BusinessMirror June 16, 2023

the exports industry is crucial and indispensable to this development strategy,” he said. JOEY RAZON/PNA

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R.

Marcos Jr. on Thursday assured the Philippines’s foreign trade partners and the international community that the country will be a reliable partner and will be ready to deliver.

Keynoting the International Trade Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the Shangri-La The Fort, Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig City, Marcos rallied support for the successful implementation of the newly approved Philippine Export Development

Plan (PEDP).

“I once again call on the private sector and the entire export community to continue to invest their faith and energies in the industry. We also send a message of goodwill to our foreign trade partners and the international community: the Philippines will be a reliable partner. We will deliver,” the President said.

Describing the export industry as an “economic linchpin,” Marcos said with the PEDP’s implementation and favorable developments, there is a reason to be optimistic

about the bright future of the local export industry.

“But as with any other plan, everything will come down to its effective and efficient implementation. So, together, with a whole-of-nation approach, let us once again declare our slogan: ‘Let’s make it happen’,” Marcos told the forum.

In carrying out the export plan, the President promised to reinvigorate the Export Development Council (EDC), to serve as a proactive forum and effective command center for the efficient

implementation of the Plan, the monitoring of milestone accomplishments, and the systematic pursuit of the desired multi-sectoral approach.

Resounding in the PEDP, Marcos said, is the need for heightened government support, which requires vital government interventions, such as infrastructure, greater ease of doing business, promotion and marketing, financing, even legislative initiatives, among others.

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

The data showed cash remittances reached $2.485 billion in April 2023. This is the lowest since the $2.425 billion posted in May 2022.

Cash remittances only posted a growth of 3.7 percent compared to the $2.4 billion recorded in the same month last year.

Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said, “the recent slowdown in OFW remittances also partly due to the weaker peso exchange rate vs. the US dollar compared to year ago levels [about 10-percent peso depreciation compared to levels before the RussiaUkraine war started on February 24, 2022]...also partly reduced the need to send more OFW remittances due to higher conversion rate for the US dollar vs. the Philippine peso.”

The data also showed that cash remittances reached $10.49 billion in the first 5 months of the year.

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

WITH only about 600 out of 4,000 big enterprises obliged to practice the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, a senior lawmaker wants the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to take more decisive steps in implementing fully a new law on the proper disposal of single-use plastics.

Camarines Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte said this new measure holds big companies responsible for getting rid of or re -

cycling their products’ plastic packaging wastes after these have been sold to and used by consumers.

“Rather than seemingly giving up this early the fight against plastic waste pollution, the DENR should do a better job of implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility [EPR] Act, in support of the government goal of advancing a circular economy and mitigating the deleterious impact of climate change,” Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte was one of the principal authors of Republic Act (RA) 11898, which institutionalized the practice of EPR

in waste management that imposes on producers, in coordination with their distributors and retailers, the responsibility of properly and effectively disposing of their products after these have been sold to and used by consumers.

“The objective here is to reduce waste generation and improve the recyclability or reusability of such wastes as plastic containers or packaging materials as part of a wholistic approach in switching to an eco-friendly circular economy,” he said.

CASH remittances sent by Filipinos abroad recorded a 12-month low in April, according to the latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Food, beverage biggest expenses of PHL tourists in ’22, says PSA

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

diture posted the highest growth in 2022, from P27.63 billion in 2021 to P368.67 billion,” PSA said.

The data showed food and shopping expenses were followed by accommodation services for visitors, at P63.325 billion in 2022; miscellaneous services, P57.943 billion; and transport services, P 55.832 billion.

Meanwhile, domestic tourism expenditure posted a 92.3-percent growth and was valued at P1.5 trillion. Outbound tourism expenditure grew by 88.6 percent and amounted to P189.29 billion.

PBBM…

Continued from A1

total exports in 2022.

PSA said domestic tourism expenditure, which covers expenditures of resident visitors within the country either as domestic trip or part of an international trip, contributed 9 percent to the household final consumption expenditure.

try’s trade balance by as much as USD128.2 million; and lower poverty incidence by 3.6 percent by 2031.

The data showed inbound tourists spent a total of P368.668 billion on various tourism expenses in 2022. Of this amount, a total of P94.747 billion was on food and beverage serving services, followed by P80.836 billion on shopping.

Plastics…

Continued

“But sadly, this grand government drive to reverse the worsening plastic waste pollution appears to have nosedived this early before it could even fully

Tourist expenses made on food and beverage serving services as well as shopping were both the highest level recorded in the past 22 years or since 2000.

“Among the forms of tourism expenditures, inbound tourism expen -

take off, with our DENR Secretary herself conceding that ‘we are not winning the war’ on this campaign.” Villafuerte reacted to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga’s recent revelation that only about 600 or 15 percent of 4,000 enterprises obliged to practice EPR have thus far registered, in compliance with RA 11898.

PSA said internal tourism expenditure, comprising inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, grew by 131.2 percent.

Inbound tourism expenditure— or the expenditure of non-resident visitors (foreign visitors and Filipinos permanently residing abroad) within the Philippines—was equivalent to 5.9 percent of the country’s

He reminded the DENR that under RA 11898, enterprises obliged to practice EPR that fail to register or comply with this law face fines ranging from P5 million to P20 million, and automatic suspension of business permits, depending on whether violators have committed their first, second or third offenses.

In 2022, PSA said the share of Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) to the Philippine economy, as measured by the GDP, is estimated at 6.2 percent. The TDGVA amounted to P1.38 trillion in 2022, higher by 36.9 percent compared with P1 trillion in 2021.

Employment in tourism characteristic industries was estimated at 5.35 million in 2022, higher by 9.3 percent compared with 4.9 million in 2021. The share of employment in tourism industries to total employment in the country in 2022 was recorded at 11.4 percent.

In the previous Congress, Villafuerte authored House Bill (HB) 9859 that was one of the measures incorporated into HB 10696, which, in turn, was reconciled with the Senate’s version of the EPR bill (Senate Bill or SB 2425), to come up with the final congressional measure transmitted to the Palace for the President’s signature. This measure, which lapsed into law on July 23, 2022, amended RA 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act” of 2000 by requiring enterprises to register and be responsible for the correct disposal of their products’ plastic packaging after their products have been sold to and used by consumers.

“So far, we have counted 4,000 obliged enterprises. Unfortunately, we only have around 600 that have actually registered. Some of those 600 have fully complied with what is required for the registration; the rest are still in the process,” said Yulo-Loyzaga at a recent news conference marking World Environment Day.

Villafuerte pointed out to the DENR chief that the successful implementation of RA 11898 relies mainly on the active participation of the obliged companies, as Yulo-Loyzaga herself said the challenge of finding a sustainable replacement for single-use plastics should not be left to the government and the academe but should involve producers or manufacturers that use plastics in their products.

With the IRR’s release almost six months ago, Villafuerte asked the Secretary whether a new Commission under the supervision of Malacañan Palace— as mandated under RA 11898—has started its work already on overseeing the shift to a circular economy as part of the government’s climate-mitigation action.

Villafuerte said RA 11898 called for the establishment of the proposed National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), which is “mandated under this EPR Law to see to it that big producers along with their distributors and retailers take charge of the proper disposal or recycling of their waste products after their goods have been sold to and used by consumers.”

According to an earlier DENR statement, within six months of this new law’s effectivity, large-scale enterprises were expected to initiate their efforts on plastic recovery and diversion schemes as mandated by the EPR law.

The DENR described the implementation of the EPR Law as “a crucial step to the Philippines’ transition to the circular economy,” as it noted that the Philippines was cited in 2015 as the third largest contributor to ocean plastic, with approximately 0.75 million metric tons (MT) of plastic ending up in the seas and other waterways annually.

Following the enactment of RA 11898, the DENR said the Philippines was included in a select group of states that promulgate EPR, including the United States (US), Canada, Japan, Singapore, India, South Korea, Chile, Mexico, Columbia, Peru and Brazil.

PEDP’s effective implementation could only be achieved through a wholeof-government, whole-ofnation approach, a holistic approach that calls for strategic coordination, partnerships and linkages with the private sector and government agencies, supported by the international community, the President said.

RCEP, too

H E a lso highlighted the importance of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, which came into force this month, noting that the free trade pact is another significant milestone in the nation’s export agenda.

“This is another significant milestone in our nation’s export agenda. With a 15-country market coverage, this will expand further the market reach of our exported goods. The coverage of RCEP covers, in terms of individuals, over 2 billion individuals that are involved in this trade agreement,” said Marcos.

The implementation of the RCEP Agreement in the Philippines is expected to widen market opportunities, foster more cross-border regional value-chains, increase attractiveness to foreign direct investments (FDIs), and promote easier participation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in regional trade.

It is seen to lower business costs, open opportunities for Filipino service providers, and improve market access for products of key export interest.

The Philippines will have lower preferential rates on key export products such as fresh fruits including papaya and durian, preserved pineapples, coffee, as well as cacao and chocolate, among others.

The country will get wider market access for products of key export interest, have a wider coverage area for cumulation of raw materials, development of liberal Product-Specific Rules, and reduce transaction costs.

A study by the Virginia Polytechnic Institute showed that implementation of the RCEP in the Philippines is expected to contribute 1.9 percent real GDP growth; improve the coun -

April…

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This was also the lowest since the $10.17 billion posted in the January to April period in 2022.

“The continued slowdown in OFW remittances data may also have to do with the still relatively higher prices/inflation/cost of living in major host countries for OFWs that fundamentally reduced the remittances sent back to the Philippines,” Ricafort added.

The BSP, however, said the slight growth in cash remittances from the United States, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia contributed mainly to the increase in remittances in the first four months of 2023.

In terms of country sources, BSP said the US posted the highest share of overall remittances during the period, followed by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.

Meanwhile, personal re -

“Hence, we must continue to forge these vital agreements and preferential systems, and also maintain our good standing in, and seek renewal of, existing ones, including those with the EU and the US,” the President said.

As envisioned under the PEDP, the President said achieving more than double the nation’s current level of exports is a realistic target.

This can transform the Philippine export industry into a significant economic engine generating over a million high-quality and sustainable jobs, boost MSMEs, and establish the Philippines as an “agile export powerhouse” by 2028.

Marcos saw great potential in the trade sector with $49 billion worth of revenues that remain untapped and unlocked by the industry.

Best practices

A L SO, M arcos said, the country’s economic managers are thoroughly studying the best practices of other nations that were successful in their free trade agreements for their exports.

In a media interview after gracing the International Trade Forum, the President said, “That is why we have to bring up our game, export game, a little bit and support our exporters so that they can compete in foreign markets, and that they are able to be, not only suppliers, but also industrial consumers of the products that are around the world. In other words, to strengthen trade.”

The President noted that the Philippines will soon sign a free trade agreement with the Korean government and is now working on signing FTAs with the European Union and the United States.

“But the reason we are doing this is we want to open markets so that the Philippines will be able to export to and import from. So it’s not one way, it’s straight,” President Marcos said.

“And that is the most important thing. But what we have to do is to allow ourselves the restructuring of some of the elements that are within the law, that are within the rules so that we can compete on an even basis,” he added.

Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz

mittances from Overseas Filipinos (OFs) grew by 3.8 percent to $2.77 billion in April 2023 from $2.67 billion recorded in the same month last year.

The increase in personal remittances in April 2023 was due to higher remittances sent by land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year.

4-month total: $11.68B

DATA a lso showed that the cumulative personal remittances rose 3.2 percent to $11.68 billion in the first four months of 2023 from $11.32 billion recorded in the comparable period in 2022. Personal remittances cover cash sent through banks and informal channels as well as remittances in kind. These are computed as the sum of net compensation of employees, personal transfers, and capital transfers between households.

FILIPINOS and foreigners spent the most on food and beverages as well as shopping when they visited various tourist spots in the country in 2022, said the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported out on Thursday.

Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

THE national government (NG) has assured Mayonaffected residents 90 days of relief assistance, which is the estimated maximum period of unrest of the restive volcano.

During a situation briefing on the Mayon Volcano unrest at the Albay Astrodome in Legazpi City late Wednesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the NG will help unburden the load of local governments units (LGUs) responding to the disaster.

“Let us be prepared to take as much of the load as soon as possible off of the local government units. Number two, we should use a working number: a minimum of 45 days. The 45 days to 90 days comes from both the science of [the] DOST [Department of Science and Technology] and the experience of the locals,” he said.

Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the President that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already dispatched 153,000 food packs for the 90-day cycle for the province of Albay in response to the present crisis.

According to the report of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in the Bicol Region, the DSWD, Philippine Red Cross, Ang Probinsyano party list, LGUs, private groups and non-government organizations have so far provided a total of P29.2 million worth of assistance to the evacuees.

The OCD also said it sent both food and non-food items, and water, sanitation and health (WASH)

equipment to Albay province.

These relief items include 3,200 sacks of rice, 320 rolls of sakoline, 1,101 hygiene kits, 424 OCD family packs and one water filtration vehicle to be deployed by the provincial government to affected localities.

The OCD also reported that there are a total of 4,400 families or 15,676 individuals displaced by the disaster, mostly from Albay’s seven out of 18 municipalities and cities: Camalig, Ligao City, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, and Tabaco City. Mayon Volcano is currently under Alert Level 3.

Of the total number of displaced families and individuals, 4,215 families or 15,017 persons have sought shelter in 22 evacuation centers, while 185 families or 659 persons are temporarily residing elsewhere, according to OCD.

The agency also reported that a total of 120 livestock such as carabaos, cattle, and goats were moved to safer grounds from the danger zones in the municipalities of Daraga and Malilipot.

Meanwhile, Marcos assured families affected by the unrest of the Mayon Volcano that the NG is always ready to respond and cater to their needs while they wait for the volcanic activity to normalize.

Albay Gov. Grex Lagman told the President that the provincial government of Albay might require P166.7 million from NG to provide aid to Mayon evacuees.

Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Two cops killed, 4 others injured in Maguindanao ambush–PNP

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

THE

The massive operation, which came hours after government troops killed the leader of the Islamic State and his deputy in a law enforcement operation in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, was ordered by PNP chief Benjamin Acorda Jr.

It was not established, how -

ever, if the two incidents were connected to each other, although authorities in Mindanao have already alerted police and military units against possible sympathy attacks by terrorist and other lawless groups.

A team from the Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC)

of Maguindanao del Sur was returning to the Maguindanao Provincial Police Office headquarters in Shariff Aguak when it was waylaid by armed men at Barangay Poblacion, Shariff Aguak at around 8:30 p.m.

The team, onboard a marked police vehicle, just finished conducting a routine mobile operation when it was ambushed.

“The PNP strongly condemns these cowardly attacks on law enforcement personnel and is committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Acorda said.

The ambush resulted in the death of two policemen, Pat. Bryan D. Polayagan and Pat. Saipoden Shiek Macacuna.

Four others, Pat. Arjie Val Loie Pabinguit, Pat. Abdulgafar Alib, Staff Sergeant Benjie delos Reyes and Chief Master Sergeant Rey Vincent Gertos, were wounded.

Acorda said the PNP has

mobilized its forces, including the elements of PMFC Maguindanao and Special Action Forces to carry out hot pursuit and clearing operations.

“We assure the public that no stone will be left unturned in bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of our communities,” Acorda said.

The PNP chief called upon the support and cooperation of the local community in providing any relevant information that could aid in the swift resolution of the ambush.

“We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities,” Acorda added. He urged the public to stand united against such acts of violence and to support the PNP in its efforts to maintain peace and order in the country.

Magnitude 6.3 earthquake jolts Calatagan, Batangas

A6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Batangas and nearby provinces on Thursday morning.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the earthquake occurred at 10:19 a.m. with a depth of 119 kilometers. The earthquake was strongly felt in Calatagan, Batangas, a booming tourism area in Luzon.

According to Phivolcs, Intensity IV was felt in Manila, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Valenzuela City, City of Malolos in Bulacan; Batangas City, Ibaan, Lemery, Nasugbu and Talisay, all in Batangas.

The same level of intensity was felt in the City of Dasmariñas and Tagaytay City, another tourism

magnet, up to the town of Tanay, Rizal Province.

The earthquake was also felt  (intensity III) in Pateros, City of Las Piñas, Makati, Marikina, Parañaque, and Pasig in the National Capital Region; Obando in Bulacan, Laurel, Batangas, Bacoor, and Imus in Cavite and City of San Fernando and San Pedro in Laguna and San Mateo, Rizal. Intensity II was felt in Caloocan, San Juan, Muntinlupa, San Fernando, La Union, all the way to Alaminos, Bolinao in Pangasinan; Santa Maria, Bulacan and Bamban in Tarlac.  Intensity I was felt in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.   The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said it has yet to

receive any report of casualty and damage. It added that assessment was ongoing.

Meanwhile, troops of the 9th Infantry Division (9th ID) were continuing to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster response in Albay due to the continuing unrest of Mayon volcano.

As of Wednesday, members of the 9th ID’s Task Force Sagip have already evacuated 15,000 individuals from 23 barangays of the municipalities of Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Daraga, Malilipot, Tabaco and Sto. Domingo.

The task force has also provided manpower assistance in sorting and hauling a total of 2,000 relief goods, 3,000 bottles of mineral water, 1,000 boxes of hygiene kits

and 1,000 boxes of sleeping kits from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the Army, in coordination with the provincial government of Albay and other local officials, will continue in helping and assisting families with their emergency needs and services.

The NDRRMC said at least 4,813 families or 17, 216 individuals have been evacuated as of Thursday due to the volcano’s continued unrest.

It reported that the families were staying in 25 evacuation centers spread out in different municipalities in Albay.

Jonathan L. Mayuga and Rene Acosta

WHILE supporting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to construct water-impounding facilities near Metro Manila in a bid to control flooding and ensure water supply in Luzon, a lawmaker on Thursday said such facilities should only be supplementary, and the government’s greater objective should be the restoration of the country’s forest cover.

House Committee on Labor and Employment Chairman and Rizal 4th District Rep. Fidel Nograles issued the statement after the President directed the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to come up with a comprehensive plan to protect coastal communities and Metro Manila from flooding, including the construction of water impounding facilities to manage the country’s water resources.

“Water-impounding facilities are a good idea. These could boost our flood mitigation efforts and provide additional water for irrigation and other needs, especially amid El Niño,” he said.

“However, our greater objective should still be aggressive reforestation to restore our forest cover, which would not only increase the carrying capacity of our watersheds but also solve a host of other issues connected with climate change,” said the lawmaker.

Besides being briefed on flood control projects, Marcos was also apprised of the P5.86-billion rainwater collection system program under Republic Act No. 6716 and the installation of 6,002 rainwater collection systems nationwide.

“Our forests shield us from natural disasters, particularly from the stronger typhoons that have resulted from climate change. They also counter drought and make our air cleaner,” said Nograles.

“Given how crucial forests are, our government should prioritize the restoration of our forest cover. And we are confident that this is also top of mind of the President,” he added.

The President issued the order following a briefing with officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on their flood control programs and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on the management of irrigation facilities.

During a recent briefing, the President noted the P351 billion estimated cost of flood control projects of the DPWH in Metro Manila as well as in the surrounding areas.

According to the President, the government is looking for locations outside Metro Manila where it can put up large impounding areas to control water flow and avoid flooding. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

DENR chief pitches for synergy-based governance to achieve water security

THE Philippines can achieve water security if the government and all other stakeholders will work together for the effective and sustainable management of the country’s water resources, according to Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

In her keynote address at the recent Financial Inclusion for Women, Water and Climate Resilience Forum organized by the Financial Executives of the Philippines (FINEX), Yulo-Loyzaga said there is no substitute for coherence, convergence, and synergy in water governance.

“With your partnership, I know, these are all possible and water security can be reached and achieved for the Philippines,” Yulo-Loyzaga said.

While it is considered as most vulnerable to climate change, the water sector holds the potential to lead change and deliver transformative solutions in the country’s quest for climate resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development, she stressed.

“Today, more than ever, there is a critical need for nexus governance for climate and disaster resilience— one that pursues a strategic balance between supply, distribution and consumption of water for health, food, energy, human and environmental security,” Yulo-Loyzaga pointed out.

“Building resilience through equity in the water sector requires us to address the ecological, political, socioeconomic, and engineering risks, as well as, perhaps quite important, the national and local capacity for

science-informed governance,” she added.

Synergetic approach

LOYZAGA noted that the government—through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is embarking on synergistic approaches to solving the country’s water woes: an attempt at the effective management of water resources and the application of geospatial data.

The first synergistic approach was highlighted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. by establishing the Water Resources Management Office (WRMO) in the DENR through an executive order he issued recently, she said.

The newly created WRMO integrates the functions of all agencies with water-related mandates to effectively manage the country’s water resources and to achieve water security.

Loyzaga said the apex body would strengthen the coordination among various agencies and provide the venue for coherent policy formulation and rationalized functions to address cross-sectoral needs.

She also said that the implementation of the presidential directive is aligned with efforts to eventually establish a Department of Water.

“There are long-standing institutional issues which we now have a strong chance of solving and this unlocks some of the barriers in managing water,” Loyzaga stressed. “It also opens the possibility of coordinating projects between agencies to enter with more efficient programs like the

construction of multi-use dams and reservoirs.”

Geospatial planning

MEANWHILE , Loyzaga said the DENR is now using geospatial data to monitor the state of the country’s natural resources, including water.  The Geospatial Database Office in the DENR was created for evidenceinformed decision-making.

She also created the position of Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science to ensure that the science needed for oceanland atmosphere dimensions of the environment and natural resources mandate is embedded in all bureau deliberations and decisions.

“The DENR believes in the power of information and more importantly science and information-based decision-making with the support of the best technologies available,” Loyzaga explained.

