BusinessMirror January 26, 2023

GUATEMALA dislodged the Philippines as the world’s second-largest exporter of bananas last year, ending the Asian country’s four-year reign as it struggled to keep its share in key markets amid stiffer competition from Latin American producers.

e United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that Guatemala exported a total of 2.467 million metric tons (MMT) of bananas last year, surpassing the Philippines’s 2.235 MMT.

e FAO explained that banana production in the Philippines continued to fall as growers

struggled to address and curb the “devastating” spread of Banana Fusarium Wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) disease.

Furthermore, FAO pointed out that Filipino banana growers suffered a double whammy since they also reeled from “high costs of inputs and fertilizers” last year.

“Both developments are reportedly having a particularly detrimental effect on smallscale banana producers in the Philippines, who are struggling to procure the necessary agricultural inputs to meet the quality

THE Philippines’s farm output last year was reduced by 0.1 percent on an annual basis to P1.75 trillion at constant 2018 prices as better livestock and poultry productions offset contractions in crops and fisheries.

e value of the country’s agricultural output last year was P1.935 billion lower than the P1.758 trillion recorded amount in 2021, according to the latest report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA data showed that this is now the third consecutive year that the country’s agricultural sector contracted.

However, this was also the closest performance of the agricultural sector in reaching a positive growth following the 1.7-percent and 1.2-percent contractions in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

e last time farm output grew was in 2019 at a rate of merely 0.3 percent, based on historical PSA data.

Growth in the livestock and poultry subsectors, the data also showed, buoyed the overall performance of the agricultural sector as output of crops and fi sheries declined year-on-year.

PSA data showed that livestock output grew by 1.9 percent on an annual basis, the fi rst time in four years that it recorded a positive performance since the devastation caused by African swine fever (ASF) in domestic hog farms.

Meanwhile, the poultry industry rebounded with 7-percent growth after contracting by 0.3 percent and 3.5 percent in 2021 and 2020, respectively.

e crop subsector fell by 1 percent on an annual basis due to the impact of typhoons on farms and reduced application of planting inputs by farmers because of higher than usual costs. e fi sheries subsector, meanwhile, declined by 5

THE Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will start sourcing from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) the 670-megawatt (MW) capacity covered by its power supply agreement (PSA) with South Premiere Power Corporation (SPPC) that was covered by a Court of Appeals-issued Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).

On Wednesday evening, the utility fi rm said, “starting tomorrow, January 26, Meralco will source from the WESM.”

e contract capacity of SPPC was partially replaced by Meralco’s 300-MW emergency PSA (EPSA) with Aboitiz-led GNPower Din-

ginin Ltd. (GNPD), which expired on January 25. Meralco had asked GNPD to extend the term of the EPSA, but Meralco did not receive an offer for an extension.

“No offer from them,” Meralco First Vice President Jose Ronald Valles confi rmed in a text message at 5 p.m.

Aboitiz confi rmed the end of the 30-day EPSA with Meralco.

Under the EPSA, the 300MW power was derived from the new 1,336MW GNPower Dinginin Plant in Mariveles, Bataan with a fi xed price of P5.95 per kilowatt hour.

“We remain grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the delivery of a much-needed energy supply covering the Meralco franchise. In the event that Meralco

launches another competitive selection process [CSP], where the terms of reference will be reasonable, Aboitiz Power will certainly participate,” Aboitiz said.

Valles said the expired EPSA lessened Meralco’s exposure to the WESM and, in turn, partly shielded its customers from volatile and potentially higher generation costs. “[Meralco] has no other choice but WESM,” added Valles.

Meralco is also closely working with the Department of Energy (DOE) and all relevant industry players to ensure adequate supply and protect its customers from volatile and higher WESM prices.

As early as December 2022, Meralco started the CSP for ad-

(Albay), Jessa Bation (Iligan City), Mercedita Gaballo (Zamboanga City), Grace Gentapa (Davao), Eda Longanilla (Koronadal City), Meralyn Madria (CDO), Virginia Magay (Makati City), Irma Pamposa (Pampanga), Emilia Rodriguez (San Juan) and Aida Rosales (Talisay City).

ESPITE upward adjustments made on the growth of certain sectors such as real estate and the fi nancial sectors, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) maintained GDP growth at 7.6 percent in the third quarter of e PSA upgraded its growth estimates of real estate and ownership of dwellings to 3.6 percent from 3.1 percent; fi nancial and insurance activities to 7.9 percent from 7.7 percent; and manufacturing to 3.8 percent from 3.6 percent. e data also showed the growth rate of Net Primary Income (NPI) from the Rest of the World recorded an upward revision from 94.6 percent

PSA said the Gross National Income (GNI) in the third quarter of 2022 remained at 10.5 percent. Making GDP revisions, PSA said, are part of the tasks of the agency. is is based on an approved revision policy in PSA Board Resolution No. 1, Series of

PSA gave assurances that their

@caiordinario

PILIPINAS’ The winners of the search for the country’s best domestic workers pose with senators after being feted during the 10th anniversary of Republic Act 10361, or the Domestic Workers Act or Batas Kasambahay. The law’s author, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, gave out the awards as head of the Senate’s Labor panel. He was joined by Senators Cynthia Villar, Francis Tolentino, Robin Padilla and Ronald Dela Rosa, and Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma. The awardees are Luzviminda Alvarado

ROY DOMINGO

www.businessmirror.com.ph

ROTC bill gets more senators’ support

ASENATE panel has resumed hearings on proposals seeking to make Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory, with several senators expressing support for the initiative.

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa presided over the continuation of the hybrid hearing of the Higher Education, Technical, and Vocational Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

At the outset, Sen. Dela Rosa said the committee intends to focus on various areas of the proposals including the coverage, curriculum, registration and incentives. “As the Chair of this Sub-committee, am again looking forward to everyone’s positions, comments, and suggestions on the bills to be considered, so that this sub-committee may create a consolidated bill that will make this nation great as we invest in our youth through the reinstitution of the ROTC Program,” says Dela Rosa.

In turn, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian thanked Dela Rosa for accepting his proposal to make the ROTC mandatory for the first two years of schooling.

“That is the whole essence. To train our students with military discipline, with military training..embedded in that military training are basic survival skills as well as basic disaster preparedness skills as well as other skills,” Gatchalian said.

Once the proposals are passed into law, Gatchalian said the military will be assigned to impart discipline and training to Filipino students.

At the same time, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito also backed the Dela Rosa initiative. He credited his experiences as a young cadet in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program that developed him to the kind of person that he is today.

During the public hearing, Ejercito reiterated his full support to reinstate the ROTC program in tertiary schools in the Philippines to instill patriotism, discipline and respect for authorities to the Filipino youth.

“I am a proud ROTC graduate. I did not apply for exemption even when it was available. I went through the rigorous training.

Instead of hanging out on those Fridays and Saturdays, I endured the heat of the sun and learned much from the ROTC. I’m proud to say that it has helped hone me to the person I am today,” Sen. Ejercito said in a mix of English and Filipino. Butch Fernandez

PEZA’s Panga pitches CREATE as platform to stir local production

By Andrea E. San Juan

PHL loses No. 2 spot for banana exporters

requirements of export markets,” the international agency said in its preliminary global banana market review report published recently.

“Based on available data and information, banana shipments from the Philippines are estimated to fall by some 6 percent over the full year, to [2.235] million tonnes,” it added. The Philippines exported 2.383 MMT of bananas in 2021, according to the FAO. The total estimated banana shipments by the Philippines in 2022 was the lowest in six years or since 2017 when it exported 2.725 MMT, based on FAO data.

“Maybe it’s about time that the government, with the CREATE as the platform, stimulate domestic production and services by giving incentives to Filipino-owned enterprises,” PEZA Officer-in-Charge Tereso O. Panga said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Anvil Exchange Forum, Panga added that some of the Anvil members engaged in the domestic market have already expressed interest in exploring business within the ecozones, including development of ecozones in rural and new growth areas.

He also underscored the importance of increasing domestic output, as domestic producers far outnumber the export producers.

“Ultimately, domestic production contributes to the [gross domestic product] GDP. It cannot be just the exporters doing all the production. This is also a sign of

strength of an economy when we see domestic output increasing.

If we aggregate all these domestic producers, they are far bigger than the export producers, except that they are not aware of their incen tives,” Panga added.

The PEZA interim chief, as part of aggressive investment promotions, also pitched to the Anvil Business Club the investment and business opportunities in various economic zones to young FilipinoChinese entrepreneurs.

“We can help in the administration’s efforts to graduate to an upper-middle income economy with our partnership and more importantly, with the contributions of young entrepreneurs like yourselves in shaping the market and our future,” Panga noted.

The Anvil Business Club is an organization of young FilipinoChinese businessmen and profes -

sionals committed to letting young entrepreneurs and professionals pursue excellence in their chosen fields for the economic and social progress of the country.

As of 2022, there are 160 registered Chinese companies in PEZA contributing P25.446 billion investments or 0.94 percent of the total investments in PEZA. These companies also generated $358.434-million exports and created 15,724 direct jobs.

The key industries that these Chinese locator companies engage in are: basic metals, real estate activities, rubber and plastic products, fabricated metal products, warehousing and storage, electrical machinery and apparatus, radio, television and communication equipment and apparatus, software development, business process outsourcing (BPO), and paper products.

Permanent PEZA chief MEANWHILE , Anvil also echoed the urgency of appointing a permanent director general of PEZA to “ensure the implementation and unhampered operations” of the agency in promoting and attracting more investors in the country.

“Many IT-BPOs, foreign investor business groups and professional groups, even PEZA employ-

ees, have publicly called for the President and the national government to permanently appoint [OIC Panga] as the Director General of PEZA,” Anvil Chairman Wilson Lee Flores said. “He is a very good career official who is with PEZA, one of the most progressive and pro-business institutions. He is behind many of the progressive policies that are very important for ecozone development for inviting foreign direct investments,” he added. In a separate memorandum addressed to the president dated November 11,2022, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual also endorsed the appointment of Panga as Director General of PEZA.

“His extensive experience as Deputy Director General will be useful to the PEZA’s current administration. He has led PEZA’s policy and planning, ecozone development, digital transformation, building and environmental code compliance, energy efficiency, and other eco-industrial initiatives since 2022,” the memorandum penned by Pascual read.

“We are confident in Mr. Panga’s leadership ability to strengthen PEZA and advance this Administration’s progressive goals to generate investments, jobs, exports, and other economic opportunities for the country,” the letter added.

For 3rd consecutive yr, farm output shrinks

percent year-on-year.

Palay production last year declined by 210,000 metric tons to 19.75 million metric tons (MMT) from the record-high volume 19.96 MMT posted in 2021, PSA data showed. Corn output, likewise, fell by 45,000 MT to 8.255 MMT from 8.3 MMT in 2021.

Hog output grew for the first time in four years, reaching 1.737 MMT last year. The volume was

WESM...

ditional 480-MW supply starting February of this year.

Meralco assured customers that it exhausts all measures to continue delivering stable and reliable electricity at the least cost under the current circumstances.

SPPC halted the power supply to Meralco after the CA issued the TRO on their PSA.

Meralco then asked SPPC to pay the price difference between the contract price and the WESM price, to which Meralco would be exposed during the effectivity of the TRO.

The claims, Meralco added, will

2.4 percent higher than the 1.696 MMT recorded output in 2021, based on PSA data.

Chicken meat production last year also recovered posting a 7-percent increase in growth. Chicken meat output reached 1.866 MMT compared to the 1.744 MMT recorded in 2021.

At current prices, however, the value of the country’s agricultural output last year rose by 7.5 percent to P2.144 trillion from P1.995 trillion in 2021, according to the PSA.

be on top of all applicable fines, penalties, and liquidated damages under the PSA in the event that the CA eventually resolves the main case and denies the Petition of SPPC.

Meralco said it has been exhausting all efforts to protect customers from potentially higher generation costs, while ensuring continuity of stable, reliable, and least cost power under the current circumstances.

Earlier, the Energy Regulatory Commission rejected the petition of SPPC and Meralco to increase generation charges due to higher costs of coal and natural gas, noting that the agreed price in the PSA is fixed and the causes cited by the companies were not factors for price adjustments.

The Philippines reclaimed its spot as the second-largest exporter of bananas in 2018 after shipping a total of 3.125 MMT, according to the FAO.

The FAO reported that the Philippines has lost substantial market share in its key destinations such as China. The FAO pointed out that from a market share of as much as 75 percent, the Philippines now accounts for just 38 percent of the total bananas imported by China.

“Imports of Filipino bananas, meanwhile, dropped by a reported 8 percent over this period due to the continuing production difficulties experienced in the Philippines,” it said.

Aside from being overtaken by Guatemala, the Philippines might further slip in the global rankings because of the growing exports of other Central American banana producers, the FAO report also showed.

Last year, the FAO estimated that Colombia, the fourth-largest exporter, shipped an estimated total of 2.125 MMT of bananas, just 100,000 MT lower than the Philippines’s.

Colombia’s total banana exports have consistently risen in the past five years as it enjoyed low tariffs imposed by its partner countries.

Costa Rica, estimated to have ranked fifth last year, exported 2.122 MMT of bananas, just some 113,000 MT away from matching the Philippines’s total shipments.

The Philippines is also now facing strong competition from neighboring Asian countries such as VietNam and Cambodia, which have been aggressive in expanding their banana production. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/09/13/phl-share-in-asianbanana-exports-down-to-60/)

The Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association earlier told the BusinessMirror that the Philippines is not just losing market share in key banana markets to Latin American and Asian producers, but investments as well. (Related story: https:// businessmirror.com.ph/2021/07/20/ pbgea-outlines-threats-to-phlbanana-industry/)

FAO explained that its full-year estimates of the global banana market last year were based on the responses of the country to its questionnaire as well as latest data available until the end of October last year. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

PSA keeps GDP growth at 7.6% in 3rd quarter

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is urging the government to leverage the Corporate Recovery and Tax incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act as a platform to stimulate domestic production and services.

PEZA Officer-in-Charge Tereso O. Panga

Australian Day

Celebrating Fil-Aussie ties and elevating it to strategic partnership level

high-quality.

Australian companies in the Philippines also cover a wide range of sectors, employing around 44,000 Filipinos across the country. Some of these include: Accolade Wines, Banktech Group, CCL Secure, GHD, IDP Education, Leighton Asia, Macquarie, Oceanagold, Orica, Privasec, Qantas, QBE, Telstra, Western Australian Government, Worley Power Services Asia.

Australian Festival

In celebration of Australia Day today, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Australian Embassy in the Philippines, and the Victorian Government bring you the Australian Festival available across all supermarket and online stores of the Robinsons Retail Group until January 31, 2023.

T his year’s Australian Festival highlights over 600 Australian products, including iconic Australian brands and premium items from Woolworths available in Robinsons Retail Group’s supermarkets – The Marketplace, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise, and online stores like GoCartPH.

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

USTRALIANS take the time out on Australia National Day to remember the stories that have helped shaped the modern country it is today. ”

In her message on the occasion of Australia National Day, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency HK Yu PSM said the Australian story began a long time ago. For at least 65,000 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived in Australia.

“In the 21st century, Australia is a multicultural nation. Just like me, one of our Australians are migrants, and almost half of all Aussies have a parent born overseas,” Yu noted.

She added that it would not be possible to tell the story of Australia without mentioning the Philippines. According to Yu, Filipino migration to Australia could be traced back to the 1802 when pioneering “Manila Men” arrived in northern Australia to work in the pearling industry. Many of the first Filipinos settled in remote coastal towns like Broome, Cooktown, and Thursday Island.

From these humble roots, the Filipino community in Australia has grown to become one of our largest and most important. Today, more than 400,000 Australians were either born in the Philippines or are of Filipino ancestry, making it our fifth largest ethnic group,” Yu said.

Strong people-to-people links

In addition to the permanent migrants, Yu said the people-to-people links between Australia and the Philippines are strong. She pointed out that in 2019, Australia was the top international destination for Filipino university students.

On my recent visits to Cebu and Davao, I have greatly enjoyed meeting some of our alumni and hearing of how their studies in Australia have enriched them both personally and professionally,” she said.

“ Having now been in the Philippines for six months, I can see the depth of ties between our two peoples is due to our similar national characters. Both Filipinos and Australians value humor, adaptability, openness and are down to earth people. Perhaps most significantly, we value true friends and share a willingness to band together including in times of adversity,” Yu added.

Strategic partner

While the strong connection between both countries underpins their excellent bilateral cooperation across the important areas of inclusive development, security and trade relations, Yu said there is so much more that can be done and done together.

“And I am committed to driving and raising our bilateral relationship to that of a strategic partner this year, We have an exciting 2023 ahead,” Yu added.

A s the world bounces back from the Covid-19 pandemic, trade ties between Australia and the Philippines continue to grow. The Philippines is a priority partner for Australia, and more Philippine companies are looking to do business in Australia.

Australia is one of the Philippines’ top sources of beef and lamb, wines, dairy, and fresh fruits like table grapes, citrus, and stone fruits. A range of Australian healthy breakfast and grocery items, health and beauty products are also available in the market. With clean and pristine environment, strict health and food safety protocols, consumers are assured that Australian-made products are safe and

“A

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency HK Yu PSM.

The Australian Festival highlights over 600 Australian products at Robinson’s Retail Group Supermarkets – The Marketplace, Robinsons Supermarket, Shopwise.

Nation

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

House to resume deliberations on Charter change proposals

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

THE House Committee on Constitutional Amendments will resume today congressional deliberations on pending proposals to amend the Constitution for the first time since it was ratified in February 1987.

T he House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, chaired by Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, is set to deliberate 9 proposals amending the 1987 charter.

Author of HB 4926 or an act constituting a constitutional convention to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution,  Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte has welcomed

the House leadership’s recent move to fast track this year the proposed charter change.

“ We welcome the decision of the House leadership to put on the fast lane, along with the remaining priority bills drawn up by the Congress and President Marcos last October, separate proposals to at last reform the 1987  Constitution,” said Villafuerte.

It’s about time to introduce changes to the antiquated and inapt provisions of our 1987 Charter, which has long been crying for reforms,” added Villafuerte, who is president of the National Unity Party (NUP).

V illafuerte’s HB 4926 calls for the election of Con-Con del -

egates—at one representative per legislative district—in a balloting to be held simultaneously with the next nationwide polls, which, in this case, is the postponed barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) reset on October 30, 2023.

T he BSKE was originally scheduled last December 5, 2022, but it was moved back to this year, based on the poll postponement law—Republic Act (RA) 11935—signed by President Marcos last October.

T he next electoral exercise after the BSKE is the midterm elections for congressional and local officials on  May 12, 2025.

V illafuerte agreed with Rodriguez that the economic provisions

of the Constitution need amending as soon as possible.

But Villafuerte is open, too, to a review of, and  possible changes to, the political and other major provisions of the Constitution, in the event that the would-be Con-Con delegates do consider such amendments and/ or revisions.

The clamor for Charter Change has always been relevant,” said Villafuerte in the bill. “However, calls for genuine constitutional reforms have taken a backseat because of perceived controversies and allegations of corruption in previous administrations.”

“ Filipinos, meanwhile, take severe punishment from corruption, high prices, inequitable distribution

of income, and a lopsided playing field when it comes to foreign investments,” he said. “Thus, while it is a given that the present Charter needs to go through the process of amendment and/or revision, this should be done with much deliberation and in a transparent and trustworthy atmosphere.”

For Villafuerte, the Constitution’s “inward-looking, overly protective” provisions on the economy are “believed responsible for handcuffing  the Philippines from becoming  an investment haven despite its pre-pandemic rise as one of Asia’s economic star.”

H e said that in the realm of economic reforms,  “the Philippines has won international in -

vestment-grade ratings and acclaimed as a rising economic star in recent years, but such accolades have not attracted the impressive level of foreign direct investments [FDIs] going to, say,  Vietnam or Thailand, because of our restrictive constitutional provisions that limit foreigners to a maximum 40 percent participation in certain local businesses that are attractive to foreign investors.”

Solid proof that the 40 percent cap on foreign ownership has been the perennial deal-breaker for prospective overseas investors are the latest official investment data pointing to declining FDIs and investment pledges,” Villafuerte said.

Army relieves general linked to Chua-Plaza murder case

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

PHILIPPINE Army (PA) Commanding General Romeo Brawner Jr. has relieved Brig.

Gen. Jesus Durante as commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade after he had been named as a “person of interest” in the continuing investigation into the killing of businesswoman Yvonne Chua-Plaza in Davao City

early this month.

In a statement released to military reporters, Brawner said Durante was relieved of his post to give way to an impartial and thorough investigation into Chua’s murder, which is being pursued by the Davao City Police.

The Philippine Army will not condone any criminal acts committed by its personnel. As such BGen [brigadier general] Jesus Durante has been relieved as commander of

the 1001st Brigade after being named as a person of interest in the murder of Yvonnette Chua-Plaza to give way to an impartial and thorough investigation,” Brawner said.

“ The Army ensures the public that this incident is not service related,” he added.

C hua-Plaza was shot outside of her residence in Davao City by one of two suspects who were riding a motorcycle. The incident was

caught on CCTV.

Durante’s name was dragged into the killing after Chua-Plaza herself posted on her social media account months before her death photos of the injuries allegedly inflicted on her by Durante, and whom, she claimed, had also threatened her.

Durante, former chief of the Presidential Security Group during the term of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, had denied any involvement

in the murder case.

In an earlier statement, the Army general said his name was only drawn into the killing as a result of the social media posts made by Chua-Plaza, whom he considered as a “friend.”

O n Wednesday, however, radio reports quoted police probers as saying that two of the men who were tracked down based on CCTV footage had pointed to Durante as involved in the case.

Rep. Quimbo baffled by ‘mysteries’ surrounding onion industry

AN economist-lawmaker on Wednesday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to closely coordinate with the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) to investigate the reported existence of an onion cartel in the country.

During a briefing of the DA with the House Committee on Agriculture and Food,  Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo strongly believed that the alleged anti-competitive practices and cartel in the onion industry are the main factors driving the high price of onions.

Q uimbo said that the onion shortage is only at about 7 percent, which makes skyrocketing prices questionable.

“I am informing you right now, for your information, the government agency that has jurisdiction over cartel is PCC, you need to report to the PCC, you need to coordinate with them, they have sufficient powers to enforce against any cartel in the

entire Philippine economy,” Quimbo told  Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Glenn Panganiban.

Panganiban agreed with lawmakers that there could be anomalies in the supply chain, noting that farmers confirmed in a stakeholders’ consultation, that supply is available.

In the same hearing, Panganiban said they raided a warehouse with alleged smuggled onions from China in November last year in Valenzuela, but when they returned to confiscate the onions, the crop “disappeared overnight.”

We had a report that there were found ‘maid in China’ onions in a cold storage last year but the very next day that thousands of bags of onions suddenly disappeared,” said Panganiban.

Panganiban assured Quimbo that they are coordinating with the PCC on the matter.

I can’t say if there is a cartel but it looks like [some groups are] control-

ling [this problem on onions], I don’t know if that’s what it’s called—[cartel],” he said.

T he House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga held a briefing with the DA  on the state of the country’s onion industry.

Enverga said the panel wants the government to be more responsive to the needs of the sector.

He added that mechanisms should be put in place to make the country more prepared, stressing that timely response is important in agriculture.

Skyrocket

ACCORDING to Quimbo, the price of local onion skyrocketed in September 2022.

In August [last year] your assessment of the supply is enough but by September or 30 days after, the price of onions has skyrocketed, in fact we are the highest in the world. So what’s your explanation there, again prices

determined by the supply and demand, and now we have no more supply, what happened?” Quimbo asked.

Also, how did we go from a situation of excess supply and very low prices in 2019 to the exact opposite in 2022 of lack of supply and very very high prices,” she added.

P anganiban, meanwhile, told lawmakers that onion production remained steady since 2016, and even continued to increase until last year.

Panganiban said that the BPI is implementing initiatives to help address challenges in the onion industry, including strengthening cooperation with the Philippine Statistics Authority to harmonize onion data; assisting farmers to sell direct to consumers through Kadiwa; establishing new storage facilities; collaborating with law enforcement and port authorities to curb smuggling and unscrupulous trading; and  provision of seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides to farmers.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

DOJ junks human trafficking case vs POGO firms, officials

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has junked the human trafficking charges filed by the Philippine National Police— Women and Children Protection Center against the owners and supervisors of a Pasay-based Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) service provider.

“A careful analysis of the pieces of evidence in this case leads to a determination that there is no evidence of conspiracy, whether expressed or implied, among the respondents. There is nothing in the records that demonstrates any presence of express agreement among the respondents to illegally traffic the complainants,” the resolution read.

A mong those cleared were Hu Xian Jie, Sai Sai Kyein, Aeint Shwe Yi Htut, MOA Cloudzone Corporation, Oriental Group Company and Shuang Ma Company.

However, the DOJ recommended the filing of qualified trafficking in persons against Chue Thiri Ngone, a.k.a Christine Chue Ni Quian.

T he panel noted that the offender, in a trafficking case, must commit acts of trafficking such as “recruitment, obtaining, hiring, providing, offering, transporting, maintaining, harboring, or receiving a person by any means under the pretext of domestic or overseas employment of training or apprenticeship.”

“All these acts were performed by respondent Christine. There is no showing that respondents Hu Xian Jie, Aeint Shwe Yi Htut, Sai Sai Keyin and the ‘Chinese Boss’ had any participation in any of these acts of trafficking—i.e., recruitment, hiring, transportation, maintaining and harboring of the private complainants,” the resolution read.

Based on the affidavits executed by 13 complainants, mostly Burmese nationals, they were lured by job opportunities to the Philippine being offered by Christine.

Using her Facebook profile as advertising platform, and the Telegram app to interview applicants, all the 13 complainants were hired by Christine.

Upon their arrival in the country on August 30, 2022, they were fetched from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by two Filipinos and transported to their dormitory at Concorde Village.

I mmediately upon arrival at the dormitory, they met respondent Christine, who then confiscated their passports and briefed them of their tasks.

However, none of the jobs they applied for materialized as they were made to work as scammers by downloading and creating profiles in dating apps.

T hey added they were made to work in three different companies located in Pasay City, and Bacoor City, Cavite.

Pinoys believe quality of life improved, but still far from pre-Covid level–poll

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

not hungry families were very high at positive 10. Compared to October, the SWS said the Net Gainers score also rose to very high from high among the Not Hungry families to positive 10 from positive 2.

It [net gainers] rose from mediocre to fair among the Overall Hungry families, up from minus 17 to minus 7. It also rose from mediocre to fair among the Moderately Hungry, up from minus 19 to minus 4. However, it fell from mediocre to low among the Severely Hungry, down from minus 11 to minus 21,” SWS said.

T he data showed 34 percent of adult Filipinos said their qualityof-life was better than 12 months before, while 26 percent said it got worse and 39 percent said it was the same compared to a year ago.

SWS said the December 2022 Net Gainer score was up from the fair levels of net zero in October 2022 and negative 2 in June 2022 and April 2022. However, this was still 10 points below the pre-pandemic level of very high positive 18 in December 2019.

“ The survey question on the respondents’ assessment of their change in quality-of-life in the past 12 months has been fielded 147 times since April 1983,” SWS said.

“ The Net Gainer score was gener-

ally negative until 2015, when it rose to positive numbers until the drastic deterioration beginning with the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns. It has since trended back upwards but still has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels,” it explained.

T he survey found that adult Filipinos belonging to the 3 million families who experienced involuntary hunger in December said their quality of life worsened compared to 12 months prior.

T he data showed net gainers among the Severely Hungry families was low at minus 21; fair among the overall hungry at minus 7; and fair among the moderately hungry at minus 4.

However, net gainers among the

T he ambassador did not address BusinessMirror’s question on the lack of reciprocity in terms of arrival procedures, as Filipinos, whether vaccinated or not, are required to take an RT-PCR test 48 hours prior to departure for China. The Philippines, on the other hand, only requires unvaccinated international  travelers to take a Covid antigen test. Huang merely said, foreign tourists no longer need to quarantine upon arrival in China, and both foreigners “including Chinese nationals [have] to take a PCR test.”

Tuesday’s batch of Chinese tourists who arrived via Xiamen Air MF819 are believed to be traveling onward to other local destinations to enjoy their Lunar New Year vacation. In a Viber exchange with Xiamen Air’s general manager for Manila Yan Tan, he said, “The final destination [of said tourists]  cannot be seen in our system,

T he DTI, as one of the implementing agencies of the Price Act, said it has been assisting the DA in monitoring prices of some agricultural products.

For instance, upon the publication of the suggested retail price (SRP) for red onions, the Trade department said Pascual immediately deployed price monitoring teams across the country to check its prices and supply in wet markets and supermarkets.

Further, Pascual led the monitoring Taskforce of the Fair Trade Enforce -

“And one thing that was very apparent in our exchanges is that basically the issues are not directly in reference to the agreement itself. That is one thing that we should take note of,” Gepty said.

What needs to be done to address these concerns which are more

and they may buy tickets from different airlines in stages…. But according to our understanding, may tourists will look for opportunities to explore the beautiful Philippines, such as Boracay and many other beautiful tourist attractions.”

Huang himself was a recent visitor to Boracay, where he conducted an ocular inspection to check on the island’s readiness to receive Chinese tourists.

Health risks

MEANWHILE , the Department of Tourism (DOT) tried to allay health concerns from the arrival of the Chinese tourists, many of whom are believed to be unvaccinated, one of the reasons Covid cases continue to spread there. No official data specifies the number of vaccinated Chinese citizens.

Whether it’s Covid-19, or any other virus or illness, health concerns are quite common in any

ment Bureau (FTEB) during the Ikot Palengke Program.

The Department is committed to assist DA in ensuring the availability of affordable red onions in the market and to stabilize market prices. Through the NPCC, the DTI assures the general public that the government is working hand-inhand to address this issue, particularly the supply chain from the farmgate to the retailer, or to borrow the words of the President, ‘from farm to table,’” the Trade department said

RCEP

focused on domestic programs, projects and also initiatives. For example, the anti-smuggling efforts. With or without RCEP, this needs to be addressed. And all efforts to enhance the anti-smuggling campaign must be welcomed,” he added.

W hile the Philippines has not

country, including the Philippines. The important thing is that our government continues to observe minimum public health standards, at the same time, ensuring that we are able to strike a balance between protecting the public health as well as promoting livelihood, considering all the losses that have ensued since the pandemic,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

She said existing protocols in place regarding the arrival of foreign travelers continue to be observed. “We continue to convey the Philippines’s readiness to receive Chinese tourists and foreign nationals from all over the world, as the effort really is to help our fellow Filipinos regain the losses that  they’ve had and suffered through the difficult times of the pandemic.”

T he DOT has set a goal of some 4.8 million international travelers arriving in the Philippines this year.   Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

on Wednesday.

Under Republic Act No. 7581 (RA7581), or the Price Act, as amended, the DA has jurisdiction over agricultural basic necessities and prime commodities (BNPCs) such as rice, corn, cooking oil, and all agricultural and other marine products, fresh eggs, fresh pork, beef and poultry meat, fresh milk, fresh vegetables, root crops, sugar, fresh fruits, onion, garlic, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, poultry, swine and cattle feeds, among others. Andrea E. San Juan

Based on regions, adult Filipinos living in Mindanao saw the highest improvement in their quality of life compared to a year ago.

SWS also noted that net gainers rose sharply to very high from mediocre in Mindanao, up by 21 points to positive 10 in December last year from minus 11 in October 2022.

T he SWS data showed there was an eight-point increase in the national Net Gainer score between October 2022 and December 2022 was due to increases in all areas, especially in Mindanao.

S WS said Mindanao was followed by Metro Manila or the National Capital Region (NCR) and Balance Luzon.

In Metro Manila, the data showed

Net Gainers rose to very high from high or up by 9 points to positive 18 in December 2022 from positive 9 in October 2022.

T he data also showed net gainers also rose to very high from high in Balance Luzon, up by 2 points to positive 10 in December 2022 from positive 8 in October 2022.

However, net gainers only rose to fair from mediocre in the Visayas, up by 9 points to minus 4 in December 2022 from minus 13 in October last year.

T he fourth quarter 2022 Social Weather Survey was conducted from December 10 to 14, 2022, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Face-to-face is the standard interviewing method for Social Weather Stations; the only exceptions were early in the pandemic when movement restrictions made face-to-face impossible and mobile phone interviews were conducted.

Normal face-to-face field operations resumed in November 2020. The sampling error margins are ±2.8 percent for national percentages, ±5.7 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

yet ratified its membership to the RCEP, Gepty said the RCEP parties are already enjoying the benefit of having a wide area for accumulating raw materials. He said sourcing raw materials from the 14 members of the trade deal is “one big advantage” for the Philippines.

A DULT Filipinos who believed their quality of life improved in the past 12 months increased, but the growth was still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Price body meets over onion prices, supply woes

‘Delay in PHL joining

sends mixed signals to investors’

Envoy: Despite latest Ayungin case, Chinese tourists will come

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

LE LUU LOI Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

LE VAN DUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires

LUU THI TAM Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

LY THI THU Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

LY VAN HUONG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

LY VAN THANG Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Basic

Basic

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to Speak, Read and Write Chinese Language

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

43.

44.

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

NGO ANH TUAN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Managing incoming calls and customer service inquires.

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read, and write chinese language. Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic

Berlin airport cancels all flights Wednesday amid wage strike

By William Wilkes

BERLIN’S airport said it has canceled all passenger flights Wednesday because of a strike organized by the Verdi union, severing the German capital from international air travel.

The dispute means that 300 takeoffs and landings won’t be possible, affecting about 35,000 passengers, according to a statement by the BER airport operator. Among the airport’s biggest airlines are discount specialist EasyJet Plc and

Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

A spokesperson for Lufthansa said the airline was offering passengers rebooked flights on Thursday or train alternatives.

Labor union Verdi called the warning strike, citing dissatisfac-

tion with proposals made in three rounds of collective bargaining negotiations by the airport’s management. It’s demanding an increase of €500 ($543) a month for ground services employees over a 12-month period as well as higher bonuses for air security personnel who work weekends and public holidays.

“The workers are massively overloaded,” Enrico Ruemker, leader of the Verdi union’s transport section in Berlin, said by phone, adding that there are no further walkouts planned to coincide with the looming winter holiday in the capital next week. “This is the airlines’ fault for pursuing strategies of offering the cheapest tickets possible.”

The latest disruption at Berlin follows a tumultuous summer of strikes and delays at Germany’s

biggest airports after labor unions pushed for better pay deals to offset the cost of living squeeze. German inflation rates have soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove gas and other energy prices higher.

Berlin-Brandenburg opened in 2020 after eight years of construction delays. More than 19 million passengers passed through the airport in 2022, according to the operator’s web site. Frankfurt, by comparison, handled almost 49 million passengers last year.

Air traffic has come back from the pandemic, with leisure travel picking up most notably. The surge caused chaos at airports across Europe last year after operators and ground personnel struggled to meet demand. With assistance from Alexander Pearson/Bloomberg

JUSTICE DEPT. SUES GOOGLE OVER DIGITAL ADVERTISING DOMINANCE

By Barbara Ortutay, Eric Tucker & Frank Bajak The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—The Justice Department and eight states filed an antitrust suit against Google on Tuesday, seeking to shatter its alleged monopoly on the entire ecosystem of online advertising as a hurtful burden to advertisers, consumers and even the US government.

The government alleged in the complaint that Google is looking to “neutralize or eliminate” rivals in the online ad marketplace through acquisitions and to force advertisers to use its products by making it difficult to use competitors’ offerings. It’s part of a new, if slow and halting, push by the US to rein in big tech companies that have enjoyed largely unbridled growth in the past decade and a half.

“Monopolies threaten the free and fair markets upon which our economy is based. They stifle innovation, they hurt producers and workers, and they increase costs for consumers,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference Tuesday.

For 15 years, Garland said, Google has “pursued a course of anti-competitive conduct” that has stalled the rise of rival technologies and manipulated the mechanics of online ad auctions to force advertisers and publishers to use its tools.

In so doing, he added, Google “engaged in exclusionary conduct” that has “severely weakened,” if not destroyed, competition in the ad tech industry.

The suit, the latest legal action brought by the government against Google, accuses the company of unlawfully monopolizing the way ads are served online by excluding competitors. Google’s ad manager lets large publishers who have significant direct sales manage their advertisements. The ad exchange, meanwhile, is a realtime marketplace to buy and sell online display ads.

Garland said Google controls the technology used by most major website publishers to offer advertising space for sale, as well as the largest ad exchange that matches publishers and advertisers

together when ad space is sold. The result, he added, is that “website creators earn less and advertisers pay more.”

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, demands that Google divest itself of the businesses of buyer, seller and auctioneer of digital display advertising, remaining with search—its core business— and other products and services including YouTube, Gmail and cloud services.

Digital ads currently account for about 80 percent of Google’s revenue, and by and large support its other, less lucrative endeavors. But the company, along with Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has seen its market share decline in recent years as smaller rivals grab bigger portions of the online advertising market. Beyond that, the overall online ads environment market is cooling off as advertisers clamp down on spending and brace for a potential recession.

Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, said in a statement that the suit “doubles down on a flawed argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.”

Tuesday’s lawsuit comes as the US government is increasingly looking to rein in Big Tech’s dominance, although such legal action can take years to complete and

Congress has not passed any recent legislation seeking to curb the influence of the tech industry’s largest players.

The European Union has been more active. It launched an antitrust investigation into Google’s digital ad dominance in 2021. British and European regulators are also looking into whether an agreement for online display advertising services between Google and Meta breached rules on fair competition.

An Internet services trade group that includes Google as a member described the lawsuit and its “radical structural remedies” as unjustified.

Matt Schruers, president of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, said competition for advertising is fierce and the “governments’ contention that digital ads aren’t in competition with print, broadcast, and outdoor advertising defies reason.”

Dina Srinivasan, a Yale University fellow and adtech expert, said the lawsuit is “huge” because it aligns the entire nation—state and federal governments—in a bipartisan legal offensive against Google.

The current online ad market, Srinivasan said, “is broken and totally inefficient.” The fact that intermediaries are getting 30 percent to 50 percent of the take on each ad trade is “an insane inefficiency to have baked into the US economy.” She called it “a massive

The AP interview takeaways: Pope on ‘patience’ in China

VATICAN CITY—Saying “we must walk patiently in China,” Pope Francis views continued dialogue with Beijing as the guiding principle in his efforts to safeguard his flock, who are a small minority in that Asian nation.

hotel where Francis lives. In front of the pope’s private study is a statue depicting Our Lady of Sheshan. Francis said when the cardinal saw it, “he began to cry, like a child.”

tax on the free Internet and consumers at large. It directly affects the viability of a free press” as well.

As with many highly complex technical markets, it has taken time for federal and state regulators and policymakers to catch up with and understand the online ad market. Srinivasan noted that it took a decade before they woke up to the perils of high-speed trading in financial markets and began adopting measures to discourage it.

Google held nearly 29 percent of the US digital advertising market—it includes all the ads people see on computers, phones, tablets and other Internet-connected devices—in 2022, according to research firm Insider Intelligence. Facebook parent company Meta is second, commanding nearly 20 percent of the market. Amazon is a distant, but growing, third at more than 11 percent.

Insider is estimating that both Google and Meta’s share of the ad market will decline, while rivals such as Amazon and TikTok are expected to see gains.

This is the latest legal action taken against Google by either the Justice Department or local state governments. In October 2020, for instance, the Trump administration and 11 state attorneys general sued Google for violating antitrust laws, alleging anticompetitive practices in the search and search advertising markets.

Asked why the Justice Department would bring the suit when a similar complaint has already been filed by states, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter, the department’s top antitrust official, said, “We conducted our own investigation, and that investigation occurred over many years.”

Tuesday’s lawsuit in essence aligns the Biden administration and new states with the 35 states and District of Colombia that sued Google in December 2020 over the exact same issues.

The states taking part in the suit include California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

AP Technology Writer Ortutay reported from SanFranciscoandBajakfromBoston.APTechnology WriterMattO’Briencontributedtothisreport.

Hipkins sworn in as New Zealand PM, pledges focus on economy

By Nick Perry The Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Chris Hipkins was sworn in Wednesday as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister, following the unexpected resignation last week of Jacinda Ardern.

Hipkins, 44, has promised a back-to-basics approach focusing on the economy and what he described as the “pandemic of inflation.”

He will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls indicating his Labour Party is trailing its conservative opposition.

New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro officiated the brief

swearing in ceremony in front of his friends and colleagues after she earlier accepted Ardern’s resignation.

“This is the biggest privilege and responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said at the ceremony. “I’m energized and excited by the challenges that lie ahead.”

Carmel Sepuloni was also sworn in as deputy prime minister, the first time a person with Pacific Island heritage has taken on the role. She congratulated Hipkins and thanked him for the trust he’d placed in her.

After the ceremony, Hipkins said as an aside to reporters: “It feels pretty real now.”

Hipkins is known to many by the nickname “Chippy,” which fits with his upbeat demeanor and skills as an amateur handyman. He served as education and

police minister under Ardern. He rose to public prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic, when he took on a kind of crisis management role. But he and other liberals have long been in the shadow of Ardern, who became a global icon of the left and exemplified a new style of leadership.

Ardern last week said she was resigning after more than five years in the role because she no longer had “enough in the tank” to do the job justice. “It’s that simple,” she said.

On Tuesday she made her final official appearance as prime minister, saying the thing she would miss most was the people because they had been the “joy of the job.”

On Wednesday morning, she was greeted with hugs and farewells by dozens of former staff and

The Associated Press, in an exclusive interview on Tuesday with Pope Francis at the Vatican, asked what comes next in the diplomatic overtures between both countries.

“We are taking steps,” Francis replied. “Each case [of a bishop’s nomination] is looked at with a magnifying lens.” The pontiff added that “that’s the main thing, the dialogue doesn’t break.”

As for Chinese authorities, “sometimes they are a little closed, sometimes not,” Francis said.

The pope sidestepped a question about how the Vatican’s relationship with Taiwan affects the dialogue. The Holy See is one of the few states to maintain formal ties with Taiwan instead of with China.

Francis has been criticized by more conservative factions of the Catholic Church for a 2018 agreement with Beijing over the appointment of bishops in China, given how that country’s Communist authorities have at times imprisoned priests. Among his harshest critics is Cardinal Joseph Zen, the emeritus bishop of Hong Kong.

In the interview, Francis called Zen, who is 91, a “charming old man,” and a “tender soul.” He recounted how, when the cardinal came to Rome this month for the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI, the pontiff invited him to the Vatican

Zen was arrested last year after he fell afoul of Hong Kong authorities over his participation in a nowsilenced democracy movement.

On homosexuality:

POPE Francis has stepped up his criticism of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ community. In an interview on Tuesday with The Associated Press, Francis slammed nations where homosexuality is a crime but reiterated Catholic Church teaching that homosexual activity is sinful.

“Being homosexual is not a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, it’s a sin. Well, yes, but let’s make the distinction first between sin and crime.”

On Papal health and retirement:

THE 86-year-old pontiff was asked to assess his health.

“I’m in good health. For my age, I’m normal. I might die tomorrow, but I am under control. I always ask for the grace the Lord will give me a sense of humor.”

Following the death of Pope Benedict XVI, his predecessor, who in 2013 became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign, Francis was also asked about the need for rules for any future retirement.

“After some more experience... then it could be more regularized or regulated,” he said. “But for the moment it hasn’t occurred to me.” AP

World Bank chief says China’s actions delay Zambia debt deal

By Eric Martin

CHINA’S actions in talks among countries that lent money to Zambia are delaying a restructuring of the African nation’s debt, and Beijing needs to move on from unfeasible demands, the head of the World Bank said.

admirers on Parliament’s forecourt as she left the building.

Ardern plans to stay on as a backbench lawmaker until April to avoid triggering a special election ahead of the nation’s general election in October.

New Zealand’s head-of-state is Britain’s King Charles III, and Kiro is his representative in New Zealand, although these days the nation’s relationship with the monarchy is largely symbolic.

Britain’s Prince William and wife, Kate, thanked Ardern on Twitter “for your friendship, leadership and support over the years, not least at the time of my grandmother’s death. Sending you, Clarke and Neve our best wishes. W & C”

Clarke Gayford is Ardern’s fiance and Neve is their 4-year-old daughter.

“China is asking lots of questions in the creditors committees, and that causes delays, that strings out the process,” David Malpass, the president of the Washingtonbased development lender, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV’s Kathleen Hays and Paul Allen.

“It’s important for them to be focused on getting to an actual debt restructuring where the burden can be lightened for Zambia,” he said, adding that progress may be possible in the next couple of months.

Malpass spoke after meeting last month with officials from China Development Bank and Export-Import Bank of China, the nation’s two largest lenders to poor countries. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Kristalina Georgieva, the head of the IMF, also

visited Zambia this week to try to expedite a deal.

Yellen urged Zambia’s creditors to work quickly to restructure the southern Africa nation’s debts, and accused China of obstructing a deal. The Chinese Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, responded by urging the US to stop sabotaging unspecified sovereign nations’ efforts to solve their debt issues.

Zambia became Africa’s first pandemic-era sovereign defaulter in 2020, and since then has been struggling to revamp external debt that topped $17 billion, more than a third of which is held by Chinese creditors.

Beijing wants multilateral development banks to take losses in restructurings, including in Zambia’s case, a senior US Treasury official said this week. But forcing lenders such as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which offer concessional loans to participate in debt treatments, would undermine their standing and ability to continue their work, the person said. With assistance from Kathleen Hays and Paul Allen/Bloomberg

POPE Francis speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at The Vatican on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. Francis said that sometimes Chinese authorities are somewhat “closed.” Francis has been criticized by some segments of the Catholic Church over a 2018 agreement with Beijing over the appointment of bishops in China. Among those critics is Cardinal Joseph Zen, of Hong Kong. In the interview, Francis called Zen a “tender soul” and recalled spending time with him after the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI earlier this month. AP/ANDREW MEDICHINI

ATTORNEY General Merrick Garland, joined by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. The Justice Department and several states have sued Google, alleging that its dominance in digital advertising harms competition. AP/CAROLYN KASTER

Agriculture/Commodities

‘Fight agri smuggling to protect PHL consumers’

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ASENIOR lawmaker said the welfare of consumers should be prioritized amid investigations into agricultural smuggling in the country, as he called on the national government to frame and implement an “agricultural import substitution policy.”

House Committee on Ways and Means Vice Chairperson and Aklan 2nd District Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr. noted the existing policy gaps on smuggling and hoarding which allegedly led to the increase in prices of basic goods, such as sugar and onions, following the investigation of the House panel on Ways and Means chaired by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda.

“ Filipino consumers bear the brunt whenever smugglers illegally enter the market through our ports and corrupt our economy. When prices of basic goods soar, consumers and their families experience more difficulties in their everyday life,” Haresco said.

We must establish reliable safeguards and systems to combat smuggling and better protect Filipino consumers.”

T he legislator said the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Finance (DOF), may work together to frame and implement an “agricultural import substitution policy” by providing inputs like capital, seeds, and fertilizer to the agricultural sector.

Haresco said in 2021, Aklan has worked with the DA and the National Food Authority (NFA) and has produced 50,000 sacks of rice each for Iloilo, Cebu, and Bangsamoro region amid increasing rice demand during the pandemic.

“ We believe in the capabilities of our agricultural sector in producing basic commodities for the whole country so we can achieve food security and sustainability. When we support our LGUs [local government units] to be selfsustaining, we disincentivize the ubiquity of smuggling and hoarding in the country.”

He also proposed a system of support for LGUs so they may provide minimum production of basic commodities, and the establishment of cold storage facilities for

surplus-producing LGUs to combat food inflation.

“Our general goal is to combat inflation, while seeking accountability from those who abuse our markets. We must explore innovative ways to be self-sustainable and prioritize the welfare of the Filipino people over smugglers who exploit our ports.”

Lifestyle check

MEANWHILE , ANAKALUSUGAN Rep. Ray T. Reyes called for a thorough lifestyle check on officials and personnel of the Bureau of Custom (BOC) and the Department of Agriculture as a recent house committee hearing bared that some of them own luxury cars and other assets.

The Office of the Ombudsman should move and start a lifestyle

check on these people. Since time immemorial, BOC had been known for unscrupulous transactions. Employees working as early as eight months, could be seen owning luxury cars. How is that even possible?” Reyes said.

“ Rising prices of agricultural commodities due to the complicity in smuggling of some in DA also indicates that huge syndicates operate within and are behind all these. We, consumers, pay the price of their corruption.”

During the House Committee on Ways and Means inquiry into the smuggling of basic commodities it was uncovered that almost P5 billion worth of revenue is uncollected due to the rampant smuggling of agricultural products.

“Almost P5 billion of revenue is

Meat producers, importers lock horns over pork offal tariffs

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

LOCAL meat producers and importers clashed over raising the tariff rates on pork offal during the Tariff Commission’s (TC) hearing on the country’s tariff structure on meat products.

During Wednesday’s hearing, TC sought to find out if there is merit to adjusting existing rates levied on good meat products and offal of meat, which are considered byproducts.

T C commissioners noted, however, that there was no incentive to misdeclare certain meat products, such as horse meat and beef products, due to the minimal tariff rate differences.

Nonetheless, the TC noted that there was a huge disparity between the tariff rates levied on good pork meat and pork offal, which is about 25 percent at least.

Meat Importers and Traders Association (Mita) said legal importers

are not committing technical smuggling by declaring good meat as offal to evade paying higher tariff rates. Mita added that meat shipments are properly labeled which allows customs and quarantine officers to distinguish offal from good meat. “ The labels on cartons will not lie,” Mita Spokesperson Paolo Pacis

FARMERS in Africa will need as much as $65 billion in loans annually to produce enough food to curb imports and cushion their economies from external shocks.

THE Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) underlined the crucial importance of concrete measures to accelerate people’s access to healthy diets by transforming agrifood systems to be more resilient, efficient, sustainable and inclusive.

“We need to increase resilience; that means capacity to prevent, capacity to absorb and capacity to build back better,” said FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, who moderated a breakout session at a recent ministerial meeting of the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture focused on “Agrifood systems transformation: a worldwide response to multiple crises.”

A mong the themes underlined by many countries and organizations in the session was the need for open, transparent and free agrifood markets and trade, critical to address current food security issues.

A nother key takeaway was that the challenges of the agriculture sector are similar across the world, including extreme climate events such as floods and droughts, soaring prices for agricultural inputs and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

To address these issues, the need to boost the resilience at country level for farmers and especially for smallholder farmers was particularly highlighted, along with the importance of putting agrifood systems center stage at the upcoming COP28 climate talks.

Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and at the same time is vulnerable to climate change, hence agrifood systems should be a key topic at the upcoming discussions.

T he continent imports over 100 million metric tons of cereals at an annual cost of $75 billion, the African Development Bank said in a statement. Recent spikes in inflation, including increases in food prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, further demonstrate Africa’s overreliance on imports of food staples and agricultural inputs, it said.

“A major obstacle to the development of private actors is the lack of credit financing,” the Abidjanbased lender said. Several studies put the figure on the order of between $27 billion to $65 billion a year, the AfDB said.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered a shortage of at least 30 million ton of food across Africa, especially wheat, maize, and soybeans, it said. The war sent wheat prices soaring by more than 40 percent in some countries while fertilizer costs in most African nations jumped three to four times from 2020 levels, resulting in a 2 million-ton supply gap.

A frica’s food and agriculture market could increase from $280 billion a year to $1 trillion by 2030, the lender said. Achieving this target will require significant new investments and the removal of barriers to agricultural development, it said.

T he continent’s farmers struggle to access private financing largely because of the perceived risks of investing in farming. The AfDB has begun deploying so-called risk reduction tools, such as commercial credit guarantees to ease lending requirements to African farmers and agribusiness.

T he goal is to “move from traditional subsistence agriculture to

said during the TC investigation.

Pacis claimed that customs officials have the “tendency” to levy the higher tariff rate on their shipments if they deem that it is good meat and not offal.

For example, cutting fat if they see that there is meat they will say that this is not cutting, this

is trimming. The tendency of the customs is to slap [imports] with higher duties.”

A sked whether pork offal and good pork meat items are easily distinguishable visually, Pacis responded that it is to a certain extent.

“Livers are very distinguishable. If we are talking about something like tongue and jowls, it would look like muscle meat or good meat.”

Mita said there is no need to raise the 5 percent tariff on pork offal since it claimed that consumers are benefitting from such lower tariff. Pork offal, such as jowls, are used in making dishes like sisig.

For various local pork producers groups, however, the tariff rate on pork offal should be increased to 40 percent.

Po rk Producers Federation of the Philippines (ProPork) Chairman and AGAP Party-list Rep. Nicanor M. Briones said pork offal tariffs should be in parity with good meat to remove the incentive

for technical smuggling.

Briones also proposed to limit the importation of pork offal to end-users, which are local meat processors.

ProPork, the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura and the National Federation of Free Farmers Inc. have also called for the immediate review of the current lower tariff rates on good pork meat.

However, TC commissioners were lukewarm to the proposal, saying it is “premature” to review the lower pork tariff rates and that the pork industry stakeholders should discuss this with the Department of Agriculture.

T he TC held the public consultation following the directive from the office of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to review the current tariff structure on meat products. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2023/01/24/govt-toreview-current-tariff-ratesfor-meat-goods/)

lost due to the smuggling of agricultural products. It is high time that all these people are subjected to lifestyle checks, from top to bottom. No sacred cows. From the heads of offices, even down to the clerks and security guards,” Reyes said.

A ccording to the committee report, agricultural smuggling has risen through years of the Covid-19 pandemic based on intelligence reports received by the House Committee on Ways and Means indicating increasing trends in underreported importation of agricultural goods.

Reyes has similarly called for immediate action to stop smuggling of agricultural products, highlighting that “it has negative impacts on revenue generation, the economy, and the livelihood of local farmers.”

BTA bill calls for creation of agri-fisheries training institute

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—A member of the Bangsamoro Parliament is seeking the establishment of a Bangsamoro Agriculture and Fisheries Training Institute to improve the productivity of region’s agri-fisheries sector.

T he proposed Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 39 is now on its second reading in the BTA, which is the Bangsamoro government’s interim parliament.

T he proponent, Member of the Parliament (MP) Mohammad Yacob, said the institute would be the lead component, to be assisted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

I t will create “short courses relating to agriculture and fisheries and shall prioritize research innovation, science and technology, and Halal development for the investment not only for farmers and fishermen but also agriculture and fisheries as a growing industry.”

H e said the Bangsamoro region must attain food sufficiency and security but “like doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, farmers and fisherfolks were also front liners and the first wall of defense against hunger and malnutrition in the country.”

“ We are not unaware that we have a declining number of farmers and fisherfolks in our country, and these front liners are scarce by the decade, they are now elderly, and the youth are seeking greener pastures,” Yacob said.

“ Let us invest in agriculture and fisheries to make this vital enterprise profitable and let us train these frontliners so that farming and fishing will become viable business enterprises to encourage the entry of new blood.”

a modern and competitive African agro-industrial sector that can feed the entire African continent,” AfDB said.

Fat chickens

ASTRAL Foods Ltd., one of South Africa’s biggest chicken producers by revenue, expects its poultry division to incur “significant losses” in the first half of its financial year because of incessant power cuts and high input prices.

A stral couldn’t raise prices as required and “continues to subsidize the increased cost of production to our customer base,” the poultry producer said in a statement on Wednesday. The blackouts—known locally as load-shedding—have delayed

slaughtering of birds resulting in heavier and older poultry, according to the statement.

“ Load-shedding means that the company can’t process the inflow fast enough and the birds are now growing older than 40 days,” boosting feed costs, said Keenen Du Toit, an analyst at Afrifocus Securities Ltd. “In the longer run, selling prices on the shelves have to go up. If not then food security for South Africa’s most consumed meat is at risk of under-supply.”

Companies in Africa’s most industrialized nation are suffering as stateowned power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. rations electricity. The firm has enforced blackouts for 87 consecutive days, with up to 12 hours of

daily outages earlier this month. The blackouts have forced poultry producers such as Astral to spend additional money on backup energy and in some cases pause round-the-clock operations for long periods, resulting in backlogs and production cutbacks.

A stral said the cost to produce chicken now exceeds the selling price by at least 2 rand ($0.12) per kilogram. That resulted in the group, which also produces and sells animal feed, warning that its overall earnings per share for the six months through March may drop as much as 90 percent.

T he company’s shares plunged as much as 5.7 percent before paring the losses to trade 1.1 percent lower at 10:24 a.m. in Johannesburg.

Yacob, who also heads the region’s agriculture ministry, urged other lawmakers to support farmers so that the region and the country can achieve its goal of being food sufficient.

T he other roles of the envisioned institute include “spearheading the planning, monitoring, and implementation of the provisions of training and other extension services for the Bangsamoro farmers and fisherfolks.”

T he institute will be assisted by the state universities, colleges, local government units, and even non-governmental organizations in providing skills, training, and knowledge appreciation appropriate to the farmers and fisherfolks.

editorial

WHO: Trans fat kills; 5 billion people at risk

GrOu ndbreakinG advances in longevity research are giving us the opportunity to add several healthy decades to our lives. On the other hand, some of the food choices we make can snatch precious years away from us. For example, a diet laden with trans fats increases the risk of heart disease, the world’s leading killer of adults.

Most trans fats are formed through an industrial process that adds hydrogen to vegetable oil, which causes the oil to become solid at room temperature. This hydrogenated oil is inexpensive and less likely to spoil, which is why food companies use it to extend the shelf life of products. Some restaurants use partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in their deep fryers because it doesn’t have to be changed as often as do other oils.

Five billion people globally remain unprotected from harmful trans fat, a new report from the World Health Organization has found, increasing their risk of heart disease and death. Dubbed “Countdown to 2023—WHO report on global trans fat elimination 2022”, the annual status report tracks progress towards the goal of trans fat elimination in 2023. WHO published the paper in collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives, a not-for-profit organization helping governments to prevent millions of deaths from cardiovascular disease.

The report said population coverage of best-practice policies has increased almost six-fold since WHO first called for the global elimination of industrially produced trans fat in 2018—with an elimination target set for this year. At least 43 countries have now implemented best-practice policies for tackling trans fat in food, with 2.8 billion people protected globally.

“Trans fat has no known benefit, and huge health risks that incur huge costs for health systems,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Put simply, trans fat is a toxic chemical that kills, and should have no place in food. It’s time to get rid of it once and for all.”

Nine of the 16 countries with the highest estimated proportion of coronary heart disease deaths caused by trans fat intake do not have a best-practice policy. They are Australia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan and Republic of Korea.

Industrially produced trans fat (also called trans-fatty acid) is commonly found in packaged foods, baked goods, cooking oils and spreads. Trans fat intake is responsible for up to 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year around the world.

Best practices in trans fat elimination policies follow specific criteria established by WHO and limit industrially produced trans fat in all settings. The report said there are two best-practice policy alternatives: 1) mandatory national limit of 2 grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat in all foods; and 2) mandatory national ban on the production or use of partially hydrogenated oils (a major source of trans fat) as an ingredient in all foods.

“Progress in eliminating trans fat is at risk of stalling, and trans fat continues to kill people,” said Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives. “Every government can stop these preventable deaths by passing a best-practice policy now. The days of trans fat killing people are numbered— but governments must act to end this preventable tragedy.”

WHO said that while most trans fat elimination policies to date have been implemented in higher-income countries (largely in the Americas and in Europe), an increasing number of middle-income countries are implementing or adopting these policies, including Argentina, Bangladesh, India, Paraguay, the Philippines and Ukraine.

No low-income countries have yet adopted a best-practice policy to eliminate trans fat, the report said.

Encouraging food manufacturers to eliminate trans fat from their products, WHO said governments must also ask major suppliers of oils and fats to remove industrially produced trans fat from the products sold to food manufacturers globally.

It would do well for Philippine health authorities to heed this advice, which can prevent premature deaths from coronary heart disease. For food lovers, which mean 99.9 percent of the population, let’s be mindful of our food choices and avoid trans fat at all costs. As we said earlier, this toxic chemical can snatch precious years away from us.

Do you trust your neighbor?

OUTSIDE THE BOX

THe first two decades of the 21st century has been marked by one word: Polarization. That is the divisions within societies and between nations into two sharply distinct opposites. This is when opinions, beliefs, or interests no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.

Across society, it is not an either/or situation. Intelligence is not either a 50 IQ or 150 IQ, there is a range as there is with wealth. However, the 21st century has seen huge polarization when it comes to opinions and ideas. Nowadays you are either a “believer” or a “heretic”.

“Climate Change Alarmist” or “Climate Change Denier”. If someone disagrees with your views on social issues, he is a “fascist”.

US President George W. Bush was happy to coin and use the term “axis of evil” many times during his administration. It originally was to refer to Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as if those nations had a common history, goals, and methods. We are now witnessing the same thing regarding Ukraine and Russia.

Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine has created a disaster for

The majority of people do not trust government (59 percent) and the press/media (53 percent). What the Edelman survey also found is that the greater the perception of polarization, the greater the distrust. Based on 23 annual trust and credibility surveys, Richard Edelman puts it this way: “Without intervention, we will see a continued move from a crisis of institutional trust to a crisis of interpersonal trust.”

them. As to “Be willing to live in the same neighborhood” and “Be willing to have them as a coworker”, only 20 percent said “Yes”.

Here is the list of six of the countries considered to be severely polarized: Argentina, Colombia, United States, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden. The least polarized were Indonesia, China, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and India.

Europe and a mini-catastrophe for the rest of the world. But there has yet to be heard a voice of reason to even suggest that maybe there is a better way to handle the situation. And how could there be since it is completely “good” versus “evil”. The world has lost the ability of “nuance”, the idea that there are or at last might be different shades of good and evil especially in politics and regarding social and economic issues.

Polarization is simple to define in practical terms. It is the clear and strongly held idea that I and those who hold the same beliefs/opinions are right and you and anyone else who disagrees with me are wrong. And you should absolutely change your views to be the same as mine. No discussion.

That might be true when you are talking about drinking bleach or bat-

tery acid. But what about eating pork (Muslims), beef (Hindus) or shellfish (Orthodox Jews)? Is wanting to have sexual relations with a 10-year-old person society-damaging “pedophilia” or a “minor-attracted person” lifestyle choice? Does a nation or group of nations have the right to encourage or force another country/society to adopt certain laws regardless of the people’s culture or history?

Does polarization matter?

The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer addresses polarization directly. Sampling more than 32,000 respondents across 28 countries, respondents were asked, “Would you help, live near, or work with someone who disagreed with your political and social point of view?”

Only 30 percent said they would help someone who disagreed with

Sixty-two percent of respondents said, “The social fabric that once held my country together has grown too weak to serve as a foundation for unity and common purpose”.

The majority of people do not trust government (59 percent) and the press/media (53 percent). What the Edelman survey also found is that the greater the perception of polarization, the greater the distrust. Based on 23 annual trust and credibility surveys, Richard Edelman puts it this way: “Without intervention, we will see a continued move from a crisis of institutional trust to a crisis of interpersonal trust”.

The question then becomes, are our political and social opinions more important than the people that live next door? If so, I think we are eventually doomed.

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

Classified documents at Pence’s home, too, his lawyer says

By Jill Colvin | The Associated Press

neW YOrk documents with classified markings were discovered in former Vice President Mike Pence ‘s indiana residence last week, his lawyer says, the latest in a string of recoveries of papers meant to be treated with utmost sensitivity from the homes of current and former top uS officials.

“A small number of documents,” taken into FBI custody last Thursday, “were inadvertently boxed and transported” to the former vice president’s home at the end of the last administration, Pence’s lawyer, Greg Jacob, wrote in a letter to the National Archives shared with The Associated Press.

He said that Pence had been “unaware of the existence of sensitive or classified documents at his personal residence” until a search last week and that he “understands the high importance of protecting sensitive and classified information” and stands ready to cooperate with “any appropriate inquiry.”

The revelation came as the Department of Justice was already investigating the discovery of documents with classification markings in President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware and his former Washington office, as well as former Presi-

dent Donald Trump’s Florida estate. Democrat Biden has indicated he will seek reelection, Republican Trump is already a declared candidate, and Pence has been exploring a possible 2024 campaign that would put him in direct competition against Trump, his former boss.

The newest discovery thrusts Pence, who had previously insisted that he followed stringent protocols regarding classified documents, into the debate over the handling of secret materials by officials who have served in the highest ranks of government.

Trump is currently under criminal investigation after roughly 300 documents with classified markings, including at the top-secret level, were discovered at his Mar-a-Lago. Officials are trying to determine whether Trump or anyone else should be charged with illegal possession of those records or with trying

While a very different case, the Pence development could bolster the arguments of Trump and Biden, who have sought to downplay the significance of the discoveries at their homes. The presence of secret documents at all three men’s residences further underscores the federal government’s unwieldy system for storing and protecting the millions of classified documents it produces every year.

obstruct the months-long criminal investigation. Biden is also subject to a special counsel investigation after classified documents from his time as a senator and in the Obama administration were found at his properties.

Trump, who denies any wrongdoing, reacted to the new development on his social media site: “Mike Pence is an innocent man. He never did anything knowingly dishonest in his life. Leave him alone!!!” Trump and Pence have clashed over Pence’s refusal to go along with Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

While a very different case, the

Pence development could bolster the arguments of Trump and Biden, who have sought to downplay the significance of the discoveries at their homes. The presence of secret documents at all three men’s residences further underscores the federal government’s unwieldy system for storing and protecting the millions of classified documents it produces every year.

Pence’s lawyer, Jacob, said in his letter that the former vice president had “engaged outside counsel, with experience in handling classified documents” to review records stored at his home on Jan. 16 “out of an abundance of caution” amid the uproar over the discovery of documents at Biden’s home.

Jacob said the Pence documents with classification markings were immediately secured in a locked safe.

FBI agents visited the residence the night of Jan. 19 at 9:30 p.m. to collect the documents that had been secured, according to a follow-up letter from the lawyer dated Jan. 22. Pence was in Washington for an event at the time.

A total of four boxes containing copies of administration papers— two in which “a small number” of

John Mangun

Asia travel hotspots quiet as Chinese tourists stay away Mahjong as part of Chinese influence in Filipino culture

By Tassanee Vejpongsa & Elaine Kurtenbach | The Associated Press

CHIANG MAI, Thailand—Just a handful of Chinese visitors were posing for photos and basking in the sun this week in the market and plazas near Chiang Mai’s ancient Tha Phae Gate, one of many tourist hotspots still waiting for millions of Chinese travelers to return.

The beaches and temples of destinations like Bali and Chiang Mai are the busiest they have been since the pandemic struck three years ago, but they’re still relatively quiet.

Still, Chanatip Pansomboon, a soft drinks seller in the Chinatown district of Chiang Mai, a scenic riverside city in northern Thailand, was upbeat. He trusts that with the number of flights from China steadily increasing, it’s only a matter of time.

“If a lot of them can return, it will be great as they have buying power,” Chanatip said.

The expected resumption of group tours from China is likely to bring far more visitors. For now, it’s only individual travelers who can afford to pay, with flights costing more than triple what they normally do, who are venturing abroad.

This includes people like Chen Jiao Jiao, a doctor who was posing for pictures with her children in front of Tha Phae Gate’s red brick wall, escaping the damp chill of Shanghai to enjoy Chiang Mai’s warm sun and cool breezes on her first overseas vacation since the virus surfaced in China in early 2020.

“After three years of pandemic and a severe winter, now it’s opening up,” Chen said. “For we Chinese, the first choice is to visit Chiang Mai because the weather is warm and the people here are very warmhearted.”

In 2019, 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Chiang Mai, generating 15 billion baht ($450 million) of tourism-related income, money sorely missed across the region as countries shut their borders to most travel.

Group tours are due to resume from Feb. 6, but the number of tourists who will come will depend on how many flights are operating, said Suladda Sarutilawan, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Chiang Mai office. She said the hope is for about 500,000-600,000 visitors from China this year.

Of course more Chinese would like to visit, said Li Wei, a businessman from Shanghai, as he visited the ancient wall with his extended family of seven.

“Since visas and flights are not back to normal yet, maybe tourists will come in the next three months,” Li said.

Far to the south, on the tropical Indonesian resort island of Bali, the shops and restaurants—some decorated with festive red lanterns and red and gold envelopes used for Lunar New Year cash presents—were still relatively empty.

Bali’s first post-pandemic direct flight from China arrived on Sunday, bringing 210 tourists from the southern city of Shenzhen who were greeted with garlands of marigolds and dance performances.

“Before Covid, we worked with travel agents who handled Chinese tourists who brought us guests from China everyday, but since they closed

down there are far fewer guests,” said Made Sutarma, a seafood restaurant owner in Bali’s Jimbaran area.

After three long years of almost no customers, Nyoman Wisana, the general manager of a Chinese restaurant, said he was “very happy” to see Chinese tourists return.

Fewer than 23,000 Chinese tourists visited Bali from January-November of last year and only a quarter of the island’s 80 tour operators who mostly handle Chinese clients are operating, said Putu Winastra, chairman of the Bali Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies.

“Actually, we’re very concerned about this,” he said.

Indonesia is developing programs to attract more Chinese tourists, including exploring starting direct flights from major cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, he said.

Those who did visit this week seemed elated after enduring many months of strict pandemic controls that put international travel beyond the reach of almost all Chinese.

“I’m feeling fantastic since I haven’t gone abroad and haven’t come to Southeast Asia to spend my holidays for the last three years,” said Li Zhaolong, a tourist enjoying a day at the beach. “Bali is a very beautiful place so I’m very happy coming here.”

Closer to home, casinos in the gambling enclave of Macao and popular tourist spots in Hong Kong, a former British colony, drew bigger crowds than usual but were still empty compared to the days before Covid-19. Normally, places like Hong Kong’s scenic Ocean Park and Wong Tai Sin temple, with its Nine-Dragon Wall, would be packed with visitors from the Chinese mainland.

Leo Guo, who works in the travel industry, brought his wife, daughter, sister and parents for a week filled with visits to Hong Kong Disneyland, Victoria Peak and the skyline-studded harbor, and of course, shopping.

“For mainland Chinese, Hong Kong is a special city different from other Chinese cities,” said Lee. “It’s a top destination for us.”

Further afield in Australia, Sydney-based travel agent Eric Wang said the high cost of travel still appears to be keeping Chinese away even as Chinese airlines increase flights.

Chinese accounted for nearly a third of all tourism spending in Australia before the pandemic, with more than 1.4 million visiting in 2019. Australia, like Japan, the US and some other countries, is requiring visitors coming from China to take Covid-19 tests before departure. But Wang, who works for CBT Holidays, a company specializing in travel to and from China, said he didn’t view that as a serious obstacle. Kurtenbach contributed from Bangkok. Sigit Purwono in Bali, Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Alice Fung in Hong Kong and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta contributed.

cacy group last week and did not discover additional documents, according to the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the search.

papers bearing classified markings were found, and two containing “courtesy copies of vice presidential papers”—were discovered, according to the letter. Arrangements were made to deliver those boxes to the National Archives Monday.

Congressional leaders were notified of the discovery by Pence’s team on Tuesday.

The boxes, according to a Pence aide, were not kept in a secure location, but were taped shut and were not believed to have been opened since they were packed. The former vice president’s staff also searched the Washington office of his advo-

Material found in the boxes came mostly from Pence’s Naval Observatory vice presidential residence, the packing of which would not have been handled by the vice president’s office or its lawyers. Other material came from a West Wing office drawer, the person said.

The National Archives declined to comment on the discovery. A Justice Department spokesman also declined to comment, and a lawyer for Pence did not immediately respond to an email seeking elaboration.

Pence told the Associated Press in August that he did not take any clas-

Dennis Gorecho

Flowers For lolas

MAHJoNG is a Chinese tile-based game of skill, strategy, and luck, which can be fun but can also be deadly. Mahjong was used as one of the games in the Japanese Netflix series Alice in Borderland.

The Japanese science fiction series is based on a manga where gamers trapped in an imaginary abandoned Tokyo were forced to compete in dangerous games, the type and difficulty represented by playing cards, where losers are executed.

Mahjong was shown briefly in episode 7 involving the Jack of Diamonds. The player who has the most points by the end of the game received a Game Clear. All players who placed second or lower received Game Over then their electric collar exploded.

Mahjong is commonly played by four players with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols wherein the aim is similar to poker in making matching sets and pairs.

The goal of the mahjong game is to complete a winning hand, which consists of five sets and a pair. Sets are combinations of tiles as Pongs (three-of-a-kind), Kongs (four-ofa-kind) and Chows (sequences, or straights).

Mahjong was also shown in several scenes of Oro Plata Mata, a 1982

By Maryclaire Dale The Associated Press

IN a country with more guns than people—and one emerging from three years of isolation, stress and infighting amid the pandemic— Americans are beginning 2023 with a steady barrage of mass slaughter.

Eleven people killed as they welcomed the Lunar New Year at a dance hall popular with older Asian Americans. A teen mother and her baby shot in the head in an attack that killed five generations. A 6-year-old shooting his firstgrade teacher in the classroom. The list goes on.

“We’ve been through so much in these past few years, and to continue to see case after case of mass violence in the media is just overwhelming,” said Apryl Alexander, an associate professor of public health at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “When does this stop?”

The carnage over eight days in California, where the dance hall victims Saturday night were among two-dozen people killed in three recent attacks, brought painful reminders to families of last year’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

On Tuesday, several Uvalde families and parents traveled more than three hours to their state’s Capitol to renew calls for tighter gun laws, even if they have little chance of winning over the Republican-con-

sified information with him when he left office.

Asked directly if he had retained any such information, he said, “No, not to my knowledge.”

In an interview this month with Fox Business, Pence described a “very formal process” used by his office to handle classified information as well as the steps taken by his lawyers to ensure none was taken with him.

“Before we left the White House, the attorneys on my staff went through all the documents at both the White House and our offices there and at the vice president’s residence to ensure that any documents that needed to be turned over to the National Archives, including classified documents, were turned over. So we went through a very careful

playing mahjong with nuns, which many netizens found to be insulting to both the late president and to the sisters.

Mahjong is part of Chinese influence in the Philippines as cards and tile games are played when Filipinos attend wake or to have fun with friends.

Mahjong has a special place in our family as we grew up with weekend gatherings of aunts and uncles for mahjong sessions while we (cousins) play traditional games.

nese is not more than 1.2 million, or 1.2 percent of the total population of the Philippines.

Teresita Ang See of the ChineseFilipino NGO Kaisa Para Sa Kaunlaran (KAISA) said in a paper that historically, there have been Chinese immigrants to the Philippines since the era of Spanish colonial rule.

film directed by Peque Gallaga, which traces the changing fortunes of two affluent families in Negros during World War II.

The title roughly translates to “Gold, Silver, Death,” which depicts the travails of the families as they struggle and learn to survive during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines.

Mahjong had an important part in the lives of the characters as they try to deny the realities of war. By preserving their pre-war lifestyle, mahjong kept the women connected to their upper-class identity despite the hardship of the ongoing war.

Still surrounded by luxury and servants, the wealthy characters were privileged and spoiled, and reliant on their workers to survive the practicalities of daily life.

Playing mahjong at the balcony as they exchange sarcastic and juicy gossip was their coping mechanism while the maids would peel butong pakwan

In the film Maid in Malacañang, there was a controversial scene showing the late President Cory Aquino

trolled Legislature.

In 2022, the United States marked its first deadly gun rampage of the year on Jan. 23—a year ago Monday. By that same date this year, six mass killings have claimed 39 lives, according to a database of mass killings maintained by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University.

“People are dying every day. This shouldn’t be happening,” said Veronica Mata, whose 10-year-old daughter Tess was among the 19 children and two teachers slain in Uvalde. “If it takes us coming every week, then we are going to do it until we see something change.”

Americans have come to endure mass shootings in churches and grocery stores, at concerts and office parks, and inside the homes of friends and neighbors. The violence is blamed on hatred toward other communities, grievances within a group, secrets within families and bitterness among colleagues. But it often ends when a man with a grudge grabs a gun.

Sometimes, it’s not clear whether a grudge is even part of the equation.

“There was no apparent conflict between the parties. The male just walked in and started shooting,” Yakima Police Chief Matt Murray said after three people were shot dead at a Circle K convenience store in Washington state early Tuesday, adding to the national grief.

Gun sales in the US hit historic

process in that regard,” Pence said.

On Capitol Hill, members of the Senate intelligence committee expressed incredulity over the mishandling of documents by top US officials. Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas noted that classified documents are only moved out of the committee’s offices in locked bags.

“In my book, it’s never permissible to take classified documents outside of a secure facility” except by a secure means of transport between such facilities, he said.

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner, a Republican, said he planned to request a formal intelligence review and damage assessment.

And Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, another potential 2024

It is an interesting side of Filipino culture that is taken from the Chinese.

I was among those who converged along the streets of Binondo last week in celebration of Chinese New Year for the special performances (Dragon/Lion dances), cuisine, lucky charms, prosperity fruits, and boxes of “tikoy.”

Considered the world’s first and oldest Chinatown, Binondo was established in 1594 as a permanent settlement for Chinese immigrants, particularly those who had converted to Catholicism and intermarried with indigenous Filipinos.

It was positioned near Intramuros, but across the Pasig River, so that colonial rulers could keep a close eye on their migrant subjects amid fears of an imminent invasion from China.

In the years that followed, Binondo became the first stop for Chinese immigrants who arrived in Manila in search of a new life. It is the foundation of the Filipino-Chinese community amidst multiple occupations by our colonizers.

At present, the number of Filipino citizens who happen to be ethnic Chi-

highs as the coronavirus pandemic took hold, the economy stalled and people took to the streets to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Nearly 23 million firearms were sold in 2020, according to industry analysts. The surge largely continued the following year, with sales spiking 75 percent the same month that a mob attacked the US Capitol, before dipping to about 16 million this year.

Experts believe there are 393 million guns in private hands across the United States, which in 2022 was a country of 333 million people.

Some Americans say they don’t feel safe anywhere. A third avoid certain places as a result, according to the American Psychological Association, whose most recent study shows that the majority of Americans feel stressed.

Yet there seems little appetite to address some of the potential solutions, such as teaching conflict resolution skills in schools or re-examining our societal views of masculinity, according to Alexander.

“Socioemotional learning is just teaching kids how to identify their feelings, how to express themselves, how to navigate conflict — and why is there a ban on that, especially during this particular moment?” she asked, referring to efforts to impose state and local bans on school curricula.

“These kids are going to turn into adults,” Alexander said. “If they don’t know how to handle conflict, we’re going to see unfortunate events like

candidate, said, “I don’t know how anybody ends up with classified documents.... I mean, every classified document I’ve ever seen has a big ‘Classified’ on it.”

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, pointed to broader concerns with the classification system, complaining that it “is at the point where there is so much out there it is hard to determine what ought to be classified, and then it is hard to determine what should be declassified.”

Meanwhile, some Republicans pressed for a search of former President Barack Obama’s personal records.

An Obama spokesperson referred to a 2022 statement from the Na-

However, the contemporary influx of Chinese immigrants into the Philippines started in the 1970s, especially after the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1975. It escalated in the 1980s with the market reforms instituted by Deng Xiaoping and the opening up of China to foreign markets.

The term “Tsinoy” was created by KAISA in 1992 as an alternative to “intsik,” which is quite harsh to the Tsinoy ear. Tsinoy is Tsinong Pinoy or Chinese Filipino, not Filipino Chinese (Filipino is the noun, Chinese is the adjective).

Ang See stressed that while the Tsinoys may recognize and take pride in their ethnic cultural heritage, they are simultaneously assimilated into all aspects of Philippine socio-economic and political life.

For the Tsinoys, Ang See added, their loyalty is first and foremost to the Philippines.

This sentiment is best encapsulated in the KAISA credo, which states that “Our blood may be Chinese, but our roots are deep in Philippine soil and our bonds are with the Filipino people.”

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

this happen.”

The bloodshed began Jan. 4, when a Utah man, investigated but never charged over a 2020 child abuse complaint, shot and killed his wife, her mother and their five children before killing himself.

The database shows 2,793 people have lost their lives in mass killings—those that involve four or more victims, excluding the killer—since 2006. The recent wave of violence follows a spike in 2022, when the U.S. recorded 42 mass killings, the second highest tally in that time span.

Even gun violence that takes fewer lives, or none at all, can shock the conscience.

That was the case in Virginia this month when the 6-year-old shot and wounded his teacher in front of his classmates. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones said he could barely wrap his head around it. And two teenage students were killed Monday in a school shooting in Iowa.

In the Saturday night shooting in Monterey Park, 11 people died and nine others were injured when a 72-year-old man opened fire at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio just hours after tens of thousands of revelers filled the streets nearby for Lunar New Year festivities. The gunman took his own life as police approached his van the next day. Associated Press reporters Paul Weber and Acacia Coronado in Austin and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington contributed to this report.

tional Archives that said the agency took control of all of his records after he left office and “is not aware of any missing boxes of presidential records from the Obama administration.”

Representatives of former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton and former Vice President Dick Cheney said all of their classified records had been turned over to NARA upon leaving the White House.

Mike Pompeo, who served as Trump’s secretary of state and is mulling his own 2024 GOP presidential bid, told the AP in August that he had not taken any classified material with him after leaving the administration. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Zeke Miller, Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report from Washington.

‘When does this stop?’ For 2023, an alarmingly bloody start

Registered SIMs nearing 25M since IRR took effect–DICT

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

NEARLY a month since the rules on SIM card registration took effect, the number of registered SIMs has reached nearly 25 million, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

A s of January 24, a total of 24,922,249 SIMs were registered. The number represents 14.75 percent of the 168,977,773 million subscribers nationwide.

“ Four weeks into the SIM registration, we have reached more than 24 million successful registrations. To significantly add to this number, we start today the activation of the assisted registration in identified geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs)— these are the pilot areas, 15 sites in different regions in the country that have been identified by the Ad Hoc committee,” said DICT Assistant Secretary Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo.

L amentillo gave a similar progress report as guest at the BusinessMirror Coffee Club on, “SIM Card Registration Act: An Update.”

A lso at the BM Coffee Club, FVP & Group Head of Corporate Commu-

nications at PLDT and Smart, Cathy Yang, said the telcos are moving fast to reach the goal of registering as many of the 169 million SIMs by April 26. She appealed to the public to “help us reach the numbers” while vowing to take all measures to make the registration as convenient as possible, amid problems raised by subscribers, especially in remote areas. Problems with having government IDs that are acceptable under the registration guidelines are also stalling the process.

Smart Communications Inc. reported a total of 12,608,641 SIMs registered, which is 18.54 percent of its 67,995,734 subscribers.

G lobe Telecom Inc. recorded 10,292,954 registered or 11.71 percent of its 87,873,936 subscribers.

Meanwhile, DITO Telecommunity Corp. reported a total of 2,020,654 SIMs registered or 15.42 percent of

its 13,108,103 subscribers.

3-day roadshow

SMART  also reported on Wednesday the success of its assisted SIM Registration booths in key remote areas on the first day of the threeday, nationwide roadshow organized by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

T he regulator mandated the roadshow as part of the government’s efforts to boost SIM registration and reach far-flung areas where mobile customers are.

A s of 9am on January 25, Smart and TNT assisted SIM Registration booths are now operating in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; in Moalboal, Cebu; in Palo, Leyte; Pangantucan, Bukidnon; and in Malalag, Davao del Sur. Smart and TNT personnel in the booths are also providing a priority lane for seniors, for persons with disabilities, and for those using basic phones, making SIM Registration as inclusive as possible.

“ It has been a smooth process so far, and it’s because of our coordination and whole-of-nation approach to the SIM registration process,” said  Smart’s Yang. “We’re hoping to replicate this on Days 2 and 3 in the pilot areas, as

ENVOY: DESPITE LATEST AYUNGIN CASE, CHINESE TOURISTS WILL COME

well as in the succeeding rollouts of this nationwide SIM registration activity.”

T he NTC had earlier mandated public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to deploy assisted SIM registration booths from January 25 to 27 in five regions per day, hitting one far-flung municipality in each of the identified regions.

L amentillo said the DICT and NTC are working with other agencies for this undertaking. “The DICT’s Free Wi-Fi sites will serve as the hubs for SIM registration. The DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) is providing the necessary support through the LGUs (local government units) that have been tasked to disseminate information about this undertaking. The DOJ’s (Department of Justice) booths for NBI clearance will help our kababayans who do not have valid government-issued IDs. Our PTEs are also doing every effort necessary to ensure the success of these registrations.

We want to finish the SIM registration on time, and we want to help all end-users to comply with the law,” added the DICT official.

T he deadline for SIM registration is on April 26, 2023.

RCEP

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Philippines’s delayed participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) may be sending a signal of “inconsistency” to foreign investors, according to a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) official.

DTI Assistant Secretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) Allan B. Gepty underscored the importance of being consistent with how the Philippines attracts foreign investors.

In terms of signal, [there is] some degree of inconsistency; internally, you have passed all these economic reforms—amendment of [Public Service Act] PSA, [Foreign Investment Act] FIA, and amendment to the [Retail Trade Liberalization Act] RTLA, basically telling the whole world, our investors, that our country is open. And then here you are when it comes to your participation to this very important free trade agreement, [there’s a] delay so of course we just want to be consistent,” Gepty told reporters on the sidelines of the 2023 Economic Outlook Forum organized by the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) on Tuesday in Makati City.

G epty underscored the importance of the regional trade pact: it is the largest free trade agreement (FTA) in the world in terms of global trade, gross domestic product (GDP) and even market.

“ RCEP region accounts for 33 percent of global inward foreign direct investment (FDI). This is a very important element. If you have 33 percent of global inward FDI, this means that the 67 percent FDI in the region are coming from non-RCEP countries or economies. That tells you that indeed, the investment destination is in the RCEP region,” Gepty said.

I n contrast, Gepty said RCEP

THE Chinese government is looking forward to more of its citizens visiting the Philippines and does not think the recent incident in Ayungin Shoal will affect the tourism cooperation between both countries.

A t the ceremony welcoming the arrival of 189 tourists from Xiamen on Tuesday at the Naiaterminal 1, Chinese Ambassador to Manila Huang Xilian told reporters, “Of course, we expect to have more Chinese tourists to this country …. As I always said, it’s normal to have some differences between neighbors and the differences should not be in the way of our cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. On the contrary, we hope that more and more people-topeople exchanges will contribute to mutual trust, and to interact without the kind of risk of misunderstanding.”

O n January 9, a vessel of the Chinese Coast Guard reportedly shooed away Filipino fishers around Ayungin Shoal, which the Department of Foreign Affairs stresses is part of the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone.

Group tours start February 6 HUANG added that both countries are working to restore the number of Chinese tourists to the Philippines to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, mainland China was the second largest source of tourists for the Philippines, accounting for 21 percent or 1.76 million of the total 8.26 million arrivals that year.

T he Philippines, said Huang, is one of  20 countries where the Chinese government has allowed its citizens to travel internationally via group tours. Starting February 6, group tours will also be allowed to Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Russia, Switzerland, Hungary, New Zealand, Fiji, Cuba, and Argentina. Surveys show, however, the Philippines failing to spark a high interest as a tourism destination among mainland Chiense.  (See, “PHL fails to make Chinese travelers top 10 wish-list,” in the BusinessMirror , January 25, 2023.)

accounts for about 47 percent in terms of global outward FDI. This means that the member economies of the regional trade deal are also investing outside the region.

Meanwhile, the DTI official also noted that RCEP accounts to 50 percent of the global manufacturing output, 50 percent of global automotive products, and 70 percent of electronic products. He added that the main GVC [global value chain] hubs of RCEP are China, South Korea, and Japan.

W ith this, Gepty stressed, “That is why by its sheer price alone, the Philippines needs to be part of this important free trade deal.”

T he Trade official also highlighted that Investors are waiting for the Philippines’s participation in the regional trade deal since the country’s accession to the pact has been up in the air for so long, Gepty said. Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte in September 2021 signed the ratification of RCEP, but it requires concurrence from the Senate before becoming fully effective.

However, the 18th Congress adjourned in June 2022 without the regional trade deal being ratified.

Now, Gepty said the regional trade deal is  with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations as hearings will be conducted.

T he Committee on Foreign Relations will, after holding hearings, submit a recommendation to the plenary where interpellations will be done. There will be  a technical working group to help identify issues, then concerned agencies will comment, “and then we will just follow up [on the next] hearing,” Gepty said.

G epty said they hope RCEP will be approved by the Senate within the first quarter of 2023.

T he Trade official said they recently met with concerned agencies and stakeholders to thresh out the issues and concerns of opposers to the ratification.

TRADE Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual has convened a special meeting of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC), which he chairs, to discuss measures to mitigate the effects on consumers of rising prices of onion and stabilize its supply.

In the NPCC meeting attended by national government agencies that are also members of the council, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that “some legal actions and possible solutions” to soaring prices were discussed extensively.

DTI said in a statement the members of the body came up with interagency initiatives to address the rising prices of onions.

“Given this crucial situation, we are to deliver immediate results to temper the prices of goods and ensure the availability of affordable basic necessities and prime commodities for consumers,” said the DTI chief .

Pascual said the DTI will tap other agencies who can be “allies” in addressing the situation.

P rices of red onions skyrocketed to more than P700 per kilo in lateDecember 2022 to early-January.

To temper the commodity’s retail prices, the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently greenlit the importation of 21,060 metric tons (MT) of fresh yellow and red onions, but the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) said only about 5,000 MT were issued sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) as importers showed weak appetite for the import program due to various factors.

A s imported supplies started to enter the country, the retail price of onions plunged on Monday to a low of P200 per kilogram.

T he latest price monitoring report by the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed that prevailing retail prices of local red onions in Metro Manila markets have subsided to P200 to P350 per kilogram, from the peak of P700 per kilogram on the average.

Price body meets over onion prices, supply woes

‘Delay in PHL joining

sends mixed signals to investors’

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

BusinessMirror

Ayala unit to spend ₧16B for solar farm’s expansion

By Lenie Lectura @llectura & VG Cabuag @villygc

ACEN Corp., the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group, said it has allotted P16 billion for the expansion of its solar power project in Zambales.

The company said on Wednesday that the construction of the 300megawatt (MW) Palauig 2 solar farm is underway.

“This expansion of our Palauig solar assets comes at an exciting time for ACEN’s Philippine operations as we are relying on our core market to boost our energy transition efforts in the region.

Palauig 2 solar is the first of several new plants to commence with major construction works this year, and the need to sustain this accelerated pace towards the exponential growth of the renewables space is on top of our agenda,” ACEN Chief Development Officer Jose Maria Zabaleta said in a statement.

Palauig 2 solar farm will be constructed near the 63MW Palauig 1 solar project.

The company has tapped ERS En -

ergy Pte. Ltd. (ERS) and Global Electric Power Development Corp. (GEC) as Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) contractors.

ACEN said the cost of the new development, including the construction of the 1,200 MW transmission line, is estimated at P16 billion, adding that 540 MWpeak high-efficiency solar panels will be supplied by module manufacturer, Seraphim.

The company said this solar power project also aims to support the country’s target of reaching the 35 percent renewable energy share in the power generation mix by 2030.

Palauig 2 solar is expected to produce over 450 gigawatt hours (GWh) of clean energy per year, and together with Palauig 1 solar’s 90 GWh output, can sustainably power the equivalent of around 139,000 homes and avoid 350,000 tons of carbon emissions

annually.

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

The company wants to become the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with a goal of reaching 20 GW of renewables capacity by 2030.

ACEN is committed to transition the company’s generation portfolio to 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 and to become a Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions company by 2050.

In another development, ACEN disclosed that it signed definitive agreements with Provincia Investments Corp. (PIC) and Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (Solar PH) in relation to the P1-billion Omnibus Loan and Security Agreement (OLSA).

It can be recalled that ACEN and Solar PH signed in January 2021 agreements for a proposed joint venture for solar power plant projects in Central Luzon. Pursuant to this, ACEN and PIC, an affiliate of Solar PH, signed the OLSA for a loan with a repayment date of July 2, 2026 secured by a pledge over shares owned by Solar PH in SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC), formerly Solar Philippines Nueva Ecija Corp.

ACEN’s Executive Committee,

NOW Telecom to pilot 5G in NCR

which acted on authority from the ACEN Board of Directors, approved on January 25 the definitive agreements whereby ACEN will receive from Solar PH 500 million shares in SPNEC as pre-payment for part of the loan’s principal, and payment of interest and arrangement and security amendment fees.

SPNEC shares have a market value of P660 million as of January 24.

SPNEC said it has fully secured the majority of its target lands in Nueva Ecija and in Bulacan, which spans a combined 3,000 hectares, which it will convert for industrial purposes.

The company said documentation is now ongoing to complete its acquisitions, in parallel to the submissions of the already fully secured lands for conversion.

SPNEC said it aims to complete the submissions of these lands for conversion by the end of first quarter and convert over 3,000 hectares to industrial use by the end of the year.

“Converting over 3,000 hectares for industrial use is the most significant value driver for SPNEC, and we will provide further updates as we work to create value on this for our shareholders. Land underpins an entire project, and our landbank in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan in particular is unique, in terms of its scale and proximity to Manila,” Solar Philippines founder Leandro Leviste said.

CCC, First Gen to help LGUs tap PSF

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE C limate Change Commission (CCC) and First Gen Corp. (First Gen) will work together to support local government units (LGUs) in mainstreaming climate change action and accessing the People’s Survival Fund (PSF).

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director (VCED) Robert E.A. Borje and First Gen President and COO Francis Giles B. Puno formalized the partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last January 24 at the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo, Rizal.

Carol Kay Paquera, CCC Chief-ofStaff; Shirley H. Cruz, Vice President, and Chief-of-Staff; Ricky A. Carandang, Vice President for Corporate Communications; and Ramon Araneta, Vice President for External Affairs

and Security of First Gen witnessed the event.

Following the MOA signing, seedlings of Narra, Ipil, Banuyo, and Supa trees were planted at the BINHI Arboretum to kick off the partnership, which is expected to benefit Maria Aurora, Aurora; Pantabangan and Carrangalan in Nueva Ecija; Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya; Lobo, Batangas; Caramoan and Garchitorena in Camarines Sur; Baungon, Impasugong, Libona, Manolo Fortich, and Talakag in Bukidnon; and Jabonga in Agusan del Norte.

The partnership will help LGUs in terms of enhancing their Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs) including updated climate and disaster risk assessments and greenhouse gas inventory, and developing PSF project proposals.

As of January 19, 1,399 out of 1,715 LGUs (81.57 percent) have submitted

their LCCAPs to the CCC. Through partnerships and capacity-building initiatives, the Commission hopes to achieve 100 percent compliance by 2024.

This collaboration forms part of both the CCC and First Gen’s shared advocacy for strengthening local communities’ resilience to climate change and its impacts.

“Our LGUs, down to the barangays, are at the frontlines of climate change and its impacts. They need all the help they can get to have a fighting chance, but they also need transformation. We don’t want them to just adapt, we want them to thrive and grow, and this particular agreement—through formulation of eLCCAPs and capacitating them to access the PSF—will exactly do that,” Borje said in a statement.

“Our mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and

regenerative future simply means that we cannot do it alone. Signing an agreement with the Climate Change Commission is completely aligned with what our company is trying to do, in addressing an important challenge that’s ahead of us—climate change,” Puno said.

The CCC and First Gen will also strengthen initiatives that involve key stakeholders to promote scienceand evidence-based risk assessment and sustain climate-smart leadership and governance among the target beneficiaries.

“At the end of the day, we have to safeguard our national interests, which for us means, ‘Buhay, kabuhayan, at kinabukasan ang nakataya.’ That’s all we have to plan for, but it takes more than a village to do this. We need to work very closely together, and this partnership is key to making that happen,” Borje added.

IBC franchise bill hurdles House 2nd reading

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

The h ous e of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading h o use Bill 5404, or a 25-year renewal of the legislative franchise of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC), a state-owned television network under the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

The bill will extend the IBC franchise validity to 2050.

Its existing franchise under Republic Act 8954 granted IBC a franchise to operate until September 2025.

The third and final reading approval of the bill is expected next week.

“Once we extend their franchise, they will be authorized to operate until 2050. I hope their franchise extension gets enacted this Congress, so that we no longer have to rush it in the next Congress,” Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda, author of the bill, said.

Salceda said the approval of the franchise of the state broadcaster “creates value of some P5 billion in government assets.”

“Without a franchise, IBC would have been forced to wind down. Whatever assets

it has left will be sold to pay its liabilities, since it’s in negative equity position. The franchise creates a premium for valuing the IBC, should we ever decide to privatize the broadcaster,” Salceda said.

h o wever, there are alternatives to privatization. And in fact, even if we privatize it, we could probably still have a public broadcasting function included in the deal.”

Following the approval, Salceda said he envisions a stronger role for an expanded IBC in disaster preparedness and participative

governance, “given its design as a corporation without a profit motive.”

“I envision IBC TV and state media in general to play a more significant role in disaster preparedness. As being close to the organs of government, the station is uniquely positioned to be the first source of government announcements, requests, and instructions,” he said.

“That unique position is most crucial during a disaster. That’s why I think programming has to be geared towards disaster announce -

ments. The airing of the Laging h an da briefings in the network is a prime example of what can be sustained as it repurposes.”

The network was also tapped to air educational programs to aid remote learning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The IBC has a missionary role, and its potential to fulfill that role effectively was demonstrated during the pandemic.”

IBC as “tanungan at sumbungan ng bayan” Salceda added that the IBC can serve as an avenue for the public to air out their concerns on pressing or relevant issues and directly interact with concerned officials.

“I strongly suggest that the IBC also air programs where members of the public can pose questions to government officials, on everything from how to pay taxes as a small business, to how to avail of medical assistance programs of the government,” he said.

“In this role, the IBC can be a ‘tanungan at sumbungan’ for the public. We could even create programs in line with the thrusts of h o tline 8888 or the Presidential Complaint Center. We can have programs where members of the public can call in to express their concerns, and have them addressed by their officials.”

NOW Telecom Co. Inc. said it hopes to finish the 5G pilot in Metro Manila by the third or fourth quarter, as it aims to become the first telco company to offer true 5G in the country by 2024.

During the cybersecurity forum in Makati on Tuesday, NOW Telecom Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mel Velasco Velarde told reporters in an interview that the firm is set to conduct a 5G pilot network in multiple sites in the National Capital Region (NCR). The identified sides include key business areas and the central business districts of Makati, Taguig, Ortigas, and Quezon City.

This development came after it signed the P118-million grant agreement with the United States government to expand the 5G connectivity in the Philippines during the 10th US-Philippines Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Manila last week.

Through the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the fund will enable NOW Telecom to conduct a feasibility study for establishing a 5G pilot network in different parts of the Metro.

The company has tapped New Jersey-based Bell Labs Consulting, part of Bell Labs—the research arm of Nokia—to do the research.

Per the US embassy in the Philippines, the study seeks “to validate network performance, test 5G use cases, and provide data to inform larger scale deployment.”

“After that, what the US government wanted to know is exactly how much money is needed to deploy 5G nationwide and the

national broadband network nationwide,” Velarde said.

“Once the amount is determined based on a study of building the optimum network, then we will go to the next stage—financing [and] equity raising—to really do this up to the countryside.”

According to Velarde, the pilot test will be for the rollout of 5G mobile and fixed wireless network. There will be “five loads that will be the basis for the expansion” and, then, determination of the performance and some metrics that will indicate the experience not primarily of enterprises, but as well as certain industries and even the households.”

“Our existing clients will enjoy that also,” he added, while citing that network and radio equipment, core network and software produced by Nokia Americas will be deployed during the initial Metro Manila run, which will then be extended to some strategic locations. “[Maybe in] one of our 55 base stations because right now we have 400 enterprise customers.”

The US grant will finance NOW Telecom’s effort to establish a wireless telephony network using 5G technology to boost connectivity services all over the country.

Being a telco provider, the company wants to own a standalone 5G network that can extend internet connectivity and increase market competition in the long haul. Currently, it offers pre-5G via the Fiber Air.

Velarde said the company can have the commercial rollout of true 5G immediately after the pilot. Roderick L. Abad

Banking&Finance

Govt needs to spend more for social protection in ’23

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

IF Filipinos will be able to chart the troubled waters of 2023, Ibon Foundation Inc. said the national government would have to increase social protection to households and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) nationwide this year.

The headwinds faced by the global and local economy this year have already been cited by multilateral agencies, businesses, non-government organizations and even the government, as evidenced by their lower GDP estimate for the year.

This, Ibon’s Executive Director Jose Enrique A. Africa said, makes it even more imperative to help households and businesses in order to spur domestic demand and keep the economy afloat. It can be noted that the Philippine economy is consumption driven.

“Put money in people’s pockets to improve their welfare, increase their consumption but also spur domestic demand,” Africa said in a new briefing in Quezon City last Wednesday. “We completely believe in the role of the state in socioeconomic development.”

The support to poor families and MSMEs can be extended by the government by looking into the imposition of a wealth tax. Africa said the wealth tax, which targets the country’s 3,000 billionaires, would be able to generate at least P468.8 billion.

Contrary to the view of some economists, Africa said the wealth tax will not drive away billionaires since much of the wealth that can be taxed by the government are here in the country.

If it’s cash

THE Executive Director of the nongovernment think-tank said the cash assets of billionaires may already have been taken out of the country but other assets such as those in companies can be taxed. He also believed that these billionaires will continue to stay in the country despite a wealth tax since they are able to earn in a country with a market of 110 million Filipinos.

“These 3,000 billionaires, a large part of their wealth comes from valuation of their ownership in corporations,” Africa said. “A large part of their wealth is not prone to capital flight. Kung cash lang, pwede; but it’s probably there [foreign countries] already.”

He added that the government has the ability to monitor the wealth of these billionaires. They can even

➜

briefsChina Bank feted by ICD

help encourage the billionaires to pay wealth taxes by promoting their corporate social responsibility efforts and other philanthropies.

Africa also said there are beginnings of a mechanism to push for wealth taxes, especially after the World Economic Forum (WEF) discussed it in 2019. He said that while these kinds of reforms take decades to come to fruition, the government should already start moving toward this.

One example of these kinds of reforms, Africa said, is the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001. The law allows authorities to flag significant single transactions or multiple large transactions in a span of a few days as these could be deemed unlawful transactions.

“Fundamentally, we disagree that a wealth tax would drive the money abroad. It’s going to generate money for socioeconomic development,” Africa stressed.

Fund agriculture

NONETHELESS, Africa admits that not all debts are bad. He said debts can be justified if these contribute to the country’s development.

One example, he said, is if the government borrows to finance projects that support agriculture. Recently, Africa said, it has been pointed out that cold storage facilities are actually lacking and contributed to the spike in onion prices.

If the country incurs large amounts of debt to finance “urban biased” infrastructure, this would not spur growth and development and only worsen inequality.

“Debt in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. If the debt is being used to help the economy grow that might be a short term cost for medium- to long-term development,” Africa said.

Earlier, the Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) said it required at least P6 billion to double the industry’s storage capacity for onions and slash the disparity between the total supply annually and storage capacity.

CCAP President Anthony S. Dizon said the estimated capacity of cold storages dedicated for onions nationwide is about 100,000 metric tons (MT), which is only 27 percent of the annual 360,000-MT supply.

Dizon said cold storages for onions have a “unique” design and conditions to cater to the commodity, which entail high humidity and moderate air circulation (Full story here: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2023/01/24/expandingonion-cold-chaincapacity-tocost-%e2%82%a76b-group/)

‘Legal issue no excuse vs customs undervaluation’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

HOUSE Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda said that past legal issues with a Bureau of Customs contract on its computerization program should not hamper the bureau from carrying out its mandate in an efficient and digitalized manner.

Following his committee’s recent hearing on customs undervaluation and smuggling, Salceda recommended an automatic alert system that will record and make notice of shipments that are “grossly undervalued compared to a benchmark price for

the same commodity.”

The lawmaker said the government should revisit the BOC’s computerization programs to prevent smuggling and undervaluation.

“What can we do with current systems so we can collect more duties

and taxes from imports? Otherwise, our tariffs lose their ability to protect domestic industries,” he said.

Customs officials responded that they are constrained from enhancing their computerization program to effect Salceda’s recommendation because of a 2015 injunction by the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 47. The ruling stopped the BOC from aborting the awarding of the contract to Omniprime Marketing Inc. and Intrasoft International Inc. for the Philippine National Single Window 2 (PNSW2) project.

The Supreme Court subsequently issued a TRO on the injunction, which has placed the PNSW2 project in what Salceda calls “procurement limbo.”

Salceda said that “a mere issue of procurement with one contract should not prevent the Bureau of Customs from modernizing its valu-

ation safeguards.”

He said he will seek the opinion of the Department of Justice “on whether the injunction prevents them from starting anew with a different project to prevent customs undervaluation.”

In particular, Salceda said he wants to know whether the BOC can just procure for the system from scratch and not have to depend on the resolution of the PNSW2 case.

“That question should be answered, and I think the BOC has been studying that option. We should resolve that matter in time for the budget discussions for 2024,” he said.

“The Constitution and jurisprudence uphold the police power of the State—that is, its ability to enforce the law to protect public welfare. And taxes are the lifeblood of the government. We shouldn’t prevent this mess from enforcing the law more effectively,” he added.

Draft FCP Act IRR includes cryptos, disgorgement

By VG Cabuag @villygc

THE Securities and Exchange Commission has released the draft implementing rules and regulations for public comment on the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act (FCPA).

The draft IRR will operationalize the newly-signed law that aims to protect the interests of financial consumers by strengthening the country’s financial regulators by providing them with rule-making, surveillance, inspection, market monitoring and more enforcement powers.

The SEC, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Insurance Commission, have the authority to issue its own standard and rules for the application of the provisions of the new law within its jurisdiction.

The draft rules will cover all financial products and services and financial service providers under the jurisdiction of the SEC. These financial products and services include credit, securities and investments, including digital financial products or services which pertain to the broad range of financial services accessed and delivered through digital channels.

The proposed guidelines provide that securities, beyond their definition under the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), now include tokenized securities products or “those which grew with the abstraction of key characteristics from cryptocurrency’s underlying distributed ledger technology” and applied in the traditional financial sector.

The draft rules also expands the enforcement actions that may be conducted by the SEC. These include the following: restrictions on the ability of the financial service provider to collect excessive or unreasonable interests, fees or charges; disqualification and suspension of directors, trustees, officers or employees; imposition of fines, suspension or penalties; issuance of cease and desist orders; suspension of operation; and, disgorgement.

The Cornell University defines disgorgement as “a remedy requiring a party who profits from illegal or wrongful acts to give up any profits they made as a result of that illegal or wrongful conduct. The purpose of this remedy is to prevent unjust enrichment and make illegal conduct unprofitable.”

CHINA Banking Corp. (China Bank) was recently awarded the “Five-Golden Arrow Recognition,” the highest corporate governance award given by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) to the country’s top publicly-listed companies (PLCs) based on the 2021 Asean Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) assessment results. China Bank achieved a score of 120 to 130 points. The award follows the bank’s recognitions from the Asean Capital Markets Forum as among the Top 20 in Asean and Among the Top 3 in the Philippines in corporate governance. It was also cited as an Asean Asset Class. ICD recognized a total of 85 out of 264 publiclylisted companies for achieving a score of 80 points and above in the most recent ACGS assessment. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

➜ Lender tinkers with branches

SECURITY Bank Corp. recently opened its branch at the Uptown IT Hub in Tagbilaran City. “The branch opening affirms the bank’s commitment to customercentricity as it expands its footprint in the country,” the bank said. The lender said its branch is “strategically located near high-traffic areas and commercial establishments where customers can easily reach the bank.” Meanwhile, the lender also recently relocated its Taft-Vito Cruz branch to “a better space.” The bank said both branches have a fully transformed look and set-up consisting of: an automated area where clients have access to ATMs, CAMs and a service phone to easily contact the Bank’s customer service hotline; a self-serve area equipped with a digital tablet, a laptop and a queue machine; and, a face-to-face area where clients can transact with tellers and speak with other branch personnel. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

➜

CIMB Bank tweaks GSave

CIMB Bank Philippines Inc. announced it is offering users up to 8-percent interest rate per annum on the “GSave” feature of the GCash app of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc. until end of this month. Currently the highest interest rate available in the market, it will be available for existing customers of the bank who opened their accounts for more than 60 calendar days up to January 1, 2023. It will be applicable to the difference in total average daily balance from the previous month, CIMB Bank said. The promo is also inclusive of other promo and base rates for average daily balance growth including the 2.6 percent per annum for GSave accounts, and the 4-percent per annum for the first P200,000 ADB, CIMB Bank said. Roderick L. Abad

The SEC may enter an order requiring accounting and disgorgement of profits obtained or losses avoided, as a result of a violation of the FCPA and other existing laws, including reasonable interest, in addition to penalties it may impose for such violation.

The draft IRR, which is open for public comment through February 7, authorizes the SEC to further adopt rules and regulations concerning the creation and operation of a disgorgement fund, payments to financial consumers, rate of interest, period of accrual and other matters related to the disgorgement fund.

Persons who violate provisions of the FCPA or the rules pursuant to its implementation will be punished by imprisonment of not less than one year, but not more than five years or by a fine of not less than P50,000 but not more than P2 million or both, at the discretion of the court

Persons found responsible for investment fraud may also be subject to administrative sanctions, from a fine of P50,000 to P10 million for each instance of investment fraud plus not more than P10,000 for each day of continuing violation, in addition to other administrative sanctions under Section 54 of the SRC.

In case profit is gained or loss is avoided as a result of the violation of the FCPA or investment fraud, a fine not more than three times the profit gained or loss avoided may also be imposed by the SEC. In addition to the administrative sanctions that may be imposed, the authority of the financial service provider to operate in relation to a particular financial product or service may likewise be suspended or cancelled.

The SEC may institute an independent civil action on behalf of aggrieved financial consumers for violations of the FCPA and its IRR, depending on the nature, effects, frequency and seriousness of the violation.

Health& Fitness

Senate urged to prioritize health bills that protect children, youth vs vapes, e-cigarettes

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

As pro-health groups celebrate the gains of Sin Taxes passed by previous administrations, a health advocacy group urged the Senate to prioritize health bills that protect children and the youth against the harmful effects of vapes and E-cigarettes with the mass proliferation of these products especially in schools and the streets.

HealthJustice Philippines, a non-government organization, also supports Senator Pia Cayetano who is a known supporter and author of previous Sin Tax Laws. The group noted that Cayetano continuously prioritizes the protection of the Filipinos especially the youth against the health risks of vaping and Ecigarettes after she criticized a multinational tobacco company for inviting Filipino doctors to attend a so-called “scientific forum” promoting tobacco.

HealthJustice Philippines appreciated Cayetano for her commitment to win the war against smoking and for reminding doctors of their role, which is to

keep people healthy and prevent diseases.

“Across the world, teen vaping is increasing. The US, for example, is experiencing a nicotine epidemic. E-cigarettes have now overtaken by a mile the use of cigarettes among children and the youth. It is now their first option of nicotine product in the US. Children and the young are vulnerable to lifelong nicotine addiction,” Atty. Benedict G. ni speros, legal consultant of HealthJustice, stressed.

Sin Tax anniversary

Delivering a speech recently at the 2012 Sin Tax 10th Anniversary Forum on January 20,

Cayetano, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said, “I think, what I wanted to remind everyone of, and finally, in n e w Zealand, parang every kid who was born a certain year, they will never touch a cigarette. What a dream, di ba? So where are we now? Every kid will have a chance to use an e-cigarette in this country because they will be sold in sari-sari stores. What’s our narrative? What do we want?”

It may be noted that in a privilege speech at the Senate last year, Cayetano expressed her alarm as Filipino physicians were invited in a forum where foreign health “experts” discussed vape as a “harm reduction tool” which irked the lady senator despite the known harmful effects of these products.

“Mr. President, every day, there are different articles on the harmful effects of vape products and the danger it poses to users, especially the youth,” Cayetano said.

Vaping is toxic

Health Justice also echoed, saying, “Let us not confuse the people especially the youth that vaping is cool and safe. Vaping is toxic.”

Cayetano also reminded that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Law and a recent Supreme Court decision that

defined tobacco as “health products” which should be strictly regulated by FDA.

Health products are “food, drugs, cosmetics, devices, biologicals, vaccines, in-vitro diagnostic reagents and household/ urban hazardous substances and/ or a combination of and/or a derivative thereof.”

FDA regulated “So any product that has an effect on health must be regulated by the FDA. And that’s why we have rules and laws that it is prohibited to claim that there are positive effects and that products like vapes and e-cigarettes, they are “harm reduction,” unless registered as a harm reduction product. If you did register [the vape] as a harm reduction product, you have no business promoting anything. You have no business bringing your so-called ‘health experts’ to the Philippines to talk about harm reduction and the benefits of vaping,” Cayetano explained in a mix of English and Filipino during her privilege speech.

She was also dismayed as she read the invitation stating that the event of the tobacco company is an “oncology event.”

“So oncologists pa, cancer specialists were invited to say what? To tell their patients to vape? Is that right? That is not right, your honors,” she then complained.

USAID inaugurates hearing test center for children with vision, hearing disabilities

To improve access to education for children with vision and hearing disabilities, the United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), inaugurated a hearing test center in Batangas City as part of a P112 million ($2.05 million) program.

“USAID is deeply committed to the inclusion of people who have vision and hearing disabilities and those who advocate and offer services on behalf of people with disabilities. This commitment extends from the design to the implementation of our programs that advocate for people with disabilities,” said USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn.

Washburn and Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas led the inauguration of the center, which houses an audiometer and hearing

test devices donated by the U.S. government.

“The US government remains your enduring friend, partner, and ally as you charter a path toward inclusive and resilient growth for all Batangueños,” Washburn said.

Filipino Sign Language books WASHBUR n a lso visited the Inclusive Education Community Resource Center (IECRC) in Batangas City East Elementary School where he turned over Filipino Sign Language storybooks to Department of Education (DepEd) officials.

The IECRC houses U.S.-donated braille embossers and other assistive devices used by teachers to produce learning materials for young students with visual and hearing impairments.

These facilities are part of USAID’s four-year, P112 million ($2.05 million) Gabay project,

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

Mo R E than 5,000 residents of a slum area in Tondo were recently given primary health-care services by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its local partners, such as the Department of Health (D oH ), the City Government of Manila and other implementing organizations.

Dubbed “Healthy at Happy sa Barangay 20,” this series of multisectoral activities was held to bolster the tuberculosis (TB) activecase finding in the country’s capital city and promote the importance of the seven healthy habits to prevent this curable illness.

“We extend our gratitude to the

USAID and the local administration of Tondo, Manila for helping the DoH push forth initiatives that promote health and wellness to families,” said D oH o f ficer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire.

“Truly, with efforts like these, we are on the road to a Healthy Pilipinas where Filipinos are health-literate and health-seeking individuals striving to achieve optimum health,” she added.

Community profile

C on S IDERED as one of the largest depressed areas in the country, Barangay 20 was chosen by the Manila Health Department as the community-beneficiary for this initiative.

With a land size of 205,800 square meters, this is inhabited by

which aims to increase the access of blind, deaf, and deafblind children to quality education. Implemented in partnership with Department of Education and Resources for Blind, Inc., Gabay works with local governments in the provinces of Batangas, Sorsogon, and Southern Leyte to identify children from kindergarten to grade three with vision and hearing impairments and to provide them with literacy support early in their educational journey.

“This is a symbol of us being able to hear the needs of the people and this could be a motivation for us being able to see the need to contribute in the society,” said Mandanas.

He added,  “We should work together with sincere commitment in improving the welfare of these children and persons with disability.”

more than 40,000 people.

Apart from its land area and dense population, Barangay 20 was a priority area because of its social and economic conditions, such as the type of houses in the community, and low employment rate, among other indicators.

Series of events

DURI n G the three-week run of this medical mission, USAID’s TB Innovations and Health Systems and Strengthening (TBIHSS) project set up mobile chest x-ray vans to extend such imaging test pro bono to the residents whose hearts, lungs and bones needed to be examined.

It also joined hands with other development agencies, faith-based organizations, and private sector partners to deliver integrated ser -

Tripling of enrollment SI nCE 2019, US assistance through Gabay has strengthened education access for people with disabilities in the three target provinces by nearly tripling the enrollment of deaf and blind children from 135 students in 2019 to 395 students in 2022.

While in Batangas City, Washburn also signed a memorandum of understanding with local government officials led by Mayor Beverley Dimacuha for the implementation of USAID’s Cities for Enhanced Governance and Engagement (CHA n G E) Project.

Through the five-year, P820 million ($15 million) project, USAID and Batangas City will collaborate to improve decentralization, enhance local government service delivery, and promote the effective engagement of civil society in governance.   Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

vices under the banner of Universal Health Care.

o t her health services provided to the community were free Covid-19 vaccination, deworming, HIV testing and counseling, family planning, and other perks like feeding, Zumba classes, and barangay cedula issuance.

The TBIHSS initiative of USAID supports the D oH ’s local communication campaign, “ Para Healthy Lungs, KonsulTayo,” which aims to raise TB as a public health priority in the country using social and conventional media methods.

Part of this campaign is an online self-assessment tool ( https:// tbfree.ph/) to help with  identification and treatment of TB, checking for suspected patients, and location of the nearest health facility.

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Early treatment, clinical diagnosis are key elements in managing endometriosis

By Rory Visco Contributor

WHEN you see your daughter or a friend’s daughter or any female friend wincing whenever she’s having a period, especially if the pain is excruciating and agonizing, you might want to have it checked.

A lot of people may not know about endometriosis. Most of the time it is understood poorly, and many may not know that it affects one in every 10 Filipino women.

The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) already noticed that the number of women who go to the hospital experiencing pain in the pelvis, which was later on seen as endometriosis is on the uptrend, which prompted UP-PGH to open special clinics to provide services for this surge in cases.

Endometriosis: What causes it?

DR. Angela Aguilar from the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the UP Philippine General Hospital and a speaker at the “Masakit ang Puson: My Endometriosis Kaya?” of the Stop C.O.V.I.D Deaths webinar organized by the University of the Philippines, UP Manila NIH National Telehealth Center together with the UP-PGH, said that the prevalence rates of endometriosis in women with infertility is about 31 percent, while those with chronic pelvic pain, is at 42 percent. For women without any symptoms, it is found in 23 percent of them.

She said there are a lot of studies worldwide and interestingly, it is shown that Europeans have a lower prevalence of 17 percent compared with Asians at 36 percent. “Perhaps because in Europe, there is early diagnosis in trying to root out the condition.”

She said there are many types of endometriosis, not just the ovarian cyst. “There is the superficial endometriosis or the implants in the peritoneum that may cause fibrosis, and the deep infiltrating endometriosis that causes the most amount of pain. It is the most difficult to treat and may cause more problems including ureteral obstruction, even intractable bowel obstruction that needs to be relieved by surgery.”

Dr. Aguilar said there is also genetic predisposition for endometriosis that causes implantation and inflammation.

How is it detected?

FOR many women, pain is common, Dr. Aguilar said, but it may not be conclusive of having endometriosis. “There may be other conditions that may produce it, hence, a workup of the cause of pain is recommended.”

She noted, however, that nowadays, they are advocating for a “clinical” diagnosis of endometriosis, meaning, there are certain symptoms and manifestations that are highly correlated with the disease. “We are advocating for this because the old gold standard, meaning tissue diagnosis obtained through surgery is not only expensive but also invasive and it may cause morbidity by mere performance.”

Dr. Aguilar added that clinical diagnosis such as pelvic examination and imaging studies are highly specific to determine that the patient has endometriosis so “empiric” treatment or treatment based on observation can be given.

Pain management

SHE said the most important aspect to be solved is pelvic pain, the most common or frequent manifestation of endometriosis. Early treatment is important because of the disease’s “mechanism of pain.” “For many women, this may occur in the adolescent stage or when a woman starts menstruating. If unrecognized and unmanaged, there will be continuous sensitization of the pain receptors in the pelvis to the peripheral nervous system all the way to the cerebral cortex, and continuous stimulation of this pathway will produce chronic pain syndrome.”

Dr. Aguilar noted that this may be so chronic that even if all pelvic organs and visible lesions of endometriosis are removed, the pain has already imprinted and pharmacological pain management may not be enough. “We want to prevent intractable pain. Luckily, there are now effective therapeutics for pelvic pain and medications are available locally. There is first-line all the way to the fourth-line therapy, from simple hormonal medications to surgical excision.”

However, even if the pain is managed, Dr. Aguilar said the fact remains that it should be ensured that the cyst is benign and pain can be adequately suppressed. Luckily, she said that highly specific sonographic and imaging studies are now available to determine whether the cyst is benign or malignant.

Better glucose control, a better life for seniors with diabetes

By Dr. Grace Delos Santos

LIVING w ith diabetes is a unique challenge for the more than six million Filipinos affected by the condition. Every day, Filipinos living with diabetes are faced with multiple lifestyle considerations such as choices of food, exercise, and medication.

These challenges get more difficult with age. With age comes an increased risk for further complications such as visual, hearing, and mobility impairments. Diabetes can also affect their overall immunity against communicable diseases.

Hence, it is important that during celebrations like Chinese New Year, senior citizens and their caregivers pay more attention to their food intake.

The increased risk of diabetes among the elderly

N a 2 022 study by Giron and De Vega in the ASEAN Endocrine Journal, it is suggested that 20.5 percent of their Filipino senior citizen resp ondents are living with diabetes. Seniors living with diabetes experience slow and progressive impairment of body functions, which can deteriorate their immunity and lifestyle.

Insulin secretion is found to decrease with age, which may affect how senior citizens control their sugar. Because of uncontrolled sugar, the likelihood for them to develop complications increases.

Early symptoms of increased sugar could be absent. Hence, some seniors may experience these early signs such as increased hunger or thirst, frequent urination, fatiguability, and blurred vision and dismiss these as signs of aging, but these could be signs of asymptomatic diabetes.

Continuous glucose monitoring for better glucose control

T HE A bbott FreeStyle Libre System, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device, is an innovative technology that helps people under-

stand their glucose trends through a handheld touchscreen reader, which scans a coin-sized sensor applied on the back of the upper arm. Through this technology, Filipinos living with diabetes can have a complete picture of their glucose profile anytime and anywhere without the need for routine finger pricks.

This helps seniors living with diabetes, their caregivers, and doctors create a personalized diabetes management plan to better control their aging loved one’s glucose levels. Cloudbased technologies, such as LibreView, can also help doctors monitor their patient’s sugar levels anytime and anywhere.

One benefit of CGM is it helps patients living with diabetes to plan and choose what food they can eat based on their real-time glucose levels. Too much fluctuation in glucose levels can also increase the risk of development of diabetic complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, etc.

Additionally, better diabetes management through CGM, complemented with proper nutrition, can also improve elderly immunity against communicable diseases1.

Living life better with diabetes management

L IV ING w ith and managing diabetes is not easy for senior citizens. But with real-time glucose data from CGM, it is easier for Filipinos living with diabetes to finally know what they can eat and when, when should they exercise or not, and best of all, they no longer have to prick their fingers.

However, family members and caregivers should also do their part in monitoring and helping our seniors improve their lifestyle choices.

To summarize, caring for our aging loved ones with diabetes can be complicated due to the aging process. Through CGM, family members can better understand the immediate needs of their loved ones living with diabetes and support their glucose control.

Dr. Grace Delos Santos is the Past President of Diabetes Philippines.

USAID, DOH, local partners hold medical mission in Tondo

WOMEN, when was the last time you thought about your cervix? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. In a 2016 study involving 1,000 British women, only a third could correctly identify the specific location of the cervix in a diagram. Another US survey among college students showed that only 46 percent of women were able to point out the cervix in a female reproductive system illustration.

Perhaps that’s why few women pay attention to their cervix—until something goes wrong. Cervical cancer is the second leading type of cancer among women in the Philippines. “An estimated 7,897 new cases of cervical cancer occur every year, while deaths due to cervical cancer amount to 4,052 annually, according to the DOH,” says Glenn B. Benitez, MD, a gynecologic-oncologist from the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of the top hospital in the Philippines, Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed, www.makatimed.net.ph).

The good news? Cervical cancer is almost totally preventable. Benitez gives us fast facts on this underappreciated yet vital part of the female anatomy—including how to keep it cancer-free.

■ Where exactly is the cervix and what does it do? The cervix is the cylinder-shaped, inch-long tunnel located between the vagina and uterus that allows fluid to course to and from the uterus. “Menstrual blood flows from your uterus to the cervix and out the vagina. When you’re ovulating, the cervix releases a less viscous and less acidic type of mucus so sperm can easily pass through the uterus and fertilize an egg,” explains Benitez. “During a vaginal birth, the cervix widens or dilates, helping the baby come out from the uterus. And when you’re not pregnant, the cervix prevents microbes from going all the way up to your uterus.”

■ How does cervical cancer develop? The knowledge of Cervical Oncogenesis (or the start and progression to cancer of the cervix) has undergone significant developments in the last several decades. “We now know the various risk factors and the ‘necessary trigger’—the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)—to start on the road of cancer development. It is now believed that persistent high-risk HPV infection over many years can lead to cervical cancer,” warns Benitez. High-risk HPV usually has no gross features and can only be detected with special HPV DNA tests, while low-risk HPV types may have skin or genital warts.

Like many cancers, cervical cancer only begins to show symptoms during its invasive stages. “See your doctor if you note unusual vaginal bleeding, an unpleasant vaginal discharge, lower back pain, and a general feeling of fatigue,” Benitez adds.

■ Can I protect myself against cervical cancer? Yes, if you’re vigilant enough. “For women between the ages of 21 and 65, experts recommend a Pap smear done every three years; above 30 years of age, it can be as infrequent as every five years if combined with testing for HPV,” Benitez recommends. A test wherein samples of cells from your cervix are collected and sent to a lab for screening, a Pap smear can detect precancerous cells that can be removed before they can progress into the invasive phase. Thanks to screening, and notably using the new HPV DNAbased tests, cervical cancer can either be prevented or detected in the early stages and cured.

In the last decade, there was the introduction of the HPV vaccine. Given in three doses over a period of six months, it provides nearly 100 percent protection against High-Risk HPV 16/18 infections, and the precancers caused by these two strains of HPV. “Available to both boys and girls, the vaccine can be administered to them between the ages of 9 and 12 years old,” Benitez points out. “This can probably help prevent almost 90 percent of HPV-related cancers when they get older.” The vaccine has also been approved for use for women up to age 45.

■ How else can I care for my cervix? Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking can be helpful in improving cervical health. “Smokers have double the chance of getting cervical cancer than non-smokers because tobacco byproducts are believed to initiate cervical cellular changes that can lead to cancer,” Benitez explains. “Avoiding coitus near menarche, limiting sexual partners, and engaging in protected sex also lessen your chances of being infected by lifethreatening strains of HPV.”

Otherwise, Benitez suggests sticking to habits that benefit the cervix, the reproductive system, and one’s overall wellbeing like maintaining a healthy weight, following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and seeking gynecologic screening early in life.

‘Mom, do you believe in luck?’

devoted her whole break to training. She ended up winning two golds for our country—one gold medal for Women’s Cadet Individual and another gold medal for Women’s Junior Team.

I have always had these five basic principles and beliefs about luck:

1. Luck begins at birth and in thought. I believe the blessing of our birth is the beginning of our luck. I have always told my children that they were born lucky.

WE just celebrated Chinese New Year a few days ago. Every year, I spend this time celebrating with my family and our dearest family friends from The Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony.

Feng shui is part of my Chinese culture growing up. My Chinese name, which means “Double Rose,” was given to me by a Chinese monk who mastered in feng shui. He also gave the Chinese names of both my children.

In feng shui, each person has a specific “ ” (8 characters) that defines one’s lifelong “luck”, both good and bad. Based on this, I guess one can say that one is born with a specific luck. It made me think of a question my children would ask me: If I actually believed in luck, and how a recent experience of my daughter made me see an “expanded” view of luck.

My daughter recently participated in the 2022 Southeast Asia Fencing Federation Championships. A few months leading to this competition, she was not in full shape because she needed to prioritize keeping her 4.5 GPA [Grade Point Average] and was preparing a lot for her university applications next year. When she found out in December that this major competition was coming up and Christmas break started, she

2. Luck is the view from our own lenses. Beyond optimism, luck is the eyes of relativity that’s always in our control. It’s our choice to spot luck or miss it. I have shared to my children to actively be aware of the opportunities life presents to them. I recently advised my son that although it seems easier to say no and stay in our comfort zone, one must fight that urge and grab the challenge ahead. When he suddenly got nominated for class president this year, even though he felt really shy, he still delivered a good speech and ended up being elected.

3. Luck is the recognition of known wants. Luck can only be present if there is a self-awareness of wants. It is difficult to experience luck if we don’t know what we value. I have also instilled in my children valuable and intangible wants, such as learning, the feeling of being supported, or just recognizing something that truly makes you smile.

4. Luck multiplies with gratitude. I always believe life sees our gratitude.  The more we thank life, the more life shares us things to be grateful for. As both of my children experience their own wins, I am prouder that they give utmost respect and gratitude to their teachers and coaches. It is fun to hear Meagan think of how she wants to provide a better future for her coach when she already has the means to.

5. Luck is a gift we can also give. I believe the point of receiving luck is being able to share it. Good thoughts beget good thoughts. I am also glad that my children share their honed knowledge to their peers. My daughter loves to tutor math to her friends. Lately, Meagan just launched a youth-led movement called Vote4Youth. She would like to do her part in building hope through voter education as early as the grade school level.

I often would hear that a person can be lucky in one aspect, but not in another. My daughter has always had many goals. I would often be amazed at how her vision map has expanded since she first did this when she was in Grade 8. More than this, facts would also show that she was not a natural in many of the things she excels in today. Through the years, she would cry to me at times asking why she was not a natural in things she wanted to be good at. As a mom, I sometimes am tempted to advise her to choose easier battles. But when I see her passion in pursuing her love for calculus now, even when math was difficult for her in first grade; or analyzing her every bout in fencing even when she was told two years ago that she would never make it in this sport; or since she was Grade 9, asking me what could be done for the Philippines to become as great as our Asian neighbors; I realize that the luck that we expect to be natural and innate, can also be latent and slowly discovered in our lives. I thank my daughter for leading me to realize that as much as luck may seem providential, it is our strong will and good heart that usher in our “bestest” of luck.

Congratulations, Meagan and Marcus, for making the Philippines proud. Thank you also for giving our family such a great opportunity to support and spend time with each other.

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone. ■

Hamilton recalls bullying, racial abuse during school years

BY JEROME PUGMIRE The Associated Press

FORMULA One great Lewis Hamilton experienced bullying when he was only 6 years old and said he had bananas thrown at him when he was racially abused at school.

The seven-time champion, who is the only Black driver in F1, called his schooldays the most traumatic of times.

“For me, school was probably the most traumatizing and most difficult part of my life,” Hamilton said in an interview for the On Purpose podcast, which was released Monday. “I already was being bullied at the age of 6...I think at the time, [at] [that particular school, I was probably one of three kids of color and just bigger, stronger, bullying kids were throwing me around a lot of the time.”

Born and educated in Stevenage, England, Hamilton described how racial abuse continued during his school years, along with the utter isolation and confusion he felt.

“And then constant jabs [jibes], the things that are thrown at you, like bananas, people that would use the N-word just so relaxed. People calling you halfcaste and just really not knowing where you fit in,” the 38-year-old Hamilton told the podcast show. “That for me was difficult, and then when you go into history class and everything you learn in history there are no people of color in the history they were teaching us. So I was thinking, ‘Where are the people who look like me?’”

Hamilton said even figures of authority would pick on him.

“There were only around six or seven black kids out of 1,200 kids and three of us were put outside the headmaster’s office all the time,” he said. “The headmaster just had it out for us and particularly for me I would say.

“I was put in all the lowest sets at school and told that if you do well you can progress. They never ever let me progress, no matter how hard I tried,” Hamilton added. “I really felt the system was up against me and I was swimming against the tide.”

Hamilton said he felt the bitter pain of exclusion,

“I was always the last picked, you know when you are standing in a line, when they are picking teams for football (soccer). I was always the last one chosen or not even chosen. Even if I was better than somebody else,” he said. “Just juggling all these emotions that you’re feeling, plus I struggled at school. I didn’t find out until I was 16 that I was dyslexic.”

Hamilton described how he bottled up his pain and put on a brave face when he got home.

“There were a lot of things that I suppressed. I didn’t feel I could go home and tell my parents that these kids kept calling me the N-word today, [that] I got bullied, beaten up at school today, or I wasn’t able to defend myself,” he said. “I didn’t want my dad to think I was not strong and so if I had tears I would hold them back, if I had emotions it would be in a quiet place. It wasn’t really until I started racing that I was able to channel this emotion that I had into my

Hamilton is F1’s record-holder with 103 Grand Prix wins and 103 pole positions, and shares the record for most F1 titles with fellow great Michael Schumacher.

The Mercedes star, who did not win a Grand Prix last season, begins his quest for an eighth F1 title when the season begins in Bahrain on March 5.

In recent years, Hamilton has distinguished himself away from the track, campaigning tirelessly to fight racism and urging others in F1 to speak out more.

Hamilton set up “The Hamilton Commission” to improve F1’s diversity, and has also been outspoken on human rights abuses in countries where F1 goes racing. AP

Women, girls should take better care of this underappreciated part of the female anatomy

LEWIS HAMILTON of Great Britain and Mercedes reacts in a press conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on November 17, 2022.

Sitel Group® Maximizes Work Culture with MAX Program to keep employees happy, engaged

Smart ignites Grand Sinulog comeback by partnering with Cebu City government

opportunity to invite its customers to register their SIMs by putting up more accessible SIM Registration booths around Cebu City.

Delilah Escobar, a senior citizen from barangay Lorega expressed her delight upon completing her SIM registration at Smart’s booth at Plaza Independencia. “I’m happy to find SIM Registration booths around the city to assist senior citizens like me who have a hard time registering their SIMs since no one can help me at home. Thank you, Smart, for this wonderful initiative.”

THE Philippines’ grandest festival, Sinulog, returned with a bang after a two-year hiatus with PLDT Inc.’s wireless arm Smart Communications, Inc.’s (Smart) full support and partnership with the local government of Cebu City and Sinulog Foundation, Inc.

In keeping with tradition, Cebuanos honored the 458th Fiesta of Señor Santo Niño with lively parades, concerts, pageantry, and competitions.

“We are thankful for our partnership with the Local Government of Cebu City and Sinulog Foundation Inc., which allowed Smart to be part of the grand comeback of Sinulog. This gave us an opportunity to bring an epic festival experience to both locals and tourists, and offer Smart subscribers perks and rewards for their loyalty. We also boosted our SIM Registration efforts by providing on-ground assistance via booths to keep them connected,” said Lloyd Genesiran, Junior Manager and Sinulog Festival Lead of Smart Go-to-Market and Subs Management.

Smart powered up various activities such as the Grand Sinulog 2023 Ritual Showdown, Ms. Sinulog Festival Queen 2023, and the private events at Sinulog Night, among several other lined-up events.

Smart's reliable wireless connectivity also enabled media entities and festival goers to livestream the events, spreading the Sinulog fun and cheer across the world in real-time.

“It has been five years since I last joined the Sinulog Festival, and the good thing about the availability and reliability of Smart’s network is that it enabled me to relay my experiences through livestreaming. I also got a lot of positive reactions and comments from my friends and family abroad who were unable to personally join the festival. At least they were able to celebrate with us through my real-time video updates,” said Rudolfo Lara, an Overseas Filipino Worker in San Francisco, California.

Anticipating the massive number of festival goers, Smart also seized the

As mandated by the SIM Registration Act, which aims to curb the proliferation of text scams and other mobile phoneaided criminal activities, Smart and TNT are accelerating the deployment of SIM Registration booths and touchpoints all over the country, by collaborating with LGUs, partner stores, and regional and provincial distributors. The touchpoints offer assistance to Smart and TNT customers needing information on how to register their SIM, as well as provide physical assistance to customers with special circumstances – seniors, persons with disabilities, those still using basic phones.

Smart also made available its SIM Registration portal http://www.smart. com.ph/simreg on December 27, 2022. Through this platform, millions of Smart and TNT customers have been able to conveniently register their SIMs.

Smart is also making SIM Registration more convenient for postpaid subscribers, who simply need to confirm the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application. To do this confirmation, subscribers just need to text YES to 5858. They shall then receive a confirmation message from Smart upon successful SIM Registration.

LB Levinson Brothers Inc. celebrates their 25th year in the business

LB Levinson Brothers Inc., led by its Founder and Chairman of the Board Engr. Ben Monteiro and his sons Jetrho and Benson, marked its silver jubilee in the business with the theme “Levinson Brothers Rising: 25 Years and Beyond” at the Fairmont Hotel Makati recently.

“Today, LB Levinson Brothers Inc. is one of the most awarded and trusted partners of the biggest telecom companies in the Philippines. We are very thankful to our employees, our friends, our partners, and our clients, both old and new, for believing in us for the past 25 years,” said Jetrho Monteiro, President of LB Levinson Brothers Inc.

The celebration was attended by some of Levinson’s most esteemed clients, partners, friends, and employees, becoming the biggest gathering of the company as a family since the pandemic. And as part of the celebration, LB Levinson Brothers Inc. showed its appreciation to its valued clients who have shown unwavering excellence and overwhelming support to the company through the years. Called the Big Heroes League, select teams and individuals were honored and recognized for rising up to the challenge.

Achievers from various departments of LB Levinson Brothers Inc. were also given The High Flyer recognition, the highest commendation given by the company to its most outstanding employees. Engr. Ben Monteiro’s longtime business partners, such as Generika Drugstore’s founder and Chairman of the Board, Ted Ferrer, and its COO and president, Atty. Josette Adrienne A. Abarca, were given special recognitions as well for their lasting partnership with Levinson and its Generika Drugstore branches.

“While we’re celebrating the silver jubilee of the company, we are also celebrating the successes of our employees, our friends, our partners, and our clients. I couldn’t have done this all by myself. But because of God and all of the people who believed in us, we were

able to go through a quarter of a century with courage, pride, and with utmost joy,” shared Engr. Ben Monteiro.

Levinson started in 1997 as a construction company, initially providing civil works for telecom and water works. Today, LB Levinson Brothers Inc. has become one of the most reliable partners of the biggest telecom companies in the Philippines in Outside Plant (OSP) build and maintenance services, and Subscriber Line Installation and Repair services for both Broadband consumers and Enterprise clients.

The company has also invested in heavy machinery to cover a wider scope in OSP projects, including Horizontal Direct Drilling (HDD) and Microtrenching. This provided more comprehensive services to long-time clients such as Globe, PLDT, FiberHome, and Skycable, among others.

In 2009, LB Levinson Brothers Inc. decided to venture into the pharmaceutical industry, starting with its first Generika Drugstore branch in Sta. Maria Poblacion in Bulacan From its lone Generika Drugstore branch in Bulacan, there are now 13 Generika stores owned and ran by the company all over Luzon, making them one of the top franchisees of the fastest-growing

generic medicine providers in the country.

“Since we’ve started, Levinson has added more people and more services, and along with it, more clients, more achievements, more areas where we share our works, and hopefully, more exciting days ahead of us. In all those years, we’ve seen it all: successes and failures, the highs and the lows, the celebrations and challenges. All of it contributed to who and what we are today, and as we move forward, we expect to spread more sunshine to everyone who supports LB Levinson Brothers Inc.,” added Engr. Ben Monteiro.

Through the years, LB Levinson Brothers Inc. has become a reliable force in the Philippines — building, repairing, and maintaining the telecom systems and equipment that form the backbone of various businesses in the country. The Monteiro patriarch credits the company’s longevity to its core values of God-centered work, trustworthiness, excellence, and grit.

“As we always say, ‘Trust of our clients comes first, and the profits will follow.’ We may not be known in the industry as the biggest company, but surely, we can always be remembered as one of their most trusted and reliable service providers,” Engr. Ben Monteiro closed.

AWARE of how corporate culture is critical to employee satisfaction and could spell the difference between a company that‘s merely surviving and one that's actively thriving, Sitel Group® , one of the largest global providers of customer experience products and solutions, launched the Sitel® My Associate Experience or Sitel MAX, the company’s business-wide mindset and engagement program for transforming the associate experience via social collaborations.

“With Sitel MAX, we get to harness the collective genius of our employees, from frontline agents to managers, to continuously improve everyone‘s working experience,” Camille Yumang, People & Culture Manager and Sitel MAX Country Lead, says.

“The program is our concrete way of showing how we value our associates’ opinions.”

One way associates get to express their voices in Sitel MAX is through MAX Pulse. Implemented across all countries where Sitel Group® is located, it asks associates one simple question: “How are you doing today?” Gathered answers are then used to determine what motivates associates and gives them a sense of belonging. MAX Pulse reinforces the company‘s culture of care.

In addition to helping make Sitel Group® the best place to build a career, the company implemented the MAX Annual

Employee Engagement Survey to get ideas for improvement from the company‘s associates. In 2021, the survey revealed that Sitel® Philippines employees highly recommend the organization as a place to work to their friends and family. It also showed that nearly 90 percent of its workforce intend to stay with the company as it highly values working environment, career growth and compensation.

Sitel MAX is not just about listening. It‘s also about co-creating. The program uses crowdsourcing and co-creating activities to give associates opportunities to learn, grow, and engage as architects of new solutions. MAXConnect, the intranet of Sitel Group®, is one of the results of these activities.

“Sitel MAX makes our employees feel that they're a part of something bigger, allows them to be their authentic selves, and even helps them look after their mind and body,” Yumang says.

“It's part of our culture‘s personality that makes us unique.”

of “breaking the norm,” referring to an existing defective system filled with “inequality, disorder, and machinations.” It tackles the idea of initiating change and making it right in our own way.

Jayson talks about the likes of Robin Hood who steals from the rich to help the poor, while in the process, not glorifying doing bad deeds to achieve a good end but is more of being willing to sacrifice oneself in order to make things right.

RENOWNED Philippine Pop boy group 1ST.ONE comes back to the music scene with the highest budget P-Pop MV yet worth P20 million for their new song “Problem Child” helmed by company CHECK which has worked with K-Pop household names BTS, BlackPink, and EXO.

As Philippine Pop (P-Pop) groups rise to the occasion of delivering high-quality music and performances, the genre has proven itself to be a force to be reckoned with and boy group 1ST.ONE has undeniably contributed to raising the standards in the industry with the enchanting melody and concept of their tracks.

1ST.ONE represents their management as well as the name of the group itself as it carries the legacy of their company, First One Entertainment. Known for their strong and charismatic persona, the group will showcase their fierceness in their latest comeback, Problem Child.

Korean company CHECK helmed the music video for this comeback, working with some of the biggest names in the industry, including but not limited to BlackPink, EXO, BTS, and Cha Eunwoo. With this and a budget of a whopping P20 million for the song’s music video, the pressure to be extremely ready for the shoot was really challenging for the group.

Nevertheless, 1ST.ONE pushed through and was still at their best. Jayson, the group’s maknae and rapper shares, “It was definitely a blast working with them [CHECK]. I'm very thankful because they gave us a unique experience compared to the past music videos that we have done. We are very grateful that they took care of us so well.”

Aside from the impressive production of the song, Problem Child really pushes the boundaries when it comes to its musicality. Max, the group’s main vocalist, mentions how it is their toughest and heaviest song yet, not just with its choreography but also lyrically.

The track has an interesting concept

“You can think of Robin Hood and Batman as vigilantes, and many more heroes being misdirected as villains by a corrupt system. Nevertheless, they remain as heroes within themselves still willing to sacrifice continuously even if they are considered the bad ones,” he reiterates.

This concept explores a territory in P-Pop that has never been completely looked at, that’s why J, one of 1ST.ONE’s rappers, hopes that this comeback will be a good representation of the future of the P-Pop industry, aiming to expand and grow more.

As for upcoming projects, Alpha, one of the group’s rappers, wants to take Philippine Pop to the highest level, and to achieve this, he aims on collaborating with fellow P-Pop artists such as Alamat, BGYO, BINI, VXON, KAIA, G22, and PHP.

The rapper further states, “Initially, of course, we'd love to kick things off with our dream collaborations within the P-Pop industry, and that would be with DIONE and SB19. We go way way way back just with these 2 groups. We think it's going to be an explosion.”

Not failing to mention their supporters who they call “For.One,” meaning “Forever One” for wanting to be with them through ups and downs until the end, the P-Pop ensemble ensures them that their comeback will push the group’s limits and get them out of the box they are used to being in.

On behalf of 1ST.ONE, Alpha desires for the P-Pop community to not miss out on their comeback Problem Child for this marks the first time ever for Philippine and South Korean directors to collaborate and create an outstanding masterpiece of an MV that fans “haven't seen before.” The rapper states that the group really planned and prepared everything to give everyone “the best MV of all time.”

1ST.ONE will release Problem Child it on January 31, 2023 and can be streamed through Spotify, Apple Music, and other music platforms. Meanwhile, its high-budget music video will be streamed on 1STONE official Youtube channel.

THE MEN BEHIND LB LEVINSON BROTHERS INC.: Chairman of the Board Ben Monteiro is flanked by Vice President Elvin Allyson Monteiro and President Levin Jetrho Monteiro.

DANCERS brave the heat at SRP to entertain festival goers.

SITEL® Philippines Employees during Sitel® MAX Caravan in Sitel® Technopoint.

1ST.ONE announces comeback with the highest budget Philippine Pop music video of P20M

Envoys&Expats

PHL-S’pore MOU to advance digital collaboration–DICT

ARECENTLY

In a statement, Spokesperson-Undersecretary Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said her meeting with Ambassador Gerard Ho Wei Hong was about “further areas of cooperation,” and the MOU rollout.

“We discussed with Ambassador Ho how we can implement [the] MOU, and which areas we should focus on,” Lamentillo said. “Singapore has so much experience in the area of e-governance and cyber security, and they can share with us their best practices in [the said] areas.”

The memorandum on digital cooperation was formalized during

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s state visit to the city-state last year. It was signed by DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy as well as Singapore’s Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo on September 7, 2022.

“The MOU covers…cooperation on digital connectivity, particularly in interoperable systems and frameworks that enable electronic documentation; cyber security, such as organizing training courses and technical programs through the Asean-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence to develop and enhance skills related to cyber security; [plus digital government and e-governance, such as those]

in the areas of digital-government strategy, digital-government services, and digital identity,” she revealed.

The memorandum also spans exchanges of knowledge, technical expertise, and best practices on measures related to scam calls shortmessage services or SMS/texts, and those pertaining to personal data protection.

It also seeks to create cooperation on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, cloud

computing, Internet of Things, big data, analytics, and robotics, among others.

“There will also be cooperation and exchange of knowledge to boost the digital innovation ecosystem— including connecting business owners with potential solution providers; exploring cooperation on digital capability and capacity-building programs; [as well as] exchange of knowledge and best practices on digital infrastructure,” Lamentillo confirmed. Raymond Carl Dela Cruz/PNA

EU to boost community resilience, children’s services in conflict-ridden BARMM locales

THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), European Union in the Philippines and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently launched the “Building Community Resilience and Delivery of Essential Services for Post-Conflict Recovery in Lanao del Sur/Marawi” project to strengthen community resilience, increase essential services coverage, as well as promote child-friendly family and community behaviors in 44 municipalities in Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon.

The effort’s €4-million-plus budget, or about P245-million, will fund education, health, child-protection and disaster-risk reduction programs targeting 680,000 children, 200,000 parents and 120,000 internally displaced persons affected

by the Marawi conflict. Project outcomes include maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, nutrition, water, and sanitation services; early-childhood education and basic education services; child protection and social-welfare systems; as well as child-friendly provincial and municipal planning and investment for children’s rights and reduced disaster risks.

“This project…supports

BARMM’s regional and local authorities’ capacity to plan and deliver services: from health and sanitation, to education and social protection,” stated Ambassador Luc Véron of the EU. “It will contribute to the [basic human rights fulfillment of beneficiary-] populations…foremost the children.”

Véron said the EU is “very proud to have the opportunity to help fund

this effort and partner up with… Bangsamoro authorities and…UNICEF, as part of our longstanding commitment to the wellbeing of children; and of course, to peace and development in BARMM.”

“Our journey to development and peace lives on in every Bangsamoro youth who carries our dreams into the future. The unrelenting support of our partners enables us to shape a Bangsamoro that nurtures the health and well-being of each… child,” Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim explained.

“Sustainable development, peace and security will not be achieved until every child has [his or her] rights fulfilled, respected and protected,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov added. “Children have a right to just be [themselves and play, as well

as also] learn and spend time with family and friends. Safeguarding the next generation from the effects of armed conflict is our collective responsibility.”

The three-year project will involve collaboration among key agencies of the Bangsamoro government, including its ministries of health; social services and development; basic, higher and technical education; interior and local government; provincial governors; including development and humanitarian partners.

Special focus will be given to vulnerable populations—including pregnant and lactating women, children with disabilities, indigenous children, out-of-school youth, adolescents at-risk of being recruited into armed groups, internally displaced persons, and girls.

PHL embassy partakes in KSA’s green campaign

RIYADH—The Philippine Embassy joined the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA)

National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification’s (NCVC) “Let’s Make it Green” campaign by planting 200 trees at the Saad National

Park in December 2022.

More than 50 personnel from the embassy and their dependents volunteered in the activity as part of its initiative to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and KSA, as well as the

International Volunteer Day last month.

In his opening remarks, Chargé d’Affaires Rommel Romato emphasized the importance of cooperation between both nations in promoting environmental awareness and action: “The Filipino’s sense of volun-

teerism and commitment to environmental sustainability transcend our borders. Our dynamic [KSA-based Filipino community fully supports the ‘Saudi Green Initiative SGI]’ programs by undertaking clean-up drives and tree planting activities, among others.”

THE Embassy of Chile, in partnership with University of Santo Tomas, inaugurated late in 2022 a two-week cultural exhibition: “Encounter Between Three Worlds: 500 Years After the First Circumnavigation of the Earth.”

Ambassador Claudio Rojas Rachel delivered the welcome remarks with UST’s vice rector Rev. Fr. Isaías D. Tiongco OP, JCD. Deputy Head of Mission and Consul of the Chilean Embassy Marco Antonio Navarro Ahumada served as the event’s host.

The exhibition detailed the lengthy naval voyage of Portuguese noble Ferdinand Magellan (Fernão de Magalhães) who, for the first time, charted the Pacific Ocean and the strait that was eventually named after him connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. Said naval route was used for four centuries to connect the East and the West, since it was the only possible waterway for galleons and ships to traverse, until the construction of the Panama Canal in the 20th Century.

The contribution of this universal route to human history can be seen not only in the completed voyage itself, but also in the consequences it had in the colonization and develop-

ment of many nations, including the Philippines and Chile.

Part of the two countries’ 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the seminar highlighted the historical experience of the Philippines and Chile under the Spanish, Latin American and Asian influences, then emphasized the rich historical and cultural similarities between both nations.

Prof. Jaime Rosenblitt PhD, who is a historian from the National Cultural Heritage Service Research Council and the National Library of Chile, delivered an online lecture: “The First Expedition to the Strait of Magallanes.” His research, which was one of the exhibition’s primary bases, centered on Magellan and Sebastian Elcano’s circumnavigation attempt.

Associate Professor Ma. Eloisa G. Parco de Castro PhD likewise discussed her paper: “Restoring Memory, Reliving History: Cavite Puerto’s Role in the Survival of Spanish Power in the Philippines from 1570-1720.”

A native of the said province herself, the National Book awardee focused on the significant events surrounding what served as the chief port of the Philippines in the Spanish era.

ON January 17 the City of Las Piñas launched an amphibious excavator in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Villar Sipag Foundation.

The machine, according to the Japanese Embassy, will remove accumulated garbage and silt from the narrow Las Piñas River to help improve its capacity to withstand floods.

Second Secretary Tomohiro Matsubara, Chairman Hiroshige Takano from Kochi-Marutaka Co., Project Formulation Adviser Hashizume Takuya from JICA, Senator Cynthia Villar and Representative Camille Villar attended the ceremony and observed the machine’s operation as part of the agency’s verification survey for the “Utilization of Floating Amphibious Excavator for the Construction Works on Disaster Management and Disaster Restoration in the Philippines” project.

According to Matsubara, the government of Japan’s support to numerous countries has included the introduction of small-scale, innovative solutions to the problems of flood management and waste disposal. He also assured that “Kochi-Marutaka, [maker of the amphibious excavator machine,] is a well-known company in Japan for manufacturing useful and unique construction machines and facilities.”

As part of the project, dredging activities and garbage-removal works will be conducted at two proposed sites in Las Piñas City using the floating excavator machine. Unlike conventional backhoes-on-barges, the amphibious equipment, as shared by the embassy, can move freely on water, and even cruise under low bridges to collect garbage and remove sedimentation. It keeps waterways clean and prepared for the onslaught of floodwater during emergencies.

GARDEN OF KNOWLEDGE Ambassador Johann Brieger (second from right) joined the kids who are victims and survivors of human trafficking sheltered at the Center of Hope, for the second installation of a basic workshop on creative gardening, including planting of herbs and vegetable seedlings. The Austrian Embassy, in partnership with Farm Lab, jointly created a learning garden with the children of Voice of the Free’s VF Foundation Inc. as part of the latter’s healing intervention.

FB: AUSTRIAN EMBASSY MANILA

HIGH-LEVEL MISSION The International Labour Organization’s High-Level Tripartite Mission government representative Thomas Mikael Janson (left) and other delegates were received by Labor Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma on January 23. The HLTM is authorized to make further inquiries on the Philippine government’s state of compliance with ILO Convention No. 87, or the “Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize.” Laguesma ensured the Department of Labor and Employment’s full cooperation and assistance so that the mission will meet its objectives. JEROME SAJISE/DOLE/IPS

WITH BANGSAMORO STUDENTS Part of his visit to launch the new partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Phils. in the Bangsamoro Region, Ambassador Luc Véron (second from left) had a chance to visit a school and clinic in Marawi City in Lanao del Sur, as he learned first-hand about the concerns and aspirations of local learners, as well as healthcare workers there. (See story below.)

TWITTER: @EUINTHEPHILIPPINES

signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) is envisioned to boost Philippine-Singaporean “digital cooperation.”

Chile’s embassy, UST stage exhibit, webinar on first circumnavigation

Japan lends tool to Las Piñas LGU for dredging, garbage extraction

AMBASSADOR Claudio Rojas Rachel (left) presents an exhibition piece to Most Rev. Charles John Brown DD, who is the apostolic nuncio to the Philippines and dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

AMBASSADOR Gerard Ho Wei Hong UNDERSECRETARY Anna Mae Y. Lamentillo

Two days after

advancing to her first Grand Slam

tournament quarterfinal, unseeded Magda Linette has gone one better and is into the Australian Open semifinals.

T he 30-year-old Linette beat Karolina Pliskova, 6-3, 7-5, on Wednesday, adding the former No. 1 to the list of top players she has beaten at Melbourne Park during this tournament.

L inette, who had lost seven of nine previous matches against Pliskova, has defeated Anett Kontaveit, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Women’s Tennis Association Finals champion Caroline Garcia in successive rounds.

A player from Poland was favored to reach the latter stages of the tournament, but it was top-seeded Iga Swiatek that everyone would have expected—and not Linette.

It’s so emotional I can’t really believe it,” Linette said. “I tried to stay composed and took my chances when I could.”

L inette will play the winner of the second women’s quarterfinal Wednesday between No. 5 Aryna Sabalenka and unseeded Donna Vekic. They meet in Thursday night’s semifinals.

The other women’s semifinalists were determined on Tuesday.

Two-time former Australian champion Victoria Azarenka will play Wimbledon titleholder Elena Rybakina for a chance to play in Saturday night’s final. Rybakina beat Swiatek in the fourth round.

Tommy Paul meanwhile, received a lot less attention than his younger, lessexperienced, opponent, Ben Shelton heading into their all-American quarterfinal at the Australian Open.

Perhaps that was a product of the fascination with the out-of-nowhere Shelton: Just 20, and less than a year after winning an NCAA title for the University of Florida, he was traveling outside of the United States for the first time and participating in his second Grand Slam tournament.

S o the loud shouts of support heard most often at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday under the sun that carried the temperature to 87 degrees Fahrenheit (30 Celsius)

LINETTE KEEPS GETTING BETTER

were for one of the pair: “Let’s go, Benny! Let’s go!” or “Benny, Benny, Benny! Oi, Oi, Oi!” or “Go, Gators!”

“ He had a pretty good trip,” Paul noted.

Paul’s story is a pretty good one, too, and it is the one that will keep going at Melbourne Park: The 25-yearold from New Jersey was a star in the

juniors and now is making good on that promise in the pros, using a 7-6 (6), 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Shelton to reach his first Grand Slam semifinal in his 14th appearance at a major.

A s a bonus, Paul’s mother was in the Rod Laver Arena stands for the biggest victory of his career. He said Mom booked a flight after he won

NLEX triumphs

HEAD Coach Frankie Lim and NLEX got their wish at the 11th hour as import Jonathon Simmons suited up in a Road Warriors uniform and didn’t disappoint.

Simmons played as advertised and with 32 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals, he helped NLEX to a 124-102 rout of Blackwater for an explosive start in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I just slept early last night and I didn’t want to think about it [Simmons],” Lim said. “I just waited for a text message this morning that he can play and that’s about it.”

NLEX couldn’t get a clearance from the International Basketball Association, or FIBA, for Simmons to play for the team on Tuesday.

The former San Antonio Spurs swingman has a more lucrative contract with the Shanxi Loongs in the Chinese Basketball Association thus restricting him from playing elsewhere.

But the release fell on the Road Warriors’ laps and all eventually went well.

“I was pretty confident that he would play and that’s a big confidence push for us,” Lim said.

Simmons and combo guard Kevin Alas joined forces in padding NLEX’s 84-81 lead after the third quarter to more than 20 points in the final period.

Simmons had 10 points and Alas scattered 19 of his 31 points in the runaway final quarter. Alas also had eight rebounds.   Brandon

Rosser added 21 points while Tony Semerad had 15 points and Matt Nieto 12 points for NLEX.

Blackwater led 43-37 midway the second quarter but keep up against NLEX’s patient comeback.

Import Shawn Glover led the Bossings with 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Josef Ramos

his fourth-round match, then went straight from work to the airport to make the long journey from the US to Australia.

“ Making it to the second weekend of a Slam, that’s everyone’s dream when they start to play tennis,” the 35th-ranked Paul said, “so I can’t believe I’m here right now.” AP

OBIENA INDOOR CAMPAIGN ON

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA

opens the indoor season on Thursday at the Internationales Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, Germany, where he will be vying against familiar foes who have become his pals in the small world-class men’s pole vault community.

The 27-year-old Obiena—who leapt to world No. 3 in 2022 following his bronze medal at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon, last July— faces challenges from two-time world champion Sam Kendricks, Belgium’s Ben Broaders, Poland’s Peter Lisek, China’s Huang Bokai and four others, at Cootbus where only men’s pole vault and women’s high jump are featured.

Everyone at EJ’s camp is so excited to simply get him back in the game,” Obiena’s long-time confidante, Jim

Tapales targets Uzbek’s belt in April

MARLON “THE NIGHTMARE” TAPALES hopes to become a world champion anew when he takes on Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev on April 8 in San Antonio, Texas.

International matchmaker Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotion, told BusinessMirror that the 30-year-old Tapales, a former World Boxing Organi-

zation (WBO) bantamweight champion, has already been informed of his fight.

Marlon’s condition and body looks terrific,” said Gibbons after checking on Tapales at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas where he trains with another aspiring world champion Jade Bornea. “It’s just a matter of time before the Philippines will have another world champion.”

Recruitment wars

IN-SEASON, the basketball battlefield in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) booms with heavy artillery.

Fighting is red-hot and war rages on.

A ll eight teams unleash their weapons of choice: threepoint bazookas, defensive armies forming impenetrable walls, snipers from every corner of the arena, kamikaze excursions into the paint that allow stabs under the basket.

Lafferty, told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “It’s been a long off-season, which started by his whirlwind visit back home in September which was a month of wall-to-wall activity.”

Obiena ended last year’s outdoor season with a gold medal leap of 5.81 meters at the Gala dei Castelli in Bellinzona, Switzerland. That was his sixth gold for the season that topped one silver and one bronze he reaped from other competitions in Europe.

Obiena got his long-sought vacation at home in September, bringing along his girlfriend, Caroline Joyeaux, a long and triple jumper from Germany.

He, however, didn’t have the luxury of staying longer for the holidays and had to head back to Formia, Italy, to continue training under the legendary Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.

B esides aiming to break 6.0 meters to join an elite group of only 25

The country has only one world champion at the moment, Melvin Jerusalem who snatched Japanese Masataka Taniguchi’s WBO minimumweight belt via a secondround knockout last January 6 in Osaka, Japan.

Tapales (36-3 win-loss record with 19 knockouts) said he has religiously trained under coach Ting Ariosa and Ernel Fontanilla for the fight that was postponed twice last year because of issues on the purse and the Uzbek’s hand injury.

The coaching staff meanwhile takes care of reconnaissance and psy-war ops.

A fter a champion is hailed, the post season begins and the heat and frenzy is  replaced by a deceiving calm. Accent on deceiving because underneath the surface, it is anything but calm.

A d ifferent kind of action resumes, for some teams, right the very next day. It’s never too early to set the stage for the next season. It’s shopping time.

Enter another kind of war. Recruitment. This escalates, goes into full swing and becomes the focus of team management and the coaching staff. Right now the trend seems to be looking overseas for Fil-foreign players who cannot just boost the roster but also change the game.

Th ink of how it was when Ben Mbala suited up for La Salle. Or how Ange Kouame got Ateneo a deed for the shaded lane. Looking at how these and other foreigntrained players performed in the leagues and teams that they beefed up (think Sam Ekwe for San Beda or Malick Diouf for the University of the Philippines), it’s no wonder getting foreign DNA—purely foreign or half Filipino—is the way to go for teams with dreams these days.

Take a look. Over the weekend fireworks totally unrelated to the celebration of Chinese New Year went off in

Russia’s war on Ukraine causes delay in Paris construction work

over to local clubs and schools.

pole vaulters who have achieved the height, Obiena will also shoot for a second Olympics stint at Paris 2024.

To do that looks easier now for Obiena. He could either beat the qualifying standard of 5.82 meters—he holds the Asian record of 5.94 meters—or maintain or improve his world ranking.

L afferty said he expects Obiena’s indoor campaign to go well with only the task of transporting his poles from one European country to another posing a menial challenge.

It’s a very short indoor season and the schedule is uncertain as transporting his poles to some of the planned competitions such as Asian championships in Kazakhstan in February, is proving to be difficult,” Lafferty said.

“ Fewer and fewer airlines are accepting to carry pole vault poles,” he added.

“ We didn’t stop and I won’t go back to our country if I’m not a world champion yet,” said Tapales, who’s been training in the US for more than a year under the Sanman Promotions of JC Mananquil.

He will be going after unbeaten 28-year-old Akhmadaliev’s (110 record with eight knockouts) International Boxing Federation super bantamweight belt.

A khmadaliev also holds the World Boxing Association title but it won’t be staked in the fight. Josef

Ramos

PARIS—Paris is rushing to finish construction work in time for the 2024 Olympics, with just 18 months to go.

Delays are being experienced in part because of the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on the steel industry.

A v enue which was due to be finished this summer won’t be completed until the beginning of next year—only a few months before the Paris Games get underway on July 26, 2024.

T he arena at Porte de la Chapelle, a multicultural working class neighborhood of the French capital, will host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events. The facilities will also be used at the Paralympics before being handed

The steel that was going to be used for the arena was initially going to be provided by Ukraine, said Christophe Rosa, the deputy general delegate of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic delegation at Paris City Hall.

U kraine’s steel producers’ union said this month that output fell by more than 70 percent last year because of Russia’s invasion and the destruction of major plants.

We’ve found solutions to source steel from other places in Europe including in the east, in Poland, but also a number of manufacturing plants in Southern Europe in order to contain delays and aim to finish the works in 2023,” Rosa said on Monday. AP

sports news. The declaration of sought-after young player, Francis (LeBron) Lopez that he was committing to the other side of Katipunan after having been associated all along with the Ateneo Blue Eagles was a major “pasabog” that went viral just seconds after the announcement took place.

W hat a major commotion that was. That The Decision was announced on the day of the Ateneo championship bonfire added fuel to the fire of sass and lip that erupted over the news.

The point is, the matter of foreign assets—or just accumulated assets, period—is so important these days. In the post- and pre-seasons, the big news always is who gets whom, who goes where and how it all adds up.

P rior to the Lebron Lopez news, the biggie was De La Salle University’s bomb. The Archers unveiled a new coach—proven winner Topex Robinson—and added ammo to its line-up:  6-foot shooting guard Geremy Robinson from Hawaii, US NCAA standout DJ Mitchell, another Phillips Brother (Isaiah) to make a Green trio and solid local high school recruits Jonnel Policarpio, Mur Alao, EJ Gollena and Nathan Montecillo.

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers also got into the act by introducing their recruit, 19-year old, 6-foot-7 center Hinda Mady Tourkana from Mali who

has an incredible 7-foot wing span. How exciting paint action for UST will be come September!

The Blue Eagles are already solid as solid can be. But the addition of Gilas Under-18 guards Mason Amos and Kyle Gamber, plus Westmont College star guard Jared Brown makes Ateneo beefier than ever. With all three eligible to play in Season 86, the mighty Eagles are still the mountain to climb in the new season of the UAAP.

U P, a new player in the “subterranean” game of recruitment, reportedly still has some aces up its sleeves. The blues brought about by the announcement of Carl Tamayo’s departure for the Japanese B.League two weeks ago has been replaced by an electric current of excitement and anticipation. Who else besides Lebron Lopez will be added to the roster? What more “pasabog” is in store?

This post-season and the upcoming pre-season in the third quarter of 2023 will be true spectacle for avid fans of collegiate basketball. More talents—homegrown or foreign-bred—will parade, be hyped up and capture our collective attention.

R emember, however, that as long as the prize recruits are not yet enrolled in the schools they committed to, are not yet cleared by the eligibility committee or are not yet officially listed in the Season 86 roster, everything is still a dream. Anything can still happen. Because this is war.

WORKERS stand at the Paris 2024 Olympics Porte de la Chapelle Arena building site in Paris. AP

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA starts indoor season in earnest.

UNSEEDED Magda Linette snatches a semifinals ticket at the Australian Open. AP

IMPORT Jonathon Simmons delivers the goods as expected for the Road Warriors.

Ganuelas