BusinessMirror January 30, 2023

HOW CAN WE HELD YOUNG ADULTS WITH AUTISM THRIVE IN THE WORKPLACE

PHL cold storage capacity seen rising by 8%

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE country’s cold storage capacity this year is expected to expand by at least 50,000 metric tons (MT) or equivalent to an annualized growth rate of 8 percent, according to an industry group.

T he Cold Chain Association of the Philippines (CCAP) said it is optimistic that the nationwide cold storage capacity this year would grow to 650,000 MT from the current 600,000 MT.

C CAP President Anthony S. Dizon attributed the anticipated growth to the increasing demand

for cold storage space driven by higher food consumption and the country’s economic recovery.

D izon added that higher purchases of pork abroad also contributed to the expansion by local cold storage facilities as the country continues to augment overall meat supply through imported stocks.

He broke down the aggregate cold storage capacity nationwide as follows: 400,000 MT for meat and dairy products, 100,000 MT for onions and 100,000 MT for other food items, such as bananas and fish.

D izon said the cold storage industry has been growing by at least 50,000 MT annually since 2020,

when nationwide capacity was estimated at 500,000 MT.

He said the industry would be further pressed to expand its capacity once the Philippines increases its food exports.

“Our growth forecast does not include exports yet. If we will have developmental success in food exports then that would add to the factors,” he told reporters recently. We are supposedly an agricultural economy but we cannot even replicate what Vietnam is doing. We are too consumption driven, we do not have a manufacturing sector,” he added.

CCAP earlier said the country is

suffering from “a glaring disparity” in terms of its annual onion supply and the available cold storage space.

Dizon said the estimated capacity of cold storage facilities dedicated for onions nationwide is about 100,000 MT, which is only 27 percent of the annual 360,000-MT supply.

CCAP estimated that it requires 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 (Related story: https:// businessmirror .com. ph/2023/01/24/expanding-onion-cold-chaincapacity-to-cost%e2%82%a76b-group/).

MANILA DANGLES VRST, E-VISAS TO TOURISTS

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM

to the BusinessMirror & Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

MALACAÑANG has approved a business tycoons group’s recommendation to extend visa privileges to select foreign nationalities as well as a tax refund scheme for shoppers in a bid to attract more international travelers to the Philippines.

T he Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accepted its Tourism Sector’s recommendation to allow Chinese and Indian travelers to apply for e-visas upon arrival (EVUA). Also, to generate more visitor receipts, the PSAC recommended the implementation of a value-added tax (VAT) refund scheme for tourists (VRST) so foreign guests in the country are able to shop more, which was also approved by Marcos Jr.

T his was confirmed by a news release from the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) over the weekend, which said these recommendations were among the “Quick Wins” solutions to boost tourist arrivals in the country, with the VRST to be implemented by 2024, while the e-visa for Chinese and Indian tourists will be rolled out in 2023.

T he PCO said Marcos Jr. likewise approved the removal of the One Health Pass, requiring just one form for health, immigration, and customs to be filled up by arriving travelers, the inclusion of travel tax in all airline tickets, as well as the removal of outdated advisories and announcements via loudspeakers in the country’s airports.

E-Visa upon arrival

SAID recommendations were presented to Marcos Jr. in a meeting in Malacañang on January 26, which the PSAC Tourism Sector stressed

‘CHEAP CREDIT TO BOLSTER GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS’

By Cai U. Ordinario

@caiordinario

SMALL businesses need better access to credit to strengthen global supply chains and prevent them from being vulnerable to disruptions, according to an expert from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

In an Asian Development Blog, ADB Private Sector Operations Department (PSOD) Trade and

Supply Chain Finance Program Head Steven Beck said supply chain financing should be extended to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

B eck said the lack of access to credit by SMEs also stifles global trade growth. While supply chain financing has been available in the past few years, more can be done to extend these to small businesses.

Supply chains are deep, com -

plex, global networks, with the tier-1 supplier—the supplier at the top of the chain—relying on several lower tiers to deliver a finished good to the end buyer,” Beck said.

“ The lower down the chain, the more likely that tiers will be mostly comprised of SMEs. This is particularly true for larger and more geographically dispersed supply chains which are said to have ‘long tails,’ such as the

Fed set to shrink rate hikes again

FEDERAL Reserve officials are set to shift down the pace of interest-rate hikes again in the coming week amid signs of slowing inflation, while Friday’s jobs report may show steady demand for workers that improves the chances of a soft landing for the world’s largest economy.

Policy makers are poised to raise their benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter percentage point on Wednesday, to a range of 4.5 percent to 4.75 percent, dialing back the size of the increase for a secondstraight meeting.

T he move would follow a slew of recent data suggesting the Fed’s aggressive campaign to slow inflation is working.

I expect that we will raise rates a few more times this year, though, to my mind, the days of us raising them 75 basis points at a time have surely passed,” Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker said in a January 20 speech. “Hikes of 25 basis points will be appropriate going forward.”

construction, electronics, automobile, and apparel industries,” he added.

B eck said the idea to create supply chain finance was first initiated in the 1980s but only took off in 2015 when $330 million was made available to firms.

He said this amount of financing has grown to $1.8 trillion in 2021 representing a 38 percent growth in 2020 volumes.

K ey questions for Fed Chair Jerome Powell at his postmeeting press conference will be how much higher the central bank intends to raise rates, and what officials need to see before pausing.

Fed officials have made clear they also want to see evidence that supply and demand imbalances in the labor market are starting to improve.

H iring probably slowed in January, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg, who projected employers added 185,000 jobs compared with 223,000 in December.

Special

Isuzu Gencars, Inc. Chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon (5th from left) holds the 2022 Dealer of the Year Award received by Isuzu Makati from Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC). He is flanked by outgoing IPC President Noboru Murakami (4th from left) and incoming IPC President Tetsuya Fujita (6th from left). They are joined in the photo by (left to right) Ms. Sharon Tan, Isuzu Gencars, Inc. President Lerma O. Nacnac, Special Assistant to the President Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon, Sales and Marketing Manager Ma. Victoria Albaña, Service and Parts Manager Ma. Elena Perez, Vice President for Sales and Marketing Albert Zata, and IPC Executive Vice President Shojiro Sakoda. More photos in “Companies,” page B1. ROY DOMINGO

Measure seeks to mobilize LGUs to eradicate illiteracy

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

munity must assist the children of Baguio who have difficulty reading and writing in English while Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba has issued Executive Order No. 1 directing local executives to support the Department of Education’s (DepEd) learning recovery plans.

“Ang isang batang hindi marunong bumasa ay problema ng buong bansa. Sa pagsugpo natin ng illiteracy, mahalaga ang papel ng ating mga lokal na mga komunidad. Kaya naman palalawigin natin ang papel ng ating mga Local School Boards sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa upang matiyak na bawat bata ay matutong bumasa at umintindi ng kanilang binabasa,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

I n an education summit recently held in Baguio City, it was revealed that only four out of 10 kids in Grades 4 to 7 aged 9 to 12 can properly read or write in English. This is based on the results of pretests and post-tests done from 2021 to 2022.

T he same tests revealed that less than half of learners from Grades 3 to 7 in the city aged 8 to 9 could read or write in Filipino.

I n the province of Cagayan, a survey recently posted on its official website, revealed that 12.72

percent or 29,529 out of 231,667 learners enrolled in public schools cannot read. The 2017-2018 Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy Assessment (ELLNA) also revealed that the literacy rate in the province is 49.52 percent.

G atchalian has been pushing for the National Literacy Council Act (Senate Bill No. 473) which will assign Local School Boards (LSBs) as de facto local literacy councils.

T he proposed measure seeks to strengthen the Literacy Co -

ordinating Council (LCC), which will continue to serve as the lead inter-agency coordinating and advisory body on the formulation and implementation of measures to accelerate the universalization of literacy. The LCC was established by Republic Act No. 7165, as amended.

Under the proposed measure, the strengthened LCC is mandated to formulate a three-year roadmap on achieving illiteracy in communities. LSBs will be mandated to formulate a local roadmap based on the council’s three-year roadmap.

M eanwhile, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the com -

DepEd report

THE current state and the challenges facing the basic education in the country will be tackled on Monday during the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Basic Education Report 2023.

P resident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to attend the event where Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte will also present the priority programs and solutions of these challenges.

“ Gusto natin ilahad sa general public kung ano talaga ‘yung current state of education kasi lagi natin naririnig ang daming challenges sa basic education. So, dito natin iisa-isahin sa publiko kung ano yung mga [We will present to the public what really is the current state of education because we often hear there are so many challenges. So, we will present it to the public one by one what are the] specific challenges [in] basic education,” DepEd Spokesperson Michael Tan Poa said.

P oa the report will also train the spotlight on other issues including problems with the number school building and facilities, literacy gap, learning poverty report previously issued by the World Bank, as well as problems with the basic education curriculum.

It will include updates on the ongoing review of the controversial K to 12 program.

“These are the things that we are aware of and a lot more that we will be presenting in the Basic Education Report,” he added. With a report from Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Continued from A1

They see the unemployment rate ticking up to 3.6%, still near a five-decade low, and expect average hourly earnings rose 4.3% from a year earlier, a slowdown from the prior month, according to their median estimate.

T he Fed will get another important read on inflation Tuesday when the Labor Department releases the Employment Cost Index, a broad measure of wages and benefits. Figures on job openings for December are also due Wednesday, as well as a January survey of manufacturers.

E lsewhere, the day after the Fed, the European Central Bank and the Bank of England will each probably raise rates by a half point, after euro-zone data are likely to show slowing inflation and a stagnating economy. Meanwhile, surveys from China might reveal improvement, Brazil’s central bank may keep borrowing costs unchanged, and the International Monetary Fund will publish its latest global economic forecasts. Bloomberg News

will “improve the traveler experience.” Public announcements have already been removed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals. (See, “MIAA chief aims for quiet, seamless travel at Naia,” in the BusinessMirror, January 9, 2023.)

T he Department of Tourism (DOT) is targetting the arrival of 4.8 million foreign tourists this year, up 81 percent from the 2.65 million who arrived in 2022.

C hinese tourists were the second largest market prior to the pandemic, with some 1.7 million arriving in the Philippines in 2019. In the same year, there were 134,963 tourists from India, and because of historical ties with the Philippines and a sizeable local Indian community, said country is also considered a major tourism market.

U nder present immigration procedures, Chinese tourists have to apply for a visa through a DOTaccredited tour operator before it is approved by the Bureau of Immigration within 10 days. Indian nationals have to apply for a visa to visit the Philippines, except for those who have unexpired visas from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Canada, Schengen countries, or Singapore.

EO for shopping privilege

MEANWHILE , the PSAC said the Philippines is the only Asian country without a VRST refund scheme, although it is implemented in 69 countries. While no details were made available, the scheme could be patterned after Singapore’s, where tourists who purchase goods and services more than S$100 at participating shops and merchants, may claim a refund on the 7-percent goods and services tax (GST) paid, before departure from Changi Airport. Tourists can either claim their refunds either in cash or via electronic means. The PCO said Marcos Jr. will be issuing an executive

order to implement the VRST scheme.

A ccording to the DOT’s National Tourism Development Plan of 2016-2022, most of the country’s major tourism markets share shopping and entertainment as a special interest when visiting the Philippines, except for tourists from Singapore, the United Kingdom, and Germany. S ince meeting last September 2022, Marcos Jr. has approved earlier quick-win recommendations of the PSAC Tourism Sector Group, which include the implementation of “Holiday Economics” and the replacement of Philippine Coast Guard military uniforms with inconspicuous clothing. Holiday economics, pioneered by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, moves several national holidays to the nearest Monday, to extend the weekend, and spur Filipinos to go on vacation with their families.

T he PSAC said it “consulted and collaborated with stakeholders to identify three shortterm goals that would have farreaching effects: the improvement of airport infrastructure and operations, the management of the national brand and image, and the promotion of tourism investments.” Its lead convenor is Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz while Tourism Sector members include Lucio Tan Group COO Lucio Tan III, Quorum Holdings Corp. Chairman Emeritus Roberto “Bobby” Claudio Sr., Filinvest Development Corp. President and CEO Joji Gotianun Yap, Hertz Philippines CEO Rene Limcaoco, and JG Summit Holdings President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei, who replaces Robinsons Land Corp. President and CEO Frederick D. Go as the sector’s head.

I n the January 26 meeting were Cabinet Secretaries and other officials with tourism-related efforts.

A nd then at 12 noon, David Oro returns with Bali-Tambayan which, as Antenor aptly describes it, is a “tambayan ng mga balita, tambayan ng mga latest na impormasyon [a hub of news, a hub of the latest information].”

R ante said that since Aliw Broadcasting Corporation has now acquired the former Studio 23 of ABS-CBN or ABS-CBN’s Sports & Action, and will be re-launching it as Aliw23, part of its content will be DWIZ’s morning newscast.

A s part of the morning newscast, Antenor said there will also be 30-second to one-minute segments that focus and explain the issues of the day. These news segments are designed to cater to DWIZ’s target audience of 25- to

45-year-old working millennials who he said are “the ones who are in most need of information, news and updates.” R ante and Antenor further noted that even as more changes will take place within the year, seasoned sportscaster Anthony Suntay has already been tapped to host his own sports program. In line with their vision to strengthen DWIZ’s global appeal, a program focusing on the fandom of popular Korean entertainment is also in the works.

T he company also intends to strengthen its social media presence with original and specialized content designed to bring the station’s personalities at the forefront.

Cheap credit...

B eck said 2021 posted the most substantial growth in Asia and Africa, where supply chain finance rose 43 percent and 40 percent year-onyear, respectively.

Supply chain finance comes in a variety of forms but in essence it’s a simple concept: use the credit standing and mutual dependence of supplier inputs of a company at the top of a supply chain to enable financing for companies lower down the chain,” he said.

“ In that way, suppliers to large corporate buyers can get the cash flow they need to run continuous operations and expand, rather than wait to be paid by buyers, which stunts growth and productivity,” he added.

To include more SMEs among

Continued from A1

those who are able to access credit through supply chain financing, Beck said deep-tier supply chain finance should be implemented. However, among the challenges in implementing this is that much of global trade was still conducted in analog fashion.

Countries, Beck said, must agree on what deep-tier supply chain finance entails and define its use in legislation. This legislation, Beck said, should work across borders.

“ With some effort and attention we can close that funding gap and drive transparency through supply chains to make them more resilient, green, and socially responsible; deep-tier supply chain finance offers us a promising way forward,” he said.

FOLLOWING reports of low literacy rates among learners in different parts of the country, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for a proposed measure that will mobilize local government units (LGUs) to achieve zero illiteracy.

GATCHALIAN

The Nation

PSA: 40 M-plus natl IDs issued and delivered PHL-wide

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE Philippine Statistics

Authority (PSA) has announced that 40.87 million national identification cards (PhilIDs) and its electronic version (ePhilIDs) have already been delivered and issued to registered persons nationwide.

T he PSA said that as of January 25, 22.59 million of these PhilIDs were delivered, while 18.28 million were issued ePhilIDs.

“We, at the PSA, extend our heartfelt gratitude to the public for their unceasing support for the Philippine Identification System [PhilSys], and in making this milestone possible,” declared Undersecretary Dennis S. Mapa, national statistician and civil registrar-general, as he said “more and more Filipinos can utilize their PhilIDs and ePhilIDs in various transactions in the government and private establishments.”

The agency’s target is for 92 million Filipinos to have their national ID by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the National Economic and Development Authority said the national ID will also open the doors for farmers to be able to get an official ID, which will increase their access to various social services.

The recent milestone, according to the PSA, is the result of its collaborative efforts with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Philippine Postal Corporation, or the Post Office, for the production and delivery of PhilIDs.

Said undertakings include strategies by the PSA Field Offices in the continuous implementation of the ePhilIDs.

To complement such, the PSA also piloted the implementation of the downloadable ePhilID, which allows registered persons to download an electronic copy or PDFs on their mobile devices.

Kin of Ill-fated OFW asks for red roses at her wake; DMW sends team to Kuwait

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

RED roses were Jullebee Ranara’s favorite.

As such, the bereaved family of the unfortunate domestic worker, whose grisly murder in Kuwait has sparked calls for another deployment ban to the oil-rich kingdom, has asked for the said red blooms to adorn her casket on the last night of her wake.

“Just came from Jullebee’s wake,” reported Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople through Viber on Sunday, as she conveyed to reporters the family’s request.

“[They] requested red roses as part of floral arrangements for the last night of the wake, [as they were her favorite],” said Ople, as she posted a photo of herself before Ranara’s casket, which was adorned with mostly white flowers: anthuriums and daisies.

Earlier on Saturday, as the clamor for another deployment ban of Filipino domestic workers to Kuwait grew louder, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) chief ordered the deployment of a fact-finding team to the Middle Eastern country to assess the performance of its overseas labor post and review pending welfare cases there.

T he secretary made the announcement at a virtual press conference, a day after the remains of Ranara arrived in the country. The latter’s gruesome murder—her body,

burned after she was apparently raped and run over with a car, then burned, was found in the desert— has sparked widespread protests and a call to ban anew the deployment of domestics in Kuwait.

Joining Ople during Saturday’s press conference were Undersecretary for Foreign Employment and Welfare Services Hans Cacdac, Undersecretary for Licensing and Accreditation Bernard Olalia, and Administrator Arnell Ignacio of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), which is an attached agency of the department.

C acdac will organize the factfinding mission to be led by a senior labor attaché posted outside Kuwait.

“ We in the department must go by an evidence-based approach to labor reform policies,” Ople shared. “Given also the increase in deployment and welfare numbers in Kuwait last year, it is imperative that we look at the root causes behind these numbers.”

She added that the independent team will make an assessment on the overall performance and structure of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO), or what was known as the Philippine Overseas Labor Office, in Kuwait.

With more than a hundred thousand kasambahays in Kuwait, [we] must increase the monitoring and response mechanisms of our MWO,” the DMW chief said.

Among the parameters the factfinding team will review, she announced, include a comparative study

on the number of welfare cases of distressed OFWs over a period of five years, elements that triggered the rise in these cases, the response time of both Philippine and Kuwaiti authorities and recruitment agencies in addressing calls for assistance, and the degree of foreign recruitment agencies’ engagements in monitoring their workers and screening their employers.

“ We will look into the inordinately high number of welfare cases in Kuwait over the past several months. We will also check if there were lapses on the part of the MWO in responding to calls for welfare assistance among our OFWs. The report of the factfinding mission will be submitted to my office for appropriate action,” Ople said, partly in Filipino. She remarked that, following the Ranara family’s request, the DMW— through OWWA—has coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation for an autopsy to be conducted on the OFW’s remains.

Recruiters for investigation

MEANWHILE, Olalia confirmed that separate recruitment violation cases will be filed against Catalist International Manpower Services Co. and Platinum International Office for Recruitment of Domestic Manpower—the Philippine and Kuwaiti recruitment agencies, respectively, that facilitated Jullebee’s deployment.

Olalia explained that based on an initial investigation conducted by his office, both agencies failed to com-

ply with the mandatory monitoring required of recruitment agencies to ensure the well-being of their deployed workers.

Ignacio, on the other hand, reported to the media that his office has been looking after the Ranara family. He said they are now working for the early release of insurance and other financial claims due the family of Jullebee, who was an active OWWA member at her time of death.

Tulfo: ‘Total ban’

FOR his part, Senator Raffy Tulfo proposed a total deployment ban in Kuwait, and the gradual transfer of OFWs there to safer places.

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Migrant Workers, waited for the arrival of the remains of Ranara at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Friday night, January 27.

Her burnt body was reportedly found at a desert in Salmi, Al-Jahra Governorate last weekend.

T he senator maintained that bilateral talks between Philippines and Kuwait could push through after a deployment ban, but with consideration of the Philippines’s terms and conditions.

A mong the conditions Tulfo noted include requiring a tight screening process and psychiatric examination for employers in high-risk countries, as well as members of their household, to ensure that they are fit to hire OFWs in their homes.

T he senator's office noted that, while Ranara’s employers supposedly treated her well, their 17-year-old son, who was part of the household, reportedly maltreated her. The same child is the suspect in her death, and is now under police custody. For starters, Tulfo suggested to gradually pull out OFWs in Kuwait, and send them instead to work in places where OFWs are properly compensated and treated with respect, such as Guam.

T he United States island-territory is a new market for Filipino laborers currently needing thousands of skilled workers. In fact, it reportedly prefers to hire more Filipino workers. Aside from Guam, the government can also explore sending OFWs in Kuwait to work in other safer places, including Romania, Austria and Hong Kong. R anara is not the first OFW to be killed in Kuwait. The Philippines had earlier imposed a labor deployment ban on the Gulf state, after the shocking deaths of several Filipino domestic workers.

T he ban was eventually lifted after the two countries signed a protection agreement for Filipino laborers. Upon learning about her death, Tulfo earlier sent members of his staff to meet with Ranara’s parents not only to check on their condition amid their great loss, but also to give an initial financial assistance from his personal funds to address their immediate needs.

Lawmaker quizzes powers of Congress’ sec.-general to nix Comelec-proclaimed post from House roster

By Jovee Marie Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AN embattled lawmaker has queried the House of Representatives’ Legal Affairs Department to address issues raised against the power of the secretarygeneral to remove a duly-elected and proclaimed congressman from the Lower House’s official roster.

