BusinessMirror July 27, 2023

President Ferdinand R. Marcos

Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim made the announcement at their joint press briefi ng Wednesday afternoon, the second day of Marcos’s visit to the Asean neighbor.

“In the spirit of exploring synergies for future partnerships, we agreed to convene the next Philippines-Malaysia Joint Commission Meeting in the near future. I believe the date that we decided upon was around sometime in October,” Marcos said.

e agreements will cover areas of transnational crime, agriculture, halal industry, Islamic banking, education, tourism and culture, sports, and the digital economy.

“We continue to work on the corresponding MOUs [memorandum of understanding] in these

WHILE there has been an improvement in the employment situation in the country based on the latest data, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said more needs to be done to improve the quality of jobs in the Philippines to reduce poverty.

In a Post-Sona Briefi ng on Wednesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said the unemployment number has declined to 4.3 percent, the kind of jobless rate found in developed countries.

However, Balisacan recognized that attaining a low jobless rate is different from creating decent jobs. ese jobs, he said, would allow the

Philippines to bring down the poverty rate to 9 percent by 2028.

“ e number of jobs is one thing but the quality of those jobs is another,” Balisacan said. “ at’s [what] my colleagues here are [working on]—improving the quality of jobs available, improving the employability of our workers, enhancing the human capital of our people so that the labor market can work effectively, efficiently.”

Balisacan said by improving the work force, the government can also attract investments that will allow the establishment of factories and new age businesses— those into Artificial Intelligence— that will ensure the sustainability of the growth of the economy not only today but in the years to come. By building factories and plants that create new equipment as well

as investments in roads and bridges, more businesses will come to the Philippines and provide quality jobs to Filipinos.

“We are in a hurry because as we keep on saying, many of our neighbors have left us long ago but now we have the opportunity. As we kept saying the stars are aligned. And if we miss this time, I don’t know when we’re going [to achieve it],” Balisacan said.

No reason to celebrate

OXFORD Economics in its latest brief said the low unemployment numbers in the Philippines and ailand is not enough reason to celebrate.

Employment opportunities in the Philippines remain informal, with own-account workers and unpaid workers increasing to 38 per-

cent in the fi rst quarter of this year from 34 percent in the fi rst quarter of 2019.

Oxford Economics added that the number of unpaid workers in the Philippines doubled within the same period, standing at 8.1 percent of total employed persons in the fi rst quarter of this year. ese own-account and unpaid workers are unstable sources of income and would usually have irregular hours. Some examples of these jobs are hawkers, private hire car drivers, real estate agents, to start-up owners. “ ailand and the Philippines, unlike their subregional peers, have registered higher employment growth than their prepandemic trends. But we think this

fields and have them signed—we’ll have them signed in the near future,” Marcos said.

He also said they are coordinating with Malaysia for the building of capacity of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), especially for the Halal industry and Islamic banking.

“Malaysia has warmly offered their expertise to train Philippine personnel and officials to strengthen our capabilities in these increasingly important sectors,” the chief executive said.

Flexible engagement

FOR his part, Ibrahim said he and the President discussed “strengthening” of the five-point consensus of the Association of Southeast

THE power industry under the Marcos administration must put up more than 8,000 megawatts (MW) of additional power generation capacity to be able to serve the projected peak demand of about 25,000 megawatts (MW) by 2028.

Of the needed additional capacity, at least 43 percent of the 8,000MW must be renewable energy (RE).

“By 2028, the peak demand in the Philippines will be around 25,000 MW up from our current 17,000 MW peak demand. To be able to meet that demand, we will have to make available more than 8,000 MW of new capacity. Under the vision of the President, 43 percent of that should at least be renewable energy,” said Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

e RE can also include battery energy storage system (BESS), which can store excess energy during periods of low demand and release it back into the grid when demand increases.

“ at’s pure RE at this stage, but we’re looking precisely at combina-

tions of RE and batteries where the battery storage with source from RE will also be considered as RE,” added Lotilla.

e 57 percent will come from a mix of natural gas and coal. “Remember, our coal-fi red power plants, many of them are young. While some are old, many of them are young and therefore there’s still useful life ahead of them,” said Lotilla.

e possibility of utilizing ammonia as a fuel for co-fi ring in coal plants is also being considered. “You have some other sources that may come into line by 2028. Developments in technology are moving fast and I hope they move faster.

“ ere are now proposals, for example, converting the old coal-fi red power plants into, not just co-fi ring with ammonia...But these are still being discussed. Our new technologies in the US, they can use coal-fi red facilities to produce graphene and then with hydrogen as a by-product.

Let’s hope that these mature in time,” added Lotilla.

To meet the forecasted demand, there must be new investments in

THE House Committee on Ways and Means on Wednes-

day said it will try to approve all of President Marcos’s tax-related priorities “next week so that the House can send them to the Senate before we begin budget hearings.”

Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said his committee will tackle and try to approve a mining committee report next week.

“ at’s the last item on our list of priorities from the Sona. Hopefully, by end of August, the House has approved all the fi scal-related Sona priorities, including the military and uniformed personnel pension reform,” Salceda said.

“Defi nitely, we will try to complete the reforms before the budget hearings begin,” Salceda added.

e tax measures Marcos requested from Congress are the tax on single-use plastics, the VAT on digital services, the mining fi scal regime, the motor vehicle user’s charge updating, and the Ease of Paying Taxes Act. Marcos also requested Congress to enact a reform of the military and uniformed personnel pension system to ensure its sustainability.

“ e committee is done with

MVRUT. All the others are approved on third reading, except mining, which will be taken up in the coming days,” Salceda added.

Salceda also says they expect the Ease of Paying Taxes to be approved by the Senate this August.

Salceda said these reforms “are crucial to ensuring that President Marcos has the fi scal space he needs to make his vision happen.”

A strong tax system, exemplified by tax effort or tax-to-GDP, is the foundation of a strong state capable of delivering public goods and services, he said.

“So, we want to enact all these tax reforms, because while revenue has been growing, the economy is growing much faster, so we are seeing warning signs of declining tax effort. Currently, as of the fi rst semester, we are looking at tax effort of 12.8 percent. Last year it was 14.6 percent. So, we need to catch up,” he said.

“It’s possibly a sign that the economy is moving towards things we are currently not taxing or are under taxing. Defi nitely, car sales are up 28.1 percent—and we have

FOR ‘EGAY’ These combination photos capture the preparations made by fisherfolk on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, as Typhoon Egay approached the northern part of Luzon. In both the Navotas Fish Port in Manila and Rosario, Cavite, as well as various locations across the region, they diligently secured their boats in anticipation of the impending storm.

Cyclone Wind Signal Number Four was raised for the northwestern portion of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte,

Land use bill, pending in Congress for long, not on Sona list. Why?

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Last year, former Neda Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua said the government must adopt a “doorto-door approach” used by the previous administration in passing the tax reform program when it comes to passing the Nalua.

Chua said the Neda staff could carry on this mandate by explaining to each legislator and making as many presentations as possible.

Chua said there are currently many misunderstood portions of the proposed NALUA.

He said some quarters say land use will be the responsibility of one centralized agency in government.

This is not true, he said, and local government units (LGUs) still have jurisdiction over land use. However, land conversion of land from agriculture to other use has to be decided by a more centralized agency.

The bill currently proposes that this centralized agency be the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) instead of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Land use is very important for an archipelago like the Philippines, and Chua said the entire country only has 300,000 square kilometers of land. This size is not bound to increase even if the country’s population continues to multiply.

DOLE, Tesda to focus on hiking employment of young workers

By Patrick V. Miguel

with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in increasing employment, specifically youth employability, said Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma on Wednesday, during the 2023 Post Sona Discussions.

This is in response to Marcos’ second Sona, where he reported that the employment rate as of May this year rose to 95.7 percent.

In September 2022, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 5, transferring Tesda’s authority to DOLE “for policy and program coordination.”

On the merging of DOLE and Tesda, Laguesma said, “Isang mahalagang hakbang sapagkat nariyan po iyong linkage ng training sa employment, hindi po puwedeng maghiwalay [That is a vital step because

there lies the linkage of training and employment, they are inseparable].” Their plan is aligned with the 8-point socioeconomic agenda of the President and the Philippine Development Plan for 2023-2028.

The DOLE secretary also said that their plan is based on the help of social partners such as labor representatives and employee-representatives in the Labor and Employment Plan.

In here are embodied the programs that will push for youth employability, and those that promote

industrial peace, said Laguesma.

Aside from the youth, DOLE also wanted employability among women, the elderly, among others.

Tesda’s part

ACCORDING to Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning

Rosanna A. Urdaneta, the President asked Tesda for two things: to “harmonize” the TVL track, and to make sure many Filipinos are

Power...

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the power sector. Lotilla said the call for greater RE use is being intensified with policies geared towards achieving the government’s target of increasing 35 percent of RE in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

“As you know, the power and energy sector in the Philippines is in private hands. Therefore, the role of government is to support the initiatives of the private sector,” he noted.

So far, he said, the department “has approved 126 service contracts in RE in the one year of the Marcos administration. This represents around 31,000 MW. But RE, as you know, is site specific and therefore connectivity is at the core of RE. We have to connect the source to the market.”

The DOE reported that eight new generation facilities became operational from July 2022 to June 2023, increasing the country’s installed capacity by 930.8MW and dependable capacity by 801.6 MW.

Additional capacities from the uprating of existing power plants also contributed to the increase in installed capacity totaling 1,174 MW. On the other hand, the depend-

Neda...

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offers little reason to cheer, as this growth masks the increased underlying precarity in the labor market,” Oxford Economics said.

Nonetheless, Balisacan said the Philippines has “no reason” to fail in its bid to create decent jobs this time around because the government is led by a popular president and the administration has a clear development program.

Balisacan added that there is a collaboration between the government, the private sector and the academe that makes the whole-ofsociety approach in development possible in the country.

If these are achieved, Balisacan said the government can reduce poverty to 9 percent by 2028. This means that by 2028, when the population may reach 120 million, over 10 million Filipinos will be lifted from poverty.

However, Balisacan admitted

Asian Nations on Myanmar.

The consensus aims to prevent further bloodshed in Myanmar amid its ongoing civil war after its military ousted the civilian government in 2021.

Both Ibrahim and Marcos agreed that Myanmar should be given the “flexibility” to engage with its neighboring countries on an informal basis without sacrificing the issues on human rights and the treatment of minorities, in particular Rohingya people.

“We also agreed that we can explore not only along multilateral lines, all of the issues that are facing us in the region, but also that there is use as well, there is utility as well in us promoting a bilateral relationship, especially between Malaysia and the Philippines and our other partners in Asean,” Marcos said. The chief executive thanked Ibrahim, Malaysia’s King Al-Sultan Abdullah and Queen Azizah, as well as the Malaysian people for the warm welcome they gave him and other members of the Philippine delegation.

“skilled, reskilled, and upskilled.”

Their goal is to have around 300,000 Tesda enrollees and graduates, in order to promote employability.

As of now, they are trying to operate a Tesda online program with 150 programs, which is targeted to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

“We want to really engage the industry in the business of training and development,” said Urdaneta.

able capacity increased by 1,764 MW due to the return of the service of the Ilijan power plant, dependable capacity of which was considered zero since June 2022.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. (Pippa) pledged support to the President’s declared priorities, such as the relentless pursuit of total electrification, the accelerated green energy goal, and the push for more gas exploration on a national scale.

“Pippa takes this opportunity to appreciate the unrelenting efforts of the Department of Energy that have unlocked some bottlenecks, thus making it possible to not only have new power plants, but more significantly, 126 RE contracts with a potential total capacity of 31,000MW,” it said.

It vowed to keep working “with our policy makers and regulators in helping ensure that the energy transition will include mechanisms that will assist existing industry players to make the transition.”

It sought support of the DOE and the Energy Regulatory Commission “as we undertake efforts and commit significant investments in the field of new technologies and/or fuel sources, such as energy storage, LNG [liquefied natural gas], hydrogen, ammonia, and a lot of other possibilities.”

that inflation remains a concern. This is particularly because inflation can reduce incomes and prevent poor households from improving their lives.

It may be noted that poor Filipinos are sensitive to expensive food items. Based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), food has a weight of 51.38 percent of the CPI for the Bottom 30 percent of the population.

This is significantly higher than the 34.78 percent weight of food in the CPI for all households. This only shows that because of their low incomes, poor Filipinos spend more of what little they have on food.

“I’m still expecting a reduction, but because of elevated inflation, the effects of economic growth [on poverty] might have been dampened a bit by the inflation. Usually, when inflation is low and economic growth is high, the rate of poverty decreasing is faster,” Balisacan explained, partly in Filipino.

“This time, 2023, and the latter half of 2022, inflation was rising

“This state visit not only attests to the importance we place on Malaysia as a neighbor and as a partner in Asean, but also reaffirms the Philippines’s commitment to further cultivating our bonds and friendship especially as we look forward to celebrating our 60th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations with Malaysia next year,” Marcos said. The President started his visit by meeting with the Filipinos in Malaysia on Tuesday, a day after delivering his second State of the Nation Address. He is scheduled to conclude his three-day stay in Malaysia on Thursday after meeting with Malaysian businessmen.

not updated MVUC rates there since 2004, not to mention our excise tax exemptions on pick-up trucks,” he added.

Salceda said that e-commerce is also expected to grow by as much as 22.9 percent this year, and a lot of those sales are escaping taxes due to de minimis rules in customs and “that we aren’t fully making ecommerce sites withholding agents for VAT yet.”

“That’s why you need to keep evolving your tax system as the economy changes or evolves. Otherwise, it outpaces you, and you don’t capture the revenues you need to support economic growth,” Salceda added.

“Definitely, PBBM needs the fiscal space. That means new tax items. We can’t rely on tax administration alone. No amount of tax administration improvements will capture taxes on new and emerging sectors not contemplated by the Tax Code,” Salceda added.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

and the pandemic also made inflation and prices elevated. That’s what’s dampening [the impact of] economic recovery on poverty,” he added.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) earlier said inflation would continue to slow to 2.9 percent next year, which is within the target range of 2 percent to 4 percent. Inflation has already eased to 5.4 percent in June 2023.

Neda reiterated that rapid, sustained, and inclusive economic growth is key to achieving the Marcos Administration’s single-digit poverty incidence target by 2028.

The government targets a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.0-7.0 percent in 2023, and aims for a faster expansion of 6.58.0 percent from 2024 to 2028.

However, while GDP growth performance of 7.6 percent in 2022 and the 6.4 percent recorded in the first quarter of 2023 mark a return to the country’s high-growth norm, Balisacan cited the need to ensure that such growth is sustained and inclusive.

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is currently working

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma

•

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Senate sets probe into UM’s alleged fee scam, death threats to students

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATOR Raffy Tulfo is set to file a resolution triggering an inquiry into alleged irregularities in a decision of the University of Manila (UM) to disallow all the 140 civil engineering students to graduate, supposedly due to failing grades, after the school’s premature collection of graduation fee.

The senator was also rankled by a complaint that a UM official told students that anyone who crosses the school management can end up “dead.”

The graduating civil engineering students of UM, who first complained on “Wanted sa Radyo,” against their university met with the Senate staff of Tulfo, along with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) representatives and UM officials last Tuesday to discuss the issue.

It can be noted in Tulfo’s initial finding that all of the students received the same failing grade of 70, and the professor resigned immediately after issuing the score.

Tulfo shared that his staff who attended the meeting noticed that there are indeed irregularities and grave injustice perpetrated by UM officials against the students.

“Napagalaman din sa nasabing paghaharap na pangkaraniwan na palang kalakaran ito,” Tulfo said.

In stressing the obvious unfair treatment UM students were subjected to, Tulfo cited as an example

the useless question on the test paper that came from the school president.

These questions include: “What is your subject?,” “Define and explain why this subject is important in your course,” and “Give at least three practical examples on its importance.”

“Sa mga tanong na ito ay walang tamang sagot at nakadepende lamang sa kapritso ng gumawa ng tanong,” he said. “Kaya pala minali ang sagot ng mga estudyante at parepareho silang nakakuha ng 70 failing grade dahil kahit ano pang isagot nila rito ay ang presidente pa rin ng eskwelahan ang masusunod sa gusto niya.”

But what Tulfo really found extremely alarming was the alleged remark by a UM official over a phone call that was put on speaker in a meeting that everyone who fights with and gets on the bad side of the school ends up “dead.”

This prompted him to draft a resolution, which is set to be filed today, Thursday, seeking a thorough investigation of this issue. Said resolution also aims to invite to appear before the Senate the UM president and officials, CHED and past and present students with similar experience in dealing with the university.

“Ang tanong: Mamamatay ba ang 24 senators at ang mismong Senado na mag-iimbestiga sa problemang ito ng UM tulad ng pasaring ng kanilang presidente?! ABANGAN!,” Tulfo ended.

House bill declares ‘large-scale’ crop smuggling as act of economic sabotage

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

RESPONDING to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., a lawmaker has recently filed a bill declaring “large-scale” agricultural smuggling, hoarding, cartelization and profiteering, and other acts of market abuse as economic sabotage, even as smuggled agricultural products confiscated by authorities last year reached the P1.2-billion mark.

In House Bill 8600, or the AntiAgricultural Economic Sabotage of 2023, filed last Tuesday, Quezon 4th District Rep. Keith Micah Tan said his proposal seeks to amend Republic Act 10845, or the AntiAgricultural Smuggling Act of 2016.

Tan said RA 10845 was passed into law with the primary objective of protecting Filipino farmers and their families from the rise in agricultural smuggling in the country.

“Since the law’s passage in 2016, however, even if there have been several reports of seizure of smuggled products, there have been no prosecutions of individuals, groups, or corporations under the law. It may

appear that some have mastered how to circumvent the law in order not to be punished,” he said.

During his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President asked Congress to pass amendments to the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act.

With this appeal from the President, Tan said, obviously, RA 10845’s potential to finally end illegal activities that sabotage the country’s economy and the livelihood of farmers had not been fully utilized over the years.

“The present condition of our farmers and the rising price of agricultural products because of their

scarcity reflect the failure of national government agencies to fully implement the law,” he said.

According to Tan, the Economist’s 2021 Global Food Security Index (GFSI) reveals that the Philippines ranked 64th out of 113 countries in terms of four dimensions of food security: food availability, food accessibility, food utilization, and stability.

“The difficulty of the country to cope with other countries in terms of food security is apparent in the rising prices of basic commodities and the scarcity and shortage of such commodities,” he said.

“Also, the country has been experiencing the highest price of onion in recent history—an all-time high of P700 per kilogram. This was made worse by reports of smuggling and price manipulations by unscrupulous people,” he said.

Based on the records of the Bureau of Customs, he said a total of P1.2 billion worth of smuggled agricultural products have been confiscated in 2022.

“Millions worth of revenues that the government is losing as a result of smuggling, which is revealed to be P250 million per year,” the lawmaker said.

In light of this, Tan said it is high time to introduce amendments to the law, in order to address and hopefully end not only smuggling,

but also the issues of hoarding, profiteering, and cartelization of agricultural products.

The proposed legislation will consider as economic sabotage the hoarding, profiteering, and cartel of sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables in the amount of P1 million or rice in the amount of P10 million.

Moreover, in order to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of the law, Inter-Agency Council on Economic Intelligence will be created under the proposal.

This will be co-chaired by the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Bureau of Customs, and will include the Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Competition Commission, National Security Council, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

The bill said the penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of smuggled agricultural products or products subject to hoarding, profiteering, or cartels, and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties, and other charges avoided, shall be imposed on any person who commits any of the acts enumerated under the proposal.

Creation of RE ‘highway’ to boost PHL power generation pushed CIAP bats for adoption of ‘standardized’ set of contracts in private construction business

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE creation of a reliable “highway” for renewable energy (RE) can fast track the government’s efforts to address the country’s power woes, according to experts.

In a recent forum, industry experts have also pointed to the need for a reliable highway that can accept variable RE and reliably deliver electricity to households and industries.

University of the Philippines College of Engineering Associate Dean Rowaldo Del Mundo said developing RE, such as solar takes only a year, while transmission lines takes 10 years to build.

“Our power system is not ready to accommodate more variable renewable energy [at the moment]. Since we would like to obtain more renewable energy, then we need to focus on developing our transmission system; not only the main grid but actually how to interconnect the many islands in the country,” Del Mundo said.

“Unfortunately, there is this big problem with the lead time. If you decide to put up transmission [lines] today, that means you will have it 10 years from now, whereas if you decide to put up a solar power plant, you can have it next year,” he explained.

He said the highway would be helpful since the Philippines looks to modify its power generation mix to reflect 50 percent renewables and 50 percent non-renewables by 2040.

Department of Energy (DOE) Chief Science Research Specialist Danilo Vivar said the DOE collaborated with the Department of the Interior and Local Government on a circular that serves as a guideline for local government units (LGUs) and their role in developing energy projects.

These efforts, Vivar said, includes Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS), which is “an online system that allows the coordinated submission and synchronous processing of all required data and information, and provides a single decision-making portal for actions on applications for

permits or certifications necessary for, or related to, an application of a proponent for new power generation, transmission, or distribution projects.”

Philippine Independent Power Producers Association Inc. President (PIPPA) Anne Montelibano lamented that while there is recognition of the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of high technology, stable power remains a problem.

Montelibano said there are still brownouts that disrupt industries, particularly those that use AI and high technology. There is a lot of optimism in developing these industries because many Filipinos have the skills to support them.

“Having a good system and [making] use of all those technologies already assumes that you have [a] good base to make it work,” Montelibano said, noting how this would entail balancing intermittencies with a good baseload made up of power plants that can run 24/7.

She also cited the permitting process as a major concern in the power

sector, especially as it can be a roadblock for investments in much-needed new generation capacities.

“We need to make it friendlier, faster, [timely], predictable, [and] reliable. Before the EVOSS, it took around 2,000+ signatures just to put up a project. After the EVOSS, we have greatly reduced the number of processing days and the number of signatures that need to be done [to 1,700]. We greatly thank the DOE for [EVOSS], but obviously, there is always room for improvement,” she said.

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) cohosted the roundtable discussion entitled Powering up: The race to energy security, moderated by the Chamber’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Co-Chair, Ruth Yu-Owen.

The ECCP is a bilateral foreign chamber that promotes European interests in the Philippines and vice versa. With nearly 800 members, the ECCP offers a strong business network that holds great potential in translating to tangible business opportunities.

THE Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP) is pushing for the adoption and use of a “standardized” set of conditions of contracts for private construction.

CIAP said this could prevent problems such as breaches in contract in construction, even as the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC) confirmed some of the arbitration cases lodged with them are related to breaches of contracts.

“These disputes have a dire effect on micro and small domestic/local contractors, who, in good faith, rely on these agreements with their clients, unknowingly engaging in unfair and/ or inequitable contracts,” CIAP said.

The CIAP, through one of its implementing arms, the Philippine Domestic Construction Board (PDCB), approved and published the revised CIAP Document 102, otherwise known as the Uniform General Conditions of Contract for Private Construction.

The CIAP Document 102 is intended to provide guidance to parties in drafting their respective private construction contracts.

The provisions are intended to serve as the recommended procedures, guidelines, and criteria to be used in the implementation of the contract.

This is especially the case in the interpretation of any ambiguities and omissions of stipulations in the contract.

DTI Undersecretary and CIAP Alternate Chairman Ireneo Vizmonte said that CIAP Document 102 encapsulates the recommended terms and conditions in construction contracts.

Vizmonte said the document also reflects the usages, customs, and best practices in the construction industry.

Atty. Marco Maat, DTI-CIAP executive director, said that CIAP recognizes stronger collaborations between government and the private sector to initiate compelling policy reforms such as the CIAP Document 102.

“We are hopeful that this initiative will greatly contribute to the enhancement of contractual relations in the construction industry, especially in private contracting,” Maat said.

Through the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last week, the government and the private sector agreed to engage in active promotion for the adoption and use of the document among industry stakeholders.

The launch and commitment pledge for CIAP Document 102 marks the rollout of its advocacy campaign.

This will involve the conduct of a series of promotional activities, comprehensive training on CIAP Document 102, and institutionalization of the document as part of contract management courses for engineering students. Cai U. Ordinario

Revised procurement law and auditing code to empower LGUs–Sen. Escudero

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATOR Francis Escudero expects timely changes in an amended procurement law reforms to further empower local government units (LGUs).

Affirming support for the timely enactment of the remedial legislation awaited by LGUs, Escudero foresees early passage of a new procurement law and auditing code that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. tackled in his 2nd State of the Nation Address, agreeing these amendments would help facilitate decentralization and devolution process that will further empower LGUs.

Escudero envisioned that soon as Congress opened its second regular session this week, the measure should be prioritized with “LGUs already prepared” for full devolution under Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, backed by the Supreme Court ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions.

“Amending old laws on government procurement and audit process are v ery timely as LGUs prepare for full devolution,” Escudero said.

Reminiscing the time he served as provincial governor, “I experienced how tedious the

processes were and most of the time, they really impede on local governance and hamper the delivery of services to our people.”

Escudero recalled: “Angpag-amiyendang mgabatasnaitosalalongmadalingpanahon ay makakatulong sa ating mga LGUs upang lalo pang mapabuti ang pagseserbisyo sa ating mga mamamayan,” he added.

President Marcos said the passage of the two measures would make government procurement and auditing “more attuned to these changing times” as it prepares for the decentralization and full devolution to LGUs as mandated by the Supreme Court Ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia petitions.

The High Court decision gave LGUs a just share of all national taxes collected from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and fully transfers or devolves the delivery of basic services to LGUs.

“We will give effect to the mandate of the Constitution and the Local Government Code, as clarified by the Supreme Court very soon. Almost all the required Devolution Transition Plans of the LGUs are done,” the President said, reminding LGUs “to fully prepare them for optimal devolution, the necessary technical and financial assistance is being extended to our local governments,” Marcos added.

‘Shore It Up!’ enhances Metro Pacific’s environmental advocacy on 15th year

METRO Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF), the corporate social responsibility arm of leading infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., marks its 15th year in helping preserve and protect the country’s marine and coastal ecosystems through its flagship program, Shore It Up! (SIU).

To celebrate this milestone, MPIF will host a multisectoral forum titled “Enlarging Our Blue Footprint for Philippine Marine Biodiversity Conservation” on July 28 at the Westin Manila Hotel in Pasig City.

The event will see the convergence of environmental stakeholders who will draft a joint agenda, to be led by Senate Committee Chair on Environment and Natural Resources

Sen. Cynthia Villar and Bohol congressman

Rep. Edgar Chatto, who will talk on Climate Emergency and Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) on Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance, respectively.

Also to be presented are the government’s Ridge to Reef Priority Program by Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary

Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, and Sustainable Ecotourism by Department of Tourism Undersecretary Shereen Gail Yu-Pamintuan.

The private sector will be represented by Metro Pacific chairman, president and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, and MPIC CFO, CRO, and CSO Chaye Cabal-Revilla who will outline the MVP Group’s Sustainability Practices through the “Gabay Kalikasan: Making Better Choices for Tomorrow and Becoming Catalysts for a Cleaner, Greener, and More Resilient Planet for Every Filipino.”

“Our archipelago is teeming with worldrenowned hubs of biodiversity and requires a strong support system from the private sector when it comes to preservation and conservation. We at the Foundation want to ensure that we

play our part in future-proofing what we have and help mitigate climate change,” said MPIF president Melody del Rosario.

The half-day forum will also feature eminent speakers, marine scientists, local government officials, and environmental experts who will share their insights on empowering communities through nature-based solutions and sustainable development.

An event highlight will be an in-depth discussion on safeguarding Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the country’s largest marine protected area. The talk will be delivered by the Tubbataha Management Office Protected Area Superintendent, along with Shore It Up! advisors and experts.

Since its inception in 2009, Shore It Up has grown from a simple underwater and coastal cleanup initiative to a comprehensive environmental stewardship program. It now extends its efforts to vast mangrove forests, marine protected areas, and wetlands of national importance, benefiting both the ecosystems and the communities within them.

In recent years, SIU has supported two Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance: the Las Piñas—Parañaque Wetland Park in Manila Bay and the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Cagayancillo, Palawan.

The program has also made significant contributions to key coastal areas, among them Mabini, Batangas; Alaminos City, Pangasinan, Del Carmen in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte; Medina, Misamis Oriental; Cordova, Cebu, and Subic Bay.

Over the past 15 years, SIU has mobilized over 85,000 volunteers from Metro Pacific firms, government agencies, local government units, law enforcement agencies, community organizations, civil society groups, dive industry stakeholders, and public elementary schools.

‘Egay’ blows off roofs, floods villages, displaces thousands in Northern Luzon

UPERTYPHOON

Doksuri)

A s Egay continue to batter parts of the country on Wednesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the government is ready to provide aid to the affected families.

I n a post in his Twitter account, Marcos assured the government has over P173 million stand-by funds as well as food and non-food items to help the typhoon victims.

The President also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) already mobilized their teams to help in the search, rescue and retrieval operations in the typhoon-hit areas.

T here were no immediate reports of casualties after the typhoon slammed into Fuga Island

off Aparri town in Cagayan province, where 15,843 people were evacuated from high-risk coastal villages. Schools and workplaces were shut down as a precaution as Doksuri approached.

T housands of people in other northern provinces were also displaced by the typhoon, which has a 700-kilometer-wide band of wind and rain.

