EXTERNAL DEBT SERVICE DOWN 19.5% AT END-APR
By Reine Juvierre S. Alberto
THE doubledigit decline in principal and interest payments pulled down the country’s overall external debt service burden as of end-April 2024, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
Data from the BSP showed the country’s debt service burden reached US$4.640
service burden went down by 41.46 percent to US$2.115 billion in January to April 2024 from US$3.613 billion in the same period in 2023.
Data from the central bank showed interest payments also decreased by 16.25 percent to US$2.525 billion in the first four
April 2024 rose by 16.12 percent to US$18.904 billion compared to the US$16.280 billion posted in the same period a year ago.
Moreover, the ratio of debt service burden to exports of goods and receipts from services and primary income contracted to 9.4 percent. This is the lowest debt service burden to export shipments ratio since 2022 at 14.7 percent. The exports of goods and receipts from services and primary income reached US$49.337 billion from January to April 2024, higher by 11.31 percent than the US$44.322 billion recorded in the same period in 2023. This was also the lowest since the 6.3 percent ratio posted in 2022. Debt service burden represents
23 BIZ GROUPS PUSH ‘KONEKTADONG PINOY’ BILL
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
T least 23 groups, including the Joint Foreign Chambers, industry associations and civil society organizations are urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to prioritize and certify as urgent the passage of the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act, stressing the need to advance the nation’s broadband infrastructure so all Filipinos can benefit from digitalization. A head of the 2024 State of
the Nation Address, the organizations asked Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the proposed “Konektadong Pinoy Act,” also known as the “Open Access in Data Transmission Act,” recently filed as Senate Bill No. 2699 under Committee Report No. 262. We, the undersigned organizations, including Philippine Business Groups, Joint Foreign Chambers, industry associations, and civil society organizations, urge His Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., to prioritize and certify as urgent the passage of the proposed Open Access
in Data Transmission Act, also known as the Konektadong Pinoy Act (Senate Bill No. 2699, under Committee Report No. 262). The signatories to the joint statement include Philippine Business Groups: Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport), and Employers Confederation of the Philippines (Ecop); The signatories also include Joint Foreign Chambers: American Chamber of Commerce of the
With tight calendar, House, Senate to stick to Ledac list
Local carriers restore IT system after global outage
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
BUDGET carriers Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines have successfully restored their systems after a global IT outage disrupted operations for airlines and businesses worldwide.
In separate announcements, both airlines announced the complete resumption of their services and thanked their staff and passengers for their patience during this challenging period.
Navitaire, the technology partner of the two Filipino carriers, has restored all services and servers to full capacity. All systems are now operational, and we plan to operate our normal flight schedules,” Cebu Pacific said. However, it advised passengers with confirmed bookings “to
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principal and interest payments after rescheduling consisting of Principal and Interest payments on fixed medium and long-term credits including IMF credits, loans covered by the Paris Club and commercial banks’ rescheduling and New Money Facilities, according to the BSP. Interest payments on fixed and revolving short-term liabilities of banks and non-banks
continue monitoring the status of their flights.”
“ We are grateful to our IT and airport staff who worked tirelessly to resolve the situation and assist the affected passengers,” Cebu Pacific said.
A irAsia Philippines Head of Communications and Public Affairs Steve Dailisan. reported that all its systems were back online as of 2 p.m.
He acknowledged the multiple delays and cancellations caused by the IT outage and emphasized its commitment to minimizing disruptions and keeping passengers informed.
As an airline that is guest-obsessed, the AirAsia team continues to work tirelessly to minimize disruptions and ensure our passengers stay well informed and adequately
is also included in the external debt service burden of the country.
T he prepayments on future years’ maturities of foreign loans, principal payments on fixed and revolving short-term liabilities of banks and nonbanks are not included in the computation of BSP’s data.
taken care of,” he said.
He also asked “for patience among our guests, as we recover from multiple delays and cancellations as a result of the global IT outage yesterday that is beyond our control.”
O n Friday, the whole world experienced an IT outage, as cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike provided customers with a faulty update.
Th is incident caused significant disruptions to Microsoft computer systems worldwide, impacting a wide range of sectors.
T he Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is assessing the magnitude of the issue.
A representative has yet to reply to the BusinessMirror’s queries as of press time.
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After repeated ramming, the Chinese seized the Philippine navy boats and damaged them with machetes and improvised spears. They also seized seven M4 rifles, which were packed in cases, and other supplies. The violent faceoff wounded several Filipino navy personnel, including one who lost his thumb, in a chaotic skirmish captured in video and photos that were later made public by Philippine officials.
C hina and the Philippines blamed each other for the confrontation and each asserted their own sovereign rights over the shoal, which Filipinos call Ayungin and the Chinese call Ren’ai Jiao.
The United States and its key Asian and Western allies, including Japan and Australia, condemned the Chinese acts at the shoal and called for the rule of law and freedom of navigation to be upheld in the South China Sea, a key global trade route with rich fishing areas and undersea gas deposits.
In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have been locked in separate but increasingly tense territorial disputes in the waterway, which is regarded as a potential flashpoint and a delicate fault line in the US-China regional rivalry. The US military has deployed navy ships and fighter jets for decades in what it calls freedom of navigation and overflight patrols, which China has opposed and regards as a threat to regional stability.
Washington has no territorial claims in the disputed waters but has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.
One of the two Philippine officials said the June 17 confrontation prompted Beijing and Manila to hasten on-and-off talks on an arrangement that would prevent confrontations at Second Thomas Shoal.
D uring final meetings in the last four days, two Chinese demands that had been key sticking points were removed from the draft deal.
China had previously said it would allow food, water and other basic supplies to be transported by the Philippines to its forces in the shoal if Manila agreed not to bring construction materials to fortify the crumbling ship, and to give China advance notice and the right to inspect the ships for those materials, the officials said. The Philippines rejected those conditions, and the final deal did not include them. AP
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Philippines (Amcham), Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (Cancham), European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines (JCCIPI), Korean Chamber of Commerce Philippines (KCCP), and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc. (Pamuri); industry associations: Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP), Alliance of Tech Innovators for the Nation (Atin), Fintech Alliance. PH, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP), Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association, Inc (PCTA); Civil society associations also joined the call to certify the bill as urgent. These are the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA), Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Better Internet PH (BIP), Democracy.net.ph, Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (GDIP), Institute for Social Entrepreneurship in Asia (ISEA), Internet Society (ISOC), and Internet Society-Philippines Chapter (ISOC-PH).
In a joint statement, these groups cited the features of the bill that they deem important as they recognize the critical need to advance the nation’s broadband infrastructure.
Among these is the bill’s goal to promote ease of doing business by simplifying the registration and qualification process for Internet network and service providers.
They said the bill will make it “faster and more efficient” for providers to build networks by promoting infrastructure sharing and streamlining the permits approval process.
The 23 organizations also said this measure will provide “wider access” to
Senate…
incentives available to companies, and clarifying rules on implementing VAT incentives, he said. He said amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act would also reinforce the opening of the economy to foreign investments by extending the lease of private lands (excluding agricultural lands) to foreigners from a maximum of 75 years to 99 years from the current 50 years. This will stabilize long term leases with the grant of a certificate of leasehold while allowing leaseholders to collateralize the land.
Aside from these three proposed measures, other priority bills in the Common Legislative Agenda are:
• Reforms to Philippine Capital Markets to facilitate capital raising for Filipino companies through the stock market and boost the value of pension funds invested in the Philippine stock market by reducing taxes on stock transactions and equalizing the dividend tax;
• Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act to strengthen the country’s sovereignty over its archipelagic waters and maritime resources;
• Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act to expedite the implementation of critical infrastructure projects by streamlining the right-of-way acquisition;
• Excise Tax on Single-Use Plastics to encourage sustainable consumption and production, and reduce plastic waste generation;
• Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime to enable the nation to better reap the benefits of the Philippines’ rich mineral resources by introducing a straightforward and streamlined fiscal policy;
• Department of Water Resources to institutionalize a primary agency responsible for comprehensive and integrated water resources development and management; and,
• Amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law which aims to enhance and refine the existing legislation governing rice importation and trade.
To hasten the passage of these bills, Escudero said the Senate will hold legislative sessions on Thursdays to boost the number of working session days. that are usually affected by the rainy season as well as breaks for the upcoming midterm elections.
“ We will set aside an extra day, Thursday, to discuss these measures, approve these as far as we can because we only have about 70 days left before this Congress ends. 70 session days absent any typhoons, calamities that might cause us to declare suspension of session or work,” he said.
B y including session days on Thursdays, Escudero said the Senate will have a total of 93 session days.
The Senate chief maintained that the Presi-
radio spectrum for wireless internet by making this resource available to more providers, especially in the rural areas.
“The bill will also update the analog-era policies that have long stifled Internet connectivity in the country,” the statement of the groups noted.
Citing a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in 2023, the business groups noted that the Open Access bill will enable the “entry of more firms in the provision of internet services...as well as facilitate network buildout,” and thus “boost digital connectivity, particularly in communities that are currently underserved or unserved.” Similarly, the groups said a 2022 PIDS paper pointed out that the bill will “reduce the barriers to entry and help facilitate the growth of broadband.”
Moreover, an earlier PIDS policy note recommended fast-tracking Open Access to “help address the digital infrastructure gap” by “simplifying market entry and promoting infrastructure sharing.”
We, the signatories, believe that the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act is the key to unlocking the potential of a more digitally inclusive, economically vibrant, and prosperous country. We therefore urge the President to champion the bill that will transform the Philippines into a truly #BayangDigital,” the 23 groups stressed. At the PCCI’s 2nd General Membership meeting last week, Senate President Francis Escudero had said, “We expect passage of Open Access before we adjourn on September 28 for the midterm recess.” Escudero said the Senate expects the passage of CREATE More earlier than the Open Access bill as CREATE More “is a priority of the President.”
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dent is the chief architect of the country’s foreign policy. “As an independent, co-equal branch of government, the Senate will be supportive of passing legislation or ratifying treaties that it deems consistent with our national interest and constitutional principles,” he stressed.
Speaker Romualdez, for his part, anticipates the President to follow up on his administration's successes and build on the progress of existing programs in his third Sona on Monday. The Senate and the House of Representatives will convene in a joint session at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City. President Marcos will address the nation, highlighting his administration's accomplishments and outlining his plans for the future.
“I expect the President to emphasize the importance of unity among all Filipinos, demonstrating how collective efforts can lead to national progress. Furthermore, anticipate a focus on the continued and immediate delivery of essential social services to ensure that the needs of the people are met promptly and effectively,” said Romualdez. Meanwhile, leaders of the House of Representatives’ "Young Guns” on Sunday shared their hopes and expectations for the Chief Executive’s vision and priorities in his third SONA. Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun underscored the critical need for continued economic recovery and growth, with a focus on job creation and support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“I anticipate the President discussing strategies to continue with the country’s economic growth, create jobs, and foster a conducive environment for businesses and entrepreneurs. Supporting MSMEs is vital for our economy,” Khonghun said. Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said,
“I am keen to hear the President’s plans for advancing our infrastructure projects, especially those that will benefit the provinces. Strengthening our connectivity and transportation networks is essential for regional development.”
Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon emphasized the need for climate action and disaster resilience, highlighting the importance of concrete steps to combat climate change. La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V noted the importance of agricultural development and food security, advocating for support for farmers.
“Supporting our farmers through subsidies, modern farming techniques, and improved market access is crucial. Ensuring food security and sustainability must be a priority,” Ortega said.
1-Rider Partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez emphasized the need for good governance and anticorruption measures, promoting transparency and accountability in government operations. Butch Fernandez, Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz
No taboo on Sona topics, Marcos may tackle Pogos–Escudero
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Jovee Marie dela Cruz @joveemarie
SAYING “there’s no prohibition” on topics that the President may tackle in his State of the Nation
Address (Sona), Senate President Francis Escudero said raging issues like online gaming operations may be tackled, but Charter change will not likely be on the agenda.
Walang bawal sa Sona ng Pangulo [There’s no prohibition in the Sona], he can tackle” any subject he deems important for the country, Escudero said in a radio interview on Sunday.
Replying to a query on whether he thinks President Marcos will heed mounting calls to abolish Philippine Online Gaming Operators (Pogos) entirely because of the serious crimes linked to the illegal entities, Escudero said he expects the President to weigh all considerations well, given that “he has access to all available intelligence”
on the matter.
He acknowledged the mounting call among lawmakers, including a pending Senate Committee on Ways and Means report that called for a total ban, and an ongoing tricommittee inquiry into the Pogo-associated crimes like human trafficking, cyber fraud and money laundering.
In the latest Senate hearings, the equally alarming issue of crimes associated with the falsification of public documents, including birth certificates, has also been redflagged, especially with revelations that suspended Bamban, Tarlac, Mayor Alice Guo fraudulently obtained a Philippine birth certificate, with indications that she is actually a Chinese citizen.
However, Escudero said, it is the President who can make the most reasoned judgment because he can weigh all issues at hand.
Charter change MEANWHILE, Escudero said initiatives to tackle Constitutional
change will not have priority in the third and last regular session of the 19thCongress.”
“That was never tackled in the Ledac [Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council], that is not a priority in Ledac. That could get in the way of our tackling the more pressing issues we had agreed on with the Executive,” he said.
He said the subcommittee under the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws, which was formed to spearhead national consultations on charterchange issues, is deemed defunct, after its chairman, Sen. Juan Edgardo
Angara, resigned to accept the post of Education Secretary.
Marcos expected to tackle gut issues
AT the House of Representatives, key lawmakers expect the Chief Executive to give importance to pressing issues like ending hunger, uplifting the lives of the Filipino people, tackling labor concerns, and reopening peace negotiations.
Albay Rep. Jose Clemente Sarte Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, anticipates the President addressing the global cost of living crisis, which has exacerbated hunger worldwide, and expects vigorous and compassionate measures.
Additionally, Salceda hopes for new initiatives regarding Maharlika Investment Fund, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and investments.
“While challenges remain, President Marcos has strong wins to tout. Inflation is down to 3.7 percent, within the target range. Unemployment
is at 4.1 percent, strong considering our high interest rates. Growth is at 5.7 percent, solid considering China’s slowdown and the generally hostile global conditions,” Salceda stated.
Deputy House Majority Leader Julienne Baronda expressed confidence in Marcos Jr.’s leadership through challenging times.
“For the past two years, our nation has faced tough challenges wrought by global as well as internal factors, but President Marcos has shown his mettle in leading us through these trying times,” she said.
Baronda expects the President to highlight economic recovery efforts, particularly those bolstered by state visits and investments. She also looks forward to updates on the “Build Better, More” infrastructure initiatives and their community impacts.
“It is my wish that he will also put the spotlight on the issues involving our territory and sovereignty, illegal drugs and organized crimes, and the gaps that beset the health, agriculture, education, and tourism
sectors,” Baronda added.
Labor issues
FOR his part, the chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment, San Mateo Rep. Fidel Nograles, highlighted the importance of labor issues in Marcos’s third Sona.
“Labor is a major sector and one that concerns every Filipino, so I expect that we will hear about his plans to address various issues on Monday,” he said.
Nograles expressed concern but remained hopeful about the government’s efforts. “That’s why we are eagerly anticipating the Sona to understand the direction the administration plans to take for better conditions for workers,” he said. He assured that Congress will continue to cooperate to improve conditions for Filipino workers.
“The President can count on us in Congress to continue working together to realize our shared goal for Filipino workers,” he said.
SENATE President Francis Escudero
Projects worth US$1.26 billion now operational
By Andrea San Juan @andreasanjuan
THE Department of Trade and Industry reported that 20 projects that brought in $1.26 billion in investments are now operational.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, who co-chairs the Board of Investments (BOI), said: “These are 20 projects in Category 6 with an actual cost of US$1.26 billion,” Pascual told reporters at a briefing on Friday, explaining that projects under this category are already operational.
Pascual explained that investments under categories 4, 5 and 6 indicate “clear evidence” that the investment is pushing through as these projects have already undergone registration process with any of the investment promotion agencies (IPAs), have started the implementation
of the project or have started its business operations.
Illustrating the stages that investments go through, Pascual said, “We have six categories of investment leads from category 1, meaning confirmed investment investments covered by [memoranda of understanding] MOUs, [letters of intent] LOIs and still at the planning stage.”
A project under stage 2, he noted, means that the MOU and LOI are signed already while those under stage 3 have signed an agreement with “clear financial value.”
Projects in stage 4, meanwhile, indicate that their registration with any of the IPAs are in progress.
The projects in the fifth stage are already IPA-registered while those in the final stage or stage six have already commenced operations.
Pascual said there are 73 projects in Categories 4 to 6 which amount to $19 billion.
Under Category 4, he said there are 30 projects worth $16 billion while there are 23 projects under Category 5 amounting to $1.6 billion.
The Trade chief, however, still could not disclose the breakdown of the investments with respect to their sectors.
Last week, Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo revealed that the investment promotion agency is revising the upper limit of its investment pledges target for 2024 on the back of the buildup in the investment pipeline and the “very aggressive” investment promotion strategy.
Early this year, the investment promotion agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it is eyeing around P1.3 trillion to P1.5 trillion worth of investment approvals for 2024 after it recorded P1.26 trillion in investment pledges in 2023.
Six months into the year, however, the BOI said that it already approved P950 billion in investments, a 36-percent increase from the P698 billion approved in the first half of 2023.
With this, Rodolfo inched up the agency’s upper limit target, telling reporters on the sidelines of the Tatak Pinoy Forum on Monday, “Considering the pipeline, we are thinking of adjusting the upper limit to P1.6 trillion.”
In the first six months of the year, 30 percent of the P950 billion investments approved by the BOI are foreign investments equivalent to P286 billion.
Renewable energy investments continued to occupy the larger chunk of the pie of investment pledges with the Electricity, Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply sector drawing 96.3 percent fo the total approved investments, the BOI noted.
Senators push passage of NatGas bill
DBy Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
EVELOPING indigenous energy sources by promoting exploration will ensure energy security and help reduce dependency on international factors that influence energy prices, a lawmaker championing the proposed Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry Development Act, said.
DAR eyes full emancipation of 200k ARBs by year-end
By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga
THE Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) is eyeing the full emancipation of some 200,000 agrarian reform beneficiares by distributing to them their certificates of condonation with release of mortgage or Cocrom by the end of the year.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III described the Cocrom distribution held in Lingayen City, Pangasinan, on July 19 as “another milestone in the full implementation of Republic Act 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.”
This landmark event led by President Marcos represents a significant step toward genuine agrarian reform, Estrella said in a statement.
Following the passage of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, the government has exempted agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from estate tax and included them in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
arrear amounting to P295,470. Hufalar, who relies on his crops for his family’s well-being, had struggled with debt, which limited his ability to invest in his future. With the enactment of RA 11953, Hufalar is now free from his financial burden, allowing him to focus on the success of his farm without the constant worry of debt repayment.
The distribution of Cocrom provides substantial agrarian debt relief to beneficiaries nationwide.
“Sa batas na ito, masasabi natin na tinatapos namin ni Secretary Estrella ang sinimulan ng mga ninuno namin na sina Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at Conrado Estrella, Sr.,” says Marcos Jr. The DAR chief, for his part, also emphasized the President’s unwavering commitment, stating.
“Ang ating mahal na Pangulo, nagdesisyon, nanindigan na huwag nang singilin and mga utang ng mga agrarian reform beneficiary.”
Also called the NatGas bill, the measure is seen as crucial for the country’s energy security, as it supports exploration and utilization of natural gas resources, especially Malampaya. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy, Sen. Pia Cayetano, emphasized the importance of policies that promote more exploration to help curb energy prices while ensuring energy security.
Cayetano said that the government views natural gas, including resources from the Malampaya field off Palawan province, as a transition fuel towards full renewable energy.
“We will be less dependent on international factors that affect the prices of our energy sources,” she said. “There’s no other way to discuss and envision our goal of achieving energy security and sustainability but through a future thinking lens.”
“Malampaya gas is our only indigenous source of natural gas,” she said. “When we have our own source, that gives us more security. That is my priority—our security—so that our country will not be crippled due to lack of electricity.”
