BusinessMirror June 07, 2024

Luzon Corridor, TPB ‘to create quality jobs’

THE Luzon Economic Corridor and the Trabaho Para sa Bayan (TPB) Plan are expected to create quality jobs for Filipinos, according to the Department of Finance (DOF) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

On Thursday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said that while there was a reduction in the number of jobless Filipinos, there was an increase in the number of underemployed Filipinos or those looking for better incomes. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/06/06/phl-employmentrate-up-to-96-in-april-24-psa/)

improving the country’s investment environment to attract more high-quality jobs while increasing the government’s investments in human capital development, such as better healthcare and education. All these will prepare our young and dynamic workforce for lucrative and high-income opportunities,” Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto said in a statement.

The DOF said the Luzon Economic corridor will connect Subic Bay in Zambales, Clark in Pampanga, Manila, and Batangas which are investment areas that can create jobs.

ment (PGI) economic corridor in the Indo-Pacific region following the inaugural Trilateral United States-Japan-Philippines Leaders Meeting.

Recto also said apart from this project, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) is preparing the mediumand long-term Foreign Investment Promotion and Marketing Plan (FIPMP), a strategic approach to positioning the Philippines as a premier investment destination.

See “Luzon,” A THE WORLD | A11 UN CHIEF WANTS A TAX ON PROFITS OF FOSSIL FUEL FIRMS, CALLS THEM ‘GODFATHERS OF CLIMATE CHAOS’

“Our primary goal here is to sustain labor market gains through

The Luzon Economic Corridor is the first Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Invest-

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

JOB losses in the agriculture sector may continue because of the government’s recent decision to reduce rice tariffs until 2028, according to local economists.

On Thursday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said there were 2.04 million unemployed Filipinos in April 2024 and 7.04 million underemployed dur-

ing the period. (See: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/06/06/phl-employment-rate-up-to-96-in-april-24-psa/).

See “EL Niño,” A

OWNERS of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza are looking at other options to manage the closure of the hotel or maybe reopen it in the future, including the pretermination of their lease contract with the government or finding new investors, respectively.

In a Viber exchange with the BusinessMirror, Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI) President Esteban Peña Sy

said, “There are many options.

The foreign investors may decide to discuss with GSIS [Government Service Insurance System] for the pretermination of the lease contract, the hotel owners may put in huge new investments if the lease term on the land is extended, or the present owners may find other interested investors to take over the lease contract.”

See “Sofitel,” A

Govt must

help fund shift

from ‘brown’ to ‘green’ biz

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

GOVERNMENT support is crucial in financing brown industries to help their business models transition to a green economy, according to a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Finance Hub Senior Advisor.

“Being able to provide government support, innovation support is absolutely key because I told you from the manufacturing side I can build you a gigawatt of wind, solar, mostly hydro, anywhere in

the world, a new gigawatt cheaper than any kind of fossil fuel. I’ve now got battery technology that’s coming online that takes care of the intermittency issues,” Michael Sheren, UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub Senior Advisor said at a forum organized by the Makati Business Club billed as “Driving Sustainable Business Transformation” in Makati City on Thursday.

The UNDP official underscored that “one of the biggest areas that we’ve left off the table here, which is absolutely critical, is transition

“The government’s massive infrastructure push is expected to create opportunities in several priority sectors, such as energy, logistics, and tourism,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

“The government will also explore opportunities for quality job growth in the mining sector, leveraging available technologies to develop value-adding activities such as mineral processing,” he added.

Slated for completion by the end of the month, the plan leverages the country’s competitive advantages, natural resources, skill and educational development, traditional linkages, and international market potential to attract more foreign investments that will generate high-quality employment opportunities.

PHL buys more pork, chicken abroad, 4-mo imports up 11.3%

By Ada Pelonia @adapelonia

THE country’s meat imports grew by 11.34 percent to over 390,000 metric tons (MT) as of April 30, driven by higher pork and chicken purchases abroad.

Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that meat imports reached 396,385 MT from January to April this year compared to the 356,019 MT recorded in the same period in 2023.

Pork imports rose by 17.99 percent to 193,146 MT from 163,690 MT. Offals accounted for most of the pork shipments at 69,977 MT, but this is lower than the 79,269

Govt…

finance and that is, how do you finance those brown industries that you still need for the length of time until they run out?”

Sheren said this as he stressed that it will take “real hard finance techniques” to transition to the green economy because “you can’t shut it all down.”

“You price it correctly, you finance it correctly, you understand where the value sits in

MT recorded last year.

“Importers are likely positioning in anticipation of higher prices abroad, a weaker peso, as well as lower hog production due to El Niño,” the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA) President Emeritus Jesus Cham said via Viber.

“It is noteworthy that offal volume decreased, perhaps indicating greater attractiveness of pork meat at the current import duty rate,” he added.

Cham noted that since the arrivals were contracted over three months ago, the impact of the suspension of the pork quota was not felt.

“We will see how in the next few months how it will affect imports,”

that, and you make sure you bring it offline as a substitution of the clean gigawatts come in place, and government can help work on shaping those policies,” the UNDP official explained. He also noted that the Philippines is almost 55 percent reliant on coal. With this, he argued, “You can’t shut those plants off right now. But you need to have a plan to bring them offline and bring new stuff online.”

Such transition, he noted, takes “a ton of coordination and that needs both, again, finance, policy and industry working together on that policy.”

he said. Based on BAI data, beef imports jumped by 21.90 percent to 51,527 MT from 42,271 MT last year. Beef cuts held the bulk of the imports at 33,571 MT.

“Perhaps the high retail price of pork is pushing consumers toward mid range beef,” Cham said. Chicken meat imports also grew by 2.41 percent to 134,465 MT from 131,297 MT recorded in the same period last year. The country’s imports of mechanically deboned meat (MDM) accounted for the bulk of chicken imports at 68,686 MT. This was followed by the purchases of chicken leg quarters at 41,571 MT.

The United Broiler Raisers Association (Ubra) attributed the high

Further, he said tax credits on research and development, cutbacks and coordination are “absolutely” essential in the transition to a green economy.

Meanwhile, Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual talked about the Philippine government’s strategies in driving the country’s renewable energy transformation at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Clean Economy Investor Forum held in Singapore on June 6, 2024. The Philippines’ Trade chief noted that the Philippine Energy Plan sets “aggressive” tar-

EL Niño…

Continued from A

However, National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said the El Niño phenomenon led to the reduction of 818,000 jobs in the agriculture and forestry sector. Of this number, 462,000 jobs were in rice production.

purchase of chicken products, particularly the MDM, to the anticipation of a hike in logistic costs and weaker peso.

“The end-users may have anticipated increasing logistics costs and the depreciation of the peso,” Ubra Chairman Elias Jose Inciong told the BusinessMirror via Viber.

Meanwhile, Spain was the Philippines’s top supplier of pork from the January to April period at 50,935 MT followed by Brazil at 44,452 MT and Canada at 26,164 MT.

Brazil was also the country’s major supplier of chicken at 70,508 MT with the United States trailing behind at 46,636.

In terms of beef imports, BAI data showed that Brazil was also the country’s biggest supplier at 17,183 MT followed by Australia at 16,098 MT.

gets for offshore wind, waste-to-energy projects, and expanding rooftop solar programs.

This, he noted, is accelerated through enhanced tax incentives that support the growth of green industries, attracting significant investment opportunities, as well as a policy on foreign ownership that allows 100 percent foreign ownership in renewable energy projects.

In his speech, Pascual said among the key initiatives driving the country’s renewables transformation are the enhanced tax incentives which aim to support the growth of green industries, including renewable energy,adding that they have implemented tax incentives designed to attract domestic and international investors.

On the industrial front, the Trade chief said the Philippines is championing green manufacturing and ecosystems by promoting energy-efficient technologies, reducing waste, and sourcing sustainable raw materials.

“We have rolled out initiatives offering grants, tax incentives, and technical assistance to help industries shift to more sustainable practices,” Pascual said.

He also noted at the IPEF Clean Economy Forum that it is the government’s vision for the Philippines to become a hub for green and sustainable manufacturing.

“We prioritize the transition to electric vehicles [EVs] and invite investments in EV assembly, charging stations, automotive electronics, battery manufacturing, and nickel ore processing,” Pascual said.

The Board of Investment (BOI), the investment promotion agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), reported in April 2024 that it approved P607.22 billion of investments—bulk of which is in renewable energy—from January to April 2024. (See: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2024/04/22/boi-oks-%e2%82%b1607-bprojects-15-more-in-jan-april/)

Luzon…

Continued from A

Apart from infrastructure, Balisacan said the administration is keen on investing in human capital to enhance the employability and competitiveness of Filipino workers through upskilling and reskilling initiatives.

These will be included in the TPB plan along with support for micro, small, and medium enterprises and industry stakeholders, which is also integral to the plan.

Balisacan said the TPB Plan is already being drafted and, once completed, will serve as the country’s comprehensive employment generation and recovery master plan.

The plan aims to address unemployment, underemployment, informal working arrangements, and other labor market challenges

“The government aims to assist Filipino workers in the digital age. Initiatives include reducing job search duration, upskilling the workforce, and facilitating the transition towards higher-income jobs,” Balisacan said.

“The urgent passage of next-generation reforms, including the Konektadong Pinoy Bill, will play a crucial role in opening up more work opportunities and developing digital skills among the workforce,” he added.

Recto added that the government also supports the passage of human capital development measures such as the Apprenticeship Bill, Lifelong Learning Bill, and Enterprise Productivity Act to equip Filipino workers with the necessary soft and hard skills for employment.

He stressed that the government’s new measures are targeted to generate more jobs in other higher value-added sectors like BPO, IT, accounting, and healthcare. Cai U. Ordinario

“This loss in jobs is due to the higher imports policy of the government regarding rice. With the recent decreased tariff plans in most product, especially rice, this decline in jobs in the rice industry will likely continue,” Ateneo de Manila University economist Leonardo Lanzona, however, told B USINESS M IRROR This week, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board led by the President, approved at its 17th Board meeting the reduction of rice tariffs to 15 percent until 2028 amid soaring international prices of the staple. (See: https://businessmirror. com.ph/2024/06/05/phl-cuts-ricetariffs-to-temper-inflation/).

Farm job loss goes on: Canlas HOWEVER, former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Dante V. Canlas agreed that the reduction in agriculture jobs may continue because of the reduction in rice tariffs. But, he added, it will not be in the same magnitude.

Canlas said farmers, especially rice farmers, who have the ability to compete with cheaper rice imports will continue to produce the country’s food staple. Only those who are not competitive “will be driven out.”

“The 818,000 jobs lost in agriculture, 400,000 of which are in rice, in one year are substantial. Job losses of those magnitudes may not continue unless another prolonged drought intervenes,” Canlas told BusinessMirror.

“Additional job losses in the rice sector may be experienced from the slashes in tariffs under RTL [Rice Tariffication Law] but not in the magnitude of [this] year’s job losses,” he added.

However, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Roehlano Briones told this newspaper that the impact of the reduction in rice tariffs on jobs will not be severe. Briones said in general, the agriculture sector has been shedding jobs and any further job losses may only be linked to this trend.

Canlas explained that job losses in the agriculture sector are consistent

with a country’s industrial development. He added that the employment share of agriculture jobs will decline as the economy becomes more service and industry-oriented.

“The magnitude of the shift tends to take place over a long time period depending on the speed of the economy’s industrialization,” Canlas stressed.

Lanzona said, however, that the El Niño phenomenon has been considered a threat since last year and the government could have offset the ill effects of the extreme weather phenomena through efforts to boost local production.

“The increased use of importation especially after El Niño reflects the overall incapacity of the government to develop the domestic agricultural sector which effectively is the main cause of the job losses,” Lanzona said.

Quality jobs

THE PSA data also showed that while more Filipinos became employed, there was also an increase in the number of workers looking for better employment.

The data showed over a million workers became invisibly underemployed in April 2024 compared to April 2023. This represented a 62.6-percent increase in invisible underemployment in the country.

Those considered in invisible underemployment are those working at least 40 hours in a week but still expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have an additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours.

The data also showed that while visible underemployment decreased compared to last year, the number of Filipinos classified as visibly underemployed increased by 1.078 million from January 2024 and 1.154 million from March 2024.

The increase in the visibly underemployed was 32.2 percent between April 2024 and January 2024 and 35.3 percent between April 2024 and March 2024. Visibly underemployed Filipinos are those working less than 40 hours in a week and expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional jobs.

Based on the PSA, on average, employed persons worked 40.5 hours per week. This was higher than the average hours worked in a week in April 2023 at 36.9 hours, but lower than the average hours worked in a week in January 2024 at 42.1 hours.

He intimated that, “There is a foreign group that operates hotel businesses expressing interest to invest here in Manila, but there are no serious discussions yet.” Peña Sy declined to identify the foreign group; hospitality chain Accor currently manages Sofitel Manila.

PPHI still has 17 years remaining on its lease contract with state pension fund GSIS, which owns the lot on which Sofitel Manila stands. The firm had earlier written a letter to GSIS seeking an extension on its lease for another 25 years, after the current contract expires in 2041. “We need to find time to sit down [with GSIS] for discussions on future plans,” said Peña Sy. (See, “Sofitel Philippine Plaza workers will get nearly P300 million in separation benefits–hotel owner,” in the BusinessMirror, May 10, 2024.)

No discussion yet of PPHI proposal HE added he was asked to attend a meeting of the GSIS Board of Trustees on May 14, “wherein explained to the Trustees that the owners have to make the sad decision to close down the hotel due to safety concerns.” Sofitel Manila is closing at the end of business hours on June 30, 2024, the announcement of which has rattled its labor unions.

A government source said, “GSIS has received [PPHI’s] letter and has acknowledged that we have it. The Board and Management have yet to discuss PPHI’s proposal [on the extension of their lease contract].” The source added, “This has to be studied very well and has to go through the

GSIS Businesses and functions.” Earlier, a high ranking government source said the pension fund wants an improvement on the lease terms, if it were to agree to an extension “to benefit the government...after all this time and over the long relationship” between both parties. Just last June, both parties agreed to expand the property being leased by PPHI. It now encompasses the original building site and adjoining lots 19 and 41. Union busting? Why only now?