Egay weakened slightly but remained dangerous and lethal with sustained winds of 175 kilometer per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 240 kph. It was blowing over the coastal waters of the Babuyan Islands in Luzon Strait off Aparri town Wednesday morning, forecasters said.

“Our northern coastal towns are being battered,” Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba told The Associated Press by telephone. “I’m receiving reports of tin roofs being blown away and flooding that could not drain out probably because of tidal surges coming in from the sea.”

A d amage assessment would be done after the typhoon passes, but

DOTr stands firm on PUVMP implementation–Bautista

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) stands firm on its position that the consolidation of drivers and operators into cooperatives or corporations remain “vital” to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Despite calls from advocacy groups and industry stakeholders for a “just transition,” Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the agency has so recorded a significant turnout for the industry’s consolidation.

H e said 70 percent of drivers and operators have already consolidated into cooperatives or corporations as part of the modernization program, adding that even their members have “vouched for the benefits of modernization.”

We explained that consolidation is a very important component of the Public Utility Modernization Program, 70 percent of the transport sector has already consolidated. If one would talk to our successful operators, they will tell you that consolidation is important,” Bautista said.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin

Remulla on Wednesday confirmed that a missing prisoner at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City was found decapitated inside a septic tank of the prison facility.

“ The missing PDL [person deprived of liberty] has been found dead, decapitated. That is the status of the missing PDL,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.

T he recovered remains were believed to be PDL Michael Angelo Cataroja, who went missing last July 15.

Remulla said a thorough investi-

THE chairman of the House Committee on Public Works and Highways said on Wednesday the Marcos administration’s decision to continue to allot 5 percent to 6 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for infrastructure spending would serve as catalyst for economic recovery for post-pandemic Philippines.

S urigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., chairman of the public works and highways committee, said the decision would have “a big impact in terms of positive economic status” because these are the practices adopted by big economies like China and Japan.

T he DOTr chief cited the inclusive benefits of PUV modernization—from the safety of commuters, to the efficiency of PUV operations, and additional livelihood for transport workers—which eliminate the boundary system.

The program is for the Filipino people, the Filipino commuters. This is for the betterment of the transport sector,” he said. “This is our number one objective: to provide what call the CASA service: convenient, affordable, safe, accessible travel experience for passengers.”

Under the PUVMP, operators, and drivers must organize a cooperative or corporation to establish a larger fleet of PUVs. This is the first phase of the program, which was jumpstarted by the Duterte administration.

By consolidating franchises and forming a corporation or a cooperative, members can now have better access to business financing and are now able to effectively manage their fleets, a scenario that Bautista painted.  “ There are more consolidation initiatives happening in the Visayas and Mindanao. We are working with the Office of Transportation Cooperative to continue

gation is still ongoing to determine if the incident is related to the reported killings that took place before Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Gregorio Catapang assumed his post.

The justice chief said he is expecting that the ongoing investigation would lead to “new revelations” about anomalies inside the NBP.

They’re still investigating all angles. I’m expecting a comprehensive report at the end of the day from Director General Catapang… and there will be other revelations in the next few days,” Remulla said.

We’ll be revealing some other things later on,” he added.

N BP Superintendent Angelina Bautista said forensic experts from

According to Momo, sustaining infrastructure spending is “definitive proof” that the country is charting the right trajectory, and his committee will continue to support the administration’s “Build Better More” program.

In President Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address last Monday, Marcos mentioned that the P8.3 trillion Build Better More program would have 194 projects covering investments in water resources, physical connectivity, agriculture, digital connectivity, health, and energy. The President said that infrastructure spending would continue to represent between 5 and 6 percent

Mamba said he feared there could be extensive damage to Cagayan Valley’s corn and rice farms, which have already been battered by a months long dry spell before Egay hit. At least four entire towns lost power due to the onslaught and six bridges were impassable due to flooding, Cagayan officials said in an initial damage report.

“ Violent, life-threatening conditions are expected to continue” on Wednesday over northwestern Cagayan and the outlying Babuyan Islands as well as the northern mountainous regions of Apayao and Ilocos Norte provinces, according to an advisory from the country’s weather bureau.

PCG personnel used rubber boats and ropes to evacuate villagers, who were trapped by brownish, waistlevel floodwaters in their houses in a village in Bacarra town in Ilocos Norte, said the PCG.

More than 3,700 inter-island ferry passengers and cargo truck drivers, along with nearly 100 passenger and cargo vessels and motor bancas, were stranded in several ports where a no-sail order was imposed, PCG said.

and barrel northwestward to graze past Taiwan’s southwestern coast before hitting southeastern China later this week.

A lthough it is not poised for a direct hit, Egay’s outer bands brought heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan’s eastern coast Wednesday.

PBBM’s mobilization

“TULUY-TULOY ang ating pagkilos upang maaksyunan ang maaring pinsalang dulot ng Super Typhoon #EgayPH (Our mobilization continues to respond to the damages done by Super Typhoon #EgayPH),” Marcos said in his Twitter post.

Marcos added power was already restored to 93.53 percent of the affected municipalities.

The President is currently on his three-day State Visit in Malaysia, which will end on Thursday.

T he Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration reported typhoon Egay made landfall in Aparri at 3:10 am last Wednesday bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to many parts of the country.

following plants have yet to resume normal operations:

n Lon-oy Units 1-4 (Bakun, Benguet)

n Labay Units 1-4 (Bakun, Benguet)

n Ampohaw Units 1-3 (Sablan, Benguet)

n Bineng 3 Unit 1 (La Trinidad, Benguet)

n La Trinidad Units 1-2 (La Trinidad, Benguet)

n I risan 3 Units 1-3 (Tuba, Benguet)

n Irisan 1 Unit 1 (Tuba, Benguet)

The DOE also reported that a number of barangays in Bataan, Masbate, Samar, Cagayan are still with no power. For the transmission side, the DOE said there are eight 69kV transmission lines, one 115kV line and one 23 kV lines affected.

to encourage those who have not consolidated to consolidate. The deadline is December 31 of this year,” he said.

The second component of the PUVMP involves the creation of the Local Public Transport Route Plan, more commonly referred to as the Route Rationalization Plan.

Bautista said that “in terms of preparation, we have already attained almost 60 percent [compliance]” from local government units.

The last component of the PVUMP is the actual fleet modernization, “a very contentious issue,” according to Bautista.

H e noted that of the 180,000 jeepneys in the country, around 7,000 have modernized already.

It will take some time for the industry to be able to implement the fleet modernization program,” Bautista admitted.

He, however, highlighted that the government is providing equity subsidies to help cooperatives acquire modern units.

“ We are looking at the possibility of increasing the subsidy. We’ll ask for more budget so that we can implement fleet modernization program,” he said, noting that the actual amount is still being studied.

the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are still conducting examinations on the remains recovered to determine if these belong to Cataroja.

We have yet to identify if the body was that of the missing PDL,” Bautista said in a radio interview.

She said that while Cataroja was the first PDL who went missing under Catapang’s watch, there have been other missing PDLs since 2019.

“ There are many missing PDLs here. You don’t know if they escaped or not,” she said.

Bautista disclosed that the remains were found in the septic vault through the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard and information given by other PDLs.

of the GDP, up from the previous government.

The Chief Executive also mentioned in his speech that 123 projects under the Build-Better-More program are new.

The President likewise noted that physical connectivity infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, seaports, airports, and mass transport—accounts for 83 percent of the program.

Moreover, as a former undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Momo lauded the plans mentioned by the President for the country’s infrastructure projects. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Disaster-response officials said they were verifying reports of a woman drowning in a swollen creek amid heavy rains Monday in Cardona town southeast of Manila as the typhoon approached from the Pacific.

The typhoon has been enhancing seasonal monsoon rains in central and northern provinces, including in the densely populated capital region of Metro Manila. It was forecast to move away from the northern Philippines on Thursday

The typhoon has affected 38,991 families in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Soccsksargen.

DOE’s initial damage report

THE Department of Energy (DOE) reported on Wednesday that there were some power generation facilities that experienced outages amid Egay’s onslaught.

Most of the power plants already went back on line, however, the DOE reported. As of this writing, the

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) said the following transmission lines are unavailable as of 1 p.m. These are the San Esteban-Bangued 69kV line, San Esteban-Candon 69kV line, Itogon-Ampucao 23kV line, La Trinidad-Ampucao 69kV line, La Trinidad-Sablan 69kV line, Lallo-Sta. Ana 69kV line, TuguegaraoMagapit 69kV line,  and Cabanatuan-San Luis 69kV line.

“ NGCP has mobilized its line crews and is currently conducting patrols to inspect and assess the impact of the typhoon to its operations and facilities. Simultaneous restoration activities are also being conducted in areas already accessible,” the grid operator said. AP, Samuel P. Medenilla and Lenie Lectura

S“Egay” (international code name

slammed an island and lashed northern Philippine provinces with ferocious wind and rain

Wednesday, displacing nearly 16,000 villagers as it blew tin roofs off rural houses, flooded low-lying villages and knocked out power, officials said.

Dramatic ripples meet Israel’s new law to overhaul judiciary

By Julia Frankel, Isabel Debre & Ilan Ben Zion The Associated Press

THE Israeli government has passed the first major piece of legislation in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s legal system—part of a broader plan that has triggered nationwide protests, divided the country, and rattled the powerful military and influential business community.

The plan seeks to weaken the country’s Supreme Court and transfer more powers to the parliament. Supporters say Israel’s unelected judges wield too much power. But opponents say the judges play an important oversight role, and that the plan will push Israel toward autocratic rule.

Despite the fraught atmosphere, Netanyahu’s allies say they are moving forward on the overhaul.

Here’s a look at how the overhaul could affect Israel in the coming months:

Why is the country so divided?

NETANYAHU, who is on trial for corruption charges, has long been a polarizing leader. His government took office in December, after narrowly winning the country’s fifth election in under four years. All of those elections focused on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule.

These divisions have been reflected in the debate about the overhaul—stretching across religious, class and ethnic lines.

The anti-government protesters come largely from Israel’s urban middle class and include doctors, academics, military officers and business leaders. Netanyahu’s supporters tend to be poorer, more

religious and include residents of West Bank settlements and outlying areas. Many are working-class Jews of Mizrahi, or Middle Eastern, descent that see themselves marginalized by an Ashkenazi, or European elite.

Following the Knesset vote that pushed the law through on Monday, Netanyahu appealed for unity and dialogue. But his opponents rejected the offer as insincere and vowed to continue the protests.

“The morning after, we emerge to an Israel with internal battle lines drawn, an Israel potentially at war with itself, a government certainly at war with much, perhaps most, of the people,” wrote

David Horovitz, founding editor of the Times of Israel news site.

Simcha Rothman, the Israeli lawmaker who has spearheaded the overhaul, said he hopes the opposition will be “responsible” and return to negotiations. But he made clear he is not done.

“We have the majority,” he said, referring to the parliamentary coalition. “The majority of the people in Israel still support the reform.”

Will the military readiness be affected?

THOUSANDS of military reservists have threatened to stop

reporting for duty now that the first law has been passed. The military depends heavily on these volunteer reservists, particularly air force pilots, intelligence officers and members of other specialized units.

Current and former military brass have warned that if the reservists follow through on their threats, the military’s ability to function in a national emergency could be compromised.

“If we don’t have a strong and united defense force, if Israel’s best do not serve in the IDF, we will no longer be able to exist as a country in the region,” warned Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of staff.

How does this affect Israel’s relationship with the US?

BY pushing through the new law without a broad political consensus, Netanyahu has defied the country’s closest ally, the United States, which gives Israel nearly $4 billion in annual military assistance and diplomatic backing in international forums.

In a rare public warning ahead of the vote, President Joe Biden called on the Israeli government to postpone the session and try to reach a

compromise with the opposition. The White House lamented Monday’s vote result as “unfortunate”.

Analysts say the contentious plan could undermine what both countries routinely describe as shared interests and values.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York, said that Netanyahu’s disregard for American concerns would further hurt the Israeli leader’s troubled relationship with the US president.

“No one will take Netanyahu at his word,” he said.

The vote could also deepen a growing rift between the conservative Israeli government and the predominantly liberal American Jewish community. Two major groups, the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Federations of North America, expressed deep “disappointment” over Monday’s vote.

What does this mean for the Palestinians?

PALESTINIANS look at the unrest roiling Israel as proof of what they see as hypocrisy, saying that Israel’s ongoing, 56-year occupation of the West Bank long ago

undermined Israel’s democracy.

“Palestinians see this as a contradiction, that Israelis are fighting for freedom and democracy through institutions that are inherently preventing an entire people from freedom and democracy,” said Inès Abdel Razek, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy, an advocacy group.

But some politicians and analysts warn that the potential consequences of the judicial changes have a deeper reach into the West Bank than the public might think, eroding the main check on a far-right coalition bent on expanding settlements and increasing Israel’s control over the occupied territory.

“This is a dangerous development for us,” said Mustafa Barghouti, a veteran Palestinian activist.

Will the protests continue?

AFTER seven months of mass demonstrations against the plan, the grassroots protest movement says it has no plans on stopping. Monday’s vote was met by fierce protests across Israel and unprecedented clashes between protesters and the police.

Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank, said the “protests are not going anywhere, especially because the government has clearly stated that this is just phase one.”

Josh Drill, a spokesperson for the protest movement, called for new measures, such as not paying taxes. He also called on the US and the American Jewish community to reconsider financial support for the Israeli government and instead donate to advocacy groups aligned with the movement.

“How many statements can the US administration put out that they’re distraught or that they’re worried? Come on, that’s not actually doing anything,” he said. Will this put Israel’s economy at risk?

MONDAY’S vote sent the Israeli currency and stock market tumbling and yielded warnings from the Moody’s credit rating agency of “negative consequences” for the economy.

Netanyahu dismissed the negative reactions as a “momentary response” and insisted: “When the dust clears, it will be clear that the Israeli economy is very strong.”

But many experts believe the damage to the economy could be long-lasting—with foreign investors potentially deterred by fears that a weak judiciary could open the door to corruption and hurt the business environment.

The threat is particularly acute in Israel’s high-tech sector—a key portion of Israel’s economy. On Tuesday, leading Israeli newspapers covered their front pages in black—an ominous image that was paid for by an alliance of high-tech companies.

“A black day for Israeli democracy,” the ad read.

Yannay Spitzer, an economist at Israel’s Hebrew University, said Israeli stock prices have lagged behind global indexes since the plan was unveiled. This trend, he said, “cannot be accounted for by ordinary market developments.”

“Israel is headed to become an economically backward country with civil strife,” Spitzer predicted.

New alliance of Indian opposition parties called INDIA, joins forces to take on Modi

By Sheikh Saaliq The Associated

Press

NEW DELHI—India’s popular but polarizing prime minister, Narendra Modi, has a fondness for abbreviations that create buzz around his government schemes and dress down his rivals. Last week, Modi’s political opponents did exactly that.

They announced a new alliance—called INDIA—to unseat Modi and defeat his ruling party’s electoral juggernaut.

The acronym, which stands for Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, comprises India’s previously fractured opposition parties that are aiming to keep the Modi government’s increasingly powerful sway at bay. At stake, the alliance says, is the future of India’s multiparty democracy and secular foundations that critics say have seen assaults from Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bhartiya Janata Party.

The opposition alliance is playing on its acronym, saying it will be Modi versus the country in 2024 polls.

Modi will seek re-election to a third consecutive term in a national vote next year at a time when India’s global diplomatic reach is rising. However, his rule at home has coincided with a struggling economy, rising unemployment, attacks by Hindu nationalists against the country’s minorities, particularly

Muslims, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media.

The 26-party alliance is likely to attack Modi’s BJP on exactly these issues—plus a host of other domestic problems, including a deadly ethnic conflict in the northeastern state of Manipur.

But analysts say its effort to oust Modi will be a Herculean task. He is by far India’s most popular leader, and his party directly controls 10 of the 28 states, is in coalition in four other states and has more than 55 percent of Parliament’s lower house seats.

“The opposition must pitch this alliance as an alliance for the ordinary people and not just a front against Modi and his party. They must offer a realistic policy narra-

tive and vision for the country that

will resonate with the voters,” said political scientist Suhas Palshikar.

The INDIA alliance, led by the Indian National Congress party that once dominated the country’s politics, includes powerful regional parties that are direct rivals to each other in some states. The parties are also beset with ideological differences and personality clashes, and seem undecided on whether to cede space to other groups in regions where they hold sway.

What binds them together on a national front are their concerns that Modi’s BJP has tightened its grip across India’s democratic institutions and the Parliament, where it has passed crucial bills, including on controversial farm laws.

They also complain they have been the targets of raids and investigations by federal agencies controlled by the Modi government. Over a dozen of these instances have led to defections of opposition leaders to the BJP, which is sometimes followed by dropped charges or pressure otherwise being eased. The BJP denies its involvement in the cases.

The Congress party has been particularly hit. Its former president, Rahul Gandhi, who lost the last two elections to Modi, was disqualified in March from Parliament. Gandhi risks losing his eligibility to run in elections for the next eight years if a court doesn’t overturn his conviction in a defamation case that critics say is politically motivated.

“The main aim is to stand together to safeguard democracy and the constitution,” Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the Congress party, said last week at the end of a two-day conclave of the alliance.

Modi’s party has dismissed the alliance as a grouping of “self-serving, corrupt, dynastic parties.” On the same day the INDIA grouping was announced, BJP held a convention of its own National Democratic Alliance, along with 37 other parties. Two of the NDA’s leading allies are breakaway factions from

RIOT police tries to clear demonstrators with a water canon during a protest against plans by Netanyahu’s government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv on Monday, July 24, 2023. Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s divisive plan to reshape the country’s justice system despite massive protests that have exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society. AP/ODED BALILTY

OPPOSITION lawmakers demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the violence in Manipur state carry placards and a banner with name of “INDIA” outside the Parliament building in New Delhi, India on Monday, July 24, 2023. India’s fractured opposition parties have joined forces in a rare show of unity and formed an alliance called ‘INDIA’ to unseat the popular but polarizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Last week, more than two-dozen parties joined the alliance, named the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance, which is called INDIA for short. AP

The World

Cambodia’s PM says he will step down in 3 weeks and his son will succeed him

Sen, who is Asia’s longest-serving leader, said he had informed King Norodom Sihamoni of his decision and that the king had agreed.

Hun Sen said his son would be named prime minister after the National Election Commission reports the final results of Sunday’s election, in which the CPP won 120 of 125 seats.

West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attacks in first six months of 2023, regional official says

By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS—West Africa recorded over 1,800 terrorist attacks in the first six months of the year resulting in nearly 4,600 deaths with dire humanitarian consequences, and a top regional official said Tuesday that’s just “a snippet of the horrendous impact of insecurity.”

HUN

The announcement came after their Cambodian People’s Party won a landslide victory in weekend elections that Western countries and rights organizations criticized as neither free nor fair, and in which the country’s main

opposition was suppressed.

Hun Sen has been Cambodia’s autocratic leader for 38 years but said ahead of the elections he would hand off the position to his oldest son, Hun Manet, sometime during the next five-year term.

Hun Manet, 45, is currently the chief of the country’s army.

In a televised address, Hun

He has also said that a new generation would take over many of the top ministerial positions in the new government, which he said would be formed August 22.

Even though he is stepping down from the premiership, Hun Sen is widely expected to remain closely involved in running Cambodia, and is also to become president of the country’s senate. AP

Japan records steepest population decline; number of foreign residents hits new high

By Mari Yamaguchi

The Associated Press

TOKYO—Japan’s population declined in all of its 47 prefectures for the first time in a record drop, while its number of foreign residents hit a new high, reaching almost 3 million people, according to government data released Wednesday, highlighting the increasing role that nonJapanese people play in the shrinking and aging country.

The population of Japanese nationals fell by about 800,000 people, or 0.65 percent, to 122.4 million in 2022 from the previous year, falling for a 14th straight year, according to data from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry based on residency registrations as of January 1 this year.

Japan’s total population was 125.41 million, down just over half a million people from a year earlier, and there was a 10.7 percent jump in foreign residents with addresses registered in Japan, the ministry said.

The increase in Japan’s foreign population was the biggest year-on-year

PEOPLE walk along a pedestrian crossing at Ginza shopping street on March 31, 2023, in Tokyo.

Japan’s population declined in all of its 47 prefectures for the first time in a record drop, while its number of foreign residents hit a new high, reaching almost 3 million people, according to government data released Wednesday, July 26, 2023, highlighting the increasing role that nonJapanese people play in the shrinking and aging country. AP/EUGENE HOSHIKO

rise since the ministry started taking statistics in 2013. Foreign residents now account for about 2.4 percent of Japan’s population, the ministry said.

After peaking in 2008, Japan’s population has since shrunk steadily due to a declining birthrate. The country saw a record low of 771,801 births last year.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has set tackling the declining births as one of his top policy goals and pledged to secure annual funding of about 3.5 trillion yen ($25.2 billion) over the next three years for a new child care package, which includes child birth and rearing allowances and increased subsidies for higher education.

Kishida’s Cabinet last month approved a plan to expand the scope of job categories allowed for foreign workers, opening the door for future permanent residency, in a major shift in a country known for its closeddoor immigration policy as it struggles with a shrinking population.

Experts say the proposed low-birth measures are mostly additional funding for existing ones and don’t address underlying problems.

They also say that Japan’s conservative government needs to do more to raise salaries, improve working conditions, and make society more inclusive for minorities and those with non-Japanese roots to attract foreign workers to move to Japan and stay.

Rival Koreas mark armistice anniversary in 2 different ways that highlight rising tensions

By Kim Tong-Hyung

The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea—The truce that stopped the bloodshed in the Korean War turns 70 years old on Thursday and the two Koreas are marking the anniversary in starkly different ways, underscoring their deepening nuclear tensions.

North Korea has invited delegations from China and Russia as it prepares to stage huge celebrations with thousands of citizens who have rehearsed for months to commemorate the armistice it sees as a victory in the “Grand Fatherland Liberation War.” The festivities are likely to be capped by a giant military parade in the capital, Pyongyang, where leader Kim Jong Un could showcase his most powerful, nuclear-capable missiles designed to target neighboring rivals and the US mainland.

The mood is more somber in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol has invited dozens of foreign war veterans to honor the fallen soldiers of the 1950-1953 conflict, which killed and injured millions and set the stage for decades of animosity among the Koreas and the United States.

Yoon, a conservative condemned by Pyongyang as a “traitor,” will likely use this week’s events to highlight the North’s growing threat and double down on his goals of strengthening the South’s defense and its alliance with the US.

Tensions between the rivals are at their highest point in years, as the pace of North Korean missile tests and US-South Korean joint military exercises has intensified in a tit-fortat cycle. The dueling military activities have been punctuated by verbal threats, including North Korean talk of preemptive nuclear strikes and US vows to “end” Kim’s regime in the event of such an attack.

The frictions provide a renewed reminder that the armistice has left the Korean Peninsula in a technical state of war. Through their 70 years of diplomatic ups and downs, the Koreas have consistently seen each other as existential threats, which is essentially why the armistice was never replaced by a peace treaty as originally intended.

Managing tensions is now more complicated than ever as Kim continues to reject dialogue with the US while aggressively expanding a nuclear arsenal he sees as his

strongest guarantee of survival.

Kim is also pushing for deeper cooperation with authoritarian allies China and Russia, which are locked in their own confrontations with Washington over regional influence and the war in Ukraine, as he aims to counter US efforts to tighten trilateral security cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo.

North Korean state media on Wednesday highlighted the arrival of a Russian delegation led by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was greeted at Pyongyang’s airport by senior North Korean officials including Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam. China’s ruling Communist Party is also sending a mid-level official, Li Hongzhong, in hopes of further facilitating bilateral exchanges.

For Kim, bringing Shoigu and Li to his balcony at Pyongyang’s main square to watch a massive parade featuring goose-stepping soldiers, tanks and missiles would be the biggest accomplishment he could show to his domestic audience for the anniversary, said Park Won Gon, a professor at Seoul’s Ewha University.

Kim already displayed his most powerful missiles during a previous parade in February and there might not be meaningful new hardware to show after the North failed in its first attempt to launch a military spy satellite into orbit in May. Economic achievements have been scarce after pandemic-related border closures decimated an economy already crippled by decades of mismanagement and US-led sanctions over Kim’s nuclear ambitions.

Park said the invitations of the Chinese and Russian delegations could also reflect Kim’s unease about the strengthening security cooperation between the US and South Korea, which have included larger joint military exercises, increased deployments of strategic US military assets and new rounds of nuclear contingency planning meetings.

Thursday’s anniversary comes after North Korea conducted three separate rounds of ballistic and cruise missile firings

Omar Touray told the UN Security Council that half a million people in the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States known as ECOWAS are refugees and nearly 6.2 million are internally displaced. If there isn’t an adequate international response to the 30 million people ECOWAS assesses need food right now, he said, the number of people in need will increase to 42 million by the end of next month.

Touray, who is president of the ECOWAS Commission, singled out the following drivers of insecurity in the region: terrorism, armed rebellion, organized crime, unconstitutional changes of government, illegal maritime activities, environmental crises, and fake news. He said the region is worried about the resurgence of the military, with three countries—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea—under military rule.

“The reversal of democratic gains runs parallel to insecurity that West Africa and the Sahel have been facing for some time now,” he said, and insecurity continues to inflict pain and suffering on millions of people.

For example, Touray said, the 4,593 deaths in terrorist attacks between January and June 30 include 2,725 in Burkina Faso, 844 in Mali, 77 in Niger and 70 in Nigeria. He added that terrorist attacks in Benin and Togo, which have coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean, are a “stark indication of the expansion of terrorism to littoral states, a situation that poses additional threat to the region.”

Touray said there have been a multiplicity of initiatives to tackle terrorism and insecurity, which have had an impact on the ground, but there is a lack of coordination and ECOWAS wants to integrate the various initiatives into a regional plan of action.

ECOWAS military chiefs of staff have held consultations to strengthen a regional standby force “in a manner that will enable it to support member states in the fight against terrorism and against threats to constitutional order,” he said.

Touray said the military chiefs proposed

two options, establishing a 5,000-strong brigade at an annual cost of $2.3 billion or deployment of troops on demand at an annual cost of $360 million.

He reiterated the African Union’s request for African peace operations to receive funding from the UN regular budget, to which all 193 UN member states contribute.

Touray said the military staff recommendations were made before Mali’s military junta demanded that the more than 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in the country leave, which was followed by the Security Council’s unanimous vote on June 30 to immediately end the mission. Mali has brought in mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group to help fight an Islamic insurgency.

Touray told the council that ECOWAS leaders “have reflected on the possible adverse impact of the withdrawal on the region and have decided to convene an extraordinary session on peace and security by the end of August.” Ahead of that meeting, he said, Benin’s president will visit Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea and press for “an expeditious return to constitutional order.”

The Security Council was also briefed by the new head of the UN office for West Africa, Leonardo Santos Simão, who said the security situation in the central Sahel, especially the border region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, “has deteriorated further, with multiple attacks against civilians and defense and security forces.” He also said “the southward expansion of insecurity remains a potent threat.”

Simão appealed for “robust and decisive support” for the ECOWAS action plan to eradicate terrorism in the region and for the African Union and efforts by countries to stem insecurity in the Sahel.

US Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood told the council “the United States remains gravely concerned by democratic backsliding across the region” and is “deeply concerned by the spread of instability in coastal West Africa.”

He accused the Wagner Group of “committing human rights abuses and endangering the safety and security of civilians, peacekeepers and UN personnel.”

Russia’s Deputy Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva called the security situation in West Africa and the Sahel “difficult,” pointing to increased activity by fighters from the Islamic State extremist group, subversive activities by Boko Haram, and the spread of terrorist activity to coastal West African countries.

since last week, apparently to protest the US sending major naval assets to the South in a show of force. They include the USS Kentucky, which last week became the first US nuclear-armed submarine to dock in South Korea since the 1980s.

“The strengthening of nuclear deterrence strategies between South Korea, the United States and Japan and military moves like the docking of the ballistic-missile submarine (in South Korea) are a huge burden and threat for North Korea,” Park said. “Since North Korea has limited ability to deal with these moves on its own, emphasizing cooperation with Moscow and Beijing for a combined response would be important (for Kim).”

Moscow and Beijing have already thwarted US-led efforts since last year to strengthen UN Security Council sanctions on Pyongyang over its intensified missile testing activity, underscoring a divide between the council’s permanent members deepened over Russia’s war on Ukraine.

When asked about the visits, US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel urged Beijing and Moscow to play a more constructive role in defusing tensions and to bring Pyongyang back to dialogue.

The Korean War was triggered by a North Korean sneak attack on the South. The North was backed by forces from the newly created People’s Republic of China, which was aided by the then-Soviet air force. South Korea, the US and troops from various countries under the direction of the United Nations fought to push back the invasion.

For South Koreans, the major outcome of the 1953 armistice was the subsequent signing of the US-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty, which was mainly aimed at calming South Korean security jitters about the truce and continues to serve as the foundation for the countries’ military alliance. Facing growing nuclear threats, Yoon is now seeking stronger US assurances that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons to defend the South in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack.

New alliance of Indian opposition parties, called INDIA, joins forces to take on Modi

Continued from A6

regional parties that are with the INDIA alliance.