In his letter sent yesterday to Deputy Secretary General Atty. Annalou S. Nachura, Congressman-elect Romeo Jalosjos Jr., who represents the first district of Zamboanga del Norte, sought a written reply on the clarificatory questions raised in the plenary on December 15, 2022 by fellow Nacionalista Party-member Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte, in relation to his removal from the House membership.

“ This representation respectfully seeks a written answer to the foregoing parliamentary inquiry, as this affects the status of my membership, in view of resolving the seeming gaps in the interpretation of the Constitution and the Rules of the House of Representatives, so as not to set an erroneous precedence for the future House members,” the letter dated December 23, 2022 read.

Jalosjos also asked Congress to uphold its mandate to its members and constituents without partiality, and to reinstate him in the Roll of Members for the 19th Congress.

I n his parliamentary inquiry, Barbers asked if the secretary-general elected, who was voted by members of the previous 18th Congress, can hold office beyond the constitutional term of Congress that elected him or her, and “by what constitu-

State U decorates Sen. Mark Villar with doctor of laws, honoris causa title

THE University of the Philippines has conferred on Senator Mark A. Villar an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Friday, January 27, “for his valuable contribution to the country and to the UP community.”

“ Today I stand before you all, truly humbled and privileged, as I accept this great honor bestowed upon me,” Villar said in his acceptance speech.

“One of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon someone, from one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to UP.”

According to the university, the honorary degree is conferred upon individuals for outstanding achievements in their fields and exemplary service to their fellowmen.

“I would like to dedicate this award to all those who have guided, helped and sometimes carried me in this journey,” the senator shared. “It’s an honor to serve as a vessel for the dreams of so many Filipinos who dream for a better tomorrow, and yearn for a country where we can all achieve the high quality of life that [everyone deserves].”

T he State University recognized

VILLAR: It’s an honor to serve as a vessel for the dreams of so many Filipinos who dream for a better tomorrow.

the senator’s outstanding accomplishments as the former chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), where he led what is known as the “Golden Age of Infrastructure.” Villar was also instrumental in the construction and rehabilitation of numerous facilities in several UP campuses.

I realized that this award is not just for me; it is for all of those who have guided and supported me throughout my life, and to all those

who worked tirelessly to accomplish the goals of the Build, Build, Build program,” the lawmaker stated.

Members of the UP Board of Regents, officials of the UP College of Law and UP System, DPWH officials, and the senator’s family: former Senate president Manuel Villar, Senator Cynthia Villar, Congresswoman Camille Villar, brother Paolo, his wife Atty. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and daughter Emma Therese were witnesses to the conferment.

tional or legal authority did he [or she exercise his or her] being a de facto secretary-general, or beyond June 30, 2022?”

Even assuming that the services of the secretary-general beyond June 30, 2022 is legal, Barbers inquired about the powers that are allowed to be exercised between June 30, 2022, until the organization of the next Congress on the fourth Monday of July 2022, during the State of the Nation Address of the newly elected president of the country.

Barbers noted that under Section 16, paragraph 3 of the Constitution, only the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the House may suspend or expel a member.

Likewise, the provision of Section 4 of the House Rules states that “any member proclaimed winner by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)

and assumed office on June 30, 2022 following the elections, whose validity of proclamation is put in question in any judicial or administrative body, shall remain a member of the House of Representatives absent [the] final and executory judgment of the appropriate judicial or administrative body.”

W hile the secretary-general has the ministerial duty to accept dulyelected candidates proclaimed by the Comelec, Barbers clarified if the de facto secretary-general has the power, or authority, to delist any member from the roll of duly elected representatives after assuming office on June 30, despite having submitted the Certificate of Proclamation and Oath of Office.

Comelec proclaimed Jalosjos as the winner in the May 2022 elections which saw a three-way race that

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THERE is no duplication of functions among current offices and officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—a senior official of the state environment agency clarified.

In a letter to the BusinessMirror, DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones also said that, as the new chief steward of the environment and natural resources, Secretary Maria Antonia YuloLoyzagahasthemanagementprerogative to realign authorities, as well as review and modify the agency’s management structure in order to align it with the current administration’s priority thrusts.

L eones was reacting to the broadsheet’s exclusive report last Friday with the headline: “Loyzaga shuffles key officials, creates new posts.”

T he story was culled from a series of special orders from January 11, 23 and 25 that designated key officials to certain positions—some of which are newly created, with specific tasks and functions.

In effect, the reshuffle placed five officials in “floating status.” They were assigned to offices with no specific task or functions.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, meanwhile, said the relief of some of the officials’ reassignments were justified, as some have actually been linked to recent controversies, and may actually face graft and corruption charges.

According to the undersecretary, the “multiple functions” of some officials mentioned in the report were merely rationalized to other officials in the Executive Committee “so that these are not concentrated in one office, and to allow faster and more efficient action and delivery of service.”

The official added that the newly appointed officials are highly qualified for their designation, and have the track record in the field of expertise assigned to them. He cited the case of Undersecretary Carlos Primo David who has been part of the scientific community for many years, and has initiated and developed numerous successful projects and programs in the field: “Such expertise to infuse science is aligned

pitted him against Roberto “Pinpin” Uy Jr. and one Frederico “Kuya Jun” Jalosjos Jr., who was declared a nuisance candidate by the Commission en banc.

Records showed that Uy garnered 69,591 votes. Jalosjos Jr. came in second with 69,109 votes, while the other got 5,424 votes. On May 12, 2022, the Comelec issued an order that stopped the proclamation of Uy, and another order on June 7, 2022 which declared Frederico Jalosjos Jr. as a nuisance candidate.

T he election body eventually credited to Jalosjos Jr. the votes received by Federico Jalosjos. On June 23, the former was declared winner.

But on July 21, barely a month after Jalosjos assumed his post, the Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order prior to the Comelec’s May 10, 2022 and June 7, 2022 directives.

posts

with the policies of the department.”

Leones also explained that DENR’s legal matters remain with its Legal Service, which is different from the Legislative Affairs.

“[Our Legal Service handles DENR’s case resolutions], while the Legislative Affairs pertains to the legislative agenda, which is required of all national government agencies,” he explained, as he cited that under Cabinet Resolution 16, series of 1988, all department secretaries are directed to designate their respective department legislative liaison officer to Congress, who shall have at least the rank of assistant secretary.

In a telephone interview, Leones added that while indeed the DENR has the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB)—the principal research and development unit of the agency—the designation of a scientist in the newly created position of undersecretary for Environmental Science will focus on, as stated in the special order, the supervision of the Geospatial Database Office, and lead discussions in policy formulation, which is different from actual research and development work of the bureau.

DENR official: Creation of new

will not cause duplication of functions

Tesda: Tech-voc training courses all set to upskill 1.8 M Filipinos

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

IN a bid to improve the number of its enrollees this year, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is eyeing to train around 1.8 million Filipinos in various technical-vocational (tech-voc) courses.

Tesda Director-General Danilo

P. Cruz said that the registered courses comply with training regulations the agency has developed in close coordination with industries, while ensuring their graduates are job-ready with the right skills and knowledge employers need.

“[We are committed to improving our] numbers when it comes to enrolled, graduated, assessed and certified technical-vocational education and training [TVET] scholars,” Cruz shared.

In 2022 a total of 1,261,244 individuals enrolled in various tech-voc courses, of which 1,231,289 have graduated. Likewise, 907,244 were assessed and 844,368 were certified as skilled workers.

According to the director general, they were the products of the 183 Tesda Technology Institutions, 250 public TVET providers, and 4,197 privately-run tech-voc institutions nationwide, which have implemented more than 17,000 tech-voc training programs.

Meanwhile, preliminary results of the “2022 Study on the Employment of TVET Graduates (SETG)” showed that 8 out of 10 of the country’s finishers of the program were able to land jobs. Cruz believes the 84.72-percent employment rate can be attributed to the opening up of the economy, as well as Tesda’s pursuit of area-based and demand-driven TVET.

T he SETG is conducted annually to measure the relevance and effectiveness of such programs.

Tesda disclosed that its area-based and demand-driven TVET “is responsive to the critical needs defined by the industries and employers to produce rightfully skilled workers in specific areas or localities.”

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

DAR distributes land titles to farmers, turns over bridge project in E. Visayas

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has turned over a P9-million bridge project in Balangiga, Eastern Samar and distributed 1,047 land titles to 1,006 agrarian-reform beneficiaries from six provinces in Eastern Visayas.

A grarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III, accompanied by Senator Imee Marcos, handed over the land titles on January 26, which covered a total of 1,571 hectares of agricultural lands in the region.

Atty. Robert Anthony Yu, DAR regional director, said most of the individual land titles were processed under the “Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT)” project.

A side from the farmers reaping the rewards for owning individual land titles, the local government units where the properties are located will also benefit in terms of possible earnings from tax payments that can be collected due to the ownership of land.

M eanwhile, the DAR also recently turned over the “Tulay ng Pangulo Para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo” project in Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Balangiga.

O fficials from DAR and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led the inau-

guration and turnover of the Cambukol Bridge on January 27 to the Balangiga municipal government represented by Mayor Atty. Dana Flynch de Lira.

“ This is a very historic moment for Brgy. Santa Rosa for having [its] first concrete bridge...This event is a symbolism where the town of Balangiga can cross from the state of poverty to progress,” de Lira said.

T he span will benefit a total of 14,341 residents in the area—including the 823 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) residing in Balangiga’s agrarian reform communities (ARC) composed of seven barangays: Poblacion 1, San Miguel, Cansumangcay, Sta. Rosa, Cag-olango, Guimaayohan and Baciao.

We are very happy with this project. It will surely promote rural development in [this region’s] ARCs. Thank you, DAR and DPWH,” said Brgy. Chairman Danilo Abigan of Sta. Rosa.

A bigan added that the bridge will provide residents and ARBs easier access in bringing their farm products to the market, compared to the old one made only of wooden materials which have caused some of the residents to accidentally fall into the river.

E strella said that this is another milestone on the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program under President Ferdinand R. Marcos

Jr.’s administration: “[He] is fulfilling his promise to provide support services to the ARBs. Whereas before [there was diffi -

culty in transporting…products, here now is ‘Tulay…’ to ease…] transportation problems.”

Yu shared that the Cambukol

Bridge has a 28.00 linear meter, two-lane, one-span prefabricated modular-steel technology supplied by the French government.

Facilitation of investments seen to retain investors

By Andrea San Juan

FOR trade experts,

it is critical for the Philippines to embark on investment facilitation as a “further step” beyond investment promotion, with the goal of retaining investors and encouraging them to expand or reinvest in the country.

I n a statement released by Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) on Friday, Board of Investments (BOI)-Industry Development Services’ executive director Corazon Halili-Dichosa, in her opening remarks at a recent webinar on creating a conducive environment for investments, said the country recognizes the “dynamic link” between investment facilitation as well as trade and industry development.

Dichosa underscored that aside from merely luring investments, it is important that the country “facilitates” the flow of foreign direct investments (FDI).

“ We need investments to create and develop industries that can trade either in the local or export markets,” the BOI official said. “Further, FDIs can provide the technologies to enhance industry competitiveness and market access...enable greater global value chain participation, and generate more foreign exchange. Thus, it is critical that we facilitate the flow of and realize the gains from FDIs.”

T he Philippines has already taken steps to strengthen its investment framework and facilitate investment inflows through legislative reforms such as the Foreign Investment Act, Retail Trade Liberalization Law, and Public Service Act, as well as various “promotional campaigns,” Philexport said.

However, the umbrella organization of exporters maintained that such efforts must be completed with measures that will “further facilitate” and ease the process of setting

up and operating in the country.

Strengthening the investment framework should not just end at investment promotion, but extend to ensuring incoming investments can function smoothly throughout their [lifespans],” Philexport added.

M eanwhile, Rodrigo Polanco, a senior lecturer, researcher and academic coordinator at the World Trade Institute in the University of Bern, underscored in his online presentation the importance of investment facilitation for the Philippines.

A ccording to Philexport, Polanco said facilitation supports investments beyond the investment attraction phase and “improves retention,” then added that it “can enhance the visibility of domestic firms to foreign investors looking for local partners through such activities as business matchmaking.”

Moreover, investment facilitation promotes “greater transpar -

ency” of regulation and streamlining of procedures for investment, which the export group said “is very useful for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).”

Polanco stressed that facilitation helps SMEs in particular to overcome barriers and bureaucracy to investing. He said “the more you make regulations accessible to SMEs, the more chances that [they] can participate in investment activities.”

I nvestment facilitation, according to him, involves a set of measures to improve the transparency and predictability of investment frameworks, streamline procedures for foreign investors, enhance coordination and cooperation, and identify potential issues early to avoid investment grievances.

Meanwhile, Philexport also cited the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), noting that facilitation makes it easy for investors to establish or expand their existing investments.

F urther, the OECD sees investment facilitation as including both pre-establishment and investment retention.

T he former, according to the global policy forum, pertains to the need to provide an investor interested in a specific location or in reinvesting with a transparent, predictable, as well as an efficient regulatory and administrative framework, while maintaining investment benefits.

I nvestment retention, on the other hand, is keeping investors satisfied through the quality, transparency, consistency and predictability of the investment policy framework.

It is also worth noting that there is a “secret” to a successful investment facilitation campaign, as Polanco added: “Even though many investment-promotion agencies are key investment-facilitation players, the issue goes beyond the work of IPAs…a ‘whole-of-government’ approach is needed.”

Mindanao to recover prepandemic interest via pioneering tourism expo

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox

Mindanao Bureau Chief

D AVAO CITY—Mindanao will attempt to recoup interest of tourists and travelers through the first Mindanao Tourism

Exposition (MTE), with Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco assuring her department’s full support.

That is why I am here, the entire officialdom of the Department of Tourism [DOT], and all… directors of the 16 regions in the country to support this first-ever Mindanao Tourism Expo,”

she stated at the opening of the event inside the SMX Convention Center here on Friday.

D OT XI director Tanya Rabat-Tan said Mindanao tourism and local government leaders will “look forward to showcase our sites in our exposition and exhibits, exchange knowledge in our business-to-busi -

ness meetings and learning sessions, and network with our partners from various sectors and allied industries.”

Ultimately,” Rabat-Tan remarked, “our goal is in support of the national government’s reopening of the economy postpandemic,” she stated, then shared that “the event has adapted the theme: ‘Sustaining the Colors of Mindanao,’ to attract interest.”

“[We also hope that through the MTE], we will be able to recoup gains that the tourism industry has achieved prepandemic, to ensure simultaneous and safe reopening along the value chain, engage our stakeholders through our various activities, and continue to bolster domestic tourism by promoting Mindanao as a safe and fun destination,” the regional director added.

T he 60 booths for the exposition were fully occupied not only by the product brands of stakeholders from airlines, hotels and resorts, but also from the regional tourism offices from Luzon, which Frasco disclosed she has ordered to participate. They include the National Capital Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Southwestern Tagalog, Bicol, and those from the Visayas.

She said all regional directors from the north and central Philippines would be hosted by the regional directors from Southern Philippines for a familiarization tour “of the gems and offerings you have here to be spread to the rest of the country, where the directors will incite interest to travel to Mindanao.”

Frasco said the DOT has also readied the tripartite memorandum of agreement with the departments of National Defense as well as the Interior and Local Government “to ensure that the very foundation of reopening Mindanao to tourism is hinged on peace and order.”

“On behalf of DOT XI, I would like to personally express my sincerest gratitude to our partners and collaborators,” Rabat-Tan said. “The MTE wouldn’t be possible without their generosity and support.”

“

We all know that Mindanao is home to a wide range of attractions: from stunning beaches, waterfalls and lush forests, to our vibrant cultures, friendly communities and rich history. We also have a diverse assortment of accommodations: from world-class hotels and resorts, to charming, locally managed inns and homestays,” she illustrated. “With the first MTE, we…endeavor to give these…gems the appreciation and recognition they truly deserve.”

SECRETARY Conrado M. Estrella III (from left); Balangiga Municipal Mayor Atty. Dana Flynch R. de Lira; representatives from the Balangiga local government unit; Department of Public Works and Highways; as well as Department of Agrarian Reform central, regional and provincial offices during the inauguration and turnover of the Cambukol Bridge DAR.

Agriculture/Commodities

PhilFida: Rains cut PHL abaca output in 2022

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE country's abaca production in 2022 declined by nearly 6 percent to 63,640.61 metric tons (MT) from the previous year's 67,488.11 MT due to the adverse impact of rains on farms, according to the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFida).

PhilFida data showed that abaca output in 6 producing regions, including key producers such as Bicol and Davao, declined last year.

T he Bicol region’s abaca output, the highest nationwide, contracted by 8.6 percent to 15,189.06 MT from 16,611.22 MT.

M eanwhile, abaca production in Davao region, the country’s second biggest producer of the natural fiber, fell by 10.3 percent to 13,108.47 MT from the previous year’s 14,618.29 MT.

Northern Mindanao’s abaca production contracted by 21.4 percent year-on-year to 6,482.5 MT while Eastern Visayas’ output contracted by 20 percent on an annual basis to 3,819.36 MT.

However, data from the attached agency of the Department of Agriculture showed that abaca production in six other regions nationwide grew, led by Caraga which registered a 15.9-percent increase in output.

C araga’s abaca production last year reached 11,193.43 MT, 1,534.43 MT higher than the 9,659 MT recorded in 2021.

A baca output in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao rose by 2 percent year-on-year to 3,638.82 MT while output in Western Visayas remained flat at 3,785.49 MT, based on PhilFida data.

T he agency attributed the contraction in abaca output to the typhoons that damaged farms

Mindanao can beef up nation’s food supply, says lawmaker

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

ALAWMAKER on Sunday called on the Department of Agriculture (DA) to utilize the vast agricultural resources of Mindanao to address the shortage of onions, garlic, and other farm products. Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr. made the statement after lawmakers and the DA discussed the interventions being done by their department to address current issues affecting the local agriculture sector.

“Our province of Surigao del Sur and the large portion of Mindanao have very rich and fertile lands, as well as good climate, which are greatly conducive to farming and other agriproduction activities,” he said.

“ I strongly believe that given due share in the national government’s priority in agriculture and rural development, Mindanao can address the shortage in onion and other farm products.”

Momo appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who is also the head of the DA, to likewise give focus on the potential of the Mindanao in supplying the country’s food requirement.

‘Full-time DA chief’

MEANWHILE , with the frequent travels of the chief executive of the country and the pressing issues confronting agriculture, the food and agricultural unions of the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) are calling for the appointment of a full-time Agriculture secretary.

“President Marcos Jr.’s decision to appoint himself as the chief of the Department of Agriculture while also holding other responsibilities only add to the long list of issues plaguing the sector,” said the FFW in a statement.

The rampant smuggling, lack of investment, corruption and governance problems, and institutional issues are just some of the major challenges facing the agriculture industry.”

According to the group, the recent announcement of plans to import sugar further highlights the need for “a dedicated and qualified” DA chief to address these issues and bring stability to the sector.

FFW said the sector requires a full-time DA chief, who is an expert in agricultural economics with “profarmers-and-workers orientation.”

nationwide last year and plant diseases.

PhilFida also said the harvesting methods adopted by abaca farmers have also led to the decline in abaca production.

T he agency said the practice of bacbac or umbak harvesting as well as “pojada” are spreading plant diseases as farmers use contaminated knives for harvesting.

P hilFida had projected that the country’s total abaca output last year would return to the 70,000-MT level. The target for 2022 is 3.72 percent higher than the 67,488.11 MT recorded in 2021. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2022/04/18/phl-abaca-output-down-by-13-in-jan-feb/)

T he Philippines produces 85 percent of the world’s abaca fiber supply, and 1.5 million Filipinos depend on it for their livelihood.

Davao City library’s coffee shop buys beans from coops

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—The coffee shop at the Davao City Library and Information Center has tapped local agri cooperatives for its supply as the coffee shop owners said they want clients to savor the aroma of the mountain coffee beans of the city’s northern hinterland.

We are buying beans from cooperatives here but by the end of the year we will be using our own harvest already,” said Agripino Torres, chief executive officer of Magsige Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC), operator of the coffee shop.

T he Magsige MPC and the

Model Cooperative Network (MCN) are partners in operating the Library Café at the ground floor of the new Davao City Library. It has 30 seats when it opened last month.

T he city government gave them the space for its coffee project inside the library.

The city information office said the Magsige MPC started its coffee business 2 years ago with 26 farmermembers. They planted coffee in 46 hectares of land in Marilog.

“ We are still expanding; our nursery can cover more hectarage,” Torres said.

T he venture of the two cooperatives was supported by the Philippine Coffee Advancement and Farm Enterprise (PhilCafe), the government’s investment

program for the country’s coffee sector.

Jerson Remo, member of the board of directors of MCN said the coffee shop would serve as a prototype that can eventually be adopted by other cooperatives.

“ We are still learning, we do not expect to turn in profits already at this time but it might surprise you to know that we are close to break even,” Remo said.

Torres said they ventured into this business “because the Philippines is a coffee-drinking country” and they could get adequate supply locally. There are no other cooperatives that have this kind of endeavor so this inspires us. We are also inspired by the support of PhilCafe.”

Disappearing barbecues show global beef demand is under pressure

THE world’s consumers have been cutting back on meat eating since the early days of the pandemic. In 2022, the demand hit came for beef, and even as inflation cools, all signs point to continued pressure this year, especially in some of the world’s most carnivorous nations.