MEANWHILE, Peña Sy addressed the claim of Sofitel Manila’s labor unions, accusing PPHI of closing the hotel to dissolve the union. (See, “Labor alliance: Sofitel owners out to bust our union,” in the BusinessMirror, June 3, 2024.)

“It is absurd to assert that Sofitel is closing for the sake of busting the unions. If the hotel wanted to bust the unions, it would have done so during the pandemic. During the Covid days, we did not lay off any staff but continued to give them all their benefits, despite the fact that the hotel was losing money,” he stressed. Peña Sy underscored the strongest performance of the hotel in 48 years, with average occupancy rate having reached 86 percent in the first quarter of the year, along with its full Spiral restaurant. “The hotel owners have no reason to close the hotel at this golden period of time if not because of the safety concerns,” he said, adding that management, earlier, had “nice talks with the workers and even the union leaders [about the closure].” PPHI is fully

by

of

Duterte, dela Rosa welcome to attend House probe on anti-drug war

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

Lawmaker backs FMJr plan to provide lawyers for cops facing harassment cases

wea r body-wor n camer as duri ng law enforcement oper at ions.

He sa id t his measure wou ld help prov ide clea r ev idence aga i nst c rim i ne su spects when t heir cases a re brou g ht to cour t. “I f u lly s u ppor t t he Pres i dent’s

d ir ect i ve to st u dy t h e poss i ble c r eat i on of a Nat i onal Pol i ce legal depa r tment w h ose ma i n j ob i s to p r otect pol i ce f r om cases of h a r assment and ot h e r s i m i la r compla i nts f i led aga i nst t h em,” Yams u an sa i d. “T hi s i s an effect i ve sol ut i on to t h e p r oblem faced by t h e fo r ce, espec i ally i n hi g h -p r of i le cases w he re s u spects h ave sk i lled lawye r s. Often, i nstead of t h e s u spect be i ng c h a r ged, i t i s

and Local Gove r nment (DILG), Yamsu an sa id

i ng t he agency, renderi ng legal opi nions on i ssues a ri si ng f rom t he adm i n i st r at ion and oper at ion of t he pol ice organ i zat ion, and conduct i ng sem i na rs and lect ures on legal i ssues and juri sprudence affect i ng law enforcement, among ot her f u nct ions.

“In l i ne w it h t he Pres ident’s plan, an off ice or u n it manned by lawyers w it h exper t i se i n c ri m inal law can be set up w it hi n t he Nat ional Pol ice. Its job i s to exclusively h andle cases and compla i nts f i led aga i nst PN P pe r sonnel i n t he per for mance of t he ir dut ies,” Yamsu an sa id. To complement t hi s move, pol icemen shou ld be re quired to u se body-wo r n came r as d uri ng pol ice oper at ions when appl icable.

“T hi s w i ll help protect not only t h e s u spect f r om h a r assment and abu se but also pol ice off icers f rom t ru mped- up c h a rges,” Yamsu an sa id. Yamsu an sa id t he force shou ld also i nvest more i n t he t r a i n i ng and cont i nui ng educat ion of its u n i for med off icers, espec

House to mitigate effect of cut in duties on imported rice to support for farmers Marcos prefers traditional process

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

THEHouse of Representatives assured on Thursday that the reduction in duties on imported rice will not negatively effect government support for rice farmers, saying the impact of the tariff reduction might be felt before the State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July.

T he Hou se Comm ittee on Ag-

ric u lt ure c h a ir man, Quezon Rep. Ma rk Enverga, sa id t hi s assur ance f rom t he lowe r c h ambe r comes alongside a substant i al i nc rease i n f u nd i ng a i med at en h anc i ng fa r me r s’ compet it i veness u nde r proposed amendments to t he R ice

Ta ri ff icat ion Law.

For hi s pa r t, Romu aldez stated t h at t he i n it i at ive h as now become a whole-of-nat ion approac h “T he private super ma rket oper ators, who we met ea rl ier, a re w i ll i ng to absor b some losses i n suppor t of t hi s effor t by President Fe r d i nand Ma r cos Jr to b ri ng down t he price of rice,” Romu aldez sa id.

“W h at we want i s t h at ever y Fi l ipi no fam i ly table w i ll h ave affordable, qu al ity rice all yea r,” he added.

in ROW acquisition

Psets aside

P 10 bi ll ion a yea r f rom ta ri ff collect ion on rice i mpor ts to f u nd fa r m mec h an i zat ion, t he prov ision of better seeds, and t r a i n i ng

“Even at t he hi g her allocat ion of P 15 bi ll ion for t he R ice Compet it iveness En h ancement Fu nd [RCEF] u nder t he Hou se version of t

s to

ur e t h at t he expected benef its of t he i mpend i ng ta ri ff reduct ion to 15 percent f rom 35 percent w i ll act u ally t rickle down to consu mers i n t he for m of lower priced food staples. T he ta ri ff reduct ion i s expected to be i mplemented w it hi n t he t hird qu a r ter

Jeff rey L i m, president of SM Pri me, t h e company of t h e Sy Group t h at ru ns super ma rkets and ot her reta i l outlets, and V i ncent Co, president of Puregold, were present duri ng t he cons u ltat ive meet i ng.

“We’re ant ic ipat i ng t h at we w i ll feel t he i mpact of t hi s ta ri ff reduct ion as soon as possible, maybe before t he Sona,” sa id Romu aldez, referri ng to t he President’s annu al Sona.

Ag ri c u lt ur e Unde r sec r eta r y C hri stopher Mor ales, who heads t he Depa r tment of Ag ric u lt ure’s Masagana R ice Indu st r y Development Prog ram, sa id t he DA w i ll ensure t h at all t he suppor t needed by rice fa r mers w i ll be prov ided, and i f needed, add it ional f u nds w i ll be sou g ht f rom Cong ress.

DBM okays budget for 460 protected area personnel

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

PROTECTED A rea ( PA) management w i ll be gett i ng a m u c h -needed boost w i t h t he recent approval of t he f u nd i ng re quest of t he Depa r tment of Env ironment and Nat ur al Resources (DENR) for add it ional personnel. Biod iversity Management Bureau D irector Ma rc i al Ama ro Jr

told t he B usinessM irror T hursday, t h at t he Depa r tment of Budget and Management h as (DBM) f i nally approved for t he f u nd i ng re quest.

“We h ave been re quest i ng for t h at si nce 2018. Fi nally, t he DBM approved our request,” sa id Ama ro. T h e 460 add i t i onal pe r sonnel w i ll be deployed to leg i slated Protected A reas and w i ll h andle suc h posit ions as Protected A rea

rea Management Off ices, he sa id. “For a long t i me, our Reg ional D irectors, Assi stant Reg ional D irectors, prov i nc i al env ironement and nat ur al r eso ur ces off i ce r s [Pen ros] and commu n ity env ironment and nat ur al resources off icers [Cen ros] a re also work i ng i n conc urrent capac ity as Protected

A r ea S u pe ri ntendents. F i nally, w it h t he f u nd i ng for add it ional personnel,” we h ave staff members ded icated to Protected A reas,” he sa id. Ama ro, who i s conc urrent Env ir onment Ass i stant Sec r eta r y for Inter nat ional Affa irs, sa id t he f u nd i ng release i s expected to be i n t r anc hes, but i mmed i ately, as it h as al ready been approved, t he deployment of add it ional personnel w it h plant i lla posit ions w i ll sta r t t hi s yea r T here a re over 240 Protected

A reas i n t he Phi l ippi nes, 107 of whic h a re leg i slated protected a reas but not all h ave a ded icated Pr otected A r ea staff mann i ng t he Pamos.

W it h ded icated PA manage r s and staff suppor t work i ng to protect and conser ve Protected A reas, h e expects st r onge r p r otect i on

measures t h at w i ll add ress c h allenges of i nt ru sion and u nbridled or u nc hecked development w it hi n PAs.

“L i ke i n Bohol, how can t he DENR protect it when we don’t h ave a ded icated staff for Protected A rea management? ” he sa id.

T he c h allenge, he sa id, i s for t he DENR to sta r t hiri ng or rec ruit i ng qu al i f ied personnel for t he plant i lla posit ions.

Protected A reas a re a reas set aside for conser vat ion and is a stategy for biod iversity conser vat ion, w i ldl i fe protect ion, and conser vat ion of t he ir h abitats. PA a re supposed to be a h aven for endangered spec ies, suc h as Mou nt Apo Nat ur al Pa rk i n Davao, a known h abitat of t he c rit ically endangered Phi l ippi ne eagle, t he cou nt r y’s nat ional bird, and t he Mts Igl it-Baco Nat ur al P a r k, a h abitat of t he rema i n i ng Phi l ippi ne tama r aw popu lat ion on M i ndoro Island. W hi le t h ese a r e s u pposed to be “p r otected a r eas,” t h ese b i od i ve r s i ty- ri c h a r eas a r e ta r get of hu man enc r oac h ment, b i op r ospect i ng, and h a r vest i ng of nat ur al r eso urces s u c h as t i mbe r comme r c i ally v i able plants and, an i mal w i ldl i fe ta r geted fo r food and i llegal w i ldl i fe t r ade.

FMJr to lead land titles distribution in Bicol

R E S D ENT Marcos w ll ead the distribution of l and tit es to agrarian reform beneficiaries in the Bico Region on F riday , the Department of Agrarian Reform ( DAR ) said. Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado M. E stre ll a III and other key officia l s of the DAR in the Bico l Region w i ll accompany Marcos during the e v ent. A tota l of 2 ,11 5 l and tit l es co v

Probers tracking builders, others in Bamban Pogo hub amid deaths reported

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM & Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

SENATORS are now tracking down the contractors who built the 38-building Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (Pogo) hub in Bamban, Tarlac, that has been linked to crimes like cyber-fraud, human trafficking and possible money laundering.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said the government agencies that are cooperating in the case, where suspended Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is a central figure, continue to go after the other parties that may have played a role in enabling the setting up of the flourishing business, into which an estimated P6.1 billion was poured in by Chinese investors, including one accused of money laundering.

This, as Gatchalian admitted that senators are also bothered by the unfolding “pattern of deaths” of some people whom investigators had been tracking in their case buildup against Guo. Initially, reports said a certain Gilbert Flores, an employee of the Tarlac Civil Registry who is said to have facilitated the delayed birth registration as a Filipino citizen of Mayor Guo, had been killed recently. Asked at the Kapihan sa Senado if the law enforcers had confirmed this, Gatchalian said he could not provide much detail as a tri-committee investigating Pogo-related crimes were briefed in an executive session Wednesday by agencies in the security cluster.

Worse, said Gatchalian, the local engineer who signed off on the Chinese engineering blueprints used in building the Bamban hub, was reported to have died also last May 17. The information they got was that Engr. JM Turla “died of a heart attack at the age 47.”

Guo appeals to Ombudsman MEANWHILE, Guo asked the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday to immediately lift her six monthpreventive suspension that it ordered in connection with the complaint filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) over her alleged involvement in the illegal operation of a Pogo in her town.

In her 31-page motion for reconsideration with urgent motion to lift preventive suspension, Guo through her lawyer Stephen David insisted that the prerequisites for the issuance of preventive suspension are not present in her case.

Contrary to the Ombudsman’s findings, Guo’s camp stressed that the evidence of guilt against her for the offenses charged “is not strong.”

“Here, the evidence against Respondent Guo does not rest on substantial evidence considering that the allegations in the Complaint have no basis either in fact and in law, are based on mere surmises, speculations, opinions, and raise questionable findings without the required quantum of evidence,” the motion read.

Guo and several municipal government officials were charged by the DILG with graft before the Ombudsman in connection with illegal Pogo activities in the town.

An administrative complaint for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service were also filed against them.

Aside from Guo, the Ombudsman also placed under preventive suspension Bamban’s Business Permits and Licensing Officer (BPLO) Edwin Ocampo and Municipal Legal Officer Adenn Sigua.

The complaint stemmed from the March 13, 2024 raid conducted by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Baufo Land Development Inc., an offshore gaming operations compound in Bamban, Tarlac which reportedly has links with Guo.

The raid was conducted in the wake of reports of human trafficking, serious illegal detention and other illegal activities happening inside the compound.

The DILG alleged that Guo’s divestment of shares in Baufo through deed of assignment in the amount of P2.5 million was simulated, considering that it is “grossly incongruent” to the eight hectares of land she invested in the company.

It also cited alleged anomalies over the grant of permit to offshore gaming operator Zun Yuan only months after authorities raided Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., also in the Baufo compound, for alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency investment operation.

The DILG noted that the Bamban municipal government issued business permits to Zun Yuan on June 27, 2023 and January 17, 2024 without the required Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) and Affidavit of Undertaking, and despite its provisional license issued by Pagcor being valid only until February 29, 2024.

“With all due respect, these allegations are conclusory, mere product of conjectures and speculations, erroneous, and are contrary to established facts, laws and jurisprudence,” the mayor countered.

Guo claimed that all her actions in connection with the issuance of permits were within the scope of her duty and guided by the provisions of the Constitution and the Local Government Code.

Chinese ships swarming closer to Palawan–US maritime expert

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome @maloutalosig

CHINA and the Philippines are shadowing one another off Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, a 23-kilometer long coral atoll, and the near-above water land feature in the West Philippine Sea that is closest to Palawan.

Escoda Shoal is only 72 nautical

Marcos Jr. congratulates India’s Modi on 3rd win

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for securing his third consecutive term as prime minister of India.

In his X account, the Philippine president penned, “My warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for securing a fresh mandate from the Indian electorate.”

“The last decade has shown India as a sincere friend to the Philippines,” added Marcos.

The Philippine president said he looks forward to the “further strengthening of our bilateral and regional partnership in the years ahead.”

In March 2024, Marcos hailed India’s pitch of rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The chief executive said the two countries have “many shared interests,” mainly of maintaining peace in their respective areas.