“Modi’s party is known to not share power. That it has shown a more conciliatory side toward allies ahead of elections means it’s worried and would like the support of as many allies as possible,” said Gilles Verniers, a senior fellow at the New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Research think tank. “But it won’t be an alliance of equals. Modi’s party will still campaign using Modi as a brand. He alone will be on the posters.”

During his nine years in power, Modi has consolidated his party’s reach in north and central India. His party has, however, faced tough challenges in state polls, particularly in the south, where regional parties hold influence.

In recent polls, Congress toppled local BJP governments in state elections in southern Karnataka and northern Himachal Pradesh, denting the ruling party’s image of invincibility. Gandhi’s 136-day march on foot across the length of the country also appears to have shot India’s grand old party back into political prominence.

The election battle is between “Narendra Modi and INDIA, his ideology and INDIA. India always wins all fights,” Gandhi said July 18 at the opposition gathering.

Verniers said the alliance’s name rattled Modi’s party, “but the opposition parties will have to set aside their differences and make some

compromises.”

“They have to decide how they will take on the BJP electorally. Their best bet is to file one candidate against the BJP across most of the parliamentary seats in India,” he said.

India has a history of coalition governments, and opposition parties successfully banded together to defeat then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1977 elections held after she imposed emergency rule in 1975. However, past efforts by the opposition to unite against the Modi government have failed because of infighting among the parties and ideological differences.

Recent moves by oppositions elsewhere in the world haven’t been as successful as INDIA hopes to be. Fragmented oppositions in Turkey and Hungary also failed to oust their populist leaders.

But India has Westminsterstyle parliamentary system, and a large opposition bloc has a significant chance to emerge victorious by winning more seats, even if its vote share is less than that of the ruling party. In 2019 general elections, Modi’s BJP-led alliance only won 37 percent of the votes cast, but was still rewarded with over 303 of 543 seats.

Palshikar, the political scientist, said if the opposition alliance was to succeed it must transform the movement of unity into a “political force that can offer an alternative to the voters.”

“Mere critique of Modi won’t work,” he said.

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—

Longtime Cambodian leader

Hun Sen said Wednesday he will step down in three weeks as prime minister and hand the position to his oldest son, who won his first seat in parliament in Sunday’s election.

MANET, son of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, shows a thumbs-up as he leads a procession to mark the end of an election campaign of Cambodian People’s Party in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 21, 2023. Hun Sen says he is ready to hand the premiership to his oldest son, Hun Manet, who heads the country’s army. AP/HENG SINITH

17.

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Ukrainian surgeons see more wounded soldiers since counteroffensive began

By Samya Kullab Associated Press

The soldiers come with bandaged limbs soaked in blood, faces blackened with shrapnel fragments and stunned eyes fixed on the ceiling, frozen in shock. Lately, they’ve been coming with evergreater frequency.

“Pain!” shrieks a serviceman with a gaping thigh wound as medical workers move him to a surgical gurney.

Evacuated from trenches in the east, forests in the north and the open fields of the south, wounded soldiers begin showing up at the Mechnikov Hospital in late afternoon, and dozens more in desperate need of surgery are wheeled in before the sun rises the next day.

The surge of wounded soldiers coincides with the major counteroffensive Ukraine launched in June to try to recapture its land, nearly one-fifth of which is now under Russian control. Surgeons at Mechnikov are busier now than perhaps at any other time since Russia began its full-scale invasion 17 months ago, according to doctors at the hospital, who declined to be more specific.

In a war where casualty counts are treated as state secrets, the hospital—one of Ukraine’s biggest—serves as a measurement of distant battles. When they intensify, so does the doctors’ workload, which these days consists of 50 to 100 surgeries per night.

“Here, we see the worst of the

front line,” Dr. Serhii Ryzhenko, the hospital’s 59-year-old chief doctor, says with a weary smile.

“We have 50 operating rooms, and it’s not enough.”

The Associated Press was given rare access last week to the hospital, a 12-hour visit to witness doctors and nurses care for soldiers rushed from the battlefield to the operating room.

During the day, Mechnikov functions as a normal hospital, treating patients with cancer and other chronic diseases. But every night ushers in the same macabre routine:

Wounded soldiers arrive—many unconscious—and surgeons operate. The soldiers are then sent off to recover elsewhere to create space for the next nightly deluge.

“We hold our own front line here, we understand that we must do this, we must hold on,” said Dr. Tetyana Teshyna, a soft-spoken anesthesiologist wearing pink scrubs.

“It’s very hard,” said Teshyna, who remains calm amid the bustle in this clean, orderly hospital. She wants to say more but is summoned by a nurse. Another urgent surgery is about to start.

Ukrainian soldiers are fighting in multiple combat zones along the 1,500-kilometer (932-mile) front line, but the counteroffensive— focused in the Russian-occupied east and south of the country—has been slow going. Small units are

being deployed to probe a Russian army that is deeply dug in, and minefields must be cleared before Ukrainian soldiers can attempt to root them out.

Any initial momentum from the opening phase of the counteroffensive has given way to sluggish advances. Territorial gains have been minimal, despite highly publicized Western donations of military hardware that heightened expectations of a quick Ukrainian breakthrough.

For its part, Russia has stepped up operations in the north of Ukraine, near Lyman, in the forests of Kreminna, in a possible attempt to corner Ukrainian troops there.

Ukrainian soldiers fighting along the front say the ferocity of Moscow’s artillery barrages has surprised them the most, especially in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, where mine-clearing operations leave them badly exposed to enemy fire.

Oleh Halah, 22, was hit by artillery from a Russian tank near Lyman this month, injuring his stomach and legs. Straining to

speak in the hospital’s intensive care unit, Halah said his platoon saw the tank coming, but the artillery hit them before they could reach their grenade launcher.

“Twenty-four hours a day, constant shooting, all the time … if not (Russian) infantry, then artillery,” he said. “It doesn’t stop.”

Other soldiers being cared for by Mechnikov’s doctors were injured while clearing mines from Russian trenches. A Belarusian fighting alongside Ukrainian soldiers who uses the call sign “Gold” was injured this way. He had been walking slowly with his unit, 5 meters (yards) per minute, when he was ambushed by a Russian soldier hiding behind a dugout.

As evening comes, the pace of activity in the trauma room picks up, with new soldiers arriving nearly every 15 minutes.

Discordant voices of doctors and other hospital staff echo in the halls, describing blood loss and case histories. Diagnoses are called out: shrapnel in the brain, a burned respiratory tract, shrapnel in the legs, a bullet in the arm;

Thaksin to return from exile amid Thai post-election chaos

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat

FORMER Thai prime minister Thaksin

Shinawatra, who has lived in selfimposed exile for 15 years, is set to return to the Southeast Asian nation next month, a move likely to add to the political chaos that’s gripped the country since a May general election.

Thaksin, who turned 74 on Wednesday, will arrive in Bangkok on Aug. 10, his youngest daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said in an Instagram post. She is among the three prime ministerial candidates of Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party, which is now leading the efforts of a pro-democracy coalition to form a new government and end a near decade-long military-backed rule.

It’s not the first time that Thaksin, a popular but polarizing politician, or his family has announced his plan to return to the country where he was ousted as the premier in a military coup in 2006. As recently as in May when the nation was in the middle of election campaign, he pledged to return before his birthday to raise his seven grandchildren. But this time it will be different,

Paetongtarn said, adding that preparations were underway to welcome him back. The Shinawatra family—an influential political dynasty—was happy and also concerned at the same time about Thaksin’s plan, she said.

The timing of Thaksin’s homecoming coincides with efforts by Pheu Thai to drum up support among pro-royalist political parties in the lower house and the nation’s conservative Senate, which holds the key to the country’s top political office under rules designed after a 2014 coup to entrench establishment influence in Thai politics.

T he eight-party democratic bloc has struggled to take power despite commanding a majority in the 500-member elected lower house. It’s short of the halfway mark in a joint sitting of the bicameral assembly whose current strength is 748.

The conservatives thwarted Pita Limjaroenrat, the coalition’s first prime minister candidate and leader of the progressive Move Forward Party, citing opposition to his reformist platforms that include amendments to the country’s harsh royal insult law.

The delay in government formation has

weighed on Thailand’s stocks with foreign investors pulling out more than $3.5 billion this year. While the selling pressure has eased on prospects of a Pheu Thai-led government, many senators have ruled out support for a coalition that includes Pita’s party.

Pheu Thai has also held talks with conservative parties in recent days, fueling speculation that it may snap the alliance with Move Forward in exchange for support from conservatives to form a government.

Thaksin’s homecoming announcement signals that a deal between Pheu Thai and the conservative establishment is in the works, though doubts remain if the former leader will stick to his plan, said Peter Mumford, Southeast Asia practice head at consultancy Eurasia Group.

“As this is not the first time Thaksin has announced he will be returning to Thailand, the latest comments do not necessarily signal that a Pheu Thai-conservatives deal has been finalized already,” said Mumford.

Parties backed by Thaksin, with his large following among the rural voters, had won the most seats in every national vote between 2001 and 2019, only to be unseated from power by dissolutions or coups.

and, again, shrapnel in the brain.

Shrapnel accounts for the majority of injuries treated at Mechnikov, doctors said. Bullet wounds, less so. Wounded soldiers are typically cared for in hospitals closer to the front line and then, once stabilized, they are brought to Mechnikov, a journey that can sometimes take half a day.

Dr. Simon Sechen brings in a soldier with a wide gash in his shin. A tourniquet was applied for roughly half a day, he explained, because the soldier was trapped in a faraway trench, and it took hours to evacuate him. Sechen had tried to encourage blood flow, but it may be too late. “We did all we could to fight for his leg,” he says.

The soldier is taken to the operating room, where Dr. Yakov Albayuk takes one look and determines that the leg must be amputated to save the soldier’s life. “After 12 hours without blood circulation, the limb will die,” Albayuk said, explaining that a tourniquet must be taken off after two hours and, if necessary, reapplied. “Because of tiny mistakes we’re losing people’s limbs.”

For Albayuk, every wound inspected on the operating table is a raw and unvarnished account of the brutality of the fight Ukrainian soldiers face in combat: constant bombardment, hidden mines, and cunning snipers.

In this soldier’s case, his wounds tell a story of bravery; he was advancing toward fire, not running away.

The amputation takes 20 minutes. Albayuk uses a surgical saw to cut through the bone. A nurse wraps up the severed limb, and it is taken away.

Nearby, a soldier lying on a stretcher in the hallway calls out for his girlfriend, Anna. He has been brought to Mechnikov so that doctors can treat complications from a leg that was amputated a

few days ago at a hospital closer to the front line.

Anna rushes to his side and tells him to be strong. When he’s gone, she collapses into tears.

Later, a soldier named Maksym, who was injured while fighting in the Donetsk region, awakens in the intensive care unit to the sight of his wife, and then a relieved kiss from her. She traveled with his sister when they learned Maksym had been admitted for surgery.

“I am so happy I got to see them one more time,” Maksym said.

Like Ukraine itself, the Mechnikov Hospital—which is more than 200 years old—has been transformed by war over the past decade.

The hospital did not begin treating wounded soldiers until Russia’s invasion in 2014, when it was not prepared for the task, said Ryzhenko. Soldiers would be admitted with guts spilling out and massive amounts of blood loss. Back then, Ryzhenko saw cases he had only read about in textbooks. Today, Mechnikov is lauded for its state-of-the-art facilities and expertise—roughly 400 doctors spread across six buildings.

On Dr. Mykyta Lombrozov’s operating table is a soldier who sustained a shrapnel injury on the left part of the brain. The 28-year-old neurosurgeon’s elegant hands work methodically. Crushed skull pieces are removed, one by one, until he can extract the small metal fragments lodged in the soldier’s brain.

It’s a complicated surgery that would normally take up to four hours. The war has taught Lombrozov to finish it in 55 minutes. He does it every day, he says, sometimes up to eight times in a single 24-hour shift.

“It is very important to me, that’s why I am here. That’s why we all work here,” Lombrozov said as he looked down at the soldier. “He is our hero.”

Fire on ship carrying 3,000 cars is burning in North Sea and 1 crew member has died

Thaksin has lived overseas since fleeing the country in 2008 to avoid corruption charges, shuttling between Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and London. Since leaving Thailand, he had been found guilty in absentia in several graft cases he said were politically motivated, and still faces a combined 10 years in prison in three cases if he returns.

Thaksin said in May that he would enter the legal process upon his return and that he didn’t want an amnesty from jail terms—something previously attempted by a government headed by his sister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2013 before it was toppled in the 2014 coup.

Paetongtarn, 36, may have a shot at being nominated for premiership once her party secures backing of enough lawmakers. Pheu Thai’s candidates also include property magnate Srettha Thavisin and former attorney-general Chaikasem Nitisiri.

The party has not announced which of the three will be nominated in the next round, after a vote this week was called off pending a petition by the Office of the Ombudsman to the Constitutional Court on the legality of parliament last week rejecting Pita’s re-nomination. Bloomberg News

Sweden warns terror threat has grown after Koran burnings

By Kati Pohjanpalo

SWEDEN warned of a deteriorating security situation after disinformation campaigns and Koran burnings fueled hatred against the Nordic country across the Muslim world.

The country’s Security Service said it’s “now dealing with ongoing threats of attacks

directed at Sweden and Swedish interests,” according to a statement on Wednesday in which it kept the terror threat assessment at an “elevated” level of three on a five-point scale.

After being seen as a tolerant country, disinformation campaigns have changed Sweden’s image, incorrectly portraying it as “a country hostile to Islam and Muslims, where attacks on Muslims are sanctioned by the state

and where Muslim children can be kidnapped by social services,” the officials said.

Burnings of Islam’s holy book, Koran, have occurred since January in Sweden, intended to derail its application to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. That’s sparked protests in Muslim countries, and just last week the Nordic country’s embassy in Baghdad was raided and Iraq has severed ties with the Nordic country.

Sweden’s government has criticized burnings of the Koran. Police have repeatedly denied permits for demonstrations involving the desecration of the book in recent months, citing national security concerns. But their decisions have been overturned by courts ruling that freedom of speech must be prioritized unless there is an immediate threat to public safety. Bloomberg News

By Mike Corder The Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—

A fire on a freight ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars was burning out of control Wednesday in the North Sea, and the Dutch coast guard said one crew member had died, others were hurt and it was working to save the vessel from sinking.

Boats and helicopters were used to get the 23 crew members off the ship after they tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze, the coast guard said in a statement.

“Currently there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control,” Coast Guard spokeswoman Lea Versteeg told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

“But it’s all depending on weather and the damage to the vessel. So we’re currently working out to see how we can make sure that ... the least bad situation is going to happen.”

Asked if it was possible the ship could sink, Versteeg said: “It’s a scenario we’re taking into account and we’re preparing for all scenarios.”

The Fremantle Highway was sailing from the German port of Bremen to Port Said in Egypt when it caught fire some 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of the

Dutch island of Ameland. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known, and it wasn’t clear how the crew member’s death occurred.

“It’s carrying cars, 2,857, of which 25 are electrical cars, which made the fire even more difficult. It’s not easy to keep that kind of fire under control and even in such a vessel it’s not easy,” Versteeg said.

Images taken from shore showed a long plume of gray smoke drifting over the sea from the stricken ship. One towing ship managed to establish a connection with the freighter to hold it in place.

“We hope that the fire will be under control or will die out and that we can get the vessel in a safe location,” Versteeg said. “But it’s all uncertain what’s going to happen now.”

Authorities in Germany were also on alert, German news agency dpa reported.

“We are monitoring the situation,” a spokesman for the German sea disaster command in the northern city of Cuxhaven said adding that they had offered support to the Dutch authorities. He said rescue ships and task forces were ready to help if needed, but that no decision had been made on whether to send them.

The Associated Press writer Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin contributed to this report.

DNIPRO, Ukraine—The horrors of war arrive through the night at a hospital in eastern Ukraine, a procession of stretchers bearing limp bodies whisked from the front line.

MEDICAL staffs move a seriously wounded Ukrainian serviceman at the ICU department of Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, Ukraine on July 14, 2023. A surge of wounded soldiers has coincided with the major counteroffensive Ukraine launched last month to try to recapture its land from Russian forces. Surgeons at the Mechnikov Hospital, one of the country’s biggest, are busier now than perhaps at any other time since Russia began its invasion 17 months ago. AP/EVGENIY MALOLETKA

SENATORS CLASH ON RESOLUTION VS CHINA BULLYING IN W. PHL SEA

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATORS clashed on Wednesday over a proposed resolution prodding the Executive to raise before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the “continued harassment” by Chinese forces of Philippine security units and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea, amid concern by one senator that doing so, without prior discussions with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), might backfire.

A fter long floor debates between the resolution proponent, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros— backed by coauthor, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri— and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, the senators agreed to Cayetano’s request to call a closed-door caucus on Monday (July 31) to discuss strategies.

S enators will invite DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo, the National Intelligence Coordination Agency (Nica), and the Task Force on the West Philippine Sea for the closeddoor briefing before their caucus.

B esides Zubiri, Defense Committee chair Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and Sen. Raffy Tulfo are coauthors of the Hontiveros resolution.

C ayetano explained he simply wanted his peers to draw from his experience in dealing with  China when he was DFA secretary in the first  half of the Duterte administration.

C ayetano warned that in unilaterally adopting a resolution without ensuring it aligned smoothly with the Executive – given that the President is architect of for -

eign policy under the Constitution – senators might unwittingly weaken the country’s position despite having won the 2016 arbitral ruling in The Hague.

Zubiri said the intent of the resolution was primarily to express “the outrage” over Beijing’s continued bullying in waters covered by the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), because from all indications, its naval forces were poised to take over as much of the Philippine-claimed islands and maritime features as they can.

C ayetano, in turn, said that when they tackle the matter behind closed doors on Monday, it must be clear that, “We agree on the outrage, but we don’t [necessarily] agree on [raising it with] the UNGA” as the sole or best strategy to stop China in its tracks.

Hontiveros had insisted that the UNGA card was logical, since recent months have seen a “growing number” of countries supporting the call to enforce the UN arbitral ruling that invalidated  China’s nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea. This was seen in last week’s seventh anniversary of the ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration.

S enate President Pro Tempore

Loren Legarda agreed with Cayetano  “that there are indeed various strategies” in securing enforcement of the ruling, but stressed the urgent need for  the Philippine government to mount an intensive education-information-communication campaigns on the arbitral ruling, such as teaching it in all schools’ history courses.

Land use bill, pending in Congress for long, not on Sona list. Why?

IT’S complicated.

T hat may have been the reason the President left out the passage of the National Land Use Act (Nalua) in his list of priority bills this year, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

T he bill has been languishing in Congress for over three decades. The annual appeal of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in all of his State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) did not work to turn the bill into reality.

L ast year, President Marcos Jr. also included the Nalua in his first SONA but his appeal to Congress still did not work. This year, the Nalua was not included in the short list but in a longer list, according to Neda Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan.

“ In the longer list, the National Land Use is there, [but] it’s more complicated...than some of these other proposals. We’ve been trying to pass the National Land Use for so many decades. But the tension of local vs national, that’s what’s causing the (delay),” Balisacan told reporters on the sidelines of the Post-SONA Briefing.

B alisacan also said the Nalua is still included in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 and the list of priority legislation crafted by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac). This only means that the Nalua is still a priority and the Marcos government is not giving up on the passage of the law.

T he Socioeconomic Planning

Secretary also believes it’s just a matter of time before the Nalua is passed. Balisacan noted that the President has a lot of political capi-

PHL banks on ‘friendshoring,’ RCEP as BPO ranking dips

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

market in the United States which is not really our core target. It is a shift,” Panga said. “This (RCEP) will complement our traditional market strengths in the US and EU for services exports.”

A report by Kearney Inc. revealed that the Philippines is losing to its Asian neighbors in terms of attracting more companies to tap Filipino talent in local business process outsourcing (BPO) companies to provide global services (Full story here: PHL still Asia’s BPO engine, but down in offshoring rank ).

Panga said the PEZA is looking at allyshoring or friendshoring as a stopgap measure while the new digital hubs are still in the pipeline. This is possible since the current administration has renewed its ties with the United States.

choice destination locations. This is in part due to the high English language proficiency of our workforce as well as the high quality of our IT Engineers,” he added.

Further, Panga said allyshoring has been working for the Philippines even in the manufacturing industry, specially when it concerns the American export producers which remain our 2nd biggest foreign investors next to Japanese in PEZA.

He said this is supported by the increase in trade and investments between the US and the Philippines.

Panga noted that the semiconductor-electronics products produced in the ecozones continue to be the country’s biggest source of export revenues.

PEZA Director General Tereso

O. Panga said the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) can target Englishspeaking countries like Australia and New Zealand as the new markets for their industry.

T his is possible given the country’s recent accession to the RCEP, the world’s largest regional trade

agreement. The country’s accession to RCEP was ratified by the Philippine Senate this year. On the impact of the lowering of the Philippines GSLI [Global Services Location Index] ranking, we note that most of the companies that have transferred to Mexico and Columbia are basically targeting the Spanish- speaking

T he PEZA Chief said the agency is banking on the improved perception of the Philippines as an investment destination of companies from the Western Hemisphere and attract them to re-engage with the Philippines.

“ I believe we still remain as a prime destination for the traditional IT-BPM services where we are ranked in the top 10 among

I n 2022, Panga said total electronics exports amounted to $49.1 billion, and where the US was reported to be the top destination for Philippine exports.

T he IT companies registered with PEZA directly employ around 1 million Filipinos. Moreover,  the total IT-BPO industry’s exports in 2022 valued at $32.5 billion is slightly lower than the total OFW remittances last year amounting to $36.1 billion.

tal as he was voted into office by 60 percent of the voting population. “ I think it’s a matter of time, we have so many other priority measures and these are evolving. Now our primary concern are fiscal [issues], because we want to make sure that while we are ramping up spending on infra, social services, the fiscal fundamentals remains strong. That’s why the President in his list of priority measures, [discussed] fiscal measures,” Balisacan said.

Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong & Co., agreed and told BusinessMirror that given the situation of the government right now, it was right that the focus should be on securing the finances of the country.

R avelas stressed that this does not mean the Nalua is not important but that it was not urgent.

“Today, the key is addressing high prices, sustaining the economic gains and improving welfare of Filipinos, especially after the pandemic and staying reslient amid threat of El Niño,” he said.

M eanwhile, Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona told BusinessMirror the President’s decision to remove the Nalua from the priority list in his SONA may be a sign that the government has thrown in the towel when it comes to passing the bill.

T he SONA, Lanzona said, aims to talk about accomplishments and outline priorities for the year.

“We have hardly accomplished the previous priorities, and now a new set of priorities is being pursued.

A lot of these are just motherhood statements, not solid and complete achievements,” he said.

DFA to issue e-visas to Chinese tourists Aug 24

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

AMID pressure from the Department of Tourism to generate more receipts from foreign tourists and the strong reservation from the intelligence community, the Philippine government will now start issuing e-visas to Chinese travelers starting August 24.

T he Department of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday the soft launch of the e-Visa system in seven Philippine foreign service posts in China.

T he seven Philippine embassies and consulates are Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Xiamen, Chongqing, and Guangzhou.

T he soft launch will allow China-passport holders to apply online, through their personal computer, laptop or mobile devices. In certain cases as the visa officer or the National Intelligence Coordi -

nating Agency (Nica) may deem necessary, applicants will be required to do face-to-face interviews with the consulate.

The system also allows Chinese visa applicants to pay online

through mobile banking and ewallets.

However, the operating systems of the e-Visa are Apple, Android mobile applications, and Windowsbased browsers only.  Chinese visa applicants would need to use a VPN to be able to download the app or apply through the Windows-based browser.

T here is also no mode of payment yet available for Alipay or WeChat pay, the most popular payment system in China.

D FA Assistant Secretary Henry Bensurto said the e-Visa system is still a “work in progress” and they will refine the technical glitches and other issues during the pilot.

T he DFA coordinated with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in designing the app, to help promote the country’s tourism.

C hina is the top source of tour -

ism for the Philippines with 1.743 million arrivals in 2019,  according to the Department of Tourism.

T he DOT estimated that an average Chinese tourist spent about US$400-500 and stayed in the country for an average of five days. So, tourism receipts from China could have fetched the economy some US$3 billion (P191 billion).

However, sources said the intelligence community questioned the data of the DOT arrivals, saying that many ended up being workers of Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators (POGO) or have stayed longer illegally.

DFA Undersecretary Jesus Domingo said they have coordinated with all the government agencies concerned including the DOT, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the Bureau of Immigration with

mentation of the

THE Philippines is placing its faith on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and “friendshoring” to buoy the country’s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).

regard to the imple -

e-Visa.

RED CROSS, CLIMATE BODY TIE-UP The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Climate Change Commission (CCC) have signed a six-year memorandum of agreement to promote public awareness, advocacy campaigns, and programs on climate change adaptation and mitigation at the local level. The signing at the Philippine Red Cross Tower on Edsa involved key representatives, including Atty. Rachel Anne Herrera, CCC Commissioner; Robert E.A. Borje, CCC Chairman and Executive Director; PRC Chairman and CEO Richard Gordon; and PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang. The event was witnessed by officials from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. ROY DOMINGO

BENSURTO

editorial

PresidenT Marcos delivered on Monday his second state of the nation Address (sOnA), which focused on hot-button social and economic issues close to the heart of Filipinos. reporting that the government was able to “revive and rejuvenate” the economy, he vowed to keep the country’s economic growth on track by attracting more investments, sustaining infrastructure projects, upskilling our workforce and going after smugglers and hoarders of agricultural products.

“We live in difficult times brought about by some forces of our own making, but certainly, also by forces that are beyond our control. But we will continue to find solutions,” Marcos said.

Citing the country’s economic expansion that peaked at 7.6 percent in 2022, the highest growth rate in 46 years, Marcos declared: “We are still considered to be among the fastest-growing economies in the Asian region and the world. It is a testament to our strong macroeconomic fundamentals.”

The sound policies crafted by his economic team helped keep inflation in check, easing to 5.4 percent in June from 8.7 percent in January, the President said, adding that inflation is expected to further ease by the end of the year and settle at 2.9 percent by 2024.

To foster continued economic growth, Marcos said the government will continue to invest in public infrastructure, food, education, health, jobs and social protection. He also assured the people that his administration is gearing up for the effects of El Niño.

These programs are expected to help in the government’s target of generating jobs for the remaining 4.3 percent of our workforce, as well as for the 11.7 percent underemployed Filipinos.

Published and online reactions to the President’s SONA showed there was unity across the aisles for his economic policies, which is seen moving the country in the right direction.

Pundits welcomed his proposed tax reforms: Excise tax on single-use plastics; value-added tax on digital services; rationalization of mining fiscal regime; and motor vehicle user charge. Also cited were his proposed amendments to the Fisheries Code; Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act; and Cooperative Code.

Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at professional services firm Reyes Tacandong & Co., told BusinessMirror that the President was able to address several pain points such as education and jobs; affordable healthcare; and efforts to address inflation and strengthen the economy. (Read, “Experts give mixed reviews of second Marcos SONA,” in the BusinessMirror, July 25, 2023)

Ser Percival K. Peña-Reyes, Ateneo Center for Research and Development associate director, told BusinessMirror the President’s SONA was a “wellarticulated speech.” What mostly appealed to him were the discussion on inflation, food production, particularly agriculture and fisheries as well as jobs creation. “I hope we can attract more FDI for the renewable energy projects mentioned in the speech,” he said. “I just wish housing would figure more prominently in our infrastructure push.”

Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the objectives Marcos has set are all “doable.” “Most of what the President has mentioned are actually in the Philippine Development Plan, but I think the way he put it up made it more clear and relatable to the public,” he said. “The goals, the policy directions, the strategies that are needed to achieve the objectives, I think those were really set out and the visions are there and I think it’s great. It’s one of the best SONAs I’ve heard,” he said.

“The President was not fishing for applause. He was choosing fewer sound bites so he could mention more sound programs,” said Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph G. Recto. “The speech was designed not to get people excited, but to get us thinking for a long time on the hard work ahead.”

The President’s second SONA has given us a glimpse of more good things to come. It was a comprehensive accounting of the state of the nation, which is “sound and improving.”

BusinessMirror

Fewer people but more elderly women

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

since the beginning of the 21st century we have been alerted to the fact that the global population is aging, more specifically that many nations are facing both a reduction of population and a growing senior citizen demographic.

With that thought in mind, and that senior citizens are under-represented as Philippine Stock Exchange investors, I will be holding a free seminar for seniors on August 5th centering on answering three questions. Why should senior citizens invest in the stock market? Why is it easier to make money from the stock market than most people believe? Why the best alternative for senior citizen investors may be online trading? If you are interested, please go to our Facebook group “PSE for Seniors” (https://www.facebook.com/ groups/pseforseniors) for details and to register your attendance.

However, there may be another serious demographic problem aside from a growing elderly population. Examining global creation stories, many appearing to take much from an older society, the idea of humans being defined as “male” and “female” dominates. In Kenya, according to Kikuyu creation myth, Ngai created humanity, first man was called Gikuyu, and first woman called Mumbi. In creation itself, while often the result of actions by a non-gendered god,

many times a female personification created the world. However, the male’s role was protection and provision being the larger and stronger of the two biological sexes. Females were to nurture and teach, even when they were “god-like.” In the Hopi legend, “Spider Grandmother” taught humans weaving and pottery. Perhaps men invented spears and exploration, and women invented clothes and personal hygiene.