It’s not uncommon to see meat buying slide during downturns for the economy. What’s striking is that demand is falling faster in many of the countries where beef has traditionally been the protein of choice. In Brazil, consumption was on its way to a record low in 2022. US shoppers have cut back on purchases by more than 4 percent in the past year, NielsenIQ data show, while UK sales of beef roasts and steaks have tumbled.

Perhaps no one place better captures the trend than Argentina. The Argentine barbecue, or asado as the locals say, is so tightly woven into the national fabric that even through some of the worst recessions, consumption has proven resilient to belttightening. Recent soaring prices in the nation long famed for eating more beef than almost anywhere else are forcing consumers to trade down to chicken, which is now vying for the title of the country’s top protein.

Omar Anibal Sosa, a 41-year-old father of three who lives in Buenos Aires, is wistful when he remembers his last asado more than a month back, which in Argentina feels like a lifetime ago. He can remember the menu—he reluctantly substituted once-irreplaceable short ribs and flank with low-quality cuts of skirt steak, along with chicken and pork. And he bought the beef by asking the butcher to cut him a meager steak or

two, rather than, as is traditional, placing his order by the kilo.

“I used to fire up the grill every weekend,” said Sosa, who works as a church handyman and delivery driver.

“ Today, barbecuing is a luxury,” he said.

For 2023, the US Department of Agriculture predicts roughly flat consumption worldwide. In some of the biggest beef markets, though, there’s a pronounced slide. In Argentina, the agency sees a drop of more than 2 percent. A decline of almost 5 percent is expected for the US.

It can be tricky to accurately capture the demand drop, because most forecasters take meat production as the basis of their consumption estimates. Some of the best measures of waning interest in beef come from a combination of tracking retail sales and anecdotal information.

Faltering demand signals headwinds for the world’s major beef producers including JBS SA and Tyson Foods Inc. The companies have also battled herd-shrinking droughts, higher input costs and increasing pressure from investors to produce meat more sustainably.

T he pressure on beef demand is welcome news for the planet. By some measures, agriculture accounts for more global greenhouse gas emissions than transport, thanks in large part to livestock production.

At Made in Hackney, a vegan community cookery school in east London, founder Sarah Bentley says she has noticed an evolution in people’s attitudes since setting up the school a decade ago. Lentils, once considered unfashionable and “a bit hippy,” are now a big hit among her patrons. Cooking classes get booked up quickly. Most students aren’t veg-

an or vegetarian, but they’re curious about affordable eating, she said.

“ You can’t argue with the price point,” Bentley said.

In the United Kingdom, beef purchases at grocers and restaurants have fallen 5.8 percent from a year earlier, with sales of roasting joints down 22 percent, according to data compiled by farm adviser AHDB. Steak buying dropped about 19 percent.

Many of the consumption changes will seem subtle. People will trade down cuts and proteins—first goes beef, then pork and chicken. Dishes like spaghetti bolognese will get less meat in the sauce and instead get bulked up with extra tomatoes or water.

“Meat is something that gets hit quite quickly, especially for lowerincome consumers,” said Rupert Claxton, a consultant at Gira who’s studied the meat industry for about two decades.

In the US, Michael Roberts, head of marketing at a non-profit in Oak Park, Illinois, saw his prior business as a consultant dry up during the pandemic, while his partner was diagnosed with brain cancer. As their incomes shrank and health expenses soared, Roberts and his partner cut their meat eating from four times a week to two, typically replacing beef and chicken with pinto beans, lentils and rice.

“ The red meat has gone by the wayside,” said Roberts, 57, who’s struggling with low iron levels. “That really no longer comes in the house. We’ve substituted a lot of meatless meals, which can be healthy and there’s nothing wrong with it. But it’s primarily beans, rice and lentils for the protein.”

To be sure, it’s too early to say if the trend will stick globally. Many economists still expect consumption

to expand in some places over the next decade as the population grows and as consumers in Asia and other emerging markets eat more beef.

Back in Argentina, it’s estimated

that per capita beef consumption reached 47.2 kilograms in 2022, according to beef industry group Ciccra. That compares with a modern-day record of 68.7 in 2007. Consumption

of chicken, meanwhile, has grown to nearly 46 kilograms from roughly 18 two decades ago, thanks to its competitive price, Rosario Board of Trade data show. Bloomberg News

China: Covid deaths fell amid increase in lunar holiday travel

By Phoebe Sedgman

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said 6,364 deaths were linked to Covid-19 at hospitals across the country between January 20 and January 26, a lmost half as many as the previous week.

I n the latest tally, 289 died from respiratory failure and 6,075 died from other underlying diseases but were infected with Covid, the center said in a statement on Saturday.

A fter facing criticism for information vacuum that followed l ast month’s abrupt abandonment of Covid Zero, China has started publishing figures again on Covidrelated fatalities. The government reported 12,658 deaths at hospitals between January 13-19 and 59,938

for December 8-January 12.

China’s CDC said on January 25 that the number of Covid-related deaths and severe cases at hospitals declined by more than 70% from peak levels reached in early January. While China is reporting information on deaths, including those t hat fall outside its narrow definition of a Covid fatality, the true t oll could be much higher because officials are only counting those who die at hospitals, ignoring any that occur at home or in aged-care facilities. Mortality rates in other countries as they exited Covid Zero policies also indicate China’s total should be higher.

China’s pandemic pivot in early December led to a record wave that

infected tens of millions of people a day. The nation’s chief epidemiologist indicated this month that m ore than 1.1 billion people had been infected since the controls were dismantled. The relaxed rules encouraged millions of people to travel home during the Lunar ne w Year holiday to reunite with their families for the first time in years, raising concerns the country’s poor and under-resourced rural regions

uS Air Force general sees China war risk in memo cited by nBC

By Tony Czuczka

An Air Force general said in an internal memo that the US and China risk going to war in two years and told officers under his command to prepare, including with target practice, n B C n ew s reported.

may be hit hard by a surge in cases.

Some officials said the outbreak has peaked, adding to optimism that the economy may rebound after expanding last year at the second-slowest pace since the 1970s.

O n-the-ground reports during the holiday showed people are keen to leave the virus in the past, with tourists flocking to popular holiday spots and filling movie theaters.

With assistance from Lin Zhu / Bloomberg

Malaysian party’s purge of senior leaders fortifies Hamidi’s grip

By Ranjeetha Pakiam

MALAYSIA’ S D eputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi strengthened his hold over one of the nation’s ruling parties after purging or sidelining senior leaders on Friday, but analysts say the move will do little to b olster his bloc’s popularity.

The United Malays national Organization expelled former Health M inister Khairy Jamaluddin for breaching internal regulations in the recent general election, and suspended ex-Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein for six years. B oth were among the most vocal in opposing Zahid’s leadership and actions after a dismal performance by UM n O at the n o vember polls.

UM n O a nd the wider Barisan n a sional coalition it leads have declined in popularity amid infighting and corruption scandals, with Z ahid himself facing graft charges. Barisan n a sional had its worst showing in the election, but a hung parliament led to the formation of a unity government with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan alliance.

“Whilst Zahid has managed to tighten his grip over the party, he may have also narrowed the paths

for UM n O ’s recovery,” said Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, deputy managing director at BowerGroupAsia.

“ Following the sacking and suspension of its leaders, it is difficult to s ee the party reversing its downward trajectory.”

e a rlier this month, Zahid’s position as UM n O p resident was solidified for another term after the p arty approved a motion to prevent its top two roles from being contested during internal leadership p olls due by May.

Political scion Hishammuddin—once an UM n O v ice president—is the cousin of former pre -

mier na jib r a zak and the son of the country’s third prime minister. Hishammuddin’s grandfather Onn Jaafar founded UM nO. Khairy was a one-time candidate for party president, and the UM nO Supreme Council also sacked former Housing and Local Government Minister n o h Omar.

Friday’s move suggests only those loyal to Zahid will be promoted, and dissent won’t be tolerated, said Oh e i S un, senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs. However, it’s unlikely to make a difference to the p arty’s future, he said.

“Most Malay voters increasingly prefer a more conservative and religious outlook for the country, and n either Zahid’s more traditional nor Khairy’s more reformist approach could satisfy their aspirations,” according to Oh.  I n n o vember’s vote, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, or PAS, emerged a s the single party with the most parliamentary seats, but declined to join Anwar’s unity government, saying it will instead act as a “constructive opposition.” PAS found support in mostly rural areas based on its promotion of an I slamist agenda.

Anwar’s coalition is now considering working with UM n O i n state elections due this year. While the local polls won’t have a direct bearing on the composition of parliament, they will be a measure of t he new government’s popularity among the public.

By sacking and suspending leaders, Zahid is leading a weaker UM n O i nto the upcoming midterm state elections, said Wong Chin Huat, a professor and political scientist at Sunway University.

“ UM n O i s heading to its own slaughtering field, after slaughtering the dissident warlords,” he said. B loomberg News

Taliban: Women can’t take entry exams at universities

By Riazat Butt

The Associated Press

ISLAMABAD—The Taliban on Saturday doubled down on their ban on women’s education, reinforcing in a message to private universities that Afghan women are barred from taking university entry exams, according to a spokesman.

The note comes despite weeks of condemnation and lobbying by the international community for a reversal on measures restricting women’s freedoms, including two back-to-back visits this month by several senior U n officials. It also bodes ill for hopes that the Taliban could take steps to reverse their edicts anytime soon.

The Taliban barred women from private and public universities last month. The higher education minis -

ter in the Taliban-run government, n i da Mohammed n a dim, has maintained that the ban is necessary to prevent the mixing of genders in universities—and because he believes some subjects being taught violate Islamic principles.

Work was underway to fix these issues and universities would reopen for women once they were resolved, he had said in a TV interview.

The Taliban have made similar promises about middle school and high school access for girls, saying classes would resume for them once “technical issues” around uniforms and transport were sorted out. But girls remain shut out of classrooms beyond sixth grade.

Higher e d ucation Ministry spokesman Ziaullah Hashmi said Saturday that a letter reminding private universities not to allow women

to take entrance exams was sent out. He gave no further details.

A copy of the letter, shared with The Associated Press, warned that women could not take the “entry test for bachelor, master and doctorate levels” and that if any university disobeys the edict, “legal action will be taken against the violator.”

The letter was signed by Mohammad Salim Afghan, the government official overseeing student affairs at private universities. e n trance exams start on Sunday in some provinces while elsewhere in Afghanistan, they begin February 27. Universities across Afghanistan follow a different term timetable, due to seasonal differences.

Mohammed Karim n a sari, spokesman for the private universities union, said the institutions were worried and sad about this latest de -

General Mike Minihan, head of the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, said he has a gut feeling that the fight will happen in 2 025, while saying he hopes he’s wrong, according to n B C. He said presidential elections in the US and Taiwan in 2024 would create an opportunity for China to move against Taiwan.

n B C quoted a Defense Department official as saying the comments don’t represent the Pentagon’s view on China. An Air M obility Command spokesperson

told n B C that the memo is part of its effort to prepare for conflict if deterrence fails.

President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly expressed c oncern about China’s military buildup and what the US views as a more aggressive Chinese stance toward Taiwan.

A national security strategy presented by the administration in October called China the only US competitor “with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do it.”

C hina has criticized the latest US defense spending package, w hich permits up to $10 billion in weapons sales to Taiwan, for playing up the China threat and interfering in its internal affairs. Bloomberg News

thaksin daughter sees landslide thai election win for her party

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat

PA e T O n GTA r n S H I n AW AT r A , b idding to follow in the footsteps of her father and aunt in becoming Thai prime minister, is confident her party can achieve a landslide victory at the next elections with better policies to ease the burden of voters.

The 36-year-old daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra is widely seen as the Pheu Thai opposition party’s top potential candidate for the premiership, alongside property tycoon S rettha Thavisin. She has been leading her party’s outreach program a head of elections slated for May and said she’s “100% ready” to be one of the party’s three nominees.

r i ght now the country needs to be fixed, it needs better policies and people need to have a better life,” Paetongtarn said in an interview while campaigning in the northeastern province of n o ng Khai on Saturday. “They have suffered for eight y ears and I think they have suffered long enough. Our party is ready and is capable of helping people.”

The Shinawatra clan’s dominance of Thai politics has helped P aetongtarn emerge as the most popular choice for prime minister in recent surveys. Opinion polls are also showing Pheu Thai as the party likely to win the most seats in the next elections.

velopment.

“The one hope we had was that there might be some progress. But unfortunately, after the letter, there is no sign of progress,” he told the AP. “The entire sector is suffering.”

He expressed fears that if education did not restart for girls, then nobody would take entrance exams because student numbers would be so low.

Also, n a sari said private universities want the authorities to waive land taxes for universities built on government property, and waive taxes on universities in general, because they are suffering huge financial losses.

Afghanistan has 140 private universities across 24 provinces, with around 200,000 students. Out of those, some 60,000 to 70,000 are women. The universities employ about 25,000 people.

Paetongtarn said widespread public discontent stemming from high cost of living and household debt will power her Pheu Thai party’s return to power after eight years of a military-backed government led by Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

Pheu Thai, which won the largest number of seats in 2019 elections only to be thwarted by a coalition of parties led by the military-backed Palang Pracharath, is wooing voters with a pledge to raise minimum wages by 70% and increase crop prices w hile slashing energy costs.

It has also promised to lift economic growth rate to 5% annually a nd widen the nation’s healthcare coverage. Thailand has had an uneven economic recovery from the p andemic, with small and medium enterprises and some tourism businesses still trying to rebound.

P rayuth, who first seized power

in 2014 by ousting Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, has struggled to tackle inflationary pressures and near-record levels of household debt.

Farmers are also agitated about declining prices of crops such as palm o il and rubber.

Parties affiliated with the Shinawatra clan have won the most seats i n every Thai general election over the past two decades with farmers forming its core support base. The parties had introduced crop price support measures and insurance plans for farmers in the past that’s helped it remain popular among voters.

Thaksin, who now lives in exile in Dubai, is a polarizing figure with his supporters in the past often clashing with backers of royalist military es tablishment. Paetongtarn believes the country has largely moved on from such divisive politics. r i ght now it’s about people wanting to make this country a better p lace,” she said. “We are the real hope for them.”

Though Paetongtarn is confident of Pheu Thai securing a landslide, the path to forming a government is far from guaranteed.

Prayuth is maneuvering to stay in power by joining a new party after the ruling Palang Pracharath p arty—which successfully backed his bid for the job in 2019—picked its leader and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan as its sole nominee. He is counting on the support o f the 250-member Senate, stacked with allies from the military establishment, who can vote in a prime m inister’s election until 2024.

Prayuth was also on the campaign trail on Saturday in the southern Chumporn province, the first with his new party. He told supporters his government has done more for Thailand than any of its predecessors and promised to go further if he re turns to power. “I’ll continue my work to the best of my abilities, if I get the chance,” he said.

For now, Paetongtarn says she and her party are “100% confident” about winning enough seats to form a government of its own without the need to form a coalition.

“We are aiming for the landslide and we are very positive about that,” she said. Bloomberg News

On-the-gr O u nd reports during the holiday showed people are keen to leave the virus in the past, with tourists flocking to popular holiday spots. Bloom B erg photo

China reported a sharp drop in new Covid-related deaths during the Lunar new Year holiday, even as a spike in travel increased the likelihood of more infections across the country.

this undated file photo released by the taiwan Ministry of de fense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location. the Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting on Jan. 9, 2023, sending war planes and navy vessels toward taiwan, both the Chinese and taiwanese defense ministries said. ta iwan m i nistry of Defense via ap

California shooting: 3 dead in upscale LA neighborhood

By Richard Vogel The Associated Press

leaves Burkina Faso

By Neil Munshi, Katarina Hoije & Samy Adghirni

France will withdraw its military from Burkina Faso within a month following a request from the West a f rican country’s governing junta. The removal is the latest sign of the former colonial power’s collapsing influence in the region—a development that r u ssia has eagerly exploited.

The shooting occurred about 2:30 a.m. in the Beverly c r est neighborhood. This is at least the sixth mass shooting in c a lifornia this month.

Sgt. Frank Preciado of the Los a n geles Police Department said earlier Saturday that the three people killed were inside a vehicle.

Two of the four victims were taken in private vehicles to area hospitals and two others were transported by ambulance, police spokesperson Sgt. Bruce Borihanh said. Two were in critical condition and two were in stable condition, Borihanh said. The ages and genders of the victims were not immediately released.

I nvestigators were trying to determine if there was a party at the r ental home or what type of gather -

ing was occurring, Borihanh said.

B orihanh said police have no information on suspects. With the shooting over, the block was sectioned off as investigators scoured f or evidence.

The mid-century home is in Beverly c r est, a quiet neighborhood nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains where houses are large and e xpensive. The property, estimated at $3 million, is on a cul-de-sac a nd described in online real estate platforms as modern and private with a pool and outdoor shower.

L a P D Officer Jader c h aves said the department did not know if the house had a history of noise or other party-related complaints.

The early Saturday morning shooting comes on top a massacre at a dance hall in a Los a n geles

suburb last week that left 11 dead and nine wounded and shootings at two Half Moon Bay farms that left seven dead and one wounded.

Last Saturday, 72-year-old Huu c a n Tran gunned down patrons at a ballroom dance hall in predominantly a s ian Monterey Park, where tens of thousands attended Lunar n e w Year festivities earlier that evening. He drove to another dance hall but was thwarted by an employee. Many of the dead were in their 60s and 70s.

Tran later killed himself as police closed in on the van in which h e sat.

On Monday, a man shot and

killed four people at the mushroom farm where he worked, then d rove to another farm where he had previously worked and killed three people there, authorities said. c h unli Zhao, 66, is in jail and faces murder charges in what police called a case of workplace violence.

The killings have dealt a blow to the state, which has some of the nation’s toughest firearm laws and lowest rates of gun deaths.

For the third straight year, the US in 2022 recorded over 600 mass shootings in which at least four people were killed or injured, according to the Gun Violence a rchive.

Retired Czech army general wins presidential election

By Karel Janicek The Associated Press

By Ainsley Thomson

aU c K L an D e r S a re braced for

more heavy rain just a day after n e w Zealand’s largest city was hit by a severe summer storm that left at least four people dead.

The city experienced its wettest 24 hours on record over Friday e vening and Saturday, resulting in widespread flooding around the city of about 1.6 million people. Police confirmed Sunday that a fourth person had died after the body of a man swept away by floodwaters was found.

“Over the last 24 hours we’ve come to realize the true significance and impact of the flooding, n ot only in people’s homes but their livelihoods,” Deputy Prime Minister c a rmel Sepuloni said at a press conference in a u ckland Sunday. “What we saw on Friday was unprecedented and I acknowledge that there will be a lot of emotions and uncertainty that comes with being displaced.”

a n other weather system, known as an atmospheric river, is forecast to bring more heavy rain to the upper n o rth Island, research institute n I Wa said in a tweet. The MetService has issued a severe weather w arning for the area.

a t mospheric rivers are thin jets of air that move moisture beyond the tropics—a phenomenon that caused a series of deluges in c a lifornia from late December to early January, killing at least 17 people and flooding c ities and towns.

a u ckland a i rport reopened for international arrivals and departures Sunday morning, with a Jetstar f light leaving for Sydney just before 7 a.m. local time. a n a i r n e w Zealand flight from Los a n geles was the first international arrival.

The airport was closed after a record 249 mm (9.8 inches) of rain fell in 24 hours, flooding buildings and causing significant damage to ticketing, baggage and processing equipment. The domestic t erminal reopened on Saturday.

Pra G U e Petr Pavel, a retired army general, decisively defeated populist billionaire a ndrej Babis in a runoff vote Saturday t o become the c z ech r e public’s new president.

Pavel, 61, will succeed controversy-courting Milos Zeman in the l argely ceremonial but prestigious post. His election is expected to cement the country’s Western orientation following Zeman’s decade i n office.

With all the ballots counted by the c z ech Statistics Office, Pavel had 58.3% of the vote compared with 42.7% for Babis. Turnout was just over 70%, a record high for a presidential vote.

“We can have different views of a number of issues, but that doesn’t mean we’re enemies,” Pavel said in a message to voters who cast ballots for Babis after what was considered a nasty presidential campaign period.

“We have to learn how to communicate with each other.”

B abis conceded defeat and congratulated Pavel on his victory. He c alled on his supporters “to accept that I’ve lost and accept we have a new president.”

Pavel, who ran as an independent, is a former chairman of naT O’s military committee, the alliance’s highest military body. He fully endorsed t he c z ech r e public’s military and humanitarian support for Ukraine in its fight against r u ssia’s invasion and stresses the importance of the country’s membership in the e u ropean Union and naT O.

“Foreign policy is his strong point,” Petr Just, an analyst from the Metropolitan University Prague, said. Just noted that Pavel’s naT O experience and views would “boost” the country’s Western leanings.

The president picks the prime minister after a general election, one of the office’s key responsibilities, and appoints members of the c entral bank. The

with the approval of Parliament’s upper house.

Otherwise, the president has little executive power since c z echia is run by a government chosen and led by the prime minister.

President Zuzana c a putova of Slovakia, who beat established politicians to win her country’s 2019 p residential election, joined Pavel on a Prague stage Saturday to congratulate him in front of his supporters.

