BusinessMirror March 10, 2023

Manufacturing grows 10.6% in Jan

THE country’s manufacturing output posted growth of 10.6 percent in January 2023, the highest in 10 months, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

On Thursday, PSA said data from the Production Index and Net Sales Index showed the growth of Volume of Production Index (VoPI) in January was the highest since March 2022 when it grew 326.1 percent.

Based on the data, the January 2023 VoPI slowed compared to the 10.9 percent posted in January last year,

but was faster than the 4.2 percent posted in December 2022.

“[The VoPI is] back to double-digit growth in the manufacturing volume production largely brought about by the fact that the economy further reopened towards greater normalcy, with no large lockdowns so far in 2022 and no lockdowns going forward as a priority of the administration,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort.

The data showed three industry divisions that con -

tributed to the growth of VoPI in January 2023, led by food manufacturing which grew 17.3 percent.

The two other sectors were the manufacture of transportation equipment grew 24.3 percent and electrical equipment, 53.6 percent. Based on responding establishments, the PSA said the average capacity utilization rate for the manufacturing sector in January 2023 was reported at 72.6 percent from 71.5 percent in the previous month.

See “manufacturing,” A2

BesT dIPLOMaT

Rotary Club of Manila and the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and development bestow the Rotary Club of Manila Carlos P. Romulo Most Outstanding ambassador award on Hon. enrique a. Manalo, secretary of the department of Foreign af fairs. In picture are Jackie Rodriguez, Chairman of the Committee for the Most Outstanding ambassador award, dFa secretary enrique Manalo, Liana Romulo of the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation for Peace and development and Rotary Club of Manila President Herminio s esguerra. BERNARD TESTA

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

OVER

700,000 Filipinos were added to the ranks of the visibly underemployed in January 2023 due to the slowdown of economic activities after the holidays, according to the results of the January Labor Force Survey released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Marketing Communications Manager Meg Hernandez; PR sP V ice President-e x ternal Lady Ochel e spinosa. MARRIOTT HOTELS PHOTO

THE controversial third-party auditor of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, exposed for fraud in a Senate hearing, has been terminated by the State gaming regulator, which also announced eyeing criminal and civil charges against the contractor.

“After careful investigation and in accordance with Republic Act No. 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Act, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation [Pagcor] has issued a Notice to Terminate the Consultancy Contract with Global ComRCI, the third-party auditor for licensed offshore gaming operations,” Pagcor said in a statement on Thursday.

PIlOt-In-chIEF In this handout photo provided by the Malacañang Presidential communications Office, President Ferdinand Marcos jr. rides an Fa-50Ph Philippine military plane during a flight capability demonstration at the clark air base in Pampanga on tuesday, March 7, 2023. MALACAÑANG PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE VIA AP

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“One bright spot for manufacturing would be the continued recovery in Philippine exports to near record highs on a monthly basis in recent months, as this would also help exporters and other export-oriented manufacturing industries,” Ricafort said.

“[This is] in view of the faster economic recovery in the country's biggest export markets such China, Japan, US, and other Asian and European countries, especially those that have massive vaccination towards herd immunity,” he added.

The PSA said almost all industry divisions reported capacity utilization rates of more than 60 percent, except for manufacture of paper and paper products at 56.1 percent.

The top three industry divisions in terms of reported capacity utilization rate were manufacture of wearing apparel at 78.3 percent; manufacture of machinery and equipment except electrical at 77.8 percent; and manufacture of transport equipment, 77.3 percent.

The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity (90 to 100 percent) was 21.1 percent of the total number of responding establishments.

Meanwhile, 39.6 percent operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity, while 39.3 percent operated below 70 percent capacity.

The Production Index and Net Sales Index was formerly the Monthly Integrated Survey of Selected Industries report of the PSA.

The report monitors the production, net sales, inventories, and capacity utilization of selected manufacturing establishments to provide flash indicators on the performance of the manufacturing sector. Cai U. Ordinario

Imee shuns blame for delay in RCEP, rejects Senate coup plot

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

“Again, the concerned Departments were unresponsive” the senator said, prompting her to seek Senate President Zubiri's help to no avail, “at which I immediately told the Senate leadership in January that I would not be able to sponsor the measure without adequate protection for farmers, fisherfolk, MSME's and aggressive measures against smuggling.”

She surmised that “the Office of the President may have overlooked officially referring RCEP [to the Senate] earlier,” but added: “I can hardly be pointed out as the cause of delay.”

Migs: Cha-cha not priority

namin natatapos yung aming legislative agenda, tapos Charter Change pa ang pag-uusapan [We’re being citized for not finishing our legislative agenda, and yet we are expected to take up Charter change]?” he asked, incredulous.

The Senate President expects the “baseless speculations are not likely to fade any time soon,” with the debates “intensive, divisive.”

This, as he also fears a parallel move to lift existing term limits, saying: “Ang mangyayari diyan, baka hindi natin mapigilan na may biglang political amendments na maipapasok, magtanggal ng term limits, o extension ng mga terms.”

“I am so over coups, but must protest this statement regarding RCEP,” Sen. Marcos bemoaned in a reply to reporters’ queries on Thursday.

She was reacting to Zubiri’s remarks on Wednesday, when he dismissed as “fake news” the reports he was supposedly the target of a coup because of the allegedly slow approvals of administration bills in the Senate, notably RCEP.

Marcos noted that Zubiri, in the course of his defense of the chamber’s record under him, had said that “even the delay in the passage of RCEP was due to the lack of support it got from

the main sponsor herself who is the chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations,” a remark that Marcos said was “apparently in reference to me.”

The senator recalled that “before the Office of the President transmitted RCEP to the Senate on November 29, I had conducted a public consultation in September 2022 to urge DA [Department of Agriculture], DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] and BOC [Bureua of Customs] to respond to agriculture and MSME sectors.”

As soon as the official transmittal was made, she recalled convening a hearing in December 2022.

M E ANWHILE , Z ubiri reiterated that senators will not be rushed into tackling Charter change despite its breathtaking speed of approval in the House of R epresentatives.

Zubiri noted the irony that while the supposed “coup” plot against him arises from his leadership’s slow handling of priority bills, the Charter change— which will further derail their legislative work—is being foisted on them. His colleague Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier aired suspicion the “coup” rumor might be tied to efforts to stampede the Senate into Charter change.

“It is not the priority of the President, it is also not our priority,” Zubiri said, ruing they are being criticized without basis.

Binabatikos na nga kami na hindi

Ranks...

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On Thursday, The number of underemployed persons reached 6.65 million in January 2023, an increase of 224,000 from the 6.43 million posted in January 2022. Full story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/03/09/ employment-rises-by-4-09m-in-january-psa/

Based on PSA data, a total of 712,000 Filipinos were added to the ranks of the visibly underemployed, swelling the number to 4.581 million compared to January’s 3.869 million.

“This was expected; because first, the average work hours in a week went down compared to the last quarter of 2022 because, of course the slowdown of activities related to the holidays,” National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said in a briefing, speaking partly in Filipino.

Compared to December 2022, the January data showed that the visibly underemployed increased by 608,000 from the 3.973 million visibly underemployed.

Filipinos who are visibly underemployed are those working less than 40 hours in a week and have expressed the desire to have additional hours of work in their present job or to have additional jobs.

Sectors driving underemployment

M A PA s aid sectors that saw a spike in employment in December 2022 were the ones that contributed to the increase in underemployment in January 2023.

These sectors included 128,00 Filipinos becoming underemployed in agriculture and forestry, followed by 38,000 in the public administration and defense, compulsory security, social security sector.

The data also showed 26,000 Filipinos became underemployed in the accommodation and food services sector; 19,000 in the communication and information sector; and 16,000 in wholesale and retail trade as well as repair of motor vehicles.

“We can see that we have subsectors where employment rose, as well as the working hours during the holiday season; they’re now the ones contributing to underemployment. Perhaps we can surmise that the working hours in these subsectors have since gone down,” Mapa explained. Based on the PSA data, some 34.9

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The agency said it has also endorsed the matter to the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) “for the possible f iling of administrative, civil and criminal cases against Global ComRCI.” Pagcor added it “shall likewise explore all legal remedies available for the restitution of more than P800 million out of the partial amount re leased to Global ComRCI prior to the assumption of the current administration as well as damages it has caused to the Corporation.”

As an alternative, Zubiri suggests: “Let us focus on the job at hand. Post-pandemic recovery, a Senate of national reconstruction. We will continue that agenda. We will continue to be focused on that.”

He reiterated the chamber’s commitment to help “the President in his efforts to sell the country and invite investors here. That’s our number one priority: help our countrymen rise from popverty.”

Zubiri claimed he had “no clue” where the ouster plot is coming from.

“I have no clue. Your guess is as good as mine. But that’s par for the course. It’s part of our territory as leader of the Senate. That also happened to Senate President Sotto, there was a time there were “coup” rumors also. It happened to Senator Koko Pimentel...same with Sen. Frank Drilon.”

percent of employed Filipinos worked less than 40 hours a week in January. This is higher than the 33.9 percent in October and 30.3 percent in January 2022.

The data also showed that 63.4 percent of employed Filipinos worked for more than 40 hours a week in January, lower than the 65.2 percent in October 2022.

The average working hours per week was 39.6 hours in January 2023 for workers and those with their own businesses.

“The latest employment indicators show the robust recovery and growth of our labor market from its slump in January 2022, when the surge in Omicron cases prompted stringent mobility and capacity restrictions,” Neda Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said.

Wanted: Quality jobs

HOW E v E R , w e note that employment created year-on-year were mostly part-time and classified as vulnerable. Thus, it is imperative that labor market policies and programs that directly contribute to labor productivity and employment generation must be prioritized, not only to preserve jobs but also to generate quality jobs,” he added.

The country’s chief economist also emphasized the implementation of the strategies on human capital development outlined in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028.

“High-quality jobs necessitate highly-skilled individuals. We will prioritize the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce to equip them with higher competencies by expanding lifelong learning opportunities,” Balisacan said.

“At the same time, we will ensure that employment opportunities are available and the information accessible,” he added.

Neda cited the PSA report that the country’s unemployment rate in during the same period last year.

The employment rate accelerated to 95.2 percent, which translates to an additional 4.1 million employed persons, on account of employment gains in the services and agriculture sectors in January 2023. This brings total employment to 47.4 million from 43.3 million in January 2022.

Correspondingly, the labor force participation rate rebounded to 64.5 percent, equivalent to 49.7 million Filipinos in the labor force, of which 20.6 million are women.

Since September 2022, the new Pagcor management has been conducting extensive reviews of the agency’s e xisting contracts, among which is with Global ComRCI—a point it repeatedly s tressed in Senate hearings that looked into the operations of Philipppine Offshore G aming Operators (POGOs), for which Pagcor had contracted GlobalComRCI as t hird-party auditor to ensure that it gets the proper sums pertaining to gross revenue receipts.

“Upon careful evaluation, Pagcor has determined the Third-Party Auditor to be IN DEFAULT of its obligations and prima facie evidence to have committed UNLAWFUL ACTS,” Pagcor stressed in a statement sent to media on Thursday.

“Nevertheless, under the principle of due process, Global ComRCI has been given an opportunity to be heard, as mandated by RA No. 9184,” Pagcor added. The agency also reiterated that contrary to previous reports, it has not yet paid the contract amount of P6 billion to Global ComRCI, the amount committed by the previous Pagcor management.

Moreover, no payment has been made by Pagcor in the past four years due to the shortfall from the minimum revenue stipulated in the contract,” according to Pagcor.

D uring hearings conducted by the Senate Ways a nd Means committee assessing the wisdom of allowing POGO operations to c ontinue in the Philippines, panel chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian showed a document sent by an international bank denying it ever issued a c ertification on behalf of Global ComRCI, which had used such “certification” to meet its requirements when it bagged the contract with the old Pagcor management.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla also wrote the S enate, confirming that the global bank was in no position to issue any certification o n behalf of any local entity, as it had no operations nor branch office in the Philippines. Thus, the certification g iven by Global ComRCI, is, on its face, fraudulent.

Meanwhile, having fired its external auditor, Pagcor said it “will temporarily undertake auditing functions f or its offshore licensees until it is able to contract another third-party auditor through a transparent and strict bidding process.”

Pagcor assured the public it “is firm in its commitment to uphold the integrity of the gaming industry in the country so that all revenues from regulated gaming will continue to support the government’s nation-building e fforts and uplift the lives of Filipinos.” Butch Fernandez, Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

SEN. Imee Marcos insists she is not to blame for the delay in the approval of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, as Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri had hinted, even as she categorically declared herself opposed to any coup plot against the Senate leader.

www.businessmirror.com.ph

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Supreme Court (SC) has declared unconstitutional a provision in the 2000-2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between Philippine Airlines Inc. (PAL) and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP) that imposed a compulsory retirement age of 55 for female flight attendants and 60 for male flight attendants.

I n a statement, the SC held Section 144(A) of the 2000-2005 is void for lack of basis, discriminating against women, and being contrary to laws, international convention, and public policy.

T he Court’s ruling reversed and set aside the July 2018 decision of the Court of Appeals (CA), which held that the early retirement of female flight attendants is necessary to ensure the safety of its passengers.

S enior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who penned the decision, emphasized the fundamental equality of women and men before the law, which is enshrined and guaranteed by the Constitution, the Labor Code, the Magna Carta of Women, and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women.

T he Court held that considering the constitutional guarantee of protection to labor and security of tenure, respondent Philippine Airlines Inc. failed to provide a reasonable basis for differentiating the compulsory retirement age based on sex.

I n the CA’s 2018 decision, it pointed out the biological difference between male and female and how it would affect the performance of

their duty to guarantee the safety of their passengers.

It explained that the task of a cabin crew is not limited to serving meals or attending to the whims and caprices of the passengers.

It said the major task of a flight attendant is to look after the safety of passengers and the evacuation of the aircraft during emergencies.

T he CA said airlines need cabin attendants “who have the necessary strength to open emergency doors, the agility to attend to passengers in cramped working conditions, and the stamina to withstand grueling flight schedules” unlike their male counterparts.

However, the Court said PAL failed to prove the said conclusion.

T he Court ruled that petitioners were denied employment opportunity at an age “not young enough to seek for a new job but not old enough to be considered retired.”      This deprived them of benefits attached to employment, such as income and medical benefits, five years earlier than their male counterparts, without any factual basis,” it noted.

A side from being unconstitutional, the Court also found out   that the compulsory retirement provision in Section 144(A) of the agreement was not voluntarily agreed upon by petitioners.

T he case from the petition filed by PAL before the CA seeking the reversal of the decision issued on May 22, 2015 by the Regional Trial Court of Makati City which declared null and void the Section 144 of the 2000-2005 CBA of PAL and FASAP.

T he appellate court granted PAL’s petition and declared that the said provision was valid and binding.

T his prompted FASAP to elevate the case before the SC.

Groups warn of ‘long-term impact’ of Mindoro oil spill catastrophe

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

PARTICIPANTS of an online forum organized by international environmental groups Greenpeace and Oceana Philippines on Thursday expressed grave concern over the “long-term environmental, social, economic, and health impact” of the Mindoro oil spill.

Paul Horsman, Greenpeace Strategic Advisor, said oil spills like the Guimaras oil spill in 2006 and elsewhere around the world, have long-term impacts on the environment, including the biodiversity in affected ecosystems.

Oil spills can sometimes be felt even 30 years after the tragedy, causing irreparable damage to corals, seagrass, and mangroves.

Greenpeace responds to oil spills around the world and has witnessed its long-term impacts.

We are trying to campaign for the phase out of oil, gas and coal,” Horsman said in a pre-recorded video message.

“Oil spills are dangerous to marine life and the environment. We are dealing here with highly toxic material that is normally buried underground,” he explained.

According to Horsman, the chemical makeup of oil cause cancers, direct poisoning, and physical effects on animals. He said in the past, thousands of thousands of birds die as a result of the impact of oil.

“It has a lasting effect on the environment. What you don’t see is the longer effect of an oil spill,” he said, adding that even after cleanups, oil remains in the environment and could hardly be really removed.

prevent them from happening, or if they do, contain them from spreading and prevent them from reaching the shores, he said.

Horsman said the one thing that the government and other stakeholders responding to an oil spill can do is by removing the oil safely. “But you can’t clean it up. You have oily waste that has to be dealt with,” he said.

Where’s the boat?

RAM JOSEPH TEMEÑA , Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) chief of Oriental Mindoro, which is severely affected by the sinking of MV Princess Empress off the shores of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on February 28, said until now, authorities have yet to pinpoint the exact location of the ill-fated vessel.

It was reported to be carrying 800,000 liters of oil that began to ooze out from the sunken vessel and started to spread to coastal towns nearby.

So far, he said out of the 15 municipalities of Oriental Mindoro, nine municipalities are now affected by the oil spill.

“ We have 65 barangays affected. The town of Pola is the worse affected.  We have sightings of oil spill in the shoreline already. Eleven barangays reported that the oil spill reached the shores already,” Temeña said.

He added that fisherfolk from the province’s 111 barangays in the affected towns are also affected as they are prevented from fishing activities.

So far, Temeña said, a total of 19,556 families in Oriental Mindoro alone are affected and belong to coastal communities from the towns of Naujan all the way to Bulalakaw.

post in Pola to help the town manage the disaster situation. Right now, the sea condition is preventing us from reaching affected barangays. Some are barangays not reachable as they are accessible only by small boats and single motorcycles,” he said.

Temeña said the sea conditions remain “bad” preventing the PDRRMO, including the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and other volunteers from conducting oil cleanup operations.

So far, he said a total of 21.5 drums of oil and oil debris were collected in three barangays in Pola.

“ We are really trying to contain this since March 1.  Our governor is hands-on and is working with various agencies, particularly the PCG, which is taking the lead in addressing the disaster,” he said, adding that the DENR is also helping out and is conducting water sampling to collect data from the shorelines.

PCG response

PCG Commodore Fidelles D. Salidao said in response to the oil spill, offshore and onshore cleanup is being conducted.

He said manual scooping is being done onshore to put the oil in containers and bring them to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro for hauling. “We collected mixture, 580 liters of oily water mixtures were collected. Why only that? It is because of the dispersal operation that we are conducting. We spray the spill [with chemical dispersants] to dilute the oil. It will disperse.  Kaya iyon lang ang nakuha natin na oil,” he said in narrating PCG’s onshore response.

by the group, 18,000 fishermen are not able to fish.

He said the impacts are not only with the fisherfolk. The team deployed on the ground reported that the “no-fishing” order affected the economy, including tourism. Around P11 billion in fisheries livelihood is estimated to be lost.

Andres said revenue loss from tourism is also expected. In 2019, he noted that revenue from tourism in the area was P3.5 billion.

He added that as of Wednesday, March 8, 43 people are already suffering from severe headaches and nausea in various parts of the province, and called on the government to look into these health occurrences.

He expressed alarm on key findings from the University of the Philippines-Marine Science institute that around 36,000 hectares of fishing could be affected by the spill. Help CASH aid and food packs, he said, are being released but communities are worried as to until when such help will last.

While an extensive effort should be exerted to contain the oil spill, Andres said it is equally important to address the livelihood, environmental, and health problems brought about by the oil spill, and hold those responsible accountable for the disaster.

Accountability

ATTY. Liza Osorio, Legal and Policy Director at Oceana Philippines reiterated that accountability measures are in place, and government only needs to enforce them.

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

TO encourage citizens’ participation in lawmaking, the Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday launched a digital legislative management system or e-Congress, which seeks to synchronize and integrate the two chambers.

The e-Congress system and e-Congress web portal will not only allow lawmakers to work better and faster but will also give the public better access to what legislators really do.

In his message delivered by Senior Deputy Speaker Gloria MacapagalArroyo, the Speaker said e-Congress represents the “synergy” between the Senate and the House in their common aspiration to digitize their processes, services, and records, and share information.

e-Congress will also provide updates on the status of bills, and resolutions and report legislative undertakings to inform the public and encourage citizen participation,” he said.

T he Speaker said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his first State of the Nation Address in July last year, brought up the need to digitize, harmonize and share government records across departments and agencies.

“ In response to this call, the House of Representatives, along with the Senate, now jointly establish and maintain an integrated and secure digital legislative management system for the Congress of the Philippines,” he said.

Romualdez said that such an effective communications system not only amplifies the capacity of government organizations, ensures greater transparency, and deters corruption but also serves as a mechanism for public information to promote citizen engagement in policy-making.

It is our vision to make e-Congress a key contributor in modern-

izing our core legislative processes towards a people-centered legislative governance and in enhancing our adherence to the democratic principles of transparency, accountability, and responsiveness,” he said.

T he House leader recalled that President Marcos had set out to steer the country from challenges and uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and external shocks towards economic recovery, sustained growth, and social transformation.

He said such challenges highlighted the role of Congress in making relevant, responsive, and timely legislation to meet the administration’s targets and “to raise the quality of public service, particularly lawmaking, representation and oversight functions of the legislative branch of government, ensuring that our laws consistently reflect our values, principles, and aspirations as Filipinos.”

“

To carry out this crucial role, it is imperative that both houses of Congress exercise constant collaboration, coordination, and sharing of information towards people-centered legislative governance,” he said.

T he Speaker said e-Congress would use information and communications technology and other digital means of facilitating the delivery of services.

To ensure the success of the project, he said there would be continuous capacity building to enhance the digital skills of lawmakers, legislative staff, and other stakeholders.

For his part, Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe said while they are separate chambers, both the Senate and House will always be one with the people in the pursuit of a better life.

“ It really feels good that both the House and Senate are coming together—united and committed —to realize this vision of creating a system that would allow the faster exchange of information and fosters greater cooperation among our legislators in both chambers,” he said.

The biggest mistake by government, authorities, and corporations in responding to an oil spill is they undermine or understate the potential impact. The fact is, they will have a long-term impact. The corporations are trying to undermine the oil spill,” Horsman pointed out.

Prevention

WHAT the government and the private sector can do against oil spills is

He added that based on reports received by the PDRRMO, of the total of 29 marine protected areas or MPAs, 13 are already affected, covering a total of 2,743 hectares.

In terms of its health impact, Temeña said 18 persons in the town of Pola have reported suffering from nausea and vomiting, particularly from the Buhay na Tubig, one of the barangays severely affected by the oil spill.

“We have an incident command

ALL types of cancer—the cause of death of four Filipinos everyday—are preventable and treatable owing to medical advances, according to two experts at the Rizal Medical Center (RMC).

M odern medicines and equipment for free treatment of cancer are available locally through the Department of Health (DOH), said Dr. Marigold Ferrolino, RMC head of Oncology Department, and Dr. Antonio Alonzo, radiation oncologist.

D OH has a budget of P1 billion but the amount can only handle and potentially save only 200 individuals to complete the 18-month treatment cycle, said another expert, Dr. Marvin Mendoza, head of the cancer center at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI).

“ We can beat cancer. We can save lives. We can do more if the budget is increased by Congress,” Mendoza said at a recent NKTI event.

In other words, the bigger the budget for treatment, the fewer deaths there will be, he said.

Ferrolino and Alonzo, on the other hand, were interviewed on television recently.

T he most common types of cancer are that of breast, lung and colorectum, while breast cancer alone afflicts 21,000 women each year, Ferrolino said.

each year here and most are preventable if there are more funds to treat, especially the poor patients.

High incidence of detection” explains for the growing incidence of breast cancer, Ferrolino said, adding that it’s now easy to detect it, with the use of machine (mammography) or an expert touch of the breast.

Early detection leads to early prevention,” Ferrolino added.

For treatment, Ferrolino said a doctor may prescribe injection/oral chemotherapy or radiation targeting the tumor/cancerous tissues.

T he beauty of this modern drug is that it doesn’t cause falling hair or balding, Ferrolino said.

A lonzo, for his part, said that RMC utilizes high-tech equipment like the laser accurate X-rays, which have “minimal effects on patients.”

T hese are high-energy X-rays— the gold standard of modern machines—close to an AI (artificial intelligence) or robots to treat cancer patients, Alonzo said.

T he cost of radiation treatment, Alonzo said, is “minimal” at RMC although it ranges from P300,000 to P450,000 in private hospitals.

A lonzo clarified that the risk to a patient being afflicted with cancer because of radiation is “very minimal.”

Ferrolino added that plans are afoot to build a cancer “screening clinic” at RMC premises, which will serve as an all-in-one center.

Offshore, he said four teams from the PCG were deployed in Pola.

“As of reporting, we have collected approximately 16.63 cubic meters of debris. Contaminated absorbent booms and pads are included in the estimated debris. The concentration that is coming out is the target of the operation,” he added.

Ivan Andres, Center for Energy, Ecology and Development coastal communities and climate program lead, said based on reports gathered

She said there are various laws wherein affected communities can seek legal remedy, and demand accountability from the private companies to the government who are responsible for the oil spill.

The owner of the ill fated vessel MT Princess Empress, which until now remains to be unidentified, should shoulder clean up-expenses and consequential loss for the contamination, including income, or earnings, of persons affected, including human health or loss of lives.

HOUSE Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers

Party-list Rep. France Castro called on the Senate and the Office of the President to expedite the passage of the Permanent Evacuation Centers Bill.

We hope that now, Malacañang and the leadership of the Senate will heed our call to expedite the passage of a similar bill and Malacañang should classify the bill as urgent,” said the lawmaker. “ We would have preferred disaster-resilient permanent evacuation centers for every two or three barangays as contained in HB 5152, but this was the one agreed to and it is still a good start. We just hope that the Senate can expedite their version so that this much needed bill can finally be passed and its implementation can still be included in the national budget for 2024,” said Castro.

T he lower chamber has recently approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to establish evacuation centers in every city and municipality in the country to serve as immediate and temporary accommodation for people who have been displaced by disasters, calamities, or other emergency events such as typhoons, floods, and storm surges.

L awmakers approved House Bill 7354 with 307 against one voting.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude A. Acidre are among the principal

authors of the measure. A side from those mentioned above, the evacuation centers may also be used by victims of fire, and the outbreak of illnesses and diseases that present imminent danger to life and property, according to Section 2 of the bill.

T he National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and local executives of provinces, cities, and municipalities are tasked to identify areas to be given the highest priority in the establishment of new evacuation centers.

It shall be the policy of the State to uphold the constitutional right of the people for the protection of their life and property and the promotion of the general welfare. Towards this end, the State shall establish and maintain a safe, fully-equipped, and fully-operational evacuation center, responsive to environmental or climatic events, in recognition of the vulnerability of the Philippines to climate change, and hazards such as the occurrence of severe floods, typhoons, and other natural or human-induced disasters, illnesses, diseases and other factors that affect the environment,” HB 7354 noted.

T he bill also provides that existing structures that can meet the minimum requirements or can be upgraded to effectively serve as evacuation centers may be designated as such according to the needs of the LGU concerned. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Compulsory retirement age for PAL female FAs unconstitutional–SC House and Senate launch e-Congress for wider participation in legislation

Docs push bigger budget to prevent cancer deaths

Rep. Castro presses passage of evacuation centers bill

Friday, March 10, 2023

• Editor: Vittorio V. Vitug

PBBM’s 194 key infra projects worth P9T get Neda Board OK

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

In a statement, Neda Secretary

Arsenio M. Balisacan said the list covers 194 projects, many of which are focused on physical connectivity and water.

T he list includes projects in irrigation, water supply, and flood management as well as digital connectivity, health, power and energy, agriculture, and other infrastructure.

IFPs shall be prioritized under the government’s annual budget preparation and enjoy the benefits of expedited issuance of applicable

permits and licenses consistent with current legal frameworks,” Balisacan said.

B alisacan said in terms of financing, the government will source it from development partners through Official Development Assistance (ODA), the national budget or the General Appropriation Act (GAA), and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

He noted that a total of 45 IFPs would be financed through partnerships with the private sector. Apart

from financing, the government intends to tap the technical resources of the private sector.

T his, Balisacan said, will allow the government to allocate more of its funds for investments in human capital development, health, and education. There will also be more funds to provide targeted assistance to vulnerable sectors in case of economic shocks.

To ensure the quality and timeliness of project execution, the Neda Board designated Neda as the lead agency that will monitor the implementation of the IFPs as part of its program monitoring function pursuant to Executive Order No. 230. The list of IFPs will be posted publicly on the Neda website and social media accounts for your reference,” Balisacan said.

Some of the new projects included in the IFPs, Balisacan said, are the Panay Railway Project, Mindanao Railway Project III, North Long Haul Railway, and San Mateo Railway.

T he list also includes the UPPGH Diliman Project, the Naia or Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Rehabilitation Project, Ilocos Sur Transbasin Project, and the Metro Cebu Expressway. “Recognizing that our country has much work to do to catch up with our dynamic neighbors in the region, we will pursue high-impact initiatives that aim to encourage greater local and foreign investment and privatesector participation in infrastructure development,” Balisacan said.

Apart from the IFPs, Balisacan said the Neda Board approved the amendments to the 2013 Neda Joint Venture (JV) Guidelines.

Balisacan said the amendments aim to ensure that the JV Guidelines are aligned with the provisions of the recently amended Build-OperateTransfer (BOT) law Implementing Rules and Regulations.

T he amendments are also consistent with the proposed amendments to the BOT Law or PPP Act pending in Congress, which are expected to be passed next year.

The amendments aim to enhance competition for projects under joint ventures, ensure better performance of private-sector participants, and im-

prove checks and balances to ensure that the project is technically and financially sound,” Balisacan said.

Initially crafted in 2008 by the Arroyo administration, the JV Guidelines aimed to accommodate requests to partner with the government through other PPP modes.

Former Neda Director General August B. Santos said through JVs, the government may enter into a 5050 venture where the private sector and the government will put in the same amount of equity.

However, in 2013, the guidelines were revised to mandate all JV projects to be evaluated by the interagency Neda Investment Coordination Committee (ICC). Former Neda Director General Cayetano W. Paderanga Jr. initially said the move was done to improve transparency in these projects.

A t that time, under a JV, the government at that time may enter into a partnership with the government on a project where its maximum equity is 49 percent while the private sector will take the remaining 51 percent.

In a press conference in Malacañang also on Thursday, Balisacan disclosed that of the said IFPs, 47 are undergoing project preparations and have pending feasibility studies.

A nother 44 of the said projects are under “pre-project” preparations.  T he feasibility studies are necessary before the IFPs could push through.

T he Neda Board, Balisacan added, had already instructed the Department of Budget and Management to prioritize funding for the said feasibility studies.

“If these are part of ODA [official development assistance] then usually the ODA sources like the World Bank or ADB [Asian Development Bank] that usually comes also with the feasibility study. But for those that are locally funded, we have to produce those feasibility studies,” Balisacan said.

Cu rrently, Balisacan said there are 95 ongoing IFPs, and another eight, which have already secured the necessary government approval and will soon be implemented.

Prevailing commercial palay price may compromise NFA’s rice procurement plan, Bocaue

By Raadee S. Sausa

OMMERCIAL palay prices are

way above the National Food

Authority’s (NFA) buying price, an instance that may compromise the agency’s palay procurement program.

Traders at the Intercity Industrial Estate and the Golden City Business Park in Bocaue, Bulacan confirmed that palay prices are currently at an average of at least P23 per kilo depending on quality and variety compared to the NFA’s buying price of P19/kilo for clean and dry palay.

With the price discrepancy of an average of P4/kilo, this translates to at least P200 per 50-kilo sack,

prompting rice farmers to sell their harvest to commercial palay traders instead of delivering their produce to the NFA.

For his part, Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers said, “We noticed that palay prices are on the uptrend, so also with import prices of rice.”

H e also pointed out, “If traders buy from farmers at P23, NFA will definitely not be able to compete

since they are limited to buy at P19 per kilo.”

M ontemayor cited that this is one of the scenarios that the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) did not foresee—where NFA is unable to buy palay for buffer stocks, even as the agency is prohibited from importing.

B eside this, he said, the NFA is being tasked to dispose of its stocks in Kadiwa stores and to pro -

With Samuel P. Medenilla

traders

say

vide rice to the military and other government offices, whereas the RTL states that NFA stocks should be released only during calamities and emergencies.

“

So, we will have a situation where NFA buffer stocks are being depleted for non-emergency purposes and the agency will find it difficult to replenish its stocks because of higher prices offered by traders,” Montemayor added.

DOLE provides emergency jobs to 10K Mindoro residents affected by oil spill

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

AROUND 10,000 residents affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro, are expected to benefit from the emergency employment program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

T his was based from the initial estimate of the department of qualified beneficiaries of their Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers  (TUPAD) program in oil-spill affected areas.

Under TUPAD, beneficiaries are usually given light public works like street sweeping, debris cleaning, and declogging works, which lasts for 10 to 90 days.

Around 10,000 individuals will be [the] expected beneficiaries. Secondary affected families, such as ambulant and market stall fish vendors and employees of MSMEs [micro, small, and medium] beach resorts will also be provided assistance,” Laguesma said.

T he TUPAD beneficiaries will help in the clean up of the oil spill caused by the sinking of MT Princess Empress in the waters off Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro province last February 28.

T he emergency employment will last for 10 to 30 days and its beneficiaries will be given personal protective equipment to ensure their safety while cleaning the oil spill.

L aguesma said they would also provide livelihood aid in the oil spill-affected communities.

DOLE allocated P100 million for the said interventions.

L aguesma said they are now coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to finalize their list of beneficiaries within the week.

DSWD earlier said the oil spill already affected 7,000 families in six municipalities in Oriental Mindoro.

Villafuerte pushes creation of Camarines Sur ecozone

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

ASENIOR lawmaker on Thursday asked two House committees to greenlight the establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) in Camarines Sur, which has been recognized as the country’s most business-friendly province for three consecutive years and is considered one of its top economic performers.

Camarines Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte assured the House committees on economic affairs and on trade and industry during their recent joint hearing that this proposed SEZ—envisioned to be the “center of development” in the Bicol region—has all that it takes to become a major investment hub, given that its ideal features meet the standards of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza) for ecozones.

And in creating jobs in CamSur and the rest of Bicol, Villafuerte said the establishment of the proposed special ecozone would not only boost the region’s

growth and development, but would also encourage Bicolanos to stay put in their home provinces instead of flocking to Metro Manila—thereby helping the national government attain its twin goals of decongesting the National Capital Region (NCR) and stimulating growth in the countryside.

“ There are already existing infrastructure in broadband connectivity, road network, water facilities and standby power supply” at the Provincial Capitol Complex in the capital town of Pili, where the proposed ecozone will be headquartered, said Villafuerte at the recent joint hearing that tackled this proposal for a new ecozone, as contained in House Bill (HB) 3681. Villafuerte, also president of the National Unity Party, said at the joint hearing that he had supported all proposed legislations in the past on the creation of SEZs in various provinces, on the belief that such ecozones, once established, would boost growth and generate jobs, especially outside Metro Manila.

THE National Economic and Development Authority (Neda)

Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., has approved P9 trillion worth of infrastructure flagship projects (IFP) to be undertaken in the medium term.

BARMM enacts electoral code

DAVAO CITY—The Bangsamoro Parliament has unanimously approved its fourth priority code of laws, the Bangsamoro Electoral Code, fulfilling a promise to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to enact the measure in the first quarter of 2023.

P residing Chairman, Deputy Speaker Omar Yasser Sema, banged the gavel at 11:58 p.m. on Wednesday to approve the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Bill No. 29 on third and final reading. The bill is the region’s electoral law that prescribes “the structural, functional, and procedural principles of the elections, referenda, and recall proceedings” in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

T he measure was approved with 64 affirmative votes, zero negative votes, and zero abstentions.

It was earlier approved on second and final reading on the same day despite the three-day rule “because it was certified as urgent by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim,” the information office said. The approved law has been tagged as Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35, or the Bangsamoro Electoral Code of 2023.

C hief Minister Ebrahim and BTA Speaker Pangalian Balindong led the ceremonial signing.

T he information office said the new law has 11 articles consisting of introductory provisions, the Bangsamoro electoral office, regional political parties in the Bangsamoro, elective positions in the Parliament, elections upon dissolution of the Parliament, the voters, election administration, election offenses, legal fees, transitory provisions, and final provisions.

T he electoral law will encourage the formation of genuinely principled political parties in the Bangsamoro region.

Ebrahim said that the members of partliament vowed to establish a government deserving of the name “Bangsamoro” when they took the oath of moral governance at the beginning of the transition period.

POLL watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) welcomed on Thursday the move of the BTA or the Bangsamoro Parliament to pass the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 35 or the landmark Bangsamoro Electoral Code (BEC).

“It is hoped that the Code would pave the way for the success of the BARMM elections in 2025,” Namfrel said.

BEC is the fourth of the six priority codes that the transition government passed since the establishment of BARMM in January 2019.

Manuel T. Cayon and Roderick L. Abad

Negros Occ. cities honored at Berlin travel conference

continued from a12

In a news statement, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said, “ITB Berlin holds great opportunities for the Philippines to showcase to the world its award-winning destinations such as Boracay, Cebu, Siargao, and Palawan, and also to include Banaue, Intramuros, and South Cotabato, among others. We also look forward to giving the world a view into our distinct and diverse culture, as well as the country’s best asset: the warmth and hospitality of the Filipino people.”

The Philippines booth at the ITB Berlin featured the country’s rich culture and sustainable tourism through the artistic works of T’nalak weaver Myrna Pula of South Cotabato and Yakan Weaver and Entrepreneur Angelita Pichay Ilul of Zamboanga. Visitors to the booth also got a taste of Philippine coffee and chocolates through Kape de Filipina, a brand offering products meticulously grown by farmers and communities in the Philippines.

VP Sara Duterte presses Comelec to settle teachers’ poll pay and ensure their safety

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco @claudethmc3

Education

We owe it to them to ensure the safe and credible conduct of vote canvassing. Baka naman, sa amin lang from the Department of Education, mauna ’yung

bayad sa mga teachers namin bago ang election [teachers should be paid first before the election],” Duterte said before Comelec stakeholders at the 2023

National Election Summit at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

Duterte lamented that public school teachers spend long and tedious hours in polling precincts have been requesting for advance and proper compensation.

Of course, bumabyahe sila, kumakain sila, and may gastusin din sila [they are paying for their fare, they eat, and they also need to spend on something] during the days na [that] they are serving the country. Baka lang i-advance [Maybe we can have it in advance], or it can be a consideration, or plan for future elections na mauna ’yung payments or ’yung compensation para sa ating mga teachers [payments should be given first or the compensation for our teachers].”

Ensure safety of teachers

DUTERTE also called on the Comelec

to ensure the safety of the teachers serving during elections.

“ Minsan, ang mga guro ay tinatakot ng mga mga warlord politicians at ginagawang kasangkapan sa kanilang pandaraya [Sometimes the teachers are being threatened by warlord politicians and instrument in fraud],”

Duterte said, adding that these incidents usually happen in remote areas known to be controlled by politicians’ private armies that are hard to fight.

“ Pero kailangan nating ipakita na mas mahirap pong kalaban ang mga taong gobyerno katulad ng mga pulis at mga sundalo because they represent the government. [But we should show that it is more difficult to fight people in the government like police and soldiers because they represent the government],” she said.

D uterte said the electoral process can move to something better than shading or writing on the ballots, suggesting technological processes such as fingerprints, face, and eye scanning to ensure the validity of the people’s votes.

Avenue for discussions

DUTERTE lauded the Comelec for conducting the National Election Summit as an avenue for discussions on improving the electoral process in the country.

“I am truly happy that there is this summit that is led by the Commission on Election to discuss how we can improve this democratic process so that the will of the people is clear, and the choice of the people is the one who is declared the winner,” Duterte said.

DAR’s FVTs will soon reach N. Samar’s hinterlands on two-wheel motorcycles

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

DAR field validation teams (FVT) will be deployed to Northern Samar, and would soon hit the road to reach far-flung areas and remote barangays on two wheels.

T he DAR said it has recently acquired and distributed to its field

personnel 16 brand-new motorcycles —Honda XR150Ls—to expedite the parcelization of collective Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CCLOAs) in the province.

In a statement, DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the bikes would play a crucial role in the conduct of field validation activities, especially in areas where access roads are less conducive for four-wheeled vehicles.

Remulla: Probers weighing Teves role in Degamo slay

continued from a12

What comes out is a pattern. It is a pattern of impunity that we did not sense before. It is something that is so new to us,” he lamented.

“But now that this killing of Gov. Degamo happened, the stories are beginning to make sense that there was a pattern of impunity within the province,” he added.

Remulla said the NBI is looking to expand its investigation into other killings by inviting some individuals who may have information vital in identifying the perpetrators and masterminds.

“This is not just about nine murders; there may be more cases to be investigated, besides even the ones, the three cases, brought by Atty.

[Levito] Baligod  brought here on Tuesday,” the DOJ chief pointed out.

In order to end these killings, Remulla said he and officials of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of the Interior and Lo -

cal Government (DILG) were summoned to Malacañang to discuss the current crisis in the province.

He said DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos were designated to head the interagency task force that will handle the situation.

“Those involved in the handling of this crisis just met together so that we could coordinate with each other. Our conversation was more organizations, and the necessity of putting back the faith of people in the justice system, the peace and order in Negros Oriental so that people will be confident of government. We want things to fall into place properly. We want  things to get back to normal,”  Remulla said.              Murder and illegal possession of firearms and explosives have already been filed against suspects Joven Javier, Benjie Rodriguez, Joric Labrador and Osmundo Rivero.

The Teveses are known political rivals of Degamo.

Taiwanese eye consumer electronics investments

continued from a12

China delegation

IN a separate investment briefing, Peza said it made an investment promotion pitch before a “big delegation” of Chinese investors from the Yiwu China Commodities City.

“The economic cooperation with Yiwu will surely increase investment and trade for the country as we attract Yiwu small commodity manufacturers to set up their production facilities ideally in the ecozones,” the Peza interim chief said.

Under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) regime, Panga said Peza may now register with incentives for the SMEs and manufacturing companies that will locate in the economic zones to cater to the domestic market.

“These ecozone-manufactured

products can be readily made available to the domestic market, which are expected to be cheaper [as compared to imported products] and thus, benefiting the Filipino consumers,” Panga noted.

He added that the entry of these small commodity producers will “stimulate” as well the tourism industry and economy in general with the integration of local SMEs into the ecozone value chain.

According to Peza, the Yiwu China Commodities City (YCCC) is located in Yiwu City, Zhejiang province. With more than 75,000 stores and small commodity producers of 2.1 million items in 26 large-scale business categories, Yiwu market has trade relations with more than 210 countries and regions around the world.  Andrea E. San Juan

E ngr. Jose M. Balberde, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, said the move would address challenges faced by field validation teams, particularly in conducting field investigations under Project SPLIT implementation. He said with the motorcycles available to field personnel, DAR would be able to expedite the distribution of individual land titles to agrarian reform

beneficiaries (ARBs) to strengthen land tenure security towards the improvement of their quality of life.

Far-flung barangays in some municipalities are difficult to reach or access on four-wheeled vehicles and the appropriate mode of transportation is a motorcycle. With the provision of these motorcycles, field personnel, and FVTs can easily access these areas, especially in the conduct of field validation.

T he 16 newly delivered motorcycles are part of the 820 units that the Department had procured at an aggregate cost of P123 million.

Project SPLIT is a World Bank-funded project of DAR. This project aims to improve the security of tenure and strengthen the property rights of the ARBs through the subdivision of collective Certificate of Land Ownership Awards or CCLOAs into individual titles.

VICE President and

Secretary Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday proposed to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the payment of teachers in advance before they are mandated to carry on with their poll duties.

Xi calls for more military innovation as China’s defense budget increases

CHINESE leader Xi Jinping called on the military to make breakthroughs in securing technological advantages amid “international competition,” underscoring Beijing’s efforts to counter US efforts to cut it off from key advanced semiconductors.

China must speed up its push for high-tech independence and improve supply-chain resilience, Xi told a gathering of military delegates to the National People’s Congress on Wednesday, state media said. The president also called for efforts to “systematically upgrade the country’s overall strength to cope with strategic risks, safeguard strategic interests and realize strategic objectives.”

Xi, who leads the world’s largest military in terms of active personnel, has used the annual legislative gathering in Beijing to overhaul the bureaucracy, and boost economic resilience in the face of US pressure. The Finance Ministry announced plans Sunday for 7.2 percent increase in defense spending this year—the fastest pace since 2019—as part of Xi’s push to build a “world-class force” by 2027.

That’s involved strengthening oversight of China’s $60 trillion financial system, creating a new agency to manage data, and restructuring the Ministry of Science and Technology. The government also plans to cut the number of positions in central departments by 5 percent and redistribute them in strategically important areas.

In his remarks, Xi called for the military to enhance “integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities,” a reference to China’s “civil-military fusion” program to direct industrial innovation toward war-fighting ability. The effort has fueled scrutiny in Washington and underpinned calls for sanctions against Chinese companies.

The Biden administration is organizing allies to help stop China from further developing its own chip industry and advancing its military capabilities. In October, the US rolled out sweeping export curbs, blocking a host of technology from being sent to any Chinese company.

In January, Dutch and Japanese officials agreed to join the US campaign. The three countries are the world’s top sources of machinery and have the expertise needed to make the world’s most advanced semiconductors. On Wednesday, Dutch Foreign Trade Minister Liesje Schreinemacher sent a letter to lawmakers saying the nation that is home to ASML Holding NV was preparing restrictions on certain chipmaking machines.

Tensions between the US and China have been mounting recently. On Tuesday, new Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang accused the US of trying to “contain and suppress China in all respects.” On March 2, China sent the most warplanes near the democratically run island it has vowed to someday govern in nearly two months.

The flights came just after the US approved the possible sale of $619 million worth of F-16 munitions and related equipment to Taiwan. The main contractors in that deal are Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Lockheed Martin Corp.—firms that Beijing sanctioned last month for selling weapons to Taipei.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the US over the potential arms sale, saying it “seriously damages China’s sovereignty and security interests.” With assistance from Ocean Hou, Lulu Shen and Zibang Xiao/Bloomberg

Singapore keen to play peacemaker as tensions between US, China rise

By Michelle Jamrisko & Philip J. Heijmans

SINGAPORE’S top trade official said the city-state is willing to facilitate a dialogue between the US and China to repair their relationship, as he described growing tensions between the world’s biggest economies as detrimental to the world.

US-China tensions “have serious consequences for the rest of the world,” Gan Kim Yong, Singapore minister for trade and industry, told Bloomberg Television’s Haslinda Amin in an interview Thursday. “Singapore as you know has always wanted to do business with both.”

Singapore’s economy relies heavily on trade and is vulnerable to shocks resulting from disruptions in commerce, especially involving China, the city-state’s No. 1 trading partner. The latest trade tensions stem from the US’s effort to clamp down on China’s access to critical semiconductor technology and to impose export controls.

“All of us are concerned and watching this development very closely,” Gan said, referring to the export controls. “Singapore’s interests and interests of the rest of the world are for the US and China to have a stable relationship as well as a constructive one,” he added.

Continued on A8

Russian missiles target cities across Ukraine, officials say

By Hanna Arhirova & Elena Becatoros The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine—Russia

unleashed a massive missile barrage on cities across Ukraine early Thursday, targeting energy infrastructure facilities in the first attack on such a scale in three weeks. Ukrainian officials said residential buildings were hit but didn’t immediately say if there were casualties.

Air raid sirens wailed for hours across Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, where residents were jolted out of bed by explosions.

It was not immediately clear how many missiles had struck targets in Kyiv, or whether the sounds were missiles being intercepted by defense systems, which were activated in multiple regions of the country.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said explosions were reported in the city’s Holosiivskyi district and emergency services were heading there.

In eastern Ukraine, 15 missiles struck Kharkiv and the outlying northeastern region, hitting residential buildings, according to Kharkiv Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. He promised to reveal more details about the scale of the damage or any casualties in Ukraine’s secondlargest city.

“Objects of critical infrastructure is again in the crosshairs of the occupants,” he said in a Telegram post.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on Telegram that there were “problems with electricity” in some parts of the city.

The governor of the southern Odesa region, Maksym Marchenko, also reported strikes on Odesa, saying that energy facilities and residential buildings were hit.

“The second wave is expected

right now, so I ask the residents of the region to stay in shelters!” Marchenko wrote on Telegram a little over two hours ago.

Ukrainian Railways reported power outages in certain areas. Five trains were delayed by more than one hour, and 10 trains were delayed by more than 30 minutes.

Preventive emergency power cuts were applied in Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk and Odesa regions, supplier DTEK said. Klitschko says 15 percent of the capital’s energy consumers were without power due to the emergency power cuts.

More explosions were reported in the northern city of Chernihiv and the western Lviv region, as well as in the cities of Dnipro, Lutsk and Rivne. Ukrainian media also report explosions in the western regions of Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil.

Russia has been hitting Ukraine with these massive missile attacks since last October. Initially, the barrages targeting the country’s energy infrastructure took place weekly, plunging the entire cities into darkness, but became more spread out in time, with commentators speculating that Moscow may be saving up ammunition.

The last massive barrage took place on February 16.

Australia’s nuclear submarines will use a UK design to counter China

By Peter Martin, Kitty Donaldson & Alex Wickham

AUSTRALIA’S new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will be based on a modified British design with US parts and upgrades, people familiar with the matter said, as the three countries press ahead with a security partnership meant to counter China.

The submarine plan, set to be announced next week, will take years to produce its first vessel, probably necessitating stopgap measures, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations. In the meantime, the US may base nuclear submarines in Australia or even sell the country US Virginiaclass submarines.

The decision on how to move ahead with the new subs will be unveiled on Monday in San Diego when President Joe Biden meets UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as part of their 18-month old Aukus partnership.

Spokespeople at the Pentagon and the National Security Council didn’t immediately respond to

requests for comment.

Speaking in India on Thursday, Albanese confirmed the Monday Aukus meeting and said Australia would have the final say over all decisions involving its new fleet once it was ready, no matter the origin of the vessels.  “Australia will retain absolutely our sovereignty, our absolute sovereignty, 100 percent, it is very important,” he said.

The announcement marks a milestone in the 18-month-old agreement, which is intended to counter growing Chinese naval might in the Asia-Pacific region.

The agreement, signed in September 2021, involves the three nations sharing classified military capabilities to allow Australia to construct and deploy nuclearpowered submarines.

Australia currently fields a fleet of six conventional Collins Class submarines, powered by diesel generators, which were commissioned between 1996 and 2003.

Multiple Australian governments in the past decade have attempted to find an eventual replacement for the fleet, before settling on the plan to obtain nuclear submarines under the Aukus agreement.

“It makes sense to base or

Volunteers in mountain towns dig out snow-stuck Californians

By Marcio Sanchez & Amy Taxin

The Associated Press

LAKE ARROWHEAD, California—After a blizzard swept through Southern California mountains, 79-yearold Alan Zagorsky found himself shut inside his home with snow blocking the door and stairways leading out.

He and his wife had enough food to get through the 10 days until volunteers finally arrived Wednesday to help clear roughly 10 feet (3 meters) of snow piled up outside their house in Lake Arrowhead. They had been running low on blood pressure medication, but teams had come a day earlier to resupply them in the upscale mountain community where Zagorsky has lived for more than two decades.

“We’ve been through many a snowstorm but nothing of this amount, that’s for sure,” he said, while a crew shoveled his driveway in the mountains east of Los Angeles. “Right now, they’re trying to find a place they can put this stuff.”

In a once-a-generation weather event, staggering amounts of snow fell in the San Bernardino and San Gabriel mountain ranges in late February, where thousands of people live in wooded enclaves. The areas are popular destinations for hikers and skiers who arrive by twisting, steep highways that have been frequently closed because of icy conditions.

properties. A team of 10 used shovels and snow blowers to clean walkways and driveways belonging to Zagorsky and his neighbors, who had been confined to their homes for more than a week.

In Lake Arrowhead, home to 9,700 people and at an elevation of 5,175 feet (1,575 meters), many roads were plowed Tuesday for the first time in 10 days, and some residents grumbled about the slow response. San Bernardino County officials estimated more than 90 percent of county roads were plowed as of Tuesday night.

About 8 miles (13 kilometers) to the west, along a winding twolane road, volunteers were also digging out homes in Crestline, a working class mountain community of 9,300 residents.

Don Black watched as a team wielding shovels cleared his neighbor’s property. He marveled at the massive 12-foot (3.6-meter) snow berms left behind by plows along the roads.

“This is the worst storm I’ve seen in 34 winters,” Black said, standing near a mound of snow that completely covered his pickup truck.

A team of state firefighters shoveled off the roof of the town library. A line of residents walked along freshly plowed roads to pick up boxes of food at a distribution center.

station some US submarines in Australia as a way to build the needed training and maintenance capacity in Australia,” said Bryan Clark, a former navy submariner who is now director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute. “The subs will be closer to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, which helps the US submarine presence there.”

The announcement of the pact in 2021 upset France, which saw its project to build non-nuclear submarines with Australia ditched as part of the new alliance.

In a February speech, Albanese called the security arrangement the “biggest leap in our defense capability in our history.” He described the Australia-UK-US accord as the “future,” saying Australia has long known that “partnerships and alliances are key to our security.”

The agreement will give China several more stealthy submarines to worry about in any potential conflict over Taiwan, and the Chinese government has voiced strong opposition to the deal. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in February that it would fuel “military confronta -

tion” in the region.

“By boosting capability and presence in the region, Aukus is intended to challenge Beijing’s local military superiority, create more operational challenges for the PRC, undercut its increasingly aggressive actions, and ultimately help stabilize the region,” said Charles Edel, Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, referring to the People’s Republic of China. With assistance from Ben Westcott/Bloomberg

Snow piled high above many homes’ first-floor windows and residents who could get out trekked on foot to buy groceries from stores with near-empty shelves or picked up boxes of donated food at a distribution center. Roofs collapsed, cars were buried and roads were blocked. The power went out in many communities and authorities reported possible gas leaks and storm-related fires. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared emergencies in 13 of California’s 58 counties beginning March 1, including in San Bernardino County.

On Wednesday, dozens of volunteers with the Los Angelesbased nonprofit Team Rubicon fanned out across the mountain communities to clear buried

Nearby, Big Bear City received more than 6.6 feet (2 meters) of snow in a seven-day period, the most since those records have been tracked, said meteorologist Alex Tardy, with the National Weather Service in San Diego.

As the state continued to dig out from the previous storms, another one was on the way. Forecasters said an atmospheric river taking aim at northern and central California was expected to arrive as early as Thursday morning. The San Bernardino Mountain communities were likely to be spared another major snowfall.

The warm storm was raising concern about a rapid snowmelt of portions of the state’s substantial snowpack. Authorities said creeks, streams and rivers could rise quickly, raising the threat of flooding. Taxin reported from Orange County, California. Associated Press reporter Christopher Weber contributed from Los Angeles

Singapore keen to play peacemaker as tensions between US, China rise

Continued from A7

Singapore and other Southeast Asian governments have been focused on building their relationship with the US around talks on the White House’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

While participants have celebrated renewed attention from Washington on the 10-nation region and its neighbors, that agreement has been under fire for being too focused along counterChina lines and bearing too little substance— especially with no market-access deals that the trade-reliant nations across Asia crave.

While the pace of Singapore’s economic expansion is expected to moderate to a sluggish 0.5 percent-2.5 percent this year, it’s confident

of avoiding a recession amid a boost from China’s reopening.

“We depend on the growth of the world to fuel Singapore’s growth,” Gan said, noting that forecasts will be adjusted depending on the evolving global environment.

Against the backdrop of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell delivering hawkish messages on its inflation fight this week, Gan said “the jury is still out”on whether the US will achieve a soft or hard landing and its impact elsewhere. Countries are having to balance the need to fight inflation with supporting growth, he said.

Closer to home, Gan commented on a critical issue facing multinational businesses as well as expatriates and local residents in Singapore:

still-soaring rental costs. He noted that broadbased elevated inflation “is going to stay for some time,” and officials were encouraging firms to focus on boosting productivity and revising their business models with an eye also toward cost savings and reducing waste. While the government has instituted various cooling measures, including in the budget last month, rental costs remain high and a pinch on cost-of-living especially for the expatriate community and multinational firms. Rents in the city-state also saw strong growth in 2022, soaring about 30 percent. They are expected to climb a further 10 percent to 15 percent this year. With assistance from Anand Menon/Bloomberg

THREE Russian rockets launched against Ukraine from Russia’s Belgorod region are seen at dawn in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Thursday, March 9, 2023. AP/VADIM BELIKOV

A WORKER clears snow off the roof of Skyforest Elks Lodge after a series of storms on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in Rimforest, California. AP/MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ

THE plan will give China several more stealthy submarines to worry about. BLOOMBERG

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

March 10, 2023

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:

12 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Boulevard, Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

13 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Boulevard, Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

14 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Boulevard, Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

15 BRICKHARTZ TECHNOLOGY INC.

Lot 4044, Molino Boulevard, Niog III, City of Bacoor, Cavite

16 CBPHIL MANUFACTURING CORP.

Lot 3, Sooner Farm Compound, Timbao, City of Biñan, Laguna

17 CBPHIL MANUFACTURING CORP. Lot 3, Sooner Farm Compound, Timbao, City of Biñan, Laguna

18 FURUKAWA ELECTRIC AUTOPARTS PHILIPPINES, INC. 113 East Main Ave., Lot 3-5, Phase IV, Laguna Technopark, Loma, City of Biñan, Laguna

19 KONGNGAI METAL TOOLING AND STAMPING PHILIPPINES CORP. Warehouse No. 5-6, EZP Technohub, Lima Technology Center, Santiago, Malvar, Batangas

20 MITSUBISHI MOTORS PHILIPPINES CORPORATION No. 1 Auto Park Avenue, Greenfield Automotive Park, Don Jose, City of Santa Rosa, Laguna

21 SMART WIN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Southwoods Office Tower 2, San Francisco, Biñan, City of Biñan, Laguna

22 VCTP INC.

Lot 1, Block 5, Phase 1, Suntrust Ecotown, Sahud Ulan, Tanza, Cavite

SONG, SHUQING Mandarin Customer Service

YANG, HAO

Basic Qualification: Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Has excellent problem-solving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

ZHONG, CHAO Mandarin Customer Service

Brief Job Description:

Has excellent problem-solving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

NGUYEN THI YEN

Vietnamese Customer Relations Officer

Brief Job Description:

Has excellent problem-solving and communication skills in Mandarin, with related BPO experience

LIANG, HULIN Machine Technician Supervisor

Brief Job Description:

Supervise and coordinate the work employees who set up and operate machines

XU, XIAONAN Production Manager

Brief Job Description:

Plan, organize, direct and run optimum day to day operations to exceed customer expectations

KITAMURA, TOMOHIRO Engineering Assistant Section Manager

Brief Job Description: Oversee the conception and design of manufactured products of the company

DONG, GUODONG Quality Manager

Brief Job Description: Conduct surveys to identify customer requirements and ensure established quality standards

OKAMOTO, NAOYUKI

First Vice President

Brief Job Description:

Overall control the activities of the Procurement Department

GUO, MING

Chinese Customer Service Representative

Brief Job Description:

Field incoming help requests from end users from the People’s Republic of China via both telephone and work orders in a courteous manner

KIM, SUNG SU

General Manager

Brief Job Description: Develop, review, update and implement business strategic plans.

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Ensure outstanding customer satisfaction by maintaining strong working relationships

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent in managerial position

Salary Range:

Php60,000 – Php89,999

Basic Qualification: Excellent in managerial position

Salary Range:

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Basic Qualification: College graduate with experience in the same field

Salary Range: Php60,000 - Php89,999

Basic Qualification: Five or more years of experience in managing quality in corporate setting

Salary Range: Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification: Knowledgeable on the global purchasing activities that are aligned to the local operating system

Salary Range: Php150,000 - Php499,999

Basic Qualification:

Must be able to fluently speak, write and read Mandarin and other local dialects spoken in other parts of China like Cantonese and Fukien

Salary Range:

Php30,000 - Php59,999

Basic Qualification:

Fluent and proficient in speaking and writing Korean language.

Salary Range:

Php60,000 - Php89,999

Any person in the Philippines who is competent, able and willing to perform the services for which the foreign national is desired may file an objection at DOLE Regional Office IV-A located at 3rd and 4th Floors, Andenson Building II, Parian, Calamba City, Laguna, within 30 days after this publication.

Please inform DOLE Regional Office IV-A if you have any information on criminal offense committed by the foreign nationals.

To

Cushioning the impact of soaring food prices

Global market research firm Ipsos interviewed almost 20,000 adults in 29 countries last year to gauge what the public believes are the most pressing social and political issues. In its September 2022 report, dubbed “What worries the World”, four in 10 surveyed said inflation was one of the most troubling issues affecting their country.

In its December 2022 report, Ipsos said inflation is still the top global worry for the ninth month in a row: 40 percent of respondents said it is one of the top issues facing their country today. Across all countries, worry about inflation is followed by poverty and social inequality (31 percent), crime and violence (28 percent), unemployment (26 percent), and financial and political corruption (24 percent), which together make up the top five global worries.

The worry over rising prices is persistent. All over the world, rising prices are leaving consumers with less disposable income, which is shrinking demand for goods and services.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the country’s headline inflation rate marginally slowed down to 8.6 percent in February 2023 from 8.7 percent in January 2023, as price increases of certain food commodities and energy eased. However, the poorest Filipinos experienced a 9.7 percent inflation rate in February, higher than the inflation seen by all Filipino households, according to the PSA. This is the fourth consecutive month when inflation for the Bottom 30 percent of households was above 9 percent (Read, “Poor Pinoys had it worse: February inflation at 9.7 percent for them,” in the BusinessMirror , March 8, 2023).

The Marcos administration aims to bring down poverty to single-digit levels by 2028. However, local economists said the elevated inflation experienced by the poorest households could imperil the government’s anti-poverty campaign.

“A 9.7 percent inflation will definitely affect our efforts toward poverty reduction. High inflation means additional individuals who would not have the capacity for sustenance. As the price increases, the purchasing power of money depletes. This is worse for poor people because they will have even less money to buy what they need,” De La Salle University economist Maria Ella Oplas told BusinessMirror.

Although President Marcos earlier described the country’s surging food prices as an “emergency situation,” he rejected proposals for him to seek special powers to address inflation. Instead, the President approved the creation of a new interagency committee on Inflation and Market Outlook to be cochaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) and the Department of Finance.

“This newly formed committee shall serve as an advisory body to the President and the Cabinet on measures to mitigate inflation and ensure food and energy security while balancing the interests of local food producers, consumers, and the overall economy,” the Neda said in a statement.

The committee shall also continuously monitor global and regional developments and issues that may affect commodity prices and submit a quarterly report to the President on the food and energy supply-demand situation and outlook for the country.

In line with government efforts to address the root causes of high food prices, research group Ibon cautioned economic managers against sticking to their weak response of hiking interest rates and limiting subsidies. “Raising interest rates may reduce aggregate demand and inflationary pressures but can also dampen economic activity, depress jobs and reduce household incomes further,” Ibon said.

“Prices can be immediately lowered by suspending or removing consumption taxes such as value-added tax and oil excise taxes,” Ibon said, adding that revenue losses from this may partially be made up for by any increased economic activity.

With millions of Filipinos still struggling from the effects of the pandemic, it would do well for the government to prioritize helping the most vulnerable to cope with soaring food prices. As a private think tank proposed, “substantial emergency cash or ayuda for the poorest 19-20 million families will also improve household welfare, spur economic activity and help give the supplyside measures more traction.” In times of crisis, we need extraordinary intervention to help poor families climb out of poverty.

Developing and promoting ecotourism and nature-based tourism

flora and fauna of the Northern Antique seascape and landscape for the benefit of the local communities and future Antiqueños.

sonny M. angara

Better Days

laSt March 1, 2023, the Senate tourism Subcommittee on Select Senate bills on Ecotourism and on the Proposed Senate Resolution on Nature-based tourism held a hearing to discuss various measures and, ultimately, to find solutions and initiatives to advance the domestic tourism industry’s recovery while instilling eco-consciousness amid the country’s upcoming summer months and in anticipation of the influx of tourists this year owing to “revenge travel.”

The following measures were tackled: Senate Bill 238, establishing the Northern Antique Protected Seascape and Landscape Act of 2022 filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda; several bills that I filed, namely, Senate Bill 1166, declaring the Pag-Asa Island as an ecotourism cluster and protected area; and Proposed Senate Resolution 472, for the creation of policy reforms and budgetary expenditures to develop the Philippines’s potential to be the leading country in the world for sustainable Nature-Based Tourism (NBT).

Discussions on Senate Bill 238 centered on Northern Antique’s crucial role in the region’s development and its surrounding environment. Department of Tourism (DOT) Re-

gion VI Regional Director Crisma Rodriguez emphasized how Northern Antique positively contributed to tourism growth in Antique, with five of its municipalities registering 14,311 tourist arrivals, or equivalent to almost half of all tourist arrivals in the province and with receipts amounting to P103 million owing to the area’s wide range of recreation activities like white river rafting, river tubing, diving, among others. Moreover, local chief executives reiterated that Northern Antique is both a tourism destination and a habitat to dugongs, which are classified as vulnerable species by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). All the concerned stakeholders concurred that the proposed measure will ensure the protection of the

For Senate Bill 1166, Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur 2D), being the counterpart measure’s author in the House of Representatives, started the discussion by explaining the bill’s noble purpose, which is to assert our sovereign rights through economic initiative or soft diplomacy and to pave the way for the Pag-Asa Island’s development. Rep. Edgardo Egay Salvame (Palawan 1D) also manifested his support on the measure and said that the declaration of the Pag-Asa Island Cluster as a protected area would help ensure its coastal and marine resources are protected from overfishing, poaching, large-scale ocean filling or reclamation. While Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Augusto dela Peña manifested the agency’s support to the bill, he flagged the need for supporting infrastructures and resources to guarantee peace and order so that the safety and security of civilians and civilian activities would be unhampered. Pag-Asa Island is the only Philippine-occupied island in the Spratlys that is inhabited by civilians. We are talking about pristine waters that are rich in biodiversity, which makes it an ideal destination for tourists.

Proposed Senate Resolution 472 is a result of our meeting with aca-

demics from the University of the Philippines who observed that we are not maximizing the promotion of NBT in spite of the competitive advantage our country has because of its wealth of resources. Masungi Georeserve trustee Billie Dumaliang agreed that nature-based tourism in the country is still underdeveloped and undermarketed. In fact the United Nations Development Program found that the gap on financing for biodiversity in the Philippines is at 80 percent. Biodiversity Conservation Society of the Philippines pressed the need for consultations to identify protected areas and other nature reserves in the country that have the potential to become flagship destinations for NBT.

As Philippine tourism was heavily hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a need to diversify the sector’s products and services while being conscious of sustainability. We fervently hope these discussions would form part of the country’s rallying cry to further advance and develop our competitive advantages to propel growth and recovery in the tourism sector.

Senator Sonny Angara has been in public service for 18 years—9 years as Representative of the Lone District of Aurora, and 9 as Senator. He has authored, co-authored, and sponsored more than 330 laws. He is currently serving his second term in the Senate.

E-mail: sensonnyangara@yahoo.com| Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @sonnyangara

Beyond Malampaya: Oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea

location for the exploration wells.

ENERGy security is an important objective for the country. However, uncertainties from external shocks, as well as the impending depletion of the Malampaya natural gas field, are undeniable threats to this goal.

Oil and gas exploration in the areas within our country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the west has been limited since the enactment of Presidential Decree 87, also known as “The Oil Exploration and Development Act of 1972”. There were some successful discoveries, including small fields located offshore northwest of Palawan, but the most successful was the MalampayaCamago structure. The Malampaya gas field began production in 2001 and continues to provide natural gas

for a few power plants in Batangas. However, output from Malampaya has been declining and is projected to be depleted by 2027.

Petroleum exploration is not an easy undertaking. This normally requires several years and massive financial investment before actual oil and gas production occurs, assuming the exploration project is successful. These projects involve undertaking geological and seismic surveys, among other necessary processes, to efficiently analyze the choice of

Once this is determined, the drilling of such wells will be done to validate the presence of accumulated oil and gas. Before any actual production ensues, a considerable amount of time and effort would still be needed to assess the value of the potential discovery. In short, petroleum exploration is undoubtedly an expensive and risky activity.

In the country, these projects are carried out via a Service Contract system as stated in Section 6 of PD 87. This law embodies an attractive set of fiscal incentives with the purpose of encouraging on-shore and off-shore petroleum exploration within the Philippine territory. In support of this, the Department of Energy later on adopted the Philippine Conventional Energy Contracting Program (PCECP) to make the awarding of Petroleum Service Contracts more transparent and competitive.

The oil and gas exploration activities provided by these Service Contracts bear significant potential in gradually freeing the country of

our long-standing dependence on imported fuel. The positive welfare impact is not difficult to imagine if there will be enough indigenous fuel sources to ensure our long-run energy supply.

International geological surveys show that areas in the West Philippine Sea within our Exclusive Economic Zone may contain substantial amounts of untapped oil and gas deposits. One such area is the Recto Bank, located west of Palawan and southwest of the Malampaya gas field. The Recto Bank service contract (SC 72) held by Forum Energy Ltd. has undergone several exploration delays due to territorial disputes between the Philippines and China. The Sampaguita gas field alone, within the Recto Bank basin, is said to hold a large resource potential for the country amounting to over 4 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas reserves. This is more than the output of Malampaya that will no longer be available in the next few years. The benefits of continuing these exploration

See “Eagle

Clarissa ruth s. racho-sabugo

On Suyac Island: Among the mangroves Report: 6-year-old won’t be charged after shooting teacher

By Denise Lavoie & Ben Finley | The Associated Press

RIcHMOND, Virginia—authorities in the Virginia city where a 6-year-old shot and wounded his teacher will not seek criminal charges against the child, the local prosecutor told NBc News Wednesday, in a decision that was anticipated by legal experts.

But Newport News Commonwealth’s Attorney Howard Gwynn said his office has yet to decide if any adults will be held criminally accountable.

Newport News police have said that the boy used his mother’s 9mm handgun in the Jan. 6 shooting at Richneck Elementary School. A lawyer for the child’s mother has previously stated that the weapon, which was legally purchased, was secured on a high closet shelf and had a lock on it.

Gwynn did not immediately respond to two phone messages and two e-mails from The Associated Press seeking comment.

He told NBC that the “prospect that a 6-year-old can stand trial is problematic” because he wouldn’t have the competency to understand the legal system and what a charge means. Gwynn told the news outlet that his office is still focusing on others besides the child.

“Once we analyze all the facts, we will charge any person or persons that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt committed a crime,” he said.

The decision did not come as a surprise. Even though it is possible under Virginia law to criminally charge a 6-year-old child, legal experts said it would be highly unlikely that a prosecutor would even try.

A common-law doctrine known as the “infancy defense” holds that children under 7 cannot be prosecuted for a crime because they are too young to be capable of forming criminal intent. A judge also would have to find that the child was competent to stand trial, meaning that he could understand the legal proceedings and assist attorneys defending him.

“You have to be able to show that they understand the seriousness of it, planned it, and executed it,” Julie McConnell, a law professor at the University of Richmond, told the AP. “It would be very hard to prove that a 6-year-old could understand that what he did could have permanent consequences,” McConnell said.

She added: “The question is not how do we hold the child accountable? The question is how do we hold ourselves accountable as a society? How do we address the fact that it is so easy for children to get guns in the first place?”

Newport News police turned over their investigation to Gwynn’s office last month. Police Chief Steve Drew said in February that he understands that “people would like to have a case open and shut — that’s just not what

Eagle Watch . . .

continued from A10

activities in the area are, therefore, enormous. And in retrospect, such benefits should have been felt and enjoyed by the country long before, had it not been for the setbacks borne out by maritime disputes.

The issue of petroleum exploration in the West Philippine Sea within our EEZ cannot be looked at without a hint of regret. The Oil Exploration and Development Act was signed into law in 1972. Yet in the span of decades that followed, we have not maximized the exploration of these petroleum-rich areas that clearly belong to us, as defined by international maritime laws. If, on average, it takes 10 years to explore before actual production, new exploration activities now would mean additional output of oil and gas beyond 2027—the time it needs for us to augment the energy deficit to be left by the Malampaya depletion.

we have here.”

Drew described a complicated investigation that involved coordinating interviews with first-graders, which required permission from their parents as well as the expertise of a child psychologist.

Gwynn told the AP last month that the city’s detectives handed over three binders of information to his office.

“It’s a lot of information, and we’re going to carefully review it as we do in every case,” Gwynn said in February. The decision to not charge the child is the latest development from the shooting, which sent shockwaves through the shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay.

The 6-year-old boy, who has not been identified, shot first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner while she was teaching inside her classroom.

The police chief has repeatedly characterized the shooting as “intentional.” Drew said there was no warning and no struggle before the child pointed the gun at Zwerner and fired one round, striking her in the hand and chest.

Zwerner, 25, hustled her students out of the classroom before being rushed to the hospital, where she stayed for nearly two weeks before she was released to continue recovering at home.

An attorney for the 6-year-old’s family, James Ellenson, told the AP in January that the gun the boy used was secured in his mother’s closet on a shelf well over 6 feet (1.8 meters) high and had a trigger lock that required a key. The family’s statement in the wake of the shooting also said that the boy has an “acute disability” and was under a care plan “that included his mother or father attending school with him and accompanying him to class every day.” The week of the shooting was the first when a parent was not in class with him, the family said.

The family said in the days after the shooting that the child was placed under hospital care and was receiving “the treatment he needs.”

Zwerner’s attorney, Diane Toscano, told reporters in January that concerned staff at Richneck Elementary School had warned administrators three times that the 6-year-old had a gun and was threatening other students in the hours before Zwerner was shot. Toscano said the administration “was paralyzed by apathy” and didn’t call police, remove the boy from class or lock down the school.

One-fifth of the country’s power generation mix comes from Malampaya. In Luzon, 6 out of 10 households in the Meralco franchise area are served by electricity generated from this gas field. The DOE has indicated plans to import Liquefied Natural Gas to address this impending deficit. However, concerns arise over the lack of secured power supply agreements and tight international markets for LNG. There is a clear threat to our energy security. If we wish to steer clear of a potential energy crisis in the coming years, it is imperative that we do our best to increase our set of options for sourcing indigenous energy supply. Exploration activities in the West Philippine Sea within our EEZ are a step in that direction. When anchored on a strong political will, we can get the work done and finally claim what is rightfully ours.

Tito Genova Valiente annoTaTions

Suyac Island is some three kilometers from Sagay city proper but the fact that traveling to the said place is by boat makes such distance almost always imaginary.

Are we getting closer to the island? Or is it moving away from us, with the small, tricky waves giving us an illusion that we are not getting any closer? That afternoon of the 25th of February we were on our way to Suyac.

What is on this island that merits a visit from anyone who comes to Sagay or Bacolod?

Suyac Island is part of a large marine reserve, with the island famous for the four-hectare mangrove. The “trees” that one sees from afar are mangroves. But then again, what are these plants? We have heard about them, wrote about them, even lauded them and their role in processes or “things” that come to us through concepts. For example, I have seen plays and read poems about mangrove as places along the coast where small fishes seek shelter. Together with mangroves are bigger notions of ecology, environment, and sustainability. They are abstractions to me until we sailed to Suyac, docked at their makeshift pier, walked on a constructed small bridge until we reached a structure above the water.

“Community-based” is the description used by Helen Cutillar, the Sagay city information officer who also spearheads its tourism activity, for Suyac. Again, I have heard so much already about programs that are based in communities but in Suyac Island, it surprised me that indeed events and programs can be community-based in the dramatic sense of it. This meant, with the supervision from technocrats diminished or gradually withdrawn, one would encounter regular people taking over an advocacy, sustaining it, and generating profit from it.

Up inside that gazebo-like struc-

ture, inhabitants of Suyac Island welcomed us to their place. On the wall were data briskly written and presented against which a young housewife began to explain the mangroves of the island, among which is the pagatpat, an old and sturdy species. We listened and learned once more about mangroves but we were not prepared as we started walking on a long stretch of bridges and gangplanks built around the rich mangroves of the island.

We were among the mangroves. We were in the mangroves.

We were a bunch composed of a film director, an international actress, and this columnist/critic joined in by two Sagaynons—a writer and broadcaster/heritage advocate. There was Cutillar who was responsible for us being there and Mark Garcia, who was her deputy in the SineMargaha, a film festival owing its inspiration to a beach and an artistic movement spearheaded by Nunelucio Alvarado, the famous visual artist.

Jurors all, we would be judged that afternoon with what we knew and did not know about mangroves. We would be learning all about these magnificent plants as we walked in between rows and rows of them— ancient as well as newly sprouted puzzles and solutions from Nature.

The interconnected bridges zigzagged their way through tall, old and sturdy plants alive among the seawater. That in itself was new to most of us. We were seeing them growing out of what technically would be seabed. We had ceased to be experts in anything; we were learners, our minds gone empty to allow in information about mangroves—there are many types and there are many kinds, our guide went on. This is an eco-park

he told us matter-of-factly. Suddenly the word took on a new relevance: ecology parks are not displays; they are not static presentations; they are living museums, where artifacts live and breathe.

An eco-park is still a park but unlike plazas and town centers, this eco-park is a vibrant exposition of the natural and the cultural, with man/ woman creating structures that follow the wisdom of nature. The bridge that allowed us to move among the mangroves was a device that brought us to the mangroves. We were not just observing them from afar; we were upclose with the mangroves. We could see their leaves. We were marveling at the holes in the bodies of their ancient trunks even as our guides continued to show us blooms among the varied leaves of other types of mangroves. We had to bend our bodies to pass through an area where the trunks of one mangrove curled as only the tree knew why.

Then we reached a sort of clearing. Still on the bridge, we looked down on a body of water so clear you could see tiny fishes and light-gray sand below. We began to notice the proverbial breathing bubbles of the plants our guides alerted us before in the orientation. These seemingly dead

trunks are alive, inhaling/exhaling. The proof was there in those froths. Where is the sea? That was our question. We were taking photos with our mobile phones, the images coming out were those of crystalclear streams and rivers. Nature was playing tricks with us, and the small amount of knowledge we possessed then among the mangroves. This is eco-tourism, I finally convinced myself. The Suyac Island Eco-park, we were briefed, was a proenvironment initiative and also one that promotes pro-community ideals. They were right but more than ideologies, I saw them as practiced and lived.

Can we swim in here? That question bothered me because I sensed as an outsider who had lived in the city for a long time a delicate nature—almost a fragility—in mangroves. But people—many were children—were wading and swimming in the clear sea below us. We can swim among the mangroves. That they could be destroyed by man is an old lesson, but then again, that they could protect man the way this island had the mangrove forest buffer them against the storm is even an older, tested fact.

E-mail: titovaliente@yahoo.com

Xi accuses US of trying to hold back China’s development

By Joe Mcdonald | The Associated Press

BEIJING—Is the united States out to sabotage china? chinese leaders think so.

President Xi Jinping accused Washington this week of trying to isolate his country and hold back its development. That reflects the ruling communist Party’s growing frustration that its pursuit of prosperity and global influence is threatened by uS restrictions on access to technology, its support for Taiwan and other moves seen by Beijing as hostile.

Xi, China’s most powerful leader in decades, tries to appear to be above problems and usually makes blandly positive public comments. That made his complaint Monday all the more striking. Xi said a US-led campaign of “containment and suppression” of China has “brought unprecedented, severe challenges.” He called on the public to “dare to fight.”

On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Qin Gang sharpened the warning, saying Washington faces possible “conflict and confrontation” if it fails to change course.

“The foreign minister is speaking on behalf of a widely held view that the United States is coming after China and they have to defend themselves,” said John Delury, an international relations specialist at Yonsei University in Seoul.

China is hardly the only government to fume at Washington’s dominance of global strategic and economic affairs. But Chinese leaders see the United States as making extra effort to thwart Beijing as a challenger for regional and possibly global leadership.

The ruling party wants to restore China’s historic role as a political and cultural leader, raise incomes by transforming the country into an inventor of technology, and unite what

it considers the Chinese motherland by taking control of Taiwan, the selfruled island democracy that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

Beijing sees those as positive goals, but American officials see them as threats. They say Chinese development plans are based at least in part on stealing or pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology. Some warn Chinese competition might erode US industrial dominance and incomes.

Washington has set back Beijing’s plans by putting Chinese companies including its first global tech brand, Huawei, on a blacklist that limits access to processor chips and other technology. That crippled Huawei’s smartphone brand, once one of the world’s biggest. American officials are lobbying European and other allies to avoid Huawei equipment when they upgrade phone networks.

Washington cites security fears, but Beijing says that is an excuse to hurt its fledgling competitors.

The two governments have the world’s biggest trading relationship and common interests in combating climate change and other problems. But relations are strained over Taiwan, Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong and mostly Muslim ethnic mi-

norities, and its refusal to criticize or isolate Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

The official Chinese view has soured following an uptick when Xi met US President Joe Biden in November in Indonesia, said Shi Yinhong, an international relations specialist at Renmin University in Beijing. He noted that in the five months since then, Washington approved more weapons sales to Taiwan, criticized Beijing’s stance on Ukraine and put more Chinese companies on export watchlists, all of which China saw as hostile.

Xi and Qin spoke in a “dramatic way” this week, but “the essence of what they said is China’s long-term stance,” Shi said. The leadership believes “the United States has implemented almost all around, drastic and desperate containment of China in all respects, especially in strategic and military fields.”

“The risk of military conflict between China and the United States is getting bigger,” Shi said.

A State Department spokesperson, Ned Price, said Washington wants to “coexist responsibly” within the global trade and political system and denied the US government wants to suppress China.

“This is not about containing China. This is not about suppressing China. This is not about holding China back,” Price said in Washington. “We want to have that constructive competition that is fair” and “doesn’t veer into that conflict.”

The United States formed a strategic group, the Quad, with Japan, Australia and India in response to concern about China and its claim to vast tracts of sea that are busy shipping lanes. They insist the group

doesn’t focus on any one country, but its official statements are about territorial claims and other issues on which they have disputes with Beijing.

The latest change in tone follows acrimonious exchanges over a Chinese balloon that was shot down after passing over North America. Its electronics and other equipment are being examined by the FBI.

Qin, the foreign minister is “trying to position China as a global force for moderation and for peace” in front of foreign audiences and say “it’s the Americans who are blowing things out of proportion,” Delury said.

Xi’s government is especially irritated by displays of support by American and other Western legislators for Taiwan, which split with China in 1949 after a civil war.

Taiwan never has been part of the People’s Republic of China, but the Communist Party says the island of 22 million people must unite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Washington is obligated by federal law to see that Taiwan has the weapons to defend itself and has sold it fighter jets and missiles. Chinese leaders complain that encourages Taiwanese politicians who might want to resist unification and possibly declare formal independence, a step Beijing says would lead to war.

Premier Li Keqiang, who is due to step down as China’s No. 2 leader this month, called on Sunday for “peaceful reunification.” But Xi’s government also has stepped up efforts to intimidate the island by flying fighter jets and firing missiles into the sea nearby. Associated Press researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report

Ms. Clarissa Ruth S. Racho-Sabugo is a graduate student at the Department of Economics of Ateneo de Manila University.

A12 Friday, March 10, 2023

BILL REFORMING ODA PROCESS CLEARS HOR

THE House of Representatives has endorsed for Senate approval a measure setting standards for the contracting of loans and grants with bilateral and multilateral partners.

T his, after lawmakers approved on third and final reading House Bill 7311, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8182 or the Official Development Assistance of 1996.

T he bill seeks to expand the country’s Official Development Assistance portfolio, which is critical to fiscal stability and funding of longterm priorities.

The bill enables private and commercial institutions to fund the ODA through the blended financing approach.

It also provides that the donor government shall issue a guarantee covering at least 75 percent of the commercial component of the loan.

T he measure requires that the lending government, bilateral or multilateral agency, or international or multilateral institution, shall guarantee the timely release of funds committed by their partner-private or commercial institutions.

H B 7311 reduces the ODA grant component from 25 percent to 15 percent to attract more ODA, considering that it remains more attractive as a financing option than alternatives.

It also removes the 40-percent requirement for the weighted average grant element of all ODA loans.

T he bill allows local governments to access ODA loans and tax relief while authorizing the Department of Finance to determine the rate and terms that are concessional.

It also retains the terms and conditions for ODA contracted prior to these amendments, but permits unutilized balances to be used for other loan agreements.

L astly, the bill requires that all ODA projects shall be subject to evaluation and approval of the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee taking into consideration the project’s compliance with environmental, social and governance standards.

E arlier, House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Sarte Salceda, principal author of the bill, said that expanding the country’s ODA portfolio is particularly important, “due to their nature as long-tenured, deeply concessional loans with a more diplomatic character.”

“ODA loans allow for the financing of programs and projects where economic returns are not necessarily immediately realizable, or where a viability gap would make a certain project less financial to the open capital markets or to private or commercial institutions,” Salceda said.

S alceda noted that interest rates through ODA loans are much lower than commercial rates, even if the grant component is adjusted.

As of December 31, 2021, some 43.93 percent or P1.663 trillion of our external debt is contracted through ODA. The Weighted Average Maturity (WAM) of the entire outstanding ODA loan portfolio, including the undrawn loan commitments that are yet to be availed/repaid in subsequent years, is estimated at 20.80 years,” he said. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz

Remulla: Probers weighing Teves role in Degamo slay

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

JUSTICE Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Thursday Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves and several others are among those being considered by investigators as possible conspirators in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight civilians last March 4.

R emulla made the statement after two of the four suspects in the gruesome crime who are now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reportedly named Teves as the mastermind in the killing.

T he Justice secretary, however, said he has yet to fully read the statements executed by the suspects but acknowledged such  admission would hasten the filing of cases against those involved.

He also noted that Teves, who is in the United States for

stem cell treatment, is expected to return to the country soon after his travel clearance issued by the House of Representatives was not extended.

Teves was allowed to leave the country from February 28 to March 9.

“So, we are expecting that he will be coming back soon if he is really serious in facing the accusations linking him as conspirator in the gruesome crimes happening in Negros Oriental,” Remulla said.

R emulla disclosed  that at least three to four persons were

being looked into as possible conspirators behind the Degamo killing.

We are investigating everybody who may have something to do with what has been happening in Negros Oriental; we are not exempting anybody,” he added.

Topacio’s reminder

MEANWHILE , Teves’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said his client is ready to face all accusations against him and is confident that he would eventually be cleared.

We shall face any and all accusations consistent with the courses outlined in the legal system confident that, in the end, our client will be exonerated,” he added.

Topacio also called on the public to be cautious in linking his client’s name to Degamo’s and several other killings in the province.

We call on all concerned to observe sobriety in their pronouncements regarding the allegations against Rep. Arni Teves in the face of certain accusations against him in connection with the killing of Governor Roel Degamo and several other persons,” Topacio said.

He noted that Teves has already denounced the killing of Degamo and eight civilians and denied any involvement in the crime.

Negros Occ. cities honored at Berlin travel conference

It will not serve the ends of justice any by publicly obfuscating the issues prematurely before a thorough investigation in accordance with procedures provided by law,” Topacio pointed out.     “ Verily, justice can only be done to the victims if and when the real perpetrators are brought before the bar of justice and convicted with finality,” he added.

He also stressed that the Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence to every person.

L ast Tuesday, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) filed murder charges against Teves and five others in connection with three killings that took place between March and June  2019.

T he charges were filed based on affidavits of several witnesses who claimed to be  members of the assassination team that were   allegedly hired by the solon to carry out the killings.

T he witnesses said political rivalry was the main reason Teves allegedly ordered the killings          W ith Degamo’s killing, Remulla said they are now seeing a pattern of impunity in Negros Oriental.

Taiwanese eye consumer electronics investments

TAIWANESE businessmen are looking at investing in the Philippines, particularly consumer electronics, among others, according to the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

PEZA said it briefed a Taiwanese business delegation on March 6 on investment opportunities in the ecozones, as arranged by Philippine Trade and Investment CenterTaiwan (PTIC-Taiwan) under Commercial Counsellor Anthony Rivera and Investment Officer Terry Lin.

A ccording to the investment promotion agency, the Taiwanese group comprises 8 manufacturing and 2 logistics companies that are “eyeing” to register their export and domestic market-oriented projects under PEZA and the Board of Investments (BOI).

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM

Special to the BusinessMirror

SAGAY CITY and Bago City in Negros Occidental won recognition at the Green Destinations Story Awards at ITB Berlin, a major international travel and trade convention, on Tuesday.

S agay City was accorded a special People’s Choice Award for its entry on the “Mangrove Forest Protection through Community-based EcoTourism Project,” which also helped the city place second in the Nature and Scenery Category. The city’s Suyac Island Mangrove Ecopark, located inside the Sagay Marine Reserve, is the first fully community-based ecotourism site in Sagay, offering an unparalleled experience and allowing travelers to connect with nature and local culture.

B ago City placed third in the Environment and Climate Category, for its entry “Reviving the Majestic Diversity of Bago Watershed.” Bago City’s Watershed plays a vital role in steering the economy of Negros Occidental by supplying water to about 19,000 hectares of agricultural areas. To protect, conserve and rehabilitate the watershed,

the city government mobilized its resources and strengthened community involvement through the Integrated Ecosystem Management Approach (Ridge to Reef Environmental Management).

Its website says the Green Destinations Story Awards showcase the most inspirational initiatives for sustainable tourism development in six categories from submissions to the annual Green Destinations

Top 100 Stories competition.

Green Destinations was created in the Netherlands in 2014 to support sustainable destinations, their businesses and their communities. Participants are given access to training modules on sustainable tourism practices, with award winners given extensive exposure that can encourage more travelers to these communities.

Private DMCs woo travel buyers in Berlin

ATTENDING the ITB Berlin this year are 25 private destination management  companies (DMC) eager to sell tours to various key destinations in the Philippines, one of over 10,000 exhibitors at the event. Some 160,000 visitors were expected at the March 7 to 9 events at the Messe Berlin grounds.

The prospective Taiwanese investors are into manufacturing of consumer electronics, car brake pads, screws and other steel products, centrifugal fans, hardware materials, paper and packaging products,” PEZA Officer-in-Charge Tereso O. Panga said in a statement on Thursday.

Currently, Panga said 109 Taiwanese locator companies are registered with PEZA, generating P33.165 billion worth of investments, $765.249 export revenues and 38,749 direct jobs.  “

Our top Taiwanese ecozone investors are Sunon Properties, Tong Hsing Electronics, Kinpo Electronics, Acbel Polytech and Bojie Development Corporation,” Panga noted.

T he investment promotion agency added that it is working on “realizing” the US$65 million in investment pledges from the outbound investment mission held in Taiwan in October 2022, which the agency co-organized with the PTIC-Taiwan, BOI, Manila Economic & Cultural Office (MECO), Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) and the Taiwanese Chamber.

THE Philippines is back at the ITB Berlin, with a delegation of 25 private tour operators and travel agencies, which hope to sell more Philippine destinations to international buyers. DOT PHOTO

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Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Companies

B1

Friday, March 10, 2023

ACEN plans to spend ₧70B on energy projects this year

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

ACEN Corp. is allocating as much as P70 billion in capital expenditures (capex) for its renewable energy (RE) projects this year as part of its goal of hitting 20,000 megawatts (MW) of renewables over the next seven years.

aCen currently has about 4,000 m W of attributable renewables capacity in operation and under construction across the Philippines and the region.

t he company accelerated its renewables expansion throughout 2022, spending P50.6 billion as it started construction of over 1,300 m W of new solar and wind farms in the Philippines, australia, and India during the year.

aCen currently has more than

2,400 m W of projects under construction and expects to spend P50 to P70 billion of capex in 2023 as it continues to grow its renewable energy portfolio, to bring the company ever closer to its ambition of achieving 20 gW (gigawatt) in renewable energy capacity by 2030,” it said t hursday.

new projects under construction include the 520-m W st ubbo solar farm in au stralia, the company’s second project in the country. With more than 1,000 m W in construc-

tion, australia is currently aCen s largest market outside of the Philippines.

aCen reported a surge in its net income to P14.6 billion last year from P7.7 billion in 2021 as revenues increased by 35 percent to P35.2 billion at end-2022, mainly driven by full-year contributions from new merchant plants.

net income attributable to equity holders of the parent firm reached P13.1 billion last year from P5.3 billion in 2021. t his included P8.6 billion of net impact in revaluation gains resulting from the company’s full acquisition of the a u stralia platform, as well as provisions for a supreme Court decision voiding the Philippine electricity market Corp.’s (Pe mC ) a d ministered/ r e gulated Pricing (a r P) regime and for the l ac Hoa and Hoa Dong Wind project in Vietnam.

“In 2022, the Philippine power sector weathered significant challenges caused by our country’s continued dependence on high-priced coal and unserved power demand,

and as a result, we felt the impact of the high cost of power.

With 700 m W in new capacity expected to come online in the Philippines by the end of the year, and another 521 m W of new capacity commencing operations in australia, we expect to move into a net selling merchant position and be on a stronger footing in 2023,” said aCen President er ic Francia.

In november 2022, aCen completed the world’s first market-based energy transition mechanism (etm) for the 246-m W south lu zon t hermal energy Corp. (slteC) coal plant, raising P7.2 billion from the full divestment of slteC , which aCen can use to fund further renewables expansion.

ea rlier in 2022, aCen issued its maiden Peso green bonds worth P10 billion, due in 2027, which were oversubscribed by 8.6 times as a result of robust demand. t he bonds have been rated Pr s a a a, the highest possible from the Philippine r ating services Corp., and comply with a sean green Bond standards.

Petron Corp. has thrown its support behind the government’s efforts to effectively implement the liquefied petroleum gas (lPg) law.

It said t hursday that following the Department of energy’s (Doe) approval of the last batch of circulars governing republic act 11592, Petron and other industry participants rolled out a series of information forums to educate key publics about the new law, culminating in the lPg summit last ma rch 2 and 3 at the sm X Convention Center in Pasay City.

eliminating substandard cylinders in the market.

“For one, the mandatory Cylinder sw apping and Improvement Program will help ensure that unsafe and substandard cylinders that do not conform with Dt I benchmarks are gradually and effectively removed in the market.

t hese types of cylinders can trigger explosions and fire incidents, and we are proud to have played a part in putting in place these needed safety standards,” a ng said.

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Conglomerates a y ala Corp. and sa n miguel Corp.

(smC) said they gained the approval of their board of directors for the issuance of non-voting preferred shares.

ayala Corp. said its board has approved a base amount of preferred shares issuance of between P10 billion and P15 billion and for up to additional P10 billion in oversub-

scription option, subject to regulatory approvals.

t his matter will be presented to our stockholders for approval at our annual stockholders’ meeting,” the company said.

sa n miguel’s board, meanwhile, has approved the re-issuance and private placement of 270 million series 2 preferred shares, which will be taken out of the treasury shares of the company.

t he terms and conditions of the issuance shall be in accordance with

the amended articles of incorporation of the company,” it said.

Preferred stock is a different type of equity that represents ownership of a company and the right to claim income from the company’s operations.

Preferred stockholders have a higher claim on distributions of dividends than common stockholders, but it has no voting rights.

sa n miguel Food and Beverage Inc., smC ’s food unit, recently reported that its profits in 2022 grew

SMC, Ayala to issue preferred shares Senate conveys condolences on

12 percent to P34.7 billion from the previous year’s P31.41 billion despite heightened geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and supply chain challenges.

Consolidated revenues rose 16 percent to P358.9 billion from the previous year’s P309.77 billion, driven by higher volume growth across its beer, spirits, and food divisions. t he company said it also optimized pricing strategy across its portfolio to manage the impact of rising raw material costs.

“Petron actively supported the passage of the lPg l aw, and now we are ready to take the next step with Doe to ensure its smooth and successful implementation,” said Petron President r a mon s a ng. a ng said the Doe s continued and consistent support for this landmark law affirms the private and public sectors’ shared vision to protect and promote consumer safety and welfare. “With the remaining department circulars already signed, and now with the information campaign in full swing, we are confident that any and all gaps in the industry will finally be addressed.”

Doe secretary r aphael l otilla and Department of trade and Industry (Dt I) secretary a lfredo Pascual recently signed the three remaining ru les and regulations (Ir r) set for implementation covering the following: application for a license to operate (lto) which replaces the previous st andards Compliance Certificate (sCC); rules on administrative cases including more stringent procedures on fines and penalties; and the Cylinder exchange and swapping Program which is an end-to-end process for

In relation to this, the detailed procedure and timeline for exchange, swapping, and buyback of lPg cylinders are indicated in the Doe and the Dt I’s joint department circular. Part of it also includes the formation of accredited swapping centers and regional Program Implementation task Force to be governed by Dt I, Doe , and members of the lPg Industry.

Petron continues to warn consumers of the risks involved in buying illegally refilled cylinders. l eg itimate Petron lPg products should have a laser-printed quality seal with a unique Qr-code, certifying that the cylinder has passed through rigorous safety and quality testing. t hese conform with Dt I standards on weight, wall thickness, weld integrity, and valve fitting. Lenie Lectura

Pr I C e s for r o lex, Patek

Philippe and a u demars

Piguet watches appreciated by an average of 20 percent a year since mid-2018, outpacing the s & P 500 Index, as values for preowned luxury timepieces surged, a new report shows.

t h e s & P 500 stock index averaged annual returns of 8 percent from a u gust 2018 to January 2023 while a basket of pre-owned watch models from top s w iss brands grew at more than twice the pace, the report from Boston Consulting g r oup Inc. and secondary market dealer WatchBox said. t h at’s despite prices of some pre-owned models, including r ol ex Daytonas, Patek n a utilus and a P r o yal o a ks, declining by as much as a third since the market peaked in the first quarter of 2022.

Prices for a basket of so-called independent brand watches including FP Journe, H. mo ser & Cie and De Bethune—a small sw iss producer which is majority owned by WatchBox—returned 15 percent over the same period. t he report touts luxury watches as an alternative asset class to stocks, bonds, art and wine. Bloomberg News

Senate m ajority l e ader Joel Villanueva on m a rch 8 proposed s e nate r e solution no 468, taking into consideration proposed s e nate r e solution no. 523, expressing the s e nate’s profound sympathy and condolences on the death of former tr ade and Industry m i nister r oberto “Bobby” Velayo o n gpin.

t h e resolution was introduced by s e n. Imee m a rcos and s e nate President Juan m i guel “ m i gz”

Zubiri, Villanueva, s e nators Pia Cayetano and Francis “Chiz” e sc udero. “Bobby o n gpin or rVo built business empires, orchestrated deals that brought the s h angril a g r oup into the Philippines, and founded ta gaytay Highlands, PhilWeb and a lphaland Corporation. He later built his crown jewel, the a lphaland Balesin Island Club off the coast of Quezon province. a t the time of his passing, he was

working on expanding the resort by building another resort on the Patnanungan Island nearby,” Villanueva said.

He said o n gpin was also a philanthropist who helped thousands of Filipinos through the Jaime o n gpin scholarship fund which he established in honor of his brother who passed away in 1987.

t he s e nate adopted the resolution and all other senators were made co-authors of the resolution.

Sm Investments Corp. (smIC) said it was recognized as among the top rated companies in its industry on (Diversified Financial) globally, and also among top rated companies in the a sia Pacific, in a 2023 top-r ated esg Companies list by international ratings firm morningstar sustainalytics.

smIC last month received an esg r isk r ating of 13.3 and was assessed by morningstar sustainalytics to be at low risk of experiencing material financial impacts from esg (environmental, social and governance) factors.

t he rating means smIC belongs to the strongly performing 6.7 percent of companies with the lowest esg risk score within its defined peer group.

“We are honored to be cited by morningstar sustainalytics which reflects our commitment and initiatives towards sustainability, particularly good governance and risk management,” smIC President and Ceo Frederic C. DyBuncio said.

“In this period of global uncertainty, it is important for us to affirm our investors’ and stakeholders’ confidence in the company as a stable, sustainable and responsible proxy for Philippine development and growth.”

smIC said its actions adopted to mitigate risks include investments in technology, continuous training for personnel, regular audits and implementation of policies across

the organization. t he group’s strong adherence to corporate governance, customer-focused innovation, financial prudence and attention to its sustainability strategies and progress, are vital to managing specific esg factors.

morningstar sustainalytics is a leading global provider of esg research, ratings and data. Its esg risk ratings measure a company’s exposure to industryspecific material esg risks and how well a company is managing those risks. t he esg r isk r atings cover more than 15,000 companies across 42 industries.

esg is a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance criteria.

For nearly 30 years, morningstar sustainalytics has been at the forefront of developing high-quality, innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of global investors.

m o rningstar s u stainalytics works with hundreds of the world’s leading asset managers and pension funds who incorporate e sg and corporate governance information and assessments into their investment processes. t h e firm also works with hundreds of companies and their financial intermediaries to help them consider sustainability in policies, practices, and capital projects. VG Cabuag

NG allots

₧1.2B for MSMEs

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the national government allotted a total of P1.2 billion to improve the capacity and productivity of the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises this year.

The DBM said the budget will fund the various MSME-related programs of the Department of Trade and Industry such as the establishment of “Negosyo (business) Centers,” “One Town One Product (OTOP) Nextgen” hubs and construction of shared service facilities (SSF). “MSMEs serve as the building blocks of the economy. Dahil dito, sinisikap po ng pamahalaan na palakasin ang MSMEs at alalayan sila sa pagbangon, especially from the challenges that hindered their growth, such as the pandemic,” DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said last Thursday. [Because of this the government strives to strengthen our MSMEs and support them in recovering, especially from the challenges that hindered their growth such as the pandemic.]

“Following the directive of President Marcos Jr., sisiguruhin po natin na patuloy na popondohan ang mga programang tutulong at magpapalakas sa mga MSME,” Pangandaman added. [We will ensure the continuous funding of programs that would help and strengthen MSMEs.]

The DBM said P583 million of the P1.2-billion total budget for MSMErelated programs is allocated for the implementation of the MSME Development Plan and similar government programs.

The DBM added that about P487 million will be used for the establishment of “Negosyo Centers” nationwide. These centers are “MSME-support offices of the government that operates to promote ease of doing business and facilitate access to services for MSMEs,” according to the DBM.

Meanwhile, the DBM said the “OTOP Next Gen” program would receive P97 million. The program seeks to assist MSMEs in “product development initiatives, training and referral, among others, to level up the products in design, quality, and volume.”

“The OTOP program enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services that are rooted in their respective local cultures, community resources, creativity, connection, and competitive advantages,” the DBM said.

Lastly, the SSF program, which aims to provide MSMEs access to sophisticated and modern machines and equipment to improve the quality of their products, would get P80 million, the DBM said.

Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas

DOF wants uniform 5% corn tariffs

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

Part of the proposed legislation, however, is a mandatory review of the tariffs slapped on the concerned commodities, including corn, which currently stand at 35 percent of inquota imports and 50 percent for out-quota volume.

Corn is a vital raw material for animal feeds, especially those consumed by pigs and chickens.

cos’s Executive Order 10, the tariff rates on corn would be 5 percent of in-quota volume and 15 percent for out-quota volume.

February but core inflation rose to 7.8 percent, the highest since March 1999 when core inflation was at 8.1 percent.

The legislative measure aims to earmark tariffs collected from meat and dairy imports to boost domestic livestock, poultry and dairy production akin to what the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law started with the rice sector.

Finances top Millennials’ concerns–CIMB study

By Cai U. Ordinario @caiordinario

FINANCIAL limitations were

cited by Filipino Millennials as the biggest barrier in pursuing their life’s purpose as half of them are not pursuing their life purpose, according to a study commissioned by CIMB Bank PH.

The study was done in collaboration with Southeast Asia consumer research agency Milieu Insight Pte. Ltd. and the Ateneo Business Resource Center of the Ateneo de Manila University John Gokongwei School of Management.

CIMB Bank Philippines Chief Marketing Officer D’Artagnan M. Aguilar said that the company will soon launch an active financial literacy campaign and offer meaningful financial products as an advocacy for the Filipino millennials.

“To learn that half of the Filipino millennials are not actively pursuing what they think they’re meant to do, their life purpose because of financial limitations, we took it upon ourselves to let them know that CIMB is here to encourage them to live their life purpose,” Aguilar said.

“We will provide better accessible financial solutions and financial literacy awareness to help them and our customers achieve their life goals,” he added. The data also showed more

than half or 51 percent of Millennials want to change their careers because their jobs do not provide for their financial needs.

Only one in three respondents said their career is completely aligned with what they initially wanted to pursue while only one in four feel they are financially secure.

Given this, the data showed 88 percent of the respondents think their finances are necessary to pursue their passion while 79 percent said they need financial support to pursue their life’s purpose.

Aguilar also revealed that the study and partnerships with Ateneo and Milieu Insight are the first steps in repositioning the CIMB Bank PH brand with purpose at the center.

“We will focus all efforts in making the CIMB brand in the Philippines as the digital banking service provider that helps our customers pursue their life purpose,” Aguilar said.

CIMB Bank Philippines is a commercial bank providing innovative mobile-first digital banking solutions and services. It is currently serving more than 6.5 million Filipinos and over 2 million lending customers.

Since its establishment in 2018, it has garnered 82 prestigious international awards and is a leader in digital banking product and services in the Philippines.

Asia bond traders have reasons to stay calm despite hawkish Federal Reserve

ASIA bonds look better placed than their emergingmarket peers to withstand further volatility after surprisingly hawkish remarks by the Federal Reserve’s chair deepened a selloff in Treasuries.

Relative to Emerging Markets regions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Latin America (LatAm), Asian notes have displayed lower sensitivity to Treasury yield moves due to generally more robust fundamentals.

Proximity to China’s economy, the world’s second biggest, also helps reduce the impact in the region from US developments.

That may insulate Asia debt from market swings if February US nonfarm payrolls data on Friday surprises: 10-year Treasury yields jumped 13 basis points after January figures showed an unexpectedly sizable increase on February 3.

Asian bonds on average have shown a daily correlation to Treasuries over a 90-day period of 0.13, with the same gauge for EMEA and LatAm higher at 0.45 and 0.29 respectively. Sharp swings in Treasury yields after Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s hawk-

ish remarks Tuesday highlighted continued elevated volatility in the US debt market. That may boost the appeal of Asian bonds due to their relatively low beta, a measure of an asset’s volatility compared with the overall market.

“Expect regional Asia localcurrency bonds to continue to trade on a lower beta basis relative to Treasury yields given the better visibility to the peak rate,” said Winson Phoon, head of fixed income research at Maybank Securities Pte in Singapore. The region also benefits from easing core inflation and currency stability, he said.

Policy rates in several major Asian economies are either at or approaching terminal levels.

Bank Indonesia has signaled that no more rate hikes are needed, while benchmark rates in India and South Korea appear close to peak levels, according to median of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Malaysia held policy rates at 2.75 percent last Thursday, in its second straight decision to keep policy unchanged.

Core inflation in Thailand and Indonesia has fallen for two con-

Kailangang i-reduce natin iyong tariff na sa corn to 5 percent; uniform 5 percent. Napakaimportante kasi iyong corn sa production ng hogs and poultry.” Diokno said in an earlier press briefing. [We have to reduce the tariff on corn to 5 percent, uniform 5 percent. Corn is important in the production of hogs and poultry.]

The Marcos Jr. administration extended until the end of this year the reduced tariff rates on corn imports as part of its measures to temper accelerating food prices. Under Mar-

International agencies have earlier projected that the country’s corn imports in market year 2022 to 2023 could reach one million metric tons on the back of the extension of lower tariffs on the commodity and anticipated easing of global prices.

Local feed millers have been supportive of the lowering of corn tariffs, arguing that it would allow the country to source cheaper raw materials abroad amid high local prices and tight supply.

The Marcos government has been grappling with rising prices driven mainly by food and rising costs of agriculture inputs.

Last Tuesday, the Philippine Statistics Authority said that headline inflation slowed to 8.6 percent in

Core inflation excludes certain highly volatile food and non-food items. It started increasing in March 2022 when it increased to 2.2 percent from February 2022.

The PSA said this means core inflation has been steadily increasing for the past 13 to 14 months.

(Full story here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2023/03/07/ inflation-slows-down-to-8-6-infebruary-psa/)

The Tariff Commission is set to conduct its mandated review of the country’s most favored nation rates on all imported goods as part of its mandate under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act. The review would result in the final MFN rates of the Philippines for the years 2024 to 2028.

Bank taps software firm for pay platform

By VG Cabuag @villygc

SECURITY Bank Corp. an-

nounced it has chosen the enterprise payment platform solution of software company ACI Worldwide Inc. for the bank’s ability to strengthen its real-time payment capabilities.

The partnership will see ACI Worldwide accelerate Security Bank’s digital transformation journey, helping the bank stay ahead of evolving customer and regulatory demands. It can provide full payment hub capabilities for low- and high-value payments, including payment processing, domestic scheme gateways and SWIFT on ISO 20022 standards on a single platform, the companies said.

ACI Worldwide’s real-time payment platform and modern architecture ensure that Security Bank can provide secure services across consumers, merchants and corporate payments with emerging and new payment types. By providing payments solution and global domain expertise, Security Bank will be a market leader in payments innovation in the Philippines, the companies said. The Philippines’ payment system is on the verge of modernization, and

the integration of its financial structure is essential to ensure significant economic benefits, the lender said. It added that the partnership between ACI Worldwide and Security Bank is a milestone for the bank’s payments modernization efforts and enables the bank to play a key role in helping the nation reap the benefits of real-time payments domestically and across the region.

Stephen John Bell, senior vice president (SVP) and channels network group head of Security Bank, was quoted in a statement as saying that “with the Philippine payments system primed for rapid growth, we require a technology platform that is scalable and can be modified as our customers’ needs and demands evolve.”

Brand promise

BELL added that they believe the lender’s partnership with ACI “will enable us to provide our customers with a seamless real-time payments experience, aligned with [our] brand promise.”

In its disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange last March 1, Security Bank said it posted a 53-percent increase in net income to P10.6 billion last year, “driven by growth in core businesses, lower credit provi-

sions and normalized income tax provisions.”

“ACI Worldwide is the APAC (AsiaPacific) leader in real-time payments transformation. Our robust solutions go from powering country-wide real-time payment ecosystems to interconnecting cross-border real-time payments networks and enabling the integration of different types of payments into a single, unified, intelligent, cloud-native, payment hub. By utilizing ACI Worldwide’s technology, Security Bank will be able to bring new products and services to customers faster, add new payment alternatives seamlessly and cost-effectively to its existing core infrastructure, and tap into ACI Worldwide’s payment ecosystem in the APAC region,” Leslie Choo, SVP and managing director for APAC of ACI Worldwide, said.

ACI Worldwide has a track record of implementing critical realtime ISO 20022 payments ecosystems and central infrastructures across APAC countries. It provides the central infrastructure for Indonesia’s BI-FAST, one of the world’s largest real-time payment initiatives, which will incorporate 135 banks as well as merchants and payment service providers when fully implemented.

Associations and Japanese life philosophies

secutive months, while the gauge for South Korea decelerated in February for the first time in six months.

Asian resilience COMPARED with global EM counterparts, market sentiment in Asia is relatively more affected by the outlook for China. That has a bearing on currencies such as the won, Taiwan dollar and ringgit, in turn affecting unhedged bond returns based on local-currency rates.

In addition, Asian bonds are perceived to have better credit risk relative to their global emerging-market peers, which leads to a smaller selloff following signs of tightening US financial conditions. The average five-year credit-default swap for Asian bonds stands at 70 basis points, below the 147 basis points for EMEA notes and 151 basis points for Latin American peers.

Latin American bonds are also more susceptible to US yield moves due to the stronger trade links and the tendency by policy makers such as those in Mexico to hike in lockstep with the Fed. Bloomberg News

IHAVE always been fascinated by Japanese philosophies, culture and traditions since I first set foot in Japan in the early 1990s and took many more trips over the years. It always amazes me that people I’ve met and became friends with have been in touch with me even until now.

Values like thinking first of others, respect for elders, decisionmaking by consensus, knowing your role, and doing your best are some of the things I have learned from my Japanese friends. So, when I read “14 Japanese Concepts that Will Help You See Life in a Different Light,” written by Mihai Andrei and featured on the Zem Science website, I thought I’d share five concepts or philosophies that will resonate well with associations.

1. Ikigai. Iki in Japanese means “life” and gai means “value or worth.” Together, these two words mean “reason for being” or purpose. An association exists because of its purpose which guides it to fulfill its mission and articulate its vision. It has been proven in studies that associations that kept and lived their purpose despite changes in their midst have succeeded and thrived. Another essential element of having ikigai is finding one’s passion which is exactly what an association is all about: the passion to serve its members.

2. Omoiyari. Omoi means “thought” and yari, which is derived

from yaru, means “to give or send” and literally, to “give your thoughts to others,” which relates to sympathy and empathy for others.

People empathy has been one of the key traits that organizations, including associations, have learned to focus on more during the pandemic. Omoiyari also connotes an understanding of the experience of others as well as anticipating other people’s needs and concerns which again is within the ambit of associations when dealing with their members.

3. Gaman. This means to do one’s best during distressed times and to maintain self-control and discipline.

Associations have managed to show strength and to be resilient during the pandemic by continually serving their members despite the odds. Gaman also translates to virtues of perseverance, patience, or tolerance, qualities that association leaders have to hold, especially during these tough times.

4. Mottainai. This is an expression of a feeling of regret when something is wasted without deriving its full value.

Recently, the term has been used by environmentalists to encourage people to reduce, reuse, and recycle; in short, being mindful of the use of the Earth’s resources which fits very well with the concepts of sustainability. Associations have embarked on their own mottainai, i.e., developing legacy programs using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as their framework.

5. Kaizen. This is a fusion of two Japanese words: kai (change) and zen (for the better) that translate to “good change” or “change for the better.”

Kaizen has evolved to mean “continuous improvement,” becoming a Japanese business philosophy that entails people involvement and productivity in a gradual and methodical process. In the context of associations, kaizen can be applied, among others, to knowing your member better, being where your members are, empowering people, and being transparent. More on this in my column last November 18, 2022, entitled, “Associations and Kaizen” (https://businessmirror. com.ph/2022/11/18/associationsand-kaizen/).

Octavio Peralta is currently the executive director of the UN Global Compact Network Philippines and founder and volunteer CEO of the Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the “association of associations.” E-mail: bobby@ pcaae.org.

THE Finance department is pushing for the permanent reduction of corn tariffs to a uniform 5 percent as part of a legislation that seeks to improve local meat production, noting it would lead to more affordable meat products in the market.

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno disclosed that one of the long-term measures to address accelerating inflation is the passage of the livestock, poultry and dairy development and competitiveness enhancement bill.

JELICA R. ENRIQUEZ assistant professor of the Business Intelligence and Analytics Program of the School of Management and Information Technology

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

Lessons from an OFW

IWAS excited to come home.

boarded the plane on my return flight to Manila. The thrill of traveling abroad after the height of the pandemic had worn off. My feet had blisters. My arms were sore. Dark circles formed under my eyes due to lack of sleep. Travel fatigue was creeping in. For the first time, I did not want to stay behind in a foreign land. I just wanted to fly back home and sleep in my own bed.

A Filipino female passenger was waiting for me as I walked toward my assigned seat. “Hello!” she said, flashing a wide smile. After a week of communicating with foreigners, I felt at ease to be seated with her.

Sayang baggage,” she said. She recounted how the security officers at the boarding gate collected bottles of lotion from her hand luggage. “I was supposed to give them to my sister,” she said.

My seatmate is a mother of two from Cavite. She is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW). She has been working in Singapore as a domestic helper for 10 years. Her female employer is Singaporean. Her employer’s husband is Malaysian. The grandmother also shares space with them.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are approximately two million OFWs deployed to different countries. More than half of the OFWs are women, and a significant number of them work as caregivers or domestic helpers. In Servants of Globalization esteemed study on female OFWs, she found out that her respondents felt estranged in their migrant community.

Recalling how some foreign employers treat Filipino migrant workers, I asked my seatmate how her employer is.

“Oh, she is kind to me,” she raved. “She and her husband are considerate,” she said.

I also asked if she receives a fair compensation. She smiled. “The grandmother even gave me SG$700 (P29,000) as baon for my Philippine trip,” she shared.

Her primary house duties are cooking and cleaning. She boils vegetables and steams fish. Her Malaysian employer is not a fan of herbs and spices.

“They do not like Filipino food because they find it too salty,” she chuckled.

Her accommodation and food are provided by her employer. The grandmother even gives her a hefty bonus every Christmas. She considers herself lucky because domestic helpers usually pay more than SG$800 (P33,000) for rent and food every month.

We briefly talked about politics. “Did you watch it on YouTube? I can’t believe they are a corrupt family!” she exclaimed. We talked about Singapore’s impressive train and bus systems. She gave me tips on

where to buy chocolates. “Chocolates in Lucky Plaza are cheaper than the ones in Mustafa,” she remarked.

The late afternoon sun emanated yellow and orange hues as we stared out the window. She tapped my arm.

“When you were in Singapore, did you notice the sun was still up at seven o’clock in the evening?” she asked. She explained that the designated time zone involves trading affairs. The time zone has to be synchronized with Singapore’s major business partners, including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan. “That’s what my employer told me,” she said. With Christmas around the corner, I asked if she would spend the next two months in the Philippines. She shook her head. Her relatives expected that they would receive boxes of chocolates, perfumes, clothes and other souvenirs. “They think OFWs are living the good life,” she griped.

The last time she returned to the Philippines was 2018. There were vacation plans in 2020, but the Covid-19 pandemic happened. “I miss home-cooked

Filipino food, my friends, and my kids. Especially my kids,” she said.

The pilot instructed the cabin crew to prepare for landing. As the plane slowly descended in the capital, the radiant lights from the buildings ignited the city highways. Bodies of water emerged in view. She poignantly looked at the window. “The Philippines is so beautiful,” she said.

She pulled out her mobile phone to show me a photo of her two children. Her 24-year-old daughter is beautiful and bright-eyed, while her 10-year-old son gave a cheeky smile in the photo. “I’m excited to see them,” she beamed with pride as she swiped through the photos. I saw her for the last time in the immigration area. Her face lit up, and she waved when she recognized me. Clearly, she was also excited to come home. But for her, home is not sleeping in the comfort of her own bed. For her, home is where she belongs. After being away for years, she could finally return home to the arms of her children. ■

Bringing hope to 80,000 Filipino children and youth through peacebuilding project

ON Zero Discrimination Day on March 1, Save the Children Philippines, with the support of the European Union, spearheaded the launch of the Supporting an Enabling Atmosphere for Children and Youth Network for Peacebuilding Goals or Senang (Serenity and Happiness in Malay) Project.

It will be implemented within the next three years in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including urban and rural areas from Muslim dominant conflict-affected communities in the Philippines.

Senang’s primary objective is to ensure that 80,000 children and youth in Mindanao will live in a peaceful environment. To do this, the project will contribute

in preventing human-induced conflicts, respond to crises, foster children and youth’s meaningful participation on social cohesion, provide opportunities for intergenerational, intercultural, and interreligious dialogues, create safe and neutral spaces, and promotion of peace and tolerance through arts and culture.

“The EU is a reliable, trusted and neutral partner supporting peace and development in Mindanao,” said Frederic Grillet, first secretary for the political, press and information section of the EU Delegation to the Philippines.

“This meaningful project aligns and supports the existing peace efforts and initiatives of the government and other

relevant agencies whose aims are to prevent conflict, respond to crisis and build peace, reflecting how the key roles of children and young people play in the achievement of a peaceful society,” Grillet said.

“We continue our commitment to seek durable solutions and bridge the humanitarian-peace-justice and development nexus. Peace education and inclusive spaces of children and youth participation are our key approaches that will drive our goal to provide a fair and equal world for and with children,” said Atty.

Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children Philippines.

“We believe it is vital for all of us to work together to address the root causes

of conflict. We could do this by actively engaging residents, especially the youth, in the affected communities in countering conflicts and facilitating peace-promoting approaches,” said Susana Guadalupe Marcaida, executive director of local conflict transformation and peace sustainability of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

The event was attended by representatives from OPAPRU, Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)-INNOTECH, the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission, and various ministries and youth groups in BARMM.

to avoid a negative response from someone who likes to complain or make you look bad.

★★★★

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Explore the possibilities and implement change. What you learn from an expert will give you hope for a brighter future. Opportunity knocks and partnerships look promising. Keep your plans simple and affordable; the payoff will be better than anticipated. ★★★

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stand up and be counted. Add your point of view and see if it stirs up controversy that can bring about positive change. Don’t shy away from making a difference; embrace doing your part and spinning it into a way to grow. ★★★

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Go the distance, and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results. Get your house in order and your mind made up about how you spend your downtime. Look for outlets that excite you and people who offer mental stimulation. ★★★

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take nothing for granted. You’ll only have yourself to blame if you are too trusting. If something sounds sketchy, dig deeper or back away altogether. Protect your rights, reputation and your assets from lofty individuals trying to take advantage of you. ★★★★

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Slow down, think matters through and take a unique path that encourages the pursuit of knowledge. Evaluate relationships, what they mean to you and how they contribute to your goal. Honesty is mandatory when it comes to close connections. ★★

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Trust and believe in yourself; you’ll gain support and momentum. If you want to make changes at home, do the work yourself to save money and build the confidence you need to make your dreams come true. Don’t be shy; commit. ★★★★★

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Stretch your imagination, and you’ll devise a plan that encourages you to handle money, responsibilities and prospects sensibly. A routine that promotes self-improvement or a trendy image will give you leverage at functions that mix business with pleasure. ★★★

BIRTHDAY BABY:

You are sensitive, passionate and helpful. You are intense and persuasive.

‘musical parts’ BY JILL SINGER AND JEFF CHEN

The Universal Crossword/Edited by Anna Gundlach

Solution

of

SineMargaha: Summoning the Waves and the Sea

DA STANDS BY prOSECuTOr IN AlEC BAlDwIN SET-SHOOTINg CASE

SaNTa FE, New Mexico—a district attorney in Santa Fe fought back on Monday against efforts to disqualify the special prosecutor pursuing manslaughter charges against actor alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set.

Baldwin’s legal team in February sought to disqualify special prosecutor and Republican state Rep. andrea Reeb of Clovis based on constitutional provisions that safeguard the separation of powers between distinct branches of government.

Defense attorneys argued that Reeb’s role as a state lawmaker and prosecutor are incompatible and could distort legislative and judicial actions, including state spending on the prosecution of Baldwin over the 2021 shooting on the set of the Western movie Rust

Santa Fe District attorney Mary Carmack-altwies on Monday called the objection a “novel theory that has no support in new Mexico statutes or case law.”

She said the state constitution provides a variety of safeguards against legislators interfering with the outcome of ongoing court cases.

any attempt by Ms. Reeb as a legislator to influence the outcome of this trial would be completely ineffective,” Carmack-altwies said in a court filing.

Since joining the legislature in January, Reeb has steered clear of voting on public spending to prosecute Baldwin and film-set weapons supervisor hannah gutierrez-Reed. She was excused from a house floor vote in February on a proposed state budget that includes $360,000 for special prosecution expenses in the fatal film-set shooting.

Baldwin and gutierrez-Reed have pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of cinematographer halyna hutchins. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 18-months in prison and fines.

hutchins died shortly after being wounded October 21, 2021, during rehearsals at a ranch on the outskirts of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a pistol at hutchins when the gun went off, killing her and wounding the director, Joel Souza. a likely preliminary hearing is still months away to decide whether evidence is sufficient to proceed to trial.

Prosecutors say assistant director David halls, who oversaw safety on set, has signed an agreement to plead guilty in the negligent use of a deadly weapon. a judge is scheduled to consider approval of the plea agreement later this month.

Prosecution in the death of hutchins is currently underwritten by an emergency state grant, approved in September 2022 by the State Board of Finance that is led by gov. Michelle Lujan grisham.

Reeb is listed as a sponsor or cosponsor on several criminal justice initiatives, including enhanced punishments for firearms violations, as legislators

Margaha Beach ceased to be just sand, sea, wind and waves one late afternoon in February. a film festival honoring the place, which is also inspired by the artistic activism of Nunelucio alvarado, is in its fourth year. This year, the event began on February 22 and culminated on the 25th with the awarding ceremonies. The end of the pandemic has brought back a face-to-face celebration right on the famed beach of Sagay City.

as early as four in the afternoon, huge kites were flying above us, pushed by the wind from the asuncion Pass and the vast Visayan sea. a huge screen was placed in front of Kape albarako, which stood beside another massive bamboo house serving as the residence of alvarado, the social realist. While the public announcement had been signaling the beginning of the program, the organizers had to respect the light that was slowly and gracefully ebbing. It would be past five, with the dimness optimal enough to allow the images on the white screen to appear when the 2023 SineMargaha began. The host, summoning the waves and the sea, opened the festival. Those words reminded me of the bravura opening of the 1st Margaha Festival, when a stage was floated on the sea. Buffeted by the strong current, the country’s flag waved mightily that night as the national anthem soared above the roar of the sea and the wind. It was a supremely dramatic opening—a tough act to follow.

Flash forward to post-pandemic: eight films qualified for the competition. Three would stand out among the rest: Ang Kining Ambahanon kag Binalaybay Ko para sa Imo (This Song and Poetry for You), Pandayunon (a combination of the words “pandayon,” meaning “to build or fix”; and “padayon,” which points “to continue”), and 1942

1942 is significant in its subject matter—the cruelty of war that we should never have fought, presently lost among generations that tend to forget histories. Finely edited by Kent Raven ardeña who also directed it, the film fuses archival footage with the memories of actors who could only imagine such an unimaginable past of their city. Its mise-en-scene of the raped girl supine on a table watched over by the flag of the Rising Sun (in contrast to the Hinomaru, which is a single red dot on a white field) eloquently stops the film. The dramatization that follows, however, weakens the film, which should be about gallant rememberings and not about histrionics. 1942 was given the Special Jury Prize.

Pandayunon has a powerful premise: cinema as advocacy. It tells the story of a grandfather who takes care of his autistic grandson. The conceit of the screenplay, which plays the continuous sound of the metal against fire and metal, and the struggle of a boy

Japanese film festival unreels at SM cinemas

Cinema, brought back the on-site screenings of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) with its award-winning and must-see full-length films simultaneously screened at SM City Baguio, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM City Davao.

During the opening ceremony at SM City Davao, The Japan Foundation, Manila director Ben Suzuki welcomed guests with a video message, while hon. Ishikawa Yoshihisa, consul

festival at SM City Davao with a toast. guests at SM City Davao opening ceremony witnessed the drama/ thriller film In The Wake directed by Zeze Takahisa. The film follows a series of baffling serial killings where the victims were tied up and left to starve. Tone (Satoh Takeru) who was just released from prison after serving his sentence surfaces as a suspect but detective Tomashiro (abe hiroshi) cannot nail down a conclusive proof.

who hears everything and senses all the stimuli at the same time in equal measure, is the film’s strength. Even without articulating autism, the film is able to present the tender story of an old man isolated from the rest of the community with the child separated from the world of proper senses. Technically an all-woman enterprise with the screenplay written by Merry grace Mission and directed by Jo-ane Pitogo, Pandayunon is a mother coping with her son’s condition, employing an instinct and skill that are maternal and artistic at the same time. It was awarded Best Sound for Joshua genelaso and Best Cinematography for Jessie Soberano. RZ Trudebert Magpusao, who played the autistic boy, won the award for Best Supporting actor. Pandayunon received the Margaha Excellence in Film, the second-highest prize in the festival.

Ang Kining Ambahanon kag Binalaybay Ko para sa Imo was declared the SineMargaha Best Short Film for 2023. Citing its simplicity, which also implies a respect for the character of a short film, the jury notes how the two characters in the film challenge the always idealized notion of family, creating a narrative that is realistic as it is magical. The journey of the grandfather and the young girl cutting across landscape and terrains is an achievement in film language, where time and space are conjured and not built. Its lead, Dante Macam, is a disarming presence, full of humor and wisdom. Brian Ferraro is the artist behind the musical score and the best original soundtrack, “Mingaw nga Oras,” a rhythm and melody I particularly connect with the small-town dances, reeking of nostalgia and bittersweetness, the

Margaha sound

Ambahanon won the Best Director for Kent John Desamparado and the Best Screenplay for Crispel Jhun Ducay, college and senior high school students, respectively. In another film, Lubong (Burial), a young actor, Jose alboro, would steal our hearts away. In the role of a boy who is taking care of his grandmother, Jose did all the household chores with the skills of an actor who knew his craft. his performance was the best the film could offer.

The jurors for Sine Margaha were: Chai Fonacier, international indie actor; arden Rod Condez, multiawarded filmmaker; Kenneth Ian Rivera, literary artist; Rod Florentino, broadcaster; and Tito genova Valiente, film educator and a member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino.

helen Cutillar, the city’s tourism and information chief, served as the festival director, assisted by Mark Raymund L. garcia, a prize-winning director.

Welcome speeches from local leaders were reassuring—artists were not the only ones into culture and arts. The vice mayor of the city, Leo Rafael Cueva, welcomed us to the event, citing the value of culture in the lives of the people. The representative of the 2nd district, Cong. alfredo D. Marañon III (fondly addressed as Thirdy), to which Sagay belongs, was there—expansive about the support his government is ready to give to undertakings like this. he even called some of the pioneering filmmakers in the city, like Jun Marl alconga and Mark garcia, to express his admiration of their works. The local governments wholly funded SineMargaha. n

Cinemagoers from Baguio, Cebu, and Davao also had the opportunity to watch other Japanese Film Festival

These included animated films Belle by hosoda Mamoru and Inu-Oh by Yuasa Masaaki; drama/youth/ animation film Blue Thermal by Tachibana Masaki; drama films Blue by Keisuke Yoshida, And So The Baton Is Passed by Maeda Tetsu, In Anime Supremacy! by Yoshino Kohei, and Every Day A Good Day by Omori Tatsushi; drama/suspense film Intolerance by director Keisuke Yoshida; and drama/ thriller film Lesson in Murder by

Shiraishi Kazuya.

Launched in 1997, the Japanese Film Festival (JFF), formerly known and appreciated in the Philippines as EIgaSaI, is presented and run by the Japan Foundation, Manila. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest film festivals featuring a wide variety of cinematic delights from drama, anime, and mystery to recently released films. JFF also brings guests from Japan for special talks and discussions.

The Japanese Film Festival is one of the exciting cultural events at SM Cinemas.

THE drama/thriller film In The Wake directed by Zeze Takahisa was the film showed at the SM City Davao opening ceremony.

HON. Ishikawa Yoshihisa, consul general of Japan in Davao (right) and engr. Jonathan Nick D. Santos, assistant vice president for Mindanao of SM Supermalls toast to signify the opening of the Japanese Film Festival in SM City Davao.

BEN SuZukI, The Japan Foundation, Manila director, welcomes guests to the opening ceremony of the Japanese Film Festival at SM City Davao.

THE film In The Wake directed by Zeze Takahisa follows a series of baffling serial killings where the victims were tied up and left to starve.

A Win for the PHL: MPIC’s mWell Heralded at 2023 GLOMO Awards

cybersecurity experts, brings health care closer to Filipinos wherever they may be. At their fingertips, users have access to quality but affordable health care and wellness programs anytime, anywhere. It breaks down geographic boundaries through technology, giving 24/7 access to primary care doctors, specialists, mind health experts, home care experts, emergency services, fitness, and food and nutrition programs.

METRO Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC)’s health technology platform, mWell, clinched the most coveted Global Mobile (GLOMO) Award for the Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life in the recently concluded awards ceremony held during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

mWell emerged as the sole winner from the Philippines across all categories of the technology sector’s most prestigious accolade, cementing MPIC’s thrust as a leading conglomerate, not only in the infrastructure landscape, but in the digital sphere as well.

“Digitalization is pivotal in MPIC’s commitment to ushering national progress,” says MPIC Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan. “Shepherding advancements across all essential sectors, primarily health, furthers our mission to improve the lives of all Filipinos.”

Fortifying the MVP Group’s continuous digital transformation to empower Filipinos through technology, MPIC’s mWell is the only health care app among the convenor organizations and supporting companies of the GoDigital Pilipinas (GDP) movement.

The GLOMO Awards, known as the

Oscars of the mobile industry, enlists the professional expertise of more than 200 independent judges from across the world, comprised of leading industry and subject matter experts, analysts, journalists, and academics. It celebrates companies, individuals, and governments who have driven the greatest innovation in mobile and adjacent industries.

As technology continues to fuse the boundaries between physical and digital, the Digital Everything category is among six categories that recognizes brands that are winning in creating services that are at the forefront of this digital shift.

GSMA Ltd. CEO John Hoffman commented, “In another year when staying connected proved to be more important than ever, we received an incredible number of entries showcasing amazing innovation which is redefining what it means to work together. Huge congratulations to mWell. The GLOMO Awards were set up to the most forward-looking innovation and sheer brilliance our sector has to offer, and mWell undeniably fits the bill.”

Believing that uplifting the lives of Filipinos is a prerequisite to national progress, mWell, the country’s first fully integrated and fully digital health and wellness app vetted by data privacy and

Receiving this award places mWell among the very best and most compelling services that allow people to do more through their mobile device and in better ways than ever before. It likewise continues to blaze trails in digital healthcare, becoming the number 1 health and fitness app in the Google Play Store.

“Your appreciation of our efforts inspires us to keep going and to remain at the forefront of digital healthcare in the Philippines,” said MPIC Chief Finance, Risk, and Sustainability Officer and mWell CEO Chaye Cabal-Revilla in her acceptance speech. “As the country’s first and only health and wellness mega app, our innovative digital solutions continue to respond to our country’s needs, ensuring good health, and enabling economic productivity and nation-building through a fully integrated, sustainable, and futureproof digital platform.”

mWell’s GLOMO Award for Best Mobile Innovation for Digital Life, emphasizes MPIC’s resolve to be the largest catalyst for a Sustainable Philippines. It is also aligned with the efforts of the conglomerate to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), primarily SDG 3 Good Health and WellBeing, which aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, and SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

Award winning Singapore-based AECO Energy expands to the Philippines to offer energy software solutions

PARK PLACE II CEBU BREAKS GROUND. Pueblo de Oro Development Corporation is on track to deliver more quality residences in one of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu's most desirable neighborhoods, as it breaks ground for the model units of Park Place II in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City. Park Place II is a 3.7-hectare suburban village that features 194 single-attached, three-bedroom housing units within the Pueblo de Oro Townscapes Lapu-Lapu township. Located near the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) T-intersection and a 15-minute drive from Cebu City, it is the only house and lot project of its kind in Lapu-Lapu. In photo during the ceremony are, from left, PDO Cebu Credit and Collection Manager Brenda Bacad; Assistant Manager for Sales and Marketing Haiza Tovilla; PDO Vice President and General Manager for Visayas Ronald Allan Uy; Babag Barangay Captain Arsenio Berdin; PDO Vice President for Sales and Marketing Lemuel Branal; and PDO Cebu Assistant Vice President for Operations Engr. Benjamin Roleda.

Megaworld formally begins development of Northwin Global City, Bulacan’s first ever CBD

PROPERTY giant Megaworld is formally beginning the construction of Bulacan’s first-ever central business district (CBD), which is envisioned to become a major catalyst for economic growth and development in the province dubbed as the “gateway to Northern Philippines.”

Megaworld is investing P98 billion to develop the 85-hectare Northwin Global City along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) into a “global business district” for Bulacan. The development is envisioned to mirror the same kind of vibrancy and dynamism that characterizes Megaworld’s other pioneering township developments like Eastwood City in Quezon City, Uptown Bonifacio and McKinley Hill in Taguig City, and Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao, Iloilo.

“We are delighted to finally bring our vision for Bulacan’s first-ever global business district to reality here in Northwin Global City. It is both a pleasure and an honor to work together with the Provincial Government of Bulacan, as well as the two progressive municipalities of Marilao and Bulacan. We hope to be able to add great value to them and their respective constituents by helping create jobs and opportunities as we continue developing Northwin Global City into Bulacan’s very own world-class central business district,” says Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld.

In 2022, the province of Bulacan bagged the 2022 Most Business-Friendly Province award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). It was also named as the 10th Most Competitive Province in the country by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and was cited for its stellar good governance practices after receiving its sixth Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Straddling the municipalities of Marilao and Bocaue in Bulacan and located just 20 kilometers away from Metro Manila, Northwin Global City features a 16-hectare CBD called “Northwin Main Street.” The

AECO Energy, an energy technology and services company, has announced the launch of its operations in the Philippines. Aimed at driving market efficiency in the energy market, AECO Energy’s goals are to lower the cost of electricity for contestable customers and to partner with retail electricity suppliers (RES) to automate customer acquisitions.

With over 3,000 contestable customers and over 40 national RES present in the market, the expansion of AECO Energy has come at an opportune time with around 50 percent of the AECO Group’s total workforce already based in the Philippines. The expansion will allow AECO Energy to provide local support for its upcoming customers and retail partners. The new offices are located in Alabang, Muntinlupa and Taguig City. This new opening marks the third country of operations for AECO Energy with Singapore as the headquarters and Australia as the second country of operations.

“Our team is very excited about this next step. We have been growing organically since we started our operations in 2009 in Brisbane. We are optimistic about the prospects that await us here in the Philippines. I’m sure our 14 years of experience in delivering energy services and solutions in mature deregulated markets will be critical to our success,” said Alan Jones, CEO, Chairman, and Founder of the Asia Energy Company (AECO) Group.

AECO Energy is introducing four offerings as part of its electricity procurement and management solutions:

Portfolio: Contestable customers can outsource their electricity procurement and management to the AECO Energy experts who will take charge of aggregating electricity contracts into portfolios to take advantage of volume or bulk discounts.

MarketPro: An award-winning electricity management and procurement

platform for contestable customers who prefers to run their own reverse auction or tender.

Switch: It’s an assisted, end-to-end electricity management service from comparing RES to awarding a new electricity contract to switching to the new RES without the hassle.

BidPro: A bidding platform exclusively developed for RES to automate bidding requests from contestable customers.

“With the understanding that contestable customers’ needs are unique for every organization, our energy experts will work closely with customers to help them reduce their costs, drive efficiency, and make better buying decisions. By providing technology-based, data-led energy technology solutions, we want to create a profound impact on our customers’ business to better position them for sustainable growth in the longterm,” added Debbie Alfonso, General Manager of AECO Energy Philippines.

district, which draws inspiration from the master plan behind New York City’s Fifth Avenue, will soon feature corporate buildings, shophouses, hotels, and mixeduse commercial towers that are all just a short walk away from one another.

The township will also have several highrise residential condominiums, foremost of which is the 23-storey 9 Central Park that was launched last year. Featuring French industrial architecture inspired by Greenwich West in New York City, 9 Central Park offers 478 “smart home” units that each come with a wireless smart home system. This will provide residents the ease and convenience of controlling several features, including lighting and appliances, via a dedicated phone app.

Other features of Northwin Global City include its very own lifestyle mall, educational institutions, and curated gardens and parks that make up about 40 percent of the entire development. The township will also boast several iTownship features, such as the installation of solar-powered and LED streetlights, underground cabling system, fiber optic cabling, bike lanes, a stormwater detention facility for flood prevention, intermodal transport terminal, and other sustainable infrastructure for mobility and connectivity.

More importantly, Northwin Global City will also feature one of the stations of the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway, also known as the Manila-Clark Railway Project. Once completed, future residents, locators, and even visitors of the township will have the most convenient access to and from the Clark International Airport and the soon-to-rise New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulacan.

Northwin Global City can be easily accessed from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Makati Central Business District, and Bonifacio Global City via the Skyway 3 towards NLEX, which will only take around an hour during normal traffic.

FROM left, Michie Pamintuan, host; Alan Jones, CEO, Chairman and Founder of the Asia Energy Company (AECO) Group; Debbie Alfonso, General Manager, AECO Energy Philippines; and Mike de Mesa, National Sales Manager, AECO Energy Philippines.

FROM left, Marilao Mayor Henry R. Lutao; Meycauayan Mayor Henry Villarica; Bulacan 4th District Representative, Rep. Linabelle Villarica; Valenzuela Mayor Weslie Gatchalian, representing the development partners for Northwin Global City; Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando; Kevin L. Tan, chief executive officer, Alliance Global Group, Inc.; Bocaue Mayor Eduardo Villanueva, Jr.; Noli D. Hernandez, executive vice president for sales and marketing, Megaworld; and Cristina C. Tuzon, President, Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Jun Lomibao

Almazan subs for injured JMF in PBA All-Star

MERALCO’S Raymond Almazan was named as replacement for the injured six-time MVP June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association All Star game this weekend at the Passi Arena in Passi City, Iloilo.

“It’s a great honor to substitute for June Mar Fajardo, who is a dominant player of our time,” Almazan told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “It’s going to be fun and exciting. I’m ready.”

The 6-foot-7 Almazan was an appropriate substitute for the 6-foot-11 Fajardo, who injured his left knee during the Beermen’s game in the recent East Asia Super League Champions’ Week in Japan.

BusinessMirror learned that Fajardo—who was supposed to play for Team Japeth against Team Scottie in the Sunday spectacle—would undergo an MRI test on his knee.

A lmazan will also play in the Obstacle Challenge at the start of the Skills Challenge on Friday where he would try to unseat Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, a three consecutive champion of the event.

The other participants are NorthPort’s JM Calma, Blackwater’s Ato Ular, Converge’s Justin Arana, Terrafirma’s Joseph Gabayni, Magnolia’s James Laput, TNT’s Dave Marcelo, Phoenix’s Larry Muyang, Ginebra’s Christian Standhardinger, NLEX’s Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and San Miguel Beer’s Jeepy Faundo.

H igh-flying David Murrell of Converge, Tyrus Hill of Blackwater, Brandon Ganuelas Rosser of NLEX and Chris Lalata of Phoenix are competing in the slam dunk contest.

In the three-point contest, the candidates are Meralco’s Aaron Black, NLEX’s Kevin Alas, Phoenix’s

Tyler Tio, Ginebra’s Jeremiah Gray, Rain or Shine’s Gian Mamuyac, San Miguel Beer’s Marcio Lassiter, Blackwater’s RK Ilagan, Magnolia’s Paul Lee, NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino, Converge’s Jerrick Balanza, TnT’s RR Pogoy and Terrafirma’s Juami Tiongson.

Team Greats of Richard del Rosario and Team Stalwarts of Caloy Garcia will clash on Friday at 5:45 p.m. after the Skills Challenge. Josef Ramos

Filipinas

LOIS KAYE GO  blew a threeunder card with a faltering windup and holed out with a 72 while Rianne Malixi battled back with a solid frontside finish to salvage a 74 as the Philippines’s opening round bid ended in contrasting results in the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship at the Singapore Island County Club in Singapore on Thursday.

World No. 14 Minsol Kim also fumbled at the finish that however hardly ruined a blistering start as the Korean shot a five-under 67 at The New Course to dominate world No. 4 Rin Yoshida of Japan and recent Queen Sirikit Cup runaway individual winner Avani Prashanth in the featured threesome.

S he wrested a one-stroke lead over the troika of China’s Zixin Ni, Thai Navaporn Soontreeyapas and Hong Kong’s Sophie Han, who matched 68s, while Japanese Sayaka Teraoka, Thai Eila Galitsky and Virginie Ding, also from Hong Kong, shot identical 69s that put them in the early mix of contenders crowded by the lesser lights.

Taiwanese Ting-Hsuan Huang gunned down three birdies against a bogey to put herself on track for back-to-back championship with a 70, which local ace Jaymie Ng matched with her pair of 35s.

G o actually stood just two shots adrift of the Korean heading to her last three holes in the afternoon wave but bogeyed the 16th and dropped two strokes on the closing par-five hole that wrecked an

Angels wear down Chargers for semifinals seat

PETRO GAZZ regrouped in time to repel Akari’s upset bid with a 25-15, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16 victory and formalize its entry in the semifinals of the Premier Volleyball League

All Filipino Conference at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Thursday. Grethcel Soltones bounced back from a paltry six-point showing against the Army Lady Troopers last weekend with a 20-point explosion while Aiza Pontillas added 15 points, Remy Palma 13 points and Jonah Sabete and MJ Phillips 11 and 10 hits, respectively, as the Angels needed to toughen up to repulse the fired-up Chargers.

The victory was Petro Gazz’s fifth against two wins in a tie with idle F2 Logistics at second behind first semifinalist Creamline (6-1).

But the Angels clinched the next Final Four seat even if they lose their last eliminations game to the Chery Tiggo Crossovers on Tuesday in Iloilo City with a superior tiebreak points over the other semifinals contenders.

“

That’s our realistic goal, to be in the semifinals first,” said Petro Gazz coach Oliver Almadro said. “We’ll work hard to reach that (goal) and then let’s take it from there.”

And if the Lord will give us the opportunity to be in the finals, we’ll be happy,” he added.

TOKYO WEIGHS NESTHY DOWN

By Josef Ramos

SILVER at the Tokyo Olympics, gold at UlanUde 2019 and before that a silver at Jeju City 2014 world championships—add a silver and two bronze medals from the Asian championships and one look at Nesthy Petecio’s resume sends shivers down her opponents’ spines.

B ut Petecio hasn’t been performing at par these days. Her reason? She remains euphoric about Tokyo.

“ Until now, I’m still in cloud nine, my mindset is still resting after the Tokyo Olympics,” Petecio told BusinessMirror on Thursday. “It’s about my preparation that’s why I couldn’t perform well.”

But let’s see what will happen there,” added Petecio, referring to her upcoming women’s world championships campaign in New Delhi from March 15 to 26.

T he 30-year-old pride of Santa

Cruz in Davao del Sur failed to defend her featherweight gold medal at last year’s 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.

A nd just last February 22, she bombed out in the quarterfinals of the 74th Strandja International Boxing Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Petecio leads a small Philippine contingent to New Delhi—Tokyo Olympian Irish Magno in flyweight and Risa Pasuit and Aira Villegas, both lightweight. They will be accompanied by coaches Don Abnett, Reynaldo Galido and Mitchell Martinez.

T he team arrived in New Delhi on Thursday.

Petecio also hinted that she’s still reeling from the retirement of Nolito “Boy” Velasco, the former women’s coach of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.

“ I miss coach Boy, he really understands me in and out of the ring,” she said. “His absence really

otherwise superb start for the ace Cebuana shotmaker.

S he tumbled from joint sixth to a share of 18th, now five strokes behind Kim, who came away with a solid 31 spiked by an eagle-3 on No. 4 to produce the day’s best round.

Prashanth, who routed the field, that included Kim, Malixi and Go, at Manila Southwoods and romped away with a 10-stroke victory over Kiwi Fiona Xu, failed to flash his awesome form and lost her way in the face of Kim’s fiery start, blowing a one-under card with two bogeys in the last three holes for a 73. She slipped to joint 21st.

Worse was Yoshida, who failed to recover from a double-bogey on No. 6, hitting two birdies but fumbling with three more bogeys for a 75. She fell to tied 41st.

Malixi, joint third placer here last year in Thailand and one of the pretournament favorites, failed to get her rhythm in the last flight with 2021 champion Mizuki Hashimoto of Japan and Thai Kan Bunnabodee, limping with three bogeys on a couple of threeputts and a double bogey on the No. 17 after driving out-of-bounds against a lone birdie for a backside 40.

But the International Container Terminal Services Inc.-backed shotmaker recovered at the front, birdying the second hole and holing out with another feat for a 34 and a 74. She rebounded from joint 44th to a share of 28th but lay seven strokes off Kim.

A lso groping for 75s were world No. 5 Yuna Araki and Hashimoto, who unlike Malixi, floundered in the last nine holes with two bogeys.

Tiger Woods’s

STUART, Florida—Tiger Woods’s girlfriend wants to nullify a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) following a six-year relationship with the professional golfer.

Attorneys for Erica Herman filed a complaint seeking declaratory judgment on Monday in Martin County, Florida, circuit court, according to online court records. The couple had been living together in the area, according to the complaint. Martin County is located directly

HEAD trainer Chico Lanete and his Manila Chooks! crew collide with Dutch team Amstelveen on Friday to kick off their campaign in the FIBA 3X3 Pro League Netherlands 2023 Winter Edition Stop 1 at the Amsterdam Velodrome.

The Philippines’s No. 1 3x3 player Mac Tallo, No. 2 Brandon Ramirez and No. 3 Dennis Santos will have their hands full on Day 1 of the competitions where they take on world No. 15 Utrecht next.

A lso on the team are new additions CJ Payawal and Matt Salem.

The expectation is for the team to go all out, it’s always been our goal,” Lanete said. “I always advise my players to treat each game as their last game.

affects me a lot. I spoke with him after my defeat and Bulgaria.”

But if Tokyo still lingers in her mind, a gold in Paris, Petecio stressed, remains tops in her goal.

“ I promise to keep fighting for the Olympic gold medal whatever happens,” she said. “As what I’ve been saying, I won’t stop until I don’t win an Olympic gold.”

The Tokyo Games saw weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz win the country’s first Olympic gold medal with flyweight Carlo Paalam and middleweight Eumir Felix Marcial also clinching boxing silver and bronze medals for the country.

B oxers from 77 countries are competing in the women’s world championships that New Delhi is hosting at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall.

T he International Boxing Association is offering cash prizes in all 12 weight classes on top of the medals at the worlds—$100,000 for gold, $50,000 for silver and $25,000 for bronze.

girlfriend seeks to nullify NDA

north of Palm Beach County. Woods and Herman have not publicly announced the end of their relationship, which began in 2017. She had been seen regularly with him at major championships, such as the 2019 Masters he won for his 15th major and during his Presidents Cup captaincy in Australia later that year.

But she was not at his Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas the first week in December, or at the Genesis Invitational he hosted at Riviera

Utrecht will be a rough customer with its towering 7-foot big man Hieronymus van der List.

W hile Payawal and Salem are still learning to jive with their teammates and adjusting to 3x3 play, Lanete said he’s convinced they have what it takes to play on the FIBA stage.

They’re very excited, especially our new players,” Lanete said. “What I like most in the players are their attitude, their dedication and willingness to embrace 3x3.”

M anila Chooks! has toughened up under Serbian consultant Milan Isakov who helped trained the team for three weeks early this year.

A lso seeing action in the Level 8 tournament are world No. 5 Amsterdam, No. 20 Warsaw of Poland and world No. 21 Düsseldorf of Germany.

three weeks ago.

According to the complaint, a trust controlled by Woods is attempting to silence Herman with a nondisclosure agreement that she signed while involved in a personal and professional relationship with Woods.

The complaint argues that the NDA should be nullified under a federal law that prohibits an NDA from being enforced when sexual assault or sexual harassment is involved.

Herman previously worked at

T he Cargo Movers, on the other hand, must beat the Lady Troopers on Saturday to nail the third semifinals slot.

The Angels poised themselves for a sweep of the Chargers with convincing wins in the first two frames but the latter stunned the 2022 Open Conference runners-up with a fast start in the third, seizing an 8-3 lead.

The Angels did tie the count at 12 but the Chargers proved far from being finished, moving to set point at 24-21 on Janine Marciano’s back-toback kills before snaring the win on a Krich Macaslang attack.

Soltones delivered 16 attack points and four aces and spiked her game-long brilliance with 12 excellent receptions.

But it was Phillips who anchored the Angels’ fourth-set romp, scoring on a quick play before foiling Camille Victoria upfront to help stretch Petro Gazz’s lead to 19-11.

Phillips again hammered out a vicious kill that made 22-14 and the Angels coasted to victory aided by Marciano’s attack that hit the antenna at the finish.

E rika Raagas fired 19 points for Akari, which fell to 2-5, but no other Charger scored in double figures with Dindin Manabat settling for nine hits on in-and-out stints in the last two sets.

Joy Soyud finished with seven markers while Marciano wound up with six points.

Woods’s Jupiter restaurant. The complaint doesn’t provide details about what information Herman might want to disclose or make specific allegations against Woods.

The complain says because of “aggressive use” of the NDA, Herman is unsure whether she can disclose “facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has.” It also says she is unsure what other information about her own life she can discuss and with whom.

Woods’s manager at Excel Sports Management, Mark Steinberg, didn’t immediately respond to a phone call and text from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Manila Chooks! opens bid vs Dutch

NESTHY PETECIO strikes a pose at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before the boxing team flied to New Delhi on Wednesday.

find Singapore field tough to crack in As-Pac tilt

CHIARA PERMENTILLA (left) and Camille Victoria try to save the ball for the Akari Chargers.

Motoring

FIRST-EVER BMW IX3 DEBUTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Story & photos by Randy

S. Peregrino

BMW’s official importer and distributor

in the Philippines, SMC Asia Car Distributors Corporation, recently brought in the first-ever BMW iX3 as the brand’s second fully electric vehicle. The iX3 Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) offers emissionfree driving pleasure with the renowned BMW sporting ability, comfort, and multi-faceted functionality.

We are proud to say that BMW in the Philippines now has a product that flawlessly combines the familiarity of BMW’s Sports Activity Vehicle DNA and the excellent capability of a fully electric motor. The iX3 is the perfect choice for customers who want to take their first step toward a truly sustainable driving experience,” said Spencer Yu, President of SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp. “We are hoping that the recent issuance of Executive Order No. 12, reducing export taxes for electric vehicles, will help shift the market towards electrification in order to create a more sustainable planet for future generations”.

Visual showcase

EXTERIOR-WISE , the iX3 displays the typical proportions of an SAV espoused by BMW X models. The front apron and BMW kidney grille are primarily enclosed, while the rear end has also been sculpted to reduce

air resistance. The Philippine variant is available with the “Inspiring” equipment line. This standard specification comprises many details, including the M Aerodynamic Package, M high-gloss Shadow line, M roof rails, aerodynamically designed 19” light-alloy wheels, and Adaptive LED headlights.

Eco-friendly inside

UNDERSTATED blue accents in the interior allude to the presence of the vehicle’s electric drive system. Combined with clearly structured controls, high-quality materials and stylishly designed surfaces create the premium interior ambience typically associated with an SAV. One of the interior highlights of the iX3 M Sport is sustainable

elements. It is aligned with the BMW Group’s direction to reduce the carbon footprint of BMW’s substantial “i” models. Present inside is incorporated artificial materials like the Sensatec perforated upholstery. This material complements the M Leather steering wheel and M headliner Anthracite.

More so, there are electrically adjustable seats with memory function on the driver’s side, Fine-wood trims—ash trunk wood open-pored with highlight trim finisher Pearl Chrome, a panoramic glass sunroof, acoustic glazing for the front door windows, ambient lighting, three-zone automatic climate control system, the BMW Comfort Access System, and automatic tailgate operation.

T he iX3 M Sport features the BMW Live Cockpit Professional (complete with an onboard navigation system) for entertainment. It includes a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch widescreen display which operates on the iDrive Operating System 7.0. Standards features are Wireless smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto preparation, Remote Software Upgrades, and wireless charging. And for an even more exclusive flair and driving comfort, it also includes the hi-fi loudspeaker system Harman Kardon as standard.

O f course, there is enough cargo space

thanks to the 40: 20: 40 split/folding rear seat backrest. Load capacity can be increased from 510 to a maximum of 1,560 liters, as required. Through-loading is also available for greater flexibility.

Sustainable power with a long drive range MOTIVATION comes from the fifth generation of BMW eDrive technology. The latest version of the electric motor, power electronics, charging technology, and high-voltage battery have enabled clear progress in performance characteristics, electric power consumption, and range.

N ew technical features include an innovative charging unit, sending power to the 400V battery and the 12V onboard power supply. Also, it uses alternating current terminals and enables single-phase and threephase charging at up to 11 kW. Plugging the vehicle into a direct current fast-charging station facilitates charging outputs of up to 150 kW. The vehicle’s high-voltage battery can charge from 0 to 80 percent in 34 minutes. At its maximum direct current fast-charging of 150 kW, drivers can inject the power required to add 100 kilometers to the car’s driving range (in the WLTP cycle) in 10 minutes of charging. It gives the BMW iX3 compelling

Lexus golf successfully back

everyday usability. The first-ever BMW iX3 is compatible with all Type 2 public charging stations in the country.

Moreover, the iX3 features Adaptive Recuperation enhancing efficiency and driving comfort. The intensity of the Brake Energy Regeneration is adapted to the road situation described by data from the navigation system and the driver assistance system sensors. The exceptionally efficient drive system, the extensive use of secondary raw materials in the manufacture of aluminum castings and thermoplastics, the absence of rare piles of earth, and the widespread use of green electricity in production, including the cells for the high-voltage battery, are all contributory factors in the remarkably impressive CO2 assessment for the first-ever BMW iX3. Delivery-wise, the power density of the iX3’s electric motor is 30 percent greater than that of existing fully electric vehicles from the BMW Group. The motor displays an efficiency of up to 93 percent, compared to under 40 percent for combustion engines. The new drive system unit generates maximum output of 286 hp and 400 N-m of torque from purely electric power. Zero to 100 km/h is achieved in 6.8 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 180 km/h. A gross energy content of 80 kWh—of which 74 kWh is utilized—and the high efficiency of the drive systems allow the iX3 to offer a range of up to 460 kilometers in the WLTP test cycle.

Safety BMW continues to lead in automobile safety and has successfully integrated several features in the iX3 M Sport to ensure peace of mind. The latest technology set includes High Beam Assistant, Parking Assistant, Cruise Control with braking function, Acoustic Protection for pedestrians, Active Protection, Park Distance Control with front and rear sensors, and a tire pressure monitoring sensor, among others.

The BMW iX3 M Sport retails at P4.590 million. Every model purchase comes with an exclusive BMW Wallbox home charger that BMW will install, a 5-year BMW factory warranty, an eight-year high-voltage battery warranty, and a 6-year BMW Service Inclusive warranty.

tee-off, Lexus Manila president Raymond T. Rodriguez, Danny’s successor, said: “After a 3-year absence, we’ve been longing for this special event. Today, the wait is finally over…It is also a great opportunity for you to see the latest Lexus models, especially with the newly-launched RX 500h F Sport in a striking Sonic Copper, the powerful RC F and a fleet of hybrids such as the IS, ES and LS. To add to the excitement, we have two hole-in-one prizes, the IS 300h and the ES 300h. We wish you all the luck and I hope you take home both of these fantastic hybrid sedans.”

DANNY “Sir John” Isla made a triumphant, heart-rending, return to the Lexus Invitational Golf tournament last week. His babe had grown so big and healthy, making him profoundly proud and enormously oozing with fulfillment from deep within.

S eems like only yesterday, when he was founding president of Lexus Manila in 2009, that he struck the brilliant idea of staging a golf tournament in 2011 exclusively for Lexus owners.

It was a shot so calculated it didn’t miss its intended target: Making every brand-new Lexus owner so pride-driven that to be an invitee to the event was already a badge of honor in itself.

No other tournament has given perks and freebies as lucratively salivating as the Lexus Invitational.

This year drew a record 130-plus players at the well-manicured Sta. Elena.

In the much-a waited sit-down dinner was a feast of superior seafood soup for starters, followed by seared lapu-lapu with prawn served with red pepper puree and pesto as aperitif. Main course was beef tenderloin with port wine sauce and truffle

barley risotto, surprisingly literally melting in the mouth. For dessert, it was “trio sweet” of crispy golden coin with bailey chocolate sauce, matcha ice cream and fruity medley.

Before dinner was served, Alfred V. Ty, the Lexus chairman, made his usual rounds.

“Nice to have you back, Danny,” Alfred said, sneaking from behind us. “L ook, how big your babe has grown.”

“Thank you, Sir,” said Danny, who immediately took a selfie shot for the three of us.

Earlier, Danny had met up with Vince S. Socco, the Lexus/Toyota pillar.

“Finally, there you are,” said Vince to Danny.

Danny had been in town since January with his wife, Joy, vacationing for two months after having migrated to Auckland, New Zealand, before the pandemic struck on December 17, 2019.

In his hellos to old Lexus chums, Danny quoted one client as telling him, “Before, each time I drove home with my Benz, people in my neighborhood craned their necks towards me. With my Lexus, I feel calm and relaxed. T hey just glance at it. Love it!”

In his speech before the ceremonial

Nobody won but, still, everybody went home happy, hauling more fond memories from the event sired successfully by Sir John a dozen or so years ago. T ill then, fellas.

PEE STOP

Thank you to Josen Perez de Tagle, Cielo Villaluna, Nannette Versoza, Ella Hernandez, Charlie Erojo and Lito Hibo for their kindness in hosting us to the Philippine Airlines Media Golf tournament in Cebu’s Mactan Island and Alta Vista golf courses. With my good neighbor Jake P. Ayson acting anew as tournament director, the event’s return was super successful after a three-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Congratulations to GMA-7’s Arnold “Igan” Clavio as Broadcast Division champion and spin. com’s Dodo Catacutan as Print Division titlist. Cheers!...Thank you, too, to P.T. Nico Quinonez, my handsome inaanak son of Alta Vista club manager Nimrod, for fixing my “golf elbow” that forced me to quit the second round of the PAL Media tournament. You did well, Nico. And, yes, glad to know you are also a Beatles fan, Nico. T hat’s why you are good—like all Beatlemaniacs. Ye-ye-ye-yeah!

Ah, to be back at Sta. Elena, where it all began in 2011.

THE first-ever BMW iX3 in the Philippines

Friday, March 10, 2023