Nonetheless, writing 300 years before the Common Era, Greek playwright Aristophanes summarized what many cultures believed. “There were three genders: male, female, and androgynous. Males were descended from the sun, females from the earth, and those who were androgynous were descended from the moon.” In Native American Navajo society, the Nádleehie were “effeminate males” or “malebodied persons with a feminine nature” and could be what we now call “gender fluid.” Most if not all “ancient” societies acknowledged biological male and female as well as “gender,” mean-

Moving forward, the world is facing not only population decline in many countries but also an aging population composed of a majority of females. In 2021, the number of 65+ females overwhelmingly outnumbered males with 50 males to 100 females in Russia, 63 males to 100 females in Vietnam, and an average of 75 males to 100 females in Europe. Put in perspective, a hundred years ago there were nearly equal numbers of women and men aged 65+ in most countries.

ing the function that an individual choses to perform in society. Yet, regardless of gender identity, only biological females can give birth and procreate the species. We now have an aging population because we as species are not having as many babies as before. For example, China’s population has fallen for the first time in 60 years, with the national birth rate hitting a record low—6.77 births per 1,000 people. The population in 2022—1.41 billion—fell by 850,000 from 2021.

Singapore: Birth rate has reached a record low in 2022 with only 35,605 babies born throughout the year.

Italy: Birth rate drops to historic low. Japan: Birth rate declines for 7th consecutive year in 2022 to record low. US: Population Flatlining as Birth Rate Stagnates.

Of great concern also is that fewer females have been born in the 21st century compared to past centuries. The reality is that one male can im-

The tourism mindset that we lack

STREET TALK

recen Tly, a frequent traveler relative of mine, despite being a full paying passenger, was bumped off at the gates after lining up for hours for what was apparently an overbooked flight. He then needed to pay to be rebooked, with neither an explanation nor compensation for the inconvenience and stress that he suffered. instead, what he got was a “take it or leave it” attitude from our flag carrier.

On another occasion, my business associates from Indonesia missed their flight simply because the staff at the business lounge did not inform them that their flight was already on its last call. When they asked why they were not told of this, the lounge staff said it was not their responsibility to do so!

We all have our airport stories to tell—the lost baggage, the power

We all have our airport stories to tell—the lost baggage, the power outages, the toilets that don’t work, etc. It is bad enough that our airport facilities are not as it should be, after spending so much on them all these years. But being given that unwelcome feeling at our gateways can turn off visitors. This is not the way to attract more tourists to our shores.

pregnate multiple females, but a female can only give birth to one child at a time.

Indian Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen coined the term “missing women” in 1990 and that even though women make up the majority of the world’s population, the proportion of women in each country’s population varies drastically from country to country, with some countries having fewer women than men in the reproductive years. However, that ratio changes dramatically with age.

The global 2020 estimate is that the at-birth ratio is 1.07 with more males than females. At the prime reproductive age of 24 to 40, males still outnumber females at 1.03. Only at age 55—and past prime fertility—do females begin to outnumber males and by age 65, there are 100 females for 80 males. For the Philippines, at birth the ratio is 1.05 and at 65 it drops to 100 females for 68 males.

Moving forward, the world is facing not only population decline in many countries but also an aging population composed of a majority of females. In 2021, the number of 65+ females overwhelmingly outnumbered males with 50 males to 100 females in Russia, 63 males to 100 females in Vietnam, and an average of 75 males to 100 females in Europe. Put in perspective, a hundred years ago there were nearly equal numbers of women and men aged 65+ in most countries.

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

returning here the way we Filipinos frequently return to Hong Kong, South Korea or Japan.

It is not just the airport facilities that need to be addressed. Such infrastructure is a matter of planning and funding. And with the Bulacan and Cavite airports both underway, the seamless airport facilities we experience in foreign shores and we yearn to have here at home will soon come to fruition.

outages, the toilets that don’t work, etc. It is bad enough that our airport facilities are not as it should be, after spending so much on them all these years. But being given that unwelcome feeling at our gateways can turn off visitors. This is not the way to attract more tourists to our shores.

I mention this following the recent branding fiasco involving

the Tourism department. Slogans come and go, but what matters more is the experience—in fact, the country experience that begins at the airports. And don’t let the supposed number of annual visitors fool us. First, these numbers pale in comparison to our Asian neighbors. Second, most of these visitors are returning Filipino residents, who complain just the same but need to go home anyway. Third, check these foreign travelers, and seldom do you see foreign tourists

What we are forgetting is the human factor. My two horrible tales earlier should help us appreciate the challenges facing the tourism sector. Why the frequent stories of overbooked flights? Is this just always computer error or could it have been avoided by a more judicious human intervention? Why can’t the lounge staffers go the extra mile of just reminding passengers it is time to board?

Look at our airports. It would be too hard to ignore the many airport personnel just moving around doing nothing while the lines are See “Orbos,” A19

‘The state of the nation is sound and improving’

Ambassador Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Founder

Thomas M. Orbos

Photo credit: the AssociAted Press

Manila City Council celebrates 122nd Founding Anniversary

By Chito Junia

HERE’S a bit of trivia that some 2 million Manileños may not know. After the Spanish incorporated Manila as a city in 1571, membership to the council was originally restricted to Spaniards. On June 24, 1571 (which would later be declared as Manila Day), the municipal government, or the Cabildo, was established, consisting of two mayors, 12 councilors and a secretary. The mayor was chosen by lottery, with councilors nominating four candidates, with two candidates being drawn to serve as mayors.

When Commodore George Dewey crushed the Spanish fleet in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, the Americans took control of Manila. The Manila Council was first organized on July 31, 1901 at Ayuntamiento de Manila. The new American insular government instituted a municipal board consisting of a Filipino mayor, a Filipino member, and three American members all nominated by the Americans. An advisory board was included, with all 11 members being Filipinos, representing each of Manila’s 11 wards.

In 1916, the advisory board was abolished, and the municipal board was increased to 10 members, all of them elected by Filipinos, although the mayor was still appointed.

Following the declaration of martial law in 1972, President Ferdinand E. Marcos abolished the Manila municipal board in 1975.

After the People Power Revolution, the municipal board was revived, which gradually evolved into the present-day city council. The 1987 Constitution finalized today’s setup when it divided the city into six districts, with each district electing six councilors, plus two more councilors from the barangay captains and SK president.

The 12th Manila City Council plans to commemorate its 122nd Founding Anniversary with prudence and simplicity from July 31 to August 4 this year.

With the theme “Preserving Legacy by Being Future Ready,” the event will be a nostalgic celebration of the council’s past, even as it will also highlight the 12th Council’s milestones and accomplishments as the City of Manila’s law making body. The official website of the 12th City Council will be launched during the week as part of its digitalization program to facilitate transparency and accessibility for Manila constituents.

To kick-off the council’s weeklong anniversary on July 31, a flag raising ceremony will be held at the Kartilya ng Katipunan, which has its own historical significance.

Awards, rewards and plaques of recognition will be given to past and present council officials and employees for their service, loyalty, and contributions that made a posi-

continued from A18

getting longer at the counters that could have been opened. Worse are the power-tripping staffs, especially the ones holding the lines for our OFWs. It all boils down to simple basic human courtesy and respect, especially among our airport frontliners.

This is sad, because at one point in time, we prided ourselves to be the most hospitable country in the world. The Filipino smile, symbol of our warmth and hospitality, was once an icon we were known for. And are we not, until now, the global source of the hospitality industry? Why do we miss this out at our own airports?

There are exceptions, of course. Airport authorities always praise the personnel who would return the lost bundle of cash to its owner. But should this kind of act not be given without the need to be heralded? In some countries, this is part of their culture. At the heart of it all is a mindset that needs to be emphasized. Each individual at the airports, and those

The 12th Manila City Council plans to commemorate its 122nd Founding Anniversary with prudence and simplicity from July 31 to August 4 this year. With the theme “Preserving Legacy by Being Future Ready,” the event will be a nostalgic celebration of the council’s past, even as it will also highlight the 12th Council’s milestones and accomplishments as the City of Manila’s law making body.

tive impact on the council. Serving as the highlight of the council’s 122nd founding celebration, the anniversary program will be held at 2 p.m. on July 31 at Ayuntamiento de Manila. The program will reminisce the early beginnings of the council amid its journey towards being future ready. Among the honored guests and speakers are high ranking past and present government officials who will share their thoughts about the role of the city council in local governance.

Vice Mayor John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto, Presiding Officer of the 12th City Council and head of the anniversary organizing committee, has asked the members of the organizing group to prepare a “boodle lunch” on August 4 for City Hall employees and all city council staff members. Designed as a “lighter side of the celebration,” the “boodle lunch” at the Unibersidad de Manila will help tighten the camaraderie and rapport among the employees and staff of the city council. The organizers also prepared a City Council’s Got Talent Program, a show that will feature the city council employees’ talents.

Nieto said the full support extended by the Office of Manila City Mayor Maria Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan will help ensure the success of the council’s commemoration of its 122nd Founding Anniversary. He also expressed deep gratitude to the past councilors and city leaders who went out of their way to help ensure the success of the historical event.

flying on our airlines, be it a national or a foreigner, are the best endorsers of the Philippines. Whatever experiences they go through at our gateways will make a long lasting impression. They will be the ones who will tell their stories overseas.

Forget the beauty of the Philippines if at the gateways they don’t feel a warm welcome. That is the kind of tourism mindset that we lack. And maybe, more than just spending for slogans and branding, a refresher course on basic courtesy at the gates is what we need now.

I am returning to my weekly column after a hiatus of almost a year. It was not just a break from writing, but also more of a reset. I thought it would take much longer for me to get back to writing, but there were so many issues and concerns along the way that were too difficult to ignore.

I would like to sincerely thank the people behind this great publication as I begin sharing once more my thoughts on my journey—my Street Talk.

Alternative to the 5-6 loan sharks

SBCorp develops loan products that are either financial or social in nature. To balance out the risks associated with socially responsive products, SBCorp has categorized loan amounts vis-à-vis the equivalent asset size.

PURSUING our advocacy for the MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) is something we just need to do. We know, they comprise 99.9 percent of all businesses nationwide. Unfortunately, Filipino entrepreneurs commonly encounter concerns on where to source the funds needed to get their business going, or to expand the enterprise. Seeing the opportunities for growth but unable to move for a much bigger volume and consequently better profitability for their respective businesses must be frustrating to our MSMEs.

The desire to pursue more business necessarily entails bigger operating capital. But without a better recourse, meaning, an option for lower cost of borrowed money, the entrepreneur is forced to borrow from lenders who are notorious for their 5-6 loan system, which charges a nominal interest rate of 20 percent over an agreed period of time.

Why do our MSMEs accept a 5-6 loan arrangement? Everybody knows that the 5-6 loan sharks are easy to approach and they require no collateral. There’s no paperwork to accomplish or documents to submit.

These lenders would not even ask for a Barangay clearance. So, it’s really

easy to borrow money from them.

To get me educated further on the issue of the chronic national concern of MSMEs, having attended an MSME Summit on July 19 at the Manila Hotel, I sought for answers to the problem. At the Manila Pavilion, after the event, I invited Mr. Robert “Bobby” Bastillo, a jolly, good-looking smart guy, best known as a finance and management guru, who is now the President and CEO of Small Business Corporation. Over a cup of coffee, we had a pretty long discussion on the issues and concerns confronting MSMEs and what the GOCC he leads is doing to help them.

The Small Business Corporation

(SBCorp) is a non-bank, governmentowned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) created in 1991 under the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Republic Act No. 6977, as amended). It is administratively attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and is mandated to “implement comprehensive policies and programs to assist MSMEs in all areas including, but not limited to, finance and information services, training and marketing.”

SBCorp has provided financing, financial management and capacity building programs to over 300,000 MSMEs and other businesses. These include the following: a) retail lending to MSMEs; b) wholesale lending to lower-capitalized financial institutions, cooperatives, and foundations; c) venture capital or equity investment financing; and, d) financial management and capacity building programs for rural banks.

More financing efforts are in the pipeline, thanks to the good performing SBCorp governing Board led by Acting Chair and DTI USec Bles Latayona, who is representing Secretary Fred Pascual. Of course, we also commend the other pro-active and industrious members, namely, Directors Manuel Bendigo, Annie

Candelaria, Jude Doctora, Arnulfo Galdo, Elvira Go, Voltaire Magpayo and Jacob Vasquez, in tandem with the SBCorp’s management core headed by EVP Santi Lim and SVP Lito Acupan.

SBCorp develops loan products that are either financial or social in nature. To balance out the risks associated with socially responsive products, SBCorp has categorized loan amounts vis-à-vis the equivalent asset size.

For example, if the nature of the loan is micro social with an asset size of P150,000 to P1.5 million, the loan amount could be in the range of P30,000 to P100,000. If the borrower belongs to the micro and small sector, with an asset size of P1.5 million to P15 million, the applicant can borrow from P300,000 to P3 million.

Micro-social loans are funded using the Pondo sa Pagbabago at Pagasenso (P3) fund, which is a subsidy fund granted to SBCorp via annual appropriations under the General Appropriations Act. Corporate funds are also used to fund other micro-social loans, such as the Enterprise Rehabilitation Financing (ERF) program, which aims to help finance struggling businesses affected by calamities and other disruptive circumstances.

Meanwhile, micro, small, and medium financial loans are exclusively corporate-funded, except for loans covered under the P3 program.

To be continued

For comments, tweet@billy andal or e-mail@ andalbilly@yahoo.com

China removes its outspoken foreign minister during a bumpy time in relations with the US

By The Associated Press

BEIJING—China removed its sometimes outspoken foreign minister on Tuesday and replaced him with his predecessor at an unusually scheduled meeting, a move that has fueled rumors about what might be going on with the nation’s Communist Party elite.

The step to remove Qin Gang after less than a year and replace him with Wang Yi doesn’t appear to signal any significant change in the hard-edged foreign policy adopted in recent years by leader Xi Jinping, who oversees the world’s second-largest economy—and a nation that is the primary US rival for international influence. US officials said as much about Qin’s departure after learning of the move.

In its announcement on the national evening news, state broadcaster CCTV gave no reason for Qin’s removal. Within minutes, all mentions and photos of him had been removed from the Foreign Ministry’s website. However, he was still referred to on the central government’s main site as a Cabinet-level state councilor, a possible sign that his political career wasn’t entirely over.

He had disappeared from public view almost a month ago, and the Foreign Ministry has provided no information about his status. That is in keeping with the ruling Communist Party’s standard approach to personnel matters within a highly opaque political system where the media and free speech are severely restricted. The party rarely reveals its process or its way of thinking when it makes a move such as this.

The ministry made no comment at its daily briefing on Tuesday.

The move comes amid a foreign backlash against China’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy, of which Qin was a chief proponent. That now includes Chinese political and economic support for Russia in its war on Ukraine, the signing of a secretive security pact with the Solomon Islands that could give it a military foothold in the South Pacific and the rejection of demands for more information about the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic that began in China in late 2019.

Adding to the mystery around

Qin’s removal: It was approved at an unusually scheduled meeting of the Standing Committee of China’s rubber-stamp legislature, the National People’s Congress, which normally gathers at the end of the month. That produced speculation about what might be going on behind the scenes—and whether it was related to Qin directly and rumors that have swirled on Chinese websites about his personal life, to policy overall or to both.

Who is Qin Gang?

QIN who comes from a powerful family of party luminaries, last appeared on camera at a meeting with Sri Lanka’s foreign minister in Beijing on June 25. The Foreign Ministry briefly chalked his absence up to bad health, but—in another tactic sometimes used by the party and government—scrubbed the reference from its official news conference transcript and has said since that it had no information.

Wang, Qin’s predecessor and now replacement, had previously served as China’s top diplomat in his capacity as head of the party’s office of foreign affairs. Without other strong contenders, it appeared likely he would retain that position at least for the short term. He was in South Africa on Tuesday for diplomatic meetings and was due in Turkey on Wednesday.

The shakeup in China’s diplomatic lineup does not necessarily indicate a changed foreign policy, including continued support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. However, it follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing in a bid to revive a relationship riven over trade, human rights, technology, Taiwan and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Earlier in his career, Qin had served as ministry spokesperson. During that time, he gained a reputation for criticism of the West and

rejection of all accusations against China. That came to be known as “wolf warrior” diplomacy, after the name of a nationalistic movie franchise.

He later headed the ministry’s protocol department, during which he reportedly came to the attention of Xi, the head of state and Communist Party chief. Qin was next appointed ambassador to Washington from July 2021 to January of this year, a relatively short term that presaged his rise to the head of the Chinese diplomatic service.

“Qin Gang’s fall from grace was as unexpected and abrupt as his elevation over the heads of many experienced diplomats,” said Danny Russel, who was the top US diplomat for Asia during the Obama administration and is currently vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. “Since both moves are attributed to China’s leader, this episode will surely be seen as an embarrassing lapse in judgment at the top.”

How this might affect US-China relations?

THE US has launched a flurry of diplomacy with China over recent weeks in hopes of reviving relations that have sunk to a historic low. In Washington on Tuesday, a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the Biden administration’s internal thinking said he does not believe Qin’s ouster will have a significant impact. Later in the day, the administration said the move would not affect any US intent to promote high-level dialogue with the Chinese.

“It is up to China to decide who their foreign minister is,” Vedant Patel, State Department deputy spokesman said Tuesday. “We will continue to engage with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other Chinese officials and continue to believe that keeping lines of communication open are incredibly important.”

That has most recently been reflected in visits to Beijing by Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and climate envoy John Kerry, who met with officials, including Premier Li Qiang, last week. Centenarian former top diplomat Henry Kissinger, revered in China for helping break the ice in relations in the early 1970s,

also made the trip and was granted a sit-down with Xi.

China has an opaque political system abetted by strict controls over the media and civil society, making it difficult to gauge how Chinese leaders see the relationship at this point.

Xi is the most authoritarian and nationalistic party head in decades and has taken a hard line on claims to sovereignty over the South China Sea and threatened to attack the selfgoverning island democracy of Taiwan. He rejects foreign criticism of China’s crackdown on political and cultural expression against Muslim and Buddhist minorities and in the former British colony of Hong Kong. Qin’s rhetoric was sometimes unrestrained DURING his time as spokesperson and minister, Qin defended those positions in terms that sometimes verged on the strident, saying in March that, “If the United States does not hit the brake, but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there surely will be conflict and confrontation.”

“Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity,” Qin said.

However, a window of opportunity remains open, particularly if Xi makes a state visit to the US later this year, when he is expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in San Francisco, said Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Beijing’s Renmin University.

“If the window of opportunity could be grasped to pull China-US relations back on track, the relations might not spin out of control next year,” when the US will mainly be focused on the election season, Wang said.

Conflicts have sometimes overshadowed the massive economic and trade relationship, but the sides can still work together on relatively politically neutral issues such as climate change, Wang said. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee and AP journalists Suzan Frazer in Turkey and Gerald Imray in South Africa contributed to this report.

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, July 27, 2023

‘Office vacancy rate in NCR rises in Q2 on hybrid work’

1,037 per sq.m. per month in the same quarter of the previous year.

This, she said, is indicative of the continued recovery of the office market fundamentals.

“Outlook remains that the vacancy figures will improve in the latter half of the year as more companies become comfortable in having their employees return to office, as well as the projected growth of the IT-BPM sector in the country,” Castro said in a statement.

The company said the figure is 74 basis points (bps) higher than the estimated 16.16-percent vacancy rate recorded in the first quarter.

C&W said the latest vacancy rate is also 69 bps higher than the 16.2 percent seen in the second quarter of 2022.

It attributed the increase in office vacancies to the ongoing real estate projects in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the return of office space by some occupiers as more companies engage in the hybrid work system.

Nevertheless, C&W remained

bullish despite the increase in overall vacancies because quarterly net absorption was positive with roughly over 36,000 square meters recorded during the period.

Tetet Castro, director and head of the tenant advisory group at C&W, said the average asking rents of prime and grade ‘A’ offices remained steady at P 1,041 per sq.m. per month in the second quarter.

Despite a minor adjustment from the previous quarter’s average rent, Castro said the figure is a 0.21 percent year-on-year increase from the reported average asking rents of P

“Office space rental rates go into a standstill as vacancies continue to exhibit an upward trend attributable to the increase in supply as previously delayed projects are now being gradually completed. Moreover, occupiers review their long-term real estate strategies to become more responsive to post-pandemic work conditions and modes of working,” said Claro Cordero, Director and Head of Research, Consulting & Advisory Services at Cushman & Wakefield.

Despite the lingering market uncertainties and the threat of infla-

FDC Green Energy to build solar plant in Misamis Oriental

tion, Cordero said the resumption of recreational and entertainment activities in shopping centers has further boosted footfall which is now observed to be close to pre-pandemic levels, especially in major retail establishments in key retail districts.

“The fast-evolving online economy in the Philippines, which is poised for further growth in the medium term, along with other trends such as the insurgence of the cold storage industry continue to create opportunities in the industrial property segment,” he said.

“The increased demand from investors led to sharp increases in selling prices of industrial land while moderate increases in standard factory buildings lease rates were observed due to the continuous delivery of new supply.”

He also said the normalizing business conditions, rising consumer income, and improved overall economic sentiment help are driving the growth momentum of the residential segment. Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

ACEN to offer preferred shares

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ACEN Corp. said on Wednesday its board approved the issuance of up to P12.5 billion worth of preferred shares, representing the first tranche of its three-year shelf registration of up to 50 million shares.

In a disclosure to the stock exchange, ACEN said the offer is 12.5 million shares at P1,000 apiece, with an oversubscription option of up to 12.5 million preferred shares worth P12.5 billion.

The shares would be offered in up to two series, subject to the requirements for registration under the Securities Regulation Code with the Securities and Exchange Commission and for listing on the Philippine Stock Exchange.

ACEN is the listed energy platform of the Ayala Group. It has 4,000 megawatts of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India and Australia.

The company has about 4,200 MW of attributable capacity from owned facilities in the Philippines,

Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. Its goal is to be the largest listed renewables platform in Southeast Asia, with 20 gigawatts (GW) of renewables capacity by 2030.

The power firm said its ongoing financing initiatives are meant to support its renewable energy (RE) goal.

It announced last week that it teamed up with the Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corp. to form the Yindjibarndi Energy Corp. (YEC), which will develop RE projects in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

YEC’s goal is to initially develop 750 MW of combined wind, solar, and battery storage under construction within the next few years. This will entail an initial investment of over AUD 1 billion, ACEN said in a statement.

ACEN’s net income in the first quarter grew to P2 billion, a fivefold increase from last year’s level. Its revenues rose 23 percent year-on-year to P9.1 billion on higher generation due to better wind resources, as well as the start of commissioning of new power plants in the Philippines and in Australia.

FDC Green Energy Corp. (FDCGEC) will develop a 11.5-megawatt (MW) peak solar power project within the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corp. (PHIVIDEC) Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental.

FDCGEC, a wholly owned subsidiary of FDC Utilities Inc. (FDCUI), bagged a solar energy operating contract for 25 years from Department of Energy.

“Filinvest will earmark over half a billion pesos for this investment,” said Juan Eugenio Roxas, president and CEO of FDCUI and FDCGEC.

“With this project, PIE-MO [PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental] can attract more locators actively seeking alternative energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” he added.

FDCGEC formally registered as a PHIVIDEC locator to kickstart the project’s permitting process.

PHIVIDEC is home to numerous manufacturing and industrial companies that contribute significantly to the country’s economy.

The solar project involves the installation of more than 20,000 monocrystalline solar panels

that will produce almost 17,000 megawatt hours of clean energy annually.

With an estimated CO2 savings of more than 11,000 tons annually, the solar project will help reduce the environmental impact of industrial operations while providing a sustainable and cost-effective energy solution.

Apart from environmental benefits, it also enhances the reputation of PHIVIDEC as an eco-responsible industrial hub. As for its neighboring communities, the project will generate more than 200 jobs during construction and maintenance.

This solar power project in Misamis Oriental is the first of the many utility-scale solar projects of Filinvest in the region. In its pipeline are 11 MW Cotabato Solar and 30 MW GenSan Solar.

“Filinvest is ready to take on the challenge of providing more power. Our company is committed to pursuing solar power projects in the region. We’re ready to invest more to take a step towards a greener and more prosperous future for both business and the environment,” added Roxas. Lenie Lectura

Ex-investment banker named new FDC chief

GOTIANUN -l E D F ilinvest Development Corp. (FDC) has appointed Rhoda A. Huang as its new president and CEO and Brian T. lim as chief finance officer (CFO).

Huang will replace Josephine Gotianun-Yap, who spearheaded significant milestones for the Gotianun family business since taking over following the Asian financial crisis. Yap will become vice chairman of the company.

pointment, Huang was President of BPI Capital Corp. and branch head of investment banking for Credit Suisse Philippines.

She worked for 19 years at JPMorgan Chase and its predecessor institutions and was responsible for expanding the bank’s major corporate relationships. Huang completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration and accountancy at the University of the Philippines and is a certified public accountant (CPA).

REC k I TT Benckiser Group Plc shares fell after the maker of Strepsils lozenges and Durex condoms reported a larger-than-expected decline in sales volumes as shoppers balked at higher prices.

Volumes fell 4.3 percent in the second quarter, Reckitt said Wednesday, more than the 3.7-percent slump estimated by analysts. Sales climbed 4.1 percent on a like-for-like basis as the company passed along higher costs to consumers.

The stock fell as much as 2.8 percent in l ondon, the biggest intraday decline in almost three months.

The slump in volumes suggests inflation-weary consumers may be turning toward lower-cost store brands in the face of price increases. Consumer-goods giant Unilever Plc said Tuesday that it’s becoming more selective in raising prices as raw material inflation eases, which resulted in a rebound in the volume of beauty and personal care products sold.

Volumes at Reckitt’s hygiene unit, which includes Air Wick deodorizer and Finish dishwasher detergent, tumbled by 7.3 percent in the quarter. Citigroup analysts said the decline may require a strategic update from kris licht, who will succeed interim boss Nicandro Durante as the group’s chief executive officer by the end of the year. The CEO-designate has been leading the health unit. Bloomberg News

By VG Cabuag @villygc

MA x S Group Inc. (MGI), the casual dining operator, has added electric bicycles to its fleet to deliver orders in densely populated areas in Metro Manila.

The initiative is the group’s response to the increasing demand for delivery services, alongside the global pursuit for more sustainable transport alternatives, the company said.

Currently, Max’s has deployed its fleet of 30 pedal assist e-bike to service more customers in highdensity areas such as Ortigas, San Juan, EDSA, Makati, Taguig and Alabang.

“Along with helping the environment, we are motivated by the positive impact that our fleet of pedal assist e-bicycles have had on both our customers and employees as we continuously work together to help reduce our carbon footprint,” Robert F. Trota, the company’s president and CEO, said.

“As the leading casual dining operator in the Philippines, we are committed to using our reach and influence to push forward our collective sustainability efforts.”

As more and more consumers demand brands to elevate corporate responsibility, initiatives that help reduce carbon footprint and drive sustainable efficiencies are “a sure win.” These e-bikes

are designed to emit less carbon emissions and have already helped the group rely less on fuel, the company said.

Since launching in key cities around Metro Manila, Max’s has continued to offer “environmentally-conscious” delivery services to its customers, while also encouraging a healthier option for its riders.

Citing a report, MGI noted that a pedal-assist e-bike is a great option for someone looking for a boost in biking, but would still like the benefits of a normal bike.

It gives the biker an option to control the level of boost or the level of effort that one will put in making it beneficial to the health of those driving them.

Huang, a former investment banker, brings with her expertise to the company’s executive team, with track record of successful mergers and acquisitions.

“We are pleased to have Chiqui Huang lead the next phase of the Filinvest group and believe in her ability to guide organizations towards achieving their vision. Her leadership will be instrumental in our pursuit of strategic objectives and advancing our position in the market,” said FDC Chairman Jonathan T. Gotianun said.

The announcement follows a roster of high-level leadership changes within the Filinvest Group.

“Succession planning has been identified as a primary strategy to ensure business continuity and the orderly future-proofing of the organization,” Yap said.

“As we thrive in this post-pandemic revitalization phase, we look forward to Chiqui harnessing the depth of her investment banking experience which has exposed her to industries where the Filinvest group also operates.”

Huang brings to FDC more than 30 years of experience in Philippine corporations, financial and government institutions. Prior to her ap-

“I am honored to be a part of this esteemed organization and look forward to leveraging my experience to create value for our stakeholders,” Huang said.

Meanwhile, lim will replace Elsie D. Paras, who resigned early this month.

lim has over 14 years of experience in the financial field and was CFO at one of the largest construction companies in the Philippines. He graduated summa cum laude and class valedictorian from the University of St. l a Salle in Bacolod City in 2006 and is a CPA board exam topnotcher.

lim has also completed executive management programs at the University of Asia and the Pacific and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan.

“FDC has established a solid foundation for growth, supported by an extensive asset base, an expansive network, and brand portfolio which is poised to reach its full potential. We believe that with new leaders who embrace our core values, bring fresh perspectives, and build on our established businesses, we can foster a high-energy, growth-oriented company,” Yap said. VG Cabuag

B1

Office vacancies in grade “A” buildings in Metro Manila went up to 16.9 percent by the end of the second quarter, according to property management firm cushman and Wakefield (c&W) Philippines.

