BusinessMirror February 03, 2023

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

FILIPINOS may get some reprieve from the high cost of imports as the peso strengthened against the United States dollar on Thursday, according to data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP).

The Philippine peso closed at P53.845 to the greenback, the strongest close of the peso since June 2022. Based on Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data, the last time the peso was at the P53 level was on June 20, 2022,

when it closed at P53.551.

Ateneo de Manila University Department of Economics Chairperson Alvin P. Ang said this strengthening may be due to the slower interest rate hike in the US.

“That’s [strengthening of the peso] okay for imports and can help reduce inflation. [This is] also a result of the Fed slowing [the] rate increase,” Ang told the BusinessMirror

On Thursday, the US Federal Reserve decided to increase interest rates by only 25 basis points. This raised the interest rate in the US to 4.5 to 4.75

percent.

Ang said, however, that the strong performance of the Philippine currency is not an assurance that inflation will continue to slow in the coming months.

t hink local

T HE w ar in Ukraine can still affect the supply of food and energy. Ang said this means the country cannot rely on external factors to bring down the cost of commodities locally.

“We must not be dependent too much globally,” Ang said. “Start local production capacity, [in] both food and manu -

PHL ENDS ’22 WITH

facturing.”

Earlier, the BSP said the increase in commodity prices could still exceed 8 percent in January on the back of higher electricity and water rates, as well as expensive domestic petroleum prices. BSP said inflation could settle within the range of 7.5 to 8.3 percent in January. This is still higher than the 8.1 percent posted in December 2022. The central bank said the reduction in LPG prices as well as the peso appreciation could contribute to easing price pressures for the month.

OF P13.4T, HIGHEST EVER

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

Historical Treasury data showed it was the Philippines’s highest end-December outstanding debt on record.

The country’s outstanding obligation at the end of last

year was below the national government’s (NG) projected debt stock level of P13.43 trillion for 2022.

PbbM: US haS KEY rOlE In gEOPOlItIcal ISSUES

By Samuel P. Medenilla sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand

R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the United States (US) will play a crucial role in steering the country away from ongoing international geopolitical and economic turmoil.

Marcos made the pronouncement during his meeting with US Secretary Defense Lloyd Austin III in Malacañang to discuss possible new security partnerships.

“I would be stating the obvious to say that our longest partner and ally has been the United States and as we traverse this rather troubled waters, geopolitical waters, economic waters that we are facing, I again put great

importance on that partnership, specifically with the United States and all partnerships and alliances that we are able to make with our friends around the world,” Marcos said.

He noted that the geopolitical situation in Asia-Pacific has become “complicated” and will need an international response to address.

The President made the pronouncement amid China’s ongoing maritime dispute with its Asia-Pacific neighbors, including the Philippines.

“It is something that we can only navigate properly with the help of our partners and our allies in the international sphere,” Marcos said.

See “PBBM,” A2

THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) will extend a grant worth $300,000 (about P16.143 million at current exchange rates) to five industry networks to improve the skills of workers in tourism, construction, animation, agribusiness and women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

At the sidelines of the launch of “SkillsUpNet Philippines,” or “SUNPh,” program, ADB Philippine Country Director Kelly Bird told reporters that this is just the first phase of the program and, hopefully, all networks will be able to secure additional funding in the succeeding roll outs.

Bird said access to the grants will be based on the performance of the networks. The networks of enterprises, located in the Bi -

col and Davao regions as well as Cebu province, will train about 600 workers.

“What we want to do in the second phase through the networks is expand, keep the five sectors; but expand to more locations across the country. So we’re [going to] give a larger number of grants,” Bird said.

“At the end of Phase 2, we do an impact evaluation and then discuss with the government [if we] can proceed to the third phase, which will be a nationwide rollout: more sectors, more locations,” he added.

Bird also told reporters that receiving a first grant will not be a deterrent for the networks included in the first phase to be

THE Philippines ended 2022 with an outstanding debt of P13.418 trillion, 14.4 percent over the P11.728 trillion recorded in end-2021, latest Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data showed.

US Secretary of Defense l l oyd j a mes a u stin III poses with President Ferdinand Marcos j r. during a courtesy call at Malacañang Palace on t h ursday, February 2, 2023. t h e US and the Philippines announced an agreement to expand a m erican military presence in the country, where US forces would be granted access to four more Philippine military camps, effectively giving them new ground to ramp up deterrence against c hina’s increasingly aggressive actions toward ta iwan and in the disputed South c h ina Sea. t h e allies said in a joint statement that “substantial” progress has been made in projects at five Philippine military camps, where US military personnel were earlier granted access under the Enhanced Defense c o operation a g reement, or ED c a c o nstruction of a m erican facilities is currently under way.

targEtIng Iran, US rEStrIctS Iraq’S accESS tO DOllarS, caUSIng PaIn

NEDA Board OKs 1st PPP under Marcos: UP-PGH Cancer Center

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

It will be the first PPP project under the administration of President Ferdinand r . Marcos, Jr.

In a statement on Thursday evening, the Presidential Communications o ffice (PC o) said the 300bed capacity hospital will provide “high-quality, and affordable oncology services” once completed.

“The hospital will provide a full range of cancer treatments, including radio oncology (radiotherapy), imaging, medical oncology, and support for the UP-PGH’s teaching and research activities,” the PC o said.

The facility, which will have 15 to 20 floors, will also have a 1,000-square meter commercial space. It will be constructed within the UP-PGH campus in Manila.

providing training.

each network can expand. That’s the dream,” Bird said.

Interested parties will be required to submit a bid. The PPP will be structured as a 30-year Buildo perate-Transfer (B o T) arrangement under the B o T Law. Under the scheme, UP-PGH’s private partner will design, engineer, construct, and commission the entire new hospital building, procure, maintain, and provide for the periodic replacement of medical and non-medical equipment. It will also maintain all non-clinical services for the entire hospital

building, operate relevant commercial activities, provide clinical services to private-paying patients in the private area, and assume all associated costs of clinical manpower, drugs, and consumables. For its part, UP-PGH will provide the site at no cost, transfer the existing equipment to the Cancer Institute, provide clinical services to non-paying charity patients in the UP-PGH area, assume all associated costs of clinical manpower, drugs, and consumables, as well as undertake clinical teaching and research.

Continued from A1

“For December, the [national government’s] total outstanding debt decreased by P225.31 billion or 1.7 percent from the end-November 2022 level, primarily due to the effect of local currency appreciation and the net redemption of domestic government securities,” the Treasury said in a statement on Thursday.

The Treasury said the NG’s debt-to-GDP ratio eased to 60.9 percent in end-December 2022 from 63.7 percent in end-September 2022. Furthermore, the country’s end-2022 debt-toGDP ratio was lower than the 61.8-percent target under the NG’s medium-term fiscal framework (MTFF).

However, the end-2022 debtto-GDP ratio was slightly higher than the 60.4 percent recorded ratio in end-2021, based on historical Treasury data.

“This reflects the consistent drive to bolster debt sustainability through prudent cash and debt management backed by resurgent economic growth,” the Treasury said.

able to access additional financing to enable these networks to continue

“We still want these networks to exist in the [second phase] and apply for future grants as well. And those networks would improve their capacity to administer the grants, they can bring in more members, hopefully

Pilot program

LAST Thursday, five networks were chosen to receive funding grants under phase 1 of the program.

The awardees were Dagos Tabi Albay Micro and Small Accommodation e nterprises Network for the tourism sector, Cebu Constructors’ Network for construction, Cebuanimation Network for information technology-animation, Kapehan Sa Davao for agribusiness and Sulong Davao Business o wned by Women for women-led enterprises. Sixty-six enterprises and nearly 600 workers from the five networks will benefit from the enterprise-led skills training scheme.

SUNPh is a skills-delivery scheme led by employers in select locations, in which they band together to form networks and apply for grants on a competitive basis to finance short-term skills training for their workers and managers.

Under SUNPh, grants ranging from $20,000 to $80,000 were awarded to five networks of enterprises in five priority sectors.

The program is part of the government’s National e mployment r ecovery Strategy 2021-2022 aimed at improving workers’ access to jobs, livelihoods and training and supporting the private sector in creating sustainable work opportunities.

Four priority industry sectors—information technology-animation, construction, agribusiness and tourism—were identified to receive the enterprise-led workplace skills training under the SUNPh program.

The program also includes women-led enterprises as a fifth sector to receive training grants for management coaching and other management-related training.

SUNPh is being implemented as a pilot program, with the skillstraining grant scheme targeted to be offered later to more sectors in more locations across the country.

Cai U. Ordinario

PBBM...

Continued from A1

US assistance

For his part, Austin committed to continue extending aid to the country in its calamity response and efforts to modernize its military.

“We do have a strong relationship and my goal, and certainly President [Joe] Biden’s goal, is to strengthen that relationship in every way possible,” Austin said.

“You are a key ally, an important ally, and so from the defense perspective, we will continue to work together with our great partners to build and modernize your capabilities as well as increase our interoperability,” he added. He also gave assurances the US is ready to help provide assistance to victims of the magnitude 6 earthquake that rocked Davao De o ro late Wednesday, through their Agency for International Development (AID).

“So please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s

a need,” Austin said.

New EDCA sites

THe Department of National Defense (DND) announced on Thursday the government has agreed to cover four new additional enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (eDCA) sites in the country.

As of press time, it has yet to declare the location of the four sites.

Currently, the country has five sites covered by eDCA, which was signed in 2014 to boost the country’s defense capabilities and disaster response.

Labor group Kilusang

Mayo Uno (KMU) held a demonstration in front of Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City to protest the alleged continuation of US meddling through eDCA and the visit of Austin.

“Under the e DCA, US military troops aren’t just tax-free but also seemingly accountability-free,” KMU said in a statement.

Under the MTFF, the NG aims to bring down the debt-toGDP ratio to less than 60 percent by 2025 and further down to 51.1 percent by 2028.

o ur medium-term fiscal plan and exemplary GDP growth have allowed us to outpace our borrowings. This gives us confidence that we can reach our targets by 2025,” Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said in a statement.

The NG's domestic debt at the end of last year amounted to P9.21 trillion, 2.3 percent lower compared to end-November 2022’s value of P9.427 trillion due to the net redemption of government securities amounting to P217.95 billion.

“Moreover, local currency appreciation against the US dollar trimmed P1.63 billion from the peso value of foreign currencydenominated domestic debt,” the Treasury said.

However, end-December domestic debt, which accounted for 68.62 percent of total debt stock of NG last year, was 12.7 percent higher than the P8.17 trillion recorded domestic debt in December 2021, based on BTr data.

Meanwhile, the NG’s external debt in end-December 2022 fell slightly to P4.21 trillion from P4.216 trillion in November 2022 because of the impact of currency adjustments on foreign currency debt valuation.

“This offset the net impact of third-currency fluctuations against the US dollar amounting to P34.07 billion and the P18.54-billion net availment of foreign loans,” the Treasury said.

However, Treasury data showed the NG’s external debt in end-December 2022 rose by 18.3 percent from the P3.558trillion level in end-December 2021.

The NG’s guaranteed obligations also rose by P11.05 billion month-on-month to P399.05 billion as of endDecember 2022.

“For the month, the net availment of domestic guarantees added P26.19 billion while the net effect of currency fluctuations increased the value of external guarantees by P1.58 billion,” the Treasury said.

“This was tempered by net repayments on external guarantees amounting to P16.72 billion. However, compared to the end-December 2021 level, total NG guaranteed debt was lower by P24.87 billion or 5.9 percent,” it added.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on Thursday approved the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the construction of the P6-billion University of the Philippines (UP)Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Cancer Center.

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzaga has underscored the need for a comprehensive approach and multi-stakeholder partnerships for evidence-based, inclusive, and adaptive leadership to address the issues confronting the country’s environment and natural resources.

S peaking during the opening ceremony of a 2-day forum organized by the DENR at the Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, Loyzaga said continued dialogues are needed to bolster cooperation and understanding to overcome the challenges of coherence and implementation.

“As you may know, the DENR does these multi-stakeholder consultations because partnerships are key to delivering on our commitments and the work we do at the Department,” Loyzaga pointed out.

A round 400 national and local government officials, business leaders, academe and scientific community, members of civil society organizations and community-based groups took part in the two-day Mindanao-wide dialogue.

T he official began her welcome remark by borrowing a quote from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.: “There is no question that the preservation of the environment is the preservation of life.  If we cannot mitigate climate change, all our plans for the economy, all our plans for the future will be for naught.”

Towards a green and blue economy Loyzaga, President Marcos, alterego in the DENR, highlighted the present administration’s agenda, particularly on the creation of green jobs by pursuing a green and blue economy and establishing liveable and sustainable communities.

S he said such an agenda had guided the DENR in achieving better pathways to conserve, protect, manage, restore, and regenerate the country’s environment and natural resources; and manage risk and build resilience using the ridge-toreef approach.

L oyzaga said the Mindanao Multi-Stakeholder Forum, is an opportunity to gather both evidence and expertise to support the administration’s priorities for economic recovery, climate-resilient and inclusive development and a just transition towards the green and blue economy.

‘No perfect solution’

“ THERE isn’t a perfect approach or solution to tackling the environmental challenges we face.

However, with everyone’s support and collaboration, together we will be able to craft adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable development pathways built on strategic partnerships and sound science,” she said.

T he DENR chief said while the

The Nation

agency mandated to manage the country’s natural wealth continues to expand partnerships, they will also strive to deepen engagement with the different stakeholders.

She also underscored the critical role local government units (LGUs) play in building resilient communities and efficient use and conservation of natural resources.

Multiple opportunitieschallenges,

LOYZAGA said the Mindanao region is faced with many challenges, but nevertheless, said it is rife with opportunities.

If we work together—the government, the private sector, civil society, academe, development partners, and the media—Mindanao’s potential today can be unlocked,” she said.

L oyzaga is optimistic that the multi-stakeholder dialogue will provide an opportunity to develop initial strategies, which must be followed through with a very extensive consultation process on how to accelerate development in the region.

Localized, contextualized approach

LOYZAGA said the diversity in the Mindanao region requires a localized and contextualized approach and vowed to hold extensive consultation with local actors across all interventions at all stages.

“ The Department stands by the principle of common but differentiated responsibility in terms of degradation and we acknowledge that some bear more responsibility than others in our pursuit of development,” she said, expressing hope that close collaboration and partnership can yield the most significant results.

“ This synergy will generate new capacity for everyone to protect, restore, and enhance our rich but threatened ecosystems,” she said.

I n his keynote message, Cagayan de Oro City Second District Rep. Rufus Rodriguz lauded the initiative of the DENR in holding the multi-stakeholder dialogue, saying the discussion in the forum is an essential contribution to the identification of strategies and priority actions of the DENR.

He also noted that such widelyparticipated multi-stakeholder dialogue was a first in Mindanao.

D uring the plenary, Forester

Tommy T. Valdez, former National Council President of the Society of Filipino Foresters Inc., discussed about sustainable forest management, while Dennis Joseph I. Salvador, executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation discussed Protected Areas and Biodiversity Conservation Initiatives and Challenges.

Maria Esterluna Santos Canoy, executive director of the Kitanglad Integrated NGO Inc., talked about the lessons learned on Environmental Natural Resources Management: Indigenous People’s Experience.

’21-’22 suicide rate among Pinoy youth alarms party-list lawmaker

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE Kabataan Party-list on Thursday urged President

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to declare a mental health emergency following a Department of Education (DepEd) report that a total of 404 youth students nationwide took their own lives while 2,147 others attempted suicide during Academic Year 2021-2022.

K abataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said he is set to file a House resolution to urge the current administration to declare a mental health emergency, investigate the existing crisis, and expedite policies to address such crisis.

He said they would also closely monitor the implementation of DepEd’s Matatag Education Agenda that promises to ensure the provision of mental health services in every school.

“Crunching the data, there had been more than one student who fell victim to suicide per day, while roughly one student attempted to commit suicide every four hours

in the past academic year. These are numbers we have never seen before,” said Manuel following DepEd’s statement during a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

According to Manuel, the DepEd also revealed that the ratio of Mental Health Professionals to students is currently at 1:13,400, far from the ideal ratio of 1:500.

In light of this, we urge authorities to declare a mental health emergency to give way for immediate and substantial government action to ramp up budget and support for mental health professionals and services. It’s also best for Congress to exercise its oversight powers to check the implementation of the Mental Health law so we can better address shortcomings,” added Manuel.  Mental health office

MEANWHILE , with the goal of supporting the emotional, psychological and mental health needs of learners and teachers, the House has recently approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to create a Mental Health and Well-being Office un-

der DepEd in every school division throughout the country.

House Bill (HB) No. 6574 mandates the hiring and deployment of mental health professionals to public elementary and secondary schools, vocational institutions and offices in the central, regional, and school division governance levels of the DepEd within five years.

T he bill was approved with an overwhelming 272 votes last Tuesday.

T he authors of the bill said the proposed law will help students in the classroom and learning preparedness, especially learners identified as children in conflict with the law, students at risk of dropping out, learner-victims of violence against women and children, and learnervictims of other related forms of child abuse and criminal acts.

To ensure the efficient implementation of the proposed legislation, the bill requires the creation of sufficient Guidance Counselors and Guidance Services Specialist positions in accordance with minimum standards to be determined by the DepEd and the Department of Health (DOH), in

coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management.

T he school’s division level Mental Health and Well-being Office shall be headed by a qualified Mental Health Professional with the position of Guidance Services Specialist V (Salary Grade 24).  Under the bill, DepEd will also provide for sufficient resources for mental health programs and projects designed to maintain and address the mental health and well being of learners and personnel.

It also stresses that mental health professionals shall enjoy the rights and privileges provided for in the Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, Mental T he National Statistics Office, meanwhile, reported that mental health illnesses rank as the third most common form of morbidity among Filipinos in 2019.

T he DOH said the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the growing mental health needs of Filipinos, adding that at least 3.6 million Filipinos are facing mental health issues during the pandemic.

By Lorenz S. Marasigan  @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has become the “largest client” of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Office of Public-Private Partnership (OPPP), after signing new deals for transport infrastructure projects.

A t a news conference on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the DOTr and ADB have formally signed the Transaction Advisory Services Mandate for the privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

T his means that the ADB will be the DOTr’s partner, consultant, and adviser in crafting the terms of reference for the said projects.

B autista highlighted the expertise of the lender in helping the agency “fine tune the selection process for most qualified and experienced private sector operators” for the rail projects.

He noted that ADB would also help in determining the “best” route to proceed with the modernization and expansion of Naia, “whose operations and maintenance we propose to privatize.”

“ The three transaction

advisory service agreements we signed today will allow us to fast track the completion of our ongoing big-ticket rail projects and the muchneeded improvement in our country’s main airport,” Bautista said.

For her part, Cleo Kawawaki, who heads the ADB OPPP, said the “notable history” of the Philippines as one of the pioneers of PPPs in Asia gives the lender much “honor” with this new partnership.

“ You will be the largest client for ADB OPPP,” she said. “We hope to expand this with new mandates as well as executing the existing mandates with the DOTr.”  O ver the last 30 years, a total of 116 PPP projects from different sectors have been implemented in the Philippines, raising a total of $43.95 billion in infrastructure investments, according to Kawawaki.

S he added that the ADB has “learned a lot” from its experience with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) PPP. Hence, it plans to employ and leverage tech solutions in its projects with the DOTr.

K awawaki said: “Harness the power of the private sector’s efficiency and managing infrastructure projects and delivering safe, affordable infrastructure services for all people of the Philippines.”

SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva has filed a bill, which seeks to waive any Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) and Civil Service Commission (CSC) examination fees, to encourage those who cannot afford to pay to take professional licensure exams.

Senate Bill No. 1323 or the “Free Professional Examinations Act,” which Villanueva filed on September 2022, will lessen the financial burden on graduates who need to undergo professional licensure exams.

T he Majority Leader said that Dexter Valenton’s achievement as the first Aeta to pass the Criminology Board Exam should be celebrated.

“Dexter is not only an inspiration to the Aeta community but to every Filipino to never stop dreaming and achieving their goals,” he said.

Under the proposed measure, a qualified indigent refers to “a person who has no visible means of income or support, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of his/her family, as may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD].”

A ccording to the PRC, 633,551 examinees took the board exams in 2022 of which 311,381 are first time examinees.

Under the bill, first time applicants may be entitled to a 100 percent exemption of the examination fee and 50 percent of the examination fee if the examinee needs to retake the exam.

T he prescribed fees for PRC ex-

amination ranges from P400 to P1,300 depending on the degree and type of examination. Meanwhile, the Career Service Examination for Professional and Sub-Professional Levels of the CSC requires an examination fee of P500.

O n top of examination fees, applicants also incur additional expenses on review fees and other related expenses prior to taking the licensure examination.

“It saddens me to think that some of our graduates will not be able to apply what they studied for just because they cannot afford to pay for the examination fee to get their professional license or civil service eligibility,” he said.

T he Majority Leader also stressed that while the country’s unemployment rate is going on a downward trend, the high rate of underemployment is still a cause for concern.

A s of November 2022, unemployment rate is at 4.2 percent, which is equivalent to 2.18 million Filipinos while underemployment is at 14.4 percent or 7.16 million Filipinos.

We are determined to look for solutions in fighting unemployment woes in the country which is why we are pushing for measures such as this to help ensure that every Filipino will not only have a job but a quality job which fits their qualifications,” the Majority Leader said.

Villanueva is the principal author and sponsor of the First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act which waives government fees for documents needed by first time jobseekers as a requirement for employment.

water extraction.

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Cynthia  Villar, asserting the urgent need to save the endangered Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve in Quezon Province, asked Congress to urgently pass a law declaring it as a protected area (PA).

Recognizing the richness of its biological resources—both flora and fauna—that are native and distinct to the Mulanay Watershed Forest Reserve (MWFR), as well as their aesthetic and ecological importance, Villar promptly filed Senate Bill 1691 to declare the watershed as a PA to be known as the San Francisco Protected Landscape (SFPL).

T he senator asserted that the Mulanay Reserve should remain as a PA given its “rich and lush forest vegetation that serves as habitat of various wildlife, including threatened flora and fauna species.”

With its total area of 29.6 hectares, she cited its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna include those in the updated national lists of threatened Philippine plants and animals and their respective categories.

Moreover, the senator acknowledged a Biodiversity Monitoring System Report had identified 83 floral species and 59 faunal species in the area, three flora and two fauna species of which were classified as endangered.

AN undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with expertise and competence in water resource management will lead the soon-to-be-created Water Resource Management Office (WRMO), Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said.

A sked by reporters during the DENR’s Multi-Stakeholders’ Dialogue-Mindanao Leg in Cagayan de Oro City on Thursday, Loyzaga said there is no need and there will be no new positions or new undersecretary to be appointed to handle the WRO.

The executive order is being finalized. There will be no new undersecretary. The mandate will fall under the mandate of one of the

undersecretaries. We are very much aware of the streamlining that is to happen. Rest assured that the one who will be assigned knows what he is doing or she is doing. So that person should be an expert and have a scientific background on water resource management and know climate change,” Loyzaga explained.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved a proposal seeking to establish a new office under the DENR to ensure a sufficient water supply for the country.

T he Philippines has numerous water bodies that overlap functions and mandates.

A n attached agency of the DENR, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) is one of the many water

bodies that regulate water resources.