Marcos also noted that New Delhi’s commitment to back the country in its territorial position against the claims of Beijing in the WPS is a significant development, especially since the Philippines and India are “non-traditional partners on maritime issues.”

to guide his approach to leadership and ife, shaping him into the business eader he is today.

Expressing his gratitude for the award, Cabangon extended his heartfelt appreciation to the entire workforce of the ALC Group of Companies. He emphasized that the honor was a collective achievement, made possib e by the dedication and support of every employee. “This award is not just mine alone to ce ebrate,”he remarked.

“It belongs to each and every member of the ALC Group of Companies. Without their support and commitment, this recognition wou l d not have been possib e.” Cabangon acknow edged the hard work and l oya l ty of the emp oyees, recognizing their integra l ro e in the success and growth of the company.

Meanwhile, other areas of cooperation discussed a few months ago between the two nations were their maritime cooperation extended to security concerns in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and in the Indian Ocean, which had been causing a crisis in international shipping operations.

During their meeting in March, leaders of both nations also discussed trade, tourism, food security, development, healthcare and financial technology collaboration.

India is the country’s 15th largest trading partner with bilateral trade between the two countries exceeding US$3 billion in 2023.

Samuel P. Medenilla

miles or 133 kilometers from northwest of Palawan. It would only take three hours for a regular vessel with a speed capacity of 20 knots to reach Palawan shores coming from Sabina Shoal.

“China has been escalating and has been moving closer to the Philippines. A lot of China Coast Guard and militia activities that we are monitoring have been closer to the Philippines and has become

larger,” Ray Powell, a retired US Air Force colonel who monitors vessels movement in the South China Sea.

Since April, he said, there are more Chinese maritime assets deployed off Escoda Shoal.

It started when the Philippine Coast Guard discovered dead corals were dumped on the lagoon, raising suspicion that China was planning to build foundation to keep island features above the water and eventually, convert it into an artificial island.

BRP Teresa Magbanua, the largest and most modern vessel of the PCG, was deployed to guard Escoda Shoal last April.

“If China succeeds in building a base in Sabina Shoal, that would be very concerning for the Philippines,” Powell said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denied that it is planning to occupy Escoda Shoal.

Beijing’s state-run newspaper, Global Times, meanwhile quoted an unnamed Chinese source as alleging that the Philippines has practically “grounded” BRP Teresa Magbanua on Escoda Shoal or what it calls Xianbin Jiao.

“The semi-permanent floating platform has been deployed, which seems to be one step away from grounding on the reefs. Does the Philippines intend to replicate the ‘ship grounding tactic’ on Xianbin Jiao, and on more South China Sea reefs?”

Global Times columnist Li Aixin wrote.

Powell said the presence of Chinese vessels near Escoda Shoal varies. At one point, there was one China Coast Guard vessel and two large Chinese militia vessels. There were also six to 15 smaller China Coast Guard militia vessels that would turn off their AIS transponders, making it hard for other vessels and authorities to immediately track them down.

PCG is keenly watching Escoda Shoal so much so that even during the change of command, they did not pull out BRP Teresa Magbanua from the area.

On June 4, CG Cdr. Vladimer Gaspar turned over the command to CG Lt. Efren Duran.

In its Facebook post, Duran was photographed on the captain’s deck with a China Coast Guard ship behind him in the background. Powell estimated that the distance of the CCG ship was only about 50 meters from the PCG vessel.

Powell lauded the Philippine government for its pro-active deployment at Escoda Shoal.

“Sending BRP Teresa Magbanua there has been an important move because if you don’t do that, then you are essentially saying you don’t contest Chinese movement on the Sabina Shoal. And it has clearly annoyed China because they have been bringing their ships very close,” he said.

June 7, 2024

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION FOR ALIEN EMPLOYMENT PERMIT (AEP/S)

NO.ESTABLISHMENT NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

1 BROTHER INDUSTRIES (PHILIPPINES), INC.

Lot 1-B-2, Phase 1-B, First Philippine Industrial Park, Ulango, City of Tanauan, Batangas

2 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

HIRAO, KENTARO

Parts Production Assistant Manager

Brief Job Description: Promote and monitoring department KPI and able grasp and evolve in technological advancement

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LIANG, MINGXING

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

3 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LONG, PENG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

4 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LUO, JIAJIA

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

5 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite KONG CHIONG SOON Malaysian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

6 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LEI NANDAR AUNG

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

7 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite MYAT SU NAING

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MYO NAING WIN

8 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Japanese JLPT N2-N1 passer, Strong background of ISO 19011:2018, International Manufacturing Audit, supply chain management, and logistics

Salary Range: Php 150,000 - Php 499,999

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Malaysian language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

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

Able to speak, read

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

HUAYI USED CAR TRADING CENTER CORP.

0305, C. Tramo Street, Zapote III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

16 IWATANI PHILIPPINES, INC.

Unit 2-09, 2nd Floor, Oasis Commercial Center, Diaz Avenue Corner First St., First Philippine Industrial Park, Santa Anastacia, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas

17 LITTLE V MOBILE TECH INC.

Unit-lower Basement, Andenson Building 3, National Road, Parian, City of Calamba, Laguna

18 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

CHEN, WANHONG

Sales Data Analytics

Job

KOMURA, KENTA

and

Industrial Energy Department Manager

Brief Job Description: Responsible for marketing duties, prepare sales projects and budgets, coordinates sales activities locally and regionally

LIU, PAN

Chinese Business Consultant

Brief Job Description: Help business to improve their performance, solve problems and achieve their goals

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LIU, HAIYANG

Chinese Customer Service Representative Brief Job

CHEN, DONGDONG

MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

20 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Chinese - Customer Service Representative Brief Job

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite MENG, QINGYUAN

21 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

22 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

SONG, XILIN

Chinese - Customer Service Representative Brief

WAN, GUOZHONG

Chinese - Customer Service Representative Brief

and

23 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

24 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

25 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

26 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

27 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

WANG, NING

Chinese - Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

ZHONG, DAWEI

Chinese - Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHEN, KAIYUAN

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHEN, LIPING

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite GAO, FENG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

JIANG, CHENGDU

28 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

29 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LI, HONGLIN

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

30 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite PANG, FEI

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

31 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite WILLIAM PHETER

Indonesian - Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite LABANG TAWN NU Myanmari Customer Service Representative Brief Job Description:

Covelandia

51 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

52 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

53 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

inquiries

HA, PHUONG DONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HA, THI TRUC XINH

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HO VIET LINH

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Covelandia

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN

NGUYEN THI XIEM

LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

63 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

64 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

NGUYEN VAN DAO

NGUYEN, THI HIEN LUONG

Vietnamese

NGUYEN, VAN LUONG Vietnamese

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

66 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

NGUYEN, VAN TRUNG

Vietnamese

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

NGUYEN, VIET HOANG Vietnamese

68 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

69 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

70 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

71 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

72 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

73 MERIT LEGEND SOLUTIONS INC.

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

74 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

PHAM VAN CHUNG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRAN, THI THU HA

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRANG THUY TRANG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRIEU VAN KHANH

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

TRUONG, THI LIEN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

VU, THI THAO DOAN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

CHEN, GUORONG

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

75 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Computer literate

at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

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

IKE KARTIKA PRATIWI

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

76 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna LIN, SIJIE

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

77

Computer literate

at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

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

Computer literate at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

Salary Range:

Php

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

NGUYEN THI LE NA Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

WU, XIAOWEN Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

Computer literate at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

Salary Range:

Computer literate at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

Salary

XU, XIANYAO Foreign Customer Service Representative

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from foreign end users via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner, consistent with company standards.

80 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

ANTON HENSON Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

Plan sales and advertising campaigns, collect and analyze market research data.

Computer literate at least Secondary Education and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

Computer literate at least Secondary Education, College Grad/Under grad and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php

81 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

BENYAMIN KUSUMA Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description: Plan sales and advertising campaigns, collect and analyze market research data.

Computer literate at least Secondary Education, College Grad/Under grad and must be able to speak, write and read Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Indonesian or Indian language.

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

82 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

BIMO ARIE BUDIONO Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

sales and advertising campaigns, collect and analyze market research data.

83 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

DIANA Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

UN chief wants a tax on profits of fossil fuel firms, calls them ‘godfathers of climate chaos’

By Jamey Keaten The Associated Press

GENEVA—United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called Wednesday for a “windfall” tax on profits of fossil fuel companies to help pay for the fight against global warming, calling them the “godfathers of climate chaos.”

Guterres spoke in a bid to revive the world’s focus on climate change at a time when elections, inflation and conflict in places like Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan have seized the spotlight.

In a speech timed for World Environment Day, the UN chief drew on new data and projections to make a case against Big Oil. The European Union’s Copernicus service, a global reference for tracking world temperatures, said that last month was the hottest May ever, marking the 12th straight

monthly record high.

The service cited an average surface air temperature of 15.9 degrees Celsius (60.6 degrees Fahrenheit) last month 1.52 degrees Celsius higher than the estimated May average before industrial times.

The burning of fossil fuels oil, gas and coal is the main contributor to global warming caused by human activity.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the global mean near-surface temperature for each year from 2024 to 2028 is expected to range between 1.1 and 1.9 degrees Celsius hotter than at the start of the industrial era. The landmark Paris climate accord of 2015 set a target of keeping the rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).

“Beyond the predictions and statistics is the stark reality that we risk trillions of dollars in economic losses, millions of lives upended and destruction of fragile and precious ecosystems and the biodiversity that exists there,” K o Barrett, the WMO’s deputy secretary-general, told a news conference in Geneva.

“What is clear is that the Paris agreement target of 1.5 degrees Celsius is hanging on a thread. It’s not yet dead, but it’s hanging by a thread,” she added.

“This forecast is affirmation that the world has entered a climate where years that are as hot as 2023 should no longer be a surprise,” Noah Diffenbaugh, a professor at Stanford’s Doerr School of Sustainability, said in an email.

A study released Tuesday by 57

scientists said that as the world keeps burning fossil fuels, Earth is likely to reach the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit in four-and-a-half years.

UN experts and academics have repeatedly highlighted how rising temperatures can upend climate patterns and cause drought, flooding and forest fires. That can lead to climate migration, higher costs for farm products or insurance and greater public health risks linked to high heat or water scarcity.

“While some individuals may escape direct consequences, we will all be affected,” said Waleed Abdalati, who heads an environmental sciences institute at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Guterres appealed to media and technology companies to stop taking advertising from the fossil fuel industry’s biggest players, as has been done in some places with Big Tobacco.

He also repeated concerns about subsidies paid in many countries for fossil fuels, which help keep prices low for consumers.

“Climate change is the mother of all stealth taxes paid by everyday people and vulnerable countries and communities,” he said.

“Meanwhile, the godfathers of climate chaos the fossil fuel industry rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayerfunded subsidies.”

Guterres said global emissions of carbon dioxide must fall 9 percent each year to 2030 for the 1.5-degree Celsius target under the Paris climate accords to be kept alive.

Japan’s birth rate falls to a record low as the number of marriages also drops

TOKYO Japan’s birth rate fell to a new low for the eighth straight year in 2023, according to Health Ministry data released on Wednesday. A government official described the situation as critical and urged authorities to do everything they can to reverse the trend.

The data underscores Japan’s long-standing issues of a rapidly aging and shrinking population, which has serious implications for the country’s economy and national security especially against the backdrop of China’s increasingly assertive presence in the region.

According to the latest statistics, Japan’s fertility rate the average number of babies a woman is expected to have in her lifetime stood at 1.2 last year. The 727,277 babies born in Japan in 2023 were down 5.6 percent from the previous year, the ministry said the lowest since Japan started compiling the statistics in 1899. Separately, the data shows that

the number of marriages fell by 6 percent to 474,717 last year, something authorities say is a key reason for the declining birth rate. In the predominantly traditional Japanese society, out-of-wedlock births are rare as people prize family values.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that it’s “a critical situation.” The next six years, until the 2030s, will be “the last chance for us to possibly reverse the trend,” he said.

Hayashi noted economic instability, difficulties in balancing work and childrearing and other complex factors as main reasons why young people have a hard time deciding to get married or raise children.

The data was released as Japan’s parliament on Wednesday approved a revision to laws designed to beef up financial support for childrearing parents or those expecting babies, as well as to widen access to childcare services and expand parental leave benefits. The government earmarked 5.3 trillion yen ($34 billion)

“We need an exit ramp off the highway to climate hell,” Guterres said, while adding: “The truth is, we have control of the wheel.”

He called on the Group of 20 countries which are holding a summit in Brazil next month and are responsible for about 80 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions to lead. The richest 1 percent of people on Earth emit as much as two-thirds of all humanity, he said.

“We cannot accept a future where the rich are protected in air-conditioned bubbles, while the rest of humanity is lashed by lethal weather in unlivable lands,” Guterres said.

He appealed to “global finance,” alluding to banks and international financial institutions, to help contribute, saying “innovative sources of funds” are needed.

“It’s time to put an effective price on carbon and tax the windfall profits of fossil fuel companies,” Guterres said.

But all countries must join the fight, he said, including the developing world, such as by ending deforestation and meeting targets to double energy efficiency and triple the use of renewable energy by 2030.

For the first time, a promise of $100 billion a year in climate finance agreed in 2009 was fulfilled, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Still, experts say that’s well below what’s needed to fill the finance gap, with estimates of the annual cost of the global energy transition in the trillions.

Some experts said Guterres’ alarmist rhetoric, including a reference to “playing Russian roulette” with the planet, could turn off some people.

“A phrase like this that conjures images of holding a gun to our head risks shifting the conversation away from the science and solutions and more toward the emotion,” Abdalati said, adding that “phrases like this serve as fodder for critics, who will claim this is hyperbole.”

UN officials acknowledge that the secretary-general has little power beyond the “bully pulpit” his perch at the head of the world body to encourage change.

as part of the 2024 budget for this, and is expected to spend 3.6 trillion yen ($23 billion) in tax money annually over the next three years.

Experts say the measures are largely meant for married couples who plan to have or who already have children, and are not addressing a growing number of young people reluctant to get married.

