening, and British private-sector interest in the Philippines continues to grow.

The Filipino delegation was led by Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, accompanied by Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Bangko Sentral Governor Felipe Medalla, Socioeconomic Planning Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon, and Treasurer Rosalia de Leon.

They were joined by the embassy’s deputy head of mission Alistair White.

The Philippine Economic Briefing was held on January 26 at London’s UBS Auditorium, with a 250-strong audience of members of the British private sector. The gathering signaled the strength of interest in the Philippines from the UK.

UK-Asean Business Council chair Lord Edward Vaizey gave the opening remarks.

The British prime minister’s trade

envoy Richard Graham, CMG, MP mentioned significant investments made by UK companies last month, including the €260-million purchase of Don Papa Rum by Diageo.

Both officials highlighted the importance of the Philippines as a partner to the UK in the region. Graham said: “British businesses are increasingly viewing the Philippines as an exciting place to be exporting and investing. In this respect, this event is very timely, and I know that many of the businesses [listened] with interest to the plans and priorities that will be shared. We look forward to working with our partners in the Philippines to identify key areas where we can collaborate to grow investments and exports both ways.”

The economic team attended the Asia House Annual Outlook, visited the London Stock Exchange, and met with investors to discuss opportunities for UK investors and exporters in key sectors of mutual interest.

Aside from Graham, the Filipino team also met with Minister

of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Minister for Exports Andrew Bowie MP of the Department for International Trade.

Key priorities on growing interests in commerce, climate, technology and defense were discussed, building on UK-Philippines Enhanced Partnership announced in 2021.

For the embassy, the visit was an important moment for trade relations between both countries, as bilateral trade has reverted to prepandemic levels of £2.1 billion.

For her part, Ambassador Laure Beaufils remarked: “This opportu-

Czech Republic tourism roadshow gets underway

THE Czech Republic has officially launched its “Discover Czechia 2023” Tourism Roadshow in the Philippines on Monday, January 30, in Cebu City, organized by its embassy in Manila, in partnership with CzechTourism, with the aim of promoting the Central European country as an attractive destination for Filipino tourists.

Aside from the “Queen City of the South,” the roadshow featured a series of destination presentations and business meetings in Angeles City, Pampanga (January 31) and Makati City (February 1). It highlighted various tourist attractions in “Czechia”—including its historic cities such as Prague and Český Krumlov, its famous castles and châteaux, natural wonders, religious sites, as well as its vibrant culinary and shopping scenes.

nity comes at a time of strengthening UK-Philippines relationship. [Both have accomplished a lot together since the last briefing in London in 2018. Through our enhanced partnership, we set out our increased ambition in key areas of mutual interests—including trade and investments, which further accelerates]—progress.”

Celebrating 77 years of friendship, the British deputation looks forward to having more opportunities to further grow this relationship over the coming years by inviting the UK’s private sector to invest in the Philippines.

International Holocaust Day: A remembrance

‘NEVER AGAIN…’ With the theme: “Home and Belonging,” Ambassador Ilan Fluss led the local commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Vice President and Department of Education chief Sara Duterte, whose team organized the event and made January 27 a formal day of marking the Holocaust in all DepEd schools and facilities. The day marked the occasion when the United Nations urged every member-state to honor the victims of the Holocaust, and the anniversary in 1945 when the main extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau— where more than a million Jews were exterminated—was liberated by the Allies. ISRAELI

The business meetings’ goal is to establish new partnerships between Czech tour operators and their Filipino counterparts. These collaborations are seen to contribute to the growth and development of both countries’ tourism sectors.

“We are excited to showcase the beauty and diversity of Czechia to the Filipino market,” said Ambassador Jana Šedivá. “From our rich history and culture, to our picturesque landscapes and delicious cuisine…we believe [our country] has something for every type of traveler.”

Representatives of travel and tour agencies in Cebu joined the province’s

leg of the tourism caravan. Discover Czechia 2023 will open with a Czech national pavilion at the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Centre in Pasay City from February 3 to 5, 2023. Visitors to the pavilion will have the opportunity to delve into the country’s rich history, spanning from the medieval period to the present day, and gain insights on the stories behind some of its iconic landmarks.

In addition, visitors will also be able to immerse themselves in Czech culture through a special puppettheater performance, and a taste of the famous Czech beer.

“I…encourage all attendees of the PTAA Travel Tour Expo to visit [our] national pavilion,” urged the Czech envoy. “We are confident that this event will help increase the number of Filipino tourists visiting Czechia in the coming years.”

Kashmir Solidarity Day: Reminder of region’s struggle, sacrifice for right to self-determination

Zumar-E-Fatima

Head of Chancery, Embassy of Pakistan

IT has been more than 75 years since Kashmir has been bleeding—sacrificed at the altar of inaction from the United Nations (UN) and international community, witnessing India’s jingoistic, egregious and blatant violations of human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

February 5 of each year is marked by every Kashmiri and Pakistani to remind the international community to raise their voices against the ruthless reign of terror inflicted on the Kashmiris, who have been fighting for their “right to selfdetermination”—a cardinal principle of the UN Charter. The UN Security Council (UNSC) has passed numerous resolutions defining the contours of a just solution.

Ambassador Ilan Fluss

Embassy of the State of Israel

WE are gathered…to remember and commemorate the Holocaust—the darkest time in human history, especially for the Jewish people.

It was an unprecedented genocide, perpetrated by Nazi Germany, its aim being to annihilate the entire Jewish people. It was a calculated operation of mass murder, the scale of which [the world] had never been seen. Six million Jews—one third of their entire population—were murdered just because they were Jewish.

Today we are witnessing voices of denial and increasing anti-Semitism. This cannot be ignored; we can never let it happen again. We must remember, learn, teach, educate and say: “Never again.” We must develop educational programs that will inculcate future generations with the lessons of the Holocaust.

I thank you, Vice President and [Department of Education chief]

Sara Duterte-Carpio and your team for being our partner, for organizing this event, and for making this

day a formal day of commemorating the Holocaust in all DepEd schools and facilities.

This event, and the act of remembrance, are so important. We recognize and appreciate your efforts to teach and educate future generations about the Holocaust.

In this context, the Philippines is a shining light. [Former president] Quezon welcomed over 1,300 Jewish refugees into the Philippines in 1939. He saved not only those individuals, but also their future families.

Since the theme for this year is “Home and Belonging,” I want to refer to the homes of my wife and [mine].

Our home is Israel, but we are first generation Israeli.

My mother was born in a jail of the Gestapo in Germany in 1937. She and my grandmother were lucky: they were able to leave Germany in 1939, just in time. Most of the family never made it. The Nazis exterminated them in Auschwitz—the most notorious death camp.

When I visited my mother’s home in Orsoy, Germany—a small village along the Rhine River—I thought to myself: Can we ever refer to this place

as the family’s homeland? What do we have there? Only the seven commemorative stepping stones in front of the house that bear the names of my murdered family members [remain]. No other sign, no other tie.

I realized then that my home is Israel. I belong to Israel. My mother felt the same.

My father-in-law Sylvain Brachfeld was born in Belgium. His parents were from Poland. During the Holocaust he hid in a monastery, pretending to be a Christian orphan. So what is home for him? Where does he belong? As a Jew, he never felt safe. During the Korean War he lived in Belgium, but he was so afraid that he moved to Brazil, where he felt was a safe distance away.

During the Yom Kippur War in 1973 Arab neighbors attacked Israel. They were living in Belgium, but he was petrified, worried about what would happen to him and to those of his family now living in Israel, should Israel lose the war.

The trauma of the Holocaust actually made him a person without a home. He lived in many countries, finally settling with his family in

Israel, but only as a resident—never as a citizen.

The Holocaust and a long history of anti-Semitism are our shared national trauma. They are the reasons Israel has to be strong: to enable Jews around the world to survive any attempt to destroy us once again.

I would like to end by reading out the names of some victims of my close family. I will start with my grandfather Karl Chaim Rosenberg, who was murdered in Auschwitz.

Most of my mother’s family were murdered there too: my great grandparents Simon and Emma Friedmann; great uncles and aunts Walter Zeev and Elfriede Friedmann. Kurt and Irma Friedmann. Thea Schartze. Ewald Rosenberg. I will end my list with my wife’s grandfather Benjamin Brachfeld.

Each of them could have had a future, a life, a family. I would have had many more cousins and relatives. But they were murdered, just because they were Jewish.

Let us remember the Holocaust, teach it, learn about it and make sure they, and genocides, will never happen again.

Per contra, on August 5, 2019, in an alarming upsurge in state terrorism, India not only unilaterally revoked Article 370 and 35-A of its Constitution, but committed demographic apartheid by introducing new domicile rules in a bid to change the disputed region’s demography. Not to mention that it has imposed an unprecedented military siege restricting basic human rights of the Kashmiri people. The manifestation of an exclusionary “Hindutva”-driven ideology by the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party is clear in each and every move of the Indian government.

Indian forces have martyred 96,126 innocent Kashmiris—including 7,262 in custody since January 1989 until September 2022. Total number of arrests made were at an astounding 165,258. Total killings have rendered 22,950 women widowed, and 107,880 children orphaned. Reports say troops gangraped or molested 11,256 women.

Indian actions in occupied territory have come under criticism in a number of parliaments, global-media outlets and international organizations including the UN, UN Human Rights Council, European Union and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. UN Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have published extensive reports on the humanrights violations in IIOJK.

For the sake of peace and stability in the region, India should and must revoke its unilateral, undemocratic and illegal actions taken in IIOJK, and put an immediate stop to furthering and implementing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-inspired “Hindutva” agenda.

Sustainable peace in the region is contingent upon the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, in line with the relevant UNSC resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

Every Kashmiri on this day hopes that the genocide against its people comes to an end, and the long standing right of self-determination and right of freedom are given to its people.

PHL, Finland stage 7th political confab

THE governments of the Philippines and Finland successfully concluded their seventh political consultations on January 25.

The local delegation was headed by Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and Asean Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, while the State Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Johanna Sumuvuori led her country’s delegation.

During the consultations the Philippines apprised the Scandinavian country on internal political and economic developments and in the region, the West Philippine Sea, and on the outcome of the AseanEuropean Union Commemorative

Summit held in Brussels last year. Finland, on the other hand, led discussions on European security concerns, including the situation in Ukraine and Finland’s Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization membership.

There, both sides discussed a wide range of issues affecting their bilateral relations, including political, economic, and people-to-people linkages. Both countries reaffirmed their strong friendship and partnership, as well as their governments’ willingness to work together in seizing opportunities and managing challenges ahead.

EMBASSY

MINISTER of State Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP and Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno BRITISH EMBASSY-MANILA\

CZECH tourism director Michal Procházka

THE United Kingdom welcomed members of the Philippine economic team during their official visit to London on January 25 and 26.

U-18 volleyball tilt for boys, girls up at Rizal venue

SIXTEEN senior high schools and club teams have so far confirmed their participation in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF)

Under-18 Championships for Boys and Girls that kick off February 17 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

P NVF President Ramon “Tats” Suzara said the federation expects the number of participants to increase this week after several schools and clubs sent letters of intent to join the tournament that is being revived after decades of hibernation.

This Under-18 Championships aims to keep the pool of young players active,” Suzara said. “This tournament serves as a feeder for future national teams.”

F ive teams—California Precision Sports-Antipolo City, Parañaque Thunderbolts Volleyball Club, Santa Rosa City, Angeles City and Sto. Nino de Praga Academy (Trece Martires, Cavite)—are fielding squads in both the boys and girls divisions.

A lso joining the PNVF’s seasonopening national tournament are Philippine Christian University (Manila), Queen Ann School (Santa Rosa), Justice CM Palma High School (Quezon City), Hermosa Volleyball Club (Bataan), Municipality of Nagcarlan (Laguna) and Mayamot National High School (Antipolo City) in the boys division.

C ompeting in the girls’ side are Ateneo de Manila University, Grace Christian College Foundation (Taguig City), New Gen-Municipality of Sta. Cruz (Laguna), Mayamot National High School (Antipolo City), UVL-Science City of Muñoz and Parañaque Berets.

C ompetition director Oliver Mora said the matches will be played on weekends with the finals for both genders set on March 12. Yul Benosa is the event director.

OBIENA METTLE GETS ACID TEST IN MONDO CLASSIC

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA gets to validate his gold and silver medals to start the indoor season when he competes against the world’s elite men’s pole vaulters in the Mondo Classic Indoor Pole Vault Championship on Friday at the Grandby Sportfalt in Uppsala, Sweden.

Obiena cleared 5.82 meters to win gold at the Perche En Or in Roubaix, France, and before that, he clinched silver with 5.77 meters at the Internationales Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, Germany.

A strong start to start the season. But Obiena admitted his numbers don’t satisfy him.

“

KLITSCHKO TO BACH: WORLD’S WATCHING

ENEVA—Olympic gold medalist Wladimir

Klitschko has joined Ukraine’s fight against International Olympic Committee (IOC) plans to let some Russians compete at the 2024 Paris

e former heavyweight champion suggested in a video message published Monday that sports leaders will be accomplices to the war if athletes from Russia and its military ally Belarus can compete at the next Olympics.

e IOC set out its preferred path last week for Russians and Belarusians who have not openly supported the war to qualify for Paris and compete in 18 months’ time as no flag or anthem. Qualifying events

started “Dear Thomas Bach” in a direct challenge to the IOC president.

The world is watching you, history will judge you. Good luck with your decision,” Klitschko said in the latest riposte from Ukraine trying to tie Bach closely to Olympic policy for Russia.

U krainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy directly invited Bach last week to visit Bakhmut, a wrecked city on the war’s current frontline, and his adviser Mykhaïlo Podolyak ended a stinging criticism of the IOC on Twitter with the words “Right, Mr. Bach?”

You are the representative of the universal values of tolerance and peace,” Klitschko said on camera to Bach, who also won Olympic gold, in team fencing. “I tell you; the Russians are Olympic champions in crimes against civilians.”

They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion,” said the Olympic body, which has cited a “unifying mission” to have all 206 national teams compete together peacefully.

