BusinessMirror June 04, 2024

PARIS OLYMPICS’ TAHITI SURFING VENUE SPARKS CONTROVERSY: SUSTAINABILITY TRADE-OFFS IN THE NAME OF LOWER EMISSIONS

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

THE country’s manufacturing sector shed jobs for the first time in five months as firms struggled to keep their profit margins amid rising costs, according to the results of the Purchasing Manager’s Idex (PMI) of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

On Monday, S&P Global Market Intelligence said the country’s PMI score slowed to 51.9 in May from the 52.2 index score in April. While this indicated growth in manufacturing output, “companies struggled to raise their staffing levels.” Manufacturing jobs were lost for the first time since December 2023. S&P Global Market Intelligence also noted that the rate of decrease was the fastest in nine months.

“Firms struggled to maintain their workforce numbers with job shedding noted for the first time in five months. Though with backlogs continuing to fall, goods producers still appear equipped to deal with tasks on hand,” S&P Global Market Intelligence economist Maryam

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM

Special to the BusinessMirror

FOREIGN direct investments (FDI) in the AsiaPacific region soared in 2023, as pandemic restrictions were lifted that finally allowed massive inflows into greenfield projects and the establishment of new companies.

The latest FDI Intelligence showed foreign investors pumped in US$1.34 trillionworth of direct investments in 16,427 cross-border projects. This was a 4.4-percent increase in capital from 2022, into projects that were 1.1-percent less, year-on-year

TBy Ada Pelonia

HE detection of mad cow disease should not cause a spike in the price of imported beef, according to the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA).

MITA President Emeritus Jesus Cham issued the statement after the Department of Agriculture (DA) slapped a temporary ban on live cattle and meat imports from the United Kingdom where the classical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) was detected. BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease, was found in South Ayrshire, Scotland.

“[The United Kingdom] supplies mid-range beef products

to the Philippines. The volume is less than 3 percent of total imports so the impact would be small,” Cham told the BusinessMirror via Viber.

Figures from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that meat imports reached 273,640 metric tons (MT) from January to March this year, higher than the 265,517 MT recorded in the same period in 2023.

Beef imports from the UK stood at 1,015 MT from the 35,319 MT total in the first quarter of the year, based on BAI data.

Meanwhile, the DA said mad cow disease could lead to fatal nerve damage in cattle, and its possible spread in the country could “undermine the livestock

industry and compromise food safety.”

“Given the potential risk to the consumers and to protect the local livestock industry which plays a significant role in the Philippine economy and was valued at P260 billion last year, Secretary Tiu Laurel has imposed a temporary import ban emphasizing the importance of precautionary measures to safeguard public health,” the DA said in a statement.

The department added that the zoonotic disease could cause Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans and manifest through brain shrinkage and deterioration.

It said there are plans to implement more stringent inspections of all arrivals of meat and

meat by-products derived from cattle, including live animals and bovine processed animal proteins, at the ports of entry to ensure that only non-infected and safe commodities should enter the country.

“Imported beef is staple fare in both fast-food and high-end restaurants, and a key ingredient in processed and canned food. Thus, in order to facilitate continuous trade while mitigating the possible risk of spread of BSE infection, all shipments coming from the United Kingdom that are already in transit, loaded or accepted unto port shall be allowed provided that the products were slaughtered or produced on or before 10 April 2024,” the DA said.

Baluch said.

“Latest data also signaled a fall in input prices, with some companies attributing this to a switch to new suppliers. However, charges continued to rise, indicating that firms wished to maintain and build their margins,” she added.

S&P Global Market Intelligence said in order to bring down costs, factories also decided to swich to “more competitively priced suppliers.” This allowed firms to see a decrease in their cost burdens for the first time since April 2020.

However, the May increase in stocks of finished goods was the weakest in the current three-month sequence of expansion.

(yoy). Said FDI created 2.8 million jobs in 2023, up 16.4 percent from 2022. In prepandemic 2019, FDI in new (or green) projects numbered 17,078.  The report was published by FDI Markets, a unit of the Financial Times.

“Regionally, western Europe attracted the highest number of FDI projects in 2023 with more than 4,700 projects—up by 15.6 percent from a year earlier. However, Asia Pacific [APAC] was the leading destination for capital investment with the value increasing from $330 billion in 2022 to $450 billion in 2023,” said the report.

UBy Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

KRAINE will finally open its embassy in Manila this year as it seeks to strengthen its diplomatic ties with the Philippines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the announcement during his first ever face-to-face meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Monday.

The brief bilateral meeting comes after both leaders attended the 21st edition of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore last week.

The two leaders wanted to talk in Singapore, but their meeting did not push through due to conflicts in their schedules.

“We were unable to find the time while we were both in Singapore. But I’m happy that—we’re very honored that you found the time to pass by the Philippines,” Marcos said.

“I know that the crisis in your country has occupied all of your attention and all of your time. And it is a great pleasure to meet with you to discuss some of the issues that are common to our two countries. And hopefully find ways forward for the both of us together,” he added.

Senators to revisit vaping law, eye FDA as enforcer

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SEN. Joel Villanueva, citing serious concerns on the health impact of vaping and vape products,  said the senators are keen to review the law that allowed it.

Senators are set to revisit the controversial law allowing vaping and vape products, Villanueva said, amid concerns that they could pose serious health issues like tobacco, instead of being the safer alternative they were touted to be.

Pia Cayetano, who opposed the law, strongly insisted that the Food and Drug Administration at least be made the law’s enforcer, not the Department of Trade and Industry, as the latter does not have have the medical knowhow needed for such regulatory work.

encourage our young people to do vaping.”

Villanueva added: “We’ve seen so many times now how so many vape units use cartoon characters.”

This despite a 13-month high in pre-production inventories.

Nonetheless, Baluch said the manufacturing sector is expected to continue to grow and be able to support the economy’s second quarter performance on the back of new orders and higher output. She also noted that there are expansions in business requirements that supported the rise in purchasing activities and the need to more inventories. These indicate that growth could be sustained despite the jobs lost.

“Yes, I believe it should be amended, and it’s the FDA, not DTI, that should regulate,” Villanueva told reporters in a press conference, recalling this was precisely one of the most serious issues raised when they were deliberating on what was to become Republic Act 11900.

Back then, senators led by Sen.

The senator confirmed the upcoming inquiry seen to tackle concerns over the first confirmed “EVALI” [e-vaping-associated lung injury] case and the Department of Health’s statement of alarm.

Villanueva conveyed they are “worried by E-VALI,” noting the recent report involving the 22 yearold male, with no prior health issues, who succumbed to heart and lung injuries after vaping daily.       “Even though Republic Act 11900 is relatively young, it’s time maybe to revisit it,” said Villanueva, adding that “as earlier discussed, DTI can’t be relied on to regulate it.” He claimed some officials he talked to in the agency are really not keen on handling it.

The senator said that he was also alarmed by so many promo girls roaming around Metro Manila, “to

The Philippines ranked the lowest in APAC in terms of the number of new projects that received FDI in 2023. Only 155 new projects were funded by capital last year, although this was 17.45 percent higher than in 2022. It tied with Thailand with 155 new projects, up 72.2 percent, yoy. India recorded the most number of projects which received FDI at 1,006; followed by China with 423 projects (+24.8 percent); Singapore with 409 (+1.51 percent); Australia with 354 (-16.7 percent); Vietnam with 295 (+64.8 percent); Malaysia with 205 (+42.4 percent); Japan with 191 (-2.1 percent); Indonesia with 165 (+68.4 percent); and Thailand and the Philippines.

RE gets bulk of FDI in APAC

Noting Sen. Pia Cayetano’s revelations, Sen. Villanueva added: “Remember, when they were discussing the law, there was a consensus that we won’t allow aggressive marketing of vape products among the young.”

And yet, he added, promo girls and vape products are spread well near schools, among others.

“The market they are targeting is really expanding,” Villanueva warned, as he cited a study showing that one in seven Filipinos aged 13-15 are vaping.

In 2020 in the US, Villanueva recalled, there were at least 3,000 patients admitted to hospital for E-VALI, and 68 deaths were later recorded.

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier reported that the net inflow of FDI dropped by 6.6 percent to $8.86 billion from some $9.5 billion in 2022. It was the second  year in a row that FDI to the Philippines decreased. Top FDI sources were Japan, the United States, Singapore, and Germany, which went mostly to the manufacturing, real estate, and financial and insurance sectors.

Meanwhile, the report said: “Maintaining its position as the leading destination region for FDI, Asia Pacific performed well in 2023. Capital investment into the region increased by 37 percent from 2022 to $449.9 billion in 2023. The number of FDI projects rose by 16 percent from 3,551 in 2022 to 4,115 in 2023, demonstrating a robust recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The renewable energy sector received the bulk, at 17 percent, of FDI projects last year, and reached $77.8 billion in RE investment. “This follows a broader trend in APAC between 2019 and 2023, when capital investment from FDI shifted towards projects supporting the green transition as part of the region’s postpandemic recovery.”

Some $78 billion in investment went to RE, followed by coal, oil, and gas with $41 billion; semiconductors with $34 billion; metals with $331.1 billion; and real estate with $32 billion.

China nears as top capitalist WORLDWIDE , the US remained the top source of FDI capital last year, but China followed closely on its heels “as Chinese companies went on an international investment spree after Beijing finally lifted Covid-19 restrictions.”

Most of the capital investments went to the renewable energy sector for the fourth year in a row, despite slipping by 6.6 percent to $343 billion in 2023, and funding 856 projects. This was followed by the electronic components sector with $114.8 billion (+24 percent); the coal, oil and gas sector with some $93.9 billion (-19 percent); semiconductors with $55.2 billion (-50 percent);

“Ultimately, China’s FDI trajectory mirrors that of its economic development. For years, China has been the factory of the world, absorbing billions of dollars in FDI by manufacturers looking for a cost-convenient base to produce goods bound for exports at scale. That exports-led model is now transforming into a model driven by domestic consumption. As such, the country may need less inbound capital, while its domestic companies are looking abroad to invest the capital they have accumulated over the years. No wonder that its outbound-toinbound FDI ratio touched a new high in 2023, at 82.13 percent,” said FDI Intelligence.

“Subdued inflationary pressures and a further improvement in the demand picture indicate that economic growth will likely be

Zelenskyy is currently in Asia to seek support from Asian countries for an upcoming Global Peace Summit in Switzerland.

He accused China and Russia of trying to dissuade other countries from attending the event, to  be held on June 15 and 16, 2024 in Bürgenstock, Switzerland.

Peace summit

IN a post on his social media account, Zelenskyy said the Philippines will be participating in the event after he raised the matter during his talk with Marcos.

“We discussed the inaugural Global Peace Summit and the importance of Southeast Asian countries being represented there. I am pleased that the Philippines will participate in the Summit,” Zelenskyy said in the post.

In a Viber message, Presidential Communication Office(PCO) Secretary Cheloy V. Garafil confirmed to reporters that the Philippines will be participating in the event.

However, she said they are still finalizing if the President will attend the event or will send a representative instead.

Over 100 countries are expected to send representatives to the summit.

Bilateral talks

BOTH leaders also talked about bilateral cooperation, particularly on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the Philippines.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Ukraine ranked as the 90th trading partner of the Philippines in 2022, when the total trade between the countries amounted to US$16.9 million.

Total trade between the two countries fell to US$10.2 million in

It is also worth noting that the think tank considered the country’s geopolitical position as an instance which hampers the Philippines’ development in the global value chain.

“In contrast with the strategy adopted by Singapore, the Philippines has historically chosen sides.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has clearly aligned with the US, in effect reversing his predecessor Duterte’s pro-China stance,” Oxford Economics said.

According to the think tank, this “swing” has had a significant impact on the country’s development strategy and market access.

sustained in the coming months. Reflecting positive sentiment, optimism picked up to a nine-month high,” Baluch said. S&P Global Market Intelligence said the growth in total sales was sustained in May while the improvement in demand trends fueled by an expanding customer base extended the growth of sales to a period of nine consecutive months. Demand from external markets strengthened in May on the back of new export orders. This led to a growth in new sales from abroad was widely attributed to improved demand trends in key export markets and new client wins.

2023 amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

During their discussions, Marcos also committed to send Filipino mental health workers to Ukraine, after such was requested by Zelenskyy.

“I am happy to do all that we can to make sure that we can help, especially the civilians and the innocents that are involved in the war. This is something that comes naturally to the Philippines so this will be something that we could pursue,” Marcos said.

Zelenskyy said many of their soldiers who fought in the frontlines need health care aid, when returning to their families.

Continued support IN February 2023, Marcos had a phone call with Zelensky, where they discussed the deepening relations between the Philippines and Ukraine.

Marcos admired the Kyiv leader’s handling of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine that began with attacks from Russian forces on February 24, 2022.

Marcos helped raise awareness of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in his speeches in international forums abroad, including the Shangri-la Dialogue, stating how it affects global trade.

Zelenskyy thanked the Marcos administration for its clear position on the matter and for supporting the related United Nations (UN) Resolution, which calls for the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

“Thank you for this invitation and we are very thankful to be in your country and—which supports Ukraine in our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Zelenskyy said.

“On the one hand, the Philippines is now getting more support from the US, including economic aid and military assistance; but on the other hand, China remains one of the country’s main trade partners. The risk is that the alliance with the US could lead to obstacles in accessing the China market,” it further noted. To climb up the global value chain, the think tank advised Asean countries to maintain “neutrality.”

He explained candidates, who stand to benefit from such prohibited materials can also be held accountable.

“Instead of choosing sides, countries may want to enhance collaboration and foster diverse trade partnerships to boost opportunities and improve trade and investment,” said Oxford Economics.

Comelec can file the charges based on complaints from concerned individuals or groups or from its motu proprio investigation.   The proposal is still waiting for approval from the Comelec en banc before it can be implemented.

Garcia said they will be coordinating with other government agencies, private sector, and other stakeholders to craft the policy for the ban and also for its possible implementation, since Comelec lacks the necessary personnel to flag prohibited AI-generated campaign materials.

Ombudsman suspends Guo,

2

other Bamban officials

TBy Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

HE Ombudsman has ordered the preventive suspension of the embattled mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, Alice Guo in connection with the graft charges filed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) against her and several local officials.

Aside from Guo, ordered suspended were Edwin Ocampo, chief of the Business Permit and Licensing Office and Adenn Sigua, municipal legal officer.

The suspension order was signed by Ombudsman Samuel Martires on May 31, 2024 or just a week after the DILG through Undersecretary Juan Victor Llamas filed the complaint on May 24.

The DILG named Guo, Ocampo, Sigua, incumbent Vice Mayor Leonardo Anunciacion, former Vice Mayor William Cura and the municipal council members as respondents in the administrative complaint for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“Wherefore, complainant’s prayer for preventive suspension is hereby granted but only insofar as Alice Leal Guo, Edwin Ocampo and Adenn Sigua are concerned,” the order read.

“They are hereby preventively suspended, without pay, during the period of investigation until its termination, but not to exceed six months.,” it added.

The suspension order is immediately executory in line with the provision of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

“Notwithstanding any motion, appeal, or petition that may be filed by respondents seeking relief from this Order, unless otherwise ordered by this Office or any count of competent jurisdiction, the implementation of this Order shall not be interrupted within the period prescribed,” the Ombudsman added.

The Ombudsman said it found sufficient grounds to preventively suspend the respondents considering that “there is strong evidence showing their guilt” which may warrant their removal from the service.

“Further, given respondents’ power and authority, there is strong probability that they may influence witnesses or tamper with any evidence material to the case,” the order added.

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

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

One of the documents seized during the raid include a Tarlac Electric Cooperative, Inc.

Statement of Account dated March 8, 2024 in the name of Guo.

Prior to this, police authorities in Central Luzon also raided offshore gaming operator Hongsheng Gaming Technology Inc., also in the Baufo compound for alleged fraudulent cryptocurrency investment operation.

Hongsheng’s license to operate was already cancelled by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) months before the raid.

A task force was then created to determine possible liabilities of local government officials on the said illegal POGO operations in Bamban.

The DILG said the investigation was able to establish that Guo purchased eight parcels of land located at Barangay Anupul in Bamban which was covered by a deed of absolute sale notarized by Sigua on February 28, 2019.

Transfer certificate titles were later issued in the name of Baofu, represented by Guo as its president.

Subsequently, Guo applied for a locational clearance for various building projects of Baufo and admitted inviting businessmen to invest in its mixed-use development project.

Guo also represented Baufo in applying for a letter of no objection from the municipal council which unanimously issued a resolution approving her application letter.

Guo also admitted owning at least 50 percent of shares of stock of Baufo but claimed that she had divested her interest over the shares before assuming office in 2022.

On October 25, 2022, Guo granted business permit to Baufo after Pagcor cancelled Hongsheng’s license on October 6, 2022.

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

It also noted that a few months after the raid on Hongsheng, the municipal council approved the application of Zun Yuan Technology for a license permit.

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

The DILG charged Ocampo for processing and issuing permits to Zun Yuan despite its incomplete documents.

On the other hand, the DILG accused Sigua of being remiss in his duty for failing to investigate the supposed negligence on the part of municipal council members in issuing their resolution interposing no objection to Zun Yuan’s application for license.

Guo is currently being investigated by the Senate over the possibility that she is a Chinese “asset” tasked to infiltrate the Philippine government.

Go aids indigents in Lanao del Norte

SEN. Christopher Go dispatched his Malasakit Team to Baroy and Tubod in Lanao del Norte on May 30 and 31 to provide relief and support to those belonging in the poorest communities.

“Ako naman po ay patuloy na ilalapit ang serbisyong nararapat sa ating mga kababayan dahil yan ang aking bisyo, ang magserbisyo. Huwag po kayong magpasalamat sa akin. Kayo po ang dapat kongpasalamatandahilbinigyanniyopoako ngpagkakataonnamakapaglingkodsainyo,” said Go, often referred to as Mr. Malasakit. During the relief activities held at the Baroy Tourism Plaza and MCC Gymnasium in Tubod, a total of 1,410 indigents received financial assistance from the national government, thanks to the collective efforts of Senator Go, fellow Senator Francis Tolentino, Baroy Mayor Grelina Lim, and provincial board members.

In a video message, Senator Go emphasized the necessity of pro-poor programs to ensure comprehensive national progress. “I don’t want Filipinos to experience hunger, which is why I will continue to push for more initiatives and support programs that extend help to the poorest in society,” Go stated. In line with his advocacy against illegal drugs, Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, distributed basketballs and volleyballs to promote sports as a healthy alternative for the youth. “Get into sports, stay away from drugs,” he urged the beneficiaries.

Duque: Duterte ordered transfer of ₧47.6-B DOH funds to DBM

FBy Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

ORMER Health Secretary Francisco

Duque III on Monday revealed that former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed the controversial transfer of P47.6 billion from the Department of Health (DOH) to the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) for purchasing Covid-19 supplies in 2020.

Duque made the statement during an oversight hearing of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations, which is reviewing the budget performance of the DOH and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

During the hearing, chaired by Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, House appropriations panel vice chairman, and Rep. France Castro, nominee to the House of the ACT Teachers party-list group, Duque was asked about the origin of the fund transfer.

“As stated earlier by Secretary Duque, a large transfer of P47.6 billion was made during our dates with President Duterte. Is this correct?” Castro enquired.

Duque responded, “Publicly this was

made by the President in our meetings in the weekly meeting or talk to the people.”

The Ombudsman recently ordered the filing of graft charges against Duque III and former DBM Undersecretary Christopher Lao over what was described as an “irregular transfer” of DOH funds to PS-DBM for procuring Covid-19 supplies. Additionally, the anti-graft agency found Duque and Lao guilty of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, and conduct prejudicial to the service.

During the House hearing, Deputy Majority Leader Janette Garin further inquired about the official instructions behind the fund transfer.

“So I think, Honorable Castro, the answer of Secretary Duque was in a public address by the President...the former President. That surprises me a bit, Madam Chairwoman because there are usually official notices or instructions,” said Garin, who once served as health secretary.

“So was there any instruction, Madam Chairwoman, or who instructed Secretary Duque to initiate the P47.6 billion transfer?

It can be answered by the name of the authority who instructed him or the name of the committee or I do not know. If Secretary

Duque can respond,” said Garin.

But Duque stood firm, asserting his authority in the matter.

“Madam Chairperson, it is within my authority to effect the fund transfer. I do not deny that,” he added.

However, Garin persisted in seeking clarity, pressing Duque on whether the decision was made unilaterally, “The question is did you unilaterally decide to transfer P47.6 billion to PS-DBM?”

In response, Duque clarified, “No is the answer. I’m just complying with the rules of the PS-DBM. Again, I do not want to belabor the laws that authorize the PSDBM to procure in a state of public health emergency materials.”

Duque explained that the decision was based on recommendations from the InterAgency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), which he also chaired.

“But would like to reiterate that it is within my authority to effect the transfer because of the public health emergency where there were not enough CSEs [common-use supplies and equipment], PPEs [personal protective equipment], and other Covid pandemic supplies,” Duque added.

“So we wanted just to make sure, Madam Chairperson, that the lives of our people are protected and that the risks are mitigated from our people possibly then at the height of the pandemic that nobody knew about, that would have resulted in the millions of infections and countless deaths of our healthcare workers,” he stressed.

Additionally, Garin criticized the Duterte administration’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic, asserting that it exacerbated the burden on the public. She pointed out the exorbitant cost of Covid-19 testing, which PhilHealth initially set at P8,150, in contrast to the P2,000 to P2,500 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Garin also raised serious concerns over the government’s handling of Covid-19 loans, emphasizing the burden on the public and the lack of accountability for the borrowed funds.

It was also learned during the hearing that the government secured a total of US$2.21 billion for the Philippine Covid-19 Emergency Response Project (PCERP) and the Health System Enhancement to Address and Limit Covid-19 (HEAL) in 2021 and 2022.

Senators denounce seizing of soldiers’ food, blocking of medical services at Ayungin by China Coast Guard

SBy Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

ENATORS on Monday denounced China’s latest act of seizing and throwing away food intended for Philippine troops manning BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

The China Coast Guard was also accused of blocking a medical mission to treat sick soldiers.

“Be it in times of war or in peace, it is imperative that all nations uphold the principles of empathy, compassion, and respect for human life as enshrined in the Geneva Convention,” Sen. Nancy Binay reminded China.

“Personally,” the lawmaker laments, “I express my deep concern and condemnation over the recent actions by the Chinese Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal.”

She pointed out “these actions, are blatant disregard for humanitarian principles and violate the protocols under the Geneva Convention that mandate the humanitarian treatment of the sick and injured.”

Moreover, the senator reminded that “the obstruction of medical aid to our personnel is an affront to these international norms and human dignity.”

“Mayroon ding mga dala na bola ang aking opisina kasi ang advocacy ko po ay sports. Gusto ko po ipagpatuloy po ang kampanya ni (dating) pangulong Rodrigo Duterte nalabananangkriminalidadatiligal nadrogasapamamaraannaengganyuhinpo angmgakabataannamaglarongbasketball o anumang larangan ng pampalakas,” encouraged Go.

Apart from the mentioned relief, the beneficiaries also received snacks, while there were select recipients of mobile phones, shoes, and watches from Go’s Malasakit Team.

Furthermore, Senator Go is a staunch supporter of legislative efforts to strengthen the sports sector in the Philippines. He introduced and sponsored Senate Bill No. 2514, the proposed Philippine National Games (PNG) Act, which passed the Senate on its third and final reading on May 20. This bill aims to institutionalize a structured national sports program that promotes grassroots sports and aligns with the national sports development strategy.

The lawmaker also played a pivotal role in establishing the National Academy of Sports (NAS) by authoring and cosponsoring Republic Act No. 11470. Located in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, NAS offers a dual path for student-athletes, combining secondary education with a sports-focused curriculum to help them excel in sports and academics.

Another Malasakit Team of the senator also assisted fire victims in Tubod on May 30.

Binay added: “The Philippines is prepared to elevate this matter to the highest forums possible, including the United Nations, to attain justice and ensure protection oif our people’s rights.”

At the same time, Sen. Anna Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros deplored “China’s continued wanton disregard for valuable food resources now on full display.”

“It is clear now,” she added, noting that the Chinese elements are not only ready to lay to waste natural resources, they can also waste the food of our troops.”

She deplored as well the blocking of medical services for soldiers, calling it, “despicable and callous.”

She added: “If we are to have a chance at settling our disputes, China must show a measure of good faith by reigning in her Coast Guard.”

Hontiveros noted how Philippine troops have never treated Chinese elements with disrespect, “even though these are our waters,”

Moreover, she assured “our troops have been guarding the BRP Sierra Madre with integrity, dignity, and honor.”

Expressing “hope that the Department of National Defense will reinforce our soldiers stationed on Ayungin Shoal,” adding that “we will not allow China to relentlessly demean our troops, our people.”

A4

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Economy

Subic, health facilities see waste problem if Kalangitan landfill were forced to close

By Henry Empeño

BAY FREEPORT—The

UBIC

Splanned closure of a sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac, which takes in waste from hundreds of localities in Central and Northern Luzon, as well as thousands of industrial clients including hospitals from as far away as cities in Mindanao, is raising a stink here, as business operations are expected to be greatly affected.

The Kalangitan sanitary landfill (SLF), which is operated by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC), is planned for closure in October when MCWMC’s 25-year contract with the Bases Conversion and Development Agency (BCDA) and its subsidiary Clark Development Corporation (CDC) expires. See related story in A5 News,“BCDA to help stakeholders in expiring landfill deal.”

The two government agencies reportedly won’t grant any extension or renewal of the contract with MCWMC.

“We will have to look for an alternative,” said Amethya dela Llana, manager

of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority’s Ecology Center, when asked about options for the Subic agency in face of what was described as a looming garbage crisis in the region.

“However, it will be big problem for us if Metro Clark won’t be able to find an alternative SLF for the disposal of some 60 to 65 tons of residual waste generated daily in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” dela Llana added. In all, Subic’s industrial and commercial establishments, as well as residential units produce approximately 1,650 to 1,690 tons of waste in a month, SBMA Ecology Center figures show.

A study by the Department of Urban Engineering of the University of Tokyo identified the predominant contributors to Subic’s waste stream as the industrial and commercial sectors, which accounted for 79 percent and 16 percent, respectively, of some 56 kilotons of solid wastes collected in 2022.

While 42 percent of the waste produced in Subic is recycled, most, or a total of 58 percent, are directed to the

Kalangitan landfill.

Meanwhile, hospitals in Luzon, particularly those in Metro Manila are facing a toxic waste crisis owing to the planned shut down the single engineered sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac.

A group of hospital and toxic waste treaters said that once this happens, patients and hospital workers would be exposed health hazards.

As of now, some one million tons of waste are being processed each year at the Kalangitan landfill, the MCWMC said. These include garbage from 32 local governments in Pangasinan, 24 in Nueva Ecija, 16 in Pampanga, 12 in Bulacan, eight in Zambales, and six each in Bataan and Benguet.

In face of the impending closure, concerned local governments petitioned Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga last April, expressing their objection and pointing out “the critical role that the Kalangitan landfill plays in our community’s health and environmental sustainability.”

“The closure of this facility threatens to precipitate literally overnight,

a severe waste management crisis affecting millions of people,” the local governments warned.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Capampangan in Media Inc. (CAMI) at the Clark Freeport, Danny Abadilla, president of Clark Sanitation Services, said shutting dwn Kalangitan would render thousands of hospitals in Luzon “stuck and helpless” with mounting volume of hospital waste each day.

Abadilla said the waste that include hypodermic needles, body fluids and parts, pharmaceuticals, radioactive materials, and cytotoxic drugs can only be processed at Kalangitan under DENR regulations.

“Should BCDA and CDC close the waste facility come October, the stoppage of collecting and treatment of hospital wastes is expected to affect the health of patients and workers in the frontline and in the community,” Abadilla added.

Mayor Roseller Rodriguez of Capas, Tarlac, announced earlier that the town government is considering the filing a case against BCDA and CDC to press for the extension of utilizing the Kalangitan landfill. With Ashley Manabat

www.businessmirror.com.ph

How to build high-performance teams?

CBy: Henry J. Schumacher

OMPANIES are only as great as the teams that run them! You agree? So how do you get the right people, the right environment, and the right incentives? I recommend using nine principles to craft high-performing teams:

1. The Peacemaker Principle HIGH-PERFORMING teams often include a “people person.” I don’t mean HR—it’s someone who naturally makes connections, brings people together, and inspires collaboration and camaraderie. These personalities naturally defuse minor conflicts in the team before they get big.

2. The Clear Mission Principle GREAT teams need a North Star. Can the team make a difference? What purpose do they serve? Create an inspiring mission to perform at the highest level. The whole team should know their WHY. When people don’t have a why, performance, morale, and momentum will tank.

3. Skin in the Game Principle TEAMS perform best when the members are personally incentivized to succeed. This can be ownership, a bonus, or a promotion, or non-monetary rewards like

acclaim or recognition. It’s worth taking the time to learn what makes your team feel valued. If you don’t, you can spend a lot of time and effort on incentives that just don’t connect. Effectively tie personal outcome to the team outcome, and you’ll start winning more.

4. The Anchors Away Principle EVERY team has weak links. But top performers will balance them out, right? Wrong. Weak team members act as anchors weighing down the whole team. And they can grind things to a halt. Cutting your anchors can be tough. It might be about finding a better place for them in your organization. Or it might mean letting them go.

5. The Benetton Principle TEAMS with a variety of backgrounds and cultures perform better. Studies show diverse teams produce more patents than average. It’s not just right—it’s good business.

Anyone who doesn't see the worth in a diverse team is missing out big time.

6. The No Responsibility Without Authority Principle RESPONSIBILITY = “you own this” Authority = “you have the power to enact change” If you’re asking your team to do something, make sure they have the authority to get it done. If you don’t, they’ll feel powerless.

7. The Hierarchy Principle SURE , it might give everybody warm fuzzies to have a flat hierarchy. But business is not a commune, potluck, or campfire. You always get the best results with a single person leading. Otherwise, nobody is ultimately responsible for achieving the team’s goals.

8. The We Are Humans Principle GET the team out of the office. Encourage them to know each other personally. Have fun. Build trust. Be people—even at the office. Studies show the highestperforming teams bond over non-work topics. The same applies to online business. Try to get remote teams together at least once a year. The trust, effectiveness, and morale of your team is more than worth the expense of a few plane tickets.

9. The Swoop Principle SOMETIMES the boss needs to get in there.

Email wars? Tell them to pick up the phone. Stupid meetings? Do some coaching! Is good work happening? Compliment it! Leaders must step in when needed.

That’s it!

Use these principles to build beautiful teams of happy, productive people making a difference.

I’d love to hear from you— are you a team builder? What principles do you think are most important? Contact me at hjschumacher@gmail.com

Marcos Jr. signs law giving P10K for teaching supply allowances

By Samuel P. Medenilla

@sam_medenilla

& Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

P@joveemarie

UBLIC school teachers in basic education will soon

be getting a new allowance to help them buy teaching supplies and materials.

This after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (RA) No.  11997 or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act in Malacañang on Monday, doubling the allowance they get for such purpose after one year.

“For decades, they have willingly taken on the burden of having to spend their own money on classroom supplies to aid them in teaching,” Marcos said.

“With the passage of this law, we are easing some of the burden that you carry each day,” he added.

Under the new law, each covered teacher will initially get a P5,000 teaching allowance for School Year (SY) 2024-2025. The allowance will be raised to P10,000 SY 2025-2026 and subsequent years.

The allowance will be exempted from income tax.

RA 11997 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Marcos thanked Congress for passing key pieces of legislation, including RA 11997, which will help in the efforts of his administration to improve the quality of the country’s basic education.

“I think we are all familiar with the situation where—when a teacher finds themselves in financial straits then sometimes, they are distracted and spend their time trying to increase the support that they can provide their

Davao mayor warns City Hall staff vs drug use

By Manuel T. Cayon @awimailbox Mindanao Bureau Chief

DAVAO CITY—City Mayor Sebastian Duterte warned City Hall employees against illegal drug use after 37 members of a security unit failed in a random drug test last week.

Duterte’s warning followed his earlier declaration of a war on drugs last month, which also placed in hot water the top-ranking police officials in the city for the death of seven drug peddlers in subsequent buy- bust operations late last month.

Duterte was angered by the report of 37 personnel of the Public Safety and Security Command Center in a random drug testing last week. The PSSCC is in charge of the internal public safety operation, including the management of the 911 Emergency Response Center.

The city is known for its tough anti-drug policy—a policy traced to Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was one of the

longest-serving mayors here.  The younger Duterte has been criticized for his lax governance of the city during his first term mayor here.

Meanwhile, the city government gave six units of alcohol breathalyzers to the Traffic Enforcement Unit in time for the re-launching of Republic Act 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2023, the city information office said.

Police Col. Rolindo Suguilon, acting police city police chief, said the donated items should “deter reckless behavior and promote responsible driving by raising awareness, especially among motorists in the city.”

Suguilon received the breathalyzer kits from Mayor Duterte. Also, Land Transportation Office XI Regional Director Eleonor Calderon authorized 120 personnel from the TEU and DCPO to implement and enforce RA 10586.

Meanwhile, the TEU destroyed 623 modified mufflers or motorcycles that were confiscated since July 2 last year.

families, and to the detriment of the actual teaching,” he said.

The President also lauded lawmakers for the passage of the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Law (RA 11995) and the Eddie Garcia Law (RA 11996).

He urged them to continue passing legislation that will “make a difference in our people’s lives. Let us continue to write and pass these laws based on foresight, not on reaction.”

800,000 teacher-beneficiaries

A SENIOR lawmaker said around 800,000 public school teachers will now receive the higher allowance for teaching supplies.

“This new law bumps up the allowance of some 800,000 public school teachers for their school supplies to P10,000 in recognition of the invaluable contribution of

our educators to nation-building,” said Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte, a co-author of RA 11997. Marcos added that “providing our public school teachers with a permanent teaching supplies allowance, and with a provision for a steady bump per school year [SY], will hopefully incentivize them to strive for excellence in their field  and make teaching a more attractive profession for our students.”

HB 9682, which was passed in the bigger chamber by a 247-0 vote, had consolidated 17 similar measures, including HB 1849 that the NUP president had authored with fellow CamSur Reps. Miguel Luis Villafuerte and Tsuyoshi Anthony Horibata.

The Villafuerte-led bill was also authored by Bicol Saro Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan.

The higher allowance will be included in the budget of the Department of

Education (DepEd) under the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Villafuerte said the teachers’ allowance can be used for the purchase of tangible or intangible teaching supplies and materials, pay incidental expenses, and implement various learning delivery modes.

“RA 11997 institutionalizes and increases the special allowance for teaching supplies given to public school teachers during the pandemic to cover for their extra expenses, such as Internet connectivity fees, for the blended learning modes that were resorted to during the Covid-19-driven mobility restrictions in place of faceto-face classes in schools,” he said.

Recognizing this teachers’ predicament, he said that the DepEd and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued Joint Circular No. 2 implementing

Senators hail suspension of Mayor Alice Guo, but signal that Senate inquiry in her case goes on

SENATORS on Monday welcomed the Ombudsman’s decision suspending Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, but signaled that the current Senate inquiry, which turned up the colorful details of the mysterious, high-flying mayor’s case, will continue.

“Even with the filing of charges against Mayor Guo, the Senate remains committed in fleshing out details relating to the establishment of a POGO [Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator]  hub in her town that we suspected to be involved in transnational crimes such as money laundering and human trafficking,” said Sen. Win Gatchalian, one of two senators aggressively prob-

ing Guo for alleged links to illegal POGO operations in a hub recently raided for suspicion of involvement in money laundering and human trafficking.

Senators have scheduled an executive sessions this Wednesday to tackle the more sensitive questions in the Guo case, especially on allegations that the raided firms in the Bamban POGO hub could be involved in hacking. Sen. Risa Hontiveros, for her part, said of Guo’s suspension: “Dapat lang. Nung unang bisita pa lang namin sa ni-raid na POGO sa Bamban, Tarlac, ipinanawagan ko na ang preventive suspension laban kay Mayor Alice Guo [The suspension is but right. The first time

we visited the raided POGO inBamban, I had called for her preventive suspension already].”

Hontiveros said she “looked forward” to the executive session set by a Senate panel for Wednesday, where, she hoped, Senate probers can be further enlightened on the real role of Guo, “not just in POGO, but in the risks to our national security as well.”

The senator said, “We also received information that she tried to obstruct the ongoing investigation immediately after the POGO was raided. This should have already warranted a suspension. We only hope this is not too late.”

Mayor Guo also “undoubtedly has

ties with POGO,” added Hontiveros. And yet, she stressed, “no matter how many times she lies, no matter how many times she forgets, her connections to POGO are well-documented.”

“Let us not forget, this is a POGO with alleged hacking and surveillance activities. A POGO that brings scams, crime, human trafficking to the country.”

Gatchalian, meanwhile described the decision of the Ombudsman to place Guo under preventive suspension “a move in the right direction, allowing authorities to investigate freely without fear of a cover-up while she is in office. Any government officials suspected of any wrongdoing should

be thoroughly investigated and held liable if found guilty.” See related story in A3 Nation, “Ombudsman suspends Guo, 2 other Bamban officials.”

All elected and appointed government officials and personnel should adhere to the highest ethical standards and conduct themselves with integrity, accountability, and fairness, he added.

It was Gatchalian and Hontiveros who persisted the most in unearthing the answers behind the mystery that is Guo, a young woman who claims her mother is a Filipino and her father a Chinese businessman from Fujian, and who was suddenly elected Bamban mayor despite not having held any political positions before. She said she grew up “in a farm,” and explained the absence of any school records as the result of her having been “home-schooled.”

Despite managing relatively small enterprises, she was reported to own luxury cars and goods.

Butch Fernandez

Labor alliance: Sofitel owners out to bust our union

THE National Union of Workers in Hotel, Restaurant, and Allied Industries-Philippine Plaza Chapter and Philippine Plaza Supervisors Chapter (NUWHRAINPPC and PPSC) on Monday denounced in a press conference the alleged “blatant attempt of the Philippine Plaza Holdings Inc. (PPHI, the owner of the Sofitel) to bust the hotel’s unions under the pretense of closure and renovations.” Their main message, said the labor alliance, is this: Sofitel is open for business, yet closed for workers’ rights. The renovations, with some already finished and others currently underway, will address allegedly unsafe conditions in the hotel. Concerns regarding the hotel workers’ and guests’ safety were brought to light. “Kung unsafe ang conditions, bakit hinahayaan na nandun ang mga manggagawa at mga guest? Bakit nag-aaccept ng bookings?,” asked Gojol. If the safety issues exist, perhaps these could be addressed without the closure. “The fact that such renovations are already underway is proof that the closure is unnecessary. The management cited safety concerns for the closure, as if that is a valid reason

to terminate workers,” said the labor group in a statement.

“In light of the closure, reopening will allow PPHI to make up for the billions to be spent on renovations. The reopening is further solidified by PPHI’s application to extend their lease for another 25 years past 2041, which is the expiration of their current lease contract with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), who owns the land. It is extremely doubtful that management has no plans, because they would not simply throw away their investments on time, money, and

resources. Why terminate workers if the hotel will reopen?”

The PPC and PPSC said they believe that PPHI intends to bust their unions. “The renovations, the billions spent, and the extensions all point to the undeniable fact that the hotel will eventually reopen. Despite this, the workers are left in the dark by management. With the terminations and the prevention of workers from knowing all necessary plans and information, Sofitel is disorganizing their collectives and throwing away their rights dictated by the unions’ col-

lective bargaining agreement (CBA). These actions cannot be construed in any way other than union busting, as the unionized workers cannot respond properly without the transparency of management regarding their plans and will not be able to return to their jobs after the renovations. Their union busting shows that Sofitel prioritizes profit and greed over the benefits and rights of the workers that made the hotel’s wealth.”

The closure has left around 500 regular workers, and in total over a thousand unemployed.

Special Provision No. 11 in the 2021 GAA on cash allowance for school teachers in basic education.

Joint Circular 2 entitled teachers to each get a maximum P5,000 cash allowance for the purchase of teaching materials and supplies, as well as for the expenses they incur on internet connection, communications, and their annual medical examination.

However, Villafuerte said that the DepEd-DBM’s Joint Circular No. 2 only covered an allowance for a limited duration for public school teachers during  the pandemic. Hence, he added, making this Covid-era temporary allowance permanent and with a provision for a steady increase in the amount over the succeeding SYs—by way of RA 11997—“means added financial relief to public school teachers in the face of sticky inflation.”

BCDA to help stakeholders in expiring landfill deal

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

IN light of recent concerns surrounding the expiration of Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.’s (MCWMC) 25-year contract for the Kalangitan sanitary landfill facilities in Capas, Tarlac, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it will assist local government units, government agencies, and locators to explore alternative solutions for the affected stakeholders’ waste disposal requirements to ensure non-disruption of solid waste management services.  In a statement on Monday, the state-run firm said “Pursuant to the legal opinion of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel [OGCC], BCDA’s statutory counsel, extending the contract between Clark Development Corporation [CDC] and MCWMC beyond October 2024 would be against the Build-OperateTransfer [BOT] Law, the framework used in bidding and awarding the contract for the project.”

BCDA also noted that a sanitary landfill is no longer consistent with the government’s vision of transforming New Clark City into a “premier” investment and tourism destination.

Citing a report from the Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesEnvironmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region III, BCDA said there are two existing facilities in Pampanga that may be utilized upon the end of MCWMC’s contract.  These facilities have a combined total capacity of 3,500 metric tons (MT) of domestic waste per day, and a potential to expand further to 6,000 MT, it noted.

Further, BCDA said it has been invited to the opening of another materials recovery facility in Porac, Pampanga with a capacity of 5,000 MT per day.

“This brings the total combined capacity to 11,000 MT, which is more than enough to address the solid waste management requirements of Tarlac, Pampanga, and other provinces in and around the region,” the state-run firm asserted.

“This should allay fears of a looming garbage and health crisis in the region,” it also noted. According to an earlier story published by the BusinessMirror, an

of

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

The World

Defense minister suggests alternative governing body for Gaza, but no clear successors to Hamas

By Melanie Lidman The Associated Press

JERUSALEM—Israel is looking into an alternative local governing body for Gaza, the defense minister said Sunday, proposing a future beyond Hamas but giving no idea who those challengers might be.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s comments came at a time of new uncertainty in the eight-month war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under growing pressure from many Israelis to accept a new cease-fire deal proposed by US President Joe Biden, while far-right allies threaten to collapse his government if he does.

Gallant, part of Israel’s threemember War Cabinet who recently urged the government to have a detailed postwar plan for Gaza, said in a briefing that “we seek a governing alternative to Hamas. The framework for this includes isolating areas, removing Hamas operatives in these areas and bringing in other forces that will enable the formation of a governing alternative.”

That will achieve Israel’s goals of removing Hamas’ military and governing authority in Gaza and returning home the remaining hostages taken in the October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war, Gallant said. He stressed that “we will not accept the rule of Hamas at any stage in any process aimed at ending the war.”

In response to questions, an Israeli defense official told The Associated Press that Gallant hopes to enable isolated, Hamas-free areas in Gaza to become “hubs of

local government” and identify forces that can enable a longerterm formation of a government.

Israel is looking for “local nonhostile actors,” the official said, adding that Gallant believes that “Palestinians should be governing Palestinians.” Israel would facilitate surges of aid to the areas, and the local forces would be responsible for distributing it to strengthen their authority.

But that approach is challenging and has failed before, one expert said.

“I haven’t heard of any local players that are brave enough to present themselves as an alternative to Hamas,” said Michael Milshtein, an Israeli analyst of Palestinian affairs at Tel Aviv University and a former military intelligence officer.

Milshtein said Gallant’s “wishful thinking” would amount to a suicidal mission for any local leader. Hamas has threatened anyone cooperating with Israel’s government.

“Although Hamas suffered severe damage over the past eight months, their impact on the public is still very strong,” he said.

Milshtein noted that Israel has tried this approach in the past. In the 1970s and ‘80s, Israel tried to establish “village

leagues,” empowering local Palestinian leaders.

“They were considered in the eyes of Palestinians as collaborators, and it ended in a very tragic manner,” he said. Unless Israel maintains a constant presence in Gaza, any “alternative forces” they try to install will be too fragile, he added.

Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain security control over Gaza but delegate civilian administration to local Palestinians unaffiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the occupied West Bank. He has ruled out a path to Palestinian statehood.

Top ally the US has proposed that a reformed Palestinian Authority would govern Gaza with the assistance of Arab and Muslim nations.

The Hamas attack on October 7 in southern Israel killed around 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducted about 250. About 100 hostages remain in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

Over 36,430 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israel’s offensive, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Its count doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants. Israel blames Hamas for civilian deaths, accusing it of operating from dense residential areas.

At least five people including a young girl were killed Sunday in a strike on a street in Zawayda, central Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials and AP journalists at al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital who counted the bodies.

The United States continued to press Israel on the cease-fire proposal outlined by Biden, who said Friday it’s time for the war to end. Many of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced and shelter with few supplies, large parts of the territory have been destroyed and the United Nations has warned of “full-blown” famine.

The deal’s first phase would last six weeks and include a “full and complete cease-fire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the

Condemnations mount over Israeli proposal to label UNRWA aid agency a terrorist group

By Tia Goldenberg

TThe Associated Press

EL AVIV, Israel—Qatar and Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned an Israeli parliamentary bill that seeks to label UNRWA, the main provider of aid for Palestinians in Gaza, a terrorist group, joining a growing number of nations opposed to the proposal.

The bill, which passed a preliminary vote in parliament last week, is the product of increasingly tense relations between Israel and the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. Israel has accused the agency of militant links, claiming that hundreds of its employees are members of militant groups, including some who allegedly participated in the Oct. 7 attacks on southern Israel.

Those allegations led to a freeze in funding by many donors to the agency at a time when Gaza has been buckling under a humanitarian crisis triggered by the war. UNRWA says it took swift action against those accused and an independent review of the agency’s neutrality found that Israel did not previously raise concerns about the workers and did not provide evidence backing its claims.

The bill moving through parliament seeks to brand the agency a “terror group,” saying that the

employees’ alleged involvement in the Hamas assault shows that “it is a terror organization that is no different from the Hamas terror organization.” The bill also seeks to cut diplomatic ties between Israel and the agency.

The bill passed the initial vote 42-6 and must go through committees and three other votes before becoming law.

Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s director of communications, said the bill was part of Israel’s ongoing “systematic campaign” to dismantle the UN agency that is putting the lives of its staff at risk. She said it was too early to predict how the

bill might affect the agency.

UNRWA has operations in east Jerusalem, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza and it must go through Israeli crossings in order to deliver aid and supplies into Gaza.

In response to the bill, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the attempt to brand UNRWA a terrorist organization is “an extension of the systematic campaign aimed at dismantling the agency at a time when the need for its humanitarian services is dire due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.”

Saudi Arabia also condemned the move, saying UNRWA employ -

ees “are doing their duty to alleviate the severity of the humanitarian catastrophe that the Palestinian people are going through.”

“The kingdom stresses that Israel, as an occupying state, must abide by international law and international humanitarian law and stop obstructing the work of international organizations,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said.

The European Union, which along with its member states is the biggest donor to UNRWA, also condemned the move on Friday. It pointed to the “crucial and irreplaceable” role of UNRWA in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Belgium, an EU member, put out its own condemnations.

UNRWA, employs thousands of workers and provides vital aid and services to millions of people across the Middle East. In Gaza, it has been the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians during the Israel-Hamas war.

Israel has long railed against the agency, accusing it of tolerating or even collaborating with Hamas and of perpetuating the 76-year-old Palestinian refugee crisis. UNRWA denies the charges, saying it adheres to UN standards of neutrality. The Israeli government has accused Hamas and other militant groups of siphoning off aid and using UN facilities for military purposes.

release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Biden acknowledged that moving into the next phase of the deal would require more negotiations.

“This was an Israeli proposal. We have every expectation that if Hamas agrees to the proposal – as was transmitted to them, an Israeli proposal – then Israel would say yes,” White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby told ABC.

Also Sunday, officials from Egypt, Israel and the US ended a meeting in Cairo without any apparent agreement to reopen the crucial Rafah crossing into Gaza, which has been closed since Israel took over the Palestinian side of it in early May, Egypt’s state-run television channel Al-Qahera News reported.

Israel’s military continues to press into Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, in search of what’s been described as Hamas’ last stronghold even as the militants regroup

elsewhere in the territory.

Citing an unnamed official, AlQahera News said Egypt affirmed that Israel must withdraw its forces from the Palestinian side of the crossing before it can reopen. The report said Egypt accused Israel of blocking the delivery of badly needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, which Israel denies.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Monday that the body of a presumed hostage was found in a community near the Gaza border that Hamas militants attacked on October 7.

Dolev Yehud, 35, was thought to be among scores of hostages held in Gaza until Monday, when the military announced the discovery of his body and said he had been killed in the initial attack.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that Israel has offered Hamas a three-phase cease-fire and hostage release deal, declaring it was time to end the fighting in Gaza and that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel.

Israel is expanding its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, once the main hub of humanitarian aid operations. The Israeli invasion has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies to Palestinians facing widespread hunger. Israel faces growing international criticism over the huge cost in civilian lives and the widespread destruction caused by its nearly 8-month war with Hamas.

Israeli bombardments and ground operations in the besieged territory have killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.

The

contributed.

Energy shutdowns hit Ukraine after Russian attacks target infrastructure

By Samya Kullab & Elise Morton The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Ukraine imposed emergency power shutdowns in most of the country on Sunday, a day after Russia unleashed large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure and claimed it made gains in the eastern Donetsk province.

The shutdowns were in place in all but three regions of Ukraine following Saturday’s drone and missile attack on energy targets that injured at least 19 people.

Ukraine’s state-owned power grid operator Ukrenergo said the shutdowns affected both industrial and household consumers.

Sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid in recent weeks have forced the government to institute nationwide rolling blackouts. Without adequate air defenses to counter assaults and allow for repairs, though, the shortages could still worsen as need spikes in late summer and the bitter-cold winter.

Among the most significant recent strikes were an April barrage that damaged Kyiv’s largest thermal power plant and a massive attack on May 8 that targeted power generation and transmission facilities in several regions.

Following Saturday’s barrage, Ukraine’s air force said Sunday that air defenses had shot down all 25 drones launched overnight.

Russia claimed Sunday that it had taken control of the village of Umanske in the partially Russian-occupied Donetsk region. Russia’s coordinated new offensive

has centered on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region, but seems to include testing Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk farther south, while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions. In Russia, six people were injured in shelling in the city of Shebekino in the Belgorod region bordering Ukraine, regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Sunday. He also said that a local official, the deputy head of the Korochansky district, had been killed by “detonation of ammunition.” He gave no details.

In the neighboring Kursk region, three people were injured Sunday when an explosive device was dropped from a drone, according to acting regional head Alexey Smirnov.

Speaking at Asia’s premier security conference in Singapore, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused China on Sunday of helping Russia to disrupt an upcoming Swiss-organized peace conference on the war in Ukraine. Also on Sunday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby confirmed President Joe Biden agreed to allow Ukraine to use some US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to relieve “incredible downward pressure” that Russia has put on Kharkiv.

Earlier this week, four US officials, who requested anonymity, said President Joe Biden had given Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv.

from London.

Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem

PALESTINIANS carry the body of a dead child, killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip to the morgue of Al Aqsa hospital in Deir al Balah,

UNRWA staffs repack food in Khan Younis. PHOTO COURTESY OF UNRWA

Claudia Sheinbaum makes history as Mexico’s first female president

By María Verza & Mark Stevenson

The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY—Mexico’s projected presidential winner Claudia Sheinbaum will become the first woman president in the country’s 200-year history.

The climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor said Sunday night that her two competitors had called her and conceded her victory.

“I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” Sheinbaum said with a smile, speaking at a downtown hotel shortly after electoral authorities announced a statistical sample showed she held an irreversible lead. “I don’t make it alone. We’ve all made it, with our heroines who gave us our homeland, with our mothers, our daughters and our granddaughters.”

“We have demonstrated that Mexico is a democratic country with peaceful elections,” she said.

The National Electoral Institute’s president said Sheinbaum had between 58.3 percent and 60.7 percent of the vote, according to a statistical sample. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez had between 26.6 percent and 28.6 percent of the vote and Jorge Álvarez Máynez had between 9.9 percent and 10.8 percent of the vote.

The preliminary count, which started off very slowly, put Sheinbaum 27 points ahead of Gálvez with 42 percent of polling place tallies counted shortly after her victory speech.

The governing party candidate campaigned on continuing the political course set over the last six years by her political mentor

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

His anointed successor, the 61-year-old Sheinbaum led the campaign wire-to-wire despite a spirited challenge from Gálvez. This was the first time in Mexico that the two main opponents were women.

“Of course, I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum with all my respect who ended up the winner by a wide margin,” López Obrador said shortly after electoral authorities announcement. “She is going to be Mexico’s first (woman) president in 200 years.”

If the margin holds it would approach his landslide victory in 2018. López Obrador won the presidency after two unsuccessful tries with 53.2 percent of the votes, in a three-way race where National Action took 22.3 percent and the Institutional Revolutionary Party took 16.5 percent.

Earlier, Gálvez wrote on the social platform X, “The votes are there. Don’t let them hide them.”

Sheinbaum is unlikely to enjoy the kind of unquestioning devotion that López Obrador has enjoyed. Both belong to the governing Morena party.

In Mexico City’s main colonialera main plaza, the Zocalo, Sheinbaum’s lead did not initially draw the kind of cheering, jubilant crowds that greeted López Obrador’s victory in 2018.

Fernando Fernández, a chef, 28, joined the relatively small crowd, hoping for a Sheinbaum victory, but even he acknowledged there were problems.

“You vote for Claudia out of conviction, for AMLO,” Fernández said, referring to López Obrador by his initials, as most Mexicans do. But his highest hope is that Sheinbaum can “improve what AMLO couldn’t do, the price of gasoline, crime and drug trafficking, which he didn’t combat even though he had the power.”

Also in the crowd, Itxel Robledo, 28, a business administrator, expressed hope that Sheinbaum would do what López Obrador didn’t. “What Claudia has to do is put professionals in every area.”

Elsewhere in the city, Yoselin Ramírez, 29, said she voted for Sheinbaum, but split her vote for other posts because she didn’t want anyone holding a strong majority.

“I don’t want everything to be occupied by the same party, so there can be a little more equality,” she said without elaborating.

The main opposition candidate, Gálvez, a tech entrepreneur and former senator, tried to seize on Mexicans’ concerns about security and promised to take a more aggressive approach toward organized crime.

Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote, but turnout appeared to be slightly lower than in past elections. Voters were also electing governors in nine of the country’s 32 states, and choosing candidates for both houses of Congress, thousands of mayorships and other local posts, in the biggest elections the nation has seen and ones that have been marked by violence.

The elections were widely seen as a referendum on López Obrador, a populist who has expanded social programs but largely failed to reduce cartel violence in Mexico. His Morena party currently holds 23 of the 32 governorships and a simple majority of seats in both houses of Congress. Mexico’s constitution prohibits the president’s reelection.

Sheinbaum promised to continue all of López Obrador’s policies, including a universal pension

for the elderly and a program that pays youths to apprentice.

Gálvez, whose father was Indigenous Otomi, rose from selling snacks on the street in her poor hometown to start her own tech firms. A candidate running with a coalition of major opposition parties, she left the Senate last year to focus her ire on López Obrador’s decision to avoid confronting the drug cartels through his “hugs not bullets” policy. She pledged to more aggressively go after criminals.

The persistent cartel violence and Mexico’s middling economic performance were the main issues on voters’ minds.

Julio García, a Mexico City office worker, said he was voting for the opposition in Mexico City’s central San Rafael neighborhood. “They’ve robbed me twice at gunpoint. You have to change direction, change leadership,” the 34-year-old said. “Continuing the same way, we’re going to become Venezuela.”

On the fringes of Mexico City in the neighborhood of San Andres Totoltepec, electoral officials filed past 34-year-old homemaker Stephania Navarrete, who watched dozens of cameramen and electoral officials gathering where frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum was set to vote.

Navarrete said she planned to vote for Sheinbaum despite her own doubts about López Obrador and his party.

“Having a woman president, for me as a Mexican woman, it’s going to be like before when for the simple fact that you say you are a woman you’re limited to certain professions. Not anymore.”

She said the social programs of Sheinbaum’s mentor were crucial, but added that deterioration of cartel violence in the past few years was her primary concern in this election.

“That is something that they

have to focus more on,” she said. “For me security is the major challenge. They said they were going to lower the levels of crime, but no, it was the opposite, they shot up. Obviously, I don’t completely blame the president, but it is in a certain way his responsibility.”

In Iztapalapa, Mexico City’s largest borough, Angelina Jiménez, a 76-year-old homemaker, said she came to vote “to end this inept government that says we’re doing well and (still) there are so many dead.”

She said the violence plaguing Mexico really worried her so she planned to vote for Gálvez and her promise to take on the cartels. López Obrador “says we’re better and it’s not true. We’re worse.”

López Obrador claims to have reduced historically high homicide levels by 20 percent since he took office in December 2018. But that’s largely a claim based on a questionable reading of statistics. The real homicide rate appears to have declined by only about 4 percent in six years.

Just as the upcoming November rematch between US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump has underscored deep divisions in the US, Sunday’s election revealed how severely polarized public opinion is in Mexico over the direction of the country, including its security strategy and how to grow the economy.

Beyond the fight for control of Congress, the race for Mexico City mayor—a post now considered equivalent to a governorship—is also important. Sheinbaum is just the latest of many Mexico City mayors, including López Obrador, who went on to run for president. Governorships in large, populous states such as Veracruz and Jalisco are also drawing interest.

The Associated Press writer Fabiola Sánchez contributed to this report.

Argentine president’s Jewish conversion fuels tensions amidst Israel-Hamas war

By Isabel Debre & Almudena Calatrava The Associated Press

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—At the base of the sacred Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, President Javier Milei of Argentina appeared to be in a spiritual trance.

With head and hands pressed against the ancient stone, he prayed with the Orthodox rabbi who introduced him to Judaism three years ago. Although born and raised Roman Catholic, Milei has increasingly shown public interest in Judaism and even expressed intentions to convert.

Stepping back from the wall, Milei broke down. He hugged Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish close, sobbing onto his shoulder.

“In that moment, I felt proud that we have such determined leader, with such deep spiritual values,” Wahnish told The Associated Press in a recent interview, recalling their state trip to Israel in February.

For many Argentines, that pride was fraught with peril.

Breaking decades of policy precedent, Milei has gone further in his support of right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government than perhaps any other world leader as Israel faces growing isolation over its bombardment and invasion of Gaza that has killed over 36,000 Palestinians and pushed the enclave to the brink of famine.

His posture could not stand in starker contrast to most of Latin America—where Bolivia and Colombia have severed ties with Israel and at least five regional countries, most recently Brazil, have pulled ambassadors from Tel Aviv.

“Among great nations that should be pillars of the free world, I see indifference in some and fear in others about standing on the side of truth,” Milei told Jewish community leaders at an event last month commemorating the 81st anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. It was a veiled swipe at Western powers—including the United States—for criticizing Israeli military conduct.

The crowd leapt to its feet in applause.

The president’s supporters insist his newfound Jewish fervor has no bearing on his foreign policy. But Milei’s infatuation with Judaism and outspoken support for Israel has generated fears and exposed fissures within Argentina’s Jewish community, among the biggest in the world, and roiled relations with its neighbors.

Argentine Jews remain deeply scarred by a pair of lethal bombings targeting Israel’s embassy in 1992 and the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association, a community center known by its Spanish acronym AMIA, in 1994. Authorities allege Iran plotted the attacks and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group carried them out. No one has been held responsible. Argentina’s investigation has been mired in controversy.

“Milei has a messianic mind, and this is quite dangerous,” said Diana Malamud, whose husband was among the 85 people killed in the AMIA attack. “His policies can not only stoke conflicts at the international level ... but also generate anti-Semitism within our country.”

Milei’s curiosity about Judaism began as a kind of penitence in 2021, when he faced accusations of harboring pro-Nazi sympathies and wanted to prove in speech that he bore no animus toward Jews. He connected with Sephardic leader Rabbi Wahnish to have “a chat that was supposed to last 10 minutes and ended two hours later,” Wahnish said.

As Milei evolved from TV pundit to “anarcho-capitalist” president, Wahnish guided him through the study of Torah. Seeking common ground between his vision of radical libertarianism and the prophecy of the Old Testament, Milei’s casual interest morphed into a regular religious practice.

Wahnish, recently appointed Argentina’s ambassador to Israel, declined to comment on Milei’s conversion.

“In Judaism and Moses, Milei sees a cultural and spiritual revolution toward freedom,” Wahnish said. Since childhood, he added, Milei “felt Moses was his idol, his hero.”

Milei, who owns four clones of his dead dog Conan, has never been the most conventional occupant of Argentina’s highest office. Still, his foray into Judaism

has come as a particular surprise.

On the campaign trail, Milei quoted the Torah, made multiple Brooklyn pilgrimages to the tomb of influential Hasidic leader Menachem Mendel Schneerson and sounded the shofar, the ram’s-horn trumpet blasted during the Jewish High Holy Days, to close his electoral campaign.

Ahead of Milei’s victory, nearly 4,000 Argentine Jewish intellectuals signed a petition voicing concern over Milei’s “political use of Judaism.”

“It’s perverse...to use the shofar, which is played during religious ceremonies, to announce himself,” said Pablo Gorodneff, secretary-general of the progressive Argentine Jewish Appeal group. “It makes me very frustrated, very sad.”

As fighting raged in Gaza, Milei flew to Israel for his first foreign visit and praised Netanyahu without reservation. Following in the footsteps of former US President Donald Trump, he pledged to move Argentina’s Embassy from a beachfront bastion near Tel Aviv to the contested capital of Jerusalem—aggravating an emotional issue at the heart of the conflict. Netanyahu called Milei “a great friend.” Hamas called him “a partner of the Zionist occupier.”

Last month, Milei’s government upended Argentina’s traditional recognition of Palestinian statehood, joining the US and Israel to vote against Palestinian membership at the U.N.

His foreign policy shift has thrilled

Jewish community leaders, but also left them on edge.

“If Milei’s supposed defense of Israel is an attack on Palestinian rights, it puts the Jewish community in Argentina at risk,” said Héctor Shalom, director of Argentina’s Anne Frank Center. “The decades of impunity for past attacks show our vulnerability.”

The 1994 bombing, Argentina’s most notorious cold case, still spreads unease. After Hamas’ October 7 attack, the mood in the Jewish community went from worried to alarmed.

Jewish high schools requested that students stop wearing their uniforms, so as not to identify as Jewish. Authorities jacked up security at synagogues. Two bomb scares emptied out the AMIA building.

“Security levels have always been high but now there is a much greater sensitivity,” said Amos Linetzky, head of AMIA.

Government officials have also grown anxious, lashing out at Iran and warning that the Israel-Hamas war has stoked the embers of Islamic militancy and blown them all the way to Latin America.

Upon news of the first Iranian assault on Israeli territory April 14, local media reported Milei’s pro-Israel stance had made him a target. He cut his state visit to Denmark short and flew home to convene a crisis committee alongside the Israeli ambassador.

Milei’s hardline security minister, Patricia Bullrich, singled out left-wing neighbors Bolivia and Chile as Islamist

hotbeds, ordering reinforcements to Argentina’s northern border.

“We are on high alert,” Bullrich said, alleging that Bolivia—which last year struck a defense agreement with Iran— teems with Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives. “Politically correct messages like calling for peace are not Argentina’s position.”

Without providing evidence, Bullrich also claimed that Chile—home to the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world—hosts Hezbollah.

The accusations, decried as baseless by Bolivia and Chile, prompted both governments to pull their ambassadors from Buenos Aires.

On Saturday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a 57-member group describing itself as “the collective voice of the Muslim world,” issued a furious denunciation of what it described as Milei’s anti-Islamic rhetoric.

For years, US and Argentine intelligence services have subjected the Triple Frontier, where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet, to intense surveillance, scouring the large population of Lebanese and Syrian immigrants for Islamist sympathies.

“One of the things I don’t think gets enough attention is how long Hezbollah has had a presence in our hemisphere,” Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, told a Senate Foreign Relations Committee this spring.

Republicans make Biden’s EV push an election-year issue as Democrats take a more nuanced approach

By Thomas Beaumont & John Seewer The Associated Press

TOLEDO, Ohio—Donald Trump says the Biden administration’s policy to promote electric vehicles is a “radical plan” that would kill the economy in automaking states. Republican allies in the petroleum industry have spent millions on ads that say President Joe Biden’s tax credit for EV buyers will cost Americans their freedom.

For voters this election year like Jim Cagle, a retired Jeep assemblyline worker from Toledo, Ohio, the concerns about all-electric vehicles are more practical, such as how he would charge it. Cagle parks his car on the street because he does not have a garage.

“Can you imagine having a cord running out to the street?” Cagle said as he cleaned his minivan at a car wash near a General Motors transmission plant that later this year is set to begin building electric drive units.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and others say Biden’s push for EVs is unfair for consumers and amounts to government overreach, and ultimately will be a liability for Democrats. Trump even squeezed in an attack at the top of his remarks Friday after his criminal conviction in New York.

Democrats have been less vocal and more nuanced, advocating Biden’s climate reduction goals while promoting homegrown technology over competition from China.

But interviews with about 20 voters in the pivotal industrial heartlands of Ohio and Michigan reveal a more complicated dynamic among people who may decide the

winner of November’s presidential and Senate elections.

The Toledo area is itself a crossroads for the issue. It’s an automotive city making the shift from the internal combustion engine to electric power, like neighboring Michigan, a presidential swing state that is synonymous with the auto industry.

Toledo has not only produced Jeeps since World War II, but it is also home to oil refineries that supply gasoline across the Midwest and to parts manufacturers for gas and diesel vehicles.

It’s here where people like Cagle say issues such as the cost of gas and groceries will be more important than EVs when they vote. But during the interviews with people across the political spectrum, many were skeptical of the vehicles and critical of the Democratic president’s tax credits.

“You cannot be shoving EVs down our throat,” said Joe Dempsey of Oregon, Ohio, who drives a Toyota gas-electric hybrid that does not require charging.

“Let the American people decide if it’s going to happen.”

Vulnerable Senate Democrat is a target THE issue has put some Democrats

in a tricky spot—perhaps none more so than Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, one of the Republicans’ top targets as the GOP looks to win Senate control.

He is having to navigate a changing auto industry and his support for the president’s environmental goals in a state that Trump carried twice by 8 percentage points.

A petroleum manufacturing industry group has spent about $16 million on advertising criticizing Biden’s policy to promote EVs, and that total includes about $1.5 million in Ohio criticizing Brown for his support, according to AdImpact and the group’s reporting. In addition to Ohio, the ads are airing in six other swing states and Montana, a GOP-leaning state where Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is seeking reelection.

Republicans, long unable to crack Brown’s blue-collar backing, see linking him to Biden’s sweeping 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which created tax credits for EV buyers, as one way to do it in an election year.

Brown voted for the act, aimed at fighting climate change in part by providing a $7,500 tax credit for new EV sales to spur steps

toward the president’s goal of making EVs 50 percent of all new vehicle sales by 2030. Republicans and their allies routinely refer to the policy incorrectly as a government mandate.

But Brown has pledged to oppose a rule change this summer proposed by Biden to allow EVs that are built in the United States but include Chinesemade components to qualify for the credit.

“This will allow China to infiltrate the American auto supply chain, at American taxpayers’ expense,” Brown said in a statement in May. “American tax dollars should support American manufacturing and American workers—not enrich Chinese companies.”

Brown, a progressive with a proworker mantra, has little to worry about in maintaining his party’s base. But he appears to be aware of the risks of being seen as allying too strongly with Biden, who is unpopular in Ohio, said former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, a fellow Democrat.

“Sherrod doesn’t have to worry about Democrats. They love him,” Ryan said. “The question is, can he make up the middle? I think he can. And if he is seen as dis -

agreeing with the left, it’s only good for him.”

Biden, Democrats make their case

BIDEN has visited EV plants and grinned as he test drove the new electric Cadillac at the Detroit Auto Show. His chief surrogate in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, has advocated for Biden’s policy, but with an eye on protecting the industry vital to her state.

“We’ve got to incentivize innovation. There’s no question,” Whitmer said in an interview before Trump visited the state in May, where he railed against EVs. “We cannot let Chinese companies be the only ones innovating around electric vehicles because then they will eat our lunch.”

Biden’s campaign notes that the president’s policies are aimed at moving EV jobs, many of which were left in China during the Trump administration, into the United States.

“Donald Trump would rather lie about President Biden’s policies than face his own betrayals to the middle class,” Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said in a statement. “President Biden wants the future of auto manufacturing built in America, not China.”

According to an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll conducted in April, relatively small shares of Americans—around 3 in 10 or less—see a benefit from electric vehicles for themselves personally, the economy or the US auto industry.

John Hiskey, a Vietnam veteran from Toledo, said he thinks EVs are a great idea and he doubts the industry would be this far along without a push from the government. But he has no interest in getting one until he can visit his grandkids without making multiple stops and taking time to charge the vehicle.

“I don’t want to wait a halfhour unless they start putting them in bars,” said Hiskey, add -

ing that his vote will not be influenced by which party or politician backs EVs.

Others said the vehicles are cost-prohibitive, even with the tax credit.

“How can they afford electric vehicles when it’s hard to afford living?” said Dru Wilson, 21, who attends college outside Toledo.

Although the petroleum manufacturers represent a fraction of what the two major parties’ political action committees are spending in battleground states, it dwarfs the counterprogramming on the part of pro-EV and environmental groups.

Environmental Defense Action Fund and a related group have spent a little more than $772,000 on ads, according to AdImpact, and little of it is targeted in key presidential or Senate states.

Climate Power, a strategic communication group promoting Biden’s climate reduction goals, has committed to spending $80 million on promoting the administration’s measures, including on advertising in battleground states. The group declined to specify how much it expects to spend on advertising and noted that its efforts will also include voter outreach on an array of Biden measures, including promoting EVs. Missing is one unifying call for Americans to embrace the technology, akin to President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 moon landing goal within the decade, said veteran Democratic strategist Joel Benenson, who was a pollster and senior adviser to Barack Obama’s and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaigns.

“No one’s telling an inspiring story for EVs. So, how do you develop that story and what it’s going to mean for America going forward?” Benenson said. “That could be a powerful narrative.”

Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa. Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux contributed from Washington.

Democrats wanted agreement on using artificial intelligence. It went nowhere

WBy Dan Merica The Associated Press

ASHINGTON—The Democratic National Committee was watching earlier this year as campaigns nationwide were experimenting with artificial intelligence. So the organization approached a handful of influential party campaign committees with a request: Sign onto guidelines that would commit them to use the technology in a “responsible” way.

The draft agreement, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, was hardly full of revolutionary ideas. It asked campaigns to check work by AI tools, protect against biases and avoid using AI to create misleading content.

“Our goal is to use this new technology both effectively and ethically, and in a way that advances – rather than undermines –the values that we espouse in our campaigns,” the draft said.

The plan went nowhere.

Instead of fostering an agreement, the guidelines sparked a debate about the value of such pledges, particularly those governing fast-evolving technology. Among the concerns expressed by the Democratic campaign organizations: Such a pledge might hamstring their ability to deploy AI and could turn off donors with ties to the AI industry. Some committee officials were also irked that the DNC gave them only a few days to agree to the guidelines.

The proposal’s demise highlighted internal divisions over campaign tactics

and the party’s uncertainty over how to best utilize AI amid warnings from experts that the technology is supercharging the proliferation of disinformation.

Hannah Muldavin, a senior spokesperson at the Democratic National Committee, said the group is not giving up on finding a consensus.

The DNC, she said, “will continue to engage with our sister committees to discuss ideas and issues important to Democratic campaigns and to American voters, including AI.”

“It’s not uncommon for ideas and plans to shift, especially in the midst of a busy election year, and any documents on this subject reflect early and ongoing conversations,” Muldavin said, adding the “DNC and our partners take seriously the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.”

The wrangling comes as campaigns have increasingly deployed artificial intelligence—computer systems, software or processes that emulate aspects of human work and cognition—to optimize workloads. That includes using large language models to write fundraising emails, text supporters and build chatbots to answer voters’ questions.

That trend is expected to continue as November’s general election approaches, with campaigns turning to supercharged generative AI tools to create text and images, as well as clone human voices and create video at lightning speeds.

The Republican National Committee used AI-generated images in a television spot last year predicting a dystopian future under

President Joe Biden.

Much of that adoption, however, has been overshadowed by concerns about how campaigns could use artificial intelligence in ways that trick voters. Experts have warned that AI has become so powerful that it has made it easy to generate “deep fake” videos, audio snippets and other media targeting opposing candidates. Some states have passed legislation regulating the way generative artificial intelligence can be used. But Congress has so far failed to pass any bills regulating artificial intelligence on the federal level. In the absence of regulation, the DNC sought a set of guidelines it could point to as

evidence the party was taking seriously the threat and promise of AI. It sent the proposal in March to the five Democratic campaign committees that seek to elect House, Senate, gubernatorial, state legislative and state attorneys general candidates to office, according to the draft agreement.

The goal was to have each committee agree to a slate of AI guardrails and the DNC proposed issuing a joint statement proclaiming such guidelines would ensure that campaigns could use “the tools they need to prevent the spread of misinformation and disinformation, while empowering campaigns to safely, responsibly use generative AI to engage more Americans in

our democracy.”

The Democratic committee had hoped the statement would be signed by Chair Jaime Harrison and the leaders of the other organizations.

Democratic operatives said the proposal landed with a thud. Some senior leaders at the committees worried that the agreement might have unforeseen consequences, perhaps constricting how campaigns use AI, according to multiple Democratic operatives familiar with the outreach.

And it might send the wrong message to technology companies and executives who work on AI, many of whom help fill campaign coffers during election years.

Some of the Democratic Party’s most prolific donors are top tech entrepreneurs and AI evangelists, including Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google.

Altman has donated over $200,000 to the Biden campaign and his aligned Democratic joint fundraising committee since the start of last year, according to data from the Federal Election Commission, and Schmidt’s contributions to those groups have topped $500,000 over the same time.

Two other AI proponents, Dustin Moskovitz, the co-founder of Facebook, and Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn, donated more than $900,000 to Biden’s joint fundraising committee this cycle, according to the same data.

The DNC plan caught the committees off guard because it came with little explanation, other than a desire to get

each committee to agree to the list of best practices within a few days, said multiple Democratic operatives who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter. Aides to the Democratic Congressional Campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign committees said they felt rushed by a DNC timeline that urged them to sign quickly. Representatives from the Democratic Attorneys General Association did not respond to the Associated Press’ request for comment. Spokesmen from the Democratic Governors Association and Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee declined to comment. The Republican National Committee did not respond to questions about its AI guidelines. The Biden campaign also declined to comment when asked about the DNC effort. The four-page agreement—“Guidelines on Responsible Use of Generative AI in Campaigns”—covered everything from ensuring that artificial intelligence systems were not trusted without a human checking its work to notifying voters when they are interacting with AI-generated content or systems. “As the explosive rise of generative AI transforms every corner of public life –including political campaigns – it’s more important than ever that we limit this new technology’s potential threat to voters’ rights, and instead leverage it to build innovative, efficient campaigns and a stronger, more inclusive democracy,” the proposal said.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

Paris Olympics' Tahiti surfing venue sparks controversy: Sustainability trade-offs in the name of lower emissions

By John Leicester & Peter Prengaman

The Associated Press

PARIS—Of all the decisions Paris Olympics organizers made about where to hold each sport, sending surfing competitions to the other side of the world—in the Pacific waters of Tahiti—provoked the strongest reactions. Tahitians and others railed against the building of a new viewing tower on Teahupo’o reef because of fears it would hurt marine life.

But organizers say it wasn’t just the world-class waves that lured them to the French territory 16,000 kilometers (9,942 miles) away. Paris Olympic officials had set an ambitious target of halving their overall carbon footprint compared with the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games.

Tahiti’s surfing reef is too far offshore for fans to see the action clearly from the beach, so organizers say they calculated that most would watch on television instead of taking flights, a major source of carbon emissions. And fewer spectators, they said, would require little new construction, another key emissions source.

“We actually did the math,” said Georgina Grenon, director of environmental excellence for the Paris Games. “There was less impact in Tahiti compared to other metropolitan areas.”

Tahiti’s selection provides a window into Games organizers’ approach to hitting their goal of reducing emissions, the driver of climate change. It also underscores an inherent tension in the drive for sustainability: There are tradeoffs, and reducing emissions doesn’t necessarily mean preserv -

ing the environment.

Organizers’ goal is to limit emissions to 1.58 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent for the July 26-Aug. 11 Games and Paralympics that follow. That’s still a lot of pollution—equal to that of about 1.3 million economy passengers flying one way from New York to Paris on Boeing 787 jets, according to myclimate, a climate and sustainability consultancy. It’s a lot less, however, than the footprint of previous Games. Organizers say they’re thinking about the Games’ future, not just the planet’s. Fewer cities are volunteering to spend billions on infrastructure that sometimes falls into disuse. Paris and the next host, Los Angeles in 2028, were the only cities left in the race when picked in 2017. For organizers, hosting less-wasteful Games is key, along with including more inclusive, youth-oriented events such as skateboarding. Paris is under additional pressure to be a sustainable model: The city hosted the 2015 U.N. climate talks that resulted in the Paris Agreement, the most significant international climate accord to date. Delegates agreed the world should limit average global tem -

perature rise to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above that of the 1850s, and ideally cap it at 1.5 degrees (2.7 Fahrenheit)—a goal looking increasingly unattainable.

Independent experts say Paris appears to be decarbonizing in the systematic ways businesses do: Calculate total emissions, then start cutting, including myriad small CO2 savings that add up significantly. Organizers targeted reductions across three categories: construction, transportation and operations.

“They seem to be taking a very thoughtful approach,” said Adam Braun of Clarasight, which builds carbon-planning software for companies. “They are trying to do something that is indicative of how many organizations will be holding themselves accountable.”

The biggest break from previous Games is in construction. Organizers say 95 percent of facilities are existing or will be temporary. Two new structures were deemed unavoidable: The Olympic Village, to house athletes and later become housing and office space, and the aquatics center in Paris’ disadvantaged northern suburbs.

Using wood, low-carbon cement, and salvaged materials helped reduce emissions by 30

percent compared with traditional methods, Grenon said.

Reductions in operations include food. The average meal in France—restaurant- or homeprepared—produces about 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of CO2, said Philipp Würz, the Games’ catering head. Paris aims to halve that by sourcing 80 percent of ingredients locally, cutting transport emissions, and offering spectators 60 percent plant-based foods.

Winning minds as well as tastebuds could take work. “Locally grown food, and supporting local farmers, are beautiful things,” tennis player Victoria Azarenka said. But “when people are doing these big gestures, I’m not fully convinced of the impact,” she added of Paris’ overall climate efforts.

Another emissions-savings source is energy. Energy will represent only 1 percent of emissions, organizers said. They intend to use 100 percent renewable power from wind and solar farms, plus solar panels on some venues.

Stadiums and temporary venues will get power from the grid instead of diesel generators, which produce much CO2. Giant electrical plugs at venues will remain post-Games, removing the need for generators at future events.

Reducing transportation-related emissions is arguably Paris’ biggest challenge. Tourism officials expect 15.3 million visitors for the Olympics and Paralympics, including 1.9 million from outside France, with at least 850,000 taking long-haul flights.

In Paris, there are low-carbon transport options—cycling routes, Metro trains, buses and other public transit—to all venues.

But the inability to control how people get to the Olympics, or any big event, raises questions about whether humanity can afford such get-togethers at the cost of further climate damage.

“Maybe things like the Olympics have to be reconsidered,” said Seth Warren Rose of the Eneref Institute, an advocacy and research group focused on sustainable development. “Having millions of people congregate in a single area is a very intensive thing.”

Rose said organizers’ efforts are laudable, but they should have gone further—reducing emissions beyond half and finding more ways to make sustainability a central fan experience.

Some critics have also questioned some sponsors. Air France, ports operator CMA CGM Group and metals giant ArcelorMittal are leaders in carbon-intensive industries. On their websites, all tout their Olympic sponsorship and sustainability efforts.

The Upright Project, a Finnish company that creates and analyzes data to evaluate companies’ impact on the world, looked at sponsors, assigning scores for positive and negative impacts on environment, health, jobs and other metrics. On environment, sponsors’ emissions had an overall six-fold negative impact.

In a statement, organizers said the Games presented “a unique opportunity to encourage partner businesses to adopt more responsible practices.”

For emissions it can’t cut, Paris plans to compensate – a practice called offsetting. Planting trees, for example, could help take CO2 out of the atmosphere that the Games put in. But offset markets aren’t well regulated, and investigations by news organizations have found some projects to be fraudulent while others miscalculated the quantity of emissions captured.

Organizers say they’ll continue to adapt sustainability plans as they go, including those in Tahiti. The metal judging tower, which replaced the aging wooden one Tahiti previously used to host surfing competitions, was scaled back in size in response to concerns about environmental harm, organizers say. Finished earlier this year, the tower will be dismantled after the Games. It will be erected and used again when Teahupo’o holds world surfing events.

Organizers say they expect about 1,300 people with Olympic accreditation on the island, including 500 flying in. That total, likely much smaller than if the competition took place off France’s coast, includes surfers, judges, journalists and Games workers.

“We say that sustainability is a collective sport,” Grenon said. “Will everything be perfect? No, right? We cannot say that. We’re still working very, very hard to go as far as we can.”

Prengaman reported from New York. Howard Fendrich and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed to this report.

“I do find the current sustainability discourse, where we effectively celebrate companies’ miniscule sustainability tweaks and greenwashing efforts like they actually make a difference to climate change, extremely harmful,” Upright Project’s Annu Nieminen said in a statement. “If the Paris 2024 sponsors are celebrated by the organizers for their ‘sustainability,’ that’s contributing to the same harmful discourse.”

A mass parachute jump over Normandy kicks off commemorations for 80th anniversary of D-Day

By John Leicester

CThe Associated Press

ARENTAN-LES-MARAIS, France—Parachutists jumping from World War II-era planes hurled themselves Sunday into now peaceful Normandy skies where war once raged, heralding a week of ceremonies for the fast-disappearing generation of Allied troops who fought from D-Day beaches 80 years ago to Adolf Hitler’s fall, helping free Europe of his tyranny.

All along the Normandy coastline—where then-young soldiers from across the United States, Britain, Canada and other Allied nations waded ashore through hails of fire on five beaches on June 6, 1944—French officials, grateful Normandy survivors and other admirers are saying “merci” but also goodbye.

The ever dwindling number of veterans in their late nineties and older who are coming back to remember fallen friends and their history-changing exploits are the last. Watching the southern England coastline recede Sunday through the windows of one of three C-47 transport aircraft that flew him and other jumpers across the English Channel to their Normandy drop zone was like time-traveling back to D-Day for 63-year-old Neil

Hamsler, a former British army paratrooper.

“I thought that would have been the last view of England some of those lads of 1944 had,” he said. While theirs was a daytime jump Sunday, unlike for Allied airborne troops who jumped at night early on D-Day, and “no one’s firing at us,” Hamsler said: “It really brought it home, the poignancy.”

Part of the purpose of fireworks shows, parachute jumps, solemn commemorations and ceremonies that world leaders will attend this week is to pass the baton of remembrance to the current generations now seeing war again in Europe, in Ukraine. U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British royals are among the VIPs that France is expecting for D-Day events. Looping around one after another, the C-47s dropped strings of jumpers—70 in all, dressed in WWII-style uniforms. Their round chutes mushroomed open in the blue skies with puffy white clouds. A huge crowd many thousands strong whooped and cheered, having been regaled as they waited by tunes from Glenn Miller and Edith Piaf. Some of the loudest applause was for a startled deer that pounced from undergrowth as jumpers were landing and sprinted across the drop zone.

Two of the planes, christened

PARACHUTES drop in Carentan-Les-Marais in Normandy,

Dozens of World War II veterans are converging on France to revisit old memories, make new ones, and hammer home a message that survivors of D-Day and the ensuing Battle of Normandy, and of other World War II theaters, have repeated time and time again—that war is hell. “Seven thousand of my marine buddies were killed. Twenty thousand shot up, wounded, put on ships, buried at sea,” said Don Graves, a US Marine Corps veteran who served in Iwo Jima in the Pacific theater.

“ That’s All, Brother” and “Placid Lassie, “ were D-Day veterans, among the thousands of C-47s and other aircraft that on June 6, 1944, formed part of what was the largest-ever sea, air and land armada. Allied airborne forces, which included troops making hair-raising descents aboard gliders, landed first early on D-Day to secure roads, bridges and other strategic points inland of the invasion beaches and destroy gun emplacements that raked the sands and ships with deadly fire.

The planes took off Sunday from Duxford, England, for the 90-minute flight to Carentan. The Normandy town was at the heart of D-Day drop zones in 1944, when paratroopers jumped in darkness into gunfire, many scattering far from their objectives.

Sunday’s jumpers were from an international civilian team of parachutists, many of them former soldiers. The only woman was 61-year-old Dawna Bennett, who felt history’s force as she exited her plane into the Normandy skies.

“It’s the same doorway and it’s the same countryside from 80 years ago, and it’s like, ‘Oh my God, I’m so thankful I’m not doing this at midnight’” she said. “They keep saying it’s the greatest generation and I truly believe that.”

Dozens of World War II veterans are converging on France to revisit

old memories, make new ones, and hammer home a message that survivors of D-Day and the ensuing Battle of Normandy, and of other World War II theaters, have repeated time and time again—that war is hell.

“Seven thousand of my marine buddies were killed. Twenty thousand shot up, wounded, put on ships, buried at sea,” said Don Graves, a US Marine Corps veteran who served in Iwo Jima in the Pacific theater.

“I want the younger people, the younger generation here to know what we did,” said Graves, part of a group of more than 60 World War II veterans who flew into Paris on Saturday. The youngest veteran in the group is 96 and the most senior 107, according to their carrier from Dallas, American Airlines.

“We did our job and we came home and that’s it. We never talked about it I think. For 70 years I didn’t talk about it,” said another of the veterans, Ralph Goldsticker, a US Air Force captain who served in the 452nd Bomb Group. Of the D-Day landings, he recalled seeing from his aircraft “a big, big chunk of the beach with thousands of vessels,” and spoke of bombing raids against German strongholds and routes that German forces might otherwise have used to rush in reinforcements to push the invasion back into the sea.

WORKERS build the stands for the Olympic Games on the Champ-de-Mars just beside the Eiffel Tower, in Paris on April 1, 2024. AP/THOMAS PADILLA

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

AN EVENING OF ELEGANCE

Celebrating the Rotary Club of Manila’s 105th Founding

By Rtn. Reginald T. Yu Vice President, Rotary Club of Manila Chairman, RCM 105th Anniversary Celebration Committee

ON the enchanting evening of June 1, 2024, the storied halls of the Manila Hotel’s Maynila Ballroom stood resplendent, ready to host an event that would be etched into the annals of the Rotary Club of Manila’s illustrious history. This gala dinner was not merely a celebration of 105 years; it was a magnificent tapestry woven with threads of dedication, service, and the unyielding spirit of camaraderie that has bound the club’s members through the decades.

Before entering the ballroom, guests were treated to a beautiful series of display panels in a walk-through lane depicting the 105 years of Rotary Club of Manila’s relevance and service to the community. The thoughtfully curated exhibition showcased photographs, artifacts, and narratives that traced the club’s journey from its inception to its current status as a beacon of service. Each panel was a vivid chapter in a story of relentless dedication, offering a visual history that resonated with pride and inspiration. Walking through this timeline, guests could see the faces of past presidents, landmark projects, and moments of triumph that highlighted the club’s significant impact on society. As dusk settled over Manila, the ballroom glowed with a warmth that radiated both grandeur and intimacy. The anticipation was almost tangible, a silent hum of excitement that promised an evening of reflection, celebration, and inspiration. At exactly 6pm, the lights dimmed, and the event commenced with a solemn invocation led by Rotarian Abdulgani Macatoman. His voice, imbued with reverence, invited the attendees to rise, bow their heads, and partake in a moment of collective grace.

The invocation video, accompanied by a soft, stirring musical backdrop, enveloped the room in a serene aura, setting a contemplative tone for the night ahead. Following the invocation, the audience remained standing as the RCM World Famous Music Chorale took to the stage for a heartfelt rendition of the national anthems of the Rotary Club’s sister clubs — Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Guam. Each anthem, a poignant reminder of the global connections and shared aspirations, resonated through the ballroom, culminating in a powerful performance of the Philippine national anthem. The chorale’s voices, rich and harmonious, seemed to embody the unity and diversity that are the bedrock of Rotary’s international fellowship. With the echoes of the anthems still lingering in the air, the guests were invited to join in the singing of the Rotary Club of Manila Hymn. Lyrics displayed on side screens allowed everyone to participate, transforming the ballroom into a sanctuary of shared purpose and pride. The hymn, a melodic tribute to the club’s enduring mission, filled the space with a sense of collective belonging. The formalities of the opening ceremonies gave way to a breathtaking opening dance number.

As the lights dimmed once more and the smoke machines began their ethereal work, a group known as J-Crisis (Automatic Dance Crew), took the stage. Their

performance, a vibrant fusion of traditional and contemporary choreography, was a visual symphony of motion and emotion. Sharpy lights and choreographed beams accentuated their movements, creating an atmosphere of pure enchantment. This dance was not just an artistic expression of indigenous Filipino culture, but a celebration of the Rotary Club’s dynamic past and its luminous future.

Amidst the lingering magic of the dance, the hosts for the evening, Ms. Zarrie Dalin and Rtn. Mohammed Issam El-Debs, the Honorable Consulate General of the Syrian Arab Republic, gracefully took the stage. With warmth and elegance, they welcomed the attendees to this momentous occasion. Zarrie, with her poised demeanor, introduced Issam, the Past Director of RCM and Past President of the RCManila Foundation, Inc. Together, they set the tone for the evening, emphasizing the significance of the gathering and the profound impact of the Rotary Club’s century-long journey. Issam’s words resonated deeply, reminding everyone present of their shared dedication to the ideals of Rotary and the legacy they were collectively honoring.

The hosts then turned their attention to acknowledging the esteemed guests and VIPs in attendance. Club Secretary Edwin Hernandez joined them on stage, extending a warm welcome to distinguished leaders from various Rotary Clubs, esteemed community figures, and the dedicated members of the Rotary Club of Manila. Each acknowledgment was

a testament to the deep bonds and collaborative spirit that define the Rotary community. As the names and titles were read out, the ballroom filled with appreciative applause, a chorus of recognition and respect. The evening’s musical journey continued with a welcome song by the RCM World Famous Music Chorale. Their harmonious voices once again filled the room, this time with a melody that welcomed all guests and set a joyous tone for the evening.

The seamless transition from music to speech was marked by the introduction of Past District Governor Rodolfo “Rudy” Bediones. His welcome remarks were a blend of reflection and inspiration, highlighting the club’s journey and envisioning a future filled with promise and continued service.

As the formalities of the opening program concluded, the audience was treated to an AudioVisual Presentation that encapsulated the Rotary Club of Manila’s rich history. This special AVP took the guests on a visual and auditory journey through the club’s storied past, showcasing its remarkable achievements and the indomitable spirit of service that has driven it for over a century. The presentation was a moving tribute to the legacy of the club, a visual testament to its impact and its unwavering commitment to making a difference.

Following this poignant reflection, the evening’s speeches continued with heartfelt addresses from Past District Governors Vicente “Vince” Carlos and Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan. Their words painted a vivid picture of the club’s

past achievements and current initiatives, offering insights into the vision and direction that will guide the Rotary Club of Manila into the future. Their speeches were a testament to the leadership and dedication that have been the hallmarks of the club’s history.

As the speeches concluded, the ballroom was filled with the tantalizing aromas of a gourmet feast. It was time for dinner, and the guests were invited to indulge in a culinary experience that was as delightful as it was diverse. The live band played softly in the background, providing a melodious accompaniment to the evening’s dining. Conversations flowed, connections were strengthened, and the spirit of fellowship was palpable as guests savored the exquisite dishes prepared for this special occasion.

With the dinner service concluded, the RCM World-Famous Music Chorale once again took the stage, this time to perform “Tagumpay Nating Lahat.” The Gary Granada-penned song, a tribute to unity, perseverance, and triumph, resonated deeply with the audience. The chorale’s performance was a highlight of the evening, their voices blending in perfect harmony to create a moment of pure musical magic.

The next segment of the evening was dedicated to acknowledging the sponsors whose generosity had made the event possible. Their support was a testament to the strong bonds and collaborative spirit that define the Rotary community. The hosts expressed heartfelt gratitude, recognizing that

such contributions were crucial to the club’s ability to continue its vital work.

A particularly poignant moment followed as Sister Martha Gamolo, D.C., administrator of Hospicio de San Jose, took the stage to share her testimonial. Her words, filled with gratitude and emotion, brought to life the tangible impact of the Rotary Club’s efforts on the community. Her speech was a reminder of the profound difference that the club’s work makes in the lives of those it touches, a human face to the mission of service that drives the Rotary Club. This emotional high was fol -

lowed by the presentation of a check donation, a significant moment that underscored the club’s ongoing commitment to charitable initiatives. President Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III, Vice President Reginald “Reggie”

PDG Roberto “Obet” PagdangananSpeaker for the Vision and Direction , the Present and Future of Rotary Club of Manila

Pres Rafael “Raffy” Alunan, III- Closing Remarks

F. Dumlao, Jr. (Resigned), PP Arsenio “Archit” Bartolome, III and

“Ebot” Tan

Rtn. Abdulgani “Gani” MacatomanInvocation Sec Edwin H. Hernandez - Acknowledgement of Guests and VIPs

RCM@105 ELEGANCE AND UNITY

Founding Anniversary BusinessMirror

trict Governor Lilia “Lai” Hernandez-Dela Cruz. Her speech, a testament to the Rotary principle of “Service Above Self,” highlighted the successful projects and initiatives driven by her outstanding leadership. Her words were a beacon of inspiration, illuminating the path forward for the club. As the program drew to a close, Past President Domingo “Boy” Guevara Jr. led a celebratory toast. Joined on stage by all the past presidents present, he raised his glass in a moment that symbolized unity, achievement, and a shared commitment to the future.

The toast was a fitting tribute to the Rotary Club’s enduring legacy and its bright future. The final formal address was delivered by President Rafael “Raffy” Alunan III. His closing remarks, filled with insight and inspiration, left the audience with a sense of unity and purpose. As he spoke, it was clear that the Rotary Club of Manila’s mission of service would continue to thrive, driven by the dedication and passion of its members. The formal program concluded with a vibrant dance performance by the “Hope Creating Presidents,” igniting

the ballroom with their sizzling rendition of key moments in the 1975 American Broadway musical, “Chicago.” This performance was the perfect prelude to the fellowship night that followed, a time for guests to relax, connect, and create lasting memories. The professional dance instructors led the way, inviting everyone to join in the celebration on the dance floor. As the band played and the guests danced, the evening transitioned seamlessly into a night of music, laughter, and fellowship. It was a celebration of the

Rotary Club’s past, present, and future, a night that will be remembered for years to come. The 105th Founding Anniversary Gala of the Rotary Club of Manila was not just a celebration; it was a reaffirmation of the club’s commitment to service, fellowship, and innovation. As the night came to an end, the guests left with hearts full of inspiration and a renewed dedication to the noble ideals that have guided the club for over a century. It was a night of elegance, unity, and unwavering spirit — a true testament to the legacy of the

Rotary Club of Manila.

PDG Rodolfo “Rudy” Bediones - Welcome Remarks PDG Vicente “Vince” Carlos - Speaker on Exploring the History of Rotary Club of Manila: An overview

District Governor Lilia “Lai” Hernandez-Dela Cruz - RCM’s Role as the pioneer club in Asia and the leading club in the Philippines

Sr. Martha A. Gamolo, D.C. - Administrator, Hospicio De San Jose - Pasasalamat Mula sa Hospicio De San Jose

Pres Rafael “Raffy” Alunan, III, PDG Roberto “Obet” Pagdanganan, VP Reginald “Reggie” Yu and PVP Manny Dy

Treas Paul Joseph Garcia, VP Reginald Yu, FL Sharon Bediones, RCM Consultant Anna Kun Toledo, Ms. Lia Enriquez (Spouse of PE Eduardo Enriquez, III), PD Oscar Del Rosario and PDG Rodolfo “Rudy” Bediones

Presentation of Check Donation from PVP Manny Dy - PE Eduardo “Jujut” Enriquez, III, PVP Manny Dy, Pres Rafael Alunan, III and VP Reginald Yu.

Awarding of Prize- Travel Certificate from Philippine Airlines - PD Issam Eldebs, Dir Michael Jaey Albaňa (Winner), RCM Secretariat Joselito Lord and host Ms. Zarri Gizelle

Awarding of Prize-Gift Certificate-Tagaytay Accommodation- PD Issam Eldebs, RCMFI Pres Wilfredo “Willie” Peliňo (Winner), Treas. Paul Joseph Garcia and host Ms. Zarri Gizelle

Republic of the Philippines DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

Regional Office No. IV-A

4th Flr. Andenson Bldg. II, Brgy. Parian, Calamba City Telefax No.: (049) 545-7362

June 04, 2024

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

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

Employment Permit/s:

NO. ESTABLISHMENT

1 ARTNATURE PHILIPPINES INC.

Warehouse No. 3, Km. 32 National Highway, Nueva, City of San Pedro, Laguna

2 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

3 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

4 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

NAME OF FOREIGN NATIONAL, POSITION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION QUALIFICATION AND SALARY RANGE

UCHIDA, TAKASHI

Senior Manager for Production Planning Control

Brief Job Description:

Provide and advise overall planning and control in relation to accurate planning reliability and guidance in the production division

SU, GANGGANG

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

DARWIN SALIM

Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TONY

Indonesian Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

KHIN AYE WIN

5 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

6 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

AUNG HTAY

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NANG SAN NGIN

Myanmari Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Basic Qualification:

With 10 years’ experience in managerial position and fluent in writing, reading and speaking Japanese

Salary Range:

Php 90,000 - Php 149,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Indonesian language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Indonesian language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Covelandia

Covelandia

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Myanmari language

Salary Range:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries Basic Qualification:

21 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

22 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

23 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

24 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

NGUYEN TIEN DUC

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN TIEN TRUNG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN VAN PHUC

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

NGUYEN, VAN HA

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

incoming calls and

PHAM BINH QUAN

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

26 GLARION TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Basic Qualification:

Able to speak, read and write Chinese and Vietnamese language

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

Representative

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite THAN DUC HAI

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRAN MINH TRUONG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description: Manage incoming calls and customer service inquiries

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

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite TRAN, THI HIEN Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC. 6th, 7th, 9th-12th Floor, Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, City of Biñan, Laguna

CHEN, ZHENFEN

Foreign Customer Service Representative

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

41 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

42 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

43 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

HE, ZEMING

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

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

MA, XIAOHUI

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

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

PANG, ZHIYU

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

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

YU, LISHA

44

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

45 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

Foreign Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

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

DAU THI CUC

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

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

Basic Qualification:

6th,

Foreign Marketing

Brief

and advertising campaigns, collect and analyze market research data.

Basic Qualification:

WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

50 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

51 NEW WAVE

INFOTECH

DUONG, VAN HUONG

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

campaigns, collect and analyze market research data.

Basic Qualification:

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

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

DUONG, VAN TRONG

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

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

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

Basic Qualification:

LUONG, VAN THU

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

NONG VAN

52 NEW WAVE

INFOTECH LIMITED

PHILIPPINES,

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

46

INC.

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

DE SOUSA, JESSICA PACHELLE Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

47

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

DUONG, THI DU Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

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

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

Foreign

Brief

PHAM HUU TIEN

Foreign Marketing

Brief

55

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

56 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

57 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

58 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

PHAM XUAN TIEN

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

TEMOTEO BASTOS, KELLY

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

TRAN DINH HOANG

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

TRAN, DUC MINH

Foreign Marketing

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

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

Salary Range:

Php 30,000 - Php 59,999

Basic Qualification:

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

Salary Range: Php 30,000 - Php 59,999 NO.

59 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

60 NEW WAVE INFOTECH LIMITED PHILIPPINES, INC.

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

TRAN, HUU HUNG Foreign Marketing

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

Basic Qualification:

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

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

Basic Qualification:

VI, THI TRUC Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia

THANH CHIEN

SQUARED ROUTE TECHNOLOGIES

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite NGUYEN, VAN MANH Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

SQUARED ROUTE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

THI

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

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

Basic Qualification:

ZHANG, JIANHUI

61

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

Foreign Marketing

Brief Job Description:

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

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

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

THI NGUYET

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

SQUARED ROUTE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Covelandia Road, Binakayan, Pulvorista, Kawit, Cavite

PHUNG VI HUNG

Vietnamese Customer Service Representative

Preserving memories of Tiananmen Square crackdown through global commemorations

By Kanis Leung & Tian Macleod Ji The Associated Press

HONG KONG—As the 35th anniversary of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square crackdown neared, Rowena He, a prominent scholar of that bloody chapter of modern China’s history, was busy flying between the United States, Britain and Canada to give a series of talks. Each was aimed at speaking out for those who cannot.

The 1989 crackdown, in which government troops opened fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, dead, remains a taboo subject in mainland China. In Hong Kong, once a beacon of commemorative freedom, the massive June 4 annual vigil that mourned the victims for decades has vanished, a casualty of the city’s clampdown on dissidents following huge antigovernment protests in 2019.

He was still reeling from the loss of her academic position after Hong Kong authorities last year rejected her visa renewal, widely seen as a sign of the financial hub’s decline in intellectual freedom. Despite the exhausting schedule of talks, the former protester in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in 1989 viewed this as her duty.

“We cannot light the candles in Hong Kong anymore. So we would light it everywhere, globally,” she said.

As Beijing’s toughened political stance effectively extinguished any large-scale commemorations within its borders, overseas commemorative events have grown increasingly crucial for preserving memories of the Tiananmen crackdown. Over the past few years, a growing number of talks, rallies, exhibitions and plays on the subject have emerged in the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and Taiwan.

These activities foster hope and counteract the aggressive efforts to erase reminders of the crackdown, particularly those seen in Hong Kong. In 2021, the city’s police charged three leaders of the group that organized the vigil with subversion under a 2020 sweeping national security law that has all but wiped out public dissent. Later, the group voted to disband. Tiananmen-related statues were also removed from universities.

Last week, under a new, homegrown security law, Hong Kong police arrested seven people on suspicion of alleged sedition over their posting of social media content about commemorating the Tiananmen crackdown. A Christian newspaper, which typically publishes content related to the event ahead of its anniversary, left its front page mostly blank. It said it could only turn words into blank squares and white space to respond to the current situation.

On Tuesday, the park that used to hold the vigil will be occupied by a carnival held by pro-Beijing groups. However, attempts to silence commemorative efforts have failed to erase the harrowing memories from the minds of a generation of liberal-minded Chinese in the years

after tanks rolled into the heart of Beijing to break up weeks of studentled protests that had spread to other cities and were seen as a threat to Communist Party rule.

He, who was 17 years old at the time, recalls that protesters like her took to the streets out of love for their country. When the crackdown happened, she spent the entire night in front of her TV, unable to sleep.

After she returned to school, she was required to recite the official narrative—that the government had successfully quelled a riot—in order to pass her exams.

“I never killed anyone. But I lived with that survivor’s guilt all those years,” she said.

To preserve memories of the event, a museum dedicated to the Tiananmen crackdown opened in New York last June. It features exhibits such as a bloodstained shirt and a tent used by student protesters.

A similar museum operated by vigil organizers was shuttered in Hong Kong in 2021.

As of early May, its board chair Wang Dan, also a leading former student leader of the Tiananmen protests, estimated the New York museum attracted about 1,000 people, including Chinese immigrants, US citizens and Hong Kongers. To expand its audience, Wang said he plans to organize temporary exhibitions on university campuses in the US, and possibly in other countries over the longer term.

He said overseas memorial events are crucial because mainland Chinese and Hong Kongers can see overseas memorial activities online.

“It can have an effect in mainland China because young people there all know how to use VPNs to circumvent Internet censorship,” he said.

Aline Sierp, a professor of European history and memory studies at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, said overseas commemorative activities allow the memories to travel and endure, providing access for other people and future generations.

But she said it can be “a doubleedged sword” because adapting the memories to new places might risk fragmenting or de-contextualizing them in the future.

Alison Landsberg, a memory studies scholar at George Mason University in Virginia, said that

Sri Lanka closes schools as floods leave 10 dead and 6 others missing

By Bharatha Mallawarachi The Associated Press

overseas efforts carry the potential to inspire people from other places who are facing their own challenges in the pursuit of democracy.

To carry the memories forward, film and television dramas can be powerful tools for people to take on memories of events through which they didn’t live, she said.

She said overseas theater productions about the crackdown, which began last year in Taiwan and continued in London this year, have a greater possibility of making those connections and potentially reaching a broader audience.

“When you have a dramatic narrative, you have the capacity to bring the viewer into the story in a kind of intimate way,” Landsberg said.

Last week, members of an audience at a London theater were visibly moved, some to tears, after watching the play “May 35th,” a title that subtly references the June 4 crackdown.

The play, produced by Lit Mingwai, part of the Hong Kong diaspora who moved to the UK after the enactment of the 2020 security law, tells the story of an elderly couple who wish to properly mourn their son who died in 1989.

Its director, Kim Pearce, who was born in the UK in the 1980s, said the tragedy had resonated with her from a young age and she was once moved to tears when she read the poem “Tiananmen” by James Fenton. Working on this project, she said, has further deepened her connection to the stories.

British theatergoer Sue Thomas, 64, also found the play deeply moving. “Particularly as a parent myself now, which I wasn’t then, which sort of made me think of it in a much more sort of heartfelt way,” she said. At the theater, He, the scholar, served as one of the post-show speakers, sharing her struggles and the motivations behind her work with the audience. She said the play was so powerful that it made her relive the trauma of the past 35 years, leaving her in tears and causing her to lose her contact lenses.

“It shows that how much sufferings that people had to endure all these years,” she said. “If there’s anything we can do, I hope that we would bring the younger generation to understand this.”

Ji reported from London.

Unlocking the potential: How AI can help drive PHL’s economic growth

THe adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) is on the rise in the Philippines, with small and medium-sized enterprises recognizing its potential to enhance business performance and sustainability. However, the country lags behind its Asia-Pacific counterparts in embracing AI for both business and consumer transactions. While challenges such as infrastructure limitations and data privacy concerns persist, the economic benefits that AI can bring cannot be overlooked.

According to a recent report by Access Partnership, a global technology public policy firm, the Philippines stands to gain a staggering P2.8 trillion annually in economic benefits by 2030 if businesses in the country adopt AI-powered products and solutions. These benefits include increased revenue through better customer targeting in the retail sector and cost savings in logistics, among other areas. AI has the potential to revolutionize multiple industries, including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, financial services, professional services, and more. (Read the BusinessMirror story—Report: “PHL could get P2.8T in economic benefits from AI,” May 30, 2024).

Contrary to popular belief, AI is not solely a threat to jobs. Access Partnership’s research highlights that AI can actually help level up the workforce and address digital talent shortages. The key lies in upskilling the existing workforce and providing job skills to individuals who are currently outside the workforce. By equipping our workers with the right digital skills, AI can improve productivity and bridge the digital skills gap. In fact, the report estimates that narrowing this gap through training could add P809 billion to the country’s annual GDP in 2030.

Access Partnership’s study examined various sectors in the Philippines, identifying over 60 use cases and more than 200 AI-related technologies that could contribute to the country’s economic growth. The research focused specifically on Generative AI, and the estimated economic benefits derived from this subset alone are already substantial. However, it is important to note that this estimate represents only a fraction of the potential impact, as there are many more discoveries to be made and the broader subsector of Machine Learning is expected to yield even greater benefits.

It is crucial for policymakers to embrace AI technology and address current infrastructure limitations. The potential economic gains are significant, and AI can be a powerful tool to enhance productivity and unleash the country’s full potential.

To fully harness the benefits of AI, collaboration among government, industry, and educational institutions is vital. The government should create an enabling environment by investing in infrastructure development, ensuring data privacy regulations are in place, and promoting digital skills training programs. Industry leaders should embrace AI as a transformative force and invest in research and development to drive innovation. Moreover, educational institutions must adapt their curricula to equip the workforce with the necessary digital skills.

By embracing AI and addressing the challenges that come with it, the country can unlock substantial economic benefits and create new job opportunities. But this is not just about adopting AI; it’s about investing in a future where Filipinos are empowered to thrive in a digitally driven world. The potential is immense, and the Philippines is poised to reap significant economic benefits from the adoption of AI across various sectors.

‘Goldilocks and the Three Economic Factors’

‘GJohn Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

oLdILocks and the Three Bears” is one of the most popular fairy tales in the english language and has given many disciplines the Goldilocks Principle. This idea says that everything has to be “just right” for something to happen, like life on a planet, or that teaching students must not be too easy or too hard.

In economics, “A Goldilocks Economy sustains moderate economic growth and low inflation, which allows a market-friendly monetary policy.” That may or may not be true, but in terms of economics I see the story differently.

In one version, while there is always a “just right,” the other chairs are too small/too large, the other beds are too soft/too hard, and the other bowls of porridge are too cold/ too hot. I call my version “Goldilocks and the Three Economic Factors.”

To me, the chairs represent Economic Growth. How am I going to fit my fat butt—excess cash—on a small chair? Small GDP growth means I will have a difficult challenge making money from both a business and from passive investments (read stock market). There will not be enough money to go

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around the economy to make more profits.

Large economic growth is equally demanding. The price of the stock market and other investment assets lag the economy. Studies going back to the 1950s over five, 10, and 20-year periods show that there is an optimal growth rate in each country, particularly for the stock market. Too high and it is better to put your stock-market money into siomai kiosks.

However, you may quickly find that everyone else is thinking the same way. Remember not too long ago when there were numerous pearl shake companies? How many are left standing? Go back even longer in time and Andok’s and Baliwag had dozens of chain competitors in the “chicken-spinner” business.

The beds seem to me to be ex-

If you cannot figure out how to adapt and prosper to whatever chair, bed, and porridge that is available, there is a reason for a declining stock market being called a “Bear.”

amples of government fiscal/monetary policy. We must acknowledge that government is never going to get its fiscal/monetary policy to an optimum level and balance for a “just right” economy. Too many political priorities, with many in conflict. Let’s say a hard bed is an austere economic policy and soft is subsidies, Quantitative Easing, and the like. “The election is coming. Give them a soft bed.” “Everyone is extremely upset about inflation. Hard bed time.”

A hard bed means getting up in the morning with a sore back and little enthusiasm to go to work. Then there is the fact that no one wants to leave a nice warm cozy bed. And besides, who needs to work when you have a soft bed. But it is not also an either/ or choice. Major financial crisis? Put the banks in the “soft bed” and the people in the hard bed. “Sacrifice for the greater good of the nation” is a great election slogan.

Japan went decades of serving cold porridge meaning from 1992 to 2022 experiencing two percent or less annual inflation. The inflation rate in Japan averaged 2.85 percent

from 1958 until 2024. Being given cold porridge is not going to bring you back wanting more. Why should I buy a new car or refrigerator if the current one still works, and the price will be the same in two or even five years from now?

The Japanese Consumer Price Index is currently at 106. However, the CPI was at 99 in October 1998 and was at 99 in October 2019, prices virtually unchanged for 21 years. For comparison, for the US, the CPI was at 164 in October 1998 and at 257 in October 2019, up 57 percent in that period.

Depending on the specific version of the story, Goldilocks wakes up when the bears return home and runs away never to be seen again. In another, “At the sound of Mama Bear’s voice, Goldilocks wakes up to be promptly eaten by the bears.” A most recent one has the lass and the bears talking it out, Goldilocks admitting her mistakes, and everyone deciding to be friends. In economic reality, the last version is the fairy tale. If you cannot figure out how to adapt and prosper to whatever chair, bed, and porridge that is available, there is a reason for a declining stock market being called a “Bear.”

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

Google block on reviews draws business ire in Israel, Palestine

By Marissa Newman & Fadwa Hodali

AsHr Af creIsH, the owner of the West Bank restaurant Zest, knew the Israel-Hamas war was going to be hard on business. The steady flow of diners from international organizations and consulates in Jerusalem stopped after october 7 and never came back.

But he ran into an unexpected hurdle in seeking new customers for his Ramallah cafe, which enjoys a 4.7-star rating on Google: Alphabet Inc. blocked new reviews for businesses in Israel and the Palestinian territories since Hamas invaded southern Israel nearly eight months ago.

“People look up the reviews if they want to go to a restaurant and they don’t see it now,” Creish said in an interview. Zest averaged four or five reviews a week on Google before the war, he said. The steady flow of reviews was “part of our success.”

The open-ended Google policy— meant to guard against trolls and protestors who’d misuse the system during conflicts—is one example of the struggles facing many small businesses in Israel and the Palestinian territories since the war,

which has devastated the economy and upended the tourist trade they depend on. New businesses formed since October told Bloomberg that they can’t register on Google Maps.

“As we have done previously in conflict situations, we put additional protections in place to monitor and prevent content that violates our policies for Maps, including temporarily blocking new reviews, photos, and videos in Israel and Gaza,” a Google spokesperson said, declining to comment on specific instances. A similar policy was in effect in Russia and Ukraine in 2022, according to media reports at the time, but has since been lifted.

Small business owners, who weren’t notified about the change, have been struggling to find recourse. When Miriam Brainin, the chief operating officer of Tel Aviv

“As we have done previously in conflict situations, we put additional protections in place to monitor and prevent content that violates our policies for Maps, including temporarily blocking new reviews, photos, and videos in Israel and Gaza,” a Google spokesperson said, declining to comment on specific instances.

job placement agency JobHunt initially approached Google in October over missing customer reviews, she was first told those reviews violated the company’s policy. A month later, she was informed that reviews were disabled until further notice, but was offered no explanation, according to screenshots shared with Bloomberg.

“They didn’t mention anything about the war. It really made me question myself, that perhaps I had done something wrong,” Brainin said in a phone interview.

While the Google search results for Brainin’s and Creish’s businesses say that they’re open, the war shuttered many companies in Israel, par-

ticularly in the first months when hundreds of thousands of Israelis were called up for military reserve duty.

“My clients look at it and say to themselves, the war broke out and they have no new reviews, they’re probably no longer operating,” Brainin said. “We aren’t a restaurant that you can see with your own two eyes whether it’s open or not.”  Some new businesses in Israel see the Google policy as a necessary evil to block abusive content and have shifted to advertising on other social media platforms and word of mouth. That was the case for Ronit Botser, who opened an organic hair salon in Tel Aviv in February and hasn’t been able to register the address on Google Maps. She has posted on Facebook groups and Instagram and mostly relies on drop-in clients and local residents.

But Brainin argued that Google should have implemented stricter content moderation policies rather than a blanket ban on all reviews.

“They thought they were protecting us,” she said, “but they punished dozens if not hundreds of businesses in Israel.” bloomberg

Competing US-China defense tactics dominate Singapore forum

By Philip J. Heijmans, Peter Martin & Josh Xiao

Global defense leaders descending on Singapore this weekend confronted conflicting visions of the region: the uS touted expanding military exercises and partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, while china criticized “outside forces” for interfering with peace and stability.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addressed the ShangriLa Dialogue on Saturday and name-checked nearly every country as US partners or allies. He praised recent joint drills with Indonesia and the Philippines, improved coordination with Japan, India, South Korea and Australia, and strengthened ties with Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Vietnam.

“We are witnessing a new convergence around nearly all aspects of security in the IndoPacific,” Austin said. “It isn’t about bullying or coercion—it’s about the free choices of sovereign states.”

China didn’t see it that way. Its delegation quickly pushed back on the American narrative.

Officials from Beijing ramped up their public outreach at the annual forum with a series of news conferences, speeches and highprofile interjections to blast US support for Taiwan, warn against the development of an Asian NATO, and accuse Washington of instituting a “technology blockade” against Beijing.

“They keep testing China’s red lines,” new Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun said in his keynote address on Sunday. He warned that the US was pursuing a “salami-slicing strategy” by pushing through Taiwan-related legislation, continuing arm sales to the self-governed island, and having “illegal” official contact with Taipei.

Chinese officials acknowledged they were taking a more public approach. Some regional analysts interpreted that as an effort to counter the concerns about a potential conflict caused by recent clashes with the Philippines in the South China Sea and deployments of military aircraft and ships around Taiwan.

The accumulation of defiant words “have China on the rattled rhetorical defensive,” said Rory Medcalf, the head of the National Security College at the Australian National University.

For many countries in the region, there’s a gap between “what China says versus what China does,” NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer said in an interview.

The three-day event opened with a dramatic display of the simmering tensions on Friday, when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered a dinner speech blasting Beijing’s policies in the South China Sea as Dong looked on from a front-row table. “Filipinos do not yield,” he said from the podium.

Soon after, the Chinese delegation fired back. Major General Xu Hui, president of the International College of Defense Studies at China’s National Defense University, stood up in the questionand-answer session to accuse the Philippine leader of “ruining” regional peace and steering Asia toward war.

“There is no such thing as a regional issue any longer,” Marcos responded, calling the crisis in the waterway a global concern. The Chinese delegation wasn’t done: they called a 10:30 p.m. news conference to rebut charges that the country bullies others.

That confrontation was just one of a series of tense moments during the gathering in which

The EOPT Act in transition

bthe US and China had initially sought to smooth over past disagreements. In a shift from last year’s event, when the two nations’ defense ministers shook hands but never sat down to talk, Austin and Dong met for 75 minutes on Friday.

“There’s clearly more stability in the relationship than maybe a year ago,” said Cui Tiankai, a former Chinese ambassador to Washington who maintains close ties with the leadership in Beijing. “Things are going in the right direction, but very slowly.”

Austin’s address on Saturday was muted in its direct criticisms of China, but it prompted a question from Cao Yanzhong, a research fellow at China’s Academy of Military Sciences. Cao asked whether the US is seeking to establish a Nato-like presence in the region, saying the alliance’s expansion was a root cause of the war in Ukraine.

Austin told the delegate that the war was a result of Russian aggression and President Vladimir Putin’s belief he could “roll over” his neighbor. Dong’s speech on Sunday was more direct, knocking the US for “hollowing out” Beijing’s One-China policy on Taiwan and “misleading” nations in the South China Sea.

China’s delegation suggested it would be doing more to make its case about regional hotspots.

“This shows how our People’s Liberation Army delegation is open, transparent, more confident to interact with the world,” said Senior Colonel Zhu Qichao, a deputy director at the National University of Defense Technology.

China isn’t alone in upping its public relations game. The Philippines has recorded and distributed footage of its own conflicts with China, including multiple episodes where Chinese ships have used water cannons and lasers on Philippines vessels attempting to travel near disputed islands and reefs.

Beijing was less outspoken when it came to the rare visit to Asia by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid a renewed Russian offensive in his country’s northeast. The Ukrainian leader sought to rally support for his forthcoming summit in Switzerland, but also accused China of seeking to undermine the gathering by pressing other countries not to attend.

“We need the support of Asian countries,” Zelenskyy said. “It is much needed.”

China has refused to participate on the grounds of impartiality, saying Russia should have been invited to Ukraine’s event. Beijing is instead joining Brazil in calling for a conference recognized by both Russia and Ukraine.

Heading into the final day of the conference, Singapore’s defense minister—who characterized the lack of US-China talks at last year’s forum a major disappointment—praised Beijing’s efforts to communicate and said the resumption of talks by both sides was good news.

“China has learned that they can put up their voice,” Ng Eng Hen told reporters. “That’s how it should be. What’s the alternative? If words don’t fly, bullets do.” With assistance from Andreo Calonzo and Alfred Cang /Bloomberg

atty. rodel C. unciano

Tax Law for Business

y this time and with the effectivity of the Ease of Paying Taxes (EoPT) act, most taxpayers may have already been able to submit to their respective district offices of the bureau of Internal Revenue (bIR) inventory of their unused official receipts, which will be utilized as invoices. Some may have probably been able to order printing of new set of invoices to be used in their transactions. and probably some may have already been able to request for reconfiguration of their machines in compliance with the provisions of the new law.

Well, there should be no issue with the early and immediate compliance of the new rules since the EOPT Act is already in effect as early as January 22, 2024, or 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette. But as regards compliance with the value-added tax (VAT) and other percentage tax provisions of the EOPT Act, taxpayers are actually given six months from the effectivity of the regulations to comply.

The President signed the law on January 5, 2024. Pursuant to its effectivity clause, the EOPT Act would take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette in a newspaper of general circulation. As the law was published in the Official Gazette on January 7, 2024, it therefore took effect on January 22, 2024.

However, pursuant to its transitory provisions, taxpayers are given six months from the effectivity of the implementing revenue regulations to comply with the amend-

ments on VAT and Other Percentage Taxes provisions. The revenue regulations took effect on April 27, 2024, 15 days following publication in the BIR official website. Therefore, by mandate of the EOPT Act itself, taxpayers are given six months from April 27, 2024, or until October 27, 2024, within which to comply with the amendments to VAT and other percentage taxes provisions.

However, following Revenue Regulations (RR) 7-2024, it would appear that the six-month transitory period provided under the EOPT Act has not been faithfully considered in the implementations.

For one, under RR 7-2024, unused official receipts (OR) may no longer be used to support claim for input tax upon effectivity of the regulations. While it may still be used as supplementary document, it is no longer valid for claim of input tax. In fact, the regulations require that the phrase “THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT VALID FOR CLAIM OF INPUT

TAX” be stamped on the face of the document upon effectivity of the regulations.

While the ORs may be used as primary invoice, and therefore, a valid support for claim of input tax, the regulations, however, require a condition to be complied, and that is to strikethrough the word “Official Receipt” on the face of the manual and loose leaf printed receipt and stamp “Invoice,” “Cash Invoice,” “Charge Invoice,” “Credit Invoice,” “Billing Invoice,” “Service Invoice,” or any name describing the transaction. That is allowed only until December 31, 2024.

Also, documents issued by Cash Register Machines (CRM) and Point-of-Sale (POS) machines containing the word “Official Receipt” beginning the effectivity of the regulations shall no longer be considered as valid for claim of input tax by the buyer/purchaser. Taxpayers using CRM/POS will have to reconfigure these machines in order to generate invoice instead of official receipt.

Further, under RR 7-2024, taxpayers that are using duly registered Computerized Accounting System (CAS) or Computerized Books of Accounts (CBA) need to revisit their system to comply with the provisions of the EOPT Act. This is considered a major enhancement, which requires BIR approval. Following the regulations, taxpayers are given only until June 30, 2024 to do the reconfiguration. Any extension due to enhancements of system shall likewise be subject to BIR approval but no longer than six months from the effectivity of the regulations.

So, what would be the effect of non-compliance within the six-

Jacob Zuma the disruptor has South Africa’s fate in his hands after vote

By S’thembile Cele and Ntando Thukwana

month transitory period?

Following the regulations, it would appear that the BIR is now on the go to strictly implement the provisions of the EOPT Act, even as we are still within the six-month transitory period. Taxpayers shall now bear the consequences of noncompliance. Official receipts shall no longer be valid support of input tax. Other penalties under the law will already apply.

While the intention of the law is to make tax compliance easier, taxpayers should be given ample time to transition to the new rules. In the first place, the six-month transitory period is a mandate of the EOPT Act itself.

Of course, regulations cannot supersede or modify the mandate of the law it seeks to implement. However, bear in mind that the regulations are presumed valid until declared otherwise. So, as a caution, compliance as early as possible is still the better option to avoid any issue. But hopefully, the BIR will be more lenient for the taxpayers who are yet to comply with the new rules in respect to invoicing, as compliance is not yet actually mandatory during the sixmonth transitory period, pursuant to the mandate of the law itself.

The author is a partner of Du-Baladad and Associates Law Offices (BDB Law) (www.bdblaw.com. ph), a member-firm of WTS Global. The article is for general information only and is not intended, nor should be construed as a substitute for tax, legal or financial advice on any specific matter. Applicability of this article to any actual or particular tax or legal issue should be supported therefore by a professional study or advice. If you have any comments or questions concerning the article, you may e-mail the author at rodel.unciano@ bdblaw.com.ph or call 8403-2001 local 380.

JacobZuma, who led South africa for almost nine scandaltainted years before being ousted by the governing african National congress, may now play a major role in the country’s political future.

Six years after being pushed from office, Zuma successfully upstaged his successor Cyril Ramaphosa in national elections this week, eating into the ANC’s support with his new uMkhonto weSizwe Party. The 82-year-old was feted by jubilant supporters as he walked into the electoral results center north of Johannesburg late Saturday, telling the audience his party’s rise shows “how people are angry.”

President Ramaphosa, 71, has remained out of the public eye and deep in talks since the ANC suffered its worst election result in three decades and lost its parliamentary majority, scraping just over 40 percent of the vote. Zuma’s MKP seized 14.6 percent just five months after its launch and wrested control of his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s second-most populous.

The Ramaphosa-led ANC’s “time is up, they can’t stop this momentum,” Zuma said during campaigning last month. “The time has come for

a Black person to rise up, to partake in what is theirs.”

During his presidency, Zuma spent years fending off allegations— which he denies—that he took bribes from arms dealers and was involved in siphoning off billions of rands from state transport, power and arms companies. Ramaphosa replaced Zuma as leader of the ANC in December 2017, and two months later succeeded him as president.

Now Zuma is a kingmaker, having brought the ANC to its knees in the election. For the first time, the ANC needs a coalition to govern, but a tie-up with Zuma’s party comes at a steep price—he has one condition to engage with the ANC—that Ramaphosa give up the reins as leader to the organization.

“This is about a man that has been, that feels that he hasn’t been respected as an elder,” political analyst Sanisha Naidu said.

Zuma’s party willing to work with the ANC so long as it has “nothing to

do with Ramaphosa,” MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said without giving further details.

That means Ramaphosa is likely to be pushed into the arms of the main opposition Democratic Alliance, a tie-up favored by investors but which faces substantial headwinds within the ANC as well.

It’s a far cry from 2012 when Zuma brought Ramaphosa in from the political wilderness. More than a decade later, Zuma wants to see him ousted, despite denying he has a personal vendetta against his former protégé and successor.

His ANC critics say Zuma, a former intelligence chief and amateur chess player, was quietly building up support for his new party within the ANC party’s provincial branch in KwaZulu-Natal right up to the vote, giving him effective shadow control and allowing him the surprise sweeping victory there.

“It looks like we were marching with Zuma machinery on the ground,” Fikile Mbalula, the party’s secretary-general said at a press conference on Sunday. “Our own research did point to dangers, that the ANC would get 43 percent. All sorts of factors were against us.”

Zuma’s rise is also a mark of how far the ANC has fallen. Voters took

their grievances to the ballot box after years of economic mismanagement and corruption—much of it under Zuma’s watch—damaged water and power supplies and with unemployment running above 30 percent. They opted for a range of opposition parties including the populist Economic Freedom Fighters and Zuma’s MKP, which the ANC concedes it vastly underestimated.

ANC councilors in KwaZulu-Natal have already indicated that they will quit should the party move toward teaming up with the Democratic Alliance at a national level.

That means Ramaphosa’s favored coalition, which would in theory bring him out of Zuma’s reach, is “extremely dangerous” for the ANC, political analyst Lukhona Mnguni said. It would risk ceding even more control of a part of the country that’s home to transport corridors, including the major ports of Durban and Richard’s Bay.

“The ANC would have to decide whether it bites the bullet and forgets altogether” about having the province “as part of its structures,” Mnguni said. It would probably be the “death of the ANC” in that part of South Africa. With assistance from Monique Vanek /Bloomberg

Krugman says China is ‘bizarrely unwilling’ to boost demand

CHINA’S leaders are “bizarrely unwilling” to use more government spending to support consumer demand instead of production, according to Nobel laureate in economics Paul Krugman.

“The fact that we seem to have a complete lack of realism on the part of the Chinese is a threat to all of us,” Krugman told Bloomberg TV’s Shery Ahn and Haidi Stroud-Watts in an interview in which he also touched on Japan’s economy and the benefits of a weak yen.

Krugman echoed criticism by US economic officials including Treasury

Secretary Janet Yellen that China can’t simply export its way out of trouble. The comments come amid renewed

concern in the US and Europe over what is viewed as Chinese overproduction and the dumping of heavily subsidized products overseas.

“We can’t absorb, the world will not accept everything China wants to export,” Krugman said.

China’s whole economic model is not sustainable because of “vastly inadequate” domestic spending and a lack of investment opportunities, he added. Beijing should be supporting demand not more production, he said.

Looking beyond China, Krugman said he found it hard to understand why Japanese authorities are panicking over a weaker yen that helps boost demand in that economy.

“I have to say what puzzles me is why Japan is so worried about the falling yen,” Krugman said.

“A weaker yen, after give it a bit of a lag, that’s actually positive for demand for Japanese goods and services,” Krugman said. It’s “puzzling why the weaker yen is inspiring as much panic as it seems to be.”

Krugman spoke after a government report Friday showed Japan spent a record amount to defend the currency in the past month. After the actions by the government side, the BOJ is increasingly seen likely to raise rates by July to ease pressure on the yen. Krugman, now at the City University of New York, isn’t all convinced that Japan is finally having sustain-

able inflationary pressures.

“I hope so, but I’m not convinced by trying to look at the Japanese data,” Krugman said. “I still don’t see the kind of fundamental strength. A lot of Japan’s long-term weakness has to do with demography, has to do with extremely low fertility. That hasn’t changed, although Japan is at least more open to immigration than it used to be. But it’s a long way.”

Japan’s economy contracted in the last quarter, extending a period of no growth starting from the middle of last year. That underscored a lack of momentum even after the BOJ ended its massive monetary easing program in March with the first rate hike in 17 years. Bloomberg

A20 Tuesday, June 4, 2024

A.I. USE FOR SIMPLY SHOWING POLS’ PLATFORM NOT BANNED

By Samuel P. Medenilla

S@sam_medenilla

OME uses of Artificial Intelligence (AI) which do not involve generating false information, will be exempted from the proposed ban of the Commission on Election [Comelec] in the use of the technology during the campaign for the 2025 polls.

Comelec Chairman George M. Garcia issued the clarification in an interview with reporters during the sidelines of the Comelec Multiparty Democracy Summit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Intramuros, Manila on Monday.

“But the use of AI to further spread the message and platforms they [candidates] want to express, I think we can allow that,” he said.

He said the ban will cover deepfakes or AI-generated false content, which he noted

can be used to deceive voters in favor of some candidates.

The poll chief announced his proposed nationwide ban on the use of AI for generating campaign materials with false information last week.

Under the proposal, violators of the ban will be charged with committing an election offense and also face disqualification if they are candidates.

The policy will apply to social media companies wherein the prohibited AI-materials will be posted, Garcia reiterated.

“Once we declare [campaign materials] as prohibited or regulated, we hope they will comply immediately and not take months to take down posts, especially if it will involve defamation or harming not only the integrity of the electoral process, but also of people, candidates and  political parties,” Garcia said.

‘Only semicons into design, fabrication to gain in AI boom’

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

WHILE the Artificial Intelligence (AI) boom is seen to elevate the demand for electronic products, the business opportunities for the semiconductor industry may only be confined to economies engaged in design and fabrication, according to a UK-based think tank.

“Although the rise of AI offers vast business opportunities and growth potential for the semiconductor industry, the benefits are not evenly distributed along the value chain,” Oxford Economics said on Monday.

“So, as long as ASEAN countries remain focused on [assembly, test and packaging] ATP, the benefits they derive will be limited compared to economies engaged in design and fabrication,” the think tank pointed out.

TBy Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

HE government, through its national standards arm, said it is now preparing a certification scheme for plastics which aims to standardize the period for it to decompose, according to the Department of Trade and IndustryBureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS).

“The very idea really is to ensure that different plastic products available in the market will conform to the requirements of the different Philippine National Standards in regards to compostability and biodegradability,” DTI-BPS Director Neil P. Catajay said at a recent forum organized by the BusinessMirror, billed as “Updates on the EPR Law Implementation and Sustainable Goals of 2030.”

Catajay said the certification scheme is aligned with the objectives of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law and the Sustainable Goals of 2030.

The BPS official explained that the certification scheme for plastics, which is still in the pipeline, aims to ensure that the packaging material will decompose after a certain period.

However, as it is still in the planning stage, he said that the standards body still has to seek guidance from different stakeholders such as the DTI chief and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), among others.

“We really need to coordinate with those agencies in regards to the direction because we have not yet decided whether or not the certification scheme will be a mandatory certification or voluntary certification,” said Catajay.

Asked if having a uniform certification scheme for plastics will have an impact on the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Catajay said, “I think it will have minimal effect on MSMEs because the particular industry that will be regulated is the plastic manufacturers, not the MSMEs themselves.”

Catajay said the DTI’s mandate in implementing the provisions of EPR focuses on ecolabeling, standards, and certification of plastics later on.

tally accountable on plastic packaging waste.

According to DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, the EPR law, which took effect on August 12,2022, aims to achieve “plastic neutrality” which is defined as “a system or its desired outcome where, for every amount of plastic product footprint created, an equivalent amount thereof is recovered or removed from the environment by the product producers through an efficient waste management system.

Through the lens of Nestlé Philippines, a major food and beverage player in the country, Jose  Uy III, the Senior Vice President and head of corporate affairs of the company, underscored during the same forum that there is more to address and more to be done in the path towards circularity in the country.

For instance, Uy stressed, “The cost of redesigning packaging to be recyclable is expensive and will benefit all, once there are infrastructure to recycle them.”

“While other markets are doing it, there is no access to purchase and use of food-grade recycled flexible packaging material in the Philippines,” the Nestlé Philippines official also noted.

He reported that only about 34 percent of barangays have access to materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and that building infrastructure for flexible plastic recycling is “unattractive” due to “high electricity costs, low landfill tipping fees, and lack of segregation to serve as feedstock to these facilities.”

Citing a study by the World Bank, with the title “Market Study for Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers,” Uy divulged that unrecycled materials that go to waste are valued at almost $1 billion. (Related story: https:// businessmirror com.ph/2024/06/01/give-it-achance-to-work/)

Oxford Economics explained further: As the AI boom is expected to paint a rosy outlook for the semiconductor sector, AI chips are a type of advanced semiconductor with

“application-specific” integrated circuits used for machine learning tasks.

According to the UK-based think tank, the AI chips market was valued at $23 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by 30 percent in 2024, with further growth of more than $150 billion by 2030.

In reaping the benefits of the AI boom, however, ASEAN countries need to move up the semiconductor value chain, said the think tank.

Illustrating further, Oxford Economics explained that the Design phase in the semiconductor cycle requires “advanced skills and substantial investment” in research and development. The US has the

lion’s share—accounting for about 43 percent in the global [integrated circuit] IC design market,” the think tank said.

The Fabrication phase is “capitalintensive” due to equipment costs. It noted that the main factories under this phase are located in Taiwan, China, and South Korea.

The Assembly-testing-packaging, Oxford Economics said, involves labor-intensive activities.

“ATP is often outsourced to lowcost locations such as ASEAN economies and China,” the think tank said, adding that ATP is relatively “low value-added and with very low profit margins.”

Weighing the growth paths of countries within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), Oxford Economics said Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam are all “big players” in the semiconductor global value chain.

However, the think tank pointed out that each has had a different growth path. To illustrate, it noted that Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines all began developing their ATP industries approximately at the same time, around the 1970s.

Vietnam joined the club later, it added. But among these countries, it said, “Only Singapore has successfully transformed itself from being a location for ATP businesses, to a tech and innovation hub

for design and R&D enterprises, as well as fabrication.”

While Malaysia has tried to upgrade its value chain by setting up local wafer fabrication as well as chip design, Oxford Economics noted, “it has struggled to become competitive in the global market.”  Meanwhile, it stressed that “The Philippines is further behind its neighbors—still focused on ATP business and with very limited capacity in fabrication.”

Zooming in on the case of the Philippines’s position in the global semiconductor value chain, the think tank said the country accounts for 3.4 percent of global IC exports, ranking among the top eight exporters over the past decade.

However, it said the Philippines still concentrates on ATP activities particularly importing semiconductors from East Asian countries such as Taiwan and South Korea and then post-ATP re-exports them.  Oxford Economics also cited the obstacles preventing the Philippines from engaging in “higher value-added activities.”

It noted that the Philippines is currently experiencing a shortage of skilled talent. It cited World Bank’s Human Capital Index in 2020 showing that the country’s score was 0.52,  lower than most of its neighbouring countries.

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

ARE you sure that the medicine you are taking is authentic?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday issued an advisory, advising the public against the purchase and use of some drug products.

Counterfeit versions are being made of the following drugs, authorities said: 1.

15

Capsule “All healthcare professionals and the general public are hereby warned as to the availability of these coun-

-

terfeit drug products in the market which pose potential danger or injury to consumers,” the FDA said. Consumers are also reminded to purchase drug products only from FDA-licensed establishments. Likewise, the FDA added that all establishments and outlets are warned against selling and/or dispensing of the said counterfeit products with the abovementioned features.

“The

Ibuprofen (Medicol® Advance) 200 mg Softgel Capsule

Phenylephrine Hydrochloride + Chlorphenamine Maleate + Paracetamol (Bioflu®) 10mg/ 2mg/ 500mg Tablet

Dextromethorphan Hydro

bromide + Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride + Paracetamol (Tuseran® Forte) (Reformulated)

mg/25mg/325mg

MARINHO, ALEXANDRE VICTOR Wind Project Director

Brief

DEXIN INTERNATIONAL IMPORT AND EXPORT CORP.

63. CAI, BINGBING Chinese Speaking Data Entry Specialist

64.

65.

Brief

71. CHEN, JINZHAN

Chinese Speaking Import & Export Specialists

Brief

72. LU, YANGHUI

Chinese

Brief

73. SHI, MINGDA Chinese Speaking Import & Export Specialists

Brief

Brief

121.

Brief

126. WANG, JIE Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Documents all aspects of software, for ongoing maintenance and revisions.

127. WANG, SHILONG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers. Create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team.

128. WU, ZEHAO Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers. Create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team.

129. YAN, JIAYING Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. With good verbal and written communication skills.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. With good verbal and written communication skills.

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

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers. Create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team. Basic Qualification: With

130. YANG, GUOLIN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers. Create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team.

Basic Qualification: With at least 6 months of work experience. With good verbal and written communication skills.

Brief

SUN, LINGZHU Mandarin

Brief

215.

Brief

216.

Brief

217.

218. LIU, FENG Mandarin Financial Officer

Brief

219.

220.

goals.

ZHANG, XIANWEI Mandarin Head Operation Project Supervisor

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Head Operation Project Supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.

XU, TIANYU Mandarin Mechanical And Electrical Maintenance Supervisor

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Mechanical And Electrical Maintenance Supervisor will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long term goals.

221. SUN, XIAOPENG

Mandarin Operation Specialist

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Finance Supervisor, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Head Operation Project Supervisor, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

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

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Mechanical And Electrical Maintenance Supervisor, excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.

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

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Operation Specialist will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals. Basic

222. WANG, XIANQIU Mandarin Operation Specialist

Brief Job Description: The Mandarin Operation Specialist will be a strategist and a leader able to steer the company to the most profitable direction while also implementing its vision, mission and long-term goals.

Basic Qualification: Proven experience as Mandarin Operation Specialist, excellent communication, interpersonal and

Brief

223.

224.

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262.

263.

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264. NANG PHWAY PHWAY SAN Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief

265. NIE, WENKAI

Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers.

266. PAN SULING Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief Job Description: Communicate overall design and approach to a team of programmers. Create flowcharts, diagrams, other models, and programming instructions to guide programming team.

267. PHAN, VAN DUNG Chinese Speaking Program Designer

Brief

268.

269. GUO, YIJUN

Chinese Customer Service

Basic

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

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Meralco: Power rates may rise on higher fees, costs

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ElEctricity rates this month are likely to go up because of higher generation charge, the increase in feed-in-tariff allowance (FitAll) and the resumption of settlement amounts in the reserve market.

Meralco Vice p resident and Spokesman Joe Zaldarriaga said an upward adjustment in June bills is “expected” and will be driven by the settlement costs in the reserve market and an increase in FIT-a ll that will be reflected in the bills of customers this month.

On top of these charges, Zaldarriaga said there is also an upward pressure in the generation charge given the tight supply conditions in the Luzon grid.

made in the reserve market in March. according to the grid operator, this could translate to an increase of more than p0.10 per kilowatt hour (kWh) centavos per kWh on the ancillary services component of the transmission charge in June.

The ERC also recently approved the implementation of the new FITa ll starting this month. This would result in an increase of p0.0474 per kwh.

The Meralco official did not give estimates for overall power rates.

plants are running on derated capacities, bringing the total unavailable capacity to 2,692.8MW.

a yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is insufficient to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement.

To cushion higher generation charge, ERC Commissioner Monalisa Dimalanta said her office has commenced the issuance of provisional authority to implement pending power supply agreements (pSa).

ALTER nERGY Holdings Corp. has raised p20 billion over a period of 15 months since its initial public offering (IpO) in March 2023.

stages and a second tranche of the green corporate loan is also being finalized.

In november 2023, a lternergy raised p1.45 billion from its preferred shares issuance while the IpO raised p1.62 billion. This brings to p21 billion the total amount secured by the company over 15 months.

Last month, Meralco rates rose by p0.46 per kWh following a steep drop of almost p1 per kWh in april, largely due to the generation charge which was then driven by higher costs from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM). To recall, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered the partial lifting of the suspension on settlement amounts in the reserve market. With the said order, the national Grid Corporation of the philippines (nGCp) can start recovering costs for trading transactions

The peso depreciation, which affects a big chunk of the costs of Independent power producers and power Supply a greements, is also expected to contribute to higher generation charge in June.

“We’ve experienced a series of red and yellow alerts in the last supply month, and as we know, these conditions affect generation costs particularly that in the WESM,” said Zaldarriaga.

On Monday, the nGCp issued a yellow alert over the Luzon grid from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The grid’s available capacity stood at 14,457 megawatts (MW) while peak demand reached 13,484MW.

Two plants have been on forced outage since 2023, two between January and March, and 12 power plants between april and May. Six

“We have identified the distribution utilities [DUs]/electric cooperatives [ECs] that have very high WESM exposure (more than 40 percent) and have started issuing provisional approvals to those with pSa s pending with us. That will help address pricing issues so that the DU customers will not be exposed to high WESM prices.

Our difficulty is with those DU/ ECs with high WESM exposure that have not filed for approval of any p S a s with us. The customers in those areas are really left exposed until the DU/ECs start locking in prices by contracting supply,” said Dimalanta.

JG Summit outlines growth initiatives

By VG Cabuag @villygc

okonGwei-LED JG Sum-

Gmit Holding Inc. said it aims to stay “ahead of the curve” as it expands most of its businesses this year.

In particular, JG Summit president Lance Gokongwei said the food business under Universal Robina Corp. (URC) is currently building a mega plant in Malvar Batangas, the first line of which is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.

“This will cover both expansion and replacement capacities for URC,” Gokongwei told the company’s shareholders Monday.

“We opened the nuStar mall in

Toyota halts sales of 3 cars

Japan suspended the delivery and sales of six vehicles—including three manufactured by Toyota Motor Corp.—escalating a safety scandal that has embroiled a handful of the world’s top automakers.

Toyota submitted faulty data during pedestrian-safety tests for three current models—the Corolla Fielder, Corolla a xio and Yaris Cross—and used modified test vehicles during collisionsafety tests for four past models, including the Crown, the transport ministry said Monday. Toyota was among five carmakers, including Honda Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp., found to have falsified or manipulated safety data while applying for certification.

“We neglected the certification process and mass produced our cars without first taking the proper precautionary steps,” Toyota Chairman a kio Toyoda told reporters Monday. “For that we apologize to our customers and all automotive enthusiasts.”

Toyota said shipment halts will affect two assembly lines responsible for the production of 130,000 units a year. The world’s biggest carmaker made and sold more than 11 million passenger vehicles in 2023. Bloomberg News

2023 and we intend to open the Opus mall in July this year as well as Robinson pagadian.”

nuStar is the gaming facility of the Gokongwei Group in Cebu.

“We are further expanding nuStar Hotel, adding new rooms in the fourth quarter of this year, as well as various logistics facilities,” he added.

For the group’s budget carrier, Cebu pacific, it expects to grow its full-year capacity by 12 percent to 15 percent with the new aircrafts, five of which have already been delivered as of the first quarter.

“On our ecosystem play will be our joint venture with DHL. DHL Summit Solutions Inc. will be onboarding more customers outside the Gokongwei Group after adding

two new major customers in the first quarter.”

Gokongwei also said JG Summit’s digital bank, GoTyme, continues to expand its product offerings, such as SME lending and earned wage access.

a nd we are very excited about GoTyme shareholders recently acquiring SaVii which is the largest salary lender in the philippines with a loan book of over p3 billion and more than 500,000 employees across 150 of the country’s biggest corporations.”

JG Summit said its income in the first quarter almost doubled to p15.22 billion from the previous year’s p7.97 billion on the robust earnings of its core businesses.

Revenues grew 18 percent to p96.74 billion during the period,

from p82.25 billion last year.

The company said its higher income was supplemented by the p7.9billion gain from the merger of the Bank of the philippine Islands and Robinsons Bank, which became effective at the start of 2024.

“While we remain cautious given short-term headwinds from elevated fuel prices, interest and forex [foreign exchange] rates, we continue to work hard to accelerate profit growth in the succeeding quarters,” Gokongwei said.

“With this advancement, we hope to remain ahead of the curve as we continue our commitment to providing our customers with better choices and create shared success with all our stakeholders.”

Gogoro exploring financing options

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

eLECTRIC mobility firm Gogoro philippines plans to introduce “prepaid” offers to make its escooters more accessible to a broader pinoy audience.

Having established itself as a “premium brand” since its commercial launch in December 2023, Gogoro has primarily catered to the upper socio-economic segment with its superior quality and advanced features, according to its president Bernie Llamzon.

However, he noted that the growing interest from other market segments has prompted the company to expand its reach.

Llamozon said Gogoro plans to roll out new energy plans for the prepaid market without requiring long-term commitments.

additionally, the company aims to introduce more affordable financing options in the second quarter, followed by budget-friendly scooter models in the third quarter.

“We hear you and we will soon respond to this clamor as we complete the other critical components of the ecosystem,” he said. “We’re finding the price to speak for your budget.”

a side from this, Gogoro is expanding its network of GoStations, ensuring that riders can enjoy uninterrupted journeys without the fear of running out of battery. GoStations provide charging solutions through battery-swapping technology.

From just five GoStations at the end of last year, Gogoro has already added nine more within Metro Manila and plans to add another seven before the quarter ends, bringing the total to over 21.

The company is also targeting specific cities and towns in north

and Central Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao as part of its commitment to making electric mobility accessible to more Filipinos.

Gogoro philippines is a partnership between Globe Telecom Inc.’s 917Ventures Inc., ayala Corp., and Taiwan’s Gogoro.

Horace Luke, founder and CEO of Gogoro, said the company is committed to replicating its success in Taiwan, where Gogoro has 540,000 riders and has deployed more than one million smart batteries at 12,000 battery-swapping stations.

Of the amount, a lternergy president Gerry Magbanua said during a press briefing on Monday that some p10 billion was earmarked for its 112-megawatt (MW) Tanay wind power project in Rizal, p7 billion for its 64MW a labat wind power project in Quezon, and p1.3 billion for its 28MW Solana solar plant in Bataan.

The remaining amount would be used for “other expenses” to build its pipeline.

a ll of these projects are expected to come online by 2025.

“a lternergy’s initial capital raising activity since the IpO in March 2023 is almost at the homestretch. The p20 billion will support the timely completion of new generation capacities to contribute to the government’s target to increase renewable energy share and help beef up the country’s power supply situation” said Magbanua.

Last week, a lternergy through its wholly owned subsidiary a lternergy Tanay Wind Corp. (aTWC) closed a financing facility with the Bank of the philippine Islands (BpI) and the Security Bank Corp. for up to p8 billion in funding for the construction of the Tanay Rizal wind power project.

It also signed a p2-billion green corporate loan with BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO), beefing up its funding capacity to support the three new projects as a parent company.

a n additional p6.3 billion of new project financing are in the final

“We are grateful to the financing and investing community who has embraced our innovative funding solutions. The loans so far secured are under the green finance framework we crafted with the a sian Development Bank [a DB], while our inaugural IpO had been successful even in the amid volatile market sentiments,” Magbanua said.

“Once the final signings of the remaining p6.3 billion are done, we expect to go back to the drawing board to further plan for the next round of capital raising activity to reach our medium-term target of 500 MW capacity by 2026.”

Beyond these three projects, Magbanua said a lternergy will move ahead with the development of its project pipeline. This includes the Liberty aqua-voltaic project in Tarlac and the expansion of the solar rooftop power projects. He also said a lternergy is actively pursuing early stage projects.

“a s the development of these new projects progresses, new capital raising program will also take off. a lternergy is focused on building more renewable and sustainable energy projects.”

The company aims to develop up to 474MW of additional wind, solar, and run-of-river hydro projects. Lenie Lectura

Photo from www.globe.com.Ph

Banking&Finance

Govt raises ₧15B from sale of Treasury bills

By Reine Juvierre Alberto

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) fully awarded its P15billion programmed offering of Treasury bills (T-bills) despite the uptick in investors’ asking yields.

The national government successfully raised P5 billion each from the tender of 91-day tenor, 182-day T-bills and 364-day government securities on Monday’s auction.

The T-bills fetched average rates lower than the prevailing secondary market rates, the Treasury said. For the 91-day T-bills, investors’ average yields slightly fell to 5.689 percent from 5.719 percent in the previous auction. Bids ranged from 5.670 percent to 5.710 percent for the 91-day T-bills. Meanwhile, the yield of the 182day T-bills went up to 5.904 percent

STATE-RUn Social Security Sys-

tem (SSS) is bullish on real estate investment trusts (REi Ts) as it anticipates the upcoming rate cut in the second half of the year.

SSS said on Monday that it is targeting to expand its REi Ts investments this year, a “calculated move” that is expected to provide better returns for the pension fund.

SSS President and CEO Rolando L. Macasaet said the fund’s optimism in REi Ts arises from the expected rate cut in the second half of the year and the “increasingly favorable” market conditions.

“This positive outlook sets the stage for potentially higher returns on SSS’ investments,” SSS said.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. said the BSP would be cutting policy rates in August, ahead of the United States Federal Reserve.

ThE Philippine Deposit insurance Corp. (PDiC) is set to sell through electronic public bidding (e-bidding) a total of 72 residential lots on its e-bidding portal on June 27. Prospective parties can join the e-bidding through a one-time registration on the portal at http:// assetsforsale.pdic.gov.ph/Account/ Register. Once registered, buyers may submit their bids online and observe the e-bidding proceedings by clicking the “Assets for Sale” icon on the PDiC website’s homepage at www.pdic.gov.ph.

To be sold on “as-is, where-is” basis are 35 residential lots, 33 residential lots with improvements, two residential lots bundled with an agricultural lot, and one residential condominium. These properties are located in Metro Manila, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Cagayan, Capiz, Cebu, Davao de Oro, i loilo, Laguna, Lanao del norte, Misamis Occidental, negros Occidental, nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Quezon, South Cotabato and Zamboanga del norte and are owned either by the closed banks or by the PDiC.

Property sizes range from 27 square meters to 3,705 square meters.

i nterested parties can browse through the catalog of properties on the e-bidding portal where the complete list and description of the properties, requirements, ebidding process, and Conditions of Bid are posted. Prospective bidders are encouraged to get familiar with the terms and conditions

compared to last week’s auction at 5.886 percent. The government security rates were from 5.895 percent to 5.913 percent.

investors’ average rate for the 364-day T-bills reached 6.046 percent with a yield range of 6.035 percent to 6.055 percent. Yields of T-bills averaged 6.043 percent in the Treasury’s previous auction last May 27.

the domestic debt market. The government’s borrowings from January to April this year reached P1.163 trillion, with domestic and foreign borrowings amounting to P1.038 trillion and P124.099 billion.

The amount tendered per tenor was P19.066 billion for the 91-day, P11.910 billion for the 182-day, and P13 billion for the 364-day T-bills. The Treasury said the auction was nearly 3 times oversubscribed, atGSIS sets aside ₧4.3B for victims of El Niño

Macasaet also expressed confidence that SSS’s P6-billion investment in nearly all the REi Ts available in the Philippines will drive more profit. More than 75 percent of investments purchased this year will yield around 8 percent, he added.

“This promising figure is expected to significantly boost the SSS investment portfolio, instilling a sense of optimism among stakeholders,” SSS said.

SSS currently invests 5 percent of its equity funds in REi Ts, according to SSS investments Sector Concurrent Acting head Ernesto D. Francisco Jr.

“REi T is a fantastic investment structure for pension funds like SSS because 90 percent of the lease income is mandatorily distributed. The REi T sector also greatly contributes to economic development since

REi T players must reinvest within one year,” Francisco said.

REi Ts are poised to be among the top contributors to this year’s investment income, as predicted by Francisco due to its continuous offering of “attractive” dividend yields, which are higher than the prevailing benchmark rates.

Francisco said SSS will continue investing in REi Ts in the upcoming years as the pension fund can earn “decently” from steady rental income and growth.

“The more robust and diversified the cash flow of the RE i Ts asset, the more we will invest in them,” he said, noting the trend of tapping quality assets among RE i T companies.

Looking ahead, Francisco said SSS envisions a “promising future” for the Philippine REi T sector, which could potentially become a major contribu-

tor to the capital market.

“Consider Singapore, where 20 percent, or six out of 30, of its Straits Times index component is composed of REi Ts. The absence of REi Ts in the Philippine Stock Exchange Composite index presents a significant growth opportunity. Singapore’s vibrant individual investor base, a key growth driver of their REi Ts, serves as an inspiring model for us,” Francisco said.

The investible fund of SSS is around P750 billion to P800 billion, Francisco said.

With SSS’s fund life expected to end in 2054, the pension fund is targeting to increase its membership this year by two million members to protect its reserve funds from depleting.

The pension fund currently has 20 million paying members.

Reine Juvierre Alberto

STATE pension fund Government Service insurance System (GSi S) announced that it is allocating more than P4.3 billion in emergency loan for members and pensioners in 17 areas in the country who were affected by El niño.

A total of 185,107 active members as well as old-age and disability pensioners in negros Oriental and Kabangkalan City and Valladolid in negros Occidental may apply until June 14; those in San Vicente, Palawan may apply until June 15; in Carcar City and Compostela in Cebu and i loilo on June 19; in Brooke’s Point in Palawan, San Agustin in Romblon, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del norte and Sur, Special Geographic Area), Quezon and Pangantucan in Bukidnon and Tboli in South Cotabato until June 21.

outlined by the PDiC and are reminded of their responsibility to determine the actual condition, status, ownership, and other circumstances of the properties they wish to acquire.

Participants bidding on behalf of another individual or an organization can download the Pro-forma Special Power of Attorney and Secretary’s Certificate, respectively, from the e-bidding portal.

As the mandated receiver of closed banks, the PD i C liquidates the remaining assets of closed banks to help pay claims of closed bank creditors, including depositors with uninsured deposits. Proceeds from the sale of closed bank-owned properties go directly to a fund that the corporation uses to settle creditors’ claims against the assets of closed banks.

Meanwhile, revenues from the sale of corporate assets are added to the Deposit i nsurance Fund, from which the PDiC pays valid deposit insurance claims.

For more information on the ebidding, interested buyers within Metro Manila may call the PDiC Public Assistance Department at (02) 8841-4141 during office hours. Those outside Metro Manila may call the PDiC toll-free hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDiC or 1-800-1-8887342, also during office hours. i nquiries may also be sent via e-mail at pad@pdic.gov.ph, or private message on PDiC’s Assets for Sale Facebook page (@PDiCAssetsforSale) or PDiC’s official Facebook page (@ OfficialPDiC).

KKR & Co. is considering entering the private credit market in Japan to provide an alternative to bank loans.

“it will be a medium to long-term initiative,” hiro hirano, the head of KKR Japan said in an interview. “i think it is very important in Japan that we do it ourselves.”

The $1.7 trillion private-credit industry has swelled in the United States and Europe by focusing on companies with high credit risk and private equity funds that need help financing acquisitions. i n Japan, most direct lending has been done overseas and the domestic loan market is dominated by major banks.

i n addition to private credit, Japan is the destination for about 40 percent of KKR’s investment in Asia. The firm sees Japanese companies increasingly willing to sell non-core businesses that can do better as individual entities. These

so-called carve-outs often provide returns that are higher than other investments.

Global Atlantic Financial Group, a US insurance company affiliated with KKR, is purchasing insurance policies from Japanese life insurance companies and may use private credit investments in Japanese yen as an investment vehicle.

“An overwhelming number of Japanese companies and businesses have the potential to grow, but are not performing well enough,” hirano said. The firm also plans to increase its offerings for institutional investors and high net-worth individuals in Japan. KKR is in discussions with domestic securities companies to offer products for individual investors. it already has a joint venture asset management company with SBi holdings i nc. For institutional investors, KKR will offer wider access to its funds. Bloomberg News

Members and pensioners with existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to clear the balance of their previous emergency loan and receive a maximum net amount of P20,000. Meanwhile, those without existing emergency loan may apply for a P20,000 loan.

To qualify for the GSiS Emergency Loan, active members must be working or residing in the calamity-declared areas, not be on unpaid leave, have no pending legal cases, have paid premiums within the last six months, and have a net take-home pay of not be lower than P5,000 per the General Appropriations Act. Old-age and disability pensioners residing in the calamity areas may also avail of the loan provided their net monthly pension after availing of the loan is at least 25 percent. The loan has a low interest of 6 percent and with a payment period of three years.

Members and pensioners may apply for the loan using the GSiS Touch mobile application, which may be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. For inquiries, visit the GSiS website (www.gsis.gov.ph) or Facebook page (@gsis.ph), email gsiscares@gsis. gov.ph, or call the GSiS Contact Center at 8847-4747(if in Metro Manila) or 1-800-8-847-4747(for Globe and TM subscribers) or 1-800-10-8474747 (for Smart, Sun, and Talk ’n Text subscribers).

Earlier, the Department of Finance (DOF) raised the government’s borrowing plan to P2.57 trillion in 2024, following a 75:25 mix, wherein 75 percent of the amount would come from the local debt market while the remaining quarter would be borrowed externally. China

needs much more central government debt–key

hin A should issue much more central government debt to make up for the inability of cash-strapped local authorities to spend money and drive growth, according to one of the country’s leading economists. The ratio of central government debt to China’s gross domestic product — currently around 20 percent — should be more than doubled, Li Daokui, a regular policy adviser to the government, told Bloomberg TV on Monday.

Beijing recently began issuing 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) of special bonds to finance public investment, but “they should have 10 trillion, or even 20 trillion of extra-long bonds,” said Li, currently a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

China has been signaling its willingness to step up central government borrowing since last year. Local authorities are one of the biggest investors and buyers of goods in the economy but their finances are under growing strain, and their debts equal to about 100 percent of GDP, according to Li. Exacerbating the problem, revenue from land sales has plunged amid a housing slump.

Last month’s auction of the special bonds drew massive demand from retail investors and prompted officials to warn about speculative trades, underscoring the lack of safe-haven assets as the economy slows.

There is a “tremendous amount” of liquidity trapped in the banking system because households and companies aren’t willing to spend and are instead saving up, Li said. But families are willing to buy the central government bonds, which makes a good case for the government to issue more of them and swap out local government debt, he said.

Commenting on the government’s property rescue efforts, Li said the central bank’s offer of 300 billion yuan in funding to help local governments buy excess housing inventory is not enough. Making sure property developers stay afloat and avoid debt default should be the priority, he said. Li predicted more government initiatives in the coming months, with many people expecting key announcements from a Communist Party conclave known as the “third plenum” that’s due to be held in July. Bloomberg News

Morning commuters cross a street outside Tokyo Station in Tokyo, Japan, on August 21, 2023. PhotograPher: Shoko takayaSu/BloomBerg

Photo from www.Pna.gov.Ph

Art BusinessMirror

Rosscapili’s vividity meets Rico Lascano’s minimalism in ‘Interchange’

‘IN every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”

The quote from 19th century American naturalist John Muir encapsulates Conrad Manila Gallery C’s latest exhibition, titled Interchange a two-man show featuring seasoned artists Rosscapili and Rico Lascano. If this show were, indeed, a stroll in the open, the distinct styles of the two titans make the excursion worthwhile—and then some. Rosscapili, for one, nears the golden anniversary of his art practice. The multimedia artist began painting

in his early teenage years, and has gone on to establish a glowing career with around 60 individual awards and distinctions, along with 70 exhibitions here and abroad.

Meanwhile, Lascano’s works have been presented at prestigious art spaces, from the Cultural Center of the Philippines to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, as well as esteemed venues in global art capitals like Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, and Berlin. Lascano currently serves as a professor in his alma mater University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

In Interchange, the veteran artists cross paths, yet their styles never intersect like parallel lines.

The show’s 32 featured artworks operate on their respective lanes, with Rosscapili covering expressive abstraction and Lascano on layered minimalism. Side by side, however, the distinct styles engage in rich and harmonious dialogue as seen in this collaborative showcase about the environment and all that it stands for.

The subject feels second nature for both artists. Rosscapili’s kinetic imagery takes inspiration from

his love of nature, as does Lascano’s lyrical imagery.

In Rosscapili’s Night Sky Tatoo 1, gentle outlines of butterflies fluttering and flowers blooming juxtapose vigorous brushstrokes of red paint, as the artist’s trademark metallic orb hovers around the scene. Lascano then presents a stark change of pace with his conciliating Quitetude series, characterized by soothing blue tones along with floating elements and running patterns all around.

“Although we have both different art practices, we share something in common, and that is nature,” Lascano said during the exhibit opening at Conrad Manila. “Nature has always been a bountiful and reflective inspiration for artists. I hope you renew your respective connections with nature.”

“We invite everyone to look closely at the artworks,” Rosscapili said. “Hindi lang siya basta nature. Merong kaming personal na gustong sabihin na binuhos namin dun. These pieces are meant to disturb you while you enjoy them.”

Interchange featuring Rosscapili and Rico Lascano is on view at Conrad Manila’s Gallery C in Pasay

until August 3. ■

THAILAND WELCOMES HOME TRAFFICKED 1,000-YEAR-OLD STATUES RETURNED BY NEW YORK’S METROPOLITAN MUSEUM

BANGKOK—Thailand’s National Museum hosted a welcome-home ceremony Tuesday for two ancient statues that were illegally trafficked from Thailand by a British collector of antiquities and were returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The objects—a tall bronze figure called the Standing Shiva or Golden Boy and a smaller sculpture called Kneeling Female—are thought to be

around 1,000 years old. This most recent repatriation of artwork comes as many museums in the US and Europe reckon with collections that contain objects looted from Asia, Africa and other places during centuries of colonialism or in times of upheaval. The Metropolitan Museum had announced last December that it would return more than a dozen artifacts to Thailand and Cambodia after they were linked to the

late Douglas Latchford, an art dealer and collector accused of running a huge antiquities trafficking network out of Southeast Asia.

He was indicted in the United States in 2019 for allegedly orchestrating a long-running scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market. Latchford, who died the following year, had denied any involvement in smuggling.

Speaking at Tuesday’s ceremony,

the Metropolitan’s curator of Asian and Southeast Asian art, John Guy, called the returned works “unrivalled masterpieces” of their period and said the handover was “a very meaningful moment to recognize the importance of the art of Thailand in world culture.”

“The Met initiated the return of these two objects after reviewing information and established that the works rightly belonged to the Kingdom of Thailand,” he said. AP

By Eugenia Last

lead the way, and use your connections to wiggle into the ideal position conducive to getting your way. ★★★★

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Keep moving forward, regardless of any emotional intervention you encounter. Proceed confidently and protect yourself from anyone who tries to strong-arm you into something you don’t want to pursue. Call in favors or offer incentives if necessary to ensure you meet your demands. ★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric and fall for a scam. Pay attention to detail, and be resourceful regarding buying and selling. Altering your agenda or how you think will make a difference to the treatment you receive. ★★★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Expand your mind, but don’t indulge in overpriced events that require you to take on more than you can handle. If someone or something is limiting, consider taking a pass or a less aggressive path. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Size up situations and consider what’s beneficial. A change will spark your imagination and encourage you to find a unique way to use what you can offer at a premium. Don’t sell yourself short; know your worth and refuse to let anyone devalue you. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Domestic issues will surface if you don’t set ground rules. Listen carefully and refuse to let exaggeration and inflated emotions seep into a situation or encounter. Negotiate on your behalf, know what you want and articulate your preferences. ★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): An unusual choice will turn out better than anticipated. Once you recognize what’s making life difficult at home or in your community, how to fix the problem will be straightforward. Contacts will assist you. 5 ★★★★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make changes because you want them, not because someone is twisting your arm or being manipulative. Stick close to home and enforce discipline regarding medical and financial issues. ★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Set your sights on what you want, and don’t stop until you reach your goal. Refrain from following the crowd or letting anyone sidetrack you. Impulsive expenditures will cost more than you anticipate. Keep your secrets, essential documents and identification in a safe place. ★★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY: You are talkative, thoughtful and energetic. You are determined and persuasive.

SUNSET Melody, Rosscapili, 2023, acrylic on shaped canvas, engraved plexiglass with stainless sphere, 48”x48”

QUIETUDE XVI, Rico Lascano, 2024, mixed media on canvas, 48”x60”

Show BusinessMirror

when top stars are visible

neW YORK Jennifer Lopez has canceled her 2024 north American tour, representatives for Live nation confirmed to The Associated Press.

“Jennifer is taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends,” they said in a statement.

The tour was to be her first in five years, in support of her first solo album in a decade, This Is Me...Now and its companion film.

The tour was scheduled to kick off on June 26 in Orlando, Florida, and conclude in Houston on August 31. Live nation shared that attendees who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.

Lopez offered her own statement to fans on her OntheJLo website and newsletter, writing, “i am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary.”

She continued: “i promise i will make it up to you and we will all be together again. i love you all so much. Until next time…”

This Is Me...Now was released early this year, 20 years after her hit album, This Is Me...Then. Lopez told the AP that the new album was a “miracle” and “a second chance. And i’d love to capture this moment in time the way that album captured that moment in time.” AP

THRee of the biggest and brightest stars of Philippine entertainment have their hands full with work these days. And that simply means that there are more jobs for everyone in the industry.

After many years of absence, Piolo Pascual will be back on free TV soon, by way of the drama series

Pamilya Sagrado, from the highly revered Dreamscape Productions group. “When this project was pitched to me, i immediately felt that it will be something special. So after years of not working on a teleserye, i am finally back!” he shared with us recently.

For many decades now, Pascual has maintained his premium as an actor, and this project will once again proved that his star just keeps on illuminating brighter over the years, as he continues to evolve as an artist and dipping his fingers in production, too.

He added that it also excites him to support two relatively newbies who are getting their biggest acting breaks via Pamilya Sagrado: Kyle echarri and grae Fernandez. “it is a wonderful ensemble cast that i was so very privileged to be given for this new series, and for that i am thankful, and my adrenaline just shoots up every new work day in our Baguio location.”

Joining Pascual in this new series that will air on

Balitanghali, gMA ews’ award-winning TV, further strengthens its commitment to delivering timely and relevant news as it moves to a longer and earlier timeslot.

Anchored by two of the country’s award-winning and seasoned journalists, Connie Sison and Raffy now airs a full hour of the latest and the biggest developing news that tackle topics close to the hearts of Filipinos from Mondays to Joining Connie and Raffy is “Mare, Ano’ng Latest” segment host and entertainment reporter Aubrey Carampel for the hottest showbiz news and lifestyle features.

Balitanghali is Regional , which brings to the fore the

June 17 are Rosanna Roces, John Arcilla, Joel Torre, Tirso Cruz iii, Shaina Magdayao, iana Bernardez, Aiko Melendez, Jeremiah Lisbo, Cristine Reyes and newcomer Ron Angeles, who got close to Pascual when they worked together in the festival movie Mallari

Judy Ann Santos is also working on a new show, the second season of The Bagman, with actor-politician Arjo Atayde in the lead. Atayde’s parents Art Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez are the producers of this new series, intended for a subscription video-on-demand and streaming platform. “I accepted the offer since it will be my first time to play the president of the

Philippines, and the complexities surrounding her character attracted me to accept the offer,” Santos shared. Santos actually wrapped up work last year for another series, titled Call My Manager, a local adaptation to the very succesful Call My Agent which originated in France before it was adapted in other countries. The local version is directed by erik Matti, and it also stars gina Alajar and edu Manzano.

Marian Rivera has decided to try the indie route this year, agreeing to star in the Cinemalaya festival entry Balota. Her mother studio, gMA Films, has thrown in its full support to finance the movie, about a public school teacher assigned to a polling station during elections, and how she stood her ground to defend the truth.

Many years ago, Rivera made a special appearance in another Cinemalaya movie topbilled by Vilma Santos, but this is her first full feature for the festival where she plays the lead character.

“Work has started because the festival happens in two months, and i am just so excited to be working on a truly meaningful indie movie,” she said.

When the country’s top stars are busy and visible, it just means that the industry is back to being bright again. n

most relevant and timely stories from the different regions in the country. Hosting this segment are veteran broadcast journalists Cris Zuñiga of GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon, Cecille Quibod-Castro of GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, and Sarah Hilomen-Velasco of GMA Regional TV

One Mindanao

Connie Sison underscores Balitanghali’s public service for almost two decades: “Halos 19 na taon na po ninyong kasalo sa balitaan ang Balitanghali. Asahan po ninyong tuloy ang pagsisikap namin na maihatid sa inyo, aming loyal viewers, ang lahat ng importanteng pangyayari saan mang sulok ng mundo, katuwang ang buong puwersa ng gMA integrated news.”

“With the integration of Regional TV News in Balitanghali, viewers can expect reports on local issues and stories that directly impact communities across the Philippines. This is a testament to gMA integrated news’ ‘Mas malaking misyon, mas malawak na paglilingkod sa bayan.’ it underscores our duty to serve

SiSOn (right)

BPI T o hold BPI #Bes TlI feRun Co RP o R a T e Ra C e 2024 I n June

The first-ever exclusive corporate running event in the Philippines is officially happening as the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) is set to host on June 9, 2024 the highly anticipated BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024.

The BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024, in partnership with race organizer RunRio, is a more inclusive expansion of last year’s #BestLifeRun. It aims to promote the value of creating a culture of health and wellness in the workplace and to provide the business community with an exciting and healthy bonding activity for employees.

The event is among the initiatives of BPI Well, the company’s wellness program, and is one of the first sustainability initiatives of BPI as it kicks off the third year of its annual Sustainability Awareness Month.

“We are thrilled to organize the pioneering corporate running event in the country as we mark our Sustainability Awareness Month this June,” said TG Limcaoco, BPI President and C e O. “This event extends beyond running; it also aims to advocate for workplace health and wellness, recognizing its essential role in supporting the well-being

and productivity of all employees.”

Gina e ala, BPI Chief human Resources Officer, added, “The success of #BestLifeRun last year, with a total of 1,502 participants composed of BPI employees and their families, inspired us to turn this into a bigger event that brings companies and individuals together around a shared goal of promoting the importance of holistic well-being. This will also be a great opportunity for companies to gather their employees and reinforce their team camaraderie by running and finishing strong together.”

Run the race with a time goal or simply run it for enjoyment, the BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024 is created to be a friendly race for runners of all levels. It will have two open categories: the 5km and 10km.

Scheduled to unfold in Makati City, the event will kick off from the Ayala Triangle Gardens, winding through the business district. It expects to draw 4,000 participants, consisting of a mix of employees from various companies and non-profit organizations.

With the #BestLifeRun, BPI hopes to inspire thousands of runners to come together

as a community and get better. Participants can expect an exhilarating race experience that goes beyond the track.

To qualify for the BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024, companies and organizations should be registered under the Securities and e xchange Commission. They are required to form a team with a minimum of four members to join the race. They can enter as many employees as they wish if the requirement is met.

Runners are encouraged to wear their company-branded shirt during the race. e ach registered individual will get a loot bag and a bib number with chip. Meanwhile, finishers of 5km and 10km will individually receive a finisher shirt.

BPI will be awarding the company or organization with the fastest finish time determined by adding the time of their first four finishers and the team with the most finishers per category within the cutoff times. Individual male and female with the fastest finish times will also be awarded.

Registration for the BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024 is now ongoing. Companies and organizations can register early and secure their slots for 5km and 10km priced at P1,200 and P1,400 per registrant, respectively.

The event is supported by Nike, Unilab, Monde Nissin, Del Monte Philippines, Century Pacific Food, Inc., Pascual Laboratories, Inc., SGV & Co., and First Gen Corporation. The funds raised from the run will contribute to supporting BPI Foundation’s continuing programs to create a culture of financial wellness.

To know more about the event, interested participants may follow the social media channels of the BPI #BestLifeRun Corporate Race 2024 on Facebook and Instagram. They may also visit to https://www.bpi.com. ph/ bestliferun to register.

Radenta technologies introduces Small, Medium Business Leasing Program

R

a DE nta technologies, one of the county’s leading solutions integrators, has again found a way to support small and medium businesses.

t he company launched its leasing program

“SMB Launchpad: your tech Stack, Simplified” at the 14th Philippine SME Business Expo held recently at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

SMB Launch Pad gives schools, businesses and organizations the tools necessary to thrive without the burden of an upfront cost. the program provides packages of various hardware and software.   the Secure g rowth Suite is designed for above 100 users. this comes with a brand-new laptop with a choice of a standard Windows laptop, i5 windows machine or a MacBook.

t he software combination includes Microsoft 365 that gives access to top rated productivity tools Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for seamless collaboration and document management; Microsoft

Defender Endpoint 1 for antivirus and anti-malware protection; HEMP Payroll System that simplifies payroll processing and ensures on time payments to employees; and acronis Backup Software that gives automatic backups to business data.

Power Up Suite is created for 51 to 100 users. t has all the offerings mentioned above except for acronis Backup Software. the g ear Up and g o Bundle, ideal for 1 to 50 users, comes with the same inclusions except for the HEMP Payroll System and a cronis Backup Software.

the leasing period starts from six months to three years and is renewable and upgradeable.  a s an introductory promotion, the g ear Up and g o Bundle starts at P8,888.88 a month that includes one laptop, Microsoft 356 and Microsoft Defender.

Learn how to grow your enterprise within your budget. Call Radenta technologies at 0908-8124898; email info@radenta.com or log in to www. radenta.com.

retailer MR.D iy joined forces with World Vision i nternational to empower youth through the Brigada Pagbasa Program, held at the Baseco Compound in Manila, last a pril 20, 2024.

a s an integral part of MR.D iy ’s overarching corporate social responsibility program, a cts of Kindness (aOK), the partnership with World Vision recognizes the importance of education in providing a brighter future for children, rooted in one of aOK’s core pillars of youth and Education. a total of 34 students from g rades 4 to 7 from the Sen. Benigno aquino Elementary School participated in the program aimed at improving their literacy skills. Currently, these students are on track to undergo a post-test to assess their progress as they finish all 16 sessions of the Brigada Pagbasa Program. Charles Salecina, Deputy Head of Marketing for MR.D iy Philippines, reiterated the company’s dedication to youth education.

He emphasized education’s lasting importance as an invaluable gift and pledged MR.D iy ’s readiness to improve students’ understanding abilities. He also

stressed the importance of reading as a fundamental skill for their future.

Brigada Pagbasa, initiated by the Department of Education, is an after-school reading intervention platform that partners with community stakeholders to improve students’ reading skills. i t assesses reading readiness and comprehension levels using the Lit DaPat tool, enabling targeted interventions to address specific learning needs. this collaborative effort between Mr. D iy World Vision, and DepEd’s Brigada Pagbasa serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating the transformative power of community partnerships in building a brighter future for generations to come.

BDO Foundation, PMaP host webinar series on financial literacy

Staying true to its mission of expanding the reach of financial education initiatives nationwide, BDO Foundation, together with the People Management a ssociation of the Philippines (PM a P) and Empower and transform Philippines, hosted a four-part webinar series tackling fundamental finance knowledge for human resource professionals. the webinar series aimed to provide a focused understanding of financial markets, investing principles, and ethical considerations in leading a financially healthy life and equip the target audience with the skills that can be utilized both in their personal and professional endeavors. this program is aligned with our goal to promote financial inclusion among various sectors. We stand with PMa P in honing a globally competitive workforce and fostering a financially healthy community with the goal to positively impact our nation-building initiatives,” shares BDO Foundation trustee and BDO Human Resources g roup Head Evelyn Salagubang. a big part of BDO Foundation’s mission is maintaining a sustainable approach to financial

education that resonates best with a chosen sector and demographic. “ t his significant partnership of PM a P and BDO Foundation allows us to spread awareness of financial literacy to yet another important sector in our county, the HR professionals representing different industries. Here at BDO Foundation, we always welcome organizations that are committed to a shared advocacy of educating communities with the right financial knowledge that can be applied in one’s daily life,” said BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito.

Conducted by Empower and transform Philippines President and CEO Salve Duplito, the webinar series touched on financial topics ranging from basic saving know-hows for the day-to-day, financial planning for long-term goals, and behavioral economics for productivity in corporations.

Over 900 participants (via Zoom) from different industries across the country attended the webinar series. the learning sessions were also posted on the official Facebook page of PMa P for interested audiences.

BDO Foundation President Mario Deriquito and Empower and Transform President and CEO Salve Duplito (center) accept certificates of appreciation from PMAP.

MYDEE DAviD, MR.Di Y Philippines’ Head of HR, delivers her remarks for the volunteers and participants of the Brigada Pagbasa program.

Why UK’s richest plumber regrets selling out to KKR

By Sabah Meddings & Michael Sasso

CHARLIE MULLINS’ father worked in a toy-car factory. His mother cleaned homes. Today, Mullins has a £10 million London penthouse with a view of the Thames. “Tom Jones lives there, if you can believe it,” he says, pointing to the flat above him, where the Welsh singer is a neighbor.

Mullins can credit his dazzling rise to the unlikely intersection of high finance and blue-collar labor. Over four decades he built a successful plumbing business that eventually employed his children and grandchildren. At the end of 2021, he sold his company, Pimlico Plumbers Ltd., to Wall Street giant KKR & Co. for £140 million ($178 million). KKR and other private equity firms are looking to snap up thousands of family-owned outfits in the US and Europe that ply the homeservices trades—plumbing, electrical, air conditioning and heating, landscaping and pest control.

Investors are seeking a lucrative payoff in consolidating, or rolling up, a fragmented industry with $657 billion in annual revenue in the US alone, according to a 2022 report by Angi Inc., which matches homeowners with service companies. The report found that sales have been growing at a 10 percent or more annual clip recently as the huge generation of millennials start buying their own places, owners shift away from do-it-yourself and people stay in their homes longer because they don’t want to lose a low-rate mortgage.

Since 2014 investment firms have pumped more than $31 billion into hundreds of acquisitions of home-services companies, according to industry tracker PitchBook Data Inc.

The KKR-controlled company that bought Mullins’ business is called Neighborly Co. Based in Waco, Texas, it’s acquired similar, often decades-old homeservices companies in the US, the UK, Germany, Austria, Portugal and Ireland. “This is one of the hottest areas for private equity that we’ve seen,” says Sean Levy, a lead partner with Ernst & Young LLP’s EY-Parthenon private equity practice.

Before turning to plumbers and electricians, PE firms have bought up outfits in industries from supermarkets to hotels to hospitals, looking to cut costs, boost growth and, when successful, resell the company for many times their cost. Sensing healthy businesses ripe for modernizing, PE firms are paying top dollar for plumbing and other home- services companies: In a typical deal, they’ll offer $50 million for a family outfit with $5 million in cash flow, or profit before interest, taxes and other noncash items, according to Fred Silberstein, a Floridabased mergers and acquisitions specialist in the home trades. “PE has created an exit for these guys,” he says. In the UK, Mullins has become a celebrity. With a spiky bleachedblond hairstyle that gives him a resemblance to the pop star Rod Stewart, he often appears on television, espousing conservative politics in his cockney accent.

London newspapers like to call him the “UK’s richest plumber.”

Photos of him with the politicians Boris Johnson, David Cameron and Nigel Farage cover the walls of his penthouse, near a portrait of Winston Churchill and a £180,000 custom-made red Steinway piano.

By selling his Pimlico Plumbers, Mullins, 71, was able to afford to buy his four children mansions scattered across an upmarket estate in Kent, southeast of London. “It’s everyone’s dream to help your family,” he says.

But after stepping back from operations once the deal completed, he now regrets selling. Pimlico’s sales declined after the acquisition, and a son and grandson quit the company in frustration. Mullins says he hears complaints about service from customers who still think he’s in charge. “They’re running it the American way, and that ain’t the way to run a British company, which is on a personal basis,” he says. KKR and Neighborly declined requests for comment. Eager for their children to succeed them, owners of other home-services companies are resisting buyouts, often because they worry their organizations will lose the personal touch. These trades are among the last where people without a college degree can find a high-paying job. In the US, the top 10 percent of plumbers and electricians earn more than $100,000 a year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Managers, as well as company owners, can earn far more.

PE firms are trying to keep existing founders in place and preserve their companies’ cultures, because workers in sought-after trades can always go elsewhere, Levy says. “There’s also some pretty fundamental differences in practices around what it looks like for a sleepy family-owned mom and pop versus a private equity-owned machine.”

In suburban Atlanta, veteran plumber Jay Cunningham turned down a $60 million offer for his company, Superior Plumbing Services Inc. A fixture in town that once starred in his own commercials, he’s known for going to Hawks basketball games with former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, a close friend.

Cunningham employs five of his eight grown children and wonders what would happen after he cashed a PE firm’s multimillion-dollar check. “I’m not sure where the money’s going to come from, but if they are going to turn people into millionaires, it’s got to come from somewhere,” says Cunningham, 62. “It’ll be either the customer or the guys in the field.”

Cunningham says he’s spoken to former rivals who’ve sold out

and complained of losing control, despite retaining a stake and holding a managerial position, and then facing pressure to cut costs. “Where is the fat that they’re buying?” Cunningham asks. “Is the fat here in the office? You know, my general manager gets paid $500,000 a year. Would they cut him?”

As anyone who’s remodeled a home can tell you, plumbers and electricians can be hard to find and uneven in quality and service. Getting a phone call answered or navigating a clunky website can be as challenging as finding an affordable home in “move-in condition.” In a survey of state regulatory agencies released last year, the Consumer Federation of America found that home-improvement repairs and contractors ranked No. 2 in complaints, after auto repair shops and dealers.

The Wall Street-controlled companies say they’re

professionalizing these businesses while preserving their connection with customers. “Hi Neighbor. Need a helping hand around the house?” Neighborly asks on its website. Deeppocketed investors can help establish technology such as apps to book appointments online and centralize costs including payroll and customer service.

Neighborly’s 5,500 franchises, with names like Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Dry Vent Wizard and Mosquito Joe, reported $4.1 billion in sales last year. One of its rivals, Sarasota, Florida-based Wrench Group LLC reports $1.5 billion in annual revenue from companies such as Parker & Sons in Arizona and Buckeye Heating, Cooling & Plumbing in Ohio.

Its PE backers include Leonard Green & Partners, TSG Consumer Partners and Oak Hill Capital Partners.

In the 1990s, companies— including Memphis-based

In September, as soon as his noncompete agreement expires, he’ll start operating another plumbing company, which he’ll call WeFix. “If you start a business like I did from just a van and a bag of tools, and then you build it into a £50 million turnover, and you cashed out on it, that’s the ultimate in business,” he says. And he’s already heightening the challenge. WeFix will open in a building in an industrial quarter of London’s Lambeth just a few hundred yards from the headquarters of the company he sold to KKR.

American Residential Services and Blue Dot Services, a unit of South Dakota-based utility NorthWestern Energy Group— also tried to roll up the industry. By the early 2000s, those same owners were either unloading their acquisitions or selling themselves.

Early investors ditched local brand names, added over centralized customer service and failed to share the wealth with managers, according to Jaime DiDomenico, a 42-year veteran of the HVAC business. “They saw an easy path to dominating a fragmented industry, and when they got into it, they saw how difficult it was to standardize,” he says.

Corporate owners in the current generation maintain they’re taking a different approach, in part by keeping long-time executives in place. DiDomenico bought a company from Blue Dot in Sarasota, renamed it Cool Today and later sold it to Wrench, where he’s vice president of business development.

Ken Haines sold his company, Coolray Cooling, Heating, Plumbing & Electrical in Marietta, Georgia, to Wrench before becoming the parent company’s chief executive officer. By investing in technology, the bigger company lets even successful home-services business grow far faster, Haines says: “How do we pour jet fuel on an already raging fire? How do we get a larger share of customer homes? That’s what we’re focusing on.”

In Charlotte, home-services company Morris-Jenkins Co. was already upgrading its customer portal when it sold out to Wrench in 2021. With the new financial horsepower, it’s “Uberizing” its customer service, according to Morris-Jenkins’ CEO, Jonathan Bancroft. “You’ll be able to go onto our portal as a customer and be able to pick the technician,” he says. “And if you want them there at 3:07 p.m., we’ll be there at 3:07 p.m.”

Growing up in north London’s gritty Camden Town in the 1950s and ’60s, Mullins shared a single bedroom with his parents and three brothers. He recalls attending school with holes in his clothes and going to bed hungry. When he was 9 years old, a local plumber’s motorbike caught his eye. He began skipping school to help for a bit of pocket money and egg and chips in the evening. He saw how the plumber went on holidays and had cash and a car. Mullins left school at 15 and began a plumbing apprenticeship.

In 1979 he founded Pimlico Plumbers in a basement apartment in London’s Pimlico neighborhood. He sought to improve the industry’s reputation: no more failing to show up, no more scruffy clothes and dirty vans. So its services could be available 24 hours a day, Pimlico also charged more than its competitors, about £120 for a weekday visit just before the sale and more on weekends. “Even on Christmas Day we’d have staff working there,” he says.

Soon, his trademark blue vans—recognizable for their themed license plates, such as “DRA 1N,” “W4 TER” and “BOG 2” (UK slang for toilet)—were spotted everywhere across central London. In the year ended May 2021, Pimlico reported £49.2 million in revenue and distributed £3.2 million in dividends to Mullins, according to a government filing. Mullins had some controversial labor policies. He

forbade workers from using the Internet or smart phones at the office, saying their personal lives shouldn’t distract from their work. He also provided no vacation or sick pay for plumbers, saying they were selfemployed. One plumber sued, winning in 2022 when the UK’s Supreme Court ruled he was indeed an employee. (Mullins said the judges had ratified an outdated law.)

He’s also been known for making offensive comments. Even after Mullins sold Pimlico, the new owners felt a need to distance themselves after he said “someone should kill” London Mayor Sadiq Khan over his car pollution policy. On the same day, he also said it was time to “dump the Muslim mayor.” Mullins later apologized in statements to news outlets. Online write-ups of Pimlico after the buyout are mixed. On Trustpilot, a customer-review website, Michaela Tagg said a Pimlico plumber left a hole in her ceiling and hit her with a £3,000 bill, then referred her to a debt collector when she disputed it. “I assumed with Pimlico Plumbers having the long history they do and with the higher hourly rate, they would be a trustworthy company to deal with,” she said in an interview. In an email, Pimlico says it conducted a thorough investigation of the complaint. In another review, on Google, however, Stephen James praised the company’s prompt and professional service, calling Pimlico “well worth the money.” (He couldn’t be reached for comment.)

Mullins’ son Scott, who succeeded him as CEO in 2019, was initially going to stay on to run the business and retain a 10 percent stake. But weeks after the takeover was finalized, he resigned and sold his interest. He says the new owners were too focused on saving money, making the job unduly stressful. He was particularly angry that they canceled an annual Christmas boating party on the Thames and considered eliminating the distinctive license plates. “The way we did it was right, because we wanted everybody to feel part of the business,” he says. Ashley, Mullins’ 27-year-old grandson, also quit shortly after the sale. He says the company now prioritizes internal meetings over dealing with customers. “It was dreadful,” he says. After the acquisition, annual revenue declined 11 percent in 2022, to £44.8 million (after adjusting 2021 for a change in fiscal year), according to a government filing. The company said fewer people pursued home improvements after the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Pimlico also cut its staff from 173 to 149. Mullins senses weakness—and opportunity. “There’s a massive opening in the market,” he says. In September, as soon as his noncompete agreement expires, he’ll start operating another plumbing company, which he’ll call WeFix. “If you start a business like I did from just a van and a bag of tools, and then you build it into a £50 million turnover, and you cashed out on it, that’s the ultimate in business,” he says. And he’s already heightening the challenge. WeFix will open in a building in an industrial quarter of London’s Lambeth just a few hundred yards from the headquarters of the company he sold to KKR.

CHARLIE MULLINS BLOOMBERG

ICTSI salutes Saso!

THE International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) congratulated Yuka Saso on her incredible victory at the US Women’s Open.

“Her extraordinary talent, dedication and perseverance have led to this achievement,” the ICTSI said in a statement Monday. “We couldn’t be prouder.”

“Yuka’s second championship win is an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere,” the ICTSI sai. “Coming in from behind, she never lost focus and determination, instead staying true to her routine and playing her game that ultimately led to a magnificent finish.”

“Exhibiting as well her love for the game, Yuka embodies the true spirit of a champion,” the company, the country’s top supporter for golf, added.

A long-time supporter of Saso, ICTSI has always believed in her potential and commitment to excellence.

“Her success reaffirms our dedication to fostering outstanding talent in sports—a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and the unwavering support of those who believe in her.

“We are honored to be part of Yuka Saso’s journey and look forward to celebrating more of her talent and her triumphs,” the company said.

Yuka just couldn’t be prouder

Sports

BusinessMirror

LANCASTER, Pennsylvania—The first Filipina to win the US Women’s Open, and now the first from Japan.

Sweetest of all for Yuka Saso was sharing the biggest prize in her sport with countries of both her parents.

Saso delivered a masterpiece on the back nine at tough Lancaster Country Club on Sunday amid collapses from so many contenders. She closed with a two-under 68— the four players in the last two groups combined to go 22-over par—for a three-shot victory. And then she held back tears at the trophy presentation—the silver Semple Trophy has only the names of the 79 winners, not their countries—as she thought about how much her Filipina mother and

Stop Constantino, watch out for Rho

as Lakewood championships

HARMIE CONSTANTINO is out to pursue a record-setting victory on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) amid a field bolstered by a former star player as the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Lakewood Championship kicks off Tuesday in Cabanatuan City.

Hyun Ho Rho, meanwhile, has gone the extra mile to sharpen his skills and boost his confidence in the days leading up to the men’s P2.5 million tournament that also Tuesday with the 19-year-old Korean aiming for a top finish after narrowly missing out on a championship at the recent Philippine Masters, where he led in the final round but was overtaken by veteran Angelo Que in the stretch. Constantino, along with several professionals, participated in Tuesday’s pro-am and gained valuable insights into tackling the Lakewood Golf and Country Club. The course is relatively flat but challenging layout is made more daunting by 16 interconnected man-made lakes serving as water hazards.

Brimming with confidence from a streak of victories at Palos Verdes, Caliraya Springs and most recently, at the Philippine Masters, the former national champion aims to start strong against

Subic IM boils down to tough mental preps

IT has gone down to mental preparations for athletes a week ahead of the Century Tuna Ironman (IM) Philippines and IM 70.3 Subic Bay. The race is headlined by a diverse field of athletes of varying strength in the full-distance of 3.8-km swim, 180km bike and 42.2-km run and half Ironman of 1.9-km swim, 90-km bike and 21.1-km run.

“We’ve maintained the two-loop swim course but have made some adjustments,” race director Neville Manaois said. Lane lines have been removed and replaced with color-coded buoys marking the route every 50 meters— yellow for outbound, red for turning points and orange for guide back. The bike course is divided into two parts—the first starting at SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) is a two-loop (45-km) segment covering a total of 90 kms and second another 90 kms ride—requiring athletes to complete six loops in Subic Bay. The section leads participants through Argonaut, NCT road and San Bernardo Road and given the multiloop course, athletes are recommended to use GPS devices to track their distance and laps. Organizers will provide hydration, food and access to personal need bags. The run stage remains unchanged from last year featuring a rolling, fast route with the four-loop course including aid stations for hydration, food and medical services. Lap bands are provided to help athletes oriented during the race.

unwrap

Constantino is also eyeing her 10th career victory since launching her professional career with two victories at Eagle Ridge during the pandemic.

Hot on her heels is Princess Superal, who is coming off a stint on the Step Up Tour in Japan. The 2022 Asia Pacific Cup champion hopes to put it all together this week in an attempt to break Constantino’s run and regain her winning ways in the circuit she used to dominate.

“I think there’s still a lot I need to improve in my game. I gained many insights from Japan, which I worked on last week,” said Superal, who reigned in the early stages of the circuit put up by ICTSI before embarking on her overseas campaign.

“I feel good about this week. I gained a lot of confidence after my game at the Masters,” said Rho, who trained at various courses before arriving here. “I’ve been playing a lot and enjoying.”

While Que will not be competing for another championship, a slew of formidable challengers are prepared for a four-day battle of wits and character on a championship course hosting a tournament of this magnitude for the first time.

uesday, June 4, 2024

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

Japanese father have provided so much care and support.

She won at The Olympic Club in 2021 playing under the flag of the Philippines. She won at Lancaster three years later under the flag of Japan.

She couldn’t be prouder of both.

“Winning in 2021, I represented the Philippines. I feel like I was able to give back to my mom,” Saso said. “This year I was able to represent Japan, and I think I was able to give back to my dad. I’m very happy that I was able to do it.

“It’s just a wonderful feeling that I was able to give back to my parents in the same way.”

Only the flag changed. The 22-yearold Saso was just as rock-solid down the stretch as she was at Olympic Club, where two late birdies got her into a playoff she won over Nasa Hataoka.

This time, she rode four birdies over a five-hole stretch on the back nine with a collection of clutch moments with tee shots and putts, wedges and long irons, everything the hardest test in gold demands. And no one could catch her.

Saso got up-and-down for par from short of the 18th green to finish at 4-under 276, winning by three shots over Hinako Shibuno, who in 2019 became the first Japanese player to capture the Women’s British Open. They were the only two players under par, the fewest for the Women’s Open in 10 years. Saso, who has two titles on the Japan Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) before coming to America, joined Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun as the only players to make their first two LPGA victories major championships.

This also was her first win since Olympic Club, a victory so surprising she said she wasn’t ready for the spotlight. She handled everything Lancaster and the Women’s Open threw her way.

“I really wanted it, as well—not just to get a second win but also to prove something to myself,” Saso said. “I haven’t won in three years. I definitely had a little doubt if I can win again or if I won’t win again. But yeah, I think

PBA enjoys heightened viewership

THE Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) heads to the Philippine Cup Finals buoyed by soaring numbers drawn from new carrier RPTV Channel 9 on top of the figures representing viewers on the league’s other platforms.

“We are very grateful that our viewers continue to patronize the league,” PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said on Monday during the pre-Finals press conference among the San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts at the Crown Hotel in Ortigas.

THE protagonists in the Philippine Cup Finals with Commissioner Willie Marcial and governors Robert Non (San Miguel Beer) and Atty. Bill Pamintuana (Meralco) during Monday’s press conference ahead of the series with Game 1 of the race-to-four championship set 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

COURTESY RUDY ESPERAS

“And those figures are besides social media and other cable networks,” he said.

“This touches our hearts and this will definitely inspire us all the more to bring the best games possible especially as we near the league’s 50th season,” he added. Marcial thanked the PBA fans after receiving reports of an average of 1.2 million reached every game in its initial months of broadcast by RPTV.

those experiences helped a lot, and I think I was able to prove a little bit something to myself.”

Andrea Lee, part of a three-way tie for the lead at the start of this wild day, was the last player who had a chance to catch Saso. But the Stanford alum, a former No. 1 amateur, badly missed her tee shot on the easy 16th and had to settle for par, then took bogey on the 17th. Lee took one last bogey on the 18th for a 75 to tie for third with Ally Ewing

drew a

Then add the millions more attracted by the games on

of

and 2.6% on  PHINTAM,

at 3.9% or

2.8 million viewers towards the end of the

quarter while the just concluded Game 7 eventually won by Meralco drew 2.4 million viewers. Starting to broadcast the PBA games just early this year, RPTV drew the highest rating from the March 10 game pitting Barangay Ginebra versus Phoenix Super LPG. The Kings spilled the Fuel Masters, 102-92, in that contest.

Nothing less than gold in Paris–Vargas

BBy Josef Ramos

ANGKOK—With five boxers qualifying for Paris—the most for the Philippines in Olympic boxing—Ricky Vargas has set his goal to nothing less than a gold medal.

“We’re hoping to up the ante in the Olympics and bring back home a gold medal for the Filipinos,” Vargas told BusinessMirror after Hergie Bacyadan got her ticket to Paris on Sunday in the Boxing Road to Paris World Olympic Qualification Tournament.

Vargas, chairman of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), joined Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and secretary-general Atty. Wharton Chan in Bangkok to cheer the Filipino boxers in the last-chance tournament for Paris. They were later joined by ABAP president Deputy House Speaker Robbie Puno and wife Chiqui Roa in the qualifiers where Tokyo Olympics flyweight silver medalist Carlo Paalam got qualified this time in men’s featherweight.

“We’ll give it all and there’s no turning back. They deserve all the support they need,” said Vargas, who acknowledged the full support the

boxers are getting from the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation.

“We have a nutritionist, a therapist, masseurs in our camp and the whole of the hospital chain of the MVP group is behind these boxers so we will take care of them,” he said. “We will fight in the Olympics.”

Paalam and Bacyadan were relentless in their campaign at the Indoor Stadium Huamark— Paalam toppled five opponents and middleweight Bacyadan three rivals— almost convincingly.

It was a major turnaround for both boxers who bombed out of the first world Olympic qualifiers last March in Bustos Arsizio, Italy. Vargas said it’s also his fervent dream to win that elusive boxing gold medal.

“We got two silvers [Petecio and Paalam] and one bronze [Eumir Felix Marcial] in Tokyo, the most by any national sports association in Tokyo,” Vargas said. “This time, I’m hoping we can get a gold in Paris.”

“Ten boxers attempted in two world qualifiers, and one continental qualification, we got five so 50 percent,” he said. “It’s good we gave the young ones the opportunity to experience, and who knows they might be there in Los Angeles [2028].”

Flyweight Aira Villegas is the fifth boxer to qualify for Paris.

Mindanao Peace Games on in Iligan

LOSE to 700 female studentathletes from 15 universities gathered at the Iligan Medical Center College (IMCC) covered court for the return of the Mindanao Peace Games (MPG).

Iligan City is hosting the MPG’s comeback with the theme “Kalaro. Kaibigan. Kasama.” and featuring competitions in basketball, volleyball, football, badminton, table tennis, obstacle

through sports.

“The PSC is fully committed to bring sports to every corner of the country to raise every citizens’ awareness in health and physical wellness,” Bachman said.

“The active participation of every Mindanaoan in this showpiece reflects the long and lasting harmony every citizen fought for.” Coo acknowledged the organizers who worked to bring the five-day games back in the country’s sports calendar.

“To all the participants, I salute your passion for sports. Your participation in this tournament is a powerful statement— challenging stereotypes, breaking barriers, and empowering women in sports,” Coo said. The

by

ASSOCIATION of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines chairman Ricky Vargas and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino congratulate Hergie Bacyadan.

THE medalists in badminton led by champion team Palawan State University, runner-up Saturnino Urios University and third-placer Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology.

Mikha Fortuna and Pamela Mariano in the 8:20 a.m. flight on the first hole.

YUKA SASO wins another US Women’s Open this time it’s for Japan. AP