PhotograPher: NathaN LaiNe/BLoomBerg

Senate bill for taxpayers passed after 2nd reading

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATORS passed on second reading late Tuesday a bill laying down rights and duties of taxpayers as the government revs up revenue generation.

The enabling legislation, expected to breeze through on third and final reading within the second regular session, is awaited to line up rights and obligations of taxpayers.

According to Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the sponsoring Ways and Means committee, the co-authors of the bill are lining up additional provisions, including listing the rights of taxpayers “in a simplest way.”

The senator added it would include “pertinent rules and regulations related to taxation.”

Moreover, it includes the rights of taxpayers, “clearly spelling out how they can invoke these rights, defend themselves, get good lawyers, accountants or customs brokers and enter into amicable settlement if accused of not paying the proper

taxes,” Gatchalian said mostly in Filipino.

The bill also addresses the right to privacy of taxpayers, as well as their right to insist that the revenue authorities—Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs—“not publicize their tax records.”

As proposed, erring revenue authorities face sanctions if found violating the taxpayers’ “right to privacy” with the publication of their tax records.

Any violation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs and other tax-collecting agencies may incur penalties of six months to 6-years jail term and fine ranging “up to P1.5 million.”

On the other hand, the bill will line up the basic obligations of taxpayers, including compliance with the law, especially paying the right taxes on time.

To note, the Supreme Court has reiterated in its ruling in 2021 (G.R. 222476, promulgated on May 5, 2021), the importance of procedures and rules on assessment of national internal revenue taxes.

PBB banks on economy’s growth amid competition

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

WITH the expected moderate growth of the economy, Philippine Business Bank (PSE: PBB) believes there are opportunities to grow its resources and profitability for the rest of the year.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange last Wednesday, the bank said its net income grew 40.1 percent to P869.2 million in the first six months of 2023 from P620.3 million posted in the same period last year.

PBB President and CEO Roland R. Avante said through the disclosure that “while the competition in the banking industry has been intense,” the prospects of the Philippine economy gives them confidence that its growth for the rest of the year will also be robust.

“This year has been as challenging as expected given the continued impact of the geopolitical situation, which still affects high inflation. With the Philippines projected to be driven by strong domestic demand, the country’s gross domestic product is expected to experience moderate growth,” Avante said.

“This upturn is anticipated to be fueled by robust private consumption, which is fully supported by the recovery of employment, improving consumer sentiments, following the recent lifting of the ‘State of Public Health Emergency’ and consistent inflows of remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),” he added.

Avante said the country’s growth is expected to reach 6 percent in 2023 due to these strong domestic demands. This is the low-end of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) target of 6 to 7 percent this year.

“PBB sees opportunities to grow its resources and profitability given the foreseen impact on the economy,” Avante said. “PBB continues to work hard to become the bank of choice of

➜

₧21.3B in counterfeit goods seized by BOC as of mid-July

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) said it has seized over P20 billion in counterfeit goods as of mid-July across more than 200 operations nationwide.

Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio told participants in a forum in Singapore that his agency seized P21.3 billion (about $387.2 million) of counterfeit goods from January to July 14.

The confiscated fake goods spanned over 219 operations nationwide conducted during the reference

period, according to the BOC.

Rubio said during the Asian Security Conference Exhibition in Singapore last Wednesday that the BOC’s Intelligence Group “played a crucial role in developing strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies, trade owners, and stakeholders to achieve these significant results.”

The BOC chief also cited some of the achievements of the Philippines protecting intellectual property rights (IPR). Rubio asserted that the Philippines has maintained a “clean record” for the past 10 years in the United States Trade Representative Special 301 Report.

“Furthermore, the Philippines was recently delisted from the priority watch list of the European Union (EU) for the first time in the Report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries,” he added.

Rubio admitted there are still challenges in the bureau’s campaign against counterfeit goods, particularly those within the e-Commerce platform.

The official said the problems that the BOC is facing involve the expe-

ditious facilitation of trade through brand certification and/or verification by owners of a brand and the emergence of e-Commerce as contributing to the trade in counterfeit products.

Rubio, hence, urged e-commerce platforms to “tighten their policies to monitor retailers and prohibited products being sold on their platforms.”

To note, the 2023 US report cited a recent study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the European Union Intellectual Property Office saying that the Philippines is among six countries—China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam—found to be “the leading sources of counterfeit medicines distributed globally.”

GSIS ready to extend loans in areas hit by ST Egay

SMEs [small-scale and medium-sized enterprises].”

The bank reported that its core income reached P1.41 billion while PBB’s pre-tax pre-provision profit was at P1.51 billion, 28.3 percent growth from P1.18 billion in the same period last year.

Total loans and receivables reached P103.8 billion as of 1H23.

Total resources stood at P137.2 billion as of end-June 2023. On the funding side, deposit liabilities were at P112.3 billion as of 1H2023.

Shareholders’ equity was at P17.1 billion, equivalent to a book value per share of P20.18 net of preferred shares. Annualized returns on assets and equity improved to 1.27 percent and 10.14 percent, respectively, owing to better profit margins.

The bank’s capital adequacy ratio was 13.3 percent and the minimum liquidity ratio at 21.99 percent as of June 30, 2023, above the adjusted statutory requirement of 20 percent.

“In the first half of 2023, PBB sustained solid top-line growth owing to better interest rate margins, healthy loan growth, and improved income on trading. The growth in the Bank’s deposits and loans were satisfactory, given the current market uncertainties evident in today’s environment,” Avante said.

“PBB saw signs of tightening competition, especially in the lending business, but its customers have remained loyal to the Bank despite the aggressive stance of other banks,” he added.

All of the bank’s line business showed continued growth in the first half of 20-23. Interest income increased by 57 percent year on year, resulting in a net interest income growth of 26.6 percent to P3.2 billion in June 2023, the lender added.

In addition, PBB earned trading gains of P104.8 million in 2023 from the P204.6-million loss in 2022. This helped boost PBB’s net income to P869.2 million, a 40.1-percent increase year on year.

RCBC named trade finance bank for 2023

THE publishing arm of Singapore-based Charlton Media Group (CMG) Pte. Ltd. recognized Yuchengco-led Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. this year for leading initiatives in the area of trade finance, trade finance services, and digital transformation in the Philippines. For the second consecutive year, the bank won as the Philippines’s “Domestic Trade Finance Bank of the Year” at the “Asian Banking and Finance Wholesale Banking Awards 2023” organized by CMG. Trade services offered by RCBC includes processing all modes of trade payments for both importer and exporter clients. The bank also supports infrastructure projects in the Philippines, issuing standby letters of credit and bank guarantees to finance private sector contractual obligations for such projects. VG Cabuag

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) announced it is prepared to extend emergency loans to its members and pensioners in North Luzon who are affected by Super Typhoon (ST) Egay.

GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso was quoted in a statement as saying that the state-run pension fund manager has set aside a total of P6 billion for the GSIS’s emergency loan budget this year.

”We want to ensure sufficient funds to offer loan assistance to those who need help during disasters,” Veloso added.

The GSIS said through the statement it issued last Wednesday that the emergency loan carries an interest rate of six percent and has a repayment period of three years.

The GSIS added the loan also includes redemption insurance coverage, which will pay off the loan balance in case of the borrower’s death during the loan term, for as long as the payments are updated.

The GSIS explained that its members with existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to clear the balance of their previous

emergency loan and receive a maximum net amount of P20,000.

Meanwhile, pensioners and those without an existing emergency loan may apply for a P20,000 loan, it added.

The eligible members for the emergency loan must be active and be residing or working in the calamity-affected areas. Furthermore, the interested borrowers must not be on unpaid leave, have no pending legal cases, and have made at least three monthly premium payments in the six months before applying.

They must also have no outstanding loans, and their net take-home pay should not be lower than the amount required under the General Appropriations Act after all monthly obligations are deducted, the GSIS said.

Old-age and disability pensioners residing in the calamity areas may also avail of the loan provided their net monthly pension after availing the loan is at least 25 percent of their basic monthly pension, the GSIS added.

The GSIS said the members and pensioners may apply for the loan using the state pension fund’s mobile application. Jasper

Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Rising yields hobble BTr in hitting ₧180B target

THE national government fell short of borrowing the whole P180 billion from the domestic market this month as rising yield continues to hound the Bureau of the Treasury’s (BTr) tenders for various securities.

Following its final auction for the month on Wednesday, the Treasury was able to raise P162.015 billion out of its P180 billion target amount this month from the auction of Treasury bills (T-bills) and Treasury bonds (T-bonds).

Broken down, the Treasury borrowed P53.636 billion through the T-bills and P108.379 billion via Tbonds locally.

The Treasury has earlier set a goal of raising P60 billion from Tbills auctions and P120 billion from

➜ Metrobank waives InstaPay fees

THE Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (PSE: MBT) announced it will waive InstaPay transfer fees until the end of September. In a statement, the lender said clients using its electronic app to send money transactions worth P1,000 and below will no longer be charged transfer fees. MBT said the initiative supports the thrust of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas “to encourage more Filipinos to take advantage of the convenience of online payment transactions.” As of the first quarter of 2023, MBT’s capital ratios are among the highest in the industry, with total CAR at 17.6 percent and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 16.8 percent. The bank’s consolidated assets stood

the tender of T-bonds. Treasury data showed that out of the four T-bills auctions, it was only able to make full awards twice. Likewise, the Treasury made two full awards for the T-bonds auctions out of its four scheduled tenders this month.

The Treasury was forced to settle with mixed to partial awards in its remaining tenders as investors’ asking rates remained elevated and went beyond secondary benchmark rates.

Even during its last T-bonds auction for the month, the Treasury was unable to raise its full amount of P30 billion. The national government was only able to borrow P24.793 billion.

The Wednesday tender saw

yield averaging at 6.328 percent, slightly higher than the 6.278 percent secondary market benchmark rate for a seven-year debt paper. The investors’ asking rates for the government security ranged between 6.125 percent to 6.49 percent.

“The Auction Committee partially awarded the new 7-year Treasury Bonds at today’s auction, setting the coupon rate at 6.375 percent. The auction was 1.8 times oversubscribed as total submitted bids amounted to P55.1 billion,” the Treasury said through a statement it issued after the auction.

The national government also missed its borrowing target from the domestic market last month.

(Related story: https://business-

mirror.com.ph/2023/06/28/ ng-borrowing-goal-for-junemissed/)

For next month, the national government plans to borrow P225 billion from the local market. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/07/25/ government-eyes-raising%e2%82%a7225b-in-augustfrom-gs-sale/)

For the whole year, the national government plans to borrow P2.207 trillion with a 75:25 mix in favor of domestic sources.

Some analysts believe the Philippine government can raise revenue from the sale of government securities if it follows the pace of the US Federal Reserve’s hawkishness.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

PCIC to remain under Finance dept

By Raadee S. Sausa

THE chief of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) said the Governance Commission for Government-owned and -controlled corporations (GCG) decided it will remain under the Department of Finance (DOF).

“I think there’s already a decision on that with the GCG, right now we’re still will be under the DOF,” Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC)

President Jovy C. Bernabe said last Tuesday. The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier proposed that the PCIC be brought back under its supervision to “harmonize” its operations for “better” food production and food security.

Gideon D.V. Mortel, GCG commissioner, confirmed Bernabe’s statement citing their recent meeting with officials of the PCIC, the DOF, the DA, the Department of Budget and Management department and the

performance management system. The discussion is really for the PCIC to remain under the wing of the DOF,” Mortel added.

“Right now, we are focusing on our financial operations and we’re getting a lot of good inputs from our financial economic managers, while we are under the DA,” Bernabe said.

“So we have to make sure that the financial status remains robust and being under the DOF really is helpful to the PCIC,” he added.

This undated photo courtesy of the Government service insurance system shows Gsis President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso (left) with Agriculture Undersecretary Leocadio s sebastian posing after a meeting to discuss the possible investment of the Gsis in agricultural mechanization. The Gsis recently announced it would open a lending window for those who would be affected by super Typhoon Egay.

Retail price of refined sugar up 24%–report

THE prevailing retail price of refined sugar as of July 9 went up by nearly a quarter compared to last year’s level, according to data from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA).

SRA indicated in its report on the country’s sugar supply and demand situation that the prevailing retail price of sugar reached P105 per kilogram (kg), 24.26 percent higher than the P84.50 per kg recorded a year ago.

Data from the SRA also showed that the prevailing prices of raw and washed sugar went up by 35.94 percent and 34.85 percent to P87 and P89 per kg, respectively.

In contrast, the prevailing wholesale price of refined sugar

declined by 1.2 percent to P4,100 per 50-kg (Lkg) bag, compared to the P4,150 per Lkg recorded a year ago.

The prevailing wholesale prices of raw and refined sugar, however, were higher during the period. Raw sugar was priced at P3,650 per Lkg while washed sugar was sold for P3,800 per Lkg.

Data from the SRA also showed that raw sugar supply during the period fell by 5.25 percent to 1.937 million metric tons (MMT), from last year’s 2.044 MMT.

As for refined sugar, figures from the SRA indicated that imports propped up total supply as of July 9. Total physical refined stock more than doubled to 443,841.40

CCA Manila ties up with govt, IRRI to develop rice recipes

CCA Manila has partnered with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop a range of recipes using Malusog Rice as the main ingredient.

The culinary school said the collaboration aims to celebrate Nutrition Month and promote the nutritional benefits of Malusog Rice, a groundbreaking variety of rice developed to help address vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in the country.

“We are excited to partner with the Malusog Rice Program to develop Malusog Rice Recipes that not only showcase the versatility of this remarkable rice variety but also contribute to addressing the pressing issue of vitamin A deficiency in our country,” Dr. Ma. Veritas Luna, Chancellor for Education of CCA Manila, said in a statement.

“Through this collaboration, we aim to inspire mothers, cooks, chefs, and consumers, in general, to explore the vast culinary possibilities of Malusog Rice and enhance the overall nutrition of our nation.”

Rice, the very heartbeat of Filipino cuisine, constitutes almost 40 percent of the Filipinos’ diet.

“But as much as we adore this staple, it falls short in providing essential micronutrients, like vitamin A. Improving the nutritional content of rice could have a significant impact on the nutritional intake of rice-consuming countries like the Philippines, where dietary inadequacy remains high among all socioeconomic classes, compromising the health and potential of our children and families,” said CCA Manila.

Malusog Rice, also known as Golden Rice, was developed by Prof. Ingo Potrykus and Prof. Peter Beyer, with the technology being donated to developing countries like the Philippines. The Malusog Rice Program of DA-PhilRice, is leading the development, production, and deployment of Malusog Rice in the Philippines, in collaboration with IRRI and other government and nongovernment agencies.

Malusog Rice has undergone rigorous

biosafety assessments from reputable organizations such as Health Canada, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, the Food and Drug Administration of the United States of America, and DA-Bureau of Plant Industry. It has been determined to be as safe, with the added benefit of beta-carotene in the grain, which the body converts to vitamin A.

Malusog Rice offers significant benefits to the Filipino population. It can help improve the diets of children, who are often deficient in vitamin A, by providing 30-50 percent of the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamin A. In fact, one cup of cooked Malusog Rice can provide as much beta-carotene as 4 cups of cooked kangkong (water spinach), a commonly consumed vegetable.

Moreover, Malusog Rice is not significantly different from commonly available rice varieties in taste and cost. Initial taste tests have shown that participants could not distinguish between Malusog Rice and regular rice. Ongoing consumer sensory evaluation in the pilot provinces confirms that the taste of Malusog Rice is comparable to that of regular rice.

The partnership between CCA Manila and the Malusog Rice Program aims to develop recipes that highlight the versatility of Malusog Rice by utilizing various indigenous ingredients, cooking methods, and heirloom techniques from the Philippines. These recipes, accompanied by comprehensive nutritional value calculations, will be designed to feed a typical Filipino family of six at an affordable cost of P300.

To maximize the impact of the Malusog Rice Recipes, various formats such as recipe cards, cookbooks, and posters will be utilized for dissemination. A soft launch of the recipes is planned to coincide with the national celebration of Nutrition Month.

“By combining culinary expertise with scientific innovation, the recipes will revolutionize the way Filipinos perceive and consume rice in their daily lives,” said CCA Manila.

MT during the period from last year’s 195,436.45 MT. Based on the Department of

Agriculture’s latest monitoring of public markets in the National Capital Region, the prevailing

retail price of sugar ranged from P85 to P110 per kg for refined sugar, P82 to P90 per kg for washed sugar and P78 to P90 for brown sugar.

On Tuesday, the SRA rejected a proposal from farmer’s groups to move the milling of sugarcane to August.

SRA Acting Administrator Pablo Azcona said the start of operations of sugar mills will start on September 1, as scheduled.

Azcona said starting milling operations earlier caused farmers to miss income opportunities worth at least P700 million.

Recently, the Sugar Council composed of the Confederation of Sugar Producers’ Associations

Inc., National Federation of Sugarcane Planters and Panay Federation of Sugarcane Farmers asked the SRA to consider advancing the start of the milling season. They said sugarcanes that were planted early need to be harvested soon to preserve their sucrose content.

Sugar Order 1 issued by the SRA in August 2022 estimated that the Philippines will produce 1.876 MMT of raw sugar the current crop year which will end on August 31.

As total domestic raw sugar withdrawal could reach 2.030 MMT, the government had decided to classify all sugar produced in the current crop year as “B” or for the domestic market. Raadee S. Sausa

Benguet farmers get greenhouses to boost organic veggie production

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned o ver two vegetable greenhouses worth P1.5 million to a g roup of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB) in Benguet.

T he project will benefit 372 members of the ARB of Bokod Sulfur Sprint and Multipurpose Cooperative (BSSMC) based in Sitio Palansa, Barangay Bila, Bokod, B enguet who produce assorted organic highland vegetables.

T he twin vegetable greenhouse structures were provided through DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support ProjectSustainable Resilient Agrarian

TRANSFORMING global food systems would require $400 billion a year until 2030, but this amount is far less than the cost of inaction estimated at $12 trillion a year in environmental, social and economic damage to communities, families, livelihoods and lives.

Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), made the statement during a high-level panel at the United Nations Food Systems Summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment last July 24.

“The cost of inaction is much higher than the cost of action.

If we really want to take people out of hunger, out of poverty, we need investments, not only

Reform Communities (CRFPSPSuRe ARCs).

Lailani A. Cortez, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, said the BSSMC is the second cooperative to receive four (4) hundred square-meter twin butterflyt ype greenhouses.

In May, the DAR also turned over a similar greenhouse structure to the Taloy Farmers’ MultiP urpose Cooperative (TAFARMCO) based in Taloy Sur, Tuba, B enguet.

A training fund of P70,000, training kits, and assorted farm input supports worth P125,000 were also provided by the DAR to the cooperative.

As part of the package, the beneficiaries receive training on

[humanitarian] assistance. And those investments need to be very much focused on pro-poor rural policies,” said Lario.

“Starving food systems on investment means, quite literally, starving people.”

According to the latest figures that the UN released on July 12, 122 million more people are suffering chronic malnourishment since 2019. Currently, over 3 billion people in the world cannot afford a healthy diet.

Food systems are responsible for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, up to 80 percent of biodiversity loss and up to 70 percent of fresh-water consumption.

“We need to massively scale-up

Wheat hits five-month high after Russia attacks Ukraine port

WHEAT futures pared gains on reports

Russia failed to severely damage a key port that is allowing Ukraine to export grains by river into neighboring countries.

Russian drones attacked the port of Reni in the night leading to Monday, driving up grain prices on fears Ukraine would not be able to get crops to buyers. But Reni was operating at maximum capacity Tuesday, with seven ships due to enter, according to Romanian official Gabriel Covrig, who is responsible for ship piloting in the area.

Chicago futures, the most traded global benchmark, retreated by as much as 2.2 percent. On Monday, they jumped by 8.6 percent as traders tried to determine the repercussions of damage to the river port. Shipments by river have become the last major route for grain to leave Ukraine after Russia exited a deal allowing passage through the Black Sea last week.

In the United States, farmers and traders began an annual crop tour in the top wheat

state of North Dakota where dry conditions have hit crop yields and further bolstered crop prices.

Ukrainian exports historically have made an important contribution to global food supply, and escalations in the war have triggered price volatility throughout the conflict. While the world still has a large buffer of wheat stockpiles, the latest events highlight the vulnerability of global food security since the start of Russia’s invasion, and as climate change wreaks havoc on certain crops.

“Russia’s bombing of port infrastructure along the Danube river in Ukraine has pushed grain prices significantly higher,” according to ING analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey. “This escalation risks spilling over into other parts of the commodities complex, particularly energy.”

At least four grain hangars were damaged or ruined by Russian drone strikes, according to Ukrainian prosecutors who launched an investigation into the attack. Reni, along with the port at Izmail, is one of Ukraine’s

biggest river ports for grain and is on the Danube at the border with Romania. Local traders had been expanding capacity there in response to Russia’s sea blockade. Still, the strikes will make shipowners and crew more wary of calling at the river ports. “The ports can operate, but the problem is that some crews are not willing to go there for the time being,” Constanta-based grain broker Andrei Balasoiu said. He owns barges that sometimes call at Reni. “Some are willing to go, but most are afraid of getting hit by missiles”

The risk to the Danube route has left traders assessing the viability of remaining Ukraine grain export routes. Shipments by land have caused tensions with its Eastern European neighbors. Five countries including Poland and Romania are seeking to extend a ban on purchasing Ukrainian grain after declining prices spurred protests from local farmers. Grain can still transit through those countries.

Lithuania’s agricultural minister wrote to the European Union on July 21 to suggest

how to operate their new facilities.

The greenhouse project consists of a solar-powered drip irrigation and fertigation system, w ith a battery, water pump, water tank, drip hose, solar-powered street lights, seedlings, a nd seedling trays.

Cortez said the greenhouse structures were established to support the seedlings and vegetable production of the members of the ARB organization and i ncrease their production despite the problems they are facing with climate change.

“Farmer members will benefit from the greenhouses, through dividends or interest on their share capital, as they manage and operate the project.”

investments in rural development and across food systems to help small-scale farmers produce more food and more diversified food, access markets, value chains and technologies and adapt to climate change,” said Lario.

IFAD, the only UN fund that exclusively focuses on rural areas, is co-leading the financing agenda together with the World Bank Group.

“All the governments represented here today have committed to eliminating poverty and hunger, and to taking urgent climate action by 2030. So, I am here to say loudly and clearly that we will not succeed—that you will not succeed—unless we transform our food systems today. The stakes

Cortez said the structures also seek to increase food security and improve food productivity in the area.

“Farming under greenhouse conditions will help farmers sustain their production all year round and protect their crops from adverse climatic conditions and from insects and diseases.”

Isabelo O. Anselmo of BSSMC expressed his gratitude to the DAR for providing the cooperative with technical, agricultural inputs and equipment.

“We are looking forward to a continuous partnership with the DAR and the local government units of Bokod for the success of the present and incoming DAR projects.”

are higher than ever. The next few years are critical for financing food security,” said Sabrina Elba, who is received an honorable mention at the UN SDG Awards for her work as IFAD’s Goodwill Ambassador. The summit focused on the progress made to create inclusive, sustainable and resilient food systems. The event hosted 2,000 in-person participants and thousands of virtual attendees from 170 countries—including 22 heads of state, 103 ministerial level delegates, close to 100 Food Systems National Convenors, 450 non-state actor (NSA) delegates, and high-level delegates from the UN system and other international organizations.

that Baltic ports be used as an alternative route for transit of Ukraine’s agricultural exports, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. While Baltic railways and ports have an annual capacity of 25 million tons, it’s unclear how realistic this option is and how quickly this could help boost exports, given the need to switch tracks to a different gauge at the border and insufficient rail cars.

“We proposed to the Polish side an action plan to ensure that the grain will not stay in Poland, and to encourage a tracking system. We hope to have solidarity from the Polish side,” Lithuanian agricultural minister Kestutis Navickas said Tuesday.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Baltic countries have the right to ship Ukrainian grain but Russia will fight attempts to use the channels for any military purposes, according to Interfax.

Shipments

RUSSIA is supplying wheat to Mali, bolstering ties with one of its strongest African allies.

CLASS one milling wheat ready for harvest in Chelmsford, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. HOLLIE ADAMS/BLOOMBERG

News of the shipments comes days after Russia ended an agreement to allow Ukraine—one of the world’s biggest wheat producers—to export grain from Black Sea ports. African countries have been among those most impacted by the rise in food prices triggered by Russia’s invasion.

A shipment of 50,000 tons of the grain destined for Mali arrived from Russia at the

port of Conakry in Guinea about a month ago, Alfousseyni Sidibé, a spokesman for Mali’s foreign affairs ministry, said by phone from Bamako, the capital.

“The wheat was sold to five different mills,” said Salif Fofana, an official at a Malian association of grain millers. “Another shipment of 25,000 tons is in Conakry and should arrive in Bamako shortly.” Bloomberg News

‘Transforming global food systems to cost $400B per year’

PHOTO BY NONIE REYES

NEW YORK—More than 345,000 children’s cups are being recalled due to lead levels that exceed the federal content ban, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday.

Soojimus is recalling 8-ounce and 12-ounce models of its Cupkin Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups—sold in various colors on Amazon and the Cupkin website from 2018 through earlier this year.

Consumers in possession of the recalled Cupkin cups are urged to stop using them immediately and contact Soojimus for a full refund. No illnesses or injuries related to the recall have been reported to date.

According to Cupkin, liquid in the now-recalled cups is “not exposed to lead due to the double walled construction.” The exposure to lead can occur if the cup bottoms are mistreated, the brand said.

In a response to the recall on its website, Cupkin noted that it initiated the voluntary recall after receiving consumer feedback and conducting additional testing. Lead was not detected during the products’ initial development, the brand added.

“When we initially developed these cups, our manufacturing partner confirmed multiple times that absolutely no lead was used in any part of our production process,” Cupkin’s message read, adding that the cups were also tested by two separate thirdparty labs accredited by the CPSC.

“Learning that our manufacturing partner and not one, but two CPSC-accredited labs let us down is a heavy set back both financially and emotionally,” Cupkin continued. “However, no matter the cost... we are going to be as transparent and proactive as possible to resolve this ASAP.”

Soojimus and Amazon will be directly contacting all known purchasers of the recalled Cupkin cups, the CPSC said on Thursday. To receive a refund, consumers can submit photographs of the cups showing their destruction and fill out a form on Cupkin’s website.

“My wife and I have two little girls. As parents, our intentions with the Cupkin cups were to be lead-free from the beginning,” Max Kang, one of the cofounders of Cupkin, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press. “I just want all of our customers to know that we take this very seriously and will rebuild from here.”

Kang reiterated that their manufacturer initially confirmed no lead was used in the cups’ glass beads, which are placed at the bottom of the products for vacuum sealing. But the manufacturer later admitted fault, he said.

Health officials maintain there is no safe level of lead, which can harm brain development in young children. Kids can be exposed to the metal through bits of old paint, contaminated dust and sometimes drinking water that passes through lead pipes. AP

Watch out for vacationseason scams

ACCOMMODATION SCAMS: The second important step of trip planning is finding reasonable accommodation, which makes it a popular lure for fraudsters to exploit. One common accommodation scam involves fake online listings for vacation rentals or apartments. Scammers create attractive listings on popular platforms, displaying appealing photos and offering low prices to entice travelers. However, once a booking is made and payment is sent, the accommodation turns out to be non-existent.

THERE are a few more weeks before school starts for our kids. Many are trying to catch that last chance this school break for a family vacation. We are all searching for enticing travel destinations, affordable accommodations, and reasonably priced flights. Researchers from Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company which offers a comprehensive security portfolio, have observed fraudsters taking advantage of unsuspecting users by offering cheap airline tickets, booking deals, and vacation packages.

To help travelers avoid scams, the company’s researchers have outlined common fraud schemes used to entice victims, along with valuable advice on planning a scam-free vacation.

TICKET SCAMS: Kaspersky experts have discovered numerous fraudulent websites claiming to offer cheap airplane tickets. These well-crafted phishing pages often mimic well-known airline services and ticket aggregators. Some even display real flight details by sending search requests to legitimate aggregators and presenting the received information. However, instead of delivering the promised tickets, these scams aim to steal your money and exploit your personal information for malicious purposes. This may include selling your bank details and identifying information on the dark web.

Another type of accommodation scam targets hotel bookings. Fraudsters may set up fake websites that mimic legitimate hotel booking platforms. These websites often prompt users to log in using their Facebook or Google credentials, which enables scammers to gain unauthorized access to the victims’ social media or email accounts. This can lead to identity theft, unauthorized transactions, and other malicious activities.

SURVEY AND GIVEAWAY SCAMS: Scammers create deceptive websites or send emails claiming that participants can earn a substantial reward, such as US$100, by completing a travel survey. These scams often prey on people’s desire for financial gain and their willingness to share their opinions. However, these surveys are designed to collect personal information, such as name, address, phone number, and even financial details, under the guise of eligibility requirements or prize distribution. In reality, the promised reward is never delivered, and the information provided is used for fraudulent purposes, such as identity theft or unauthorized access to financial accounts. On top of this, the survey usually ends with a request to share the site with friends so that they can also receive a prize. In such cases, cybercriminals are using the victims themselves as a tool for spreading the scam further.