The IOC also has pointed to human rights concerns at the United Nations that athletes must not face discrimination based solely on their passport.

The updated guidance must be weighed by governing bodies overseeing most of the 32 sports on the Paris program. Russian teams already cannot qualify for the Olympic soccer tournaments due to an international ban by FIFA, which cited security concerns and the probability some opponents would refuse to play.

It’s not to maintain [my jump] but hopefully to improve it and get a higher result,” world No. 3 Obiena told BusinessMirror during a break in training in Uppsala on Wednesday. “But the season is still early as I search for the right timing and feeling regarding the execution of my jump.”

S weden would be Obiena’s first acid test with the most of the world’s best competing, including tournament host Armand Duplantis, the reigning Olympic and world champion, world No. 1 and world record holder at 6.21 meters.

T he cast is star-studded—World No. 4 and Rio 2016 Olympics gold medalist Thiago de Braz da Silva of Brazil, No. 7 Kanda Lita Baehre of Germany, No. 8 Ben Broeders of Belgium, No. 10 KC Lightfoot of the US and No. 17 and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold winner Kurtis Marschall of Australia.

A dd to the list two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, the American who beat Obiena to the gold in Cottbus.

Obiena is accompanied in Sweden by his legendary Ukrainian coach and trainer Vitaly Petrov.

The 27-year-old Obiena will also be out to rebound from his eighthplace finish with 5.70 meters in the Mondo Classic last year.

AS expected, the Lebanese teams are emerging as the top threat to Strong Group’s bid to bring the title back to Philippine shores in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Strong Group, owned by Frank and Jacob Lao, already clinched a quarterfinals seat along with Lebanese teams Al Riyadi, Sports Club Beirut and Dynamo.

All teams are very tough,” coach Charles Tiu said.

A mong the three, Dynamo seemed to be the better offensive team averaging 99.6 points through three games with an average winning margin of 23 points.

D ynamo is currently the No. 1 club team in Lebanon because of its explosive imports Ibrahima Thomas and Cleanthony Early.

A l Riyadi is no pushover with Lebanon national team members

Wael Arakji, Amir Saoud, Hayk Gyokchan and import and former National Basketball Association (NBA) second round draft pick AJ Majok.

Even Sale of Morocco, the tailender in Group B, is another cause of concern for the team backed by Mighty Sports and Acrocity.

“ Morocco is super big,” Tiu said. St rong Group will face Dynamo in its last game in the elimination which means they would not be facing in the knockout stage until at least in the semifinals.

The game though will certainly give Strong Group an idea how it would fare against the other Lebanese squads with former NBA player Nick Young nursing a knee injury. “ It’s game time decision,” Tiu said. A rakji, a familiar face for Filipinos after he towed Lebanon past a Jordan Clarkson-led Gilas Pilipinas in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers, has been averaging 16.5 points per game while Majok has racked up 16 points and 14 rebounds per outing.

Sports Club Beirut is also a formidable squad with Gerard Hadidan and Kenneth Hays forming a deadly one-two punch for the team.

understatement. Their collective reaction is similar to the Greek tragedy-style response that King James had to the non-call. One Laker fan I know who was celebrating his birthday that day said he felt so depressed he needed to go into therapy.

But sportswriter/columnist Bert A. Ramirez gives the other side of the picture. Noting correctly that the furor was amplified by the fact that the non-call happened in the last play, he gives proof to a communication concept called the Primacy-Recency Effect.

R oughly it states that the first and last items presented to you will be remembered best. Those in between, say in a list, will most likely be forgotten.

The Green side

LAKERS fans ain’t gonna like this column. It presents the other side of the end game of the latest Celtics-Lakers classic last Sunday that the Celtics won, 125-121, in overtime.

It’s been the talk of the town since the buzzer sounded in regulation. The buzz point: that Jayson Tatum foul on LeBron James that the referees failed to call. What a roar followed in its wake.

To say the Lakers Nation was furious is an

So am letting our good friend and respected colleague Bert take over entirely to show the other side of the picture: LeBron James and LA Lakers fans have been complaining…on that foul by Jayson Tatum on James that the referees missed as he attempted a layup at the end of regulation, but the missed call might have just served as poetic justice for the game, which the Boston Celtics eventually won in overtime 125-121.

Th is is because for all the glaring non-call that the referees committed on that play—which has taken all the attention since it happened at the end of regulation and would have impacted the result of the game—there was also

You cannot put your Olympic emblem on these crimes because you will be an accomplice with this abominable war,” said Klitschko, who won the superheavyweight title at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

K litschko’s elder brother, Vitali, is the mayor of Kviv and also a former heavyweight champion. They trained and fought for much of their professional careers in Germany, Bach’s home country. R esponding to criticism on Monday, the IOC said it “rejects in the strongest possible terms this and other defamatory statements.”

W hile key Olympic sports like track and field and swimming excluded Russians and Belarusians soon after the war started, tennis and cycling have allowed the athletes to compete as neutrals.

L eaders of the umbrella group of Summer Games governing bodies will meet March 3 for talks on the Russian issues presented to them by the IOC.

The group, known by the acronym ASOIF, noted their members independence late Monday, stating “the importance of respecting the specificity of each federation and their particular qualification process” for the Paris Olympics. AP

Van der Valk wary of repeat bid in season-opening TCC Invitational

GUIDO VAN DER VALK is just as thrilled and inspired as the rest of the field as the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) season kicks off next week but still striving to reach top form in time for the rich The Country Club (TCC) Invitational unfolding February 7 at the TCC course in Laguna.

I’m very excited to have the season start again, especially to play TCC after two years,” said the Dutch, who nipped Clyde Mondilla by one to claim the last TCC trophy in 2020 and join the elite circle of winners in the flagship tournament of each PGT season.

W hile he topped the seven-leg PGT edition last year with victories

at Splendido Taal and Pradera Verde, Van der Valk’s TCC Invitational preparations suffered a snag weeks before his title defense.

I’m about a 6 at the moment,” he said when asked how he would rate his game at this stage. “It’s tough to sharpen my game as the club where I’m member at is closed for its member-guest tournament the week before the TCC Invitational.”

But he said he’s been working on his swing the last few weeks, saying: “Swing is slowly progressing to where I want it. I’m working hard to get as good in shape as I can.”

The rest of the stellar cast,

a glaring non-call that went against the Celtics earlier and which led to the Lakers’ having taken the initiative at that point in the first place—and we’re not referring here about James’s own traveling violation that the referees missed right before that layup that drew a foul from Tatum.

Yes, everyone is talking about that James layup simply because it happened right there in the end. But one thing that practically no one is talking about … is that the NBA [National Basketball Association] also admitted that Anthony Davis should have been called for an offensive foul on the play where Patrick Beverley was able to slam-dunk Davis’s missed three-pointer moments before that.

“ That play came with both teams tied at 102-all with 32 seconds left in regulation, and had the refs called the foul, it would have been Boston’s ball with about 20 seconds remaining; instead, it gave LA a 104-102 edge with 18.1 seconds left.