A lso under the DENR are the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), the River Basin Control Office and Manila Bay Coordinating Office.

T he DENR also has an oversight function over Marine Protected Areas and terrestrial or inland Protected Areas that wholly or partly covers watersheds, vast lakes and rivers, as well groundwater.

On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), as well as the National Irrigation Authority (NIA).

T he Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) also regulate water distribution and approve applications for ground -

T he Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) is another water regulatory body that regulates water distribution run and managed by local governments and local water utilities or providers.

Marcos vowed to strengthen the mandate of the WRMO to bring together the various water bodies with mandates over water to follow the overall plan, also stressing the importance of a roadmap for all water management agencies.

T he various water bodies or agencies, including the new WRMO has to be cohesive in the sense that the recommendation of the management office must be followed, the President said. Jonathan L. Mayuga

DENR chief highlights partnerships to address environmental concerns

DOTr emerges as ‘largest client’ of ADB’s PPP arm

Villanueva pushes free licensure examination fees for indigents

PHL’s rural electrification program needs ₧29.542B more–NEA chief

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE National Electrification Administration (NEA) needs P29.542 billion to pursue its electrification program.

For the full realization of total electrification, NEA’s initiative is to serve the remaining 1,168,969 consumer connections. The needed subsidy for NEA is a total of P23.013 billion sourced from National Government and, if the needed strategies from the private and other government initiatives will be included, a total of P29.542 billion is needed to energize the remaining unserved

households,” said NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda.

Of the total amount that NEA needs, P20.794 billion is allotted for its Sitio Electrification Program (SEP) for 2023 up to 2028. The remaining amount is for NEA’s barangay line enhancement program, P2.378 billion; PV mainstreaming program, P568 million; microgrid  SEP, P900 million; and other expenses, P4.9 billion.  NEA said the lack of government subsidy to finance its energization program remains its biggest challenge. NEA’s approved budget this year is only P1.62 billion, which will be allotted

only for 1,085 sitios based on the estimated cost of P1.5 million per sitio.

At the rate the SEP projects are going, based on the remaining unenergized sitios of 10,212 by year 2023-2028 for electrification, NEA will be requesting the National Government to fund an average of 2,000 sitios per year until year 2028 with an estimated project cost of P20.794 billion,” Almeda reported.

A lmeda said NEA and the electric cooperatives (EC) would remain steadfast in their commitment despite the challenges.   NEA’s mandate is to pursue the total electrification of the country,

PBBM urged to extend travel tax policy for BIMP-EAGA travelers

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

through ECs, by way of enhancing distribution development, including the missionary areas was further strengthened by Republic Act (RA) 10531, otherwise known as the NEA Reform Act of 2013. At end-2022, NEA energized 951 sitios. NEA said the completed sitios as of end-November last year connected an additional 499,117 consumers. A s such, the latest available energization status of the franchise areas of the ECs shows that 78 provinces, 90 cities, 1,387 municipalities, 36,081 barangays, 127,098 sitios and 15.35 million connections have been provided with electricity.

Bill extending protection to freelance workers hurdles 2nd House reading

THE House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that would protect and promote the welfare of freelance workers in the country.

Pangasinan Rep. Christopher de Venecia, chairman of the Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts and one of the authors of the bill, explained that freelance workers are collectively a new sector in the workforce that emerged along with the significant technological advancements that modified the pattern and standards in employment.

T he House Bill (HB) 6718 or the proposed Freelance Workers Protection Act is expected to be approved on third and final reading next week.

This measure, which was passed on Third Reading in the last Congress, proposes to protect and promote the welfare of freelance workers in the country, recognizing that as workers, they do have rights comparable to those who fall under the purview of the Labor Code,” de Venecia said.

De Venecia added that there were freelancers whose “contract-basis” terms of employment have been abused including changing the terms of agreement at the last minute, not paying on time or at all, and forcing them to work ungodly hours or in unsafe environments.

What’s worse, [these companies] feel they can get away with it because freelance workers are not formalized into our society.

But this is about to change,” de Venecia said.

T he bill mandates a written contract between the employer and the freelance worker specifying the services to be provided by the freelance worker, details of compensation and benefits, employment period, grounds for breach of contract, the freelance worker’s tax identification number and other conditions as may be directed by the Department of Labor and Employment.

It also requires at least 30 percent  downpayment of the contract price to be paid upon engagement.

T he bill also provides for nightshift differential and hazard pay to freelance workers while imposing a civil penalty of P50,000 to

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

OVER P2.59 million worth of onions were sold by local farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCA) in the last five months without going through market “middle men,” Malacañang reported on Thursday.

T he Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said this was made possible after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. directed the

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro government poured P22.5 million for agricultural equipment and farm inputs, as well as operational loans to farmers’ cooperatives in its various provinces as the region commemorated its fourth anniversary.

T he Ministry of Agrarian Reform also dished out certificates of awards to landless farmers to the land they tilled for decades.

T he distribution of assistance was held at the Government Regional Center in Cotabato City.

The agriculture and fisheries inputs given were the following: one rice transplanter worth P340,000; one hand tractor worth P140,000; one rice thresher worth P140,000; one corn

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently turned over certificates of land ownership award (CLOA) and electronic titles to a total of 548 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Caraga Region during a simple ceremony held at PhilRice Romualdez, Agusan del Norte, on Wednesday, February 1.

The land titles cover a total of 634.3 hectares of agricultural lands located in the provinces of Surigao del Norte,

THE House Special Committee on East Asean Growth Area has recently adopted House Resolution 454 urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to renew the policy granting travel tax exemption to travelers departing from all international airports and seaports in Mindanao and Palawan to any destination in the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-MalaysiaPhilippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

P500,000 for unlawful practices enumerated in the proposal.

It mandates freelance workers to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and for every BIR revenue district office to designate a special lane or special assistance desk for the purpose.

T he bill also grants a tax relief to freelance workers within the threshold specified under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act and Barangay Micro Business Enterprises of 2002.

De Venecia said the measure acknowledges the changing landscape of how jobs are performed by granting freelancers, who work under unique circumstances, the protection of the law and thereby promote their welfare.

Department of Agriculture (DA) to help FCAs to sell their crops directly to institutional buyers.

T he said onions, which were sold from September 2022 to January 24, 2023, were composed of 3,478 kilograms of red onions worth P755,455 and 5,106.38 kilograms of white onions worth P1.833 million, the PCO said in a statement.

To assist FCAs in bringing their goods to markets, DA provided  them with trucks and vans.

T he farmers were also trained in

sheller worth P140,000; one hammer mill worth P50,000; 100 bags of inbred palay seeds worth P92,000; 50 bottles each of insecticide and herbicides worth P70,000; 2,000 sachets of seeds for each of the eight vegetables (eggplant, bell pepper, squash, bitter gourd, cucumber, pole sitao, hot pepper, tomato and watermelon); and 18,305 bottles of Foliar fertilizers with a total cost of P15,559,250.

These input total to P16,531,000

THE Economic Development Committee (EDCom) of the Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council (BEDC), which is chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), distributed the inputs to the identified cooperatives.

T he Cooperative and Social Enterprise Authority (CSEA) also witnessed the distribution.

with 301.6279 hectares; Agusan del Norte, 194.8009 hectares; and Dinagat Island, with 137.8692 hectares.

T he electronic titles given to other ARBs were provided under the Support to Parcelization of Land Titles (SPLIT) Project, which aims to subdivide lands previously awarded with collective CLOAs and issue individual land titles to the ARBs.

T he SPLIT Project would strengthen the property rights of the ARBs

ministers of BIMP-EAGA are deeply concerned with the protracted impact brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic as it continues to affect lives and livelihoods in the sub-region.

Sultan Kudarat Rep. Princess Rihan Sakaluran, author of the measure, traced the policy to former President Rodrigo Duterte, by virtue of Memorandum Order No. 23 issued in 2018, to promote mobility of travelers across the sub-regional areas  and for airline companies to open up services within the Philippines-EAGA routes.

“

In order to promote mobility of travelers across the sub-regional areas, and for airline companies to open up services within the Philippines-EAGA routes, former President Duterte issued Memorandum Order 23 granting tax exemption to all passengers originating from Mindanao and Palawan to any destination in BIMP-EAGA,” she said.

H owever, the policy had a fiveyear effectivity that will expire in 2023.

“ The opening of our economic corridors is crucial to attain the mission and vision of the BIMP-EAGA,” said Sakaluran.

A ccording to Sakaluran, the

farm clustering and consolidation, wherein they were oriented in market-driven production so they could sell their goods at a higher volume.

L ast year, Marcos, who is also the concurrent agriculture secretary, announced he wants to institutionalize the national implementation of the DA’s Kadiwa program, which aims to provide an outlet for FCAs to directly sell their goods to consumers.

DA said the model “eliminates as many marketing layers, allowing producers to earn bigger from di-

M AFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob said, “We are given the opportunity to showcase what these ministries can offer to our clients and beneficiaries through the ceremonial distribution of inputs, programs, grants, assistance, and services including CLOA [certificate of land ownership and award],”Yacob said.

M AFAR also extended P100,000 to three cooperatives from Pikit, North Cotabato-Special Geographic Area (SGA), Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte, and Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur. The fund was under the program Loans for Enhancement of Necessary Development Strategies (MafarLends).

It also distributed six freezers to six cooperatives, 23 units of fishing net and nylon sets to 20 beneficiaries, 2,500 pieces of tilapia fingerlings to each of four beneficiaries, five sets of freshwater gillnet to

to the lands awarded to them under collective ownership.

Atty. Kazel Celeste, DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Office, said the DAR’s support to the farmers does not end in land distribution, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the department, through DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III, to uplift the lives of the farmers by providing them with various support services

The travel tax exemption policy that the national government has been granting travelers from Mindanao and Palawan to any are in the BIMP-EAGA has continued to revitalize the BIMPEAGA’s programs and activities and has made a positive impact on the growth of tourism, trade and investment in [the] sub-region. More particularly, it has produced economic benefits in terms of increased business activities, remarkable growth in tourism development, additional air and sea services in the transportation sector and heightened sociocultural ties among the people in the growth area,” she added. D uring the hybrid meeting, Davao del Sur Rep. John Tracy Cagas said that the objective of the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025 is to increase trade, tourism and investments that will guide cooperation over a nine-year period covering calendar years 2017-2025.

He also said that no less than Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez supports the measure.  National Economic and Development Authority Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo Abad Santos said the BIMP-EAGA is a cooperation initiative established in 1994 aimed at promoting mobility and spur development in remote and less developed areas in the participating Southeast Asian countries.

rectly selling their produce instead of using trader-intermediaries.”

Elvin Jerome Laceda of RiceUp and Sakahon farmers’ enterprises, lauded the initiatives of the government to empower FCAs.   R iceUp and Sakahon farmers’ enterprises is one of the recipients of the four-wheel trucks awarded by the DA through its “Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” program to qualified beneficiaries last year.

[Assistance in] Logistics is really a big help for us,” Laceda said.

five beneficiaries, four sets of speargun with accessories to two beneficiaries, and two rolls of BB net, five rolls of CC net and two rolls of polynet to one cooperative.

A lso, the Ministry of Agrarian Reform distributed 1,509 CLOAs to agarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in the provinces of Maguindanao (five new lands), Basilan (684 new lands), Sulu (474 new lands), and Tawi-Tawi (311 new lands). The CLOAs cover a total of 3, 316.8542 hectares. A total of 1,474 ARBs received the new land titles.

T he CSEA, through its Special Assistance for Viable Enterprise (SAVE) program, provided P150,000 to each of the 38 cooperatives from the Maguindanao del Sur and del Norte as assistance to the recovery and rehabilitation of the cooperatives whose business operations were affected by the pandemic and armed conflict.

to help them improve their lives. Aside from the provision of various infrastructures, farm machinery and equipment, farm inputs, and training, the department is in continuous coordination and dialogue with the lawmakers to seek ways on how to make your lives better,” she said.

Celeste divulged that the DAR officials are currently crafting a scheme to make the lands given to all the farmers free from amortization.

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

ALBAY Rep. and House Committee on Agriculture and Food Vice Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda on Thursday said that the country’s salt industry, which has declined significantly from its peak in the ’70s, “is the easiest agricultural industry to revive.”

Salceda stressed he believes that the salt industry is not dead.

But it’s a bonsai industry. We try to cut it with so many self-imposed regulations. As an extremely lowmargin business, the salt sector has been stunted by regulation,” Salceda said.

But the lawmaker said Congress should repeal the requirement that salt makers must iodize their salt.

We can keep the requirement that food manufacturers have to use iodized salt. We can require iodization in all school canteens. But we should offer people the choice over their nutrition, not require everybody at the expense of our domestic salt sector,” Salceda, also chairman of the House ways and means committee, added.

We now import 93 percent of our salt. That is in a country with one of the longest coastlines in the world. Shameful is one way to describe it. Stupid is another way,” he said.

According to Salceda, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should simply create a list of areas where salt making could be viable without any significant environmental restrictions.

ARTA moves to check ‘bottlenecks’ in import, export of processed foods

“Salt making is one of the less environmentally destructive sectors. We can also do a negative list of areas that are not suitable for salt making due to environmental risks. If you don’t fall into either list, that’s the only time you need to apply for an environmental clearance,” he said.

That list of suitable locations, mind you, is required of the DENR under the ASIN law, or RA 8172,” Salceda added.

Salceda also wants salt for export to be free from the iodization requirement under Republic Act No. 8172.

We have artisanal salts. Tibuok in Bohol is one of the best in the world. And yet, they cannot even sell domestically—because they can’t iodize. Even when imported Himalayan salts freely get sold in the market. This is frankly ridiculous,” he said.

S alceda said he would be pushing for amendments to Republic Act No. 8172.

The problem right now is that RA

8172 amendments are referred to the committee on health, which means the industry considerations and food security concerns are secondary to the health discussions. But I will try to convince Chairman [Ciriaco] Gato [Jr.] and my colleagues that imported salt is far more difficult to regulate for health reasons. We don’t know how they make it.”

RA 8172 I think exceeded its bounds in that it presumed the State should have the ultimate say about a person’s health choices,” Salceda appointed out. “We have stunted a once-thriving industry as a result of such a presumption.”

Gordon commends PRC firefighters for saving family in Quezon City blaze

By Andrea San Juan

THE Anti-Red Tape Authority

(ARTA) said it would assist in the streamlining of processes and requirements and harmonizing the overlapping mandates on importation and exportation in the processed food sector.  L ast January 25,2023, ARTA Secretary Ernesto V. Perez, together with the Better Regulations Office (BRO) and Compliance Monitoring and Evaluation Office (CMEO), met with Chairperson Philip Young of the Export Development Council’s (EDC)-Networking Committee on Agri-Policy (NCAP) to tackle the bottlenecks that their members have encountered in transacting with concerned agencies.

According to the anti-red tape watchdog, this transpired after EDC-NCAP tapped ARTA to help in coming up with solutions to resolve these regulatory constraints.

“ The concerns and issues raised and brought to ARTA’s attention will be addressed by the Authority’s streamlining programs, as well as its digitalization initiatives in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology [DICT]. These are spearheaded by BRO and CMEO, as enabled by the Ease of Doing Business Law,” Perez said in a statement released on Thursday.

T he authority said BRO, its regulatory arm, would spearhead the review of relevant regulations to avoid undue burden to stakeholders.

CDC, NMP ink deal to establish National Museum in Clark

CLARK FREEPORT—A worldclass museum facility that will highlight the natural and cultural heritage of Central Luzon, including the rich history of Clark will soon be developed inside this free port.

T his was gleaned during the ceremonial signing of the Deed of Usufruct between Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) held on Wednesday at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Metro Manila.

CDC President and CEO Atty. Agnes VST Devanadera signed the deed on behalf of the state-owned corporation, while NMP was represented by Chairperson Andoni Mendieta Aboitiz and Deputy Director-General for Museums Jorell M. Legaspi.

O ther officials who witnessed the event and extended their support to the project are former NMP Chairperson and current Philippine Ambassador to Austria Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo-Bernas, NMP Director II for Visayas National Museum Atty. Maria Cecilia U. Tirol, and CDC Officer-inCharge for Business Development and Business Enhancement Group Atty. Noelle Mina Meneses.

T he former Clark Airbase Hospital (5.2 hectares area) and the former Eldorado property (1.3 hectares land) were identified as the official sites for the NMP’s proposed regional museum and satellite office.

elation about the project.  The chairperson also mentioned that their agency is optimistic that the facility will boost tourism activity in the region and in the free port.

We are very happy and excited about this project because this will be a new venue for us to expand in Central Luzon. The site is a very historical building. It will give us a lot of space, and for that, we are very grateful. We would like to see this as a destination where people drive to Clark to see what the National Museum has to offer. For us, the success of this project, apart from the development, is also for tourism,” he said.

For her part, Devanadera said that the project is a welcome development in the free port as it complements CDC’s vision for Clark.

“Clark is very lucky that it has been chosen as the new home of the National Museum.  It will not just be a museum but it will also be home to the National Museum’s back office, warehouse, as well as the Planetarium. The architectural framework of the old Clark hospital goes well with the plan of the National Museum and we can say that this is going to be one of the grandest things that will happen in Clark,” she added.

Meanwhile, the anti-red tape watchdog said CMEO will head the monitoring of mandatory compliances of the concerned agencies, particularly, the provision of an updated Citizen’s Charter reflecting an accurate list of requirements and processing times, under Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

T he ARTA chief also emphasized the eventual integration of the regulatory agencies in the TradeNet will allow a more simplified and end-to-end processing of licenses and permits through a single, online portal.

As for concerns regarding the overlapping mandates in the regulatory agencies, it will be addressed

through a joint administrative order [JAO] after a thorough consultation with the agencies,” Perez said.  In relation to this, ARTA said it would hold a series of consultation meetings with the involved regulatory agencies in the coming weeks.

T he Export Development Council (EDC) has the mandate of identifying the main bottlenecks, problem areas and constraints in all areas/ sectors/activities which influence the development of exports and periodically review and assess the country’s export performance, problems and prospects.

According to its web site, the council can also mandate specific departments and agencies to attend to the bottlenecks and problems constraining the development of exports.

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—Nineteen families in New Bataan town of Davao de Oro, center of the deadly mudslide at the height of supertyphoon Pablo, finally got the housing units the national government promised them 11 years ago.

T he 19 families from Barangay Andap in New Bataan braved the rains during the ceremonial turnover of the houses led by the National Housing Authority (NHA) on Friday, February 24, where each of was given the symbolic key to their new homes built at a cost of P381,000 each.

A nna Jane S. Pedro, 25, was thankful for the opportunity to be one of the selected beneficiary. “Now, these houses are finally truly ours. I did not expect this to be really beautiful, and many of us are amazed.”

Maricel L. Lindaan, 40, also expressed her appreciation for being a beneficiary. “I hope there will another assistance for us, not only this housing but also on livelihood to sustain our needs.”

gratulated the beneficiaries and explained that the delay in the turnover of the houses was due “to occurrences that must be settled such as processing the legal documents so that they will not encounter any problems in the future and be protected by their rights of owning the residence.”

T he NHA has partnered with the Housing and Homesite Division (HHD) of the Provincial Administrator’s Office for the project.

T he provincial government said the delay was caused by the search for an appropriate location after the initial site in Purok 5A, where the beneficiaries formerly lived, was declared a danger zone “as the land constantly moves during heavy rains, making it susceptible to landslides.”

Mayor Geraldford Balbin said the final identified site was certified by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) as a secure area.

T he provincial government said each house in the Balai Maal-lag or Mahayag nga Balay offsite housing project has a floor area of 30 square meters with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen sink. The project has a total cost of P7.2 million.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

PHILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC)

Chairman Richard J. Gordon

on Thursday commended PRC firemen who responded to a fire incident in Quezon City, and rescued four members of family from the blaze.

I commend our team of firefighting volunteers for doing a fantastic job. It is important to realize that the PRC has many unsung heroes. As volunteers, it is just fitting to honor them for their bravery and their eagerness to save lives and alleviate the suffering of our kababayans,” said Gordon.

On Wednesday, February 1, PRC firefighting teams responded to a big fire that reached the third alarm at Barangay Masambong in Quezon City and rescued four members of the Ceazar family.

T he Ceazar family found themselves trapped in their own house as the fire ravaged a compound where they were residing. Two teams of PRC firefighting volunteers found a way to reach them by climbing over an establishment and piercing a wall to make a hole in order to reach the trapped family, including 67-yearold father Danny Caesar, 67-year-old

mother Ramona Ceazar and their children 31-year-old Stella Marie and 28-year-old Danny Jr.

W hat made the situation even more difficult was the condition of the family’s mother, Ramona, who was unable to walk and needed to be transported out of the house using a wheelchair.

“Due to the quick thinking and determination of our PRC firefighters, lives were saved and our organization recognizes those who have put their lives in danger to save the lives of others,” added Gordon.

T he two teams of PRC firefighters are composed of Team Leaders Jestoni Destura and Romel Barroga, team members Von Cypress, Paul Rei Guiang, Henry Sablay, Neil Jason Almero, Alfred Bautista, Zandro Cenizal, Friendly Daque, Ezekiel Daque, Steven Clark Leant, Kim Ordonez, Ferdinand Pacarro, Osmundo Cabanero, and Mharu Rabaino.

PRC also sent an ambulance team to the scene of the fire to provide emergency medical assistance to those families affected.

A bout 500 families or 2,500 individuals were directly affected by the fire. These families are now relocated to temporary evacuation centers at the Apolonio Tennis Court and Masambong Covered court.

T he CDC Board of Directors, headed by its Chairman Atty. Edgardo Pamintuan, earlier approved the use of the said areas for 50 years, extendible for another 25 years.

In a statement, Aboitiz expressed

T he more than 100 US military personnel have provided intelligence and combat advice for years to Filipino troops battling a decades-long Muslim insurgency, which has considerably eased but remains a key threat.

More recently, US forces have intensified and broadened joint training focusing on combat readiness and disaster response with Filipino troops on the nation’s western coast, which faces the South China Sea, and in its northern Luzon region across the sea from the Taiwan Strait.

The visit of Secretary Austin definitely, obviously will have to do with many of the ongoing discussions on the EDCA sites,” Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Romualdez said at a news briefing.

Austin was scheduled to hold talks Thursday with his Philippine counterpart, Carlito Galvez Jr., and National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, Romualdez said. Austin is the latest senior official to visit the Philippines after Vice President Kamala Harris in November in a sign of warming ties after a

A side from showcasing the region’s history, arts, and culture, the National Museum in Clark is also set to feature natural history, anthropology, and archaeology. It will also include educational, cultural, scientific, entertainment, and tourism activities. Concurrently, the facility will serve as an off-site location for NMP’s central offices, national collection repositories, research, training, technical, and logistical operations among others.

A side from receiving the symbolic keys, the beneficiaries also received the Certificate of Award to denote ownership of their new house.

T he Davao de Oro information office said the beneficiaries were among those families who lost their homes at the onslaught Pablo in 2012, one of the first batches of super typhoons in the country, and the second major typhoon to enter Mindanao in the last century.

A cting Provincial Administrator Fatima Montejo, who represented Governor Dorothy Gonzaga con -

strained period under Marcos’s predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

Romualdez said the Philippines needed to cooperate with Washington to deter any escalation of tensions between China and selfruled Taiwan—not only because of the treaty alliance but to help prevent a major conflict.