Takahide K iuchi, an executive economist at Nomura Research Institute, said the measures fall short of addressing the problem.

“Simple economic measures such as increase of subsidies are not going to resolve the serious problem of declining births,” K iuchi wrote in an analysis report, adding that a conservative mindset espousing traditional gender roles at home and at the workplace also needs to change.

Surveys show that younger Japanese are increasingly reluctant to marry or have children, discouraged by bleak job prospects, the high cost of living which rises at a faster pace than salaries and a genderbiased corporate culture that adds an extra burden only on women and working mothers.

BusinessMirror

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION

GAO, YUEHUAI

EASTERN GOLD CORPORATION MIN, QIANG SHAO, ZUNYE

WANG, HONGTING WU, CAIYUE

YOU, JINGXIN

DIAR ARDIANSYAH

WAHYU

FORTHRESS PHILIPPINES CORPORATION

LI, WENTING GEDI CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

HU, HUAJUN YU, ZEYU

GIGA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT INC.

LIU, QING

SHI, JUAN

YAN, WEIJIAN

ZHANG, XIAONAN

DAVID FERDINAN SIHOMBING M MIRZA FEBRIANSYAH

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JIA, LEI Mandarin language

LI WON CHAN

LI, YILING

LYU, WEIKE

QIAO, GUANGRANG

TAN, ZHENYE

WANG, JUNYANG

WANG, XINYA

WANG, XUEGANG

WANG, YUANLONG

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LIU, BONING

Mandarin language

Mandarin language

Mandarin language

Mandarin language

Mandarin language

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Mandarin language

YUEWEI Excellent in foreign language.

QU, YINHANG Excellent in foreign language.

TAN, MINGXIAN

TAN, XINMING Excellent in foreign language.

XIONG, YAHENG Excellent in foreign language.

XU, JIAQING

ONE BORDERLINE CREATIVES INC.

Excellent in foreign language.

NGUYEN HUYNH NHU Y language.

HUANG, YUJIE language.

PHILIPPINE FULL DEGREE COMMUNICATIONS CORP.

SUN, YIFENG language.

XIA, LIANG

Maintain accurate sales record. language.

ZHU, HONGWEI

Maintain accurate sales record. language.

Mandarin language

XIA, HONGZHENG

TIAN, DONGYU Project Manager

SURVEYOR

EKEDE, DERICK MPAKO LYDIA, BEBINGBANG

NDIEBNSO TABI BESONG

SMC SHIPPING AND LIGHTERAGE CORPORATION

XU, KUN Project Manager an undergraduate degree training or experience in

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XU,

PROMISE TECHNOLOGY INC.

6

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US allies in Indo-Pacific to sign key accords of economic pact

THE US and 13 partner nations in Asia and the Pacific will sign agreements on two more parts of an economic pact key to Washington’s strategy to build clout in the region.

Negotiations on the clean and fair economy pillars of the IndoPacific Economic Framework were concluded last year and the agreements will be signed Thursday, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said ahead of an expected ministerial meeting to discuss the deal that will also be attended by US Secretary for Commerce Gina Raimondo.

The pact comprises the socalled “four pillars” that includes clean economy, which focuses on the transition to renewable energy and fighting climate change, and a fair economy, which relates to taxation and corruption issues.

It also earlier agreed on the supply-chain pillar, which aims to avoid the kind of bottlenecks that occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, but fell short of a deal on the final trade pillar over thornier issues such as rules for digital commerce and labor.

Wong noted that some countries have pushed back their emission reduction plans, while warning that countries cannot afford to slip in the time-line to get to net zero, amid the growing climate crisis.

Raimondo announced at the same forum that a coalition in-

cluding allied climate partners, BlackRock, GIC, the Rockefeller Foundation and Temasek has committed to invest over $25 billion in capital that can be deployed in the Indo-Pacific emerging market infrastructure.

The IPEF is part of a sweeping effort led by US President Joe Biden to counter China’s deeprooted economic influence in Asia.

The other participating countries include Japan, India and South Korea, which all rank among the 10 biggest national economies in the world, with the 14 nations included representing about $38 trillion in economic output.

Wong earlier said the 10-nation bloc of Southeast Asian nations is keen to deepen ties with the US to benefit from the peace and prosperity brought by America’s presence in the region.

“For decades, America’s presence in Asia has brought peace and prosperity and created a stable environment for countries like Singapore to prosper,” Wong said during his remarks at the forum.

“That’s why Singapore has long been an advocate for the US to actively engage the region, especially Southeast Asia.” Bloomberg News

Death linked to bird flu strain never before seen in humans

AMAN in Mexico died after contracting a strain of bird flu that hasn’t been confirmed in humans before, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.

The virus was detected in a 59-year-old patient who had been hospitalized in Mexico City. The man died one week after developing a fever, shortness of breath and diarrhea. It’s the first lab-confirmed case of a person contracting a form of bird flu known as H5N2, the WHO said in a statement, raising questions about a strain that has largely been under the radar.

The current bird flu outbreak in US dairy cows is being driven by a different strain H5N1.

The patient, who lived in central Mexico, had no history of exposure to poultry or other animals.

The Mexican government doesn’t know where he was exposed to the virus, though the strain of avian influenza has been reported in poultry in the Mexican state where the person lived.

The current risk posed by the H5N2 virus to the general public is low, according to the WHO, which said no further cases were reported after an investigation.

The H5N2-infected man had several underlying health conditions, including chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and longstanding hypertension, according to Mexico’s health ministry Wednesday. He had been bedridden for three weeks prior to the onset of acute symptoms in mid-April, the WHO added, citing the patient’s relatives. Though hospitalized on April 24, the man died the same day.

Mexican authorities reported the fatal case to the WHO on May 23 after confirming the presence of the virus in a sample from the deceased man.

While the man in Central Mexico marks the first laboratory-confirmed case of H5N2 in humans, researchers have identified people with antibodies that could signal prior infections.

K atrine Wallace, an epidemiologist with the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, said that H5N2 poses a low risk to public health because it hasn’t shown an ability to be transmitted between humans. To that end, it’s concerning that the patient isn’t known to have had exposure to animals which are the most likely source of disease, she added.

Wallace said more surveillance is needed to fill in the gaps of information.

“It’s so crazy that we don’t know where this is coming from,” she said.

The Mexican government has begun monitoring wild birds for H5N2 in the wetlands of Tlahuac in Mexico City, as well as farms, backyards and other areas near where the man resided. So far, no infected birds have been identified, the health ministry said in Wednesday’s statement.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

In the US, the H5N1 outbreak in cattle continues to expand its geographic reach. On Wednesday, Iowa announced it had identified infected cows, bringing the total number of states that have detected bird flu in herds to 10. So far this year, three US-based farmworkers have tested positive for bird flu one in Texas and two in Michigan. They had symptoms of eye irritation and one had a cough. There have been no fatal human cases associated with the US H5N1 outbreak. Bloomberg News

Pioneering projects in waste management signal a sustainable path forward for PHL

ON the occasion of World Environment Day, BusinessMirror featured two remarkable green developments in the Philippines that have the potential to revolutionize the country’s solid waste management. These initiatives, driven by resilience and innovation, exemplify the power of individuals and businesses to make a positive impact on the environment.

The first stor y centers on the Jayme family, whose journey from persecution to pioneering waste-to-energy technology ser ves as an inspiring testament to their determination and love for their homeland. Jesus Jayme Jr (JJ), the son of the late Jesus Jayme Sr returned to the Philippines in 1988 w ith a burning desire to contribute to his countr y and confront the mounting waste problem. Witnessing the distressing sight of garbage strewn across Metro Manila’s streets, JJ was compelled to find a solution. (Read the BusinessMirror story, “A Fil-Canadian businessman’s wasteto-energy idea thrives,” June 4, 2024).

Through a fortuitous encounter with Rodney Johnston, a real estate developer from Washington, JJ introduced the groundbreaking thermal oxidation process system to the Philippines. Together w ith businessman Ros Dickenson, they established EnEco System Link, a waste technology company aimed at revolutionizing waste management in the countr y. Despite facing numerous challenges, including corruption and bureaucratic hurdles, their unwavering determination has paid off. EnEco is now on the verge of completing two more waste-to-energy facilities, prov iding a safe and env ironmentally friendly solution to the nation’s waste crisis. Collaboration has been instrumental in these efforts, particularly through a partnership w ith the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA). By establishing integrated waste treatment and disposal facilities, these initiatives address the pressing need for dedicated waste technology prov iders. EnEco’s thermal oxidation units offer an innovative approach to managing wet waste, which is prevalent in the region and requires unique solutions.

The significance of waste-to-energy treatment plants cannot be overstated, given the Philippines’ status as the world’s third-largest plastic waste producer Producing a staggering 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually, the countr y urgently needs sustainable waste management solutions. Thankfully, the grow ing awareness and recognition of waste-to-energy technologies by local government units and hospitals are promising signs of progress.

The Jayme family’s stor y is a powerfu reminder that the greatest contributions often come from those who have faced hardship and returned home with a renewed sense of pur pose. JJ’s v ision and resilience have positioned EnEco as a v ital technology prov ider play ing a crucial role in addressing the countr y’s waste challenges in an env ironmentally responsible manner

In addition to EnEco’s efforts, Prime Infra and its waste management unit, Prime Waste Solutions (PWS), have taken a significant step for ward in waste management. Their newly inaugurated Materials Recover y Facility in Porac, Pampanga, represents a substantial investment of over P1 billion. Equipped w ith state-of-the-art technology, this automated facility aims to bridge the gap in the waste ecosystem by managing collection, disposal, and converting waste into low-carbon, sustainable fuels. (Read the BusinessMirror story: “Razon-led Prime Infra’s arm unveils P1-B Porac facility,” June 5, 2024).

Prime Infra’s commitment to segregation, storage, and efficient processing underscores their dedication to minimizing env ironmental impact and waste residue. By employ ing similar equipment to their first facility in Cebu PWS sets a precedent as the first of its kind in the countr y, pav ing the way for a more sustainable approach to waste management. Rapid urbanization and economic growth have posed significant challenges to implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003). W hile the law emphasizes the principles of Reuse, Reduce, Recycling, and Composting, its implementation has been criticized as inconsistent. However the initiatives led by EnEco and Prime Infra demonstrate that private enter prises can complement government efforts in tackling waste management challenges.

As the Philippines continues to grapple w ith the consequences of rapid urbanization and consumption, the stories highlighted in BusinessMirror ser ve as inspiring examples of what can be achieved through innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to env ironmental stewardship.

A well-deserved intervention for teachers

OBETTER DAYS

N June 3, 2024 we witnessed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signing into law the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act or the institutionalization of the grant of teaching supplies allowance for our public school teachers. Known among the teaching profession as the “chalk allowance,” funding for this expenditure item is sourced from the budget of the Department of Education and is intended to assist teachers in their procurement of teaching supplies such as cartolina and manila paper, pens and chalk, hence the moniker chalk allowance. Apart from institutionalizing the funding for this much needed expense of our educators, the law increases the amount provided at P10,000 annually for each teacher.

Looking back to the years 2010 and 2011, public school teachers were provided with a mere P700 per school year as their chalk allowance.

A minimal increase of P300 was implemented in the next three years, bring ing the annual chalk allowance to P1,000 per teacher In 2015 and 2016, the amount was increased

further to P1,500 a year Clearly, the amount given to our over worked and under paid teachers for what should have been provided to them as part of their regular supplies in the first place is not enough For years, Congress has intervened and continued to introduce gradual increases in the chalk al-

lowance. In 2017, the amount was increased by P1,000, bringing the total to P2,500 a year This was increased further to P3,500 in 2018, an amount t hat was ma inta ined until 2020. The 2020 General Appropriations Act was the first that we handled as chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Finance and hearing from our primar y school educators, it was ver y clear that the chalk allowance was important to them in the performance of their duties. In 2021, with the support of our colleagues from the Senate and the House of Representatives, we were able to hike the chalk allowance to P5,000. In the succeeding years up to the current year we maintained the P5,000 allocation. Starting 2025, the amount will double to P10,000 as provided for in the law. As an author of the new law, we were aware that increasing the teaching supplies allowance will result in fewer instances when teachers have to make out of pocket expenses in the performance of their duties. Our over worked and under paid educators should always be supported and initiatives such as these will go a long way in showing

our appreciation of what they do for our children’s development. We thank the President for supporting the measure and for looking after our teachers’ welfare and also to Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., the chairman of the Senate Committee on Civil Serv ice, Gover nment Reorganization and Professional Reg u lat ion, for sponsoring the bill. I have always admired and respected the work of our teachers. The value of education was instilled in me early on in life. My mom was a teacher in her younger years and my dad had accomplished so much in his lifetime for the growth and continued development of the countr y’s education system. This is why education has been one of my main advocacies in my 20 years in public ser vice. Some of my most important work has been on the education front, including the institutionalization of kindergarten as part of basic education in the countr y (RA 10157); the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiar y Education (UniFAST), which reconciles, improves, st rengt hens, expands, and puts See “Angara,” A

Examining the drivers of political consumerism in the PHL

sues. Also, hashtags have become a powerful tool to mobilize public action and opinion.

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broader look at today’s business

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IEAGLE WATCH

HAVE recently encountered an intriguing topic during a title hearing for political science and economics major students at our university. A group is planning to explore political consumerism as the focus of their thesis study. To me, I find the topic timely and fascinating. In today’s age, where social media heavily influences our choices and can create movements, we often engage in political consumerism without realizing it. For instance, some people avoid products and platforms endorsed by figures with different political views. Some of us tend to boycott products from countries that we perceive as acting unjustly. These practices are increasingly prevalent and magnified because of the power of social media.

Political consumerism refers to market-d riven act ions t hat arise from societal concer ns related to production and consumption. These actions can include the intentional purchase of goods and ser vices to support specific political causes or issues known as buycotting, as well as intentional avoidance of certain products or producers referred to as boycotting.