The Malampaya Deepwater Gas-toPower project, the country’s first and only indigenous gas resource, supplies about
20 percent of Luzon’s electricity needs and has significantly contributed to the nation’s energy independence since 2001.
Enrique K. Razon-led Prime Energy Resources Development BV, which holds a 45 percent stake in the Malampaya Consortium, has tapped several technology partners to further explore Malampaya.
“So I’m very happy to hear that there is a potential, there is now a potential, real activity in that area and real drilling will happen,” added Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, another legislator rooting for the NatGas bill.
Ban on Pogos needs safety nets for local workers–Gatchalian
ASENATOR said on Sunday that safety nets should be put in place for Filipino workers in the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (Pogo) industry who will be displaced if a total ban is legislated.
“We will ensure that legislating a total ban on POGOs will include a provision for safety nets for workers who would be adversely affected by the ban,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, which recently conducted a public hearing on the proposed ban on Pogos.
In re-creating the economy without
Pogos as source of income, the government needs to lay down transitory mechanisms, such as employment of affected Filipinos, Gatchalian said, adding that the welfare of workers currently working for the industry should be looked after.
Based on data provided by the Department of Labor and Employment ( DOLE ), which was submitted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor), a total of 25,064 Filipinos are employed by various Pogos operating in the country as of 2023. This accounts for 52.2 percent share of local workers
in terms of Pogo employment compared to 22,915 foreign workers working for the industry.
Safety nets for Pogo workers would include upskilling, and reskilling programs to ensure that they can have replacement jobs as soon as possible, the senator said.
Expressing support for the proposed legislation to ban Pogo operations in the country, Labor Undersecretary Felipe Egargo said the department is prepared to implement as soon as necessary for programs intended to aid Pogo workers.
According to Egargo, DOLE is prepared
to undertake facilitation programs for reskilling and upskilling displaced Pogo workers on top livelihood and emergency employment through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating DisadvantagedDisplaced Workers (Tupad), Dole’s community-based emergency employment for displaced workers initially implemented by the department during the pandemic.
Gatchalian further asked DOLE to undertake a skills mapping of POGO workers to ascertain specific programs that could be implemented for such workers.
Group urges Bulacan Gov to act vs unsafe beauty product
THE toxics watchdog group BAN Toxics has called the attention of Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando to the illicit sale of mercury-tainted skin-lightening products in the province.
“Angmga certificates naitoaysimbolo ngkatuparanngatingpangakonabuburahin natin ang pagkakautang ng ating mga agrarian reform beneficiaries,” Marcos said during the event. With the Cocroms having been distributed to the ARBs in the Ilocos Region all 3,558 were relieved from paying a total of P50,562,449 in mortgages covering 28,086,712 square meters.
The beneficiaries and their agricultural lands are from the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.
Ricardo Hufalar Sr., a 71-year-old agrarian reform beneficiary from Santo Tomas, La Union, was among the recipients of the Cocrom which condoned him of his dues and
Marcos signed the New Agrarian Emancipation Act on July 7, 2023, which condones all loans, including interests, penalties, and surcharges, incurred by ARBs from land awarded under Presidential Decree 27, RA 6657, and RA 9700.
The law is estimated to benefit over 600,000 Filipino farmers nationwide, covering more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands. During the event, Marcos also distributed P339.54 million in financial assistance, services, and programs to over 10,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and their families affected by the El Niño phenomenon. This comprehensive support package aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agricultural communities.
Cocopea pins hope on new DepEd chief Angara for better education outcomes
By Rizal Raoul Reyes @brownindio
Tskin discoloration, and scarring, and a reduction in the skin’s resistance to bacterial and fungal infections.
The FDA has issued several public health warnings against these cosmetic products containing health-damaging mercury.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), kidney damage is the main adverse effect of exposure to inorganic mercury. Mercury may also cause skin rashes,
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned these skin-lightening products for containing hazardous chemicals. In a recent on-site product surveillance, BAN Toxics Patroller Therese Carmela Diaz documented the over-the-counter sale of prohibited beauty products in 11 Beauty Shops, a local drug store, and a minimart in the towns of Balagtas, Guiguinto and Santa Maria and the cities of Malolos and San Jose del Monte. The banned SLPs identified were Goree Beauty Cream with Lycopene Avocado & Aloe vera, Goree Day & Night Beauty Cream Oil Free Total Fairness System, Goree Gold 24k Beauty Cream, and 88 Total White Underarm Cream, with prices ranging from P200 to P250.
The group wrote to Fernando to take action to halt the illegal trade of banned cosmetics, support the province-wide campaign against the mercury-added SLPs, and promote a safe and mercury-free environment in the province.
For the past few months, BAN Toxics has been documenting the widespread sale of banned SLPs in Metro Manila, Daet (Camarines Norte), Tuguegarao City, Tacloban City, and now in Bulacan. The group has subsequently reported their findings to the
FDA for regulatory action.
“We need a concerted effort not just from the regulatory agencies but also from local officials to conduct enforcement actions to ensure that violative products are not sold or made available in the market, protecting their constituency from toxic harm,” said Thony Dizon, Toxics Campaigner of BAN Toxics.
The group also called on the provincial government to enact an ordinance banning the use and sale of mercury-added SLPs to halt their illegal trade and prevent the risk of mercury exposure and poisoning.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
Go expresses ‘unyielding commitment’ to healthcare
SEN. Christopher Go stands out not merely for his high-profile background as a close aide to former President Rodrigo Duterte but for his relentless drive to serve the marginalized sectors of society. This commitment was vividly showcased in a recent heart-to-heart interview with fellow health advocate Dr. Willie Ong on Wednesday, where Go articulated his philosophy on public service and detailed his initiatives aimed at bolstering the health sector. During the interview aired live on Facebook, Go recounted the origins of the
Malasakit Centers program, detailing how these centers were designed to streamline processes and reduce the logistical hurdles that typically
HE Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (Cocopea) and other private educational organizations have thrown their support to Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, to improve educational outcomes. Angara welcomed the support, highlighting the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors.
“As we build from the legacy of my father, we continue the pursuit of making quality education accessible to all. And one aspect of that will be to ensure that the Constitutional edict on the complementarity of public and private education is actually put into practice,” Angara said in a statement released on Saturday.
Moreover, private school organizations led by the Cocopea vowed to extend its support to the DepEd in enhancing the quality of basic education through various initiatives, including learner programs, curricular reforms, teacher development, and capacity-building efforts. They also emphasized the importance of publicprivate complementarity programs.
Fr. Albert N. Delvo, Cocopea chairman, affirmed the group’s readiness to collaborate: “We are ready to share our resources in response to immediately address the goals of the Department of Education under your leadership, to meet the education system’s challenges related to quality, employability, and public-private complementarity, including the expansion of government assistance and subsidies.”
In an open letter released on Friday, Cocopea underscored the potential impact of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (Gastpe) voucher program, which would enhance educational opportunities for millions of
Filipino public school students, fostering complementarity between public and private schools, and driving overall improvement in the quality of education nationwide.
“We stand ready to assist you as proactive partners in this mission. We are ready to share our collective expertise and resources as we work together in the spirit of an allof-society approach,” Cocopea said. Cocopea is composed of five national educational associations: Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (Ceap); Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities (Pacu); Association of Christian Schools, Colleges and Universities (Acscu); Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (Papscu); and the Unified Tvet (Technical and Vocational Education and Training of the Philippines) (UniTvet). Cocopea represents the largest group of private schools, colleges, universities, and Tvet) institutions in the country.
Other private school groups supporting Angara are: Bicol Association of Private Schools, Colleges and Universities (Bapcu); Davao Colleges and Universities Network Inc. (Dacun), and Association of Private, State Colleges, Universities in Region XI (Apscur XI), Association of Private Colleges and Universities in Region 7 (Apcu7).
In addition, the group recognized the urgent need to address challenges in the Philippine education system, such as access to quality education, technological integration, and infrastructure improvement. “By working together, we can create a more robust and responsive educational framework that benefits all students, regardless of their background,” they noted.
“We look forward to a fruitful partnership and are eager to support your endeavors to enhance the quality of education in the Philippines.”
Editor: Angel R. Calso
Israel military says it has struck Houthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks
By Ahmed Al-Haj, Wafaa Shurafa & Jack Jeffery
SThe Associated Press
ANAA, Yemen—The Israeli army said Saturday it has struck several Houthi targets in western Yemen following a fatal drone attack by the rebel group in Tel Aviv the previous day.
The Israeli strikes appeared to be the first on Yemeni soil since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, and they threatened to open a new front in the region as Israel battles proxies of Iran.
A number of “military targets” were hit in the western port city of Hodeidah, a Houthi stronghold, the Israeli army said, adding that its attack was in response to “hundreds of attacks” against Israel in recent months.
“The Houthis attacked us over 200 times. The first time that they harmed an Israeli citizen, we struck them. And we will do this in any place where it may be required,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement.
The Ministry of Health in Sanaa said that 80 people were wounded in a preliminary toll of the strikes in Hodeidah, most of them with severe burns.
were widespread.
Health officials in Yemen said the strikes killed a number of people and wounded others, but didn’t elaborate.
The drone attack by Houthi rebels killed one person in the center of Tel Aviv and wounded at least 10 others near the US Embassy early Friday.
Virtually all projectiles fired from the southern Arabian country toward Israel have been intercepted. Israel said air defenses detected the drone on Friday but an “error” occurred. Experts have expressed doubt about the Houthis’ ability to overwhelm Israel’s air defense system from about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) away.
Analysts and Western intelligence services have long accused Iran of arming the Houthis, a claim Tehran denies.
In recent years, US naval forces have intercepted a number of ships packed with rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and missile parts en route from Iran to Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
The Houthis have long-range ballistic missiles, smaller cruise missiles and “suicide drones,” all capable of reaching southern Israel, according to weapons experts. The Houthis are open about their arsenal, regularly parading new missiles through the streets of Sanaa.
Deadly strikes inside Gaza
to Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza in the hope of saving the unborn child. Hours later, doctors told the AP that a baby boy had been delivered.
The still-unnamed newborn is stable, but has suffered from a shortage of oxygen and has been placed in an incubator, Dr. Khalil Dajran said on Friday.
Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam posted on X that the “blatant Israeli aggression” targeted fuel storage facilities and the province’s power station. He said the attacks aim “to increase the suffering of the people and to pressure Yemen to stop supporting Gaza.”
Israel’s military said it alone carried out the strikes and “our friends were updated.” An Israeli Defense Forces official didn’t say how many sites were targeted, but told journalists that the port is the main entry point for Iranian weapons. The official didn’t say whether it was Israel’s first attack on Yemen.
Abdulsalam said the attacks will only make Yemen’s people and armed forces more determined to support Gaza. “There will be impactful strikes,” Mohamed Ali al-Houthi of the Supreme Political Council in Yemen wrote on X. A media outlet controlled by Houthi rebels in Yemen, Al-Masirah TV, said the strikes on storage facilities for oil and diesel at the port and on the local electricity company caused deaths and injuries, and several people had severe burns. It said there was a large fire at the port and power cuts
“The distance just makes it difficult to launch the kind of barrage that would be necessary to inflict major damage,” said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Since January, US and UK forces have been striking targets in Yemen, in response to the Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping that the rebels have described as retaliation for Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza. However, many of the ships targeted weren’t linked to Israel.
The joint force airstrikes so far have done little to deter the Iranbacked force.
Also Saturday, at least 13 people were killed in three Israeli airstrikes that hit refugee camps in central Gaza overnight, according to Palestinian health officials, as cease-fire talks in Cairo appeared to make progress.
Among the dead in the Nuseirat and Bureij refugee camps were three children and one woman, according to Palestinian ambulance teams that transported the bodies to nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Associated Press journalists counted the 13 corpses.
Earlier, a medical team delivered a live baby from a Palestinian woman killed in an airstrike that hit her home in Nuseirat on Thursday. Ola al-Kurd, 25, was rushed by emergency workers
Al-Kurd’s “husband and a relative survived yesterday’s strike, while everyone else died,” Majid al-Kurd, the deceased woman’s cousin, told the AP on Saturday. “The baby is in good health based on what doctors said.” The war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel, has killed more than 38,900 people, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. The war has created a humanitarian catastrophe in the coastal Palestinian territory, displaced most of its 2.3 million population and triggered widespread hunger. Hamas’ attack in October killed 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, and militants took about 250 hostage. About 120 remain in captivity, with about a third of them believed to be dead, according to Israeli authorities. Wafaa Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Jack Jeffery reported from the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Oil tanks burn at the port in Hodeidah, Yemen on Saturday, July 20, 2024. The israeli army said it has struck several Houthi targets in western Yemen following
Blinken: Ukraine on track to ‘stand on its own feet’ militarily, even if US withdraws support
By Ellen Knickmeyer The Associated Press
ASPEN, Colo. — Ukraine is on its way to being able to “stand on its own feet” militarily, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, noting that more than 20 other countries have pledged to maintain their own military and financial aid to the country even if the US were to withdraw its support under a different president.
Blinken for the first time directly addressed the possibility that former President Donald Trump could win the November election and back away from commitments to Ukraine. The US, under President Joe Biden, has been the most important supporter of Ukraine’s more than two-year battle against invading Russian forces.
Trump’s public comments have varied between criticizing US backing for Ukraine’s defense and supporting it, while his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, has been a leader of Republican efforts to block what have been billions in US military and financial assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in 2022.
Concerns among Ukraine and its
supporters that the country could lose vital US support have increased as Trump’s campaign surges and Biden’s falters.
Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone on Friday.
“I noted the vital bipartisan and bicameral American support for protecting our nation’s freedom and independence,” Zelenskyy wrote on X, saying they agreed “to discuss at a personal meeting what steps can make peace fair and truly lasting.”
Trump said on his social media platform that he appreciated Zelenskyy’s outreach and promised to “end the war that has cost so many lives and devastated countless innocent
families.”
Blinken said Friday that any new administration would have to take into account strong bipartisan backing in Congress for Ukraine in the interests of countering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to expand Moscow’s territory and influence.
“Every administration has an opportunity, of course, to set its own policy. We can’t lock in the future,” Blinken said, speaking to an audience of US policymakers and others at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado.
But he pointed to the security agreements that the United States and more than 20 other allies—including
some NATO partners, Japan and the European Union—signed at a NATO summit in Washington this month.
“Were we to renege on that ... I suppose that’s possible, but happily we’ve got another 20 some-odd countries that are doing the same thing,” Blinken said.
Ukraine itself was on a trajectory to ensure it “stands on its own feet militarily, economically, democratically,” Blinken said.
Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba also made similar appeals to the international community Friday during an online question and answer session on social media site Reddit. He particularly stressed Kyiv’s willingness to work with whichever party won the US general election.
“I believe any US administration should respect three features that make Ukraine different from other partners of America who had sought its support,” he said.
“We never asked US troops to fight and die for Ukraine, we only requested weapons and support to our economy; we never intended to rely on foreign aid indefinitely and this is why we are reforming our economy and tripled domestic weapon production last year and plan to increase it sixfold this year; and we are fully transparent in using the US assistance.” Associated Press writer Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.
Vietnam Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, the country’s most powerful leader, dies at age 80
ANOI, Vietnam—Nguyen
HPhu Trong, general secretary of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party and the country’s most powerful politician, has died following months of ill health, official media said Friday. He was 80.
“General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party Nguyen Phu Trong passed away at 13:38 on July 19, 2024, at the 108 Central Military Hospital due to old age and serious illness,” the Nhan Dan newspaper said. Official media said a state funeral would be held.
Trong had dominated Vietnamese politics since 2011, when he was elected party chief. During his tenure, he worked to consolidate the Communist Party’s power in Vietnam’s single-party political system. In the decade before he took the top role in Vietnamese politics, the balance of power had shifted more toward the governmental wing led by then-Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
Born in 1944 in Hanoi, Trong was a Marxist-Leninist ideologue who earned a degree in philosophy before becoming a member of the Communist Party at the age of 22. He viewed corruption as the single gravest threat in maintaining the party’s legitimacy.
By Julhas Alam & Sheikh Saaliq
The Associated Press
Dha K a , B angladesh—Bangladesh’s top court on Sunday scaled back a controversial quota system for government job applicants after it led to nationwide unrest and deadly clashes between police and protesters that have killed scores of people.
The Supreme Court in its verdict ordered 93% of the government jobs to be allocated on a merit-based system, leaving the remaining 7% for relatives of veterans who fought in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971 and other categories. Earlier, the system reserved 30% of such jobs the relatives of war veterans. Sunday’s verdict comes after weeks of demonstrations—mostly led by students—that turned deadly on Tuesday after protesters began clashing with police. During the week, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets and hurled smoke grenades to scatter stone-throwing protesters who filled the streets and university campuses. Sporadic clashes in some parts of Dhaka, the capital, were reported on Saturday but it was not immediately clear whether there were any fatalities.
Bangladeshi authorities haven’t shared any official numbers of those killed and injured, but the Daily Prothom a l o newspaper
By Sam Harshbarger The Associated Press
already fractured school system, taking away education for millions of children who have also been forced to flee their homes, miss vaccina -
reported Saturday that at least 103 people have died so far.
a he ad of the court’s hearing, soldiers patrolled cities across the South a sia n country, while a nationwide curfew and an i nternet blackout continued to remain in force. h o me Minister a s aduzzaman Khan said the curfew will be relaxed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday for people to run essential errands.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh h asi na’s government has declared Sunday and Monday as public holidays, with only emergency services allowed to operate. The chaos highlights cracks in Bangladesh’s governance and economy and the frustration of young people who lack good jobs upon graduation. i t a lso represents the
tions and suffer from inadequate nutrition. The group, a project of the u n ited Kingdom-based Center for i n formation Resilience, identified a total of 174 attacks on Myanmar schools and universities since the military seized power from the elected government of a u ng San Suu Kyi three years ago. i t s aid the count came from evidence in social media and news reports.
o t her groups have suggested higher numbers of attacks. The g l obal Coalition to Protect Education from a t tack, an advocacy group based in n e w York, counted over 245 reports of attacks on schools and
biggest challenge to h a sina since she won a fourth consecutive term in office after January’s elections, which were boycotted by the main opposition groups.
Protesters argue the quota system is discriminatory and benefits supporters of h a sina, whose a w ami League party led the independence movement, saying it should be replaced with a merit-based system. h asi na has defended the quota system, saying that veterans deserve the highest respect for their contributions in the war against Pakistan, regardless of their political affiliation.
Representatives from both sides met late Friday in an attempt to reach a resolution and Law Minister a n isul h u q said the government was open to discussing their
190 reports of military use of educational facilities in 2022-23.
The 2021 military takeover was met with widespread nonviolent demonstrations for democracy, but those were crushed with lethal force. Many opponents of military rule then took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. The military government is estimated to control less than half the country.
“Education underpinned the democratic movement in Myanmar, but today Myanmar’s youth are witnessing their schools—and life opportunities—reduced to rubble,” said Matt
demands. The demands included the reform of the current quota system, the reopening of student dormitories shut by the police following the clashes and for some university officials to step down after failing to protect campuses from the violence.
The main opposition Bangladesh n at ionalist Party has backed the protests, vowing to organize its own demonstrations as many of its supporters have joined the student-led protests. h o wever, B n P s aid in a statement its followers were not responsible for the violence and denied the ruling party’s accusations of using the protests for political gains.
The a w ami League and the B n P have often accused each other of fueling political chaos and violence, most recently ahead of the country’s national election, which was marred by a crackdown on several opposition figures. h a sina’s government had accused the opposition party of attempting to disrupt the vote.
i n 2018, the government halted the job quotas following mass student protests. But in June, Bangladesh’s h gh Court nullified that decision and reinstated the quotas after relatives of 1971 veterans filed petitions. The Supreme Court suspended the ruling, pending an appeal hearing.
h a sina has called on protesters to wait for the court’s verdict. Saaliq reported from New Delhi, India.
Lawrence, project director at Myanmar Witness. “ i f e ducation is not protected throughout Myanmar, the next generation’s view of the world risks being driven by factionalism and war, rather than hope and reason.”