“We’re in a Catch-22 situation. If China makes a move on Taiwan militarily, we’ll be affected—and all Asean region, but mostly us, Japan and South Korea,” Romualdez told The Associated Press, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the 10-nation regional bloc that includes the Philippines.

T he Philippines and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, along with Taiwan, have been locked in increasingly tense territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. The US  has been regarded as a crucial counterweight to China in the region and has pledged to come to the defense of the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships or aircraft come under attack in the contested waters.

B arangay Andap was the worst hit barangay when Pablo triggered a mudslide from the Andap mountain burying homes and people along its path. More than 1,500 residents were either killed or missing in the aftermath of the howker, which made a landfall in Davao Oriental, weaving through Davao de Oro before it exited in Agusan del Norte. The massive deaths and missing in New Bataan alone due to the mudslide made the town the epicenter of destruction of Typhoon Pablo.

Salceda says PHL salt industry ‘is not dead’

More than a decade after ‘Pablo,’ victims finally get new houses

A JOINT team of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) firefighters and paramedics check on wheelchairbound Ramona Ceazar, 67, who was rescued by PRC firefighting teams from her burning house in Masambong, Quezon City, along with her husband and of her two children. PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon commended the volunteer fighters for their bravery and dedication in accomplishing the rescue operation. PHOTO COURTESY OF PRC

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND

4th

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT/S (AEP/S)

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for Alien Employment Permit/s:

11 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

12 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

13 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

14 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

LI, JINCHUAN

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LIU, GUANGWEI

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LIU, TIEJUN

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LIU, WENQIANG

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

3 ANOC99 CORPORATION POGO 1 Building, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

4 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

5 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

6 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

7 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

8 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

9 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

10 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

XA THI HA Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

JI, ZIQIANG

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LU, GUANGWU

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

WANG, FENGLONG

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

YUAN, ZHONGWEI

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

ZHU, WEIQUN

Mandarin Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

FENG, HAORAN

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

FENG, XUE

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

15 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

16 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

17 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

18 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

19 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

20 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

21 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Blvd., Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

22 DYSON ELECTRONICS PTE. LTD.- PHILIPPINE BRANCH

Lot C3-13, Carmelray Industrial Park II, Km 54 National Highway, Punta, City of Calamba, Laguna

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LIU, YUJIAN

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

LU, ZIHONG

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

SU, FEI

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description: Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

WANG, HONGCHAO

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

WANG, TIANJIANG

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

WENG, CAIJIE

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

XUE, YALI

Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships.

WRIGHT, ETHAN CIAN

Project Manager

Brief Job Description:

Support talent attraction campaigns, engineering process optimization, environmental improvements on the Philippines site

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Has excellent problemsolving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

A degree in design Engineering, Product Design, Mechanical Engineering or equivalent

Salary Range:

Php150,000 - Php499,999

the Supply Chain Division and responsible for the full spectrum of purchasing, planning and logistics

5 years of work experience in a Japanese manufacturing company related to the position

34 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

35 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

Degree with at

36 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

37 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

38 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

CHI, JIANQIN

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

DOAN VAN SONG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

HUANG, JIANHAI

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

LIU, BIYUAN

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

LONG, YUNHAI

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

39 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

40 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

41 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

42 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

43 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

XIAO, BOHAI

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

YIN, GANG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

ZHAO, JIN

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

ZHONG, YANG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner.

BAN VAN KIET

Mandarin Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien.

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Pope consoles Congolese victims of violence: ‘Your pain is my pain’

By Nicole Winfield, Christina Malkia & Jean-Yves Kamale The Associated Press

KINSHASA, Congo—Pope

Francis on Wednesday urged Congo’s people to forgive those who committed “inhuman violence” against them, celebrating a Mass for one million people and then hearing first hand of the atrocities some of them have endured: a teen-age girl “raped like an animal” for months; a young man who watched as his father was decapitated; a former sex slave who was forced into cannibalism.

Congolese from the country’s violence-wracked east traveled to the capital of Kinshasa to tell the pope of the horrific violence they suffered for years as rebel groups sought to gain territory in the mineral-rich region through attacks that have forced more than five million people to flee their homes.

Francis sat in silence as victim after victim came forward to tell their stories. He watched as they offered up at the foot of a crucifix a symbol of their pain: the machete used to maim and kill, or the straw bed mat on which they had been

raped. When they knelt in front of him for a blessing, Francis placed his hand on their heads, or on the stumps of the arms that remained.

“Your tears are my tears; your pain is my pain,” Francis told them.

“To every family that grieves or is displaced by the burning of villages and other war crimes, to the survivors of sexual violence and to every injured child and adult, I say: I am with you; I want to bring you God’s caress.”

The intimate encounter at the Vatican Embassy in Kinshasa was an extraordinary moment of a pas -

tor seeking to console his flock, and of a pope seeking to shine a spotlight on what Francis has called a “forgotten genocide” that barely makes the news. Despite being home to one of the largest UN peacekeeping operation in the world, eastern Congo has been mired in violence since the early 1990s as rebels and militias vie for control of mineral-rich territory.

“What a scandal and what hypocrisy, as people are being raped and killed, while the commerce that causes this violence and death continues to flourish!” Francis said of the foreign powers and extraction industries that are exploiting Congo’s east. “Enough!”

Francis had originally planned to visit the eastern province of North Kivu, where rebel groups have intensified attacks in the past year, when his trip was initially scheduled for July.

But after the trip was rescheduled, the Vatican had to cancel the visit to Goma due to the fighting that has forced some 5.7 million people to flee their homes, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in Congo, where already some 26.4 million people face hunger, according to the World Food Program.

Instead, residents of the east came to Francis, and their testimony was gut wrenching.

Ladislas Kambale Kombi, from the Beni area of eastern North Kivu province, told Francis of watching as men in military uniforms decapitated his father, placed his head in

US denounces Myanmar junta’s extension of emergency rule

By Khine Lin Kyaw & Philip J. Heijmans

a basket and then took off with his mother, whom he never saw again.

“At night, I cannot sleep,” he said. “It is hard to understand such wickedness, such near-animal-like brutality.”

Bijoux Makumbi Kamala, 17, told of being kidnapped in 2020 by rebels in Walikale, in North Kivu province as she went to fetch water. Speaking through a translator, she said she was raped daily by the commander “like an animal,” until she escaped after 19 months.

“It was useless to scream, because no one could hear me or come to my rescue,” she said, adding that she gave birth to twin girls “who will never know their father” and found consolation through services offered by the Catholic Church.

The Associated Press usually does not identify victims of sexual violence, but those who told their stories to Francis gave their names in public at the start of their testimony.

Emelda M’karhungulu, from a village near Bukavu in Congo’s South Kivu province, spoke through a translator of having been kept as a sexual slave for three months at age 16 by armed men who invaded her village in 2005. She said she was raped daily by five to 10 men who then forced their captives to eat the flesh of the men they had killed, mixed with animal meat and maize paste.

“That was our food each day; whoever refused they would behead and would feed them to us,” she said. M’karhungulu said she eventually escaped one day when fetching water.

While forced cannibalism is not known to be widespread, the United Nations and human rights groups documented how it was used as a weapon of war in the early 2000s in parts of eastern Congo.

A statement prepared months ago by Désiré Dhetsina was read aloud on his behalf; Dhetsina disappeared after surviving an attack February 1, 2022, on a camp for internally displaced people in Ituri province, on Congo’s northeastern border with Uganda.

“I saw savagery: People carved up like meat in a butcher shop; women disemboweled, men decapitated,” Dhetsina reported. As his story was read to Francis, two woman stood up in front of the pope and raised into the air the stumps that remained of their mutilated arms.

Francis condemned the violence and urged the Congolese victims to use their pain for good, to sow peace and reconciliation. It was a message he also delivered earlier in the day at a Mass to the throngs at Kinshasa’s Ndolo airport, where he cited the example of Christ who forgave those who betrayed him.

“He showed them his wounds because forgiveness is born from wounds,” Francis said. “It is born when our wounds do not leave scars of hatred, but become the means by which we make room for others and accept their weaknesses. Our weakness becomes an opportunity, and forgiveness becomes the path to peace.”

Roughly half of Congo’s 105 million people are Catholic, according to the Vatican, which also estimated that 1 million people were on hand for Francis’ Mass, citing local organizers.

Among the faithful was Clément Konde, who traveled from Kisantu, a town in the province of Central Kongo, more than 150 kilometers (95 miles) from Kinshasa. He planned to participate in all of Francis’ events this week before the pontiff heads to South Sudan, the second leg of his African journey.

THE US has condemned Myanmar’s move to extend a state of emergency for another six months, two years after seizing power in a coup, and said it will continue to work with allies to deny the regime international credibility.

“The United States strongly opposes the Burma military regime’s decision to extend the state of emergency, prolonging the military’s illegitimate rule and the suffering it inflicts upon the country,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said, using Myanmar’s former name.

Military chief Min Aung Hlaing hinted the emergency rule could be extended even further in a briefing broadcast on state TV Wednesday, effectively delaying elections the junta had promised to hold by August.

“Given that the current situation is not normal, it should be extended at least once for a term of six months. The situation of the state will be presented again after six months,” Min Aung Hlaing said.

The junta leader also said 40 percent of townships are facing instability, an admission of the intensity of the conflict across the country, where the regime has suffered large territorial losses to ethnic armed groups and opposition fighters. International experts have said the military has firm control over far less than what it claims.

The regime had been expected to hand over power to a transitional government under its control after the expiry of the emergency rule at the end of January, but a court ruled the extension was in line with the 2008 constitution. The announcement came as a silent strike was held to mark two years since the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown.

The military also faced more pressure on the eve of the coup anniversary, this time from the

US and its allies, the UK, Canada and Australia. They imposed fresh sanctions on Myanmar targeting junta members, energy officials and other individuals and companies linked to the regime.

Since the coup, the military has used increasingly brutal tactics to subdue its enemies, including the first executions in three decades. The economy has also suffered, with the World Bank continuing to see “severely weakened” growth prospects.

More than 2,900 people have been killed and thousands more arrested in the military crackdown that followed the takeover. A rare United Nations Security Council resolution in December called for an end to violence and the release of all political prisoners.

“I express serious concern about the further extension of the state of emergency by the current Myanmar ‘regime,’ without taking positive steps towards achieving political progress,” Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said in a statement released Wednesday. “The use of violence is causing a large number of casualties, despite repeated calls for restraint by the international community, including Japan.”

As a preliminary step in the electoral process, the militaryappointed election body Tuesday urged political parties to register under a 20-page law outlining complicated and rigorous rules. The new regulations will likely prevent Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy from taking part in any ballot. The party won the 2020 election by a landslide, despite the junta’s claim of voter fraud, which was dismissed by observers.

“In staging a coup, the military misread our people,” the shadow National Unity Government, which is aligned with Suu Kyi, said in a statement released Wednesday. “Our people are determined to build a Myanmar free of the military dictatorship which has oppressed our country for generations.” With assistance from Jon Herskovitz/Bloomberg

Sushi pranks at Japan’s conveyor belt restaurants spark outrage

By Grace Huang & Low De Wei

JAPAN’S famed conveyor-belt su-

shi restaurants are scrambling to tackle a craze for making viral videos in which customers commit unhygienic acts.

The phenomenon, dubbed “Sushi Terrorism,” gained steam earlier this week after a teenager posted a video to social media filmed in Japan’s largest conveyor belt sushi chain. In it, he licked communal items including a soy sauce bottle and a bowl, and touched sushi as it rolled past with fingers he had put in his mouth.

The video, taken in Gifu city quickly went viral on platforms including Twitter, sparking a wave of copycat incidents and sending shares in the restaurant’s parent company down 4.8 percent on Tuesday.

The video pranks come at a particularly sensitive time for Japan, which is currently suffering its deadliest Covid outbreak since the pandemic began, and as restaurants struggle to survive amid surging inflation.

Food & Life Cos., which owns Akindo Sushiro, the outlet where the incident occurred, said in a statement this week it had filed a police report and received an apology from the perpetrator.

A spokesperson for the firm told Bloomberg News the video had “caused a lot of anxiety among our customers and made them uncomfortable.” The chain said it will add acrylic screens at some outlets to deter tampering on its conveyor belts, and said it would

provide fresh seasonings and cutlery to those who request it.

Still, investors are concerned.

Despite paring some of its earlier losses, shares in Food & Life remained some 4 percent down on Thursday.

The conveyor belt sushi restaurant format “was not designed for the era when individuals can post videos on the Internet,” said Citigroup Inc. analyst Shuhei Oba in a note this week.

“We believe demand for cheap and delicious sushi will continue to grow longer term, but costs could increase as operators strengthen their response to such campaigns,” Oba wrote.

Restaurant chains were this week attempting to enforce stricter hygiene measures as older videos emerged and wall-to-wall media coverage inspired copycats. The latest target involved a man using a communal spoon to eat his meal at a popular udon chain in southern Kitakyushu city.

Spokespeople for two other major conveyor belt sushi chains, Zensho Holdings Co.-owned Hamasushi and Kura Sushi Inc., told Bloomberg News they were considering methods like deploying artificial intelligence and cameras to deter potential pranksters.

Sushi chains are facing an additional “weight of investment,” said Shun Tanaka, a restaurant industry analyst for SBI Securities Co. If businesses, already squeezed by having to maintain low prices, cannot maintain profitability, “it’s possible that the conveyor belt sushi business itself will disappear.” With assistance from Kurt Schussler/Bloomberg

N. Korea warns of ‘overwhelming nuclear force’ to counter US moves

By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press

The statement by Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry came in response to comments by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who said Tuesday in Seoul that the United States would increase its deployment of advanced military assets to the Korean Peninsula, including fighter jets and aircraft carriers, as it strengthens joint training and operational planning with South Korea.

South Korea’s security jitters have risen since North Korea testfired dozens of missiles in 2022, including potentially nuclearcapable ones designed to strike targets in South Korea and the US mainland.

In a statement attributed to an unidentified spokesperson of its Foreign Ministry, North Korea said the expansion of the allies’ drills is threatening to turn the Korean Peninsula into a “huge war arsenal and a more critical war zone.” The statement said the North is prepared to counter any short- or long-term military

challenge with the “most overwhelming nuclear force.”

“The military and political situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region has reached an extreme red line due to the reckless military confrontational maneuvers and hostile acts of the US and its vassal forces,” the spokesperson said.

North Korea for decades has described the United States’ combined military exercises with South Korea as rehearsals for a potential invasion, although the allies have described those drills as defensive.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said the United States flew B-1B bombers and F-22 and F-35 fighter jets in an exercise Wednesday with South Korean fighters above South Korea’s western waters. The United States and South Korea are also planning to a joint simulation this month aimed at sharpening their response if North Korea uses nuclear weapons.

The North Korean statement

portends another provocative run in weapons demonstrations in 2023, similar to how the North ramped up its own weapons launches in 2022 as the allies resumed their large-scale training.

North Korea’s actions included a slew of missile and artillery launches that it described as simulated nuclear attacks on South Korean and US targets.

“DPRK will take the toughest reaction to any military attempt of the US on the principle of ‘nuke for nuke and an all-out confrontation for an all-out confrontation!’”

the North Korean spokesperson said, invoking the country’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

“If the US continues to introduce strategic assets into the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding area, the DPRK will make clearer

its deterring activities without fail according to their nature,” the spokesperson said.

When asked about the North Korean statement in the Philippines on Thursday, Austin said the United States is “very serious” about its commitment to defending South Korea and will continue to work alongside its allies and “train and ensure that we maintain credible and ready forces.”

Ahn Eunju, spokesperson of South Korea’s Foreign Ministry, said North Korea’s expansion of its nuclear weapons and missile program and verbal threats of preemptive nuclear attacks have forced Seoul to react sternly to ensure the protection of its citizens.

“North Korea is the one that’s elevating tensions on the Korean Peninsula by rejecting dialogue

offers from South Korea and the United States and making nuclear and missile provocations and threats,” she said, urging Pyongyang to return to denuclearization talks.

Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson of South Korea’s Defense Ministry, said the allies’ latest aerial drills were aimed at demonstrating the credibility of the US “extended deterrence,” referring to a commitment to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear ones, to defend South Korea. He declined to reveal the exact number of US and South Korean aircraft involved in the exercise.

In a news conference following their meeting on Tuesday, Austin said he and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup agreed to further expand their combined military exercises, including more live-fire demonstrations. They pledged to continue a “timely and coordinated” deployment of US strategic assets to the region.

The allies had previously downsized their training in recent years to create room for diplomacy with North Korea during the Trump administration and because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

South Korea and the United States have also been strengthening their security cooperation with Japan, which recently included trilateral missile defense and anti-submarine warfare exercises during a provocative run in North Korean weapons tests.

“We deployed fifth-generation aircraft, F-22s and F-35s, we deployed a carrier strike group to visit the peninsula. You can look

for more of that kind of activity going forward,” Austin said.

Tensions could further rise with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un doubling down on his nuclear ambitions.

During a political conference in December, Kim called for an “exponential increase” in nuclear warheads, mass production of battlefield tactical nuclear weapons targeting South Korea, and the development of more powerful long-range missiles designed to reach the US mainland.

Kim could showcase his growing arsenal of nuclear-capable missiles next week as commercial satellite images indicate preparations for a huge military parade in capital Pyongyang, likely for the 75th founding anniversary of its army that falls on February 8.

Experts say Kim’s nuclear push is aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of North Korea as a nuclear power so it can negotiate badly needed economic concessions from a position of strength. Nuclear negotiations between the US and North Korea stopped in 2019 because of disagreements over a relaxation of US-led economic sanctions against the North in exchange for steps by North Korea to wind down its nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

The North Korean spokesperson said Pyongyang isn’t interested in any contact or dialogue with the United States as long as it maintains its “hostile policy and confrontational line,” saying Washington is trying to force Pyongyang to “disarm itself unilaterally.” AP writer Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, contributed to the story.

WAR’S LONGEST BATTLE EXACTS HIGH PRICE IN ‘HEART OF UKRAINE’

By Hanna Arhirova

The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Visitors used to browse through Bakhmut’s late 19th century buildings, enjoy walks in its rose-lined lakeside park and revel in the sparkling wines produced in historic underground caves. That was when the city in eastern Ukraine was a popular tourist destination.

No more. The longest battle of Russia’s war has turned this city of salt and gypsum mines into a ghost town. Despite bombing, shelling and attempts to encircle Bakhmut for six months, Russia’s forces have not conquered it.

But their scorched-earth tactics have made it impossible for civilians to have any semblance of a life there.

“It’s hell on earth right now; I can’t find enough words to describe it,” said Ukrainian soldier Petro Voloschenko, who is known on the battlefield as Stone, his voice rising with emotion and resentment.

Voloschenko, who is originally from Kyiv, arrived in the area in August when the Russian assault started and has since celebrated his birthday, Christmas and New Year’s there.

The 44-year-old saw the city, located around 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Russia’s border, gradually turned into a wasteland of ruins. Most of the houses are crushed, without roofs, ceilings, windows or doors, making them uninhabitable, he said.

Out of a prewar population of 80,000, a few thousand residents remain. They rarely see daylight because they spend most of their time in basements sheltering from the ferocious fighting around and above them. The city constantly shudders with the muffled sound of explosions, the whizzing of mortars and a constant soundtrack of artillery. Anywhere is a potential target.

Bakhmut lies in Donetsk province, one of four that Russia illegally annexed in the fall—but Moscow only controls about half of it. To take the remaining half, Russian forces have no choice but to go through Bakhmut, which offers the only approach to bigger Ukrainian-held cities since Ukrainian troops took back Izium in Kharkiv province in September, according to Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine’s National Institute for Strategic Studies.

“Without seizure of these cities, the Russian army won’t be able to accomplish the political task it was given,” Bielieskov said.

The deterioration in Bakhmut started during the summer after Russia took the last major city in neighboring Luhansk province. It then poured troops and equipment into capturing Bakhmut, and Ukraine did the same to defend it. For Russia, the city was one-stepping stone toward its goal of seizing the remaining Ukrainian-held territory in Donetsk.

From trenches outside the city, the two sides dug in for what turned into an exhausting standoff as Ukraine clawed back territory to the north and south and Russian airstrikes across the country targeted power plants and other infrastructure.

The months of battle exhausted both armies. In the fall, Russia changed tactics and sent in foot soldiers instead of probing the front line mainly with artillery, according to Voloschenko.

Bielieskov, the research fellow, said the least-trained Russians go first to force the Ukrainians to open fire and expose the strengths and weaknesses of their defense.

More trained units or mercenaries from the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company led by a rogue millionaire and known for its brutality, make up the rear guard, Bielieskov said.

Bielieskov said that Ukraine compensates

for its lack of heavy equipment with people who are ready to stand to the last.

“Lightly armed, without sufficient artillery support, which they cannot always be provided, they stand and hold off attacks as long as possible,” he said.

The result is that the battle is believed to have produced horrific troop losses for both Ukraine and Russia. Quite how deadly isn’t known: Neither side is saying.

“Manpower is less of a Russian problem and, in some ways, more of a Ukrainian problem, not only because the casualties are painful, but they’re often...Ukraine’s best troops,” said Lawrence Freedman, a professor emeritus of war studies at King’s College London.

The Institute for the Study of War recently reported that Wagner forces have seen

more than 4,100 die and 10,000 wounded, including over 1,000 killed between late November and early December near Bakhmut. The numbers are impossible to verify.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a recent address, described the situation in Bakhmut as “very tough.”

“These are constant Russian assaults. Constant attempts to break through our defenses,” he said.

Like Mariupol—the port city in the same province that Russia eventually captured after an 82-day siege that eventually came down to a mammoth steel mill where determined Ukrainian fighters held out along with civilians—Bakhmut has taken on almost mythic importance to its defenders.

“Bakhmut has already become a symbol of Ukrainian invincibility,” Voloschenko said. “Bakhmut is the heart of Ukraine, and the future peace of those cities that are no longer under occupation depends on the rhythm with which it beats.”

For now, Bakhmut remains completely under the control of the Ukrainian army, albeit more as a fortress than a place where people would visit, work or play. In January, the Russians seized the town of Soledar, located less than 20 kilometers (some 12 miles) away, but their advance is very slow, according to military analysts.

“These are rates of advancement that do not allow us to talk about serious offensive actions. It’s a slow pushing out at a very high price,” Bielieskov said.

Along the front line on the Ukrainian side, emergency medical units provide urgent care to battlefield casualties. From 50 to 170 wounded Ukrainian soldiers pass daily through just one of the several stabilization points along the Donetsk front line, according to Tetiana Ivanchenko, who has volunteered in eastern Ukraine since a Russia-backed separatist conflict started there in 2014.

SEOUL, South Korea—North

Korea said Thursday it’s prepared to counter US military moves with the “most overwhelming nuclear force” as it warned that the expansion of the United States’ military exercises with rival South Korea is pushing tensions to an “extreme red line.”

