BusinessMirror June 09, 2023

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

TRANSMISSION infrastruc-

ture is critical to achieving a 50-percent renewable energy (RE) share in the country’s energy mix by 2040, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla has asserted.

The energy chief, who delivered a keynote message at the launch of the Philippines Economic Update on Thursday, said the government will facilitate the upgrading and modernization of the transmission and distribution lines to

support an efficient transition to cleaner energy.

The government, he added, will also resolve to address transmission congestion, whether by adding transmission lines or avoiding subsidies that cause the build-up of excess capacity.

“...In our desire to transition to cleaner sources of power, we need a number of things, and one of them that I want to emphasize is the need for transmission.

“If one takes a look at the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) of the administration of President

Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the emphasis on transmission infrastructure in relation to clean energy is clear,” said Lotilla.

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) holds the sole and exclusive concession and franchise for operating the Philippines’s transmission network.

The other important element in the PDP is that once the government has fiscal space, it will revisit and re-evaluate financing investment in transmission, Lotilla said.

“And Congressman Joey Salceda hears that message very

well. Financing investment will be separated from the regulatory structure of transmission tariffs, and investment in transmission expansion offers enormous potential benefits for efficiency by increasing access to low-cost generation, improving reliability and mitigating counterbalancing market power,” said Lotilla. The energy chief also sees opportunities to develop the transmission sector alongside with other infrastructure projects.

This is the first RRR reduction made by the BSP since 2020, when it cut the ratio by 200 basis points to the present 12 percent.

The BSP cut the RRR of universal and commercial banks by 250 basis points to 9.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the RRR of non-bank financial institutions with quasibanking functions (NBQBs) and thrift banks, rural banks and cooperative banks were reduced by 200 bps and 100 bps, respectively.

The RRRs of NBQBs and thrift banks will now be at 9.5 percent and 6 percent, respectively. The RRR for rural and cooperative banks is now down to just 1 percent.

The reduction in RRRs shall take effect on the reserve week beginning June 30 and shall apply to the local currency deposits and deposit substitute liabilities of banks and NBQBs.

THE IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said it has partnered with StackTrek, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) and programming training solutions, to enable Philippines’s digital workforce and leverage on AI opportunities.

According to the flagship organization of the IT and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry, this National IT Talent Development initiative, which is aligned with the vision of the Philippine IT-BPM Indus -

try Roadmap 2028 to create 1.1 million new jobs by 2028, aims to “enable the Filipino talent and open them up to opportunities in the IT-BPM sector.”

In a statement on Thursday, IBPAP said the partnership will focus on “embedding” training for industry-relevant skills into the curriculum and internship programs of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and launching IT career initiatives across the Philippines.

Among the components of the partnership is AI and Programming Academy. IB -

PAP said this offers “tailored learning programs and a cutting-edge Learning Management System (LMS) to empower businesses to thrive in the digital age.”

This component, IBPAP noted, also enables companies to prepare for an AI-powered future.

Another component is the StackLab, which the association said “specializes in establishing AI Research and Development (R&D) units and delivering AI software applications to clients.

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is seeing an upward trend in the deployment of Filipino migrant workers after total deployment last year returned to the above-1 million mark following a two-year downtrend.

DMW Secretary Susan Ople on Thursday disclosed that the number of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) deployed last year grew by an annualized rate of 62.8 percent to 1.2 million from 2021.

Publicly available government data shows that the estimated number of OFWs deployed in 2021 was about 741,000.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) on Thursday slashed the reserve requirement ratios (RRR) of banks by as much as 250 basis points, bringing down the effective ratios across banks to single digit, as it seeks to ensure “stable” domestic liquidity and credit conditions.

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Group urges LGUs, electric co-ops to help cut barriers to connectivity

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes

age the establishment of telco infrastructure,” Abejo said. “But apparently there are still administrative blocks at the site level that are delaying the powering up of telco towers.”

According to Abejo, LGUs have the discretion to adopt streamlined processes for establishing telco towers and other infrastructure in their area. Meanwhile, the electrification of telco towers already in place hinges on the efficiency of electric cooperatives to deliver power to them.

DMW…

Continued from A1

The latest 2022 figures mark the first year since 2020 that OFW deployment breached the 1-million level, based on government data.

Tim Abejo, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, pointed out that the problem is neither technology nor even a capital issue but more of a bureaucratic bane. “It is something we can address swiftly and effectively with enough political will and commitment,” Abejo said.

Although the national govern -

ibpap…

Continued from A1

ment and the private sector have been exerting efforts to streamline bureaucratic processes, Abejo urged the implementers at the grassroots level to double their efforts to translate policy to actual reality.

“There have been laudable developments in terms of crafting policies that specifically encour -

“Through StackLab, businesses can benefit from comprehensive training and continuous skills development to create dedicated AI R&D units customized to their specific needs,” IBPAP said in a statement on Thursday.

“You can have all the equipment in place, but if they are not electrified, they might as well be white elephants,” Abejo said.

In a workshop conducted by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) with the country’s telco players held recently in Taguig City, the participants said non-standardized processes, delays, confusion in obtaining permits, resource short -

The third component under the partnership is the AI Executive Education Program, which IBPAP said “empowers leaders to remain at the forefront of AI developments and leverage the technology to drive growth and innovation

ages, inflexible timelines and inconsistent fees as some of the challenges to the energization process of telco towers.

Further, representatives from the telecommunications industry and tower companies in a recent workshop agreed that improving coordination, standardizing requirements, and reducing delays are crucial for streamlining the process and accelerating the expansion of the country’s digital infrastructure.

“We hope the President will soon sign the Executive Order on Telecommunications Infrastructure Development to institutionalize the fast processing of permits and licenses relevant to digital infrastructure projects,” Abejo said.

The EO will, among others, spell out the guidelines governing the establishment of

within their organizations.”

“It features intensive learning and consulting sessions led by expert trainers and offers a unique opportunity for participants to share experiences, challenges, and receive personalized guidance and feedback from the trainers,” IBPAP noted.

For his part, StackTrek CEO Bill Yuen said the partnership between StackTreck and IBPAP represents a “groundbreaking collaboration that will help the Philippine ITBPM industry seize the tremendous economic opportunity presented by AI.”

“We believe that with our combined expertise, resources and vision, we can empower individuals and organizations to embrace AI, redefine business landscapes, and drive the industry forward,” Yuen added.

According to IBPAP, the National IT Talent Development partnership demonstrates the “shared

telecommunication towers and other Internet infrastructure, based on initial gains realized from two Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMC) issued in 2020 and 2021 but will expire by the end of next month.

He said the two JMCs have enabled the country to achieve substantial progress in the past years. “We were able to significantly cut down the number of documentary requirements, number of permits needed, and the processing time for the applications," he said.

Broadband connectivity for all

A B EJO s aid a comprehensive digitalization program would bring inclusivity in the country.

“A nation cannot be truly empowered if the opportunities and advantages are concentrated on one area, sector, or group of people,” Abejo said.

commitment” of IBPAP and StackTrek to “fuel” the development of the Philippines’s digital workforce.

“By leveraging advanced training solutions and capitalizing on the vast opportunities presented by AI, this collaboration is set to transform the IT-BPM industry and secure the country’s position as a global leader in the digital economy,” IBPAP said.

Meanwhile, IBPAP President and CEO Jack Madrid underscored, “In what could be an AI-driven economy, proactive collaboration is crucial to empower the Filipino talent, enabling them to flourish in roles that involve higher-value work.”

“Through partnerships with both the public and private sectors, and a steadfast commitment to continuous upskilling and reskilling, the Philippine IT-BPM industry will remain highly sought-after and globally competitive,” Madrid stressed. Andrea E. San Juan

Transmission…

Continued from A1

“The potential for building bridges, whether it's across Manila Bay, Guimaras, Negros, Panay, and Pangil Bay, these are opportunities for building new transmission lines...So, we see

RRR…

Continued from A1

“The reduction in reserve ratios is intended to coincide with the expiration of alternative modes of compliance with reserve requirements by end-June 2023 and thereby ensure stable domestic liquidity and credit conditions,” the BSP said in a statement on Thursday.

“This operational adjustment is in line with the BSP’s ongoing efforts towards a more active and flexible approach to liquidity management through market-based monetary operations,” the BSP added.

The BSP noted that the implementation of the reduced RRR will coincide with its inaugural offering of a 56-day BSP bill, which will serve as an “additional instrument for absorbing system liquidity.”

Nonetheless, the BSP emphasized that the lowering of

“After two years of a 75-percent decrease in development numbers, we are steadily recovering. There were 1.2 million OFWs deployed last year, an increase of 62.8 percent from 2021,” Ople said in her speech during an event at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

“For the first quarter of this year, the deployment increased by 54.8 percent compared to the same quarter last year,” Ople added.

Ople also disclosed that the DMW will expand globally the implementation of the Pinansyal na Talino at Kaalaman or PiTaKa program, which seeks to improve OFWs’ financial literacy.

The DMW signed a memorandum of agreement with the BSP and the BDO Foundation for the continued implementation of the PiTaKa program.

BSP noted that the program aims to teach OFWs "how to save, manage their savings, get out of debt, and make prudent investments to achieve financial stability."

“The program recognizes the temporary nature of overseas employment and encourages families of OFWs to support their loved ones abroad by spending remittances prudently, limiting liabilities, and growing family income,” it said.

Ople said the DMW will now require its migrant workers offices (MWO) abroad to deploy the PiTaKa program to reach and train more OFWs. At present, only the Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) providers are implementing the PiTaKa program.

“We will now require all our migrant workers offices around the world to do the same. So, the program will not just reach the OFW families here but also the OFWs abroad while waiting for their repatriation,” she added.

Ople said DMW plans to translate the modules and learning videos of the PiTaKa program to other Philippine dialects so that OFWs would understand them better and easier.

“We will also use social media like TikTok to further share [the PiTaKa program],” she said.

synergies here, we can actually lower the infrastructure costs by building up in parallel the transmission lines as well as the tollways that are going to be built,” he said.

the reserve requirements “do not constitute any shift in the BSP’s monetary policy settings” as it reiterated that its priority remains managing the country’s inflation.

“The BSP continues to prioritize bringing inflation back towards a target-consistent path over the medium term and will continue to signal its monetary policy stance through the key policy interest rate, or the rate on the overnight reverse repurchase facility,” it said.

BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla earlier signaled that the central bank could slash the RRR before the end of the first half should the inflation print cool down. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com. ph/2023/01/13/bsp-cut-in-rrr-beforeend-june-very-likely/)

The country’s inflation in May slowed to a four-month low of 6.1 percent from 6.6 percent in April.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the cut

“The project successfully trained 900,000 OFWs. If we are sending more than a million, I think we can increase that number upward,” she added.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

in large banks’ reserve requirements would “infuse” about P325 billion into the financial system.

Ricafort noted that with the BSP’s latest action, it “fulfilled” its earlier “promise/target” of bringing down the large banks’ RRR to single-digit levels “to better align” with other Asian countries, particularly neighboring Southeast Asian countries.

“The RRR cut meant to neutralize also the de facto tightening with the expiration of some regulatory relief measures particularly those that allowed some loans, especially new MSME loans, to be counted for the computation of banks’ reserve requirements since the pandemic started,” he said.

Earlier this year, Medalla disclosed that the Association of the Philippines (BAP) was receptive to bringing down transaction costs in lieu of lowering the RRR. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/02/28/bap-opento-scuttling-costs-for-small-transactions/)

CITIZENWATCH Philippines on Thursday said local government units (LGUs) and electric cooperatives across the country should eliminate the barriers to broadband connectivity, stressing that the obstructions deprive them of their tangible economic benefits.

‘Gibo’ buckles down to work to fix military pension system

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

the end of their tours of duty, number one, they will be taken care of; number two, that the fund or whatever they have to participate in is transparently, professionally and competently managed and not mismanaged,” Teodoro said.

He noted Galvez has already made significant gains in generating consensus in the military for the said reform.

the reform since it is part of his marching orders from Marcos. He assured the new MUP pension system will comply with governance and prudential standards and will be managed by competent executives.

“If we will invest on the skills upgrading and health care—not just the soldiers, but also their families—[and providing them] other non-monetary opportunities, I think they will stay [in the service],” Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro Jr. during a news briefing in Malacañang on Thursday.

He pointed out that the comprehensive non-monetary benefits for the AFP is what convinces many recruits to seek a military career.

The DND chief made the pronouncement in response to earlier concern raised by former Defense officer-in-charge Carlito

G. Galvez Jr. that around 70 to 80 percent of the AFP’s enlisted personnel, who are eligible for retirement, are expected to leave the service before the new pension scheme takes effect.

Many military uniformed personnel (MUP), he said, may be convinced to remain if the government can clearly explain to them the need for the reform and if they will be assured it will provide them with a more sustainable pension system.

“I believe that our men, women in uniform are not averse to the fact that they have to contribute to national government just as long as they see that at

Lima ‘disappointed’ with bail plea denial, vows to exhaust legal remedies to gain liberty

By Joel R. San Juan   @jrsanjuan1573

THE camp of former senator Leila de Lima vowed on Thursday to pursue all other available legal remedies to secure her immediate release following the denial of her bail application in her remaining drug case pending before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City Branch 256.

In an interview with reporters, de Lima’s lawyer, Boni Tacardon, said they would be filing a motion for reconsideration related to the order issued by Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 Presiding Judge Romeo Buenaventura on or before Tuesday next week.

Tacardon said the defense team would be raising the issue on the credibility of witnesses in the motion for reconsideration, insisting that de Lima is in detention based on trumped-up charges.

During the interview, Tacardon also read de Lima’s official statement over the denial of her bail plea.

“The court’s denial of my bail application is most unfortunate. My lawyers will be filing a motion for reconsideration to raise the issue on the credibility of inmate-witnesses and their testimonies anew with the hope that the judge is not yet closed to the perspective that their word, uncorroborated as they are by more acceptable evidence, is utterly unreliable, and therefore, completely not credible and unworthy of belief. Theirs are blatant lies and ludicrous stories,” de Lima said.

“I am of course disappointed but with a clean conscience I cannot and will not lose hope. I have to remain strong as I’m determined to attain justice and vindication,” she added.

Tacardon said the defense team is also seriously considering the possibility of filing a demurrer of evidence once the prosecution is done with its presentation of evidence.

In fact, Judge Buenaventura has directed the prosecution panel “to complete and terminate” its presentation of evidence this month.

The judge’s order is in compliance with the directive issued by the SC, through the Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) headed by Raul Villanueva, to prioritize and decide the remaining drug case against de Lima within the period provided under OCA Circular No. 83-2023, specifically, within nine months.

The OCA took into consideration that the case has been pending for six years already.

It has also directed the trial court to provide the OCA with the update on the status of the case as soon as it has been disposed of.

Tacardon said Judge Buenaventura has given the prosecution two hearings scheduled on June 19 and June 26 to present and make its formal offer of evidence.

However, de Lima’s lawyer said there is still a pending plea from the prosecution for additional dates for its formal offer of evidence that the court has yet to act upon.

It can be recalled that last May 12, 2023, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Presiding Judge Joseph Abraham Alcantara acquitted de Lima in her second drug case due to the prosecution’s failure to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

In February 2021, Branch 205 of the Muntinlupa RTC granted her demurrer to evidence that resulted in the dismissal of the first drug case against her on the ground of insufficiency of evidence.

In his order issued last Wednesday, Buenaventura said that after a careful review of the totality of the prosecution’s evidence, including the testimonies of several high-profile inmates at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP), he is convinced that the evidence of guilt against de Lima and her co-accused for the crime of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading is strong.

Aside from de Lima’s bail plea, Buenaventura also junked the petitions for bail of her coaccused, namely, Ronnie Dayan, her former security aide, former Bureau of Corrections chief Franklin Jesus Bucayu, Joenel Sanchez; and a certain Jose Adrian Dera.

Specifically, the prosecution charged de Lima and her co-accused of using the inmates of the NBP to sell and trade illegal drugs by means of mobile phones and other electronic devices; receiving the proceeds thereof totaling to P70 million; and thereafter, conducting a raid inside the maximum security compound of the NBP to the exclusion of accused Jaybee Sebastian, thus, allowing him to control, centralize and monopolize the drug trade inside the NBP.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, in a statement issued by its Public Information Office (PIO), said de Lima can still file a bail application anytime during the course of the trial of the case.

“The former senator can also move for her release on bail at any time during the course of trial if she deems that the prosecution evidence is weak,” the SC said, adding, “as per order of the trial court, the denial of bail is not the final adjudication of the case.”

Tacardon, however, admitted that they were surprised with the statement released by the Court considering that “it’s not everyday that the SC-Public Information Office will come up with a media advisory over a case that is not pending before the SC.”

Tacardon said de Lima was elated after learning that the SC pointed out in its press release that the trial court’s denial of her bail plea is not yet final and may still be availed of by the senator during the trial proceedings.

No less than President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., upon the recommendation of the Department of Finance (DOF), has been pushing to reform the unsustainable MUP pension system, which is currently purely funded by the government.

Among the highlights of DOF’s proposed reforms will be for MUPs to contribute to their pension fund.

Teodoro said he would prioritize the implementation of

“They [fund managers] should undergo the fit and proper rule as stated by the BSP [Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas]; they should have the requisite experience and responsibility. And it goes also, I will already say it, this will not be done for free. You have to pay for experience, you have to pay for integrity,” Teodoro said.

“I will put in, definitely, my two cents’ worth regarding my views on the sustainability of whatever scheme is given, giving due regard also to the invaluable contributions of those who served our country selflessly,” he added.

Phivolcs

places Mayon, two other restive volcanoes under tight watch

THE Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is closely monitoring three active volcanoes due to increased volcanic activities.

On Thursday, Phivolcs raised the alert level (AL) for Mayon, situated in the Province of Albay, from AL 2, or increasing unrest to AL 3, or increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption.

In its Volcano Bulletin for Mayon issued at 12 noon on Thursday, Phivolcs noted that since the AL status was raised from AL 1 to Alert L 2 on June 5, 2023, the repeated collapse of the growing summit dome of Mayon Volcano has generated an increasing number and volume of rockfall events.

“A total of 267 rockfall events and two volcanic earthquakes were recorded from 05 to 08 June, compared to 54 rockfall events from 01 to 04 June 2023,” Phivolcs said.

In raising the alert level for Mayon, Phivolcs said Mayon is exhibiting magmatic eruption of a summit lava dome, with increased chances of lava flows and hazardous pyroclastic density current (PDC) affecting the upper to middle slopes of the volcano and of potential explosive activity within weeks or even days.

“It is therefore recommended that

the 6-kilometer radius Permanent Danger Zone [PDZ] be evacuated due to the danger of PDCs, lava flows, rockfalls, and other volcanic hazards,” Phivolcs said.

According to Phivolcs, pyroclastic density currents, lahars, and sedimentladen streamflows along channels draining the edifice is possible.

“Civil aviation authorities must also advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ash from any sudden eruption can be hazardous to aircraft,” it says.

“Based on the current prevailing wind pattern, ash fall events may most likely occur on the south side of the volcano,” Phivolcs warned. Also being monitored by Phivolcs are Batangas’ Taal Volcano and Negros Island’s Kanlaon Volcano, which are both under Alert Level 1 or lowlevel unrest.

For Taal, entry into Taal Volcano Island, which has been declared as a PDZ, especially the main crater and Daang Kastila fissures and occupancy. Boating on Taal Lake, is strictly prohibited. Likewise, Phivolcs advised against flying any aircraft close to the volcano. For Kanlaon, entering the 4 kilometer PDZ is now prohibited. Phivolcs also advised against flying any aircraft close to the volcano. Jonathan L. Mayuga

De

THE Department of National Defense (DND) is confident the government can prevent an exodus within the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid an ongoing pension system reform program aiming to upgrade non-monetary benefits of military personnel.

DA steps up preparations in face of El Niño threat

SENIOR Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban on Thursday assured that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is taking necessary actions to prepare the agriculture and fisheries sector ahead of the looming El Niño threat this year.

“We in the DA are doing our best in trying to allocate the resources like seeds, fertilizers, and other commodities that are necessary for the impact of the El Niño phenomenon to the farming communities in the country,” the DA official said.