“ Your victory is a victory of hope, of hope that decency and honesty is not a weakness but a power that could lead to victory even in politics,” c apu tova said.

“Personally, I’m happy that we have a new head of state in our region and e u rope who respects democratic values,” she said.

Pavel said he planned to travel to Slovakia and Ukraine for his first foreign trips as president, and also to Poland to assure President a nd rzej Duda that his country fully respects its n aT O commitments and the alliance’s principle of collective defense.

U krainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Pavel in a tweet written in c z ech, adding he looked forward to their close cooperation.

c z echia has been a firm supporter of Ukraine in its fight against r u ssia’s invasion. The Ukraine war was a core campaign issue. Babis presented himself as a peacemaker and l abeled Pavel a warmonger due to his

The end of France’s roughly 400-person mission in Burkina Faso comes 10 months after its troops were kicked out of neighboring Mali, where French forces spent nearly a decade leading a losing fight against a growing jihadist insurgency, which killed thousands and displaced millions as it spread across the Sahel. In both countries, the French withdrawal occurred as government leaders strengthened their ties to the Kremlin, which has used the mercenary Wagner Group to gain a foothold in the c e ntral a f rican r e public, Libya and Sudan.

France has sought to maintain its close relationship with Burkina Faso, but the junta’s explicit demand that the country withdraw its troops came after a series of increasingly hostile moves towards Paris, including banning French broadcaster r F I. a m id the turmoil, France stated that it would recall its ambassador to Burkina Faso while seeking clarity from authorities, and is expected to announce a revamp of its security presence in a f rica. Many French troops have already relocated to n i ger, which borders Mali and Burkina Faso.

Western governments have for years warned about the threat of r u ssian disinformation campaigns in the Sahel, spearheaded by companies linked to Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. “Through companies that exploit a f rica’s natural resources, political operatives who undermine democratic actors, front companies posing as n GOs, and social media manipulation, Prigozhin spreads disinformation to influence a f rican politics in r u ssia’s favor,” the US State Department warned last May.

r e lations between the Kremlin and political leaders in the Sahel have grown close as r u ssia is increasingly seen as an effective potential partner in the war against jihadists. During a state TV interview on Jan. 13, a journalist told r u ssian a m bassador a lexey Saltykov that “many Burkinabe want r u ssia to be the main partner in the fight against terrorism.”

r u ssia wants the support of all its a f rican allies,” Saltykov responded.

“We’re looking to reinforce our efforts in the fight for a multipolar world.”

military past.

In his most controversial statement, Babis said he wouldn’t send t roops to Poland or the Baltics if the n a T O allies were attacked. He later backtracked.

Losing the race to Pavel was another major defeat for Babis 68, a f ormer prime minister. His centrist a n O ( Y e S ) movement ended up in opposition after losing the 2021 general election.

Zeman, the outgoing president, had backed Babis, one of country’s richest people. The two men share euroskeptic views and the habit of using anti-migrant rhetoric.

While Babis has been a divisive figure, he maintained his popular support with older voters. He accused Pavel, during a campaign m arred by false accusations, of having been a KGB-trained communist s py. He provided no evidence for the claim, and went on to compare his opponent to r u ssian President Vladimir Putin.

Zeman, who took office in March 2013, was the country’s first president elected by popular vote. His s econd and final five-year term expires in March. Lawmakers elected t he previous two presidents, Vaclav Havel and Vaclav Klaus.

Before the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Zeman divided the n ation with his pro- r u ssia stance and support for closer ties with c h ina.

December 2021 to assist in its counterinsurgency efforts. Burkina Faso has denied doing the same.

The U n has accused the private military company of gross human rights violations, hiring mercenaries in exchange for r u ssian access to gold mines. The press service for c o ncord Group, the catering company owned by Prigozhin, didn’t respond to questions seeking comment about its activities in a f rica.

c i vilian deaths have roughly quadrupled to more than 2,000 since Mali deployed Wagner mercenaries in December 2021, up from about 550 in the previous year, according to data collected by ac L e D, a Washington-based group. In 2022, at least 750 civilians were killed in attacks by Wagner fighters working alongside Malian soldiers.

Wagner’s presence is also causing the slow-motion collapse of the 13,000-troop U n peacekeeping force that has operated in Mali since 2013. Late last year, Germany, the UK and the Ivory c o ast announced that they were withdrawing from the mission, following Denmark and Sweden’s decision to do the same.

Ornella Moderan, a Bamako-based research associate fellow at the Dutch c l ingendael Institute, described Burkina Faso as following the “Malian blueprint.” a key step, she said, is “pushing out inconvenient partners —those who insist on human rights, erect democracy-related conditions to their military support, or citizen transitional authorities too openly.” Both countries have ejected U n officials, French diplomats, and finally, the French military, all while forging closer ties to r u ssia.

Dramatic collapse

nO country in the Sahel has suffered a s precipitous a collapse as Burkina Faso, which just eight years ago was seen as relatively stable and a tourism destination. n o w huge swathes of its territory are outside government control, thousands have died and about 2 million people—or a tenth of the population—are displaced. a s i n Mali, anti-French sentiment has intensified and r u ssophilia has grown as the security situation has worsened. The September coup that brought Burkina Faso’s ruling junta into power was accompanied by an attack on the French e m bassy and cheered on by supporters waving r u ssian flags.

President e m manuel Macron has accused Moscow of using disinformation to stoke anti-French sentiment and to pursue a “predatory” strategy in a f rica that serves its own interests.

‘Malian blueprint’

France has maintained outsized influence over the politics, economies and security of Sahelian countries in the decades since they claimed their independence from the former colonial power in the 1960s. That history, alongside French troops’ failure to stop the spread of extremist activity in the region, has contributed to a growing sense of resentment.

These dynamics created an opportunity for the Wagner Group, which Mali’s ruling military junta hired in

But the young soldiers who have taken over leadership in Mali and Burkina Faso are tapping into a rich vein of resentment and re-establishing c o ld War-era links: r u ssia has for decades provided training and weapons to a fr ican countries, including in the Sahel. a c cording to Moussa Mara, who served as prime minister under Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the Frenchaligned president ousted in a 2020 coup, the pro- r u ssian tilt in Mali has little to do with “the popularity of r u ssia.” r ather, he said, “it is an expression of the unpopularity of France.”

With assistance from Simon Gongo / Bloomberg

40 people killed in bus accident in Pakistan

aT l east 40 people were killed and four others injured Sunday after a speeding mini bus crashed into the pillar of a bridge in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to the police.

T he bus “caught quickly fire and they burned to death,” said Mohamad a b dullah, a police officer at the provincial police control center. The accident, in the Lasbela district o f the southwestern province,

happened because the vehicle was driving at high speed he added.

Passenger buses and vans in Pakistan are usually overcrowded and have few safety features. That, along with rash driving routinely results in deadly crashes in the South a s ian nation. In n o vember, a minibus plunged into a deep and waterlogged ditch killing 20 passengers, including 11 children. Bloomberg News

LOS ANGELES—Three people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting at a multimillion-dollar short-term rental home in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood early Saturday, police said.

Russia’s footprint grows in Africa as France

CzeC h Republic’s President elect Petr Pavel with his wife eva greets his supporters after announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential runoff in Prague, Czech Republic on Saturday, January 28, 2023. AP Photo/Petr DAv D Josek

Auckland grapples with flood damage, braces for more rain

Poli C e investigators stand in a street near a house where three people were killed and four others wounded in a shooing at a short-term rental home in an upscale los Angeles neighborhood on Saturday, January 28, 2023. AP Photo/ r ich A r D vo gel

editorial

‘Are we getting richer or less poor?’

The Philippines reported its 2022 annual gross domestic product results for 2022 on Thursday. Consensus forecasts were for a 6.5 percent growth and the actual number was 7.6 percent. Quarter-on-quarter growth was projected at 1.5 percent and came in at 2.9 percent.

Of the nine countries (Taiwan, US, South Korea, Singapore, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Congo, and the Philippines) that reported 2022 gross domestic product growth as of last Thursday, the Philippines’ 2022 growth was the highest.

What can we make of this?

Capital Economics had this to say: “Growth slowed in Q4 [from Q3]. In y/y terms, the economy expanded by 7.2 percent in the fourth quarter after 7.6 percent growth in Q3.” With something as complex as a nation’s economy, the headline numbers must be subject to a deep-dive to understand the total situation.

We can talk about “revenge spending” coming out of the lockdowns and what the government/BSP could have/should have done to make the economy better. Some of the criticisms are completely justified and some are nothing more than perfect 20/20 hindsight. A few are from some people whose political candidates have not won an election since 2010. Everyone is entitled to and should express their own economic opinions. That is beneficial to the nation.

It’s been nearly 10 years since Forbes online columnist Jesse Colombo— recognized by The Times of London for warning about the US housing and credit bubble—wrote a series about different nations, including the Philippines, facing “economic bubbles.” Mr. Colombo has moved from expounding his bubble theory to preaching the “Gospel of Christ.” We wish him well in his new endeavor.

On November 21, 2013 he wrote, “Here’s Why the Philippines’ Economic Miracle Is Really A Bubble In Disguise.” Mr. Colombo’s conclusion was, “The Philippines’ economy is driven by a credit bubble which will most likely pop when China’s economic bubble pops and/or as global and local interest rates continue to rise. I expect the ultimate popping of the bubbles to cause another crisis that is similar to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.” That did not happen here or in New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, or Iceland, etc.

But what meaning does all this analysis have? The average car has roughly 30,000 parts if you count the nuts and bolts. The Philippine economy has roughly 110 million parts. How do we measure the success of the car? “The engine has great performance, but the seats feel like you are sitting on rocks.”

In reference to the latest GDP numbers, Ambassador Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. asked, “Does it mean we’re getting richer or less poor?”

How do we measure the success of the economy? Is it by the sum of the parts or the individual parts? How do we measure a nation’s wealth to determine “richer/poorer”? Per capita GDP based on purchasing power? Percent in poverty? An increase/decrease in personal savings? Per capita net worth?

Maybe even by nutrition. The Global Hunger Index says that undernourishment as a percentage of the population has dropped from 18.7 percent in 2000 to 5.2 percent in 2022. This 5.2 percent is better than Vietnam, Mexico, Indonesia and Thailand. But our overall rank is lower when including childhood nutrition.

But maybe it’s only the rich getting richer.

World Bank: “The Philippines has made significant progress in reducing poverty, but income inequality has only recently begun to fall. Thanks to high growth rates and structural transformation, between 1985 and 2018 poverty fell by two-thirds. However, income inequality did not begin to decline until 2012. It is still high: The top 1 percent of earners together capture 17 percent of national income, with only 14 percent being shared by the bottom 50 percent.”

Which is more important, individual equality or individual prosperity?

Obviously both matter. Yet, depending on your opinion on which factor is the priority, the answer to “are we getting richer or less poor?” is “yes”—depending on where you look.

February is for PASINAYA, Art Fair Philippines, and other PHL art events

All-You-Can, Pay-What-You-Can”—

Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II

RISING SUN

AS January ends we inch closer to the month known for vibrant artistic celebrations. The events under the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ PASINAYA 2023 and Art Fair Philippines 2023 exhibits and happenings should already be on every art enthusiast’s calendar.

In the first week of February, from the 3rd to the 5th of the month, the CCP holds the largest annual multi-arts festival in the country, PASINAYA. This year, it returns live in different venues all over the CCP Complex and in partner museums and galleries. There are over a hundred shows, workshops, and many other activities and events in the fields of music,

theater, dance, visual arts, film, and literature.

The theme for PASINAYA 2023: The CCP Open House Festival is Piglas Sining. It has the following components: Pagtitipon: A gathering of regional partners to share plans and programs; Palihan: “Workshop-All-You-Can”—workshops in all the art forms to be conducted by experts in their field; Palabas: See-

Performances and film screenings featuring the CCP Resident Companies, professional, amateur and community-based artists and arts organizations in all the art genres; Palitan: Arts Market—Artists pitch to prospective producers; and Paseo Museo: A visit to the various museums in Metro Manila.

CCP expects around 14,000 guests in attendance. The public is advised to wear their masks and follow health and safety measures to make the festival a safe space for everyone, including children and senior citizens. To enter, each guest is encouraged to donate P50 for the wristband.

More than a week later, from the 17th to the 19th of February, Art Fair Philippines celebrates its 10th anniversary with a series of in-person events at The Link in Makati City. Guests will get to enjoy the refreshing atmosphere amid the fair’s biophilic design that the organizers have de-

What is now happening in the world?

LITO GAGNI

We have received a letter reacting to our earlier columns, and we would like to share it with our readers: Dear Lito, I think you can look at what is happening in the world right now, which can be described by the phrase “rulesbased order.” This phrase can be found in all the documents—from the meetings with representatives of the West including the last Asean summit. has anyone ever wondered what kind of new rules they are talking about? If previously politicians referred to UN resolutions and international law, what do these documents mean now?

The rules probably mean the ability to act solely as the politicians want, rather than as the regulations provide for. The US and the West refuse to fulfill their promises. This was the case with the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Minsk agreements, and promises not to expand North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato).

But a lot has changed in the world lately. What is now happening in the world constitutes the main trend of the development of the world order toward multipolarity. Obviously, the main reason for the continued imbalance of the international system of relations is the unwillingness of the Western “minority” to accept multipolar realities and give up their hegemonic aspirations. It can be seen that the balance of power on the

I want to believe that the Philippines, like most countries, will not replace the UN with a new US-controlled structure like the “Summit for Democracy” and the multipolar world will continue to develop for the benefit of all inhabitants, not the “golden billion.”

not comply with these tenets and mechanisms.

cided to adopt this year. There will be around 63 local and international exhibitors participating in the various programs being offered this year: Digital, Projects, Photo Special Exhibits, Talks, and Workshops. ArtFairPH 2023 also honors the late Norma Liongoren and Albert Avellana, two notable artists in the local art community. It will also showcase the works of artists who have completed their art residencies this year, as well as the films curated by the Ateneo Art Gallery. Finally, on top of the 3-day exhibits, ArtFairPH is also holding “10 Days of Art Initiative,” a series of activities happening from February 10 to 19 to be carried out by participating galleries, museums, bars, restaurants, and retail establishments. And we’re just getting started. I’m sure there will be more art-related events happening next month. So get ready to celebrate National Arts Month, Philippine-style!

In the Indo-Pacific region, the West is out to create bloc architecture against Russia and China. With this aim in view, they have consistently been destroying the decades-old mechanisms and formats of cooperation created around Asean. Instead, they are putting together military blocs. A shining case in point is AUKUS, which includes the US, the UK, and Australia.

global arena continues to change not in their favor. Therefore, the West, led by the US, is trying to assertively maintain their dominant position.

The events surrounding Ukraine have brought to light the implicit push by the United States to drop attempts to reinforce its global position with legitimate means and to adopt illegitimate methods to ensure its dominance. Anything goes. Once revered mechanisms and institutions that were created by the US-led West have been discarded. Free market, fair competition, free enterprise, the inviolability of property, and the presumption of innocence, in a word, everything the Western globalization model relied on collapsed overnight. Sanctions have been imposed on objectionable countries that do

The European Union has been completely subsumed by this US dictatorship. This is confirmed by the Joint Declaration of Nato and the EU on cooperation, which was signed on January 10 this year. The document explicitly states that the alliance and the EU have the task to use all political, economic and military means in the interests of the “golden billion” (meaning one billion citizens of Nato and EU countries), there is no place for Asia, including the Philippines.

Nato and EU declarations contain a commitment in the geopolitical containment of Russia and China. However, Nato is not limited to organizing the life of the European continent. Since the Madrid summit in June 2022 the global responsibility of the military bloc, especially regarding the Asia-Pacific region, is proclaimed. Nato’s responsibility now extends to the Indo-Pacific region (a new term coined by the West instead of the Asia-Pacific region).

The West sees half of the Asean members as quite a promising group of countries in order to participate in the new blocks. It is to be assumed that the Philippines will be dragged into such blocs as well. The former Philippine Secretary of Defense Jose Faustino Jr. expressed support for AUKUS.

At the same time, recent trends indicate the end of the unipolar world led by the United States. New centers of economic growth are forming, including BRICS and Asean. But it will take time to form a multipolar world, to finalize the relations necessary for democracy, justice and respect for the principle of the UN Charter (respect for the sovereign equality of all states) to prevail in the world. The UN Charter is a good basis.

I want to believe that the Philippines, like most countries, will not replace the UN with a new US-controlled structure like the “Summit for Democracy” and the multipolar world will continue to develop for the benefit of all inhabitants, not just the “golden billion.”

Regards, Red Abatayo

Joel L. Tan-Torres

DEBIT CREDIT

On January 25, 2023, i had the opportunity to have a close conversation with the new Bureau of internal revenue (Bir) commissioner romeo “Jun” lumagui. We were all seated at one table in the Makati diamond residences, with the court of Tax Appeals Presiding Justice roman del rosario and several Tax Management of the Philippines incoming officers and former presidents, for the induction of the 2023 TMAP officers and directors.

This was the second event that Commissioner Jun had with the TMAP. Last January 12, a group of about 20 TMAP officers and members trooped to the BIR n at ional o f fice to have our courtesy call to the Commissioner. We engaged Commissioner Jun for over two hours of his valuable time, where there was a lively exchange of ideas and suggestions. Commissioner Jun also enlightened us about his major priorities. These included providing excellent service to taxpayers, pursuing digital transformation of the BIR, implementing the electronic invoicing system, and enforcement against erring taxpayers. He further confirmed his attendance in the TMAP induction of incoming officers, led by President Suzette Celicous-Sy.

During the induction event, I was in the table of our invited guests, BIR Commissioner Lumagui and CTA Roman Del Rosario. I suppose that I was given this privileged seating since I was a former TMAP President and BIR Commissioner.

In his early 40s, Commissioner Jun probably is the youngest head of the BIR ever appointed. Being a seasoned tax practitioner and tax administrator involving over 40 years in the field of tax, I took it upon myself to exchange ideas on various tax issues with Commissioner Jun during the time that we were seated together during the induction event.

I inquired about the status of the tax fraud investigation of the Pharmally case, which was the subject of a Senate Blue Ribbon investigation from 2010 to 2022. He apparently has not been updated on the status of his BIR officers. I understood then his position of not making any comment on how the Pharmally tax case will proceed. However, Commissioner Jun was more deliberate in responding that the BIR will still be pursuing tax evasion cases when I asked if the Run After Tax ev aders program of the past administrations will continue. In fact, he disclosed that the BIR will be timing the release of information on tax fraud cases during the tax filing season. He emphasized that it is important to communicate to the public that the BIR is on the alert for mis-declarations of income tax returns that will be filed by April 2023. He also advised me that the launch of the traditional tax campaign activities will be on February 7 at the Philippine International Convention Center. He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. may grace this event.

I congratulated him on the recent accomplishments of the BIR teams that raided several establishments and caught the perpetrators engaged in the manufacturing and trading of fake or illegal cigarettes. Commissioner Jun himself led the BIR raiding teams. He also mentioned that he instigated the enforcement activities against taxpayers involved in the unregistered vape (electronic cigarettes) and smuggled fuel that has not undergone fuel marking. Commissioner Jun is showing great courage in running after these nefarious tax evaders and criminals. He also has shown his strong political will in running after the sellers of fake receipts and invoices

Commissioner Jun is showing great courage in running after these nefarious tax evaders and criminals. He also has shown his strong political will in running after the sellers of fake receipts and invoices that involved billions of pesos of lost taxes. I salute Commissioner Jun for these major enforcement actions.

that involved billions of pesos of lost taxes. I salute Commissioner Jun for these major enforcement actions. I speculate that the BIR, under his leadership and the full support of President Marcos, will be making inroads in these tax evasion and fraud cases. In fact, in a recent Senate hearing, the BIR was commended by Senator Raffy Tulfo for its initiative in the fuel marking scheme, while at the same time castigating the Bureau of Customs for their lapses. e a rlier, Senator Tulfo mandated the BIR to run after the tax liabilities of the current and former high officials of the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management and the Department of e d ucation involved in the irregular purchase of overpriced laptops for teachers.

I also discussed with him the direction of the BIR in its transfer pricing activities. In late 2020, the BIR issued Revenue Regulations

3 4-20201 providing guidelines and procedures for the submission of a new and simplified BIR Form 1709 (the Related Party Transactions Form), the mechanics of TP documentation, and other TP matters. If the mass of data coming from these reports is effectively automated and processed by the BIR, much information can be derived to assist in the TP audits and monitoring. I mentioned to Commissioner Jun that it is high time that the BIR is able to implement an effective TP program that can ferret tax reduction practices by and among related taxpayers. I recall that when I was the Chief of the International Tax Affairs Division way back in the 1990s, I initiated several TP initiatives. But unfortunately, the BIR has not been able to develop an effective TP program over all these years, and even the v ietnam tax office has apparently surpassed the BIR in this aspect.

Commissioner Jun Lumagui indicated that he wants to hire more enforcement officers and information technology staff. The BIR surely is lacking in the numbers and talent of these much-needed resources to be able to cope with its ever-increasing tax collection targets. Commissioner Jun was realistic enough to describe these targets as “aspirational.”

A s a former BIR Commissioner, I wish the best for Commissioner Jun Lumagui.