IN this photo provided by South Korean Defense Ministry, US Air Force B-1B bombers, center, F-22 fighter jets and South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets, bottom, fly over South Korea Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea on January 1, 2023. North Korea on Thursday threatened the “toughest reaction” to the United States’ expanding joint military exercises with South Korea to counter the North’s growing nuclear weapons ambitions, claiming that the allies were pushing tensions to an “extreme red line.” SOUTH KOREAN DEFENSE MINISTRY VIA AP

Adani scraps $2.5 billion share sale after fraud claims hit stock

By Krutika Pathi & Sheikh Saaliq The Associated Press

DELHI—Embattled

Factories in Southeast Asia firing up as China reopens

By Claire Jiao & Michelle Jamrisko

ASIA’S manufacturers are improving at the start of the year as the region becomes more optimistic about how China’s re-opening might help offset an otherwise gloomy outlook for the rest of the world.

Factories in Southeast Asia ramped up production and purchasing in January as new orders piled in, data from S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers’ indexes showed Wednesday. Signs that prices are softening and supply chain disruptions are easing also lifted business confidence for factory output over the next 12 months.

were increasing employment in anticipation of improving global economic conditions that would spur new business. That was better than the outlook in Taiwan, where the PMI slump deepened to 44.3 from 44.6. Manufacturers there held a somber outlook, trimming their buying activity and inventory.

The data provide a sharper view of how the global demand outlook is impacting some of the world’s most critical trade engines.

The International Monetary Fund reiterated this week that tight monetary policy among central banks and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will continue to weigh on economic activity through the year.

Adani Enterprises canceled the share sale late Wednesday, citing “market volatility.” Stocks in the coalmines to ports conglomerate sank after Hindenburg Research, which has a track record of sending stock prices of its targets tumbling, accused the group of “brazen” stock market manipulation and accounting fraud, among other financial abuses.

The share sale was seen as a crucial test of investor confidence in Adani, whose net worth had shot up about 2,000 percent in recent years as share prices for his listed companies soared.

By the time trading closed Wednesday, Adani Enterprises was down by a whopping 28 percent in just one day. But the share offering had drawn nearly 51 million bids, exceeding the 45.5 million offered to the public. Stock in six of Adani’s other listed companies sank between 2 percent and 19 percent.

Early Thursday, Adani Enterprises was down by 5 percent. Stocks in four of Adani’s other listed companies were down by 10 percent and two others sunk

between 5 percent and 8 percent.

In a video address Thursday, Adani said the decision to scrap the share offering was made “to insulate the investors from potential losses.”

“For me, the interest of my investors is paramount and everything else is secondary,” he said.

Adani Enterprises said in a statement that it would withdraw the transaction and return the money to its investors. The decision would not “have any impact on our existing operations and future plans,” it said, adding that the group’s balance sheet was “very healthy” with strong cashflows and secure assets.

Adani made a vast fortune mining coal as energy-hungry India grew swiftly after its economy was liberalized in the 1990s. Adani companies operate airports in major cities, build roads, generate electricity, manufacture defense equipment, develop agricultural drones, sell cooking oil and run a media outlet.

Hindenburg said it was betting against the group, accusing it of “pulling the largest con in corpo -

rate history.” It said it judged the seven key Adani listed companies to have an “85 percent downside, purely on a fundamental basis owing to sky-high valuations.”

Most of the allegations involved concerns about the group’s debt levels, activities of top executives, use of offshore shell companies to artificially boost share prices and past investigations into fraud. It listed 88 questions for the group to answer.

Adani Group dismissed Hindenburg’s allegations, and called its report a “calculated attack on India, the independence, integrity and quality of Indian institutions, and the growth story and ambition of India.” On Sunday, it issued a 413-page report that rejected its questions, saying none were “based on independent or journalistic fact finding.”

Adani’s response included documents and data tables. It said the group has made all necessary regulatory disclosures and abided by local laws.

India’s parliament was adjourned Thursday for the first half

of the day when the chair of the upper house rejected a request by opposition lawmakers to debate the allegations made by Hindenburg.

India’s federal government and its finance ministry have not commented on the Adani stock rout so far.

Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the main opposition Congress party, told reporters opposition parties were demanding a discussion of public sector investments “in companies losing market value, endangering the hard-earned savings” of millions of Indians. The opposition parties were pushing for an investigation into the Adani Group by a parliamentary or a Supreme Court-appointed panel.

The stock losses on Wednesday cost Adani his title as the richest man in Asia and in India. He slid from being the world’s third richest man to the 13th as his fortune plummeted to $72 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index. Prior to the Hindenburg report, his net worth was about $120 billion.

HK woos tourists with 500,000 free air tickets

By Kanis Leung

The Associated Press

HONG KONG —Hong Kong will give away air tickets and vouchers to woo tourists back to the international financial hub, racing to catch up with other popular travel destinations in a fierce regional competition.

During the pandemic, the city largely aligned itself with mainland China’s “zero-Covid” strategy and has relaxed its entry rules months slower than rivals such as Singapore, Japan and Taiwan. Even after it reopened its border with mainland China in January, tourism recovery was sluggish.

On Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee launched a tourism campaign “Hello Hong Kong,” saying the city

will offer 500,000 free air tickets to welcome tourists from around the world in what he called “probably the world’s biggest welcome ever”.

“Hong Kong is now seamlessly connected to the mainland of China and the whole international world and there will be no isolation, no quarantine,” he said at a ceremony.

“This is the perfect timing for tourists, business

Thailand led the region with a January PMI reading of 54.5—a jump from 52.5 the prior month. The Philippines and Indonesia also posted readings above 50, the mark separating expansion from contraction.

While others in Southeast Asia remained in negative territory last month, most saw manufacturing conditions improve. Malaysia was the only country in the region where conditions worsened as PMI fell to a 17-month low of 46.5.

“With supply-side pressures easing, and inflation rates below their post-pandemic averages, this could support further improvements in business conditions in the months ahead,” S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam Baluch said of Southeast Asia’s performance. “It’s vital that demand conditions continue to recover and are able to support growth momentum into the rest of 2023.”

Activity in North Asia, however, was more mixed. South Korea’s manufacturing PMI improved slightly to 48.5 from December’s 48.2, although still below 50. Japan was steady at 48.9, the same as the previous month.

Surveys for both countries, though, suggested that factories

The Washington-based institution still upgraded its global growth forecast slightly though, in part on optimism that China’s reopening will buttress demand. The emergence of the world’s second-largest economy from its strict Covid Zero strategy last year has also raised hopes in Asia that the region’s biggest trading partner will soon generate more demand for goods.

“If the message from Tuesday’s strong official PMIs was that China has started a brisk recovery, the message from Wednesday’s Caixin report is that a significant swath of the economy continues to struggle. To be sure, the rise in the Caixin manufacturing gauge in January reinforces our view that conditions are on the mend. But a reading still below 50 in contractionary territory suggests exporters and small companies are lagging in the recovery,” said Bloomberg economist Chang Shu.

Data in China showed some signs of a pickup last month, though the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday likely weighed on factory activity since many workers went home to celebrate the period with their families. Covid’s spread through the country also sickened some workers. With assistance from Yujing Liu/Bloomberg

A CATHAY PACIFIC airplane taxis at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on November 25, 2022. Hong Kong will give away air tickets and vouchers to woo tourists back to the international financial hub, racing to catch up with other popular travel destinations in a fierce regional competition. AP/VERNON YUEN travelers, and investors from near and far to come and say, ‘Hello, Hong Kong.’”

Under the campaign, most of the plane tickets—worth 2 billion Hong Kong dollars ($255 million)—will come from three Hong Kong-based airlines through various promotional activities, including lucky draws, “buy one, get one free” promotions and games. The project will begin in March and last about six months, said Fred Lam, CEO of the Airport Authority.

“We hope those who secure the air tickets can bring two or three more relatives and friends to the city. Although we are just giving away 500,000 air tickets, we believe this can help bring Hong Kong over 1.5 million visitors,” Lam said.

The airlines will distribute the tickets in phases, with the Southeast Asian markets set to benefit in the first stage, he said. An additional 80,000 air tickets will be given away to Hong Kong residents in the summer, Lam said. Those living in the Greater Bay Area will also benefit from the policy that offers over 700,000 tickets in total. The Greater Bay Area is a Chinese government initiative to link Hong Kong with neighboring mainland cities, including the technology and finance hub of Shenzhen and the manufacturing powerhouses of Dongguan and Foshan.

Visitors can also enjoy special offers and vouchers among other incentives in the city, Lee said.

ADANI Group Chairman Gautam Adani attends the “Invest Karnataka 2016 - Global Investors Meet” in Bangalore, India on Feb. 3, 2016. The embattled Indian billionaire called off his flagship company’s $2.5 billion share sale late Wednesday, February 1, 2023, after a tumultuous week saw his conglomerate shed tens of billions of dollars in market value after claims of fraud from a US-based short-selling firm. AP/AIJAZ RAHI

NEW

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani said Thursday his conglomerate will review its plans for raising capital after calling off his flagship company’s $2.5 billion share offering following the loss of tens of billions of dollars in market value due to claims of fraud by a USbased short-selling firm.

The World

AUSTRIA EXPELS 4 RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS BASED IN VIENNA

VIENNA—Austria’s government said Thursday that it has ordered four diplomats based in Vienna, including two at Moscow’s mission to UN agencies in the city, to leave the country.

The Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement that two diplomats at the Russian Embassy had “engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status” and two at the permanent mission to the United Nations in Vienna “committed acts incompatible with the Headquarters Agreement.” It didn’t elaborate.

The diplomats were given a week to leave

Austria.

Western European nations and Russia have expelled each others’ diplomats on several occasions since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine started nearly a year ago.

Austria, a European Union member that has a policy of military neutrality, has given aid to Ukraine but not military equipment.

President Alexander Van der Bellen was in Kyiv on Wednesday on a trip meant to underline Austria’s solidarity.

Vienna is home to UN agencies including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. AP

Sunak marks 100 days as UK prime minister amid crisis

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press

LONDON—UK Prime Minister

Rishi Sunak has angry unions to the left of him, anxious Conservative Party lawmakers to the right and, in the middle, millions of voters he must win over to avert electoral defeat.

It’s a daunting situation for Sunak, who on Thursday marks 100 days in office, more than twice the number of his ill-fated predecessor, Liz Truss. Installed as Conservative leader after Truss’ plan for huge tax cuts sparked panic, the 42-year-old Sunak calmed financial markets and averted economic meltdown after he assumed the post of prime minister on October 25.

Next, Britain’s youngest leader for two centuries—and its first prime minister of South Asian heritage—has promised to tame soaring inflation, get the sluggish economy growing, ease pressure on the overburdened health care system and “restore the integrity back into politics” after years of scandals under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Easier said than done.

“The things that happened before I was prime minister, I can’t do anything about,” Sunak told a group of health workers this week. “What I think you can hold me to account for is how I deal with the things that arise on my watch.”

Jill Rutter, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think tank, said Sunak had succeeded in overcoming the impression that the UK “had a completely lunatic government.”

“You would chalk that up as the first thing that he had on his to-do list,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s slightly hard to see concrete achievements.”

Sunak is a former UK Treasury chief, and his top priority has been the country’s economic malaise. Gross domestic product remains smaller than it was before the coronavirus pandemic, and the International Monetary Fund forecast this week that the UK will be the only major economy to contract this year, shrinking by 0.6 percent.

Sunak blames global forces—disruption from the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Critics say the elephant in the room is Brexit, which has led to a sharp reduction in trade between the UK and the European Union.

Sunak, a longtime advocate of Britain’s departure from the bloc, insisted Wednesday that the costof-living crisis had “nothing to do with Brexit.”

Whatever the causes, Sunak has little economic room to maneuver.

Annual inflation hit a four-decade high of 11.1 percent in October and remained at a painful 10.5 percent in December. The UK is in the midst of its biggest wave of strikes in decades as nurses, paramedics, teachers, border agents and other workers seek pay increases to offset the soaring cost of living and the stresses of holding a job in an increasingly threadbare public sector.

Meanwhile, a faction inside the Conservative Party is pushing for immediate tax cuts to encourage growth, despite the damage done by “Trussonomics” just months ago.

Targeting Iran, US restricts Iraq’s access to dollars, causing pain

By Qassim Abdul-Zahra & Abby Sewell The Associated Press

end-recipient of the requested dollars. One hundred Central Bank employees were trained by the Fed to implement the new system, the prime minister’s financial adviser said.

“This system started rejecting transfers and invoices that used to be approved by the central bank,” he said. “Around 80 percent of transactions were being rejected.”

“We need growth or our debts will get bigger,” lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, a former Conservative leader, said this week. “Targeted tax reductions will help achieve that.”

Sunak is resisting both labor unions and tax-cutting Tories. He argues that double-digit public sector pay raises would drive inflation even higher and that “the best tax cut right now is a cut in inflation.”

Economists say UK inflation will likely fall during 2023, allowing Sunak to meet one of his key pledges. Other goals are likely to be harder to achieve.

He is seeking to improve relations with the 27-member EU, and both sides have made progress toward resolving a dispute over Northern Ireland trade rules that has burdened businesses and shuttered the regional government in Belfast.

But any agreement will anger Conservative euroskeptics, who are likely to see rapprochement with Brussels as a betrayal of Brexit. A compromise also faces opposition from Northern Ireland’s British unionists, who say post-Brexit customs checks undermine Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.

Sunak also has struggled to rid the Conservative Party of its reputation for scandal and sleaze. A member of his Cabinet, Gavin Williamson, quit in November over bullying claims.

On Sunday, Sunak fired party chair Nadhim Zahawi for failing to come clean about a multimillion-dollar tax dispute. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab is being investigated over allegations he bullied civil servants, which he denies.

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, alleged Wednesday that Sunak was “too weak” to tackle bad behavior.

UK voters haven’t yet had their say on Sunak, who was chosen as party leader by the 357 Conservative members of Parliament. The government doesn’t have to call a national election until late 2024, so Sunak may have time on his side.

Or, he may not. The Conservatives are trailing 20 or more points behind Labour in opinion polls, and poor results in May’s local elections could spur calls for another change of leader.

Some Conservatives hanker for the return of Johnson, whose final words to Parliament as prime minister—“Hasta la vista, baby”—hinted at a comeback.

Some analysts say it may be too late for any Conservative leader to avoid defeat. An Ipsos poll released this week, considered accurate to within 4 percentage points, found 66 percent of respondents wanted a change of governing party. Only 10 percent thought the Conservatives had done a good job.

Steven Fielding, emeritus professor of politics at the University of Nottingham, likened the mood to the final years of Prime Minister John Major’s government, wiped away by Tony Blair’s Labour election landslide in 1997 that ended 18 years of Conservative rule.

“People are just waiting for them to go,” Fielding said. “And the longer they are there, the more irritated (voters) are with them.”

He said Sunak “is trying his best. But people aren’t listening.”

The exchange rate for the Iraqi dinar has jumped to around 1,680 to the dollar at street exchanges, compared to the official rate of 1,460 dinars to the dollar.

The devaluation has already sparked protests. If it persists, analysts said, it could challenge the mandate of the government formed in October after a yearlong political stalemate.

The dinar’s deterioration comes even though Iraq’s foreign currency reserves are at an all-time high of around $100 billion, pumped up by spiking global oil prices that have brought increasing revenues to the petroleum-rich nation.

But accessing that money is a different story.

Since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iraq’s foreign currency reserves have been housed at the United States’ Federal Reserve, giving the Americans significant control over Iraq’s supply of dollars. The Central Bank of Iraq requests dollars from the Fed and then sells them to commercial banks and exchange houses at the official exchange rate through a mechanism known as the “dollar auction.”

In the past, daily sales through the auction often exceeded $200 million per day.

Ostensibly, the vast majority of the dollars sold in the auction are meant to go to purchases of goods imported by Iraqi companies, but the system has long been porous and easily abused, multiple Iraqi banking and political officials told The Associated Press. US officials confirmed to the AP that they suspected the system was used for money laundering but declined to comment in detail on the allegations or the new restrictions.

For years, large quantities of dollars were transferred out of the country to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Lebanon through “gray market trading, using fake invoices for overpriced items,” a financial adviser to the Iraqi prime minister said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The inflated invoices were used to launder dollars, with most of them sent to Iran and Syria, which are under US sanctions, leading to complaints from American officials, he said.

In other cases, the currency is smuggled across land borders under the protection of armed groups that take a cut of the cash, said Tamkeen Abd Sarhan al-Hasnawi, chairman of the board of Mosul Bank and first deputy of the Iraq Private Banks League. He estimated that as much as 80 percent of the dollars sold through the auction went to neighboring countries.

“Syria, Turkey, and Iran used to benefit from the dollar auction in Iraq,” he said.

A member of one of Iraq’s Iran-backed militias, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the subject, said the majority of Iraqi banks are owned indirectly by politicians and political parties that have also used the dollar auction to their benefit.

Late last year, the Fed began imposing stricter measures.

Among other steps, at the request of the US, the Central Bank of Iraq started using an electronic system for transfers that required entering detailed information on the intended

The amount of dollars sold daily in the auction plummeted to $69.6 million on Jan. 31, from $257.8 million six months earlier, according to Central Bank records. Far fewer of the dollars are going toward buying imports as well, down to around 34 percent from 90 percent.

Even when transactions are approved, it takes banks up to 15 days to get the funds rather than two or three days, Hasnawi said. Unable to get dollars at the official price through banks, he said, traders turned to the black market to buy dollars, causing the price to rise.

In November, the Central Bank of Iraq added four new banks to the list of those banned from dealing in dollars. Two US officials confirmed that the Fed requested the four banks be blocked because of suspected money laundering. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment on the case.

A spokesperson for the

New York Fed declined to discuss the specific measures taken with regards to Iraq. But the Fed said in a statement that it enforces “a robust compliance regime” for the accounts it holds.

The statement said that this regime “evolves over time in response to new information, which we gather in the regular course of monitoring transactions and events that may impact an account and in communication with other relevant US government agencies.”

The system of keeping Iraq’s oil revenues at the Fed was originally imposed by U.N. Security Council resolutions after the 2003 ouster of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein by the US-led invasion. Later, Iraq chose to maintain the system to protect its revenues against potential lawsuits, particularly in connection to Iraq’s 1990s invasion of Kuwait.

The new US restrictions come at a time of increased tensions between the US and Iran. Negotiations over a nuclear deal are floundering. Washington has imposed new sanctions and condemned Iran for cracking down on protesters and providing drones for Russia to use in Ukraine.

Also, in Iraq, allegations came to light in October that over $2.5 billion in Iraqi government revenue was embezzled by a network of businesses and officials from the country’s tax authority

The case “brought (US) attention to the scale of corruption in Iraq” and how the corruption can benefit Iran and other parties hostile to the US, said Harith Hasan, head of the Iraq unit at the Emirates Research Center, an Abu Dhabi-based think tank.

The new Iraqi prime minister, Mohammed Shia alSudani, who came to power via a coalition of Iranian-backed parties, does not have a strong relationship with the US that could have enabled him to soften the implementation of the new financial measures, Hasan said.

Al-Sudani has downplayed the current devaluation as “a temporary issue of trading and speculation.” He replaced the Central Bank governor and instituted measures intended to ensure a supply of dollars at the official rate.

Al-Hasnawi said the government’s recent measures will not stop the financial bleeding. If the current situation persists, he said, “within one year, most banks will declare bankruptcy” and there is likely to be mass civil unrest.

“This US pressure impacts the Iraqi street in a clear manner, and we do not see clear solutions until now,” he said.

AP staff reporters Samya Kullab in Baghdad and Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report. Sewell reported from Beirut.

BAGHDAD—For months, the United States has restricted Iraq’s access to its own dollars, trying to stamp out what Iraqi officials describe as rampant money laundering that benefits Iran and Syria. Iraq is now feeling the crunch, with a drop in the value of its currency and public anger blowing back against the prime minister.

Will WHO declare end of pandemic in April?

THe World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak as a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. On Monday, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cited a new report by the International Health Regulations emergency Committee, saying the Covid-19 pandemic is probably at a transition point, but “it continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern.”

“While the world is in a better position than it was during the peak of the Omicron transmission one year ago, more than 170,000 Covid-19-related deaths have been reported globally within the last eight weeks. In addition, surveillance and genetic sequencing have declined globally, making it more difficult to track known variants and detect new ones,” the report said.

The WHO chief said vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics remain critical in preventing severe disease, saving lives and taking the pressure off health systems and health workers. He lamented that Covid-19 response remains hobbled in too many countries unable to provide these tools to the populations most in need—older people and health workers.

Globally, he said 13.1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered, with 89 percent of health workers and 81 percent of older adults (over 60 years) having completed the primary series. “Significant progress has also been made in developing effective medical countermeasures; building global capacity for genomic sequencing and genomic epidemiology; and in understanding how to manage the infodemic in the new informational eco-system, including social media platforms.”

The WHO chief urged countries to remain vigilant and continue reporting surveillance and genomic sequencing data; to recommend appropriately targeted risk-based public health and social measures where necessary; to vaccinate populations most at risk to minimize severe disease and deaths; and to conduct regular risk communication, answering population concerns and engaging communities to improve the understanding and implementation of countermeasures.

From the Associated Press: “President Joe Biden informed Congress on Monday that he will end the twin national emergencies for addressing Covid-19 on May 11, as most of the world has returned closer to normalcy nearly three years after they were first declared. The move to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations would formally restructure the federal coronavirus response to treat the virus as an endemic threat to public health that can be managed through agencies’ normal authorities.”

From Bloomberg: “Japan is no longer the best-performing wealthy nation when it comes to avoiding Covid deaths. The country, which has one of the oldest populations in the world, is quietly experiencing its biggest outbreak of the pandemic. A wave of Omicron infections overwhelmed its health system this winter and delayed medical care for patients, sending daily deaths to a record high of more than 500 on January 14, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.”

In an article published in nature.com—When will Covid stop being a global emergency?—David Adam said many researchers agree with the WHO’s assessment that the Covid-19 outbreak will probably stop being a global emergency soon—but we’re not there just yet. He quoted Salim Abdool Karim, an epidemiologist who advises the South African government on Covid-19: “The WHO can’t say that the public-health emergency is over when you’ve got millions of cases and you’ve got thousands of deaths a day. For instance, China has seen a surge in infections and deaths across the country since lifting its zero-Covid policy at the end of last year.”

Preben Aavitsland, director for surveillance at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, said: “On the basis of its declaration that the Covid-19 crisis is at an inflection, the WHO’s emergency committee appears to be preparing to end the PHEIC (public health emergency of international concern) in April. As part of that transition, the WHO is encouraging countries to integrate Covid-19 surveillance and vaccination into routine programs. “I guess the WHO now will start making the plan for the transition and have this ready for the next meeting in three months’ time,” he said.

Redefining sustainable development, the Asean way

Angelica B. America

EAGLE WATCH

NOT very long ago, economic productivity was largely defined simply as an increase in economic output usually measured through the gross domestic product, regardless of the origin of the growth. This was usually coupled with preference for industrialization over agriculture, with the latter occupying more rudimentary stages according to classical models of growth, such as Rostow’s Stages of Growth. It is imperative, then, to discuss both the role of agriculture and the Fourth Industrial Revolution in fulfilling the sustainable development goals during the time of climate change and the still evolving Covid-19 pandemic.

