BusinessMirror March 20, 2023

Data showed the BOP surplus in March 2023 reflected inflows arising mainly from the national government’s (NG) net foreign currency loans, which were deposited with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), and net income from the BSP’s investments abroad.

e BSP said the surplus in March brought the current yearto-date BOP level to $3.5-billion surplus, markedly higher than the $495-million surplus recorded in the same period a year ago.

“ e cumulative BOP surplus reflected inflows that stemmed mainly from personal remittances, net foreign borrowings by the NG, and foreign direct investments,” the BSP reported.

Moreover, the BSP data also showed the gross international reserves (GIR) level has increased to $101.5 billion as of end-March 2023 from $98.2 billion as of endFebruary 2023.

“ e latest GIR level represents a more-than-adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.6 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income,” the central bank said.

“Moreover, it is also about 6.1 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 4.2 times based on residual maturity,” it added.

For his part, Michael Ricafort, chief economist of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. said that “the latest BOP and GIR data could have also been supported by the continued growth in the country’s

THE Supreme Court has issued writ of kalikasan enjoining the commercial release of genetically modified rice and eggplant products. is was announced by the SCPublic Information Office (PIO) in a statement released Wednesday in connection with the petition for the writ of kalikasan fi led by Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag).

e petition sought to stop the government from commercially releasing the products, insisting that Golden Rice and Bacillus

thuringiensis Eggplant (Bt Eggplant) are genetically modified organisms, a cause for environmental concern.

e writ of kalikasan was issued during the regular en banc session of the SC on April 18.

In 2015, the SC permanently enjoined the government from further conducting field trials, propagation and commercialization, and from importing GMOs being used on plants due to risks it these supposedly pose to human health and the environment.

e SC affi rmed the Court of Appeals decision in 2013, granting the petition of Greenpeace and copetitioners Magsasaka at

Siyentipiko sa Pagpapaunlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag) and several other individuals for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan against the field testing of BT talong.

e groups argued that the conduct of BT talong field trials has violated the constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology.

During its regular en banc session last April 18, the Court also required the respondents— Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture, of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, of the Department of Health; the Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department of Agriculture, the

Philippine Rice Research Institute, and University of the PhilippinesLos Baños (UPLB)—to fi le a verified return within 10 days from service.

e group fi led last October 12, 2022 the petition for writ of kalikasan and continuing mandamus (With Prayer for Issuance of Temporary Environmental Protection Order) before the SC, seeking the issuance of a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO).

e petition sought to direct the respondent DA to refrain from commercially propagating Golden

THE residential market may soften this year as companies adjust prices upwards to factor in the rise in rates since last year, according to Leechiu Property Consultants.

Roy Amado Golez, the company’s director for research and consultancy, said developers now are hard pressed to raise prices in order to lessen the difficulty brought by the Covid-19 pandemic and the high consumer prices that started last year.

“ e interest rates will require them to start adjusting prices, which might impact their selling prices. We might see a softening

of the market on that end,” he said during the company’s briefi ng.

At the same time, he said banks have also started to stretch out their lending terms to borrowers, offering terms of 20 years instead of the usual 15 years for long-term lending, in a move to help mitigate for buyers the higher pricing.

“Now we’re seeing banks bring that up to a term of 20 years, and this has helped mitigate the cashflow from the buyers perspective,” the company said.

For the fi rst quarter of the year, a total of 12,037 condominium units were sold, more than double from last year.

Eleven new towers were launched for the period, equivalent to 4,931 units in the supply pipe-

line in the fi rst quarter.

“Residential sales are back, developers likely to pull back lenient buyer screening and payment terms to also address cancellation concerns,” the company said.

David Leechiu, the company’s president, remains hopeful of a resurgent take-up of space by the Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO) in the office segment as the sector sees the Philippines “as a land of opportunity.”

“And just like what Senator Chiz Escudero was saying, that the plus side about the POGO sector is that it addresses the gambling sector without tapping into the local market. Unlike the local casinos where

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Wednesday encouraged members of the Chinese Filipino Business Club to do more business in the country as the Philippines is now in a “very good shape” for investments.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club at the Kachina Lounge of Century Park Hotel in Manila, which organized a forum on “Strengthening Economic Resilience and Sustainability: Charting the Path Towards Inclusive Growth,” Diokno said the economic liberalization measures the Philip-

pine government has enacted have opened up key high-growth sectors to international participation.

“As business leaders, I invite you to work with the Philippine government in building a dynamic and thriving economy that our people deserve,” he added.

“We are in a very good shape than many developed countries. Before the crisis, our debt-to-GDP ratio was only 39 percent. It went up to around 64 percent because of the pandemic, we borrowed money to buy vaccines, invest in more hospitals, and provide ayudas due to a very long lockdown. But that’s not bad, other countries have 150 to

THE country’s overall balance of payments (BOP) has posted a surplus of $1.3 billion in March 2023, higher than the $754-million surplus recorded in the same month last year, data from the central bank showed on Wednesday.

70 percent of the market of all the brick and mortar casinos are catering to local gamblers,” he said.

e company said the office segment of the realty market just posted its third best performing year since the start of the pandemic, with space demand reaching nearly 1 million square meters last year.

Company data showed that demand shot up in the fi rst quarter of this year, at 264,000 square meters worth of transactions closed, from the previous year’s 124,000 square meters. ere was also an additional 497,000 square meters in the pipeline for the next six months.

e bulk of the take-up was from traditional office users, at 144,000 square meters, with the government and serviced offices among the leading contributors to the increase in demand.

e offshore and outsourcing

IT-BPM industry, meanwhile, recorded 109,000 square meters, while POGO demand continues to remain stagnant with only 11,000 square meters leased.

Some 73 percent of demand is centered in Metro Manila at 363,000 square meters, while provincial demand is at 135,000 square meters.

A total of 2.6 million square meters of space remain unoccupied in Metro Manila, for an 18-percent average vacancy rate.

Owners of the space are expected to take more pressure as 969,000 square meters more space are completed up until end-2023.

PBBM wants to meet Chinese envoy on Taiwan OFWs remark

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said he wants to meet with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian soon to seek clarification over the diplomat’s controversial remark about the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in Taiwan.

“I’ll be talking to the Ambassador soon. And I’m sure he will be—I’m sure he’ll be very anxious to give his own interpretation of what he was trying to say,” Marcos said in an interview with reports in

Bulacan on Wednesday.

Xilian was reported to have said that the safety of the OFWs in Taiwan may be compromised if the country continues to grant the United States (US) forces access

to its military bases through the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

He issued the statement after China recently adopted a tougher stance on the self-governing Taiwan, which it maintains as a part of its territory, after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with US lawmakers, including House speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

Some lawmakers and other groups condemned the statement as a veiled threat from the Chinese government.

Meanwhile, it prompted the Department of National Defense and National Security Council to stress that the country is not meddling with the internal affairs of China and Taiwan.

Marcos, however, said Xilian

may have simply not been able to completely translate what he meant in English.

“English is not his fi rst language but I’m very interested to know what it is that he meant,” Marcos said.

“I interpret it [Xilian’s statement] as him trying to say that you should not—the Philippines do not provoke or intensify the tensions because it will impact badly on the Filipinos in [Taiwan],” he added.

Last Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said Xilian’s statement about OFWs was “misquoted” and taken out of context by some members of the media. is, after the diplomat’s remarks drew fl ak from some lawmakers and many groups who deemed it as veiled threat using the OFWs as a virtual hostage.

Diokno to Fil-Chinese biz: Now’s best time to invest

200 percent debt-to-GDP ratio,” he said.

According to Diokno, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio will be reduced from the current 63.7 percent to less than 60 percent by 2025.

“We are the fastest-growing country in this fastest-growing region; we can compete with Indonesia and Vietnam,” he added.

e forum was organized by the Chinese Filipino Business Club Inc. (CFBCI) led by its president Stephen Sia, Executive Vice President Samuel Lee Uy, Vice President An-

tonio Hilario and Corporate Secretary and Director Henry Go.

e CFBCI is one of the most prominent nonprofit organizations in the Filipino-Chinese community with membership of more than 400 nationwide coming from the fi nance, manufacturing, real estate development travel and tourism, fuel, chemical, hardware, construction, banking and other sectors who are the crème de la crème of the Sino-Philippine community.

’Nice story to tell’

DIOKNO, who served four Philippine presidents, said the Philippines is easy to sell for investment because it has a “nice story to tell.”

“I have seen the ups and downs of the Philippine economy, I keep telling the world that this time all stars are aligned [with the Philippines], this is our moment, we should take advantage. During the pandemic, we did our homework, that’s why we are in a better position now,” said Diokno referring to the structural reforms that the government passed into laws. ese reforms, Diokno said, are the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), Foreign Investments Act (FIA), and the Public Service Act (PSA), which relaxed foreign restrictions on investments in the country.

Also, the Finance secretary said companies engaged in solar, wind, hydro, and tidal energy are welcome to invest in the Philippines’ renewable energy (RE) sector now that it has been opened up to full foreign ownership.

Aside from allowing full foreign ownership in certain sectors, the country now offers a simpler fi scal incentives system that is considered transparent, time-bound, targeted and performance based. is is due to the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises or CREATE law, Diokno said.

Diokno also cited the country’s foreign reserves of more than $100 billion, which is equivalent to seven months of imports unlike before when the country’s foreign reserves can only buy two weeks of imports.

He said the significant changes that have been engineered in the country allow for the entry of more investments. He cited the so-called Strategic Investment Priority Plan that lists projects that are eligible for investments.

“If we united, we can really do a lot of things, [ at’s why] i am very optimistic, we traveled to Davos, England, London, Frankfurt, and three times in the US, we are selling the country [for investments] and there’s a lot of interest in the Philippines,” he said.

“I want you to participate in that kind of opportunity for FilipinoChinese, in fact that is my message to foreigners. If you don’t invest in the Philippines, that’s your loss,”

BOP SURPLUS EXPANDS TO $1.3B IN MARCH–BSP

structural dollar inflows such as OFW [overseas Filipino worker] remittances, BPO [business process outsourcing] revenues, exports, foreign investments, foreign tourism revenues [more than $3.68 billion and with more than 2.65 million foreign tourists for 2022, especially since the reopening of the country to foreign tourists in February 2022], POGO revenues, among others.”

Ricafort added: “For the coming months, BOP data could still improve with the continued increase/growth in the country’s structural inflows as the economy reopens further towards greater normalcy, in terms of the continued year-on-year growth in OFW remittances [came from new record highs on a monthly basis in December 2022, at least $36 billion per year],” he added.

Diokno told Chinese businessmen. Diokno encouraged them to participate in 194 high-impact infrastructure projects of the government, as approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board. ese are in irrigation, water supply, flood management, digital connectivity, health, power and energy and agriculture.

Earlier, Diokno said the government is determined to sustain high infrastructure investment for the next six years through the publicprivate partnership (PPP) mechanism, which will enhance energy, logistics, transportation, telecommunications, and water infrastructure in the country.

E-governance

MEANWHILE , he vowed the passage of the e-governance bill and ease of doing business bill for easier business transactions in the Philippines.

e e-governance bill institutionalizes the use of ICT and emerging technologies to improve the efficiency of public services. It is expected to enhance the ease of doing business in the country and improve public trust in the government.

According to Diokno, reforms to improve the simplicity, fairness and efficiency of the tax system will also be approved into law. ese include the Real Property Valuation and Assessment bill, Passive Income and Financial Intermediaries Taxation bill and Value Added Tax on Digital Transactions bill.

“We hope to enjoin the support of business communities in pushing for these reforms that will radically upgrade our tax system. ese bills will complement the list of structure reforms we are implementing,” he said.

“ e Marcos Jr. administration will put greater emphasis on collaborations with local governments, private sector, and civil society,” he added.

With a report by Lito Gagni

SC issues ‘kalikasan’ writ on GM rice, eggplant

Rice and issuing biosafety permits for commercial propagation of Bt Eggplant; cease and desist from commercially propagating Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant until such time that proof of safety and compliance with legal requirements is shown; declare all biosafety permits for Golden Rice and Bt Eggplant null and void; and perform independent risks and impact assessments, obtain the prior and informed consent of farmers and indigenous peoples, and implement liability mechanisms in case of damage, as required by law.

Petitioners alleged, among others, that Bt Eggplant are genetically modified organisms. ey added that Golden Rice, which is patented to Syngenta, a transnational agrochemical corporation, has been modified by inserting a gene from maize and a gene from bacteria found in soil which allows the plant to biosynthesize beta-carotene in the edible parts of rice.

ey also argued that Bt Eggplant was designed so that the plant would produce its own toxin, to kill the fruit and shoot borer, which is one of several common pests that consume and damage eggplants.

A Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy for the protection of one’s right to “a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” under Section 16, Article II of the Constitution.

FINANCE Secretary Benjamin Diokno

MICHAEL RICAFORT, chief economist of RCBC

DICT sticks to April 26 deadline on SIM listing

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Wednesday said that while will it acknowledges the request of public telecommunications entities (PTEs) to extend the SIM registration period, it is bent on sticking to the original April 26 deadline.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ICT department said, “there is no extension of SIM registration,” and it “encourages everyone to register to promote the responsible use of SIMs and provide law enforcement agencies the necessary tools to crack down on perpetrators who use SIMs for their crimes, consistent with the declared policy of the law.”

“Also, the DICT reminds the public that non-registration will result in the deactivation of their SIMs, barring them from receiving and sending calls and text messages and accessing mobile applications and digital wallets,” it said.

Telcos Globe Telecom Inc., Smart Communications Inc., and Dito Telecommunity Corp. all called for the extension of the SIM registration deadline, citing registration data.

As of April 17, a total of 73.03 million SIMs have been registered with the three telcos still far from the total Philippine SIM universe of 169 million subscribers.

“The DICT reiterates that the SIM Registration Act places primacy on the fundamental rights of Filipinos and is replete with safeguards to ensure the confidentiality and security of user data. The DICT is one with PTEs in ensuring that Filipinos can enjoy safe and secure mobile phone services through the holistic implementation of the SIM Registration Act,” the DICT said.

The Nation

Cybersecurity firm reports leak of ‘sensitive’ PNP, NBI other govt agencies’ docs in breach

By Rene Acosta @reneacostaBM

ACYBERSECURITY firm has reported that more than a million highly sensitive documents from government agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), have been illegally exposed in a massive hacking that hit the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The company vpnMentor said the data breach carried out at an undisclosed date affected more than 1.2 million records from different government agencies, mostly by police applicants and those who are already members of the PNP.

Aside from records or clearances from the NBI, among those that were exposed are records from the PNP, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Special Action Force Operations Management Division, Civil Service Commission and other offices and agencies.

The hacking, which affected

817.54 gigabytes of records, was disclosed by vpnMentor cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler as reported by his company.

The firm said the “misconfigured” and “non-password” protected database exposed “police applicants and employees’ identification records such as passports, birth and marriage certificates, drivers’ licenses, security clearance documents, and much more.”

The PNP is yet to respond on the report.

“Upon further research, I identified these records to be related to individuals who were employed or applied to work in law enforcement in the Republic of the Philippines,” Fowler said in his report.

He categorized the records relating to “individuals who either applied for law enforcement roles (“Applicant Records”) or had been employed to work in law enforcement roles (“Employee Records”)…and Ancillary

documents relating to the affairs and administration of law enforcement agencies in the Philippines.”

“These Applicant Records and Employee Records contained highly sensitive personally identifiable information (PII). I saw scans of official documentation, such as passports, birth and marriage certificates, drivers’ licenses, academic transcripts, security clearance documents, and many more,” Fowler said. The researcher said that the database on the employee and applicant identification records “contain a selection of records pertaining to the academic and/or personal history of each applicant or employee.”

“Samples of records include copies of fingerprint scans, signatures, and required documents from multiple Philippine state agencies, including the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Internal Revenue, Special Action Force Operations Manage -

ment Division, Civil Service Commission, amongst others,” he said.

“The signature on file I can only assume is for verification purposes later if it was ever needed to prove it was their signature,” he added.

Fowler added that the database also contained “character recommendations, in the form of letters from courts and municipal mayors offices certifying that those individuals applying to work in law enforcement possessed a good moral character and had no prior criminal records.”

“Nearly all countries require some form of background check to work in law enforcement. These documents are…required [for submission] in the Philippines. There was also a selection of documents containing Tax Identification Numbers (“TIN”) - a nine-digit number given to individual and corporate taxpayers by the tax authorities in the Philippines for identification and record-keeping purposes,” he said.

PBBM pushes expansion of provincial hospitals to boost ‘specialty’ health care

TO provide better health-care access in the provinces, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said he is now pushing for the establishment of “specialty” extensions to some existing hospitals.

The President said the extensions would serve as alternative to the pronouncement he made during his State of the National Address of building more specialty hospitals outside of Metro Manila.

The National Capital Region currently hosts several specialty hospitals, including the Philippine Heart Center, National Kidney and Transplant Institute and the Lung Center of the Philippines.

“Instead of building new hospitals, we will just build extensions in some hospitals,” the President said in Filipino during an interview with reporters in Bulacan on Wednesday.

3,794 square kilometers ground area.

Marcos said the government is already identifying the areas where the extensions will be constructed.

“We will look at our experience during the pandemic. Where the patients face a hard time [accessing health care] because they are too far away from it,” the President said.

He said they will also build the extension in areas with “weak localized” health care.

The President on Wednesday led the groundbreaking ceremony of a new specialty hospital in San Jose del Monte Bulacan, the St. Bernadette Children and Maternity Hospital.

The 65-bed capacity facility will cater primarily for the needs of women and children.

Aside from primary records of applicants and employees, Fowler said, the database also contained documents “relating to internal directives addressing law enforcement officers, who may or may not be confidential.”

“As an example these would be orders from top leadership of how to enforce what laws and what gets priority or additional training that is needed etc.” he said.

Fowler said that as an “ethical researcher,” he could not further confirm or verify the accuracy or authenticity of the documents contained in the database.

“As such, I cannot guarantee that the contents of the documents are accurate or reliable. Furthermore, we are cognizant that accessing, downloading, or using these documents without proper authorization is prohibited and illegal, hence I have not conducted additional verification or due diligence on these documents,” he said.

Sandiganbayan junks plea to dismiss raps vs Genuino

By Joel R. San Juan @jrsanjuan1573

THE Sandiganbayan has affirmed its resolution issued early this year denying the plea of former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairperson Efraim Genuino to be acquitted in 19 graft and 20 malversation of public funds charges filed against him.

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Philippines remains open to formalizing trade relations with the United States, according to Trade Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual.

He said this after US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said at a recent roundtable meeting that the US is not keen on negotiating the “traditional” free trade agreement (FTA) at the moment.

“The important thing is we’re not closing the door to formalizing trade relations, a formal trade relation between the Philippines and the United States. That is the important thing,”

Pascual told reporters on the side -

He was referring to the environmental, social and governance investing parameters now used to encourage companies to act more responsibly.

No to raw ores exports

EARLY this year, Trade Secretary

Alfredo E. Pascual said the Philippines can be a “vital partner” for critical minerals such as nickel and copper, among others, not only as an exporter of raw ores but as a processor and producer of semi-finished and finished products.

“Mineral processing is crucial given our resources of green metals such as nickel, copper and cobalt,” Pascual said in his keynote speech

lines of an event titled, “Mapping the Investment Ecosystem” organized by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) on Wednesday in Taguig City.

Reports quoted Tai as saying that in terms of a more “traditional” FTA, the US is not currently negotiating any such agreements with trading partners in particular, because “we do not see that traditional program being appropriate for the types of challenges and opportunities that we are facing right now.”

Instead, the US Trade official zeroed in on the US-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), noting that the IPEF is “one of our highest priorities right now and it is really important to us that the Philippines

at the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) Inaugural Meeting and Induction in January.

These minerals, noted Pascual, can be used for “downstream industries” such as electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, hyperscale data centers, and renewable energy projects.

As Pascual woos countries to consider the Philippines as a processor of these critical minerals, he said the country has Indonesia as a model.

In an earlier televised interview, Glenn G. Peñaranda, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Secretary for Foreign Trade Service Corps, said Glencore, a Swiss multinational company involved in the

Construction of the hospital

undergo Phase 2 in 2024 at an estimated cost of P75 million and an additional P250 million is needed for the full completion of the main building targeted for completion by 2025. REY BANIQUET/PNA

The President said he plans to increase the number of similar hospitals nationwide through publicprivate partnerships. Samuel P. Medenilla

PHL to keep pushing formal free-trade accord with US

is at the table and participating.”

In response to Tai’s remark, Pascual said, “She cannot say otherwise because their President has already made that pronouncement that there would be no FTAs during his term. She is just voicing that and we understand.”

In fact, Pascual said, “we had a discussion on this and we understand where she is coming from.” But, Pascual emphasized that “it cannot prevent us from further pushing.”

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) earlier expressed a desire to pursue a free trade agreement with the United States, noting this will be a “more binding and permanent mechanism to lock in market access preferences and other binding

processing of minerals in the Philippines, expressed interest to expand mining and processing operations in the Philippines.

Peñaranda echoed Pascual’s call to invite companies to process the Philippines’s minerals so that there will be value added, instead of just exporting it as raw material.

The Trade department said in an earlier statement that Glencore sees the Philippines as a potential partner to process nickel and copper resources responsibly and sustainability for use in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage units, among others.

Glencore is one of the largest and “globally diversified” natural resource companies in the world. Andrea E. San Juan

commitments to expand trade and investment opportunities between our two countries.”

Meanwhile, with the United States shifting its focus to the IPEF, Pascual said, “It is the platform we’re using to push for this formalized trade relations between the Philippines and the United States.”

While IPEF is not a trade agreement which covers market access, “it provides a way of addressing certain process constraints,” he explained.

In May 2022, the DTI announced that the Philippines, along with 13 other countries in the Indo-Pacific region and the United States, have launched the process to establish the IPEF for Prosperity.

Nations joining the United States

in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework are Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Fiji.

These countries n the Indo-Pacific region recognized that the Covid-19 pandemic underscored the importance of working closely together to ensure that economic recovery and advancement are grounded in resilience, sustainability and inclusivity.

The countries collectively said the pandemic showed the significance of strengthening economic competitiveness and cooperation and securing critical supply chains, while stimulating job growth and improving economic opportunities.

NFA buffer stock nearly depleted,

last less than 2 days–PBBM

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said the existing rice buffer stock of the National Food Authority (NFA) has been nearly depleted and will now last for less than two days.

Marcos said the pandemic, typhoons and other calamities have greatly reduced the buffer stock, which should usually be good for at least nine days.

“Presently, the buffer stock of the NFA is [good for] one and a half days only. In case of a typhoon, we probably will not be able to give [any rice] after two to three days,” the President said in Filipino during an interview with reporters in Bulacan on Wednesday.

The government is banking on the ongoing harvest season, which may last until May, to replenish the NFA buffer stock, which the governmentuses during calamities, by buying from local rice farmers.

“We are watching and waiting to see what the production levels are going to be after the last planting season,” Marcos said.

“Once we start harvesting, we will no longer have any problem with the [rice] supply,” he added.

NFA earlier said the government needs 330,000 metric tons (MT) of rice to address the deficit in its buffer stock Samuel P. Medenilla

In a six-page resolution, the Sandiganbayan Third Division through Presiding Justice Amparo CabotajeTang denied the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by Genuino, seeking the reversal of its resolution issued last January 19, 2023.

The anti-graft court held that the contentions raised by Genuino in his MR were mere rehash of his arguments raised in earlier motions.

“They have been duly considered, squarely addressed, and found to be without merit in the Court’s resolution, subject of the present motion for reconsideration,” the Sandiganbayan stressed.

The cases involved Pagcor’s P26.7 million purchase of film tickets in 2009 for the movie “Baler” for the benefit of BIDA Foundation Inc.

In his MR, Genuino reiterated that the Sandiganbayan is bound to follow the Supreme Court (SC) en banc decisions promulgated on April 27, 2021 and June 15, 2021  (both entitled Genuino v. Commission on Audit, et al.) involving notice of disallowances (NDs) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) against Pagcor.

Genuino argued that in the said cases, the Court ruled that the P26.7 million Pagcor money spent for the advance purchase of Baler film tickets was under Pagcor’s operational expenses fund  (OPEXFund) which, he argued, can be disbursed without being subjected to government auditing and accounting rules and regulations.

The petitioner noted that the SC also ruled in the said cases that all other Pagcor funds, including the financial assistance to private entities such as the Bida Foundation, and the OPEXFund are part of Pagcor’s private corporate funds, which are separate and distinct from the 5-percent franchise tax and 50-percent share of the government, thus outside of the audit jurisdiction of COA.

He also argued that the purchase of the Baler movie tickets did not result in any undue injury to the government or any private entity, nor did it give unwarranted advantage or benefit to any party or person.

Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the full-blast construction of St. Bernadette Mother and Child Hospital at the Heroes Ville in Barangay Gaya-Gaya, City of San Jose del Monte in Bulacan on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The Level 1 3-story hospital will be equipped with 65-bed capacity covering a total of

will

may

FPI calls on govt to enforce ban on export of used car batteries

By Andrea E. San Juan @andreasanjuan

THE Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) is calling

government to enforce a ban on export of used car batteries.

According to FPI, these lead scraps are usually obtained from used lead-acid batteries (ULAB) pursuant to local regulations as well as the country’s commitment to the Basel Convention, a multilateral environmental agreement.

FPI Chairman Jesus L. Arranza said at a briefing on Wednesday that data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that a “sizeable” amount of lead scraps that are considered hazardous waste have been exiting the country yearly.

This, despite a prohibition of such export under Republic Act No. 6969 or the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990” and its implementing rules outlined in Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2013-22 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), FPI said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“As a matter of policy, export of hazardous wastes like lead scrap and ULAB is not allowed when the country of origin has the capabil-

ity to recycle them. In the case of lead scrap and ULAB, we have Evergreen Environmental Resources Inc. [EERI)] which operates state-of-theart recycling facilities for ULABs in Bulacan,” Arranza said.

This, Arranza said, is why they found it “alarming” that the PSA has actual data on lead scrap exports, which he said indicates that such shipments actually went through official channels.  The FPI chairman said his team inquired with the DENR on the matter and was informed that the agency has not issued export clearance to any company for lead scrap. Moreover, he said the DENR stressed, “There is no way the agency would approve any application for lead scrap export clearance.”

“If there is no clearance from the DENR, how did these shipments manage to slip through the Bureau of Customs [BOC], and even got reflected in the PSA export data? Also, how come there is no record from the DENR and Department of Trade and Industry [DTI] of who these exporters are?”

Arranza said.

FPI said data from PSA showed that around 8,500 tons of lead waste and scrap were exported by the Philippines from January to August 2022.

Arranza also mentioned there is no record if these exported lead scraps are in the form of ULABs or were merely separated from used auto batteries.

Since scrap lead is “mostly” obtained from ULABs, Arranza said this means that these illegal exporters managed to get their hands on a “big volume” of old batteries. Using the PSA data as a basis, he said these illegal exporters are probably collecting around 500,000 pieces of ULAB at an average weight of 15 kilos per unit.

This, Arranza said, has “dire” economic and environmental implications.

“We don’t know how these exporters are handling and dismantling their ULABs, which are hazardous wastes. What have they done to the plastic components and the acid, did they just throw them into the trash or bodies of water?” Arranza asked.

Also, local recyclers like EERI and their customers are being deprived of materials to make their operations more viable, FPI pointed out.

With this, Arranza said this illegal practice should be “jointly” looked into by the DENR, DTI, BOC, and other concerned agencies.

The FPI and its members, he said, are ready to contribute their resources and inputs to the investigation.

During the same briefing, Motolite, a major battery brand in the country, announced it has partnered with the FPI to help ensure used lead acid batteries are being disposed of and recycled properly.

In the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the car battery maker and FPI on Wednesday, April 19, the parties committed to work together in the promotion and implementation of the “Balik Baterya Program” in order to further clean up the environment of “pollution-causing” ULABs, while also raising funds for FPI’s projects and advocacies.

The agreement was signed by FPI Chairman Jesus L. Arranza and Oriental & Motolite Marketing Corporation (OMMC) Marketing Head Alexander M. Osias.

Under the agreement, Motolite said FPI would promote the Balik Baterya Program to its members and other interested organizations, as well as sell the collected ULABs from its members and partner-organizations to OMMC for recycling based on the prevailing market buying price.

On the other hand, Motolite will provide and/or arrange for the pick-up of ULABs from FPI and/or its donors, then promptly remit to FPI the cash value of the collected ULABs.

The battery maker said it would also take care of the storage, handling, transport, and recycling of the ULAB through its accredited recycler, EERI.

DA seeks to boost mechanized farming in PHL through South Korea’s ODA TASK program

By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

THE government will be undertaking a three-year Official Development Assistance (ODA) program that seeks to provide guidance to 10-selected machinery manufacturers and fabricators in the country.

Under ODA, the Technology Advice and Solutions from Korea (TASK) will be carried out to aid local Filipino companies

in resolving onsite technical difficulties of machineries and other farm facilities. The initiative is led by the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI) with Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (Kamico) and Department of Agriculture (DA’s)-Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) as implementing partners. Through TASK, beneficiaries

will be upskilled through the technical know how and experiences of experts from KOAMI, Kamico and PhilMech.

DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said that the TASK visit would establish a strong network for the local manufacturers upon completion of the TASK.

The meeting will focus on the forthcoming visit of the selected 10 local companies to Korea to gain actual experiences and train under different

manufacturing companies.

“This undertaking will foster cooperation and collaboration among all players that will ultimately result in a mechanized and modernized Philippine agriculture,” de Mesa said.

“The ODA from South Korea is in line with the Philippined’s threeyear Agriculture Development Program as DA continues to push for the mechanization of Philippine agriculture to address the gaps in the sector,” he added.

on the

Solons call for legislated wage increase amid price hikes

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz  @joveemarie

LAWMAKERS on Wednesday called on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify the urgent passage of bills imposing an across-theboard nationwide wage increases.

Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas said that the Marcos administration must certify as urgent the passage of wage increase bills.

“By the end of February 2023, the inflation rate in the Philippines has reached 8.6 percent. The price of commodities, such as rice continues to rise, which is estimated to increase by up to P5 per kilo in the coming weeks. Public services such as electricity have also increased, now reaching P11.4348 per kWh from P10.8895 per kWh in February,” said Brosas.

On March 13, 2022, Gabriela Women’s Party filed House Bill 7568, which seeks to provide a P750 acrossthe-board and nationwide wage increase for employees and workers in the private sector to address the longstanding call of Filipino workers.

“Today, another bill was also filed pushing for a P150 across-the-board wage increase in the daily wages of workers and employees in the private sector. The House leadership must prioritize these measures to address the declining real value of wages,” Brosas said.

New bill

HOUSE Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza has also filed House Bill 7871 or the Wage Recovery Act of 2023 that seeks to provide a legislated across-the-board wage recovery increase of P150 in the daily wages of workers and employees in the private sector nationwide.

“Workers can no longer afford to wait for the regional wage boards to act. Since late last year, TUCP [Trade Union Congress of the Philippines] was already calling on the

wage boards to address the steady decline in the real value of wages due to surging inflation but TUCP’s call fell on deaf ears. Unfortunately, it seems that workers will be left with an empty bag as the wage boards are taking their sweet time in the face of increasing hunger,” said Mendoza.

“The TUCP also recommended win-win policy solutions for workers and employers, such as the provision by employers to their workers of costof-living allowances that could be used as a tax credit by the business owners, or a one-time, big-time P5,000 subsidy from Government for minimum and near-minimum wage earners. But our economic managers simply shut the door on these options. In the face of their insensitivity to what is clearly a survival crisis for millions of workers, the TUCP is compelled to file this important bill,” he added.  According to the lawmaker, both workers and businesses are badly hit by the surging inflation and continue to suffer through the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and climate change concerns.

“Workers have sacrificed for far too long and are now on the brink. The TUCP feels that this bill is the urgent, actionable, and reasonable course of action that we should now take as a

Ramadan travelers to Philippines choose premium airline cabins

By Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo @akosistellaBM Special to the BusinessMirror

LESS tourists from the Middle East or the so-called Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are traveling to the Philippines during the end-of-Ramadan holiday compared to the pre-pandemic levels. However, those who are visiting the country are flying aboard higher-priced airline cabins.

Data from ForwardKeys, a global aggregator of flight data based on actual bookings, showed flights booked from April 14 to 24 from GCC states to the Philippines, have just reached “51 percent of 2019 levels.”

However, Olivier Ponti, �ice Presi- ice dent Insights of ForwardKeys told the BusinessMirror: “If one looks at travel from the Gulf to the Philippines at the end of Ramadan, the postpandemic recovery looks significantly stronger considering journeys of up to eight nights. In that scenario, flight bookings are 30-percent behind prepandemic levels; but bookings in premium cabins are 16-percent ahead.”

Ramadan is a month-long period of dawn-to-dusk fasting for Muslims, culminating in the breaking of the season’s fast on Eid al Fitr, which ends on Friday in the Philippines. It

has been a declared by Malacañang as a regular holiday.

The Department of Tourism considers the countries in the Middle East (includes Egypt and Jordan) as opportunity markets with total arrivals reaching 73,703 in 2019. Saudi Arabia accounted for 59 percent of total arrivals from the region that year.

The slow pickup of Ramadan travel to the Philippines this year was reflective of the overall flight bookings by GCC states to other countries and other regions. According to ForwardKeys, as of March 31, outbound flight bookings from the GCC states for the three weeks running up to Eid Al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, were 38-percent behind the equivalent period in 2019; and for the three weeks after Eid alFitr, they are 67-percent behind.

Not the ideal travel period

“RAMADAN travel this year is still far behind the heights it reached before the pandemic in 2019,” noted Ponti. “However, a major factor in assessing the recovery of Ramadan travel are the dates when the festival falls due. In 2019 Eid al-Fitr was in June, a much better time of the year to travel, as the end of Ramadan was close to the start of the long summer school holidays in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

On the other hand, there were more flight bookings to GCC states during the period, at just 12 percent behind 2019 levels. “The major drag is travel to Saudi Arabia, where flight bookings are 40-percent behind 2019; and bookings for Kuwait are 43-percent behind. However, bookings for Bahrain are 16-percent ahead and for Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are 39 percent, 47 percent, and 48 percent ahead respectively.”

For those traveling to the Philippines and staying from one to eight nights, as of April 7, Qatar appears to be on the rebound at booked flights just 3 percent less than the same equivalent period in 2019. This was followed by Kuwait at 17 percent less; Bahrain at -21 percent, Saudi Arabia at -29 percent, UAE at -39 percent, with the slowest recovery coming from Oman at -61 percent behind 2019 levels.

End-of-Ramadan holiday travel from GCC states to the Philippines last year was slightly better, with flight bookings increasing by 155 percent on April 22 to May 2 versus the equivalent period in 2021, or just 21 percent behind the 2019 levels. (See, PHL among top destinations for end-of-Ramadan travelers,” in the BusinessMirror , May 12, 2022.)

Gov shares vision of LGU empowerment, local governance reforms at UP-NCPAG

QUIRINO governor and Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president Dax Cua renewed his call for strengthened representation of local governments units (LGU) in the national stage and improved nationallocal collaboration to empower local government units with strengthened, integrated, and responsive services for their constituency.

Cua made the call during a flagraising ceremony at the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) on Monday, April 17, 2023. The governor emphasized the crucial role of LGUs as frontliners of democracy and highlighted ULAP’s advocacy for a local-first approach when crafting policies and projects to be implemented by LGUs themselves.

He said that such approach should take into consideration the current successes and challenges of local governments. Cua also shared his vision of a new age of local governance with democratized access and equitable benefit for all Filipinos, with ULAP catalyzing partnerships among LGUs across the nation to solidify and crystallize efforts for wider inter-local cooperation.

Cua called on the support of the entire UP community, specifically the talents, expertise, and passion of the NCPAG, to help ULAP in its advocacies to push for revolutionary reforms in local governance.

The governor also urged everyone to join in the endeavor to complete the review and development of a Local Government Reform Agenda and push forward the amendment of the Local Government Code of 1991.

nation through legislation,” he said.

Based on February 2023 consumer price index (CPI) figures, the purchasing power lost from the current minimum wages across the regions range from P55 to P89, with the national average lost from daily minimum wages is P73 per day.

Mendoza said it is also high time that workers be given an equity supplement for every year since 1989, when RA 6727 or the Wage Rationalization Act was enacted, that there was no substantial increase in wages, hence the necessity of an across- the-board P150 wage recovery increase.

“The wages of workers should climb together with productivity because it is only right and just that workers, who create the wealth of our nation, get their fair share of our economic growth. But because of the dismal track record of the regional wage boards in dampening legitimate wage demands by setting too low wages, workers’ wages stagnated even as our gross domestic product [GDP] and labor productivity steadily rose,” said the lawmaker.

This bill also provides for wage recovery subsidies available for micro and small enterprises and which shall be funded through the annual appropriations of the Department of Labor and Employment.

By Rizal Raoul S. Reyes  @brownindio

CONSUMER advocacy group CitizenWatch on Wednesday urged the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to embark on a strong collaborative effort to boost the government’s subscriber identification module (SIM) registration campaign.

“The DICT and the NTC need to work in tandem with the telcos to ramp up the information drive,” said CitizenWatch Philippines co-convenor Kit Belmonte.

“Those in urban centers and who are part of the formal economy may have no problems registering, but the subscriber base we are talking about reaches to the entire archipelago. We have to let them know of the dangers of the lack of responsible use of SIMs, and the potential damage that fraudsters can inflict on hapless ordinary consumers,” the group said.

Earlier, the country’s biggest telecommunication companies have each called for the extension of the SIM card registration period citing government ID requirements and weak signals in isolated areas as reasons why their customers need more time.

CitizenWatch Philippines, Belmonte said, has long recognized how important extensive connectivity and access to digital technologies can propel our country to prosper and compete in the global digital economy.

Cua also emphasized the importance of amending the Code to make it responsive to the changing times and future-proof. “We must incorporate our learnings from 1991 up to the present on restrictive policies and unsubstantiated responsibilities that hindered growth and progress for local governments,” he said.

The governor also invited the NCPAG in ULAP’s forthcoming program of recognizing top-performing LGUs and their best practices and programs.

The program also seeks to award additional funding to further support these best practices and programs through partner funding agencies.

ULAP also seeks to establish a one-stop-shop on local public private partnerships with the UP system and other relevant stakeholders, Cua shared.

“We all became dependent on mobile phones services when the pandemic-induced lockdowns hit us three years ago,” he said. Despite the restrictions caused by the lockdown, Belmonte said Filipinos, were able to perform their functions.

This, however, emboldened malicious and opportunistic minds to take advantage of hapless consumers.

“Unfortunately, this was also the period when we saw a rise in deceiving text messages purporting to provide jobs they never applied to or announce that someone had won a contest they never even joined,” he said.

Belmonte said callers from unknown numbers, identifying themselves as bank employees, have also deceived some customers to give out passwords and other sensitive information, leading to fraud.

“But when we have a solid database of who owns which number, then these fraudulent calls and texts could be traced to the perpetrators and hopefully lead to their arrest,” said Belmonte.

DICT and NTC tie up to boost SIM card registration pushed

Agriculture/Commodities

Ng

Govt banks on Kadiwa to make food affordable

By Samuel P. Medenilla @sam_medenilla

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos

Jr. said the government will tap its Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets to “indirectly control” prices and keep basic commodities affordable.

In an interview with reporters in Bulacan last Wednesday, Marcos said the Kadiwa stores are “a reliable alternative” to private sector retailers for consumers.

“We can dictate the price [of products] in the Kadiwa. We don’t have to follow market prices. That is what we have done when there was a shortage in onions, sugar and rice,” Marcos said in Filipino. “If there is a shortage or a drought, we can make sure the price of goods will remain low.”

The Kadiwa program is a joint initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), which enables agriculture suppliers to directly sell their products to consumers.

Marcos also said the government is targeting to make Kadiwa outlets sustainable by boosting local agricultural production.

“We have to increase production so the Kadiwa [outlets] would continue to increase. If there is plenty of supply, the prices [of agricultural commodities] will go down.”

Last Wednesday, Marcos led the launch of the latest Kadiwa ng Pangulo in San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

Currently, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said sales of Kadiwa outlets nationwide have reached P415 million. PCO also claimed that the program has benefited more than 1 million families and 26,000 farmers and fishermen.

Last month, the president said he is targeting to put up more Kadiwa centers across the country, specifically in local government units (LGU).

“So, this Kadiwa program will just continue because now we are considering to evolve it. These won’t be so-called pop-up centers, but we will have a permanent Kadiwa center in various LGUs. We are studying the potential sites.”

The president made these remarks after the launch of “Kadiwa ng Pangulo para sa Manggagawang Pilipino” in the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) labor center in Quezon City.

“By eliminating layers and intermediaries, including unscrupulous smugglers, traders, and cartels, who must be prosecuted, the Kadiwa para sa Manggagawa empowers farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises to sell their affordable high-quality produce directly to ordinary Filipino consumers especially for Filipino workers,” TUCP said.

Private sector-led cattle dispersal program rolled out in Masbate

By Jonathan L. Mayuga @jonlmayuga

APRIVATE sector-led cattle dispersal program through the “paiwi system” will benefit hundreds of resource-poor farmers in Masbate province, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR and the Cattle Raisers Association of Masbate Inc. (CARAMI) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which outlined the duties and responsibilities of the two parties in implementing the cattle dispersal initiative.

While many farmers are capable of raising cattle, financial resources to start a backyard cattle

raising venture remain a problem for most resource-poor farmers in Masbate province.

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III and CARAMI President Jose Adolfo Malaya signed the partnership MOA as he expressed his gratitude to CARAMI for supporting the cattle farmers in the province of Masbate to ensure national food security.

An association of cattle farmers in Masbate engaged in cattle raising, breeding, and production of livestock, CARAMI manifested its willingness to provide a cattle dispersal “paiwi system” to the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Masbate.

“The paiwi is an initiative of the

private sector, wherein a livestock owner entrusts his animals to a caretaker so that they can also profit from the sold animals afterward.

Buffalo’s offspring is passed on to another farmer to keep the animals multiplying and benefiting other farmers,” Estrella said.

The MOA signing was witnessed by Masbate 1st district representative Ricardo T. Kho, Masbate 2nd district representative Ara T. Kho, Masbate 3rd district representative Wilton T. Kho, Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Kazel C. Celeste, Undersecretary Support Services Office Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, Assistant Secretary for SSO Ubaldo R. Sadiarin Jr. and Bicol Regional Director Reuben

Theodore C. Sindac. Under the MOA, CARAMI will provide or supply the cattle to qualified beneficiaries.

DAR-Masbate led by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Herald Tambal is now finalizing the guidelines for the implementation of the project. At the same time, the DAR Masbate is now screening potential beneficiaries.

A beneficiary must be a member of DAR-assisted Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs), a general policy of the DAR in implementing support services under the agency’s various programs.

At present, DAR-Masbate has already organized and assisted 84 ARBOs. However, not all ARBOs

Panganiban is OIC of sugar agency

By Raadee S. Sausa @raadeeboy

AGRICULTURE Senior Undersecretary

Domingo F. Panganiban has been appointed as officerin-charge of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), according to a member of the SRA board.

“In the meantime, Panganiban is the OIC. As per the SRA charter, in the event that there is no administrator, the chairman of the board takes over as the OIC until an administrator is appointed or the board assigns another OIC who is usually the most senior deputy administrator,” SRA Board Member Pablo Luis Azcona said.

Panganiban, will temporarily lead the agency until the successor of David John Thaddeus Alba, who left the top SRA post last month because of worsening health conditions, is appointed by the President.

may be accommodated due to the limited number of cattle enrolled under the program.

DAR-Masbate is now crafting the MOA template between CARAMI and ARB recipients under the paiwi system, while thoroughly looking into conditionalities that may be integrated into the agreement.

Tambal said DAR-Masbate is also coordinating closely with the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agricuture and the Provincial Agriculture Office for the smooth implementation of the program.

To recall, cattle dispersal was identified as one of the priority projects for Masbate during a visit of Estrella in the province.

Azcona also said the SRA deputy administrators will handle the daily activities in the agency in the meantime.

Recently, Negros Occidental leaders said they want another Negrense to head the SRA and replace the resigned Alba. A frontrunner to replace Alba is SRA board member and sugar planter’s representative Azcona. Hailing from a family of sugar planters, Azcona is from Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental. He is also a director of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines.

Ukraine says vital Black Sea crop exports remain disrupted

UKRAINE said its crop shipments through the Black Sea safe-passage corridor remained suspended for a second day, adding to uncertainty about future supplies from the key agriculture exporter.

TO keep the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) updated on issues and concerns related to the implementation of development intervention, projects, and livelihood programs nationwide, the agency is set to implement anew the real-time monitoring tool of its Barangay Agrarian Reform Committees (BARCs).

The monitoring tool is vital for the department to respond in a timely manner to any contingencies that may arise in the course of implementing its various basic rural infrastructure projects and livelihood programs.

“Our main concern is to get these projects and livelihood programs going smoothly and orderly and ensure that any issues and concerns that may arise will be addressed right away for the benefit of our agrarian reform beneficiaries [ARBs] to maximize their production and earning potentials,” DAR Secretary Conrado Estrella III said in a statement.

The real-time monitoring tool was first installed in May 2021 but was deactivated in the third quarter of 2022 due to issues and concerns relative to the generation of reports by the BARCs about those projects and programs.

DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Milagros Isabel Cristobal said the re-installation of the realtime monitoring tool helps ensure that the implementation of the projects is running on schedule and being carried out according to plans and specifications. Jonathan L. Mayuga

Under a deal brokered last year to keep Ukraine’s grain flowing, a joint coordination center in Istanbul hosts teams from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and the United Nations that check ships headed to and from three Ukrainian ports. No inspections took place on Monday, which Kyiv blamed on obstruction by Russia, and Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry said Tuesday that activity was still halted.

The latest disruption to the seaborne shipments comes at the same time as three of Ukraine’s European Union neighbors have stopped allowing imports of some of its agricultural cargoes—threatening a key alternative route to export markets. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia in recent days banned imports of Ukrainian grain over concerns the supplies are hurting their domestic markets.

Poland said Tuesday that it will keep the import ban in place, but will permit the transit of Ukrainian grain from Friday. Earlier, Ukrainian grain producer Agrotrade said how the recent moves have affected trade.

“All trade inside the country has stopped. One cannot sell a ton of grain to anyone,” Olena Vorona, chief operations officer of Agrotrade, said in an interview. “Cars are at the border with Europe, stuck, as the other side does not accept them. The Russians do not go out for inspections in Istanbul, all boats stand still.” Ship inspections were also briefly

halted last week, and Moscow has indicated it may quit the initiative if its issues regarding its own grain and fertilizers aren’t resolved by midMay. The threat underscores uncertainty over the export deal that has been crucial for bringing down global food-commodity costs from records reached after Russia’s invasion.

“Russia still refuses to follow a plan of Ukrainian ports and impos -

es on Ukrainian ports its own plan, which is unacceptable,” Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry said in a text message.

Earlier, RIA Novosti cited Russia’s Director of the Department of International Organizations of the Russian Foreign Ministry Petr Ilyichev as saying that inspections of ships within the framework of the Black Sea grain deal had resumed.

Benchmark wheat futures earlier touched the highest in almost three weeks, before erasing gains to trade little changed at $7.055 a bushel in Chicago. The market reaction to the disruptions has been relatively muted—it’s not a peak time for crop shipments and the new harvest is several months away.

The Black Sea export deal was brokered last year by the UN and

Turkey. Turkey said Defense Minister Hulusi Akar would meet with Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov on Tuesday for grain talks.

EU bans

POLAND and other neighboring nations had agreed to help Ukraine move its cargoes through their territory after Moscow’s invasion temporarily blocked Black Sea exports last year. But part of that supply is now piling up in eastern Europe—pressuring local farmers as global grain prices have slumped from last year’s peak Slovakia has said Ukraine can still move its grain through Slovakian territory. Ukraine will be able to resume transit of its grain through Polish territory from Friday after reaching an agreement in talks between ministers from both countries in Warsaw, Economy Minister Waldemar Buda said Tuesday. Hungary hasn’t specified what its import ban means for transit of Ukrainian goods.

Elsewhere, Romania’s ruling Social Democrats plan to ask their partners in the ruling coalition, the Liberals and the ethnic Hungarians, to agree on a temporary suspension of imports of grains and food products from Ukraine because of the pressure it puts on the local farmers amid insufficient support from the European Union.

The restrictions underscore splinters in the bloc’s efforts to support Ukraine. Some member states have voiced dissent over issues including arming Kyiv, banning Russian energy imports and helping the warravaged country to export food that helps feed millions in developing nations. Bloomberg News

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. brings the Kadiwa ng Pangulo to the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. The Kadiwa in San Jose features around 50 sellers from the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Labor and Employment, as well as sellers from the local government unit of San Jose del Monte. PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY PHOTO BY ALFRED FRIAS

A BULK carrier docked at the grain terminal of the port of Odessa, Ukraine, on April 10. PHOTOGRAPHER:

DAR revives real-time monitoring tool for BARCs

POLICE officers stand near a barricaded building following a fire breaking out at a hospital in Beijing on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. More than a dozen people have died in a fire at a Beijing hospital that forced the evacuation of dozens of patients, Chinese state media reported.

AP/MARK SCHIEFELBEIN

Anger rises in China over censored Beijing hospital fire that killed 29

CHINESE authorities are censoring online posts about a fire that killed 29 people at a hospital in the heart of Beijing, as public anger mounts over the death toll and initial attempts to clamp down on information about the incident.

The deadly blaze erupted at the Beijing Changfeng Hospital’s inpatient department Tuesday, according to a late evening report published by state media outlet Xinhua News Agency. Firefighters were notified of the fire at 12:57 p.m. local time and put it out by 1:33 p.m., Xinhua said. Another 71 patients were evacuated and transferred to other facilities, the report said, citing the local fire department.

Footage and photos of the fire quickly spread on Chinese social media, with one showing patients climbing out of the smoking building with improvised ropes made from bed sheets. But they were quickly scrubbed on platforms including the Twitter-like Weibo and WeChat, a ubiquitous messaging app.

Public anger quickly mounted over how such a tragedy had taken place—and at a location less than seven miles away from Tiananmen Square—along with a dearth of media reports about the events.

Authorities said Tuesday the cause of the incident was being investigated. Multiple calls to the hospital Wednesday were unanswered, while its website and that of its parent company, Beijing Changfeng Hospital Co., appeared to be down.

A filing submitted Wednesday by China Securities Co., the company’s broker-dealer on the National Equities Exchange and Quotations—an over-the-counter marketplace for small firms where it’s listed—said it has failed to establish contact with relevant personnel at the organization after the blaze.

‘Difficult to understand’

IT is really difficult to understand,

Putin, Zelenskyy rally troops with war poised for new phase

By Adam Pemble The Associated Press

hospitals have relatively stronger safety management and precautionary measures, and Beijing is our country’s first-tier city, how could such a large-scale fire lead to so many deaths?” read one censored post on dissident-run tracking site Freeweibo.com, which reposts items that have been deleted on Weibo.

The user said the fire had echoes of a deadly blaze in Xinjiang last year that spurred public outcry over the country’s stringent Covid Zero policy, with online posts at the time questioning whether lockdowns had delayed rescue efforts.

Even Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of the Communist Party-backed Global Times, was caught in the censorship dragnet. A Weibo post from Hu, which called for authorities to “trust the public” with information on the incident and criticized the removal of other posts, was itself taken down after a brief time online.

A later post from Hu on Weibo remained online, expressing shock at the fire and calling for more information on the incident to be disclosed.

By evening, restrictions on information appeared to be easing. State media outlets began publishing reports on the fire around 9 p.m. after online users questioned why the topic wasn’t appearing on trending search lists, along with a lengthy delay in reporting the number of deaths.

“Topics that are not conducive to harmony cannot appear on the hot search list,” a user wrote on Weibo, in a post that was later taken down. A hashtag created to share information about the fire, #Fire at Beijing Changfeng Hospital that killed 21, did not reflect any data on Weibo as of Wednesday morning—though a differently-worded hashtag created later that didn’t state the hospital’s name showed over 6.2 million views of the topic.

With assistance from Yanping Li, Jessica Sui and Dong Lyu/Bloomberg

The visits—on different days and in different provinces— sought to stiffen the resolve of soldiers as the war approaches its 14th month and as Kyiv readies a possible counteroffensive with Western-supplied weapons.

Some of the most significant of those weapons appeared to have recently arrived in Ukraine. Germany’s official federal government website on Tuesday listed a Patriot surface-to-air guided missile system as among the military items delivered within the past week to Ukraine.

Ukraine has been pressing for Patriots and other air defense systems from its allies for months, and Germany’s appeared to be the first to have arrived. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat declined to confirm Tuesday that a Patriot is in Ukraine, local media outlet RBC-Ukraine reported, while stating that receiving the missiles would be a landmark event, allowing Ukrainians to knock down Russian targets at a greater distance.

Elsewhere, Kremlin video showed Putin arriving by helicopter at the command post of Russian forces in southern Ukraine’s Kherson province, and then flying to the headquarters of the Russian National Guard in Luhansk province, in the country’s east. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the visits took place Monday.

Dressed in a dark suit, Putin attended briefings with his military brass on both of his stops. The locations of the military headquarters weren’t disclosed, making it impossible to assess how close they were to the front line. Nor was it possible independently to verify the video’s authenticity.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy made

his latest trip to visit units in Avdiivka, an eastern city in Donetsk province where fierce battles are taking place. He heard first-hand reports about fighting and handed out awards.

Zelenskyy’s visits to areas feeling the brunt of Russia’s full-scale invasion gathered pace last month as he shuttled across the country, often by train. As with Putin, the Ukrainian president’s wartime trips usually aren’t publicized until afterward.

While official coverage of Putin’s trip showed him in mostly formal and ceremonious settings, Zelenskyy’s office issued photos showing the Ukrainian president taking selfies with soldiers, eating cake with them and drinking out of paper cups.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has become largely deadlocked, with heavy fighting in the east, particularly around the Donestk province city of Bakhmut, which for 8½ months has seen the longest and bloodiest battle so far.

Russia illegally annexed Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia provinces in September, following local referendums that Ukraine and the West denounced as shams. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak was scathing in his criticism of Putin’s trip, accusing him of “degradation” and being the author of “mass murders” in the war.

Large parts of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as some areas of Luhansk province, have remained under Ukrainian control. In November, Russian forces ceded territory in Kherson province, including the region’s namesake capital.

In a related development, the Moscow-appointed governor of the occupied part of Donetsk province, Denis Pushilin, went

to the Belarus capital of Minsk and won pledges of support from President Alexander Lukashenko, a Putin ally.

“The Kremlin forces Minsk to get involved in the war more actively in order to pressure Ukraine,” Belarusian political analyst Valery Karbalevich said in a telephone interview. “It is clear that Pushilin’s visit to Minsk has been synchronized with Putin’s trip to the occupied Ukrainian regions and aims to show that the Belarusian threat hasn’t gone away.”

During his visits, Putin congratulated the military divisions on Orthodox Easter, which was celebrated Sunday, and presented them with icons. Speaking to senior officers at the Kherson headquarters, Putin handed them a copy of an Orthodox icon he said belonged to a 19th century Russian general.

The senior officers present at the meetings reflected which ones were currently in favor with Putin. Col. Gen. Mikhail Teplinsky, the chief of Russia’s airborne troops, was among the top generals at the Kherson base.

Teplinsky, a career officer who rose from lieutenant to become chief of the elite military branch, is known for being popular with his troops. Last fall, however, he was temporarily relieved of his position amid a spat with the military brass. He was restored to the job this year, and his meeting with Putin indicated he was back in favor.

A senior officer who greeted Putin in the Luhansk region, Col. Gen. Alexander Lapin, also was relieved of his duties as commanding officer in northeastern Ukraine after he was blamed for a hasty Russian pullback from parts of Kharkiv province in the face of a Ukrainian counteroffensive in September. Lapin was later named as chief of staff of the ground forc -

es, and his meeting with Putin signaled he had the president’s trust. Putin’s and Pushilin’s trips came as Ukraine is preparing a new counteroffensive to reclaim occupied territories, possibly using the newly arrived Patriot.

In addition to Germany, the United States and Netherlands have pledged to provide Patriots, and a group of 65 Ukrainian soldiers trained in Oklahoma last month on how to use them.

The Patriot is a surface-to-air guided missile system first deployed in the 1980s that can target aircraft, cruise missiles and shorter-range ballistic missiles. A Patriot missile battery typically includes six mobile launchers, a mobile radar, a power generator and an engagement control center. Zelenskyy has said Ukraine needs at least 20 Patriot batteries. Ukrainian officials have said they’re depleting Russian forces in eastern Ukraine while preparing for a counteroffensive.

Meanwhile, at least three civilians were killed and 11 wounded in Ukraine between Monday and Tuesday, according to Zelenskyy’s office. Most of the casualties occurred in the Donbas, the eastern region made up of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, the office said. Six people were wounded in artillery fire in the city of Kherson. In another in a series of possible cross-border attacks into Russia, a drone a Russian official said was sent from Ukraine hit a military office in the Bryansk town of Novozybkov. Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said on Telegram that the building was damaged and no one was hurt. Ukrainian officials, in keeping with past practice, didn’t comment on the incident.

The Associated Press Writer

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PASSENGERS FACE DELAYS AFTER NATIONWIDE GROUNDING

By David Koenig AP

Airlines Writer

DALLAS—Southwest Airlines planes were briefly grounded nationwide Tuesday for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, leading to more than 2,200 delayed flights just four months after the carrier suffered a much bigger meltdown over the Christmas travel rush.

The hold on departures was lifted by midmorning Eastern time, according to Southwest and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.

“Southwest has resumed operations after temporarily pausing flight activity this morning to work through data connection issues resulting from a firewall failure,” the Dallasbased airline said in a prepared statement.

“Early this morning, a vendor-supplied firewall went down and connection to some operational

data was unexpectedly lost.”

Southwest urged customers to check on their flight status “and explore self-service options” for travel as the airline worked on restoring its operation.

By late afternoon on the East Coast, more than half of all Southwest flights were delayed, and the airline accounted for half of all delays nationwide. On the positive side, Southwest had only about a dozen flights canceled, roughly in line with other major airlines, according to FlightAware.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg retweeted an FAA post about the ground stop, adding, “We are here to ensure passengers have strong protections when airline failures like this affect their plans.” He referred travelers to a Transportation Department checklist of passenger rights, and his press secretary noted that “no other airlines experienced disruptions.”

Tuesday’s delays added to the picture of an airline that has struggled more than most with technology issues.

“What matters now for Southwest is getting to the cause and doing all it can to ensure incidents like this don’t occur again.”

Rob Britton, a former American Airlines executive who teaches crisis management at Georgetown University, said the damage from Tuesday’s incident will be minor but will add to the erosion of Southwest’s image. He said Southwest has underinvested in technology while growing rapidly, and it suffers from an “insular culture” that “keeps them from looking outside for solutions.”

In December, Southwest canceled nearly 17,000 flights in a 10-day stretch around Christmas—wrecking holiday travel plans for well over 2 million people—when a winter storm shut down its operations in Denver and Chicago and the airline’s system for rescheduling pilots and flight attendants was overwhelmed.

Those cancellations cost the airline more than $1 billion and led to an ongoing Transportation Department investigation and a

congressional hearing during which lawmakers complained that Southwest provided little or no help to stranded travelers.

Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who led that hearing, said Tuesday’s breakdown “is another demonstration that Southwest Airlines needs to upgrade their systems and stop the negative impacts to individual travelers.”

The airline’s unions have said they warned management about problems with the crewscheduling system after a previous meltdown in October 2021.

CEO Robert Jordan has embarked on a campaign to repair the airline’s damaged reputation. Southwest said last month it would add deicing equipment and increase staffing during winter weather that is cold enough to limit the amount of time that ground workers can stay outside.

Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. fell Tuesday nearly 1 percent while its closest rivals— American, Delta and United—all gained at least 1.5 percent.

KYIV, Ukraine—Russian President Vladimir Putin visited command posts of his forces fighting in Ukraine for the second time in two months, officials said Tuesday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his latest trip near the front line.

Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, and Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed.

IN this photo taken from video released by Russian TV Pool on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at an undisclosed location. The Kremlin says Putin has visited headquarters of the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. POOL PHOTO VIA AP

“It was a 17-minute ground stop. This will have no long-lasting affect on Southwest’s reputation,” said Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst with Atmosphere Research Group.

TRAVELERS check in at a Southwest Airlines ticket counter at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Southwest Airlines planes were grounded nationwide for what the airline called an intermittent technology issue, causing more than 1,700 flight delays Tuesday just four months after the carrier suffered a meltdown over the Christmas travel rush. AP/NAM Y. HUH

editorial

‘Destiny of our OFWs not in China’s hands’

Chinese officials are against the move to upgrade the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the Philippines and the Us because they see this as an American ploy to encircle and contain China through its military alliance with the Philippines. Beijing is also strongly opposed to the Philippines conducting joint patrols with allies in the West Philippine sea, which are meant to send a clear message to the China that it needs to stop once and for all its bullying in the contested areas.

Manila and Washington signed EDCA in 2014 to strengthen their alliance to better meet shared challenges. The pact was meant to help address growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and natural disasters in the Philippines, which are projected to become more frequent and more destructive with a changing climate.

The agreement seeks to ensure that both sides can meet their obligations under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty to “maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack”. The only country threatening armed attack against the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea is China. The shared perception of a Chinese threat to Philippine interests in the South China Sea is clearly at the core of the agreement. China had seized control of Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines, prompting the Philippine government to file its landmark case against Beijing’s claims before a tribunal at The Hague.

The Hague-based decision, constituted under the UNCLOS, ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to resources in areas falling within an invisible demarcation “had no basis in law and is without legal effect”. It also upheld the Philippines’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone.

Article 1 of the pact says that EDCA will focus on improving interoperability…and for the Armed Forces of the Philippines addressing short-term capabilities gaps, promoting long-term modernization, and helping maintain and develop additional maritime security, maritime domain awareness, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities

The Department of National Defense on Saturday defended the country’s Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, as it expressed concern on the remarks of Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian against the Filipino workers in Taiwan. Huang earlier said Beijing “reserves the option of taking all necessary measures” should things escalate in the Taiwan Strait, just as it advised Manila to oppose “Taiwan independence” if it really cares about the 150,000 overseas Filipino workers there.

Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the country is not “meddling in the internal affairs of China concerning Taiwan,” and even described this as the ambassador’s “illusion”.

A labor group called on China to use “peaceful and diplomatic” means instead of resorting to “veiled threats” to resolve its issue with Taiwan. The Federation of Free Workers issued the statement after Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a forum that granting the United States access to the country’s military camps could compromise the safety of about 150,000 overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan.

“The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs,” Huang said at a forum hosted by a group of Filipino and Chinese businessmen and academics. (Read, “Labor to envoy: Don’t drag OFWs into row over Taiwan,” in the BusinessMirror, April 17, 2023)

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said: “Our OFWs in Taiwan will continue to work where they work. End of story. Filipinos will thrive and make a living according to our wishes. We will never let Beijing decide on the future of Filipino families. Their destiny is not in China’s hands.”

President Marcos said he wants to meet with the Chinese ambassador soon to seek clarification over the diplomat's controversial remark about the safety of overseas Filipino workers in Taiwan. "I’ll be talking to the Ambassador soon. And I’m sure he will be very anxious to give his own interpretation of what he was trying to say," the President said, adding that the envoy may have simply not been able to completely translate what he meant in English.

"English is not his first language but I’m very interested to know what it is that he meant," Marcos said. "I interpret it as him trying to say that the Philippines should not intensify the tensions because it will impact badly on the Filipinos in Taiwan."

Make a bigger pizza

John Mangun

OUTSIDE THE BOX

The most annoying verse in the Bible is Matthew 26:11: “You will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me with you.”

Initially, no one wants to publicly admit that the war on poverty is unwinnable, at least according to this verse. Second is the idea that Jesus of Nazareth seems to be saying, with poverty being forever, console yourself with the fact that ‘The Messiah’ is now with you but won’t be here forever. “Maybe go and fight poverty after I am gone.”

Commentators attempt to explain this verse with another. Deuteronomy 15:11: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” Give charity to the impoverished.

But any discussion on poverty reduction must start with—because of what is apparently a Divine Law— mentioning China. “Beijing, April 1, 2022—Over the past 40 years, the

number of people in China with incomes below $1.90 per day has fallen by close to 800 million.”

Interestingly, but rarely, if at all, do you see any context to that data. Let’s look deeper.

In 1980 the global economic output (GDP) per capita was $2,552. For China the per capita output was $195. Is this the point where we mention “Low Base”? I will grant that 30 years is probably not enough time for a communist revolution to show any dramatic positive economic benefits, although in 1960 the per capita was $90 so it did double in 20 years.

Between 1980 and 2021 the global per capita increased to $12,235 and China’s increased to $12,556, so China saw an incredible rise from the ashes. Further, China’s largest nominal increase started in 2000.

But what is significant about

Fox, Dominion reach $787 million

By David Bauder, Randall Chase & Geoff Mulvihill The Associated Press

WiLMinGTOn, Del.—Fox news agreed Tuesday to pay Dominion Voting systems nearly $800 million to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election.

The stunning settlement emerged just as opening statements were supposed to begin, abruptly ending a case that had embarrassed Fox News over several months and raised the possibility that network founder Rupert Murdoch and stars such as Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity would have to testify publicly.

“The truth matters. Lies have consequences,” Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson told reporters outside a Delaware courthouse after Superior Court Judge Eric Davis announced the deal.

Outside of the $787.5 million promised to Colorado-based Dominion, it was unclear what other consequences Fox would face. Fox acknowledged in a statement “the court’s rulings finding certain claims about Dominion to be false,” but no apology was offered.

“We are hopeful that our decision to resolve this dispute with Dominion amicably, instead of the acrimony

1980? It was the US and China reestablishing diplomatic relations and signing a bilateral trade agreement in 1979. As a result, between 1980 and 2004, US-China trade increased from $5 billion to $231 billion. The total value of China’s global exports was $20 billion in 1980; in 2005 it had risen to $760 billion.

Maybe all those sport shoes, clothing, and Christmas decoration factories that moved from the Philippines to China also helped raise those 800 million Chinese out of poverty.

Nonetheless, poverty—no, let me rephrase that—wealth disparity is a massive global problem. And it is a problem, not because of any noble or humane reason but because “poor people” tend to eventually tear down governments and begin to “eat the rich”.

The riots in France are not about money as such but that “rich” people who do not have to worry about living comfortably in their golden years are asking the ones who have effectively struggled financially all their lives to make sacrifices.“Why are some people poor?” That is always the wrong question. The question should be, why are some people rich? Poverty is the natural condition of humanity.

For thousands of years, essentially until the First Industrial Revolution, “poverty” was the default setting. The ‘One Percenters’ were

wealthy normally from killing and plundering the next-door neighbor —or the next country—who had two cows instead of only one.

The industrial revolution began in the mid-1700s and for the first time in human history allowed for more than simply subsistence farming. With the technological advances came urbanization. Note this. In 1800 less than 3 percent of the world’s population was living in cities of 20,000+ population. Policy makers and other “dogooders” are incompetent and lazy, not understanding how poverty and wealth disparity is reduced. The example is always Robin Hood and the mythical “Steal from the rich and give to the poor.” Examples: “In Finland, penalties for traffic violations are pegged to taxable income.” “California Utilities Propose Charging Customers Based on How Rich They Are”. Global—and Chinese—poverty was reduced through “wealth creation.” Create genuine wealth through production and not through financial gimmicks and then disparity goes way down. Make the pizza bigger and not just rob someone else’s slice.

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

settlement over election claims

tive media that traffic in conspiracy theories. What remains unknown is how much of a deterrent this will be. Even as the Dominion case loomed this spring, Fox’s Tucker Carlson aired his alternate theories about what happened at the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

it correctly called hotly contested Arizona for Democrat Joe Biden on election night. One Fox Corp. vice president called them “MIND BLOWINGLY NUTS.”

of a divisive trial, allows the country to move forward from these issues,” Fox said. Its lawyers and representatives offered no other comment or details about the settlement.

Asked by a reporter whether there was “anything to this other than money,” Dominion CEO John Poulos did not answer.

The deal is a significant amount of money even for a company the size of Fox. It represents about onequarter of the $2.96 billion the company reported earning last year before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization—a figure often used to approximate a company’s cash flow.

The settlement also follows a $965 million judgment issued last year against Alex Jones by a Connecticut jury for spreading false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook school massacre.

Coupled with other lawsuits in the pipeline, the agreement shows there is a real financial risk for conserva-

Dominion had sued Fox for $1.6 billion, arguing that the top-rated news outlet damaged the company’s reputation by peddling phony conspiracy theories that claimed its equipment switched votes from former President Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden. Davis, in an earlier ruling, said it was “CRYSTAL clear” that none of the allegations about Dominion aired on Fox by Trump allies were true.

Dominion set out to prove in the lawsuit that Fox acted with malice in airing allegations that it knew to be false, or with “reckless disregard” for the truth. It presented volumes of internal e-mails and text messages that showed Fox executives and personalities saying they knew the accusations were untrue, even as the falsehoods were aired on programs hosted by Maria Bartiromo, Lou Dobbs and Jeannine Pirro.

Records released as part of the lawsuit showed that Fox aired the claims in part to win back viewers who were fleeing the network after

During a deposition, Murdoch testified that he believed the 2020 election was fair and had not been stolen from Trump.

“Fox knew the truth,” Dominion argued in court papers. “It knew the allegations against Dominion were ‘outlandish’ and ‘crazy’ and ‘ludicrous’ and ‘nuts.’ Yet it used the power and influence of its platform to promote that false story.”

Several First Amendment experts said Dominion’s case was among the strongest they had ever seen. But there was real doubt about whether Dominion would be able to prove to a jury that people in a decision-making capacity at Fox could be held responsible for the network’s actions.

Dominion’s Nelson called the settlement “a tremendous victory” and noted that there are six more lawsuits pending regarding election claims.

“We settled because it was about accountability,” Nelson said in an interview. “Our goals were to make sure that there was accountability for the lies, and to try to make our client right. And we accomplished both goals.”

See “Fox” A11

Supreme Court case tests religious tolerance on Sunday work Highway nightmare

By JESSICA GRESKO The Associated Press

WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Tuesday wrestled with the case of a Christian mail carrier who refused to work on Sundays when he was required to deliver Amazon packages.

While the court seemed in broad agreement that businesses like the Postal Service can’t cite minor costs or hardships to reject such requests to accommodate religious practices, it was less clear what they might do about the particular worker’s case.

The case before the court involves a mail carrier in rural Pennsylvania.

The man was told that as part of his job he’d need to start delivering Amazon packages on Sundays. He declined, saying his Sundays are for church and family. US Postal Service officials initially tried to get substitutes for the man’s shifts, but they couldn’t always accommodate him. When he didn’t show, that meant more work for others. Ultimately, the man quit and sued for religious discrimination.

During the arguments, the justices struggled with the question of when employers have to accommodate employees’ religious needs.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said the circumstances of each case matter and that “the answer is: it depends.”

The case is the latest religious confrontation the high court has been asked to referee. In recent years, the court’s 6-3 conservative majority has been particularly sensitive to the concerns of religious plaintiffs. That includes a ruling last year in which the court said a public high school football coach should be allowed to pray on the field after games. Another case the court is weighing this term involves a Christian graphic artist who wants to create wedding websites, but doesn’t want to serve gay couples.

A federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, requires employers to accommodate employees’ religious practices unless doing so would be an “undue hardship” for the business. But a Supreme Court case from 1977, Trans World Airlines v. Hardison, says in part that employers can deny religious accommodations to employees when they impose “more than a de minimis cost” on the business.

Three current justices have said the court should reconsider the Hardison case. And on Tuesday other justices also suggested the “more than de minimis cost language” was problematic.

Even Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration’s top Supreme Court lawyer who was representing the Post Office, told the justices that the Hardison case as a whole requires an employer who wants to deny an accommodation to show more. She said that most often requests for religious accommodation come up when employees seek schedule changes like the Sabbath off or midday prayer breaks or exemptions from a company’s dress code or grooming policies. They also come up when an employee wants

The case is the latest religious confrontation the high court has been asked to referee. In recent years, the court’s 6-3 conservative majority has been particularly sensitive to the concerns of religious plaintiffs. That includes a ruling last year in which the court said a public high school football coach should be allowed to pray on the field after games.

to display a religious symbol in the workplace.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, who along with Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito has said Hardison should be reconsidered, suggested the justices could simply say that “some courts have taken this de minimis language” too far and that has “been a serious misunderstanding.” He suggested the justices could do “a good day’s work and put a period at the end of it by saying that that is not the law.”

The justices seemed less in agreement, however, about what to do on the facts of the case in front of them involving Gerald Groff, a former employee of the US Postal Service in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country. For years, Groff was a fill-in mail carrier who worked on days when other mail carriers were off.

But when an Amazon.com contract with the Postal Service required carriers to start delivering packages on Sundays, Groff balked. Initially, to avoid the shifts, Groff transferred to a more rural post office not yet doing Sunday deliveries, but eventually that post office was required to do them, too.

Whenever Groff was scheduled on a Sunday, another carrier had to work or his spot went unfilled. Officials said Groff’s absences created a tense environment and contributed to morale problems. It also meant other carriers had to deliver more Sunday mail than they otherwise would.

Justice Elena Kagan suggested there was enough evidence that Groff’s Sunday absences were causing a hardship and that the Postal Service did nothing wrong in denying an accommodation. Justice Brett Kavanaugh pointed out that the Postal Service had “one employee quit, one employee transfer and another file a grievance” as a result of Groff’s Sunday absences. But other justices including Justice Amy Coney Barrett suggested the justices might want to send Groff’s case back to lower courts for another look.

Groff resigned in 2019 rather than wait to be fired. His lawyer Aaron Streett urged the Supreme Court to overrule the Hardison case and to say that employers must show “significant difficulty or expense” if they want to reject a religious accommodation.

falsehoods while noting that bogus election claims still persist more than two years after Trump lost his bid for reelection.

Part two

TRAPOS, the word I coined in 1986, has become one main cause of the country’s highway nightmares. Last week, although in a similar situation, I made no mention of other regions but Calabarzon. That’s done on purpose, to highlight my first hand experiences.

Oh, it’s so sad, regretful, disappointing and frustrating to describe how our local chief executives are so wanting in relation to their exercise of mandate and responsibility to their respective constituencies.

My point is that the chief executives are at fault. They are manifestly cowards, no balls and selfish. Why cowards and no balls? Because most if not all mayors have no courage to enforce the land transportation law or RA 4136 that bans trikes on highways.

Dolores, Quezon ex-VM Ver Capino, points to the mayor’s fear of

I’ve been trying to find one LGU chief who enforces RA 4136 from Sto. Tomas, Batangas all the way to the last town in South Luzon. I found none. But there’s one in Luzon, North of NCR. She is Naguilian, La Union Mayor Nieri T. Flores, the woman with balls, huge enough to do what is right.

tactical and strategic political and economic interests only.

I’ve been trying to find one LGU chief who enforces RA 4136 from Sto. Tomas, Batangas all the way to the last town in South Luzon. I found none. But there’s one in Luzon, North of NCR. She is Naguilian, La Union Mayor Nieri T. Flores, the woman with balls, huge enough to do what is right.

specific calls for assistance.

I see that since the local bosses are generally negligent, perhaps it may be the best option to call on President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for the implementation of RA 4136 so that, finally, we can have a safe, efficient, peaceful and enjoyable highways to traverse, anywhere from Mavulis in Batanes to Pagasa Island by the West Philippine Sea.

It’s hard to tell what the deal will mean financially for Dominion. The company would not provide its most recent earnings, saying the figures were not public.

In the weeks leading up to the trial, Davis significantly narrowed Fox’s potential line of defense, including nixing the network’s argument that it was merely airing newsworthy allegations. Newsworthiness is not a defense against defamation, he said.

In a March 31 ruling, he pointedly called out the network for airing

“The statements at issue were dramatically different than the truth,” Davis said in that ruling. “In fact, although it cannot be attributed directly to Fox’s statements, it is noteworthy that some Americans still believe the election was rigged.”

In its defense, Fox said it was obligated to report on a president who claimed that he had been cheated out of reelection.

“We never reported those to be true,” Fox lawyer Erin Murphy said. “All we ever did was provide viewers

what he says is “TODA TODA.” True to being real trapos, who are more of patronage and political expediency, these local chiefs wouldn’t enforce the law or even order the police to do it because the trapos’ preference is not to antagonize the tricycle drivers who can deliver a significant sectoral vote every election that comes.

That’s the rationale, the argument that makes the local chiefs too selfish to the general constituency.

LGU chiefs think and engage in politics, not for good governance, peaceful, safe and progressive towns and cities but for their (and family’s)

In this country, rare are the leaders who can serve as models of leadership and good governance. But this is the Philippines where the policemen, too, low- and high-ranked, are almost part and parcel of newspaper pages, of radio and TV news. Not of the good things they do although in my Tulay TV Sunday 12 noon show, I showered praises for some fine job done by a few police officers.

Not everything is rotten, unresponsive, lazy and incompetent and abusive. For instance, in some instances, I thank those who deserved it, including CPNP Rudy Azurin on the immediate action he’s taken on

Next thing is about a non-law compliant LGU, where a complaint reached us here. The City of Muntinlupa, whose chief is Mayor Ruffy Biazon, a veteran legislator but who apparently doesn’t mind violating the easement law, depriving the pedestrians of a safe space to walk at Estanislao St., Barangay Putatan. We already made our point clear that a violation is a violation of law and no sort of alibi will justify the crime.

Biazon right now is in Europe and perhaps Acting Mayor Temy Simundac may do wonders for the Muntinlupa constituency. Let’s see folks.

Lastly, bidders for a multi-million security contract are complaining against the Philippine Ports Authority’s Bids and Awards Committee. The issue, as alleged, is that the specifications were tailor-fitted to the security agency currently in contract with PPA. Aha, members of the BAC must all be chefs.

For comments, e-mail me @andalbilly@yahoo. com

Iraq’s years of carnage still ingrained in Baghdad streets

Press

By Hadi Mizban | The Associated

BAGHDAD—There are places around Baghdad where I’ll sometimes say a silent prayer for the dead when I pass—on certain residential streets, at a particular restaurant, in a square where minibuses gather.

Today, people go about their daily business in these places, perhaps no longer thinking of the horror that took place years ago right where they are walking. For me, each site has become indelibly linked to the carnage I saw and the pain people suffered there.

As an Associated Press photographer, I covered 20 years of turmoil since the US-led invasion of my country. At the height of the sectarian butchery following the invasion, I and other photographers rushed to the scenes of suicide bombings, rocket strikes and shootings around Baghdad nearly every day, sometimes multiple times a day.

Iraqis today remember the pervasive fear of that era, but with so many bombings, the specifics of individual attacks may have faded. This series of composites joins some of my photos from the years of the US occupation and new ones from today, aiming to bring together past and present. Here are the stories behind a few of them.

Sadriyah intersection

IN this large intersection jammed with minibuses loading up passengers, a car bomb ripped through the crowds on April 18, 2007, killing at least 140 in what was then one of the deadliest single bombings since the US invasion.

When it went off, I was at the site of that morning’s first bombing, which had killed dozens, and as the firefighters rushed to the second blast, I hitched a ride with them. We

the true fact that these were allegations that were being made.”

Dominion had sued both Fox News and its parent, Fox Corp, and said its business had been significantly damaged. Fox said the company grossly overestimated its losses, before agreeing to pay about half of what Dominion had asked for.

In a 1964 case involving The New York Times, the US Supreme Court limited the ability of public figures to sue for defamation. The court ruled that plaintiffs needed to prove that news outlets published or aired false material with “actual malice” — knowing such material was false or acting with a “reckless disregard” for

were among the first on the scene at Sadriyah. The stench of burned flesh filled my nostrils. Blackened bodies were strewn among twisted, smoldering minibuses. Survivors loaded pieces of human beings onto wooden vegetable pushcarts to take away.

The next day when I went back, I saw the girl. She was with her mother, searching among the remaining debris and body parts. The mother’s feet were bare, covered in ash. She smeared ashes on her face as she screamed for her missing husband: “Ahmed, where did you go? I can’t do it without you. Your daughters need you.”

I saw the look of silent terror in the eyes of the girl as she trailed her mother, holding her little sister and absorbing the scene. I took her picture.

I went back to Sadriyah several weeks ago. The minibuses blared their horns, and people thronged a nearby street market. I relived that day 16 years ago like I was watching it in a cinema. Those closest to a bomb seem to evaporate without a trace, I thought. This intersection was their last resting place.

Camp Sara

T HIS Baghdad district got its name from a wealthy Armenian Christian woman who once owned the area when it was a farmland. As Armenians fled oppression in Turkey and elsewhere in the early 20th century, she let refugees settle on her land, and by the 1950s, it was built up as

whether or not it was true.

That has provided news organizations with stout protection against libel judgments. Yet the nearly sixdecade legal standard has come under attack by some conservatives in recent years, including Trump and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who have argued for making it easier to win a libel case.

“The larger importance of the settlement ... is that the high level of protection for news media in a defamation case remains intact for now,” said Doreen Weisenhaus, an instructor of media law at Northwestern University. In documents released in recent

an almost entirely Christian neighborhood.

On October 4, 2006, two car bombs went off within minutes of each a few dozen meters apart on a main commercial street of the district. All along a block of the avenue, buildings were shattered, blackened, a few collapsed almost completely. At least 16 people were killed and dozens wounded. Some young men carried a frail elderly woman on a chair to safety. Others used tarps to carry pieces of bodies. Everyone was running —either away from danger or toward loved ones to see if they were alive.

“You have no God,” a resident named Dureid shouted in his shock as if the militants behind the blast were there to listen. “You are not Muslims. Aren’t these Iraqis? What is their crime?”

The explosion was only one of many by Sunni Muslim extremists that hit Christian areas over the years. Camp Sara was once one of the nicest parts of Baghdad, with good restaurants and a different vibe from the rest of the city. Today, the buildings are cleaned up, but the street looks the same, down to the electricity poles that haven’t moved.

Still, everything has changed. Most of Camp Sara’s Christians have been driven away by violence. Dureid has moved to another part of Baghdad; a man in a striped shirt who stood next to him in my photo is in the United States. Camp Sara has become like any other part of Baghdad, its distinctiveness another victim of that bloody time.

Karradah

IT was Army Day, Jan 6, 2008, marking the founding of the Iraqi army, and a little celebration was being held on a street in Karradah, a middle-

months, Fox executives and anchors discussed how not to alienate the audience, many of whom believed Trump’s claims of fraud despite no evidence to back them up. Fox’s Tucker Carlson suggested a news reporter be fired for tweeting a fact check debunking the fraud claims.

Some of the exhibits were simply embarrassing, such as scornful behind-the-scenes opinions about Trump, whose supporters form the core of the network’s viewers. Text exchanges revealed as part of the lawsuit show Carlson declaring, “I hate him passionately,” and saying that “we are very, very close to being

class area of Baghdad. I was one of several media cameramen there as residents came out to cheer for soldiers. The doorman from one of the houses, Abu Adel, put a flower into the barrel of one soldier’s rifle and kissed him on the cheeks. The next instant, a suicide bomber unleashed his blast.

Only a few yards away, I was thrown to the ground, wrenching my back, but kept taking pictures. The celebration had been transformed into mayhem, with scorched cars and buildings and the torn bodies of 11 dead. Among the dead was Abu Adel. I went back to the site a few weeks ago. It’s once again a quiet street with its villas and houses. As I took pictures, a doorman from one of the houses approached me. His name was Ali Ahmed. I asked him if he had been here that day and showed him my old photos of the explosion. Ahmed started to weep. “I should have died that day,” he said. He had been about to go with Abu Adel to put a flower in the soldier’s rifle, but first had to deal with a broken generator. “There were only seconds between me and death,” he said. We found him in the background of one of my photos, behind some bloodied soldiers. I took a new picture of him in the same spot: his older self stepping back into his younger self. I too nearly died that day. At other times, I felt I was only inches from death, seeing those who by chance were on the wrong side of that thin line. I tell myself God kept me here for my children and my wife. Every day I have with them is a gift. A place can be bonded to an emotion, like when a couple revisits all the sites where they first fell in love. Sometimes, that emotion is horror.

able to ignore Trump most nights.” Fox News announced the settlement on Neil Cavuto’s afternoon news show. “It’s a done deal,” he said. “It’s a settlement and for at least Fox, it appears to be over.” But Fox’s legal problems may not be over. It still faces a defamation lawsuit from another voting technology company, Smartmatic. Its lawyer, Erik Connolly, said Tuesday that “Dominion’s litigation exposed some of the misconduct and damage caused by Fox’s disinformation campaign. Smartmatic will expose the rest.” Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York and Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.

VIS-MIN GRIDS LINKAGE STILL UNDER TESTING

By Lenie Lectura @llectura

THE P52-billion interconnection project that will link the Visayas and Mindanao grids continues to undergo testing, according to an official of the Department of Energy (DOE).

DOE officials earlier said the Mindanao Visayas Interconnection Project (MVIP) of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will be 80-percent complete by end March and completed by June.

Through the MVIP, the Mindanao grid will be linked to the Visayas grid via an HVDC (high voltage direct current) system with a 450-mwgawatt (MW) initial capacity.

As of Wednesday afternoon, DOE Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said the project is not yet finished. “The MVIP was supposed to be finished last March 31. What happened was when they started testing and commissioning, they started with 80 MW, to be increased until we reach July with 425MW back and forth,” she said via Viber.

For now, Guevara said the ongoing tests involved “one way only and they have to do the lines one by one.” She explained, “The one going to Visayas or going to Mindanao should run first. When both are already running, then they can do the 225MW half capacity back

and forth. That will happen sometime in June, and then 450MW by the time we reach July.”

DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said last month that the MVIP was expected to be completed by end of June.

“According to NGCP, the interconnection between Mindanao and Visayas will be 80 percent complete by March. So, some of the extra power from the 450 MW… 80 percent of that can be transported to the Visayas to Cebu. Then, by June 30, that will be fully completed,” Lotilla had said.

Another NGCP vital transmission project expected to be completed on June 30 is the Cebu-Negros-Panay interconnection. “If those things are realized, we can have the stranded power from Negros also transported to Cebu and we can also have part of that go to Luzon,” Lotilla earlier said. The MVIP was certified as an Energy Project of National Significance in 2018 and was initially targeted for completion by December 2020, but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine restrictions across the country.

The project covers 184 circuit kilometers (ckm) of submarine cables and 526 ckm of overhead wires connecting Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte to Santander, Cebu.

As of press time, the NGCP has yet to issue a comment.

PHL-US ties ‘reaching new levels of understanding’

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday said Philippine-United States relations are reaching new heights and levels of understanding under the administrations of Presidents Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Joe Biden.

Romualdez made a statement after their meeting on Wednesday (Philippine time) with US House Majority Leader Steve Scalise at the Office of the Majority Leader in the US Capitol, Washington DC. Scalise represents Louisiana’s 1st congressional district.

“We, from the House of Representatives in Manila, thank Majority Leader Scalise for his warm welcome, his kind words, and most importantly his commitment to further strengthening Philippine and US ties in various aspects. It was a fruitful and engaging meeting, to say the very least, and I feel that we are reaching new heights and levels of understanding,” said Romualdez.

“This solidifies the good working relationship between Presi -

dent Marcos and President Biden. Rest assured that legislators from both sides of the fence will follow through with the necessary work so that the benefits of this dynamic relationship would become more tangible tenfold,” said the Speaker  Scalise’s Philippine counterpart, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City 2nd District Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, shared Romualdez’s appreciation of the meeting: “It was an emboldening experience as a Filipino official to be on the same page with a highranking official in the US Capitol.”

The Philippine delegation also held separate meetings with US Reps. Darrell Issa, Ami Bera, Mike Rogers (chairman of House Armed Services Committee), Christian Stewart; and Utah Atty. Gen. Sean David Reyes, a Filipino-American. During the meetings, they discussed strategies to strengthen

economic cooperation, defense and security engagements, as well as bilateral strategic dialogue between the two long-time allied nations.

“The majority leader [was] delighted to see the delegation. The Philippine government under President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has reintegrated relations [with the] US to provide stability, peace, and prosperity, especially in enhancing our capability for defense and stronger economic security,” Romualdez said.

“Let’s make the two countries closer. We are here to gather support from the US Congress to strengthen and improve our capabilities from external threats and national disasters,” he added.

As a treaty ally, the Philippines has been receiving substantial defense assistance from the US in terms of training and defense items and equipment.

From 2002 to 2021, the Philippines received defense and security assistance at roughly US$1.8 billion for defense modernization, maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-narcotics, anti-human trafficking, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear preparedness.

On the economic front, Washington remains an important and strategic trading and investment

partner of Manila, a partnership that stayed strong despite challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With our strong economy, we invited the US to increase and expand its investments. Just recently I was with the economic team of President Marcos to help generate more investments during the 2023 World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund (WBG-IMF) Spring Meetings,” the Speaker said.

“Now the congressional delegation of the House leadership is engaging their counterparts in the US Congress. We are working all out with our strong message to come to the Philippines and invest there,” he stressed.

In 2021, the US was the Philippines’s third largest trading partner, top export market, and fifth major import source, whereas the Philippines ranked 30th among the US’ top trade partners. The US was also the Philippines’s fifth largest source of foreign investments in 2021, notably in the IT-BPM, electronics, real estate, construction, and transportation and storage sectors.

American businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, have found a home in the Philippines. They recognize the Philippines for its business-friendly policies, skilled and well-educated workforce, and network of economic zones.

Defense, DFA execs grilled at Senate’s inquiry on EDCA BOI says 2 processors of nickel eye PHL stake

By Butch Fernandez @butchfBM

SENATORS on Wednesday grilled defense and foreign affairs officials on the recently expanded Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), exacting a commitment from them that the pseudobasing agreement will not in any way dilute the efforts to modernize the Philippine Armed Forces, nor change any part of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States.

Committee on Foreign Relations chairperson Sen. Imee Marcos led the Senate panel’s inquiry on the 2014 defense agreement, given the heightened anxiety in the region as the US and China engage in a continuing word war over Taiwan.

Sen. Marcos questioned the intent of the alliance vis-a-vis the government’s plan to build more EDCA bases, saying the sites chosen were “random and no longer purposeful” with regard to the efforts to modernize the Philippines’s armed forces. Modernization, she stressed, should be the primary goal in the EDCA’s implementation, besides disaster preparedness, maritime security and counterterrorism. “Are we going to just rely on foreigners to defend us while our armed forces remain neglected, outdated . . .and completely abject in the face of any external threats?” Marcos asked in mixed Filipino and English.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the additional four sites and the present negotiation of the Philippine government with the United States regarding the EDCA do not intend to change any word or provision in the agreement.

Pimentel made the statement to clarify that the present EDCA agreement will not be changed and that the extent of PH-US military exercises are only addendum to the existing agreement.

“When we are discussing with our counterparts, the end product is an annex to EDCA, so we don’t even attempt to change the terms of EDCA, this is just an annex to be cleared...we are making the commitment that no matter how extensive the discussions are, there will be no attempt, desires, or intention to change any word in EDCA

or the agreement,” Pimentel said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has sought to strengthen the country’s maritime security capabilities and improve its defense network in the region through the alliance and enhanced military activities with the US. But while Manila’s reliance on its MDT treaty ally is normally seen as necessary given China’s expansion in the West Philippine Sea, some quarters—including Senator Marcos—have noted that the newly tagged EDCA sites appear more focused on building a flank for US forces in the Taiwan Strait than for bolstering Philippine maritime defense in WPS.

For his part, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian scrutinized the reason and criteria for choosing the locations where the US troops will have access to EDCA.

At least four locations had earlier been identified as additional sites: Camilo Osias Naval Base in Sta. Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

Gatchalian wondered whether the four EDCA sites are really strategic for the Philippines and the Filipino people and not strategic for the United States.

If the end-goal of EDCA is for humanitarian and disaster-response purposes, Gatchalian noted that other areas are more disaster-prone than the four locations chosen as additional EDCA sites for purposes of quick response. “That’s why I’m looking for the end-goal. If the end-goal is to help capacitate ourselves or to ward off terrorism, I assume that the [EDCA] sites will be located in areas where we need to strengthen our capacities.”

National Security Adviser Carlito Galvez, Jr. explained the reasons for choosing the four additional EDCA sites.

Joining him in defending EDCA was Foreign Affairs Sec. Enrique Manalo, who assured  Senator Marcos that the DFA was not sitting on a request by China to hold joint patrols as well with the Philippines.

Manalo explained that the talks are still ongoing, but stressed that Manila is open to having as many joint patrols with countries as possible, to which Marcos agreed, saying, “wala naman tayong kaaway sa Barangay Asya [We have no enemies in Asia].”

TWO foreign firms are looking to invest in nickel processing in the Philippines, a Board of Investments (BOI) official said.

BOI Managing Head and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo revealed on Wednesday that a Chinese company and a “non-Chinese” one are already “actively seeking partners” in the Philippines. In fact, he added, these two firms already have representative offices in the country.  Rodolfo explained the steps these firms will go through as they register with the BOI.  “Maybe this year because if the [memorandum of understanding] MOU happens with partners, this can be done. It will be fast. Before the mid of this year. And then, their detailed studies will begin. I think before the end of this year they can register (with the BOI),” the BOI managing head said in Filipino on the sidelines of the event “Mapping the Investment Ecosystem,” organized by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).

The BOI official said the government expects to attract $5 billion worth of investments per company.

Rodolfo said the Chinese investors act fast, noting that “their track record is fast, like what they did in Indonesia.”

Moreover, he said, “They are also able to ramp up all the way until production in 24 months. But for us, this is very critical, we lay on the table, we won’t derogate environmental policy, environmental protection in labor protection. We won’t derogate that because  that’s very important for us because whatever nickel we are able to process [are geared] toward batteries—batteries that will be used by global brands that have very, very strict ESG compliance policies. So that’s what is critical for us.”

Companies

Editor: Jennifer A. Ng

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Filinvest REIT seals more office leasing deals in Q1

By VG Cabuag @villygc

Maricel Brion-Lirio, the company’s president and CEO, said this is more than double the new leases that the company signed for the entire 2022.

“The tenants that signed are a mix of multinational BPO [business process outsourcing] and traditional companies,” Lirio said during the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

“We are happy to note that tenants are starting to come back and pushing forward with their expan-

sion plans. We are hopeful that this is a sign of reversal from the challenge we faced last year due to the implementation of hybrid work setups in PEZA special economic zones like our North Gate Cyberzone property in Alabang,” Lirio said.

The new deals complement the 5,087 square meters in leases Filinvest REIT sealed last year, and the 22,891 square meters in renewed leases, about 96 percent of which are expiring this year.

“Weighted average lease expiry or

‘whale’ is 6.9 years and is forecast to increase in 2023 as new leases and renewals for the year set in,” Lirio said in her report to shareholders.

She said Filinvest REIT is focused on diversifying its portfolio to boost dividends for its shareholders while improving the revenues of existing prime office assets.

“We expect our portfolio to benefit from intrinsic and organic growth as building occupancy improves.”

Lirio noted that contractual escalation terms are built into about 90 percent of Filinvest REIT’s office leases, averaging 5 percent per annum.

“Our inorganic growth potential is backed by the right of first refusal that sponsor Filinvest Land Inc. [FLI] has granted to Filinvest REIT. This covers all significant commercial properties owned by FLI and its wholly owned subsidiaries. FLI has about 465,000 square meters of office and more gross leaseable area in the CBDs [central business districts] that are potential acquisitions for Filinvest REIT,” Lirio said.

“Other asset classes may also be added to FILREIT coming from the commercial projects of the Filinvest Group. Our sponsor FLI is fully committed to grow FILREIT’s portfolio with regular asset infusions.”

The company closed 2022 with a profit of P1.31 billion and rental and other revenues of P3.24 billion.

Filinvest REIT posted an average occupancy of 89 percent last year.

FILINVEST LAND INC. POSTPONES

ANNUAL STOCKHOLDERS’ MEET

Filinvest Land Inc. announced the postponement of its Annual Stockholders’ Meeting from April 21, 2023 to April 24, 2023, 11:00 a.m. in view of Proclamation No. 201 series 2023 declaring April 21, 2023 as a national holiday in observance of Eid’l Fitr. Registered attendees will receive the meeting link from the company for April 24, 2023.

LinkedIn names top PHL workplaces

IT services and consulting firm

Accenture, and fintech firms

Mynt (GCash) and Maya led LinkedIn’s list of 15 best workplaces in the Philippines where professionals can grow their careers.

LinkedIn said the third annual edition of its list also offers valuable insights into the in-demand skills and the most significant job functions in these companies that professionals can utilize to help them land job opportunities.

“For the first time, utility company Aboitiz Power (#7), telecommunications corporation The Globe Group (#6), pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim (#13), outsourcing and offshoring consultancy services firm Sagility (#11), and software and technology solutions provider SAP (#9) made it to the list, signaling opportunities for professionals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets in various companies and industries.”

Another IT services and consulting firm that made the list is Kyndryl (#8), while financial services companies Citi (#12) and

AG&P International Pte.

Ltd. said it got approval from City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility at Ilijan in Batangas City.

In a special council meeting held at the Office of the City Veterinary & Agricultural Services (OCVAS), the company said CFARMC passed a binding resolution supporting the construction, commissioning and operationalizing of AG&P’s import terminal in recognition of the facility’s potential for community and livelihood development in Batangas and its neighboring municipals.

The resolution stated, “The development and industrialization along the municipal waters will greatly help in the economic growth of Batangas city. It is also necessary to address the thinning supply of natural gas which is need-

Prudential (#14) also entered the top 15. Three large global manufacturers were featured on this year’s list, namely Philip Morris International (#4), Unilever (#5), and Procter & Gamble (#10). Food and beverage company Nestle (#15) made its third appearance on the list.

To put this list together, LinkedIn said it leveraged its platform data to rank companies based on eight pillars that have been shown to lead to career progression, namely the ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity, educational background, and employee presence in the country.

LinkedIn data also revealed that the in-demand skills that the top companies in the Philippines are looking for in the IT services sector include Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Computer Security.

Companies in the financial services sector are looking for skills such as Fintech, Artificial Intelligence, and Economics.

ed by power plants in the city.”

The Philippine government had created Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management Councils (FARMCS) in all barangays, municipalities and cities adjoining municipal waters to institutionalize the major participation of the local fishers and other resource users in the community-based planning and implementation of policies and programs for the management, conservation, development and protection of fisheries and aquatic resources of the municipal waters across the Philippines.

“We salute the CFARMC for this critical resolution approving of AG&P’s Philippines LNG Import Terminal, a testament to AG&P’s commitment for participatory community development in the regions in which we operate.

Some of the largest job functions that these top companies are investing in include Engineering, Information Technology, as well as Customer Success, and Support.

“In this fast-evolving business environment, professionals seek guidance on the companies to work for that offer career growth and long-term success. The 2023 Top Companies list is filled with actionable insights and resources

that help professionals at all levels discover job opportunities.

“Those interested in a specific company can now easily identify the skills and roles being hired for, connect with employees they know in their network, and follow the company to stay informed about future opportunities,” said Atul Harkisanka, Head of Emerging Markets and Country Lead for the Philippines at LinkedIn. Andrea E. San Juan

B1

MRT-7 will promote sustainable transport system–San Miguel

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

SAN Miguel Corp. (SMC) said

on Wednesday it will integrate active transport solutions with the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7’s elevated turnback guideway.

SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang said the turnback facility will be “redesigned to create wider pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes, at no cost to the local government.”

He said this modal integration will help improve access to MRT-7 and support the local government’s broader effort to sustainable mobility and improved quality of life in the city.

“The construction of MRT-7’s turnback guideway at West Avenue presented an opportunity for us to help advance Mayor Joy Belmonte’s push for more and better active transport infrastructure in the city. Once completed, the new configuration of the road will feature wider pedestrian walkways, and bike lanes that will benefit more people,” Ang said.

The facility is being built along West Avenue in Quezon City near MRT-7’s North EDSA Station. It aims to ensure that train services across the project’s alignment are efficient and on-schedule.

Pre-construction work on the turnback guideway kicked off last week.

Once completed, the existing twometer-wide sidewalk will be widened up to 3.10 meters, a portion of which will be designated as a bike lane. The existing perpendicular parking along the road will be converted into parallel parking as well.

In addition to the construction of the walkway and bike lane, the project will also cover the relocation of utilities such as electrical lampposts, communication lines, drainage, water, and sanitary ducts, and other services.

MRT-7 is envisioned to be a 22-kilometer mass transit system that links up with the MRT 3 and LRT 1 and extends from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. It aims to reduce travel time from Quezon City to Bulacan to just 35 minutes.

Filinvest Reit Corp., the real estate investment trust (Reit) of the Gotianun-led Filinvest Group, on Wednesday said it has finalized 10,300 square meters in new lease deals as of the first quarter.

Measure seeks add’l yrs for estate tax amnesty

By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz @joveemarie

APARTYLIST lawmaker has filed a measure that seeks to extend the availment period of the estate tax amnesty for two years.

In House Bill (HB) 7842 he filed last April 11, Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said his proposal aims to provide taxpayers enough period to settle their tax dues as the amnesty period is about to lapse on June 14, 2023 under Republic Act (RA) 11569 which amended RA 11213 (Tax Amnesty Act).

“Undeniably, the pandemic significantly reduced the country’s economic activities. Numerous lockdowns and community quarantines led to the closure of businesses and unemployment. These severely affected the capacity of the people to settle their estate taxes due to lack of money and resources,” Lee said.

“With the impact of the pandemic and the high inflation rate that we still face, it is incumbent upon the government to address and lessen the taxpayer’s current burden,” he added.

RA 11213 was enacted in 2019 to “provide a one-time opportunity to settle estate tax obligations through an estate tax amnesty program that

will give reasonable tax relief to estates with deficiency estate taxes.”

The Tax Amnesty Act seeks to enhance revenue administration and collection by granting an amnesty on all unpaid internal revenue taxes imposed by the National Government for taxable year 2017 and prior years with respect to estate tax, other internal revenue taxes and tax on delinquencies.

Through HB 7842, taxpayers who are in the process of recovering from the effects of their losses and the impact of the high inflation rate are given an additional opportunity and protection to pay their estate taxes including increments and additions under the National Internal Revenue Code. Taxpayers shall also be immune from any related civil, criminal and administrative penalty.

Under the party-list’s proposed amendment, the new deadline of filing for those who wish to avail of the Estate Tax Amnesty would be set on June 14, 2025 from the original date of June 15, 2023.

If enacted into law, the Secretary of Finance shall, in coordination with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, would be compelled to issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of these proposals.

CIC celebrates Credit Consciousness Week

THE Credit Information Corp.

(CIC) announced it will hold a webinar on April 28 from 9 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. via Zoom and Facebook Live in line with this year’s celebration of the “Credit Consciousness Week” pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 568 (series of 1995).

The CIC said through a statement issued on April 19 that the webinar will tackle various ways of improving credit history, its effects on access to cost-effective financial products and services, as well as the basics of business loans.

“We want to underscore the usefulness of credit as a valuable financial tool and of one’s credit history in achieving financial goals, especially to micro-sized, small-scale, and me-

Maybank: Economy to slow its growth at 5.5% this year

By VG Cabuag @villygc

a comfortable level of about $80 per barrel compared to last year’s average of $100 per barrel.

“We also think that the global food price index to gradually easing. But while it’s easing, we think that it’s going to stay elevated. It’s [going to] be sticky downward,” the executive added. He explained that the largest producer of one of the largest producer of fertilizer, being the Ukraine is still at war with Russia.

“I think there’s going to be disruptions in terms of supply of fertilizer, which I think will continue to push up to keep food prices elevated,” Dzulkafli said.

year. Government consumption will be steady at 5.2 percent growth, the stock brokerage firm added. Gross fixed capital formation, meanwhile, will grow by 8.9 percent this year from 10.4 percent last year while exports and imports of goods and services will moderate to 6.8 percent and 9.5 percent respectively.

“So, this is very much related to the expectation of slowing global economic growth for this year,” he said. Dzulkafli also said the country’s current account deficit may settle at 3.8 percent compared to a 4.6-percent deficit last year.

dium-sized enterprises who benefit the most from improved access to capital ,” CIC President and CEO Ben Joshua A. Baltazar was quoted in a statement as saying.

Baltazar added that in 2022, almost six million CIC Credit Reports were requested by 157 accessing entities of the country’s sole public credit registry and repository of credit information for use in their credit-decisioning activities.

The upcoming webinar will feature as resource speakers the following: CIC Attorney III Phillip Gerald Fulgueras; Philippine Finance Association President Eillen Mangubat; and, Bank of the Philippine Islands Product Marketing Head Mark Launcel P. Panizales.

The investment bank pegs the country’s GDP growth this year at 5.5 percent from 7.6 percent last year, with monetary authorities expected to raise rates during their upcoming policy meeting by another 25 basis points. Next year, the country’s economy is forecasted to grow at 6.2 percent.

“But bear in mind that 5.5 percent this year is, we think, [has] got to be one of the fastest economic growth in [the] Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations region],” MIBG Senior Economist Zamros Dzulkafli said

during a briefing last Wednesday.

Dzulkafli said they expect the Monetary Board of the the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to cut rates by 225 basis points by next year to keep up with the US Federal Reserve’s forecasted rate cut.

He said inflation in the country is expected to receive an upward push from the volatile fuel prices given the recent decision by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and affiliates (OPEC+) to cut global oil production. Dzulkafli said oil prices is still much lower at

The MIBG economist added they are also looking at risks from the performance of the Philippine peso.

“The peso this year has been fairly stable. But, of course, the depreciating peso against the US dollar and against trading partners’ [currencies], I think, will put upward pressure on inflation from the high input cost, especially with the infrastructure [projects pushed] by the government,” Dzulkafli said.

The MIBG also expects private consumption to moderate to 6.4 percent this year from 8.3 percent last

The government’s fiscal deficit meanwhile may improve to 6 percent from 7.3 percent last year.

“Inflation, we think that’s not much improvement this year. We’re looking at 5.9 percent inflation this year, from 5.8 percent last year. But we expect the headline inflation to improve further next year to 3 percent,” he said.

The peso exchange rate to the dollar may average at P53.75 compared to P55.70 last year, before further improving to P51.50 as the US Fed ends its tightening cycle, the MIBG said in a briefing paper.

Fintech firm inks deal with BDO, SM, Ortigas Land

By Lorenz S. Marasigan @lorenzmarasigan

FINANCIAL technology (fintech) firm BayaniPay Inc. announced it has partnered with BDO Unibank Inc., SM Development Corp. and Ortigas Land Corp., to introduce the real estate payments service of its cross-border payments solution it calls “bills pay.”

With this partnership, overseas Filipinos in the United States of American can now “conveniently and securely acquire and invest in homes and properties in the Philippines,” the firm said in a document.

“We see a huge potential in this highly untapped market, which is marked by several barriers for overseas Filipinos. These partnerships allow us to plug the gap in cross-border payments for the real estate in -

vestment market worth P1 trillion,” BayaniPay CEO Winston Damarillo said during a roundtable discussion last Wednesday.

Citing data from the World Bank, Damarillo said a big chunk—as much as 60 percent—of remittances from overseas Filipinos are allotted to investments.

“It is estimated that roughly P1 trillion of properties are sold every year and 40 percent of that P1 trillion is sold to overseas Filipinos and half of that is in the US,” he explained.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that annual revenues of the real estate market in the Philippines were at P1 trillion as of 2019.

“Our partnerships with key industry leaders enable Filipino immigrants to conveniently pay their property investments in the Philippines at zero

Bitcoin drops below $30,000 on interest rate fears

BITCOIN dropped back below the closely watched $30,000 level amid a wider retreat in cryptocurrencies, as stubbornly high UK inflation fanned fears of higher-for-longer interest rates.

The largest token fell as much as 4.5 percent before paring some of the slide to trade at about $29,175 as of 11:50 a.m. in London on Wednesday. Ether shed 6 percent and smaller tokens like Solana and Avalanche suffered steeper declines. European stocks and US equity futures also slipped.

UK consumer-price data on Wednesday showed inflation remained above 10 percent in March, adding to recent signs that central banks will have to keep lifting borrowing costs. That’s giving traders pause after Bitcoin surged about 80 percent this year, a rally driven in large part by speculation that rate cuts were imminent.

The sudden selloff triggered liquidations of $175 million worth of long positions across crypto markets, data from Coinglass showed.

“This seems to be a classic liq-

uidation and structural market reaction,” said Vetle Lunde, senior analyst at K33 Research.

Economic indicators from the US this month have also under-

mined the notion that a crisis among regional banks will force the Federal Reserve to abandon tightening. A key measure of US inflation showed signs of easing in March, but probably not enough to keep Fed officials from changing tack. In addition, US workers are seeing pay increases outpace inflation.

Yet the recent interest-rate jitters are unlikely to derail this year’s crypto rally, according to Fadi Aboualfa, head of research at digital-asset custodian Copper. He pointed to the positive funding rate—where long investors pay a small fee to short traders—as indicating overall bullish sentiment.

“From what we’ve noticed speaking to different hedge funds, many are continuously allocating to Bitcoin after being on the sidelines,” he said in an email. “We’re certainly not seeing any fundamental shift.” Bloomberg News

Maya Bank, HMO ink deal for card-payment solution

MAYA Bank and health maintenance organization (HMO) PhilCare Inc. recently launched a cardpayment solution integrating not only the services and products of the two companies but also their respective markets.

statement issued by Maya

Bank explained that card users would be given access to more than 1,700 accredited medical providers throughout the country. The card also allows members to complete medical reimbursements from any automated teller machine (ATM), the statement read.

the card to the Maya

app, users can access the digital bank’s services, company said. Maya Bank, however, didn’t disclose the value of the partnership with PhilCare.

PhilCare President and CEO

Jaeger L. Tanco was quoted in the statement as saying that he sees the card providing members “conve-

nient access” to institutions. Maya Bank Co-Founder Shailesh Baidwan said he considers the PhilCare-Maya card to “making it easier for PhilCare members and partner doctors to complete reimbursements and receive benefits as they [gain] access to digital banking and payment services.” Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

transaction fees and with competitive exchange rates,” Damarillo said. “We are making it easier for Filipino to reinvest back to the Philippines.”

Help in recovery

THE service offers customers the benefits of monthly auto debit and paying using an eligible funding source so they no longer have to open a separate bank account in the Philippines.

With its payments solution, BayaniPay allows real estate developers collect, automate and reconcile payments with ease through a custom dashboard, a document from the firm read.

“Our partnership with BayaniPay bolsters our continuing effort to provide value to Filipinos in the US and help them experience living the good life,” SMDC President Jose Mari H. Banzon said during the briefing. “That also means giving them in -

novative solutions that make the purchase of their properties easy and worry-free, especially now that the real estate industry is expected to boom.”

Ortigas Land International Marketing Director Arles Montefalcon II said they see the partnership as supporting the recovery of the real estate market this year and beyond.

“Our partnership with BayaniPay enables us to leverage new technologies to provide our customers in the US greater value for their investments,” he said.

Damarillo estimates that overseas Filipinos remit as much as 14 times per year to the Philippines. Payments for their investments in real estate are separate transactions that amount, ranging between $350 a month to $2,000 a month, depending on the size of their property.

$1-B sale marks first major bank’s AT1 bond offer

THE global market for Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds is back in business with a big offering by a Japanese bank just weeks after Credit Suisse Group AG’s collapse hammered the notes.

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. sold 140 billion yen ($1 billion) of AT1 debt, becoming the first major global bank to issue such notes since the finance-sector crisis erupted last month. It’s another sign that the turmoil first triggered by the failure of Silicon Valley Bank is easing.

The sale is one of the largest deals in the yen corporate-bond market this year, indicating that at least in Japan there’s firm demand for riskier debt sold by local lenders. Another of the country’s megabanks, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., is planning a two-part AT1 bond sale as soon as mid-May.

Globally, the securities have rebounded in recent weeks while cross-asset volatility has dropped to around 14-month low, reflecting easing concern about banking systems. SMFG’s offering came after Swiss regulators imposed more than $17 billion of losses on holders of Credit Suisse AT1 debt, securities created after the global financial crisis to bolster banks’ capital in efforts to prevent future taxpayer bailouts.

“This deal indicated that the Japanese AT1 market is very much open and the megabanks are still able to issue junior capital securities at relative low spreads,” said Pri de Silva, senior analyst for Bloom-

berg Intelligence. “The global AT1s market is somewhat siloed along geographic lines. Yet, this is a step in the right direction for sector.”

AT1 notes, also known as contingent convertible or CoCo bonds, are considered the riskiest debt sold by banks. That’s because they are designed to impose losses on bondholders or be converted into equity if a lender’s capital ratios fall below a predetermined level. Regulators can write them down as well if a bank starts to fail.

Swiss authorities have defended their decision to make the notes at Credit Suisse worthless in a state-brokered takeover by UBS Group AG, telling bondholders that they had been warned of the risk in the paperwork. The wipeout was unmatched in Europe’s $275 billion CoCo bond market.

SMFG priced both 89 billion yen of perpetual notes that can’t be called for five years and two months and 51 billion yen of similar non-call 10-year, two-month debt at spreads of 171 basis points, according to sole underwriter SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. SMFG’s prior such deal was in December, selling 107 billion yen in two parts with spreads of no larger than 148.3 basis points, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The firm selling more AT1s with an earlier call date is an indication that even in Japan, investors prefer safer debt after the recent market turbulence, said Kazuma Ogino, a senior credit analyst at Nomura Securities Co. Bloomberg News

MAYBANK Investment Banking Group (MIBG) on Wednesday said it expects Philippine economic growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), to slow down this year mainly due to global headwinds.

This July 25, 2022, photo shows people walking by a shop in Atlanta, Georgia, where a Bitcoin logo is displayed. The cryptocurrency saw it fall below the $30,000-level as traders were spooked interest rates would continue to track upwards. BloomBerg News

Health& Fitness

Palawan is the only province that is not yet malaria-free—DOH

By Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco

the entire country in insuring that reintroduction is prevented and malaria-free status is sustained.

“We reiterate our commitment to achieving country-wide Malaria-free status by 2030. The goal is within our reach, but we must continue our work to fully achieve this,” Vergeire said.

Almost there

V erG e I re reported in a media forum on Tuesday that 80 out of 81 provinces in the Philippines were already declared as malaria-free.

The only province where the disease has yet to be eliminated is Palawan.

By Rory Visco Contributor

Editor: Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Sulong Kalusugan! Innovate, Invest and Implement Healthy and Malaria Free Communities,” which commits further progress to eliminate malaria in the country.

The event was held to recognize the collaborative efforts and hard work of everyone who contributed to declaring provinces in Calabarzon as malaria-Free.

Under the Universal Healthcare Law, the mandate of the d epartment of Health ( d OH) is to strengthen its efforts when it comes to promoting the health of people in communities, learning and other identified institutions.

types of diseases and are fit for varying ages, from pregnant to new-born children up to one year. There are also vaccines for female adolescents to prevent cervical cancer, and the flu and pneumonia vaccines for the elderly,” d r. Tayag noted.

If left untreated, the d epartment of Health ( d OH) warned, that P. falciparum malaria may progress to severe illness and possibly, death.

The Philippines carried a high burden of malaria disease in the past but with the unrelenting efforts of the d OH- n ational Malaria Control and e limination Program ( n MC e P), the number of cases and deaths have been reduced significantly and as such, the country is now inching towards elimination.

The d OH- n MC e P aims to eliminate malaria by adopting a health system focused approach to achieve universal coverage with quality-assured malaria diagnosis and treatment; strengthen governance and human resources; main -

tain the financial support needed, and ensure timely and accurate information management.

Commitment renewal

TH e d OH on Monday reiterated its commitment to achieving country-wide malaria-free status by 2030.

“It shall continue to assist the last remaining province with local malaria transmission and bring it down to elimination levels as targeted,” d OH officerin-charge Maria r osario Vergeire as she led the Malaria-Free r egional Convention organized by the r egion IV-B Center for Health d evelopment.

Vergeire said that the d OH will provide technical and logistics assistance to

“ Nag-iisa na lang...ang Palawan. Ang criteria nito [malaria-free] is the absence of local transmission of malaria for the past five years,” Vergeire said during d OH’s Media Forum on Tuesday.

“Patuloy ang d OH sa pagtulong na mapababa ang atin pang mga local transmission s a bansa upang lahat ng probinsya ay makakamit ng [The d OH will continuously assist to lower the local transmission in the country so that all of the provinces will achieve the] elimination status. We will also facilitate the assessment of provinces with elimination status such that they, too, can join malaria-free provinces like r egion 4A,” Vergeire added.

Eliminate malaria

THIS year’s theme is “Sulong Calabarzon,

Vergeire recognized the unwavering support and involvement of partners and stakeholders, including national government agencies ( n GAs), non-government organizations ( n GOs), local government units (LGUs), and Private Institutions for their assistance, proactive engagement, exemplary practices, accomplishments, and initiatives in attaining and sustaining a disease-free status. Further, the OIC called on them all to further raise awareness to preserve the region’s malaria-free status by preventing the re-introduction of malaria through a sustainable, calibrated, and comprehensive service delivery system.  She also highlighted the region’s best practices to be expanded to other areas in the country. r emember that, if treated early, malaria cases can be mitigated, and transmission and re-introduction can be prevented. The challenge laid out, the next step is sustainability, sustain zero malaria at all cost until the country finally achieves it,” Vergeire concluded.

VRP bags Management Innovation of the Year Award as it celebrates its 50th anniversary

By Anne Ruth Dela Cruz

Vr P Medical Center bagged the Management Innovation of the Year Award—Philippines in the Healthcare Asia Awards 2023. The award coincided with the hospital’s year-long 50th anniversary celebration which kicked off last February 19, 2023.

d uring the Healthcare Asia Awards

gala at Shangri-la Singapore on March 29, 2023, V r PMC was introduced as a Top Covid Hospital in the Philippines for its rapid construction of an er extension with 16-bed capacity and other er amenities within a 50-day schedule with quality standards and protocols based on the d epartment of Health’s strict requirements for the license to operate. The er extension doubled the er capacity of the hospital at the height of the pandemic, and saved more lives with Covid-19 patient recovery rate of 85 percent in 2020 up to 96 percent in 2022.

Present to receive the award were Virma Vergel de d ios, V r PMC President; d r. e garda Penserga, Medical d irector; Veronica Garcia, Administrator; e ileen n atividad, Ancillary Head’ and r osalie

CA nC er is one of the leading causes of death in the country, third only to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For less common cancers like brain cancer, however, there may not be enough awareness among Filipinos to prevent its onset, or resources to help those afflicted.

“One common misconception is that frequent headaches must mean a brain tumor; that’s often not the case,” said d r.

Michael Louis Gimenez, resident neurosurgeon and Chairman of the Brain and Spine Institute at Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC). “It’s possible, but there are a combination of symptoms that more accurately distinguish a possible brain tumor.”

According to Gimenez, symptoms of a brain tumor manifest depending on the location in the brain. That being said, some common symptoms across the board are seizures, abnormal motor control, memory or thinking issues, nausea and vision problems.

Operana, Marketing Head.

“We redirected the plans to innovate new products and services to meet the patient’s emerging needs, including digital health solutions. We developed new and continuously strengthened our services,” Vergel d e d ios said.

Staying afloat

W ITH the concerted efforts of the management team, staff and stakeholders, V r PMC stayed afloat despite the financial distress. The hospital rebounded with the swift implementation of a hospital recovery plan which included efficient cost and cash flow management without compromising patient-centric care. The hospital administration also managed to not lay off employees and closed the collective bargaining agreement with the labor union with no liabilities.

The award could not have come at a better time for V r PMC as it celebrates its 50th year this year with the theme “The Future from the Beginning.” Instead of the usual week long celebration, the hospital management decided to make it a year long celebration with 50 events.

“Throughout the year, we will have a

agnosing and treating brain tumors, d r. Gimenez stated that it is best done at a multidisciplinary level, which is what led CSMC to establish its Brain and Spine Tumor Center.

“We wanted to push a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and team-oriented approach to the evaluation and treatment of patients with brain and spine tumors,” he said. “When medical practitioners from different fields and disciplines work together to contribute their expertise in identifying and treating tumors, patients are able to receive consistent, timely, accurate and holistic care for their afflictions,” d r. Gimenez said.

At the Brain and Spine Tumor Center, patient cases are first assessed by a team of n eurologists, n eurosurgeons, and Medical Oncologists, then presented to all the team members for clinical review. Patients are informed of the team’s input soon after, allowing them to discuss their options and come to an informed decision about their diagnosis.

mix of major and pocket events and we had a grand kick off last February 19. We had a motorcade, a torch run and a thanksgiving mass. So Mom [d e d ios] wanted it to be very special so we had five priests, one principal celebrant for each decade and our principal celebrant was Msgr. Socrates Villegas,” related Garcia in an interview with BusinessMirror.

Kick off

Pre S en T at the grand kick off which was held at Greenfields d istrict Central Park were Mandaluyong City Major Benjamin Abalos, a representative of Mandaluyong City r ep. n eptali Gonzales Jr., and officials from the Mount Grace n etwork.

V r PMC was the first hospital to join the network 10 years ago.

“It was an exclusive event for employees but we also invited retired employees and doctors. Anyone who was with V r P was welcome to join. There were food concessionaires where guest were given vouches in denominations of 50, dancing and five performers from the last five decades,” Garcia continued.

The management also took advantage of the opportunity to formally launch its

for the patient as well,” d r. Gimenez noted. “Through this streamlined process we are able to facilitate timely planning and decision-making, and the expertise and opinions coming from different disciplines can be considered.”

CSMC’s approach proves to be popular with patients, as the hospital has since seen a 600 percent increase in the number of patients served after its implementation.

“We believe it’s because the Brain and Spine Tumor Center is a one-stop service for patients suffering from neurological diseases,” d r. Gimenez shared.

“Patients know that they have a team of experienced, excellent and compassionate medical professionals taking care of them from the moment they step through the hospital doors and all throughout their journey.”

Well-equipped center

di -

“This approach is beneficial not just for the team handling the case, but also

T H e Brain and Spine Tumor Center is also equipped with the latest neurosurgical equipment, a n euro-ICU, a medical n euro-oncology Unit, and radiothera -

new slogan “Alagang V r P.” “ e ver since the pandemic, we have been using the ‘Alagang V r P’ branding so we also had an employee immersion training about our new slogan,” she said.

Reopening of centers

A S part of their anniversary celebration, V r PMC will be reopening and relaunching the centers and units that management was forced to close during the pandemic. The centers include the Cardiac r ehabilitation Center, the new Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Kidney Transplant Facility, Wellness and Aesthetic Center, d iabetes, Obesity and n utrition Center, among others.

To close the anniversary celebration, V r PMC will have a more formal gala where the hospital will launch a coffee table book. Other activities that are scheduled include an HMO night, Physician’s n ight and memorial lecture, golf tournament, among others.

“V r PMC is on the road to recovery. All the projects that were previously put on hold are becoming a reality one by one. n o one is working from home now and everyone is on board,” Garcia said.

py facilities. It also boasts of the only Gamma Knife r adiosurgery unit in the Philippines.

This dedication to provide the best quality of medical service to its patients has since been recognized at the 2022 Asian Hospital Management Awards, where CSMC was awarded the e xcellence Award in Clinical e ffectiveness Improvement for its multidisciplinary approach to brain and spine tumor management.

“The CSMC Brain and Spine Tumor Center was organized to bring different medical fields together to deliver comprehensive and holistic cancer care and treatment,” Gimenez concluded. “We want our patients and potential patients to see how serious and committed we are to giving them quality medical care that they cannot get anywhere else.”

For more information about the programs and services that CSMC offers, please visit https://cardinalsantos.com. ph/. CSMC is also on Facebook, like and follow them at www.facebook.com/CardinalSantos.

To perform this mandate, the d OH is guided by the Health Promotion Framework Strategy (HPFS) 2021-2030, which serves as a long-term basis for population-wide solutions to the seven priority areas: diet and physical activity, environmental health, immunization, substance use, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and violence and injury prevention.

To achieve the establishment of a “Healthy Pilipinas,” the d OH held a two-day “ n ational Health Fair Pista ng Kalusugan” at the Quezon Memorial Circle on April 15 and 16, 2023 to gain widespread awareness and encourage more Filipinos to adopt a healthier lifestyle and be well informed about the Seven Healthy Habits through informative discussions, engaging experience zones, and free medical services such as tuberculosis and breast cancer screening and help promote a “Healthy Barangay, Healthy Pilipinas.”

The d OH and its partners came up with seven immersive booths, all related to each of the seven habits: Move More, e at r ight; Be Clean, Live Sustainably; Get Vaccinated; d on’t Smoke, Avoid Alcohol, Say n o to d rugs; Care for Yourself, Care for Others; Practice Safe Sex; and d o n o Harm, Put Safety First.

Revamp of health initiatives

I n a speech read by the representative of Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in the event, Quezon City Assistant City Administrator for General Affairs head Atty. r ene Grapilon, said that for a city with more than three million residents, the local government is deeply committed to the health and well-being of its citizens.

“As one of the biggest cities in the country, we face our fair share of health challenges and this pushes us to revamp our health initiatives and create a healthier Quezon City.

We firmly believe that health care is not just about providing medical services but also empowering our residents with knowledge and tools to make healthier choices in their daily lives. To create a real impact, we need to use a multi-faceted approach and combine multiple strategies that will work together seamlessly,” the speech stated.

Vaccination is key

AMO n G the seven habits, Undersecretary d r. e nrique Tayag from the d OH Field Implementation and Coordination Team for n orth Luzon, said they are focusing on immunization, particularly since World Immunization Week is happening from April 24 to 30, 2023. He reminded the fair participants that vaccination is still the most effective way to protect people, particularly children, from life-threatening diseases.

n o child should perish from any disease that can be prevented with the help of vaccines that can combat specific

It is important, he said, for children to complete all vaccines to make sure they are protected against deadly diseases while they are growing up. “Vaccination should continue for children based on their r outine Immunization schedule. All these vaccines are safe and effective since these passed through rigorous, strict and scientific processes to make sure they are truly safe and effective. The best part is that these vaccines are given to health centers and are free to the public,” he continued. An opportunity to be healthy M e A n WHIL e , Assistant Secretary d r. Beverly Lorraine Ho from the Public Health Services Team of the d OH, said it is not just about having the best services at clinics but also about giving everyone the opportunity to be healthy. “We really want more people to know about the Seven Healthy Habits. Many of us, when we hear the word health, we think of hospitals or clinics. Though it is part of health, other sectors also have contributions when it comes to health,” she said in her speech. That is why she expressed gratitude to the d OH’s partners present during the event such as d r. Malalay Ahmadzai, Chief of Health and n utrition at U n IC e F, d r. Achyut Shrestha, Medical Officer, Vaccine Preventable d iseases and Immunization from the World Health Organization, Michelle Lang-Alli, d irector of the Office of Health at the US Agency for International d evelopment (USAI d ), and other participants, and of course Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who was represented by Atty. Grapilon, and r ep. Stella Quimbo, Marikina 2nd d istrict r epresentative.

She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the Seven Healthy Habits, and pointed out that the d OH and local government units (LGUs) have many platforms to be able to teach and share important knowledge and skills about being healthy.

In an interview with the BusinessMirror, d r. Ho emphasized that the event is part of the activation process to get everyone excited. “We want to emphasize that for the Seven Healthy Habits, it will not be just the d OH or the health sector that will move on this. Many other sectors should help one another and the d OH will become more collaborative with them to achieve our goals.”

She also revealed that the d OH is working with friends from the legislature such as the House of r epresentatives and the Senate in relation to the healthy habits. She said that part of what they are working on is food labeling, which is already common in other countries. “We want to help consumers through this so every time they buy a food product, for example, they would already know if it’s healthy or not. Then there’s also the trans-fat elimination bill where studies are ongoing at the House and the Senate so these are some of the things we are pushing for,” d r. Ho related.

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by plasmodium parasites transmitted by the anopheles mosquito or rarely through blood transfusion and sharing of contaminated needles causing acute febrile illness and symptoms in the form of fever, headache and chills.

DOH pushes Seven Healthy Habits drive through health fair, legislation

Parentlife BusinessMirror

Eating disorders among teens have more than doubled during the Covid-19 pandemic. Here’s what to watch for

SUmmER SENSATIONS

fOR THE ENTIRE fAm

APRIL is shaping up to be a fantastic month as Shangri-La Plaza crafts an exciting lineup of activities and fun pursuits for every member of the family.

Nothing spells summer like playtime for the kids. Treat the little ones to an energetic time at indoor playgrounds Heroes Headquarters and Kidzoona. Every kid is sure to want to try the giant slides, zip lines, foam pits, balance beams, and other stations that train them to become “superheroes” at the Heroes Headquarters. It also has Hero Blast, the world’s first non-gun laser tag that uses special blaster gloves. Kidzooona, meanwhile, is where kids can play ball pool with giant inflatable slides and enjoy different “work” stations that let them explore their imagination.

Of course, nothing brings the family together better than good food. Share new and old favorites with the entire family at Shang’s Food Forum. And there’s even more reason to go with newly opened dining options like Pepa Wings that’s known for its delish chicken wings available in 10 flavors like Cheesy Bacon and Salted Egg, and The Blue Apron that’s loved for its unique poke tacos. Fans of Pepper Lunch will be glad to know that the popular food joint is back to serve sizzling plates again.

Hungry for more? Explore different destinations through their flavors at the “Asian Eats Food Festival”, presented by Asia Society Philippine Foundation Inc. It’s happening at the Grand Atrium from April 27 to 30. This annual food festival celebrates the richness of Asian culture and cuisine. The event features a variety of flavors from Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, Vietnam, Korea, the Philippines, and more. Also, get the opportunity to recreate the dishes at home by catching the live cooking demos.

Better yet, visit these destinations and make that dream family getaway come true with the “RCBC Travel Fair.” Drop by the East Atrium from April 28 to 30 to get discounted flights and accommodations to help families plan an epic trip that will surely help everyone bond and build lifelong memories.

More information is available at www.facebook.com/ shangrilaplazaofficial.

By Sydney Hartman-Munick UMass Chan Medical School

THE Covid-19 pandemic has been associated with worsening mental health among teens, including increasing numbers of patients with eating disorders. In fact, research indicates that the number of teens with eating disorders at least doubled during the pandemic.

This is particularly concerning given that eating disorders are among the most deadly of all mental health diagnoses, and teens with eating disorders are at higher risk for suicide than the general population. While experts don’t know exactly why eating disorders develop, studies show that body dissatisfaction and desire for weight loss are key contributors. This can make conversations around weight and healthy behaviors particularly tricky with teens and young adults.

Understanding the signs of a possible eating disorder is important, as studies suggest that timely diagnosis and treatment leads to better long-term outcomes and to better chances of full recovery.

EATING DISORDERS DEFINED

EATING disorders, which often start in adolescence, include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other specified feeding and eating disorders and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder. Each eating disorder has specific criteria that must be met in order to receive a diagnosis, which is made by a professional with eating disorder expertise.

Research suggests that up to 10 percent of people will develop an eating disorder in their lifetime. Medical complications from eating disorders, such as low heart rate and electrolyte abnormalities, can be dangerous and result in hospitalization, and malnutrition can affect growth and development.

Teens are also at risk for disordered eating behaviors such as intentional vomiting, caloric restriction, binge eating, overexercise, the use of weight loss supplements and misuse of laxatives.

Treatment can include a team consisting of a medical provider, nutritionist and therapist, or might involve the use of a specialized eating disorder program. Referral to one of these treatment methods may come from a pediatrician or a specialized eating disorder provider.

UNPACKING MISCONCEPTIONS AND STEREOTYPES

TRADITIONAL ideas and stereotypes about eating disorders have left many people with the impression that it is mainly thin, white, affluent females who develop eating disorders. However, research demonstrates that anyone can develop these conditions, regardless of age, race, body size, gender identity, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status.

Unfortunately, stereotypes and assumptions about eating disorders have contributed to health disparities in screening, diagnosis and treatment. Studies have documented negative eating disorder treatment

Cyber protection tips for families

This year, we can get to do that at least 12 times.

With the many accounts we have online and for wanting of convenience, we tend to leave our accounts logged in. Unfortunately, cybercriminals get excited about holidays, too.

To refresh everyone’s memory, the $81-million Bangladesh Bank heist back in 2016 is an example of a successful cyber attack, which happened on the first day of Lunar New Year, a national holiday in the Philippines and the rest of Asia.

experiences among transgender and gender-diverse individuals, Black and Indigenous people and those with larger body size. Some contributors to these negative experiences include lack of diversity and training among treatment providers, treatment plans without cultural or economic nutritional considerations, and differential treatment when a patient is not visibly underweight, among others.

Contrary to popular assumptions, studies show teen boys are at risk for eating disorders as well. These often go undetected and can be disguised as a desire to become more muscular. However, eating disorders are just as dangerous for boys as they are for girls.

Parents and loved ones can play a role in helping to dispel these stereotypes by advocating for their child at the pediatrician’s office if concern arises and by recognizing red flags for eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors.

WARNING SIGNS

GIVEN how common disordered eating and eating disorders are among teens, it is important to understand some possible signs of these worrisome behaviors and what to do about them.

Problematic behaviors can include eating alone or in secret, and a hyperfocus on “healthy” foods and distress when those foods aren’t readily available. Other warning signs include significantly decreased portion sizes, skipped meals, fights at mealtime, using the bathroom immediately after eating and weight loss.

Because these behaviors often feel secretive and shameful, it may feel difficult to bring them up with teens. Taking a warm but direct approach when the teen is calm can be helpful, while letting them know you have noticed the behavior and are there to support them without judgment or blame. I always make sure to let my patients know that my job is to be on their team, rather than to just tell them what to do.

Teens may not immediately open up about their own concerns, but if behaviors like this are present, don’t hesitate to have them seen at their pediatrician’s office. Following up with patients who have shown signs of having an eating disorder and promptly referring them to a specialist who can further evaluate the patient are crucial for getting teens the help they may need.

FOCUS ON HEALTH, NOT SIZE

RESEARCH shows that poor body image and body dissatisfaction can put teens at risk for disordered eating behaviors and eating disorders.

Parents play an important role in the development of teens’ self-esteem, and research demonstrates that negative comments from parents about weight, body size and eating are associated with eating disorder-type thoughts in teens. Therefore, when talking to teens, it can be beneficial to take a weightneutral approach, which focuses more on overall health rather than weight or size. I unfortunately have had many patients with eating disorders who were scolded or teased about their weight by family members; this can be really harmful in the long run.

Below are the list of cyper protection tips we can do while on a holiday:

CONDUCT DRILLS

n Stress to vacationing employees why data encryption, two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and locking devices when not in use are important.

n Discuss the steps to take if their device ends up getting stolen.

One helpful strategy is to incorporate lots of variety into a teen’s diet. If doable, trying new foods as a family can encourage your teen to try something they haven’t before. Try to avoid terms such as “junk” or “guilt” when discussing foods. Teaching teens to appreciate lots of different kinds of foods in their diet allows them to develop a healthy, knowledgeable relationship with food. If you’re feeling stuck, you may want to ask your pediatrician about seeing a dietitian.

It’s important to remember that teens need a lot of nutrition to support growth and development, often more than adults do, and regular eating helps avoid extreme hunger that can lead to overeating. Letting teens listen to their bodies and learn their own hunger and fullness cues will help them eat in a healthy way and create healthy long-term habits. THE CONVERSATION

potential incident response over the holidays. The rights granted to regular admin accounts can even be temporarily restricted so that attackers cannot exploit them.

INSTALL PATCHES

n Do this for all key applications. This process is far simpler if your company uses security solutions with a built-in patch management system.

Meanwhile, Kaspersky also encourages individuals to:

MANY of us have started planning those long vacations with our families. For some, the school year ended a few weeks ago. Other school breaks will just be starting in June.

“Now that the world has reopened, travel is back with a vengeance this year, hence the term ‘revenge travel.’ Whether Filipinos are scheduling holiday trips or just staycation-ing during the long weekends, it’s important to observe simple digital security practices so you can get to sit back and relax as you take your well-deserved vacation. Security-first thinking opens doors for a more enjoyable holiday break, especially for Filipinos who are among the world’s most active online users,” says Chris Connell, managing director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky.

There are 18 official public holidays in the Philippines. As we all know, when these dates fall close to a weekend, or if the government pursues holiday economics, most Filipinos make plans in advance to take advantage of extended holiday breaks.

Many of us also manage our own businesses and we plan to manage them remotely during our vacation time. This is why both individuals and companies are advised to be extra mindful of personal and company cybersecurity best practices and internet hygiene when on a holiday.

It is good that Kaspersky released a comprehensive list on how we can protect ourselves and our businesses, so we can truly relax and enjoy while we are away. Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. Its deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe.

The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection and a number of specialized security solutions and services to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. Over 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies.

n Advise staff about charging smartphones in a wall socket, not through USBs at airports and other public places (these can be used to steal data from a device and infect it with malicious software, such as spyware).

n Educate employees about the dangers of public WIFI (and even hotel WIFI unless it is encrypted and password-protected) and how to use a secure connection such as with a VPN.

LOG OUT n Terminate unnecessary VPN connections to the corporate infrastructure.

n End unnecessary sessions that employees have left on any devices for an extended period of time. This also applies to corporate messengers, web apps and any other services.

n Check that the list of employees with access to the corporate network via VPN or RDP include only authorized users. Revoke access from those who don't need it.

n Create special "emergency" admin accounts for

n Only browse trusted apps and websites, and be careful about personal information you input like credit card numbers or home address.

n Do not click on links or open email attachments from travel sites when receiving confirmations. Trusted companies include such letters in the bodies of their emails. Malware is often disguised as an attached confirmation letter.

n Bring two or three more credit or debit cards to have a backup plan in case of loss or needing to cancel one.

n Never leave valuables unattended. Put large amounts of cash and mobile devices or laptops in the hotel safe.

n Use a credit card as most have built-in protections against fraud. There is no protection against a scammer if you send them cash or even check or debit card payment in some cases. A money transfer service is not advisable.

n Ensure the family’s devices have security

installed, ideally with anti-theft technology.

Philippine Food Expo taps MAYANI to highlight vital role of agrifood in SMX

NGO I am MAD calls for volunteers for MAD Camps 2023 in 10 areas around the country

IAM MAD (Making A Difference) Volunteers

Inc. (I am MAD), a nationwide nonprofit, non-governmental organization, announced it is now accepting volunteers to its “MAD Camps” this year in 10 areas around the Philippines. It is open to all ages especially the Filipino youth and young professionals.

Recognized by the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards Foundation, “MAD Camp,” the organization’s flagship program, is a three-day outreach program where it gathers volunteers to facilitate values formation activities anchored on the Department of Education’s core advocacies.

The group engages school children ages 10 to12 with tasks designed to promote positive Filipino traits and inspire them to see themselves as dreamers and future leaders with a volunteer heart. Volunteers usually stay in the beneficiary school to camp. The last day is set aside for local community immersion and exploration.

with the organization, renew their individual passions, and relive the spirit of volunteerism for the community by joining its outreach around the Philippines.

KNOWN as the country’s only “AllFilipino Food Show”, the muchanticipated Philippine Food Expo is bringing its 15th biennial run this April 28 to 30, 2023 to the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

The mega-exhibit organized by the Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization (Philfoodex) Inc. and co-presented by the Department of Agriculture will also spotlight the vital role of agriculture in the Philippine food industry and its overall dynamism and interdependencies with the other allied verticals such as the food service and retail sectors. Philfoodex is championing this through MAYANI, the expo’s first agri-tech partner and known as the country’s fastest-growing farm-to-table platform.

The three-day event is also poised to round up over 300 food-oriented micro, small, and medium enterprises, key

SM, PICPA FOUNDATIONS HOLD MEDICAL MISSION. Residents of Ajuy, Iloilo were the beneficiaries of a medical and dental mission mounted by SM Foundation in collaboration with the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Foundation recently. PICPA Foundation’s participation in the medical and dental mission is under its Community Development Support Committee. Held at the San Antonio Gymnasium of Ajuy, 863 beneficiaries availed of medical (279), Xray (91), ECG (26), blood sugar test (46), uric acid test (38) and cholesterol test (38), among others. Other project partners were the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, West Visayas State University Medical Center, local government unit of Ajuy, Mercury Drug Foundation and MX3-DMIRIE Foundation.

exporters, food manufacturers, and value chain players in the growing, packaging, equipment, ingredients, additives, food safety, kitchen equipment, and related industries.

“Food security remains to be a pressing issue in the country. With Mayani’s presence in the expo, we hope to not just highlight the importance of sustainable food ecosystems, but also make accessible affordable produce cultivated by our local farmers. Afterall, they are our food security frontliners in this post-pandemic era,” shares Philfoodex President, Ruben See.

Since April is Philippine Food Month, the event serves as the timely showcase of the country’s rich culinary heritage and tradition through simultaneous cooking demos, technical workshops, and seminars.

Expo delegates are also expected to get an experiential journey through the

MAYANI Hakot Challenge, a bayongall-can initiative that features the fresh produce and key crops of MAYANI’s Calabarzon and Cordillera farmers while drumming up contextual discussions around the centrality of smallholder value chains in the broader food industry.

“There is no better platform than the PH Food Expo in bringing to the fore the significance and impact of the agriculture sector to the food industry and our post-pandemic economy. It’s a team-up that will allow us creatively engage all food stakeholders and rally the synergies to create a positive dent in Philippine agriculture,” says JT Solis, the Co-Founder & CEO of MAYANI, who concretized the partnership deal.

The 15th Philippine Food Expo will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pre-registration is required with discounted passes available at www. philippinefoodexpo.ph

PLDT, Smart champion community technopreneurship, train Talavera, Nueva Ecija MSMEs with Shopee PH

PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently joined hands with Shopee Philippines to train Talavera, Nueva Ecija-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on technopreneurship.

The learning caravan focused on leveraging on technology for business.

The “Pilipinas, Aahon at Babangon: Ace your E-Commerce Game!” seminar aims to help participating MSMEs elevate their entrepreneurial skills by utilizing available digital tools.

“PLDT and Smart recognize the vital role of MSMEs in nation building and post-pandemic economic recovery, and the significance of technology in advancing this

goal. This is why we prioritize opportunities that bring technology closer to MSMEs, made possible by our partnerships with like-minded organizations such as Shopee Philippines, and the Talavera LGU,” said Cathy Yang, First Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart.

Topics discussed during the oneday session held at the Mayor's Hall in Talavera, Nueva Ecija included mobile photography and social media skills and using e-commerce platforms like Shopee to expand market reach.

This learning caravan also aims to enable participants to level up their skills, specifically in online content generation and selling, to help them grow their businesses

through accessible and sustainable communication technologies.

“Our fellow cooperatives have encouraged us to explore online platforms, including Shopee, and we did. We are currently learning more ways to post the content of our products. The discussion on mobile photography really touched areas we need to improve on for our business. Stable and reliable connectivity has also supported our business objectives,” said Isabel Panadera Pablo, one of the MSME attendees.

“My business has grown since it started in 2020, all thanks to the digital tools available, like internet connectivity and e-commerce platforms, so we can reach customers right from the comfort of our homes. Attending this session with PLDT, Smart, and Shopee can help MSMEs like us reach more customers online,” shared Jamia Caparas, owner of Macramé Dreams by Jamia, another seminar attendee.

Two more learning caravans will be rolled out by PLDT and Smart in Visayas and Mindanao.

PLDT and Smart underscore the value of uplifting the MSME sector through technology, as fundamental to building a smarter and more resilient Philippines to help mitigate economic risks due to the pandemic. This is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) #8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Registration is now ongoing at bit.ly/ madcamp2023reg for a minimal volunteer contribution and on a first come, first served basis.

“A volunteer’s registration fee to a MAD Camp is not a payment for comfort. It is an investment for a lifetime experience,” said Christian Marx Rivero, I am MAD co-founder and chairman. He emphasized that joining the volunteer work of I am MAD is not for leisure but for the lessons they will gain in making a difference together with each other and the communities served.

Reignite the spirit of volunteerism, get “MAD” around the Philippines

With the theme “Reignite the MADgic: Celebrating 13 Years of Volunteerism,” the NGO calls on everyone to rekindle their inner spark in serving, relight their paths forward, reawaken their vision together

As schools and provinces reopen for more face-to-face activities, I am MAD is encouraging everyone to be part of its upcoming full in-person volunteer opportunities and get “MAD” in any of the following areas in the country: Albay (April 28 to 30), Davao Oriental (April 28 to 30), Sarangani (May 5 to 7), North Cotabato (June 9 to 11), Davao de Oro (July 21 to 23), Nueva Ecija (August 26 to 28), Quezon (September 15 to 17), Isabela (October 20 to 22), Negros Occidental (November 10 to 12), and Bukidnon (November 24 to 26).

This year’s MAD Camps mark the return of its full face-to-face community engagements that was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. For details and a complete list of the official MAD Camps 2023, visit I am MAD’s Facebook page at fb.com/IamMakingADifference. Watch its Call for Volunteers music video here: bit.ly/Call4VolunteersMusicVideo.

Toyota brings in the heat this summer with hot vehicle deals, trade-in rebates, free maintenance

TOYOTA Motor Philippines is bringing in the heat this April with deals coming in hot! From now until April 30, 2023, customers can enjoy low monthly plans, tradein rebates, and more when they purchase a brand-new Toyota from any authorized dealer nationwide. With a new vehicle for the summer, each trip is sure to be a memorable one.

Explore nearby towns with friends or family with the reliable Vios. The 1.3 XE CVT variant is available at P115,350 downpayment under the Pay Low option. This option offers customers downpayments as low as 15 percent with free insurance on the first year, free LTO registration for three years and no chattel mortgage at 60 months to pay via all-in cash out.

The same variant is available for a monthly payment of P8,259 under the Pay Light option, which offers customers low monthly plans with 50 percent downpayment at 60 months to pay.

Those looking to bring a bigger group of people will find the Avanza fit for their trip. Discover new vacations spots together with the 1.3 E CVT variant for a downpayment of P150,600 under the Pay Low option or the 1.3 J M/T variant for a monthly payment of P9,147 under the Pay Light option.

For those who are big on adventure, power through rough roads with the Fortuner! Get the 4x2 G A/T variant with a downpayment of only P274,200 under the Pay Low option or the 4x2 G M/T variant for a monthly payment of P18,736 under the Pay Light option.

Big savings also await those who will pay in cash! Get P55,000 savings for the Fortuner 4x2 G Dsl A/T, P30,000 for the Vios XLE CVT, or P20,000 for the Innova E A/T and E M/T.

With more Filipinos excited to finally hit the road again, it’s important to consider the safety of one another. Prevent accidents by driving safely and keeping vehicles in tip-top condition for travel!

This April, all brand-new Corolla Altis, Raize, Veloz, Rush, Fortuner, and selected variants of the Vios, Avanza, Innova and Hilux purchased during the promo period are entitled to a free periodic maintenance service (PMS). Bringing in a car regularly for PMS makes sure that the vehicle is in excellent running condition and

helps ensure better fuel economy.

New Toyota owners can bring in their vehicle for the free PMS up to the 20,000 KM check-up.

The hustle never stops for the Lite Ace, which is why Toyota is offering a fixed PMS package for every Lite Ace variant sold and released during the promo period. Lite Ace owners will only have to pay P1,999 for every PMS until the 40,000 KM check-up.

Create more memories with a vehicle that has room for more! Wigo and Vios owners can get P35,000 in rebate when they trade in their unit for a new Innova. Vios owners who want to upgrade their ride can also trade in their vehicle for the Raize G CVT. They will get a P30,000 rebate.

Extraordinary journeys and P20,000 in rebate also await Avanza owners who will trade in their vehicle for the Veloz. The trade-in rebate can be used as cash discount for purchasing the new vehicle during the promo duration. It can also be used to buy accessories for your brand-new Toyota.

All Wigo, Veloz, and selected variants of the Vios, Corolla Altis, Innova, Hilux, Avanza, Rush, and Fortuner purchased during the promo period get a free comprehensive oneyear insurance provided by Toyota Insure given that the unit is purchased from an authorized Toyota dealership nationwide.

New owners of the Vios G, E, and XLE variants also enjoy a warranty coverage of five years or 150,000 KM, whichever comes first.

The free one-year comprehensive insurance covers 24/7 personal accident, passenger auto personal accident, three-year CPTL, own damage (OD), loss/theft, excess bodily injury (EBI), property damage (PD), acts of nature (AON), and includes emergency roadside assistance.

Don’t miss out on these hot deals from Toyota and make it a summer to remember! Promo runs until April 30, 2023 only. Check out the full mechanics, offers and participating models here: https://toyota.com.ph/promos/ FunInTheSun

DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-164396 Series of 2023

ALL ROADS LEAD TO THE PH FOOD EXPO IN SMX: leading food movers and leaders from Philfoodex, Inc., Cut Unlimited, Mayani, and Unionbank during the Exhibitors briefing.

ALEX Banawa, PLDT and Smart's digital media specialist, discussed mobile photography fundamentals in online content creation.

Ambassador questions Chinese resistance over EDCA expansion

respond to threats, including on humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

In a recent interview on CNN Philippines, Ambassador Jose Manuel DG. Romualdez said it is Beijing that is “creating tension in our territory in the Ayungin Shoal and many parts” of the country’s waters.

“We should ask the question to them. [For us,] we have been doing this as part of our Mutual Defense Treaty, which has been in-place since 1951,” Romualdez stated. “Now they are questioning… the kind of relationship…we have with the US.”

The diplomat clarified that Manila’s move to improve military ties

with the US is meant to serve as a “deterrence,” and in no way directed against any country.

“[We want] peace and stability in the area by having the presence of the US, and China is our neighbor,” he pointed out. “What we want is peace; so if there is a dispute, let’s talk. This is not directed to any country; no one wants that.”

Prior to this, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned Manila that the increase in America’s military deployment “would only lead to more tensions and less peace and stability in the region.”

“Regional countries need to think about what is right for the region and mutually beneficial, so as to make a choice that serves regional peace and stability as well as their own interests,” China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said.

In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs reiterated that the newly announced EDCA sites aim to “enhance the interoperability” of the US and Philippine armed forces to better

“[President Marcos’s] announcement affirms a robust commitment between the Philippines and the US to a stronger alliance that promotes regional peace and stability, addresses new and emerging shared security challenges, and provides for greater socioeconomic opportunities for many Filipinos,” Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said.

EDCA, Daza said, allows the construction of facilities and infrastructure upgrades that directly contribute to the enhancement of the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“More than construction in support of shared goals with the US, these programs are investments by the Philippines in its own defense and security, benefitting military installations under the full ownership and operational control of the AFP,” she added. Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA

Ukrainian holidays: Ramadan and Easter

By Oleksii Havryliuk

IN 2022 Volodymyr Zelenskyy

proposed to give religious holidays such as Ramadan, Kurban Bayram, Pesach, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah and others the status of public ones in Ukraine.

It was a big step in bringing up the multinational and multireligious population and their traditions to a state level. Now as the full-scale war continues, these spiritual holidays do not cease to exist, but are celebrated even with the bigger strength. It is faith that keeps Ukrainians going through the war. It is what unites people of different religions in one struggle against the aggressor.

Today the Ukrainian government recognizes Ramadan as an official religious holiday. Employers are known to make accommodations for Muslim employees during this period, such as adjusting work schedules to allow for prayer and breaking the fast.

In Ukraine, mosques and Islamic centers organize special activities during the feast, including Tarawih prayers, recitation of the Qur’an, and lectures on Islamic teachings. Many Muslim families also invite friends and relatives for iftar —the evening meal which breaks the fast at sunset.

In recent years some Ukrainian cities have organized public iftar events, where Muslims and nonMuslims come together to break the fast and learn about Ramadan and Islamic traditions. These events help to promote greater understanding and respect for the Muslim community in Ukraine.

In 2023, in the first days of Ramadan, the Muslim community opened a new mosque in Lviv—one of the biggest cities in Ukraine and its “cultural capital.” The opening is particularly significant, as it will provide space for Muslims to observe their religious practices and celebrate the holy month with families and friends.

Elvin Kadyrov, head of the Mejlis Coordination Center for Humanitarian Affairs, commented on the opening of the mosque: “This is a place where Ukrainians can come and learn about Islam first-hand.”

This is very particular of Ukraine, a mostly Christian state, which in recent years celebrates the cultural and ethnic diversity of the country more and more, giving them recognition and space for growth.

Despite the war, the Ukrainian Muslim community adapts to the challenges. Mufti Murat Suleymanov, who is the chair of the Spiri-

tual Administration of Muslims of Ukraine Umma, said: “The month of Ramadan, unfortunately, we met during the full-scale war. This is the second year. But there should always be faith and worship of the Most High, even during war.”

He continued: “On the contrary, it is better for us, because the month of Ramadan is a month of hope. This is the month when the Almighty forgives us, the Almighty helps us. And that is why we, as Muslims, of course, are pleased, first; and grateful to the Almighty that we have lived to this month.”

The League of Muslim Women of Ukraine has planned many events for the month of Ramadan. Activists of the league have decided to hold weekly online lectures on Zoom or Instagram. There are also Sunday lectures for teenage girls.

Head of the League of Muslim Women of Ukraine Niyara Mamutova said that in every Islamic cultural center, women and children gather on weekends, Sunday lessons are held, and Quran reading is held together.

Special attention is paid to children. After all, the events taking place in Ukraine affect everyone, and children also see, know and feel what is happening. They still draw things related to war, weapons, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and victory. Whether we like it or not, children also hear sirens and victims of the war.

The Muslim communities across Ukraine provide psychological support for children of any religion. They are open to everyone, and are ready to help everyone in the need of assistance in anything.

It is the second year that Ukrainian Muslims fight back-to-back with Christians, celebrating Easter and Ramadan in trenches. Despite the difficult circumstances, Ukrai-

nian Muslims and Christians try to maintain their religious traditions. This shows a great deal of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. Religious traditions can provide comfort and strength during difficult times, and it’s inspiring to see people coming together across religious divides to support each other.

Easter in Ukraine

AS for Ukrainian Christians, Easter is celebrated with paska (traditional Easter cake), pysanky (painted eggs), Holy Water, and Easter service. These items necessary for celebrating the spiritual holiday will be provided to the soldiers at the frontlines by volunteers and chaplains.

For Christians of Ukraine, this year is also special for one more reason: The West (Catholic, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church) and the East (Orthodox Church of Ukraine) wings of Christianity celebrated Easter together, on one date: the 9th of April. The date of Easter is one of the reasons for discord between the Orthodox and Catholic churches in Ukraine.

Catholics and Orthodox used to have different methods of calculating the date of Easter, one such was that the Orthodox Church used the old Julian calendar to determine the date of Easter, while Catholics use the new Gregorian style.

But 2023 is the year of change, when the Ukrainian Orthodox Church switched to the Gregorian calendar. Now, the two wings of Christianity, present in Ukraine, celebrated Easter on one date, according to the Gregorian calendar: April 9.

It’s always heartening to see people coming together in difficult times, like today of the Russian war against Ukraine. Regardless of their different religions or ethnic backgrounds, Ukrainians are standing

together to defend their country and resist the aggression of a common enemy.

This may be on the battlefield and in the trenches fighting, or it may be at home, saving traditions and cultures. But right now, Russians deliberately devastate cultural and religious places of people living in Ukraine.

And they are not stopping even on spiritual holidays. According to the latest report, Russians damaged nearly 500 churches and religious sites. Last year on March 12, the mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and his wife Roxolana (Hurrem Sultan) in Mariupol was shelled. On June 15, Russian troops destroyed the mosque and Muslim center Bismillah in Severodonetsk.

The same was done to mosques in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region. These and many other holy places burned to the ground under Russian occupation in the past couple of months. It is a serious violation of human rights and international law. The intentional destruction of cultural heritage sites is considered a war crime by the International Criminal Court, and is condemned by the international community as a whole.

Ukraine is home to diverse ethnic and religious groups who live under the same humanistic values. The way Russians destroy this spiritual diversity of Ukraine by demolishing cultural and holy places is a sign of their ethical attitude towards non-Christians. Besides that, many Christian churches were destroyed by Russians over the past. President Zelenskyy has recently posted briefly about it.

Nothing stops the aggressor. Thus, Ukraine expects another heavy shelling this Easter. Despite the hardship, all Ukrainians share common strength. This unity of all Ukrainian people of diverse ethnicities and religions once again demonstrates that their similarities are greater than their differences, and that they are all ultimately united by shared humanity. When people are able to set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal: a free, prosperous Ukraine, incredible things can be done.

The holiest holidays like Ramadan and Easter are another set of reminders that Ukraine is fighting for a democratic, anthropocentric future, where all diversities are celebrated, and are integrated into the state.

(Havryliuk is an independent journalist from Ukraine.)

AS an anticipation of the “World Book Day” on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Instituto Cervantes de Manila, the Embassy of Spain and Intramuros Administration invite visitors to the Intramuros Branch of Instituto Cervantes de Manila to enjoy a variety of activities that promote the joy of reading.

From fiction to nonfiction, poetry to prose, thousands of books will be gathered around Instituto Cervantes’ premises in Intramuros. Día del Libro will feature Manila’s top bookstores and publishing houses that will be selling a wide array of books at 20-percent discount. Following the tradition in Spain, every book purchase would entitle the buyer to a free rose.

Apart from the book market, visitors to Día del Libro will be treated to poetry recitals, free Spanish classes, book presentations, street art, games, exhibits, storytelling sessions, Spanish food, as well as fun activities for the children.

First introduced in Manila by Instituto Cervantes in 2006, the tradition of Día del Libro began in Barcelona, Spain. Up to the present, the tradition is commemorated on St. George’s Day (April 23), when Spanish people exchange roses and books. This date also honors two of history’s greatest writers: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, who coincidentally died on April 23, 1616.

These significant incidents has prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in declaring April 23 as “World Book and Copyright Day” to instill the love of reading among the youth, and to promote respect for the rights of authors over their works.

April is also the birth month of the classical Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas. In his honor, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts has declared April as “National Literature Month.”

In the spirit of this year’s celebration, Unesco has chosen the theme: “Read for the Future” to emphasize the role of books in shaping the collective future. In a world that is constantly changing, books provide us with the knowledge and imagination to navigate the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

In this edition, to mark the Day of Miguel de Cervantes, Instituto Cervantes is challenging visitors to join a “quixotic” attempt: to handwrite Don Quixote de La Mancha. The final handwritten book will be deposited in the Library of Instituto Cervantes. Those interested to take part in the writing of Don Quijote can join on the same day with no prior registration. Participants in the handwriting chain will also receive a rose.

Through the second recital of FilHispanic Poetry, Instituto Cervantes is inviting poetry lovers to recite verses written in Spanish by Filipino poets. All recorded recitations will be compiled in a video that will be posted in Instituto Cervantes YouTube channel: Instituto Cervantes Manila by the end of the month. Interested poetry aficionados can register via https://forms. office.com/e/EZwcmKDsTN

Admission to all Día del Libro activities is free on a first-come, firstserved basis. For more information about World Book Day 2023 and events at the Intramuros Branch of Instituto Cervantes de Manila, visit Instituto Cervantes’s Facebook page.

Australia joins Fil. Food Month with

Fil-Aussie content creator

THE Australian Embassy and the Australia Global Alumni in the Philippines celebrate Filipino Food Month with a series of events that highlight Filipino cuisine—with a taste of the “Land Down Under.”

To headline the celebration, the embassy flew to Manila Filipino-Australian food and travel content creator, cookbook author and businesswoman Yasmin Newman, to share well-loved Filipino dishes using Australian ingredients from her cookbook Under the Coconut Skies: Feasts and Stories from the Philippines Ambassador HK Yu PSM acknowledged that “Filipinos and Australians share…a love for food…We love bringing people together to enjoy great food and have great conversations. We are delighted to have…Yasmin Newman here in the Philippines to celebrate [local] culinary heritage with the best of Australian products: a culinary fusion of the best [offering of] our two countries...”

While in Manila, Newman met with different communities of Australiaeducated Filipinos for the Philippine launch of her cookbook, which included book signings and cooking demonstrations of Filipino dishes with Australian ingredients.

She also held a masterclass for the culinary students of the Joji Ilagan International School in Davao City. The school, which provides Australiancertified education—was established by Australia-educated alumna Joji Ila-

gan Bian, who received the 2019 Outstanding Alumnus Award for bringing the Australian kind of technical and vocational education and training, or TVET, to Mindanao.

As a proud ambassador of Filipino cuisine and Australian food products, the content creator shares her love for food and her Australian and Filipino influences in a cooking video series: “A Taste of the Philippines” produced by the Australia Philippines Business Council, in partnership with the Australian government (https://www. youtube.com/@australiaphilippinesbc/ featured)

Under the Coconut Skies is Yasmin’s second Filipino cookbook. It is a celebration of the Philippines and its food, which takes her readers on a journey to discovering classic Filipino dishes through beautiful photos and unique culinary traditions, folklore, and personal stories. In 2013 she also wrote and published her debut cookbook: 7,000 Islands: A Food Portrait of the Philippines

‘Día del Libro’ 2023 celebrates ‘power of words’ in Intramuros

THE country’s envoy to the United States is puzzled over China’s objection to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), as he cited the latter’s incursions into Philippine territory.

NEWMAN

Del Rosario wrests 4-shot lead with 68

PAULINE DEL ROSARIO rode a decisive four-birdie spree from No. 9 on her way to a 68 to post a four-shot lead over Kim Seoyun and a resurgent Daniella Uy in the second round of the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Caliraya Springs Championship in Cavinti, Laguna, on Wednesday.

Unable to launch her drive in a rare Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) appearance with a three-putt miscue on No. 1 Tuesday, del Rosario still wrestled with her putter on No. 5, but this time, she knocked down an eagle and shot five birdies to more than make up for her three-bogey slip for a 35-33 and a 36-hole total of seven-under 137.

“My round was very similar to the previous one. I had another threeputt bogey again (No. 5) and hit it into the hazard on the eighth, took a drop for another bogey,” said Del Rosario, an Epson Tour campaigner who had to birdie two of the last three holes to save a 69 and a oneshot lead over Kim in the first round.

But her latest miscues only negated her eagle feat on the par-five No. 4 where she hit a knockdown 9-iron shot from 140 yards to within nine feet and buried the putt.

Then came the four-birdie binge from No. 9 that enabled her to drive a wedge between her and her pursuers although Kim bounced back from a two-over card after 12 holes with three birdies in the last five for a 71.

The young Korean, however, fell behind by four at 141, which Uy matched by besting del Rosario’s 68 with a tournament-best 67 in a big rebound from a first round 74.

Out to redeem herself from a final round meltdown in Iloilo, Uy overcame a one-over card after six holes with two birdies in the next three. The former Junior World champion, who scored an LPGT breakthrough in wicked conditions at Riviera in bubble setup in 2021, then sustained her run at the back, hitting four birdies for a 35-32.

Chanelle Avaricio likewise recovered from a 73 with a 70 but last year’s three-leg winner stayed six strokes adrift of the ICTSI-backed del Rosario at 143, while Harmie Constantino hardly recovered from a double-bogey on No. 8 with a birdie on the 10th for a 73 and a 144 total.

PAULINE DEL ROSARIO is looking at a coast-to-coast victory.

Sports

B8 Thursday, april 20, 2023

mirror_sports@yahoo.com.ph

Editor: Jun Lomibao

TONY TAMES CALIRAYA

TONY LASCUÑA ripped open the course and broke away from the field with a solid course record six-under 66 to pull ahead by three shots over a fastcharging Ira Alido and two others halfway through the International Container Terminal Services Inc.

(ICTSI) Caliraya Springs Championship

Wednesday in Cavinti, Laguna.

Bracing for another wild chase after forcing a four-way tie for the lead with a last-hole birdie for a 68 Tuesday, Lascuña sizzled in a backside start by blending his solid driving and iron play with near-impeccable putting on the softened greens of Caliraya Springs Golf Club.

Lascuña produced four birdies then added two more at the front for a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 134. His 34-32 card, together with that of defending champion Zanieboy Gialon’s eagle-spiked 31-35, also became the new course record at the par-72 well-maintained championship course hosting a pro tournament for only the second time.

Gialon ruled last year’s inaugurals by four strokes over Clyde Mondilla where six players, including the eventual winner, posted 67s. But Lascuña isn’t after the record, but the championship after finishing runner-up

THE Philippines is expected to face regional powerhouse Indonesia at the start of the men’s volleyball competitions of the Cambodia 32nd Southeast Asian Games on May 3—two days ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony.

The Philippines was inserted in Group A of the men’s volleyball program in the re-draw conducted online on Tuesday afternoon by the Cambodia volleyball federation and the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee.

The re-draw was done to determine the rankings

on SEAG: My duty as athlete

By Josef Ramos

INNING gold in Cambodia next month won’t help Ernest John

“EJ” Obiena’s Paris Olympics campaign a bit, but the world No. 3 pole vaulter still vowed to go for the mint at all cost.

“It’s very important for the Philippines to win the gold,”

Call him Loisa

in the Bacolod and Iloilo legs of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) last month.

“I hit all fairways and missed just one green, so that summed up my game,” said Lascuña, whose iron play set up a number of birdie chances, six of which he drained, including the farthest from 12 feet on No. 15.

“The greens are great, my allowance allow me to putt very well,” added Lascuña, whose daily goal is to shoot four-under. “My target is to score two-under on each nine but after going four-under at the back, I knew I could hit more birdies.”

He did as he gained strokes on Nos. 5 and 7 for a three-shot lead that however remained shaky in anticipation of a feisty rush from among the contenders in moving day in the P2.5 million championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

But while the multi-titled campaigner sustained his first round charge, erstwhile co-leaders Lloyd Go, Rupert Zaragosa and Clyde Mondilla slowed down despite near-ideal conditions. Go turned in a 71 on a three-birdie, two-bogey round to slip to joint ninth at 139; while Zaragosa, runaway winner in Iloilo last month, and Mondilla mixed three birdies against the same number of bogeys for identical 72s that dropped them to a share of 12th at 140.

But moving up to joint second at 137 is the troika of Alido and

Marvin Dumandan, who matched 67s, and Elmer Salvador, who put in a 68, while Gialon bounced back from an opening 72 with his own version of a 66, sparking his charge with a chip-in birdie on No. 11, then highlighting it with an eagle on the par-5 No. 4 and a closing threebirdie binge at the front.

Gialon, however, remained four shots behind Lascuña at 138, with Eric Gallardo, who fired a 68, and Jhonnel Ababa and Reymon Jaraula, who matched 69s, joining him at fifth.

Filipinos square off with strong Indonesia in volleyball opener

in the group, according to Philippine National Volleyball Federation secretary-general Donaldo Caringal.

“The process was simplified and done quickly,” Caringal said.

Cambodia exercised its right of first choice as host and picked the No. 1 spot, followed by Indonesia at No. 2, No. 3 Philippines and No. 4 Singapore. The hosts, bronze medalist in Vietnam last year, open against lowly Singapore.

Bracketed in Group B are defending champion Vietnam, Thailand,

Baisa, Diaz ready for Imus

BRICE BAISA tries to pick up from where he left off as he goes after two titles anew while Jana Diaz seeks to reassert her mastery of the girls’ field in the Palawan PawnshopPalawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) Imus City National Juniors Tennis Championships beginning Thursday at the Imus/Meadowood courts in Cavite.

Baisa, a 16-year-old find from Puerto Princesa City, took the spotlight when he swept the 16and 18-under titles in the Iloilo, Roxas City and Bacolod stops of the country’s longest talentsearch early in the season,

netfest

besting some of the circuit’s fancied players. His feats earned him a stint in the International Tennis Federation Junior Circuit in Sri Lanka and his recent overseas campaign is expected to further toughen him up coming into this week’s hostilities, which also feature the likes of Vince Serna, Reign Maravilla and Frank Dilao in the premier boys’ division of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop.

Maravilla also top-bills the 16-U roster with Tristan Licayan as the No. 2 seed followed by siblings Frank and France Dilao. While Baisa is billed behind Serna in 18-under play, he is unseeded in the 16-under category

Volleyball Team (MVT).

As a rookie back in Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), he immediately caught the eye of live fans and the TV viewing public with his swag.

Slightly built and spry, he surprised many with his awesome power. Spot-on skill let him nail clutch hit after clutch hit. He punished the volleyball as if it were a bratty child, then having scored, he’d walk off with a beauty queen strut and pout, diva-like, to the delight of the crowd.

That first day performance of that season gave UP a surprising win over Ateneo de Manila University. Before that, the Maroons’ last win over the Blue Eagles had been in Season 76, a full six years before.

Suddenly, the UP MVT was making waves in volleyball, thanks in large part to Louis Gamban. The rising star who had played high school volley with the University of Perpetual Help, was set to embark on an illustrious career in UAAP volleyball. But alas, the pandemic happened. With men’s volleyball games on hold since the unfinished 82nd Season, Louis Gamban has only now

Obiena told BusinessMirror by internet call on Tuesday night from his training camp in Alicante, Spain. “Is it very important for my world ranking? It doesn’t reflect at all, but it is very important to Team Philippines and the standings in the SEA [Southeast Asian] Games,” Obiena said.

Obiena is backto-back defending champion in men’s pole vault in the SEA Games which Cambodia is hosting for the first time from May 5 to 17.

Unlike Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and

world gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo who are joining Olympic qualifying tournaments also in May, Obiena’s schedule allows him to fly to Phnom Penh and showcase his world-class act.

The SEA Games, the 27-year-old Obiena said, will warm him up for the outdoor season that starts in June—the same month which kicks off the Olympic qualifying window for athletics.

“It’s important for Team Philippines in the medal standings and for the Patafa [Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association],” Obiena said. “I also expect the opposition, especially Thailand, to come out with improvement in Cambodia.”

Obiena moved camp from his base from Formia to Ciudad Deportiva Camilo Cano La Nucia in Alicante because of the cold Italian weather.

“It’s 25 to 27 [degrees Celsius] here in Alicante which is ideal for training,” he said. He is accompanied in Spain by long-time trainer and coach, legendary Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov, masseuse Francesco Viscusi and physio Antonio Guglietta.

Cambodia opts to waive food, hotel fees of SEA Games athletes, coaches

CAMBODIA waived collecting fees on food and accommodation of all athletes and coaches in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, a development that translates to significant savings not only for Team Philippines but for the 10 other member countries.

“This is a very significant development because it means a lot in terms of expenses Team Philippines will incur during the Games,” Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said on Wednesday.

“We thank Cambodia for putting its best foot forward in its goal to successfully host the SEA Games for the first time,” Tolentino added.

Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Camsoc will no longer charge any food and accommodation fees to the participating NOCs of the 32nd SEA Games,” Khon said in the letter.

“This decision and leadership by Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen further affirms the Kingdom of Cambodia’s commitment to hosting our regional sports family and international guests in a neighborly environment of solidarity and friendship,” Kon added. SEA Games hosts normally charge a flat rate of $50 per athlete or coach—inclusive of food and accommodation—although some hotels charge $180 for twin sharing.

Malaysia and Myanmar. Indonesia lost to Vietnam in last year’s final, but remains the No. 1 men’s volleyball team in the SEA Games with 11 gold medals.

Philippine Olympic Committee deputy secretary-general Karen Tanchanco joined Caringal in the virtual meeting presided over by Cambodia volleyball federation secretarygeneral Dr. Aing Serey Piseth. Also in attendance were volleyball officials from Indonesia and Singapore.

pending the results of the latest PPS-PEPP junior rankings.

Diaz, meanwhile, banners the 16- and 18-under casts in the distaff side with the Bacoor, Cavite lass also aiming to duplicate her string of victories in the Visayan swing of the nation-wide circuit held as part of the PPS-PEPP junior program put up by president and CEO Bobby Castro.

The good news was relayed by Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee Permanent Vice President Dr. Thong Khon—also the president of the national Olympic Committee (NOC) and Tourism Minister of Cambodia—in a letter dated Tuesday sent to all 11 NOCs of the SEA Games Federation.

“Under the wise and respectable guidance of His Excellency Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun

Team Philippines is composed of 840 athletes and 300 coaches who are participant in 38 sports in Cambodia. It couldn’t be immediately determined how much could be saved from the waived food and accommodation fees because Filipino athletes and coaches fly to Cambodia in batches based on their competition schedule.

The Philippine Sports Commission has earmarked P250 million for the SEA Games preparaton, training and participation.

Cambodia is expecting more than 12,000 athletes, coaches and staff in the SEA Games it is hosting from May 5 to 17 with capital Phnom Penh as main hub (Morodok Techo National Stadium, Olympic National Stadium and Chroy Changvar International Convention and Exhibition Centre) and the provinces of Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk and Siem Reap as

LADY TAM AT WORK Tin Ubaldo sets up play for Far Eastern University which stays in contention in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women’s volleyball Final Four race following a 25-21, 25-11, 22-25, 25-21 victory over Ateneo on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Lady Tamaraws improve to 6-6 won-lost, while the already eliminated Lady Eagles fell to a 4-8 card.

returned to the UAAP scene in Season 85. Although I was one of those who found him a total delight to watch when he debuted in the collegiate league, I had only seen him perform on TV. This season I decided I would watch him play his game as part of the rowdy UAAP crowd.

Gamban, the former rookie, now team captain, didn’t disappoint. The moment he stepped on court, he had a sparkle and a bouncy energy that made it hard to take one’s eyes off him. He still strutted and pranced around the court in a happy dance, hit or miss. He still pouted at times. He still held his head high, diva-like, after a kill and a spike. But he was smiling more these days, playing his leader role to the hilt, with encouraging words and mother-hen protectiveness towards his teammates.

On a Wednesday, April 12, the UP WVT scored their first win of the season, again over another stunned Blue Eagles team. But on this Sunday when I watched the games, the Maroons weren’t so lucky against the De La Salle University Green Spikers. Still, the Louie Gamban light didn’t waver. He sparkled on.

“I listen to Hillsong songs to calm my feelings before the games,” Louis—now called Loisa by the game announcers and the media—reveals the reason behind his equanimity. “My mindset is to perform well, and I tell myself that nothing is impossible in every game. His swag and playing style, he says, boosts his confidence and that of his team. “Mas nailalabas ko ang totoo kong performance [when I do that],” he says.

Louie describes the UP community as “sobrang supportive in all aspects.”  “Win or lose naka support pa rin sila. Lose (nga) kayo pero ( parang ) close fight pa rin. Pag win naman, sobrang big win sa UP community.

UP no longer has any Final Four chances at this point, but Louis says he hopes that before he graduates, the UPWVT can make it to the Final Four. “Dream ko na makilala ang UP sa volleyball, hindi lang sa pag-aaral.”

This proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community who started his love affair with volleyball when he was 14 has scored points for himself on and off the taraflex. He still has two playing years left in the UAAP.

TONY LASCUÑA books a solid course record sixunder 66 to pull ahead by three shots. NONIE REYES