Earlier, the DA’s National El Niño Team (DA-NENT) convened with partner agencies from the Food Security Group under the NENT of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC) for its first inter-agency meeting to discuss the actions taken and plans of the member-agencies.

For his part, DA Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel de Mesa said, “DA is already preparing for the worst scenario for El Niño this year.”

“Nevertheless, we will be of course expecting Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) to provide us regular updates on this,” he added. De Mesa also said that not all areas in the country will be affected, thus the government initiatives could focus more on areas that may be severely hit.

De Mesa also urged the representatives from partner government agencies to facilitate easy access and sharing of information with the DA to guide planning and decision-making activities.

“With all of us working together, we shall be able to achieve more,” Panganiban said.

Raadee S. Sausa

House lauds WB upgrade forecast for PHL economy

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

economic managers, lawmakers and all stakeholders who have contributed to this positive development.

Likewise, he reiterated that the House of Representatives remains focused on passing the necessary legislation meant to further boost the momentum of the country’s economic growth for the benefit of every Filipino.

“As the House amply demonstrated, we remain committed to implementing policies that will further stimulate economic activity, attract investments, and generate employment opportunities for our fellow Filipinos,” Romualdez said.

By Malou Talosig-Bartolome

MANILA has been named the hub of Canada’s agricultural trade in the Indo-Pacific, the fastest growing economic region in the world.

Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s minister of Agriculture and AgriFood, announced this during her meeting last Wednesday with the coalition of Canadian farmers, the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA).

“The Philippines is an important partner under the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Hosting this new Office is an opportunity to build on our economic relationship, and enrich people-to-people ties,” Bibeau said.

The Manila office will be a joint venture between the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Together, they will form a mobile team that will work directly with Canadian embassies and consular offices in the Indo-Pacific region. They will also coordinate with Canadian stakeholders, foreign interlocutors and decision-makers in the region.

According to the WB, the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 6.0 percent this year, upgrading its previous forecasts of 5.4 percent in December and 5.6 percent in April.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said this upgraded forecast reinforces the positive trajectory of the Philippine economy and demonstrates that the country is on the right track towards recovery and progress.

“It is a testament to the resilience of

our people, the dynamism of our businesses, and the stability of our economic fundamentals,” Romualdez said.

“The comprehensive and inclusive economic agenda of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., as well as the collaborative efforts between the Executive and Legislative branches, have proven fruitful in fostering an environment conducive to growth,” he added.

The Speaker also commended the collective efforts of the country’s

“We will not allow any distraction to derail our efforts at finding appropriate and timely solutions to the problems affecting the lives of our people,” he added.

The House posted a strong finish as it closed the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress strong, having approved 33 out of 42 bills listed as priority measures of President Ferdinand R. Marcos and adopted by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Moreover, the bigger chamber was able to process a total of 9,600 measures consisting of 8,490 House bills, 1,109 resolutions and one petition.

Sen. Villar lauds BSWM role in soil conservation

THE Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has contributed to the enhancement of agricultural productivity

through soil conservation, Sen. Cynthia Villar said recently.

“The BSWM has been essential in ensuring the sustainable use of land management and enhance crop productivity and farmers’ income,” she said during BSWM’s 72nd founding anniversary.

The senator also commended the bureau for fostering a more resilient and environmentally conscious agricultural sector by offering technical assistance to farmers through effective soil resource management to maintain soil productivity and farm profitability, as well as to strengthen the rural economy, enhance global competitiveness of local produce, and enhance soil quality.

“Over the years, the BSWM has adopted to evolving challenges faced by the agricultural sector. It has embraced technological advancement, scientific researches, and collaborated with var -

ious stakeholders to address emerging issues such as climate change, land degradation and soil and water pollution,” Villar said.

The senator also reaffirmed her support for composting technology and the use of organic fertilizers as better farming methods for soil preservation.

For his part, DA Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban said that the BSWM is one of the economic drivers of the department in ensuring that the country will have sustainable water management and clean water resources.

As a highlight of this year’s celebration, the BSWM soft launched “Mainstreaming, Institutionalization, and Legislation of the BSWM National Soil Health Program and Strategy,” which serves as the roadmap of the Bureau for 2023–2030. Raadee S. Sausa

“The Office will help strengthen partnerships, advance technical cooperation, support Canadian exporters in finding new business opportunities, and help position Canada as a preferred supplier in the region,” the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said in a statement.

Canada has been expanding its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, composed of 40 countries and projected to account for more than half of the global economy in 20 years.

The Indo-Pacific region comprise the 11 Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines; northeast Asian economies of China, Taiwan, Japan, North and South Korea, Mongolia; Indian Ocean countries of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal; as well as Pacific states Australia, New Zealand and 14-member Pacific Island Countries.

Canada sees expansion of its presence in the Indo-Pacific region to help Canadian farmers, food processors and exporters diversify their market as well as position Canada as the preferred supplier of agricultural and agri-food products.

After the US, the Indo-Pacific region is Canada’s second largest regional export market and trading partner with US$26.5 billion (P1.1 trillion) in annual two-way agri-food and seafood trade in 2021. Global agrifood and seafood imports into Asean markets have also increased 177 percent—from CAD$72 billion (P3 trillion) to CAD$200 billion (P8.4 trillion) from 2012 to 2022.

In 2022, Canadian agri-food and seafood exports to the Philippines amounted to CAD$669.817 million (P28.17 billion), an increase of 17 percent from 2021.

The Philippines is Canada’s second largest agri-food and seafood market in the Asean region.

The Philippines imported US$258 million worth of meat in 2022 from Canada, most of it pork when the African swine flu swept the country’s domestic pork supply. Other top imports were still agricultural products like cereals, wood, fertilizers and livestock feeds.

In the same year, Philippine agri-food and seafood exports to Canada increased by 18 percent from 2021 to 2022 at CAD$236.683 million (about P10 billion). Many of them were fruits, fruit juices, frozen fish and crustaceans.

“Canada’s agriculture and agri-food exporters have long called for an Indo-Pacific Strategy that would help us seize the many opportunities that exist in these dynamic and fast-growing markets. We are pleased that Canada’s Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food office will be established in Manila, a growing trading partner for Canada and a key member of Asean,” Dan Darling, president of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA) said.

HOUSE leaders on Thursday welcomed the latest World Bank (WB) forecast indicating the Philippine economy is poised to expand faster than expected this year, citing the united effort of the Executive and Legislative branches of the government as a major contributing factor to the country’s strong economic performance.

PHL is Canada’s Indo-Pacific hub for agricultural trade

‘No time for distractions,’ lawmakers say amid Romualdez-VP Sara bickering

which also processed a total of 9,600 bills and resolutions.

“

Right now, the House is in the thick of preparations for President Marcos’ second State of the Nation Address as we also prepare to receive from Malacañang next year’s proposed National Expenditure Program. Our hands are full in the House of Representatives so we cannot afford to squander our time on useless partisan bickering,” Dalipe said.

For his part, Gonzales said the chamber has laid the foundation of a productive House of Representatives in the 19th Congress through the passage before sine die adjournment of 33 out of 42 bills in the priority list of the administration.

PBBM vows to further widen ‘strong’ ties with Singapore

Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Medical Reserve Corps, Philippine Passport Act; Internet Transaction Act/E Commerce Law, Waste-to-Energy Bill;  Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers, Apprenticeship Act, Build-OperateTransfer Law, Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, Valuation Reform, Eastern Visayas Development Authority, Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone, Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery, National Citizens Service Training Program, and National Government Rightsizing.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to further expand the country’s business and security ties with Singapore.

n his speech after receiving the credentials of Ambassador-designate to the Philippines of Singapore Constance See Sin Yuan at the Malacañang Palace on Thursday, Marcos said Singapore remains one of the country’s top trade partner.

“Our economic ties are robust, as Singapore remains as one of the Philippines’ most important trade and investment partners. In 2022, our total bilateral trade reached $13 billion. In addition, Singapore was our largest source of approved investments amounting to $2.4 billion in 2022,” Marcos said.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the House has no time for partisan “distractions.”

A ccording to Dalipe, the House leadership led by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is wasting no time in its preparation for Marcos’ SONA next month and in setting the legislative direction of the House in the 2nd regular session of the 19th Congress.

Dalipe vowed that the leadership will work double harder to carry out their mandate to pass laws that are direly needed to jumpstart the country’s economy and

uplift the lives of the country’s poor.

“ The House of Representatives will not be slowed down by premature partisanship. All these political rumblings are unnecessary distractions that will only break our momentum in ensuring the swift passage of President Marcos’ priority measures and those that were approved by LEDAC. We have a commitment to the Filipino people that we will do even better on this second regular session,” Dalipe said.

D alipe said the House already achieved unprecedented success in passing measures that will have a direct impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos. Out of 42 LEDAC-listed measures, 33 were approved by the House,

Our record speaks for itself. We are comprehensively addressing the everyday issues our people face: from the high cost of commodities, to unemployment and other economic challenges. We are focused on matters that are important to our people and to the Marcos administration,” he added.

I n the final week of session before sine die adjournment, the House passed on third reading two additional priority measures: the proposed Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act and Philippine Salt Industry Development Act.

O ther urgent bills that have been previously approved on third and final reading included the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund, Magna Carta of Seafarers, E-Governance Act/E Government Act, Negros Island Region, Virology Institute of the Philippines, Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act, National Disease

M oreover, Pimentel, the PDPLaban deputy secretary general, said a political exercise done to ensure that the House of Representatives continues to work smoothly and in sync with the legislative agenda of Marcos should not be misconstrued for anything else.

“ The tensions have already been defused following the leadership movements in the House. Let us not exaggerate this anymore,” he said.

We have so much work to do in Congress to be able to fulfill the President’s agenda of economic renewal and prosperity for all Filipinos. As noted by the Vice President, political disagreements stand as part and parcel of the democratic process,” he added.

E arlier, lawmakers strongly backed Romualdez against Vice President Sara Duterte’s attacks, saying the House leader has taken the “moral high road.”

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

T he President said the country would also pursue stronger collaboration with Singapore in terms of defense and security as well as peopleto-people exchange.

Among the security accords, which were signed during the Marcos administration was the Regional Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) and on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

S ee Sin Yuan said Singapore remains invested in the Philippines and has expressed interest in further collaboration between the two countries, especially on emerging sectors.

“ think the state visit gave a lot of momentum to our cooperation including in the emerging areas like fintech [financial technology], sustainability and energy as well. So, we’re keen to move forward on all these,” See Sin Yuan said.

T he Singaporean envoy said an enhanced defense cooperation between Philippines and Singapore is in the works.

“So, we are extremely happy at the state of our relationship and my brief stay here is really to continue to bolster the trade and investment as you mentioned, including in emerging areas and to look for other areas of cooperation,” she added. Samuel P.

Medenilla

AMID issues brewing between Speaker

Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Vice President Sara Duterte, the leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday vowed to focus on its preparation for the second State of the Nation Address (SONA), as well as the passage of Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) priority measures, and ignore “all forms of distractions” that will only slow them down in fulfilling their mandate.

The World

By Jennifer Peltz & Rob Gillies The Associated Press

NEW YORK—Smoke from Canadian wildfires poured into the US East Coast and Midwest on Wednesday, covering the capitals of both nations in an unhealthy haze, holding up flights at major airports, postponing Major League Baseball games and prompting people to fish out pandemic-era face masks. Canadian officials asked other countries for additional help fighting more than 400 blazes nationwide that already have displaced 20,000 people. Air with hazardous levels of pollution extended into the New York metropolitan area, central New York state and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Massive tongues of unhealthy air extended as far as North Carolina and Indiana, affecting millions of people.

“I can taste the air,” Dr. Ken Strumpf said in a Facebook post from Syracuse, New York, which was enveloped in an amber pall. The smoke, he later said by phone, even made him a bit dizzy.

The air quality index, a US Environmental Protection Agency metric for air pollution, exceeded a staggering 400 at times in Syracuse, New York City and Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. A level of 50 or under is considered good; anything over 300 is considered “hazardous,” when even healthy people are advised to curtail outdoor physical activity.

In Baltimore, Debbie Funk sported a blue surgical mask as she and husband, Jack Hughes, took their daily walk around Fort McHenry, a national monument overlooking the Patapsco River. The air hung thick over the water, obscuring the horizon.

“I walked outside this morning, and it was like a waft of smoke,” said Funk.

Canadian officials say this is shaping up to be the nation’s worst wildfire season ever. It started early on drier-than-usual ground and accelerated very quickly, exhausting firefighting resources across the country, fire and environmental officials said.

Smoke from the blazes in various parts of the country has been lapping into the US since last month but intensified with recent fires in Quebec, where about 100 were considered out of control Wednesday—which, unsettlingly, was national Clean Air Day in Canada.

The smoke was so thick in downtown Ottawa, Canada’s capital, that office towers just across the Ottawa River were barely visible. In Toronto, Yili Ma said her hiking plans were canceled and she was forgoing restaurant patios, a beloved Canadian summer tradition.

“I put my mask away for over a year, and now I’m putting on my mask since yesterday,” the 31-year-old lamented.

Quebec Premier François Legault said the province currently has the capacity to fight about 40 fires—and the usual reinforcements from other provinces have been strained by conflagrations in Nova Scotia and elsewhere.

Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre spokesperson Jennifer Kamau said more than 950 firefighters and other personnel have arrived from the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and more are due soon.

In Washington, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has sent more than 600 firefighters and equipment to Canada. His administration has contacted some US governors and local officials about providing assistance, she said.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Twitter that he spoke by phone with Biden and “thanked him for all the help Americans are providing as we continue to fight these devastating wildfires.”

The largest town in Northern Quebec—Chibougamau, population about 7,500—was evacuated Tuesday, and Legault said the roughly 4,000 residents of the northern Cree town of Mistissini would likely have to leave Wednesday. But later in the day, Mistissini Chief Michael Petawabano said his community remains safe and asked residents to wait for instructions from Cree officials.

Eastern Quebec got some rain Wednesday, but Montreal-based Environment Canada meteorologist Simon Legault said no significant rain is expected for days in the remote areas of central Quebec where the wildfires are more intense.

US National Weather Service meteorologist Zach Taylor said the current weather pattern in the central and eastern US is essentially funneling in the smoke. Some rain should help clear the air somewhat in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic this weekend or early next week, though more thorough relief will come from containing or extinguishing the fires, he said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said 1 million N95 masks would be available at state facilities. New York City closed beaches, and Mayor Eric Adams told residents to stay indoors as much as possible as smoke smudged out the skyline. Zoos in the Bronx and Central Park closed early and brought their animals inside.

The Federal Aviation Administration paused some flights bound for LaGuardia Airport and slowed planes to Newark Liberty and Philadelphia because the smoke was limiting visibility. It also contributed to delayed arrivals at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, where a heavy haze shrouded the Washington Monument and forced the cancellation of outdoor tours.

Major League Baseball put off games in New York and Philadelphia, and even an indoor WNBA game in Brooklyn was called off. On Broadway, “Killing Eve” star Jodie Comer had difficulty breathing and left the matinee of “Prima Facie” after 10 minutes; the show restarted with an understudy, show publicists said. “Hamilton” and “Camelot” canceled Wednesday evening performances, with “Hamilton” publicists saying the the deteriorating air quality “made it impossible for a number of our artists to perform.” In Central Park, the popular outdoor Shakespeare in the Park performances were put off through Friday.

Gillies reported from Toronto. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Michael Hill in Albany, New York; David Koenig in Dallas; Aamer Madhani in Washington; Brooke Schultz in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Lea Skene in Baltimore; Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo, New York; Ron Todt in Philadelphia; Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan; and Ron Blum, Mark Kennedy, Jake Offenhartz, Karen Matthews and Julie Walker in New York.

Millions breathing hazardous air as smoke from Canadian wildfires streams south over US

Flooding from dam break strands hundreds and leaves thousands with no drinking water

By Vasilisa Stepanenko The Associated Press

KHERSON, Ukraine—

Authorities rushed to rescue hundreds of people stranded on rooftops and supply drinking water to areas flooded by a collapsed dam in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, in a growing humanitarian and ecological disaster along a river that forms part of the front line in the 15-month war.

The collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam and emptying of its reservoir on the Dnieper River added to the misery the region has suffered for more than a year from artillery and missile attacks.

With humanitarian and ecological disasters still unfolding, it’s already clear that tens of thousands of people have been deprived of drinking water, many are homeless, crops are ruined, land mines have been displaced, and the stage is set for long-term electricity shortages.

Some residents of Russia-occupied areas hit by high water complained that help was slow in arriving, with some stranded on roofs and streets passable only by boat in scenes more like natural disasters than wars. Others refused to leave.

The first report of casualties from the disaster emerged, with a mayor reporting three dead. At least 4,000 people have been evacuated from both the Russian and Ukrainian-controlled sides of the river, officials said, with the true scale of the disaster yet to emerge in an affected area that was home to more than 60,000 people. Russia-appointed authorities in the occupied parts of the Kherson region reported 15,000

flooded homes.

The dam and reservoir, essential for fresh water and irrigation for southern Ukraine, lies in the Kherson region that Moscow illegally annexed in September and has occupied for the past year. The reservoir is also critical for water supplies to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Ukraine holds the Dnieper’s western bank, while Russia controls the low-lying eastern side, which is more vulnerable to flooding.

The high water could wash away this season’s crops, while the depleted Kakhovka reservoir would deny adequate irrigation for years. The reservoir’s loss also complicates any efforts to rebuild and restart the destroyed hydroelectric power station and ensure cooling water for any future attempts to restart the shut-down Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

A day after the dam’s collapse, the cause remained unclear, with both sides blaming each other. Some experts cited wartime damage and neglect, although others argued that Russia might have destroyed it for military reasons. Either way, concluded analyst Michael

Kofman, “Russia is responsible, either by virtue of action or by virtue of the fact that it controlled the dam.”

“It’s going to lead to lasting damage to agriculture, provision of drinkable water. And it’s going to wipe out entire communities,” Kofman—who is with the Center for Naval Analyses, a US research group—told “PBS NewsHour.”

Many residents had fled the region because of the fighting, but clear estimates of those remaining weren’t available.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with officials on how to provide drinking water to residents, as well as assess damage to wetlands, farms and other property from what he called “a crime of ecocide” and “a man-made strike on the environment, after which nature will have to recover for decades.”

Speaking in English in a video posted on YouTube, Zelenskyy said it was impossible to predict how much of the chemicals and oil products stored in flooded areas will end up in rivers and the sea.

Ukraine’s agriculture ministry warned, “The fields in the south of Ukraine next year can turn into

deserts.”

In the Moscow-controlled city of Oleshky, Lera, 19, told The Associated Press the first floor of her home was flooded.

“Everything around us is floating. People are standing on rooftops and asking for help, but no one is evacuating them,” said Lera, who declined to give her last name for fear of reprisals.

Most Russian troops fled Oleshky shortly after the dam incident, Lera said, although a military checkpoint remains, and boats with people trying to leave have come under fire from soldiers. Her claim couldn’t be independently verified.

Mayor Yevhen Ryschuk, who left the city after the Russians took control last year, reported three dead and said hundreds of residents need to be evacuated from their roofs. He said 90% of Oleshky is flooded and facing a humanitarian crisis without electricity, potable water and food, as well as possible groundwater contamination.

Animals weren’t spared, with some pets trapped. Officials said the Kazkova Dibrova Zoo in Nova Kakhovka was under water and

that “only swans and ducks could escape.” Mayor Vladimir Leontyev said that the flooding killed thousands of animals in a nature preserve.

Hundreds of animals trapped in Oleshky require urgent rescue, volunteers helping a local shelter told the AP.

Civilians in the city of Kherson clutched personal belongings as they waded through knee-deep water or rode rubber rafts. Video showed rescuers carrying people to safety, and what looked like the triangular roof of a building floating downstream.

Aerial footage showed flooded streets in the Russia-controlled city of Nova Kakhovka on the eastern side of the Dnieper, where Leontyev said that seven people were missing, although believed to be alive.

In his first public comments on the disaster, Russian President Vladimir Putin repeated Moscow’s line that Ukraine is to blame for destroying the Kakhovka dam.

In a call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin alleged that Kyiv authorities had escalated “war crimes, openly using terrorist methods and staging acts of sabotage on Russian territory,” the Kremlin said in its account of the call.