Agricultural and industrial growth have traditionally been pitted against each other, as evidenced by models such as Rostow’s (1959), which posits that agricultural output and dependence ought to decrease as nations achieve economic maturity. True enough, many Asian economies attained progress through industrialization, particularly those dubbed “East Asian miracle economies”. Quibria (2002) discusses the role of capital accumulation and access to bigger markets and new technology as the primary sources of growth for these economies. The book further points out that while miracle economies did not explicitly discriminate against agriculture, much of the progress was achieved without it, and that its importance gradually diminished in favor of industrialized growth. This was also due to the fact that not all these economies were blessed initially with geographical features that would support a vibrant agricultural sector, and so industrialization was the more logical and feasible route to economic success.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with strict lockdowns underscored the importance of food security and, therefore, the need for a robust agricultural sector to serve national and regional demands. Liu, Wang, Yang, Rahman, and Sriboonchitta (2020) discuss policy options to sustainably strengthen the agricultural sector amid land degradation, water availability reduction, and other effects of climate change. The exponential increase in population inevitably increases the demand for food, thus making a case for agricultural productivity as one of the keys to SDGs 1 and 2, which are No Poverty and Zero Hunger, respectively. Whereas Viegelahn and Huyhn (2021) of the International Labour Organization note agriculture as one of the sectors less vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, the policy brief on the Asean labor market still lists rural agricultural productivity as one of the regional priorities for action, further underscoring its importance in achieving a “robust and inclusive socioeconomic recovery”

Success does not have to mean letting go of agriculture in favor of industrialization, as older developed economies elected to do and given the advantages which existed then and no longer hold true now. Newer technologies allow for multi-sectoral growth to include agriculture which can lead to resilient and sustainable development, paving the way to food security, stable income, and overall better standards of living for major stakeholders involved.

(Viegelahn and Huyhn, 2021).

Furthermore, intensifying the whole discourse on Asean regional growth is the discussion on the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how disruptive technologies involving AI, robotics, blockchain, and 3D printing hold the key to unlocking greater heights for the Asean Economic Community. Such a breakthrough will require regional cooperation and coordination unlike anything we have seen before and forge the path to the future following the Asean way, with opportunities to increase wealth while encouraging economic inclusion and connecting the unconnected (World Economic Forum & Asian Development Bank, 2017).

Interestingly, in this very revolutionary approach to regional development, agriculture is being given renewed emphasis, as the researchers recognize the crucial role of agriculture in many Asean countries, including the Philippines, and how climate change continues to make economic gains from this sector volatile at best. Thus, the 2017 study includes “Transforming Agriculture” as one of the opportunities for Asean

amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as new technologies could impact farming positively, with more connected farmers gaining timely access to market prices, weather information, and knowledge about soil, seeds, and fertilizer, and thus allowing them to further increase their productivity, profitability, and sustainability. These new technologies can also pave the way for disaster preparedness to curb the adverse effects of natural calamities such as typhoons and earthquakes, which have always rocked the agricultural supply chain of Asean, thereby affecting revenue streams from this sector.

Hence, from this discussion, we realize that the face of economic progress no longer lies in being able to produce and, therefore, earn more as a country, especially at this age when regional cooperation is given prime importance alongside achieving national growth. Furthermore, this progress lies with sustainable development that factors in external shocks aggravated by climate change and threats of another pandemic. Success does not have to mean letting go of agriculture in favor of industrialization, as older developed economies elected to do and given the advantages which existed then and no longer hold true now. Newer technologies allow for multi-sectoral growth to include agriculture which can lead to resilient and sustainable development, paving the way to food security, stable income, and overall better standards of living for major stakeholders involved.

Ms. Ma. Angelica B. America is a part-time faculty member who teaches SocSci13 (The Economy, Society, and Sustainable Development) in the School of Social Sciences of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Anti-Asian hate ‘runs the gamut,’ racist Yelp reviews show

By David Klepper | The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—As if running a restaurant during a pandemic wasn’t tough enough, Christopher Wong also had to contend with a racist troll.

“I will not have my dog eat in this place because they might cook him,” read the Yelp review of Wong’s eatery, the Curry Up Cafe in suburban Los Angeles. “The owner works for the Chinese government.”

Yelp removed the review after Wong and several regular customers complained, but not before it had already been seen by an unknown number of potential customers.

“If one person read that and decided not to come in, that’s someone who could have been a satisfied customer for years,” Wong told The Associated Press. Last year, Yelp, which is based in

San Francisco, removed more than 2,000 racist business reviews before they went online—a nearly tenfold jump over the year before.

It’s a sharp increase that reflects improved efforts by Yelp to combat racist content and shows how even a site known for reviews of restaurants and repair services can become ensnared in America’s ongoing battle over online civility. While the content included hate speech targeting Black, Latino and LGBTQ people, too, the largest increase was seen in reviews denigrating Asian Americans and Asian American-owned businesses, accord-

While the content included hate speech targeting Black, Latino and LGBTQ people, too, the largest increase was seen in reviews denigrating Asian Americans and Asian American-owned businesses, according to Yelp, which included the figures in its annual trust and safety report, released Wednesday.

ing to Yelp, which included the figures in its annual trust and safety report, released Wednesday.

In 2021, Yelp proactively removed only nine posts that included antiAsian hate. In 2022, it removed 475.

Yelp first began tracking racial hate speech on its platform in 2020, just as Asian Americans experienced a rise in racially motivated hatred related to Covid-19, which was first

identified in China. Then-President Donald Trump added to the controversy, referring to the coronavirus as “kung flu” and “ the Chinese virus.”

In that context, an increase in racist restaurant reviews isn’t surprising, according to University of Michigan marketing professor Justin Huang, author of a recent study that found Asian restaurants saw an 18 percent drop in customers compared with non-Asian restaurants in the same communities in 2020, equating to more than $7 billion in lost revenue.

“We’ve seen an increase in violent incidents, in random attacks,” Huang said. “Anti-Asian stigmatization during the pandemic really runs the gamut.”

In total, Yelp said, it removed 26,500 business reviews last year that violated its rules about hate

See “Anti-Asian,” A17

Ma.

Japan’s UN Human Rights 2023 report silent on comfort women issues

Dennis Gorecho

Flowers For lolas

JApAN’S report during the Fourth Cycle of the United Nations’ Universal periodic Review of Human Rights is incomplete due to its silence on the comfort women issue.

Through the Universal Periodic Review, the Human Rights Council will review, on a periodic basis, the fulfillment by each of the 193 United Nations Member States of their human rights obligations and commitments.

A review of a State is based on: (a) a national report prepared by the State under review; (b) a compilation of United Nations information on the State under review prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR); and (c) a summary of information submitted by other stakeholders (including civil society actors, national human rights institutions and regional organizations), also prepared by OHCHR.

During the fourth UPR cycle, States are again expected to spell out steps they have taken to implement recommendations posed during their previous reviews, which they committed to follow up on, and highlight recent human rights developments in the country.

On the occasion of the fourth review last January 31, 2023, supporters of the comfort women campaign, led by the Flowers for Lolas, converged in front of the Japanese embassy in Pasay City as they urged Japan to finally acknowledge its war crimes against Asian nations and take the necessary steps toward a fair and long overdue resolution of the issue.

While declaring its achievements in various human rights areas such as trafficking in persons, promotion of women’s rights, anti-discrimination, hate speech, human rights education, among others, the Japanese government was completely silent on the “comfort women” system, which is also at the core of these issues.

It also totally ignored the recommendations made by other countries —particularly China and South Korea during the Third Cycle Review in 2017—for Japan to finally address this long-standing issue.

Aside from the recent 2023 review, Japan’s human rights  record was already reviewed thrice—May 2008, October 2012, and November 2017.

The former High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, said in a 2014 statement that Japan “has failed to pursue a comprehensive, impartial and lasting resolution” to address the rights of so-called “comfort women”.

“It pains me to see that these courageous women, who have been fighting for their rights, are passing away one by one, without their rights restored and without receiving the reparation to which they are

Anti-Asian . . .

continued from A16

speech, threats or lewdness, an overall increase of 1,300 over the year before.

Similar to the increase in antiAsian content, Yelp proactively removed hundreds of reviews containing anti-LGBTQ hate speech last year. Similar content has thrived on social media, both on fringe sites popular with extremists as well as broad platforms like Twitter, which has experienced a rise in racist posts following its purchase by e lon Musk.

Yelp has fine-tuned its efforts to identify and remove racist con-

It has been almost eight decades since the war ended on August 15, 1945, and yet the Japanese government still refuses to recognize its official accountability to the victims of sex slavery.

entitled,” Pillay stressed. She underscored that the issue of “comfort women” is not relegated to history, but continues to impede violations of victims’ human rights.

The UN Committee on Human Rights earlier called for access to justice and reparations for victims and their families, the disclosure of all evidence available, and education in the country surrounding the issue.

About 200,000 women from Korea, China, Burma, New Guinea, and the Philippines were abducted, trafficked, or brought to the Japanese military camps, and many thousands more were raped as part of one of the largest operations of sexual violence in modern history.

The girls had their own dreams and visions for the future. All these were shattered.

The military sexual slavery enforced by Japan is a war crime and atrocious human rights violation, as confirmed by major international and domestic institutions.

Historians have determined that there was a range of force or coercion used against comfort women wherein the violence and threats were endemic.

As a result of the actions of their Japanese tormentors, the victims have spent their lives in misery, having endured physical injuries, pain and disability, and mental and emotional suffering.

From the more than 200 documented survivors in the late 1990s, less than 50 Filipino comfort women are still alive.

This highlights a sense of urgency for them to receive a formal unequivocal public apology and just compensation from Japan as well as accurate historical inclusion while their voices can still be heard.

It has been almost eight decades since the war ended on August 15, 1945, and yet the Japanese government still refuses to recognize its official accountability to the victims of sex slavery.

Justice has not yet been given to these women. Their fight continues up to this day.

The Lolas are dying and we must not allow the issue to die with them.

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez. com, or call 0917-5025808 or 0908-8665786.

tent since the pandemic began. In 2020, the platform started allowing businesses to identify that they had a Black, Latino, Asian or LGBTQ owner. As part of the designation, Yelp proactively assesses customer reviews for hate speech before they are posted online.

Noorie Malik, Yelp’s vice president of user operations, said the company is “aggressive” when it comes to taking down “unreliable” reviews, including those that contain hate speech.

“The trust and safety of the Yelp community is a top priority,” Malik wrote in a statement e-mailed to the AP. “Which is why we continue to heavily invest in both technology and human moderation.”

A writer’s delicate sense of the terrifying

Tito Genova Valiente

annoTaTions

IN Neni Sta. Romana-Cruz’s world of terror, memory is an insidious instrument. Houses ancestral are remembered, deaths of loved ones are recalled but it is in the remembering that the past haunts not as a metaphor but as the present accommodating what should have been gone, or vanished. And so we meet once more those who have long ago died and we see those that are supposed to be unseen. The terror is in the fact that our logical way of perceiving is not only put to task but also tested for applicability. Thus, in the narrators presented by Romana-Cruz in her collection of gothic tales, there is always a person whose claim to reality is impeccable but is nevertheless forced to admit that there are separate realities beyond what has been taught to us by our teachers or confessors. And these are nice, normal people.

Like Stephen King, RomanaCruz does not “write about the old standard where some rotten guy gets chased by a mean spirit that gets him in the end.” She is like King who would “rather write about nice people that are menaced from outside by some sort of evil power and who sort of slug it out.” The only big difference is no character from Romana-Cruz’s oeuvre ever fights the phantasm or the ghost except for one story, the first in the collection. Titled Restless Spirits on the Hill the story contains a suite of appearances in a house and closes with the episode on two helpers, Dodo and Crisanto. Dodo died of “bangungut” and, “Crisanto was shaken by Dodo’s death because he had been asked by Dodo that evening to rouse him, should he start talking or groaning in his sleep. Crisanto did hear his gasps that night but chose to ignore them. And Crisanto found himself with such a burden of guilt after that.” The last line in this paragraph is first-class terror: “Dodo never made him forget that he had been let down.” Guilt scares.

Romana-Cruz continues with the story of two helpers: “Two weeks after Dodo died, Crisanto was also found dead in his quarters. And when discovered, Crisanto’s position, with arms poised in self-defense and his eyes wide open in shock, was sufficient evidence that Crisanto was frightened to death.” In this episode,

the unsaid—did Dodo really believe it was Crisanto’s fault that he died in his sleep? Did Dodo attack Crisanto or simply scare him?—is the source of true terror.

sions would yield “facts” verifiable against data pertaining to the last world war, where American soldiers died in the Philippines. The sessions are so successful that even the date of death for the soldier is specified and the cause of death (“struck on the head by a piece of wood”). The murderer is identified as well. Unexpected in the tale are human emotions expressed by souls roaming, it seems, for eternity, because of unfinished business. In one session, the medium through which Stephen Davies speaks, gives the reason for his manifestations: “I want to be remembered. I miss my family. I am lonely.”

Love is not the only element that reaches from the great Beyond; enchantment is also a thread that weaves throughout the narrative of this book called The Uninvited Guests from Bikol. Gothic Tales

T he cultural anthropologist and folklorist will be amused at the tales contained in this book as the elemental consorts with the spirits of the dead, the poltergeist or trickster ghosts work with the poised white

horrible, we can always step back and read such action as ancestors welcoming into the clan a new member! In a dark manner.

Still on the structure: ancestral homes are not always the de-facto haunting ground of spirits because even newly constructed bungalows are possible hosts for ghosts. In Romana-Cruz’s reframing of these stories, the coziest places become the breeding ground for ghastly apparitions; gardens with orchids and huge trees cease to be pastoral settings but territories demarcated by those beings who were there at the same time as the ancient trees. Not ancient ruins. Not cemeteries. Not abandoned villages.

Where lies then the horror of these modern gothic tales? They are in the realization that these beings or spirits are there without any invite and yet they demand respect and ritual obeisance. The notion that in your room is an invisible force, or that gracious orchids hide malevolence doubly invoke fear.

The second story is about the ghost of an American soldier who comes back to haunt a place, which turns out to be the site where he was murdered. The killer is a Filipino. Conflating war history with the macabre imaginary, Stephen Davies, Death on the Campus, fleshes itself through a series of seances and parapsychological processes. Said ses-

lady. It is true what Claude LeviStrauss and the other structuralists say about myths: the elements may change but the structure remains the same. We encounter goblins or duwendes but we also apprehend souls of grandmothers refusing to leave the house. While the prospect of witnessing a relative long dead watching over an infant is grimly

Where lies the splendor of this rendezvous with the unexplainable? They are there in the readiness of humans to coexist with the “nonhumans.” As the narrator in Strange Air in Bel-air says, “Besides, we would rather be on friendly terms with these spirits.” Neni Sta. RomanaCruz, the author, is a noted journalist and writer and former Chair of the National Book Development Board. The illustrations for the book are by John Sherwin Acampado, the resident artist of Savage Mind Bookshop. His charcoal drawings invoke the ephemeral in images that anytime can vanish into thin air or fade into darkness.

The Uninvited Guests from Bikol. Gothic Tales is published by the Ateneo de Naga University Press. Cover and book design is by Ryan C. Cuatrona.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Merck Covid drug linked to new virus mutations, study says

By John Lauerman | Bloomberg Opinion

MeRCk & Co.’s Covid-19 pill is giving rise to new mutations of the virus in some patients, according to a study that underscores the risk of trying to intentionally alter the pathogen’s genetic code.

Some researchers worry the drug may create more contagious or health-threatening variations of Covid, which has killed more than 6.8 million people globally over the past three years.

Mutations linked to the use of Merck’s pill, Lagevrio, have been identified in viral samples taken from dozens of patients, according to a preprint study from researchers in the US and at the Francis Crick Institute, Imperial College London and other UK institutions.

The drug-linked mutations of the virus haven’t been shown to be more immune-evasive or lethal yet, according to the study published Friday without peer review on the medRxiv website. But their very existence highlights what some scientists say are potential risks in wider use of the drug, which was recently cleared in China.

Lagevrio works by creating mutations in the Covid genome that prevent the virus from replicating in the body, reducing the chances it will cause severe illness. Some scientists had warned before it was authorized in late 2021 that by virtue of how it works, the drug could give rise to mutations that could turn out to be problematic. The preprint paper has reawakened those worries about the Merck drug.

“There’s always been this under-

lying concern that it could contribute to a problem generating new variants,” said Jonathan Li, a virologist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “This has largely been hypothetical, but this preprint validates a lot of those concerns.”

Merck response

MeRCK disputes the view that its d rug is causing problematic variants.

“There is no evidence to indicate that any antiviral agent has contributed to the emergence of circulating variants,” Merck spokesman Robert Josephson said in an e-mail in response to questions about the study. “Based on available data we do not believe that Lagevrio (molnupiravir) is likely to contribute to the development of new meaningful coronavirus variants.”

He said new mutations have emerged over the course of the pandemic due to the virus spreading uncontrollably and Lagevrio can form an important part of the solution, he said. Merck pointed to research done in animals that showed its drug didn’t cause mutations.

The study authors assume the mutations were associated with molnupiravir treatment, but don’t have direct proof that the mutations arose in patients who took their

drug, Josephson said in a followup e-mail. Instead, the researchers drew their conclusions from “circumstantial associations between viral sequence origin and timeframe of sequence collection in countries where molnupiravir is available,” Josephson said.  Merck fell as much as 1.2 percent in New York Wednesday, recovering some losses to close down 0.4 percent. The US Food and Drug Administration, which authorized Lagevrio in late 2021, said it doesn’t comment on third-party research and works with Covid drugmakers to assess their products’ activity against variants.

Preprint

M A JOR scientific journals don’t publish studies until the completion of a “peer review” process in which the research is scrutinized by outside experts. During the pandemic, scientists increasingly started publishing their research on what are known as “preprint servers” prior to exhaustive reviews, in an attempt to advance the science more quickly and share urgent findings.

Researchers found Lagevrioinduced mutations in small patient clusters, indicating the new versions were spreading among them. While the biggest group they found with similar mutations was 21 people, that may not fully represent the true scope of the problem as viral samples of many patients aren’t analyzed, according to Ryan Hisner, an independent researcher from Indiana who helped write the paper.

The researchers looked at some 13 million viral genomes in data-

bases around the world. The druglinked mutations were proportionally more common in countries and groups where Lagevrio was likely to be used, especially the US and Australia, where it was introduced early.

The signature mutations are less frequent in Canada, France, and other countries where the drug isn’t used.

“These effects are visible in these databases,” said Theo Sanderson, a Crick Institute geneticist who led the study. “It appears that people are being treated, some of them aren’t clearing their infections, and some are passing them on.”

The risk of drug-linked mutations is too great to continue using Merck’s drug, Hisner said. The US should explore authorizing drugs used in other countries to control Covid, like Xocova from Japanbased Shionogi & Co., and discontinue use of Lagevrio, said Michael Lin, a Stanford University antiviral drug researcher who said he consulted with the authors but wasn’t involved in the study. China cleared Lagevrio late last year and Shionogi said it’s in the final stages of discussions with the country’s regulators over its Covid drug.

“It’s a very distressing situation,” said Lin. “There’s no evidence that any of these mutants is worse in any way — not yet — but it’s well agreed that you’re playing with fire if you’re creating random mutations and hoping nothing bad will come of it.”

Sanderson declined to comment on whether doctors should continue using Merck’s drug, saying the study doesn’t address the issue. With assistance from Robert Langreth and Nacha Cattan / Bloomberg

A18 Friday, February 3, 2023

As Austin visits, US, PHL agree on 4 new EDCA sites

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM & Jim Gomez, The Associated Press

THE United States and the Philippines have designated four more additional locations for the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), as both countries agreed to accelerate the full implementation of the agreement housing American troops and their equipment in Philippine military camps in strategic areas of the country.

T he plans to expand America’s military presence in the Southeast Asian nation were announced amid Washington’s efforts to deter China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.

T he designation of four additional sites under EDCA was announced on Thursday after visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III held separate meetings with officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

“ The addition of these new EDCA locations will allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climaterelated disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges,” the US and the Philippines said in a statement issued by the two countries.

The EDCA is a key pillar of the US-Philippines alliance, which supports combined training, exercises, and interoperability between our forces. Expansion of the EDCA will make our alliance stronger and more resilient, and will accelerate modernization of our combined military capabilities,” it added.

T he designation of four additional locations will bring to a total

number of nine the sites that will be hosting rotating US forces and their equipment under the EDCA, which was signed by the US and the Philippines in 2014, partly to counter China in the West Philippine Sea and ensure the availability of American troops to assist the Philippines in responding to effects of natural calamities.

P reviously, both countries had designated five locations for EDCA: the Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, which is closest to the Kalayaan Island Group; Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the country’s largest military camp; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu in the Visayas and Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City in Mindanao.

Two months ago, the Philippine military disclosed that the US has identified and asked for five additional locations for EDCA—one site each in Palawan, Zambales and Isabela and two sites in Cagayan.

A s both countries have agreed to accelerate full implementation of the 2014 agreement, Thursday’s statement said the US has allocated more than $82 million for “infrastructure investments” at the existing five ECDA sites, and these investments are “supporting economic growth and job creation

PHL ranks 8th among countries with most crypto account owners

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

NEARLY 7 million Filipinos owned cryptocurrency accounts nationwide, placing the country eighth among the number of crypto owners, according to London-based research firm CoinJournal.

T he data showed there were a total of 6.99 million Filipinos or 6.13 percent of the population with a cryptocurrency account. The top three in the world are the United States, Vietnam and Pakistan.

T here were also a total of 46 blockchains in financial services startups with an estimated realized cryptocurrency gain of $989.86 million. There were 36 cryptocurrency companies in the Philippines.

“Cryptocurrency is one of the fastest-growing industries on the planet, from what once was simply a form of electronic cash, to a global financial revolution that has created billionaire investors and piqued the interests of celebrities all over the world,” CoinJournal said.

C oinJournal ranked cryptocurrency countries globally by the number of crypto owners by country, and the percentage of the population involved in crypto from 2021.

MERALCO COMMISSIONS LAGUNA SWITCHING SITE

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

in local Philippine communities.”

The United States and the Philippines have committed to move quickly in agreeing to the necessary plans and investments for the new and existing EDCA locations,” the statement said.

‘Not permanent basing’

AT a news briefing held by Galvez and Austin, the US defense secretary made it clear that the US was “not seeking a permanent basing” in the Philippines through the EDCA, instead they were looking at access and the opportunity for the US to increase its training activities with the Philippines.

It’s about having the ability to respond in a more collective fashion . . . so this is an opportunity to increase our effectiveness, increase interoperability,” Austin explained. A lthough four additional sites have been designated, Galvez refused to identify their new locations, saying they still have to complete consultations with local officials who have jurisdiction over the sites.

B efore the news briefing, Galvez and Austin met and discussed how the US and the Philippines could

make their alliance more robust.

We talked about enhancing our mutual defense posture and strengthening our commitments under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Austin said, referring to the 1951 treaty between Washington and Manila.

President Biden has made clear America’s commitment to the defense of the Philippines is iron clad, our alliance makes both of our democracies more secure and helps uphold a free and open IndoPacific,” he added.

T he US defense secretary affirmed the commitment, saying the “Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, public vessels or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea.”

I n the Philippines, Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia and a key front in the US battle against terrorism, Austin visited Zamboanga city and met Filipino generals and a small contingent of US counterterrorism forces based in a local military camp, regional Philippine military commander Lt. Gen. Roy Galido said.

Continued on A5

THE Manila Electric Company has recently commissioned its new La Mesa 115 kilovolts (kV)

Switching Station in Laguna.

T he project, which aims to improve the system reliability and power quality in the area, involved the commissioning of a gas circuit breaker, three sets of disconnect switches, and standard connection and metering facilities for the Philippine office of STMicroelectronics Inc. (STMI), the largest European semiconductor contract manufacturing and design company.

T he new switching station will facilitate the upgrading of STMI’s electric service to 115 kV from 34.5 kV and accommodate the projected increase in its demand to 13.5 megawatts (MW) this year, and 20MW by 2027.

M eralco said the fivemonth construction of the switching station was made possible by the collaboration of the One Meralco Group

through MServ, one of the largest Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection (MEPF) contractors and energy service companies (ESCO) in the Philippines, and Miescor, one of the country’s leading service providers of engineering, construction, and maintenance service.

M eanwhile, a Meralco subsidiary has turned over the solar rooftop projects for The Orchard Golf and Country Club and Biostar NutriProducts, Inc.

Spectrum said it recently held a ceremonial turnover of solar rooftop projects.  S pectrum’s partnership with The Orchard involves solar panels with combined capacity of 99.9-kilowatt-peak (kWp) installed at the latter’s sports and leisure facility in Dasmariñas, Cavite.  S pectrum’s project with Biostar, a licensed distributor and manufacturer of animal health products in the country, involves a 24.96-kWp rooftop facility at the latter’s poultry farm in San Pablo City, Laguna.

T he firm also looked at the number of cryptocurrency owners by country, investment companies, crypto startups, and the estimated average gains from crypto per country.

I n terms of gains, the US, United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Vietnam were the top countries. The US had realized cryptocurrency gains amounting to $46.95 billion while Vietnam had $3.4 billion.

“ With billion-dollar companies having easy access to trading applications, the modernisation of fintech has allowed the biggest companies in the world to become even more powerful,” CoinJournal said.

“ The huge rise in media attention has made crypto trading more attractive and accessible for investors from all corners of the world to get involved in financial technology,” it added.

CoinJournal said the first cryptocurrency solutions had to be found in order to trade them. In 2013, Bitcoin managed to reach parity with the US Dollar. Since then, CoinJournal said, investors have chosen to buy Bitcoin as the currency became greater in value. Big cryptocurrency hotspots like the USA, India and the UK have shown a keen interest in trading.

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) posted another record-breaking feat after its total income for 2022 reached P58.96 billion, a 66.16-percent increase compared to its P35.48 billion total income in 2021.

T he biggest contributor to PAGCOR’s revenue achievement was its income from gaming operations, which reached P55.05 billion. This amount is 68.71 percent higher than the P32.63-billion earnings in the previous year.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco expressed optimism that the gaming industry will continue its growth momentum in the coming years.

“ Looking at PAGCOR’s upward revenue trend since the first quarter of 2022 up to the end of the

year, as well as the recovery path of other gaming hubs in Asia like Singapore and Macau, we are confident that the Philippine gaming sector will be able to fully recover,

or even surpass its pre-pandemic earnings soon,” he said.

T he gaming industry’s robust performance in 2022 was also attributed to the opening of Philippine borders to local and foreign tourists, which also improved the performance of the travel, entertainment, and hospitality sectors.

Since the lockdowns were eased in the country last year and gaming venues reopened, customer confidence slowly returned and the attendance in our owned casinos slowly improved. Our licensed casinos likewise recorded a major revenue growth,” Tengco said.

W ith the significant revenue increase, PAGCOR’s contribution to nation-building also increased by 51.30 percent—from P22.91

billion in 2021 to P34.67 billion in 2022.

O f this amount, the lion’s share of P26.15 billion went to the National Treasury as 50 percent government share. PAGCOR also allocated P3.63 billion for the government’s sociocivic programs. Likewise, P2.75 billion was given to the Bureau of Internal Revenue as 5-percent franchise tax, while the Board of Claims under the Department of Justice received P33.76 million.

T he agency also remitted P1.30 billion to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as its 5-percent share and additional P64.39 million as Sports Incentives and Benefits. Cities hosting PAGCOR’s Casino Filipino branches also received P451.72 million.

PAGCOR records ₧58.96-B revenues in ’22

PNP National Capital Region Highway Patrol Group personnel flag down vehicles with unauthorized or improvised plates along Kalaw Street in Manila on Thursday, February 2, 2023, in the HPG’s continuing campaign against criminality with the aid of stolen vehicles. Vehicles with unauthorized emergency blinkers also received confiscation tickets and were asked to remove and surrender the blinkers. ROY DOMINGO

TENGCO

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

Friday, February 3, 2023

Robinsons Retail ‘22 profit breaches pre-Covid level

By VG Cabuag @villygc

“In 2022, our businesses directly benefitted from the economy’s gradual return to normalcy, including back to face-to-face classes in schools, increased travel and tourism, and the first normal holiday season in two years,” the company said.

The surge in profitability is also due to the contributions from all business segments coming from category mix improvements and operating efficiencies.

The company said its income last year had already eclipsed the prepandemic level by 41 percent. ea rnings per share rose by 30 percent for the full year to P3.85 per share, supported by the company’s ongoing stock buyback program.

Core earnings, or its net income excluding foreign exchange, interest income from bonds, equitized earn-

ings from Robinsons Bank, among others, accelerated by 39 percent to P5.3 billion, also a record high.

Revenues for the 12-month period rose 16 percent to P178.82 billion from the previous year’s P153.32 billion.

This was driven by same store sales growth of 11.8 percent as well as new store openings.

ties up with DENR for climate resilience program

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

The Department of environment and Natural Resources (DeNR) has partnered with the e n ergy Development Corp. (eDC) to develop a strategic program that will complement and enhance the existing climate action and resilience initiatives of local government units (LGUs).

Dubbed “TRANSFORM” or Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and environmental Sustainability

Through Multistakeholder engagement, the program supports the agency’s environment and Natural Resources ( eNR) framework that is envisioned to be scaled up and adopted by LGUs throughout the Philippines.

“Synergizing best practices from both government and the private sector, the program can thus serve as a template and be replicated to strategically multiply our efforts in fighting the accelerating climate emergency,” e D C Assistant Vice President Allan V. Barcena said in a statement.

TRANSFORM will be piloted in Ormoc City, Leyte, home to e D C’s largest geothermal site, in cooperation with the LGU and the National Resilience Council (NRC), Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Peace and e q uity Foundation (PeF ), and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF).

“ e s sentially, our localized sustainability and resilience program will now be boosted by the DeN R to offer higher level solutions to raising ecological integrity and improving socio-economic conditions, not only for Ormocanons, but for the surrounding municipalities as well,” said Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez said.

The multi-sectoral partners signed a pledge of commitment signifying their partnership toward the achievement of shared goals at the DeNR Multistakeholder Forum held last January 18 and 19 at the Grand Xing Imperial hotel in Iloilo City.

The e N R framework seeks to measure positive impact on communities in terms of environmental, social, and economic gains.

To this end, LGUs have existing programs in place that cover human development, infrastructure,

environmental resilience, and economic resilience.

De N R and e D C have developed five modules that strengthen these existing programs in various aspects:

n Biodiversity—profiling and inventory of flora and fauna for enterprise development;

n Greenhouse Gas (GhG) Accounting—including assistance in project design for mitigation measures under the LGU’s local climate change action plan (LCCAP);

n Financial Literacy—basic bookkeeping processes as well as revenue and reinvestment analysis as template for the annual audit of livelihood projects;

n Disaster Management— training on disaster awareness, preparedness and response for both natural and man-made disasters, including knowledge and analyzed data sharing as well as climate scenario analysis and protocols; and,

n Nature-based Solutions—carbon policies, tenure instruments and other approaches to environmental resilience.

These modules aim to produce ecological, social, and economic gains in terms of reducing supply chain disruption and enhancing the water-energy-food nexus; contribute inputs to the LGU’s LCCAP and comprehensive land use plan (CLUP); and expand options for enterprise development from the inventory of the local biodiversity.

Overall, the modules are targeting to realize gains in augmenting fund allocations for LGU projects by requiring less budget and contributing more taxes from livelihood activities.

“Through the complementation of the efforts of the LGU, De N R, e D C, NRC, PBSP, PeF, ZFF, and nonprofit partners, we want to meet the overall goal of the eNR to improve the environmental integrity of the area, to improve people’s wellbeing and to achieve a robust local economy,” said Barcena. eD C has over 1,480MW total installed capacity which accounts for 19 percent of the country’s total installed renewable energy capacity, while its 1,188MW geothermal portfolio comprises 62 percent of the country’s total installed geothermal capacity and makes it the third largest geothermal producer in the world.

“Building on the momentum last year, our company will continue to take advantage of the economy’s return to normal. We will focus on improving store efficiency and increasing market coverage with more stores in the pipeline for 2023,” Robina Gokongwei Pe, the company’s president and C e O, said.

Changes in category mix and

economies of scale enabled the company to grow its gross profit faster than sales, rising by almost 20 percent for the full year to P42.2 billion.

The company announced last month that it would purchase a minority stake in Bank of the Philippine Islands.

The company said its board has approved the acquisition of the 4.4-percent effective equity interest of Arran Investment Pte. Ltd., an affiliate of GIC Private Ltd., in BPI.

Through redeemable preferred shares Arran currently owns 21.9 percent of Liontide holdings Inc., which in turn has a 20-percent equity interest in BPI.

Robinsons Retail will eventually own 6.8 percent in BPI, as the firm already has a 2.4-percent stake after the lender approved a merger with Robinsons Bank last year.

B1

Aboitiz, Yuchengco units seal RE deal

SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) said Thursday it will source a total of 47.5 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (R e) from two Yuchengco-led R e producers to service the growing customers of SNAP’s Retail electricity Supply arm Magat-R eS SNAP said Thursday it entered into power supply partnerships with PetroGreen energy Corp. (PGeC ) and PetroSolar Corp. (PSC). Tapping PGeC and PSC is meant to support the growing needs of Magat-R eS existing and potential customers. Under the off-take arrangement, SNAP secured 27.5 MWdc with PGeC and 20 MWdc with PSC.

“Partnerships and synergies are always in the market, but it is particularly exceptional when we do it with companies who share similar values, traits, and beliefs,” said SNAP Group President and C e O Joseph Yu.

PGeC and PSC own and operate geothermal, wind, and solar generation facilities across the Philippines.

Aside from Yu, SNAP-R eS CeO Senen Fenomeno, PSC and PGeC President Milagros Reyes, PSC and PGeC VP & COO Francisco Delfin Jr. were present during the signing ceremony.

“This partnership between SNAP and our companies is a fulfillment of our shared commitment of supporting energy security for the country through renewable energy,” said Reyes. “It’s easy working with SNAP because we both have a clear understanding of our respective aspirations, and so we positively see areas for a winning partnership.”

SNAP is a joint venture of Scatec and Aboitiz Power Corp. Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider based in Norway.

SNAP owns and operates the 112.5-MW Ambuklao and 140-MW Binga hydroelectric power plants in Benguet; the 388-MW Magat hydroelectric power plant on the border of Isabela and Ifugao; and the 8.5-MW Maris hydroelectric power plant in Isabela. Lenie Lectura

EDC

Robinsons Retail Holdings inc., the retail arm of the Gokongwei Group, said it posted a record attributable net income of P5.73 billion last year, some 26 percent higher than the previous year’s P4.52 billion.

ACEN takes full ownership of Australian joint venture

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The acquisition transforms the UPC\AC Renewables Australia joint venture into ACEN Australia, the company’s first wholly owned development and operating platform outside of the Philippines.

The acquisition results in the full ownership by ACEN of the 521 MW New England solar farm and the 520 MW Stubbo solar farm in Australia, as well as the development pipeline of ACEN Australia spanning New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia.

“ACEN, through its subsidiary, ACEN Renewables International (ACRI), today completed its previously announced acquisition of the Australia development platform,” ACEN said Thursday.

ACRI and UPCAPH signed an Instrument of Transfer for the trans-

fer to ACRI of UPCAPH’s remaining 4,766 ordinary shares in UPC-AC Energy Australia (HK) Limited, which completes the second and final tranche of ACRI’s acquisition of ACEN Australia.

With this, ACEN, through ACRI, now wholly owns ACEN Australia.

The first tranche of the acquisition was completed in March last year with the signing of a share purchase agreement among ACRI, UPCAPH and Anton Rohner, the chief executive officer of UPC-AC Renewables.

The payment for the first and second tranches was adjusted to $173,089,643. “Our original dis-

Meta Capital opens new office in PHL

closure was for a consideration of up to $243 million…After adjustment, the final consideration is about $173 million,” said ACEN.

Australia is ACEN’s biggest market outside of the Philippines to date, with over 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects under construction.

ACEN is targeting to reach 20 gigawatts of renewables capacity by 2030. It is also committed to transition the company’s generation portfolio to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 and to become a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050.

At present, it has about 4,000 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Australia, with a renewable share of 98 percent, which is among the highest in the region.

Globe unit deploys 133,400 fiber lines

META Capital Inc., which has opened a new office in country, is bullish on its business prospects in the Philippines.

Moving in to the Alveo Financial Tower along Ayala Avenue in Makati City from its original headquarters in Gil Puyat Avenue since its inception in 2019, the new site is strategically located at the heart of the country’s foremost financial hub.

According to Meta Capital Inc. CEO Kang Min Xin, such initiative forms part of their aggressive expansion moving forward.

“Meta Capital Philippines was rebranded during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said during the grand opening of the local subsidiary’s new office on Wednesday.

With the imminent end of the health crisis, the Metal Capital executive said the Singapore-based asset management arm of Grandway Family Office had expanded and established new facilities in Thailand and Vietnam.

“That’s because we saw so many turnaround opportunities. Crisis

is often the turning point for the better.”

“We believe that even with this uncertainty that we have, there’s still opportunity,” Bryan Ko, head of investments for the Philippine market, told the BusinessMirror in an interview.

Domestically, for instance, he said even if there is high inflation rate and interest rates at the moment, the country’s GDP growth still averaged 7 percent.

“So that is one of the key drivers for us. And aside from that, it is very evident that during the past pandemic and right now we have the recovery period, we see that there is a need for this type of service because there are a lot of people really seeing this time as their opportunity to grow their wealth as well.”

Meta Capital Inc. said it seeks to uplift economies through investments in environmental, social, and governance or ESG and next-generation technologies, while providing its business partners with strategic access and invest to Southeast Asian markets. Roderick L. Abad

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

GLOBE Telecom Inc. said its unit Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services Inc. (FINSI) deployed over 133,400 fiber lines in 2022.

In a statement, Globe said FINSI, a subsidiary of Asticom Group of Companies, deployed the fiber lines in Metro Manila and Southern Luzon, including Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Mindoro, Palawan and Bicol.

“FINSI will continue its work in connecting homes throughout the country. We aim to continuously grow to provide innovative services to our clients and serve more Filipinos,” said Marc Kerveillant, FINSI General Manager.

To support its rapid expansion, he said FINSI is seeking to hire more people and open up more opportunities for Filipinos with a focus on utilizing Filipino talent with world-class expertise in the telecommunications field.

FINSI provides engineering and infrastructure solutions to industries beyond telco. It plans to expand into the energy and infrastructure sectors in the future as part of its continued growth.

“Asticom, together with all of our subsidiaries, exists for the improvement of Filipino lives. This includes efforts in helping our fellow Filipinos transition to digital, turning our country into a more connected nation,” Asticom Group of Companies President and CEO, Mharicar Castillo-Reyes said.

ACEN Renewables International (ACRI), a subsidiary of Ayalaled ACEN Corp., took full control of UPC Renewables Asia Pacific Holdings (UPCAPH) after completing the second and final tranche of the acquisition.

Banking&Finance

Decision making don’ts

IHAVE always enjoyed reading Dean West’s blogs, which are insightful and laced with a bit of humor. Dean is founder and president of Association Laboratory Inc., a US firm that provides quality information and strategic insights to association leaders.

Below are my takeaways on common decision-making mistakes by associations from Dean’s recent blog Associations Pronounced Dead by Unanimous Decision, combined with my own experiences.

1. Having many decision layers that don’t add value. More often than not, many associations have multi-tiered decision making process that involves different committees in approving, say, a service provider contract.

There is perhaps a procurement committee, an executive committee, the Board, and in some associations, a Board selection subcommittee. The more layers you have that don’t really add any tangible value in the decision making process, the more it is dragging and disadvantageous to your association.

2. Asking the wrong decisionmakers to make decisions. It is fascinating and most often frustrating from the point of view of the association professional staff to see a group of volunteer members trying to make a decision on what is good for the organization but not having the necessary knowledge or skill to make one.

For instance, on deciding a new membership model: do you think, even with best intentions, this volunteer group, without working with the professional staff, would come up with a membership model that is realistically applicable to the association? Asking your volunteers to make decisions for which they don’t have the experience nor the expertise is a flaw that has negative consequences for your association.

3. Making decisions on stale or outdated data. Situations around the world constantly evolve and changes have been inevitable. So do your members’ needs and expectations, as amplified by the pandemic. To think that the environment around

BIR files 74 tax evasion cases

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

you stalls and data you’ve collected from your members’ surveys is good for a couple of years is unrealistic. This, too, relates to the need for an equally evolving decision-making system to continuously track, analyze, interpret, and adapt your strategy accordingly.

You also need the competencies and capacity built into your association to do this critical work. Pretending the world will not change and refusing to build the necessary decision-making infrastructure to adapt to this change would be detrimental to your association.

4. Having a short-sighted decision-making culture that disregards risk as a fundamental necessity. Associations are structurally overcautious and risk-averse organizations in that making fast and effective decisions is hard to come by.

But it is common knowledge that a well-informed risk-taking is necessary for organizational growth and success. There are two main reasons there isn’t much risk-taking in associations.

First, the chief executive is not incentivized by taking a strategic risk. If you take a risk and fail, you are either fired or asked to resign. If you take risk and win, you may get a “pat in the back” but no real perk or benefit; just doing your job.

Second, if you’re a Board member, you may make a big decision; but you won’t be around to see if it works and be recognized if it did due to Board term limits. And if you bungle this decision, your reputation will be at stake.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

In an interview, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui told reporters that 53 out of the 74 tax evasion complaints were filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) amounting to P3.56 billion while 21 cases were filed in various regional offices amounting to P15.9 million.

Among the cases filed against erring corporations and individuals are willful failure to pay taxes, willful attempt to evade or defeat the payment of taxes due, willful failure to pay/remit its income tax liabilities.

Also charged were those who filed their tax returns without corresponding payment.

“We filed this simultaneously nationwide because we wanted to convey a message to the public that, in the coming filing season this April, they need to file their returns properly and pay the corresponding taxes to evade criminal charges,” Lumagui said.

He said some of the respondents are oil companies and cigarette manufacturers.

The complaints, according to Lumagui, also cover tax liabilities of erring individuals and corporations in the past years.

Lumagui said the filing of cases was made under the BIR’s “Run After

Tax Evader,” or “Rate,” program. Rate requires revenue officials and employees to investigate criminal violations and assist in the prosecution of criminal cases.

Preparing charges

THE BIR chief has been leading the filing of charges against delinquent taxpayers as part of his call for the intensification of enforcement activities of the bureau in order to encourage the voluntary compliance of taxpayers.

Among the revenue regions and large taxpayers division that filed tax evasion cases were Revenue Region 8A-Makati City (four cases amounting to P1.72 billion); Revenue Region 5-Caloocan City (nine cases amounting to P827.1 million); Revenue Region 8B-South NCR (seven cases amounting to P413.7 million); Revenue Region 17-Butuan City (three cases amounting to P149.1 million); Revenue Region 9A-CaBaMiRo (Cavite-BatangasMindoro-Romblon) with six cases amounting to P115.2 million; Revenue Region 9B-LaQueMar (LagunaQuezon-Marinduque) with five cases amounting to P114.1 million; LT Enforcement Division-National Office (one case amounting to P96.6 million);

Revenue Region 7A-Quezon City (four cases amounting to P50.4 million);

Revenue Region 13-Cebu City (three cases amounting to P44.8 million);

Revenue Region 16- Cagayan de Oro City (three cases amounting to P16.6 million); and, Revenue Region 6-City of Manila (two cases amounting to P13.9 million).

Meanwhile, Lumagui said the BIR is now preparing the documents for the filing of charges against illicit cigarette

traders and those involved in selling fake receipts.

Last month, the BIR chief led the agency’s first-ever nationwide trade enforcements against traders selling illicit cigarettes.

The operation, which covered wholesalers and retailers in 21 provinces, 69 cities and municipalities nationwide, yielded millions worth of untaxed, fake and smuggled cigarettes.

THE Bureau of Immigration filed last Thursday 74 cases of tax evasion complaints simultaneously nationwide amounting to nearly P3.58 billion against erring individuals and corporations.

Octavio Peralta Association World

What’s effective altruism? A philosopher explains

BY JACOB BAUE� University of Dayton

EFFECTIVE altruism is an intellectual and charitable movement that aspires to find the best ways to help others. People dedicated to it rely on evidence and rational arguments to identify what they can do to make the most progress toward solving the world’s most pressing problems, such as reducing malnutrition and malaria while increasing access to health care.

A group of intellectuals, including the Oxford University philosophers William MacAskill and Toby Ord, coined the term in 2011. The movement was inspired in part by the philosopher Peter Singer, who has argued for an obligation to help those in extreme poverty since the 1970s.

Numerous effective altruist nonprofits have sprung up over the past 12 years. They research and implement ways to help others that they think will make a big difference, such as by providing people in low-income countries with malaria-fighting bed nets, safe water dispensers and low-cost cataract surgeries to restore eyesight.

WHY EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM MATTERS

EFFECTIVE altruism has gained traction and mobilized tens of billions of dollars, in part because of its popularity among some extremely wealthy donors.

Perhaps the most affluent proponent is Dustin Moskovitz, who co-founded Facebook and the Asana digital work management platform. Moskovitz makes charitable giving decisions with his wife, Cari Tuna.

Before the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange that former billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried founded, he reportedly committed more than $160 million to charities that are popular with effective altruists.

Elon Musk hasn’t been clear about his charitable giving preferences since he started to pour billions of

dollars into his own foundation. But he has praised MacAskill’s most recent book, What We Owe the Future, sparking conjecture about the Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s possible support for these giving practices. The effective altruism movement also includes many donors without billions to give away.