Student enrollment in Myanmar dropped 80 percent from the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 through 2022, a year after the army’s takeover, according to the humanitarian group Save the Children. By mid-2022, about half the country’s children, or 7.8 million, were not attending schools, it said.
Myanmar Witness said it documented reports of 64 fatalities and 106 injuries as -
“A country without discipline would be chaotic and unstable,” Trong said in 2016 after being reelected to the party’s helm. Officially, Vietnam has no top leader, but the Communist Party chief is traditionally seen as the most powerful. He launched a sweeping anticorruption campaign known as the “blazing furnace” that singed both business and political elites. Since 2016, thousands of party officials have been disciplined. They included former presidents Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vo Van Thuong and the former head of parliament, Vuong Dinh Hue. In all, eight members of the powerful Politburo were ousted on corruption allegations, compared to none between 1986 and 2016.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “saddened” by Trong’s death and called him “a pivotal figure in Vietnam’s recent history,” U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.
During Trong’s tenure as president and Communist Party chief, Guterres said, “Vietnam continued its remarkable development journey to emerge as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and an important partner for the United Nations,” the spokesman said.
Trong studied in the Soviet Union from 1981 to 1983, and there was speculation that under his leadership, Vietnam would move closer to Russia and China. However, the Southeast Asian nation followed a pragmatic policy of “bamboo diplomacy,” a phrase he coined that referred to the plant’s flexibility, bending but not breaking in the shifting headwinds of geopolitics.
Trong’s legacy is mixed, with the unintended consequence of the antigraft campaign being an erosion of institutions within the Communist Party, said Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow in the Vietnam Studies Program at Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute. The party institutions were the bedrock ensuring that a balance of power remained among its different factions, he said.
“Vietnam has become more and more like China, where institutions and norms doesn’t really matter as much as personal power,” Giang said.
Vietnamese President To Lam was appointed the party caretaker on July 18 while Trong received treatment for his ill health. As Vietnam’s top security official, Lam had led the anti-graft campaign until becoming president in May, when his predecessor resigned after being caught up in it. The party’s Politburo asked Lam to “preside over the work of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and the Secretariat,” according to a statement from its central office which was the first official confirmation of Trong’s poor health.
Rumors about his health have swirled in Vietnamese politics since he was first hospitalized in 2019, and more recently when he appeared extremely frail while meeting visiting Russian President Vladmir Putin. Trong’ death leaves behind a yawning political vacuum in Vietnam. Although Lam is widely viewed as the likely next party chief, Giang predicted “a very uncertain time” in Vietnamese
“Now
Vietnam maintained its traditional ties with its much larger neighbor, China, dispute differences over sovereignty in the South China Sea. But it also drew closer to the United States, elevating its ties with its former Vietnam War foe to its highest diplomatic status, a comprehensive strategic partnership. The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party offered its condolences to the Vietnamese people. It said that “Trong was a close comrade and sincere friends” of China’s ruling party and called him “a staunch Marxist and a great leader,” the state news agency Xinhua reported US President Joe Biden issued a statement mourning Trong’s death. He called Trong “a champion of the deep ties between the American and Vietnamese people whose leadership helped nurture the friendship and partnership our countries enjoy today.”
sociated with the 176 attacks on schools, though most could not be verified.
Myanmar’s shadow n at ional u n ity g o vernment, which leads the pro-democracy struggle against military rule, estimated in January that more than 570 children under age 18 had been killed in various circumstances by security forces. u p wards of 8,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, acc ording to the multinational a r med Conflict Location & Event Data Project.
Myanmar Witness put most of the responsibility for the destruction of schools on airstrikes conducted by the Myanmar
Airlines and other businesses rush to get back on track after global tech disruption
The Associated Press
Transport providers, businesses and governments on s a turday are rushing to get all their systems back online after long disruptions following a widespread technology outage.
t h e biggest continuing effect has been on air travel. Carriers canceled thousands of flights on Friday and now have many of their planes and crews in the wrong place, while airports facing continued problems with checking in and security.
a t t he heart of the massive disruption is Crowd s t rike, a cybersecurity firm that provides software to scores of companies worldwide.
t h e company says the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows, noting that the issue behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack.
Here’s the Latest:
Microsoft: 8.5 million devices on its Windows system were affected
Microsoft says 8.5 million devices running its Windows operating system were affected by a faulty cybersecurity update Friday that led to worldwide disruptions.
a s a turday blog post from Microsoft was the first estimate of the scope of the disruptions caused by cybersecurity firm Crowd s t rike’s software update.
“We currently estimate that Crowd s t rike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines,” said the blog post from Microsoft cybersecurity executive David Weston.
“While the percentage was small, the broad economic and societal impacts reflect the use of Crowd s t rike by enterprises that run many critical services.” Weston said such a significant disturbance is rare but “demonstrates the interconnected nature of our broad ecosystem.” Windows is the dominant operating system for personal computers around the world.
Austrian doctors’ group calls for better data protection for patients In a u stria, a leading doctors organization said the global I t outage exposed the vulnerability of health systems reliant on digital systems.
“Yesterday’s incidents underscore how important it is for hospitals to have analogue backups” to safeguard patient care, Harald Mayer, vice president of the a u strian Chamber of Doctors, said in a statement on the organization’s website.
t h e organization called on governments to impose high standards in patient data protection and security and on health providers to train staff and put systems in place to manage crises.
“Happily, where there were problems, these were kept small and short-lived and many areas of care were unaffected” in a u stria, Mayer said.
Germany warns of scams after major IT outage
BE r L I n t h e German government’s I t security agency says numerous companies are still struggling with the consequences of a far-reaching technology outage.
“Many business processes and procedures have been disturbed by the breakdown of computer systems,” the B s I agency said on its website.
But the agency also said s a turday that many impacted areas have returned to normal. It warned that cybercriminals were trying to take advantage of the situation through phishing, fake websites and other scams and that “unofficial” software code was in circulation.
t h e agency said it was not yet clear how faulty code ended up in
the Crowd s t rike software update blamed for triggering the outage.
european airports appear to be close to normal L on D on Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow, said it is busy but operating normally on s a turday.
t h e airport said in a statement that “all systems are back up and running and passengers are getting on with their journeys smoothly.”
s o me 167 flights scheduled to depart from U.K. airports on Friday were canceled, while 171 flights due to land were axed.
Meanwhile, flights at Berlin a i rport were departing on or close to schedule, German news agency dpa reported, citing an airport spokesman.
n i neteen flights took off in the early hours of s a turday after authorities exempted them from the usual ban on night flights.
o n Friday, 150 of the 552 scheduled inbound and outbound flights at the airport were canceled over the I t outage, disrupting the plans of thousands of passengers at the start of the summer vacation season in the German capital.
German hospital slowly restoring its systems after widespread cancellations
BE r LI n t h e s c hleswig-Holstein University Hospital in northern Germany, which on Friday canceled all elective surgery because of the global I t o utage, said s a turday that it was gradually restoring its systems.
In a statement on its website, it forecast that operations at its two branches in Kiel and Luebeck would return to normal by Monday and that “elective surgery can take place as planned and our ambulances can return to service.”
Britain’s transport system still trying to get back on track L on D on Britain’s travel and transport industries are struggling to get back on schedule after the global security outage with airline passengers facing cancellations and delays on the first day of summer holidays for many school pupils.
Gatwick a i rport said “a majority” of scheduled flights were expected to take off. Manchester a i rport said passengers were being checked in manually and there could be last-minute cancellations.
t h e po rt of Dover said it was seeing an influx of displaced air passengers, with hourlong waits to enter the port to catch ferries to France. Meanwhile, Britain’s n ational Cyber s e curity Center warned people and businesses to be on the lookout for phishing attempts as “opportunistic malicious actors” try to take advantage of the outage.
t h e n a tional Cyber s e curity Center’s former head, Ciaran Martin, said the worst of the crisis was over, “because the nature of the crisis is that it went very wrong very quickly. It was spotted quite quickly and essentially it was turned off. He told s k y n ews that some businesses would be able to get back to normal very quickly, but for sectors such as aviation it would take longer.
“If you’re in aviation, you’ve got people, planes and staffs all stranded in the wrong place… s o w e are looking at days. I’d be surprised
if we’re looking at weeks.”
Germany airline expects most of its flights to run normally
BE r L I n Eurowings, a budget subsidiary of Lufthansa, said it expected to return to “largely scheduled” flight operations on s aturday.
o n F riday, the global I t outage had forced the airline to cancel about 20 percent of its flights, mostly on domestic routes. pa ssengers were asked to take trains instead.
o n line check-in, check-in at the airport, boarding processes, booking and rebooking flights are all possible again,” the airline said s aturday on X. “However, due to the considerable extent of the global I t disruption there may still be isolated disruptions” for passengers, it said.
Delta Air Lines and its regional affiliates have canceled hundreds of flights
Da L L a s Delta a i r Lines and its regional affiliates canceled more than a quarter of their schedule on the East Coast by midafternoon Friday, aviation data provider Cirium said.
More than 1,100 flights for Delta and its affiliates have been canceled. United and United Express had canceled more than 500 flights, or 12 percent of their schedule, and a m erican a i rlines’ network had canceled 450 flights, 7.5 percent of its schedule.
s outhwest and a l aska do not use the Crowd s t rike software that led to the global internet outages and had canceled fewer than a halfdozen flights each.
Portland, Oregon, mayor declares an emergency over the outage port L a n D , o re .—Mayor te d Wheeler declared an emergency Friday after more than half of the city’s computer systems were affected by the global Internet outage. Wheeler said during a news conference that while emergency services calls weren’t interrupted; dispatchers had to manually track 911 calls with pen and paper for a few hours. He said 266 of the city’s 487 computer systems were affected.
Border crossings into the US are delayed san DIEG o pe ople seeking to enter the U s from both the north and the south found that the border crossings were delayed by the Internet outage.
t he s a n Ysidro port of Entry was gridlocked Friday morning with pedestrians waiting three hours to cross, according to the s a n Diego Union-tr ibune.
Even cars with people approved for a U s Customers and Border p r otection “ tr usted tr aveler” program for low-risk passengers waited up to 90 minutes. t h e program, known as sE n tr I , moves passengers more quickly through customs and passport control if they make an appointment for an interview and submit to a background check to travel through customs and passport control more quickly when they arrive in the U s M eanwhile, at the U s - Canada border, Windsor po lice reported long delays at the crossings at the a m bassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel.
Democrats split over who would be next: VP Kamala Harris or launch ‘mini primary’
By Lisa Mascaro, Darlene Superville & Will Weissert The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—As Democrats churn over whether President Joe Biden should stay in the 2024 race, the party turmoil is deepening over whether his Vice President Kamala Harris is next in line for the job or if a “mini primary” should be quickly launched to choose a new nominee before the party’s August convention.
Harris hit the campaign fundraising circuit Saturday in breezy Provincetown, Massachusetts, and picked up a nod from the state’s prominent Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who said before the visit that if Biden were to step aside, his vice president is “ready to step up.”
At the event, which organizers said raised $2 million and was attended by 1,000 guests, Harris did not mention the calls for Biden to leave the race or for her to replace him, instead repeating one of her regular campaign lines: “We’re going to win this election,” she said.
“Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in equality? Do we believe in the promise of America? Then are we ready to fight for it?” she called to a cheering crowd. “When we fight, we win.”
But installing Harris to the top of the ticket, which would be a historymaking moment for the party elevat -
ing the first woman, Black person and person of South Asian descent as its presidential nominee, is not at all certain. Officials from the highest ranks, including Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, prefer an open process, some believing it would strengthen any Democratic nominee to confront Republican Donald Trump.
“If you think that there is consensus among the people who want Joe Biden to leave....that they will support Kamala, Vice President Harris, you would be mistaken,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said this week on a widely discussed social media post. With the publicly aired deliberations, Democrats are prolonging an extraordinary moment of uncertainty and upheaval. Biden has weighty options before him this weekend that could set the direction of the country and his party as the nation heads toward the November election.
It’s creating a stark juxtaposition
with Republicans, who, after years of bitter and chaotic infighting over Trump, are energized and embracing the former president’s far-right takeover of the GOP, despite his criminal conviction in a hush money case and pending federal criminal indictment for trying to overturn the 2020 election before the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Biden, despite a week of campaign stops, interviews and insistence that he is the best candidate to take on Trump in a rematch, hasn’t been able to quell the uproar. Skeptical Democrats doubt he can keep the White House after his stumbled debate performance last month, and worry he will take hopes for party control of Congress down with him.
On Saturday, Rep. Mark Takano, the top Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, added his name to the list of nearly three-dozen Democrats in Congress who say it’s
time for Biden to leave the race. The Californian called on Biden to “pass the torch,” to Harris.
More lawmakers are expected to speak out in the days ahead. Donors have raised concerns.
“There is no joy in the recognition he should not be our nominee in November,” said Democratic Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky, one of the Democrats urging Biden’s exit from the race.
From his beach home in Delaware, Biden, 81, is isolating after announcing a Covid infection, but also politically with a small circle of family and close advisers. White House doctor Kevin O’Connor said Saturday that Biden’s symptoms were improving, but that he remained plagued by a dry cough and hoarseness. He received separate briefings Saturday on domestic and national security issues, the White House said.
The president’s team insisted he’s
ready to return to the campaign this coming week to counter what he called a “dark vision” laid out by Trump.
“Together, as a party and as a country, we can and will defeat him at the ballot box,” Biden said in a statement Friday.
But outside the Rehoboth enclave, the debate and passions are intensifying.
Very few of the Democratic lawmakers who are agitating for Biden to leave have mentioned Harris in their statements, and some have said they favor an open nominating process that would throw the party’s endorsement behind a new candidate.
A person familiar with Pelosi’s thinking said that while she is a friend and admirer of the vice president, she believes that anybody who wants to be president is better served by such a process, believing that whoever emerges as the candidate would be strengthened to win the election. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to characterize Pelosi’s thought process.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California, a Pelosi ally who has called on Biden to step aside, said Friday on MSNBC that some kind of “mini-primary” that would include Harris makes sense.
Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Peter Welch of Vermont have both called for Biden to exit the race and said they would favor an open nominating process at the convention.
“Having it be open would strengthen whoever is the ultimate nominee,” Welch said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Other Democrats say it would be politically unthinkable to move to
someone other than Harris, and logistically unworkable with a virtual nominating vote being planned for early next month, before the Democratic convention opens in Chicago on August 19.
Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, who has called on Biden to step aside, explicitly endorsed Harris as a replacement.
“To give Democrats a strong, viable path to winning the White House, I am calling upon President Biden to release his delegates and empower Vice-President Harris to step forward to become the Democratic nominee for President,” McCollum said in her statement.
The standoff over Biden’s political future has become increasingly untenable for the party and its leaders, a month from the Democratic National Convention that should be a unifying moment to nominate their incumbent president to confront Trump. Instead, the party is at a crossroads unseen in generations.
It’s unclear what else, if anything, the president could do to reverse course and win back lawmakers and Democratic voters, who are wary of his ability to defeat Trump and serve another term.
Biden, who sent a defiant letter to Democrats in Congress vowing to stay in the race, has yet to visit Capitol Hill to shore up support, an absence noticed by senators and representatives. The president did conduct a round of virtual conversations with various caucuses in the past week—some of which ended poorly. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Seung Min Kim, Farnoush Amiri and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
Top Un court says israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian territories is illegal and should end
TBy Mike Corder
The Associated Press
HE HAGUE, Netherlands—The top United Nations court said Friday that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on it to end, and for settlement construction to stop immediately, issuing an unprecedented, sweeping condemnation of Israel’s rule over the lands it captured 57 years ago.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly denounced the nonbinding opinion issued by the 15-judge panel of the International Court of Justice, saying the territories are part of the Jewish people’s historic homeland. But the resounding breadth of the decision could impact international opinion and fuel moves for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
The judges pointed to a wide list of policies, including the building and expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, use of the area’s natural resources, the annexation and imposition of permanent control over lands and discriminatory policies against Palestinians, all of which it said violated international law.
The court said Israel had no right to sovereignty in the territories, was violating international laws against acquiring territory by force and was impeding Palestinians’ right to selfdetermination. It said other nations were obliged not to “render aid or assistance in maintaining” Israel’s presence in the territories. It said Israel must end settlement construction immediately and that existing settlements must be removed, according to a summary of the more than 80-page
opinion read out by court President Nawaf Salam.
Israel’s “abuse of its status as the occupying power” renders its “presence in the occupied Palestinian territory unlawful,” the court said, saying its presence must be ended as “rapidly as possible.”
The court’s opinion, sought by the UN General Assembly after a Palestinian request, came against the backdrop of Israel’s devastating military assault on Gaza, which was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7. In a separate case, the International Court of Justice is considering a South African claim that Israel’s campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide, a claim that Israel vehemently denies.
The court said the General Assembly and Security Council—where staunch Israeli ally the United States holds a veto—should consider “the precise modalities” to end Israel’s presence in the territories.
UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres will promptly transmit the advisory opinion to the 193-member world body and “it is for the General Assembly to decide how to proceed in the matter,” UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said.
The secretary-general reiterates his call for Israel and the Palestinians to engage “on the long-delayed political path towards ending the occupation and resolving the conflict in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and bilateral agreements,” the spokesperson said.
Guterres also stressed that a twostate solution is “the only viable path” to seeing Israel and “a fully independent, democratic, contiguous, viable and sovereign Palestinian state” living side by side in peace and security, Haq said.
Israel, which normally considers the United Nations and international tribunals as unfair and biased, didn’t send a legal team to the hearings. Instead, it submitted written comments, saying that the questions put
to the court are prejudiced and fail to address Israeli security concerns. Israeli officials have said the court’s intervention could undermine the peace process, which has been stagnant for more than a decade.
“The Jewish people are not conquerors in their own land—not in our eternal capital Jerusalem and not in the land of our ancestors in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued by his office, using the biblical terms for the West Bank.
“No false decision in The Hague will distort this historical truth and likewise the legality of Israeli settlement in all the territories of our homeland cannot be contested.”
Speaking outside the court, Riad Malki, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, called the opinion “a watershed moment for Palestine, for justice and for international law.”
He said other nations must now “uphold the clear obligations” outlined by the court. “No actions of any kind… to support Israel’s illegal occupation.”
Hamas welcomed the court’s decision and said in a statement that “serious steps on the ground” need to be taken in response.
Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war. The Palestinians seek all three areas for an independent state.
Israel considers the West Bank to be disputed territory, the future of which should be decided in negotiations, while it has moved populations there in settlements to solidify its hold. It has annexed east Jerusalem in a move that isn’t internationally recognized, while it withdrew from Gaza in 2005 but maintained a blockade of the territory after Hamas took power in 2007. The international community
generally considers all three areas to be occupied territory.
The court’s decision strikes at the heart of the ambiguity of Israel’s administration of the territories. Israel hasn’t annexed the West Bank— though settler groups have pressed it to do so—but it calls it part of its homeland and has effectively treated it as an extension of the nation. Along with the settlements, it has appropriated large swaths of the territory as “state lands.” At the same time, Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly rejected the creation of any Palestinian state. Abbas’ Palestinian Authority has been restricted to control over divided enclaves scattered around the West Bank.
The Palestinians presented arguments at hearings in February, along with 49 other nations and three international organizations. In the hearings, Malki accused Israel of apartheid and urged the United Nations’ top court to declare that Israel’s occupation of lands sought by the Palestinians is illegal and must end immediately and unconditionally for any hope for a two-state future to survive.
Erwin van Veen, a senior research fellow at the Clingendael think tank in The Hague, said before the decision that a ruling that Israel’s policies breach international law would “isolate Israel further internationally, at least from a legal point of view.”
Israel says the barrier is a security measure. Palestinians say the structure amounts to a massive land grab, because it frequently dips into the West Bank.
The court said that Israel’s construction of settlements in the West Bank violated international laws prohibiting countries from moving their population into territories they occupy.