Joel L. Tan-Torres was the former Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy, and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No.

Onion powder

Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.

Conversation among BIR commissioners THE PATRIOT

AlAdy-friend recently shared how her daughter resorted to buying and using onion powder due to the ridiculously rising prices of onions in our country. Quite the practical thing to do, especially since a bottle of 80 grams of onion powder only costs P53 and tastes like the real thing! Powder can also last longer than fresh onions. According to my friend, “lasang sibuyas naman, pumikit ka lang.” i am neither a fan nor an avid user of onions on any dish or sauces. But to my friend, nothing compares to the crisp and moist fresh onions especially when accentuated with watwat vinegar, fish sauce (patis), honey and Knorr seasoning. Truly, even this herb expediency dressed up in faux-unselfish casuistry can only step back when weighed against evidence of what’s raw and real. The issue is nothing of the feeble kind. A commodity as basic as onion runs straight to the lives and bellies of every household.

The rising cost of this product seems to rival the rapidity of the bullet train; everyone is shaken if not bewildered. But not perhaps to such a degree as our President, concurrently serving as the Secretary of Agriculture, who seems intent on convincing himself, more than anyone, that his regimen will work to address this “national” issue. While economists still run short of answers as to why onion prices in the Philippines are far more uncontrollable and costlier than in any other country (P685/ kilo versus $4/kilo in the US, for example), we are on the threshold of being persuaded that a leader who does not have the reins of power over the pricing of a basic commodity as “sibuyas” is not expected to have control of the rest of the economy.

Isolated matter, some might say, but yet his recent “rigodon” (a quadrille dance) in replacing and placing back the AFP Chief serves as another example of not having full control or, worse, an eroding political will. And with nary a solution to the rising prices of rice and eggs—still in the family of basic commodities as onions by the way, a solid conclusion beyond a mere hypothesis protrudes what a PBBM administration can

actually look like—one that has a weak grasp of the truth and employs ersatz-altruistic alternatives: A formula of onion powder surrogate to fresh onions.

The Filipino spectators of today have seen nothing much so far than a display of grandeur and flamboyance. In due deference to our President, he is likely constrained by the absence of his personal set of trusted advisers and competent technocrats when he took over. But as a leader, he is expected to have a clear understanding of his “flock” and respond with propriety to every critical situation such as rising prices of basic commodities. The disappointing decisions, or the lack of an iron will and hand, to the sugar and onion ignominy of late clearly bespeak of a Chief whose feet dangle above ground and whose mind is focused somewhere else. Simply put, the lack of political reins over challenges in the economy, the armed service, and whatever needs to be controlled is disturbing.

Between the lack of knowledge and the lack of good intentions, the former seems more daunting in running a country. Anyone can have the best of intentions for others but if he lacks a fair clench of what is true, basic, and logical, then

all his good intentions become futile and meaningless. Alluding to a pastor’s interesting illustration to this proposition is an anecdote about a well-meaning motorist who by happenstance passes by a road riddled with debris of broken tree branches and live electricity cables. His intentions will make him think of a way for other motorists to be steered clear of the danger. He could remove and place the cables somewhere beyond the risk perceived. But if he has the sufficient knowledge, it would bid him well not to have anything to do with, much less touch the live wires! For in thinking best for others, he runs the peril of getting electrocuted in an instant. Again, the backdrop of lack of knowledge versus lack of good intentions instructs us to invest in resolving the former.

The illustration brings a herd of lessons for all of us to consider, including our President. For it is not so much a lack of faith/good intentions that brings us to peril, rather it is a lack of knowledge of the truths that have long been available to us. Surely, a resort to some far-fetched ideas as “band-aid” solutions to our woes may offer some form of relief, but we who should know better must not merely accept these artificial remedies. not that we reject their complementary function, but our mental and spiritual constitution may do way better with the real thing. And a classic example that ought never to be replicated is the confluence of PBBM’s “alternative” regimen—“rigodon,” importation, excessive travels, among others, which bespeak of the lack of steady knowledge on what is logical, forthright, and truthful.

To settle for the alternative and not the real thing because of the absence of knowledge of the truth is akin to being disloyal.

In the spiritual realm, disloyalty to God’s Word and His ways equates with peril. Thus the prophet Hosea echoed God’s charge against Israel for the latter’s infidelity, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. X x x” (Hosea 4:6). What made lack of knowledge dangerous that time is explained in the rest of verse 6: “Be-

cause you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” This should be taken in the context of the opening verse of the chapter, which states that Israel failed to acknowledge the LoR D as their God (Hosea 4:1). The people did not simply lack knowledge, they actively rejected it! For a believer, therefore, God’s truth has always been there. It is merely a matter of reaching out to grasp it, and accepting His ways. Being consumed by His wisdom ends in greater knowledge. one does not gain wisdom just by knowing too much of so many other things. As Charles Spurgeon expressed, “Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool.”

There is no room for resorting to artificial, much less fake choices, which, in the long run, deprive us of the actual gains and unspeakable joys from seeking and heeding the truth. Along this direction comes the most apt scriptural directive for all of us to observe, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Resorting to the Word always offers the solution to all kinds of crisis, economic or personal. Hope springs eternal to those who are knowledge pursuers and truth seekers! nothing fake or artificial such as onion powder, nothing surrogate or ad hoc as a rigodon; just straight and unadulterated knowledge and fear of our Heavenly Father.

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

Brutality of Russia’s Wagner gives it lead in Ukraine war

By The Associated Press

fierce battles in eastern Ukraine have thrown a new spotlight on russia’s Wagner Group, a private military company led by a rogue millionaire with longtime links to russian President Vladimir Putin.

Wagner has spearheaded the push to jump-start Russia’s stalemated offensive in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk province. The ferocious house-tohouse fighting has produced some of the bloodiest encounters since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, with Wagner personnel “marching on the bodies of their own soldiers” as Ukrainian authorities put it.

The US this week expanded sanctions against Wagner for its role in Ukraine and mercenary activities in Africa. Here is a look at the Wagner Group’s history and its current role in the fighting.

Who owns the Wagner Group?

YevGe n Y PR IG oz H I n, who received a 12-year prison term in 1981 on charges of robbery and assault, started a restaurant business in St. Petersburg following his release from prison. It was in this capacity that he got to know Putin, who served as the city’s deputy mayor in the 1990s.

Prigozhin, 61, used his ties with Putin to develop a catering business and won lucrative Russian government contracts that earned him the nickname of “Putin’s chef.” He later expanded to other businesses, including media outlets and an infamous “troll factory” that led to his indictment in the US for meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Where has Wagner worked?

THe Wagner Group was first spotted in action in eastern Ukraine soon after a separatist conflict erupted there in April 2014, weeks after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

While backing the separatist insurgency in the Donbas, Ukraine’s eastern industrial heartland, Russia denied sending its own weapons and troops there despite ample evidence to the contrary. engaging private contractors in the fighting allowed Moscow to maintain a degree of deniability. Prigozhin’s company was called Wagner after the nickname of its first commander, Dmitry Utkin, a retired lieutenant colonel of the Russian military’s special forces.

It soon established a reputation for its extreme brutality and ruthlessness. Along with Ukraine, Wagner personnel deployed to Syria, where Russia supported President Bashar Assad’s government in the country’s civil war. In Libya, they fought alongside forces of Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter.

The group also has operated in the Central African Republic and Mali. Prigozhin has reportedly used Wagner’s deployment to Syria and African countries to secure lucrative mining contracts.

leged Wagner’s involvement in the July 2018 killings of three Russian journalists, who were shot dead in the Central African Republic while investigating the group’s activities there. The slayings remain unsolved.

What is the group’s reputation?

WeSTeR n countries and United nat ions experts have accused Wagner Group mercenaries of committing numerous human rights abuses throughout Africa, including in the Central African Republic, Libya and Mali.

In December 2021, the european Union accused the group of “serious human rights abuses, including torture and extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings,” and of carrying out “destabilizing activities” in the Central African Republic, Libya, Syria and Ukraine.

Some of the reported incidents stood out in their grisly brutality.

A 2017 video posted online showed a group of armed people, reported to be Wagner contractors, torturing a Syrian man, beating him to death with a sledgehammer and cutting his head before mutilating and then burning his body. Russian authorities ignored requests by the media and rights activists to investigate the killing.

In november 2022, another video surfaced online that showed a former Wagner contractor getting beaten to death with a sledgehammer after he allegedly fled to the Ukrainian side and was recaptured. Despite public outrage and a stream of demands for an investigation, the Kremlin turned a blind eye to it.

territory in a series of humiliating setbacks. Prigozhin claimed full credit this month for capturing the Donetsk region salt-mining town of Soledar and accused the Russian Defense Ministry of trying to steal Wagner’s glory. He said Wagner was spearheading the attack on the city of Bakhmut, a nearby Ukrainian stronghold that Russian forces have tried to win for months.

Prigozhin has toured Russian prisons to recruit fighters, promising inmates pardons if they survived a half-year tour of front-line duty with Wagner. He recently posted a video in which he congratulates the first group of convicts that received official pardons and the right to leave the company. The US estimates Wagner has about 50,000 personnel fighting in Ukraine, including 10,000 contractors and 40,000 of the convicts the company enlisted. The US assesses that Wagner is spending about $100 million a month in the fight and has taken delivery of weapons from north Korea, including rockets and missiles.

What do Russia’s military brass think?

WAGneR’S reach for north Korean weapons may reflect its long-running spat with the Russian military leadership, which dates back to the company’s creation. A group of troops purported to be Wagner contractors on the front line in Ukraine recently recorded a video in which they showered the chief of the Russian military’s General Staff, Gen. valery Gerasimov, with curses for an alleged failure to provide ammunition.

He

Prigozhin denied any link to the Wagner Group before he acknowledged owning the company in September. This month, he declared he also founded, led and financed it.

US Undersecretary of State victoria nu land told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that the company was using its access to gold and other resources in Africa to fund its operations in Ukraine. Some Russian media have al-

What is Wagner’s role in Ukraine?

T He Wagner Group has taken an increasingly visible role in the war in Ukraine as regular Russian troops suffered heavy attrition and lost control over some previously captured

Prigozhin himself castigated the top military brass in recent months, accusing top-ranking officers of incompetence. His remarks were unprecedented for Russia’s tightly controlled political system, in which only Putin could air such criticism.

A10 Monday, January 30, 2023

DWIZ REVAMPS NEWS PROGRAMMING, MORE CHANGES HAPPENING WITHIN ‘23

PHL keen on forging trade deals with UAE, India–DTI

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

By Edwin P. Sallan & Trixzy Leigh Bonotan

NEWS and public service

radio station DWIZ is undergoing a major revamp in its programming starting this January 30—or 74 years after it first began operations as DZPI, 51 years after it first adopted its present call letters in 1972, and a 32 years after it was acquired by Aliw Broadcasting Corporation. L argely known for much of the 1970s and 1980s as a Top 40 music station under its previous owners, the Manila Broadcasting Company, DWIZ transitioned into a full news and talk format when Aliw Broadcasting took over its operations in 1991. A lthough the station will retain its news and talk format, the new programs will reflect a more dynamic approach that is more attuned with the times as envisioned by Aliw Broadcasting chairman D. Edgard A. Cabangon and company president Randy Cabangon.

To fulfill this vision, the network’s newly-appointed executive vice president and general manager, Atty. McNeil Rante; and Dennis Antenor Jr., vice president for business development, are working in tandem to reflect the changes in programming.

A ntenor, who has worked in the broadcast industry for over 20 years, was particularly brought in to see what changes would work and what will not,

given his experience. Along with Rante, he immediately recognized that the morning shows are the ones that need to be beefed up first.

People want fast-paced information, to deliver the most important news and information in a very timely manner. The credibility of the news and information is very important, especially in the morning. In radio, you win the morning, you win the game,” Antenor underscored.

“ It starts with Drew Nacino anchoring his program, Gising from 5-6AM. After that comes the newscast and current affairs show of seasoned broadcasters David Oro and Jon Ibañez. Nandiyan na kasi yung bakbakan [That’s where the competition is tough],”

Rante revealed.

A mid the morning revamp, the popular commentary program Karambola will be retained. Hosted by Conrad Banal, Joel Lacsamana, Atty. Trixie Cruz Angeles, Jonathan dela Cruz and Atty. Larry Gadon, the show rules its 8 to 10AM time slot from Mondays to Fridays.

Rante said the show is a consistent top-rater for DWIZ, so management sees no reason to replace it.

A ntenor himself will host the 10AM newscast followed by another newscast program hosted by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio at 11AM.

See “DWIZ,” A2

says AISL chief

THE chief of the Association of International Shipping Lines (AISL) said balikbayan boxes from migrant Filipinos will also be affected by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) policy on container monitoring.

A ISL President Patrick Ronas told reporters on the sidelines of a press briefing held in Pasay City last Friday that 90 percent of goods brought into the country are carried by ships.

“Tatamaan din ‘yun kasi nakacontainer ‘yan e. Ang mangyayari kasi dito ‘yung mga balikbayan box operators, gumagalaw ‘yan via container, eh tataas ‘yung gastos ng broker o balikbayan box operator dahil papasok itong [Trusted Operator ProgramContainer Registry Monitoring System] TOP-CRMS,” he said.

“Tataas din ‘yan so kawawa rin ‘yung OFW [overseas Filipino workers] natin dahil ‘yung mga pinapadala nila dito tataas din ‘yung gastos eh unsung heroes ‘yan eh ‘di ba nga sila ‘yung probidor ng dollar natin,” he added.

L ast Friday, several trade groups called for the revocation of PPA Administrative Order (AO) No. 04-

2021 or the proposed additional container monitoring system.

R onas said they will be left with no other recourse but to pass on additional logistics costs resulting from the policy to key players in the supply chain.

Business group said the policy will “result in an almost 50 percent increase in the logistics cost of imported goods.”

T hey added that this will lead to a “staggering” additional annual import cost estimate of at least P35 billion.

A O 04-2021 prescribes the policy in the registration and monitoring of containers entering and leaving PPA ports including the scheduling, loading, unloading, release and movement of all containers.

T he order applies to all containers originating from foreign ports that will be unloaded at government and/or private ports under the administrative jurisdiction of PPA. (Related story: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2023/01/27/top-business-groups-back-protests-vsppa-order-no-4/).

D TI Assistant Secretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy Group Allan B. Gepty said Manila has already informed the UAE of its intent to hold discussions about the EPA.

With UAE we just basically launched the manifestation, the intent to embark on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. So the next step is for us to work on the terms of reference or the scoping paper for the trade negotiation,” Gepty told reporters on the sidelines of the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (BCCP) held recently in Makati City.

W hen asked about the goods or products that will be covered by the EPA, Gepty said, “As much as pos -

sible we want to really maximize market access in that particular country.”

T he Trade official said Halal food may also be included because it was covered by the negotiations. Gepty said the UAE is a market that Manila wants to explore as thousands of Filipinos are residing there.

He said Filipino micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) can look at UAE as another market or an expanded market for their products.

G epty said the EPA would also cover services which would allow Filipino professionals and service providers to do business in UAE.

T he DTI said UAE hosts known Philippine franchise brands and

over a thousand Filipino-owned businesses from different sectors, including food and beverage, trading and logistics, consultancy and other creative services, education and training and hospitality services.

Moreover, UAE is one of the top destinations of overseas Filipinos in the Middle East. Majority of the Filipinos in UAE are engaged in engineering and architecture, tourism and hospitality sector, customer service, and health and medical fields.

I n a statement last Saturday, the Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said a delegation of 18 Philippine companies will showcase premium halal-certified food products through a country exhibit at the Gulf Food Hotel and Equipment Exhibition and Salon Culinaire, or Gulfood, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the UAE from February 20 to 24.

C ITEM said the Philippines’s “hybrid participation” will consist of manufacturers and exporters of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables; processed marine products; ethnic and gourmet products; nonalcoholic beverages; confectionery, biscuits, and pastries; and other

food and beverage categories.

M eanwhile, Gepty also said the Philippines is also interested in working out a preferential trade agreement with India. He said, however, that this will only cover goods.

T he goods that will be covered under this agreement, he said, will still be subject to negotiations.

We want to optimize the market but of course we have industrial goods because once we secured preferential market access for industrial goods, basically that also attracts investments,” Gepty said. So because they know that if they want to access the Indian market, and they know that you have a preferential arrangement with India, that [encourages] them in a way to consider the Philippines as a location for manufacturing, processed products,” the Trade official added.

Currently, the Philippines has bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with Japan and countries belonging to the European Free Trade Association.

Gepty noted that the Philippines has recently concluded a bilateral FTA with South Korea and that Manila is hoping to sign the FTA within the first quarter.

Bull market beckons China stock traders as consumption revs up

AFOUR-WEEK rally in Chinese equities is set to culminate in a bull market when trading resumes Monday, as a rebound in consumption galvanizes the shares.

T he CSI 300 Index may extend its 19-percent rise from an October low when traders return after a week-long Lunar New Year break, with travel and box office data signaling that consumer spending is on the mend. Hotel operators and restaurant chains will benefit, as well as travel firms and entertainment-related names.

A sustained uptrend may dispel any lingering doubt that the worst

is over for Chinese equities, after previous rebounds were cut short by surging Covid cases. The rollback of virus curbs and a policy pivot by Beijing have won over Wall Street banks such as Morgan Stanley which expects China’s equities to beat global peers in 2023.

T he gains are likely to “sustain as the economic recovery will continue throughout 2023 and investor positioning has yet to be replenished after the capitulation sale last fall,” said Redmond Wong, strategist at Saxo Capital Markets HK Ltd. The rally in the first half will be underpinned by easing US inflation, a potential pause in Federal Reserve tightening and

a better-than-expected European economy, he added.

T he CSI 300 Index has climbed almost 20 percent since the reopening rally began in November, lagging a 57-percent gain in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, which tracks Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong. The return of overseas buyers has been a key driver for onshore equities, with northbound inflows capping the longest daily streak through January 20 since May 2020.

M ainland shares could get a further boost when Stock Connect flows resume on Monday, according to Marvin Chen, an analyst at

Bloomberg Intelligence. “ There may be some catch-up gains,” said Chen. “Holiday spending has recovered somewhat and there is maybe some carry over from global market sentiment as the rate hike cycle approaches the end.”

Spending spree

THE upswing is fueled by optimism that China’s outlook is improving after data from December industrial output to retail sales highlighted the economy’s resilience. Earlier this month, Vice Premier Liu He said growth will likely rebound to its pre-pandemic trend this year. Bloomberg News

THE Philippines is targeting to forge a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a preferential trade agreement with India, according to an official of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Container monitoring policy to hit ‘balikbayan’ boxes,

BEAST OF BURDEN A farmer in Jaen, Nueva Ecija, rides his carabao early morning to go to his rice field and toil together with his beast of burden. Reports said that the Philippines’s farm output last year was reduced by 0.1 percent year-on-year to P1.75 trillion at constant 2018 prices. NONIE REYES

DWIZ executive vice president and general manager, Atty. McNeil Rante (right); and Dennis Antenor Jr., DWIZ vice president for business development. ROY DOMINGO

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

B1

Monday, January 30, 2023

SMC Global Power to find legal options vs ERC order

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

SMC Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMCGP) said it would pursue all available legal remedies after its unit failed to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) from enforcing its September 2022 order.

The next legal steps, SMCGP said, is “in line with our fiduciary duties to our stakeholders, to preserve our ability to provide stable power supply for consumers and forge ahead with new and existing projects aimed at helping secure our country’s future power needs.”

Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) Department Head for Aftersales Planning and Parts Department Carol De Torres; Isuzu Gencars Inc. Special Assistant to the President Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon; Isuzu Gencars Service and Parts Manager Ma. Elena Perez; Isuzu Gencars President Lerma O. Nacnac; and, IPC Assistant Vice President for Administration Imelda Bernas. Photo by Roy Domingo

The Sixteenth Division of the Court of Appeals (CA) issued a resolution last January 13, denying the petition for the issuance of a TRO filed by San Miguel Energy Corp. (SMEC) that was meant to suspend the implementation of the September 29, 2022, order of the ERC.

Continued on B2

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE OPS Isuzu Makati has placed second in the “Excellence in Service Operations” category during the “2022 Dealer of the Year Awards.” Shown in photo are (from left): Isuzu Philippines Corp. Vice President of Aftersales Division Wataru Miyamoto; Isuzu Gencars Inc. Special Assistant to the President Giannina Eunice A. Cabangon; Isuzu Gencars Service and Parts Manager Ma. Elena Perez; Isuzu Gencars President Lerma O. Nacnac; and, Isuzu Philippines Vice President for Manufacturing Yoshiki Yanai. Photo by Roy Domingo

Rakuten adds features to Viber

RAKUTEN Group Inc. an-

nounced it launched two new features of its Viber product in a bid to develop the messaging app into a one-stop-shop platform this year.

According to Rakuten Viber Chief Revenue Officer Cristina Constandache, their ambition is to help brands build awareness, generate interest, drive conversion down to taking care of the users and the after-sales care.

“Superapp is not a concept that is foreign to the Philippine market,” Constandache said during a dinner the firm hosted for reporters last Thursday.

“However, when it comes to Viber, what it means is that we want to maximize our utility and spending space in order to become a single gateway to manifold services, wherein users can do everything that they want or as many things as they want within one app—which happens to be the Viber—anything from ordering food, texting, paying bills, shopping.