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

By Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS

DAY: Brandon Micheal Hall, 30; Isla Fisher, 47; Terry Chen, 48; Blythe Danner, 80.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Recognize how much you have to offer. You will surpass your expectations this year. Listen to your opponents to gain insight into their flaws. Your actions are your best routes to victory. Keep an open mind when dealing with loved ones; anger won’t solve anything, but reason and compromise will keep the peace. Your numbers are 8, 19, 26, 28, 31, 44, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus and discipline are fundamental. Don’t stop until you reach your destination and have something to celebrate. There is money to be made if you reconnect with someone who pays well and gives you the freedom to do what you do best. ★★★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You must earn trust today. Don’t let anyone talk you into something you are unfamiliar with or don’t want. Follow your intuition and research if you want to come out on top. Change is tempting, and if appropriately implemented, success will follow. ★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t let time lapse between an offer and your decision to accept. Indecisiveness will put a dent in your reputation and the respect you warrant from others. Don’t let anger set in; get busy before it’s too late to recoup your losses. ★★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take an interest in something unusual, and new beginnings and friendships will develop. Don’t offer too much information; listen carefully and gain insight into how and what others think. It’s helpful to stay one step ahead of your opponent. ★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Difficult situations will occur between you and a close partner, boss or authority. Adjust and dissipate any dispute that can make you look bad or cost you financially. Information you receive will confuse you; consider the source before you respond. ★★★

Regardless of their wealth, all donors with this mindset can dedicate their own money or time to support their favorite causes. One way they can try to do both at once is through what effective altruists call “earning to give”; they

CONTINUED ON B5

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You’ll be the goto person for solutions. Enjoy the attention, do your best to be forthright intellectually and offer hands-on help. You’ll buy respect and gain confidence by taking care of other people’s dilemmas. Romance is encouraged. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): State the facts and procedures. Your clear-cut approach will make it easier to get what you want. Someone you are close to will question your motives. Be prepared to disclose your intentions. A good blueprint of your longterm goals will alleviate setbacks. ★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take notes, do things by the book and surround yourself with like-minded people. Reconnect with someone who can offer insight into a situation you never rectified. Don’t let a problem at home escalate.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Choose your side carefully. Battles take time and energy with little payback. Be rational and distance yourself from controversial people trying to involve you in something that contradicts who you are and what you believe. ★★★

AT the

opening, De La Salle-College of Saint

Benilde’s ‘Value+Able’ exhibit at SM Aura Premier

STUDENTS at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Interior Design recently showcased their exquisite and meaningful works during the Value+Able: Exalting Filipino Values Through Furniture Exhibit at the third Level Atrium of SM Aura Premier. The Filipino values interpreted through the furniture are based on the National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ (NCCA) study on Philippine values as part of the government’s Filipinos Values Formation Program. According to the research, Filipinos uphold 19 main values, including

“Komunidad” and “Kabuhayan.” The furniture pieces were strategically grouped into clusters that represent parts of a home where different values are instilled and flourish in every Filipino.

The “Komunidad” cluster highlights a sense of community with the values of “Kapuwa,” love for country, human rights, peace and development, and environment. Leading the way, this cluster included Sandra Aloran and Natalie Kyle Ongpeng’s Hinahon lounge chair which represents the pacifism a society needs to reach prosperity,

as well as Mari Andrea Abad and Katrina Faye Marciano’s Eno sofa that aims to bridge the connection between human life and nature to enhance the experience of a certain space. The second cluster, “Kabuhayan” portrayed a family room characterizing the values of family, education, health and wellness, basic needs, and work and livelihood. Patrice Mabborang and Paolo Madarang exhibited their Ugnayan center table while Jihanne Chrisia Petiluna and Paola Erica Demition displayed their Dunong

easy chair. Students Sofia Rodrigueza and Ma. Lucia Baltazar’s Crystal Oasis center table received the People’s Choice Award. Likewise, the “Bu-Ko” swing chair by Sheina Balayo got the Professors’ Choice Award, while “Kapuwa” coffee table by Patricia Malijan bagged the NCCA’s Choice Award. The exhibit also included furniture pieces such as “Usad” lounge chair, “Concio” lounge chair, “Pangangailangan” nesting tables, and “Dominion” accent chair, among others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take precautions if you barrel ahead; you’ll hit obstacles. Patience and tolerance will help you maintain integrity and progress. Positive change is within reach; all you must do is follow through. Stop fighting the inevitable that everything will fall into place. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Be ready for anything and everything. Use your discipline to keep the momentum flowing on time. Your innovative ideas and versatility will lead to positive change and a happier home life. Make health and fitness priorities. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Waiting for others to do things is futile. Take the initiative and follow through with your plans instead of discussing what you want to do and expecting others to fulfill your dreams. A proactive approach will pay off.

Romance is encouraged. ★★★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You are ambitious, proactive and strong-willed. You are popular and conscientious.

‘spice things up’ BY SEAN ZIEBARTH

The

exhibit

Benilde Interior Design mentor IDR Randy Pabona; OIC chairman of the Interior Design Department IDR Karol Ann Antonio; dean of School of Environment and Design Architect Asela Domingo; Interior Design mentor IDR Katherine Correa (right); and National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Study of Filipino Values lead researcher professor Arvin Manuel Villalon. Joining them is SM’s Millie Dizon (center).

KAPUWA Coffee Table by Interior Design student and Value+Able Furniture Exhibit project manager Patricia Danielle Malijan

Show BusinessMirror

The silent vlogs

NOT GENEROUS

HOW true is the rumor that this famous entrepreneur, who is known for her generosity, does not pay her company’s small suppliers on time? Many of the suppliers cannot file formal complaints because their claims are not even enough to cover legal costs. It has always been the entrepreneur’s style to only spend a lot of money on things people can see. For example, her company would always pay the big suppliers on time. She is also known for being generous to her household staff but those who work in her company are not paid well and don’t even have security of tenure. She doesn’t tip well at restaurants that aren’t frequented by people she knows. These things have yet to catch up on the socialite because she only does it to those who can’t confront her or her company.

HE DOESN’T CARE

THIS showbiz personality has always been controversial and that’s because when he talks, he doesn’t have a filter. Well, he recently got into trouble with netizens due to an interview he did. While other celebrities would be so affected because of the bashing, this personality simply does not care. He said the things he did not because he wanted to be controversial but because that is how he saw certain things. This is the showbiz personality’s secret to survival. He has been in the industry since he was a small child, so he is adept at shutting things out when he needs to.

THE COVER-UP

IS it true that the partner of a socialite has been accused of molesting a minor? What is even more horrifying is that the minor isn’t even 10 years old. The socialite is reportedly using all her family’s connections to make sure her partner is not affected by the accusations. At this point, the details are not clear because the socialite’s family has pulled a lot of strings to cover up what happened. It is also not clear if the socialite really believes that her partner is innocent, or if she’s doing damage control because she loves him so much. What is clear is that the guy is making himself scarce on social media and the socialite is going on as if nothing happened.

IMPLANTS ARE STAYING

WHEN this celebrity was just starting out in show business, she had a breast augmentation procedure done. It wasn’t drastic or eye-popping. The celebrity just felt she was too flat and needed some flesh in the area. But as time went by, the celebrity started becoming unhappy with her breast implants. After she had a baby, the celebrity asked her husband and other family members what she should do about said implants. Perhaps not surprisingly, it was only the husband who said he hopes she wouldn’t have them removed. So the implants are staying for now.

What’s effective altruism? A philosopher explains

Continued from B4 make as much money as they can and then donate most of it to charities they believe will do the most good per dollar spent. Some effective altruist groups embrace a secular version of the religious tradition called tithing—and give 10 percent of their income to high-impact charities.

Others may devote their time to these causes by personally working, volunteering or advocating for organizations they believe will do a great deal of good.

Near aNd far

EFFECTIVE altruists need to reach their own conclusions about a question they all must grapple with: Which causes do the most good?

When deciding whether to focus on an issue, they first consider three other questions. First, how big is the problem? Second, how much funding is currently devoted to addressing it? Third, are there any known solutions or systems that can or do make a difference? effective altruists also tend to land in two different camps.

“Neartermists” focus on problems facing the people and animals who are alive today. These effective altruists typically see problems related to extreme poverty as among the most significant issues that can be solved.

They are likely to support charities that have shown they can take just $7 and protect a child from malaria, $1 to deliver essential vitamin A supplements or $25 to cure someone of preventable blindness. Another main priority for neartermists is improving the conditions of livestock and the vast numbers of animals suffering in factory farms. Longtermists emphasize problems that people who will be alive in the future might face.

effective altruists in this camp often highlight the importance of trying to reduce the probability of artificial intelligence killing everyone on earth, nuclear war, pandemics, climate change and other existential risks THE CONVERSATION

AZeRBAIJAN is perhaps the last country that a Filipino non-gourmet like me will look to for delectable cuisine but a month of surfing online for my cursory research on vlogging culture brought me to that place. Described as a transcontinental country, the boundaries of which straddle europe and Asia, Azerbaijan was an unknown place until I began following this vlog called “Relaxing Village.”

The vlog features two main characters, an elderly, genial lady and a man in his 30s or so. Naila is the grandmother and Ruslan, her son who is the chef. Naila is the more active cook, which means the label “chef” for Ruslan means one thing—he has formal training and cooking is his profession. Naila the grandmother, however, is the heritage person, presenting recipes that are more than a hundred years old, with memory as her guide.

I have already viewed more than five vlogs from them and each time, I am armed with a paper and a pen to write down the ingredients—from vegetables and fruits to condiments—they employ in their cuisine. Starting with life in the kitchen while the thickest of snow has piled up outside their charming cottage, I have seen this family in winter, and after the snow has melted in spring and in summer. In the process, I believe I now know how to open a pomegranate (do we have them in the country?). every now and then, the grandchildren join in. Are they the children of Ruslan? Do they make Naila the sweet granny? We can only assume because the vlogs are silent. every now and then, you hear diegetic sounds coming from the animals, actions and climate around them. The voice of Naila is soothing when she talks to Ruslan or to her young assistants, but that is all that could be considered as sound. They are incidental and are not meant to annotate. With cooking as the main feature of this vlog, there is no annotation at all to explain. We are left guessing as to how many teaspoons of salt or pounds of sugar are needed. But I never feel I am left clueless. For one, the grandmother never uses a measuring device; only those chubby fingers can sense how much sweetness is needed in the flour she is kneading, and how many chunks of butter are necessary to bind the wheat into something that will materialize into huge loaves of bread.

captive audience to the most mesmerizing rural life in a land that is bounded by the Caspian sea and Russia, Georgia and Armenia. The algorithm of geography has brought me from Azerbaijan to neighboring Iran. Interesting how I am more aware of Iran not because of its culture but because of its impact in the geopolitics of the world, which involves the Philippines via its relationship with the US.

From the pastoral setting of Grandma Naila’s home, the internet has brought me to another online space—the nomads of Iran. There is a particular vlog about a family of four, composed of the father, the mother and the two sons. The introductory vlog shows them leaving a town for their home somewhere in the mountains. We see them packing their luggage. The two boys carry small backpacks while the father carries his own bag. Trailing behind them is the mother who bears the biggest bag made of cloth—and I suppose the heaviest. They walk on rough roads that go up and around the old mountain. Scattered on the

Darna gets some super soldiers

THEY may not have super powers in real life but the cast that comprises the super soldiers in Mars Ravelo’s Darna all of them have super charm and super talent.

Let’s meet them one by one.

First is fire manipulator Noah, played by Paolo Gumabao. While he was only launched recently, Paolo is now making waves in modeling and acting. He has appeared in a number of TV shows and sexy movies, including Silip sa Apoy and Sisid. Recent projects though show that Paolo is more than a hot body, and he even has a lot of projects lined up including a movie to be shot in Prague.

Then there’s Young JV, who plays Andre who has explosive powers. Young JV started out as a rapper but the call of acting came too loud that he easily made the jump by first appearing in the movie Won’t Last a Day Without You (starring Sarah Geronimo and Gerald Anderson). Since then, he’s done a number of guesting stints in Maalaala Mo Kaya and regular roles in soap operas, like Princess and I and even another Mars Ravelo project, Dyesebel Then there’s Mayor Zaldy with Simon Ibarra breathing life into this character that has super strength. An Urian nominee for Live Show, Simon is a veteran character actor who has appeared in numerous projects since the early 2000s and is a

familiar face already. This may be his most high profile role on TV.

Joshua Colet’s character Sigfried, meanwhile, can create force fields. Joshua first made waves in Los Bartados where he caught the attention of fans with his bad-boy mestizo looks. While not a stranger to bad-boy roles, Joshua considers his role in Darna as something fresh and fun to do.

Former teen heartthrob Eric Fructuoso joins the super soldiers as Arthur Pineda, who can control through his mind inanimate objects. This is Eric’s first acting gig since the pandemic.

Kim Rordriguez plays shapeshifter Ishna. Kim is ecstatic that she gets to join the show as she has been a longtime fan of Darna. She first thought she

a ledge and a grip. The two boys make it fast through that small opening, but there is still the mother who is saddled with a huge bag tied around his waist. They would pass more difficult passages. each time that happens, I tell myself: “enough already.” But nothing is enough in this world. I feel the reward when they finally reach a clearing—not from a forest of trees but from the cluster of giant rocks. A home yields a human being. They talk and I pray they will stop there, pitch a tent, eat their dinner, rest and sleep. But, no, they walk some more, the ground tilting to a point of danger. “enough already,” the weakling in me whispers some more. A little hut made of stones and a semblance of wooden slats serving as door and window appear in the distance. That is their home. There are more vlogs. One is about the Iranian women of a nomadic community going out to gather wild pistachios. They follow a trail seemingly reserved for mountain goats. They gather the nuts and walk briskly back to their homes. All in silence because just like in the village of the industrious

would just do a minor role in this adaptation and was pleasantly surprised to join the villain group in a more intense role.

Mark Manicad plays Ali and completes the super soldiers roster. However, his superpowers are yet to be revealed. During the cast reveal that happened last year, Mark then revealed that his dream superpower was to fly and be like the Human Torch of Fantastic Four. The super soldiers are a newly formed group by Heneral Borgo (Richard Quan) after seizing the mythical white stone from Darna.

After making sure his super soldiers are set for the upcoming battles, Borgo proceeds to his next step of revealing his identity to Darna as Rex Vanguardia. This is in order to trick the superhero to fall into his trap so that he can fully unleash the real monster behind Regina/Valentina (Janella Salvador), his biggest weapon to victory.

Darna continues to fly high on prime-time and digital TV. It has spawned various Darna-related content on TikTok drawing with 2.3 billion combined views in 2022.

Mars Ravelo’s Darna airs weeknights at 8 pm on the Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, CineMo, A2Z, and TV5. The ABS-CBN series produced by JRB Creative Production is also available on iWantTFC and TFC.

THE Azerbaijan family of Naila, a grandmother, and her chef son Ruslan with his children. Their vlog has drawn audiences around the world.

Holcim converts 1M tons of waste into fuels, raw materials to produce cement

LEADING building solutions

provider Holcim Philippines, Inc., converted around a million tons of qualified waste into alternative fuels and raw materials for cement production in 2022 as it accelerates circular construction in the construction industry.

Through its waste management unit Geocycle, Holcim Philippines made productive use of discarded materials from industries and communities through cement kiln coprocessing. This helped the company conserve virgin natural resources and avoid high-carbon traditional fuels such as coal while providing partners a safe and environment-friendly waste management solution.

Among the beneficiaries of the company’s circular economy drive are 35 municipalities and cities nationwide, which were able to divert waste from landfills. Geocycle also helped industrial partners manage waste including non-recyclable plastics. Furthermore, the company completed installation of facilities for co-processing ozonedepleting substances.

Aside from these, Geocycle conducted lectures on proper waste management for local governments and schools and participated in public forms to highlight the importance of resource conservation.

Holcim Philippines President and CEO Horia Adrian said, “Co-processing

is an important part of our efforts to advance circularity in the construction industry. Our success in reusing discarded materials is further reducing our consumption of natural resources and carbon footprint. This also enables us to help industries and communities achieve their zero waste objectives. We are excited to continue growing our co-processing operations to further contribute to building progress in the country.”

Co-processing is a governmentapproved and globally recognized waste management technology that

repurposes qualified discarded materials into alternative low-carbon fuels and raw materials in making cement. Among the environmental advantages of co-processing are the extremely high temperatures of kiln and longer treatment time that prevent formation of harmful gasses. There are also no residues to be landfilled.

Holcim Philippines is increasing its use of low-carbon fuels in cement manufacturing to reduce carbon emissions, cut use of virgin raw materials and contribute to managing wastes in the country in a sustainable manner.

5 PHL destinations you should include in your travel list this year

yourself closest to your go-to casino’s, arenas, and concert halls. Room vouchers starts at P4,288 for an overnight stay in a deluxe room with buffet breakfast for two.

30TH TRAVEL TOUR EXPO 2023, PAL CONTRACT SIGNING. The 30 th Travel Tour Expo 2023, the largest travel event of the year, recently held its media launch at The Novotel in Quezon City. The event organizers proudly announced that this year’s expo will be bigger and much more exciting highlighting its special offers of big travel fare discounts and incredible travel deals and travel packages from almost 300 participating exhibitors like airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise liners, tour operators, travel insurance firms, and retailers of travel accessories. Also present during the media launch were some valued sponsors who formalized their commitment. Photo above shows from left, Michelle Taylan, Chairperson of the 30 th Travel Tour Expo 2023 and Marissa Dimaano, AVP-Sales, PAL during the contract signing.

Sponsor Hotel101 Group offers biggest discounts, promos at the three-day PTAA Travel Tour Expo 2023

HOTEL101 Group, the hospitality arm of DoubleDragon Corporation, is optimistic about the stronger future of travel as it supports the 30th Philippine Travel Agencies Association’s Travel Tour Expo 2023 as one of its sponsors and exhibitors.

“The hotel accommodation sector is ready to welcome back travelers to the country, as projected by the Department of Tourism in their tourism arrival targets and projects year. We have all the safety protocols already in place in our hotels, and the new offerings for staycations and business travels,” says Hotel101 Group General Manager Gel Gomez. She adds that “we have supported the Travel Tour Expo, and the PTAA since 2016, and even during the pandemic, as we want to be in the forefront and a staunch industry supporter.”

Hotel101 Group, now positioned as Hotel101 Global with the announcement of its first international hotel project Hotel101

– Niseko, aims to be one of the top 10 largest hotel brands in the world with its 2035 goal of having more than 200,000 room keys in its portfolio, and 7,331 room keys targeted this 2023.

Likewise, the Hotel101 Global App, designed to efficiently work in multi countries, will soon be launched in both Apple iOS and Android versions for guests to tap on the growing accommodations of Hotel101.

“We are excited to share with the public our upcoming hotels, while showing them our current operating hotels and our latest hotel offers,” adds Gomez.

“For this year’s expo, We are offering a hotel accommodation voucher valid for all the hotels of the Hotel101 Group, that can be used in our existing hotels at Hotel101 – Manila, Injap Tower Hotel in Iloilo City, Jinjiang Inn – Ortigas, Makati, and Boracay Station 1,” shares Brian Ong, Head of Public Relations.

“We are selling this for P2,500nett, and it is only available during this coming three-day expo. What’s good about it is that the hotel voucher can also be used in our upcoming hotels at Hotel101 – Fort and Hotel101 – Davao, when they open later this year,” he adds.

PTAA President proudly notes that “the 30th TTE will offer the cheapest deals with up to more than 70 percent discount, offering new destinations, cultural competition, and the first conference within the venue with your favorite tourism speakers that will give you the latest travel updates and trends.”

TRAVEL more this 2023! It’s about time you look forward to memorable experiences from these destinations plus discounted accommodation vouchers from Megaworld Hotels & Resorts from their six brands, 12 locations and a total of 4,500 rooms keys in this year’s Tour Travel Expo happening on February 3 to 5, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila brought to you by the Philippine Tour Agencies Association.

Your kind of Boracay

SURELY, you’ve long been dreaming of the sun, sand, and sea! With summer just around the corner, wake up at the Boracay Newcoast, the side of the island where the sun rises above a dedicated beach front estate for you and your family to enjoy. Have a peaceful stay with your loved one in Belmont Hotel Boracay and avail of their P3,100 overnight stay voucher with breakfast for two. Out for a party? See you at Savoy Hotel Boracay for an all-nighter and avail their P3,400 voucher for a deluxe room with breakfast for two. The estate offers scheduled free trips to the main beach and back to help you get the best experience while in the island.

See you Cebu

A PLACE where the heart sings, Cebu is known to have it all! Whether you are flying for business, enjoying the outdoors, or partying all night with friends, Cebu will always find a way to sweep you off your feet. Make the convenient choice of staying 15 minutes away from the airport. Belmont Hotel Mactan offers stays perfect for business travelers with vouchers for P3,500 with breakfast for two. You can also choose to stay for the thrill and get vouchers from Savoy Hotel Mactan for P3,000 with breakfast for two and access to the Newtown Beach.

Lay Low in Iloilo

HONESTLY, there are just days when you want to run away from the hustle of the city and delight in the charm of this beautiful provincial escape. Indeed, the place where the past meets the present, Iloilo never fails to beguile its guests and have them enjoy laid back strolls at the promenade or be in awe from breathtaking historic churches. Don’t forget a sip of warm batchoy, pansit Molo, or even a bite of a flavorful chicken inasal – the list continues. Maximize your experience and don’t forget to buy discounted room rate vouchers from Richmonde Hotel Iloilo for only P4,500 in a deluxe room with breakfast buffet for two.

Stay at the center of it all, Manila LINGER on longer when you stay for your meetings, shopping sprees, and staycations while at the National Capital Region where you’ll truly find everything you need and want.

Stay close to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for that sense of convenience. Belmont Hotel Manila offers a stay perfect for guests attending conventions and other important events within the Newport in Pasay. Avail of their room vouchers for P3,500 in a superior room for a stay that’ll get you ready for that big day. If you’re feeling a little more carefree and wanting to explore the city, Savoy Hotel Manila will surely compliment your energy. Grab your room vouchers for P3,500 already with buffet breakfast for two to get you going. Have the best of both worlds! In case you’re staying for the purpose of business and pleasure, Kingsford Hotel Manila located at the Entertainment City of Paranaque has got you covered. 8 minutes away from the domestic and international airport via NAIA Express Way, you’ll find

Moving in closer to the center, your trip to the Central Business District surely will be about meeting decision makers. Best to book a room closest to where you’re meeting up and stay at the Richmonde Hotel Ortigas. The hotel offers overnight stay room vouchers as low as P2,500 in a superior room. Not far away is yet another legacy property, the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel located within Eastwood City, an 18.5-hectare mixed-use development complex by Megaworld that activates a livework-play-learn concept. Their room vouchers start at P3,900 in a superior room stay a night.

Of epic food crawls, museum tours, and best bargains – who can beat Binondo, the oldest known Chinatown in the world! Established in the 1590’s by the Spanish as a settlement area for the Catholic Chinese, Binondo still proves to be one of the more exciting adventures within the metro. When choosing a place to stay, head to Hotel Luck Chinatown found along Reina Regente Street. Enjoy the lowest room voucher rate for only for P2,222 in a standard room which includes two complimentary tickets to the Chinatown Museum.

Head to the hills of Tagaytay TAKE a breather! With the new year coming in strong with things you have to do and accomplish, so will the need to take a quick getaway with your loved ones. Let the stress roll off your back and down the hills of Tagaytay. You’ll need fresh air and the sight of the lush green outdoors plus the majestic view of Taal. Why not stay in Twin Lakes Hotel with all its rooms giving you a spacious balcony view of the vineyard that frames the Taal Lake. A relaxing stay awaits you with a room voucher rate that starts at P5,500 for a Superior Room only accommodation.

Make your trips worth it. Wherever you plan to go or whatever you plan to accomplish, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts continues to open its doors and welcomes you with a heart that makes your visits much like home. For more information about their properties, visit www.megaworldhotels.com or email salesinquiry@megaworldhotels.com.

The Travel Tour Expo at the SMX Convention Center is celebrating its Pearl Anniversary this February 3 to 5, 2023, with an estimated crowd of100,000 going through deals and discounts from among 1,000 booths and more than 300 participating exhibitors.

Carrier Cebu Pacific Receives Golden Arrow Award for Best Corporate Governance Practices

CEBU Pacific (PSE:CEB) received the Golden Arrow Award from the Institute of Corporate Directors in recognition of its continuous adherence to the best corporate governance standards and practices among Filipino publicly-listed companies.

