BusinessMirror June 06, 2023

sees continuing downtrend in inflation

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

INFLATION figures for the month of May will be released Tuesday, and the National Economic and Development  Authority (Neda) hinted that it will show a continuing “downward trend.”

We are expecting and predicting that inflation will go down 3, 4, 5 percent by the end of the year so that we are back to 2-4 percent inflation target the year thereafter,”

Neda Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in a chance interview after the Philippine-Israel business forum Monday.

Headline inflation in the Philippines this year started at a high of 8.7 and 8.6 for January and February. It went down to 7.6 and 6.6 in March and April.

B alisacan said they are making provisions for the effects of El Niño, so that it will not affect the inflation target of the government.

Meteorologists from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) are predicting a higher chance of mild drought —brought about by the warming of the seas—called El Niño phenomenon by August this year.

The effects of the El Niño in the

past should not be repeated this time,” Balisacan said, including production shortfalls in basic commodities and food inflation.

He said the government should now be able to project what areas will be affected by the El Niño and identify the interventions needed.

“ Link those areas with available supplies elsewhere including importing if we need to,” Balisacan said.

P rovisioning of food to affected populations will be taken care of by the Department of Social Welfare.

H e said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has formed

an interagency committee on inflation and market outlook which he is heading.

T he committee will provide President “ex ante” analyses by anticipating supply and demand issues “months before” such as prepositioning the market, importation requirements, and fast-tracking assistance to farmers.

He said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) is meeting this week to see if there is a need to change the targets of the economic team based on the inflation data and issues such as the impending El Niño food crisis.

DBM: INFRA, EDUCATION, AGRI ON ’24 PRIORITIES

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

BUDGET Secretary Amenah

F. Pangandaman said the proposed P5.75-trillion 2024 national budget will sustain the priority sectors in this year’s budget, including infrastructure, agriculture, health and education.

I n a statement, Pangandaman said the national government will continue to “prioritize” expenditure items that will “steer the economy back on a high growth path.”

Pangandaman added that the 2024 budget remains in line with the Medium-Term Fiscal Framework and the administration’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda.

“ We will continue the infrastructure program of the national government, from Build, Build, Build to Build, Better, More, from 5 [to] 6 percent of GDP, now this year, it’s 5.8 percent.  So we’re still working on the 2024 budget, so we need to adhere to that,” Pangandaman said.

T he Budget Secretary also stressed the need to hike the funding for the agriculture sector to boost domestic food production, considering the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“ We all know that this year, we increased it to about 40 percent because from previous years it seemed that we did not give enough investment. The support for agriculture was always low,” Pangandaman said.

“ But when the pandemic happened, everything closed—our value chains stopped, and it is important we have enough food in our country,” she added.

Pangandaman added that support will likewise be given to the health and education sectors, including the upgrading of skills of the country’s workforce.

DOT PARTNERS WITH GRAB FOR CITY TOURS PILOT RUN

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) is currently pilottesting a project with ridehailing app Grab Philippines, where select partner-drivers will take tourists around the city.

I n a post on its Facebook page last May 12 titled, “On-demand tours in Manila launching soon,” the DOT said Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco met with Grab  executives to discuss their partnership, which will allow individuals to “book tours within the Grab platform.”

The agency shared, “Under the GrabTours Manila project, passengers can book a 5-hour tour around Manila via the Grab mobile application….The drivers, who will also undergo briefing on the tourist sites, will double as tour guides during the trip and will ferry the passengers using vehicles wrapped with the distinct Grab and DOT branding. After the tour, passengers will be dropped off at their hotel lobby.”

T his is the second initiative of the DOT for city tours, after recently launching  the Hop-on, Hop-Off bus tours project. (See, “Ayala ties up with DOT for HoHo bus tours,”

Israeli FM eyes US$1-B investments in PHL in ’24

ISRAEL Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is here in Manila, the first visit by Israel’s highest ranking diplomat in 56 years.

C ohen brought with him in Manila a delegation of Israeli businessmen, and targets to double the Israeli investments from US$500 million to US$1 billion next year.

Today, I am encouraging my fellow Israeli and Philippine friends to seize the opportunity and establish meaningful relations. Together we can elevate the bilateral trade volume to new heights, strengthening our economies and improving the lives of our citizens,” Cohen said in a speech at the opening of the PhilippineIsrael business forum in Makati Monday.

N ational Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan met Cohen before the business forum and welcomed the visit of the Israeli’s foreign minister as a sign of Israeli’s commitment to improve economic ties with the Philippines.

B alisacan said the Israelis see the Philippines as a “very important” partner.

in the BusinessMirror , June 1, 2023.)

Trained in FBSE ACCORDING to the agency, “For purposes of the pilot run, concierge booths will be placed in the DOTaccredited hotels. The drivers, who will already be on standby within the identified hotels, shall pick up passengers at the hotel lobby and proceed to take them to some of the City’s most popular destinations—Luneta Park, Fort Santiago, Casa Manila, San Agustin Church, National Museum of the Philippines, and Binondo, following an itinerary curated and approved by the DOT-NCR [National Capital

Region] Office.”

T he agency added that 30 Grab -

Car drivers completed its one-day training on the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) last April 28 and will take part in the pilot run.

F rasco “emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector in the DOT’s whole-of-nation approach to tourism development [and] expressed optimism on the success of the pilot run of the GrabTours Manila.” She noted, “the platform’s potential to benefit tourists in areas outside Metro Manila, as well as to expand and involve more tourism stakeholders and sites in the long run.”

See “DOT,” A2

H e said the top three major sectors where Israeli companies can venture in the Philippines are: water, information and communication technology including cybersecurity, and agriculture.

“ The water for us is really a game changer. If they can help us with our water security, that would be great. [In their place], there’s hardly any water except the salty water. But they are able to convert salty water into drinking water,” the Neda chief noted.

I srael is a world pioneer in water engineering, with more than 80 percent of its drinking water sourced from desalinated seawater and brackish water.

The reverse is true in our case. We have so much water but we don’t have the technology and management practices to harvest the water, store it and release it when it’s needed.

See “Israeli FM,” A2

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. warmly receives Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at Malacañang Palace, Monday, June 5, 2023. Prior to their meeting, Minister Cohen held a bilateral discussion with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo at the Manila Hotel. This historic visit marks the first time an Israeli foreign minister has set foot in the Philippines since 1967. JOEY RAZON/PNA

‘Gibo’ back as DND chief, Herbosa is DOH secretary

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

I n its Facebook page, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) confirmed Marcos has finally filled up the two key vacancies in his Cabinet on Monday.

The appointments of Teodoro and Herbosa were announced after President Marcos met with Teodoro and DND Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez, and Herbosa and Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire in separate meetings in Malacañang this afternoon [June 5],” PCO said.

B oth Teodoro and Herboso have served in their respective departments from previous administrations. Teodoro became the Secretary of Defense under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He got his Bachelor’s degree in Commerce, Major in Financial In -

Labor group vows to block pension funds use in MIF

stitutions from De La Salle University-Manila and law degree from the University of the Philippines.

He topped the 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations before he got his Master’s degree in Law from Harvard University.

Meanwhile, Herbosa was an undersecretary of DOH from 2010 to 2015 and also a Special Adviser to the National Task Force Against Covid-19 (novel coronavirus disease).

D uring his stint in DOH, he helped in the agency’s Hospital Accreditation Commission, Modernization of the Philippine Orthopedics Center, and promoting PublicPrivate Partnerships in Health.

H e obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biology and medical decree from the University of the Philippines.

DA Usec Panganiban sued over role in ‘illegal’ sugar importation

AGRICULTURE Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban was haled to the Office of the Ombudsman by a group of sugar workers for his role in the alleged illegal importation of sugar in February 2023.

T he National Congress of Unions in the Sugar Industry of

the Philippines-Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (NACUSIP-ARB) Council and ALTERNATIBA PartyList filed a case in the Ombudsman for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act and Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code on usurpation of authority or official functions.

T he groups dubbed the series of acts that led to the entry of imported sugar into the country—before the documents authorizing such —as the “Sugar Smuggling Fiasco.” Panganiban allegedly allowed the importation of sugar without official authority to do so, and

“legitimized” smuggled sugar belonging to All Asian Countertrade Inc.

T he BusinessMirror try to get the side of Panganiban but until press time, did not get any word from the undersecretary.

T he groups allege that on February 9, 2023, at least 260 x 20ft containers containing sugar arrived in Batangas Port without import permits, allegedly owned by All Asian Countertrade Inc.

H owever, Panganiban thereafter issued Sugar Order No. 6 and effectively “cured” the lack of permit of the said importation by issuing a Memorandum and referred to the said shipment of All Asian Countertrade Inc.

Panganiban used his position as the Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture to direct three importers including All Asian Countertrade Inc. to import sugar without the necessary Sugar Order [SO] as early as January 2023,” the complainants said.

M oreover, the groups alleged that the official also undermined and usurped the functions of the Sugar Regulatory Board.

T hey said that only the SRA has the power to issue an SO.

T he complainants also added that “there was no Sugar Order to warrant the importation of All Asian Countertrade Inc. of sugar that arrived in the Batangas Port on February 9, 2023.”

“ Sugar farmers and workers in the sugar industry have been gravely affected by the sudden influx of imported sugar in the market. This is aggravated by the fact that what entered our country is smuggled sugar, seemingly facilitated by none other than a senior official of the Department of Agriculture. We cannot let this pass,” said Roland de la Cruz, Board of Director of Nacusip-ARB Council.

E lijah San Fernando, the General Secretary of ALTERNATIBA Party-List, also said that “it is deeply troublesome and bothering how the government agency tasked to protect our sugar farmers seems to be the one in cahoots with smuggling syndicates to the detriment of the Filipino people. They are not just depriving the government of much needed taxes, but also depriving our sugar farmers and workers of their source of livelihood.”  Raadee

S. Sausa

ALABOR group has vowed to oppose state-controlled pension funds from allocating any amount to the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) even after the Department of Finance (DOF) said such a scheme is allowed through a joint venture.  That is wishful thinking. If that happens, we will oppose it and demand the resignation of the SSS [Social Security System] commissioners, especially the one representing the workers,” Partido Manggagawa (PM) chair Renato Magtubo told BusinessMirror in a Viber message.

T he labor leader made the statement after Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno clarified that both SSS and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) are only barred from infusing equity in the MIF.

However, the finance chief said both pensions funds can still invest in the projects, which will be covered by the MIF.  Congress approved last May 31 the bill creating the MIF. The bill will take effect once President Ferdinand

B ased on its 2024 Budget Priorities Framework, the DBM said the expenditure priorities next year are: infrastructure development, food security, digital transformation, enterprise development, human capital development, climate action and disaster resilience, strategic directions in transition to full devolution, and research, development, and innovation.

T he DBM earlier stressed that “timely” release of budget is “crucial” in the implementation of the government’s various programs and projects as the national govern-

We always experience flood when it rains, but we don’t have water when we need it,” Balisacan added, partly speaking in Filipino.

Cohen also held talks with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Environmental Protection at the end of their meeting. B esides economic relations, Manalo also highlighted the need to expand cooperation in defense and security, tourism, agriculture, science and technology and peopleto-people ties.

Previous projects

THE DOT chief, along with other officials, inspected one of the vehicles to be used in the project, which was parked at the agency’s office along Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati. Grab was represented at the meeting by its public affairs manager Kurt Cendana, head of mobility EJ Dela Vega, and transport marketplace assistant manager JC Gertes.

At the Southeast Asian Games in 2019, the DOT also implemented a project with Grab for “GrabWheels,” a two-wheel, personal mobility device (PMD) that tourists could use

R. Marcos Jr. finally. Signs it into law.

P M maintained the MIF bill should be scrapped for being untimely since the country is “operating on a [budget] deficit and burgeoning debt,” as well as being unnecessary, stressing that the economy can grow even without it.  I t also said the MIF can negatively affect the operations of the Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines and even the national government institutions, which will be required to contribute to its initial capital of the MIF. Magtubo, however, said the bill is now unlikely to be vetoed by the President despite the strong opposition aired by some lawmakers and even labor groups.

“It’s hard to make an appeal on a proposed measure passed by both houses of Congress that is certified urgent by the President himself,” the labor leader said.  Thus, PM said it will just resort to other means to stop pension funds from making any MIFrelated investments. Samuel P.

Medenilla

ment prepares for the P5.75-trillion budget next year. (Related story: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2023/06/02/timelyfund-release-in-%e2%82%a7575-t-budget-eyed/)

The DBM has expressed optimism that the national government’s proposed 2024 budget would be approved within its published timeline. T he DBM pointed out that only “implementation-ready” programs, activities and projects (PAPs) will be included in the 2024 national budget to prevent “unnecessary delays.”

T here are around 30,000-50,000 Filipino workers in Israel, most of them caregivers based in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa.

A mb. Yael Ravia-Zadok, deputy director general of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Economic Department, thanked Filipino caregivers for their “mission” in taking care and treating the Israeli elderly people at home.  We appreciate that so much. These Filipino workers served as a bridge with a heart between Israeli people and the Filipino people,” she said. Malou Talosig-Bartolome

when going around Intramuros. The PMDs were available to the public free of charge for three months, as athletes were also expected to visit some key tourist sites in Manila, after the SEA Games.

I n 2021, at the height of the pandemic, DOT likewise partnered with Grab to deliver produce by small farmers and food products of micro-, small, and medium enterprises for the agency’s Philippine Harvest online trade fair. Under the project, buyers could book orders from the fair’s partner-merchants and have their items delivered the same day through GrabExpress.

T his collaboration also underscores the commitment of the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety to knowledge and technology transfer in the field of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

The Philippines is experiencing rapid growth in energy demand, and the existing fossil fuel power generation capacity is unable to

keep up with this growth in an environmentally friendly manner,” said GPCCI President Stefan Schmitz.

“In light of the challenges related to energy supply and rising fuel and transportation costs that contribute to high electricity prices, the GPCCI and Napocor recognize the potential of hydrogen technology and fuel cells as an alternative energy solution for off-grid areas,” he added. Lenie Lectura

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. as Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND) and Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa as Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

The Nation

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

Groups alarmed by reported moves to amend fisheries law

Conservation advocates

and fisherfolk groups are calling for transparency amid reported efforts by the Bureau of Fisheries and a q uatic r e sources (BFa r ) t o introduce amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code.

i n a  position paper sent by fisherfolk leaders from different parts of the country and o c eana to Department of a g riculture (Da ) s e nior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban, Undersecretary for Fisheries Drusila Bayate, and BFa r D irector a t ty. Demosthenes e s coto, the groups opposed what they described as unwarranted haste and underhanded process of presenting the proposed amendments to the a m ended Fisheries Code or r e public a c t 10654.

t he signatories of the statement expressed their vehement objection concerning “consultations” conducted at the sw iss Belhotel Blulane in Manila from May 15 to 17, 2023.

“We believe that there is no urgent need for drastic amendments; rather, it is more essential to implement the law. We must also evaluate the implementation status of the existing law at the very least. Without this evaluation, it becomes challenging to make an informed decision on whether legislative solutions are indeed necessary, or if legislation is the appropriate solution to address the existing problems in our fisheries,” the position paper stated.

a ccording to oceana’s a c ting v ice President and Legal and Policy Di -

rector a t ty. r o se Liza e i sma o s orio, BFa r did not even undertake any review to assess the effectiveness, relevance, and impact of existing provisions of the a m ended Fisheries Code to justify the proposed amendments.   it i s more disconcerting to know that the direction of the changes that BFa r and the commercial fishing sector are pushing is to allow the unrestricted access of the commercial fishing sector to catch fish within municipal waters, through an amendment to s e ction 18. su ch a proposition blatantly contradicts the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the protection of the rights of subsistence fishermen to the preferential right to the use of local marine and fishing resources,” said o s orio. t he statement of the group also stressed that full implementation of the existing Fisheries Code is needed, not an amendment.

Mechanisms such as the Fisheries Management a rea system are already in place under the existing ra 10654 to implement science-based policies to sustainably manage the country’s fisheries in a decentralized and transparent governance that needs to be fully implemented. t he groups said the proposed changes contradict these overarching goals of the law.

Fisheries a d ministrative o rder no. 266 was issued under the leadership of a g riculture s e cretary William Dar on o c tober 12, 2020 that laid down the rules and guidelines in the implementation of ve ssel

Monitoring Measure ( v M M), in accordance with s e ction 14 of the Fisheries Code, as amended. t he v M M provides effective monitoring, control, and surveillance mechanisms to enhance the tracking of fishing vessels and deter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

o s orio said BFa r has not fully implemented these mechanisms that are still responsive to changing circumstances, and yet, they are already pushing for an amendment of the law.

Martha Cardano, a fisherfolk from northern s a mar who attended the consultation meeting recounted that she was not allowed to say her piece. s he was particularly alarmed because the participants of the consultation meeting that includes commercial fishers repeatedly argue that small fisherfolk have no capacity to fish sufficiently to increase the country’s capture fisheries production.

r uperto a l eroza, national a ntiPoverty Commission ( n a P C) v i ce Chairman for the Basic s e ctor also expressed concern because fisherfolk representatives were not invited to the consultation meeting.  ev en the na P C, he said, was not invited by BFa r

t he groups also provided Department of the i nterior and Local Government (Di L G) s e cretary a t ty.

Benjamin “Benhur” a b alos Jr. with their position paper, and asserted that science and technical experts must be invited; technical maps must be presented; and proper agencies, including the Di L G must be invited

Rep. Duterte assures continuous TUPAD aid to Mindanao families

to the consultations.

a ccording to o ceana and the fisherfolk representatives who attended the consultations, the discussions are leaning to redefine the boundaries of municipal waters, a matter that carries substantial implications on the delineation and jurisdiction of local government units, and yet the offices and agencies directly involved in matter are not adequately represented and some are not represented at all.

t he groups said that BFa r has not furnished them with complete records, minutes of the meeting, and documents containing the full copy of the proposed amendments, yet they were asked to submit their position paper within a limited time (24 hours).

t h is, they said, is the reason they issued the statement to demand full disclosure of the records and allow all relevant stakeholders to peruse these records in order to come up with an informed position. t h ey also learned that the BFa r and the commercial fishing industry plan to submit the amendments before the end of the 1st regular session of the 19th Congress on June 2, 2023.

o c eana is an international advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans. si nce 2014, o c eana has been working closely with national and local government agencies, civil society, fisherfolk, and other stakeholders to restore the abundance of Philippine fisheries and marine resources.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

Sen. Villanueva takes over as Senate chief caretaker

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

senate Majority Leader Joel

v i llanueva takes over the s e nate leadership post of officerin-charge for two of the six weeks of session break as s e nate President Juan Miguel Zubiri attends to official missions abroad during the congressional recess. a s stated in s p ecial o r der n o 2023-020 signed on June 1, 2023, v i llanueva was designated by s e nate President Zubiri as o f ficer- i n -Charge (o i C ) of the s e nate of the Philippines from June 3 to 15, 2023 in lieu of the s en ate President’s absence.

“Part of our role as Majority Leader is to step up when the leadership calls for it,” the s e nate oi C s aid. v i llanueva’s designation is pursuant to r u le iv of the r u les of the s e nate where “in the case of the temporary absence of the s e nate President or the s e nate President Pro-te mpore, the Majority Leader or in his absence, any of the two Deputy Majority Leaders, or any member designated by the President shall discharge the powers and duties of the s e nate President.”

“Business as usual po tayo dito sa Senado kahit nag -adjourn na po tayo sine die nitong Miyerkules ,” v illanueva assured, adding the work is never

Rep. Nograles seeks ‘greater effort’ to address child stunting, malnutrition

tH e c hairperson of the House Committee on Labor and e m ployment has called for “greater effort” to address malnutrition and child stunting, which he s ays could affect the country’s future workforce.

r i zal 4th District r e p. Fidel n o grales said the country’s future workforce is at risk with the continued prevalence of malnutrition and ch ild stunting.

“We need to address this issue urgently and seriously, and we need greater effort from all sectors if we are to make progress,” he said.

n o grales’ remarks came after the Management a s sociation of the Philippines sounded the alarm on malnutrition and stunting.

“We cannot afford to have a major segment of our abundant workforce ill-equipped to meet the demands of the future ai - driven economy by having lower mental capacities due to impaired brain development stemming from stunting at an early stage,” M a P Governor-in-Charge Cluster on r e silience and r e covery and former n a tional e c onomic and Development a uthority chief Cielito

Habito said during a recent multi-sectoral meeting regarding the group’s “Campaign a g ainst Malnutrition and Child s t unting.”

a c cording to the World Bank, undernutrition has prevailed in the country for nearly 30 years, with one in every three Filipino children below 5 years old suffering from stunting or “pagkabansot” (being small in size for their age).

Meanwhile, the United n a tions Children’s Fund said that 95 Filipino children die every day from malnutrition, while 27 out of 1,000 do not ge t past their fifth birthday.

Moreover, n o grales urged local government units to ramp up their nutrition campaigns.

o u r LGUs [local government unit] are on the frontline and ideally placed to address malnutrition a nd child stunting. a n d with health functions now devolved to the local level, it is our responsibility to do something,” he said.  a nation that is hungry now will be hungrier in the future if we do not take aggressive steps to tackle this grave issue,” the lawmaker added.

done. “ Hindi po natatapos ang trabaho natin dito sa Senado o u r colleagues have expressed to continue conducting hearings during the break,” he added.

Moreover, the majority leader confirmed that the senators, before adjourning session, also adopted s e nate r e solution n o. 21 granting full authority to “all regular standing committees, including oversight committees and special committees of the s enate to conduct hearings, meetings and consultations during every recess of the s e nate to have continuity in the process of passing pending proposed legislations and to conduct investigations on issues of n a tional i nterests

to aid in crafting relevant legislation.”

Before their sine die adjournment of the First r e gular s e ssion of the 19th Congress, the senators were able to pass landmark legislations including v i llanueva’s pet bill tr abaho Para sa Bayan a c t establishing a n a tional e mp loyment Master Plan, o n e to wn, o n e Product (o to P) Philippines a c t, e x tension of the Period of av ailment of the e s tate ta x a m nesty, r ationalizing the Disability Pension of ve terans, i n stitutionalizing the s h ared s e rvice Facilities for M s M e s a c t, k a balikat sa Pagtuturo a c t, r e gional s p ecialty Centers a c t, Disability Pension for ve terans a c t, and the Maharlika i nv estment Fund a c t.

aL aW M a ker has assured that the t u long Panghanapbuhay sa a t ing Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers ( t U Pa D) program under the Department of Labor and e m ployment (D o L e ) will continue to assist Mindanaoan families in these difficult times.

Davao City r e p. Paolo Z. Duterte has committed to aiding individuals who require assistance, while the D o L e has ensured the continuity of the t U Pa D pr ogram.

He said over 3,000 identified beneficiaries from Davao City’s first district have received their t U Pa D payout.

t U Pa D i s a support program for displaced individuals with limited employment opportunities or who work seasonally. i t provides immediate assistance to its beneficiaries for at least 10 days, or 30 days at maximum, depending on the specific job requirements.

Displaced, disadvantaged

workers, unemployed, and senior citizens were given opportunities by the government in various community improvement projects, including tree planting, gardening, canal declogging, and refurbishment of tourist attractions.

a c cording to the office of Duterte, 5,430 individuals applied for the D o L e program. t h e latter conducts the assessment after profiling the applicants completed by the First Congressional District o f fice (FCD o) Meanwhile, 3,422 individuals have already received their payout. t h e distribution is ongoing, as thousands of recipients have yet to receive their payout in upcoming weeks. a m ong the recipients are carpenters, laborers, shine boys, street vendors, and fire victims.  t h e FCD o and the D o L e –D avao have been working together to assist thousands of impoverished residents through the t UPa D program. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

CA confirms 597 Palace nominations in 1st regular session of 19th Congress

tH e b icameral Commission on a p pointments (C a ) confirmed a total of 597 presidential nominations and ad interim appointments in the first regular session of the 19th Congress, a lawmaker said on Monday. s u rigao del s u r r e p. Johnny Pimentel, C a assistant minority leader, said the C a gave its consent to the appointments of 21 Cabinet secretaries, five constitutional commissioners, 119 foreign service officers, 451 military officers, and a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Malacañang on s unday bared a fresh batch of presidential appointees that included Mersole Mellejor, as a m bassador to ni geria, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, and r a quel s o lano, as Chief of Mission, Class ii t h e appointments of the two diplomats will be sent to the C a f or screening and confirmation.

With respect to Cabinet secretaries, President Ferdinand r Marcos Jr. up to now has not designated permanent, full-time heads for the Department of a g ricul -

ture (Da ), Department of Health (D o H ), and the Department of national Defense (D n D).

t he President concurrently heads the Da while Undersecretary Maria r o sario ve rgeire and s e nior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. serve as officers-incharge of the D oH a nd the D n D, respectively.

Marcos, however, previously said he plans to reorganize his Cabinet soon, as he intends to designate new members that may include individuals who ran and lost in the last elections following the lapse of the 12-month ban on their appointment.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the following presidential appointees are subject to C a confirmation: Heads of e x ecutive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, officers of the a r med Forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, regular members of the JBC and chairpersons and commissioners of the Civil s e rvice Commission, Commission on e l ections, and the Commission on a u dit.  Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Labor coalition questions ‘faulty’ DOLE compliance report to ILO

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

aL a B or c oalition is questioning the Department of Labor and e mp loyment (D o L e ) f or its “faulty” report to the i nternational Labor o r ganization ( i L o) on the country’s compliance on the recommendations of the High Level tr ipartite Mission ( i L o - HLt M ) of the labor arm of the United n a tions.

Last Friday, the  a l l Philippine tr ade Unions ( a P t U ), a coalition of the biggest labor federations, finally submitted its comment on the D o L e r eport to the i L o s Committee on a pp lication s t andards (C a s ) “[t he] government’s submission to the i L C ( i nternational Labor Conference) is replete with rationalization, faulty logic and intellectual dishonesty,” a P t U s aid.

i f n ot for the tragedy of the 69 lives lost and counting, the report itself would be laughable,” it added.

i n its own report to the i L o - HLt M the a P t U s aid it was able to document 68 trade unionist killings since the last administration. it rose to 69 following the killing of a lex Dolorosa, a paralegal and organizer of the BP o i ndustry e mployees network (Bi en ) l ast a pril.

Credibility issue

Fore M o st of a P t U ’s complaint against the D o L e report was its failure to include inputs from employers and labor stakeholders.

t h e labor groups also flagged the report for questioning the credibility of the HLt M , when it noted the body “appears to put much reliance” on the views expressed in a report submitted by “groups of unions.”

t h is seems to imply that the HLt M ’s tripartite composition does not provide sufficient balance and consideration of a tripartite view, on issues that the HLt M ’s reports bring into focus,” a P t U s aid.   a P t U b elied the remark from D o L e , s tressing that the HLt M w as balanced and diplomatic, when it assessed last January the reports of mass Freedom of a s sociation (F oa ) violations in the country.

Ineffective reforms

For its part, a P t U d ownplayed reforms implemented by the government to address F oa violations such as creating national and regional mechanisms to monitor compliance with i L o Conventions n o. 87 (F oa ) and 98 ( r i ght to o r ganize).

“Many of these reforms that ema -

nated from the High- Level Mission (HLM) in 2009 have either atrophied or have been sidelined altogether,” it said.

t h e group also said government policies and mechanisms failed to “end impunity and the climate of fear in union organizing.”

it a lso criticized the attempts of the Marcos administration to address the matter by creating a presidential inter-agency committee ( i aC ) through e x ecutive o rd er n o. 23 to look into incidents of trade unionist killings.

n either workers nor employers organizations were consulted in the drafting of the e o 23, an act that, by itself violates Convention 144 on tr ipartite Consultation,” a P t U s aid.

e o 23, it noted, was also silent on a roadmap to “resolve with finality the outstanding 68 documented labor-related extra-judicial killings.”

Labor leaders also said the current composition of the iaC , except the Department of tr ade and i n dustry and the e x ecutive s e cretary, are members of the national ta sk Force to e nd L ocal Communists a r med Conflict.

t h ey said this implies that the iaC will be concerned on national security, thus “potentially conflating laborrelated concerns.”

ILC participation

D o L e is expected to report its compliance on the i L o - HLt M r ecommendations during the 111th i L C from June 5 to 16 in Geneva, s w itzerland.  a P t U h as earlier said it will raise their concerns at the i L C to compel the government to come out with sufficient reforms to address alleged local labor abuses.

t h e members of the workers’ group to the i L C include tr ade Union Congress of the Philippines ( t UC P) Party-list r e p. Democrito r a ymond Mendoza, s o cial s e curity s y stem ( s ss ) C ommissioner e v a a r cos, s e ntro ng mga n a gkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (s entro) d eputy secretary-general n i ce Coronacion, k i lusang Mayo Uno chairman e lm er Labog ( k M U) and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President s o nny Matula.  s entro s ecretary-general and a P t U m ember Josua Mata said they hope D o L e will be more open to constructive criticisms at the i L C.  “ r a ther than spend its energy projecting through smoke and mirrors that all’s well in the labor front, D o L e should do its job of ensuring that F oa is truly respected in the country,” Mata said.

Release of OSW resources framework to further boost RE investments—DOE

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

“We are pleased with the positive response from local and foreign investors eyeing our  R e potential. We are working on policies that would minimize roadblocks, especially for  O s W i nstallations,” DO e s e cretary Raphael Lotilla said on Monday. “ i n the coming weeks, the DO e will issue the policy and administrative framework for the optimal development of O s W resources, including speeding up the approvals of neces -

sary permits.”

Lotilla said the DO e is working with concerned government agencies, local government units, and the transmission concessionaire to implement the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under e x ecutive Order ( e O) n o. 21. under e O 21, the DOe is directed to publish the policy and administrative framework for  the efficient and optimal development of O s W

The purpose of business in society

and lacking education and health issues in areas around their offices and factories.

i n a r ecent Business Roundtable, business leaders vowed to “protect the environment by embracing sustainable practices across our businesses” and “foster diversity and inclusion, dignity and respect.”

it i s good to note that sustainable development or a sustainability culture seems to be taking root. There are quite a number of companies in the Philippines that are subscribing to sustainability, focusing on both—profit and purpose.

By Henry J. Schumacher

Business leaders are pressured more and more to redefine the role of business in society.

The purpose of a corporation should no longer advance only the interests of shareholders. i ns tead, business leaders must also invest in their employees, protect the environment, deal fairly and ethically with their suppliers, and address issues of poverty, hunger

Petro firms roll back fuel prices at the pump

Pu MP p rices are going down this week.

resources in the country within 60  days from its issuance on April 19, 2023. it s eeks to harmonize and streamline permitting  processes and leasing fees under a whole-ofgovernment approach and fully implement  the e n ergy Virtual One- s t op s h op ( e VO s s ) s y stem to cover all relevant government  agencies and bureaus.

Apart from policy enhancements, the agency said there are available incentives for R e projects  under the 2022 Philippine s t rategic i n vestment Priority Plan ( s i P P). i n a ddition, there are also  income tax holidays, duty-free importation, and tax exemption of carbon credits provided  under Republic Act n o . 9513 or the Renewable e n ergy Act.

Through the Board of i n vestments (BO i ), the government also recently announced that  R e projects had taken center stage, with approximately 80 percent of investment approved this year.

Recently, BlueFloat e n ergy

ing the rate of preventable diseases and to facilitating access to clean drinking water for all people. Much will depend on the actions businesses, government (both national and local), educational institutions, n GOs and other stakeholders will take to address the most demanding sus tainable Development Goals (s D Gs) of the u n ited n a tional, to which the Philippines is subscribing.

i f t hese entities can work together to align their values and organizational processes around sustainable principles, then there is a greater chance of addressing, ameliorating, and sometimes even solving a range of social and environmental problems.

announced its market entry in the Philippines through the  acquisition of Wind e n ergy s e rvice Contracts (W e s C s) in four sites to be located in  Bataan, Batangas, Cagayan and i l ocos, and s o uthern Mindoro.

BlueFloat has a total portfolio of offshore wind projects worth 32.4 g igawatts (GW) of planned capacity in ten countries across the globe, including sp ain, France,  it aly, s cotland, Australia, n e w Zealand, Taiwan, Colombia, Portugal, and the  Philippines. The proposed Philippine projects collectively represent the largest single country planned initiative of BlueFloat at 7.6 GW.

The DO e has also recently received an overwhelming response for the s e cond Round  of the Green e n ergy Auction (G e A -2) program with 118 pre-qualified companies that will  inject capital for the 11,600 megawatt of R e capacities targeted for addition in the  country’s energy mix between 2024 and 2026.

it ’s good to see that the se C h as issued guidelines on the implementation on “sustainable development”!

Oil firms said Monday that they will slash gasoline prices by P0.60 per liter, diesel by P0.30 per liter, and kerosene by P0.60 per liter.

The new round of oil price reduction will take effect at 6 a.m. of Tuesday, June 6.

This was announced by Petron, s he ll, Caltex, PTT, Phoenix, Total, u n ioil, and s e aoil. Cleanfuel, meanwhile, will implement its new pump prices at 12:01 a.m.

Last week, oil companies implemented a per liter increase of P1.10 for g asoline, while the price of kerosene has dropped by P0.60 per liter. There was no movement effected on the price of diesel. These price adjustments resulted to a y ear-to-date net decrease for kerosene at P6.75/liter, and net increase of P6.10/ liter for gasoline. Diesel remains at a net decrease of P5.05/liter.

The oil price increase last week was mainly due to an increase in the price of Dubai crude by around $1.25 per barrel

(bbl), the Department of e n ergy (DO e ) said. MOP s gasoline also increased by about $2.80/bbl contrary to MOPs kerosene that decreased by nearly $1.00/bbl. M OP s diesel remained at similar level as the previous week.

The local oil industry uses Mean of Platts si ngapore (MOP s ) a s benchmark for pricing of local products. Before, the country uses Dubai crude. However, this translates to one to two months lag time in reflecting the cost of products as it entails three weeks of travel time and another week or two for refining the crude and transporting the products to the pump.

The shift to MOP s was undertaken to become more responsive to the movements in the international market and l ocal demand for fuel products. Basing price of products on MOP s will only entail five days for importation travel time a nd transfer to the pumps.

According to the DO e , t here is a roughly a P1/liter increase or decrease in domestic oil price for every $3 change in MOP s Lenie Lectura

Many issues have shaped it: changes in climate patterns, geopolitical conflicts, global media networks, innovations in the marketplace, the success of “green” business, and many other factors, including the need to address poverty, hunger, bad health and limited education among the less privileged. There is also a set of initiatives for further reducing social and economic inequities. There is a need for public-private initiatives to reduc -

As sustainability principles are well supported by the scientific and managerial literature, many of them seem likely to be adopted by the wider culture. There are also indications that individual employee values are already well aligned with sustainability principles. We saw the beginning in millennials but see a much larger focus on sustainability in centennials, who insist that tech-touch must be accompanied by human-touch.

i t i s also good news, from a sustainability point of view, that high-performing organizations have sustainability qualities to a larger extent than low-performing organizations. That is, the degree to which sustainability practices and strategies are being implemented—and the extent to which those strategies reportedly produce benefits—are stronger among the organizations reporting higher performance in the areas of revenue growth, market share, profitability and customer satisfaction. Whether or not sustainability practices actually result in better market performance remains an open question, but at least it becomes clearer that sustainability qualities do not prevent organizations from achieving market success.

On the contrary: when implemented wisely and well, sustainability-related strategies and practices are simply very good business!

Feedback is welcome; please email me at hjschumacher59@gmail.com

TH e Vehicle i n spection Center Owners Association of the Philippines i n c. (Vicoap) reminded motorists that while the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has removed the stencil procedure for the renewal of vehicle registrations, they are still required to undergo roadworthiness and verification tests.

Before he stepped down as agency head, former LTO chief Jay Art Tugade issued a memorandum circular that directed the immediate removal of the longstanding cumbersome stencil procedure from a vehicle’s registration renewal process.

“The recent memorandum of the LTO removing the stencil requirement does not mean that vehicle verification is also no longer required; it simply means that the actual stencil shading procedure is no longer required,” Vicoap s p okesperson Fudge Tajar said.

s h e explained that the stenciling procedure was used to verify the identity of the vehicle. Conducted by inspectors of local district offices (DO) of the LTO, the procedure was part of the Motor Vehicle i n spection Report.

The i n spection Report also includes inspection points for roadworthiness, which are assessed and certified through a physical inspection by authorized LTO Vehicle i n spectors at the DO.

Vehicle identification, Tajar noted, is “still part of their inspection process” that

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of e nvironment and Natural Resources (D e N R) are working together to improve efficiency in land administration and survey processes in the Cagayan Valley region.

A tty. Raul C. Laluan, DAR Assistant Regional Director for Operations, emphasized the importance of the collaborative effort after both agencies held a joint Inspection, Verification and Approval of Surveys (IVAS) for the purpose.

“By working together, we can enhance the efficiency of our processes and ensure that land survey activities are conducted meticulously. This will have a direct positive impact on our agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and contribute to the sustainable development of our nation,” he said in a statement.

Gwendolyn Bambalan, D e N R Regional e xe cutive Director expressed her appreciation for DAR’s commitment to improve the land administration system.

“The joint efforts of DAR and D e NR d emonstrate our shared dedication to uphold the integrity of land surveys. We are committed to ensure that the rights of individuals are protected and that land resources are managed properly,” she said.

Both agencies expressed their commitment to continued cooperation, not only in the inspection, verification, and approval of surveys but also in broader initiatives aimed at advancing

is conducted by private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMV i C s).

“PMV i C i nspectors visually obtain the engine and chassis numbers, which are then verified against the LTO’s online database. Once verified, the vehicle can then proceed with the rest of the inspection. Worth noting is that the inspection results are both printed out at the PMV i C a nd also digitally uploaded in real time to the LTO database. The printout serves as the customer’s copy for verification purposes at the LTO district office,” she said.

Tajar further clarified that emission testing is already part of the PMV i C p rocess. This means that getting a Certificate of e m ission Compliance (C e C ) from a Private e m ission Testing Center (P e T C), on top of an inspection certificate from a PMV i C i s not only redundant but also introduces an unnecessary cost to vehicle owners.

Currently, PMV i C s are optional and vehicle owners are free to choose between them or Pe T Cs.

Owners that choose P e T Cs must subject their vehicles to roadworthiness inspections at an LTO DO, as a C e C o nly certifies environmental emission compliance and not roadworthiness.

“Vicoap fully supports any government policy that prioritizes customer convenience without compromising on safety and security,” Tajar said.  Lorenz S. Marasigan

land reform and sustainable land management practices.

The consultation meeting primarily aims to foster open communication and strengthen collaboration among the DAR and D e NR o fficials and to streamline procedures and ensure the accuracy and reliability of land surveys.

The consultation also focused on the issues and challenges faced by both agencies on inspection, verification, and approval processes.

During the meeting, participants engaged in fruitful discussions, sharing of insights and experiences to identify areas for improvement in the survey process. They explored strategies to expedite the inspection and verification of surveys, while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and integrity.

The collaboration intends to come up with clearer guidelines and streamlined procedures to benefit both agencies and the communities they serve.

The DAR, as the government agency responsible for agrarian reform and the equitable distribution of agricultural lands, recognizes the critical role of accurate surveys in implementing land reform programs effectively.

Meanwhile, the D e NR a s a partner agency, oversees land management and environmental conservation, is instrumental in enhancing the overall land administration system and protecting the rights of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Jonathan L. Mayuga

The Department of energy (DOe) is expecting more local and international investors in the  renewable energy (Re) space once the administrative framework for the  development of offshore wind (OSW) resources has been released.

Vicoap clarifies roadworthiness, verification test required for vehicle registration renewal

DAR, DENR tie up seeks to improve land administration Cagayan Valley

To subsidize or not to subsidize: DA weighs option on ASF vax payment

P600 price range, which could very high for farmers.

Those prices are just speculation. Our supplier hasn’t said anything yet if they already have a price,” Estoperez, however, clarified.

“On that P400 to P600, we cannot confirm on that because we have not yet given those who are registering with the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] what their price is,” he added.

Fu rthermore, Estoperez said that it is more difficult for the government to speculate.

percent, at least, 50 percent, especially to small scale hog raisers.”

With President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as concurrent Agriculture secretary, Tan expects the agency would provide funds for the ASF vaccine.

O ver the weekend, the FDA has received the application to certify the ASF Vietnam-made AVAC vaccine and shall be subjected to pre-assessment.

PNP tightens watch on PAGs, criminal groups ahead of BSKE

BAI for the issuance of Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) to the vaccine for its immediate distribution in the country.

BAI Assistant Director Arlene Vytiaco said over the weekend they are pushing for the AVAC vaccine after the 100-percent success of the field trial was recorded on pigs by producing antibodies.

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified its focused law enforcement operations amid the forthcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October this year.

We have yet to discuss that but the possibility will depend on the price. The government can intervene,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary and deputy spokesman Rex Estoperez said. Estoperez, citing the National Federation of Hog Farmers Inc. (NFHFI), appealed to the government to subsi-

dize or, at least, shoulder half of the cost of the vaccine against ASF to help small and medium scale local hog farmers.

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—A public school in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) is the recipient of a laboratory fully furnished for electrical installation and maintenance.

The Aboitiz-owned Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. installed the Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) Laboratory at the Samal Senior High School in the Igacos. The donation is part of Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation Inc.’s “Project e.Lab.”

T he EIM laboratory includes the refurbishment and conversion of a classroom into a workshop and assessment facility, the Davao Light said in a statement. It would be used by high school learners taking up EIM course for them to become electricians and earn their National Certification from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority.

T he Department of Education Region 11 recommended the school as a beneficiary because it has no facility for the said course.

Senior High School Principal Percival Villegas said the school was thankful for the laboratory installed in the school.

This new EIM laboratory is more than just a physical structure; it is a symbol of our shared commitment to education and unwavering belief in the power of knowledge and transformed lives. It is a testament to our community’s unwavering spirit of collaboration and determination to provide all students with the very best possible learning environment,” he said during the formal turnover ceremony on May 9 at the EIM laboratory of the school.

Igacos Mayor Al David Uy said the project seeks to address the need of the community for skilled electricians who will support the island’s continuing progress. “Samal needs more skilled workers like you since a lot of businesses are still willing to invest in the island,” he said.

We are equipping public schools with standard facilities to implement hands-on learning for students who wish to pursue a career in electrical works and engineering,” said Anton Perdices, chief operating officer of the AboitizPower Distribution Utilities.

He said a big chunk of the corporate social responsibility budget of the distribution utility was being allocated to support the Department of Education’s Technical Vocational Livelihood strand.

Since 2014, Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation have donated EIM laboratories to 40 public schools. “This is in line with the company’s transformative goal to give rise to solutions that pave the way for the development of cities that enrich people’s lives and help them realize their dreams and with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4, which is to provide quality education for all,” Perdices said.

N FHFI President Chester Tan said over the weekend that while there is still no definite price per ASF vaccine dose being released, he speculated that it would be between P400 to A SENIOR lawmaker wants to know from the Department of Health (DOH) when it intends to pay about P12.57 billion worth of health emergency allowances due health-care workers (HCWs) and non-HCWs.

C amarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte made the statement after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) claimed to have already released it to the DOH.

“We want to know from the DOH when it intends to release the balance of about P12.57 billion from the P19.96 billion in Covid-19 benefits and allowances due HCWs and non-HCWs for their medical services rendered to our people at the height of the pandemic—and which the DBM claimed to have already shelled out to the health department,” Villafuerte said.

“ That our medical frontliners have yet to receive the promised remuneration for their life-saving efforts at the height of Covid-19 a year or two after the WHO (World Health Organization) had already declared this global public health emergency as over, leaves a bad

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

A UNITED Nations (UN) rapporteur on Monday asked the Supreme Court’s (SC) permission to intervene in the pending appeal of Rappler CEO and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa to overturn her conviction for cyber libel.

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression Irene Khan filed the motion through her counsel in the Philippines, Atty. Rodel Taton, dean of San Sebastian College-Recoletos Graduate School of Law.

Taton said Khan is seeking to be tapped in Ressa’s petition as an “amicus curiae” or “friend of the court” and be allowed to intervene as an expert.

“ We wish that this tradition by the Supreme Court will also consider the best interests of substantial justice,” Taton added.

It can be recalled that in July 2022, the Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila City, which found Ressa and Rappler former reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr. li-

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently announced the turnover of P2.1 million worth of farm equipment to six agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) in the province of Occidental Mindoro to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

The farm equipment was distributed to the following ARBOs: Samahan ng Magpapatubig ng Paclolo in Magsaysay, Catmon Mapaya III Association in San Jose, Amnay-Cabagan Irrigators Farmers Agriculture Co-operative, and Barangay Ilvita United Farmers Agriculture Co-operative, both in Sta. Cruz, Alipaoy Harrison Harrison FIA, Inc. in Palauan, and the United as One Agriculture Co-operative in Sablayan. These farm machines will service more than 500 farmers here. All these would make farming

Maybe if the price we quote is the same one they use, which should be cheaper. The only important thing is that we address this ASF, especially [for] our backyard raisers, we will also subsidize this a lot,” he said.

Moreover, Tan said, “We are appealing for government subsidy. If not 100

“If acceptable, the FDA shall facilitate the evaluation of the submitted dossier to determine the quality, safety and efficacy of the ASF vaccine,” Job Aguzar, FDA spokesperson said.

At the same time, [there’s] a request for permit to import additional doses of the vaccine to support the ongoing phase 2 clinical trial being conducted by the applicant with Bureau of Animal Industry [BAI],” Aguzar added.

T he FDA is citing the request of the

“ We have endorsed it to the FDA for the issuance of Certificate of Product Registration (CPR),” she said.

T he BAI official hopes the FDA will immediately issue the CPR as many counties are also waiting for supplies.

T he manufacturer is ready to supply 600,000 vaccines to the Philippines.

Vytiaco, however, said they have yet to determine the price of each vaccine dose from the manufacturer.

Raadee S. Sausa

taste in the mouth,” said Villafuerte, the principal author in the House of Representatives of Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act” (Bayanihan 1) that provided for such extra benefits to HCWs and non-HCWs.

Villafuerte was also lead sponsor in the House of RA 11494 or the “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” (Bayanihan 2), which provided for financial aid or “ayuda” to poor Filipino families, dislocated workers and other Covid-hit sectors; as well as of RA 11712 or the “Public Health Emergency Benefits and Allowances for Healthcare Workers Act,” which assured the release of such extra pay for HCWs and nonHCWs even after the lapse of the two Bayanihan laws.

Taking the cudgels for HCWs who claimed they have yet to receive their long-due Covid-19 allowances, Villafuerte earlier bewailed the delayed release of such benefits due an estimated 20,000 health-care workers.

T he DBM claimed to have already released P19.96 billion to the DOH to

able for cyber libel.

T he trial court also sentenced Ressa and Santos to up to six years in jail and directed them to jointly pay complainant-businessman Wilfredo Keng the amount of P400,000 as moral and exemplary damages.

In October 2020, the CA affirmed its decision, prompting the respondents to elevate the issue before the SC.

The case stemmed from an article written by Santos in May 2012 claiming that Keng allegedly lent his sports utility vehicle to then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Apart from this, the story also cited an intelligence report that said Keng had been under surveillance by the National Security Council for alleged involvement in human trafficking and drug smuggling.

Keng has denied all the allegations and decided to file a complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Cybercrime Division in October 2017, which eventually led to the filing of the case before the court.

Khan as an expert appointed by the United Nation as Human Rights Council has been accorded with certain privileges

easier and faster for them. It will also greatly improve their yield and increase their income,” DAR Assistant Secretary for Support Services Ubaldo Sadiarin Jr. said in a statement.

The equipment distribution was undertaken under the Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Project (CRFPSP), a DAR program that provides farm machines to improve farm productivity and earning capabilities of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in a sustainable manner through their organizations.

We are encouraging the members of the ARBOs to be diligent in convincing farmers, especially ARBs to become members of farm co-operatives so they can be part of the government’s interventions,” Sadiarin said.

pay for the public health emergency benefits and allowances of HCWs and non-HCWs, in accordance with RA 11469 and RA 11712.

It added that of the P19.96 billion in released funds, the DOH already utilized P7.39 billion as of March 31, 2023.

Villafuerte said that with the DBM’s statement, the question that begs to be answered by the DOH is this: “So where is the balance of P12.57 billion ostensibly released by the DBM for the payment of arrears in emergency benefits and allowances due our HCWs and non-HCWs?”

According to the United Private Hospital Union of the Philippines (UPHUP), the still-unpaid benefits of 20,304 HCWs totaled P1.84 billion— comprising One Covid-19 allowance (OCA) worth P985.6 million; P737.5 million worth of health emergency allowance (HEA); special risk allowance (SRA) totaling 16.8 million; and meals, accommodation and transportation (MAT) benefits reaching P6.7 million.

T he intended HCW-beneficiaries are working in 23 private hospitals in Metro Manila and in Batangas, Cavite,

and immunities and is tasked to gather all relevant information regarding violations of the right to freedom of opinion, expression, and make recommendations and provide suggestions on ways to better promote and protect the aforementioned right,” the brief said.

Her amicus curiae brief will provide the Court with the international and regional legal standards as they apply to freedom of expression, especially regarding its application to the law of defamation,” it added.

T he briefer also said Khan is concerned that the law in the Philippines fails to adequately protect the rights to freedom of expression under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which the Philippines is a party.

“In particular, the Cybercrime Prevention Act raises serious concerns that it limits the ability of journalists to expose, document and address issues of important public interest, thereby violating the right to receive and impart information,” it added.

The equipment will help revitalize the livelihood of farmers, enhance productivity, and encourage prospects for agribusiness development in storm-hit areas,” Sadiarin added.

Mark Anthony Silao, manager of the United as One Agricultural Co-operative in Sabyalan said the provision from DAR is an answered prayer.

“ We are so grateful for these farm machines. As beneficiaries, we will do our part to boost farm production and income not just for our members but for our community, as well,” Silao said.

After the turnover of farm equipment, training sessions on the proper way of using and maintaining the equipment will be conducted for the farmerbeneficiaries. Jonathan L. Mayuga

“ The PNP policing strategies have been adjusted to cope with the added requirements for a conducive peace and order environment that will guarantee a secure, clean and fair elections in the country’s more than 42,000 barangays,” PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. said.

He said during a news briefing on Monday that the PNP’s primary concerns include the existence of private armed groups and loose firearms.

A s part of police preparations, PNP units in six regions of the country are continuously monitoring the activities of three active private armed groups (PAGs) and 45 potential PAGs with an estimated more or less 200 members and with almost 400 firearms that “may be used for partisan activities in the 2023 BSKE.”

A lso being monitored are activities of “communist terrorist groups” and criminal gangs that based on historical data, were “known to act as armed goons for politicians during elections.”

Cebu and Davao del Sur, said the UPHUP in a report.

Villafuerte said one of the options reportedly being eyed by the DOH to speed up the release of the Covid-19 allowances and other benefits for HCWs was to amend its joint administrative order (AO) with the DBM by tapping authorized government depository banks to clear the way to the direct payment of the OCA and other benefits to the medical frontliners.

C iting DOH data, the UPHUP claimed that just P26.9 billion or 64 percent of the P41.9 billion set aside under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) had been released thus far by the government.

R A 11712 entitled HCWs to a monthly HEA equivalent to P3,000 for health workers in low-risk areas; P6,000 for those in moderate-risk areas; and P9,000 for medical frontliners in high-risk places.

HCWs are supposed to receive the benefits for the duration of the state of the calamity attributed to the pandemic. Jovee Marie N. Dela

Cruz

Acorda said a total of 897 members belonging to 200 neutralized criminal gangs have been arrested in 690 police-initiated operations. Ten other gang members died in the operations, while 84 other gang members surrendered. The operations yielded 124 firearms from the gangs’ arsenal from January 1 to June 2, 2023.

T he PNP chief said police operations against wanted persons and loose firearms also remain at “full speed in support of the overall security strategy for the 2023 BSKE.”

F rom January 1 until June 2 this year, PNP units confiscated a total of 12,059 illegal firearms from 3,758 arrested persons. During the same period, the PNP received 7,032 firearms for safekeeping.

D uring the same five-month period, the PNP captured 30,591 wanted persons and accepted the surrender of 184 others. Some of the operations resulted in armed encounters wherein 29 wanted persons died in lawful police interdictions.

M eanwhile, Acorda also said during the news briefing that the PNP has opened another satellite office in Laguna that will process and issue National Police Clearance required for local employment, government transactions and other licenses and permits.

T he National Police Clearance System operates on a fully digital format that has eliminated some tedious physical procedures in the old manual system.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has yet to finalize if the African swine fever (ASF) vaccine will be given for free or will be paid for by hog raisers, an official said on Monday.

69.

XIANGMEI Marketing And Sales Agent Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

LIU, WEI Marketing And Sales Agent Brief Job Description: Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Job

Researches and develops various marketing strategies for products and services and implements marketing plans and works to meet sales quotas.

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; and can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

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

Basic Qualification: Can contributes information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; and can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

Qualification: Can contribute information, ideas, and research to help develop marketing strategies; and can help to detail, design, and implement marketing plans for each product or service being offered.

The World

Russia says it thwarted attack in Donetsk; Ukrainian officials impose news blackout

By Susie Blann The Associated Press

The ministry, in a rare early morning video, said its forces pushed back a “large scale” Ukrainian assault on Sunday at five points in southern Donetsk, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia illegally annexed last fall.

“The enemy’s goal was to break through our defenses in the most vulnerable, in its opinion, sector of the front,” said the ministry’s spokesman, Igor Konashenkov. “The enemy did not achieve its tasks. It had no success.”

Konashenkov said 250 Ukrainian personnel were killed, and 16 Ukrainian tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and 21 armored combat vehicles were destroyed. Ukraine didn’t comment, and often waits until the completion of its military operations to confirm its actions, imposing news blackouts in the interim. It was unclear why the Russian Defense Ministry waited until Monday morning to announce the attack, which it said started Sunday morning. For months, Ukrainian officials have spoken of plans to launch a spring counteroffensive to reclaim territory Russia has occupied since invading Feb. 24, 2022, as well as the Crimean Peninsula it seized in 2014. But they’ve given confusing signals

By Jon Gambrell

The Associated Press

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The US Navy said Monday its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard “harassed” it.

Three fast-attack Guard vessels with armed troops aboard approached the merchant ship at a close distance Sunday afternoon, the US Navy said in a statement. It offered black-and-white images it said came from a US Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon overhead, which showed three small ships close to the commercial ship.

The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul and the Royal Navy’s frigate HMS Lancaster responded to the incident, with the Lancaster launching a helicopter.

“The situation deescalated approximately an hour later when the merchant vessel confirmed the fast-attack craft departed the scene,” the Navy said. “The merchant ship continued transiting the Strait of Hormuz without further incident.”

The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, sees 20 percent of the world’s oil pass through it.

While the Navy did not identify the vessel involved, ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic.com analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Venture erratically changed course as it traveled through the strait at the time of the incident. Its location also matched information about the incident given by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military operation overseeing traffic in the region. The vessel also resembled the images released by the Navy.

about what would constitute a counteroffensive—preliminary, limited attacks to weaken Russian forces and military facilities or a full-fledged simultaneous assault across the entire 1,100-kilometer (684-mile) front line. At least two factors have been at play in timing the counteroffensive: awaiting improvement of ground conditions for troop and equipment movement after the winter, and deployment of more advanced Western weapons and training of Ukrainian troops to use them.

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Ukraine used six mechanized and two tank battalions in the attack, and it released a video claiming to show destruction of some of the equipment in a field.

In a rare specific mention of the presence of Russia’s top military leaders in battlefield operations, the spokesman said the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, “was at one of the forward command posts.”

Announcing Gerasimov’s direct involvement could be a response to criticism by some Russian military bloggers and mercenary group head Yevgeny Prigozhin that Rus -

sia’s military brass hasn’t been visible enough at the front or taken sufficient control or responsibility for their country’s military operations in Ukraine.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, Ukrainian authorities said Sunday a Ukrainian man rushed to his home outside the central city of Dnipro in hopes of rescuing his family, only to find his 2-year-old daughter dead and wife seriously wounded as he helped pull them from the rubble of their apartment destroyed in one of Russia’s latest airstrikes of the war.

Writing on Telegram after the body of the girl, Liza, was recovered, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that at least 500 Ukrainian children have been killed in the war. The United Nations says that around 1,000 other Ukrainian children have been wounded, and thousands of others have been forcibly deported to Russia.

Zelenskyy said: “Russian weapons and hatred continue to take and destroy the lives of Ukrainian children every day,” adding that “many of them could have become famous scholars, artists,

sports champions, contributing to Ukraine’s history.”

“We must hold out and win this war!” he said. “All of Ukraine, all our people, all our children, must be free from the Russian terror!”

Liza was killed when a Russian missile landed Saturday night in a yard next to her apartment building while she was home with her mother, said Serhiy Lysak, the regional governor of Dnipropetrovsk. The girl’s father rushed home from work.

“The father was on duty, and as I was told, he personally cleared the rubble and pulled out his wife and his daughter. Just imagine the scale of this tragedy,” Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said, reporting on the rescue that lasted until early Sunday. The girl’s mother was hospitalized under intensive care.

Zelenskyy said five children were among 25 people wounded in Saturday’s attack, which damaged two residential buildings.

The mother of one of the children sat amid broken concrete, twisted metal, children’s toys and clothes near her apartment building and described what

bound for Fujairah on the UAE’s eastern coast. While not carrying any cargo, data from S&P Global Market Intelligence seen by the AP showed the Niovi in July 2020 received oil from a ship known then as the Oman Pride.

The US Treasury in August 2021 sanctioned the Oman Pride and others associated with the vessel over it being “involved in an international oil smuggling network” that supported the Quds Force, the expeditionary unit of the Guard that operates across the Mideast. Purported e-mails published online by Wikiran, a website that solicits leaked documents from the Islamic Republic, suggest that cargo carried by the Niovi was sold on to firms in China without permission.

Satellite images analyzed by the AP show those two vessels anchored off Bandar Abbas, Iran.

happened.

“I was running from the electrical station across the traffic,” Alyona Serednyak recalled. “I was running home. My child was alone at home. We tried to pull my child from under the cage on the window.”

She said they managed to free him and he was hospitalized.

Russian drone and cruise missile strikes on Sunday targeted multiple areas of the country, including the capital, Kyiv.

The Ukrainian air force updated earlier figures and said air defenses downed six of eight Shahed self-exploding drones and four of six cruise missiles fired.

Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said two missiles struck a military air base in Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine’s Kyrovohrad province. He didn’t report damage.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said the military destroyed Ukrainian warplanes and ammunition depots in strikes on Ukrainian airfields, but didn’t give further specifics.

The Russian military has reported attacks in recent days on Ukrainian air defense batteries, air bases, troop and ammunition depots, military production factories and battlefield positions. While Ukrainian officials refrain from announcing the launch of their much-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim more Russian-occupied territory, the pace of military activity suggests the operation may be underway.

Ukrainian forces maintained pressure on Russian forces in the eastern city of Bakhmut, which Moscow claimed control of last month after the war’s longest and bloodiest battle.

Elsewhere, Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces declared they had launched new attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region,

which borders Ukraine. One of the groups, the Russian Volunteer Corps, released videos Sunday showing a purported raid and offering to exchange prisoners with Russian authorities. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the videos’ authenticity. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov responded to the prisoner exchange offer in a video of his own, saying he was skeptical that the captives are still alive, but that he was open to a meeting to discuss a swap. The Russian Volunteer Corps said in a video posted later that no meeting had occurred, and that the Russian prisoners would be turned over to Ukrainian forces, which have periodically swapped prisoners with Russia in one of the few areas of cooperation.

Gladkov also reported more Ukrainian shelling Sunday of the border district of Shebekino and neighboring areas. He said at least two people were killed and multiple people wounded on Saturday. Russia’s Defense Ministry said the country’s forces repelled an attempted incursion in the town of Novaya Tavolzhanka.

Some observers see attacks in Belgorod, which prompted Russian authorities to evacuate thousands of residents, as part of Ukraine’s efforts to distract Moscow and stretch its forces to help the counteroffensive succeed.

In Crimea, regional leader Sergei Aksenov reported a Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Dzhankoi early Sunday. He claimed that five of the attacking drones were shot down and four others jammed and forced to land, adding that there were no casualties.

A ndrew Katell contributed to this report from New York.

US Navy video shows close-call with Chinese destroyer in Taiwan Strait

By David Rising The Associated Press

BANGKOK—The United States military released video Monday of what it called an “unsafe” Chinese maneuver in the Taiwan Strait on the weekend, in which a Chinese navy ship cut sharply across the path of an American destroyer, forcing the US ship to slow to avoid a collision.

The incident occurred Saturday as the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon and Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal were conducting a so-called “freedom of navigation” transit of the strait between Taiwan and mainland China.

similar maneuver on the Canadian frigate, which was sailing behind the American destroyer.

“Chung-Hoon and Montreal’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the combined US-Canadian commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Indo-Pacific Command said. “The US military flies, sails, and operates safely and responsibly anywhere international law allows.”

The US recently accused China of also performing an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” in the air, saying a Chinese J-16 fighter jet late last month flew directly in front of the nose of a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea.

The ship’s registered manager, Trust Bulkers of Athens, Greece, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iranian state media and the Revolutionary Guard did not immediately acknowledge the incident. Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This latest incident comes after a series of maritime incidents involving Iran following the US unilaterally withdrawing from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.

The suspected American seizure of the Suez Rajan, a tanker linked to a US private

equity firm believed to have been carrying sanctioned Iranian crude oil off Singapore, likely sparked Tehran to recently take the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Advantage Sweet. That ship carried Kuwaiti crude oil for energy firm Chevron Corp. of San Ramon, California.

While authorities have not acknowledged the Suez Rajan’s seizure, the vessel is now off the coast of Galveston, Texas, according to shiptracking data analyzed by the AP.

Meanwhile, Iran separately seized the Niovi, a Panama-flagged tanker, as it left a dry dock in Dubai, United Arab Emirates,

The recent seizures have put new pressure on the US, long the security guarantor for Gulf Arab nations. The United Arab Emirates claimed last week it earlier “withdrew its participation” from a joint naval command called the Combined Maritime Forces though the US Navy said it was still in the group. Meanwhile, the US military’s Central Command said Saturday its chief visited the region, met with Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and “discussed shared regional security concerns as well as US and UAE security partnerships.”

The Mideast-based commanders of the US, British and French navies

month also transited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday aboard an American warship, a sign of their unified approach to keep the crucial waterway open after Iran seized the two oil tankers.

China claims the democratic selfgoverning island of Taiwan as part of its own territory, and maintains the strait is part of its exclusive economic zone, while the US and its allies regularly sail through and fly over the passage to emphasize their contention that the waters are international.

During the Saturday transit, the Chinese guided-missile destroyer overtook the Chung-Hoon on its port side, and then veered across its bow at a distance of some 150 yards (137 meters), according to the US IndoPacific Command. The American destroyer held its course, but reduced speed to 10 knots “to avoid a collision,” the military said.

The video released Monday shows the Chinese ship cutting across the course of the American one, and then straightening out to start sailing in a parallel direction.

Indo-Pacific Command said the actions violated maritime rules of safe passage in international water.

The Chinese ship did not attempt a

The close calls have raised concerns of a possible accident that could lead to an escalation between the two countries’ militaries at a time when tensions in the region are already high.

The incident in the Taiwan Strait came on a day when both US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu were in Singapore for an annual defense conference.

Li on Sunday suggested that the US and its allies have created the danger with their patrols, and was intent on provoking China.

“The best way is for the countries, especially the naval vessels and fighter jets of countries, not to do closing actions around other countries’ territories,” he said through an interpreter. “What’s the point of going there? In China we always say, ‘Mind your own business.’”

Austin had invited Li to talk on the sidelines of the conference; Li refused.

RUSSIAN rockets are launched against Ukraine from Russia’s Belgorod region, seen from Kharkiv, Ukraine on Sunday, June 4, 2023. AP/VADIM BELIKOV

last

US, UK navies say they responded to distress call as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard ‘harassed’ ship

THIS still image taken from surveillance video from a US Navy Boeing P-8 Poseidon shows three Iranian Revolutionary Guard fast-attack vessels near a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, June 4, 2023. The US Navy said Monday, June 5, its sailors and the United Kingdom Royal Navy came to the aid of a ship in the crucial Strait of Hormuz after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard “harassed” it. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident. US NAVY VIA AP

KYIV, Ukraine—Russia’s Defense Ministry announced early Monday its forces had thwarted a large Ukrainian attack in the eastern province of Donetsk, though it’s unclear if this was the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

‘Kick POGOs out of the country now’

After drug dealing, human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world. the International Labor Organization’s latest report—Global estimates of Modern Slavery—said 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021. the ILO said it is urgent that the global community gathers the will and resources to end modern slavery.

The Philippine National Police rescued more than 1,000 human trafficking victims from across Asia during a raid in Mabalacat, Pampanga last month. The trafficking victims reportedly came from Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Police said the victims were forced to work up to 18 hours a day doing cryptocurrency scams.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros exposed on Tuesday the sordid details of a huge cyber scam operations unearthed by raiders of a Clark ecozone firm where over 1,000 human-trafficking victims from around Asia were rescued. She promptly called on authorities to check similar nefarious setups of criminals posing as investors. (Read, “Sen. Hontiveros aghast at details of huge cyber scam ops in Clark,” in the BusinessMirror, May 30, 2023).

The opposition lawmaker likewise renewed her call to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO) in the country, noting how they provide a “legal layer” to cyber scam hubs, which, she lamented, remain beyond regulatory scrutiny.

“The first concrete step to take is to ban POGOs in the country as they provide a ‘legal cover’ for these hubs, and the operations of these hubs remain beyond regulatory scrutiny. If POGOs are allowed to continue business as usual, the crypto scam and human trafficking operations will also grow at a frightening rate our government will never be able to overtake,” Hontiveros added.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, earlier called for the immediate ban of all POGO operations in the country, saying that the costs of POGOs outweigh the benefits they are supposed to provide. In his privilege speech on March 22, 2023, Gatchalian allayed fears that the ban on POGO operations will have an adverse effect on the economy, stressing the move may result in a “net positive” for the Philippine economy when taken into effect the potential benefits of improved investor and tourist confidence.

“Our conclusion is that the POGO industry has proven to be more of a liability than an asset to the Philippine economic and social order. In line with this conclusion, this representation formally recommends that the Executive Department and its concerned agencies immediately ban POGO operations in the Philippines,” Gatchalian said.

Senate probers on Tuesday dug into Resolution No. 595 calling for an inquiry in aid of legislation on human trafficking and cyber fraud operations in Clark authored by Sen. Grace Poe, and Senate Resolution No. 611 calling for an investigation on human trafficking inside the Clark Freeport Zone filed by Sen. Gatchalian.

It was also a continuation of the initial inquiries triggered by Gatchalian’s privileged speech regarding Filipino workers who escaped from “scam hubs” in Myanmar and Cambodia.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Hontiveros said that a licensed POGO has been used as a legal cover for a cryptocurrency scam and human trafficking operation in Sun Valley Hub Corporation in Clark, Pampanga. She said the scam is operated by a company called Colorful and Leap Group, which is a sub-lessee of CGC Technologies Inc., a POGO company licensed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking confirmed during the Senate Committee on Women hearing on scam operations that scam hubs do hide under a legal cover.

“It is appalling that this fraudulent cryptocurrency corporation, which has trafficked thousands of foreign nationals into the country to work as scammers, has been operating under a legal POGO,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros conducted an ocular inspection of the Colorful and Leap Group offices and residences in Clark, and met with some victim-survivors who shared their ordeal, which turned out to be similar to the love scam modus in Myanmar and Cambodia that the she previously revealed in the Senate.

“Wala ni isang magandang bagay ang naibigay ng mga POGO sa bansa. Krimen lang ang dala. Paulit-ulit na natin itong sinasabi, at sana naman sa bagong impormasyong ito, matauhan na ang ating gobyerno. Kick POGOs out of the country now,” the senator said.

Good housekeeping

Manny B. Villar

THE EnTrEprEnEur

When ratings agencies give the thumbs-up sign to a sovereign state, it simply means the subject nation is practicing good housekeeping. As in a household, the state is managing its resources efficiently and trying its best to live within its means.

The economic recovery and the implementation of economic reforms have strengthened the government’s fiscal condition, and no less than a major credit rating agency praised the country’s improved performance despite the impact of the pandemic on businesses.

It is a message to investors that economic fundamentals in the Philippines remain solid, and serves as an assurance to the people that the government has enough money to sustain its programs, projects and public services.

The reopening of the economy allowed more businesses to operate, which in turn enabled them to pay taxes to the national government and local government units.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue reported that its tax collection in April, traditionally a peak season for the agency, climbed by more than 40 percent to P336.020 billion. Its fourmonth haul reached P841 billion and exceeded last year’s collection by 14

percent as well as its target for the period by 1.7 percent.

Imports also increased to meet the needs of the growing economy, allowing the Bureau of Customs to collect higher duties. Customs collections rose 2.9 percent to P67.6 billion in April and 10.7 percent to P281.4 billion in the first four months.

As a result, the government posted a budget surplus of P66.8 billion in April, or more than 13 times higher than the result in the same month last year. The April surplus trimmed the budget deficit in the first four months to P204.1 billion, or more than a third lower than the P311.9-billion shortfall in the same period last year.

Policy reforms are also supporting the growth in revenue collection. Per the Department of Finance, these reforms generated an additional P202 billion in revenues in 2022, which prevented the government from incurring higher debt.

The government is borrowing to

finance the budget deficit but its capacity to pay debt also increased. The outstanding government debt stood at nearly P13.9 trillion as of endMarch, or just about 61 percent of the gross domestic product.

Other countries have much higher debt-to-GDP ratio. Japan, for example, has a debt-to-GDP ratio of more than 260 percent, while the US has nearly 130 percent.

Fitch Ratings on May 22, 2023 affirmed the credit rating of the Philippines at “BBB,” which is a level above the minimum investmentgrade, while revising the outlook on the country’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating to “stable” from “negative.”

Per Fitch, the revision of the outlook to stable reflects its improved confidence that the Philippines is returning to a strong medium-term growth after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The revision also reflects our assessment that the Philippines’ economic policy framework remains sound and in line with ‘BBB’ peers, despite its low scores on World Bank Governance indicators,” says Fitch.

The rating agency noted that while growth moderated to 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023, with the post-pandemic recovery boost fading, ongoing reforms to the business environment and investment regulations are creating an upside potential for growth.

I share government officials’ belief that the upgrade on the country’s credit outlook represents a vote of confidence on the economy and the reforms put in place by the govern-

The Maharlika: I’m on board

John Mangun

OuTSIDE THE BOX

We are conditioned to believe, simplistically, that the problem “We the People” have with government officials is their corrupt practices. In my opinion, the problem is that too many of these public servants, particularly those appointed members of government, are not fully qualified.

The fact is that there is a wide divide between the Private Sector and the Public Sector even though in many ways the responsibilities and functions are similar. Come up with an idea, craft a detailed proposal, and then figure out how to effectively implement the proposal to achieve a desired objective. But while government and business appear to be two sides of the same coin, nothing could be farther from the truth. For example, officials of compa-

nies face operating in an environment of “Corporate Politics.” Government officials face operating within the realm of “Electoral Politics.” Similar, but not the same. Both sectors have people that must monitor the proper use of funds. But there is a world of difference between the pressures of company executives having to answer to a Board of Directors and owners/shareholders and government executives far removed from the citizens and legislatures, which do act as watchdogs.

The MIF will invest in commodities, government/corporate bonds, local and foreign equities, domestic commercial real estate and infrastructure projects, and local Joint Ventures and Co-Investments. The key is “local.” Further, Rep. Salceda: “After that, there

be an initial public offering, so it won’t be a GOCC anymore. It

be a listed company in the Philippine stock market.”

An incompetent corporate executive can be terminated or forced to resign quickly and quietly. When a cabinet member or head of a government agency leaves, it is front-page news and everyone gets to debate the wisdom of that decision.

The head of government may appear to have great powers over the government. However, that is nothing in comparison to the power of a Chair of the Board or a company president. Just ask Elon Musk. Who can challenge him at Twitter or SpaceX. For these and other reasons, the

ment in recent months. The structural reforms include the amendments to the Public Service Act, Foreign Investments Act and Retail Trade Liberalization Act, along with the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act.

The government likewise enhanced the rules and guidelines on public-private partnerships to spread the financial obligation in infrastructure development. More reforms are underway, per Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who spearheaded the drafting of the six-year Medium-Term Fiscal Framework to promote fiscal sustainability and charts measures to cut down the annual budget deficit.

The government aims to increase the tax effort, or the share of tax collections in relation to GDP, from 14.6 percent in 2022 to 17.1 percent by 2028. Ideally, though, the tax effort should represent about a fifth or 20 percent of the GDP for an emerging country like the Philippines. Several European countries such as France, Denmark and Belgium have a much higher tax-to-GDP ratio of more than 40 percent.

I am confident that the efficient government revenue collection will continue in the coming years as the economy expands and policy reforms take effect. Again, as in good housekeeping, these will assure enough food on the table for our growing population.

For comments, send e-mail to mbv_secretariat@vistaland.com.ph or visit www.mannyvillar.com.ph

transition from the private sector to government may not be successful, as the superior skills needed for a particular job at a corporation may not work for a government agency.

Back when vaccines were created and tested to actually prevent people from getting sick—2017—I met Secretary of Finance Benjamin E. Diokno at a forum held at BusinessMirror. Being serious and a bit intimidating (unusual for me), he did not strike me as someone I would be inclined to share conversation over a beer or bottle of wine. However, I was impressed with his comments and answers to questions. The man knew what he was talking about coupled with pragmatic honesty, both a rarity in government.

I wrongly assumed he had at least some if not extensive experience in private sector money handling.

Most of the discussion about the Maharlika Investment Fund has recently hit on corruption and making profits. Fair enough. But Secretary Diokno hinted last January, reiterated by Rep. Joey Salceda, the quiet

By Jo Constantz & Sarah Holder | Bloomberg Opinion

Financial professionals have a warning for their employers:

Don’t ask me to come in to the office more often, or i ll quit.

That’s according to the latest Markets live Pulse survey, which found that roughly one in two people who work in finance would change jobs—or already have—if their managers required them to spend more time in the office. More than half of the 1,585 respondents globally, which included 1,320 financial professionals and 265 retail investors, prefer a hybrid arrangement, while only about 20 percent favor working from the office.

The number of people responding to the survey was well above the average participants in recent MLIV Pulse surveys in a sign that return to the office is still top of mind for many professionals. Of course, pledging to quit over hybrid work is easier said under the veil of anonymity than followed through with actions.

Wall Street chiefs have been among the loudest in pushing for a return to the office five days a week.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. ended remote arrangements for its managing directors in April, saying they now must be in the office every weekday. The policy comes on the heels of comments from the bank’s Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon earlier this year that working from home “doesn’t work” for younger staff or both. About 40 percent of financial professionals say they already work from the office four days a week or more, according to the MLIV Pulse survey—roughly double the number that said they prefer working from the office.

Though the financial sector hasn’t seen layoffs at the same scale as tech or retail, a report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., an executive coaching firm, shows that the industry has cut nearly 37,000 jobs in the US so far this year, a figure up 320 percent from the same period last year. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is working on what would be the third round of layoffs in less than a year as deal-making remains sluggish.

Morgan Stanley has embarked on its second round of cuts in less than six months.

Despite these high-profile layoffs, Andy Challenger, senior vice president at Challenger, says the picture for job-hunting banking professionals isn’t as dire as it might seem. US employers added some 339,000 jobs in May, a payroll boom that far outstripped expectations and reinforced the perception that workers’ economic position remains relatively strong.

“When we look at the overall labor market, and we look at finance, unemployment remains really low, historically low,” Challenger said. “There still are job opportunities available and companies are still hiring. So it’s not an awful job market to go out and look in.”

According to the MLIV Pulse poll, layoffs haven’t influenced how often people have come into the office. Only about one in 10 Wall Street professionals said the recent downsizing has motivated them to badge in more frequently.

What would be more difficult would be to find another job in the sector that has a more flexible schedule, Challenger said, as many of the big financial firms change workfrom-home policies in lockstep. Still, more than two-thirds of banks offer either full flexibility or a structured hybrid arrangement, according to a survey by Scoop Technologies Inc., a firm that helps companies coordinate hybrid teams.

Moving from requiring two days in the office to three may give rise to some grumbling but likely wouldn’t be a “walk-away point,” said Rob Sa-

Official receipts: Never ‘fake it until you make it’

atty. Jomel n. Manaig

Tax Law for Business

One of the biggest tax-related news of recent vintage is the explosive revelation that “ghost” companies manufacture fake receipts that some taxpayers purchase to pad up their respective deductible expenses and input tax credits. The latest estimate from the BiR puts the tax loss at P50 billion. For emphasis, that is a number 5 with 10 zeroes. That is a lot of money!

Official receipts represent a key element in everyday business transactions. Taxpayers must take considerable steps to ensure that their transactions are duly supported by official receipts and that these comply with the invoicing requirements. Let us be responsible and law-abiding members of society. Lest we face the consequences when the hammer falls.

dow, co-founder and CEO of Scoop. But when trying to cross the fourday threshold, employers may start to see the dynamic change.

“Four days a week or more, a lot of people will pick their head up and at least look around and see what their options are,” even if a rocky macroeconomic environment ultimately steers them to stay put, he said.

“Employees are really nervous to give even a fingernail on flexibility. Because they think if they give an inch, the employer might keep pulling,” Sadow said of the number of survey respondents who said they’d quit if asked to come in more. “So you might see really strong rhetoric or response on flexibility because they think it’s not just that they’re going to be asked to come in a day more—it feels like a gateway to being asked to come in full time.”

For now, the most powerful determinant of how much time people spend in the office appears to be company policies: About 86 percent of financial professionals are complying with their company’s inoffice mandates. Those that aren’t meeting the requirements say that most of the time, they’ve faced no consequences. Of the 1,320 financial professionals surveyed, only 28 said they’ve been reprimanded by their manager or HR for failing to comply. Five respondents said they’d faced compensation-related penalties and two said they’d faced termination.

City leaders have been among the most outspoken in calling workers back to the office, concerned about the impact remote work has had on their downtowns. New York City, for example, is losing more than $12 billion a year as workers spend 30 percent fewer days in the office and therefore give less business to Manhattan vendors during the week, according to a Bloomberg News analysis. New York, along with Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia, are still seeing a deep decline in weekday lunch traffic compared to before the pandemic, according to the restaurant management software provider Toast— a trend attributable both to hybrid work and to inflation bringing up the cost of eating out.

MLIV Pulse survey showed that even financial professionals, who typically have more disposable income than the average city resident, are reigning in their weekday spending: While half reported that their dining habits post-pandemic haven’t changed at all, about a third are packing their lunch, eating office food or going straight home without grabbing after-work drinks more often than they used to.

MLIV Pulse is a weekly survey of Bloomberg News readers on the terminal and online, conducted by Bloomberg’s Markets Live team, which also runs a 24/7 MLIV Blog on the terminal. The survey about return to office, conducted May 29 to June 2, drew responses from portfolio managers, researchers, strategists, economists, traders, investment bankers, as well as retail investors.

multilateral institutions, to make it more—and this is critical—“private sector-driven.”

So far, the fallout of the scheme includes the revocation of the accreditation of a certified public accountant involved, the filing of criminal complaints against four ghost corporations linked to the alleged sale of fake receipts, and the estimated loss of P50 billion from the coffers of the government. We just cannot let that amount go, can we?

At the heart of this scheme are official receipts (and invoices, for that matter) issued by ghost corporations to taxpayer-collaborators representing non-existent transactions. But how do fake official receipts exactly affect tax collection?

These fake receipts primarily affect collection of income taxes and value-added taxes. Under the Tax Code, official receipts are used to substantiate deductions from gross income. The existence of these fake receipts allows taxpayer-collaborators to claim additional expenses, which reduce the taxable income. In turn, the reduced taxable income lowers the tax base of the taxpayercollaborators.

On the other hand, these fake receipts also affect value-added tax collection by enabling the taxpayer-collaborators to claim input taxes. The input taxes are then used to offset against output taxes, which lowers the value-added tax liabilities of the taxpayercollaborators.

This is tax evasion. Plain and simple. It was good that this scheme was brought to light and that the authorities are moving in to pull the plug.

While the unraveling of the fake receipt scheme is a cautionary tale for everyone, it does not mean that honest taxpayers can just rest on their laurels and not learn anything from this.

Even with legitimate official receipts, taxpayers must still be wary of the requirements to keep these valid for tax purposes. The Tax Code requires specific information to be indicated in an official receipt and/ or invoice for it to be a valid source of input tax. Non-compliance with these invoicing requirements would result in the disallowance of the ex-

penses and input taxes covered by the non-compliant official receipt and/or invoice.

Taxpayers must exert effort to ensure compliance with the invoicing requirements. Sufficient remedial measures must be undertaken to correct non-compliant official receipts and/or invoices.

It should be noted, though, that the realities of business in the country do not always reflect what is prescribed under the law. In the fake receipt scheme, there is an official receipt issued for an inexistent transaction. However, despite the Tax Code requiring substantiation of expenses, there are legitimate business transactions wherein an official receipt or invoice is not customarily issued.

The reason behind the non-issuance of the official receipt or invoice is beside the point. In a case decided by the Supreme Court, it was categorically held that the proper substantiation requirement for an expense to be allowed is the official receipt or invoice. As such, despite the reason for the non-issuance and the existence

of other accounting records, if any, corroborating the said legitimate transaction, the taxpayer claiming the expense must still endeavor to secure and present the related official receipt or invoice.

Just to round up our short discussion on official receipts and invoices, let us not forget the following important related matters:

(1) the BIR recently removed the 5-year limit on the validity of official receipts and/or invoices; (2) the retention period for the original copies of accounting records, including official receipts and/or invoices, is 5 years and only its electronic format in the succeeding 5 years; and (3) the BIR is pursuing its Electronic Invoicing System for select categories of taxpayers. Official receipts represent a key element in everyday business transactions. Taxpayers must take considerable steps to ensure that their transactions are duly supported by official receipts and that these comply with the invoicing requirements. Let us be responsible and law-abiding members of society. Lest we face the consequences when the hammer falls.

The author is a junior partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law), a memberfirm of WTS Global.

The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at jomel.manaig@bdblaw.com.ph or call 84032001 local 380.

Biden set for critical talks on Ukraine this week with Denmark’s Frederiksen, UK’s Sunak

By Aamer Madhani | The Associated Press

WaSHinGTOn President Joe Biden is welcoming Denmark and Britain’s prime ministers this week to Washington for talks that will focus heavily on what lays ahead in the war in Ukraine—including the recently-launched effort to train, and eventually equip, Ukraine with american-made F-16s fighter jets.

Britain and Denmark are playing a pivotal role in the nascent joint international plan that Biden recently endorsed after months of resisting calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for US aircraft.

Biden’s separate meetings with the leaders of two key Nato allies— he’ll huddle with Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen on Monday and the UK’s Rishi Sunak on Thursday—come at a crucial period in the 15-month war as Ukraine readies to launch a counteroffensive. It’s also a moment when the US and Europe are looking to demonstrate to Moscow that the Western-alliance remains strong and focused on cementing a longer-term commitment to Ukraine with no end to the conflict in sight.

“One of the things we’ll be looking for their perspectives on and the President will be interested in sharing his perspectives on is the long term security needs of Ukraine,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “And that’s really where the F-16s kind of come into this discussion.”

Denmark has purchased dozens of American-made F-16s since the 1970s and has indicated it is open to the possibility of providing Ukraine with some. Britain strongly advocated for a coalition to supply Ukraine with fighter planes, and says it will support Ukraine getting the F-16s it wants. But the UK does not have any F-16s, and has ruled out sending Royal Air Force Typhoon jets.

Instead, Britain says it will give

Ukrainian pilots basic training on Western-standard jets starting in early summer to prepare them to fly F-16s. The Ukrainian pilots will then go on to other countries for the next stages of training.

The F-16 agreement is among several recent high-profile efforts by the US and Europe focused on bolstering Western resolve as the war grinds on. Russia’s Defense Ministry announced early Monday its forces had thwarted a large Ukrainian attack in the eastern province of Donetsk. It wasn’t clear if this was the start of a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Last week, Frederiksen and Sunak were among 45 European leaders who traveled to Moldova for the first summit of the European Political Community where they underscored support for Eastern Europe’s ambitions to draw closer to the West and keep Moscow at bay.

Biden is also expected to discuss with Frederiksen and Rishi preparations for next month’s Nato summit in Lithuania that comes amid growing pressure on the alliance from Zelenskyy on Nato to offer Ukraine concrete security guarantees and a defined path for Kyiv to eventually win membership into the group.

The 31-member alliance is also looking at boosting Ukraine’s nonmember status in Nato and preparing a framework for security commitments that it can offer once the war with Russia is over.

Max Bergmann, a former senior State Department official during the

Biden is also expected to discuss with Frederiksen and Rishi preparations for next month’s NATO summit in Lithuania that comes amid growing pressure on the alliance from Zelenskyy on NATO to offer Ukraine concrete security guarantees and a defined path for Kyiv to eventually win membership into the group.

Obama administration, said Biden and his European counterparts’ task is to stay on the same page for what comes after Ukraine’s much-anticipated counteroffensive.

“Throughout this conflict, we have not only underestimated the Ukrainians but we have also underestimated the Europeans,” said Bergmann, who is now director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “They’re not wavering but they will also need to keep finding new funds to plow into military equipment to support the Ukrainians. There’s a question on both sides of the Atlantic: How much will it actually take to sustain Ukraine?”

Biden is also expected to check in with Frederiksen and Rishi on his effort to press fellow Nato member Turkey to back off blocking Sweden from joining the military alliance.

Sweden and Finland, both historically unaligned militarily, jointly sought Nato membership after being rattled by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey initially blocked both countries from joining the alliance before agreeing to membership for Finland while continuing to object to Sweden.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has objected to Sweden’s perceived support of the banned

Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, the leftist extremist group DHKPC, and followers of the US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara claims was behind a failed military coup attempt in 2016.

Erdogan won reelection last week to a third term despite his government’s struggle to deal with runaway inflation and the aftermath of an earthquake that leveled entire cities in the country. Now that his reelection battle is behind him, White House officials are increasingly optimistic that the Turkish leader will withdraw his opposition to Sweden’s membership, according to a US official familiar with internal deliberations. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Biden said he raised Sweden’s Nato application and Turkey’s desire to buy 40 new F-16s from the US—a move some in Congress oppose until Turkey approves Nato membership for Sweden—during a phone call last week with Erdogan.

“He still wants to work on something on the F-16s. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so let’s get that done,” Biden told reporters shortly after the call.

Days later, at his commencement address at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, Biden spoke with certainty about Sweden’s Nato membership hopes. “It will happen. I promise you,” Biden said.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken both expressed hope that Sweden will be brought into the Nato fold by the time allied leaders meet in Lithuania on July 11-12. Stoltenberg met with Erdogan on Sunday in Istanbul for talks but no breakthrough was made. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.

“hidden agenda” in that the proposed MIF “may eventually” open up to foreign investors, including

The MIF will invest in commodities, government/corporate bonds, local and foreign equities, domestic commercial real estate and infra-

structure projects, and local Joint Ventures and Co-Investments. The key is “local.” Further, Rep. Salceda: “After that, there will be an initial public offering, so it won’t be a GOCC anymore. It will be a listed company in the Philippine stock market.”

Foreign money does not need the MIF for them to invest in nonFilipino investment vehicles. But foreign money epitomizes “Greed is Good and Low Risk is Great.” So, we have a Philippine government fund proposed by a new and recently

installed administration, initially seeded with public funds, that will invest in Philippine projects and companies, and that the fund will eventually be publicly traded on the PSE. Here is my final take unless “they”

Don’t ask us to come to the office more–or we will quit, investors say

NAPOCOR, GERMAN BIZ EYE GREEN HYDROGEN, FUEL CELL OUTSIDE GRID

THE National Power Corporation (Napocor) and the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) have agreed to jointly explore the potential of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in off-grid areas.

T hey announced Monday the conduct of a feasibility study which aims to support the modernization of power generating assets in off-grid areas by exploring the potential replacement of diesel-powered systems with green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

With our mandate to provide electricity to rural areas and our commitment to optimizing power generation assets, this collaboration presents an opportunity to modernize power systems and reduce emissions. We believe this feasibility study will pave the way for a sustainable and climate-friendly energy transition in the Philippines,” said Napocor President Fernando Martin Roxas.

T he GPCCI said the feasibility study could take at least two to three months to be completed.

Eyeing direct flights, Israel seeks new air talks with PHL

T he project, which is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, will be implemented in three phases.

T he first phase involves site selection in which Napocor will provide technical and economic data while GPCCI will assist in data gathering.

Ph ase 2 will involve the modeling of the selected sites by the Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI) in collaboration with stakeholders.

For the last phase, GPCCI will launch an information campaign to disseminate the project’s results.

O fficials from Napocor and GPCCI said during the launch of their collaboration that they are committed to contributing to a sustainable and climatefriendly energy transition in off-grid areas of the Philippines. The project, they stressed, aims to showcase the economic and environmental benefits of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies while promoting sustainable development and supporting the country’s development goals.

NPCC agencies meet on ways to stabilize prices of prime goods

THE members of the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) have gathered to tackle measures to stabilize prices and supply of basic and prime goods, such as establishing a “direct link” between onion farmers and institutional buyers to ensure a “steady” supply of local onions, among others, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

I n a statement on Monday, the Trade department said it continues to intensify its monitoring efforts to ensure the stability and availability of prices and supply of basic prime goods.

It is also assisting the Department of Agriculture (DA) in monitoring the prices of agricultural products such as sugar and onions.

D TI also introduced the recent launch of the Program for Farmer Retail Market.

“ This contract farming program seeks to establish a direct link between onion farmers and institutional buyers. This program enables a steady supply of local onions, especially during lean months,” DTI said in a statement on Monday.

F or her part, DTI Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said the DTI assures the public that the government is taking actions to protect their interest and ensure that basic and prime goods remain “reasonably priced” in the market.

Meanwhile, DTI cited the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report that red onion prices in the National Capital Region (NCR) continued to decline since January. It said the same pattern was seen in other regions.

C iting the DA, the Trade department said the prevailing retail prices for a kilo of local commercial rice are P55 (special); P46 (premium); P44 (well-milled), and P38 (regular milled).

For retail sugar in groceries and supermarkets, the Sugar Regulato -

ry Administration (SRA) reported that monitored prevailing prices of the commodity in the NCR as of May 2023 are P87 per kilo for raw and P105 per kilo for refined.

For the Department of Energy (DOE), DTI said it reported that as of May 30,2023, there had been a “cumulative drop” of P4.85 for LPG; P5.05 for diesel; and P6.75 for kerosene.

A ccording to the Department of Health (DOH), prices of essential medicines remain stable due to the increased number of available generic brands on the market. The DOH reported that it regularly issues an SRP for Covid-19 medicines.

For its part, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the country will experience El Niño in the next couple of months up to the first quarter of 2024, DTI noted.  PAGASA said 11 to 14 tropical cyclones are expected to develop in the Philippine Area of Responsibility from June to November of this year.

A ccording to an earlier story of the BusinessMirror, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Philippines

Country Director Kelly Bird, in a briefing in Incheon, South Korea, said that while the dry spell is not expected to dent Philippine growth, it has the potential of worsening food insecurity and inflation.

“ I don’t anticipate that El Niño itself will have a dent on the Philippines’s economic growth; we think it’s at its potential now, around 6 percent, I think that will continue,” Bird said.

What it can do of course is create another round of food inflation so in that regard it’s gonna be always important that the Philippines and any country is to ensure that there are no restrictions on the importation of food,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecasts that the inflation rate is likely to hit 5.5 percent this year. Andrea E. San Juan

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

ISRAEL is pitching to revive air talks with the Philippines so there will be direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv by 2024.

V isiting Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said having direct flights between the two capitals will entice Filipino tourists to come to the Holy Land, and for more Israeli businessmen to invest in the Philippines.

A t present, there are no direct flights between Manila and Tel Aviv. Filipinos and Israelis who travel to visit, work or do business to Israel and the Philippines need

to take flights via other hubs like Bangkok, Dubai and Istanbul.

I think one way to boost connectivity is to launch direct flights,” Cohen told a Philippine-Israeli business forum in Makati Monday.

He said the air negotiations between the two countries started before the pandemic.

D uring his bilateral meeting with Philippine Economic Development Secretary  Arsenio Balisacan,

Cohen said he echoed the Israeli government’s desire to have direct flights between two capitals by the year 2024.

I think it will be a great boost on tourism on one hand and the business group on the other hand,” Cohen said.

I lan Marciano, deputy directorgeneral of the Israel Ministry of

Tourism, said both countries need to convince airlines that it would be profitable to fly direct to Manila and Tel Aviv.

F ilipinos can travel to Israel without visas, but because there are no direct flights and tickets are expensive, the number of Filipinos is quite low.

B efore the pandemic, in 2019, there were 32,000 Filipinos who traveled to Israel. Many of them are pilgrims.

M arciano, who joined Cohen during his two-day visit in Manila, said he will meet with Philippine tourism officials to find ways to provide incentives to travel agencies giving tour packages to Filipino tourists.

I n a separate interview, Balisacan said he will relay the proposal to government agencies that negotiate air agreements with countries like the Department of Transportation, Civil Aeronautics Board and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Poe backs Naia privatization, cites MCIA model

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Grace Poe pressed for the privatization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday, stressing that the proposal was “not only [one] whose time has come, but also well past its due.”

I n a statement, Sen. Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, lamented that the delayed decision had caused the country and aviation sector to miss so many opportunities, while suffering a black eye for persistent problems.

T he lawmaker said, “we could have averted the glitches that messed up the flight schedules and inconvenienced thousands of travelers had the modernization of the airport’s air traffic control and operations been undertaken years ago.”

Poe made the remarks after the  Department of Transportation (DOTr) submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) a proposal to privatize the operations of the premier airport.

T he proposal requires enlisting a private concessionaire to operate the country’s main gateway, Poe

said, noting that  it was “one of our priority recommendations in the committee report on the NAIA power glitches.”

S he was referring to the outcome of the hearings conducted by senators after the January 1, 2023 glitch that disrupted nearly 300 flights and stranded tens of thousands of travelers. A similar, albeit smaller, glitch occurred on May 1.

Like any concessionaire, we need to ensure that this private entity lives up to its commitment to improve air services in the country,” the senator said, stressing that “the government should require an

accomplishment timeline, performance matrix, and penalties for any default.”

She noted that “we have seen how the transformation of the MactanCebu International Airport [MCIA] by a private consortium and its improved services and facilities have positively impacted on tourism and passenger experience.”

T he senator said “this could be a template for the modernization of the NAIA operations.”

Moreover, she said that,  “It is time to start fixing our country’s premier gateway. Filipinos and foreign travelers deserve a better airport.”

EURO VILLAGE Children joyfully engage in play near the entrance as the Euro Village opens its doors, showcasing an array of food booths. Located at Capitol Commons in Pasig City, this event organized by the European Union also features sports demonstrations such as Teqball, as well as performances of Romanian Folklore and live music. ROY DOMINGO

COHEN

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

B1

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Mute growth of online stock market accounts seen in ’22

By VG Cabuag @villygc

While the number of online accounts rose only by 8 percent last year to 1.25 million, the average value per online transaction rose by 33 percent to P46,236.40 from P34,701.80 in 2021.

While close to a hundred thousand online accounts were added last year, its non-online counterpart recorded a decrease of 7,156 accounts to 453,827. Given this, the total stock market accounts registered in 2022 was at 1.71 million, up by 5 percent from the

previous 1.62 million accounts.

“The growth in accounts may have been subdued in 2022 but I expect an uptick in numbers again with the foray of new stock brokerage firms in the online trading space and the upcoming rollout of stock investing features in finance apps,” PSE president and CEO Ramon S. Monzon said.

“The total number of stock market accounts was also affected by the clean-up of dormant accounts done by the trading par-

ticipants,” Monzon added.

The cleanup of inactive accounts was done in compliance with Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

The accounts were mostly owned by local retail investors as they held a little over 98 percent of the total stock market accounts. Institutional investors and foreign investors owned 1.9 percent and 1.7 percent of the total stock market accounts, respectively.

The PSE’s Stock Market Investor Profile showed a surge in accounts owned by investors in the 30 to 44 age range. About half of the retail accounts were held by investors in the 30-to-44 age group from a 34-percent share in 2021.

The 45-year-old to 59-year-old investors comprised 20 percent of accounts, followed by the 18 to 29 year olds at 18 percent and investors aged 60 and above at 10 percent. The ownership by age of

DMCI subsidiary to build turbines

online accounts mirrored that of total retail accounts with the 30to-44 age group taking up the largest share at 55.7 percent of online accounts, the PSE said. Investors with an annual income of less than P500,000.00 annually made up 53 percent of retail accounts and 73 percent of online retail accounts. Those who earn an annual income of P500,000 to P1 million had a 25-percent and 13-percent share in retail accounts and online retail accounts, respectively.

In terms of location, Metro Manila continued to have the biggest number of retail investors at 81 percent, trailed by Luzon 10 percent, the Visayas at more than 3 percent and Mindanao at 2.5 percent. Investors based overseas accounted for 1.7 percent of retail investors. Foreign nationals with investments in the local market were mostly Chinese, American, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese, the PSE said.

Colliers to manage Davao tower

DAVAO CITY—Colliers International Group Inc. (CIGI) announced it has been tapped by Euro Towers International Inc. (ETII) to manage the developer’s newest condominium here.

A statement issued by CIGI read that its Real Estate Management Services (REMS) division “has recently marked a partnership with a noted regional developer, [ETII], through a contract signing ceremony held last May 9.” According to CIGI, the partnership pertains to its management of the Vivaldi Residences Davao, one of three residential projects by ETII the other two located both in Quezon City, about 1510.9 kilometers north of here. Located at the corner of C.M. Recto and Ramon Magsaysay Avenues in the downtown area, Vivaldi Residences Davao is considered the tallest development not only in Davao City, but in Mindanao, CIGI said.

“Rising 100 meters, it offers full and unobstructed views of nearby Samal Island and the Davao cityscape,” the CIGI statement read. “This 36-storey property boasts of top-notch features and amenities, including a hotel-like lobby, kiddie and sky pools, function rooms,

Board members

ROMERO-led F&S Holdings Inc. sold its shares in AirAsia Philippines in a bid to boost its core businesses in power and ports.

“We are excited at the opportunity to consolidate our business enterprises, and realign them to focus more on our core businesses in power and ports,” F&S Holdings Chairman Shiela B. Romero was quoted in a statement as saying.

Romero said in the statement released last Monday the company’s 60-percent share were sold to AA Com Travel Philippines Inc., making it the sole local owner and majority shareholder of the airline. The remaining 40 percent is owned by Capital A Bhd Founders Tony Fernandez and Datuk Karmarudin Menarum. Lenie Lectura

FORMER Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick T. Chua was elected to the board of chemical manufacturer D and L Industries Inc. as independent director.

Chua, who officially became a DNL board member during the company’s stockholders’ meeting last Monday, replaces Filemon T. Berba, who served on the company’s board from 2012 until his passing on April 4.

“We are pleased to welcome Karl to our board of directors. He brings a fresh perspective with his distinguished experience as an economist, working for the World Bank for over a decade and serving the government in various strategic leadership roles thereafter,” DNL President and CEO Alvin D. Lao said.

“With independent directors continuing to hold a majority of our board, the company remains committed to upholding good governance and transparency,” Lao said.

DNL has seven board members, four of whom are independent directors.

The three other independent directors are Mercedita S. Nolledo, Corazon S. de la Paz-Bernardo and Lydia R. Balatbat-Echauz.

The others are members of the Lao family led by Yin Yong L. Lao as its chairman, John L. Lao as vice chairman and Alvin D. Lao. Dean L. Lao sits as the company’s chairman emeritus.

Chua, 44, was previously with the World Bank as an economist, and more recently served as secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority and undersecretary for Strategy, Economics and Results at the Department of Finance. He has extensive experience in the areas of economic and fiscal policy, statistical development, national identification, labor and social protection policy, poverty analysis and digital transformation, among others.

jogging path, and a view deck, among others. It offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units ranging in size from approximately 22 to 100 square meters, while it also has commercial spaces at the ground floor.”

CIGI said its REMS division began its managerial work on the property last May 16.

The Nasdaq- and Tsx-listed firm said Vivaldi Residences Davao will be added to its roster of properties.

“With Colliers being fully certified by TÜV Rheinland since 2015, all processes that will be implemented are aligned to and compliant with ISO 9001-2015 standards,” it added.

ETII General Manager Francis Albert B. Florido was quoted in the statement as saying that the “partnership with Colliers will further strengthen their company’s position as one of the leading residential developers in the region.”

“We trust that with Colliers’ expertise in the provision of management services, the potential and value of our property will be maximized. Moreover, we believe that the management will be of high standards; thus, delivering quality service to our future occupiers,” Florido said. Manuel T. Cayon

Record dividend

IN the same shareholders’ meeting, DNL announced a record dividend of P0.30 per share, consisting of a regular cash dividend of P0.24 per share plus a special cash dividend of P0.06 per share to shareholders of record as of June 20. Ex-date is on June 15 and payment will be made on July 14.

In total, shareholders will receive a P 0.30 dividend per share, or a dividend yield of 4.3 percent based on the June 2 closing price of P6.99 per share. This year’s dividend amounting to P2.14 billion, or an increase of 25 percent from last year’s P1.71 billion, is equivalent to 65 percent of last year’s recurring income. Including this year’s payment, the company has returned a total of P15.3 billion in cash to shareholders through dividends since it went public in 2012. The company also paid a 100 percent stock dividend in September 2015. VG Cabuag

OFF-GRID electricity generator DMCI Power Corp. is set to build a wind power plant in Semirara Island, home of the biggest coal reserve in the Philippines.

The company said it intends to finalize the wind power capacity in the coming months, with projections ranging from 8 megawatts to 12 megawatts and operational implementation expected within 12 to 15 months. The project will be funded and undertaken independently by the company.

“We are also looking at solar energy to augment the supply in the island, but we are prioritizing wind resource development because it has shown the most promise,” DMCI Power President Antonino E. Gatdula Jr. said.

Gatdula cited that current studies suggest that wind power could potentially deliver a 33-percent plant utilization rate, compared to just 17 percent for solar.

“Capital expenditure per megawatt for both wind and solar projects are also roughly the same,” Gatdula added.

In a 2001 wind resource study conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy laboratory, it was found that Semirara Island has some of the best wind resources in the Philippines.

The wind corridors between Luzon and Panay, including Semirara Islands and extending to the Cuyo Islands, were found to have good-to-excellent wind power density and speed for utility-scale or village power applications.

DMCI Power, a wholly-owned

subsidiary of DMCI Holdings Inc., is in the process of validating these wind resource estimates to determine the final location and capacity of its wind project.

Trial shipment

MEANWHILE, Semirara Mining and Power Corp. (SMPC) is set to make its second trial coal shipment to Japan this June, in a bid to reduce its dependency on the Chinese market.

The company will export 50,000 metric tons of Semirara coal to Shikoku Electric Power Corp. for its 700-megawatt coal fired ultra-supercritical power station.

“China is still our main foreign buyer but with their industrial output growing slower than expected, we want to develop other Asian markets like Japan,” SMPC President and COO Maria Cristina C. Gotianun said.

From January to March, Semirara coal shipments to China, which accounts for 72 percent of exports, plunged by 50 percent to 1.1 million MT from 2.2 million MT.

South Korea was a steady market at 300,000 MT, representing one-fifth of export sales. The rest of the exports went to Japan at 5 percent and Brunei at 3 percent.

SMPC first made a trial shipment to Japan in January 2023, selling 78,410 MT of mid-grade coal to J-Power, a utility company that operates coal, hydroelectric, wind and geothermal power stations.

“For 2023, we are targeting to export around 30 percent of our full-year sales target of 15 to 16 million MT,” Gotianun said. VG Cabuag

in best spot to help communities’

STARTUPS can solve the pain points in a developing country such as the Philippines, according to a consultancy firm.

“Being immersed in the grassroots and at the same time a breeding ground for innovation, startups are in the best position to tackle the problems in the community,” AHGLAB Consultancy Services Inc. COO Rene Cuartero told the BusinessMirror last Friday.

Cuartero urged venture capitalists eyeing investments in the technology sector to seek local partners because they are in a better position to assess the real situation on the ground.

“Local partners can guide their foreign counterparts to develop the most appropriate, practical and relevant products and services for the community,” Cuartero added.

Cuartero’s colleague Thomas Abetung said there are huge opportunities for startups that can introduce innovative ideas to the problems in the Philippines.

Another colleague, Simon

Bauer, said the startups would be mentored every stage in its mentorship program consisting of 12 weeks.

“They will be given access to services, support them from A to Z, incorporation, legal matters, marketing and other stuff that early startup companies need,” explained Bauer.

“We will also introduce a tailor-fitted curriculum for them,” he added.

The company will also help startups starting from “zero to one.”

Cuartero said their mentoring program will cover accounting, hurman resources, marketing, legal work, among others.

From the 270 applicants, six startups were chosen for the mentorship program.

According to the executives, the program aims to help earlystage entrepreneurs through a comprehensive learning journey for promising founders with its weekly curriculum of training sessions, workshops and mentorship from industry leaders.

DATA from the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) showed muted growth in online stock market accounts in 2022 compared to previous years.

‘Startups

‘Coins show use of the good, the new for PHL’

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the country has now reached a new milestone as an emerging economy after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) rolled out its new state of art commemorative currency last Monday.

“We have used the most modern technology, which also signifies that the Philippines is at that stage in its development that we are now at the forefront and we’ll use the best technologies, the best techniques, everything

that is good and new for our country,” Marcos said in his speech during the launch event in Malacañang.

The BSP unveiled the new coin set, which was composed of 100-peso, 20-peso and 5-peso denominations

for the commemoration of the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence and nationhood.

The 100-peso coin depicted an image of the 1898 declaration of Philippine independence, while the 20-peso coin showed the birth of the country’s first republic at the Barasoain Church.

Meanwhile, the 5-peso coin featured the bravery of the Filipinos who fought for the country’s sovereignty in the Philippine-American War.

The coins were produced with the latest digital printing technology becoming the first colored, non-circulation, commemorative coins of the BSP.

BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla said the commemorative coins are part of their initiative to preserve cultural heritage and promote national pride.

Medalla said the central bank will

Should I avail a credit card or not?

CAN you still remember the time when you graduated in college or when you started in your first job?

There are a lot of first things in your life such as opening your first savings account or first digital bank account.

As we grow older, we get wiser in the things we do such as using a credit card. Being in the financial services industry and growing up, I encountered a lot of people struggling in the use of credit card. Let’s answer the question if getting a credit card will be beneficial for you or not.

Here are some of the principles in using a credit card:

1. Maximize the rewards and bonuses. Many credit card companies provide perks such as cash back, airline miles or even sign-up bonuses.

If you use your card wisely; meaning you pay it right away and avoid the interest rates, you can maximize such benefits. Let’s say for example you’re a frequent traveler and you use your card to build points and convert these to flights, this way you are maximizing the freebies.

2. Do not spend excessively.

Once you have an approved credit card, you need to have discipline and avoid unplanned expenses as this can cause you to buy a lot of things without even thinking of your budget. Since you can spend money even though you haven’t earned it yet, it causes a lot of people to be in great debt.

3. Get an accountability partner. Managing your usage of credit card can be challenging if you don’t

Karlo Biglang-awa

personal finance

have someone who can help you with your struggles. Make sure to open up with your family member, colleague or a trusted friend if you are having challenges in managing your finances. Setting up limitations is crucial if you think you have tendencies to spend a lot overnight.

4. Be patient in paying your debts. If you are one of the credit card users who incurred a lot of debt, you should be aware of the following methods:

n The debt snowball. This involves making minimum payments on all your debts while putting extra cash toward the smallest amount and paying that off first.

n The debt avalanche. This focuses on paying down the debt with the highest interest rate first and then moving onto the next balance.

5. Establish your emergency funds. Even though you have a good credit score with your credit card/s, you still need to have separate emergency funds. Although it is not easy to build one, this can help you avoid unnecessary debts in case of an unforeseen event arise in the family such as sickness, accident or untimely demise. If you have this fund in place, you can just use your credit card for other needs that will not incur you interest rates.

6. Identify your needs and wants. If you can use your credit card every time you buy groceries or pay for your utilities, you can build a good credit line and maximize the free points. Once your wants are also identified, you can also use your card for these transactions such as travelling outside the country, booking a 5-star hotel and dining out. With these things, you can have a mindset of rewarding yourself because you have discipline in your expenses.

7. Delayed gratification. While buying stuff using your card is tempting, having delayed gratification as a principle will help you know if your cash flow is in place before making big purchases. Try to sleep for three more days before buying big purchases such as home appliances or other stuff that you think you really need.

Every time you earn big, always think first what the best use of your resource is. My hope is you can maximize the opportunity in having a credit card than being paralyzed because your debts are now eating up a majority of your income. But then again, you can always start somewhere with the help of people around you in case you are struggling. Be wise and be a better person by maximizing the tools available for you and your family.

Karlo Biglang-awa is a registered financial planner of RFP Philippines. To learn more about personal-financial planning, attend the 102nd RFP program this July 2023. To inquire, e-mail info@rfp. ph or text at 0917-6248110.

THE internal revenue bureau sees an increase in its collection of tobacco-related taxes as the number of registered firms engaged in the sale of cigarette, vape and other tobacco products more than doubled this year.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said the increase in registered tobacco manufacturers, cigarette makers and vape sellers would help in boosting the government’s sin tax revenue.

Lumagui attributed the increase in registered taxpayers engaged in tobacco products to the various raids conducted by the BIR.

“It will be a huge help, because it means that they are paying their taxes. That is one of the good results of our raids,” he told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview.

“For example, after our raid on vape products, the number of registered vape sellers increased. That means if you are a registered entity, most likely—somehow—you are paying your taxes,” he added.

However, Lumagui pointed out that the government’s revenue

losses due to illicit cigarette trade would remain bigger than expected increase in tobacco excise tax collections.

“The revenue we lose from illicit trade is still bigger. The increase in registered taxpayers would help mitigate that somehow,” he said.

Last month, Lumagui disclosed that the BIR is incurring as much as 20 percent in shortfall in excise tax collections with illicit tobacco trade in the country being one of the culprits.

The number of registered firms engaged in the sale of cigarette, vape and other tobacco products more than doubled to 103 from 45, latest BIR data showed. (Related story: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2023/05/23/no-of-birregistered-tobacco-goods-sellersdoubled/) Lumagui issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 57-2023 that listed the registered manufacturers, importers and exporters of various tobacco products as of May 15.

2022, according to the annexes of the latest memorandum circular.

Last month, the BIR filed before the Department of Justice about 69 cases of tax evasion, amounting to at least P1.8 billion, against illicit cigarette traders caught selling untaxed, fake and smuggled cigarettes during the agency’s first simultaneous raids in January 2023 in different parts of the country. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/05/26/bir-files- percentE2 percent82 percentA718b-worth-of-tax-evasion-rapson-illicit-cigarettes/)

An earlier statement from the BIR read that the bureau’s tax collections from January to April reached P841.179 billion, 13.31 percent over the P742.37 billion it recorded in the same period last year.

“For the first four months of the year, the Bureau also managed to surpass its collection goal by 1.73 percent or P14.319 Billion,” the BIR said while attributing the increase in its revenue to more Filipinos filing income tax returns and paying correct taxes. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

announce in its social media channels when the coins will be available in its store.

Marcos said the coins are not only “nice souvenirs” but also highlights the country’s significant progress since its independence from the almost four-century rule of Spain.

“It is particularly significant when we do this via these coinages that we have created for the 125th Independence Day because in a very real sense, the establishment of a formal currency, like any country, is part of the definition of being a sovereign nation,” the President said.

The country will be celebrating the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence and nationhood from 2023 to 2026 with the theme, “Kalayaan. Kinabukasan, Kasaysayan (freedom, the future, and history).”

BTr fully awards ₧15B T-bills in auction

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

DESPITE a slight uptick in investors’ asking yield, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) made a full award of Treasury bills (T-bills) on Monday amounting to a total of P15 billion. The Treasury raised P5 billion each from the sale of 91-day, 182-day and 364-day T-bills.

“The auction was 1.8 times oversubscribed with total bids reaching P27.7 billion. With its decision, the Committee raised the full program of P15 billion for the auction,” read the Treasury’s statement issued after Monday’s auction. Total amount tendered per tenor were

as follows: P6.589 billion for 91-day, P11.070 billion for 182-day and P9.994 billion for 364-day T-bills.

The 91-day T-bills fetched an average rate of 5.827 percent, with a full yield range of 5.67 percent to 5.9 percent. The average rate was slightly higher than the 5.783 percent average rate it recorded in last week’s auction. The average yield for the 182-day T-bills was at 5.891 percent compared to the 5.879 percent average rate last week. During the Monday auction, the 182-day T-bills fetched bids ranging from a low of 5.748 percent to a high of 5.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the 364-day T-bills had an average rate of 5.98 percent, a tad bit more than the 5.948 percent

average yield it got last week. Bids for the 364-day T-bills ranged from 5.81 percent to 6 percent.

Compared to their secondary market benchmark levels, only the average rate of 182-day T-bills were lower. The secondary market rate for the 182-day T-bills was at 5.963 percent. Both the average rates of the 91-day and 364-day T-bills were higher than their secondary market rates of 5.766 percent and 5.931 percent, respectively. For the month of June, the Treasury aims to raise P185 billion from the sale of T-bills and T-bonds. The BTr plans to generate P60 billion from four auctions of T-bills and P125 billion from five auctions of T-bonds.

Firm flags ChatGPT-based fleeceware

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

CYBERSECURITY firm Sophos warned mobile users on Monday of a supposed scam involving ChatGPT-based fleeceware, which are applications that allegedly “coerce” users to a paid subscription.

In a statement, Sophos said fleeceware, which takes advantage of certain “app store policy loopholes” and uses “coercive tactics to overcharge users,” are now using mobile assistant applications using artificial intelligence (AI).

According to the company, these apps are “masquerading as legitimate ChatGPT-based chatbots… [that] overcharge users and bring in thousands of dollars a month.”

Citing its latest report, Sophos said “these apps have popped up in both the Google Play and Apple App Store, and, because the free versions have near-zero functionality and constant ads, they coerce unsuspecting users into signing up for a subscription that can cost hundreds of dollars a year.”

“Scammers have and always will use the latest trends or technology to line their pockets. ChatGPT is no exception. With interest in AI and chatbots arguably at an all-time high, users are turning to the Apple App and Google Play Stores to download anything that resembles ChatGPT. These types of scam apps—what

Sophos has dubbed ‘fleeceware’—often bombard users with ads until they sign up for a subscription,” Sophos Principal Threat Researcher Sean Gallagher was quoted in a statement as saying.

Gallagher noted that these “scammers” are “banking on the fact that users won’t pay attention to the cost or simply forget that they have this subscription.”

“They’re specifically designed so that they may not get much use after the free trial ends, so users delete the app without realizing they’re still on the hook for a monthly or weekly payment,” he added.

Sophos investigated five alleged fleeceware apps, all of which claimed to be based on ChatGPT’s algorithm.

OpenAI, which was the platform for the development of ChatGPT, offers basic functionality of the AI solution to users for free. The supposed fleeceware apps were said to have charged users as low as $10 per month to $70 per year.

Fleeceware apps supposedly overcharge users for functionality that is already free elsewhere, as well as using social engineering and coercive tactics to convince users to sign up for a recurring subscription payment.

Sophos said these apps are often poorly written and implemented, meaning app function is often less than ideal even after users switch to the paid version. They also inflate their ratings in the app stores through fake reviews and persistent requests of users to rate

the app before it’s even been used or the free trial ends.

According to Gallagher, apps with fleeceware “are specifically designed to stay on the edge of what’s allowed by Google and Apple in terms of service.”

“And they don’t flout the security or privacy rules, so they are hardly ever rejected by these stores during review,” he added. “While Google and Apple have implemented new guidelines to curb fleeceware since we reported on such apps in 2019, developers are finding ways around these policies, such as severely limiting app usage and functionality unless users pay up.”

Gallagher noted that these types of apps continue to be developed, even as their predecessors have been banned from the mobile stores.

“While some of the ChatGPT fleeceware apps included in this report have already been taken down, more continue to pop up—and it’s likely more will appear. The best protection is education. Users need to be aware that these apps exist and always be sure to read the fine print whenever hitting ‘subscribe.’ Users can also report apps to Apple and Google if they think the developers are using unethical means to profit,” said Gallagher.

He advised users to follow the App or Google Play store’s guidelines on how to “unsubscribe.” Simply deleting the fleeceware app will not void the subscription.

SSS runs after 923 contribution evaders

THE Social Security System (SSS) announced last Monday it conducted simultaneous Run After Contribution Evaders, or “Race,” operations in 114 selected areas around the country last April 28 to call on non-compliant employers to settle their various contribution delinquencies.

“This is part of the Labor Day activities [that] SSS facilitated to promote the welfare of more than 13,000 Filipino workers after issuing written notices to their employers for failure to remit their SSS contributions,” read a statement from the SSS. SSS President and CEO Rolando L. Macasaet was quoted in a statement as saying that 923 business employers across the country, including those unregistered, received show cause orders for incurring over P396.9-million worth of unpaid contributions and penalties,

affecting the SSS benefits of 13,524 employees.

“We recognize the valuable contributions of Filipino workers to nationbuilding. They serve as the backbone of our economy and play a vital role as we move toward progress. Unfortunately, some employers overlooked workers’ key role in the economy and neglect remitting their social security contributions,” Macasaet said.

Of the 923 delinquent employers, 318 operate in Luzon with a total delinquency of P109.8 million affecting 3,344 employees. Mindanao came in second with 316 employers with a total delinquency of P69.2 million, affecting 3,669 employees. The National Capital Region (NCR) ranked third with 231 employers amounting a total delinquency of P183.9 million involving 4,844 employees and Visayas with 58 employers with a total

delinquency of P34.0 million affecting 1,667 employees.

Majority of the employers visited by SSS are engaged in the following: 96 in restaurant industry, 45 in retail selling, 31 in construction and supplies, 31 in management consultancy activities, 19 in hotel and resort industry, 18 in school institutions, 17 in hardware industry, 15 in food house industry, 12 in education services and 12 in printing services.

Macasaet said that 59 percent of the employers failed to remit monthly contributions, 21.5 percent have gaps in paying the monthly contributions and 10.5 percent are about non-registration. The remaining 13.7 percent are those employers served with written notice for non-production of records, nonreporting of employees, underpayment of contributions and under-reporting of their employees.

BIR sees higher take in tobacco-related taxes with hike in number of sellers

This June 5, 2023, photo shows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Banko sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Felipe Medalla during the launch of the commemorative coin set for the 125th Anniversary of Philippines independence at the Ceremonial hall of Malacañan Palace, Manila. CREDIT: By AlfRED fRIAs, PNA

Their trip yielded the exciting sight and sounds of bright-colored kingfishers and orioles going about their business, as they stood watch from a respectful distance.

The experience made Aligaen realize that in our constant chase for quotas, in our frenzied pursuit of perfection, there is beauty that surrounds us all the time. Yet, we still manage to miss it, even if the price we have to pay is a mere pause, a simple glance.

This is the message Aligaen conveys in her ongoing first solo exhibition, titled Test Flight. The show opened on Sunday, June 4, at Art Verité Gallery (www.artverite. net) at Serendra in BGC, Taguig. Aligaen, an Ateneo de Manila University graduate, presents in the exhibit her acrylic paintings of birds inspired by her nature trip. The artist brings out the vibrancy of each specie in terms of color and character, placing them against gradient backgrounds where they shine.

Such is particularly evident in Aligaen’s Regal series. For instance, a Philippine dwarf kingfisher, whose gaze goes deep into the distance, lights up with its fiery feathers set against a sea of golden yellow. Meanwhile, the common maya, a Eurasian tree sparrow which enthusiastically sports a tiny hat and tie, prepares to perch on a branch, as the moon shines behind in its full glory.

More birds take flight elsewhere. Lift off shows the avian version of a rush hour, where a flock of Philippine falconets and sparrows scamper in high traffic. In Dive, white-throated kingfishers missile down for food.

As art writer Kaye Oyek describes it in the

Appreciating the wonders that �ly over our heads

MUCH like anyone caught in the everyday grind, visual artist Nikka Reyes-Aligaen often loses sight of the other stuff. Work, after all, can grow so overwhelming that it becomes blinding, robbing us of our ability to view the world not just as a place, but as an experience.

It’s a reality check served to the Antipolo-based artist during an eye-opening birdwatching session. A former preschool teacher, Aligaen was invited one morning by the head of the school’s science department to walk around and see what might come their way.

Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS

DAY: Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, 16; Natalie Morales, 51; Paul Giamatti, 56; Robert Englund, 76.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Pay attention and think matters through. Haste makes waste. Get organized and declutter your life. The relief you get from minimizing your responsibilities will give you a new lease on life. A practical approach to whatever you do will make the road to success easy. Distance yourself from those who are poor influences and avoid overindulgence and pastimes that are financially, emotionally and physically costly. Your numbers are 9, 11, 21, 28, 30, 39, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Networking functions will provide a substantial introduction and unique offer. Don’t waste valuable time all by yourself when your input will put you in a position to spotlight what you can offer. Stick to basics to ensure everyone is aware of your potential. ★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Pick up the slack and handle business. Speak up about your concerns and intentions. A direct approach will attract attention and the support you need to reach your goal. Avoid poor behavior, and don’t promise something you cannot deliver. ★★★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Impulsive action will lead to trouble. Someone will hold you accountable for your efforts and rhetoric. A change of attitude will help you redeem your position. Check out your options and take the route that experts suggest. Take your time and do what’s best. ★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): You can help without going overboard. An impulsive offer to pay for or care for someone else’s responsibilities will backfire. Use your intelligence, make suggestions and point others in the right direction, but don’t take over. Kindness and positive changes are favored. ★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Slow down, be observant and avoid compromising offers. The changes you make for someone else must be equally suitable for you, or resentment will filter through. Put your energy where it counts, and proceed with an open mind and heart. ★★★

exhibition note, “Through her finely detailed brushstrokes, [Aligaen] brings these avian creatures to life. Nestled against backgrounds of lush pigments, these paintings present a stunning visual symphony that captures the essence of the birds’ flight and the energy of their natural habitat, highlighting both their endemic and migratory natures.”

Perhaps Aligaen also teaches us to better appreciate these creatures that we often take for granted. If we’re too busy to stop and look up, the artist made sure that we wouldn’t miss seeing them this time, placing birds right in front of us on the canvas. ■

CCP BULWAGANG ROBERTO CHABET EXPLORES

‘SPACE/PLACE’ WITH PINOYPRINTMAKERS

THE CCP Bulwagang Roberto Chabet (CCP TIG Gallery) has opened to the public with the exhibition by the Association of Pinoyprintmakers (AP), titled Space/Place. It runs until June 18.

The exhibit features 37 printmakers who respond to the prompt of space by utilizing a limited printable surface of 20x20 inches with their interpretation of the idea of a place.

The featured artists are: Marz Aglipay, Leonardo Aguinaldo, Psalm Astejada, Jose Santos Ardivilla, Melai Arguzon, Diana Aviado, Virgilio “Pandy” Aviado, Luigi Azura, Mars Bugaoan, Elmer Borlongan, Benjie Torrado Cabrera, Kristen Cain, Jandy Carvajal, Salvador Ching, Joey Cobcobo, Salvador Convocar, Noell El Farol, Jess Flores, Annatha Lilo Gutierrez, Tish Hautea, Eugene Jarque, Villia Jefremovas, Carmel Lim Torres, Little Wing Luna, Angelo Magno, Hershey Malinis, Fara Manuel-Nolasco, Gabi

Nazareno, Jamel Obnamia, Samm Occeno, KR Rodgers, Angela Silva, Jone Sibugan, Jun-Jun Sta. Ana, Suchin Teoh, Wesley

Valenzuela, and Anton Villaruel. Space/Place takes inspiration from Michel Foucault’s Heterotopia or his

musings on the concept of space and how individuals best understand them. The common understanding of space is often associated with people, things and environments, while Foucault argues that our understanding of it has changed or, rather, is constantly changing.

Fundamentally, the printmakers’ response to working with a predetermined printing surface puts into play the dynamics of working within a collective.

The exhibition hopes to investigate how printmaking can be utilized to represent our personal narratives and each artist’s process in place-making. Technique-wise, the prints are products of a variety of hand-pull printmaking techniques which include, but are not limited to relief, intaglio, serigraphy, and lithography.

More information is available via the CCP Box Office at 8832-3704 or 8832-1125, local 1409, or www.culturalcenter.gov.ph.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Mix business with pleasure. An event providing knowledge, entertainment and a chance to promote what you have to offer will lead to new connections and interest. The suggestions you receive will help you hone your skills and plans to meet demands. ★★★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Refuse to let laziness cost you. Focus on how you can make an impression, turn heads and get others to pitch in and help. Use charm, sincerity and a willingness to adjust to suit the needs of others. Avoid superfluity, and you’ll gain respect. ★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Refuse to take on more than you can handle or to put up with someone taking advantage of you. Concentrate on what’s important to you and what and who you enjoy most. Set the standard instead of letting others dictate what happens next. ★★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Pay attention to your health and financial wellbeing. Don’t let impulse take over. Spend only what’s necessary and invest what’s left into a long-term plan that offers stability and security. A joint venture is favored, and romance will enhance your day. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Take a closer look at your surroundings and how it affects your relationships. Don’t overreact or spend too much on something you can’t afford or someone who expects too much from you. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Hold on to what you’ve got. Don’t listen to the hype or let someone lead you astray. Stick close to home and those you trust. Put time and energy into physical fitness, health and romantic gestures. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A steady pace, well-thought-out plan and people you can count on will help you reach your destination. Put in an affordable budget before you start, and you’ll sleep easy knowing you can attain your goal without setbacks. ★★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You are demonstrative, ambitious and productive. You are moody and inflexible.

‘hush-hush’ BY ADAM SIMPSON

The

Show BusinessMirror

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ swings to massive $120.5 million opening

New offerings mark GMA 73rd anniversary

ON its 73rd anniversary, GMA Network continues to prove that love is what makes it stand the test of time. The broadcast giant captivates much valued viewers with exciting new offerings and surprises made from the heart. Airing in June and July, each program explores the many facets of love.

Promising viewers with high-octane action and a whole lot of love and laughter is Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis airing on June 4. Bannered by action star and senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., the series tells the story of Police Major Bartolome “Tolome” Reynaldo (Bong), a police officer admired for his good looks, fearlessness, and popularity with ladies, but is grounded by his great love and “fear” for his feisty yet sweet wife Gloria (Beauty Gonzalez). One day, Tolome crosses paths with Elize (Max Collins), a beautiful and sexy lady who vows to work with him in tracking down a kidnapping syndicate. Completing the starstudded cast are Kate Valdez and Kelvin Miranda.

Rising young stars Mavy Legaspi and Kyline Alcantara are set to thrills to viewers as they try to find true love in their upcoming series LUV IS:

Love at First read. Airing on June 12, the show is the second collaboration between GMA and Wattpad WEBTOON Studios. The story is based on the hit web novel by author “Chixnita,” which has over 23 million views on Wattpad. It revolves around Kudos (Mavy), a secret romantic searching for the perfect girl, who believes that Abby (Kyline) is the one for him.

Meanwhile, beginning June 19, viewers further feel the importance of love for family through the biggest murder mystery series on Philippine prime-time TV: royal Blood. The upcoming show is bannered by Dingdong Dantes. Joining the cast are Megan Young, Mikael Daez, Dion Ignacio, Lianne Valentin, and Rhian Ramos, with the special participation of Tirso Cruz III. royal Blood follows the story of Napoy (Dingdong), the bastard son of a business tycoon and a loving single father who becomes the primary suspect in his father’s death.

GMA afternoons will also boast of the upcoming Magandang Dilag premiering on June 26. It seeks to inspire viewers to love their true beauty even more. Starring Herlene Budol and

Benjamin Alvez, with Rob Gomez, the series revolves around Gigi (Herlene), an optimistic woman who inherits enormous wealth from her estranged father but is fooled by her most beloved man.

Audiences will also definitely love the intense competition from the action-packed, talent-driven entertainment series Battle of the Judges, hosted by Alden Richards. Premiering on July 15, this exciting program will be joined by celebrity judges Boy Abunda, Bea Alonzo, Jose Manalo, and GMA Network senior vice president for programming, talent management, worldwide, and support group and president of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes. Together, they must select and then champion talented performers from every entertainment genre.

The lineup of anniversary offerings is made even more special as Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz team up for the very first time on the big screen in GMA Public Affairs’ The Cheating Game. Hitting theaters this July, the movie is an edgy, genre-bending romance about the games people play after getting cheated on.

Adding to the list of exciting anniversary surprises is the GMA Thanksgiving Gala 2023, happening this July. Fans should watch out for their favorite stars as they come together and walk on the red carpet to a night filled with love to celebrate the network’s 73rd year.

By Jake Coyle The

Associated Press

NEW YORK—Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse opened in US and Canadian theaters with a massive $120.5 million, more than tripling the debut of the 2018 animated original and showing the kind of movie-to-movie box-office growth that would be the envy of even the mightiest of Hollywood franchises.

Sony Pictures’ Across the Spider-Verse, the multiverse spinning animated Spider-Man spinoff, sailed way past expectations, according to studio estimates on Sunday, riding terrific reviews (95 percent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong buzz for the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Oscar-winning SpiderMan: Into the Spider-Verse.

In the sometimes formulaic realm of superhero

IBArr A, T he Musical, is currently the talk of the local entertainment world not only because it coincides with the 125th anniversary of Philippine independence this month but also because topnotch actor and matinee idol Piolo Pascual is playing the title role. Much has been written about Pascual for this brave feat but there are still many other reasons why the musical will soar to greater heights as the 10 shows start to unfold. For our piece today, we take a closer look at the other men of this musical—all gallant, gorgeous and genuinely gifted.

Aside from making a lot of heads turn, Carlos Canlas is certainly making a lot of people take a closer look at what he has to offer. Canlas takes on the role of Alferez, and at the same time he is designated as the understudy of Ibarra.

“I have to admit that there is pressure being the understudy of Piolo. Most Filipinos know who he is and the kind of popularity he has. So even if I stay focused on the role of Ibarra, I can’t just take that pressure away while learning Ibarra’s lines and songs. It helps that I have already worked with Piolo in some of his television engagements. That guy is a wonderful person and a truly committed artist.”

Canlas can shift from television to theater and film with ease, perhaps from years of experience doing these acting jobs. “I am so easy to deal with. As long as my schedules permit and the role is good, then it’s a go. There is so much competition in the acting market that’s why most of the time, being too choosy will get you nowhere. I understand that I have yet to carve a name for myself, which is why my goal is to improve my craft and just be a team player on the set, hoping that the producers and the directors will see my worth as a dependable actor.”

Neil Tolentino is a veteran actor who has given life to many theater characters, and he has graced

movies, 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse offered a blast of originality, introducing a teenage webslinger from Brooklyn, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), a punkrock Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and a host of other Spider-People. It launched with $35.4 million on its way to $384.3 million worldwide.

Across the Spider-Verse, which exponentially expands the film’s universe-skipping worlds, cost $100 million to make, about half the cost of the average live-action comic-book movie. So at even the forecast $80 million that Spider-Verse had been expected to open, Across the Spider-Verse would have been a hit.

Instead, it has turned out to be a box-office sensation, and the second largest domestic opening of 2023, trailing only The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Across the Spider-Verse, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, even topped Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which debuted with $118 million, for best opening weekend of the summer so far. The film, shepherded by writer-producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is part two in a trilogy that will conclude with a third chapter to be released next year. Across the Spider-Verse over-performed abroad, too, with $88.1 million overseas.

After few family offerings for much of the first half of 2023, theaters are suddenly flush with kid-friendly entertainment. Last week’s top film, the Walt Disney Co.’s live action remake The Little Mermaid, slid to second with $40.6 million in it second weekend.

After launching with $95.5 million and $117.5 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, The Little Mermaid dipped 57 percent, partly due to the

formidable competition from Across the Spider-Verse

Having cost a reported $250 million to make, The Little Mermaid was met with mixed reviews but more enthusiasm from audiences, which gave it an “A” CinemaScore. But overseas, where previous Disney live-action remakes have thrived, is proving harder territory this time. The film added $42.4 million internationally over the weekend.

Disney also supplied the weekend’s top counterprogramming option in The Boogeyman, a mostly wellreceived horror adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Director Rob Savage’s $35 million film, starring Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina, had originally been intended to debut on Hulu before the studio pivoted. It opened with $12.3 million in ticket sales.

In limited release, the Sundance breakout film Past Lives launched with an impressive $58,067 per-screen average on four screens. Celine Song’s directorial debut stars Greta Lee as a woman torn between a childhood friend from Korea (Teo Yoo) and her American husband (John Magaro).

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at US and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, $120.5 million

2. The Little Mermaid, $40.6 million

3. The Boogeyman, $12.3 million

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, $10.2 million

5. Fast X, $9.2 million

6. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, $3.4 million

7. About My Father, $2.1 million

8. The Machine, $1.8 million

9. Suga: Agust D Tour Live in Japan, $1.2 million

10. You Hurt My Feelings, $770,000. n

The teenage boy from the vocal group Smokey Mountain has certainly gone a long way. Jeffrey Hidalgo is not only a singer-actor but he has also embraced directing. “While still young and able, I like to explore whatever avenue will help me improve as an artist. That’s why all these years, I’ve dabbled in singing, acting, hosting and now directing for film. When the role of Elias landed on my lap, I knew I have to give it my time and my priority since this is a dream role for many, plus I get to act with a good friend who’s playing the title role.”

the big and small screens too. As Pilosopong Tacio in Ibarra, he is expected to give the musical a boost of his thespic skills.

Tolentino recently celebrated 30 wonderful years with his other half Irene, perhaps as long as he has immersed himself in the acting business. “This is the profession I chose, and this is what makes me fulfilled as a person. I always tell the younger generation of actors to do what they love and love what they do, and, if possible, do it with people you love and those you love and value you.”

Jon-Joven Uy is a well-loved performance artist and theater veteran who has traveled the world, both as a flight attendant and an actor.

“Theater was my world for a very long time. I’m lucky to have done My Fair Lady, South Pacific, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera. The songs stayed in my heart for a long time too. I was part of Miss Saigon, and I got the chance to give life to Thuy for the German edition of this popular musical,” he shared. Uy also flew for United Airlines for a few years and traveled the world. “But acting always lured me back. I’m happy that I am part of Ibarra. Performing in front of your home crowd is just so different, and the experience is always priceless.”

Another flight attendant who has found time to be part of the Ibarra cast is Kevin Posadas, alternating with Hidalgo for the role of Elias.

“Theater is my first love and I am grateful that I get to be part of this musical, and be one with all these passionate actors and the wonderful production team that I can learn so much from. It certainly gives me a different kind of high, so different from working above the clouds with the airline.”

Padre Damaso wasn’t supposed to be the role for Floyd Tena but destiny intervened and he ended being cast for this wonderful role. “It is a complex character. Many know him as villain but when I started to dissect Damaso, I discovered the humane, vulnerable side of him.”

Ibarra, The Musical is doubly special for single dad Tena because his son JD is also cast as Basilio. “It’s interesting that I also played Basilio in Floy Quintos’s Isang Panginip na Fili when I first found myself in theater. And now my son is playing Basilio and we are together in one musical. I often catch myself tearyeyed during rehearsals watching my son who has become so passionate and happy as a young a musical actor.”

Ibarra, The Musical will run at the GSIS Theater from June 8 to June 18.

The gorgeous and gifted men of Ibarra

JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE (right) and Rayver Cruz star in The Cheating Game

DOST 1 gears up to elevate aquatic resources of Pangasinan‘s 1st district

Lucky Me! Go Cup noodles ditch sachets; launches new campaign with online content creators, influencers

ICONIC noodle brand Lucky Me! recently revealed that consumers can now enjoy Lucky Me! Go Cups without the sachets. With seasonings already included inside the easy-prep cup, one only needs to add hot water and enjoy the same intense sarap flavors wherever and whenever. A handful of popular content creators and digital personalities, who also enjoy the variety of flavors offered with each Go Cup, have shared what they like most about the change.

No more hassle to add the seasoning

THE feistiest of them all, Sassa Gurl mentioned how easy it is to just enjoy her favorite Lucky Me! Go Cups after her followers asked why she’s not adding the seasoning. Sassa hits back and says, “Nandun na po siya, nakalagay na po. Naka-install na yung powder!

In-update nila!”

She also jokes, “Mas matitikman mo yung flavor kasi kumpleto na sa loob, kumpleto yung 18,000 granules!”

No sachets = instant satisfaction

One half of the viral PoCha duo, Warren Osinaga (aka Poca) recently shared how he went to a friend’s party to eat, but the food wasn’t ready yet. So, he went back to his car momentarily where he was ready with hot water from a thermos bottle and just enjoyed a Lucky Me! Go Cup to satisfy his hunger.

a convenient pick-me-up between working out and working remotely. He appreciates how it has the “same intense sarap, now in an easy-prep cup.”

No Assistance Needed

When you’re the “Trophy Wife” who everyone aspires to be like Rain Matienzo, you must be able to manage on your own, especially during workdays. Embodying her iconic character, Rain shares how she’s back to her acting career and showed what happens behind the camera.

“After a few scenes, I was very tired na so I snuck in a quick merienda. Wala nga pala si Yaya dito so I was looking for someone to prep my Lucky Me Go Cup,” the content creator said, still in her character. “But I didn’t need someone to help me na pala so I just prepared it myself! No more sachets, less hassle!”

Intense Sarap you Stay, Sachet Away

AFTER her stint in Drag Race Philippines, Viñas DeLuxe has gotten a lot busier. Which is why when getting ready for back-to-back performances, she said she has learned how to do her makeup quickly—often in less than 20 minutes.

DR . Teresita A. Tabaog, Officerin Charge, Office of the Regional Director (OIC-RD) of Department of Science and Technology Region 1 (DOST 1) together with Provincial Director Arnold C. Santos and team, visited Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Arthur F. Celeste during her rounds in the City of Alaminos on May 19, 2023, to discuss possible collaborations on science, technology and innovation (STI) programs that will benefit the first district of Pangasinan.

The officials talked about the need to bring more advanced and innovative technology and science-based solutions to help address the various problems within the district, such as agriculture, environment, disaster risk reduction and management, education, and livelihood.

During the meeting, Tabaog shared some of the DOST's existing programs and initiatives that could be adapted

to the district's specific needs, such as the implementation of the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program to the people in the grassroots, Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) to the micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), disaster preparedness to the local government heads, among others.

“We have a lot to offer at the DOST. Across all sectors/services, STI should be there,” Tabaog stated.

Celeste pointed out that he is committed to maximizing and utilizing the available aquatic resources in their district primarily milkfish, salt, and oyster, as well as the vital tourist industry of the Hundred Islands. On the other hand, Tabaog expressed her commitment to help in advancing the industries mentioned through the available STI technologies.

“The DOST has a lot of programs that

can be applied in my district,” Celeste said.

The lawmaker together with his Legal Consultant Kleider Rex Aoanan, expressed his full support on the proposed collaborations and reiterated the need to prioritize and invest in science and technology to create more opportunities and improve the quality of life of their constituents.

Celeste further emphasized that in order to effectively utilize the technology, local government entities must be willing to embrace them.

The officials agreed to work closely together to develop a concrete plan of action that would maximize the resources of both the DOST and the Congressman's office.

The meeting ended with a firm commitment to move forward with the proposed collaborations and to prioritize the development of STI programs that would pave the way for a brighter future for the first district of Pangasinan.

Southwoods Mall receives Customer Service Excellence Award from Biñan

Poca exclaims, “Bahala kayo diyan, mas matimbang ang Lucky Me Spicy Bulalo kesa sa mga lumpiang shanghai niyo diyan!” The hilarious vlogger later explained that it’s easier to prepare now that there’s no need to fumble with sachets.

No Slow Work, More Bebu Time

NELSON Baraquia, whom netizens collectively acknowledge as Bebu, also enjoys

“Sa tagal ko mag-makeup? Mga misis, kulang ako sa oras! Kaya naka-ready always itong Lucky Me! Go Cup!” she explains while doing makeup. “Dati pag namali pa ko nang pagbukas, nalalaglag sa makeup ko yung seasoning, ngayon wala nang sachet pero ganun pa rin kasarap!” she continues.

With these variants to choose from, Go Lang with your favorite Lucky Me! Go Cup, now in Easy Prep Cup—with no more sachets and with the seasonings already inside, just add hot water and enjoy the same Intense Sarap that you’ve always loved.

For more information and details, follow Lucky Me! on Facebook.

Hino, Toyota Motor Corporation, Daimler Truck, Mitsubishi Fuso Join Forces in Groundbreaking MoU

HINO Motors Ltd. (“Hino”), Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”), Daimler Truck Holding AG (“Daimler Truck”) and Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (“MFTBC”) recently concluded the signing of a historical Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the aim of expediting the development of advanced technologies as well as the merging of MFTBC and Hino.

This collaboration seeks to achieve carbon neutrality and foster a prosperous mobile society, with a specific focus on the advancement of CASE technologies (Connected/Autonomous and Automated/ Shared/Electric) and the enhancement of the global commercial vehicle business.

The partnership entails the merging of MFTBC and Hino under a new holding company where both have equal footing in terms of investment. This aims to create collaborations in commercial vehicle development, procurement, and production, which will help develop a globally competitive Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer.

To support this vision, Daimler Truck and Toyota will make equal investments in the merged company‘s holding entity. Together, they will also work towards the development of hydrogen and other CASE technologies, thereby bolstering the competitiveness of the new company.

All four companies share a common commitment to contribute to a prosperous society through mobility. Their mission includes promoting the use of environmentally friendly vehicles and enhancing the value of mobility within global social systems.

Koji Sato, CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation, emphasized that this partnership among the four companies is dedicated to shaping the future of commercial vehicles in Japan and transforming the mobility society. Sato highlighted their shared vision of achieving carbon neutrality through the strengthening of CASE technologies and solving social issues, ultimately building a better future together.

Karl Deppen, CEO of MFTBC, highlighted the collaboration's potential to expedite the decarbonization of the transportation industry. By uniting under the well-established brands of FUSO and Hino, the merged company will play a leading role in meeting customer needs in Japan, Asia, and beyond, while contributing to a greener future.

SOUTHWOODS Mall in Southwoods City was awarded with the Customer Service Excellence Award by the City of Biñan at the City of Life Awards 2023, held at the Biñan People Center last May 19. 2023, a breakthrough recognition in the mall’s young history.

This year’s awards ceremony was headed and graced by Biñan City Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr., Biñan City Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte, Councilor Christopher Alba, Councilor Rommel Dicdican, and Provincial Director for Department of Trade and Industry Laguna, Christian Tes Tungohan.

The City of Life Awards: Outstanding Companies and Barangays in the City

Director

of Biñan has been held annually since 2017 by the city’s local government to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of companies that further increase economic growth for the province.

“On behalf of Southwoods Mall and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, we are humbled and honored to be selected as the recipient of the Customer Service Excellence Award. This accolade underscores our dedication to surpassing customer expectations and setting new standards in the retail industry,” Southwoods Mall General Manager Junneth Ocampo Gomez said as she received the award.

Southwoods Mall is located inside Megaworld’s 561-hectare Southwoods City township in Biñan, Laguna. With its diverse selection of retail stores, dining options, and entertainment experiences, Southwoods Mall offers a unique and captivating shopping experience for visitors of all ages.

The township boasts of its innovative contemporary design surrounded by lush greeneries, which received the distinction of Best Retail Architectural Design in 2019 by the Philippine Property Awards.

For more updates on the latest happenings, visit megaworldlifestylemalls.com or call our hotline at 8-462-8888.

The collaboration between MFTBC and Hino is set to create synergies and strengthen Japanese truck manufacturers, ultimately fortifying the foundations of the Japanese and Asian automotive industries. This initiative aims to benefit customers, stakeholders, and society at large.

Both Daimler Truck and Toyota boast global full lineups of vehicles tailored to meet local requirements. With a strong emphasis on carbon neutrality, they provide diverse options based on specific market conditions and customer needs.

Martin Daum, CEO of Daimler Truck, expressed his pride in the company's products and highlighted the importance of sustainable transportation. He emphasized that this collaboration is a significant step towards achieving a future of zero-emission vehicles, economic viability, and sustainable transportation. Daum further stated that the planned new company resulting from the merger will become a major force in Southeast Asia and a valued associate of the Daimler Truck family.

Satoshi Ogiso, CEO of Hino, emphasized their commitment to supporting mobility and contributing to society. Hand in hand, the companies will accelerate the development of advanced technologies to overcome global competition and address challenges such as achieving carbon neutrality.

Over the next 18 months, the parties involved will decide on the details of the collaboration, including the name, location, shareholding ratio, and corporate structure of the new holding company. They anticipate signing definitive agreements in the first quarter of 2024, with the aim of closing the transaction by the end of 2024. Once all relevant boards of directors, shareholders, and authorities approve the agreement, the parties will move forward with their plans.

The collaboration between Daimler Truck, Mitsubishi Fuso, Hino, and Toyota Motor Corporation signifies a significant step towards a greener and more prosperous future for the commercial vehicle industry. By combining their expertise, resources, and commitment to advanced technologies, these companies are paving the way for sustainable transportation and a mobility society that benefits all.

FROM left, Biñan City Councilors Christopher Alba and Rommel Dicdican, Provincial

for Department of Trade and Inudstry Laguna Christian Tes Tungohan, Southwoods Mall General Manager Junneth Gomez, Biñan City Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr., and Biñan City Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte.

How Biden and McCarthy struck a debt limit deal and staved off a catastrophe

By Seung Min Kim, Stephen Groves & Farnoush Amiri The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—It

was advice that Mitch McConnell had offered to Joe Biden once already: To resolve the debt limit standoff, he needed to strike a deal with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy—and McCarthy alone. But after the first meeting of the top four congressional leaders with the president in early May, the Senate minority leader felt the need to reemphasize his counsel.

After returning from the White House that day, McConnell called the president to privately urge him to “shrink the room”—meaning no direct involvement in the talks for himself, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

That, McConnell stressed to Biden, was the only way to avert a potentially economy-rattling default.

A week later, Biden and McCarthy essentially adopted that path, tapping a handful of trusted emissaries to negotiate a deal that would lift the debt limit. It was a turning point in an impasse that, until then, seemed intractable. Having lived through the debacle of a 2011 debt limit fight, Biden would not entertain any concessions for a task that he viewed as Congress’ fundamental responsibility. But McCarthy, prodded by conservatives insisting on sweeping changes to federal spending, was intent on using the nation’s borrowing authority as leverage even if it edged the US closer to default.

The scramble that ensued showed how two of the most powerful figures in Washington— who share a belief in the power of personal relationships, despite not having much of one between themselves—jointly staved off an unprecedented default that could have ravaged the economy and held unknown political consequences. It’s a tale of an underestimated House speaker determined to defy

expectations that he couldn’t address a complex debt limit fight, and a president who tuned out the noise from his own party to ensure a default would not happen on his watch.

But it was also a standoff largely instigated by Republicans who argued they needed to use the debt limit threat as a cudgel to rein in federal spending. And even with a resounding 314-117 House vote— followed by a 63-36 Senate vote— the episode is testing the durability of McCarthy’s speakership and his ability to tame a restive hardright flank.

‘How you finish’

MCCARTHY, now emboldened, is unfazed.

He reflected back on his election as speaker after the House passed the debt limit package, referring to his long battle to claim the gavel in January. “Every question you gave me (was), what could we survive, what could we even do? I told you then, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

This account of the weeks-long saga of how Washington defused the debt limit crisis is based on interviews with lawmakers, senior White House officials and top congressional aides, some who requested anonymity to discuss details of private negotiations.

Perhaps most critical to clearing the blockades were Biden and McCarthy’s five negotiators who came to the discussions armed with policy gravitas and empow -

ered by their principals. Particularly comforting to Republicans was the presence of presidential counselor Steve Ricchetti, who speaks on behalf of Biden like no one else, and Shalanda Young, now the director of the Office and Management and Budget, who cut her teeth as a beloved senior congressional aide managing the complex annual appropriations process.

Young and Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, one of McCarthy’s negotiators, grew so close that they checked in each morning by phone as they did their respective day care drop-offs. Meanwhile, she and the other GOP negotiator, Rep. Garret Graves, who represents the south central part of Louisiana where Young hails from, ribbed each other over who had the better gumbo recipe and squeezed in debt limit talks during a White House celebration for the national champion Louisiana State University women’s basketball team.

The five negotiators—Graves, McHenry, Ricchetti, Young and legislative affairs director Louisa Terrell—met daily in a stately office on the first floor of the Capitol, under frescoes painted by the 19th century muralist Constantino Brumidi. Inside, they would home in with seriousness on priorities and red lines to figure out how they could reach a deal.

The pause button and a ‘regressive’ offer BY May 19, the negotiations were getting shaky.

Republicans were losing patience as the White House didn’t appear to be budging on curbing federal spending. For the GOP, anything short of that was a nonstarter.

During a morning meeting that Friday, White House officials

pushed McHenry and Graves to put a formal offer on the table, but by that point, the frustrated Republicans decided to take it all public.

Republicans told reporters the talks had momentarily stopped. Graves, in a ball cap and blue button-up shirt that looked more apt for a fishing trip than high-stakes deal-making, said as he walked briskly through the Capitol: “We decided to press pause because it’s just not productive.”

“We were not going to play games here,” Graves recounted later of his and McHenry’s frustrations.

The friction wasn’t about to ease. When the negotiations reconvened that night, McHenry and Graves put forward a fresh proposal to administration officials: It not only revived more of the rejected provisions in the GOP’s debt limit bill, but also included the House Republicans’ bordersecurity bill for good measure.

One White House official called the offer “regressive.”

The White House went public with its own frustrations as the negotiations seemed to be going awry, first with a lengthy statement from communications director Ben LaBolt and then from Biden himself at a news conference in Hiroshima, Japan, where he was attending a summit of the world’s leading democracies.

“Now it’s time for the other side to move their extreme positions,” the president said. “Because much of what they’ve already proposed is simply, quite frankly, unacceptable.”

Optimism, late nights and gummy worms

EVEN as the public rhetoric sharpened, there were signs that the talks were starting to

take a better turn.

As Biden left Japan, he called McCarthy from Air Force One, and the speaker emerged appearing more optimistic than he had in days. Sustained by coffee, gummy worms and burritos, the negotiators worked grueling hours, mostly at the Capitol but once at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where they noshed on Call Your Mother bagel sandwiches sent over by Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff.

One session lasted until 2:30 a.m. Graves, at another time, showed reporters an app on his phone that tracked his sleep, which showed he was averaging three hours a night during the final stretch.

Still, McCarthy sent lawmakers home over the Memorial Day weekend, which McHenry said helped.

“The tone of the White House negotiators became much more serious and much more grounded in the realities they were going to have to accept,” McHenry said.

Selling the deal

BY May 27, Biden and McCarthy announced a deal in principle, and now had to sell the agreement in earnest.

The night before the vote, McCarthy gathered House Republicans in the basement of the Capitol, wheeled in pizza and walked lawmakers through the bill, while daring the Freedom Caucus members to use the same confrontational language they used at a news conference earlier in the day. By the time the meeting ended, it was clear McCarthy had subdued the revolt.

Meanwhile, the White House had work of its own to mollify rank-and-file Democrats.

Biden and McCarthy were a study in contrasting styles. The speaker chatted about the debt limit talks at every turn throughout the negotiations to frame the debate on his terms; the president stayed silent by design, leery of fouling anything up before the deal was finalized.

Even as the deal was coming together, Biden had been privately trying to assuage his party’s concerns. After the Congressional Progressive Caucus publicly eviscerated the few details that they knew of, particularly about toughening requirements for federal safety-net programs, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., got a

call that night.

It was Biden. He assured her that his negotiators were working hard to minimize Republican-drafted changes to programs that offer food stamps and cash assistance.

“I do believe that had we not done that, this would have been much worse than what I heard,” Jayapal said.

After the deal was finalized, through phone calls and virtual briefings, White House officials answered questions, explained the agreement’s intricacies and fielded complaints from lawmakers about their communications strategy. As of Thursday, senior White House officials had called more than 130 lawmakers personally.

Biden himself got on the phone.

On one call, he spoke with Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., the leader of the center-left New Democrats Coalition, and thanked her for the group’s efforts to ensure the deal would pass.

“I appreciate that he knows this institution so well, and that he understands what it takes to deliver these votes to get us across the line and to uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America,” Kuster said. “We all took an oath.”

Late Wednesday night, as the House voted its approval with significant bipartisan support, Biden watched from the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, where he had traveled to for a commencement address at the Air Force Academy. On the phone with Biden throughout were Ricchetti and Terrell, who were listening in from the West Wing with other legislative aides, munching on more pizza.

In a statement after the vote, Biden sounded thankful—and relieved.

“Tonight, the House took a critical step forward to prevent a first-ever default and protect our country’s hard-earned and historic economic recovery,” he said. “This budget agreement is a bipartisan compromise. Neither side got everything it wanted. That’s the responsibility of governing.”

Then the Senate labored toward its own vote. It passed the bill Thursday night.

A P Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

China tightens access to Tiananmen Square, 32 detained in HK on anniversary of 1989 protests

By The Associated Press

BEIJING—China tightened access to Tiananmen Square in central Beijing on Sunday, the anniversary of the military suppression of 1989 pro-democracy protests that left a still unknown number of people dead and discussions and commemorations forbidden within the country.

In Hong Kong, which was the last Chinese-controlled territory to hold commemorations, eight people, including activists and artists, were detained on the eve of the anniversary, underscoring the city’s shrinking room for freedom of expression. Police said late Sunday they arrested a woman for allegedly obstructing police officers in performing their duties and took 23 other people away on suspicion of breaching public peace for further investigation.

Many of them were detained by officers around Victoria Park, the large public space of lawns and sports grounds that used to be the scene of an annual candlelight gathering to remember the hundreds or thousands killed when army tanks and

infantry descended on central Beijing on the night of June 3 and into the morning of June 4, 1989.

Discussion of the seven weeks of studentled protests that attracted workers and artists and their violent resolution has long been suppressed in China. It also became increasingly off-limits in Hong Kong since a sweeping national security law was imposed in 2020, effectively barring anyone from holding memorial events.

The death toll from the 1989 violence remains unknown and the Communist Party relentlessly harasses those at home or overseas who seek to keep the memory of the events alive.

In Beijing, additional security was seen around Tiananmen Square, which has long been ringed with security checks requiring those entering to show identification. People passing by foot or on bicycle on Changan Avenue running north of the square were also stopped and forced to show identification.

Those with journalist visas in their passports were told they needed special permission to even approach the area.

Still, throngs of tourists were seen visiting

the iconic site, with hundreds standing in line to enter the square.

Ahead of the anniversary, a group of mothers who lost their children in the Tiananmen crackdown sought redress and issued a statement renewing their call for “truth, compensation and accountability.”

Human Rights Watch called on the Chinese government to acknowledge responsibility for the killing of prodemocracy protesters.

“The Chinese government continues to evade accountability for the decadesold Tiananmen Massacre, which has emboldened its arbitrary detention of millions, its severe censorship and surveillance, and its efforts to undermine rights internationally,” Yaqiu Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

While Hong Kong, a former British colony handed over to Chinese rule in 1997, uses colonial-era anti-sedition laws to crack down on dissent, the persistence of non-conforming voices “lays bare the futility of the authorities’ attempts to enforce silence and obedience,” Amnesty

International said.

“The Hong Kong government’s shameful campaign to stop people marking this anniversary mirrors the censorship of the Chinese central government and is an insult to those killed in the Tiananmen crackdown,” Amnesty said.

Beijing-appointed authorities in Hong Kong have blocked the Tiananmen memorial for the last three years, citing public health grounds. In 2020, thousands defied a police ban to hold the event.

Despite the lifting of most Covid-19 restrictions, the city’s public commemoration this year was muted under a Beijing-imposed national security law that prosecuted or silenced many Hong Kong activists. Three leaders of the group that used to organize the vigil were charged with subversion under the law. The group itself was disbanded in 2021, after police informed it that it was under investigation for working on behalf of foreign groups, an accusation the group denied.

After the enactment of the security law following massive protests in 2019, Tiananmen-related visual spectacles,

including statues at universities, were also removed. Most recently, books featuring the events have been pulled off public library shelves.

Asked whether it is legal to mourn the crackdown in public as an individual, Hong Kong leader John Lee said that if anyone breaks the law, “of course the police will have to take action.”

Many Hong Kongers, who were uncertain what authorities might consider subversive, tried to mark the event in low-profile ways on Sunday.

Chan Po-ying, leader of the League of Social Democrats, held a LED candle in one hand and two yellow paper flowers in another. She was taken away by police officers from a stop-and-search area.

At Victoria Park, scenes of people rallying for democracy have been replaced by a carnival organized by pro-Beijing groups to mark the city’s 1997 handover to China.

By about 8:30 p.m., another 14 people, including activists and a former head of The Hong Kong Journalists Association, were taken away by police in Causeway Bay shopping district, where Victoria Park

is located.

Sunday’s events reflected the political chill that has sparked emigration to Britain and other countries and a deep ambivalence among a population that had been strongly engaged in local politics.

The United Nations Human Rights office said on Twitter that it was alarmed by reports of the city’s detention linked to the anniversary, urging the release of anyone detained for exercising freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

A commemoration was held in Taipei, the capital of the self-governing island democracy of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory to be annexed possibly by force. More than 500 participants turned out to light candles, hear speeches and chant slogans under a heavy rain.

Kacey Wong, an artist who is among the scores of Hong Kong residents who have moved to Taiwan, said the more than 30 years of commemorating the 1989 protests had made it a part of life.

The Associated Press writer Kanis Leung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

SPEAKER of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., walks to the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington on May 31, 2023 as the House moves toward passage of the debt limit bill. AP/JOSE LUIS MAGANA

MIAMI TIES SERIES: AGAINST ALL ODDS

DENVER—Staring down a 2-0 deficit in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, as the visitors in a hostile arena where no road team had prevailed in more than two months, the Miami Heat decided to do what they’ve done throughout the postseason.

They found a way. Against all odds. Again.

The Heat tied the NBA Finals and had to overcome a monster 41-point effort from Nikola Jokic to do it. Gabe Vincent scored 23 points, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo each had 21 and Heat beat the Denver Nuggets, 111-108, in Game 2 on Sunday night.

Our guys are competitors,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They love these kind of moments.”

Evidently.

They were down by as many as 15 points, down eight going into the fourth, and those numbers signified they were going to lose. Denver was 11-0 in these playoffs when leading by double digits at any point in a game, and 37-1 this season overall when leading by at least

eight going into the fourth.

The Heat didn’t care. They outscored Denver 17-5 in the first 3:17 of the fourth to take the lead for good, eventually went up by 12, then frittered most of it away and had to survive a three-point try by Jamal Murray as time expired.

“ This is the finals,” Adebayo said.

“We gutted one out.”

Game 3 is Wednesday in Miami.

Max Strus scored 14 and Duncan Robinson had 10—all of them in the fourth—for the Heat, who had a big early lead, then got down by as many as 15. They had no answers for Jokic, who was 16 of 28 from the floor, the last of those shots a 4-footer with 36 seconds left to get the Nuggets within three.

Denver elected not to foul on the ensuing Miami possession and it paid off. Butler missed a 3, and with a chance to tie, Murray missed a threepointer at the buzzer.

I just contested it,” Butler said.

“Pretty glad that he missed it.”

Denver lost at home for the first time since March 30, and for the first time in 10 home playoff games this year. And just as he did after a Game

1 win, Nuggets coach Michael Malone sounded the alarm after a Game 2 loss.

Let’s talk about effort,” Malone said. “I mean, this is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine. You guys probably thought I was just making up some storyline after Game 1 when I said we didn’t play well. We didn’t play well....

This is not the preseason. This is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals.”

Murray had 18 points and 10 assists for Denver, while Aaron Gordon

had 12 points and Bruce Brown scored 11. They just played hard, and like I said, it was more discipline,” Murray said. “It’s defeating when you’re giving up mistake after mistake, and it’s not them beating you, you’re giving them open dunks or open shots. That’s tough to come back from.”

S trus, who was 0 for 10 in Game 1, had four 3-pointers in the first quarter of Game 2. Butler made a jumper with 4:56 left in the opening quarter to put Miami up 21-10, tying the second-biggest lead any opponent had built in Denver so far in these playoffs.

I n a flash, it was gone—and then some.

The Nuggets outscored Miami 3211 over the next 9 minutes, turning the double-digit deficit into a doubledigit lead thanks to an absolute 3-point barrage.

I n a 70-second span early in the second quarter, Denver got four 3s—more points than Miami got in that entire 9-minute stretch—and they came from four different players: Brown, then Jeff Green, then Murray, then Gordon.

B oom, boom, boom, and boom. Murray had five straight points to end the flurry, and Denver led 44-32 when it was over. It looked like everything was going Denver’s way. Miami insisted otherwise. And for the 44th time this season, the Heat won a game by five points or less. None of them was bigger than this one. When it comes down to the wire,” Vincent said, “we’re strangely comfortable.”

3 PARA GOLDS ADDED TO COFFERS

won gold,” said the 27-year-old native of Tabaco, Albay.

B ejino, who delivered the country’s first gold medal in the 400 freestyle Sunday, could pile up golds in three more individual events plus the 4x100 medley.

“I think I have a

Wild chase for men’s title seen at PGT Valley

THE top guns try to get into the heat of the battle early but the lesser lights seek to squeeze into the mix in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Valley Golf Challenge beginning Tuesday at the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo City.

B acolod City leg winner Ira Alido oozes with confidence coming off a stint in the Asian Development Tour in Thailand, raring to get into the scoring act on a course so familiar for the touring pros but which has not hosted a Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) leg the past nine years.

“ There’s no other way to play the [Valley] course but to set myself up to get as much birdies as I can since it’s a really scoreable course that can present a lot of birdies when put in a good position,” said Alido, who clinched his second pro victory at Marapara in come-from-behind fashion last March.

A lthough he struggled for joint 18th in Iloilo, the former national champion who scored a breakthrough win at Riviera in 2020 placed fifth at Caliraya Springs and posted a runner-up finish

at Luisita. Playing in Thailand helped me further my game in terms of playing a harder field and deeper scores,” he said. “I’m playing at a high level right now mentally and physically and I know that I will have a chance to win week in and week out.”

So does Tony Lascuña, the runaway winner at Caliraya Springs, who likens the up-and-down course to the relatively flat Villamor layout in terms of challenges and tests it presents.

“ Valley is like Villamor—so many troubles—so everything must click–long game, iron play and putting,” said the multi-titled Davaoeño campaigner who actually won the last PGT event here in 2014.

L ike Alido, Lascuña said he’s in top shape following a stint in Taiwan and expects to put himself in contention in the P2 million championship serving as the sixth leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. A c rowd of aces and unheralded

but solid players, however, are ready to pounce on every opportunity, including Guido van der Valk, who bounced back from a rare missed cut stint at Luisita with a joint runner-up finish at Villamor topped by Jhonnel Ababa two weeks ago.

I will try again to be in contention [to win] during the final round. The more times you give yourself a chance, the more tournaments you win,” said van der Valk, the reigning back-to-back The Country Club Invitational champion. “I haven’t played Valley for a long time and I need to work on my iron play and short game.”

Constantino’s bid for ‘3-peat’ gets going in Antipolo

THE pressure to deliver a record run doesn’t bother Harmie

Constantino a bit but the backto-back winner at Luisita and Villamor underscored the need for consistency as she tries to make it three-in-a row in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Valley Golf Challenge which gets under way Tuesday in Antipolo City.

I don’t think there’s pressure,” said Constantino on the eve of the P750,000 event at the Valley Golf South where she placed a distant third in last year’s staging of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) event topped by amateur Rianne Malixi.

I just want to play well and I’m confident to know that I can produce good rounds. I just need to play consistently,” added the former national champion who has racked up six victories in a two-year pro career. B ut a souped-up field is out to halt her streak, including last year’s

runner-up Chihiro Ikeda, who also placed second to Constantino in the inaugural ICTSI Villamor Philippine Ladies Masters two weeks ago, and Daniella Uy, who is mounting a personal battle after squandering a couple of shots at the crown with late miscues at Luisita and Villamor.

A t alented cast of amateurs is also fancied to mix up title chase with Lois Kaye Go and Mikha

Fortuna joining Mafy Singson and Koreans Minyeong Kim, Jiwon Lee and Eunhua Nam in the hunt in the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI that also features jungolfers Levone Talion and Rafa Anciano.

W hile Singson has annexed a maiden pro win at Splendido Taal last year, the Cebu-based Go is gunning for her first although she missed her chance at Hallow Ridge last year while Fortuna expects to figure prominently, this being her pro qualifying tournament.

THREE more gold medals—two coming from swimming were added to Team Philippines’ coffers at the 12th ASEAN Para Games on Monday in Phnom Penh.

Gary Bejino had another recordbreaking performance this time in the men’s 200-meter freestyle of S6 at the Morodok Techo National Stadium’s Aquatics Center.  He clocked two minutes and 38.55 to erase the old record of 2:45.99 set by Myanmar’s Aung Myint Myat last year in Indonesia.

C hanni Wongnonthaphum of Thailand took silver in 2:53.10 while Thanh Hai Do of Vietnam settled for bronze in 2:54.23.

It’s my first time to compete in 200 freestyle and I’m happy that I

ASUSANO smiles and powers her way to a javelin gold medal in Cambodia.

Hundreds join Asiad Fun Run despite Taal’s mild tantrums

By Josef Ramos

TAGAYTAY City played a perfect host to the Hangzhou Asian Games Fun Run that the Philippine Olympic Committee’s (POC) hosted with more than 500 runners participating in the ceremonial campaign aimed to promote the games in September.

Some of the country’s medalists in last month’s Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, representatives from the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and local

students gamely answered the gun at exactly 6 a.m. in the city famous for its cool and inviting weather amid a backdrop of captivating Taal Volcano that again showed signs of minor tantrums on the eve of the event.

But POC president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was unperturbed at all.

We are proud that the POC, Tagaytay City and the country have become part of this symbolic fun run that not only helps promote the Asian Games but also reiterates the Philippines’ very important and historic role why these very games

good chance. I will do my best,” said Bejino, who won three medals at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Para Games.

A riel Joseph Alegarbes won the men’s 50m butterfly S14 in 26.69 seconds, beating Malaysians Bryan Lau Sze Kai (27.060) and Muhammad Imaan Aiman (27.530).

It was the second medal for Alegarbes after the silver he clinched in the 100 breaststroke Sunday.

Ernie Gawilan (men’s 100m backstroke S7) and Edwin Villanueva (men’s 50m breaststroke SB7) settled for bronze medals.

I n athletics, Cendy Asusano  threw the javelin to 13.74 meters in women’s throw F54 to collect her second gold medal.

Marites Burce got silver medal with 11.96 while Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy bagged bronze with 11.56.

The other silver medalists in athletics were King James Reyes (men’s 1500 T46), Jolan Camacho (men’s long jump) and Jesebel Arevalo (women’s javelin F55).

The Philippines ranked fifth in the medals race with 11 gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals before sundown on Monday.

I ndonesia led with 39 golds, 33 silvers and 27 bronzes followed by Vietnam (26-21-29), Thailand (22-2719) and Malaysia (19-13-7).

were organized more than a century ago,” said POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who’s also the mayor of Tagaytay City.

The Philippines is acknowledged as the birth place of the Asian Games when the first Far Eastern Olympic Games were staged in January and February 1913 in the very same Malate area where the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex stands. Everything’s perfect, Tagaytay City is perfect for this fun run,” Tolentino said moments before he was joined by HAGOC HR Director Chen Qiufang flagged off the runners in waves for the 6K, 3K and 1K categories.

Coupled with the fun run was Tagaytay City’s hosting of the Hangzhou Asian Games Children’s Art Competition where select masterpieces depicting the games were picked by POC, HAGOC and OCA officials from dozens of entries sent by Tagaytay City school children.

OCA Projects and Operations Manager Wissam Trkmani of Lebanon and Media and Broadcast Director Jeans Jhou Jiann of China also graced the ceremony, along with Philippine-based Chinese representing the HAGOC.

A mong those who joined the fun run were Cambodia SEA Games medalists Jason Balabal (wrestling), Sam Morrison (taekwondo), Jasmine Alkhaldi (swimming), Agatha Wong (wushu), Precious Cabuya and Mark Julius Rodelas (obstacle sports), as well as Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Felix Marcial (boxing), Nikko Huelgas (triathlon) and Cheska Altomonte (softball). POC deputy secretaries-general Bones Floro and Karen TanchancoCaballero, who’s also deputy chef de mission to Hangzou.

The Hangzhou Asian Games are set September 23 to October 8.

CENDY

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino (left) and Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee HR Director Chen Qiufang flag off the runners.

MIAMI’S Duncan Robinson shoots against Denver’s Jeff Green during the second half of Game 2. AP