It was unclear how the dam disaster would affect the war and Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian troops. Artillery booms served as background to rescue efforts as people scrambled to leave the danger zone.

Kofman, the analyst, said he didn’t think the dam collapse “will substantially affect Ukrainian military prospects when it comes to their offensive this summer.”

“When you look at the situation along the Dnieper River—on the one hand, the flooding is going to damage the defenses that the Russian military built alongside the riverbank,” he told PBS. “On the other hand, it’s going to make

a Ukrainian cross-river operation exceedingly difficult.”

Addressing blame, the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank, said Russia has “a greater and clearer interest in flooding the lower Dnieper despite the damage to their own prepared defensive positions.”

With some indications emerging that Ukraine might already have begun its long-anticipated counteroffensive, the ISW said Russian forces may think breaching the dam could cover a possible retreat and delay Ukraine’s campaign.

Experts noted that the 1950sera dam, about 70 kilometers (44 miles) to the east of the city of Kherson, was believed to be in disrepair and vulnerable to collapse because water was already brimming over when the wall gave way. It hadn’t been producing power since November, according to officials.

The UK Defense Ministry said the Kakhovka reservoir was at record high levels before the breach and that the dam “is likely to deteriorate further over the next few days, causing additional flooding.”

The scale of the damage to the dam was unknown, but officials hoped to rebuild the complex once the Russians leave, said Ihor Syrota, general director of the Ukrainian national hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo. Workers, meanwhile, are holding water in other upstream reservoirs to compensate in part for the loss of the dam, he said.

Wheat and corn prices spiked Tuesday on fears over Ukraine’s ability to ship grain to developing nations where people are struggling with hunger and high food prices. Prices stabilized Wednesday.

I llia Novikov in Kyiv, Hanna Arhirova in Warsaw, Poland, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

Biden, Sunak to focus on Ukraine and economic security in British PM’s first White House visit

By Aamer Madhani The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—Presi -

dent Joe Biden is welcoming Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for wide-ranging talks on Thursday as the British leader makes his first White House visit as premier.

The leaders’ Oval Office talks are expected to cover the war in Ukraine, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence, and more.

Biden and Sunak have already had four face-to-face meetings since Sunak became prime minister in October, but the talks in Washington will offer the two leaders a chance for their most sustained interaction to date.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the 15-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine will be “top of mind.”

The US and UK are the two biggest donors to the Ukraine war effort and play a central role in a long-term effort announced last month to train, and eventually equip, Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

Rishi also is looking to make the case to Biden for UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace to succeed outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is set to end

his term leading the 31-member alliance in September. Stoltenberg is slated to meet with Biden in Washington on Monday, and leaders from the alliance are set to gather in Lithuania on July 11-12 for their annual summit.

“The two leaders will review a range of global issues including our economic partnership or shared support of Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s war of aggression, as well as further action to accelerate the clean energy transition,” JeanPierre said. “The president and the prime minister will also discuss the joint US-UK leadership on critical emerging technologies as well as our work to strengthen our economic security.”

Sunak’s visit comes as US and British intelligence officials are still trying to sort out blame for the breaching of a major dam in southern Ukraine, which sent floodwaters gushing through towns and over farmland. Neither Washington nor London has officially accused Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam.

Sunak said Wednesday that UK intelligence services are still assessing the evidence, but “if it does prove to be intentional, it will represent a new low...an appalling barbarism on Russia’s part.”

“Russia throughout this war has

used as a deliberate active strategy to target civilian infrastructure,” he told broadcaster ITV in Washington.

The two sides are hoping to demonstrate that the US-UK relationship remains as strong as ever despite recent political and economic upheaval in the UK Sunak is one of three British prime ministers Biden has dealt with since taking office in 2021, and the administrations have had differences over Brexit and its impact on Northern Ireland. There also have been some awkward moments between the two

leaders in the early going.

Biden, at a White House celebration in October to mark the Hindu holiday of Diwali, noted the elevation of Sunak, who is the UK’s first leader of color and the first Hindu to serve in the role, as a “groundbreaking milestone” but he badly mangled the pronunciation of Sunak’s name.

At a March meeting in San Diego with Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to announce plans to sell Australia nuclear-powered attack submarines, Biden jokingly told Sunak “maybe you can invite me to your home in

California.” The lighthearted aside resurrected old political baggage for Sunak, whose political aspirations briefly dimmed as he faced an ethics investigation last year after it emerged that he had possessed a US green card two years after being appointed chancellor of the exchequer. Sunak, a former hedge fund manager with an MBA from Stanford University, and his wife own a home in California.

Nonetheless, there’s a sense in the Biden administration that the US-UK relationship is back on more stable footing after the sometimes choppy tenure of Boris Johnson and the 45-day premiership of Liz Truss.

“I think there’s a sense of relief to some degree, not just in the White House, but throughout Washington, that the Sunak government has been very pragmatic and maintained the UK’s robust commitment to Ukraine and to increasing defense spending,” said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He added that with Sunak, there’s also been “somewhat of a return to pragmatism” on economic issues and relations with the European Union post-Brexit.

Sunak opened his two-day Washington visit on Wednesday by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He met with key congressional leaders, including Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as well as business leaders. He also attended a Washington Nationals baseball game.

Shortly before departing for Washington, Sunak announced that several US companies were making $17 billion (£14 billion) in new economic investments in the UK.

The chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Republican Rep. Chris Smith and Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley, on Wednesday wrote to Sunak asking him to work with the Biden administration on Hong Kong policy and push for the release of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other activists.

Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, last month in testimony before the US committee expressed disappointment that the UK had not condemned his father’s detention publicly and had not taken a stronger stance in advocating for his release. The elder Lai founded the now shut pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and faces charges under Hong Kong’s security law and a colonial-era sedition law.

STREETS are flooded in Kherson, Ukraine, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 after the Kakhovka dam was blown up. Residents of southern Ukraine, some who spent the night on rooftops, braced for a second day of swelling floodwaters on Wednesday as authorities warned that a Dnieper River dam breach would continue to unleash pent-up waters from a giant reservoir. AP/LIBKOS

The Associated Press Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.

BRITISH Prime Minister Rishi Sunak watches a drone demonstration as he visits the Friendship Technology Preparatory High School during his trip to Washington on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. KEVIN LAMARQUE/POOL PHOTO VIA AP

By Samy Magdy The Associated Press

CAIRO—About 300 infants, toddlers and older children have been rescued from an orphanage in Sudan’s capital after being trapped there while fighting raged outside, aid officials said Thursday. The evacuation came after 71 children died from hunger and illness in the facility since mid-April.

The tragedy at the Al-Mayqoma orphanage made headlines late last month as fighting raged outside between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

The deaths have highlighted the heavy toll inflicted on civilians since mid-April when the clashes erupted between forces loyal to Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF forces led by Gen.

Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

About 300 children at the AlMayqoma orphanage in Khartoum were transferred to a “safer location” elsewhere in the northeastern African nation, said Ricardo Pires, a spokesman for the UN children’s agency, UNICEF.

Sudan’s ministries of social development and health have taken charge of the children, while UNICEF has provided humanitarian support including medical care, food, educational activities and play, Pires said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

He said the children had received medical checks following their long journey to their new location, adding that “any child requiring hospitalization will have access to healthcare.”

The International Committee of The Red Cross, which helped with the evacuation, said the children, aged between 1 month to 15 years, were relocated after securing a safe corridor to Madani, the capital of Jazira province, about 135 kilometers (85 miles) southeast of Khartoum. Seventy caretakers have been transferred with the children, the ICRC said.

“They (the children) spent incredibly difficult moments in an area where the conflict has been raging for the past 6 weeks without access to proper healthcare, an especially hard situation for children with special needs,” said Jean-Christophe Sandoz, the head of the ICRC delegation in Sudan.

Nazim Sirag, an activist who heads the local charity Hadhreen, said in a phone interview that the children were ferried late Tuesday to a newly established facility in Madani.

Sirag, whose charity led humanitarian efforts to help the orphanage and other nursing

The World

Pope spends first night in hospital after surgery to remove intestinal scar tissue

homes in Khartoum, said at least 71 children died at the Al-Mayqoma since the war in Sudan began on April 15.

Among the dead were babies as young as three months, according to death certificates obtained by the AP. The certificates listed circulatory collapse as a cause of death, but also mentioned other contributing factors such as fever, dehydration, malnutrition, and failure to thrive.

Their relocation followed an online campaign led by local activists and international charities, which intensified after the death of 26 children in two days at the orphanage in late May. The children had been trapped in the fighting for over seven weeks as food and other supplies dwindled. The facility was inaccessible because of the war had turned the capital and other urban areas into battlefields.

“The safe movement of these incredibly vulnerable children to a place of safety offers a ray of light in the midst of the ongoing conflict in Sudan,” Mandeep O’Brien, UNICEF Representative in Sudan, said in a statement. “Many millions of children remain at risk across Sudan.”

Local volunteers, meanwhile, evacuated 77 other children earlier this week from separate foster homes in the coastal, Sirag of Hadhreen said. The children have temporarily sheltered along with 11 adults in a school in the town of Hasahisa, also in Jazira province, he said.

The fighting has inflicted a heavy toll on civilians, particularly children. More than 860 civilians, including at least 190 children, were killed and thousands of others were wounded since April 15, according to Sudan’s Doctors’ Syndicate that tracks civilian casualties. The tally is likely to be much higher.

The conflict has forced more than 1.9 million people to flee their homes, including around 477,000 who crossed into neighboring countries, according to the UN’s migration agency. Others remain trapped inside their homes, unable to escape as food and water supplies dwindle. The clashes have also disrupted the work of humanitarian groups.

There have been reports of widespread looting and sexual violence, including the rape of women and girls in Khartoum and the western Darfur region, which have seen some of the worst fighting in the conflict. Almost all reported cases of sexual attacks were blamed on the RSF, which didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment.

Francis

“The night went well,” Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement early Thursday, adding further updates would be released later.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of abdominal and endocrine sciences at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said Wednesday’s operation was successful and there were no complications or other pathologies discovered. Alfieri, who also removed part of Francis’ colon in 2021, told an evening press conference that the pope was awake, alert and even joking.

“When will we do the third one?” he quoted Francis as saying.

The pontiff was expected to remain in the 10th floor papal suite at Gemelli for several days, and all papal audiences were canceled through June 18. The Vatican was expected to provide a medical update later Thursday.

The operation was scheduled after Francis had complained about increasing bouts of pain and intestinal blockages. After going to Gemelli on Tuesday for checks, Francis was admitted Wednesday following his general audience and underwent the procedure a short time later.

The surgery was likely scheduled now to give Francis plenty of time to recover before embarking on planned travel later this summer: an Aug. 2-6 trip to Portugal for World Youth Day, and an Aug. 31-Sept. 4 trip to Mongolia.

During the operation, doctors removed adhesions, or internal scarring, on the intestine that had caused a partial blockage. Alfieri revealed that in addition to the 2021 colon surgery, Francis had undergone previous abdominal surgeries sometime before 2013 in his native Argentina, which had also caused scarring.

To repair the hernia that had formed over a previous scar, a prosthetic mesh was placed in the abdominal wall, Alfieri said. He added that the pope was suffering from no other pathologies, that the tissue removed was benign and that after he recovers,

Newer heart transplant method could allow more patients a chance at lifesaving surgery

By Lauran Neergaard AP Medical Writer

WASHINGTON—Most transplanted hearts are from donors who are brain dead, but new research shows a different approach can be just as successful and boost the number of available organs.

It’s called donation after circulatory death, a method long used to recover kidneys and other organs but not more fragile hearts.

Duke Health researchers said Wednesday that using those long-shunned hearts could allow possibly thousands more patients a chance at a lifesaving transplant—expanding the number of donor hearts by 30 percent.

“Honestly if we could snap our fingers and just get people to use this, I think it probably would go up even more than that,” said transplant surgeon Dr. Jacob Schroder of Duke University School of Medicine, who led the research. “This really should be

standard of care.”

The usual method of organ donation occurs when doctors, through careful testing, determine someone has no brain function after a catastrophic injury—meaning they’re braindead. The body is left on a ventilator that keeps the heart beating and organs oxygenated until they’re recovered and put on ice.

In contrast, donation after circulatory death occurs when someone has a nonsurvivable brain injury, but because all brain function hasn’t yet ceased, the family decides to withdraw life support and the heart stops. That means organs go without oxygen for a while before they can be recovered—and surgeons, worried the heart would be damaged, left it behind.

What’s changed: Now doctors can remove those hearts and put them in a machine that “reanimates” them, pumping through blood and nutrients as they’re transported—and demonstrating if they work OK before the

he should be fine.

A feared protrusion, or bulging of the intestine through the hernia tear, was apparently not found.

“It appears they operated on him in a timely fashion with no compromise to his intestine,” said Dr. Walter Longo, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, who did not participate in the surgery and commented after consulting the Vatican statement on the procedure.

Francis remained in charge of the Vatican and the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church, even while unconscious and in the hospital, according to canon law.

In July 2021, Francis spent 10 days at Gemelli to remove 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his large intestine. In an interview with The

Associated Press in January, Francis said the diverticulosis, or bulges in his intestinal wall, which prompted that surgery had returned.

After that surgery, Francis lamented that he hadn’t responded well to the general anesthetic. That reaction in part explained his refusal to have surgery to repair strained knee ligaments that have forced him to use a wheelchair and walker for over a year.

However, Alfieri said Francis had no clinically adverse reactions to the anesthesia in 2021 or Wednesday.

“Clearly no one likes to be operated on and put to sleep

because the moment we’re put under, we lose consciousness,” he said. “But there was no physiological problem two years ago or today.”

Dr. Manish Chand, a professor of surgery at University College London who specializes in colorectal surgery, said the greatest issue going forward will be pain management and making sure the wound heals properly.

“In the first six weeks after this type of surgery, you’re at risk of getting a recurrence again,” he said. To avoid that, patients are advised not to do anything strenuous.

planned transplant.

Wednesday’s study, conducted at multiple hospitals around the country, involved 180 transplant recipients, half who received DCD hearts and half given hearts from brain-dead donors that were transported on ice.

Survival six months later was about the same—94 percent for the recipients of cardiac-death donations and 90 percent for those who got the usual hearts, the researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings are exciting and show “the potential to increase fairness and equity in heart transplantation, allowing more persons with heart failure to have access to this lifesaving therapy,” transplant cardiologist Dr. Nancy Sweitzer of Washington University in St. Louis, who wasn’t involved with the study, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

ROME—Pope

awoke Thursday after a good first night in the hospital following a threehour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, problems that developed following previous surgeries.

POPE Francis blesses the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. AP/ANDREW MEDICHINI

UNICEF says 300 trapped children rescued from Sudan orphanage after 71 others died

DMW is our OFWs’ home and ally: Ople

IN celebration of the Migrant Workers’ Day on Wednesday, President Marcos vowed to continue pursuing better working conditions for overseas Filipino workers in recognition of their valuable contributions to the country’s economic growth. In a video message posted on his Facebook page, the President said his administration will strengthen its ties with the host countries of overseas Filipino workers to ensure their safety, welfare and well-being. (Read, “PBBM vows to foster ties with countries hosting OFWs on Migrant Workers Day,” in the BusinessMirror, June 7, 2023).

“In every corner of the globe you have left an indelible mark that uplifted both your host countries and our nation in the process,” Marcos said. “The entire nation stands with you every step of the way and all of us are united in pride and in admiration for the work that gives you meaning and purpose.”

Marcos said overseas Filipinos “fuel the country’s engine of progress.” Last year, they sent around $36 billion in remittances, or about 8.9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to central bank data.

“We understand the challenges that you face being far from your loved ones, adjusting to new cultures and overcoming barriers,” Marcos said. “That’s why this administration will continue to foster stronger ties with countries that host our migrant workers, ensuring safety, welfare and well-being.”

The Philippines celebrates Migrant Workers’ Day every June 7 in commemoration of the signing of Republic Act 8042 or the Migrant Workers’ Act of 1995, which introduced standards for the protection Filipinos working abroad, and their families left behind.

Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople honored and recognized our OFWs for bringing pride to the nation. In her video message posted on Facebook, Ople assured our migrant workers that the DMW is here to serve as our OFWs’ home and ally in the government.

Lagi kayong binibilin ng ating pangulo, si President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., at sabi nga niya alagaan kayong mabuti at huwag kaming magkulang sa pagtatanggol ng inyong karapatan,” Ople said. “Makakaasa kayo na ang inyong tahanan sa gobyerno ay nandito palagi, 24/7, para kayo’y paglingkuran at ang inyong mga pangarap ay matupad dito man sa Pilipinas o saan mang panig ng mundo.”

Ople also signed with Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual an agreement to help OFWs start a business of their own as part of the celebration of the 28th Migrant Workers’ Day.

“Our OFWs contribute to our economy through their dollar remittances but at some point in their lives, they would also need to come home and create sustainable sources of income through entrepreneurship, sound investments or by landing a better job here at home. Through the DTI, our OFW-entrepreneurs and/or their families would be able to access business training and mentorship programs that would enable them to stay together while also providing jobs to others,” Ople said.

Among the features of the DMW-DTI partnership are: Assistance in the business registration process for OFWs; inclusion of OFWs and OFW families in DTI’s business training and development programs; financial literacy training courses for OFWs in partnership with DMW offices worldwide and OWWA regional offices for OFW families; OFW products and services to be included in DTI trade fairs; and linking up of OFW companies/products/services with large companies and government agencies to improve market access and promotions.

The DTI will also issue a certificate to OFWs or members of their families who successfully registered their business and underwent entrepreneurship training. This will serve as an endorsement to any livelihood or financial assistance to be granted by the DMW to OFW beneficiaries.

The DMW will identify, evaluate, and submit a list of potential beneficiaries and applicants to existing DTI programs and services. A Joint Technical Working Group will be created to monitor the implementation of the DMW-DTI agreement while continuing to strengthen its implementation and work for its expansion through Migrant Workers Offices around the world and in cooperation with various local governments.

Ople said the agreement with DTI and seven other major reintegration partners is in line with the President’s directive to help transform an OFW’s journey into “inspirational stories for all time.”

“We want them to come back with excitement in their hearts on what the future holds for them and their families, through meaningful partnerships across the government bureaucracy and with NGOs and private companies serving as their mentors and cheerleaders,” Ople said.

Recognizing the plight and contributions of seafarers

sonny M. angara

Better Days

EvEry year on June 25 the world commemorates the Day of the Seafarer. First celebrated in 2011, it pays tribute to all seafarers around the world for their invaluable contribution to international trade and the world economy. It has been over a decade since we first filed the bill seeking to establish a Magna Carta of Seafarers. We first filed this measure in July of 2007 or during my second term as Congressman of my home province of Aurora. I have continued to file this bill in the Senate since my first term in 2013.

There is good reason why we continue to pursue this measure even though it has repeatedly been held up in the legislative mill. There are close to 2 million seafarers on board vessels around the world and about 490,000 of them are Filipinos. They are essential in the operations of these ships—without them, the entire maritime industry would be crippled. During the Covid-19 pandemic, around 150,000 of our seafarers lost their jobs when the operations of their employers were suspended. Many of them spent months stranded on board their ships, in foreign cities, and at local quarantine sites before they were allowed to go home to their families. In spite of a reported decrease in the number of Filipino seafarers, they still represent a fifth of the world’s total.

The sacrifices that they make—

being away from their families for long periods of time, being stuck at sea and sometimes experiencing violations against their labor rights, they undergo these hardships to provide for their families. With their remittances, they also contribute significantly to our economy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Filipino sea-based workers remitted $6.7 billion (P37.6 billion) in 2022. This was an increase from the 2020 level of $6.3 billion and $6.5 billion in 2021. They truly are our unsung heroes and we say this with all sincerity, again, which is why we constantly push for the passage of this bill.

Before Congress adjourned its first regular session last week, Senator Raffy Tulfo, as Chairman of the Committee on Migrant Workers, sponsored the committee report on Senate Bill No. 2221, which is the

19th Congress’ version of the Magna Carta of Seafarers and a consolidation of all 12 bills filed for this purpose, including our own SBN 640. We thank Sen. Tulfo for reporting out this bill in plenary so that we can start our interpellation and hopefully, pass this bill during the second regular session of Congress. The House of Representatives has already passed its own version of the bill in March of this year.