CEB, the Philippines’ leading carrier, was one of the 86 companies that won the Golden Arrow Award for garnering at least 80 points in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) Assessment, a globally benchmarked scoring system that aims to improve the corporate governance performance of companies and make them attractive to investors.

The ACGS evaluates companies in key corporate governance areas such as facilitating the rights and equitable treatment of shareholders, recognizing the role of stakeholders, and ensuring transparency and accountability within their organizations. The annual assessment is conducted by the Institute of Corporate Directors as the Security and Exchange Commission’s authorized ranking body in the Philippines.

“We are honored to be one of the recipients of the Golden Arrow Award. This will serve as a reminder for Cebu Pacific to remain committed to the best corporate governance practices as we strive to be the airline of choice of every Juan,” said Atty. Anne Romadine Tieng, Cebu Pacific General Counsel, who accepted the award on behalf of the company in a ceremony held on January 20.

CEB has constantly been improving its systems to ensure that its operations and services are relevant to the needs of its customers and the Filipino society as a whole.

In November 2022, CEB received the award for Asia Environmental Sustainability Airline / Airline Group of the Year from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) for leading efforts to make the aviation industry more fuel-efficient and environment friendly by incorporating the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in its operations.

CEB was also named Airline of the Year for 2021 in the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards for supporting the country’s sports tourism industry.

HOTEL101 Group General Manager together with PTAA President Michelle G. Taylan during the signing of sponsorship agreement for the 30th PTAA Travel Tour Expo 2023.

HOLCIM Philippines’ waste management unit Geocycle is helping 35 cities and municipalities stay clean and divert materials away from landfills.

ATTY. Anne Romadine Tieng (center), Cebu Pacific General Counsel, accepts the Golden Arrow Award for the airline in an awarding ceremony held on January 20.

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph |

Editor: Jun Lomibao

Strong Group yields to Lebanon’s Dynamo

STRONG Group was held to only two points in the final three minutes to absorb a stinging 89-83 defeat to Dynamo of Lebanon in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship Thursday at the Al Nasr Club Hall in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The team of coach Charles Tiu led for most of the fourth quarter but just couldn’t hit the big shots in the end game as the Lebanese came away with the victory behind import Cleanthony

Early’s timely baskets from.

It was a tough loss, led 60 percent of the game but fell short in the last few minutes,” said Tiu who pointed to Dynamo’s rock-solid defense for the team’s first defeat in four games at the close of the eliminations.

“ Their zone really stifled us and slowed us down,” he said.

W ith the loss, Strong Group, owned by Frank and Jacob Lao and backed by Mighty Sports and Acrocity, will face Al Riyadi—the same team Mighty Sports beat for the title three years ago—on Friday.

A l Riyadi, which finished third in Group B with a 2-1 card, is bannered by UAE national team players Wael Arakji, Amir Saoud and Hayk Gyokchan and import, former National Basketball Association second-round draft pick AJ Majok.

Dynamo’s zone defense also denied

high-scoring import Shabazz Muhammad his touches at crunch time.

It was Early however who emerged as the biggest thorn to the Filipinos as he unleashed seven of his 29 points in the final three minutes where Dynamo uncorked an 11-2 finishing kick to steal the game away.

E arly nailed six triples—he knocked down two during that telling run. The first of those two shoved Dynamo ahead, 82-81, and sparked the rally with 3:17 left before he buried the second one to stretch the lead to five, 86-81, and bury the dagger to the hearts of the Filipinos with 48 seconds left.

Muhammad finished with 25 points and nine rebounds for the Filipinos who were two baskets away from taking the fight out of Dynamo after keeping the Lebanese at bay for almost throughout the final quarter.

Jerom Lastimosa, despite facing taller and heftier guards, impressed with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting while Nick Young, who is nursing a knee injury, added 11 points. R enaldo Balkman, who wasn’t feeling well, contributed 10 points and nine rebounds.

RENALDO BALKMAN is under the weather and finishes with 10 points and nine rebounds.

Finnegan, 2 other gymnasts to fill Yulo’s shoes in Hangzhou Asiad

THE Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) is looking at Filipino-American Aleah Finnegan and two male gymnasts to step up at the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games in the absence of former two-time world champion and Tokyo Olympian Carlos Yulo.

Y ulo will miss the Asian Games, set from September 23 to October 8, because they run conflict with the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

The Antwerp worlds are a qualifier to the Paris 2024 Olympics and run from September 29 to October 8.

G AP president Cynthia CarrionNorton said they are honing Juancho Miguel Besana and Justin Ace De Leon in the men’s competitions along with Finnegan in the women’s events

By Josef Ramos

NATIONAL women’s football coach Alen Stajcic has drawn a busy schedule for the country’s first-ever stint in the FIFA World Cup in July primarily for one reason: build momentum.

It’s going to be a really, really big year for us so we’re really building momentum before the World Cup,” Stajcic said. “We’re obviously the underdog, we’ve never been there, never played anywhere near that caliber of teams before let alone a major tournament like that [World Cup].”

The Women’s World Cup are set July 20 to August 20 in Stajcic’s native Australia and New Zealand.

The Philippines, under Stajcic’s guidance, clinched the historic World Cup ticket at last year’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Cup in India with their 4-3 quarterfinals victory over Chinese-Taipei.

Last year, we really tried to build the experience of the team, playing 30 games,” he added.

First up for the Filipinas—ranked No. 53 in the world—is the Pinatar Cup from February 15 to 21 in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, where they play world No. 32 Wales, No. 25 Scotland and No. 16 Iceland.

Magsayo takes on US’s Figueroa for WBC interim crown in March

BusinessMirror

BRADY: THIS TIME IT’S FOR GOOD

Thank you guys for allowing me to live my absolute dream. I wouldn’t change a thing. Love you all.”

Brady is the NFL’s career leader in yards passing (89,214) and touchdowns (649). He is the only player to win more than five Super Bowls and has been MVP of the game five times. He also holds marks for regular-season wins (251), Super Bowl appearances (10), playoff games and wins (48, 35), as well as playoff yards (13,400) and TDs (88).

TAMPA, Florida—This time, Tom Brady says he’s done for good.

The seven-time Super Bowl winner with New England and Tampa Bay announced his retirement from the National Football Leaegue (NFL) on Wednesday, exactly one year after first saying his playing days were over, by posting a brief video lasting just under one minute on social media.

Unlike last winter, though, the most successful quarterback in league history, as well as one of the greatest athletes in team sports, said his decision was final.

Good morning guys. I’ll get to the point right away,” Brady says as the message begins. “I’m retiring. For good.”

He briefly retired after the 2021 season but wound up coming back for one more year with the Buccaneers. He retires at age 45, the owner of virtually every meaningful NFL passing record in an unprecedented 23-year career.

Tom’s legacy is unmatched in the history of this game. All the Super Bowl titles and statistical records speak for themselves, but the impact he had on so many people through the years is what I appreciate the most,” Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht said. His imprint on this organization helped take us to the mountaintop. We will certainly miss him as our quarterback, but I will also miss him as a leader and friend,” Licht added. “Our entire organization is indebted to him for what he provided us over the past three years. We won’t ever forget the wins or the accolades, and his influence will be felt for years to come.”

Brady announced his retirement one day after attending the premiere of “80 for Brady”—which comes out Friday— in Los Angeles. The movie tells the story of four lifelong friends, played by Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno and Sally Field, who went to a Super Bowl to see Brady play.

He was asked Tuesday night whether he felt a connection working with women—the four stars range in age from 76 to 91—who don’t want to retire.

They’re working hard and they love it. So good for them,” Brady told The Associated Press. “You know, it’s just that’s what life is about. You got to, you know, wake up every day with a purpose. And when you find something you love to do, you know, it’s hard to stop. You really enjoy it. And there’s a lot of aspects that you do enjoy. So they still bring it at this age. It’s really unbelievable to watch them on set and how much energy they have. And I certainly was inspired by them and learned a lot of lessons on this whole experience.”

for Hangzhou.

“ It’s time for the others to step up, like Juancho [Miguel Besana] and Ace [De Leon] in the Asian Games because Caloy is not available for the Asian Games,” Carrion-Norton told BusinessMirror Thursday.

“It will be a big opportunity for them to compete on a bigger stage without Yulo,” added Carrion-Norton, who assured

though that Yulo would be available for the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games in May.

Finnegan took gold in women’s vault and artistic team at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games last May in Hanoi where De Leon, 21, was a member of the silver medal-clinching men’s artistic team and Besana, 19, clinched bronze in vault.

Yulo was world champion in floor exercise in 2019 and vault in 2021. Josef Ramos

Stajcic wants to build momentum for PHL Women’s World Cup bid

Then there’s the first round of the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers from April 3 to 11 with the Philippines bracketed in Group E with Hong Kong, Tajikistan and Pakistan.

A fter that are the 32nd Southeast Asian Games from May 5 to 12 in Cambodia.

We’ve got Wales, Scotland [and Iceland] in the Pinatar Cup, Olympic qualifiers in April and the SEA Games in May,” he said. “Hopefully we can lock up some games in June just before we go to New Zealand.”

Striker Sarina Bolden, defender Hali Long and goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel—key players who powered the Philippines to its first Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship title last July at the Rizal Memorial Stadium via a 3-0 shutout of Thailand—are expected to join the Filipinas at the Pinatar Cup.

“ The preparations and the buildup with less than six months are very crucial,” said the 49-year-old Stajcic, whose stint as Australia’s women’s national team head coach is highlighted by a quarterfinals finish in both the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.

Stajcic is the only Australian-born coach to qualify for the FIFA World Cups with the Matildas, moniker of

MARK “MAGNIFICO”

MAGSAYO begins his journey back to a world title when he squares off with American Brandon Figueroa on March 4 for the vacant interim World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight title at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

I nternational matchmaker Sean Gibbons, who heads world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, confirmed to BusinessMirror on Wednesday that Showtime—through

his native country’s women’s squad which, interestingly, sounds like how the Filipinas were called before, Malditas.

W hile the Filipinas gear up for the biggest tournament of their lives, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta was appointed by the AFC Executive Committee as chair of the Organizing Committee for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 during the body’s first executive committee in Manama, Bahrain, recently.

A raneta was also recently reelected as AFC and FIFA Council Member.

Premier Boxing Champions (PBC)— will air the 12-round bout.

The fight means a lot to the 27-year-old fighter from Tagbilaran City, whose reign as world champion was short-lived after losing his first title defense via split decision against Mexican Rey Vargas last July 9 in San Antonio, Texas.

This fight really means everything for Mark [Magsayo]. This is his chance to reclaim his belt that was wrongfully taken from him by

A year ago when he retired, it was in the form of a long Instagram post. But about six weeks later, he decided to return for one more run, citing “unfinished business” after an early playoff exit.

The Buccaneers—with whom he won a Super Bowl two seasons ago—made the playoffs again this season, losing in their playoff opener. And at the time, it begged the question about whether Brady would play again.

O nly a couple of weeks later, he has given the answer.

“ I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning, I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first,” Brady says in the video. “I won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.

I really thank you guys so much, to every single one of you for supporting me. My family, my friends, teammates, my competitors. I could go on forever. There’s too many.

Famously underrated coming into the NFL—he was picked 199th in the 2000 draft by the Patriots, behind six other quarterbacks, three kickers and a punter—Brady certainly wasn’t expected to become synonymous with greatness. He played in one game as a rookie, completing one of three passes for six yards.

The next year, it all changed.

Brady took over as the Patriots’ starter, the team beat the St. Louis Rams in the Super Bowl that capped the 2001 season and he and New England coach Bill Belichick were well on their way to becoming the most successful coach-QB duo in football history.

More Super Bowl wins came after the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The Patriots returned to football’s mountaintop for a fourth time in Brady’s era a decade later to cap the 2014 season, the start of three more titles in a span of five years. AP

Cool Smashers stay intact, 8 teams revamp rosters

CREAMLINE kept its roster intact while its rivals tinkered with theirs as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) kicks off with the All-Filipino Conference Saturday at the back coach Aaron Velez while also adding Ponggay Gaston (Choco Mucho) to its frontline rotation.

C ignal bolstered Smart Araneta Coliseum.

T he Cool Smashers, who won the Open Conference and the Invitationals last year, found no need to make roster changes despite missing out on a rare grand slam bid in a wild Reinforced Conference

Rey Vargas,” Gibbons said. “This fight will put him back at the top of the 126-pound food chain.”

M agsayo (24-1 win-loss record with 16 knockouts) became a world champion on January 22, 2022, when he dethroned Gary Russell Jr. via majority decision.

Gibbons said a victory by Magsayo could line him up for a huge fight with former World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight super champion Leo Santa Cruz of Mexico later this year.

ruled by Petro Gazz and where they wound up third.

But Alyssa Valdez—who is still recovering from a right knee injury— along with Jia De Guzman, Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Ced Domingo and Kyla Atienza are all set not just to defend the crown in the seasonopening tournament, but also go for a sweep of the three PVL jewels.

Hostilities fire off with Akari facing Choco Mucho at 4 p.m. and Creamline and Petro Gazz renewing their rivalry at 6:30 p.m.

But majority in the nine-team field have bolstered their rosters,

This fight will set him for a possible mega showdown with Leo Santa Cruz at the Staple Center in Los Angeles this year,” Gibbons said. “It will put him back to the elite level.”  Figueroa, however, is a tough nut to crack with 22 wins against a loss and a draw with 17 knockouts.

The 26-year-old fighter will be out for a fitting follow-up to his sixthround technical knockout win against American Carlos Castro last July also in San Antonio, Texas. Josef Ramos

including in the coaching side, in a bid to foil the Cool Smashers and fuel their respective title drive in league organized by Sports Vision.

Petro Gazz tapped former Choco Mucho head coach Oliver Almadro to replace Rald Ricafort, who steered the team to the Reinforced Conference crown before moving to PLDT this season.

The Angels also acquired Des Clemente and Dzi Gervacio from F2 Logistics, Heather Guino-o from PLDT and Jellie Tempiatura, who last played for Perlas.

R icafort, who also brought in lead deputy Arnold Laniog to the High Speed Hitters, firmed up his new team’s roster by tapping Ysa Jimenez from University of Santo Tomas and the seasoned Michelle Morente.

The Cargo Movers, on the other hand, took in Myla Pablo from Petro Gazz while also handing the head coaching reins to Regine Diego, who became the first female head coach in the pro volley scene.

The Flying Titans, on the other hand, welcomed former men’s national volleyball team head coach Dante Alinsunurin for Almadro.

TOM BRADY, the most successful quarterback in National Football League history, as well as one of the greatest athletes in team sports, says his decision was final. AP

AUSTRALIAN Coach Alen Stajcic draws a busy schedule for the Filipinas.

Motoring

IsuzuPhIlIPPInesrecognIzes2022Dealer oftheYearanDtoPsalesPerformers

Editor: Tet Andolong

IPC WELCOMES 2023 WITH A NEW PRESIDENT

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) welcomes

the new year with a new president, Tetsuya Fujita, he replaces IPC’s current president Noboru Murakami who will be transferred to his new assignment in Isuzu North America.

Fujita started working for Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) in 1991 and his impressive resume includes stints as Corporate Planning Manager in Isuzu Commercial Truck of America (ICTA) in California, USA from 2005-2010, General Manager for Sales Department in Isuzu Motors International Operations Thailand (IMIT) in Bangkok, Thailand from 2014-2017 and lastly as Chairman and CEO in Isuzu Motors de Mexico from 2020-2021 before being transferred to the Philippines.

ISUZU Philippines Corp. (IPC) recognized the exemplary performance of its dealers in the recent 2022 Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA) held in Marriott Grand Ballroom last January 27, 2023. The annual DOYA event acknowledges the hard work and commitment of sales and aftersales force of Isuzu dealers.

Top Isuzu dealers and individuals were given recognition by IPC for the achievements and outstanding performance they have exhibited all throughout the year 2022. Apart from the most-anticipated Dealer of the Year Award, Excellence in Sales, Parts and Service Operations Awards were also presented to the dealers who attained the highest scores in accordance with the criteria set by IPC.

Individual awards such as Sales Executive of the Year and Truck Elite of the Year were also given to sales executives who displayed exceptional skills and contributions to the Isuzu brand.

The following dealerships and individuals were hailed as winners:

n 2022 Dealer of the Year

Champion–ISUZU MAKATI

2nd Place–ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

3rd Place–ISUZU BACOOR

n 2022 Excellence in Sales Operations

1st Place–ISUZU ALABANG

2nd Place–ISUZU CALAPAN

3rd Place–ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

n 2022 Excellence in Service Operations

1st Place–ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

2nd Place–ISUZU MAKATI

3rd Place–ISUZU BACOOR

n 2022 Excellence in Parts Operations

1st Place–ISUZU MAKATI

2nd Place–ISUZU ISABELA

3rd Place–ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

n 2022 Sales Executive of the Year

Rica Anne M. Quico from Isuzu Alabang

n 2022 Truck Elite of the Year

Diana Rose T. Araneta from Isuzu Pasig Isuzu Makati under Isuzu Gencars, Inc. bagged the overall grand champion of 2022 Dealer of the Year Awards, as well as 1st place in Excellence in Parts Operations and 2nd place in Excellence in Service Operations. Isuzu Gencars, Inc. Chairman Edgard Cabangon expressed his heartfelt gratitude

to IPC for the awards and support that their dealers continuously receive. Cabangon said, “We would like to say thank you to IPC for your support and belief in the Isuzu Gencars group.” Isuzu Gencars, Inc. President Lerma Nacnac also acknowledged the hard work and cooperation of the whole Gencars team, including other dealer branches under Gencars. “This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of our employees, our officers and sales agents.”, Nacnac stated.

IPC President Tetsuya Fujita extended his gratitude and appreciation to all dealers for their hard work and continuous support to IPC in 2022, significantly contributing to the brand’s 23 consecutive years of being the Number 1 Truck brand in the country. He also expressed his enthusiasm to lead IPC network and declared in his speech, “As the leading truck brand in the industry, we will continue innovating new products that will assist in the progress of the country while displaying more responsibility to the society and the environment through our “Road to Progress” vision.”

BMW Ix3 dubbed as game-changer

ANOTHER super duper find was unfurled only last week by BMW Philippines when it launched a gamechanger named iX3 in yet another proof that the auto industry looks bent on full electrification.

The fully electric SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) is part of the ever-expanding electrification footprint in the archipelago under the aegis of SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., which is the official importer and distributor of BMWs in the Philippines headed by San Miguel Corp. President/CEO Ramon S. Ang.

Already, this is the second fully electric BMW automobile set to conquer Philippine roads, inspiring the market to achieve more innovative and proactive thrusts toward a totally electrified industry.

Spencer Yu, President of SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., said: “We are proud to say that BMW in the Philippines now has a product that flawlessly combines the familiarity of BMW’s Sports Activity Vehicle DNA and the excellent capability of a fully electric motor. The iX3 is the perfect choice for customers who want to take their first step towards a truly sustainable driving experience. We are hoping that the recent issuance of Executive Order No. 12, reducing export taxes for electric vehicles, will help shift the market towards electrification in order to create a more sustainable planet for future generations.”

The BMW iX3 retails at only P4,590,000. Every purchase comes with a BMW i Wallbox

that will be installed by BMW i partners in the customer’s home, with a 5-year BMW factory warranty, 8-year high-voltage battery warranty, and 6-year BMW Service Inclusive warranty. This model is now available at authorized BMW i retailers RSA Motors Libis and RSA Motors Greenhills.

The BMW statement:

“The new technical features making their debuts under the banner of the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology include an innovative charging unit, sending power to both the 400V battery and the 12V on-board power supply.

“When using alternating current terminals, it enables both single-phase and threephase charging at up to 11 kW. Plugging the vehicle into a direct current fast-charging station facilitates charging outputs of up to 150 kW. The high-voltage battery in the first-ever BMW iX3 can therefore be charged from 0 to 80 per cent of its full capacity in 34 minutes. At its maximum direct current fast-charging of 150 kW, drivers can inject the power required to add 100 kilometers to the car’s driving range (in the WLTP cycle) in 10 minutes of charging.

This gives the BMW iX3 compelling everyday usability. The first-ever BMW iX3 is compatible with all Type 2 public charging stations in the country.

“The power density of the electric motor in the first-ever BMW iX3 is 30 percent greater than that of existing fully electric vehicles

With his extensive background in international sales and operations, he is expected to continue IPC’s long reign as the number truck brand in the country and he intends to accomplish this by continuing the expansion and improvement of dealership network. He also intends to maintain the company’s strong relationship with its customers by providing significant contributions to their business. He also promised to continue Murakami’s Road to Progress vision of steering the company towards a more sustainable and greener path by cultivating it further.

He said in a statement,” As the leading truck brand in the industry, we will continue innovating new products that will assist in the progress of the country while displaying more responsibility to the society and the environment through our Road to Progress vision”.

Outgoing IPC President Noboru Murakami took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the support he received during his short but very fruitful stint in the country. He is very confident that with Fujita’s leadership skills the company will soar to new heights.

from the BMW Group. The motor displays efficiency of up to 93 per cent, in comparison to under 40 per cent for combustion engines.

“The new drive system unit generates maximum output of 286 hp and peak torque of 400 Nm which, unlike with many other electric motors, is sustained at high revs. The first-ever BMW iX3 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h.

“A gross energy content of 80 kWh – of which 74 kWh is utilized – and the high efficiency of the drive systems allow the firstever BMW iX3 to offer a range of up to 460 kilometers in the WLTP test cycle.

“Wireless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preparation, Remote Software Upgrade, and telephony with wireless charging can all be found on the standard equipment list, too. And for an even more exclusive flair and driving comfort, it also includes the hi-fi loudspeaker system Harman Kardon as standard.

“Another hallmark quality of this breed of car – versatility – is reflected in spaciousness on a par with that of conventionally powered BMW X3 model variants. Thanks to the 40 : 20 : 40 split/folding rear seat backrest, load capacity can be increased from 510 to a maximum of 1,560 litres, as required. Throughloading is also available for greater flexibility.

“The latest set of safety technology includes High Beam Assistant, Parking Assistant, Cruise Control with braking function, Acoustic Protection for pedestrians, Active Protection, plus Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring sensor.”

PEE STOP Mikko David says the Xpander Cross redefines the MPV segment as it sports “a more advanced and progressive look seen only in premium vehicles.”…Tetsuya Fujita has replaced Noboru Murakami as Isuzu Phil president…Honda’s special insurance packages for the BR-V 1.5 model can be availed up to March 31.

Story & Photo by Patrick P. Tulfo

ISuzu Gencars, Inc. Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon (5th from left) holds the 2022 Dealer of the Year Award received by Isuzu Makati from Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC). He is flanked by outgoing IPC President Noboru Murakami (4th from left) and incoming IPC President Tetsuya Fujita (6th from left). They are joined in the photo by (left to right) Sharon Tan, Isuzu Gencars, Inc. President Lerma O. Nacnac, Special Assistant to the President Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon, Sales and Marketing Manager Ma. Victoria Albaña, Service and Parts Manager Ma. Elena Perez, Vice President for Sales and Marketing Albert z ata, and IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda.

INCOMING IPC President Tetsuya Fujita and Outgoing President Noboru Murakami