In a nut shell: minimum stats with a maximum value,” she added. Constandache cited studies that showed 71 percent of consumers expect companies to deliver personalized interactions and 82 percent of organizations plan to implement a strategy to bring better value to customer through services. With users and businesses in mind, Viber’s updates provide a better customer experience and brand engagement. Roderick L. Abad

Perspectives Assume nothing, verify everything

ORGANIZATIONS worldwide continue to grapple with cyber security challenges as the pace of digital transformation, fast-evolving business models, remote work and increasingly complex partner ecosystems unleash new opportunities for cyber attacks.

Traditional cyber security approaches relying on security ‘at the perimeter’ were adequate in a world where data and its users resided within specific, well-defined locations. With physical boundaries disappearing—and with increasingly sophisticated cyber criminals using ransomware and other destructive malware to target organizations— conventional cyber security approaches are being rendered obsolete, ultimately driving the need for modern solutions to protect critical assets and information.

The same problems are also true in the context of the Philippines where digitalization in various business industries and government services has escalated over the past years. KPMG in the Philippines Technology Consulting Partner Gilbert T. Trinchera shares that “going digital has shown concrete and tangible advantages to different sectors in the country.” “However, such breakthrough also come with risks and liabilities that if taken for granted, will surely entail losses that could easily outweigh its pros,” he added.

Given the increased dependencies on data and digital transactions, together with the implementation of the Philippine government on data privacy, national ID and SIM card registration, digital identity in the country needs to be secured with zero-trust as a keystone capability.

Hence, Trinchera advises decision-makers and corporate leaders to value cyber security and other safety measures in the digital landscape to safeguard their data. “We couldn’t just be too trusting, and more and more businesses are wisely turning to a zero-trust mindset to restructure their cyber defenses.”

Trinchera emphasized. “The shift to remote and online setup have accelerated the need to move from implicit to zero trust model for organizations and we have observed that Philippine firms are keen to implementing this model in the next 12-18 months,” he added.

What is zero trust?

A ZERO trust approach puts user identity, access management and data at the heart of cyber security. It is an evolutionary cyber security approach and model that has been developed in response to the everexpanding threat landscape. Zero trust is not a technology solution but a model and approach that requires a mindset shift based on three key principles: Assume nothing, check everything and limit access.

Zero trust relies on an identityaware, context-driven and datacentric approach to cyber security strategy and operations. With user identity and data value as its key component, zero trust enables secure access to data and resources via strong identity management, modern software-defined networks, continuous monitoring and advanced analytics.

No one either inside or outside the enterprise network is automatically trusted—every user must prove their identity to gain access.

Within the zero-trust framework, even with a valid username and password credentials, users are denied access to the system if their device has not been validated or the required trust level is not met.

Zero trust is different from previous approaches to IT security. Today’s hyper-connected world has broken down traditional perimeters—enabling the fluid movement of data beyond organizational

boundaries as multiple parties and devices access business data and systems from anywhere in the world. Add to this dynamic environment 5G technology, edge computing and hundreds of millions of emerging Internet-of-Things devices and it becomes clear that conventional security approaches are fast becoming outdated and increasingly inadequate.

Businesses are waking up to a new reality of threats

WHILE many businesses may not realize just how exposed they are to today’s cyber threats, an increasing number are showing a new sense of urgency in adopting a zero trust model. By 2025, damages resulting from global cybercrimes are expected to reach close to $1 trillion annually.

Primary drivers prompting more businesses to wisely pursue the zero-trust model for enhanced security include ongoing digital transformation that is revolutionizing business models and workforces, the proliferation of cloud-based services, and today’s increasingly complex supply chain networks.

As the pursuit of the zero trust framework gains momentum, CISOs and CIOs must work towards implementing organization-wide zero trust architectures that align with their operating priorities, risk management needs and technology capabilities.

In the race to better understand and manage today’s ongoing cyber threats, zero trust puts businesses in a predictive and proactive mode, providing timely context-based analysis, insights and automated responses to potential attacks. With a zero-trust approach, companies build an end-to-end cyber security approach that is “perimeter-less”— protecting every aspect of the ecosystem, including assets, workloads and other resources.

The future is identity-aware and data-centric

THE zero-trust approach to security is the latest crucial step in an evolutionary journey. Our goal at KPMG is to help organizations take the concept of zero trust and make it a reality by defining a strategic roadmap, and an implementation plan and continually building on zero trust’s capabilities, strengths and advantages—ultimately pursuing an identity-aware and data-centric approach to cyber security.

Zero trust is the right approach at this point in time—but what’s next as the threat landscape continues to be uncertain?

Thinking ahead, KPMG has developed the next evolution of the cyber security model—Adaptive Security, which crystalizes the potential benefits of zero trust capabilities by grouping them using the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cyber Security Framework Functions—delivering deeper context through end-to-end visualization of threats, leveraging key automation and orchestration capabilities to auto-remediate vulnerabilities and protect assets.

The excerpt was taken from the KPMG Thought Leadership publication: https://spoglobal.kpmg.com/sites/GO-OI-INF-Thought Leadership/SitePages/Assume-nothing-verifyeverything-2022.aspx.

© 2023 R.G. Manabat & Co., a Philippine partnership and a member-firm of the KPMG global organization of independent member-firms affiliated with KPMG Intl. Ltd., a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved. For more information, e-mail ph-kpmgmla@ kpmg.com, social media or visit www.home. kpmg/ph. This article is for general information purposes only and should not be considered professional advice to a specific issue or entity. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the BusinessMirror, KPMG International or KPMG in the Philippines.

Gains from tariffs on corn imports eyed for subsidies

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

HOUSE Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda is urging agriculture officials to consider using tariff revenues from imported corn as feed subsidies for chicken layer growers.

“At any given time, you are looking at tariff revenues of P1.9 billion for corn imports. We could funnel that back to the egg and chicken meat production sector. I would say egg production is more important. We can import chickens; we can’t easily import eggs,” Salceda said.

The solon believes that the alleged smuggling of frozen meat is causing domestic farms to reduce total poultry populations, result-

ing in egg supply levels “not enough to undercut abuses in the trading sector.”

“It’s still mostly a trading problem, given that farm gate [price] is still relatively low; but you need an abundance of supply to undercut the efforts of cartels to control prices.”

Salceda added that “the egg problem is partly an offspring of the chicken problem.”

“Traders abusing prices appears to be the leading cause, but I can’t discount the fact that the decline in population of chickens is also to blame for this,” he said.

Earlier this month, Philippine Egg Board President Irwan Ambal said there was a 20-percent drop in the population of chicken layers in Luzon since January last year, largely due to the avian flu outbreak.

Threat

SALCEDA said that continued smuggling and undervaluation of chicken imports will cause poultry farms to downsize or close down, threatening the egg supply.

“There is definitely a connection between ensuring that imported chicken meat tariffs are imposed and keeping our domestic egg sector viable. We can import frozen chicken meat; but eggs are much harder to import. So we need a good domestic supply base,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker explained that the

country doesn’t have the option of resorting to imported eggs if domestic egg prices shoot up.

“So, we really need to tamp down the abuses in the trading sector, and to ensure that we have enough egg supply,” Salceda said.

The lawmaker added that keeping egg prices cheap will be critical to fighting malnutrition.

“Eggs, per gram, are the cheapest available source of protein for Filipino families,” he said. “High protein prices have been attributed to low PISA performance. If you have expensive egg prices, you could see learning poverty worsen.”

Salceda said this problem is a matter of urgent national importance and the government should act now on egg prices before farm gate prices begin to rise.

“Right now, it’s still mostly a trader issue, but if domestic chicken supply worsens, farmgate egg prices will rise—and that will be much harder to fight,” he added.

Power for Marcos eyed vs PhilHealth premium

LAWMAKERS led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez are pushing for the passage of a bill empowering the President to suspend the increase in premiums of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) “direct contributors,” including employees.

In filing House Bill (HB) 6772, Romualdez said the suspension of the adjustment would remove an added financial burden on millions of government and private sector workers, professionals, self-employed and other PhilHealth contributors who are still reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The lawmaker said daily wage earners and many employees, who comprise the majority of PhilHealth members, would save at least P50 ($0.92 at current exchange rates) a month or P600 (about $11) a year from their health insurance premium payment if the adjustment were suspended.

Those earning more will naturally save more, Romualdez said.

Under Republic Act 11223 (Universal Health Care Act of 2018), contributions will go up this year from

4 percent to 4.5 percent, or from the minimum monthly premium of P400 ($7.34) to P450 ($8.26). The rate will further increase to 5 percent starting in 2025.

HB 6772 aims to amend RA 11223.

The Speaker’s co-authors are: Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe; Senior Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos; and, Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre.

Law’s intent

UNDER the bill, the President of the Philippines may, upon recommendation of the PhilHealth board, suspend and adjust the period of implementation of the scheduled increase of premium rates during national emergencies or calamities, or when public interest so requires.

It would be a new paragraph under Section 10 of the law.

In filing the amendatory bill, lawmakers cited the objective of the UHC Act itself, which is to “ensure that all Filipinos are guaranteed equitable access to qualify and affordable health

care goods and services and protected against financial risk.”

The solons said the intent of the law is clear and cannot be overemphasized, saying “Filipinos need and deserve a comprehensive set of health services that are cost effective, high quality and responsive to the requirements of all citizens.

“While PhilHealth only aims to fulfill and remain faithful to its mandate, imposing a higher premium on Filipinos in these current conditions where most of them are grappling with the pandemic will definitely enforce a new round of financial burden to its members,” the bill’s explanatory note read.

Barely recovered

ACCORDING to lawmakers, the nation has barely recovered from losses and difficulties caused by the pandemic, as many businesses have not yet reopened and many people remain jobless.

The Speaker and his colleagues stressed that the President himself has supported calls to defer this year’s increase in PhilHealth premiums.

They noted that upon the President’s orders, Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin has issued a memorandum suspending the adjustment and income ceiling for this year.

“Suspending the imposition of the new PhilHealth premium rates will provide a much-needed relief during national emergencies or calamities and will assure Filipinos that the government is sensitive to their sentiments in this difficult time,” the authors said.

RA 11223 defines “direct contributors” as “those who have the capacity to pay premiums, are gainfully employed and are bound by an employer-employee relationship, or are self-earning, professional practitioners, migrant workers, including their qualified dependents and lifetime members.”

The term “indirect contributors” refers to “all others not included as direct contributors, as well as their qualified dependents, whose premium shall be subsidized by the national government including those who are subsidized as a result of special laws.” Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Surallah LGU taps LandBank for payments collection

SURALLAH, South Cotabato—

In line with digitalizing public services, the Municipal Government of Surallah has partnered with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) to provide its constituents with an online payment option to settle local government fees.

Through the LandBank Link.Biz Portal, residents of the Municipal Government of Surallah can now conveniently pay fees and taxes online, eliminating the need to physically travel and queue at the Surallah Municipal Hall.

LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and Surallah Mayor Pedro M. Matinong Jr. led the ceremonial launching of the Link.BizPortal last January 20 at the Surallah Municipal Hall. They were joined by Municipal Administrator Rene G. Garcia along with LandBank Senior Vice Presidents Celeste A. Burgos, Leila C. Martin and Charlotte I. Conde.

“LandBank fully supports Surallah’s growth agenda in building quality infrastructure and in developing a bustling economic environment. We greatly appreciate the LGU for allowing us to be part of their digitalization journey to deliver convenient public services to its constitu-

ents,” Borromeo was quoted in a statement as saying.

Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the LandBank Link.BizPortal will facilitate for the Surallah LGU payments for regula-

tory fees, such as license and permit fees, as well as real property and business taxes.

The bank shall also ensure the online payment facility’s utmost security and report to the LGU

the number and total amount of transactions or collections facilitated daily.

“ Nawa’y magamit natin ang teknoloyihang itong handog ng LandBank para mas mapabuti pa ang serbisyo ng LGU Surallah sa lahat ng ating mga mamamayan. Asahan po ninyo na kaisa ng LandBank and Surallah sa pagsulong ng mga teknolohiyang magpapagaan ng pamumuhay ng mga taga -Surallah,” Matinong was quoted in the statement as saying.

[May we use this technological offering of the LandBank to further improve the service of the Surallah LGU to all our citizens. Expect that LandBank and Surallah will be united in the advancement of technologies that will ease the lives of the people of Surallah.]

LandBank is offering a menu of digital products and services to all local governments nationwide, in support of Executive Order 170 or the Adoption of Digital Payments for Government Disbursement and Collections.

The LandBank Link.BizPortal is also in line with the national government’s call for a National Retail Payment System, which also supports the “eGov Pay” payment solution of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

IN this photo courtesy of the Land Bank of the Philippines Inc. shows LandBank President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (right) and Surallah Mayor Pedro Matinong Jr. during the ceremonial launching of the LandBank Link.BizPortal as an alternative payment channel of the Municipal Government of Surallah for the payment of local dues and fees online. The two principals demonstrate the convenience of using the payment facility during the event launch on January 20, 2023, at the Surallah Municipal Hall. CREDIT: L AND BANk OF ThE Ph LIPPINES

How can we help young adults with autism thrive in the workplace?

By Michael Ben-Avie, Southern Connecticut State University The Conversation

iar social and physical environments, individuals with ASD often experience a high level of anxiety that may result in inappropriate behavioral manifestations, such as tantrums or crying, or social withdrawal. This makes it difficult for them to independently enter the workforce.

Sheltered programs

uNFoRT u N AT elY, few programs exist for helping young adults with ASD to transition effectively to college and the workplace.

While there are many programs that help them interact with society when they’re young, those services are typically cut off by the time they graduate, leaving them with few options if they’re unable to navigate the work world on their own.

As a result, just 58 percent of young adults in their late teens and early 20’s with ASD worked for pay outside the home after high school, a far lower share than those with other types of disabilities, according to the 2015 National Autism Indicators Report. Those who were employed tended to work part-time in low-wage jobs.

Currently the primary services intended to help young adults with autism are so-called sheltered programs that start them in a segregated work environment with the hope that they will be able to become employed with a regular company down the road. But because they are narrowly focused and usually don’t include training in social cognition, they rarely succeed in this goal.

Frustrated by the lack of transition programs available, I worked with Autism Services and Resources Connecticut (ASRC) to see if there was a better way to help these individuals learn the social and cognitive skills necessary to thrive in the workplace. The results, which involved help -

ing people with ASD work in demanding jobs processing patent applications, were encouraging. First let’s consider why it’s so difficult for individuals with autism to cope in social and work environments in the first place.

Background on ASD I N DI v IDuA l S w ith ASD tend to have difficulties with social interactions and social communication. They may feel lost or anxious if an assigned task isn’t clearly explained or if a sequence of events is not fully understood.

They also struggle with the rapid comprehension required for spoken communication. The fleeting nature of verbal language (once spoken, words disappear) is especially problematic when the information is complex or lengthy.

The so-called enactive mind theory was articulated in the early 2000s by researchers at the Yale Child Study Center to try to explain why ASD causes these social deficits. The theory is based on the emerging field of embodied cognitive neuroscience. It posits that the social deficit in autism arises from an atypical developmental trajectory beginning in the first months of life that precludes an individual from having the experiences necessary for normal social development.

When entering new or unfamil -

There are quite a few programs across the country that provide job coaching or employment opportunities for individuals with ASD, but they tend to be sheltered. That is, the employees start in a segregated work environment with the hope that they will be able to become employed with mainstream employers at a later point.

Sheltered workplaces also tend to focus on a specific skill set and do not provide a curriculum in social cognition. Since they are often subsidized, they are constantly seeking more financial support. They also tend to lack transition planning to help employees find competitive jobs elsewhere.

While they play an invaluable role in helping individuals with ASD, they rarely achieve the goal of true independence.

‘Falling off a cliff’

HopI Ng to find a better solution, l o is Rosenwald, executive director of ASRC, and Julie Hipp, its board president, in 2014 created a for-profit startup called o p en o p tions p a rtnership to figure out what might better integrate young adults with ASD into the workforce.

The idea was to see if people with ASD could develop and improve crucial social skills while working at a task they might be particularly well-suited for: researching patents.

I was the independent evaluator of the project. Rosenwald and I served together on Connecti -

cut’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council’s subcommittee to improve and expand access to training, consultation and learning opportunities for providers, professionals and families. I also recently coauthored a book chapter on using a high-tech application to improve the transitions of students with ASD. I am a community faculty member with the Yale Child Study Center and a researcher with the Center of e x cellence on Autism Spectrum Disorders at Southern Connecticut State un iversity.

Rosenwald likened the bleak outlook of young adults with ADS to “falling off a cliff,” a phrase that captures the frustration felt by families who watch their children graduate from college but unable to find a job and soon after reach the cutoff point for after-school ASD services.

At the time of the project, a client was having trouble finding employees who demonstrated competency in patent application reviews, which require manipulating and analyzing large data sets and performing what many would consider tedious work. Some people who are on the high-functioning side of the autism spectrum are particularly well-suited for such tasks because of their comfort with repetitive work tasks, attention to very small details and ability for sustained attention.

Rosenwald and Hipp believed that with the right framework and planning, the barriers to employment could be overcome and that people with ASD would be able to not only survive but thrive in professional, highly competitive work environments.

The project began by selecting four young adults (in their 20’s or early 30’s) who lived in the area served by ASRC. They were deemed able to successfully deal with workplace situations and managers— according to a predictive index used by ASRC’s board president in her executive search and consulting firm—and assigned them to work with the patent company

on an as-needed, contract basis. The availability of contracts was not continuous or guaranteed, nor was a steady paycheck, making it more closely resemble real-world conditions rather than a sheltered program. Not only did the four employees need to learn the hightech aspects of the work, but also they needed to learn how to work together as a team.

o p en o p tions, funded by grants from the Napier Foundation of Meriden and Wallingford, provided the employees with social cognition training, including social skills in the workplace, pragmatic language skills, behavioral regulation and executive functioning. A social cognition specialist worked with the employees to develop an employee handbook governing proper workplace behavior and establish goals to help them learn to self-regulate their emotions and handle stress on the job.

The results

T H e study ran for about a year and used the C e DAR Social Cognition Scale—which uses a point system to measure cognition and selfregulation—and employer evaluations to demonstrate progress.

The C e DAR scale includes 51 items or statements, scored from 1-9, such as:

e x presses needs and feelings in a way that is likely to result in good outcomes, and

When receiving feedback, tends to respond with arguments and explanations rather than acceptance.

All four employees saw steady growth on the scale, particularly in terms of openness to new ideas and experiences, ability to transition from one activity to another and willingness to accept feedback.

Their evaluations by the employer also showed improvement.

For example, one employee started off at “meets minimum requirements” and finished the program at “exceeds requirements.” He is now working at least 20 hours a week in an internship in a related

field, and is being considered for a competitive position with the company.

The need for predictable schedules oN e important finding of the project, and the reason it ended earlier than planned, was that the key to supporting individuals with ASD in a workplace setting involves some degree of predictability. Consistent work schedules are one of the most important certainties that employees with ASD need for their success in the world of work.

But this was often not the case.

The client was unable to determine in advance how many hours it needed the employees to work on a day to day basis. o n some weeks, the employees would work eight hours on the first day, have two days off, and then be notified a couple hours ahead of time that they were needed on the fourth day. o v erall, the study underlined the importance of providing social cognition training for the business environment in order for individuals with ASD to succeed in competitive workplaces. In this project, ASRC’s role as its backbone was critical to making it work.

With the proper training and accommodations, people with ASD could become productive and indeed sought-after employees in the workplace, making them truly independent.

l o is Rosenwald, executive director of Autism Services and Resources Connecticut, Renee Depa stino, a social cognition specialist at Autism Services & Resources Connecticut, and patrick Iben, a senior research assistant at Southern Connecticut State un iversity, coauthored this article.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/how-can-we-helpyoung-adults-with-autism-thrivein-the-workplace-56481.

The outlook is often bleak for young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). even when they manage to graduate from high school or college, it’s very difficult for them to find a full-time job.

Angeles-based beauty company opens corporate headquarters

ACHIEVE YOUR SKIN GOALS THIS YEAR

THE start of the year is the best time to assess our goals and the steps we’ve already taken to achieve them. If you’re a beauty enthusiast, attaining your healthiest skin ever is no doubt high on the list, especially if you have experienced acne before. Clear up and cheer up by making it your resolution to address your skin’s needs, feel more confident, and achieve your best look ever with Acnes, a popular Japanese acne care brand that’s also loved in many countries in Asia like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Backed by years of extensive research, the trusted acne expert offers a range of skin-care solutions that contain effective acne-fighting ingredients to control oil, unclog pores, clear up the skin, and give it a healthy-looking glow. Made with the Asian skin in mind, all of its products contain Centella Asiatica or Cica extract that’s proven to aid in the recovery of blemishes. This brand is developed by Rohto Pharmaceutical Company and The Mentholatum Company, two entities with a rich history and heritage in skin-care product development and over 120 years of experience in pharmaceutical technology.

Now available in the Philippines, Acnes offers the crowd favorite Acnes Anti-Acne Spot Gel that helps shrink acne in as fast as 3 days. It’s an effective yet simple way of clearing your skin this 2023. With a gentle formula that is close to the skin’s natural pH level, the lightweight refreshing spot gel won’t irritate the skin and will help lighten acne scars. Apart from Cica extract, it also contains Sulfur to control oil production, Salicylic Acid (BHA) to unclog pores, Licorice Extract to calm skin, and Vitamin E to restore skin elasticity.