“Scammers are always on the lookout for unsuspecting travelers, targeting their excitement

Parenting 101: Building strong learning foundation for your child

NOTHING beats parents as the best teachers a child could have. As they grow up, parents significantly influence their children’s development and shape their abilities, attitudes and future decisions. And as their primary guardians, the most valuable gift that a mother and a father can offer is to nurture them to become lifelong learners.

Filipino parents often tell their children that education is the greatest inheritance they can offer, and it’s true. Education can help make or break a child’s future and will carry them to better stations in life, but this will not be possible without the utmost support a parent can give.

That is why Quipper (www.quipper.com/ph), one of the best LMS in the Philippines, is here to help parents navigate their way into safeguarding their child’s future by instilling these essential learning habits.

■ TEACH THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF TIME. Children often waste time playing games or going out with their friends. While allowing kids to have their leisure time is okay, teaching them how to use time wisely is important.

Parents can teach their kids the importance of time management by keeping tabs on their tasks. Encourage them to own a mini-planner or any notebook where they can write down the tasks they need to accomplish. Or, if it permits, you can set goals for a day where they must finish certain activities or assignments in school within a given time frame and gain a reward after completing one, like going out to a movie or buying them their favorite food.

■ SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR YOUR CHILD. As a parent, what do you want for your child to achieve? You might want them to reach greater heights and have a successful future. But how can you help your child

become one if you are setting unrealistic goals for them and cause them internal pressure?

Parents should always set realistic goals for their children; part of this is accepting that sometimes a child can make mistakes or fail. By accepting these, you are raising a child that has a healthy mindset in learning.

■ ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO READ. Knowledge is power, and one can attain loads through reading.

Parents should instill a love for reading in children from an early age. Encourage them to read various books and expose them to different genres. It doesn’t

have to be novels or heavy non-fiction, but a simple children’s storybook or even a newspaper is enough.  Afterwards, allow your child to process what they have read and discuss among yourselves. This will enhance your child’s comprehension skills and make them a good observer.

■ FOSTER COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK. To build your relationship and bond with your child, you can ask them to work on small projects together, like building a puzzle or cooking together, to get them used to working with other people. They must realize the importance of working and learning from their

for vacation planning. From fake ticket aggregators to accommodation and survey scams, fraudsters employ various tactics to steal money and sensitive information. It’s crucial for travelers to stay vigilant and exercise caution when engaging in online travel activities. Verify the authenticity of websites, use trusted booking platforms, and never share personal or financial information without proper verification. Remember, a little skepticism can go a long way in ensuring a secure and scam-free vacation,” comments Olga Svistunova, security expert at Kaspersky. Learn more about vacation fraudulent schemes on Kaspersky Daily (tinyurl.com/yc5sjzwa).

To keep yourself protected while planning a vacation, Kaspersky experts recommend the following:

■ Stick to reputable websites: Use trusted and well-known travel booking platforms, airlines and hotel websites when making reservations. Be cautious of unfamiliar or suspicious websites that offer unbelievably low prices or ask for excessive personal information.

■ Verify website authenticity: Before making any transactions or providing personal details, double-check the website’s URL for secure connections (look for “https” and a padlock icon). Be wary of websites with slight misspellings or unusual domain names, as these may indicate fraudulent activity.

■ Read reviews and do research: Research the accommodations, and airlines or travel agencies you plan to use. Read reviews from reputable sources to get an idea of other travelers’ experiences and any potential red flags.

■ Use a security solution: A trusted security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, will protect you from all known and unknown forms of scams, including travel phishing.

Safe vacationing, everyone. ■

peers and building their confidence. Teach them interpersonal skills that would make them effective classroom students.

■ SUPPORT YOUR CHILD AT ALL TIMES. A good parent is the one who supports their child in all their endeavors. A parent should always be their No. 1 cheerleader for whatever interests or likes a child might get into. A parent should also be updated with their child’s learning progress which Quipper’s Parent App offers.

With Quipper’s Parent App, they can monitor their child’s progress in school and properly guide them on their assignments or activities. So, parents can assist their children in challenging work and foster their growth.

The Quipper Parent’s App can also help parents determine if their child has pending assignments, if they’re consistent in answering on time, or how many topics they have mastered. So, as a parent, you can make necessary interventions at home, like reviewing complex subjects and topics or assisting them in answering their assignments. This participation will strengthen the parent-child relationship and enhance the student’s academic achievement and performance.

The education landscape is changing, and so is the learning dynamics of a child. That is why every parent should collectively reinforce these habits to create a healthy learning environment for their child.

Quipper shares the same pursuit with parents of fostering strong learning habits in children. The LMS platform recognizes the parents’ vital role as teachers, mentors and champions. Together, they can continue to empower children with the tools and habits they need to become lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and compassionate contributors to society.

CUPKIN CHILDREN’S CUPS SOLD ON AMAZON RECALLED OVER NEWLYDETECTED LEAD LEVELS

PPA RECORDS P1.16 BILLION INCREASE IN NET INCOME

the increase in revenue and net income of PPA and the large reduction in costs. We can say that this is a great start for PPA this year especially because we implemented the reduction of representation expenses, as well as fuel costs due to the rationalization of the use of service vehicles, among others,” said Santiago.

Comparative revenue figures show that all revenue groupings showed improvement in terms of Service and Business Income at

percent or P630.21 million increase and Regulatory Income at 8.04 percent or a P393.58 million increase. Overall, PPA’s total revenue as of end of June, 2023 grew by 10.83 percent or by a P1.02 billion increase amounting to P10.46 billion compared to P9.44 billion total revenue generated during the same period last year.

The total expenses of PPA also recorded a 3.23 percent decrease or P142.52 million compared to the total expenditures incurred

during the same period last year. Cash expenses also recorded a decrease of 24.63 percent or P657.26 million due to lower recorded expenditures of admin costs and financial expenses this year.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago disclosed that the exemplary performance of PPA in higher income and lesser expenditure costs can be attributed to the sound fiscal management and the responsible use of its financial resources, among others.

“I am happy and grateful to all the employees of PPA for our very good performance during the first half of the year. You can see

It can be recalled that PPA budget utilization improved to 83 percent in 2022, a huge leap from its 71 percent budget utilization in 2021 and 62 percent in 2020, a more or less 12 percent increase in budget utilization every year since its utilization of 52 percent in 2015, showing marked improvements in project implementation over the past six  years.

“You can see from our facilities that our docks are new and modern and the PPA has been very efficient in running them. In fact, in the first year of President Marcos’ administration, we were able to complete 30 seaport projects and we plan to complete an additional 19 projects before the end of this year,” Santiago concluded.

The PPA’s strong and steady financial performance is a clear manifestation that honest and transparent public service is a great factor in being a consistent top GOCC performer over the past six years.

HSMA Virtus Awards shines spotlight on the best in hotel sales and marketing

WHEN Ian Bencio David, assistant director of Sales at the Conrad Manila, won the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association’s (HSMA) Virtus Awards’ Associate category back in 2019, he received much more than the prestige of having the recognition—his career accelerated, his network grew, and his confidence as a sales executive skyrocketed.

But, perhaps, one of the best benefits David received was his improved ability to push his limits, because, shortly after his promotion then from sales executive to sales manager, the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and, as the world saw, crippled the hospitality industry.

“Instead of leaving the industry, I took it as an opportunity to learn how to navigate through tough times and prove my grit,” says David. “Recognizing this dedication despite the challenging times, the management promoted me to Senior Sales Manager in April 2022 and then to Assistant Director of Sales after only eight months.”

The Virtus Awards opened on July 20, 2023 its ninth edition with the theme “Beyond the Bottom Line.”

“The world has seen dynamic changes in travel, recreation, and celebration trends in the past three years, which pose a long-term impact on a hotel’s/resort’s existence,” says

Marketing Manager; Outstanding Sales and Marketing Leader; and the Institutional Award for Most Outstanding Marketing Campaign of the Year.

Criteria for judging will be based on actual accomplishments, customer service orientation and business-specific knowledge, teamwork and interpersonal relationships, and commitment to continuing education. The deadline for submission of entries is on September 15, while judging is scheduled on October 7.

The prestigious Virtus Awards Night is set for November 9 at The Grand Ballroom, City of Dreams Manila.

Limited time offer: Avail of the relaunched Sun Wealth Prime 7 now

AFTER its successful run last year, the Sun Wealth Prime 7 is back to help clients grow and preserve their wealth.

Sun Wealth Prime 7 is a single-pay life insurance plan from Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. (Sun Life) designed to help policy holders secure the future of their loved ones while receiving guaranteed annual payouts for seven years.

Aside from the guaranteed life insurance benefit, clients can get annual earnings equal to 4 percent of the single premium paid, starting at the end of the first policy year until maturity. The plan also serves as a way to preserve wealth, as clients can expect a 100 percent return of their single premium payment once the policy has matured.

“Our clients need a product that provides life insurance protection while offering long-

term savings and liquidity through guaranteed regular payouts. As their Partner for Life, we listened and decided to address these needs by relaunching the Sun Wealth Prime 7,” Sun Life President Alex Narciso said.

Moreover, clients can also enjoy hassle-free application and policy approval through the guaranteed insurability offer subject to the limits set by Sun Life.

“The Sun Wealth Prime 7 is a great alternative solution for clients who want to diversify their financial portfolio or simply want to strengthen it,” Narciso added.

The Sun Wealth Prime 7 will be available starting July 24 and is here for a very limited time only. Those interested may contact their Sun Life advisor or get in touch with one via www.sunlife. co/TalkToAnAdvisor. For more information, visit www.sunlife.co/sunwealthprime7.

Margarita Munsayac, HSMA chair. “‘Beyond the Bottom Line’ calls for adaptability to change, responsiveness to shifting preferences and needs, and flexibility to future scenarios.”

Member properties are invited to send in their entries through the HSMA web site https://hsma.org.ph/, under the following categories: Outstanding Sales and Marketing Associate; Outstanding Sales and

“The Virtus Awards serve as a catalyst for inspiration and growth within our Sales and Marketing teams. We aim to ignite a fire within each associate, encouraging them to claim new strategies and approaches that work in these unforeseen circumstances,” adds Rose Libongco, Virtus Awards chair.

“The difficulties posed by the pandemic and the subsequent business fall-outs have tested our resilience, but it is in these moments of adversity that true leaders rise.”

The 9th Virtus Awards is co-presented by the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board, with Isentia as Gold Sponsor. For more information, visit hsma.org.ph.

Hotel Sogo Officially Launches a New Branch in Quezon City

HOTEL Sogo, the largest hotel chain in the country, marked a new milestone in a grand and festive style, with the formal launching of Hotel SogoTimog 2 branch last July 21, 2023.

The event was well attended by guests and friends of Hotel Sogo and key officials from the Quezon City local government headed by Yolly Laxamana, Assistant to the Vice Mayor and Margarita Santos, Head of the Business Permits and Licensing Office. They were welcomed by Hotel Sogo’s executives led by Juanito B. Co, COO, Cristy Santiago, Sector Head, Sue Geminiano, Marketing Head and Caren Silva, Timog 2 Branch Manager.

It was a much-celebrated affair which commenced with tiktokerists in Japanese kimono dancing their way to welcome the guests. It was followed by a mass, a traditional “house” blessing and a grand motorcade along

the major thoroughfares in Quezon City. Friends from the media, press and vlogging industry were treated to a hotel tour.

Hotel Sogo Timog 2 is one of the tallest branches of the hotel chain located at the heart of the entertainment and dining center of Quezon City. It has over 60 rooms classified into eight room categories designed to suit the guests’ preferences for comfort. The hotel is known for pioneering distinct safety innovations and sustainability initiatives providing a clean and safe stay.

It offers a complete and convenient accommodation from a fast checking-in system, spacious parking area, high-speed internet, functional amenities and 24-hour room service offering a wide array of delectable menu of food and drinks.

Hotel Sogo Timog 2 promises to be a haven for couples, families, groups, travelers, and tourists.

MAARTE Fair, the much-awaited fundraising event by non-profit Museum Foundation of the Philippines Inc. (MFPI), is set to make its biggest comeback this coming August 4, 5 and 6. 2023. Happening at The Peninsula Manila, the elegant exhibit is the most extensive in the show’s history, gathering together over 100 artists and artisans in a sophisticated display of solidarity and commitment towards helping everyone in the community by celebrating local talents and creativity.

“We are so blessed to receive such a huge support from local artists and artisans,” shares Danny Jacinto, Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc.’s President. “Over the years, MaArte Fair has made a name for itself as a destination where collectors, connoisseurs, and fans of local culture can get their hands on rare and beautiful pieces of jewelry, apparel, accessories, and scents. Thankful as we are for this, we want everyone to know that MaArte Fair has so much more to offer. From exquisite delicacies to pottery, leather and—very skillfully made— furniture, this year’s three-day event will give attendees a better idea of just how big and great the local artist and artisan community is, and how their love for their craft translates to the quality of their work.”

With the theme “In Full Bloom”, MaArte Fair 2023 will occupy The Peninsula Manila’s Rigodon Ballroom, 5th and 7th floors. Yes, that’s a total of three floors dedicated to the exhibit!

Those accompanying their friends and family to the event can relax and have a drink at The Mantuary, which is located at the iconic hotel’s Balagtas Function Room. The courtyard will also serve as host to a mini exhibition of plants and flowers as well as Philippine-made motorcycles.

Those looking forward to this year’s MaArTea

Talks can head over to the famous Salon de Ning and check out MaArte Fair’s Instagram account for schedules.

“Needless to say, we went all out this year. We did our best because we believe that the Filipino artistry and craftsmanship deserve nothing less. At the end of the day, we would like to remind everyone that MaArte Fair is a fundraiser, and every purchase you make not

only helps the artist you’re buying from, but the community as a whole—because a portion of the profit goes into helping us fund our initiatives that are geared towards preservation of our identity as a nation,” ends Jacinto.

Some of the exhibitors to watch out for this year include: luxury handmade accessories brand by mother-daughter trio Becky, Amina and Rosanna Aranaz, Aranáz; proudly Filipino specialty clothing company, Filip + Inna; Visayas-based fashion and home décor curator, Disenyo Del Sur, and; Shepard Life Goods, a family-run, life goods company dedicated to providing high-quality products that are both natural and sustainable.

Through funds raised from MaArte Fair, the Museum Foundation has helped provide study grants to deserving individuals, fund shows and workshops that promote the Philippines’ native art and culture, and support projects of the National Museum and museums across the country. Most notably, the organization funded the restoration of Juan Luna’s world famous painting, La Bulaqueña, as well as major renovations done at the National Museum of Fine Arts and the National Museum of Natural History. MaArte Fair at The Pen will be held from August 4 to 6, 2023. Admission is free.

THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) showed a net income of P6.19 billion during the first half of 2023, higher by 7.85 percent against the target, and a 23.18 percent or P1.16 billion increase compared to P5.02 billion net income for the same period in 2022.

MaArte at The Pen Goes Full Bloom to Keep Filipino Artistry and Craftsmanship Thriving

ROSE LIBONGCO, Virtus Awards chair.

Japan honors former NTC commish with ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ award

By Mike Policarpio

Chairperson of the Commission on Audit Gamaliel A. Cordoba, who was the former NTC commissioner from 2009 to 2022, received the “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” in a conferment ceremony on July 19 at the residence of the envoy of Japan.

The award was conferred on Cordoba by Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa on behalf of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan in recognition of the former’s vital role in the adoption of the ISDB-T, or Integrated Service Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial service, in the Philippines.

The Embassy of Japan cited Cordoba’s close coordination with the Japanese public and private sectors during his tenure as NTC chief, which successfully led the efforts for the seamless launch and dissemination of ISDB-T in the country.

“Without Commissioner Cordoba’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, the deployment and dissemination of ISDB-T in the Philippines certainly would have never materialized,” Koshikawa said in his congratulatory message.

‘All time high’ engagements

THE ambassador acknowledged the current relations between Japan

and the Philippines as “at an alltime high, especially in the realm of information and communications technology,” driven by the diligence and enthusiasm of the NTC’s former chief. That served as the catalyst for the advancement of the local telecommunications sector during his 13-year tenure in the commission.

The two countries’ cooperation in the said field, he said, made remarkable strides with the landmark adoption of the ISDB-T: the Japanese digital terrestrial TV standard. The technology has been promoted globally due to its excellent function in disaster-risk prevention and mitigation, as well as emergency broadcasts.

Japan’s envoy acknowledged Cordoba’s tireless efforts, as the technology was deemed suitable for local adoption in 2013. That led to the ISDB-T’s subsequent smooth local implementation, given its multidimensional benefits.

The diplomat shared that Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) as well as the NTC have conducted several joint working group consultations, where the former commissioner led the Philippine side.

Fully cognizant that enhancing the Philippines’s disastermanagement capacities are key priorities of the Marcos Jr. administration, he pointed out the ISDB-T’s alignment with such, given its early warning detection system or EDWS features, which are key to disaster preparedness in the Philippines.

Looking ahead, Koshikawa said his country’s government is keen on working closely with its Philippine counterpart to further promote the expansion of ISDB-T, “building on the strong foundation laid by Commissioner Cordoba.” He also disclosed the participation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in carrying out the implementation.

Toward full digitalization

ON November 4, 2013, Cordoba formalized the NTC’s Memorandum Circular 511-2013 which ordered the adoption, with finality, the ISDB-T as the “digital TV standard in the Philippines.”

During the conferment rites, he revealed that digital TV coverage na-

Congress pays tribute to Korean armistice

By Jovee Marie Dela Cruz

THE House of Representatives on Monday adopted a resolution expressing its strong support and solidarity with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) with the 70th year commemoration of the Korean Armistice Agreement slated on July 27.

pay tribute to the participating UN member-states who fought alongside South Korea in the three-year war,” HR 1126 read.

tionwide is now at 50 percent to 60 percent; while in Mega Manila, it is at 85 percent.

The NTC’s former head thanked the Japanese Embassy, JICA and Japan’s MIC for their collaborations, as well as the Japanese emperor, prime minister and Koshikawa for the distinction accorded to him.

Cordoba’s recognition forms part of the “Spring Conferment decorations” on three other Filipinos by the Japanese government: Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette on Dr. Cynthia Neri Zayas (for promoting Japanese culture and society through her research and professorial stints);

Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star on Bases Conversion and Development Authority chair and former defense secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana (for enhancing defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Philippines); as well as former secretary of foreign affairs Alberto G. Romulo (for elevating the two countries’ economic relationship). (Read on the BusinessM irror ; May 4, 2023: “Four Filipinos decorated during Japan’s 2023 Spring Conferment.)

PBBM, new SoKor envoy lead SPCR inauguration

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., newly installed South Korean ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa, Korea Eximbank Country Director Moon Jae-jeong, as well as top officials from the national government, Northern Samar local government units and the Department of Public Works and Highways, including representatives from the Samar Island Partnership for Peace and Development and Ilsung Construction Co. Ltd., witnessed the inauguration of the “Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) Project” in Northern Samar on July 14.

According to the Embassy of South Korea, the SPCR Project, funded with assistance from its government through Korea Eximbank, stands as “one of the key infrastructure flagship projects of the Philippine government.” It was made possible through a concessional loan agreement of $20.6 million under the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) official development assistance program, which was executed on August 19, 2013.

Construction on the SPCR commenced on May 13, 2018 and is now officially open for public use. It spans 11.6 kilometers and connects the coastal municipalities of Laoang and Palapag. The road complements the existing circumferential loop on Samar Island.

The embassy outlined the manifold benefits of the project completion to the region, most notably in terms of improved transportation efficiency. Before, travel time from the provincial capital of Catarman to Palapag and nearby municipalities would take approximately 7 hours. With the opening of the SPCR, travel time has been considerably reduced to 2 hours.

The SPCR inauguration, for the embassy, “marks a significant milestone in [Northern Samar’s infrastructure development. The completed project will boost connectivity, economic progress, and the] quality of life for the region’s

residents.”

“The enhanced accessibility and reduced travel duration will have a positive impact on the local economy, contributing to poverty reduction and supporting overall economic growth in Northern Samar,” said

the embassy. “By reducing transport costs and facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services, the [SPCR] will promote commerce and trade in the region. Additionally, it is expected to stimulate the development of potential agricultural lands and local industries, creating more opportunities for the community.”

At the inauguration ceremony, Lee’s keynote speech highlighted the project’s significance and the strong bilateral ties between South Korea and the Philippines. He expressed pride in taking part in the infrastructure project, and emphasized its alignment with the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the flagship diplomatic initiative of the Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol, and the country’s “Build Better More” policy. He further mentioned the importance of resilient infrastructure in eradicating poverty and advancing sustainable development.

The Korean diplomat commended the partnership among the two governments and private enterprises in the infrastructure sector, as he noted the Korean engineering and local construction companies’ contributions. He cited the NorthSouth Commuter Railways project as an example, and expressed his anticipation for future collaborations between his country and the Philippines.

Looking ahead, Lee mentioned the upcoming 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and the Philippines, and expressed his commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries. He highlighted the signing of the new EDCF framework agreement in 2022, amounting to $3 billion, as a testament of South Korea’s dedication to the Philippines’s long-term development.

House Resolution (HR) 1126, which was also based on the celebration of the 10th United Nations (UN) Forces Participation Day, was introduced by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio D. Gonzales, Majority Leader Manuel Jose M. Dalipe, Senior Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander A. Marcos, Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, as well as Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre of the Tingog Party-list.

“This resolution recognizes the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea that started way before the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953, and has flourished since then,” said Romualdez. “We hope the ties that bind both our countries together shall be perpetually strong.”

Based on the decree, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement signing on July 27, 1953 by United States military commanders who represented the UN Command, the Korean People’s Army and Chinese People’s Volunteer Army, which ended roughly three years of fighting triggered by the 1950-1953 Korean War.

“In July 2013, on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, South Korea proclaimed through Act No. 17117 [designating] July 27 of every year as the ‘[UN] Forces Participation Day’…to honor and

It added that the UN Forces Participation Day and the International Memorial Day for UN Korean War Veterans “not only serve as a reminder of the importance of international support and cooperation in maintaining peace and security but moreover, it highlights the strong alliance and diplomatic relations among member-states in the international community.”

The decree said that based on UN Security Council Resolution 83 and Resolution 84, “the Philippines enacted Republic Act 573, otherwise known as the ‘Philippine Military Aid to the United Nations Act,’ which made possible the sending of a Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea [or PEFTOK] to help South Korea defend itself from the invasion of the North.”

“The bilateral relations between the Philippines and South Korea have always been characterized by mutual trust and support which started on March 3, 1949 upon the recognition of Republic of Korea as a sovereign state by the Philippines—the first Asean country to establish relations with the new nation, and the first [in Asia]...to respond to the call of the UN to help South Korea when it was invaded by communist forces,” the resolution said.

“The Philippines and South Korea have historically been, and continue to be, close diplomatic and military allies, and significant economic partners in terms of trade, immigration, and tourism,” it further stated.

Speaker Kim Jin-Pyo of the South Korean National Assembly received a copy of the resolution also on Monday.

DFA official urges South, Latin American govts to do biz in PHL

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

THE Marcos administration will push for an aggressive economic-diplomacy stance to promote stronger trading ties with Latin American and South American countries.

Assistant Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga of the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) Office of American Affairs said the collaboration will be one of their priorities as part of diversifying the country’s economic relationships with countries in the said regions composed of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking populations.

“Economic diplomacy’s function is to inform people that there are lots of opportunities in [the Philippines’s economic zones…and hopefully it could take a life of its] own,” Chan-Gonzaga told reporters on the sidelines of a recent visit of various ambassadors, honorary consuls and honorary vice consuls of Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Guyana, Peru and Uruguay to the LIMA Estate of Aboitiz InfraCapital in Malvar, Batangas.

“We will also be doing a series of follow-ups in Philippine embassies in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico… Hopefully in a few months or a year’s time, we can tell you if there’s a new locator in one of our economic zones,” the DFA official said.

Bringing the different diplomats from Central America, South America and Latin America to the LIMA Estate, he added, also aims to promote the country not only as a next-generation hub, but also a zone that has livable spaces and promotes sustainability.

“We [hope to show the various consulates…our special economic

zones…” the DFA official continued, “[and that the honorary consuls would write a report to the respective countries…about the opportunities, so] we can have more locators.”

The objective of the LIMA economic zone visit, according to him, is to generate interest among the diplomats and consulates, and thereby promote the area and similar hubs in the country to their respective countries.

Although the South American and Latin American markets are not yet “big” for Philippine trade, Chan-Gonzaga said the two regions are in the range between 20th- to 30th-largest trading partners of the Philippines.

“However, we can say they are starting to build a presence in the country. For instance, Brazil is the supplier of pork to Filipino food conglomerate Jollibee Food Corp.,” he explained. “Those are the things we try to encourage so they can grow their presence in the Philippines.”

Aside from expanding its trade with South American and Latin American countries, Chan-Gonzaga said the Philippines expects to see companies from the two regions to locate here.

Buenos Aires, Argentina-based agricultural firm Farmesa is one of the few South American companies that has established operations in the country. It is engaged in the development, production, and commercialization of food ingredients spanning functional, texture, nutrition and flavor systems. It recently opened a manufacturing plant, which is also in the province of Batangas.

THE former chief of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has been recognized for advancing the linkages between the governments of Japan and the Philippines in the field of telecommunications.

THE President and the new Korean ambassador. FB: EMBASSY OF KOREA IN THE PHILIPPINES

ASSISTANT Secretary Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga

AMBASSADOR Kazuhiko Koshikawa (left) confers on Hon. Gamaliel A. Cordoba the “Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon” for the latter’s invaluable contribution in advancing cooperation between their countries in the field of telecommunications. BERNARD TESTA

INVITING INVESTORS TO THE PHILIPPINES Globe Group president and CEO Ernest Cu (seated, second from left) joined Silk Road Fund’s former president Wang Yan-zhi (from left), Hopu

founder and chair Fang Feng-lei and Indonesia Investment

BLU GIRLS MAKE MARK IN WORLD CUP

The Philippine Blu Girls celebrate their 6-5 victory over Italy on Tuesday—they also defeated New Zealand, 5-3, that offset a 0-3 start—to advance to the playoff round from Group C of the Softball Women’s World Cup in Castions di Strada and Buttrio, Italy. They arranged a rematch with Italy in the battle for third place in the page system playoffs with the winner facing off with the loser of the Japan-Canada playoff in the repechage for a spot in the final round to be played next year. PHOTO COURTESY OF WBSC

FILIPINAS: HEART OF A WINNER

GOALKEEPER

Olivia McDaniel and  midfielder Tahnai

Annis were both asked what Filipino word came to mind in describing the Filipinas’ FIFA Women’s World Cup monumental 1-0 upset of co-host New Zealand in front of a packed hometown crowd at Wellington’s Sky Stadium on Tuesday.

Puso [heart]!” both McDaniel and Annis replied in separate interviews moments after their milestone triumph that kept them alive in Group A to bounce  back from  a  0-1 loss to Switzerland in their first match last week in Dunedin.

“ It was a huge privilege for me to finally get to play in the World Cup. A moment to remember and to be cherished. We fought hard with heart,” said Annis, who came off the bench in the second half after sitting out the first game.

McDaniel, who took Player of the Match honors, echoed her teammate’s sentiments of the collective big fighting heart they displayed not only

as strong as Inoue–Arum

AUNIFICATION fight between Filipino super bantamweight unified world champion Marlon “The Nightmare” Tapales against newly-crowned World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue could be scheduled for December.

Top Rank chief Bob Arum confirmed the coming fight to BusinessMirror on Wednesday adding that the duel will be at the Tokyo Dome.

Tapales, Arum and international matchmaker Sean Gibbons were at ringside at the Ariake Arena where Inoue became a world champion in his fourth weight class Tuesday night by stopping American Stephen Fulton in the eighth round.

[Marlon] Tapales is a big puncher, very, very strong and fast, and it’s going to be a sensational fight,” Arum, 91, said. “[Naoya] Inoue is a great fighter but Tapales is also a great fighter so it’s going to be a 50-50 fight for both.”

“Inoue looked very tremendous after the fight, but Tapales was there and he thinks that he can compete with Inoue. Tapales wants the fight,” Arum said. “We can put 50,000 people in their unification fight here in Japan.”

Tapales told the crowd that he wanted to fight Inoue to prove to himself that he’s worthy of being a world champion.

Tapales (37-3 record with 19 knockouts) is the reigning International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion. He beat Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan via split decision last April to seize the belts. Josef Ramos

against their rivals but also  in the face of a jammed arena of over 30,000 animated local fans who rooted for the hosts to win.

It was left to Australian coach

Alen Stajcic to elaborate and explain what both players said.

Of heart and spirit, this team has got it in spades. In all those factors, they are 10 of 10,” said Stajcic, who tried to hold back his own emotions during the post-match conference, while relishing their huge achievement.   “

They [the Filipinas] are one of the best teams in the world for unity, collective effort and playing above themselves as a unit. When you see that and you know what you have, that is what makes it really special,” the twotime World Cup veteran coach stressed.

He amplified the significance of the win in just the squad’s second game of the World Cup, comparing the feat to  what other countries had to go through in attaining one.

For New Zealand I think it was their 15th or 16th match or five or six World Cups,” he recalled of the hosts’  record of futility until

GILAS Pilipinas will make its way to the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena on August 25 and Smart Araneta Coliseum on August 27 and 29 with one thing in mind—defend its homecourt at all cost.

The Philippines will play against the Dominican Republic, Angola and Italy in Group A tasked with winning twice to advance to the second round of the Group Stage where the top two teams from Group B—South Sudan, Serbia, China and Puerto Rico—will be waiting.

Given the comparatively compact capacity of the Big Dome and the SM Mall of Asia Arena, which will house the

they scored a breakthrough 1-0 triumph over Norway at Eden Park in Auckland last week.

While watching Colombia and [South] Korea  before our game, the commentator said they have one win each. Korea has been at least in five or six world cups and Colombia three or four,” he pointed out.

“ To think that we have done it in our second match in our first World Cup. You can’t really appreciate how far we’ve come back in the pack compared to where those countries where in terms of their football history, their culture and investment,” the Australian tactician explained.

L ikening the New Zealand game to a boxing match, Stajcic said “that there was no doubt if this was a boxing match, they [the Ferns] were the better team but we earned that win with other qualities,” he said.

O r in a word: “puso.”

ARANETA: FILIPINAS ALL FIRED UP VS NORWAY PHILIPPINE Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong”

Araneta is confident that the Filipinas are all fired up when they close the group stage against world No. 12 Norway at 3 p.m. on Sunday at the Eden Park in Auckland. “ They really know what’s at stake and they are hungry for more history,” Araneta told BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “Just like what I said before, they didn’t just come here to show faces, but to win.”

A v ictory would shove the Filipinas to the knockout round of 16.

Imagine Filipinas in the roundof-16 knockout stage? That’s going to be our first time and they will surely go for it,” Araneta said. “But so far, we haven’t been discussing the Sunday game as yet as everyone’s savoring the moment of our first World Cup win.”

But no pressure. They have already won a game in the World Cup, which was what we aimed for in the first place,” he said. “If it’s God’s will that we win again, then that will be extraordinary. But we will pray.”

With Josef Ramos

Gilas out to defend home court

Final Phase of the tournament, the host nation has only one shot at shattering the spectator mark of 32,616 set during the 1994 FIBA World Cup championship between the United States Dream Team II and Russia at the Skydome in Toronto, Canada.

Gilas Pilipinas aims to break that 29-year record on opening Day against the Dominican Republic at the Philippine Arena Bocaue. The standing gate record for a

sporting event at the massive Bocaue arena is 54,589 established in Game 7 of the Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Bay Area Dragons last January.

T ickets for opening day at the Philippine Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum games are available via ticketnet.com.ph, while tickets for the SM Mall of Asia Arena are available via smtickets.com

Brown signs biggest contract–$304M –in NBA history

BOSTON—

The Boston Celtics have answered their most pressing question of the offseason—Jaylen Brown will be part of the franchise for the foreseeable future.

The Celtics’ wing has agreed to terms on a five-year supermax contract

BRONNY JAMES, the oldest son of National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar LeBron James, was hospitalized in stable condition on Tuesday, a day after going into cardiac arrest while participating in a practice at the University of Southern California (USC), a family spokesman said.

Th e spokesman said medical staff treated the 18-year-old James on site at USC’s Galen Center after he went into cardiac arrest on Monday morning. He was transported to

extension that will pay him up to $304 million, his agent said Tuesday.

It’s the richest contract in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, surpassing the $264 million deal signed by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic last summer.

The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press by Brown’s agent, Jason Glushon.

It keeps Brown with the team that drafted him third overall in

2016 and watched him develop into a two-time All-Star.

He averaged career highs of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season.

But those numbers went down in the playoffs, when the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

I n Game 7, Brown had 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting, making just one of nine 3-point attempts. AP

B8 | Thursday, July 27, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

PBBM: MOMENTOUS TRIUMPH!

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. congratulated the national women’s football team also called “Filipinas” in its historic 1-0 win over co-host New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Wellington on Tuesday.

I n a post in his Twitter account last Wednesday, Marcos recognized the recent feat of the Filipinas in securing the first-ever World Cup win for the Philippines.

Congratulations to our Philippine Women’s National Football Team on

their historic triumph against New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup today!” the President said.

A momentous first-ever World Cup win for the Philippines! Mabuhay ang Filipinas,” he added.

The Filipinas, previously known as the M alditas, are first-timers at the World Cup.  The President earlier tweeted a message, where he lauded the Filipinas prior to its match  with Switzerland, for breaking barriers and serving as inspiration for Filipinos.

Samuel P. Medenilla

POC president Tolentino hails remarkable Filipinas, Blu Girls

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President

Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino heaped praises for the national team’s stunning victory over New Zealand at the FIFA Women’s World Cup on Tuesday saying God’s hand continues to touch Filipino athletes as they battle odds on the global arena.

O n the same day halfway across the globe, the national women’s softball team Blu Girls advanced to the playoffs of the Women’s Softball World Cup following back-to-back victories also over New Zealand, 5-3, and tournament host Italy, 6-5.

Fate, he said, has again presented a valuable gift to Philippine sports on almost the same day and exactly the same month two years ago when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

It’s God’s gift,” said Tolentino of that historic 1-0 victory by the Filipinas against World Cup co-host New Zealand at the jampacked Sky Stadium in Wellington. “The Filipinas are the underdogs.”

Chance favors the prepared mind and in the Filipinas’ case, the prepared team,” added Tolentino

as he cited the Philippine Football Federation’s relentless campaign to form the best team ever for the most prestigious tournament available. July, Tolentino said, has become a winning month for Philippine sports.

Two years ago, on July 26, 2021, at the massive Tokyo International Forum, Hidilyn Diaz won the Philippines’ first gold Olympic medal,” said Tolentino, who got teary eyed when Diaz was being awarded her gold medal.

And on Tuesday, July 25, it was the Filipinas’ turn to make sports history—they didn’t only qualify for the World Cup for the first time, they made an impact,” he said, adding the Blu Girls deserve the same level of admiration by also conquering odds against the world’s top softball nations.

C ome to think of it, the 23rd Olympiad opens exactly a year from now on July 26, 2024—the 100th year of Philippines participation in the Olympic movement, having debuted in 1924 also in the French capital.

“God willing, and with our athletes training harder and with more dedication and focus, we can do better in Paris,” Tolentino said.

Senate praises champion Sentinels

Senate Spouses Foundation Inc.

SENATE Majority Leader Joel Villanueva thanked his colleagues for recognizing the Senate Sentinels for winning the UNTV Cup Executive Face Off Finals last July 23.

“ The victory is a win for causeoriented groups,” said Villanueva during Tuesday’s plenary session.

V illanueva said the P1 million cash prize they got from the tournament will be donated to cause-oriented organizations such as the Tahanang Walang Hagdan, Rehabilitation, Skills and Training Center, Kythe Foundation, and the

LeBron James son Bronny in stable condition after cardiac arrest

a hospital, where he was in stable condition Tuesday after leaving the intensive care unit.

“ We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information,” the spokesman said. “LeBron and [his wife] Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work

and dedication to the safety of their athletes.”

USC spokesman Jeremy Pepper declined a request from The Associated Press for comment or additional details, citing student privacy concerns. The

AP also left a message seeking comment from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A representative for USC outside the Galen Center on Tuesday said the school would not have a briefing or issue a statement about James’ health scare.

B ronny James announced in May that he would play college basketball for the Trojans, whose JAMES

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri earlier sponsored a resolution congratulating and commending the Sentinels. Zubiri sponsored Senate Resolution No. 75 to mark and recognize the historic win of the team. It is with great pride that I stand here today to sponsor this resolution, congratulating and commending our very own Senate Sentinels, for emerging as the champions of this year’s UNTV Cup Executive Face-off— in a historic victory, marking our first time to win the cup,” Zubiri said. “ I also want to thank the Senate community, who supported the team during the championship game and throughout the lead-up to it,” he said.

“It was so beautiful to see the Senate community coming together to cheer our team on—proving that we are not just coworkers here, but a tight-knit and supportive Senate family as well.”

campus is less than two miles from the downtown arena of his father›s Los Angeles Lakers. USC›s basketball team is holding offseason practices in preparation for a two-week European tour next month.

H is father is the leading scorer in NBA history and a four-time champion, but Bronny James is an elite talent in his own right, establishing himself as one of the nation’s top point guard recruits before he chose the Trojans late in the commitment cycle. AP

Tapales

SENATE President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Majority Leader Joel Villanueva lead other senators in honoring the Sentinels.

BROWN

VILLANUEVA ZUBIRI

CARLEIGH FRILLES (left) and Malea Cesar hug each other after the historic victory. AP

Health& Fitness

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Follow the ‘ApAt DApAt’ to DeAl with DiAbetes

By Rory Visco | Contributor

Nowadays, diabetes mellitus is described as a lifelong disease where the blood contains a high level of sugar or glucose.

Around the world, Dr. Sahagun said those who have diabetes mellitus continue to grow. In fact, in the Western Pacific region where the Philippines is part of, it is estimated that by the year 2045, there will be 183 million Filipinos who have diabetes, which is 15 percent higher than in 2017 where there were about 159 million Filipinos with diabetes mellitus.

The symptoms manifest themselves if there is excessive increase in blood glucose levels for a long period of time or there are diabetic complications present already.

By Maria Cheng & Jonel Aleccia

Time and again, people are reminded to “always” seek professional help and consult doctors and specialists in their field for any type of ailment. It’s not because a treatment regimen that worked on one person means it will work on others, as what doctors usually say. An example is diabetes.

According to Dr. Jereel Sahagun, an active consultant at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Mary Johnston h o spital, there are now a lot of sources of information with regard to diabetes, whether in print or broadcast media, or even social media and the internet. But despite this, he said fake news and incorrect information is still rampant.

“People should not believe it outright, especially information from social media and the internet,” according to Dr. Sahagun during the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) health

forum, which was held recently in cooperation with the Philippine College of e n docrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PC e D M), and titled “Ingat sa mga Tsismis, Alamin ang Tama sa Diabetes” as part of the observance of Diabetes Week 2023.

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

DIAB e T e S is a Greek word that means releasing water just like a faucet, while Mellitus is a Latin word that literally means “as sweet as honey.” That is why in the early days, Dr. Sahagun said, diabetes was illustrated as a condition in a person that urinates so much sugar that it leads to many medical complications. h e n arrated that in the early days, there were people who were tagged as “water tasters” whose task is to “taste” the urine of a person to diagnose whether the person has diabetes or not.

With this, Dr. Sahagun said internal medicine specialists and endocrinologists like him urge their patients to read about their ailment. But then again, the challenge is how would people know if the information they have is correct or mere hearsay?

h e said that the PC e D M and the Metabolic Syndrome Advocacy and Study Council continue to advise people to be critical of whatever information they hear, read or watch about diabetes. “Sadly, not all information that we read or hear in social media and the internet is true. That is why we encourage patients to regularly consult with their doctor or healthcare provider so that whatever it is that is difficult to understand can be explained or clarify any doubts,” Dr. Sahagun pointed out.

Diabetes-fact or fiction?

IT IS true, Dr. Sahagun said, that those with high glucose levels in their blood don’t manifest diabetes symptoms.

But is diabetes curable? Unfortunately, the answer is no, Dr. Sahagun said, but it can be controlled. “Aside from diet and exercise, medicines can help control the level of glucose in the blood.” h o wever, there is what he called “diabetes remission” where diabetes is controlled without any medication and only through proper diet and regular exercise. “If you think you are a candidate for diabetic remission, consult a doctor. You still need doctor’s guidance if medication will be stopped and just focus on diet and exercise to control diabetes.”

Should medication be stopped once blood glucose levels drop or normalize? This is not advisable, according to Dr. Sahagun so better consult a doctor if diabetic medication should be discontinued. For those with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus where the body cannot produce its own insulin, insulin medication should continue while those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, where insulin produced by the body is not effective anymore, should consult a doctor to know about the right medicine and dosage.

Dr. Sahagun also reiterated that diabetes medications vary so again, patients should consult a doctor first before drinking medicines for diabetes. Doctors usually look for many

angles if a particular medicine will suit or be effective on an individual or not.

“People who have diabetes are unique. They have different diabetes types, blood glucose levels, reactions toward medicines, genetic makeup, nutrition, physical activities and others. That is why medications of those with diabetes are not always the same,” he said.

Also, some people are wary of the popular diabetic drug “Metformin” for it allegedly damages the kidneys. Dr. Sahagun said this is not true because “Metformin” is effective and safe and is the first drug recommended for those with Type 2 diabetes, but only if the kidneys are still functioning well. “Remember that it is diabetes that damages the kidneys, not the medicine,” he added.

What makes Metformin popular for those with Type 2 diabetes is that it has been proven effective for the longest time, it is affordable and even given free in health centers, and there’s a low chance for those with diabetes to experience “hypoglycemia” or a sudden drop in blood glucose levels, it doesn’t make one gain weight, and is readily accessible.

“This is why we always remind our patients the ‘Apat Dapat’ rule, which involves proper diet, exercise, proper and regular medication, and regular consultation with their doctor. Remember also to be always critical of all information about diabetes or any other ailment that you read so best to consult a medical professional.”

The World h e alth Organization’s cancer agency has deemed the sweetener aspartame, found in diet soda and countless other foods, as a “possible” cause of cancer, while a separate expert group looking at the same evidence said it still considers the sugar substitute safe in limited quantities.

The differing results of the coordinated reviews were released last week. One came from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a special branch of the W hO. The other report was from an expert panel selected by W hO a nd another U.N. group, the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Lyon, France-based cancer agency periodically reviews potential cancer hazards, but does not determine how likely they are to cause cancer in their evaluations which range from “possibly” carcinogenic to “probably” to cancer-causing.

Aspartame joins a category with more than 300 other possible cancer-causing agents, including things like aloe vera extract, Asian-style pickled vegetables and carpentry work.

The guidance on use of the sweetener, though, isn’t changing.

“We’re not advising consumers to stop consuming [aspartame] altogether,” said W hO ’s nutrition director Dr. Francesco Branca. “We’re just advising a bit of moderation.”

See “Soda,” C2

Asian Hospital’s Asian Cancer Institute celebrates 8 years of supporting lives, conquering cancer

The Asian Cancer Institute (ACI) of Asian h o spital and Medical Center recently celebrated its 8th anniversary with the theme “We h o pe and We h e al.”

According to Dr. Beaver Tamesis, Asian h o spital President and C e O the number of cancer cases have been increasing yearly. As such, it is important that Asian h o spital continues to do its job to offer the best cancer management and patient care services.

“At Asian h o spital, we offer holistic and integrative care to our cancer patients. We have the best treatments available and we will soon be offering more treatment options. We have to remind ourselves that we have a long battle ahead. United we stand, we will be able to fight this disease,” Dr. Tamesis said.

The Department of h e alth (DO h ) apparently agreed with Dr. Tamesis’

statement that Asian h o spital had the best treatments available for cancer. This is because the ACI has been officially accredited by the DO h as a Cancer Specialty Center in a General h o spital.

“This recognition further solidifies our commitment to providing exceptional comprehensive care to our patients,” said Dr. Corazon Ngelangel, ACI Director.

Liquid biopsy

I N h er remarks during the anniversary celebration program, Dr. Ngelangel, disclosed that the hospital now offers liquid biopsy in addition to tissue biopsy. Liquid biopsy is an innovative test that is done on a sample of blood, urine, or body fluid to look for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), reflecting the presence of the cancer, even in the absence of discernable gross tumor. Liquid biopsy can

also detect molecular aberrations in the presence of and linked to cancer (e.g., e GF Rmu).

“We will have this July patient support partnerships with AstraZeneca and MSD for patients with lung cancer ( e GF R) and various cancers (PD-L1) respectively. We now have a team-based program for bone metastasis, led by Asian’s orthopedic oncologist Dr Samuel Grosman. The ACI is ready to meet the needs of all cancer patients,” she added.

Probably the highlight of the celebration was the testimonial of 13-year-old Fey Navarro. Fey was diagnosed with Non- h o dgkin: Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in December 2022. She had been from one hospital to another that her neck nodes began to obstruct her swallowing and breathing, unable to move her neck.

“We failed to get a surgery sched -

ule at the Philippine General h o spital so Mama decided to look for a pediatric hematologist oncologist at Asian h o spital and going through the picture roster of doctors, she decided to consult Dr. Michelle Rodriguez who, according to Mama, looked like an angel,” Fey related.

Detailed options

Whe N t he clinic of Dr. Rodriguez said she was available for a consult, Fey and her mother quickly went to the doctor’s clinic. Dr. Rodriguez provided the mother and daughter the details that they needed and the options that they could choose from. They decided that Fey would be confined for the work ups necessary for the biopsy surgery to push through. When the diagnosis was announced, Fey’s family admitted that they could not shoulder the cost of the treatments that were needed.

This was when Dr. Rodriguez referred the family to Asian Charities where they agreed to help the family with the treatment costs and with drugs from the DO h Childhood Cancer Medicine Access Program. She had just ended her chemotherapy sessions when the Asian Cancer Institute celebrated its anniversary.

“I would like to thank Dr. Michelle Rodriguez who never gave up on me even though we did not have anything. She is truly heaven sent to us because she was the one who referred us to Asian Charities. Without her remarkable abilities to sustain my health during the chemotherapy, I may still be in another institution, not knowing if I would, and could have survived,” she said.

Brave and inspiring

The ACI anniversary kick-off ceremony ended with remarks from

Dr. Jose M. Acuin, Asian h o spital’s Chief Medical Officer, who thanked the ACI team for always doing what is best for the patients.

“This has been a brave and inspiring morning and I would like to thank the patients and their families for showing us how to live well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ACI will continue with the “ h a ir Donation Activity for Cancer Patients” even beyond the month of July. Donors must have at least 12 inches of hair in length in order to make donation. The hair should be clean and dry without any styling products like hair spray or mask.

Donors should place the pre-cut hair bundle inside a sealed plastic bag and should be labeled with complete name and contact details of the donor. The sealed plastic bag can then be brought to the Asian h o spital Upper Ground Floor, Tower 2.

MANY medical professionals, in lectures and various fora and media, constantly remind people not to self-medicate and more importantly, not to listen to the supposed medical advice coming from relatives, neighbors or even mere acquaintances, and worse, seek advice from “Dr. Google.”

Soda sweetener aspartame now listed as possible cancer cause but still considered safe

C2

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Health& BusinessMirror

Gene therapy eyedrops restored a boy’s sight; similar treatments could help millions

sion.”

NESTlé lAUNCHES FAMIly WEllNESS FESTIVAl IN QUEzoN CIT y To CElEBrATE NUTrITIoN MoNTH

By Laura Ungar & Freida Frisaro

MIAMI (AP)—Dr. Alfonso Sabater pulled up two photos of Antonio Vento Carvajal’s eyes. One showed cloudy scars covering both eyeballs. The other, taken after months of gene therapy given through eyedrops, revealed no scarring on either eye.

Antonio, who’s been legally blind for much of his 14 years, can see again.

The teen was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blisters all over his body and in his eyes. But his skin improved when he joined a clinical trial to test the world’s first topical gene therapy. That gave Sabater an idea:

What if it could be adapted for Antonio’s eyes?

Th IS i nsight not only helped Antonio, it also opened the door to similar therapies that could potentially treat millions of people with other eye diseases, including common ones.

Antonio’s mom, Yunielkys “Yuni”

Carvajal, teared up thinking about what Sabater did for her son. h e ’s been there through everything,” she said in Spanish during a visit to the University of Miami h e alth System’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.

h e ’s not only a good doctor but such a good human being and provided us with hope. h e n ever gave up.”

Special visa

Th E family came to the US from Cuba in 2012 on a special visa allowing Antonio to get treatment for his condition, which affects around 3,000 people worldwide.

h e h ad surgeries to remove scar tissue from his eyes, but it grew back. Antonio’s vision kept getting worse, eventu -

ally deteriorating so much that he didn’t feel safe walking around.

Sabater had no answers then and tried to reassure the boy: “I’ll find a solution. I just need some time. I’m working on it.”

“‘Yeah, I know you’re going to do it,’” Sabater recalled Antonio saying. “That gave me the energy to continue.”

At one point, Carvajal told Sabater about the experimental gene therapy gel for Antonio’s skin lesions. h e c ontacted drugmaker Krystal Biotech to see if it could be reformulated for the boy’s eyes.

Suma Krishnan, co-founder and president of research and development for the Pittsburgh-based company, said the idea made sense and “it didn’t hurt to try it.”

Antonio’s condition is caused by mutations in a gene that helps produce a protein called collagen 7, which holds together both skin and corneas. The treatment, called Vyjuvek, uses an inactivated herpes simplex virus to deliver working copies of that gene.

The eyedrops use the same liquid as the skin version, just without the added gel. Compassionate use

Af T E r t wo years, which included testing the drug in mice, the team got “compassionate use” approval from the US fo od and Drug Administration and permission from university and hospital review boards. Last August, Antonio had surgery on his right eye, after which Sabater started treating him with the eyedrops.

Krishnan said they were cautious, frequently watching to see that it was safe.

Antonio’s eye recovered from the surgery, the scarring didn’t return and there was significant improvement each month, Sabater said. Doctors recently measured the vision in Antoni’s right eye at a near-perfect 20/25.

This year, Sabater began treating Antonio’s left eye, which had even more scar tissue. That one is also steadily improving, measuring close to 20/50, which Sabater said “is pretty good vi -

How to use Love My Honey in your daily life

HO n E Y is one of the most versatile foods in the world. You can use it in many ways to enhance your health and wellness. But not all honey is created equal. Many varieties in the market today are processed, diluted, or contaminated with harmful substances, compromising their quality and health benefits. That’s why it’s important to choose Love My honey—a 100 percent pure and natural premium honey proudly sourced and made in the Philippines.

The honey that stands out from the crowd Wh E n y ou browse the shelves of a local supermarket, you will see a variety of honey products—most of them imported from the United States, Europe, and Australia. Among these selections stands Love My h o ney, a 100 percent proudly f i lipino-made honey product.

What makes it different from other brands is that it is harvested from wild sunflowers in the remote areas of Talakag and Lantapan, situated along the majestic Mt. Kitanglad mountain range in Bukidnon. This location offers a unique advantage for bees to gather nectar from naturally organic and wild

sources, giving Love My h o ney a distinct flavor and quality.

Love My honey is not your regular store-bought product. It is 100 percent raw and pure, meaning it is unheated, unfiltered, and unpasteurized. This preserves all the nutrients, enzymes, and medicinal compounds that honey is known for. Love My honey is also meticulously blended and tested for the absence of the most well-known antibiotics, pesticides, and herbicides that can contaminate honey and harm your health.

Love My h o ney has a light color that ranges from extra white to extra light amber. The color indicates the minerals and some other components that significantly affect the quality, especially the taste. Light to transparent honey has a soft, delicate taste while darker honey usually has a stronger flavor. Love My h o ney has a mild floral aroma and a smooth texture that melts in your mouth.

Beyond its deliciousness, Love My h o ney is also packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytochemicals that offer numerous benefits for your body and mind. But how can you use Love My h o ney in your daily life? h e re

with weight loss. i t ’s in tabletop sweeteners sold as e q ual, s u gar tw in and Nutra s w eet.

are some creative tips and ideas:

Natural Sweetener: Add Love My h o ney to your coffee, tea, milk, juice, smoothies, or yogurt as a natural sweetener. Its subtle floral flavor will enhance the taste while providing a gentle energy boost.

Delectable Spread: Elevate your breakfast by spreading Love My h o ney on bread, toast, pancakes, waffles, or muffins. n o t only will it make your morning meal more satisfying, but it will also infuse it with added nutrition.

Flavorful Dressing: Use Love My h o ney as a dressing for your salads, fruits, or cheese. This will enrich the taste and texture of your ingredients while providing valuable antioxidants and enzymes.

Savory Marinade or Glaze: Experiment with Love My honey as a marinade or glaze for your meat, fish, or vegetable dishes. It will impart a delightful sweet and savory flavor, tenderize your food, and make your dishes truly memorable.

Baking and Cooking: Incorporate

What did the two groups say?

Antonio comes to the eye institute for checkups almost weekly and gets the drops once a month. During visits, Antonio must wear protective clothing covering his arms, hands, legs and feet. Like other kids with the condition— who are sometimes called “butterfly children”—his skin is so fragile that even a touch can wound him.

Skin gel

An T O n I O still uses the skin gel, which was approved by the f DA in May and can also be used off-label on eyes. It doesn’t modify Dn A , so it’s not a one-time treatment like many gene therapies.

Sabater, director of the Corneal Innovation Lab at the eye institute, said gene therapy eyedrops could potentially be used for other diseases by changing the gene delivered by the virus. fo r example, a different gene could be used to treat f u chs’ dystrophy, which affects 18 million people in the US and accounts for about half the nation’s corneal transplants.

The prospect of treating more conditions this way is “exciting,” said Dr. Aimee Payne, a dermatology professor at the University of Pennsylvania who isn’t involved in the research. The approach “delivers gene therapy that really addresses the root cause of disease.”

With his vision restored, Antonio has enjoyed a typical teen pastime he’s wanted to do for quite a while: playing video games with his friends. And he finally feels safe walking around.

Sabater said the two-year journey seeking government and hospital approvals “was worth it. Just for Antonio, it was worth it...but also because it opens the space to treat other patients in the future.”

Love My h o ney into your baking and cooking recipes. It adds moisture and sweetness to cakes, cookies, pies, muffins, granola bars, oatmeal, or porridge, making them even more delectable.

Natural r e medy: h a rness the healing properties of Love My h o ney by using it to soothe a sore throat, cough, cold, flu, allergy symptoms, or wounds. Its anti-inflammatory and infectionfighting properties can speed up the healing process.

Beauty Applications: Embrace Love My h o ney as a natural beauty product to enhance your skin, hair, and nails. It moisturizes, cleanses, exfoliates, and heals your skin; conditions, nourishes, and adds shine to your hair; and strengthens and protects your nails.

Love My h o ney is more than a honey brand—it’s a lifestyle choice that shows your love for yourself and others. Made by Ph I LUSA Corporation, a trusted company since 1957, and Miel De Oro, a local honey producer from Bukidnon, Love My h o ney gives you a premium honey experience that you can enjoy every day.

You can find Love My h o ney in all Mercury drugstores nationwide and select supermarkets and grocery stores.

risk of diabetes, heart disease and early death in adults.

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

MA r K I n G the n u tri -

tion Month this July,

n estlé Philippines Inc.

debuted its fa mily Wellness fe stival aimed at educating f i lipino households about good nutrition to achieve a healthier, happier life.

As a headstart, the food and beverage ( f & B) giant partnered with the local government unit (LGU) of Quezon City for the festivity’s launch attended by around 4,000 local residents and those from nearby cities who pre-registered online at Barangaynestle.com.ph.

“We at n estlé Philippines believe that good nutrition starts at home. We are bringing the fa mily Wellness fe stival closer to communities as we strive to provide citizens with the right information and tips that can help them improve their health and wellness,” n estlé

Philippines Senior Vice President and he ad of Corporate Affairs Joey Uy III said during the kick off ceremony held at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City last July 15.

This initiative complements the ongoing nutrition programs of Quezon City led by Mayor Joy Belmonte.

“We strive to provide our QCitizens all the support they need to have a healthy mind and body to make them productive, free from ailments and able to live longer. It’s the right of every citizen to have a good health. But the local government cannot do it alone. We need the support of the private sector to augment our efforts,” she emphasized.

Nutrition status

PIVOTAL to health and development, nutrition is the process of taking food of living organisms and converting it into energy and other important nutrients so as to grow, maintain themselves, and reproduce.

Unfortunately in the Philippines, f i lipinos have been constantly confronted by nutritional issues since time immemorial, according to experts who graced the event.

They continue to carry the triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition among kids, over-nutrition or obesity for adults, and micronutrient deficiency, n estlé Philippines nutrition advocacy executive Edelwise “Ivy” Sicat told reporters on the sidelines of the event.

Such conditions are shown in the typical Pinggang Pinoy. She said: “It’s our go, grow, glow platebased guide for f i lipinos on the proper amounts and kinds of food we eat per meal.”

Citing the study of the Department of Science and Technologyfo od and n u trition r e search Institute (DOST- f nr I ), she described the Pinggang Pinoy as half full of rice and the other half would have a little fish and some vegetables.

J. f r ane. “[So] we use data from our research to draft policy recommendations. We’re focusing on the deficiencies in our diet, like there’s a high deficiency of vitamin A in infants, its natural sources coming mostly from yellow foods, vegetables, and milk.”

Healthy food for all

T r U E to this year’s n u trition Month theme, “ h e althy diet gawing affordable for all,” n estlé Philippines keeps its promise to make good nutrition accessible with nutrient-packed and budget-friendly f & B products that are enriched with essential vitamins and minerals for each family member. “ n estlé is working on that so we’ve fortified our products with the key nutrients that are deficient in the f i lipino diet, such as vitamins A and C, zinc, calcium, iron. We’ve also reduced some of the sensitive ingredients, like sugar, fat, salt, in n estlé products,” Sicat explained in reference to some of their well-loved brands such as Milo, Bear Brand, Maggi, Chuckie, Koko Krunch, n e scafe, n estea and Boost.

“We’re locally sourcing some of our ingredients to reduce the cost. We also have different SKUs [stock keeping units] to cater to different families’ buying capacities. But when we say affordable, it should also be sulit [value for money]. That means consumers are getting a product that’s affordable, nutritious and delicious, and contains all the nutrients they need,” she added.

Meaningful, fun-filled event

T h E i nitial staging of the fa mily Wellness fe stival was both insightful and enjoyable for attendees. Invited experts shared health and wellness learnings and tips that they can apply and practice at home. fo r instance, the Department of Agriculture gave pointers on how to start a vegetable garden based on its fo od Always in the h o me or fA IT h program.  This was followed by a cooking demonstration to promote “sarapsustansya” meals for the family. r e gistered nutritionists-dietitians were available to give free personalized nutrition consultations to participants.

f e stivalgoers joined the fun games and exciting activities, courtesy of different n estlé brands. Aside from promos and discounts, its products and special prizes were raffled off throughout the day.

They also received freebies by exchanging empty sachets and tetra packs of products manufactured by the multinational. This is in line with the company’s 3 r s advocacy to engage more f i lipinos to “ r e use, r e duce and r e cycle” plastic wastes and become part of the movement for environmental sustainability.

Continued from C1

h e re’s a look at the announcement:

What is aspartame?

As P A r t A m e is a low-calorie artificial s weetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. i t i s a white, odorless powder and the world’s most widely used artificial sweetener.

Aspartame is authorized as a food additive in e u rope and the U s and is used in numerous foods, drinks such as d i et Coke, desserts, chewing gum, medications including cough drops and foods intended to help

Aspartame was approved in 1974 by the U. s f o od and d r ug Administration w ith an acceptable daily intake of 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. According to the fd A , a person weighing 132 pounds (60 kilograms) would need to consume about 75 aspartame packets to reach that level.

UN experts evaluated the safety of aspartame in 1981 and set the safe daily limit slightly lower, at 40 milligrams of aspartame per kilogram. d avid s p iegelhalter, an emeritus statistics professor at Cambridge University, said the guidance means that “average people are safe to drink up to 14 cans of diet drink a day…and even this ‘acceptable daily limit’ has a large built-in safety factor.”

W ho ’s cancer agency, i A r C convened its expert group in June to assess the potential of aspartame to cause cancer. i t b ased its conclusion that aspartame is “possibly carcinogenic” on studies in humans and animals that found “limited” evidence that the compound may be linked to liver cancer.

in a separate evaluation, experts assembled by W ho and the food agency updated their risk assessment, including reviewing the acceptable daily intake. t h ey concluded there was “no convincing evidence” at the currently consumed levels that aspartame is dangerous; their guidelines regarding acceptable levels of consumption were unchanged.

t h e move comes weeks after the W ho s aid that non-sugar sweeteners don’t help with weight loss and could lead to increased

Should I be concerned about getting too much?

Not as long as you don’t exceed the guidelines.

t h e fdA s aid scientific evidence continues to support the agency’s conclusion that aspartame is “safe for the general population,” when used within limits.

Almost any substance can be dangerous in excessive amounts, said d avid Klurfeld, a nutrition expert at the i ndiana University s c hool of Public h eal th-Bloomington.

t h e dose makes the poison,” said Klurfeld, who previously served on an i A r C p anel. “ e v en essential nutrients like vitamin A, iron and water will kill you within hours if too much is consumed.” AP

“If you have so much rice, your meal is not balanced and if you continue with this diet for a long time, you will have a problem,” Sicat pointed out. “[Or when] you’re just eating a cup of rice, but your viand is very high in fat and you’re not eating any vegetable, that’s certainly not a good combination [too].”

Apart from economic and inflationary pressures, what’s contributing to the nutritional deficiency of f i lipinos today is the shortage of supply.

fo od insecurity is a problem, f i lipinos have no access to food,”

f nr

Making the event “greener”, a representative from nonprofit organization Pure Oceans gave a talk, together with a representative from GMA Sparkle, about environment protection and its  positive impact in the wellness of the planet.

As the Kasambuhay for Good and family wellness partner of f i lipinos, n estlé Philippines will bring the fa mily Wellness fe stival to Makati City and Caloocan City in August. Pre-registration for the next events is now open via Barangaynestle.com.ph.

“We’re very optimistic that 10 years from now, we will see a healthier Philippines,” n estle Philippines Vice President for Corporate Communications Michelle Pador stressed.

u by

Dr. Alfonso Sabater, checks Antonio Vento Carvajal’s eye under a blue light after applying a stain to check to see if more ulcers had developed, before a gene therapy treatment, Thursday, July 6, 2023, at University of Miami Health System’s Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. Antonio was born with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, a rare genetic condition that causes blisters all over his body and in his eyes. He was blind for much of his life but can see again after getting gene therapy eyedrops. AP Photo/Wilfredo l ee

& Fitness

DOH notes clustering of malaria cases in Puerto Princesa barangay

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

The Department of he alth (DOh ) s aid that there is a reported clustering of Malaria cases in Barangay Irawan, Puerto Princesa City, which started last April 26, 2023. This as the Philippine News Agency reported that the World h e alth Organization (W h O) has expressed concern over this surge in malaria cases in Palawan.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne, as well as a blood-borne, disease.

The cases were detected from April 26 to June 30, 2023 having common signs and symptoms of headaches, dizziness, body malaise, fever, and epigastric pain.

As of July 5, 2023, all cases had recovered.

Puerto Princesa Mayor Lucio Bayron said Monday, July 24, that a W h O delegation had visited the city to assess the reported outbreak accompanied by DO h representatives. Bayron explained that the visitors from W h O w ere particularly concerned over the 31 malaria cases recorded in Barangay Irawan over the three months.

“Malaria is still more prevalent in Southern Palawan municipalities. h o wever, while in the past we have seen a steady decline in malaria cases in the city, not it seeks to be rising again,” he said.

Malaria management assessment

A CCO r D IN g t o Puerto Princesa City h e alth Office chief Dr. r i c Panganiban, the W h O d elegation came to assess the malaria management situation not only in the city but also in the entire province, given that Palawan is the only area in the Philippines with reported cases. h e p ointed out that because of the C h O ’s swift response to the 31 cases of Irawan, all the patients managed to recover from the tropical disease carried by mosquitoes.

“The target is to eliminate malaria or achieve zero malaria cases in the long terms. In Mimaropa, it is well known that Palawan contributes the highest cases of malaria. The W h O d elegation are here to suggest how to win the fight. They also know about the cases in Irawan and they are aware that we had cases in June,” Panganiban said. Although malaria can be fatal, it is now also largely preventable through prophylactic medication.

Most cases are heavily concentrated in Africa at present, but the disease also still occurs throughout the Middle e a st; South, e a st, and Southeast Asia; Oceania; and Latin America.

Cause

M

A LA r IA i s caused by several species of the parasite Plasmodium, which is transmitted to humans

through the mosquito Anopheles. These mosquitoes usually bite at night but can also bite during early evening or morning.

At environmental temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius, Plasmodium falciparum (the species known to cause severe malaria) is unable to complete its growth cycle in the Anopheles mosquito, and thus cannot be transmitted to humans.

This explains why most cases of malaria occur in the warmer parts of the world. h owever, because Plasmodium lives in the red blood cells, infected people can thus also transmit malaria to other people through blood transfusion, organ donation, sharing of syringes or needles, and from mother to infant before or during childbirth.

Symptoms

A LT hOugh s ymptoms can appear as early as seven days or as late as one year after infection, most people experience symptoms between ten days to four weeks after infection.

Typical symptoms resemble a flu-like illness, including fever, chills, headache and muscle aches, and tiredness.

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, and anemia can also occur.

Malaria is also distinguishable for its “fever cycles” (a combina -

Climate change leads to growing risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases–EU agency

protective measures.”

By Jan M. Olsen

COP e N h A g e N , Denmark (AP)—

tion of chills, fever, and sweating), which can recur either every 48 or 72 hours depending on the species of Plasmodium.

Severe malaria, however, can cause life-threatening organ failure, the manifestations of which can include kidney failure, seizures, bleeding, mental confusion, and coma.

Sometimes, the parasite can also remain dormant in the liver, and after hibernation (which can take as long as four years), can reenter the bloodstream and start infecting red blood cells, making a person sick.

Prevention and Control

T he DO h said that medical prophylaxis against malaria is now widely available and recommended when going to places with known widespread transmission.

These prophylactic regimens take time to complete; thus, it is important to consult a doctor as early as possible to plan the regimen.

Besides medical prophylaxis, preventive measures include the usual protocols with regards to mosquito-borne disease, such as using long-lasting insecticidal mosquito nets especially during nighttime, wearing long-sleeved clothing and pants especially when going outdoors, using mosquito repellants, and installing screens on doors and windows. With a report from PNA

The Medical City answers the global call for creating a greener space for all

e u ropean u n ion officials warned last week that there is a growing risk of mosquito-borne viral diseases such as dengue and chikungunya in e u rope due to climate change.

The eu ropean Center for Disease Prevention and Control said that because e u rope is experiencing a warming trend, with heat waves and flooding becoming more frequent and severe, and summers getting longer and warmer, the conditions are more favorable for invasive mosquito species such as Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

The Stockholm-based agency said in a report that Aedes albopictus is a known vector of chikungunya and dengue viruses and has been establishing itself farther north and west in e u rope. The other mosquito, Aedes aegypti, known to transmit dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, zika and West Nile viruses, has been established in Cyprus since 2022 and may spread to other e u ropean countries.

A decade ago, the Aedes albopictus mosquito was established in eight e u ropean countries, with 114 regions affected. This year, the mosquito is established in 13 countries and 337 regions, the e C DC said.

“If this continues, we can expect to see more cases and possibly deaths from diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and West Nile fever,” e C DC director Andrea Ammon said. “ e f forts need to focus on ways to control mosquito populations, enhancing surveillance and enforcing personal

Before, the diseases were imported from abroad, but ”now we have domestically acquired cases,” Ammon said in an online news conference.

The agency said ways to control mosquito populations include eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed, using eco-friendly larvicides and promoting community awareness about mosquito control. To protect themselves, people can use mosquito bed nets, sleep or rest in screened or air-conditioned rooms, wear clothes that cover most of the body and use mosquito repellent, the e C DC said.

It said that raising awareness about diseases transmitted by mosquitoes is essential.

There is no specific treatment for dengue. While about 80 percent of infections are mild, severe cases can lead to internal bleeding, organ damage and death.

Chikungunya fever, a debilitating disease that is suspected of afflicting tens of thousands, was first identified in Africa in 1953. It causes severe pain in the joints but is rarely fatal. There is no vaccine and it is mainly treated with pain medication.

Ammon said 1,339 locally acquired cases of West Nile infections, including 104 deaths, were reported in e u rope in 2022, the highest number since an epidemic in 2018.

West Nile fever symptoms can include headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea and fatigue. People with West Nile fever typically recover on their own, although symptoms may last for weeks to months.

Pilipinas Shell Foundation passes nutrition program on LGUs

By Roderick L. Abad Contributor

PILIPINAS Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) unit of Shell Pilipinas Corp. (SPC), celebrated the successful culmination of its Roots to Shoots (RTS) program and transferred its stewardship to the local government units (LGUs) of Bombon and Pasacao in Camarines Sur to ensure its continuity in the long run.

RTS is aimed at addressing the issue of malnutrition, especially in far-flung areas where access to government’s health initiatives and nutritious food is lacking.

PSFI Chairman Cesar A. Buenaventura underscored the importance of agriculture and food security for SPC. He said: “Our training farm has benefitted many farmers. Together you’ve successfully reduced malnutrition and improved sanitation and health—with very tangible results.”

Likewise, it reinforced local utility firm Bombon Water District by enhancing water system infrastructure and improving the technical capacities of its personnel.

“We learned that when it comes to solving malnutrition, water access, sanitation, and hygiene play a critical role,” Manila Water Foundation (MWF) Executive Director Reginald M. Andal said in mixed Filipino and English.

Such positive results indicate the program’s effectiveness in promoting sustainable development.

“It is a good model that can be replicated in other places. It’s really a powerhouse; our community volunteers were excited telling their stories, and I’m really looking forward that this excitement will be sustained even beyond the life of the project,” World Vision Development Foundation (WVDF) National Director Rommel V. Fuerte pointed out.

MO re a nd more Filipino families consider themselves “food poor,” or unable to meet their basic food needs and get enough healthy food options. In the selfrated survey of Social Weather Stations, 39 percent of Filipino families considered themselves food poor in the first quarter of the year, showing a five-percent increase from last year’s results. The age-old problems of hunger, malnutrition, and food crises have continually hunted us and remain a growing concern to this day. Among the most promising solutions that can increase food sources and hopefully address the food crisis is urban g a rdening.

In one of the busiest streets in the Metro, a modernized city full of concrete and sky-high buildings sprouts a solution to the threatening food problems. h a nd in hand with the Pasig City e n vironment and Natural r e sources Office (C e N r O), The Medical City actively forges its commitment to the green revolution by supporting the green initiative and creating green spaces for all. In the middle of the health cri

sis, where the world continues to adapt to life with Covid-19, The Medical City found an opportunity to start its small urban gardening project. In the form of a contest organized by Nutrition Management Services (a multidisciplinary team of nutrition specialists in The Medical City), employees were encouraged to join the green initiative.

To coincide with the country’s annual Nutrition Month celebration last July 2022, green growers planted lettuce, cabbage, and spinach in solidarity. The seeds were placed in seedling trays before being transferred to urban containers to allow them to grow.

Joselle Teofisto, a dedicated Administrative Associate of The Medical City during office hours and a committed urban gardener during her break time, shares how she took care of her bok choy and lettuce. “I started with a seedling tray and then every day I would look into it during lunch break. When I see that some of its parts had turned yellow, that is my cue to remove it so that my efforts would not go to waste,” Teofisto said.

A new green grower, John Carlo g a tapia, shows that one does not need to be a horticulturist to be an urban gardener. The noob planter also shares that he is excited about the outcomes of his labor, especially now that he is learning something new. “This is the first time I am growing anything. I am excited to learn to grow these greens and apply them at home,” Catapia said.

From less than ten participants in 2022 when it first started, the membership continues to grow, with almost 30 entries from different departments now joining the u r ban g a rdening Contest in its second year. In early 2023, green growers were blessed with a bunch of fresh produce, which they sold to The Medical City community.

This year’s celebration of Nutrition Month was made even more purposeful as the green thumb winners unanimously agreed to donate their monetary prizes to Akbay g i nahawa Foundation, Inc., an independent nonp rofit organization providing financial and material support to indigent patients of The Medical

City. Akbay g ina hawa Director r a fael S. Claudio humbly accepted the donation and immediately thanked the winners, saying the proceeds will go a long way in helping more people achieve quality healthcare.

Pasig City Councilor Paul r om ano Santiago, one of the key speakers of The Medical City Nutrition Month Celebration, congratulated the organization for their green initiatives and mentioned his continued support. h e also visited the u r ban g a rdening spaces located on the rooftop of the hospital. With the successes of the u rb an g a rdening Project, Nutrition Management Services plans to plant more as they continue the activity all year round. To further promote sustainable, healthy eating habits, the unit also provides nutrition consultations and personalized meal plans for inpatients and outpatients of all age segments. To know more about their programs, visit The Medical City Ortigas or contact Nutrition Management Services at 8988-1000 or 7000 loc. 6510 or 09155410095.

The program, according to PSFI Senior Program Manager, Nutrition and Food Security Maria Pamela S. Castro, “was designed with a holistic approach, recognizing the need to improve nutrition and well-being in a comprehensive manner.” She also noted that its components “reflect our deep understanding of the complex challenges and the implementation of multifaceted solutions.”

Program’s success

BY and large, the young populace of Camarines Sur has the highest prevalence of impaired growth and development due to poor nutrition in the Bicol region. One in five, or 20 percent of children below five years old in the municipalities of Bombon and Pasacao are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age.

With the RTS program, however, the slim chance of addressing this problem has grown in the past recent years. In fact, the pilot project’s Mother and Child Care component has mitigated over the course of three years stunting among the kids in both towns, from 32.90 percent to 25.45 percent and 31.90 percent to 21.33 percent, respectively.

I ts Food Security and Livelihood element, on the other hand, has achieved significant milestones, including increased availability of food and economic access for mothers, caregivers and farmers. Communities have also gained from improved food production, as farmer groups have generated employment opportunities in both in-farm and off-farm enterprises.

Meanwhile, the Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) part has increased access to WASH services in target communities by constructing water systems and sanitation facilities, as well as training residents on proper hygiene and sanitation.

Passing the torch

FOR longevity of RTS, a handover ceremony was held with the participation of representatives from PSFI and its partners MWF, WVDF, LGUs, and community members—all pledging their collaborative works to ensure the initiative’s transition into its sustainability phase.

“We have joined forces with governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), academic institutions, and local communities because we recognize that collective action and shared responsibility are essential for sustainable development. Together, we have harnessed diverse expertise, pooled resources, and embraced different perspectives to create more comprehensive and impactful solutions,” said PSFI Senior Technical Program Manager Raiza V. Cusi.

“As we turn this program to the community, we wish you all the best in continuing what we have been able to start,” Buenaventura added.

In honor of their valuable contribution and support to this initiative of the CSR arm of SPC, the LGUs and barangays that back it up were feted with plaques of appreciation. Also, the exceptional barangay nutrition scholars were recognized during the event.

T his was followed by the signing of a deed of donation between the program implementers and the LGUs, cementing their commitment to its sustainability. Efforts are underway to bring it to more provinces that need nutritional support, with the addition of more partners.

PSFI has been involved in various community programs, collaborating with prominent initiatives, such as the National Nutrition Council’s Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition and Scaling Up Nutrition global movement.

Management Services team harvest fresh lettuce

the first season Urban Gardening Contest.

turnover of Urban Gardening proceeds to akbay Ginahawa Foundation with from left, the Medical City or tigas, Section of Medical Nutrition Head Dr. Marianna ramona S. Sioson; akbay Ginahawa Director rafael S. Claudio; Nutrition Management Services Supervisor, Caroline Hernandez; and Nutrition Management Services Clinical Director Dr. raymundo resurreccion.

Health& Fitness

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital celebrates 75th anniversary with launch of “Alagang Lourdes”

MakatiMed Surgeon is the first and only Asian woman accepted to the prestigious Les Compagnons Hépato-Biliaires Society

MAKATI M edical Center (MakatiMed) Department of Surgery’s Catherine SC Teh, MD, recently joined the Les Compagnons Hépato-Biliaires, an esteemed society of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) surgeons, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field.

This prestigious nomination, endorsed by renowned pioneers and Professors Henri Bismuth, MD and Daniel Cherqui, MD, solidifies Dr. Teh’s reputation as one of the leading experts in HPB surgery. Dr. Teh is the first and only Asian woman to join the Compagnons.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital recently marked a significant milestone as it celebrated 75 years of service with a grand gala held at the prestigious Marriott Hotel on July 14, 2023. The event brought together the Lourdes Hospital community for an unforgettable evening filled with reminiscence, festivity, and a renewed sense of purpose.

This culture is built upon three core promises: Alagang Tapat, Alagang May Puso, and Alagang Abot-Kaya. It represents a patient-centered approach that aims to deliver exceptional healthcare.

Lourdes Hospital also announced EJ Obiena, a respected Filipino Olympian and pole vaulter, as their newest brand ambassador. Obiena’s unwavering integrity and commitment to excellence perfectly align with the hospital’s mission to inspire and prioritize health. Under the Alagang Lourdes service culture, both the hospital and EJ Obiena will advocate for compassion, excellence, and accessibility whether it be in healthcare or in sports.

President and CEO Paul Richard Camangian took the stage to deliver an anniversary message, highlighting Lourdes Hospital’s remarkable growth over the past 75 years and sharing the future of the hospital that puts focus on the Alagang Lourdes service culture. These plans include rebranding the hospital’s corporate social responsibility initiatives and further enhancing its medical services and facilities. The celebration served as a meaningful and joyous gathering, where everyone involved in Lourdes Hospital’s journey could reflect on the past, celebrate the present achievements, and look forward with hope and anticipation for the future.

against NCD burden

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the relegation of non-communicable diseases ( n C Ds) in the order of public health priorities, there is a need for stronger and more concerted action to prevent the further spread of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, as well as mental health issues.

According to former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary, Dr. Manuel Dayrit, “non-communicable diseases are the new pandemic.” Based on a 2019 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), n C Ds account for 68 percent of all deaths in the Philippines and its economic burden to the country is estimated at P756.5 billion per year, equivalent to 4.8 percent of the country’s annual GDP.

Global healthcare company Viatris is committed to empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, through access, leadership, and partnership. Viatris is uniquely positioned to sustainably deliver high-quality medicines and health solutions to provide access at scale and work closely with likeminded stakeholders to bring innovative solutions to Filipinos regardless of geography or circumstance.

“Viatris is committed and invested in providing solutions to patients suffering from heart diseases and mental health disorders, among other chronic n CDs,” said Viatris Philippines Country Manager, Ester Tacanay.

“However, our solutions alone are not enough. We need a ‘whole-of-society approach,’ one that brings the sectors of government, the medical community, patient groups, hospitals, primary care facilities, and industry together. The time to act is now,” added Tacanay.

To realize this commitment and intensify collaboration among multidisciplinary health experts in the entire country, Viatris Philippines held the Philippine n C D Summit 2023. Viatris convened more than 500 healthcare professionals in Metro Manila and in 26 satellite sites across the country.

nCDs in Focus, Act now

T HE P H n C D Summit 2023, titled “ n C Ds in Focus, Act n o w!” centered on n C Ds such as cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders in the context of the

Philippines. The Summit is the Philippines’ commitment to Viatris’ global n C D Academy initiative.

As keynote speaker, Dr. Dayrit, presented his views on the status of n C Ds in the country, and revisited the issues and challenges of cardiovascular diseases and mental health disorders. Dr. Dayrit called for consistency and strengthened initiatives from responsible organizations to support intervention packages proposed by the World Health Organization. These include investments in tobacco and alcohol control, salt reduction, and physical activity awareness packages to help prevent and manage non-communicable diseases.

According to Dr. Dayrit, the proposed P28.9 billion investment for selected intervention packages over 15 years will net the Philippines a P377.7 billion return on investment.

“These holistic interventions will save lives, protect families and communities, and contribute to the national economy in productivity benefits,” Dr. Dayrit said. ‘

“The world may slowly be transitioning to a post-pandemic world, but people must

remember we’re still confined in a noncommunicable disease pandemic. This is what we must continuously prepare for,” added Dr. Dayrit, who is also the former Dean of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health.

Other notable speakers, Dr. Louella Santos (President, Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society), Dr. Robert Buenaventura (President, Philippine Psychiatric Association), professor n na T. CastilloCarandang (University of the Philippines College of Medicine), and Dr. Michael Fong (Healthcare IT expert), explored cardiovascular disease management and interventions, exacerbation of mental health problems during the pandemic, the interplay between socio-economic inequalities in the Philippines and pandemics, and how innovative digital tools can enable n C D management.

WHO’s Global nCD Compact

In a recent report by the World Health Organization, access to medicines for non-communicable diseases, policies and strategies implemented by countries were significantly impacted by the coronavirus

pandemic. People living with heart diseases and other n C Ds experienced difficulties in accessing their routine medicines.

Looking ahead to 2030, the World Health Organization aims to save lives and improve livelihoods for people living with n C Ds through the Global n C D Compact 2020-2030. It is a high-profile flagship initiative of the WHO Department for n o n-communicable Diseases to ensure member states adopt best-practice policies and programs on the prevention and control of n C Ds.

“Viatris is heavily committed in the n C D Academy to foster progress towards achieving United n at ions Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 3.4 which has the aim of reducing premature mortality from n C Ds in 2030 by 33 percent compared to 2015 levels,” said Tacanay. “The n C D Academy continues to be a critical educational tool for health care professionals globally as they hone the skills needed to continue to tackle some of the world’s most pressing health concerns.”

The n C D Academy provides highquality continuing education available anytime, anywhere, and free of charge on skills to mitigate today’s leading causes of death and disability. With users spanning over 100 countries, courses cover a wide range of topics including cardiovascular diseases, cancer care, mental health, diabetes management, the driving forces behind n C Ds, catalyzing change against n C Ds, chronic respiratory diseases and the social determinants of health. Courses are delivered through eLearning technology to enable interactive patient cases and games in a fully on-demand and mobilefriendly environment that fit into the often-demanding schedules of health care professionals.

“Viatris continues to make supporting third-party HCP education a priority. This commitment is demonstrated through one of our initial access goals announced in our 2021 Sustainability Report: to impact 100 million patients via HCP education and outreach regarding prevention, diagnosis and treatment options for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and other important chronic conditions to improve outcomes through the n C D Academy by the end of 2025”, added Tacanay.

Les Compagnons Hépato-Biliaires, founded in 1986, has been instrumental in promoting advancements in HPB surgery for 37 years. Comprising 136 distinguished surgeons from 31 countries, this exclusive society aims to create an international scientific and social community to foster progress in the specialty of HPB.

MakatiMed is honored to have Dr. Teh as a member of its well-regarded medical team in the field of Hepatobiliary Surgery. Her induction into Les Compagnons Hépato-Biliaires further highlights MakatiMed’s commitment to providing exceptional healthcare

services, incorporating advanced surgical techniques, and maintaining a team of highly accomplished medical professionals.

Les Compagnons Hépato-Biliaires serves as a collaborative platform for HPB surgeons worldwide to exchange knowledge, promote innovation, and enhance HPB surgery practices. Dr. Teh’s membership in this prestigious group will undoubtedly contribute to the continued progress and development of HPB surgery at MakatiMed.

THE m edical drone project, which is a collaboration between Pfizer and its corporate social responsibility arm Pfizer Philippines Foundation Inc. (PPFI), has been recognized as the winner in the 2023 League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards for Outstanding Project in Health.

The Guild Awards is an annual recognition of outstanding corporate social responsibility programs, collaborations, and other initiatives that have achieved sustainable impact upon the communities and institutions served.

The entries were screened by a panel of external judges, and the top prizes were acknowledged and collectively decided on by member organizations of LCF.

“It is our honor to be recognized for our efforts in helping people from marginalized communities,” said Ken Millan, digital lead for Pfizer Philippines who has likewise led the inception of the program. “We advocate making health accessible to all and strive to find innovative solutions for health barriers that many Filipinos encounter.”

The medical drone project is a pilot program aiming to ease the logistical health challenges posed by the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) in the Philippines. These areas generally have poor health outcomes due to the lack of accessible health facilities and health professionals.

For this project, PPFI selected Barangay Binicalan in the municipality of San Luis, Agusan del Sur as the implementation site. The area consists of mostly forestland, and the roads are impassable especially during the rainy season. The initial objective was to determine the feasibility of medical cargo and drone

delivery in GIDAs.

It took extensive planning in partnership with WeRobotics and Philippine Flying Labs and coordination with the Provincial Health Office of Agusan del Sur. The flight testing occurred on March 6-10, 2022, completing 12 flights at only 10 minutes travel time—much faster than land travel which would normally take two hours using a habal-habal (a provincial motorcycle taxi).

The medical cargo included water samples, essential medicines, and vials of the COVID-19 vaccine, which were received by the community health workers from the Agusan del Sur Provincial Health Office. They also administered the COVID-19 vaccines on the same day. Additionally, WeRobotics also provided a cold chain solution for the safe transportation of vaccines and other medicines that have temperature requirements.

The team concluded that the medical cargo and drone delivery was an efficient way to deliver essential medicines to the community. There was also a timely identification of water contamination during the flight testing, allowing an early intervention on water-borne diseases.

“Knowing the feasibility and potential impact of the project, we are keen to continue extending medical support to these far-flung areas and improve their health access,” said Geoffrey Garcia, executive director of PPFI.

Pfizer Philippines continues to work closely with the Philippine Government, NGOs and patient organizations, media and the academe, in launching dynamic health programs and partnerships to promote health access and strengthen health outcomes nationwide.

One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of Lourdes Hospital’s new service culture known as “Alagang Lourdes.”

In photo: MakatiMed hepatobiliary surgeon, Catherine SC Teh, MD with professor Henri Bismuth, MD, world pioneer in liver transplant.

Pfizer’s innovative medical drone project recognized as winner during the 2023 LCF CSR Guild Awards

In the photo from left are Max Ventura (Chair, LCF Health Committee), Anna Mayor (Program Manager, PPFI), Geoffrey Garcia (Executive Director, PPFI), Dave Devilles (ESG Director, Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc., and one of the judges for the Guild Awards)

Global healthcare company seeks collaboration, prioritization in efforts

PA r T ICIPA n TS n the PH nCD Summit 2023, Mandaluyong City, from top-left: Dr. Melissa Paulita Mariano (President, Philippine College of Psychopharmacology), Dr. Deborah Ignacia David-Ona (Immediate Past President, Philippine Society of Hypertension), Dr. Jermaine Lim (Country Medical Lead, Viatris), Ester Tacanay (Country Manager, Viatris), ro dalie Baluyut (Head of Marketing, Viatris), Atty. Jose Victornino Salud (Head of Corporate Affairs and Market Access, Viatris). From bottom-left: Dr. robert D. Buenaventura (President, Philippine Psychiatric Association), Prof. nina T. Castillo-Carandang (Professor of Health Sociology & Global Health, University of the Philippines, College of Medicine), Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit (Former Secretary of Health and Former Dean, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health), Dr. Lourdes Ella Santos (President, Philippine Lipid and Atherosclerosis Society), and Dr. Michael B. Fong (Healthcare IT Professional, Medprojects, Inc.)