The Magna Carta of Seafarers complements Republic Act 8042 or the Overseas Filipinos and Migrant Workers Act of 1996 as it provides the necessary provisions for the protection and promotion of the welfare of our seafarers. It is in line with the Philippines’ obligation as a signatory to the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 (MLC 2006). It grants our seafarers the right to a safe and secure workplace compliant with decent working standards, ensures their right to repatriation, establishes anti-harassment and anti-bullying policies including the creation of an on-board and onshore grievance mechanism, and supports their career advancement by providing them access to education and training at affordable and reasonable costs.

In pushing for this measure, we also want to avoid a situation similar to what happened in 2021 when the European Commission Directorate for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) informed the Philippines that recognition of Philippine seafarer certificates would be withdrawn unless serious measures were taken

in complying with the International Standards on Training, Certification and Watchkeeping. Around 50,000 of our seafarers on board EU-flagged vessels were at risk of losing their jobs, but thankfully this was addressed through the combined efforts of our government, including Congress, which promptly created a bicameral delegation, of which we were part of, to meet with our EU counterparts to find a solution to the impending crisis. On March 31, 2023, DG MOVE announced that it will continue to recognize the Philippine-issued certificates. The passage of the Magna Carta of Seafarers will help address all apprehensions regarding compliance with the international labor conventions entered into by the country.

There is reason for optimism that this measure will finally be approved during this Congress. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself announced during the Philippine Maritime Industry Summit 2023: “Given that the Philippines is a maritime nation, I believe that it is time for us to make the maritime industry once again a top priority.” This law is long overdue. We owe it to our seafarers to bring this to full fruition.

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 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

‘Keep them alive’: More states legalize fentanyl test strips to combat surging opioid deaths

By Samantha Hendrickson | The Associated Press/Report For America

COLUMBUS, Ohio—At Cleveland’s Urban Kutz Barbershop, customers can flip through magazines as they wait, or help themselves to drug screening tests left out in a box on a table with a somber message: “your drugs could contain fentanyl. Please take free test strips.”

Owner Waverly Willis has given out strips for years at his barbershop, hoping to protect others from unwittingly being exposed to the highly potent synthetic opioid ravaging the US and often secretly laced into other illegal drugs.

“When I put them out, they just fly out the door,” said Willis, who proudly hands out about 30 strips a week as part of The Urban Barber Association, a Cleveland organization that provides health education to the community via local barbershops.

Nearly 18 years into his own sobriety from drugs, Willis isn’t shy about making the strips available. He figures he’d be dead if fentanyl were so widely prevalent when he was using.

Fentanyl has driven overdose deaths in the US since 2016, and that isn’t changing as the cheaper and deadlier synthetic opioid continues to be cut into the drug supply. Approximately 75,000 of the nearly 110,000 overdose deaths of 2022 could be linked to fentanyl, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Legalizing test strips could bring those numbers down, advocates say, saving lives by helping more people understand just how deadly their drugs could be.

Until this spring, use of the strips was technically illegal in Ohio. It has joined at least 20 other states whose lawmakers formally decriminalized the strips since Rhode Island became

the first in 2018. Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Kentucky and Mississippi also followed suit this year.

The CDC recommends fentanyl test strips as a low-cost means of helping prevent drug overdoses.

They can detect fentanyl in cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and many other drugs—whether in pills, powders or injectables.

Yet these small paper strips are still considered illegal in some states, outlawed under drug paraphernalia laws dating to the 1970s era war on drugs—long before fentanyl began seeping into the nation’s drug supply. Every state but Alaska had an anti-paraphernalia law on the books by the mid-1980s, making materials used for testing and analyzing illicit substances illegal.

Increasingly, the strips are now being seen as a potentially lifesaving.

Newark, Ohio, resident Rodney Olinger has used methamphetamines for eight years. The 45-yearold gets four to five fentanyl test strips weekly from the Newark

Homeless Outreach, and calls them a “blessing.” He credits the strips with helping ensure he and his fiancée, who also uses, stay alive.

“It’s very scary,” Olinger said of fentanyl. “Just a little bit could kill you.”

While the strips may not prevent drug use overall, they allow testers to take a pause if a strip comes back positive, possibly encouraging them to reconsider drug use and seek help, said Sheila Vakharia with the national nonprofit Drug Policy Alliance, which seeks to shape US drug policy.

“You never know if a fentanyl test strip can keep someone alive long enough so they can make that decision for themselves,” she said.

The CDC says any drug that dissolves in water can be tested. The strip is dipped in the solution for about 15 seconds, set out a few minutes, and is positive for fentanyl if a single pink line appears. Two pink lines is a negative result.

The strips can often be obtained from advocacy groups, local and See “Keep,” A13

By Dánica Coto | The Associated Press

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—The

emaciated inmate in black shorts lay on a thin mat in Haiti’s most notorious prison, isolated from other prisoners at Portau-Prince’s National Penitentiary because of drug-resistant tuberculosis. He slowly sat up to talk to a visiting reporter and more than 70 fellow tuberculosis patients gathered at the door of the neighboring cell to complain about their suffering while detained, many on minor charges like theft.

“We don’t have water!” one cried, while his fellow inmates said their food came late or not at all.

Haitian inmates are thirsty, starving and sleeping standing up because they don’t have enough room to lie down. The United Nations says 185 inmates died in Haiti last year —many of malnutrition-related diseases. This year, more than 20 have died so far. Human rights experts and attorneys expect the number to rise because gang violence has led to severe fuel and food shortages.

“I fear that a humanitarian catastrophe is coming,” said attorney Arnel Rémy, coordinator for Haiti’s Association of Lawyers for the Defense of Human Rights.

More than 80 percent of Haiti’s more than 11,400 inmates are being held in pre-trial detention. It could be years before they see a judge, if at all, according to human rights experts. Haitian law allows people to be held legally without charge for 48 hours but in Haiti, the law often isn’t followed.

Last year, Haiti’s government released more than 70 inmates convicted of minor offenses after several videos posted on social media showed emaciated prisoners. But such moves are rare and in the meantime, the health of inmates worsens, with some dying before they get to court.

In December, the University of Florida published a study that found that men in Haiti’s prisons were on a starvation-level diet, consuming fewer than 500 calories a day. Researchers studied more than 1,000 inmates at two prisons in Haiti, including the National Penitentiary. They also found that more than 75 percent were at risk for scurvy and beriberi—a lack of B1 vitamin—and noted that prisoners are not fed during lockdowns.

Some prisoners have friends or family who bring them food and drink every day, but that longstanding practice has dwindled amid a surge in gang violence that has shut down key roads and led to a scarcity of public transportation in some communities.

“No one brings me food,” said François Gausly, 50, adding that he has been in prison for four years after being accused of stealing a motorcycle, but has yet to see a judge. “I eat only once a day. Sometimes it’s rice. Sometimes, it’s grits.”

A US State Department report noted that arbitrary arrests are common in Haiti and that authorities often detain people on unspecified charges.

The area around Haiti’s National Penitentiary—the country’s biggest with nearly 4,000 inmates, even

continued from A12

state health departments, or purchased online.

Where strips are illegal, the push to change the law continues.

In Kansas, lawmakers debated until April whether to legalize the strips. But there was never any debate for Kansas mother Brandy Harris, who lost her 21-year-old son Sebastain Sheahan to a fentanyl overdose in April 2022. Addicted since age 13, he was first prescribed opioids after being hit by a truck.

though it was built for 800—has grown more dangerous: gun shots from warring gangs ring out almost daily, and a correctional officer was shot in late May as he left the penitentiary.

Despite the risk, about a dozen women stood outside the prison on a recent weekday holding plastic bags of food scrawled with the names of their loved ones and their prison cell number.

One woman who brought rice scooped some of it up with her hand and ate it as a corrections officer observed her: Anyone bringing food or drink is forced to taste it to avoid attempts to poison someone inside.

Among those waiting to deliver food to an inmate was 52-year-old Fenise Jean-Pierre, whose son has been in prison for eight months. He has yet to see a judge after someone accused him of killing a police officer. He was arrested two years after the killing and maintains his innocence.

Jean-Pierre said her son, 33, has lost a lot of weight, is forced to share a bucket with cellmates to relieve himself and is nursing a swollen foot.

“He has to sleep standing because there is no room where he is,” she said.

That day, she brought him only one meal because it was all she could afford, and she worries about not being able to help him at all.

“The more unstable this country becomes, the less access I have to see him,” Jean-Pierre said.

Inside, a group of inmates responsible for delivering the food brought by friends and family distributed the items as a song from the popular group “Racine Mapou de Azor” played in the background.

“We’ve been here too long without seeing a judge. We want to be sentenced or freed!” yelled one inmate who wore sunglasses.

Health through Walls, a Florida-based nonprofit that provides medical care for inmates at the National Penitentiary and other prisons across the world, gives inmates in Haiti reinforced supplements and the occasional protein shake to stave off malnutrition.

“We know the food is bad,” said Dr. Edwin Prophète of the group. Health through Walls has trained nearly 70 inmates to identify sick people within prison cells because medical staff are now barred from doing daily health rounds given the growing insecurity.

Wilfred Mexuy, the head cook at Haiti’s National Penitentiary, who is serving a 15-year sentence for murder, told the AP that he prepares one or two meals a day for prisoners, but that his work depends on things he can’t control.

“Sometimes we have food but no power,” he said, adding that the prison was once three months without electricity and that the generator broke down.

Attorney Arnel Rémy said a group of lawyers have started pooling together money to buy inmates food.

“What worries us is the absence of the government, and its refusal to act quickly,” he said.

Haiti’s Ministry of Justice, which oversees the country’s prisons, did not return a message seeking comment. Associated Press writer Evens Sanon contributed to this report.

Friends and family knew Sheahan as “big-hearted” and “goofy” with a soft spot for abused animals. He was open about his addiction issues and had been clean three years before he died after a relapse.

Harris believes her son would still be alive if he’d had test strips showing what he was ingesting. “I do believe that if these were available, that at least one person would be saved,” Harris said. “And that is the main goal—at least one person.”

Kansas’ governor recently signed a bipartisan bill decriminalizing the strips starting July 1. Montana and other states are

The history of legal minimum wage

Ruby A. Badilles

EAGLE WATCH

For centuries, there has been a mounting debate as to the rejection or acceptance of the efficacy of the minimum wage law as a social protection measure. The common observation is that no matter what economists say about the adverse effects of the legal minimum wage to employment and to the entire economy, there is a growing number of countries that are implementing the minimum wage law.

T here are societies from different parts of the world that continue to use or have even just started implementing the minimum wage. For instance, Germany did not have a national minimum wage before, and it introduced this to their system in 2015. The Conservative Government in the UK set the increase of the minimum wage of adults to 60 percent of the median wage in 2020 (from 50 percent in 2018). Some cities in the USA passed the legislation for a $15 minimum wage.

Ancient philosophers like Aristotle held that properly earned income is essential to self-sufficiency within the society. Maintaining a household is the beginning of the economy. The medieval philosopher and theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas contends that the just wage is not fixed with mathematical precision but depends on a kind estimate.

Minimum wage regulation was first developed in New Zealand in 1894, then in Australia in 1896, and then in the United Kingdom in 1909. In Argentina, the Home-Work Act was done in 1918 with a view to protecting low paid home-workers, while in Sri Lanka, the Minimum Wage Ordinance was enacted in 1927. The USA enacted the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938 that established the minimum wage. Coined in the 1800s, minimum wage aimed at putting an end to “sweating,” which was common in the UK and in the USA at the early part of the 20th century as an offshoot of massive industrialization.

Hence, two economists were mostly cited for their pioneering scholarly work on labor economics and the concept of the minimum wage. In the UK, Webb advocated the need for a “minima” on wages to alleviate the

conditions in the “sweated trades,” where workers barely made both ends meet with low wages, unsanitary working conditions, and excessively long hours of work. In the US, John R. Commons pioneered labor economics and influenced a broad range of legislation in the first half of the 20th century in many aspects of American labor, such as apprenticeship, vocational education, and workers’ compensation.

At the outset, the legal minimum wage was considered as a temporary relief, and it faced many challenges and criticisms along the way. The implementation of the minimum wage law expanded to more industries after WWII, and the United States was a glaring example of the adoption and expansion of the minimum wage. International Labor Organization Convention No. 131, also known as the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention of 1970, takes special reference to minimum wage fixing in developing countries.

The intellectual and economic dynamics during the 1970s and 1980s brought the expansion of minimum wage law to a standstill in some countries, such as the abolition of the wage council in the United Kingdom in the 1980s. Research on the adverse effect of the minimum wage on teenage and youth employment summed up the sentiments against the statutory minimum wage during this decade.

The 1990s sparked a renewed interest in the minimum wage as a measure to address poverty and in-

Slowdown threatens Indian economy even as country’s rich keep spending

By Anup Roy

IndIa’s booming economy is the envy of other major markets. But beyond the hype and expectation, people who watch the country closely are flagging warning signs.

The nation is heading for a slowdown, analysts who cover it say, as rising inequality squeezes consumer spending among the poor—and the hundreds of millions in the middle class. The pessimism comes even after the latest growth figures blew past estimates last week, rounding off an expansion of more than 7% for the fiscal year.

“Consumer fatigue appears to be setting in,” said Kunal Kundu, an economist with Societe Generale SA in Bengaluru. The economy may slow “substantially,” he said.

Any cooling—especially one driven by inequality—would pose a challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he seeks a third term in general elections next year. It would also increase the chances the central bank, which decides on monetary policy this week, will cut interest rates earlier than expected.

And it would temper hope—at least in the short term—that India will do more to propel the global economy as powerhouses such as China slow.

India grew by 6.1% in the three months ended March compared to a year earlier, well beyond the 5% estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, driven mainly by increases in services exports and government spending. It expanded 7.2 percent for the fiscal year through

considering similar legislation. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas recently dropped opposition to decriminalizing the strips, citing a “better understanding” of how they prevent opioid deaths.

And in Pennsylvania, Republican state Rep. Jim Struzzi lost his brother to a drug overdose in 2014 and lobbied colleagues for years to destigmatize the strips.

“Fentanyl isn’t going to ask you if you’re a Democrat or a Republican before it kills you,” said Struzzi, who sponsored state legislation making test strips legal in January.

The shift in how political lead-

March, continuing a post-pandemic recovery that outstrips major peers.

But Nomura Holdings Inc., HSBC Holdings Plc, Standard Chartered Plc, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and others say growth will decelerate this fiscal year, with Nomura seeing it falling to 5.5%. The banks pointed to other factors, such as the impact of rising borrowing costs on spending, and slowing global growth affecting exports.

SocGen and others say consumer demand will decline as the nation’s rich get richer but others struggle with the cost of living. That’s creating what’s known as a K-shaped recovery in consumption, where luxury items sell well but basic goods go in the opposite direction, Kundu said.

Sarmishta Sarkar, a 35-year-old manager at a multinational food and beverage company, is putting off buying a compact car that she could drive to the office instead of braving Mumbai’s notoriously crammed public transport.

“Saving is difficult when living costs themselves are this high,” she said. “I will wait until December.”

Private consumption fell 3.2 percent in the three months ended March from the previous quarter.

This may be due to reduced spending by the urban middle class, which should come as a concern for the country’s growth, said Rupa Rege

ers view the strips has advocacy groups, health departments and outreach programs optimistic. Increased legalization opens doors for more funding, including for strips themselves and for public education campaigns.

The SOAR Initiative, a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit fighting overdose deaths, distributes about 5,000 strips each month, according to executive director Jessica Warner. SOAR sends out the strips via mail to anonymous recipients, both individuals and larger distributors. Handing them out never brought legal consequences in Ohio even

equality. There was research demonstrating that an increase in minimum wage raised the income of low-paid workers, and that there was no evidence that it reduced employment. Amid criticisms by some economists, such findings spurred a renewed interest on the impact of the minimum wages and made researchers rethink their methods and use of data in presenting criticisms on the minimum wage theory. On the other hand, there has been research suggesting that the minimum wage does not reduce poverty, but rather redistributes incomes among low-income families, which may just increase poverty in the process.

In conclusion, the minimum wage debate is still going on, and no one seems to be the winner yet. History has shown that the issue of just wages, or minimum wages for that matter, is a long-standing social issue. Economists say that wage determination is a free and mutual agreement between labor and enterprise, but society says that mutual agreement is not enough. Mutual agreement as a moral yardstick is not enough to meet the standard that has existed for a long time—that no one ought to be poor.

So, can society wait as to who will win the minimum wage debate, or has it already taken the minimum wage as the closest proxy to just wage?

Ms. Ruby A. Badilles is a graduate student at the Department of Economics of Ateneo de Manila University.

Nitsure, chief economist at L&T Finance, the commercial and personal finance arm of India’s largest construction company.

“It’s not a broad-based recovery,” she said, adding this means it will be difficult to sustain.

Even spending by the 65 percent of the population living in rural areas, a bright spot in the recent data after a strong harvest, is expected to slow if an El Niño weather pattern brings drought that disrupts the monsoon season, which plays a vital role in the lives of hundreds of millions of people who depend on agriculture.

Two-wheeler vehicle sales, a key gauge of rural demand, remain below their pre-Covid levels.

“When you look at volume growth, it’s very apparent that there has been more stress” in India’s hinterland compared to urban areas, Sanjiv Mehta, the outgoing managing director and chief executive officer of Unilever’s Indian arm, said in an interview in Mumbai. “It’s very understandable when you have this kind of inflation.”

One implication of a slowdown is likely to be on interest rates.

All 40 economists surveyed by Bloomberg forecast the Reserve Bank of India will keep the repurchase rate unchanged on Thursday, after it unexpectedly paused its tightening cycle in April. But Nomura economist Sonal Varma expects the central bank to start cutting rates in October and to lower them by a total of 75 basis points.

Another impact, at the margins, may be on Modi’s prospects in the

before.

In fact, prosecution for possessing the strips doesn’t appear to be occurring anywhere in the US, according to Jonathan Woodruff of the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, which tracks drug laws nationwide. He said drug paraphernalia possession is a minor offense in most states and law enforcement may now be more attuned to the strips’ life-saving benefits.

Northeast of Boston, police Lt. Sarko Gergerian of the Winthrop Police Department has boxes of them stacked in his office. Legalized in Massachusetts in

2024 polls. India needs growth of 8% to 8.5 percent annually to employ the 90 million new nonfarm workers that will join the workforce by 2030, a McKinsey report in 2020 said.

Despite the pessimism, there are many positives about India’s economy. The services sector is booming, while a manufacturing purchasing managers’ index reached a 31-month high in May. Tax collections hit a record in April, inflation is easing and foreign-exchange reserves are among the largest globally.

Even with the expected slowdown, India will still be the fastestgrowing major economy in the world this year, according to International Monetary Fund projections. Germany is in recession, some observers expect the US to follow, and the IMF projects China will grow 5.2 percent in 2023.

HSBC raised its India growth forecast for the current fiscal year to 5.8% this week, up from 5.5%, saying GDP growth momentum has been “steady.”

And even if India slows in the short term, analysts remain bullish on its long-term prospects. “India is rising in the world order,” Morgan Stanley equity strategist Ridham Desai and colleagues wrote in a report on the country’s markets this month.

But that’s all little consolation to Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a 40-year-old security guard at a gated community on the outskirts of Mumbai. He shares a 10 square-meter room with five others, but there’s only three in it at any time because people work two shifts. With assistance from Chris Kay /Bloomberg

2018, the strips go into “survival kits” that his department, as part of the Community and Law Enforcement Assisted Recovery Program, gives to those struggling with substance use—as well as to recovery coaches and social workers for distribution.

Gergerian calls it a “win” when a life is saved—not the arrest of someone struggling with addiction.

“Could you imagine if your kid was addicted to a substance and they weren’t ready to give it up?” Gergerian posed. “We need to keep them alive. Anything else is immoral.” Kantele Franko in Columbus, Ohio, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

Haitians are dying of thirst and starvation in severely overcrowded jails

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

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this Regional Office application/s for

10 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

9

3 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE

CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

equipment installation, operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

DING, WEIHAI Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Highly technical skills of machine/ equipment installation, operations and maintenance from ice cream factory with the capacity of 200t to 300t per day

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

11 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

TANG,

Brief

12 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

13 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

14 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

TOLY Machine Specialist Brief Job Description: Highly technical skills in machine / equipment installation operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

WANG, LONGBIAO

Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Highly technical skills in machine / equipment installation operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

YU, PENG

Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Highly technical skills in machine / equipment installation operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

YUN, QING

Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

4 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

GE, HAIJUN Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Highly technical skills of machine/ equipment installation, operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

15 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

Highly technical skills of machine/ equipment installation, operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

ZHANG, YULE

Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Highly technical skills of machine/ equipment installation, operation and maintenance from ice cream factory with capacity of 200t to 300t per day

ZHAO, GUODONG

16 AICE PHILIPPINES ICE CREAM INC.

Block 9A, Lots 1-3, Lima Technology Center, Special Economic Zone, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

17 ANOC99 CORPORATION

Machine Specialist

Brief Job Description:

Provide strategic technical experience determine parameters, develop technical plans task & resources.

Burmese Customer Service

Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Qualification:

to speak, read and write Chinese and Burmese language

Php59,999

read and write Chinese and Burmese language

Brief Job Description:

Php59,999

Customer Service

INC.

Building No. 5 & 6, Panorama Compound 5, Laguna Technopark Annex, Biñan, City of

NAKAJIMA, HIROKI Sales Technical Analyst

Brief Job Description: Oversee the technical aspect of Sales Department and coordinate with Japanese suppliers and customers.

29 KIM JOY FISH AND AQUA FARM CORPORATION No. 88, Purok 1, Tulay Buhangin, Padre Burgos, Quezon

HU, XIULI

Farm Technical Officer

Brief Job Description: Support the farm Supervisor in coordinating the development and implementation of farm activities to support agriculture

Basic Qualification: Operating machinery and equipment assisting in the establishment and harvesting

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

30 LIXIN PLASTIC AND ELECTRONIC COMPANY LTD., INC.

Block 1, Lot 1, Phase 2B, Lima Technology Center, Bugtong Na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

WANG, DENGGUI

Injection Molding Machine and Equipment Manager

Brief Job Description:

Monitor and maintain daily, weekly, monthly preventative maintenance as required on injection molding machine, as well as, machine accessories maintenance

YE, XIANG

31 LIXIN PLASTIC AND ELECTRONIC COMPANY LTD., INC.

Block 1, Lot 1, Phase 2B, Lima Technology Center, Bugtong Na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

32 MITUTOYO PHILIPPINES INC.

Units 1B & 2B, Administration Bldg. 1, Annex 1, North Main Avenue, Laguna Technopark, City of Biñan, Laguna

33 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Mixing Department Manager

Brief Job Description:

Formulate pigments with stability in new substrates or across a range of technologies

MITA, HIKARU

Technical Adviser

Brief Job Description:

Provide sales and after sales service support to Japanese speaking customers

KO KO OO

Basic Qualification: At least 5 years of work experience in plastic injection molding machine and auxiliary equipment maintenance and repairs

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

At least 5 years of work experience in color toners and plastic material mixing

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Fluent in both English and Japanese (written and verbal), graduate of Electronical Engineering

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

28 KIM JOY FISH

JIAWEI

Basic Qualification: Must be fluent in Japanese language, with excellent market & industry awareness, negotiations, and numerical skills, knowledge and comprehensive understanding on automotive and electronic parts and raw materials.

Salary Range: Php60,000Php89,999

37 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

38 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

customer service inquiries

GAN, XIAOYANG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

HUANG, CHAOXING

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Biñan, Laguna

AND AQUA FARM CORPORATION No. 88, Purok 1, Tulay Buhangin, Padre Burgos, Quezon

52 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

53 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

54 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

55 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

56 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

57 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

58 MOA CLOUDZONE CORP.

Island Cove II, Covelandia Road, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

LE, VAN HOI

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LOC, THI THUY HUONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

LY, VAN THUONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

MAI NGOC TRAI

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN THUY LINH

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN VAN VUONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN, THI GIANG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range: Php30,000Php59,999

Leave PHL’s EEZ, solon urges Beijing, as 11 Chinese ships exit Vietnam EEZ

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

AFTER its research ship and escort vessels left Vietnam, China was urged to order its Navy, Coast Guard and/ or militia vessels to leave the Philippines’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, in a statement, made the appeal following the departure of China’s research ship Xiang Yang Hong 10 and its dozen escort vessels from Vietnam’s EEZ early this week amid high-level talks between Chinese and United States officials in Beijing.

Vietnam had protested China’s presence in its EEZ.

“I don’t know what prompted the Chinese to leave Vietnam’s territorial waters, whether it was the Vietnamese protest or the USChina talks. But whatever it was, if they left Vietnam’s EEZ, they should also leave our exclusive economic zone,” Rodriguez said. He said no country, big or small, should assume the right to encroach on another nation’s EEZ.

“The Chinese have no business staying in waters, shoals and islets that belong to us under international law,” he said.

Last month, the Philippine

Coast Guard reported that more than 100 Chinese Coast Guard and militia vessels remained at Ayungin Shoal and Juan Felipe Reef off Palawan.

Ayungin Shoal is where the Philippines maintains a small platoon of soldiers as symbol of its sovereignty over the area. Chinese Coast Guard vessels routinely confront Philippine ships and small boats resupplying the troops.

“Ayungin and Juan Felipe Reef are well within our 200-mile EEZ, the shoal being about 120 miles and the reef around 175 miles from Palawan. Those are more than 800 miles from the nearest Chinese island. China should abandon those areas,”

Rodriguez said.

He said the Chinese should also leave Scarborough Shoal, which is 120 miles off Zambales and Pangasinan. The Mindanao lawmaker has been a consistent critic of Chinese presence in the country’s EEZ and Chinese bullying of Philippine vessels and Filipino fishermen.

Rodriguez also lauded the statement of newly installed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to the effect that “what is ours is ours.”

“It’s a very courageous declaration. I hope that we can walk the talk,” he said.

Tuna catchers, green groups: Enforce vessel monitoring

Continued from A26

The passing of such transparency measur es, together with the cessation of VMM measures, would cost local fisheries stakeholders access to crucial markets abroad.

DOTr explains 3-fold

swell in license cards’ backlog

Continued from A26

State auditors likewise raised issues on maintenance payments for the information technology (IT) system in 2019 despite being delivered only in 2020.

For his part, Guadiz noted that the contract with the Dermalog Joint Venture was “amended 12 times.”  There were amendments to the contract on 12 occasions so there were problems that gave undue advantage against the interest of the government—that is my personal opinion,” he said.

G uadiz, who only served as the LTO chief for three months prior to his appointment as the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), was with the LTO for 12 years.

M elissa San Miguel Salunga, the COA supervising auditor for DOTr,

noted that the findings in the initial COA report have yet to be confirmed by the commission’s information technology audit office (ITAO).

T he first of the two audits will be released by mid-2023 and the other one by yearend.

“ We asked for assistance from the ITAO because it appears that the LTO management and the contractor could not agree on what the deliverables of Dermalog are. The position of the LTO, through the users, is that there are functionalities that are deemed incomplete.

Dermalog on the other hand said they have completed everything based on terms of reference—that’s why we asked assistance from the ITAO to determine what is in the TOR and what has been delivered to determine if there should be audit action on this,” Salunga said.

SC spox on BGC case: Orals not in court’s sked

Continued from A26

The SC, in its 2021 decision, also made permanent the writ of preliminary injunction issued on August 2, 1994 by the Regional Trial Court of Pasig City enjoining the Makati City government “from exercising jurisdiction over, making improvements on, or otherwise treating as part of its territory” Parcels 3 and 4, Psu 2031, comprising Fort Bonifacio, including the so-called Inner Fort comprising of Barangays Pembo, Comembo, Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo and Pitogo.

The Philippine Army headquarters, Navy installation, Marines’ headquarters, Consular area, Jusmag area, Heritage Park, Libingan ng mga Bayani, AFP Officers Village and the so-called six villages are situated in these areas.

Pateros gets a chance

HOWEVER, in a ruling issued in May 2023, the SC gave the municipality of Pateros a chance to

“It is highly unlikely that the Philippines will pass the requirements for full transparency on its exports to the EU. Suspending the implementation of FAO 266 undermines the clear mandate of our Fisheries Code to ensure that no fishing vessel shall engage in fishing activity without complying with the vessel monitoring measure. VMM is also a tool specifically required to be established in our country to ensure the sustainable use of our marine resources. This recent move by the government suspending the vessel monitoring rules contravenes not just our own law but even our commitments under various international agreements to ensure transparency and traceability. The reforms initiated in 2015 that led to the lifting of EU of the yellow card warning are now in danger due to the regressive policies and actions of the current administration,” explained Oceana Acting Vice President Atty. Rose Liza Eisma Osorio. Jonathan L. Mayuga

‘DOT invited Angkas for tour guide tieup’

Continued from A26

Meanwhile, an official of an association of tour guides, said, “Before [DOT] launched it, they should have first consulted us stakeholders so we could understand it, and who knows, we could have raised good points on how to go about it. Is Grab even needed to begin with?” He noted the project wasn’t even discussed with the tour guides at their recent lunch with Frasco and other DOT officials to commemorate the agency’s 50th anniversary.

Cost of DOT accreditation

prove its claim over some part of 729-hectare territory.

I n a decision penned by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the Court’s First Division reversed and set aside the January  29, 2015 and December 24, 2015 resolution of the Court of Appeals which junked the claim of Pateros over the said parcel of lands.

I nstead, the Court directed the Regional of Pasig City, Branch 271, Taguig City Station to reinstate the Civil Case No. 73387-TG filed by the Pateros municipal government against Taguig City and Makati City.

T he SC decision covers  Parcel 4 of PSU-31 which includes seven barangays identified as Cembo, South Cembo, West Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo and Pitogo with an aggregate area of 3,044,568 square meters.

T he Pateros municipal government has invoked the 1885 Plano de Provincial de Manila, the 1901 Map of Luzon Island and the 1891

Plaano de Hacienda de Maricaban in claiming ownership over the said barangays. Joel R. San Juan

HE pointed out how hard the tour guides w ork “and invest to get our DOT accreditation; we will renew our NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) clearance, we will renew our health requirements— that’s P1,500 to P3,000. Then we will pay the occupational permit to the different LGUs (local government units). Given that the DOT waived the tour guide’s fee, that’s just P150. That’s still small compared to how much we spend for our accreditation.”

T he tour guide, who requested anonymity, said, “[In the Grab project], they’re just drivers, what about it? What about the tour? It wouldn’t be complete without a guide. So they should have incorporated that, so the tour guides gained work... and we could have helped them.”

According to the DOT’s website, there are close to 200 accredited tour guides in the National Capital Region. Tour guides can earn at least P2,500 on a five-hour, in-coach (drive-by) tour in Manila (Intramuros, Luneta, National Museum, Binondo), and P3,500, at most, if the tour includes a walk through the tourist sites, including a live narration on the background of each destination. Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo

DOTr explains 3-fold swell in license cards’ backlog

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

D uring the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told senators that the backlog on the issuance of driver’s IDs has reached 690,000.

S enator Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, was surprised, noting that records show that “as of May 2, the backlog was just 234,000.”

“ Now, in June, just after a month, it’s already at 700,000— that’s a 500,000-increase. How did this happen?” Tolentino said.

Bautista explained that this is because the LTO is no longer issuing physical license cards due to the shortage of licenses. It has, however, extended the validity of licenses due starting April 24 until October 31.

“Actually, we are not issuing driver’s license because of the ex-

tension of validity, but we still considered them backlogs,” he said.

Currently, the LTO only has a supply of 70,000 ID cards nationwide.

B autista said the agency is “reserving” these remaining cards for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who need licenses abroad.

B ewildered by the sudden spike in backlog, Tolentino asked if the agency is “expecting another 500,000” in delayed issuances of license cards next month.

We are finalizing the procurement. We have an ongoing procurement where there is already the lowest bidder. We are just doing a post-qualification of the lowest bid. If we will qualify the lowest bidder we should be able to get maybe 500,000 licenses in July,” Bautista assured.

B autista noted that the LTO should have started the early pro -

curement of license cards in August 2022, when the National Expenditure Program (NEP) was submitted to Congress.

“ Unfortunately, the LTO failed to do that,” he said, referring to the previous management at the LTO. By January 25, the DOTr had already mandated the centralization of procurement processes for contracts P50 million and above.

Six days later, Bautista directed the LTO to submit the terms of reference for the acquisition of license cards to the DOTr by February 15.

“It was only on Feb 28, 2023 that they submitted a one-page PPMP or project procurement management plan. They submitted the terms of reference March 21, 2023—that’s when the ball started rolling,” he said.

Teofilo Guadiz, who was then the LTO chief in August, said he jumpstarted the development of a TOR for the license cards acquisition, but was then replaced by Jay Art Tugade in November. Tugade recently resigned as LTO Chief.

First we were cognizant that there is a need to purchase these licenses. We convened a technical working group. We have already nearly finished the process and we were 80 percent complete with our

‘D.O.T. INVITED ANGKAS FOR TOUR GUIDE TIEUP’

recommendation for the type of license to be procured; however, by Nov 15, I was replaced, so I turned over whatever we have done to the incoming Assistant Secretary [Tugade] for appropriate actions,” Guadiz said.

He noted that it was not a “recurring order...because every time we procure licenses we would revisit the terms of reference, look for cheaper suppliers.”

LTO IT system questioned

THE issue of license cards surfaced during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged “undue payments” to the joint venture of Dermalog, Holy Family Printing, Microgenesis, and Verzontal Builders—the contractor for the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

D ermalog representatives were absent at the hearing and so were other former LTO chiefs.

T he Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the LTO for “undue payments” to the joint venture, noting that the agency paid the contractor despite not meeting milestones listed on the terms of reference (TOR).

Continued on A18

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Thursday declined to respond to the concerns of tourism stakeholders on the agency’s partnership with ride-hailing app Grab Philippines.

No comment at this time,” the office of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said through the DOT’s media office, when BusinessMirror raised the tourism stakeholders’s questions about the lack of DOT accreditation for Grab partner-drivers and their vehicles, their lack of tour-guide training, and possible safety issues due to the state of their vehicles.

U nder the GrabTours Manila project, travelers can book five-hour city tours through the Grab app, and will be picked up by the company’s partner-drivers, who will also act as their tour guides. They will then be brought back to their hotels after the tour. (See, “Tourism players hit choices of Grab ‘guide,’” in the BusinessMirror , June 7, 2023.)

T his developed as a source who spoke to this paper on background, said DOT officials also reached out to Angkas for a similar partnership, where its partner-drivers, can also act as

tour guides for their passengertourists. “It wasn’t just Grab. They also talked to Angkas. So for four-wheels [tours], it was Grab; for motorcycles, Angkas,” added the source, who explained that Grab was more prepared to undertake the project and was able to make a presentation to the DOT. Grab has had previous partnerships with the agency, under its previous administration.

Digitalizing tour bookings

ANGKAS , on the other hand,  is a motorcyle-hailing platform where individuals can get to their destinations more quickly by riding with the “bikers,” who are able to weave through traffic because of their smaller vehicles.

T he same source said it was DOT’s intent to digitalize the booking of tours, and “invited Grab” and Angkas for their platforms to be used for this purpose. “Grab answered the call and tailor-fit [the project] to what was needed,” said the source, adding, “Yes, the partnerdrivers will be the tour guides. They underwent training with the DOT for this.”  The source stressed Grab is “using six cars only” for the pilot run.

Continued on A18

Tuna catchers, green groups: Enforce vessel monitoring SC spox on BGC case: Orals not in court’s sked

TUNA catchers under the Philippines Tuna Handline Partnership (PTHP) have expressed fears that suspending the implementation of vessel monitoring measures (VMM) under Fisheries Administrative Order 266 may jeopardize recent inroads to ensure compliance with international best practices on transparency and sustainability of seafood exports to the European Union.

T he implementation of the VMM was halted following the issuance of a Memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin ceasing the implementation of the VMM.

T he group, composed of the Gulf of Lagonoy Tuna Fishers Federation, Inc., the Occidental Mindoro Federation of Tuna Fishers Association, and the Philippine Association of Tuna Processors, Inc., are working to maintain its Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, which it was recently awarded after a decade of initiatives to ensure that its operations adhere to international best practices.

“Ours are the first ever fisheries in the Philippines to be certified under the MSC standard, an achievement that is in line with President Marcos’ goal of bringing prosperity and self-sufficiency to our nation. We are worried that the suspension of vessel monitoring measures to ensure transparency in fisheries will put our tuna exports at risk.

We are continuously trying our best to comply with international standards of transparency and sustainable fishing practices to ensure that small-scale tuna fisherfolk can sustain the breakthrough we have achieved in reaching international export markets,” Atenogenes Reaso of the Federation of Tuna Fishers said in a statement.

First granted to the Philippine Tuna Handline Partnership (PTHP) in October of 2021, the MSC ecolabel signals to consumers that the fish they are purchasing has been sourced sustainably.

Jinky Rabano from Jarla Trading and the Philippine Association of Tuna Processors, Inc. (PATPI) hopes that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will urge Executive Secretary Bersamin and President Marcos to lift the suspension of FAO 266, or that the government agency will intervene in the matter to keep the country from being red-flagged by the European Union. “This issue is very concerning. Our exports and those of other fish processors will be affected should the Philippines be red or yellow carded once again,” said Rabano.

I n 2014, the European Union issued a yellow card on Philippine fishery exports, which threatened to bar the country from exporting to markets in Europe. Amendments to the Fisheries Code of the Philippines were made to address this, which led to the implementation of mandatory VMM.

Full transparency

INTERNATIONAL conservation organizations Oceana and World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines) echoed the tuna stakeholders’ call for full transparency measures as efforts to implement VMM hit a snag with the Memorandum issued by ES Bersamin on March 13, 2023.

T he EU is the Philippines’s top export market, and is the destination for 21 percent of total fisheries exports.  From 2018-2021, the Philippines exports an annual average of P12-13Billion worth of fish to this region.

I n the recent Seafood Expo Global held in Barcelona, Spain, Oceana urged the EU to require full transparency for all seafood sold on the market, including processed and imported products. This will allow consumers to know whether the fish they are buying has been sourced from overfished stocks, as well as the method in which they were caught.

SUPREME Court spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka has denied any knowledge about the claim of Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay that the Court has reopened and set for oral arguments the territorial dispute between Taguig City and Makati City over of the 729-hectare Bonifacio Global City (BGC) complex and several barangays.

Hosaka said all issuances of the Court are being published in its official website and social media platforms.       “I have no information about an oral argument being set regarding this case. The SC-PIO [Public Information Office] will immediately post any notices in the SC website and official Twitter account should there be any,” Hosaka stressed.

T he Court’s Special Third Division earlier affirmed  with finality its December 1, 2021 declaring the contested land as part of the territory of Taguig City.

T he Court added it would not entertain any further pleadings, motions, letters or other communications in connection with the case.

Hosaka was reacting to reports quoting Binay as saying that the city’s legal team has received notice from the SC setting their omnibus motion for a hearing.

M akati City Hall said it has filed an omnibus motion asking SC to hear the case en banc, a legal recourse provided for under Section 2 Rule 2 of the SC Internal Rules.

In a statement in April 2023, the SC said it had written “finis” to the territorial dispute between Taguig and Makati City  in connection with the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation where the Bonifacio Global City Complex is sited.

THE backlog in driver’s license cards has ballooned by almost three fold in just a month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) admitted on Thursday.

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Friday, June 9, 2023

ERC imposes cap on rates in emergency power deals

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

eP SAs are forged on account of force majeure or fortuitous events cited in a 2021 department circular of the Department of energy (D oe). All eP SAs are subject to eRC approval. “The eP SA shall be immediately

implementable, and the rates to be charged shall be capped at the lowest e RC-approved generation tariff for the same technology in comparable areas, as posted on the eRC’s official website. The said rates shall apply until the eRC is-

sues its approval of the eP SA,” the agency said in a notice.

The eRC reminded the DUs that the ePSA shall be immediately filed, upon signing and effectivity thereof, for approval. The rates and ePSA terms and conditions, as approved by the eRC, will then apply retroactively for the entire term of the ePSA.

