BusinessMirror February 26, 2024

WTO meet focus: Public stockholding for food security

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

WITH the upcoming 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13),Manila will champion reforms which include achieving “meaningful” outcomes on agriculture negotiation to achieve a “permanent” solution for public stockholding for food security purposes, among others, according to the Department of Trade and Industry’s International Trade Policy Group.

I n a statement on Saturday, the DTI said the Philippines is hoping for the international trade body to arrive at “meaningful outcomes” on  agriculture talks.

A mong these are “to achieve

a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security purposes, and an effective special safeguard mechanism [SSM] for developing countries.”

T he department said the country “sees the importance” of the second wave of fisheries subsidies negotiations as it targets to “establish a balanced approach on the disciplines on overcapacity and overfishing, including an effective and appropriate special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed members.”

L ast February 16, the multilateral trade body said Ambassador Einar Gunnarsson of Iceland, the chair of the fisheries subsidies negotiations, circulated to ministers a draft text on Additional Provisions

on Fisheries Subsidies, with disciplines on subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing, as the “basis for finalizing the negotiations on these issues at the 13th Ministerial Conference [MC13].”

A ccording to the WTO website, the chair said the text, which draws on members’ proposals and discussions, reflects his “best” attempt to identify a balance most likely to build consensus.

To assist the work at the Ministerial Conference, I have bracketed language in a few places in the new text to draw attention to issues in respect of which significant divergences in views remain. I believe ministers’ attention to these areas will be particularly warranted,” the chair said, citing subsidies to

distant water fishing and artisanal fishing, as well as certain figures in the text for transition periods and thresholds for special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing country members and least-developed country members.

While this text reflects my best attempt to identify a balance that I see as most likely to build consensus, the final outcome remains in the hands of members working together,” the chair said.

Meanwhile, DTI said the Philippines is working with other members of the multilateral trade body “to resolve the impasse in the WTO Appellate Body [AB] or come up with a functioning dispute settlement system by 2024.”

FATF NOTES PHL’S ‘PROGRESS’ BUT KEEPS IT ON ITS GREY LIST

THE Philippines has remained on the grey list of the Parisbased Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF), according to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

T his means the country is still part of the list of 21

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will employ a traffic light system in determining if certain financing activities are considered sustainable.

T he system is at the center of the Monetary Board’s recently approved Philippine Sustainable Finance Taxonomy Guidelines (SFTG) for banks which will take effect starting 2025.

T he traffic light system—Green, Amber, and Red—will be assigned to financing activities. Green will be the assignment if the activity is aligned; amber, for partially aligned; and red for not aligned.

“ The issuance of a taxonomy is a crucial step in our sustainability journey. It provides high level guidance in determining the greenness of an investment,” BSP Governor and Monetary Board Chairman Eli M. Remolona Jr. said.   “ But this is just the first step to what I expect will be a long iterative

process of calibrating the document to fully capture the conditions of the Philippine economy,” he added.

T he SFTG currently focuses on two environmental objectives, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. Future iterations will cover ecosystems and biodiversity as well as the circular economy and a potential social component.

T he taxonomy stated that other environmental and social factors are considered through additional screening based on the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle, and Minimum Social Safeguards (MSS) that is appropriate to the Philippines context.

“An activity should therefore have either a climate change mitigation of climate change adaptation focus [or both] to qualify for assessment under this version of the SFTG,” the taxonomy stated.

News

House as Committee of the Whole to tackle Chacha reso

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE House of Representatives is set to transform itself into a Committee of the Whole starting Monday for the “exhaustive, inclusive, and expeditious deliberation” of Resolution of Both Houses (RBH)  7.

S enior Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales, Jr., along with Deputy Speaker David C. Suarez and Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, jointly filed RBH No. 7 entitled “A Resolution of Both Houses of Congress Proposing Amendments to Certain Economic Provisions of the 1987 Constitution of

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B SP said an Amber classification includes activities that are in transition to remedy an actual or potential harm done. This also includes activities deemed enablers of climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives.

I f an activity is classified as Am -

the Republic of the Philippines, Particularly on Articles XII, XIV, and XVI.”

G onzales said several resource persons, including noted economists, have been invited to the initial debates that start at 1 p.m. The conversion of the House into a Committee of the Whole,

ber, remedial measures to transition (RMT) will be implemented but only within a five-year timeframe from the assessment date or an independent verification supports a claim that remediation will take 10 years or less.

T he taxonomy stated that any expected remediation beyond 5 years without independent verification, or beyond 10 years, is not eligible for the Amber category and will be classified as Red.

which is like a plenary session, aims to involve every one of our colleagues in discussions with our resource persons. This will facilitate proceedings leading to an eventual approval or rejection of the proposed amendments,” he said.

He said the House would conduct three hearings a week and try to obtain a vote on the proposals before the Holy Week recess of Congress next month. This was also the original timeline set for the Senate by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri for the Senate’s adoption of RBH No. 6, he added.

R BH No. 7 is almost an exact reproduction of RBH No. 6, introduced by Zubiri and Senators Loren Legarda and Juan Edgardo Angara.

R BH No. 6 and RBH No. 7 are both entitled, “A Resolution of Both Houses of Congress proposing amendments to certain economic

A red classification means that the activity does not meet the higher ambitions of the SFTG, but these activities may still be eligible for “unlabeled” financing.

T he BSP provides an observation period until the end of 2024 to give banks ample time to familiarize themselves with and understand SFTG principles.

D uring this period, a pilot testing exercise will be conducted in partnership with the industry. The

provisions of the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, particularly on Articles XII, XIV and XVI.”

T he proposed House and Senate changes are on the grant of legislative franchises to and ownership of public utilities in Article XII, and ownership of basic educational facilities in Article XIV and advertising firms in Article XVI.

T he suggested principal amendments are the insertion of the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law,” which would empower Congress to lift or relax present economic restrictions in the nation’s basic law, and the addition of the qualifier “basic” in Article XlV.

R BH No. 7 and RBH No. 6 also restate the provision of the Constitution that Congress may propose amendments “upon a vote of threefourths of all its members.”

results of the exercise will also inform the development of additional guidance on the use of the taxonomy.

“ The taxonomy provides a simplified approach in assessing the economic activities of micro, small and medium enterprises [MSMEs]. This recognizes the important role of MSMEs in the economy and aims to promote financing to the sector,” BSP said.

T he taxonomy said these measures are crucial to the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to net zero. The BSP said “the scale of financing needed to meet the Philippines’ climate goals is colossal” and thus, calls for the expansion of its capacity to support financing the low-carbon and climate-resilient (LCCR) transition, above the government’s own fiscal allocation and spending.

B etween 2016 and 2022, BSP said, P2.01 trillion or $35.95 billion has been tagged as a climate budget by national government agencies using the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) Framework.

T his, the taxonomy said, represented 5.8 percent of the total appropriations during the same period, with more than 90 percent towards building climate resilience to adapt and mitigate the adverse impact of extreme, intense, and frequent weather events.

T he BSP also noted an estimated $168 billion in green investment opportunities between 2020 and 2030, including $39 billion for greening existing and future energy infrastructure, $104 billion for climate-smart cities, and $25 billion for accelerating the green transition in selected sectors.

However, the document said the Philippines only attracted $0.6 billion in green investment from foreign companies between 2017 and 2021, mostly in renewable energy. Climate investments between 2017 and 2021 account for only 1 percent of total cross-border investment, substantially below its regional peers. Cai U. Ordinario

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O ther reforms that the country will champion at the conference, DTI said, are “enhancing WTO’s functions, notification and transparency mechanism.”

T he Philippines also expects “significant progress and outcomes” on electronic commerce, investment facilitation for development, trade and environment, as well as the integration of micro-small and medium enterprises

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and Professions (DNFBPs) is occurring.

O ther deliverables include demonstrating that supervisors are using AML/CFT controls to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets, and enhancing and streamlining Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) access to BO (beneficial ownership) information and taking steps to ensure that BO information is accurate and up-to-date.

T he FATF said demonstrating an increase in money laundering investigations and prosecutions in line with risk and demonstrating an increase in the prosecution of task force cases.

A MLC said the President in January ordered relevant government agencies to expedite efforts in addressing deliverables set by FATF within the year.

“ The FATF urges the Philippines to swiftly implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines expired in January 2023,” the FATF said in a statement.

A MLC said that as the country remained on its grey list, the FATF has considered accomplished action plan items related to terrorism financing identification and investigation.

T he FATF grey list is a list of countries that are actively working with the FATF to improve their AML/CFT measures.

“ This improvement in our AML/ CFT regime is a strong recognition of the government’s efforts in curbing terrorism and terrorism financing incidents in the country,” said Anti-Money Laundering Council Secretariat Executive Director Matthew M. David.

It also sends a positive signal to the international community on the unwavering commitment and continuous progress made by the

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We hope that we will have more in Robinson’s supermarket. So, we can address our artificial coin shortage. Let the change continue to happen,” Romulo-Puyat said in a recent CoDM event in Robinsons East.

Banks, also

APART from additional machines, Romulo-Puyat said the BSP also aims to involve three to five banks in the CoDMs such that the coins deposited in these machines will also be directly deposited to the bank accounts of Filipinos. R omulo-Puyat said not all Filipinos have electronic wallets and are requesting that their coins be directly deposited in their bank accounts instead.

She said the BSP is working on this and wants to ensure that, just like depositing coins to electronic wallets, the service will also become free when depositing to bank accounts.

R omulo-Puyat said the banks are receptive to the idea of being included in the CoDMs, which is encouraging them to allow more Filipinos to address the country’s artificial coin shortage.

Eventually, what we are working on is it can be also credited to your bank accounts. So, it’s more convenient. Our CoDM project has come a long way and it will go farther,” Romulo-Puyat said.

S he thanked the public “for your enthusiastic reception. We didn’t expect the reception to be this good,” she added, partly in Filipino.

R omulo-Puyat said among those

(MSMEs) in the Global Value Chain.

T he 13th WTO Ministerial Conference will take place from February 26 to 29, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual will lead the Philippine delegation. Accompanying the Philippines’s trade chief are officials from the House of Representatives and various government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Department of Foreign Affairs, Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, and Philippine Mission to the WTO in Geneva.  The DTI said it convened briefing

Philippines in this front,” he added. It was in June 2021 when the Philippines made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, the Philippines has taken steps towards improving its AML/ CFT regime, including by identifying and investigating TF cases.

E arlier, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said the deadly bombing in Marawi could make it difficult for the Philippines to exit the FATF grey list.

B SP Governor Eli M. Remolona Jr. recently told reporters that the bombing in Marawi, which killed four people and wounded 50 others, could make FATF “more demanding” given that the incident could indicate the presence of terrorism financing.

T he FATF flagged the country for supposed inadequacies in the effectiveness of the targeted financial sanctions framework (TFS) for both terrorism financing and proliferation financing.

L anding on the FATF grey list does not automatically result in sanctions kicking in, but could cause prolonged procedures in some financial transactions which could affect not only Filipinos travelling abroad but also Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and migrants.

T his is something Philippine authorities are keen to avoid in order not to inconvenience, particularly the millions of migrant workers whose remittances shore up the economy.

T he BSP earlier said the main challenge in exiting from the gray list is enforcement since the country has already passed the necessary legislation, except for the amendment of the Bank Secrecy Law.

they are hoping to include in CoDMs is GoTyme bank, which is also under the Gokongwei group.

G oTyme Co-Chief Executive Officer Albert Tinio told reporters on the sidelines of the event they are already working on this and it is likely that they will be included in the CoDMs this year.

T inio said right now, it is just a matter of tech integration but the digital bank is keen on becoming the first digital bank to be included in the CoDMs.

Hopefully, it would be GoTyme that gets it first, to link it to retail the way they’re doing it now. But the fact that it’s located right now and [is] strongest inside Robinsons Malls,  it should really be GoTyme,” Tinio said.   “ I have seen people come in from the smallest garapon [glass jar]. Those like croc bags on trolleys,” he observed, guessing that they must be “small business owners.”

R omulo-Puyat said since the launch of the CoDMs in June 2023 and as of February 21, the machines have facilitated a total of 134,188 transactions.

T his involved the deposit of 145.5 million coins with a total value of P510 million. In terms of the highest number of deposit transactions equivalent to a value of P39.2 million, Robinsons Ermita was the top retailer.

T he value of coins deposited in the CoDM in Robinsons East since October has already reached P16.9 million. This, she said, speaks volumes about the enthusiastic response of Filipinos to the CoDMs.  Cai U. Ordinario

sessions in preparation for the MC13.

On February 8, 2024, it conducted a joint briefing for Congress, followed by a briefing for NGOs and CSOs on February 15, 2024 that was attended by representatives from SENTRO, Federation of Free Farmers, Federation of Free Workers, Nestle Philippines, and Agap Partylist, among others.  T he Ministerial Conference is the “highest decision-making body” of the WTO attended by trade ministers and senior officials from the organization’s 164 members. The last Ministerial Conference (MC12) was held on June 12 to 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Malay approves controversial wind project’s CSR plan affecting river

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

THE Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Malay on Friday voted to adopt the proposed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program of PetroWind Energy Inc., which wants to expand its wind-farm project, that many businesses and locals view will affect Boracay Island’s main water source.

Four of the SB members voted for the adoption of the municipal unit’s resolution endorsing the CSR project versus four against it; Vice Mayor Niño Cawaling broke the tie by voting in favor of the resolution. Locals opposed to the PetroWind project see this as a tacit approval of the project itself, despite some SB members proclaiming the municipal government had yet to endorse the project. “Those who voted ‘yes’ to the resolution are mad because they had been flooded by complaints from their constituents opposed to the project. They claimed the project had not been approved, but they had already been judged,” one source told the B usiness M irror

In January, the Boracay Foundation Inc., the pioneering group of local residents, business owners, and other stakeholders on the island, called for a stop to PetroWind’s Nabas-2 power project, “to safeguard the Nabaoy River from continuous and irreversible damage, ensuring long-term sustainability as the main water source for Boracay and the whole municipality of Malay.” The river is also a source of food and livelihood for residents along the river, where giant freshwater prawn, commonly known as ulang, thrive.

PetroWind proposes to construct wind turbines that would generate 14-megawatts (mw) of energy, in addition to the previous 36-mw generated by its Nabas-1 project, built in 2015. The company is 60-percent owned by the Yuchengco Group in joint venture with Thailand’s BCPG Wind Cooperatief UA (40 percent). (See, “BFI rejects PWEI wind turbines,” in the BusinessMirror, February 22, 2024.)

50 World’s Greatest Places

LAST year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler voted Boracay one of the Best Islands in Asia. In 2022, it was included in the 50 World’s Greatest Places by TIME Magazine.

The island was closed for six months in 2018 to give way to its environmental rehabilitation and construction of vital infrastructure projects, and was later heralded as a model of sustainability.

Over 2 million tourists, mostly domestic travelers, visited Boracay last year, 15

percent higher than the arrivals in 2019. The island remains one of the key generators of tourism receipts in the country, reaching close to P50 billion in 2019. According to the resolution approved by the SB, PetroWind has proposed a P43.54-million in “sustained social programs” over 10 years for Brgy. Nabaoy under the company’s CSR program; a P10-million environmental guarantee fund (EGF); and P50 million in additional measures such as “state-of-the-art siltation and erosion mitigating solutions, on top of the current Ridge-to-River Rehabilitation and Restoration Program currently being implemented…”

Long-time environmentalist and former Malay Councilor Nenette-Aguirre Graf pointed out, however, “That P10-million EGF is nothing if the machines of the water utilities are damaged. We proposed during a consultation meeting last month that if PetroWind is really serious, they should post a P1-P5-billion bond to safeguard the environment.”

Pure drinking water

GRAF also noted that to this day, PetroWind has yet to rehabilitate the Napaan River, which was affected by the its Nabas wind project phase 1, underscoring the wariness of the locals to the company’s new promises to protect the environment under its phase 2 project. For their part, the Nabaoy Environmental Defenders castigated the Malay SB for endorsing PetroWind’s CSR project, instead of believing scientists who have explained studied Nabaoy River. They cited science researcher Raymond Jacinto Sugcang, who said, based on groundwater analysis, the concentration of dissolved ions in Nabaoy River is “very small, just 1 part per million in terms of concentration, compared to Aklan River which is 100-200 ppm. But here [in Nabaoy] it’s very low, meaning the water is very pure. It’s almost like purified water.” He underscored with this kind of water purity, utility firms don’t have to implement extra measures to purify and make it drinking water.

Voting ”No” to the SB resolution were Councilors Natalie CawalingPaderes, Vicky Aguirre, Alan Palma, and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Sheila Ascaño. Voting ”Yes” to the resolution were Councilors Dante Pagsuguiron, Datu Sumnad, Loyd Maming, and Barangay Captain Mannie Casidsid. Abstaining from the vote was Councilor Junthir Flores, while absent from the meeting was SB Chair for the Environment Committee Jhonel Casidsid.

Surveys on migration, population conducted this year

Tnow be done every 10 years starting 2025. The joint Popcen-CBMS will be done this year.

“The PSA Board has convened once again to discuss immediate and pertinent matters affecting the operations of the agency and its stakeholders,” PSA said. “Eight resolutions were approved by the PSA Board during its 35th meeting.”

Four of these resolutions, pertained to the Popcen-CBMS which included the schedule of implementation and conduct of 2024 POPCEN-CBMS and the creation of the Census-CBMS Coordinating Boards.

The resolutions also included the declaration of June 2024 as the National Census and Community-Based Monitoring System Month and enjoining agencies to support the undertaking.

“The 2024 POPCEN-CBMS was designed to update the data and inventory of the country’s population, including the social registries of both the national government agencies and the local government units,” the PSA said.

CA junks DOH plea on ₧8.1B Bgy health stations project

TThe PSA also said the Board approved the more frequent conduct of the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) every three years instead of every five years.

Further, the PSA Board approved the rebasing of the Construction Materials Wholesale Price Index to 2018 from 2012 and approved the methodology for Sustainable Development Goal 16.10.1. The PSA said SDG 16.10.1 pertained to the indicator on the number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months.

“This approval will help facilitate the collection, analysis, dissemination, and use of relevant data to help the victims of the mentioned cases,” PSA said.

“The PSA will work closely with the Commission on Human Rights and the member agencies of the Interagency Committee on Security, Justice, and Peace Statistics, to ensure the accomplishment of this undertaking,” it added.

Present during the meeting are the Board Chairperson and Presiding Officer, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, Vice Chairperson and Department of Budget and Management Undersecretary Joselito R. Basilio, Chair of the Secretariat and PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis S. Mapa, and 22 other members. Cai U. Ordinario

phase of the project. Under the contract, the DOH had until March 30, 2016, to deliver the possession of all 2,500 sites to the respondents but failed to do so.

JBros alleged that when they visited the supposed sites to start commencing work, they encountered several issues with the turnover of the possession of the sites.

By Joel San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Court of Appeals (CA) has junked

the petition filed by the Department of Health (DOH) seeking to set aside the decision issued by an arbitral tribunal ordering the agency to compensate the private contractor behind the controversial P8.1-billion Barangay Health Stations (BHS) project during the term of former President Benigno S. Aquino III.

In a 22-page ruling penned by Associate Justice Jaime Fortunato Caringal, the CA’s Eight Division held that the final award issued by the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC) Arbitral Tribunal on January 3, 2022, has attained finality and “may no longer be modified, be it on errors of fact or law.” The ruling was in favor of JBros Construction Corp. in a joint venture agreement with Fujian Zhongma Construction Engineering Ltd. Co.

The CA explained that while the losing party now has two options against an unfavorable CIAC award—and under the second option has 60 days within which to file a petition assailing the decision, the old

rule that the award become executory after 15 days has been retained. It is, nonetheless, subject to the losing party’s right to either secure a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary injunction from the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals.

In this case, the CA noted that JBros received a copy of the final award on January 4, 2022, while the DOH admitted to having received the decision a day after.

The appellate court pointed out that under Section 18.1 of the CIAC Rules, a final arbitral award “shall become executory upon the lapse of 15 days from receipt thereof by the parties and in case recourse is taken against the same either before the CA or the SC in appropriate cases and a TRO or a writ of preliminary injunction has been issued, the award will only be executory either upon entry of final judgment or upon the lapse or lifting of the TRO or the dissolution of the preliminary injunction.”

Records show that as early as March 4, 2022, the CIAC Arbitral Tribunal had already declared that the final award had become final and executory in its order granting the JBros motion for execution.

“The doctrine of immutability of

judgments bars courts from modifying decisions that have already attained finality, even if the purpose of the modification is to correct errors of fact or law,” the CA stressed.

In its January 3, 2022, decision, the CIAC awarded JBros the net amount of P299.09 million. In addition, the CIAC also imposed interest at six percent per annum on the said amount until full payment has been made by the DOH.

The construction firm filed a claim last January 13, 2021, against the DOH before the CIA to settle their dispute in relation to the BHS Phase II Project. The latter refers to the contract for the procurement of the construction of BHS-Tsekap with furniture and fixtures in 2,500 public school sites.

The award of the project to JBros was an offshoot of the January 26, 2016, tripartite memorandum of agreement signed by the DOH, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to build functional BHS in every barangay, using public elementary school sites for the same.

The DOH issued on March 22, 2016, a notice to proceed to JBros for the second

The respondent blamed the same to lack of proper coordination between the DOH and DepEd as well as the lack of a Memorandum of Agreement for the BHS Phase II Project, which prevented them from possessing all 2,500 sites as required under the contract. It further claimed that because of the failure of the petitioner to deliver all the sites within the agreed period under the contract, they were constrained to request for a suspension of the Phase II Project and an extension of time to complete the same.

On January 25, 2019, JBros was to send a notice of termination to the petitioner in view of the suspension of the construction activities for the BHS Phase II Project for almost three years.

The respondents, likewise, demanded the payment of the value of their completed works less the mobilization fee that they received.

In its decision, the CIAC awarded JBros the amount of P516.87 million as actual damages; P87.83 million as cost of materials ordered; and P245.61 million as unrealized profit.

It, however, deducted the P551.23 million advance payment made by the DOH as mobilization fee.

Bong Go pursues healthcare accessibility for all during NKTI’s 41st Founding Anniv

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go personally attended the National Kidney and Transplant Institute’s (NKTI) 41st founding anniversary celebration in Quezon City on Friday, February 23, and thanked its leadership and personnel for four decades of service to the nation.

The senator, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, delivered a speech that not only celebrated the milestone but also underscored the importance that NKTI has played in promoting health and saving lives of countless Filipinos.

“As the National Kidney and Transplant Institute celebrates its 41st Founding Anniversary with the theme “Pagsiklab o Patuloy ang Gabay at Suporta sa Bawat Indibidwal Tungo sa Kasarinlang Larangan at Adbokasiya sa Bato” we are reminded of the crucial role this center plays in our healthcare system,” he said.

During the event, Go highlighted the crucial role of NKTI as one of the premier health facilities in the country. With the passage of RA 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act wherein Go was principal sponsor and one of its authors in the Senate, the expertise of NKTI will be instrumental in developing other specialty centers nationwide with similar specialties.

The new law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals to bring specialized medical care closer to communities.

Meanwhile, Go, often referred to as Mr. Malasakit due to his steadfast commitment to assisting the underprivileged, lauded the exceptional efforts and dedication of the NKTI’s staff, from its doctors and nurses to

the diligent utility workers who ensure the hospital operates smoothly.

He emphasized that their untiring service and commitment to healthcare have been instrumental in upholding the institute’s reputation as a premier medical facility in the country.

“Gusto kong pasalamatan ang ating mga medical frontliners. Kayo po ang dapat pasalamatan. Kayo po ang hero ng pandemya. Kayo po ang nagsakripisyo upang masalba ang buhay ng mga may sakit. Hindi natin mararating itong kinaroroonan natin kung hindi po dahil sa inyong sakripisyo,” he highlighted.

Go is one of the authors and co-sponsors of Republic Act No. 11712, which provides benefits and allowances to healthcare workers amid public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the lifting of the state of public health emergency, Go has persistently urged concerned agencies to disburse the outstanding health emergency allowances (HEA) owed to eligible healthcare professionals.

“Noong panahon ng pandemya, nakipaglaban po kami para sa inyo. Hindi ako pumayag noong sabi nila yung health allowance na ibibigay lang ‘pag pumasok ka (sa hospital). Eh sabi ko dapat pantay-pantay dahil sa pagganap palang ng trabaho ninyo bilang health workers, nanganganib na ang buhay niyo lalo na noong panahon ng pandemya. Ang ilan sa inyo nagkasakit, ang ilan po sa inyo nagbuwis ng buhay,” cited Go.

“Yung sakripisyo niyo po sa ating mga kababayan ay hindi po matatawaran ng anuman... (iyang HEA ay) maliit na bagay po yan, kaya dapat lang na ibigay sa ating mga health workers ang para sa kanila,”

he stressed. He also filed Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2504, aimed at increasing the salary schedule of civilian personnel in the Philippine government. If enacted into law, the bill, known as “Salary Standardization Law VI,” seeks to amend and improve the provisions outlined in Republic Act No. 11466 or the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) 5. In 2019, Go played a key role in the passage of SSL 5 as one of its authors and co-sponsors in the Senate.

The event was attended by NKTI Executive Director Dr. Rose Marie Rosete–Liquete, Deputy Executive Director of Medical Services Dr. Romina Danguilan, Deputy Executive Director of Hospital Support Services Ms. Maribel Estrella, Deputy Executive Director of Nursing Services Dr. Nerissa Gerial, Acting Deputy Executive Director of Education, Training And Research Dr. Consesa C. Casasola, Malasakit Center Head Redis Basada, Dr. Jade Jamias, and Dr. Rene Bautista, among others.

Highlighting the Malasakit Center within the NKTI, Senator Go pointed out this pivotal initiative as a source of hope for poor and indigent patients seeking medical assistance. As the Malasakit Center in NKTI celebrates its 4th year on February 24, Go also took time to personally check its operations on the same day and provide meals and other forms of support to patients and frontliners there.

The Malasakit Centers program, a hallmark initiative of Senator Go which was institutionalized through RA 11463 or the Malasakit Centers Act of 2019 that he principally authored and sponsored, is designed to streamline access to medical assistance from various government agen -

Bill legalizing motorcycle taxis a legislative priority

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced last Sunday the prioritization of House Bill (HB) 3412, which aims to legalize motorcycles as public transportation vehicles and reform existing transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) regulations.

According to Romualdez, the legislative action is a response to recent directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for increased transportation options for Filipinos, specifically endorsing the legalization of motorcycle taxis and the relaxation of TNVS regulations. The president’s stance became evident after a meeting with executives from Grab Holdings Inc. in Malacañang, emphasizing the need for diverse and accessible transportation solutions.

“The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general welfare are foundational to our democracy. It’s imperative to adapt our laws to the evolving transportation landscape to ensure the well-being and convenience of our citizens,” Romualdez said.

HB 3412 aims to address the legal barriers that currently prevent motorcycles from being used as common carriers, thereby fostering a more inclusive and flexible

transportation framework. This initiative is also seen as a step towards formalizing the status of motorcycle taxis, which have been operating under pilot testing in Metro Manila and Cebu since 2019.

The bill is also seen as a response to the rapid development of app-driven transport network companies, which has highlighted the necessity for updated regulations that keep pace with technological advancements and evolving public needs, according to lawmakers. The proposed legislation is expected to facilitate better regulation, enhance safety standards, and contribute significantly to the country’s economic recovery post-pandemic.

“The legalization of motorcycle taxis and the relaxation of TNVS regulations align with our goals to provide more choices for passengers, drivers, and businesses, particularly MSMEs,” Romualdez said. “This approach not only addresses the demand for more accessible public transport but also contributes to the economic recovery and employment opportunities in the country.”

The move to prioritize HB 3412 reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s transportation infrastructure and regulatory environment, in line with the president’s vision for a more

progressive and inclusive Philippines, the Speaker added.

Exclude Grab MEANWHILE, the Department of Transportation’s technical working group decided to exclude Grab from the pilot study on motorcycle transport services, or MC taxis, House Committee on Metro Manila Development Vice Chairman Joel R. Chua said last Sunday. Chua welcomed the decision, citing various violations on Grab’s part uncovered during committee hearings. He deemed the DOTR-TWG’s ruling fair, emphasizing the need to hold companies accountable for their actions.

“During the committee hearing, we discovered several violations on the part of Grab. So it’s a welcome development [that the company is excluded]. It was the right decision, a fair decision on the part of the DOTR-TWG,” Chua said. The decision to exclude Grab apparently

When

cies, making healthcare more accessible to the underprivileged.

In a gesture of his continued commitment to the healthcare sector, Senator Go pledged unwavering support to the NKTI, promising to utilize his capacity to ensure the institution receives the necessary support and resources to further its mission.

“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin yung ibinigay ninyong pagkakataon. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino sa abot ng aking makakaya,” Go remarked.

“Mga kababayan ko minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Ako po ang inyong Senator kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo po yan sa Diyos,” he ended.

On the same day, Go was in Carmona City, Cavite to join the celebrations for its first year of cityhood and to also inspect the Super Health Center there.

Go championed the establishment of more Super Health Centers nationwide to bring primary healthcare services closer to communities, emphasizing early disease detection by providing medical consultations and basic healthcare services, especially in areas needing adequate medical facilities.

Through the collective efforts of the Department of Health (DOH) led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, LGU, and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated under the DOH for the construction of over 700 Super Health Centers nationwide.

abide by the committee’s decision. Chua had previously criticized Grab for attempting to bypass government regulations and gain dominance in the app-based transportation sector, particularly after its acquisition of We-Load Transcargo Corp. (Move It) in August 2022, despite the DOT’s rejection of the partnership.

It was during the House panel investigation last year that the lawmakers found “multiple instances of non-compliance with proper procedures and the circumvention of government regulations” from Grab.

It was Chua who placed a spotlight on Grab’s other violations during the House probe. This included unpaid penalties, overcharging, dominance abuse, and even mistreatment of its riders.

The Manila lawmaker said the company failed to meet financial obligations set by the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC). He said that while Grab was ordered to pay P25.45 million in refunds, the firm only paid P6.15 million. The PCC had also said that Grab continued to increase its fares despite allegations of overcharging.

At any rate, Chua said he and the House panel “echo the call of the President to legalize the MC taxi.”

“I hope both Houses of Congress will give priority to the MC taxi bill that we sponsored so that issues that will affect the riding public as well as the drivers will be addressed,” he said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

SBy Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan

HIPPING rates are costlier in the Philippines than in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, with more weight placed on port charges compared to regional economies, according to a study conducted by BlueFocus Infrastructure Advisors (BIA) SL, a transport and logistics service provider based in Spain.

“Maritime transportation is costlier in the Philippines than in neighboring countries in Southeast Asia, with more weight placed on destination charges than in other regional economies,” Pablo Corralo, a partner at BIA, said during a presentation at the 10th Edition of Philippines-Spain Forum organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Makati City last Thursday.

The study, which blueFocus said was commissioned by a large overseas manufacturing company, assessed the logistics costs for imported containers in the Philippines.

Corralo said the study gathered

trade data and logistics costs from public sources, spot quotations with Filipino and global logistics providers and interviews with local stakeholders.

The study assessed the total logistics costs of imported containers from the Port of Loading up to logistics premises in Metro Manila (ready for consumption).

The study broke down the logistics costs for imported containerized cargo into four steps: maritime transportation, which includes shipping line and insurer; port charges, which include terminal operator and port authority; customs clearance, which includes the bureau of customs and broker; and, inland logistics, which include trucking company, logistics operator and depot.

Corralo said that as of October last year, logistics costs for an average imported container in the Philippines amount to $5,300 or P296,000. The study noted that the biggest chunk of the logistics cost came from maritime transport, with 37 percent. This was followed by customs clearance, 35 percent; inland logistics, 20

Economy

Hyperscale data firms’ interest buoys hopes for growth of RE

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

percent; and port charges, 8 percent.

The BIA also calculated logistics costs for multiple imported commodities, coming from different overseas locations selected among top commercial partners.

Among the imported commodities of the Philippines included in the study, imported frozen chicken from the United States has the largest logistics cost per container amounting to $29,472. This was followed by imported rice from Vietnam with $6,316, imported appliances from China at $6,091, imported resins from the US at $6,530, imported Brandy from Spain at $5,860 and imported refined sugar from Thailand at $3,024.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Memorandum Circular (MC) 021-2023 issued last December 6 stated the approval of the increase in storage charges for foreign box cargoes. The storage fee hike took effect on January 6.

According to a statement issued by the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) over the weekend, storage charge

as defined under PPA’s MC 0395 is the amount assessed on articles, baggage and containers for storage in the port premises, cargo shed and warehouse of the government.

“Storage charges for foreign containerized cargoes are assessed when the cargoes remain stored within or outside transit sheds or laid out in the open yard or stored in the warehouses of the PPA beyond the free storage period,” the Philexport explained.

Foreign containers include import cargoes, export cargoes and transshipments. The Philexport said storage charges for foreign cargoes are assessed when these containers remain at PPA ports beyond the free storage period.

“For imported cargoes, assessment comes five calendar days after the day that the last item of cargo is discharged from the carrying vessel. For export cargoes, it is four calendar days from the day that the cargo is received at the port. For foreign transshipments, it is 15 calendar days from the day of arrival to the day of departure,” the Philexport explained.

First bid round for petroleum exploration in BARMM begins

THE Department of Energy (DOE) will formally open on February 26 the first bid round for petroleum exploration in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( BARMM ).

Four pre-Determined Areas (PDAs) shall be offered for investment, exploration, development and production of the Barmm’s indigenous resources, as mandated by the Intergovernmental Energy Board (IEB).

“This is another milestone for the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Administration in advancing the development of the Barmm, following the landmark signing of the Intergovernmental Energy Board Circular on the Joint Award of Petroleum Service Contract [PSCs] and Coal Operating Contracts [COCs] in the Barmm area in July 2023,” DOE Secretary Raphael PM Lotilla said.

The IEB Circular on the Joint

Govt

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

FILIPINOS whose homes were damaged by disas -

ters can claim a one-time emergency shelter support from the national government, according to the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

In a statement, DHSUD said

Award of PSCs and COCs in the Barmm was signed on July 6, 2023. It operationalizes the provision under Section 10, Article XIII of Republic Act No. 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region to jointly grant rights, privileges and concessions for the exploration, development, and utilization of uranium and fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas and coal within the territorial jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro.

“The resources identified in the Barmm area are enormous assets that we can fully develop. As we go another step forward to harnessing these assets, our aspirations for promoting economic growth, generating employment opportunities, and nurture a thriving business landscape in the region are even closer to realization,” Lotilla added.

The DOE chief previously encouraged Middle Eastern investors

this approval follows the creation of the Integrated Disaster Shelter Assistance program (Idsap), which is tasked to conduct the agency’s post-disaster initiatives.

A one-time emergency shelter support of P15,000 will be extended to eligible families. However, this will be subject to the availability of government funds.

“We want our disaster-affected kababayans [compatriots] to

to explore for oil and gas resources in the Barmm. Lotilla said in October last year that he had discussed this with “a number” of firms that are “looking for opportunities” in the offshores areas of between Sulu and Mindanao.

Aside from the first conventional energy bid round for Barmm, the DOEB also announced the launch of the 2024 Philippine Bid Round on Monday.

The Philippine Bid Round is a government-led process that invites oil and gas companies to participate in competitive bidding for the right to explore and develop specific acreage within the country.

Two PDAs for the development and production of petroleum with confirmed resources in Northwest Palawan and Southern Cebu basins and two PDAs for native hydrogen exploration in Central Luzon will be offered under the 2024 Philippine Bid

immediately receive the government’s assistance. They already suffered from typhoons [and] earthquakes,” DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar was quoted in the statement as saying. “We want to alleviate that by fast-tracking the delivery of our services.”

Undersecretary Randy B. Escolango, the Department’s Undersecretary for Disaster Response, is tasked to implement the emergency response phase under Idsap. Escolango is also assigned to constitute a “Shelter Response Team,” tasked to assist and augment efforts on the ground to deliver shelter assistance for disaster victims.

“With the number of disasters occurring in our country, we remain steadfast to our commitment to exhaust all efforts to help our countrymen, not only those affected by the disaster but also those living in danger zones as a proactive measure which is what we are currently doing under Pambansang Pabahay,” Acuzar said.

The DHSUD said the Idsap will define the interventions and provide implementation

THE growth of the renewable energy (RE) sector could accelerate faster than anticipated with new investment interest coming from hyperscale data companies, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.

According to Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, these hyperscalers want RE to power their servers, storage drives and other IT devices.

Guevara cited a forum for hyperscale developers she participated in and learned “that each of them requires eight megawatts (MW) to 125MW per facility.”

“And they want RE.”

The demand is miniscule as Guevara pointed out that there are islands in the country that register a total demand of only 8MW.

“If we’re going to become the hub for hyperscale data centers, the requirement is very high for RE and it’s a good opportunity for us,” she said.

Guevara said she requested interested hyperscalers to submit a roadmap so that the DOE can match the electricity demand with the supply from renewables.

“They promised to come up with a map. It will take them time. They will organize themselves as an industry and then maybe send us their request,” she said. The DOE official noted that this marriage of technology and sustainable energy offers a promising path for an eco-friendly future.

Total capacity

Round.

The DOE said this initiative aims to facilitate efficient oil and gas exploration, promote economic growth, and ensure responsible resource management within the nation.

The Philippines, added the DOE, holds immense potential for energy exploration that could contribute to the country’s energy security and unlock opportunities for economic growth in the area where these resources are located.

Given this, the DOE continues to pursue more gas exploration, including the exploration, development, and production of native hydrogen, which can serve as a transition fuel.

“Leveraging on these opportunities, we invite local and foreign investors to be our partners in achieving energy security and self-sufficiency in the region and the entire Philippines,” Lotilla said. Lenie Lectura

guidelines during its three phases: emergency response, early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery.

DHSUD said the emergency response phase, coordinated efforts among different agencies and organizations shall ensue, following the onset of the disaster to mitigate its effects.

The Idsap will also focus on early recovery, and rehabilitation and recovery. Efforts on Phase 2 are directed towards helping affected areas regain a sense of normalcy and stability.

The last phase, meanwhile, covers the restoration and improvement of living conditions postdisaster and reduce risk factors, in accordance with the “build back better” principles.

“With the number of disasters occurring in our country, we remain steadfast to our commitment to exhaust all efforts to help our countrymen, not only those affected by the disaster but also those living in danger zones as a proactive measure which is what we are currently doing under Pambansang Pabahay,” Acuzar said.

Transition strategies

THE DOE is actively pursuing four energy transition strategies in line with its goal to provide affordable, sustainable, and sufficient power supply to the country.

These are accelerated RE development, smart and green transmission system, building of port infrastructure for OSW, and voluntary early decommissioning and/or repurposing of existing coal-fired power plants.

“The DOE is actively seeking partnerships to fund our energy transition strategies. Accelerated RE development is funded by the private sector while the smart grid plan, OSW ports, and voluntary coal plant decommissioning can be supported by private sector investments, grants, of ODA from bilateral and multilateral development partners.

We urge energy transition funders to consider these strategies for a low-carbon energy future,” Guevara said.

Heightened enthusiasm

LAST week, the DOE conduct a businessto-business (B2B) matching event to assist foreign investors in finding local partners to support the country’s energy transition program. The event was meant to assist investors, listen and understand the challenges in implementing RE projects, and facilitate addressing their concerns.

It was attended by 206 RE developers, representatives from 40 banks and multilateral agencies, and 65 engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms.

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) estimates that the total capacity of the country’s data centers is expected to grow fivefold by the end of 2025, reaching 300MW.

A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that data centers consumed 460 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2022. This could possibly go up to more than 1,000TWh by 2026.

The projected electricity usage, the IEA said, may depend on “the pace of deployment, range of efficiency improvements, as well as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency trends”, the report said.

The IEA report also predicts that the growth of RE production will accelerate, with a strong possibility that renewables will overtake coal to generate more than a third of the global electricity by 2025.

If the Philippines would be chosen as the data center hub in the region, Guevara said the DOE must pursue the Clean Energy Scenario (CES) 1 or CES 2. The CES 1 is “high RE with low offshore wind (OSW) plus nuclear plus coal repurposing,” which targets over 50 percent RE share by 2050, including nuclear— 1,200MW (8 x 150MW small modular reactors) by 2032, additional 1,200MW by 2035 and another 2,400MW by 2050, and 19 gigawatts (GW) of OSW, along with coal repurposing.

The CES 2, meanwhile, is the “high RE with high OSW plus nuclear plus coal repurposing, which is similar to CES1, except that OSW will be 50GW.

A“There is a heightened enthusiasm from international investors for unlocking the country’s RE potential, and we are linking them with financing institutions, development organizations, concerned government institutions, and EPC companies for potential partnerships and access to financing,” DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said. The Philippines has abundant potential indigenous RE sources. As of January 2024, the DOE has awarded 1,267 projects with RE Service Contracts with a total potential capacity of around 129,000MW covering various technologies. Their full development would benefit from partnerships among various private businesses.

“To meet our energy transition goal, we are utilizing this platform where participants can identify potential business partners, investors, expertise, technologies or business strengths,” Lotilla said.

The government has taken strategies and milestones crucial to the country’s green energy future. These efforts have been recognized in the 2023 BloombergNEF’s Climatescope Report, which ranks the Philippines fourth globally after India, China, and Chile as one of the most attractive emerging markets for RE investments.

In particular, the Philippines stands out as one of the few economies that have implemented auctions, feed-in-tariffs, net metering schemes, tax incentives, and a strong target for RE.

In the 2023-2050 Philippine Energy Plan, the DOE targets 35 percent RE share in power generation by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

•

Editor:

Jennifer A. Ng

DA taps space technology to boost farm output

The Department of Agriculture (DA) entered into a partnership with the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) to use advanced space technology in its bid to increase farm productivity.

The Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (B A FE ) a nd PhilSa signed last February 21 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to “modernize” data collection, analysis and dissemination. B A FE is an attached agency of the DA.

“This MOA signing signifies a convergence of expertise, resources, and innovative thinking aimed

at harnessing the power of technology to transform our agricultural landscape,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.

The project entails joint research, exchange of expertise and information, capacity-building exercises, and project implementation focused on monitoring of farm-to-market roads and major

agricultural commodities, such as onion and corn.

“This partnership will utilize space technology, remote sensing, and sophisticated agricultural systems to drive innovation and efficiency in the sector, with

the pilot testing taking place in Nueva Ecija.”

The DA chief said embracing technological advances is crucial in addressing challenges faced by farmers and ensuring food security in the country. He added that

DA clarifies temporary ban on cattle imports

MIL k and milk products from Thailand, Russia, South k o rea and Libya that meet regulatory conditions may enter the Philippines, according to a circular issued by the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DA issued the clarification in Memorandum Circular (MC) 6 signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. last February 22. MC 6 outlined the conditions for allowing certain products from cattle and buffalo in 4 countries with confirmed outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD).

“To ensure that safe trade is practiced during disease situations, this Memorandum Circular is issued to clarify the conditions of the applied temporary restriction in DA MO [Memorandum

Order] No. 06 series of 2024 regarding commodities that may be affected by LSD, in adherence to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code Article 11.9,” the MC read.

MC 6 mandated that veterinary authorities from Thailand, Russia, South k or ea should attest that milk and milk products from their countries were subjected to

pasteurization or any combination of control measures with equivalent performance as described in the Codex Alimentarius.

Also allowed are skeletal muscle meat, casings, gelatine and collagen, tallow, hooves and horns, according to the circular. “These are considered ‘safe commodities’ and are not included in the temporary restriction, subject to the Philippines’s import terms and conditions.”

MC 6 indicated that meal and flour from blood, meat other than skeletal muscle, or bones from bovines and water buffaloes are excluded from the temporary ban.

However, shipments of these products must have international veterinary certificates attesting that the products were processed using heat treatment to a minimum internal temperature of 65 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes.

Veterinary authorities must guarantee that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the commodities with any potential source of the LSD virus.

The same requirement

applies for hides of bovines and water buffaloes. The international veterinary certificate, however, must indicate that the products were derived from animals which had undergone anteand post-mortem inspections “in accordance with Chapter 6.3” and dry-salted or wet-salted for a period of at least 14 days prior to dispatch or treated for a period at least 7 days in salt with the addition of 2 percent sodium carbonate.

The certificate must also indicate that the hides of bovine and water buffaloes were dried for a period of at least 42 days at a temperature of at least 20 degrees Celsius and that the necessary precautions were taken after processing to avoid contact of the commodities with any potential source of LSD virus.

The DA issued MO 6 early this month to prevent the entry of LSD to the Philippines and protect the health of the local cattle and buffalo population.

“Thailand, Russia, South k o rea, and Libya have reported on-going or stable cases of LSD as shown in the World Organization for Animal Health’s (WOAH) World

Animal Health Information System [WAHIS], and even in stable outbreak, the virus can still be present and potentially spread through movement of animals and animal products,” MC 6 read.

Item 3 of DA MO 6 series of 2024 stated that “importation of live cattle and buffalo, their products and by- products including milk and milk products, embryos, skin and semen should adhere to the WOAH recommendations for importation Article 11. 9.”

Item 4 further stated that “shipments that have not complied with the conditions outlined in item 3 shall be dealt with as per Administrative Circular 6 series of 2022, Article V, Section II [E].”

The DA noted that LSD is a disease of economic importance as it causes temporary reduction in milk production, temporary or permanent sterility in bulls, and damage to hides, and occasionally, death.

“The LSD virus is also remarkably stable, surviving for long periods at ambient temperature, especially in dried scabs as they are very resistant to inactivation.”

Insects were the future of food. They’ve ended up in the pet aisle

For their first attempt at making food from insects, Sean Warner and Patrick Pittaluga started with a bug burger.

Their patty, which combined black beans with black soldier fly larvae, was cooked up at their Georgia Tech apartment not long after the United Nations had published an influential 2013 report that touted insects as the future of food, a natural resource that could help with rising meat costs and climate concerns as the global population grows.

But the bug burger didn’t taste great, and before long, the entrepreneurs steered their Grubbly Farms brand to focus on insect-based food for dogs and chickens.

The pivot from feeding humans to furry and feathered creatures was a practical adaptation to what many startups and established brands have seen in their attempts to build a market for these ingredients: Whatever the environmental good, people just aren’t yet willing to eat bugs. But they are perfectly happy to feed the critters to their pets.

Food for animals is fueling demand for insect protein, which could jump 4,900 percent from 2021 to half a million metric tons by the end of the decade, according to a r a bobank report.

Those prospects for growth have drawn venture capitalists to the fledgling industry. Investors plowed $76.77 million into insect-based food companies in 2022 and another $14.92 million last year, according to PitchBook data. Mark Cuban and r o bert Downey Jr. are among the investors who have put money into insect protein companies.

The startups face a tricky balancing act as they

try to create demand for their products— one that has led them away from catering to human diners.

“Being too early is just as risky as being too late,” says Phil Poirier, co-founder of Montrealbased Wilder Harrier, whose products include cricket dog snacks and black soldier fly dry food.

Health-minded appeals

D I N e r S have proven a tough crowd for insectprotein evangelists. o n ly a quarter of consumers in the United States are willing to incorporate insect ingredients into their regular diet, according to a 2021 YouGov survey that had a similar finding for key e u ropean markets like Germany and the United Kingdom.

The reticence reflects that some people are unsettled by the idea of eating bugs— but also the challenge that insect proteins aren’t yet filling a specific taste or nutritional void.

“ o u tside of sustainability, in the human food application, edible insects aren’t exactly solving a clear pain point,” says Alessandro Di Trapani, the co-founder of insect dog food maker Grub Club Pets.

That has left the animal market as much more fertile territory. Pet food made with crickets and black soldier fly larvae is sold by major retailers including Petco and Chewy.

Tyson Foods announced a partnership in o c tober with insect supplier Protix to build a facility in the US to make insect proteins and fats to be used in pet food and animal agriculture. Mars Inc. sells dry cat food made with black soldier fly larvae in the UK.

Insect-based foods have caught on in pet aisles with product descriptions that appeal to healthminded shoppers, including saying that the food doesn’t trigger dog’s allergies and is good for sensitive stomachs.

Anne Carlson, the founder of Jiminy’s cricketbased pet food, saw a stronger business model— and potential for greater environmental impact—in feeding canines.

“Dogs eat the same thing every day, and if you swap it with a sustainable alternative, you basically get all of their eating occasions,” says Carlson, who makes dog food, treats and dental chews. “That’s not the case for people. Best-case scenario, maybe I get your breakfast every day with a bar.”

So far, pet food has driven the volume growth in the insect protein market, said Gorjan Nikolik, a senior analyst at r a bobank who co-authored the report on the segment’s potential.

But he expects rapid change: o n ce more research is conducted and larger-scale production lowers prices, Nikolik sees aquaculture becoming the biggest buyer of insect proteins, using them as feed for fish and other seafood. Pet food, however, is still expected to account for about 30 percent of demand in 2030, he said.

Most livestock and farmed fish are still fed traditional soy or fishmeal, which is cheaper than insect feed. As researchers assess whether insects can have “functional benefits” like supporting faster growth or a lower mortality rate, Nikolik said demand from commercial farmers or those feed products could increase. Bloomberg News

digital agriculture will unlock opportunities for farmers and fisherfolk, providing them with tools and knowledge to increase productivity.

“Using technology and data analytics, we can gain invaluable insights into crop health, soil conditions, enabling us to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions.”

He said information will help policymakers with near real-time data and insights for strategic planning and decision-making.

“The collaboration between DA-B A FE and PhilSA exemplifies the spirit of partnership and synergy that is essential for driving meaningful change. By pooling together our respective expertise and resources, we can co-create innovative solutions

that have the potential to revolutionize the way we approach agriculture,” he said.

“As we embark on this journey together, let us envision a future where every Filipino farmer has access to cutting-edge digital tools and technologies that empower them to thrive in an ever-changing environment.”

As the central engineering arm of DA mandated to ensure effective and efficient mechanization and infrastructure interventions to modernize the agriculture and fishery sector, BAFE will utilize other digital technologies including Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Management Information System and Geographic Information System for Agricultural and Fisheries Machinery and Infrastructure.

Solon calls for probe into online sale of smuggled onions, other agri goods

TBy Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

HE government must investigate the reported surge in smuggled onions and other agricultural products being marketed online, according to a lawmaker.

AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said he filed House Resolution 1600 to protect the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen while ensuring consumer safety.

Lee said there is a need for “decisive government action to protect our consumers as well as the livelihood of Filipino farmers and fishermen amid the online sale of smuggled onions.”

The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura raised concerns about onion farmers facing losses with the current P28 per kilo farmgate price versus the average production cost of P30 per kilo.

“We have received complaints from local onion farmers who are losing money due to the low farmgate price of their product. They are concerned that their produce may not be sold, especially with the availability of cheap smuggled onions online,” the legislator said.

“Some consumers who purchased online have complained about receiving poor-quality products, with some even being rotten. Unfortunately, they cannot return them. The Department of Agriculture [DA] has also reported confiscating smuggled onions in the past that were contaminated with E. coli. Smuggled

goods bypass phytosanitary tests or inspections.”

Lee said he acknowledges the economic considerations of consumers opting for cheaper products despite potential health risks.

He urged the Department of Trade and Industry and other relevant agencies to curb the online sale of illegally sourced agricultural goods.

“In coordination with the Bureau of Plant Industry [BPI], the government needs to thoroughly assess the health hazards of onions sold online through phytosanitary tests and provide appropriate warnings to the public, especially if these products are unsafe for consumption,” he emphasized.

Amid the still rampant large-scale agricultural smuggling in the country, Lee underscored the need for the urgent passage of his proposed bill to amend Republic Act 10845, or the “Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016,” to impose heavier punishment on agricultural smugglers, hoarders, price manipulators, cartels, government officials, and employees who take part in this crime, which is considered economic sabotage.

“We urgently need to pass a stricter law to eradicate the plague of agricultural smuggling, which causes losses to our farmers. Additionally, increased government support for local producers from cultivation to selling their produce will encourage them to enhance production, ultimately lowering the prices of their products.”

The World

US and British strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen answer militants’ surge in Red Sea ship attacks

By Lolita C. Baldor & Tara Copp | The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—The US and Britain struck 18 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, answering a recent surge in attacks by the Iran-backed militia group on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including a missile strike this past week that set fire to a cargo vessel.

According to US officials, American and British fighter jets hit sites in eight locations, targeting missiles, launchers, rockets, drones and air defense systems. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.

This is the fourth time that the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since Jan. 12. But the US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

The US F/A-18 fighter jets launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, which is currently in the Red Sea, officials said.

“The United States will not hesitate to take action, as needed, to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical waterways,” said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We will continue to make clear to the Houthis that they will bear the consequences if they do not stop their illegal attacks.”

The Houthis denounced the “USBritish aggression" and vowed to keep up its military operation in response.

"The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will confront the US-British escalation with more qualitative military operations against all hostile targets in the Red and Arabian Seas in defense of our country, our people and our nation,” it said in a statement.

The US, UK, and other allies said in a statement the "necessary and proportionate strikes specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across 8 locations in Yemen" that also included underground storage facilities, radar and a helicopter.

UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said RAF Typhoon jets engaged in “precision strikes” aimed at degrading Houthi drones and launchers. Shapps said it came after “severe Houthi attacks against commercial

ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including against the British-owned MV Islander and the MV Rubymar, which forced the crew to abandon ship.” It’s the fourth time Britain has joined in the US-led strikes.

The strikes have support from the wider coalition, which includes Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

President Joe Biden and other senior leaders have repeatedly warned that the US won't tolerate the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping.

But the counterattacks haven’t appeared to diminish the Houthis’ campaign against shipping in the region, which the militants say is over Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

“Our aim remains to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea, but we will once again reiterate our warning to Houthi leadership: we will not hesitate to continue to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in the face of continued threats,” said the Saturday statement.

The Houthis have launched at least 57 attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 19, and the pace has picked up in recent days.

“We’ve certainly seen in the past 48, 72 hours an increase in attacks from the Houthis," Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said in a briefing Thursday. And she acknowledged that the Houthis have not been deterred.

“We never said we’ve wiped off the map all of their capabilities,” she told reporters. “We know that the Houthis maintain a large arsenal. They are very capable. They have sophisticated weapons, and that’s because they continue to get them from Iran.”

There have been at least 32 US strikes in Yemen over the past month and a half; a few were conducted with allied involvement. In addition, US warships have taken out dozens of incoming missiles, rockets and drones targeting commercial and other Navy vessels.

I

Earlier Saturday, the destroyer USS Mason downed an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-held areas in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command said, adding that the missile was likely targeting MV Torm Thor, a US-Flagged, owned, and operated chemical and oil tanker.

The US attacks on the Houthis have targeted more than 120 launchers, more than 10 surface-to-air-missiles, 40 storage and support building, 15 drone storage building, more than 20 unmanned air, surface and underwater vehicles, several underground storage areas and a few other facilities.

The rebels’ supreme leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, announced this past week an “escalation in sea operations” conducted by his forces as part of what they describe as a pressure campaign to end Israel’s war on Hamas.

But while the group says the attacks are aimed at stopping that war, the Houthis’ targets have grown more random, endangering a vital waterway for cargo and energy shipments traveling from Asia and the Middle East onward to Europe.

During normal operations, about 400 commercial vessels transit the southern Red Sea at any given time. While the Houthi attacks have only actually struck a small number of vessels, the persistent targeting and near misses that have been shot down by the US and allies have prompted shipping companies to reroute their vessels from the Red Sea.

Instead, they have sent them around Africa through the Cape of Good Hope—a much longer, costlier and less efficient passage. The threats also have led the US and its allies to set up a joint mission where warships from participating nations provide a protective umbrella of air defense for ships as they travel between the Suez

West Africa bloc lifts coup sanctions on Niger in new push for dialogue to resolve tensions

By Chinedu Asadu The Associated Press

ABUJA, Nigeria—West Africa’s regional bloc known as ECOWAS said Saturday that it is lifting travel and economic sanctions imposed on Niger that were aimed at reversing last year’s coup in the country in a new push for dialogue as it also renewed calls on three juntaled nations to rescind their decision to quit the regional bloc. The sanctions will be lifted with immediate effect, the president of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, said after the bloc’s meeting in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, that aimed to address existential threats facing the region as well as implore three junta-led nations that have quit the bloc to rescind their decision.

After elite soldiers toppled Niger's democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, neighbors shut their borders with Niger and more than 70 percent of its electricity, supplied by Nigeria, was cut off after financial and commercial transactions with West African

countries were suspended. Niger’s assets in external banks were frozen and hundreds of millions of dollars in aid were withheld.

The sanctions, however, emboldened the junta in Niger and two other coup-hit countries of Mali and Burkina Faso, resulting in the three countries forming an alliance and announcing the unprecedented decision last month that they have quit the 15-member bloc. Analysts have called their withdrawal the bloc's biggest crisis since its formation in 1975.

The lifting of the sanctions on Niger is “on purely humanitarian grounds” to ease the suffering caused as a result, Touray told reporters. “There are targeted (individual) sanctions as well as political sanctions that remain in force.”

None of the conditions earlier announced by ECOWAS for the lifting of the sanctions have been met, including its request for Niger’s deposed president to be released from custody as well as a short timeline for the junta in Niger to return power to civilians.

ECOWAS also lifted a ban on the recruitment of Malians in profes -

sional positions within ECOWAS, and resumed financial and economic sanctions with Guinea, also led by a military junta.

The bloc also invited officials of the junta-led countries to “technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as all security-related meetings,” a major shift from its usual tradition of blocking coup-hit countries from major meetings.

“The authority (of ECOWAS) further urges the countries to reconsider the decision (to quit the bloc) in view of the benefits that the ECOWAS member states and their citizens enjoy in the community,” Touray said.

Saturday’s summit came at a critical time when the 49-year-old bloc's future is threatened as it struggles with possible disintegration and a recent surge in coups fueled by discontent over the performance of elected governments whose citizens barely benefit from mineral resources.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, current chairman of ECOWAS, said at the start of the summit that the bloc “must reexamine our current approach to the quest for constitutional

Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In Thursdays attack in the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis fired two missiles at a Palau-flagged cargo ship named Islander, according to Central Command said. A European naval force in the region said the attack sparked a fire and wounded a sailor on board the vessel, though the ship continued on its way.

Central Command launched attacks on Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Friday, destroying seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that the military said were prepared to launch toward the Red Sea.

Central Command also said Saturday that a Houthi attack on a Belizeflagged ship on February 18 caused an 18-mile (29-kilometer) oil slick and the military warned of the danger of a spill from the vessel’s cargo of fertilizer. The Rubymar, a Britishregistered, Lebanese-operated cargo vessel, was attacked while sailing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The missile attack forced the crew to abandon the vessel, which had been on its way to Bulgaria after leaving Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates. It was transporting more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer, according to a Central Command statement.

The Associated Press, relying on satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the stricken vessel, reported Tuesday that the vessel was leaking oil in the Red Sea.

Yemen's internationally recognized government on Saturday called for other countries and maritimeprotection organizations to quickly address the oil slick and avert "a significant environmental disaster. Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.

order in our member states.”

ECOWAS has emerged as West Africa’s top political and economic authority, but it has struggled to resolve the region’s most pressing challenge: The Sahel, the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that stretches across several West African countries, faces growing violence from Islamic extremists and rebels, which in turn has caused soldiers to depose elected governments.

The nine coups in West and Central Africa since 2020 followed a similar pattern, with coup leaders accusing governments of failing to provide security and good governance. Most of the couphit countries are also among the poorest and least developed in the world.

The sanctions against Niger and the threat of military intervention to reverse the coup were “the likely triggers to an inevitable outcome” of the three countries’ withdrawal from the bloc, said Karim Manuel, an analyst for the Middle East and Africa with the Economist Intelligence Unit. With their withdrawal, “the West African region will be increasingly fragmented and divided (while) the new alliance between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger fragments the West African bloc and reflects an axis of opposition to the traditional structures that have underpinned the region for decades,” Manuel added.

Editor: Angel R. Calso

Israel officials to meet on proposed Gaza pause while the Cabinet is set to OK Rafah action plan

By Wafaa Shurafa & Samy Magdy The Associated Press

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip—Israeli officials will meet Saturday night on the next steps after the latest talks with the United States, Egypt and Qatar in search of a deal on pausing the fighting in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

But Netanyahu announced that he’ll convene the Cabinet early next week to “approve the operational plans for action in Rafah,” including the evacuation of civilians, despite widespread warnings from the international community about a military ground operation in the southern city where more than half of Gaza’s population shelters. “Only a combination of military pressure and firm negotiations” would achieve Israel’s aims in the war, he said.

A senior official from Egypt, which along with Qatar is a mediator between Israel and the Hamas militant group, said mediators were waiting for Israel’s official response to a draft deal that includes the release of up to 40 women and older hostages held in Gaza in return for up to 300 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, mostly women, minors and older people.

The Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, said the proposed six-week pause in fighting would include allowing hundreds of aid trucks to enter Gaza every day, including the northern half of the besieged territory. He said that both sides agreed to continue negotiations during the pause for further releases and a permanent cease-fire.

Negotiators face an unofficial deadline of the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan around March 10.

Hamas political official Osama Hamdan noted that the group wasn't at the talks, but asserted to reporters in Beirut on Friday that Israel had refused its main demands, including stopping the "aggression" and withdrawing from Gaza.

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Saturday that the bodies of 92 Palestinians killed in Israeli bombardments were brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours, raising the overall toll in nearly five months of war to 29,606. The total number of wounded rose to nearly 70,000.

The ministry's death toll doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but it has said that two-thirds of those killed were children and women. Israel says its troops have killed more than 10,000 Hamas fighters, but hasn’t provided details.

An Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah, killing at least eight people, including four women and a child, health authorities said. An Associated Press journalist saw the bodies at Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital.

“Enough, enough. Either the Israelis or us should stop. There should be a truce,” said neighbor Abdul-Qader Shubeir, who described feeling lost at not being immediately able to put out the fire burning the bodies.

New genocide allegations B R A z I L S p resident alleged Saturday that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, doubling down on harsh rhetoric after stirring controversy a week ago by comparing Israel's military offensive in Gaza to the Nazi Holocaust in which 6 million Jews and others perished during World War II.

Israel has pushed back against genocide claims made at the UN’s top court and elsewhere, saying its war targets the militant group Hamas, not the Palestinian people. It has held Hamas responsible for civilian deaths, arguing that the group operates from civilian areas.

“What the Israeli government is doing is not war, it is genocide,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Children and women are being murdered.”

In response to Lula’s initial comments, Israel declared him a persona non grata, summoned Brazil's ambassador and demanded an apology. Lula recalled Brazil's ambassador to Israel for consultations.

Last month, South Africa filed a landmark case with the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians. The court issued a preliminary order ordering Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.

Israel, created in part as a refuge for survivors of the Holocaust, has accused South Africa of hypocrisy. South Africa has compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians in Gaza with the treatment of Black South Africans during apartheid, framing the issues as fundamentally about people oppressed in their homeland.

Hunger and diseases spread

I SRAEL d eclared war after the deadly Oct.

7 Hamas attack on southern Israel in which militants killed about 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. More than 100 hostages remain in captivity in Gaza.

The rising civilian death toll and worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza have amplified calls for a cease-fire. Hunger and infectious diseases are spreading and about 80 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, with about 1.4 million crowded into Rafah on the border with Egypt. “There are choking, skyrocketing prices. It’s terrifying. There is no source of income. The area is very overcrowded,” said Hassan Attwa, a displaced man from Gaza City who now shelters in a tent on the sand in Mawasi in the south. “The garbage, may God bless you, is not collected at all. It stays piled up. It turns into a mess and clay when it rains. The situation is disastrous in every sense of the word.”

In Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, children banged on pots as part of a protest outside a closed hospital demanding more aid to the north. Samy Magdy reported from Cairo. Julia Frankel contributed to this report from Jerusalem.

PoPe FRANcIS cANcelS MeeTING wITH RoMe DeAcoNS BecAuSe oF MIlD Flu–THe VATIcAN

By Giada Zampano The Associated Press

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has canceled an audience scheduled for Saturday as a precaution after coming down with mild flu, the Vatican press office said in a short statement, without adding further details. Francis was scheduled to meet with Rome deacons in the morning.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said later Saturday that the pope's weekly Sunday Angelus address was still to be confirmed, and that no further health updates were expected for the day.

The 87-year-old pontiff has had several health problems in recent years. In late November, he was forced to cancel some of his activities and an international trip because of breathing problems. A scan at the time ruled out lung complications. Francis had a part of one lung removed when he was young and still living in his native Argentina.

In April, the pope spent three days at Rome's Gemelli hospital for what the Vatican said was bronchitis. He

was discharged after receiving intravenous antibiotics.

Francis also spent 10 days at the same hospital in July 2021 following intestinal surgery for narrowing of the bowel. He was readmitted in June 2023 for an operation to repair an abdominal hernia and remove scarring from previous surgeries.

When asked about his health in a recent television interview, Francis quipped what has become his standard line: "Still alive, you know."

Over the past two years, Francis has indicated several times that he would be ready to step down, following the example of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, if his health deteriorates to the point that it becomes an impediment to him leading the Catholic Church. However, in a TV interview last month, he said he felt in good health and denied immediate plans to resign.

Speculation about Francis' health and the future of his pontificate has risen following Benedict's death in late 2022. Benedict's resignation in 2013 marked a turning point for the church, as he became the first pontiff in six centuries to step down.

The World

Western leaders rally around Kyiv to mark 2 years since Russia’s full-scale invasion Taiwan giant chipmaker TSMC opens first plant in Japan as part of global expansion

By Susie Blann | The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed Western leaders to Kyiv Saturday to mark the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and foreign aid hangs in the balance.

Allies from the EU and the Group of Seven wealthy democracies rallied around Kyiv to express solidarity, with Zelenskyy joining a virtual G-7 meeting Saturday and four world leaders traveling to Ukraine's war-weary capital.

“Two years ago, here, we met enemy landing forces with fire; two years later, we meet our friends and our partners here,” Zelenskyy said as he met the dignitaries at Hostomel airfield just outside of Kyiv, which Russian paratroopers unsuccessfully tried to seize in the first days of the war.

A somber mood hangs over Ukraine

as the war against Russia enters its third year and Kyiv’s troops face mounting challenges on the frontline amid dwindling supplies and personnel challenges. Its troops recently withdrew from the strategic eastern city of Avdiivka, handing Moscow one of its biggest victories. And Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to make any major breakthroughs with its summertime counteroffensive.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv shortly after a Russian drone attack struck a residential building in the southern city of Odesa, killing at least one person. Three women also sustained severe burns in the attack Friday evening, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper wrote on his social media account. Rescue services combed through

the rubble looking for survivors.

Hours later, Zelenskyy’s office announced the signing of 10-year bilateral security deals with Canada and Italy, with Ottawa committing to send Kyiv 3.02 billion Canadian dollars (close to 2.2 billion US dollars) in military and economic aid this year while Rome promised much-needed long-range weapons.

In a joint press conference, Meloni hailed the agreement with Kyiv and said, “We will continue to support Ukraine in what I have always deemed the just right of its people to defend itself.”

“Confusing the much-bandied about word ‘peace’ with ‘surrender,’ as some people do, is a hypocritical approach that we will never share,” she added.

Meloni also chaired a G-7 videoconference from Kyiv that produced a joint statement Saturday reaffirming world leaders’ commitment to "supporting a

comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” tightening sanctions on Russia and sending Ukraine military and economic aid for “as long as it takes.”

Von der Leyen vowed during the joint press conference that the bloc will stand with Ukraine “financially, economically, militarily, and most of all, morally, until (the) country is finally free.”

At the press conference, Zelenskyy highlighted the urgency of timely arms deliveries, while pledging that Kyiv would not use weapons from allied countries to strike Russian territory. His words reflected an increasingly tense battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv’s troops are trying to hold back Russian advances despite an escalating ammunition shortage.

Associated Press writers Alex Babenko in the Donetsk region of Ukraine and Vasilisa Stepanenko in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report.

By Yuri Kageyama | AP Business Writer

TOKYO—Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. opened Saturday in an official ceremony its first semiconductor plant in Japan as part of its ongoing global expansion.

“We are deeply grateful for the seamless support provided by you at every step,” TSMC Chairman Mark Liu said after thanking the Japanese government, local community and business partners, including electronic giant Sony and auto-parts maker Denso. The company’s founder Morris Chang, was also present. This comes as Japan is trying to regain its presence in the chip production industry.

The Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, or JASM, is set to be up and running later this year. TSMC also announced plans for a second plant in Japan earlier this month, with production expected to start in about three years. Private sector investment totals

$20 billion for both plants. Both plants are in the Kumamoto region, southwestern Japan.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sent a congratulatory video message, calling the plant’s opening “a giant first step.” He stressed Japan’s friendly relations with Taiwan and the importance of cutting-edge semiconductor technology. Japan had previously promised TSMC 476 billion yen ($3 billion) in government funding to encourage the semiconductor giant to invest. Kishida confirmed a second package, raising Japan’s support to more than 1 trillion yen ($7 billion).

Although TSMC is building its second plant in the US and has announced a plan for its first in Europe, Japan could prove an attractive option. Closer to Taiwan geographically, Japan is an important US ally. Neighboring China claims the self-governing island as its own territory and says it must come under Beijing’s control. The long-running divide is a flashpoint in US-China relations.

editorial

Regional cooperation needed to save South China Sea ecosystem

The recent revelations by American analysts from a Washington-based think tank regarding China’s alleged destruction of coral reefs in the South China Sea (SCS) are deeply concerning. According to satellite data and accounts from fishermen and the Philippine Coast Guard, China has reportedly destroyed around 243 square kilometers of coral reefs, equivalent to the size of Manila, Valenzuela, and Quezon cities combined. This extensive damage not only poses a threat to the marine ecosystem but also affects the seafood diet of people in Southeast Asia. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “US think tank says China destroyed, damaged 243 square kilometers of coral reefs in SCS,” February 24, 2024).

China’s method of creating artificial islands by burying coral reefs with sediment and landfill is not only detrimental to the environment but also undermines the ability of reefs to repair themselves over time. While this strategy may have bolstered China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, it has come at a significant cost to the fragile ecosystem. Monica Sato, a researcher from the Center for Strategic Studies-Asian Maritime Transparency Institute (CMS-AMTI), points out that this form of artificial island building is considered the most destructive to the environment due to the removal of essential reef substructures.

While China bears the greatest responsibility for the destruction, Vietnam has also contributed to the damage through similar dredging activities. The wanton harvesting of giant clams, popular in China for their value as jewelry and house ornaments, further exacerbates the destruction of coral reefs. The environmental consequences of these actions are severe, with recovery potentially taking decades or even centuries.

The implications of this extensive environmental damage extend beyond the immediate destruction of coral reefs. The total catch of fish in the South China Sea has remained stagnant since the 1990s, leading to a decline in fish populations and a shift toward fishing lower on the seafood food chain. This overfishing and depletion of fish stocks have not only disrupted the ecological balance but also impacted the livelihoods of fishermen in the region.

Addressing this environmental catastrophe requires international cooperation and concerted efforts. Gregory Poling, the Southeast Asia director of the CMS-AMTI, suggests the need for an international coalition led by the claimant countries in Southeast Asia. This coalition should focus on surveying and accounting for the damage, as well as negotiating joint marine scientific research and fisheries management regimes. Such measures can help preserve the fragile ecosystem of the South China Sea and ensure sustainable fishing practices in the region.

It is also crucial to hold China accountable for its actions. President Marcos has expressed the country’s readiness to file charges against China over reports of cyanide fishing at the Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal). The validation of these reports by the National Task Force West Philippine Sea and subsequent action by the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General will send a strong message that environmental destruction will not be tolerated. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “PBBM ready to file charges vs. China if cyanide fishing in Scarborough Shoal is proven true,” February 21, 2024).

China’s alleged destruction of coral reefs in the South China Sea demands immediate attention and international action. The extensive environmental damage caused by artificial island building and wanton harvesting of giant clams threatens the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of people in Southeast Asia. The international community, particularly the claimant countries in the region, must come together to address this issue to ensure the sustainability of the South China Sea’s resources. Failure to act now could have irreversible consequences for the environment and the lives of millions of people in the region who depend on the sea for their survival.

Diverse events honor the legacy of Edsa

TAtty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

he commemoration of the 1986 People Power Revolution this year seems to be more expansive. Various events commenced around the 22nd, and currently, there are still ongoing programs, such as the democracy march and a Mass at 3:00 p.m. at De La Salle University Dasmariñas campus in Cavite.

Despite President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. excluding the anniversary from this year’s holiday list, Filipinos nationwide have orchestrated diverse events to honor the day when the Filipino people ousted dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos from office.

Last Friday, leaders and prominent figures gathered at the Edsa Shrine for a Mass commemorating the 38th anniversary of Edsa. Programs and events unfolded across

Why is

the nation, encompassing a weeklong celebration in Makati City and a motorcade and concert in Metro Manila. A notable initiative unveiled this year is the Project Gunita map, a component of the #RoadToEDSA campaign. This project presents a series of infographics on events and location maps related to the 1986 uprising, making history more accessible to Filipinos. The Manila map

features 28 significant locations in Quezon City, Manila, Makati, and Taguig, each with essential historical context.

The #RoadToEDSA campaign aims to dispel misconceptions about the protest movement against Marcos, clarifying that the uprising wasn’t confined to Edsa and Mendiola. Through the campaign, one can discern the smaller movements that converged and culminated in Edsa.

Concerning historical information about the peaceful revolution, some may feel that crucial details are confined to academic circles, enthusiasts, or historians. The map’s creators express their desire for more people to be interested, learn more about their history, and appreciate it.

A separate map of Cebu was launched on February 21 as part of the campaign, symbolizing the two capitals of resistance significant to the history of the antidictatorship struggle: Manila as the center of power and Cebu as

the center of opposition.

It is indeed crucial to keep the flame of freedom and democracy alive by sharing accurate historical details with Filipinos, especially the younger generations who were not alive or were very young during Edsa. Unfortunately, many believe the inaccurate details being spread today, almost 40 years after Edsa. But we must inspire each other and rekindle in each other’s hearts the love for country and fellowmen.

Our freedom was not obtained without a cost. We must understand that many of the freedoms being enjoyed today resulted from sacrifices made during that time, in the final years of the dictatorship. Therefore, we must cherish our democracy, safeguard it, and do everything in our power to ensure it is not taken away from us again. It goes without saying that protecting it is not easy, but we must continue to persevere—despite personal limitations, despite poverty and divisiveness.

PSE dragging its feet in going after Abra

Mining officials for trading violations?

MA n y stock market investors are wondering why the Philippine Stock exchange has not filed any court suit against the officials of Abra Mining and Industrial Corp. after it finished its probe into the sale of unissued shares of stock. And that investigation, which followed its suspension of the trading of Abra Mining or AR shares, was made more than three years ago. yet, no formal charges have been made by the PSe . In fact, it even tossed to the Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) the filing of the formal charges against the AR officials who made the trading irregularities.

The move by PSE President Ramon S. Monzon continues to baffle investors: that of tossing to the SEC the filing of the court suit. Monzon and the PSE have already found the smoking gun, so to speak, about the trading irregularities and yet they continued to drag their feet on the issue, forgetting that PSE could do the filing of the charges for being a self-regulatory organization (SRO).

As an SRO, the PSE’s umbilical cord to that of the SEC has been cut and that it can now move against those under its fold such as brokers, transfer agents, traders and the listed shares. In a sense, the PSE need not seek any regulatory approval from the SEC for it to act on complaints, and in the particular case of the AR trading irregularities. Before the merger of the Manila and Makati

Stock Exchanges to become the unified PSE, the SEC held sway over that of the bourses.

But with the time lag that happens under this set-up, the PSE was accorded the SRO status so that it could move with dispatch on crafting rules to govern the conduct of trading and its peripherals. This SRO status that the SEC has granted can also be withdrawn should the PSE not come up to the standards that an SRO should have.

It is thus surprising for many investors why the PSE has not yet made any effort to formally charge the officials of AR for the trading irregularities. It even has the gall to toss the hot potato to the SEC, forgetting that as an SRO it can do so especially with its own findings on the matter of the trading of AR whose

shares sizzled in 2021, accounting for 80 percent of trading from January to February.

Monzon, in his letter-reply to MOST law firm in January last year, acknowledged that the PSE has found out the trading irregularities. MOST law had sent a letter to the PSE as well as to the Philippine Depository Trust Corp. regarding the status of the investigation on Abra Mining and the findings made so far. The law firm said it is representing investors in AR that were left holding the bag due to the trading of unlisted shares.

According to Monzon, “the PSE has concluded its investigation and noted serious violations of the Company not only of the PSE Listing and Disclosure Rules but also of the Revised Corporation Code, the gravest being the lodgement and trading of AR shares which are not yet issued and recorded in the books of the Company and for which no subscription payments were received by the Company.”

Monzon specifically cited what he termed the “gravest” travesty of justice that Abra Mining has made against the investors in the market and yet PSE has not acted on the matter insofar as exercising its SRO status is concerned. Why so? Having found out about the irregularities that occurred two years prior, why has the PSE not moved at all?

Allow us to let Monzon speak and let the investors judge whether the PSE is dragging its feet on the matter of AR trading irregularities or not. “PSE has given the Company suf-

ficient time to address [the] issues but at this time, we have not been made aware of any attempt by the Company to rectify the violations.

Accordingly, the PSE will take the appropriate regulatory actions against the Company, its transfer agent, and their respective directors and officers to hold them responsible for violations of the Listing and Disclosure Rules of the Exchange.

“We have also endorsed this matter to the SEC for investigation of apparent violations of the Revised Corporation Code and referral of criminal complaint to the Department of Justice for prosecution if SEC determines necessary or appropriate.”

Monzon’s letter is neither here nor there. While it acknowledged uncovering the trading irregularities that run smack against the country’s Revised Corporation Code and cited the gravest of them all, the PSE, however, made a sudden U-turn, a pregnant pause, as journalists are wont to say, and then toss the filing of the case to the SEC should the government agency find it necessary.

This letter-reply of Monzon shows that investors of Abra Mining who bought tainted shares will have to wait some more time before the PSE can assuage their fear about their lost investments. It also shows that the PSE’s status as a self-regulatory organization is tainted. It also explains why our market remains in the doldrums, unable to entice more companies to list. And it shows how “competent” the PSE officials are.

Philippines as a global tax leader

OJoel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

Part 13

nE of the growing trends in international taxation is toward improving dispute resolution of tax treaty-related matters. Presently, the Philippines has 43 tax treaties with other countries. These treaties are relied upon by taxpayers and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to mitigate double taxation of income of enterprises conducting business in various taxing global jurisdictions. One mechanism provided for in these treaties to avoid double taxation is the Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAP).

The MAP is accepted globally as a standard in tax treaties for the resolution of double taxation issues arising from varied interpretations of the application of tax treaty provisions by taxpayers and tax administrators. The MAP provides an option for taxpayers to request for the tax treaty competent authorities (CA) of the two tax treaty countries to mutually resolve these recurring double taxation issues.

To implement this aspect of the MAP, the BIR issued Revenue Regulations No. 10-2022, which prescribes the guidelines and procedures for taxpayers requesting Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) assistance.

The MAP may cover the following contentious double taxation issues:

n The taxpayer is considered to be a resident of both taxing jurisdictions.

n The uncertain characterization of income by the tax CA.

n The attribution of profits to a permanent establishment by the tax authority which is inconsistent with the tax treaty provisions.

n The withholding tax imposed by the tax authority on income remitted abroad exceeds the amount under the tax treaty.

n The over-expansion in the taxation of cross-border transactions that is inconsistent with the tax treaty provision.

This instance of double taxation is now the subject of a controversial position recently promulgated

by the BIR. In January 2024, the BIR issued Revenue Memorandum Circular 5-2024. The RMC applied the Supreme Court decision in Aces Philippines Cellular Satellite Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, GR 226680, dated August 30, 2022, on the taxation of an over-expanded set of cross-border services. This position of the BIR may be inconsistent with tax treaty provisions that provide that business profits shall not be taxed in the Philippines if the foreign treaty resident does not have a permanent establishment in the Philippines. Several business and professional associations have submitted a position paper questioning the RMC. The BIR and these business groups should be able to come up with a win-win resolution to this contentious issue that will address the local as well as international repercussions and concerns of the taxpaying community

Aside from the MAP guidelines, the BIR can rely on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Manual on Effective Mutual Agreement Procedures. The MEMAP is intended as a guide to increase awareness of the MAP process and how it should function. It will provide tax administrations and taxpayers with basic information on the operation of MAP and identify best practices for MAP without imposing a set of binding rules upon Member countries.

The BIR should be able to access this resource to improve its MPA process and gain headway in pursuing global tax leadership by implementing best practices that will provide ease and assurance to taxpayers dealing with tax treaties and double taxation issues. Here’s the link to the MEMAP: https://search.oecd.org/tax/ dispute/manualoneffectivemutualagreementproceduresmemap.htm.

The OECD has issued the report on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Action 14: Making Dispute Resolution Mechanisms More Effective (“Report”). This contains a commitment by countries to implement a minimum standard to ensure that they resolve treaty-related disputes in a timely and effective manner. All members of the Inclusive Framework on BEPS (“Inclusive Group”), including the Philippines, commit to implementing the Action 14 minimum standard, which includes publishing their MAP profiles under an agreed template. The new MAP profile should provide competent authority details, links to domestic MAP guidelines, and other useful jurisdiction-specific information regarding the MAP process. It should also consider the need for transparency for jurisdiction positions relating to the minimum standard and best practices contained in the Report.

As a member of the Inclusive Group, the Philippines should have already complied with the mandates of the Report. I have yet to see if these have been complied with by the BIR. As a potential leader in the global tax community, I invoke that the BIR should strive to pursue its role of complying with acceptable global tax standards resulting in best practices and outcomes for the country.

To be continued

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Previously, he was also the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, Tax partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979. He is now back to his tax and consultancy practice and can be contacted at joeltantorress@yahoo. com and his firm JL2T Consultancy.

In observance of The 1986 edsa PeoPle Power revolUTIon

PI-poll pow-wow

ISiegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

THE PATRIOT

T was only a week ago when Juan Ponce Enrile, touted as the martial law architect and the current administration’s chief legal counsel, celebrated his 100th birthday and was given centennial celebrations at Malacanang Palace. The “immortal” public officer might not have imagined reaching this age, if we are to recall his phone conversation with the late Jaime Cardinal Sin in 1986. Then Minister Enrile trembled with fear as he informed the Cardinal that he would “be dead in one hour,” amidst the backdrop of tension and a coup plot against the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos. He certainly survived and flourished in his career in public service.

Those four days of weaving-andweaning a societal change 38 years ago highlighted Mr. Enrile’s resolve to overthrow a 20-year dictatorship peaceably. Joined by then Constabulary Chief Fidel V. Ramos, Enrile appealed to the members of the Cabinet to heed the will of the people manifested during the February 7 snap elections. What occurred thereafter was nothing short of a historic win for the Filipino people. The Edsa People Power was a revolution, fed by a growing rebellion and Ramos’ defection, nursed by civilians from all walks of life, sustained by songs, prayers, food contributions, diplomatic exhortations, and won by consistent sentiments of unity, courage and patience. The opposing side, led by then President Marcos Sr. and his Chief of Staff Gen. Fabian Ver, could do nothing with their Sikorsky aircraft, mortars, amphibian tanks, APCs, six-bysix trucks, among many other military hardware. It was a “war” perpetrated not just along Edsa, but also in Mendiola and the University Belt, by the gates of Malacañang, and in key cities nationwide. It was as if the central elements of a peaceful battle for a nation by a “weaker” force fittingly conferred or powwowed to a much-desired democracy. It was a tranquil petite force versus a manic military-backed power. The former prevailed against all the lies, fraud, murders, and suppression rampant during that dark era. It likewise resisted an extension of a 20-year regime. A massive crowd of 400,000 individuals flooded Edsa, resembling a “human sea,” while thousands more forcefully breached the barricades near Malacanang Palace. This immense gathering grew weary of enduring a prolonged era of servitude and yearned for the liberating embrace

of freedom.

Now, 38 years hence, we find ourselves confronted with the same threats to our people’s life, liberty and property albeit in a different vein. Survival of families counting their centavos to beat the growing cost of rice is now critical. A great number of the populace remains anxious about how the next generation will endure. And as to when witnesses to corrupt activities will boldly come forward is a matter of grave anxiety. News of government positions up “for sale” are slowly finding their way to ordinary household radars. Still a significant number is apparently being led astray to a vague charter change via an alleged paid P.I. (people’s initiative). And our maritime territory (the West Philippine Sea) has alien squatters hell-bent on defending their possession and perceived ownership. These circumstances collectively mirror the challenges that consumed our country before the Edsa revolt. A call to unity and action is imperative, yet again.It is disheartening to witness that the very individuals we rely on to lead us towards a brighter future are the ones capable of deceiving voters into utilizing their right to initiate a petition for constitutional amendments. This alleged P.I. “paid” poll campaign is anathema to the very essence of the Edsa people power revolt where voluntariness to any transformational culture is plainly sought and not deceitfully bought. The 1986 powwow of singing and praying people peacefully conferring for a change ought to ring a bell, if only to alert us that war is again at hand. May there not come a time when the hardfought “people power” will be replaced by an embarrassing PI-poll pow-wow! A different war is on our doorstep—

The liberating power of the arts underscored in February

By Cecilia Guidote-Alvarez

Education for all is a human right and culture is the catalyst for its inclusive, interdisciplinary, implementation. culture crystal-

and facilitated by arts education is central to the life of the people.

constant lighthouse to guide and remind us to put interest of the nation above all else. This is what heroism is all about.

and sustainable development of our patrimony, of our indigenous heritage, of our cultural treasures, the integrity of history must be sustained with initiatives stimulating and unleashing the creative power of its citizens.

Unleashing a nation’s creative power COURAGE colloquially termed guts is the driver of creativity fueled by imagination, the capacity to care, the bigness of a mind that goes beyond the muchtunneled mind-set to pursue a DREAM of a better peaceful, safe, sustainable world. Creativity must not be measured or spelled out in terms of how much money you have. Creativity is the strength of spirit to generate ideas with the boldness to realize those ideas regardless of obstacles. If you know your truth, you will champion it, unafraid to be crucified for your truth knowing in the end you will triumph.

Of course, it demands some sacrifice and that’s what we should be willing to do. That’s why the memory of our heroes must always be remembered as the

If you consider wealth in terms of dollars and cents, indeed we are in trouble. Because the Philippines has a humongous debt. Besides, we’re facing so many disasters, some of which are not our fault but part of the regional or global problem—from terrorism, to wars, to environmental disasters, the pandemic. But an aggravating factor is our moral degeneration due to corruption. If this is our perspective, then we will be in an absolute state of depression.

However, if we consider the fact that under any standard, the Filipino talent is second to none, that we’re really a race with a history of artistic genius that can be utilized to confront whatever crisis we’re facing into opportunities, with God’s grace.

We have to be optimistic and focus on the fact that we’re a rich nation. Yes, in terms of our natural resources. If only we protect it and ensure equitable distribution, poverty can be eliminated. Consider the wealth of our heritage.

The UNESCO has proclaimed a number of World Heritage treasures, both tangible and intangible, including creative cities and a geopark province. The problem lies in the prevailing fragmentation, division with a negative outlook. The antidote is to conscienticize and

stimulate the essential community spirit to achieve, a vision of a dignified life.

This is the essence of a peaceful cultural revolution. Culture is connected with everything—it’s the spine that must be understood—not just as the icing or for the elite but rather as an integral part of inclusive sustainable development.

The program begins with a kind of cultural mapping, where we identify all the cultural resources and the expertise in every province to be deployed for empowering vulnerable groups in the area. We were providing cultural caregiving to the disadvantaged and the marginalized. With this policy in place, and if it can be sustained, this will complement any kind of economic strategy.

Serving as a PA on Culture during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo simultaneously as Executive Director at NCCA, the concept of creative economics for social transformation was put forward. We invest in human resources, through confidence and capacity-building to pull them out of despair, out of a sense of hopelessness out of paralysis to carve out their own destiny.

A culture chapter in our MediumTerm Development Plan was integrated reflecting a whole-mindset shift. This provides food for the spirit and nourishment for the brain.

If we can really work on this, we can really confound the Communist Party of the Philippines. After all, we would be going after the same issues—good governance and responsible citizenship. But we need to motivate passion and conscience and determination to use techno-arts as a peaceful, social justice weapon to eradicate poverty.

Likewise, it is important that arts serve as a memory bank. What is frightening now is the proliferation of fake news that can glorify or glamorize what is unethical or wrong.

We must engrave the Edsa experience on our nation’s consciousness. It

is inscribed in the UNESCO memory of the world.

Unfortunately, currently the narrative is being revised where the freedom fighters have been depicted as the villains for the tyranny suffered by the country. Can you imagine a nation afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease? Our nation would lose its soul.

The role of the media and the arts

MEDIA has such a great responsibility as we are facing the existential crisis of climate change and conflicted areas to clean up pollution due to ignorance or inaction on protecting people and planet. This cannot be done in a 30-second public service advertising spot.

How we wish noontime entertainment shows can upgrade their contests so that there’s some kind of a feeding of the mind, not just a contest of who looks best in a midriff, singing and dancing well.

Why not a contest that will raise awareness about the wealth of our indigenous communities; or the care of our environment? Contests can be an impetus for songs that help expand concern and action on current issues to engender social justice.

They say it’s a question of ratings and what the masa want. Well, I think that is an unfair evaluation of the masa. The masa deserve to be uplifted by media serving as a creative entertaining classroom on the air. I believe these can all go hand in hand, getting the ratings and helping educate the masa. In particular, the business sector in exercising its social responsibility, as sponsors of media programs can set this direction for lifelong learning.

Speaking of culture and social responsibility, that is the rationale of my founding the Philippine Educational Theatre Association (PETA) as a national theater movement drawing meaning and power from the lives and language of the people.

against corruption, indolence, naiveté, and apathy. If we are to teach the present generation about the 1986 Edsa revolution, it is to lead them to the truth that the revolt was won largely by five elements, namely: (1) a solid call for unity from leaders, (2) a firm resolve to action, (3) courage amidst destruction, (4) a prayerful attitude and (5) an enduring spirit.

Incidentally, these five key factors can be the same tools that we can educate our children with, war or no war.

For a Christian believer, those five tools are reminiscent of the time of the biblical David and Goliath. As recorded in 1 Samuel 17, Goliath, a heavily armed Philistine giant, challenged King Saul for 40 days to send out a man to fight him. No one among the Israelite army would dare face this warrior until David, a shepherd and armed only with a sling and stones, volunteered. “Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:40). David hit the giant in the forehead with a stone and killed him. Writers believe that the five smooth stones David had in his pouch represent what David carried in his heart: Faith, Trust, Courage, Obedience, and Praise.

Similarly, as we face our “Goliaths” be it as individuals or as a nation, we can arm ourselves with a sling and the “five stones” that David carried in his heart. Looking closely vis-à-vis the Edsa revolution, the “five stones” of faith, trust, courage, obedience to God’s Word, and praise to our Heavenly Father are the very elements that permeated the participants’ sentiments in 1986.

Thirty-eight years after the Edsa revolution, there is immense responsibility placed on our shoulders to pass valuable lessons on to the next generation. We can start with the biblical David and his five smooth stones. The legacy of the Edsa revolution is not simply a puff of air. It shall remain in the hearts of future generations.

A former infantry and intelligence officer in the Army, Siegfred Mison showcased his servant leadership philosophy in organizations such as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Malcolm Law Offices, Infogix Inc., University of the East, Bureau of Immigration, and Philippine Airlines. He is a graduate of West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California. A corporate lawyer by profession, he is an inspirational teacher and a Spirit-filled writer with a mission. For questions and comments, please e-mail me at sbmison@gmail.com.

BALINTATAW as a Multi-awarded Broadcast Theatre, which has been hailed by CNN International as “Soap for Social Change,” was created to reach the grassroots and extend cultural services to Filipinos in diaspora.

Art is so participatory, especially theater as a social art. It cannot happen without the discipline of working together. And that’s what we need to learn—the discipline of being cohesive, of marching together towards a certain goal or vision.

The Earthsavers founded by my husband, the late Senator Heherson Alvarez, where we provide free arts education through its DREAMS methodology: Development, Rehabilitation Education through A rts, Media & Science/Sports. The Earthsavers socially integrated the DREAMS Ensemble honored as UNESCO Artist for Peace with the International Theatre Institute (ITI) led the global movement of the SDG’s ResiliArt Movement under UNESCO patronage funded by the Senate, and endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte, which forged the Manila Platform of Action hosted by the city of Manila with the NCCA.

It is gratifying that Senator Alvarez conceived in bringing about the birth of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), which was created by law in 1992 signed by President Corazon Aquino. A co-sponsor was Sen. Leticia Ramos-Shahani when Sen. Edgardo Angara was Chair of Education and Culture Committee.

The artist as historians A RTS Month is an important platform to encourage, build and mobilize an army of artists who are teachers, historians, preachers, doctors, conscience-forgers rolled into their persona. Artists synthesize the essence of our qualities, aspirations, and bravery to confront problems providing the balm for healing trauma in times of crisis. Likewise, Arts Month is the auspicious time to banner pride

habitat, heritage, history, language and indigenous creative industries.

Part of our patrimony that occurred in February is the greatness of the Edsa experience. The whole world applauded in total admiration of our people’s gallantry, faith and adherence to peace in restoring democracy. We would be wasting this unique-amazing legacy if this hereditament is not applied to recharge ourselves. The 1986 united force witnessed in Edsa liberated us from repression, corruption and crime. We can use that same peaceful, prayerful force—to free us from poverty and pollution, terrorism and tyranny, injustice and ignorance, drugs and diseases and many other problems that plague our country. Peace and Freedom is still our battle cry.

Where politics divides, the arts can heal and bond a nation, to move together. We had experienced, if we have one mind and one heart, we have power. With people power fused with prayer power we can achieve, we can overcome.

VENCEREMOS!

So, let’s not focus on problems and our desperate straits as we tire ourselves out looking for solutions. Shakespeare reminds us that “the solution is not in the stars but in ourselves.” Destiny is in our hands. Happy Arts Month Celebration. Mabuhay ang mga alagad ng sining!

About the author: Cecile Guidote-Alvarez is a renowned figure in the world of arts and culture. As the Director of Earthsavers DREAMS Ensemble and a UNESCO Artist for Peace, she advocates for social change through artistic expression. Cecile is also the founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), a pioneering organization in Philippine theater known for its socially relevant productions.

Additionally, she serves as the President of the International Theatre Institute-Social Change Network, furthering the impact of theater in addressing global issues. With accolades including the prestigious Magsaysay Laureate in 1972 and the Global Artist Award in 2022 from NYC LaMaMa, Cecile continues to inspire and empower artists worldwide.

PHL exports to fare better than peers amid headwinds

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

PHILIPPINE

exports will still perform better than its peers in Asean this year amid the economic slowdown in Japan and European countries, which are among Manila’s top export destinations, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).

Definitely it will be affected. The only thing that we don’t know is to what degree. Nevertheless we feel that while we’re affected, our neighbors here in Asean will be more affected than us,” Philexport President Sergio R. OrtizLuis Jr. told the BusinessMirror in a Viber message over the weekend.

T he head of the umbrella organization of Philippine exporters draws some optimism from noting that there are other countries which can still propel the export receipts of the Philippines this year.

For one, Ortiz-Luis emphasized, “We are still lucky that China is still on the ball with us,” adding that “China and greater China including Hong Kong” will help in growing the Philippine exports this year.

“

Some countries we are hoping... The ones in the Middle East we hope

would see an increase [in exports],” the Philexport chief said.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data placed the country’s merchandise exports in 2023 at $73.52 billion.

T he top export destinations of the Philippines last year were the United States, Japan and People’s Republic of China.

T he Philippines exported $11.54 billion worth of goods to the United States or 15.7 percent of the Philippine exports pie. This was followed by the People’s Republic of China, contributing 14.8 percent to the pie as the goods shipped to China reached $10.86 billion.

Meanwhile, Japan ranked third in export destinations, with Philippine goods going there amounting to $10.45 billion, or 14.2 percent of the Philippine exports pie.

Hong Kong came in fourth as Philippine exports to the special administrative region of China reached $8.84 billion or 12 percent of the exports.

O ther countries in the top 10 export destinations of the Philippines were European countries particularly Netherlands and Germany, the PSA data showed.

Recent international news reports revealed that Japan’s economy has slipped into recession as  its gross domestic product contracted for the second consecutive quarter in the last quarter of 2023, losing its grip as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany.

A Bloomberg report published last week noted, “Gross domestic product contracted at an annualized pace of 0.4 percent in the final three months of last year, following a revised 3.3-percent retreat in the previous quarter, the Cabinet Office reported Thursday.”

M eanwhile, another Bloomberg report published earlier this month showed a poll by the IFO Institute and the Swiss Economic Policy Institute which noted that “In the euro zone, the chances of two consecutive quarters of declining output by yearend are highest in Germany and the Netherlands at 38 percent.”

T he international news report noted that the 20-nation bloc dodged

recession in 2023 by the “slimmest of margins as firmer growth in Italy and Spain offset a downturn in Germany.”

D espite the risk of recession in Europe and the current economic slowdown in Japan, Ortiz-Luis said the mining, electronics, tourism and services sectors will help drive Philippine exports this year.

He noted that demand in the mining sector is big; for electronics, “it will go down slightly, but…I think China is still increasing their imports of that from us.”

P hilippine exporters are gunning for a 5-percent growth in export receipts in 2024. Meanwhile, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Foundation Inc. (Seipi) earlier said it expects flat growth for electronics exports in 2024 due to supply issues and geopolitical factors. (Full story here: https:// businessmirror .com.ph/2024/01/03/supplywoes-geopolitics-to-crimp-2024exports-growth/)

Earlier, the Department of Trade and Industry-Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) said the country’s export performance from January to August 2023 is “sort of in the middle of the pack” compared to its neighbors in Asia. (Full story here:https://businessmirror .com.ph/2023/11/06/ govt-to-miss-2023-exports-target/)

WITH 620K VISITORS, PHL AMONG JAPAN’S TOP TOURIST SOURCES

By Malou TalosigBartolome @maloutalosig

THE Philippines is one of Japan’s top 10 sources of tourists in 2023.

In 2023, the number of tourists from the Philippines to Japan reached a record high of approximately 620,000,” Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko said in his speech during the National Day Reception of Japan Friday.

B ased on the provisional data of the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), a total of 622,268 Filipinos visited Japan in 2023.

T his exceeded the prepandemic figures on the number of Filipino tourists in 2019, i.e. 613,114 or a growth of 1.49 percent. Compared to 2022 arrivals, this represented a 390.2-percent increase.

T he Philippines ranked 7th among the top tourists in Japan. The top 6 tourism markets of Japan in 2023 are: South Korea (6.9 million), Taiwan (4.2 million),

China (2.4 million), Hong Kong (2.1 million), USA (2.1 million), and Thailand (995,500).

A mong the top 7, only China and the Philippine passport holders are required to secure visas to be able to enter Japan.

T he highest number of Filipino tourists was in December 2023, at around 79,100.

A mbassador Koshikawa also noted that in July 2023, Filipinos were the top tourists among Asean visitors. July is the school break for most students the Philippines.

“ People-to-people exchange is flourishing. We would like to keep our country attractive to the Filipino people,” Koshikawa added.

Last month, a total of 56,800 Filipinos visited Japan, surpassing the January 2019 prepandemic record by 57.80 percent.

A side from revenge travel, most tourists took advantage of the cheap yen in Japan.

Filipinos increased their spending by 2.18 times compared to 2019.

BBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

EGINNING this year, all 19 members of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) with operating mines in the Philippines will fully implement the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative.

T SM is a global ESG performance measurement standard—with public reporting—that the organization adopted in 2017.

T here are currently 16 COMP member companies with operating mines in the Philippines.

I n a statement, COMP said this means that these mines will submit their self-assessment reports on 8 TSM Protocols for their January to December 2023 performance via an online app called Mine Site Sustainability Audit (MSSA), exclusively designed for TSM’s implementation in the Philippines.  The mines will conduct internal audits and should be able to support their self-ratings with proof and evidence.

Ten of the 19 mines will be subjected to independent external verification by highly qualified Verification Service Providers

(VSPs) to validate the reports. The other nine will be VSP-validated next year.  The results of all selfassessment and externally verified reports will be made public.

“After we adopted TSM in December 2017, we embarked on a 6-year preparation period that saw our members actively participate in the Filipinization of the TSM Protocols,” COMP Chairman Michael Toledo said.

“ That period also saw the formation of our multi-sector Community of Interest Advisory Panel, the training and accreditation of our VSPs, the development and cascading of the MSSA, a self-assessment dry run, and the ‘mock’ external verification of three volunteer mines: Rio Tuba Nickel, OceanaGold Didipio, and Philex Padcal.”

The 16 other COMP member firms with operating mines are Benguet Corp., Cagdianao Mining Corp., Carmen Copper Corp., Carrascal Nickel Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Dinapigue Mining Corp., Eramen Minerals Inc., FCF Minerals Inc., Filminera Resources Corp., Hinatuan Mining Corp., Lepanto Consolidated MiningCo., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc., Platinum Group Metals

Corp., and Taganito Mining Corp.

This year, now sufficiently familiar with TSM, we are implementing the program following our commitment to our stakeholders that we will strive for ESG performance beyond the word of the law,” Toledo said.

C OMP members will assess their ESG performance against these TSM Protocols: Safety and Health, Community and Indigenous Peoples Outreach and Social Development, Crisis Management and Communications, Tailings Management, Water Management, Biodiversity Conservation Management and Climate Change.

T SM is a set of tools and indicators to drive performance, ensure that key mining risks are managed responsibly, and best practices are used at members’ facilities. It was established by the Mining Association of Canada in 2004.

T he Philippines, through COMP, remains the only country in Asia to subscribe to TSM.  COMP has made TSM mandatory for all its members.

T he other TSM-implementing jurisdictions are Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Finland, Guatemala, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Spain, and Quebec.

This striking sculpture, part

renowned Baks series, reflects the rhythm of urban life as it checks the time, reminding passersby of the fleeting nature of time. Hailing from Chicago, the acclaimed public artist Jefrë proudly traces his Filipino heritage to Laguna and Ilocos Sur. With its deep symbolism and powerful presence, this artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the preciousness of time in our dynamic urban landscape. BERNARD TESTA

Editor: Jennifer A.

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

The Manila electric Co. (Meralco) is setting aside over P100 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for its long-term sustainability strategy (LTSS).

“With sustainability deeply embedded in Meralco’s operations and long-term plans, we are proud to commit over P100 billion in capital expenditures to initiatives that not only enhance our infrastructure but also align with the government’s vi-

Meralco Executive Vice President and COO Ronnie Aperocho said.

Meralco sets green capex Aboitiz, CCEP complete Coca-Cola deal

ABOITI z Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV) and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc. (CCEP) said they completed their acquisition of bottler Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI),

the face of the increasing challenges posed by climate change.

Key initiatives include enhancing grid reliability, reducing system loss, transitioning to natural ester oil for distribution transformers, implementing energy efficiency solutions, and expanding electric vehicle (EV) fleets and infrastructure.

Meralco is also ramping up its renewable energy (RE) buildout through MGen Renewable Energy, Inc. (MGreen), a wholly owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp., to accelerate the development of RE projects primarily from solar and

the exclusive bottler of the soft drink brand in the country.

The two firms acquired the bottler from Atlanta’s The Coca-Cola Co. for $1.8 billion on a debt-free, cash-free basis. CCEP will own 60

wind sources. “Core to our long-term sustainability strategy are twin commitments to secure 1,500 MW of RE supply contracts and to develop 1,500 MW of attributable green energy generation capacity.

This underscores our dedication to our low-carbon transition and to serving the country’s growing energy demand with clean power,” said Meralco First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B. Ravelo.

Moreover, Meralco has allocated funds to promote the adoption of solar energy solutions for businesses and homes through MSpectrum, and to champion social development and amelioration programs through One Meralco Foundation’s solar electrification initiatives targeting underserved households, rural health centers, water access projects, and livelihood programs.

These strategic investments are pivotal in driving Meralco’s LTSS, which aims to reduce total emissions by 20 percent by 2030, encompassing both direct emissions from onsite ac-

tivities and indirect emissions from purchased electricity, supply chain operations, and services provided.

“As we pursue our decarbonization strategies, we envision a thriving society with access to education, clean water, quality healthcare, dignified livelihoods, and disaster preparedness—all in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals,” said Meralco Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Last November, Meralco said its consolidated core net income in January to September 2023 jumped by 53 percent to P30 billion from P19.6 billion in the same period in 2022.

The company attributed this to the increase in energy volumes distributed, robust performance of the power generation business led by PacificLight Power Pte. Ltd. (PacificLight) Singapore and San Buenaventura Power Ltd. Co., the turnaround of Global Business Power Corp. and the completion of the distribution and asset true-up refunds totaling P49.1 billion since 2021.

percent of the local Coke bottler, while AEV will own 40 percent.

“The transaction has received clearance from the Philippine Competition Commission,” the companies said. VG Cabuag

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

ONVERGE ICT Solutions Inc.

Cwill invest as much as P150 million to launch its pay TV business this year.

In an interview, Converge CEO Dennis Anthony H. Uy said the group is now “testing” its direct-to-home TV service and is planning a “full rollout” in 2024.

“We have more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines and there are a lot of unserved areas. So, this is the reason we have hybrid combinations. Regardless of where you are, we should serve you.”

Uy noted that Converge aims to keep the service accessible to a broad audience, with the base price starting at P99 or P100.

Currently, Converge is testing the service in Pampanga, particularly focusing on areas not covered by fiber optics.

Investments in the pay TV service, he said, is about P100 million to P150 million.

In another development, Converge announced another round of free speed boosts for its postpaid broadband internet plans.

The company’s flagship FiberX 1500 plan now has 300 Mbps, an upgrade from 200 Mbps. Converge previously upgraded the plan in June 2022 from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps, and again in November 2022 from 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps.

Other plans with speed increases include FiberX Plan 2000, FiberX Plan 2500 and FiberX Plan 3500, which now have speeds of 500 Mbps, 700 Mbps, and 1 Gbps respectively.

Converge has about 2 million subscribers across the Philippines.

The free upgrade came after Converge had a “clean sweep” at the recent Speedtest Awards by Ookla.

Based on Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, the average fixed broadband speed in the Philippines as of January is 93.31 Mbps for download and 93.05 Mbps for upload.

As of the second half of 2023, Converge reached top download speeds of 457.56 Mbps and top upload speed of 448.15 Mbps.

Converge also secured awards in multiple categories during Ookla’s Speedtest Awards, including Best Internet Gaming Experience, Best Internet Video Experience, and TopRated Internet Experience in the Philippines.

Banking&Finance

Editor: Dennis D.

Tgroup Global Alliance for Tobacco Control during the COP10 on February 5 to February 10 in Panama City.

In her privilege speech on February 14 during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Sen. Pia S. Cayetano emphasized that the “publicly-recognized award” is given to “call out those influenced by lobbying from the tobacco industry” and for blocking global tobacco control efforts.

The senator said the criteria for receiving the “award” is when public officials succumb to or when the government accepts, supports, or endorses policies or legislations in collaboration with the tobacco industry.

Cayetano called out the members of the Philippine delegation for lobbying the tobacco industry.

“Why would we want our Philippine delegation associated with the ‘Dirty Ashtray Award?’ Why would we want to be known as succumbing to the lobby of the tobacco industry?” she mused.

Cayetano stated that the ill effects of tobacco and vape products are undisputed. “Nakakamatay at nakakasira ng buhay

ng mga tao including ng mga kabataan natin,” the senator said. [Tobacco kills and destroys the lives of people, especially our youth.] “One in five adult Filipinos are currently tobacco users: [that’s] 20 percent; That’s not something to be proud of.”

The Sin Tax Coalition, meanwhile, lauded Cayetano “for consistently standing firm in protecting the youth and disadvantaged Filipinos from the harmful effects of tobacco.”

The coalition cited the “huge irony” that the Philippines proposed compromise options that brought about delays in strengthening the Framework Convention.

The coalition also criticized Sagip Party List Rep. Rodante D. Marcoleta, one of the Philippine delegates to COP10, for stating that in regard to tobacco, “balanced policy is regulation, not control.”

“Para sa akin, mamatamisin ko na magkaroon tayo ng isang libong ‘Dirty Ashtrays’ kaysa magkaroon po tayo ng isang kabaong na doon ilalagay ang kabuuan ng tobacco industry,” Marcoleta said in his privilege speech in response to Cayetano on February 19. [For me, we’d rather have one thousand “Dirty Ashtray” citations instead of having one coffin to put the entire tobacco industry] The group reminded Marcoleta that the conference he attended was one of public health and tobacco control and not one of the tobacco industry. The activists added that if the lawmaker’s takeaway was that tobacco should not be controlled, he must not have been representing public health at all.

“His words only confirm that his presence at COP10 was merely acting as a spokesman of the tobacco industry,” the group said in the statement. “We condemn the members of the Philippine delegation like Marcoleta, for their shameful actions at the COP10.”

Reine Juvierre Alberto

‘Useless to tax online sellers, gig workers if BIR undigitized’

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

THE manual processing of requirements for small online sellers and gig workers to be exempted from the 1-percent withholding tax defeats the purpose of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) digitalization efforts, according to a tax expert.

“It’s useless to talk about promoting the digital economy if the bureau that collects taxes is not digitalized.

It’s a bit ironic,” Tax Advisor Raymond A. Abrea said in a news briefing last week.

The BIR has issued Revenue Regulation (RR) 16-2023 imposing a 1-percent withholding tax on one-half of the gross remittances by e-marketplace operators and digital financial services providers to sellers/merchants for the goods or services sold/paid through their

THE government successfully raised a total of P584.86 billion, concluding the 10-daylong tender of five-year retail treasury bonds (RTBs) on a high note on February 23, according to the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr).

The amount borrowed by the national government from the domestic market exceeded its target to raise P400 billion in RTBs.

SBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

EN. Mark A. Villar sponsored on the floor last Wednesday night the Anti-Financial Account Scamming Act or Afasa, drawing quick support from most senators.

“Ang pinaghirapan ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino na para sana sa kanilang pangaraw-araw na gastusin ay ninanakaw lamang ng mga scammers,” said Villar, chairman of the Banks committee. [What our countrymen have worked so hard for to sustain their daily needs are just being stolen by scammer] “These are heinous crimes against our people, Mr. President and it is upon us to ensure that they will be put to a stop as soon as possible.”

An advocate against financial cybercrime, Villar said the stronger provisions in the proposed Afasa bill will arm the country’s financial institutions with heightened risk management systems, power and authority to manage the financial transactions of account owners which are poised to be dubious and suspicious.

“The Afasa will provide safety measures that will go after financial cybercrimes, such as being a money mule, committing social engineering schemes and economic sabotage. Afasa also provides the responsibility of responsible institutions to protect and secure their clients’ financial accounts, such as mandating them to have adequate risk management systems and controls including, but not limited to multi-factor authentication (MFA), fraud management systems (FMS), other account-holder enrollment and verification processes,” the senator said in his sponsorship speech.

Villar cited multiple cases of scamming in the past year. He noted that in the first eight months of 2023, more than 8,000 Filipinos lost more than P155 million to different types of scams. During his speech, he showed videos of scam victims, including a cancer patient whose money, supposedly for his chemotherapy and medicines, was siphoned out of his e-wallet account. His sponsorship was overwhelmingly supported by the Senate as the Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Senators Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Grace

L. Poe, Ramon “Bong” B. Revilla, Jinggoy Estrada have also delivered their co-sponsorship speeches, supporting the Afasa bill.

“I cannot just sit and do nothing while these scammers steal the hardearned money of our kababayans [compatriots],” Villar said.

After his sponsorship speech, the Afasa bill is now awaiting further legislative actions before the Senate. Once enacted into law, the bill will serve as the primary legislation penalizing scammers and providing legislative support to the Philippine financial institutions to combat the proliferation of scammers.

Also at Wednesday’s plenary session, Poe said that as principal author of the measure and as the sponsor and co-author of the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act in the last Congress, the bill is part of ongoing campaign against these scams, shams and frauds.

She explained she first filed this bill in 2021 when electronic-money accounts “rose to an astonishing 16.8 million, as the pandemic prompted many to make the necessary transition online.” “But these schemes chip away the trust in our financial system— threatening to undo years of progress in financial inclusion and digital innovation,” Poe said. “While financial education and literacy is still key in preventing these schemes, we need more concrete actions to chase and punish these cybercriminals.”

In 2022, the Philippine ranked 5th among Southeast Asian countries in terms of phishing attack incidents. The country lost a staggering P623 million to fraud, P623 million to phishing and P409 million to identity theft, the senator said.

As a victim of credit card hacking, meanwhile, Gatchalian attested that cybercrime incidents caused not only financial losses, but also emotional distress, anxiety and loss of trust for financial institutions.

“This is why we need the [Afasa].

This bill establishes clear and severe penalties for those who willingly act as money mules, those who use social engineering schemes and other fraudulent means to solicit financial account information that may result to account takeover or loss to any person,” Gatchalian said.

Since the first day of its offer period, the Treasury raised P212.7 billion, seven times oversubscribed, surpassing its target of P30 billion.

The BTr said during the nine-day offer period, the Treasury further raised an additional P372.14 billion orders came in. The bulk of this came

platform/facility.

Abrea said the BIR’s move of collecting taxes from online sellers is in the “right direction” but for those online sellers earning below half a million pesos, they needed to apply to become exempted from withholding tax of 1 percent from every transaction made.

To be exempted, however, is a “laborious” process, according to Abrea. Those individuals would need to provide substantiation that they should be exempted from the withholding of

from the P243.45 billion raised from its “Switch” program while the remaining P128.69 billion was raised in new money. The RTBs have a tenor of five years and a gross interest rate of 6.25 percent per annum with quarterly coupons payable until their maturity in 2029. The RTBs are set to settle on February 28, 2024, and will mature on February 28, 2029, five years after the issue date.

RTBs are “fixed-income securities that pay a fixed interest rate per annum over a specified period of time with a promise to return the principal at the end of the term.”

The 30th tranche of the RTBs (RTB 30) was made available for as

TDHE Texas Blockchain Council, an industry association for Bitcoin miners including Riot Platforms Inc., is suing the US Department of Energy’s statistics unit over a mandatory survey on their power consumption.

The inquiry by the Energy Information Administration is “an unprecedented and illegal data collection demand” against the industry, the group said in a statement dated February 22. Riot, one of the largest Bitcoin miners in the state, made $71 million last year, in part from pre-purchasing electricity for its operations and selling some of it back to the grid for a premium amid power shortages.

In a response to the lawsuit, the EIA said in a court filing that it won’t enforce a requirement for the survey to be completed and will sequester data already collected.

Bitcoin miners accounted for as much as 2.3 percent of the nation’s total power demand in 2023, and even the 0.6 percent low end of its range represents the same amount of electricity usage for Utah, EIA estimated in a February 1 report. The agency earlier said it aimed to better evaluate power consumption of the industry with the poll.

While Bitcoin mining began in the US a decade ago, the country saw an influx of mining companies from the world’s previous mining hub China after the Chinese government banned the practice in 2021. A slew of mining companies went public in the US and set up large-scale operations in energy-rich states such as Texas and Georgia.

Collecting data from Bitcoin miners for their energy consumption has been difficult since some of the data, including locations of the sites and electricity rates, could be considered as proprietary by the miners.

“The TBC, alongside industry partners, views this as a direct assault on private businesses under the guise of an emergency, lacking legitimate grounds and demonstrating clear political bias,” TBC said in the statement.

Bloomberg News

tax and submit requirements.

If they have to go to the BIR office, accomplish a sworn declaration, and have it notarized, then it defeats the purpose, the tax advisor said.

“The [BIR is] asking them to be part of the digital economy and yet [they] push them to the wall or the edge na mangdadaya na lang sila or hindi na lang sila magko-comply [that they will just cheat or will not comply],” Abrea said last Thursday.

He explained that this kind of administrative challenge should be compensated with a digitalized tax administration as well as collaborating with international organizations and seeking advice from international experts.

Abrea also highlighted the Philippines’ participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework with other 140 member countries and jurisdictions.

He said that digital service providers such as Facebook, Amazon, and other tech giants will now be required to declare their income from the Philippines to the national government.

“As a third-world and developing country, this will give us so much

low as P5,000 through the traditional over-the-counter placement in bank branches and through digital channels, such as the BTr Online Ordering Facility and the respective mobile banking applications of Bonds.PH, the Overseas Filipino Bank and the Land bank of the Philippines.

“The proceeds from the RTB 30 issuance will be directed towards much-needed funding support for the government’s various programs under the agriculture, infrastructure, education, and healthcare sectors, among others,” the BTr’s statement read.

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto commended the attempt to provide inclusive investment opportunities

EMAND has grown so fervent for corporate bonds that investors are once again willing to finance big mergers and acquisitions (M&A)—something they hesitated to do for much of last year.

In just the past two weeks, about $50 billion of bonds have been sold to help finance acquisitions and spinoffs. The deluge, which included notes tied to AbbVie Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb Co. and Cisco Systems Inc., marks a steep surge in M&A financing after the slowest year for dealmaking in a decade.

To Arvind Narayanan at Vanguard Group, there’s even more to come. Corporate debt markets have grown busy as investors hunt for new, attractively yielding debt before policymakers can pull interest rates lower. That’s encouraging finance chiefs to raise capital while the conditions are ideal.

“We do think M&A is going to continue,” said Narayanan, the firm’s co-head of investment-grade credit, in a phone interview. It’s “going to be front and center.”

At least $276 billion of pending M&A activity stands to be financed in the US investment-grade debt market this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Broadcom Inc.’s takeover of VMware Inc. is among the deals that could lead to more issuance this year.

Buyout activity is filtering into other markets, too, from European debt to US leveraged loans. Not only are many of these offerings being met with strong demand from money managers, but borrowing costs—while still elevated compared to a few years ago—have been trending downward since October.

The average spread for high-grade bonds traded at the lowest level since November 2021 this past week as investors bet on Federal Reserve easing at some point later this year.

Another $35 billion of blue-chip debt is expected in the coming week—and at least

revenue,” Abrea said, noting that it is also challenging because it has to “harmonize” with the rest of the member countries.

Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who was also present at the news briefing, pointed to the online video-sharing platform YouTube, which does not pay taxes in the country but competes with other Philippine media companies.

“Digitalization created an unfair playing field that we in the Philippines are using now,” Gatchalian said. The senator is keen on “upgrading” the laws but not on increasing taxes. This, he said, will “even out the playing field and capture those revenues that should be accrued to the Philippines.”

Regarding the process of exemption from withholding taxes, Gatchalian said they are conducting oversight on the specific implementing rules and regulations to make the process easier for small-scale online sellers and even gig workers.

He said the process should not cause unnecessary burdens to those who are trying to make a living in the digital economy.

to all Filipinos, whether in the country or abroad, through the sale of RTBs in digital technologies.

“RTBs are just a few swipes away, making investing as easy as ordering our favorite food delivery,” Recto said during the launch of RTB 30 on February 13.

The Finance chief also emphasized that RTBs are more than just a financial contract but a commitment to shared prosperity.

“It will help drive the government’s socioeconomic agenda forward and empower ordinary Filipinos to chart their path to financial freedom for a more secure future,” Recto said. Reine Juvierre Alberto

one more jumbo deal may be possible before the end of the month, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing deals.

“The ability to lock in historically low spreads and to appeal to investors who are more motivated by yield—all while the economy is saying we’re in great shape—is a perfect storm to compel borrowers to step in and take advantage of the backdrop,” Meghan Graper, global co-head of debt capital markets at Barclays Plc, said in a phone interview.

For finance chiefs, it’s hard to ignore the success of recent deals as bond buyers—from pension funds to retail traders—look to take advantage of currently high all-in yields. AbbVie drew in more than $80 billion of orders from investors, while Bristol Myers’ deal raked in more than $85 billion.

The hot demand is allowing companies to sell bonds at yields similar to what their existing debt pays. Borrowers in the US high-grade market, on average, paid 0.4 basis point more yield on Thursday for new bonds compared with the levels on their outstanding notes.

Corporations usually have to pay much more than that to convince investors to sell their current holdings and buy newer bonds: These so-called concessions averaged 8.5 basis points for all of 2023 and 13 basis points the year before that.

In Europe, there’s been about $72.5-billion worth of M&A deal-making so far this year, a 77 percent jump from the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Even the junk-debt market is seeing new financings for leveraged buyouts re-emerge after months of lackluster activity. Roughly $8 billion in debt is set to start hitting the market in March for Clayton Dubilier & Rice and Stone Point Capital’s buyout of Truist Financial Corp.’s insurance brokerage business. Bloomberg News

Understanding sora: the fUtUre of ai-driven video generation

By Wyatte Grantham-Philips & Matt O'brien

The Associated Press

The maker of ChatGPT is now diving into AI-generated video.

Meet Sora—OpenAI's new text-to-video generator. The tool, which the San Francisco company unveiled Thursday, uses generative artificial intelligence to instantly create short videos based on written commands.

Sora isn’t the first to demonstrate this kind of technology. But industry analysts point to the high quality of the tool's videos displayed so far, and note that its introduction marks a significant leap for both OpenAI and the future of text-to-video generation overall.

Still, as with all things in the rapidly growing AI space today, such technology also raises fears about potential ethical and societal implications. Here’s what you need to know.

WHAT IS SORA? CAN I USE IT YET?

S O r A i s a text-to-video generator—creating videos up to 60 seconds long based on written prompts using generative AI. The model can also generate video from an existing still image.

Generative AI is a branch of AI that can create something new. Examples include chatbots, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and image-generators such as DALL-E and Midjourney. Getting an AI system to generate videos is newer and more challenging but relies on some of the same technology.

Sora isn’t available for public use yet (OpenAI says it’s engaging with policymakers and artists before officially releasing the tool) and there’s a lot we still don’t know. But since Thursday’s announcement, the company has shared a handful of examples of Sora-generated videos to show off what it can do.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to ask social media users to send in prompt ideas. He later shared realistically detailed videos that responded to prompts like “two golden retrievers podcasting on top of a mountain " and "a bicycle race on ocean with different animals as athletes riding the bicycles with drone camera view."

While Sora-generated videos can depict complex, incredibly detailed scenes, OpenAI notes that there are still some weaknesses—including some spatial and causeand-effect elements. For example, OpenAI adds on its website, “a person might take a bite out of a cookie, but afterward, the cookie may not have a bite mark.”

ARE THERE OTHER AI-GENERATED VIDEO TOOLS OUT THERE TODAY?

O PE n AI’ S S ora isn’t the first of its kind.

Google, Meta and the startup r u nway ML are among companies that have demonstrated

similar technology. Still, industry analysts stress the apparent quality and impressive length of Sora videos shared so far. Fred Havemeyer, head of u S AI and software research at Macquarie, said that Sora's launch marks a big step forward for the industry.

n o t only can you do longer videos, I understand up to 60 seconds, but also the videos being created look more normal and seem to actually respect physics and the real world more,” Havemeyer said. “You’re not getting as many ‘uncanny valley’ videos or fragments on the video feeds that look...unnatural.”

While there has been “tremendous progress” in AI-generated video over the last year—including Stable v i deo Diffusion's introduction last n o vember—Forrester senior analyst r o wan Curran said such videos have required more “stitching together” for character and scene consistency.

The consistency and length of Sora's videos, however, represents "new opportunities for creatives to incorporate elements of AI-generated video into more traditional content, and now even to generate fullblown narrative videos from one or a few prompts," Curran told The Associated Press via email Friday.

WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RISKS?

A LTHO u GH S ora’s abilities have astounded

observers since Thursday's launch, anxiety over ethical and societal implications of AIgenerated video uses also remains.

Havemeyer points to the substantial risks in 2024's potentially fraught election cycle, for example. Having a “potentially magical” way to generate videos that may look and sound realistic presents a number of issues within politics and beyond, he added—pointing to fraud, propaganda and misinformation concerns.

“The negative externalities of genera -

tive AI will be a critical topic for debate in 2024,” Havemeyer said. “It’s a substantial issue that every business and every person will need to face this year.”

Tech companies are still calling the shots when it comes to governing AI and its risks as governments around the world work to catch up. In December, the European u n ion reached a deal on the world's first comprehensive AI rules, but the act won't take effect until two years after final approval.

On Thursday, OpenAI said it was taking

important safety steps before making Sora widely available.

“We are working with red teamers— domain experts in areas like misinformation, hateful content, and bias—who will be adversarially testing the model,” the company wrote. “We’re also building tools to help detect misleading content such as a detection classifier that can tell when a video was generated by Sora.”

OpenAI’s v i ce President of Global Affairs Anna Makanju reiterated this when speaking Friday at the Munich Security Conference, where OpenAI and 19 other technology companies pledged to voluntarily work together to combat AI-generated election deepfakes. She noted the company was releasing Sora “in a manner that is quite cautious.”

At the same time, OpenAI has revealed limited information about how Sora was built. OpenAI's technical report did not disclose what imagery and video sources were used to train Sora—and the company did not immediately respond to a request for further comment Friday.

The Sora release also arrives amid the backdrop of lawsuits against OpenAI and its business partner Microsoft by some authors and The n e w York Times over its use of copyrighted works of writing to train ChatGPT. OpenAI pays an undisclosed fee to the AP to license its text news archive.

Nvidia’s stock market value rose $273 billion in a day. How it rose to AI prominence, by the numbers

nv I DIA S s tock price jumped 16 on Thursday, increasing the company’s market value by a staggering $273 billion in just one day, a record amount.

The chipmaker has been seeing soaring demand for its semiconductors, which are used to power artificial intelligence, or AI applications. The company's revenue more than tripled in the latest quarter compared with the same period a year earlier.

It’s the latest sign that the excitement surrounding artificial intelligence likely won’t subside anytime soon. n v idia, which has positioned itself as one of the most prominent players in AI, has been producing some eye-popping numbers. Here’s a look:

$273 billion

T HE a mount of n v idia Corp.’s market value

increased on Thursday alone, according to FactSet. The previous record one-day jump was Meta Platform’s gain of $205 billion on February 2 of this year. In other words, n v idia’s one-day gain is more than the total market values of market stalwarts Bank of America ($265 billion) and Coca-Cola ($263 billion). In all, just 26 of the 500 companies in the S&P 500 have market caps above $273 billion, including n v idia.

$1.915 trillion

n v I DIA S t otal market value as of the close of trading Thursday. It recently passed Amazon and Alphabet to become the third most valuable public company, behind Microsoft ($3.051 trillion) and Apple ($2.845 trillion). The company was

valued at around $580 billion a year ago.

$60.9 billion

rE v E nu E for the fiscal year ended January 28, more than double nv idia’s revenue for 2022 and about 6 times what it was five years ago. Wall Street expects nv idia’s revenue to top $100 billion in fiscal 2025.

48.8%

T H AT S nv idia’s net margin, or the percentage of revenue that gets turned in profit. Looked at another way, almost 50 cents of every $1 in revenue nv idia took in last year went to its bottom line. By comparison, Apple’s net margin is 25.3 percent and Microsoft’s is 34.1 percent. Both those companies have significantly higher revenue than nv idia, however. AP

Levi’s lets loose

AT the London Fashion Week Autumn/ Winter 2024 presentations, Levi’s denim was on splendid display at the Ahluwalia show called Reveries. Three enticing ensembles were sent down the runway by Priya Ahluwalia, a British designer of Nigerian descent that British Vogue deems as a sustainability trailblazer. Her three looks were “inspired by timeless tales from Indian and Nigerian folklore.”

Hereabouts, the heritage brand which “epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool” launched its summer collections at The Playground, YL Holdings Building in Makati City. The message was a big deal: the style Levi’s is presenting is roomy and relaxed, billowy and baggy, and slouchy and loose.

The centerpiece is The Baggy Family, a “range of late-breaking loose fits that promises to be comfy to wear and easy to style.”

This family include the Baggy Dad jeans which are vintage-inspired and slouchy on purpose; the Baggy Dad Wide Leg, which is about six inches more than the OG Baggy Dad; and the Baggy Cargo, which comes with beloved pockets; and the Featherweight Baggy Dad, the lightest expression of lightweight denim.

The men can pair the jeans with the soft, lightweight and breathable Sunset Camp. A garment with a roomy fit, it is made with Tencel Lyocell, a soft fiber sourced from wood. The women can wear the Carinna Blouse, which is “super soft, super pretty and super versatile.”

For March and April, however, Levi’s will especially roll out three blouses: the Mietra, the Joyce Resort and the Pascale. The Mietra Blouse features a high neckline, a half button-up placket, relaxed sleeves and a flowy fit. The Pascale Blouse is a breathable, square-neckline button-down, while the Joyce Resort Shirt has tropical prints.

A classic piece for summer is the Essential Sporty Tank, which features an ultra-flattering neckline and a fitted cropped cut—all topped off with the Levi’s signature red tab. A personal fave is plucked from the vast Levi’s archive—the Tote-All

Bag, a throw-it-all-in-and-go bag. What’s not to love when it is “crafted with durable cotton canvas, leather straps, a main compartment with a snap closure, an interior patch pocket, rivets for reinforcement and gave it two handy top handles”?

the

NEW ERA WITH TRIED-ANDTESTED SKINCARE INGREDIENTS

YOUR skin must still be feeling the aftermath of a wild yearend: the holiday rush, back-to-back parties, and hectic school/work deadlines. With your skin still recovering, now’s the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate and give your skin the glow up it deserves.

Beauty experts predict this year will see tried-and-tested rockstar ingredients like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide take center stage thanks to benefits such as antioxidant activity, skin tone evening, and skin barrier improvement. It’s no wonder Korean superstar Jisoo of BlackPink, celebrity makeup artist Lei Ponce, and supermodels like Kaia Gerber swear by them.

So how can you boost your glow-up with these proven ingredients? Leading Japanese skincare brand Hada Labo makes it a breeze to reveal your inner glowing mochi-mochi skin. Whether it’s smoothing out your skin tone or fading away dark spots, every product in its Premium Whitening line packs the undeniable benefits of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

Hada Labo Premium Whitening Face Lotion harnesses the power of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and draws moisture from the environment to keep your skin moisturized. This reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and contributes to a smoother complexion. Complement all these hydration power with the Hada Labo Premium Whitening moisturizers that help brighten skin using niacinamide, which works by building up the skin’s natural protective barrier to defend against harmful pollutants, toxins, and sunlight.

The 568 Stay Loose and the 468 Loose Short are for men or masculine types who also want to let loose with their wardrobe options. With 14 oz. 100 percent cotton denim, the 568 Stay Loose is inspired by the 1990s with “vintage-like touches from the fit to fabric to finishes like your favorite thrift-store find, minus the rummaging.”

pencil and notebook hints at her specialist subject: fine arts. Her new uniform is a sweatshirt emblazoned with the Longchamp college logo, which she pairs with a chic piece such as a leather skirt or gabardine bermuda shorts. She accessorizes her look with a sophisticated Le Foulonné purse or a Très Paris shoulder bag. When she leaves class to stroll around Saint-Germaindes-Prés, browsing galleries and exhibitions, she is easy to spot in her jacket and pants, which she wears with a T-shirt knotted at the waist. She loves a bag that leaves her hands free, such as the tiny Le Pliage Xtra vanity case with its colorful beads, which she slings across her body.

As an art lover, she treats prints like a canvas, wearing jeans and a jacket in a matching pattern. She will happily also pair floral pants with a coordinating vest. And yet she never hesitates to mix styles—chic and hippy, sexy and sporty.

Longchamp is exclusively available at Rustans Makati, Rustans Shangri-La, Rustans Cebu, Greenbelt 5, and www.rustans.com.

for men or masculine types who also want to let loose with their wardrobe options. With 14 oz. 100 percent 1990s with “vintage-like touches from the fit to fabric the 468 Loose Short, which sits at the waist, loose

a line of T-shirts, denim hats, trucker jackets, skirts and jeans that celebrate queer joy and rodeo culture. The inclusive brand makes an annual donation to OutRight Action International, which works to advance human rights for LGBTQIA+ people

For a confident and relaxed style for men, there’s the 468 Loose Short, which sits at the waist, loose

Collagen isn’t

FAITH GARCIA is a former beauty queen (Miss Aura International 2021) who has retired from competing in pageants and is now helping raise awareness of how triathlon can be beneficial to the mind and the body. She came to this realization partly because her father has had two strokes.

“It’s really important to take care of yourself. I really want to raise awareness about this. When you do triathlons, you’re not just having fun but you’re also helping improve yourself and your health. I was away from triathlon for four years and when I returned, I met so many new athletes. The community is really growing,” said Garcia, during the press conference to launch My Daily Collagen Triathlon on March 10 at Subic.

The Hada Labo (www.hadalabo.com.ph) line comes in two options for your skin needs. Premium Whitening Water Cream combines all the classic ingredients and brightening effect of the Face Lotion with a light, burden-less texture that effortlessly absorbs into the skin, leaving it feeling revitalized without any heavy residue. Premium Whitening Water Gel is great for those with oily/combination skin, thanks to its mix of natural royal jelly extract, hamamelis extract, and herbal fermented factors that revitalize while controlling oil.

The Hada Labo Premium Whitening line can be found at Watsons, or check out The Mentholatum Company’s official stores on Shopee or Lazada.

This year’s triathletes will be surprised with a never-before-seen running course, which will be announced during the race briefing on March 9.

“We’re so excited to see newbies, veterans and seasoned athletes showcase their weeks of training through this race,” said Anna Perez, Global Wellness Enterprises/My Daily Collagen president.

“We have about 400 registered participants as of now, coming from all categories. We want this race to inspire people to do the things that inspire them,” said Oliver Salas, My Daily Collagen’s chief sales officer and event director of Super Series Philippines. With record-breaking temperatures expected

“The temperatures are expected to be from 28 degrees to 32 degrees because the race starts around 6 am and ends close to lunchtime. You have to be well hydrated. There are ample race hydration stops with spaces of about 1.5 to 2 kilometers between each stop. To train for the heat, you really have to experience running under the heat. If you’re a beginner, you need to condition yourself mentally and physically for your body to experience 20 to 30 minutes of heat daily before race day,” said race director and World Ironman qualifier Nylah Bautista. A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. The My Daily Collagen Triathlon 2024 event has safe courses for triathlon rookies, race veterans and even seasoned triathletes: Standard Distancem 1.5km swim, 40km bike, and 10km run; Sprint Distance, 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run; and Standard Distance Relay, 1.5km swim, 40km bike, and 10km run. “This race is planned very well—the courses are

We asked Perez how My Daily Collagen could benefit triathletes, considering that it’s a product for known for its aesthetic benefits.

“Collagen is not just a beauty product. My Beauty Collagen is an overall beauty collagen. It’s a natural supplement. One bottle is equals to 10 fish,” said Salas.

My Daily Collagen claims to be fortified with collagen, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, elastin, hyaluronic acid, and royal jelly. The recommended dosage is one to two bottles a day with My Daily Collagen Pico Tablets.

My Daily Collagen Pico Tablet uses advanced technology to create an ultra-small molecule of collagen, making it easier for the body’s absorption and use as it ages. This supplement claims to help keep skin looking luminous and youthful. My Daily Collagen Triathlon’s registration and kit-claiming will be at the Segara Hotel on Saturday, March 9. The race day will be on March 10, 2024 at 6 am at Boardwalk, Subic Bay. It is organized by Super Series Ph.

through

seat and thigh, and hits just above the knee.  Of special interest is the Levi’s Pride 2024 collection,

PRESENT during the My Daily Collagen Triathlon press conference are (from left) Ann Perez, Nylah Bautista, Oliver Salas, Faith Garcia and Micah Muñoz.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MY DAILY COLLAGEN

THE summer offerings of Levi’s

Tote-All

METRO PACIFIC HEALTH LAUNCHES GIFT OF LIFE CAMPAIGN AT PNP HEALTH FAIR

METRO Pacific Health (MPH), the country’s largest group of private hospitals and a member of the MVP Group, is proud to announce the launch of the “Gift of Life,” a campaign that encourages Filipinos to sign up to become organ donors.

The campaign was launched on February 14 at the Regional Medical and Dental Unit—National Capital Region Police Office (RMDU NCRPO) Health Fair 2024. The Health Fair provided an ideal platform for the launch, as the event was attended by over 500 persons, including NCRPO officers, their families, and

NCRPO trainees. During the launch, MPH highlighted the crucial role that police officers play not only in ensuring the legal and ethical processes surrounding organ donation, but more importantly, the key role they play as advocates for becoming an organ donor.

Organized as part of MPH’s promise to provide compassionate care, the Gift of Life campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation and encourage individuals to become organ donors through the campaign’s signup drive. Joyce Nazario, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Metro Pacific

Health, highlighted the campaign’s significance: “Organ donation is a compassionate act that offers each of us the unique opportunity to give our fellow Filipinos a second chance at life. By becoming a donor, we offer each other the promise of a new beginning, given selflessly and from the heart.”

Nazario further emphasized the urgent need for more organ donors, saying, “There is a need to bridge the gap between the many patients needing organ transplantation versus the number of available organs from willing organ donors in the country. Through the Gift of Life campaign, Metro Pacific Health encourages more Filipinos to sign up and become Givers of Life as organ donors.”

Nazario also noted that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can become an organ donor, provided their organs such as their heart, kidneys, liver, blood, or eyes are healthy and fit for transplantation. She also assured the public that signing up under the Gift of Life campaign only secures the individual’s commitment to become an organ donor at a later date, without him or her undergoing any immediate medical procedures related to organ donation. Interested persons who would like to register for the Gift of Life can do so through booths in selected MPH hospitals, such as De Los Santos Medical Center, or contact MPH directly through its website.

Metro Pacific Health encourages all Filipinos to consider becoming an organ donor and to join the Gift of Life campaign, contributing to the collective effort to build a healthier, more compassionate society—one donor at a time.

College interns are loving the paid program at MASA

GRADUATING students need to undergo an internship program as part of their college requirements. The perfect introduction to the chosen industry, the valuable work experience is not just an essential resume detail, it can jumpstart the graduate’s entry into the job market.

Most company internship programs are unpaid and are usually arranged by the school. At MASA Inc. (Manpower for Advertising Services Agency Inc. ), company interns are treated as professionals and receive an allowance even if technically, they are still students, and have not completed their bachelor’s degree. The paid internship is open to Senior High School graduates and college students between 18 to 23 years old.

The program is just one of the many innovations by Doc Bigs, Dr. Stephene Roy Condino, MASA’s Group Executive

Vice President for Business Development and Operations. A successful business is driven by a passionate workforce and according to Doc Bigs, this begins with a healthy work environment. “ At MASA, aside from the basic operational tasks, we make sure that we inspire everyone to be the best, at all times.”

MASA is about creating opportunities, even for college interns. “Those who contribute to the business must always be compensated, whether they are students or professionals. In our company, we look beyond educational background. We have employees who have no college diplomas but have demonstrated hard work and dedication. Some have been with us for more than 10 years.”

MASA advertising agency specializes in recruitment, training, and deployment of manpower for direct–consumer sales re -

quirements. Established in April 2001, it supports business targets through in–store channels, and community activations to ensure direct interaction between brands and consumers.

Dr. Bigs teaches Business, Marketing, and Innovation at De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University. He completed his Doctorate from the University of Liverpool. He finished several programs at the London Business School and was a post-doctorate fellow in business at the University of Oxford.

Apart from running several businesses (which includes a soon-to-open coffee shop in Siargao) and being an educator, Doc Bigs finds fulfillment in uplifting others with his success story. A favorite guest speaker of corporate events, his unwavering enthusiasm for building a business continues to motivate students, managers, entrepreneurs, and even CEOs of big corporations. “It’s not about creating a business for my profit it’s about giving others a chance, opening doors for equally passionate individuals.”

The paid internship at MASA is open to Senior High School and College students nationwide. The agency has offices in Metro Manila, North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

College graduates who aspire to become business leaders are also invited to sign up for MASA’s leadership training programs. If you think you’ve got what it takes to effectively head a team then you can join the six-month Accelerated Management Training Program (AMT). Check the announcement on their Facebook page for details.

panies were aware of the human rights abuses in Qatar but chose to continue exploiting the workers.

Around 40 complainants were included in the initial list filed in the federal court in Denver, Colorado.

The law firm is expecting more names to come forward as the case progresses.

MOHS Analytics acquires digital company Revery Digital Technologies

DIGITALIZATION and now Artificial Intelligence are completely changing the way business is done. Unfortunately, small and medium sized institutions in the Philippines face significant headway in enhancing their use of digital technologies. They need customized software and out of the box solutions but are often too small to be serviced by the big players. They often get inadequate service from the smaller technology companies.

To help these companies transition to a digital environment, MOHS Analytics has acquired fouryear-old Revery Digital Technologies. Revery has been working with small and medium enterprises through a unique combination of customization capability and technology expertise while focusing on enhancing the user experience.

MOHS, which has built its expertise in the health industry by bringing health care into the home, will help Revery in developing advanced digital offerings that will be utilized in health care institutions. Revery’s expertise will also provide technology solutions to non-health small and medium enterprises

Michael B. Hortaleza, Chairman and CEO of MOHS, states that, “Revery’s expertise has been proven with its provision of innovative digital solutions to the Philippine market and helping uplift their customer’s technology to global standards. MOHS and Revery will synergize

their respective expertise to provide technology solutions to healthcare institutions in both the public and private sectors. Aside from healthcare institutions, Revery is also capable of supporting small and medium businesses in general.”

Harold B. Martinez, Chief Technology Officer of MOHS, said, “Revery will complement the technology and digitalization requirements of all of MOHS’s business units. We can utilize Revery’s expertise in customized software development, as well as its out of the box solutions to make MOHS even more efficient.”

Among Revery’s out of the box solutions it has developed are the PayDei Payroll System, Ace Inventory System, Fulviu Project Management System, and Dash Document management System. These systems have proven their worth in actual use by Revery’s clients. These are solutions that can apply not only to healthcare institutions but to small and medium sized businesses in all industries.

Revery also offers services in web design and development, mobile app development, customized software development, cloud service and augmented/virtual development that are all explained in their website https://Revery.Tech. MOHS’s ownership provides Revery with a higher profile to attract foreign software developers and digital companies who may want to access the Philippine market.

Megaworld’s BGC condo hosts three-man art exhibit until Feb. 29

TO elevate art expression and appreciation in the country, ArtisteSpace Inc., in partnership with Megaworld Corp.’s 8 Forbestown Road, brings the second leg of its traveling art exhibit dubbed “The Expression of Life,” showcasing 40 art pieces from three of the country’s celebrated contemporary visual artists.

Running until February 29, 2024, this “reunion art exhibition” of Raymon Maliwat, Jose “Jojo” Sulse III, and Reiner “Bong” Suva presents the bonding relationship among them and their diverse interpretation of art. Each of the pieces shows their creativity that will leave the viewers with varying interpretations.

“The goal actually is to share all our unique experiences and journeys. For the longest time, we haven’t seen each other. Sir Raymon was our mentor. And there are a lot of things that he imparted to us that we continue doing arts. So that’s why we wanted to share our experiences in the form of art exhibitions,” Suva said during the opening of the exhibit located at the second floor of the 8 Forbestown Road condominium in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

As for who are qualified to be included in the list of complainants, the law firm’s site said if the worker has worked on any type of construction project in Qatar related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup may be eligible. The lawyers will need to review the facts of the worker’s employment as an OFW during the construction period to determine eligibility. Clear evidence has to be furnished by the worker to show that he was a documented OFW working on construction in Qatar and which companies employed the worker. Documents needed include passports, visas, and employment contracts.

Their masterpieces explore numerous ways of expressing the connection of mind, body and soul at a deep level and how it impacts their thoughts, feelings and well-being, thus, creating a myriad of experiences in their respective lives. With their distinctive styles and expressions, the artists search into the pits of human behavior, religious beliefs and experiences, showcasing their observations while facing their daily hurdles in life.

“An artwork is the inner soul of the artist. But when it’s laid out on the canvas, anyone can have a different interpretation from others. And I want that for our viewers to have their own interpretation of the artworks we do. That’s what we want to showcase,” Suva said.

While most artworks are usually exhibited in galleries or museums, ArtisteSpace Inc. goes out of the traditional art venues.

This way, it removes the intimidation factor among them. In a more progressive country, everyone deserves to appreciate arts,” ArtisteSpace Inc. Managing Director Anton Magpantay said. “It’s about time that we bring arts closer to a bigger number of people.”

For all OFWs who are victims of the above unfair labor practices and human trafficking, you may contact Sparacino PLLC, an American commercial litigation law firm, headquartered in Washington, DC. You can check their website at http://qatarcase. com/ or text their partners at Global Rights at +639221101276/+639761574673. Then provide your name, email, address, cell phone number, and/ or WhatsApp or Viber number, and when you worked in Qatar. All the information you provide shall remain confidential (MBL).

RMDU NCRPO officers (3rd, 4th, 6th from left), PMAJ Jerome Uplindo; RMDU Chief PCOL Jessiemyr Protacio; and PCPT Ferdinand Garcia present a Certificate of Appreciation to Metro Pacific Health representatives for their launch of the Gift of Life Campaign during the RMDU NCRPO Health Fair 2024. MPH representatives were, from left to right, Peter Gabriel, Marketing Associate; Dana Macarilay, Public and Media Relations Lead; Joyce Nazario, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Jude Trinidad, CSR Manager.

ARTISTESPACE Inc. Managing Director Anton Magpantay (rightmost), together with featured visual artists Jose

“Jojo” Sulse III (second from right) and Reiner “Bong” Suva (third from right) lead the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony to official open “The Expression of Life” arts exhibit located at the second floor of the 8 Forbestown Road condominium in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Meet tHeReSe R. RODRIGUeZ anD HeR fIRSt bOOk

‘PaR anaqUe tO new YORk CItY—fIftY POeMS’

IF you google the name Therese Rodriguez, you will see 50-plus “Therese Rodriguez” profiles from different parts of the world—mostly various women professionals on Linked in.

But if you google Therese R. Rodriguez Apicha, then you will discover that Therese is the CEO of Apicha Community Health Center in New York, a nationally recognized model of HIV services for Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Since its infancy in 1989, Apicha Community Health Center was historically known as the Asia & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS and operated with the acronym APICHA. Therese spearheaded efforts for Apicha to become a federally qualified health center in 2015 so that the nonprofit center could broaden its scope of services. She was listed as one of Crain’s 2019 Notable Women in Health Care and among Crain’s Notable 2022 Asian Leaders.

Today Apicha provides primary care, preventive health and mental services to vulnerable populations, especially Asians and Pacific Islanders, the LGBT community and those with HIV/AIDS.

It also states the most important fact: that Therese was raised in the Philippines.

Born and raised in Parañaque PRO u DLY Therese was born and raised in the Philippines, particularly in Paranaque where she and I were classmates in kindergarten, were members of the Church based Junior Daughters of Isabella, and together with a smaller group of high school friends, we formed a small teenage “barkada” we called “The Juniorettes.” She was what was then called a convent-bred “colegiala” having been educated in St. Paul’s Paranaque, St. Scholastica’s for high school, and in 1971, she graduated with Business Administration and Liberal Arts degrees from St. Theresa’s College in Quezon City.

As she was growing up, she was exposed to the civic and political work of progressives in Paranaque and eventually became an active member of the Samahang Kabataan ng Paranaque (SKP) and was involved in a series of nationalist

protest movements.

In 1972, Therese was sent by her parents to New York where she has lived and worked continuously until today. We kept in touch all these years; I would see her when I was in NY and we would always meet up whenever she visited here. And those were the times she would tell me how her political activism grew and evolved to make a strong impact in her community. I first honored her as one of the 100 outstanding Filipinas we featured in “100 Women of the Philippines: Celebrating Filipina Womanhood in the New Millennium,” the very first coffeetable book I published in the year 1999. There I wrote: “In New York…for a decade and a half, Therese committed time and energy…to the antidictatorship struggle and to the civil rights causes in the Filipino community.” That was Therese: always committed, always concerned for others.

During one of her prepandemic visits, she casually handed me a loose compilation of her poetry and writings, started since 2011. Just for me to read she said, and hopefully, to give her my personal comments. Honestly, I never got to read it until the pandemic, when I finally went over each piece and realized that she had actually

narrated her life and summarized the complexities of her experiences shaped by her homeland and her new home. In poetry!

Not a poet but a storyteller

THERESE never claimed to be a poet and in fact shares that she barely passed English grammar.

In her words:

“My college poetry teacher Miss Miraflor must be turning in her grave because I did not appreciate poetry then. I am more of a storyteller. I listen and hear the fears, the pains, and the joy of others. I’ve learned to convey the needs of people who cannot speak for themselves, express their hopes and possibilities and articulate their vision for a better world. These are the values that my family, town elders and members of the progressive movement had nurtured in me. All this I’ve translated into poetry in my book.”

It was her candor and humor, plus her innate profoundness, sensitivity and compassion for the community that became very apparent in her writing and I found it very refreshing. I felt compelled to convince her to allow me to publish it for her. She is, after all, a very private person but I told her it would be a great legacy gift not only for her family but for our town (now city) of Parañaque.

Reluctant at first, she eventually agreed but being the OC (obsessive compulsive) personality that she is, she also wanted it to be perfect.

That’s why it took us almost three years to complete the planning, layout, choice of cover and fonts and the printing of the book, communicating mostly via zoom meets, Viber chats and regular phone calls between Manila and New York.

Sheila Coronel wrote the Foreword WHEN we were discussing who would be the best person to write the Foreword, she picked Sheila Coronel as a person she truly admired and respected, admitting that she would be very honored to have Sheila even if they had never met. She is now very grateful to the multiawarded journalist, editor and author who was a founding member of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and was the Academic Dean of Columbia u n iversity’s Graduate School of Journalism in New York where she currently teaches

Co R A zo N Al M A D e leo N a good friend and town mate from Parañaque read one of the poems of Therese.

investigative journalism.

M A AN H o NT IV eR o S a classmate of Therese in St. Scholastica, also did a poetry reading.

It was providential that my dear family friend Rochit Tanedo connected me with Sheila who, after reading the book, graciously submitted the Foreword that Therese had only dreamed and hoped for.

Sheila wrote:

“Therese is refreshingly honest about the befuddlement of a foreigner transported to America…Therese soon peeled the many layers of her adopted country and grappled with the questions of identity across America’s ethnic, religious and gender divides. Her perspective is shaped by being a lifelong health and community worker, a lesbian, and woman of color in New York City, “a metropolis built on the back of immigrants.”

The Manila Book launch

THERESE came home this month to launch her book in a simple, intimate reunion with close family, classmates and selected friends in attendance. Two more book launches are being planned for her: one in LA and the other in San Francisco.

She still cannot believe the warm reception that friends and colleagues have given her book. She always asks them: Did you read it? And not a few of them tell her they couldn’t stop reading it. Here are some comments from those who came to the launch:

Pol F. Moral

Retired advertising executive and a Parañaque senior resident:

“The book Paranaque to New York City, Fifty Poems is hard to put down, literally and figuratively. Done reading, savoring, learning from, reminiscing, holding back a tear. I love all 50. ‘Meandering’ moved me the most.”

Jocelyn F. Domingo

Former Advertising/Publishing Executive and Paranaque resident:

“Therese’s book of poetry could well be her autobiography. Written with such unflinching candor, the storied narrative in her 50 poems defined her—fearless, unapologetic, and relatable. It is an exemplary record of our times! Truly inspiring. “

Virgilio A. Reyes Jr. Philippine ambassador to South Africa and Italy

Career diplomat, author, journalist, cultural heritage advocate

“The multifaceted Therese R. Rodriguez—pioneer Filipino immigrant, nationalist, community organizer, human rights activist, unabashed LGBTQ advocate, APICHA head and iconic leader on Asia Pacific issues—surprises us once more with a breathtaking poetic summary of her life from childhood to a groundbreaking career in the New York metropolitan area...”

There are limited copies of the book so I advise you to try and get a first edition copy while it has not been launched in the u S A nd while there are still a few remaining here in Manila.

Don’t take my word for it because I am the publisher but I seriously believe Therese is an exceptional storyteller using poetry as her medium. Watch out for her next book which she is already thinking of doing.

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premiere association for senior communications professionals around the world. Joy Lumawig-Buensalido is the President and CEO of Buensalido PR and Communications. She was past Chairman of the IPRA Philippine chapter for two terms.

PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public rel ations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@gmail.com.

F R I e N DS for 50 years: The book author Therese and publisher Joy in New York in 1972 (left). And at the recent book launch on February 11, 2024 (right ).

T H e R e S e w ith her siblings and families who all supported her for her first book launch.

Obiena rocks in Berlin

BusinessMirror on Sunday. “An improvement from Croatia.”

mettle and passed with flying colors by winning gold with enough to spare.

A nd he did it in style by setting a new Asian

“ He did superb,” Obiena’s confidante, Jim Lafferty, told

Sports

Obiena’s second gold medal indoors came less than a week after he dominated the Memorial Josip Gasparac in Osijek, Croatia, where he cleared 5.83 meters.

H is numbers in Berlin erased by 1 cm the 26-year-old Asian record Kazakhstan’s Igor Potapovich set in the 1998 Galen in Stockholm and also the Philippine record by 2 cms which he set in 2022 at the Perch Elite Tour in Rouen, France.

Obiena wanted more and went for 6.03m but missed thrice—he became a member of the exclusive 6.0-meter men’s pole vault club in June last year at the Sparebanken Vest Bergen Jump Challenge in Norway

Obiena’s hot start in the season puts him on track for the world indoor championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from March 1 to 3.

“

Look at his last attempt at 6.03. It’s a matter of days, he has a week of tuning up for the worlds,” Lafferty said. “All in all, it was a great start.

Obiena used the Osijek to test his

That was a great start,” said Lafferty of Obiena’s gold medalwinning jump only last Wednesday.

The 28-year-old won by 10 cms over Portugal’s Pedro Buaro and US’s Olen Tray Oates by 23 cms.

Everything’s proceeding according to the plan,” Obiena’s physiotherapist Antonio Guglierta said.

Last year, Obiena made the podium 22 times in 24 competitions and grabbed eight gold medals—including the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games and Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games—six silvers and four bronzes.

He’s the first of four Filipinos so far who have qualified for the Olympics when he cleared the 5.82m standard at the Bauhaus Galan in Stockholm only a day after the Olympic qualifying window opened last July 2.

The other Filipinos assured of tickets to Paris are former world champion Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan and Eumir Felix Marcial in boxing. Josef Ramos

Ancajas’s not feeling pretty at all

TBy Josef Ramos

OKYO—Everything that’s negative seemed to have descended on Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas who suffered the worst beating in his professional career—a ninth-round knockout to reigning World Boxing Association bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue on Saturday night.

It was his first knockout loss that was inflicted by an energy-sapping body shot.

All I can say is I’m so down right now, very down,” Ancajas told a handful Filipino media minutes after his defeat at the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena.

I have to search for myself, my confidence is gone right now,” added the 32-year-old former world champion who took his fourth defeat in 40 fights.

Inoue’s semi-right uppercut to the right side of the abdomen did Ancajas in.

That was my first time to be hit directly with a tremendous body shot,” he said. “I received a lot of punches but that shot at the midsection was so painful, very terrible.”

Del Monte formalizes conquest of PAL Seniors Interclub in CdO

DEL MONTE accounted for its week-worst 141 points to close out Seniors Championship division play in the 75th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub, still more than enough for the Bukidnon-based bets to crown themselves champions for the first time.

“This is very sweet for us,” skipper Yoyong Velez, who fired a five-over-par 77 for 49 points like Ondoy Mondilla, said after the team had the honor of posing as winner for the first time in Cagayan de Oro City. “The guys simply delivered and I am very proud of this homegrown team finally becoming a champion.”

He added: “I tried to get up, but I couldn’t breathe. My first time.”

“I’m completely demoralized…it feels like I don’t want to box anymore,” he said. “But maybe, if given a chance again, I’ll bounce back.”

But Sean Gibbons, president of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, said there’s still a lot of fight left in the pride of Panabo City.

“If he wants to continue, we’ll find a winner and get a title shot,” Gibbons said. “That’s what we did before and that’s what we’re going to do again, maybe at 118 or 122 lbs or whatever it maybe.”

Ancajas didn’t pack the moves and sharpness when he reigned over the International Boxing Federation super flyweight division from 2017 to 2022.

Joven Jimenez was as devastated and offered to quit as Ancajas’s trainer, coach and manager.

“If that’s the only way, I’m willing to step down as his trainer coach or if there’s someone who can train him the right way, yes, I’m willing to step aside,” Jimenez said. All foreign boxers who fought on Saturday also had a terrible night— Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago lost his World Boxing Council bantamweight belt to Junto Nakatani via six th round technical knockout and Christian Bacasegua Rangel bowed to Kosei Tanaka via unanimous decision for the vacant World Boxing Organization super flyweight c rown thus making the Japanese a four-division champion.

Del Monte tallied 601 points after four days of action, with Roroy Minoza shooting 43 points and the club throwing away the 42 of Jun Maghamil for a 17-point win.

“We take pride in winning this event for the first time,” Velez added. “Simply because we have been playing year in and year out using only players that come from Del Monte. We don’t recruit players from the outside.”

The final round was actually anti-climactic with Del Monte practically winning it on Saturday after opening up an 18-point lead with the real battle Sunday was for second spot, which Canlubang and Manila Southwoods hotly disputed. The Sugar Barons rallied from a one-point deficit going into the last

two holes to tally a closing 142 like Southwoods for runner-up honors for the second straight year.

C angolf lost a lead in the final round in Cebu last year to yield the title to Luisita.

By being able to match Southwoods in the last round, Cangolf held on to a three-point edge for second place after getting 50 points from Damasus Wong, 48 points from the veteran Abe Rosal and 44 from Abe Avena for 584 overall.

Manfred G uangko scored 51 points for the Carmona-based bets, which still came up with its best finish in this division for players 55 years old and above.

S outhwoods also counted the 46 points of Joseph Tambunting and the 45 of Theody Pascual even as Luisita slipped to its worst finish here in years after tallying a closing 135 to wind up fourth. The Luisitans got 52 points from Ferdie Barbosa and 44 from Dan Cruz, with the injured Marty Ilagan counting as the third scorer after a 39 as Rafael Raymundo skied to a 37.

Velez said that the job for Del Monte now is to look at repeating next year wherever the Interclub will be held, and he said that despite winning it all this year, no one is assured of a spot.

“We will all go through qualifying,” he said. “I think that was the secret of our success here.”

Gandler delivers for HD Spikers

VANIE GANDLER is proving herself as the real thing as the former Ateneo Lady Eagle star is making heads turn not only for her striking looks but because of her savvy on the court.

I n Cignal’s first game of the Premiere Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference last Saturday, Gandler tallied a game-high 19 points on 17 attacks, one ace and one block to help the HD Spikers beat a reloaded Akari Chargers side in four sets. I n a team bannered by steely veterans like former Most Valuable

What curse?

NETFLIX Curse?

Th at’s absurd.

Th ese theorists are looking for storylines on the current popular reality documentary series, Break Point, that do not exist.

Because Nick Kyrgios and Ayla Tomljanovich missed much of the season due to injuries?

I njuries are part of the game. No athlete is spared.

People forget they are living in an era where erstwhile

GOAT Roger Federer only recently retired. Where the most recent GOAT Rafa Nadal is on his way out and current GOAT Novak Djokovic remains on another level. And touted to be the next GOAT Carlos Alcaraz has lost a bit of steam.

A nd for the distaff side, Iga Swiatek is just phenomenal.

I love it that Aryna Sabalenka and Maria Sakkari did win titles. So much for that so-called curse.

L et’s not even hear that Alexander Zverev is under investigation for domestic abuse against his supermodel girlfriend, Brenda Patea.

L et’s not even theorize that Red Bull’s Christian Horner, whose team has supplanted Mercedes as Formula 1’s most dominant team and has been a prominent feature in that other most incredible and popular Netflix series Drive to Survive, and who is under investigation for inappropriate behavior is cursed as well.

Hogwash!

Let’s not even raise an eyebrow and percolate those theories when the Atlanta Falcons’ Marcus Marriota was released the season after he appeared on Quarterbacks along with the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins whose last season was cut short after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Player Ces Molina and top off-season recruit Dawn Macandili-Catindig, it was the young Gandler who quickly proved her worth from the get-go despite being rested in the game’s waning moments.

It feels good, of course, because our preparation time was very short, but I’m happy that the team was able to come together,” said the Cignal rising star after their 21-25, 25-18, 25-12, 25-18 victory over Akari at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “After the first set, it’s normal first-game jitters,” she said. “But I could see how much we all want it.” For her standout performance, Gandler was awarded by the newly-formed PVL Press Corps as the season’s first Player of the Week for the period of February 20 to 24.

Fat chance but no cigar.

The third quarterback featured in that docu series was the Kansas City Chief’s Patrick Mahomes. Yes, they struggled early but put it all together late in the season and tore into the opposition come the playoffs. And hey, they won a third Super Bowl title in five years.

Nice try. But still no curse.

I ’ll say it makes for nice chat conversation and for keen following of these two Netflix Series.

There’s that other great series about a skidding English football club Sunderland ‘Til I Die.

W hen the first season of Sunderland ‘Til I Die debuted in 2018—the year immediately after being relegated from the Premier League—the Black Cats, as the team is nicknamed— had 14 managers including the caretakers.

Si nce then, they have had 14 managers including caretakers.

Th at’s not being cursed.

Th at’s being incompetent.

S till, I love all these theories. I wish for Netflix to keep putting out all these great sports docu-series.

MEMBERS of the victorious Del Monte team—(from left) Romeo Jaraula, Billy Adag, Roroy Minoza, captain Yoyong Velez, Jun Maghamil, Ondoy Mondilla, Crispin Aparilla and Ernesto Apas. ROY DOMINGO

THIS picture says it all—it was a terrible loss for Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas. COURTESY WENDELL ALINEA

VANIE GANDLER is the best player of the week.

RNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA wins another gold medal and resets Asian and Philippine records in Germany.