Israel has built well over 100 settlements, according to the antisettlement monitoring group Peace Now. The West Bank settler population has grown by more than 15 percent in the past five years to more than 500,000 Israelis, according to a pro-settler group. Their residents are Israeli citizens governed by
He said such a ruling would remove “any kind of legal, political, philosophical underpinning of the Israeli expansion project.” It could also increase the number of countries that recognize a Palestinian state, in particular in the Western world, following the recent example of Spain, Norway and Ireland, he said. It’s not the first time the ICJ has been asked to give its legal opinion on Israeli policies. Two decades ago, the court ruled that Israel’s West Bank separation barrier was “contrary to i nternational law.” Israel boycotted those proceedings, saying they were politically motivated.
PHL aims to sell more food products to China
By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan
CHINA is still an important market for Philippine agribased products, including coconut snacks and processed fruits, according to the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport).
Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. said 10 local exporters generated nearly $1 million in sales from the recent business mission to Guangzhou, China.
“Congratulations to the exporters in this mission, who I understand generated close to $1 million in sales under negotiation,” Ortiz-Luis said.
“Their success gives us further confidence that China remains to be an important market for our agri-based products. We are hopeful that the gains from this initial mission can be sustained, if not expanded, to other provinces in China.”
Investment Center-Guangzhou and Philexport, organized an outbound business mission to Guangzhou, China held from June 19 to 23.
The Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB), together with the Philippine Trade and
In a statement issued by the DTI over the weekend, the agency said this marks the first Guangzhou
food mission with 10 Philippine exporters engaged with nearly 60 buyers, key retail accounts, food chamber members, and officials. The delegation was composed of makers of processed fruits, coconut snacks, and herbal supplements. Joining the business mission were
NFA to implement reforms in rice procurement scheme
TProfood International Corp., Tropicana Food Products Inc., Pasciolco Agri Ventures, Lionheart Farms, Soyuz Foods International Inc., Tropical Palm Herb Manufacturing, MFP Home of Quality Food Corporation, B&C Healthy Snack Foods Inc., Mira’s Turmeric Products, and New Asia Oil Inc.
The DTI said the mission featured a business-to-business matching event, conducted in collaboration with Food2China, an online-to-offline service platform affiliated with the Guangdong China Imported Food Association.
“The platform has more than 400 registered members of influential and prestigious importers, distributors, e-commerce, and caterers throughout China.”
A networking session also took place with key accounts from the Guangzhou Chain Operations Association, which includes some of China’s biggest
food retailers such as Vanguard and 7-11, among others. Additionally, market visits to wellknown food chains like Hema Fresh, SJ, Sam’s Club, and Vanguard were conducted.
Meanwhile, the meeting with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) offered “collaborative” opportunities for delegates with its food chambers and e-commerce members.
CCPIT Vice President Zhang Chaoping highlighted Guangdong’s significant market potential, given its leading share of GDP and population size in China.
Latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the Philippines’s exports to China reached $3.73 billion in January to May. Imports from China during the period reached nearly $13 billion.
By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia
HE National Food Author -
ity (NFA) assured farmers that the government would put in place reforms that would make it easier for them to sell their crop to the agency.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson noted the agency’s plan to procure vehicles to transport stocks directly from farms to warehouses as part of the proposed 2025 budget to ease the logistical challenges faced by farmers’ cooperatives.
The NFA is also targeting to procure postharvest facilities, including dryers and rice mills, which will enhance rice processing capacity and efficiency.
Lacson said the NFA will continue its “close cooperation” with
DBy Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox
AVAO CITY–Davao del
Norte’s capital Tagum
City is using a type of plant to filter wastewater from its slaughterhouse.
The initiative was a result of a memorandum of agreement the city government signed with the Department of Department of Science and Technology-Region 9 (DOST-9) early this year.
The agreement called for the deployment of the Vertical Helophyte Filter System (VHFS) at the Tagum City Public Slaughterhouse.
VHFS is a wastewater
farmers and other industry stakeholders to effectively respond to challenges and improve agricultural practices and livelihoods across the country.
The NFA chief recently had a dialogue with some NFA Council members in southern Philippines where they also inspected the facilities and rice inventory under the purview of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“During the dialogue, farmers reported higher agricultural productivity and substantial income increases due to governmental support like subsidies for machinery and seeds and reduced labor costs due to mechanization.”
Vicencio Mahinay, president of the Provincial Farmers’ Action Council in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental, said the pricing strategy was instrumental in bol -
treatment system that uses plants called helophytes to purify and remove pollutants from the wastewater, the DOST said.
The system uses a vertical flow configuration, which allows for efficient treatment of wastewater using the natural purifying properties of the plants.
The Tagum City Public Slaughterhouse generates an average of 80,000 liters of wastewater daily, categorized as slaughterhouse wastewater, according to the DOST.
“This poses both environmental and health challenges, requiring an effective solution. The VHFS for the slaughterhouse will
stering farmers’ incomes. This was echoed by representatives of various farmers cooperative and associations and Irrigators Associations.
Lacson reiterated that the NFA’s palay buying price will remain “competitive.”
“Unless revised by the NFA Council, our ceiling price for clean and dry palay will stay at P30 a kilo.”
As of end-June, the grains agency said it has procured 3.5 million metric tons (MMT) of palay.
In mid-April, the NFA Council raised the buying price of palay to a range of P17 to P30 a kilo from P16 to P23 per kilo to help the agency compete with private traders.
Under the law, the food agency is required to maintain a national buffer stock for rice to cover the
be specifically designed and constructed to treat the 80,000 liters of wastewater per day.”
DOST-9 and the local government of Tagum said the project was also focused on promoting the sustainability of the operation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as the adoption of eco-friendly and costeffective wastewater treatment technologies.
DOST Regional Director Anthony C. Sales hopes that this would inspire the adoption of the initiative in other parts of the country.
“This partnership between DOST-9 and local government
requirements of the staple food in case of emergencies.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicated that local traders bought dry unhusked rice at a higher price in June.
A month before the start of the lean season for rice, PSA data showed that the average quotation for dry palay jumped by nearly 28 percent to P24.59 per kilo in June, from P19.23 per kilo a year ago. The lean season for rice is from July to September.
“Farmgate prices refer to the prices received by farmers for the sale of their produce at the first point of sale net of the total marketing cost paid by the farmers,” the PSA said.
“These prices are determined at the farmgate or first point of sale transactions and are also known as ‘producer prices.’”
of Tagum highlights our commitment to advancing sustainable practices and addressing environmental challenges by harnessing Science and Technology.”
The local government has pledged financial support after the DOST announced an initial grant of P2.8 million for the project.
The DOST said the project was under its Wastewater Treatment System Upgrading Program (WATSUP), which aims to introduce low-cost, naturebased wastewater treatment solutions to benefit local MSMEs, public facilities, and small communities.
Brazil halts all chicken exports to China as virus takes toll
benefiting competitors in places like the US. China imported about 276,000 metric tons of chicken from Brazil in the first half of 2024, or 11 percent of the nation’s total shipments. Brazil chicken exports generated revenues of $4.6 billion in the first half of 2024, according to government data. Newcastle disease, which attacks the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds, was reported on Wednesday. The case seems to be isolated as there is no sign the virus is spreading, according to Brazil’s agriculture minister.
Ghana cocoa purchases GHANA is seeking to limit some cocoa purchases for next season, a sign that severe shortages that have plagued the market and sent futures prices to a record may be far from over.
In a letter to buyers this week, the world’s No. 2 producer said it will determine how much of the next crop can be sold as specialty cocoa based on total production, and that the regulator will allocate beans “equitably” among buyers. Specialty cocoa beans include the ones with certification such as Fairtrade, UTZ and Rainforest Alliance, along with traceable beans.
The move to restrict some purchases signals there’s concern the next crop in Ghana may not recover as significantly as some market watchers expect, even with favorable weather and timely supplies of pesticide and fertilizer. Cocoa futures traded in New York broke record after record this year, but have declined more than 30 percent since finally peaking in April.
“Volumes to be traded as specialty during
the 2024-25 cocoa year will be determined as a percentage of total production and allocated equitably” to registered buyers, Emmanuel A. Opoku, deputy chief executive responsible for operation at the Ghana Cocoa Board, said in the letter dated July 16 and seen by Bloomberg. A spokesman for Ghana Cocoa Board didn’t respond to telephone calls and a text message seeking comment. Ghana has had to postpone deliveries of at least 250,000 metric
funding to transform food systems
THE International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) pushed for the development of “new and innovative” ways to mobilize funding to end hunger by 2030.
The United Nations agency said the funding gap to end hunger “is immense” and called for more funding to transform food systems and develop rural areas.
Ifad cited estimates which showed that every dollar spent on resilience now saves up to $10 dollars in emergency aid in the future.
“Our best chance of delivering on our commitment to end hunger by 2030 lies in scaling up investments, and developing new and innovative ways to mobilize funding,” said Alvaro Lario, Ifad president, during a recent event in New York.
“We have to better direct the funding we have to where it is needed most, in particular rural areas of low-income countries where hunger is most prevalent. These are the same areas that should be producing enough food and are the areas that can benefit the most from investments.”
Ifad noted that small farms under 5 hectares produce almost half of the world’s food—on less that one fifth of the farmland. Yet, rural populations in developing countries are among the world’s poorest and hungriest.
“Small-scale farmers receive less than one percent of global climate finance. For the past two decades, Official Development Assistance (ODA) for agriculture has been stagnant at just 5-6 percent of total ODA, nearing $10 billion in recent years, and falling short of the needs.
At the same time, investment in agriculture is estimated to be at
least 2-3 times more effective in reducing poverty than investment in other sectors.
Lario also called for new and innovative ways to finance the fight against hunger and malnutrition.
“By crowding-in technical and financial investments from the private sector, we can scale up approaches that build rural economies without poverty and hunger.”
Thanks to its strong credit rating and experience in inclusive rural transformation, Ifad has been able to issue its sixth sustainable development bond through private placements and raise more than $480 million from global pension funds or insurers interested in investing in a more equitable and sustainable world.
Ifad is the only UN fund and the only UN specialized agency other than the World Bank group to operate on capital markets.
Ifad also said the private sector is an integral part of closing the Sustainable Development Goal financing gap. For small-scale farmers, private sector investment is a lifeline, providing access to capital, employment opportunities, technology and markets.
“To that end, IFAD is investing in promising small and medium enterprises in rural areas and small agrifood businesses to strengthen their services to smallscale farmers and provide farmers access to technology and markets, ultimately attracting additional investments from the private sector,” it said.
By de-risking investments and creating an enabling environment, Ifad said it is able to foster more public-private partnerships with agrifood businesses and entrepreneurs.
Breaking the chains of political dynasties for better governance
The prevalence of political dynasties in the Philippines is a long-standing issue that has hindered the nation’s progress for decades. The 1987 Constitution explicitly prohibits political dynasties, recognizing the need for equal access to opportunities for public service. however, the reality on the ground tells a different story. It is disheartening to witness the increasing number of lawmakers with relatives holding seats in Congress, further entrenching the power of political dynasties.
In a commendable move, Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed Senate Bill 2730, aimed at finally fulfilling the mandate of the Constitution by prohibiting political dynasties. This bill is a crucial step towards leveling the playing field in Philippine politics and governance. It is a call to break the barriers that prevent the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino people. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Padilla files Anti-Political Dynasty bill,” July 15, 2024).
The evidence supporting the need to address political dynasties is overwhelming. Padilla references a study by Harvard University, which highlights how political dynasties undermine institutional reforms and perpetuate the power of elites over time.
Additionally, data from our local elections between 1988 and 2019 reveal a staggering increase in the number of governors, vice governors, and mayors with relatives in office. This rise in political dynasties has been accompanied by negative consequences, including higher crime rates, poor governance, and lower investment in essential areas such as infrastructure and healthcare. Political dynasties not only concentrate power within a select few but also compromise political competition and undermine accountability. By monopolizing resources and positions of authority, they stifle the entry of new voices and fresh perspectives into public service. This hampers the development of a vibrant and inclusive democracy that represents the interests of all Filipino citizens.
Under Senate Bill 2730, strict measures are proposed to curtail the influence of political dynasties. The bill prohibits spouses and relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity from holding or running for any elective office in the same city, province, or party list as the incumbent elective official seeking re-election. It also disqualifies relatives from running for the same national position as the incumbent if their constituency is national in character. These provisions aim to sever the succession of power within dynasties, preventing immediate family members from assuming the position of their relatives.
Furthermore, the bill mandates candidates to file a sworn statement with the Commission on Elections, affirming that they do not have a political dynasty relationship with any incumbent public official running for office in the same city or province. The Comelec is empowered to conduct summary proceedings to disqualify candidates found violating the anti-political dynasty act. This proactive approach ensures the enforcement of the law and acts as a deterrent against political dynasties seeking to maintain their grip on power.
It is imperative that the Senate and the House of Representatives prioritize the passage of the anti-political dynasty measure. This bill represents an opportunity to uphold the principles enshrined in the Constitution, foster political competition, and strengthen the country’s democratic governance. By breaking the chains of political dynasties, the nation can unlock the potential of its diverse population and create a more equitable and prosperous future. The passage of this legislation would be a significant step towards fulfilling the constitutional mandate and strengthening Philippine democracy. As Senator Padilla said, “it is time to break the barriers that prevent the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino people.” We deserve leaders who are chosen based on competence, vision, and genuine commitment to the national interest, not on the basis of family connections.
BusinessMirror
From overwork to well-being
IRISING SUN
N recent days, the results of a study conducted by Remote, an international recruitment and placement firm, have been circulating. According to the report, the Philippines ranked second to last in work-life balance scores among 60 nations. In other words, Filipinos spend more of their waking hours working than pursuing personal interests such as hobbies, relaxation, or time with family.
The report also revealed that Filipinos receive an average of 17 leave days annually, compared to 30 days for workers in the bestscoring countries. Additionally, wages are a significant factor. The minimum wage in the Philippines is around $1.45 per hour, which means people here need to work more to earn enough to survive. We know that the minimum wage cannot even cover a small family’s living expenses.
The report states that Filipinos work an average of 40.63 hours per
week, compared to the 33 to 36 hours for workers in the higherscoring nations. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar, where many Filipinos are stationed, are the most overworked countries on the list, with workers spending more than 50 hours per week on the job, on average. Spending time away from work— both physically and mentally—is crucial for wellbeing. Overworking can lead to stress and anxiety, lack of sleep or adequate rest, and even mental or physiological illness.
We have been so accustomed to doing things the hard way because that’s how it has always been done: spending more than eight hours at work, bringing work home, taking fewer leaves, working during weekends and holidays, doing overtime, and repeating this cycle for many years. Retirement is often seen as the time to finally focus on oneself and loved ones. Unfortunately for many people, that may already be too late.
Looking after workers’ well-being benefits not only the workers but also leads to better productivity and performance at work. Social support, according to studies, promotes quality of work-life and helps increase productivity and satisfaction, minimize stress, and improve overall well-being. Social support may come from family, friends, colleagues, or supervisors at work.
TLITO GAGNI
he energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) needs to refine the rules governing the competitive selection process (CSP) for choosing the country’s energy sources to power electricity generation facilities. This will help ensure the nation’s long-standing goal of energy security.
First off, it has to ensure that indigenous gas gets first crack at energizing power plants whenever there is a requirement for selecting the power plant to be used by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. This is understandable as finding the next Malampaya gas field requires huge investments. Since there are huge investments required in finding gas and oil deposits in the country, it is logical for the government to ensure that the indigenous gas gets first crack in the CSP bids that will be used in the grid. Regrettably, the ERC missed an opportunity to support indigenous energy sources in the recent energy
protocol. While 2,400 megawatts out of 3,000 MW were secured by natural gas power plants, none of this gas originated from the Malampaya field. This is unfortunate, as the Malampaya find is a significant contributor to the Palawan economy and a vital source of domestic energy.
We understand that the bid winners operate on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) instead of what we already have, power plants that operate on indigenous gas from the Malampaya reserve. This does not augur well for the country’s path towards energy security.
The ERC should see to it that power plants that run on indigenous gas
The research studies basically show the same thing—one can be more productive without having to spend plenty of hours focused on a task.
Data on job-related studies and concepts will help employers and policymakers draft and implement interventions that promote work-life balance and productivity among employees. As the Remote report shows, the Philippines needs to prioritize this area at this time. We have been so accustomed to doing things the hard way because that’s how it has always been done: spending more than eight hours at work, bringing work home, taking fewer leaves, working during weekends and holidays, doing overtime, and repeating this cycle for many years. Retirement is often seen as the time to finally focus on oneself and loved ones. Unfortunately for many people, that may already be too late.
An important discussion related to this matter is productivity, which cannot be measured by the length of time a worker spends at a desk. Studies have shown that the flow state can be optimized for maximum productivity, or that the brain has a limited attention span.
ERC needs to tweak rules to ensure country’s energy security
Regrettably, the ERC missed an opportunity to support indigenous energy sources in the recent energy protocol. While 2,400 megawatts out of 3,000 MW were secured by natural gas power plants, none of this gas originated from the Malampaya field. This is unfortunate, as the Malampaya find is a significant contributor to the Palawan economy and a vital source of domestic energy.
will have first crack at the CSPs. This is what is needed so that we can have more foreign investors to drill for gas and oil in the country, and thus bring us closer to the path towards energy security. Unfortunately, there was something amiss in the recent CSP for power suppliers under the ERCmandated bidding that saw power plants that run on imported LNG emerging as winners.
The ERC-mandated bidding process appears fair on the surface. However, the selection of LNG-fed power plants in the bidding was influenced by a strict criterion that disqualified
power plants using indigenous gas
Allowing power plants that run on imported LNG to be chosen for the grid’s requirements defeats the very purpose for which the administration of President Marcos has committed itself towards our having energy security. Power plants that run on imported LNG not just drains us of precious foreign reserves but affects our overarching reach for energy security. On top of that, the import of LNG is subject to certain geopolitical shocks such as the Ukraine war, which, at times, could delay the arrival of ships at their destinations.
The bias for imported fuel impacts the Filipino consumer. It costs more and will be reflected as such in consumer billing. For instance, one bid won by a power plant that runs on imported LNG declared a P7 per kilowatt hour cost, but it actually could cost more as the other expenses incidental to the arrival of the LNG were not included that could add another peso to the cost per kwh. In comparison, in March 2024, the effective rate of local gas was only
Atty. Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II
Cabangon
In remembrance of Me
South Korea edges ahead of rivals to build Europe’s nuclear reactors THE PATRIOT
By Heesu Lee & Stephen Stapczynski
SoUTh Korea’s long-held ambition of exporting its nuclear power technology got a major boost this week, potentially setting it up to be the reactor provider of choice to several countries.
State-owned Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. was chosen to build two multibillion-dollar reactors in the Czech Republic, beating out rivals and paving the way for Korean companies to potentially score a string of deals across the continent.
“Now a bridgehead has been established for us to export nuclear plants to Europe,” Korea’s Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun declared after the win. The project, once finalized, could put the Asian nation in pole position to build reactors in Europe, which is once again warming to nuclear energy to wean itself off expensive fossil fuels and hit ambitious pollution reduction targets. Thanks to their cost-competitiveness and an export strategy honed over decades, the Koreans are edging out rivals mired in budget overruns and delays or geopolitical and trade tensions.
Korea Hydro & Nuclear is conducting a feasibility study for a nuclear plant in the Netherlands, while Sweden’s Vattenfall AB is considering using Korean technology. The country is also in talks to supply reactors to the UK, Poland and Slovenia, putting it on track to achieve the government’s pledge to export 10 units by 2030. Its rise won’t be without contest. President Joe Biden this week signed a bill that promises to revive the US’s nuclear industry, and even facilitate the export of technology. Westinghouse Electric Co. has filed a lawsuit claiming South Korea is using its intellectual property and should be barred from sharing it. The US company warned it may file legal challenges over the Czech deal.
All-in-one package
MUCH of South Korea’s ascent is due to its ability to deliver reactors as all-inclusive packages — from equipment, construction, and fuel supply to commissioning, maintenance, and even financing—while largely meeting deadlines and containing costs. “A nuclear plant is so much more than a reactor,” said Mark Nelson, managing director at Radiant Energy Group, a consultancy. “It is civil engineering, it is blueprints, crane operators. And Korea has that,” he said. “They can offer the most competitive package,” he added. South Korea was picked to build the reactors in the Czech Republic for 400 billion koruna ($17.3 billion). By contrast, Electricite de France SA said earlier this year that two reactors at Hinkley Point in the UK would cost as much as £35 billion in 2015 terms, which would equate to $45 billion at current exchange rates, and take several years longer than planned. In the US, Southern Co.’s Vogtle nuclear facility came in more than $16 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule.
Gagni . . .
continued from A10
in January 2024, the average cost of power generation using local gas is a little over P5 per kWh and imported LNG at more than P7 per kWh. Clearly, the need for ERC to revisit its rules on the CSP bidding is very apparent, especially in the light of the failure to allow the power plants that run on indigenous gas to participate in the selection process. The key priority is to ensure that the country moves swiftly towards achieving energy security. Giving priority to power plants that operate using domestic gas in the competitive selection process, rather than disqualifying them, can accomplish this.
TSeoul’s nuclear export strategy has been decades in the making. Back in 1987, its state-run utility agreed to a technology transfer with US-based Combustion Engineering, and then developed the design to create its own homegrown reactor. Since then, it has built 28 reactors domestically, with four more scheduled to operate before 2040.
Seoul’s nuclear export strategy has been decades in the making. Back in 1987, its state-run utility agreed to a technology transfer with US-based Combustion Engineering, and then developed the design to create its own homegrown reactor. Since then, it has built 28 reactors domestically, with four more scheduled to operate before 2040.
Its first reactor export, to the United Arab Emirates, was announced in 2009. The Arab world’s first commercial nuclear facility grappled with delays and came in 25% over budget, but that didn’t stop South Korea’s export push.
“Korea has a full domestic, experienced, supply chain,” said Jeremy Gordon, an independent nuclear energy consultant. “And their industry has the assurance of a government that is committed to nuclear, strategically, for energy security, economic and climate reasons, which gives the whole Korean nuclear ecosystem the confidence to invest.”
This means the Asian nation is well-placed to scoop up opportunities as the world returns to atomic energy after it was shunned for decades due to the worst nuclear accident in history at Chernobyl. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has served as a wake-up call for European leaders to reduce dependence on imported gas, and 25 countries, including more than a dozen in Europe, have set a goal to triple global capacity by 2050.
But it’s a small pool of reactor builders out there. Western companies struggle to deliver on time and on budget. And European governments are reluctant to sign off on projects with state-owned giants from Russia and China—currently dominant in global reactor construction—due to security concerns, since nuclear plants are particularly sensitive pieces of infrastructure.
“If South Korea manages the construction of these reactors in the Czech Republic at least reasonably well, it wouldn’t surprise me if they go on to sell more to other countries,” said Matt Bowen, a senior researcher at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. “And then, yes, South Korea would become more important to world nuclear energy supply.” With assistance from Shoko Oda / Bloomberg
The systematic preference for imported fuel not only imposes financial burdens on consumers but also challenges the integrity of the bidding process within the CSP framework. Transparency is paramount in rectifying these disparities. By exposing hidden costs and advocating for fair assessments of energy sources, we can hold stakeholders accountable and promote a more equitable energy landscape.
Reforming the CSP rules is of utmost importance. This reform should focus on enhancing public oversight and accountability, thereby safeguarding consumer interests and upholding the principles of transparency in energy supply. Above all, this reform is essential to ensure energy security for the Philippines.
Siegfred Bueno Mison, Esq.
he United States of America dedicate one day each year to honor their military personnel who died in service. Perhaps unknown to many, in the Philippines there is a Republic Act No. 11304, which declares February 4 of every year as a special working holiday commemorated as “Philippine-American War Memorial Day.” I suppose the implementing rules for this law are still pending since I have yet to encounter any public announcement “in commemoration of the sacrifice and bravery of the men and women who fought and died in defense of the Filipino nation during the Philippine-American war.”
Monuments are oftentimes built, such as the Mount Samat National Shrine in Bataan, to help us remember the soldiers who died during World War II. Physical structures are usually built as part of any tribute to the contributions of certain persons or events. The statues honor those who were loved in life and remembered in death. For instance, the Quezon Memorial Circle enshrines the remains of Manuel L. Quezon, the second official President of the Philippines and the first president of an internationally-recognized independent Philippines. Every year, memorial ceremonies are held to honor the memory of a person or an event. For “rock stars” like Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio, their lives are remembered by way of a national public holiday. But for ordinary mortals who have passed, the family left behind celebrates anniversaries to assist them in the grieving process for them to move on from someone’s physical absence to preserving the cherished memories of a loved one.
A few days ago, the family left behind by Salvador M. Mison Sr.
went on a pilgrimage of the Bicol region to commemorate the first death anniversary of my late father. Family members coming from the US states of Florida, Texas, and California, and from the cities of Naga, Marikina, and Quezon City rediscovered the roots of Salvador Mison Sr. by visiting his birthplace in Naga City. Known to many, my father was a retired three star general, a three-time recipient of the PMA Cavalier Award, a former Customs Commissioner, and a loyal confidant of Lucio Tan, one of the more prominent taipans in the Philippines. Known to some, especially those in Bicol and those who worked with him, my father graduated from the Camarines Sur High School in Naga and an ardent devotee of the Our Lady of Penafrancia to the point that he passionately helped build, in oh so many ways, the Porta Mariae (Marian Gate) and a floating pagoda carrying the images of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro during the annual festivities. Unknown to many, my father was born in the public market of Naga City.
What I learned from this homage of sorts was that my father, whose first name means “Salvation” whose last name is a Latin translation of “House,” fulfilled his mission in life by serving God, country, and family, in that order.
As to his mission from God, he may not have been as outspoken as other believers when it comes to spreading the Word, but he surely served as an epitome of being a man for others, exactly how Jesus showed us while here on earth. He helped a lot of people, especially those in Naga and in Bicol, through various church works and contributions to his high school alma mater.
As to his mission for the country, in those 36 years in the Army and four years in the Bureau, his coworkers would attest to how he inspired his peers and subordinates and reformed organizations for the benefit of the Republic! As for family, my father left an intangible memorial in his children and grandchildren, who, for the most part, are faithdriven and responsible citizens who obey the law of the Lord and the laws of the land. We all carry his values of integrity and discipline instilled by him all throughout his 90 years of existence here on earth.
I can only wish and pray I can do the same thing for my children and my children’s children.
But, the most enduring memorial, though, is found in the Bible. The memorial given by the hand of Jesus himself during a simple meal wherein “he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19). Believers are fed with the “body and blood” and by communing together, we ought to realize that we are “one body” with Jesus Christ after all. How blessed can this country be if we remem-
Trump fans yell they want Biden, not Harris, as 2024 opponent
By Mark Niquette
DoNA lD TRUMP polled supporters at his Michigan rally whether they’d prefer for him to run against President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala ha rris. An overwhelming cacophony of voices suggested they want the 81-year-old president as Trump’s opponent.
The informal suggestion from the crowd at Saturday’s rally mirrors a reckoning occurring within both Democratic and Republican circles: Trump is poised to beat Biden, an assertion that is backed by a spate of new polling in recent days.
“At this very moment, Democrat party bosses are frantically trying to overthrow the results of their own party’s primaries to dump crooked Joe Biden from the ballot,” Trump said at the rally on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy,” he quipped.
The rally—the first since Trump survived an assassination attempt last week—comes as the Democratic intra-party dissension continues to escalate over whether Biden should be the Democratic nominee to face Trump in the November election.
The president is huddling this weekend with top political aides as he plots a return to the campaign trail despite an onslaught of anxious pleas from fellow Democrats to step aside. Harris, as his running mate, is seen as one of the most likely successors should Biden bow out of the race.
Ahead of the rally, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer—a potential nominee or running mate if Biden does quit the race—and other Democrats sought to turn attention away from Biden and toward Project 2025, a blueprint on abortion and other issues being drafted by former Trump advisers that the former president has said he hasn’t sanctioned, in an attempt
to distance himself from the lest politically popular elements.
“I’d like to run against her, actually,” Trump said, referring to Whitmer, at the rally in a key swing state that will be critical for deciding the 2024 presidential election. “I’d be very happy with her.”
Trump also spent several minutes describing his relationship with Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who recently endorsed the former president and is planning to give millions to his reelection bid.
Trump recounted several phone calls with the billionaire, including conversations about Musk’s business interest, including electric cars and space rockets. Trump lauded Musk’s efforts, saying he was able to innovate much faster than the federal government.
“We have to make life good for our smart people,” Trump said, referring to Musk.
Tight security
SECURIT y was tight in and around the Van Andel Arena, with city dump trucks and a heavy police presence blocking off the streets around the facility. The floor and nearly every seat of the 12,000seat capacity arena was filled. The indoor venue is easier to secure than an open-air venue where the shooting occurred last Saturday in Pennsylvania.
Trump, however, did not adopt a new tone reflecting the calls for cooling heated political rhetoric in light of the shooting. Attendees broke out in chants of “fight, fight, fight” at different points during
ber that we are united in Christ, by His death and resurrection. There is little need for fancy architectural creations with jaw-dropping marble arches and walls or glass panels with intricate or ornate images.
Interestingly, the Holy Communion pioneered by our risen Savior is our memorial of Him, transcending both time and space. We can take it at any given time, remembering the past, present and future as believers of the one true Christ. We are not restricted by space as there is no boundary in any place at which we can take the Holy Communion. Wherever and whenever, a communion is to a memorial. For those who still struggle to discern this significant act, may it be ingrained in our hearts that this memorial by way of a Communion has no restrictions. Never a ritual, there are no imposed requirements such as confessing first before communing with God, to “remember” our Lord Jesus and to run to God. We can do it anytime and should do it all the time.
As part of any memorial “in remembrance of Me,” we just have to look up above and give glory to the One who saved us and live the life the way Jesus Christ taught us—loving God and loving one another. Living up to his name, Salvador M. Mison Sr. kept communing with God during his lifetime, all in remembrance of Him. Mission accomplished.
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.
Trump’s speech, echoing the words he shouted while pumping his first with blood on his face after he was shot at last week’s rally.
Trump was struck by a bullet on his right ear but survived after a lone gunman opened fire shortly after he began speaking at the rally in Pennsylvania. A former fire chief was killed and two other people in the crowd were injured in the shooting. The former president wore a small, flesh-colored bandage on his ear rather than the large white one he had last week.
Marlin Eisenburg, 44, a small business owner from Huntersville, Indiana, said he attended the rally last week when Trump was shot and that the shooting crossed his mind when he decided to attend the event in Michigan, his 11th Trump speech.
But wearing the “Trump 2024, Butler, PA” T-shirt he bought at the Pennsylvania rally, he said “I have to put my fears aside” and support Trump.
New running mate T H E rally was also the first since Trump named Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate last week. The announcement came at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that culminated on Thursday with the former president describing in detail the harrowing attempt on his life.
Vance spoke for about 13 minutes before Trump’s speech and got a warm welcome from the crowd. At one point, he said of the “TrumpVance” signs they were waving, “I gotta be honest, it’s a little weird to see my name on those signs.”
Vance said critics call Trump and Republicans radical but asked what’s radical about making more goods in the US rather than overseas as Trump has advocated, not getting involved in foreign con-
flicts because “sometimes it’s none of our business” and securing the southern US border to stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drugs.
“We want an America that works for Americans, and the only way to do it is to reelect Donald J. Trump president of the United States,” Vance said to cheers from the crowd. “I’m going do everything I can, I know you will too.”
Trump selected Vance, who rose from Appalachian poverty to Hillbilly Elegy fame and election to the Senate on his first try in 2022, in part because he was most closely aligned with the former president’s populist politics of anyone on his shortlist for running mate.
Republicans would like for Vance to appeal to working-class voters in the so-called Blue Wall states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. President Joe Biden carried the states in 2020 after Trump narrowly won them in 2016.
In his acceptance speech in Milwaukee, Vance talked about the autoworker in Michigan, the factory worker in Wisconsin and the energy worker in Pennsylvania in saying the GOP is done “catering to Wall Street” and will “commit to the working man.”
Some Michigan speakers before Trump and Vance said they liked the Ohio Senator even though he’s a Buckeye, referencing the intense rivalry between Ohio State and the University of Michigan in college football.
Jessica Shaw, 42, a home health care worker from St. Clair, Michigan, said she likes that Vance is young—he doesn’t turn 40 until next month—and appears to be a good family man.
“He’ll be a big help to Trump and can relate to the younger generation,” Shaw said. With assistance from Alicia Diaz /Bloomberg
Wage hike bill still needed, wage boards too slow–Chiz
By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM
WHILE the House of Representatives touts it has approved many bills which remain pending in the Senate, there’s one measure passed by the latter that it wants the lower chamber to move on urgently: the bill legislating a P100 daily minimum wage hike.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero flagged this a day ahead of the President’s State of the Nation Address (Sona), saying the persistent inflation pressures are shrinking whatever small relief workers get from orders of the regional wage boards, including the P35 recently mandated by the Metro Manila board, and which took effect last July 16.
mualdez were threshing out the agenda for the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac), he noted that Congress has been quick to legislate measures to help businessmen, such as “reducing taxes and providing more incentives,” but has not been as quick to respond to labor’s problems.
“wrong” premise behind the wage board’s orders, i.e., that households have more than one worker in the labor force anyway, so an additional wage can be multiplied by the number of workers in the family, which then ends up with a more substantial augmentation.
CHINA, PHL REACH DEAL IN BID TO STOP CLASHES AT SHOAL
CHINA and the Philippines reached a deal they hope will end confrontations at the most fiercely disputed shoal in the South China Sea, two Philippine officials said Sunday.
The Philippines occupies Second Thomas Shoal but China also claims it, and increasingly hostile clashes at sea have sparked fears of larger conflicts that could involve the United States.
rival countries to avoid clashes while thorny territorial issues remain unresolved. It remains to be seen, however, if the deal could be implemented successfully and how long it will last. Chinese coast guard and other forces have used powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Filipino navy personnel at Manila’s outpost at the shoal.
Such glacial pace, he explained in a radio interview, has prompted legislators, who must heed their constituents’ constant please for relief, to reverse policy and file bills legislating wage hikes.
T he Senate has approved the bill legislating a P100 daily wage hike, but it is unacted on by the House. According to Escudero, when he and Speaker Martin Ro -
Escudero said the “very slow” pace with which wage boards are responding to realities on the ground are negating the very purpose for their creation two decades ago—which is, to have a mechanism that moves faster than the pace of legislation.
“ Why not pass a bill increasing the wage of workers?” Escudero asked aloud. The Senate bill for a P100 wage hike was mainly authored by then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and sponsored by then Labor Committee chair Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who became Senate President Pro Tempore when Escudero replaced Zubiri as Senate chief.
To prove his point that in this time of continuing high inflation a legislated wage hike is better than a wage board issuance, Escudero pointed to the National Capital Region’s wage board order of a P35 hike.
“K akarampot na dagdag [such a measly addition]” in the NCR worker’s pay does not cut it, Escudero stressed, as he noted the
Wage boards assume households have more than one person in the work force, so a P35 hike is assumed to be X2, X3 in one family, but that’s not the reality,” Escudero said, partly in Filipino. Most households, he said, just have one breadwinner, or if there’s more than one worker, the others may be in the informal economy where wage mandates do not cover them.
Chiding wage boards, he wanted to know, “Saan ba nakatira ang ating mga wage board members? At saan ba sila nag gogrocery [Where do our wage boards live? And where do they go for their groceries]?” such that they can conclude that P35 augmentation is enough to cover a worker’s family’s basic needs in the face of mounting costs of food and transportation, among others, Escudero said.
The crucial deal was reached on Sunday, after a series of meetings between Philippine and Chinese diplomats in Manila and exchanges of diplomatic notes that aimed to establish a mutually acceptable arrangement at the shoal without conceding either side’s territorial claims. The Philippine officials, who have knowledge of the negotiations, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement.
China has disputes with several governments over land and sea borders, many of them in the South China Sea, and the rare deal with the Philippines could spark hope that similar arrangements could be forged by Beijing with other
The years-long territorial standoff at the shoal has flared repeatedly since last year between Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships and Philippine coast guard-escorted navy boats transporting food, water and fresh navy and marine personnel to an outpost on a long-grounded and rusting warship, the BRP Sierra Madre. In the worst confrontation, Chinese forces on motorboats repeatedly rammed and then boarded two Philippine navy boats on June 17 to prevent Filipino personnel from transferring food and other supplies including firearms to the ship outpost in the shallows of the shoal, according to the Philippine government.
See “China,” A2
Editor: Jennifer A. Ng
B1 Monday, July 22, 2024
asked to scrutinize terms of Meralco auction
By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan
The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) was urged on Sunday to temporarily halt the Manila electric Co.’s (Meralco) auction for an additional 600 megawatts (MW) of power, with a lawmaker calling the competitive election process (CSP) “discriminatory.”
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said the regulatory body should suspend the CSP to reassess the fairness of the terms of reference (TOR), claiming it appears to be “tailor-fit for the utility’s favored suppliers.”
He specifically cited a portion of the CSP that limits the age of the power plant to not “more than 10 years old” to be eligible to join the auction. This he said disqualified Malampaya-fueled plants from the process.
“If all of us are saying it should be the cheapest, and we’re also saying there should be a mix and we should use our own resources, but they always lose in the bid or are not allowed to bid even though there is supply, why would foreign investors come in to dig more wells for indigenous gas?” Cayetano’s appeal comes amid ongoing discussions about the high cost of
electricity in the Philippines, which he noted continues to burden both investors and consumers.
“This is not only about the high cost of power but it’s also about energy security.”
According to its website, Meralco is seeking bids for 600 MW of power for August 2025. The bid submission deadline is set for August 2.
Meralco VP and Head of Corporate Communications Joe R. Zaldarriaga defended the CSP process, saying that eight companies, including those sourcing fuel from Malampaya, have expressed interest.
These are: First Gas Power Corp., First NatGas Power Corp., Mariveles Power Generation Corp., Masinloc Power Co. Ltd., GNPower Dinginin and Therma Luzon, Inc., Southwest Luzon Power Generation Corp. and Quezon Power (Philippines) Limited Co.
“Any generation company can submit offers for these CSP. While we prioritize power plants using indigenous fuel as required by DOE, we ensure that it will not violate our least cost mandate under the law. There is no
preferential treatment and Meralco always awards the contracts to the lowest compliant bidder,” Zaldarriaga said.
He said the CSP, as mandated by the government, ensures that only power suppliers offering the least cost are contracted. Zaldarriaga assured that Meralco strictly adheres to the Department of Energy (DOE) and ERC-approved CSP guidelines.
“Just like all our other CSPs, we are hoping that all these companies will submit their offers to maximize competition. This will allow us to secure the best bid and least-cost supply that will really benefit our customers. We emphasize that Meralco does not amend the rules or TORs for our CSP to favor one generation company or limit competition because that is obviously discriminatory and anticompetitive.”
Meralco last week announced that it successfully secured bids for 500 MW of renewable energy supply through a CSP, with San Roque Hydropower Inc., Gigasol3 Inc., and Santa Cruz Solar Energy Inc. presenting attractive offers.
Aliw Broadcasting and Cignal TV team up to broaden viewership
ALIW Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Cignal TV have officially entered into a partnership that will bring an array of news, lifestyle, sports, and crowd-favorite DWIZ programs to Cignal and SatLite subscribers. The signing was held on July 12, 2024 at the Launchpad Building, Reliance cor. Sheridan St., Brgy. Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City. Representing Cignal TV during the signing were President and CEO Jane J. Basas, Chief Financial Officer John L. Andal, TV FVP/Head - Channels and Content Management Sienna G. Olaso, Chief Revenue Officer Gerard L. Milan, and Head of Regulatory and Industry Erwin V. Galang.