Using satellite imagery and geographic information systems, the DENR is now able to detect watershed and mangrove health, the recent oil spill and other related hazards, water quality challenges, illegal activities, and potential future water resources for development.

Loyzaga said these two systems would eventually ensure that the DENR is able to identify, account for, mitigate, restore, and regenerate the natural capital from ridge to reef.

“In short, we are able to see changes in these terrains and crossreference them with permits and other instruments,” Loyzaga said.

These new capacities, she added, now allow the DENR to assist in de-risking investment and improve

water resource management down to the community level.

Whole-of-government approach

UTILIZING these new capacities and platforms, Loyzaga said the DENR has adopted a whole-ofgovernment approach to resolving water challenges.

The DENR chief cited the DENR’s use of a physical database to work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Economic and Development Authority, and the local water utilities in identifying the best sources of surface water to serve the needs of local communities.

The DENR is also currently working with the DPWH and DILG to provide water to 1,374 barangays across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.  Meanwhile, the WRMO is also working with the private sector to bring water to those who need it most, such as 65 isolated barangays in island municipalities.

“Water is a fundamental resource for human health, economic development, and ecological sustainability but also for inclusive and resilient development. It plays a critical role in many aspects of community life specifically food production, for example, sanitation, hygiene, and energy production,” said Loyzaga.

According to Loyzaga, the DENR’s goal is to secure a robust source of water for all which will be one less challenge for communities already dealing with volatile and uncertain times. Jonathan L.

Mayuga

Philippine National Police (PNP) launched an intensive manhunt operation against armed men who ambushed a police team in Maguindanao on Wednesday night, killing two of the law enforcers and wounding four others.

PBBM assures NG assistance to Mayon-affected residents

Water impounding project is good, but forest cover restoration is better, Rep. Nograles says

Electricity spot market prices decline in 1st 2 weeks of June

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE Independent Electricity

Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) on Thursday said electricity spot market prices in the first two weeks of June dropped by P1.73 per kilowatt hour (kWh) to P7.10 per kWh, mainly due to a reduction in demand and a modest increase in supply.

The operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) said Thursday that the average supply margin increased by 595 megawatts (MW) to 2,833 MW.

“Demand tapered off. The cool

weather contributed a lot. The new transmission line also freed up supply from Bataan area. Ilijan plant also resumed operations. In terms of demand, it has gone down. Supply, on the other hand, has increased,” said IEMOP Corporate Strategy and Communications head Isidro Cacho Jr. during an online news briefing on Thursday.

IEMOP reported a significant development in the transmission system with the energization of the Balsik-San Jose 500kV Transmission Line. This new addition has alleviated previous constraints in power flow from Bataan to Bulacan, which had caused limitations in supplying

power to Metro Manila.

Furthermore, progress continues with the testing of the MindanaoVisayas Interconnection Project (MVIP), which commenced on April 30, 2023, at an initial load of 22.5 MW. The load test will gradually increase until it reaches its full transfer capacity by the third quarter of this year.

To further augment the energy supply for June, operations have resumed at the Ilijan power plant in Batangas, utilizing liquefied natural gas.

IEMOP expects that the WESM rates could be retained in the coming months if no power plants will

DAVAO CITY—The provincial agriculture office of Davao de Oro province would be refining its aquaculture technology after harvesting more than 800 kilos of polyculture bangus and molobicus red tilapia at a demonstration farm.

The harvest took place on June 6 during the one-time harvest festival of the province’s Technological Development Farm located at P-2, Barangay Tibagon, Pantukan.

Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Jaime D. Anter said the farm harvest was the result of a research proposal to discover new technology for the fisherfolk in the province “by demonstrating the use of polyculture on bangus and saline tilapia.”

“After evaluation process, the data would tell us if this project proposal is fit

Policy report lists hindrance to renewable energy growth

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

the private and public sectors has resulted in the lack of familiarity with the various RE policies.

conk out. “Barring any unforeseen or unplanned forced outages, there is a big probability level that prices will be maintained. We are now at P7 per kWh level as opposed to P9 per kWh in the previous months. If that trend continues, we see transactions in the spot market reflecting that,” said Cacho.

In May, the Effective Spot Settlement Price (ESSP) in Luzon and Visayas stood at P9.30/kWh. This reflected a peak demand increase of 2.6 percent in Luzon, and 6.9 percent in Visayas compared to 2022.

Coal accounted for 64.4 percent of the generation mix, followed by natural gas and geothermal sources.

to recommend for adoption to our place, particularly in areas near the shorelines,” Anter said.

The office chose tilapia “because of its marketability while its polyculture improves feed utilization, enhances water quality, and increases total yield and profit.”

Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga lauded the success of the project, which she said resulted in P104,000 worth of proceeds. She said she would look forward to more livelihood opportunities for the people in Pantukan and the entire province.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources XI Regional Director Raul C. Millana, Mayor Leonel Ceniza and Municipal Agriculturist Alfredo A. Sasutana witnessed the harvesting. Manuel T. Cayon

THE growth of renewable energy (RE) in the country is encountering several obstacles, mainly the extensive process of securing permits for related projects, even though the Energy Virtual One Stop Shop was identified as one of the RE transition enabler, according to a policy report recently published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines.

The report, the WWF said, is based on two formal roundtable discussions organized by the proenvironment group and representatives from government, civil society, and organizations in the public and private sectors.

“According to the participants of the discussions, the lengthy permitting process has been identified as one of the biggest obstacles to the deployment of renewable energy,” the report stated.

“Just at the initial stage, the requirement for renewable energy developers to secure numerous permits and signatures can already lengthen the permitting process, especially in view of the manner by which these documents have to go through different bureaus, divisions, and agencies. This process is further lengthened and complicated when these bureaus, divisions, and agencies have clarifications regarding the applications of the renewable energy developers,” the report stated.

According to the report, the inadequate promotion of RE to both

The WWF said participants also pointed out during the roundtable discussions that there are a handful of incentives to entice investors to transition to RE, especially since the development of facilities has initially not been a cost-effective endeavor. During the discussions, the WWF participants agreed that the government needs to develop a clearer pathway and outlook in the RE sector to guide prospective investors and to study the inclusion of additional incentives for investments on these technologies to come in.

The policy report and roundtable discussions are part of WWFPhilippines’ MoRE: (Monitoring Renewable Energy Implementation in the Philippines project) that aims to boost the growth of the RE sector.

The overall goal of the MoRE project is for the country to transition to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating applications of renewable, low-carbon, and nocarbon energy sources to fulfill the country’s energy demands.

The MoRE project, in close coordination with government, civil society, and other industry partners, aims to enhance policy processes, particularly addressing gaps in monitoring the status and performance of RE policies. The project also seeks to determine the challenges encountered by policymakers in the development and implementation of various RE mechanisms.

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Supreme Court (SC) has imposed a two-year suspension without pay against a regional trial court (RTC) judge in South Cotabato for issuing an order enjoining the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from implementing its cease and desist (CDO) order against the officers and agents of Kapa Community Ministry International Inc. (KAPA) that is allegedly involved in a P50-billion Ponzi investment scheme.

In an 11-pag decision penned by Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr., the Court’s Second Division adopted the findings of the Office of the Court Administrator  (OCA) with certain modifications, which found RTC General Santos City, South Cotabato, Branch 135 Presiding Judge Oscar Noel Jr. guilty of gross ignorance of the law in connection with the case filed by KAPA seeking to enjoin SEC from implementing its CDO.

The SEC filed an administrative complaint for gross ignorance of the law following Judge Noel’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and eventually a writ of preliminary injunction (WPI) in 2019 in favor of KAPA.

It contended that it is a co-equal body of RTC, thus, the latter cannot interfere with or overturn its ruling.

The agency cited Section 179 of Republic Act 11232, otherwise known as the “Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines [RCCP], which provides that no court below the Court of Appeals shall have jurisdiction to issue a restraining order, preliminary injunction, or preliminary mandatory injunction in any case, dispute, or controversy that directly or indirectly interferes with the exercise of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Commission that falls exclusively within its jurisdiction.”

A s such, the SEC stressed, the judge’s issuance of a TRO and WPI against the CDO constitutes gross ignorance of the law.

For his part, Judge Noel maintained that the charges against him were baseless and that SEC has itself to blame for its failure to defend its position before the court.

He noted that the agency was notified of the hearings for the TRO and WPI, but it failed to show up during the proceedings.

Furthermore, the judge insisted that the trial court has jurisdiction over the case since KAPA raised the constitutional issue of free exercise of religion.

In ts report dated August 11, 2020, the OCA found Judge Noel guilty of the charge and recommended his suspension from the service for four months.

Relatedly, under prevailing laws, rules, and jurisprudence, it is a basic rule that pursuant to its exercise of quasi-judicial   jurisdiction, i.e., the issuance of CDOs, the SEC stands as a co-equal bodv of the RTCs; hence, all orders and issuances issued by the SEC in the exercise of such jurisdiction may not be interfered with, let alone overturned, by the RTCs,” the SC said in upholding the OCA report.

T he SC also said that SEC correctly pointed out the judge should have refrained from taking jurisdiction over KAPA’s case based on Section 179 of the RCCP.

I t noted that RCCP took effect on February 23, 2019 prior to KAPA’s filing of the case on March 1, 2019.

“B ased on the foregoing, respondent should have refrained from acting on the subject case—as what the Presiding Judge of RTC Branch 58 did. Despite these, respondent still issued a 20-day TRO, and later on, a WPI in KAPA’s favor and against the CDO issued by the SEC, a co-equal body,” the SC added.  Likewise, the SC said Judge Noel violated the doctrine on primary jurisdiction, which states that “courts cannot or will not determine a controversy involving a question which is within the jurisdiction of the administrative tribunal prior to the resolution of that question by the administrative tribunal, where the question demands the exercise of sound administrative discretion requiring the special knowledge, experience, and services of the administrative tribunal to determine technical and intricate matters of fact.”

“Verily, respondent’s ‘lack of familiarity with the rules in interfering with the acts of a co-equal body undermines public confidence in the Judiciary through his demonstrated incompetence.’ Thus, it is only proper that respondent be found administratively liable for gross ignorance of the law,” the SC stressed.

In justifying Judge Noel’s two-year suspension without salary, the Court noted that the latter had twice been found administratively liable for gross ignorance of the law prior to the KAPA case.

This goes without saying that should respondent be found administratively liable for the same offense in the future, then the Court might no longer temper the penalties that may be meted on him,” the SC warned.

Neda chief outlines plan to expand PHL’s foreign trade and investment footprint

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

I n the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in Singapore on Thursday, National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said this would increase the opportunities to generate more jobs for the country’s rapidly growing labor force.

B alisacan also said attracting more investments and maximizing trade opportunities with various markets globally through bilateral trade agreements will also elevate the country’s growth

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday vowed to strengthen the ties between the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of Philippine government’s efforts to promote the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Emirates, saying he also wants to visit Dubai and attend this year’s UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP).

T he President made the statement at the sidelines of the International Trade Forum organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.

UAE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary H.E. Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi paid a courtesy visit to President Marcos on Tuesday and reaffirmed their commitment to support the environmental programs and the economy of the Philippines.

A s part of his visit, the UAE Ambassador invited President Marcos to attend the 2023 COP, which will be held in December this year at the Expo City in Dubai.

I hope to be able to attend because climate change is a primordial issue

Continued from A16

N evertheless, the DBM emphasized that LGUs’ budget plans and goals should be “practicable” and “harmonized” with national development plans, goals and strategies to “optimize” and “avoid duplication” in the use of government resources.

To this end, the LGUs are enjoined to align their PPAs with the priorities of the NG, specifically those embodied under the Philippine Development Plan and Public Investment Program for 2023-2028,” the DBM said. Covid-19 programs, projects UNDER the memorandum, the LGUs were also advised to “align” their development plans, investment programs, and budgets to the economic and social plans and strategies adopted by the national government “to contain and prevent the spread and eliminate the threat” of Covid-19.

I n particular, the DBM encouraged LGUs to continue bankrolling programs, projects and activities (PPAs) that are related to Covid-19 pandemic.

other way of improving the quality of employment than getting a major push in investment,” he added.

B alisacan noted that without quality jobs, the Philippines will have a difficult time reducing poverty. The aim of the current administration is to bring poverty incidence down to single-digit levels by 2028.

H e added that increasing investments and quality jobs also supports the goal of the Philippines to become a first world economy by 2040. This can be attained if the country consistently posts a GDP growth of 6.5 to 8 percent.

ability to finance its infrastructure needs, among others.

B alisacan emphasized the importance of funding and investing in the 194 “Build-Better-More”

Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFP) of the Marcos administration. He further encouraged businessmen to become invaluable partners in achieving development goals.

(ODA), while 30 percent will be financed through PPPs.

DBS Bank CEO & Director Piyush Gupta, for his part, said the Philippine economic performance will be a key factor in the region’s growth story in the next 10 years. “I genuinely think that the remainder of this decade will be the Philippine’s time,” he said.

potential to 6.5 to 8 percent from the current 6 percent.

[The President’s] marching order to us is to expand the opportunities for trade, for partnerships with other countries because one thing that he noticed was that among Asean, our dynamic neighbors, the Philippines has the lowest number of bilateral trade relations. So what the President wants is to rapidly expand that,” Balisacan said.

“Our push is to really open up the economy aggressively because to us, in the economic team, there is no

when it comes to the Philippines. So, I hope that we will be able to attend. And beyond the Conference of Parties is that we also want to fortify our ties with the UAE,” President Marcos said when asked for his reaction to the invitation of the UAE Ambassador to attend the COP.

There are a lot of Filipinos there. So we need to make sure that they continue to treat our ‘kababayans’ in the UAE well. And they have been very welcoming. They have treated our people very well. They have protected them and they have allowed them to make a living in the United Arab Emirates,” he added.

T he Chief Executive said that UAE’s excellent treatment of the Filipino workers in their country is something that the Philippines hope to continue “and even progress further.”

M arcos was accompanied by the UAE Ambassador when he visited the Mayon Volcano victims in Albay on Wednesday and personally monitored their condition amid the volcano’s continued unrest.

P resident Marcos said that the Philippines is grateful for the assistance of the government of the UAE. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

‘Given the uncertainty as to when the threat of Covid-19 will be finally eliminated, LGUs are encouraged to continue to provide funds for Covid-19-related PPAs and expenses, as may be necessary,” the DBM said.

The DBM explained that Covid19-related PPAs and expenses could include those that are aimed at preventing Covid-19 spread, provision of basic services to affected population, necessary support to frontline workers as well as procurement and administration of Covid-19 vaccines.

“Nevertheless, it is understood that it is still the LCDs, upon their coordination with appropriate and competent authorities, that will determine the specific Covid-19related PPAs and expenses that may be included in their respective annual budgets, taking into consideration the necessity for such PPAs and expenses and availability of funds, among others,” the DBM said.

The NTA was computed based on the certifications of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Treasury on the actual collections of national taxes in fiscal year 2021.

To this end, Balisacan said, the government is also keen on increasing opportunities for the private sector to take part in public infrastructure projects.

B alisacan said as the Metro Manila Subway project continues, the current administration is already preparing operation and maintenance opportunities that the private sector can take part in.

The same is also being done, Balisacan said, for the operation and maintenance of the country’s main gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and other regional airports.

S uch a move could free up public funds for social services. Balisacan said this is one way that the administration can address the limited fiscal space, which Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman identified as a risk to the country’s

The private sector is the Philippines’ engine of growth and innovation, and tapping into its financial muscle, as well as technical and managerial capacities will ultimately result in better public services, lower consumer prices, and improved quality of life for all Filipinos,” Balisacan said.

N eda said the Marcos administration has committed to sustaining annual spending on infrastructure at around 5 to 6 percent of GDP from 2023 to 2028. This is equivalent to approximately $20 billion to $40 billion per year. Many of these projects will focus on fundamental infrastructure that serves as a growth driver, enabling economic opportunities and job generation.

D uring the fourth meeting of the Neda Board, the government approved 194 IFPs worth approximately $148 billion or P8.3 trillion. Most of these projects focus on enhancing physical and digital connectivity, as well as managing water resources. More than half of the projects will be funded through Official Development Assistance

T his is mainly due to three factors. Gupta said the first factor is the global push for sustainability, which means countries like the Philippines that are rich in natural resources will have the upper hand.

Gup ta explained that as the world rethinks its business models in consideration of climate change and biodiversity needs, countries that are rich in natural resources will see new opportunities that will propel economies to new heights. A nother reason is technology, which is one of the biggest forces that will shape the world economy. In the country, this is mainly driven in by young and tech-savvy Filipinos who are coding and performing other tech skills.

Gup ta said he was surprised that when it comes to gaming, augmented reality, metaverse and other up and coming technological pursuits, a lot of the individuals working in this space are Filipinos.

The last reason is geopolitics. Gupta said the Philippines long history with the United States and its ties with China will place the country at an advantage in terms of opportunities from both countries.

THE Philippines is keen on pursuing more free trade agreements as well as renewing its Generalised Scheme of Preferences

Plus (GSP+) with the European Union to expand the country’s trade and investment opportunities.

DBM to LGUs: Set aside Covid-related funds; threats linger

PBBM vows stronger ties with UAE, keen on going to Dubai for climate change talks

SC imposes 2-year suspension sans pay vs judge for Ponzi decision

NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION/S FOR

Notice is hereby given that the following companies/employers have filed with this

Office application/s for

17 ARTNATURE MANUFACTURING PHILIPPINES INC. Lot 2, First Street, First Philippine Industrial Park, Santa Anastacia, City of Sto. Tomas, Batangas

18 DYSON ELECTRONICS PTE. LTD.-PHILIPPINE BRANCH Lot C3-13, Carmelray Industrial Park II, Km 54 National Highway, Punta, City of Calamba, Laguna

19 EMERALD GARMENT MANUFACTURING CORPORATION 48, Felix Avenue, San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal

TAKAHASHI, HIDETOMO

Production Division Adviser

Brief Job Description: Provide and advise overall planning and control in production division

REYNOLDS, JAKE NATHAN

Senior Design & Development Associate

Brief Job Description: Lead a group of multi-discipline Engineers from different geographical sites working across different technical problems and solutions

SHEN, CHIA-YENG a.k.a. AMY SHEN

International Design Manager

Brief Job Description: Create and understand the designs, conceptualize design and assets based on international branding requirements

OKAMURA, KAZUYA

20 FUJITSU DIE-TECH CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES 113 East Science Avenue, Laguna Technopark, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

Assistant Vice President Under Quality Assurance Section

Brief Job Description:

Manage in evaluating quality risk and/or production- related transactions processes and provide recommendations in areas of process improvements

KATO, KUNIYUKI

21 FUNAI ELECTRIC PHILIPPINES INC.

Lot 3, 4 & 5, Phase 2A, Block 1, Lima Technology Center, Bugtong Na Pulo, City of Lipa, Batangas

Production Engineering Senior Manager

Brief Job Description: Oversee all aspect of the Production Engineering group

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Must have at least 10 years of relevant position in and manufacturing set-up.

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: A degree in a relevant Engineering or Science Discipline or equivalent

Salary Range: Php150,000Php499,999

Basic Qualification: Degree qualified or equivalent with a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with relevant experience

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

Basic Qualification: With more than 15 years of professional experience directing, overseeing all aspect of Production Engineering group and must be a JLPT N 1 Level

Salary Range: Php90,000Php149,999

• Editor: Angel R. Calso

Dam breach remakes Ukraine battlefield as reservoir drains

By Marc Champion & Kateryna Choursina

independently verified. Should the reservoir empty completely, a Dnipro reduced to its pre-dam state between Nova Kakhovka and Zaporizhzhia would be a much smaller obstacle to forces seeking to cross it, with an average depth of about 3 meters, instead of 16.5. The span any Ukrainian force would need to cross north of the dam also would shrink sharply, from a maximum of 23 kilometers, to about one.  In its un-dammed state, the Dnipro also often divided into smaller channels as it meandered, according to maps made in 1954, shortly before the Kakhovka dam’s construction.

The original riverbed under the reservoir had broad marshes, but also bridges over narrower points, including at Nikopol, a town just across the Dnipro from Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. The facility remains under Russian control.

The Dnipro cuts through Ukraine’s north-south spine and begins at the boggy southern end of Russia’s Valdai Hills, where Putin has one of his presidential retreats.

Below the dam, floodwaters already have begun to recede and eventually will return the river to its former state, if with new obstacles such as washed up land mines and debris. Upstream, as the 230-kilometer (140mile) long Kakhovka reservoir basin empties, an entirely new landscape is emerging that could potentially create opportunities for Ukrainian forces.  Already, the Washingtonbased Institute for the Study of War is redrawing its battlefield maps to reflect the sudden shrinkage of the water course that separates Ukrainian forces from the occupied land on the eastern banks of the reservoir.  The dam was destroyed just as Ukrainian forces began a counteroffensive, months in the planning, which seeks to recapture territory lost to Russia in the south and east of the country following last year’s invasion. As Kyiv deploys billions of dollars of western weaponry along a front stretching for 1,000 miles, the Dnipro is a crucial feature of the battlefield, offering protection to troops facing each other across much of its southern portion and posing a major logistical challenge to Ukrainian strategists working out how to keep their forces supplied as they advance.  The eventual extent of that barrier will depend on how severely the dam has been damaged, as well as on the silt that has collected on the reservoir’s floor since the dam’s construction in 1956.

“The key question here is the height of the dam that remained underwater after the destruction,” said Illya Perevozchykov, who heads the hydrology department of Ukraine’s national meteorological service said in a phone interview. “This height defines the amount of water that is going to stay.”

The Dnipro has been central to Ukraine’s identity and economy for centuries. Soviet engineers turned the river into a cascade of six huge reservoirs, each with a hydroelectric dam to produce power for the

industrial heartland on its banks. Kakhovka was the last before the river empties into the Black Sea, forming a huge natural barrier between the opposing armies.

But by Sunday, the reservoir’s water level had dropped by about half, releasing 73 percent of its volume, Ukrhydroenergo director Ihor Syrota said in a Youtube interview with Radio Liberty. Newly exposed silt banks make it impossible for agency staff to move now stranded monitoring stations close enough to measure the reduced levels directly, he said.

On Wednesday, Syrota said reservoir levels are expected to continue falling, and floodwaters to recede for another week.

The surface under the water is made up of silt and it’s hard to say how fast that will then dry, according to Perevozchykov. Predicting what, if anything, will in turn mean for the opposing militaries is even harder, given that the terrain and its condition will be completely new.

Russia has occupied the damaged area of the dam for months, but denies responsibility for causing its collapse. Ukraine and its allies reject that.

But for the moment, the two sides seem to agree on the military impact.

With the flood for now eliminating any threat from across the Dnipro, Russian commanders have redeployed troops from positions along the river to shore up defenses further east, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on June 11.

President Vladimir Putin called the breach “better for us,” in unusually frank televised comments on the war Tuesday. He said the dam’s destruction had thwarted an alleged Ukrainian plan to attack across the river, while also lamenting Russia’s low stocks of modern weapons and the loss of 54 tanks to Ukraine’s week-old counteroffensive. He said Ukraine lost 160 tanks in the fight so far, a figure vastly higher than has been

Dams on the river were blown up twice during World War II as part of defensive operations, although both of those tactics ultimately failed.

In 1941 Soviet dictator Josef Stalin blew the river’s first dam, which he’d built just nine years earlier near Zaporizhzhia, to slow approaching German armies. The flood killed an estimated 20,000 to 100,000 people, including drowned Soviet troops that weren’t warned in time.

The Germans rebuilt the dam under occupation, before blowing it up again in 1943 as they used the Dnipro to stiffen a defensive line against a massive Soviet counteroffensive.

While the military role that the Kakhovka dam’s destruction will play this time remains unclear, its economic impact is easier to predict.

The reservoir fed multiple factories, the nuclear power plant at Enerhodar and Europe’s largest agricultural irrigation system, as well as the canal supplying water to Crimea, the peninsula Putin annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture, loss of the irrigation network alone would deprive 584,000 hectares of arable land of water, an area that in 2021 produced 4 million tons of grain and oilseeds worth $1.5 billion.

Despite the hits to agriculture and steel production, Dragon Capital, Ukraine’s largest investment manager, doesn’t think the immediate economic impact of the floods will be big enough to change its growth forecasts, according to Olena Bilan, the company’s chief economist. That’s because economy is currently doing better than expected, said Bilan, even though in the longer term the dam’s destruction will mean “additional costs for reconstruction and recovering from damage.’’

“There has been no flood like this in Ukraine, for certain,” said Perevozchykov, the hydrologist. “And probably not in all of Europe.” With assistance from Aliaksandr Kudrytski and Demetrios Pogkas/Bloomberg

SINCE the Kakhovka Dam burst on June 6, the floods have cut off any chance Ukraine’s troops might have had of crossing the Dnipro River in support of their counteroffensive. Yet that benefit to the Kremlin may not last.

THIS image provided by Maxar Technologies shows Krinky, Ukraine after flooding, on June 7, 2023. SATELLITE IMAGE2023 MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES VIA AP

The World Pope, Sunni imam call for peace before UN Security Council vote

By Edith M. Lederer The Associated Press

Pope expected to be released soon from hospital after surgery: Vatican

By Nicole Winfield The Associated Press

complications, and as such his discharge is planned for the coming days.”

The pope, who is in hospital recovering from abdominal surgery, sent a statement saying that a third world war is being fought “piecemeal” and with the potentially catastrophic effects of nuclear weapons “the time has come to say an emphatic ‘no’ to war.”

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, the 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni learning in Cairo, said in a virtual briefing that human fraternity was the key to global peace, a point he and the pope had made in a joint document released in 2019.

The United Arab Emirates chose the importance of human fraternity in bringing peace as a centerpiece of its presidency of the council this month. After the appeals by the pope and grand imam and council speeches, members adopted a resolution recognizing that hate speech, racism, xenophobia, intolerance, gender discrimination and acts of extremism “can contribute to driving the outbreak, escalation and recurrence of conflict.”

The resolution, co-sponsored

by the UAE and the United Kingdom, urges all countries and organizations to condemn these acts and work to prevent them. It was adopted unanimously even though some of the council’s 15 members have been accused of some of the same actions they are condemning.

UAE Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh told The Associated Press after the vote that it was a “landmark” resolution that for the first time brings together previous council resolutions addressing hate speech, racism, incitement and extremism in different ways. She said it promotes tolerance, equality, coexistence and dialogue.

Pope Francis lamented that the world is going backward from the dream when the United Nations was founded in 1945 on the ashes of two world wars that countries would move toward a more stable peace and “become at last a family of nations.”

Instead, he said, the world is seeing “the rise of myopic, extremist, resentful and aggressive

nationalisms that have kindled conflicts which are not only anachronistic and outdated but even more violent.”

The pope warned of the dangers of the arms race, which he said was driven by a desire for profits from arms sales.

“It takes more courage to renounce easy profits for the sake of keeping peace than to sell ever more sophisticated and powerful weapons,” he said.

And he said the potential of a nuclear catastrophe means it’s time to seek lasting peace—not built on “the precarious balance of deterrence” but on “the fraternity that unites us.”

Francis has gone further than any pope before him by saying that not only the use but also the mere possession of atomic weapons is immoral.

Prior to that, the Catholic Church had held for three decades that nuclear deterrence could be morally acceptable as long as it was used toward mutual, verifiable nuclear disarmament. The Holy See, however, has seen that the deterrence doctrine has essentially resulted in a nuclear status quo, with arms control treaties collapsing, leading to Francis’ change in church teaching.

Al-Tayeb said his intention in speaking to the council was to urge an end to senseless wars. He cited Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Yemen, and the need for the council to recognize an independent Palestinian state after 75 years.

Without naming either Russia or Ukraine, he said the war unfolding on the eastern borders of Europe has instilled terror and “concern that it may regress humanity to a primitive era.”

The grand imam said the mission pursued by Al-Azhar and the Roman Catholic Church in the 2019 document on human fraternity for world peace must be pursued by political leaders.

“Our gathering today is not a luxury but a necessity, dictated by concern for the future of humanity,” Al-Tayeb said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the declaration by the pope and the grand imam “a model for compassion and human solidarity” and urged countries and people everywhere “to stand together as one human family” and forge “an alliance of peace, rooted in the values of human fraternity.”

Things to watch as Blinken heads to China to reset ties

By Iain Marlow

SECRETARY of State Antony Blinken’s

last attempt to visit China was derailed by an alleged Chinese spy balloon. Now he’s ready to try again, departing Friday for a two-day trip aimed at stabilizing ties with the world’s secondlargest economy and reducing the risk that miscommunication ignites conflict between the two superpowers.

US-China relations went into a tailspin after the balloon was spotted earlier this year over the western United States, prompting President Joe Biden to order it shot down. A lot is now riding on Blinken’s rescheduled visit to meet with high-ranking Chinese officials, possibly including President Xi Jinping.

As the highest-ranking US official to visit China in five years, Blinken is leading an effort by Biden to reset ties plagued by challenges: trade and intellectual-property disputes, human rights concerns, Taiwan’s security, China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and US limits on advanced technology.

C ompetition will continue to be the defining theme of the relationship, with the spy balloon drama from Blinken’s last attempt echoing ahead of his departure. This time, the accusation of a Chinese espionage base in Cuba, which Beijing denies, is keeping both sides defensive.

H ere are five things to watch during the visit:

1. China’s reception

A MEETING with Xi is possible and would be significant.

Blink en’s reception in Beijing will offer hints at how willing China is to engage at the highest levels. Biden, for instance, has been waiting for a call with Xi that’s been in the works since early May.

W ith Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

and other cabinet officials intending to make trips, how Blinken is greeted, treated and written about in state media will say a lot about the way forward.

2. Low expectations

WASHINGTON is already trying to lower expectations. “We need to be realistic,”

Kurt Campbell, the White House’s top Asia official, said Wednesday when previewing the trip. “We’re not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another.”

Chinese media has been relatively muted ahead of the trip, contrasting with more positive signals in February.

S taying quiet on the visit could be one way of showing dissatisfaction with the US, according to Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations at Beijing’s Renmin University, who sees little room for any breakthroughs.

“There are more than a dozen major issues—such as Ukraine, Taiwan, South

China Sea—that the US and China are at odds on, and have little chance of resolving in the near future,” he said.

3. Stabilizing ties

THAT means Blinken’s overarching goal will be trying to steady a relationship that has huge consequences for the world economy and geopolitics. His planned trip in February would have benefited from the afterglow of the first in-person meeting as leaders between Biden and President Xi Jinping in late 2022.

Sinc e then relations have soured over a series of spats and accusations. More worryingly, there have been two recent dangerous military interactions, one over the South China Sea and another in the Taiwan Strait.

“Right now, the overall relationship is not moving in one direction or another—it zigs and zags on a weekly basis,” said Ryan Hass, a former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the US National Security Council. “If

ROME—Pope Francis is expected to be released from the hospital “in the coming days,” as he recovers well and without complications from abdominal surgery last week, the Vatican said Wednesday.

In his daily medical update, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis again rested well overnight, was at work during the day and had received the Eucharist during a moment of prayer in the chapel of his hospital suite.

The 86-year-old pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on June 7 for surgery to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall and remove intestinal scar tissue that had caused intestinal blockages. Francis in 2021 had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed at Gemelli because of a narrowing of the intestine, and had at least two prior abdominal surgeries in Argentina.

Citing Francis’ doctors, Bruni said the pope’s recovery “is proceeding regularly, without

Daily Il Fatto Quotidiano quoted an e-mail from the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Battista Re, to his colleagues saying Francis’ return to the Vatican was expected Thursday or Friday.

Francis already has a full agenda scheduled for next week, including a reported audience with Cuban President Miguel Diaz Cane and one with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. On June 23, he’s due to preside over an audience in the Sistine Chapel with artists to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the contemporary art collection in the Vatican Museums. The Vatican typically cancels papal audiences during July, a summer break that will give Francis time to recover more fully before his expected August 2-6 trip to Portugal for World Youth Day. Other upcoming travel includes an August 31-September 4 visit to Mongolia, the first-ever by a pope, and a September 23 day trip to Marseille, France.

Russia can’t build embassy near Parliament under new Aussie law

By Rod Mcguirk The Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia— Australia’s Parliament passed legislation on Thursday to prevent Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House on security grounds as tensions grow between Moscow and a major supporter of the Ukraine war effort.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation would extinguish Russia’s lease on the site based on the advice of security agencies.

and about the capability that would present in terms of potential interference with activity that occurs in this Parliament House,” Albanese said.

The Russian Embassy said it would comment later Thursday.

The government decided to act after Russia won a Federal Court case last month that prevented its eviction from the site now under construction.

there is an incident that leads to loss of life—Heaven forbid—then I think all bets are off.”

4. Improving communications

THINGS are so rocky that Blinken’s first step toward that stability will be just restoring lines of communication, particularly over military matters. The world’s two most powerful nations have very few direct ways of talking, and lack a dedicated military-to-military line to deescalate incidents. China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu recently rejected a request to meet Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Mak ing it riskier for the US to operate around China is one of Beijing’s strategic goals, according to Hass, so it’s unclear when exactly China will agree to restart military communications. But there are other less sensitive areas where progress might be possible on this trip, including macroeconomic stability and climate change.

5. Taiwan & tech

TAIWAN is the most sensitive, and potentially explosive, area of US-China relations—what Beijing refers to as a “core concern.” Blinken is going to drive home the message that the Biden administration isn’t trying to upset the status quo. But he’s also going to have to condemn Chinese economic coercion and militar y pressure on Taiwan, which has increased in recent years. There won’t be any breakthrough on the fundamentals, but the tone will be telling.

B oth sides will also likely talk past each other on US efforts to stymie Beijing’s technology ambitions, especially limits on selling China equipment to make advanced semiconductors. With assistance from Peter Martin, Lucille Liu and Jenni Marsh/ Bloomberg

“The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Albanese told reporters. “We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.”

Albanese said Australia’s government condemns Russia’s “illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.”

Australia is one of the most generous providers of military hardware, training and aid to Ukraine of any country outside Nato and has escalated sanctions against Russia since the war began in February 2022.

Albanese said opposition and other lawmakers that are not aligned with the government were briefed on the legislation on Wednesday night and had agreed to pass it through both chambers Thursday. The government holds a majority in the House but not the Senate.

Within three hours of Albanese publicly announcing the bill, it had become law, passing the House then the Senate. The law is expected to take effect later Thursday when it is rubber-stamped by Governor-General David Hurley, representing Australia’s head of state, King Charles III.

Albanese did not directly answer when asked if there were also security concerns about the Chinese Embassy across a street from the Russian site.

“We’re dealing with this very specifically, and it’s based upon very specific advice as well about the nature of the construction that’s proposed for this site, about the location of this site,

The lease was canceled by local Canberra authorities on the basis of a lack of building activity since Russia was given the lease in the diplomatic precinct of Yarralumla in 2008 and plans for the complex of buildings were approved in 2011.

Under the lease conditions, Russia had agreed to complete construction within three years, but the embassy remains partially built.

The National Capital Authority, which administers embassy leases, decided to terminate the Russian lease, citing that “ongoing unfinished works detract from the overall aesthetic, importance and dignity of the area reserved for diplomatic missions.”

Russia currently occupies the former USSR embassy in the suburb of Griffith, further from Parliament House than the new site.

The Russian Embassy would remain in Griffith and Australia’s Embassy would remain in Moscow, Albanese said.

Opposition defense spokesman Andrew Hastie said his party stood with the government on national security.

“Russia has not acted in good faith towards its neighbors in recent times. It continues its campaign (in Ukraine) trashing the principles of territorial and political sovereignty,” Hastie said.

“There is a trust deficit, there is a real risk to our national interest here and the security advice is that this lease must be terminated,” Hastie added.

Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said no embassy would be allowed on the site.

“The principal problem with the proposed second Russian Embassy in Canberra is its location. This location sits directly adjacent to Parliament House,” O’Neil said.

T he Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield contributed to this report from Rome.

IN this July 11, 2021 file photo, Pope Francis appears on the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic balcony in Rome, where he was recovering from intestinal surgery, for the traditional Sunday blessing and Angelus prayer. Pope Francis went to the hospital Wednesday, June 7, 2023, to undergo abdominal surgery to treat an intestinal blockage, two years after he had his colon removed 33 centimeters (13 inches) because of inflammation and narrowing of the large intestine. AP/ALESSANDRA TARANTINO

UNITED NATIONS—Pope

Francis and a leading Sunni imam made calls for peace as the UN Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the importance of “human fraternity” and condemn the hatreds that kindle conflicts.

A MEMBER of the Philippine Coast Guard during a joint maritime exercise with Japan and the US this month. BLOOMBERG

The World

Saudis, UAE lobby Europeans to restore ties with Syria’s Assad

By Samy Adghirni

UN: Sudan’s war displaces over 2 million; fighting rages in Darfur

By Samy Magdy

The Associated Press

CAIRO—The conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 2 million people, the United Nations said on Wednesday, as a UN official warned that escalating attacks in Darfur city could amount to “crimes against humanity.” Sudan has plunged into chaos since mid-April when monthslong tensions between the military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the northeastern African nation.

The fighting continued unabated Wednesday in parts of the capital and the western region of Darfur, both have seen some of the worst battles. At least 959 civilians have been killed and about 4,750 others were wounded as of June 12, according to Sudan’s Doctors Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties.

The brutal clashes have forced more than 1.6 million people to leave their homes for safer areas inside Sudan, according to the International Organization for Migration. About 530,000 others fled to the neighboring countries of Egypt, South Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, and Libya, the agency said.

The medical group said the toll could be much higher, given it was unable to take into account those who were killed or wounded in the ongoing clashes in Genena, the provincial capital of West Darfur. The city’s hospitals have been out of service since the fighting erupted there in April, the group said.

All of Sudan’s 18 provinces experienced displacement, with Khartoum at the top of the list with around 65 percent of the total number of displaced people, followed by West Darfur with over 17 percent, according to the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix.

In Genena, the provincial capital of West Darfur, the RSF and allied Arab militias rampaged through the city over the past week, killing and wounding hundreds of people, according to local activists and UN officials.

Activists and residents in Genena reported dozens of women were sexually

attacked inside their homes and while trying to flee the fighting. Almost all rape cases were blamed on the RSF, which didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment.

Khamis Abdalla Abkar, the provincial governor of West Darfur province, accused the RSF and allied militias of attacking local communities across Genena. In a phone interview on Wednesday with Saudi-owned television station, Al-Hadath, he urged the international community to intervene to protect civilians in his province.

Hours after his interview with the television station, Abkar was abducted and killed, said Mini Arko Minawi, the governor of the Darfur region. The circumstances of Abkar’s abduction and killing were not immediately clear.

A video footage circulating on social media late Wednesday showed a group of armed men, some wearing RSF uniforms, detaining Abkar. Another night footage— too graphic to broadcast—purportedly showed Abkar laying on the ground with wounds in his neck and face. Sounds of gunfire were heard as well as people shouting in Arabic, “This is the governor,” and “God is great.”

Volker Perthes, the U.N envoy in Sudan, said Tuesday the fighting in Genena has taken “an ethnic dimension,” with Arab militias and armed men in RSF uniforms showing “an emerging pattern of large-scale targeted attacks against civilians based on their ethnic identities.”

Such attacks, “if verified, could amount to crimes against humanity,” he warned.

Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the U.N. special adviser on the prevention of genocide, also condemned “the shocking violence” in Genena. She warned in a statement Tuesday that such fighting could turn into “renewed campaigns of rape, murder, and ethnic cleansing amounting to atrocity crimes.”

Darfur had been the scene of genocidal war in the early 2000s, when ethnic Africans rebelled, accusing the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum of discrimination.

Former dictator Omar al-Bashir’s government was accused of retaliating by arming local nomadic Arab tribes, known as Janjaweed, who targeted civilians.

The Janjaweed later evolved into the RSF.

Palestinians say Israeli forces kill man in occupied West Bank

JERUSALEM—Israeli forces killed a Palestinian man Thursday in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian health officials said, the latest death in a spike of violence that has rocked the region.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said 20-year-old Khalil Yahya Anis was shot in the head in the city of Nablus, a frequent flashpoint for confrontations between the Israeli military and Palestinians.

The Israeli military said troops operating in the city came under fire and fired back. The troops were demolishing the home of a Palestinian behind the killing of an Israeli soldier last year. Israel demolishes the homes of attackers in what it says is a deterrent against future attacks. Critics say

The push follows President Bashar Al Assad’s reintegration into the Arab League in May, marking a triumph for a leader under heavy US and European penalties for atrocities committed during Syria’s civil war.

Saudi and UAE officials have lobbied European Union counterparts at various levels for months, the people said. They have argued that diplomatic moves to end the 12-year conflict are futile unless sanctions are eased to help revive Syria’s collapsed economy, according to the people.

The officials also say an economic recovery might draw millions of Syrian refugees back to their homeland, easing pressure on neighboring countries like Leba -

non and Jordan that are hosting them. That’s despite United Nations surveys suggesting that few refugees want to return to Syria.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is in France and scheduled to meet President Emmanuel Macron on Friday. While it’s unclear if Syria will be part of their discussions, the French presidency said they will talk about Middle Eastern and international topics.

Legitimizing Assad

KEY EU nations including France and Germany have ruled out restoring ties with Syria, saying that it wouldn’t address the causes of the war and would reward a regime accused of massacring its

own people.

“Let me be clear—the conditions are not in place for the EU to change its policy on Syria,” the bloc’s foreign-policy chief, Josep Borrell, said at a Syria donors conference in Brussels on Thursday.

He added that any shift would depend on Assad implementing political reforms and abiding by United Nations resolutions.

That position is supported by the US.

On Wednesday, Washington said it backed a decision by the Netherlands and Canada to initiate legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice against the Syrian government.

“Abuses are well documented, and the Assad regime must be held accountable for them,” the US State Department said.

The Syrian war has killed at least 500,000 people, displaced half the pre-war population of 23 million and abetted the rise of extremist groups including Islamic State.

Spokespeople for the Saudi and UAE governments didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Hold on power

THE push adds to a string of de -

velopments that have reshaped power dynamics in the Middle East in recent months as Saudi Arabia becomes more assertive with its foreign policy. The kingdom’s reestablished relations with former archenemy Iran with the help of Chinese mediation, and worked to wind-down a conflict in Yemen.

More than decade ago, Saudi Arabia and the UAE joined a coalition of regional and Western states supporting rebels and opposition groups trying to oust Assad. Their stance changed over the past few years as he consolidated his hold on power, in large part thanks to military help from Russia and Iran.

The UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus in 2018, while Riyadh restored relations this year.

One reason for Saudi Arabia’s new approach is to persuade Assad to curb the smuggling of Captagon—a drug that’s fueling an addiction scourge in some parts of the Gulf. Syrian groups have boosted the production and export of the amphetamine, ensuring a flow of hard currency into the cash-strapped government’s coffers and helping it fund its war operations. With assistance from Sam Dagher, Chiara Albanese and Alonso Soto/ Bloomberg

79 dead after overcrowded migrant vessel sinks off Greece; hundreds may be missing

By Derek Gatopoulos & Nicholas Paphitis The Associated Press

KALAMATA, Greece—A

fishing boat crammed to the gunwales with migrants trying to reach Europe capsized and sank Wednesday off the coast of Greece, authorities said, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this year.

Coast guard, navy and merchant vessels and aircraft fanned out for a vast search-and-rescue operation set to continue overnight. It was unclear how many passengers were missing, but some initial reports suggested hundreds of people may have been aboard when the boat went down far from shore.

An aerial photograph of the battered blue vessel released by the Greek coast guard showed scores of people covering practically every inch of deck.

Greece’s caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas, declared three days of national mourning, “with our thoughts on all the victims of the ruthless smugglers who exploit human unhappiness.”

THIS undated handout image provided by Greece’s coast guard on Wednesday, June14, 2023, shows scores of people covering practically every free stretch of deck on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. A fishing boat carrying migrants trying to reach Europe capsized and sank off Greece on Wednesday, authorities said, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this year. HELLENIC COAST GUARD VIA AP

The ship sank 10 to 15 minutes later, the statement said.

Ioannis Zafiropoulos, deputy mayor of the southern port city of Kalamata, where survivors were taken, said that his information indicated there were “more than 500 people” on board.

to eventually reach.

In February, at least 94 people died when a wooden boat from Turkey sank off Cutro, in southern Italy, in the worst Mediterranean sinking so far this year.

The Italian coast guard first alerted Greek authorities and the European Union border protection agency, Frontex, about an approaching vessel on Tuesday.

The IOM said initial reports suggested up to 400 people were on board. A network of activists said it received a distress call from a boat in the same area whose passengers said it carried 750 people. But it wasn’t clear if that was the vessel that sank.

the tactic amounts to collective punishment.

Israel and the Palestinians have been gripped by months of violence, focused mainly in the West Bank, where some 120 Palestinians have been killed this year.

Israel has been staging nearnightly raids in the West Bank in response to a spasm of Palestinian violence early last year. Palestinian attacks against Israelis have surged during that time.

Israel says most of the dead were militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting the incursions and others not involved in confrontations have also been killed.

Palestinian attacks against Israelis have killed at least 20 people this year. AP

Coast guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state ERT TV that it was impossible to accurately estimate the number of passengers. He said it appeared that the 25- to 30-meter (80- to 100-foot) vessel capsized after people abruptly moved to one side.

“The outer deck was full of people, and we presume that the interior (of the vessel) would also have been full,” he said. “It looks as if there was a shift among the people who were crammed on board, and it capsized.”

A coast guard statement said efforts by its own ships and merchant vessels to assist the boat were repeatedly rebuffed, with people on board insisting they wanted to continue to Italy. Coast guard officials said the trawler’s engines broke down around 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, and just under an hour later, the ship started to list abruptly from side to side before capsizing.

Authorities said 104 people were rescued after the sinking in international waters about 75 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Greece’s southern Peloponnese peninsula. The spot is close to the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea, and depths of up to 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) could hamper any effort to locate a sunken vessel.

Twenty-five survivors ranging in age from 16 to 49 were hospitalized with hypothermia or fever.

At the port of Kalamata, around 70 exhausted survivors bedded down in sleeping bags and blankets provided by rescuers in a large warehouse, while paramedics set up tents outside for anyone who needed first aid.

Katerina Tsata, head of a Red Cross volunteer group in Kalamata, said the migrants were also given psychological support.

“They suffered a very heavy blow, both physical and mental,” she said.

Rescue volunteer Constantinos Vlachonikolos said nearly all the survivors were men.

“They were very worn out. How could they not be?” he said. Rescu -

ers said many of the people pulled from the water couldn’t swim and were clutching debris. The coast guard said none had life jackets.

The Greek coast guard said 79 bodies have been recovered so far. Survivors included 30 people from Egypt, 10 from Pakistan, 35 from Syria and two Palestinians, the agency said.

The Italy-bound boat was believed to have left the Tobruk area in eastern Libya—a country plunged into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime autocrat Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Human traffickers have benefited from the instability, and made Libya one of the main departure points for people attempting to reach Europe on smuggler’s boats.

The route from North Africa to Italy through the central Mediterranean is the deadliest in the world, according to the U.N. migration agency, known as IOM, which has recorded more than 21,000 deaths and disappearances there since 2014.

Smugglers use unseaworthy boats and cram as many migrants as possible inside—sometimes inside locked holds—for journeys that can take days. They head for Italy, which is directly across the Mediterranean from Libya and Tunisia, and much closer than Greece to the Western European countries that most migrants hope

After that first alert, Frontex aircraft and two merchant ships spotted the boat heading north at high speed, according to the Greek coast guard, and more aircraft and ships were sent to the area.

But repeated calls to the vessel offering help were declined, the coast guard said in a statement.

“In the afternoon, a merchant vessel approached the ship and provided it with food and supplies, while the (passengers) refused any further assistance,” the coast guard said. A second merchant ship later offered more supplies and assistance, which were turned down, the agency added.

In the evening, a coast guard patrol boat reached the vessel “and confirmed the presence of a large number of migrants on the deck,” the statement said. “But they refused any assistance and said they wanted to continue to Italy.”

The coast guard boat accompanied the migrant vessel and later headed a major rescue operation by all the ships in the area.

Alarm Phone, a network of activists that provides a hotline for migrants in trouble, said it was contacted by people on a boat in distress on Tuesday afternoon. That boat was in the same general area as the one that sank, but it

not clear if it was the same vessel.

Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writers Sam Magdy in Cairo and Renata Brito in Barcelona, Spain, contributed to this report.

SAUDI ARABIA and the United Arab Emirates are lobbying allies in Europe to restore diplomatic ties with Syria’s government and ease sanctions, people familiar with the matter said.

was

SOUTH Sudanese who fled from Sudan sit outside a nutrition

clinic

at

a transit center

in

Renk, South

Sudan

on May 16, 2023. The UN migration agency says Sudan’s conflict has displaced more than 2 million people as the tally of civilians killed in the fighting climbed to at least 959 people. Sudan has plunged into chaos since mid-April when monthslong tensions between the military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere across the northeastern African nation. The fighting has forced more than 1.6 million people to leave their homes for safer areas inside Sudan. AP/SAM MEDNICK

Protecting the good cops from rotten ones

For bravely standing as the “face” and “voice” of the Marcos administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, we take our hat off to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. Drug dealing is the largest criminal industry in the world. We can only imagine the danger Abalos has to face going after drug syndicates. That danger exponentially grows when he runs after men in uniform involved in this criminal activity.

Not wont to shirk his responsibilities no matter how difficult or unpleasant they are, Abalos called on police generals and colonels to submit their courtesy resignation to jumpstart the cleansing process in the Philippine National Police. He said the move is part of a radical approach to speed up the internal cleansing in the police organization.

“After conducting months of thorough study in connection with this problem, it appears that there is a big problem in the police. It appears that there are generals, there are colonels who are involved in illegal drugs. It’s hard to fight in a war when your ally will be the one to shoot you in the back,” Abalos said.

Former President Duterte doubled the base pay of the lowest ranking policemen in 2018 to fulfill a campaign promise, in the belief that members of the PNP will help him make his anti-drugs campaign succeed. To his dismay, Duterte found out that the so-called “ninja cops” are the ones sabotaging his war on drugs.

In a recent media interview, Duterte thanked the police for helping him restore public order and safety in Davao City, but he wants those involved in illegal drugs dead. “I love the police, but you know this is a difficult problem. I have said it before…the best way to deal with these kinds of lawmen: kill them.”

Duterte dared the entire Philippine National Police to resign, accusing the agency of being the “gatekeeper” of the illegal drug trade in the country.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday, Abalos assured the former president and the public that the Marcos administration is acting on the issue of the alleged drug ties of some police officers.

Abalos said the National Police Commission and the PNP have already filed criminal raps against 50 active police officers in connection with the 990-kilogram drug haul in October last year. Administrative cases will also be slapped against them within the next two weeks. The cases involved violations of Republic Act 3091 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drug Act, falsification of documents, false testimony, malversation of private property, and obstruction of justice. Among the 50 respondents, 12 were police commissioned officers. (Read, “Napolcom, PNP file raps vs 50 cops in 990-kg drug bust,” in the BusinessMirror, June 14, 2023).

Confident that the criminal case filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against the suspects is airtight, Abalos said: “We have culled this not only from the investigation of the Napolcom but also from the investigation of the Special Investigative Task Force of the PNP. The investigation done was comprehensive.”

In March, former Police Master Sergeant Rodolfo Mayo Jr. was dismissed from the service. Mayo was arrested in a drug buy-bust operation in October last year that resulted in one of the biggest drug hauls in the country’s history. Some 990 kilograms of suspected shabu with an estimated value of over P6.7 billion was seized after a series of anti-drug operations in Manila. At the time of his arrest, Mayo was an intelligence officer for the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.

The drug bust caught the attention of lawmakers, who sought a public inquiry to get to the bottom of the buy-bust operation. The Senate panel investigating the irregularities surrounding what is touted to be the biggest seizure of illegal drugs in the country confirmed the “massive cover-up” of the alleged pilferage by police personalities, including former and current high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police.

When you have police officers involved in criminal activities like drug dealing, you erode public confidence in law enforcement. That makes the job of good police officers unsafe.

An ageless adage says one bad apple can cause the rest to go rotten and should therefore be removed immediately on discovery. Abalos would do well to create a group tasked to check the lifestyles of suspected scalawags in uniform. Indeed, one bad PNP member can corrupt the whole group.

Protecting the ‘Tatak Pinoy’ in our products

sonny M. angara

Better Days

LAST February, as Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship, we conducted a hearing on the bill providing for Protected Geographical Indications (GIs) of locally produced agricultural or natural products, processed products, or any products of handicraft or industry. The proposed measure aims to ultimately protect our local producers’ quality of manufacturing and craftsmanship and go after substandard products that claim to have the same authenticity.

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines defines geographical indications as indications that identify a good or product as originating in a territory, region, or locality, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin and/or human factors. For instance, the IPOPHL has identified certain Filipino-made products including Cordillera’s Heirloom Rice, the T’nalak handwoven cloth from the T’boli people of South Cotabato, the Sabutan weave of Aurora, and Kalinga’s own coffee as potential GIs.

In 2022, IPOPHL issued the rules on GIs to strengthen the protection and promotion of our local products. In fact, Guimaras mangoes were recently registered by the agency as a GI—the first in the Philippines. We believe that—through this measure —the GI system will be institution-

alized and products that have been the pride and glory of communities in the Philippines will remain protected from those seeking to illicitly benefit from reputable local producers and pass their goods as originating from that area.

While many of these potential GIs are already registered as collective marks or a trademark acquired and exclusively used by an organization or association in order to distinguish their products, many local producers have been calling for stronger regulations against instances of misrepresentation. And understandably so, especially since they have toiled for most of their lives in order to build a notable reputation and following for their products only for unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of their hard work and benefit from it. For instance, in 2019, Coffee Heritage Project founder Margaret Watanabe remarked that their organization

has been trying to protect Sagada coffee as there have been many reports of individuals selling “fake” Sagada coffee. In fact, Watanabe’s group has written cease and desist orders against these sellers.

Moreover, in 2022, the local government of Sagada also decried the proliferation of “fake” Sagada oranges that are being sold in Baguio City to unassuming tourists. What’s also unfortunate is that most buyers and consumers—particularly those who purchase these items from online sellers—would have no way of knowing if what they bought are really from the areas renowned for these products. Hence, if these “fake” goods are deemed substandard or of poor quality, the negative impact to the reputable producers, especially in the age of social media, would be catastrophic.

Under the bill, which is a counterpart to the measure filed by Congresswoman Geraldine Roman, registered GIs would be afforded protection against any direct or indirect commercial use of a registered name with respect to products not covered by the registration; any misuse, imitation, or evocation; any other false or misleading indication as to provenance, origin, nature, or essential qualities of the product that is used on the packaging or advertising material; any use of a GI which constitutes an act of unfair competition within the meaning of Article 10(bis) of the Paris Convention; and any other practice that tends to mislead the consumer as to the true origin of the product; among others.

During the hearing on the mea-

A glimpse of Filipinos’ migration

cal microeconomic theory of migration decision-making.

ACCorDInG to a December 2022 Social Weather Stations survey, overseas Filipino workers (oFWs) comprise 7 percent of Filipino households, but this number may rise to 7 percent of adult Filipinos actively seeking employment abroad.

A mong those looking for employment abroad, two out of 10 hope to live abroad. Nevertheless, in 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority was able to account for 1.83 million OFWs who worked abroad from April to September 2021, and from this number, 3.6 percent did not have a work visa or work permit. Most of them had tourist, visitor, student, and medical visas. Some had other types of non-immigrant visa but were employed and working full-

time in other countries. The desire to work abroad is facilitated by several factors: globalization, lack of economic opportunities in the country, high demand of workers from receiving countries, and perceived economic benefits of having a family member working abroad, to name a few. The rational migrant is driven to move in order to maximize one’s own personal benefits, whether those gains are in the form of money or capital, according to the neoclassi-

sure, IPOPHL expressed its full support to the proposed legislation and noted that—once enacted into law —this will “protect, promote, and preserve the cultural heritage and practices of our indigenous cultural communities and other local communities.” In addition, the agency also shared that this bill could potentially increase the productivity and financial stability of local producers much like those in foreign countries. A 2020 study by the European Commission noted that food and drink products registered by the EU as GIs have around €75 billion in sales value. The Commission also noted that the sales value of these products is around twice as much compared to the same products without a certification.

This measure has the potential to help our local producers, not only in protecting the integrity of their goods, but also for them to further break into the international marketplace scene through their products that represent our brand of quality, creativity, and innovativeness. With the bill currently undergoing a series of consultations with relevant government agencies, industry leaders, and other stakeholders, it is our goal to further refine it to be able to sponsor the measure in plenary once our sessions resume.

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

canvas of consideration.

Due to the complexity of the international migration phenomena, those who are interested must go through a lengthy process of ideation, intention development, planning, and decision-making. It starts with ideation, and the intention is depicted in the gathering of information considering all factors. For a married person, especially those with children, the opportunity cost is likely higher than for a single individual. If we assume all migrants are rational, the choice to work as an OFW implies that the economic benefits outweigh all the costs of their decision to migrate.

Understanding the thought process of people who stay in their country as opposed to those who leave is crucial, but it is also helpful to comprehend the process they go through before actually migrating. The factors, information, and networks can be put together like a puzzle to make a sizable migration

One can assume that a voluntary international labor migrant has a high degree of autonomy in terms of resources (money, knowledge, information, and contacts). While resources may be available, the decision to migrate is complicated. There are many considerations on both personal and professional levels.

The decision to migrate is heavily influenced by personal factors, including marital status, level of education, joining the work force, beginning a career, life stages (birth of a child, aging of parents, children leaving home), house ownership, and retirement.

Professional factors include overall job abilities, state of labor market demand, income inequalities, and chances of landing a job during a job search period in the place of destination. On top of this, a decision regarding migration is made over a period between a number of destinations, with the origin functioning as See “Eagle Watch,” A15

GOP presidential candidates struggle with response to Trump’s unprecedented legal troubles

By Steve Peoples & Jill Colvin

The Associated Press

BeDMINST eR , N.J.—Just last week, former Vice President Mike Pence said he hoped federal prosecutors would not bring charges against former President Donald Trump. On Wednesday, a day after Trump was arraigned on dozens of felony counts related to classified documents, Pence described the allegations as “a very serious matter.”

“I cannot defend what is alleged,” Pence, who is now challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, said on CNBC. Later in the day, the former vice president faced pointed questions from a conservative radio host after refusing to say whether he would pardon Trump if given the chance.

Pence’s evolving message highlights the high-stakes dilemma for Trump’s Republican rivals, who are struggling to find a clear and consistent strategy to take on the frontrunner as Trump’s unprecedented legal troubles threaten to dominate all other issues in the 2024 presidential contest.

Some Republican leaders this week have demonstrated a newfound willingness to criticize Trump over the seriousness of the allegations, which include mishandling government secrets that as commander in chief he was entrusted to protect.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former naval officer and Trump’s top rival for the nomination, said that “if I would have taken classified [documents] to my apartment, I would have been court-martialed in a New York minute.”

But that was just a brief mention in a weekend speech at a North Carolina GOP gathering, during which he focused his censure on the Justice Department and the Biden administration. He has avoided addressing it since.

It’s been much the same for other challengers. even the most aggressive have layered their criticism of Trump with attacks against the Justice Department—for bringing charges against him—that make it difficult at times to determine exactly where they stand on the former president.

And that’s precisely the point, given Trump’s continued popularity among GOP voters and his rivals’ desire to dent his lead without alienating his base.

Indeed, most of Trump’s competitors are making a risky bet—for now—that the weight of his extraordinary baggage will eventually sink his reelection bid. They believe it will take time.

Trump’s Republican opponents privately concede that his political strength is likely to grow stronger in the short term, as GOP voters, key officials and conservative media leaders rally around him.

For example, Pastor Robert Jeffress, of the First Baptist megachurch in Dallas, initially declined to endorse Trump’s 2024 bid but declared Tuesday night that the GOP’s presidential primary was all but over.

“I thought there would be almost a civil war in the Republican Party for the nomination, but that quickly turned into an unconditional surrender,” said Jeffress, who mingled at Trump’s post-indictment gathering at Bedminster, New Jersey.

“People absolutely love this president, and I believe his base is going to turn out.”

The Republican establishment has tried and failed to reject Trump and his divisive politics for much of the past decade. But this time the GOP faces the very real possibility that a man who has been indicted twice and charged with dozens of felonies could become the party’s standard-bearer in 2024.

Fighting that outcome, which once seemed all but inevitable, a powerful conservative voice is being raised in the fight for the first time.

The Koch network’s political arm, Americans for Prosperity, has begun running online ads across Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina—the

first three states on the GOP’s presidential primary calendar—focusing on questions about Trump’s electability in next fall’s general election against Biden. The new ads make no mention of his legal troubles.

“Trump did a lot of good things as president,” one of the ads says. “But this time, he can’t win.”

Americans for Prosperity CeO em ily Seidel said her organization has talked to thousands of voters in key states to determine the most effective arguments to undermine Trump’s political strength.

“Based on the data we’re collecting, more than two-thirds of people who say they’re supporting Trump are also receptive to arguments that he is a weak candidate, his focus on 2020 is a liability, and his lack of appeal with independent voters is a problem,” Seidel said. “That tells us that many Republicans are ready to move on—they just need to see another candidate step up and show they can lead and win.”

So far, Trump’s rivals are still trying to find their footing as the former president commands a big lead in early Republican primary polls.

And as they test evolving messages on the campaign trail and in media appearances, none of top-tier competitors are running paid advertisements pointing to Trump’s legal troubles.

In Iowa Wednesday night, GOP presidential contender Tim Scott declined to mention his recent comments that Trump’s indictment represents “a serious case” involving “serious charges” when a voter asked about a “weaponized” Justice Department—a reference to Trump’s insistence that federal prosecutors are targeting him to weaken his presidential campaign.

Scott, a South Carolina senator, instead pledged to root out politics within the Justice Department if elected president.

“Americans must have a justice system where the lady of justice wears a blindfold. We cannot target Republicans and protect Democrats,” he said.

White House hopeful Nikki Haley, the former ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, told Fox News on Monday that Trump was incredibly “reckless with our national security” if the allegations in the indictment are true. On Tuesday, she repeated the pointed criticism, but also said she’d be inclined to pardon Trump if he’s convicted.

“I think it would be terrible for the country to have a former president in prison for years because of a documents case,” Haley said on the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show.

Pence refused to say he would pardon Trump when pressed on the same conservative radio show on Wednesday, saying it was premature to have such a conversation and that he would “follow the facts.”

That sounded like he would be fine with Trump in prison and felt “pretty disrespectful,” he was told.

“Look, we either believe in our judicial process in this country or we don’t,” Pence said. “We either stand by the rule of law or we don’t.”

Others have made defending Trump a central message in their early campaigns.

Speaking outside the Miami courthouse on Tuesday, White House hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said his campaign had sent a letter to other 2024 candidates challenging them to join his pledge to pardon Trump on their first day in office “or else publicly explain why you will not.”

Trump, meanwhile, is trying to take advantage of the media storm.

After his appearance in federal court in Miami, he made a stop at the city’s famed Versailles Restaurant in Little Havana, with news cameras in tow. He then headed home to his Bedminster summer residence, where aides had assembled hundreds of supporters, club members and reporters for a post-arraignment speech. Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Pella, Iowa, and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

This Little Bird

Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions

He flies so high up in the sky

Out of reach of human eye

And the only time that he touches the ground

Is when that little bird (that little bird)

Is when that little bird (that little bird)

Is when that little bird dies (dies)

As sung by Marianne Faithfull

The cry of a bird on the roof of my apartment kitchen had been persistent one morning. I ignored it: birds are unusually numerous around my place, as I had developed this quirky habit of feeding them. Yes, I feed these regular, ordinary birds that you see around flying. They are so common no one ever thinks of them as pets. In fact, no one ever thinks of them, one reason why I think of them.

Far from being ornithological, my knowledge of these small creatures is instinctive. I have learned about them by being near them, and being ordinary around them.

On a ledge that runs across the wall of my apartment I place in the morning breadcrumbs, even hardened cakes, and some grains of couscous. These birds seem to eat anything.

I would arrange these morsels of anything the night before. I make sure they are minute enough for their small beaks. I thus wake up to the tiny sounds of these birds walking so tenderly on the ledge. By the time I stand to gaze at them through the screen door with a mat of rush to cover part of it (courtesy of my Japanese brother-in-law, ever concerned about inside and outside), they have become quiet.

We anthropomorphize other animals. I am no exception. I attribute some of the movements of birds as their polite way of thanking me, as when they pretend not to get startled when I step out onto the porch. The “pretend” is wholly my reading of

these winged beings. I believe I understand the meanings of their cries. The high-pitched ones are when they approach the ledge full of small bits of food. The lower notes are their lazy ways of flying away from where I have placed the banquet. They are whimpers of satisfaction. The crackling sounds are silly banter among them. And so on. I could read them forever and I became grandly literate about life and sky.

That day, however, when I heard those cries above the sunroof, I knew they were not mating music. They were also not ordinary calls or signals. They were not songs, as we call the sounds produced by the chirping of birds.

A morning after the ridiculously loud anguished twitter, I decided to stay longer in the kitchen. It was then that I saw moving at the edge of the opening, slatted with iron grills, a plump maya. It was steady, looking straight at what I imagined to be above the roofs of my home and the entire neighborhood. Was she announcing a loss or a grief?

I got tired of looking up and went

back inside. An hour after, the same anxious trills were still on. I went to the kitchen again and saw the tiniest maya. It was crouched at the corner of the space, all balled up. I will catch it, I told myself. Briskly opening the screen door and ready with all my speed to catch the flightless bird, I was surprised when it flew up—a frail composition of tiny bones covered in dark, dark brown, frantic and ambitious. It flew halfway up the wall, nearly a meter from the opening at the sunroof. It landed on a deck of balikbayan boxes and disappeared.

It could not fly I stayed long at the kitchen hoping it would come out, weaker this time and I would be able to hold it.

And what? Return it to its mother? How?

The human in me reminded my body and mind that I needed to go out, to perform tasks that humans were expected to do. This was necessary for us to remain as human beings.

Outside, the world of men and women were not into birds falling through sunroofs and being separated from their mothers. We do not talk about separations and falling. We write about them. Ruminate about them. We earn some wealth writing about them.

I scanned the memories I have of these birds. Was it true that when you hold, or keep, or even so much touch these birds, they become unwanted by their group? That they would be killed by their group? Ostracized forever? A kind of death anyway.

At night, I came home as all humans do. In the morning, I woke up to the persistent cry of what I already concluded to be that of a bird- mother looking for one of her bird-children. I again stepped out into the kitchen and was surprised to see that the tiny, tiny bird was there. Alive. Surprised or shocked, it flew up again, fell down, and disappeared into the boxes and the eternity of darkness created by them. It is the third day in the Great Sky for this tiny unseen bird. Or so I dream. The mother’s call is gone. I also think the tiny bird has developed the power of flight after three days. I really thought this would happen— the bird finding the right ending to its life not in death but in the discovery that it can fly out of the boxes. This has to be the resolution to the life of all tiny birds. Life, flight, happiness, and some kind of immortality among the clouds. Add to this the lesson never to bother humans again with memories of guilt and pity. Those two things are not good for the human soul.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Powell indicates at least two more rate hikes ahead after pause

By Catarina Saraiva & Steve Matthews Bloomberg Opinion

Fe D e R AL Reserve officials paused their series of interest-rate hikes but projected borrowing costs will go higher than previously expected, owing to what Chair Jerome Powell called surprisingly persistent inflation and labormarket strength.

Powell, speaking to reporters in a press conference Wednesday, faced the challenging task of explaining two possibly contradictory policies: deciding to leave rates unchanged following 10 straight hikes while also indicating that at least two more increases might be necessary this year, possibly as soon as July.

“The committee thought overall that it was appropriate to moderate the pace, if only slightly,” Powell said. “That gives us more information to make decisions. We may try to make better decisions. It allows the economy a little more time to adapt as we make our decisions going forward.”

Yet the surprisingly high projections may also reflect a return to the Fed’s strategy of cooling a resilient economy while slowing its tighten-

Eagle Watch . . .

continued from A14

one of those destinations. When a migrant chooses the best location, consideration is given to the individual’s traits and available options.

Migration decision gets even more complicated as important people surrounding the migrant weigh in on the decision making. Social networks, household members, friends, kinship network, ethnic or religious group, and/or professional associates form part of the migration decision. Thus, cost and

ing campaign from the aggressive pace of last year—a strategy that was derailed by a string of bank collapses in March.

Pausing rate hikes while at the same time signaling further potential increases “gives them maximum flexibility,” said James Knightley, chief international economist at ING. “They have laid the groundwork for a hike if the data remains hot, but can easily reverse course if it’s softer.”

Higher forecasts

POLICYMAK eR S on Wednesday left rates in a range of 5 percent to 5.25 percent, taking their first breather in a 15-month hiking campaign that included four jumbo-sized 75-basispoint increases last year.

Officials began moderating the pace of policy tightening in December, and delivered quarter-point hikes at each of the first three meetings this year.

Asian stocks climbed Thursday after the Fed’s pause and China’s cut to a key lending rate to support its struggling economy. The dollar rose.

But with economic data coming in stronger than expected, and progress on inflation slower by some measures, officials this week lifted ex-

rewards are shared, and an implicit contract between the parties specifies the rules guiding their division of the provision. This explains the reason behind remittances as a crucial part of the direct benefits from the move.

Migrants could also have a desired level of utility in deciding to migrate.

The random utility theory states that a person can assess the utility associated with a range of reasonable options and then choose the one that, in his opinion, will produce the most utility. In the case of a migrant who is weighing costs and benefits, wages are seen as important variables that

pectations for how much more they need to do to contain price pressures.

The median estimate of Fed participants’ projections is now for rates to rise to 5.6 percent by the end of this year, implying two more quarterpoint increases, up from 5.1 percent in March.

Bond traders almost wiped out bets that the Fed will cut rates this year, but they don’t expect borrowing costs to rise as high as central bankers project.

“The level of 5.6 is pretty consistent, if you think about it, where the federal funds rate was trading before the bank incidents of early March, so we’ve kind of gone back to that,” Powell said.

Options open

POW eL L suggested policymakers want to keep their options open over the coming months as they assess how previous moves are affecting the economy.

Now that rates are at or very close to most participants’ estimate of restrictive levels, a meeting-by-meeting approach to tightening—if more is needed at all—will enable them to respond to data as it comes in.

It will also help them avoid com-

have a significant impact on migration decisions. Salaries and job satisfaction may have a direct impact on a person’s attitude toward work and decision to remain in or leave their own country. Different laws and theories of migration show that migration is influenced by different micro and macro factors. These factors validate the assumption that migration is driven by the attractive force of “utility.” This postulation is derived from various theoretical approaches through time, and this necessitates the need to look at new ideas to continuously explain why a person or a

mitting to something ahead of time that then doesn’t seem appropriate in the moment, a tough lesson learned as inflation was on the rise.

It’s a tough message to communicate. The Fed’s post-meeting statement gave a clearer signal of additional increases, and the dot plot of rate estimates showed more hikes than central bank watchers had forecast before the gathering.

“We interpret this dot plot as a jawboning tool—a way for the Fed to pre-empt further easing in financial conditions in response to its rate pause, even if the additional tightening is unlikely to be fully delivered.... [W]e believe that inflation will likely be lower than these projections by year-end, and ultimately the Fed will hike less than what the new dot plot indicates,” said Bloomberg economists Anna Wong, Stuart Paul and el iza Winger.

Powell was careful to avoid committing to much of anything in the future. While acknowledging the two additional rate hikes many of his colleagues penciled in, he repeatedly emphasized that they are only forecasts and that the evolution of the economy is uncertain. With assistance from Jonnelle Marte / Bloomberg

group migrates.

To know how migration is sustained requires analyzing potential future migration intentions. Understanding how elements such as migrant networks contribute to or obstruct the perpetuation of international movement behavior. This requires analyzing future migration aspirations. Indeed, the culture of migration and the incentives attached to it are embedded in the goals of many Filipinos.

BSP tightening move hinges on domestic inflation picture

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

T his is despite the recent decision of the United States Federal Reserve to pause its monetary policy tightening stance. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) earlier decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 5 to 5.25 percent.

I n the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in Singapore aired live on social media on Thursday, BSP Deputy Governor Francisco

G. Dakila Jr. said the monetary policy actions of the Federal Reserve now carry less weight on the policy actions of the Monetary Board.

“ On the Fed, the policy actions

will of course remain relevant but we see the Fed actions now as being less of a factor in decision making. Of course, what the Fed does will remain relevant but right now domestic considerations carry more weight,” Dakila said.

“And even if the Fed decides to pause from its policy tightening, which it did this morning, we may not move in complete lock step if the domestic inflation picture warrants a different response,” he added.

D akila said during the briefing that inflation risks are still tilted to the upside. This is the

reason for the need to continue monitoring the upside risks to inflation.

H e said these risks, which have been flagged by the Monetary Board, include fare hikes that could occur in the second half of 2023. This follows “several adjustments” and could lead to higher inflation.

T he BSP official noted that high food prices are also included in the list of reasons that could increase inflation. Nonetheless, Dakila said the creation of interagency bodies will help address this risk.

Dakila said a closer reading of the policy statement of the Monetary Board last month was “still quite hawkish” and emphasized the need for “continued vigilance” should further adjustments to the monetary policy be needed.

For this year, during the March meeting, our assessment was an average of 6 percent inflation. We have revised that downwards to 5.5 percent, still above target. But for next year, from 2.9 percent in March, we have revised the outlook to 2.8 percent,” Dakila said.

“

The most likely outlook for inflation will see inflation going down within the 2-4 percent

DBM TO LGUS: SET ASIDE COVID-RELATED FUNDS; THREATS LINGER

target range starting in the fourth quarter of this year. And then in the first quarter of this year, because of base effects, inflation may actually decelerate close to the lower end of the target range. And that will be supported by a projected decline in both global oil and non-oil prices,” he explained.

L ast week, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that inflation slowed further to 6.1 percent in May from 6.6 percent in April. This is firmly within the BSP’s forecast range of 5.8-6.6 percent for the month.

T he latest inflation figure is consistent with the BSP’s assessment that inflation will revert to within the target range by the fourth quarter of 2023.

A s price pressures have continued to recede in recent months, the BSP remains vigilant in monitoring all threats to the inflation outlook, as risks continue to lean toward the upside.

T he BSP continues to focus on restoring inflation to the 2-4 percent target range and is prepared to resume monetary policy tightening as needed in keeping with its price stability mandate.

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) urged local government units (LGUs) to continue allocating funds for Covid-19 pandemic-related projects next year because of the “uncertainty” of when the pandemic-related threats would end.

I n its Local Budget Memorandum 87, the DBM outlined the guidelines for the budget preparations of local government units (LGUs) for the proposed 2024 national budget unit.

T he memorandum also stipulated the indicative national tax allotment (NTA) of LGUs next year, which was estimated at P871.375 billion, is 6.23 percent higher than this year’s P820.268 billion NTA.

T he DBM memorandum showed the 1,486 municipalities will have the biggest share in the indicative 2024 NTA at about P295.467 billion, followed by the P201.216-billion allocation for 148 cities.

T he 83 provinces nationwide

would receive P200.416 billion while the remaining P174.275 billion was allocated to 41,953 barangays, according to the DBM memorandum.

R egion 4A will have the biggest NTA share at P103.099 billion, followed by Region 3 with P84.831 billion.

The LGUs shall be notified of their respective indicative FY 2024 NTA allocations by the DBM Regional Offices [ROs] concerned, and said information shall be used by LGUs as basis for determining the amounts to be allocated for the budgetary requirements as prescribed under RA No. 7160 and other pertinent laws,” it said.

T he DBM reminded the LGUs that the use of NTA shall prioritize the provision of basic services and facilities devolved by the national government.

T he DBM said each LGU must appropriate no less than 20 percent of its annual budget for development projects, which is also known as the development fund.

Continued on A5

Philexport pushes for ‘double’ DTI’s budget, cites huge demand in trade

By Andrea E. San Juan

THE Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (Philexport) said the government should double the budget of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), saying the agency has a big responsibility as it caters to huge demand in trade.

“Among the agencies, DTI, for instance, should not be one of the lowest-funded agencies because we have a big demand; you want trade, you want price stabilization, you want development of the SMEs and yet there’s no fund,” Philexport President Sergio R. Ortiz-Luis Jr. told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Philippine Export Development Plan 2023-2028.

Under the General Appropriations Act 2023, the DTI has a P6.33billion budget for this year.

T his, the Philexport chief noted, should be doubled. In particular, he said, “those pertaining to foreign international functions” should be funded, “our foreign postings [must have more funds].”

O rtiz-Luis also suggested an additional P5-billion fund for the

Trade department to bolster international and trade development.

He stressed that the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotions arm of DTI, also lacks budget.

W ith this he expressed hope that more funds will flow to agencies like DTI, “especially the budget for international [functions],” which are being trimmed “instead of being  augmented.”  He lamented that CITEM has “no budget for international.”

A s a result of such miniscule budgets, Philippine businesses and government agencies are forced to stay away from trade fairs they should ideally have a presence in, he pointed out.

T he Philexport chief suggested that the government reallocate some of the extra budgets from other government agencies to the DTI.

Why are we not investing in trade and export development when we could do it in all the other departments? The DTI has a big responsibility but has no sufficient funds to do that,” Ortiz-Luis said, partly in Filipino.

T he GAA showed that DTI’s Office of the Secretary, which includes Exports and Investments Develop -

ment Program, Industry Development Program, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Program, Consumer Protection Program, and Consumer Education and Advocacy Program, locally-funded projects, foreign-assisted projects, among others, has a budget of P5 billion.

T he rest of the budget, around P1.33 billion, are poured into the Philippine Trade Training Center, Cooperative Development Authority, Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, the Board of Investments, and the Design Center of the Philippines.

For his part, Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual agreed that the budget for foreign posting and international trade participation is small.

He said the agency would have to ask for a bigger budget next year. “Of course [bigger]. More than double what we have.”

If we are to promote exports, help the MSMEs develop, these are the ones with returns. This is an expenditure of government that will have a return to the economy and at the same time, will help MSMEs,” Pascual told reporters on the sidelines of the PEDP 2023-2028 launch.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) stands ready to resume its monetary policy tightening should the country’s domestic conditions warrant such a move.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inducted the Board of Directors and Officers for 2022-2023 of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the International Trade Forum on Thursday (June 15, 2023) at Shangri-La The Fort, Taguig City. Photo shows President Marcos (center) with (seated, from left) PCCI President George Barcelon; Labor and Employment Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma; Special Assistant of the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.; Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual; Senator Loren Legarda; PCCI honorary chair and treasurer/Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr.; (Standing, from left) PCCI honorary chair/ adviser Ma. Alegria Sibal Limjoco; director for Urban Housing Development Jeffrey Ng; corporate secretary Atty. Pablo Gancayco; director Joseph Sy; VP trade promotion, director, environment, natural resources and climate change Felino Palafox Jr., VP for industrial affairs Ferdinand Ferrer; director, SME Apolinario Aure; chairman emeritus, director, international affairs Francis Chua; chairman William Co; VP regional affairs, director, chamber management Enunina Mangio; director Bernardo Benedicto III; Area Vice President North Luzon, director Gregoria Simbulan; honorary chair/director, tourism, retail and franchise Samie Lim; director, legislation and taxation Atty. Benedicta DuBaladad; Area Vice President NCR/ director, Teresita Ngan Tian; Area Vice President South Luzon/ director Sallie Lacson.

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

B1

Friday, June 16, 2023

Vivant plans to invest ₧21B in expansion of RE portfolio

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

During the company’s stockholders’ meeting, Vivant President em il Andre Garcia announced that subsidiary Vivant energy is looking at investing P21 billion in renewable energy projects, making up more than 75 percent of its total capital expenditure (capex) up to 2030.

Vivant CeO Arlo A.G. Sarmiento said the company is setting a target of 30 percent r e for its power generation portfolio by 2030. t his, he said, is aligned with the environment, social and governance (eSG) framework.

“As we look back at the challenges and achievements that propelled us to continue to improve everyday living for the past 20 years, we put environmental, social and governance (eSG) at the forefront of our strategy to achieve long-term sustainable profits,” said Sarmiento. to meet its r e target, Vivant recently acquired San Ildefonso Alternative energy Corporation, which will develop a 22-megawatt peak (MWp) solar power plant in Bulacan. Another fully owned subsidiary, COr energy, contributes to the r e

target by growing its rooftop solar business from 2 MW to 6 MW in 2022. COr energy, a retail company that offers total energy solutions to commercial and industrial establishments, aims to add 18MW of solar rooftop generation capacity by the end of the year.

“Vivant energy is committed to play a meaningful role in energy transformation and to accelerate growth and improvement of power services in the country,” Garcia said. He said the company is looking at wind and solar technology to contribute to surpassing its r e target.

Its recent acquisition of the shareholding of Gigawatt Power Inc. in several power generation facilities also supports the group’s commitment to contribute to the social and economic development in the countryside by providing stable and reliable power primarily in SPuG or off-grid areas. Vivant energy now has full ownership of Isla Mactan Power Corp.,

which operates the 23.3-MW diesel power plant that provides stable and reliable power in Bantayan Island, Cebu.

Meanwhile, Vivant Infracore Holdings Inc.—which manages the Vivant Group’s investments in water solutions—is looking at investing about P16 billion in several greenfield and brownfield opportunities in water resource utilization and wastewater engineering over the next five years.

“Our success in this sector will allow us to meet the Group’s sustainability objectives and meaningfully support efforts to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos. With the help of all our stakeholders, we can drive meaningful change and create a future where access to clean water, improved sanitation, and environmental sustainability is a reality for all,” said Vivant Infracore President Jess Anthony Garcia.

CNPF: US retailer to sell unMeat

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Century Pacific Food Inc.

(CnPF) on t hursday said it expanded plant-based unMeat’s availability in the united States with its entry into Albertsons, one of the top food and drug retailers that has presence in 34 states.

CnPF said it will roll out the veggie meat brand in close to 2,000 Albertsons outlets to expand its reach and increase market accessibility.

t he brand comes in with a range of plant-based meat alternatives, such as luncheon meat style, burger-style luncheon meat and the new chicken style chunks, all priced at

parity to meat analogs.

t he company said its chicken style chunks are the latest among the brand’s innovations. It’s a versatile chicken alternative made entirely of plant-based ingredients, primarily non-GMO soy-based proteins. It has no cholesterol and is a good source of fiber and protein.

“We are pleased with the trajectory of our plant-based business. While still in their early days, unMeat’s latest innovations in the space are penetrating more mainstream retailers such as Albertsons and gaining traction on-shelf. We’re seeing this trend develop in other key markets as well,” Christopher Po, CnPF’s executive chairman, said.

More recently, the category has come under scrutiny after all the hype these past couple of years. According to Po, CnPF remains committed to growing the business despite these developments. “ two major factors are driving us in this pursuit. One, we believe that longterm trends remain. Consumers still want healthier and more sustainable food options, and we believe plantbased alternatives have a role to play in serving this need. two, we see ourselves as a protein delivery company. We have the capability to build this vertical, learning along the way, and, hopefully, we can democratize the category in the process,” Po said. t his will be a long game. Much

education and innovation are needed, so we are being patient, growing with the category by being methodical and deliberate with our choices.”

C n PF forayed into the plantbased business in 2020. t he brand had an institutional launch through an affiliate company, Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc.

Soon after, in 2021, the brand entered the domestic retail market and began its international rollout in select markets. Since then, its veggie meat brand has expanded its footprint in mainstream retailers such as Walmart, Harris teeter, HeB and Meijer in the uS, Carrefour in the united Arab em irates and FairPrice in Singapore.

Isuzu Gencars-San Pablo celebrates 22 years of success, expands to better serve customers

ISuZ u Gencars San Pablo, the third Isuzu outlet under the Isuzu Gencars Group dealership, celebrated its 22nd anniversary on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Since its inception in June 2001, the dealership has been a trusted destination for brand-new Isuzu vehicles and reliable vehicle services for customers in Laguna, Quezon, and the Bicol region.

Located along the bustling Colago Avenue in Barangay 1-A, San Pablo City, the dealership currently occupies a vast 2,145 square meter property. Over the years, Isuzu Gencars San Pablo has built a strong reputation for delivering exceptional customer service and offering topquality Isuzu vehicles to meet diverse needs and preferences.

r e cognizing the dealership’s consistent growth and the increasing number of satisfied customers, Isuzu Gencars Group made the strategic decision to acquire a larger property to accommodate a more extensive Isuzu San Pablo showroom and service area. t he groundbreaking ceremony for the new location took place in October 2022 at Km. 85 Maharlika Highway, Barangay San Ignacio, San Pablo City, Laguna, with the new facility set to be unveiled later this year. Spanning an impressive 7,220.23

square meters, the new Isuzu San Pablo is situated on a 1-hectare property, ensuring ample space for vehicle display and an improved customer experience.

In a statement, D. e d gard A. Cabangon, Chairman and C e O of the Isuzu Gencars Group, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the dedicated employees who have played a pivotal role in the dealership’s success. “Our employees

are the driving force behind our achievements,” Cabangon stated. Patuloy tayong lumalaki dahil sa dedikasyon at pagmamahal ninyo sa ating kumpanya. Maraming salamat sa inyo,” he added.

to commemorate the anniversary, employees, along with executive officers, gathered for a thanksgiving mass followed by a simple celebration. t he event served as a moment of reflection, gratitude, and celebra-

THe Philippine economic Zone Authority (Peza) said yadea, a China-based electric vehicle (e V ) motorcycle manufacturer, is planning to put up a factory in the Philippines.

t hey met with us, twice na. So they’re really serious in putting up their next manufacturing facility in the Philippines. So it’s for the production of motorcycles,” Peza Director General tereso O. Panga told reporters on the sidelines of the launch of the Philippine e x port Development Plan (PeDP) 2023-2028 on t hursday in taguig City.

t he Peza chief said the Chinese firm is the “biggest producer of motorcycles in China.” He said the firm’s motorcycles are equipped with eV batteries.

While he did not divulge any amount, Panga said the Chinese eV f irm’s facility is a “big-ticket” investment, noting that the firm plans to use robotics.

Wala pa [amount] pero it is a bigticket investment kasi may robotics eh. Nag walk-in sila t hey are looking at the domestic market.”

Panga also noted that under the Corporate recovery and ta x Incentives for enterprises (Cr e At e) law, Peza can register domestic-market oriented projects. He added that Peza is now on an “equal footing” with the Board of Investments in terms of domestic-market oriented projects.

Panga said yadea may register with the Peza within the year. He said the Chinese eV firm is still scouting for locations where they can put up the facility but he said the company is keen on Batangas.

“If they apply with us, we give them six months to put up yung facility nila. By next year, they should be up and running already.”

He added that PeZ A also met with the firm’s eV battery maker.

Last month, industry group electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP) announced that it had thrown its support behind the removal of import duties for twowheeled vehicles, saying the move would make eVs more affordable and help the country achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. t he group also noted that it supports the position of the Department of trade and Industry to scrap import tariffs for e-motorcycles.

Malacañang issued executive Order 12 last January which modified the tariff rates for 2-wheeled eVs.

However, under the motorcycles classification, only kick scooters, self-balancing cycles, pocket motorcycles and bicycles with auxiliary motors not exceeding 250 watts and with a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour have zero import duties while electric motorcycles are still subject to a 30-percent tariff rate. Andrea E. San Juan

tion of the dealership’s accomplishments and growth over the past two decades.

As Isuzu Gencars San Pablo prepares to move to a larger location, it is excited to enter the next phase of its journey. With the support of its valued customers, the dealership aims to continue its legacy of excellence and provide outstanding service in the automotive industry of the Philippines.

Publicly listed Vivant corp. is setting aside P21 billion to further grow its renewable energy (RE) portfolio.

IC may file criminal suit vs pre-need plans seller

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE Insurance Commission (IC) announced last Thursday it will not “hesitate” in filing criminal charges against Cebu-based Mortuaries Cooperation Interment Assistance Group Inc. (MCIA Group) after the firm continued selling pre-need plans despite a cease and desist order (CDO) issued three years ago.

The IC said it has received reports that the MCIA Group has ignored the CDO and continued to sell pre-need plans sans a license issued by the regulator.

Because of this, IC Commissioner Reynaldo A. Regalado issued a warning to the MCIA Group that it is violating the CDO issued against the company and it shall face appropriate sanctions.

In his letter to the MCIA Group dated June 15, Regalado said the IC “will not hesitate” to file appropriate charges against the MCIA Group and its corporate officers for violation of the CDO and Republic Act (RA) 9829 (Pre-need Code of the Philippines).

“Further, the MCIA Group Inc. is STERNLY WARNED [emphases IC’s] that a finding of violation of the CDO merits appropriate sanctions against it, and the Commission will not hesitate to file an appropriate action against its officers, or any responsible individual, before the court for violation of the Pre-need Code of the Philippines,” Regalado was quoted in the statement as saying.

The IC explained that under Section 54 of RA 9829, corporate officers responsible for a corporation’s violation of said law may be held liable for the penalties imposed for such violations.

In January, the IC affirmed its CDO against MCIA Group that was originally issued on March 11, 2020.

In affirming its CDO against MCIA Group, the IC explained that it has ordered the pre-need company to return all the contributions or monies collected or received from its clients “relative to the unlicensed conduct of business.”

The IC’s CDO against MCIA Group stemmed from the latter’s illegal pre-need business market activities, which did not have the necessary license from the agency.

The IC explained that it found the company to sold “future memorial services upon death of any of its members through facilitations with affiliated mortuaries and funeral homes in exchange for cash or installment amounts.”

The company’s package was primarily availed through an installment basis encompassing more than one year.

“Upon enrollment, MCIA Group, Inc.’s members were afforded the reasonable expectation to provide them or their elected beneficiaries or assignees future memorial services, as well as other advertised benefits in the event of death,” the IC said.

In December last year, the IC denied the MCIA Group’s appeal for reconsideration of the CDO issued against it.

On its website, the firm said it was established in February 2011 “with the mission of unifying all mortuary operators in the country, for the purpose of giving the general sector of the Filipinos the privilege to own memorial plans.” (https://mciagroup.com/about-us/)

The firm added it has 131 branches nationwide, 25,218 members and subsidiary Consuelo Del Triste Corp., a funeral services company. The MCIA Group is headed by a certain Rolando Villaraso.

‘BSP opens up ₧852B in loanable funds’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

his term in the BSP. Thank you, Governor Medalla.”

Salceda said the opportunity was opened in a letter from the BSP chief responding to his request for clarification about the eligibility of water districts for Agri-Agra loans. The lawmaker said Medalla responded that “the BSP will include this clarification in the set of frequently-asked questions on the implementation of RA 11901.”

Yearly penalties

Salceda issued a statement last Thursday profusely thanking Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe M. Medalla for officially clarifying that rural infrastructure projects of water districts qualify as loans under RA 11901, or the Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development Financing Enhancement Act of 2022.

Salceda said based on the BSP’s

March 2022 estimates, the central bank’s nod would allow local water districts access to some P852 billion in loanable funds from banks.

Managing transitions

TRANSITION is the psychological process that people or organizations go through to deal with a new situation. A life transition, for instance, is any change or adjustment that impacts a person’s life in a significant way.

This was the theme of a TED Talk by Bruce Feiler, a leading voice on family, work, transitions and meaning, who shared these five tips on mastering any life transition which could resonate with associations:

1. Start where you’re good at. Life transitions have three phases. Bruce calls these phases “the long goodbye,” i.e., mourning the past that’s not coming back; “the messy middle,” i.e., kicking certain habits and creating new ones; and “the new beginning,” i.e., unveiling a new self. If you are still living in the past then acceptance could be a way to move forward. If you are creating new ways of doing things, then reinvention and innovation could be the key. The point is, transitions are difficult. Begin where you’re good at, build confidence, and move on from there. Going digital, e.g., organizing virtual meetings or building an online community for member engagement, or implementing remote work arrangements for staff, are some “new beginning” transitions that associations are undergoing right now.

2. Accept your emotions. Life

By VG Cabuag @villygc

ALLIANCE Global Group Inc.

(PSE: AGI), the holding firm of businessman Andrew Tan, would be reducing its exposure on foreign-currency denominated loans as this has been affecting profitability.

AGI CEO Kevin Andrew L. Tan said last year’s peso depreciation against the dollar has affected its group’s performance, particularly on property developer Megaworld Corp., which reported foreign exchange losses.

“Although these are non-cash items, they cut our profitability. We have however, been reducing our foreign exchange exposure to minimize the impact of foreign currency volatility on its operations,” Tan said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

“As for the effect of rising interest rates on our earnings, this has less impact on our profitability, given that only about 20 percent of our group’s borrowings are based on floating interest rates. The bulk, or 80 percent, is based on fixed rates,” he said.

“With just one letter, Gov. Philip [Medalla] makes available P852 billion for rural water services: that could be game changing,” the lawmaker was quoted in the statement as saying. “And what a great parting gift to rural communities as he ends Octavio Peralta Association World

transitions are emotional experiences. Fear, sadness, and shame are three main emotions people feel during a period of change. Conquering them by writing about them or buckling down and pushing through are two actions people take. Accepting these emotions as such readies you for what comes next.

Associations experience fear, too. Embarking upon a new program or a new technology that has yet to be tested and proven, or gearing up for a new membership model, are daunting tasks fraught with risks. Accepting that risk is part and parcel of association management could help ease the challenges of change.

3. Try something new. The “messy middle” is not messy after all. Data shows that people do other things during their “time in the wilderness,” e.g., during the pandemic. They shed things: mindset, routines, and habits. Like animals that molt, people cast off parts of their personality and try something new: cooking, baking, writing poems, playing a musical instrument, etc.

IN the same BSP letter dated June 9, 2023, Salceda quoted Medalla as saying that “in addition to the loans for construction and upgrading of public rural infrastructure…loans or investments in debt/equity securities for the purpose of financing water and sanitation projects for rural communities may be considered as compliance with AFRD [agriculture, fisheries and rural development] financing.”

“That’s very promising. When we get to the point that local water districts issue bonds for their rural wa-

Associations keep experimenting and doing things that are relevant to their members, such as offering credentialing programs, giving out awards, mentoring and coaching.

4. Seek wisdom from others. Perhaps the most painful part of a life transition is that you feel isolated and alone. It’s essential not to be alone and share your experience with and learn from others.

One of the positive outcomes of the pandemic is that associations are now collaborating more with other organizations in their quest to learn more, to organize more events for their members, and to help members more by involving others.

5. Rewrite your life story. A life transition is fundamentally a meaning-making experience. It’s an autobiographical occasion in which you are called on to revisit, rewrite, and retell your life story, adding a new chapter for what you’ve learned during a low point in your life. And it’s also a reminder that no matter how bleak your story gets, you cannot give up on the happy ending!

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” The views he expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the BusinessMirror’s. E-mail: bobby@pcaae.org.

to cut forex exposure

For the year, AGI is spending some P70 billion in its capital expenditures, 23 percent higher than last year’s P57 billion.

For this year, Megaworld is spending P55 billion in capex for its aggressive plans to expand its office, mall and hotel business segments, support the completion of P73 billion worth of projects ready for turnover in the coming months, and launch 20 new development projects this year valued at P60 billion.

Liquor maker Emperador Inc. is setting aside P7 billion to fund the upgrade of its machinery and facilities here and abroad. About P6 billion of the said amount will be spent to scale up the operations of its distilleries in Scotland in order to meet the growing demand for its highly popular premium single-malt whisky brands such as “Dalmore,” “Jura,” “Tamnavulin” and “Fettercairn.”

The balance of P1 billion will be utilized to improve the company’s brandy production facilities in the Philippines, Spain and Mexico, the company said.

Travellers International Hotel Group Inc., meanwhile, is allocat-

ter and sanitation projects, subscribing to those bonds will be considered compliance with the Agri-Agra Law,” Salceda said.

Under RA 11901, all banks are required to set aside a credit quota, or a minimum mandatory agricultural and fisheries financing requirement of at least 25 percent of their total loanable funds.

Otherwise, penalties on noncompliance or under compliance shall be computed at one-half of one percent of noncompliance or under compliance, or at rates prescribed by the Monetary Board. Banks incur around P2 billion in penalties every year for non-compliance with the law.

Solving crisis

ACCORDING to Salceda, the pronouncement will also help solve the water crisis, a condition recognized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier this year. The lawmaker attributed much of the crisis “to the unmitigated and lazy use of groundwater resources, which we will eventually deplete.”

According to the Gentleman from Albay’s 2nd District, the government has not “developed surface water” and there’s not “much progress in connecting rural communities with surface water.”

“Of course, the result is depletion of groundwater resources [that] are, by the way, also more prone to diseases such as cholera,” Salceda said.

“That is because these investments can be expensive and financing, until this clarification, was limited.”

The lawmaker added that water districts have raised issues about not being able to borrow from banks.

“The water districts themselves are not rural beneficiaries so that creates some confusion about whether their projects for rural water services are included under the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Rural Development Financing [Enhancing] Act, or the amended Agri-Agra Law,” Salceda said.

He added Medalla’s letter “and the issuances that will spring forth as a result, augur very well for solving the water crisis in the country.”

LandBank cuts InstaPay rates on efficiency plug

THE Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) announced having slashed the transaction cost for its electronic fund transfer (EFT) service from P25 to P15 to promote the product’s “efficiency.”

In a statement, the state-run bank said the P10-reduction in transaction rates for fund transfers via InstaPay, regardless of their amount, took effect on June 15.

“By lowering the fund transfer rate, more customers will benefit from the convenience and efficiency of our products,” LandBank President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz said was quoted in a statement the lender issued last Thursday.

“This is part of our commitment to provide accessible and affordable digital banking solutions and to help expand financial inclusion,” Ortiz added.

LandBank said the reduction in its InstaPay transaction fee “underscores” its “steadfast commitment to meeting the evolving needs of customers, in line with its expanded mandate of serving the nation.”

“For the first three months of 2023, the three digital plat-

forms have facilitated transactions amounting to a total of P265.7 billion,” it added.

In March, LandBank said it targets to expand the volume and value of its digital transactions by 60 percent on an annual basis this year in its bid to provide more convenient services to its clients.

The target would translate to 93.48 million more transactions for a total of 249.28 million with an estimated amount of about P8.96 trillion from the figures posted by the LandBank last year.

The bank said it facilitated 155.8 million digital transactions last year with an “unprecedented” value of P5.6 trillion as it continued ramping up its efforts toward digital and inclusive banking.

The bank added that the volume of digital transactions it handled last year rose by 14 percent year-on-year while the amount was more than double than the value it recorded in 2021.

LandBank is “looking to grow its digital transactions by at least 60 percent in terms of both volume and value” this year, the lender’s statement read. Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

Figaro taps Unionbank for digital pay system

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes @brownindio

ing P4 billion mainly for its ongoing expansion projects at the Newport World Resorts complex in Pasay. The company aims to sustain the strong growth in its gross gaming revenues which hit record levels in 2022, and the recovery of its non-gaming revenues alongside the resurgence in staycations and of activities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions market.

Meanwhile, Golden Arches Development Corp., which owns the master franchise to operate McDonald’s in the Philippines, has a P4-billion capex budget, to expand its store network as it is targeting to open 50 stores this year following its launch of 45 new stores last year.

“AGI is also positioned as the biggest player in the country’s tourism sector, considered as the low-hanging fruit for the Philippine economy,” Tan said.

It is developing new tourism estates to add to its premium townships like its mountain resort development, Twin Lakes in Tagaytay in Cavite, and its popular beach resort destination, Boracay Newcoast, in Boracay, Aklan.

FIGARO Coffee Group Inc.

(PSE:FCG) announced last Thursday it has tapped the Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) to digitize customer payments in FCG’s retail restaurants nationwide.

According to FCG President and CEO Divina Gracia G. Cabuloy, UnionBank will provide a QRPh code that the listed firm can use to collect payments from customers of its 150-plust retail restaurants, expanding its available payment channels. Cabuloy added the lender must provide training to FCG’s restaurant personnel to familiarize them with the use of QRPh.

The firms listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange didn’t disclose the value of the partnership.

Cabuloy was quoted in a statement as saying that the lender would benefit FCG as its customers would be provided “with even more ways to pay for their purchases in our stores.”

UnionBank Corporate Banking Center Head Antonino Agustin S. Fajardo was quoted in the same

statement as saying that the Quick Response (QR) code technology is “very easy to use; it’s secure and you can be sure that the money goes to the recipient as intended.”

“From the merchant or corporate’s perspective, they get their money in real time, as opposed to cash, which the merchant needs to collect and physically deposit to their account” Fajardo added.

UnionBank Merchant Acquiring and Payment Gateway Head Gerardo T. Austria said through the statement that using the QR code “helps minimize cash handling and the pain points associated with it, such as the inconvenience of giving back loose change; and even pilferage.”

“It also minimizes the costs of handling cash,” Austria added.

In a press release dated May 12, FCG said that for the 3-months period ending March 31, 2023, revenues registered at P1.03 billion, or a growth of 95 percent from P528 million, from the same period last year, while same-store sales grew by 6 percent. For the 9-months period July 2022 to March 31, 2023, revenues registered at P3.07 billion, or a growth of 73 percent from P1.77 billion.

AgA me-ch A nger.

This is how house committee on Ways and means chairman Jose ma. clemente “Joey” S. Salceda described the central bank’s response to his query whether water districts are eligible for loans provided by the republic Act (r A) 11901.

Weak peso hurt profits of McDonald’s PHL operator,

Is ChatGPT a�ter your job?

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THE above was written by chatGPT. My message to the chatbot was to write advertising copy showing how Pepsi was better than Coca-Cola, targeting the Philippine market.

Overall, the copy is grammatically correct, a proficiency severely lacking among many young writers today—unfortunately. And notice how it uses slices of Philippine life by mentioning how the beverage goes well with our favorite local dishes. But pray tell, how does Pepsi help empower local farmers and promote sustainable agriculture?

TODAY’S HOROSCOPE

Eugenia

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS

DAY: Abby Elliott, 36; Eddie Cibrian, 50; Phil Mickelson, 53; Laurie Metcalf, 68.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: It’s up to you to spin things in your favor. Giving others a chance to step in and take over will lead to setbacks. Focus on how to add stability to your life. Surround yourself with like-minded people with something worthwhile to offer. Personal improvements will lift your spirits and your appeal. Your numbers are 6, 14, 21, 24, 30, 33, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Focus on lowering debt. Refuse to let emotional spending cause stress. Pay attention to looking and feeling your best without breaking the bank. Truth matters; don’t say anything if you can’t be honest. Work on yourself instead of trying to change someone else. ★★★

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): A steady pace will pay off. Be blunt; it will make convincing others to follow your lead easier. Don’t take a risk that might slow you down physically. Use your intelligence to decide who is telling the truth. ★★★

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Adjust whatever isn’t working at home. A move, home improvement or a change to your living arrangements will help you organize your life and allow you to incorporate the people and things that make you happy into your everyday routine. ★★★

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Pay attention to what the experts say, and you’ll discover how to make the most of what you’ve got. Use your imagination, and you’ll devise a twist that makes your offer stand out. Don’t limit the possibilities. ★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Call on someone you trust to help you excel. A change to your looks will lead to jealousy and compliments. Handle situations in a professional fashion, and you’ll look like a pro. Romance is on the rise. ★★★★

Not only are there questions about facts in the copy, the writing is completely flat. It feels like a dead narration of facts and replete of old advertising concepts and ideas that may have worked in the 1970s, but lacks the dynamism and excitement of present day situations. (Well, the site does warn it has “limited knowledge of world events after 2021,” which may be the reason for its dated thinking.)

While artificial intelligence (AI) already performs repetitive tasks in many industries like telecommunications and aviation (i.e., chatbots), a recent piece in The Washington Post featured people who have lost their higher-paying jobs to ChatGPT.

One of them, copywriter Olivia Lipkin, believes she was let go from her tech-writing job after managers at her company started using the tool, reducing her assignments over time.

“In every previous automation threat, the automation was about automating the hard, dirty, repetitive jobs,” the piece quotes Ethan Mollick of the Wharton School of Business as saying. “This time, the automation threat is aimed squarely at the highestearning, most creative jobs that...require the most educational background,” he said. Among these jobs include copywriting, paralegal work, business process outsourcing (i.e., call center agents), and other socalled knowledge workers. (shorturl.at/adqrF)

Here in the Philippines, I’ve been told of some lawyers using ChatGPT to write contracts. It can also argue for or against a thesis citing Supreme Court decisions so, theoretically, it can write court pleadings. (Try asking the chatbot to argue why Junior and his family has to pay estate taxes.) Some friends in the advertising industry say they are not using the AI tool, but don’t discount the possibility that other colleagues have already toyed with it. So far, if you open the online job placement websites, there still appears to be a heavy demand for content writers, paralegals, and copywriters.

But the use of AI is definitely an attractive proposition for companies trying to be more efficient by cutting manpower costs. Aside from optimizing research and writing, ChatGPT can handle large

volumes of work simultaneously, 24/7. Unlike humans who have limitations in terms of attention span and follow legally-mandated working hours, AI can tirelessly handle repetitive tasks without compromising “quality” or speed. ChatGPT also continues to improve its language understanding and response generation, making it an increasingly viable alternative to human professionals. This scalability and efficiency further add to the appeal of adopting ChatGPT across industries.

But there is something to be said about the human interaction and interpersonal communication. Who hasn’t felt frustrated when the airline AI chatbot is unable to adequately address your ticketing issue?

Or recently, my internet provider could not address my complaint about refunds after its service went kaput for over two days. (I finally lashed out in frustration, and wrote “your customer service sucks!” and the chatbot responded with “Sorry, but I couldn’t understand you.”)

So, while we often crab about call center agents who we know are just reading from a set of questions and answers regarding common complaints on a company’s product or service, they can still make us feel they are empathetic about our situation and thus are able to calibrate their communication style to deal with our emotional flux. They can “read” us in no way that a chatbot can. Let me also cite the value of human scriptwriters. I doubt if ChatGPT can write my favorite HBO series Succession with such cleverness, irreverence, and creativity the way its human writers have. (Which makes me quite empathetic with the ongoing strike by members of the Writers’ Guild of America in New York and LA.)

While the adoption of AI-driven technologies can undoubtedly lead to significant cost savings and operational efficiency, it is crucial to strike a balance that maintains the human touch and the value of unique human skills. Leveraging ChatGPT as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than outright replacement could yield the best results, combining the power of automation with the irreplaceable qualities of human ingenuity. ■

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Learn from experience, and you’ll keep anyone who tries to interfere with your life at a safe distance. A day trip, educational pursuit and open talks will help you make better decisions. A social event or activity will lead to an exciting connection. ★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Share information and form close bonds with people heading in a similar direction. There is safety in numbers, and the input you offer and receive will contribute to your success. An open mind will lead to personal growth. ★★★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Take care of your responsibilities before you move on to pleasurable pastimes. How you deal with situations will determine how others respond to you. Arguments aren’t favored if you want to get things done on time. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’ll gravitate toward people who are vibrant, willing to take a risk and looking out for their best interests. To stay afloat, you’ll have to micromanage your ideas, time and actions to ensure you reach your goal without letting others sidetrack you. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Look for an opening and voice your opinion. Make changes at home that add to your comfort and make you feel like entertaining friends and family. An adjustment to how you handle your cash will have an impact on your spending habits. ★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Stick to what you know. Don’t make promises you’ll have trouble keeping. Simplify your life, and incorporate a minimalist attitude into your everyday routine. You’ll lower debt and ease stress. Use your intelligence and insight to grow and prosper. Romance is favored. ★★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Listen and learn. If you talk too much, you’ll miss out on information that can help you avoid someone trying to take advantage of you. Keep your money and intentions tucked away someplace safe. Don’t be hesitant to do things your way. ★★

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You are sensitive, disciplined and ambitious. You are affectionate and proactive.

‘headstand’ BY STU OCKMAN

The Universal Crossword • Edited by David Steinberg/Anna Gundlach/Jared Goudsmit

Show BusinessMirror Films from the Hundred Islands Filmfest

Fox News sends Tucker Carlson cease-and-desist letter over Twitter series, reports say

WASHINGTON—Fox News sent Tucker Carlson a cease-and-desist letter over his new Twitter series, Axios reported on Monday, amid reports of a contract battle between the conservative network and its former primetime host.

Carlson was ousted from Fox in late April, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to settle an explosive defamation case. The network provided no explanation for the firing, but a wave of reports on damaging text messages and other statements Carlson made during his time at Fox have since piled up.

Since leaving Fox, Carlson kicked off a “Tucker on Twitter” series—arguing that Twitter was “the only” major remaining platform that allows free speech as he denounced news media. The series, which has published two episodes so far, has appeared to escalate contract tensions between Carlson and Fox.

Fox has demanded Carlson stop posting videos to Twitter, The New York Times also reported on Monday—as the network’s lawyers accuse Carlson of violating his contract, which runs until early 2025 and restricts his ability to appear on other media outlets. Meanwhile, Carlson’s lawyers have said the network breached the contract first.

A spokesman for Fox News Media and attorneys representing Carlson, Bryan Freedman and Harmeet Dhillon, did not immediately return The Associated Press’ requests for comments on Tuesday.

“Doubling down on the most catastrophic programming decision in the history of the cable news industry, Fox is now demanding that Tucker Carlson be silent until after the 2024 election,” Dhillon said in a statement sent to Axios and the Times “Tucker will not be silenced by anyone.”

Before his April firing, Carlson was Fox’s top-rated host. His stew of grievances and political theories grew to define the network over recent years and made him an influential, and widely controversial, force in GOP politics.

Carlson has previously come under fire for defending a white-supremacist theory that claims white people are being “replaced” by people of color, as well as spreading misinformation about issues ranging from the January 6 attack on the Capitol to Russia’s war in Ukraine. AP

THE Hundred Islands Filmfest (HIFF) has found a template for holding a film festival by transforming the feast into a laboratory, a film lab. Headed by Raquel Rarang Rivera, the HIFF began the event by inviting established independent filmmakers, all products of independent and regional cinemas, to serve as mentors to the filmmakers that were gathered for the competition. These generous individuals were Zig Dulay, Jerome Dulin, Sef Arcegono, Arjanmar Rebeta, Tim Rone Villanueva, Carlo Encisco Catu and Victor Villanueva (not necessarily in that order). Between them are numerous awards and experiences in film laboratories here and abroad that make them ideal guides. How Raquel managed to put them under one roof is for another essay in the future. Dulin and Arcegono were also there for festival management.

I was privileged to be invited to sit as a jury that would select the top films for the festival with other jurors coming from different disciplines. They included Ronald Rios, archivist and film enthusiast; Christopher Gozum, documentarian and educator; Butch Ibañez, presently vice chairman of the executive committee on cinema under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts; and Elvert Bañares, multi-awarded filmmaker and festival organizer.

Films from the region always have this power to tell us the state of arts and technologies in the arts of narrative; they also compel us to listen to the youth engaged in this complex art of cinema.

What bothers our youth? What solutions do arts provide them as they face what life offers them? Can cinema ever be the grounding for the responses they could give when all other institutions seemingly fail to listen to them? As with other regional film festivals now, the HIFF has an open category which allows other regions to participate. While the old model for regional cinema limited the participation in the competition within the region, the evolving cinema rehiyon feels freer to engage the other regions, the other ethnicities and languages.

But let me talk of the films produced by the HIFF. There were five: Agur-Uray (Waiting), Dalluyon (Waves), Huling Himig, Peymus, and Ti Bisikleta ni Arong.

Dalluyon and Huling Himig are interesting to view in terms of what the young persons of this generation find significant in their lives. Dalluyon is a comingof-age story, as old as the histories of boys becoming men. In this film, a young man recalls death and loss, which he recovers when is with his friend. But this friend has to go away and the young man has to tell his friend what is in his heart. It is a love that not

every man (and every woman) will ever understand: it is a boy falling in love with a boy. out as an ordinary day in the life of a young man saddened by what he does not have. He has his guitar and his music but he is pining for someone else, his father. He goes to visit his father who refuses to see him.

cinema addresses despair. For Biancca Kezyl Escano, the writer and director of that enables anyone to accept what could not be. As the young boy who faces not rejection but separation, Jensen Recosana is one intense actor. He is a bit raw in this film but that is where the magic of his performance lies. Andrei Malicdim, the writer of Huling Himig, offers a bleak prospect at the end of his story. Let us not lose hope. He should write on and on until he finds a braver solution in the future.

The song composed by Justin Paul Basobas and Karl Draizen for Dalluyon was cited as Best Original Song.

There is one film that, for all its flaws, took my breath away: Ti Bisikleta ni Arong. With his family moving out of a village near an estuary that is marked for development, Jared Bautista’s Arong is heartbreaking as he sells his old bicycle and with that his memories. The young actor was given a Special Citation. Ti Bisikleta was the Third Best Film. Peymus reminds us this generation is no less critical of socmed. A woman who mindlessly takes photos of any event, person or faces, finds herself at

mother does come home and then we realize what good films are really made of—stunning visuals, difficult silences, and persons, not actors, with whom we feel all the senselessness of poverty. Agur-Uray won the Best Film, including the Mayor’s Choice Award, with Jezreel Necesito winning Best Director. As the father whose duty was to explain the irreparable homecoming of their mother to his two sons, Itos Mendez was named the Best Actor. The film won Best Sound and Musical Score, Cinematography and Screenplay.

It was worth the long ride, and a view of the hundred islands (well, some of it) from the window of the Alaminos Tourism office where the deliberations (graced by native rice cakes the names of which were beyond my knowledge) took place for some six hours. n

‘Hair,’ ‘Everwood’ actor Treat Williams dies after Vermont motorcycle crash

DORSET, Vermont—Actor Treat Williams, whose nearly 50year career included starring roles in the TV series Everwood and the movie Hair, died on Monday after a motorcycle crash in Vermont, state police said. He was 71.

Shortly before 5 pm, a Honda SUV was turning left into a parking lot when it collided with Williams’ motorcycle in the town of Dorset, according to a statement from Vermont State Police.

“Williams was unable to avoid a collision and was thrown from his motorcycle. He suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, where he was pronounced dead,” according to the statement.

Williams was wearing a helmet, police said.

The SUV’s driver received minor injuries and wasn’t hospitalized. He had signaled the turn and wasn’t immediately detained although the crash investigation continued, police said. Williams, whose full name was Richard Treat Williams, lived in Manchester Center in southern Vermont, police said. His agent, Barry McPherson, also confirmed the actor’s death.

“I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented,” McPherson told People magazine.

“He was an actor’s actor,” McPherson said. “Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of...Hollywood since the late 1970s.”

The Connecticut-born Williams made his movie debut in

1975 as a police officer in the movie Deadly Hero and went on to appear in more than 120 TV and film roles, including the movies The Eagle Has Landed, Prince of the City and Once Upon a Time in America.

He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role as hippie leader George Berger in the 1979 movie version of the hit musical Hair He appeared in dozens of television shows but was perhaps best known for his starring role from 2002 to 2006 in Everwood as Dr. Andrew Brown, a widowed brain surgeon from Manhattan who moves with his two children to the Colorado mountain town of that name. Williams also had a recurring role as Lenny Ross on the

TV show Blue Bloods.

Williams’ stage appearances included Broadway shows, including Grease and Pirates of Penzance.

Colleagues and friends praised Williams as kind, generous and creative.

“Treat Williams was a passionate, adventurous, creative man,” actor Wendell Pierce tweeted. “In a short period of time, he quickly befriended me and his adventurous spirit was infectious. We worked on just 1 film together but occasionally connected over the years. Kind and generous with advice and support. RIP.”

Justine Williams, a writer, director and producer, tweeted that Williams was “the best.” AP

‘Royal Blood’ unveils murder mystery on GMA primetime

GET ready for the biggest murder mystery series on Philippine prime-time TV that is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats via Royal Blood. Beginning June 19, top GMA artist Dingdong Dantes makes his highlyanticipated comeback to the small screen as he headlines the series as Napoy.

The upcoming series boasts of a stellar cast comprising Megan Young as Diana, the ex-girlfriend and great love of Napoy; Mikael Daez as Kristoff, the half-brother of Napoy and husband of Diana; Dion Ignacio as Andrew, the ambitious and business-savvy husband

of Margaret; Lianne Valentin as Beatrice, the witty and materialistic daughter of Gustavo; Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo as Tasha, the kind-hearted neighbor of Napoy who has secret feelings for him; and Rhian Ramos as Margaret, Gustavo’s conservative yet mysterious child.

Playing a special and significant role in the program is multi-awarded actor Tirso Cruz III as Gustavo Royales, the rich and shrewd business tycoon and patriarch of the Royales family. Also part of the series are Ces Quesada, Benjie Paras, Carmen Soriano

and Arthur Solinap. Adding excitement to the show are young actors James Graham, Aidan Veneracion and Princess Aliyah, together with Sienna Stevens.

Royal Blood follows the story of Napoy, a loving single father working as a motorcycle rider to provide for his daughter’s needs. He is also the bastard son of a business tycoon. But despite facing financial problems, Napoy is able to provide for his child with the help of his friends and neighbors. However, chaos ensues when Napoy’s estranged father suddenly appears and wants to make amends

with him. As Napoy enters the family of his wealthy father, he gets to know his halfsiblings. Sooner or later, things become more complicated when their father is murdered and Napoy becomes the primary suspect.

Royal Blood is made possible under the supervision of GMA SVP for entertainment group Lilybeth G. Rasonable. The series is a product of the GMA’s creative team led by director Dominic Zapata. It debuts on June 19 and weeknights thereafter at 8:50 pm on GMA, and at 11:30 pm from Monday to Thursday and at 11 pm every Friday on GTV.

FOx News sent Tucker Carlson a “cease-and-desist” letter over his new Twitter series, Axios reported on June 12, amid reports of contract battles between the conservative network and its former prime-time host. AP

Have a Neon Arcade Fun this Father’s Day at Araneta City

CCA Manila leads the way in Filipino culinary education with its latest course

CCA Manila, the leading culinary school in the Philippines, recently launched its groundbreaking course, Fundamentals in Filipino Cuisine. As a pioneer in the culinary arts industry, CCA Manila takes the lead in owning the narrative of Filipino cuisine education, offering students a comprehensive program that celebrates the rich heritage and flavors of Filipino gastronomy.

Recognizing the need to promote and protect Filipino culinary heritage, the Special Committee on Creative Industries and Performing Arts (SCCIPA) of the House of Representatives called for the worldwide promotion of Filipino Cuisine in 2020. This initiative aims to create job opportunities and foster economic and social progress through the Filipino food value chain.

In response to the growing demand for professional Filipino culinary arts education, CCA Manila took the initiative to develop the Fundamentals in Filipino Cuisine Course. At the time, there were no culinary schools in the Philippines offering specialized training in Filipino culinary arts. With the anticipation of the approval of the bill on the promotion of Filipino Cuisine and Gastronomy, CCA Manila laid the groundwork for education and training in this area.

The Fundamentals in Filipino Cuisine Course is a comprehensive 16-day short course designed to provide students with a deep appreciation of Filipino gastronomy, cuisine, and heritage. Through hands-on training, students will gain essential skills in ingredient selection and preparation, cooking and plating techniques, and palate calibration of basic selected Filipino dishes. The course covers the culinary traditions of all 17 regions of the country, showcasing the diverse flavors and techniques that make Filipino cuisine unique.

To celebrate the launch of this exciting course, CCA Manila will host a kick-off event on June 26, featuring John Sherwin Felix, a young food

and agricultural heritage advocate and founder of Lokalpedia. Felix will share his insights on popularizing Filipino Food Heritage Ingredients, and students will have the opportunity to sample some of the ingredients he has brought from his research trips.

“With this program, we aim to train a new generation of culinary professionals who will showcase the unique flavors and heritage of Filipino cuisine. By offering this course, we take pride in our leadership in owning the narrative of Filipino culinary education,” said Chef Kerwin Funtanilla, CCA Program Manager.

The course curriculum focuses on developing key competencies in food safety and sanitation, knife skills, cooking methods, food presentation, and techniques specifically applied to Filipino cuisine. By the end of the program, students will be proficient in preparing and cooking a wide array of Filipino dishes using appropriate techniques. They will also learn to present these dishes in a way that incorporates internationally acceptable techniques, allowing them to showcase the

beauty and richness of Filipino cuisine to a global audience.

As part of the course, students will have the incredible opportunity to go beyond the classroom and embark on two field trips to renowned culinary establishments that truly embody the essence of Filipino cuisine. These immersive excursions offer firsthand experiences, giving students the chance to deepen their appreciation for the intricate artisan culinary techniques and exceptional culinary products that define Filipino cuisine.

Embark on a culinary journey that will ignite your passion, elevate your skills, and celebrate the magnificence of Filipino cuisine. CCA Manila proudly leads the way in shaping the future of Filipino culinary arts education.

Enrollment for the Fundamentals in Filipino Cuisine Course is now open. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of Filipino gastronomy. For inquiries, visit their website at  http:// www.cca-manila.edu.ph. Email  talktous@ cca-manila.edu.ph  or visit @ccamanila on Facebook and Instagram.

Adult Children Embrace Father‘s Day with a Heartfelt Tribute to their Parents‘Comfort and Dignity

symbolizes an unbreakable bond and a commitment to their fathers' well-being. It signifies a promise to shield their beloved parents from discomfort and embarrassment. Assure Diapers provide a sanctuary of dryness and relief, allowing fathers to revel in the joys of life with renewed confidence and freedom. These adult children's unwavering dedication to ensuring their parents' happiness is nothing short of extraordinary.

As adult children honor their fathers' legacy on this special day, the celebration becomes a poignant testament to the enduring strength of the parent-child relationship. Through their meticulous choice of Assure Diapers, they deepen the connection with their fathers, creating memories that will forever be etched in their hearts. It is a celebration that transcends the material realm, evoking profound emotions and evoking the true essence of unconditional love.

FROM June 13 to 18, 2023 Araneta City transforms into a neon arcade wonderland for Father’s Day. So bring dad, daddy, papa, tatay, ama, and other father figures in our lives to a nostalgic retro arcade day at the City of Firsts, and get ready for endless surprises and fun activities tailormade especially for him!

Big bike lovers can feast their eyes on an impressive motorbike display at the Gateway Mall Activity Area from June 13 to 17. Motorcycle enthusiasts and dads alike will surely be thrilled to see these incredible machines up close. The exhibit promises to be a treat for all with its stunning collection of bikes.

Basketball fans may also score some Gilas Pilipinas apparel and other merchandise goodies at the cool Gateway Mall Activity Area booth on June 18. Your dad may even get a chance to be up close with former Gilas stars Jeff Chan and Gary David to make his day more memorable.

Meanwhile, the Ali Mall Activity Area and Farmers Plaza Activity Area will be transformed into gaming havens on June 18. Arcade and video game enthusiasts will have the time of their lives as they dive into a world of classic and modern games. From arcade classics to the latest console hits, there will be something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Over at Farmers Plaza, Quaderno Band will set a more engaging dad’s day mood on June 18. And as the day’s events unfold, dads may take a break at the new hip place at the mall’s Food Plaza -- Beer Plaza, which features live band performances and a wide array of food and beverage options. From

June 16 to 18, Beer Plaza will celebrate “Cheers to Dad” with good food and music dedicated to all fathers.

The fun and surprises even extend to the digital world! From June 13 to 18, shoppers and diners can take photos with the neon arcade decor at Gateway Mall, Ali Mall, and Farmers Plaza. Post the photos on Facebook or IG and use the hashtags #DadsDayAtAranetaCity and #CityofFirsts for a chance to win Novotel Manila Araneta City Food Exchange buffet gift certificates for two!

There’s also the “Surprise Your Dad” digital promo. Check the post on Araneta City Facebook page and comment why your dad deserves a treat. Lucky netizens will get a chance to treat the family to lunch or dinner for four worth P5,000 at Conti’s Restaurant at Gateway Mall!

“If not for the love of all hardworking fathers, we would not be where we are today. So we invite everyone to treat their dads to a special day of games, activities, and fun surprises here at the City of Firsts. We’re sure that dad and the entire family will have a blast this Father’s Day,” Marjorie Go, AVP for Marketing of Araneta City, said.

MANG Inasal, the country’s Grill Expert, celebrates Father’s Day with Fiesta Combos perfect to be shared with the whole family.

“Feast for Daddy” promo will run from June 12 to 18 at all Mang Inasal stores nationwide and will be available for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.

With the promo, customers can enjoy Mang Inasal Fiesta Combos with bilaos of Ihaw-Sarap favorites plus other treats. The Buddy Fiesta Combo is fit for a family with two to three members as it will be served with Buddy Fiesta plus three drinks and two Extra

Creamy Halo-Halo Add-On. Meanwhile, the Family Fiesta Combo is great for a family with four to six members because it is composed of Family Fiesta plus six drinks and four Extra Creamy HaloHalo Add-On.

“We look forward to see families gather at their favorite Mang Inasal stores this Father’s Day while enjoying their special Fiesta Combos,” said Mang Inasal Business Unit head Mike V. Castro. “And since the promo can also be availed of via take-out and delivery, for sure our customers will get this deal to make their dads happy whether they celebrate at home or outdoors.”

Apart from the Fiesta Combos, Father’s Day can also be made more special with the recently launched Mang Inasal Palabok Fiesta Size that is perfect for groups of 10 people. Price starts at Php 569. Celebrate Father’s Day with Mang Inasal via dine-in, takeout, and delivery! Place orders now via the Mang Inasal Delivery App or through https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph/.

Marketing communications agency MullenLowe unveils new global positioning, brand identity

MULLENLOWE unveils its new global identity and a refreshed positioning, created to unite the network across 57 markets globally and differentiate it from competitors. MullenLowe sees the octopus evolve from an operational mascot to a kindred spirit that visually represents how brands need to grow today.

AS Father's Day approaches, a profound and deeply moving trend is taking shape among adult children who are leaving no stone unturned to honor and celebrate their fathers. With an outpouring of love, care, and thoughtfulness, these extraordinary individuals are making their parents' comfort and dignity the centerpiece of their Father's Day tribute, creating a truly unforgettable and emotional experience. As the inevitable challenges of aging arise, adult children recognize the importance of selecting solutions that prioritize their parents' well-being. Among the notable choices gaining recognition is Assure Diapers for Adults – a remarkable product designed to

provide unparalleled protection, unmatched comfort, and utmost discretion.

In this heartfelt celebration of Father's Day, adult children demonstrate an exceptional depth of empathy and understanding towards their parents' unique needs and challenges. With every carefully chosen Assure Diaper, they lovingly uphold their fathers' dignity, ensuring that their privacy is respected, and their comfort is safeguarded. Through this simple yet profound gesture, Assure Diapers bring about a transformation that preserves their fathers' self-respect, even in the face of adversity. But it goes beyond preserving dignity alone. The act of selecting Assure Diapers

To make the process easier, Assure Diapers for Adults are conveniently available for purchase at various retail locations nationwide. Adult children can find Assure Diapers at Robinsons Supermarkets, Shopwise, Royal DutyFree at Subic Free Port, as well as through online stores such as Lazada, Shopee, and Edamama. These accessible channels ensure that adult children can procure the exceptional comfort and protection of Assure Diapers with convenience and ease.

As Father's Day draws near, let us be inspired by the immense love and care displayed by these adult children. May their selfless gestures serve as a gentle reminder to all of us to cherish our fathers not only on this designated day but every single day of the year. Let us embrace their needs, safeguard their comfort, protect their dignity, and ensure their lasting happiness.

The agency’s positioning is underpinned by research revealing innovative brands grow at twice the pace of their competitors, and brands that continue to innovate grow seven times faster*.

“Our icon offers the perfect metaphor. The octopus has survived over 300 million years precisely because of its fluidity and ability to adapt. It is the only organism that routinely self-edits its own DNA—a model for how brands should behave today,” says Kristen Cavallo, CEO of MullenLowe Global.

The new brand identity was created by MullenLowe U.S. and led by head of design, João Paz.

“We want to challenge the way brands show up in the world. Our octopus is not afraid of change; it’s in its nature, its DNA.

We embraced that with a fully generative identity, crafted to show personalization at scale,” says Paz.

The new logo doesn’t live by the rules of logic—and like the animal it portrays, has the capacity to adapt to its surroundings. It breaks free from any type of symmetry and rigidity. With no corners or end points, it changes and moves and behaves in different ways.

“Our octopus is alive. It has a will, a personality, and, above all, it wants to move. With its endless twists and turns, it has the freedom to reinvent itself infinitely,” adds Paz.

True to MullenLowe’s challenger mentality, the new logo defies established branding tradition by being a living element. Unlike corporate logos that are bound by strict rules, the agency’s new logo encourages creative expression. Each tentacle can be moved and scaled to preference, and every person within the organization is encouraged to personalize the octopus and make it their own.

The expressive logo is paired with a stark, firm, and more logical wordmark custom-made by renowned German type designer Berthold Wolpe. It grounds the fluid shape of the octopus, as if to combine motion with reason.

CCA Manila students plating one of the dishes during a Filipino-themed dinner. The event showcased dishes inspired by Filipino games such as piko, sipa, and tagu-taguan.

Fiesta combo treats of chicken, pork, rice await dads at Mang Inasal, the country‘s grill expert

Chaos rules day as US Open comes to glitz of Los Angeles

By Josef Ramos

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL

is faced with a difficult dilemma—remain at 75 kgs to keep his professional career on track or to shed weight or bulk up to keep his Olympic gold medal dream burning.

Marcial clinched a bronze medal at 75 kgs at the Tokyo Olympics and strongly expressed he’ll go for the gold in Paris next year.

But he’ll have to make a difficult decision because the Paris Games redefined the 75 kgs or middleweight category as 80 kgs.

As I always say, yes it’s still my dream, my plan to qualify for the Olympics and try to win the gold,”

Marcial told BusinessMirror from Las Vegas where he intends to resume training. “But I’m weighing all options right now because I’m a professional boxer at the same time.”

To qualify for the Olympics, Marcial could either shed 4 kgs to get to welterweight or bulk up to the now middleweight or 80-kg division in Paris.

The 27-year-old pride of Zamboanga City has been comfortable at 75 kgs as a pro and has won all his first four fights, the last via second round technical knockout over Ricardo Ruben Villalba of Argentina last February 11 in San Antonio, Texas.

M arcial could get a ticket to Paris if he competes—and wins gold—at the Hangzhou 20th Asian Games in September.

B ut the Asian Games are part of the dilemma.

“I have an obligation to fight

39

EUMIR DILEMMA: PARIS OR PROS?

professionally so I still need to consult my promoter on what’s best for my career,” said the four-time Southeast Asian Games champion. “But it’s in my blood—to represent my country in any overseas competition.”

Marcial fighting at 71 kgs would mean a major adjustment in technic.

At 80 kgs, he’ll be facing formidable foes in the light heavyweight division, both in the amateurs and the pros.

Marcial’s handler, international matchmaker Sean Gibbons, said he supports the Zamboangeno’s Olympic quest by competing in the Asian Games. “ That would be after he [Marcial] tackles his fifth pro fight probably next month or early August,” Gibbons said.

Everything is still a possibility,” Gibbons said. “Me and Mr. Marcial will call the shots, but the fighter will always be the boss. I work for the fighter and we will work together in conjunction and study all possibilities for now.”

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, who won the country’s first Olympic gold in Tokyo at 55 kgs, also had to climb to 59 kgs because her original weight class was scrapped for Paris.

EUMIR FELIX MARCIAL (with shades) joins wife Princess, wushu’s Agatha Wong, swimmer Jasmin Alkhaldi, softball athlete Francesca Altomonte and triathlete Nikko Huelgas in a selfie during the recent Hangzhou 19th Asian Games Fun Run promotion in Tagaytay City.

PHL bets prepare for Ironman worlds

JET RAMOS and Alessandra Castaneda lead a pack of Filipino endurance racers in the World Championship in Nice (France) and Kailua-Kona (Hawaii), respectively, following strong finishes in the just-concluded Century Tuna Ironman Philippines in Subic.

R amos and Castaneda emerged the top local performers in the third staging of the grueling 3.8-km swim, 180-km bike and 42-km run race in wet and windy conditions last Sunday, earning not just a chance to compete with the world’s best but also $1,000 each, courtesy of Century Pacific Food COO and EVP Greg Banzon.

R amos, racing out of Baguio Benguet Triathlon, clocked 10 hours, 20 minutes and 34 seconds to finish

fifth in the men’s side topped by Dutch Eric van der Linden while Castaneda, of Chery Auto PH Tri Team, clocked 12:17:46 to also post a fifth-place effort in her side of the event ruled by Japanese Chigusa Yamashita and organized by The Ironman Group/Sunrise Events Inc.

Twenty-five others will join Ramos in the men’s world competition on September 10 to be held for the first time in Nice, which firms up the city’s claim as the No. 1 triathlon venue in Europe, including Alex Isip, Emmanuel Mondero, Jon Sunga, Mike Gonda, Elmer Santiago, Abe Tayag, Erwin Rommel Espinoza, Joffrey Ano, Paolo Leaño, Cyril Bermudo and Wayne Mark Elep.

A lso in the roster are Raoul Franco Ramos, Conrad

‘The Pretty Boy’ back in action

F

ORMER world champion Jerwin

“The Pretty Boy” Ancajas debuts as a bantamweight against Colombian Wilner Soto on June 24 at the Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

LOS ANGELES—Brooks Koepka says he enjoys the chaos and there’s no shortage of that in this US Open, even for those who manage to avoid the traffic.

Players are still trying to digest the blockbuster announcement of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour ending a legal and moral battle with LIV Golf by becoming partners with the Saudi Arabia national wealth fund that paid for all those PGA Tour defections.

A nd then came news late Tuesday night that PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was turning over day-to-day operations while he recovers from what was described as a medical situation.

A nd on Thursday, they take on the North course at Los Angeles Country Club that won’t look like most US Opens except for usual doses of frustration from the toughest test in golf.

Bogeys are OK. I’m going to remind myself of that because I don’t do that so well,” said Max Homa, who holds the course record of 61 set 10 years ago in the Pac-12 championship. “It’s a hard golf course. You’re going to hit some good shots that go in some really weird spots. But if you keep hitting good shots you’re going to make some birdies to make up some ground.”

Th at sounds like a typical US Open. It just doesn’t look like one.

US Opens are typically in the suburbs, not on the edge of Beverly Hills with office buildings and highrise condos lining the edge of the course built between Wilshire and Sunset boulevards. The aiming point off the first tee is the “H” on the Beverly Hilton sign.

that’s nothing new, either.

The US Open last year was in the Boston suburbs of Brookline, one week after LIV Golf began its inaugural season and with speculation over who would be next to leave for the big riches of Saudifunded golf.

Phil Mickelson made his first US appearance since leaving for LIV as one of its ringleaders. He has been largely missing, doing his tedious preparations last week, and showing himself for the first time on Wednesday in a practice round.

The US Golf Association (USGA) likes to refer to last Monday as the longest day in golf because of 36-hole qualifiers held at 10 sites across the US and Canada. Not this year. It turns out last Tuesday was the longest day in golf,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said, referring to the day of the PGA Tour’s stunning revelation of a partnership with the Saudis.

“All of us got together on Wednesday and said, ‘Gosh, all these stories we wanted to tell, maybe it’s going to be harder to tell because media will be focused elsewhere.’”

A nd then he remembered the same feelings—and outcome—from last year.

Once the balls go in the air, the athletes take the narrative back,” Whan said.

A s always, there is a growing list of candidates. Even the current Big Three in golf is a little disjointed. Scottie Scheffler and Rahm have managed to separate themselves from the pack at Nos. 1 and 2 in the world ranking.

K oepka joins them even though he rarely sees them—the PGA Tour has suspended LIV players, so the best only congregate at the majors. But he is a force again in the majors, having been runner-up at the Masters and winning the PGA Championship for his fifth major.

A nd to think he only started playing them regularly in 2015. His target is 10 or more.

I don’t think it’s out of the question for me,” Koepka said. “I think the way I’ve prepared, the way I’ve kind of suited my game for these things is going to help me. I’m only 33. So I’ve definitely got quite a bit of time. I’ve just got to stay healthy and keep doing what I’m doing.”

The North course features the winding barranca—something along the lines of a ditch and an old riverbed—that winds through eight holes of the front nine and reappears on the right side of the 17th hole.

Legaspi, Kristoffer Crisostomo, Jaako Ramos, Karl Reformina, Ramoncito Gonzales, Renel Bricenio, Daniel Valdez, Eigen Rara, Ralph Bautista, JK Salcedo, Mervin Santiago, Jem Clemente and Reuven Alzaga.

A lso vying in the Kona championship set October 14 are Geraldine Abuan, Leilani Tan, Vanj Endaya, Melissa Racela, Nylah Bautista, Etta Mai Farrell, April Lañas, Joann Caralian, Maria Catleya Deveza, Chloe Jane Ong, Jennifer Tan Uy and Sarah Marie Eraña-Leaño.

The 39 local bets make up the record cast ever to see action in world triathlon championship, featuring the world’s top triathletes and leading age-group campaigners from all over.

Malixi fights back with 69, sets up duel vs Irish

RIANNE MALIXI—on the brink of elimination—cashed in on near-ideal conditions in the morning wave and birdied the first three holes on her way to a 69 and a joint 40th finish at the close of the 36-hole stroke play eliminations in The Women’s Amateur at the Prince’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, in southeast England Wednesday.

Beth Coulter birdied two of the last four holes to shoot a 70 and become the first Irish leading qualifier in one of the world’s premier amateur events since Paula Grant in 2017.

The 19-year-old Coulter, who recently finished her Freshman season at Arizona State U, clinched the low medal honors and the top

seeding with a 139 total, besting four others, including world No. 1 Ingrid Lindbland by three.

But needing to rebound strong to revive her chances after a windblown 79 Tuesday in the first half of the 36-hole stroke play eliminations that dropped her to tied 100th, the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed Malixi did just that, draining a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole, gaining another stroke from four feet on the par-five No. 2 then hacking a solid tee shot to within five feet for another feat on the third.

Athough she blasted a shot that hit the tip of the bunker and bounced back to the fairway for bogey on No. 4, Malixi quickly recovered the stroke

with a long birdie putt on the next, another par-three. She did yield another shot on the sixth after missing the green then hit a wild drive on the par-five No. 8 that led to a lost ball and a double-bogey.

But those miscues failed to dampen her spirit as she toughened up at the backside, nearly chipping in for eagle on the par-5 No. 12 for a tap-in birdie. She missed her chance on the next but came through with back-to-back birdies from No. 14 to crash into the Top 64.

Malixi, 16, muffed another birdie chance on No. 16 but closed out with a couple of par-saves off superb chip shots to preserve a three-under card before conditions turned from calm to windy in the afternoon.

I nternational matchmaker Sean Gibbons confirmed the fight on Wednesday, saying he’s happy to finally get a tuneup for the 31-yearold former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight champion before exploring bigger options in his new weight class.

“ We finally got an opponent for Jerwin and we can finally see how he fits as a bantamweight fighter,” Gibbons told BusinessMirror Gibbons thanked strength and conditioning coach Angel Memo Heredia for helping Ancajas build up for the new division.  A ncajas (33-3-2 win-loss-draw record with 22 knockouts) is hoping to get a crack at a world title if he beats Soto, according to Gibbons.  Soto, 32, is sporting a 22-12 winloss record with 12 knockouts.

The Ancajas-Soto fight is one of the undercards in Argentine Fernando Martinez’s defense of his IBF super flyweight belt against Filipino challenger Jade Bornea.  Martinez beat Ancajas twice by unanimous decision. Josef Ramos

A nd while this golf course looks big—the fairways average 43 yards in width—it actually plays smaller than the target appears because of the severe slope in some of the fairways and angles required to access pins.

It makes you think,” Masters champion Jon Rahm said. “It has very intricate green complexes. You’ve got to play the angles a little bit, and especially if you miss the greens, you’re going to find yourself in some interesting spots to get up and down.

“ It’s got everything. It’s got all the ingredients to be a great week.”

A nd it has the shadow of Saudi Arabia’s influence on golf, though

It has two par 3s of 284 yards or longer, and another that could play as short as 80 yards. The final three holes average 518 yards—all of them par 4s—and then it has sixth hole, where players can easily reach a green they can’t see from the tee because of the sharp turn to the right, and they can easily make a big number.

You could see anything from a 7 to possibly a 2,” Koepka said. “It’ll be a fun hole to just stand on and watch. If I was watching, that’s where I’d go stand.” S tand on the 14th tee and listen to the spider monkeys and other forms of wildlife—heard not seen— behind the tall wall that guards Hugh Hefner’s Playboy mansion on the other side. AP

Filipinas clinch silver in SEA tourney

THE Philippines clinched a silver medal in junior girls’ U19 team event to make a mark in the recent Southeast Asia Youth table tennis championships in Brunei.

K heith Rhynne Cruz, Chrishien Mae Santillan, Althea Jade Gudes, Jelaine Monteclaro and Zachi

Chua swept the group stage of the seven-nation competition organized by the Southeast Asian

Table Tennis Association (SEATTA).

The team also beat Vietnam, 3-1, in the semifinals before bowing to Thailand, 3-1, in the final.

The silver was the best finish by the Philippines in a women’s team event in a SEATTA competition.

T he Philippines swept Group B highlighted by a 3-1 win over Singapore, one of the top table tennis teams in the region. It also defeated Brunei, 3-0, and Malaysia, 3-1, to take first place and arrange a crossover semifinal showdown with Vietnam.

The silver medal will serve as motivation to come up with more programs to discover new talents for the national team,” Philippine Table Tennis Federation Inc. (PTTF) president Ting Ledesma said.

C ruz made the national team through PTTF’s selection tournament in Puerto Princesa City last March and competed at the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games, where Richard Gonzales and John Russel Misal bagged the men’s doubles bronze medal.

MEMBERS of the Philippine team strike a pose in Brunei.

BRIAN HARMAN relaxes on the grass as he waits to hit on the 15th hole during a practice round for the US Open at The Los Angeles Country Club on Wednesday in Los Angeles. AP

NEVER TOO SMALL

Story & photos

by Randy S. Peregrino

NOW that Suzuki Philippines

brought in the highly-anticipated

Automatic Gear Shift (AGS) variant of the New S-PRESSO, it was time to test this small hatchback. A media drive was hosted for participants to take the first dibs, particularly on the featured transmission technology. This car is currently the smallest in the Suzuki lineup and is priced lower.

C ommissioned were 14 fresh units in all available body colors. Unlike the previous drives, Suzuki Philippines opted for a more extensive drive. The destination was Camp John Hay in Baguio via the entire stretches of Skyway, all the freeways, and the winding roads of Marcos Highway.

Retained design and remarkably roomy FOR the most part, the small hatchback retained the manual version’s exterior elements of a hip, bold, and tall stance. But the main upgrade is the sought-after automatic transmission AGS (Auto Gear Shift). At the staging point in the Suzuki Auto Taguig dealership, the poster Fire Red variant was the assigned unit. It matches the black resin grill well with the “grippingdesign” headlamps and the black resin front and rear bumpers. Even the C-shape rear combination lamps look catchy. This small five-seater hatchback rolls on 14-inch two-toned alloy wheels wrapped in 165/70 R14 rubbers.

Inside, the unique instrument panel with

a vibrant display in the middle. Below is the new generation display audio featuring a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Clustered are the power window and air-con controls. The rear door’s manual window roller is an absolute nostalgia.

Indeed , Suzuki is a genius in creating wonders for extra space. Several overnighter bags can easily fit in the vehicle’s spacious 239-liter rear cargo bay. For two tall occupants, sliding in and out was bliss. At some point, even another tall passenger still managed to squeeze in comfortably. For a small vehicle, there

was still enough legroom at the back. But the best part was the upright front seats providing excellent vantage points and less strain on the lower back.

Stable, quick, and nimble

THE initial stretch was entirely Skyways and freeways. The car felt stable with acceptable road noise while maintaining below speed limits. But wind and road noise became more noticeable during high-speed limits, as expected on small frames with less insulation. The sweet spot for that relatively comfy feel was at double-figure high speeds. Ride quality leans towards fair comfort with

acceptable bounces mainly from the smaller tire’s inability to absorb it.

Motivation comes from an updated and improved 1.0-liter K10C DUALJET gasoline engine generating 66 hp and 89 N-m maximum torque. It is the same motor fitted in the Celerio, but it is important to note that the S-Presso is about 50 kilograms lighter with smaller rims and tires. Power-to-weight ratio-wise, the S-Presso is superior; hence, it felt quicker in reaching cruising speeds. That factor also worked during the entire Marcos Highway climb. It was retaining at lower gears that aided in squeezing every available torque. Of course, adjustments were needed during overtakes. Whenever it was clear, the vehicle could surpass and accelerate on accents with the right timing and momentum. The absence of a tachometer somehow was a challenge initially, but playing around the lower gears compensated. On tight turns and hairpin-like curves, the S-Presso was surprisingly nimble. The vehicle’s handling was impressive despite the higher ground clearance, smaller/narrower tires, and shorter wheelbase. Every tight turn was almost benign.

Auto Gear Shift in action

SUZUKI’S state-of-the-art Auto Gear Shift (AGS) system was first introduced locally in the Dzire and lately with the latest generation Celerio. Featuring an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator, it automatically operates the shift and clutch to bring convenience to manual driving. The system was as easy to operate as any auto transmission. But since it runs a conventional manual gearbox with Intelligent Shift Control Actuator, the response was different, providing that direct drive feel. Its smooth shifting still has that stepping-on-the-clutch feel minus the friction.

D uring the Marcos Highway climb, it was necessary to operate AGS with sequential mode (manual mode) to retain certain gears to squeeze more torque or to do engine braking. It was also necessary to eliminate the slight delay in shifting during ascents. More importantly, so as not to lose the momentum. Overall, it does the job with a little getting used to. Apart from the AGS

transmission, another notable and new feature is the Engine Auto Stop-Start System (EASS), shutting off the engine during idle or traffic stops.

Safety features

FOR peace of mind, the new S-Presso AGS offers numerous advanced safety features. The frame design centers on Suzuki’s TECT (Total Effective Control Technology) concept. It is a structural design that efficiently absorbs and disperses energy during a collision. Standard safety features include an anti-lock brake system (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Dual Airbags, seatbelts with pre-tensioners, rear parking sensors, and Hill-Hold Control, among others.

Thrifty, no matter what SUZUKI incorporated an eco-challenge for all participants. However, opting for realworld driving was a choice to determine convincing results. The entire close to 300-kilometer run was with occasional spirited driving, in the constant highspeed limit, and high-rpm modes during the climb/overtaking. Still, the vehicle consumed just over 17 liters reaching the refilling station. Still not bad at all. So, can the New S-Presso AGS climb up to Baguio? Well, it certainly can, and it did so with flying colors.

REWARDS RAIN FROM HONDA

traffic, flooded roads, poor visibility, and difficult driving conditions.

“Before driving on wet roads, make sure your car is in proper condition and you are driving safely on the road.

“With HCPI’s ‘Rainy Day Rewards’ aftersales campaign, Honda owners may avail of any of the special deals offered at dealerships and service centers nationwide.

car care products such as Leather Wax and Aircon Lubricant Agent, and a free waterrepellent body coating kit (upon availing of major periodic maintenance service) starting June 15, 2023.

“While we cannot stop the rain, Honda is here to help ensure that you and your vehicle are safe when the rain comes.

AFRIEND of mine finds it funny, if not ironic, that one purchasing his coveted car becomes extremely grateful after the sale.

“Finally, after a long wait, and after someone I know has pulled some strings at the source of the vehicle, I acquired my dream car,” he said. “Isn’t the seller supposed to be madly ecstatic instead of me?” Hey, fellas, doesn’t he have a point?

LYKA Dela Cruz wrote to say that Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) has launched the “Rainy Day Rewards” lasting up to August 31. I love being generous as to lend my space at the slightest opportunity, especially to deserving guests. Like Lyka. Here:

“The wet season is with us again. While rainy days can be a refreshing break from the summer heat, these can also mean heavy

“To be offered free to Honda customers are 50-point Safety Check-up with Tire and Battery Check-up. This is the first step to safety as it will determine if your vehicle is fit for travel, especially under heavy rains.

“Discount on safety parts to fully ensure that your car is rain-safe:

Up to 20-percent off on select parts and lubricants (Windshield washer fluid, wiper blades, brake pad, brake fluid, tires, battery), and 10-percent discount on PM parts, lubes, and labor for your next periodic maintenance service visit.

“A P500 discount for a complete major periodic maintenance service (for out-ofwarranty unit owners). A P500 discount on periodic maintenance or general repair service (for unit owners with no service visit in 1 year).

“On top of these, customers are also entitled to a 30-percent discount on new

“All these deals are available at Honda Cars dealerships and authorized service centers nationwide from June 1-August 31, 2023.

“With Honda’s aim to promote safety for everyone, as well as ease of ownership and low cost of maintenance for its customers, Honda prescribes only two periodic maintenance visits each year—every 6 months or 10,000 kilometers, whichever comes first.

“Further, customers are guaranteed genuine parts and lubricants and expert service from highly-skilled technicians utilizing the latest tools and equipment based on global standards.” Well done, Lyka.

PEE STOP Like Toyota, cheers also to Foton (take a bow, Rommel Sytin) for likewise partnering with the country’s basketball moguls led by Al Panlilio as an official vehicle of the Fiba World Cup to be held here August-September this year. Cheers!

THE new Suzuki S-Presso AGS variant in Fire Red color made it to Camp John Hay

UNIQUE layout highlighting the instrument panel on the center dash

TESTED and proven thrifty 1.0-liter K10C DUALJET gasoline engine now mated to AGS system