Also, the eRC said the procurement of emergency power supply will not be entitled to any form of subsidy, including the universal charge for missionary electrification (UC-M e) for small power utilities group (SPUG) areas.

e a rlier, the D o e imposed a moratorium on the issuance of the Certificate of e x emption (C o e ) f rom the conduct of competitive selection process (CSP), pending

the issuance of a new CSP policy.

The Doe , eRC, and the National electrification Administration are currently drafting a new CSP policy that aims to rationalize and streamline the conduct of CSP, particularly the issuance of Coe - CSP, and the review of the terms of reference for unsolicited proposals, among others.

In the alternative, the DU and the power supplier will jointly file their eP SA before the eRC for its approval.

The Manila e lectric Co. said the execution of the eP SA will help shield electricity consumers from volatile and potentially higher generation costs in the Wholesale e lectricity Spot Market, which is historically recorded during the dry season when power demand spikes.

Globe: GCash ready for IPO this year

Globe Telecom Inc., the Philippines’s second-biggest telecommunications company, expects e-wallet unit GCash to be ready for an initial public offering (IPo) by yearend, President and Ceo er nest Cu said.

“We’re pretty much ripe for it. The growth is there, the profitability has been there for almost two years now,” Cu said in an interview on Thursday with bloomberg Television’s David Ingles and Yvonne Man.

“The plan is to be push-button ready by the end of the year. l et’s see where it takes us,” he said.

GCash is the flagship payment platform of Globe Fintech Innovations Inc., or Mynt, which brought in Chinese giant Ant Group Co. as partner in 2017. It also offers crypto, savings, investments and insurance services and has over 76 million users as of the fourth quarter of 2022, Globe said earlier this year.

The popularity of the mobile payment app surged during the pandemic as most consumers opted

for cashless transactions from online shopping and bill payments to transport fares.

Globe, which counts Singapore Telecommunications ltd. and Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corp. as its largest shareholders, is banking on Filipinos’ increasing digital use to build new products as growth of its traditional business tapers off.

Inflation has affected the lower end of the market—the biggest segment of the Philippine population— but easing consumer price gains should help boost Globe’s earnings in the latter part of 2023, Cu said. Globe Telecom shares were unchanged at 2:17 pm in Manila trading, with the Philippines’s key stock index off 0.5 percent.

Partners Globe said on Thursday its 5G connection is now available in 67 countries and Territories, having signed deals with new mobile partners for 5G roaming.

Coco Domingo, VP for Postpaid

and International business at Globe, said the group has signed 5G roaming deals with T-Mobile in Austria, Digi in Malaysia, CTM in Macau, AT&T for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, Windtre in Vatican City, ee for Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, Megafon in Russia, and Docomo Pacific in the Northern Marianas.

This brings the total number of territories where Globe 5G roaming is available to 67.

“With a 5G footprint spanning 67 countries and territories, we are thrilled to offer customers fast and reliable connectivity while they travel the world. We also paired their 5G experience with Globe data roaming promos that are now affordable and accessible for our customers via the Globeone app. Now, you can skip the hassle of switching to a local SIM or bringing an extra device to stay connected,” Domingo said.

Postpaid subscribers may preregister for their favorite data roaming promos a day before their trip

clinches

ISUzU Gencars Makati’s Service Advisor Maria Noime Cabaltera emerged as the champion in the Service Advisor Category during the 18th Isuzu Service Skills olympics held on June 3, 2023, at the Isuzu Philippines Corporation Plant in l aguna Technopark, biñan, l aguna.

The Isuzu Service Skills olympics is an event that brings together talented individuals from Isuzu dealerships across the country to showcase their skills and knowledge in various service-related categories. The competition is a testament to Isuzu’s commitment to excellence in customer service and technical expertise.

Maria Noime Cabaltera, demonstrated exceptional abilities in the Service Advisor Category, outshining her competitors and earning the coveted title of champion. Her comprehensive understanding of Isuzu vehicles, coupled with her excellent communication and problem-solving skills, sets her apart from the rest. Her exceptional performance not only reflects her dedication and expertise but also serves as a testament to Isuzu Gencars’ commitment to providing outstanding customer service.

All Isuzu outlets under the Gencars Group dealership enthusiastically participated in the olympics, where their talented representatives showcased their exceptional expertise across various categories. each delegate epitomized the indomitable Gencars spirit and demonstrated an unwavering dedication to their craft.

Isuzu Gencars, led by its Chairman and Ceo D. edgard A. Cabangon, along with the officers and staff, extend their warmest congratulations to Maria Noime Cabaltera and all their delegates for their exemplary performance. This proves Isuzu Gen-

cars’ commitment to excellence in customer service.

Since its establishment in 1978 by the late Ambassador Antonio l Cabangon Chua, Isuzu Gencars has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of service to its valued clientele. This dedication has earned them numerous accolades, including multiple Dealer of the Year Awards and recognitions in events such as the Isuzu Service Skills olympics, solidifying their reputation as a leader in the industry throughout the years.

through the Globeone app. Globe prepaid subscribers may also register for a bucket offer via the Globeone app or through GCash. Bloomberg News and Lorenz S. Marasigan

B1

SPNEC to break ground on Nueva Ecija solar project

By VG Cabuag @villygc

SP New energy Corp. (SPNeC) on Thursday said it plans to break ground this year on its Nueva ecija solar expansion project, which will be controlled by the company.

The company has invested the bulk of the proceeds of its capital raises in this project, including Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s initial investment of P2 billion.

It is planned to be one of the world’s largest solar power plants and will be controlled by SPNeC , the company said.

“We have ongoing discussions on shareholding arrangements in certain of our projects, to find solutions that will benefit all parties,”

Solar Philippines founder l eandro l e viste said after the company’s stockholders’ meeting.

“out of deference for these discussions and respect to our partners, we will not yet elaborate, other than to say that: We believe that it is in SPNeC ’s interest to invest in projects where it has a controlling stake, and that SPNeC is best served by allocating its capital to projects where this is the case.”

The Nueva ecija expansion project comprises over 3,000 hectares acquired or being acquired in the same general area as the company’s first Nueva ecija solar farm covering an area of over 350 hectares, which would bring the group’s total land in the area secured to over 3,500 hectares.

This scale is enabled by Solar Philippines which has been consolidating land and permits for this project since 2016, when it applied for its first Department of energy solar energy service contract in this area. The clustering of projects in the same area also supports the development of transmission, which would extend over 60 kilometers to connect to National Grid Corp. of the Philippines’s substations that supply the greater Manila area.

With a total planned 4 gigawatts of solar farm developments, the company said its combined developments in Nueva e c ija would surpass the capacity of India’s bh adla Solar Farm, currently the world’s largest farm at over 2.2 GW. “It will also surpass the capacity of the total grid-connected solar operating in the Philippines as of the end of 2022 at over 1.4 GW.”

The energy Regulatory Commission (eRC) has capped the power rates in emergency power supply agreements (ePSAs) entered into by distribution utilities (DUs) and power generation companies.

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) allayed concerns of some police officers on the “co-mingling” of the pension of military and uniformed personnel (MUP) with other funds, arguing that such will not happen under the state pension fund’s watch.

In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said one of the concerns raised by some members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) was whether the MUP pension would be the same as the pension for non-uniformed civil servants.

The DOF statement quoted GSIS Senior Vice President George S. Ongkeko Jr. as saying that the state pension fund would only “manage” the funds while “protecting” the independence of the MUP pension. “ Sa GSIS, we ensure na walang co-mingling of funds.

Huwag po kayong mabahala. Si GSIS po maraming mina manage na fund, at sa lahat po nung mga fund na yun , we make sure na wala pong co- mingling. Kanya kanya po talaga ,” Ongkeko said Thursday.

[At GSIS, we ensure there is no co-mingling of funds. Don’t worry. GSIS has many managed funds and, in all those funds, we make sure that there is no co-mingling.]

Finance Undersecretary

Maria Luwalhati C. Dorotan

Tiuseco told the PNP that the economic team is “more than willing” to have further con-

STEM is an acronym that covers the distinct but related technical disciplines of “science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” It is typically used in connection to education policy or curriculum choices in schools.

The Department of Education of Western Australia said that, through STEM, students develop key skills such as problem solving, creativity, critical analysis, teamwork, independent thinking, initiative, communication and digital literacy—areas which associations can work on as well.

Given a changing global economy, current jobs are disappearing due to automation. New jobs are fast emerging as a result of technological advances. Skills students developed through STEM can provide them with the foundation to succeed in school and in their chosen career path in the future. In the milieu of association management, STEM can have the following context:

1. Science. Association management is a distinct field of management because of the unique environment of associations. Managers within the association environment are responsible for tasks similar to that of a business entity such as human resource management, financial management, IT management and project management. However, other aspects of management unique to association managers include membership recruitment, engagement and retention, volunteer management, tax-exempt accounting and financial management, development of non-dues revenue, fundraising and specific laws and regulations that pertain only to associations. In short, association management is a science in itself.

2. Technology. The pandemic has altered the landscape of the technological market, accelerating business demand for digital innovation and challenging even those that are already technologically advanced. Technologies

versations “to further flesh out other concerns and details” that they may have.

“Rest assured that we would be more than willing to talk in smaller groups if needed so we can better explain the proposals,” Tiuseco said.

Representatives from the DOF, the GSIS and the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) met with PNP officials and officers to discuss the proposed reforms to the MUP pension system.

The meeting with the PNP is part of the economic team’s second leg of consultations with stakeholders of the MUP pension system.

National Treasurer Rosalia V. De Leon emphasized during the meeting that consultation is an “integral part” of the MUP pension system reform process.

“This is precisely why we have these kinds of forums [so we can see your] perspectives and, together, we can achieve a collective buy-in,” De Leon said.

Around 300 police officers attended the talks in person, with at least a thousand participating online, according to the DOF.

Earlier this week, finance officials announced through a statement that government’s economists are introducing changes to proposed reforms in the pension of military and uniformed personnel following a meeting with defense and security officials. (Related story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/06/05/dofoffers-3-options-in-pensionof-mups/)

GSIS: No ‘co-mingling’ in MUP pension funds STEM in associations

Ex-Senate Presidents warn vs tinkering with MIF bill

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

TWO former Senate presidents have warned lawmakers against “correcting” text in the enrolled bill of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), saying this would certainly be open to legal challenge—even possible prosecution of involved parties. They cited only two ways to redress reported errors that have been attributed to the “hasty” passage of the measure on third and final reading at the Senate on May 31.

Former Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III backed up the warning raised earlier by his predecessor as Senate chief now Minority Leader Aquilino Martin “Koko” dlL. Pimentel. Pimentel has warned against the current attempts by the bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Mark A. Villar, with the backing of top Senate officers, to correct conflicting provisions in the Senate version as adopted by the House of Representatives.

Pimentel repeated his warning in a radio interview that followed Sotto’s.

E, bawal ‘yan, eh. Dun sa rules ay hindi allowed,” Sotto said in a radio interview. [That’s not allowed; the rules doesn’t allow that.]

Sotto, who has served as majority leader to nine Senate Presidents and Speakers, said he had “doubts that it will be allowed by Malacañang,” given, he said, “maraming magagaling na tao dun [there are many experts there].”

such as cloud computing, machine learning, metaverse and Internet of Things are all advancing at an incredible speed. Most associations, however, are known to be slow in adopting new technologies due to skillset needs and financial concerns. Needless to say, technology adoption results to better efficiency, competitive edge, ability to address remote and hybrid work challenges and reduced costs. Embracing and adopting new technologies is an essential consideration for associations.

3. Engineering. Financial engineering, in its broadest definition, refers to the application of engineering techniques to resolve financial issues. For example, organizations employ this method for risk management, business models and new brand strategy, among others. Currently, associations struggle in keeping their finances afloat and this may require financial engineering in their membership as well as revenue models. Associations can tap the expertise of a financial engineer who can manage their financial risks, identify market opportunities and optimize investment strategies.

4. Mathematics. Organizations, including associations, use mathematics, among others, to track income and expenses, prepare financial statements and make informed decisions on resource allocation. Association managers need to have a grasp of financial ratios, for instance, to be able to understand the financial health of the organization and to make decisions that warrant the best course of action. If an association has to survive and succeed, it needs to look after its finances and make necessary arrangements for it to prosper as well.

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of

and founder and

The latter remark hints at a possible veto by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in order to force a return of the bill to plenary in both chambers when the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress reopens on July 24.

Option offered

SOTTO offered lawmakers the option to “return it to the bicam [bicameral conference] committee to tackle the conflicting provisions” and clarify and correct them, and then return it to plenary for ratification anew by both chambers.

He explained that the bicameral panel can only table anew the questioned provision if it was ever discussed in the original bicameral meeting. The latter apparently happened rather hastily because the Lower House sent word to Senate leaders they were adopting the version passed by Senators at 2:32 a.m.

Passage in quick succession on second reading, third reading and final reading was possible because Marcos had certified the Maharlika bill as priority.

In a separate radio interview on Thursday, Pimentel lashed out at the majority for its “haste” in passing the MIF “at an unholy hour,” when serious matters like these, he said, should be tackled in regular work hours. He scolded them for invoking “human frailty” in the errors in the bill, saying such would not have happened if the majority did not railroad the measure. The MIF was approved with 19 votes, one No vote by Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and one abstention by Sen. Nancy Binay. Pimentel, as well as Sens. Chiz Escudero and Imee Marcos had already gone home when the vote was made at dawn.

Amendments, corrections

SOTTO and Pimentel warned against tinkering with the enrolled bill because of reports that Villar had written Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri to make known his recollection of what transpired during the period of amendments, with the expectation that the conflicting prescriptive periods in the penal provisions in two sections of the measure would simply be corrected by the Senate secretariat.

Hindi puedeng ganun; kailangan sa plenary ayusin nila, [That cannot be; that should be redressed in plenary],” Sotto said, or “at the bicameral at the very least.”

For his part, Pimentel said, “walang isang senador ang may karapatang i-replace ang interpretation niya sa interpretation ng plenaryo.” [No senator has the right to replace the

interpretation of the plenary with his interpretation.]

Huwag na nilang kalikutin. Otherwise, this could be a major issue that could be raised in the Supreme Court. Pag ginalaw nila ’yun after ratification, sabit ’yun,” he warned. [Don’t mess with it. Otherwise, this could be a major issue that could be raised in the Supreme Court. It would be a problem if they tinker with it after ratification.]

What apparently happened, Pimentel said, was that the presiding chairman accepted an amendment by a senator, but the working draft was not touched, or made to reflect the amendment.

‘Criminal offense’

PIMENTEL said that invoking human error won’t cut it, stressing that the Senate proceedings are so over-chronicled precisely to ensure 100-percent accuracy in documenting the work of lawmakers. “That’s why we have [a] technical staff for senators, we have [an army of] stenographers; now, there’s even live-streaming,” precisely to ensure faithfulness in recording, the lawmaker added. But if errors were indeed made, they cannot simply be corrected by a letter from the sponsor and an order to the secretariat to change the errors, Pimentel further explained. He urged the President to veto the problematic bill, which the latter had wanted enacted by the time he delivers his State of the Nation Address (Sona).

Pimentel, a Bar topnotcher, replying to a query by a radio host, conceded the possibility that the efforts to tinker with the enrolled bill might partake of a “criminal offense kung ginalaw na hindi sang ayon sa tamang proseso.” [if done not according to proper process.]

TODAY’S

HOROSCOPE

Eugenia Last

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS

DAY: Johnny Depp, 59; Natalie Portman, 41; Michael J. Fox, 61; Tamela Mann, 56.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Speed things up quickly, and you’ll feel at home. Don’t worry about whether others can keep up; it’s OK to be first. After all, you are a pioneer. Dream about your goals, and in no time, you will manifest what you envision. Be true to yourself, and don’t stop until you reach your destination. Open the door when opportunity knocks. Your numbers are 4, 11, 23, 26, 33, 41, 47.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Don’t let decisions linger on when time is crucial. Look, analyze and make things happen that brighten your day and enhance the lives of loved ones. Use insight and experience to help others, and you’ll gain perspective regarding your life. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A sloppy job won’t cut it; if you want to advance, give your all and promote what you achieve. It’s up to you to do your best. Rely on your intuition, not unverified information that comes from unfamiliar sources.

★★★★★

❶ ONE of the two bells of the centuries-old San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod displayed within the property.

❷ SILAY City has a number of heritage homes, this one owned by the family of Victor Fernandez Gaston which has been turned into a museum, Balay Negrense.

❸ THE longest chicken inasal grill spans 320 meters, with some 3,000 pieces of chicken cooked by close to 70 vendors.

❹ BACOLOD City Mayor Albee Benitez (far left) with winners of the Chicken Inasal Festival Pioneer Awards Velez Grill House, Nena’s Chicken Inasal Restaurant, and Bernadette’s Chicken Inasal House.

Celebrating the chicken inasal

inasal was sold at the house of Sabel Velez, first purchased by neighbors who had it as a pulutan (bar chow). It consists of “freshly-slaughtered chicken, marinated in coconut vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar and other ingredients, skewered on wooden sticks, and then grilled.” (The use of fresh chicken is probably the reason the chicken inasal in Bacolod is more namit than the ones we have in Metro Manila, where most restaurants use frozen or blast-chilled dressed chicken.) Sabel’s heirs put up Nena’s, which first started selling at Cuadra St. before moving with other purveyors to the area now known as Manokan Country.

IHAVEN’T been to Bacolod in ages. The last time I was there, the airport was actually still in Bacolod (spoiler alert: it’s now in Silay City and can welcome international flights), and Negros Occidental then was just reaping the benefits of a prawn industry boom. But some things never change. Then, as it is now, the tastiest chicken inasal (grilled chicken) can still be found in Manokan Country (near SM Bacolod), where rows upon rows of open-air restaurants named after their founding matriarchs can be found, and people from all walks of life still have their fill of their favorite grilled chicken parts. (I personally prefer the wings, and as in the style of locals, pour glistening chicken oil all over my steaming white rice.) It was because of the chicken inasal that I found myself again in Bacolod. The city, led by Mayor Albee Benitez, hosted a three-day Chicken Inasal Festival for the first time since the pandemic. “The Chicken Inasal Festival in Bacolod holds immense significance due to its role in cultural preservation, tourism promotion, economic impact, and community engagement,” he says. “It celebrates the culinary heritage of Bacolod, preserving traditional cooking technique and flavors, while encouraging cultural appreciation. The festival boosts local tourism showcasing the city’s culture, hospitality, and cuisine to visitors from all over. It also contributes to the local economy by generating revenue, creating employment opportunities, and attracting investments,” he adds.

According to Halina sa Kusina, a book written and illustrated by Jo Anne V. Coruña, the first chicken

During the festival’s opening at the North Capitol Road on May 26, we were treated to an amazing array of chicken inasal dishes, some of which were prepared ingeniously by some of the city’s most talented chefs. As each dish was served, it was paired with different San Miguel beer variants like the Super Dry, Cerveza Negra, and the lemon-flavored beer, to name a few. (Some of the chicken parts used were, in fact, marinated in those beers before being grilled or braised, which made for interesting, fun flavors.)

The next night, at SM Bacolod’s activity center, Benitez and officials from the local government, along with private sector leaders recognized many of the pioneers in the industry, like Velez Grill House, Nena’s Chicken Inasal Restaurant, and Bernadette’s Chicken Inasal House. Other awardees were: Nena’s Rose Chicken Inasal (Local’s Choice Award); Aida’s Chicken Barbecue Grill, with two awards for Tourist’s Choice and Vlogger’s Choice; Bacolod Chicken House Resto Bar Corp (Family’ Choice); Galpad’s Inasal (Inasal sang Masa); Chicken Deli Food Corp. and JT’s Manukan Grille Inc., both of which received the Coast-to-Coast award; while Terence Mitchao and Xhieng Macalalag won the Chicken Inasal Reels and Vlog Contests, respectively.

The three-day festival was capped by the Longest Chicken Inasal Grill held at the Upper East, Megaworld Corp.’s township project, located in what used to be the Bacolod-Murcia Milling Co. The grill reached an astounding 320 meters, where some 3,000 pieces of chicken were cooked by close to 70 vendors and local cooks. (I was told that the LGU could have

entered the Guinness World Records, but a sizeable amount of funds, along with tons of documents are needed to petition for entry in the prestigious list.)

Our hosts also took us on quick trips around Bacolod and Silay, bastion of the province’s old rich.

Silay was once known as the “Paris of Negros” due to considerable number of preserved heritage homes, often residences of old sugar-baron families, as well as the devotion of its residents to arts and culture.

One of our stops included Casa A. Gamboa, a bed-and-breakfast and events place run by Reena Gamboa. On the grounds were vendors and local farmers who were participating in the Negros Island Slow Food Earth Market, while inside we had an interesting (and exhausting!) coffee-cupping exercise conducted by Thomas Sproten and coffee farmer Teddy Cañete. As a reward, we had a satisfying lunch of dishes using organic and slow food ingredients, like native chicken with kadios (pigeon peas) and ubad (innermost part of the banana stalk), alugbati (Malabar spinach) with red egg, pinaksyo nga isda, fried blue crab patties, and a refreshing homemade coconut ice cream.

Back in Bacolod, another worthwhile stop was the Art District, a hub for contemporary artists, with gallery spaces, and walls around just covered in murals. The main art gallery, Gallery Orange is owned by well-known local artist Charlie Co who is helping nurture a younger generation and their passions. I was fortunate to have met Faye Abantao, who was dressing up an outside corridor with prints inspired by her stay in El Nido.

What’s amazing about touring Bacolod this time around is the sheer number of hotels and restaurants, along with the presence of commercial malls. When I used to visit, there was just one or two hotels, and the best Negrense dishes could be found in the homes of locals. As I did my steps inside a mall, people were just out and about, filling restaurants to full capacity, while at our hotel there were numerous foreign travelers checked in as well.

Tourism has certainly transformed a once-sleepy Bacolod into an exciting destination for food, culture, and the arts. But you’ve never really been to Bacolod unless you’ve had a juicy piece of chicken inasal. ■

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Don’t be fooled by fictitious information. Go directly to the source to avoid getting caught in someone’s lies or scams. Do your research, ask questions and focus on what’s best for you. Create opportunities instead of waiting for a miracle.

★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Your eagerness will require you to hone your skills to fit the application to which you want to apply them. Don’t complicate matters; a one-step solution will have just as profound of an effect. Trust in what you know and do best. ★★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be careful; what you say and do might influence your position or reputation. Keep your plans simple and look for opportunities for personal and professional growth. A place you find special will turn into a good thinking space.

★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take the initiative and try something new. The people you encounter will offer interesting thoughts that encourage you to speed up the process of achieving success. It’s up to you to take what’s rightfully yours. Update your image and demonstrate your skills.

★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Pay attention to what’s happening at home. Understanding the dynamics of a situation and the people involved will help you stifle difficulties before they become hard to manage. Stick to basics and don’t overreact, and everything will unfold as planned.

★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Contracts, investments and putting your energy into getting the biggest bang for your buck will bring high returns. A change is in sight if you use your ingenuity to develop a formula that fits your style and budget and offers the desired results. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Choose a path that satisfies your needs. Let go of the past and stop following; leading is your thing. Look for opportunities you feel heartfelt about, and you’ll meet individuals who share your concerns. Do your part and pay your dues. ★★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Put more time and effort into your home, family and finances. Set up your lifestyle to fit your budget and ease stress. Don’t try to keep up with someone who is misleading. Set a standard of living that works for you.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Relationships will undergo changes you need to address. If you let others decide things for you, it will not be satisfactory. Specify what’s important to you and make it happen. Take control instead of being controlled. ★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Fix up your space. The better the flow, the less stress and easier it is to manifest what you want your life to be like moving forward. Changing how you earn your living will turn out better than anticipated.

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are inventive, nurturing and optimistic. You are sensitive and kind.

‘take the leap’ BY JOSH M. KAUFMANN

The

Crossword • Edited by David Steinberg/Anna Gundlach

Be Kind Rewind: Controlling women in cinema

morality [or immorality] of cinema being produced, then called Mildred Pierce “unfilmable,” with the body describing the stories in the book “sordid and repellent.”

In the reading done by BKR of the 2011 adaptation, Mildred is pictured as obsessed with her own daughter, implicating even the nearly “bizarrely sexual” feelings of a mother to a daughter. BKR goes through this analysis by navigating the text of the novel and the visualization of the two versions, one in the 1940s and another in the 2000s.

NOT A GOOD HOST

THE staff and crew of a certain TV show are exasperated at one of its hosts because of her inability to say anything beyond what is on the teleprompter. In her former network, the host was also rumored to be someone who couldn’t ad lib to save her life but since she was a sort of queen bee there, no one could confirm it. This time, the staff and crew of her show mince no words in telling others that they wish the host would at least try to hone her skills. Doing ad libs is not really a God-given gift but something that can be learned. The staff and crew are so annoyed that the host is like a child reading a textbook in front of the camera. The show isn’t rating well and her performance isn’t helping at all.

SPREADING HERSELF TOO THIN

IS the beauty queen-actress spreading herself too thin by taking on so much? Aside from being a beauty queen, this lady also acts and is an influencer and endorser. Her manager gives her a lot of work, which is fine, if he would only fix her schedule. As it is, the beauty queen is sometimes the cause of delay during tapings and events. This is too bad, because many people who work in production are only paid when the cameras start rolling. So if the beauty queen is late and taping or shooting can’t start, then it means the production people and extras don’t get paid. The same is true for events—those who work under people who mount the events are only paid when work is done. It is not the beauty queen’s fault but her manager’s because she is just working according to the schedule he gives her.

MILDRED PIERCE was a brave woman doing all her best for her family. In the early 1940s, Mildred’s account came to the audience through a book and a film adaptation. The book was written by James M. Cain and published in 1941. The story is set in California during the Depression. In 1945, the film adaptation of the novel was released. In this wonderfully incisive YouTube channel called Be Kind Rewind (BKR, www. youtube.com/@bkrewind), the narrator says a murder was introduced in the film version, an element that was not present in the original, the novel. The voice said it should not have been done.

In other sources, when film studio Warners Bros. enlisted Jerry Wald to produce Mildred Pierce, Cain was said to have implored Warners especially the director chosen for the film, Michael Curtiz, not to introduce heavy themes that will change substantially the purpose of the novel, which was to illustrate how women are victims of social injustice.

In the 1940s, Warner Bros. had developed a compelling repertoire of low-class women making social mobility an elegant if not dangerous game. Joan Crawford, who played Mildred, led this bevy of fierce actresses which included Bette Davis.

In 2011, the same novel by Cain was adapted as a miniseries by HBO, starring Kate Winslet. The HBO hit does not include the murder scene, which is shot in such a framing that tells us the 1940s filmmaking was one of the major contributions of geniuses. Go to the film and watch this splendid scene.

The Production Code Administration, the organization at the time which monitored the

How did the material evolve during those years? Well, in that earlier period the characters who did not heed the moral conventions of the society were punished. The lead evil had to be killed. Wald and Cain, it was written, did not enjoy the resolution, which was a murder at the beginning. But BKR says, it was a good way to respond to the moral codes at the time which breathed heavily on the shivering nape of actors and writers.

Who says vlogs and online channels lack erudition? Be Kind Rewind is an amazing collection of video essays that deal with “Hollywood history, women in film, and general film studies.” It is addicting.

One title stood out as I was viewing the BKR channel. This was “How a ‘Sacrilegious’ Film Changed Hollywood Forever.” It begins with the heading “How some horny Italians gave us constitutional rights.” The cast includes Roberto Rosselinni and the tempestuous Anna Magnani. At the core of the controversy is a short film directed by Rossellini called Il Miracolo (The Miracle, 1948). The story is about a woman (later in the synopsis she is described as “an idiot woman”) who goes to the mountains where she meets an old man she presumes to be St. Joseph. Played by Federico Fellini, this “St. Joseph” does not talk; instead he offers the woman wine to drink. The woman gets drunk and falls asleep. When she wakes, the old man is gone. She is confused. A few months later, she discovers she is pregnant.

The woman assumes St. Joseph is the father of the baby in her womb. She goes around proud of this miracle. She is mocked by the people. The village is disturbed. More disturbed about the film were the

Catholics who thought the film was a mockery of their faith.

This was the 1940s and 1950s. Censorship was not only de rigueur; it was also unquestioned basically. In each state, there was a department of education with its own motion picture division, a committee that looked into films and had the power to excise scenes they found offensive. This division could even stop screening of films and withdrawing them from theaters.

Il Miracolo came to the US through festivals of short films curated for so-called art films. Magnani’s Il Miracolo was always double-billed with another short film, Jean Cocteau’s La Voix Humane or The Human Voice. In Italy, the film was not a favorite not because of its content but simply because it did not appeal to the audience. The critics across the Atlantic did not appreciate the film much, although Bowsley Crowther of the New York Times called Anna Magnani’s performance as “shatteringly tour de force.” No matter, the booming voice of one critic did not contribute to the box-office earnings of the film. No matter, the Catholic hierarchy remained unconvinced and began a campaign to discredit the film and cause its ban from public screening. It did not take long before the ultra-conservative Cardinal Joseph Spellman, noted for using his influence and that of his church in many secular matters, rallied Catholics against The Miracle. In many court hearings, one very old legal principle surfaced: film is not part of protected free speech. No part of the constitution protected it from control. One point raised was that film was for spectacle and entertainment and therefore could not be deemed comprising free speech. Courts declared the banning of The Miracle as proper, and the earlier approval of the motion picture division in the State Department of Education got rescinded. But Joseph Burstyn, a distributor of independent European cinema, took the case to the Supreme Court which declared the banning of Il Miracolo unconstitutional. As BKR puts it, it indeed took two Italians to teach us about free speech. There are numerous more presentations from BKR, each one incendiary and compelling. n

Continuing to touch lives with impactful projects

GMA Network’s socio-civic arm GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) continues to uphold its commitment to support the marginalized across the Philippines, implementing several remarkable projects last May to spread goodwill and render public service to needy Filipinos.

In time for the celebration of Mother’s Day last month, GMAKF went to different areas in Luzon to deliver free medical services and lectures on cervical and breast cancer awareness. These areas included San Luis, Batangas; Natonin, Mountain Province; and Victoria, Tarlac. A total of 100 mothers from Natonin were given free breast examination and visual inspection with acetic acid, while 200 mothers from Victoria and San Luis were offered free pap smear tests and breast examinations. They were also handed free

hygiene kits, vitamins, and skin-care sets.

GMAKF also took part in the commemoration of Hypertension Awareness Month also in May, by offering free electrocardiogram (ECG), blood sugar tests, and Hypertension Awareness lectures. A total of 100 stone pickers from Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, and 100 broom makers from Brgy. Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan, were the beneficiaries of the project. They were also given free grocery packs, hygiene kits, skincare sets, tumblers and vitamins to promote good health.

Ensuring a safe and secure space for children’s education is also a top priority of GMAKF. As such, the Kapuso Foundation led by its EVP & COO, Rikki EscuderoCatibog broke ground for the construction of a two-classroom Kapuso School Building

in Binibitinan Elementary School in Polillo, Quezon. The ground-breaking ceremony was held last May 10. The school was hard hit by Super Typhoon Karding last year.

GMAKF is also fundraising for another school, Carlagan Integrated School in nearby Bordeos also in Polillo, as part of its Kapuso School Development Project. Donations are muchneeded and encouraged so that the Carlagan Integrated School will be up and running before the year ends.

As one of the most trusted media-based foundations, accredited by the Department of Social Welfare, Philippine Council for NGO Certification and Bureau of Internal Revenue, donations to GMAKF are 100 percent tax deductible. The GMA Kapuso Foundation helps needy Filipinos especially those living in farflung areas of the country.

TMI

THE celebrity makeup artist is making a lot of people uncomfortable when he says things he shouldn’t say to those he has just met. For instance, he once attended an event where he told people that he was extremely depressed. These are people that he just met that day; some of the event guests were either triggered or affected by the things he said. The weird thing is that in the next event, he met these people again and he just looked through them. They’re saying that he probably was just playing with them because when they see him during TikTok lives, he seems happy and bubbly. This may not be a cause for judgment, but the people he encounters wish that the makeup artist gets professional help instead of just talking to strangers about his feelings.

PR MANEUVERS

THE actress was recently exposed for wearing copies of luxury designer items. What she did was to make sure that she got the real versions of the items that were exposed to be fake. She spent a fortune on this but she had to save her reputation before things got worse and her detractors got wind of the expose and use it against her. Luckily, her plan worked with a bit of cash thrown in. The actress’ social media team reportedly had to bribe the individual who made the revelation. The individual then included the actress in the list of those who always wear authentic designer stuff.

PHOTO BY BEN BROWN ON UNSPLASH

Tivoli Royale Subdivision: A family’s perfect sanctuary with a luxurious twist

STEP into the tranquil oasis that is Tivoli Royale Subdivision, a hidden gem nestled in the heart of Quezon City that offers families a secure and peaceful place to call home. And who better to attest to its beauty than the veteran actor and Tivoli resident himself, Cesar Montano.

For Cesar, investing in a corner lot at Tivoli Royale was a gamechanging decision that he’ll never regret. With a picturesque landscape and an array of excellent amenities, it’s no wonder he’s fallen in love with this charming community since he moved in back in 2005.

Architect Alexis describes Tivoli Royale as an upscale location for families, offering a high level of security while providing the allure of living just outside the bustling city. With lot cuts starting at 300 square meters facing the San Mateo mountains, Tivoli Royale Subdivision presents an idyllic setting for those seeking a refined and picturesque lifestyle.

But what really sealed the deal for Cesar was the stunning basketball court – a true standout feature of Tivoli Royale that caught his eye.

“I used to play basketball here. I love the basketball court here. They have a really lovely covered court here,” he shared.

Yet, Tivoli Royale isn’t just about basketball; the lush green terrain and scenic views of the hills of Antipolo and Marikina Valley are a sight to behold. And with a family-oriented

environment that promotes a healthy and happy lifestyle, it’s the perfect place for families to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and bask in the tranquility of nature.

“Tivoli Royale is a very family oriented place. Well, I was very fortunate to be one of the earliest buyers here. I want my children to be with me when I play. I want to play with them, to have fun together. So if you are a familyoriented person, this is the perfect place for you. You can do everything with your kids here,” Cesar said.

One of the standout features of Tivoli Royale is its renowned Tivoli Royale Country Club, a testament to luxury living and leisure. This exclusive club provides residents with a range of exceptional amenities, including a

clubhouse, function rooms, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a fitness gym, and even a spa and salon. With such an array of facilities at their fingertips, residents can indulge in a sophisticated and highend living experience within the confines of their own community.

Tivoli Royale is strategically located close to key establishments such as churches, universities, medical institutions, government offices, and commercial centers. This makes it an ideal location for families who want to be close to everything they need while enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. Experience the epitome of refined living at Tivoli Royale Subdivision and embark on a journey of lasting memories with your loved ones. Come and join the Tivoli Royale community today.

OFW entrepreneur’s Miss Derm clinic is raising a few eyebrows; but not for the reasons you think

SELF-MADE entrepreneur Marzen Salazar remembers the many moments when she would catch her grandmother in front of the mirror, filling in her eyebrows faded by time.

Humans are said to be capable of nearly 10,000 facial expressions. The slightest twitch of facial muscle, the direction of the eye, and the movement of eyebrows all mean a plethora of emotions – the nonverbal cues that make up the unspoken daily chatter.

Yet as one grows old, it becomes more difficult to do so; the muscles loosen, but most significantly, the eyebrows thin along with the lashes.

“My grandmother always draws about her eyebrows. She would try it but (I) would never be satisfied,” remembers Marzen. “When I was growing up in the ‘90s, eyebrow tattooing was a popular solution to the fading of the brow for the elderly and people with thin strokes – but even tattoos have their limits.”

Today, as Marzen recalls her time growing up in Laguna with her lola, she is gradually and decisively building her own business to provide a better solution for eyebrows, lashes, and other facial care woes.

In 2020 during the beginning of the

pandemic, Marzen boldly launched Miss Derm, a clinic specializing in eyebrows, lashes, and facial treatment services, including microblading.

A relatively new technology for Filipinos, microblading uses small needles to create soft and subtle hair-like strokes and deposit pigment on the skin. It is a form of cosmetic tattooing but, unlike the traditional tattoo that embeds pigment deep into the skin, microblading only injects pigment superficially on the body and thus is only semi-permanent.

At Miss Derm, microblading is only done by certified microblading artists. Artists undergo intensive training to provide the highest level of quality and care for customers.

From one clinic in Makati, Marzen expanded Miss Derm to two more locations: Las Pinas and Quezon City, one additional business address each year. Despite travel restrictions, Miss Derm’s number of patrons have grown through word of mouth, attracted by the quality of premium services to help customers with their facial care needs.

“I’ve always been motivated by the fact that the services we do at Miss Derm directly affect our customers’ disposition. If the eyes are the windows to the soul,

eyebrows and lashes are the frames that help define what you want to express and how you want to be seen. We want to help our customers increase their confidence and wear a brighter face every day,” says Marzen, a former wedding photographer-turned communications manager in Oman.

Aside from its popular Elite Brows/ Lips Package, Miss Derm offers a wide range of microblading, microshading, eyeliner, and blading solutions. Customers will also find a menu of no-needle procedures, including Brow Lamination, Lash Lift, Lash Extensions, and HIFU Skin Tightening for the face, neck, and the body. Miss Derm’s complete facial care and skincare solutions prove to be perfect for customers who desire convenience and a highly personalized level of care. At Miss Derm, artists converse with customers about their needs and suggest ways to achieve how they want to look.

This level of service and hospitality is the product of Marzen’s entrepreneurial instincts, of putting customers at the heart of the process, and ensuring that employees are taken care of.

Despite Marzen’s location in Oman, she has overseen the growth and initial success of Miss Derm with flying colors remotely, flying to Manila to visit the clinics when needed, but talking directly with her clients on a daily basis. “When customers chat with our social media channels for feedback or bookings, they’re likely talking to me. “I always had a passion for talking with customers, especially women. As a wedding photographer in Laguna and Oman, I deal with women on a regular basis. One should listen and be attentive; they know what they want. When you delight them with great service and you build a positive working relationship, they will come back for more and they will treat you like family,” says Marzen.

Miss Derm is located in Makati (9/f Centuria Medical Makati), Las Pinas (304 Aurora Bldg, Zapote-Alabang Road), and Quezon City (20 Shorthorn Street). To stay updated about Miss Derm, follow https://www.instagram.com/missderm/ MISS Derm

Holiness, Patriarch +Juan Almario E.M. Calampiano of the Apostolic Catholic Church (ACC) celebrates the first Mass at the Shrine of the Paraclete together with Archbishops and Bishops from the Order of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (OMHS) and the Order of the Missionaries of St. John Florentine (OMJF) during the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday last May 28, 2023. Located along the south bound land of North EDSA, Project 7 in Quezon City, the Shrine is the new ACC central location in the metropolis. ACC is a member of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) with ecclesiastical estate at the ACC Tierra delos Santos, “ Land of the Saints,” located at Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan.

BulacanSol, DILG, PNP provide Barangay Tanod Skills Training for San Miguel, Bulacan tanods

BULACANSOL, in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP), successfully launched and conducted its skills enhancement program titled Klinika-Kaalaman for the benefit of Barangay Tanods of Brgy. Tibagan, San Miguel, Bulacan last May 18, 2023.

Klinika-Kaalaman, attended by 20 barangay tanods and officials from Brgy. Tibagan, one of BulacanSol’s host communities, was designed to provide village watchmen with essential knowledge and skills in maintaining peace and order within their respective communities.

This collaboration among BulacanSol, DILG, and PNP ensured a comprehensive training program for the said attendees, with topics including basic functions and traits of a barangay tanod, basic handcuffing techniques, crime prevention and investigation, emergency response and basic law enforcement, among others.

“The Klinika-Kaalaman program is a testament to our commitment to the safety and well-being of our host communities. By providing our barangay tanods with this training, we empower them to fulfill their roles as the guardians of peace and order in the barangay level,” Meralco PowerGen CorporationGlobal Business Power Corporation (MGenGBP) President and CEO Jaime T. Azurin said.

P/Lt.Col. Avelino G. Protacio II, OIC

Chief of San Miguel Municipal Police Station further emphasized the important role of barangay tanods in their efforts towards crime prevention, peace and order, and public safety.

Chief of Barangay Tanod Antonio A. Francisco said that the training is “very relevant and timely since most of the tanods have not been able to attend capacity-building trainings since the pandemic.”

BulacanSol, a 55-megawatt solar power plant in San Miguel, Bulacan, which provides clean energy to the Luzon Grid, is a joint venture between MGreen, Meralco PowerGen’s wholly owned renewable energy unit, and PowerSource Energy Holdings Corporation.

Pag-IBIG Fund STAR-South Luzon recognizes BRIA Homes South Luzon as Top 9 Developer in the region

BRIA Homes remains committed not only to providing shelter but also to fostering growth, harmony, and a strong sense of community.

BRIA Homes, Inc. once more solidifies its status as a formidable force in the real estate industry with yet another recognition from Pag-IBIG Fund, the country’s renowned home financing institution. This time, BRIA Homes South Luzon was hailed as a Top 9 Developer at the Pag-IBIG Fund STAR (Stakeholders Accomplishment Report) - South Luzon event, which was held last May 19 at The Bellevue Manila in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Pag-IBIG Fund’s Stakeholders Accomplishment Report regularly recognizes stakeholders, such as real estate developers, that extend their unwavering support to the Philippine housing industry.

The Pag-IBIG Fund STAR’s Top 9 recognition for BRIA Homes South Luzon is by no means the dynamic homebuilder’s first.

BRIA Homes was cited as Top Performing Developer in Pag-IBIG Fund’s 2021 Chairman’s Report. In the same year, Pag-IBIG Fund recognized BRIA Homes as Top Developer in Mindanao for 2020. Two more awards followed: Real Estate Asia named BRIA Homes as Affordable Housing Developer of the Year 2021 and as Open Space Development of 2021.

Estrellita S. Tan, Vista Land Housing Group Admin Head, is understandably proud of BRIA Homes’ latest recognition. “Being honored by

Pag-IBIG Fund as one of the top developers in South Luzon validates BRIA’s sustained efforts in building superior quality, affordable house and lots for Filipinos,” Tan says. “It likewise reinforces BRIA Homes’ position as a trusted brand in the real estate industry.”

To date, BRIA Homes has relentlessly brought the dream of homeownership within the grasp of multitudes of Filipinos nationwide. BRIA’s secure and strategically located communities have risen in several towns and cities in South Luzon: Sta. Cruz, Laguna; San Pablo, Laguna; Alaminos, Laguna; Calamba, Laguna; Balayan, Batangas; Pili, Camarines Sur; and Iriga, Camarines Sur.

Like all BRIA Homes projects, BRIA gated communities in South Luzon are secured by guarded entrances and exits, 24/7 CCTV coverage, and solar lights that illuminate the roads and other common areas at night. Family-friendly features, such as multipurpose halls, covered courts, playgrounds for children, and green landscaped spaces encourage neighborly bonds.

All these, Tan affirms, proves that BRIA Homes remains committed not only to providing shelter but also to fostering growth, harmony, and a strong sense of community among their valued homeowners.

owner and founder Marzen Salazar

A TOTAL of 20 barangay tanods and officials from Brgy. Tibagan, San Miguel, Bulacan attended Bulacansol’s KlinikaKaalaman program, in partnership with the DILG and PNP.

PATRIARCH CELEBRATES FIRST MASS AT SHRINE. His

JOKIC-MURRAY SHOW IN GAME 3

MIAMI—Never had two players from the same team had 30-point tripledoubles in the same game. Never in the regular season.

Never in the playoffs. Certainly never in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.

Until now.

N ikola Jokic and Jamal Murray made history Wednesday night— and have the Denver Nuggets two wins away from making some real history as well.

Jokic and Murray became the first teammates in NBA Finals history to both record tripledoubles, and the Nuggets reclaimed the lead in the series by beating the Miami Heat, 109-94, in Game 3.

By far, their greatest performance as a duo in their seven years together,”

Nuggets coach Michael Malone said, after his team moved two wins away from Denver’s first title.

Jokic finished with 32 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists—the first such game in NBA Finals history, or at least the first since assists were tracked. Murray had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, getting the rebound he needed with 9 seconds remaining.

The Nuggets outrebounded the Heat 58-33, and took a 2-1 lead. Game 4 is Friday in Miami.

“

I’m just glad that we won the game,” Jokic said. “It was a big one for us because they won in our arena. We just didn’t want to go down 2-1.”

Jimmy Butler scored 28 points for Miami, and Bam Adebayo finished with 22 points and 17 rebounds. Caleb Martin added 10 points.

We’ve got to come out with more energy and effort and that’s correctable,” Butler said. “That’s on us as a group.”

Jokic and Murray combined for 24 field goals; Miami had 34. Jokic and Murray combined for 31 rebounds; Miami had 33. Jokic and Murray combined for 20 assists; Miami had exactly that many.

Somehow, some way, the Heat know they need to find an answer before Friday.

It’s not an easy task to do,” Butler said. “But if we want to win, we’re going to have to figure it out.”

M iami has been the comeback kings of these playoffs—seven rallies in games after trailing by at least 12 points. The Heat were down by 14 going into the fourth, and Malone reminded his club of Miami’s

penchant for comebacks.

First two games, they won the fourth quarter,” Malone said.

“Tonight, we win the fourth quarter, we win the game.”

H is team listened.

The lead eventually reached 21, the outcome never seriously in doubt, and Jokic looking very much like he’s back in cruise control. The Heat got within nine on a 3-pointer by Duncan Robinson with 1:22 left, but there was no epic finish for Miami. Murray and Jokic had the Nuggets too far ahead to get caught.

You have to expect there to be elite talent in the finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “And both those guys are elite-level talent.”

O fficially, Jokic is now the seventh player to have two triple-doubles in the same finals. Magic Johnson and LeBron James each did it in three different finals. Draymond Green, Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird and Butler all had one title series with two triple-doubles.

It was Jokic’s 10th triple-double of these playoffs, extending his singleseason record, and he was unbothered by whatever Miami threw his way. He finished 12 for 21 from the floor, 7 for 8 from the line, playing 44 minutes. AP

KUIZON HANDS PHL 28TH GOLD MEDAL

JAVELIN thrower Andrei Kuizon

gifted Team Philippines its 28th gold medal on Thursday to allow the country to achieve its goal in the 12th ASEAN Para Games at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh.

K uizon, a 22-year-old from Pampanga who was plucked from the wheelchair basketball team, won the gold after organizers decided to separate the winners of his F54 class from F34.

Team Philippines matched the 28 gold medals won last in

Surakarta, Indonesia. A lready a winner in shot put, Kuizon was initially awarded the silver Wednesday with a 19.03-meter heave with Vietnamese Vivan Tung seizing gold with 21.33.

Until fate intervened to hand the wonder thrower from Las Piñas, a protégée of former national team member Nixon Mas, his second gold.

A thletics assistant coach

Bernard Bren, speaking in behalf of head coach Joel Deriada, said the organizers heeded their request by showing proof that Kuizon

deserves to win gold in F54.

K uizon’s triumph capped a spectacular performance by the 23-strong athletics squad as it finished with a 10-gold, 10-silver and 11-bronze harvest that surpassed its 6-4-14 effort in Surakarta.

It also put the whole Philippine team in a position to eclipse its 2830-46 performance in Surakarta as it currently has a 28-31-39.

It will now boil down to the entries in chess, badminton and table tennis which were played late Thursday.

Vargas elected PSI president, Buhain secretary-general

Vargas is a long-time supporter of Philippine swimming. He is the son of former POC and boxing association chairman Ricky Vargas, who also chairs the Philippine Basketball Association.

We are looking forward to a unifying, inclusive and working organization,” Vargas said. “We have to help each other out for our swimmers and coaches.”

By Josef Ramos

SPORTS patron Michael Vargas was elected president and twotime Olympian and champion athlete turned public servant Rep. Eric Buhain was named secretarygeneral in the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) elections on Thursday at the East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Parañaque City.

A lso elected in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)supervised process were vice president Jessi Arriola, treasurer Marie Dimanche and members of

the board of trustees Cris Bancal, Angelica Leonardo, Roel Rosales, Ronald Talosig, Isagani Corpuz, Jessie Lacuna and Emmanuel Manialung.

The elections were conducted on orders of the World Aquatics, the sport’s world governing body. POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino administered the oath of office to Vargas, Buhain and co. after the elections.

A ll officers and members of the board of trustees will serve in a transition period until regular elections under PSI’s charter are held in 2025.

AFP Cavaliers rule 9th UNTV Cup

DARWIN CORDERO sparked a furious second quarter breakaway as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Cavaliers demolished the Judiciary Magis, 79-63, to rule the 9th UNTV Cup via a two-game sweep of the finals Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Up by just four at the end of the opening quarter, the Cavaliers— starring Cordero, Boyet Bautista and Jerry Lumongsod—outscored the Magis, 27-15, in the next period

to rip the game apart for another dominant performance in the tournament exclusive for the country’s public servants.

The title was the fourth for the Cavaliers in five finals appearances, a feat that rewarded their chosen charity a tax-free P3 million prize through the initiative of Breakthrough and Milestones Productions International CEO and President Daniel “Kuya Daniel” Razon. R azon, along with Commissioner

Buhain is one of the country’s most successful swimmers who transitioned from sports to government—he was former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission and Games and Amusements Board—and now politics—he’s a congressman from the First District of Batangas.

I’m thankful to everyone after being elected as secretary-general. I really want to help the daily operation of the association,” said Buhain, who heads the Congress of Philippine Aquatics Inc. “Mico Vargas is a longtime friend and a supporter. I know he can help the community.”

Our problem has been reduced. We’re very happy—very democratic—everything went through the process,” Tolentino said. “Very well represented and we really saw the essence of inclusivity in this exercise.”

Atoy Co, BMPI-UNTV Vice President Gerry Panghulan and BMPI-UNTV General Manager Jay Eusebio, presented the championship trophy to the Cavaliers.

The institution chosen by the Magis will receive P2 million while that of third placer NHA and fourth placer PNP will get P1 million and P500,000, respectively. The other chosen charities were handed P200,000 each.

Cordero, who also starred in their 81-74 win in Game 1, finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists to and was named the Finals MVP. Judiciary’s Chester Tolomia was the season MVP.

NIKOLA JOKIC and Jamal Murray make history—and push the Nuggets two wins away from making some real history as well. AP

a

MAFY SINGSON had nerves of steel in closing out with a 71— more than enough for Daniella Uy and Lois Kaye Go to overcome—to emerge champion in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Valley Golf Challenge in Antipolo City on Thursday.

It was way off her superb 69 in the weather-suspended play that drove her past a throng of rivals for a one-stroke lead victory over Uy and Korean amateur Min Yeong Kim for her second Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) trophy with a 54-hole total of 219. Uy bogeyed three of the first five holes but went on a threebirdie binge from No. 10, only to struggle with a bogey-birdie-bogey run from No. 14 for a 73 and a 222 while Sarah Ababa matched Singson’s second round threeunder card to tie Go, who put in a 71, at 223.

But while Singson claimed the championship trophy, Uy, who scored her maiden win at Riviera in 2021, took the top purse of P90,000 while Ababa pocketed P64,500 as the second-best pro in the sixth leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

Since I was leading most of the way, I just played it steady and told myself, ‘if it’s for me, it’s for me,’” said Singson, who upstaged pros Harmie Constantino and absentees Chanelle Avaricio and Sunshine Baraquiel by one for her breakthrough victory at Splendido Taal last year. Thoughts of a second win hardly crossed her mind with a game that borders on mediocrity the past few months. She ended up tied at 11th at Caliraya Springs and wound up joint seventh at Villamor while faintly helping the national team in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.

A dd to that an opening 79 at the challenging Valley South Tuesday, things indeed didn’t seem to look good or promising for the Team ICTSI spearhead.

R eymon Jaraula, meanwhile, dealt with Ira Alido’s unceasing jab and Clyde Mondilla’s searing strike with the poise of a seasoned campaigner to remain on top by two with a 72 ad zero in on the men’s crown.

The Del Monte star did pull away by five shots with a solid frontside 34 but bogeys on Nos. 10 and 18 enabled Alido, who endured a wild five-birdie, five-bogey round for his version of an even-par round at Valley South, and a charging Mondilla, who turned in a second straight 69 highlighted by an eagle on No. 7 for the second straight day, to set the stage for a furious chase for the crown worth P360,000.

I made a good start but I struggled with my putting again at the back and missed a number of [birdie] chances,” said Jaraula, whose even-par round and a nine-under 207 aggregate moved him 18 holes away from posting his second career victory.

Singson nails ICTSI Valley crown; Jaraula hangs on with 2-shot lead

MAFY SINGSON is now

two-time champion. NONIE REYES

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino administers the oath of office to (from left) Marie Dimanche, Michael Vargas, Rep. Eric Buhain and Jessi Arriola.

Fordrollsoutthenext-generationrangerraptor

Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino

FORD Philippines continues to bolster its leadership in the pickup segment by launching the latest generation Ranger Raptor. The American auto manufacturer claims that the all-new performance pickup raises the off-road performance bar as a truck built for true enthusiasts.

tor’s ambient lighting at night. There are also magnesium paddle shifters to enable drivers to shift precisely. The cabin also features allnew, jet fighter-inspired sports seats in the front and rear, with prominent bolstering to aid during spirited cornering.

“Rooted in our Ford Performance DNA, the Next-Gen Raptor is more capable and tougher than ever. It is designed to conquer any terrain with a bold new look and powerful performance with major upgrades and enhancements to already-popular features that Filipino customers have grown to love,” said Mike Breen, managing director of Ford Philippines. “We are truly excited for the return of the Raptor brand, and we are confident that the second-generation Raptor will continue to resonate with performance pickup enthusiasts in the country.”

Raptor looks made bolder

AT a glance, the Next-Gen Raptor screams Ford Performance and links it to the rest of the Raptor family. A cut from its first generation,

the Ford DNA is visible in the Next-Gen Raptor’s exterior and recognizable from all angles.

The bold stance is a result of increased track and flared wheel arches. The front boasts Matrix headlights with C-clamp daytime running lights, more pronounced branding, and the bumper separating from the grille.

Those 17-inch alloy wheels are wrapped with BF Goodrich K02 high-performance all-terrain tires designed for aggressive traction, on and off-road.

More enhancements inside THE sports steering wheel with an on-center Raptor logo, durable materials throughout, and Code Orange stitching on the instrument panel, trim, and seats are highlighted inside. These are further enhanced by Rap-

Connectivity-wise, the new center console boasts seamless integration and enhanced functionality, extending to the instrument panel with easy access to controls, storage, and wireless charging capabilities. The large 12-inch digital instrument cluster with a fully-configurable layout and gauges displays start-up information. There is even farewell animation, digital speedometer and tachometer, and animated drive mode selection. Further, a ‘calm view’ removes information on demand from the display.

The 12-inch portrait touchscreen center display is connected to Ford’s cutting-edge SYNC4A communication and entertainment system with Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability.

Raptor Performance DNA

T HE proven 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel Engine was retained with the 10-speed automatic transmission (with e-Shifter) generating 207 hp and 500N-m of maximum torque. There are seven driving modes (Normal, Sport, Slippery, Rock Crawl, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Baja) to meet the demands of various driving conditions. These modes are calibrated to affect all aspects of the vehicle, from traction control to engine, and transmission calibration, among others.

The Next-Gen Raptor boasts a full-time four-wheel drive system with a rear locking differential, underbody protection, and aggressive approach/departure angles. It is equipped with 2.5-inch FOX shocks with position-sensitive damping technology. Equipped

with a Trail Control System that functions like cruise control tailored for off-road, drivers can select a set speed with the truck to control the throttle and braking functions.

Advanced safety technology

THE 360-Degree Camera with a Split-View Display aids in tight parking spaces and when off-roading. The top-down view around the vehicle and a zoom button further provides a closer look at an obstacle near the vehicle when going off-road. A dedicated off-road screen display presents vehicle information and a front-cam view of the terrain ahead with predictive overlay guidelines.

Myriads of advanced driver-assist technology features are available such as Active Park Assist 2.0, Adaptive Cruise Control w/

Style & safety at Cycle City

BUTCH Velasco of Dagupan City is my guest writer today. His piece: I T is called “Cycle City,” a place about something that keeps you on the move. It is host to a poetry in motion.

Welcome to the world of motorcycles, the adrenaline-pumping inventions that jump in a snap, and whirr into action with a flick of the finger.

Cycle City sits right at the lobby of ADDESSA Galleria in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, which has been attracting droves of riders since its inception some months back.

At the lobby, your eyes are immediately glued to a majestic red Ducati mounted on a rotating platform. A sight to behold!

Two pretty ladies, all smiles, would usher you in to not only a slew of motorcycles, but also to an array of the latest gadgets, gear, and apparel in the motorbike business.

Cycle City has everything a motorcycle rider needs, whether one is riding a big bike or not.

Once inside, you can feel the “Star Wars” effect, with shining, well-lit shelves featuring imported helmets adorning the walls. The motif depicts the Star Wars movie featuring

a long line of helmets for Dark Vader's army.

T here’s also a gallery of top-of-the-line imported brands: AGV, imported from Italy; LS2 from Spain; and, HJC helmets from South Korea.

If you want to go big, grab the HJC RPA1 Limited Edition selling for a little more than P50,000 apiece. But the bargain hunter can bag a quality helmet for a song at P4,000 per. It’s not the price, guys, it’s the excitement— and the thrill of owning a thing of beauty.

A death-defying saga helped trigger the birth of Cycle City.

Just a month before Cycle City opened in February this year, Aries Calix suffered a motorcycle crash on his way to Baguio.

What saved my life were my gear and gadgets, specifically my helmet and my air vest jacket,” said Aries Calix, the son of the store owner.

His helmet protected his cranium from serious injuries, thanks to the thick foam stuffed on the inside. His Helite jacket, equipped with a back protector, was auto inflated in a second after he was thrown off his superbike at breakneck speed. A ries Calix merely sustained a broken

Stop & Go and Lane Centering, Pre-Collision Assist with Forward Collision Warning, Evasive Steer Assist, Reverse Brake Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Auto High Beam, Post Impact Braking, and Blind Spot Information System. Moreover, FordPass allows owners to enjoy remote features such as door lock and unlock, vehicle start and stop, vehicle locator, and vehicle status.

Pricing and colors

THE Next-Gen Raptor is now available across Ford dealers nationwide with a starting price of P2.339 million and comes with a 5-year warranty for a worry-free ownership experience. It is available in colors for Arctic White, Absolute Black, Blue Lightning, Conquer Grey, and Code Orange (additional P15,000).

clavicle. His doctors said he was saved from life-threatening wounds by his top-level protective gear.

Other gadgets at Cycle City include Freedconn R1 Pro, or the Freedconn Tmax S Pro. Attached to a rider's helmet, it has a noisesuppression feature, a built-in camera, and a Bluetooth-powered communicator system that allows three pairs of riders to converse when they are on the road.

T here is also the pricier, Japan-made Cardo Packtalk Edge, which utilizes a Dynamic Mesh Communication system that allows riders to stream music direct from their smartphone and can be used by a duo or a group of up to 15 riders while driving in the fast lane.

Other protective items from head-to-toe are all made in France, not to mention Philippine-made Parak-branded jerseys, and LS2 jeans made from Spain.

I locos clients need not go to Manila anymore to avail of Cycle City’s “style and safety” gadgets and gears, which can also be had online. Already, customers have come from as far as Zamboanga City.

(Disclosure: The author is the kid brother of Dante Velasco, my bosom buddy who was the Transportation Undersecretary of Ping de Jesus during the presidential term of the late Noynoy Aquino. Dante is the cousin of ADDESSA owner Fernando dela Cruz, the father of Aries Calix.)

PEE STOP The famous Toyota Road Trek, kayoed by the pandemic for four years, will have its grand comeback shortly. I will not trade it for even a trip to Jupiter or Mars.

The Nex-Gen Ford Ranger Raptor in Code Orange shade

The 12-inch portrait touchscreen center display is connected to Ford’s cutting-edge SYNC4A communication and entertainment system with Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capability

The proven 2.0L Bi-Turbo Diesel engine was retained with the 10-speed automatic transmission (with e-Shifter)