Need more help with your acne? Try out Acnes Anti-Acne Pimple Patch that repairs and heals breakouts with pus and active wound. The ultra-thin Hydrocolloid patch works like a sponge to absorb pus and oil, and acts as a protective barrier against bacteria and dirt. This patch is also semi-transparent to easily camouflage the appearance of pimples. It’s sweatproof and breathable, perfect for wearing under makeup.

This leading acne care brand’s range of products can easily complete an acne-prone skin-care routine. It has amino acid soap-free cleanser Acnes Creamy Wash that’s gentle enough for sensitive acne-prone skin; Acnes Powder Lotion that can help balance sebum to prevent clogged pores; Acnes Oil-Control Moisturizer that can replenish moisture and soothe skin.

Acnes is now available at Watsons and Mercury Drug branches nationwide, and online at watsons.com.ph and at the official Mentholatum store on Lazada and Shopee. Acnes Anti-Acne Pimple Patch is exclusively available at Watsons.

Stray Kids’ side effects

IF there was a list of the top three women I admire in the beauty industry, Rhea AnicocheTan would definitely be on it. I have written a number of times about how this woman founded Beautederm Corp. over 10 years ago with a capital of P3,500. Since then, she has grown it into a full-blown beauty empire, providing a source of livelihood for many Filipinos.

“Sipag at tyaga [hard work and patience]” is what Miss Rei, as I call her, would tell me and others who ask about the secret to success.

When Beautederm was still a small brand, Miss Rei dreamt of someday getting celebrity brand ambassadors and endorsers, and she did make this come true. Truthfully, any Filipino celebrity would dream of being a Beautederm brand ambassador. The roster, which includes Lorna Tolentino, Bea Alonzo, Sylvia Sanchez and her children Arjo and Ria, Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes, Darren Espanto, Bianca Umali, Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby, is like a who’s who of the Philippine entertainment scene.

Miss Rei is thrilled when the company’s brand ambassadors don’t just endorse the products but actually use them because, really, she and her team have painstakingly conceptualized and created each product for everyone to enjoy. For instance, the company launched during the pandemic Caress Ethyl Alcohol, which sanitizes hands and leaves them with a subtle green tea fragrance. Also launched during the pandemic were the Reiko and Kenzen Health Boosters, which are health supplements.

One of the things I admire about Miss Rei is that through Beautederm, she provides resellers, distributors and franchisees with a source of livelihood. Many of her celebrity brand ambassadors are also Beautederm resellers or franchisees. I remember my friend Nickie once telling me that he attended a convention of Beautederm franchisees and distributors, and everyone present had amazing skin.

During the height of the pandemic, Miss Rei was one of my favorite people to chat with. She has this cheerful spirit that really has a good effect on people. I remember that she even donated one of her Birkin bags to benefit people affected by Covid-19. She also donated PPEs, sanitizing alcohol, face masks and other pandemic essentials to anyone who needed it. She would even send me some essentials like Beautederm soaps and sanitizing alcohol all the way

from Pampanga. The company has many scholars and is good to its employees. I would love to elaborate on the latter but I’d need to ask for Miss Rei’s permission first.

One of the things Miss Rei and I always talked about in the past two years was the Beautederm corporate headquarters. She’d been dreaming of consolidating all her businesses in one place and also building a lifestyle hub in Angeles City, Pampanga. Finally, Miss Rei has made her dream come true and the company’s corporate headquarters—housing luxury brands store A-List Avenue, aesthetic clinic

BeautéHaus, AK Studios ideal for photo shoots and video productions, and fusion restaurant and café Beauté Beanery—has been formally inaugurated.

“Each person who ever believed and continues to believe in my vision has impacted every brick, metal and stone of this building. I did not accomplish this alone because I certainly had help. I dedicate this to all our customers not only here in the Philippines but around the world as well, and to my hardworking staff, my brand ambassadors, and all our resellers, distributors and franchisees,” said Miss Rei during the ribbon-cutting event formally signifying the building being now open to the public.

Of course, the building also houses Beautederm’s corporate headquarters and what I think will be a store offering the company’s products.

Among those present during the event were Beautederm brand ambassadors Bea Alonzo, Sylvia Sanchez, Lorna Tolentino, Jane Oineza and Darren Espanto. The Beautederm building’s interiors are tastefully done in neutral colors and all around, you’ll see some of Miss Rei’s collection of artworks. In some of the rooms, including the reception, you’ll also see some of her Louis Vuitton trunks. The beautiful interiors were done by PYS Builders, Albero, and J & A Living Interior Design.

So, if you’re ever in Angeles City in Pampanga, do drop by the Beautederm corporate headquarters at Lot 2 Block 19 corner San Jose Street, McArthur Highway. n

fans allows us to live our everyday lives very happily and it makes us realize our responsibility as artists where we have to reach the expectations of our fans as well.”

What sets Stray Kids apart from the other boy groups of this generation? Is there anything unique about how you take on your songs and the choreography?

BACK in the day, boy-band mania was all about Menudo, New Kids on the Block, Bell Biv Devoe and Take That. Now it’s everything and everywhere K-pop all at one. The most recent visitors to the Philippines is a pretty group called Stray Kids, composed of Lee Know, Felix, Seungmin, Han, I.N, Hyunjin, Changbin, and Bang Chan.

Stray Kids fans, called Stays, go crazy over the boys’ matinee-idol good looks, electrifying performances and good-boy charm. They were in the country on January 20 for Stay with Bench (Stray Kids Fan Meet)” at the Mall of Asia Arena. It was the boys’ first physical meeting with their fans since their Unveil Tour ‘I AM...’ Come March 11 and 12, they will hold a concert at the Mall of Asia Arena for their Maniac World Tour.

Before they sent their Stays into hysterics, they regaled select media about their thoughts and sentiments about their career, personal preferences and being the newest global Benchsetters.

“It’s a really great honor. I feel like it’s just really, really nice to reach out to Stays in the Philippines and Stays globally,” said the English-speaking leader, Bang Chan. “So thank you for having us. This was a very good opportunity.”

Where did the term Stay come from?

Bang Chan: “If you take out the ‘r’ from Stray Kids, it spells Stay. R stands for ‘reason’. Stays are the reason the Stray Kids are existing so that’s what we went for.”

How does it feel to be back?

Felix, the other English-speaking member, replied: “The last time we came here was in Unveil Tour and I feel that was an unforgettable moment. I do feel now that we came back, everyone treats us with respect. They welcomed us with so much warmth. This country is so very beautiful.”

How was it working for the Bench team?

Changbin (from Korean): “First of all, I noticed that Bench clothing is very beautiful and I can wear them

as part of my daily outfits. Being a model for Bench is a very big honor for us.”

You all look like you’re fashionable but is anyone of you really into fashion? Who really enjoys putting outfits together?

I.N. (from Korean): “Each and every member has his distinct style, their distinct taste when it comes to fashion, so I think everyone is very interested in fashion but to be honest, of all the members, I would have the most pieces in my closet.”

How does it feel to have solid fan bases in Korea and overseas? Changbin: “Being able to receive love from all our

Han (from Korean): “One of the biggest differences we have from other boy groups is that we produce our own songs ourselves. Whenever we would perform, we have that distinct and irreplaceable color that we hold on, and that is why we are different from other boy groups.”

How do you spend your free time?

Lee Know (from Korean): “Whenever I have some free time, I always challenge myself to try new things.”

Felix: “I spend my free time on my computer or I would fix my keyboards.”

On their 7th Korean-language mini-album Maxident, which features “Case 143” as its lead track, Changbin shared: “We focused on this album where we want to showcase to you the daily situation we face and how we go through it. Also, this is the album where it’s our first time to create a song that talks about love.”

In October 2021, Maxident debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart, making them the only artist to top the chart with two different albums in 2022 (the other one was Oddinary). How does it feel to be recognized along with the world’s best artists?

Changbin: “Up to this day, it’s really unbelievable that we have reached such an accomplishment. This is a very big present that the Stays have given to us. In truth, our eagerness and our truth that we have poured inside the album reached their hearts. We are happy and we will do our best more and more.”

BEAUTEDERM CEO Rhea Anicoche-Tan

BPI Foundation, RAFI turn over 41 fishing boats to fisherfolks in Southern Cebu

THE Christmas spirit was deeply felt by local fisherfolks in Southern Cebu a year and four days after the rage of Typhoon Odette.

Dedicated to support local fishermen and promote community resilience, BPI Foundation Inc. (BPIF), in partnership with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., through its Humanitarian Disaster Preparedness and Response (RAFI HDPR) program, donated 41 motorized fiber glass fishing boats to selected fisherfolk associations from Sibonga, Barili, Pinamungajan, and Alcantara, Cebu last December 19 and 20, 2022.

The Balik Bugsay Program provides fishing boats to support the livelihood of fisherfolk communities that have been heavily affected by Typhoon Odette. After thorough review, assessment, and interviews conducted by the RAFI HDPR, the Simala Bantay Dagat Association in Simala, Sibonga received five boats; Hugpong Sa Mananagat sa Tajao in Tajao, Pinamungajan received six boats; and the Alcantara Fisherfolks Association, Pananas Fisherfolk Association, Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Palanas Lawis Baybay II Fisherfolk Association, all in Palanas, Alcantara received 10 boats. The Guinwanon United and Active Peoples Organization and Minolos Small Fishermen’s Association, both from Japitan, Barili received 20 boats.

After a year of struggling to be back in the waters, the fishermen can now set sail in their own fishing boats.

For Jimmy Eseguerra, a recipient of one of the fishing boats in Sibonga Cebu, the aftermath of Typhoon Odette left him in a difficult and disheartening situation. His fishing boat was completely destroyed after strong waves caused by Typhoon Odette rammed into his home,

leaving him unable to provide for his family while facing an uncertain future. He had to settle with borrowing other people's boats or joining them in fishing trips just to get by.

“I am filled with great happiness because I am one of the beneficiaries who are granted the opportunity to recover our livelihood. Through this help, we won’t have to join in other people’s fishing trips, and we can finally revive our association’s funds. We are greatly happy that despite the immense damage, God has been looking out for us and has provided us these blessings,” he said.

As the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, BPIF, through the Balik Bugsay project, hopes to pursue their advocacy of Bayanihan, partnering with like-minded institutions like RAFI, to equip local associations and individuals to be economically disaster resilient by providing them with tools to recover and restore their livelihood.

“We in the BPI Foundation, together with RAFI, are happy with this opportunity

Luxury meets delicious with Kenny Rogers Roasters

Limited Edition Truffle Collection of chicken, steak

KENNY Rogers Roasters’ classic offerings are now infused with the most luxurious flavor patrons can indulge in a delectable dining experience as it unveils its newest offering: the Limited Edition Truffle Collection.

Available in all Kenny Rogers Roasters stores nationwide starting January 16, 2023, guests can enjoy the distinctive taste and flavor of truffle in its signature Roasted Chicken. This exclusive offering is marinated in truffle extracts and buttermilk, topped with a drizzle of truffle oil and served with buttermilk sauce. It’s then wrapped in gold foil to heighten the flavors and seal in the truffle aroma.

The Roasted Chicken can be ordered for one with the Truffle Roast Solo B plate (P300), which comes with rich and luscious quarter truffle roast chicken, a choice of two side dishes, rice, and muffin; or shared with family and friends with the Truffle Roast Group Meal (P1,065) which includes a whole roast, four side dishes, four cups of rice, four muffins, and 1.5 liter soda.

to give you tools for livelihood that will help move forward after the typhoon. It is our aspiration for every family to progress, including the fisherfolk who greatly contribute to our community and economy,” said Juvylyn Reniva, Associate Director of BPI Foundation.

Similarly, with its ongoing initiatives for rehabilitation and recovery, RAFI HDPR continues to support different sectors in the community who still have not recovered from the aftereffects of Typhoon Odette.

“At RAFI, we have a saying that goes, Padayon sa Pagbugsay! Today, we are here to serve as a bridge from BPI Foundation to you for this Balik Bugsay project, bringing in these fishing boats for you to keep paddling and revive your livelihood. We hope that with the use of these fishing boats, we will see a flourishing fishing association and a vibrant community. We see this as the beginning of the support that we can further give through the advocacies that we have for the community,” said Pet John Rom, HDPR Head.

Up to 70% Travel Fare Discount to be offered at 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023, 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023

But that’s not all! Apart from its signature best-selling Truffle Roasted Chicken, the Kenny Rogers Roasters’ Truffle Collection also offers the Truffle Mac & Cheese, a rich and flavorful truffle pasta topped with creamy truffle sauce and freshly-chopped

parsley. It’s available in solo servings (P180) and platter (P539).

For meat-lovers, there’s also the juicy and tender Truffle Steak – striploin steak grilled perfectly and paired with truffle sauce. Each Truffle Steak plate (P590) comes with the truffle steak, and a choice of two side dishes.

Enjoy Kenny Rogers Roasters’ all-new Truffle Collection for dine-in, takeout, or delivery through www.kennyrogersdelivery. com.ph, hotline: 8-555-9000, or via Grab Food and Food Panda.

For more updates, follow Kenny Rogers Roasters’ official social media pages: @KennyRogersPH on Facebook, @kennyrogersph on Instagram and Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/ KennyRogersRoasters).

Enjoy Romantic Stays in the Heart of the Metro this season of love at VS Hotel Convention Center in QC

THERE is no need to go too far to celebrate this Valentine's with your loved ones, VS Hotel Convention Center has got you. This Love Season, VS Hotel offers Romantic Stays, an overnight stay in a King Room good for two for only P4,300, or a Premium Queen room for P4,000. This overnight stay includes room accommodation adorned with rose petals, breakfast for two, chocolates, and a bottle of wine. Found in the heart of EDSA, Quezon City, VS Hotel boasts of modern and sporty interiors, complete with a lap pool, water spa, gym facilities, and function rooms. It is confident that it is the perfect place where business and leisure meet.

Given its strategic location, more people are beginning to discover VS Hotel's convenience. Its proximity to public transport makes it convenient for guests to travel in and out of the hotel. Found a few steps away from GMA Metro Rail Transit (MRT), it is also accessible to various public utility vehicles. For private cars, ample parking on its first level is also available. This property is also dedicated to sports, fitness, and wellness because it aims to be the space where travelers relax in the comfort of their well-designed rooms. Their guest rooms are infused with uncomplicated comfort and style, whether staying for work or play. It is considered the first fitness hotel in Quezon City.

VS Hotel Convention Center is found at the 9th/F, Victoria Sports Tower, 799 EDSA, South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries and reservations, you may contact them at 09178729367. You may also visit their website https://vshotel.com.ph, or follow their official Facebook and Instagram pages @VS Hotel and @vshotelph.

Fil-Chinese businessmen join Go Negosyo‘s 1st 3M on Wheels‘ mentoring event for 2023 in Manila

AT the start of year 2023, the tourism sector indicated an upbeat and upswing demand for more travel trips and adventures. As the tourism sector strongly recovers from its pandemic slump, more and more Filipinos and their families, groups of friends, business trips, and solo travelers are hitting the road, taking the skies and seas to reach different destinations. Driven by the anticipated long weekends in 2023, travelers respond by planning their trips early and taking advantage of these extended holidays for more quality recreation and leisure during travel.

To be held on February 3 to 5 at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 and the 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023 is the most opportune event for travelers to seek bigger and better deals for their travel needs. As much as 70 percent discount on air fares and other exciting promos will be made available during the three-day expo to be mounted by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association Inc. (PTAA), the largest and most prestigious travel agency association in the country.

Under this theme “A Better and Stronger Future of Travel is Here,” the upcoming grand expo is expected to further invigorate and push the tourism activities of Filipino travelers in their domestic and international trips.

Exclusive deals and amazing discounts await those who will book their trips early during the expo. For those looking for something new, visitors are encouraged to try the new and exciting destinations that will be unveiled by the participating tours and travel agencies.

For those who are looking for the best deals to fit their travel budget, the expo promises and will deliver a wide choice of affordable tours, transportation options, and accommodations as well as different payment options for the utmost convenience for travelers.

This year the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 will be bigger and much more exciting as it will occupy two sprawling floors of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay that can accommodate more than 300 participating exhibitors with 700 booths as well as a projected number of 80,000 to 100,000 visitors are anticipated during as the expo’s attendance, the biggest number yet since 2020.

This year the list of exhibitors is composed of airlines, travel agencies and tour operators, hotels and resorts, food concessionaires, government, national travel operators, travel and tour, association, embassies, theme parks and entertainment, cruise liners, shipping, insurance, travel essentials, travel-related entities, foreign-based travel agencies, and tour operators.

With the valuable support of the

Tourism Promotions Board, the expected visitors include travel and tourism trade practitioners, corporate and business travelers, holiday travelers, incentives convention planners, government and business leaders, direct buyers, and investors can expect exciting raffle draws, corporate game shows, entertainment, exhibitors and sponsors presentations, cultural dance competition, and a conference that will brief the attendees on the latest updates and recent issues in domestic and international travel industry.

On February 3, the PTAA 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023 and 8th International Travel Trade Expo 2023 will formally open at 10 a.m. The expo hours start as early as 9:30 a.m. Entrance tickets are priced at P70.00 for general admission and P50.00 for seniors.

The event sponsors are Department of Tourism, Tourism Promotions Board, Unionbank, Philippine Airlines, Airswift, United Airlines, PLDT, Hotel 101, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) Guam Visitors Bureau.

The media partners are Manila Times, Foreign Post, Business Mirror, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Travel Update, Exhibit Today and CNN Philippines.

For more information, please go to www.traveltourexpo.ptaa.org.ph and contact organizers at tel. nos. 8831-0124, 8997-2063, 8846-8373, 09178071514.

BE patient and persevere. This was the message to the hundreds of entrepreneurs as the Filipino-Chinese business community came out to support Go Negosyo’s 3M on Wheels’ free entrepreneur mentoring event last January 21, 2023 at the SM City San Lazaro in Manila. Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion thanked the mentors who participated, specifically the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) which he said has consistently supported micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) mentoring throughout the years.

Dr. Cecilio Pedro, FFCCCII’s Vice President and founder of Lamoiyan Corp., delivered his special message of support, encouraging the attendees to never give up, and practice the three M’s of “matipid, magtiyaga and magsipag,” putting his own spin on the three M’s that the event promotes, which is access to money, markets and mentoring.

“Giving up is not an option. Ang sumuko, talo,” he told the hundreds of small businessmen at the event. “We hope all of you will succeed and become entrepreneurs, because we need entrepreneurs to help our economy,” he said.

Dr. Pedro was joined by veteran entrepreneurship mentor Tess Ngan Tian, the Area Vice President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Joining them were Jaypee Morales, Rhoda Caliwara, Dr. Jenn Ramos, Lily Lim, Sarah Deloraya Mateo, Dr. Mary Gaw So, Dr. Elton See Tan, Fe Bautista Zulueta, Michael Lui, and many other successful entrepreneurs and businessmen. ChinoyTV’s Valerie Tan hosted the event.

Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo Nieto welcomed the MSMEs on behalf of the City of Manila, saying that the city has always been a cradle of business and industry in the country. SM Supermalls’ SAVP for Operations Johanna

Rupisan echoed Nieto’s support of MSMEs. She said SM Malls does business with some 15,000 MSMEs and provides an inclusive and thriving environment for thousands of MSMEs.

During the event, Concepcion personally mentored some of the participants, including Virginia Lorenzo, a person with disability in her four limbs. Lorenzo buys hand soap in 50-liter containers and repackages them in 500-ml pump bottles, which she sells directly and online via Facebook. Concepcion advised her to improve the branding of her hand soap and offered to link her with mentors who specialize in marketing personal care products.

Also among those he mentored were businessmen engaged in the food industry, who expressed concern over the rising prices of ingredients like sugar and flour. “The year 2023 will be better for the country,” Concepcion assured the entrepreneurs. “This 2023, I see commodity prices starting to go down,” he said. “Challenges will still be there, but the Philippines’s growth will continue, especially now with travel and tourism resuming.”

He promised to hold even more programs for MSMEs and encouraged small entrepreneurs to actively seek out assistance and guidance for their businesses. “MSMEs need mentorship, along with access to money and markets to succeed. We at Go Negosyo, through our 3M on Wheels events, bring these to where the entrepreneurs are, and we and the government are always here to lend them a hand.”

During the event, Go Negosyo gave away a total of P250,000 in cash as capital to lucky participants. Specialists in business financing and market solutions were also on hand, including BPI Banko, Maya, Lazada, PLDT Enterprises, Wilcon Depot, Lalamove, McCormick and Kettle Korn, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry and Small Business Guarantee and Finance Corp.

FISHERMAN Beneficiaries pose with a smile as they receive the pump boats from BPI Foundation Inc. (BPIF) and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc., (RAFI)

KENNY Rogers Roasters’ Truffle Collection

FROM left are, Eugene V. Aldecoa, Corporate Relationship Business Head, PLDT Enterprise; Paula Marie “Pam” Navarro, Country Manager, Sales – Phils., United Airlines; Mellany Montemayor-Sy, SVP, Head Cards Portfolio Usage, Union Bank; Michelle Taylan – TTE 2023 Chairperson;  Fely Anne Salvador, Chief Operating Officer, AirSWIFT; Marissa Dimaano, AVP-Sales, PAL; Gel Gomez, Group General Manager, Hotel 101.