Leading Aliw Broadcasting Corporation on the signing were President Benjamin V. Ramos, VP for Business Development Dennis Antenor Jr., and Executive Vice President and General Manager Atty. McNeil Rante. Aliw Channel 23 is now accessible to over 5.5 million Cignal subscribers, offering a unique blend of news, public affairs, entertainment, and sports content. Cignal TV Chief Revenue Officer Gerard L. Milan expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the benefits for Cignal and SatLite customers. “Masayang masaya po kami ngayon sa pag-welcome sa ating partner, Aliw Channel 23. Mapapanood po ng lahat ng ating mga customers ng Cignal at SatLite ang unique na content ng Aliw Channel 23, ang style nila ng pagbabalita at public affairs, entertainment at may sports din para sa lahat nating mga kababayan.” He highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two companies, noting that Aliw Channel 23 has now found its rightful home on
AT this year’s Farnborough Air Show, Airbus SE is chasing orders for its A330neo airliner, positioning the widebody model as an attractive alternative to more advanced jets because of its favorable economics and availability.
Among the possible buyers of the jet, a more advanced version of an aircraft that first entered service in the mid 1990s, are Saudi Arabia’s Flynas and Flyadeal, as well as Vietnam’s Vietjet Aviation JSC, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Carriers studying orders are either still negotiating possible contracts or have completed agreements that they plan to announce at the expo kicking off on Monday, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
A large order haul would shore up the backlog for the A330neo, which has more fuel-efficient engines and a redesigned wing. Airbus has been particularly successful over the past year with the more advanced A350 airliner, its other widebody aircraft, though slots are scarce for any new buyers.
Boeing Co. is also working to build momentum for its 777X model, whose sales have flagged amid certification delays that have pushed the jet’s market entry back by at least five years from its original date. Korean Air Lines Co. said in June that it’s in the market for as many as 30 new jets from the US planemaker and is evaluating the smaller 787 Dreamliner model. The airline also said at the time
that it’s planning to order new freighters and is looking at Boeing’s 777X for that. With the A321neo sold out until well into the next decade, and both Airbus and Boeing struggling to ramp up production, conversations with airline customers have circled around supply chains and delayed airplanes. Still, the annual trade show that alternates between Farnborough and Paris is still expected to produce hundreds of commercial jet orders in a mix of new deals, commitments and already booked orders. Airbus and Boeing declined to comment on prospective sales at the show.
“Widebody sales are likely the center of action at Farnborough this year,” said George Ferguson, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence. Salespeople for the twin-aisle models will get a “workout” at the airshow, he predicted in a July 15 report. While the focus of the expo near London may be on widebody jets, single-aisle models will still play a large role. Among major accords that may be formally signed is Cebu Air’s deal for as many as 152 of Airbus’s A321neo jets, a transaction valued at $24 billion based on price. The companies already reached a preliminary accord at the start of July. One deal that stands to be among the biggest in coming weeks is still being negotiated and may not land in time for the air show: Qatar Airways is exploring a major purchase of as many as 200 widebody jets, to be split between Boeing’s 777X and 787 models, and the Airbus A350, which Bloomberg News first reported in March.
Photo shows (from left to
With AI, jets and police squadrons, Paris is securing the Olympics—and worrying critics
By John Leicester The Associated Press
PARIS—A year ago, the head of the Paris Olympics boldly declared that France’s capital would be “the safest place in the world” when the Games open this Friday.
lions of visitors safe. Here’s how it aims to do it.
The security operation, by the numbers A G A m ES -T I m E f orce of up to 45,000 police and gendarmes is also backed up by a 10,000-strong contingent of soldiers that has set up the largest military camp in Paris since World War II, from which soldiers should be able to reach any of the city’s Olympic venues within 30 minutes.
Armed military patrols aboard vehicles and on foot have become common in crowded places in France since gunmen and suicide bombers acting in the names of al-Qaida and the Islamic State group repeatedly struck Paris in 2015. They don’t have police powers of arrest but can tackle attackers and restrain them until police arrive. For visitors from countries where armed street patrols aren’t the norm, the sight of soldiers with assault rifles might be jarring, just as it was initially for people in France.
stretching
(miles) along the Seine, makes safeguarding them more complex.
Olympic organizers also have cyberattack concerns, while rights campaigners and Games critics are worried about Paris’ use of AI-equipped surveillance technology and the broad scope and scale of Olympic security. Paris, in short, has a lot riding on keeping 10,500 athletes and mil -
“At the beginning, it was very strange for them to see us and they were always avoiding our presence, making a detour,” said Gen. Éric Chasboeuf, deputy commander of the counter-terror military force, called Sentinelle.
“Now, it’s in the landscape,” he said. Rafale fighter jets, airspace-monitoring AWACS surveillance flights, Reaper surveillance drones, helicopters that can carry sharpshooters, and equipment to disable drones will
police Paris skies, which will be closed during the opening ceremony by a nofly zone extending for 150 kilometers (93 miles) around the capital. Cameras twinned with artificial intelligence software—authorized by a law that expands the state’s surveillance powers for the Games—will flag potential security risks, such as abandoned packages or crowd surges, France is also getting help from
more than 40 countries that, together, have sent at least 1,900 police reinforcements.
Trump assassination attempt highlights Olympic risks ATTAC k S b y lone individuals are major concern, a risk driven home most recently to French officials by the assassination attempt against Donald Trump.
Some involved in the Olympic security operation were stunned that the gunman armed with an AR-style rifle got within range of the former US president.
“No one can guarantee that there won’t be mistakes. There, however, it was quite glaring,” said Gen. Philippe Pourqué, who oversaw the construction of a temporary camp in southeast Paris housing 4,500 soldiers from the Sentinelle force.
In France, in the last 13 months alone, men acting alone have carried out knife attacks that targeted tourists in Paris, and children in a park in an Alpine town, among others. A man who stabbed a teacher to death at his former high school in northern France in October had been under surveillance by French security services for suspected Islamic radicalization. With long and bitter experience of deadly extremist attacks, France has armed itself with a dense network of police units, intelligence services and investigators who specialize in fighting terrorism, and suspects in terrorism cases can be held longer for questioning. Hundreds of thousands of back
and Belorussian citizens,” Darmanin added, although he stopped short of linking exclusions to Russia’s war in Ukraine and Belarus’ role as an ally of m o scow. Darmanin said 155 people consid
ered to be “very dangerous” potential terror threats are also being kept away from the opening ceremony and the Games, with police searching their homes for weapons and computers in some cases.
He said intelligence services haven’t identified any proven terror plots against the Games “but we are being extremely attentive.” critics fear intrusive Olympic security will stay after the Games C A m PAIGNERS for digital rights worry that Olympic surveillance cameras and AI systems could erode privacy and other freedoms, and zero in on people without fixed homes who spend a lot of time in public spaces.
Saccage 2024, a group that has campaigned for months against the Paris Games, took aim at the scope of the Olympic security, describing it as a “repressive arsenal” in a statement to The Associated Press.
“And this is not a French exception, far from it, but a systematic occurrence in host countries,” it said.
it
of ‘festivities’
SONA 2022 and 2023:
The power of style
Fashion may be farthest from the topics that will be discussed at today’s state of the nation address of the President. But, as in the past two SONAs, Filipino flair is always front and center at the red carpet, with the brand of “ostentatious extravagance” enjoying a resurgence. in contrast to movie premieres, awards ceremonies or film festivals, the SONA red carpet has an unwritten cardinal rule: wear only creations made by Filipino designers and artisans.
2022: POST-PANDEMIC SONA
on July 25, 2022, the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City was filled with thousands of people— some better dressed and more appropriately than others—to witness the first SONA of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The President’s sister, sen. imee Marcos, wore a royal blue terno top with pants designed by Edgar Buyan for the opening of the 19th Congress. in her instagram post, sen. imee said that the ensemble symbolized “the Marcoses’ heart for agriculture.” she later changed into a Jan Garcia terno for the sona Basking in the victory of the “Unity” ticket, Vice President inday sara Duterte honored the artisans of vote-rich Mindanao. in a post on her socials, she stated: Sa ating pagdalo sa unang state of the nation address ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr., suot po natin ang tradisyunal na kasuotan ng tribong Bagobo Tagabawa. Ang damit na ito ay pinahiram po sa atin ni Bae sheirelle anino, ang deputy mayor para sa Tagabawa tribe, sa Davao City.” senator and Minority Leader Risa hontiveros wore a traditional baro’t saya made of piña fabric from aklan, and hand-embroidered in Lumban, Laguna. Designed by Joel acebuche, she paired the ensemble with a handcrafted Tikog clutch from Samar and beige pumps made in Marikina. new toast of fashion, Michael Leyva reportedly created about 700 outfits for the 2022 SONA. A standout was the one worn by sen. nancy Binay, whose sense of style has vastly improved.
Marga nograles, chairman of the Tourism Promotions Board, wore an outfit from her brand, a Kaayo Modern Mindanao custom terno handwoven by the Maguindanao Tribe of south Cotabato and hand-beaded by the Tboli Tribe of Lake sebu. it was made of inaul, the traditional handwoven cloth of the Maguindanaoan.
audrey Tan Zubiri, the wife of then-senate President Miguel Zubiri, looked dainty in a pink Filipiniana silhouette dress.
I ONCE asked a famous makeup artist who they thought was the most beautiful Filipino actress or celebrity was and the reply was Jennylyn Mercado. Mercado is indeed a lovely woman. What I like about her is that her skin is really smooth, with or without makeup. Thus, I was not surprised to learn that she is the newest face of Beautéderm, a homegrown beauty and wellness brand that calls Angeles, Pampanga, its home.
During the press conference hosted by Beautéderm founder and CEO Rhea Tan for Jennylyn last week, the actress revealed that she has psoriasis. When she was approached to do the endorsement, she had to test Beautéderm’s serums— Cristaux Retinol (anti-aging), Cristaux Vitamin C (brightening), and Cristaux Hydra-Beauty (anti-acne).
“They are very gentle on the skin. I didn’t experience any breakouts. I had to test them first before I agreed to endorse the brand,” said Jennylyn.
The actress disclosed that when she was younger, she’d use just about anything on her face. But when her skin started having problems, she became more conscious about what she uses. Aside from the serums, Jennylyn also likes
“Loving my @carysantiago7 original creation and the stunning earrings of @riquezajewellery,” she posted. another Cary santiago muse was Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda K. Romualdez, wife of speaker of the house of Representatives Martin Romualdez. as Yedda Marie Mendoza Kittelsvedt, she was Binibining Pilipinas international 1996, and she wasn’t the only Binibini on the sona red carpet. also exemplifying the “pretty, captivating, so exciting” Filipina were Binibining Pilipinas Universe
Beautéderm’s gentle Jeune cleanser and Dr. Beaute Balm, an all-around product with anti-bacterial properties that helps heal dry skin and soothe irritation. “I welcome Jennylyn to Beautéderm family. I hope this partnership will inspire Filipinas across the country to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin,” said Tan. Both Tan and Jennylyn believe that aging is a privilege. Each woman is proud of her age. Tan is 43 while Jennilyn is 37. “I came from a reality show [StarStruck] so I can’t lie about my age. It’s always better to tell the truth,” said the actress. “I am happy to share that I am 43; I am happy and I am blessed,” said Tan, whose company is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Jennylyn considers the Beautéderm founder and CEO an inspiration because of her entrepreneurial spirit and kindness.
KATHRYN BERNARDO IS THE ULTIMATE IDÔLE
“SHE’S authentic and sincere. She protects her brand and she values her consumers.” We have seen Kathryn Bernardo grow up. We’ve witnessed her triumphs and losses and we have cheered her on along the way. At 28, she is at her peak as an actress and celebrity, with a long list of accomplishments to her name.
Kathryn’s life has many eras, and we wonder which one is her favorite. “I opened 2024 with a different mindset, a different motivation. I think this era of my life now is very transformative, that’s why it’s special,” said the actress, who is Lancôme’s Philippine ambassador. Kathryn led the opening of the Idôle House at the 7th floor of The Balmori Suites in Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati. The beauty playground was open to the public for a day and that’s what made it even more
2009 Bianca Manalo, girlfriend of sen. sherwin Gatchaian, who wore a Jo Rubio terno; and Miss Universe Philippines 2017 Rachel Peters, wife of Fifth District of Camarines sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who wore Mark Bumgarner. Back when she was still a muse of Mark Bumgarner, GMa actress and sen. Chiz Escudero’s wife heart Evangelista was immaculate in an all-white Filipiniana ensemble.
also lending showbiz glitter was Dawn Zulueta, who was exquisite in a vintage Pepito albert baro’t saya that she said, “i have never worn.” her husband anton
Lagdameo Jr. is the special assistant to the President. Tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco proudly wore fellow Cebuano Jun Escario’s work, which she described as part of “the effort to achieve the President’s vision of an inclusive, sustainable, and collaborative approach to developing the tourism industry as a major contributor to our nation’s postpandemic recovery.”
a strong advocate of traditional Philippine textiles whose passion is to promote the indigenous artistry and craftsmanship of Filipinos and support their livelihood, sen. Loren Legarda was the poster girl for Filipiniana. she proudly wrote on her socials: at the opening of the 19th Congress, i chose to wear an old Patis Tesoro kimona made of piña, which has been with me for more than two decades.
“This fine piece is made of piña cloth from Aklan and was created for more than a year by embroiderers of Lumban, Laguna. i wore slip-on mules by @tish.ph. Marikina-made of course! old tambourine necklaces from my late Mama, and one from my dear ilocana Nanay. Wearing memories on my neck.”
SONA 2023: STATE OF THE NATION’S ATTIRE
ThE terno still enthralls. and so do the baro’t saya, the malong and the barong Tagalog. They were all displayed proudly at the President’s second sona held on July 24, 2023. GMa actress heart Evangelista, wife of sen. Chiz Escudero, proved once again why she is deemed a global fashion icon. This time, though, she was the muse of Michael Leyva, who made her an understated column gown embellished with pearls and beads for the sona heart wore an outstanding piece, an ivory terno jumpsuit by ivarluski aseron, during the opening of the senate session.
Raising the rainbow flag was LGBTQIA+ advocate, news anchor and actress KaladKaren, who wore a vibrant purple Filipiniana by Martin Bautista. Beauty queen and actress Bianca Manalo, wearing a simple and sophisticated creation by Jo Rubio, was the best-dressed. The dress was reminiscent of the unforgettable terno worn by Miss Venezuela Minorka Mercado during a Miss Universe 1994 prepageant activity. The former London-based designer Lesley Mobo unleashed his eye-catching ternos. They were worn by Tootsy angara, wife of sen. sonny angara, and by Justice Undersecretary Emmeline aglipay-Villar, in an ivory color with deep red flowers and with tassels over its butterfly sleeves; and by the First Lady Liza araneta Marcos, a terno made of piña with handembroidered florals.
Back when they still sparked joy in each other’s company, Mrs. Marcos sat with Vice President and Department of Education secretary sara Duterte. Both were clad in the color of joy: yellow.
The VP wrote on her socials last year: “Suot ko ang Bangala bilang pagkilala sa tribung Moro na naninirahan sa timog-gitnang Mindanao. Ang Bangala na gawa ni israel Ellah Ungkakay mula Cotabato City ay may kasamang inaul—isang local fabric na habi sa cotton at silk, at itinuturing na isa sa kanilang kultural na kayamanan dahil lumalarawan ito sa karangalan, katapangan, pamana at kasaysaysan ng Maguindanao.” n
BuildHub expands in Visayas, showcases enhanced financing facility BuildCredit
BUILDHUB PH, an online marketplace serving as a centralized system for the construction industry, showcased its newly enhanced platform, “BuildHub. ph,” and introduced its financing service, “BuildCredit,” at the 2024 Philippine Construction (PhilCon) Visayas Expo in Cebu City.
The PhilCon Visayas Expo, held from June 20 to 22, 2024 and organized by the Philippine Constructors Association, Inc., featured over 200 exhibitors who showcased their latest technologies and products. BuildHub.ph was highlighted for its role in optimizing the construction industry’s value chain by connecting manufacturers, hardware stores, and construction suppliers. The platform
streamlines transactions, enhances online visibility, and ensures timely delivery of a wide range of construction materials and supplies from reputable brands.
BuildCredit offers financial support to pre-approved builders and hardware stores with competitive interest rates of one to three percent for 30 to 60 day terms, providing financial stability and growth
opportunities for small and medium entrepreneurs in the construction sector.
BuildMart PH Technologies, Inc., the parent company of BuildHub, leverages its experience to introduce state-of-theart materials and sustainable business practices at PhilCon Visayas.
Marika Laciste, Chief Business Officer of BuildHub PH, addressed market challenges in the area. “The Visayas region, with its established supplier loyalties, has traditionally proven difficult for market penetration and sales growth. This is why we have introduced BuildHub.ph and BuildCredit to revolutionize the construction industry. These services boost operational efficiency and promote sustainable development to hardware stores and suppliers in key Visayan cities.”
Andre Bernardo, Co-CEO of BuildHub PH, emphasized the promise of their expansion. “We are confident in replicating our success in other regions, including Mindanao. Over 70 percent of BuildHub’s projected business growth is anticipated to come from Visayas.”
As discussions with key Visayan stakeholders continue, BuildHub aims to expand its reach and further serve local communities. With BuildCredit and BuildShipping, a proprietary logistics and warehousing network ensuring the timely delivery of over 400 shipments monthly, BuildHub aims to drive growth by offering essential financial and logistical solutions in the Visayas and soon in the Mindanao region.
“Our goal is to provide innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and promote sustainable development. The positive response at PhilCon Visayas reaffirms our commitment to the construction sector in this region,” Bernardo added.
BuildHub PH’s expansion into the Visayan and Mindanao regions is projected to double its user base, aligning with the company’s growth strategy to achieve EBITDA profitability by 2025.
MASHAV Israel Funds Livelihood Project in Camarines Sur, Oriental Mindoro
THE Embassy of Israel in the Philippines, through MASHAV, has awarded a financial Development Grant to Nelsie Uy for her chosen projects, the Self-Help Group (SHeG) Community Enterprise in the Diocese of Libmanan in Camarines Sur and the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro.
MASHAV is the Hebrew acronym for Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.
“I congratulate Ms. Nelsie Uy through the help of our partner, Caritas Philippines. I admire her commitment and support to improving the lives of rural women by opening job opportunities and income generation initiatives for the women in marginalized communities,” Israeli Ambassador Ilan Fluss commended Uy.
“Through this project, we are contributing to poverty alleviation and the Sustainable Development Goals,” Fluss added.
Uy is a MASHAV Alumna and former head of Caritas Philippines Academy who participated in the program on “Combating Gender-based Violence: Effective Interventions and the Survivor-Centered Approach” in August 2022 at The Golda Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center (MCTC) in Haifa, Israel. Her project is patterned after the SelfHelp Group (SHEG) approach of Caritas Philippines.
This micro-financial grant from MASHAV aims to support ongoing development projects selected by MASHAV alumni. It complements MASHAV’s capacity-building efforts and supports grassroots development initiatives.
Uy’s strategic focus areas include enhancing the techniques for producing Cranberry wine and juice in Libmanan, Camarines Sur, creating Calamansi-ginger-lemongrass concentrate, and supporting the handicraft weaving of Mangyan indigenous women in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro. This project not only aims to boost economic empowerment among the women involved but also to preserve and promote local traditions and knowledge.
“I am deeply grateful to the Embassy of Israel and MASHAV for their unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and combating gender-based violence in the Philippines, even amidst the challenging circumstances they face in their own country. Their dedication to the well-being of the Filipino
people remains steadfast. May peace and grace be upon you. God bless Israel,” Uy stated.
“We are deeply grateful for MASHAV’s generous grant and their continued partnership. This support will significantly enhance our efforts in empowering local communities through the Self-Help Group initiative. We look forward to further collaboration, particularly in areas related to peace and promoting a culture of peace,” said Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, President, Caritas Philippines.
The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines through MASHAV provides professional training opportunities to Filipino experts across various sectors including gender empowerment, education, agriculture, water, innovation, entrepreneurship and disaster management. To date, over 3,000 Filipino professionals, including Uy, have benefited from workshops and courses in Israel, aimed at promoting knowledge-sharing, best practices exchanges and technological advancements for sustainable development.
“Israel embodies resilience, opportunity, and innovation, inspiring not only our nation but the entire world. Israel will continue to innovate and invent, making the world a better place for everyone, even while fighting for its survival,” Fluss shared.
The financial grant amounting P580,000 was formally awarded to Uy on July 8, 2024 at Caritas Philippines Office, Intramuros.
CHAMPIONING PACKAGING IN THE PHILIPPINES. Design Systemat president Paolo Buñag (right) has gained Associate Membership to the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP), the leading professional body for packaging education and training in Australasia. Buñag, who is a director and past president of the Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP) and a board director of the World Packaging Organization (WPO) for the Philippines, has represented the country in international packaging industry forums on such topics as packaging technology, food & packaging innovation, and sustainability. The certificate of membership was presented by AIP president John Bigley (left) during the recent ProPak Asia 2024 conference held in Bangkok, Thailand.
PRULifetime Income: Securing lifelong financial stability for
future generations
IN a world where financial stability is more challenging than ever, Pru Life
UK’s newest product provides a sense of security especially for parents who want to ensure a stable future for their children and grandchildren.
PRULifetime Income is a traditional insurance offer that guarantees a five percent annual payout for life that can help prepare financially for a child’s education, emergency needs or any milestone.
The annual payout is equivalent to five percent of the sum assured. It is payable from the end of the 6th policy year until maturity, regardless of market conditions.
A 200 percent insurance coverage is also another feature of this new product. Till age 100, the insured can leave a double financial safety net for their loved ones no matter what happens.
Payable for five or 10 years, the minimum coverage amount is P250,000.
“I want to start a solid financial
foundation for my kids and even for my grandkids,” shares a dad of two, which can resonate with many parents. By starting early and making thoughtful financial plans, families can achieve the peace of mind and stability they aspire.
For instance, if a parent gets PRULifetime Income with P2 million sum assured for a 10-year-old child, 10-year-pay, the plan gets a guaranteed P900,000 total payout at the age of 24, earns continuously until age 100 and leaves P4 million to the child’s future family.
This structured approach not only secures financial stability for future generations but also aligns with Pru Life UK’s commitment to empowering families through reliable and sustainable financial solutions.
PRULifetime Income offers parents the peace of mind from knowing their children’s financial future is secure, supporting Pru Life UK’s mission to provide lasting value and support to Filipino families.
Eastwood City Celebrates the Next Generation of OPM this July
EASTWOOD City is set to become the epicenter of music this July as it partners with the country’s premier record labels to present an exciting series of concerts and performances. This collaboration aims to feature the next generation of OPM, offering a platform for local artists to showcase their music while giving patrons a unique and unforgettable experience throughout the month. The Coffee Covers event kicked off the concert series is the Coffee Covers event last July 4 and 15 at 6 pm at the iconic Fuente Circle. The dynamic busking session, headlined by Jenzen Guino, along with Cydel Gabutero, Isang Manlapaz, Vocalmyx, Shane Bernabe, and more, brought the country’s rising acts to the township’s ongoing Coffee Fest.
Additionally, Eastwood City hosted the EastwoodNextGen concert series on July 6 at 6 pm at the Central Plaza. This event featured emerging artists from Sony Records, including ToneeJay, Ace Banzuelo, and many more.
Furthermore, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls’ pioneer township has lined up two electrifying party nights on July 20 and 27 at 6 PM at the Fuente Circle.
Resident DJs from Agave Mexican Cantina, 121 Restaurant, and Salamangka will take over the stage to deliver an epic party experience at the entertainment capital of the city.
“We are thrilled to cultivate an appreciation for the future of local art and music through our concert series this July. By partnering with various music labels, we aim to showcase the incredible talent of the next generation of OPM artists, offering our patrons unforgettable experiences that celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of Filipino music,” shared Eastwood City General Manager Denisse Malong.
The BuildHub PH Team at the PhilCon Expo Visayas
IN the photo from left are MASHAV Alumna Nelsie Uy, Ambassador Ilan Fluss, and President of Caritas Philippines Most Rev. Jose Colin Bagaforo.
Avoiding crises in todAy’s
‘FAst And Furious’ world
ONE thing I believe PR professionals should be cognizant and constantly be keeping an eye on are the various platforms that its stakeholders and customers consume. Harking back to when news were only from newspapers and opinions were formed by columnists, technology has totally changed the landscape of reputation management altogether.
Today, it has become a totally different ballgame. Even with the cheapest of smart phones and 3-day data, anyone can practically spew out gospel. As to whether that would be gospel truth is a different matter. Unfortunately, the speed that “news” today travels is far faster than print or broadcast and given most social and digital media platforms allow for everyone to chime in with their opinion, it places brands in a precarious state, 24/7. A crisis is always impending, all while daily tasks need to be tended to. With this sword of Damocles adding to the concerns of com -
n RAHP, FAR m To P, A nd
m e g Awo R l d T e A m u P F o R
inneR- ci T y Ag R i culT u R A l
PR ojec T b eneFi T ing TAg uig
R e siden T s A n d nu T R i T i on-ATR isk communi T i es MANILA, PHILIPPINES—This July 23, a hydroponic farm will be unveiled by the three organizations that brought it to life: top property developer Megaworld Corporation, innovative agricultural enterprise Farm Top, and food bank Rise Against Hunger Philippines (RAHP). Called the Good Food Farm McKinley after RAHP’s branded urban farms, or GFF McKinley for short, it sits on approximately 400 square meters of untenable land, lent for the project by Megaworld. RAHP, for its part, provided the funding for the greenhouse structure, which includes installation of the footing and foundation, nets for shading and garden walling, UV plastic roofing, the grow table frames, and the water, electrical, and storage systems, among other requirements.
Meanwhile, Farm Top manages the farm’s day-to-day operations and marketsthe harvests to nearby commercial buyers and residents. According to Farm Top’s President and CEO Danny Dy, romaine and green ice lettuce have already been planted, with the first harvest (happening from July 15 to 20) projected
to yield up to 200 kgs.
The project is an important undertaking for all the stakeholders involved, a sustainable model farm that contributes to a city’s economic, environmental, and social resilience. By using hydroponic technology—a soil-free farming method that uses less water and no artificial growing nutrients and pesticides—idle land is utilized to provide fresh, organic produce to nearby residents and communities in a distribution mode that minimizes carbon footprint.
Moreover, profit from the sale of the harvests will support RAHP’s nutrition programs in Brgy. Ususan, Taguig, and Tondo, Manila, with surplus produce supplementing the hot meals served in both program sites. The nutrition project is a cornerstone in RAHP’s programs, providing much-needed intervention among nutritionally at-risk individuals that including pregnant women, lactating mothers, school children, PWDs, and the elderly.
The farm will be open to the public to spread advocacy for the fight against hunger and mitigating food wastage. By banding together, Rise Against Hunger Philippines, Megaworld Corporation, and Farm Top are leading the way in the shift toward a sustainable food system and the goal of a holistically resilient city.
n PR ojec T 8 A nd m e n To R que come To ge T H e R F o R ko no bA s H o, c in em A l AyA m ovie A bou T g R i e F A
MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Project 8 Projects and Mentorque Productions
munication executives, it has truly forced firms to become genuine, transparent and communicative. Keeping silent and minding one’s business, especially if business is doing well are no longer acceptable.
Company vision and goals should be imbibed and understood across the organization in order to have a top to bottom behavior that is aligned and not in conflict. Such a task requires management, PR and HR’s full understanding and support. Once in place, communication executives have to deliberately take the microphone and convey these positions, beliefs and goals. Otherwise, someone else, a competitor, a customer or a relevant member of society can end up taking over their narrative in a negative way, with less expense, more reach and more damage to the brand.
A quick example would be sustainability, a goal most businesses pine for but may be viewed as greenwashing, if it doesn’t run throughout the entire process.
have joined forces to create Kono Basho for this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival.
Project 8 Projects graced last year’s fest with Cinemalaya Audience Choice Award Rookie (2023) and Gawad Urian Best Film winner, Iti Mapukpukaw (2023). Beyond the film fest, it also produced wellawarded movies like Never Not Love You (2018), Alone Together (2019), and Fan Girl (2020). As for film production company Mentorque, it made strides with its box-office hit and critically acclaimed film Mallari (2023), the first Filipino mainstream movie distributed by Warner Brothers.
Bryan Dy, Executive Producer under Mentorque Productions, shared what compelled him to bring this story to life: “What drew me to Kono Basho was the powerful story the director embodies hope in the face of adversity. Witnessing the rebuilding efforts of Rikuzentakata and the community’s unwavering spirit is incredibly inspiring. I want audiences to feel the warmth and solace that Kono Basho offers.”
With the success of their debut film Mallari, Bryan found significance in supporting filmmakers who put heart in every story they make. He said, “It’s important for me to continue supporting filmmakers who bring such impactful stories to life, emphasizing the strength of the human spirit.”
With two creative forces combined, Kono Basho magnificently narrates the story of two estranged half-sisters, Ella (Gabby Padilla) and Reina (Arisa Nakano), who reunite
Genuine programs would tend to include everyone in the company and creates a culture that has everyone’s support and buy-in.
One influencer can simply call out a brand’s claims of sustainability as a lie and it threatens the business a hundredfold, especially if the sustainability claim is without merit.
However, if such a program is imbibed and done truthfully, supported internally and conveyed externally well, it will be ownable and detractors who see the validity of the program and its claims will help steer the brand from criticism and build a perception amongst its audience that
at their father’s funeral in Rikuzentakata where they end up forging a bond to heal their personal wounds. In the process, Ella, a 28-year-old Filipina Anthropologist, confronts the cultural and emotional complexities entwined with her father’s second family, particularly her half-sister, Reina, who was born and raised in Japan. Amidst the intricate layers of their relationship, Ella and Reina find solace and connection as they both strive to reconcile their differing perceptions of their shared father.
The half sisters’ voyage of selfdiscovery becomes interwoven with the healing of Rikuzentakata, a city profoundly impacted by the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan. Hand in hand, Ella and Reina find ways to carry their heavy anchors amidst the waves, steer the boat through rough family tides, and surface their unresolved traumas that would change their relationship forever.
The movie stars Gawad Urian and Cinemalaya Best Actress nominee Gabby Padilla, who is known for her outstanding roles in Kalel, 15, Billie and Emma, and Gitling. When asked about her experience shooting the film, Gabby shared, “The community we built in Japan while shooting in Rikuzentakata was one of my favorite things about the whole Kono Basho experience. Being able to work with an amazing team in such a magical place was already a gift in itself.”
She gracefully shares the screen with Arisa Nakano, an actress from
the business is indeed working towards its sustainability goals strongly, not simply for show.
Imbibe throughout, reach your publics and deliver the narrative.
The above piece first appeared in the Public Relations & Communications Association (PRCA) Asia Pacific Reputation Group’s inaugural Perspectives Report recently.
You may download the full report and learn from other APAC communicators here: https://apac.prca.global/wpcontent/uploads/2024/06/TheAPAC-Reputation-Perspectives-Report-2024.pdf
Japan who is best known for her pivotal role in the Oscar-nominated movie Perfect Days. Having lived in Japan, the disaster in Rikuzentakata hit closer to her. She expresses her sentiment and hopes for the Filipino audience seeing this film:
“Having lived through the big natural disaster in Japan, I’ve seen how people’s lives changed because of it. I hope people in the Philippines get a glimpse of that reality through this film.”
Kono Basho is a personal tale made by visual artist, curator, teacher turned filmmaker, and director Jaime Pacena II. He drew inspiration from the time he spent in Japan researching and immersing himself in Rikuzentakata, a city devastated by the 2011 Tsunami. He artistically reflected on his 13 years’ worth of archival photographs and videos as remnants and memories, a key theme that can be seen throughout the movie. “Seeing Rikuzentakata rebuild and reform after the disaster for several years is what drew me in writing Kono Basho. The hope amidst loss and pain is such an inspiration,” Jaime shared.
Marrying his past as a visual artist and curator with his current role as a filmmaker and director, Jaime (along with the talented production team) shot the entire movie in Japan to showcase the cultural and emotional distinctions brought by the characters’ identities. His debut feature film is dedicated to and inspired by his three eldest sisters, who gave him a profound understanding of the importance of family, and most importantly the
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Noel Rene Nieva, president and CEO of Perceptions Inc., one of the country’s leading PR counsels, is the current national chair of IPRA Philippines.
PR Matters is devoting a special column each month to answer our readers’ questions about public relations. Please send your questions or comments to askipraphil@ gmail.com.
role of siblings in shaping who we are becoming. “ Kono Basho for me is a warm hug that you might not want that you actually needed,” he continued. What makes this film even more special is Director Dan Villegas’ comeback as a cinematographer. After focusing on directorial roles that bagged him the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Director in 2014 and producing movies and TV shows, Dan returns to his roots as a Director of Photography to further bring Ella and Reina’s stories to life. Aside from his role as DOP, Dan also serves as the Executive Producer and Producer of this film under Project 8 Projects.
Beyond the amazing talents, The Japan Foundation also played a big part in telling this story. With the film being shot entirely in Japan, the foundation assisted the production team in ensuring that the culture and sensibilities of Rikuzentakata, Japan, were properly captured and honored.
Kono Basho is a story about family, loss, identity, and renewal. It delves deeply into the complex issues surrounding the Filipino diaspora, set against the backdrop of the traumas caused by the March 2011 tsunami, offering a profound reflection on these themes. Grief comes in waves, but you don’t have to ride it alone. Sometimes, the people we expect the least to help us are the ones who make it bearable.
Take a trip to Japan with Kono Basho, the official film entry to the yearly awaited Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival, which is in theaters this August 2024.
I
PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino visits rower Joanie Delgaco while training at the Metz Boat Club.
Yulo, Marcial, Delgaco open campaign in Paris
TWO of the country’s top medal prospects, gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxer Eumir Felix Marcial, and rower Joanie Delgaco kick off the Philippine campaign this Saturday (July 27)—a day after the Paris Olympics’ unique opening ceremony over the Seine River. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expects returning Olympians Yulo and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Marcial to kick-start the bid with the country hoping to match or surpass the historic first Olympic gold Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won in Tokyo 2020 and the silvers of boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio.
We’re looking forward to Caloy [Yulo], Eumir and Joanie giving the country that strong start in Paris,” said Tolentino, who will be flying to the French capital on Tuesday. “They’re all ready and inspired and in high spirits.” Yulo, 23, who finished fourth in Tokyo in vault, competes in the qualification round of the men’s individual all-around beginning at 9:30 p.m. (Philippine time) with the finals of set on Wednesday (July 31.)
The 28-year-old Marcial, on the other hand, will be competing in the light-heavyweight division after bringing home the middleweight bronze medal from Tokyo.
The Zamboanga City native, who has a 5-0 record as a pro, starts his bid, also also at 9:30 p.m. (Philippine time) on Saturday.
Delgaco, meanwhile, tries to advance to the finals from the women’s single Sculls heats at 3 p.m. (Philippine time)—she’s the first Filipina to qualify for Olympic rowing. Tolentino has earlier declared confidence that the 22-athlete Team Philippines will deliver in Paris.
This team, I believe, is the most prepared in Philippine Olympic history,” said Tolentino, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for its unrelenting support to the campaign that turned feverish with the first-ever pre-Olympic training camp in Metz, France.
“Our athletes have trained and prepared through a tried-and-tested template that guarantees an Olympic medal,” he added.
A t wo-time world champion—in 2019 floor exercise and 2021 in vault—Yulo is joined by three more gymnasts— Filipino-Americans Aleah Finnegan, Levi Jung-Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyom while Marcial has returning Olympians Petecio and Paalam, Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan in boxing.
The Philippines marks its 100th year of participation in Paris, which will gather 10,714 athletes from 206 nations competing in 329 events from 32 sports.
Sports BusinessMirror
Malixi books record victory in US Girls Jr
By Aldrin Quinto
ITH 14 birdies and zero bogeys in 29 holes, Rianne Malixi stamped her mark in the US Girls’ Junior Championship, registering a record 8-and-7 victory over Asterisk Talley to rule the tournament on Saturday at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California.
Malixi recorded the largest margin of victory in the finals in tournament history, sealing t he title with seven holes to spare in the 36-hole title showdown. The previous mark for championship match victory was 7-and-5 when the titles were disputed over 18 holes—Nancy Lopez winning in 1974 and Michelle McGann in 1987.
“ I know being USGA champion means a lot,” Malixi said. “Being able to do that is a huge honor
Patrimonio, Luna rule Fossil Pickleball Open
prizes in a local pickleball tournament. The event kicked off with a friendly pickleball match featuring influencers, media and VIPs prior to the two-day tournament proper where participants engaged in a double-round elimination duel and culminated in the finals and award ceremony on the last day. Patrimonio and Luna were ahead, 9-4, in the opening frame of the race-to-11, best-of-three encounter witnessed by a full house crowd before the Sarazas chipped away at the lead and turned things into their favor.
An idea whose time has come
for me and I’m very grateful.”
The 17-year-old Filipina earned a spot in the 2025 US Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin and can look forward to the remaining US Girls’ Junior Championships for which she is age-eligible, with exemptions into the 2024 US Women’s Amateur at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in August and the 2025 US Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. Malixi, who beat professionals in the 2022 Valley Golf Ladies Challenge on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, is also likely to get a return trip to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament.
But in a few days, Malixi, committed to suit up for Duke in the National Collegiate Athletic Association next year, will be back in action in the European Ladies Amateur in Finland.
n sweltering conditions at the Robert Trent Jones Sr.- designed course, Malixi was
on fire, moving six clear through 18—firing a stroke play equivalent of 9-under 62.
T he Filipina widened the gap in the afternoon and clinched the trophy with par on the 2 9th hole.
The sweet victory erased bitter memories of a heartbreaking loss just a year ago to Kiara Romero, who won 1 up at the US Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Course in Colorado Springs.
“ It was such a heartbreak last year because I was so close,” Malixi said. “After that US trip I just practiced a lot. I spent a lot of hours training in Manila.”
She added: “I sacrificed a lot of my social time, school time. My family had their share [of sacrifices] and I’m just really grateful for everything.”
M alixi is the second Filipina to top the US Girls’ Junior title after Princess Mary Superal, who won in 2014 and now plays in the professional circuits in Japan and the Philippines. With AP
Bernardino eyes redemption in 4-leg JPGT Mindanao series starting in Apo
1 to 4 at The Country Club in Laguna, the 11-year-old from Makati City is ready to slug it out with local talents Kimberly Barroquillo, Snoe Dalisay, Elize Naranjo and Angel Salvador, along with South Cotabato’s Brittany Tamayo, Bacolod’s Chelsea Ogborne and Cebu’s Davelyn Dy.
I ntense competition is also expected in other age divisions as players kick off their bids in the grueling regional series over the next four weeks at various challenging courses.
ELSEY BERNARDINO seeks redemption in the four-leg International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Junior Philippine Golf Tour (JPGT) Mindanao Series which begins Tuesday at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao.
B ernardino finished second in Iloilo and Negros Occidental and third in Bacolod but fell short of advancing as Zuri Bagaloyos and Cailey Gonzales clinched the top two spots in the first two legs of the three-stage Visayas series and moved on to the Match Play finals of the girls’ 10-12 age category. Determined to earn a spot in the head-to-head championship set October
T he finale is an over the board competition with all 12 engaging in a single round robin format followed by the sudden death matches that was held in Greenhills this past weekend.
A s of this writing, the battle for third and the championship have yet to be played and by the time you read this, the winners will have been declared.
I t hink it is great that PCAP came up with this tournament to not only augment their two conferences— All-Filipino and the import-laced Wesley So Cup. This will further raise the profile of chess.
A nd so will the cash prizes. The winner will receive P80,000 while the second and third places will get P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. No one goes empty-handed because all the other finalists receive P5,000 for their efforts.
Oh, incidentally, all the participants were booked at the nearby Elan Suites just across the Greenhills
and answer portion of the press
By Josef Ramos
the first round. “It’s really all my
as I
in without respecting Nakatani’s
to
punches,” Astrolabio said. “I covered my face, but he went to the
I couldn’t breathe after I got hit, never saw it coming,” he said. “I tried to get up and fight, but I couldn’t.” A strolabio dropped to a 19-5 win-loss record while Nakatani. 26, improved to 28 straight victories and booked his 21st win via knockout. It was Nakatani’s first defense of the belt he took from Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago via a sixth round technical knockout win last February in the same arena.
Team Astrolabio led by head trainer and manager Nonoy Neri flew back home to Davao City on Sunday afternoon.
L eg 2 will be held at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates from July 30 to August 2 in Davao, while the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon will host the third leg from August 6 to 9 and the ICTSI-sponsored series will conclude at Pueblo de Oro in Cagayan de Oro from August 12 to 15.
The best two results from these events will determine the players’ final rankings with the top two from each division—8-9, 10-12, 13-15 and 16-18 in both boys and girls classes—will earn berths in the series’ finals organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. R egistration for the JPGT Mindanao series is ongoing through PGTI’s Jhi Castillo at 0928-316-5678 or Shiela Salvania at 0968-311-4101.
conference, there were a couple of answers that resonated.
I recall how International Master (IM) Kim Steven Yap said how he was not selected by any PCAP team and he had to work doubly hard to get noticed and to join a PCAP team.
I M Joel Banawa reiterated the interest among people from the provinces where teams represented their cities in PCAP tournaments. “It inspired people,” he said in the vernacular.
U nited States-based chess supporter Jessie Villasin noted that PCAP tournaments are getting better if not more slick. I remarked to Mr. Villasin that even the opening remarks given by Games and Amusements Board Chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera were the best, the most insightful, and engaging of all opening remarks by guests in the four years of PCAP. H ow he drew parallels between the games and principles of chess with his practice of law was revealing and even inspirational. Getting
RIANNE MALIXI books the largest margin of victory in the finals in tournament history, sealing the title with seven holes to spare in the
title showdown. COURTESY USGA
VINCENT ASTROLABIO continues to grimace in his corner. COURTESY BY WENDELL ALINEA
THE winners pose with giant replicas of their checks in the first Fossil Pickleball Open
KELSEY BERNARDINO is determined to earn a spot in the head-to-head finals.
www.businessmirror.com.ph
STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS
A BusinessMirror Special Feature
NATION-BUILDING, UPLIFTING LIVES VIA SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD
Officially launched in January, the Bagong Pilipinas (BP) campaign aims to improve Philippine economy and governance by promoting positive Filipino traits as well as achieving much needed economic reforms. Many of his new initiatives are reminiscent of his father's previous programs.
By Samuel P. Medenilla
UNFAZED by the challenges during the first two years of his term, which includes economic recovery from the pandemic and China’s growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. continues to focus on transforming the country into his envisioned “Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines).”
With two years of his term over and amid the shifting politics of the 2025 National and Local Elections, the President is bent on executing his national plans that were crafted during the early years of his term.
Carrying on legacies
Officially launched last January, the Bagong Pilipinas (BP) campaign aims to improve Philippine economy and governance by promoting positive Filipino traits as well as achieving much needed economic reforms.
T he technical part of the BP, particularly its economic targets and priority infrastructures, is contained in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, while its social and cultural aspect focuses on promoting nationalism and excellence.
As early as last year, the government has been preparing for the campaign with the creation of its logo. Earlier this month, Marcos decided to intensify its promotion by requiring national government agencies and instrumentalities to recite the BP hymn and pledge in their weekly flag ceremonies.
BP, like many of the current administration's priorities, has been considered by some political observers as the revival or continuation of the initiatives of the President's father, former President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr., who came out with his Bagong Lipunan (New Society) concept just before he declared Martial Law.
Ateneo de Manila University School of Government dean, Philip Arnold P. Tuaño, noted that the Marcos administration should have gotten inputs at the grassroots level on the provisions of the BP when it was still being conceptualized.
"Unfortunately, the Bagong Pilipinas campaign echoes the dark years of the martial law administration and there needs to be a better effort in undertaking a bottom-up approach to economic and social transformation in the country," Tuaño told BusinessMirror For his part, Ibon Foundation Executive Director Sonny Africa observed that there is a lack of traction in the campaign since the implementation of its rules and guidelines is compulsory in government agencies.
"The best way for it to get traction is to make it reflect a real campaign for more democratic governance, greater social equality, and fundamental economic reforms breaking from a continuing past. Absent these, it's just an obligatory branding campaign for the administration which will be forgotten when the next administration takes its turn," Africa said.
Agricultural roots
BP is not the only policy that the President has taken inspiration from his father's administration. It also extends to agriculture, which the Marcos family relays as one of the highlights of the elder Marcos' administration through his Masagana 99 initiative.
Launched in 1973, the program provided government-subsidized loans, which is supposed to have helped improve the productivity of farmers by allowing them to buy more farm inputs.
On the other hand, former Finance Sec-
retary Carlos G. Dominguez said the program failed not only to boost local rice production, but it also led to the bankruptcy of 800 rural banks.
Nevertheless, the President is determined to make agriculture one of the priorities of his administration just like what his father did. He even took up the agriculture portfolio in his Cabinet until November 2023, when he appointed Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. to be the new head of the Department Agriculture (DA).
While he was DA Secretary, Marcos revived his father's Kadiwa stores, wherein the government shouldered the transportation cost and provided venues to agricultural producers so they can directly sell their goods to consumers at cheaper prices compared to regular retailers.
In 2022, the President announced that he wanted the Kadiwa program to be institutionalized. The AGRI Partylist filed a bill in Congress last year for the said purpose.
The completion of agrarian reform is also among his administration's priorities with his signing of Republic Act (RA) No. 11953 the New Agrarian Emancipation Law on July 2023. The law condones the unpaid amortizations worth P57.56 million of 610,054 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is aiming to complete the distribution of 1.3 million land titles by 2028.
Marcos also committed to continue extending irrigation access and support to farmers especially this year after the dry spells and droughts caused P9.89 billion worth of agricultural damages affecting 183,455 farmers and fisherfolks this year.
Other legacy projects
Marcos likewise took a page from his father's policy book when it comes to housing. The president's Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Program (4PH) is likened to his father's Bagong Lipunan Improvement Sites and Services (BLISS), which provided housing units for the urban poor.
Under the current 4PH, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is aiming to construct 6.8 million housing units before the end of the Marcos administration. He already instructed an Inter-agency Coordinating Council to create the digital master list of government lands, which can be used for the said housing projects.
To continue the initiative of his father in constructing specialty hospitals such as the Philippine Heart Center, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Lung Center of the Philippines, Marcos signed into law RA No. 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The law requires the Department of Health (DOH) to establish specialty centers in its hospitals in every region and in state controlled hospitals. The centers should prioritize cancer care, cardiovascular care, lung care, renal care and kidney transplant, brain and spine care, trauma care and burn care.
And like the elder Marcos who built the unused Bataan Nuclear Power Plant, Marcos likewise expressed interest in utilizing nuclear power as part of the country's energy mix. He noted that nuclear power, together with the
country's increasing sources of renewable energy, will help meet the country's growing energy needs.
The President backed initiatives by the private sector to conduct pre-feasibility for the local use of micro-modular nuclear reactors.
Economic policies
Marcos, however, also made a mark for himself when it comes to his economic and foreign policies.
Tuaño attributed the country's economic recovery from the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to the policies of the current administration.
"Prudent macroeconomic management has allowed us to recover economically after the pandemic years and return to our pre-COVID growth trajectory," he said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that economic growth shrunk by 9.5 percent in 2020 during the height of the pandemic-related economic lockdowns, but it has since then recovered to 5.7 percent (2021), 7.6 percent (2022) and 5.5 percent (2023).
Among the initiatives initiated by the Marcos administration was to lift the remainder of its travel restrictions and the easing of the mask mandates, which helped in the normalization of business operations.
Africa noted an economic slowdown as the post-Covid rebound faded, which could be addressed through large emergency cash transfers to households, expanding public education, health and housing, and production support to domestic farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME).
The gains can be sustained and expanded with national industrialization policy that protects, subsidizes and nurtures Filipino firms," he said.
The President is also contending with monthly high inflation in food due to supply challenges. As a remedy, Marcos issued Administrative Order No. 20 (s. 2024), which streamlines administrative processes and remove nontariff barriers for agricultural products.
He also issued Executive Order No. 62, which updates the nomenclature and rates of import duties of various products, including rice. This brought down the tariff for local food staples from 35 percent to 15 percent until 2028.
Howev,er, the IBON Foundation cautioned that food imports are only a stop-gap and food prices will only fall with more substantial agricultural investments.
World
Rebranding Philippines. Logo of President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas campaign, which envision inclusive growth and transformation for all sectors. Image courtesy of PCO.
NATION-BUILDING, UPLIFTING LIVES VIA SOMETHING NEW FROM SOMETHING OLD
investments in the country.
As of June 2024, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reports that the overseas trips of the President have resulted in US$19-billion worth of projects.
While abroad, Marcos regularly raises the country's concerns when it comes to food security, climate change and China's activities in the WPS, the part of the South China Sea (SCS) within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He stressed the Philippines will not yield any of its territories to China, but he noted the country will do so through peaceful means in line with international laws. His strong position
on the matter has earned him recognition both here and abroad.
To some extent, the Marcos administration has ensured that the Philippine interests in the West Philippine Sea are better asserted than in the past administration," Tuaño said.
The efforts of the Marcos administration to secure peace include pursuing dialogue with
completed
President Marcos envisions ending involuntary hunger by 2028 through the Department
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
The business community urge President Marcos to tackle peace and order, upskilling the workforce, and ramped up infrastructure spending in his SONA
By VG Cabuag
TODAY, as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivers his third State of the Nation
Address SONA), the business community hopes to hear Marcos mention peace and order on top of the government’s priorities, and especially due to the forthcoming mid-term elections in 2025.
for
by the
The said bill already
House Ways and Means Committee chairman Joey Salceda, author of the measure, said the Philippines currently imposes the highest stock transaction levies among all major economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The Philippine Stock Exchange has the fewest listed companies of all ASEAN-6 economies, with just 275 listed companies, with the second lowest (compared with) Singapore (with the highest), with some 640 listed companies. Since the stock transaction tax was increased from 0.5 percent to 0.6 percent of transaction value, in 2019, the PSEi has declined by 29.83 percent,” Salceda said. For Isidro A. Consunji, chairman, president and CEO of engineering conglomerate DMCI
the House of Representatives in March. The measure seeks to amend the Tax Code by reducing taxes on stock transactions from 0.6 percent to just 0.1 percent of stock value and the tax on dividends of foreign non-residents from 25 percent to 10 percent. The proposal also imposes a debt transaction rate of 0.1 percent, to be at par with the reduced rate for stock transactions. Friction cost is one significant factor that makes the Philippine stock market uncompetitive vis-à-vis its regional peers. The passage of this bill will lower the stock transaction tax from 60 basis points (0.6 percent) to 10 basis points (0.1 percent), and reduce the dividend tax rate for foreign non-residents from 25 percent to 10 percent. This will make the Philippine stock market more attractive to foreign investors,” PSE president and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said in an email statement to Business Mirror.
Holdings Inc., he would like the government to tackle the issues that have been hounding the business sector for so long. He says that this mainly includes property disputes.
A right-of-way acquisition process that prioritizes fair and timely compensation for landowners, while also providing efficient mechanisms for
resolving disputes between all parties involved. With this, the proponents and their contractors can avoid delays and cost overruns, and the public can benefit from the timely completion and efficient delivery of critical infrastructure projects,” Consunji said.
Some of the construction projects of DMCI were hampered by mainly right of way issues,
causing delays that some take years before it can be solved.
Consunji added that there should also be “a simplified and practical administrative titling process for informal land owners in rural areas to prevent tenure insecurity, disputes and difficulties in accessing credit or government services.”
He said there should be a national initiative to transform idle government land into economic centers, residential hubs and sustainable green spaces to maximize land use and resource utilization for the benefit of all Filipinos.
Infrastructure has always been the main setback of the Philippines in recent years, compared with its ASEAN neighbors. For Joey Bondoc, head of research of real estate advisor Colliers Philippines, there should be sustained or even ramped up public infrastructure spending. There should be greater initiatives with the private sector, he said.
We believe that the government’s infrastructure program will help dictate the development strategies of property firms especially those that look for new growth areas outside of established hubs such as Metro Manila, CALABA (referring to the provinces of Cavite, Laguna and Batangas), Pampanga, Cebu and Davao,” Bondoc said.
He said there should also be programs to upskill the country’s workforce. He continued, “This is crucial to help the country attract more BPO (business process outsourcing) investments and eventually corner a greater share of the higher-value knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) pie.” Bondoc also delved on the need to improve business registration process, to address bottlenecks that clog our country’s ability to attract foreign direct investments.
Just last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission has launched its third wave of digitalization efforts that promised to cut the business registration process from weeks to just hours as it do away with the requirement of submission of physical documents.
“ We are harnessing digital technologies not only to improve the ease of doing business,” SEC chairman Emilio B. Aquino said. Ultimately, the SEC is harnessing digital technologies to champion sustainability and help accelerate the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
Bondoc said the improvement of business registration process will improve the Philippines’ ranking in global competitiveness surveys. Goal should be part of top one-third of all economies surveyed. This will make the Philippines a desirable investment destination in the region. This is impt in ensuring that the Philippines remains on the radar of MNCs (multinational corporations). This should benefit all property segments – office, residential, retail, hotel and industrial,” he said.
Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco, senior research analyst at Philstocks Financials Inc., said they would like to hear the President discuss “specific plans on how to strengthen the local economy’s growth momentum in such a way that it would achieve the government’s targets this year and in the succeeding years”.
“ We would also like to hear specific plans on the agricultural sector and on food security to avoid a repeat of the food driven inflation we’ve experienced recently,” he said.
With all of these wishlist from the business community, the Marcos Jr. administration should be busy throughout the year through the elections.
ON THE ROAD TO BAGONG PILIPINAS
A BusinessMirror Special Feature
ATTENTION, MOTORISTS: MMDA GEARS UP FOR ‘SONA TRAFFIC’
As part of its traffic management plan, the MMDA shall implement a zipper lane or counterflow on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
By Claudeth Mocon
IT’S all systems go for the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22, as the security and safety measures, traffic management have been meticulously planned by the Quezon City government’s Law and Order Cluster and the Metropolitan Manila Developement Authority (MMDA).
According to Quezon City (QC) Mayor Joy Belmonte, although her administration respects freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly, she also appealed to rallyists to police their ranks and follow the mandated law. The QC Police District will deploy 6,500 police officers to ensure the safety and orderliness of the event.
Belmonte said that in collaboration with various department agencies, and offices, personnel and resources have been strategically allocated to support the national government’s deployment efforts. Complementing this force, hundreds of personnel from the Department of Public Order and Safety, Task Force Disiplina, and barangays surrounding the SONA 2024 venue will be on hand to provide additional support.
Traffic
To mitigate traffic disruptions on major thoroughfares, the city gov-
The
ernment will deploy additional traffic enforcers from the Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD). The QCity Bus, in conjunction with barangay service vehicles, will offer free rides to commuters affected by the event.
The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office is prepared to respond swiftly to any emergencies, with Emergency Medical Services, Search and Rescue teams, and Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams prepositioned to provide immediate medical support and assistance. Meanwhile, a total of 1,329 personnel will be deployed by the MMDA, tasked to manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic; assist in emergency response; conduct rounds of road and sidewalk clearing operations; assist in crowd control; and traffic monitoring.
The MMDA is 100 percent ready for PBBM’s SONA. We are in close coordination with the Task
sum of
Force SONA 2024, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Command, House of Representatives, and Quezon City government to ensure a safe, peaceful and orderly SONA,” said MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes.
A rtes added that the agency will implement a “no day off, no absent” policy among the assigned personnel to ensure the effective delegation of functions during the conduct of SONA.
A s part of its traffic management plan, the MMDA shall imple -
SONA 2024:
ment a zipper lane or counterflow on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Batasan-IBP Road, meanwhile, will be closed to vehicular traffic at 8 a.m. onwards as part of security measures for the President's 3rd SONA.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid the anticipated heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa
Complex, especially at about 3 p.m. when dignitaries start arriving.
Alternate routes:
Northbound (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview)
n Vehicles from Elliptical Road should take North Avenue, right turn at Mindanao Avenue, then right turn to Sauyo Road or take Quirino Highway to reach the point of destination.
Southbound (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle)
By John Eiron R. Francisco
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City is today’s main national event especially as the public is expecting to find out what went into the P20 million budget allocated for the gathering of the country's highest leaders and lawmakers.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco initially stated that the P20 million budget is designated solely for food and beverages for all personnel involved, including internal staff, police, MMDA officers, and support staff. However, Velasco later clarified that the budget for the 2024 SONA will also cover other essential elements required for the event.
I n his latest statement,
n Vehicles from Commonwealth Avenue should take Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway, turn left at Mindanao Avenue, then turn left at North Avenue to reach the point of destination.
For light vehicles
Breaking down its P20 million budget
The amount will be spent for the catering service, giveaways, equipment rentals, medical support, personnel uniform, and more. Is the budget appropriate? Go figure, say observers.
the P20 million will now also include expenses for uniforms for approximately 2,000 Secretariat employees (three sets each). These uniforms will serve beyond the event for their daily duties.
A dditionally, it is reported that the funds will be used for security costs, including personnel and equipment, to ensure event safety, interagency coordination meetings for effective planning, printing and distribution of invitations and giveaways for attendees, equipment rentals like LED walls for improved audiovisual presentations, and decorations such as potted plants and flowers to enhance the venue’s ambiance.
I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my recent statements regarding the budget allocated for the 2024 SONA. The amount of P20 million I referred to represents the total budget earmarked for the preparations and execution of the SONA,” Velasco said.
H e mentioned that this figure is a preliminary estimate and has not been fully detailed, emphasizing that the budget encompasses various necessary expenditures to guarantee the event's success.
reflect the significance of this Constitutionally mandated event while being conscious of public sentiments regarding the use of taxpayers' money," he added.
“Our goal is to ensure the success that the 2024 SONA is conducted with highest standards, reflecting our dedication to serving the people with integrity and accountability,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Velasco mentioned that the House official refused to provide further details on the SONA meal, stating that he wasn't even permitted to share the menu.
Harry Roque also weighed in on the issue, questioning why the expenses reached up to P20 million despite serving Filipino food. He compared this to previous events during Duterte's administration, where the food served included simple Filipino snacks such as banana fritters, palabok , and fresh lumpia , which did not incur significant costs.
R oque added that guests supposedly only stayed for a short time due to long waits for transportation amid heavy traffic and would not really have to be served more elaborate fare.
prompts the Philippine National Police's deployment of 22,000 personnel across Metro Manila and nearby areas to bolster security measures.
“ Right now, we don't see any threats but ang sinasabi ko, go signal ko, of course, you have to see yung inconveniences [but what I am saying is we should look at possible inconveniences],” PNP Chief Rommel Francisco Marbil said.
Velasco emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability in managing public funds, reassuring the public of this dedication in his role as the secretary general of the House of Representatives.
Velasco relayed that the President had instructed the House of Representatives to accommodate all individuals interested in attending his SONA today. Monday, July 22, 2024
Other incidental expenses such as collaterals, communication needs, and additional medical support are also accounted for in the budget.
" Every peso allocated for the SONA is carefully scrutinized and managed to
D uring Former President Rodrigo Duterte's third SONA, it was reported that approximately P4.9 million were spent on supplies, materials, and food for about 1500 guests.
Fo rmer Presidential Spokesperson of Duterte,
So, pica-pica lang yan bakit kaya aabot ng [It's just finger foods, why would it reach] P20 million,” Roque said.
Moreover, with expectations of record attendance exceeding 2,000 guests, President Marcos Jr.'s upcoming address also
I n addition to security threats, Marbil pointed out that heavy traffic is a common issue on the day of the SONA. He believes that stringent security measures, along with the large number of police deployed and protesters, contribute to this congestion.