In a time-series study of American National Election Studies in 2020, a majority of the respondents, 57.7 percent, expressed that they bought or refused to buy specific products for political or social reasons. Respondents who engaged in political consumerism also engaged in other political activities such as attending protests, signing petitions, and posting political comments online.

In the Philippines, there are several factors that can influence political consumerism. First, we can look into our cultural and historical background given our rich histor y of political activism, from the colonial period to Martial Law under Ferdinand Marcos, Sr to the People Power Revolution in 1986. Our histor y of activism can influence political consumerism. Also, we Filipinos have a culture that values community and social relationship, which can contribute to the collective approach seen in political consumerism. Second, we can look into the social media engagement of Filipinos that can lead to digital activ ism. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X can be utilized to organize boycotts, promote ethical brands, and spread awareness of social is-

Third, Filipinos tend to promote “Suppor t Local” in social med ia. This encourages consumers to buy Filipino products, particularly those promoting sustainability and honest trade practices. Fourth, Filipinos tend to look into a company’s corporate accountability. At one point, there were some calls to boycott a famous brand because of unethical practices such as labor exploitation. This is an example of how political consumerism works in this key aspect. Lastly, Filipinos tend to boycott products associated with controversial political figures or issues that can impact political consumerism.

On a specif ic case of political consu merism in t he Phi l ippines, around August of last year, former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri called to boycott all Chinese companies and products as a sign of protest against China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea. Some agreed to this call and, in one way or another deliberately avoided the consumption of Chinese-made products as protest. However some concerned groups and economists expressed apprehension on this call. To them, it could cause economic disruption, strain diplomatic relationship, and negatively impact local businesses that rely on Chinese imports. With this, we can also look into some economic considerations. In spite of the call on social media to boycott Chinese products, it is a reality that not all consumers could afford to participate. As we know,

Chinese products are often more affordable and remain a necessity for many low-income Filipinos. Also, in terms of long-term sustainability, boycotting Chinese products is quite c halleng ing, espec ially g iven t he globalized nature of supply chains between the two countries.

Another case that we can relate to political consumerism is the “Support Local” campaign or movement that is now being intensified because of social media. Earlier this year there was a lot of call to support local rice farmers, encouraging individuals to buy directly from local farmers. This exemplifies buycotting by encouraging consumers to purchase locally made products. This kind of pol it ical consu merism can boost the local economy, foster sustainability, and strengthen community ties. This exemplifies the positive effect of political consumerism in the Philippines.

In general, despite the economic constraints, which means that due to t he i ncome i nequ al ity i n the Phi lippines not all consumers can afford to prioritize ethical or political considerations over cost, political consumerism in the Phi lippines is a rising dynamic force. W hi le there are some constraints, the rising knowledge and activ ism among Fi lipino consumers point to a shift towards a more responsible consuming habit.

Mr. Joseph El Roy B. Cassion II is a graduate student at the Department of Economics of Ateneo de Manila University. He is also the Research and Publication Coordinator at the Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City.

Sonny M. Angara

Joseph El Roy B. Cassion II

Britain’s rich race to protect their wealth from election hit

By Ben Stupples & Charlie Wells

WEALTHY people in the UK, from foreign billionaires to City of London bankers, are rushing to shelter their money after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised the country by calling a summer election.

Some are cashing in investments, pay ing off bills that may soon rise or leaving the UK entirely, according to inter views with more than two dozen high-net-worth individuals, who asked not to be named, and wealth advisers.

T he ru l ing Conser vat ives and the opposition Labour party have both pledged to scrap preferential tax treatment for non-domici led residents—rich foreigners living in the UK, also known as non-doms. Labour leader Keir Starmer has additional plans to tax the wealthy and polls show his party more than 20 points ahead.

“I have had previously hesitating clients go into panic mode,” David Lesperance, a Poland-based tax and immigration adviser for the ultrarich, said on Sunak calling the July 4 vote. He “pulled the pin on the election grenade.”

The UK was expected to lose a net 3,200 high-net-worth individuals last year, the most in Europe and double 2022’s level, citizenship adv isor y fir m Henley & Partners estimated. Britain’s reputation for legal and political stability has been rocked by the upheaval of Brexit and the chop-and-change of five different Tor y Prime Ministers since 2016.

As well as losing ground to popular territories for the well-heeled such as Monaco, Dubai and Switzerland, it has also had to compete with European neighbors like Italy and Greece, which rolled out programs to lure wealthy foreigners. The UK scrapped its so-called golden visa program in 2022.

“It will be a serious, and entirely avoidable, misstep if these changes proceed as announced,” Dominic Lawrance, a London-based partner at global law firm Charles Russell Speechlys.

Labour also wants to add taxes on private equity professionals and private school fees. As part of its non-dom proposal, it aims to remove inheritance tax exemptions for overseas assets held in trust structures. The idea of this major change has helped push up the price of insurance to cover possible levies on wealthy estates.

Notable non-doms NON-DOM stat u s dates back to 1799, when it was introduced to protect colonial investments. Recent notable non-doms include former HSBC Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Stuart Gulliver and onetime Conser vative Party Deputy Chairman Michael Ashcroft.

Su nak’s w ife, Aksh ata Mur ty, was also revealed in 2022 to benefit from the status. After a media storm, Murty said she would pay UK taxes on her global earnings, partly derived from Indian software giant Infosys Ltd.

Labour leaders have previously estimated they can raise about £3 billion ($3.8 billion) from scrapping the regime, echoing recent academic research that predicted fewer than 100 wealthy foreigners with the status would subsequently leave the nation.

The number of non-doms is already declining, falling by almost half to 68,800 in the decade to 2022, partly through an earlier change in the rules to stop individuals using the benefit permanently. Still, those retaining the status pay more than £8 billion in British taxes a year according to latest official data.

One City law firm has received more than three-dozen enquiries related to non-dom changes in the past few months, ranging from multibillionaires to centi-millionaires, according to people familiar with the matter One individual has now

Why Cynthia Lennon kept the name and memories after divorce

One London-based former hedge fund manager originally from outside the UK is moving to another European nation, partly due to frustrations over the political direction of both main parties.

left for Switzerland, while another is preparing to move to Italy, the people said, who asked not to be identified as the details are private.

One London-based former hedge fund manager originally from outside the UK is moving to another European nat ion, pa r tly due to frustrations over the political direction of both main parties. Another ultra-rich UK national with property investments is similarly considering ways of switching from living full time in the UK to only three months a year with the balance spent between low-tax territories such as Dubai and Monaco.

Simon Goldring, a tax and trust adviser for the ultra-wealthy at global law firm Ogier, said he has a handful of live cases of British residents wanting to relocate overseas, mostly from UK nationals frustrated with taxes hitting post-war highs.

“They’re fed up,” added Goldring, who himself relocated to Dubai last year from the UK “It’s a sad indictment.”

Before t he 2019 elect ion, t he threat of left-wing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn helped prompt some of the UK’s richest individuals to exit.

Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire founder of chemicals giant Ineos, has said it was a factor in his relocation around 2018 to Monaco, where residents don’t face income or capital gains taxes.

Starmer though has made more of an effort to appeal to this demographic. Iceland Foods founder Malcolm Walker and former JPMorgan Chase & Co. executive Charles Harman were among 120 business leaders who signed a Labour-back ing letter last week.

For the “mass-affluent” cohort of Britons, the election has accelerated demand to future-proof their finances, according to wealth advisers.

W hile neither party has published their manifestos yet, Starmer has said he’d impose a 20 percent valueadded sales tax on private school fees to raise £1.7 billion for the state school system. That’s making some deep-pocketed parents consider paying years of fees which can run to £65,000 annually to avoid that extra cost.

“I’ve got friends in this scenario,” said Ben Yearsley, investment consultant at Fair view Investing in Bristol. They “are looking at pre-pay ing two years’ worth,” he added.

The UK’s political swings are also putting off wealthy foreigners coming to the countr y.

One high-net-wor th ind iv idual f rom the Middle East, who asked to remain anonymous, has canned plans to relocate w it h hi s fami ly f rom Monaco to London as his chi ldren approached schooling age.

A wealth manager for bi llionaires said clients are pu lling back UK investments for now, especially in the real estate sector often favored by the super-rich Lesperance, a former non-dom in Britain during the late 1990s, said one billionaire client’s trust holdings would increase his UK inheritance tax liability more than 1,000 percent to about £400 million due to Labour’s non-dom reforms.

“We’re fueling up the engines,” he said. “And we’ve got our landing per mission.” With assistance from Alice Kantor, John Stepek, Shona Ghosh, Tara Patel, Devon Pendleton and Daniel Cancel /Bloomberg

DIVORCE should be given as an option for Filipinos who are trapped in abusive, unhappy or toxic marriages. Millions of couples are suffering because divorce is not available to them. It’s an agony experienced not only by the couples, but also by their children who are witnessing the breakdown of the relationship.

People and circumstances change over time. The man or woman you married five or 10 years ago may not be the same person you live with today t ur n i ng f rom fa it hf u l to philandering, caring to abusive, empathic to narcissistic or responsible to neglectful. This hurts the whole family, including the children who share and feel the miser y. More than anything else, divorce provides the chance for people to move on and for ward with life, free from pain and dejection. It allows one to restart, rediscover and heal from the past, instead of tolerating the intolerable that can wreck havoc on one’s emotional and mental health

In most cases, women who got divorced revert to their maiden names for two reasons. First, it gives them the mental freedom from the broken marriage, and second, it heralds a new beg inning sta r t ing f rom

ground zero again as if the previous marriage never existed. This could be a great psychological boost for battered self-worth and confidence.

But there are women who chose to keep their married name postdivorce for good reasons. If you have children, you would want the same surname as them. Another reason is practical. If it could get you ahead economically, why not milk it for all its worth?

Such is the case for Cynthia Powell Lennon, the first wife of the legendar y but emotionally infantile Beatle, John Lennon. They fell in love while they were students and still broke. W hen Cynthia got pregnant, John Lennon felt obliged to marr y her In 1962, they tied the knot without much fanfare. Roughly a year later, the Beatles became a massive hit in Britain.

John’s marital status was kept a

West Philippine Sea banners in

secret from the fans and the media ( he was the only one in the group who was married at that time). The Beatles’ rise to stardom was quick as a flash requiring John to travel in and out of Britain and leaving most of the parenting of their son, Julian, to Cynthia, who put her art career on pause. She was happy to stay behind the scenes, support her husband’s career, and raise their son single-handedly.

Wit h all t he Beatles’ commitments and phenomenal rise to global superstardom, John became an absentee husband and father And then Yoko Ono happened in 1966 she was unrelenting in her pursuit of John and knew exactly what buttons to push to get the Beatles hooked.

It’s been told and retold how Cynthia caught John cheating on her w ith Yoko Ono in their own house, of all places. A few days before, John suggested that Cynthia takes a holiday w ith their f riends in Greece as he wou ld be busy record ing songs.

Cynthia retur ned f rom the holiday earlier than expected, only to f ind John and Yoko tw inning in white robes on the floor T he callous and cold-hear ted Ono sa id, “Oh, hi!.”

It was Cynthia who left the house and stayed w ith f riends that night.

W hat an irony.

Fast for wa rd to November 8, 1968, they were granted divorce with Linda’s acceptance of $127,700 as a settlement, which John begrudgingly agreed to. “She’s not worth anything more,” said John of Cynthia, who, in the early days of their relationship, used most of her student allowance for his cigarettes. T his was the woman who supported him quietly in the background while the Beatles made their mark in the music

the Independence Day Parade in New York

KUWENTONG PEYUPS

NEW York—Banners and placards with various messages like the “West Philippine Sea, Atin Ito” and “The Philippines is not for sale” were carried by activist groups, including Bayan USA, Malaya USA, and Anakbayan, during the parade in celebration of the 126th Independence Day along Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.

Considered as the world’s largest celebration outside Manila, this year’s parade fell on June 2, 2024 since it is traditionally held on the first Sunday of June.

Some 135 floats, organizations, pa r t ic ipated in it, and ma rc hing bands, some of which came all the way f rom t he Phi l ippines. Down 10 blocks from 38th Street to 27th Street, the parade highlighted the t heme “ Preser v i ng O ur Fi l ipi no Culture and Heritage to Unite Generations.”

Now on its 34th year, it is a major event for many Filipino Americans that aimed to rekindle their roots and heritage and to commemorate the June 1898 Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain.

This year also marks the 8th anniversar y of the Permanent Court of A rbitration’s decision on July 12, 2016 in favor of the Philippines on most of its submissions on the West

u nder one body all gover nmentfunded modalities of Student Financial Assistance Programs for tertiar y education and special pur pose education assistance in both public and private institutions; the Universal Access to Quality Tertiar y Education Act (UAQTEA), which institutionalized the free tuition in state universities and colleges across the countr y; and the creation of the Sec-

Philippine Sea dispute.

The Philippines initiated in Januar y 2013 the arbitration case (Philippines v. China PCA Case No. 2013-19) wherein it sought, among others, a declaration that the countries’ respective rights and obligations regarding the waters, seabed, and maritime features of the West Philippine Sea are governed by the UNCLOS.

The decision declared that China’s historic rights claims over maritime areas inside the “nine-dash line” have no lawful effect as they exceed what they are entitled to under UNCLOS. There was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources in areas falling within the “ninedash line.”

The decision likewise noted that China violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its Exclusive Economic Zone by the construction of artificial islands at seven features in the Spratly Islands, interfering with

ond Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) to conduct a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector Under the current 19th Congress, we have filed several bills for the benefit of our teachers. These are SBN 1169 or Teachers’ Home in School Act, which seeks to provide public school teachers w ith liv ing facilities within the schools they or at

industr y not to mention that she would also be raising their son.

After the divorce, there was a downgrade in lifestyle, especially in the eyes of Julian (their son), and isolation as John rallied the other Beatles to cut ties with her Money became tight.

To move on, Cynthia reverted to her maiden name, Cynthia Powell. She returned to her other love— art and eventually married three times after John. She ventured into various businesses but failed and so did her marriages.

The sad part about her divorce from John was his treatment of Cynthia after, which turned more cruel than ever Despite having a son with her, he didn’t want anything to do with her W hile she moved heaven and earth to leave the past and John’s cruelty behind her, she couldn’t.

In 1978, she wrote a book about her life, A Twist of Lennon, which enjoyed relative success. In 1983 three years after John Lennon’s death, she reclaimed the Lennon name to bag a design contract for a textile company, Vantona Vyella. Says Cynthia, “when it is necessar y to earn a living, it is necessar y to bite the bullet and take the flack.”

W hile some let go of things that remind them of their bitter past, Cynthia did so to pay the bills. She auctioned off some mementos and revisited her past in 2005 when she published another book, John She died in 2015.

Cynthia’s choice to keep the Lennon name highlights the freedom we can enjoy after divorce. W hile we may not be able to preser ve a damaged marriage, we can still keep the name and lessons of the past to secure a brighter future.

Philippine fishing and hydrocarbon exploration, and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ. According to an ethnogeriatrics study by the Stanford Medicine, citing the 2022 American Community Sur vey of United States Census Bureau Filipino Americans (alone or in combination with one or more races) account for merely 1 percent of the total US population. However, Filipino Americans are the third largest Asian American group after Chinese and Asian Indian Americans.

Fi l ipi no Ame ricans a re fa irly widely dispersed in the United States. California holds the largest Filipino American settlement, followed by Hawaii Nevada, Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Washington State, and Virginia, respectively. The study added that between 1986 and 2006 the number of Filipino immig rants tripled, mak ing them the second largest immigrant group in the US after Mexican immigrants. Roughly one-quarter of Filipino Americans reside in California.

Filipino households are in the top 10 of the highest multi-generational household amongst Asian American families.

A huge Philippine flag, estimated to be 25 by 50 feet, provided one of the highlights of the parade.

On June 5, 1898, then President Emilio Aguinaldo issued the 21-page declaration Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino at his house in Cavite proclaim-

ing June 12, 1898 as the day of independence. The Philippine flag was officially unfurled for the first time at about 4:30 p.m., as the Marcha Nacional Filipina was played by the band of San Francisco de Malabon. The proclamation was promulgated by 190 municipal presidents from the 16 provinces controlled by the revolutionar y army on August 1, 1898 at Bacoor, and was officially ratified on September 29, 1898 by the Malolos Congress. There were also groups from my alma mater led by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America, which was founded in 1981 in New Jersey. Its primar y aim is to unite alumni groups in America and to work for the preser vation of the UP System as the national center for academic excellence, freedom and ser vice. I asked them to do the UPFight cheer in support of the UP Fighting Maroons.

On June 9, 2024 another celebration is set to be held in Louisiana, where one of the first Filipino settlements in the United States was established by seafaring people who arrived as sailors and navigators on board Spanish ships during the Galleon trade. They jumped off the ship to escape the harsh, violent and abusive working conditions.

Peyups is the moniker of the University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@ sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 09088665786.

come, not only productive members of society, but also competitive with their counterparts around the world, we need to continuously invest in our teachers and give them the appropriate support.

sure that our learners are getting the education that they need to be-

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 20 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 11 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.   E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

Dennis Gorecho

CABANGON HONORED AS REPUTABLE ICON IN BUSINESS GOVERNANCE

EDGARD A. CABANGON,

c h a ir man of t he ALC Group of Compan ies, was honored

w it h t he Reputable Icon in Business Gover nance recognition at the Asia’s Golden Icon Awa rds held at Okada Man i la on May 31, 2024.

T he Asi

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) said it approved P36.827 billion in investments from January to May 2024, a 23.32-percent decline from the P48.027-billion investments approved in the same period last year.

[IT and B u s i ness Pr ocess Management] IT-B P M, two i n domest i c ma r kets, and one foc u s i ng on fac i l i t i es develop-

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

RBy VG Cabuag @villygc

L Commercial REIT Inc. (RCR), the real estate investment trust of the Gokongwei Group, and its sponsor Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), are undertaking a property-for-share swap transaction amounting to P33.9 billion.

480,479 squ a re meters.

T he p rope r ty-for -s h a re swap is comprised of 11 malls total i ng 278,526 squ a re meters of leasable space. T hese a re Robi nsons shoppi ng malls i n Noval ic hes, Ca i nta, L ui s ita, Cabanat u an, L i pa, Sta. Rosa, Imu s, Los Baños, Palawan, Or moc and Cybergate Davao.

It w i ll also add two off ice assets total i ng 68,803 squ a re meters of leasable space to t he por tfol io of RCR. T hese a re Giga Tower i n t he Bridgetowne Dest i nat ion Estate i n L ibis, Quezon C ity and Cybergate Delta 2 i n Davao C ity. T he assets h ave been selected based on RCR’s i nvestment c riteri a of max imizing div idend y ield accret ion t hrough t he i nf u sion of highqu al ity commercial proper t ies t hat complement t he company’s ex isti ng por tfol io of 16 prem iu m assets, t he company sa id. After t

ABOITIZ Data Innovat ion (ADI), the data science and a r t if icial intell igence (AI) arm of the Aboitiz Group, is aiming to become the partner of organizations in “making AI” work.

David Hardoon, the CEO of ADI, sa id t he company has ambit ious plans to harness opportunities within the Philippines, while exporting its expertise to other markets.

“In 10 years, ADI will be the go-to partner in making AI work.” Hardoon said organizations must leverage AI to address complex business challenges, particularly within the diverse and dynamic Philippine market.

he GLA of RCR to 827,808 squ a re mete r s f rom

“We’re going to be obsessed (with AI),” Hardoon said. “There’s now a phenomenal opportunity that we want to capitalize on and export this capability.”

He said the Philippines, with its complex a rc hipelago, d iverse demographics, and susceptibility to natural disasters, presents unique challenges and opportunities for AI applications.

Hardoon highlighted the nation’s potential as a proving ground for innovative AI solutions.

“W hen you build, implement, and validate a solution in the Philippines, it’s pretty much trust-marked. It’s a value proposition.”

ADI aims to extend its AI expertise beyond the Aboitiz Group to other companies within the countr y. Hardoon said he calls them “frenemies” or a play on the words “friends” and “enemies.”

By doi ng so, t he company seeks to foste r a collabor at i ve ecosystem w he re va riou s ent it i es can wor k toget he r to solve p ress i ng p roblems.

“For t his to be successf u l, you need to look at t hi ngs as a whole as an ecosystem w it h va riou s compan ies work i ng toget her to solve problems.”

He said ADI is open to collaboration with different organizations.

“We’re open to all because the market is so big. With 130 million people, there are different areas of expertise. W hy reinvent the wheel if the wheel exists? ”

Already ADI is providing its AI consultancy ser vices to a player in the retail industr y and is now having “conversations” with those in the financial sector

Beyond the Philippines, ADI has already established a presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, and Azerbaijan.

He said a common challenge in the world of AI is making it operational, while also reducing the apprehension of new technologies. Lorenz S. Marasigan

TThe company expects to net up to P478.4 million from the offer, which will be used to partially finance its RE projects in Zambales, Cavite, and other parts of the countr y. It will not receive proceeds from the sale of the option shares to be sold by Pure Energy. Its shares will be listed and

on the small, medium and emerging board of the Philippine Stock Exchange.

The company tapped China Bank Capital Cor p. as the sole issue manager and sole bookrunner for the offer with Investment & Capital Corporation of the Philippines to ser ve as joint lead under writer Last year, the company recorded a profit of P21.16 million, a reversal of the previous year’s loss of P22.79 million. Electricity sales for 2023 fell by 15 percent to P130.18 million, from the previous year’s P152.99 million. NexGen, formerly known as Just Solar Cor p., was established on June 7, 2017, to ser ve as the wind and solar power development company of Pure Energy.

The company conducts its business through three main subsidiaries SPARC-Sola r Powered Ag rirural Communit ies Cor p., 5Hour Peak Energy Cor p. and A irstream Renewables Cor p. VG Cabuag

Online sellers, OFWS, sari-sari stores next customers of CIMB

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

ONLINE sellers, sari-sari store owners, and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) could soon be among the next customers for digital-only commercial bank, CIMB Bank Philippines.

In a briefing with reporters on Thursday, CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Executive Officer Vijay Manoharan said they are keen on working on products designed specifically for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and OFWs.

Manoharan said there is a huge potential in these sectors as many of the Filipinos in this space still encounter challenges in terms of access to financing and other financial products and ser vices.

“O ur work is fa r f rom done,”

Manoharan continued. “We will continue our mission in disrupting the market with strategic partnerships, innovative solutions, and possible entr y to underser ved segments like the MSMEs and the OFW. We will continue driving positive impact in the communities we ser ve and we are here to help the ever yday person get ahead in his life.”

Manoharan said CIMB Phi lippines is in the process of crafting an embedded banking experience for MSMEs and OFWs. He said the target is to launch or pilot a product or ser vice catered to these sectors by the end of the year

“We have enough opportunities today to address many SMEs that are doing trade, online trade, digital trade, even physical trade, store front sari-saris, those are all I think our first scope of segments (we) want

to disrupt,” Manoharan said.

This disclosure came on the heels of CIMB Phi l ippines’s announcement that it has achieved profitability in its fifth year of operation.

However, due to disclosure limitations, since CIMB Philippines is a branch of CIMB Berhad Malaysia, it did not share data on its net income.

Nonetheless, Manoharan said the digital-only commercial bank was able to increase its customer base to over 8 million with total active accounts exceeding 11 million as of May 2024.

CIMB’s customer base also saw signif icant g rowth increasing by more than 23 percent since 2022, making CIMB the only commercial bank with full-fledged digital-only ser vices with the highest number of c ustomers in t he Phi l ippines. Moreover, the count of deposit customers rose to 6.5 million, while the number of loan customers surpassed 3.5 million.

“Looking ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to redefine banking in the digital age and helping more Filipinos not only to save but to have access to affordable credit, and that’s been our sole mission and purpose in the Philippines, which is to help and to ser ve,” Manoharan said.

The Bank also said it recorded total deposit cash ins of over P100 billion as of year-to-date. The Bank is targeting total deposits cash in total value of more than P500 billion by year-end, which is a 200 percent growth from 2023

Total lending disbursements on the other hand are expected to surpass P75 billion by year-end, also exceeding 2023 levels by 23 percent.

‘Beyond BIR, BOC, all of govt must fight illicit tobacco, vape’

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

THE entire machinery of the government must be harnessed in the fight against the illegal trade of tobacco and vape products, according to an economic think tank.

Bienvenido Oplas, Jr., president of the think tank Minimal Government Thinkers, stressed that combating the illicit trade of tobacco and vape products requires more than just t he effor ts of revenue-collect i ng agencies like the BIR and Bureau of Customs (BOC). The BIR has been enforcing rules on excise taxes, while the BOC is focused on import duties.

“Such a far-reaching and complicated problem requires a whole-ofgovernment approach that properly equips different agencies with the tools, data, and structures necessar y to strengthen enforcement and accountability,” Oplas said in press statement.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) disclosed that the government has so far lost approximately P6.6 billion in excise taxes from the tobacco industr y this year primarily due to illicit trade of tobacco and vape products and the growing popularity of e-cigarettes.

“Illicit trade deprives the Philippine government of much needed

Collaborative advisors in leadership

ONE of the ter ms that stood o u t d uri ng t h e pandemic is “collaboration,” which was enhanced by the rise of digital communication tools during this period, making it easier for collaboration to work effectively even when people are geographically dispersed. Out of this collaboration boom emerged the concept of “collaborative advisors in leadership.”

This was the gist of the live webinar the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE) recently organized and conducted by Jon Bruno, executive director of the US-based The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).

“Collabor at ive adv i sor s i n leadership” refers to a leadership model where leaders actively seek and incorporate inputs from a diverse group of advisors to improve their decision-making processes. This approach emphasizes the importance of collaboration, diversity of thought, and shared responsibility in leadership. A collaborat ive adv isors group involves a team of experts from diverse backgrounds working together to provide comprehensive advice and support.

W hile the for malization of collaborative advisor groups has seen more structured adoption in recent years, the underlying concept has historic roots. Traditional councils, boards of advisors, and committees have long existed, serving similar purposes of collective decision-making and expertise sharing. However, advancements in communication technology and a greater appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches have enhanced the effectiveness and appeal of these groups. Collaborative advisors are different from regular advisors and may include your peers providing guidance, support, and insights, with whom an association leader can plan, share, commiserate, act, and unite to face challenges. They may also be colleagues who will tell you the truth and empathize with you or other people who can do things you cannot do and who can help you overcome

obstacles you may find difficult to surmount.

There are benefits collaborative advisors provide such as:

1. D i ve r se pe r spect i ves: Bringing together advisors from different disciplines ensures a variety of perspectives, which can lead to more innovative and well-rounded solutions. This diversity can help address complex issues that require multi-faceted approaches.

2. Holistic approach: A collaborative g roup can consider all aspects of a problem, ensuring that no important factors are overlooked. This is especially important in fields like healthcare, business strategy, and public policy, where decisions have wide-ranging impacts.

3 S h a r ed knowledge and expe r t i se: Collabo r at i on fac i l itates t he sh a ri ng of spec i ali zed knowledge and exper t i se, whic h can en h ance t he over all qu al i ty of adv i ce p r ov i ded. Eac h adv i sor can cont ri bute

t h e ir u n iqu e i ns i g h ts and sk i lls, en ric hi ng t he collect ive w i sdom of t he g roup.

4. En h anced problem-solvi ng: Complex problems often benefit from collaborative prob-

tax revenue and cheats ever yone: society, consumers, and legitimate bu si nesses. Prof its of leg it i mate businesses are compromised, public health goals are undermined, and taxes due the government to help the economy are gravely affected,” said Atty. Venus Gaticales, chief of BIR’s Excise Large Taxpayers Field Operations Division.

Ass i stant Sec r eta r y Amanda Nograles, super vising head of the Department of Trade and Industr y (DTI) Consumer Protection Group, said the agency is dedicated to overseeing the registration of vape products and ensuring they do not get in the hands of minors.

At present, impor ters of vape products can obtain a certificate of exemption, Nograles said. But to bolster regulation, the DTI is implementing the mandatory certification and registration of vape products beginning June 5.

This means manufacturers and i mpor ters of vape products w i ll be required to secure a Philippine

lem-solving, where brainstorming and discussion can lead to creative and effective solutions that might not emerge in isolation.

5. Networking and relationships: Such groups foster strong professional relationships and networks, which can be valuable for future collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

In t he dynam ic landscape of mode r n assoc i at ions, t he formation of collaborative advisor groups represents a strategic advantage. By harnessing the power of diverse expertise and perspectives, associations can navigate complexities with g reater ag ility, innovate more effectively, and make decisions that drive sustained success. As the challenges and opportunities continue to evolve, the collaborative advisors group stands out as a vital tool for associations aiming to maximize their impact and achieve their mission.

Octavio Peralta is founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the BUSINESSMIRROR. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

Elevate to offer FDIC-insured dollar accounts

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

Standard (PS) license and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC), which both attest to the quality and safety of products. During this process, the DTI will check if there are harmful substances both in the heated tobacco product and the device.

“That immediately plugs the faucet. We’ll be able to check whoever is not registered, whoever is not certified, and they can no longer enter our market. By Januar y 2025, we’ll have a market clearing process then we will remove all vape that is not registered,” Nograles said.

Pending the mandator y registration, vape products are considered illegal when they are sold or promoted to minors, have nicotine levels beyond 65 mg per ml, or are smuggled. Nograles noted a remarkable 373-percent increase in apprehensions this year compared to last year

Meanwhi le, a consumer g roup on Thursday urged the government to implement a tougher regulation of the vape industr y to contain the rampant smuggling and illicit trade of e-cigarettes, and at the same time safeguard consumers from potential har m and max imize gover nment revenue from legal sales.

Despite the policies and regulations in place under the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act, lawyer K arr y Sison of the Bantay Konsy umer K alsada, Kur yente (BK3) lamented that they are hardly implemented. The vape products carr y health warnings on their packaging and mandates safe-

guards to keep them out of children’s reach

“Health warnings do not appear in most vape products, since these are usually smuggled into the countr y. Since these products enter the market illegally, there are also no safeguards in place to ensure that their ingredients are safe and regulated,” Sison said.

“Lack of proper oversight has allowed harmful substances to find their way into vape liquids, endangeri ng t he healt h of consu mers. Many users, particularly the youth, are unaware of the potential risks associated with vaping,” she added.

A commissioned Pulse Asia survey conducted in the last quarter of 2023 showed that majority or 57 percent of Filipinos are aware of the illegal sale of cigarette products in the countr y. According to the results presented by Pulse Asia President Dr Ronald Holmes, consumers are drawn to these products primarily due to their lower prices. Many are worried these would lead to health risks (46 percent), spike in the use of cigarettes (41 percent), and lower tax

by safeguarding public health,” Sison said.

Makati collects ₧14.7B at end April, hits 80% of full-yr goal

THE city government of Makati has achieved its revenue target for 2024 by 80 percent after collecting over P14.7 billion in April.

“Our robust revenues provide us with the financial stability we need to continuously implement programs that go well beyond the basic needs of our constituents. We are grateful to our taxpayers for their trust and confidence in the city government, especially the business sector which remains the largest contributor to the city coffers,” said Mayor Abigail Binay as collections reached P14,764,700,267.36. The city’s revenue target is P18.4-billion.

This, she said, ensures adequate funding to sustain the implementation of enhanced health education and other social programs and innovations planned for the year

Binay said that Makati ’s local revenue sources make up the bulk of the city’s income, and the city remains among few local government units in the countr y that are not dependent on the National Tax Allotment (NTA).

Based on the report of City Treasurer Jesusa Cuneta, the city collected nearly P8.2 billion in Business Tax or 81 percent of target, followed by Real Property Tax with P5.2 billion or 107 percent of target.

Records of the Business Permit and Licensing Office showed that a total of 1,820 new businesses have registered in the first four months of the year, with combined capital investment worth over P16.3 billion.

In the same period, a total of 34,203 businesses renewed their business permits and registered total gross sales amounting to over P1.8 trillion.

“Our total budget this year is P21.1 billion, and the Social Development sector has the lion’s share with an allocation of P10.4 billion, or 49.43 percent. Aside from our income from taxes, we also have substantial cash in bank amounting to P33.6 billion,” Binay said.

Education UNDER the said sector the Education subsector got the biggest share with P4.5 billion, followed by Health with P4.1 billion, and Social Welfare with P1.8 billion. Under Binay’s administration, Makati public school students ever y school year receive new uniforms, leather and rubber shoes, socks, bags, school supplies, tumblers, emergency ‘go’ bags, grocer y packs, rain gear hygiene and anti-dengue kits, and nutritious snacks, all for free.

This year the city is converting 400 classrooms into smart classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, notebook tablets for students, and unlimited internet access for both students and teachers.

Yellow Card holders

YELLOW Card holders and their dependents are entitled to free health care ser vices ranging from primar y to tertiar y care. Aside from primar y health care provided in barangay health centers, they can have free checkups and diagnostic ser vices, emergency treatment, and hospitalization at Ospital ng Makati

Currently, the Makati Life Medical Center provides 24/7 outpatient and diagnostic ser vices.

T he 360-bed hospital, w ith specialty centers on cancer and heart diseases, is expected to become fully operational this year Aside from free supply of maintenance medications for hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, other health ser vices available for free to residents include dental ser v ices, unlimited dialysis, prenatal checkups, Baby Makatizen bags, newborn screening and hearing test, and vaccines. This year Makati has added the antishingles vaccine to its list of covered vaccinations. The vaccine cost ranges from P8,000 to P10,000, but will be provided at no cost to Yellow Card holders.

Subsidies

MAK ATI also provides subsidies for members of PhilHealth ng Masa, free birthday cakes, movies, cash gifts, and burial assistance for senior citizens, disaster relief assistance, rice assistance, cash incentives for solo parents, Pamaskong Handog bags, student insurance, mass weddings, and other social programs. In 2023, Makati exceeded its revenue target by 39 percent even without increasing tax rates. Earlier this year the mayor announced her administration’s plan to reduce real property tax and other local taxes, especially in light of the savings accrued to the city from subsidies previously allocated to 10 “embo” barangays. “Given our robust revenues and strong cash position, I believe we can afford to reduce current tax rates, especially real property tax. It would make the city more attractive to local and foreign investors, thus increasing Makati ’s competitiveness as a premier investment destination in Asia,” Binay said. Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

Octavio Peralta

Association World

Relationships

That Nobu brunch buffet

IF you’ve been watching The Kardashians for a fair amount of time (like I do...yes, a guilty pleasure, so sue me!), one of their usual go-to restaurants for private dinners and parties is Nobu Restaurant. Created by Chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa, who has been to the Philippines a few times over the years, Nobu Restaurant showcases his excellence in fusing traditional Japanese cuisine with Peruvian touches, in a unique style that pleases sophisticated diners. In Manila, the fusion style now includes Philippine ingredients and iconic Filipino dishes as the base for a few dishes.

situation in Manila’s streets has been keeping me from making more trips to the City of Dreams in Parañaque, where Nobu Hotel and Nobu Restaurant are located, quite a distance for a Quezon City girl at heart.

friends on a Saturday, my main rest day, realizing that on Saturdays, too!

And, wow, it was certainly a welcome treat. Walking into the restaurant immediately calms the cars whizzing by, aggravated by my cab driver unleashing endless expletives directed at other drivers and the Pasay City cops. A hushed quiet envelops guests as soon as one steps in that I actually thought there were no other people at the restaurant. (In fact, there were a few tables already occupied by groups of families and friends, when I went to the main indoor dining area.)

their warm smiles, and as my friends and I started to dine, they were solicitous, always on hand to see to our other orders. (Kudos especially to Konrad—with a “K”—Aranda, the outlet manager, for overseeing our

Also on hand were Nobu Manila head chef Michael de Jesus and head sushi chef Kei Hirukawa keenly overseeing the space’s bountiful feast.

splurge for anyone looking for quality new-style and overwhelm diners with the number of its stations delectable dishes that actually tease, then please the palate. In other words, I liked every single thing I ate there. If only I had enough space in my tummy— in quite some time—I’m pretty sure the other dishes wouldn’t disappoint either. At the onset, the cold seafood dishes were a delight: I immediately went for the raw oysters (with a squeeze of lemon on each piece), and steamed shrimps, dipped in the restaurant’s own vinegar concoction—yuzu kosho sinamak

Continuing to advocate for breast cancer awareness

IN a display of solidarity and commitment to a vital cause, EastWest Bank announces the success of the second run of its Magenta Race, a pivotal event dedicated to raising awareness and funds for breast cancer advocacy in the Philippines. Building upon the triumph of the inaugural Magenta Race, which garnered acclaim and support, the 2023 edition is a testament to EastWest Bank’s dedication to social responsibility. This year’s event saw 145 individuals participating in the run/cycle, resulting in a total donation of P196,991 to the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. (Kasuso Foundation). The success of the Magenta Race extends far beyond philanthropy, earning recognition from The Digital Banker Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2023 as the Best CSR Initiative. This demonstrates the bank’s commitment to working together to address pressing societal challenges. Breast cancer remains a pervasive health concern, particularly among Filipino women, highlighting the continued relevance and urgency of initiatives like the Magenta Race. With over 60 percent female employees, EastWest Bank remains committed to promoting breast health awareness and early detection, championing initiatives that empower women and communities across the nation. More information about the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care Inc. (Kasuso Foundation) ia available at www. kasuso.org.

By Eugenia Last

how others react. A practical approach coupled with common sense is the quickest route to success.

A diplomatic attitude will pay off, helping you gain insight into using your knowledge, experience and skills to your advantage. A chance to converse with someone in a position to help you will lead to an unexpected opportunity.

Count your blessings and pennies. Play it safe, and you won’t be sorry. Stick to a foolproof plan and only make changes that bring you closer to your goal. Don’t let temptation and emotions take over.

You’ll gravitate toward situations that can result in added expenses. Budget wisely, and sign up only for what you can afford. Cancel unwanted subscriptions and protect against scammers. Pay attention to self-improvement and nurturing meaningful relationships.

Make domestic alterations that make your life easier and put your mind at rest. Address emotional situations and clear up misunderstandings or petty differences that can lead to confusion or unwanted arguments.

Calm down and reconstruct your lifestyle to suit your needs. Refuse to let outsiders interfere. Make changes to your surroundings that are conducive to what you want to pursue, and it will boost your confidence and encourage you to put yourself first.

Someone will exaggerate or try to convince you to make a change or buy into something costly. Enforce discipline into your routine and focus on what you can accomplish that will encourage financial gains and peace of mind.

You are outgoing, resourceful and impulsive. You are resilient and tireless.

SLIPPER Lobster with Yuzu Garlic Aoili

SAVOR unlimited servings of Nobu new-style sushi and

FROM left: Es Vidaurreta and Cariss Ramos of EastWest Bank, Jennifer Angeles and Lizette Lim of Kasuso Foundation, Mary Anne Bundalian of EastWest Bank, Flerida Jimenez, president Georgia Pangan, treasurer Susan Lim, chairman Maria Lourdes Cortez del Rosario, and June del Rosario of Kasuso Foundation.

BLOODIEST WEDDING OF THE YEAR IN ‘BLACK RIDER’

VIEWERS are invited to the must-see wedding of the year where the bride is all dressed not in white—but in bloody red. This and more big scenes are not to be missed in the 2024 New York Festivals Bronze Medalist primetime series Black Rider.

As Paeng (Matteo Guidicelli) and Joan (Arra San Agustin) decide to tie the knot and build their own family, the supposedly happiest day of their lives turns out to be the most traumatic and devastating. Calvin (Jon Lucas) continues with his dark plans to stop the wedding and, worse, kill all people who matter to Elias (Ruru Madrid).

Who, then, makes it alive?

Elias is determined to avenge all those affected by the bloody wedding. But the question is: Who is coming to fight with him?

As Calvin’s plans have been revealed, viewers can’t help but be enraged.

“Nakakagigil ka, Calvin—pati na rin ang buong kampon mo. Pati ba naman sina Paeng at Joan, madadamay pa,” one viewer expressed online.

Viewers are very curious as to who gets killed and bids goodbye in the series. “Nako, sino na naman kaya ang magpapaalam? ” asks another viewer.

Black Rider airs at 8 pm on GMA, with simulcast on Pinoy Hits and livestreamed via Kapuso Stream and GMA Public Affairs’ YouTube and Facebook accounts. Catch the delayed telecast on GTV at 9:40 pm. Global Pinoys can watch it on GMA Pinoy TV. More information is available at www.gmanetwork.com.

Hilda

Santiago read: “For

Perfect Mother

Death

Us Part the Lollipops and Roses.

Tinimbang ka Ngunit Kulang

Ligaya Paraiso.

Maynila: Sa Kuko ng Liwanag.

Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,

HILDA KORONEL, photographed by her son Diego Lopez

LOVE

Ramos moves into lead as Lascuña, Jaraula lurk

SEAN RAMOS came up with a hot start and held on to a one-stroke lead in the third round of the ICTSI Lakewood Championship on Thursday in Cabanatuan City.

The 20-year-old Ramos, seeking a first win on the Philippine Golf Tour, came up with another impressive five-under 31 on Lakewood’s front nine and despite slowing down with one birdie on the back nine, the young Asian Development Tour competitor moved to 13-under 203, one stroke ahead of Tony Lascuña.

“Everything from driving to putting clicked well, so I’m very pleased with my performance,” Ramos, who missed only three greens, said.

Lascuña was four-under on the front nine thanks to an eagle on the par-5 No. 4, and he recovered from a three-bogey skid from No. 10 by firing three birdies from the 13th. The four-time Order of Merit winner an eagle-aided 68 for a 204. Reymon Jaraula fired a 68 for a 205 total to join Ramos and Lascuña in the championship flight of the P2.5 million tournament sponsored by ICTSI.

Ozeki K akeru matched Ramos’ strong start on the front nine with a 31, briefly creating a four-way tie for the lead at 11-under before slipping with bogeys on the 11th and 12th. However, he regained momentum with a birdie on the last hole, carding a 68 for a 206.

First-round leader Hyun Ho Rho shot a 71 marred by a double-bogey on the 11th for a 209 in sixth place. Art Arbole, co-leader with Lascuña in the second round, submitted a 75 and fell to joint seventh at 211 with Ivan Monsalve (69), Dino Villanueva (69), Eric

Jungolfer Lee eclipses LPGT stars at Lakewood

THE level of competition was different and thus the margin was different, but Jiwon Lee nevertheless came up with a big win as she edged out Chihiro Ikeda on the second playoff hole to top the ICTSI Lakewood Championship in Cabanatuan City.

Back-to-back winner on the Junior Philippine Golf Tour including a 20-stroke romp in the 15-18 age group at Pradera Verde, Lee stole the show on the Ladies PGT with par on their third trip to the par-5 18th on Thursday.

Both players had finished regulation play at six-under 210, with Lee making a critical birdie on the 17th to salvage a 72, and Ikeda submitting a 70 with birdie on the final hole.

“I was so grateful to be in a playoff with Ikeda because I’m such a fan,” said Lee. “At that point, I was already pressuring myself to win. But I reminded myself to just play the game and have fun. Just feel the pressure and adrenaline rush.”

The initial playoff hole saw both players par the 18th.

“Coming into the playoff, I was really nervous,” Lee said. Despite her nerves, she managed to match Ikeda’s par, demonstrating remarkable poise under pressure. “My goal

was to stay in the Top 5, and I’m glad I did it.”

The turning point came when Ikeda’s third shot on the second playoff hole went awry, giving Lee a significant advantage. “I was actually surprised but relieved at the same time because that gave me the advantage. It gave me no pressure to make a birdie putt,” Lee said. “But I played it safe and got a par. I was sure I could get a chance to win.”

Despite her defeat, Ikeda took home the top prize of P97,500.

Lee’s twin titles she also earned low amateur honors underscored her readiness to move to the professional ranks in the next LPGT leg at Splendido Taal in July.

Constantino’s run of three straight titles ended as she carded a 75 for a 211 total, which was matched by Florence Bisera after a 72. They split the combined second and third prizes worth P117,750.

Marvi Monsalve shot a 75 and Gretchen Villacencio carded a 76, finishing tied for fifth at 219.

Velinda Castel shot a 71 to place seventh at 220.

K ayla Nocum fired a 71 for a 221 total, same as Mikhaela Fortuna who shot a closing 76.

Apo leg winner Sarah Ababa was 10th with a 222 after a 75, while Princess Superal limped with a 76 to end up 11th with a 224.

Bong Go pushes for financial support for Olympic-bound Filipino athletes

N a significant boost for Filipino athletes aiming for Olympic glory, Sen Christopher “Bong” Go has collaborated with the Philippine Sports Commission to provide additional financial support to each competing Filipino athlete in the 2024 Paris Games.

Fifteen Filipino athletes have so far earned spots in the Paris Olympics. The financial support will be used for the preparations, training and participation in the Games scheduled July 26 to August 9. The PSC plans to distribute the funds before the Games begin to help ensure that the athletes are in prime condition to compete.

“It is essential that our athletes receive all the support they need to excel. By ensuring they are well-prepared and well-supported, we are nurturing their talents and fueling the national spirit and pride,” Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, said.

“Our athletes are not just competitors but our country’s ambassadors. With proper support, I believe they will shine on the world stage,” Go added.

Go has consistently shown his unwavering support for Filipino athletes participating in international events. In 2019, Go was key in securing a sponsorship arrangement between Phoenix Petroleum Philippines and Hidilyn Diaz, which was used to help fund her training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she won the gold medal.

In 2021, in response to a request from the PSC, Go advocated for the approval of additional allowances for athletes who represented the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in Japan.

He has also been a staunch advocate for sports education, having authored and co-sponsored Republic

integrates

education with a

allowing student-athletes to excel both academically and athletically. Go’s legislative efforts include the filing and principal sponsorship of Senate Bill No. 2514, or the proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act, which aims to institutionalize a comprehensive framework for a national sports program, combining grassroots sports promotion with the broader agenda of national sports development. The bill has already passed the final reading in the Senate.

Djokovic eyes quick return after surgery

PMeralco braces for SMB fightback

prepare

By Josef T. Ramos

MERALCO

care of the ball better after committing 19 turnovers, which Meralco converted to 18  points. The Beermen had 12 points from Meralco’s

“For us, it’s to anticipate the moves that they will make in Game Two,” Newsome said, noting that the Beermen would comeback like a storm to tie the series especially seven-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez.

“They are going to be aggressive in Game Two. So we have to shoot well and picked up the pace again.” San Miguel can be expected to take

“We will definitely try but you can never count out the heart of a champion,” the swingman Newsome told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “Those guys are real battle-tested and have proven time and time again that they can come back and win.” The Bolts seized the early lead with a stunning 93-86 win in Game One last Wednesday and try to score a repeat in Game Two at 7:30 p.m. Focus will again be on Newsome and Chris Banchero, who each had 18 points and five assists, as well as Allein Maliksi and Bong Quinto who had 15 points apiece.

Remembering former Balipure/PetroGazz import Janisa Johnson

I AM stunned to hear of the passing of American volleyball player Janisa Johnson from a long bout with colon cancer last May 25.

She was our import with the BaliPure Water Defenders in 2018. Our team manager Gil Cortez “found” her and recruited her to play for the team along with middle blocker Alexis Matthews. Oh, I was handling the team’s PR and served as an active consultant from the very beginning.

That 2018, the team was reeling for the second time in like three years. We won the All-Filipino PVL title against that dynasty Pocari Sweat with a team we built from the ashes of the pioneer squad (the Ateneo Women’ Volleyball Team). The story of these two teams is another one we will tell soon.

After that title team left with most going to the PLDT squad, we had nothing.

There were talks with Nes Pamilar but he was going through health concerns (he would pass away a year later).

Sir Gil called me and asked, “Where do we go?

I said, “Well, you might not like this because we will not win right away, but if we hold on to this team, we will.”

Where do we get these players, Sir Gil asked?

“The NU Girls team,” I said. It was a bold and audacious move.

We met with Coach Babes Castillo and his staff along with their team manager at Starbucks Capitol Commons for the initial discussions. Three weeks later we had a team that would be augmented by some on NU’s senior team.

With a local squad in place, Sir Gil and Paolo went about locating the imports.

Janisa came in from a stint in France where she and former Pocari Sweat import Crystal Rivers led Beziers to a championship.

When Sir Gil contacted Janisa, she wasn’t sure. So she asked Rivers’ advice.

Rivers, as you may recall, played on the Pocari team that beat BaliPure in the Reinforced Conference.

“It’s great there except it is hot,” said Rivers.

“So now, I am here,” Janisa told me back then.

Both Matthews and her knew right away they had an uphill battle. You do not win with youth. It was something you build on.

But off the court, we became friends and I was the one who observed the team from afar.

“Of course, we are here to guide them, but we are going to try and win a championship if that is even possible,” she noted.

The team did well at first, but because of the youthful core (and some didn’t play well at all), the team crashed out. Janisa she carried the scoring load putting up phenomenal numbers.

When the team began to unravel because of their youth, Janisa sat aside the team’s setter, Joyme Cagande, who was struggling.

Johnson was the silent leader who preferred to let her game do the talking. So you can imagine this took quite a bit of effort.

“ You’re too tight,” Janisa said. “Look, just go back to playing how you did have fun, smile. It is okay to make mistakes but come back from this. We need you.”

The team began to play better, but it wasn’t enough for us to get over the hump.

In the farewell dinner for the imports, Johnson remarked, “I do not like losing. But I understand our situation. If I am able to

B8

FORD’S iconic off-road SUV Bronco has finally arrived in the Philippines, reinforcing the American automaker’s strong foothold in the off-road vehicle segment. Making its initial public appearance in the country, the newgeneration model comes in the Outer Banks variant with Sasquatch Package and a complimentary Peace of Mind service inspection package for a worryfree ownership experience.

“The SUV that started it all for Ford is finally here. We are excited that Filipinos will finally get to experience the off-road performance of the All-New Bronco. With its iconic design and rugged terrain capabilities, adventure seekers are in for a thrill as it can take on extreme conditions in the great outdoors,” said Mike Breen, managing director of Ford Philippines.

Rugged and adventure-ready SINCE its introduction in 1965, the Bronco nameplate has been a staple in anything off-roading. Its inside-andout design was always straightforward without the frills. But the latest generation model’s design inspiration comes from the realities of off-road driving in mind.

Editor: Tet Andolong • www.businessmirror.com.ph

The fresh exterior look is easily recognizable. Its body-onframe platform, short overhangs, and high-ground clearance unapologetically screams offroading. The latest model’s four-door configurations offer a removable top and doors for that extreme open-air driving experience.

The front grill’s design stemmed from the nameplate’s classic Bronco historical design, while the roundshaped LED headlights and short vertical LED taillights provide a timeless look. Dark tones are everywhere, such as matte black steel bash plates, fender flares, black painted sport tubes, and black removable hard top, among others. However, the latest generation’s Outer Banks variant with Sasquatch Package boosted the looks with enhancing features. Starting with the variant’s high ground clearance

108,667 units, accounting for 74 percent of total sales. Passenger cars registered sales of 38,280 units, equivalent to 26 percent share of total sales.

“Toyota remains the market leader with a 46-percent share, followed by Mitsubishi with 18.94 percent. Ford took third with 6.59 percent, narrowly dropping Nissan to fourth with 6.38 percent. Suzuki was fifth with 4.16 percent.

Electric Vehicles

“IN recent industry developments, the National Economic

suspension it complements the high clearance fender flares while serving a purpose for traversing rugged terrains, also helping to keep mud, dirt, and other elements away from the vehicle body. The high-gloss, black-painted 17-inch alloy wheels have warm alloy beauty ring beadlock capable wheels, adding more muscle to the overall look. More importantly, it aids off-road situations by providing tires with better traction in low air-pressure situations. The 35inch Mud-Terrain (M / T) Tires also provide added traction whether driving through muddy, rocky or uphill conditions. Meanwhile, the advanced 4x4 On Demand Engagement feature provides power to all its wheels for enhanced traction and stability. With its G.O.A.T. Modes™ (Goes Over Any Terrain), it can match performance to the terrain, weather, or whatever the roads and trails throw your way with the simple turn of a dial. There is also the High-Performance Off-Road Stability Suspension (HOSS) System with Position-sensitive BILSTEIN™ Shock Absorbers designed for the harshest conditions, aiding drivers to achieve off-road stability at higher speeds and great precision at lower speeds. Moreover, the drivetrain’s 4.7 Final Drive Ratio with Electronic-locking Front and Rear Axle is engineered for maximum traction, ensuring optimal grip and torque.

Development Authority announced the expansion of Executive Order No. 12 (0% tariff) coverage to include Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) and Plug-in HEV.

“Said Gutierrez: ‘CAMPI is expecting improvement in EV sales ratio this year in the wake of EO No. 12.  In 2023, the combined EV sales was only 2.5 percent of total sales.’

“Meanwhile, the Department of Energy announced the implementation of higher biofuel blends beginning October 2024.

“CAMPI says new vehicles are already compatible with B3 biodiesel. Further, CAMPI notes that E20 is voluntary.

“‘It is part of the global strategy of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturing), and along

Functional and connected INSIDE, the materials utilized are easy to clean and maintain. The seats are leather-trimmed in dark space gray and navy pier color. The driver’s seat has a 10-way power adjust, while the front passenger has an eight-way power adjust. Combining functionality and style, the All-New Bronco comes with a Carbonized Gray Molded-in-Color Hard Top with a deadening headliner ready to withstand various weather conditions. It also gives an openair rush with an easy-to-pull-offand-store removable roof and doors option.

In terms of connectivity, the core feature of the All-New Bronco is the S Y NC® 4 infotainment system via a 12-inch colored touchscreen with swipe capability and enhanced voice recognition, ensuring more accessible access to various vehicle controls. The screen also doubles as a monitor for the 360-degree camera that gives better visibility, especially in rocky and unpredictable terrain. It also has a premium B & O® Sound System with ten speakers, including a subwoofer, for an immersive listening experience.

Potent EcoBoost engine and advanced safety features MOTIVATION comes from a 2.7L EcoBoost® V6 Engine with Auto StartStop mated to a 10-speed Automatic Transmission. On paper, the power output is 330 hp and 555 N-m of maximum torque. Apart from the list of standard safety features, the latest Bronco also comes with Ford Co-Pilot360™ Technology, a suite of enhanced driver-assist technologies and safety features such as Auto High-Beam Headlights, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping System, and Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking to name a few. Moreover, the vehicle is FordPass™ app ready with certain features such as the Intelligent Oil Life Monitor, Vehicle Status, and Vehicle Location- giving owners the information support they need to fuel their adventures. Pricing and colors THE All-New Bronco Outer Banks variant with Sasquatch Package retails at P4.998 million. Available colors are Eruption Green, Race Red, Cactus Gray, Oxford White, Azure Gray (additional P20,000), and Shadow Black. It is exclusively available for online reservation via the Ford Philippines website and is expected to arrive at Ford dealerships in mid-June 2024.

with other carbon neutrality and electrified options, it will eventually come to the Philippines,” Gutierrez said. “OEM means plantinstalled, not after-sales or dealer’s option.”

The industry is aiming to surpass sales projection of 450,000plus units sold for 2024.  It’s looking good thus far.

D-MAX is champ THE Isuzu D-MAX won the recent gruelling Round 5 of the 2024 Philippine Rallycross at CDS Off-road Playground at the Arden Botanical Estate, Yvonne Linchangco reports.  Louie Camacho engineered the classic victory in both the UV Class and Pick-Up Class in the seven-car competition. It comes on the heels of the June 20 launch of the New D-MAX, set at 6

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino