WHILE the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry is seen to grow in 2025, the industry will have to recalibrate revenue and employment targets of its roadmap by mid-2025 in order to factor in the “macro environment” impacting global demand.
In a Viber message, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President Jack Madrid said the industry is seeing a “recalibration [of targets] in mid-2025.”
Asked to cite the factors that the industry would have to consider in revising the targets set in the IT-BPM Roadmap 2028, Madrid replied, “Macro environment that affects global demand.”
While the industry is yet to revise its revenue and employment targets, he expressed confidence the industry will still grow in 2025, banking on “US clients and other regions.”
The IT-BPM industry is still hounded, meanwhile, by issues on “talent-skills gap to meet demand
and ease of doing business.”
At the IT-BPM Summit 2024 held in October, Madrid revealed in his speech that according to IBPAP’s midyear survey, talent and skills gap remains the top challenge, with 21 percent of respondents identifying it as critical. He earlier said the demand for advanced digital skills like data analytics, programming, and machine learning, as well as soft skills and domain-specific skills in healthcare, accounting and banking, outpaces the country’s workforce’s current capabilities.
Also at the IT-BPM industry event last year, Madrid underscored, “As we continue to push forward, we must acknowledge that the environment has changed. These numbers were established more than two years ago, and context is evolving fast, and the situation continues to unravel.”
The IBPAP chief noted that the headwinds the industry faces “require different interventions that we must increase.”
‘CONSUMPTION, POLLS TO FUEL 2025 GROWTH’
By Cai U. Ordinario
ROBUSThouseholdconsumption
TOTAL resources of the financial sector grew 8.82 percent in November 2024, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Data showed the total resources of the Philippine financial system amounted to P33.076 trillion as of November 2024, higher than the P30.394 trillion posted in the same period of 2023. Majority of the resources was accounted for by resources
and Commercial Bank (UKBs), amounting to P25.786 trillion in November 2024.
because nasa working group pa yung detalye. [I still don’t have the NPCC recommendation because the details are still with the working group]. But once it comes to my table, the chances are we will declare [food security emergency] so the stocks of NFA can be released,” Laurel told reporters on Thursday.
Laurel noted that the grains agency is in a pickle with 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice stored in its warehouses.
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The data showed this was a 9.43-percent growth from the P23.564 trillion in November 2023.
The remaining resources held by banks were held by thrift banks, rural banks, and digital banks, according to the BSP.
The data showed the resources with thrift banks amounting to P1.148 trillion in November 2024, higher by 7.1 percent from the P1.072 trillion in November 2023.
However, the BSP said, rural and cooperative bank (RCBs) and digital bank (DGB) resources posted the fastest growth in November 2024.
RCB resources amounted to P498.3 billion in November 2024, a 17-percent growth from P425.8 billion in November 2023.
The BSP said DGB resources posted the fastest growth at 39.93 percent to P119.5 billion in November 2024, from P85.4 billion in November 2023.
Meanwhile, resources held by Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) amounted to P5.525 trillion in November 2024.
The BSP data showed the resources of NBFIs grew 5.28 percent from the P5.248 trillion in November 2023.
The data on total resources from BSP excluded those held by BSP. The data was based on the Consolidated Statement of Condition (CSOC). Cai U. Ordinario
LGU shares in NTA to hit 35% in 2026, says Recto
By Reine Juvierre Alberto @reine_alberto
THE shares of local government units (LGUs) in the national tax allotment (NTA) will equate to about 35 percent in 2026, according to the Department of Finance (DOF).
In a press chat on Thursday, Finance
Secretary Ralph G. Recto said there will be additional revenues for LGUs next year as the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion ( T R AIN ) L aw will expire in 2025.
Although LGUs will see an increase in their NTA shares next year, coming from the 32 percent they will receive this year, this is still below the 40-percent allotment mandated by the law.
Recto clarified that everything that is earmarked, such as special purpose funds and special allotments to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in
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Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), is exempted from the computation of the NTA shares.
“Those are all deducted consistent with the Supreme Court,” he added.
The 2019 Mandanas-Garcia ruling of the Supreme Court, which took effect in 2022, increased the NTA shares of LGUs to 40 percent of all national taxes beyond those collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Quezon City Mayor and League of Cities President Joy Belmonte told reporters in a separate interview that there was misunderstanding and lack of
“Election spending is another tailwind that could provide a boost to the economy. Historically, GDP growth is faster in election years, driven by heightened economic activity fueled by
communication among government officials regarding their NTA shares.
The DOF said on Wednesday that Recto resolved the concerns on the computation of NTA shares for LGUs in a dialogue with city mayors on January 15. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/15/rectoresolves-tax-concerns-via-dialoguewith-mayors/).
Belmonte said they are satisfied with the DOF’s explanations on the deductions, but they will seek other legal remedies and interpretations of the Constitution.
“We will again go back to the table to dialogue and further clarify our concerns,” Belmonte added.
With Quezon City being a highly urbanized city, Belmonte stressed that municipalities, such as those fourth- and fifthclass municipalities, are more
election-related spending in various regions,” he also said.
Neri said household consumption is expected to be robust because of the steady flow of Overseas Filipino remittances and low unemployment in the country.
Remittance inflows will sustain its growth despite the economic slowdown in advanced economies and anti-immigration sentiments. This is because of aging populations that are driving demand for foreign labor. The countercyclical nature of remittances is also expected to drive inflows amid hardships experienced by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).
Neri said the low unemployment rate means more Filipinos are able to secure jobs and other sources of livelihood. This ensures that household consumption continues even amid the emergence of artificial intelligence.
“While the emergence of artificial intelligence has raised concerns about the labor market, a significant displacement of workers is unlikely since its current adoption remains limited and companies are still evaluating its commercial use. In certain cases, it might even enhance labor productivity for companies that can effectively utilize it, providing a boost to growth,” Neri said.
Inflation
M E a N WHI l E , N eri said inflation may average 3.5 percent in 2025. l a st year, inflation averaged 3.2 percent, the slowest inflation rate since 2020 and 2019 when inflation averaged 2.4 percent.
Given this outlook, Neri said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may continue reducing policy rates but at a less aggressive pace by only 50 basis points. This will bring the
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Among the effects of the new work schedule for NCR LGUs, according to the MMDA, are the following:
n Travel time and travel speed surveys indicate that travel time decreased by 10.20 percent, while travel speed increased by 20.70 percent on the roads near the city and municipal halls of the LGUs.
n There has been a notable reduction in both the number of delays and delay times, with an average decline of 21.92 percent in the number of delays and 16.39 percent in delay times. These delays were caused by stops at traffic signals, stops
affected by the deducted NTA shares.
“I’m encouraging the League of Municipalities to also get involved in this discussion simply because the municipalities are the most affected since they depend mostly on their NTAs,” Belmonte said.
The NTA shares of over 43,000 LGUs will be worth P1.034 trillion in 2025.
This would cover 43,634 LGUs, consisting of provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays nationwide.
The 83 provinces were allotted P237.959 billion in the total NTA shares.
Meanwhile, 149 cities and 1,491 municipalities were allocated P239.045 billion and P350.678 billion, respectively, in the total NTA shares.
About P206.920 billion was earmarked for the 41,991 barangays in the country.
policy rate to 5.25 percent.
“Upside risks to this outlook include the possibility of l a N ina and disruptions to global supply chains due to trade barriers. Inflation remains sensitive to adverse weather conditions, particularly for vegetable prices, which warrant close attention,” Neri said.
However, Neri said stable commodity prices on the back of an improvement in rice supply and the push of the Trump administration to expand oil production may offset the upside risks.
China’s surplus manufacturing capacity, he said, could lead to cheaper imports into the Philippines, further easing inflationary pressures.
l a st year, the BSP said it will maintain an easing posture next year, but it considers a 100-basis-point (bps) reduction in key policy rates as “excessive” as inflation could rear its ugly head again in 2025.
The Monetary Board decided to reduce policy rates by 25 basis points (bps), its third rate cut in 2024. The meeting of the seven-man Monetary Board is the last for 2024.
The latest reduction brought down the prevailing interest rates to 5.75 percent. The interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were accordingly adjusted to 5.25 percent and 6.25 percent, respectively.
Remolona, who sits as the chairman of the Monetary Board, said the central bank is also not keen on making aggressive policy rate reductions in 2025. He also said reducing rates by as much as 75 bps this year kept the rates “somewhat on the tight side.” (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/12/20/bsp-unlikely-tocut-key-rates-by-100-bps/).
due to loading and unloading, congestion resulting from high traffic volumes, and other contributing factors.
n In terms of public transportation, it is estimated that 33.26 percent of the 115,881 LGU employees (38,536 employees) will not coincide with those of the private sector, which typically follows work schedules of 8am to 5pm or 9pm to 6pm.
“Currently, the modified working hours schedule is implemented only by LGUs and the MMDA. This has led to minimal improvement in traffic flow on Metro Manila’s Major Thoroughfares, as most LGU infrastructure is situated on city and municipal roads rather than on the major thoroughfares,” the MMDA said.
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“We constantly review our roadmap projections but we felt that in 2024, we are going to achieve our targets. So the scheduled recalibration of roadmap will happen in 2025,” he said in October 2024.
Fast forward to January 2025, Madrid told reporters that the industry hit the $38-billion revenue target in 2024 while adding 120,000 new jobs last year, hitting its end-2024 target of 1.82 million employees.
Based on the 2028 Roadmap, the industry is eyeing to provide jobs to 2.5 million full-time employees by the end of 2028. In addition, IBPAP’s roadmap says the industry has a vision of growing the Philippine IT-BPM into a $59- billion industry. Andrea E. San Juan
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“Harvest season is coming. Kung puno ang warehouse namin, hindi kami makakabili sa mga farmers sa maayos na presyo. So, kailangan namin maibenta kaagad yan [If our warehouse is full, we cannot buy from farmers with the right pricing. So, we need to dispose of that promptly].” He added that if stocks were released from the grains agency, these would be sold to local government units (LGUs), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other government agencies.
By February, Laurel noted that they aim to offer the rice stocks to LGUs and other agencies at P36 per kilo, which the latter could sell to the public at P38 per kilo. By March, however, he said they intend to sell it at P33 per kilo, which the agencies could sell at P35 per kilo. Earlier, the DA said that rice stored by the grains agency for at least two months would be sold to LGUs in Metro Manila at P38 per kilo in its bid to clear filled warehouses ahead of the upcoming harvest season.
With the food security emergency in place, however, Laurel explained that the NFA could sell its stocks even if these were not aging rice. He also stressed the agency’s objective to dispose of the NFA’s stocks so it could purchase palay or unmilled rice at a “profitable” price of at least P21 to P23 per kilo.
Meanwhile, Laurel mentioned that the 25 percent broken rice variety sold under the agency’s Rice-for-All program will be reduced to P38 per kilo from P40 per kilo beginning today.
“This price reduction will take effect on Friday, just ahead of the implementation of the maximum suggested retail price [MSRP] of P58 per kilo for 5 percent broken imported rice,” he said.
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Despite the 2016 ruling by an international arbitration court, China still claims that the entire South China Sea as part of its territory.
Aside from the recent presence of the Monster Ship of China in the West Philippine Sea, both sides also reviewed the recent provisional understanding they had on the rotation and reprovision missions of the Philippine Armed Forces to the troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Noting the “positive outcome” of the provisional arrangement, both Manila and Biejing “agreed to continue its implementation to sustain the de-escalation of tensions without prejudice to respective national positions.”
Lazaro and Chen also agreed to “reinvigorate” the platform for Coast Guard cooperation, the DFA said in a statement. Both sides also identified ocean meteorology as a focus area for a workshop on marine scientific cooperation.
“Undersecretary Lazaro underscored that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and diplomacy,” the DFA added.
The Philippines will host the next BCM at a later date.
Government agencies’ miscoordination worsens tobacco-related health problems
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
THE chairman of the Senate blue-ribbon committee warned on Thursday that continuing the sorry state of miscoordination among government agencies will worsen the public-health problems caused by smoking and vaping, and waste huge public funds despite the billions in sin taxes that government is collecting.
In a public hearing on the issues that merited the “Dirty Ashtray Award” for the Philippines’ poor response to tobacco-related health and financial issues, Sen. Pia Cayetano urged the agencies concerned to pursue reforms more determinedly and make sure their efforts “align” towards a common goal.
“So the objective we have is to really ensure that our programs are aligned. ….That every government agency is heading in the same direction. It is crucial to examine
existing strategies aimed to prevent smoking initiation among the youth; that is very important, especially the most vulnerable sector, the youth and to support cessation efforts,” Cayetano said in her opening statement. “Useless din kasi ang efforts natin . We are wasting public funds. It is the objective of the Senate’s blue-ribbon committee to make sure that [there are no anomalies among] government officials in connivance with private groups. Because if DOH [Department of
Chavit: I can
help
LBy Justine Xyrah Garcia
ONG-TIME Ilocos Sur gov -
ernor Luis “Chavit” Singson formally withdrew his senatorial bid on Thursday, emphasizing that he can still provide assistance even without holding public office.
Speaking on the sidelines, Singson shared with reporters that he remains committed in supporting the transportation sector and other advocacy groups.
“ Tinutuloy ko rin iyong commitment ko lahat , iyong pagtulong ko sa mga driver, iyong transport group, pagbibigay ng bank account na libre Iniisip ko magagawa ko namang tumulong maski hindi ako senator,” he said.
The 83-year-old business tycoon explained that his decision to withdraw from the electoral race was primarily due to health
Health] is doing one thing, and then another agency is doing another thing, we are just wasting public funds. And this is a crime. So this is what we want to establish,” she added.
She exhorted stakeholders to “remain vigilant against the slimy tactics employed by the tobacco industry and their allies, who persistently work to undermine public health policies through misinformation, aggressive marketing, and lobbying efforts. That’s why we try to invite all the agencies that are somehow involved and those that we can call upon because sometimes, you do not even know what work you are doing that is undermining the health policies. So we hope that through these hearings, a lot of people will be enlightened, particularly those who have decision-making tasks in government.”
She stressed the need “to specify these slimy tactics” because “every government official here needs to understand that these tactics exist. They’ve existed for half a century since the tobacco industry started promoting their own interest, which goes against public health.”
She continued: “And if you cannot recognize it, then we cannot
protect public health. These tactics aim to delay regulation, create loopholes, and normalize the use of harmful products, jeopardizing the progress we have made in safeguarding our communities.
It was the third public hearing of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (blue-ribbon) on the issues surrounding the participation last year of the Philippine Delegation at the Tenth Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which resulted in the Philippines’ receiving its 5th Dirty Ashtray Award.
In the last hearing, members of the Philippine delegation and other concerned stakeholders were invited to shed light on the issues surrounding the country’s participation in the COP10 and its receipt of the 5th Dirty Ashtray Award.
That hearing, Cayetano recalled, established the following facts:
n The DTI, DOH, and FDA have a “vital role” in the full and proper implementation of the Vape Law.
n The DTI lacks testing capabilities as a regulator, while the FDA has the necessary equipment and resources to ensure that the inter -
without being senator
concerns, after experiencing two bouts of pneumonia earlier this year.
“Ayoko ng hintayin yung pangatlo Limang araw akong hindi nakatulog Iniisip ko lahat iyon ,” he added. Beyond his work for the transportation sector and efforts to promote financial literacy, Singson assured the public that he would continue his 58-day raffle of “millions of prizes,” which will end on February 11.
He noted that he felt obligated to fulfill his promises to his supporters.
Anyone can participate in the raffle by downloading Singson’s digital banking app, VBank PH, and registering through the link provided on his official Facebook page.
Meanwhiole, when asked if he had any candidates in mind for the upcoming midterm elections,
Singson mentioned television host Wilfredo “Willie” Revillame and incumbent Sen, Christopher Lawrence Go as among the few senatorial aspirants he plans to support.
“ Iyong mga tumutulong sa akin , sina [Revillame], [Go] at saka iyong mga iba pa ,” he said.
Chavit out
PRIOR to Singson’s withdrawal, Commission on Elections
Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia had already announced that the election management system (EMS) would be altered. This will allow the permanent removal of the ex-governor’s name from the official list of senatorial candidates.
This development comes after the Supreme Court issued five temporary restraining orders on Tuesday, halting ballot printing
AFP strengthens ties with allies
THE Philippines’ military continues to strengthen ties the country’s allies.
The Navy (PN) expressed gratitude to France for its help in the ongoing modernization program of the Armed Forces (AFP), while Army paratroopers joined he annual New Year’s Jump of Japan’ Ground Self Defense Force. This was emphasized by the Navy Flag Officer in Command, Vice Adm. Jose Maria Ambrosio Ezpeleta following the courtesy call of French Ambassador to the Philippines, Marie Fontanel, to the Navy chief early this week.
“Ambassador Fontanel congratulated Admiral Ezpeleta on his recent appointment and discussed upcoming cooperation initiatives including the deployment of Exercise Clemenceau 2025 led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific, and France’s involvement in the AFP modernization
program,” the PN spokesman Cdr. John Percie Alcos, said in a statement Thursday. Ezpeleta also said that the PN is looking forward to working with the French Navy.
“Admiral Ezpeleta also affirmed the PN’s commitment to strengthen ties with France, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in ensuring maritime security and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region,” Alcos said.
The Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group (CSG), consists of the aircraft carrier, three frigates, a supply ship and several foreign escort vessels from the US, Italy, Greece and Morocco, set sail from Toulon on November 28. 2024 to start the Clemenceau 25 deployment.
Army troops join Japan jump ARMY (PA) Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) troops showcased
their military free-fall capabilities as they participated in the New Year Jump in Indo-Pacific 2025 held in Japan for the first time.
In a statement Thursday, the Army spokesman, Col. Louie Demaala said the delegation was headed by the Army vice commander, Maj. Gen. Leodevic Guinid.
Dema-ala said the Philippine contingent joined units from allied nations in the event that was held from Janury 11 to 12 at the First Airborne Brigade, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF), Camp Narashino, Chiba Prefecture.
“Major General Guinid, along with the SFRA commander, Brig. Gen. Rosendo Abad Jr., led the airborne troops in demonstrating PA’s military free fall and airborne capabilities, manifesting the PA’s readiness to conduct airborne operations in special when performing specialized missions in defense of national terrritory,” Dema-ala said.
to reinstate senatorial aspirant Subair Mustapha and local candidates Edgar Erice (for Second District representative of Caloocan City), Charles Savellano (for First District representative of Ilocos Sur), Chito Bulatao (for governor of Zambales), and Florendo Ritualo Jr. (for First District representative of San Juan City).
“ Ngayong tayo ay back to zero sa pag -print ng balota at may panahon tayong ilang araw matatanggal pa namin ang pangalan sa balota ,” Garcia said.
He added that the order of senatorial candidates on the ballot will inevitably change, particularly for those with surnames starting from the letter M to S, as Mustapha will be added and Singson removed.
The Comelec said it aims to complete the new EMS within the next couple of days to immediately resume ballot printing.
Following this aerial showcase, the simulated air assault, featuring participating units from the US Army, US Marine Corps, US Air Force, Singaporean Army, Australian Army, Royal Netherlands Army, French Army, Canadian Army, British Army, Polish Land Forces, Italian Army, German Army, and 1st Airborne Brigade, JGSDF, took place.
The simulation showcased the capabilities and synchronized collaborations of the Indo-Pacific nations in addressing common threats or adversaries in the region.
The New Year Jump in IndoPacific in Japan has been held annually since 1974 to pray for the safety of airborne jumps throughout the year and foster greater understanding and confidence in the JGSDF.
The activity also aims to build relationships of trust, as well as to strengthen cooperation among the Airborne Forces, and disseminate strategic messages to contribute to peace and stability in the IndoPacific region. Rex Anthony Naval
est of health is being pushed forth.
n The Vape Law states that it is DTI that will handle the safety requirement, including the health safety, and Cayetano rejects this, deeming it “contradictory to the mandate of DTI. It is something I believe DTI does not have the confidence to execute. And from the hearings we’ve had – and let’s see what’s new today, like I said –they do not have the competence to ensure that the safety components of regulating the vapes can be complied with on the side of DTI.”
It was established, she recalled, “that DTI can only test the device, battery, and chargers. So when they are talking about safety, they are talking about the device. Kung ito ba ay, makukuryente ka ba kapag hinawakan mo It’s like a gadget. That was established. But DTI does not have the capacity to test the consumables and refillables, especially the chemical content.”
Per DTI, they do not have the following professionals, which the FDA had when they were in charge of testing, which they had and they still have: Pharmacists, nurses, engineers, toxicologists, globally harmonized system experts on classification and labeling of chemicals. There is also an expert panel
composed of clinical toxicologists, pharmacologists, addiction specialists, and pediatric specialists, that DTI does not have.
The government, it was emphasized during the hearing, must take a stronger stance at the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP) 11 this coming November by excluding agencies that have ties to the tobacco industry, declaring any conflict of interest, and prioritizing the protection of children and youth from all forms of tobacco use, as provided in WHO FCTC Article 5.3–to protect public health policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry. It was also established that the delegation must be headed by the DOH, the agency that advocates positions that promote public health interests and ensure that delegates fulfill obligations according to the FCTC. Thursday’s hearing, meanwhile, was called to obtain updates on the testing mechanisms and regulatory measures currently in place to ensure compliance with quality and safety standards in the tobacco industry; the current smoking prevalence in the country; and the collection and utilization of sin taxes.
Coast Guard ship keeping tabs on China’s ‘monster ship’
By Rex Anthony Naval
THE Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said that the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is now keeping watch on the China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5901, which is illegally operating off the Zambales coast which is part of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“The PCG offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang, is actively overseeing the illegal deployment of CCG vessel 5901 off the coast of Zambales province. Throughout the day, the movements of the CCG vessel have not been continuous or expeditious, failing to meet the necessary criteria for exercising the right of innocent passage,” it said. BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV9701), one of the PCG ships keeping watch on the Chinese vessel, returned to Manila earlier for logistical requirements and to check on the derangement it sustained while on patrol.
CCG 5901 is also known as the “monster ship” due to its displacement of 12,000 gross tons. It has been repeatedly enter -
ing Philippine maritime territory since January 4. Despite the Chinese ship’s large size, the PCG said the Filipino ship “has effectively maintained a protective position” through skillful seamanship. It added that this succeeded in keeping the CCG ship at an average distance of 60-70 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline.
“It is essential to note that while the CCG has conducted a radio challenge against the BRP Gabriela Silang, stating that it is violating the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (Coldregs), this allegation disregards the more critical issue of the CCG’s illegal presence within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The PCG’s close maneuvering against the CCG vessel is vital to prevent it from approaching forward the Zambales coast,” it added. The PCG said that it remains committed to safeguard the country’s maritime interests and will continue to monitor and address any threats to its maritime jurisdiction, sovereign rights, and sovereignty in the WPS.
Congress recognizes Tandang Sora’s heroism
BOTH houses of Congress have recognized the heroism of Melchora Aquino, more popularly known as Tandang Sora, by passing the measure declaring January 6 of every year a special working holiday in Quezon City in commemoration of her birth anniversary. Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas, principal author of the bill, said the proposal was passed to honor the “Mother of the Revolution.”
“This is a momentous occasion that will remind us of the martyrdom and sacrifices of Tandang Sora, who is a key figure in the liberation of our country. As
a Novaleño, I could not be any prouder that her heroism took place in my beloved district in Novaliches,” Vargas said. Novaliches serves as the home of the “Katipunan Tree,” or the duhat tree, where Tandang Sora uplifted the Katipuneros, more so the sick and the wounded, including Apolinario Mabini. Vargas also emphasized that the bill hopes to inspire and pay tribute to all women who play significant roles in today’s society— that could create greater impact in our efforts to nation building.
“Tandang Sora’s courage and motherly love live on,” Vargas said. Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz
www.businessmirror.com.ph
‘Citizen participation in govt budget preparation welcome’
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto @reine_alberto
THE coming Asia and the Pacific Regional Meeting (APRM) will serve as a platform for citizens to participate and engage in the budget preparation process, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.
In a press briefing, Budget Secretary
Amenah F. Pangandaman said the APRM, led by the Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP), will bring together high-level government representatives, civil society leaders, policymakers, as well as global and regional partners from across the region.
“We will be able to exchange insights, experiences, best practices, and progress on open government initiatives that will create bold impact for the benefit of our people,” Pangandaman said.
The ARPM is scheduled to take place from February 5 to 7. Some 700 local and international delegates are expected to attend, including heads of state, government officials, civil society leaders, and policymakers.
Budget Preparation and Execution
Agenda will include efforts to strengthen engagement, enhancing regional governance and even climate change-related topics and discussion.
Other topics to be discussed are building a stronger integrity system, interconnected action, interoperability of data use, pathways towards transparency of money in politics, the fiscal openness challenge, ensuring inclusive and meaningful public participation in the public process, safeguarding electoral integrity, and tackling abuse of state resources.
“Rest assured that we will remain committed in upholding the principles of transparency, accountability and enhanced citizen participation to create a government whose doors are open to its citizens and truly responsive to the needs of its people,”
Pangandaman said.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that includes 75 countries and 150 local governments representing more than two billion people. An estimated 250 to 300 international delegates from Asia and Pacific countries and partner organizations around the world are expected to attend.
Undersecretary Rolando U. Toledo said the APRM will hold 20 breakout sessions and 30 side events.
2nd round of talks for EU-PHL
FTA to resume Feb 10-EU envoy
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
NEGOTIATIONS for a free trade agreement between the 27-member European Union and the Philippines are expected to deliver “well and fast” as talks are set to resume on February 10 in Manila, according to the EU ambassador to the Philippines.
“A first round took place for negotiations took place in October 2024, a second round will be hosted here in Manila, mid-February. So the second round is foreseen from the
10th to the 14th of February. So it’s four full days of work,” EU Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro said during the 9th Joint Economic Briefing on Thursday.
“These discussions started with a very positive momentum, and I’m confident that this positive, very positive momentum will be kept in order for us, for both sides, the EU and the Philippines, to deliver well and to deliver fast,” Santoro added.
The EU ambassador to the Philippines expressed such optimism on the progress of the talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) as he underscored that the Philippines is “only the sixth economic partner of the European Union among Asean countries.”
“We can do more. We can do more considering the potential and the size of the Philippine market and the resources of the country,” Santoro underscored.
The EU ambassador said the objective of the free trade deal is to bring bilateral economic ties between the EU and the Philippines to a “new higher level.”
“Through the FTA, we aim at facilitating not only merchandise trade, but also trade in services and to create more incentives for investment,” said Santoro.
While the trade and investment figures for the 2024 have not yet been released, Santoro said the bilateral exchanges between the 27-member bloc EU and the Philippines “are not at the level of our mutual ambitions.”
“We believe that the free trade agreement can serve as a catalyst for economic growth, benefiting businesses, workers and consumers on both sides,” Santoro said.
The EU ambassador to the Philippines said the 27-member bloc considers the Philippines as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific region. Moreover, he said the EU also sees the “significant” economic potential of the country.
Moving forward, however, Santoro said the EU will continue to “follow with interest” in the Philippines from a trade and investment perspective are the geopolitical situation in the region, the Ease of Doing Business environment and the “investment conditions.”
“The regulatory initiatives of the government are of relevance, together with their implementation and what European businesses experience on the ground. These are areas where my Delegation wants to continue to work closely with EU business and with the Philippines,” he added.
The Philippine negotiating team, with Trade Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty as the country’s chief trade negotiator for the PH-EU FTA, earlier told reporters that the Philippine negotiating team targets a conclusion of talks for the free trade deal with the EU by 2026. In 2023, the EU was the Philippines’ 5th largest trading partner, 6th export market and 6th import source.
Philippine exports to EU amounted to $8.37 billion while imports from the 27-member bloc reached $7.79 billion.
In 2023, the top Philippine exports to the EU were: electronics, semiconductors, coconut oil and tuna.
PHL’s proposed digital nomad visa seen boosting tourism and economic growth
TBy
Lorenz S. Marasigan
@lorenzmarasigan
he Philippines continues to build its case as a prime destination for digital nomads, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) expressing strong support for the proposed Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) during a Senate hearing Thursday.
Tourism Assistant Secretary Sharlene Zabala Batin said the bill, introduced by Senator Imee Marcos, has a huge potential to stamp the Philippines in the maps of digital nomads. Digital nomads are remote workers who use technology to perform their jobs while traveling and living in various locations around the world.
Citing findings from a United Nations tourism brief, Batin said the Philippines could become a key player in the emerging global market, while integrating tourism development with economic and cultural benefits.
She added that the proposed DNV
bill aligns with the DOT’s seven core objectives outlined in the National Tourism Plan. These include improving tourism infrastructure and accessibility, enhancing digitalization and connectivity, enriching the overall tourism experience, diversifying the tourism portfolio, and promoting equitable development of destinations.
Batin said the DOT sees the DNV as a strategic tool to boost the local economy while attracting a broader range of visitors, including pre-retirees and long-term travelers seeking warmer climates during winter.
By doing so, the DNV can extend the economic impact of tourism through sustained visitor spending.
“The benefit outweighs the cost,” Batin said, adding that digital nomads can contribute to local economies through their purchasing power while creating demand for infrastructure and services in underdeveloped areas.
To maximize the benefits, Batin said the DOT advocates promoting lesser-visited
destinations across the Philippines. With over 7,000 islands, the country offers countless opportunities to stimulate rural economies and extend the tourism season beyond peak periods.
Already, the Philippines is playing catch up with its peers in the Asean, as well as in e a st Asia. Batin highlighted that countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka have already introduced or are in the process of implementing similar digital nomad visa programs.
The Philippines, she argued, must not be left behind, especially as its natural assets make it a standout contender in the region.
Today, she said, surfing destination Siargao has established itself as a “haven” for digital nomads, leveraging Starlink’s satellite internet infrastructure.
Batin noted the recognition of the Philippines as a rising digital nomad hub by the Digital Nomad Global Community.
This distinction, combined with the
government’s focus on improving connectivity and promoting rural destinations, provides the country with a unique advantage to cater to this niche market.
“Digital nomad visas and similar longterm visas will significantly boost our tourism destinations by attracting a wider and more diverse range of visitors,” Batin said.
She emphasized, however, that with the right policies and infrastructure, the Philippines can leverage its appeal to become a top-of-mind destination for remote workers.
Under the proposed bill, once granted, the DNV allows its holder to stay in the Philippines for a year, with the option to renew for an additional year.
Importantly, visa holders will not be considered residents for tax purposes, ensuring their income remains untaxed locally as long as it originates outside the Philippines.
h o wever, digital nomads will be prohibited from seeking employment within the country.
Comelec seeks to ‘salvage’ 2.3-M parliamentary ballots
The Commission on e l ections
(Comelec) is exploring ways to
“salvage” 2.3 million parliamentary ballots from the initial batch of printed materials.
This announcement comes after the commission revealed it would need to reprint millions of ballots due to the Supreme Court’s issuance of temporary restraining orders (TROs) affecting some candidates.
Comelec Chairman George e r win M. Garcia clarified on Thursday that the ballots for the parliament polls were not directly affected by the TROs, which primarily
targeted candidates for national and local positions.
“The 2.3 million ballots for the parliament might still be spared and excluded from the destruction process,” he said in Filipino.
In compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive, Comelec is set to shred six million ballots that were printed prior to the issuance of the TROs. h o wever, if the parliamentary ballots—intended for the May 12 midterm elections—are excluded, only 3.7 million ballots would need to be destroyed. This adjustment would significantly
RTC junks yap’s plea to consolidate cases
data security.
Tlower the poll body’s estimated waste, initially pegged at P150 million.
“We guarantee that the original defective ballots will never be used in the upcoming May elections,” Garcia assured, underscoring the importance of eliminating public doubts about the integrity of the electoral process.
BARMM polls’ fate
Me A NW h I L e, the fate of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remains unclear.
Although the h o use of Representatives
filed against him by Vic Sotto
had already passed a bill seeking to postpone the polls, the measure is still pending in the Senate.
Despite the uncertainty, Comelec has earlier committed to continuing its preparations until a law formally delaying the elections is enacted.
Both the h o use and Senate filed separate bills in November proposing the deferment.
Advocates of the postponement argue that the region needs more time to address logistical and legal challenges, particularly after Sulu’s withdrawal from the BARMM.
Justine Xyrah Garcia
Laity group: Adolescent pregnancy prevention bill ‘diabolical in nature’
By Justine Xyrah Garcia
ALAIT y group urged the Senate to reject the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act of 2023, describing it as “diabolical in nature” and a threat to Filipino family values.
In a January 14 statement, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Laiko) praised Project Dalisay—an initiative of the National Coalition for the Family and the Constitution—for exposing provisions of the bill that allegedly diminish the role of parents in guiding their children.
“We commend Project Dalisay for sounding the alarm on the diabolical attack on the Filipino family. Diabolical because the true intentions of the authors were masked behind such a lofty title,” Laiko President Xavier S. Padilla said.
The group particularly pointed to a provision that would allow adolescents aged 10 to 19 to access sexual education and materials without parental consent. Padilla warned this could result in children receiving sexual materials and instruction confidentially, bypassing parental guidance.
“Adolescents who cannot vote or drive can now be taught and given access to sexual material without parental consent or information,” he said.
The Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act (Senate Bill 1979) was introduced in 2023 to address the growing number of teenage pregnancies in the country.
It includes provisions for age-appropriate and development-focused comprehensive sexuality education (CS e ) in schools, communities, and youth institutions.
The CS e curriculum aims to normalize discussions about adolescent sexuality and
reproductive health while removing stigma. h o wever, for Laiko, such measures should never come at the expense of parental rights.
The group argued that parents, not schools or the government, should have the primary role in teaching their children about sexuality and reproductive health Padilla also claimed that the Department of ed ucation (Dep ed ) had already begun promoting similar teachings through Dep ed Order No. 31, Series of 2018, which mandates the integration of CS e in public schools.
“We call on Dep e d to suspend [the] implementation of CS e [for] the Filipino people, and for the family,” Padilla added. Meanwhile, the bill itself outlines safeguards on parental involvement. Under Section 12, adolescents aged 15 and below may only access sexual and reproductive health services with the consent of a parent or legal guardian. e x ceptions are provided for minors who are survivors of sexual abuse or who have engaged in sexual activity, but such cases require approval from a licensed social worker or doctor. h o ntiveros, one of the bill’s proponents, dismissed on Wednesday the claims of Project Dalisay as “fake news.” She clarified that the bill does not seek to exclude parents but instead aims to address the country’s alarming rates of adolescent pregnancies in a manner consistent with the Constitution and Filipino values.
“ Walang batas o anumang polisiya sa Pilipinas ang magtatangkang magbawal sa mga magulang na gumabay sa ating mga anak. In short, I can confidently say: these outrageous claims from Project Dalisay were pulled out of thin air,” h o ntiveros said.
DOLe, IBPAP to help displaced POGO workers
WIT h the permanent closure of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country, the Department of Labor and e m ployment (DOL e ) announced on Wednesday that it will collaborate with the business process outsourcing industry to provide new opportunities for displaced workers.
Laguesma explained that the low turnout can be attributed to workers seeking new jobs with similar pay to what they earned at POGO operations.
Marahil namimili din sila ng trabaho, dahil iyong mga karamihan ng naio -offer kasi sa jobs fair ay iyong mga entry level positions eh ,” he added.
By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573
he Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City has rejected the plea of controversial director Darryl ya p to consolidate the petition for the writ of habeas data and the cyber libel complaint filed against him by actor-television host Vic Sotto over his film “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.” Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 Presiding Judge Liezel Aquiatan held that ya p’s petition lacks merit considering that the two cases are “inherently distinct in nature, purpose, jurisdiction, and procedure.”
The trial court explained that the writ of habeas data is a special civil action designed to protect an individual’s right to privacy and
“Its purpose is to allow the correction, deletion, destruction of malicious or false information,” it noted.
On the other hand, a criminal complaint for cyber libel, according to the court, is aimed at prosecuting the publication of defamatory statements online.
The criminal complaint, it added, seeks to establish probable cause and impose penalties for offense under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.
It further explained that a writ of habeas data is filed directly with a proper court while a criminal complaint for cyber libel begins with a preliminary investigation before the prosecutor’s office.
Furthermore, the trial court said habeas
DMW eyeing 1st bilateral accord with Finland on skilled workers
The D epartment of Migrant Workers (DMW) is eyeing to forge the country's first bilateral labor agreement (BLA) with Finland within the year.
This after DMW Secretary h a ns J. Cacdac and Finland Minister of economic Affairs and e m ployment Arto Olavi Sartonen signed a joint declaration of intent (JDI) for ethical and sustainable labor mobility of Filipino specialists and skilled workers last Thursday at the DMW main office in Mandaluyong City. Cacdac said the JDI will allow them to frequently meet with their counterparts in Finland to iron out the details of the BLA.
With the expected reopening of the Philippine embassy in h e lsinki, Finland this September, he expects the signing of the BLA can be fast-tracked.
"I am optimistic that it will happen this year. [This will allow] transparent and sustainable recruitment [to Finland] to happen," he told reporters in an interview after the JDI signing.
data proceedings are governed by the Rule on the Writ of h a beas Data, which provides for summary resolution of privacy-related matters while cyber libel complaints follow the procedural rules under the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure, which entails gathering of evidence and determining probable cause.
In light of this, the trial court reinstated the January 15, 2025 hearing on the writ of habeas data petition where ya p was ordered to submit his response.
The trial court reminded the parties anew to strictly adhere to its previous order for the parties to observe confidentiality of its proceedings in line with the sub judice rule.
The petition for the writ of habeas data was filed by Sotto following the release of the trailer of ya p’s upcoming movie titled
“The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” where the actor-television host’s name was explicitly mentioned
In his petition, Sotto sought to enjoin ya p and “all other persons acting on his behalf” from further disseminating to the public via all platforms all kinds of promotional materials relative to the said film which mention the personal information of the petitioner.
The actor-television host also asked the trial court to compel ya p to remove or take down from all platforms all promotional materials in connection to the movie; to produce and provide all personal information or sensitive information about him that ya p collected or processed in relation to the promotional materials of the file; and to suppress the processing, sharing or distribution of his personal information within the respondents’ control or those contained in their database.
In an interview with Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, DOL e Secretary Bienvenido e L aguesma revealed that the department has partnered with the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) to offer “higher-paying” jobs to those affected by the closures.
“ Nagbabago kami ngayon ng istratehiya in coordination with the business organization, particular itong IT Business Process Association of the Philippines, tinitingnan namin iyong mga trabaho sa kanila na medyo mas mataas ang antas ng suweldo o benepisyo para ma-engganyo iyong mga ‘ika nga ay naapektuhan ng closure,” he said.
Last December, DOL e reported that it had assisted a total of 1,465 individuals—roughly 3.6 percent of the 40,000 profiled workers who lost their jobs due to the POGO ban.
Under the Project DAPAT (DOLe Action Plan and Transition Project), job fairs will continue to be held, along with upskilling and retraining programs for workers whose current skills do not meet employer requirements. In addition to helping workers find new job opportunities, Laguesma emphasized that displaced workers can also apply for livelihood programs to start their own businesses. Under the program’s guidelines, individual applicants can receive up to P50,000 to help them begin their ventures. Meanwhile, those who are part of an association may claim P1 to P3 million.
“ Binigyan ng tagubilin ng ating Pangulo ang [Department of Tourism] na maging bahagi, mag convergence na tinatawag, tulungan iyong ating mga kababayan o mga manggagawa sa nasabing sector,” Laguesma said. Justine Xyrah Garcia
Sartonen welcomed the JDI since it will pave the way for Finland to open its doors to more migrants. h e said Finland is currently looking for more workers for its healthcare, tourism, and information and technology sector.
"This partnership reflects our commitment to ensuring sustainable and fair employment practices,” Sartonen said. h e noted Finland is a competitive destination for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in eu rope since migrant workers enjoy the same labor protection as locals. Migrant workers in Finland, he said, can earn at least 1,600 eu ros per month or about P96,456 and also have the opportunity to bring their families to the Nordic country. As of 2023, DMW said there are approximately 12,770 Filipino workers in Finland. Samuel P. Medenilla
Under the JDI, the Philippines and Finland agreed to promote sustainable labor mobility for Filipino professionals and skilled workers; protecting the rights and welfare of Filipino workers, including promoting the licensure of healthcare professionals to practice their respective professions in Finland; and combating exploitation and abuse in the context of international recruitment. It also has provisions for supporting employment opportunities and skills deployment and exploring the potential for negotiating and formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding on the mobility of Filipino specialists and skilled workers to Finland.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
Israel and Hamas agree to ceasefire, opening door to hostage releases and humanitarian aid in Gaza
By Najib Jobain, Samy Magdy & Josef Federman The Associated Press
DOHA, Qatar—Israel and Hamas have agreed to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, mediators announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.
The three-phase ceasefire deal promises the release of dozens of hostages held by militants in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and to allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It would also flood desperately needed humanitarian aid into the territory ravaged by 15 months of war, mediators said.
The prime minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said the ceasefire would go into effect Sunday and that its success would depend on Israel and Hamas “acting in good faith in order to ensure that this agreement does not collapse.” He spoke in the Qatari capital of Doha, the site of weeks of painstaking negotiations.
US President Joe Biden touted the deal from Washington, saying the ceasefire would stay in place as long as Israel and Hamas remain at the negotiating table over a long-term truce. Biden credited months of “dogged and painstaking American diplomacy” for landing the deal, noting that his administration and President-elect Donald Trump’s team had been “speaking as one” in the latest negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Wednesday that the ceasefire agreement with Hamas was still not complete and final details were being worked out.
An Israeli official familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity said those details center on confirming the list of Palestinian prisoners to be freed. Any agreement must be approved by Netanyahu’s Cabinet.
Netanyahu thanked Trump and Biden for “advancing” the ceasefire agreement, but did not explicitly say whether he has accepted it, saying he would issue a formal response only “after the final details of the agreement, which are currently being worked on, are completed.”
His measured reaction may reflect domestic politics. Netanyahu’s governing coalition depends on the support of two hardline factions whose leaders have threatened to leave the government over the planned release of Palestinian prisoners. Although opposition leaders have vowed to support the ceasefire deal, the loss of his hardline allies could
lead to the collapse of the coalition and trigger early elections.
Early Thursday morning, Netanyahu’s office issued a statement accusing Hamas of backtracking on an earlier understanding that he said would give Israel a veto over which prisoners accused of murder would be released. Netanyahu said he told the negotiators to stand firm on the earlier agreement. Hamas did not immediately respond.
Earlier, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on Netanyahu’s government to approve the ceasefire in a nationally televised speech. Hamas said in a statement the ceasefire was “the result of the legendary resilience of our great Palestinian people and our valiant resistance in the Gaza Strip.”
Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and the US are to meet in Cairo on Thursday for talks on implementing the deal, according to a senior US official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Once the first phase of the deal takes effect, it is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting along with the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.
Over those six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though it’s unclear if all are alive. It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to their homes, and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza—key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives.
Many longer-term questions about postwar Gaza remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has destabilized the broader Middle East and sparked worldwide protests.
Hamas triggered the war with its October 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 in Israel and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.
More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023.
The US, along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, after more than
a year of conflict linked to the war in Gaza.
UN and international relief organizations estimate some 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that famine may be underway in northern Gaza.
Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, called the ceasefire deal “the best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people. ... Thank God. Thank God.”
Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and has been sheltering in Gaza City, said he hopes to return and to rebuild his home. As he spoke to AP by phone, his voice was overshadowed by the celebrations of fellow Gazans.
“People are crying here. They don’t believe it’s true,” he said. In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages, others hoisted candles in the air.
As the deal was announced, some people were unaware it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but won’t believe it until she sees all the hostages come home.
“I’m so desperate to see them, if by some miracle my father has survived,” she said.
The Hostage Families Forum, which has long pressed Israeli leaders to make a deal that would bring the captives home, said it welcomed Wednesday’s announcement with joy and relief.
“After 460 days of our family members being held in Hamas tunnels, we are closer than ever to reuniting with our loved ones,” it said in a statement.
Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths in Gaza, announced the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework.
He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day.
The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.
Hamas had been demanding assurances of a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.
With Biden’s days in office numbered and Trump set to take over, both sides had been under pressure to agree to a deal.
PALESTINIANS celebrate the announcement of a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. AP/ABDEL KAREEM HANA
Lawyers of detained South Korean president say he will reject questioning by investigators
By Kim Tong-Hyung The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea—Lawyers
representing South Korea’s impeached president said Thursday he will refuse further questioning after being detained by anti-corruption officials over his ill-fated declaration of martial law last month, maintaining that the investigation is illegal.
the detention warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court is invalid and have asked the Seoul Central District Court to consider his release.
The clock for the arrest warrant is on hold while the court reviews his petition, which can take up to 48 hours. There is a possibility that Yoon could attend a hearing at the Central District Court as part of the review. Court records showed that the hearing was set for 5 p.m. Thursday, indicating that the decision could come sometime during the evening.
with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberating on whether to formally remove Yoon from office or reject the charges and reinstate him.
UK’s Starmer pledges 100-year security partnership with Ukraine amidst uncertainty over US support
By Jill Lawless
The Associated Press
KYIV, Ukraine—British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Thursday with a pledge to help guarantee the country’s security for a century, days before Donald Trump is sworn in as US president.
President Yoon Suk Yeol exercised his right to remain silent as he underwent more than 10 hours of questioning on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, following a massive law enforcement operation to detain him at his official residence in Seoul. Investigators are expected to move to place him under arrest in the coming days.
The anti-corruption agency, which is leading a joint investigation with the police and the military over whether Yoon’s martial law declaration amounted to attempted rebellion, has 48 hours either to request a court order for his formal arrest or to release him. Yoon’s lawyers have argued that
Yoon set off the country’s most serious political crisis since its democratization in the late 1980s when he attempted to break through gridlock in legislation by declaring martial law and deploying troops around the National Assembly on Dec. 3. The standoff lasted only hours before lawmakers managed to get through the blockade and voted to lift the measure.
His presidential powers were suspended when the oppositiondominated assembly voted to impeach him on Dec. 14, accusing him of rebellion. His fate now rests
Yoon and his allies have defied efforts to investigate his role in the chaos of Dec. 3. He ignored requests to appear for questioning for weeks, remaining in his official residence to avoid detention as his lawyers turned away police, citing a law that protects locations potentially linked to military secrets from search without the consent of the person in charge—Yoon himself. They also said that the anticorruption agency had no legal authority to investigate rebellion allegations.
Yoon also resisted one attempt to detain him as the presidential security service barricaded the residence. He was finally brought into custody after hundreds of anti-corruption investigators and police raided the presidential compound for some five hours in a second attempt.
In a video message recorded shortly before he was escorted to the headquarters of the anticorruption agency, Yoon lamented that the “rule of law has completely collapsed in this country.” He echoed the arguments of his lawyers that the anti-corruption agency does not have the authority to investigate his actions, but said he accepted detention to prevent violence.
The Constitutional Court rejected a request by Yoon’s lawyers to postpone a hearing on his case scheduled for Thursday. It remains possible for Yoon to exercise his right to attend, even while under detention.
If a court grants a warrant for Yoon’s formal arrest, the anticorruption investigators can extend his detention to 20 days, during which it will transfer the case to public prosecutors for an indictment.
If prosecutors indict Yoon on the possible charges of rebellion and abuse of power, he could remain under arrest until the first court ruling, which is typically made within six months, said Park Sung-bae, an attorney specializing in criminal law. Under South Korean law, the leader of a rebellion can face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted.
Continued from A7
Trump celebrated the agreement, posting on his Truth Social social media platform: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”
Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, said Biden deserves praise for continuing to push the talks. But Trump’s threats to Hamas and his efforts to “cajole” Netanyahu deserve credit as well.
“The ironic reality is that at a time of heightened partisanship even over foreign policy, the deal represents how much more powerful and influential US foreign policy can be when it’s bipartisan,” Panikoff said.
Hezbollah’s acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks for Iran and its allies across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated.
Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel says it has killed around 17,000
The British government says Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will sign a “100-Year Partnership” treaty in Kyiv covering areas including defense, science, energy and trade.
Starmer’s unannounced visit is his first trip to Ukraine since he took office in July. He visited the country in 2023 when he was opposition leader, and has twice held talks with Zelenskyy in London since becoming prime minister.
On a gray and frosty morning, Starmer was greeted at Kyiv railway station by the U.K. ambassador to Ukraine, Martin Harris, and Ukraine’s envoy to London, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
The UK, one of Ukraine’s biggest military backers, has pledged 12.8 billion pounds ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, and has trained more than 50,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil. Starmer is to announce another 40 million pounds ($49 million) for Ukraine’s postwar economic recovery.
But the UK’s role is dwarfed by that of the United States, and there is deep uncertainty over the fate of American support for Ukraine once Trump takes office on Jan. 20. The president-elect has balked at the cost of US aid to Kyiv, says he wants to bring the war to a swift end and is planning to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, for whom he has long expressed admiration.
Kyiv’s allies have rushed to flood Ukraine with as much support as possible before Trump’s inauguration, with the aim of putting Ukraine in the strongest position possible for any future negotiations to end the war.
Zelenskyy has said that in any peace negotiation, Ukraine would need assurances about its future protection from its much bigger neighbor.
The deal commits the two sides to cooperate on defense—especially maritime security against Russian activity in the Batlic Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov—and on technology projects including drones, which have become vital weapons for both sides in the war. The treaty also includes a system to help track stolen Ukrainian grain exported by Russia from occupied parts of the country.
“Putin’s ambition to wrench Ukraine away from its closest partners has been a monumental strategic failure. Instead, we are closer than ever, and this partnership will take that friendship to the next level,” Starmer said ahead of the visit.
“This is not just about the here and now, it is also about an investment in our two countries for the next century, bringing together technology development, scientific advances and cultural exchanges, and harnessing the phenomenal innovation shown by Ukraine in recent years for generations to come.” Zelenskyy says he and Starmer also will discuss a plan proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron that would see troops from France and other Western countries stationed in Ukraine to oversee a ceasefire agreement.
Zelenskyy has said any such proposal should go alongside a timeline for Ukraine to join NATO. The alliance’s 32 member countries say that Ukraine will join one day, but not until after the war. Trump has appeared to sympathize with Putin’s position that Ukraine should not be part of NATO.
As the grinding war nears the three-year mark, both Russia and Ukraine are pushing for battlefield gains ahead of possible peace talks. Ukraine has started a second offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, where it is struggling to hang onto a chunk of territory it captured last year, and has stepped up drone and missile attacks on weapons sites and fuel depots inside Russia. Moscow is slowly taking territory at the cost of high casualties along the 600-mile (1,000-kilometer) front line in eastern Ukraine and launching intense barrages at Ukraine’s energy system, seeking to deprive Ukrainians of heat and light in the depths of winter. A major Russian ballistic and cruise missile attack on regions across Ukraine on Wednesday compelled authorities to shut down the power grid in some areas.
Britain says its 100-year pledge is part of that assurance and will help ensure Ukraine is “never again vulnerable to the kind of brutality inflicted on it by Russia,” which seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and attempted a full-scale invasion in February 2022.
militants—though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing it of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes.
The International Court of Justice is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide.
The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague, has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war.
Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts. Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas.
Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader.
Hamas, a militant group that does not accept Israel’s existence, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gaza’s largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders, including Yahya Sinwar, who was believed to have helped mastermind the October 7, 2023, attack, have been killed.
But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues. Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if it’s even possible, given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership. Both sides still face many difficult and unanswered questions.
Federman reported from Jerusalem. Magdy reported from Cairo. Fatma
Biden warns in farewell address that
By Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian & Colleen Long The Associated Press
ASHINGTON—President Joe Biden
Wused his farewell address to the nation Wednesday to deliver stark warnings about an “oligarchy” of the ultrawealthy taking root in the country and a “tech-industrial complex” that is infringing on Americans’ rights and the future of democracy.
Speaking from the Oval Office as he prepares to hand over power Monday to President-elect Donald Trump, Biden seized what is likely to be his final opportunity to address the country before he departs the White House to spotlight the accumulation
of power and wealth in the US among just a small few.
“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said, drawing attention to “a dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a few ultra-wealthy people and the dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.”
Invoking President Dwight Eisenhower’s warnings about the rise of a military-industrial complex when he left office in 1961, Biden added, “I’m equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech-industrial complex that could pose real dangers to our country as well.”
‘oligarchy’
Biden used his 15-minute address to offer a model for a peaceful transfer of power and— without mentioning Trump by name—raise concerns about his successor.
It marked a striking admonition by Biden, who is departing the national stage after more than 50 years in public life, as he has struggled to define his legacy and to steel the country against the return of Trump to the Oval Office. This time, the president, who has repeatedly called Trump a threat to the nation’s system of governance, went even further, warning Americans to be on guard for their freedoms and their institutions during a turbulent era of rapid technological and economic change.
Biden sounded the alarm about oligarchy as some of the world’s richest individuals and
of
ultrarich
in US threatens future of democracy
titans of its technology industry have flocked to Trump’s side in recent months, particularly after his November victory. Billionaire Elon Musk spent more than $100 million helping Trump get elected, and executives like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos have donated to Trump’s inaugural committee and made pilgrimages to Trump’s private club in Florida for audiences with the president-elect as they seek to ingratiate themselves with his administration and shape its policies.
Biden’s speech in the Oval Office is the latest in a series of remarks on domestic policy and foreign relations he has delivered that are intended to cement his legacy and reshape Americans’ grim views on his term. Earlier in the day, he heralded a long awaited ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which
could end more than a year of bloodshed in the Middle East.
“It’ll take time to feel the full impact of what we’ve done together but the seeds are planted and they’ll grow and they’ll bloom for decades to come,” Biden said. It was a tacit acknowledgement that many Americans say they have yet to feel the impact of his trillions of dollars spent on domestic initiatives.
At the same time that Biden was criticizing social media companies for retreating from fact-checking on their platforms, Trump’s incoming communications director and press secretary were sharing posts on X that falsely claimed the president had delivered a prerecorded speech. Biden has blamed his poor standing with the public on misinformation on social media and the challenges he has faced
reaching voters in the disaggregated modern media ecosystem.
Biden offered his own set of solutions for the problems that he laid out: change the tax code to ensure billionaires “pay their fair share,” eliminate the flow of hidden sources of money into political campaigns, establish 18year term limits for members of the Supreme Court and ban members of Congress from trading stocks. His policy prescriptions come as his political capital is at its nadir as Biden prepares to exit the national stage, and after he has done little to advance those causes during his four years in power at the White House. Federal Reserve data shows the wealthiest 0.1 percent of the country combined holds more than five times the wealth of the bottom 50 percent combined.
As flames linger, talk turns to rebuilding LA neighborhoods leveled by wildfires
By Michael R. Blood & Jaimie Ding
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES—Staggered after one of the most destructive natural disasters in Southern California history, thousands of heartbroken families, burnedout business owners and beleaguered leaders across Los Angeles County are beginning to ponder another monumental task: rebuilding what was lost and charting a path forward.
Alex Rosewood and nearly her entire family in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles, lost their homes—her father, whom she and her husband were living with, and her aunt, uncle and cousin next door.
Lost were the keepsakes of a lifetime of family relationships: Rosewood’s grandmother’s playing cards and unfinished quilt. Her wedding photos. Heirlooms from her grandfather, who served in the Navy. All things she wished she could have saved in their frantic flight as smoke turned the sky gray and her cousin’s house began to catch fire. But Altadena remains home.
“We all plan to rebuild, for sure,” she said. The traumatized region made it through Wednesday without another major fire breaking out, after forecasters had warned of another round of particularly dangerous winds. Yet even with flames still leaping in two
of the largest fires, which have killed 25 and destroyed more than 12,000 structures, government officials talked Wednesday of the epic job that will unspool over years: clearing Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other ravaged communities of toxic ash and debris, then rebuilding homes, restaurants, schools, boutiques, banks and houses of worship—all while finding financing for it all.
Because of the ongoing firefighting battle and the likelihood of dangerous refuse in burned areas, many anxious residents have yet to return to see what, if anything, is left of their homes. The losses range from multimillion-dollar ocean-view mansions to modest homes that once welcomed returning World War II GIs.
While talking of rebuilding can be a comfort for those eager for a return to normalcy, much remains unknown.
What will the new neighborhoods look like? Will fire-resistant materials and designs be used? Are more and wider roads needed to allow swifter evacuations and easier access for fire engines during future infernos?
In the coveted seaside hills, there always is the impulse to rebuild after fires—it’s happened many times. But there are inevitable questions about whether it’s sensible to keep rebuilding in known high-risk areas, especially in an age of climate change.
“It’s going to be a while before we can
get in there and build anything,” said Michael Hricak, an adjunct professor of architecture at the University of Southern California., referring to the dangerous chemicals and rubble left behind.
As for new construction, “it’s not being tougher than Mother Nature. It’s being somewhat respectful of Mother Nature and knowing what the challenges are.”
“Are we just inviting another problem down the road?” Hricak said.
The fires struck at a challenging time, with the city in the midst of a post-pandemic
transition that has reordered work life and left many downtown buildings with high vacancy rates.
Meanwhile, planning is underway to host the 2028 Olympics and the region contends with perhaps the nation’s worst homeless crisis—the latter had been Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ priority before the fires broke out last week.
The government has not yet released damage estimates, but private firms expect they will climb into the tens of billions and it could become the costliest fire disaster in
US history.
The Northern California community of Paradise, where the state’s deadliest wildfire killed 85 people in 2018, offers a glimpse into how painstaking and difficult recovery and rebuilding can be.
That fire destroyed about 11,000 homes— some 90% of the community’s structures.
Four years later, as of last November, just about 3,000 homes and apartments have been rebuilt.
The town, which previously a population of 26,000, has struggled under high construction costs, expensive insurance premiums and the uncertainty over funds to be paid to people who lost homes by Pacific Gas & Electric, which was found liable for sparking the devastating blaze.
In Los Angeles—a city notorious for dense layers of bureaucracy and government red tape—Bass issued an executive order this week intended to clear the way for residents to rebuild quickly.
“As we prepare to make it through the rest of this emergency, we also have to start putting in place what we need to do to rebuild,” the mayor said Wednesday. The federal government already has approved spending $100 million to remove paints, cleaners, asbestos, batteries and other household waste from the rubble before crews can begin clearing debris. Robert Fenton Jr., a regional administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, called
the plan a first step to getting people back in homes.
Elsewhere, the agency is handing out assistance to help people with short-term lodging.
Peter Dolan, who lived in Santa Monica, said he and his best friend both lost their apartments on the same day. They visited the disaster recovery center together to figure out their next steps.
“This is what I got,” the 55-year-old said, pointing to his outfit: a leather jacket, shorts and sneakers, the clothes he had on the day the flames hit.
Dolan didn’t have renter’s insurance, but he was able to apply for FEMA assistance and thinks he’ll get $750 and possibly his stay at a hotel covered for a few months.
Michele Baron and her daughter were among those who came to a recovery center in West Los Angeles to figure out how to get new birth certificates and social security cards.
Baron lost nearly everything when her Pacific Palisades apartment of 21 years burned to the ground. Her daughter made her way back to the property and salvaged a ring and pottery she made as a child. Despite the trauma, the plan is to stay put. “Now that can go anywhere, I kind of don’t want to,” Baron said.
The Associated Press writer Olga R. Rodriguez in San Francisco contributed.
FIREFIGHTER walks toward a burning structure as the Eaton Fire advances Tuesday, January 7, 2025, in Altadena, California. AP/ETHAN SWOPE
It’s time to put the motorcycle taxi bill into high gear
The recent Senate hearing on the motorcycle taxi bill has reignited calls for immediate legislative action, and rightly so. For far too long, the sector has been stuck in neutral, leaving riders and commuters in limbo. The data from the pilot program has spoken loud and clear: motorcycle taxis have a critical role to play in alleviating the country’s urban mobility woes. (Read the BusinessMirror story, “Solons: Time to end ‘pilot,’ motorcycle taxis needed,” January 14, 2025).
As Senator Grace Poe so aptly put it, “our tank is full” and it’s time to put the years of work into motion. The Motorcycle Taxi Community Philippines (MTCP) has been vocal in their demands for a clear regulatory framework, and it’s hard to disagree. Legalizing the service would not only improve urban mobility but also secure the livelihoods of riders and enhance commuter safety.
The pilot study, launched in 2019, has demonstrated the sector’s potential to provide faster and more affordable transportation for commuters. The data collected has been overwhelming, and it’s time to put it to good use. The program has shown that motorcycle taxis can address urban mobility challenges, including traffic congestion and the lack of sufficient public transportation options.
The absence of a formal legal framework has left the service in a state of regulatory limbo, hindering its long-term growth and integration into the public transportation system. It’s unacceptable that riders and commuters have been left to navigate this uncertainty for so long.
Moreover, the issue of discounts for senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) must be addressed. It’s unfair that drivers are shouldering the burden of these discounts, leading to them avoiding these types of passengers. The proposal to let transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) companies shoulder the discounts is a step in the right direction.
It is crucial to recognize that regulating motorcycle taxis is not merely about formalizing a service; it is about adapting to the evolving needs of Filipino commuters. The pandemic has reshaped how people navigate urban spaces, and the government must respond with policies that reflect these changes. The motorcycle taxi sector has proven its resilience and capacity to meet demand, and it is time for lawmakers to harness this potential through appropriate legislation. The journey toward a regulatory framework for motorcycle taxis has been long and fraught with challenges, but the time for action is now. With a wealth of data at their disposal and a growing consensus on the importance of this service, lawmakers have the opportunity to craft a policy that not only addresses the needs of the commuting public but also supports the livelihoods of those who provide this essential service.
As Senator Raffy Tulfo promised, “I’ll do everything” to ensure the passage of the measure. We hold him to that promise. Commuters deserve better transportation options. It would do well for the Senate Public Services Committee to fast-track the measure and work towards crafting a bill that is dynamic and responsive to the needs of the commuting public.
Third doctor referral not required due to lack of a CDP final medical assessment
LPinoy Marino Rights
ack of a final medical assessment from the company-designated physician (cDP) negates the need to comply with the third doctor referral provision on seafarer’s disability claims.
This was the ruling of the Supreme Court in Pacific Ocean Manning, Inc. v. Nicolas Bobiles (GR 259982 October 28, 2024) in connection with a seafarer who was medically repatriated due to back injury.
A month after the seafarer embarked on the vessel, on January 27, 2017, while the seafarer was lifting the equipment (welded pumps) to be fixed in the work area, he felt something that snapped his back nerves. The impact caused pain, which radiated from his shoulder down to his waist.
The seafarer was later medically repatriated on February 28, 2017, he was diagnosed to have suffered severe injury on his lumbar spine.
total permanent disability claiming that he lost the possibility of being employed as a seafarer as he cannot tolerate the pain because of the injury.
The respondents moved for the dismissal of the case arguing, among others, that there was complete refusal on the part of seafarer to have the matter referred to a third doctor.
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the seafarer.
The Court stressed that referral to a third doctor is mandatory when: (1) there is a valid and timely assessment by the companydesignated physician, and (2) the seafarer-appointed doctor refuted such assessment.
manent disability benefits claims:
1. The CDP must issue a final medical assessment on the seafarer’s disability grading within a period of 120 days from the time the seafarer reported to him;
2. If the CDP fails to give assessment within the period of 120 days, without any justifiable reason, then the seafarer’s disability becomes permanent and total;
3. lf the CDP fails to give assessment within the period of 120 days with a sufficient justification (e.g. seafarer required further medical treatment or seafarer was uncooperative), then the period of diagnosis and treatment shall be extended to 240 days. The employer has the burden to prove that the CDP has sufficient justification to extend the period; and
4. If the CDP still fails to give assessment within the extended period of 240 days, then the seafarer’s disability becomes permanent and total, regardless of any justification.
In the instant case, the CDP only issued the disability assessment on September 4, 2017 or 188 days after the seafarer was repatriated, and did not explain why he did not issue it within the original 120-day period.
observing the seafarer to be suffering from low back pain and stiffness and referring him to the physiatrist, advised him to continue his physical therapy and medications and to return for re-evaluation, shows that the seafarer required further medical treatment, thus justifying the extension.
While the CDP issued a “final” disability assessment of Grade 11 on September 4, 2017 i.e., within the extended period, a medical certificate of even date reveals that such assessment was not yet final.
A CDP’s medical assessment is not final when there is a contemporaneous finding by said physician that the employee requires further treatment or reevaluation.
Failure of the CDP to issue a final and valid assessment transforms the temporary total disability to permanent total disability, regardless of the disability grade.
Hence, it was unnecessary for the seafarer to even refer the findings of the CDP to his own doctor. The conflict-resolution mechanism only takes effect if the CDP issues a valid and definite medical assessment.
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In the medical report dated June 14, 2017, the CDP advised the seafarer to continue his physical therapy and medications and to return for reevaluation on June 30, 2017.
The CDP issued on September 4, 2017 the final disability assessment of Grade 11 (slight rigidity or 1/3 loss of lifting power of the trunk).
The seafarer filed a case for
A seafarer’s compliance with the POEA Standard Employment Contract (SEC) conflict resolution procedure presupposes that the CDP came up with an assessment as to their fitness to work before the expiration of the 120- or 240-day periods.
In Elburg Shipmgt Phils., Inc. v. Quiogue, Jr. (GR 211882, July 29, 2015), the Supreme Court laid down the rules for seafarer total and per-
There was likewise no allegation that the seafarer was uncooperative during his treatment, which would otherwise justify an extension of the period to 240 days.
Despite the therapies the seafarer underwent from April 22, 2017 to May 18, 2017, he showed no favorable prognosis, hence, the therapy needed extension.
The fact that the CDP, after
Economics and the opposition
SDr. Leonardo A. Lanzona, Jr.
EAGLE WATCH
Ince the assumption of President Rodrigo Duterte into office in 2016, the opposition has lost every major election. as the 2025 elections draw near, the same story will likely happen again.
Various explanations have been made. One that has endured is the idea that the opposition party has become so elitist that it has lost touch with the average Filipino. Opposition leaders often advocate for progressive policies, such as anti-dynasty laws, human rights protection, and anti-corruption measures. While these policies are well-intentioned, they are sometimes framed in tech-
nocratic or academic language that fails to resonate with grassroots voters. As typified by the Ocho Diretso campaign of 2019, the opposition’s messaging often leans toward moral superiority, portraying themselves as the “better” or “more ethical” choice, which can alienate voters who feel as though they are being looked down upon.
By contrast, Mr. Duterte positioned himself as anti-elite and anti-establishment, calling out Manila-centric politics and portraying himself as the voice of the provinces. In the last presidential election, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. capitalized on resentment toward the traditional elite, portraying the Opposition Party as part of an elitist system that supposedly failed to deliver real improvements to the lives of ordinary Filipinos. At the background of this argument is President Benigno Aquino’s legacy of strong economic growth, but whose benefits were not widely distributed across regions and sectors. Ironically, the previous and current administrations have been dominated by political dynasties, while portraying the opposition as elitist and presenting themselves as champions of the masses. This irony highlights a classic populist
The lack of a conclusive, valid final and definite medical assessment from the CDP negates the need to comply with the POEA-SEC third doctor referral provision, and the law steps in to consider the seafarer’s disability as total and permanent.
Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09088665786.
tactic: framing “old elites” as the enemy, even though the current ruling class is made up of entrenched political dynasties whose personal interests are weighed greater than social benefits. However, if the opposition intends to make a dent in the next election, it should not use the issue of dynasties as its main concern. In fact, it seems that voters are not even concerned about whoever runs for office. Regardless of the priorities set in the budget, people will vote for whoever gives them money for food and promises them a short-term job. Taking the moral high ground would be ineffective for the opposition, as the problem is economic in nature. People are concerned about inflation and jobs, not by the personalities and backgrounds of candidates. See “Eagle Watch,” A13
Dennis Gorecho
Saving religion China hackers broke into 400-plus Treasury PCs, report says
By Jake Bleiberg & Jamie Tarabay
Ch I N ese state-sponsored hackers who breached the Us treasury Department got into more than 400 laptop and desktop computers, taking particular interest in the machines of staff and senior leaders focused on sanctions, international affairs and intelligence, according to an agency report reviewed by Bloomberg News.
The hackers accessed employee usernames and passwords, as well as more than 3,000 files on unclassified personal computers, the report said. That included policy and travel documents, organizational charts, material on sanctions and foreign investment, and “Law Enforcement Sensitive” data. The perpetrators likely stole material but appear not to have gotten into Treasury’s classified or e-mail systems, according to the findings.
The hackers also got access to material on investigations run by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews the national security implications of some real estate purchases and foreign investments in the US.
The report, which is dated Wednesday and addressed to members of Congress, offers the fullest picture to date of what US officials say was a foreign rival’s intrusion into an agency central to managing the national debt, issuing sanctions and shaping US economic policy. There’s no evidence that the hackers tried to lurk in Treasury’s systems for longer-term intelligence gathering, the report states, adding that there was no evidence of malware on the compromised devices.
Treasury spokesperson Chris Hayden declined to comment Wednesday. FBI representatives didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
On December 8, software contractor BeyondTrust Corp. notified the Treasury that the department had been breached through a hack of the company’s networks. The department reported the breach to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency within an hour of confirming it, the report states, and later sought help from the FBI, intelligence agencies and other incident response groups.
Investigators attributed the hack to a Chinese state-sponsored actor known among cybersecurity professionals as Silk Typhoon and UNC5221, according to the report. They found that the hackers prioritized the collection of documents and operated outside of normal
Eagle
Watch. . . continued from A12
For its strategy, the Marcos administration candidates will ignore the facts and highlight the presumed sterling economic performance of the government, portraying themselves as the stewards of this economic progress. Promising various reforms needed, the administration slate will highlight the soundness and effectiveness of its policies. At the same time, these dynasties will exploit the existing economic despairing conditions front and center by offering people money and promising them lower prices and declining unemployment.
The opposition will thus need to differentiate its economic program from the administration if it wants to be involved in easing the pain of the general public. There are many ways it can do to distinguish its economic program from the government. First, regional development, in terms of removing inequalities in productivity and technology access, needs to be emphasized not only to remove the impression that the opposition is urban centric, but also to create the necessary foundation for decreasing prices. Second, the role of investments (including in-
Lworking hours to avoid detection, the report said.
Chinese officials have long denied US allegations of state-sponsored cyberattacks, and a Foreign Ministry spokesperson last month called the claims that it was behind the Treasury hack “unwarranted and groundless.”
The hackers accessed a total of 419 computers from late September through mid-November and took primary interest in the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the report states. It says they also focused on “certain senior officials” in the Treasury Department’s front office and also took employees’ personal financial documents, banking and insurance records.
Counterintelligence officials are still conducting a “comprehensive damage assessment,” the report states.
Treasury employees are set to brief staff for the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on Thursday, a Senate aide told Bloomberg News. Republican Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina, who chairs the committee, had originally asked the briefing to occur by January 10. Treasury first informed Congress of the breach in a December 30 letter, characterizing it as a “major cybersecurity incident.”
After learning of the breach, Treasury staff disconnected BeyondTrust’s systems, which remain offline, according to the agency. The Johns Creek, Georgia-based company holds contracts with the federal government worth more than $4 million, according to government data compiled by Bloomberg.
In its report to Congress, Treasury said it was looking at alternatives to BeyondTrust. “While Treasury has no immediate knowledge of hygienic failures that may have contributed to the compromise of BeyondTrust, we believe we should examine the marketplace,” the report states.
BeyondTrust didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bloomberg
frastructure) and capital accumulation should diminish in favor of greater skills, better education, and improved health. Third, the role of cash transfers or “ayuda” should diminish, underscoring instead programs that will remove the dependency of people from these cash subsidies, which only serve to strengthen these dynasties. While, indeed, the political dynasties pose as a major threat to society, the opposition should not highlight political reforms as seen in previous opposition campaigns. The issue is not the inevitable dynasties, but the inability of the opposition to design economic strategies that can either limit inflation or increase the number of high-quality jobs. To counteract the government campaign strategies, the opposition should thus create a clear alternative program that addresses these pressing needs with a view towards weakening both the political and economic power of these dynasties. More importantly, they should communicate simply but effectively the program so that the voters can see a higher-level economic condition where they are the masters of their fate.
annoTaTions
ast Monday, the 13th of January, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) collected a million plus of its believers to stage a peace rally. Days before the said event, there were statements made by other religious groups—we would like to assume that they did not belong to INC—and they were vociferously strong positions. they followed the same strand—a religion should not be used to prop up corrupt politicians. a variant of this thesis stated how if a religion sides with evil, then it has no business being called a religion.
The reverse of said rally presupposes a secular ceremony; in other words, when politics want to be heard, the medium should be political and not spiritual.
Religion being one of the most contentious themes in our lives, we could go on talking about how religion cannot be used to rally the collective behind issues. But why? How does one draw a line between a decision reached by the soul through a spiritual exercise and that processed by a person in whose body resides all ideas and ideologies about who has power and who has the right to wield the said power.
What bothered most of us about the INC rally? The sheer number gathered under the same blue sky presupposes a herd, an unthinking crowd or masses. That those people were uncritical and they were there because they were regimented to follow the dictum of their leader. What is implied and, with fear that I am placing a dominant religion always against the INC, is that we Roman Catholics are more imbued with a self-reflexive nature and that we have always been freer to decide on our own.
That fear may be founded after all with photographs showing the same political suspects—pundits from the opposite side of the fence—using the crowd and the massive number (a million is a serious number) to shamelessly proffer their own candi-
Ruby
Franke:
dacy or, at least, attempt to increase their popularity.
The truth is religion or the idea of a sect or cult or movement has always figured in human histories. In recent history, we can cite the EDSA People Power, where the presence of thousands of people gathered on the highway marked a new form of might. Power was defined by people and not people possessing power. The strength was embedded in that mass, in the aggrupation. Idealized perhaps but valid was the analysis that class distinction became blurred in those days that people were on the highway.
When the dictator finally fled, the corresponding analysis rendered the said phenomenon less simplistic. The intervention of the US became clearer. The statues from the Lady of Fatima up to the great icon, La Naval de Manila, that were earlier apprehended as harbingers of miraculous powers were seen as fulfilling another role—they gathered people around and behind them.
What these examples and more are indicating is not so much that we are able to exploit the greatness of religion but that religions in their elementary and complex forms are possible sources of change. Religion can cause revolution; it can bring about upheavals. Any result from said chaos is expected to benefit at least one party, or individual.
What politician shall refuse the fruits of such an exercise? What be-
liever can deny himself of the strategies that religion is able to conceal?
While revolution or coup d’etat spells irrationality and violence, a religious gathering, a procession that ends with a priest or pastor exhorting people to change and subliminally drive home a certain agenda has the friendliness of peace signs.
Any gathering that is imbued with the scent of religion is able to generate what Victor Turner dubbed as “communitas.” This is an unstructured space where everyone is equal or made to feel equal. There is a feeling of humility that is transitory. It is as if everyone has shared a rite of passage and they are all coming out of this liminal or undefined state.
The potency of religion or religious ceremony is such that everyone feels he is changed or reformed to be able to act upon something.
All fired up, with tension rising high, the crowd in the communitas can be urged to do anything. Think of Valentin de los Santos and Lapiang Malaya (literally “Freedom Party”)
whose members were from Southern Luzon. The Bicolano cult leader inspired his followers to march to Malacañang but were stopped by the Philippine Constabulary in March 1967 along Taft Avenue. Armed only with bolos and some bearing anting-anting or amulets, they charged against the guns of the government soldiers. People mocked them but they were fighting for freedom, justice and equality with de los Santos having convinced them he was in dialogue with Bathala and the promised return of Rizal. As with all forms of millenarian movements that anticipate the coming of the Redeemer or Hero, religious convergence when utilized for nonreligious acts can marshal enough dynamism hitherto unseen. Then and there, people will heed when the trumpets begin to sound and the faithful will see their own religion saved from the merely devotional to the materially substantial.
E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com
From mommy blogger to child abuser
aN alarming rate of 58.8 percent of Filipino children aged 1 to 14 years have experienced violent discipline. this highlights the prevalence of child abuse in the Philippines, where physical punishment is supported by almost 12 percent of adults.
Child abuse is a crime that warrants tougher penalties because of its long-lasting effects on victims. It destroys lives and could torment victims for years. Perpetrated by parents or caregivers, violence against children must be stopped or reported to authorities. It is difficult to comprehend how adults who are supposed to protect and nurture children end up hurting them.
In 2023, a disturbing case of child abuse hit the headlines in the US with the arrest of famous vlogger Ruby Franke. Her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers,” focuses on parenting tips, discipline, and child-rearing, and she has over 2.3 million subscribers. Her six children with husband Kevin Franke practically grew up in front of the camera with daily posts. As with most social media accounts, curated online posts often obscure reality. People tend to put only the best things about themselves on social media, and Ruby is no exception. Her seemingly perfect parenting style was, in fact, extreme.
Some viewers took note of the red flags and even filed a petition on Change.org, requesting an investigation into Ruby’s child-rearing practices.
People wanted to cancel her for a good reason. One concerning incident involved Ruby’s minor daughter Eve who didn’t have anything for lunch in school, which the child’s teacher noticed. She called Ruby, who said Eve was responsible for making her lunch. Ruby said because the child didn’t do it, “the natural outcome is she’s just going to need to be hungry.”
Her extreme punishments for her children didn’t go unnoticed. The public backlash led Ruby to stop uploads on her 8 Passengers channel. She also separated from her husband, Kevin, who moved out of the house, which Ruby thought was necessary to repair their troubled marriage.
Then came Jodi Hildebrandt—a licensed clinical mental health counselor who ran Connexions, an online mental health business offering con-
In 2023, a disturbing case of child abuse hit the headlines in the US with the arrest of famous vlogger Ruby Franke. Her YouTube channel, “8 Passengers,” focuses on parenting tips, discipline, and child-rearing, and she has over 2.3 million subscribers. Her six children with husband Kevin Franke practically grew up in front of the camera with daily posts.
sultations on life choices, relationships and parenting. Jodi was also Ruby’s former therapist.
The professional connection between the two took a disturbing turn. Ruby became a licensed mental health trainer for Connexions, and the two women became business partners with joint social media accounts focused on motherhood and parenting. Their partnership extended beyond business; Ruby and Jodi began living together with Ruby’s children. It was bizarre that the father allowed this situation where he didn’t get to see his six children for 12 months. The consequences of this unconventional living arrangement would be catastrophic.
We meet partners who can either make us a better person or who can unleash the worst in us. It could have been a nurturing environment for Ruby’s kids, with two women in the household supposedly equipped to provide therapy, offer solutions, and provide hope and guidance to broken individuals or couples. They were life coaches of all things, yet things turned dark and dreadful.
In August 2024, Ruby and Jodi were arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated child abuse
when Ruby’s 12-year-old son escaped from home and went to a neighbor’s house for help, food and water.
The boy was malnourished, weak, and scared, with visible injuries, including open wounds, duct tape marks, and deep lacerations from being tied up. The neighbor’s emotional plea to emergency services underscored the severity of the abuse the child endured.
He had horrific injuries that prompted the neighbor to make one of the most haunting and disturbing calls to 911. While explaining the situation and condition the boy was in, he broke into tears as he asked for the police and emergency services. And even an EMT staff could not contain the tears as she looked at the boy’s condition.
The police found Ruby’s daughter in the house with similar injuries and appalling physical condition. Both children were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Court documents revealed the extent of abuse inflicted by Ruby and Jodi. The children were subjected to starvation for infractions, forced to work outside in blistering heat, detained and even made to jump on cactus plants.
The sentencing was satisfying to watch. Ruby received four consecutive sentences, ranging from one to 15 years in prison, while Jodi was sentenced to serve between four and 30 years.
Hopefully, they would not have a chance to hurt Ruby’s children again. I also hope that Ruby’s husband, Kevin, will not be successful in his quest to get custody of his children because his neglect resulted in the furtherance of the abuse carried out by his ex-wife.
Let’s all advocate for children’s causes, especially the prevention and elimination of child abuse.
Tito Genova Valiente
2nd Front Page
BBM credits Yulo, Vasquez with boosting PHL image
By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror
MALACAÑANG credited the wins of a Filipino athlete and singer in international competitions for boosting the image of the Philippines abroad.
On Wednesday, after meeting with select members of his Cabinet, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines is off to a strong start in boosting its international image, and government can’t afford to lose the momentum.
As such he instructed the Department of Budget and Management on Wednesday to reinstate the P400-million branding and marketing budget of the DOT to ride on the coattails of the recent successes of gymnast Carlos Yulo in the Paris Olympics and singer Sofronio Vasquez in The Voice US. The budget will be tapped from the President’s contingency fund, according to a news statement from the Pres -
idential Communications Office.
“We have to maintain the momentum. There is already momentum. It doesn’t hurt that we have people like Sofronio winning The Voice and that we had Caloy Yulo winning the Olympics,” he said.
“All of these things that our people are doing is great for the Philippines. And then we’re still living off the wonderful performance of Filipino health workers during Covid. That won’t be forgotten,” said the President in a mix of English and Filipino.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with the President and his economic managers to plead for the reinstatement of DOT’s branding budget,
Projected 18% rise in medical costs alarming, needs action–Bong Go
SEN. Christopher Lawrence
“Bong” Go aired his concern
Thursday over the rising medical cost in the country, and urged relevant agencies and policy makers to act quickly to blunt this hike and its impact on the public.
At a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, Go cited a survey conducted by the WTW Global Medical Trends that projected medical cost in the Philippines to rise by as much as 18.3 percent in 2025.
That figure, he stressed, marks the second-highest increase in the Asia Pacific region. “This sharp increase underscores the growing challenges in our healthcare sector and the need to expand healthcare access for Filipinos.
“Filipinos should not rely on out-of-pocket expenses which puts an additional strain on their livelihood,” Go said. He urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to come up with more competitive health packages and to make them more accessible to the Filipinos, particularly those in rural areas, to cushion the effect of the rising cost of medical care.“What PhilHealth should do is to make sure that the fund actually benefits the people. Our challenge for PhilHealth is clear: use the funds properly, speed up the implementation of wider benefits and make sure that every Filipino can feel your service,” added Go in Filipino.
He has recently been prodding PhilHealth to undertake reforms in its package offerings, as well as repeal its policy limiting coverage only to PhilHealth members who have been confined in hospital at least 24 hours, leaving many burdened with huge ER [emergency room] costs.
After Go’s appeal to remove the 24-hour confinement policy, PhilHealth implemented a new benefit package covering outpatient emergency care services, which took ef -
fect on January 1, under PhilHealth Circular No. 2024-0033. The Outpatient Emergency Care Benefit (OECB) package covers a wide range of services for patients treated in emergency departments (ED) of accredited facilities, including prehospital transport.
The senator welcomed the development which in effect, abolished the 24 hour confinement policy where patients are required to be confined before being able to avail of PhilHealth Coverage. However, Go stressed the need for further reforms to ensure Filipinos can access full healthcare services.
Most significant among the commitments made by PhilHealth that Go fought for are: a substantial increase in the benefit packages for the top ten mortality diseases; increase in case rates by up to 50 percent across-the-board; expansion of benefit packages, such as dental benefits, outpatient drug benefits, mental health benefit, optometric services, and the likes; scrapping of anti-poor policies, such as the 24-hour confinement rule which prevents the coverage of emergency outpatient services for patients not needing facility admission; among others.
Patients under the OECB package can now claim coverage for emergency services without requiring hospital admission. Cases such as dizziness, diarrhea, persistent vomiting, elevated blood pressure, seizures, and even sexual assault are covered. Additionally, diagnostic services such as X-rays, CT scans, nebulization, and blood tests are included.
To enhance emergency response, land ambulance services are now reimbursable. Future plans include expanding reimbursement coverage to sea and air ambulances.
While expressing his approval of the new package, Senator Go underscored the importance of transparency and efficient implementation.
Butch Fernandez
stressing last year’s 41-percent increase in visitor receipts to P760 billion (US$13.1 billion) from 2019, which she credited to the agency’s “Love the Philippines” campaign.
The group included Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs of the Philippines Frederick D. Go, National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, and Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
Last year, the Philippines attracted 5.95 million international visitors, some 5.44 million of whom were foreign passport holders, while the rest, at 510,383, were overseas Filipinos, described as Philippine passport holders permanently residing abroad. This was substantially lower, however, than the DOT’s baseline 7.7-million visitors target for the year. (See, “Missed goal: 5.95-M foreign tourists visited PHL in 2024,” in the BusinessMirror, January 6, 2025.)
Reacting to the President’s order to reinstate her agency’s P400-million branding budget, Frasco said in a news statement on Thursday, “This
timely decision underscores the administration’s strong commitment to positioning the Philippines as a leading destination in the international tourism landscape.”
Thanking the President, she added, “With this restoration…the DOT is poised to strengthen its efforts in expanding the country’s international visibility through strategic global campaigns, increased engagement with target audiences, trade and consumer activations, and impactful global media placements.”
Earlier, Frasco said the LVP campaign has reached many parts of the globe such as the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, among others. (See, “DOT awards P273 million in branding, marketing projects,” in the BusinessMirror, Jan. 14, 2025.)
“The fund augmentation will go a long way with the DOT’s sincere and proactive intentions in enticing foreign tourists to visit the country and experience for themselves the reasons for why they should Love the Philippines,” she stressed.
By Malou Talosig-Bartolome
DIPLOMATIC officials of the Philippines and China met Thursday in Xiamen, Fujian and had “frank and constructive discussions” on the South China Sea bilateral dispute.
This is the 10th meeting of the two panels of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism On the South China Sea (BCM).
Incidentally, Fujian is the hometown of the majority of Filipino-Chinese, but despite the familiar setting, sticky points remain unresolved.
“Our position is clear and consistent, but so is our willingness to engage in dialogue. We firmly believe that despite the unresolved challenges and differences, there is genuine space for diplomatic and pragmatic cooperation in dealing with our issues in the South China Sea,” Philippine delegation head Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in her opening remarks.
At the meeting, Lazaro expressed “serious concern” with her Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong, about the presence of two ships of the Chinese Coast Guard — including the so-called “Monster Ship" near the mari -
time zones of the Philippines.
The two ships, with tail number 5901 and 3103, have been spotted by Canada's Dark Vessel Detection lingering some 60-90 nautical miles off Zambales since January 4. (See related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2025/01/07/china-monster-shipnot-on-innocent-passage-pcg/)
The Philippine panel insisted that the activities conducted by the two vessels were "inconsistent with the 1982 Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.” Under the Unclos, all foreign ships may pass through the exclusive economic zones and territorial waters under the right of innocent passage on the condition that their presence do not prejudice the peace and order or security of the coastal state. The Philippine government is alarmed that the movements of CCG 5901 near Zambales have not been “continuous or expeditious.”
Also, CCG 5901 is considered the largest Coast Guard vessel in the world with a displacement of around 12,000 gross tons. This is why it got the monicker, “Monster Ship” due to its enormous size.
By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
positive effects:
n Faster travel time during peak hours in Major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
hour schedule.
dation following the observed i mprovement of traffic flow as a result of the implementation of the modified
all national government agencies will implement the 7 a.m. - 4 p.m. schedule, we can truly feel the good impact of this,” Artes said, revealing their projection of a 37.15-percent decrease in private motorists during peak hours. T his is equivalent to 175,918 employees out of 473,533.
T he MMDA-TEC said that adopting this optional schedule is expected to bring the following
said the MMDA- Traffic Engineering Center made the recommen
n D ecrease in traffic delays.
n In terms of public transportation, an estimated 223,508 government employees (47.20 percent o f the 473,533 NGAs employees in NCR) who commute using public transport will avoid joining the rush hour alongside private-sector employees.
A rtes said that they will submit their report and recommendation to the
MMDA Chair Romando Artes, flanked by Metro Manila Council head Francis Zamora and Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, attends the council meeting of the MMDA on Thursday (Jan. 16, 2025) in Pasig City. Story below. PHOTO COURTESY OF MMDA
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
UAE’s Masdar to invest $15B in PHL clean energy projects
By Lenie Lectura @llectura
Masdar, the United arab Emirates’ (UaE) renewable energy (rE) firm, is investing as much as $15 billion in rE and battery energy storage system (BEss) projects in the Philippines.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and Masdar signed last Wednesday an implementation agreement, which effectively operationalizes the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Energy Transition Cooperation signed between the Philippines and the UAE last November 2024.
The agreement, which was signed during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), sets the stage for developing up to one gigawatt (GW) of solar, wind and BESS across various regions in the Philippines by 2030, aiming to scale up to 10 GW within
a decade, with an estimated total investment of $15 billion.
The partnership marks Masdar’s entry into the RE sector in the Philippines.
DOE Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, on behalf of the DOE, and Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi signed the agreement in the presence of DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla and His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar.
The agreement also states that the DOE will assist Masdar in conducting pre-development activities, technical studies, securing the necessary rights, gathering project information, and obtaining all required approvals and permits. The DOE will facilitate Masdar’s applications for investment incentives and tax exemptions.
Masdar will take the lead in project development, overseeing commercial, technical, financial, and environmental workstreams.
“Building on the longstanding ties between the Philippines and the UAE, and the recent Energy Transition Cooperation, this partnership with Masdar marks a transformative step in our renewable energy journey,” said Lotilla. “This collaboration sets a new benchmark for energy transition in the region.”
The DOE’s RE goal is for RE to account for a 35-percent share in the country’s power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
The partnership will also create jobs, drive low-carbon socioeconom-
ic progress and expand global renewable energy capacity in line with the UAE Consensus, said Jabar.
Masdar has developed the region’s largest floating solar facility in Indonesia—the 145 MW Cirata Floating Solar PV Plant—which is generating enough electricity to power 50,000 homes. In February 2023, it entered the geothermal energy sector through a strategic investment in Pertamina Geothermal Energy.
It also signed a landmark agreement with the Malaysian Investment Development Authority in 2023 for the development of 10 GW of clean energy projects across the country.
Ramahi said the company’s expansion in Southeast Asia will help achieve its goal of hitting a renewable energy capacity of 100 GW by 2030.
“With our proven success in implementing large-scale renewable energy projects in the region and worldwide, we look forward to utilizing our expertise and experience to support the Philippines in meeting its ambitious energy goals.”
Coca-Cola bottler changes name Alternergy bags loan for Bataan solar project
By VG Cabuag @villygc
OTTLER C oca-Cola Bever -
Bages Philippines Inc. has changed the company’s legal name to Coca-Cola Europacific Aboitiz Philippines Inc.
“Our new name signifies an exciting new phase in our journey as we reaffirm our commitment to serving our customers, supporting our people and communities, and driving long-term growth for the country,” Gareth McGeown, the company’s president and CEO, said.
“In the 113 years that Coca-Cola
MPower, ABS-CBN sign new supply deal
MPOW ER , the local retail electricity supplier of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), will continue supplying power to ABS-CBN Corp., covering its main buildings in Quezon City.
Meralco announced Thursday the signing of a retail supply agreement with ABS-CBN. Under the Competitive Retail Electricity Market (CREM), electricity consumers who qualify under the prevailing threshold—currently set at a minimum of 500 kilowatts (kW) by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC)—are empowered to choose their energy supplier based on their specific requirements.
The parties were not at liberty to divulge the capacity involved in the retail electricity supply (RES) deal and the period covered by the agreement.
“Our renewed partnership with ABS-CBN reflects our constant dedication to delivering retail excellence and driving growth across diverse business industries,” said Redel M. Domingo, Meralco First Vice President and MPower Head. Lenie Lectura
has called the Philippines home, we look forward to a hundred more years of refreshing our consumers and making a difference through our Great People, Great Beverages, Great Execution, and Great Partners--Done Sustainably.”
The change of name took effect last January 15, following last year’s completion of the acquisition of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Plc (CCEP) and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.
“More than anything, this new name represents the strength of our partnership with Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. We share a solid commitment to our custom -
ers and communities, and with this new identity, we believe we can make a much more meaningful impact,” Sabin Aboitiz, AEV president and CEO, said.
The company is the bottling partner and official distributor of Coca-Cola products in the Philippines. It operates across 18 manufacturing facilities and almost 70 distribution centers and sales offices nationwide, offering 20 brands in its beverage portfolio and employing around 9,000 Filipinos.
Net income contribution from the food and beverage segment of AEV for the nine months of 2024, which includes Coca-Cola,
reached P4.2 billion.
This is more than eight times higher than the P499 million recorded during the same period in 2023.
On February 24 last year, AEV and its partner Coca-Cola Europacific, completed the acquisition of the bottler from Atlanta’s The Coca-Cola Co. for $1.8 billion.
CCEP will own 60 percent of the operations while 40 percent will be owned by the Aboitiz group.
AEV said it is well-positioned to support the bottler’s growth targets with the synergies that its various business interests can offer the Coca-Cola brand.
Cisco unveils solution for AI security
TECH giant Cisco on Thursday introduced Cisco AI Defense, a solution designed to address the unique safety and security concerns posed by artificial intelligence (AI) transformation.
Cisco President for Asia Pacific, Japan, and Greater China (APJC) Dave West said in a press briefing that enterprises are increasingly integrating AI into their operations. Aside from the rapid adoption, he noted that “AI is evolving and changing very quickly.”
Hence, he believes that “in the very near future, there will be only two types of companies: those that are AI-forward and those that are irrelevant.”
“AI safety and security is probably one of the biggest challenges we all need to address.”
According to Cisco’s 2024 AI Readiness Index, only 35 percent of respondents in the Philippines feel adequately equipped to detect and prevent unauthorized tampering with AI. As businesses develop and deploy AI applications, vulnerabilities can arise at various levels, including within models, applications, and user interactions.
Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s EVP and Chief Product Officer, said Cisco AI Defense provides a comprehensive layer of security to ensure
these risks are addressed.
“In a dynamic landscape where competition is fierce, speed decides the winners. Fused into the fabric of the network, Cisco AI Defense combines the unique ability to detect and protect against threats when developing and accessing AI applications without tradeoffs.”
He explained that Cisco AI Defense is built to tackle two critical areas: securing the development and deployment of AI applications and protecting access to AI tools. By providing full visibility into sanctioned and unsanctioned AI applications, the platform allows security teams to identify potential risks and vulnerabilities.
Additionally, the solution offers advanced model validation capabilities, using AI-driven algorithms to simulate potential threats and recommend guardrails for protection.
“What Cisco AI Defense does is it does two things. The first thing it does is it basically protects users and employees that are using AI applications inside of your organizations,” DJ Sampath, Head of AI Software and Platform at Cisco, said.
These include AI software and solutions like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others.
“The second thing that we’re doing is we’re helping secure those that are developing AI applications,
that involves protecting your models, your AI applications, and even AI agents as you’re starting to build and deploy them,” Sampath said.
The solution is integrated into Cisco’s Security Cloud, an AIdriven, cross-domain security platform. Leveraging proprietary threat intelligence from Cisco Talos and enriched by telemetry from Splunk, AI Defense delivers visibility and control for enterprises operating in a multi-cloud, multi-model environment.
By embedding safety and security features into the network architecture, Cisco provides a consistent set of controls across diverse AI systems.
The enterprise-grade solution also addresses the risks posed by end users adopting unsanctioned AI applications. AI Defense provides a comprehensive view of employee usage, enforces policies to restrict access to unauthorized tools, and protects proprietary data from being exposed or compromised.
“We needed to fundamentally reimagine safety and security for the year of AI. We thought long and hard about this, and we knew we needed to solve it in a way that’s not yet another point solution within the organization. It has to be part of an integrated security platform,” West said. Lorenz S. Marasigan
ALTERNERG y Holdings Corp. (ALTER) said Thursday it has secured P1 billion from a local bank to finance the construction of its 28-megawatt peak (MWp) Balsik solar power project located in Hermosa, Bataan.
Alternergy, through its unit Solana Solar Alpha, Inc. (SSAI), said the project financing was secured from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC).
“We have signed the Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement for our Balsik Solar Power Project. This is a celebration of perseverance and teamwork between Alternergy and RCBC to deliver sustainable energy projects,” said Alternergy President Gerry P. Magbanua. The solar power project is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.
RCBC Executive Vice President and Institutional Banking Group Head Elizabeth E. Coronel said the Balsik solar power project will add to the bank’s growing list of projects that it has supported.
“The Balsik Solar Power Project harnesses the power of strategic partnership between Alternergy and RCBC. We are proud to provide support to Alternergy as it rolls out its road to 500 MW capacity target.”
RCBC has provided a total of P3.65 billion financing to Altern -
ergy over the past 10 years and signed another financing agreement last year for P5.33 billion financing for Alternergy’s 64 MW Alabat wind power project, which is subject to financial close. The bank also extended project financing to Alternergy’s Pililla wind power project in 2014, to Alternergy’s Kirahon solar power project in 2015 and to its portfolio of commercial rooftop solar projects in 2018.
In Septemer 2024, the company said it will need to raise P15 billion to add 191 megawatts (MW) to its renewable energy (RE) portfolio by 2026. From 86MW of total capacity of operating assets as of end-2023, Alternergy is looking at the addition of 225MW more from four projects that are up for completion in 2025. For 2026, there will be an additional capacity of 191MW that will come from two projects that are in pre-development stage and another project for completion. In all, this will bring the company’s total capacity to 502MW in the next two years. The company reported a record-high income of P130 million for fiscal year (F y ) 2 024. This was an increase of 239 percent from the P38 million recorded in F y 2 023. The robust performance was driven mainly by the 60 percent surge in revenues to P275 million, particularly from its operating assets. Lenie Lectura
$24.9M Pandemic Fund to be released to DA, DOH
By Ada Pelonia
EARLY
N$25 million is expected by the Department of Agriculture (DA), which is facilitating the release of funds from the World Bank-hosted “Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response,” or the “Pandemic Fund.”
According to Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel V. de Mesa, the DA expects the money would enter Philippine coffers in the first quarter and fund projects to be implemented during this period.
“Yung ‘Pandemic Fund’ ine-expect natin na ma-implement during the first quarter; siguro maximum second quarter,” De Mesa told reporters in an interview last Wednesday. The official said the DA would share the fund with the health department.
De Mesa noted that that project would be a collaboration between the Department of Health (DOH) on the part of human health and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) for animal health.
“It will help improve yung mga laboratories at capacity building ng mga veterinarians natin that will help handle yung mga pandemic threats kagaya ng African swine fever, transboundary diseases [and] avian influenza,” he said.
“Malaki [ang ] magiging tulong nito for both the human health and animal health na labanan yung mga
MY younger brother describes my son, a car and motorcycle enthusiast, as a tinkerer of all things mechanical.
So when I encountered the expression “having a tinkering mind” in one of my recent readings, I thought I’d write about it in the context of associations. It is also timely during this new year to reflect on this term as a possible idea to explore for our organizations.
The phrase “having a tinkering mind” refers to possessing a mindset characterized by curiosity for how things work, willingness to experiment, and a handson approach to problem solving. Having a tinkering mind within an association can manifest in various ways, contributing significantly to its success. Here’s how this mindset can impact and enhance the effectiveness of an association:
1. Innovative problem solving. A tinkering mind fosters an environment where individuals actively seek innovative solutions to challenges. Association members and staff approach problems with creativity, experiment with different approaches, and are more likely to find novel and effective solutions.
2. Adaptability to change. Association leaders are more open to change and experimentation, enabling the organization to respond swiftly to industry trends, technological advancements, and shifts in member needs.
3. Continuous improvement culture. This mindset instills a culture of ongoing learning and refinement, where processes, programs, and strategies are regularly assessed and adjusted for better performance and relevance.
4. Member-centric approach. This ensures the association develops and delivers programs, services, and initiatives that resonate with its constituency, enhancing member satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Exploration of new opportunities. A tinkering mind encourages individuals within the association to explore new opportunities and embrace change. This proactive exploration can lead to the identification of untapped markets, innovative partnerships, or novel ways to engage members,
future na malalaking sakit [at] magiging ready tayo to handle yung mga pandemic-like or pandemic-wide na mga problema,” De Mesa added.
Banking&Finance Banks told to update profile of clients violating SEC rules
Last October, Lionel Dabbadie, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) representative in the Philippines, said the grant under the “Resilient Philippines” project would bolster disease surveillance and early warning systems while also strengthening laboratory networks and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Dabbadie said the country’s proposal stood out in this year’s competitive funding round through the joint efforts of various government agencies and key stakeholders.
These include the DA, DOH, Department of Finance (DOF), the World Bank and the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases of the FAO.
Dabbadie noted that the project would mark a pivotal step in “fully implementing” the “One Health” approach in the country, a framework that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
“It is crucial because diseases don’t respect borders—whether geographical, species, or ecological,” he said. “By fostering collaboration across sectors, from agriculture to health and environmental management, ‘One Health’ approach helps to better detect, prevent, and respond to health threats.”
Having a tinkering mind
promoting growth and expansion.
6. Agile decision making. Association leaders are more comfortable with experimentation and are willing to take calculated risks. This agility enables the association to make informed decisions swiftly, staying ahead of the curve and adapting to evolving circumstances.
7. Culture of curiosity. This culture encourages association members and staff to stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, positioning the organization as a thought leader in its field.
8. Efficient resource utilization. The mindset encourages association leaders to maximize the use of available resources, whether financial, human, or technological, optimizing the association’s capabilities and ensuring a sustainable operational model.
9. Dynamic program development. This involves regularly assessing the relevance and impact of existing programs, experimenting with new initiatives, and tailoring offerings to meet the changing needs of members.
10. Positive organizational culture. A tinkering mind contributes to a positive organizational culture characterized by openness, collaboration, and a shared commitment to improvement. This attracts and retains talent, encouraging a cohesive and engaged association community.
Having a tinkering mind positions the association for long-term success by ensuring it remains responsive to change, continuously improves its offerings, and effectively meets the evolving needs of its members and the broader community. Do you have a tinkering mind?
Octavio Peralta is founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BusinessMirror. E-mail. bobby@pcaae.org.
TBy Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario
HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said banks should update the records and/or information and risk profile of their clients who are non-compliant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules.
The latest memorandum released by the central bank pertained to the SEC’s Enhanced Compliance Incentive Plan which listed the names of corporations who have failed to submit their Audited Financial Statements and General Information Sheet for the
THE Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) generated P11 billion through a local bond issuance as it anticipates increased lending activities this year.
The state-run lender said last Thursday the DBP raised P11 billion from Fixed Rate Series 6A bonds and Fixed Rate Series 6B bonds. The DBP’s minimum offer was P2 billion, which was 5.5 times oversubscribed.
Interest rate of the 1.5-year Fixed Rate Series 6A bonds settled at 6.0503 percent per annum. Meanwhile, the Fixed Rate Series 6B bonds fetched an interest rate of 6.1294 percent per annum with a tenor of three years.
“This latest bond issuance is a testament to the trust and confidence of the market in DBP as a government financial institution and allows the Bank to expand its funding sources even as it ramps up its lending activities in support of the Marcos Administration’s economic agenda,” DBP President and CEO Michael O. De Jesus said.
This is the first time that the DBP issued two tenor bonds “to offer tailored solutions to meet the diverse
TBy VG Cabuag @villygc
HE board of property developer DoubleDragon Corp. has approved a retail bond issuance of up to P10 billion, which the company said may be its only offering this year.
The offering will be composed of P5 billion as base offer and an oversubscription of another P5 billion.
The said offering will become the second tranche from its bond program approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The final third tranche is planned for issuance by next year, the company said.
The said offering this year was called triple seven issuance, a number believed by many to signify the multiplication of good luck, the company said.
“The pipeline capital-raising issuances at this stage of DoubleDragon’s growth is intended to further increase its cash position and further strengthen its balance sheet—all in line with the DoubleDragon’s goal to become a tier-1 mature company by this year 2025,” it said.
The company said it will issue the paper during the first quarter this year. It will carry a yield of 7.77 percent per year.
past eight years or between 2015 and 2022.
The BSP noted that the Certificates of Incorporation of these firms could be suspended pending an evaluation of the SEC.
“All BSFIs are reminded to ensure the conduct of appropriate custom-
er due diligence on their corporate clients/juridical entities, including the updating of their customer’s records/information and risk profile,” the BSP said.
The BSP said the BSFIs should first identify if the SEC’s list of “Corporations in Danger of Being Suspended for Failure to Submit Annual Reports” includes any of their clients. This will be part of the due diligence and relationship review to be conducted by the banks to ensure that they have the latest records and information of their clients.
The banks were also advised by the BSP to inform their clients to directly coordinate with the SEC regarding the notice.
Last year, the private sector regulator imposed higher fines and penalties for the late and non-fil-
‘Accountants
ing of reportorial requirements by corporations (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/04/01/ sec-stiffer-fines-for-local-firmswith-reporting-lapses/)
The regulator issued in March last year SEC Memorandum Circular (MC) 6 (series of 2024), which provided for the updated fines and penalties on the late and nonsubmission of unaudited financial statements and general information sheet (GIS) as well as on noncompliance with its MC 28 issued in 2020.
The higher fines and penalties come after the implementation of the SEC’s amnesty program, which gave corporations a chance to settle the fines and penalties they have accumulated for non-compliance with reportorial requirements at a lower cost.
needs of its investors while also supporting its critical development goals,” de Jesus added.
The latest offer represents the sixth tranche of DBP’s P150-billion bonds program. The proceeds will finance loans to borrowers and support DBP’s operating activities.
The bonds were enrolled were enrolled and traded through the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp.
De Jesus said earlier that DBP will return to the domestic debt market in the latter part of the year for a major bond issuance (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/01/13/ landbank-dbp-to-raise-morefunds-via-sale-of-debt-papers/).
The bank is eyeing to raise P5 billion to P10 billion, through 5-year tenor bonds. The use of the proceeds would be for liquidity purposes and DBP’s daily banking needs.
The DBP is the 10th largest bank in the country in terms of assets. The bank provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy, such as infrastructure and logistics; micro, small, and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.
Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
EBy Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
NVIRONMENT Secretary Maria Antonia Y. Loyzaga prodded members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) to support the National Climate Action Plan (NCAP).
Speaking during the PICPA 2nd Sustainability Conference in Manila last Thursday, Loyzaga said accounting professionals can significantly support the NCAP by helping organizations navigate the complexities of sustainability by promoting responsible business practices.
“You can assist in preparing your organizations and your clients’ carbon footprints that are compliant with relevant accounting standards. You can improve (your) understanding and analysis of climate-related risks and opportunities and provide advice in integrating climate change considerations into business strategies to manage risks associated with impacts,” Loyzaga said, pointing out some of the ongoing programs and initiatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“(This is) possibly the very last chance that the public can lock in their funds at 7.77 percent rate for intended longterm 7-year tenor issued by a Triple A credit rated listed company with a diversified hard asset portfolio spread out in the Philippines and overseas,” it said.
DoubleDragon’s total equity is set to exceed P100 billion for the first time in 2024. It is one of the very few companies that has organically developed a novel asset-light concept and highly unique business model in Hotel101, that is portable and exportable to other continents globally.
The export of Hotel101 is expected to eventually become one of the major US dollar inflow generators to the Philippine economy, the company said.
The upcoming Hotel101 Global listing in the US to further strengthen DoubleDragon’s balance sheet.
The two major equity capital raises in the pipeline are expected to significantly boost DoubleDragon’s balance sheet and enhance its equity base through the expected US listing of Hotel101 Global and initial public offering of its real estate investment trust CentralHub, the company said.
According to her, the DENR is committed to working with the country’s accounting professionals in implementing proactive strategies to protect and enhance our environmental and natural resources, thereby making sure that no ecosystem and no one is left behind.
Loyzaga also appealed to the “personal commitment” of accountants.
She also pointed out two programs: “Project Transform” and “Save from Extinction (SfE).” The former, Loyzaga said, “is work we are doing with local government units to provide science and technical capacity in decision-making to reduce climate risk through environmental management.”
The recently-launched SfE campaign she described as an effort to match a budget that was obtained for the preservation, conservation and increase in population of six species: the Tamaraw; the Philippine Eagle; the Pangolin; the Philippine Cockatoo; the Dugong; and, the Marine Turtles.
According to the DENR chief, accounting professionals could perform critical analysis to evaluate the financial implications of adopting sustainable practices and technologies for your clients.
Loyzaga said accounting professionals are “truly indispensable” and “strategic as partners in the vital movement toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.”
She said PICPA members can help bridge the many gaps between financial goals and objectives and the sustainability of our world.
“You can help ensure that long-term financial stability and viability align with responsible environmental stewardship that we so urgently need,” said Loyzaga who urged accountants “to embrace the notion of collective responsibility.”
“Our future depends on collaborative efforts across all sectors, with professionals such as yourselves, as we address the challenges that we face. This is a race to resilience, and you are among the leaders in that race,” she added.
The SfE program was launched by the DENR with five non-government organizations (NGOs). All donations to the program, via BDO Unibank Inc., will go directly to these NGOs with whom the DENR partnered with in terms of the agency’s goals and objectives, according to Loyzaga. She added that the species benefitting from the program are umbrella species, “which means that their survival is actually what will allow other species to survive in the ecosystems that they live.
“And we do need your help in conservation,” Loyzaga said.
The DENR chief earlier highlighted the country’s rich biodiversity being geographically situated at the heart of the Coral Triangle.
Unfortunately, Loyzaga said the Philippines, like other countries in Asia, is experiencing rapid growth and largely unregulated urbanization, and DENR’s priorities center around the main goal of sustainability and resilience, underscoring the need to improve the quality of human life without pushing the natural systems to the brink, thereby preserving their integrity for future generations to use and enjoy.
Octavio Peralta
Association World
IT certainly wasn’t a “dry January” at the Fort San Antonio Abad last Friday, with the top bankers in the country, glasses of red wine in hand, schmoozed with key officials of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and some high-level government officials during the institution’s Annual Reception for the Banking Community.
BSP Gov. Eli Remolona Jr., arrived early with his wife, the former Marie Velasco, who was dressed in a simple black sleeveless dress and black ballerina flats. After exchanging pleasantries with his constituents and a very short speech, Remolona made a quick exit for a Zoom meeting with the Bank of International Settlements.
It was great to see former BSP Gov. Philip Medalla back in familiar territory, although we missed his gregarious wife Tita Pinky. As per her Facebook posts, Tita Pinky and Gov. Philip have been enjoying frequent trips abroad (“puro budget lang naman ’yun,” he
explained), with the couple looking like very loveydovey. Also around was Union Bank Chair Erramon “Montxu” Aboitiz, who I last saw when he was still president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, and gave the best lechon parties for media. The practice, sadly, is eschewed by his younger brother, current AEV head Sabin Aboitiz. “He said he’s shy,” I said, recounting a recent conversation with Sabin, to which Montxu replied, incredulous, “He’s shy?! I’m shy!”
I caught BDO Chair Tessie Sy Coson chatting with Elma Tetangco, wife of our favorite rockstar BSP Gov. Say Tetangco, now SM Investments chair. I wowed Tita Elma now sporting longer locks (“Maiba naman,” she said), which Ma’am Tessie likewise complimented. Pointing to her fashionable bob, Ma’am Tessie said, “Mine is always this length. It’s easier to maintain.”
But I told Tita Elma, longer hair meant “magastos lang sa shampoo,” and the ever-entrepreneurial Ma’am Tessie noted, not missing a beat, “Which is good for us [SM]!”
While we’ve been experiencing chilly evenings these last few weeks, it was like sitting under the blazing sun with all the strong klieg lights illuminating the historic fort. BSP Deputy Gov. Berna Romulo Puyat was well-prepared and flicked out her jisufan to cool herself. (Of course, she is wont to joke that she is probably just experiencing hot flushes.)
The diplomatic community was well represented. US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson stood out in her elegant black coat with red hibiscus flowers, which
reminded me of the late Criselda Lontok’s creations.
I also caught up with Thai Ambassador Tull Traisorat, who I last saw in Cebu at a gastronomy tourism forum. I congratulated him for surpassing their 35-million foreign tourists target last year, and he was gracious enough to say that his country was helping the Philippines boost its own arrivals by promoting joint holidays.
New Zealand Ambassador Dr. Catherine McIntosh, who flew into town just last May, surprised us by saying she is actually an organic chemist by training. I asked if she already had the opportunity to go around the Philippines, and she said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco had invited her to go diving in Anilao. “It was my first time to go diving,” said McIntosh, who did imbibe the red wine served at the reception, even though I had jokingly warned her it was not from Villa Maria, my favorite NZ winery.
Meanwhile, I espied BSP consultant Peter Favila in seeming intense one-on-one convos with DG Chuchi Fonacier, then later with Senior AG Edna Villa, far removed from rest of the crowd. I sure hope he wasn’t putting out any LA-sized wildfires that night; Mr. Fabulous, of course, has been known as BSP’s “troubleshooter.”
The digital banks were ably represented by Maya Bank’s Gelo Madrid, GoTyme’s Nathaniel Clark, and UNO Digital Bank’s Manish Bhai. The BSP has been quite the advocate of digital banking, knowing how
to tap into what’s new and exciting. Romance, happiness and personal growth are in the stars. ★★★
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An open mind will lead to new beginnings. Dig deep, search for answers and consider how to harness personal growth and a lifestyle that satisfies your needs. Monitor and rid yourself of tedious people and pastimes holding you hostage. ★★★
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Mental or physical journeys will broaden your awareness of what’s possible. A disciplined attitude will help you manufacture what’s required to bring about positive change. Developing something you enjoy doing will point you in an exciting professional direction. ★★★★
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Square off and get ready to stand your ground and fight for your rights. Refrain from letting anyone outmaneuver you mentally or physically. Think standing up and focus on reflexes you can count on to carry you to the finish line. ★★
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): High energy and channeling your every move toward getting the desired results will pay off financially. You’ve got your finger on the pulse of what’s trending, and presenting your game plan will draw positive attention. Positive change is within reach, and networking will help connect you to the right people.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You may think forcing a change will help you get
Show
MAYOR’S PROBLEM
A CITY government is being plagued by a problem related to sanitation. The current mayor disclosed to someone that contractors will not work with them because the city owes them a lot of money. It’s not just the current administration that owes the contractors money. In fact, most of the debt came from the previous administration, which is shocking because the previous mayor has a reputation for being honest and incorruptible. Of course, that is the current mayor’s side and only the current and former mayors know the truth. Meanwhile, the citizens are suffering and no one knows when the problem will end.
OZEMPIC AND THE SINGER
OZEMPIC is a very popular drug right now and for its original purpose. Ozempic is so popular that diabetics are having a difficult time looking for it. Ozempic is medication for adults with type 2 diabetes. When accompanied with diet and exercise, it can help improve blood sugar. It is not meant for weight loss but it can reportedly help with that. So many celebrities here and abroad swear by Ozempic for weight loss. Showbusiness is cruel in that fans are unforgiving of even a few extra pounds and it does not help that the camera really packs on the pounds. One of those who reportedly take Ozempic for weight loss is a singer who has always found it difficult to lose weight. The singer has been spotted looking slimmer than he usually is. One of the country’s most popular aesthetic centers, meanwhile, has a weight loss program that includes medication that seems like Ozempic.
IT’S OVER
THE beauty queen and her politician boyfriend are said to be no longer together. Based on their social media posts, they seem to have spent the holidays with their respective families. The beauty queen and the politician have been together for a number of years. During a trip abroad, the beauty queen told friends that she expected her boyfriend to propose to her and so she got a pretty manicure. Sadly, they came back from the trip without a ring on the beauty queen’s finger. She recently figured in a sort of scandal that left everyone wondering why she and the politician are still together. Meanwhile, they seem to be going on with their lives separately. Are they just taking a mini break (from each other) or is it really over?
CONSERVATIVE
THE actress had been slut-shamed for most of her career just because she is sexy and, by Filipino standards, seems like a liberated woman. What many people don’t know is that the actress is on the conservative side when it comes to her beliefs about love and romance. She broke up with her first serious boyfriend just because he wanted them to move in together. The actress recently came under fire from fans because of comments she made about an actor she worked with. The actor is being shipped by many fans to a super popular actress. The thing is that the sexy actress made those remarks just because she is awkward in interviews and not because she is trying to steal the actor from the popular actress.
Educating films
much more unbanked people can be reached by online financial institutions and digital wallets.
Noticeably missing was Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who was probably trying to avoid media because of the recent transfer of some P107 billion in “idle funds” of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (PDIC) to the National Treasury, ostensibly to support government projects. Still, PDIC President Bobby Tan was around to bravely face reporters’ inquiries, and announced an increase in insurance coverage of our bank deposits from the current P500,000, in keeping with inflation. I suppose that bit of news is good enough to keep the bashers at bay?
DG Berna introduced us to the newest Monetary Board Member Jojo Querubin, whose last post was president of United Coconut Planters Bank in 2007. I understand he and wife Bing had to relocate to Manila after living in quiet retirement in Canada. I asked Ma’am Bing if she used Korean or Swiss skincare products because her complexion was so luminous and she answered, “[It’s] natural!”
In his speech, Remolona described 2024 as a “remarkable year” with milestones such as a credit rating upgrade from S&P, the launch of the IRS peso market, and the passage of the Anti Financial Account Scamming Act.
He added that he looked forward to more “shared sucesses” with the banking community: “Let us continue working together on digitalization and financial inclusion. Let’s also intensify our efforts on Open Finance to ensure that people can chose financial services that best suit their needs.” Cheers to the BSP and our banking friends. n
Iliteracy. What expectations are we generating with that notion?
There is a reason for this column belaboring the process and practice of film education. Two columns back, I wrote about criticism being a lonely (lonesome) act. Much as I have written about the subject matter very often in the past, even bringing the topic into workshops and film festivals where I was given a chance to speak, I was still surprised at the interest generated by that column. Criticism of any kind can hit a raw nerve, especially in a culture where candor and frankness are not part of the local tradition.
One of the outstanding realizations about film education is that our focus is on viewers and not on the filmmakers. We aim to educate the consumer and not the producer. Compelling therefore is the thought of Jay Ruby in his paper Exposing Yourself: Reflexivity, Anthropology and Film, where he charts the paths taken by cinema and anthropology: “Cinema and anthropology have a parallel history and development. They came from the same 19th EuroAmerican intellectual and cultural foundations.
Ruby, continuing, talks of the four conceptual origins of cinema: “[1] it is a device to tell stories [i.e., a narrative function]; [2] it is a device of fantasy, as seen in the works of the conjurer [he mentions Georges Méliés and his A Trip to the Moon]; [3] it is a device to capture everyday events in the lives of people—some ordinary and some exotic—as seen in the works of the Lumiéré Brothers; and [4] it is a device to study movement through space and time, as seen in the works of Eadweard Muybridge and the first anthropological filmmaker, Felix-Louis Regnault.”
For Ruby, it is from categories 3 and 4 that we find the documentary, the travelogue, and ethnographic film emerging. Film genres and written ethnography are therefore “culturally related.” To articulate, cinema and ethnography are “founded upon the western middle class need to explore, document, explain, understand, and hence symbolically control the world, or at least that part of the world the middle class regards as being exotic.”
For Ruby, ethnography and the documentary film are “what we do to them.” The world out there is not cinematic until and unless we train our camera upon them and impose the arts and technology of cinematography on people who become, by the function of film, actors. Whether they or we like it or not, cinema and, for that matter, ethnography, which is the total description of culture, we have changed their world or a world.
By “they” or them, the subject matter, in general, are, in the words of the paper, “the poor, the powerless, the disadvantaged, and the politically suppressed. ” Here is where film education matters. When we treat films for discussion, it is because we are looking at a depiction of our own culture. Thus, the question is: Is this a Filipino film? Corollary to this investigation is our basic curiosity about how our culture or cultures are depicted by the filmmaker. Here is where the richness of regional films matter. The truth is out there and we have filmmakers from the regions that, by sheer location, are able to talk about places that are otherwise romanticized or glossed over by those who, by geographical accidents, need to travel to distant places and be in awe of the quotidian or the ordinary. According to Federico Fellini, “a different language is a different vision of life, [and it] certainly matters when the characters speak the sounds of a particular village or town.”
If we follow Wittgenstein’s dictum about “the limits of my language (informing) the limits of my world,” certainly our Filipino worlds have been limited to a very great degree ever since the dominance of the Tagalog films.
When we venture therefore into film education, we venture into the question of reflexivity. This means we are interested in the self of the filmmakers (i.e., writers, directors, cinematographers, et al). We may not ask them to account for their own awareness, but we can examine the results of their ideas and to what degree they have reflected on their technology to dominate the images they are presenting on screen.
In the 1920, Dziga Vertov, considered by many as the founder of the Russian documentary, developed a framework that countered Eisenstein’s. The common knowledge is that Vertov proposed the role of cinema in a revolutionary society as raising the consciousness of the audience by making them see the function of class in the oppression and changes in societies. For Vertov, the filmmakers should be able to capture the everyday occurrences and from them, create
2024 PUREGOLD CINEPANALO ENTRIES CONTINUE TO GARNER INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM
THE upcoming 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival promises another showcase of homegrown talent and compelling storytelling. Adding to the excitement, entries from the festival’s inaugural 2024 edition continue to garner international acclaim, earning coveted spots in prestigious global film festivals and shining a light on Filipino filmmakers’ exceptional creativity and artistry. These achievements not only celebrate the deep pool of local talent but also affirm Puregold CinePanalo’s role in elevating Philippine cinema.
In particular, three of the 2024 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival’s big winners were selected for different film festivals around the world. Best Picture winner Under a Piaya Moon, directed by Kurt Soberano, was featured at the 2024 Festival International du Film Transsaharien de Zagora in Morocco. Meanwhile, the Always Panalo Film and Audience Choicewinning film A Lab Story, directed by Carlo Obispo, was shown at the 2024 Asian Film Festival Barcelona in Spain, and at the 2024 Brunei Film Blitz. Finally, Special Jury Prize for Short Film student short Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366, which was directed by Kent Cadungog, was featured at the 2024 Singapore International Film Festival, and is set to be showcased at the Emirates Film
Festival this January.
Apart from the three films, a number of other entries in the first Puregold CinePanalo were also invited for recognition at various international film festivals. The student short Tiil ni Lola, directed by Reutsche Colle Lima, played at the 2024 Asia-Pacific Youth Micro Movie Festival in Hong Kong. In addition, the 2024 Jagran Film Festival featured Joel Ferrer’s Road to Happy in the non-competitive section of the Children Showcase, while the aforementioned A Lab Story competed in the International Feature category. Meantime, Eugene Torres’ One Day League: Dead Mother, Dead All played at the 2024 Exposures Montreal Trans Film Festival in September. Finally, joining Text FIND DAD and Send to 2366 at the Emirates Film Festival is Jenievive Adame’s student short Smokey Journey. Each of the eight finalists of the Puregold CinePanalo 2025 will be receiving a P3 million cash grant, while the 25 student shorts will be receiving a production grant of P150,000. The eight films and 25 student shorts are set to debut at the 2025 Puregold CinePanalo Film Festival, which be on March 14 to 25 in Gateway Cinemas. More updates can be found on the Puregold Channel on YouTube.
worked in, to quote Ruby, in a mechanical, technical, methodological, as well as conceptual way. The aim is to “demystify” the creative process.
The audience needs to understand and be able to articulate how the film is constructed so that they could be critical of the medium. Here is where film education is justified in going into the technical aspect of cinema, not because film critics/film educators are intellectual snobs but because there is no other way.
Here, film education moves from the traditional way of assessing actors in terms of performances into how the filmmaker mirrors spatial distances favored by particular societies. The production designer is expected to exhibit his own knowledge of colors and textures. The notion of persons is tapped to depict characters; statuses are not mere veneers but organic elements nurtured by histories. And we are not even yet talking here of the decolonization process, which should not be an academic exercise but a battlecry.
To educate Filipino audiences, therefore, is to join in the discovery of our identities which are in the process of being created. Hopefully, we are able to identify future viewers and critics of our own cinemas. n
‘GREEN BONES’ CONTINUES TO INSPIRE MOVIEGOERS NATIONWIDE FOLLOWING its success at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), GMA Network’s critically acclaimed and heart-wrenching drama Green Bones continues to enthrall moviegoers during its third blockbuster week across the nation. Widely referred to as one of the best Filipino movies of recent years, Green Bones has undoubtedly earned its place as a must-watch masterpiece.
Produced by GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs, and co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment, Green Bones dominated the 50th MMFF Awards, winning six major awards: Best Picture, Best Actor for Dennis Trillo, Best Supporting Actor for Ruru Madrid, Best Screenplay for National Artist Ricky Lee and Angeli Atienza, Best Cinematography for Neil Daza, and Best Child Performer for Sienna Stevens.
Helmed by award-winning director Zig Dulay, Green Bones follows the story of soon-to-be-released prisoner Domingo Zamora (Dennis Trillo) who was incarcerated for the murder of his sister. His release is put in jeopardy by newly assigned prison guard Xavier Gonzaga (Ruru Madrid) who makes it his personal mission to keep Zamora behind bars.
The concept behind Green Bones, which stems from an original story by GMA Public Affairs senior manager JC Rubio and was transformed into a screenplay by Lee and Atienza, has drawn crowds who are intrigued by the idea of the presence of green bones as proof of someone’s goodness in life. Green Bones is distributed by Columbia Pictures for Sony Pictures Releasing International. More news and updates can be found at www.gmanetwork.com.
RFM Approves P200 million Cash Dividend to Kick Off 2025
RFM Corporation
CEO Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III
disclosed that RFM’s Board has approved a P200M cash dividend or P0.05936 per share payable on February 18, 2025, with record date as of January 22, 2025. In 2023, RFM made P1.27 billion income from P20.7 billion revenues.
Concepcion, who has also been buying shares in the market in 2024, said that RFM sees a better 2024 full year performance from its branded consumer and institutional businesses in both sales and income. Noting preliminary and unaudited figures, RFM said 2024 total revenues are on track to hit P22 billion while income is trending to grow double digit to the P1.4 billion to P1.5 billion range. For the new year 2025, the CEO expects to sustain the strong performance of RFM’s brands
and businesses with input price inflation within reasonable levels so far.
Concepcion also noted the strong underlying consumer demand for RFM’s Fiesta and Royal pasta products that buoyed 2024 sales on top of the purchases of local government units for their Christmas baskets for constituents.
RFM declared a total of P1.3 billion in cash dividends in 2024, up from P850 million in 2023. At the share price of P3.87 at end 2024, RFM’s 2024 dividend yield is 10 percent.
The listed food and beverage company (PSE: RFM) also owns 50 percent of the leading ice cream company in the
Cav/ RAdm. Ramon T. Punzalan PN (Ret)’76; Cav/Capt. Ryan L. Bakabak PN ‘95; Mr. Pangilinan; Cav/Chairman, PBGen. Raul S. Gonzales (Ret)’75; Cav/Gen. Ricardo A David Jr AFP (Ret) ‘77; Cav/Col. Pedro S. Agapito PAF ‘96; Cav/ Col. Domingo M. Pequiras PAF (Ret) ‘77; Cav/PMGen. Ericson T.
Philippines that sells Selecta, Magnum and Cornetto brand as well as the leading pasta brands Royal and Fiesta pasta and sauces. RFM also owns the Selecta Milk and White King mixes brands.
“RFM has no debts and has a strong balance sheet that enable our steady declaration of cash dividends. We have also completed some big capex in 2024 like the new Silang, Cavite bakery plant and new Selecta Milk lines and will just be on the lookout for opportunities to grow our businesses. Nevertheless, our pipeline of new products is quite packed for our ice cream, pasta and milk brands which will ensure organic growth for RFM in the near term,” said Concepcion.
CredoHub: A Testament to Perseverance, Visionary Leadership
IN the bustling business landscape of San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, CredoHub stands as a beacon of resilience and vision. Behind its unassuming name lies a story of grit, determination, and an unwavering commitment to uplifting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
As the company approaches its 10th anniversary, it’s worth delving into the inspiring journey of its founder, Polly Ilio, and the remarkable team that has propelled CredoHub to success.
Polly’s journey to entrepreneurship was anything but smooth. Hailing from humble beginnings, Polly worked tirelessly in the banking industry for 18 years, climbing the ranks to vice president. However, when the bank she worked for faced closure, Polly’s career seemed to hit an impasse. Refusing to let adversity define her, she channeled her expertise in accounting and operations into starting her own business.
Even before founding CredoHub in 2015, Polly’s weekends were dedicated to bookkeeping for clients. These early experiences planted the seeds of what would become a flourishing enterprise. With little funding and no marketing, CredoHub relied on Polly’s reputation and dedication.
“Our growth has been organic, with almost all our clients coming from referrals,” she shares.
CredoHub was built on the
foundation of trust and the vision of empowering businesses, especially SMEs, to navigate the complexities of taxation and accounting.
The name “Credo” symbolizes commitment and trust, values deeply embedded in the company’s ethos. From its humble beginnings with a single client, the company now serves over 300 clients, ranging from small business owners to large enterprises with assets exceeding P20 million.
“Our mission has always been to assist businesses, no matter how small, in avoiding the pitfalls of taxation,” Polly explains. “We aim to provide services that not only solve immediate problems but also empower our clients for longterm success.”
Polly’s visionary leadership is matched by her dedication to her clients and her team. CredoHub’s success is not only due to its services but also its culture of empowerment.
Team members like her nephew Emil, who started as a junior staff member, have grown alongside the company. “Tita Polly has always shared her vision with us, and seeing it materialize is incredibly inspiring,” Emil says.
CredoHub has expanded beyond accounting into ventures like CredoMart, a retail and wholesale trading arm, and Beanspace, a co-working and virtual office hub. These expansions are not mere business moves but a realization of
Polly’s dream of creating a one-stop shop for her clients.
As CredoHub prepares to celebrate a decade of service, Polly remains grounded.
“The secret to our success is simple: we stay hands-on and maintain open communication with our clients. We treat them as partners, not just customers,” she says.
The future holds even greater ambitions for CredoHub, including plans to venture into the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Polly’s vision of growth is matched by her belief in the power of persistence and the importance of helping others succeed.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Polly has this advice: “Be involved in your business. Success comes not from delegation alone but from understanding and serving your clients personally. Stay connected, stay committed, and never stop learning.”
CredoHub’s journey is a powerful reminder that success is not about where you start but about the dedication and vision you bring to the table. Under Polly’s leadership, Credo Hub is more than a business—it’s a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of serving with heart.
To know more about CredoHub and Beanspace, please visit their websites: CredoHub www.credohub.ph Beanspace www.beanspace.ph
Coins.ph, inDrive Launch Blockchain-Powered Fleet, Offering Drivers New Income Opportunities
COINS.PH, the leading cryptocurrency exchange in the Philippines, has partnered with global ride-hailing app inDrive and decentralized mapping network Hivemapper to deploy the first fleet of blockchain-powered ride-hailing cars in Manila.
Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, emphasized the partnership’s global significance and its impact on drivers, “Coins.ph is excited to pioneer this groundbreaking collaboration together with inDrive and Hivemapper. By layering token rewards on top of ride-hailing services, we’re giving drivers a way to boost their earnings from work they’re already doing. This aligns with our mission to empower Filipino communities through crypto.”
The collaboration harnesses Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), a cutting-edge technology that connects physical services like transportation to blockchain networks, creating new ways to earn and share value. Furthermore, the launch of this initiative places the Philippines among the first countries globally to implement DePIN in a real-world context, highlighting the nation’s commitment to embracing innovation.
During a press event at inDrive’s headquarters in Quezon City, representatives from all three companies shared insights into how this partnership enables drivers to generate extra earnings by collecting and sharing real-time mapping data.
Mark Tolley, inDrive Regional APAC Director, expressed enthusiasm for the innovative collaboration, stating, “This partnership with Coins.ph and Hivemapper represents a significant step forward in integrating blockchain technology into everyday services. By empowering our drivers with new income streams through
decentralized mapping, we’re not just enhancing their earning potential but also contributing to a smarter, more connected world. As a people-driven company, inDrive is always looking for ways to support our drivers and improve the overall experience for both drivers and passengers. This initiative underscores our commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to create value and drive positive change in the communities we serve.”
Hivemapper’s dashcam-like devices are installed in inDrive vehicles to collect mapping data. This data contributes to an open, up-to-date map of the world, and drivers earn $HONEY tokens as a reward for their contributions. Drivers can easily manage their tokens within the Coins.ph app, allowing them to be securely stored, transferred, or exchanged to pay bills and other daily necessities.
“Every rideshare driver knows the pain of an outdated, inaccurate map,” said Ariel Seidman, co-founder of the Hivemapper Network. “For decades, drivers have just had to wait for big tech companies to collect fresh map data, but Hivemapper allows them to passively improve their local map and earn rewards along the way. We’re thrilled to partner with Coins.ph and inDrive, which share our commitment to making everyday driving more rewarding than ever before.”
The successful deployment of this blockchain-powered fleet demonstrates the potential for blockchain technology to transform real-world services and create tangible impacts in people’s day-to-day lives. Coins.ph, inDrive, and Hivemapper are committed to expanding this initiative, exploring new ways to enhance transportation and promote financial empowerment not just in the Philippines but around the world.
MVP TO SPEAK AT PMAAAI. The Board of Directors of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) has invited business magnate and philanthropist Manuel V. Pangilinan to be the Guest of Honor and Speaker in the upcoming Annual General Membership Meeting of PMAAAI on January 25, 2025. Seen in photo during a recent courtesy visit in Pasig City are, from left, Cav/Capt. Norsal D. Dimaporo PN ‘94; Cav/PMGen. Magtanggol B. Gatdula (Ret)’76;
OATHTAKING CEREMONY. In a momentous ceremony at
Pavilion Events
Pasay City, Senator Bong Go administered the solemn oath to Eagle Ronald F. Delos Santos as he assumed his role as National President of The Fraternal Order of Eagles-Philippine Eagles, Inc. for EY 2025-2026. The new leadership includes Executive National Vice President Eagle Agaton DS. Javier, Vice President for Luzon Eagle Romeo C. Bautista Revilla, Vice President for Mindanao Eagle
S. Teo, and Vice President for Visayas Eagle Bronson Ng Pena. The Board of Trustees Luzon welcomes Eagles King S. Lazaro, Jericho S. De Guzman, Emilio Ramon P. Ejercito III, Reymond Allan O. Santos, Board of Trustees Luzon Visayas Eagle Edgar M. Magbanua, Eagle Fritz Salazar, Board of Trustees MIndanao Eagle Tyrrone Christopher Gayta, Eagle Eric Daabay, and Eagle Ansary P. Maongco. Distinguished guests. Senators Cynthia A. Villar and Win Gatchalian witnessed this significant transition of leadership who also spoke at the event while Rep. Rodante D. Marcolita swore in the rest of the National Officers, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the organization’s commitment to service and brotherhood.
www.businessmirror.com.ph • Editor: Tet Andolong
ISUZU INAUGURATES NEW IOS DEALERSHIPS IN RIZAL AND TAYTAY
Story by Randy S. Peregrino
ISUZU Philippines Corporation (IPC), in partnership with AC Motors Automobile Group (AC Motors), has inaugurated two new Isuzu Outlet Standard (IOS) dealerships in Rizal and Taytay. These latest IOS dealerships are part of IPC’s commitment to bring high-quality products and services closer to its customers.
“Rizal is a vibrant and growing province that serves as a gateway between Metro Manila and the surrounding regions. Its booming industries, such as manufacturing, construction, and logistics, require reliable transportation solutions. Establishing our latest IOS dealerships here allows us to better serve the businesses and communities of Rizal with our high-quality products and services, especially our dependable trucks and D-MAX pick-ups that perfectly suit their needs,” said IPC president Tetsuya Fujita.
Isuzu Rizal is strategically located on a 2,000-square-meter along Marcos Highway. Its spacious showroom can display up to four vehicles, including trucks. The dealership also features an expansive service area with eight service bays, including one dedicated to trucks, catering to local businesses and individual customers’ needs.
On the other hand, Isuzu Taytay boasts a larger 3,135-square-meter facility located at Manila East Road. The showroom can accommodate up to six vehicles, including light commercial vehicles and trucks, providing customers with a comprehensive overview of Isuzu’s product range. The dealership has a well-lit, modern service area featuring six dedicated service bays for light commercial vehicles and trucks, ensuring efficient and highquality maintenance.
The opening of these new IOS dealerships is part of IPC’s ongoing efforts to modernize its dealer network to meet customers’ evolving demands. With Rizal’s rapidly growing economy, adding these modern facilities ensures that Isuzu remains at the forefront of providing reliable transportation solutions to businesses and individuals in the region.
“These facilities stand as a testament to Isuzu’s promise of quality and reliability. Our new IOS design guarantees more efficient sales and aftersales transactions, supported by our robust and durable, trusted vehicles worldwide. Whether for business or personal needs, Isuzu is here to support you with products that deliver excellence in performance and service,” Fujita added.
Talisay City receives 22 units of Isuzu Traviz MEANWHILE , through its Cebu dealership, IPC officially turned over 22 brand-new Isuzu Traviz L units (Utility Van body) to the City of Talisay Cebu. It is a significant move to bolster the local emergency response capabilities. The turnover ceremony occurred during Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr.’s State of the City Address (SOCA), showcasing a commitment to public safety and disaster preparedness. Present during the event was Vice Mayor Richard Choy
Fernandez Aznar, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the 22 Punong Barangays, along with their respective councils. Also in attendance were department heads from Talisay City, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO), national government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and
various People’s and Civil Society Organizations.
The 22 new emergency vehicles recently turned over have been assigned to different barangays.
These units will play a crucial role in the city’s “Aksyon Agad Rescue Program,” aimed at enhancing the rapid response capacity of Community First Responders (CFR).
The CFRs will serve as the first point of contact in emergencies,
reporting directly to the City Disaster Team and facilitating swift assistance to those in need.
IPC Assistant Division Head for Sales Robert Carlos emphasized the vehicle’s popularity among LGUs. “The Isuzu Traviz is widely chosen for its high payload capacity, dependable engine, and the strong aftersales support we offer. We are proud to be part of Talisay City’s initiatives to enhance public safety and emergency response,” he said. The City of Talisay’s investment in these vehicles demonstrates its proactive approach to disaster risk reduction and management. The city aims to ensure that all communities have the necessary resources to respond effectively to crises, from medical emergencies to natural disasters, by equipping each barangay with its own emergency vehicle.
Edsa overhaul; airport aggressive changes
WILL it finally happen?
If Public Works
Secretary Manuel Bonoan is to be believed, it will.
I refer to the overhaul of Edsa, the major highway of Metro Manila from Monumento in Caloocan City to Baclaran in Paranaque City. Edsa has been in bad shape for as long as one can remember. It is rough, ridden with cracks and the ride is bumpy almost all the way. It even gets easily flooded during a downpour.
“We will rehabilitate the entire Edsa starting 2025,” Bonoan was quoted by Inquirer’s Melvin Gascon as saying. “What President
Marcos wants is we have to actually improve the riding quality of Edsa.” Big words. We’ll see. Airport changes THE new management of the NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) has been very aggressive lately in disseminating information about changes both small and big at the nation’s main gateway. That is good as it does away with the guessing game mantra, encouraging transparency on the goings-on at the premiere airport. Here’s the latest from the New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC), the newlyminted private operator of the NAIA, delving on mobility issues designed to ease Airport traffic and secure the safety of travellers, visitors and well-wishers.
“The NNIC has opened the main arrival curbside at Terminal 1 to all private vehicles, making the once-restricted area accessible to all
passengers—not just VIPs.”
“This change provides a more inclusive and convenient experience for arriving travellers and their loved ones, as part of a broader effort to improve traffic flow and passenger comfort at one of the airport’s busiest terminals.”
“Opening the main arrival curbside to all passengers is a key feature of the newly reconfigured pickup system at Terminal 1, simplifying pickups for private vehicles, ride-hailing services, and metered taxis while easing congestion and improving the passenger experience.”
“The new system is currently in its soft launch phase to provide passengers and transport providers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the changes.
This phase also allows for finetuning and adjustments to ensure a smooth transition before its full implementation.
14 Loading Bays
“THE main arrival curbside has 14 designated loading bays—A1 to A14—where private vehicles can pick up passengers.”
“Bays A8 and A9 are designated for persons with disabilities (PWDs), while Bays A11 and A12 will continue to be reserved for VIP pickups. Bays A13 and A14 will be for hotel pickups, further streamlining the curbside system.”
“With this setup, arriving passengers now have more options for convenient pickups, including the comfort of waiting at the main arrival curbside.”
“Terminal Transfer shuttle bus services will also operate from this area, with stops located just beyond Bay A14.”
“As part of the overall reconfiguration, the outer curbside— B1 to B6—has been designated as an additional pickup area.”
Meet and Greet
“THIS section will feature a dedicated Meet and Greet Area.
Grab ride-hailing booths will also be strategically positioned in the area to provide quick and convenient booking options for passengers.”
“Rent-a-Car services, coupon taxis, and yellow metered taxis will be relocated to the arrival extension area on the ground level. This adjustment is expected to further decongest the main terminal curbside while maintaining reliable public transport access.”
“To further ensure a smooth transition, clear directional signage will be installed throughout the terminal, and airport personnel will be available to guide passengers and drivers to the appropriate zones.”
“NNIC encourages all travellers and visitors to follow the updated system for a more efficient and hassle-free arrival experience.”
PEE STOP Movements that matter hit the industry recently. Carlo Ablaza, only 47, is the new president of Lexus Manila, bringing with him what the company’s moguls describe as “youthful energy” amid the rapidly competitive atmosphere prevailing in the luxury segment. Ablaza replaced Raymond
THE newly inaugurated Isuzu Taytay IOS dealership. ISUZU PHILIPPINES
THE newly inaugurated Isuzu Rizal IOS dealership. ISUZU PHILIPPINES
THE 22 units of Isuzu Traviz turned over to Talisay City. ISUZU PHILIPPINES
B8 Friday, January 17, 2025
mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph
Editor: Jun Lomibao
Hidilyn enshrined in PSA Hall of Fame
FOR bringing pride and glory to the country with every lift she hoisted above her head in an outstanding journey, a weightlifting icon is set for enshrinement into the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Hall of Fame.
Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, a humble lady from Zamboanga City responsible for etching the name of the Philippines in the gold medal table of the Olympics after nearly a century, will be bestowed with the distinguished honor during the San Miguel Corp.-PSA Awards Night at the Manila Hotel on January 27. The 33-year-old Diaz-Naranjo is just a few years removed from her historic feat of giving the country the breakthrough gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in what served as the highlight of a stellar career that had its roots in Barangay of Mampang.
B ut the impact brought by her Olympic success and other significant victories in the international front made her deserving to be enshrined in the PSA Hall of Fame alongside the greatest athletes in Philippine sports.
In what is the grandest Awards Night ever by the country’s oldest media organization headed by Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star, DiazNaranjo will stand side by side with first ever Filipino Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo as they share center stage in the formal affair co-presented by ArenaPLus, Cignal and MediaQuest.
Yulo, 24, is the winner of the coveted Athlete of the Year award for 2024.
The grand celebration backed by the Philippine Sports Commission,
AOlympic Committee, Milo, PLDT/Smart, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, and Januarius Holdings, with support from the Philippine Basketball Association, Premiere Volleyball League, 1-Pacman Party List, Rain or Shine, AcroCity and Akari marks the first time the country’s two Olympic champions will be in the limelight together.
D iaz is the latest legendary athlete to be elevated iton the Hall of Fame by the country’s sports writing fraternity since the late track and field grate Lydia De Vega in 2022.
T he other PSA Hall of Famers are bowlers Paeng Nepomuceno and Olivia “Bong” Coo, Grandmaster Eugene Torre, billiards great Efren “Bata” Reyes, the late FIDE president Florencio Campomanes and the eminent boxer Manny Pacquiao.
D iaz-Naranjo virtually grew in the eyes of Filipino sports fans.
The daughter of a tricycle driver who moonlights as a farmer and fisherman started lifting weights at the age of nine by using makeshift barbels, eventually joining her first major competition in the 2002 Batang Pinoy, before becoming a member of the national team two years later at the age of 13.
She won her first medal—a bronze—in the Nakhon Ratchasima 2007 Southeast Asian Games as a 16-yearold and a year after, competed in her very first Olympic in the Beijing 2008 Games as a wild card entry.
Diaz-Naranjo also qualified for London 2012 but again came home empty handed.
I t wasn’t until the 2016 edition of the Summer Games in Rio De Janeiro when Diaz-Naranjo, an Air Force officer, finally scored a breakthrough by clinching silver in the women’s 53 kgs category,
gold
D
and the SEA
By Josef Ramos
CRISIS management component is now infused in Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s training and competition regimen, according to the world No. 4’s coach and confidante James Michael “Jim” Lafferty.
“I have long stated that EJ Obiena is a world-class athlete, yet an even better human being, he, like all celebrities, has been unfairly embroiled in various controversies,” said Lafferty, referring to an episode more than a year ago when Obiena was bashed online by the wife of a former top pole vaulter from France.
“Obiena has remarkable ability to overcome challenges, including handling multiple crises over the
in Kyiv over the weekend, ready to embark on a new contest: a soccer tournament.
Organized by Ukraine’s Association of Football, the “League of the Mighty” is Ukraine’s first soccer championship for amputees. Over the past year, the association has invested in local communities to establish teams, recognizing the growing number of war-wounded citizens as a result of the nearly three-year war.
With six outfield players and one goalkeeper on each side, they engaged in intense matches. Outfield players, all lower-limb amputees, and goalkeepers with upperlimb amputations, played without prostheses, relying on wrist clutches for control. Pokrova AMP won
years, and despite the hurdles, EJ rose to become the world’s No. 2, Asia’s top pole vaulter, a member of the 6.0-meter club and a two-time Olympian,” Lafferty said.
A s chairman of Katapult—one of the country’s leading end-to-end marketing solutions providers—Lafferty established this month a new PR and Crisis Management division.
Sensing the need to better serve EJ and other clients, Katapult has established a new PR and Crisis Management division as of January 1,” he said.
L afferty collaborated with Media Head Anika Basa and Data Analytics Head David Rosario to ensure the seamless integration of services.
“The launch of this division underscores Katapult’s commitment to helping clients navigate challenges while safeguarding their reputations and achieving
sustainable growth,” Lafferty said.
L afferty’s leadership experience spans more than three decades and held CEO roles at multinational companies including Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, British American Tobacco and Fine Hygienic Holding.
“Katapult was born as a digitalfirst company with a sniper-shotgun strategy—combining precision targeting of specific consumer personas with broad-reaching campaigns that maximize impact,” Katapult CEO Francis Uy said.
“By leveraging insights from our AI-powered platform, we not only drive marketing success but also provide a robust safety net for brands navigating crises,” he added.
L afferty also mentored Olympian and former Asian long jump champion Marestella Torres-Sunang.
Swiatek breezes to victory; Raducanu battles through injury
ELBOURNE, Australia—Iga
MSwiatek rushed through the first set in 26 minutes and completed her 6-0, 6-2 second-round win over Rebecca Sramkova in an hour at the Australian Open.
The five-time Grand Slam champion makes a habit of advancing quickly through the early rounds at the majors—she’s won 12 percent of her sets in Grand Slams by 6-0, according to the tournament broadcaster.
So when No. 49-ranked Sramkova ended a seven-game losing run by holding serve on Thursday, she raised her arm to acknowledge the applause from the Rod Laver Arena (RLA) crowd.
It was one of the few chances she had to celebrate.
“It was good to play in such an efficient way and just finish it quick,” Swiatek said. “Also, you know, just feel the court and how it is in RLA.”
Second-seeded Swiatek next faces 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, who recovered from an early break in the second set to hold off Amanda Anisimova, 6-3, 7-5.
R aducanu has struggled with injuries since her breakthrough major in 2021, when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title.
She didn’t play a warmup tournament ahead of this year’s Australian Open because of a muscle strain and needed time during her match against Anisimova to get treatment on her back from a trainer.
After advancing beyond the second round for the first time at Melbourne Park, the No. 61-ranked Raducanu was confident she’d have enough time to recover ahead of her next challenge against Swiatek.
“It’ll be a very good match for me, another opportunity to test my game,” she said. “Swiatek has achieved so much already. Going into it, I have nothing to lose. I’m just going to swing.”
Swiatek is moving on from the doping infringement which led to her one-month ban last year. And she’s not showing any signs of it being a distraction.
She did everything at pace in the second round, including quick claps of her racket to acknowledge the crowd after her win. Swiatek didn’t face a break point against Sramkova and converted five of the six she had. She finished off points with winners off both sides, and also hit some clean volleys on her ventures to the net.
She’s feeling slightly less pressure this year, too, after losing the No. 1 ranking to two-time defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka. Yeah, there was a lot of pressure starting the year as No. 1, but I think overall last year I didn’t think about it this much anyway,” she said. “Also, I realized last year that I don’t have 100 percent influence on what happens with my ranking sometimes. So now I just focus on tennis.”
Emma Navarro, a US Open semifinalist last year and seeded in the top eight for the first time at a major, was in trouble after two service breaks early in the third set before she reeled off four straight games to beat Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
S he hopped from the baseline toward the net, and made a big, swirling swing of her arm to underline another tough, three-set victory.
“It was really tough the whole time... super tough there at the end,” Navarro said. “Found some good tennis there in the last games.” AP
IGA SWIATEK: It’s good to play in such an efficient way and just finish it quick. AP
THE new tennis season kicks off in style as Iloilo City welcomes the country’s top players and rising stars for the Governor’s Cup National Open Championships starting Sunday at the Iloilo Sports Complex courts. Leading the charge in the topranking tournament are multi-titled stars Eric Jed Olivarez and Johnny Arcilla and contenders Ronard Joven, Vicente Anasta, JB Aguilar, Eric Jay Tangub, Fritz Verdad, John Kendrick Bona, RJ Saga and Allen Manlangit.
The week-long championship features a 32-player draw, with a lucrative P100,000 top prize, along with a trophy and Philippine Tennis AssociationPalawan Pawnshop, National Tennis Center-Universal Tennis Ranking points.
The runner-up will take home P50,000 with the men’s doubles champions winning P50,000 in the competition sponsored by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. The Governor’s Cup National Juniors Championships will start Friday with nine age-group categories and in . conjunction with the Kasadyaan and Dinagyang Festival celebrations.
A lexandra Onte, Princess Tana, Sam Malbas and Aleeva Suace will vie for the girls’ 18-and-uner crown and in the boys’ side of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop, it will be Antonio Ng Jr., Ian Ituriaga,
Rizzjun Labindao and Theo Zapatos. Tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay invited fans to the event that showcases the best of Philippine tennis while celebrating the vibrant Kasadyaan and Dinagyang Festival. For inquiries, contact 0915-404-6464. Jea Panizales, Isobel Alipo-on, Andrea Malbas and Claire Fungo lead the girls 16-and-under action,
Yeban facing tough challenges from Kyrie Alturino, Christine Billones, Mohammed Blanca, Alekzander Lorenzo, Elix Castromayor, Josef Macalalag and Peter Matutino. T he tournament will also feature the boys’ and girls’ doubles,
HIDILYN DIAZ-NARANJO in an Associated Press photo of her gold medal-winning lift in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
EMMA RADUCANU has struggled with injuries since her breakthrough major in 2021, when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles
the tournament, with captain
ending the country’s medal-less campaign for two decades in what proved to be a prelude to a historic golden feat in Tokyo four years after.
iaz also won
medals in the World Championships, Asian Championships, Asian Games,
Games.
AMP FC Kyiv and MSK Dnipro players compete in the first football tournament for war-wounded amputees in Kyiv. AP