The Lakers thus also benefited from a no call there that gave them two points that they didn’t deserve. So many Celtics fans keep pointing to the travel LeBron got away with right before the Tatum foul so had the refs called that, there wouldn’t even be a foul to complain about, and that again is a second crucial no-call that went in the Lakers’ favor during the pivotal moments of the contest.

For those who may not actually be aware of James’

“All the top ten pole vaulters are in the list that’s why it’s a tough elite tournament,” Obiena said. “I’m still struggling to make some adjustments during the off season.”

He added: “It’s still the same training generally and little by little we are trying to improve everything. I know it will lead to a bigger height.”

Obiena’s adviser, Jim Lafferty, said Mondo’s tournament aims to bring the best out of the already world elite pole vaulters all of whom are hoping to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics.

“

Uppsala is a veritable ‘who’s who’ in men’s pole vault,” Lafferty said said. “It will be a great chance for EJ to compete with the best.”

made up of the past winners and/ or the Top 30 players in last year’s PGT Order of Merit, are also in the thick of preparations for the 72hole championship, which offers a record P6 million total purse with the winner pocketing P1.5 million. I know if I play well I can win again. Just got to get my game in shape in the next few days,” Van der Valk said. B ut a slew of aces will be going all-out to foil his back-to-back title drive in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized event, including Mondilla—who won the last Philippine Open also at TCC, in 2019—Tony Lascuña, Reymon Jaraula, Jhonnel Ababa, Lloyd Go, Ira Alido, Joenard Rates, Ruperto Zaragosa III, Sean Ramos, Rico Depilo, Orlan Sumcad and Jerson Balasabas.

history, many followers of the game have been familiar with the many offensive fouls that James has committed during his 20-year career...as well as the many traveling violations he also has been guilty of but was not called for.

“ This one is another of those travels that he has gotten away with as one can see here in this four-second video clip https://twitter.com/CelticsHiLights/status/1619734310843711 489?fbclid=IwAR0ZlImVZndMFmlnnK1Zh6SOb6i-o83xTYjlA6 00JHIqo2Jrcu9cCDY9Hi8) before he went for that layup where Tatum made contact with his lower arm. Look closely, and one can see James taking three steps after gathering the ball.

In the eyes of many discerning Celtics fans, however, the bigger no call was the one on Davis because that one rewarded the Lakers points that, at the very least, should not have been there and kept the score tied at 102-all at that point, with Davis incurring his fifth foul in the process and the Celtics getting back possession with a chance to go up 104-102. In this sense, the Tatum no-call just served to even things out by taking back, in effect, the two points the Lakers should have never been rewarded, based on the NBA’s own reporting in its Last Two Minute Report.

“Judging from all these dynamics, the Celtics won this game fair and square, and nobody could say that they were given special treatment by the referees to be able to do that.”  P rosecution rests, Bert.

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA faces the “who’s who” in men’s pole vault in Sweden.

Strong Group’s Tiu wary of major threat posed by Lebanese teams in Dubai hoops

BIÑAN CITY OF

ATime for Memory and Celebration

Messages

TOmy fellow Biñanenses: It’s that time of the year again when we gather together to celebrate three significant events in the history of our beloved City of Biñan – the 13th cityhood of Biñan, its 78th Liberation Day and 276th Foundation Anniversary. We only pass through this world once so we have to make the most of it. The things we do now, whether big or small, are the legacies that we will leave behind for the future generation. As such we have to make sure that we give our best.

Your city government overcame all the challenges these past three years because of your support and I would like to extend my wholehearted gratitude to you all. As they say, we are just getting to the exciting part and I would like to call on you all to please continue supporting your LGU.

There is no other time than now to be proud of our City of Biñan. I enjoin you all to take the time out and celebrate what we have achieved. Mabuhay tayong lahat.

HON. WALFREDO “ARMAN” DIMAGUILA, JR. Mayor, City of Biñan

GREETINGS to one and all! Starting today, February 2, 2023 until February 4, 2023, we will be celebrating three significant events – the 13th cityhood of Biñan, its 78th Liberation Day and 276th Foundation Anniversary. During these three days, let us be reminded that our city’s progress can be seen in the various structural projects in and around the city.

I, together with the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to you all for all your trust and support. Let’s enjoy the fruits of our labor and we hope that this will inspire you all do to more for our beloved City of Biñan.

There is still a lot to be done but we are on the right track. We are slowly but surely on the road to recovery and we will not rest until we have reached our full potential.

Congratulations to us all!

HON. ANGELO “GEL” B. ALONTE Vice Mayor, City of Biñan

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

FOR the City of Biñan, the month of February is a time for celebration and thanksgiving. From February 2 to February 4, 2023, local government officials, Biñanenses and special guests will gather to celebrate the 13th Cityhood of Biñan, its 78th Liberation Day and 276th Foundation Anniversary. Biñan was discovered and founded by Capt. Juan de Salcedo in June 1571. On the site where the San Isidro Labrador Church now stands is believed to be the spot where Augustinian missionaries planted a wooden cross and baptized the natives. A popularly known origin of the word “Biñan” is “Binyagan.” However, some believe that Biñan might have been named after a plant that grew abundantly in that place.

Historically, Biñan is nationally recognized in books related to the biography of Jose Rizal, the country’s national hero. It was in June 1871 when as a young boy Jose Rizal went to Biñan with his brother Paciano. They proceeded to his aunt’s house near the town proper where they were to be lodged. Here, his first formal education was entrusted to Maestro Justiniano Aquino y Cruz who after some time of tutelage advised young Rizal to continue higher education in Manila. In honor of Jose Rizal, a National Historical Marker was bestowed on the house where he stayed at. A monument now stands at the center of Biñan’s plaza in recognition of Biñan’s affiliation to Rizal.

Component City

ON FEBRUARY 2, 2010, by virtue of Republic Act No. 9740, Biñan became a component city after its voters accepted the ratification in the plebiscite. It became the 4th city in the province of Laguna and 139th in the Philippines.

Under the leadership of Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” R. Dimaguila, Jr., Vice Mayor Angelo

“Gel” B. Alonte and Biñan Rep. Marlyn “Len” B. Alonte-Naguiat, the city of Biñan has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, in recognition of the sustained efforts of its city leaders to promote Biñan as a center of trading and commerce in Southern Tagalog and as an outstanding heritage tourism destination.

Biñan City’s “Balik Biñan Project: Tourism Development Through Heritage Conservation” was touted as one of the Top 10 awardees of the Galing Pook Awards (Please read story on C2).

Biñan is a rich city because of the Biñanenses. They are a very cooperative people. For as long as they know that we, their local government officials, are doing everything for the benefit of Biñan City, we can count on their support,” said Dimaguila. We saw this during the pandemic. The LGU was very successful because the Biñanenses trusted and supported us. We were also not blind about our shortcomings and we did our best to make up for this and address all their concerns. We are also committed to the development of our city,” he added.

Ready to celebrate

VICE Mayor Alonte announced that face to face celebrations are back and Binañenses are ready to come out and celebrate Araw ng Biñan.

“Many organizations have confirmed their support and participation for the threeday activities and we will take advantage of the celebration to showcase all that we have done for cultural conservation,” the vice mayor said. R ep. Alonte noted that this year’s celebration “will be truly special and memorable because this is the first time in almost three years that we will be celebrating in person.”

“

The past celebrations had to be toned down and were limited because of the pandemic. This year, as we emerge with bright prospects for the future, we are going all out with the events that will start on Thursday, February 2, 2023,” she said.

The three-day event will kick off with the formal opening ceremony of the Araw ng Biñan celebrations at Plaza Rizal at 7:30 am on February 2, 2023, Thursday. This will be followed by the Grand People’s Parade. At 9 am, there will be a groundbreaking ceremony for the “Sentro ng Patanghal na Sining,” a legacy of the Dimaguila administration.

“After the groundbreaking ceremony, we will have a press conference where our media friends will get the opportunity to hear the

plans of our local government officials led by Mayor Arman, Vice Mayor Gel and Cong. Len,” said Biñan City Information Officer Roman E. Carencia, adding that this will be held at Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan at around 9:30 am. Festivities resume in the afternoon at 4 pm with a Thanksgiving Mass at the San Isidro Labrador Diocesan Shrine. This will be followed by a Thanksgiving Dinner which will be held at the Historic Alberto Mansion. It will carry the theme “Parangal sa mga Nagtatanging Aklatan at Katiwala ng mga Aklatan sa Lungsod” and will have the new National Commission for Culture and the Arts Chairman Victorino M. Manalo as guest of honor.

Plaza Rizal Inauguration

THE highlight of the first day’s activities is the inauguration of Plaza Rizal with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose L. Acuzar as special guest. The event will also have the “Serenata sa Plaza Rizal” which will feature The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra. “ The inauguration of Plaza Rizal will definitely draw much attention from both local residents and tourists as it hopes to rekindle the values and ideas that we have come to associate with our National Hero Jose Rizal,” explained Rep. Alonte.

The second day on February 3, 2023 Friday, will celebrate Binan’s 78th Liberation Day. It will start at 6 am with the “Art in Public Spaces: Pot Painting Competition” at Plaza Rizal. This will be followed by the “Pasasalamat sa mga Beteranong Biñanense” which will be held at Plaza Rizal.

The highlight of the second day’s activities is the Unveiling of the Galing Pook Award Marker which will be led by the Galing Pook Foundation at Plaza Rizal. This will be followed by the 3rd Biñan

City Sining Musikahan: Drum and Lyre Band Competition also at Plaza Rizal. At 1 pm, there will be a Film Viewing of “Triangle of Sadness” at Southwoods Mall Cinema 1.

The second day’s celebration will end with the Araw ng Biñan 2023 Concert at Evangelista Bridge at 8 p.m. Scheduled to perform are Nobita, Adie, Sheryn Regis and Petite. Biñanense artists Liana Castillo of The Clash, Led & Keka, and the Artistang Biñanense Scholars will also have the opportunity to showcase their talent.

National Arts Month

THE third and last day of celebration on February 4, 2023 on Saturday will commemorate Biñan’s 276th Founding Anniversary. The events scheduled for the day will kick off at 6 am with Serbisyong Arman Dental Health Caravan at the San Vicente Covered Court and Serbisyong Arman Mega Job Fair at Pavilion Mall.

Scheduled for 9 am is the 6th Biñan National Choral Competition which will be held at the Biñan

GREETINGS to my beloved Biñanenses! The cityhood of Biñan that we celebrate yearly is a constant reminder for me to do more for you all. While it is proof of all our hard work through the years, the celebration is also a challenge for public servants like yours truly to never rest on our laurels and to always find ways to make our constituents’ quality of life better by having easy access to educational facilities, improved livelihood, employment and economic opportunities.

Thirteen years on, I remain inspired to be of service to everyone of you. Thank you for making Biñan the city it is today. You all have been doing your part in the continuous success and progress of our beloved city.

Mabuhay tayong lahat!

HON.

Representative Lone District of Biñan

City Auditorium where 10 finalists from various towns will be competing. These 10 finalists were chosen from the 22 groups who participated in the preliminary rounds.

At 3 pm, Pangasinan Rep. Christopher V. De Venecia will grace the “Pagkilala sa mga Manggagawa ng Museo ng Timog Katagalugan,” at the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan. Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) Head Dr. BJ Borja will serve as president of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums (SLAM) for three years. The three LGU-owned public museums are SLAM affiliated – Biñan City Museum, School of Rizal Site and Museum and Historic Alberto Mansion. Winding down the three-day celebration will be the 5th Biñan Folk Dance Festival which will be held in Plaza Rizal.

It is going to be an exciting three-day celebration for the City of Biñan and we would like to invite you all to join us in giving thanks for the blessings that our city has received,” Rep. Alonte concluded. For more Binan experience, please visit www.experiencebinan.com.

MARLYN “LEN” ALONTE-NAGUIAT

The newly-restored Plaza Rizal formally opens tonight via a free concert top-billed by the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra | BERNARD TESTA

City Tourism and Cultural Affairs Officer Dr. BJ Borja and Most Outstanding Tourism officer of Laguna 2022 | BERNARD TESTA

City Information Head Roman E. Carencia | BERNARD TESTA

BIÑAN CITY OF

Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development Through Heritage Conservation

and other structures.

In fact, the city’s histo-cultural attractions in the area have drawn thousands of visitors over the year. There has also been a marked increase in the number of registered businesses when we started the project,” he said.

Above anything else, our efforts at heritage conservation have opened up ideas for us to be proud of our heritage, change our customs, to love our city more, remember the true Filipinos and explore our identity,” Dimaguila added.

BCHATO support

THE project is supported by the Biñan Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Council which are made up of general stakeholders such as the Department of Education, local historical and heritage societies, local museums, private sector, barangays, youth sector, nongovernment organizations and other concerned offices.

If there is one project that helped foster strong community involvement among Biñanenses, Dimaguila said that would be the ten-year battle to restore the Historic Alberto Mansion. “ The people power to support my pronouncement to exercise expropriation proceedings to save the crumbling local heritage gem is quite overwhelming. It was clear to the Biñanenses that this battle was a shared responsibility,” he said.

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz and Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

The Galing Pook Awards was launched on October 21, 1993, as a pioneering program that searches for and recognizes innovative practices by local government units (LGUs). LGU finalists with outstanding initiatives are carefully selected and winners are recognized in a very prestigious ceremony. The awardees of Galing Pook are chosen from a national search of local governance programs, evaluated through a multilevel rigorous screening process based on positive results and impact, promotion of people’s participation and empowerment, innovation, transferability and sustainability and efficiency of program service delivery.

Models of good governance

BEYOND the awards, winning programs become models of good governance promoted for adoption in other communities. They provide useful insights to find innovative solutions to common problems. More importantly

they affirm the community and the local government’s commitment to good governance.

The City of Biñan was named one of the 10 winners of the 2022 Galing Pook Awards for its “Balik-Biñan Project: Tourism Development Through Heritage Conservation.”

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, who was chairman of the Board of Judges of the Galing Pook Foundation, noted that as one of the “historically rich local government units in the country,” Biñan actively conserves and preserves its cultural identity through the Balik- Biñan Project. “

The city government incorporates its cultural identity in the city government’s core project such as education, health, agriculture, housing and infrastructure development, peace and order and economic development, thereby building sustainable programs, projects and activities for the community,” Abalos said.

History is a vital tool

HE ADDED that Biñan ensures that history is a vital tool to understand the present and craft better programs and policies for the future.

“

To preserve the local history and traditions, culture-based governance became one of the top priorities of the city. It became the forefront of the revitalization efforts to the historically and culturally rich old Biñan,” Abalos noted.

Abalos also mentioned that the project builds a solid identity for the community thereby encouraging people’s participation.

The project also helps build a solid identity for the community and an urge for the community to be truly proud of their roots and of the community where they belong, Abalos added.

During his presentation before the panel of judges, Dimaguila

pointed out that one of his top priorities in governance was “to preserve Biñan’s local history and culture and conserving heritage.” This, he said, brought about the birth of “Balik-Biñan: Tourism Development Through Heritage Conservation.”

Launched in 2016, Dimaguila elaborated that the project opened the doors to many culture-related activities and gave birth to seven major programs. These seven major programs were:

nThe conversion of the old municipal building into the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan;

n The restoration of the Historic Alberto Mansion;

nThe revival of the Biñan Heritage District;

nThe Conduct of Local Cultural Mapping Project;

nThe production of tourism and culture publications, songs and

videos;

nCulture-based governance training for city and barangay officials; and

nThe crafting of the 10-year City Tourism Development Plan.

Solid community identity

BALIK-BIÑAN envisions to build a solid identity for the community, thereby having a city that is aware of its cultural, historical and artistic heritage towards sustainable tourism. Our residents have to be aware. If they are aware, they will start learning. Once they learn, they will start to love. If they love, giving importance and safeguarding shall surely follow,” he said.

Since the project’s inception, Dimaguila cited that the developments in Biñan’s plaza also prospered. These include the public market, the heritage houses, cultural center, church, monuments

The project has also ignited a bandwagon effect as the owners of ancestral houses and commercial buildings have been inspired to restore and bring back the old façade of their structures to complement the restored appearance of the structures within the plaza.

Continuity guaranteed

THE continuity of this project is guaranteed, Dimaguila said, because of the establishment of Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO) as a permanent department for its tourism and cultural affairs.

Not all LGUs in the Philippines have a department of tourism. In our case, since it is a department, the continuity in the essence of organization and budget are guaranteed regardless of the change in administration. Politics should not affect art and cultural programs,” he said.

Dimaguila reiterated that cultural regeneration was essential to his successful administration since “the formulation of a tourism development plan rooted in our heritage conservation initiatives standardize the documentation of the town’s heroes, customs, crafting of cultural ordinances and preservation and promotion of our local heritage.”

We were also invited from all over the country on various fora by different institutions to share our best practices in culture-based governance. There were numerous LGUs too that have visited us in Biñan for benchmarking purposes,” he said.

Thanks to the Balik-Biñan Project, Biñan today cannot “only be seen as a booming industrial city but rather an old town living in a progressive city, where the past can co-exist with the present.”

“Being a Galing Pook finalist advanced Balik-Biñan to a new stage of influencing and challenging neighboring communities to truly understand history and culture in all its diversity – to learn from its traditions, values and knowledge to further the developments in our country in general,” Dimaguila said.

THE City of Biñan has been at the receiving end of numerous awards and recognitions over the past few years thanks to the efforts of the city government led by Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman”

Dimaguila, Jr., Vice Mayor Angelo “Gel”

Alonte and Biñan Rep. Marlyn “Len” Alonte-Naguiat. However, there is one award that tops it all and that is the 2022 Galing Pook Award.

ONE OF THE TEN BESTS. The awarding ceremony of Galing Pook Awards led by President Marcos was held at the Malacañan Palace on November 22, 2022.

From 196 hopefuls, Biñan was among the 18 finalists. Mayor Dimaguila presented to the jury chaired by SILG Benhur Abalos the Balik-Biñan Project on November 21, 2022.

Site validation on October 3, 2022 facilitated by Dr. Milwida Guevera wherein the project was verified, and officials and stakeholders involved were interviewed.

BIÑAN

BusinessMirror Special Feature

Biñan City, the Premier Heritage and Trade Capital of the South

By Maria Luisa C. Jalandoni Contributor

THIS coming February, the City of Biñan will be celebrating not just one but three important events that mark its history and heritage – its 13th Cityhood Anniversary (February 2), its 78th Liberation Day (February 3), and its 276th Foundation Day (February 4) – collectively known as Araw ng Biñan. A nd what better way to honor these events than by recalling the awards that the city has received throughout the years. Annually, different award-giving bodies such as but not limited to the Deparment of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Galing Pook Foundation, the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines-Department of Tourism (ATOP-DOT), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other private associations screen different participating local government units (LGUs) all over the country against their criteria and requirements, select finalists, and award the best among those who participated.

Biñan City is not new to these kinds of request for participation as it actively showcases the way they do things around the city, engaging its people to support the endeavors of the LGU to provide good governance and quality services to its constituents. Last year alone, the LGU received more than 40 awards, proving that their efforts to continually improve what has already been institutionalized throughout the city were never done in vain and will continue to inspire their leaders to do more and their citizens to give more for their beloved LGU.

Here are the awards received by the City of Biñan that made a big impact on everyone who contributed to realizing their mission and vision for the city.

Seal of Good Governance

ON JULY 23, 2018, Republic Act No. 11292, otherwise known as the Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019, was enacted to “recognize the good performance of LGUs in transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, preparedness for challenges posed by disasters, sensitivity to the needs of vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society, implementation of health programs, investment and employment promotion, protection of constituency from threats to life and damage to property, and safeguarding the integrity of the environment (Section 2, RA No. 11292).”

Thus, the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) is awarded annually to the LGU that meets and exceeds the requirements stipulated in the act, among which includes the uphold of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds, preparedness in times of disasters, readiness to assist those in the marginalized sectors of the LGU, conservation of local culture and heritage, improvement of education in the country through reforms and programs, adoptive social responsibility, and protection of its constituents from harm and property damage.

A nd for the 4th time, the most prestigious and most coveted SGLG was awarded to Biñan City on December 15, 2022 after passing the assessment and validation on the national level for the award requirements. Together with this award, a P7 million incentive fund was provided to the LGU to support its future projects. This is a feat fit for the best among the best, and Biñan City proved to be among the fortunate 350 of 1,715 LGUs in

the national level who received this recognition from the DILG. The city received previous SGLG awards in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

Gawad Kalasag Beyond Compliant Award

IN NOVEMBER 2022, the City of Biñan was named one of the recipients of Gawad Kalasag, an award given by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) that recognizes the excellence in disaster risk reduction and management and humanitarian assistance. This is the first time that the city has ever received this recognition.

Biñan received the “Fully Compliant” classification, which means they have surpassed the metrics set by the NDRRMC and have shown an excellent performance. It also means that they have completed their duties.

Pearl Awards, Exemplary Tourism

Practices

IN 2005, the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP), during their 6th Nation-

al Convention, established the ATOP-DOT Best Practices of the Philippines Awards to recognize exemplary tourism practices in the country. ATOP is a national organization composed of provincial, municipal, and local tourism officers.

The Award is open to all LGUs and has seven categories on Best Tourism Festival Event, Sports Event, Tourism-Oriented LGU, Tourism Week/Month Celebration, Tourism Campaign, Tourism Enterprise, and Heritage Conservation Project.

During the 2022 ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards held during the 23rd National Tourism Convention on October 27, 2022, Biñan City bagged four awards: Grand Winner for the Best Program for Culture and Arts (Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts), 1st Runner Up for Best Tourism Festival Event (Puto Latik Festival), 1st Runner Up for Best Tourism Historical Commemoration Event (Araw ng Biñan: Biñan 1075), and 1st Runner Up for Best Tourism Publication (Pamana ng Buhay Coffee Table Book). The LGU also won in different categories during the Pearl Awards in

2018 and 2019.

Most Business Friendly

IN 2002, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which advocates for business growth and sustainable development through the provision of different business services, established the Most Business Friendly LGU award to recognize the efforts and best practices of the participating LGUs in promoting trade and investments, employment, transparency, accountability, and efficiency the delivery of business services.

There are five criteria that the LGUs must meet: trade, investments, and tourism promotions; public-private sector partnerships; micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMES) development; quality management system, innovations, and human resources development; and inter-local government relations. In 2018, Biñan City was one of the finalists in this award. Last year, Biñan City received the Most Business Friendly LGU Special Citation.

award-giving bodies. Superbrands Philippines recognized Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila Jr. as the Most Outstanding Mayor of 2022 during their annual Outstanding Local Legislators Award. In the same year, Vice Mayor Angelo "Gel" Alonte received the Outstanding Filipino Achiever Award for Public Service from the Golden Globe Annual Award for Business.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) under the Department of Trade and Industry awarded Biñan City in 2022 as the Top 1 Most Competitive Component City for Economic Dynamism, Top 2 Most Competitive Component City for Innovation, Top 6 Most Competitive Component City in the Overall Ranking, and the Nutrition Champion Award. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also recognized Biñan City as a Model LGU in the Adoption and Utilization of Disaster Reporting Tools in 2022 and awarded the LGU with the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance in 2019.

The Department of Health awarded Biñan City with a Citation Award for Social and Behavior Change Strategy and Healthy Pilipinas Covid-19 Response in 2022 as well as the 1st Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner for Nutrition (CROWN) Maintenance Award in 2019 and their 2nd CROWN Award in 2022.

In addition to these numerous citations and recognitions, in 2022, Biñan City also received the 2021 National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance for 2019 and 2020, was named Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Champion, was tagged Gawad Edukampyon for Early Childhood Care and Development in the Component City Category, was granted the Manila Bayani Awards and Incentives, was tagged by the Commission on Audit (COA) with the highest rating in the 2021 Annual Audit Report, was recognized as Outstanding Tech4Ed Center Calabarzon 2022, and was awarded the Emergency Financial Assistance Certificate of Recognition for being the first among the LGUs in the Laguna Cluster-A to accomplish 100 percent distribution of the Emergency Financial Assistance Funds. Moreover, the city is a holder of the Platinum and Gold Seal of Good Youth Governance and recognized as the Most Outstanding LGU in Laguna for Culture and Tourism.

The city has also received awards in their programs that give back to our environment such as the Platinum Award for the Manila Bay Cleanup, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP) from DILG and the Best Solid Waste Management Implementer in the Province of Laguna from the Provincial Government of Laguna. Moreover, the LGU of Biñan is also ISO 9001:2015 certified through TQCSI Pty Ltd.

Annually, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) presents the Best PESO Award that recognizes the relevant contributions and exemplary accomplishments of Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) in implementing DOLE’s employment facilitation programs. Biñan City has won several citations during this annual event.

In 2017, Biñan City won the Best PESO in the Conduct of Career Guidance Services and Job Fair as well as Best Regional PESO and Best Performing PESO in the Conduct of Referral and Placement. In 2018, Biñan City won as PESO Regional Top Performer and Regional Best PESO under Component City Category. In 2020, Biñan City won again as Regional Best PESO under the Component City Category and as Top Performer in the Conduct of Referral and Placement. And most recently in 2022, Biñan City won the PESO Bayanihan Award.

Other Award-Giving Bodies

ASIDE from the major awards mentioned above, Biñan City has also received awards from other

Throughout the years, Biñan City has proven that good governance is an essential component in providing equal opportunities and fair delivery of services to its constituents, especially those who belong to the marginalized sectors of the society, thus mobilizing people of the LGU in the best direction possible.

Th is in part could be attributed to the good working relationship between Biñan City’s triumvirate Rep. Len Alonte, Mayor Arman Dimaguila, and Vice Mayor Gel Alonte. The “Big Three,” as they are known in Biñan, meet regularly to make sure that the mission and vision of the city are met through the various projects and services.

These awards are an affirmation that resources are properly utilized for its citizens to ensure sustainable development. The very characteristic of good governance is embodied by the city as it continually achieves the goals of local governance through the attainment of citations that recognize its efforts and inspires its citizens to be proud that they are part of the LGU’s plans.

Biñan City won the 2022 SGLG after passing the "all-in" assessment criteria. These criteria include: financial administration and sustainability; disaster preparedness; social protection and sensitivity; health compliance and responsiveness; sustainable education; business-friendliness and competitiveness; safety, and peace and order; environmental management; tourism, heritage development, culture and arts; and youth development.

Biñan won four "pearls" that include Best Program for Culture and the Arts for its Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts Project at this year's ATOP-DOT Pearl Awards.

Biñan City was named one of the recipients of the Gawad Kalasag and received the "Fully Compliant" classification after having surpassed the metrics set by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The City of Biñan received the Most Business Friendly LGU Special Citation from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Jr., together with city department heads and city councilors, present the awards that the city government received during the Flag Raising Ceremony.

The Triennial Certification to ISO 9001:2015 was awarded last year to the City Government of Biñan. Achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification means that the city government has followed the guidelines of the ISO:9001 standards, fulfilled their own requirements; met their constituents’ requirements and statutory and regulatory requirements and maintains documentation.

Biñan’s rich cultural and historical legacies

IN the three-day celebration of Araw ng Biñan this year, there are two events that stand out—the inauguration of Plaza Rizal and the groundbreaking ceremony for the “Sentro ng Patanghal na Sining.”

The City of Biñan is inextricably linked to the young life of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. In 1871, Rizal went to Biñan to attend classes under the tutelage of Maestro Justiniano Aquino y Cruz, who was also his brother Paciano’s teacher.

Fast-forward to the 21st century. On Dec. 18, 2017, a seven-foottall stone sculpture of Rizal was unveiled at the Biñan City Hall. The monument was inspired from Carlo Nicoli’s winning piece “Al Martir de Bagumbayan,” and credited as an early work of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino.

The spot where Rizal once studied his lessons was restored and is now a tourist destination.

The Historic Alberto Mansion, the ancestral house of Teodora Alonso, was opened to the public. The only monument dedicated to Francisco Mercado in the country now stands at the town proper.

W hile Rizal was born in Calamba, his lineage finds its way to Biñan where his grandparents and great grandparents on both sides not only lived but also served as capitan del pueblo or the town mayor.

Accounts from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and the Biñan government showed that Rizal’s grandfather, Juan Mercado, was the mayor of Biñan in 1808, 1813 and 1823, while his great grandfather, Francisco Mercado—who owned the largest herd of carabaos in Biñan—held the position in 1783.

On Rizal’s maternal lineage, his grandfather, Lorenzo Alonso de Alberto was Biñan mayor in 1844 and his great grandfather, Cipriano Alonso in 1790 and 1802.

Son of Biñan

IT WAS only after Rizal’s parents Francisco Mercado and Teodoro Alonso were married that the family moved to Calamba.

“ The City of Biñan considers Jose Rizal a son of Biñan and what better way to pay homage to our national hero than by renovating the

plaza where his statue is located and making it a place where Biñanenses can congregate and enjoy the surrounding area,” said Dr. BJ Borja, Head of the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO).

The city government even tapped the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra to grace the inauguration of the Plaza.

“ We mount events like Araw ng Biñan to constantly remind Bi-

ñanenses about their heritage and culture with the hope that they will later on imbibe this,” Borja added.

On that same day, the groundbreaking ceremonies for the “Sentro ng Patanghal na Sining” will take place.

Culture-based governance

Even before he became mayor, Biñan City Mayor Walfredo “Arman” Dimaguila, Jr. was already championing the protection and pro -

motion of Biñan’s rich culture and history as reflected in governance when he was elected vice mayor back in 2010.

Dimaguila’s culture-based governance believes that tracing the heritage—the historical and cultural roots—is important in planning the future of his city.

Th is strong belief was the impetus for then Vice Mayor Dimaguila’s campaign to stop the transfer to Bataan of Biñan’s historic Alber-

to Mansion.

Back in 2010, the Alberto Mansion was on its way to Bataan for restoration and replication in a famous resort there. Dimaguila and then Mayor Len Alonte, together with heritage advocates led by Borja and the late Dr. Bimbo Sta. Maria, started a sustained and successful tri-media campaign to keep the Alberto Mansion in Biñan.

Today, much of the Historic Alberto Mansion remains in Biñan. It

BIÑAN CITY CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS:

was declared a local heritage site by virtue of a city ordinance. Back in 2016, Dimaguila ordered the creation of BCHATO that would help in the enrichment and promotion of the City of Biñan’s cultural, historical, artistic and tourism heritage. BCHATO’s vision is to have the city’s constituents aware of its cultural, historical and artistic legacies.

Cultural venues

AMONG BCHATO’s first projects under Dimaguila’s term was the conversion of the Old Municipal Building of Biñan into the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan. A side from the Sentrong Pangkultura ng Biñan, a group Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts Inc. (BCPA) was established by Borja. The group houses local performing arts groups. It also trains and supports local artists and talents.

Today, a total of eight performing arts groups – with almost 300 members – are under the wings of the BCPA, catering to the fields of theatre, dance and music.

Mayor Dimaguila’s latest cultural project involves the construction of the Sentro ng Patanghal na Sining, which will be situated beside the BCHATO’s office. It will serve as the permanent home for BCPA and venue for all the city’s cultural performances.

This is going to be a 500-seat theater and when it is complete, it will be our center for culture and the arts here in Biñan,” Borja said, adding that this would be one of Dimaguila’s legacies.

Dimaguila mentioned in a previous interview that people only live once in this world and it is imperative that they do their best and give their all whenever any opportunity arises. He added that the project was his way of giving back to Biñanenses for their support in all his cultural and heritage endeavors.

“I would not have succeeded without the support of the Biñaneses and it is only fair that I give them what they deserve and that is a theater – a home for the Filipino soul – that they can call their own; a place where they can converge, take pride and enjoy the talents and performances of our Artistang Biñananenses,” he said.

THE CITY’S PILLAR OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS

By Arvin Jay B. Bongon Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office

THE Sentrong Pangkultura

ng Biñan, a Cultural Center

of the Philippines Regional Art Center, takes pride in its resident company program comprising of numerous artistic groups in the fields of theatre, dance, and music. The Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts, Inc. (BCPA), a first of its kind in any local government unit (LGU) in the country, is the city’s premier showcase in artistic excellence.

Launched on May 21, 2017, through the passage of City Resolution 50A-2017, BCPA gave birth to various performing art groups as the city’s official performing arts wing under the Biñan City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO). It includes the Biñan Youth Performance Council (YPC) for theatre arts, Biñan Folkloric Dance Troupe (BFDT) for folk dance, Biñan Metropolitan Chorus (BMC) for choral music, Biñan Kawayan Music Ensemble (BKME) and the Biñan Youth Philharmonic Orchestra

(BYPO) for instrumental music.

BCPA has been cultivating the culture of art appreciation among Biñanenses for the past few years, enabling the community to experience art in their daily lives as it mounts performances and vari-

ous artistic ventures to utilize the many venues in Biñan. BCPA is instrumental in Biñan’s burgeoning performing arts scene.

Performing groups THROUGH the adoption of City

Resolution 32-2021, new performing art groups were named to formally join the BCPA: the Biñan City Brass Band (BCBB) for band music, the Biñan Symphonic Rondalla (BSR) for Hispanic string music, and the Biñan Vocal Ensemble (BiVE) for pop music.

BCPA, for six years now, has been indefatigably promoting culture through the arts. The group is very consistent in its commitment to value and promote Filipino artistic heritage; provide a training ground for Biñanenses who wish to pursue and master their art; mount public programs for the preservation of local artistic heritage and talents; showcase the talents of Biñanenses on national and international platforms; and support the City Government of Biñan in all of its cultural and artistic initiatives.

BCPA’s most notable achievements and performances include a show at Concert at the Park organized by the National Parks Development Committee, and “PAMANA: The Philippine History in Movements/ Binyang the Musical,” a dance-theatre production that won a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and made it to the roster of 2020 LEAF Awards finalist for Outstanding Dance Production.

Best Program for Culture and the Arts

BCPA also represented the Philip -

pines in the 12th International Bamboo Music Festival held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia featuring its very own BKME.

Not only that, BCPA had triumphantly performed the tale of “Faust,” a classic German legend, at the 2022 Asian Cross-International Online Performance in Tokyo, Japan.

Each group under the BCPA has successfully mounted their own concerts and public programs for the arts. It has received countless invitations to perform in and outside the country. It has even won numerous accolades and recognitions from both local and national institutions.

Recently, BCPA was named Best Program for Culture and the Arts in the Pearl Awards 2022 conferred by the Department of Tourism and the Association of Tourism Officers in the Philippines. Indeed, through BCPA, buhay ang sining sa Biñan!

The group can be reached via its official Facebook page https:// www.facebook.com/BinanCPA or through email at binancpa@ gmail.com.

An artist's perspective of the Sentro ng Patanghal na Sining.

Biñanense artists perform in PAMANA: The Philippine History in Movement held at the Alonte Sports Arena.

The Rizal Monument circa 1918 and 1996.