A brand steeped in versatility and diversity

PR Matters

By Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo APR, IABC Fellow

AS communication and public relations professionals, we are shaped by and anchored on the strength of our beginnings, attuned to the milieu we move in, guided by mentors, and honed by training, responsibilities and experiences. Our very core is defined by these, the core we turn to in times of challenges.

I am grateful to have been shaped by these. I cite my formative years in college, in the College of Mass Communication at the University of the Philippines and the tutelage of professors and mentors.

Complementing the academic learning was the UP Concert Chorus (UPCC) experience where relating to, performing for, and understanding people, like in communication and public relations, were key.

That experience taught: respect for diversity, teamwork and the value of each one to the whole, discipline and dedication (especially to learn and perform with precision the music and choreography by heart).

It also taught: appreciation and love for our Filipino music, culture and language; cross-cultural understanding and languages, insights on the journey of immigrants, the value of agility and presence of mind, geography and the beautiful picture perfect places; people relations, manners and respect for cultures, and many more. All these were valuable inputs to professional practice.

60TH UPCC anniversary THIS brings me to February 4, 2023, Saturday at 5 p.m., when more than five decades of UPCC alumni and current members will mark its 60th anniversary with a rousing homecoming concert at our Alma Mater home grounds, at the UP Theatre in the Diliman, Quezon City campus.

It will be a walk through time with best-loved music from the 1960s to today, and a reconnection with each other, performing for a live audience of some 2,000 attendees. Concert beneficiary will be the Dean Rey T. Paguio Scholarship Fund for advanced studies at the UP College of Music. As of this writing, it is now a sold-out concert.

UPCC alumna Atty. Noriz D. Castillo, Director of the Space Policy and International Cooperation Bureau, Philippine Space Agency, who chairs the 60th Anniversary, credits the UPCC for its training that has produced professionals “not only in music and entertainment but also in other fields.”

UPCC Artistic Director and Conductor of world-renowned and multiawarded UPCC, alumna Prof. Jai Sabas Aracama shares the spirit behind the theme song “Sama-sama Tayo’y Makapaniig” (60th anniversary version) that she composed in collaboration with her daughter, Tiara. “We are looking toward a brighter future because we will always have hope that we are togeth -

er, working to overcome whatever comes our way.”

Alumnus Ed Manguiat, founder and conductor of multitalented and lauded UP Singing Ambassadors, remembers the late College of Music Dean and UPCC conductor Rey T. Paguio as a “gifted, caring and generous artist spiced with wit and humor. As a choral conductor, he spelled my life, inspired and led me to where I am now.”

Alumnus Dr. Joel P. Navarro, professor, book author, composer and esteemed choral conductor notes that “universities around the world often give their students an opportunity to be part of a singing community to express their musical talents, experience belongingness, and develop their whole person, sense of identity, purpose, and legacy…university choral groups like the UPCC end up as crucibles for harnessing gift, grit, and grace through challenging situations. Lifelong skills are developed to succeed as empathic human beings and as engaged members of a collective...The opportunities to pour wholly towards excellence, fund raising, people management, crosscultural engagement, and common aspiration are irreplaceable as they provide integral learning not found inside the classroom.”

UPCC alumni association president, women’s and children’s rights advocate, and intellectual property lawyer, Atty. Dot B. Gancayco reminds that as mga Iskolar ng Bayan (a nickname for UP students), we must continue to “contribute to the attainment of progress in the country and serve the less fortunate, not the least of which are the youth, by giving them a chance at

a better life.”

Insights

ALLOW me then to add my reflections of those wonder years in the UPCC and how these have been a source of strength for me in the profession:

n SELF-ACTUALIZATION. This is the deep well of strength, confidence, presence of mind, and self-expression. It is as Abraham Maslow defines as “everything you are capable of becoming.” It is also described by Kim Egel as “the ability to become the best version of yourself.” It is the sheer joy of a job well done after the discipline of repetitive rehearsals for precision and harmony, which we actually enjoyed doing.

n LOVE FOR COUNTRY. It was a lesson in real geography by sea, land and air. We concertized from Ilocos in Northern Luzon down south to Dapitan in Mindanao enabling us to see the beauty of our country and feel the hospitality of our people. This developed in us a nationalism that we carried in each performance in cities in Europe, US, Canada, and Asia. That euphoria singing our national anthem and our university hymn filled us with a pride proclaiming our roots, much like perhaps what our national athletes feel when they represent the Philippines before the world.

n RESPECT AND DIVERSITY, EQUALITY/EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI). Long before DEI became ascendant, the lesson was embedded in us sans lectures. As we stayed with host families and adjusted to the different cultures and climes as we were

on the move, our hearts and minds were open. We embraced various cultures, languages, music genres, religions and personalities. Be it performing for indigenous people, foreign audiences, Filipino communities, music luminaries, university students, chorale conductors, government and business leaders, the list goes on.

n DISCIPLINE AND ARTISTRY. The seeds for making a communication plan were planted in concert tours. If I may cite the outline we follow in the Gold Quill Awards of the International Association of Business Communicators, we: defined the need and spotted opportunities, we analyzed our stakeholders, set goals and measurable objectives, decided on the solution overview given the circumstances, implemented the plan and resolved challenges; and measured and evaluated.

We had to establish rapport with live audiences, relate to people (to include our hosts and each other), be precise (notes and steps on cue), ensure timeliness (reporting on time for music, choreography and blocking rehearsals, and departure time for travel), manage time (balancing studies, scholarships and performing), manage resources (budgeting our modest student allowance in various currencies when on international tours), have presence of mind (staying alert for any near snafus, stage and acoustic conditions, quick changes and new places), to name a few. Regardless of any circumstances, being at performance level for concerts was non-negotiable.

n TEAMWORK AND CLEAR ROLES. Organizations and companies expend resources to achieve teamwork. Roles have to be clear for accountability and seamless implementation. Rehearsing and performing already ingrained in us the need to work together, to responsibly know our respective melodic lines and to harmonize. We had to comply with schedules and musical nuances. Yet, there was a time and place to exude one’s individuality and expression especially in projecting well in choreographed numbers. We learned when to shine as soloists and when to blend in, ready to lend a helping hand for esprit de corps.

n FEEDBACK. This is the element communicators and PR professionals seek to affirm the effectiveness of the tool or campaign. As performers before a live audience, feedback is instantaneous. Authenticity, energy and excellence are rewarded with resounding applause, shouts of “bravo!” and standing ovations. Concert reviews by music critics are also a source of how well we did and what more we can do.

n CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

This is a constant activity in companies for people development and career growth. In the UPCC,

the learning never stopped. After well-received performances, there was no slacking. We continued to rehearse and review, always seeking better ways and raising the bar with new songs and choreography.

n DOCUMENTATION AND CONTENT

CREATION. Like communication and PR plans, there had to be documentation of performances, rehearsals, other activities, tour itineraries, and creation of content to build the brand and engage the audiences and other stakeholders.

Collaboration

T HE f inale songs of the homecoming concert will exemplify intergenerational collaboration with 150 to 200 voices from different batches. The grand ensemble will also premier a new composition, “Aming Korus, Aming Buhay” by Dr. Joel P. Navarro with lyrics penned by UPCC alumnus, Justice Magdangal M. de Leon.

Time and again, I have tapped into the very core of learning and insights that the UPCC experience has left in me as I practice my profession, just as my fellow alumni do, too, in their respective callings.

At 60 years, buoyed by this, generations of UPCC members and alumni still have the same enthusiasm and fervor. The brand that is the UPCC remains as the baton is passed from batch to batch, a brand steeped in excellence, diversity and versatility. Happy 60th anniversary!

Free Ipra Philippines webinar

IPRA Philippines invites everyone to participate in their next CommuniTalks webinar on the topic “Sonic Branding: the Power of Sound in Communication” which will tackle the power of music and audio to build a brand, communicate an advocacy and elicit emotions to drive PR strategy. Main speaker will be Mike Constantino, Founder and CEO of Homonym, the premier sonic branding and music/audio marketing agency in the Philippines, February 22, 2023 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please register early at https:// bit.ly/IPRAphilippines

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of Ipra Philippines, the local chapter of the United Kingdombased International Public Relations Association, the world’s premier association for senior communications professionals around the world. Ritzi Villarico-Ronquillo, APR, IABC Fellow is a Consultant, Coach and Speaker on B usiness Communication and Strategic Public Relations with 43 years of experience in leading internal and external communication and PR in corporate, communities, academe and associations.

We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.

THEN AND NOW. Performing classical pieces as UPCC members conducted by Dean Rey T. Paguio at the 1979 international tour, and reprising the well-applauded numbers as UPCC alumni at the UP Bahay ng Alumni for the 2020 homecoming concert.

POC’s Tolentino:

Fil-Aussie Kubler makes us proud

FILIPINOAUSTRALIAN Jason

Kubler and Rinky Hijikata clinched the men’s doubles title of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday, a feat Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said should make Filipinos proud.

It’s something that we Filipinos— and the POC—should be proud of and cherish,” said Tolentino of the 29-yearold Kubler, son of a Philippine-born mother and an Australian father.

“ We know that a part of him is Filipino and Jason showed that to the world,” Tolentino said. “We’re really proud of him for winning a grand slam title not only for Australians but also for his fellow Filipinos.”

The pair, playing for Australia, defeated Hugo Nys and Jan Zielinski, 6-4, 7-6 (4), in the final at the Rod Laver Arena.

It was the first Grand Slam title for both Hijikata and Kubler—the third Australian team to win a men’s doubles title in the last five Grand Slams. They teamed up for the first time.

Kubler turned professional in 2008 but couldn’t pounce on a promising career because of a knee injury that forced him to play exclusively on clay.

By Josef Ramos

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA

clinched gold at the Perche En Or men’s indoor competition in Roubaix in France on Sunday with a 5.82-meter effort that primed himself for a potential second consecutive Olympics appearance in Paris next year.

T he qualifying standard for men’s pole vault is set at 5.82 meters. But an athlete has to clear that height within the qualification and ranking period for individual events—except the 10,000 meters, marathon, combined events and walks—between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, to earn a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“ EJ, like most great athletes,

Sports

B8 | Monday, January 30, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

PERSISTENCE MAKES PERFECT

EJ CONQUERS ROUBAIX

is driven by fire in his belly,” EJ’s confidante Jim Lafferty told BusinessMirror Sunday.

L afferty said Obiena’s silver at the Internationales Springer-Meeting in Cottbus, Germany, on Thursday provided him the fire to go for the gold in Roubaix.

He was upset about Cottbus,” said Lafferty, adding that Obiena’s message a few hours before the Roubaix competition showed the world No. 3 and Asian record holder at 5.94 meters was “mad.”

He told me ‘It’s time I go out and take care of business,’” he said. “I knew immediately that he would be tough to beat when he’s angry and highly-motivated.”

C hina’s Yao Jie also went for 5.82 meters but failed thrice with his 5.75

Hidilyn leads aspirants for PSA’s 2022 Athlete of the Year trophy

HIDILYN DIAZ-NARANJO

leads a top-heavy list of nominees each of whom were vetted by members of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) for the organization’s 2022 Annual Awards Night in March.

D iaz-Naranjo swept the gold medals staked in women’s 55 kgs class of weightlifting at the world championships in Bogota, Colombia, making her a favorite to hoist a second consecutive Athlete of the Year trophy from 2021 when she won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

B ut breathing down the 31-yearold Diaz-Naranjo’s neck are her fellow Tokyo Olympians—former world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and world No. 3 men’s pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena— for the PSA’s top award.

A lso in the mix are US Open girls’ champion Alex Eala and the national women’s football team known as the Filipinas.

The country’s oldest media organization will stage the San Miguel Corp.-PSA Awards Night on March 6 at the Diamond Hotel in Manila.

The Awards Night is also presented by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Com-

mission, International Container Terminal Services Inc., 1Pacman, Rain or Shine and OKbet.

A lso to be given out are the President’s Award, Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement Award, National Sports Association of the Year, Executive of the Year, Mr. Basketball, Ms. Football, Major Awards, Tony Siddayao Awards, Pioneers/Founders Awards, Lifetime Award in Sports Journalism and the traditional Citations.

The Filipinas set in motion the country’s 2022 campaign on a high note by punching a historic ticket for a first-ever stint in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Their third-place at the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup in Pune, India, last February earned them a berth to the World Cup co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia in July.

Yulo won three gold medals at the 9th Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Doha and clinched a silver and a bronze at the world artistic gymnastics championships in Liverpool, England.

O biena, 27, captured a historic bronze medal at the world athletics championships in Oregon with a new Asian men’s pole vault record of 5.94 meters. He’s now ranked No. 3 in the world.

recreationally).

More Break Point

I HAVE been enjoying “Break Point” on Netflix. I remember watching this game where Jimmy Connors was really pumped up and raising his hands with the crowd going nuts and doing the wave. Since that moment, I have fallen in love with the sport (and played it only

EFREN “BATA” REYES finished third at 24th annual Derby City Classic One Pocket Tournament on Sunday—a feat that was enough to reiterate why he’s called the living legend of the sport even at 68 years old.

R eyes was in his vintage magical form by reaching the semifinals after beating fellow Filipino Alex Pagulayan,

meters enough to earn him silver.

France’s Ethan Cormont cleared 5.65 meters to bag the bronze medal in the competition that attracted 11 pole vaulters.

The 27-year-old Obiena—whose 5.77 meters shoved him to the silver behind American Sam Kendrick’s 5,82 in Cottbus—went for 5.90 meters but missed.

Up next for Obiena is the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships from February 10 to 12 in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan.

The 5.82-meter height for Paris is 2 centimeters higher than the standard in Tokyo.

ERNEST JOHN “EJ” OBIENA is a picture of mixed anticipation as he looks up to the bar.

‘Bata’ still weaves magic at 68

who’s been competing under the Canadian flag, 3-1. Jonathan “Hennessee” Pinegar of Tennessee, however, foiled Reyes, 3-0, in the semifinals, sending the Filipino ace to the battle for third in the tournament played at the Caesar’s in Southern Indiana in the US.

He beat Skyler Woodward, 3-0, to capture third place and pocket the $4,000 cash prize.

A total of 468 of the world’s best vied in the tournament American Tony “T-Rex” Chohan won, 3-1, over Pinegar. He banked the champion’s prize of $16,000.

It was such an honor to play the man deep in such a prestigious

By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press

Inc., opened. More details could be obtained from tournament administrator Jhiue Castillo (+639283165678), Event Captain Inc.’s Joy Pangadlo (+639179222445, WhatsApp) or email pilipinasgolftournamentsinc@gmail.com.

I h ave followed it and have been to one live Grand Slam event (the 2003 US Open that featured Pete Sampras’ farewell).

B ack to “Break Point,” as Nick Kyrgios said in the first few minutes of the first episode, “Let’s do a Netflix series and sh!$. Let’s get it, baby.”

It’s about time. If they do this on a yearly basis, it could do what “Drive to Survive” has done for Formula 1 racing— bring in a whole new audience and generation of fans.

I t hink tennis—like other sports—has great stories to tell. “Break Point” told a lot of them from Kyrgios to Matteo Berrettini, Taylor Fritz, Paula Badosa, Felix AugerAliassime and Casper Ruud.

A nd this 2023, it would be cool if they do a feature on Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka, who is now a Grand Slam champion (Australian Open). From exiting the Adelaide International in 2022 from an unheralded player to her fourth round exit in Australia and a year that saw her hit into 428 double faults—151 more than anyone else—she has turned her career around with this huge win. Now, there is the question on whether she will be

M

ELBOURNE—Aryna Sabalenka’s Australian Open championship is about persistence.

It’s about the value of confronting, not ignoring, problems.

It’s about putting in the time and the effort required to get better.

A nd, to hear Sabalenka and her team tell it, it’s as much about the way she reconfigured her self-belief as it is about the way she reconfigured her serving technique.

I always had this weird feeling when people would come to me and ask for a signature. I would be like, ‘Why are you asking for (my) signature? I’m nobody. I’m a player. I don’t have a Grand Slam,’” Sabalenka said after that last phrase no longer applied because she had defeated Elena Rybakina, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, in the final Saturday night.

I just changed how I feel. I start respect myself more,” Sabalenka continued, between celebratory sips of bubbly. “I start to understand that, actually, I’m here because I work so hard and I’m actually a good player.” Th at goes a long way, especially when the going gets tough under the bright lights and on the big stage of a major tournament.

Every time I had a tough moment on court,” the 24-year-old from Belarus said, “I was just reminding myself that I’m good enough to handle all this.”

There were plenty of those moments over the years—and against Rybakina, who won Wimbledon last year and was the first woman in 22 years to beat three past Slam champions to get to the Australian Open final.

Then, there was the double-fault on the very first point, the doublefault nearly two-and-a-halfhours later on Sabalenka’s first of what would be four match points, the loss of the first set, and so on.

But Sabalenka’s retooled serve ended up producing 17 aces, more than enough to outweigh seven doublefaults, and her 51 winners helped propel her to three pivotal breaks.

A year ago in Melbourne, Sabalenka double-faulted 15 times in a fourth-round exit. That set the tone for a season in which she led the tour with 400 double-faults, sometimes more than 20 in a match. She was kind of, like, afraid just to talk about it,” said her coach, Anton Dubrov. AP

event. Efren has beaten a lot of very tough players in this event to get to this point,” Pagulayan said in his Instagram post. “At 68, the man has still has it folks.”

R eyes owns six One Pocket titles but has 13 overall Derby Classic crowns. The other Filipinos who have won the Derby Classics are Francisco “Django” Bustamante thrice, Pagulayan and Dennis Orcollo twice and Jose “Amang” Parica once. Josef Ramos

Strong Group picks up 2nd win in Dubai

THE Strong Group showed better chemistry this time and routed Al Nasr of Libya, 93-76, to stay perfect in the 32nd Dubai International Basketball Championship at the Al-Nasr Club Hall Sunday. Putting its “ugly win” over the United Arab Emirates behind, the coun-

allowed to compete in Wimbledon (she was not last year owing to the Russian invasion of Ukraine that had the help of Belarus).

There are even more sub-plots brewing.

C an Amanda Anisimova finally land a Grand Slam berth after coming close in 2019 and 2022? Can Carlos Alcaraz become the next big name in tennis? There’s Peng Shaui and that sexual assault thing or not. Will she even come back?

And there’s the state of American tennis. With Serena close to retirement, who will carry the cudgels for American tennis and become a bonafide star—Taylor Fritz of Coco Gauff? Or is it someone else?

A nd perhaps the biggest one is the one-upmanship between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in terms of Grand Slams won.

Pete Sampras won the last of his 14 Grand slams in 200 2. Roger Federer passed him in 2009 during Wimbledon and eventually finished with 20 by the time he retired in 2022. His last Grand Slam was the 2018 Australian Open.

R afa Nadal went ahead of Federer four years later by claiming the 2022 Australian Open and he annexed his 22nd during the 2022 French Open.

try’s representative to the nine-team tournament used a strong a start and a stronger finish to win convincingly before another good-sized Filipino crowd. “ We played much better this time and my locals also did well,” Strong Group coach Charles Tiu said. “BJ [Andrade] started it all.” Three early triples from Andrade sparked an explosive opening frame onslaught before imports Renaldo Balkman and Shabazz Muhammad followed suit, erecting an early 19-point lead at 35-16 for the team owned by Jacob Lao. A l Nasr, refusing to go into the night silently, cut the lead to nine points multiple times in the second and third quarters but the team backed by Mighty Sports and Acrocity simply had answers to every run—the last an 11-0 blitz to close out the third quarter with a 23-point lead, 81-58.

Novak Djokovic claimed his 21st when he won the 2022 French Open. By the time this column will be out, either Djokovic had tied Nadal with the 2023 Australian Open crown or Stefanos Tsitsipas has claimed his first of professional tennis’ four major jewels.

W hat an unprecedented era of tennis dominance by three men—Federer, Nadal and Djokovic—from 2010 up to today.

A nd it looks like Nadal could hang it up this 2023. We’ll see how his health holds up as he and Djokovic wage a personal battle for the record of the most Grand Slams.

I h ave too much on my plate to read and follow everything that goes on in tennis let alone all sports. “Break Point”is a perfect way to get into the back stories and the personal lives—or what they permit—to be divulged. And I think it is great.

I m ade the allegory to “Drive to Survive” and I have been a Formula 1 fan for several decades now. But “Drive to Survive” allowed me to get into the nitty gritty for many drivers and I have become an even bigger fan. So more “Break Point,” Netflix. Don’t go breaking tennis fans’ hearts.

ARYNA SABALENKA poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Trophy on a gondola in the Royal Botanical Gardens the morning after her Australian Open triumph. AP

FUTURE

OF

PHL GOLF Close to a hundred golfers aged 9 to 17 and bracketed into four categories take the big step to their respective goals as they join the inaugural Junior Philippine Golf Tour at The Country Club Sunday. Top pros—led by Miguel Tabuena, Dottie Ardina and Princess Superal—share their expertise in driving, chipping and putting in the Skills Challenge, the first of the 17 events aimed at harnessing the youngsters’ talent and skills in the event Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments